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The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program is a quality of life and readiness program designed to support the needs of the military community, including Veterans, civilian employees, retirees, and, of course, Servicemembers and their families. The mission of the program is to help Servicemembers relax, have fun, and form bonds with their families in an effort to help maintain work-life balance and mission readiness, as well as provide emotional support for military personnel. One of these benefits is discounted rates, special perks, and offers on travel and lodging. Certain destinations offer military-only rates, tickets to attractions and theme parks, and special recognition days for military members. Key West, Florida, a popular vacation destination, has several Key West MWR programs, with discounted MWR Key West tickets to many destinations, that military families might want to consider for their next vacation. Key West MWR: What It Offers and Why It Matters MWR programs, which include recreation, family and youth programs, and entertainment on top of travel and leisure activities, all seek to serve military families by providing discounted access to relaxing, enjoyable activities to connect with their families. You can read more about MWR in general at this

What Are Space-A Flights? Space-A flights are flights provided at free or reduced fare for Veterans, enlisted personnel, and their families. These are non-commercial flights that utilize Department of Defense mission aircraft for a variety of reasons and are subject to availability. There are several priority tiers for these flights that enable people to get emergency flights for medical treatment, look for houses, see family, and more. Passengers typically book Space-A travel when they have some flexibility for their trip dates and qualify for the seats. Space-A flights were called Military Air Command flights for many years and may also be called Air Mobility Command flights. How Do Space-A Flights Work? Book Space-A flights through your AMC contact at the passenger terminal or the terminal you want to depart from. Most people book flights approximately 72 hours before departure and will remain registered for up to 60 days. Passengers who need a flight related to an unfunded medical emergency receive priority seating at all times. AMC flights are managed by Air Mobility Command and Space-A staff for the Department of Defense. Bag, weight, priority, and accompanying dependent restrictions will vary based upon travel type and situation.

When we experience the death of a loved one in the family, whether it is sudden or a lengthy process, it can still lead to a great deal of confusion and grief. The survivors often find themselves not well prepared to deal with the recent loss, especially when it comes to funeral and burial arrangements.  The US Government holds the belief that those who served in defense of the country should receive honorable burials as a token of the country’s appreciation for their service. It is for this reason that the Veterans Administration (VA) provides funeral benefits to the survivors and families of Servicemembers and Veterans. Survivors can apply to the VA to receive VA burial benefits on the Veteran’s behalf, or the Veteran can do so himself as part of end-of-life planning. These VA burial benefits assist in covering the unexpected and significant expenses of funerals and burials. The application for burial benefits is easy, and VA burial benefits eligibility is very broad. Understanding VA Burial Benefits: What is Covered? VA burial benefits and Veterans funeral benefits are programs offered by the Veterans Administration that include a burial allowance to help cover funeral costs, the option

If you are the spouse or dependent of a military Servicemember who died in the line of duty, a retiree, or Veteran, you are eligible for a variety of benefits offered by the Veterans Administration. The Veterans Administration established these VA survivor benefits to provide certain means and support to survivors, particularly widows, of military personnel who have lost a family member. Recognizing that spouses and families are an essential part of the support system for military personnel, VA survivor benefits seek to provide these important supporters of the military with education, healthcare, and other VA surviving spouse benefits. What Are VA Survivor Benefits? Depending on your deceased Servicemember’s level of service, VA survivor benefits cover a variety of different types of healthcare, financial, educational, survivors pensions and other supportive VA surviving spouse benefits. Both the spouses and dependents of the deceased Servicemember typically qualify for these VA survivor benefits, with a primary focus on healthcare and education. Some of these VA surviving spouse benefits include: Dependency and indemnity compensation is paid to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a Veteran who died after January 1, 1957. The surviving spouse or unmarried dependent child of a

It is never a comfortable topic to think about one’s own mortality and what will happen to your family once you have passed on. Individuals in their later years often confront numerous decisions, such as their funeral preferences, the idea of living wills, and securing life insurance for their surviving family members to cover unforeseen expenses and life events post-death. Many people postpone getting life insurance until later in life, citing their daily expenses as a better use of the monthly premiums. However, individuals serving in the military, who frequently encounter hazardous conditions and potentially life-threatening situations, should consider life insurance from the outset. The Veterans Administration offers Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as a low-cost form of coverage to eligible Servicemembers. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the Veterans Administration may automatically sign you up for SGLI coverage. This article covers the basics of SGLI insurance for Servicemembers and information on SGLI coverage and SGLI costs. If you have questions about how military life insurance can benefit your family, read on to learn more. You can also speak to a resource officer at your base, or at your local VA regional office if you have further

The Veterans Administration offers many perks and benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers and their families, including many financial benefits and assistance. The VA offers, for example, VA-backed home loans for qualifying military personnel that help Servicemembers apply for and insure home loans. These home loans often give certain benefits, such as lower or no down payments, better terms, and less strict credit checks. However, in addition to these VA-backed home loans, the VA also offers refinancing options that help Veterans make home payments at monthly payments lower than traditional loans and with lower interest rates. Understanding VA Loan Refinancing: Which Option is Right for You? VA loan refinancing is a wonderful way to negotiate better terms for your VA-backed home loan. There are many reasons why you might seek VA refinance options for your home loan. You might be experiencing financial hardship and need a lower monthly payment, or there might be better interest rates available. Also, if you want to transfer other home loans with variable rates to a lower fixed rate on a VA loan, then VA refinancing is an option. The VA loan refinancing program offers many options, including Interest Rate Reduction Refinance

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is the base of operations for over 20 Marine units. Established in April 1941, it was the first Marine base in the area, named after John A. Lejeune upon his death. Sadly, it was discovered that between 1953 and 1987, there was serious contamination of the drinking water at the facility, leading to Marines and their families bathing and drinking in water with contaminations at concentrations of up to 3000 times more than permitted by safety standards. This was partially due to a lack of regulation in the safe disposal of solvents used in various operations and the improper dumping or burning of these materials near the base wells for several decades. It was ordered in the 1980s that the wells be shut down, but they were placed back online in violation of regulations at the time. Many ill health effects have since been linked to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, including birth defects and health effects in pregnant and nursing mothers. The information was not made public for over two decades, until several advocacy groups formed to inform possible victims of the contamination at the

It is unfortunate that many Veterans and Servicemembers, who take an oath to defend the country frequently work in hazardous conditions and environments. Operating military bases and conducting war activities often pose significant risks, and many military personnel may experience long-term health effects because of their service. Occasionally, Servicemembers may unintentionally meet hazardous and toxic materials while serving. When the US military withdrew from an area, they ordered those stationed overseas to burn materials to prevent enemy combatants from using them, resulting in clouds of toxic smoke. Furthermore, improper disposal of hazardous materials used in military operations often unknowingly exposed Servicemembers to hazardous materials on US military bases and training facilities, as evidenced by the contamination of Camp Lejeune’s drinking water between the 1950s and 1980s. The PACT Act was a piece of legislation that sought to address the issue of Veterans and Servicemembers exposed to toxic materials, primarily burn pits and Agent Orange. The PACT Act broadened the scope of VA healthcare law and benefits, particularly for Veterans who met these criteria, and extended it to include Servicemembers stationed at Camp Lejeune during the period of toxic water exposure. Understanding the PACT Act and the

One of the many benefits of serving in the military is the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program. This is a program that provides support services and activities for US military personnel and their families. Some of the services include family and youth programs, recreation and entertainment programs, travel and leisure discounts, military-specific lodging at several resort locations, and a financial readiness program that assists military families with debt and money management. For military families looking to take advantage of the MWR benefits offered at the Disney theme parks, you are in luck! Disney provides a wealth of services for military families, such as the Shades of Green resort at Disney World, discounted tickets, and special military family days at its properties, as well as MWR Disney tickets and MWR Disneyland tickets at discounted MWR Disney tickets 2024 rates. Disney military tickets MWR specials are also available in November during Veterans Day weekend specials. What Are MWR Disney Tickets? Did you know that Disney provides special MWR Disney tickets 2024 rates on tickets for military families? MWR Disney tickets and MWR Disneyland tickets allow access to the Disney parks at a discounted rate, along with exclusive benefits only

The National Park system is one of the many crowning jewels of the USA. Made up of thousands of preserved vistas of natural wilderness, historical landmarks, and educational facilities, these visitor destinations, maintained by the US government, are usually family-friendly, affordable to visit, and contain a wealth of information about many aspects of American history. In partnership with Operation Live Well, the NPS looks to give back to military personnel and their families by giving them free annual passes to the nation’s National Parks. Overview of National Park Passes for Veterans The National Park Pass for Veterans is a special pass to the US National Parks that allows military members and their dependents free access to the parks, museums, and facilities of the NPS. The military National Park pass is available to all members of the US Armed Forces and their families, including the branches of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, National Guard, and Gold Star recipients. The VA National Park pass is for both active duty and Reserves, and for Servicemembers and their spouses and dependents. These passes are available at the National Parks themselves, online, or at federal recreation sites. The lifetime