Rank in the US Military determines a lot of factors, from pay grade to housing. Rank varies by branch of service but most of the foundation work is the same. In this edition of the MSF Pocket Guide, let’s break down ranks and why it matters to everyone. Enlisted versus Officers While rank and insignia […]
military life
Holiday Traditions that Military Families Carry From Duty Station to Duty Station
Living throughout the world leads to many unique traditions, and military families know this better than most. Rather than the same-old holiday trends they knew as kids, they grew up to experience the world. This means learning how other cultures celebrate, collecting their goodies, and trying their seasonal holiday recipes. Best of all is that […]
ICYMI: MilSpouseFest wraps up the year with 2021 Reflections
The MilSpouseFest team closed out the year with their final event day of the year, focusing on reflecting on the year gone by and goal setting for the year to come. Presented by USAA, the event had a full agenda of speakers and giveaways. The new breakout room feature gave military spouses the opportunity to […]
The MSF Military Pocket Guide: BAH & BAS
While we have discussed allowances and military pay in a previous MSF Pocket Guide, we didn’t go into depth into Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) and Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). In this edition, we will dive into the most important allowances in military pay. Basic Allowance for Subsistence BAS is meant to offset costs […]
ICYMI- MilSpouseFest hosts Military Family Appreciation Virtual Event
Hundreds of military spouses from across the world logged on to the MilSpouseFest virtual event on November 18 that focused on military family appreciation. Presented by USAA, the event had a full agenda of speakers and giveaways. Keynote speaker Michelle Norman, Executive Director of Partners in Promise shared her story and encouraged attendees to create […]
Paying Respects: An Afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery
MilSpouseFest team member, Maria Melvin had the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery at a historic moment. The following is her experience in her own words. When military families receive PCS orders to the Washington D.C. area, they soon learn that it is a special and unique duty station, especially when compared to traditional military […]
Holiday Military Family Give Back Guide: 2021 Edition
With the holidays around the corner, it is imperative to help those in need. According to recent data from the Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey Comprehensive Report, some level of food insecurity was found in all enlisted ranks and is intensified in families with a spouse who needs or wants to work but […]
The MSF Military Pocket Guide: Military Pay
Military pay is not simple, there are many different factors that go into it. In this edition of the MSF Military Pocket Guide, we will break down all the different aspects in a service member’s pay. Basic Pay, Special and Incentives, and Allowances Basic pay is the fundamental part of a military paycheck. All service […]