A dress swap that has grown to save military families more than $2 million, and efforts to honor the heroes who fought in the World War II Battle of Bataan will be highlighted in April as part of the Association of the U.S. Army’s “Army Matters” podcast series.
First up is a podcast featuring Yvonne Coombes, CEO and co-founder of Operation Deploy Your Dress.
Military families experienced a number of quality-of-life improvements in 2023, according to a new report from Blue Star Families.
For Bryan Campagna and his son, Staff Sgt. Isaiah Jasso-Campagna, dedication to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) runs two generations deep.
“In the responsibility bestowed on me, never will I falter,” Jasso-Campagna said as he recited the Sentinel’s Creed after being pinned with his Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge by his father. “And with dignity and perseverance, my standard will remain perfection.”
Family members, retirees and other eligible personnel can now skip the badge office and renew their military ID cards online under an expansion of a DoD pilot program.
The pilot program, which was launched last February, previously was open only to sponsors with a common access card. Now, most retirees and non-CAC holders are eligible for the online service, DoD announced.
Military life can create challenges for soldiers and their families, but the Army is working to improve their quality of life in several areas, including supporting and increasing employment opportunities, a panel of experts said.
Making sure military families on large Army posts have what they need to thrive is a big, intensive job—and it extends beyond the installation gates, a panel of leaders said Oct. 11.
In a town hall for family members featuring the Army’s top leaders, one soldier stood and stated his problem bluntly. His wife, he said, “would rather deal with Comcast than try to find information from the Army.”
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth visibly reeled from the rebuke, but then turned to the service’s new chief of staff, Gen. Randy George.
Ensuring that soldiers and their families can access quality health care is essential to maintaining the Army’s readiness, a panel of leaders said.
From financial education to counseling services, the Army is working to boost a holistic approach to taking care of soldiers and families.
Resources that support resilience and help prevent harmful behaviors can be useful for soldiers and families at any point in their careers, said Robyn Mroszczyk, an Army spouse and the financial education program manager in the Army G-9.
The Army is getting ahead of harmful behaviors by prioritizing quality of life for its soldiers, communities and families, a panel of experts said.
