Did You Know...

The Mental Health Needs of the Armed Forces

The Secretary of Defense was instructed by the 2006 Congress to assess the mental health needs of the Armed Forces and the capabilities of the DoD to meet those needs.  As a result, the DoD created a Mental Health Task Force.  The findings of this task force, "An Achievable Vision", were recently published and can be read in their entirety at http://www.ha.osd.mil/dhb/mhtf/MHTF-Report-Final.pdf.

The report found that "the system of care for the psychological health that has evolved over recent decades is insufficient to meet the needs of today's armed forces and their beneficiaries, and will not be sufficient to meet their needs in the future."  However, the report makes many recommendations to remedy this, such as significantly increasingly the number of mental health care providers and actively taking steps to reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental health assistance.

Service members Group Life Insurance

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

~Margaret Mead

According to 38 USC §1967(f), spouses will be now notified, in writing, if a service member fails to obtain the maximum amount of government life insurance available (now $400,000) or if he or she names someone other than his or her spouse or child as the beneficiary.

Overseas Voter Registration

Service members, military families, and other U.S. citizens living overseas can get help registering to vote while overseas at www.overseasvotefoundation.org

Association Offers Congressional Guide

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) is offering a free guide called "Communicate With Your Elected Officials" to help Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families participate in the legislative process. The guide provides contact information for members of Congress, a roster of key committees, the proper ways to format correspondence and definitions of key election terms. It also highlights legislative issues related to military personnel such as pay increases, benefit parity and Montgomery GI Bill funding. To order a free copy of the guide, send an e-mail request to bethw@fra.org with your name, mailing address, rank and branch of service or call 800-FRA-1924.

The DoD Federal Voting Assistance Program

Due to the frequent moves associated with the military lifestyle, it can be confusing knowing where to vote and/or how to vote.  As a result, the DoD has created the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (http://www.fvap.gov/).  The site provides online federal absentee ballots and other useful forms.

If you are unsure about where you should register to vote, go here to read about voter residency requirements for service members and their dependents.  If you still need help, you can contact voting assistance officers by phone (1.800.438.8683) (outside the U.S.) or by email (vote@fvap.ncr.gov).  You can also find state voting registration requirements here.

The Actual Number of Wounded Warriors...

... is much higher than officials would have you believe.  Since 9/11, more than 1.5 million service members have been to Iraq and/or Afghanistan.  Of those, 35 percent (250,000) have been treated at a VA medical center.  95,000 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, 52,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and 36,000 have been diagnosed with drug dependency.  You can learn more at http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/.

Additionally, as many as 700,000 service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected to file claims with the department of VA.  See “Wounded Vets Suffer Financial Woes” by the Associated Press.

Service-Disabled Veteran Small Businesses

Pursuant to section 15(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)), no less than 3 percent of government contracts are to be awarded to service disabled veteran businesses.

According to the Army Times this week, the Department of Defense has fallen well short of this minimum.  If you know a service-disabled veteran who has his or her own business and who is interested in winning a contract with the DoD, they can learn more by calling 703.604.0157 or going to http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/programs/veterans/index.htm

Dental and Vision Benefits for Active Duty Family Members

Currently, active duty families pay approximately $30 per month for a cost-sharing dental plan with an annual cap of $1,200.  Many families have had to take out personal loans to pay for non-cosmetic but necessary dental work.  The military also requires that families pay for their vision benefits, providing for one eye exam per year only.  The President of MSC drafted a white paper suggesting that improved vision and dental benefits could improve soldier morale and increase troop retention.  (Click here
to read the White Paper.)

Political Party Affiliation

The active duty military is generally assumed to be comprised primarily of Republican voters, however, when polled by the Military Times in December of 2006, only 46 percent identified themselves as Republican.  Obviously the military community is as diverse politically as it is in every other facet.

Donate Now

We are trying to raise money to support MSC and the services we provide.
Any help you could give would benefit the entire community.

 
   

 

We are a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, all donations are tax deductible.