Little Voices, Big Impact: How Military Children Drive Our Advocacy and Programming The voices of military children may be the smallest ones we hear in a military family, but they are a big part of the work we do. NMFA understands that Military Kids Serve Too® because we see it firsthand. We hear about their unique journey as military children and honor their courage and resilience. What exactly do we hear from these little voices? A whole lot of big feelings and thoughts, particularly when a parent is deployed. Little Voices Matter For Alexandra Garrido, an Air National Guard spouse and teac ..read more

Quality Of Life Panel Includes Several NMFA Recommendations in Report Released Today   NMFA stood alongside the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life panel and a handful of our nonprofit partners on Capitol Hill on April 11 for the release of the panel’s recommendations for improving military families’ well-being. The panel, which was established in 2023, spent the past year meeting with military families and advocates from NMFA and other military service organizations to determine what legislative and policy changes are needed to support military families’ quality of life. Thei ..read more

NMFA Supports Military Kids in More Ways Than One Military Kids Serve Too® At the National Military Family Association, when we say, “Military Kids Serve Too!” we mean it.  More than 1.6 million military children tackle challenges unique to military life, learning and growing while they stand alongside their parents and guardians as they serve our country. These children represent all branches of the military, guard and reserve components, retirees, and veterans. They are a resilient community that serves our nation in more ways than one. While military kids do not wear military uniforms ..read more

DoD Policy Expands Access to Assisted Reproduction For too many service members, infertility caused by a service-connected illness or injury has made it impossible for them to build their families. The Department of Defense (DoD) covers some assisted reproductive services in cases of service-connected infertility, but eligibility has been limited. On March 11, it was announced that eligibility requirements will now provide greater access to families, but the policy could be better. Policy Expansion Prior to this announcement, the policy for assisted reproduction was limited to married service ..read more

WIC and the Military Family: More than Nutrition Like many families across America, military families use WIC, also known as The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC is a welcomed resource for military families to support nutrition, get healthy food options on the table, add some breathing room to the grocery budget, and build a community of support to lean on. 20 Years of WIC For active-duty military spouse and nursing mother Lorene Staggs, WIC has been a go-to resource for 20 years, benefiting her five children, now aged 21 years old to 7 months old ..read more

WIC Program at Risk – Congress Must Act to Fund Program Essential to Military Families We all know that military life can come with its share of financial challenges. Frequent PCS moves, persistent spouse unemployment, and unexpected expenses all add up, sometimes making it hard for families to put healthy food on the table. Luckily, there are resources to help families get through periods of financial hardship. One of the most valuable of these programs is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. WIC offers nutrition support for pregn ..read more

Military Family Impact: Celebrating Victories and Moving Ahead for a Better 2024 At the National Military Family Association, every day is spent amplifying the voices of military families who sacrifice so much for our nation. 2023 was a year marked by victories and celebrations as we deliver on our mission to stand up for, support, and enhance the quality of life for every military family through bold advocacy, innovative programming, and dynamic and responsive solutions. 20 Years of Impactful Programming For more than 20 years, NMFA has served the military family community through innovative ..read more

Military Families Voices Needed on TRICARE Autism Program Does your military family include a child on the autism spectrum? Are they enrolled in TRICARE’s Autism Care Demonstration (ACD)? If so, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) wants to hear from you. Why Your Experience Matters The Autism Care Demonstration covers Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy for enrollees. As part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress directed NASEM to conduct an independent analysis of the effectiveness of the ACD. They are tasked with re ..read more

NDAA Update: Some Military Spouse Employment Provisions Included There was good news for military families in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (FY23 NDAA), including provisions on military spouse employment and student loan repayments during a PCS. Remote and Telework The bill expands the benefits under noncompetitive appointments of military spouses to include remote and telework. Congress is also requiring a study by the Comptroller General on remote work by Federal agencies. Student loan deferment for Dislocated Military Spouses Spouses who are unemployed because of ..read more

NDAA Update: Mental Healthcare and Extended Benefits The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 includes several provisions to make mental health care more accessible and affordable for military families. Military Family Life Counselors First and most significant, Section 581 authorizes mental health professionals contracted with the Department of Defense to provide non-medical counseling services to service members and military families regardless of location. This will allow Military Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) to serve families in any state, not just the one they are li ..read more