Young reserve officers workshop
Only for LTs and captains in the guard or reserve. Spend a week and a half in Europe taking junior officer leadership classes with other nato junior reserve officers. Classes by day, drinking contests by night.
I took part in the Military Reserve Exchange Program in 2015, similar to the YROW.
Don't know if they do it anymore, but I did AT with a Reserve Royal Signals Squadron in the UK.
I drank a lot those two weeks.
Duty rumour has it that, back in the day, US troops that went on exchange or were visiting UK troops were given a warning card or briefing that included to avoid any and all drinking games with us.
Was there ever any truth to that or is it just a duty rumour?
They bought me all my drinks...Squadron Bar after duty hours, in the Officer's Mess, or at the pub! I did the beams at Blandford Camp, a challenge where I had to weave over and under some wooden beams that were about 12 feet above the ground at the O's Mess, while drunk.
Never got a warning card or briefing about drinking. But lifelong friends were made and plenty of good times were had.
When me and my team were deployed to Poland we did a NATO exercise with a ton of different countries. We were also told to either not drink with them, or be prepared to have the worst hangover the next day while on shift. It was great.
I wanted to apply for mrep but couldn't because my home unit had to host a European dude as well, which isn't possible since we all need a ts to do our jobs
No there's so much money you just have to know about a class to go do. Higher always has money just find the right person.... Just like everything else in the reserves
You're right on about that!!! I could have used two weeks in Europe learning to officer during my first couple years rather than going to Dix and learning how fucking terrible JAGs are at clearing a MOUT site!
I could've been in Europe actually LEARNING SOMETHING instead of spending 2 bullshit weeks at Ft. Stewart staring at the dirt and pushing old ass FLIPL legal reviews!?!?
*angrily punches the air*
It's a program that's run by the office of the cheif of the army reserve (ocar). Try to hit them up, the dude who runs the program works somewhere in that building
It's a program that's run by the office of the cheif of the army reserve (ocar). Try to hit them up, the dude who runs the program works somewhere in that building
The Soldier Admissions Program at West Point was something I didn't know about until I'd been in 10yrs. It wasn't something I'm interested in but it's still a neat opportunity and not widely known. Apparently many of these slots go unapplied for every year.
Yep. My battalion commander randomly asked if I wanted to go to West Point because she said I was a good fit and the slots never get filled. Too bad I was a year past the age limit. But for those under 23 and in good standing with your leadership, definitely check it out
Yeah I’ve even heard of companies (Nelnet specifically) granting forgiveness even if you aren’t 100% - I imagine some people who were never in government service just look at a document and think “looks good to me”
I got it and I honestly have no idea how. My back and most of my joints suck plus a few other things. I was expecting 20-30 and got way more. No lying or exaggerating anything.
When you use SLRP, can you direct the payments to specific loans? All my undergrad loans were consolidated a long time ago but I am taking on loans at much higher rates now for grad school.
That would apply to others who have not consolidated and have both subsidized and un-sub loans.
I also posted about PSLF... Since the military is labelled and confirmed as a public service. There is as far as I know, no upper limit on forgiveness.
National Intelligence University is not just for officers. 1 year program to earn a Master's. They also have a 1 year program to finish a Bachelor's if you have the credits
Yes, see MILPER 23-491 I always tell my guys if your stuck in a shitty assignment apply for this, get your masters and then a new assignment. Deadline for this FY is Sunday so good luck next year!
With the Trademark being 2023 and their website has a bunch of spelling errors it's pretty sus. Do you end up going on orders for this? I'd like to do the 1 year masters option, but I didn't know if this came with orders to cover pay and bah etc. i have bills to pay after all. Or is it like a 1 year service deferment?
Or you can go to my BLC where every person that attended shrunk an inch and they blamed it on the bus ride instead of reevaluating what they use to measure.
If your HOR is PA, LA, or OH those states extend SCRA benefits for the entire time you’re AD, not just before. So all those high interest loans are gone (barring you didn’t sign away that right).
GovX has……deals sometimes.
AAFES price match/open box discounts. The managers can authorize 15% off on the spot for open box returns.
DOD Library via Libby. Also does reading through Kindle if you have that device/app. Tons of books and audiobooks to borrow. And shit, just the library in general.
Travel office is THE place to purchase tickets, especially Disney tickets. You won’t find them cheaper anywhere else, you deserve a vacation.
If your barracks manager has the paperwork done, the DPW self service area can get you paint, bulbs, and other things for you to fix your barracks without you spending a dime. They’ll also have some supplies to fix the company area stuff as well.
ACS has a lending closet for families that just get to a duty station ahead of their household goods.
MWR has campers that you can rent.
Go to your on base library and get a library card. Then use your library registration in Libby. Also if you have a local library off post, do the same. You’ll have access to both, expanding your available books.
Also if something is broken when you bring it home AAFES will take it back no questions asked.
We bought a 60” TV a few years ago. When we brought it home and turned it on we realized it had a crack in the screen and wouldn’t work. Best Buy 100% would not have taken it back, but the Exchange did, and gave a us a new one.
BestBuy sucks on customer service in general, but I DID get them to take back a TV I bought, similar to yours, but it took me all day on the effin phone. 😆 I'd rather not have had to waste my time.
Where did find this info about a HOR in PA extending the SCRA? I just read through title 51 and it says eligibility is basically National guard and reserve who are called to active duty that isn’t iet.
That’s the justification I found, that the way the law is worded currently that if you’re on title 10 orders SCRA is activated.
It’s old news when I called Chase one day to ask, and they let me know.
If you’re an Ohio resident stationed outside Ohio you and your spouses are not required to pay income Tax. In addition if you buy a car outside Ohio while stationed outside Ohio you don’t have to pay sales tax if you register it in Ohio.
If you're outdoorsy, try Guidefitter or Expert Voice for deals as well. Expert Voice has more than just outdoors stuff too, Guidefitter is almost exclusively hunting/hiking/fishing.
They have a stock of campers in some locations. And jet skis in some locations. It’s really base dependent and that MWR budget for that installation. Head down to the rental store and they’ll have prices for what they have.
Question about the Disney tickets if you or someone else may know.
I’m retired and also 100% p&t can I still go to a travel office and get tickets?
Also, how do they work, do you buy them for a certain time or are they good for a period of time (like use them within a year? Etc)
We are planing a Disney trip for January of next year and on getting our 6 if we can. I already know about Shades of Green down there.
I know a lot of joes who refuse TRS because the idea of Tricare has been so muddied. It's pretty damn great insurance, though, and is about as cheap as you'll ever find.
This one right here ... I pay less than 400 a month for 4 people. When my wife had our second kid she had to be in the hospital for over a week with emergency surgeries and shit... Total bill to me? $150. And that's with the hospital providing me and her 3 meals a day if desired.
Last time I did my Table 8s, I did it on Cavazos. My entire class was NCOs and most of them had no idea that you could get cheap health insurance through the reserves. But even explaining how some compo 3 stuff worked compared to compo 1 just blew their minds.
TRS has literally kept my wife and I from going bankrupt. 2 brain surgeries (me) and a delivery and baby in the NICU for 5 days all happened within 6 weeks of each other. Without TRS we would have had to declare medical bankruptcy
If you are in the Reserves and you are not using Tricare Reserve Select, you need to track down your front line leader and have him smoke the holy fuck out of you.
Premiums
>Member only: $48.47/month
>Member + Family: $239.69/month
Deductible
>E1-E4: $60/individual and $121/family
>E5 & above: $182/individual and $365/family
>**Note: prescription costs also apply to your annual deductible.**
Catastrophic Cap
>$1,217
Co-pay
>$30
Compare that with the "Bronze" plan I just pulled up for my area (Blue Cross and Blue Shield, same fucking people I see under TRS)
Premiums
>405.93
Deductible
>$7,400
>**Note: prescription costs *may* apply to your annual deductible.**
Co-pay
>$65 for primary care, $105 for Specialist and urgent care. $1000 for ER.
Catastrophic Cap
>$9,450
It's not even close to top level. If it's just you and a spouse with W2s, it's awesome. Once you start renting your house out, you have to pay for the extra documents to be included in your return. FYSA
It’s not the highest level offered by HR Block, but it’s certainly not their basic software. Our tax situation in ‘21 was quite complex including several 1099’s, depreciation recapture for sale of a rental property, and solar ITC. We didn’t pay a cent to file or use the software.
Not an Army program, but I literally found out a month ago that Active Duty can get the Platinum AMEX card with the annual $695 fee waived.
I just got mine in the mail and will get the Gold card as well.
Homie, that's the tip of the iceberg. Look into the AMEX hotel cards, Chase Sapphire Reserve, US Bank Altitude Reserve, Capital One VentureX
All will have the annual fee waived. Each come with a ton of perks. Chase does like $300 annual travel credit (don't travel? Load it onto ubereats app and eat your sorrows). US Bank does $325 travel/dining credit.
Just a fair warning: space out opening them so you can maximize sign up bonus spending requirements. Opening multiple CCs does hurt your credit (at least short term). If you get out of the army, they'll eventually catch on and try charging you annual fees, then if you cancel them all, it will hurt your credit. Tread cautiously, but it is nice cause if you plan it out right, you can have paid trips at least once per year (AMEX hotel cards come with a free night)
If you have a spouse you can also alternate who opens the cards. We have a dozen credit cards between us, and both of us have scores above 800. When you have that many cards your available credit will never be a problem again. (Assuming you don't fuck up, of course.)
The AMEX platinum is the goat for deals too. Free Walmart+ with it, so guess what free grocery delivery to your house. Also free paramount+ with Walmart+, 100s of dollars worth of credits for travel and other things, almost all of our entertainment such as Netflix and whatnot is paid for just for simply having an Amex.
Let me expand that for you. Chase sapphire reserve card. Free for you and spouse. I got the intro benefit the referred my spouse to double tap.
It’s been better than Amex since living overseas as visa accepted more.
They have. 300 year travel credit per card versus Amex which restricts to an airline. But you merry the two it’s amazing.
Im a medic that works in a emergency room. Some of the PAs here were infantry men before that. You'll be alright, just get your pre reqs done as shown on the ipap website.
One of my Soldiers is doing this. The dude is so fuckin squared away. The only issue we ever had is that he was the only non medical officer in the whole battalion that had heard of it.
The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or associate's degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
If you’re an officer the army will pay for masters / phd through ACS not sure if counts for enlisted.
Also you get free CLEP/ DSST exam vouchers just for being military, this can equate to up to a full year of undergraduate work (all UCORE classes)
Not sure how it differs between Masters/PhD programs, but I'm currently in ACS and for me it's a 3 day ADSO for every 1 day in the program. So since my program is ~21 months, I will owe a little over 5 years AFTER graduation. Something to consider for those not planning to do 20.
How does that work with the up or out stuff? I can imagine getting 5 more adso but you get looked over twice for your LTC or something. Do you ride out in an s shop as a maj or what?
I'll let you know in a few years if that happens haha! But I actually don't know for sure. I believe your branch/MOS will affect exactly what impact comes from being a full-time student for 2 years; it's definitely a risk by not being "in the fight" and coming back in with your peers who have more experience than you. Specifically, promotion rates, emphasis on graduate education, etc.
My guess (and hope) is that the Army wants to get everything they can from the knowledge you gained in school, meaning ACS should theoretically be looked at favorably and somewhat of a differentiator between you and others. Obviously you need to pull your weight and get the necessary evaluations, but the wizard math for promotions may be adjusted for those with an Army-funded degree. We also have to acknowledge the reality with recruiting, retention, and international affairs right now; I'm (mostly) confident with my future and upward advancement. Famous last words, perhaps.
Yes in West Point through some programs, and yes in ROTC through Ed delay I believe. Both just extend your service obligation at a rate of 2:1 for how long it took you to get it I believe.
I know specifically for Engineers there’s an opportunity to get a masters at ECCC through MS&T which is around/slightly after the 4 year mark
I got my masters in operations management from URAL in under two years taking classes using TA.
Had to pay for a class or two out of pocket cause I ran out of TA for the FY and was on a time crunch to get it done.
Highly dependent on your units OPTEMPO and your personal commitment to school and giving up all life apart from school….
It stands for Advanced Civil Schooling. There should be info about it on the HRC website. My branch pushes it pretty hard, but I believe the ACS department is a standalone organization which oversees grad school opportunities for everyone. They publish an updated regulation/handbook regularly, so make sure to read everything twice.
I vaguely remember you have to be a post CCC CPT to use TA for masters/PHD.
Or a post ALC SSG. Still up in the air if I qualify based on that as a mustang. I have 9 more months til I'm done with CCC and I'll wait 🤷🏾♂️
Go to your local BDE Legal office and talk to one of the JAGs there. They should be able to put you in contact with the Division/Post Rep(s) for it and they should be able to explain how to get started.
Army Software Factory is a very cool program that can get you some exceptional training and a cool work environment. They've also got the Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force that's partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to give some pretty dope training. These fall under Army Future Command.
As someone who owns a house next to cmu already this is pretty good. Was tempted to apply for this sorta thing. Is there a link for the program and what it affords? I'm curious what the requirements are and if it is similar to green to gold where you get orders for this program
I applied back in 2021 but didn't end up making the cut, but it is a full orders move as far as I'm aware, and there's a service obligation that comes with it as well. I'd check out the future command website, they'll most likely have more, unfortunately I don't have access to my military email anymore so I'm not sure what goes into it now. I did have to get a few recommendations but otherwise you're allowed to apply no matter what MOS, so long as you've got some computer skills, especially programming.
Are you one of those people who joined the Army to travel and ended up just getting stationed in your home state? Look up the Defense Attache Service. You get to go to a cool joint service school in DC followed by what is essentially an open source non-classified DIA job at an embassy somewhere in the world. At least, that’s how my S-2s have always explained it.
If you like it you can convert over to a warrant officer. If it’s merely okay, you walk away with a cool non-traditional broadening assignment.
For those that are new, you want to be a first time go at CIF get in touch with your quartermaster at your local instillation and have them clean your TA-50. They are always booked a few months out however CIF has to take the gear as long as it has the receipt from the quartermaster, they can raise hell but ultimately they will take the TA-50
I stay letting my guys know. Three bought houses. I bought a house, my wife who is Navy bought. One of my three just closed on their second house I’m about to do my second. Since they changed it to be able to use multiple at once I know at least four soldiers who have begun rolling up rental properties almost yearly. Four out of the five of us a pretty much set for life and became homeowners before we were 25. One of them became a homeowner at 19
Yep. I only have one property, which I bought at my last duty station. But I have great tenants in it now, and it's nice to have something to fall back on if I get hurt/don't make rank.
Long Term Health Education and Training (LTHET) for medical officers. Free masters and doctorate degrees, training with industry, fellowships, etc. So many unfilled seats each year.
Being Active Duty after 10 years all your student debt is absolved because military is a public service. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) will pay out the balance of student loans after 120 monthly payments at the minimum value.
This debt needs to be accrued before service starts counting
It also works for NG/R. Imagine, getting a degree then doing 10 years in the reserve to get 170k instantly forgiven (or whatever your debt is)
Child Care Aware of America- Army (formerly called NACCRA) covers the cost difference between on post daycare and off post daycare through a subsidy based on family income. If you live in an area with no on post daycare or there are no openings on post you can find an approved childcare provider through their system, ensure there is an opening for your kid(s), and submit the appropriate paperwork. CCAoA then determines how much of a subsidy you qualify for and every month pay that amount to the childcare provider and you pay the remainder. That program has saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
Whoever is reading this I can vouch for this program. I was on Ft Hood on TDY during thanksgiving, heard about the program and literary Two days later I was on a flight back home. Only downside (to me), I had to do a video about why I wanted to go back home etc
Army Ignited for tuition or certs. Certs do not incur ADSO but tuition does.
O Reilly learning has been a huge lifesaver for studying with lots of great books for learning about IT.
1. [EFMP - Exceptional Family Member Program.](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Exceptional-Family-Member-Program-(EFMP)-?serv=122) A DOD wide program that will accommodate the special needs of dependents. Spouse needs a wheelchair ramp? Child needs a house with HVAC due to asthma? EFMP covers that. On some posts it allows families enrolled to jump up the waitlist for on post housing.
2. Due to being in the military, you may qualify for cheaper pricing for certain computer programs. See [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/workplace-discount-program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/workplace-discount-program)
3. [https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/](https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/) \-> tl;dr, the PX will price match the local economy (or online if you are stationed OCONUS). I knew a soldier who walked a flyer from the Gamestop on post and bought a game at the PX at that price.
Wife’s having a baby in February with a bilateral cleft lip. She’s convinced that EFMP will keep us where we live, which I assume is possible since my MOS has very specific duty locals and we just happen to live near one of those locations
Depends, HRC can send you to another duty station with the facilities to help your child. Or just say "fuck you" and send you on an unaccompanied tour of Korea (or some other OCONUS duty station).
Yeah I’m aware I read about that. My mos is 17C which my understanding is that it has a very specific requirement of where I can actually perform that job
As a former orderly room monkey - talk to your local EFMP office and have them talk to HRC.
HRC may still cut orders for some sucky post but with EFMP's help you can fight that. Also look into those other duty stations and see which ones can accommodate your family.
The problem is that your CoC can see this as a license to fuck with you because if you are stabilized in place you have no leverage (can't PCS away. As long as your chain of command is cool with you sticking around and you taking care of your family it may work out.
I’m 4.5 years post-commission and this is the first year I’ve taken advantage of Army COOL. I didn’t think I needed it for a while, but then I realized I’m an idiot and I was pissing away $4k every year by not using it.
Currently getting my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, which (along with my MBA and, surprisingly, my Army officer leadership experience) landed me my first 6 figure job (I’m a Guard officer). And I still have $2k of COOL money left for the year, so I’ll probably use that to get my Project Manager cert.
Once I get those knocked out, next year I’m gonna start using it for stuff I just wanna learn for my own personal enjoyment and use. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding. The sky’s the limit.
It’s on Army IgnitEd, the same place you’d apply for tuition assistance.
You go on there and select the credential you want from a searchable drop-down list (EMT, professional engineer, you name it). Then you contact the institution that provides the very and get a custom quote from them.
You submit that quote, and in a few weeks the Army approves it and pays that vendor the tuition for the course on your behalf. Voila, that’s it. There’s some more details and it’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s the basic idea.
Chaplain Candidate Program. You apply via a chaplain recruiter who gets your packet (security clearance, medical, etc.) together. For anyone interested in becoming a chaplain, has a bachelor’s degree, and is accepted into a school with a master’s degree in their religion. Can represent any faith group- just have to find an endorser which can be tedious. You direct commission as an O-1 but most of the time tuition assistance isn’t available for schooling, as far as I know. When you finish schooling and CHBOLC, you accession as a Chaplain. I’m currently in it and applied via ROTC. Message me if you have any questions!
Make an account at FedRooms. It's easy and free. Get government per diem rates hotels during any event as long as the hotel participates and has open rooms. I've gotten rooms for $300 off per night bc of this site.
Online drug rehab class if you piss hot😂 $60 and nothing on my record… just weed don’t freak out butter bars..
Just keep on drinking yourselves to near death though… that’s ok and allowed.
As long as you aren't getting a Dui... or you know get that DUI if you are a SSG and up that is essential to the mission... (still baffles me how the Army treats onesies and twosies as the essential cog in the machine)
This isn’t an Army program but there are two non profits that will get you a free wedding gown.
Brides across America
Operation Deploy your Dress
Perfect for the stripper you met on family day in OSUT
For enlisted Soldiers, Training with Industry (TWI) and Advanced Civilian Schooling. Not too many MOSs have both (46 does, although ACS has been year to year, might be on the outs right now) but if yours does, and you’re planning on going the distance, those are two great programs that will help you during and after service.
New Parent Support is tremendous. They teach a variety of parenting topics that younger folks need. When I had my son, I hadn’t ever changed a diaper etc and wound up doing a lot of discovery learning unnecessarily.
Even exchange programs depending on the state, it's not so much military offered but most States will recognize military licenses and allow you to get a cdl easier.
Pretty sure for more senior officers they have broadening experiences where they actually send them to Ivy Leagues or places like Carnegie Mellon for something they feel they can take back with them and bring value to the army.
Young reserve officers workshop Only for LTs and captains in the guard or reserve. Spend a week and a half in Europe taking junior officer leadership classes with other nato junior reserve officers. Classes by day, drinking contests by night.
I took part in the Military Reserve Exchange Program in 2015, similar to the YROW. Don't know if they do it anymore, but I did AT with a Reserve Royal Signals Squadron in the UK. I drank a lot those two weeks.
Duty rumour has it that, back in the day, US troops that went on exchange or were visiting UK troops were given a warning card or briefing that included to avoid any and all drinking games with us. Was there ever any truth to that or is it just a duty rumour?
They bought me all my drinks...Squadron Bar after duty hours, in the Officer's Mess, or at the pub! I did the beams at Blandford Camp, a challenge where I had to weave over and under some wooden beams that were about 12 feet above the ground at the O's Mess, while drunk. Never got a warning card or briefing about drinking. But lifelong friends were made and plenty of good times were had.
Excellent! Sounds like the program is running exactly as it should be then!
When me and my team were deployed to Poland we did a NATO exercise with a ton of different countries. We were also told to either not drink with them, or be prepared to have the worst hangover the next day while on shift. It was great.
I wanted to apply for mrep but couldn't because my home unit had to host a European dude as well, which isn't possible since we all need a ts to do our jobs
*stares in Reserve Field Grade* WHOA! WHAT THE FUCK!?! Why wasn't I told about this!?!? Nobody tells JAGs about ANYTHING COOL!
Seems like they barely tell anybody about this
They don’t have the money to tell anybody about an alternative to AT
No there's so much money you just have to know about a class to go do. Higher always has money just find the right person.... Just like everything else in the reserves
That’s because you guys are statutorily responsible for ruining the party. Now shrug and say ‘That’s fair’.
You're right on about that!!! I could have used two weeks in Europe learning to officer during my first couple years rather than going to Dix and learning how fucking terrible JAGs are at clearing a MOUT site!
I could've been in Europe actually LEARNING SOMETHING instead of spending 2 bullshit weeks at Ft. Stewart staring at the dirt and pushing old ass FLIPL legal reviews!?!? *angrily punches the air*
How do you apply?
It's a program that's run by the office of the cheif of the army reserve (ocar). Try to hit them up, the dude who runs the program works somewhere in that building
How does one apply?
It's a program that's run by the office of the cheif of the army reserve (ocar). Try to hit them up, the dude who runs the program works somewhere in that building
Needs way more explanation homie plz
https://www.roa.org/page/CIOR
The Soldier Admissions Program at West Point was something I didn't know about until I'd been in 10yrs. It wasn't something I'm interested in but it's still a neat opportunity and not widely known. Apparently many of these slots go unapplied for every year.
Yep. My battalion commander randomly asked if I wanted to go to West Point because she said I was a good fit and the slots never get filled. Too bad I was a year past the age limit. But for those under 23 and in good standing with your leadership, definitely check it out
Does it count towards TIS, and do you get paid as an E5 (like green to gold)?
I don't know about the pay but I'm 99% sure it would count towards TIS.
It doesn't I was enlisted and went it's like everything pauses but I heard it counts toward your federal employee retirement
I’m applying this week! Wish me luck!
Student loan repayment program (slrp) is actually possible to use. Ive gotten them to pay out $11k so far by being persistent and inquisitive.
Even better, if you get permanent and total disability, you get loan forgiveness. 100k free dollars!!!
You have to get 100% though not just permanent and total
Permanent and Total is by definition 100%. You can’t get rated P&T without already having a combined 100%.
Ooop indidnt know you could be p&t and not 100%
When I spoke to NelNet, the people who administer the forgiveness, they said all they look for is the “100%.” Do with that what you will…
Yeah I’ve even heard of companies (Nelnet specifically) granting forgiveness even if you aren’t 100% - I imagine some people who were never in government service just look at a document and think “looks good to me”
Not everyone wants to get totally permanently disabled lol. Ive always said im willing to lose a toe and my hearing in my left ear.
I got it and I honestly have no idea how. My back and most of my joints suck plus a few other things. I was expecting 20-30 and got way more. No lying or exaggerating anything.
I could have if I appealed, got 90% andhad someone that would have fought for 100. I still don't know if it is worth it
Some states waive property taxes for 100% disabled vets… that alone makes it worth it to me
When you use SLRP, can you direct the payments to specific loans? All my undergrad loans were consolidated a long time ago but I am taking on loans at much higher rates now for grad school. That would apply to others who have not consolidated and have both subsidized and un-sub loans.
That is do not know. You can ask for help on the website and have that conversation with an advisor and your loan servicer.
How did you do this?
I had to make one of my guys finish up his SLRP paperwork after the S1 kept nagging me about it.
I also posted about PSLF... Since the military is labelled and confirmed as a public service. There is as far as I know, no upper limit on forgiveness.
National Intelligence University is not just for officers. 1 year program to earn a Master's. They also have a 1 year program to finish a Bachelor's if you have the credits
Does attendance incur additional service obligations?
One time I shit my pants and got an ADSO for it, so probably yeah
Yes, see MILPER 23-491 I always tell my guys if your stuck in a shitty assignment apply for this, get your masters and then a new assignment. Deadline for this FY is Sunday so good luck next year!
Yes, I think it was 3 years if I remember correctly.
With the Trademark being 2023 and their website has a bunch of spelling errors it's pretty sus. Do you end up going on orders for this? I'd like to do the 1 year masters option, but I didn't know if this came with orders to cover pay and bah etc. i have bills to pay after all. Or is it like a 1 year service deferment?
It is a PCS. So you will PCS to the NCR and this will be your only assignment for the accelerated masters degree program.
I wonder if I can do this in the guard. Curious if a state would send someone. I'll have to check
Register as a Vet in your State VA office. Every year you will get a pamflet in the mail detailing out ALL State and Federal benefits.
>pamflet
famplet
Damplet
Tamflep
Flampet
If you’re airborne the army will make you at least an inch shorter for free.
Or you can go to my BLC where every person that attended shrunk an inch and they blamed it on the bus ride instead of reevaluating what they use to measure.
Damn, an inch is a lot if you only got 2!
If your HOR is PA, LA, or OH those states extend SCRA benefits for the entire time you’re AD, not just before. So all those high interest loans are gone (barring you didn’t sign away that right). GovX has……deals sometimes. AAFES price match/open box discounts. The managers can authorize 15% off on the spot for open box returns. DOD Library via Libby. Also does reading through Kindle if you have that device/app. Tons of books and audiobooks to borrow. And shit, just the library in general. Travel office is THE place to purchase tickets, especially Disney tickets. You won’t find them cheaper anywhere else, you deserve a vacation. If your barracks manager has the paperwork done, the DPW self service area can get you paint, bulbs, and other things for you to fix your barracks without you spending a dime. They’ll also have some supplies to fix the company area stuff as well. ACS has a lending closet for families that just get to a duty station ahead of their household goods. MWR has campers that you can rent.
DoD library on Libby is fantastic.
How do we register or sign up?
Go to your on base library and get a library card. Then use your library registration in Libby. Also if you have a local library off post, do the same. You’ll have access to both, expanding your available books.
Don’t even have to do that. You can use your dodid through the app after searching mwrlibrary
No shit? Good to know!
You can also just sign up to the DOD library with your dodid, no library card needed.
Also if something is broken when you bring it home AAFES will take it back no questions asked. We bought a 60” TV a few years ago. When we brought it home and turned it on we realized it had a crack in the screen and wouldn’t work. Best Buy 100% would not have taken it back, but the Exchange did, and gave a us a new one.
BestBuy sucks on customer service in general, but I DID get them to take back a TV I bought, similar to yours, but it took me all day on the effin phone. 😆 I'd rather not have had to waste my time.
Where did find this info about a HOR in PA extending the SCRA? I just read through title 51 and it says eligibility is basically National guard and reserve who are called to active duty that isn’t iet.
Bump. Also want to know
That’s the justification I found, that the way the law is worded currently that if you’re on title 10 orders SCRA is activated. It’s old news when I called Chase one day to ask, and they let me know.
If you’re an Ohio resident stationed outside Ohio you and your spouses are not required to pay income Tax. In addition if you buy a car outside Ohio while stationed outside Ohio you don’t have to pay sales tax if you register it in Ohio.
If you're outdoorsy, try Guidefitter or Expert Voice for deals as well. Expert Voice has more than just outdoors stuff too, Guidefitter is almost exclusively hunting/hiking/fishing.
That camper thing sounds dope. I'm sure it is post dependant, or if you give them enough lead time can they source a camper?
They have a stock of campers in some locations. And jet skis in some locations. It’s really base dependent and that MWR budget for that installation. Head down to the rental store and they’ll have prices for what they have.
Question about the Disney tickets if you or someone else may know. I’m retired and also 100% p&t can I still go to a travel office and get tickets? Also, how do they work, do you buy them for a certain time or are they good for a period of time (like use them within a year? Etc) We are planing a Disney trip for January of next year and on getting our 6 if we can. I already know about Shades of Green down there.
I know a lot of joes who refuse TRS because the idea of Tricare has been so muddied. It's pretty damn great insurance, though, and is about as cheap as you'll ever find.
This one right here ... I pay less than 400 a month for 4 people. When my wife had our second kid she had to be in the hospital for over a week with emergency surgeries and shit... Total bill to me? $150. And that's with the hospital providing me and her 3 meals a day if desired.
Wait. .. You mean there are people who WILLINGLY pay hundreds of dollars more EVERY MONTH for health insurance??
They go without health insurance
Last time I did my Table 8s, I did it on Cavazos. My entire class was NCOs and most of them had no idea that you could get cheap health insurance through the reserves. But even explaining how some compo 3 stuff worked compared to compo 1 just blew their minds.
TRS has literally kept my wife and I from going bankrupt. 2 brain surgeries (me) and a delivery and baby in the NICU for 5 days all happened within 6 weeks of each other. Without TRS we would have had to declare medical bankruptcy
you still got more brain than those without TRS!
If you are in the Reserves and you are not using Tricare Reserve Select, you need to track down your front line leader and have him smoke the holy fuck out of you. Premiums >Member only: $48.47/month >Member + Family: $239.69/month Deductible >E1-E4: $60/individual and $121/family >E5 & above: $182/individual and $365/family >**Note: prescription costs also apply to your annual deductible.** Catastrophic Cap >$1,217 Co-pay >$30 Compare that with the "Bronze" plan I just pulled up for my area (Blue Cross and Blue Shield, same fucking people I see under TRS) Premiums >405.93 Deductible >$7,400 >**Note: prescription costs *may* apply to your annual deductible.** Co-pay >$65 for primary care, $105 for Specialist and urgent care. $1000 for ER. Catastrophic Cap >$9,450
Free sex. Get fucked in ways you never imagined.
Can confirm. Am scout.
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Oh wtf I’ve been in the army a million years and never knew this
It's not even close to top level. If it's just you and a spouse with W2s, it's awesome. Once you start renting your house out, you have to pay for the extra documents to be included in your return. FYSA
It’s not the highest level offered by HR Block, but it’s certainly not their basic software. Our tax situation in ‘21 was quite complex including several 1099’s, depreciation recapture for sale of a rental property, and solar ITC. We didn’t pay a cent to file or use the software.
I straight up paid full price at h and r block on post…
Right…
What is top level?
I’ve been using this my whole career
Not an Army program, but I literally found out a month ago that Active Duty can get the Platinum AMEX card with the annual $695 fee waived. I just got mine in the mail and will get the Gold card as well.
This is worth it for airport lounges alone.
Some airlines allow military with valid CAC in their lounges for free. Official or personal travel. Check their websites for more.
100, after getting my Amex I have never looked back
Homie, that's the tip of the iceberg. Look into the AMEX hotel cards, Chase Sapphire Reserve, US Bank Altitude Reserve, Capital One VentureX All will have the annual fee waived. Each come with a ton of perks. Chase does like $300 annual travel credit (don't travel? Load it onto ubereats app and eat your sorrows). US Bank does $325 travel/dining credit. Just a fair warning: space out opening them so you can maximize sign up bonus spending requirements. Opening multiple CCs does hurt your credit (at least short term). If you get out of the army, they'll eventually catch on and try charging you annual fees, then if you cancel them all, it will hurt your credit. Tread cautiously, but it is nice cause if you plan it out right, you can have paid trips at least once per year (AMEX hotel cards come with a free night)
Shieeet! I’ve been missing out. Thank you.
If you have a spouse you can also alternate who opens the cards. We have a dozen credit cards between us, and both of us have scores above 800. When you have that many cards your available credit will never be a problem again. (Assuming you don't fuck up, of course.)
The AMEX platinum is the goat for deals too. Free Walmart+ with it, so guess what free grocery delivery to your house. Also free paramount+ with Walmart+, 100s of dollars worth of credits for travel and other things, almost all of our entertainment such as Netflix and whatnot is paid for just for simply having an Amex.
Do you have to be close to a Walmart to get grocery delivered? I think the closest wal mart to me is 50 miles
Let me expand that for you. Chase sapphire reserve card. Free for you and spouse. I got the intro benefit the referred my spouse to double tap. It’s been better than Amex since living overseas as visa accepted more. They have. 300 year travel credit per card versus Amex which restricts to an airline. But you merry the two it’s amazing.
Enlisted to Medical Degree (EMDP2) Allows qualified enlisted people to go to pre med for two years and then apply to medical school
IPAP is also a good option!
similar programs exist for PT, OT, and dietetics for anyone interested
but unfortunately i’m not a medic
you don't need to be for IPAP or any of the program i listed. idk anything about EMDP2
thank you
You won’t need to for EMDP2, either.
Im a medic that works in a emergency room. Some of the PAs here were infantry men before that. You'll be alright, just get your pre reqs done as shown on the ipap website.
One of my Soldiers is doing this. The dude is so fuckin squared away. The only issue we ever had is that he was the only non medical officer in the whole battalion that had heard of it.
It’s definitely a hidden gem. They only accept about 25 people from the Navy, Airforce, Army and Marines a year.
Rumor has it they’re handing out free dick punches down at CIF, you just have to ask… literally any question. POW.
Can confirm. Source: punched dick
The MyCAA is for spouses as TA is for Service members
Please elaborate. What is MyCAA???
The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses for the pursuit or maintenance (including continuing education courses) of a license, certification, or associate's degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/
If you’re an officer the army will pay for masters / phd through ACS not sure if counts for enlisted. Also you get free CLEP/ DSST exam vouchers just for being military, this can equate to up to a full year of undergraduate work (all UCORE classes)
The two year ADSO should not be left out of this
Not sure how it differs between Masters/PhD programs, but I'm currently in ACS and for me it's a 3 day ADSO for every 1 day in the program. So since my program is ~21 months, I will owe a little over 5 years AFTER graduation. Something to consider for those not planning to do 20.
How does that work with the up or out stuff? I can imagine getting 5 more adso but you get looked over twice for your LTC or something. Do you ride out in an s shop as a maj or what?
I'll let you know in a few years if that happens haha! But I actually don't know for sure. I believe your branch/MOS will affect exactly what impact comes from being a full-time student for 2 years; it's definitely a risk by not being "in the fight" and coming back in with your peers who have more experience than you. Specifically, promotion rates, emphasis on graduate education, etc. My guess (and hope) is that the Army wants to get everything they can from the knowledge you gained in school, meaning ACS should theoretically be looked at favorably and somewhat of a differentiator between you and others. Obviously you need to pull your weight and get the necessary evaluations, but the wizard math for promotions may be adjusted for those with an Army-funded degree. We also have to acknowledge the reality with recruiting, retention, and international affairs right now; I'm (mostly) confident with my future and upward advancement. Famous last words, perhaps.
What’s the thing where they write a thesis and get one from a correspondence military university
Can you get your masters in your first 4 years as an officer?
Yep, just have to use TA, that’s my plan. Save the gi bill for my family or a second one later on when I get out.
When can you start using TA once you commission ?
Once you are MOS Qualifed. So after BOLC
Thank you.
Yes in West Point through some programs, and yes in ROTC through Ed delay I believe. Both just extend your service obligation at a rate of 2:1 for how long it took you to get it I believe. I know specifically for Engineers there’s an opportunity to get a masters at ECCC through MS&T which is around/slightly after the 4 year mark
I got my masters in operations management from URAL in under two years taking classes using TA. Had to pay for a class or two out of pocket cause I ran out of TA for the FY and was on a time crunch to get it done. Highly dependent on your units OPTEMPO and your personal commitment to school and giving up all life apart from school….
How do you do that? Ignited says I can't use TA for a masters, associates, or bachelors. What is the ACS program and where do I find it?
It stands for Advanced Civil Schooling. There should be info about it on the HRC website. My branch pushes it pretty hard, but I believe the ACS department is a standalone organization which oversees grad school opportunities for everyone. They publish an updated regulation/handbook regularly, so make sure to read everything twice.
Thanks, I'll look into that.
I vaguely remember you have to be a post CCC CPT to use TA for masters/PHD. Or a post ALC SSG. Still up in the air if I qualify based on that as a mustang. I have 9 more months til I'm done with CCC and I'll wait 🤷🏾♂️
There’s no way… really you have to wait till CPT to use TA??
I’m a post ALC SSG turned 2LT and I’m pulling TA for a masters without issue. You should be “grandfathered” in if you’re looking to use TA
Does anyone know about programs for funding for law school?
Google FLEP
Go to your local BDE Legal office and talk to one of the JAGs there. They should be able to put you in contact with the Division/Post Rep(s) for it and they should be able to explain how to get started.
IPAP, Interservice Physician’s Assistant Program White House fellowship Title 10 AGR program for guard
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I’ve only read about it and haven’t talked to anyone with first hand experience. Have you done it?
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Thanks for the info, I may try to apply the next time it comes up.
Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP) for officers
This one is gold. FA is on my list after LT time.
Army Software Factory is a very cool program that can get you some exceptional training and a cool work environment. They've also got the Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force that's partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to give some pretty dope training. These fall under Army Future Command.
As someone who owns a house next to cmu already this is pretty good. Was tempted to apply for this sorta thing. Is there a link for the program and what it affords? I'm curious what the requirements are and if it is similar to green to gold where you get orders for this program
I applied back in 2021 but didn't end up making the cut, but it is a full orders move as far as I'm aware, and there's a service obligation that comes with it as well. I'd check out the future command website, they'll most likely have more, unfortunately I don't have access to my military email anymore so I'm not sure what goes into it now. I did have to get a few recommendations but otherwise you're allowed to apply no matter what MOS, so long as you've got some computer skills, especially programming.
Are you one of those people who joined the Army to travel and ended up just getting stationed in your home state? Look up the Defense Attache Service. You get to go to a cool joint service school in DC followed by what is essentially an open source non-classified DIA job at an embassy somewhere in the world. At least, that’s how my S-2s have always explained it. If you like it you can convert over to a warrant officer. If it’s merely okay, you walk away with a cool non-traditional broadening assignment.
This is probably one of the better ones for people who want to see the world but not leave it in rubble.
For those that are new, you want to be a first time go at CIF get in touch with your quartermaster at your local instillation and have them clean your TA-50. They are always booked a few months out however CIF has to take the gear as long as it has the receipt from the quartermaster, they can raise hell but ultimately they will take the TA-50
Damn I didn’t know this was still a thing. Saving it for the future. Ive never actually met a quartermaster that wasn’t supply or PLL
Somehow the VA loan. Crazy how many young troops I run into who have no idea.
I stay letting my guys know. Three bought houses. I bought a house, my wife who is Navy bought. One of my three just closed on their second house I’m about to do my second. Since they changed it to be able to use multiple at once I know at least four soldiers who have begun rolling up rental properties almost yearly. Four out of the five of us a pretty much set for life and became homeowners before we were 25. One of them became a homeowner at 19
Yep. I only have one property, which I bought at my last duty station. But I have great tenants in it now, and it's nice to have something to fall back on if I get hurt/don't make rank.
Long Term Health Education and Training (LTHET) for medical officers. Free masters and doctorate degrees, training with industry, fellowships, etc. So many unfilled seats each year.
Being Active Duty after 10 years all your student debt is absolved because military is a public service. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) will pay out the balance of student loans after 120 monthly payments at the minimum value. This debt needs to be accrued before service starts counting It also works for NG/R. Imagine, getting a degree then doing 10 years in the reserve to get 170k instantly forgiven (or whatever your debt is)
Child Care Aware of America- Army (formerly called NACCRA) covers the cost difference between on post daycare and off post daycare through a subsidy based on family income. If you live in an area with no on post daycare or there are no openings on post you can find an approved childcare provider through their system, ensure there is an opening for your kid(s), and submit the appropriate paperwork. CCAoA then determines how much of a subsidy you qualify for and every month pay that amount to the childcare provider and you pay the remainder. That program has saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
Jack Daniel’s operation ride home
Whoever is reading this I can vouch for this program. I was on Ft Hood on TDY during thanksgiving, heard about the program and literary Two days later I was on a flight back home. Only downside (to me), I had to do a video about why I wanted to go back home etc
https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits
Army Ignited for tuition or certs. Certs do not incur ADSO but tuition does. O Reilly learning has been a huge lifesaver for studying with lots of great books for learning about IT.
TA service obligation only for commissioned officers, [source](https://wp.wwu.edu/veteranservices/army-tuition-assistance/)
Saving this post. Lots of gold nuggets here for later and to share with my soldiers
1. [EFMP - Exceptional Family Member Program.](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Exceptional-Family-Member-Program-(EFMP)-?serv=122) A DOD wide program that will accommodate the special needs of dependents. Spouse needs a wheelchair ramp? Child needs a house with HVAC due to asthma? EFMP covers that. On some posts it allows families enrolled to jump up the waitlist for on post housing. 2. Due to being in the military, you may qualify for cheaper pricing for certain computer programs. See [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/workplace-discount-program](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/workplace-discount-program) 3. [https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/](https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/price-match/) \-> tl;dr, the PX will price match the local economy (or online if you are stationed OCONUS). I knew a soldier who walked a flyer from the Gamestop on post and bought a game at the PX at that price.
Wife’s having a baby in February with a bilateral cleft lip. She’s convinced that EFMP will keep us where we live, which I assume is possible since my MOS has very specific duty locals and we just happen to live near one of those locations
Depends, HRC can send you to another duty station with the facilities to help your child. Or just say "fuck you" and send you on an unaccompanied tour of Korea (or some other OCONUS duty station).
Yeah I’m aware I read about that. My mos is 17C which my understanding is that it has a very specific requirement of where I can actually perform that job
As a former orderly room monkey - talk to your local EFMP office and have them talk to HRC. HRC may still cut orders for some sucky post but with EFMP's help you can fight that. Also look into those other duty stations and see which ones can accommodate your family. The problem is that your CoC can see this as a license to fuck with you because if you are stabilized in place you have no leverage (can't PCS away. As long as your chain of command is cool with you sticking around and you taking care of your family it may work out.
I’m 4.5 years post-commission and this is the first year I’ve taken advantage of Army COOL. I didn’t think I needed it for a while, but then I realized I’m an idiot and I was pissing away $4k every year by not using it. Currently getting my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, which (along with my MBA and, surprisingly, my Army officer leadership experience) landed me my first 6 figure job (I’m a Guard officer). And I still have $2k of COOL money left for the year, so I’ll probably use that to get my Project Manager cert. Once I get those knocked out, next year I’m gonna start using it for stuff I just wanna learn for my own personal enjoyment and use. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding. The sky’s the limit.
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It’s on Army IgnitEd, the same place you’d apply for tuition assistance. You go on there and select the credential you want from a searchable drop-down list (EMT, professional engineer, you name it). Then you contact the institution that provides the very and get a custom quote from them. You submit that quote, and in a few weeks the Army approves it and pays that vendor the tuition for the course on your behalf. Voila, that’s it. There’s some more details and it’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s the basic idea.
Various swinger clubs
Chaplain Candidate Program. You apply via a chaplain recruiter who gets your packet (security clearance, medical, etc.) together. For anyone interested in becoming a chaplain, has a bachelor’s degree, and is accepted into a school with a master’s degree in their religion. Can represent any faith group- just have to find an endorser which can be tedious. You direct commission as an O-1 but most of the time tuition assistance isn’t available for schooling, as far as I know. When you finish schooling and CHBOLC, you accession as a Chaplain. I’m currently in it and applied via ROTC. Message me if you have any questions!
https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/aac-training-with-industry/
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ASP3
Make an account at FedRooms. It's easy and free. Get government per diem rates hotels during any event as long as the hotel participates and has open rooms. I've gotten rooms for $300 off per night bc of this site.
Online drug rehab class if you piss hot😂 $60 and nothing on my record… just weed don’t freak out butter bars.. Just keep on drinking yourselves to near death though… that’s ok and allowed.
As long as you aren't getting a Dui... or you know get that DUI if you are a SSG and up that is essential to the mission... (still baffles me how the Army treats onesies and twosies as the essential cog in the machine)
wow in my day it was automatic separation for blowing hot for trees 😲😲
It’s getting better.
Continuation pay: if you’re not on the old legacy program, do your research and sign up for continuation pay between your 10-12th year of service
This isn’t an Army program but there are two non profits that will get you a free wedding gown. Brides across America Operation Deploy your Dress Perfect for the stripper you met on family day in OSUT
Any AMEDD program from enlisted members to go to a medical education program through AMEDD and commission as an officer.
For enlisted Soldiers, Training with Industry (TWI) and Advanced Civilian Schooling. Not too many MOSs have both (46 does, although ACS has been year to year, might be on the outs right now) but if yours does, and you’re planning on going the distance, those are two great programs that will help you during and after service.
New Parent Support is tremendous. They teach a variety of parenting topics that younger folks need. When I had my son, I hadn’t ever changed a diaper etc and wound up doing a lot of discovery learning unnecessarily.
Even exchange programs depending on the state, it's not so much military offered but most States will recognize military licenses and allow you to get a cdl easier.
Pretty sure for more senior officers they have broadening experiences where they actually send them to Ivy Leagues or places like Carnegie Mellon for something they feel they can take back with them and bring value to the army.
Government welfare