Military and Veteran Resources

Resources for Service Members, Military Families and Veterans

Coronavirus Resources

• CARES Act
• 3rd Stimulus Bill
• Coronavirus Information & Resources
• Coronavirus Cases in the US Military
• Stimulus Checks
• Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update

Military & Veterans ID Cards

• Military ID Cards – Information on military ID cards such types, eligibility and how to get a military id card.
• VA Veterans ID Card
• VA Veteran Health ID Card (VHIC)
• Form DD 215
• How to Check Someone Else’s Military Service Records
• How to Find Family Military Records Or History Of Military Units
• How to Get a Veterans ID Card
• How to Get a DD-214 Copy
• How to Replace Lost Military Medals & Decorations
• Official Military & Veteran Forms
• Real ID Act
• Replacement Dog Tags
• Service Treatment Records (STRs)
• Veterans ID on Driver’s License or ID Card by State

DD214, Discharges, Reenlistment Codes & More

• Air Force Review Boards Agency
• Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR)
• Definition Of A War Veteran
• Discharge Appeal Review Board (DARB)
• How To Read DD-214 Form
  • Understand Character of Discharge
• How to Get a DD-214 Copy
  • VA Loan & DD214
• Military Reenlistment (RE) Codes
  • Reenlistment & Rejoining The Military
• Prior Service Definitions
• Separation Codes
• Separation Program Numbers (SPN Codes)
• Types of Military Discharges
  • Military Discharge Upgrades Liberal Consideration Policy
  • Top 10 Questions About Military Discharge Upgrades

Military & Veteran Charity & VSO Resources

• Do I need a VA Accredited Attorney?
• How Social Workers Help Veterans
• How to Choose a Military or Veteran Charity
• Gold Star Family
• Military Pen Pals
• Support America’s Heroes at Home
• VA Volunteer Service
  • FAQ – Volunteering With The VA
• VSOs & Charities that Support Veterans and Military
  • The American Legion
  • American Red Cross
  • Americans Supporting America
  • Armed Services YMCA
  • Child Care Aware of America
  • Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
  • United Service Organizations (USO)
• Veterans Service Organizations Assistance
  • Should you use a VSO?
  • VSO High School Leadership Programs

Veterans Affairs Resources

• History of the VA
• VA Acquisitions Academy (VAAA)
• VA Acronyms & Terms
• VA Claim Exam
• VA Decision Ready Claims (DRC) Program
• VA Mission Act
• VA Policy On Medical Marijuana and Veterans
• How to Add/Remove Dependents on VA Benefits
• How to Write A VA Buddy Letter
• Veterans Appeals & Improvements Act
• What Does it Mean to be VA Approved

State and Local Veteran Benefits

• Best Veterans Benefits In All 50 States
• State Veterans Benefits
• State Veterans Affairs Office Directory
• State Veterans Homes

Military Legislation, Law, Acts & Orders

• 25th Amendment
• ABLE Act
• Army Missing Soldier Policy
• Can Military Members Protest
• Can the Military Be Used As Law Enforcement
• CARES Act 2020
  • Small Business Interruption Loans Under CARES Act
• Continuity of Government (COG)
• Continuity of Operations (COOP)
• Continuing Resolution (CR)
• Defense Production Act
• Eleven General Orders
• Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
• Executive Order Addressing Veteran Suicide
• Government Shutdown & Impact to Military, Veterans
  • The VA and a Government Shutdown
• HEART Act
• HEROES Act
• Insurrection Act
• Martial Law
• Military Budget
• Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenants Bill of Rights
• Military Law
• Military Lending Act (MLA)
• Military Lockdown
• MOPP Protection Levels
• Power of President As Commander In Chief
• PREP Act – Public Readiness & Emergency Preparedness Act
• Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act
• Shelter In Place
• Stafford Act
• State of Emergency
• Stop-Loss Order
• U.S. Flag Code
  • American Flag Etiquette Do’s and Dont’s 
  • American Flag History
  • How To Salute Properly
  • The Pledge Of Allegiance
• Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
  • AWOL & Desertion 
  • Non Judicial Punishment: Article 15
  • UCMJ & Adultery
• Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act
• Veterans Benefits & Transition Act
• Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA)
• Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act
  • New Expanded VA Loan Eligibility for National Guard

Military Life

• 10 Great Military Base Perks
• American Forces Travel
• Base Guides
• Base Force Support Squadron and What They Offer
• Blue Star Families
• Can You Quit The Military?
• Career Intermission Program
• Caring for Your Pet While in the Military
• Citizenship for Military Children Born Outside the US
• DoD and the Coronavirus
• Exceptional Family Member Program
• Flag & General Officer Assignments
• Food Delivery On Military Bases
• How To Insure Your Car Overseas
• How to Prepare Your Household for the Coronavirus
• In-Home Military Child Care
• Ins & Outs of Geo-Baching
• Internet Safety Tips
• Living on Military Bases
• Military & Olympic Training
• Military Marathons
• Military Parades
• Military Pets: Traveling and Moving With Your Furry Friend
• Military Voting – Where to Register and How to Vote Absentee
• Military Uniform Basics
  • Military Uniforms: Retirees & Veterans
• Natural Disasters at Military Bases
• Off-Duty Employment for Military Members
• Patriot Express
  • 3 Tips to Make a PCS a Little Easier
  • Last Will & Testaments Before Deploying Overseas
  • Military Life Overseas: Getting Ready to PCS
  • PCS, TDY, and Deployments
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station) Packing Tips
  • PCS Tips For Military Families
  • PCSing with Pets
  • Per Diem Allowances
  • Personally Procured Move
    • Calculating a Personally Procured Move
  • Plan My Deployment – Custom Planning Tool for The Military
  • Temporary Lodging Expense For PCS Moves
• Pregnancy & Child Care Resources
• Smart Drugs and the Military
• SNAP Benefits and the Military
• Space-A Travel
  • Space-A Travel Tips
• Top Scams That Hurt Military Families

Entertainment & History

• American Forces Network
• Area 51
• Athletes that Served in the Military
• Battle of Midway
• Best Military Movies
• ‘Indivisible’ Film Review
• Presidents that Served in the Military
• The Tuskegee Airmen
• Veterans Day Salute to Military Movies
• Voice Of America
• World War III

Military Recruitment, Training, Schools & Careers

• Academy Athletes & Pro Sports
• Active Duty vs. Reserve or National Guard: What’s the Difference
• Airborne School
• Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
• Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC)
• Airman Leadership School
• Are You Eligible To Join The Military?
• Army eSports
• Can I Be A Hacker In The Military?
• Careers in Military Law
• Chances Of Reserve Deployment
• Choosing A Military Job As A New Recruit
• Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
• Enlisted & Officer Careers
  • What Is A Warrant Officer?
• Highly Specialized Military Careers
• How to Apply to a Military Service Academy
• How to Become a Military Doctor
• How to Become a Special Forces Officer
• How to Join Space Force
• How Long Is Basic Training?
• Introduction to Military Careers
• JAG Corps Military Lawyer
• Joining the Military From A Cannabis-Friendly State
• Joining the Military with a Criminal Record
• Joining the National Guard
  • National Guard Benefits
• Military Academies
  • Merchant Marine Academy
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
  • U.S. Army Academy “West Point”
  • U.S. Coast Guard Academy
  • U.S. Naval Academy
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
    • Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
• Military Draft
• Military Enlistment Age Limits
  • Army Enlistment Height & Weight Requirements
• Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS)
• Military Fitness
• Military Tests
  • ASVAB Test
  • Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB)
  • Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)
  • Military Fitness Tests
    • Air Force BMT Physical Fitness Test 
    • Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT)
    • Coast Guard PFT
    • Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT)
    • Military Tape Test
    • Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT)
    • Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
  • PiCat Test
• Navy SEAL Program
• Oath of Enlistment
• Preparing for Basic Training
• Pros & Cons of Joining the Reserve
• Recruitment, Reenlistment Bonuses & More
• Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)
  • Joining ROTC In College
  • ROTC Scholarships
  • Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Requirements
  • Army ROTC
  • Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC)
  • High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
• Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB)
• Selective Service System
• Senior Military Colleges
  • About The Corps of Cadets
  • The Citadel
  • Norwich University
  • Texas A&M University
  • University of North Georgia
  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Virginia Tech
• Should You Let Your High School Age Child Talk To A Recruiter?
• Space Force Careers
• Top Reasons Gen Z Should Join The Military
• TOP GUN School
• U.S. Dental Corps
• U.S. Medical Corps
• U.S. Navy Nurse Corps
• Unusual Military Careers
• Which Military Branch Has the Best Benefits?
• Will The Military Pay For Medical School?

Military Agencies, Programs & More

• Close Combat Lethality Task Force
• Coast Guard (USCG)
• DEFCON Levels
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
• Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency (DCSA)
• Defense Security Service (DSS)
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• DoD SkillBridge
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Force Protection Condition Levels (FPCON)
• Homeland Security
• Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR)
• K9 Corps
• Merchant Marines
• Military War Dog Program
  • Types of War Dogs
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• The Palace Chase Program
• The Palace Front Program
• Secretary of Defense
  • Air Force Secretary 
  • Secretary Of The Army
  • Secretary Of The Navy
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Space Command
• Space Force (USSF)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • USACE & Natural Disasters
• U.S. Military 101
• What is A SCIF?
• What is Information Warfare?
• What is OPSEC?

Military Related Information & Resources

• 9 Line MEDEVAC Request
• Arlington National Cemetery
• Challenge Coins
• Check Your Six
• How Far is a Klick?
• How to Adopt A Military Working Dog
• How to Buy A Military Surplus Vehicle
• Joint Service General Purpose Mask (JSGPM) M50/M51
• Military Acronyms & Abbreviations
• Military Flyovers
• Military Occupational Specialty Codes (MOS)
  • The United States Marine Corps
  • The United States Air Force
  • The United States Army
  • The United States Navy
  • The United States Coast Guard
  • The United States Space Force
• Military Phonetic Alphabet – Including charts
• Military Ranks & Insignia Charts
• Military Service Flags
• Military-Style Workouts
• Military Time Calculator
• Military Time Conversion & Time Zones Charts
• National WWI Museum
• National WWII Museum
• Semper Fidelis
• Stolen Valor
• Highest Ranking Military Medals
  • Medal of Honor
  • Armed Forces Service Medal 
  • Air Force Cross
  • Distinguished Service Cross
  • Navy Cross
  • Silver Star
  • Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Presidential Medal Of Freedom (non-military medal)
• Underground Military Bases
• Ways to Thank A Veteran
• What Does GI Mean?
• The Woobie

Holidays, Annual Events & Observances

• Military Calendar: Includes a list of Holidays, Events and Observances
• Federal & Training Holidays
• Alive Day: Anniversary of the date when a veteran almost lost their life in combat
• Red Shirt Friday: RED “Remember Everyone Deployed” An informal choice to wear a red shirt on any given Friday in order to show support for all deployed troops.
• Wedding Anniversary
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 17, 2022
• Presidential Inauguration Day: Jan. 20
• Black History Month: Month of February
  • Black History Month: Decorated Soldiers
• Chinese New Year: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022
• Four Chaplains Day: Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022
• USO Birthday: Friday, Feb. 4, 2022
• National Salute to Veteran Patients: The Week of Feb. 14th
• Valentine’s Day: Monday, Feb. 14, 2022
• Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 21, 2022
• Coast Guard Reserve Birthday: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022
• Women’s History Month: Month of March
• Navy Reserve Birthday: Thursday, March 3, 2022
• Hug A G.I. Day: Friday, March 4, 2022
• Seabee Birthday: Saturday, March 5, 2022
• K 9 Veterans Day: Sunday, March 13, 2022
• American Legion Birthday: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
• St. Patrick’s Day: Thursday, March 17, 2022
• Rosie The Riveter Day: Monday, March 21, 2022
• National Medal of Honor Day: Friday, March 25, 2022
• National Vietnam War Veterans Day: Tuesday, March 29, 2022
• Month of The Military Child: Month of April
• Military Saves Month: Month of April
• Ramadan: Monday, April 2 to Tuesday, May 2, 2022
• Easter: Monday, April 4, 2022
• Gold Star Spouses day: Tuesday, April 5, 2022
• National Former POW Recognition Day: Saturday, April 9, 2022
• Air Force Reserve Birthday: Thursday, April 14, 2022
• Purple Up! Day: Friday, April 15, 2022
• Earth Day: Friday, April 22, 2022
• Army Reserve Birthday: Saturday, April 23, 2022
• National Military Brats Day: Saturday, April 30, 2022
• Month of the Military Caregiver: Month of May
• National Military Appreciation Month: Month of May
  • Military Appreciation Month Discounts
• Loyalty Day: Sunday, May 1, 2022
• Silver Star Service Banner Day: Sunday, May 1, 2022
• National Correctional Officers Week: Sunday, May 1st to Saturday May 7th, 2022
• Public Service Recognition Week: Sunday, May 1st – Saturday, May 7th, 2022
• National Day of Prayer: Thursday, May 5, 2022
• National Nurses Week: Friday, May 6th – Thursday, May 12th, 2022
• Victory in Europe Day: Sunday, May 8, 2022
• Military Spouse Appreciation Day: Friday, May 6, 2022
• Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 8, 2022
• Children of Fallen Patriots Day: Friday, May 13, 2022
• Armed Forces Week: Week leading up to Armed Forces Day
• Armed Forces Day: Saturday, May 21, 2022
• Peace Officers Memorial Day: Sunday, May 15, 2022
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 30, 2022
• PTSD Awareness Month: Month of June
• Homeownership Month: Month of June
• D-Day: Monday, June 6, 2022
• Women Veterans Day: Sunday, June 12, 2022
• Flag Week: Sunday, June 12 – Saturday, June 18, 2022
• Flag Day: Tuesday, June 14, 2022
• Army Birthday: Tuesday, June 14, 2022
• Father’s Day: Sunday, June 19, 2022
• Veterans Golden Age Games: TBA
• Juneteenth: Sunday, June 19, 2022
• Coast Guard Auxiliary Birthday: Thursday, June 23, 2022
• PTSD Awareness Day: Monday, June 27, 2022
• Independence Day: Monday, July 4, 2022
• National Hire A Veteran Day: Monday, July 25, 2022
• National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day: Wednesday, July 27, 2022
• National Buffalo Soldiers Day: Thursday, July 28, 2022
• Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary: Friday, July 29, 2022
• Antiterrorism Awareness Month: Month of August
• Coast Guard Day: Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022
• Purple Heart Day: Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022
  • Purple Heart Benefits
• Department of Defense Birthday: Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022
• Agent Orange Awareness Day: Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022
• Spirit of 45 Day: Celebrated Aug. 13 – Aug. 15, 2022 (anniversary is Aug. 14th)
• Navajo Code Talkers Day: Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022
• National Airborne Day: Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022
• Marine Corps Reserve Birthday: Monday, Aug. 29, 2022
• National Suicide Prevention Month: Month of September
• National Service Dog Month: Month of September
• Victory over Japan Day: Friday, Sept. 2, 2022
• Labor Day: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022
• Patriot Day: Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 – Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
• Citizenship Day/Constitution Day: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022
• Constitution Week: Sat. Sept. 17 – Fri. Sept. 23, 2022
• National POW/MIA Recognition Day: Friday, Sept. 16, 2022
• Air Force (USAF) Birthday: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022
• Air National Guard Birthday: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022
• Warrior Games: TBA
• Gold Star Mother’s Day: Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022
• VFW Day: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Month of October
• Ms. Veteran America: Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022
• U.S. Navy Birthday: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022
• Military World Games: TBA, 2023
• Day of the Deployed: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
• Navy Day: Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022
• Halloween: Monday, Oct. 31, 2022
• Military Family Appreciation Month: Month of November
• Warrior Care Month: Month of November
• National Family Caregivers Month: Month of November
• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022
• National Veterans Small Business Week: Tuesday, Nov. 1st – Saturday, Nov. 5th, 2022.
• Marine Corps Birthday: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022
• Veterans Day: Friday, Nov. 11, 2022
• Remembrance Day: Friday, Nov. 11, 2022
• Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022
  • Adopt a Soldier for the Holidays
  • Thanksgiving Resources for Veterans
• Black Friday: Friday, Nov. 25, 2022
• Giving Tuesday: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022
• Civil Air Patrol (USAF Auxiliary) Birthday: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022
• Pearl Harbor: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022
• U.S. National Guard Birthday: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022
• National Wreaths Across America: Saturday, December 17, 2022
• Christmas: Sunday, Dec. 25th, 2022
  • Christmas Programs for Military Families in Need 
  • Holiday Shipping/Mailing Dates
  • Holiday Shopping Tips on a Military Budget
  • Holiday Traditions for Deployed Military
  • How to Help Veterans During the Holidays
  • Ways to Cope with Holiday Separation
• New Year’s Eve/Day: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 – Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025