What Is a Twitter Chat?
A Twitter chat is like a meeting on Twitter; it has a specific discussion topic and a scheduled start time. Using the hashtag #MilCents at the end of each tweet, MFAN will ask questions to a group of financial experts.
Blog
The MFAN blog spotlights the latest news affecting our community.
State of the State: Texas
Military Family Advisory Network’s (MFAN) research over three years revealed that an alarming number of military families face food insecurity. One in eight survey respondents in 2019 reported experiencing food insecurity. Our data showed that survey respondents in Texas were experiencing higher frequencies of food insecurity among national respondents, with one in six families...
Read MoreThe MilFam Diaries
The life of a military family is an interesting one filled with fun but also pitfalls, pratfalls, and flat-out challenges. Often we find support, insight, comfort, and strength when we can relate to or learn from another’s experience. That’s why, starting this month, MFAN will share first-person accounts from military families. Some posts on our...
Read MoreCongrats to the Grads!
Graduation season is upon us. As doors swing wide for those in caps and gowns who are leaving high school, college, and the service academies, we wanted to share some food for thought for those graduating—and their friends and family members: Take satisfaction. It is easy to get caught up in all the pomp and...
Read MoreMemorial Day
Today, people across the country are observing Memorial Day. Although some might see it as simply marking the beginning of barbecue season and the openings of pools nationwide, it is important to remember the true meaning of the day. Whether it is observing a moment of silence or attending a memorial service, spend a few...
Read MoreWhat It’s Like
In honor of the Month of the Military Child, the MFAN advisors asked their children to write about their experiences growing up in a military family. Eleven-year-old Joey Kimball and nine-year-old Gracie Kimball, son and daughter of MFAN advisor Shelley Kimball, wrote the following posts to round out our series. Here’s what they had to...
Read MoreThe Military Household: We All Go Through Different Things
By Eileen Garcia-Sanchez Your typical military household has one parent in the force with a spouse and children. But what about the other families, such as those with both parents in the force or one parent in the force and the other involved in another serious career? My family may seem to be the typical...
Read MoreRelocating Tips for Military Kids
By Dakota Voirol Being a military brat really stinks sometimes. It’s something all of us recognize, and we’ve all just come to live with it. Eventually we all come up with our own ways of dealing with the struggles of being in a military family. One of the hardest things a brat goes through is...
Read MoreWhat does SVA’s Million Records Project mean for military families?
When it comes to understanding the path through higher education for today’s service member, family member, or veteran, our community is largely in the dark. While the U.S. Department of Education tracks completion data on a macro level to answer questions about our nation’s graduation rates, there has been no such effort on behalf of...
Read MoreLook on the Bright Side
In honor of the Month of the Military Child, the MFAN advisors asked their children to write about their experiences growing up in a military family. Military kids deal with a lot, including frequent moves and family separations during deployments. We’re proud to salute our resilient military kids this April, and all year long. Our Month...
Read MoreTo My Military Child
April 7, 2014 To my military child, April is set aside to honor the unique sacrifices made by our country’s military kids. Thirty days does not seem adequate for all you have given up in your young years. I recognize how hard it has been for you; in life’s busy days I may have forgotten...
Read MoreMilitary Kids: We’re Fine
Once a military kid, forever a military kid. My dad had a career in the Air Force, and we all moved around quite a bit when my brothers and I were children. Now that I am a military spouse myself and raising two military kids, I can’t help but reflect on what being a military...
Read MoreWhat It’s Like: A Military Kid’s Perspective
In honor of the Month of the Military Child, the MFAN advisors asked their children to write about their experiences growing up in a military family. Military kids deal with a lot, including frequent moves and family separations during deployments. We’re proud to salute our resilient military kids this April, and all year long. Our...
Read MoreKeeping the Best of the Best
The U.S. military services have experienced some of the best recruiting and retention numbers in the past 13 years of war. They have also gained the exceptional expertise and training that has been invested to maintain and sustain an all-volunteer force that is ready, willing and able to defend our country. This ready force requires...
Read MoreAre We or Aren’t We—A Force of One?
Did you read this headline? “Funding Rift Pits Active Army Against Reserves” How about this one? “Guard Fight Gets Ugly” These headlines were precipitated by remarks from Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno at a recent National Press Club discussion on military budget cuts. During the event, he said “the National Guard would not be...
Read MoreMy Platform for Military Spouse of the Year
When I think about “platforms,” I can’t help but picture sequins, sashes, tiaras, and prayers for world peace. That’s not to say I would ever disparage those who do the pageant circuit; I was just never blessed with the genetics or predisposition to become involved in such things. So when I was asked for my platform...
Read MoreThe 4-11 on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
A hot topic among military families these days has been the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 and its cuts to military retirees’ pensions through reductions to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). COLAs are determined by the consumer price index based on the rate of inflation from the previous year. (For more information about COLAs and the difference...
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