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 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...
Read MoreWanted by Employers: Seasoned Volunteers
On Monday, Americans honored the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., many by participating in the MLK Day of Service, part of the United We Serve initiative. Groups, individuals, and families came together to clean up their communities, help the underprivileged, and assemble care packages for deployed service members in a celebration...
Read MoreConnecting Veterans and Military Spouses With Jobs at the AUSA Annual Meeting
The unemployment rate for veterans—especially post-9/11 veterans—and military spouses is above that of their civilian counterparts. Thankfully, many organizations have developed programs, resources, and events focused on hiring and career training for veterans and military spouses, and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is no exception. The 2013 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition...
Read MoreAnnual Conference Tackles Issues Plaguing Today’s Military Community
At the 2013 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Retired Army Colonel David Sutherland told an audience of military families: “The American people know what we are, but they don’t know us.” Col. Sutherland stressed to the AUSA attendees that our nation’s military and nonmilitary communities need to unite in...
Read MoreA Vision Bigger Than Ourselves
Looking ahead toward Veterans Day, and being interviewed by MFAN about my military service and how things have changed over the last 30 years, got me to thinking about the Whys and Whats of service. For me, the Why was simple—my whole life I’ve had a vision of being or doing something bigger than myself....
Read MoreNew VA-DoD Tool Connects Parents and Children
Every parent knows that parenthood is a tough job. Military and veteran parents know the job is even harder because of the challenges and unpredictability of military life—and the transition to civilian life can be equally stressful and uncertain for them and their families. Thanks to a new online tool called Parenting for Service Members...
Read MoreA Democracy Broken: When the American Government Stops Working
Veterans’ benefits, military pay threatened as shutdown continues Each morning in classrooms around this nation, our children pledge allegiance to that American flag that is a symbol of freedom, of hope, and of promise. Yet as the clock tolled on Oct. 1, 2013, the government for which the red, white, and blue stands stopped working....
Read MoreNational Hispanic Heritage Month Highlight
MFAN is proud to feature advisory board member Janet Sanchez and her organization, Esposas Militares Hispanas USA, during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Read MoreMFAN Members Participate in White House Summit
On the eve of the federal government shutdown and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, 10 Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) advisory board members spent last Monday at the White House meeting with government officials and military nonprofit leaders.
Read MoreWelcome to MFAN’s Blog!
Welcome to Military Family Advisory Network’s (MFAN) blog. MFAN advisors—spouses, caregivers, veterans, and partners of veterans and service members—have a lot to share, and we’ll use this blog to:
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