Lizann Lightfoot

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and how important it is for medical professionals. And rightly so, because wearing the right protective gear can literally save your life and protect you from the dangers of COVID-19 and plenty of other diseases. Maybe it didn’t occur to you that the PPE you bring with you to the range can be just as important for your own health and safety.

If you’ve ever fired a weapon, you've probably had someone give you a safety brief that mentioned “eyes and ears.” Those are the typical things to protect when you’re shooting. But recent studies have shown that list should also include your lungs due to the risk of lead exposure at the range

As a service member, you know that you qualify for GI Bill benefits that help pay for up to 36 months of higher education. But here’s something you may not know: around 50 percent of veterans never use their Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill of Rights, was established to provide a host of benefits for returning WWII veterans, including unemployment insurance, housing, and the Montgomery GI Bill, which paid college tuition for honorably discharged veterans. It was so well-received that by 1947, veterans accounted for 49% of college admissions. I can only imagine how quickly those dorms turned into barracks culture and different halls began raiding one another.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill of Rights, was established to provide a host of benefits for returning WWII veterans, including unemployment insurance, housing, and the Montgomery GI Bill, which paid college tuition for honorably discharged veterans. It was so well-received that by 1947, veterans accounted for 49% of college admissions. I can only imagine how quickly those dorms turned into barracks culture and different halls began raiding one another.

When faced with unprecedented and confusing circumstances, the knee jerk reaction is to try and take as much control as possible. PCS moves are on the horizon and many are wondering if they should scrap their plans with a moving company and do it themselves.

After months of nationwide lockdowns due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the United States is slowly starting to reopen and that means you can finally start getting ready for your next move. It is important to plan as much as possible so that your PCS experience doesn’t quickly turn into a nightmare. Here are four things to keep in mind with this next move.

PCSing is about as much fun as a mandatory kickball event on a Saturday hosted by the company First Sergeant, and the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created even more confusion for you and your kids. To help you and your family survive and thrive during these trying times, we’ve compiled some steps to better prepare them for a PCS move during the pandemic.

PCSing to coastal California is a dream assignment to some: beautiful weather, an abundance of things to see and do, and the Pacific ocean! And yes… there is also a higher cost of living than many areas you may have lived before. It means being stationed at the home of the 1st Marine Division, the oldest, largest and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps. It’s a large installation, spanning more than one county, and can be a different experience for many military families. So let’s dive in and explore your new duty station, then head over to PCSgrades.com to see reviews for base housing, neighborhoods, and more!

You have orders to Fort Hood, Texas, one of the largest military installations in the country. Welcome to The Great Place! Fort Hood lives up to the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” You will see this with the vast spaces, houses, CAV patches, as well as great traditions you will come to love.

Our guest is Rick Marsh: Director, Defense Personal Property Program at U.S. Transportation Command

The current home buying climate can be confusing to many military families who are preparing to move and want to buy a home. With so many worldwide uncertainties around COVID-19 and the DoD limitations on traveling, many military families are forced to rely on technology to find the perfect home. Buying a house online can be risky and intimidating.

When you first get PCS orders for a military move, a thousand questions start running through your mind. You don’t even know how to prepare for a PCS move. You look around and start asking, how are we going to move all this stuff? What about the car? And the pets? And the kids? And then there are all the big questions about your new duty station– what will it be like? Where will we live? Schools? Jobs? Ahhhh! No matter how many times you have moved before, a PCS move is stressful and can feel overwhelming.

Renters insurance covers all the things you own inside a space that you are renting. Whether you’ve had a policy for years, or you’ve never given it a thought, here are the factoids most people don’t know about a renters insurance policy:

So you have PCS orders and you were thinking about buying a home… but now COVID-19 and the DoD travel restrictions are ruining all your plans. These are certainly frustrating times, but the good news is that the current limitations are temporary. People with PCS orders will eventually move. Your family will still need a house to live in at your new location. So instead of looking at this like a huge roadblock, face it as an opportunity to spend some extra time getting things in order for your move.

The school year is coming to a close, and parents across the country are celebrating the end of the distance learning experiment. We are all looking forward to a more normal school year in the fall. But if your family is getting ready to PCS this summer, your student’s challenges are just beginning. If you thought managing their Zoom call schedule was difficult, wait until you try to transfer them to a new school district during a pandemic.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s especially important to acknowledge those who are lending a hand in their communities.

After the military, it’s common for military members to continue their service. With the support of their employers and community organizations, an impressive number of veterans give back to their communities through nonprofit organizations and volunteer hours.

Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can have long-term effects. You never know what doors will open when you help out fellow military families.

When you joined the military, someone probably spoke to you about all the education benefits and possibilities that would come with military life. Maybe you even took a few classes towards a college degree. But then life got in the way: between PCS moves, TDY assignments, and overseas deployments, it’s challenging to finish college classes while in the military. That’s why over 50% of veterans don’t have a degree when they leave military service.

Chronic pain is a common side effect of military service. Whether you have a bad back, aching joints, or a knee that can predict the weather, the extreme physical demands of military life can age your body far beyond its years. Some veterans have extensive combat injuries, while others deal with painful joints from too many nights sleeping on the ground. Maybe you have become used to pain as part of your daily routine. “It’s no big deal,” you say, or you shrug it off as another side effect of the Big Green Weenie.

If you’ve spent any time in the infantry, you’ve been issued a flak jacket with steel SAPI (Small Arms Protective Inserts) plates. They’re super useful in combat, and may have saved your life before. But did you ever want your own body armor when you were not on the battlefield?

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