MOAA and the #MilSpouse Employment Survey #MilitarySupportSeries

As I’m prepping this post (its already Monday) I am glued to my television set watching the coverage of the shooting at the Navy Yard.  It brings back too many memories of the shooting near our old duty station in Nevada.  When our military members are unsafe even at home, it is almost too much to handle.  I have a friend at the Navy Yard so prayers and thoughts for him and his family, and for all those involved especially first responders.
For this week’s Military Monday, Military Support Series, I am highlighting MOAA (Military Officers Association of America).   I have had the extreme pleasure to work with some of the volunteers at some events, and they are the most wonderfully passionate people that I have met.  They are truly here to help you, and are very approachable and know what they are talking about.
 MOAA is one of the Nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers.  It is an independent, non-profit, politically nonpartisan organization.  With over 380,000 members from every branch of service – including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers and their families – we are a powerful force, speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their career.  MOAA’s highest priority is providing first-class service to our members.  We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community.  We provide expert advice and guidance to our members.

Membership is open to active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired and former commissioned officers and warrant officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Auxiliary membership is also available to spouses of deceased service members.
MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.
With more than 380,000 members from every branch of service – including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families – we are a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers.
MOAA’s highest priority is providing first-class service to our members. We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. We provide expert advice and guidance to our members.
– See more at: http://www.moaa.org/main_article.aspx?id=982#sthash.UabCGEax.dpuf
MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.
With more than 380,000 members from every branch of service – including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families – we are a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers.
MOAA’s highest priority is providing first-class service to our members. We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. We provide expert advice and guidance to our members.
– See more at: http://www.moaa.org/main_article.aspx?id=982#sthash.UabCGEax.dpuf
MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.
With more than 380,000 members from every branch of service – including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families – we are a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers.
MOAA’s highest priority is providing first-class service to our members. We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. We provide expert advice and guidance to our members.
– See more at: http://www.moaa.org/main_article.aspx?id=982#sthash.UabCGEax.dpuf
As a member you have access to so much support, provided by this amazing organization and their chapters near you.  Assistance is provided in areas of Finance, Health, Education, Professional Development, Pay and Benefits, Careers, Discounts and Travel.   This year MOAA also co-hosted the 2013 Warrior-Family Symposium just last week.  I was unable to attend, but have to keeping up with all the information from the event on MOAA’s website.  You can access video from the event on the site. 
One of the main reasons why I chose to cover MOAA this week is because of the #MilSpouseSurvey that is going on right now.  This survey is not just for MOAA members, or the spouses of Officers.  We know that the employment of military spouses is a huge issue right now.  In the milspouse universe right now, its everywhere.  Everyone is working on it I feel like.  I was just at a hiring fair directed specifically towards spouses.  MOAA is doing its part, partnering with several other spouse and business organizations, to find out how to best address this significant issue in our community.  Please take the survey, and watch for its release in Spring of 2014.
Thanks for stopping by today.  If you can’t use this information please pass it on to someone you know!
Connect with MOAA on social media as well – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Military Caregiver’s Week – Elizabeth Dole Foundation

I’m so late on this, and I hate that.  Today was the last day of ‘Military Caregiver’s Week’, bringing special attention to the amazing people that care for our wounded (physical and mental) warriors, that have sacrificed so much for us.  These men and women are absolutely amazing and go about their days just doing what they have to do, living life, and they deserve so much praise for that – enter the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.  

 

Their Mission: To uplift American military caregivers by strengthening the services afforded to them through innovation, evidence-based research, and collaboration.

Their Philosophy: 

 One of the really neat things they do is their Innovative Grant Program.  They provide grants to non-profit companies that make it easier for those caring for warriors to navigate the available support programs, through technology.  I think is absolutely wonderful.  Having had to navigate a myriad of these online programs in desperate search for help it can be quite challenging, and frankly absolutely frustrating.  Sometimes all your searching gives you is a website list of suggestions.  How does that help in the real-world?  Technology is fabulous, but not if it simply makes things more frustrating.  Having a way to navigate programs and companies through technology, leading to real human help is exactly what we need and is exactly what the 2013 Innovative Grant recipients have done.  This year’s recipients are The National Military Family Association (NMFA), MOAA and the Military Child Education Coalition.   Having met someone from each of these organizations, and worked with them as well, I can tell you that they are extremely deserving of these grants.  They will continue to do all they can do to not only assist Military Caregivers, our Wounded Warriors and all of our Military. 

I don’t know any Military Caregivers in my real life, although I follow the blog of a military caregiver.  The things that she has had to endure, I know nothing of.  I couldn’t possibly imagine what it would be like to be in her shoes.

Do you know a Military Caregiver in your life?  Find the Elizabeth Dole Foundation facebook.  Tell them about the caregiver you know.  Go to the Foundation’s website and see how you can get involved.

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