New family readiness training for leaders gets R.E.A.L

By Don WagnerOctober 27, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Research shows that when Families are connected to their unit, each other, and the community, Soldiers and Families are better able to meet the challenges of military life, according to Heather Leiby, school liaison transition specialist, U.S. Army Installation Management Command.

In the Military Family Forum II at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, Leiby gave participants an overview of the new Readiness Essentials for Army Leaders, or R.E.A.L. training.

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AAFES to Open Online Shopping to Veterans

From an Army and Air Force Exchange Service News Release

DALLAS, Oct. 23, 2017 — With less than a month until the much-anticipated official launch of the veterans online shopping benefit, more than 225,000 honorably discharged veterans have already been verified to shop at online military exchange websites when the sites open to veterans Nov. 11.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service online shopping benefit is the first military exchange benefits expansion in nearly 30 years. Beginning on Veterans Day, America’s 18.5 million veterans will be able to shop online at the military exchange websites: ShopMyExchange.com, shopcgx.com, mymcx.com, and mynavyexchange.com.

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Blended Retirement System Opt-In training now available to all Airmen

By Kat Bailey, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs / Published October 13, 2017

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Defense Department will implement the new Blended Retirement System next year. While no one needs to make a decision until Jan. 1, 2018, all Airmen should take advantage of training and informational resources to research their options during the remainder of 2017.

Airmen eligible for the new Blended Retirement System began receiving email notifications in February from myPers to ensure they receive correct information regarding their benefits to make the decision best suited for their individual needs.

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Army leaders reaffirm Family readiness as high priority

By Devon L. Suits October 12, 2017

WASHINGTON -- During this period of fiscal uncertainty, senior Army leaders remain committed to providing a high level of care and support to Soldiers and their Families -- making them an Army top priority.

Taking care of Soldiers and Families ensures readiness, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, during a forum focused on military families. About 60 percent of today's Army is married and on average has a family of four. This is a fundamentally different demographic than Soldiers serving during World War II, when only 10 percent of the Army population was married.

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