January 2005 - Posts

• New Incentives for Joining National Guard

  It is no surprise to anyone reading here that retention is a BIG problem right now for the National Guard. And it certainly doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the prolonged and frequent deployments have not helped and will certainly continue Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:32 PM by msmith | 0 Comments

• A few more notes on Tricare

  Tricare, as you probably know by now, is the military health insurance system. And, as many of you have already also found out first hand, it combines the hassles of an HMO with the beaurocracy of the military. Therefore, it is just LOADS of fun to deal Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 19, 2005 2:22 PM by msmith | 9 Comments

• Tricare for Veterans: A Benefit for Serving your Country or a Reenlistment Scam? WARNING

  The military is making a great to-do about the new and improved Tricare benefits for Reservists, particularly those who have faced long deployments already. But it pays, as always to read the fine print. (If you are in the Army, you have probably already Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 12, 2005 12:30 PM by msmith | 0 Comments

• Have you talked to your spouse this week?

  If the answer is “No,” chances are that you are either experiencing some marital problems or that you are in the middle of a deployment. The good news is that it doesn't have to be both. One of the things that extended deployments are blamed Read More... Posted Monday, January 10, 2005 1:03 PM by msmith | 0 Comments

• Longer Tours for Reservists? Has anyone in Washington ever HEARD of Federal Law?

  A news story which broke this evening has a senior general speaking anonymously with a small group of reporters. The basic idea is that, with the current troops being stretched to the breaking point (confirmed by Gen. Helmly, chief of the Army Reserve Read More... Posted Thursday, January 06, 2005 8:37 PM by msmith | 8 Comments