Military Families Magazine

06/16/2026

⛽Summer road trips can get expensive fast.

Before your next fill-up, check out these expert-backed tips to save money at the pump and make every tank go farther. Click the link to read the full story from Meghann Greenhill

With summer travel in full swing, one expert gives tips to save money at the pump and make each fill-up stretch further.

06/12/2026

"As military spouses, we carry heavy things in this life but they don’t have to tell the full story. We don’t have a say in a lot in this life, but how we carry it — that, we do have a say in. It’s an act of empowerment, of relief, of agency. Heavy things in one hand, counterbalances in the other: joy, strength, belonging and peace, in every way we can find it."

What's your counterbalance? ⏬ Let us know in the comments or tag them in the comments 😉

🔗Read the full story from Sarah Sandifer at the link: https://militaryfamilies.com/military-spouses/counterbalances-to-live-a-hard-life-well/

Military life is a commitment that demands we pay attention to the weights we bear, and counterbalances become vital.

06/10/2026

🚀Mankind is again making history in space, with no plans to slow down. On June 9, NASA announced the Artemis III crew members and its mission.

"All crew members — as well as the backup who will train alongside the Artemis III crew — have military experience across multiple branches (and one international service!)."

🔗Click the link to read the full story from Associate Editor Abby Ammons: https://militaryfamilies.com/military-news/you-got-the-controls-artemis-iii-crew-announced/
📸: 1️⃣NASA/Bill Stafford, 2️⃣NASA/Joel Kowsky 3️⃣NASA/Bill Ingalls 4️⃣NASA/ James Blair, 5️⃣NASA/Josh Valcarcel, 6️⃣NASA/JSC

Stay tuned for Douglas’ feature story in Military Families Magazine’s July/August print issue where Associate Editor Abby Ammons had an exclusive interview with the Artemis III crew member.

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration I NASA Artemis I ESA - European Space Agency

06/08/2026

Many military families have thinner margins to absorb the economic squeeze affecting the country, resulting in more demands for assistance.

Organizations like Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Homefront, Army Emergency Relief, and Home Front Military Network are seeing increased applications from service members.

“'When families are struggling financially and have to focus on the financial crises that they’re facing, that translates to them not being able to fully focus on their roles [in the military],' Postell explained. 'We want to alleviate that burden and remove that pain point for families.'” April Postell is Operation Homefront’s vice president of critical financial assistance.

🔗Click the link to read the full story from Sierra Starks: https://militaryfamilies.com/money/branch-aid-societies-giving-assistance-to-military-families/
📸: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nolan Pennington

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society I Operation Homefront I Army Emergency Relief I Home Front Military Network - HFMN

06/05/2026

"There is a particular kind of exhaustion that does not show up on a resume.

It is the exhaustion of starting over.

Again.

A new duty station.
A new school district.
A new credentialing process.
A new explanation of why the last job ended.

Military spouses are experts at adaptation. We learn quickly. We pivot. We translate our experience across industries, states and systems. We attend the resume workshops. We update LinkedIn. We sit in the networking sessions. We are told to 'lean in,' 'build a brand,' 'find a portable career.'"

Click the link to continue reading from Elizabeth Castro.

Elizabeth A. Castro is the CEO and founder of RISE by Elizabeth, a leadership framework designed to help people reconnect with their identity and lead with clarity through life's transitions.

RISE by Elizabeth

Military spouses are experts at adaptation. And yet, many spouses quietly carry a deeper identity question: Who am I becoming?

06/03/2026

Behind every issue of Military Families Magazine and Reserve + National Guard Magazine is a mission. Our letter from the editor offers insight into the purpose, planning, and goals that shaped this Deployment Guide. Here is that letter:

"In the early days of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Military Publishing recognized that even though deployments are as much a part of a military career as PCS moves, it has been some time since the community at-large experiences this level of uncertainty.

Since the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, service members have continued to experience separations from the home front for TDYs, rotational deployments, etc. But when U.S.-Israeli strikes began in February of this year, along with that came widespread questions about who the campaign would affect, when those orders may come and how long it may last. Naturally, those with skin in the game wanted information and clarity. It is a whole different ballgame when the news headlines personally affect your household and the people in it.

For some, Epic Fury meant the first combat deployment of their career; for others, there may have been a break in having to think about things like a Power of Attorney or pre-deployment briefs. We designed this guide to be a refresher for whatever category you may fall into, while understanding there are more topics that fit under the deployment umbrella than are contained in this 32-page resource.

Whether you are forward-deployed or have impending orders for the not-too-distant future, this resource was built with general subjects in mind. As you will learn from our roundup of organizations on P.30, there are an overwhelming number of resources with support, but awareness is a challenge. We will continue to update on our websites with the most current information about programs, news, expert advice, and the personal insights of those who have -- or are -- navigating a deployment."

🔗Click the link to read the digital Deployment Guide from U.S. Military Publishing: https://publications.militaryfamilies.com/2026-deployment-guide/page-1
📸: Cover photo by Michelle Murphy with Life with Michelle Marie Photography

This guide features the work of our talented writers:
Sarah Barron I Sarah Barron
Crystal Kupper I Crystal Kupper, Freelance Writer
Maggie BenZvi
Abby Ammons
Will Martin
Kathryn Butler
Bianca Strzalkowski

United Through Reading I USO I The American Legion National Headquarters I Blue Star Families I Operation Homefront I Wounded Warrior Project I Packages From Home I Sugar, Spice, & All Things Iced I American Red Cross I Headstrong Project Project EverGreen



News I Stories I Resources for today's service members, veterans & their families

06/02/2026

"In many ways, we are uniquely equipped to create businesses that are resilient, adaptable and deeply intentional because we have already spent years learning how to build our lives in the same way.

The goal is not to wait for the chaos to disappear.

The goal is to stop mistaking instability for incapability."

Read the full story from Ashlee Sullivan at the link.

Woman + Warrior

For military entrepreneurs, the goal is not simply to start a business. The goal is to build one that can withstand the reality of this life.

06/01/2026

"The third annual Stars & Stripes Classic matchup between the Green Beret Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation at the Ohio State University Lacrosse Stadium will be held the weekend of Aug. 2, 2026, and feature former high-caliber lacrosse players."

"'Behind every warrior on that field is a family and a community that carried them, and the Stars & Stripes Classic honors all of it,' King said. 'We’re grateful to the Premier Lacrosse League and Anduril for building a platform that celebrates the spirit of our SEALs and SWCCs while supporting the programs that serve them and their families.'” Robin King is the CEO of the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Click the link to read the full story from Christopher Adams: https://militaryfamilies.com/sports/third-annual-lacrosse-game/

Cj Adams Media I Green Beret Foundation I Navy SEAL Foundation I Premier Lacrosse League I Ohio State University Men's Lacrosse I Ohio State University Men's Lacrosse

06/01/2026

"When Buzz Miller witnessed a heart-rending goodbye outside a shelter between a deploying service member and his pet, he was inspired to action, founding PACT for Animals in 2011."

With the Operation Foster program, safe and caring foster families temporarily care for dogs, cats, reptiles and other creatures while their military owners are deployed, training or in tough circumstances like medical crises. Since its beginning, more than 3,000 people have served as foster parents to a variety of critters — even a horse — in all 50 states.

📸: Courtesy of PACT
🔗: Click here to read the full story from Crystal Kupper: https://militaryfamilies.com/military-deployment-reintegration/operation-foster-gives-military-pet-owners-peace-of-mind-during-deployment-training/

Operation Foster Crystal Kupper, Freelance Writer

05/28/2026

👋Are you a military spouse who's had any difficulty landing a job at a new duty station? You are not alone.

Many military spouses are eager to contribute financially, and for a lot of military families, a second income is not optional. But when military life is treated as a liability instead of a strength, spouses are often pushed out of the workplace. Over time, this can lead to lost income, lower retirement savings, and weaken both military readiness and retention.

Until legal protections catch up and the value of military spouses is more widely recognized, you are left navigating a reality that can feel unfair. This makes it important to be strategic, leverage your skills and experience, and prepare for questions employers may ask.

Click the link to read the full story from Meghann Greenhill.

Until legislation catches up, military spouses need to leverage skills and experience, and prep for questions from hiring employers.