Military Families Thank Senator Ted Kennedy

We join the Nation this week in celebrating the life and service of Senator Edward M. Kennedy and in offering our condolences to his family, friends, and staff. News reports have chronicled how Senator Kennedy’s work helped the poor, children, the disabled, and others in need of health care or education services. What those reports usually left out was just how much his work enhanced the lives of military families. Senator Kennedy was one of the original members of our Association’s Board of Advisors. We have long recognized him as a champion of military families and felt privileged to work with him and his staff on many issues affecting the families we all serve. <<more>>

Operation Purple Family Retreats Applications Available Now Apply now for one of four Operation Purple Family Retreats held this fall! Bring your family together in a national park setting at an Operation Purple Family Retreat, a free, four day getaway created to help families reconnect after deployment. With an emphasis on environmental education, military families will participate in fun, family-focused activities that will allow them to strengthen and renew relationships while exploring their natural surroundings. This fall’s Family Retreats are being held at national parks in Washington, Pennsylvania, New York, and Hawaii. Click here for specific dates and to apply now.

Joint Chiefs Chairman visits military children at Operation Purple® camp Military children at the National Military Family Association’s Operation Purple camp got quite a surprise yesterday when their camp director introduced them to the ‘top dog’ in the military. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Deborah paid a special visit to the camp at Naval Base San Diego to visit with military children and see what a day was like at Operation Purple camp. The Chairman addressed the children with words of encouragement and appreciation. “I want to leave you with this one message,” Mullen said. “How proud we are of each and every one of you. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.” <<more>>

Military Families Eligible for In-State Tuition  Beginning this month, service members on active duty, their spouses, and dependent children, are now eligible to receive in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed. In addition, once a service member or their family members are enrolled and paying in-state tuition, they will continue to pay the in-state tuition rate as long as they remain continuously enrolled at the institution and if the service member is reassigned outside the state. Learn how you can benefit from this provision.

TRICARE Options for College Students Before sending a son or daughter off to college, it is important for military families to review their child’s health care options because some TRICARE options will work better than others. Choosing the best health care option depends mainly on where the school is located and the student’s transportation options at the school. For example, TRICARE Prime is only offered in designated Prime Service Areas. Military families should call their regional TRICARE contractor to find out if their child’s college is in one of these designated areas. If the school is in a Prime Service Area, but not where the family is registered, then a split enrollment under TRICARE Prime would be the best option - the student would be disenrolled from Prime at their home location and re-enrolled at the new location. <<more>>