Caring for military families has become a national priority with the launch of the White House's "Strengthening Our Military Families" initiative and the related "Joining Forces" campaign. This ongoing AFPS special report provides regular updates on all DOD and related efforts to help improve the lives of military families.
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Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, today urged the nation’s governors to get behind the effort to allow military spouses to transfer professional licenses from state to state. Story
As the Information Age continues to shape modern communication, the Defense Department has revitalized and consolidated the Military OneSource website to better serve military members and their families, a Pentagon official said in a recent interview. Story
A panel of military family members joined journalists, civil servants and decorated service members at the inaugural Hero Summit in Washington, D.C., to discuss the challenges of being a military family member and the ways that American citizens can support them. Story
President Barack Obama praised military families in a proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month, noting that behind each service member "stands a parent, a sibling, a child, a spouse -- proud family members who share the weight of deployment and make profound sacrifices on behalf of our country." Story
More than 100 colleges and universities have signed on to a White House initiative to prepare educators for the unique needs of their military-connected students, said Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, during a "Joining Forces" event in Fairfax, Va. Story
Department of Defense Education Activity Director Marilee Fitzgerald urged recipients of the 2012 educational grant program to push the envelope in developing programs that ultimately will benefit all military schoolchildren. Story
The Defense Department has been honored by a nonprofit organization for its collaboration with Congress in creating programs to support military families. Story
The nation's social workers have signed on to help service members, veterans and their families in a broad effort as part of the White House's "Joining Forces" campaign, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, announced at the National Association of Social Workers' annual convention. Story
The National Park Service extends free annual park passes far beyond the droves of Pentagon employees who lined up to take advantage of the offer. Story
Service members and their spouses joined Defense Department leaders during a ceremony at the Pentagon to mark the success of a spouse employment program intended to help military families and the economy. Story
Service members and their families will be able to enter all of America's national parks free of charge for a year thanks to a Joining Forces initiative that will take effect beginning on Armed Services Day, May 19. Story
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Newport News, Va., today to highlight efforts to help school children from military families.Story
First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted the shared sacrifices of military children while meeting with the teenage daughters of service members in Jacksonville, Fla. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, marked the one-year anniversary of the Joining Forces campaign by celebrating the individuals and organizations that have stepped up in "extraordinary ways" to improve military families' lives. Story
The nation has been stepping up in "amazing ways" to support military families over the past year, First Lady Michelle Obama told the audience of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report". Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden today announced a major pledge by the nation's nursing community to better understand the unique health needs of service members, veterans, and their families, and to reach out to provide treatment wherever it is needed. Story
Leading up to a White House celebration today, two of the nation's top wives personally thanked a group of individuals and organization leaders for their efforts to improve military families' lives at the Pentagon. Story
As First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden mark the first anniversary of their "Joining Forces" campaign, the two say they will continue to solidify its successes so a structured effort to help military families is a permanent part of American culture. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced the winners of the Joining Forces Community Challenge, an effort to recognize the efforts of citizens and organizations across the country that work to improve the lives of military families. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama met with military families and support group leaders in Minnesota last week to "shine a spotlight" on the state's efforts to aid troops and their families. Story
The Sesame Street and USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling tour, will kick off April 7 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and will visit military families on more than 70 installations over the next eight months. Story
For their service and sacrifice, five military children have earned Operation Homefront's 2012 Military Child of the Year Award. Story
A Defense Department teacher's quest to bring lessons alive for her students from military families has landed her a spot as a finalist for 2012 National Teacher of the Year honors. Story
Military families with special-needs members would benefit from better communication and education, members of an exceptional family member panel concluded. Story
The National Hockey League's Washington Capitals highlighted the club's ninth annual military appreciation night yesterday with a six-figure donation to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors program. Story
Military spouses have amazing stories that all Americans need to hear, the wife of the nation's top military officer said here March 3. "I want all of America to see what I see -- this is a group that can be an incredible source of good," Deanie Dempsey, wife of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, told a group of military spouses attending Military.com's 2012 Military Spouse Summit. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, today urged the nation's governors to remove employment barriers for military spouses with professional licenses. Story
Vicki Terrell looked out at the turquoise Gulf of Mexico, remembering happy days when she and her husband, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Terrell, frolicked on their live-aboard powerboat and set anchor in the Florida Keys. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, unveiled a new report today that spotlights military spouses' employment challenges and aims to remove barriers for the thousands of spouses with occupational licenses. Story
Officials are hoping efforts to address military spouses' ongoing issues with obtaining occupational licenses after a move will help to remove career barriers and reduce an unemployment rate that's consistently higher than that of their civilian-life counterparts. Story
Alongside some of the nation's top officials, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will unveil an employment report this week intended to ease military spouses' ongoing issues with occupational licenses, White House officials announced. Story
The Defense Department's new obesity and nutrition awareness campaign sets a powerful example for the rest of the nation, First Lady Michelle Obama said during a health-conscious dining facility. Story
Another state has joined an interstate agreement to ease school transitions for children from military families, bringing the overall tally of member states to 40, a Defense Department official announced yesterday. Story
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, have announced the 20 finalists that will compete for top honors in the Joining Forces Campaign's Community Challenge. Story
Caring about military families comes naturally to Deanie Dempsey, the wife of the nation's top military officer. She's been an Army spouse for nearly 36 years, and their three children have served in the Army. Story
Saralee Trimble hunches over a craft table, meticulously weaving thin strips of material together to form a basket. Story
The Warrior and Family Support Center on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is a bustling "oasis" for wounded warriors and their families seeking emotional support and a respite from the rigors of recovery. Story
When her soldier husband was injured in Iraq, Catrina Tomsich gave up everything to be with him. She shut down her business, left a support network of friends and uprooted their 5-year-old son, Brayden, to move to help him recover. Story
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, has written a children's book to raise awareness among Americans, particularly children, of military families' challenges during deployment. Story
A new Defense Department website offers military children around the world a chance to participate in an online community so they can learn how people their own age are coping with a parent's deployment. Story
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