Defense Department child care programs have expanded access to quality, flexible child care for military families through fee assistance and options that recognize and respond to the unique challenges of military life. A previous episode about Child Care in Your Home outlined how this program meets those needs and challenges by putting decisions about child care in the hands of parents who want quality care in their homes. In this episode, Host Bruce Moody speaks with Maria Quinn,...

Learn about the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot, a competitive multiyear program that provides career-ready spouses of active-duty service members with 12-week paid fellowships at employers across various industries and locations. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Chelsea Pifer about her experiences as an MSCAP fellow with Navy Federal Credit Union, where she is now employed as a marketing communications specialist. Learn more about this pilot at...

Mothers Against Drunk Driving joined the Military Spouse Employment Partnership in 2023. Learn more about MADD, a nonprofit that works to end impaired driving, and has committed to recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining military spouses as an MSEP employer. Host Bruce Moody speaks with MADD Chief Executive Officer Stacey Stewart and Chief People and Culture Officer Kenneth Ceaser about career opportunities at MADD, its mission, workplace culture and the unique qualities military spouses...

Learn all about military leave, how to request it and make the most of your time off. Also, learn about the different types and rules governing leave, such as chargeable and nonchargeable, emergency and advance leave as well as the new “use it or lose it” policy. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Sgt. Maj. Steven Minyard, senior enlisted advisor at the Defense Department’s Manpower and Reserve Affairs Office. Visit Military OneSource at...

Learn all about military leave, how to request it and make the most of your time off. Also, learn about the different types and rules governing leave, such as chargeable and nonchargeable, emergency and advance leave as well as the new “use it or lose it” policy. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Sgt. Maj. Steven Minyard, senior enlisted advisor at the Defense Department’s Manpower and Reserve Affairs Office. Visit Military OneSource at...

Learn how to meet your health and wellness goals by focusing on what your body needs, rather than the foods to avoid. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Jennifer Claro, a registered dietician with the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, about her “anti-diet” approach to good nutrition. Hear about mindful eating, specific steps to meet your nutritional goals, and how to overcome barriers to wellness. Visit Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-wellness/fitness-nutrition/...

Learn about about the power of the military spouse community and how it can help spouses deal with the stress of deployments, relocation and other MilLife challenges. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Army spouse Evie King, 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, and Space Force spouse Aimee Selix, Armed Forces Insurance Space Force Spouse of the Year. Ms. King and Ms. Selix talk about what their military spouse community means to them and offer suggestions for other spouses...

Participating in adaptive sports provides reconditioning activities and competitive athletic opportunities, like the Warrior Games, for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. This enhances their physical and mental well-being during the recovery and transition process. Tune in to this podcast to discover one soldier’s journey with a silent disability — from diagnosis to finding hope, a supportive community and the determination to pursue her dreams. Host Bruce Moody speaks...

Emergency Family Assistance Centers serve as a one-stop shop for assistance, information and support during an emergency or disaster, and this podcast covers many of the support services offered through Emergency Family Assistance Centers. Listeners can also learn about how to connect to resources and information. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Judith Wright, Emergency Family Assistance program manager with Commander, Navy Installations Command, about Emergency Family Assistance, one portion...

Through a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the armed services, youth and teens can enjoy and benefit from all kinds of educational, recreational and leadership opportunities in military Youth Programs and teen centers, which provide a supportive place to connect with peers and mentors. Host Bruce Moody speaks with 2023 National Military Youth of the Year Xavier B., who talks about how participating in the Military Youth of the Year program and in his military...

Learn how survivors can navigate the range of emotions brought on by milestones, such as birthdays and anniversaries, following the death of a service member or veteran — and how such emotions can fluctuate over the years. Also, learn the difference between milestones you can see coming and ones that can appear out of nowhere, strategies for finding support and how to help children find comfort during these times. Host Bruce Moody speaks with the Vice President of Survivor Services for the...

This podcast is promoting a series about the newly enhanced Exceptional Family Member Program. Learn about who the program serves, how it helps military families and the new enhancements put in place by the Defense Department to facilitate better communication and a seamless experience for families with special medical and/or educational needs, regardless of location and service branch. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Tomeshia Barnes, associate director, Office of Special Needs. Visit Military...

Learn about DANTES, Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support, a program that provides free education and career planning to service members. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Erin Roberts of DANTES about how the program can help military members at every stage, from entry into the service to the final stage of transitioning into their civilian career. Visit Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-service-members to learn about education and...

Learn about the PACT Act and what it could mean for you or your loved ones. The PACT Act is a new law that expands and extends VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances as part of their military service since the 1960s. Learn about eligibility, which medical conditions are covered, how to go about receiving benefits and more. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Kaitlin Richards, Assistant Director, Office of Policy & Oversight at the...

Learn about the Veterans Legacy Memorial, how it came about and who it honors. You will also learn who is eligible for inclusion, how to submit tributes that include pictures and memories and where family, friends and the general public can view the memorial. Host Bruce Moody speaks with James LaPaglia, who’s with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and works in the National Cemetery Administration. Visit https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ to learn more about the Veterans Legacy...

Learn how school liaisons can help military-connected students, including those with special needs, prepare for successful transitions to life after high school. Parents can get helpful tips about how to use Child and Youth programs and resources to best prepare their children for education transitions and postsecondary opportunities — including further education, training and jobs. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Kristen Acquah, school liaison at Headquarters Marine Corps, and Meredith Ayala,...

Learn more about the Global Household Goods Contract and how it is changing the way personal property shipments will be managed in the future, the Defense Department’s plan to improve the relocation experience for service members and their families, and key changes customers should know about before their next PCS. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Lt. Col. Cody Honeycutt, Global Household Goods Contract transition lead with the Defense Personal Property Management Office at U.S. Transportation...

Learn about Thrive and the programs it offers for military and civilian families, how it can help families manage deployment and how its resources help address deployment concerns and issues. You’ll also learn about supplemental modules Thrive offers to assist families before, during and after deployment that help keep relationships strong. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Terri Rudy, Thrive Initiative Research Project Manager, and Holly Nusom, Army spouse of 19 years. Visit Military OneSource...

Learn more about how school liaisons help military-connected youth, including those with special needs, prepare for successful transitions to life after high school. This episode highlights the way school liaisons promote the relationship between families and school systems and inform educators about the unique needs of military-connected children — especially the challenges of frequent moves. Learn about tools and resources to help ensure smooth education transitions, whether you are moving...

Learn about occupational licensure compacts, and how Defense Department officials work with state legislators to ease pathways to employment for thousands of military spouses to work in practices that require licenses in compact-member states. In this episode, the discussion introduces listeners to how occupational licenses are selected, developed and approved, which differ from state to state. In addition, learn about the 2023 amendment to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and how...

Affordable, licensed, quality child care for military families is critical for quality of life, readiness and retention. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about how Defense Department leadership convened a diverse group to represent families and child care employees to exchange ideas about how to address gaps and discover solutions to benefit child care providers and parents. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Susan Gale Perry, CEO of Child Care Aware® of America, and Dr. Walter Gilliam,...

Learn about Kuder Journey, a career exploration tool that allows service members to develop a college career plan tailored to their interests, values and needs. Kuder Journey is available free to service members through Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support. Host Bruce Moody discusses Kuder Journey with DANTES Program Manager Mareba S. Mack. DANTES provides free career education and career-planning programs for service members. Visit Military OneSource at...

Learn about Morale, Welfare and Recreation joint services campgrounds and facilities located across the United States. A variety of accommodations and amenities are available to service members and their families at great rates without sacrificing luxury or location. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Ken Sorg, an analyst with the Office of Military Community and Family Policy, specifically Morale, Welfare, Recreation and Resale policy. Visit Military OneSource at...

Learn what a domestic abuse victim advocate is, what a victim should expect if they contact an advocate and about the available reporting options. You’ll also learn about the risk assessment tool and safety plan, when the planning process begins and if you have to file a report to move forward with a safety plan. Bruce Moody speaks with Adriane and Nikki, domestic abuse victim advocates. Visit Military OneSource at...

Learn about the different types of domestic abuse, how it affects children and what the impact looks like as a child grows into adulthood. You’ll also learn about the social, emotional, physical and cognitive effects of being a child of domestic abuse, how a parent’s denial of abuse can impact their children, and how it can affect parent/child relationships. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Pamela Rhodes, a child counselor at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, and Julia Kates, a licensed clinical...