Strengthening Connections: How United Through Reading Helps Military Families Thrive

United Through Reading (UTR) is a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening military families’ emotional bonds, literacy, and general well-being through the power of reading. Penney Letrud-Samons, United Through Reading’s Director of Special Programs, discusses how the organization’s free storytime video recordings help deployed servicemembers stay connected to the military children in their lives. But the program isn’t only for deployments - UTR helps encourage reading anytime, anywhere. Penney tells us all about the many literary resources that UTR offers and all the incredible developmental benefits reading offers to our military kids. Penney also announces the 2025 Book for the Military Child!

Show Links:

• United Through Reading

• United Through Reading App

• United Through Reading Resources

• United Through Reading Upcoming Events

Show Takeaways:

• Every year more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 military children at home. UTR gives military families a way to connect despite the distance they may face through deployment.

• UTR also benefits servicemembers by allowing them to maintain close emotional bonds with their families at home.

• UTR’s storytime recordings videos can be viewed on-demand and have many developmental benefits for the military child. For every storytime recording a servicemember makes, they receive a free copy of that book. Servicemembers can make unlimited recordings that are reliable, repeatable, and accessible anytime for the military children in their lives.

• UTR’s other resources include reading trackers, literacy guides for all ages, read aloud tips, and a podcast.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Your Health, Your Benefits: Exploring the New HCFSA Initiative

Show Notes:

Show Notes: Ron Garner, Assistant Director of Military Compensation Policy, explains the DOD’s new Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCSFA) initiative. March 3rd - 31st is the first opportunity for eligible members of the uniformed services to enroll in an HCFSA during this special enrollment period.

Show Links:

• Office of Financial Readiness - Understanding the HCFSA

• Knowing your Benefits

• Healthcare FSA

• Applying for FSA

• Eligible Expense Guide

Show Takeaways:

• The new FSA initiative is a way to save untaxed income for eligible medical, dental, and vision care costs..

• • Eligible expenses include OTC medicine, acupuncture, braces, contact lenses and so much more!

• A special enrollment begins March 2nd and ends March 31st.

• Members of the uniformed services in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and U.S. Public Health Service are eligible to sign up for an HCFSA during the Special Enrollment Period.

• • Members of the regular (active) component.

  • Members of the reserve components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force performing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) duty.

  • Members of the National Guard performing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) duty.

  • Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, including Reserve Component Managers, performing active duty for more than 180 days.

• Contributions come straight from the service member’s paycheck and can be $100-$3,300 per year.

• If you choose to re-enroll during Federal Benefits Open Season, (typically mid-November through mid-December), you may carry over up to $660 in unused HCFSA funds to the next plan year.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Holiday Shop with Spouse-ly featuring Monica Fullerton

Spouse-ly is an online marketplace powered by military and first responder vendors. Founder Monica Fullerton talks about how she created this company, why it's important to create employment opportunities for military spouses, and how to shop small to make a big impact. Get some holiday shopping inspiration (along with retirements, homecomings, promotions, and more!), or find out how to join this community of creators and entrepreneurs if you want to become a seller.

Show Links:

• https://spouse-ly.com/gift-guide/

• https://www.instagram.com/spouse.ly/

Show Takeaways:

• Air Force Spouse Monica Fullerton founded Spouse-ly as a central marketplace to support military spouse creators and entrepreneurs.

• Spouse-ly is a military-owned and operated community that provides military and first responder families with flexible, income-generating opportunities wherever they are located.

• Shop small and make a big impact! With the holidays around the corner, Spouse-ly is a great place to find gifts while supporting our fellow military families.

• Interested in becoming a seller? Spouse-ly has multiple plans to choose from to meet your needs best, and has resources to help educate you on starting and growing a business.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

A New Era for EFMP: What’s Changing for Military Families

Michelle Norman, the Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, a non-profit organization focused on educating, advising and advocating for exceptional military families and their education, discusses the changes to EFMP. She discusses what recently changed and what's coming down the pipeline, focusing on the elimination of EFMP categories and change in respite care.

Show Links:

• Dissolution of Navy EFMP Program dissolution-of-navy-efmp-program.pdf

• EFM Respite Care Changes EFMP Respite Care Changes

• Partners in Promise Partners in PROMISE Podcasts

Show Takeaways:

• The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a program that supports military families with special needs members with their medical and educational needs throughout a service member’s career.

• Partners in PROMISE is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to protecting the rights of military children in special education and disability communities.

• DOD mandated changes to EFMP will likely impact all EFMP families. Changes include the dissolution of categories and standardizing eligibility for respite care. The dissolution of categories will allow for a more holistic and flexible approach to assignments for service members enrolled in EFMP.

• Make sure you’re aware of the changes and keep your EFMP enrollment forms up to date.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Show Notes: Former VA Benefit Advisor, Kathy Gonzales, shares what to expect during, and how best to prepare for, the transition-retirement process. She discusses everything from disability and education benefits, to financial planning, to TAP classes, and covers all the best resources to utilize to make the transition to civilian life as smooth as possible.

Show Links:

• Online TAP Courses and Military Life Cycle Courses

• Office of Financial Readiness (retirement calculator, find a personal financial counselor, financial courses and tools):

• Department of Veterans Affairs

• Find a Veteran Service Officer

• Team Red, White, Blue

• Team Rubicon

• National Resource Directory Resources

• State Veterans Affairs Offices

• DoD TAP

• DFAS for Retirees

• DFAS for Retirees new to Retired Pay

• Department of Labor for Veterans

• Navy Transition - Retirement Resource Guide

Show Takeaways:

• Transitioning out of or retiring from active duty can feel overwhelming, but there are lots of resources available to assist you and your family in the process.

• Transition Assistance Program classes cover finances, VA benefits, disability benefits, education benefits, employer panels, and more. This information can be accessed anytime online.

• Begin preparing for this transition early - Longevity retirees especially should begin preparing medical documentation early.

• Veteran Service Officers, VFW, American Legion and more are available to assist with filing your claims.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Sarah Hoopengardner and her family were en route to a holiday vacation when they received a call that a car had run into their home. That accident displaced them for six months, and they were forced to move from hotel to hotel, navigate the complex insurance and legal systems, and deal with the emotional toll of the accident. Sarah shares what she learned from her experience, and USNR Chaplain Sam Hatch provides resources that families can utilize when they face an unexpected emergency.

Show Links:

• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)

• Navy JAG Corps

• Military OneSource

• Fleet and Family Support Program

• Safe Military Housing Initiative

Show Takeaways:

• Unexpected emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. The unpredictability of the military lifestyle can often compound those emergencies.

• These crises can cause financial and emotional strain. Families need to know their legal rights and how to advocate for themselves.

• Your command JAG can assist you or direct you to the correct legal resources available to help you in your unique situation.

• Do not ignore your mental health in times of crisis. Seek help from your command chaplain or other mental health resources as needed.

• Navy Marine Corp Relief Society, Fleet and Family Support Centers and more can help in times of acute financial distress.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Operation Homefront’s Ebony Strange discusses the many financial resources, family events, and special programing that Operation Homefront offers for military families, including their Holiday Meals for the Military Program. Lindsay Carstairs, winner of the Operation Homefront’s 2024 Navy Military Child of the Year Award, shares her experience as a military child and this incredible award opportunity.

Show Links:

• http://www.operationhomefront.org

Show Takeaways:

• Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing relief and recurring family support programs to military families in need.

• Holiday Meals for the Military provides meals and gift cards to military families facing financial strain during the holiday season. Applications are open now!

• The Military Child of the Year Award recognizes one young person age 13-18 from every branch of services who exemplifies volunteerism, scholarship, community service and more while facing the challenges of military life. Applications are open now through December.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

S5 E1: Celebrating our CPO Selectees!

Show Notes: Mike Stevens, CEO of the Navy League of the United States and Evelyn Honea, wife of MCPON James Honea discuss why selecting as a CPO is such a major career milestone, and talk about how family members can support their selectees and what to expect during Chief season.

Show Links:

• Navy League of the United States

Show Takeaways:

• Being selected as a CPO is a major career milestone

• Spouses and family members are provided with opportunities to be involved in season events

• CPO season is based in naval history and connects the past, present, and future to create chiefs who know the value of their role and the meaning it holds

• Chief Season can be a challenging time for selectees and their families, but also a time of celebration

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram