Military OneSource Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Learn about the role of family centers in emergency family assistance, what family support looks like during a disaster, and what support and resources are available to the military community. You’ll also learn how services prepare to support disasters, how personnel, service members and their families can set themselves up for success with geographically specific preparedness, and about real-world examples of people being supported through the Emergency Family Assistance Center. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Donna Huffman, Air Force Personnel Center’s Airman and Family Readiness Operations division chief. Visit Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/millife-guides/family-emergency-preparation/ to learn about the resources and support available for service members and their families during natural disasters. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. Share your feedback about this podcast as well as ideas for future episodes by visiting the Military OneSource Podcasts Feedback Form at https://public.militaryonesource.mil/podcast-feedback. The Military OneSource Podcast series is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides nutritious food to eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children up to age 5. The program also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to health and social service programs. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Courtney Paolicelli, program analyst with the Department of Defense Office of Military Community and Family Policy; and military spouse and former WIC recipient Dakota Davis, a community health worker with the Uniformed Services University. They discuss how WIC works, who is eligible, special considerations for military families when calculating eligibility and the WIC Overseas Program for military families stationed OCONUS. Visit Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/resources/millife-guides/food-security-resources-and-support-programs/ to learn about food security resources and support programs available to service members and their families. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. Share your feedback about this podcast as well as ideas for future episodes by visiting the Military OneSource Podcasts Feedback Form at https://public.militaryonesource.mil/podcast-feedback. The Military OneSource Podcast series is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

The Defense Department is the nation’s largest employer-sponsored child care system and one of the largest youth development programs in the country — and they’re looking to fill a wide range of entry and management-level positions working with military-connected children and youth. The DOD’s career opportunities initiative, Come Grow With Us, offers employment with high-quality child development and youth programs on or near military installations worldwide, making it a fantastic and portable career. Learn about benefits and eligibility for a wide range of rewarding career opportunities — from custodial and kitchen staff to direct care providers, administrative support and management positions. If you have a talent or a passion, DOD child and youth development programs have a career opportunity for you. Host Bruce Moody talks with Joy Goodrich, school liaison with Child and Youth Education Services at Navy Region Southwest, and Kim Bleakley-Sias, program operations specialist with Army Child and Youth Services at Fort Hood. Visit Military OneSource at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-spouses/career-exploration/careers-with-military-kids/ to learn more about the Come Grow With Us initiative. You can also use this downloadable guide to help you locate Defense Department child and youth development job opportunities on the USAJOBS website: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/products/come-grow-with-us-usajobs-how-to-guide-971/. Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn about the elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children and who it affects. Previously, when a service member died on active or inactive duty in the line of duty, the surviving spouse could request to have their Survivor Benefit Plan annuity paid directly to an eligible dependent child or children. Beginning in 2023, however, the SBP monthly annuity payment must revert to the surviving spouse (once they submit documentation confirming eligibility). Host Bruce Moody speaks with Julie Burandt-Partin, director of retired and annuitant pay for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/RetiredMilitary/survivors/SBP-2023-Optional-Child-Annuity-Reversion/ for more information about the elimination of the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn about changes to the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and about the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The changes, which go into effect for 2023, involve eliminating the Optional Annuity for Dependent Children, meaning eligible spouses will receive their full SBP payment from DFAS and their full DIC payment from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Julie Burandt-Partin, director of retired and annuitant pay for DFAS, about the changes. Visit Military OneSource for more information about the phase-out of the SBP-DIC offset at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/media/news-and-releases/phase-out-of-the-sbp-dic-offset-frequently-asked-questions/. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn about the Military Spouse Employment Partnership and how to find a career with one of its more than 600 employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Kristina Santos, a career coach with the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, and MSEP Specialist Anne Kelly about SECO career coaching, the MSEP Job Search tool and the Job Search Navigator. Visit Military OneSource to learn about career and education resources and support to military spouses. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the Office of Military Community and Family Policy.

Learn about the wealth of educational, recreational and leadership opportunities offered by military Youth Programs and teen centers. 2022 National Military Youth of the Year, Ahsha B., talks about how military teen centers and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnership programs helped her develop her interests, become more well-rounded and achieve life goals. Host Bruce Moody speaks with 2022 Military Youth of the Year, Ahsha B., of Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. Visit Military OneSource to learn more about military youth and teen programs. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn more about Thrive — free, online parenting-education programming developed by the Defense Department with the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. Thrive provides evidence-informed, best-parenting guidelines that promote positive parenting, stress management and healthy lifestyle practices. Find out how Thrive can help you raise healthy, resilient children from birth to 18. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Terri L. Rudy, research project manager for the Thrive initiative. They discuss resources and support available from the Thrive program, including core age-specific modules, as well as the supplemental module for families with special needs. To learn more about Thrive resources and support for service members and families, visit Military OneSource at: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/parenting-and-children/parenting-youth-and-teens/thrive-online-program-for-military-parents/. To register for the Thrive program, and view or download parent resources, visit: https://thrive.psu.edu/. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Finding good travel deals online can be overwhelming. Many travel websites appear to serve the military community, but only one — American Forces Travel — is by and for the Defense Department. AFT provides access to a wide selection of discounted rates on hotels, airfare, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises, event tickets and more. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Ken Sorg, program manager for AFT. Ken shares details about the travel service including who is eligible to use it, discounts available, payment options, cancelation policies and other features. Visit Military OneSource to learn more about recreation, travel and entertainment offerings available to service members and families and to access the American Forces Travel website. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the Office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the DOD. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.

Learn about two online courses available through MilLife Learning that provide support following a death by suicide. “After a Suicide” offers assistance to anyone who is exposed to a suicide, and “After a Suicide: Walking Through Providing Support” is geared toward service providers to help them gain a greater awareness of the complicated nature of suicide and how to establish a rapport with survivors. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Lisa Valentine, program manager for Casualty, Mortuary Affairs, and Military Funeral Honors, and Dr. Andrew Moon, associate director for program oversight and training in the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. Visit the MilLife Learning page on Military OneSource to access the “After a Suicide” and “After a Suicide: Walking Through Providing Support” courses and get the help you need. Bruce Moody is a public affairs specialist with the office of Military Community and Family Policy. The Military OneSource podcast is an official resource of the Defense Department. For more information, visit MilitaryOneSource.mil or call 800-342-9647. Military OneSource is your 24/7 connection to information, answers and support to help you reach your goals, overcome challenges and thrive.