Military Policy
The Overseas Cost-of-Living Allowance (OCOLA) is an allowance that ensures our service members who are assigned to a permanent duty station outside the contiguous U.S. (OCONUS) (i.e., foreign countries, U.S. territories, Alaska, and Hawaii) maintain the same level of purchasing power as service members stationed in CONUS locations - not
Family
The Defense Department implemented annual changes to the Child Development Program Fee Policy and restructured total family income categories which determine child care fees. The policy change includes fee increases necessary to ensure the department's ability to find and keep skilled child care staff and to continue providing quality care
News Front
The American Forces Network, AFN, marked its 80th Anniversary this year with the launch of its new streaming service, AFN Now, on Nov. 7. The AFN Now app delivers top-rated AFN television programming to service members, families, and retirees living overseas, when and where they want it, on the devices
Family
The Defense Department has implemented an early childhood education curriculum called, Early Learning Matters. This is the first early childhood education curriculum developed for DOD's child development program. The department created this curriculum in collaboration with early childhood experts at Purdue University. Several military child development centers pilot-tested the curriculum. Service
Veterans
On Nov. 19, the Department of Defense announced annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during calendar year 2022. Most military retirees will receive a 5.9 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on Jan. 1, 2022, which is the largest
News Front
Q1. What is being done to ensure our service members are safe in their travels and keep them healthy? A1. The actions outlined in Secretary Esper's memo and the Force Health Protection Supplement #4 are done to protect our personnel and their families. The department will take several measures to enhance