November was National Military Family Month — an opportunity to reflect on the role of military family members, recognize their service, and consider the evolution of quality of life programs in advancing national defense.

It's no longer "If the military wanted you to have a spouse, it would have issued you one." Today it's "Recruit the individual, but retain the family." Families have stood alongside their servicemembers in defense of the United States, remaining resilient and resolute during the significant challenges, uncertainties, and sacrifices of war.

Over the years, family support programs have helped balance mission demands and family expectations. Some programs can be traced back to World War II and Vietnam, but no major effort was made to formalize programs in the draft era because far fewer servicemembers were married then. The development of child care, employment services, and financial and other general assistance to families navigating military life took place in the early 1980s.

Not until the 1990s was there a more formal program with trained professionals. By the mid-to-late 1990s, family support programs helped families manage pay issues and deployment-related emergencies. Families were recognized as significant influencers for recruiting, retention, and readiness. Today, more than half of military members are married, and about 40 percent have children. Of more than 3.3 million occupants of active duty households, 57 percent are family members. Of 2 million in the reserve components, 55 percent are family members.

More than two-thirds of military families live off-post, and more than half of military spouses are in the workforce.

DoD and the services seek family support resources through a variety of new and expanded programs. Leveraging technology is critical to providing real-time information and services. Still, more must be done, particularly during times of contingency operations, and especially for those families without access to on-base support facilities.

MOAA is seeking expanded funding for child care, education, family centers and unit-based services, new technologies to connect families, adoption reimbursement and leave, financial aid to civilian school districts with a significant military dependent presence, flexible savings options for out-of-pocket health and child care expenses, and spousal employment initiatives to help reduce stresses on active duty, National Guard and Reserve families — especially those of servicemembers who are wounded.

The service and sacrifice of military families are never clearer than in wartime, and it's in our national interest to ease that sacrifice where we can. MOAA thinks we must take care of our own and strives to help perpetuate a strong national defense through improved retention and readiness.

Concurrent Receipt Action Awaits Commission Report

The Veterans Disability Benefits Commission held public hearings in the past several months as part of a data-gathering effort for its report to Congress. The commission received testimony from legislative, DoD, and VA officials; veterans' service groups; and military associations, including MOAA.

Congress authorized the commission in 2003 to study and report on the standards for determining disability and survivor benefits and compensation for such benefits. Its establishment was part of the agreement to end the disability offset to retired pay for combat-related disabilities and phase it out for those with 50 percent or higher disability ratings. Legislators were reluctant to address the issue for lower ratings without a more extensive review of the disability system itself.

The commission's final report isn't due until August 2006, which slows the likely legislative timetable for further concurrent receipt legislation. Because the commission will review the entire disability system, including concurrent receipt, legislative leaders are reluctant to change the law before receiving the commission's report — making prospects dim for any major action before 2007.

Still, MOAA will continue to push fixes for obvious inequities, including immediate concurrent receipt for retirees rated "unemployable" by the VA.