Military OneSource Podcast

Learn about filing deadlines for the 2023 tax season, changes to tax rules and what to expect when you file your 2022 returns. You’ll also hear about MilTax, the free e-filing tax service from Military OneSource. MilTax was developed specifically to address scenarios that are unique to the military, from combat pay to multiple moves. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Susan Mitchell, executive director,...

Learn about Sesame Street for Military Families, a website created by Sesame Workshop for children ages 2-6 to help them through the milestones of transitions, relocations, deployments and more. The website celebrates the unique role of military children by offering them and their parents a wide range of resources, engaging videos, fun apps and helpful tip sheets and articles. Host Bruce Moody spe...

Learn about online survivor benefits reports, who is eligible to receive them, the process for gaining access to the reports and how the interactive OSBR can help survivors achieve financial security. Also discover the role that casualty assistance officers play, how to know if you are receiving all the benefits you’re eligible for and how survivors can get help if they are having trouble setting...

Learn tips for talking with your child about healthy sexual development and the kind of language parents and caregivers should avoid during those conversations, as well as how access to the internet can affect social and/or sexual development. You’ll also learn why talking to your child about healthy sexual development early and continuously as they grow can lead to safe decision-making and respec...

Learn about free remote testing to earn college credit. Service members and others who are eligible can take College-Level Examination Program and DSST Credit-by-Exam Program tests anywhere they have internet access, a personal computer and privacy. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Matthew Schwantz, education program specialist with the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support. DANTES pr...

Learn about some of the support services available for victims who leave an abusive relationship, and benefits and eligibility requirements for those in need of transitional compensation, as well as who victims should contact if they’re in need of financial support. Also, learn when a victim might not be eligible for transitional compensation and about the differences between a household goods mov...

In response to the continuing need for mental health support for children and youth, the Defense Department, in collaboration with Purdue University, is offering Mental Health First Aid courses to Youth Programs professionals to provide tailored, intentional support for military children and youth. The course educates Youth Programs professionals how to interact with and support youth who may be e...

Learn about the different degrees of problematic sexual behavior in children and youth, the stigma surrounding PSB-CY and the barriers that might prevent a caregiver from asking for help. You’ll also learn strategies for caregivers who are concerned about a child exhibiting PSB, as well as tips for clinicians when preparing for meetings regarding an incident. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Amanda Mi...

Learn about the responsibilities of the person authorized to direct disposition, how the PADD is selected and what rights and benefits they are entitled to receive. Also find out what support is provided to the PADD, such as for the preparation and transportation of remains and disposition options, and how to request military funeral honors. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Program Analyst Trevor Dean...

Learn more about the value of sleep and how a lack of it can affect your immunity and long-term health. Also discover the ideal amount of sleep adults should strive for, find tips for service members to improve their sleep and learn how pre-bedtime habits can impact sleep quality. Finally, learn how food and diet can affect your ability to fall asleep, as well as how sleep quality impacts a person...

Learn the difference between child abuse and child neglect, including various signs to watch out for and where to make a report. Also, learn about the New Parent Support Program available for military parents, including expectant parents, and the kind of guidance and support it provides. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Shannon Best, who’s with the Family Advocacy Program. FAP is the Defense Departmen...

Learn about Troops to Teachers, a program that helps service members and veterans become certified and employed as teachers in K-12 schools. The program was reauthorized in 2021 after being canceled the previous year. Host Bruce Moody speaks with the director of the Troops to Teachers program, Taheesha Quarells, Ph. D., who describes the program, how it works and who is eligible. Dr. Quarells also...

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...

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 su...

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...

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 a...

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 Mili...

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...

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...

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 survi...

Learn what child-focused language is and how it relates to problematic sexual behavior in children and youth. You will also learn why avoiding shame-based language is important due to the way it impacts child exhibiting PSB, as well as impacting the families and responses from professionals in the judicial system. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Andrew Monroe, MSW, LCSW, at the University of Oklahoma...

Learn how the military School Liaison Program provides a wide range of support for geographically dispersed families. Topics discussed include parent empowerment, educational partnerships and more. Host Bruce Moody speaks with school liaison Kristin Fernandez from Marine Corps Recruit Depot – San Diego. Visit Military OneSource to learn more about School Liaison Program resources and support avail...

Learn about typical sexual development in children and youth, as well as problematic sexual behaviors, common behaviors at different ages, the impact of social media, how caregivers can encourage healthy development, when caregivers should be concerned and the different resources available via Military OneSource and OneOp. Host Bruce Moody speaks with Andrew Monroe, MSW, a psychological clinician...

The 4-H Military Partnership provides valuable life skills, programs and resources for military children and youth across the country and around the world. Learn more about 4-H clubs, summer camps and an array of available programs on subjects including STEM, healthy living, civic engagement, public speaking and more. Host Bruce Moody speaks with David Brittain, youth development specialist with N...

Learn about the decisions military families face if their service member dies, plus the options to memorialize their loved one. This includes determining who is responsible for making these decisions and how the Defense Department’s Casualty Assistance program guides families through the difficult process of making arrangements for funeral and memorial services, such as connecting families with a...