S6 E5:

Preparing for Your PCS: Everything You Need to Know

PCS Season is upon us - and with it, the stress and anxiety that accompanies moving.

In this episode, Dannielle Niewald joins us to break down the key differences between the legacy DPS system and the new Global Household Goods Contract (GHC). We’re talking rates, timelines, communication gaps, and the real-world impacts of these changes on service members. We also discuss the Secretary of Defense’s recent memo to address the issues service members and their families are experiencing this PCS season.

Whether you're about to move or supporting someone who is, this conversation is designed to give you clarity as well as practical tips, tricks, and resources to help you to manage your move.

Show Links:

• MyNavyHR PCS Guide

• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

• Financial Counseling for the Military | Military OneSource

• Fleet and Family Support Program's Relocation Assistance

• Virtual Work and Family Life 1:1 Consultation Booking Page

• COMPASS – NS Family Line

Show Takeaways:

• The GHC system aimed to streamline PCS moves by centralizing responsibility under a single contractor — but implementation has been rocky.

• Servicemembers have experienced communication issues, delayed deliveries, damaged goods, and financial uncertainty around executing Personally Procured Moves (PPM).

• During OCONUS moves, household goods are generally shipped under various modes of transportation, and are currently still operating under the legacy DPS system.

• The Secretary of Defense recently released a memo directing TRANSCOM to take several actions - including adjusting reimbursement rates of PPMs to reflect market rates at 130% of current GHC rates.

• There are several ways to help make your move go smoothly: start planning early, document everything, get assistance from a financial educator, and even - hand carry your parts box!

• FFSC, NMCRS, Military OneSource, and more are available as resources to help you plan financially for your move.

• Always check with your command and local personal property office for the most up-to-date-guidance.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

This episode features Ryan Manion, CEO of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), discussing the organization’s mission to support veterans and families of the fallen. Ryan shares the story of her brother, 1st Lt. Travis Manion, and how his legacy inspired TMF’s commitment to character, leadership, and service.

Topics include TMF’s programs like The Honor Project and Character Does Matter, among others, all designed to help communities heal, grow, and lead with purpose.

Listeners will hear how TMF empowers individuals to live by the motto: "If Not Me, Then Who..."

Show Links:

• Travis Manion Foundation

• The Honor Project

Show Takeaways:

• Named for 1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of his patrol in 2007, the Travis Manion Foundation empowers and inspires veterans and Gold Star families to make an impact through service.

• One of the Travis Manion Foundation’s core projects is The Honor Project, in which volunteers across the country honor fallen heroes on or around Memorial Day.

• The Travis Manion Foundation offers a variety of programs and events to support veterans and families of the fallen - find them at travismanion.org

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

Celebrating Our Military Spouses: Featuring AFI’s Military Spouse of the Year Navy Branch Winners Angela Litteral and Jennifer Barnhill

Armed Forces Insurance recognizes the work of military spouses from all service branches, with nominations held in December each year. From January through March, these amazing men and women are recognized for their dedication to helping military families thrive. In this episode, we talk with Navy branch winners Angela Litteral (2024) and Jennifer Barnhill (2025) to discuss the program and their platforms, as well the importance of military spouses everywhere creating change in their communities.

Show Links:

• Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year®

• Unsung Heroes: The League of Wives and the Power of the Military Spouse Changemakers

• Navy Marine Corps Relief Society

• My Navy Family

• We Serve Too

• Strength in Service

• Mission: Milspouse

Show Takeaways:

• Military Spouses deserve to be recognized for their strength, selflessness, and sacrifice.

• The Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Program honors military spouses from all service branches. Angela Litteral was the 2024 Navy Branch Winner, and Jennifer Barnhill is the 2025 Navy Branch Winner.

• Military spouses are a diverse, talented group who use their wide range of talents to support and strengthen their various military communities: From volunteering with NMCRS to elevating spouse stories, or mentoring entrepreneurs to providing mental health services, Angela and Jennifer highlight multiple changemaking spouses and the phenomenal work they’re doing.

Let’s Connect:

• NSFL Website

• NSFL Facebook

• NSFL Instagram

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