1.       TRICARE Dental Insurance 1-800-866-8499 or 1-888-622-2256. web address – www.ucci.com.  Dental insurance for National Guard members. They provide you a list of dentists in your zip code who accept this insurance. Insurance premiums for single or family coverage are deducted from your drill check.

 

2.       TRICARE Health Insurance – www.tricare.osd.mil - Guard members who are unemployed or whose employers do not offer health insurance would be able to enroll themselves and their families in the military's TRICARE program on a cost-share basis. A single reservist would pay an annual premium, 28 percent of the annual cost of providing care, amounting to about $420 annually for single reservists and $1450 annually for a reservist and his or her family. TRICARE benefit questions: questions@tma.osd.mil

 

3.       What to Expect at Basic Training - www.goarmy.com/basic/ 

 

4.       What To Bring To Basic - http://sill-www.army.mil/atc/atchq/list.htm Also lists the Army Values, the Soldier’s Creed, and questions/answers.

 

5.       Military Educational Transcripts -  www.aartstranscripts.mil or 1-866-297-4427 – Military education office to receive your military educational transcripts for basic training and AIT. Every SUNY and CUNY College and some private colleges gives college credit for basic/AIT graduates. You need to obtain your military transcripts via this website

 

6.        NY State National Guard Education Office Attention CPT Lynn Currier, 330 Old Niskayuna Rd., Latham, NY 12110 – 518-786-6039; fax 518-786-4409 email lynn.currier@ny.ngb.army.mil- website: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us  - scroll down to education services. Need DMNA Form 96-1, 18 July 2001. Information on how to apply for tuition reimbursement of $2000/semester for a public or private school. Fall deadline August 15; Spring deadline December 15.

 

7.       Military.Com - Federal Education Tuition Assistance capped at $4,500/year or $250/semester hour, whichever is less. See website www.military.com/Education. Visit the National Guard Virtual Armory website where you can get the latest information on Education Benefits for Citizen Soldiers.

 

8.       DANTES - info on testing and certification - http://www.voled.doded.mil

 

9.       SOC Guard - Info on colleges and degree programs - http://www.soc.aascu.org

 

10.    Various military education links - http://www.wsmr.army.mil/education/links

  

11.    Montgomery GI Bill - http://www.gibill.va.gov or 1-888-442-4551. Selective Reserve GI Bill = $297/month. Activated Reserve GI Bill is will be up to $827 depending on the length of activation.  Link on how to apply for your GI Bill benefits:

http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,30910--1,00.html

 

12.    Hofstra ROTC – 516-463-5648 – Join ROTC and obtain a commission as a second lieutenant. You stay in the Guard via the simultaneous membership program (SMP).

 

13.    USAA – 1-800-531-8080: USAA is a private insurance/banking company that is only open to military personnel. They provide low rate car insurance, free checking accounts, home insurance, life insurance, investment services and travel packages.

 

14.    GEICO Military Insurance – 1-800-MILITARY, Reduced car/home/rental, insurance rates offered to soldiers in the National Guard. See website below - http://www.geico.com/military

 

15.    Military Benefit Association (MBA) - http://www.militarybenefit.org –offering life, health and dental insurance.

 

16.    USO – usonyc16@aol.com or 212-695-6160/5990 or 718-630-1023 – Free or discounted tickets to Broadway shows, comedy clubs, baseball games. Located at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, 2^nd Floor, 42^nd Street & 8^th Avenue, Manhattan or at Ft. Hamilton, Building 237, Brooklyn, NY 11252.

 

17.    Civil Service Exams - www.civil-service-success.com or 631-206-4003. A private company that charges you a fee ($) in preparing you to take the test for: NYC, Nassau or Suffolk County police, NYS Court Officer’s exam or NYC Firefighter’s exam. This company is not affiliated with the National Guard. It is listed for informational purposes only.

 

18.    VA Loans - http://www.valoans.com - Need to complete 6-years of the Guard or 180-days or more of active duty (not for training) to be eligible.

 

19.National Guard Retirement benefits https://www.2xcitizen.usar.army.mil/soldierservices/retirement/retirementcalc.asp  

 

20.    https://www.2xcitizen.usar.army.mil/ - Everything you need to know about your Guard career to include your retirement benefits listed in item 24.

 

21.    Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - www.tsp.gov – website for the Similar to a 401(k) account in which you set aside a certain amount of your drill check for retirement.

 

22.    National Guard websites - www.armyguard.com and www.virtualarmory.com – websites listing all your benefits; i.e. pay, education, legal, SGLI, etc.

 

23.    Website for travel/lodging - www.militaryliving.com or 1-800-685-0203.

 

24.    Pay - 1-888-PAY-ARMY or https://mypay.dfas.mil – Email address and phone number to check the status of your pay.

 

25.    Counter Drug – 917-507-3607 – Employment is available with NY Army National Guard’s Counter Drug program. The Counter Drug works with local police in drug enforcement operations. They have a location in Farmingdale off Route 110. The Farmingdale phone number is 631-420-3390.

 

26.    Offdutytravel.com – website for US Army Community & Family Support Center

 

27.    www.aafes.com – website for Army/Airforce Post Exchange (PX).

 

28.    Vacation travel, condo rentals - www.afvclub.com – website for military personal. Information, Ticket and Reservation (ITR) office, bldg 695, West Point, 914-938-3601/4455.

 

29.    Mets and Yankee Games: Show your military ID at the Press Booth at either stadium and they MAY let you in the stadium for free. You do not need to be in uniform. Sit in any untaken spot.

 

30.    Soldiers, Sailors, Marines & Airmen Club – An inexpensive hotel in NYC exclusively for members of the armed forces (Active duty, National Guard, cadets, retirees, veterans). Located at 283 Lexington Ave at 37^th Street, New York, NY 10016-3540. Tel. 212-683-4353. Reservations 1-800-678-8443. Email: info@ssmaclub.org.  Website: www.ssmaclub.org. Rates: E1 to E4 $25/night. E5 and above $30/night. Officers $40-45/night. Spouses and friends are charged same as member. VIP room $90/night single or $120/night double

 

31.    Honor Guard/Burial Detail – www.dmna.ny.us/honor/index.html. Website for Honor Guard burial detail for mil. vets at Calverton National Cemetery. POC Don Roy, Director, Military Forces Honor Guard Program at 518-786-4906, Donald.Roy@ny.ngb.army.mil.

 

32.    National Guard Family Program, Online Community Support Group, website: http://www.guardfamily.org/01%5Ffamily/  - Whether you're a National Guard service member or a member of a National Guard family, we are here to help. An on-line community to share information and provide links to resources that will address your financial and emotional needs.

 

33.    Military Space Available Travel, website - http://www.spacea.info – Information of getting a military hop to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the CONUS.

 

34.    Shades of Green Disney World, Florida, website – www.shadesofgreen.org. Room reservations call 888-593-2242, or reservations@shadesofgreen.org.

 

35.    The Military Advantage : A Comprehensive Guide to Your Military & Veterans Benefits (Paperback): by Christopher P. Michael, Simon & Schuster (November 29, 2005). This book cuts through the red tape and shows the real benefits available to our nation's veterans. It's a valuable complement to any library. "The Military Advantage is the single best benefits resource for military personnel and their families. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever worn a uniform."