40th Anniversary Timeline of Accomplishments

1969

  • Military Wives Association begins

1972

  • Survivor Benefit Plan becomes law
  • Public Health Service joins the Military Wives Association

1973

  • NOAA joins the Military Wives Association

1976

  • Military Wives Association changes its name to the National Military Wives Association
  • Association holds first Issues Workshop to educate families on benefits

1979

  • Association President presents testimony before the White House Conference

1980

  • Association testifies in favor of equitable division of military retirement pay in divorce settlements, paving the way for the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act

1981

  • Association supports a provision to the GI Bill permitting a service member to transfer GI Bill educational benefits to a spouse or child after 10 years of service

1982

  • Association conducts the first comprehensive survey of military spouses in Europe and publishes report with findings and recommendations
  • DoD implements many of the report's recommendations
  • Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act passes

1983

  • National Military Wives Association changes its name to National Military Family Association
  • Association testifies in favor of increased VA benefits for survivors

1984

  • Association receives nonprofit status and is included in the Combined Federal Campaign
  • Defense Appropriations Act includes funding for overseas student travel, a recommendation included in our 1982 European Report

1985

  • National Military Family Association becomes the first organization to testify before a Senate subcommittee on the critical issue of health care for military families
  • Association is a founding member of The Military Coalition

1987

  • Association's survey of families in Hawaii again leads to action on the part of DoD

1988

  • Association testifies on in-state college tuition for members of military families
  • Association persuades the House of Representatives to defeat an Overseas Teachers Act that would have prohibited military spouses from teaching in the DoD school system
  • Congress approves the first increase to the Permanent Change of Station Household Goods Weight Allowance in 20 years—a long-time Association goal

1989

  • Association testifies on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and secures SSI benefits extension to military families stationed overseas
  • Congress passes the Military Child Care Act

1990

  • First funding of DoD Supplement to Impact Aid
  • Association transition plan for military affected by downsizing receives Congressional backing

1992

  • Association proposes "Health Benefits Program for Military Beneficiaries," giving families reliable health care coverage and choices—elements of proposal are now included TRICARE program

1994

  • Association backs DoD Domestic schools boards' fight for continued oversight role

1995

  • First Very Important Patriot Award presented to military volunteers
  • TRICARE program begins

1998

  • Senate designates May as National Military Appreciation Month
  • Association champions the reinstatement of DIC after dissolution of a survivor's second marriage

1999

  • National Military Family Association publishes "Silver Bullet" on need to increase trust that Nation's leaders want to improve the quality of life for military families
  • Congress designates May as Military Appreciation Month

2000

  • Association works to increase BAH (basic allowance for housing) and reduce military families' out-of-pocket housing expenses
  • DoD holds first Military Family Forum at the Pentagon

2001

  • Congress passes the Family Supplemental Subsistence Allowance to assist military families on food stamps
  • Congress allows payment of Survivor Benefit Plan benefits to spouses of all service members who die in line of duty
  • Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom mark large-scale mobilization of Guard and Reserve members and beginning of war in Afghanistan following 9-11 attacks in New York and the Pentagon

2002

  • Association briefs Reserve Forces Policy Board—highlighting needs of families of activated National Guard and Reserve members
  • National Military Family Association is honored in Hollywood at American Veteran Awards
  • Congress gives DoD authority to provide additional family assistance to meet deployment-related needs

2003

  • Association begins collaboration with InCharge Institute on Military Money quarterly magazine
  • DoD and Department of Labor sign Memorandum of Understanding to promote military spouse employment
  • Congress acts on Association's recommendation to increase Family Separation Allowance from its current rate of $100/ month to $250/month
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom begins

2004

  • Association successfully fights for increased benefits for survivors of all active duty deaths
  • Congress passes legislation to end age 62 offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan
  • First Operation Purple® camp season, 1,000 military children attend summer camp for free
  • Military OneSource debuts
  • Association publishes study results, Serving the Homefront – An Analysis of Military Family Support September 11, 2001 –March 31, 2004
  • Association works with Army Disabled Soldier Support System (now Army Wounded Warrior Program) to take care of wounded service members and their families
  • Association awards first military spouse scholarships
  • National Military Family Association Family Award first presented

2005

  • Association testifies in support of expanded programs for wounded service members and their families
  • Association supports expansion of child care programs through Operation Military Child Care

2006

  • Association publishes Cycles of Deployment—the organization's third assessment of military families' quality of life
  • Association publishes the first edition of Military Spouse Education Resource Guide
  • Congress passes Military Lending Act, cracking down on predatory lenders in military communities
  • Association testifies before DoD Mental Health Task Force

2007

  • Operation Purple program is honored at White House event and camps are featured on the Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, and in USA Today
  • Association hosts Military Spouse Education Symposium—experts discuss military spouse education obstacles and solutions

2008

  • DoD begins full replacement value reimbursement for goods damaged in military moves
  • Association hosts its First Reserve Component Family Program Symposium
  • Operation Purple Program marks milestone of sending 20,000 military kids to free summer camp
  • Association expands scholarship program with awards for foreign-born spouses and spouses of wounded or fallen service members
  • Association's Public Service Announcements produced in partnership with Uniformed Services Family Health Plan win Emmy
  • First changes to the Family Medical Leave Act in 10 years accommodate military family members

2009

  • National Military Family Association celebrates its 40th Anniversary
  • Association unveils new logo and “Together We’re Stronger” tagline

 

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