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21 Budgeting Tips for Military Families For a Better Financial Life

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21 Budgeting Tips for Military Families For a Better Financial Life

Money money money! Money can be quite a hot topic. When it comes to our finances, we want our money to work for us but sometimes that is a difficult thing to do. As a military family, you may be feeling pressure from a PCS that cost you a little too much, or the loss of a job or other source of income you were depending on.

Although there is a 5.2% pay raise coming in 2024 for members of the military, having and sticking to a budget is super important. It is the best way to know where your money is going, and how much you actually have to spend.

Here are 21 budgeting tips for military families for a better financial life:

1. The #1 budgeting tip would be to of course have a budget. You need to know exactly how much money you and your spouse are bringing in and exactly what you will be spending your money on, including how much you will put in savings. This will give you a clear picture of your finances.

2. Keep a detailed record of all of your spending. Those little trips to Target can add up. Keeping track of what you are spending your money on is a must.

3. Set some financial goals. Talk with your spouse about what you want to do in the future. Do you want to save for a house? A new car? Pay off debt? Talk about what your focus will be.

4. Compare the cost of housing. While you might want to live off post, would living on post save you more money in the future? Is that savings worth it? Would living on your military instillation allow you to save for your house that much sooner?

5. Remember your budget when shopping for groceries. The food budget can get quickly out of hand without proper planning. What are your options for grocery shopping? Can the Commissary save you money? What about clipping coupons?

6. Watch the eating out. While eating out can be a lot of fun, it’s also really expensive. Even fast food can cost a family $50 a trip. Yikes!

7. Use military discounts. Yes, you can save between 10-30% at places that offer military discounts. Check out my Big List of Military Discounts for ideas.

8. Shop thrift stores and consignment shops. You can find all sorts of things from clothing to books to toys at thrift stores and consignment shops. You can also take your old items to consignment shops to make a little extra money. Check and see what is available in your own city and plan a shopping trip.

9. Look for low-cost and free things to do at your duty station. Most duty stations have events going on throughout the year. They can be a lot of fun and you can find some free things to do with your kids.

10. Is your spouse deployed? Are they bringing home extra money? Make sure you make a plan of what you will do with it. Ideally, you can save and pay off debt. However, you may need to budget for extra expenses such as having a baby or getting ready for a PCS. Talk things over so you are on the same page.

11. Coupon. Use coupons at the grocery store, when you go out to eat, and at different stores you need to go to. Most people get coupons in the mail. See which ones work for you and your family and trade with friends.

12. Learn new skills. When it comes to keeping up your home, see what you can do yourself. Use Youtube to get ideas on affordable projects.

13. Review your subscription services. Did you sign up for one when it was only $5.99 a month and now it’s double that? Are you paying $15 a month for a streaming service your family doesn’t really watch anymore? Do an audit of your all your subscriptions to see if you can cut any and to make sure you are only paying for the ones you really want.

14. Save a bit from each paycheck for birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays you may need extra money for. When the time comes you will have money to spend and won’t have to stress as much.

15. Check into side gigs. Can you Door Dash? Drive for Uber? Mow lawns? There are lots of little side jobs you can add if you are able to in order to make some extra money.

16. Look into Financial Readiness classes at your duty station. For example, the Army’s Financial Readiness Program (FRP) is available at every Army post. It provides classes and counseling on saving money, investing, getting out of debt, and more.

17. Look into The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Because of the act you may reduce some of your debt’s interest rates to 6%, postpone a foreclosure, defer your taxes, get protection against eviction, and more.

18. Work to get out of debt. Pay more than the minimum and avoid using credit cards when you can.

19. Use banking tools for extra savings. If you bank with USAA, they have a fun savings tool where they take a random amount from your checking account between $1-$9 a few times a week and put it in your savings account. This adds up and before you know it you will have $100 saved. They also send your text messages with updates, and little fun facts and jokes.

20. Use your library. Libraries have so much to offer the community. From books, to movies, to free events. Don’t sleep on what your local library has to offer.

21. Have an emergency savings fund. $1,000 is a good amount to shoot for. You want to have something you can use in case a car breaks down, something needs to be fixed in your house, or any other extra expense comes up.

As military families, we are used to the unknown. But, we should know where our money is going and how we are spending it. That way we can work to achieve our goals and live the life we want to live.

What are your favorite budgeting tips?

Stop Saying That We Knew What We Were Getting Into

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Stop Saying That We Knew What We Were Getting Into

“You knew what you were getting into”

If you have been a military spouse for any length of time, you have heard someone say this. This phrase comes from civilians, military spouses, and military service members. I don’t like it.

My response to this is, no, we didn’t know what we were getting into. 

You see, us military spouses, we know there will be time apart, we don’t know how lonely that can be.

How quiet the house can get when you are the only one in it. How you will crave the little daily chats, you used to have with your spouse, and how sad you can get when you think about those moments.

We know we will have to move often, but we don’t know how hard it will be to leave someone that is like a sister to us.

The person we spent last Christmas with. The neighbor who helped us when our son was in the hospital. The friend that we could talk to about anything. The person that became closer to us than anyone else ever had.

We know there will be deployments, but we don’t know how they might break us.

How we might get so overwhelmed with them that we can’t imagine going through another one, even though we know that with our spouse’s job, that will be our reality.

We know there might be children, but we can’t know what their struggles might be or what having one parent gone all the time will be like.

We can’t predict what raising a child on the autism spectrum will be like when your other half is gone for a year at a time. We can’t know how drained we will feel as a SAHM, even though that is what we always wanted to do.

We know that we might have to sacrifice our careers for theirs, but we don’t know how hard that can be or how long we have to wait on our own career goals.

We can’t know if we will be in a state where we can work using our degree or if we will have to settle for something else because that is all there is. And then have to deal with the emotional toll of all of that.

We know this life will be a hard one but what that looks like, how we will be able to get through the difficult days, and what the years our spouse will serve will look like is a surprise. 

Life is filled with surprises. This is true for everyone, military or not. What you thought your life might be like will look different than what happens.

No one knows what they are getting into. No one can predict that. No one can be 100% ready for what this military life brings.

Even if we did know what we signed up for, that doesn’t mean we can’t vent a little on our more challenging days, cry into our pillows when we just can’t take anymore, or simply ask for help because everything is just too overwhelming at times.

Before you say, “You knew what you were getting into,” think about your own life and all the ways things turned out differently than you thought they would.

Be compassionate to the military spouse that is having a more difficult time. Understand that everyone handles deployments differently. Know that some of us ask for help because we are trying to better our situations, not because we want to fail.

Military spouses are strong but only because we have had to become that way. Through trials, challenges, and the surprises that military life brings.

What has been your biggest military life challenge?

Don’t forget to check out The Newbie’s Guide to Military Life: Surviving a PCS and More by Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life and Mrs Navy Mama. Your guide for learning about military life.

Beyond Old Navy! 6 Stores That Offer a Military Discount On Clothing

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Beyond Old Navy! 6 Stores That Offer a Military Discount On Clothing

This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

I have been shopping at Old Navy since I was in high school. My whole family can find something there, which is super handy. They also have a military discount! If you also have a growing family, being able to save money on clothes is a must, especially if your kids are at the age where they are growing all the time. My 12 year old is going through this so I am always looking for a good deal on his clothes!

Old Navy, and its sister stores the Gap and Banana Republic aren’t the only clothing stores with a military discount. Here are a few more to check out the next time you are at the mall:

Columbia

Columbia Sportswear began by selling hats, yes hats! They were called the Columbia Hat Company after the Columbia River and were founded in the 1930s. They became the Columbia Sportswear Company in 1960, which is what they are called today, offering sportswear including jackets, shirts, sweaters, and more. You can save 20% with the Columbia military discount.

J. Crew

J.Crew was started back in the 1940s as Popular Merchandise. They kept that name until 1983 when they became J.Crew. You can find clothing for women, men, and for children at J.Crew and you can save 15% with the J.Crew military discount.

Hanes

Hanes was founded back in 1900 as Shamrock Knitting Mills, (I love learning these old names for companies), and the Hanes Corporation began in 1965. Hanes is a great place to find pjs, sweatshirts, and underwear for you, or your while family. You can save 10% with the Hanes military discount.

Buckle

Buckle started as just a men’s clothing store a few years after World War II ended as Mills Clothing. The company introduced woman’s clothing towards the end of the 1970s. The store became The Buckle, Inc, which is what it is called today, back in 1991. At Buckle you can find jeans, tops, shoes, dresses, shorts, and more for men, women, and children. You can save 10% with the Buckle military discount.

Under Armour

Under Armour is a bit newer having been founded in the mid 90s and was started in the owner’s grandmother’s basement. He got his start when he wanted to make a t-shirt that stayed dry like his shorts did using moisture-wicking synthetic fabric. The cool thing about Under Armour is that sometimes they offer a 40% military discount. At the moment, the Under Armour military discount is 20% but keep an eye on it because it might go up when you are ready to shop.

Lululemon

Lululemon was founded in 1998 with its first store opening a couple of years later. The owner, Chris Wilson, has been credited with creating modern yoga pants. At Lululemon you can find yoga pants, tops, shorts, sweaters, and more. The Lululemon military discount will save you 15%.

Looking for other military discounts? Check out A Big Long List of Military Discounts for Military Spouses for more military discounts for all types of retailers, including amusement parks.

3 Cozy Video Games to Play When You Really Need to Relax

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3 Cozy Video Games to Play When You Really Need to Relax

Somedays are just a lot. I have too much on my mind, and quite frankly, I need a break. I need to relax and do something calm and chill, and that will allow me to veg out a bit. And something I can easily do from home. For me, sometimes that is playing a cozy video game. Here are three of them I love to play when I want some downtime.

This post does contain affiliate links!

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley looks like something from the 1980s. You aren’t going to find super modern graphics with this one, but it is also one of the best games to play to help with my anxiety as well. I play on my Nintendo Switch, and I love curling up with the game, ready to work on the farm.

The storyline is that your grandpa has passed away and has left you his farm. You move in from the city and start your new life. You can have animals, which make items you can sell such as cheese, milk, and eggs. You can also garden, and sell or can your items from your crops. You can also go to the mines to well, use your pix axe to mine, or fight monsters, which honestly can be a little scary sometimes.

You start in the spring, and play 28 days in each season, with winter bringing you a snow-filled farm. You can interact with the townspeople, make friends, and even marry and have children. There is so much gameplay to be had and it is all so satisfying. You can also play with others, although I haven’t yet explored playing that way.

The best part is, the game is only $15.00!

Sims 4

I have been a fan of the Sims since it first came out in 2000. Sims 4 is the latest version and so much fun. From playing different challenges to watching your Sim family grow, it’s perfect for cozy gameplay. Sims 4 is basically a virtual doll house where you can create, or download families, starting at the infant stage. Your sims will grow to a baby, toddler, child, teenager, young adult, adult, elder, and then pass away and turn into a ghost.

You can play a single sim living it up in the big city or a mom of six trying to make it on a farm complete with a cow, chickens, and even some wild rabbits. Your sims can stay at home and garden or work their way up an astronaut or doctor career path. There are so many choices.

The Sims 4 Base Game is now free to play, but you can add to your game with packs based on all sorts of themes. My favorites are Growing Together, Cottage Living, Seasons, and Parenthood. You can see the vast collection of packs here. I like to play the Sims 4 on my MacBook Air but you can also play on a PC, Playstation, or Xbox.

Shop for Sims 4 Expansion, Game, and Stuff Packs!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing is similar to Stardew Valley in some ways. You play a cute character who has to build up a home on an island. I haven’t spent as much time playing Animal Crossing but its really so cute and you get to upgrade your home over time. You spend time making tools, making friends, shaking trees, fishing, and looking for fossils. You can also connect and play with your friends who also play Animal Crossing, visit each other’s islands, and help each other out.

Cozy video games are such a great way to unwind from a long day, work through your anxiety, and create and have fun in a virtual way.

What are your favorite cozy games?

22 Tips for a Better Military Spouse Life

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22 Tips for a Better Military Spouse Life

22 Tips for a Better Military Spouse Life

Are you a new military spouse? Maybe you have been living this life for a few years now? Maybe your spouse is about to hit 20 years? No matter where you are in your military spouse journey, there are certain tips that can help you along the way. Certain things to remember so that you have a better overall experience.

Here is a list of 22 tips to help you have a better military spouse life-

1. Take it a day at a time- You will find that in your military life journey, you will have bad days, especially when your spouse is away. Take these days one day at a time. Try not to look at all the days you will have to get through. Sometimes that can be too overwhelming.

2. Sometimes you will need to take it an hour at a time- Sometimes you will have to take things an hour at a time. This is especially true during the first or last weeks of a deployment.

3. Don’t forget about you- When your spouse joins the military, it can be easy to feel like you don’t matter anymore. That you are just there to support your spouse. But you are much more than that. Don’t forget about yourself and what you need. That is important as well.

4. You are much stronger than you think- During your time as a military spouse you will go through situations you never thought you would be able to. I never thought I could make it through a 15-month deployment but I did. I never thought I could handle having a baby without my husband but I did. You will surprise yourself with what you can get through that you didn’t think you were able to do before.

5. Look at the calendar differently- Sometimes you will celebrate holidays and birthdays later on than you normally would. That is okay. If your spouse has to be away for Christmas, celebrate the holiday early. If they are going to miss your anniversary, celebrate when they get home. The calendar looks different to us military spouses and that is okay.

6. Learn about your bills & how to budget- If you don’t already know about what bills to pay and when they are due, you need to find out. You will need to be the main person in charge of paying the bills. Or at least know how to do it. Why? Because sometimes your spouse will not be able to. They could be deployed or somewhere where they could not do anything with your finances. You will need to know how to pay the bills and how to budget so that you can make the best of the money you and your spouse make.

7. POA is your best friend- POAs are a must. You can get your Power of Attorney on post through JAG or through a lawyer. Consider getting special POAs for situations that might come up.

8. Find good battle buddies- You need some good friends in your military life. Friends that can help you through the hard days and friends you can make memories with through the good ones.

9. Be a good friend- You should also be a good friend to others. Be there for people and be a listening ear. Sometimes all someone needs is someone to talk to.

10. Be flexible- Flexible is going to have to become your middle name when you are a military spouse. You can’t always plan on anything happening the way you want it to. You will have to adjust.

11. Stay away from drama if you can- Drama is going to happen at some point in your military life, trust me. Drama can happen in your neighborhood, in a group you are in or even on the soccer field. Do your best to stay away from drama and confront it if you need to. Walking away from the drama is also a good choice.

12. Ask questions- If you don’t understand something, ask questions. Ask a friend, your FRG or even your husband. You won’t always get an answer but asking is helpful to learn more about this military life.

13. Be wary of rumors- Rumors are going to happen. Rumors about deployments, rumors about redeployment, rumors about the Command. Just keep in mind a rumor could be half true or not true at all. Just keep that in mind when you hear something that isn’t fact.

14. Have a backup plan- Having a backup plan is a good idea. You might even need a backup plan for your backup plan. You never know when things will change and you might have to abandon your first plan.

15. Follow your own dreams as much as you can- Did you always want to do something as a career? Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams as much as possible. This is sometimes harder to do depending on your spouse’s career but if you are creative you can make things happen.

16. Don’t be afraid to be you- Be who you are. The military spouse world is made up of a lot of different types of spouses. Be you and find your tribe.

17. Lower your expectations- Sometimes lowering your expectations a little bit can help with your frustration levels. Talking to your spouse every day when they are deployed might not be possible and expecting to be able to can make life really hard. Just try to lower expectations a little bit to help cut down on your frustrations.

18. Get involved in the military community- Get involved. Join a club, go to post events or visit the FRG. You never know who you might meet or what kind of experience you could have.

19. Don’t be afraid to ask for help- Sometimes asking for help is difficult but don’t feel bad if you need to do so. Sometimes a short Facebook post can result in many helping hands.

20. Say No- Know that if you feel like you have too much on your plate, it is okay to say no. You don’t always have to say yes.

21. Say Yes- Sometimes we can get in a rut where we don’t want to do anything. Where you just want to stay home and chill. Try to put yourself out there if you find you are in a funk and need a way to get out of it. Say yes to something new. You might really enjoy yourself.

22. Write love letters- Write love letters. Send them to your spouse. Have fun with them and enjoy being able to write to each other in this way. Most likely when your spouse comes home you will not write these types of letters anymore.

How long have you been a military spouse? What advice would you give?

Why Military Spouse Friendships Are Important

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The first military friends I ever met were after I moved to Germany when I was 27 years old. I met most of these ladies through the FRG. I also met people through playgroups and PWOC. Over the years I have been able to make friends at places like swim lessons, MOPS, and our local Bunco group.

Sometimes it can take a while to find those people that you will connect with. When you move somewhere new, thinking about finding those friends can feel pretty overwhelming. Where do you go? How do you make friends? How much do you have to put yourself out there?

Military Friendships

Finding military friends might be difficult sometimes but worth it.

Here is why…

Friends make the time pass

Let’s face it, having friends helps the time to pass. Whether you are busy making lunch dates, dinners out, or just getting together with the kids every so often. Staying busy is a must and friends help you do just that. If you are new to your duty station, finding a friend who has been there a while can help you get to know the area too.

Friends get you through the hardest parts

Having a bad deployment day? You can call a friend. Not sure how you will get through the next few months? Let people know. Most likely they will understand what you are going through and want to help. Knowing you have people to go to just to vent or to work out a problem is a good thing.

Friendships

Friends help you make memories

When you spend time together, whether you do so on a holiday when both your husbands are deployed or you meet up regularly just to chat, you will be making memories you will always cherish. Once you or they move away, you will think back to those memories that you have made and smile. Even when several years have passed, you will look back at those moments and be so thankful that you had those times together.

Military friendships can last forever

Even though the military means you have to move around and saying goodbye to people becomes the norm, you don’t have to say goodbye altogether. The military world can surprise you and you never know when you two might end up at the same duty station again or when one of you will be visiting nearby. Stay in touch, post to each other on social media, and make plans to meet up again, even if it is years down the line.

They know what it is like to miss their spouse

When you are talking with friends who have never had to live without their spouse, there can be a bit a disconnect there. Not that they can’t support you, they can. But only those who have felt that deployment ache, know how hard being without your spouse really is.

They understand why cereal for dinner makes sense, they understand why you cry yourself to sleep, they understand how exciting homecoming can be even if you are nervous about what having them home will mean. Other military spouses can truly understand.

Why Military Spouse Friendships Are Important

The most interesting part of this life has been the people I have met along the way. Some have become close friends, ones that I will always talk to. Others are more casual friends, and although some have moved away, I will always remember the fun that we had.

As you go through your military life journey, be open to new friendships and meeting people along the way. They will be the ones that will get you through and help improve your life.

Looking for more military life posts?

How To Stay Married When The Military Is In Charge

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How To Stay Married When The Military Is In Charge

My husband joined the Army when we had been married for about three years. Everything before that was so different. We have had our Germany years and our Fort Campbell years and are now in our National Guard years.

Our boys are getting older, one is just about three years away from being an adult himself. We have one son with Autism and have had other challenges with our kids to figure out over the last 15 years.

We have been through four deployments, and too many other times apart to count. Lately, he has been home more often than he has ever been. I am not sure how long this will last, but this time together has been so needed.

I always feel a bit funny giving marriage advice. For a while, that was because I hadn’t been married long enough. Then, I just wasn’t sure if my advice would apply to anyone who read it. I have friends whose marriages haven’t lasted, even though they went into them with that as a plan.

I know so many people that are living a completely different life than they thought they would, with a completely different person than they started out with. Life happens, and you never really know how that will change you or your spouse.

But, as I look at my upcoming anniversary, I can’t help but think about what has worked and what hasn’t. I can’t help but think about what my marriage has gone through and what challenges we have faced over the years.

I don’t claim to have the secrets about how to stay married when you are in the military. Everyone has a different story. Everyone is dealing with their own experiences.

Marriage is never easy, but I do think there are things you can do to help keep you stay married over the miles and over the years.

Forgive Often

You are going to have to forgive each other and do so often. Whenever you live with another person, they are going to piss you off. They are going to get on your nerves sometimes, and you could find yourself holding a bit of a grudge if they wrong you in some way.

Obviously, there are exceptions. You don’t have to forgive someone who cheated on you. You don’t have to put up with abuse. But, in your day-to-day, try to forgive the little things. They usually aren’t worth holding on to.

Know Your Spouse’s Personality

This is something I feel like I didn’t quite get until the last few years. And if I had realized this earlier, things might have been a bit easier for me. I knew going in my husband is a completely different person than I am, but there is so much more to that that can affect your everyday.

The 5 Love Languages Military Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts (this is an affiliate link) book is a good start. You can also take an Enneagram test to figure out you and your partner’s personality type as well as taking a Myers-Briggs test. These also can be good for friendships and getting along with people in general.

Knowing how your spouse works, how they feel loved, and what is important to them will help so much when certain struggles come up in your marriage. While “treat others like you want to be treated” can be good advice, it doesn’t always work 100%. Over the years I have learned more about what my husband appreciates and what he doesn’t care too much about.

One example is care packages. Some spouses love them. I know I would.

If I was deployed and my husband sent me a care package I would feel so loved. But for my husband? It is different. While he would appreciate one, receiving a care package wouldn’t be the same as it would be for me. When he is deployed, I don’t need to send him one on a regular basis, but that isn’t true for every deployed service member.

Communicate Expectations Before They Deploy

Talking about your expectations before a deployment starts is so important. Talk about how often you need to hear from them, care packages, and even how you will be spending your money during a deployment.

There are so many times when frustrating situations come up because each spouse has a different idea of how things are going to be during a deployment. While you can’t prepare for everything, communicating about deployment expectations will go a long way in helping your marriage when they are gone.

Talk Things Over

Constantly talking things over with your spouse is a must. You want to be on the same page about what you guys are going through. You don’t want to keep big things from each other.

If your children are very young and date nights are hard to come by, make use of the time after they go to bed. Cook a nice dinner, and have some conversations. You can connect this way, without even leaving your home.

If you can go on regular date nights, do so. They can make for the perfect time to talk about your lives, what is going on with both of you and what you want for the future. Lately, my husband and have been going out a couple of times a month.

We can have some fun, kid-free time together and let each other know how things are going. Sometimes during the workweek, we are ships passing in the night, so having that time together is very important to our marriage.

If your spouse is deployed, this type of thing can be difficult, especially if it isn’t easy to communicate. Writing letters can help, as well as trying to connect when you can. Other times you might just have to make some decisions on your own and tell them about them later.

During my husband’s first deployment, we went a whole month without talking with each other. That was just the way things were, so a lot of things I had to handle all by myself. That time wasn’t easy, but can be how a deployment goes.

Don’t Get Mad At Them For Something The Military Has Done

Getting mad at your spouse because of something the military has done can be easy to do. Keep in mind, they have to go where the military tells them to go, where the military tells them to go. And they can’t always take you with them.

Your spouse will also have to make decisions based on their career. You might not totally understand why and this can be frustrating. Try to remember, they want to make the right choice, and they might have to say yes to things you don’t want them to.

When it comes to the decision to re-enlist or not, decisions can be complicated. In some cases, getting out of the military is a must, for the mental health of the spouse or other members of the family. In other cases, that isn’t going to work, and the career aspirations of your service member need to be taken into account. Talking through your expectations, worries, and your hopes for the future is always a smart idea.

What is your best advice about how to stay married when the military is in charge?

The 9 Army Posts With New Names

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The 9 Army Posts With New Names

Fort Moore, Fort Liberty, and Fort Cavazos are 3 of the 9 Army posts that will all be renamed by the end of 2023. So far, 8 have already been renamed as you have probably noticed online or in your local area, especially if you live at one of these posts. The last Army post will be renamed before January 2024.

Why are the posts being renamed?

Congress established the Naming Commission in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 with the goal to provide removal and renaming recommendations for all DoD items, “that commemorate the Confederate States of America of any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America.”

The Commission issued its first report in May of 2022 and finished its mission in October of 2022. The military posts started changing their names in 2023 and have until the beginning of 2024 to make the change.

Name changes like this can be confusing, even if there is a very good reason to make them. However, these were needed changes and we will now be able to honor others that have served their country in a heroic way, from the Civil War to more modern times.

So which Army installations changed their names? And what did they change them to?

Fort Benning is now Fort Moore

Fort Moore is located near Columbus, Georgia, and is named after Lieutenant General Hal Moore and his wife Julie Moore. The couple was portrayed in the movie, We Were Soldiers. Moore served in the military for 32 years after graduating from the US Military Academy in 1945. He wrote the book, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young which the movie was based on. We Were Soldiers depicts the first major battle of the Vietnam War in the la Drang Valley. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross after that fight. His wife Julie was a big advocate for the military community and helped change the way the Army delivered the casualty messages. Hal passed away in 2017, and Julie in 2004. Fort Benning became Fort Moore in May of 2023.

Fort Bragg is now Fort Liberty

Located just outside of Fayetteville, NC, Fort Liberty is the only post not changing its name to a person, but instead to an idea. The post will be named after the word “liberty” which is an American and military value. Fort Bragg became Fort Liberty in June of 2023.

Fort Hood is now Fort Cavazos

Located near Killeen, TX, Fort Cavazos is named after General Richard E. Cavazos. He was born in 1929 in Kingsville, TX, and was the first Hispanic 4-Star General in the US Army. He served in the military for 33 years, including during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was stationed at Fort Hood in the 1950s and retired from the Army in 1984. Cavazos passed away in 2017. Fort Hood was changed to Fort Liberty in May of 2023.

Fort Lee is now Fort Gregg-Adams

Located near Petersburg, VA, Fort Gregg-Adams is named after two people. Gregg for Lieutenant General Arthur J. Gregg, and Adams for Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams, two Black officers, and trailblazers for equality in the US Army.

Gregg enlisted in the Army in 1946 at just 17 years of age. He established himself as an outstanding logistician and in 1979 became the Army’s first Black officer to serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. He was also the highest-ranking Black Army officer when he retired from the military in 1981. In his 90s, he is also the only one being honored that is still alive today.

Adams was the first Black officer in the Women’s Army Auxillary Corps during WW2 and led the first predominantly Black Women’s Army Corps unit to serve overseas. But the time retired she became the highest-ranking Black woman at the time. She passed away in 2002. Fort Lee became Fort Gregg-Adams in April of 2023.

Fort Picket is now Fort Barfoot

Located near Blackstone, VA, Fort Barfoot is named after Colonel Van T. Barfoot, who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor during WW2. Barfoot enlisted in the Army in 1940 and served in the military for 34 years, including time in Korea and Vietnam. Although he was never an official member of the Choctaw Nation, his grandmother was. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 92. Fort Picket became Fort Barfoot in March of 2023.

Fort Rucker is now Fort Novosel

Located in Dale County, AL, Fort Novosel is named after Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Novosel Sr., who is a Medal of Honor recipient. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 when he was 19 years old. During World War II he flew B-29 Superfortress bombers. After the war he remained in the Reserves, serving as a part of the newly formed Air Force while in Korea. During Vietnam, he volunteered for active duty as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot since the Air Force had too many senior officers at the time. In October of 1969, he saved 29 men and received the Medal of Honor and in total flew over 2,500 extraction missions in Vietnam. He served in Army Aviation until 1984 and passed away in 2006. Fort Rucker became Fort Novosel in April of 2023.

Fort A.P. Hill is now Fort Walker

Located near Bowling Green, VA, Fort Walker is named after Dr. Mary Edwards Walker who was an American abolitionist, prohibitionist, prisoner of war, as well as a surgeon. She is the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor. Dr. Walker was born in 1832 and earned her medical degree in 1855. She was hired by the Union Forces and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and later the 52nd Ohio Infantry. She became the first woman surgeon in the US Army and was captured by the Confederates as a POW until she was released during a prisoner exchange. She received her Medal of Honor after the Civil War for treating the wounded in battle and across enemy lines but in 1917, the award was rescinded. In 1977 it was restored by President Jimmy Carter. She passed away in 1919 after supporting the Woman’s Suffrage Movement. Fort A.P. Hill became Fort Walker in August of 2023.

Fort Polk is now Fort Johnson

Located near Leesville, LA, Fort Johnson is named after Sergeant William Henry Johnson, who was a Black World War I hero. Johnson enlisted in the US Army in 1917 and was assigned to an all-black national guard unit that later became the 369th Infantry Regiment. In May of 1918, he single-handly stopped the German forces from approaching the main French line. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palme, which is France’s highest award for Valor. He passed away in 1929 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 1996 and the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002. Fort Polk became Fort Johnson in June of 2023.

Fort Gordon is now Fort Eisenhower

Located in Augusta, GA, Fort Eisenhower is named after former President and General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1911, he accepted an appointment at West Point and graduated in 1915. He was then posted to Fort Sam Houston in Texas. While he did serve in the Army during WWI, he never went overseas. He did, however, receive a Distinguished Service Medal for his work at home. Over the years he rose through the ranks and became the General of the Army in 1944 and later became the new Chief of Staff of the Army after the war. He served as the 34th President from 1953 to 1961. He was then reinstated to the rank of General of the Army after his Presidency. He passed away in 1969. Fort Gordon will become Fort Eisenhower in October of 2023.

While getting used to new names can take some time, these name changes are for the better and gives us the chance to honor a few more American heroes.