Jim Absher

Jim Absher is Military.com's former benefits editor and columnist. He joined the Navy to see the world and later realized the world is two-thirds water. He also worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in field offices and Washington, D.C. before coming to Military.com in 2015.

Latest Articles

Soldiers return from a 11 month long deployment in Kosovo.

Military Permanent Change of Station PCS Overview

The government will reimburse many costs associated with a PCS move. Here is an overview of what you can expect.

Future airmen take the oath of enlistment.

Everything You Need to Know About the Military Draft

What is the military draft and Selective Service? Here’s everything you need to know.

A woman holds a military discharge paper.

Understanding The Types of Military Discharge

A military discharge is when a service member is released from their military service obligations. More than 200,000 U.S...

Airman & Son Place Flag on Veteran's Grave

When You Die, VA Will Provide a Free Grave Marker

The VA provides headstones and markers for the graves of veterans anywhere in the world.

Military PCS Allowances

If you PCS, the government will either provide you transportation between duty stations or will reimburse your travel.

A housekeeper hangs clean towels at the General John K. Cannon Hotel.

PCS Spotlight: Temporary Lodging Allowances

Temporary lodging reimbursement will help to pay some of your expenses while occupying temporary quarters during a PCS move.

Ship Your Household Goods During a PCS Move

The government will ship your household goods when you are transferred to a new permanent duty station.

Ask the Right Questions Before Choosing a School

Deciding whether a school is right for you requires asking smart questions. This guide will help you become a smart consumer.

Social security card indicating retirement income

Can Veterans Get Social Security?

You can get both Social Security benefits and military retirement.

In a silhouette appearing mostly black and gray, an airman walks away from the camera while tossing a wrench in the air.

Air Force Tuition Assistance

The Air Force pays Tuition Assistance for up to 100% of the cost of college courses.

Your 2025 State Veteran Benefits

There are great federal benefits offered to veterans. Did you know there are also state-specific veteran benefits? Find out...

Why You Should Get a Veterans Designation on Your Driver's License

Most states offer a free veteran's designation on their driver's licenses, and if you want to get your full benefits as a...

The chest and arms of a soldier in a camouflage uniform, one hand holding a pen, appear poised over a textbook and note paper.

Army Tuition Assistance

The Army's Tuition Assistance (TA) benefit pays up to 100% of educational expenses for college courses.

Shundra Johnson returns a wedding ring to her husband Coast Guard Lt. Sancho Johnson after his seated discus practice Navy’s wounded warrior training camp. Shundra is also her husband’s caregiver. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)

What Benefits Are You Eligible For as a Spouse of a Disabled Veteran?

Spouses of disabled veterans are eligible for many benefits, but getting them can be difficult. We make it easy with this...

U.S. military retirees listen to guest speaker Mark E. Overberg, the Army Retirement Services director, as part of the Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, Retiree Appreciation Day, Sept. 30, 2023. (Chad Menegay/Army)

Hearing Aids for Military Retirees

DoD and VA offer programs to help military retirees get hearing aids.

Military News

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Most Popular Military News

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Trump Says US Must Send More Weapons to Ukraine, Days After Ordering Pause in Deliveries

President Donald Trump said the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in critical...

Amazon Prime Day is set to run from Tuesday, July 8, 2025, through Friday, July 11.

The Best Amazon Prime Day 2025 Deals for Service Members, Veterans and Military Families

Amazon Prime Day 2025 runs from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11 - twice as long as what it has been in previous...

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Yemen's Houthi Rebels Say Bulk Carrier Magic Seas That They Attacked Sunday Has Sunk

The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East.

Federal agents ride on an armored vehicle in Los Angeles.

Troops and Federal Agents Briefly Descend on Park in LA Neighborhood With Large Immigrant Population

The defense officials told reporters that it was not a military operation but acknowledged that the size and scope of the...

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll speaks to soldiers

Army Secretary Fires Entire Corps of Civilian Advisers from Communities Across US

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has ousted his entire slate of civilian advisers in a sweeping move aimed at clearing space for...

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps commissioning ceremony

Army ROTC Programs at Dozens of Campuses Are Being Shut Down or Reorganized

The Army is undertaking a major shake-up of its Reserve Officers' Training Corps footprint, shutting down or reorganizing...

Latest Military Videos

The House Gives Final Approval to Trump’s Big Tax Bill and Sends it to Him to Sign

House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage Thursday...

Denmark: EU Must Fill the Gap as US Pauses Some Weapons Shipments to Ukraine

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Thursday the E.U. must fill the gap as the U.S. announced it would...

Trump Says Deal for Ceasefire in Gaza Is Closer After Israel Agrees on Terms, AP Explains

U.S. President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a new 60-day ceasefire with Hamas and that...

US Contractors Say Their Colleagues Are Firing Live Ammo as Palestinians Seek Food in Gaza

American contractors guarding aid distribution sites in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades as hungry Palestinians scramble...

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill contractor collects a water sample

Colonel Retaliated Against Major for Talking to Congress About Red Hill Contamination, Report Says

The report said that investigators substantiated an allegation that an Air Force colonel had retaliated against Army Maj...

Patching ceremony at Joint Training Center, Jordan

Army Dramatically Expands Combat Patch Eligibility

The policy shift, issued last week, covers soldiers who served in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon...

Navy News

USS New Orleans in English waters, about June 1934. (U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)

Mystery on Pacific Seafloor Proves to Be Part of Daring WWII Saga, US Navy Says

A mysterious object spotted on the South Pacific seafloor has been identified as the bow of a torpedoed World War II ship...

Ship on Fire off Yemen After Being Attacked With 'Unknown Projectiles' in the Red Sea

The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet referred questions to the military's Central Command, which said it was aware of the incident...

Air Force News

Colonel Retaliated Against Major for Talking to Congress About Red Hill Contamination, Report Says

The report said that investigators substantiated an allegation that an Air Force colonel had retaliated against Army Maj...

Basic cadet candidates from the Class of 2029 and cadet cadre participate in the annual Swearing-In Ceremony held on Stillman Field at the U.S. Air Force Academy

Air Force Academy Cutting 140 Positions; Majors Affected?

As the Air Force works to cut 5,000 positions before October, the Air Force Academy expects to eliminate 140 jobs.

Space Force News

Oath of Enlistment at Joint Base Andrews

Air Force and Space Force Hit Recruiting Goals 3 Months Early, Following Other Service Branches

The Air Force and Space Force announced they had hit their recruiting targets shortly after the Navy and the Army had reached...

Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna at a screening of "Elio"

Space Force May Have its Biggest Media Moment Yet with Disney-Pixar's 'Elio'

The Army has "Saving Private Ryan," the Navy has "Top Gun," the Marine Corps has "Full Metal Jacket" and, now, an animated...

Marine Corps News

Marine Support Squadron 272 stand in formation

'First Wave' of 200 Marines Sent to Florida to Support ICE Operations

U.S. Northern Command announced that it had tapped Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 to assist ICE operations.

A sign in a militarized zone along the southern U.S. border in New Mexico.

US Expands Militarized Zones to a Third of Southern Border, Stirring Controversy

The zones will be patrolled by at least 7,600 members of the armed forces, vastly expanding the U.S. government presence on...

Coast Guard News

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa returns to its homeport

Coast Guard Temporarily Relieves Commanding Officer of Cutter Tampa

Cmdr. Walter Krolman, who has led the medium endurance cutter Tampa for two years, was relieved for "loss of confidence,"...

Hawaii Coast Guard Crew Wraps Up Enforcement Mission in Cook Islands

The Lane, a 270-foot Medium Class Endurance Cutter arrived in Hawaii in late 2023 to serve as the U.S. Coast Guard’s first...