Here are the top stories for the week of June 1, 2020, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

Troops are Opting to Stay in Military

Stars and Stripes reported that many troops who originally planned to leave the military have been opting to reenlist. The Army has offered a temporary reenlistment option for soldiers to stay for an additional 11 months and reported that the Army has “already exceeded its retention goal of 50,000 soldiers . . . reenlisting more than 52,000 . . . And the other services have also met or are closer than planned to their target numbers.”

A primary theme driving the decision to reenlist: Stability. “I need stability in my life. There’s no steady income on the outside, or guaranteed income either,” said a pilot, who asked to remain anonymous. He added that, in the military, he’s guaranteed a job. “While other people are getting laid off and not working, we’re still collecting a paycheck and going to work.”

Army Releases New PCS App

The Army has released a new app aimed at making your Permanent Change of Station move smoother. Army.mil shared that the app is a “Central hub of information on entitlements, types of moves, how to plan/schedule a move, claims, and important moving information related to COVID-19.” The app was in development before the COVID-19 pandemic and helps the user through a checklist from start to completion of a move. “Highlights of the app include deadline reminders, a weight allowance calculator, instructional videos, and important documents and forms,” said Army.mil. You can find the free app, Army PCS Move, in both the Google Play store and the Apple Store.

MilSpouse Money Mission: Financial Literacy Resource

The Department of Defense has launched a Financial Education website for military spouses called: MilSpouse Money Mission. The aim of the website is to help military spouses have access to free financial literacy resources. The DOD has shared that some of the key areas of education on the website include: 

• Money Ready: A guide to support the education of spouses in tackling a variety of financial topics 
• MilLife Milestones: A resource to empower spouses to make smart money moves during life’s big moments
• Videos: Featuring financial tips and tools by fellow military spouses
• Blog: Real conversations covering the latest money-related topics and issues
• Resources: Military support links, financial calculators, quizzes and more to elevate financial literacy 
• Social Media: A community of support and motivation

Space Force Prank Goes Viral

And, in an effort to share a chuckle with you during these tricky times, Military Times reported that “Someone taped Steve Carell’s picture over Space Force’s top officer at the United States Air Force Museum”. The story shares that although the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has been closed, someone was having some fun. The photo was scotched taped over Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond’s official photo and included a biography of Carell’s character, the lead from Netflix’s new show, also entitled, Space Force. Pop over to see the photo and bio for a little laugh.