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Benefits for Military Families

Government Morale Welfare & Recreation (MWR) Resources
  • John Bone, MWR Program Manager
    3569 Galway Rd Ballston Spa, NY 12020
    (518) 885-5138 (Ext. 1)
    jbone_nsumwr@nycap.rr.com
  • Watervliet Arsenal
    Family Morale & Recreation
    (518) 266-4829
  • Fort Hamilton
    Army Community Services
    (718) 630-4754

Armed Forces Recreation Centers

Armed Forces Recreation Centers are centrally-managed resort hotels operated by the United States Army. These affordable Joint Services morale, welfare, and recreation facilities are located at ideal vacation destinations and offer a full range of resort opportunities for service members, their families, and other members of the total Defense Force. Armed Forces Recreation Center resort hotels are located at Honolulu, Hawaii (Hale Koa Hotel); Orlando, Florida, Shades of Green; Garmisch and Chiemsee, Germany (Armed Forces Recreation Center-Europe); and Seoul, Korea (Dragon Hill Lodge).

Armed Forces Recreation Centers are totally self-supporting using only nonappropriated fund revenues generated internally from operations.

Post/Base Exchanges and Commissaries

For information regarding comissary rules and regulations please visit the Commissary Home page.

The following is a list and phone numbers of Commissaries and Exchanges in New York.


Hancock Field ANGB, Syracuse NY Base Exchange
BX: (315) 233-2440
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Thurs: 9:00am-6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-3:00pm

Saratoga Springs, New York
Commissary: (518) 581-2180 (View Map)
Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Thurs: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Base Exchange: (518) 584-7426
Mon - Fri: 7:00am - 8:00pm
Sat: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm - 4:00pm

United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
Commissary: (845) 938-3663/2218
Sunday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Monday: Closed
Tues, Wed, Fri: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Post Exchange: (845) 446-5406/5405
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Closed Home Football Saturdays

Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY
Commissary: (718) 630-4951
Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Monday: Closed
Tues, Wed: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Thurs: 11:00 - 8:00pm
Fri: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Post Exchange: (718) 748-3440
Sun and Mon: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Tues - Sat: 10:00am - 7:00pm

Naval Support Unit MWR Ballston Spa, NY
Office: (518) 885-5138 Ext. 1
Tues - Thurs: 6:30am - 6:00pm
Fri 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Park (summer):
Mon - Sat: 7:00am - Sunset
Sun & Holidays: 8:00am - Sunset
Park (winter): Only when office is open

Fort Drum, Fort Drum, New York
Commissary: (315) 772-5294
Sunday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Monday: Closed
Tue, Thr: 10:00 - 8:00pm
Wed: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Fri: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Post Exchange: (315) 773-0061
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Mon - Sat: 9:00am - 8:00pm

Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, New York Post Exchange:
(518) 273-2424
Sunday: Closed
Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00 - 1:00pm

Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Base Niagara Falls, New York Base Exchange
(716) 297-3080
Sunday: Closed
Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Sat: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Coast Guard Station, Buffalo New York Base Exchange
(716) 856-8143
Sunday: Closed
Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday: 9:00 - 2:00pm

Veterans’ Benefits

Services

Veterans Service Organizations

Insurance Benefit Information

TriCare -- health insurance

for the most up-to-date information, go to: TriCare at OSD
  (... and also see the Health Net links below for forms, etc.)

Service Group Life Insurance - SGLI

For the most up-to-date information, go to: http://www.insurance.va.gov/sglisite/SGLI/SGLI.htm

Veterans Group Life Insurance - VGLI

For the most up-to-date information, go to: http://www.insurance.va.gov/VGLI/VGLI.htm

REMINDER: Be sure to update your own and family members' eligibility information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Sponsors and family members actually lose access to their TRICARE health care benefits when "loss of eligibility" appears in DEERS; they are unable to make appointments, get prescriptions filled, or have claims processed correctly. Action must be taken by the sponsor and his/her family members to update information in DEERS as well as in their military personnel records. Reserve Component sponsors should visit the nearest ID Card issuing facility and their unit personnel shop to ensure that their DEERS information is current and correct. For additional information about DEERS or to update an address in DEERS, visit https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/index.jsp.

Health Net Federal Services:

https://www.hnfs.com/content/hnfs/home/tn/prov/benefits.html provides the very latest benefits information.

https://www.hnfs.com/content/hnfs/home/tn/common/app_help_pages/provider_directory.html/ lets you search for a health care provider in your area.

https://www.hnfs.com/content/hnfs/home/tn/bene/res.html lists Tricare Program materials and forms.

Other DOD Health Affairs useful sites:

provides information about DoD health programs.

North Atlantic Regional Medical Command offers some additional regional information

Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point

Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care Clinic, Fort Drum

United Concordia Dental Information

Financial Assistance

The Department of Defense Office of Financial Readiness offers Personal Financial Counselors (PFCs) to help you and your family manage finances, resolve financial problems and/or reach short, intermediate and/or longer-term goals, such as getting an education, buying a home and planning for retirement.

Support and Financial Counseling Services

  • Confidential financial consultations for individuals and families
  • Referrals to military and community resources
  • Support for service and family members during all stages of the deployment cycle
  • Help with credit management, budgeting
  • Assistance with navigating benefits
  • Advocacy information and support

Common Military Training and Workshops

Continuation Pay
Disability
Divorce
First Child
Marriage
Promotion
Pre-Deployment
Post-Deployment
Vesting in TSP
Car Buying
Home Buying
Retirement Planning
Paying for College
Paying off Student Loans
Holiday Spending
Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Personal Financial Counselors

Services are no-cost, private and confidential

Buffalo
Vacant
 
 
Farmingdale
Paula Mucci
pfc11.ny.ng@zeiders.com
516-492-9221
Fort Drum
Rachelle Quinn
pfc.fortdrum.usa@zeiders.com
315-530-3971
Latham
Lisa Dapolito
pfc1.ny.ng@zeiders.com
518-258-2720
Newburgh/Stewart
Charles Block
pfc4.ny.ng@zeiders.com
571-284-8230
New York City
Calvin Lipscomb
pfc2.ny.ng@zeiders.com
347-525-4265
Rochester
Ken Moyer
pfc8.ny.ng@zeiders.com
585-397-2619
Scotia (Stratton ANGB)
Roger Greenwood
pfc7.ny.ang@zeiders.com
518-948-7028

Find a PFC worldwide using the locator map at the Office of Financial Readiness site: https://finred.usalearning.gov/pfcMap

New York Transition Assistance Adviser (TAA)

Transition Assistance Advisors (TAA's) work with other Joint Forces Headquarters staff members and Directors of State Family Programs to build a state network of support with Veterans Affairs and community organizations for service members, Veterans and their families to access in their community.

We provide information and assistance to service members and their families to help them understand and access state and federal benefits as well as services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Business Administration, Military Health System, and the Department of Labor.

Disclaimer: Military/State and Veteran Benefits are likely to change without advanced notice. For the most up to date Benefits Information and assistance, always contact your local Transition Assistance Advisor to receive the latest information about the benefits you have earned, based on your individual service.

© NYS DMNA: New York National Guard Family Benefits
Page Last Modified: 16 May 23