Military Resources

State Boards and Commissions that issue occupational or professional licenses offer expedited licensure and waiver of initial licensing fees to military service members, their spouses and dependent children, and veterans. Eligibility also requires that the applicant hold a current license in good standing from another jurisdiction that meets New Mexico’s minimal licensing requirements for the same license, and successful completion of any required background check.

Check each respective board or commission’s webpage to access their application forms or online application portal for more information, instructions on how to apply, and contact information for staff to answer any questions. Some boards and commissions offer further waivers of licensure requirements for military members with active licenses, and additional information may be found in the respective regulations on each board and commission webpage.

Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families. It is a virtual extension of installation services. You can also choose your branch of service for more specific and focused information.

Military OneSource offers short-term, solution-focused financial counseling at no cost. In other words, MOS helps guide you to resolving your financial issues as promptly as possible. Twelve financial counseling sessions are available with accredited financial counselors and/or certified consumer credit counselors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s site for military personnel offers advice on avoiding scams that target members of the military and their families. It also provides a primer on asset allocation — the process of managing risk and not putting all your financial eggs in one basket.

Focus on Military Communities is the latest addition to the Your Money, Your Goals suite of financial empowerment materials. The Bureau designed this guide to be the “go-to” resource for financial educators, counselors, and other trusted agents who help servicemembers, veterans, and their families reach their financial goals.

The Office of Servicemember Affairs of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau focuses on the financial challenges affecting members of the military and their families through financial education, monitoring of complaints submitted by consumers to the CFPB, and coordinating with other Federal and state agencies on military consumer protection measures.

Among a wealth of educational content, Army OneSource has a Financial Readiness page with calculators, retirement planning information, and other resources, such as the Army Gold financial game.

The National Military Family Association features resources to help military families prepare for deployment and cope with the strain of financial issues.

The Better Business Bureau’s Military Line offers free services and consumer education through local BBB offices and on the Web. The Military Line is a partner in the Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign.

Save and Invest, from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, alerts military families to active scams and includes advice on saving and investing. Also available: A free DVD, “Outsmarting Investment Fraud.”

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is an agency of the federal government that provides benefits, health care and cemetery services to military Veterans.

The National Resource Directory connects the military and veterans with local support.

The New Mexico Department of Veterans Affairs helps connect veterans and their family members to the benefits and services they earned through their military service.