Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, out of Louisiana, unload thousands of pounds of illegal drugs from a vehicle during interdiction operations in southwestern Afghanistan, May 9. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment supported efforts to disrupt the enemy's drug smuggling operations. Such missions have proven effective in disrupting the enemy's movement and limiting their finances from the illegal drug trade.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Robert Carrasco

Louisiana’s Military Family Assistance Fund provides cash to Reserve service members in need

12 Oct 2012 | Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve

NEW ORLEANS --

While frequent moves, deployments and lengthy training assignments are not uncommon for active-duty Marines, Reserve Marines face the unique challenge of leaving their civilian salary for a military salary, which is sometimes much less lucrative.

In response to this need, Louisiana citizens have come together since 2005 to offer veterans up to $10,000; per active-duty orders, under the Military Family Assistance Fund, which is funded by private donations but run by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

The fund exists to help bridge the financial gaps that members of the reserves and National Guard experience when they are mobilized, defraying the costs of basic necessities such as food, housing and medical services when they are called to active duty.

According to the Louisiana VA website, “their civilian salaries are placed on hold while they are deployed, and they receive military salaries that are often substantially less than their civilian salaries.”

Any Louisiana resident who is a member of the Reserve component or National Guard and has served thirty consecutive days of active duty since Sept.11, 2001, may apply for assistance from the MFAF fund. Immediate family members are also allowed to apply on behalf of their service member.

Minimum qualifications include:

1. Guardsman and Reserve service members must have been placed on active-duty status for more than 30 consecutive days since Sept. 11, 2001.

2. Financial hardship must be proven to have been a direct result of having been placed on active-duty status.

3. Completed applications must be accompanied by supporting documentation and must be filed no later than six months after returning from active duty.

4. One claim can be filed per active-duty orders within a twelve month period.

Apply

Applications are available at all Veterans Affairs Parish Service Offices and can be found online at www.vetaffairs.la.gov/MFA. Completed applications along with supporting documents must be mailed to a local fund administrator at the Louisiana VA. Call 1-877-432-8982 with any questions.