The Military Wallet started over a decade ago for two reasons: to help military members and their families make better sense of the military benefits available to them, and to help them make better financial decisions. After over a decade of serving the military community, we aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, we’re growing!
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our new managing editor, Brittany Crocker, and discuss how The Military Wallet will continue to serve our community going forward.
The Military Wallet Managing Editor – Brittany Crocker
Brittany Crocker is a military veteran with over 10 years of service and equal experience in the civilian journalism industry. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and was a 2016-2017 White House Press Correspondents Association scholar.
Brittany’s passion for public service has underpinned her career.
As a young reporter, she worked to expose organized crime, hate groups and deadly regulatory oversights in the childcare, aviation and tourism industries. Her award-winning columns, narrative features and investigations have spanned multiple coverage areas and influenced life-saving policy changes.
When she has free time, she’s volunteering with her local technical rescue squad or working as a community gardener.
That same passion for service led her to take the helm at The Military Wallet, where she will continue its mission to provide digestible, researched and credible finance and benefit information to her fellow veterans and service members.
Here’s a short Q&A with The Military Wallet’s new editor.
Brittany, it’s great to have you as part of The Military Wallet team! Can you tell us a little bit about what led you here?
Thank you! I’m so excited!
Well, when I joined the military more than 10 years ago, I had a few things on my mind. For one, I’ve always been drawn to public service, so the military seemed like a natural first step toward a career in that realm.
But, I’d be lying if I said that when I raised my right hand, being flat broke wasn’t also at the forefront of my thoughts. I really did want to serve my country – but I also wanted college money, medical insurance and job experience (and an adventure!)
At that age, you know, you’ve got a lot of speed but not much direction. I had no idea how to navigate the opportunities that would become available to me, and at times, accessing benefits like tuition assistance felt like an obstacle course.
I know what you mean! In fact, what led me to create The Military Wallet was my own experiences finding and taking advantage of military benefits like tuition assistance. I wanted to create the resource I wished I had when I joined the military. There are so many available programs and it can be difficult for military members to be aware of them all.
I’ve been really fortunate to be surrounded by people and resources I trust that have helped me understand how all these systems work. I know firsthand how sound advice can change lives.
That’s why I’m so excited to come over to The Military Wallet. I know you built these sites to help serve service members and veterans like us as we learn to take hold of these opportunities and plan for the future. I’m so honored to continue that mission.
So now that you’ve got the reins – what can our readers expect going forward?
Well, it’s my goal here to build on your great work by expanding The Military Wallet’s coverage and reach. I plan to continue to bring our community the finance and benefit guides, analysis and expert commentary relevant to our lives.
Because of my journalism background, I’m a bit of a newshound. I think readers may notice some of the recent articles reference or break down how relevant news, policies, events and decisions affect The Military Wallet audience and the things that are important to us.
I expect that to continue. If there’s a conversation happening about military finance, benefits or anything in that realm, we want to be there to help our readers make sense of it.
My background has also made me passionate about breaking information down into language that we understand. I remember back when I was first learning how to really invest in my Thrift Savings Plan, I had trouble finding information written for a beginner like me. A lot of articles I found at the time seemed to be written for an audience that already had a grasp on the sort-of “language” of finance and investing.
But, I didn’t have that yet. So, I checked out and camped my funds in government bonds for longer than I’d like to admit. As a result, I missed out on pretty significant growth.
So another one of my goals is to ensure our articles are accessible to people at multiple levels of understanding. No one – from the retired Army Colonel who knows the ropes to the 19-year-old Airman who is fresh out of training – should miss out on important information or opportunities just because they don’t understand the way the information is presented.
Awesome! Is there anything you’d like to add?
Yes – I’d love to kick things off by hearing from The Military Wallet audience!
Please use our Contact Page to tell me what’s important to you, or you can reach me on Twitter @brittcrocker.
Tell me what areas of finance, benefits or military life you have questions about! What are you hearing on the ground? If you could break down one benefit system or program to your friends, colleagues or subordinates, what would that be?
If you’ve got a question that I or my writers can’t answer, we will interview someone who can.
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Steve witmer says
Great job and thanks for starting the military wallet.
I’m excited to see and read the future wallet.