EL SEGUNDO HERALD May 31, 2018 Page 7
What a Soldier’s
Life Is Worth
By Rob McCarthy
The Memorial Day crowds at local cemeteries
are gone, though the flags and flowers
remain as symbols of the most solemn day of
the year for America’s families, their friends
and veterans. It’s an observance as old as the
Civil War, yet just last week another name
and family joined the nation’s ranks of Gold
Star survivors.
Only days before Memorial Day, the Army
announced the death of a Los Angeles soldier
who was on a peacekeeping mission in the
Balkans -- formerly Yugoslavia. Staff Sgt.
Conrad A. Robinson died May 24 at Camp
Bondsteel, Kosovo from a non-combat related
incident, according to the Army. The 36-yearold
was assigned to a medical brigade out
of North Carolina.
The sergeant’s death -- which the Army
says is under investigation -- raises the question
so close to Memorial Day about what
do the families of service members, like
the Robinsons, do now. The Pentagon has
a financial safety net for military families
when a soldier dies while on a mission or
suffers an injury that leads to death later. The
reality of losing a breadwinner sets in after
the military funeral and burial, especially
for the spouses and children who live on
base housing.
The immediate relatives of members of
the U.S. Armed Forces who have been
killed in combat or in support of certain
military activities are called Gold
Star Families. The term was coined during
World War I when service flags were
first flown by families during the global
conflict. “The flag included a blue star for
every immediate family member serving in
the armed forces of the United States, during
any period of war or hostilities in which
the armed forces of the United States were
engaged. If that loved one died, the blue star
was replaced by a gold star,” according to
the U.S. Army’s website.
The Pentagon pays a $100,000 death
benefit to the survivors, starting with spouses
and children. Staff Sgt. Robinson leaves a
wife and two daughters, ages 5 and 10. The
one-time payment is free of federal or state
taxes. If the deceased has no wife or children,
the parents or siblings would receive
that amount.
Men and women serving in the armed forces
are covered under the death and housing
benefits if they are in training for a combat
mission or basic training after signing up for
military service with the Army, Navy, Marines,
Air Force or Coast Guard. This covers
military reserves and service personnel who
have been accepted for duty and are killed
while traveling to their assignments.
The military also pays to the spouse, child
or parent up to $400,000 from a government
life insurance policy. Every serviceman or
woman is automatically enrolled to receive
the maximum amount, though they may
decline coverage or choose a lower payout to
their survivors. Whatever the dollar amount,
it also is tax-free. And that’s not all.
The military has another insurance program
for soldiers and service personnel who die
of traumatic injury. This coverage starts at
a minimum $25,000 payout and death after
seven days of survival with one’s injuries
triggers the payout to survivors. Like other
death benefits, this one is tax-free too.
Families also are in line to receive unpaid
pay and allowances. Social Security pays a
small one-time $225 payment either to a
spouse who is caring for children or to the
children who are under 18.
Families living on base are given 12
months’ time rent-free while they grieve and
adjust to the next phase of life. For off-base
housing, a surviving spouse receives one
year’s worth of housing allowance. When
the family moves, the military handles the
move off base or to a new home.
Families who lose a service member also
get to keep their low-cost health insurance
for three years, before switching to the retired
military health plan. Dental care is available,
too, for the husband or wife, children or dependent
parent. And some of their personal
debt is forgiven automatically.
The Pentagon also sees that the children
of soldiers and service members who are
killed while on duty or en route to a base can
attend college or a training school of their
choice. The military has a tuition assistance
program for students pursue and finish their
studies toward degrees in four years.
Military deaths happen suddenly, yet
the effects are life-changing for families,
towns and communities. By one estimate,
the Pentagon’s safety net for survivors of
active-duty servicemen and women killed
in Iraq and Afghanistan has provided them
with up to $800,000 in death benefits and
insurance payouts.
At least one financial institution, Chase
Bank, says it will forgive the mortgage, auto
loan or consumer debt of a service member
killed since 2011 either in combat or while
in military service. Unlike the other military
and government-issued benefits, loan forgiveness
is taxed by the IRS. •
Finance
5 Tips for Today’s
Freelance Entrepreneur
(BPT) - From millennials who have been
grinding away in the workplace for a few
years to Gen Xers looking to move out of
their cube, many have been intrigued by the
possibility of freelancing.
It means the freedom to set your own
hours, to work closely with clients, to be
your own boss and have greater control over
your career.
According to Forbes, there are 53 million
freelancers in America today, and by 2020,
it’s estimated that half of the workforce will
be doing freelance work, whether full time,
as a part-time gig or as their side hustle.
Unlike a traditional job, where you generally
don’t need to bring more than a packed
lunch to work, freelancing requires a few
essential tricks and tools to succeed. Whether
you’re looking to start out or refresh your
personal brand, homeworking experts cite
five important tips to help you succeed at
the freelance game.
1. Manage your time. One of the best
parts, and the most challenging parts, of
freelancing is that you get to make your
own schedule. Many find that they need
some sort of structure in their day, and for
this reason it’s important to have the right
time management software. This will notify
you of calls, deadlines, track how long you
work on a project and more.
2. Get the right laptop. A laptop is your
office, your meeting room, your library,
your entertainment source and so much
more, making it one of the most essential
freelancing tools. It’s the lifeline between
your business and your clients, so it’s critical
to be sure you have the right one. A great
option is the remarkably thin and light LG
gram. This computing powerhouse comes
in 13-, 14- and 15-inch screen options and
packs a battery that lasts over 16 hours. Each
model weighs about two pounds and for
small businesses looking for extra connectivity,
LG’s commercial-grade model comes
equipped with the Windows 10 Pro operating
system. It’s fast, mobile and able to keep up
with the daily demands and surprises of the
freelancing life.
3. Use professional email and social
media accounts. For all work-related correspondence
and interactions, be sure to use
a dedicated email account. This will make
you appear more professional to prospective
clients. You should also set up work-related
social media accounts where you can post
examples of work and professional insights
and network.
4. Keep track of finances. For a lot of
freelancers who are on the creative side
of things, keeping track of finances can be
a real challenge. Not only do you have to
manage invoices, expenses and make sure
you’re getting paid, you also have to keep
taxes in mind. That can be a lot of numbers
to juggle. The right accounting software can
greatly simplify this process and save you
innumerable headaches.
5. Find the right space. While freelancing is
largely a digital game, and requires the right
laptop loaded up with the tools you need
to manage your business, you still need to
find the right place to work. Some work in
a coffee shop and others require a dedicated
home office. You might work best in a shared
office space. The point is, it’s vital to figure
out where you do your best work.
The right software, running on the right
computer, and a place you can work are the
cornerstones of a successful freelance gig.
From there, all that’s needed is your talent
and determination! •
“How important it is for us to recognize
and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!
– Maya Angelou
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