As troops deploy to Middle East, families will receive benefits, NC governor says
As tensions ramp up in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, thousands of troops from North Carolina have been deployed in the past few weeks.
The families of those troops will now be eligible for financial and legal assistance from the state — including tax breaks, extra time off work, help dealing with landlords and more — Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday.
Cooper told reporters Tuesday that he would be directing state agencies under his control to find ways to help families of deployed soldiers, and he urged other elected state leaders to do the same.
“I understand some of the soldiers left and didn’t even have time to say goodbye to their families,” Cooper said Tuesday. “Usually in a deployment, you know it’s coming at some point. But here, this is more of a crisis situation for a number of these families.”
Around 5,000 North Carolina-based troops have or will deploy to the Middle East, after the United States killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iran retaliated with a missile attack against a U.S. base in Iraq.
That includes 3,500 soldiers from Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne Division and 2,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
On Thursday, the governor’s office announced a lengthy list of programs available to the families of the newly deployed soldiers.
“Our brave service members work tirelessly to keep us safe, and they should be able to carry out their service without worrying about loved ones back home,” Cooper said in a press release. “It is important that we provide resources to servicemen and women and their families to ensure that a sudden deployment does not put them at financial or other risk.”
Resources for military families
Cooper’s full announcement can be found here.
Some of the highlights include:
▪ Tax filing deadlines will be extended, and deployment-related tax breaks will be given to both enlisted troops and officers. More information is available from the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
▪ Anyone whose spouse, parent or child is deployed and might need to suddenly take time off work might be eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid but protected leave through FMLA.
▪ Some families who are renting and need to move will be eligible to break their lease without penalties. Similarly, some families who might find themselves facing eviction while a family member is deployed can get aid from the state, according to the N.C. Department of Justice’s Military Consumer Guide.
▪ State employees with a family member who is deployed can access free and confidential counseling from the Employee Assistance Program, by calling 888-298-3907 or 704-717-5295.
Cooper’s office also encouraged any military families with questions or concerns to contact the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, at milvets.nc.gov or 844-624-8387.
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 4:14 PM with the headline "As troops deploy to Middle East, families will receive benefits, NC governor says."
