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Explore How States are Supporting Military Families
Across the country, states are advancing thoughtful policies, programs, and partnerships that strengthen support for military and veteran-connected families. This toolkit brings together those efforts in one shared, accessible place.
Select a state on the map to explore local initiatives, or browse the full database below to discover ideas and opportunities being activated nationwide.
Darker shaded states are a Do Your Part state.
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Wisconsin offers seven military specialty license plates honoring the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, veterans, retired service members, and qualifying family members statewide.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Belonging/Community Support
The Wisconsin Council on Military and State Relations, a gubernatorial advisory body, collaborates with military installations, commands, state agencies, and economic development professionals to support military communities. The council helps agencies better serve service members, spouses, and dependents, focusing on quality-of-life issues for military families.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Community Integration Support
Wisconsin provides occupational licensing compacts and military spouse license recognition for military service members, veterans, and spouses, supporting workforce access, credential portability, and career continuity across state lines.
Wisconsin provides apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs to help military spouses, veterans, and their families gain skills, experience, and career opportunities in high-demand industries.
Wisconsin allows nonresident veterans, service members, and their families to pay in-state tuition, reducing financial barriers to higher education during and after military service.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Wisconsin provides professional and occupational licensure reciprocity for spouses of service members assigned in the state, supporting credential recognition, workforce access, and career continuity.
Wisconsin provides tuition grants through the National Guard Tuition Grant Program, supporting higher education, career advancement, and family stability for service members and their families while enhancing readiness and reintegration.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Wisconsin provides medical coverage and workers’ compensation for National Guard members injured, ill, or deceased on state active duty, supporting financial security, readiness, and family well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Military pay that is exempt for federal tax purposes is also exempt for Wisconsin tax purposes, meaning that for enlisted members, warrant officers, and commissioned warrant officers, all combat pay is excluded and for commissioned officers, there is a limit to the amount you may exclude.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
State employees who are members of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to receive the difference between their state salary and their military pay, plus housing allowance, for 179 days when they are called to extended active duty service (other than for training). Service members whose state salary is greater than their military pay are not eligible for differential pay. The governor may extend this benefit up to a total of six years. Members continue to accrue accumulated sick leave hours and vacation/other absence hours during the tour of service, as though no interruption occurred. Returning service members will be authorized to take up to 160 hours of paid leave after they are released from active duty service within 30 days of the end of the tour of duty.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support, Housing, Housing Concerns/Insecurity
Wisconsin resident service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for free small game hunting and fishing licenses when on leave. Other hunting/fishing benefits include transferring a Class A Bear license and special elk hunting permits.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Wisconsin Income Tax Exemption for National Guard and Reserve Service Members Serving on Active Duty
Wisconsin exempts income earned by National Guard and Reserve members while on active duty from state income tax, supporting financial stability, readiness, and family well-being.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Fee Waiver, Financial Stability (Fee Waiver, Food Insecurity), Financial Support
Allows eligible service members to access hunting and fishing licenses at nonresident or adjusted rates, supporting affordability and recreational access.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Physical Health Support
Provides grants to educational institutions to develop pathways for individuals to transition from a military career to a comparable civilian career, with the goal of reducing the time that it takes for former military members to enter the civilian workforce.
Participates in the Military Interstate Children’s Compact (MIC3), which supports military-connected students and families by standardizing school enrollment, placement, eligibility, and graduation requirements during interstate transitions.
Populations: Military Children Topics: Belonging, Belonging & Community, Dependent Child Education, Education
Establishes hunter safety requirements, supporting responsible participation in hunting activities and overall public safety.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Health and Wellness, Other
Wisconsin allows state employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves to take military leave, supporting career continuity, readiness, and family stability during service.
While stationed out of state, military members with a home of record in Wisconsin may renew a driver's license up to one year early or renew by mail, and renew or obtain new plates online.
Populations: Active Duty Topics: Removing Bureaucratic Barriers, Resource Systems Navigation
Your Feedback is Welcome!
This toolkit is launching in 'beta' to demonstrate the incredible potential of state level work. We'll keep refining it and would love your help in making it the most comprehensive, easy to use tool out there. Help us improve the States toolkit by sharing anything that needs attention with Blue Star Families by filling out this form.
A comprehensive overview of the methodology and supporting data can be found in the full technical memo.
Let's work together to support our military families.
The Do Your Part coalition is led by Blue Star Families with support from Craig Newmark and craig newmark philanthropies.
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