Legal & Administrative

This page explains Military OneSource’s privacy policy, including how we collect, store, use and disclose your information. You’ll also find information to help you understand your rights and how we’re complying with federal regulations and user agreements.

Accessibility tools

Military OneSource is compliant with the federal accessibility standards that implement the 1998 amendment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The Act requires the federal government to procure, develop, maintain and use electronic and information technology that is accessible to people with disabilities. If you have concerns regarding 508 compliance issues with this site, you can direct your comments to the Chief Information Officer for the Department of War.

Every effort has been made to make all features on the Military OneSource site as accessible as possible. The webpages hosted by Military OneSource have been tested in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned Act. If you have difficulty accessing any portion of this site, let us know via the Customer Support form.

Accessibility courses

MilLife Learning developed the Creating Accessibility series of courses, now accessible on Military OneSource Online Learning Creating Accessibility Series page. These courses are intended to help digital content creators develop PowerPoints, PDFs and videos that meet Section 508 accessibility standards.

Website accessibility is important to ensure that all users have a good experience and are able to fully access the information they need.

The Creating Accessibility series consists of the following courses. Each course will help you create the product mentioned in the title to meet Section 508 guidelines.

Accessibility checklists

The following Military Community and Family Policy accessibility checklists must be followed when creating Military OneSource content.

Download free plug-ins

Choose a plug-in from the list below. Search for the plug-in on your browser and download and install the plug-in for free. The DOW does not endorse the use of any of these particular products.

Adobe Reader — View and print PDF files from all major computer platforms with Adobe Reader.
Microsoft Edge — Download the latest Edge browser from Microsoft.
RealPlayer — Experience Real audio and video files with Real Player from RealNetworks.
Windows Media Player — Experience Windows Media with Microsoft’s Windows Media Player.

Disclaimer

Protection of rights

Military OneSource does not share personally identifiable information with vendors or other agents, companies or services without your expressed consent. Your personal information is used only to enhance your experience with Military OneSource; it is not sold, rented, loaned or transferred to any unrelated third parties.

Although aggregated statistics about site usage are prepared to better serve our customer base, no identifiable information is tracked in these statistical reports. However, Military OneSource is obligated to provide certain reportable information to the appropriate military authority for discussions concerning your safety or the safety of others.

Military OneSource is also mandated to notify the proper state agencies in these instances.

You should be aware that if you use employer-provided equipment, email services or use employer access to the internet, monitoring software may be used at any time and no rights to privacy will be afforded to you.

Employers may use monitoring software from time to time to log all accesses to the internet and report such activity to management. Employers may also monitor all email messages by you or others using employer equipment or an employer network for access or transmission of data.

General information

Military OneSource is an internet-based information and referral service. The information contained on Military OneSource is presented for the purpose of educating participants; it is not intended to provide exhaustive information or advice on a particular topic.

The information on this website should not be relied on to suggest an authoritative course of action for an individual with legal, financial, educational, medical or mental health concerns. The information contained on this website should not replace a consultation with a qualified expert in the field, such as an attorney, accountant, teacher, physician, health care provider or therapist.

You should never disregard legal, financial or medical advice from a professional or delay in seeking it because of information you have read on Military OneSource.

If you intend to pursue a legal action against someone, or if legal action is being threatened against you, obtain detailed legal advice from independent counsel who is familiar with the laws as they relate to your jurisdiction. If you have concerns or questions about financial matters, you should contact a banker, accountant, financial planner or investment broker; their advice best serves your specific circumstances and needs.

Always consult with your physician or health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet or fitness program.

If you are experiencing a crisis situation, such as a medical emergency, thoughts of suicide, a danger to yourself or others, are in an abusive relationship, or are concerned about child abuse or the abuse of an older relative or dependent adult, promptly contact the appropriate authorities.

Military OneSource believes that individuals have the right and responsibility to evaluate and choose the most appropriate services and information to meet their needs. The information and referrals provided on this website are not endorsements or recommendations of services, providers or products by Military OneSource, its agents or the company providing this service to you.

Whenever you submit personal information to Military OneSource, Secure Socket Layer technology is offered in an attempt to protect your confidentiality. The technology staff regularly checks the success and failure of system processes and services to maintain web security and integrity.

Other websites

Military OneSource provides links to other websites for educational purposes only. Participants are encouraged to exercise discretion when accessing links to other websites through Military OneSource.

When participants link to an external website from Military OneSource, they leave the Military OneSource site. Military OneSource makes no representations concerning any effort to review all of the content of these external websites.

Military OneSource is not responsible for the quality of information on any of the external websites or any link contained in the external websites. These links may unintentionally lead to sites containing information that some people may find inappropriate or offensive.

It may also lead to sites that contain inaccurate information, false or misleading advertising, or information that violates copyright, libel or defamation laws.

The services, products and resources available from these websites are not endorsed in any way by Military OneSource, nor does Military OneSource endorse any of the sponsors or advertisers on these sites. Military OneSource does not guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements of the Rehabilitation Act.

No guarantee about any external website’s security is made by Military OneSource. Additionally, Military OneSource cannot control the use of cookies or any other tracking devices that are used by external websites to record personal information.

The external websites are solely responsible for how they use any personal information that you provide to them. If you have questions about security provisions for any external website, review that site’s disclaimer or privacy statement.

Military OneSource and other MC&FP program information is in the public domain and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without the department’s permission unless otherwise noted.

Citing Military OneSource or other MC&FP programs as the source of the information is appreciated as appropriate. Materials generated by entities outside of MC&FP may be protected by copyright and permission to copy these materials must be obtained from the original source.

For information on materials generated by external entities with War Department funding, refer to individual component policies. This copyright notice only pertains to content on the public side of MC&FP websites (before the login).

Content on Military OneSource Member Connect is subject to copyright protection. Redistribution, retransmission or publication of any copyrighted material is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer to help the website analyze how the site is used.

The information generated by the cookies about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner, and for the purposes set out above.

Privacy Act statement and security

Authority: 10 U.S.C. 136, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; 10 U.S.C. 1788, Additional Family Assistance; 10 U.S.C. Chapter 88, Military Family Programs and Military Child Care, Subchapter I, Military Family Programs; 10 U.S.C. 53, Miscellaneous Rights and Benefits; Directive-type Memorandum–17–004, DOD Expeditionary Civilian Workforce; DOD Directive 1322.18, Military Training; DOD Instruction 1342.22, Military Family Readiness; DODI 6490.06, Counseling Services for DOD Military, Guard and Reserve, Certain Affiliated Personnel, and Their Family Members; and DODI 1322.26, Distributed Learning.

Purpose: To validate eligibility for and document the use of Military OneSource services, tools and resources.

Routine uses: Disclosure of records are generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended:

To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, students, and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assignment for the Federal Government when necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of records.
To the appropriate Federal, State, local, territorial, tribal, foreign, or international law enforcement authority or other appropriate entity when necessary pursuant to a showing of compelling circumstances affecting the health or safety of an individual.
Additional routine uses are listed in the applicable System of Records Notice, DPR 45, Military OneSource Business Operations Information System.

Disclosure: Disclosure is voluntary. However, if the data in the Military OneSource Business Operations Information System is not up to date, your Military OneSource entitlements, privileges and/or the ability of Military Community and Family Policy to identify you as a DOW-affiliated person could be delayed.
AGENCY DISCLOSURE NOTICE
The public reporting burden for this collection of information, 0704-0528, is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0704-0528
OMB EXPIRATION DATE: 06/30/2028

The public reporting burden for this collection of information, 0704-0553, is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0704-0553
OMB EXPIRATION DATE: 08/31/2028

Send comments regarding the burden estimate or burden reduction suggestions to the Department of War, Washington Headquarters Services, at whs.mc-alex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-information-collections@mail.mil. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

Security

All War Department-interest computer systems and equipment are intended for the communication, transmission, processing and storage of official U.S. government or other authorized information only.
All War Department-interest computer systems are subject to monitoring at all times. This is done to ensure that all equipment and systems function properly, including security devices and systems, to prevent unauthorized use, to deter criminal activity and for other similar purposes. When you use a War Department-interest computer system, you should be aware that any information placed in the system is subject to monitoring and is not subject to any expectation of privacy.
If monitoring of this or any other War Department-interest computer system reveals a possible violation of criminal statutes, this evidence and any other related information, including identification information about the user, may be provided to law enforcement officials. Employees who violate security regulations or make unauthorized use of War Department-interest computer systems are subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Military OneSource is a War Department-interest computer system sponsored by the under secretary of war for Personnel & Readiness as a public service.
When you use this or any other Department of War-interest computer system, you are consenting to being monitored at all times.
This government computer system uses software programs that create summary statistics. These programs are used for assessing what information is of most and least interest to users, determining technical design specifications and identifying system performance or problem areas.
For security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.
Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.
If you have any questions or comments about the information presented here, please give us your feedback at our Customer Support page.
Cookie Disclaimer — There may be areas within our websites that require the use of cookies. However, the War Department does not keep a database of information obtained from these cookies.
Google Analytics — This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the website, including your IP address, will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

Military OneSource records request

You may request a copy of your Military OneSource records through the Office of the Secretary of War and Joint Staff at FOIA.gov. For additional information, contact the OSD/JS FOIA Requester Service Center at 866-574-4970.

Federally required links

The following links are required to appear on all federal websites, including Military OneSource: