Karen Jowers

Senior Reporter

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

All Stories By Karen

Troops may face inflated drug costs under Tricare, lawmakers say

Is the Tricare pharmacy contractor hurting troops and their families by squeezing out competition?

3 days ago

Do military families really need to move so much?

A new report from a leading advocacy group argues it’s time to give the pace of military moves, known as permanent changes of station, a fresh look.

3 days ago

Your 2022 Guide to Military Benefits

Service members need to know what military benefits have and haven't changed for 2022, whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, education, or housing.

Displaced military families back in homes, but support continues in Hawaii water crisis

“However, our work is not done. We will continue rigorous oversight," says Hawaii Department of Health.

The plan to fix troops’ household goods moves hits another roadblock

Plans to fix household goods moves have been in the works for three years now.

There’s help for military discount-seeking Home Depot customers who aren’t tech savvy

Older non-tech-savvy veterans do have military retiree IDs in their pockets, but may not have a smartphone, a retiree says.

Long-term health effects of Hawaii’s fuel-tainted water are unclear, CDC and Navy say

'We do not anticipate long term health concerns. But we don't know definitively," said Hawaii's top Navy doctor.

How are military teens coping? Landmark study will follow them over time to find out

DoD researchers will contact about 50,000 military and veteran parents of adolescents.

Pentagon to shut down leaking fuel tank facility in Hawaii

The tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility had leaked into a drinking water well and contaminated water at Pearl Harbor homes and offices.

Military taxpayers: These new rules might bump up your refund

Service members and their families, especially younger troops, are eligible for new or expanded tax credits, perhaps putting more cash in their pockets.

$6.2B contract for moving troops’ household goods gets green light … for now

Protests from two companies that submitted unsuccessful bids on the contract have been dismissed, but they may pursue other legal options.

As Hawaii water crisis roils on, single troops remain stuck in dorms

Service members in unaccompanied housing affected by the fuel-tainted Navy water system must stay put. They are being provided bottled water, meals and laundry and shower facilities.

Avoiding Student Loan Scams — Money Minute

U.S. troops train to tame snakes; and soldiers learn to recover fallen comrades

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