By Carl Surran
WIC: A Valuable Health Program
Summer 2004
The Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children – commonly known as WIC – is available to service members and their families stationed stateside and overseas.
WIC provides dietary advice and nutritious food to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and toddlers. WIC participants receive health screenings, nutritional education and health counseling services. Those in stateside programs receive vouchers redeemable at local stores for milk, baby formula, bread, cheese, cereals, fruits and vegetables. Service members stationed overseas receive WIC-approved foods at military commissaries and Navy exchange markets.
The Department of Agriculture administers the program stateside, where WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States. Overseas, WIC is co-managed by TRICARE, medical and Defense Commissary Agency officials. Participation is based on income, family size and nutritional need.
Service members interested in signing up for WIC can inquire at their installation’s family support office. For details on WIC eligibility rules, income tables and more, visit the Agriculture Department’s WIC website at www.fns.usda.gov/wic.
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