Special Pays for Combat Zones Will Not Change
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Service members deployed to Iraq will still receive special pays. The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive.
Read more about it on Defense.gov.
2010 Hurricane Season Is Underway
Monday, August 30, 2010
Keep a flashlight, first-aid kit, and the Military OneSource phone number handy
With the 2010 hurricane season underway, it's important to have a plan in place and supplies on hand.
Read our articles about planning for a hurricane, including
Web resources
Be sure to set up 1-800-342-9647 on your phone’s speed dial to make certain that personal, expert help from Military OneSource is just a phone call away, 24/7.
Coming Soon to a Mailbox Near You: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Survey for Military Spouses
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Department of Defense would like to encourage military spouses to participate in the 2010 DoD Comprehensive Review Survey of the Uniformed Active Component and Reserve Component Service Spouse if they receive it via postal mail. Spouse participation in the survey is vitally important to ensure DoD is able to assess the impact, if any, a change in the law, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" might have on family readiness and military community life. You can read more about the survey on Defense.gov.
View the Public Service Announcement by General Carter F. Ham, Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe.
Click here to view an example of what you'll receive in the mail.
U.S. DoD Child care fees to change by Sept. 30
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
New income-adjusted fees will take effect at child care centers on military bases worldwide by the end of September, the Defense Department announced.
View or download the 2010-2011 Child Care Fees
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay information.
Heat Wave Grips the Northeast U.S.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Keep a bottle of water and the Military OneSource phone number handy
The northeastern U.S. is experiencing record-breaking heat. It’s important to learn how to keep yourself and your family healthy and safe.
Be sure to set up 1-800-342-9647 on your phone’s speed dial to make certain that personal, expert help from Military OneSource is just a phone call away, 24/7.
Other resources
Go to the
National Weather Service for your location’s weather forecasts, high-temperature alerts, and air-quality alerts.
Be sure to set up 1-800-342-9647 on your phone’s speed dial to make certain that personal, expert help from Military OneSource is just a phone call away, 24/7.
Military Family Life Project Survey
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Military HOMEFRONT Military Family Life Project Survey is available. Find out all about this exciting and important survey. Let your voice be heard!
Military Family Life Project Survey
Free Admission to Kings Dominon for Military Personnel
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tribute to the Armed Forces May 30 - 31 and July 4 - 5
Kings Dominion is offering FREE admission to active duty and retired military personnel on the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day and July 4th weekends (May 30, 31 and July 4, 5, 2010) as a part of its Tribute to the Armed Forces program. All branches of the service, National Guard, and Reserves are eligible.
Get tickets by having the active duty or retired service member show a valid military ID or discharge papers at Kings Dominion on one of the dates of the program to get the free ticket. Up to six family members or friends age 3 and above will also be able to purchase specially discounted tickets at the Park for $33.99 each. Children 2 and under are admitted free.
Visit Tribute to the Armed Forces for more information.
Blue Star Museum Launch Monday, May 24
Friday, May 21, 2010
Monday, May 24th in San Diego, the National Endowment for the Arts will launch a very special initiative to honor the sacrifices of service members and their families by sharing the resources and richness of the arts community.
The "Operation Appreciation: Blue Star Museums" initiative is designed to provide free access to museums by military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 31st to Labor Day, September 6, 2010. During the launch, the NEA will also announce all participating museums the "Blue Star Museums Honor Roll."
Museum participation in the program is voluntary and so far nearly 600 museums large and small from all over the country have agreed to participate. In addition to free admission, some museums are also offering discounts in their museum shops. Many of the states have made their own announcements, so it's quite likely that your Service teams are already aware of and are helping to ensure that military families are able to participate in this generous opportunity. Visit Blue Star Museums for a list of participating museums and additional information.
MOAA shows military spouses how to use social media sites to build networks
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
MOAA shows military spouses how to use social media sites to build networks in the military community on Thursday, May 14, 2010. View the Social Media panel presentation at MOAA’s Spouse Symposium.
The First Tee
Monday, May 03, 2010
The First Tee serves young people by offering them a unique perspective toward learning golf while appreciating the positive personal and social values associated with a lifelong game and physical fitness activity. Life skills programs that incorporate The First Tee Nine Core Values are delivered through a network of community-based chapters and elementary schools. The First Tee is pleased to build upon this tradition by partnering with the Department of Defense to offer programs free of charge to children of those serving in our Armed Forces around the world.
Find out more -
http://www.thefirsttee.org/club/scripts/section/section.asp?grp=0&NS=DD
Military Spouse Internship Program
Friday, April 30, 2010
2010 Military Spouse Internship Program
Section 564 of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (P.L. 111-84) authorized a pilot program to secure internships for military spouses with Federal agencies.
The Department of Defense will reimburse Federal agencies for first year salary, benefits, and training costs if an eligible military spouse is appointed to a permanent position that provides training and career progression. Ideally, these appointments will be to occupations that are portable, either in various geographic locations within the hiring agency or in other agencies throughout the United States. This portability recognizes the need of the spouse to relocate with their service member when required. There are approximately 120 positions that will be available for this year’s internship.
Eligibility to be considered as a qualified candidate for this internship program includes:
- All spouses of active duty service members EXCEPT:
- Spouse who is legally separated from service member when the person begins the internship
- Spouse who is also a member of the Armed Forces on active duty
- Spouse who is retired member of the Armed Forces
Visit www.cpms.osd.mil/MilSpouseInternship.aspx for more information.
New Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Law
Friday, March 26, 2010
The government of Puerto Rico has enacted a new law (Law 191 of 2009) aimed at strengthening the issuance and usage of birth certificates to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico.
The new law was based on collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address the fraudulent use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates to unlawfully obtain U.S. passports, Social Security benefits, and other federal services.
Under the new law, all Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, will be invalidated so that new, more secure certificates can be issued. Until that date, all birth certificates will remain valid.
Find out more information at the following Web sites:
FTC Consumer Fraud Alert
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a fraud alert for recent credit card scams in Connecticut where consumers have noticed unauthorized charges on their cards involving familiar, legitimate businesses. Remember to be vigilant about checking your bank and credit card statements, and dispute those charges that you did not authorize. Visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre16.shtm for more information.
MILITARY SENTINEL
The Consumer Sentinel/Military is part of the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database of millions of consumer complaints, operated by the FTC. The FTC, the nation's consumer protection agency, collects complaints from the military community and makes them available to law enforcement -- civil, criminal, and military. It can accept complaints concerning identity theft, deceptive lending or mortgage practices, debt collection, phone fraud, or some other scam. Complaints registered help the FTC and the Department of Defense identify and target problems that affect the marketplace. Reports to the FTC through the Military Sentinel don't resolve individual disputes, but help law enforcement personnel identify trends and specific scams that could lead to focused investigations to shut down the scammers.
To report consumer fraud, visit www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/military_home.htm .
Chile Earthquake Resources
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Resources for those affected by the earthquake in Chile.
Organizations Accepting Donations to Assist Victims of Haitian Earthquake
Thursday, January 14, 2010
See the list of organizations who are assisting victims of the Haitian Earthquake.
Concerned about loved ones in Haiti?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The State Department has set up a telephone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti. The toll-free number to call for information is 1-888-407-4747. The State Department advises that some callers may receive a recording because of heavy call volume. The Red Cross Safe and Well Web site may also be helpful. It allows people in Haiti to communicate information about their well-being to family and friends. See our Emergency Resources for Haiti.
New Website to Highlight Veteran Employment and Contracting Opportunities
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Press Office: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Press Release
November 10, 2009
SECRETARY NAPOLITANO UNVEILS NEW VETERANS WEBSITE DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT VETERAN EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES
WASHINGTON-Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today unveiled a new website designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans and veterans organizations to learn about DHS' many veteran outreach initiatives and hiring and contracting opportunities.
"This new website reflects the shared commitment across the Department to hiring American veterans," said Secretary Napolitano. "Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security's mission to protect the nation, and this website will help us build our veteran workforce to more than 50,000 Department-wide by 2012."
Today's announcement comes one day after Secretary Napolitano joined President Obama as he signed an Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which emphasizes recruiting and training veterans for employment at federal agencies, increasing the veteran workforce within the executive branch and assisting recently hired veterans in making the adjustment to service in a civilian capacity.
The new website, available at www.dhs.gov/veterans, features information for veterans about how to find employment opportunities at DHS, ways to get involved in community-based efforts like Citizen Corps, and special veteran programs such as Operation Warfighter and Wounded Warrior, which provide employment opportunities for severely wounded or recovering service members to assist their transition back to the military or civilian workforce.
The website also features DHS procurement opportunities for veteran and service disabled veteran business owners and information about DHS policies and news impacting the veteran community.
The new website is the latest step in DHS' active engagement and recruitment of veterans and veteran-owned businesses. DHS' civilian workforce includes approximately 47,000 veterans, comprising 25 percent of all employees-including Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute-in addition to the 42,000 active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
On Oct. 29, Secretary Napolitano met with leaders of several veterans service organizations to discuss DHS' ongoing collaborations with veterans on recruitment and other key DHS initiatives, such as the Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business contract program, which promotes contracting opportunities for veteran-owned businesses.
Secretary Napolitano also recently announced the DHS Veterans Outreach Steering Committee-a group of representatives from across the Department who will meet regularly and advise the Secretary on efforts to improve and integrate veteran outreach. At the Committee's first meeting, held in October, she discussed plans to expand existing veterans programs and streamline the Department's veterans outreach efforts to enhance openness and transparency-including the website overhaul announced today.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/veterans.
Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses
Monday, September 07, 2009
Getting a federal job as a military spouse will become easier effective September 11, 2009. Final regulations implementing Executive Order 13473 were issued August 12, 2009 in the Federal Register and give agencies the option of hiring qualified military spouses without going through the competitive process.
Under this new hiring authority, military spouse is defined as one of the following:
- The spouse of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty (to include members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty), who has orders specifying a permanent change of station (not for training).
- The spouse of a 100% disabled service member injured while on active duty.
- The unmarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty.
General Hiring Provisions
- Spouses will have two years from the date the PCS orders are issued to obtain federal employment.
- Spouses of relocating service members are limited to only one appointment under this authority per PCS order. (There is no limit on the number of appointments a spouse of a 100% disabled or the widow of a deceased service member may receive).
- The noncompetitive appointment is limited to the geographic area (as stated on the PCS orders), or the surrounding commuting area. (This limitation may be waived if no Federal agency exists in the geographic area).
- Spouses can find out about federal job opportunities by going to www.usajobs.gov (Spouses may also check the websites of specific agencies in which they may wish to work for position vacancies). This new hiring authority is not limited to specific positions or grade levels but spouses would have to meet the same requirements as other applicants, to include qualification requirements. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to request consideration for employment under this authority as a military spouse. The use of this hiring authority will be discretionary with managers; it does not mean spouses will get a hiring preference, nor does it create an entitlement to Federal jobs over other qualified applicants.
For additional information on this new hiring authority, following is a link to the Federal Register dated Aug. 12, 2009.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19340.pdf
Look for Smart Choices in your Commissary
Friday, August 21, 2009
By Lt. Col. Karen E. Hawkins, DeCA dietitian
FORT LEE, Va. - The Smart Choices check mark is appearing on hundreds of products in your commissary this summer. This first-ever, uniform, front-of-pack nutrition labeling program, developed by scientists, nutritionists, consumer organizations and food industry leaders was created to help shoppers make informed food and beverage choices when shopping.
Unlike nutrient scoring systems, rankings or store-based programs, Smart Choices uses a single, green check mark on the front of the product package to provide "at-a-glance" guidance that a product has met strict science-based nutrition criteria. These standards use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reports from the Institute of Medicine and other sources of authoritative nutrition guidance. Foods that qualify for the Smart Choices symbol also will display calorie information on the front of the package, including calories per serving and number of servings per container. The goal is to help people stay within their daily calorie needs and make it easier for calorie comparisons.
Participating companies with their own "better for you" nutrition labeling symbols have begun replacing them with the Smart Choices symbol. Because of its scope and the science behind the new nutrition labeling system, this new program will bring clarity and consistency to the U.S. marketplace. So make sure to look for the Smart Choices check mark on foods the next time you are shopping in the commissary, where you'll not only find healthy choices, but savings of 30 percent or more on your purchase compared to "downtown."
Nutrition criteria
To display the Smart Choices symbol, a food or beverage has to meet the standards for specific "nutrients to limit" and, depending on the food, also include "nutrients to encourage" or "food groups to encourage." Special criteria were developed for 19 different product categories, such as beverages, cereals, meats, dairy and snacks:
- Nutrients to limit: total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars and sodium
- Nutrients to encourage: calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E
- Food groups to encourage: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk products
The Smart Choices Program was created through the Keystone Center, a nonprofit organization that addresses public health problems. Now, NSF International, a nonprofit public health organization, and the American Society for Nutrition together currently administer the new nutritional front-of-package labeling program.
The nutrition guidelines are designed to be updated along with new public policy, dietary guidelines and emerging science. This includes adjusting the criteria to reflect the upcoming 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
For more information about making healthy choices, visit Ask the Dietitian on http://www.commissaries.com and post your questions on the DeCA Dietitian Forum <https://www.commissaries.com/healthy_living/dietitian/forum/index.cfm>
. Be sure to look for other useful information in the Dietitian's Voice archive <https://www.commissaries.com/healthy_living/dietitian/column/index.cfm>
.
Sign up with the DeCA Dietitian on www.twitter.com and get messages sent to your cell phone today. For delicious recipes, check out Kay's Kitchen <https://www.commissaries.com/kays_kitchen.cfm> . And to enjoy all your commissary has to offer, sign up for the Commissary Connection <https://www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm> .
GI Bill Transferability Has Arrived
Thursday, August 20, 2009
For the first time in history, servicemembers enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children starting Aug. 1, 2009.
New Department of Defense guidance, issued June 23, 2009, establishes the criteria for eligibility and transfer of those education benefits.
The new GI Bill, signed into law June 20, 2008, provides the most comprehensive educational benefit package since the original bill, officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was signed into law. Find out more.
‘Clip’ the excess from your grocery bill
Friday, July 24, 2009
FORT LEE, Va. – Carmen Chapman saves more than 30 percent on her purchases every time she uses her commissary benefit, and just recently she learned she can save even more by downloading manufacturer’s coupons from the Defense Commissary Agency’s Web site: http://www.commissaries.com.
“I didn’t know about being able to download coupons from DeCA’s Web site,” said Carmen, whose husband is an Army retiree and whose two sons are soldiers on active duty. “I’m going to have to tell my daughter-in-law about this! I’ve been trying for years to get her to shop at the commissary, but I think after I tell her about being able to download coupons, she’ll change her mind.”
Although most customers know they can redeem coupons at commissaries, not many are aware that in addition to downloading them from the DeCA Web site, they can also pick them up at the store entrance and checkout counter, collect them from displays on store aisles, and use coupons that are attached to products.
Chapman admitted that she gets the majority of her coupons from the Sunday paper and collects a few here and there as she walks up and down commissary food aisles. But now that she’s armed with information about downloading coupons from http://www.commissaries.com, she said she’ll be able to save even more than the $10 to $15 she now saves on her biweekly grocery bill.
Shuffling through her coupons, Chapman explained, “I have two sons who are deployed right now. One is in Iraq and the other one is in Germany. I like sending them the individual packets of cereal bars,” she continued, plucking the right coupons from the stack. “They really appreciate getting those.”
The beauty of being a coupon clipper is that you can redeem coupons at all commissaries, whether it be in the states or overseas. And, the coupons can be clipped out of newspapers and magazines, downloaded from the Internet, or manufacturer’s coupons collected from store shelves.
In addition to customers overseas being able to use these same coupons, there is another perk: “We will redeem coupons for our customers overseas up to six months after the coupon expiration date,” remarked DeCA’s Director and CEO Philip E Sakowitz Jr., during a discussion about coupons on the Navy’s radio talk show, Homefront, June 11.
“If it has a bar code on it so we can scan it, we should be able to take it,” he continued, reminding listeners that along with the 30 percent they save by shopping at the commissary, they can increase their savings to 41 percent or more by using coupons.
According to DeCA Europe store directors and zone managers, newly reported service members and their spouses are briefed on the use and advantages of using coupons at overseas commissaries.
Store associates at overseas locations notice most patrons are aware of the added savings to be gained by using coupons, even though they do not have access to as many there, because there are no coupons available in daily newspapers like there are stateside.
Some customers never use coupons, while others come in equipped with well-organized boxes or envelopes full of them on every trip. Those who are avid “couponers” will most likely stop at the coupon display in the store’s customer corner to see how many more they might add to their collection.
Thousands of coupons are redeemed at commissaries throughout the United States and overseas, daily. These money savers are not only honored at all stores, they are even accepted at Guard/Reserve on-site sales held at remote, off-base locations as well as at regular case-lot sales usually held on sidewalks outside the stores.
“My mother taught me to use coupons when I was little, and I have been using them ever since,” remarked Amber Cloclasure, an Air Force wife whose husband was stationed in England in 2006. “They are like free money. If I can save $10 at the commissary, then that’s $10 more I have to spend on something else.”
So remember to visit http://www.commissaries.com, click on “Links” and browse through the exciting offers and coupons before you take the trip that’s worth taking – to your local commissary.
About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost, plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings worth about $3,400 annually for a family of four. A core military family support elemen, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.
New Federal Student Loan Repayment Programs
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A new Income-Based Repayment (IBR) option for federal student loans went into effect on July 1, 2009, along with a Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Both programs are designed to make student loan repayment more affordable for lower- and middle-income earners, with additional benefits for those who work in public service jobs.
Income-Based Repayment (IBR) option
The new IBR option caps monthly payments at a level determined by your income and family size. The lower payment may extend the length of the repayment period to as long as 25 years, at which point any unpaid balance will be forgiven.
More detailed information and a calculator are available at http://www.ibrinfo.org, a site maintained by the nonprofit and nonpartisan Project on Student Debt. The U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid (FSA) site also includes calculators that will help you compare different repayment options. Go to http://www.studentaid.ed.gov and look for “repaying your loans” on the left side of the page. After you click on that, you’ll see “repayment plans and calculators.”
The IBR option applies only to federal student loans, including
- Stafford loans (the main federal loan for students)
- Grad PLUS loans
- Most federal consolidation loans
It does not apply to parent loans or private loans.
Public Sector Loan Forgiveness program
The Public Sector Loan Forgiveness program reduces the repayment period for the IBR-capped loans to 10 years, and then offers forgiveness of the balance if you work in a public service job. This is defined as full-time work (at least 30 hours per week) for
-
Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations
-
Federal, state, or local governments (including the military and public schools or colleges)
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AmeriCorps or Peace Corps
Certain other public service work may also be considered, including emergency management, military service, public safety, law enforcement, public interest law services, early childhood education, public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, public health, public education, public library services, and school library or other school-based services.
How to apply
To apply for either program, contact your lenders. If a lender will not offer income-based repayment, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) and find out if you are eligible to consolidate your qualifying loans into the Direct Loan program, which is administered by the federal government.
© 2009 Ceridian Corporation. All rights reserved.
In-State Tuition for Military Members and their Families
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
For periods of enrollment that begin after July 1, 2009, members of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and his or her spouse, or his or her dependent children will be eligible to receive in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed. Once a Service member or their family members are enrolled and paying in-state tuition, they will continue to pay the in-state tuition rate as long as they remain continuously enrolled at the institution even if the Service member is reassigned outside the state.
This change is included in section 135 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H. R. 4137) (HEOA) which was signed into law on August 14, 2008 and amends and extends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This requirement applies to all public institutions that receive funds under a program authorized by the HEA.
The Department of Education has worked with the institutions of higher education and is confident they are aware of the changes in the law and are fully implementing the policy. However, as we all know, there is always the chance that someone just doesn't get the word. If this happens, you should contact the financial aid or registrar's office at the institution. You can also contact the Veterans Affairs office at the institution. Even though you are active duty, these offices should be able to assist you.
In the rare cases where these steps don't resolve the situation, please contact the Department of Education’s Ombudsman's office (toll-free at 877 557-2575) or via the internet. The online Ombudsman Assistance Request Form can be found at the Office of the Ombudsman website. Both links access complaint information.
Source: Military HOMEFRONT
URL: http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/MHF/252863.html
Service members who are renters have new legal protections if their landlord forecloses
Friday, July 10, 2009
The “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, Section 702 of Public Law 111-22” may affect you if you’re a service member and your landlord undergoes foreclosure of the property you rent. Listen to COL Shawn Shumake, Director of the Office of Legal Policy, OUSD (P&R) discuss the new legislation.
Thanks to all the military spouses who took the DoD's 2008 Active Duty and Reserve Spouse Survey
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thanks to all the military spouses who took the DoD's 2008 Active Duty Spouse Survey and 2008 Reserve Spouse Survey. Your input is making a difference in telling the story of how families experience war, as noted in this front page USA Today story.
First Lady Vows More Support for Military Spouses, Families
Saturday, May 09, 2009
First Lady Vows More Support for Military Spouses, Families
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2009 – First Lady Michelle Obama was surprised to learn that the majority of military families feel their struggles often go unnoticed, she said during an interview today with The Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.
“I just saw the results of a recent survey done by Blue Star Families that shows that 94 percent of military families feel as if the country doesn’t understand their challenges,” Obama said. “That’s a pretty powerful statement.”
The struggles include moving from city to city and trying to find good schools, or child care, or a new job. In the case of a military spouse, all of these struggles fall on one set of shoulders when a servicemember is deployed.
The administration is moving ahead with concrete measures to make military families’ lives a little easier, Obama said.
“We’re seeing a 2.9 percent increase in salary for our [servicemembers] to ensure that we’re retaining and attracting new numbers of individuals who want to be part of the military forces and feel like they can build a life as a result,” she said. “In terms of our spouses, the administration is investing $80 million just for career development and training for spouses, which is critical.”
That’s just the beginning.
“You’ll see more down the line that will show, not just in word but in deed, that we have to invest in our military, their families, and our veterans in a real meaningful way,” she added. “Whether that’s job training, mental health support [or] whether that’s ensuring that people have access to the health care they need.”
These are all good steps to lowering the number of military families who feel disconnected from the rest of the American public, but more can be done, the first lady said.
“There’s also a separate call to the nation that has nothing to do with the government,” she said. “It’s what we do in our own neighborhoods that’s also an important part of what this community of families needs to feel.”
It’s about neighbors reaching out, businesses reaching out to new military families in the area. Even schools and colleges can help military families and spouses by thinking creatively about helping them transfer credits and gain access to training and other educational opportunities, she said.
The outreach doesn’t need to be a grand gesture, as even the smallest act is a signal to the military community that the nation understands the sacrifices its servicemembers and their families are making, Obama said. And even though she, too, has endured having an absent spouse, she said there is no comparison to the extra burden on military spouses.
“I try not to compare my experience in any way to what a military spouse faces,” the first lady said. “When I was away from my husband during the time of the campaign, he wasn’t at war.
“What I do know is that when you’re married to somebody who feels a call to serve, that you’re part of that service as well,” she said.
That means she’ll stand behind, next to, or with her husband, Obama added. “The women and men that I’ve met who are serving alongside their spouses feel the same way,” she said. “They feel a part of this challenge and they embrace it with pride and dignity and courage and strength.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen recently declared tomorrow “Military Spouse Appreciation Day.” It’s a wonderful recognition, Obama said, “but that’s just one day. We should be doing it every day.”
In light of the day, however, she said she wants every military spouse to know they’re loved, valued and appreciated, and that the administration will work hard to make sure that’s realized.
She had one other wish for them as well. “Hopefully somebody will take them out to lunch,” she said with a chuckle.
Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54247
Stay Informed About H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Also be sure to check with your local installation hotline for other information.
Ways to Stay Healthy (from the CDC)
- Stay informed. Check in often with the CDC Web site, which is updated regularly.
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, (to the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song), especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you are sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social-distancing measures.
- Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include a supply of food, medicines, face-masks, alcohol-based hand rubs, and other essential supplies.
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
Fort Hood Information and Support
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Fort Hood Resources and Support
You may be wondering how to talk with your children about recent shooting tragedies. These articles can help.
If you or your family have been affected by the shootings at Fort Hood, you can call Military OneSource 24/7 at 1-800-342-9647 for free assistance and support or see our Fort Hood resource page.