Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Need Some Workout Motivation – Check Out the Army & Air Force Exchange Services Weekly BE FIT Live Workouts

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Every Monday, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) BE FIT ambassadors Roy Montez and Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sonja Berry host 20-minute workouts at 11 a.m. CST live on facebook.com/shopmyexchange. Soldiers, Airmen, retirees, Veterans and military family members can watch the series on the Exchange Facebook page. The workouts are a component of AAFES’s BE FIT Program.

Strategic Marketing Manager Roy Montez Jr. serves as the Exchange BE FIT ambassador, drawing on his involvement in NCAA Division I soccer. As a part of his contributions, Montez offers weekly BE FIT live sessions on Facebook. These sessions were created with a goal of reaching the military community during COVID-19. Senior Master Sgt. Sonja Berry is assigned to the Exchange as the assistant director of Public Health and Food Safety. She partners with Montez on BE FIT’s weekly Facebook Live workouts. “It’s like having a free trainer,” said Berry. “It demonstrates the Exchange’s commitment to fitness and healthy lifestyles.”

Photo Credit: ©Kzenon /Adobe Stock

The idea for the live workouts came about to promote wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workouts include interval training, core workouts, strength training and more. “These BE FIT workouts remind military communities that staying fit is critical—especially during the pandemic,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “Joining the Exchange workouts through Facebook fosters a sense of community and resiliency.”

Each video begins with a short introduction, then Montez describes each exercise before he and Berry lead viewers on stretching. During the workout, Montez pauses to rest, provides advice, and answers questions from the online audience.

“BE FIT, which was launched in 2009, prioritizes the health of our Nation’s fighting force. The initiative highlights health-conscious meals and grab-and-go snacks as well as providing an assortment of fitness gear and wellness services. The Exchange’s BE FIT program empowers shoppers, their families, and the broader military community to make healthy lifestyle choices,” said Loyd Brumfield, PR Specialist, AAFES.

BE FIT initiatives include:

  • A revamped BE FIT page on ShopMyExchange.com.
  • New Healthier Choices shelf tags to promote meals and snacks that meet the BE FIT program’s calorie, sodium and fat requirements.
  • Partnering with commissaries for Healthy Lifestyle Festivals and other wellness events.
  • A social media campaign to post and share BE FIT content.
  • Opening more than 20 restaurants, all with better-for-you options.

“Every Monday, the Exchange offers live workouts on its Facebook page. Through BE FIT Connect, which is part of the Exchange’s community Hub, shoppers can find exercise videos, health and fitness tips and links to content on the Exchange’s Facebook page and BE FIT merchandise on ShopMyExchange.com. The Healthier Choice tags displayed on all our BE FIT items in our Express stores have also resonated with customers as they make it easy to quickly identify healthier options,” said Brumfield.

The BE FIT program helps Military Families make healthy lifestyle choices. “The Exchange makes it part of our mission to support troops’ readiness and resiliency through a BE FIT lifestyle,” said President and Chief Merchandising Officer Ana Middleton.  “Through our long-term BE FIT initiative, we are committed to providing the fitness information, nutrition tips, equipment and better-for-you dining, and snack options Warfighters and their families need to meet their health goals. “Our BE FIT initiatives also helps us develop lifelong emotional connections with our customers.”

For more information and updates on the program visit the AAFES’s Community Hub. The BE FIT content includes healthy recipes and fitness tips.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

COVID-19 Got You Down – Get Outside

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Resources and Tips to Get You Exploring the Great Outdoors

A recent assignment led me to visit Point Defiance Park not far from where I live. This crown jewel of Tacoma has been a city park for over 100 years. It is rare to have an old growth forest right in the middle of town. There are plenty of trails and garden spaces that I felt totally comfortable exploring on my own. At the end of the day my coronavirus blues were chased away, and I felt better able to cope with everything going on in the world right now. I am lucky to live in an area with many beautiful outdoor recreational spaces right in town. How do you find the great places to get outside especially if you are new to an area?

There are two passes you must have when exploring your area. The first is the America the Beautiful Park Pass which is a pass that allows military families free visits to National Parks, Monuments, Forests and much more.  Just show your military ID at entrance of any national park to receive your pass. I signed up for mine at a Wildlife Refuge. You will also need a state park pass which you will have to pay for. In Washington, the Discover Pass is $30 for the year and a one day admission to many state parks is $10 so it will quickly pay off. Many military installations outdoor rec sell the state passes.

A great place to start is Outdoor Recreation on your military installation. Most offer group day trips which are a fun way to explore your local area and meet new people. Another good on base resource is your local Spouses Club. Most have subclubs which you can join with people of similar interests such as the hiking club or a local explorers group.

An extensive new resource the ParkPassport app has been developed by Blue Star Parks, a program of the Blue Star Families. The new app has more than 2,000 national parks and other federal recreational which you can access via the park finder feature. Reviews are positive with people loving the park finder feature and finding out how many places are in their area. You can also connect with friends and show experiences. It includes a virtual passport where you can collect badges, a feature kids will love.

Military Spouses know how tough it is moving and meeting new people. Military Wild is an organization founded by military spouses who know how you feel. The group has chapters and ambassadors all over the country and the world with the mindset every duty station is what you make of it. Connect with your local chapter to enjoy group hikes and other adventures with likeminded military families who love exploring the outdoors.

Facebook groups are another good way to connect with people to plan outdoor activities. I belong to Travelers from JBLM. Members post questions asking for suggestions on what to do while those who have lived in the area longer provide answers. Often members link up to do things together.

Sometimes you may just want to get away from the military community and if so, there are many civilian groups that are worth checking out. Find your local trail association online and look for their resources. Usually they will list groups that get together to hike as well as classes on the wilderness in your area. The Washington Trail Association is a wealth of information everything from hiking with children, new to hiking guide, find a hike, and someone to hike with resources. If you love the outdoors volunteering to work on trails near you is another way to meet now people. Check out your trail association to see what is available in your area.

The great outdoor spaces with fresh air and the sounds of birds chirping in the trees go a long way to helping you cope with our world situation. It is easy to forget everything while exploring the while. Remember to continue your COVID-19 precautions even when outdoors. Keep your social distancing and while you don’t need to wear a mask when hiking, keep it handy in case you come upon others. Parks are seeing record numbers visiting during the pandemic so plan to visit early or on weekdays for less crowds.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

The Rosie Network Service2CEO Program

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Veteran and Military Spouse business owners help you launch your business

B y Marguerite Cleveland

The Rosie Network is a great resource for military spouses, transitioning service members and veterans who want to start their own business or grow an existing one. It was founded by a military spouse Stephanie Brown and other veterans who were inspired by the World War II icon Rosie the Riveter and her “We Can Do It” attitude.

The mission of the Rosie Network is to “to build stronger military families by developing entrepreneurial programs and support services that empower active-duty, veterans and military spouses to realize the American Dream of small business ownership, increasing financial stability and self-sufficiency of those who have served our country.” Started in 2011 in San Diego, the network has grown and there are now many opportunities around the U.S. to participate in their signature program, Service2CEO.

Service2CEO is a recipient of the Small Business Association Growth Accelerator Award and is a free program. It is serious training and mentorship provided by experts in their field. The 16-week program consists of both in class and online instruction. During the COVID-19 crises everything will be virtual. Training includes business training in accounting, human resources, cybersecurity, sales, marketing raising capital, record keeping, eCommerce and management training. Local business leaders offer civilian mentorship. The program will also provide free website development, an assessment of your business concept, and help developing your business plan.

“The Rosie Network is a program for military spouse entrepreneurs to take their current business to a higher level or to take their idea and help it come to fruition. The 16-week program takes the students through 8 modules. Each module focuses on a area of entrepreneurship like marketing or customer personas and is led by a subject matter expert in that area. This program is completely free, and students end the program with a live graduation. Previously done in person, it has since pivoted to online instruction and graduations, which has opened the pool of subject matter experts from around the world. The JBLM Rosie Chapter launched in April and is graduating 6 students on August 19th. To graduate the students must complete mentor calls as well as compile a pitch deck to present. Also new this year, is the Rosie Alumni Chapter. Once they graduate, they can participate in the alumni chapter, opening their ability to network with other graduates and mentors. The alumni chapter hosts online learning series talks as well as a professional development book club. I have been the JBLM Rosie Chapter Lead since it launched in April and am excited to have seen the students start with an idea and see it grow. Students now have their business logos and pitch decks to take with them to investors or any sponsorship/partnership opportunity. This is such a great program and I encourage any military spouse thinking of starting a business to participate. A new cohort date will be announced soon for our area,” said Sonia Ramirez-Garcia, Chapter Head for the Rosie Network at JBLM.

The program offers one on one mentoring and peer to peer support. The program provides opportunities to attend community events and many networking opportunities. Attendees can take advantage of financial, legal, and human resource professional services. There are national events as well. The biggest benefit is being part of the Rosie Network and the opportunity to build a business profile page on Rosie’s List.

“Veteran and military spouse business owners are 10x more likely to hire fellow veterans and military spouses. By empowering these individuals with meaningful training and mentorship, we are impacting their families, their communities and our nation’s economy,” Stephanie Brown, The Rosie Network Founder. It is the largest nonprofit working to solve the military spouse unemployment crisis which is at 14-18%, 5 times the national average. According the BSF Military Lifestyle Survey military spouse unemployment costs taxpayers 1.2 billion.

Rosie’s List is like Angie’s List that you see advertised to find local businesses for your home. Rosie’s List is for military family owned businesses. As part of the Service2CEO program you have will learn how to build a profile page on Rosie’s List. It is a searchable, online database for members that helps you market your products and services worldwide. Your profile page is free and describes your business and what you have to offer to consumer. You can also include a shopping cart for direct sales. It is a huge benefit.

The Service2CEO program is highly successful with 86% of attendees reporting a minimum of 150% increase in revenue. It has a 99.5% Net Promoter rating for the program. A net promotor score measures customer experience. The highest score is 100%. Minority and woman entrepreneurs comprised 60+% of attendees.

The Rosie Network also runs the National Veteran & Military Spouse Entrepreneur Awards. The awards recognize those who are willing to take a risk and create a successful business. There are categories for new business start-ups to those for more established entrepreneurs. To learn more about the Servoce2CEO program or how you can nominate a military family business for an award visit The Rosie Network.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Department of Defense Announces the 2020 Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence Recipients

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper recently announced the winners of the 20202 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. The program recognizes the people who work to utilize limited resources to operate and maintain U.S. military installations. There are five awards, one for each branch of service and one for the Defense Logistic Agency.

The program was established in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan who said at the time, ““I am confident that this search for excellence and innovations will yield many new and better ways of accomplishing our mission and at the same time honor those whose dedication has produced the best Defense organization in the world.” Each branch holds its own intra-service competition. Installations are evaluated on mission support, energy conservation, quality of life, unit morale, environmental stewardship, real property management, safety, health and security, communications, and public relations.

The Recipients of the 2020 Commander In Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence are:

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Drum, New York (USAG-FD)
Senior Commander: Major General Brian J. Mennes, U.S. Army
Garrison Commander:  Colonel Jeffery P. Lucas, U.S. Army

Highlights for USAG-FD include great success with energy conservation with 100% renewable-energy sustainability. They saved $1.9 million by repurposing a furniture store and food court into a After-Action Review Facilty using Public Works personnel. Other highlights include the installation of solar walls in 53 buildings which will save a projected $32,000.

Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
Commanding Officer: Captain Bradley N. Rosen, U.S. Navy

Highlights for Naval Station Norfolk include reducing energy use by 15.1% since the baseline year, Fiscal Year 2015. A new heat and power plant began operations supplying 74% of the stations steam requirements saving $6.5 million in utility costs. They reduced spills which effect the environment 66% since the baseline year. The base’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation was recognized as a 5-star accredited program.

Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, California (MCGACC)
Base Commander: Brigadier General Roger Turner, U.S. Marine Corps

MCGACC highlights included $23 million investments in infrastructure to repair major facilities. The photovoltaic system and tri-generation plants provided 83% of the bases daily energy requirements saving over $9.8 million. An environmental program saw the MCGACC partnered with a California University to rear 475 desert tortoise hatchlings, release 234 into the wild and relocate 1300 to safer locations.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (JBER)
Commanding Officer: Colonel Patricia A. Csànk, U.S. Air Force

JBER had a tough year surviving a 7.1 magniture earthquake and the worst fire season in Alaska’s history.  Highlights include hosting the USAF’s first base-level innovation summit. They also established an innovation lab which resulted in securing over $260K to fund 22 projects. The lab provides a place for airmen to congregate and access cutting edge technology such as using 3D printing to create prototypes. When Hurricane Michael struck Tyndall AFB, 112 Airmen and families relocated to JBER where they received support from the Military and Family Readiness Center, in coordination with seven other base agencies.

Defense Distribution Depot, San Joaquin, California
Commanding Officer: Colonel Tiffany. N. Harris, U.S. Marine Corps

The Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin highlights include reducing per-fixture energy consumption by 54% by changing over 6,100 fluorescent light fixtures to LED. More than 600 employees took part in the Employer Trip Reduction Program which reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 242 metric tons. The Depot saw a 60% drop in lost-time injuries, and a 23% reduction in total injuries reported due to their vigilant safety program.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

‘Are you prepared?’

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Commissary patrons can save on groceries, other supplies for their emergency kits

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – During September, National Preparedness Month highlights the significance of being ready for emergencies. This is a message the Defense Commissary Agency takes to heart as it helps its customers save on many of the items they should include in their survival kits.

“When an emergency occurs – bad weather, manmade event or pandemic – you’re either prepared or you’re not,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA’s director of sales. “We want our customers to know their commissary benefit is here for them so they can be prepared now.”

 The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” The month is separated into four activities: Sept. 1-5 – make a plan; Sept. 6-12 – build a kit; Sept. 13-19 – prepare for disasters; and Sept. 20-26 – teach youth about preparedness.

From April through Oct. 31, DeCA’s severe weather promotional package helps customers prepare their survival kits with discounts on the following items: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy-duty shipping and duct), first aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles, hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Specific items may vary from store to store.

Whether it’s Mother Nature or a manmade crisis, emergency preparedness officials encourage prior planning with a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

  • COVID-19 protection – reusable or disposable face coverings, disposable gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, hand soap
  • Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
  • Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
  • Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper
  • Writing utensils – pens, pencils (manual pencil sharpeners), markers
  • Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheets, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener
  • First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription medications
  • Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap
  • Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moist wipes
  • Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags
  • Lighting accessories – flashlights, batteries, candles and matches
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
  • Duct tape, scissors
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Emergency blanket
  • Maps of the area
  • Blankets or sleeping bags

“Even with COVID-19, we still want our customers to be prepared,” Russ said. “However, we recommend they buy what they need and avoid unnecessary hoarding to ensure products are available for others.”

For more information about disaster preparedness, go to the DeCA website for lists of resources.

            For more information about National Preparedness Month, go to Ready.gov where there are also links to more resources such as the Hurricane Seasonal Preparedness Digital Toolkit. Military families can also find information on emergency procedures specific to their service.

-DeCA-

Feds Feed Families

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Commissary patrons, employees donate record 2.3M pounds

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        67-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              August 20, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Feds Feed Families

Commissary patrons, employees donate record 2.3M pounds

By Keith Desbois,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) patrons and employees once again led this year’s Department of Defense (DOD) contributions to the annual Feds Feed Families campaign by collecting nearly 2.3 million pounds of food and personal hygiene items.

The previous donations record for DeCA’s donations was 1.6 million pounds in 2015.

            Through Feds Feed Families, federal employees help food banks and pantries stay stocked during summer months when the need for donations is at its greatest. Although this year’s campaign officially ran from June 1 to July 31, DOD agencies could include all of their donations collected from Jan. 1 to Aug. 14. DeCA’s participation represented almost 90 percent of DOD’s total donation of more than 2.5 million pounds.

            “It was only through the generosity of our employees and customers,” said Randy Eller, DeCA’s director of logistics. “Every year they really step up and get the job done in terms of donations. This year’s campaign broke the DOD record, and we significantly contributed to that success.”

Last year, DeCA collected more than 753,000 pounds of donations, about 73 percent of the over 1 million pounds collected by DOD. This year, for the first time, the DOD delegated DeCA to be the Department’s lead for the campaign.

            Patrons and employees donated in a number of ways. In the commissary, prepackaged bags filled with DeCA’s Freedom’s Choice store brand items were available for purchase. After purchasing the bag, patrons simply dropped it in a donation box or left it with the cashier.

            “The commissaries sold a little over 27,000 bags and this is absolutely fantastic,” added Eller.

            Commissaries also accepted unopened, sealed donations brought from home, or patrons and employees could purchase individual items in the store. Once the donations were collected, the commissary and their installation worked together to get them to a local foodbank or pantry.

            The commissaries’ commitment doesn’t stop there.

Throughout the year, commissaries donate edible but unsellable products to local food banks and pantries around the country through DeCA’s food donation program. 

Since Feds Feed Families began in 2009, federal employees have collected over 92 million pounds of food. For more information on this campaign, go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Feds Feed Families webpage.

-DeCA-

COVID-19 Impacts Military Empty Nesters Dreams

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By Marguerite Cleveland

There comes a time when the children have finally moved out of the home and you can rekindle your relationship with your spouse. Being an empty nester is the time to have regular date nights and take those bucket list trips you’ve been planning forever. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has reared its ugly head wreaking havoc on so many plans.

For many families, the impact has been kids moving back home with on campus college classes canceled or for economic reasons with so many unemployed. For Kimberlee, a newly retired military spouse, her twins have been home from college since March. They are scheduled to return to school in September but that is up in the air with so many colleges going to distant learning for the fall. She hasn’t felt too much impact as their retirement home has a guest house which gives her boys their own space.

In other cases, families have had to ask their children to move out due to safety concerns with the COVID-19 virus. Susan, a retired military spouse said, “Our 25-year-old son lived with us while going to school, he graduated this spring. The first 2 months of the pandemic he did great, school, work, home. Then he started staying out later, so we had a discussion and decided it was time for him to move out. We just didn’t want to risk him bringing Covid home. Such a hard decision to make, I miss him so much. My husband and I have been working from home during this time-lots of home projects, gardening, reorganizing, and reading (this has been the best part). I miss our weekend trips, impromptu gatherings and being with friends.

Across the country adult children are returning home in droves and it can add financial stress for empty nesters. It is important to set boundaries and expectations to newly returned adult children. It is not unreasonable to expect help with chores and doing their own laundry. Ask for modest rent payment or help with groceries if they are receiving unemployment or other income. If you feel uncomfortable collecting rent do so and sock it away in an account and you can give them a lump sum when they move out.  Also set standards for your expectations regarding the COVID-19 virus.

The biggest change of the COVID-19 pandemic for many is putting the Empty Nester Moon on the back burner. Empty Nesters love to travel and have planned for a big bucket list trip which must now be canceled with no idea of when it can be rescheduled. Take the time to rediscover your hometown. Retired military families may end up where you never lived before so now is a good time to explore. Check out what tourist things are open in your area that you may not have visited before. Take a weekend road trip within your state. Be spontaneous and check for last minute deals. It is so easy to just get up and go when you are only planning for two. Take advantage of adult children at home for pet sitting.

Take the time to Dream about future travel. I love Viking Cruise line which has a list of books you should read and movies you should watch that are curated to learn about the destinations of your future cruise. You can plan evenings to watch a movie and prepare food from that region. Cruises from the U.S. are suspended until September and the expectation is that date will be pushed back. MSC Cruise Line recently welcomed back cruisers with a completely revamped cleansing protocol which includes hospital grade cleaners. Ships set sail with 70% capacity and masks must be worn in when social distancing is not practical such as in an elevator. Guests are tested at the port of entry and temperatures of all guests taken daily. So, there is hope for future travel.

One of the things many empty nesters enjoy is hanging out with friends by going out to restaurants, wine tasting or having get togethers at home. During the pandemic most of those things are off limits so what to do. Get familiar with Zoom and have virtual parties. Have everyone order a whiskey or wine tasting kit with samples and have a Zoom Party and share online your thoughts. Another option is to have everyone order from the same restaurant and pretend you are out to eat together.

As this pandemic drags on, we all continue to find creative ways to do things that used to be normal. No one knows what the future will bring but one thing is sure military families have the resilience to handle it.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

The Department of Defense Plays an Important Role in Operation Warp Speed to Accelerate Tools to Fight the Spread of COVID-19

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By Marguerite Cleveland

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have key roles in Operation Warp Speed (OWS) which is a partnership among the two to engage private firms with other federal agencies to accelerate the production of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. This will enhance HHS’s current efforts. There are many promising actions taking place.

The DoD recently awarded a $42 million contract to Curative Inc to manufacture 250,000 of their oral fluid swab test kits which are for 100 military treatment facilities. This will increase the testing capability across the DoD and provide a less invasive method of testing for COVID-19. The test is an oral swab of the mouth versus the painful nose swab. “This is an important capability that will strengthen our medical professionals’ ability to detect, isolate and defeat the spread of COVID-19 across the military,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Payne, the DOD’s COVID-19 Lab Testing Task Force lead. “The ability to reliably test service members and their families is critical towards securing our forces’ health and readiness.”

“It’s no coincidence we had the right innovation network in place to source and scale this test at battlefield speeds,” said Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. “Evolving national security challenges require new and enduring partnerships with commercial innovators. We had the right people and mechanisms in place to move out on this exceptional testing capability for the Department of Defense.”

Also, in the works are ramping up the purchase of necessary supplies needed to administer a future vaccine for COVID-19. On August 4, 2020, the DoD and HHS awarded a $104 million contract to procure syringes and safety needles for the HHS Strategic National Stockpile. This will provide a total of 500 million safety syringes in a 12 month period with 134 million scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year.

“This effort demonstrates skillful collaboration between the interagency and our industry partners, and moves the nation farther forward in its fight against COVID-19,” said Joint Program Executive Officer for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, Douglas Bryce. “Immediate procurement and prepositioning of syringes will enable rapid vaccination of the U.S. population once an FDA-approved vaccine becomes available. We are pleased to be part of this unprecedented and critical undertaking.”

HHS and the DoD recently announced an agreement with the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson for the manufacturing and delivery of the company’s COVID-19 candidate. Under the agreement the U.S. government will own the 100 million doses of the vaccine which will be used in clinical trials or distributed as part of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign if approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“With the portfolio of vaccines being assembled for OWS, the Trump Administration is increasing the likelihood that the United States will have at least one safe, effective vaccine by 2021,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “Today’s investment represents the next step in supporting Janssen’s vaccine candidate all the way through manufacturing, with the potential to bring hundreds of millions of safe and effective doses to the American people.”

While the clinical trials are underway, the company will be working on a manufacturing demonstration project which by working parallel will help speed up the traditional vaccine development timeline. This will help the federal government’s goal with OWS to be able to deliver millions of doses of a safe vaccine to the American People by the end of the year.

There are many promising vaccines and therapeutics on the horizon which hopefully will bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Commissaries continue roll out of new curbside pickup program at Fort Lee; five more scheduled later in 2020

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        65-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              August 6, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

CLICK2GO

Commissaries continue roll out of new curbside pickup program at Fort Lee; five more scheduled later in 2020

By Rick Brink,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.To see photos related to this release, go to the agency’s Flickr site.

FORT LEE, Va. – CLICK2GO, the Defense Commissary Agency’s online ordering/curbside pickup grocery service, returned Aug. 4 to the Fort Lee Commissary in Virginia following a yearlong absence.

“We’re pleased to be back to provide this service that’s become especially popular as we all cope with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Willie Watkins, DeCA’s eBusiness chief. “More and more people like being able to shop online and pick up their groceries without having to go inside a store.”

In September 2013, the Fort Lee Commissary became the first store to offer curbside pickup under a pilot program that included two other commissaries. DeCA discontinued that program in June 2019 to make way for a new CLICK2GO, as the agency rolled out its new Enterprise Business System to stores. Fort Lee is now the sixth store to offer the new service, and five more commissaries are slated to get it later this year.

Using curbside pickup is a straight-forward process. Authorized commissary shoppers access the system via the agency’s customer portal, MyCommissary. An initial sign-up is required the first time patrons access MyCommissary. Patrons can also learn more about CLICK2GO on Commissaries.com.

Once in CLICK2GO, patrons select from commissary products offered online based on the store’s stock assortment. After products are selected, the patron selects a pickup time and completes the checkout process. The only thing left to do is arrive at curbside at the appointed time, and pay. Commissary workers will load the groceries in the shopper’s car and they will be on their way.

Fort Lee’s CLICK2GO customers won’t be charged a service fee through August and into the first week of September as part of an introductory offer. Beginning Sept. 8, a $4.95 service fee will be applied for each order, as it is at all curbside pickup locations.  

“Our customers are keenly interested in CLICK2GO since it all started here,” said store director Margaret Camacho. “Now we’re ready to once again let them enjoy shopping online and picking up their orders without having to go inside the store, which is something that really appeals to families with young children.”

The curbside program is also offered in Virginia at Fort Eustis, Naval Air Station Oceana, Marine Corps Base Quantico and Fort Belvoir. It’s also available at the McGuire Air Force Base Commissary New Jersey, part of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community.

In the other five stores where it’s offered, CLICK2GO has seen a huge increase in customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the startup at the Fort Lee Commissary is just the latest part of an ongoing expansion of the service, Watkins said.

Barring any unforeseen issues, the agency plans to roll out the service to five more commissaries this year, and there are plans to expand it to considerably to more stores over the next two years, said Watkins.

The five stores scheduled to receive the service later this year are: Fort Polk, Louisiana; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; and Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. The number of stores and locations to get the service in 2021 haven’t been announced.

DeCA operates 236 commissaries worldwide. Not all stores will receive the service. A variety of factors, including sales and transactions, existing infrastructure and demographics are considered to determine if a commissary is suitable for CLICK2GO.

“Our agency is responding to customer shopping trends, and we’re pleased to be able to expand this service,” Watkins said.

-DeCA-

Can I travel there? How to Find Out If Your Destination is Safe, Plus COVID-19 U.S. Passport Backlog Finally Breaking Free

By

By Marguerite Cleveland

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drag on and it is summer vacation time thoughts are turning towards travel. Questions abound. Is it safe to visit? What do I need to do differently when traveling? When will my passport be processed? Can I travel internationally? The travel situation due to COVID-19 is ever changing but here is what we do know:

On August 6, 2020, the Department of State lifted the worldwide Global Level 4 Health Advisory which advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. It was put in place with the CDC who initiated their own global health warning.

 According to Carl C. Risch, Assistant Secretary Bureau of Consular Affairs, the State Department has returned to their previous system of travel advice for each country on a level of 1 to 4 based on the specific conditions in each country. The CDC has also lifted their Level 3 Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice. The change reflects that conditions in some countries are improving and some are deteriorating.

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories are based on assessment of conditions on the ground and includes risk indicators other than just COVID-19 such as civil unrest and natural disasters. The advisories are updated every day. Currently the only two countries in the world at a Level 1: (Exercise Normal Precautions) are Macau and Taiwan. Risch advised that global conditions remain highly dynamic, and the State Department continues to recommend that U.S. citizens exercise caution when traveling abroad due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.

The backlog on passports is finally beginning to break free. Unlike some government positions those processing passports cannot work at home due to security issues with personal documents such as birth certificates and this contributed to the backlog. In June the State Department began a phased reopening as employees began returning to work. Since that time pending applications have dropped from 1.8 million to around 1 million. Typically, there are normally around 1 million applications pending so the processing time has improved.

At this time, you cannot get an expedited passport unless you have a life or death emergency and must travel outside the country within 3 business days. Call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 during business hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time or after hours call 202-647-4000. You must provide supporting documents with your application such as a death certificate or signed letter from a hospital or medical professional and proof of travel such as a reservation or ticket.

Tip – Allow 7 – 10 days after you submitted a passport application or renewal to check the status. Go to the  Online Passport Status System to sign up for email notifications. You will receive 3 emails, first when it is in process, second once it is approved, and third once it is mailed. This is an easy way to help you keep track. I submitted a renewal in February and received it back in July.

Traveling outside of the country during the COVID-19 crises or other times of unrest can be nerve wracking. One way to make sure you receive information is to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a free service offered by the State Department which allows you to enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can also do this if you are living abroad. The benefits are you can receive up to date information on safety conditions at your destination and the U.S. Embassy can contact you if there is an emergency such as a natural disaster etc. It can also help your family reach you in case of an emergency.

In addition to the State Department you should also check the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This link provides information on travel during the pandemic. The CDC currently has a No Sail Order for all cruise ships through September, 2020. There is also information on how to access State Health Departments for information on restrictions for travel to other states. It is a confusing mess and constantly changing so it is important to check when planning a trip and then again before you leave. Some states such as Hawaii have a 14-day quarantine in effect or provide the results of a recently taken negative COVID-19 test. Most people don’t take a 14-day vacation so you could fly to Hawaii and not be able to leave your quarters for your entire stay.

Should you travel? Each family needs to make that decision for themselves and weigh the risk factors. Be responsible and don’t travel if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Travel with hand sanitizer, masks and sanitizing wipes. Monitor the situation as conditions with this pandemic are constantly changing.