Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

ID Expired? Get a Renewal by October 31, 2021

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The pandemic put a wrench in the ID card renewal process. With closures on base to minimize contact, an extension on expired ID cards was provide by the DOD. This extension has been extended for all temporary Uniformed Services ID (USID) cards that expire between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. This time period has been outlined due to the increase in demand for ID card renewals secondary to the closures of renewal locations until recently. This does not apply to Common Access Cards (CAC).

Who does this affect, and by what date?

  • Foreign Affiliates and their dependents have until August 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Dependents of Active Duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members and their dependents have until October 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Retirees and their dependents have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card
  • All other USID card populations have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card

What is the minimal age for an initial USID card?

While historically, children/dependents age 10 were required to get a USID card, it is has not been increased to age 14.

What about previous expiration dates?

Any cards that expired prior to January 1, 2020 have NOT been extended through this new extension and must be replaced.

What about expiration dates after July 31, 2021?

Per the DOD release, any ID cards that expire after July 31, 2021 should be replaced by their expiration date.

Where do I get an ID card renewed?

Visit the ID card office near you! To check for locations and available appointment times, check out the website for the ID Card Office online here.

Looking for the up-to-date Frequently Asked Questions about all things military ID card? Check out this resource here.

New Army Fitness Test is Leading to over 50% Failure Rate of Enlisted Women

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The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was launched a little over half a year ago, replacing the previous Physical Fitness test. The ACFT was made of six events: 3 repetition maximum deadlift (MDL), standing power throw (SPT), hand release push-up – arm extension (HRP), spring-drag-carry (SDC), leg tuck (LTK) and 2-mile run (2MR).  A two-minute plan is an allowed alternative to leg tucks. The tests were designed to test flexibility, agility, endurance and strength. However, recent data shows that 44% of women failed the ACFT in comparison to 7% of men since October 1, 2021.

The ACFT remains in the testing phase, and scores will not be counted on record for promotion or career progression until March of 2022. The data demonstrating that almost half of women are failing shows that there may be a need to amend the testing for women.

The data from the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) collected the 106,000 test results from the ACFT, breaking down the failure rate of each event by gender.

Failure Rate for Men:

  • 3 repetition maximum deadlift: Less than 1%
  • Standing power throw: Less than 1%
  • Hand release push-up – arm extension: Less than 1%
  • Spring-drag-carry: Less than 1%
  • Leg tuck: 2%
  • Two-mile run: 5%


Failure Rate for Women:

  • 3 repetition maximum deadlift: 6%
  • Standing power throw: 15%
  • Hand release push-up – arm extension: 2%
  • Spring-drag-carry: 12%
  • Leg tuck: 22%
  • Two-mile run: 22%

In comparison to last year, the pass rate is up 12%. Among enlisted women, the failure rate is at 53% and among female officers, the failure rate is 23%.

The passing score for the ACFT is 360 with a maximum score of 600. Per the data, only 66 female soldiers scored 500 points or higher in comparison to their male counterparts with 31,978 who had the same score. Data is added weekly to the FORSCOM database which will assist in shaping the program.

While this data is new, it appears that the data will continue to be analyzed to determine steps forward. While it does show a high failure rate, it is a lower rate than the previous year and this is movement in the positive direction.

*Appearance of DoD imagery does not constitute federal endorsement.

What Do You Want at the Commissary?

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You can request items from your commissary!

Did you know you can request items at your local Commissary? One of the annoying things of moving frequently is that we have to start over with the familiarity of the grocery store. We know where our favorite items are in the store, and we develop preferences of brand or types of items. When we move, the next Commissary may not have those favorite items. It’s a simple thing, a comfort snack for the kiddos or favorite salad dressing, but those creature comforts bring a sense of familiarity from the previous base and provide consistency in a family where there isn’t a lot of that. Your local commissary can take requests for your favorite items!

How do I request items?

First step to requesting an item at the commissary is knowing the contact information. If you want to call the store look up the contact information here and request to talk to the manager. Next step is making sure you have all the updated and correct information for the item you want to request. When making a request, make sure to know as much detail about the item as possible – full name of the item and UPC code if possible. The management team at your local commissary takes your request to the Sales Directorate for their area.

What about unit events or large orders?

Looking to place a large special order for a unit event? Or perhaps you want to order a case of your favorite drink or canned item? There is a form for that! Check out the link here for the form and rules and regulations. In general, the form is used for ordering case quantities, but no more than 3 cases of 36 units for personal orders and these restrictions are not in place for units.

Considerations for Overseas locations

If you are living overseas, there are additional challenges in getting a requested item. There may be more rules and regulations in place for importing an item. In addition, there are longer shipping times for overseas locations so items with a limited shelf life may not be able to be requested and transported in a timely manner.

Will you request an item from your local commissary? Tell us your success stories!

Lose the COVID 19 Weight Gain with these at home military exercises

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Military members must maintain a certain level of fitness to complete their jobs and pass fitness testing. COVID-19 presented a challenge in maintaining fitness when gymnasiums on and off base closed. Getting back into the routine of working out takes the same amount of time as building any routine. It takes 21 days to build a habit, so start building the habit of a new exercise routine with these exercises.

Do it like boot camp – a 12-week regiment where you start off low and slow and increase the reps and weights used over the 12-week period.

Before doing embarking on any exercise routine, check with your medical provider to ensure you are healthy enough to do so.

Equipment needed: barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells – weight amount dependent on what will be challenging to you.

If you have a question on what the exercises are, descriptions are below and you can use your friendly internet search engine to find videos on how they are done

Bodyweight Exercises

Start with 3-4 Rounds of 10-20 reps of these exercises, and slowly build up as able. If you need to go down to 2-3 rounds – do it! Any start is better than no start. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

  1. Jumping Jacks – these are great for getting the heart pumping and muscles warm
  2. Push-Ups – Challenging muscle groups of the upper extremities, core, and cardiovascular system with this – mix it up with putting your hands out wide or narrow to challenge different muscle groups of the arms and back
  3. Inverted Rows – These challenge the upper extremities and core similar to push-ups, but with the different position it challenges different muscles
  4. Box Jumps – these can be done on a park bench or your (non-carpeted) steps in your home; the key is to not jump off the box/step/bench but to step down to avoid injury to the Achilles tendon (the back of the ankle)
  5. Reverse Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot back and bend your back leg so your lower leg is parallel to the ground and the forward leg is parallel to the ground as close to 90 degrees as possible
  6. Forward Lunge – stand hip feet apart and step one foot forward and bend the forward leg, so the knee is over the foot and get as close to 90 degrees as possible
  7. Sumo Squat – feet outside the hips and squat low with putting the knees over toes and getting the knees as close to 90 degrees as possible
  8. Plank – try 30 seconds at a time and build up from there

Weighted Exercises

Start with one set of 10 of these exercises and increase the number of sets as able. Rest for 30-60 seconds in between sets.

  1. Weighted Squat – Rack dumbbells at the shoulder, feet hip-width apart, and squat with the goal of getting the lower legs at a 90-degree angle
  2. Renegade Dumbbell Row – While in plank put a dumbbell in each hand. With the arm fully extended, squeeze the muscles between the shoulders to bring the dumbbell toward the chest pulling the elbow behind you. If a full plank is difficult, go to your knees. If you do not have back problems, you can do a bent-over row bending at the hips with soft knees and doing the same squeeze between the shoulder blades to pull the weight toward you.
  3. Bicep Curl – With a weight in each hand of the extended arm towards your body, bend at the elbow pulling the weight toward the chest.
  4. Overhead Press –With two dumbbells, one in each hand, you can start from fully extended arms to bicep curl and then push the weights overhead; or start from racked weights at the shoulders.
  5. Weighted Sumo Squat – Add one dumbbell or kettlebell centered at your core and hold the weight steady as you do the sumo squat.
  6. Kettlebell Figure 8 –With feet shoulder-width apart with soft knees, hold the kettlebell in one hand and go between the legs switching to one hand and going around the corresponding leg and then back between the legs and to the other hand and corresponding side. This one is not only strength training but cardio too!
  7. Skull Crushers – While standing or in plank position, with arms extended out with dumbbells in hand, bend the elbows to 90 degrees holding the weights on the sides of the head – don’t actually crush the skull
  8. Chest Fly – From plank position, extend the arms out in front holding the dumbbells and lower the weights to the sides and then squeeze your chest muscles to pull them back to in front of you.

Mix and match bodyweight and weighted exercises and increase sets with each passing week or two to increase strength training. Add in cardiovascular exercises like jogging and dancing. A variety of exercises like yoga can add flexibility in addition to strength training.

Any start is a move in the right direction. What is your favorite exercise?

How to Choose a School for Your Child When You PCS

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After finding housing for your family as part of the move, when you have school age children, finding a school is the next step. It is not an easy task choosing a school. Sometimes you don’t have a choice if you have limited housing choices. However, sometimes you can “choice into” another school that is not in the district your house is assigned to. It is called a different program in each state (of course), but ask around in your new neighborhood. So how do you choose a school that is right for you and your family?

Where to Not to Look for Information

We all do it. When looking for a home we scroll to the bottom of the real estate facts which list the schools, with grades. We look for the higher rated schools thinking that really equals quality of school. That is not the case. Do not just look at the ratings assigned by the big grading companies.

Where to Look for Information

The most objective facts about schools can be found on the states Department of Education website. Each school should have a “report card” for the school on their department of education website. The report card should provide detailed information on assessments, enrollment, the finances of the school, statistics like free and reduced lunch participation and socioeconomic categories, teacher assessments and school readiness milestones. This objective information can provide an assessment about the school without “grading.” This helps you make the decision that is best for your family with the reality of school.

Know the MIC3

The MIC3 is the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, which was designed to help ease transitions for military families moving from one school to another. The idea is that if your child is in the gifted program or has an IEP at one school, those placements are still in place in the next school. This helps ease moving schools are there is some similarity and familiarity, without having to do the testing or re-evaluation again at the new school. This doesn’t mean that every school knows about the MIC3, or is even aware of it. Like with all regulations, even within the military community, print off the parts that apply to you and bring it into the school. For high school in particular, when schools may not teach things in the same order, make sure to have the course description for each course they took. This helps with placing into the next school. For instance, if you move your child’s sophomore year and in the new school they took History of America but it was called something else at the previous school, the course description allows the new school to know what to provide credit for and place them in the next appropriate history subject.

There are Other Options

For those who can afford it, private school is also an option. Private schools are not assigned a district, so you do not have to live in a certain area of this. Private schools do not report to the state government since they do not take funding from the state, so they do not have a readily available report card like public schools on the Department of Education website. Reach out to the private school for specific information.

Homeschool is a popular option with military families as it allows for non-traditional school schedules. Want to do school through the summer because the active duty member will get a month off in the fall and you want to schedule a trip, then homeschool might be for you. Each state is different on guidelines for homeschool. California for instance requires that you register as a private school providing a private school affidavit. Virginia requires sending a Notice of Intent to the school your children you are districted for letting them know you are homeschooling. Each state has different timelines for this as well, so make sure to research when the dates are required.

There is not one answer for schools for every family. Know the objective information you need to know for your family. Before looking, make a list of what you need and are looking for. Do you need a gifted program? A certain sport? Know what you are looking for when researching schools. Not that you need another thing on your to-do list, don’t be afraid to call and “interview” schools with questions. Their response and openness (or lack thereof) in discussing can help you.

Updates to the 2021 Thunderbirds and Blue Angels Official Air Show Schedule

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Outdoor entertainment is fun and safe entertainment for the entire family. From the music to the amazing aerial skills on display, the military air shows have a lot to offer.

There may be an associated cost to shows that do not occur on military bases, so make sure to contact the event or location for specific information.

Thunderbirds 2021 Air Show Schedule

The Thunderbirds will perform 23 shows this season from April to November, with some cancellations or amendments. Due to COVID-19, only 6 shows were performed in 2020 and the 2019-2020 pilots have remained on the team for 2021.

2021 Schedule:

-April 17-18: Cocoa Beach, Fl

-May 1-2: St. Joseph, MO

-May 8-9: Barksdale AFB, LA

– May 26: USAF Academy, CO

– May 29-30: Wantagh, NY

-June 5-6: Smyrna, TN

-June 19-20: Ocean City, MD


-July 10-11: Dayton, OH

-July 17-18: Binghamton, NY

-July 24-25: Milwaukee, WI

-July 28: Warren AFB, WY

-July 31- August 1: McMinnville, OR

-August 18: Atlantic City, NJ

-September 4-6: Cleveland, OH

-September 11-12: Portsmouth, NH

-September 18-19: Reno, NV

-September 25-26: Mather, CA

-October 2-3: San Juan, Puerto Rico

-October 9-10: Houston, TX

-October 16-17: Sanford, FL

-October 23-24: Lancaster, CA

-October 30-31: Salinas, CA

-November 6-7: Davis- Monthan AFB in Arizona

For more information on the USAF Thunderbirds, show locations and dates, visit their website at www.afthunderbirds.com. It is recommended to check their website and the location of the show for the most up to date information on scheduling.

Blue Angels 2021 Air Show Schedule

The Blue Angels are entering the 75th anniversary season this year, and is the inaugural season for the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. This will be the beginning of shows after 2020’s Operation America Strong. There are 25 shows scheduled for the Blue Angels from March to November ending at their home base of Pensacola, Florida. If you are local to one of their planned performances, make plans to be there to cheer them on!

2021 Schedule:

April 17-18: Lakeland, FL

May 1-2: NAS Corpus Christi, TX

May 8-9: Fort Lauderdale, FL

May 15-16: Melbourne, FL

May 26, 28: Annapolis, MD

May 29-30: Latrobe, PA

June 5-6: Lake Charles, LA

June 12-13: La Crosee, WI

June 19-20: Niagara Falls, NT

June 26-27: Duluth, MN

July 3-4: New Century, KS

July 10: Pensacola Beach, FL

July 25-25: Fargo, ND

July 31-August 1: Eielson AFB, AK

August 7-8: Seattle, WA

August 14-15: Owensboro, KY

Augsut 21-22: Chicago, IL

August 28-29: London, Ontario, Canada

September 18-19: NAS Oceana, VA

October 2-3: Huntington Beach, CA

October 9-10: San Francisco, CA

October 16-17: Loveland, CO

October 23-24: Ft. Worth, TX

October 30-31: Rome, GA

November 5-6: NAS Pensacola, FL

For updated information on the USNA Blue Angels, show locations and dates, visit their website at www.blueangels.navy.mil.

If there is an air show near you – be sure to make plans to check it out!

Tips to Navigate the Current Rental Market

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As if PCSing wasn’t stressful enough. This year we add in the craziest rental market yet. The increased demand for housing off-base, has driven the demand for on base housing, which then creates a cycle of increased demand all around. Many families PCSing this summer are feeling the pinch and worry of looking for a home. Some are offering hundreds over the already elevated listed rental price just to secure a home. How does one navigate this crazy market?

  1. Enlist your friends into looking. Maybe you have friends at the base where you will be moving to? Ask them to keep an eye out for listings in the area or on their local base pages.
  2. Engage in social media groups. Find housing groups and start stalking, er, looking for new postings. Look for groups for your specific area, and search for rentals within it.
  3. Schedule time to look. When you are online looking, make sure you stick to a time limit so it doesn’t become a time and mood suck.
  4. Use all the resources: Craigslist, AHRN, Military By Owner, Zillow are all great resources to look for homes. Some may be less traditional, but some owners are used to one listing source so you have to go with what you know!
  5. Consider a real estate agent. A real estate agent isn’t just for buying a home. Consider reaching out to a realtor in the area for tips on the area, and using them to find a rental. As real estate agents, they are also aware of what is coming onto the market as rentals.
  6. Have your must-haves and want-to-haves list figured out. Between you and your partner, or whoever you are renting with, figure out what you need to have and want to have. Use the need to-haves to find homes. This way the other can feel free to inquire about homes the moment they see them. It helps to make contact ASAP in this market.
  7. Be ready to rent sight unseen. This may be new for some families – you like to know the area, drive around it, be familiar with what is on offer. But with how quickly rentals (and homes to buy!) are going in this market, you need to be ready to sign a lease without knowing the area or the home. If you are able to, ask for a virtual walk-through, but some places are only responding to applications and not questions so you may have to go off what the pictures are. If this does not give you the warm fuzzies, try to find a home that is okay with a walk-through.
  8. Be patient. This one is hard when you are feeling pressed for time and finding a home. It can feel like you have to give in, offer hundreds over asking price. If it is within you budget to do that and you want to – go for it. Otherwise, be patient and keep looking.
  9. Commiserate. You are not the only military family moving this PCS season. You are not the only who is looking for a rental home. Find others that are going through the same process to talk with. Beyond being a safe, understanding space to vent they may have tips on where to look or share homes if they meet your needs versus theirs.

Now – go forth! And may the odds be ever in your favor!

The Ins and Outs of PCSing with Pets

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Four-footed, furry family members are family too, and take some planning to move with them. Being prepared for a PCS move with pets is critical. For moves within the continental United States (CONUS) and overseas (OCONUS), there are many things to consider and steps to take prior to executing a military move.

General

  • Budget more than you think you will need. You never know when a hotel may be full, and you have to stay at a hotel with a pet fee, or if you will have to use a pet shipper for a flight because the dog plus kennel may be over the restriction for weight.
  • Consider keeping your pet in a kennel in the hotel to prevent them from getting scared and hiding or running away.
  • Invest in portable, collapsible water bowls. This will be helpful on road trip moves or in their kennel if traveling overseas.
  • Before the move, check in with your local vet to keep up to date on evaluations and vaccinations. This way, you don’t have to find a vet shortly after your arrival.
  • If your pet is a “banned breed,” like a pitbull, plan for stops in towns where they are not banned.
  • If you have a female pet, consider having them spayed before travel, so they don’t go into heat the day you check her into a pet-friendly boarder.
  • Make sure you have medications for your pet with as many refills as possible. Hence, you have sufficient medications for travel and can get medications when needed at the new destination.
  • After you have exhausted all the options in bringing your pet with you if you cannot bring your pet with you, look into these organizations or friends or family for re-homing your pet.

CONUS

  • Pet-friendly hotels: When booking travel for the move, look for pet-friendly hotels. These hotels have green space for walks and more room for pets within the hotel room. La Quinta hotels have historically been pet-friendly, and some Hilton properties are pet-friendly as well.
  • Look into BringFido.com for dog-friendly places to stay and eat with your dog.

OCONUS

The rules and regulations may change for overseas orders, so make sure you are up to date on the regulations for the country you are entering. Here are some general tips for PCSing overseas.

  • Look up your international assignment for country-specific regulations and requirements here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/
  • The first step is going to the on-base vet with orders. They will begin the paperwork, administer vaccines, and order blood work if required for entering the country you are PCSing to. Schedule this as soon as you have military orders in hand. Vaccines typically have to be done over 21 days from entry.
  • Make sure your pet is on your orders so you can book a pet spot on an AMC (military) flight or ticket on a commercial flight.
  • Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT assume you will be getting a pet spot on a AMC flight. Have a backup plan because pet spots are limited.
  • Maintain bilingual paperwork or paperwork that is in English only.
  • Check with the flight you are on to ensure you have the right kennel size and what the weight limit is. There may be a total weight of pet plus kennel.
  • For the flight- tape a picture with your pet’s name on the outside of the kennel – the baggage handlers will likely call your pet by their name which is a kind gesture in a stressful situation. Tape a plastic bag with food pouches that may be used at layovers, and include your name/number. You just might get a text with photos of your pet on their adventure!
  • If you have to use a pet-shipper, make sure you have a pet-specific power of attorney for the friend or family that is helping with drop off or pick up of the pet.
  • Pets may need a quarantine when you get to the OCONUS location, make sure you are up to date on the regulations so you can appropriately plan and budget accordingly.

PCSing isn’t an easy process for humans, and for the pet who doesn’t quite understand the process either it can be a stressful event. Hopefully, these tips and steps help you navigate the PCS season with your pet.

Common Myths About Military Life: The People of the Military

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The known phrase is – “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” This saying is said to be pulled from a poem published in 1895 and written by Mary T. Lathrap. While it may have been written in the 19th century, it has 21st century applications. To fully understand another person, you need to understand what that person goes through. With an all-volunteer military force that makes up one-half of 1 percent of the population of the United States [Council on Foreign Relations, Demographics of the Military], many people outside the military have beliefs about the military that are myths worthy of Sasquatch.

Let’s set the record straight on some of these myths about military life:

MYTH: If your spouse is deployed, they can come for a birth of a child or a death of a close parent.

REALITY: Military orders are just that – orders from the military branch, and by extension the federal government, to be somewhere. When a military service member receives orders to deploy, those orders stand for the amount of time they are listed for. The military service branch can change those orders at any time as they need to, but that doesn’t mean the service member can. If there is a birth or death in the family, the family back home can send a Red Cross Message to let the service member know. But, the service member does not jump on a plane to come back home when that message arrives – that message is just information. The orders are still active. Deployments are overseas and on ships, and the service member is ordered to be there for that time period fulfilling their job. Situationally dependent, the military spouse might get to come home but don’t bet the farm.

MYTH: Once you have done a deployment, it is easy because they are all the same.

REALITY: Buzzzz. Nope. Each deployment can be wildly different. Depending on the service branch, the active duty service member can be on ship or on land. Each unit deploying fulfills different goals. As service members promote and move jobs, their job type and responsibility increases meaning there will be different roles fulfilled on each deployment. If on one deployment the service member was on a ship and able to call home when in port, the deployment to another country may mean no contact except emails on occasion. There is no repeat in type of deployment. And therefore, you cannot compare what one person does to another, and the expectations must be ever evolving. Sorry Uncle Eddie, just because Buddy called home twice a month doesn’t mean Junior will be able to.

MYTH: Moving is easy because it is all done for you, and it happens often so you get used to it.

REALITY: Oh boy is this wrong. Each year, the Joint Travel Regulations are updated. This body of regulations dictates the rules and regulations for all things travel, including a permanent change of station, aka PCS, or move. With each update, there are new rules to adhere by. Then add in a pandemic, and moving each time can look very different. Like their non-military counterparts, military families have children and with the addition of family members comes extra items and furniture. To make a house feel like a home, new curtains and wall décor are purchased or made. The addition of things adds more boxes with each move. With each move, there is a different phase of life experienced, and new regulations like limiting movers, means that some families move themselves completely. Military families take things off the walls, box up their memories, pack up the truck and sometimes drive it themselves to the next duty station. That is not easy. That is a lot of work, on top of the military job and spousal employment and children’s school. So no, you don’t get used to it and it isn’t easy.

MYTH: Every position in the military is infantry.

REALITY: Like the civilian world, there are many jobs and positions within the military. Not every military service member is the infantryman you picture from the World War movies. Not every person is on the front lines, in fact most are not. Some military members work in cyber security, finance, administration, logistics, motor transportation, public relations, medicine, and many more. These positions require schooling specific to that job type, on-the-job training and experience over time. This means not every service member has the same experience or knowledge.

MYTH: That you can take vacation whenever you want.

REALITY: Like other jobs, in order to take a vacation, the service member has to request leave (the military phrase for vacation). If there are training exercises or deployments on the calendar, that leave request will be denied. Worse, if the situation changes that leave can be cancelled. A catchphrase in our house is “I do what I want. And I want to do what I am told.”

MYTH: There is a pay raise with each job.

REALITY: Each branch of military service is based on rank. After enlistment or commission, the military member enters the service at the lowest rank applicable to their time in service. An E1 in the Army and a E1 in the Marine Corps make the same amount. It does not matter what job they have or skills they have. If a billet (the term for a job in the military) is listed for an E5 and a E4 has to do that job while waiting for a E5 or waiting for a promotion, the pay received for that job is still the E4 pay. More responsibility comes with the rank, not necessarily with the job. As mentioned earlier, not every job is equal.

MYTH: Military members are in the military because they had to choose between military or jail.

REALITY: While Hollywood has demonstrated in drama filled shows and movies how judges had sentenced unruly teens to the military service, this is not the case anymore. The military service is an all-volunteer service. There is not a draft where numbers are pulled to fill the military ranks. Those who enter military service choose to do so. They feel ready to join their service branch for their own personal reasons. There are a variety of reasons to join, which this article cannot simply list due to lack of space, but one reason is not to avoid jail time. In fact, in many cases joining the military can be highly competitive!

MYTH: Military members and their spouses are uneducated.

REALITY: According to 2017 DMDC Active Duty Military Personnel Master File, the majority of Active Duty service members hold at least a high school diploma with 21.8% of them holding a higher degree. At the time of the census, 67.1% had a high school diploma/GED or some college. According to a study done by Deloitte, 45% of military spouses hold bachelors or advanced degrees.  In the same year, the U.S. Census showed that about 1/3 of adults in the U.S. held a bachelor’s degree or higher. This statistic is flawed as it counts military members in addition to non-military members. However, the point is that that the military force is similarly educated if not have more formal education as the non-military population. Their education varies just as much as their civilian counterparts. Among servicemembers, many have bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctorate degrees – even if they do not need it for their job.

ONE MORE – not every military member is a soldier. Nope. The U.S. Army has Soldiers. The U.S. Air Force has Airmen. The U.S. Navy has Sailors. The U.S. Marine Corps has Marines. The Space Force has Guardians. (yes, look it up). The U.S. Coast Guard has Coast Guardsman. They are not all soldiers.

There are many more myths out there. The main feature is that military members are not all the same. We are not stick figures with cookie cutter personalities.

How do you share the reality of military life with those who may have no experience with the military?

7 Perks of Living Overseas

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You just got orders overseas.

Congratulations!

The to-do list is overwhelming.

You can’t bring all your belongings with you, and moving overseas has so many more steps involved than a traditional permanent change of station.

I get it.

I’ve been there.

BUT.

There are so many perks to living overseas. While amongst the packing, arranging of unaccompanied baggage, and medical screening, take a break to reflect on the positive sides of moving overseas, and keep on keeping on!

  1. You can’t worry about housing until you get there. This is seriously one of the biggest stress reliefs of an overseas move. Why? Okay, yes, so you can’t plan ahead for your house or show your kids pictures of your new yard. But no one else can either. Everyone is in the same boat as far as housing goes. You have to wait until you check-in. Once you check in the options are on or off base/post. If the quota for on-base is full, you get to look off base, and then the choice is yours for location, housing size, cost, etc. If you are moving off the post, your housing allowance is called Overseas Housing Allowance and is a bit different than traditional BAH. Don’t forget to calculate in exchange rates into your housing budget.
  2. Embrace a new culture. While most families move frequently enough to explore new locations, they are usually within the United States. Living overseas allows for exploration in a totally new place. The culture, the language, and the food are different. You can try authentic cuisine to that country that typically cannot be replicated in an American restaurant. Learn a few phrases of the local language and show the cashier at the local grocery store that you are trying and learning.
  3. You’re all in this together. Americans living overseas are often referred to as ex-pats, or ex-patriots. It isn’t that you are giving up your American heritage, but the ex-pat community is a close-knit group. Because of the common thread of being Americans that are living in a foreign community, the village mentality is strong. Holidays are celebrated with your ‘framily’ (friends who become family) because you aren’t traveling back to your home.
  4. Get involved. The military and government service community overseas have many clubs and organizations to get involved in. Oftentimes each branch of service has a Gift Shop sharing local and international items for sale that the profits benefit the local community. There are jobs and volunteer opportunities here. There are clubs of special interest to bring people together.  Through the Armed Forces and USO community overseas, many groups form with the opportunity to build their own.   Like a certain video game and don’t see it represented, start a club! The community is great.
  5. Travel.  Maybe not all the time, but when living overseas the ability to travel to new places at more affordable prices opens up. Living in Germany? Take a train to explore France – this is much cheaper than an airplane ride from California. Now a resident of Okinawa? Head to Thailand, the Philippines, or mainland Japan for flight prices that compare to flying from Virginia to Florida. This is the time to learn more about the world beyond where you live and see the world.
  6. Less pressure to travel to see family. Because travel isn’t always easily done for military families due to budget, work schedule, and just travel constraints, it is common that the holiday time is when families travel home to see one or multiple families and that “vacation” isn’t a vacation at all. When living overseas, the financial burden of travel to the states coupled with the busy operation tempo means that time off is short-lived, and a couple of weeks off to the states to visit family often doesn’t happen. The pressure is off to make the sojourn home, and that allows for the nuclear family and “framily” you build to grow closer together.
  7. The food. While this was mentioned in the culture category, it deserves its own category. Authentic schnitzel in Germany. Fresh and amazing sushi in Japan. Genuine fish and chips in Britain. All for affordable prices because it didn’t require special storage or a long boat ride to get there. Check out the local grocery stores to get a real taste of the local food and products, you might just find a favorite. And plan to barter sending Chik-Fil-A sauce for your new favorite treat from said country with a friend who is now there.

Don’t get me wrong, moving overseas is stressful. And there were more than one night of worry and eating chocolate as a way to self-care, but it is worth the move and worth the investment in exploring your new country and getting involved. There are a lot of perks of living overseas.