Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Military Spouses do NOT have to do it all

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Read that again – you do not have to do it all. You do not have to be doing something every day and every minute. Creating boundaries is healthy, it creates parameters for your valuable time and energy.  It protects YOU as a resource. You are worthy of that. In a community where you often hear that volunteering is the way to get ahead in a career, or how to learn a new skill, it is easy to fall into a pattern of giving and giving.

  • Learn to say No.

Know how to say no. Even if you don’t have a specific reason for saying no, give yourself a break every now and then. You don’t need to say yes to making cupcakes for the PTA, bringing a meal to your spouse’s work, or volunteering with yet another organization. It is hard to create those time boundaries, especially when you are used to going and doing all the time. Knowing when to say no protects you, your time and your abilities. It allows you to cultivate the skills you want with the time you have. It also allows for down time and space as this also helps you.

  • Don’t volunteer all the time.

Give yourself boundaries for your time. While it is easy to slip into the routine of volunteering at school, at the unit, at a local charity, you do not have to. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, volunteering is great for learning new skills. But the military spouse market is an over tapped market for volunteering. The frequent moves lead to frequent jobs, often of different job types.

  • Take a social media break.

It isn’t a secret that FOMO is real. Seeing the grass on the other side of the fence has created pressure for parents to do it all – the handmade clothes, homemade meals, trips that may not be affordable. Taking a break from social media may be very 1990s, but it allows for more time. Social media provides for distraction and mindless scrolling but this is not necessary. Take time off from social media, or create timers so you respect your time and only accomplish what you need to.

  • It’s okay to have cereal for breakfast.

This was a life saver during my spouse’s last deployment. One night a week was breakfast for dinner and the kids loved every minute of it. Take the shortcuts when you can. Cereal for dinner once a week, or more if needed, is allowed.

  • Take a break.

Have zero guilt in taking a break. If you need a babysitter so you can have dinner alone without goldfish as a side, do it and do not feel one ounce of guilt.

  • Buy the prepared stuff.

Your time is valuable. In a busy time period, buy the pre-cut fruit, the already made frozen pizza and the grocery store sub sandwiches. Down think of it is as short cut or sell out, think of it as resource management. Maybe your budget can’t support it every grocery trip, but on the occasion that you can, do it.

  • Pen in self-care.

This is hard. It is adding one more thing to the to-do list, I get it. Schedule it. Take the time that you can to do something for yourself. Maybe it is just a 20-minute virtual yoga session. Or maybe you can do an hour for reading for pleasure. Don’t just pencil it on your calendar, PEN IT IN. Self-care is sometimes self-preservation. You are worthy of penning in that me-time, so don’t just pencil it in.  

  • Seek support when needed.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to be the all for everyone. If you have reached your limit, it is okay to reach out to your trusted friends and tell them. If you prefer confidential help, reach out to Military One Source counselors or the DSTRESS line. These resources are there to listen and provide guidance as able to.

You can protect your mental, emotional and physical health by not trying to do it all. Prioritize your time, and know that taking breaks is okay. Remember that there is a season for everything, and sometimes you can’t.

Don’t Tip or Feed the Movers, Updated DOD guidance says

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Tipping or feeding movers is a hotly debated topic every year.  Families moving for the first time ask in moving support groups or local base pages if they should tip or feed the movers and the responses range from “heck no” to “we always go all out for our movers.” This year, the DOD has updated their guidance on tipping of feeding the movers. As of January 15, 2021, the updates are found in the printable PDF from USTRANSCOM about moving found here.

Prior to 2021, the Move.mil guidance on tipping or feeding the movers was at the discretion of the individual. This was vague and allowed for a wide variety of responses by military families.  The updated guidelines found within the “It’s Your Move” PDF from TRANSCOM now state “tipping and/or supplying meals, snacks, or other refreshments to moving company representatives is discouraged. Providing monetary tips and meals as a “cost of doing business” sets unrealistic demands on service members and civilian employees least capable of providing this “service.” Please report any TSP requesting or requiring a tip to your Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) for possible punitive actions.”

Per the FAQ on Move.mil, “supplying meals or refreshments is never required. Moreover, providing monetary tips is discouraged. If your TSP requests either, please let your local transportation office know.” This is in line with the new updates within the TRANSCOM packet and the update from the DOD.

Many military families feel that providing food and drink to movers is a sign of goodwill. And they hope that this gesture will mean that their belongings will be packed well, sustain less damage and help the move go quickly and smoothly. In fact, the moving guide from move.mil still says at the time of writing the following, “Packers are experienced professionals. They can make sure your breakable stuff has the best chance of arriving unbroken. Learn their names. While it is not required you might consider offering them lunch and make sure the fridge is stocked with water and other beverages.” One family expressed that they will continue to provide meals and drinks, stating “a little kindness goes a long way.”

Tipping many crews or large crews can be expensive. Often times the packing crew is different than the loading crew and unloading crew. If packing is completed on more than one day, there are often different packing crews each day. At a tip of $40 per person, that could mean a family is spending $400 for just the crew packing and loading. Then the unloading crew can be totally different, and depending on the size of the crew, a tip could cost $80 – $160. This is not a reimbursable cost. Add to this the already out-of-pocket expenses of a move to replace household items that are replaced every move (I’m looking at you trash cans, toilet plungers, and shower curtains). And the costs to replace broken or missing items as compensation from the moving company does not always match the full replacement cost. One military family shared that she tipped at the end of her first move and then overhead one of the movers on the phone talking emotionally to the person on the other end of the line, saying, “he was going right to Walmart with the tip money to finally buy his son the bike he wasn’t able to get him for his birthday” and after that, they have always tipped.

While the guidance was meant to clarify, the word “discouraged” is seen as vague to some. Families will continue to do what they have done, as many shared within a military PCS support group online, so much so there were over 200 comments on a post with the update.

The question is – will you feed your moving crew? How do you feel about tipping? What do you think about the new guidance?

7 Ways the Commissary Has You Covered This Grilling Season

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The weather is brighter, the days are longer, and the warmer temperatures are beckoning those of us who have been inside for what seems like eternity outside. The outside weather is enticing the all-so awesome looked forward to – grilling season! It’s time to give the crockpot a break, okay, maybe just a couple of days off, and use the grill to make dinner and dessert. The reality is, we still need shortcuts to spend less time in the kitchen and more time cooking, eating, and having time with friends and family.

The commissary has prepared shortcuts to make the grilling season easy and enjoyable. Just add a grill.

Check out the grill pack meat power box! The boxes provide multiple meat options, all while saving money! The grill pack meat power boxes have varying meat included from premade patties, rib racks, or sausages. Gather up your neighbors or a few friends and pitch in for a meat pack, and cover dinner for an evening all while enjoying the outdoors.

The produce aisle has a secret weapon – the pre-cut/prepacked section. When preparing for grilling, grab a pack or two of prepackaged veggies. Especially in preparing for warmer weather, cut mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes are found in plastic containers ready to go. Want a vegetable you don’t to cut – grab corn in the husks, artichokes, or asparagus, toss in some seasoning, and they are ready to go– yum! Grab precut celery to snack on while you are grilling, and heck, it is a nice treat not to have to do the cutting of veggies for skewers.  

Check out the pre-cut stone fruits, watermelon, and pineapple in the produce aisle. Grilled pineapple and stone fruits like peaches are delicious on the grill! And if they are already cut for you – even better! Pre-sliced watermelon is ready to go. That’s less time cutting the core and peel off the pineapple, and more time spent grilling and eating!

The all-included pre-made marinade bags will spice up your dinner. The spice aisle boasts ready-made spice mixes and marinades that come in a bag and ready for any protein or vegetable you want to toss in. The beauty of the marinade bags is that they are ready to go. Add any meat from the meat power box or cut up mushrooms and peppers from the produce aisle, and all you need is to toss it on the grill! Lunch or dinner ready to go!

The bakery has you covered with bread and buns! Hit up the bakery for a variety of bread or buns. Rye, sesame, wheat, and French sandwich buns, or bread that can be made into buns.

Don’t forget the seafood. If you are looking for fish or shrimp to grill, check out the seafood counter at your local commissary to see what they have on offer. Oftentimes they also have shrimp or fish that has been marinated already and ready to cook!

Snack on popcorn. Not necessarily a shortcut, but with a couple of ingredients, you can grill up a yummy snack. If you have oil, popcorn kernels, and aluminum foil, foil packets of popcorn are ready to go for snack time! Pick up popcorn seasonings while at the commissary, and you are ready for multiple flavors of snacks.

What do you grill during grilling season?

Compare and Contrast: On or Off Base

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Once your family receives orders, the typical next question is – where do we live? There are two options here – on-base or off-base. There are pros and cons to both options. It can feel like a substantial choice. Consider these characteristics when making your next housing choice.

On Base

Pros:

  • Short Commute: If you are able to secure on-base lodging near where the active duty member will work, there is the added bonus of a short commute. This typically means more time at home, occasional lunches together if the family is home, and maybe even saving on gas if a bike can be used to get to work. Cycling can accomplish cardiovascular exercise, cut down on gas costs, and is green! Research your base and neighborhoods before accepting a home to understand where the housing is in relation to the assigned job if a short commute is your family’s goal.
  • Save on rent: On-Base housing, no matter the size of the home, the cost is equal to the basic housing allowance (BAH) of the service member. So, you don’t have to pay over BAH for a home.  
  • Community: There is a kindred spirit among military families – the common bond of frequent moves and common base locations and challenges provide a common ground to build friendships on.
  • Playgrounds galore: Neighborhoods on-base often have multiple playgrounds appealing to all ages and abilities. And you can walk to them easily making it easily accessible.
  • Free maintenance: If your family will have many deployments, or you don’t feel as handy, the free maintenance may be your jam. They even provide certain types of light bulbs in some locations.
  • Included lawn maintenance: Common areas on base are all maintained by the base. This means your non-gated front yard will be manicured by the base. This also a bonus when there are other family stressors and the lawn just isn’t going to get mowed. Or you don’t have a mover because you have never lived anywhere with a lawn.

Cons:

  • Never Off Duty: For the active duty member, sometimes living on base means they are never off duty. A neighbor down the street may work in the same office and want to discuss work in the off hours. Or knock on your door late at night for work.
  • Homes are the same: All the homes are the same size and same look, for the ease of building and maintenance.
  • No Choice: There is typically a wait list for homes on base, this means that you are not typically offered options for available homes. Instead, you are provided one address – the first available. Also, typically you have to respond within a very short time frame.  This is not always an easy task if you are not currently in the area or able to look at housing.
  • Age of homes: Base dependent, the age of the homes may be from the 1940s or 1970s, and some without updates in the last 20-30 years. This means that homes may not be updated like homes off-base. This may mean maintenance issues or
  • All of BAH is used: Since housing is rank-based, all of BAH is taken for the home. Even with promotion, all of the housing amount is taken unless there is a concession for that housing area.
  • Long Wait Times: Area dependent, the on-base housing list can be lengthy – sometimes years! If on-base housing is what you desire, apply as soon as you have orders. Be aware that each base/post has different standards for when you are placed on the wait list – either when you apply for housing or when you check-out of your current unit.
  • Maintenance: While having someone else do your maintenance is nice, it is also a con because base housing is in charge of the maintenance. This means they schedule cleanings or maintenance without care for your schedule. For instance, a power washing can be scheduled by them and they will give you 24-48 hour notice for a week-long period. This means bringing all outdoor items in for the time period or until the cleaning is complete.

Off Base

Pros:

  • Personalization: When you choose a home off-base, you can choose a home that fits your needs allowing for personalization of the home to the desires of your family. You can look for a home-based on the yard, bedroom number, or size. This is not an option when moving on base when you are put into a rank-based category based on with or without dependents.
  • Choose Your Community: When you are looking for housing off base, you can search for a home-based on the community you are looking for. If you want a neighborhood that is walkable to restaurants or if you want a neighborhood with lots of parks for your children, you can look for and find a home in that desired area.
  • Save Money: If you are able to find a home that is below BAH, you can use that money to pay for utilities. This is very area dependent, and the BAH rates fluctuate on location.
  • Shorter commute for the spouse: If the spouse is working off-base, living off-base can mean a shorter commute for them.
  • There is Off-Duty time: If you are living in a neighborhood where no one knows your job, you can escape work when you are at home.
  • No on-base business rules: If you have a side hustle, or your home is totally home-based, the only rules and regulations are the ones for the county/city and state. Since on-base businesses are required to get on-base authority to run an on-base business, this is an extra hurdle – but there is no on-base hurdle for off-base businesses!

Cons:

  • Longer Commute: Depending on where the job is on base, and the location of the home off-base, the commute will be a bit longer. It’s true that on-base traffic can be long due to lower speed limits, but distance and traffic patterns off base can lead to a longer commute.
  • Expense: If you are in an area where BAH doesn’t stretch far, you may be paying out of pocket for both your home and utilities. This can be a burden on a tight budget. Make sure to know approximate costs before choosing or picking a home. In addition, things off-base are not subsidized – grocery shopping, schools, and activity options may be more expensive.
  • Need for more than one vehicle: If you are living off base, two vehicles are needed to get around unless you are in a walkable location. The active-duty service member will have to drive to their job on base, and if the spouse works, will have to drive to their job or children’s school as needed.
  • Can feel isolating: This is location and area dependent, but living off base can feel isolating. If the neighborhood isn’t outdoors, or if you don’t feel like you can plug into the community, it can get lonely.

A con to both options for pet owners is that there are often breed restrictions on rentals both on and off base. Make sure you know what the restrictions are before applying for a home on or off post.

Each family has different criteria in a home and neighborhood, and there is no right or wrong answer here. It can also fluctuate based on where your orders are to. For instance, OCONUS orders may mean you have to live on-base if the occupancy rate is not high enough. Each move, make a pro/con list for you and your family and what you are looking for in a home and neighborhood.

And for those PCSing, may the odds be ever in your favor.

What’s For Dinner: Mexican Street Corn

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Elote, aka Mexican Street Corn, is a tasty handheld treat. It is popular in Southern California as street food and can easily be reproduced in your home. Eat it as a fun snack or treat or as a side for lunch or dinner.  Here is a tip – always make more than you plan to eat – it is delicious as an evening snack or even the next day for lunch. It’s the perfect side dish or main meal to eat in celebration of Cinco De Mayo!

Ingredients:

  • Ears of corn, shucked – the number depends on how many people you want to serve
  • Mayonnaise
  • Chili Powder
  • Grated Cojita cheese
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Lime wedges or juice

Here are the directions to making delicious street corn. It’s super complicated, so pay attention.

Directions:

1.Grill the corn, making sure to turn it so that it is grilled all over.

2. Once off the grill, brush mayonnaise over all side of the corn.

3. Sprinkle chili, cojita cheese and cilantro all over the corn.

4. Before eating, sprinkle with lime juice or squeeze a lime wedge per ear of corn.

Yup. That’s it. Not complicated at all – and gosh dern delicious.

Mix it Up!

One of the fun and awesome things about Mexican street corn is changing up the toppings. Consider green onions, bacon, sriracha as toppings. Switch the cojita for shredded cheese. Change up the chili pepper for chipotle pepper or paprika. Or go for authentic Mexican crema and mix that with mayonnaise to brush on the corn. Want a more garlicky taste, mix minced garlic or garlic powder into the mayonnaise.

What’s your favorite topping on Mexican Street Corn?

Military Discounts to Use During Military Appreciation Month

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May is Military Appreciation Month. Since this is the month designated to show appreciation and thanks to the military family, do not feel one ounce of guilt asking if there is a military discount that your family can take advantage of. Here are some discounts specific for the month of May.

Military Shoppers News is offering a special prize to honor military families in May – sign up here to receive email newsletters to find out more about the giveaway, and you’ll be entered to win automatically!

To kick off military appreciation month, Blue Star Museums is back this year and runs from May 15, 2021 to September 6, 2021. This program offers free admission to museums across the United States to active-duty personnel, National Guard and their families.

Where to Adventure

If you are looking to adventure in your local area, check to see if there is a discount offered on Armed Forces Day, May 15, 2021, or on Memorial Day.

Don’t forget about the free annual pass America the Beautiful Pass from the National Parks to explore the National Parks across the United States.

Carowinds is offering free admission for active military, retired military, National Guard and reservists, as well as veterans who were honorably or medically discharged.

The Cincinnati Zoo is offering free admission on Memorial Day to the active-duty service member with up to six half-price admission tickets for the family members.

California’s Great America offers free admission May 23-May 25 to active or retired military members with a ticket deal for up to six additional tickets for friends or family.

Colonial Williamsburg offers complimentary admission to active-duty military, reservists, National Guard, retired military personnel and veterans and up to three direct dependents on Memorial Day Weekend.

Idlewild and SoakZone is offering free admission to military personnel on May 30 and 31.

Silverwood Theme Park is offering free admission to military personnel and veterans on May 29, 30 and 31 with a discounted rate for immediate family members.

The Indianapolis Zoo is offering free admission to current and former military members on Memorial Day, and a $2 discount off admission to non-military family members.

The Magic Springs Theme and Water Park is offering free admission to active and veteran military May 16-31, with a ticket deal for family members when accompanied by a military member.

Silverwood Theme Park is offering free admission on May 31 to active military, retired military, disabled veterans and military reservists, with up to 4 family members accompanying the military member receving a $3 discount.

The Sun Splash Family Waterpark is offering free one-day admission to active, retired, reserves and disabled veterans with discounted ticket admission for up to 4 accompanied family members.

Worlds of Fun is offering complimentary admission to Worlds of Fun on May 15 and May 25.

Where to Shop

Apple offers a 10% discount off their products throughout the year to active duty military through their online verification.

If you are in need of a new cell phone plan, AT&T offers a 25% discount off their wireless plan to military and veteran families, T-Mobile offers discounts to active duty and veteran families off their wireless plans, and Verizon offers a discount on their wireless plans with a discount varying based on plan type.

Big Lots is offering a 15% military discount to active-duty and veterans throughout the month of May both in-store and online.

Hylete is offering 40% off the training apparel on offer plus an extra 10% during the month of May.

Rack Room Shoes is offering a 20% discount on the entire in-store purchase on Memorial Day.

Looking for a new mattress? Sleep Number is offering a military discount of an extra $100 off all Sleep Number smart beds and adjustable bases from May 7 – May 31, in store, online, by phone and via Live Chat.

Don’t forget about Home Depot and Lowe’s as you prepare your home and garden for the summer season. Both stores offer a 10% discount year-round.

Where to Eat

Joe’s Crab Shack is offering 10% discount to service member and veterans for dine-in orders on May 25th.

McCormick & Schmick’s is offering service members and veteran’s 10% off their dine-in orders on May 25th.

Mission BBQ is offering a free sandwich to all active duty service members and veterans during Armed Forces Week, each day is designated for the branch of service. Sign up for their email alerts to learn which day.

Rubio’s Coastal Grill is offering a free adult entrée to military and veterans with the purchase of another adult entrée.

Is there a military discount or freebie you have found for the month of the military appreciation? Let us know! Find discounts that are offered year-round here.

5 Military Installations on my Duty Station Wish List

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Military Life involves moving. Often. And the location is not the reason for moves – nope, moving occurs for the best career progression for the service member’s military occupations specialties (MOS) or for “the needs of the service.” That doesn’t mean that we don’t have dream locations to live in. Here are 5 on my wish list. Admittedly, we have made it to a couple of these, and it wasn’t until we actually arrived that I realized that there was a lot to offer to make it a duty station on my wish list.

Okinawa

This island serves as the base for Camp Butler, which is made up of multiple bases of all the service branches – Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Army (I don’t know if they have Space Force yet). While Okinawa is not on everyone’s list for preferred duty stations, it has a lot to offer. For one, most of the DOD service branches are represented on the tiny island. This is a great opportunity for families to socialize outside their military service branch and learn about life as an Air Force family, and for them to learn about life as a Navy family. Living in Asia also affords the opportunity to try local produce – have you heard of bitter melon or goya? While not everyone in your family may enjoy the food – it is a wonderful opportunity to try it, and for relatively affordable prices. The Japanese also have a love for French bakeries, meaning that are many patisseries on the island offering shaped buns with cream or bean fillings.  Enjoy French food without the flight cost. Just like amazing food, there are amazing drink offerings in Okinawa – canned coffees or various teas, it’s a treat just to shop at the local grocery store. Oh, did I mention the beach? Crystal clear waters that seem to go for miles. The island is essentially on top of a reef so the beaches are shallow for a fair distance, and drop off drastically when the reef ends. The shallow waters are perfect opportunities to peering at local fish or jellies without visiting an aquarium. The temperate climate is essentially one season, although you will acclimate to the “cold” of the 50s and 60s but may never acclimate to the humidity. One more perk for Okinawa – the local children’s parks. There are themed parks scattered across the island, and sometimes in the most surprising places. Roller slides and zip lines are commonplace in parks, and some are directly on the beach – a dream for active children.

San Diego

Location, location, location.  San Diego is a dream vacation destination for many, and the opportunity to live in a travel destination is pretty incredible. The proximity to the ocean permits for amazingly fresh seafood at the local markets at affordable prices, or get them cooked from the many delectable restaurants in Little Italy or the Gaslamp District. From museums in Balboa Park to the world-renown San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, the ability to explore the great outdoors and learn about the community, the animals and the world are numerous. The aquariums and zoos aren’t just for kids. San Diego allows for another opportunity for learning from another military community as San Diego plays host to the U.S. Navy, USMC, and US Coast Guard. As a vacation destination and melting pot of military branches, many cultures are represented in the coastal city. The variety of cultural influence is easily seen in the bi-annual San Diego Restaurant week featuring cuisines from Argentinean to Greek to Persian, all for affordable prix fixe menu prices. San Diego’s temperate coastal climate is enjoyable for all, not just surfers.

Germany

Festivals, food, and history await in Germany. Living overseas as a military family allows for an amazing community. Whether living on base or off, there is a tight-knit community of overseas families. If you live off base in the economy, take the opportunity to get to know the locals who will have the best tips for food, best prices on local items, and travel tips. Forget about what we are told is German food and try the local cuisine. As a country, Germany was established before Europeans were living in America so there is a lot of history to explore. Castles, cathedrals, and churches feed the history-buff and architecture-addict inside and the Christkindlmarket is heavenly for Christmas-enthusiasts. Like other overseas locations, both the Army, Air Force, and USMC military service branches are located in Germany as well as Joint bases where a variety of service members are assigned in addition to NATO and government-service civilians. This wide variety of people brings a wide variety of experiences for learning both on and off work.

Living in the middle of Europe in Germany means not just the amazing opportunity of living in Germany, but also the ease of travel throughout Europe by rail. Don’t worry about driving on the other side of the road, you can hop on a train with a suitcase and passport and head to Belgium, France, or the Netherlands in no time at all.

No specific base within Germany, we’ll take any of them!

Virginia Beach

Another broad area for military installations because there are many within the area – there is Fort Story, NAS Oceana, Dam Neck, Little Creek within the Virginia Beach area, and broader still there is Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, US Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, and Norfolk Naval Station. While stationed here, history buffs are within an easy drive to Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg to learn about Colonial America’s development. The beaches along Virginia Beach are beautiful. Military families can enjoy beaches on the bases – Dam Neck beach and Fort Story – without large crowds allowing having the resort-feel for a day trip to the beach. The ocean-front location means amazing seafood from the various restaurants or seafood markets along the coast. The local Aquarium and Marine Science Center allow for hands-on nature experiences for all ages. Virginia Beach is another vacation destination for families, and the chance to live there for a few years means beach living 365.

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. has a lot to offer, much more than politics. Like other duty stations, all of the DOD military service branches are represented here and at the various military bases in the Northern Virginia and Maryland area, allowing meeting people from different backgrounds and experiences. Also, there are so many FREE museums to check out. The Smithsonian Museums have unprecedented collections of gemstones and historical artifacts from the National Museum of Natural History or the National Air and Space Museum and worth exploring with or without kids. The museums of the National Museum of American Indian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer cultural, educational experiences. The United States Holocaust Museum, while emotional, is worth the visit to understand the breadth and depth of the Holocaust beyond what we learned in school. Beyond education, cultural experiences of amazing food options are available on the city’s food delivery apps. From Italian gelato to Japanese sushi to Korean BBQ, local markets featuring the cuisine. Restaurant week in the area allows for trying out different cuisine with affordable pricing.  Enjoy the bounty of wine country and enjoy all the seasons in the Shenandoah Valley, a couple hours’ drive from the city.

What are the duty stations on your wish list?

10 Things I LOVE About the Commissary

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The commissary is a constant fixture among military families. It is the grocery store military families depend on with each move to have their staples and favorites. Beyond being the store that military families turn to for convenience and affordable products, there is a lot to love about the commissary.

Meat Power Boxes

Have you seen the meat power boxes in the meat section of your local commissary? Sometimes also available at the commissary entrances, these boxes provide a collection of meat options with additional savings. Four meat power boxes rotate availability per local commissary: Health Alternatives, Economy, Tailgate, and Fix it and Forget It. Each one offers up to 25% in savings on top of the Commissary’s lower prices. Each box includes 15-19 pounds with a variety of meat, depending on the box. This is perfect for families doing monthly or bi-monthly shopping trips to grab what they need and keep moving. It is also perfect for units or groups that are grilling or cooking together to save money.

Savings

Congress has mandated that the Defense Commissaries (DeCA) provided a consistent savings level for military families. This means that there are guaranteed savings at your local military commissary. These savings are calculated regionally so that prices better match that region’s cost-of-living. Per DeCA, the regional savings are as follows:

  • New England: 21.8%
  • South Atlantic: 18.7%
  • South Central: 18.9%
  • Pacific: 22.6%
  • Mountain: 20%
  • North Central: 21.4%
  • Alaska/Hawaii: 33.2%

Rewards Card

In addition to the Congress-mandated savings, the Commissary has a Rewards program. The Rewards Program is an application with coupons for additional savings, no clipping necessary. Download the app, enter the number of your Commissary Rewards card, and “clip” from the store’s coupons. The card is associated with your phone number and can be used at checkout if you forget your card.

Use Your Military Star Card

Shopping for groceries and have a Military Star Card? Earn rewards on your grocery purchases! Earn 2 points for every $1 spent at the Military Commissary. Every 2,000 points earn a $20 rewards card. Historically, there have also been double points offerings on certain days, earning 4 points per $1, meaning you earn the reward even faster. Check your local Military Commissary social media for any offerings of this type.

Grab-N-Go

While living the hotel-style life or just moving into a new home, the grab-n-go section is a, pardon the pun, go-to. The packaged sushi, salads, and sandwiches are perfect for families without dishes, often including silverware or chopsticks that are readily available at the pick-up area. Perfect for those deployment days when you don’t want to cook, but you still have to eat and feed the kids – grab a rotisserie chicken from the Grab-N-Go and grab some deli sides for a complete meal.

Amazing International Aisle

The International aisle spans a variety of ethnic foods, especially areas that military service members and their families were stationed overseas. Looking for mustard from Germany, or a biscuit from the U.K.? Or perhaps that canned coffee you got from Dydo while living in Asia? It’s in the International aisle at the commissary! It’s a trip down memory lane and a chance to share those memories with other family members. Haven’t been to any of these countries? Enjoy the food from the country from the comfort of your home without the requirement of your passport, all at affordable prices.

Click2Go Curbside service

Online shopping and curbside pickup service have become a staple in the last year. It is perfect for busy individuals, parents with sick children or families with a deployed spouse, or just plain don’t want to go into the store. Click2Go is the curbside service of the Commissary. Orders can be placed here. Upon pickup, you will be required to show military ID, the confirmation email and bring a preferred form of electronic payment. There is no minimum order size or minimum dollar amount.

The Click2Go service is available at Charleston AFB, Fort Belvoir, Fort Eustis, Fort Lee, Fort Polk, Jacksonville NAS, Oceana NAS, Offutt AFB, Quantico, and McGuire. There are hours of operation for Click2Go which can be checked here.  This service is still in the testing phase, and if it is popular, there are plans to expand to more commissaries.

Overseas Perks

Moving to a foreign country is an amazing opportunity that some military families enjoy. Living overseas means a new culture, housing, and food. There are also differing food prices in the local economy that are not always affordable. While military families living overseas do receive a COLA, the on-base commissary provides a place with familiar food with labels that are easily read, which is an amazing resource for families with food allergies. Also, some food pricing at the local commissaries is aligned with U.S. pricing and is much more affordable on base than off.  Bonus -when living overseas, coupons to be accepted up to 6 months after their expiration date!

Packaged Meals Ready to Cook

Beyond the Grab-N-Go are prepackaged meals near the meat section. Want to make a stew but don’t have all the ingredients? Grab the prepackaged stew packages, and everything is there – oftentimes including the seasoning packets. All you have to do is cut the container open, pour and cook per the instructions. A homecooked meal is not far away with the prepared ready to cook meals. These are useful when living in temporary living facilities with a limited kitchen as some of these can be prepared easily on the stovetop that on-base hotel facilities have.

Sense of Camaraderie

The commissary isn’t just a grocery store. It’s part of the community. It is where new families run into friends they knew at the previous duty station. It’s where you run into the family down the street and catch up on neighborhood gatherings. The commissary is a community resource for the families that serve.

Connect on the go with Sapphire Portable Hotspots

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Communication is key. We have heard this at just about every military family event – communication about expectations for work, deployments, exercises, and work-ups helps build appropriate expectations. The hard part about communication with military family members is sometimes the difficulty of actually talking. When the military family member is in the field, on a ship, or deployed overseas, they will likely not have the cellular service we are all used to having available to us. Or if they do have a cell phone overseas, they will need an internet connection to connect with family. What about email, or connecting with friends and family through email? How do you maintain communication across the miles when it is not as easy as picking up the phone or having a predictable internet connection to write an email?

Enter Sapphire Portable HotSpots. TravelWifi, formerly DHI Telecom, has been serving the U.S. Armed Forces, NATO coalition forces and government contractors for over a decade.

Their recent addition of Sapphire is an International mobile hotspot. The devices are available at select Navy Exchanges and online. Once the device is purchased, all you do is create an account using the Sapphire app or by logging on to Sapphire’s website. From there, any mobile phone or other Wif-Fi enabled device can connect to Sapphire just like you connect to Wi-Fi.

There are two portable hot spot options. One has the additional feature of a touchscreen, making it easy to use. A touchscreen makes connecting a device that much simpler.

Sapphire 2 Features:

  • Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot That Works in 130+ countries
  • 4G LTE Speeds
  • 1GB Global Data Included
  • CloudSIM Technology Connects you to the Strongest Signal
  • Connect up to 5 devices
  • 12 Hour Battery Life
  • Flexible, Prepaid Data Plans
  • Manage and View Data Usage through the Sapphire app
  • Simple & Easy to Use

Sapphire T2 Features:

  • Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot That Works in 130+ countries
  • 5-Inch HD Touchscreen to Manage and View Data Usage
  • Preloaded Sapphire app and Google Maps app
  • Built-in Powerbank 
  • 2GB Global Data Included
  • 4G LTE Speeds
  • CloudSIM Technology Connects you to the Strongest Signal
  • Connect up to 5 devices
  • 12 Hour Battery Life
  • Flexible, Prepaid Data Plans
  • Simple & Easy to Use

The private network provided by this hotspot is password-protected, allowing for more security.

Multiple data plans are available ranging from a single country, regional or global coverage with a variety of data plans within each group. There are over 130 countries to choose from for the single country plan and 10 regions for the regional plan.  

In addition to active duty service members, when families are PCSing across the world and now have the additional hurdle of restricted movement as part of COVID, this device allows for connectivity without the need for a local phone. Sapphire Customer Service is available 24/7/365 by phone, email, and WhatsApp.

Whether deploying on a ship, or in the field; PCSing, or on restricted movement, the Sapphire portable hot spot will keep you connected to friends, family and the outside world.

For more information on data plans and Sapphire devices,  look for the Sapphire device banner on https://www.mynavyexchange.com/CellServices

Washington D.C Added to Cities that Rate CONUS COLA

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COLA, or Cost Of Living Allowance, is typically associated with overseas moves. When a military family is living overseas, the cost of living is typically quite different than that of a family in the United States. COLA was developed and provided to offset those costs, so the burden wasn’t solely felt by military families. Did you know there was COLA provided for some CONUS locations?

In the 1995 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress approved the CONUS COLA to help cover the additional costs of high-cost locations. Pay for civilian jobs are location-based, whereas military pay scales are the same across the ranks despite which location the service member resides in. CONUS COLA is provided for areas that have been determined to be 108% of the national average for non-housing costs. While the 7th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation 9QRMC) recommended a threshold of 105%, Congress mandated that the threshold should not be lower than 108%. The threshold has remained at 108% since 1997.

In 2021, a new addition was added to the list of CONUS COLA locations – Washington D.C. As an area well-known for its high cost of living, it’s surprising it took until 2021 to provide a cost offset.

Which CONUS locations offer COLA?

Military Housing Areas that currently provide CONUS COLA:

  • California: Oakland, San Francisco, Marin/Sonoma, Bridgeport
  • Colorado: Boulder
  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts: Nantucket, Boston, Worcester, Fitchburg, Plymouth, Essex County, Hampden County, Martha’s Vineyard, Hanscomb AFB
  • Minnesota: Duluth
  • New York: Long Island, New York City, Westchester County, Staten Island
  • Virginia: Warrenton

Non-Military Housing Areas that currently provide CONUS COLA:

  • California: Inyo County
  • Colorado: Broomfield County, Clear Creek County, Gilpin County, Lake County, Park County, Pitkin County, Summit County, Washington County, Yuma County
  • Massachusetts: Franklin County
  • Minnesota: Aitkin County, Cook County, Itasca County, Kanabec County, Koochiching County, Lake County, Pine County
  • Virginia: Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Surry County, Sussex County

What if we are in an area that rates CONUS COLA?

If the service member is assigned to an area that rates CONUS COLA, it should be automatically included in the pay beginning the first day of work. If you are new to an area, the first day of CONUS pay is the day of check-in to the new duty station. The CONUS COLA rates range from 1% – 7% depending on the area.

CONUS COLA is paid as a monthly entitlement based on a 30-day month, just like BAH.

What does the “threshold “mean?

With a threshold of 108%, it means that the service member is expected to cover at least 8% of the average expenses above the national average cost of living. If the service member is assigned to locations where the local costs are above 8% of the national average for non-housing costs, a CONUS COLA provision would be provided.

How are areas determined to require CONUS COLA?

Data is collected from several sources:

  1. A survey of costs is conducted every 3 years and used to determine the utilization rate and savings that are available at the military commissaries and exchanges.
  2. Local market price data is purchased from a private contractor – beginning in 2021, Decision Point is used for all cost of living data.
  3. The military commissaries and exchanges provide information on their availability in a given area.
  4. The military commissaries and exchanges provide information on their average savings.

The data is collected with numbers in regards to an average family of four. This data is used to review costs annually, as required by law.

While there are many areas in the continental United States that military families would say the cost of living is far and above the area they moved from, the way to impact what decisions are made on CONUS COLA is to answer any survey you receive about the costs of living.

Are you in an area that provides CONUS COLA?