Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Julie is a 30-something Blogger, Army Wife and Mom to three boys. She lives in Clarksville, TN and just welcomed her husband home from his 4th deployment. She loves blogging, photography and reading a good book!

Alone and Lonely on Valentine’s Day

By

*This article was originally published on February 4, 2015.

For whatever reason, my husband always seems to be away from home on Valentine’s Day. He is either away for training, deployed or even at school. This means that ever since we became a military family, I have spent almost every Valentine’s Day alone. I think he was home last year and we didn’t even really know what to do with ourselves. We were so accustomed to spending that holiday away from one another.

Each year, I’m trying to figure out a way to make it through this romantic holiday that the rest of the world seems to be embracing.

 

It would be easy to ignore the day or pretend it isn’t a real holiday. On the other hand, I really want to find ways to make it special even when my love is on the other side of the world.

One way to connect with your spouse during this time is by sending a Valentine’s Day care package. You can take the time to find some of their favorite items to put in the package.  You can make it as romantic as you would like. Make sure that you do send the package in enough time so they get it before February 14.

 

At home, you can make plans to do something fun with your friends or your children. Host a Valentine’s Day play date. Have all the moms bring something to eat and have all the children bring valentines for each other. I have always felt better about missing the holidays with my soldier when I can spend the day with others, especially those who know what it’s like to be alone on those special days.

Treat yourself to a nice dinner. When we were in Germany, I had 2 small children at home with me. It wasn’t possible to take myself out to eat on Valentine’s Day. I also knew if I did, seeing couples together might be hard. I decided to order in my favorite food from a local restaurant. I put the kids to bed early and ate my meal while talking to my husband online. A very modern military way to spend Valentine’s Day. Of course it wasn’t the same as having him home, but it made life a little easier on that day.

Sometimes you just can’t talk to your spouse on Valentine’s Day. This can make it harder but try to remember, it’s only one day. Set up a time to chat as soon as you can and make the day special for your kids and your friends.

I have also found that making Valentine’s Day cookies, putting up a few decorations and thinking about how I fell in love with my soldier can help me embrace the holiday even though we are apart. Sometimes it is the little details that can help you get through the tough days of a deployment or a busy training schedule.

Related: 5 Tips for Saving Money During a Deployment

Missed holidays are going to happen when you are married to someone in the military. There is nothing you can do to change that. You can however make the day a little nicer and plan to have a good holiday anyway.

Is your spouse working, gone for training or deployed on February 14? What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

*This article was originally published on February 4, 2015.

Photo Credit:
© artmim/Adobe Stock

The Convenience of the Commissary’s Early Bird Program

By

Do you know what the commissary’s Early Bird program is?

I have always seen signs about the Early Bird program at my commissary but I never knew how the program could benefit me.

I assumed the program was for certain people or just for those who are in the military, not their families. I was happy to learn more about the program and was glad to hear that the Early Bird program is there to help anyone who shops at the commissary.

The commissary’s Early Bird program is a program for shoppers who need 15 items or less. You can shop at the commissary before normal operating hours and pick up your necessary items.

You can’t do your big shopping this way but if you can stay under the 15-item limit, the program can be a good one to take advantage of. This program can help people save money because of the lower costs of shopping at the commissary compared to a convenience store.

The Early Bird program allows people to go into the commissary, get what they need and not have to wait until regular hours to shop.

The Early Bird program can benefit a lot of people who normally shop at the commissary. From military service members that might need to grab something quick in the morning to retirees that don’t want to worry about the crowds and only need a few things when they go.

During the normal store hours, commissaries can get quite busy. I have been to the commissary on days when the line went all the way to the back of the store. If you just need a few items that wait is not going to be the best way to go about getting them.

With the Early Bird program, you do have to plan ahead. You would need to get to the commissary within the time that they have for the program.

Do you know about your commissary’s Early Bird program?

To find out you would need to check the website for your commissary. Here at Fort Campbell the Early Bird program’s hours are 7-8 a.m., Monday through Saturday. It is available at Bolling Air Force Base from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. At Pensacola NAS, the Early Bird program is open from 7:30-8 a.m. daily while it isn’t an option at the commissary at Twentynine Palms.

Not every commissary will have the Early Bird program and the days and hours might differ based on where you are located.

If you think the Early Bird program will save you time and money, you should try it out. The next time you find yourself wanting to run to a convenience store, see if you can hit up the Early Bird program at your commissary instead.

You can save money this way because the items you need will be cheaper at the commissary. Regular convenience stores can cost even more than a civilian grocery store. By shopping at the commissary instead, you can avoid having to deal with the high costs associated with those types of stores.

Does your commissary have an Early Bird program? If yes, do you take advantage of it?

Remembering Our Fallen Friends on Memorial Day

By

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have lost their lives while serving our country. This national holiday is a day to remember them and their sacrifices.

This loss hits home more often in military families. We have friends who have lost their lives and friends who have lost their spouses. We know people who have received that knock on the door and we know how real Memorial Day can be to the people in our military community.

As military spouses, we might not be sure how we can remember our friends on Memorial Day.

But there are many ways to do so and ways to include our kids. We never want to forget these service members, their families and their sacrifices.

You can plan to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of your friend or friends that were lost. You can take your children with you and explain to them why you are there in an age-appropriate way. Smaller children might not totally understand what is going on but over time, they will.

See what Memorial Day ceremonies are planned in your area by checking with your local newspaper, television station, American Legion or VFW. If you live near a military installation they might have something going on there to honor those who were lost.

While you are at the Memorial Day event you could wear a special shirt or piece of jewelry to remember your fallen friends. This can help make the family feel like they are still remembered and allow you to honor those that have been lost.

Another way to remember your friends on Memorial Day is to keep in touch with their family members, whether that be their spouse, parents or siblings. Let them know that you think of their loved one often and let them know you are thinking of them as well.

You might want to reach out to them on Memorial Day in order to let them know that they are loved and that you are honoring their loved one. When someone in your family dies, you get a lot of support and love at first but that support can stop after a few months. Reaching out to the family, who still might be hurting from the loss is a great idea if you are close enough to do so. Even a simple card sent in the mail can go a long way. You want them to know that you still love and miss your friend and think of them often.

Children can have a more difficult time when a family friend has passed away. Take the opportunity this Memorial Day to talk about this person with your child. Find out how they are processing the death and if they have any questions. If appropriate, you can take the child to the gravesite to leave flowers or another gift. You just want to make sure they know that you are there to talk about what happened whenever they need you to be. If they are quite young, they might not fully understand where their friend went. Talking about the great memories they have had with the friend can help until they are old enough to understand.

Memorial Day can bring up a lot of emotions and feelings, especially for members of the military. Having a plan of how to remember those in your life that you have lost is a good idea, both for you and your children. Whether they have been gone for just a couple of months or many years, grieving can take a lot of time and you don’t want to rush that process.

How do you honor fallen service members on Memorial Day?

5 Tips to Make Your On-Base House Feel Like an Off-Base Home

By

The decision to live in an on-base house or an off-base one can be a complicated one. That being said, living on-base can have a lot of benefits. You are close to your spouse’s job, more connected with your military community and you don’t have to worry about any of the things those that live off-base do.

However, when you do live in an on-base house, your home looks exactly like your neighbors. They are usually pretty uniform and trying to be an individual can be difficult. The good news is that there are things you can do to make your space more you and fun for you and your family.

5 Tips to Make Your On-Base House Feel Like an Off-Base Home

How do you make your on-base house feel like home?

Here are 5 life hacks to make your on-base house feel like a home that’s off-base:

1. Rugs. When we were in Germany we had hardwood floors. Old, hardwood floors. The floors needed something so we went to the local Exchange and bought a few rugs. They were not that expensive and added color and a new feel to our apartment.

They also helped with the sound since we were on the third floor. You can really change the look of your on-base house by adding rugs to your floors. You could even add them to carpet, especially if you are not a fan of what your on-base house has for carpet.

2. Paint. You might not think you can paint inside on-base housing and sometimes you can’t. Other times you can as long as you get the paint approved by housing and know that you will have to paint the walls white again before you move out.

If you do want to paint, talk to your housing office and see what is allowed. Even painting an accent wall can add a lot to your on-base house. You can go with a color that represents you and feels more at home in your on-base housing.

3. Garden. Making your own garden is another great way to make your on-base house look like your own home. If you have a yard, you can make your garden there. If not, you can always do a patio or window garden. You could also use containers.

Make sure you pre-approve any garden plants in your yard with the housing office. You might not be able to do exactly what you would want to do but there will always be a way to have a small garden. This can add to the way your home looks on the outside and help you stand out from everyone else in your military neighborhood.

4. Decor. What you put in your on-base house in terms of decor is going to make all the difference. You can go with themes or just find items you really love.

When you first move into your new home you should make a plan about how you want things to look like. Think about what your own style is and what each room can be themed. Some people will do different themes such as beach or Americana. Others like to play with color.

5. Yard Sales. Going to yard sales and thrift stores is the most economical way to make your on-base house look like your own. In any military community, people are always moving and always trying to sell their belongings. You should be able to find a lot of great items for your home this way.

You can also sell your items that won’t work in your current home to make room for new items that will. I have bought almost all of the picture frames in my house from yard sales and thrift stores and saved a lot of money doing so.

How do you make your on-base house feel like home?

How to Choose a Veterinarian at Your New Duty Station

By

If you have a pet, you know how important taking them to a good veterinarian is. You could find the ideal place for your furry friends but then you have to move. Once you get to your new duty station you have to start the search over again.

What factors should you consider when looking for a new veterinarian? How do you find the right one for your pets?

The best way to find the right veterinarian is to ask people in your community. Usually, there are places that are known for their good service and places that are known to stay away from. You can talk to some of your neighbors or ask on a neighborhood page.

You might even have a Facebook group just for pets in your city. We have one where I live and the group is helpful for asking any questions about pets or where to take them for their medical care. People will talk about their experiences which is really helpful. As you meet people at your new duty station you can also talk to them to see who they use for their pets.

How to Choose a Veterinarian at Your New Duty Station

How do you choose a new veterinarian for your pet after a move? Does your military installation have a vet clinic?

You want to take a tour of any veterinarian clinic that you hear good things about. You want to see for yourself what the office is like and if you will feel comfortable taking your pet there. You should check and see how clean they are and if the staff is friendly.

I know I would only want to take my dog to a place I felt comfortable at and not a place that gave me pause, even if a lot of people told me that veterinarian was a good choice.

While you are taking the tour of the office you should also find out about how everything works at that clinic. You will want to know this information if you decide to go with them. Each veterinarian office could have a different way of doing things and that could be a change from the way your vet conducted business at your previous duty station.

You will want to take a look at their hours of operation so you know when they are open and when you can bring your pet in. If both you and your spouse work full-time you would need to find a place with more flexible hours.

Finding out about their emergency care is also important in case you need that down the road. Knowing that information ahead of time will save you stress when you actually need to use their emergency care.

Some military families prefer to go to an on-post clinic when it comes to their pet’s veterinarian. They feel more comfortable there and most likely the costs will be lower.

Here at Fort Campbell the costs are lower but from what I have heard getting an appointment can be difficult. That is one of the reasons we decided to take our dog to an off-post clinic as we didn’t want to have to worry about not getting her in when she needs to be seen.

Finding out if the clinic will board pets is also a good idea. At some point, your family will either go home for a visit or go on vacation and you will need to find a safe place to leave your pet. If the clinic you decide to go with does offer this service, you will have a place to leave them that you trust and won’t have to worry about looking for one when you need to board them.

How do you choose a new veterinarian for your pet after a move?

4 Ways to Save on Your Cell Phone Bill

By

As a military family, you are probably looking for different ways to save money each month. One way to do so is with your cell phone plan.

4 Ways Military Families Can Spend Less on Their Cell Phone Bill

Are you shocked by your monthly cell phone bill? Are you looking for ways to reduce it?

We all need cell phones especially since the service member can be away from their family so often. Cell phones are how we communicate and we need them to work well but do we need them to cost so much?

The good news is that there are ways to lower your bill and all military families should look into the different ways to do that.

Here are 4 ways that you can save on your cell phone bill and add a little bit more money back into your budget:

1. Ask for a military discount. With any cell phone company, you will want to ask for a military discount. All of the major carriers; AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile give a 15 percent discount.

If you are with a smaller company, make sure to ask and find out what they offer the military because they might offer a discount too. You will have to show proof that you are a military spouse or service member and usually that is done by submitting your military ID card or even your LES statement. Find out what the company needs you to do so you can be sure to save that money off of your cell phone bill.

2. Compare plans. One of the best things you can do to lower your cell phone bill is by comparing plans. You should do this with the different cell phone companies but also within the same carrier. You might be surprised at how different the prices can be.

Make sure you are only paying for what you need and use and not a lot of extras.

The easiest way to lower your cell phone bill is by making sure you have not added too many of the extras the cell phone companies want you to buy. Think about if you really benefit from paying the insurance every month.

3. Go the pay-as-you-go route. One option to lower your cell phone bill is to switch to the pay-as-you-go method. This means you would buy a phone and then would add minutes and data to the phone as needed.

You could add the amount that you needed on a month-to-month basis instead of being locked into a contract. You could quit using the phone when you wanted to just by not buying the data or minutes for that month.

An example of this would be the Go Phone by AT&T. In the end, you would save a lot of money using these types of phones as you would not be locked into a regular contract.

4. Use less data. One way to lower your cell phone bill is to use less data. Think about how much data you really need. If you and your spouse are only using about 4GB then make sure you are not paying for 10GB each month.

You might be able to lower your cell phone bill by switching to a plan that makes more sense for your cell phone usage.

Use WiFi as often as you can to see if you can lower the amount of data you really need. Although having extra data can be a good thing if your spouse is traveling a lot, think about how often you really need to use that data and see if you can lower your cell phone bill by lowering the amount that you use each month.

How do you save money on your cell phone bill? Share your tips in the comments section!

10 Ways to Thank Your Military Child

By

April is Month of the Military Child. This month was established to underscore the important role children play in the Armed Forces community.

10 Thoughtful Ways to Thank Your Military Child

How do you plan to celebrate your military child this month?

There are approximately 2 million military children, ranging in ages from newborn to 18 years old; 1.3 million military children are school-aged. Having a month to recognize them and what they have been through is important.

Here are 10 thoughtful ways you can celebrate your military child during the month of April.

  1. Write them a letter. If your military child is old enough to read, write them a letter about how much you care and appreciate them. They can keep this letter close and read the words from time to time. Even better if the letter comes from the parent who is serving in the military.
  2. Take them out for their favorite treats. My own boys love to go out for ice cream. Think about a fun treat that your military child would love and take your kids out to thank them for being military children. Every child is going to enjoy doing something like that.
  3. Show them photos. If your children have been military kids for a long time they might not remember some of those early years. Show them photos when you were stationed somewhere else or any fun trips you went on together.
  4. Be patient. You should always be patient with your kids, especially when military life is making things a little more stressful. Your military child might need you to be there to understand that what they are going through is hard and to acknowledge that.
  5. Read them a book about military life. There are quite a few military kids books. Take time to read one of these books to your military child. They should be able to relate to the characters and see that they are not alone in their experiences with military life.
  6. Listen. Sometimes just listening can be a good way to celebrate your military child. They might just need someone to hear what they have to say or how they are feeling about what is going on in their life.
  7. Ask them questions. Check in with them. Even if they are little, ask them what they are thinking or feeling about an upcoming military event. Some children won’t just come up to you and talk about what is going on. Sometimes they just need to be asked.
  8. Help them make new friends. Losing friends is one of the hardest parts of being a military child. Help them make new friends and find fun things for them to do. Encourage them to sign up for activities that they would find interesting and take them to fun events in your community.
  9. Make a special dinner. Pick one day in the month of April to make a special dinner for your kids. Not much of a cook? Take them out to their favorite restaurant. Let them know why and celebrate together.
  10. Explain why they are a military child. Older kids might enjoy knowing the story about why your spouse joined the military in the first place. April would be a good time to let them know why they are a military child and what it means that their parent serves in the military. This can also be a good conversation starter to answer any of their questions or talk about their feelings.

Whatever you do during the month of April, make sure to remember your military child. Sometimes life can move so fast that we forget that they are just children trying to figure out why things keep changing so much during their lives. Taking a month to celebrate them is important.

How do you plan to celebrate your military child this month?

Is the Military an Easy Target for Budget Cuts?

By

Oh, budget cuts. We military families cringe when we hear that in association with the military. Why do we see these cuts happen and why do they have to hurt so much? Why is cutting Tricare, housing and other benefits the best way to handle the budget?

Is the Military an Easy Target for Budget Cuts?

The truth is, only 1 percent are serving and because of that, a lot of people don’t understand what we need.

I have been a military spouse for more than 10 years now and I have seen plenty of other ways to cut the budget instead of cutting where it hurts the most. That makes me wonder, why is the military an easy target for budget cuts?

One reader wrote this in a comment about proposed changes to the commissaries:

This is a reduction in benefits any way you look at it. Another pay cut. The military is an easy target since they aren’t allowed to be political.

Is this true? Is the military an easy target for cuts because the military is not allowed to be political? I think there is some truth to this but it isn’t the main reason.

The biggest reason is because few people in the government have a real connection to the military. You are more likely to make cuts to something you think that a small percentage of the population will actually be affected by.

Although military members themselves can not be political, others who are associated with the military and who care just as much can be. Spouses and those who have served in the past. Those with children serving or with parents who have served. They are people who can get political about the cuts.

Because of this, there has to be more to the cuts than just the fact that those who serve can’t be political.

When my husband joined the military, we didn’t know too many people who were also making that choice. Over the years that has changed as we have met more and more military families. However, when we go home we still feel like the minority when it comes to the military. This isn’t true for everyone of course. Others come from big military communities and have known the military life before they became a part of the service themselves.

The truth is, only 1 percent are serving and because of that, a lot of people don’t understand what we need. They don’t understand that when you sign up to fight for your country, you expect your family to be taken care of in return. That you shouldn’t have to worry that your health care will be cut, that services for your special needs kids will suddenly be taken away or that you have to worry that you will not make enough each month to support them.

If we could figure out a way to make sure everyone with the power to change this knows what military families need and what we don’t, things might change. If they could hear the voices of the military spouses and other family members, maybe they would find another way to make their cuts. If they could truly understand what the budget cuts do to the 1 percent serving in the military, maybe they would do something else.

This means that change needs to come from us, those that stand behind those serving in the military. We need to be aware of the changes that are being made and do what we can to stand up against them. This won’t always be easy and sometimes things will feel like we are not even making a difference, but the more people understand what military families need, the better chance we have for things to change.

Do you agree with that statement the “military is an easy target since they aren’t allowed to be political?” Why or why not?

Why More Military Families Are Home Schooling

By

Home schooling is becoming more and more popular these days. This is even more true in military families.

Why More Military Families Are Home Schooling

By home schooling you can create the type of school you want for your children.

As parents try to figure out what is best for their child, they are turning to home schooling in order to make things a little easier for their children. They know military life is stressful enough and want to make sure they can create a stable school experience as they are growing up.

I have met many home schooling families during my time as a military spouse and one thing is true for all of them.

Home schooling makes their military lives a little easier.

Whether that is because of all the moving or being able to plan a trip or vacation whenever they need to do so.

Everyone knows that military families move often. On average, military families move every 3 years. That means that some kids could end up attending 3 or 4 schools before they even get into junior high. It’s no wonder that some military families are thinking about home schooling instead.

By home schooling your child you can avoid having to have them be the “new kid” time after time. If you have to move in the middle of the school year, you don’t have to worry about that disrupting their education. Military family schedules need to be flexible so home schooling allows you to make school just as flexible.

When children have to move a lot, their grades can decline and have trouble catching up. Friendships can be more difficult and finding their new place can be difficult.  Whether you home school or not your children will have to find new friends, but not having to find new friends at school right away too can take some of the pressure off.

Being in a new school without friends can be quite difficult.

If you have ever moved schools before you know that there can be a big difference between what they teach and expect from the kids. Even if they are in the same grade. Another positive for home schooling is that your kids don’t have to experience any of that. You won’t have to struggle with a school in order to make sure your kids are on track. You will take care of all of that yourself.

If you want to take your kids to grandma’s house in October because that is when your spouse has a month of leave, you can do so and bring school with you. Taking off like that wouldn’t be possible when they are in a traditional school. This is a big plus to those who home school while in the military as they don’t have to worry if they want to take their kids out of school for an extended period of time. This also will allow you to take your kids home during a deployment and not have to worry about the local school system.

The great news about being a military family who is home schooling is that there is usually a lot of support for those who home school on base or even in your local community. There are a lot of other parents to connect with, make plans with and work together with to create a good community with your kids.

You will not be alone as a home schooling military family.

By home schooling you can create the type of school you want for your children. You can give them consistency and you don’t have to worry about having to move them in the middle of the school year. You can plan around your military member’s schedule and you can create a better home life for your children. Home schooling isn’t for everyone but choosing this option can be a big benefit to a lot of military families.

Do you home school your children? Why did you decide to home school them?

What Military Families Need to Know About the Zika Virus

By

The Zika virus has been in the news lately and hearing about this when you have a spouse or family member in Central America or another area where there seems to be an outbreak can be quite scary.

The best thing to do is to learn more about the virus, how dangerous the disease is and how at risk the military is when they are in areas of the world with people who are being infected with the disease. The more you understand, the better off that you will be.

What Military Families Need to Know About the Zika Virus

Are you concerned about the Zika virus?

What is the Zika virus?

This virus is a non-fatal form of dengue fever. In most cases the Zika virus is quite mild. The military does not expect this virus to pose a health risk to troops.

What are the symptoms of the Zika virus?

The symptoms include a mild fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Some people will also experience headaches and muscle pain. Remember that the Zika virus is overall mild and people are rarely hospitalized when they are infected.

Microcephaly is the biggest issue with this disease. You have probably seen the photos of the babies with the very small heads. These babies had mothers who were infected with the Zika virus when they were pregnant. The virus has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

How can you get the Zika virus?

According to Health.mil, Zika is primarily spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy, though we do not know how often that transmission occurs. Once a person has been infected with the virus, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

Which countries are most at risk?

Although there have been a few cases in the United States, this is not considered an outbreak. These countries are under a travel alert: Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What is the CDC doing about the Zika virus?

The CDC is working to alert the public about the disease, provide state laboratories with good diagnostic tests and making sure they are reporting cases so they can keep their eye on what the diseases is doing and how far it is spreading. As of today, there is no vaccine.

What can military families do to protect themselves?

The best way to handle this is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Avoid time outside if possible if you are in a location where there is a known outbreak, wear long-sleeved shirts, use netting when possible, use EPA-registered insect repellents, and sleep under a mosquito bed net.

Be extra careful if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about your personal risks of contacting this disease.

Whatever you do, try not to worry too much about the Zika virus. Do what you can to educate yourself about what the disease really is, how things can spread and what you can do to protect yourself and your family. Make good decisions about where to travel and feel free to ask questions if you are worried about something specific.

You can learn more about the Zika virus from these websites:

Your spouse who is deployed in Central America should have had a briefing about the Zika virus. See if they can fill you in on what they have been told to ease your worries. Know that the military is aware of the disease and is working hard to make sure that the troops overseas are protected from contracting it.

Are you concerned about the Zika virus?