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Use Your Military Discount to Shop This Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day is just over 30 days away! The décor started popping up in stores before Christmas passed, and some holiday candy were already supplanted by heart-shaped chocolates and boxes before Santa came! It isn’t surprising that shopping has already begun for the holiday of love. After the cost of the holidays, the idea of spending more on a gift for Valentine’s Day can be daunting. For military and veteran families, don’t forget to use your military discount to save money while buying a gift. Think outside the heart-shaped chocolate box with these ideas.

Clothing

Asics offers a 40% discount when you purchase directly from them.

L.L. Bean offers 10% off their gear online and in person.

LuLuLemon offers 25% for all in-store purchases.

Verify your discount with North Face, and you can get a discount on clothing and footwear.

Reebok offers 50% to Military and Government employees for purchases.

Under Armour traditionally offers 10% discount and has recently increased it to 20% – in store only.

Zappos offers 10% for every purchase to military and their family members.

Crafts

If you have a crafty person in your life who paints or bakes cakes, you might be looking at Michael’s to purchase a gift – don’t forget to ask for your 15% military discount!

Electronics

Moving back to the states and need a new phone plan? Or maybe looking at changing your service provider for Valentine’s Day, make sure to use the discounts offered from AT&T,  T-Mobile, and Verizon.

If you are looking at an Apple product or device, Apple offers a 10% discount or check out your local military exchange where you won’t pay sales tax!

If a computer is on your list as a Valentine’s gift, Dell offers a 10% discount by emailing militarydiscount@dell.com.

Experiences

If you are local to Colonial Williamsburg, consider a trip there using up the annual passport discount offered to Active-Duty, Reservists, National Guard, Retirees and Veterans.

If you are local to Sea World San Diego or Sea World Orlando, Active-Duty military, Reservists, National Guard and Veterans can use the complimentary one day admission for up to 4 people in total including the service member to spend time together as a family – don’t forget the masks and sanitizer, and check up on local regulations before you go.

How about paying $0! All current U.S. military service members and their dependents are offered a free annual military pass to the National Parks! Show your military ID at any of these federal recreation sites and get your military pass for the year.

Fitness

If you are placing an order for Bowflex, call and ask about their military discount. Military families have saved 15% off equipment.

Peloton offers a free Essentials Package (Peloton shoes, weights and headphones) with the purchase of a Peloton Bike if you were looking at purchasing one for Valentine’s Day.

Home Goods

If you need a new appliance or even stores containers (hello preparations for that PCS!), consider using your military discount at Home Depot or Lowe’s to buy these items for your Valentine. They are useful items that will be used daily, why not make these your valentine gift.

Big Lots offers a 10% year-round discount for active duty as part of their Big Rewards Program if you are looking for housewares, games or clothes on offer at Big Lots.

If you are needing a new piece of furniture (thank you moving company for sending that reimbursement check), Pottery Barn offers a 15% discount for military and veterans and their families. While it is typically verified in store, there have been reports of getting the discount added via phone.

Heading out to Restoration Hardware? Don’t forget to ask about the military discount, which military family members shared is 25% off!

Yeti offers a military discount online through verification from ID.me.

Toys

American Girl traditionally offers a 15% discount in store only, but with the recent pandemic they have also been offering it if you call in as well.

I wonder what St. Valentine would think of this celebration in his name that became a day for love in the Middle Ages.

Saving money when making any purchase is just that – saved money. It doesn’t hurt to ask if you are making a purchase from any store that isn’t listed here.

Is there a discount you use, that isn’t listed here? Let us know!

How Might Airmen Be Affected by Change in Retention in FY 21

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Air Force Retention is at an all-time high. For the first time in twenty years, the Air Force has the highest number of airmen in active duty service. Some members who had planned to transition out of service in 2020 delayed their transition due to COVID-19 concerns. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly credits Congress with helping to keep manpower high stating in a press release that “Congress delivered immense help, increased our numbers and helped us make real readiness improvements after sequestration reductions.”

Different programs are being considered to bring numbers back to below the total end strength of 333,700.  Voluntary opportunities are being reviewed by Headquarters Air Force to provide airmen the opportunity to waive active duty service commitments or to move to the Guard or Reserve from active duty through waivers. In addition, retention bonuses will no longer be utilized for all specialties to maintain the force needed to meet the requirements of the DOD and Air Force. “We have to bring in the right number of Airmen each year to sustain the force throughout the continuum of service, Lt. Gen Brian Kelly said further, “We have a plan to avoid future year-group gaps and we will announce volunteer options soon that we believe will balance end-strength appropriately.”

All movement from active to reserves or guard or out of service would be voluntary and no involuntary shape forcing programs would be utilized in Fiscal Year 2021. Airmen would be The FY 2021 Selective Retention Bonus Program for 37 eligible Air Force Specialties was released on December 10. The FY 2021 Selective Retention Bonus Program Listing is available on the retention page for the Air Force here and on myPers.

COVID-19 Vaccines Are on Their Way with The Department of Defense Playing a Role with Operation Warp Speed

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With two vaccines for COVID-19 now receiving an emergency use authorization by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, the logistics of getting a shot in every arm is a huge logistic challenge. Tiberius is a software platform specifically developed for Operation Warp Speed (OWS) to plan and monitor the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. It provides the visibility necessary for a smooth transition from manufacturing the vaccine to allocating the vaccine down to provider level. Information from the U.S. Census, the Vaccine Tracking System and commercial logistics companies such a FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) was incorporated into the platform.

Challenging Logistics

The logistics include not only the manufacturing, supply chain, allocation, and delivery of the vaccine but also the kits to administer the vaccine which include needles, syringes and supplies.

There are 64 jurisdictions which include U.S. states, territories and large metropolitan cities will use Tiberius to determine where their allocated doses will go based on guidance from the FDA, CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on how to prioritize the administration of vaccines.  An algorithm was devised based on the census-derived percentage of the U.S. population over the age of 18. Initially the vaccine will be limited as the first doses arrive around the country, but Operation Warp Speed will continue to run the algorithm each week as the supply increases and determine how much vaccine will go to each jurisdiction.

“The federal government is running the algorithm, but the states will make the decision as to where the doses go, and we will comply with their decision and get those doses to the final destination,” said Paul Mango, the deputy chief of staff for policy at HHS.

Once the vaccine ships, Tiberius will also be used to provide information updates for jurisdictional partners, said Deacon Maddox, Operation Warp Speed chief of plans, operations, and analytics. “Like most of America, public health professionals are working through the challenges brought on by quarantines, telework and social distancing,” Maddox said. “While the pandemic stresses both people and systems, our expertise and technology tools provide a disciplined and deliberate approach to prioritize vaccine delivery and ease the burden of public health officials throughout the nation.”

The federal government provided training materials when Tiberius was launched Labor Day weekend and HHS funds a help desk and technology personnel for each jurisdiction.

Vaccine Distribution

Army Gen. Gus F. Perna, chief operating officer of OWS recently briefed the media on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As soon as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine received emergency use authorization from the FDA employees from Pfizer, UPS and FedEx began the work to pack the vaccine and get it shipped out. “The strategy is to get the initial Pfizer vaccine out to Americans right away,” he said. “As it becomes available, the vaccine is allocated in a fair and equitable manner to the states and territories, which stipulate the location and quantity needed,” he explained. The Moderna vaccine began shipment once it received emergency use authorization.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Company, other pharmacies and the states created a very elaborate campaign strategy to get the vaccine to long-term health care facilities and first-line medical personnel who will be the initial priority group,” Perna said. “Our goal is every vaccine that goes out is safe and effective upon delivery. And, we wanted to make sure that deliveries occurred in the places where people could receive them and then begin administering the vaccine to the American people. And, it went incredibly well.” 

The federal government has purchased enough vaccines to meet the goal of vaccinating every American who wants it by the second quarter of 2021.

USAMMA Spearheads Military Distribution

The US Army Medical Materiel Agency (USAMMA) is spearheading the distribution for all branches of the services and is working with the Defense Health Agency’s Immunization Health Care Division. They are collecting the COVID-19 vaccine orders and submitting to the CDC. They will track the vaccine shipments from the vendors to each military location.

 USAMMA Distribution Operations Center Deputy Director Liz Andrews said, “the vaccine will ship directly from the vendor to several military medical treatment facilities throughout the U.S. where it will be used to immunize troops, as well as military beneficiaries and bolster their immunity against the pandemic.”

According to Andrews, one of the logistical challenges is the Pfizer vaccine must be kept at ultr-cold temperatures. She and her team can track not only the location of the vaccine but also its temperature throughout the distribution process. “This is a challenging mission but also very exciting. We are prepared to execute this mission and proud to be a part of Operation Warp Speed,” she said.

USAMMA was chosen for the mission because of their expertise in the distribution of military vaccines such as anthrax and small pox.

“The military hospitals are already used to working with us, so this made the process smoother for them as they were familiar with our systems and forms,” Andrews said. “The USAMMA Distribution Operations Center web development team also played a crucial role by swiftly adapting USAMMA’s existing vaccine ordering system, so it could be used for COVID-19 vaccine order processing. This was a total team effort, and we are just honored to be a part of this whole campaign.”

The Department of Defense will continue to play an important role in Operation Warp Speed until this pandemic is contained.

All You Need to Know about the 2021 Inauguration

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By Constitutional law, inauguration day is 20 January. As Abigail Bartlett remarked in The West Wing show, it is usually a cold day in the District of Columbia. The 59th Inaugural ceremonies will occur on January 20, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol. The opening remarks are scheduled to begin around 11:30 EST with the completion after the new president takes the oath of office.

Attending in Person

In a usual year, there are tickets available through Congress and Senate members. Each person is typically provided many tickets to give out. In 2021, amongst a pandemic, only 1,000 tickets are available versus the normal 200,000 tickets– meaning that the seat holders of Congress and the Senate are invited with a guest. Some representatives have decided to open online submission feeds to those interested in coming. However, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has made the recommendation to refrain from traveling for the inauguration.

What are the Inaugural Events?

There are several traditional events that typically occur with every inauguration –the procession of the outgoing and incoming President to the ceremony, Vice President’s and President’s Swearing-In Ceremony,  the well known Inaugural Address, Honorary Departure of the outgoing President, Signing Ceremony, Inaugural Lunch, Pass In Review. Per a statement released by the Inaugural committee, the “ceremony’s footprint will be extremely limited, and the parade that follows will be reimagined.” A traditional giant parade of inaugurations passed will not be happening. However, construction of a reviewing stand in front of the White House has continued, which may be part of the Pass in Review of events passed. Traditional events like the luncheon for the new president is also not occurring due to the current coronavirus situation.

Where Can You Watch It Virtually?

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies Chairman Roy Blunt stated that due to the global pandemic, they are “working on enhanced opportunities to watch the ceremonies online, in addition to the traditional televised national broadcast.” If you have cable television, you can expect most major networks to carry the live broadcast.

For those who have cut the cable ties, it is expected to be available for streaming here:

Even if you don’t have cable, the major news networks of ABC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC, and CNN will most likely carry live streaming on their website or YouTube channel.

The pre-event festivities historically begin at 9:30 am EST with the official ceremony occurring neatly at noon EST.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program is Accepting Applications for the 2021/22 Academic Year

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Megan Stith is one of the hundreds of scholarship winners who is off to college in part due to the $2,000 grant awarded to her by the Scholarships for Military Children Program. You can watch her story on here. The Fisher House Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2021/22 academic year through Feb. 17, 2021.

The program is a partnership with the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization which supports military and veteran families. The foundation administers the program. Celebrating its 21st year, the program has awarded more than $20.1 million to 11,814 students from an applicant pool of nearly 105,000.

The program is funded by the DeCA’s business and manufacturing partners. The donations go to the Fisher House Foundation which receives each as a “restricted donation”, meaning it can only by given out as a scholarship grant. Every dollar received goes to a worthy student and the Fisher House Foundation matches all donations. In addition, the Fisher House donates its services for the cost of administration and the scholarship management contract.

“Our commissaries are honored to be a part of a program that provides the children of military service members with such a valuable financial boost to their higher education dreams,” said Marine Corps Sgt.Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “We at the Defense Commissary Agency extend our thanks to the Fisher House Foundation as well as our industry partner donors and others that make these scholarships possible.”

For the 2021-22 scholarship year, the Fisher House Foundation will grant $2,000 scholarships to 500 deserving students. The selection process will begin immediately after the Feb. 17, 2021 deadline. To begin the process, determine your eligibility for the program. It is verified through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database. The applicant as well as their sponsor must be enrolled in DEERS and have a valid military dependent ID card. Students must be attending or planning to attend an accredited college or university, full time in the fall of 2021. Students who will receive a full scholarship for college or accepted to a service academy are not eligible for this program.

In order to apply an applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school and a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.o scale for students enrolled in college. Applicants will write a 500 word or less essay that is no longer than two pages. Visit the Scholarships for Military Children website for the application and the subject of the essay. All rules and requirements as well as frequently asked questions are available on the website.

The Fisher House website recently added a custom scholarship search engine to their website. It is tailored to military families and is free and easy to use. By filling out an online questionnaire you will receive a list of scholarships that you are eligible for. Visit “Scholarships for Service.”

“While a ceremony to congratulate and present each recipient with a certificate was not held at commissaries for scholarship year 2019-2020 due to COVID 19, that did not in any way diminish the accomplishment of each recipient selected to receive this honor,” said Marye Dobson, DeCA’s scholarships program liaison. “At this time, no decision has been made on in-store ceremonies for the upcoming program.” 

Department of Defense Releases 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates

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By Marguerite Cleveland

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced the 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. The new BAH rates go into effect on January 1, 2021 and will increase an average of 2.9 percent. If you are receiving the GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) which is the same as BAH for an E-5 with dependents and based on the school zip code your rate will increase on August 1, 2021, the start of the academic year.

This is part of a robust military compensation package, but service members will incur out-of-pocket expenses at five percent of the national average housing cost by pay grade. For 2021 that amount should range from $70 to $158 a month based on grade and dependency status. The DoD considers the overall military pay and benefits package to be competitive even with out-of-pocket expenses.

Depending on your area your BAH will either go up or down. A question many people have is what happens if my BAH goes down? Basically, nothing due to the individual rate protection provision which is an important part of the BAH program. If you maintain uninterrupted BAH eligibility at a set location, you will not see your rate decrease. If you have a lease or long-term commitment you aren’t penalized if housing costs decrease in your area. If you PCS and then return to the area later, you will receive the BAH in effect at that time.

So how does the DoD determine BAH rates. Each year they collect housing cost data for 300 military housing areas in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. The branches of the military as well as local housing offices assisted in the data collection effort. In addition, local commands provide information on which neighborhoods provide adequate and safe apartments and houses available for rent.

Then it gets more complex as the median current market rent and averages for electricity, heat, and water/sewer are factored in to make up the total housing cost for an area. Then there are six different housing profiles which are based on the type of home and number of bedrooms for each military housing area. Then the BAH rates are calculated for each pay grade with and without dependents.

What are the highest and lowest BAH rates around the country? Check out this chart from Military Benefits.

2021 BAH Rates by The Numbers

Areas with 10 Highest BAH Rates*

  1. San Francisco, CA (MHA: CA019)
  2. Santa Clara County, CA (MHA: CA044)
  3. Westchester County, NY (MHA: NY349)
  4. Long Island, NY (MHA: NY218)
  5. Nantucket, MA (MHA: MA119)
  6. New York City, NY (MHA: NY219)
  7. Marin/Sonoma, CA (MHA: CA027)
  8. Boston, MA (MHA: MA120)
  9. Oakland, CA (MHA: CA018)
  10. Florida Keys, FL (MHA: FL069)

Areas with 10 Lowest BAH Rates*

  1. Terre Haute, IN (MHA: IN338)
  2. Fort Leonard Wood, MO (MHA: MO163)
  3. Youngstown, OH (MHA: OH233)
  4. Anniston/Fort McClelland, AL (MHA: AL001)
  5. Charleston, WV (MHA: WV323)
  6. Sault Ste Marie, MI (MHA: MI145)
  7. Saginaw, MI (MHA: MI156)
  8. Fort Chaffee/Fort Smith, AR (MHA: AR012)
  9. Saint Joseph, MO (MHA: MO344)
  10. Fort Still/Lawton, OK (MHA: OK237)

*Average across pay grades. Individual pay grades by area may rank lower or higher.

7 Financial Resolutions to Commit to in 2021

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2021 – a much-anticipated bright new year. Want a new start with this new year…especially after 2020? Start off with a bright financial future by committing to these financial resolutions in 2021.

  1. Create a budget
  2. Make a savings buffer.
  3. Start saving for PCS now.  
  4. Make the most of credit cards.
  5. Pay bills when you get them.
  6. Stick to the planned budget.
  7. Get the kids involved!

Create a Budget

This isn’t easy. You need to know what you need to spend on things like groceries versus what you want to spend. There a bounty of budget sheets on Pinterest. Check your base resources to see if there is a financial Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) as he/she may also have free resources and information, inclusive of a budget book. Don’t have a MFLC on base, check out Military One Source to talk to a financial counselor.  A financial MFLC can even sit down and review personal goals. Living on a Navy or Marine Corps base? If you are having a baby, check out the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society who provide services to complete one-on-one budget counseling through the Budget for Baby classes. There are many free resources including monthly spending sheets, bill trackers and expense lists to help build a budget.  

Make a Savings Buffer

This can be done in small increments, and doesn’t have to be a big chunk all at once. If you can save just $10 a week, that will add up in the long term to $2,600 in 5 years, and that’s not counting interest! An emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses is recommended as a buffer in case there is a job loss, or any other type of emergency. Thankfully, in the military, there isn’t a usual loss of job immediately, but starting the habit now of having that savings buffer will create lifelong healthy financial habits.

Start Saving for Your PCS Now

PCS – Permanent Change of Stations or Permanent Change of Sanity level – you choose. Moving is not easy emotionally or financially. According to the Military Times, military families lost about $5,000 out of pocket each move. Normal “costs” associated with moving are outlined further by Military.com and that doesn’t include all the wild expenses of loss during a move.

Make the Most of Credit Cards

If you have a card you love, make sure you are using all the benefits. There have been credit card changes over the last year – cards that typically favor travel have been offering credit on TV streaming services or exercise apps. Use these benefits to save money! If your card gives you cash back, consider using the bonus to pay off your bill if you have a big ticket item like a new appliance. Credit cards can be useful if you are paying off your bill monthly and can utilize the benefits.

Pay bills when you get them.

Going off the previous paragraph – in order to use the benefits of credit cards, you often have to not carry a balance. When you get the bill, pay it off if you are able to. APR, the annual percentage rate, that credit card companies charge for any amount not paid off by the due date. There is also a late fee! That $100 amount not paid off may then add up to $149, and that’s only in one-month period. There are some cards that have a 0% APR offering for a year, and these can be helpful in purchasing big items like a new fridge or freezer so you can pay off a little at a time monthly. But make sure to put a calendar alert to know when the APR will begin to avoid those charges.

Stick to the planned budget.

This can be hard. It will require planning and understanding of your budget. If next month you know you need to pay for movers for that PCS and didn’t have time to build up a PCS buffer, consider cutting out a few things so you can stick within the budget for the next month. Maybe stop the $5 daily coffee habit for that month. As most military families know, unexpected things happen, but beginning the habit of sticking to that budget will get easier over time.

Get the kids involved!

It’s never too early to start learning about saving. In as early as second grade, children in U.S. schools are learning about the economy in basic terms of imports and exports and the “costs” and “savings” associated with them. Getting children involved early helps build financial attitudes of understanding. The Mint offers free resources for kids and teens to learn about earning, saving, spending, giving, investing, tracking money and more.

Military One Source is a great resource for anyone – CONUS to OCONUS.  Free online financial resources are available at MilSpouse Money Mission and popular tools from Dave Ramsey can be requested here.

What is your favorite financial tool?

TRICARE Select Retirees Must Pay New Fees to Avoid Losing Coverage

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TRICARE has gone through several changes over the last several years. One such change is coverage expanded for retirees. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017  changed TRICARE Standard to TRICARE Select and established a monthly enrollment fee. Enrollment fees for 2021 must be set up for payment in 2020. Starting January 1, 2021, Group A retired beneficiaries on TRICARE Select will be paying new enrollment fees, in a monthly or annual sum, in order to continue TRICARE Select coverage.

Who does this apply to?

Group A retirees on TRICARE Select. Group A applies to any retiree or sponsor who had an initial enlistment or appointment before January 1, 2018. AKA anyone who began their time in military service before January 1, 2018 and is a retiree.

Who doesn’t this apply to?

If you have TRICARE for Life, TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, or TRICARE Young Adult – this does not apply to you.

What are the costs?

Individual Plan: if you are the only individual on your plan

  • Monthly fee of $12.50 OR annual fee of $150

Family Plan: If there is more than one person the plan

  • Monthly fee of $25.00 OR annual fee of $300

If anyone in your family is an active duty member, medically retired retiree or family member, or survivor of an active duty sponsor medically retired retiree, the enrollment fee will be waived.

Will the Catastrophic Cap Change?

The catastrophic cap, the most you will pay out of pocket per year for TRICARE covered services, will change to $3,500 from a previous $3,000. Paid enrollment fees go towards the catastrophic cap.

What Do I Do Next?

  • Set up a monthly enrollment fee by December 31, 2020 to avoid a gap in healthcare coverage.
  • Set up payment plans here.
  • Questions? Contact your regional contractor.

What if I don’t setup a payment plan by December 31, 2020?

  • You, and or your family, will be disenrolled from TRICARE Select – meaning you will not have TRICARE Select health coverage.
  • You can request reinstatement of TRICARE Select within 180 days from disenrollment through your regional contractor.
  • You can get healthcare through military treatment facilities if there is space available

If you are a Group A retiree on TRICARE Select – set up your payment plan today to avoid a lapse in TRICARE Select coverage in 2021!

Keeping Kids Connected Across the Miles

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It isn’t new for military children to deal with separation. From parents who are deployed or training or on exercises. From extended family members who live half a world away from where they are currently stationed. From friends, they make after a PCS (Permanent Change of Station – aka military move). In 2020, kids are separated from their classmates who might live down the street due to social distancing and virtual school. Keeping kids connected to the friends they have made is even more important now that there aren’t as many opportunities to find and make new friends and build new friendships.

Letter writing

In addition to writing out thoughts to friends, sharing details about their new house or clothes, letter writing allows for practicing writing letters, words, and penmanship. Letter writing is a skill in itself – working on addressing, composing a letter, and determining the best signature. Making it a weekly practice. In the letters, they can share pictures or bookmarks, or handmade bracelets. It’s a way to share, stay connected, and all while they practice and learn and don’t even realize it. So shhhh!

Video Chats

When able to, this is an awesome option to keep kids connected. There are several applications on computers, phones, and tablets that can be utilized and should all be used with adult supervision. It allows children to read and take facial cues while looking at each other and talking to each other. It continues to build the bond of friendship and allows them to share drawings or games or books on the video chat as the interest of the children determines. If possible, schedule the video chats so there are a pattern and expectation to the calls.

Virtual Book Club

While these are reserved for adults most times, keeping kids connected with the same reading level with a shared book is a great way to keep kids connected. It promotes reading and allows for the development of conversation while working on the skill of reading comprehension – and all under the guise of “just catching up” with a friend.  If you aren’t sure what books to use, ask your child’s teacher for reading level acceptable choices. Books do not have to be purchased if you have an electronic device. Most libraries have e-books you can borrow from and the service libraries also have a large library presence online with a large volume of books available to borrow.

Online Gaming

Kids who love to play games online can connect with their friends online. There are computer games, apps, and live games on streaming devices that allow for people across the world. There are parental controls to limit the amount of time spent online and which games can be played. Utilizing headphones, they can talk to each other as well. This is a bit outside my scope as a non-gamer, but with age-appropriate limits, being able to bond while playing a game together is a great way to stay in touch with friends.  As with any online activity for your children, check on what they are doing and who they are talking to.

Old Fashioned Games

Consider playing a game on video chat. If both parties have UNO, split the deck and play. Or consider charades or Battleship – games that can easily be split between two parties and can be played solo. For the little kids maybe Boggle, and for older kids Monopoly or any board games that both parties have.

Movie Night

Thanks to streaming services introducing group play, you can watch a movie together at the same time and even send messages while watching. This does take some prior planning and technology link-up, but being able to continue movie nights is pretty amazing.

This year has certainly brought on the need for creativity in staying in touch but socially distanced, and these are great ways for kids to stay in touch. Based on age, children may need some parental assistance. With any technology, parental guidance and monitoring are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What have you been utilizing to help your children stay in touch with their friends? Can the adults get on a long-distance game of CLUE?

The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor Work Together to Help Veterans Find Employment

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working with the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) to assist Veterans who are facing homelessness to also find and maintain a job. The VA’s Homeless Programs Office can support Veterans with support services, medical care, and housing to help those who are homeless or facing homelessness. A key element in keeping Veterans off the street is employment.

As part of the collaboration, the VA’s Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services (HVCES) and the DoL’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) hosted a webinar on their programs and how they both work in tandem to promote housing stability and employment opportunities for Veterans. The two organizations provided overviews of their ongoing partnership and highlighted their programs in action.

Paul Cary is a Veteran who used both programs after living on the streets for three months. Having no family or friends he could turn to he felt all alone and too ashamed to ask for help. The two programs got him back on his feet by helping him access all the benefits he was eligible for. They were able to let him know he received a 70% disability rating which provides a monthly income which he didn’t know about due to his homelessness. The HVRP helped Cary find employment by teaching him how to build a resume and apply online for jobs. He now lives in Long Beach, California and is employed.

The VA has Community Resource and Referral Centers which are designed to help Veterans get the help they need and access to all their benefits and community resources available to them. They are a one-stop access point to assist with permanent housing, health and mental health care, employment as well as access to VA and non-VA benefits. The VA assigned more than 200 vocational development specialists to serve as Community Employment Coordinators at VA medical centers around the country. They help Veterans access community employment resources to find employers who are ready to hire Veterans.

HVCES was created by the VA to improve employment outcomes for Veterans who have experienced homelessness. Housing alone is not enough to end homelessness among the Veteran population. Employment improves the quality of life after homelessness, increases self-confidence and independence while reducing reliance on institutional care.

The DoL’s HVRP is an employment focused competitive grant program. It is the only federal grant to focus exclusively on competitive employment for homeless veterans. The two objectives of the program are to provide services to assist homeless Veterans to obtain meaningful employment and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. The program prioritizes three veteran populations to receive services, chronically homeless Veterans, homeless female Veterans and Veterans with families and incarcerated veterans.

Organizations that receive HVRP grants work to gain competitive employment for Veterans in these priority groups. They provide six core services: knowledge of population, outreach, assessment/intake, case management, job driven training and placement, and collaboration.

Both the VA and the DoL are committed to getting Veterans housed and employed so that they can avoid homelessness in the future.