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Make the Most of Your On-Base Mayberry Neighborhood Life

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The street lights come on, colors sound, and suddenly you hear a chorus of voices filling the evening air.

“Johhny and Aiden, time to come in!”

“Sydney and Mariah, dinner!”

Kids scatter from the playgrounds while doors open and shut quickly as children sort themselves into the correct house. Bikes are left leaning against fences and neighbors sit down for spur of the moment glasses of sweet tea on porches.

Make the Most of Your On-Base Mayberry Neighborhood Life

Living on-base can feel a lot like living in a Mayberry neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone else, kids play outside almost all the time and there’s always someone there to lend a hand.

It seems like this simpler lifestyle could go on forever, but the years in your on-base Mayberry neighborhood are limited. Sure, you could end up in another similar situation, but then again you might not.

Right now is the best time to make the most of your incredible military community.

Photo Credit:
©devrim_pinar/Adobe Stock

Kids Play Outside All the Time

In a lot of on-base neighborhoods, the kids are always outside. Like, all the time. They’re riding bikes, chilling at the playground and catching air at the skate park. Some are building forts or playing a pickup soccer game.

This isn’t something that happens in off-base neighborhoods. Houses are more spread out, playgrounds might not be within easy reach or it’s just not that safe.

On-base, it’s pretty safe to let your child run to the within-shouting-distance playground with their friends for a bit. Or to let them run down the street for an impromptu playdate with a neighbor.

There are always other kids to play with on base. In fact, it’s hard to find a neighborhood without children at all. From infants to high schoolers, there are usually a whole group of kids in a similar age range.

Borrow a Cup of Sugar

Or grab a can of peas or a bag of nuggets. Seriously, your neighbors are here for you in ways that just aren’t a thing off base anymore.

It’s not uncommon for cul de sacs to have a community text message or Facebook chat. Send a quick message to your neighbors about literally anything.

Run out of an ingredient? Send a message and then just run across the way to grab what you need.

Neighborhood messages have been used to find a last minute sitter, figure out playdates, and even get quick checks at the mailboxes. No need to leave your house and check your box if you’ve got a neighbor headed that way already. It’ll save you the trip only to find an empty mailbox!

Find Support 24/7

What do you need help with? Chances are good that you can find what you need right in your on-base neighborhood. From tutors to yard care to babysitters, you’ll find resources within easy reach.

Many military neighborhoods use social media to connect. Members can post anything they need 24/7.

It’s definitely not uncommon to see a post from a military spouse looking for a date night sitter or wondering about the trash schedule. Social media groups make it easy to connect, find answers and support each other.

Easy Ways to Socialize

Base housing is usually organized based on rank/grade, which means that usually you’ll be living near folks who are at a similar place in life as your family. And this opens up great opportunities to socialize together.

On base, it’s not unusual to have spur of the moment BBQs or weekend fires. With a neighborhood text message or every family outside in the afternoon, it’s easy to make plans together.

You’re together almost all the time, you see each other every day. And getting together is simple.

Ask a neighbor about dinner plans, then suggest combining your grilling to make it into an impromptu party!

Or talk with other parents outside after school to make plans for a kids’ playdate or parents only fire.

Holiday Community Spirit

Whether you’re overseas or just across the country from your family, you’ll still be able to celebrate with people you love! Most military neighborhoods end up celebrating all the holidays, big or small, together.

Every holiday turns into a giant potluck with every family bringing their favorite sides and desserts to share. All the kids play together all day long.

After living on base, it might feel weird to not have a giant all-hands Easter egg hunt.

Having a giant potluck to celebrate with your neighbors make holidays far from your childhood home easier and more festive.

Make Separations Simpler

On base, it’s easy for families to band together and make deployments or TDYs simpler for everyone.

Combining families for dinner, swapping playdate locations and generally working together has saved military spouses on the home front more than once. Living on base makes finding support and teammates so much easier.

Everyone is in this together, dealing with stretches of solo parenting or missing a spouse. Finding your own battle buddy helps families stay sane and survive separations.

What do you love about living on base? Share your experiences with us!

5 Things to Know About Military Spouse Friendships

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Military Spouse friendships are a very special kind of relationship. With only a couple of years between each move, we get to know each other very fast and often take on the responsibility of closest family member or official emergency contact for each other. A good friend can make or break the constant turning and changing nature of this life. It can make you feel totally at home or totally foreign and alone. But forming your community is not as simple as it sounds, especially if you are an introvert like me. Over the past 5 years, here are some things I have learned that might help.

Put Yourself Out There

I cannot stress this enough. You can only be a part of this community if you put yourself in it. We can be as warm and welcoming as hot chocolate to newcomers, but if they never leave the house they will feel isolated and alone. It can feel awkward and you might come across as sort of intrusive in a different context, but go ahead and invite people over for coffee from your neighborhood facebook page, or introduce yourself to other moms you see on the playground or at library story time. Make some cookies and share them with your neighbors. Invite a fellow pet mom to take the fur babies for a walk on a regular basis. Get out of your house and say hello to the people around you. I cannot tell you how many great friends I have made by my husband coming home and telling me about a new marine in his unit who has a wife, then I search for her on facebook and invite her out to my favorite coffee shop or over to my house. As a newcomer it is totally encouraging to make a friend your first week in a new place. It sort of feels like blind dating, and not everyone will be your best friend, but you have to be open to it. Which brings me to my next point.

You Will Not Always Have a Best Friend

Chances are, there will be at least somebody in each place you live that is compatible to you. But don’t feel depressed if you don’t always find your kindred spirit soul sister bestie who makes you laugh and cry and reach for the stars every time you see her. The truth is, that won’t always happen. And that is ok, it is just a different season of life. Sometimes you will have a few friends with kids who like your kids, or someone you can enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine with, someone who enjoys similar hobbies as you do, but doesn’t really knock your socks off. Keep that person close! Chances are, a friendly acquaintance will still bend over backward to help you out in an emergency, or bring you a meal after you have a baby. Be able to edit your cover letter for a job application, or tell you where to find the best tacos out in town. There is room for all levels of friendship in this life, and each one can teach us different things about ourselves.

When Friends Move Away, You Won’t Always Stay In Touch

If you aren’t already, it’s time to get on Facebook/Instagram. Social media gets a bad reputation for making communication less personal, but for the working mom whose husband is deployed, with friends spread out all over the world, social media becomes the most convenient way to stay up to date on everyone’s life events and drop a note or comment here and there to keep touch. Even if you were close friends, it becomes very difficult to maintain a relationship between Virginia Beach and Okinawa. But don’t write them off forever! The good news is that when your paths cross again, you will likely pick right back up where you left off. There have been several occasions where I see on Facebook that someone I know is traveling close to where I live and I reach out to plan a meet up! Another awesome thing about social media! We never would have realized we were so close in proximity otherwise.

Timing is Everything

Sometimes the compatibility is there, but the timing is just not right. Maybe her husband just got back from deployment and the only thing on her mind is family time. Or maybe you had an acquaintance at one duty station who becomes your best friend at the next. The person who used to be your favorite girl’s night out friend may not translate into your New-Mom best friend. Sometimes, I meet someone new to town just a few weeks before we pack up and move away. It can be so frustrating thinking what could have been. Circumstances often dictate how close we feel to people. So embrace the friendships you have now and let them evolve naturally.

Don’t Wear Your Husband’s Rank

Enjoy the freedom of befriending anyone and everyone without restriction. Your spouse may not be able to enjoy the same relationships, but these friends can offer you a many colored perspective on military life which is highly beneficial to a spouse. As long as you can keep your husband’s work stories out of it. Make it about you.

Being a military spouse requires hard work, dedication, as well as flexibility to change, and the spouse friendships are a big part of that. Let yourself feel sad when people move away, these emotions are a part of loving your friends. But at the same time let yourself be open to the new friendships and what they can offer your life.

by Catherine Hershey

Catherine Hershey is a military spouse, mom of three boys, musician, and runner. She loves the challenges of military life and the deep emotions experienced with each change. She loves to share her story and listen to the stories of those around her. Follow her on Instagram @the_wayfaring_homebodies or on her blog: https://thewayfaringhomebodies.wordpress.com

CBO Suggests Tricare Rate Hike, Veterans Benefits Cut to Decrease Deficit

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For the fourth time in five years, the Congressional Budget Office has suggested deep cuts to veterans’ benefits and increases in Tricare fees. These options were put forward as ways to start cutting the nearly $1 trillion national deficit.

CBO Suggests Tricare Rate Hike, Veterans Benefits Cut to Decrease Deficit

The CBO listed over 120 ways to cut federal spending, with increases to fees paid by military retirees using Tricare insurance and decreases in benefits earned by military veterans. These proposals are designed to reduce the federal budget by either cutting costs or increasing revenue.

Even though the CBO makes these suggestions, specifically in regards to military benefits, regularly. However, leaders in the military community are concerned that recent suggestions will appear in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal. This is the fourth time that military benefits have been specifically identified for cost saving measures designed to reduce the national debt.

Tricare Rate Increases for Military Retirees

There are several different options being suggested for Tricare-related fees and premiums.

First, the CBO is floating the option of increasing enrollment fees for working-age military retirees. This would include military retirees under age 65.

Under this proposal, Tricare Prime rates would double. Currently, retirees who joined the military before 2018 and their families pay $297/year for individual plans and $594/year for family plans. With the proposed increase, individuals could see rates above $600/year and families could pay over $1,000/year for Tricare Prime.

Tricare Select members could see new enrollment fees. Currently there are no enrollment fees for most retirees using Tricare Select. Under the CBO proposal, enrollment rates would start at $485 for an individual and $970 for a family.

Retirees older than 65 could see new enrollment fees for Tricare for Life. This Medicare supplement program is currently offered without additional enrollment fees. Suggested enrollment fees are $485 for individuals and a $970 fee for families. These TFL enrollment fees would be in addition to the monthly premiums many Medicare Part B users pay.

Currently, Tricare for Life covers claim amounts after Medicare Part B. Instead, the CBO suggests that Tricare for Life stop paying any of the $750 cost-sharing paying and only pay 50% of the next $7,000 in claims annually.

Together these suggestions could save around $24 billion by 2028. Adding enrollment fees for Tricare Prime and Select would slash $12.6 billion in that time period, with Tricare for Life fees cutting another $12 billion.

These changes, specifically with Tricare for Life, would decrease the financial burden to the government by the amount of fees collected. Additionally, some Tricare for Life beneficiaries might drop the program entirely and elect to purchase a private supplement instead.

Changes to Veterans Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs also has opportunities to save money and decrease the deficit. The CBO has identified several specific ways to reduce costs at the VA.

First, they would narrow eligibility for seven identified conditions that are not related to military service. These include Crohn’s disease, arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hemorrhoids, multiple sclerosis, uterine fibroids and osteoarthritis. Over ten years, this could save up to $33 billion.

Additionally, VA unemployment benefits would end at age 67, which is when full Social Security benefits kick in. This would save about $48 billion by 2028.

$11 billion could be saved by reducing disability benefits to veterans who also receive full Social Security benefits.

Another suggestion would save $38 billion over 10 years by ending disability compensation to 1.3 million veterans with a 30% or lower disability rating.

By eliminating Groups 7 and 8 from enrollment into VA programs, approximately $57 billion could be saved over 10 years. This would remove those without service-related disabilities and incomes above the national threshold as well as those with incomes above or below the geographic thresholds.

Finally, the CBO has suggested that revenue be generated by including VA disability benefits in taxable income. This could generate the $93 billion if all disability payments were taxed, according to the CBO.

Concerns from Veterans Group

The Military Officers Association of America is concerned that the CBO continues to target military retirees as a way to reduce the national debt.

“CBO does this every year. Our biggest concern is that some of these options would make their way into the president’s budget,” Retired Navy Capt. Kathryn Beasley, director of government relations for health issues at the Military Officers Association of America.

Beasley is also concerned that the CBO failed to take into account the recent Tricare rate increases over the last calendar year.

“With all the changes to the military health care system in the past year, we think we simply need to stabilize Tricare,” she added. “It’s been a lot to absorb.”

The CBO stresses that these are simply options included among a broad range of suggestions that will reduce the national debt through cost saving measures or revenue raising opportunities.

Have you seen a Tricare rate hike or change in veterans benefits? We’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Why You Should Check Out Hiring Our Heroes Three Year Nation Wide Initiative to Hire 100K Military Spouses

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Hiring Our Heroes recently announced a collaboration with Starbucks to launch “Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses. The three year program is a campaign to encourage businesses and companies across the country to make a commitment to hire military spouses.  Did you know that the military spouse unemployment rate is 16%, four times the rate of civilian counterparts?

Hiring Our Heroes is a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. In addition for programs to help those who served in the military find employment, the group also has extensive resources for military spouses. The group in partner ship with La Quinta Inn & Suites conducted a study on military spouses and employment and it had some interesting findings.

  • Not only is unemployment an issue but so is underemployment as a big challenge. Many spouses are employed in part time or seasonal work when they would prefer to work full time.
  • Military Spouses with degrees have the highest unemployment rate and the most difficulty finding meaningful work.
  • Not surprising is that military moves wreak havoc on careers. Spouses have to quit jobs and then face unemployment at the new location.
  • Military families like their civilian counterparts want and need two career families, but it is harder for a military family to reach this goal.
  • The lack of employment opportunities for a spouse is a factor as to whether a family stays in the military.

Did you know that according to the Hiring our Heroes study military spouses are more highly educated than most working Americans? Over 88% of military spouses have some post-high school education. So what can Hiring Our Heroes do for You? One of the most useful programs is the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Professional Network (MSPN). The group has more than 55 locations which have local events to help spouses connect with their peers and local networks to help them meet local leaders and mentors in their career field. In addition MSPN has an online network.

Hiring Our Heroes also offers employment events around the country with a networking event the night before and a job fair the next day.  To get ready for the job hunt, attend a two day Amplify event which covers everything from personal branding to interview techniques. Amplify is usually 45 military spouses so you will have plenty of opportunities for one-on-one time with the cadre and you will be assigned a mentor in your career field.

There are many digital resources on the Hiring Our Heroes website that military spouses will find helpful like the Career Spark resume builder which is skills based and can help when volunteer work takes the place of employment. It was developed by military spouses for military spouses and is a super helpful tool. There is also an employment roadmap which can help you research companies and careers. Also take a look at which companies have signed a pledge under the Hiring 100K military spouses and reach out to them for job opportunities.

Hiring Our Heroes understand the unique challenges that face military spouses and they have developed a suite of tools and events which can help you when you are seeking employment. What challenges have you faced as a military spouse seeking employment?

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

100% Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space – A

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By Marguerite Cleveland

As of August 18, 2018, 100% Disabled Veterans are now authorized to Fly Space-A   under H.R. 5515 – the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act.  The Veteran must have a permanent service-connected disability and have a DD Form 2765, Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (TAN).  Veterans are only authorized to fly within the continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories. This new benefit comes with a catch. It will be extremely difficult to use for a veteran with severe mobility issues.

Space-A travel is like a lottery ticket, you sign up and hope your number gets called. Veterans will be in the last Space Available Travel Priority of Category VI. Being in the last category means you are the last to be called for a flight. With the uncertainty of whether you will get a flight or not, many veterans may find this challenging.

For those Veterans requiring the assistance of another person to help them when traveling will find Space – A travel is not an option. Dependent family members of Veterans are not eligible to use Space-A travel. Crewman and staff at the passenger terminal can provide limited assistance but a veteran should plan to not have assistance. They can travel with those that have the status and documents to fly Space-A

 The Air Mobility Command (AMC) published AMC Boarding Requirements – August 2018 which details the requirements to board and disembark AMC aircraft. There are many physical challenges to fly on a military plane. You must be able to climb ladders and move within the aircraft as well as be able to exit in the event of an emergency. If slides are used you must be able to physically stop yourself before reaching the ground without assistance. You must also be able to climb from 14 to 36 steps to board the aircraft.

So while 100% Disabled Veterans can now use Space-A travel it may be challenging for them to actually use this new “Benefit”. Do you think Veterans should be able to travel with a caregiver?

For more information contact your local Passenger Terminal for further details. Many now have Facebook pages. You can also review travel information found on the AMC Travel Website for specific details on the Space Available Travel at www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/ .

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


Photo Credit: © Natalie Schorr/Adobe Stock

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Release Official 2019 Air Show Schedule

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Grab your noise canceling gear and head to a thrilling military air show this year! Watch the talented military pilots loop, swoop and dive through the sky. It’s an incredible experience your family will never forget!

Both the USAF Thunderbirds and USN Blue Angels have released their 2019 air show schedules.

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Release Official 2019 Air Show Schedule

Military air shows offer opportunities to connect with incredible pilots and feel inspired by our brave troops. Air shows are open to the general public.

Admission to shows located at non-military base events varies. Contact the specific event or location for more information. Admission to events on military bases is open to the public and tickets are typically free.

Thunderbirds 2019 Air Show Schedule

From the Super Bowl to a pre-holiday show, the Thunderbirds are crisscrossing the US and headed to select OCONUS locations, sharing their aerial exploits and daring.

  • February 3: look for a Thunderbirds flyover at the Super Bowl, held in Atlanta, GA
  • February 17: check the skies for a flyover at the Daytona 500 in Daytona, FL
  • March 3: the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will highlight the Thunderbirds with a flyover
  • March 23-24: check out “Thunder and Lightning over Arizona” on Davis-Monthan AFB
  • March 30-31: “Thunder Over the Bay” will thrill Travis AFB in California
  • April 6-7: go to the “Heart of Texas” in Waco, TX
  • April 27-28: the Thunderbirds will be at Seymour Johnson AFB with “Wings Over Wayne Open House”
  • May 4-5: Keesler AFB in MS will host “Thunder Over the Sound”
  • May 11-12: go to the national capital region for the Joint Base Andrews Air Show
  • May 18: Kirtland AFB plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • May 25-26: the Thunderbirds will be flying at the Jones Beach Air Show in Wantagh, NY
  • May 30: the Air Force Academy hosts the Thunderbirds in Colorado
  • June 1-2: join the “Defenders of Freedom” at Offutt AFB in Nebraska
  • June 8-9: go to Fort Wayne, IN for the Fort Wayne Air Show
  • June 15-16: the Thunderbirds will be in Mankato, MN
  • June 22-23: Dayton, OH plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • July 13-14: the squadron heads to Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia for an international air show
  • July 20-21: the Fargo Air Show will host the Thunderbirds in North Dakota
  • July 24: go to “Cheyenne Frontier Days” in Wyoming to catch the Thunderbirds
  • July 27-28: the Thunderbirds will head to Milwaukee, WI for the Water and Air Show
  • August 10-11: go north of the border to Abbotsford, British Columbia for an international air show
  • August 17-18: the Thunderbirds are in Sioux Falls, SD for the Sioux Falls Air Show
  • August 21: the Atlantic City Air Show in New Jersey plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • August 24-25: Rochester, NY will feature the Thunderbirds in their annual air show
  • August 31-September 2: the Cleveland National Air Show will showcase the talents of the squadron
  • September 7-8: Grisson ARB will host the Thunderbirds for their annual air show
  • September 14-15: the Thunderbirds will participate in the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV
  • September 21-22: NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA hosts their annual air show, featuring the Thunderbirds
  • September 28-29: the Thunderbirds will go south to Robbins AFB in Georgia for their air show
  • October 5-6: the Puerto Rico International Air Show in San Juan will feature the Thunderbirds
  • October 12-13: check out the Atlanta Air Show in Hampton, GA to see the Thunderbirds in action
  • October 19-20: it’s “Wings Over Houston” for the Thunderbirds as they head back to Texas
  • October 26-27: Sheppard AFB in Texas will feature the Thunderbirds in their annual air show
  • November 2-3: go to the Florida International Air Show in Punta Gorda, FL and watch the Thunderbirds
  • November 15-17: the Thunderbirds end their 2019 season at Nellis AFB in Nevada with “Aviation Nation”

For complete details about the USAF Thunderbirds, show dates, and more information, visit their website www.afthunderbirds.com.

US Navy Blue Angels Release 2019 Tour Dates

The Blue Angels, the US Navy’s premier squadron, showcases their talents at a variety of events through out the year.

All events are open to the public. Events held at military bases are typically offered free of charge. Ticket prices vary for events held on non-military property.

In addition to air shows, you can check out a Blue Angels practice session most Wednesdays at the National Aviation Air Museums, located aboard NAS Pensacola in Florida. There are often meet-and-greets with opportunities for autographs and photos at the museum following practices.

You can enjoy a Blue Angels show at locations around the US and Canada throughout 2019.

  • March 16: enjoy the first show of the season at NAF El Centro in California
  • March 23-24: head to Salinas, CA for the annual California International Air Show
  • March 30-31: NAS Key West, FL plays host to the Blue Angels at the Southernmost Air Spectacular
  • April 6-7: the Blue Angels visit Lakeland, FL for the Sun ‘n’ Fun Air Show
  • April 13-14: go to NAS Corpus Christi for “Wings Over South Texas”
  • April 27-28: the Blue Angels head to MCAS Beaufort for their annual air show
  • May 4-5: check out the show at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show, featuring the Blue Angels
  • May 11-12: head to the DC area for the Joint Base Andrew air show
  • May 18-19: the Blue Angels will stun the crowds at the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival in Missouri
  • May 22: the US Naval Academy hosts the Blue Angels
  • June 1-2: check out the Star Spangled Salute Air Show in Oklahoma City, OK
  • June 8-9 the Great Tennessee Air Show features the Blue Angles in Smyrna, TN
  • June 15-16: go to the beach for the Ocean City, MD air show
  • June 29-20: the Blue Angels are featured at the Quad Cities Air Show in Devenport, IA
  • July 6-7: watch the show at the KC Downtown Air Show in Kansas City, MO
  • July 13: the Blue Angels are back in their hometown for the Pensacola Beach Air Show
  • July 20-21: Duluth, MN hosts the Blue Angels for their annual Air and Aviation Expo
  • July 27-28: the Blue Angels are featured at the Grand Junction Air Show in Grand Junction, CO
  • August 3-4: Boeing hosts the Seafair Air Show in Seattle, WA
  • August 17-18: the Blue Angels head to the Windy City for the Chicago Air and Water Show
  • August 24-25: visit New Windsor, NY to see the Blue Angels in the New York Air Show
  • August 31-September 1: head to Nova Scotia for the Air Show Atlantic
  • September 7-8: feel the Spirit of St. Louis at the air show in Chesterfield, MO
  • September 21-22: NAS Lemoore plays host to the Blue Angels in California
  • September 28-29: MCAS Miramar features the Blue Angels in their annual air show
  • October 5-6: Sacramento highlights with Blue Angels in the California Capital Air Show
  • October 12-13: celebrate all things Navy and Marine Corps at Fleet Week in San Francisco, CA
  • October 19-20: visit Texas for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show
  • October 26-27: enjoy the Jacksonville Sea and Sky Air Show in Florida
  • November 2-3: Moody AFB hosts “Thunder Over South Georgia”
  • November 8-9: welcome the Blue Angels home with their homecoming air show

For more information about the Blue Angels, shows, practices and the team’s history, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Have you been to a military air show? Tell us about your experience!

SNAP Benefits Will See Continued Impacts of 35 Day Shutdown

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Due to continuing ripple effects from the 35-day partial government shutdown, families will be forced to stretch their SNAP benefits as much as 61 days.

According to numbers recently released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, almost all SNAP recipients are expected to face a more than 40-day wait between issuance of February benefits and dispersal of March benefits.

The extended wait between SNAP benefit dispersal is due to early release of February funds without a planned adjustment of March benefits being released early.

SNAP Benefits Will See Continued Impacts of 35 Day Shutdown

Families who qualify for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have already received their benefits allotment for February. Most funds were dispersed on or around January 20. The next dispersal of funds is expected on or about March 1, with individual release dates being left at each state’s discretion.

The typical wait time between monthly SNAP benefits is about 28 to 31 days. Without an adjustment, families will need to make one month of food stamps last an additional 12 to 33 days, based on when they received February’s allotment and when they are scheduled to get their March benefits.

Military Feels Impact of Shutdown through SNAP

This wait could have a direct impact on veterans and troops who qualify for SNAP. Approximately 1.4 million veterans and thousands of active duty troops are currently enrolled in SNAP. Many are also supplementing their SNAP benefits with items from food pantries and food banks.

The entire Coast Guard, as well as many federal employees and contractors, went without pay even while continuing to do their assigned work. Many Coast Guard families faced uncertain financial futures as a result of the lack of pay. All told, approximately 42,000 Coast Guardsmen went without pay during the shutdown.

During the shutdown, many Coast Guard families were forced to rely on food pantries and apply for assistance to make ends meet. Many also received donations of food and other staple items, like diapers or toiletries. Donations were often crowd sourced via social media and virtual donation websites.

Members of the Coast Guard should have received back pay by January 31. However, there is the possibility of another shutdown beginning on February 15 should Trump and political leaders fail to reach a compromise.

Extended Waiting Time Between SNAP Dispersal Due to Shutdown

Benefits for February were advanced in January. This decision was based on the extended partial shut down that appeared to be without immediate resolution. As of press time, the US government has fully reopened pending continuing negotiations between President Donald Trump and members of Congress.

However, there is no clear plan for an early dispersal of March benefits as of January 30. There are no additional benefits for February. SNAP recipients will need to stretch their food stamps or EBT funds until the March funds are distributed.

They will need to make their benefits last at least two weeks and as much as an extra month, based on when they received February’s benefits and when the March dispersal is scheduled. Most families will need to make their benefits stretch at least 40 days, with some families looking at 50 or more days between SNAP dispersal.

This extended wait comes at a time when food banks and pantries are already feeling the strain of the shutdown impact. With many federal employees and contractors going unpaid, many turned to local food pantries to feed their families. Federal contractors will continue to feel the impact of the shutdown as they go without back pay.

Food pantries and food bank networks in locations with a high level of federal employees or near Coast Guard duty stations have seen an increase in use over the last two months. A food pantry has popped up at the Coast Guard Academy to serve students, instructors, staff and families stationed there.

The head of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Karl Schultz, acknowledged the increase in food pantry use by unpaid Coasties in an interview with CNN.

“But ultimately, I find it unacceptable that Coast Guard men and women have to rely on food pantries and donations to get through day-to-day life as service members,” Schultz said.

Food banks and food pantries rely on donations from corporations, businesses and individuals in order to secure food and fund distribution. An increase in need, such as during the recent shutdown, is not always met with an untick in donations or volunteers. This creates strain and causes limited food availability.

SNAP Helps Families with Food Stability

SNAP benefits allow qualifying families to purchase food items at grocery stores and farmers markets. Without continued SNAP benefits, families may need to turn to other sources to feed their families.

In order to qualify for SNAP, families need to meet income and demographic criteria set by the USDA and their individual state of residence. Benefits may only be used to purchase food items to consume at home and food-producing seed or plants.

Did your family feel the impact of the government shutdown? Share your story with us!

It’s Tax Time – Tips to Get You Ready

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By Marguerite Cleveland

I love tax time. We always have enough withheld so I know we will get a refund. There is something so satisfying about answering the questions on my e-filing software and seeing my refund tick upwards.  Filing your own taxes is surprisingly easy especially with software offered by H & R Block and Turbo Tax. Simply answer a series of questions based on your situation and the software fills out all the required tax forms and you submit everything online. Even having my own freelance business and rental property, the software can handle it.

This is the first year that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect your taxes. There are lots of changes but the most beneficial to military families is the increase to the Child Tax Credit from $1000 to $2000 for children younger than 17. With the married filing jointly modified adjusted gross income cap at $400,000 just about every military family will benefit. Even if you don’t owe any tax you will still receive up to $1400 for each qualifying child. Also new this year parents supporting children 17 and over will receive a $500 credit. For more information visit www.irs.gov and look for Publication 972 Child Tax Credit.

If you’re looking for the most affordable option for filing your taxes, most military installations offer a tax center which provides free tax services to service members, their families and retirees.  Typically they are open from January through April.  You can have someone help you with your taxes or use the kiosks with tax software provided by H & R Block if you prefer to do your own. Filing is free.

Another option is www.militaryonesource.com. Their website offers free tax preparation and e-filing software. In addition there are tax consultants that have knowledge of the unique tax circumstances military members face such as PCS moves and tax free income during deployments. There are plenty of helpful articles and other online resources.

If you really find taxes difficult and are not close to a military base, your most expensive option will be to visit the many commercial companies like Jackson Hewitt, H & R Block, and Liberty Tax Service. If you have a complex tax situation such as a divorce or inheritance or selling rental property you may wish to hire an accountant who will have more knowledge on complex tax situations.

The sooner you complete your tax return the sooner your refund will be on the way. To prepare your taxes get all your documents organized to make filing easier. Have all your W-2s, banking tax forms and any self-employment documentation such as 1099s available. Whichever method you choose, being organized will make everything run smoother.

 How are you completing your taxes this year? Any helpful tips?

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

Photo Credit:
©devrim_pinar/Adobe Stock

Chef Irvine brings own brand of health, wellness to Fort Lee

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NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

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

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         07-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 25, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

FITNESS: IMPOSSIBLE

Chef Irvine brings own brand of health, wellness to Fort Lee

By DeCA Corporate Communications

Note:Go to DeCA’s YouTube page to watch a video related to Chef Robert Irvine. For photos, go to the agency’s Flickr page.

FORT LEE, Va. – Robert Irvine, celebrity chef, fitness guru, author and star of the Food Network television shows, Restaurant: Impossible and Dinner: Impossible, has a thing for the military and he’s not shy about saying it.

“One hundred fifty days a year of my being is spent with the military, understanding what it takes to be a modern day soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or coast guardsman,” Irvine said during an interview at the Defense Commissary Agency’s Fort Lee, Virginia, headquarters.

“Ultimately, food and nutrition, that’s what I do,” he added. “My love is to help those who need that in their daily lives. The commissary is part of our military and gives the added bonus of [providing] good products, teaching [patrons] how to use those products and keeping our men and women fit.”

Irvine, a 10-year veteran of the British Royal Navy, brought his unique brand of humor and personality to Fort Lee on Jan. 16, where he met service members and their families at the commissary and the exchange. The celebrity chef also is scheduled to visit the commissary and exchange at Naval Base San Diego Feb. 1.

To reinforce the chef’s message on fitness, The Robert Irvine Foundation is participating in an essay contest with commissaries and exchanges where the winner wins a cookout with Irvine. Essays must be submitted to www.MilitaryFitFamily.com no later Jan. 31. Patrons can also enter to win Irvine’s new cookbook, Family Table. The essay is about what the patron and their family is doing to get healthy in 2019 and beyond, and how the commissary and exchange will help them reach their wellness goal.

“As a force our lives are changing. We want a better, fitter more active force,” Irvine said. “We’ve changed the physical fitness areas in all our branches of the military, and what commissaries have done is adapt to that by giving us healthier choices, better-tasting foods, lower sugars, lower sodium, better protein bars and better protein drinks to allow us to keep up with those standards.”

For Irvine, commissaries and exchanges are a vital part of the military benefits package that supports the wellness of patrons’ wallets along with their physical health.

“When you are in the U.S. military, one of the benefits is being part of a place where you can get products at a very reduced rate and keep your family living,” he said. “If you think about the men and women who wear the cloth of our nation, we are in a salary bracket that sometimes doesn’t necessarily allow us great indulgent benefits.

“If I have a wife and two children, making $38,000 a year, for me to have a good life I have to be smart with money. Part of that smartness is using commissaries and exchanges because they offer great products at low prices and I can actually take care of my family. I call it hope. The commissaries and exchanges allow me hope to give my family the best I can give them rather than going outside and paying more money for it.”

-DeCA-

Scholarships for Military Children Entries Due Soon

By


NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

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

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         06-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 25, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Application deadline Feb. 15

Scholarships for Military Children entries due soon

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page related to Scholarships for Military Children, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJrphCfYBY

FORT LEE, Va. – Students should be finishing up their preparations to apply for one of the 500 available $2000 Fisher House Foundation Scholarships for Military Children, as the deadline is approaching. Applications are being accepted through Friday, Feb. 15.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in 2001 to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force, and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. The program is administered by Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families.

This year is the first in which the entire application process is online, said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House vice president. “We are excited with the initial results from the online application process. We can track, in real time, the number of applications started and completed at each commissary.  We are on target for another highly competitive selection year.”

Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

Among requirements of the application process is providing a short essay. This year’s request is military lifestyle-related: “Please cite two examples of how being a child of a military service member has influenced your educational goals.”

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions and the application are available at MilitaryScholar.org.

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

Students enter brief background information and educational goals and the search tool will identify military-affiliated scholarships they may be eligible for based on their input. Once the search is complete, students receive a list of scholarships with a summary of eligibility requirements, points of contact and links to the scholarship provider’s website. Students can elect to have a PDF file of the results immediately emailed to them for use in selecting which scholarships to apply for.

The Scholarships for Military Children program is managed by Scholarship Managers, a national, nonprofit organization. If students have questions about the scholarship program application, they should call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them to militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com.

No government funds are used to support the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Commissary vendors, manufacturers, brokers, suppliers and the general public donate money to fund the program.

-DeCA-