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Military Discounts for Water Parks, Swimsuits and Life Jackets

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Whether you want to spend the day at a water park, on a lake or in your backyard, we’ve gathered 21 great military discounts you need to know about to have a great time with your family.

Looking for a new swimsuit, life jacket or raft? Make sure you shop with a retailer that has a military discount. Plan on going to a water park? Check out our list below for a military discount before you head out the door.

21 Military Discounts for Water Lovers

Water Parks

Great Wolf Lodge offers a military discount through a program they call Howling Heroes. It provides up to 30% off on rooms and park passes for military families.

Big Surf Waterpark has military tickets for $19.99 instead of $32.95 but you can only purchase them in person; this military discount is not available online.

Dollywood’s Splash Country offers a great military discount of 30% off one day water park pass to all reservists, active or retired military, disabled veterans, and spouses and dependents with valid military IDs. These tickets must be purchased at the gate.

Splashin’ Safari at Holiday World has a military discount for anyone with a valid ID for $12 off full-price general admission tickets. They can also get $5 off guests that are under 54” as well as senior tickets, up to 6 tickets per visit.

Soak City at King’s Dominion provides a military discount to anyone with a valid military ID for single day tickets. These can be purchased online or at the gate. The park also hosts special military appreciation days where all those with a valid military ID get in free, such as on Memorial Day Weekend.

Wild Waves Water Park offers a military discount at the gate to those with a valid military ID.

Deep River Water Park is offering free admission for active duty, veterans and their families on any Monday or Thursday this year as well as on two Sundays, June 18 and August 13. You must print their coupon or show it on your phone along with your military ID to get in for free.

SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment has a program known as Waves of Honor. Instead of a military discount, they offer one day free entry to all active duty, reservists, and National Guardsman as well as up to 3 dependents each year. You need to register online or at the park to get free admission.

Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park offers a military discount of $7 off a one-day pass for any person with a valid military ID.

Wild River Country has a military discount of $5 off admission to those with a valid military ID. These tickets must be purchased in person.

Swimsuits, Life Jackets, Pools and Water Accessories

Aeropostale offers 10% military discount on purchases with a valid military ID.

Columbia Sportswear offers a 10% military discount online and in store.

Old Navy has a 10% military discount available to all those with a valid military ID.

Under Armor gives a 15% military discount in store with a valid military ID.

L.L. Bean provides a 10% military discount to anyone with a valid military ID at most stores.

Gander Mountain offers a 10% military discount to anyone with a current military ID.

Overstock.com has a military program known as Club O Gold where military families can receive 5% reward dollars on purchases as well as free shipping. You can purchase anything from life jackets  and swimsuits to swimming pools and boats on their site.

Bass Pro Shops has a military discount that starts on the 15th of every month and runs for one week. There are many items that are excluded from the discount. You must show a valid military ID to receive the discount.

Lowe’s offers a military discount of 10% off to anyone with a current military ID.

Home Depot has a 10 percent discount, up to a $500 maximum, to all active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members with a valid military ID.

Sam’s Club offers a $15 gift card to military families that purchase a membership. You’ll find anything from goggles and fins to rafts and beach towels to satisfy your water fun side.

There are many more water parks and retailers that offer military discounts. Make sure you remember to ask before paying full price for your water fun this summer.

Have you used any of these military discounts? Give a shout-out to your favorite store or attraction that offers a military discount in the comments section.

DeCA’s Private Label Program Off to Good Start

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Name your favorite commercial grocery retailer. Be it Walmart, Giant, Target or Wegmans, they’ve each got their own line of private label products. And if you’re anything like me, you’re more than happy to add a store brand item to your cart if it means a few dollars off your bill.

And now, DeCA, has expanded its arsenal in the fight to keep our commissaries open by launching a series of new products under its own store brand. Commissary shoppers rejoice! Even more savings? I’ll take it.

While the plan to add commissary private label products to the shelves has been in the works for over a year, the private label program’s 2 easily recognizable and aptly-named brands — Freedom’s Choice and Homebase — were officially announced in February.

Freedom’s Choice branded food products will be sourced from leading manufacturers and undergo a rigorous testing and selection process. Homebase products will be non-food items including things like plastic bags. As a weekly commissary shopper, I for one, can hardly wait to see these new products hit the shelves.

A Year of Creative Initiatives

It’s hard not to be impressed by the series of creative initiatives DeCA has rolled out in the last year in an attempt to revitalize local commissaries and help shrink the nearly billion-dollar taxpayer-funded subsidy required to keep commissaries open. These initiatives have included everything from variable pricing structures to curbside pick-up.

Private labeling seems to be one of the most promising efforts. In fact, according to the DeCA website, nearly 60% of its patrons expressed an openness to buying a private label product.

“Our customers have been asking for private label for a long time,” said DeCA’s director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu.

If commissary shoppers hold true to their word, the planned product line seems destined for success. In fact, if all goes according to plan, the new private label product line could help reduce commissary costs by half a billion dollars in the next 10 years.

The new program promises that nearly 1,000 private label products will be on commissary shelves by the end of 2017, but shoppers will only see a few initial products. The first products were due to hit shelves in May, and a recent visit to the Fort Meade commissary confirmed that the program is indeed underway.

My First Private Label Purchase

I expected to see the products presented with a greater fanfare, but I was able to locate 2 products, bottled water under the Freedom’s Choice label and kitchen garbage bags under the Homebase brand. Both were attractively packaged and both were offered at a substantial savings over the next cheapest brand.

The case of water offered a $0.40 savings over our usual brand. Calculated out, a 40-cent savings on each of 2 cases of water per week would save our family just over $40 per year!  I am also happy to report, that as far as taste is concerned, the water was met with the approval of our entire family – including one kid who happens to be very particular about her bottled water!

I will be keeping my eyes open for additional private labels items. My hope is we will see products like pasta, gluten-free items, vitamins and juices. It might also be nice to see it in the freezer section on items like frozen vegetables, ice cream and even pizza.

My hope is that in sourcing items for this product line, DeCA will keep the dietary needs of military families in mind. It would be great to see items offered at a low cost that also make eating healthy a little bit easier.

Have you seen the commissary store brands, Freedom’s Choice and Homebase at your commissary?

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

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Life gets busy. Stopping every so often to connect with your family and nurture relationships is vital to building a strong family unit.

While you might already take the time to bond with your spouse, it’s also important to connect with your children. Having one-on-one time can help you to talk about the tough stuff or create sweet memories. Use our ideas as a starting point for great parent-child date nights.

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

Dinner and a Movie

A sweet spin on a classic. Dinner and a movie is a sure-fire winner. Instead of going to a fancy place with white tablecloths, opt for a kid-friendly spot. A local diner can make good meals fast and the menu is usually pretty easy. Next, head to the theater to take in a new movie. If there isn’t anything playing, pick something to stream or rewatch a favorite movie at home.

Take a Hike

Getting outside will accomplish 2 goals. First, you’ll get some exercise and fresh air. Second, you’ll have your child all to yourself in the wilderness. Find a kid-friendly hiking trail near you and go. For added fun, pack a picnic with sparkling grape juice or seltzer water.

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

What ideas do you have for a parent-child date night?

Strike!

Bring your best game at the bowling alley! Most military bases have bowling lanes that offer shoe rentals and games at discount prices. Since bowling alleys usually have a snack bar, indulge in hot dogs, nachos and candy. You could make this a regular parent/child date and track who wins the most. There are also tons of bowling leagues to join.

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

If bowling isn’t your thing, catch a few strikes at the baseball diamond. Whether you are going to a major league game or catching your local college team, baseball games are a great time to connect with a sports-loving kid. Buy some popcorn, cotton candy and, yes, Cracker Jacks to make the day extra special.

This type of parent/child date could be repeated for basketball, soccer, football and other spectator sports.

I Scream for Ice Cream

Parent-child dates don’t have to be expensive or over-the-top. Something as simple as grabbing a few scoops of ice cream together can be wonderful. You could head to your local favorite and order the usual. Or find another spot with rave reviews and take a short road trip.

Paint Night

While there are definitely many adult versions of this, some companies also offer a more family-friendly version. If not, this might be something to suggest to your PTO as a fundraiser. Laugh and be silly with your child as you both create beautiful works of art!

Take a Class Together

Wherever you are, there are sure to be lots of places that offer specialty classes. Many specialty stores also offer classes to customers. Find something that you and your child are both passionate about and enroll today. You’ll be learning a new skill and have regularly scheduled time together.

Play Hooky

A great way to build a bond, especially with older children, is to play hooky together. Call into work and pick up your child early. Then go out to lunch, grab a coffee and swing through a few stores. It will feel like you’re breaking the rules together and give you great one-on-one time when the crowds at the mall are smaller.

Beach Day

Yes, it can be fun to bring the whole family to the beach. It feels even more special when you go alone with your child. For starters, there will be less stuff to trek to the sand. Second, relaxing on the beach together or splashing in the waves can help you to start conversations and connect.

Roller Coasters

This is a more extravagant date but is super fun if you live near a theme park or have a fair in town. Take your child out for the day, or night, to ride a few thrilling rides together. Just remember to eat the tasty theme park treats after you take on the roller coasters.

Cultural Immersion

For the child that loves art, theater and music a parent-child cultural date might be the way to go. Pick a museum, concert or play to attend together. After, talk about your favorite moments or artworks over lunch.

All About Me

For this parent-child date, let your child take the reins. Let your child plan all or part of a day together. From where and what you eat to the activities, your child will be calling the shots. This is a great way to figure out what makes him or her tick.

An Important Parent-Child Date Tip

Make sure that you are creating dates based on your child and his or her interests. Taking an art-obsessed child to a baseball game might not go over too well.

It’s also important to remember to consider your other children. Arrange your dates so that your spouse is with your other children. Be sure to spread the solo time around evenly as well.

What ideas do you have for a parent-child date night? Share them in the comments!

New Electronic Health Records System Coming Soon for Military Families

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If you’ve ever transferred between military treatment facilities (MTFs), you know how frustrating it can be reciting your complete medical history over and over.

New Electronic Health Records System Coming Soon for Military Families

This new medical records system will mean less paperwork for providers and patients. You won’t have to fill out a medical history form each time you see a new military doctor or dentist.

Before February of this year, MTFs did not have a computer system that allowed them to share medical and dental records easily. It was a very frustrating process for medical professionals and patients alike. You could find yourself repeating your information from a first responder to a nurse and then again to a doctor. If you got sent to another clinic, you might repeat that information yet again.

Luckily, a new electronic health records system, known as MHS GENESIS, was introduced this year.

What is the MHS GENESIS system?

MHS GENESIS is the new electronic health records system that will keep track of health information for the Military Health System (MHS) through secure technology.

It is an integrated medical and dental electronic health record that will be able to give medical professionals an electronic record of your health information. Basically, it is an electronic copy of all your medical and dental information.

It will eventually be accessible to all medical professionals at any military treatment facility. With MHS GENESIS, you will no longer need to recite your medial history to your new doctor every time you PCS. You also won’t need to pick up your medical records or dental records before you move. Your provider will be able to see your family’s entire medical and dental history in one place.

MHS GENESIS will also mean less paperwork for providers and patients. You won’t have to fill out a medical history form each time you see a new military doctor or dentist. MHS GENESIS will have information stored on all care that has been provided for you. This also means that there will be less of a chance for inaccurate information given or received. You will no longer need to try to remember the dates of previous surgeries or vaccines for example.

More than 800 subject matter experts came together to create MHS GENESIS. This includes medical professionals such as doctors and nurses as well as computer system professionals such as information technologists. MHS GENESIS will replace all of the systems that are currently used; that’s more than 50 systems that will be narrowed down to one single system. This includes replacing DoD health care systems such as: AHLTA, Composite Health Care System, inpatient, and parts of the Theater Medical Information Program-Joint.

More than 9.4 million Department of Defense beneficiaries and about 205,000 Military Health System professionals around the world will benefit from using MHS GENESIS.

MHS GENESIS Patient Portal

The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal launched in February. It is a secure website that provides access for you and health care providers to your medical information. Through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal you can:

  • Review your current health information
  • Schedule medical and dental appointments for both yourself and your dependents
  • Request prescription renewals
  • Send and receive secure messages with your doctor or nurse
  • Review medical notes and certain lab and test results
  • Complete the pre-visit dental health history questionnaire
  • View, download or print health data
  • Receive alerts from the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal to schedule wellness exams

When is MHS GENESIS available?

MHS GENESIS is being rolled out in waves, starting with several small military treatment facilities in the Pacific Northwest. In February the system launched at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington.

“We are following a path of going from our smallest to our largest deployment, so we can again take the lessons learned from each deployment so we can make the next deployment even more successful, efficient, and streamlined,”

said Stacy Cummings, the program executive officer for the Program Executive Office, Defense Healthcare Management Systems.

MHS GENESIS was scheduled to go live at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor in May; Naval Hospital Bremerton in June; and Madigan Army Medical Center in July, but at the time of writing this article there have been no updates given.

Those that have used the system have said it is a flexible and user-friendly system. The plan is to have MHS GENESIS in place in all MTFs by 2022. This will connect 55 hospitals and more than 350 clinics worldwide. They will announce when each location will go live as that time approaches.

You can access the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal here once it is available to you.

Veterans Affairs Embraces MHS GENESIS

In June Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin announced that the VA would be adopting the same electronic health records system, MHS GENESIS. This will be great for service members that transition out of the military and receive medical care through the VA.

What are your questions or concerns about the MHS GENESIS health record system?

11 Companies That Will Let You Move Within Their Corporation When You Move

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PCS time often means that military spouses are forced to hand in their notices. But there are some awesome companies that will let military spouses transfer their jobs when they move.

11 Companies That Will Let You Move Within Their Corporation When You Move

Do you work for a military spouse-friendly employer? Are you looking to work for one?

11 Companies That Will Let You Move Within Their Corporation When You Move

Comcast-NBC Universal

This media heavy hitter is the top-rated employer by Military Friendly for 2017. Not only has Comcast-NBC Universal committed to hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses, they make it easy to balance work and life. There are military advisory committees, the option to move to part-time during deployments and job relocation assistance. Even if there is not a position with the company at the next duty station, Comcast-NBC Universal will help military spouses find their next position.

Hilton

Hilton has committed to hiring 10,000 military spouses and veterans by 2018. In addition to this commitment, Hilton has properties around the world. While not explicitly stated, it is implied that military spouses hired at one Hilton location may be able to transfer to another location. There are also remote positions available.

Adecco

Adecco is a staffing agency that provides temporary workers in a variety of fields. According to Rachelle Chapman, Military Liaison and Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships, temping is a great fit for military spouses. Adecco has national reach, which allows military spouses to continue to work through Adecco to find new temporary employment after a PCS. Plus, there is the ability to work in several fields which will diversify your skill set.

Starbucks

Along with a great cup of coffee, Starbucks offers competitive job benefits for military spouses. There are expanded education benefits, flexible scheduling and the opportunity to transfer to another Starbucks location following a PCS. Starbucks has also created 32 military-friendly stores across the United States. These stores are primarily operated by military spouses and veterans.

U.S. Government Agencies

Military bases are often a hub of federal employment. Military spouses can leverage their recent PCS to receive hiring preference. There are positions in a wide variety of career fields and for those with different levels of education or experience. Spouses can claim hiring preference for 2 years following their sponsor’s PCS orders.

Being hired for a federal position does require work and lots of documentation. However, you can register in advance of your next PCS move to facilitate easier job searching and hiring.

AAFES

Every military base has one. Your local AAFES Exchange is a great place for military spouses to seek employment. Military spouses can readily transfer their position to another AAFES location too. To be eligible, spouses must:

  • be PCSing with their sponsor
  • have worked for AAFES for at least 6 months
  • have at least satisfactory employee evaluations
  • and be transferring withing the same employment category

MCCS

For Marine Corps spouses, working for Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) is a great option. There are opportunities across a variety of fields available and military spouses can claim preference. There are positions available at Marine bases in the United States and overseas.

La Quinta

La Quinta Inns & Suites are located nationwide. For many military families, La Quinta provides a welcome pet-friendly refuge during PCS season. The hotel chain also has a military spouse and veteran hiring initiative in place. According to their website, La Quinta offers jobs in a variety of roles that are transferable and has the opportunity to promote within the company.

Booz Allen Hamilton

Booz Allen Hamilton is a diverse company and a leader across many sectors. Having been founded by a veteran and working closely with the DoD, Booz Allen Hamilton is committed to employing military spouses and veterans. They have dedicated military hiring programs and offer benefits to military spouses and veterans. According to first-person stories featured on their website, military spouses have been able to transfer jobs within the company after PCSing.

L Brands

L Brands’ stores are ubiquitous in malls across the world: Bath & Body Works; Victoria’s Secret, La Senza and Henri Bendel. The company employs over 88,000 people across their brands and corporate office. L Brands frequently promotes from within its current employee pool and offers relocation. While there is no specific military spouse or veteran hiring program, with stores located around the world, you stand a great chance of being able to transfer to another location.

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo has made a commitment to support veterans and military families. The banking firm has opportunities to translate military service into job skills. They also provide relocation assistance for spouses who are moving because of their family member’s military service. Wells Fargo will help employees to find a similar job in their next location. There are more services dedicated to hiring veterans, but there are also military support teams and initiatives within the company.

Do you work for a company that allows you to move your job with you? Give them a shout out in the comments. Thank them for being a military spouse-friendly employer.

Should Shoppers Use Their Military Star Card at the Commissary?

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As part of the Defense Commissary Agency‘s continuing efforts to increase value and convenience at military commissaries across the world, military shoppers at more than 200 commissaries  will have the option to use their Military Star card to pay for groceries starting in October. The additional credit card payment method is being incorporated into the point-of-sale payment overhaul already scheduled for the fall.

There are many reasons to be excited about this new option and a few concerns you may want to consider before using your Military Star card at the commissary.

The Benefits of Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary

Many shoppers are already using credit cards to pay for groceries. Using the Military Star card has some distinct advantages:

Low Interest Rate

In addition to the low interest rate and fair credit lines offered even to those with little or bad credit , the Star card offers no late or over limit fees and the interest rate is reduced and payments waived during deployments. For junior service members and their spouses, the Military Star card can be a great way to build good credit.

Reap the Rewards

In addition to the Commissary Rewards program, shoppers using their Star card can earn extra rewards. Just like many other retail rewards cards, Military Star card users earn 10% back on all of their purchases. These rewards come in the form of a certificate or payment cards that are eligible for redemption at exchanges, shoppettes and on-post food vendors.

Our fingers are crossed that the rewards will also be eligible for use at the commissary. Every reward earned offers shoppers the potential to save some of their hard-earned cash.

Using the Star Card Supports MWR Programs

A considerable amount of the monies earned through interest on Military Star cards is used to fund MWR events and programs. Using your Star card helps keep our military dollars within our community.

Provides Options to Military Families

In her article, Star Card At The Commissary: Good or Bad? , Kate Horrell mentions one important benefit of this payment option:

“Service members who have run out of money will be able to purchase affordable, real food on credit instead of buying expensive junk food at the exchanges or minimarts/shoppettes.”

We know an unhealthy diet is usually a cheap diet, so having the Star card as an option for those months where a paycheck runs a little thin could be a value for some military families.

DeCA Gets to Save

Adding the Military Star card to the list of credit cards currently accepted at commissaries offers a direct benefit to DeCA. For every credit card purchase processed, DeCA must pay a small transaction fee to the credit card processor. Military Star card transactions, in comparison, cost less than say the fees paid to Visa or Mastercard.

The Concerns Associated with Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary

So we’ve covered the benefits, but what should service members and their families think about before swiping their Star card?  Two words – debt management.

Using the card to earn rewards can be a great way to stretch your budget, but that only works to your advantage if you pay off your credit card balance each month.

Credit for Consumables

Many financial advisors warn against using credit to purchase consumable goods. While it is easy and convenient to charge that $200 grocery bill to a credit card, if you only pay the minimum payment, by the time you pay off the balance, you’ll have paid an additional $15 or more in interest. And if you make a habit of it for every weekly grocery run, your annual grocery shopping bill could be more than $700 over what it would have been if you’d just paid cash.

Option for Garnishment

Plus, if you use your Star Card and don’t make a payment, you may soon find your military wages garnished to pay the bill. Regular credit cards don’t have that option.

If you are going to use your Military Star card at the commissary, reap the benefits, but take care to treat it just like any other credit card purchase and shop responsibly.

Do you have a Military Star card? Will you use it at the commissary this fall?

How Do Unemployment Benefits Work for Military Spouses Living Overseas?

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Filing for unemployment isn’t as complicated as it once was. If you are a military spouse that has lost a job due to PCSing with your service member, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. There are many factors that go into determining if you qualify along with how much money you can receive. Finding out if you do qualify and how much you may receive does not have to be difficult anymore as most states have this information readily available online.

How Do Unemployment Benefits Work for Military Spouses Living Overseas?

Many states do not spell out whether moving overseas qualifies or disqualifies a military spouse from receiving unemployment benefits.

There are now 46 states, as well as the District of Columbia, that provide unemployment insurance for military spouses that leave their jobs specifically to follow their service members on a new assignment.

Only Idaho, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio consider leaving a job for this reason to be “voluntary” and therefore not a good reason for leaving a job under any wavier.

Ohio worked on legislation last year to include military spouse relocation due to a PCS to be eligible for compensation. It however stalled in the state House in November with some opposing the bill saying they are already borrowing money from the government and without asking for further funds, this would create a heavier tax on businesses.

When filing for unemployment, make sure you apply in the state in which you worked; not the state or country that you have moved to. If you worked in any of those 4 states that do not offer unemployment for military spouses, then you do not qualify unless there are other circumstances you can claim exemption with. A link to each state’s unemployment information is available here. If you are unsure whether you qualify or not, go ahead and apply anyway. You can always file an appeal if you are denied the first time.

Some states have a specific clause under qualifications for unemployment to account for military spouses relocating out of state while others simply have a blanket statement for any spouse that moves a specific distance from their current job to follow a spouse to their new job assignment. The latter is known as a trailing spouse and applies to any spouse, military or not. Both of these are considered a voluntary quit with good cause.

Many states do not spell out whether moving overseas qualifies or disqualifies a military spouse from receiving unemployment benefits. Each state has its own laws regarding unemployment. There are a few states that have laws that specifically exclude moves overseas however. If you can make a case that you will be able to apply for jobs in America while overseas, then you may be approved for unemployment benefits after all.

Remember that each state is different and that laws constantly change. If you did not qualify a few moves ago, don’t be deterred this time. Perhaps the laws have changed in your favor. For example, Virginia only passed the military spouse unemployment compensation bill in 2014 and Ohio is still considering theirs.

Not only does every state have its own rules for qualification, but they also have different steps you must take to get unemployment benefits. The amount of compensation you may receive and the duration of benefits may differ as well.

Before you leave your job, make sure you check your state’s guidelines first. While leaving your job early to prepare for a move or to take a vacation before you PCS may sound good, you may lose out on unemployment if you quit too early. South Carolina for example only allows a person to resign from their job 15 days prior to a move.

Things to know when filing for unemployment:

  • Most states have a minimum amount of time that you must have worked in that state to qualify.
  • The amount of money you will receive is based on a percentage of your earnings over the previous 52 weeks.
  • Most states cap the amount of time you can receive unemployment benefits to 26 weeks.
  • Unemployment benefits are taxed. You will have to report them on your federal income tax return.
  • Filing for unemployment does not penalize your former employer. Unemployment insurance comes from the state’s general unemployment fund.

Go to your state’s website for unemployment and read all of the rules before you quit your job. When filing, you will likely need a copy of your service member’s PCS orders. If you leave a job in America to follow your spouse on their job assignment overseas, you may qualify for unemployment. You would need to be able to show that you are able to continue looking for work from an American business while you are abroad however.

If you worked while overseas with your spouse and have now received orders back to the United States you may be wondering if you can get unemployment that way. In some cases it is possible. You paid taxes on the money you earned abroad. Some of that money goes into the unemployment fund. You can apply for unemployment in your state of residency if you worked for an international company. If you worked for an American company while overseas, then you would apply for unemployment benefits from the company’s state of home office.

What questions do you have about unemployment? Post them in the comments section and we will try to answer them in a future article.

4 Tips for Booking a Room at Military Lodging

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It’s one of the best parts about being stationed on Okinawa. The Okuma Recreation Facility is a family recreation paradise operated by the military on the north side of the island. This hidden gem has bike paths, glass-bottom boat tours, golf and kayaking. With cabins located on the beach, I knew that I wanted to stay at Okuma at least once during the 3 years we were stationed on Okinawa.

4 Tips for Booking a Room at Military Lodging

At Okuma Recreation Facility, there are beach cottages, private cabanas and log cabins available for those who want to stay for a weekend or longer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Megan Angel/Released)

But booking a cabin at Okuma wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

First I had to track down the reservation phone number. Next I had to find out how far in advance a guest can make a reservation. Then I needed to make a reservation for the type of room my service member was eligible to stay at.

I had 3 false starts before finally succeeding at making a lodging reservation for us.

These obstacles are not uncommon when it comes to booking a room at military lodging. A friend of mine was complaining just last week saying “Why is it so hard to book a room at military lodging?” She wanted to stay in Pensacola, Fl., during a cross-country PCS road trip.

4 Tips for Booking a Room at Military Lodging

The Hale Koa Armed Forces Recreation Center as seen from Kalia Road, Waikiki, Hawaii. (U.S. Army photo by Bill Bradner)

We know that there are some awesome military lodging locations. But making a reservation can be such a pain in the butt. What’s the best way to do it?

Here are 4 tips for booking a room at military lodging.

Find out how far in advance you can make a reservation and memorize their cancellation policy. OK, you don’t have to memorize their cancellation policy. But you want to be familiar with it and clearly understand it.

Some military lodging facilities will allow guests to book a year in advance. So if you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Tokyo on Dec. 31, 2017, you needed to book your room at the New Sanno Hotel on Dec. 31, 2016.

Other military-owned facilities allow guests to make reservations 180 days in advance. There isn’t 1 cancellation policy for all DoD lodging. It varies by location, so make sure you understand it when planning your vacation.

In general, reservations can be made months in advance. I recommend making your reservation as far in advance as possible.

Wait, back to the cancellation policy. Here’s why that is important.

Book ahead as long as you understand the cancellation policy because it may not be the same as a civilian hotel’s cancellation policy.

For example, when we booked our Disney vacation and planned to stay at Shades of Green, we were told that room cancellations, without a fee, must be done 30 days in advance. I put that information in my iPhone calendar and then at 31 days until our family vacation, I double-checked with my husband that our vacation was still a go.

This means, yes, his leave was approved. Yes, he would back from his deployment in time to drive to Orlando with us. No, we didn’t want to stay at a different resort.

Use the phone number. In my experience, the best way to make a reservation with military lodging is over the phone. Hands down. It’s the way to go. That way, you can find out if you’re eligible to stay at this military lodge (more on that later), what their cancellation policy is, what type of room you’re getting, what amenities that room has (coffee maker, mini fridge) and what you are paying for this room. Typically, room rates are based on pay grade.

Plus when you are on the phone and the dates you want a room aren’t available, you can find out if you can be put on a waiting list. Some military lodging has waiting lists for guests.

Understand who is eligible to stay where. Not all military lodging is open to everyone. When you are researching a particular location, make sure you understand if you are eligible to stay there or not.

Some facilities are available to active duty and retired service members, National Guard members and Reservists, and DoD and nonappropriated funding government employees and their immediate family members. Some facilities like the Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel in San Francisco and Hale Koa in Hawaii are open to all veterans, regardless of length of service.

I should also mention that service members traveling on orders always have first priority for military lodging. I’ve never lost a room due to service members who needed it, but I could have. I recommend booking a back-up hotel, a civilian one with a no-fee 24-hour cancellation policy.

Look to other military families for information about military lodging. As you can see, it isn’t impossible to book at room at an inexpensive military resort. But it can be frustrating if you don’t understand the reservation policies.

When you’re looking for information, ask questions on your local military spouse Facebook groups. Once you figure out the secrets of booking a room, share your knowledge with other military families. It’s the best kind of paying it forward, in my opinion.

Have you had success booking a room at military lodging? What tips would you offer to make this process easier to understand?

How to Work From Home While Your Kids Are Home on Summer Break

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You’ve finally settled into a perfect rhythm. Post-drop-off, you grab a quick (hot) cup of coffee and get to work. You can spend the whole day networking, creating and getting your hustle on.

Except now, school is out for the summer and your kids are at home with you. Your beautiful angels will be home all day long. Just like that, your perfect work rhythm is seriously in jeopardy.

How to Work From Home While Your Kids Are Home on Summer Break

You may need to work in the evenings when your kids are home with you for their summer vacation.

With a few tweaks, though, you can still work from home during summer break.

Work From Home Solutions: Find Child Care

Summer Camp

Behold the beauty that is summer camp. Your children will be having glorious adventures every weekday during regular school hours. You, on the other hand, will be able to stick to your perfect work schedule.

Unlike (public) school, however, you will have to pay for the privilege of keeping your kids busy. Luckily for military families, there are many scholarships and even free camping opportunities out there! And there are endless camping possibilities. From your basic day camp to specialty activity camps to sleep-away camps, there truly is something for everyone.

Even if you only use summer camps for a few weeks, this option can seriously keep your work groove in the zone.

Mother’s Helper

What if a magical person came to your house for a few hours a day to entertain your children? These angels from heaven do exist and they are called mother’s helpers.

Mother’s helper is a perfect job for an older middle school or young high school student during summer break. It’s a great bridge between being a child and being an independent babysitter. Plus, mother’s helpers usually command slightly lower rates because you, the parent, will be home.

Additionally, you will be helping another young entrepreneur get his or her start in the business world! Ask around your church, social groups or schools. You never know who has a child that wants to gain child care experience.

Enlist Your Spouse

One of the perks of being a work-at-home-parent is that you can pull double duty as the primary caregiver and a breadwinner. But you absolutely need some alone time to work or just get out of the house. Schedule some time for your spouse to step into your shoes. Then you can set up shop in a cafe with wifi to work and enjoy a delicious latte or two.

Other Child Care Options

Set up play dates or child care swaps with other families during the week. Create a backyard full of entertainment with kiddie pools, sandboxes and maybe a swing set. Or head to a playground to change things up. You should definitely use every minute of naptime and create rest time for children who no longer nap.

Worst-case scenario? You might be pulling some night shifts to get your work done.

Work From Home Solutions: Workflow Optimization

Planning

Make sure that you know what you’re doing in your limited time. On Sunday night, after the kids are asleep, write everything down in your weekly planner. Include your kid’s activities, your work commitments and other tasks to complete.

Make note of any days when you know that you might need to get work done at night. Also be sure to include a countdown to any big project deadlines. This way you can mentally prepare and plan in advance.

Batch Your Work

Working from home means you wear a lot of different hats all the time. When you’re planning your work week, try to keep similar tasks on the same day.

For example, plan to schedule social media posts on Mondays and write new blog posts on Tuesdays. Or micro-batch things, like answering emails during your first 20 minutes and then make 1 sales call immediately after.

Cut the Extras

Figure out what is the core of your business and focus on that during the school-free months.

If you are self-employed or a freelancer, this can be easier. In the summer, try to keep it simple. It might be a good idea to think carefully about taking on new projects, clients or commitments. Unless you have found a way to carry your school-year schedule into summer, your work time might be significantly impacted.

For current projects, stick to the basics and essentials. Think about what you absolutely have to do to keep going.

If you work for someone else, now is a great time to remind your employer that your children will need more of your time during the summer. Ask about flexible scheduling, like working more nights and fewer days if you are on the clock. If your schedule will be drastically altered, see if you can work part-time or be used as a backup.

Work From Home Solutions: Spend Time Together

As important as work is, cherish these fleeting summers spent with your children. Even while you maintain your business or career, schedule in lots of time for fun day trips and vacations.

After all, that’s part of the appeal of working from home, right? You can enjoy your kids’ childhood and rock your career dreams!

Do you work from home? What do you do with your kids during summer vacation?

Should Service Members Be Required to Buy into Their Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit?

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House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe, R-Tenn., introduced the idea of changing the GI Bill to have service members buy into the benefit. This quickly became a debated topic with strong opinions on both sides.

Later, a meeting was scheduled to hear points from multiple interested parties, but that was quickly called off as well. Finally, last month 35 veterans groups were able to peacefully discuss changes to the GI Bill.

At the conclusion of that meeting, the groups were able to agree on 4 key changes to the GI Bill but could not agree on how to fund them.

Currently, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a free benefit to service members that meet certain criteria. There is no fee to participate in the program. The GI Bill is estimated to cost the government about $100 billion over the next 10 years.

Should Service Members Be Required to Buy into Their Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit?

New service members may be required to pay into the GI Bill if proposed changes occur. Four changes are being considered, but funding for them may come from service members directly.

The idea introduced is that new service members would have to buy into the GI Bill benefit if they wanted to have access to it. This fee would only apply to service members that enter the military after a set point, not current or former service members.

The GI Bill tax is proposed to be $100 a month for the first 2 years of service. While that might not sound like a lot of money to those in Washington, it is substantial to lower enlisted men and women. Once the $2,400 has been paid over that period of time, service members would be eligible to use the GI Bill. The government estimates that this buy-in fee would bring in $3.1 billion over 10 years.

The money taken in from this GI Bill tax would be used to finance adding other groups of service members and their families that do not, under the current GI Bill, qualify for the program. Adding these groups to the GI Bill benefit is what all parties can agree on, but funding it through this tax is not.

As it stands, the groups agreed on 4 changes to the GI Bill.

The first is permitting National Guard and Reservists who deployed under Title 10, Section 12304b and should of qualified for benefits, but didn’t, to be eligible for the GI Bill. Roughly 4,700 service members fall under this category.

The second thing they agreed on is to broaden the eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program to include surviving spouses as well as children of service members that were killed while serving their county. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides extra money to put toward education, which allows recipients to attend schools or take classes that would otherwise cost more than the GI Bill would cover.

The third thing all parties could agree on was to give full GI Bill benefits to every Purple Heart recipient. Sadly, every Purple Heart recipient does not currently qualify for these benefits. As it stands, the service member must be medically retired from the military if they don’t have 36 months of active duty. There are about 1,500 Purple Heart recipients who do not meet these qualifications.

Finally, those at the meeting agreed that there should be assistance for students when a school they are attending closes. Under the current GI Bill, if a school closes its doors before you graduate, you simply lose the money that the GI Bill benefit paid to the school. You don’t get to start over at a new school with new money.

Thousands of veterans were hit hard when ITT Tech closed last year. They weren’t able to recoup any of the money or even transfer credits.

These 4 changes to the GI Bill are great improvements. The only problem is how to fund them. The VFW strongly disagrees with charging service members for the GI Bill but other groups, particularly the Student Veterans of America, are for it.

What do you think of this proposal to have service members buy into their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits?