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10 Tips for How to Nail a Phone Interview

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Moving around the world as much as I have, I’ve had my fair share of phone or virtual interviews. At first, it seems great. You can totally chill on the couch in your PJs while securing a new job. I’m 100% there for that!

Until life intervenes and everything blows up.

10 Tips for How to Nail a Phone Interview

You need to prepare for a phone interview a little differently than how you prepare for an in-person one. Here are our tips to help you have a great phone interview.

 

Help Prevent the Implosion from Happening With These 10 Tips for a Phone Interview

1. Do your research

Before you even get on the phone, it’s important to know about the company and the position. You want this job and are super qualified. You need to communicate that over the phone.

Poke around their website quite a bit. It’s not just the tagline that you need to be able to quote verbatim. Instead, you should be very aware of their mission, history, focus and purpose.

Depending on the position you are applying for, you could also do specific research. Look at the position-related content on the company’s website. Another option, if you have experience in the field already, is to create a brief summary of what you anticipate the position to look like and how you would fill that role most effectively.

2. Practice Questions

Practice makes perfect, especially for a job interview. The most successful interviews I’ve ever had involved hours of prep work.

If you have been in this field before, you’ve likely been through this process as least once. Try to write down, from memory, questions that you’ve been asked at previous interviews. If you are new to this field or just entering the workforce, link up with a mentor or career prep center. They can help you to work through typical job interview questions.

Either way, write out your answers to each potential question. Next, find a partner to practice with. Your spouse, friend, mentor or career advisor will role play the interviewer. They’ll ask you possible questions; you’ll answer. Try not to use your written answers if you’ll be doing a video interview. Having your responses nearby is perfectly fine for phone or off-camera interviews, though!

3. Create a Portfolio

At an in-person interview for a professional position, you’d be sharing your best work with a portfolio or through samples. While you won’t be able to do this during your phone interview, it’s helpful to have your best work on hand for your own reference. It can help trigger anecdotes or create deeper answers to questions.

If your portfolio is digital, you can offer to share your files before, during or after your interview. This shows your dedication and commitment to the position.

4. Tech Logistics

When you plan the interview, you should confirm how everything will take place. If you are in the U.S. calling the U.S., you will have fewer issues. Operating OCONUS and connecting with the U.S.? You’ll need to nail down specifics, especially timing due to the different time zones.

Confirm the time and platform (phone, online call, etc.) 24 hours before your interview. This helps to bring you to the forefront of the interviewer’s mind.

5. Location Location

Where is this interview happening? I’ve always done better in a semi-professional setting where I am comfortable. The best bet is to sit at your desk or dining room table. For on-camera interviews, try to ensure good lighting.

Being in a professional setting means that you will have your career tools easily on hand. From jotting down notes on Post-Its to pulling things up on your computer, being at your control center gives you more, well, control!

6. Noise Control

Speaking of control, what are your plans for noise interference? I have 2 kids and a dog and live in a military flight path. I needed to have a plan for my phone interviews. There is nothing worse than having a rowdy toddler bust into your super serious chat!

If you can, hire a sitter or arrange for your spouse to be home. For things outside of your control, like a dog barking or noisy planes, explain them and apologize for these possible interruptions in advance.

You should also have a back-up plan in case of technical difficulties. If you are unable to connect, immediately email or message the interviewer to apologize and explain the difficulty. Then offer several options to reconnect right away.

7. Dress for Success

While interviewing in your comfy sweatpants sounds great, it might not work in your favor. Wearing relaxing clothes makes you more casual, which is the opposite of what you want to do on this call. Instead, put on real clothes.

I like to wear skinny jeans and a cute blouse for off-camera interviews. For video calls, I wear a professional button down, jewelry and do my hair and make-up.

When I feel professional I act professional. This can totally help you nail the ideal tone of voice and stay on-point.

8. Honesty Always

It’s important to upsell yourself, sure. But there is a fine line between a professional upsell and dishonesty. If you don’t have the exact experience the company is looking for, be honest. If you think you could quickly pick up that skill set or expand your area of expertise, tell your interviewer that.

9. Etiquette

Follow all common interview etiquette rules. Be prompt and prepared at the time the interview. Take water with you in case of coughing or a dry mouth. Ask thoughtful follow-up questions and share only as much personal information as appropriate to the position and the situation.

After the interview, immediately send a thank you email. Express how much you enjoyed speaking to your interviewer and why you are excited about this position. Close the email by saying that you look forward to continuing your conversation.

10. Be Yourself!

Most companies don’t want a robot doing the job. They want a person with quirks and a sense of humor. Let your light shine and toot your horn loudly. Maybe skip sharing your affinity for true crime, but totally crack a few (safe) jokes if it feels right.

Have you rocked a phone interview? Share your tips to snag a dream job!

5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a military spouse, it’s to be organized.

Military life is full of challenges and being prepared and organized can make things so much easier. It’s a new year and we are all making resolutions. If yours is to be more organized, here are 5 tips to get you on track.

5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

Being organized will help reduce the stresses of military life.

5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

Minimize

It’s much easier to stay organized when you have fewer things to organize. I don’t like having clutter, especially paper clutter. A great idea is to open mail and immediately dispose of what you don’t need and file what you do need to keep. Have a specific place to put bills. Once they’re paid, file or shred them. Don’t leave papers out.

Pro-tip: Go paperless whenever possible.

It isn’t just paper that needs to be minimized. I remember shopping with my grandmother when I was little. When I found something I liked she would say

“do you need it or do you want it?”

I still think about that question when shopping and that keeps me from buying things I don’t need. Military families move so often and packing and unpacking can be daunting. Do you really want to move with so many things?

Minimizing the amount of things you own can help you stay organized. I keep a box for donations in my room. When I come upon something I don’t use, I drop it in there and take the box to the donation center when it’s full. If you do this regularly, when it’s time to PCS you won’t have as many things to go through before the packers come to your house.

You’ll also have more room in your closet for clothes you actually wear and your kids will have space for toys they really play with.

File

There are plenty of things you can’t get rid of though, including documents. I have a file box for my husband and myself as well as one for the kids. Paperwork that needs to be saved goes in their proper place as soon as I’ve gone through them. This includes insurance information, school transcripts and tax paperwork.

I also recommend creating a file or folder with important documents. This could have your marriage license, birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, military orders, power of attorney, a printout of a LES, car titles, insurance information, important contact information, a copy of your will and more in it. These items are in my go-to file. It is so much faster to have everything in one spot when you need things in a hurry.

Prep

Being in a hurry happens a lot in military life. Planning ahead makes things go smoothly. I feel much better when I am prepared for moves, deployments and everyday life.

Don’t let yourself get stressed out. Make the time to get your thoughts organized. Do you have a PCS coming up? Will your spouse be deploying soon? Is your week going to be busy?

Prepare yourself for these things by thinking about what you need to do for each. If your spouse is deploying list the things you need them to do before they go and don’t wait until the last minute to do them.

If you’re moving this year, you’ll want to prep for the move.  Do as much as you can ahead of time. Start thinning out things you don’t need, gather things that you will need for the move and look into the area that you’re moving to.

If you have a busy week, make sure you’re prepared for it. Plan your meals for the week. Use your slow cooker for easy dinners. Make sure backpacks, diaper bags and lunches are packed the night before.

Delegate

You might feel like you have to do everything, but you don’t have to do it all yourself. Share the responsibility with your children. Kids of all ages can help around the house. Our 4 year old is in charge of feeding the dog and setting the table. If you have older kids, they can do laundry, empty the dishwasher and walk the dog. Everyone can help make dinner too. Children can even pack their own lunches.

If you are moving, have the kids declutter their room. Let them organize their toys. Put them in charge of preparing their things to be packed. Make them feel part of the process.

Reset

When my husband says he’s going to bed, he goes to bed.

When I say I’m going to bed, it never happens that I just go to bed. I always see something that needs to be done. I started thinking of it as resetting the house. This is basically tidying up the house so that I come down to a nicely organized space in the morning. This includes picking up things in the living room, putting away the dishes that dried, setting out items for breakfast and putting bags by the door.

Resetting can also be for your mind. Don’t go to bed with a million things on your mind. Review what you need to do before you go to bed so that when your head hits the pillow you fall asleep.

If you do some of these things to get organized, you’ll find your military life is more enjoyable and less stressful.

What do you do to keep your family organized?

What I Love About Being a Stay-At-Home-Dad

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by Eric Gardner, guest contributor

I have had many titles placed upon me in my life, but the one I cherish the most is stay-at-home-dad.

What I Love About Being a Stay-At-Home-Dad

There will always be enormous events in life, however the really important ones happen in between these milestones.

The role of a domestic engineer is a critical position that does not reward you in the traditional sense of a paycheck so some people struggle to define its value. As someone who benefited from a stay-at-home parent and now as I fill the role myself, I understand the profoundly positive impact this position can play in the health of a military family.

My wife and I, like many others, have always placed a very high value on our family. It’s a key consideration for us as we look forward with her military career.

As military families we can’t always stack the deck in our favor with PCS timelines or operational tempos but my wife and I have always tried to do the best we can.

As our family grew with the arrival of our oldest that core consideration of family value was put to the test.

As a dual-military couple we understood the time constraints our careers placed on us. With combat deployments on the rise at the time and both of us assigned to high op-tempo units we were concerned with how that could affect our family. We had seen many couples struggle with this and talked through countless scenarios. In the end the only one that fit us was my departure from the service to stay at home.

I won’t pretend there wasn’t a significant learning curve.

The transition from leading troops in combat to being unable to get my daughter into a diaper without it being a significant emotional event was an adjustment.

You cannot help but be humbled and laugh at life when your child pees through her diaper and onto your dress slacks as you stand in a receiving line for your wife’s change of command. Your once formidable persona as a ground combatant commander is shattered by the undeniable challenges that raising children will bring.

Yet with all difficult tasks come wondrous rewards. I know how fortunate I am to be able to say, I have been present at the birth of both of my children. I have been to every birthday, every holiday meal (because I am making them) and every milestone so far in their lives. Not out of luck but because I am supposed to be.

The role of a stay-at-home parent requires sacrifice, however it also yields immeasurable rewards.

I will admit that my wife got the first word status. I guess it is more fun to say “Momma” than “Daddy” in the beginning. She shares a bond with our girls I will never have – after all she is their mother.

I have been a Girl Scout troop leader and was given the unique chance to add a male perspective to my troop. Our Thinking Day observance was one such instance. As we told the unique histories and cultural information about Italy, my Girl Scouts showed off bedazzled gladiator weapons they made for the event.

I have been a spokesman for school programming, a room parent, hosted coffees and attended the military spouse events in Washington, D.C. As many of the other stay-at-home parents know there is never a shortage of areas to help out in.

Being a stay-at-home dad has allowed me the opportunity to never take myself too seriously. There will always be enormous events in life, however the really important ones happen in between these milestones. The loss of a tooth, learning to ride a bike, doing the first cartwheel, or getting a perfect score on a test.

Life happens in a few blinks of an eye.

Being afforded the opportunity to be with my girls daily lets me see them grow into beautiful ladies and allows me the chance to bolster their confidence so they can chase any dream they have.

Eric Gardner was raised in a military family and lived around the world. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer. Since the end of his wartime service he has shifted gears and is now a stay-at-home father. In his role as an active duty Army spouse, he has become an author. As the creator of the XIII Legion Series he has enjoyed great success, and enjoys meeting other entrepreneurial spouses as well as fellow authors. You can see more from Eric Gardner at his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thirteenthlegion.series, and http://www.facebook.com/XIIILGN or follow him via Twitter @13thLegion.

Do You Understand Tricare’s Upcoming Changes?

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Did you know that Tricare is changing? Just when you thought you had a grasp on how Tricare works, it’s going to change.

Here are the things you need to know about the changes that are coming, when they will begin, how they will impact your military family and what actions you need to take.

Do You Understand Tricare's Upcoming Changes?

If you are currently enrolled in Tricare, you don’t need to do anything if you want to stay in the same plan.

Upcoming Changes Are Coming to Tricare

Region Consolidation

Regions stateside will be consolidated from the current North, South and West to simply Tricare East and Tricare West as North and South merge. There are 2 contractors that will cover Tricare East, Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services.

Tricare Select

While Tricare Prime will not change, Tricare Standard and Tricare Extra will combine into one program, Tricare Select. This will happen on Jan. 1, 2018.

Tricare Select will be a self-managed program with a preferred provider network option available. You will not need to have a primary care manager (PCM). This will allow beneficiaries to go to any Tricare provider without a referral.

While change is usually unsettling, some things will improve. Access for beneficiaries to network providers under Tricare Select will be expanded to include more non-cost preventive services from network providers. The treatment for obesity, high-value care and telehealth will be expanded under Tricare Select.

Enrollment Deaadlines

Automatic enrollment for current Tricare beneficiaries will take place on Jan. 1, 2018. This means Tricare Standard and Tricare Extra beneficiaries will switch to Tricare Select instantly.

Throughout 2018, beneficiaries will be able to enroll in or change plans. In the fall however, Tricare will begin an annual open enrollment time.

At this point, beneficiaries will have to decide if they want to keep or change their Tricare plan for the next year. The open enrollment time will begin each year from now on the Monday of the second full week in November until the Monday of the second full week in December.

Under the previous Tricare rules, a beneficiary could change from Tricare Prime to Standard and vice versa at any time. Under the new Tricare policy, beneficiaries will not be able to. All changes must occur during open enrollment only.

The rules for qualifying life events (QLE) will also change. When a QLE occurs, the beneficiary has 90 days after the event to change the Tricare program they are enrolled to different one. Any member of that person’s family can also change their coverage during that time.

2018 will be a transition year meaning you can still change your Tricare program anytime however.

Specific Changes

Prime beneficiaries will be able to get appointments quicker by not needing a referral for some things. Going to Urgent Care without a referral by the primary physician will be included in this.

Select beneficiaries will see a change to finances. Currently there is a cost share that requires the beneficiary to pay a percent of the total care. Under the new Tricare program, Tricare Select will pay a fixed dollar amount.

Tricare for Life beneficiaries will see their benefits preserved but the authority is there to restructure and updated them.

How will these Tricare changes impact military families?

As Tricare changes from a fiscal year to a calendar year period, military families might see a shift in money. If catastrophic caps or deductibles have been reached, now that the timeline has shifted, there will be no increase in out-of-pocket expenses during that time.

Tricare beneficiaries will be divided into 2 groups. All sponsors that joined the military prior to Jan. 1, 2018 will be in group A, which will be grandfathered in. Those who join the military on that date or later will be put into group B, known as the non-grandfathered group. There will be distinct enrollment fees as well as out-of-pocket costs associated with each group.

What actions should you take?

Beneficiaries must enroll in one of these programs or coverage will be terminated. If this happens, they will only be able to get care at a military clinic on a space available basis.

If you are currently enrolled in Tricare, you don’t need to do anything if you want to stay in the same plan.

If you want to change plans, you should do so. Before Jan. 1, 2018, dependents should make sure they are registered in DEERS. Updating your information in DEERS is a good idea.

What questions do you have about Tricare’s upcoming changes?

We Really Wish These Retailers Offered a Military Discount

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One perk of being part of the military community is getting a military discount. Sure it’s a small thing, but it goes a long way.

How many times have you asked for a military discount when you’ve been checking out at a retailer?

I love a great discount and I’m thankful that many establishments offer it. I don’t expect it and quite often I’m surprised by how many places do offer a military discount.

Michael’s use to only offer a military discount on Mondays, but in recent years this retailer has moved to offering it every day. Old Navy is now the same, offering a military discount every day of the week instead of just one. I would always end up there on the wrong day, so I am so glad they expanded the program.

We Really Wish These 20 Retailers Offered a Military Discount

Getting a military discount is wonderful, no matter where it is at.

There are plenty of retailers that offer a military discount, but there are many more that do not.

Here are 20 stores that we wish offered a military discount.

I did a bit of crowdsourcing and found that many military spouses said grocery stores. Everyone doesn’t live near a commissary so they don’t have the opportunity to save money that way. The closest commissary to me is 35 minutes away, which doesn’t seem far. It is however when you need to pop out for 1 or 2 things.

It would be nice if places such as Wegmans, Publix, Giant, Food Lion, Aldi and Winn-Dixie offered a military discount.

After grocery stores, the next most popular establishments military spouses wished offered a military discount were big box retailers such as Walmart and Target. Most of us spend plenty of time in these stores and spend countless dollars, whether on frivolous things or necessities. Imagine how much money we would save over the long run if a military discount was offered.

Along the same lines, many military families would benefit from a military discount at stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s. Now that’s where most of us leave our money behind. It would be nice if we left with more than just jumbo sized products. Having a military discount would allow us to go home with more money in our pockets too.

We would probably spend it on coffee though. You laugh, but it’s true. So many people stated that they wished Starbucks offered a military discount. I vote for that too.

I don’t want to know how much money I’ve spent on coffee. It was worth every penny though. Every move, every deployment, every time I’ve made friends with new military spouses coffee has been involved. It’s basically a lifeline.

Speaking of lifelines, Amazon is a real savior. How many times have you bought something on Amazon? Having Prime membership is worth the price, but it would be so much better with a military discount.

If students can get a discount and people on government assistance that have EBT cards can get a discount, then why can’t military families get one? It doesn’t seem like that should be out of the question. If they can extend a membership discount to certain groups, then they should consider extending it to the military community.

I suppose we can’t have it all, but we can dream. Some other retailers that were suggested to add a military discount include Best Buy, Walgreens, Hobby Lobby and Tractor Supply as well as many restaurants.

At some locations Best Buy offers a 10% military discount, but not all of the stores do. Walgreens is now a Tricare approved pharmacy so many military families will be visiting these stores. It would be great if they offered a military discount on products other than prescriptions.

While Best Buy and Walgreens are great, many families have taken to a more domestic approach to life, having chickens in particular, and would benefit from a discount at Tractor Supply. Tractor Supply offers a discount to farmers, but not to military families. They receive a lot of patronage from the military, so it would be nice to get something back.

It would also be fantastic if every restaurant offered a military discount. A lot of military spouses said they would really appreciate that. Restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin and some Hard Rock Cafes offer these discounts but it would be nice if all of them did.

Getting a military discount is wonderful, no matter where it is at. I never expect to get one and am always happy and surprised when one is offered. Some places only offer the discount to the active duty person so it’s really nice when it can be applied to all of us with a military ID card.

Did we miss your favorite retailer that you wished offered a military discount? Tell us in the comments section.

The Stigma of Mental Health and the Military Spouse

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Every little thing, from the endless crying of the baby to one dish being out of place, caused me to fly into a rage. When I wasn’t angry, I was deeply sad and sobbing. The walls felt like they were closing in and my chest felt tight. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see a way out of the deep hole of depression.

It felt like I just couldn’t admit I was weak or that I needed help. I’d heard all of those saying about military spouses and strength. I was supposed to be the backbone of our family, keeping it all together when everything was falling apart.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed, out of sorts or just generally not yourself mentally and emotionally?

You are not alone. Approximately 30% of military spouses suffer from mental illness.

After I had my first child, I went deep into the postpartum depression rabbit hole. I didn’t want to upset the delicate balance of our lives, so I delayed seeking help until it was so severe I couldn’t function in my daily life.

Instead of talking about it, I drank much more than I should have. I used exercise to relieve stress obsessively. My weight and running times became unhealthy fixations. Most of all, I’m only just now, years later, realizing just how bad it was and how far I had gone. I’m so thankful I was able to claw my way out.

While I’m mostly “better” I will always struggle with mental health and I know that. I’m anxious about nonsense things or blow trivial matters out of proportion. Jumping to the worst possible scenario is pretty common for me in most challenging situations. I am painfully aware of what I say and how it could come across. There is a constant worry about how I might be perceived.

There is a stigma for military spouses struggling with mental health.

“How can that be? You’re literally telling the whole entire world about your struggles,” you might ask. You wouldn’t be wrong either.

But writing is different than in-person sharing. I’m hidden behind a screen and these words are typed not spoken.

The Stigma of Mental Health and the Military Spouse

Do you think there is a stigma around mental health struggles as a military spouse?

Military spouses who struggle with mental health often remain hidden. After all, we must be the backbone, the support system, for our whole family. We are the constant for our children who are often missing their other parent. Military spouses must handle everything that comes their way, mostly far from home and with an often-rotating support network of friends.

There is no fallback plan, no option for retreat. So most of us slog onward, dealing with our emotional battles in any way we can.

We self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. According to a recent study, almost 70% of military spouses had an alcoholic drink during a given month. Over 30% of those who drank were binge drinking. Others were smoking pot or using illegal drugs. Of course, some of these substances could have been used recreationally. But many military spouses drown their sorrows with a few glasses of wine or several beers every night.

You don’t want to talk about it or ask for help. There could be the perception of weakness or of taking needed resources away from deployable troops. Asking for help could draw unwanted attention or scrutiny to yourself, it could cause your service member to lose focus on the mission. Above all, you are supposed to be able to handle this.

There is no shame in asking for help.

I know this now. There are places to seek help readily available through “official” channels as well as completely confidential outlets.

A great place to start is with your chaplain or the Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) assigned to your duty station or unit. Chaplains serve all members of the military community. There are religious leaders from all sects and faith backgrounds, Christian and non-Christian alike. If you are religious, starting here could be a positive first step.

MFLCs are available to all military service members and their dependents. There are MFLCs assigned to all bases, with many locations hosting multiple counselors. Contact your unit FRO to connect with your local MFLC. Your sessions are off the books completely. Literally, no notes can or will be taken at any time. There is no record of what you discuss or even that you have been counseled. Best of all, many MFLCs keep flexible hours and can meet you both on and off base.

Another option is to seek counseling services through Military OneSource. Simply call the hotline and ask to speak to a representative about mental health counseling. There are a few criteria in place in order to receive services, but they try their best to meet your needs.

I used this service in 2014 and 2015 for postpartum depression. I was able to see a therapist just a few blocks from my home during evening hours, which made it super convenient for me. Best of all, this was 100% cost-free.

For those who need something other than talk therapy, please seek help from a medical professional. If you use Tricare, your PCM can provide at least an initial diagnosis and treatment plan. Your doctor might refer you to a specialist or other medical professional to seek further treatment for your specific mental health concerns.

I also used this route. My PCM was quickly able to diagnose me with postpartum depression and prescribed me anti-depressants to help regulate my emotions.

I know now that true strength comes from seeking help when needed, and offering help to those in need. No matter who you see first, if you are suffering from mental illness, prolonged sadness, thoughts of self-harm or other mental health concerns, please seek help right away. There is no shame in asking for help.

Do you think there is a stigma around mental health struggles as a military spouse? Share your thoughts in the comments.

12 Days of Holiday-Inspired Cocktails

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′Tis the season of holiday parties and office gatherings. Along with the shrimp cocktails and plates of holiday cookies, now is the time of year when a special holiday cocktail can make those celebrations with friends and family something memorable.

Inspired by the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” here are 12 drink recipes to try this holiday season.

12 Days of Holiday-Inspired Cocktails

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Ahhh, pears. They are often forgotten about when it comes to holiday entertaining, but they offer a nice alternative to apples and pumpkin. Together with ginger and bourbon, pears are the featured flavor in this holiday beverage that is just sweet enough to be something special. Here’s the recipe for a Ginger & Pear Bourbon Cocktail.

Two Turtle Doves

I’m not really sure what a turtle dove is, but I when I hear the word turtle, I automatically think chocolate and caramel. This drink has it all, complete with a pecan glass rimmer and topped with whipped cream! Let me introduce you to the Turtle Caketini.

Three French Hens

Even hens are fancier in France, so is it any wonder that a French cocktail could be just what you need to give your holiday party some pizazz? Here’s a whole list of French cocktails, but my favorite is French 75. You can’t go wrong when champagne is involved.

Four Calling Birds

Whether you are flocking together with family or friends, a drink inspired by calling birds is sure to please even the sourest humbug. Here’s the recipe for The Jungle Bird Cocktail.

Five Golden Rings

Be it 24 karat or 100 proof, gold for the holidays is always in style.

This one takes a little work, but oh, it’s so worth it. Take the bright, sweet flavor of pineapple and marry it with traditional holiday spices like cinnamon and clove. Served hot, this drink will warm you inside and out!

12 Days of Holiday-Inspired Cocktails

Now is the time of year when a special holiday drink can make those celebrations with friends and family something memorable.

Six Geese A Laying

What do you get when you’ve got six geese a laying? A whole lot of eggs. And while this drink recipe doesn’t actually contain any eggs, a spiked egg cream will bring back memories of yesteryear while helping you create new memories in the present.

Seven Swans A Swimming

Graceful and beautiful, but have you ever wondered what a swan who took a dive on the dark side would look like?

If you ask this mixologist, that bird would be purple, and both sweet and tart. Try a Seductive Swan for an afternoon get-together or your holiday book club.

Eight Maids A Milking

Where there is milk, there’s cream. And nothing says holiday cheer like the creamy, dreamy flavor of a peppermint patty. Here’s how to make this favorite seasonal drink three different ways.

Nine Ladies Dancing

If you’re not exactly a twinkle-toed ballerina, consider substituting killer dance moves with this killer drink. The Nine Ladies Dancing Cocktail is aptly named and just as impressive as any chorus line.

Ten Lords A Leaping

On this side of the pond you’re not likely to run into too many lords, but I imagine if you saw ten of them leaping, you’d probably take notice.

Inspired by Lord Stanley of the famous Stanley Cup this holiday punch packs a…well, a punch! Plus it makes enough to serve the entire hockey team!

Eleven Pipers Piping

Piping…piping…piping hot! With the cold winter weather, libations served warm are a must. And Hot Buttered Rum is a long-standing favorite.

This recipe makes it super easy to have Hot Buttered Rum pretty much on demand. Click the link for the batter recipe, then prepare your rum to be buttered.

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Stop and think for a moment what twelve drummers drumming would sound like. This final drink will help you celebrate the season with the kind of bang those drummers would be proud of.

Got a favorite recipe? Enter your holiday drink recipe in the MilitaryShoppers recipe contest. One winner every month. Click here to enter your recipe today!

16 Professional Licensing Resources for Military Spouses

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Every 3 years, it’s the same song and dance — apply for a new professional license at a new duty station.

It means taking all new tests or attempting to have old tests transferred. I’m hunting down test scores and descriptions from 3 duty stations ago in a vain attempt to save the hundreds of dollars it will cost for a test assessment.

As professionally licensed military spouses move around the nation and the world, it pays off big time to have some help. Use these resources to help you get into a licensed career field, transfer your license or get a new credential.

16 Professional Licensing Resources for Military Spouses

How do you find out about licensing requirements when moving to a new duty station?

National Military Family Scholarships

Did you know that you can get a scholarship for your career? The National Military Family Association has scholarships available for military spouses who are looking to advance their careers. Whether you are going to school or need a little boost to get a credential, the NMFA is here. The scholarship application deadline is Jan. 15, 2018.

Licensing Guides

If you thought the NMFA was done at scholarships, think again! They have also put together handy guides for military spouses in nursing, teaching and the mental health fields. Each guide has a handy printable checklist as well as a longer explanation to help you navigate the road ahead.

CareerOneStop

Wondering about who to contact for licensing information at your next duty station? CareerOneStop should be your next stop.

Input your profession or career into the search box, then select your preferred state. A list of career choices should pop up. Click the one most similar to what you are looking for. The next page will give you further instructions and contact information.

For example, a search for teachers in Massachusetts brought us here: contact info for the state’s Department of Education licensing requirements.

Career and Education Counseling

Whether you are looking for information about going back to school yourself or need to find a tutor for your child, MilitaryOneSource has a solution to help. Education consultants can help busy military families find solutions to their education questions. Find out about scholarship opportunities, how to use MyCAA or where to turn to advance your career after a PCS.

Reciprocity Maps for Teachers

The ideal is to find a state that will accept your current professional license without a lot of insane hoops or redundant testing required.

USA4MilitaryFamilies is a great place to turn for information about teacher licensing reciprocity agreements directly impacting military spouses. Their interactive map helps to outline the agreements currently in place or being considered.

Getting advance notice about what might be required to transfer a professional credential can change how you prepare for your next PCS.

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) also has a map that shows which states might offer reciprocity for licensing. This website is specifically for teacher and education professionals.

For information about other professionals, MilitaryOneSource has compiled an inclusive list.

Facebook

The original online social network has been building military spouse communities for years! Now, there are even more opportunities to grow professionally.

Join a career specific Facebook group to find information about your particular profession. Or join something more general to learn about a variety of opportunities. Either way, you’ll be tapping into a vast network of experience and education. Check out this (probably not exhaustive) list:

How do you find out about licensing requirements when moving to a new duty station? Share your best advice or favorite resource in the comments.

Waste Management: How Do Military Commissaries Fare?

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by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

Whether we like it or not, garbage and its disposal is everyone’s business. Every year, the world churns out 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste and this figure is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons annually (World Bank). In the US, we produced 254 million tons of garbage, recycled and composted about 87 million tons or a recycling rate of 34.3% in 2013 according to the EPA. The military economy alone is responsible for 2.8 % of GDP according to the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment. It also produces waste but works diligently to reduce waste production.

Efforts of the Military Commissaries at Waste Reduction

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) of the DoD operates over 245 commissaries across the globe. Its environmental management system (EMS) ensures protection of the environment by reducing and recycling waste. Last year, DeCA recycled nearly 1.12 million pounds of paper, roughly 421,000 pounds of metal and more than 3.7 million pounds of plastic.

DeCA announced that their commissaries achieved an 83 percent recycling efficiency rate in 2015.

Food recycling is also an important part of its efforts with 1.5 million pounds of bones/fats and nearly 30,000 pounds of (kitchen) grease recycled. It donated 2.7 million pounds of edible but unsalable food through its food bank donation program in 2016. This year or as of March 2017, DeCA had already given nearly 2 million pounds of food to the program. Treatment and diverting waste are not the only activities the agency promotes. It also sells organic foods and green products that are considered environmentally-friendly such as reusable shopping bags. DeCA continues to achieve and even surpass its waste management targets.

How Families and Personnel Can Help

Whether living on or off the base or shopping at commissaries, there are several ways that individuals and families can help reduce carbon footprint and solid waste disposal. As waste disposal units are popular and installed in over 50% of American homes (US Census Bureau, 2009), food waste is treated in the sewage system diverting much of it from landfills.  

The mantra of waste management is to reduce, reuse and recycle.  Go for reusable shopping bags and buy products with the least packaging. Where it is not possible to avoid waste residuals, segregate as much as possible. Educating yourself and others around you helps increase waste management awareness and prevent a lot of trash from ending up in landfills.

Waste management is key to this planet’s survival. Unless we want to be buried by our own garbage, everyone is encouraged to make proper trash disposal their business. The concerted efforts of military commissaries and surrounding communities can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the environment.

*this article was submitted by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

 

How I Feel When Someone Thanks Me for My Service

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“Thank you for your service!”

I’m never quite sure how to reply to this. I know it’s meant with great sincerity. My friends, family and casual acquaintances do truly mean it from the bottom of their hearts. Deep down I know that they are trying to convey appreciation for all that I have sacrificed to be with the person I love most.

After all, I’ve pretty much walked away from a promising teaching career. We pull up stakes every few years and move to yet another far away location. While my children have only known the shortest of TDY separations, I’ve gutted it out for the full 12-month experience. All of this is a lot to ask and to accomplish with (hopefully) grace and selflessness.

I know that this is what is meant when I am thanked for my service. The person is acknowledging that I, too, am giving of myself and of our family in service to our country. Small pieces of me have been chipped away with each “see you later.”

How I Feel When Someone Thanks Me for My Service © LoloStock/Adobe Stock[/caption]

Other times, I know I am standing in for my absent spouse. Without him by my side, sharing gratitude for his service feels awkward. Especially when it is then incumbent upon me to pass that gratitude along. I mean, if I actually did that, I could be thanking him morning, noon and night some days!

Instead of expressing thanks to him alone, I am included. “Thank you both for your service and sacrifice.” Our sacrifice is collective.

However, it also rings untrue to me. My service? I didn’t even sacrifice a quarter of what my spouse and others have voluntarily given of themselves.

I endured a lengthy deployment, but I wasn’t in a foxhole or FOB. I wasn’t even in the barracks. Instead, I was on my very comfortable couch at home in SoCal, snuggling my pup. I didn’t need to wipe gritty sand from my eyes or check my boots for creepy desert critters. The worst I had to suffer through was a tough bout of strep throat and hogging the whole bed.

My career isn’t what it could be, should be or would be. But I have lived all over the country and even overseas. I get to explore other professional passion projects.

My sacrifice was simply going without the physical presence of my spouse. My service is to go where the military takes us, to grin and bear it. I volunteered to live life Semper Gumby.

“Thank you for your service.”

I know the intentions behind this statement are sincere. The person is showing their gratitude for my spouse’s service to me and through me. They are honoring the dedication of our whole family to a greater purpose. And I respect that. I want my spouse to be thanked and honored for his willingness to serve our nation.

While I have chosen a different path in life, one that has required me to “give up” opportunities and expectations I once held dear, I do not serve. I have never sworn the oath of allegiance to protect our great nation against “enemies foreign and domestic.” There is no proverbial blank check, with my signature, encompassing my willingness to put my life and limbs in the line of fire.

How should I respond when I am thanked for a service I have not completed? Usually, I simply say “Thank you” and move on.

Sometimes I reply with wit:

“Oh, you should thank my husband. I can’t do that many pull-ups!”

I do not serve. I simply love a person who made the commitment to do so.

Have you had a civilian thank you for your service as a military spouse? How did you respond?