Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

What You Need to Do to Get TSA PreCheck

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Flying can be fun, but it can also be stressful when waiting in long lines at the TSA security checkpoint. Large airports such as Atlanta can be frustrating when the line is long and moves slowly. It is very time consuming to remove your shoes, coat and belt as well as taking out liquids and computers from your carry-on bag. TSA is working on getting those lines shortened with their TSA PreCheck program.

What Service Members, Military Spouses Need to Do to Get TSA PreCheck

Did you know that military service members qualify for TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck makes security screening quicker and easier for passengers that are considered to be low-risk. Those that qualify for the program are able to go through a special lane at TSA security in some U.S. airports. These passengers are not required to take the time-consuming steps such as removing shoes, liquids and laptops. You must be a member of the TSA PreCheck program or a trusted traveler group to take advantage of these shorter lines.

Military Service Members Trusted Traveler Group

All members of the U.S. Armed Forces are instantly considered members of the trusted traveler group. This includes Reservists and National Guard as well as cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. service academies. They do therefore not need to apply for the TSA PreCheck program.

Service members simply need to put their Department of Defense identification number in as their known traveler number when making a reservation. This can be done when making flight arrangements in the military official travel program or through any airline ticketing site or company.

You do not need to be in uniform when traveling and the TSA PreCheck can be used for both personal and official travel.

When the program started, service members could simply show their CAC to the TSA document checker at the security checkpoint. That part of the program was phased out in 2014.

The only way to use your military ID to get to the TSA PreCheck  is to use your DoD ID number as the Known Traveler Number when making airline reservations ahead of time. Simply showing up at the security checkpoint with your military ID or CAC will no longer get you through the TSA PreCheck lane.

Can military dependents use TSA PreCheck?

Dependents that are age 12 and under can go through the TSA PreCheck line with their parent that is TSA PreCheck authorized.

At this time, military spouses are not included in the trusted traveler group and must apply for TSA PreCheck.

Who is eligible for TSA PreCheck?

Membership in the TSA PreCheck program is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Some may be ineligible however if they send in incomplete or false application information, if they have existing violations of transportation security regulations or if they have disqualifying criminal offenses and factors.

There are 3 steps to apply for TSA PreCheck:

  1. Complete an online application or go to an application center to complete the whole process in person.
  2. Schedule an appointment online or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern. They take walk-ins as well, but people with appointments will take priority.
  3. You will still need to visit an application center. All applicants are required to turn in the required documents and to be fingerprinted. You will need your current U.S. passport or a driver’s license and birth certificate. There is unfortunately, a non-refundable $85 fee.

Once all of these steps are completed, you can check your status online. Once approved, your membership is active for 5 years. It is important to note that not all airports in America have TSA PreCheck lanes and that the TSA still conducts random searches.

Have you or your service member tried to do the TSA PreCheck at an airport? How did it work for you?

Commissary Closures: It’s All or Nothing, DoD Report Says

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By now, if you have any connection to the military community you’ve likely heard some heated discussion and some of the rampant rumors about the possible closure of all CONUS commissaries.

Commissary Closures: It's All or Nothing, DoD Report Says

An outside view the commissary located at Naval Station Norfolk. Source: U.S. Navy

In the Report on Plan to Obtain Budget Neutrality for the Defense Commissary System and the Military Exchange System dated May 2016, the Department of Defense reported to Congress details on the current sales and usage of the commissary system and explored options for reducing the $1.5 billion shortfall between projected costs and the revenue required to achieve budget neutrality by October 1, 2018. The report reiterated the DoD’s commitment to keeping both commissary and exchange services.

But perhaps the most surprising boost in the fight to keep our commissaries open came from the report’s recommendation that neither commissary closures nor the implementation of significant price increases be seen as viable budgetary solutions.

Commissary Closures: It's All or Nothing, DoD Report Says

How often do you shop at your commissary? Would you shop there less if the prices were increased by 5 percent?

It’s All About Buying Power

As any savvy shopper knows, buying in bulk is a great way to save money. Buying in bulk is a great budgeting tool for individual consumers, but it also is the ace in the hole for large retailers like the commissary. Just like commercial grocers, DeCA leverage large-volume buying power in price negotiations with manufacturers and brokers.

Closing commissaries reduces DeCA’s buying power and reduces its ability to negotiate for the best possible pricing. Close too many commissaries and the significant decrease in volume could even eliminate DeCA’s ability to negotiate directly with manufacturers, forcing them into buying relationships with wholesalers and introducing a “middle man” into price negotiations.

In order for DeCA to offer our community the products and pricing we need and expect, significant decreases in volume must be avoided.

What About a Simple Price Increase?

Another alternative explored included the feasibility and impact of raising prices unilaterally above the cost-plus-five-percent level currently in place.

The report cited research in the Military Resale Study performed by the Boston Consulting Group in July 2015 which noted that polled commissary patrons indicated that “if prices increased even five percent, they would shop 25 percent fewer times per month.”

And while the finite impact of raising prices is difficult to quantify, if commissary sales decreased by 25 percent, the resulting loss of revenue would total nearly $2.1 billion. Additional price increases would then be needed, resulting in additional losses in sales, creating a vicious cycle of higher prices and decreasing sales until the commissary system became entirely defunct.

What if We Closed Them All?

Not only would closing all CONUS commissaries greatly impact moral, but it would create an even greater burden on already difficult budget constraints. The DoD report indicated that nearly 80 percent of all active duty families use the commissary at least once annually, with the greatest percentage of patrons utilizing services “two to three times per month.”

According to DeCA calculations, at this level of patronage, active duty families average just over $1,500 per year in savings. If the DoD were to compensate military families for this loss of benefit, the cost would be nearly $2.4 billion, a significant increase over the current projected budget shortfall. This analysis also fails to take patronage and sales to retirees and their families.

Commissary closures would also have several second and third order effects. AAFES exchange stores rely heavily on the proximity to commissaries to support their revenue.

AAFES estimates that between “20-30 percent of its foot traffic” and the resulting $1 billion in sales comes from exchange locations in close proximity to commissaries. Subsequently, the significant contributions to MWR funding made by AAFES would be greatly impacted.

And let’s not forget about our commissaries located OCONUS. These facilities derive great benefit from their connection to the stateside system.

Decreased buying power would greatly impact cost and availability of products that can make an overseas assignment feel a bit more like home.

According to report calculations, if all CONUS commissaries were closed, the resulting loss of buying power and management support would result in nearly a 25 percent increase in costs for OCONUS commissary operations.

We are by no means out of the woods when it comes to the future of our commissary benefits. The DoD is still examining options that include privatization or varied pricing to help DeCA achieve budget neutrality by the target date.

However, this report seems to solidify the DoD’s intent to ensure commissary benefits for active duty families and retirees remain in place and intact for as long as possible.

Since this report found that shutting down all the commissaries is the only way to operate them without taxpayer money, do you think privatization is the answer to reducing their operating costs? Why or why not?

Do You Know the Story Behind the SKILCRAFT Products Available at Your Commissary?

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I’m a label-reading shopper. When buying produce at the commissary, I always look for the display signage telling me if the strawberries came from Louisiana or California. I aim to buy products made in the USA. I aim to support companies that give back to our military community. My emotions definitely influence my buying behavior.

Do You Know the Story Behind the SKILCRAFT Products Available at Your Commissary?

Military family stocks up on SKILCRAFT products at a commissary.

When I learned about the 60-year-old partnership between National Industries for the Blind and the military commissary program, I couldn’t help but look around my house to see if I had recently purchased any products with the SKILCRAFT® logo from my military commissary.

My mop? SKILCRAFT

My dish gloves? SKILCRAFT

My favorite blue dish scrubber? SKILCRAFT

The red clipboard at the military treatment facility’s Emergency Room? SKILCRAFT

Even the black ballpoint pens that I pull out of my husband’s uniform before tossing it in the washing machine are a SKILCRAFT product.

Why was I looking for SKILCRAFT products? SKILCRAFT is the brand name for quality products made by people who are blind.

More importantly for label-reading shoppers like me, the SKILCRAFT logo means that your purchase is helping to create U.S.-based jobs for people who are blind.

Did you know that 70 percent of working-age Americans who are blind are not employed? National Industries for the Blind’s mission is to change that statistic.

History of SKILCRAFT Products on Military Bases

In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation giving federal contract priority to nonprofit agencies that produce products made by people who are blind. This federal legislation was the first step toward showing that Americans who are blind could produce high-quality, competitive products for the military.

During World War II, NIB employees manufactured mops, brooms, mailbags and pillowcases for service members. In the 1950s, this partnership expanded when military commissaries began selling SKILCRAFT dishcloths, doormats and clothespin bags. The SKILCRAFT trademark was created at this time, so that commissary shoppers would know their purchase was supporting jobs for Americans who are blind. By 1957, NIB reported that commissary sales provided more than 270,000 hours of employment per year.

Today, NIB associated agencies operate 151 AbilityOne Base Supply Center stores at military bases and federal government installations nationwide. Service-disabled veterans and military dependents may work at these AbilityOne Base Supply Center stores.

Over the years, NIB started manufacturing cleaning supplies and office products, including ballpoint pens. Today, NIB and its associated agencies produce more than 7,000 SKILCRAFT products.

Do You Know the Story Behind the SKILCRAFT Products Available at Your Commissary?

Variety of SKILCRAFT kitchen and cleaning products produced by NIB associated agencies.

High-Quality SKILCRAFT Products Available at Your Commissary and Exchange

Our service members can purchase the SKILCRAFT products they use at work from the AbilityOne Base Supply Center. Military spouses, dependents and veterans can support the mission of National Industries for the Blind by purchasing SKILCRAFT products at their commissaries or exchanges.

These high-quality products are manufactured specifically for military families. There are 900 products available at 244 commissary stores worldwide, 175 AAFES stores and 121 NEX and MCX stores.

One of these products, which I frequently use, is the SKILCRAFT premium strength plastic flatware. This flatware, which is manufactured by LC Industries in North Carolina, is dishwasher safe, reusable and disposable. In other words, it’s perfect for those neighborhood block parties and packing in my daughter’s lunch box.

Buying SKILCRAFT Products Makes a Difference in the Lives of Disabled Veterans

NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies are the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States, employing more than 5,600 people. In fiscal year 2015, NIB and its associated agencies generated 479 new job opportunities for people who are blind, including veterans.

Did you know that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created more injuries resulting in blindness than any conflict since the Civil War?

Because of these disabling injuries, NIB designed its Wounded Warrior Program. This program, which is specifically for injured veterans, aims to secure employment for these men and women through National Industries for the Blind.

A SKILCRAFT product is more than a high-quality item for my home or my husband’s office.

Purchasing an item with the SKILCRAFT logo on it is a way of saying “yes” to opportunities for people who are blind.

Your purchase shows support.

Your purchase shows commitment.

Your purchase is paving the way for the next 60 years of partnership between National Industries for the Blind, the Defense Commissary Agency and military families around the country.

Indulge your emotional buying behavior today. Look for SKILCRAFT products the next time you’re shopping at your military commissary.

For more information about SKILCRAFT products or National Industries for the Blind, visit www.NIB.org/ShopSKILCRAFT.

5 Tips for Taking Photos of Your Family at the Beach

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Summer has finally arrived and with it comes fireworks, barbecues, popsicles and of course, the beach. Coconut-scented suntan lotion, brightly colored swimsuits and hours spent building sand castles and chasing waves are what summer is all about for many of us.

Hand in hand with all of those seaside family adventures often comes dozens and dozens of family photos. And while having a good time at the beach is as easy as pie, taking good photos to preserve all of those sandy memories can be a bit of a challenge.

A super happy boy is smiling at the camera while on the beach, isolated against the sky, with vintage style color.

Taking photos of your children at the beach can be a challenge. Here are 5 tips to capturing those memories.

Here are 5 tips to help ensure all of those pictures you snap at the beach turn out just the way you want them to.

1. Use the natural light to your advantage.

The obvious abundance of natural light makes the beach seem like an ideal place to take pictures, but all of that sunny brightness can actually make taking a great picture a bit difficult.

Consider taking photos during the “golden hours” that occur one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. The soft lighting will give your pictures a wonderful hazy quality and you won’t have to worry about your family squinting because the sun is in their eyes or the bright back lighting that can make a group of happy beach-goers look shaded or washed out.

If you decide to take photos during the day, try to keep the sun to the side and slightly to the front of your photo subjects. Remember, you want to eliminate the need to squint, but you still need enough light on their faces to illuminate those fabulous summer smiles.

2. Keep your eye on the horizon.

Trying to get all of the kids, parents, grandparents and family pets to all look at the camera at the same time can be a challenge. But while you are playing the role of the “say cheese” ringmaster, take an extra second to consider your camera angle and the horizon. You want to try to keep the horizon in your photos as horizontal as possible.

And you’ll want to make sure the horizon doesn’t cut through anyone’s head or neck. Otherwise Uncle Pete will look like the water flows in one ear and right out of the other.

3. Don’t forget to check the background.

While you’re taking a quick peek at the horizon, do a quick scan of your background. Regular beach items like garbage cans, lifeguard signage and random strangers adjusting their swimsuits can make for awkward backdrops for your family photos.

Background scans aren’t just about avoiding eyesores. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting terrain or landmarks. Look for bits of green or interesting sand dunes.

And if you happen to be out at sunrise or sunset, don’t forget to use the amazing sky and water color to your advantage.

4. Consider color carefully.

Summertime is all about bright colors – everything from day glow orange to magenta and lime green. But if your goal is to capture a more formal family photo, consider your clothing colors carefully.

Use the scenery around you as inspiration for colors that will enhance instead of detract from your photos. Colors like white, khaki, blue, green and black are always safe bets.

That being said, if you’ve got a colorful beach umbrella or beach ball, don’t be afraid to throw that into the mix.

5. Have fun!

It is practically impossible to sit still and not smile while you are at the beach! Organized family photos have their place, but in addition to those perfectly staged shots, there should also be plenty of candid photos of your family enjoying the wind and surf.

Be careful not to drop your camera (or your phone) as sand can wreak havoc on lenses and internal mechanisms and we all know that a healthy dunk in the drink isn’t the best idea for any electronic device.

But don’t be afraid to let loose. Get a shot of the entire crew turning cartwheels or your spouse buried up to his neck in the sand. Those are the very moments that make beach memories worth having.

Do you have a breathtaking photo of your family at the beach or enjoying their summer vacation? Enter your photo in MilitaryShoppers’ photo contest today.

How Can Our Military Community Help When Pregnant Spouses Are Feeling Desperate?

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No one will ever tell you that military life is easy and carefree. It’s a life that doesn’t go as planned. And even when you scrap Plan A in favor of Plan B, you may find yourself struggling for a solution when Plan B, C and D doesn’t work either.

Those feelings of desperation and the urge to have control over your situation sometimes causes many in our military community to make foolish decisions – decisions that under normal circumstances you wouldn’t even consider.

That’s what I believe happened in this case of a pregnant military spouse who was due to deliver alone for the second time while living overseas. In this post, “I can’t believe what I let my husband do to induce my labor,” the author writes about her thoughts leading up to her due date that collided with her husband’s upcoming deployment.

“The news that my husband would be deploying on the due date of our second child was both familiar and heartbreaking. He had deployed on the due date of our firstborn and was thousands of miles away by the time I finally went into labor and delivered our son. We thought we’d planned better with our second and final child, but being in the military means always expecting the unexpected.”

The command did permit the service member to remain with his wife for 2 weeks after the rest of the battalion deployed, but that waiver didn’t reduce her stress.

“Days passed and nothing changed. As we approached the fourth day, I panicked….We tried all the home remedies that were supposed to start labor: raspberry leaf tea, sex, walking, spicy food; you name it, we did it. Still nothing. On the seventh day, desperation became fear.”

In the end, she begged her husband to try to break her water using a hook they made out of a wire coat hanger. But in the end, thankfully, she went into labor without using the hook to break her water. She delivered her healthy baby boy at the military hospital.

But this story illustrates the desperate measures that some military spouses might try to induce labor before their service member’s departure. Her story isn’t unfamiliar to many of us who have been a member of the military spouse community for years. Maybe you have a similar story yourself.

Being stationed overseas is daunting.

Having a baby is stressful.

Knowing that your husband will not be there for the birth of your child is a tough pill to swallow.

Combine those 3 circumstances with the feelings of being alone and afraid because you don’t have your support system to turn to for help and her decision to ask her husband to break her water doesn’t seem illogical anymore.

How Can Our Military Community Help When Pregnant Spouses Are Feeling Desperate?

What do you think the military community could do to help spouses in these types of desperate situations?

Here are the lessons learned from this woman’s cautionary tale.

First, we need to recognize our feelings of isolation and desperation. In the days leading up to a deployment, pregnant or not, a military spouse feels emotional. Pregnant or not, she may feel like no one can help her and that no one can relate to her feelings.

I guarantee that there are military spouses on her base who have had the same thoughts, same feelings and faced similar circumstances as her. This is her military spouse community who should have supported her.

But the military community can’t help us if we don’t ask for help.

It’s scary to admit that we need help. But no one is going to fault a pregnant military spouse with a toddler, who is living overseas and facing the reality of giving birth alone for asking for assistance. Instead the military spouse community is going to help.

Secondly, we as members of the military community need to step up and provide the support that this desperate military spouse needed. She needed to know that she had someone to be with so she wouldn’t have to worry about giving birth alone. She needed to know that she would have reliable child care for her toddler when she went to the hospital. Heck, she even needed transportation to get her to the hospital.

Her challenges weren’t impossible if she had a military spouse community that enveloped her with support. A community that didn’t casually ask “how can I help?” but instead said “here’s how I will help.”

As uncomfortable as it is to be the pregnant military spouse seeking help, it is equally uncomfortable to reach out to that pregnant spouse who is your on-base neighbor.

You know that her husband is deploying soon, even if you don’t know exactly when.

You know that she has a toddler, even if you don’t know if she has child care for him.

You know her due date, even if you don’t know if her mother-in-law is able to come and stay with her when her spouse deploys.

And you will never know the answers to these personal questions if you don’t ask. If you ask, then you can help. But if you avoid asking these questions, because you don’t want to seem like a pest or nosy, you miss out on an opportunity to extend the helping hand of the military spouse community.

Finally, there needs to be more resources within the military community to help these kinds of situations. Giving birth without your parenting partner isn’t unusual in military life. There are fantastic nonprofits that throw baby showers for expecting military spouses but as we see from this story, military spouses need more than diapers and swaddling blankets.

And if there are resources to help mothers who are delivering during deployment, this woman’s doctor and her service member’s chaplain should have brought those resources to their attention.

Let’s use these lessons learned to help our pregnant military spouses feel a little less desperate during their challenging situations.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think the military community could do to help spouses in these types of desperate situations?

Your Guide to the 2016 Military Air Show Season

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Military air shows are exciting events. “That’s the sound of freedom,” people say when a jet passes over. Just the sound of a jet can bring many emotions. For those that have served our country and for their spouses and families, it brings a sense of pride. For young children it is a world of amazement.

Both the Navy and Air Force have special squadrons that are the highlights of military air shows. Since 1946, the Navy’s Blue Angels have held performances for more than 484 million fans. It is now estimated 11 million spectators will attend the Blue Angels air shows annually.

Your Guide to the 2016 Military Air Show Season

This year the Blue Angels celebrate their 70th season. Unfortunately, it came to a quick halt. Source: Navy.mil

The Blue Angels

Blue Angels are made up of only 16 officers. There are 3 tactical jet pilots, 2 support officers and 1 Marine Corps pilot position open each year to replace departing members. Each officer generally stays with the Blue Angels for 2 years.

While the Blue Angels began with 4 aircrafts, they have since expanded to 10. The original 4 aircrafts made up their famous diamond formation.  The air shows now include solo performances to show how capable these jets are. The Blue Angels currently fly the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. It’s amazing to watch these aircrafts in action. They fly merely 18 inches apart during their famous diamond 360 maneuver.

This year the Blue Angels celebrate their 70th season. Unfortunately, it came to a quick halt.

On June 2, America lost a great hero, Capt. Jeff Kuss of the Marine Corps. He was the number six pilot, the Opposing Solo, of the Blue Angels. His F/A-18 Hornet crashed while training in Tennessee. We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Captain Kuss.

The Blue Angels canceled their June appearances. Navy officials announced on June 26 that the elite flight demonstration squadron will resume its schedule on July 2 at the National Cherry Festival Air Show in Traverse City, Michigan.

You can review the 2016 air show schedule to determine the closest one to you.

Air Force Thunderbirds

Another wonderful opportunity to view air shows comes from the Air Force Thunderbirds, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron.

They started the season with a flyover at the Daytona 500 and were making their way across America delighting people with their precision flying demonstrations when an unfortunate accident occurred. They also lost a jet on June 2.

One of the Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons completed a flyover for the commencement at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, before crashing in a field. The pilot was able to eject without suffering any serious injuries.

Following this incident, the squadron had a short stand down. The Thunderbirds resumed their flight demonstration schedule in mid-June.

Your Guide to the 2016 Military Air Show Season

Four U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons, known as the Thunderbirds, flying in formation with white trailer of smoke over the 42nd Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Air Show at Point Mugu, Calif.

The Air Force has been amazing crowds since 1953. They have performed across America as well as around the world. Millions of people have had the opportunity to witness their air shows.

Each military air show is free and open to the public. You can check the Thunderbirds 2016 air shows schedule to see if there’s one coming up near you.

If you plan on attending an air show this summer, take a small backpack with items such as sunblock, bug spray, rain gear, bottled water, snacks, hats, binoculars, a camera and earplugs. You’ll also want a blanket or chairs to sit on.

To avoid as much traffic as you can, consider going early and leaving late. Make sure to keep an eye on the kids so they don’t touch the static displays.

Be ready to ask questions. The men and women that are part of these proud traditions are happy to answer them.

Here is the complete summer schedule for the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds.

Tricare: 2 Urgent Care Visits Without a Referral

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Tricare began an Urgent Care pilot program on May 23, 2016, that extends through May 23, 2019. It allows Tricare Prime, Tricare Prime Remote or Tricare Young Adult-Prime members in the United States to visit Urgent Care facilities twice a year without a referral from a primary care manager (PCM).

Previously, these beneficiaries were required to have a referral from a PCM within 24 hours of going to an Urgent Care facility.

The pilot program allows Tricare beneficiaries to make 2 visits to Urgent Care within each fiscal year, which is October 1 through September 30.

You can now seek help from any Tricare authorized provider. An authorized provider is one that is licensed by a state, accredited by a national organization or meets other standards and is certified to provide benefits under Tricare. These providers are categorized as either network or non-network providers.

If you do receive a referral from your PCM, it does not count against the 2 Urgent Care visits that do not require a referral. If the nurse advice line tells you to go to Urgent Care, it also does not count against your 2 visits per fiscal year.

Tricare Allows 2 Urgent Care Visits Without a Referral

Tricare is trying out a new policy that allows certain Tricare beneficiaries to utilize Urgent Care facilities without a referral from a PCM.

What is Urgent Care?

If you need medical attention within 24 hours and cannot be seen by your PCM in that time, you need Urgent Care. Some examples of why you might need Urgent Care include: treatment for high fevers, sprains such as your wrist, illness that hinders proper breathing (croup), potential concussion from a fall or other urgent matters that do not threaten life, limb or eyesight.

If an injury does threaten life, limb or eyesight, that is considered an emergency. In that case, you would go to an emergency room.

If you are unsure if your illness requires emergency care, urgent care or simply a scheduled appointment with your PCM, you can call the Tricare nurse advice line at 1-800-Tricare. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What type of Urgent Care providers can you see?

You can see both network and non-network Urgent Care providers. Simply make an appointment or walk in to their facility. There are many different types of Urgent Care providers, all of which are approved for you to visit. These include:

  • Family practice
  • Internal medicine
  • General practice
  • Pediatrician
  • Obstetrician/Gynecologist
  • Urgent Care Clinic/Convenient Care Center
  • Physician Assistant
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Certified Nurse Midwife

While you are authorized to visit these Urgent Care facilities, you may still have to pay network copayments. Visit the Tricare copayments site to determine if this applies to you. Although you do not need a referral to go to these Urgent Care locations, you still need to inform your PCM about the care you received. You may also need to schedule a follow-up appointment.

Who is eligible for this pilot program?

All active duty service members in Tricare Prime Remote, activated Guard/Reserve members in Prime Remote and all other beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Prime, Tricare Prime Remote or Tricare Young Adult Prime can take advantage of this pilot program.

If however, the active duty service member, Guard or Reserve member is enrolled in Tricare Prime, they are not eligible. All beneficiaries enrolled in the U.S. Family Health Plan as well as those families enrolled overseas are not eligible. Those traveling in the United States who are enrolled overseas still do not need a referral from their PCM, they simply are not limited to 2 visits to an Urgent Care facility. Any care received overseas does not count as well.

If eligible beneficiaries exceed more than 2 Urgent Care visits within a fiscal year, they will be required to get a referral from their PCM or will be charged a point-of-service fee. You can avoid this fee by calling the nurse line before going to an Urgent Care facility.

What do you think about Tricare changing this policy for Prime beneficiaries? When have you used Urgent Care?

Spend Less This Fourth of July by Shopping at Your Commissary

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Fourth of July, summer’s halfway point, is only a few weeks away. What are your plans for Independence Day? Are you running a Firecracker 5K? Are you planning to watch the fireworks while sitting on a blanket? Are you hosting an epic Independence Day celebration?

Hosting a fun Fourth of July party? Yeah that’s what I thought.

Military spouses love to organize a patriotic potluck for our nation’s birthday. It could be an afternoon picnic with your closest friends or this national holiday may be the best excuse to plan a neighborhood block party and meet the new families in your on-base neighborhood.

Whatever the reason for your Fourth of July party, now is the time to finalize your menu, create a shopping list and buy the food you need for your get-together.

Hosting a party doesn’t have to break your budget, spend less by purchasing everything you need from your military commissary.

You can combine these savings with coupons from Coupons.com and Commissary Rewards Card. Confused about using digital coupons at your commissary? Check out this post for clarification.

Let’s start with the main dish for your Fourth of July party. Will it be hamburgers or hot dogs?

Ball Park franks are on sale. You can get 2 15-ounce packs for $3 at your commissary this month. Select varieties of Oscar Mayer franks are also on sale. The sale price is $2.79 for those hot dogs. There’s a coupon for $0.55 off when you buy 2 packages of Bar-S franks.

Don’t forget to pick up ketchup, mustard and pickles. Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard is on sale for $0.89. Select varieties of Vlasic pickles are on sale at the commissary. The oval hamburger dill chip pickles are only $1.19 for a 16-ounce jar. You can save $0.55 on Claussen pickles with this coupon.

If you’re thinking burgers, but don’t want beef, you can buy turkey burgers instead. The Butterball Everyday Original Seasoned Turkey Burgers are on sale at your commissary. The price is $4.50.  If you like to make your own patties, use this coupon to save $1.50 on the purchase of 2 packages of Jennie-O ground turkey.

You can save $0.55 on Sargento Natural Cheese Slices when you load that coupon on your Commissary Rewards Card. This digital coupon expires on August 15.

Once you make your decision on the main dish, next up are your side dishes. Will it be potato chips or potato salad?

Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips are on sale for the entire month of June. The price is $2.39 per bag.

I’m also a big fan of the Lay’s 50-count classic mix snack pack. I buy one of these whenever we are hosting a party with lots of children. With these smaller bags, the kids can pick their favorite chips and I don’t have to buy a variety of larger bags. Lay’s 50-count classic mix pack is on sale for $11.99.

Commissary rewards card members can save $1 on 2 popchip bags with its digital coupon.

Finally, it’s time to make a decision on my favorite part of a Fourth of July party: the desserts!

You will be inspired to create a red, white and blue dessert after you read these recipes submitted by MilitaryShoppers readers. There’s a 4th of July Cake, JELL-O® Easy Patriotic Pie and Patriotic Gelatin Salad. After browsing through these recipes, don’t forget to look for digital coupons to save money on the ingredients.

You can save $0.75 on 2 cans of Dole canned fruit at your commissary with this coupon. Also, Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese is on sale at your commissary. Be sure to stock up since the price is 2 for $5 and we all know that cream cheese makes any dessert delicious.

You can also save money on your Fourth of July party by buying your paper products at your commissary. Save $1 on both Hefty Foam Plates and Hefty Easy Grip Cups. This coupon is available to Commissary Reward Card holders. The coupon expires on August 31.

You can also save $1 on Hefty trash bags with this coupon. It’s always good to have extra trash bags on hand for holiday parties.

Click here to search and save more printable coupons.

MLB Offers Discounted Tickets for Military

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Swing, batter batter, swing!

You and your family could soon be cheering on your favorite team at the ballpark. Many major league teams are offering discounted baseball tickets for the 2016 MLB season.

MLB Offers Discounted Tickets, Appreciation Days for Military

Check out this list of discounted tickets for a baseball team close to your duty station.

If you live near Fort Bragg, you might be able to see 2 powerhouse teams play exclusively for the military community! The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins will face off July 3 at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on national TV, live from the military base. Tickets are restricted to military ID cardholders. This will be the first time that an active military base will host a regular season game for Major League Baseball.

If you aren’t in the Fort Bragg area or don’t snag one of the estimated 12,500 seats, you can still catch a foul ball on the cheap this season.

Check out this list of discounted tickets below for your hometown favorites or a baseball team close to your current duty station.

American League

Baltimore Orioles: Your family could visit Camden Yards for $3 off the regular ticket price. However, you might be able to find bigger discounts by visiting your local ITT/MWR offices in the greater Baltimore/D.C. area. Plus, flash your active duty ID at home games for a free O’s hat!

Boston Red Sox: Discounted tickets are available to military service members in select seats and games. Tickets are available for purchase online, as well as at the ball park on game day. Fenway franks are still full price.

Chicago White Sox: Active members of the military can receive 1 free ticket, based on availability, at the U.S. Cellular Field Box Office on the day of the game by presenting their I.D. This offer excludes Opening Day, Cubs series, Red Sox series, Yankees series and Elvis Night.

Cleveland Indians: If you are on active duty, retired or part of the National Guard/Reserve you can watch the Tribe for free! Bringing family along for the game? Up to 4 family members can purchase tickets at the group rate.

Detroit Tigers: Service members and veterans are eligible to purchase half-price tickets to Monday-Thursday regular season home games excluding August 18. Tickets must be purchased at the Comerica Park Box Office and a valid military ID or Veteran ID must be presented at time of purchase. Service members and veterans may purchase a maximum of 4 tickets per customer, per game.

Houston Astros: Everything is bigger in Texas! This might hold true for the discount the Astros give to active duty military and veterans. Discounted tickets are available for most Monday through Thursday baseball games (excludes the July 25-27 Yankees series). ID cardholders can purchase up to 8 tickets at the discounted rate.

Kansas City Royals: With half-price seats in select sections (excluding Marquee games), the Royals sure know how to treat active and retired military personnel. Service members or veterans may purchase up to 4 tickets at this price per game.

Minnesota Twins: Military personnel and veterans, plus up to 4 guests, can receive half-price tickets to select games throughout the regular season. These tickets are located in Home Plate View seating areas, guaranteeing you a great show.

New York Yankees: The Yankees are offering military members 1 free ticket to the grandstand or bleachers. You also can purchase one half-price ticket to other seating areas in their brand new stadium. This complimentary ticket is only available at Yankee Stadium on the day of the game.

Seattle Mariners: Tickets to home games are 10 percent off for military members. You can purchase up to 4 tickets at this price and belt out “Louie, Louie” during the seventh inning stretch.

Tampa Bay Rays: For all active-duty military, retired and honorably discharged veterans, the Rays will offer 2 free tickets for all Monday home games and 8 additional bonus dates throughout the season. This discount is also available to military spouses with a valid dependent ID.

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks: Spend Sunday with the Snake Pit when tickets are 50 percent off! All active, veteran, retired and reserve military personnel can purchase up to 4 tickets at this price for Sunday home games.

Atlanta Braves: Enjoy 50 percent off Upper Box or Outfield tickets for regular season home games at Turner Field. This offer is available to active duty, retired, reserve and veterans.

Chicago Cubs: This Windy City Team will have specially priced tickets for the Terrace Reserved Outfield seating fro service members during its Military Appreciation Night on August 31. Each ticket includes a Cubs military cap.

Cincinnati Reds: Active duty service members will receive 1 complimentary View Level Ticket for Monday-Thursday home games. This ticket is available on the day of the game only.  This ticket is available at the ticket window labeled “Advance Ticket Windows” located at Crosley Terrace at Great American Ball Park.

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers offer special pricing for military personnel at 1, 2, 3 and 4-star games during the regular season. The discounted tickets are $5 off for Loge MVP, Reserve MVP and Right Field Pavilion seats. Up to 4 tickets to “Blue Heaven on Earth” can be purchased per ID on game day only.

Miami Marlins: All military personnel, veterans and their families receive up to 4 complimentary tickets to Monday night home games.

Philadelphia Phillies: Military Phanatics can receive a $10 discount on Sunday home games in select seating sections. Discounts are also available on August 16, August 31 and September 12. Eligible tickets are priced at or below $41/$47 in select seating areas.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Active duty, reserve, military spouses and DoD employees can receive a $10 discount per ticket for Outfield Box seats for all Sunday-Friday games. The discount is $6 per ticket for Grandstand section seats.

San Diego Padres: The Padres are the hometown team for many SoCal Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps families. This season, Sundays are 50 percent off for all retired, active, Reserve/Guard and veteran personnel, and their families.

St. Louis Cardinals: Military personnel with their friends and family could experience an all-inclusive game in the heart of RedBird Nation. The package, starting at $60, includes a buffet and complimentary beer and soda. This offer is only available on five select games this season.

Washington Nationals: Watching the Presidents race is an awesomely funny summer tradition. To get your discounts, place your order through the official Nats website. Military personnel and families can also visit ITT/MWR offices at one of the area bases or at the Pentagon.

Not near an MLB team? Check out minor league teams near you for military discounted tickets and promotions!

Don’t Refer to Military Service as a ‘Family Business’

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Editor’s note: In April, MilitaryShoppers published “What’s Wrong with Military Service as a Family Business?” and one reader had a lot to say about it.

He said “…regarding the participation of volunteer Americans who serve ‘for the duration of unrest’ and those other patriotic Americans who ‘make Military Service a career’ should not be defined as Americans who take on our military/government service as a ‘Family Business.’ Give these brave and honorable Americans the courtesy of acknowledging them as heroes and not Business (as usual) Families.”

Here’s our response to his comment.

A family business, to me, means a store or company that is passed down through the generations. A company that goes from “Smith” to “Smith & Sons (or Daughters) to “Smith and Co.”

In the sense that our U.S. military is built on generations of hard work and sacrifice, yes, one could call it a family business. But only if you are referring to the entire U.S. population as that family.

Frankly, it is not surprising that 80 percent of our current troop force has a relative who has honorably served. In the 1990s, troops saw service in Desert Storm. In the 1960s and 1970s, we saw a military draft for service in Vietnam. Just two decades prior, millions of citizens were mobilized to combat fascism in World War II. These service men and women are the current generation’s parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins.

It might be hard to find a family where no one has ever served in the US military from 1940 to the present day. No wonder the veterans in our own families influence the choice to commit to military service.

Don't Refer to Military Service as a 'Family Business'

Elaine Brye and her children understand the sacrifices made through military service. Military service is more than a family business. Photo credit: Tonya Brye of Brye Photography

Today, we have a 100 percent volunteer force.

A 100 percent volunteer fighting force means that each and every military member had to make the decision to join. No one was telling him or her to join or else. With recent wars and casualties, you can bet that even children of military personnel had to take these potentialities into account when they swore their oath to protect and defend.

The child of a service member knows better than most the sacrifices that must be made on a daily basis. Seeing a parent deploy over and over, wondering when or if he will come back home and moving constantly are familiar to the 25 percent of current troops who had a parent who served.

Yet many still choose to join the military.

A family business feels like something a son or daughter must join, must continue, to uphold the family name or to keep the family financially stable.

Who is telling that 80 percent to join the military?

They aren’t working for a company bearing their own last name. They won’t inherit a share of it or be able to divide their portion among any children.

There is no inherited reason to sign up for this life, other than their own passion and commitment.

Instead, these volunteers are working for the United States of America. They are working to uphold the U.S. Constitution, to sacrifice of themselves for the common good.

Deciding to serve in the military, or any other service profession, is a calling. It is something that a person feels deep inside, something they know is right for them personally, something that fulfills them.

Whether signing up for a 4-year contract or committing to 20+ years of military service, service members do it because it is right for them. Yes, getting paid is nice and having training or professional experience for post-military life is wonderful.

But military service is more than just a job or career; it is a purpose.

Our troops sign up and swear an oath to serve our country. They are writing that much touted “blank check for an amount up to and including their lives.”

This is serious stuff, something that requires thought and total commitment. It is not something to be entered into lightly or because it “runs in the family.”

If seeing a relative honorably serve has led a person to serve as well, we should applaud this. We should equally seek out and recognize troops who do not have a family legacy of service.

Whatever reason causes a person to join the military, it should not simply be written off as a family business.

Oh no, this “business” is so much more than just something to be handed down.

How do you feel about references to military service as a family business? Tell us in the comments section.