Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

10 Things You Can Make Using Boxes

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It’s PCS season. Who just moved? I did and if your house looks anything like mine, it’s covered in boxes.

I had this great idea of having the movers do a full unpack so that they would take away the empty boxes and I wouldn’t have to pay to recycle them here. The movers arrived before 9 a.m. and left at 6 p.m. During that time, the only boxes that got unpacked were the ones my husband, my friend and I did. I was exhausted, they were exhausted and the movers were ready to be done.

Needless to say, all the boxes didn’t get unpacked and I have a house full of empty moving boxes. Now what?

10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

How have you reused moving boxes? Share your pictures with MilitaryShoppers.

While I saw it as a giant mess of boxes and packing paper, my 21-month-old son thought it was fantastic. He ran around the boxes, hid in them and jumped out shouting “peek-a-boo!” all day. It was nice to get a laugh and it made me think, there has to be something I can do with all these boxes. Did someone say Pinterest?

I thought I was a creative person; these people took it up a notch.

Here are 10 kid-friendly items you can make using moving boxes.

  1. Give your child a box of crayons and let their inner artist come out.

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Berry Sweet Baby

  2. Cut a box open and draw roads for your child’s cars to drive on.

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Jennifer Perkins

  3. What little kid hasn’t dreamed of having their own race car?

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Our Life

  4. What’s the one thing you will have set up the night you move in your new home? Your TV. Drive-in movie anyone?

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Our Life

  5. Simple games like this will entertain your toddler while you unpack.

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: HireAHelper

  6. How about an awesome elevator?

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Repeat Crafter Me

  7. This family actually had a cardboard box-themed birthday party. I love the train.

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: Sean Walker Photography

  8. A girl after my own heart. Hello coffee shop!

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: 45wall design

  9. How about your own town?

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: A Beautiful Mess

  10. You just moved and the kids left their friends and family. Why not make mailboxes and they can get excited about sending mail to them.

    10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

    Source: iKat bag

Do you have bubble wrap left over too? Make bubble wrap hopscotch. Who could resist the sound of the popping?

10 Kid-Friendly Things You Can Make Using Moving Boxes

Source: Sean Walker Photography

Some of these projects will only take a few minutes, whereas others will take a bit more effort. Be as creative as you want or just send your kid off with some crayons and let them use their imagination. You never know what they will come up with.

10 Fun Ways Kids Can Reuse and Play with Moving Boxes

Do your children like to play in empty moving boxes?

How have you reused moving boxes? Share your pictures with us.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

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Father’s Day is less than 2 weeks away. Have you bought a special gift to show your husband how much he means to you and your family? Whether you choose to make something or to buy a gift, we have a gift idea for you.

Here’s the 2015 MilitaryShoppers’ Father’s Day gift guide.

2015 MilitaryShoppers Father's Day gift guide for military dads

Here’s the 2015 MilitaryShoppers’ Father’s Day gift guide.

For the Sentimental Father: Photos

Consider hiring a photographer and having your children dress in daddy’s uniform or parts of it. If you’re on a budget,  you could always take the photos yourself. You can photograph the kids in your own backyard or go somewhere that is memorable to your family. The location of the photo could be just as special as the photo itself.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Britni Killeen Photography

Don’t have time for a photo shoot? Gather pictures you already have and present them in a fun way.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Order a personalized photo reel

Feeling crafty? I love this idea. Take photos from the states you have traveled to together or where you have lived and cut them in the shape of that state to fill in a map.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Cut Craft Create

Homemade Gifts from the Kids

The best gifts are the ones from the heart. Let your children show how much they care for their father by letting their creativity run free. If you have a toddler, simply have them color in this downloadable daddy page and add photos of your little one.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Smart Bottom Enterprises

You can capture the cuteness of your baby or toddler’s hand and footprints. Let Dad be part of the fun and make a memory together with this father and child handprint art.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Imgfav

Ask your children what they love most about their dad and have them write it on a chalkboard or write it for them if they are too young to do it themselves. You can photograph them with it and frame it for him.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Positively Splendid

For the Deployed Dad

2015 MilitaryShoppers Father's Day Gift Guide for Military Dads

Don’t forget to include some homemade cookies in your Father’s Day care package.

Send a care package full of family memories. Include letters from the children and yourself, photos of the family, snacks Dad loves and personal mementos. Add a touch of fun with punny Post-its as well.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Feeling a little silly? Send a giant hug his way. Who could resist such an adorable thing?

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Send a hug to a deployed dad this Father’s Day.

It can be lonely curling up in bed at night without having your husband next to you. This is a very unique gift. Send your spouse a special pillow. When he falls asleep, wherever he is in the world, your pillow will glow and you can hear his heartbeat when you rest your head on the pillow. Finding comfort in knowing your spouse is safely in bed can help you rest easy.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Sheknows.com

Military-themed Gifts

Service members collect and take pride in trading and receiving coins. Give them a beautiful way to display their military coins with a display case.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: United States Flag Store

Create a keepsake of your husband’s time in the military. Frame his picture, medals, awards and letters.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Bradley’s Art And Frame

Have a little fun with some gifts as well. What military man wouldn’t love this? 50 caliber bottle opener, money clip and cufflinks are great gifts.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Bullets 2 Bandages

Useful gifts are great, but skip the traditional tools. Try a Made In America smart key. It takes the bulk key mess your husband carries and turns it into a compact key holder. Now there will be more room in his pocket for family pictures.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: The Grommet

Is your husband a beer enthusiast? Order a man crate with personalized beer glasses and more.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for Military Dads

Source: Man Crates

There are so many ways to say “you are a great father and I love you” to your husband. Whether you choose to make something or to buy a gift, he is sure to love it.

What will you be giving your husband for Father’s Day this year?

Want to Buy a House Using a VA Loan? 4 Things You Need to Know

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Summertime is prime real estate time. Many military families are moving to new duty stations located in communities where it may make more sense to buy instead of rent a house. Other military families are separating from service and they are looking to buy their forever home this summer.

Are you thinking of buying a house? What’s your financing plan for your mortgage? Does your service member want to use his or her VA loan? Do you qualify for a VA loan?

4 Things Military Families Need to Know about VA Loans

With a VA loan, military families are not required to make a 20 percent down payment when buying a house.

The VA loan is a benefit for military service members that you might not know a lot about. Unlike the commissary or Tricare, which you use reguarly, a VA loan is a one-time or maybe twice in a lifetime benefit.

With a VA loan, veterans may qualify for a mortgage loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The loans aren’t issued by the VA, but instead the agency provides a guaranty on each qualified mortgage loan. Since the loan is guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, financial institutions do not require homeowners to buy Private Mortgage Insurance (a monthly fee when you don’t make a 20 percent down payment), as required with conventional loans.

With a VA loan, homeowners are not required to make a large down payment. Since most conventional loans required a 10 to 20 percent down payment, a zero down payment is a huge advantage for young military families. You might not have the cash for a down payment today, but you can start building equity with a VA loan.

Here are four additional things you need to know about buying a home using a VA loan.

  • You must use a lending institution that participates in the VA loan program. There are also a lot of extra forms involved with a VA loan, so be prepared for that. VA loans aren’t quick loans. They are money-saving loans.
  • VA loans aren’t a one-time deal. Veterans are entitled to use the program repeatedly as long as they pay off the loan each time. So you can buy a house when you are young service member and then use your VA loan a second time for your retirement home.
  • You can’t use a VA loan to buy a farm, restaurant or a vacation home. The program is designed to be used for primary residences only.
  • VA loans do save you money, but there’s also a mandatory fee. This fee is called the VA Funding Fee. It’s normally 2 percent of the loan amount and it is required for both purchase and refinance loans.
  • But in good news, VA loans don’t have a prepayment penalty. When you earn extra cash through a deployment or get an reenlistment bonus, you can put that money toward your mortgage. This can save you a lot on interest over the life of your loan.

Since 1944, the VA Loan program has helped more than 20 million veterans and their families buy a house. It’s a benefit that veterans have earned through their service. Make sure you take advantage of it.

Have you used a VA loan to buy a house? What was your experience with the program?

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in

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Your husband just got deployment orders and you are wondering how you are going to get through the next year alone.

Then you remember something your mother-in-law told you. She would move in if you ever need extra help with your kids. You think long and hard about it and decide that having her move in while your spouse is deployed is a smart thing to do.

Sound familiar?

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in During a Deployment

Having someone move in with you might be the best way for you to get through the deployment.

Sometimes this is what a military spouse has to do in order to get through the deployment. She has to ask her mom or her mother-in-law to move in for an extended period of time.

In order for this to work one would have to be able to live with that person. If you just don’t get along in general, having them move in is probably not a good idea.

When my husband was deployed the first time I knew that I would probably have to give birth to my second little boy by myself. I decided to see if my own mom could live with us for 2 months. She wasn’t there the whole deployment but she sure did help during the 2 months she was with us. Since I also had a two-year-old she was able to be there for him in ways that I couldn’t. This was especially helpful after I had my baby so I could focus more on the baby knowing that my 2-year-old was in good hands.

Related: Moving in with Your Parents during a Deployment

I have also known a few spouses that did have a mom or their mother-in-law move in during the whole deployment. They knew their limits and they had circumstances that allowed this to happen. The grandma was able to come and stay for an extended period of time even though she left behind her everyday life at home.

Daddy Deploys, Grandma Moves in During a Deployment

Has your mother or mother-in-law lived with you during a deployment?

If you are facing a deployment and are considering asking a family member to move in during the time your spouse will be away, make sure you really think about all the details.

Here are a few questions to consider before grandma moves in:

  • Will you be able to live with this person each and every day? Living together for months is different then a 2-week visit.
  • Are they willing to give up their lives back home for you? Will they miss other family members too much? Will they have to quit their job?
  • Can you talk openly about budgets and expectations? How often will you need them to help with the kids? What chores would you like them to do? Will you need them to help buy groceries?

There are so many benefits to having a family member move in. You can live with another adult, have help with the children and can stay in your own home verses moving somewhere during the deployment.

Really think about what would work best for you and go from there. Having someone move in with you might really be the best way for you to get through the deployment.

If your mom or mother-in-law wants to move in, it is also OK to say no to that proposal if you don’t think the arrangement would be a good idea. Talk things out with them to figure out what would work best for you and your family.

Has your mother or mother-in-law lived with you during a deployment? Would you recommend it?

 

Sizzling Deals at Your Commissary in June

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The weather is already hot here in northern Virginia. Same goes with the assortment of deals at the commissary, especially with the assortment of drinks and sweets that are on sale in June! Click to see all of our Commissary Specials!

Here’s a look at what’s on sale this month at your military commissary.

I’m loving the variety of discounts on refreshing beverages that are perfect for long summer days. From June 18 to July 8, Gold Peak Iced Tea (89 oz.) will only be $2. My husband loves his iced tea. Seriously, he drinks unsweetened iced tea everyday. So, we’ll definitely pick up some cartons.

For on the go, Honest Organic Tea (16.9 oz.) is on sale 10 for $10. They are just the right size for your car’s cup holder. Flavors are orange mango, pomegranate blue, honey green tea or peach tea.

I’m also covered because my absolute favorite summer drink is pink lemonade! You can pick up a 59-oz. sized Minute Maid Premium carton for $1 and the sale includes more than pink lemonade. Peach, berry punch, fruit punch or tropical punch are the other flavors in the deal. Why not pick them all up?

If you have little ones, the 10-pack of Minute Maid KIDS 100% Juice Orange with Calcium is $2. In addition, other Minute Maid drink packs are on sale like apple or orange (6-pack) and apple, fruit punch, mixed berry or white apple grape (10-pack). I can’t forget the 10-pack of lemonade too. They are perfect for camping or road trips. I take a couple to put in the cooler and recycle after I’m done with each bottle.

Camping is one of my favorite summer activities and there are some great powerbuys on camping treats this month.

My husband and I put a handful of Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars in our hiking pack. Right now, a box of 12 is $1.89 and it includes Oats ‘n Honey, Peanut Butter or the Variety Pack. You can combine this sale with a $0.50 coupon to save even more money.

For those that like crumbles of granola better than the bars, Cascadian Farm Organic Protein Granola is $2.25. They have a tasty selection, Dark Chocolate Coconut, Apple Crisp or Granola Berry Cobbler.

Looking for another healthy sweet snack? Yoplait’s Greek Yogurts are selling for 65 cents each. You can get either Cherry, Pineapple, Strawberry or Tangerine regular Greek yogurt or Coconut, Raspberry or Blueberry-blended yogurt.

For the bakers out there, select Betty Crocker and Pillsbury baked goods are powerbuys too!

Betty Crocker’s Fudge Brownie Mix (Milk Chocolate, Fudge or Dark Chocolate) are 99 cents and Pillsbury’s Big Deluxe Big Cookies Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal Raisin or Ready-to-Bake Cookies Chocolate Chip are $1.75.

Aside from brownies and cookies, you can bake some quick and easy cinnamon rolls for $1.50. Grab a tube of Pillsbury’s Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing or Orange Rolls with Orange Icing to fulfill your cinnamon craving.

This summer our furry family members are also treated with deals! Purina has some amazing discounts that I will be partaking for my feline friend.

My cat Xena goes bananas for Whisker Lickin’s Tuna Cat Treats! It’s only 80 cents for a pouch and that includes Salmon flavored too. One Smartblend Cat Food is $6.40 for a 3.5 lbs. bag (Hairball Formula, Healthy Metabolism, Indoor Advantage or Urinary Tract Health Formula).

For a more glamorous meal for Xena, Purely Fancy Feast (2 oz.) is $1.04. I can choose from Natural Steamed Wild Alaskan Salmon Entree, Natural Tender Tongol Tuna Entree or Natural White Meat Chicken Entree all in Delicate Broth.

On the not so glamorous side of cat parenting, litter is on sale! Purina Tidy Cats Non-Clumping Clay Litter 20 lbs. bag is 2 for $6 or Clumping Litter 14 lbs. is $5.21 both for Multiple Cats 24/7 Performance or Instant Action. Save an additional $1.05 with this coupon.

Let’s not forget the pups in our family! Here are some great deals at the commissary for them:

  • Beneful Dog Food (Health Smile, Playful Life, Healthy Weight or Original) 7 lbs. for $8.99
  • Beggin’ Strips Dog Snack (Bacon & Cheese or Bacon Flavor),  6 oz. for $2
  • Alpo Dog Food Chop House or Gravy Cravers Variety Pack, 12 ct. for $6.99

Want to know the weekly manager’s specials? Sign up for the newsletter to be kept up to date on all the sales at the commissary.

Show Us Your Darling Dads and Fearless Fathers

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Father’s Day is right around the corner. Dads are so important in the lives of their children. When he is in the military, his time at home is precious and the relationships he has with his kids are so very important.

A military father has to try extra hard to let his children know he is there for them even when he is far away.

MilitaryShoppers Father's Day Photo Contest

We try to take a lot of pictures of my husband and our boys.

A military father has to go out of his way to be there even when he can’t be. It can be one of the hardest things to do. From phone calls to gift boxes, dads who have to be away from their children have a special job that other fathers do not.

When a military father is home, he works to make important memories with his children. In our family we try to spend special time together like taking a trip to the park, going out to dinner or spending the day in Nashville. Sometimes we just stay home and barbecue. We take advantage of the days he is home so that when my children are grown they will have plenty of memories of their father being around.

In between deployments, my husband has worked on the relationships he has with his boys so that when he is away, they will know that he loves them and misses them just like they miss him. They all have such a strong bond because of the relationships he has worked hard to have with them. Creating strong bonds with his children is such an important thing for a father to do.

We also try to take a lot of pictures of my husband and our boys when we can. These pictures are so special to us when he is away. We can look at them, put them up in my kids’ rooms and he can even take some with him when he deploys. In the past I have even made him a scrapbook of fun times they have had together.

It doesn’t really matter if you take pictures with your phone or a fancy camera, just make sure you are taking photos. They are so nice to look at in the years to come and a great reminder of the fun times your kids had with their dad.

MilitaryShoppers Father's Day Photo Contest

Do you take photos of your husband with your kids?

Do you have a great photo of your kids with their father?

You can enter that photo into our Military Shoppers Father’s Day photo contest!

Submissions need to include:

  • Name of person submitting photo
  • Installation
  • Branch of service

Rules:

  • Pictures must be received by June 30, 2015
  • Winner will be selected at random the first week in July
  • Entrants must be registered with MilitaryShoppers.com and have checked the box in their profile saying “yes, I would like to receive emails of offers, savings and contests for the military community.”
  • Winner will be posted to MilitaryShoppers Facebook page, MilitaryShoppers blog and MilitaryShoppers.com
  • One photo per entrant
  • Multiple entrants will not be accepted
  • Photo must be submitted by entrant who possesses a valid military ID card (Active Duty, Veteran, Retiree, Reserve, Guard or family member of the aforementioned categories)
  • Entrant (not those within the photo) must be 18 years of age or older
  • Winner will be notified by e-mail
  • No purchase necessary to win

Good luck! Looking forward to seeing all of those great pictures of kids and dads. Enter the Father’s Day photo contest today!

Carter Says Women in Combat Could Be More Vulnerable to Sexual Predators

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Nothing gets a woman more determined than to tell her she can’t do something, especially when she has already set her mind to it.

Defense Secretary Carter Says Women in Ground Combat Positions More Vulnerable to Sexual Assault

Whether ground combat positions are available to women or not in the future, the door to discussion is open.

The U.S. military has maintained that women cannot hold ground combat positions and for some women that just makes them want it that much more. This has driven so many women to fight for the chance to prove they can, that they measure up and have what it takes to do the job.

In 2013, for the first time women were able to enter into roles that were previously only held by men. Just as doors have opened to women in new areas throughout the military though, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has made a few comments that might set that back. “Allowing women to serve in ground combat positions could make them more vulnerable to sexual predators,” Carter remarked to Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets at Georgetown University.

Obviously, as we get women into more unaccustomed positions, maybe dangerous isolated positions, maybe positions where they are fewer in relation to the number of men, it opens up opportunities for predators.

He then spun it and said there could be a positive effect of bringing more women into areas that have only been open to men.

“I can’t help but believe for many people; they’ll learn better how to conduct themselves, how to interact across gender lines and so forth. And that will contribute to prevention and eventually eradication of sexual assaults,” he added.

Social media exploded with comments in all directions replying to Carter’s statements.

Carl Woog, a spokesman for Carter, quickly came to his defense saying Carter opened the door to 20,000 new jobs for women in the military since taking office and that he is committed to ending sexual assault within the ranks.

Defense Secretary Carter Says Women in Ground Combat Positions More Vulnerable to Sexual Assault

How do you feel about Carter’s statements?

Some people on social media have honed in on “allowing” women to have these positions as anti-feminist. Others have fixated on “make them more vulnerable,” as if women were completely defenseless. I particularly liked one comment:

“How about we bar predators from combat roles instead of women doing their jobs?”

If Carter really wants to open military positions to women, are these comments helping or hurting that goal? Many people are mad and in this digital age, they aren’t afraid to sound-off about it.

This uproar could actually be a good thing though. It has people talking about sexual assault in the military. While some are afraid jobs will be closed off to women because of the potential risk of predators, I’m more inclined toward opening those doors. I want to see women fill those roles and lead our great country. I want them to succeed.

Whether ground combat positions are available to women or not in the future, the door to discussion is open. It is apparent at least with these few comments Defense Secretary Carter has a spotlight now shining on him. Will more jobs become available or will they be closed off to women because of him? Hopefully, the military will see changes for the good, no matter what those changes may be.

What do you think about Carter’s comments?

Cost-Saving Proposal Would Make Commissary Employees NAF Instead of GS

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Just when we’ve gotten used to something in our military life being stable, the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) throws us another curve ball. As military families, we have come to accept change, but there are things we just don’t like having messed with. The commissary is one of those things.

Congress charges the MCRMC to review military benefits and make suggestions on how the government can modernize the military compensation and retirement system. Recommendation 9 in their report is to combine the commissaries and exchanges, theorizing that it will ensure better access and savings for military families. That in itself is a huge topic of debate.

A particular component of that recommendation is that DeCA, Defense Commissary Agency, employees be converted from GS (General Schedule) federal employees to NAF (non-appropriated fund) in order to reduce staffing costs by an estimated $110 million.

commissary

What does that really mean? An estimated 16,000 DeCA employees will be biting their nails waiting to find out how their salary will be affected. Currently, DeCA receives government funding and their pay scales are different, and usually higher, than NAF counterparts such as the Exchange. According to Beth Moten, the legislative and political director for the employee union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), every DeCA employee will see a pay cut of at least 10% based on the scale differences. She gives an eye opener of an example:

The starting salary for a NAF employee commissary cashier in Charleston, South Carolina, for example, would be 47 percent below that of the current starting salary of a DeCA cashier in the GS system.

Need actual numbers to shake things up for you? Entry-level cashiers in Nevada commissaries are GS-3 employees earning at least $25,000. If their jobs are changed to NAF, their pay would line up with minimum wage, which I Nevada is $8.25 an hour making their salary now only $17,160 a year. They would be doing the exact same job for almost $8,000 less a year.

How would your job satisfaction and job performance change with an $8,000 pay cut?

To make things worse, NAF employees also have a different health care package that has fewer options, the employee retirement contribution is lower and the retirement age is higher than GS workers. Changing their status to NAF will also make their jobs less dependable as they would now be vulnerable to formal reduction in work forces and the possibility of their job being outsourced.

This all sounds terrible, right? You bet. The strain of this change won’t just make an impact on DeCA workers; it will also make a difference in your shopping and savings. If the commissary no longer receives appropriated funds, they will have to increase the price of goods to cover salaries.

In a recent government survey, 92% of respondents say they have shopped in the commissary. What percentage do you think will still be shopping at the commissary if prices are up and savings are down?

This change only looks good in the eye of the government. They would be saving a huge amount of money, but DeCA employees and commissary patrons would be feeling the brunt of it.

This is just a recommendation by MCRMC and hopefully Congress has not been taken in by shiny numbers but will see that military benefits like the commissary are something families deserve to have left alone. We need something stable in this crazy, ever changing life we all lead.

Keep the commissary the way it is and let families focus on more important things.

What do you think of this proposal? What would you say to the MCRMC or Congress?

 

Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

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Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

What are your favorite military discounts to use on your summer vacation?

Summer is almost here and that means vacation time is quickly approaching. Save money, time and frustration by planning ahead and taking advantage of military discounts on summer fun. You’ll be able to make the most of your summer with these great military discounts.

Here are a few military discounts you don’t want to miss this summer.

  • Adventure Island Tampa: Free tickets are available for active duty military and their families; veterans get half off tickets as well.
  • Aquatica San Diego: Active duty military families receive free tickets and veterans get half off tickets.
  • Busch Gardens: Active duty service members and up to 3 dependents get complimentary admission once a year. You’ll need to fill out a form online and bring it to the ticket counter with your military ID to get your actual pass. Don’t wait in line at the gate like I did only to find out you have to go back to the ticket counter!
  • SeaWorld: Free tickets are available to active duty service members and their families. Veterans get a 50% discount.
  • Sesame Park Place: All active duty military families can get free tickets and veterans receive a 50% discount.

    Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

    Have you taken your family to Disney yet?

  • Walt Disney World Resort: Disney is currently offering 3-day military park hopper tickets for $132. See your base ticketing office for details.
  • Blue Star Theatres: Military families and veterans can enjoy free admission to over 100 theatres around the country.
  • Water Country USA: Free admission is available for active duty military, reservists and National Guard as well as 3 direct dependents.
  • Cedar Point: Enjoy $21 off regular admission for all active duty, veterans and their families.
  • Colonial Williamsburg: Admission is free for military families May 22-25, 2015. Visit your MWR/ITT office to purchase discounted admission tickets the rest of the year.

    Colonial Williamsburg is a great to visit. It's educational and fun.

    Colonial Williamsburg is a great to visit. It’s educational and fun.

  • Dollywood: Active duty, reservists, veterans and their families receive a 30% discount on one day admission. These tickets cannot be pre-purchased and can only be purchased at the front gate of Dollywood or Dollywood’s Splash Country.
  • King’s Dominion: Free admission is offered May 23-25 and July 4-5 for all active duty and retired military. Active duty and veterans are eligible for discounted tickets, up to 6 with each ID, at the gate throughout the year.
  • King’s Island: Free admission for military personnel May 22-25 and July 3-5. Active duty military receive discounts for themselves and up to 6 others by showing their ID at the gate throughout the year.
  • Lego Land: Active duty military get a free one day pass and friends and family receive a discount on admission at the gate.
  • Six Flags: Most military bases offer discounted admission tickets. Check with your MWR/ITT office.
  • Universal Studios: On-site hotel vacation packages and discounts on admission tickets are available for military families. Contact your MWR/ITT for details.
  • Great Wolf Lodge: All active duty service members receive 20% discount and free admission to the water park with their stay.
  • Museums: Many museums across America including: Museum of Modern Art in New York, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, the Southwest Florida Military Museum in Cape Coral and the USS Midway Museum in San Diego offer free entrance or discounts for military families.
  • Movie Theaters: Many theaters offer military discounts, usually the same price as a senior or student ticket. You’ll need to use the actual ticket counter to get them and to show your ID.
  • Summer Camp for Children: Many camps across the country are free or discounted for military dependents, particularly if one of the parents is deployed. Check with your local camps.
  • Major League Baseball: The league offers discounted tickets to many games and each team also has a specific military appreciation day. Check with your favorite team for details.

There are so many fun, exciting and educational things to do with your family this summer and saving money while having fun is always a bonus. If you didn’t see a particular theme park listed here that you are planning a trip to this year, call ahead or check their website for military discounts. Many businesses around the country offer some type of military discount; all you have to do is ask.

What are your favorite military discounts? Tell us in the comments section.

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

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There are a range of proposals being discussed in Congress right now for the 2016 fiscal year that affect military families. The Tricare reforms catch our attention because of the changes to procedures or policies in our health care system. One detail that particularly stands out is the proposed changes in emergency room care.

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

An ER fee is only a single proposal among many that are being considered by lawmakers related to health care for military families.

Under the 2016 plan, military families would have to pay a fee depending on your sponsor’s rank to utilize emergency room care for a misused visit.

What would deem a misused visit?

That’s still up for debate and can spark a whole new issue if the proposal does get approved.

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

Do you frequently visit the ER because your MTF is closed at nights or on the weekends?

Military families are rallying together to oppose the emergency room fees arguing that often times we are driven to use ERs for immediate care. When a parent would call their local MTF (Military Treatment Facility), it might be weeks or at worst months to schedule an appointment with their PCM (Primary Care Manager).

Additional factors that drive families to ER visits are MTF locations closed at needed times (evenings or weekends), not being able to receive the proper referrals to an Urgent Care facility and not to mention, the wait for paperwork to get pushed through, so you can start utilizing your new MTF location.

For example, immediately after my PCS to Virginia (literally 3 days after we moved in), I caught a sinus infection. My husband wasn’t due to report for another couple weeks, but I knew I had to see a doctor as soon as possible. Because of the tight turnaround, I didn’t have the proper paperwork ready or even changed our MTF facility yet. At the recommendation of hospital personnel, I used the emergency room so I could be seen and receive prompt attention.

Would this circumstance be considered a legitimate emergency under this proposal?

Also, you never really know what would constitute as a non-emergency when you may not actually know what’s going on yet. For example, if your daughter is complaining about her knee after a hard fall, do you take her to the ER on Saturday morning? Or wait it out until Monday when the MTF is open?

This proposal leaves a lot of questions unanswered and as a result, we start playing the waiting game on our family members’ health.

Keep in mind that adding a fee to emergency room care is only a single proposal among many that are being discussed by lawmakers. National Military Family Association, a nonprofit that advocates for military families on Capitol Hill, breaks it down for us here.

NMFA argues that the problem stems from military families not given the proper avenues for urgent care and day-of appointments. The organization is working toward “improved access to acute care appointments for all military families using MTFs.”

In addition, NMFA started a petition for this particular issue. If you disagree with the emergency room care fee, sign their petition here.

What do you think of this proposal? Do you frequently visit the ER because your MTF is closed at nights or on the weekends?