Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

The Sweetness of Red, White & Blue

By

Top 10 delicious recipes for Fourth of July

Red, white and blue desserts are guaranteed to impress your guests.

Red. White. Blue. These 3 simple colors put together evoke emotions of the American spirit, ignite the passions of a patriot and the need for a mouth to chant U-S-A. This week we celebrate Independence Day.

More than 326 million Americans will commemorate the birth of our nation by waving handheld flags at community parades, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs with their neighbors and under the darkness “oohing” and “ahhing” at the bright flashes of fireworks.

I always associate the Fourth of July with flag-themed desserts.

The dessert doesn’t necessarily have to be an edible flag, but if you want to impress your guests, it helps to be creative. Thankfully strawberries and blueberries are in season this month and make flag creation affordable and delicious.

Here are my top 10 recipe recommendations for red, white and blue treats.

Fourth of July JELL-O

Using a package of berry blue gelatin and a package of strawberry gelatin, you can easily create blue and red JELL-O cubes. This dessert is perfect for a party with lots of little fingers. JELL-O is especially delicious when it’s cubed. One note: Plan ahead to have enough time to allow the JELL-O to set.

Patriotic Gelatin Salad

We all know that Independence Day is July 4th, but I don’t limit the festive food to one single day. My family enjoys eating Fourth of July desserts throughout the entire month. For that reason, I skip on making Patriotic Gelatin Salad on the holiday, but make it for a neighborhood potluck on a week when I have extra time and the patience for the steps of dissolving gelatin, placing that layer in the fluted tube pan and then chilling it for more than 30 minutes before adding another layer.

Firecracker Red, White and Blue Cake

This cake is red, white and blue on both the inside and out. You prepare the cake batter as directed on the box before dividing it into 3 bowls (one for red food coloring, one for blue and the other is the white batter). Once the cake is baked and cooled completely, you drizzle the white frosting back and forth around the cake in a striping pattern before drizzling blue and red frosting on it. Make sure all 3 colors of frosting can be seen on the cake.

Red, White and Blue Strawberry Shortcake

My childhood best friend Kelly’s birthday is July 3. Guess what type of birthday cake she had every year? This Red, White and Blue Strawberry Shortcake. I always liked how the sliced strawberries are arranged as the stripes to create the American flag. Always serve this cake chilled from the refrigerator.

Patriotic JELL-O Cake

Another cake that is served chilled is this Patriotic JELL-O Cake. In this recipe, you prepare and bake 2 round white cakes as directed on the box. Once the cakes are cooled, you pierce each cake with a fork. Then take 2 boxes of dissolved JELL-O (red and blue) and pour one type of JELL-O over one cake. Repeat with the other type of JELL-O on the other cake. Refrigerator at least 2 hours before assembling and spreading frosting between the layers and on the outside of the cake. Expect your friends to be impressed with the swirls of red and blue inside the cake.

Easy Strawberry and Blueberry Dessert

This easy and beautiful dessert is perfect for the Fourth of July. It takes minimal prep time, yet it will taste delicious. Note: It makes 4 to 6 servings, so be prepared to double the recipe if you are entertaining friends.

Top 10 Fourth of July desserts

Strawberries add the flare of red to any Fourth of July dessert.

Red, White and Blue Banana Split

Another cool dessert is the Red, White and Blue Banana Split. It’s a refreshing dessert that using strawberries, blueberries, pineapples and bananas. Perfect if you are celebrating the holiday in Hawaii.

These final 3 recipes are equally delicious and patriotic.

JELL-O Easy Patriotic Pie
The Flag Cheesecake
Patriotic No-Bake Cheesecake

Now that you have the makings for a festive dessert, the only thing missing is the sparklers.

What’s your favorite dessert to serve on the Fourth of July?

Deployment Is a Great Time for a Healthy Change

By

by Amanda Marksmeier, Guest Contributor

No one wants to get the news a loved one is deploying. While it might be tempting to press the pause button on your life, instead press the reset button.

Deployments are the perfect excuse to reset and refocus on your health.

Everyone wants to know how to make deployment go by quickly. Our instinct is to rush through unpleasant times and circumstances. Instead of looking at a deployment as something to blitz through, use deployments as a time to set and achieve personal goals.

Deployment Is a Great Time for a Healthy Change

Whether it is incorporating meatless Mondays or taking a paddleboard yoga class I thoughtfully use deployments as a way to participate in activities which will improve my life, mind and body.

Goals Keep You Focused and Achievement Keeps You Going

I will be the first to admit, setting goals can be challenging.

If your goals are too low, you will get bored.

If they are too high, you’ll get discouraged.

What do you want to accomplish while your spouse is away? Want to form better eating habits, find balance or start exercising?

Whatever you choose, commitment to it. Decide what you need to do to achieve your goals and start preparing prior to deployment. Schedule time in your calendar to focus on your goals.

Your health is just as important as FRG coffees.

Once you have established your goals, write them down. Put them in plain sight where you will see them daily. Hang your goals on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror. They will serve as a constant reminder and motivate you to keep going.

Set Realistic Goals

Saying “I want to lose 50 pounds in a month” is not only unrealistic, it is unhealthy. If your deployment goal is to lose weight talk with your health care provider and decide what is a reasonably goal.

Losing weight is like a marathon. Pace yourself and take it one day at a time.

Don’t Stay Busy, Stay Active

The thought of working out can be intimidating and exhausting, particularly if you haven’t done it in a long time. Don’t overthink it. Any movement is a step in the right direction.

If you don’t enjoy running, don’t sign up for a marathon. You’ll hate preparing for it and it will be so much easier to quit.

Find something you enjoy and start moving.

Related: How Does Tricare Work When You ‘Move Home’ for the Deployment?

Love dancing? Try a Zumba class. You can show off your mad dance skills while burning a ton of calories.

Searching for balance? Yoga can help you breathe and stretch until you find inner peace.

Frustrated over the deployment? Boxing classes are a great way to get cardio in and frustrations out.

Whatever you choose to do mark it on your calendar, invite friends to join you and get moving.

You Are Not Alone

Human beings are not meant to go through life alone. We survive and thrive in community settings.

Build a community with people who share similar interests and goals. Befriend your neighbors, parents at your child’s school or military spouses in your unit.

You will need these friendships to get through this deployment.

Be Healthy Together

Once you have established your community start scheduling healthy meals and workout dates. Find buddies who will be motivating and keep you accountable.

When we were stationed in Georgia a neighbor and dear friend used to come get me for daily walks. She didn’t give me the opportunity to say no.

Another dear friend in Tennessee would sign us up for crazy exercise classes.

I love both these women because they kept me motivated and made me accountable. I needed to be strong-armed into exercising. My friends knew this and complied.

It doesn’t matter whether you are the one motivating or the one that needs motivation, the important thing is to find accountability partners who will accomplish deployment goals with you.

Deployments can be lonely and draining especially if you only view it as a time away from your spouse. Don’t dwell on the separation.

Think of deployments as a time to focus on yourself and your goals.

If you change your focus it will change your outlook on the situation. When my husband drops the deployment news I get a bit excited thinking about the things I want to achieve while he is gone.

Whether it is incorporating meatless Mondays or taking a paddleboard yoga class I thoughtfully use this time to do activities which will improve my life, mind and body.

How will you use the next deployment to make healthy lifestyle changes?

Amanda Marksmeier is an Army wife and mother of four. She works as an employment specialist assisting the military community in achieving their career goals. Amanda is also a contributing writer for a quarterly employment journal and has written for several military affiliated blogs.

Why Are We Fine with DeCA Employees Shopping at the Commissaries, But Not Purple Heart Recipients?

By

Commissary employees have just been given the approval to shop at base commissaries. Do you agree with this new policy?

Why Are We Fine with DeCA Employees Shopping at the Commissaries, But Not Purple Heart Recipients?

A commissary cashier checks groceries at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Photo credit: U.S. Air Force/Margo Wright

There are roughly 14,000 people employed by DeCA and half already have shopping privileges for reasons such as being a military spouse, family member or a retired service member. That means there is still a potential additional 7,000 people that will now be able to shop at the commissary.

For years, there has been a debate over who should have commissary shopping rights. Do you think commissary employees have earned this benefit?

To be clear on the guidelines, commissary employees will be allowed to shop at the commissary starting at the end of the month, but their families will not.

There is no retirement benefit of continual shopping rights for commissary employees.

Once they no longer work for DeCA, they lose their shopping rights.

Commissary employees will not be able to buy tobacco or any controlled substances. Once wine and beer become available at commissaries later this summer, that will also be excluded.

Robert Bianchi, interim DeCA director and chief executive, said

Ultimately, the department believes that extending these limited benefits will further improve commissaries by giving employees a greater sense of ownership and understanding of the goods and services delivered to the millions of authorized patrons in commissaries worldwide.

I can see the reasoning behind that, but it doesn’t mean I agree with it. From an employee’s standpoint, working for a company and not being able to purchase the products you’re surrounded by would be frustrating.

Could you imagine being a cashier ringing up groceries all day and when your shift ends, you have to drive to a grocery store to buy what you need?

I’m not so much against commissary employees being able to shop where they work as much as I’m frustrated that they are the group that was chosen to receive this right. There has been a push to get the commissary shopping privilege extended to former military service members that some feel deserve the right to shop and have earned the right to do so, but do not qualify for one reason or another. Why are we denying these patriots a benefit but are OK with letting an average citizen have it?

A bill introduced in April known as the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 would expand the right to shop at the commissary to Purple Heart recipients, all veterans with a service-connected disability, Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, as well as veteran caregivers.

This isn’t the first time this proposal has been made. It was shot down before for reasons such as this is an “earned benefit” and where would they draw the line at defining that term.

Also, commissaries are funded with government subsidies. A large portion of that funding goes to pay commissary employees. If the pool of shoppers was opened up to include disabled veterans, then the need for a larger workforce and more infrastructure would cost the government much more money.

These are sound reasons, however, why did those get set aside when the topic came up of commissary employees getting the right.

How have commissary employees “earn” this benefit?

One thing I’d like to point out is that baggers are not commissary employees. They will not be able to shop at the commissary unless they have the right to do so for another reason.

Do you think a shelf stocker or custodian has earned the right more than baggers? Either way, since baggers are not commissary employees they won’t be spending their tip money on toilet paper sold at cost plus 5% at the commissary.

I hope that lawmakers take a serious look at the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018. If they can open shopping up to commissary employees, they should be able to find a way to make it work for former service members that have given so much and gotten so little.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think? How have commissary employees earned the benefit of shopping at the commissary?

How I Feel About Service Member-Only Military Discounts

By

by Amanda Marksmeier, Guest Contributor

“Sorry, we only offer discounts to service members.”

As military spouses we have all heard this statement.

I find it ironic. My husband and I are partners in life, we share everything including a bank account. The money I use when making a purchase is as much his as it is mine.

Furthermore, the reason he is not with me is because he is either deployed, in the field or gone for training.

I don’t believe we as members of the military community are entitled to military discounts, but it is nice when a business offers a military discount to military spouses.

When the United States was engaged in two wars with the scars of 9/11 still seeping and American pride swelled within us, military discounts were a way to honor service members and their families. As the wars drag on and disappear from national headlines, the military community fades from the forefront of the minds of American civilians.

Unless you have a personal connection to the military you are unaware of the challenges and sacrifices of military families. So, allow me to share a few numbers with you.

The military spouse unemployment rate is estimated at 16%; the national unemployment rate is 3.9%. Sixteen percent doesn’t sound like a lot, but it equates to 104,000 out of work military spouses. This number does not reflect spouses who gave up their job search or are underemployed.

The average income for a service member is between $40,00 and $52,000 annually. The U.S. average annual household income is approximately $73,000. For those doing the math that is a difference of $21,000!

But military families don’t pay for housing or health insurance, right?! No, as a matter of fact we pay for both necessities. While military families can live in base housing it is not free.

Service members receive a housing stipend or basic housing allowance (which is included in the $52,000) but for families that choose base housing this money is recouped by the housing offices to cover living expenses.

Military members pay health insurance premiums just like everyone else. Granted our premiums are much lower than other insurance premiums but we pay them nonetheless.

Here are some more numbers to consider.

The average military family will move six to nine times. The government pays for the move, right? Yes and no. The government approves and pays to move our household goods up to a certain weight which is based on the service member’s rank, not how many dependents are in the household. They will also cover travel expenses such as gas, hotel stays and meals depending on the distance traveled.

What they don’t cover is the cost to ship a vehicle because your newly licensed teen is not experienced enough to drive across the country.

Another expense that is not covered is the three weeks of hotel fees because base housing is unavailable when you arrive on post.

A huge out-of-pocket expense for moving military families is food. For families living in a hotel or an empty home awaiting household goods, their only option is to eat out.

I know what you are thinking, no cooking or dirty dishes, sign me up. I am here to tell you, besides the cost, which can easily average $100 or more a day for a family of four, eating out gets old quickly.

My goal in sharing this is not to gain sympathy or “poor mouth” but simply to provide information by the numbers.

Many military families struggle financially, so a military discount not only helps their bottom line but boosts morale and gives a feeling of appreciation.

I have been a military spouse for almost 13 years and I am grateful for every moment of it. Military life has taken me many places and introduced me to amazing people. It is a life I chose but that doesn’t mean it is easy or cheap.

Our family has lived in six homes. My husband has been deployed for more than 60 months and has been away for far too many field exercises and trainings to count.

When I am offered a military discount on my purchase it makes me feel like someone is acknowledging and appreciating the commitment I made to my husband.

What are your thoughts on service member-only military discounts?

Amanda Marksmeier is an Army wife and mother of four. She works as an employment specialist assisting the military community in achieving their career goals. Amanda is also a contributing writer for a quarterly employment journal and has written for several military affiliated blogs.

Florida Highway Patrol Seeking Military Applicants

By

As a service member, your job is more than a job. It’s a lifestyle. Your job contributes to a mission that is larger than you. Your job requires dedication to this mission and service to your country.

When you leave the military, after either 4 years or 22 years, you don’t want to leave that lifestyle. You want to take the best of military life – the community, the service and the lifestyle – with you into the next chapter of your life.

Enter the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and veterans have a lot in common, but most importantly both realize that protecting and serving is not a job, it’s a lifestyle.

The Florida Highway Patrol is actively seeking military applicants, specifically military personnel and veterans. FHP gives employment preference to applicants who have 2 years of continuous U.S. military service with an honorable discharge. Employment preference is also available to spouses of veterans.

Am I Qualified to Be a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper?

Here are the minimum requirements for FHP applicants. Applicants must be:

  • 19 years or older
  • U.S. or naturalized citizen
  • possess a valid driver’s license
  • have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma
  • willing to serve anywhere in the state of Florida

Florida Highway Patrol does not have minimum or maximum height limits. People of all heights are encouraged to apply. But the applicant’s weight must be proportional to his or her height.

Regarding vision, applicants must have minimum correctable vision of 20/30, with normal color distinguishing capabilities and 140-degree field of vision.

Florida Highway Patrol Seeking Military Applicants

Veterans interested in continuing a lifestyle of service after the military should consider joining the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP is actively seeking military applicants.  Source: Florida Highway Patrol Facebook page

What Are the Employment Benefits?

Besides a positive work environment and job stability, here are other advantages of working for the Florida Highway Patrol.

Paid Training. Applicants who are selected for the Florida Highway Patrol Training Academy will be compensated $2,514.88 per month. Law Enforcement Training is 28 to 29 weeks long and takes place in Tallahassee. Meals, lodging, training materials and physical fitness training are provided for recruits.

You are required to stay on-site during the work week. Recruits typically have their weekends free. For more information about the Florida Highway Patrol Training Academy click here.

Competitive Pay. The starting salary is $38,034.24 annually.

Paid Holidays and Vacations. The state of Florida has 9 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday per year. New troopers receive 8:40 hours per month of sick leave and annual leave. FHP also grants 17 days per year for military leave.

Uniforms, Equipment and Weapons. All uniforms, equipment and weapons are provided to the trooper. The
uniform allowance is $1,300 annually.

Health/Medical Insurance Options. The Florida Highway Patrol offers extensive insurance coverage for health, life, vision and dentistry. Accident and cancer insurances are also available.

Retirement Benefits. After 8 years of service, Florida Highway Patrol troopers are vested in the state’s contributory retirement system.

No State Income Tax. Since there is no state income tax in the state of Florida, by default, your military retirement pay is also exempt.

Can I Apply if I’m Currently in the Military?

Don’t wait until you are out of the military to complete your application with the Florida Highway Patrol. If you are planning to separate from military service and you haven’t received your DD214 yet, ask your Company Commander to write a letter on official letterhead detailing your separation date, type of discharge expected and your character of service.

The next Basic Recruit Class dates are October 22. But the hiring process can take 6 to 8 months so if you are interested in serving in the Florida Highway Patrol, take the survey and apply today or visit their website for more information. Keep in mind 2019 class dates are yet to be determined.

Are you interested in learning more about employment opportunities at the Florida Highway Patrol? Visit Be a Trooper for more information.

Cheers to the Commissaries Selling Beer, Wine

By

You read that correctly – commissaries will begin selling beer and wine this summer.

The exact date hasn’t been announced, but it is official. A memo written by Robert Wilkie, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, stated that commissaries will begin selling both beer and wine. This should happen by the end of July.

I was excited when I found out commissaries would be selling both beer and wine.

OK, I wasn’t nearly as excited about the beer as I was about the wine. I’m more of a wine person. I shop at the commissary weekly and this will be so much more convenient to buy both groceries and wine in one place rather than driving to the other end of town just for wine. It looks better when you buy a full cart of groceries with a bottle of wine than buying only wine. I tell myself that anyway.

The Dahlgren commissary, the closest one to me, is tiny. It has six aisles and usually just one cashier. I love it though. Somehow I manage to buy most of my week’s worth of groceries in that little place.

I can’t help but think, where are they going to fit the wine and beer? What products will lose placement? Will they sell the type of wine I like or am I getting excited over this for no reason?

Selling beer and wine in larger commissaries means more of a selection of both. Luckily in the D.C. area, where I live, there are a number of commissaries.

I was lucky enough to be at the grand opening of the new commissary at Fort Belvoir last year. It is massive. I will be going back to see what their beer and wine selection looks like once it’s on the shelves. I’m sure it will be much larger than the one available at Dahlgren.

It will be interesting to see how the prices compare as well.

The commissaries have run a few tests of selling beer and wine previously, but this will be the first time they will be sold at all commissaries as a standard.

There are a few specifics that were released. Commissaries will purchase beer and wine from the exchanges and resell it to commissary patrons. This is to hopefully reduce the impact beer and wine sales at commissaries will have on sales of the same items at exchanges. Profits from sales at military exchanges fund on-base MWR programs and officials don’t want to take away from that.

Prices therefore are supposed to be comparable to those at exchanges.

Related: Why I Think Military Wives Are More Likely to Binge Drink

Item pricing at commissaries moved to variable pricing last year. That means that all commissaries don’t sell products at the same price now. Prices vary based on the market. Wine and beer prices will therefore also be different from place to place. According to Robert Wilkie, prices should be comparable to those at local grocery stores.

One thing that local grocery stores don’t have that commissaries might have is hard liquor.

The Subcommittee on Military Personnel recently tasked the Secretary of Defense with having a study conducted on adding the sale of distilled spirits to commissaries. In this study, they will look at local and state laws as well as provide estimated revenue from sales. The secretary will brief the Committee on Armed Services by September.

Your favorite alcoholic beverage might be on the shelf of your local commissary before long if things work out.

When will your commissary have beer and wine?

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a set date as those dates haven’t been made public yet. Check with your local commissary for an announcement. Wine and beer are set to make their debut by the end of July.

What do you think of the commissaries selling wine and beer?

Should I Feed or Tip Our Movers?

By

It’s PCS season and once again military spouses are asking the big question, should I tip or feed the movers?

Should I Feed or Tip My Movers During a PCS?

Do you provide food for your movers? What kind of food do you give them?

There is a wide difference in opinion here. Some people always tip, others tip based on performance and for some, the thought of tipping has never crossed their mind.

The same goes for feeding the people that pack up all your precious belongings. Many military families choose to feed the moving crews in some way but there are still people that do not.

There are people that both tip and feed the movers and some that choose to only do one of those things.

There are also people who do neither.

Everyone has a strong opinion on the matter as well.

What Food Should I Feed My Packers or Movers When We PCS?

If you choose to provide food for the moving team, what do you feed them?

Many military spouses responded to this question saying that they buy pizza. I have bought pizza many times. My parents bought the movers pizza when I was growing up as an Army brat so that was the norm, or so I thought.

Also, in the early stages of military life, families don’t tend to have much money to spare on individual meals for a large group of people. We didn’t.

After a multitude of moves, my perspective, as well as wallet, has changed.

Now I give the movers a few options for lunch and then my husband goes to pick it up. I also always make sure to have cold water in the fridge for everyone.

Who wants to eat pizza every day? Could you imagine spending hours packing up things and getting pizza constantly?

Some military spouses say that they provide breakfast or lunch and some provide both. Most said they have water for them and offer pizza, subs, Chick-fil-A or KFC.

A few said they offer some of the beverages they aren’t moving with to the movers. One military spouse said this:

 “My husband once gave them bottles of booze. They loved him for it. I was mortified.”

How Much Should I Tip Our Packers During a PCS?

I haven’t tipped our packers during a PCS. Actually, I hadn’t thought about it until someone recently brought it up.

One military spouse had a good point. She said, “I tip the groomer and nail salon techs for goodness’ sakes.” If she’s going to tip for those services, it makes sense to tip the people who take care of her precious belongings.

When asked if they tip, a number of women said that they were told by the TMO, Traffic Management Office, that tipping was not allowed. Not all moving companies follow this however. Even if that is their policy, some movers will still take the cash tip.

In the civilian world, tipping is part of proper etiquette. The average tip is $20 per mover. That could really add up for military moves if you have separate people that pack your belongings up and then unpack at your destination.

I have had as many as eight people packing up our home. There are a lot of costs involved in moving and an additional $160 for the packers’ tips is not necessarily something I would want to spend my money on. That cost really adds up if you have to tip just as much when the next group unpacks at your new duty station.

Related: 5 Steps You Can Take Today to Make Your PCS Go Smoothly This Summer

Everyone has a different perspective however.

Some people only tip if they notice that the movers are particularly friendly or pack things how they want them to be packed. If you choose to tip, make sure you give the money to each mover personally. Don’t just give it to the leader of the packing crew. They might not actually divvy up the money. Also, handing out tips to each person shows that you recognize their individual effort.

Hopefully, the movers are grateful no matter if you provide a meal or a tip them.

If you are going to buy a meal, give them some options and let them choose. They will likely appreciate having something other than pizza.

If you decide to tip, you choose how much to give them. While $20 per person is the norm in the civilian world, it isn’t necessarily the same for military moves.

Share your PCS tips with us. Do you provide food for your movers? What kind of food do you give them?

Our Guide to Sending Care Packages to Your Service Member

By

by Amanda Marksmeier, Guest Contributor

Whether you are shipping your first care package or your last it can be difficult to know what to include and what to leave out.

Items such as firearms, explosives and radioactive materials should not be included, but did you know many foreign countries ban the shipping and receiving of playing cards, used clothes and saccharine?

Our Guide to Sending Care Packages to Your Service Member

Themed care packages are all the rage. Not feeling creative? No problem, search Pinterest for military care package ideas.

Your Don’t Pack It Guide for Deployment Care Packages

Our service members deploy to countries with strict religious beliefs and rules. If you are sending care packages to countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria or any other predominately Muslim country do not pack pork products. Many people in these regions follow diets which prohibit foods made from pigs, so that means no bacon bits.

While we are on the subject of religion, anti-Muslim books, articles, and movies are strictly forbidden so don’t send them. Also, anything considered lewd or pornographic should not be included. It is important to be respectful of others’ customs and beliefs.

Cash and high-valued items should be left at home. Packages can “disappear,” be damaged or simply lost in the mail.

Pro-tip: if you can’t afford to lose it, don’t pack it!

This goes for items that hold sentimental value as well. While you may be tempted to send family heirlooms don’t, these items can’t be replaced if lost or damaged.

What You Should Send in Deployment Care Packages

Now comes the fun part, what you can include in a care package.

Non-perishable food is the No. 1 requested item. Think canned tuna, instant meals, jerky, ramen, I could go on, but you get the idea. In many cases, soldiers miss meals due to missions or the inability to make it to the DFAC. Your service member will be grateful to have a meal from home after a long day.

Care packages are a perfect excuse to print all those pictures saved in your digital cloud. Service members can hang photos in their bunk, tape them to vehicles or keep them in the pockets of their uniforms.

It’s comforting to have photos of friends and family near you on deployment.

Fragrant soaps and washes should be packed separately in plastic bags. I once sent my husband a box of soaps (not in plastic bags) packed with candies. He ended up with candies that tasted like soap!

More Care Packages Tips

Mailing packages is expensive! The U.S. Post Office offers free flat rate boxes to help with the costs. Care packages in flat rate boxes can be sent to APO/FPO/DPO at domestic shipping rates.

Save a trip to the post office by ordering your shipping supplies for free through the USPS website. Schedule a pick-up, pay for shipping and complete the customs forms all online at https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm.

Oh, those darn customs forms! Don’t be afraid. Custom forms aren’t as scary as they appear. All you need is your service member’s address, the list of items and an estimated value of each item in the care package.

The Click-N-Ship option on the USPS website walks through the steps to complete customs forms. Custom forms need to be completed for each package you send.

Related: Tips on Sending a Care Package to a Military Dog

Themed care packages are all the rage. Not feeling creative? No problem, borrow someone else’s ideas. Carefully crafted boxes are posted all over social media. Visit military spouse Facebook pages to ask for care package ideas. Also search Pinterest for military care packages. Have fun, be creative and think “inside” the box.

Books, movies and magazines make wonderful additions to care packages. Deployed service members work long hours in harsh conditions so when there is downtime entertainment is desperately needed.

I am sure everyone remembers the “Frozen” videos with service members belting out “Let it Go.” You know they watched the movie a dozen times to learn the song. Maybe we’ll be blessed with “This is Me” sing-a-longs in the future.

Add extra items so your service member can share with his or her battle buddies. Remember not everyone has someone to send them care packages.

The most important part of a care package is the “care” that is included. Packages remind the men and woman serving they have not been forgotten.

What questions do you have about sending care packages?

Amanda Marksmeier is an Army wife and mother of four. She works as an employment specialist assisting the military community in achieving their career goals. Amanda is also a contributing writer for a quarterly employment journal and has written for several military affiliated blogs.

Pet Sitting Options for Military Families

By

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but if you’re worried about your furry family member back home it can be anything but stress-free. Finding reliable pet pitting options can be challenging for military families. We move often and need to start from scratch building our pet care support teams.

3 Pet Sitting Options for Military Families to Consider for Their Summer Vacations

Whether you’re headed away for a long weekend or a few weeks to visit your parents in Montana, here are three pet sitting options for you to think about no matter where you are stationed with the military.

Pet Sitting Options for Military Families

Do your due diligence before hiring a pet sitter or kennel. It’s important that you like and trust the folks who will be caring for your dog or cat while you are away.

Pet Boarding Facilities

Some call them kennels (we’ll use this name) or pet hotels, but generally, these are places where multiple animals are being cared for at the same time.

Kennels are businesses that are typically owned and/or operated by individuals that have a background in pet care. They often offer complimentary services, like grooming, training or doggie daycare too. Some are operated by a veterinary clinic.

Each animal will have their own separate living area or kennel, where they will spend their days and nights. Many kennels include daily exercise in their basic package or offer extra daycare type interaction for an additional cost.

Kennels often offer trial daycare in order to ensure their facility is a good fit for your pet. They also require current vet records with evidence of standard vaccinations.

Pros:

  • Kennels are licensed businesses and have to follow laws regarding cleanliness or licensing for pet care services.
  • Your animal will get professional level care in a dedicated facility.
  • Your pet has the option for social interaction with other animals or with humans.
  • You can add on other services during your pet’s stay.
  • Staff is trained on basic animal care and health issues.

Cons:

  • There will be multiple pets in the kennel at once.
  • More than one species of animal might be boarded.
  • You will not be able to predict how your pet interacts with the other animals during the exercise or socializing portions of the day.
  • Your animal will be in a kennel, which might be different than their traditional home environment.
  • There may be a wait time.
  • Fees are non-negotiable and might add up quickly depending on your pet’s needs.

Private Pet Sitters

Another option is to work with a private individual pet sitter. This service is typically operated out of a person’s home and may or may not be licensed.

Pet sitting service platforms, like Rover, help connect pet sitters with clients. They off protections and guarantees to both their customers and their service providers.

Another option is to find an individual on your own, through social media or advertisements. You might even connect in-person by using a friend or neighbor!

Private pet sitters typically care for the pet in their home. Your pet is treated as a member of their family. Often pet sitters will watch one pet at a time or only the pets from one family at a time. If they do have their own animals, or might be watching another pet, private pet sitters could offer to arrange an initial meet-up to make sure everyone gets along.

Pros:

  • Your pet(s) might be the only one at the home.
  • Your pet will be treated as a member of the family and be in a home environment.
  • Rates are often flexible, but are usually all-inclusive (treats, walks, socialization, etc.)
  • You know exactly who will be caring for your pet.

Cons:

  • Pet sitters might not have extensive training or experience in pet care. They might simply like pets!
  • Private pet sitters may or may not be officially licensed to operate this business in this location.
  •  No other services (grooming, training) will be offered.
  • The pet sitter may or may not have training for pet health emergencies.

Pet + House Sitting

Some pets do best in their own homes. Having someone come directly to your pet can be a great option for pets that need minimal care, like fish, independent pets, like cats or reptiles, or elderly animals.

When you have a pet sitter come directly to your home, they might also water your plants, take in the mail and make your home look “lived in.”

There are different options for this type of in-home service.

  • Full care: someone stays in your home the entire time you’re away.
  • Occasional care: someone drops by your home several times throughout the day to provide walks, playtime, food and water.
  • Dog walking: someone comes at pre-arranged specific times to take your dog for a walk or to a dog park; this is not a good option for multi-day trips, but might work for a long day trip.

Pros: 

  • Your pet is in a familiar setting with all their creature comforts.
  • Your home has human activity, which could be a deterrent for burglars.
  • Your pet has regular human interaction and exercise on their typical schedule.

Cons:

  • You need to provide a key to the pet sitter.
  • The sitter has access to your home and possessions.

How to Select Your Pet Sitting Option

Before you make a final decision, it is good to explore all options to find the best fit for your pet, your budget and your own personality.

As you consider your options, it’s important that you ask questions pertaining to your pet and situation.

Consider asking all pet sitters and kennels:

  • What is your experience with caring for pets? Do you have references?
  • How will my pet interact with other animals?
  • How often will my pet go for walks/be let out of his kennel?
  • What is your pet security plan? Does your yard/facility have a fence? Will you let my pet off-leash?
  • What will my pet’s day be like when she stays with you?
  • What records and health certificates does my pet need in order to work with you?

For private pet sitters, consider asking:

  • How many other pets will be in your home during my pet’s stay?
  • Where will my pet be sleeping?
  • Will you be taking my pet off your property? If so, could you please explain when and where?

For in-home sitters, you need to ask:

  • What measures are in place to protect my possessions and security?
  • Do you/your employees have current background checks that I can review?

No matter what, do your due diligence before finalizing a pet sitter or kennel. It’s important that you like and trust the folks who will be caring for your dog or cat while you are away.

Who takes care of your pet when you go on vacation?

Military Families Living On-Base Worry About the Safety of Their Drinking Water

By

Military families may need to add drinking water to their growing list of lifestyle-related worries and concerns. A recent report from the Department of Defense confirms that potentially hazardous chemicals are in the tap water at many military installations.

Military Families Living On-Base Worry About the Safety of Their Drinking Water

A total of 126 military installations have polluted water that could cause health problems. Are you worried about drinking the tap water at your on-base house?

These recent reports have left a stain on the current White House and Department of Defense because it looks like a cover-up might have happened.

Don’t Drink the Water at Your Military Base

Before military families go into full-on panic mode, it’s important that we know exactly what we’re dealing with or at least understand as much as we can with the information currently available.

What is the issue with the drinking water?

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) are two chemicals commonly found in everyday objects. You can find PFOS/PFOA in everything from Teflon coating to waterproofing on fabric to fast food wrappers. It was phased out of use by American manufacturers starting in May 2000.

Why are PFOS/PFOA a concern?

According to the DoD report and additional reporting by news outlets, PFOS/PFOA exposure can be harmless in small amounts. However, repeated and long-term exposure comes with a host of health complications.

Both men and women can experience impacts on fertility. Babies may be born with developmental delays. Those exposed may experience increased cholesterol levels, increased uric acid and changes in liver enzymes. There may also be changes to the immune system too.

Finally, exposure to PFOS/PFOA may have an increased risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers.

As of August 2017, 401 current and former military installations have had their water tested. Of those, 90 have water samples that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA) levels.

Additionally, 2,668 groundwater sources have been tested. Of those, 1,621 have PFOS/PFOA levels above the EPA’s LHA. All told, 1,711 sites have compromised water sources.

Reports also indicate that a total of 126 military installations have polluted water that could cause health problems.

The DoD’s response at this time, according to their published report, is to educate the services, investigate the use of products containing PFOS/PFOA and begin planning for cleanup operations.

Since the water was tested in 2017, why wasn’t the water contamination report released earlier?

The PFOS/PFOA report is enough to cause public concern. However, it now appears that the White House and DoD officials might have prevented the immediate release of information.

Through emails obtained by the Union of Concerned Scientists, officials at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) warned the EPA of a “public relations nightmare” when the PFOS/PFOA report was released. These emails are dated January 2018.

Reports on the water contamination were released in spring 2018.

What can military families do?

If you are living on or near an impacted installation or groundwater source, it might be time to consider changing how you drink water.

Adding a water filtration system, according to a 2016 report on Water Online, can have some impact on the levels of PFOS and PFOA in your tap water supply. However, no single system has been shown to be totally effective for both categories or related chemicals. Granular activated carbon has been shown to be the most effective filtration system, along with nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.

Another option is to switch to bottled water. The Food and Drug Administration monitors bottled water manufacturers to ensures compliance with health and safety standards.

Military families should also document health concerns that might be related to PFOS/PFOA contamination. Correlating your family’s physical location with health problems that might stem from exposure to chemical contaminants is important for long-term care and solutions.

Military communities have already banded together to provide documentation of military-caused health issues due to contaminated drinking water. Current and former residents of Camp Lejeune scored a victory in this arena.

Are you stationed at a military base with unsafe drinking water? What precautions are you taking to protect your loved ones from the threat of unsafe water?