As I listen to the Christmas tunes through Amazon Music, I reflect on where we have celebrated the holidays – both my active-duty spouse and as a military family around the world. My spouse has been on deployment during the holidays. As a family, we celebrated the holidays in Okinawa, Japan, wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops at the beach on a Christmas afternoon. We are not alone. Many military families have celebrated the holidays outside of their hometowns, instead celebrating where the military sends us. These unique experiences present opportunities to learn about the various areas we live in and perhaps continue the tradition with the next PCS. From OCONUS to CONUS, military families share their unique experiences of the holidays spent around the world.

Germany

For those lucky enough to call Germany home, the holidays are a magical time. Christkindlmarkt, or the Christmas Markets, in Germany are an outdoor shopping market for goods and foodstuffs. Glühwein and gingerbread are purchased and enjoyed. These traditions don’t end when leaving Germany. While markets like those in Germany are not as prominent, they do occur in some scattered towns around the United States, including Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Some big box stores carry German beer or glühwein, and while it may not be an exact replica for those treats enjoyed at the Christmas Markets,

The custom of celebrating St. Niklaus Day may have begun for those who lived in Germany but continues even after leaving. It’s a fun way to continue and honor those traditions learned overseas. St. Niklaus Day is celebrated on the eve of December 5^th, and children, and adults alike, place their shoes outside or at their door for St. Niklaus to leave treats in the shoes, per the Legend of St. Niklaus.

Around the US

No matter where the military sends families, there are some traditions that can be continued no matter what. Several families shared that they continue the magic of the Elf on the Shelf, which find them in places everywhere from Japan to Washington DC. The traditions of reading specific books or pajamas and cocoa on Christmas Eve can occur no matter where home is, although the pajamas maybe shorts and tank tops versus flannel, depending on the weather.

Italy

Italy celebrates the holidays with sweet treats and festivals, and light displays. Le Befana, the Christmas Witch per Italian stories, brings children gifts on January 5th.  The sweetened breads of panettone and pandoro are enjoyed throughout the holiday enjoyed, with and without the amazing Italian coffee. Thanks to global shipping, even after leaving Italy, military families are able to find these breads in the United States to reminisce on their time in Italy.

Japan

Mainland and Okinawa, Japan, go all out for the holidays. Scattered throughout the islands, hotels offer light-up shows on the hotel grounds. Some are set to music, and some are themed displays, but they all bring on the holiday joy of sparkling holiday lights. To celebrate the local way, you wouldn’t believe what food you need to find. The traditional holiday meal in December is Kentucky Fried Chicken! Yes, you read that correctly. The American chicken chain is very popular. Orders are taken early, and at pick-up time in Japanese efficiency; a table is set up outside for ease of pick-up. In the past, a holiday gift has been included with meals, including a bento box or holiday mug. The beautiful thing about this is that KFC can be enjoyed in the states after leaving Japan, but be warned, it doesn’t taste exactly the same.

Another Japanese treat is Japanese Christmas cake. The Christmas cake is a light, slightly sweetened cake topped with fruit that is delicious to taste and beautiful to look at.

In preparation for the New Year, giant decorations of Kagami mochi are seen in storefronts and along the streets. Added mochi varieties in highly decorated containers are available in grocery stores. To find similar mochi in the states, find your local Asian food market.

Great Britain

The holidays in Great Britain are celebrated with lights and trees and local treats. Mince pies, shortbread, and clotted cream are holiday favorites.  While recreating a snowy walk through the English countryside may not be replicated everywhere in the states, the treats may be available through a local British tea shop or the International aisle of the military Commissary.

While military families have celebrated the holidays around the world, these traditions that are experienced can continue no matter where the military sends us.

When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Does it conjure up images of shopping and wrapping gifts, bountiful feasts, or traveling? None of those things are cheap. It can be easy to go overboard on the shopping for gifts or food, and travel leads to an increase in cost, including eating out and the travel itself. In fact, per the National Retail Federation, the average American plans to spend about $800 in 2022 on holiday food, gifts, and decorations. But sticking to a budget can be done with a few key tips.

Determine Your Number

Analyze your budget and determine what number you want to spend for the holidays. Maybe it is $200, $300, $400. Determine what you can realistically spend on the holidays without going into debt. Start an excel sheet or Google sheet where you can write the amount at the top, and it will calculate the amount left after you enter each expenditure.

Alternative Gifts

Consider gifts that are not physical things. Consider volunteering for a cause together with your friend or family. Perhaps you both enjoy caring for animals – schedule time together to volunteer at an SPCA or local animal shelter. Consider spending one-on-one time doing something outdoors – hiking or walking together. Or perhaps borrowing a movie from the library and scheduling a date. Handmade gifts using what you have at home make great gifts as well. Don’t discount your own talents. All of these things require no spending money.

Make a Budget, and Stick To It

If you know you only have X amount of money to spend on gifts or travel, then stick to it. That is it. Don’t max out a credit card or get another credit card to pay for the holiday. Just don’t do it. You have already chosen your maximum holiday spending number. Be realistic about what you can spend on food and gifts. Hopefully, by planning for alternative gifts, you may be able to stretch that budget a bit more.

Coupon

This may sound silly, especially when you have limited time during the holiday season, but coupons and coupon codes for online shopping are abundant and can save you money. Before purchasing on Amazon or big box stores, do a quick search on your favorite web browser to look for other options for the same item. Don’t forget your grocery store app for coupons – these can usually be seamlessly linked to your rewards card. Utilize websites and applications like Rakuten, Ibotta, Checkout 51 to provide ways to save money on things you are purchasing anyway. You don’t have to be an extreme couponer. Just save on items you want.

You can stay on budget, but it can require vigilance, creativity, and sticking to the plan.

The holiday season, whether you are ready or not, is coming. If you are looking for a fresh Christmas tree to get you in the holiday mood, look no further than the Trees for Troops program. Trees for Troops is the organization developed to specifically deliver holiday cheer with free fresh trees to military families. Cost is a limiting factor for some looking for a fresh tree, and the program’s goal is to give as many military members as possible a tree for the holiday season.

About Trees for Troops

Trees for Troops, a program of Christmas SPIRIT, has been about 20 years. In 2005, FedEx partnered with Christmas SPIRIT with the goal of bringing Christmas Trees specifically to military families, with 277,001 trees over the last 17 years. Since that time, 262,265 farm-grown Christmas Trees have been delivered to military families across the United States and overseas! FedEx assists in delivering these trees to over 70 military bases around the world!

How to Get a Tree

All donated trees will be picked up in early December and delivered to military bases over the following 2 weeks. To see if your base is getting a delivery, check this link for a map or check the list below. If you are located at or near one of the bases, make sure to follow their social media pages to find out when the giveaway will be done. Each base operates its giveaways differently, so do not expect each base to have the same timing or order.

All branches of the Armed Forces are represented in donation sites.

The following Air Force Bases will be receiving donations:

• Davis-Monthan AFB – AZ
• Luke AFB – AZ
• March ARB – CA
• Homestead ARB – FL
• MacDill AFB – FL
• Scott AFB – IL
• Seymour Johnson AFB – NC
• Cannon AFB – NM
• Holloman AFB – NM
• Kirtland AFB – NM
• Nellis AFB – NV
• JB Charleston – SC
• Goodfellow AFB – TX
• JBSA Sam Houston – TX
• JB Langely-Eustis – VA
• Fairchild AFB – WA

The following Army Bases will be receiving donations:

• Fort Rucker – AL
• Fort Huachuca – AZ
• U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground – AZ
• Fort Hunter Liggett – CA
• Fort Irwin – CA
• Fort Carson – CO
• Fort Benning – GA
• Fort Gordon – GA
• Fort Stewart – GA
• Hunter Army Air Field – GA
• Rock Island Arsenal – IL
• Fort Leavenworth – KS
• Fort Riley – KS
• Fort Campbell – KY
• Fort Knox – KY
• Fort Polk – LA
• Fort Leonard Wood – MO
• Fort Bragg – NC
• West Point – NY
• Fort Drum – NY
• Fort Sill – OK
• Fort Bliss – TX
• Fort Hood – TX
• JB Lewis-McChord – WA
• Fort McCoy – WI

The following Marine Corps Bases will be receiving donations:

• MCAS YUMA – AZ
• MCAGCC Twentynine Palms – CA
• MCLB – Barstow – CA
• Camp Pendleton – CA
• MCAS Miramar – CA
• MCRD San Diego – CA
• Camp Lejeune – New River – NC
• MCAS Cherry Point – NC
• MCB Quantico – VA

The following Navy Bases will be receiving donations:

• NAS Lemoore – CA
• NAWS China Lake – CA
• Naval Base Ventura County – CA
• Naval Submarine Base New London – CT
• NAS Jacksonville – FL
• NS Mayport – FL
• NOTU Cape Canaveral – FL
• NAS Pensacola – FL
• NAS Whiting Field – FL
• NAS Key West – FL
• NSA Panama City – FL
• Naval Station Great Lakes – IL
• NAS JRB New Orleans – LA
• NAS Meridian – MS
• NCBC Gulfport – MS
• Naval Weapons Station Earle – NJ
• NSA Mid-South – TN
• NAS Corpus Christi – TX
• NAS Kingsville – TX
• NASJRB Fort Worth – TX
• JEB Little Creek-Fort Story – VA
• NWS Yorktown – VA
• NB Kitsap-Bangor – WA

The following Coast Guard Bases will be receiving donations:

• Sector San Francisco – CA
• Sector Jacksonville – FL
• Pay and Personnel Center – KS
• Sector New Orleans – LA
• Sector Detroit – MI
• Sector North Carolina – NC
• Sector New York – NY
• Sector Columbia River – OR
• Station Houston – TX
• USCG Base Portsmouth – VA
• BBK Bangor – WA

Support Through Donations

The Christmas Spirit Foundation is able to provide Christmas Trees for military families thanks to donations. Donations can be done online and off here.  You can also select the Christmas Spirit Foundation as the organization you want to donate to through Amazon Smile. Through the Amazon Smile program, Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of what you purchase to the organization.

If you are living in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey or Illinois, you can purchase a tree to be donated by visiting select locations listed here.

The holiday season can be filled with mixed emotions for military families. Military members are deployed or participating in training, no matter the time of year. Military families may be new to an area. Traveling can be a large expense that cannot be done, especially if a military move with added expenses was recently executed. In 2022, there are many holiday programs that plan throughout the year to support military families. If you or you know a family who could use a program, read this and pass this on.

Operation Holiday Joy

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) organization provides support and programs to active-duty military families throughout the year. The holiday program is no different. Operation Holiday Joy is a program that provides food and gifts to active duty and family members. Check the local branch for sign-up dates.

If you want to donate to the program or know someone who wants to, read more about donations here.

Operation Christmas Spirit

The organization adopts active duty and Gold Star families and provides them with gifts for the holiday season. The gifts range from gas cards to toys to grocery gift cards.

Unit nominations are accepted from the following bases:

– Camp Pendleton

– 29 Palms

– MCAS Miramar

– Naval Base San Diego

– MCRD San Diego

– Quantico

– Fort Sam Houston

– Lackland AFB

– Fort Carson

– Buckley AFB

– Joint Base MacDill

– Camp Lejeune

– New River Air Station

– Fort Belvoir

– Fort Bragg

To be an eligible active-duty family, families must be E5 or below, any rank with 4+ children, any rank with a justification of a need, or families with a legitimate need for assistance. Gold Star families with children aged 17 and under, Gold Star spouses, or guardians of Gold Star children are eligible to apply.

Applications are accepted here and are open November 1^st -2^nd and 15^th and 16th.

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront has two programs for military families. Holiday Meals for Military Families provide a holiday meal. Each location of Operation Homefront has different eligibility criteria and registration details. Check the link above to find an event near you and what eligibility criteria are required for your area. Some programs are open to all ranks and include veterans, and some areas are open to E1-E6 only.

Operation Homefront also has Holiday Toy Drive. Collection Bins are located at different businesses and at Dollar Tree collecting toys, and the toys are distributed based on volume.

Toys for Tots

Veterans qualify for support through Toys for Tots. Toys for Tots provides new, unwrapped toys to those in need. Apply to get a toy here.

USO

The USO has programs all year round for military families. To find a program near you, find the USO location near you here or check out the social media for the local USO. Each USO location is different, so the programming differs. It could be a meal as a family, a meal for service members, or toy giveaways. In the past, they have had programs where children can “shop” for their parents. Each of these programs is typically open to all, but check the eligibility criteria for each program and sign up early.

Operation Ride Home

The Armed Forces YMCA has a program called Operation Ride Home. The program offers up to $500 in airfare costs and $125 for vehicle travel. Flights must be booked through the ASYMCA coordinator, and use the Command Form to apply. Applicants must be E5 and below. There is no requirement to be married or have a family; it is open to single or married service members. Apply here.

Marine Corps League

Marine Corps League locations are operated by League members, so programming differs based on the Marine Corps League office. Look for programs through the National website for which programming may be available in the local area.

Soldiers Angels Adopt a Family

The Adopt-A-Family program connects businesses and organizations to support military and veteran family members by providing holiday gifts and a grocery gift card.

Applications opened for military families on September 7^th, 2022.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Service member is deployed, are rank E1-E6, and meet income requirements
• Honorobly discharge Post-911 Wounded Ill, and Injured service members and veterans
• HUD/VASH veteran families
• All families must have a biological or step-child age 18 and under

Businesses or volunteers interested in adopting families will open October 5, 2022. 

If there is a program that isn’t listed, let us know so we can update and provide that information for others!

The financial burden felt by military members across the world is felt even more during the holiday time. The grocery bills increase with larger meals and visiting family or friends, and the cost of holiday gifts or out-of-the-area travel leads to larger than normal expenses. One of the larger expenses is the holiday meal. There are several programs developed for military families, specifically with a gift for a turkey and/or holiday meal.

Turkey for Troops from the USO

Many branches of the USO have holiday meal programs. For instance, the USO-Metro offers holiday meal baskets to active duty service members ranked E1-E6 stationed in the area. Registration for their program opens mid-October, and those chosen will be notified the first week of November. The program also includes crafts and family activities. Check your local USO here.

Operation Homefront

The Holiday Meals for Military Program from Operation Homefront provides holiday meals for military members with deployed service members.  Holiday meal sign-ups are open NOW, and can fill quickly, so make sure to check out the eligibility criteria and sign up if you meet the criteria. Some programs are open to all ranks and include veterans, and some areas are open to E1-E6 only.

To volunteer to help with the program, click here.

Those who want to provide corporate sponsorship can click here.

Churches

Many churches around large military bases have programs for military families. Watch for flyers or posts on local social media for alerts. This is a way for the local area to share and show support for military families, so be sure to keep an eye out and share with your local unit.

Housing Agencies

If you are living in military housing, keep a watch out for giveaways or programs from the military housing agencies for meal giveaways. Partnering local organizations sometimes reach out to the housing agency on base because they have a direct link to military families to provide a giveaway.

Holiday Events

Another link to military families is the holiday events that are held on installation.  The local community will sometimes connect with the service branch community services or Fleet and Family Services for giveaways during the holiday event. Pies, turkeys, or holiday groceries are sometimes given away. If you are planning to attend a holiday event on base, listen to the schedule for the event.

The annual period where you can change your health coverage for the next calendar year is open from November 14 – December 13, 2022. Any changes made to enrollment during this period will be effective starting January 1, 2023. Anyone currently enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime or Select healthcare plan option is able to change enrollment among these plans.

3 Options During Open Enrollment:

1. Stay in your plan. For those eligible, to stay in your plan you do not need to do anything.  
2. Enroll in a plan for the first time. If you are eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select but are not currently enrolled, open enrollment is the time to do so.
3. Change plans. During open season, you can change from TRICARE Prime to TRICARE Select, or vice versa. You can also switch from individual or family enrollment. 

Enrolled Retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime or Select have annual fees that increase annually.

Can you make changes outside of open enrollment?

In order to make changes outside of open enrollment, you must have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE includes but is not limited to a relocation to a new location, marriage, birth of a child or retirement from active duty. A new pregnancy no longer counts as a QLE. Within the 90 period from those events, you can make enrollment changes as eligible.

FEDVIP Enrollment

FEDVIP is the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. Eligibility for this program runs from November 14^th – December 12, 2022. This is program is a supplemental program on top of the vision coverage offered through TRICARE and dental coverage currently offered through United Concordia. Check eligibility and compare plans here.

What are the TRICARE plans?

There are several TRICARE health plans. Active Duty military and their families living at most military bases are eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. Read more about each plan to know what you are eligible for and what it covers.

The basic plans are TRICARE Prime and Select, with branches off of those based on locations.

TRICARE Prime – Active Duty are automatically enrolled in this program. For families, this program provides are with a military or network provider without copays except in cases of using point-of-service options. Primary Care Managers provider care and referrals as needed to specialists.

TRICARE Prime Remote – Command-sponsored active duty and family members whose sponsor’s home and work addresses are more than 50 miles from a military hospital or clinic.

TRICARE Prime Overseas – Command-sponsored active duty and family members living overseas are seen by military or network providers.

TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas – Command-sponsored active duty and family members living in remote locations overseas including Eurasia-Africa, Latin America, Canada and areas in the Pacific.

TRICARE Select – Family members and retirees are seen by Tricare-authorized providers chosen by them, and no referrals from a primary care manager are required. A deductible, cost share and enrollment fees may be required.

TRICARE Select Overseas – Family members can see any overseas provider without referrals. A deductible, cost share and enrollment fees may be required.

The following healthcare plans can be enrolled in outside of open enrollment if eligibility criteria are met per the links provided below.

TRICARE For Life – TRICARE eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare A and B.

TRICARE Reserve Select –  Qualified Selected Reserve members and their families are eligible for this healthcare plan.

TRICARE Retired Reserves – Retired Reserve members are eligible to purchase this healthcare plan.

TRICARE Young Adult – This premium-based insurance is available for adult children through age 25.

US Family Health Plan – Enrollment is available to those who live in an area where this care is available. Outside of the enrollment period, you can make changes to your health plan when you or your family have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Examples of QLEs include marriage, birth of a child, retirement, or a move.  Changes can be made within 90 days after the QLE

Halloween is coming! According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 73.1 million children under 18 in the U.S. may trick-or-treat this year. That is a lot of candy and foot traffic.

Know the Dates and Time

In an effort to keep Halloween trick-or-treating festivities on the weekend, many military bases may shift trick-or-treating to the Saturday before the actual Halloween date, especially if the 31^st falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. This allows military members to participate if they are home and allows for an earlier start time. It allows for increased patrol coverage by the military police, as the weekends allow for more flexibility in their support.

Check out your military installation social media page for the times that trick-or-treating will run so you can be prepared and have your kids ready to participate.

Off-Limits

On most military bases, trick-or-treating in the barracks or dormitories (depending on the service branch) is not allowed. Office buildings are also typically off-limits.

Preparing for Trick-or-Treaters

If you want to open your home for trick-or-treaters, base recommendations include:

• Keeping the porch area well-lit
• Keep the light on during trick-or-treating hours, so children know the home is participating
• Clear the porch and sidewalk of any possible tripping hazards (this includes sweeping away wet leaves)
• Be prepared to answer the door to trick-or-treaters
• Secure pets to avoid them from running out the door or potential scaring trick-or-treaters

Know the Basics

The basic rules for trick-or-treating apply:

• Homes with lights on indicate that the home can be visited for trick-or-treating
• Children and adults with them should carry glowsticks and flashlights (with new batteries) and wear reflective wear to ensure maximum visibility
• Stick to sidewalks
• Avoid walking close to luminaries or candles
• Make sure costumes are fire-resistant
• Don’t wear costume pieces that block your vision
• Cross at cross-walks

Drivers

Drivers driving through base neighborhoods should drive 10 mph below the posted speed limit due to increased pedestrian traffic and carefully enter and exit driveways or alleys through neighborhoods.

It should go without saying if you are going to a Halloween party and having an alcoholic drink, designate a sober driver in advance.

The key to trick-or-treating on base is to follow the installation’s social media or check their website for dates, times, and specific information. If you are living on base, the base housing office will typically send out specifics. Once you have secured that all your safety plans are intact, have a great time!

In late September, the DOD announced in a press release multiple programs and initiatives intended to offload the economic stress of recent price hikes across the board for military families. The initiatives specifically address the challenges in four areas: spouse employment, childcare, PCS costs, and basic needs for service members and their families.

Spouse Employment Initiatives

Military families have the unique challenge of often being a one-income family. The lack of employers understanding the nomadic demands of the military job has led to difficulties for military spouses to find employment. Or employment is forgone as it is difficult to find flexible work that accommodates the ever-changing, unpredictable military schedule. To specifically address these issues, specific initiatives are directed.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to accelerate the development of additional occupational licensure interstate compacts for multiple professions. Many professional positions require not just national licensure but state licenses. These add extra cost and delay time for the military spouse to get a job as they await licensing.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to use non-competitive, direct hiring authorities to hire military spouses for the DOD specifically and to expand remote work and telework options which allow for portable careers no matter where the military sends the family

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to launch a pilot initiative to match military spouses with paid private-sector fellowships. The pilot initiative is slated to begin in January 2023.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to increase the number of partners in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership by 10% before January 2023.

Childcare/Parental Leave

Another hurdle for military families with children is finding childcare – and at that, affordable healthcare. The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to:

– Invest in Child Development Program (CDP) facilities and infrastructure to expand the capacity for childcare

– Standardize a 50% discount for the first child of Child Development Program direct-care workers to attract talented staff to increase capacity. It was noted this would take effect in October 2022.

– Improve access to child care programs like Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood and expand the in-home child care fee-assistance pilot program in additional states

It was noted that the CDP families have extended their hours to account for the long hours of service members’ schedules.

It was further noted that the parental leave policies were expanded to the birth or adoption of a child for active duty and eligible reserve component service members. They also established a New Parent Support Program and updated policies for breast milk shipment for nursing service members on mandated temporary duty travel.

PCS Costs

The military move, or PCS, is funded by the government. In recent years, the lack of workers or available companies has led military families into Personally Procured Moves. Even with a government-contracted move, many items must be replaced with each move that the government doesn’t reimburse. A significant upfront cost of moving can be financially burdensome to many military families. Initiatives specifically to assist with the PCS process include:

– TLE permanently increased to 15 days for CONUS moves and up to 60 days if a service member is in a specified Military Housing Area with a housing shortage. This takes effect on October 2022.

– Increase Dislocation Allowance (DLA) for service members E1-E6 to offset the personal expenses. This takes effect on October 2022.

– Continue to develop improvements to the Military OneSource online moving and housing tools

Secure Basic Needs

All have felt the cost increase of housing and groceries, but for military families who are living in places where they are told, it can feel like an extra crunch. Moving during this increase in cost places a burden on military families. Per the press release, “to”help secure affordable basic needs, the Secretary has directed the Department to:”

-” Review the prospective 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) tables to ensure that the recent changes in housing prices are taken into account

– Institute automatic BAH increases in 28 Military Housing Areas that have “experienced an average of more than 20 percent spike in rental housing costs this year above this year’s BAH rates.”

• 28 areas include:
  • Vandenberg AFB, California
  • 29 Palms MCS, California
  • Dover AFB/Rehoboth, Delaware
  • Patrick AFB, Florida
  • Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Orlando, Florida
  • West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Volusia County, Florida
  • Fort Myers Beach, Florida
  • Kings Bay/Brunswick, Georgia
  • Maui County, Hawaii
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Cape Cod/Plymouth, Massachusetts
  • Martha’sMartha’sneyard, Massachusetts
  • Brunswick, Maine
  • Coast Maine
  • Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
  • Helena, Montana
  • Wilmington, North Carlina
  • Northern New Jersey
  • Newport, Rhode Island
  • Providence, Rhode Island
  • Beaufort/Parris Island, South Carolina
  • Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Houston, Texas
  • Quantico/Woodbridge, Virginia

– Fully fund commissaries with a goal of at least 25% savings on grocery bills compared to the local marketplace

– Provide Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to eligible service members beginning in January 2023.

It is noted that a 4.6% pay increase for service members is included in the President’s budget at the time of the press release.

Leaders at the DOD are aware of the financial burden on military families. These programs and initiatives have a goal to ease that.

October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated to sharing and discussing the importance of breast cancer screenings and risks. While most people know there is an increased risk if a family member has breast cancer, there is also an increased risk to female service members. Military members have been exposed to burn pits and chemicals in both forward deployed arenas and on military installations within the United States. These chemical exposures have led to an increase of cancers – and not just breast cancer. Getting screened with physicals is key. There may or may not be symptoms of breast cancer.

Self-Breast Exams

While the American Cancer Society doesn’t recommend self-breast exams anymore, you are the only one who knows when something is different in your breast. Take a few moments weekly to check and be familiar with your body. Pay attention to how your skin looks or how it feels. When you put on your bra, check the skin for redness, pulling, or swelling of the skin or nipple. Admittedly, breasts that have gone through the physiologic changes of pregnancy and breastfeeding will have a “lumpy bumpy”. If there is any hard or tender bump, talk to your doctor about it.

Mammograms

According to the CDC, 65.3% of women over the age of 40 had a mammogram within the prior two years. It isn’t surprising that mammography is not something that women want to subject themselves to. There are cartoons depicting the true feelings of women who have mammograms on Pinterest and in newspapers.  The leaders in the field of breast health and prevention are not all aligned in their recommendations.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that mammography begin at age 40 and continue every one to two years until age 50, when the recommendation changes to annually. That is the recommendation for women of average risk.

The American College of Radiology also recommends mammography beginning at age 40.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for breast cancer screening recommends screening to begin at age 50 and occur every other year until age 74.

Talk to your doctor about your family history, your concerns, and your worries, especially if that concern includes actually getting the procedure. Chemical exposures for service members may mean earlier screenings.

Breast Care Centers

Not all women are the same. If you have a case family history of breast cancer, if you had a previous lump, or if you had previous breast surgery, your screening recommendation may change. Military members and their families have access to breast care centers at most of the large military bases like the one at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The breast clinic’s dedicated purpose is to provide care from nurses, medical providers, case managers, radiologists, social workers, therapy, and any other services that would be needed in the treatment of any breast concern. Tricare Prime beneficiaries do not need a referral to Breast Care Centers at a military treatment facility (MTF). Tricare Select beneficiaries are able to follow up with civilian counterparts of breast care centers, but costs would be determined based on the co-pay amount or the amount paid within the year (WC). If your local MTF does not have a breast care center, ask where the nearest one is.

Further Testing

One of the functions of the breast care clinic is to help individuals determine individual risk of breast cancer and when to begin preventative services like mammography. If the risk is at a certain level, genetic counseling is typically offered through a Breast Care Center. If it isn’t, ask. Both male and female family members within the family would qualify for testing based on the risk assessment. In addition, you may be able to have a breast MRI in lieu of a mammogram.

Men Get Breast Cancer Too

While in a smaller number of cases, breast cancer occurs in men too. In fact, less than one percent of all breast cancers are in men, but men are more at risk to dying from breast cancer. Why? Likely because breast cancer in men is not a common talked about or thought about topic. If there are any nipple changes or hardness behind the nipple of the breast in men, they should seek medical evaluation.

There you have it. The intel and current (as of April 2019) guidelines in breast health. Your primary care provider (PCP) should be open to any other questions you have, so don’t hesitate to ask!

Sources: ACOG, ACR, USPSTF, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Whether you have recently moved, or have been living in your area for a year or two, the reality is that having children changes your date life. You cannot be spontaneous because you have to schedule and set up a babysitter. Dating your partner, whether married or not, improves communication and the relationship. When you are confident in your relationships, you are less prone to stress and have more confidence. The benefits of dating are clear, it’s having the time and ability to go on dates.

What about a date at home? This requires a little planning ahead to gather supplies in some cases, but the key is to plan for uninterrupted time together. After the kids are in bed, and with cell phones or anything distracting off to the side – it is time for some alone time. Plan a few of these dates this fall for some fall-themed fun.

Movie Night

This one requires the least amount of planning except knowing what you want to watch and making sure you have your chosen film available for streaming or able to download.

If you are both fans of horror films, this may be the thing for you. When the kids are in bed, time to turn on a horror film. You can even set up Bluetooth listening on some devices now so you can use headphones instead of the sound shaking the entire home or waking up those sleeping children. Turn on The Shining, the Halloween series, or I Know What You Did Last Summer via your favorite streaming device.

Fall is the time for football for many families. If you are looking for a football movie, check out Remember the Titans, Blind Side, Rudy, and Friday Night Lights.

If a fun mystery movie is more your speed, check out Sleepy Hollow or Murder on the Orient Express.

My personal favorite for fall because of the murder-mystery but can be watched all year is the 1985 film Clue. The film is based off the card-game and has a star-studded cast that will leave you laughing throughout.

Puzzle Night

While not specific to fall, a puzzle date night is great when the temperature is cooling, and you are looking for a fun way to spend time together indoors. If you have a puzzle at home you have been waiting to build, this is the perfect time to build it together. Perhaps you are not normally a puzzle family  – check out your local Buy Nothing pages or ask on neighborhood pages if anyone has puzzles they want to give up. Or, plan ahead and find one of interest to purchase online or find in a thrift store. Doing a puzzle together allows for flow of conversation, building on communication all while working on those skills needed to build puzzles.

Reading Together

Like the days of radio, reading together out loud is a fun way to spend a date at home. By choosing a book by Agatha Christie, you can solve a whodunit together. Take turns reading and make up fun voices for each character. It is a fun way to spend time together, laugh together and solve together. And there won’t be any radio commercials for Ovaltine while doing it (Oh yes, A Christmas Story).

Pumpkin Painting or Carving

Consider a pumpkin competition of painting or carving. Each adult getting one pumpkin to design and go to town! Or make it a team effort and work on a more intricate design that you may normally choose for a family or bigger gathering for pumpkin carving.

Game Night

Spending time together playing a game like Scrabble or even the more lengthy and complicated Risk, are fun ways to spend time together. Use board games you have at home to make it a free date at home or check out your local Buy Nothing pages for anyone giving away games. Or hit up your local thrift shop for fun games (just make sure that all the pieces are there before purchasing).

Cook Off!

A fun way to mix up a date night at home is a cook off. If you have young children or babies with early bedtimes, making dinner together is a fun date. Since it is just the adults you can make it a relaxing meal together. Or maybe make your favorite meal that you can’t normally do due to time constraints. This could be a fun way to spend time together, plus have a meal. A pretty fun date, and all at home!

This may be difficult if you have older children who have later bedtimes. If that is the case, make it a dessert bake off. Find a fall recipe you want to try and make it a competition – make two different spins on it. Or make it a teamwork exercise by making it together. Once made, enjoy a yummy treat together.

Cozy Fort

While building a fort with couch cushions may seem like an activity for younger kids, adults can totally make one too! And maybe even with better construction materials. Build a cozy space together. Maybe put pillows and a blanket on the floor and hang a blanket for a tent of sorts. It’s a perfect place to read together, or maybe play a game.

Either game night or reading night can be done together at an outdoor firepit if the temperature allows. It can be a fun way to step outside the typical home environment and add ambiance with fun lighting.