Utilizing the TRICARE benefits in the civilian world has become increasingly difficult. For families using TRICARE Prime and Select, the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) has typically been unavailable for family members due to having fewer staff, meaning decreased appointment availability. Less availability at MTFs means military family members with TRICARE benefits must utilize civilian healthcare resources. Finding a provider who takes TRICARE, though, has added a new level of stress and frustration to military families who move or their provider stops accepting TRICARE. The Defense Health Agency, which is the body that oversees and runs TRICARE, said they are working to make the directories for medical providers more accurate.

Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of the Defense Health Agency, stated at a family forum, “I got a lot of feedback that the network directories are terribly inadequate.” Incorrect in-network directories are not a new problem for military families. Even those on TRICARE Prime, who in the past would be seen at the MTFs and know who they and their family members can be seen by, are being referred to providers off base. The civilian community has not been able to keep up with the influx of new patients sent for care in the local economy. Healthcare, in general, is struggling post-pandemic – there aren’t enough support staff, and medical providers have left or retired when they can without the employee force to replace them. If the healthcare system cannot keep up with the general population, an influx of military family members also cannot be supported. This translates to inaccurate online directories for military family members to choose care.

The inadequate directory spans all specialties – primary care, neurology, cardiologists, pediatricians, etc. This further delays care for military family members. Lt. Gen. Crosland conducted her own personal test – asking 10 of her team members to call ten behavioral health providers on the TRICARE directory in the National Capital Region, which resulted in 3 appointments. While a small test, this is a taste of what individuals go through when trying to arrange care for themselves or family members – hours on the phone due to inaccurate information.

The proposed fix will concur with 2025 TRICARE contracts requiring that contractors check monthly for up-to-date information. In addition, penalties will be enacted for the contractors for “not having a network that has a capacity that actually leads to appointments to see individuals,” per Lt. Gen. Crosland. The 2024 contractors for TRICARE are Humana Military for the TRICARE East Region and Health Net for the TRICARE West Region. These contracts are in place through 2024, so they do not reflect who will hold the contract in 2025. No specific penalty is listed, but that will come when the 2025 contracts are written and agreed on.

Active-duty military members are still only seen on the MTF at their assigned clinic.

While these changes won’t be enacted until 2025, they are recognized as an issue.

There are three big expenses for the holidays – the food, the décor and the presents. Several programs are aimed at helping military families specifically to provide these at no expense. Check often and check early, as many of these programs have sign-ups that fill up quickly.

Turkey for Troops

Turkey for Troops from the USO

Many branches of the USO have holiday meal programs. The program usually includes a turkey and some sides sponsored either by a local corporation or grocery store. 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. Check your local USO branch for information on available donations.

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; some areas are open to E1-E6 only. You can search specifically by state to narrow down your location. There is a contact person listed in each category for any location-specific questions.

Trees for Troops

Trees for Troops was developed to 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.

How to Get a Tree

All donated trees will be picked up on December 4^th 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. Follow the military post pages, including Fleet and Family Services or Community Services for pick-up times.

All branches of the Armed Forces are represented in donation sites, and a National Guard site is included this year!

The following Air Force Bases will be receiving donations:

• Travis AFB- CA
• JB Anacostia-Bolling (11th wing AF) – DC
• Dover AFB – DE
• Hurlburt Field – FL
• MacDill AFB – FL
• Moody AFB – GA
• Robins AFB – GA
• Scott AFB – IL
• Whiteman AFB – MO
• Offutt AFB – NE
• Altus AFB – OK
• JB Charleston – SC
• JBSA Randolph AFB – TX
• JB Langely – Eustis – VA
• Warren AFB – WY

The following Army Bases will be receiving donations:

• Fort Novosel – AL
• Fort Huachuca – AZ
• U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground – AZ
• Fort Hunter Liggett – CA
• Fort Irwin – CA
• Fort Carson – CO
• Fort Eisenhower- GA
• Fort Moore – 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 Johnson – LA
• Fort Leonard Wood – MO
• Fort Liberty – NC
• Fort Drum – NY
• Fort Hamilton – NY
• West Point – NY
• Fort Sill – OK
• Fort Bliss – TX
• Fort Cavazos – TX
• JB Lewis-McChord – WA
• Fort McCoy – WI

The following Marine Corps Bases will be receiving donations:

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

The following Navy Bases will be receiving donations:

• NAS Lemoore – CA
• NAS North Island – CA
• Naval Base Point Loma – CA
• Naval Base Ventura County – CA
• NWS Seal Beach – CA
• NAWS China Lake – CA
• Naval Submarine Base New London – CT
• NAS Jacksonville – FL
• NAS Key West – FL
• NAS Pensacola – FL
• NAS Whiting Field – FL
• NOTU Cape Canaveral – FL
• NS Mayport – FL
• NSA Panama City – FL
• NSB Kings Bay – GA
• Naval Station Great Lakes – IL
• NAS JRB New Orleans – LA
• NAS Patuxent River – MD
• NSA Annapolis – MD
• NSF Indian Head – MD
• NAS Meridian – MS
• NCBC Gulfport – MS
• Naval Weapons Station Earle – NJ
• NSA Mid-South – TN
• NAS Corpus Christie – TX
• NAS Kingsville – TX
• NASJRB Fort Worth – TX
• JEB Little Creek – Fort Story – VA
• NSF Dahlgren – VA
• NWS Yorktown – VA
• NAS Whidbey Island – WA
• NS Everett – WA

The following Coast Guard Bases will be receiving donations:

• Sector Mobile – AL
• Sector L.A. – Long Beach – CA
• Sector San Diego – CA
• Coast Guard Academy – CT
• CG Training Center Cape May – NJ
• Cleveland Moorings – OH
• Sector Lake Michigan – WI

The following National Guard training center will be receiving donations:

• LANG Training Center – Pineville – LA

The following Space Force bases will be receiving donations:

• Peterson SFB – CO
• Schriever SFB – CO

Holiday Toy Drive

Operation Home Front and the USO offer variable holiday toy offerings. Operation Home Front typically announces and organizes their toy giveaways once collections are complete in December, so stay tuned to their website for any announcements. Each USO differs in what programs they offer. Some USO locations offer Project Elf, assigning a child aged 3-12 with a volunteer to help them “shop” on the tables to choose gifts for their parents for free, as available through donations.  Check your local USO social media page for any updates.

Did you know that science has uncovered a unique way to ease the pressures of military family life? Amidst constant change, deployments, and school adjustments, a fascinating solution has surfaced: Pets. These lovable creatures aren’t just companions, they’re little heroes, stimulating positive growth in kids and aiding service members’ re-entry into family life after deployment. 

Helps to Manage Trauma

If your loved one engaged in active combat during their deployment, it’s likely that they may be dealing with trauma from that experience. In fact, a study of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans shows that about 30% have developed post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Having PTSD can result in irritability, anger, and panic attacks. It may also result in having bad dreams or nightmares every night since one of the major symptoms of PTSD is having intrusive reminders of the traumatic experience. Therapy can help to be in a healthier state of mind, but having a pet can also be beneficial if you or your loved one is dealing with trauma. 

In a research of those who have experienced trauma including those with PTSD, it was found that animal-assisted therapy can reduce PTSD symptoms. There is increased oxytocin in both pets and humans during interactions, and oxytocin can help to have better sleep and regulate emotional responses. The therapies mainly included dogs, but it was found that horses and other farm animals are just as effective to quell PTSD symptoms. Just spending some quiet time with a pet while gently stroking their fur, or even talking or reading to them can help to ease PTSD symptoms and make you feel calm and less anxious. 

Get More Exercise

Lack of exercise not only increases your risk of mental health disorders, but it can also increase the likelihood of developing health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. Having a pet ensures that military families get lots of exercise, and this is especially true if the pet happens to be a dog or a horse. Canine companions need to be walked at least once every day, while horses need 20 minutes of movement daily to stay healthy. Family members can take turns walking the dog or riding their pet horse to get equal bonding time with their pet and get moving. Not only will this help to get you fit, but it will also ease stress, which affects both the young and old. 

Improves Social Skills

Most civilians may think that being a military kid is lots of fun because they get to live in new places and meet lots of new people. However, they’re often highly stressed since being frequently mobile means having to constantly adjust to new academic curriculum. Military children may also struggle to develop lasting friendships and have a hard time finding a sense of belonging in new environments. After frequent relocations, separation from parents due to deployment, and a lack of friends, children may either start to become withdrawn and less sociable, or they become highly rambunctious and rebellious. Thankfully, pet therapy can help to make military children feel less lonely, and it may even enable them to become more sociable.

A survey shows that out of 2,000 dog owners surveyed, almost half of the participants made friends while walking their pets. Having a dog can make people seem open to friendships and connections, and it may even give people a boost of confidence so they can talk to others. So, encourage your child to walk your pet dog at the park. It’s likely that other kids may want to initiate conversations with them due to the presence of their furry pal. These conversations can lead to solid friendships, which can help military kids to thrive. 

Pets bring joy to people, and they can help military families in so many ways. Consider getting a pet to increase your family’s happiness, boost overall health, and have more interactions with others, and make sure to do your research so you can get the best type of pet that’s right for you and your loved ones. 

TRICARE rate changes are coming as of January 1. Every new year, health insurance companies re-evaluate costs and pass on the costs to those enrolled. It is no different for utilizers of TRICARE plan for Young Adult, Reservists, Retired Reservists, and separating service members.

TRICARE Young Adult

Per Congress, the TRICARE Young Adult program must run without a deficit, meaning that the cost of the program is passed on to the user.  The monthly cost for the TRICARE Young Adult Prime will increase about 12% to $637 a month from the current rate of $570 a month.  The monthly cost for the TRICARE Young Adult Select program will increase by 6.9%, from $291 a month to $311 a month.

Transitioning Service Members

Some members enroll in the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) when leaving military service. This plan is a temporary healthcare bridge for 18 to 36 months after losing TRICARE eligibility. It is utilized by service members who may not have a job lined up or their spouses’ place of employment does not offer a healthcare plan. It also allows family members to continue healthcare from providers they know and regularly see, which is helpful for those with chronic conditions.

The annual costs will increase by about 9%, with a rise from $1654 per quarter to $1813 per quarter in 2024.

Current and Retired Reservists

TRICARE Reserve Select monthly premiums will increase. Individual rates will increase to $51.95 a month in 2024, and the monthly premium for families will increase to $256.87.

TRICARE Retired Reserve premiums will increase by about 6.5%. Individual monthly rates will increase to $585.24, and family monthly rates will increase to $1,406.22.

Comparison of Rates

While the costs of a health plan through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace vary per state, the average cost for a family of 4 with minimal coverage is less than $300 a month. To compare other healthcare plans, check out healthcare.gov. According to Forbes, in 2023, the average plan cost $1214 for a 40-year-old with one child and $1491 for a 40-year-old couple with two children. Costs of health insurance through the marketplace vary based on age, state, and household income, and each state provides a breakdown of what is offered within each tier of the healthplan. It is important to note that those utilizing healthcare insurance plans through the marketplace cannot use the military health network on the military installation. So, if it is important to continue care through a specialist at the current base, remaining with TRICARE will allow for continuity of care.

Get the up-to-date costs and fees schedule at the TRICARE website here, broken down by plan. TRICARE West lists the 2024 updates here.

Military service members and their families are no strangers to change of addresses – but the process just became more complicated. As of May 1, 2023, the United States Postal Service (USPS) rolled out a new process with the intention of streamlining its change of address (COA) process. The idea sounds good on paper – for those who change their address in person, the ID cards will be scanned in addition to the postal card completed. For those who complete the COA online, the fee stands as verification. However, due to this change in the system, COAs are not being completed in the typical 2–4-week timeline that military families are used to. In fact, the COA process is taking several months to complete.

The Process

For those using the online service, go to the MoversGuide section on the USPS website to complete the form.  The verification of identity is completed by sending a one-time passcode or verification link to a mobile phone number and charging $1.10 on a credit card as a verification fee. The online change of address does not take effect for 7-14 business days.

For those using the in-person verification, once the card is completed, the USPS employee will need either a US Passport, a military ID card, or a state-issued driver’s or non-drivers license ID. The identification may be scanned. A secondary form of identification of a lease, mortgage or deed, voter or vehicle registration card, or home or vehicle insurance policy can be used. The change of address does not take effect for 7-14 business days.

Once the mail-forwarding is completed, your old mail carrier is supposed to pull your mail to be sent to the Central Forwarding Service, CFS. Once there, CFS affixes the forwarding address label and sends it to the next address.

What To Do If…

As one can imagine, with a change in policy at a government entity, the change in the COA process has led to a big slowdown. The CFS is backlogged, and as told by two USPS employees through their Customer Service line, they do not have a timeline for mail forwarding. Their recommendation is not to do mail forwarding at all but to change addresses with each business that has their address. However, changing the address does not help those who held mail while they did not have a forwarding address.

Tip: Keep a list on a Google Sheet or Excel Sheet of every business you receive mail from – banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies, etc. with their website and phone numbers.  Use this list to change your address as soon as you are able versus doing mail forwarding to avoid missing mail. This helps streamline the process when you spend hours on the computer changing each address.

Don’t Do Mail Hold

If you are a military family moving and do not have a forwarding address, consider forwarding mail to a trusted family member or friend. This prevents mail holding, which cannot be forwarded for months due to the backlog.

If It Takes Over Two Weeks

There is an “at least seven days” processing for both online and in-person, which is being extended to 7-14 business days. If no mail is being forwarded and it is over two weeks, submit a service request at the USPS site here, making sure to select the reason for inquiry as a change of address.  Your previous post office should reach out to correct the issue within 72 business hours.

What If Mail Still Isn’t Forwarded

If your mail isn’t forwarded after multiple attempts to resolve it through the local Post Office, or if you are concerned that there is fraud, theft or destruction of your mail, the USPS has an Office of Inspector General (OIG), to route the concern to here. This form is not for customer service complaints. The website also states it is not to be used for delivery problems with mail, however, if speaking to the previous local post office multiple times leads to no forwarded mail, then theft or gross negligence is a concern, and the OIG office can address this.

If you are still without a resolution after reaching out to the OIG, consider writing a letter to your representative if it has been more than two months.

Once the PCS is complete, the to-do list doesn’t stop. Here is who you need to inform of your address change ASAP.

Post Office

Submit a change of address, or COA, as soon as you have a new address. Due to the changes to mail forwarding as of May 2023, it is not recommended to hold mail due to the backlog of mail forwarding. In lieu of holding mail before forwarding, forwarding mail to a trusted family member or friend is recommended. Once you have a permanent to address, change the address with all the companies you do business with limit the need for mail forwarding through the USPS.

Department of Motor Vehicles

Thanks to the Servicemembers Civil Relive Act (SCRA), military members do not need to change their driver’s license with each move if they remain on active-duty service. The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act extended the ability to military spouses to maintain the driver’s license they entered marriage with or maintain the same state driver’s license as their active-duty partner. Due to these laws, neither the military spouse nor the active duty member are required to change their driver’s license through the DMV. Yay! Less lines!

While you may not need to change your driver’s license, you should update your address. Most states allow an address update online and have a provision for military service, allowing for an out-of-state address to be listed on the state driver’s license.

However, car registration may be required. An active-duty member may maintain car registration in the state of their home of record, but if the non-active-duty military spouse is on the registration, the registration must be changed to the new state.

Make sure to learn the requirements of each state for inspections. For instance, in the state of California all cars over a certain age must have a SMOG inspection even if they are not registered in the state of California.

Voter Registration

In most cases, voter registration is linked to your driver’s license. You may need to update your address separately with the voter’s registration. Ask your DMV, and check in with the local county you are registered to vote in.

You must have an updated address to receive an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are sent out several weeks before the election date, so update it ASAP to ensure timely receipt of the ballot. Your vote matters; make sure your voice is heard!

Professional Certifications

Whether you are a teacher or health professional, make sure to update the address on your national and state-level certificates and licenses ASAP. This prevents missing any renewal deadlines. The internet typically can be used to update and renew licenses nowadays, but some states mail a verification code to update the address or pay for renewal, so make sure to update the address to avoid a lapse. You worked hard for those certifications!

Auto and Homeowners Insurance Company

Your auto and homeowners’ insurance are billed based on your current location. You can continue to pay for auto insurance in California if you are now three months into living in Virginia, but if there is a car accident in Virginia and your listed address is not correct there may be an issue with paying for damages. Make sure to update your new physical address for accurate charges and necessary insurance adjustments. Each state is different in what is covered for homeowners’ insurance – earthquake insurance that is required in California may not be needed in Alabama. States with “no fault” laws will have higher monthly rates and more coverage.

Call your insurance company directly if you have questions about what is covered.

Don’t forget to shop around if the prices are cost-prohibitive. Insurance brokers may be a great resource for quotes with multiple companies.

TRICARE

Updating your address with TRICARE will ensure you are linked to the right region for insurance and are able to be seen in the local area. If you are living in a hotel or temporary living facility for a time period, you can use that address until you have a more permanent one. Changing TRICARE regions ASAP is vital to ensuring timely visits, especially if the transfer of prescriptions is needed.

Credit Card Companies

If you are not signed up for e-billing, you must change your address with each credit card company to avoid missing billing statements or notices.

Banks

Just like your credit card companies, you want to update your address with any banks you utilize. This will ensure statements, end-of-year tax statements, and notifications are mailed to you in a timely manner. Don’t forget about banks utilized for mortgages.

Taxes

Your change of address may affect your taxes if you change your home of record. The military service member is assigned a “home of record” upon entering military service. This home of record is typically the state the service member lived in when entering service. Some service members, like pilots who do a lot of training Florida, change this home of record to Florida when they are training. Florida offers no state income tax, meaning military members take home more of their paycheck no matter where they reside. As long as both the non-active-duty military spouse and the active-duty member hold the same residency, taxes can be done in the same state jointly, and no change in where state taxes are filed.

Thanks to the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA), the income tax is the same with each move if military spouses hold the same state residency as their active-duty spouse. Make sure to clarify with your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) before tax season to ensure everything is up to date.

Make sure all your address ducks are in a row, even if it is before your household goods arrive and the first box is unpacked. It will save a lot of frustration and headaches later.

Get the Help You Need Now

Military life is normally stressful – long hours, deployments, separations, frequent moves, long phone calls to change health care locations to find new doctors, and dentists, enroll in school, find new jobs, etc. Add in the mix of the pandemic and maintaining the same military operation tempo and moves throughout it, and there is a higher stress level for these families.

Mental health is health. If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish and can be reached at the number 988.

Don’t go without the support you need.

Mental Health Appointments

Learn more about how to set up an appointment to receive mental health care through TRICARE.

Time-honored traditions of Halloween include costumes, trick or treating, and pumpkin carving. If you want to add Halloween décor this year, don’t miss these budget-friendly ideas. Whether you are financially recovering from a PCS or just want to be as budget-conscious as possible, these ideas are for you.

Candlesticks

What witch or wizard doesn’t have candlesticks on their table or mantlepiece? While candlesticks were commonplace in years past, they aren’t part of the normal pieces in our homes now. If you don’t have any candlesticks at home, you can flip wine glasses upside down to make candlesticks. These won’t hold long tapers but do well for shorter candles. After flipping the wine glass upside down, spray paint or paint with black or white matte for a spooky candle look.

Looking for a flame-free candlestick? Try out paper towel roll candlesticks. Cut paper towel rolls in various sizes. Put tape in the top of the tube, creating a pocket for a battery-operated tealight. Test out the tealight to ensure the tape up top is secured, will handle the weight of the tealight, and will last for prolonged use. Use a hot glue gun to add “dripping” at the top of the roll and down a third or halfway – this can be done haphazardly to represent what a natural dripping candle look. Once the glue is dried, paint the glue-covered tube with black acrylic paint. This paint is cheap, usually a dollar or two at Michael’s or even Dollar Tree. Once dried, cover the raised areas with white tape to give the illusion of prolonged dripping. When ready to use, put the tealight on the top turned on, and display your spooky candles.

A word about button batteries –  be sure to use tealights with the battery pack secured with a screw that a small child cannot get out to avoid accidental swallowing. If there is ever a concern that a child may have swallowed a button battery, this is an emergency and requires an immediate ER visit to evaluate.

Spooky Candles

Found jarred white candles? Make them spooky by removing the labels and using a Sharpie to add ghost faces to the front.

Or mix up the jarred white candles by adding fall-themed washi tape around the outside of the candle jar.

A countdown candle can be made by adding dash marks to the jar, making sure to burn the candle every day, counting down to the end of October 31^st.

Making image transfer candles can be done at any time or season. It is especially fun at Halloween because you can put almost anything on the candles. The trick is printing onto tissue paper – you will have to wrap the tissue paper around a piece of printer paper or secure it with invisible tape, being careful to secure it to printer paper with invisible tape at the top and bottom (this will be cut off). You need to print on the non-shiny size of the tissue paper. Cut out the tissue paper image. Place the tissue image on the candle, and place wax paper over the top of the image and candle. Using a hair dryer, continuously blow air on the image for 20-30 seconds. If holding the candle and wrapping paper, wear an oven mitt to avoid heating your hand or fingers. Test the edges of the image by gently pulling the wax paper back to see if the image transferred. If it didn’t completely transfer, repeat the process. Once heated, run over the image with your oven mitt hand to add pressure to the image transfer.

Centerpieces

Make a candy corn centerpiece with wine or liquor bottles and paint. Remove the label from the wine bottle, and prepare spray paint or paint in orange, yellow, and white colors. Spray the entire bottle white and allow to dry. Then add a yellow portion on the bottom 2/3; once dried, add an orange portion on the bottom 1/3. Allow the centerpiece to dry completely before adding it to a table and filling it with fake flowers or leaves. Always use cardboard under your spray or paint surface to avoid leaving behind paint colors that do no desire to do.

If you prefer your candy corn in candy form, add some to the bottom of a wide-based vase and add a candle in the center for another fall-colored look.

Looking to add a spooky element to a vase you have at home? Grab a cheap spider web and some spray paint – purple, black, grey, and silver are all good choices. Wrap the vase in the spider web and spray paint with your color of choice. If you have a plastic spider at home, you can add the spider before or after spray painting. Another option is using hot glue to make the outline of a spider web on the vase, glue a spider down, and then spray paint it. Fill the vase with purple, black and orange flowers for the ultimate flowered centerpiece.

Eyeball flowers: Yup, you read that right. Make any plastic flower spooky by hot gluing plastic eyeballs in the center. You can leave the flowers like this or spray paint to the desired colors.

Dishes

Need some bowls for treats or a party? Wash out and spray paint the dollar pumpkin/cat/ghoul trick-or-treat pails and spray paint in black.

The Skull and Bones dish was a hit last year. Using items from the Dollar Tree of a short glass candle stick, a glass dish or plate, and a plastic skeleton are dressed up with pain. Hot glue the dish to the top of the glass candle stick. Take apart the skeleton and arrange its pieces on top of the dish, hot gluing each piece. Let it dry for a few days, and check for loose pieces before painting. Once completely secured and dried, paint with white for a uniform base color. Once dried, spray paint with rust-oleum metallic – silver or gold – to give a complete look. This will give it the look of a real dish. If serving food without wrappers, make sure to place a liner on the dish before placing the food.

Luminaries

Have some old mason jars, paint and candles at home? You have all you need for DIY luminaries. Search “Halloween Village Printables” online, and several free images pop up. Bring these out. You will need to cut them out, including cutting out the holes in the windows. The first step is cleaning the jars to prepare them for painting. Paint the jars with what you have on hand or desire – you want a shimmer paint so the jar remains opaque for the light to shine through. This is not a necessary step.  Place the printable stencil in the jar, and trace the outline with a black paint pen. Fill in the outline. Once this is complete, let it dry. You can place candles or battery-operated string lights in the jar, which are ready for use. Another idea is the Mod Podge the stencil, with all windows cut out, on the outside, but this is not water resistant, so keep that in mind if the luminaries are being used outside.

September is here! After the summer season, it can feel like it took forever for September to arrive, but at the same, this year has gone by so quickly! Now that Fall is here, it is time to get out and enjoy fall-centric activities. Get out for some family fun, some for free, this Autumn!

Waves of Honor

Busch Gardens and Sea World parks around the U.S. host a trick-or-treating daytime activity for kids. It is not scary but typically fall-themed with scarecrows, hay mazes, story times, and trick-or-treating. In the last few years we attended, no chocolate or nuts passed out, meaning no worries about nut allergies while participating. If your active-duty family still needs to use the Waves of Honor program ticket, use your ticket for a daytime ticket during the trick-or-treating days. It is typically offered on weekends and Halloween days if it occurs during the week. This means that the family fun is entirely FREE!

Busch Gardens parks are in Tampa, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia.

Sea World parks U.S. locations are in Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California.

Howl O’Scream

Busch Gardens and Sea World’s answer for the adults and older kids who enjoy a scare is the Howl O’Scream program. This is an evening event and will need a separate ticket. You still need a separate access ticket if you are there during the day. It is a favorite event for those who enjoy scary movies and being scared. This is not for the easily scared.

Unique Trick or Treating

If your family is a big fan of LEGOS, both coasts host Legoland parks, where Brick or Treat events occur every September and October. It is trick or treating, with the bonus of one DUPLO brick handed out amongst the treats. It is very kid-friendly, without scares. There is some loud music in some areas, but you can usually ask team members which areas to avoid the noise adverse.

Unique Fall Fun

Baseball season lasts through early October, and their weekend games are often host to fall-themed giveaways or activities. The San Diego Padres hosts KidsFest every Sunday two hours before games for families – kids can run the bases on specific dates, some giveaways occur, and enjoy myriad activities, including face painting, bounce houses, and other activities. Check out your local area baseball team to see if there are specials for fall to check out a local gem while spending time together.

Library Campaign

Check your local library for a calendar of activities for fall. These are frequently totally FREE and open to all ages. We have lived in six locations worldwide in the last decade, and there has always been some sort of activity for trick-or-treating at the library. This is great for younger kids that won’t be up for the evening trick or treating. Local businesses like reptile houses have brought reptiles to the library to share them with kids, and librarians host readings of their favorite kid-friendly stories. Checking out local happenings also connects you to other families in your area, creating a great network.

Local Happenings

Check out local schools or non-profits for fall festivals or evenings to support local charities. The local outlet mall may host an event for fall showcasing local businesses or resources – a great way to enjoy an outing and learn about the area. Local schools may host a fall festival where a small cost supports the school, and you can enjoy activities like face painting, a cakewalk, or even a haunted house.

Before heading to the commercial pumpkin patch, check for local pumpkin farms or businesses. Support local and check out the local fare.

Check out local magazines, newspapers, and even social media pages to learn what activities there are in the area.

The fall season may not mean cooler temperatures every place and climb military families live, but it is a change in seasonal activities. Get out and explore for some family fun this fall. What are you planning to do or explore?

Inflation is hitting military families in many ways – and the kitchen is one. In 2022, Blue Star Families released a statistic from their research that 14% of enlisted families in the military go hungry.  In 2023, the Rand Corp released research that more than 25% of active-duty service members lacked access to enough food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” Low food security is defined as households with reduced quality, variety, and desirability of their diets and the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns without substantial disruption. Very low food insecurity is defined as when one or more household members disrupts eating patterns or food intake due to a lack of money or other resources for food.

Food insecurity is not an unknown stressor to military families. In 2020, Rand Corp’s study showed that 15.4% of active-duty service members were classified as having low security per the USDA’s definition in 2018, with 10.4% being identified as having very low food security. At that study’s time, those living on a military installation were more likely to have food insecurity, with 32% of those with food insecurity living on installation and 23% living off installation. Thirty-two percent of service members living on base and receiving a basic allowance for housing (BAH) were more likely to be food insecure, while those living on base without BAH (25%).

What is most shocking about this is that those affected weren’t junior enlisted families with large families. Instead, the study listed that 67% of those affected were those ranked E4-E6, with more marking themselves as single with children versus married without children. This may be in part due to the effort of on-base food pantries and local organizations offering food assistance to only junior enlisted.  In fact, the study demonstrated that only 14% of those classified as food insecure had used assistance programs like Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), food banks, SNAP, or Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA).  

The barriers to accessing food assistance programs may be a combination of many factors. It may be purely due to a lack of knowledge or eligibility. Although anecdotal reports of mid-ranking families stated, they were told they made $100- $200 more than allowed to qualify, and that couple hundred dollars didn’t go far in the grocery store. Another possible barrier to food assistance is the lack of asking – that there may be a social and career stigma to being an E5, or E6, and asking for assistance.

In years passed, the answer to the food insecurity issue included opening the free or reduced lunch program to military families. It was found that this worked better when schools were on a military base versus off. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of Fiscal Year 2020 added a Basic Needs Allowance, which has been expanded in the following years to address the needs. This is obviously not enough as inflation increases and the number of military families reporting food insecurity increases.

The question of food insecurity among the military will need to be addressed continually. The civilian population with similar characteristics to their military counterparts reported food insecurity at a rate of 9% compared to 25% for military active-duty service members. Is it due to a pay gap for those positions? Is it due to a lack of resources for those ranking families? Is it due to any other myriad of factors? This needs to be answered. If it is due to a civilian pay gap, will the promise of potentially getting retirement for those enlisted be enough to continue in service as retirement pay and options continue to be chipped away? Will this lead to a recruitment concern? Inflation is not helping anyone shopping in the grocery store right now, and it certainly is not helping those already with concerns about food insecurity.