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VA and Apple Announce Capabilities Launching This Summer so Veterans can Access VA Health Records on iPhone

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By Marguerite Cleveland

The U.S. Department of Affairs and Apple recently announced that new capabilities will soon be available for Veterans to access their VA medical records using the Health Records on iPhone feature from Apple. This is for Veterans receiving their care directly through the VA.

“We have great admiration for Veterans, and we’re proud to bring a solution like Health Records on iPhone to the veteran community,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “It’s truly an honor to contribute to the improved healthcare of America’s heroes.”

The Health app on an iPhone will allow Veterans to view everything from health conditions to lab results as well as other medical information. In addition to the VA, Apple has partnered with other hospitals and medical facilities that have electronic records and this information is available as well on the Health Records app. Veterans will be able to view their medical data from multiple providers on their iPhone. Once a Veteran has completed an appointment within 24 hours of the visit their health record will be updated and available on the app. “When patients have better access to their health information, they have more productive conversations with their physicians,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO. “By bringing Health Records on iPhone to VA patients, we hope veterans will experience improved healthcare that will enhance their lives.”

All this is possible due to the VA’s new Veterans Health Application Programming Interface which allows Veterans to access their health records on mobile devices or in their web browser. “Our Health API represents the next stage in the evolution of VA’s patient data access capability,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “By building upon the Veterans Health API, we’re raising the bar in collaborating with private sector organizations to create and deploy innovative digital products for Veterans. Veterans should be able to access their health data at any time, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come to accomplishing this.” 

According to Apple, Veterans medical records and health data on the app is encrypted and protected with a user’s iPhone passcode, Touch ID or Face ID. “Our goal is to empower people to better understand and improve their health, enabling them to view their medical information from multiple providers in one place easily and securely,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of Technology. “We’re excited to bring this feature to veterans across the US.”

The Apple iPhone app will be the first record sharing platform available to the VA which looks forward to partnering with other companies to bring similar technology to other mobile platforms. The Veterans Health API is another example of the VA’s commitment to IT modernization which began in March 2018 with the launch of Lighthouse, the department’s Application Programming Interface Management Platform.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.WanderWordsWine.com

Photo credit:
© witthaya /Adobe Stock

Do You Use Military Life to Excuse Overindulgence?

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“I’m treating myself for surviving another week of deployment.” “We’re celebrating a promotion.” “She’s finally home! Time to go all out.”

Does this seem familiar to you? It’s almost way too easy to use military life as a reason to celebrate – and over indulge.

From fancy steak dinners to decadent chocolate cakes to booze, there is always a reason to treat yourself when you live the military life. Promotions, homecomings of all kinds or even just surviving another tough week separated from your spouse. Anything can become an excuse to over indulge.


© Vladimir Mucibabic / Adobe Stock

Do You Use Military Life to Excuse Overindulgence?

I’ve been there with you. During my spouse’s year-long combat zone deployment, I found a reason to treat myself almost every single day.

Survived the week? Red wine. Handled something without crying? Spoonfuls of cookie dough, straight from the giant, family sized tub.

Every weekend was a great excuse to enjoy a night out with my girlfriends, make a sweet treat or sip on something alcoholic.

I felt pretty good about my choices. After all, my spouse was deployed and I needed to survive this with a shred of my sanity intact. Numbing my feelings with my “treats” was a great way to make that happen.

Until I looked in the mirror and stepped on the scale a few months into the year.

Over Indulging to Numb Feelings

I had packed on a few pounds in just a few months thanks to my overindulgence. Clothes weren’t fitting as well anymore. And I looked a little worse for wear.

I realized that I had been treating myself to avoid dealing with the emotions of deployment, of being truly alone for the first time. It was easier to eat or drink than to actually confront what I was feeling.

Stepping on the scale and really looking in the mirror forced me to confront what I was doing to my body. I didn’t like what I saw and resolved to change.

Which was great, until my spouse came back.

Celebrations to Treat Yourself

Numbing with food or booze is common during deployments, but it’s also an easy habit to slip into when your spouse is home.

It starts with the homecoming celebration, foods they haven’t enjoyed or drinks they’ve been craving. But that could bleed over to enjoying all the local restaurants they’ve missed, too. So you end up eating out more often than not, to treat yourselves.

Before you know it, there’s a promotion in the works, farewell parties, baby showers, holidays and other milestones. Every occasion requires celebrating, right? And that means rich dishes and freely flowing drinks.

You don’t want to be a party pooper, so it’s easier to just join in than take a pass or BYO anything.

Eventually, treating yourself becomes a habit and a lifestyle. And military life has become the reason.

Breaking the Treat Yo’Self Cycle

Do you recognize yourself? Are you treating yourself all the time, creating a lifestyle around indulgences?

Yeah, I was right there with you. And every so often, I find myself slipping back into those routines. Old habits die hard, right?

When I notice that I’m over indulging, I also know it’s time for a personal reckoning. The first step is to hold myself accountable with a food journal and exercise tracking.

When I actually write down everything I’m eating and drinking, the results usually surprise me. It’s easy to overlook those sneaky bites of brownie or comforting cookies when you’re not taking notes. When you see your eating habits in black and white, it’s not so simple to ignore anymore.

I also take a good look at my fitness habits. Am I making it a point to move every day? What am I doing to account for what I’m eating? Weight loss and maintenance is all about balancing calories in with calories out.

Finally, I look at my calendar and appointments. I’m looking for notes about nights out with friends or dinner dates with my spouse. How often am I making a reason to celebrate?

Find a Celebration Balance

Life is all about balance. That’s true for celebrations, too. You can and should celebrate the milestones and victories. And a few nights out with friends, just because, never hurt.

But celebrating and nights out shouldn’t become your lifestyle.

Finding a good balance and making a plan for celebrations is essential.

Try to make celebrations matter. Pick out the milestones that matter to your family most and prioritize those moments. Plan a party, go out to eat and enjoy some desserts.

For other occasions, make a plan to treat yourself within reason. At neighborhood BBQs or farewells (or whatever you’re celebrating), plan to bring a healthy dish and limit your drinking. Enjoy a good time with friends, but also commit to your lifestyle goals.

Have you used your military life to over indulge? How did you break the cycle? We’d love to check out your best tips!

5 Things to Know About Military Spouse Friendships

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Military Spouse friendships are a very special kind of relationship. With only a couple of years between each move, we get to know each other very fast and often take on the responsibility of closest family member or official emergency contact for each other. A good friend can make or break the constant turning and changing nature of this life. It can make you feel totally at home or totally foreign and alone. But forming your community is not as simple as it sounds, especially if you are an introvert like me. Over the past 5 years, here are some things I have learned that might help.

Put Yourself Out There

I cannot stress this enough. You can only be a part of this community if you put yourself in it. We can be as warm and welcoming as hot chocolate to newcomers, but if they never leave the house they will feel isolated and alone. It can feel awkward and you might come across as sort of intrusive in a different context, but go ahead and invite people over for coffee from your neighborhood facebook page, or introduce yourself to other moms you see on the playground or at library story time. Make some cookies and share them with your neighbors. Invite a fellow pet mom to take the fur babies for a walk on a regular basis. Get out of your house and say hello to the people around you. I cannot tell you how many great friends I have made by my husband coming home and telling me about a new marine in his unit who has a wife, then I search for her on facebook and invite her out to my favorite coffee shop or over to my house. As a newcomer it is totally encouraging to make a friend your first week in a new place. It sort of feels like blind dating, and not everyone will be your best friend, but you have to be open to it. Which brings me to my next point.

You Will Not Always Have a Best Friend

Chances are, there will be at least somebody in each place you live that is compatible to you. But don’t feel depressed if you don’t always find your kindred spirit soul sister bestie who makes you laugh and cry and reach for the stars every time you see her. The truth is, that won’t always happen. And that is ok, it is just a different season of life. Sometimes you will have a few friends with kids who like your kids, or someone you can enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine with, someone who enjoys similar hobbies as you do, but doesn’t really knock your socks off. Keep that person close! Chances are, a friendly acquaintance will still bend over backward to help you out in an emergency, or bring you a meal after you have a baby. Be able to edit your cover letter for a job application, or tell you where to find the best tacos out in town. There is room for all levels of friendship in this life, and each one can teach us different things about ourselves.

When Friends Move Away, You Won’t Always Stay In Touch

If you aren’t already, it’s time to get on Facebook/Instagram. Social media gets a bad reputation for making communication less personal, but for the working mom whose husband is deployed, with friends spread out all over the world, social media becomes the most convenient way to stay up to date on everyone’s life events and drop a note or comment here and there to keep touch. Even if you were close friends, it becomes very difficult to maintain a relationship between Virginia Beach and Okinawa. But don’t write them off forever! The good news is that when your paths cross again, you will likely pick right back up where you left off. There have been several occasions where I see on Facebook that someone I know is traveling close to where I live and I reach out to plan a meet up! Another awesome thing about social media! We never would have realized we were so close in proximity otherwise.

Timing is Everything

Sometimes the compatibility is there, but the timing is just not right. Maybe her husband just got back from deployment and the only thing on her mind is family time. Or maybe you had an acquaintance at one duty station who becomes your best friend at the next. The person who used to be your favorite girl’s night out friend may not translate into your New-Mom best friend. Sometimes, I meet someone new to town just a few weeks before we pack up and move away. It can be so frustrating thinking what could have been. Circumstances often dictate how close we feel to people. So embrace the friendships you have now and let them evolve naturally.

Don’t Wear Your Husband’s Rank

Enjoy the freedom of befriending anyone and everyone without restriction. Your spouse may not be able to enjoy the same relationships, but these friends can offer you a many colored perspective on military life which is highly beneficial to a spouse. As long as you can keep your husband’s work stories out of it. Make it about you.

Being a military spouse requires hard work, dedication, as well as flexibility to change, and the spouse friendships are a big part of that. Let yourself feel sad when people move away, these emotions are a part of loving your friends. But at the same time let yourself be open to the new friendships and what they can offer your life.

by Catherine Hershey

Catherine Hershey is a military spouse, mom of three boys, musician, and runner. She loves the challenges of military life and the deep emotions experienced with each change. She loves to share her story and listen to the stories of those around her. Follow her on Instagram @the_wayfaring_homebodies or on her blog: https://thewayfaringhomebodies.wordpress.com

CBO Suggests Tricare Rate Hike, Veterans Benefits Cut to Decrease Deficit

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For the fourth time in five years, the Congressional Budget Office has suggested deep cuts to veterans’ benefits and increases in Tricare fees. These options were put forward as ways to start cutting the nearly $1 trillion national deficit.

CBO Suggests Tricare Rate Hike, Veterans Benefits Cut to Decrease Deficit

The CBO listed over 120 ways to cut federal spending, with increases to fees paid by military retirees using Tricare insurance and decreases in benefits earned by military veterans. These proposals are designed to reduce the federal budget by either cutting costs or increasing revenue.

Even though the CBO makes these suggestions, specifically in regards to military benefits, regularly. However, leaders in the military community are concerned that recent suggestions will appear in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal. This is the fourth time that military benefits have been specifically identified for cost saving measures designed to reduce the national debt.

Tricare Rate Increases for Military Retirees

There are several different options being suggested for Tricare-related fees and premiums.

First, the CBO is floating the option of increasing enrollment fees for working-age military retirees. This would include military retirees under age 65.

Under this proposal, Tricare Prime rates would double. Currently, retirees who joined the military before 2018 and their families pay $297/year for individual plans and $594/year for family plans. With the proposed increase, individuals could see rates above $600/year and families could pay over $1,000/year for Tricare Prime.

Tricare Select members could see new enrollment fees. Currently there are no enrollment fees for most retirees using Tricare Select. Under the CBO proposal, enrollment rates would start at $485 for an individual and $970 for a family.

Retirees older than 65 could see new enrollment fees for Tricare for Life. This Medicare supplement program is currently offered without additional enrollment fees. Suggested enrollment fees are $485 for individuals and a $970 fee for families. These TFL enrollment fees would be in addition to the monthly premiums many Medicare Part B users pay.

Currently, Tricare for Life covers claim amounts after Medicare Part B. Instead, the CBO suggests that Tricare for Life stop paying any of the $750 cost-sharing paying and only pay 50% of the next $7,000 in claims annually.

Together these suggestions could save around $24 billion by 2028. Adding enrollment fees for Tricare Prime and Select would slash $12.6 billion in that time period, with Tricare for Life fees cutting another $12 billion.

These changes, specifically with Tricare for Life, would decrease the financial burden to the government by the amount of fees collected. Additionally, some Tricare for Life beneficiaries might drop the program entirely and elect to purchase a private supplement instead.

Changes to Veterans Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs also has opportunities to save money and decrease the deficit. The CBO has identified several specific ways to reduce costs at the VA.

First, they would narrow eligibility for seven identified conditions that are not related to military service. These include Crohn’s disease, arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hemorrhoids, multiple sclerosis, uterine fibroids and osteoarthritis. Over ten years, this could save up to $33 billion.

Additionally, VA unemployment benefits would end at age 67, which is when full Social Security benefits kick in. This would save about $48 billion by 2028.

$11 billion could be saved by reducing disability benefits to veterans who also receive full Social Security benefits.

Another suggestion would save $38 billion over 10 years by ending disability compensation to 1.3 million veterans with a 30% or lower disability rating.

By eliminating Groups 7 and 8 from enrollment into VA programs, approximately $57 billion could be saved over 10 years. This would remove those without service-related disabilities and incomes above the national threshold as well as those with incomes above or below the geographic thresholds.

Finally, the CBO has suggested that revenue be generated by including VA disability benefits in taxable income. This could generate the $93 billion if all disability payments were taxed, according to the CBO.

Concerns from Veterans Group

The Military Officers Association of America is concerned that the CBO continues to target military retirees as a way to reduce the national debt.

“CBO does this every year. Our biggest concern is that some of these options would make their way into the president’s budget,” Retired Navy Capt. Kathryn Beasley, director of government relations for health issues at the Military Officers Association of America.

Beasley is also concerned that the CBO failed to take into account the recent Tricare rate increases over the last calendar year.

“With all the changes to the military health care system in the past year, we think we simply need to stabilize Tricare,” she added. “It’s been a lot to absorb.”

The CBO stresses that these are simply options included among a broad range of suggestions that will reduce the national debt through cost saving measures or revenue raising opportunities.

Have you seen a Tricare rate hike or change in veterans benefits? We’d love to hear your story. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Assistance for Military Families Who Want to Strengthen Their Marriage

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Military life is rough on a marriage. Deployments, repeated moves, short-notice TDYs or trainings all take their toll.

The good news is that the US military divorce rate is approximately 3% to 3.1%. This marks a period of relative stability, with divorce rates hovering in this range for the last four years. It also is fairly comparable with the average US divorce rate of 3.2%.

Part of this change, from an all time high of 3.7% in 2011 during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, could be due to marriage supports and programs available to military couples.

Assistance for Military Families Who Want to Strengthen Their Marriage

The military, across all branches, has recognized that the deployment tempo and other stressors of this life play a role in marital stress. Repeated deployments to combat zones, unaccompanied overseas assignments and short-notice assignments can all be extremely stressful. For spouses, they might be dealing with the additional stressors of employment uncertainty and frequent stints as a solo parent.

Having resources and opportunities to strengthen your military marriage is crucial to maintain happiness and stability. Your marriage doesn’t need to be in crisis in order to seek assistance. May programs are open to any married couple!

Your military base might have additional resources not listed here.

Marriage Retreats

Each service offers weekend retreat options designed to help strengthen and renew military marriages.

Marriage Care is an Air Force program offered over the course of a weekend. It is open to all active duty, reserve and Guard Air Force personnel.

The Army offers Strong Bonds, a program that helps families and couples build resiliency to deal with the rigors of military life. Programs are offered for couples, families and unmarried individuals.

CREDO is the marriage and family program offered to Marines, Sailors and the Coast Guard. Programs are offered at 10 locations around the world with varying themes to meet different needs. These are spiritually-based retreats.

Military marriage retreats are offered at no cost across all services. Child care may or may not be provided, so be sure to make arrangements as needed. Registration is first come, first served. Many retreats fill up quickly and are in high demand.

MFLC Couples Counseling

Every military base offers confidential counseling via Military Family Life Counselors (MFLCs). While many know about their individual counseling sessions, couples counseling is also available.

Each session is 100% confidential, with no notes taken and no files created. The MFLCs are all trained and licensed counselors, some specializing in marital counseling.

Counseling is free and available on an as-needed basis. Contact the MFLC office on your base (search your base + MFLC) to book your first appointment.

Religious Couples Counseling

If you and your spouse have a strongly faith-based relationship, you might also seek confidential help from a trusted chaplain or other religious leader.

To get started, contact your religious leader to schedule an appointment. Your sessions will be largely faith-based and work to strengthen your marriage by grounding it in religious beliefs and resources.

Faith-based counseling services vary by base and individual chaplain.

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Other Counseling Options

Your marital enrichment is not limited to CREDO retreats, MFLC counseling or sessions with a chaplain. There are several other counseling and marriage strengthening programs available to military couples.

MilitaryOneSource can connect you with a trained counselor via online or phone-based non-medical counseling. Sessions are free and confidential.

You can schedule your first session by calling 800-342-9647. Phone lines are open 24/7.

DIY Support Options

Our military lifestyle is super busy, leaving almost no extra time to spare. If that sounds like your family, you can also DIY marital strengthening programs!

  • Love Every Day: a website that sends you and your spouse prompts daily. They might be random acts of kindness, questions or other activities designed to strengthen your marriage.
  • Couples Therapy Workbook: a workbook, by Kathleen Mates-Youngman, designed to facilitate conversations that will ultimately strengthen and grow your relationship.
  • Love Dare: a prompt-based couples journal that “dares” you to commit to mindful, purposeful acts of love every day for 30 days.
  • 5 Love Languages: learning how you best receive and give love so that you can be intentional in how you demonstrate your affection to your partner.

What Happens If…

Truth time: marriage is hard and takes work. Sometimes, even counseling and retreats aren’t enough to get back on track or heal a relationship.

That’s okay.

If you find yourself headed down this road, there are also resources that can help you navigate this next chapter.

  • MilitaryOneSource: contact non-medical counseling to talk to a counselor about your feelings. It can help you to process what’s happening and to make a plan for the next step.
  • MFLC: working with a counselor in person can help you to process your journey and create a plan to move forward.
  • JAG: contact your local JAG office for guidance about military divorce proceedings. Your JAG office can represent one party in a divorce, but not both. They may not represent you in civil court.
  • Branch-Specific Supports: each military branch provides specific supports and created certain regulations that govern military divorce. Contact your JAG office or unit commander for more information or resources.

How has your military marriage survived and thrived? We’d love to hear your best advice!

Do You Bury Yourself in Social Media?

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A few months ago, I looked up and realized that I was pretty checked out of my own life. More accurately, I was checked out of my actual, non-virtual life. I had buried myself in social media, diving in to escape the stress of real life and using my virtual work as an excuse.

I didn’t wake up one day and just decide to basically “live” on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. My habits were developed and honed over the last decade of military life. I’ve been driven by necessity and opportunity, business and escape.

Are you there, too?

Do You Bury Yourself in Social Media?

At first, I used internet chat rooms. That was way back in 2008 or 2009, before Facebook was the monolith of social interaction that it is today. Chat rooms were how I connected with other significant others while my spouse was away at training and MOS school.

But it was easy to disconnect, as simple as shutting my laptop or hitting the power button.

As Facebook expanded, it was easier to connect and find communities. My social plans, like unit events or neighborhood parties, were planned on Facebook. Our unit maintained a Facebook page. My business was, and still is, social media based.

Photo Credit:
©devrim_pinar/Adobe Stock

Facebook was the connection to my husband when he was deployed for a year. It was how we connected and shared pictures.

Facebook is how I stay in touch with distant family members, including my own parents and sister, no matter where the military sends us. They love seeing my kids grow up. Having Facebook and Instagram makes it really easy to get those glimpses of lives lived far apart.

Social Media was Taking Over My Life

Pretty soon, I was checking Facebook multiple times each day. The rise of the iPhone and apps made my habit easier to access. My social network was in the palm of my hand, just a swipe or touch away.

Waiting at the doctor’s office or at the mechanic, I was swiping through social media. Facebook and Instagram became my default “killing time” activity.

As we moved around the country and then the world, social media was my way to keep friendships alive. It was my research tool to make moving a little bit easier, checking out the latest info on our next base or collecting travel tips for our next adventure.

Later, as I created my blog and launched a parent coaching business, spending hours on social media could be spun as “work.” I was creating posts, building connections with potential clients, and growing my network.

My Escape from Life

Really, social media had kind of taken over my life. I was no longer “present” in my actual real life.

Instead of experiencing my OCONUS life, I was hunting for the next best ‘gram spot or a way to twist a cool trip into a social post. I was “working” by scrolling on Facebook instead of playing with my kids.

Enough was enough. There is nothing so important online that it trumps living real life.

But I also get how useful social media is for military spouses. We almost need it to get the best picture of our next PCS move – schools, housing, commutes, jobs and possible friendships connections.

Try a Social Media Diet

I needed to do something. Cutting all ties just isn’t realistic. My business lives online, so I do need accounts to make it more profitable and functional. But social media would no longer be my focus.

My first step to reconnect with myself and my life was to take Facebook and Twitter off of my phone. Instagram stays, for now, but with time limits. Now, I get notified when I reach 30 minutes of daily Instagram use.

Facebook checks will be limited to just a few times a day, only when my kids are at school. It’s such a time suck and is really overwhelming sometimes.

I’m making a point to only hop onto my computer during working hours, when the kids are at school. Once they get home, the computer is shut and the phone will be mostly down.

I’m giving myself some grace. My tech is where my recipes are stored, how I do quick research and is the keeper of my music library. So, my phone or iPad might be out during dinner prep. Or I could be hunting for a playlist to listen to with the kids. Little kids have lots of questions, and they need answers fast. Hello, Google.

I’ve been doing this social media diet for the last month or so. And already, I’m feeling so much lighter and happier. I’m present with my kids in a way that I really haven’t been in a while. It feels so very good to not be buried in my social media bubble anymore.

Have you been burying yourself in social media? Or have you broken a virtual habit? Share your story with us!

Adding Holy Books of Other Religions to POW/MIA Display Is the Right Thing to Do

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The Military Religious Freedom Foundation along with 26 families in Okinawa filed a complaint with the Office of Inspector General requesting the removal of the Bible on the POW/MIA table display at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa.

In addition to the removal of the Bible, the complaint also requests language about the Bible and the phrase “one nation under God” be eliminated from an accompanying explanatory placard, an investigation into how the book came to be displayed, who authorized it and “appropriate disciplinary measures administered to those responsible.”

The foundation’s complaint was answered by a refusal to remove the Bible citing it was “consistent with Department of the Navy and Department of Defense guidance, as well as the U.S. Constitution.”

Adding Holy Books of Other Religions to POW/MIA Display Is the Right Thing to Do

Naval Hospital Okinawa may be fighting a losing battle.

Since the inception of the POW/MIA table display, a Bible has always been included to signify the “strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.” I applaud the leadership of Naval Hospital Okinawa for holding fast to traditions.

In our world today, it seems traditions are tossed aside the moment someone is offended by its existence with little consideration of the tradition’s origins, true meaning and the beliefs of those who honor them.

That being said, the Naval Hospital may be fighting a losing battle.

For years the Bible has been met with similar opposition resulting in the removal of the book from many displays throughout the United States. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation argues having the Bible as a part of the POW/MIA table display is a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which states the government is forbidden to make a law establishing a national religion and must avoid favoritism or the preference of one religion over another.

Rear Adm. Paul Pearigen, Navy Medicine West Commander was given a compromise by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and their attorney to include “holy books of other religions” in additional to the Bible in the display. At this time there has been no indication whether this option is being considered or has been rejected.

As a lifelong Christian when I first heard of this complaint, I thought “Really?! Atheists seem preoccupied with religion which is ironic since their beliefs are built on the idea that religion and God do not exist.”

After some reflection and time to consider my stance I realized that I have never experienced the rejection of exclusion or the sting of not being represented, so maybe this argument is more about acceptance and less about religion.

In my opinion, including holy books of other religions should be the action taken in this situation.

Over the years our nation has become increasingly divided. It seems people are no longer allowed to express opinions and beliefs without having to constantly defend them. Discussions about religion or politics are now all-out brawls. Disagreements become yelling matches in which people shout over each other, leaving everyone feeling unheard.

I truly believe all humans share the same hopes and dreams.

We all want to live in a country free of hatred and violence.

We all want to raise our children in safe environments where they can grow to become emphatic productive members of society.

We all want to make a reasonable wage which will allow us to provide the basic needs for our families.

We all want the ability to take our aging parents or sick children to receive quality medical care without going bankrupt in the process.

These hopes and dreams should unite us, not divide us.

As Americans, we all share the same basic goals. We just have different ideas on how to achieve them.

The next time someone expresses an opinion or belief contrary to your own, ask them to help you understand their position. This conversation will not change your mind but may provide insight into theirs.

Do you think the Navy hospital should remove the Bible from their POW/MIA table display?

Will Your On-Base Home Be Tested for Lead?

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Lead poisoning is a widespread and growing problem at Army bases, according to investigative reporting from Reuters.

Unfortunately, no one has a clear picture of the extent of lead poisoning in military children because the Army often failed to report test results to state authorities.

Will Your On-Base Home Be Tested for Lead?

According to a 2017 memo from The Villages on Benning, 2,274 out of 4,001 on-base homes contained lead-based paint at Fort Benning.

Between 2011 and 2016, the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas processed over 1,000 blood tests for lead in young children that showed elevated results. Brooke Army Medical Center reported testing approximately 200 children per year in that 5-year span.

This blood test is a simple finger-prick blood draw and costs approximately $10. Many, if not most, U.S. children go untested for lead every year. It is unclear how many military-connected children do or do not get tested for lead poisoning annually.

Texas, like most states, requires that all elevated testing results be reported to the state authorities. However, Brooke did not report their findings in many cases. Neither did Fort Benning, Ga.

This lack of reporting kept state and federal authorities in the dark about the growing issues surrounding lead poisoning in military children.

Military Response to Investigation

After Reuters investigative reporting uncovered the Army’s lead-based problems, the Army drafted a plan to test 40,000 possibly lead-contaminated homes on military bases nationwide. Homes with young children – an at-risk population – would have the highest priority for immediate testing. Approximately 100,000 children live in military housing.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are going above and beyond current requirements to ensure the safety of our soldiers and their families who work and live on all of our installations,” Army spokesperson Colonel Kathleen Turner said in a statement. “We are currently evaluating all options to address these concerns.”

Homes built before 1978 would be tested for lead contamination in the soil, water, paint and other likely areas in the residence.

However, these far-reaching plans to rectify a potentially dangerous situation are not approved for action as of August 28.

Aging Military Family Housing Linked as Possible Source

Military family housing began to change hands from Defense Department management to private management in the 1990s. At the time, on-base homes were often old and in a state of disrepair. Contractors were brought in by the private companies to renovate, and often rebuild, on-base communities.

However, as recently as 2005, the Army admitted that even these homes weren’t up to their own standards. Their report indicated that as many as 75% of its 90,000 homes on military bases nationwide were falling into disrepair.

“As homes deteriorate, the risk of children’s being exposed to hazardous materials…would increase,” the military report noted.

In 2016, a DoD Investigator General report found privatized military family housing to be vulnerable to poor maintenance and management. This left military families at risk for exposure to dangerous materials in run-down homes.

Lead-based paint and other materials are primarily evident in homes built before 1978. Homes that were built using such products are considered safe, so long as they are properly maintained.

The issue arises when those lead-based paints and other materials begin to decay, disintegrate, peel and breakdown. Peeling lead-based paint releases contaminated dust into the air. It can also be easily handled or ingested by curious young children.

According to a 2017 memo from The Villages on Benning, the company managing Fort Benning housing, 2,274 out of 4,001 on-base homes contained lead-based paint.

Effects of Lead Poisoning

Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Peeling paint or other materials are easy for small children to touch or eat out of curiosity.

Symptoms range from immediate to long-term and involve multiple bodily systems.

Children might experience:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Irritability
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue or sluggishness
  • Pica or eating non-food items compulsively
  • Seizures
  • Developmental delays
  • Learning differences

Women who are pregnant can expose their unborn children to lead unknowingly. Infants with lead poisoning are more likely to be born prematurely, have a lower birth weight and to experience slower growth rates compared to typically developing peers.

Adults are not immune to the effects of lead poisoning. While the symptoms are different from infants and children, lead poisoning is no less serious for adults.

Adults with lead poisoning might experience:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Headaches
  • High blood pressure
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Mood disorders
  • Memory problems
  • Low sperm count in men
  • Miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth in women

If you believe that you or your family may have been exposed to lead-based paint or materials in military housing, it’s important that you get tested as soon as possible.

Contact your medical care team, your housing management company and relevant military authorities. The Army issued an updated guidance for military families living on Army posts. You can read it by clicking here.

 

Can We Stop with the Ball Gown Shaming Already?

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Now look, I consider myself a pretty classy lady. I mostly prefer to dress teacher-chic, with twin sets, khakis and pearls. I’ve never in my life wondered whether I was wearing the correct outfit for an event.

Until I was dragged kicking and screaming into the cutthroat world of military ball gown shaming.

Can We Stop with the Ball Gown Shaming Already?

Can We Stop with the Ball Gown Shaming Already?

I’ve seen military spouses post pictures of their potential dresses on Facebook, only to have their selections obliterated with nasty comments.

Every year around this time, I start to see the social media posts about ball gowns. Many of them are pretty tame. In fact, one of my favorite threads recently has been a snarky post encouraging people to share the most out of control formal wear available on Amazon.

Inevitably, a bright-eyed, new military wife (yes, wife, because women are the only ones subjected to ball gown shaming) asks about what she should wear to a military birthday ball.

Then the floodgates open and the tsunami of ball gown opinions are unleashed.

“You should only ever wear a complimentary color to your spouse’s uniform.”

“Your gown must be floor length.”

“Watch those slits and low backs, ladies.”

I get it. You’re all trying to be helpful, passing on your experience. And a lot of these comments can help the new girl on the block find a dress.

Somewhere along the way, it seems like these conversations, real or virtual, take a turn to Judgement Town.

Who gave you permission to judge a person by what she wears?

I mean seriously, I’d like to know. Is there a certification process? Did the commandant personally appoint you as Marine Corps Ball Dress Code Monitor? Because I’d like to see your official badge.

I’ve seen military spouses post pictures of their potential dresses on Facebook, only to have their selections obliterated with nasty comments.

There are several different versions of the “classy, not trashy” ball gown post floating around. It usually has this type of headline “5 easy tips to not embarrass your service member at their ball!”

I get that a military ball is meant to be a super formal, very fancy event.

But can we stop for a moment and consider that most women are really dressing for two reasons? First, they want to look nice in a way that they feel good about. Second, they want to be even just slightly comfortable.

Not everyone sees beauty or fashion in the same way. If everyone saw things my way, high-waisted pants would never have made a comeback. We’d all be wearing super basic and comfortable pieces in easy to mix-and-match colors.

One woman might feel really beautiful and glamorous in a floor-length gown with cap sleeves. Another lady might feel equally beautiful in a bodycon dress that hits just below her knees.

It’s not your call to dictate how another woman feels beautiful.

I prefer an old school gown with a looser skirt and a strapless top in a shade of blue. Witness my closet full of blue gowns from the last decade of balls. I just feel better with a loose skirt, and it leaves more room for cake. I also like a dress with pockets for my mid-guest speaker snacks. Someone else might prefer to have full coverage up top, a tighter bodice or maybe a two-piece ensemble.

It’s not my call to tell someone else the best way for them to feel comfortable in their own skin.

“It’s not about you, it’s about the service member.”

You’re right, it is. Which is why I always run my possible dresses by my husband first. Guess what?

He doesn’t care.

I could show him a burlap sack and he’d be cool with it.

OK, he’d probably notice the scratchiness.

But you get my point.

If their service member doesn’t care what ball gown they wear, why should you?

Just to reiterate: this is not your ball, military spouse. You’ve said it yourself in more than one article by more than one writer. It’s been mentioned on more than one Facebook post over the years and across the services.

This year, can we stop shaming other ladies for their personal style choices?

There is no official Dress Code Inspector for military balls. It’s not a thing.

Instead of passing judgment over the length of her dress or a slit or a low back, let’s be grown-ups. Remember that she was just as careful in her dress selection as you were in yours. She fussed over her hair and shoes and makeup, just like you.

This year, at your military ball, give a genuine compliment to another lady. Let her know that her dress’s color highlights her eyes or tell her that you like the way it sparkles. Maybe see if she’s packing snacks in her dress pockets too.

What do you think of ball gown shaming? Why do you think military spouses do it?

Military Families File Lawsuit Over Mold in On-Base Housing

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Suing the government can seem like a losing battle. Remember the song “I Fought the Law and the Law Won?”

Fortunately for some military families at Keesler Air Force Base, the corporation which manages the on-base housing is a private entity and not the government which means they are not protected against lawsuits.

Eleven military families recently filed suit against the Hunt Southern Group and Hunt MG Property Management which manages Keesler’s on-base housing. The lawsuit claims the company did not adequately treat mold in the properties. The families have accused the property management company of fraud, conspiring to conceal dangerous conditions, breach of contract and gross negligence. Residents began complaining of mold in 2015, according to the residents, maintenance attempted to treat the mold with soap and water.

Search “How to Remove Black Mold” online  and you will be instructed to use products which contain chemicals such as bleach and ammonia. Soap and water does not populate in the search.

Military Families File Lawsuit Over Mold in On-Base Housing

Residents say they repeatedly requested the property management company to address the mold issue but say Hunt failed to do so.

In 2017 environmental testing of the properties discovered high levels of Aspergillus and some Stachybotrys. Aspergillus is a common mold, however high exposure can lead to allergic reactions and lung infections which can spread to other organs.

Stachybotrys also known as “Black Mold” affects the respiratory system. Symptoms of Stachybotrys exposure can include a chronic cough and wheezing, headaches and exhaustion. Additional symptoms can include hair loss, anxiety, confusion, memory loss and numbness in limbs. If not treated, long-term mold exposure can lead to severe illnesses and possible death, especially in very young children and people with pre-existing health conditions.

I bet this makes you want to run right out and sign a lease with your on-base housing office, right?!

The lawsuit contributes the mold to poor insulation of the air conditioning system which resulted in sweaty air ducts and water damage.

The combination of the water damage and humid hot weather in Biloxi, Mississippi, created a perfect nesting ground for the mold to grow and spread.

Residents say they repeatedly requested the property management company to address the issue but say Hunt failed to do so.

According to Cindy Gersch, vice president of corporate communications for Hunt companies, the corporation created a plan of action to address the mold concerns, which included an HVAC modification plan to remedy the condensation issue in the ducts.

It was unclear whether these changes were made prior to the lawsuit being filed. I can’t imagine anyone filing a lawsuit if this “plan of action” was put into place after the residents first complained.

All rental homes have flaws – creaky floors, leaky faucets, a noisy refrigerator – these things may be aggravating, but they won’t kill you. Mold is not just a minor inconvenience. It can cause some terrible symptoms and illnesses.

As members of the military community, we have all heard of or experienced buildings on bases which contain black mold. After all, mold is common in humid climates.

It is the failure to remedy the problem which is concerning in this case.

Unfortunately, the alleged mold found in the Hunt Southern Group properties is not an isolated incident among military housing.

Lawsuits have been filed against Lincoln Military Housing in the past and some monetary judgments were made in favor of the residents. Based on these cases the families at Keesler Air Force Base may stand a good chance of winning their lawsuit.

Does the discovery of toxic mold in base housing make you think twice about living on post?