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Home-Buying Tips and Tools for Military Families

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As a military family, the decision to buy a home is both exciting and wrought with uncertainty. It means putting down semi-permanent roots and committing to a home for longer than 1 to 2 years.

And the home-buying process can be more than a little overwhelming.

Don’t worry. Breath. You’ve already done the hardest part in committing to the goal of purchasing a new home. Now you just need to get smart about the process. You’ll be unpacking boxes and putting your feet up in your new home before you know it.

Home-Buying Tips and Tools for Military Families

A VA-backed loan is often the go-to for service members and retirees looking to buy a house.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Get Up-Close and Personal with Your Finances

Most of us have a good idea of how much we have in savings and how much our bills are each month, but preparing to buy a house goes much deeper than that.

Get Your Credit Score

  • Order your credit report directly from all 3 credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) or try a site like annualcreditreport.com.
  • Dispute any discrepancies and be prepared to show problems have been resolved or were the result of mitigating circumstances.

Pay Down Debt

  • Improve your credit score and show lenders you are credit worthy by paying down your debt.
  • Make an appointment with a financial planner. Most military installations offer this service through on-post family support agencies like Fleet and Family Support Centers or Army Community Services.
  • Calculate your debt-to-income ratio and estimate how much you can afford to spend on your new home.

Save for Your Home’s Down Payment

While it is possible to purchase a home without a down payment, some of the most competitive loan programs require a 10 to 20% down payment. Start saving as soon as you decide you want to buy a home.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Mortgage Research Is a Must

There is no shortage of mortgage options, but do your due diligence before signing anything. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Ask Friends and Family Members for Referrals

Ask friends and family members about lending institutions or programs they have used. Learn from their mistakes and successes. If you get a recommendation, take a few minutes to do additional research or call the lending institution and ask for more information.

Get Smart About Terminology

While most loans are fairly standard in their fees and process, there are still plenty of non-traditional options out there. Understanding the difference between a 30-year vs a 15-year mortgage and the pros and cons of an ARM loan is important.

Consider working with a mortgage counselor. They can help you understand the entire mortgage process and often are available for free.

Shop Around for the Best Rates

Don’t just shop one type of loan. A VA-backed loan is often the go-to for service members and retirees, but it is not the only option.

Depending on where you are buying, the amount of your loan, and the type of property, local or regional lending institutions may have programs that offer you a better interest rate. Tools like LendingTree can help do some of the legwork.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Location, Location, Location

You’ve got your finances in order and have a down payment in the works, now it’s time to start scoping out a location.

As you begin to narrow down where you want to live, ask yourself:

  • What is a reasonable commute time?
  • Is being close to shopping a necessity?
  • Is the size of the neighborhood or its amenities important to me?
  • Do I want to buy a newly-constructed home or something in a more established neighborhood?

Then do research on these topics:

  • Area schools
  • Water, sewer, waste and power/gas rates
  • Local tax rates, emergency service costs, and any front or homeowners association fees
  • Local crime rates  and the sex offenders’ registry statistics
  • Traffic and public transportation options

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Wants and Needs

Now the fun part — figuring out what you want in your new home. It’s totally OK to dream, but make sure you prioritize your requirements. Start by identifying those things you absolutely must have in order for your new home to be functional. Start by making a list:

  • How many bedrooms do you need?
  • How many bathrooms?
  • Are there any other special requirements, like single-story or two-car garage?
  • What about an open floor plan or home office space?

Now review the list of things you wish you could have and prioritize.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Hire a Professional Realtor

Ask for recommendations or search local BBB reviews for a licensed Realtor. Look for agents with experience working with military families, like Millie. The information a real estate agent can provide about homes coming onto the market, neighborhoods and the home-buying process is priceless.

What tips would you add to this home-buying checklist? Share them in the comments section.

Military Exchange Online Shopping Opens to Veterans

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Nearly 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon have the opportunity to shop online through the Army and Air Force Exchange service. This change in policy comes after years of pressure to open shopping to all those honorably discharged men and women.

As of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, all honorably discharged U.S. veterans will be able to shop the exchange online.

This new privilege will only extend to online shopping however, not shopping in the physical exchange. Through the website, veterans will be able to purchase any items except for uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products.

The exchange estimates that this could bring in between $226 million and $1.13 billion in annual sales. An increase in sales also means an increase in funds for MWR programs.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) receives the majority of its funding from exchange dividends. The more sales the exchange has, the more programs MWR can offer. MWR programs are in place to support the “readiness and resilience for Soldiers and Families.” Programs include child and youth services, libraries, entertainment, sports and fitness, automotive skills, crafts and more.

Recently, exchange dividends have been low and MWR has not had the funds to support their usual programs. The Army has had to use some of this money to improve its daycare centers since budgets have been cut so much. The low sales have been due to the decline in the active duty force and base closures as well as the ending of tobacco product discounts and smaller profits from cheaper gas being sold. Opening online sales to all honorably discharged veterans is expected to quickly solve this problem.

Veterans will enjoy saving on average 20 percent over commercial stores while those families with base access will be enjoying better MWR programs. It’s a win-win situation for all.

This has been a two-year effort to open online shopping up to honorably discharged veterans. In the fall of 2016 the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to open online shopping to veterans and the Deputy Defense Secretary approved it.

AAFES has been preparing for the expansion of shoppers by improving the website, call centers and warehouse and distribution systems. They are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to determine a way to verify that exchange shoppers are in fact honorably discharged veterans.

Shopping will only be available to veterans online and only for the exchange.

There are currently no plans to open shopping at the commissary up to honorably discharged veterans. This is because the commissary is run differently than AAFES. The Defense Commissary Agency receives a $1.4 billion operational subsidy annually that is funded by taxpayers. An increase in shoppers at the commissary would result in a higher cost for taxpayers in accordance to the current system. DECA therefore, is not considering adding veterans to the list of eligible shoppers.

Honorably discharged veterans however are excited to able to shop at the exchange online, even if they can’t also shop at the commissary. The Army and Air Force Exchange service has received outstanding support for this program and is anticipating a huge turnout of veteran online shoppers on Veterans Day.

You can keep up with announcements as the date for launch of this program approaches and learn how you can establish your identity as an honorably discharged veteran through their website.

What do you think of this policy change for the military exchange shopping privilege for veterans? Are you a veteran that will be shopping online this Veterans Day?

How the Resident Energy Conservation Program Is Hitting Military Families Hard

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The Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) was created to make residents of military housing more aware of their energy use and to therefore reduce consumption. The goal is to lower energy use for environmental reasons and to save the government money.

So far the government is the only one seeing any savings as hundreds of military families find huge bills in their mailbox for energy they say was not justly charged or actually used.

The pilot for the Resident Energy Conservation Program took place in Hawaii between 2011 and 2012. In that initial test phase, the government saw a 9% reduction in use, which ultimately saved them $1.3 million according to Commander, Navy Installations Command. The reality for military families however was quite the opposite.

Compiled complaints show that military families consistently were charged $200 to $600 a month in electricity bills for over use. Many people claim that they did not use the equivalent amount of energy to justify such steep bills. Military housing says the bills are correct and have not done much to sway these families from feeling unjustly charged.

The pilot for the Resident Energy Conservation Program was considered by the government to be a success and over the last few years has been rolled out to all Marine Corps and Navy housing. It isn’t a bad program. In an effort to persuade residents to conserve energy, the program includes a reward element. The government’s research showed that when families embraced the Resident Energy Conservation Program that consumption fell 20%. To motivate families to achieve this, the Resident Energy Conservation Program was equipped with a credit or reimbursement for families that saved energy.

How does the Resident Energy Conservation Program determine use?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is meant to cover the normal use of electricity or gas and water and sewer as compared to families with similar homes out in town.

To determine average use on base, the Resident Energy Conservation Program uses Like-Type Groups (LTGs). These are homes in the same neighborhood that are in the same condition and age. These could include homes with similar square footage and number of bedrooms as well as the type of home and the type of energy, gas versus electricity.

It does not account for the number of people in a household just as BAH is not adjusted for the number of family members. From this, a monthly Normal Usage Band is created.

The Normal Usage Band gives a leeway of 10% over and under, providing room for consumption. For residents that use 10% less than the norm, they are given a credit or rebate. Military families that go over the 10% rate are charged for the overage.

This makes the Resident Energy Conservation Program sound fair, but residents are receiving bills far beyond what they consider reasonable. When military families question the housing office, they say that is what was used and that is what is owed.

A number of military families have been able to have their meters tested for accuracy however. Some have found their meter was actually connected to a street light or a neighbor’s home. Military housing originally was not designed with individual homes running on meters. Specialists had to go in and set up meters. In some instances, those individuals merely guessed which lines went to which houses.

What can you do if you think your utility bill is wrong?

If you are living in military housing and believe your bill is not accurate contact the resident services manager or housing office. You can request a home evaluation to make sure all appliances are using energy efficiently as well. The manager can sit down with your family and help you understand ways to conserve energy. In the meantime, you still have to pay your bill. If you do not, you may find an eviction letter in your mailbox next.

There are waivers available for wounded warriors and families registered with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). If your family uses excess electricity due to medical reasons, you can request a waiver from the Resident Energy Conservation Program. You can submit a request through the EFMP office or through the Wounded Warrior Bn.

If you are still unsatisfied, you can reach out to your chain of command. NCIS is conducting its own investigation in some areas so you can also contact them. Lastly, you can submit a claim to the Inspector General.

Do you think that military families are being scammed by the Resident Energy Conservation Program? What problems have you had with your bill when you lived in on-base housing?

How a New State Residency Bill Benefits Military Spouses

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Military spouses may soon find filing taxes a little less confusing if H.R. 5428, the Military Residency Choice Act, is signed into law. The bill aims to make establishing and maintaining state residency much easier. Currently, the law can be very confusing and many families may be filing their taxes incorrectly without knowing it.

Under the Service Members Civil Relief Act, military service members can keep their residency in one state no matter where the military sends them. For the purposes of filing taxes, that means that if a service member enlisted in the Navy in Alabama and is currently stationed in Virginia they only pay income tax to Alabama, not Virginia.

It isn’t that simple for military spouses however. Prior to 2009, military spouses had to change their residency every time they moved to a different state with their service member. This made filing taxes and voting difficult. It prevented many military spouses from finding employment after each move.

In 2009, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) made maintaining residency in one state possible for military spouses. A military spouse simply had to establish residency in one state and was then able to keep that no matter what state the military sent them to next. The MSRRA does not allow military spouses to claim the residency of their service member however unless that was their state of residency when they were married. It also does not allow military spouses to randomly decide which state they will claim residency in.

Under the proposed Military Residency Choice Act military spouses will be able to use the same state of residence as their service member even if they have not lived in that state.

They will also be able to vote through absentee ballot for that state as well. This does not let military spouses keep their driver’s license from that state though; that is a state by state case.

H.R. 5428 specifically states:

The  spouse  of  a  service member may  elect  to  use  the  same  residence  for  purposes  of  taxation as the service member regardless of the date on which the  marriage  of  the  spouse  and  the  service member  occurred.

This bill is only in the early stages of the process of becoming law. It was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. If it does pass, it will go into effect 90 days after the enactment. That doesn’t help military spouses for this tax season, but perhaps by next year it will have passed.

In the meantime, ask yourself what the most beneficial option will be for your family.

Is your spouse’s state of residency one with harsher tax laws? Is it worth it to change your residency?

Seven states do not have personal income tax including: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Tennessee also do not have income tax, but they do have tax interest and dividends.

If you earn an income and your current residency is in Florida and your military service member maintains Alabama as their residence, it could be beneficial to maintain a Florida residency where there is no income tax. While the MSRRA and the proposed Military Residency Choice Act are intended to make taxes easier for military spouses, it may be wise to consult a tax specialist if you have questions.

Remember, you cannot choose a random state to be your state of residency. You must establish residence by living in that state and maintaining sufficient contacts in that state. That can include owning property in the state, holding professional licenses in that state and voting there as well.

What do you think of the proposed Military Residency Choice Act?

Will Concealed Weapons Carry Permits Keep Us Safe?

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Seeing weapons in a military environment is nothing new. Part of all military instruction includes training with firearms. Rules and regulations are paramount for safety and the security of military armories is taken extremely seriously. And life on and around military installations post 9/11 has seen armed security become part of the norm, for service members, civilians and family members alike.

But even with heightened security, gun violence and tragedy has impacted our military communities.

We will never forget the horror and aftermath of the shooting at Fort Hood in 2009 or forget the lives lost at the recruiting station in Tennessee in 2015. When these kinds of tragedies strike, it is human nature to immediately look for ways to prevent them from happening again.

Many called for the option for all active duty personnel to be able to carry weapons. And so, it seems, the DoD has listened to these calls for concealed weapon carrying on military installations.

After a review of the shootings in Texas and Tennessee, and with the acknowledgement that all duty locations do not the same level of security, the DoD authorized both its civilian and military personnel to carry private, concealed weapons onto DoD property. This includes military installations, DoD buildings and facilities, and recruiting stations.

In a 26-page directive issued on November 18, 2016, the DoD clarified guidelines for personnel authorized to carry weapons and use deadly force in the course of official duty. The directive also provides for the command’s ability to authorize private, concealed weapon carry onto DoD property for DoD personal who do not require a weapon for the execution of their daily duties.

No Blanket Permission Policy

Permission to carry weapons is not an absolute. Permission must be granted by an O-5 level officer or higher and must be provided in writing. Authorization to carry cannot exceed 90 days, but permission may be re-authorized for additional 90-day periods.

Authorization to carry private weapons does not extend to members of the National Guard, as rules and regulations pertaining to the use and carry of weapons is governed by each individual state government.

Private, Concealed Gun Carry Has Many Restrictions

DoD personnel who wish to carry private weapons onto DoD property must:

  • Be at least 21 years of age and licensed in the state or host-nation they wish to carry in.
  • Must not have had previous USMJ disciplinary action or be under investigation for any offenses that would bring their “fitness to carry” into question.
  • Must not have been previously convicted or be currently charged in a civilian court for substance abuse, stalking, harassment, or domestic violence.
  • Must not be under the influence of alcohol or hallucinatory drugs while carrying the weapon.
  • Must provide proof of “competence with a firearm” from a certified training course offered by the U.S. government, a police agency, DoD, state, local or tribal government-approved safety or training course. Or a course offered by a law-enforcement agency or college.
  • Must notify the authorizing authority immediately should their ability to follow these guidelines change.

A concealed weapon must be completely covered by clothing or uniform at all times and it must not impair a carrier’s normal job function. State laws must be followed with regard to “caliber, ammunition, capacity, and design,” and while the weapon is on-person, it must kept in holster, even if carried in “purse, backpack, handbag, or case.”

When a weapon is not being carried, it must be stored unloaded in a secure gun-storage device and if it is stored in a vehicle, that storage device must be hidden from view. Carriers transporting a concealed weapon off of DoD property must follow all state, local, and/or host-nation laws pertaining to the carry of that weapon.

And last, but certainly not least, personnel wishing to carry a concealed weapon must understand that they are personally liable for any injury, death or damage to property that occurs due to negligence “in connection with the possession or use of privately owned firearms that are not within the scope of their federal employment.”

Will Concealed Weapons Carry Permits for Service Members Keep Our Military Bases Safer?

It is hard not to see the logic in charging more members of our community with its safekeeping. However, there are questions to be asked and legitimate causes for concern.

Will arming additional personnel help to prevent or end shooting incidents faster?

Or will it create another layer of confusion and slow security personnel and first responders when reacting to a firearm incident?

Are the safety risks associated with gun carrying acceptable and reasonable for stateside and non-combat duty locations? Or are we willing to accept that level of risk if it could possibly prevent injury or harm on a larger scale?

What do you think of the Pentagon’s decision to allow service members to carry concealed weapons?

Should BAH Be Excluded from Food Stamp Eligibility?

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In 2015, more than $80 million in food stamp benefits were spent at military commissaries. That is an astonishing figure and that amount does not cover every family that needs financial help to feed their family. There are many more military families that would benefit from food stamps, now known as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Congresswoman Susan Davis, the Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the Military Hunger Prevention Act. Its purpose is to exempt the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in the determination of a military family’s eligibility for particular federal benefits. This bill is specifically aimed at making it easier for military families to qualify for SNAP.

While BAH varies based on region, pay grade and dependency, in many cases it still is not enough to cover housing. This leaves families using other components of their pay to cover rent or mortgage that would otherwise go to food. Because of this, many military families are forced to use emergency food relief. Investigators at Camp Pendleton reported last year that 400 to 500 military families used one of the food pantries on base. That is just the statistic of one of the 4 food pantries on Camp Pendleton.

Rep. Davis introduced this bill after learning that numerous families in the San Diego area, specifically Camp Pendleton, were unable to meet the basic need to feed their families.

By removing BAH from the annual income of military families, more will qualify for food stamps. This shift may provide relief to the overwhelmed food banks.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Armed Services as well as the Committee on Agriculture for further review.

In the meantime, military families will continue to stand in line at 7 a.m. to receive meals from food pantries on base as well as off base. To beat the stigma of getting help, a program was introduced in schools where children receive a backpack of food to help them get through the weekend when free breakfast and free lunch are not available. Sadly, nearly a quarter of the children in on-base schools receive free meals. This means thousands of children potentially do not have access to food at home, particularly over the weekend when free meals are not available.

While receiving SNAP benefits might sound like the answer to this problem, it isn’t a lot of money.

States vary on the amount of money that is allocated per person based on certain criteria. In 2015, California’s program paid on average $1.58 per person per meal a day. Last year Alabama paid on average $1.40 per meal per day.

Imagine how much you spend on your meals. Would this amount cover it?

In 2013 a Census Bureau study showed that about 2% of active duty families used SNAP. That is roughly 23,000 military families.

Six percent of those that responded to the Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey said they had to use emergency food relief last year. Military families are struggling to feed their families.

The Department of Defense tried a program in 2001 known as the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) to help military families. This program was meant to provide up to a $1,100 a month supplement to put service members over the requirement for SNAP. The program was terminated in September 2016 because not enough families qualified for it.

If the Military Hunger Prevention Act passes, will being able to qualify for SNAP be the answer to thousands of military families’ hunger problem or is there a better solution for those facing food insecurity?

What do you think of this proposal to exclude BAH from food stamp eligibility?

What the Military Community Wants from Washington

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Dear Washington,

Election season has passed, and a new administration is getting ready to take office. That means it’s time for you to take stock of our military capabilities, troops and their families. Yes, the U.S. military is a huge organization and encompasses so much.

However, please take a minute to listen to us, to me, to find out what we want and need from you, right now and for the next 4 or so years.

First, take a hard look at the budget.

Actually look at it with a critical, non-partisan eye. Is there a place where we could trim a little bit of fat without reducing force readiness and family support?

We know that this department has become a huge and growing part of the annual budget. And we also know that something probably needs to change. Please try to do this judiciously, cutting or reducing funding for the (many) redundant portions of the budget while preserving those parts that serve a major purpose in our lives.

We don’t want military funding at the expense of other services we depend on, like education and other programs that serve the general population.

We use these, too. We want them funded and functional.

Next, we need more than lip service about your support.

It’s all well and good to “support the troops” in your speeches and press conferences, but will you actually follow through? A great first step is making sure that our equipment is funded for proper maintenance. With this, include money for adequate training on the equipment. If you want troops ready at a moment’s notice, then they need to be able to access perfectly running equipment AND know how to use it.

Cutting corners here can lead to deadly accidents.

Our fighting force is now a family. That means spouses and kids who depend on the military for both financial and lifestyle stability. If you cut programs that help support military families, you will quickly draw our ire and disdain. This includes medical care, employment programs, child care facilities, commissaries and family readiness programs.

If you want the troops to be ready to go, the whole family needs to be prepared and supported. When those on the homefront feel unstable, that deployed service member can’t do his or her job well.

Don’t forget the veterans, either.

For years now, we have watched the endless saga of corruption and mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hospitals and VA health care facilities have endless waits, leaving many in the lurch. These waits have added extra stress to those suffering from mental and physical health conditions.

Take this department to task and shape it up. Get rid of practices or personnel that are costing lives every day and streamline the process to receive care.

Veterans wrote a blank check to our nation and were willing to sacrifice their very lives to protect ours. The very least we owe them is top-notch medical and mental health care when they leave service.

Help us connect with the other 99%.

About 1% of our country serves in the military. That leaves most Americans without a connection to our troops and their families.

In years past, the entire country banded together to support our troops through war bonds, rations and taxes. Right now, it seems that most Americans just don’t understand what it means to serve our country. Help us to show everyone else what it means to live this life.

Highlight our sacrifices, beyond just the feel-good stories about homecomings and the devastating stories of loss. Help people understand that we have been at war for over 15 years. This war isn’t funding itself.

Pay us what we are worth.

Have you checked on the salaries for our service members from top to bottom lately? Without the “luxuries” of the commissary and military health care, many families wouldn’t be making it financially. Even with these benefits, there are too many military families who qualify for WIC, welfare programs and food stamps. That’s unacceptable.

In addition, due to operational tempo and frequent moves, many military families are trying to make it on just one salary.

Pay our troops what they are worth, based on the work that they do for our country. And pay them without factoring in the “benefits” we all count on just to make it from payday to payday.

These are just a few thoughts, Washington. If you need more ideas, just ask.

MilitaryShoppers readers, what do you want from Washington?

Why I Think Military Wives Are More Likely to Binge Drink

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Almost every military spouse I know indulges in wine, beer or liquor. Sometimes all 3. And we drink on the regular.

So the study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) isn’t really a shock. SAMHSA found military wives are more likely to use and abuse alcohol than civilians. We’re only talking about wives because there were not a significant number of males who responded to the study.

The study found that 67.8% of responding military wives, ages 18-49, had used alcohol within a 30-day window. Among same age civilian women, 53.8% reported using alcohol. Military wives also tend to binge drink at higher rates than civilians, 31.5% compared to 22.7%.

The same study found that rates for illegal drug use were about the same for military wives and civilians, 12.8% compared to 12.9%. Military wives are less likely than civilians to use marijuana, 5.1% of military wives versus 8% of civilians.

The rates of drinking and drug use aren’t super surprising.

Our troops can’t use illegal drugs or even medical marijuana without risking their careers. Having a spouse that uses is not going to be looked on favorably. Especially since it’s been drilled into us that “our behavior reflects on our service member.” That’s for better or worse taken very seriously!

Drinking is an outlet for many service members and their spouses. It’s a way that we can unwind and escape reality for a little while. It’s almost taken for granted that booze is going to be consumed at military social gatherings. I don’t mean a six-pack either. We’re talking a keg.

For those who ARE taken back by these statistics, keep some things in mind.

We have been at war since 2001. That’s 15 straight years of combat deployments, extended overseas tours and knocks on the door. Put yourself in our collective shoes and try it on for size. Just for a day or a week.

You’re home, alone or with your children, and your spouse is a world away. You know he’s taking fire and if he’s not then someone else is engaged in battle. There is very little contact and every day brings news that another service member has been KIA. That next knock on the door could be at your house. Or your best friend’s house. Or someone in your neighborhood. It could be anyone and it’s going to be someone.

This is the reality that many military wives have been living for a decade and a half. We’ve been doing this back-to-back-to-back. And moving all over the globe, far from our own families and homes. Can I pour you a drink?

The operational tempo has impacted our mental health.

About 10% more military wives (29.1%) report mental health concerns than civilians (19.7%). No, there is no “official” correlation (yet) from the scientists who study these things. This is what I know.

It’s what I understand after moving 4 times in 8 years.

It’s how I felt during and after his year-long combat deployment.

What I know from having 2 children without my mother to lean on.

It’s what saying goodbye to countless friends does to a person.

It’s the experience of working so hard for a career or an education, just to have it yanked away because your husband got new orders or is deploying again.

Military life is not for the faint of heart and even the strongest of us can bend and break under the constant pressure.

It’s so easy to slip into a pattern of having a glass of wine at night, just to unwind or destress or relax. After a day of barely holding it together, it feels nice to have the world get a little fuzzy and rosé colored.

We are tightly wound.

So when we DO get the chance to let our hair down, it’s going to be epic. That means bar hopping, shots or even just one glass of wine too many. Our spouses are under a lot of pressure too. Plus, many units and bases have a culture of drinking, hard.

There are so many events that make drinking easier or even seemingly “required.” Birthday balls, homecomings, hail and farewell ceremonies, retirements, promotions and even just a neighborhood barbecue are all great excuses to drink. After all, it’s a party, right?

Alcohol is one of the leading ways that people self-medicate to deal with depression, anxiety or countless other mental health conditions.

So, a good time brings an excuse to let loose and to hide the way many military wives truly feel. For many of us, that good time comes with every girls night out, dinner with friends or Tuesday afternoon playdate.

We are young adults.

The SAMHSA study found that there were more military wives in the 18-25 age group than among most married women, ages 18-49. When many of our peers are off at college, we’re holding down on the homefront and managing a household. Having both done full-time college and run a household at a very young age, I can tell you that being an adult is harder than taking most college classes. There is no appealing the grade when you overdraw your checking account and can’t pay the electricity bill.

For many of us in the 18-25 age range, this is our first time away from home and cohabitating with another adult. We are young, immature in every sense of the word and still figuring it out. When you add in the other factors of stress, deployment and moving away from a support system, it’s no wonder that many young military wives drink.

Actually, college students drink heavily, too. And they are in that same 18-25 age bracket. Maybe the drinking isn’t quite so “shocking” when it’s framed that way instead.

Here’s take-away: military spouses drink and have mental health concerns, but we don’t do drugs.

It’s your turn: why do you think military wives are more likely to drink than their civilian counterparts?

GAO Report Says DoD Lacks Data to Make Cuts to Commissaries

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Remember that Department of Defense report that said budget neutrality isn’t a vital option for commissaries?

Well that report isn’t the end of this discussion.

More likely that report is just the beginning of an ongoing discussion about the feasibility of self-sufficient commissaries.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report titled “Plan and Additional Information Needed on Cost Savings and Metrics for DoD Efforts to Achieve Budget Neutrality.” In this report GAO evaluated the DoD’s report and found that it lacked specific data to support its stance that budget neutrality isn’t feasible for commissaries.

“GAO’s analysis found that DoD’s report fully addresses three of the seven mandated elements and partially addresses the remaining four. Although DOD’s report discusses the seven mandated elements, GAO found that including additional information would have made the report more consistent with relevant generally accepted research standards and would have made the report more useful to decision makers,” the GAO report stated.

More useful to decision makers? Wait…what?

Let’s take a step back into the recent history of reports on cost-saving measures for the commissaries.

As commissary shoppers, we know that that DeCA operates the commissaries. Prices at the commissaries are product cost plus a 5 percent surcharge. In fiscal year 2015, DeCA’s annual sales for its commissaries were approximately $5.5 billion. DeCA received $1.3 billion in appropriated funds in fiscal year 2015 to operate the commissaries.

Those appropriated funds are currently under the microscope of the defense department.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 “mandated DoD to provide a comprehensive plan to achieve ‘budget neutrality,’ which DoD interpreted as ending the use of appropriated funding for commissaries and the military exchange system, by October 1, 2018,” as explained in the recent GAO report.

This mandate has caused a lot of head scratching and number crunching for those at both DoD and DeCA.

The Boston Consulting Group was contracted to conduct 2 separate studies that may lead to cost-saving measures. In February, DoD established the Defense Resale Business Optimization Board. This board is working to help implement reforms within and among the commissary and exchange systems.

Then DoD released its report saying budget neutrality will be difficult, if not, impossible. GAO then reviewed that DoD report as it was directed to in last year’s defense budget. That’s what lead to this report and GAO’s recommendation that “DoD provide information to Congress to support its conclusion about budget neutrality; develop a plan for achieving alternative reductions to appropriations; and identify specific metrics for customer satisfaction, product quality, and savings.”

“DoD did not provide a plan to achieve budget neutrality by October 2018 as mandated because according to the report, DoD cannot achieve budget neutrality without reducing savings to patrons or other benefits provided by commissaries and exchanges.”

“For example, the report stated that drastic changes, such as store closures and price increases, would have to be implemented if DOD were required to achieve budget neutrality. However, DOD did not provide additional information about potential steps to reach budget neutrality, such as cost estimates and assumptions, or include specific details about trade-offs, constraints and limitations to achieving budget neutrality such as reductions in benefits,” the GAO report said.

“Instead of providing a plan, DOD estimated a $2 billion reduction over a 5-year period, which would fall short of achieving budget neutrality by about $5 billion. DOD officials told us the cost savings amount was an arbitrary estimate, and that therefore DOD did not develop details on steps it would take to achieve the $2 billion in savings. DOD officials could not explain the assumptions, methodology, data, specific time frames or DOD efforts that would lead to the $2 billion in savings.”

In case you’re wondering why DoD didn’t conduct these types of detailed analysis in its initial report, DoD experts, who were interviewed by GAO investigators for this report, pointed to time constraints as their reason for the lack of specifics.

“According to DoD officials, for some efforts that are already being considered, DoD officials told us that they did not include some information in the report to support their conclusions because they have not had time to verify the information,” the GAO report said.

Here’s another important nugget of information: DoD concurs with GAO’s recommendations.

Now that we know that the decision makers aka Congress lack the information needed to make decisions about changes to the commissaries, what’s the next step?

I have a strong sense we’ll be reading another federal report in the near future.

What do you think of this GAO’s report saying that the DoD’s report on cost-saving measures for the commissaries was incomplete?

Obesity Rates Among the Ranks Climb to Nearly 8 Percent

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Close your eyes. Picture an average service member.

Their uniform is probably some version of digital camouflage. Their hair is cut short or pulled up above the collar. In your mind’s eye, they snap to attention and present a sharp salute. They are fit, ready and prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice. This is the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine we picture.

But recent information put out by the Defense Health Board suggests a growing percentage of our military ranks aren’t as fit and prepared to fight as we might think.

In fact, nearly 1 in 13 service members could be classified as clinically obese.

Top officials don’t seem particularly worried about present-day readiness, but it’s hard to imagine that a continued upward trend in obesity wouldn’t impact future readiness. As such, top Pentagon officials are working diligently to re-evaluate how services evaluate fitness.

But the real question is how did we get here? How have obesity rates in the military climbed to nearly 8 percent, more than twice what it was 5 years ago?

Pointing the Finger Would Be Easy

Rising obesity rates would be an easy mystery to solve if the same problem wasn’t also plaguing the civilian sector.

We could demonize all of the video game-loving millennials and accuse them of weight-gaining laziness.

We could point our fingers at unit-sponsored potlucks and bake sales.

Or we could vilify the chow hall and demand they stop selling hamburgers and french fries.

But the truth is, while all of these things are factors, the true culprit lies in America’s relationship with food.

America: The Land of Cheap and Plenty

We live in the land of cheap and plenty.

Big portions are like victory banners shouting our triumph over food shortages faced by those who lived through the Great Depression.

We live our lives on an advertising battlefield, hunted by big name food manufacturers and distributors out to improve their bottom line. They offer us the flame-broiled burgers, a bucket of soda and a big slice of American apple pie, all for $5 or less. They play into our self-realized weaknesses and pitch low-calorie, nonfat chocolate bars and cheese-covered baked potato crisps.

Our children (and future service members) are inundated with sugary cereal commercials and foods that are more toys than they are nutrition.

Even the fittest among us are targets for sugar-laced energy drinks and high-calorie protein packs. We have entire TV networks dedicated to decadent foods. We aren’t just in love with food, as a country, we are completely OBSESSED.

How We Got Here Is No Great Mystery

With nearly 2 in every 3 Americans classified as overweight or obese, the perpetual battle of the bulge has been a slow, simmering conflict in our country for the past half century. It is a battle that has made the real-life and devastating effects of heart disease and diabetes commonplace.

Given that the volunteers for our Armed Forces are pulled from our population at large, that they have learned to eat in a surreal world of corn, wheat and soybean subsidies, is it any surprise that this issue made its way into the ranks?

How we got here is common knowledge: lack of exercise, too much stress and highly-processed, highly-addictive foods.

We expect our service members to be a breed apart, to set the standard, to walk the fine line and stand at the ready to defend our nation. And yet, they must feed themselves from the same collective American table, so to speak.

When was the last time you saw a commercial for fruit that wasn’t tied to a bottle of juice?

Where is the Hollywood hunk giving face time to a head of broccoli?

Better yet, when was the last time you or anyone you know took a nutrition class?

Certainly service members are exposed to some kind of nutritional training, but a 2-hour session can hardly undo the programming instilled by a childhood of bad-eating habits.

I am sure that the DoD will take steps to make sure those currently serving better understand the implications of a poor diet. We may see it reflected in the commercial food services offered on post. We may even see food addiction treated in the same manner as drug or alcohol abuse.

But in truth, this will only be a stop-gap for those already in uniform.

If we want to see obesity rates decline, both in our neighborhoods and our military services, we have to reinvent our relationship with food. If we don’t, the consequences to our nation, our military and our waistlines will only continue to grow.

What actions do you think DoD should take to help service members who are overweight?