If there is one thing military life has taught us, it is to hurry up and wait. Prepare for orders, but wait for them. Call TRICARE and be on hold for goodness knows how long. Need to pick up medication for the sick kid, wait in the pharmacy waiting room for at least an hour. Military life seems to have a lot of waiting. Waiting at the ID office for a new ID may not be one of them much longer.

The Uniformed Service ID (USID) care system now has an online capability to renew ID cards. Cards will be printed by the Government Publishing Office and mailed to the card recipient.

Requirements:

• Sponsor much have a Common Access Card (CAC) and request the renewal of an active USID card (aka not expired)
• The Sponsor and the card recipient must have an email address listed in DEERS, and it is noted that the DOD has the authorization to contact them
• The Sponsor’s personnel status must extend at least 30 days from the renewal request date
• The card recipient has a photo in DEERS taken in the last 12 years
• The card recipient’s mailing address is in DEERS and is in within the United States, including Hawaii or Alaska

How To Renew:

• GO to the USID Card Office Online
• Select “Family ID Cards”
• Select “Renew Family Member ID Card”
• The card will be mailed, and an email will be sent to the sponsor and card recipient to acknowledge receipt of the card.
• Once the card is acknowledged, the new card will be active, and the prior card will be inactive
• The prior card should be returned but to a RAPIDS ID card site
• If the card renewal is not approved, the card recipient will receive an email

How smoothly will this process be? Who knows. But hopefully, it leads to a little less waiting in line.

Some military bases have rolled out ID renewal kiosks. The requirements are the same as online renewals. Is there an ID renewal kiosk near you?

After the DOD issued new guidance in regards to the COVID vaccination requirements, the military service branches are working to adjust their policies on separation and promotion for those who refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The Pentagon specifically notified the service branches to tell them by March 17^th how they would implement the changes.

The Army and Air Force, who also issues guidance for the Space Force, stated that they would remove or correct adverse actions in records related to vaccine refusal. This includes counseling sheets, recorded individual counseling, nonjudicial punishments (NJPs), and current discharge proceedings. The Department of the Air Force further delineated that “promotion records will be corrected to remove or redact all adverse actions related to vaccine refusal.”

While the policy change has occurred, the Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, stated in the press release that they are encouraging vaccinations, stating “We will continue to promote and encourage COVID vaccination for all personnel to ensure readiness, facilitate mission accomplishment and protect the force.”

The Coast Guard stated they would remove adverse administrative remarks in regard to the COVID-19 vaccination by March 31.

The Navy has now lifted the requirement for COVID-19 vaccination for deployment. The policy does allow commanders to “implement Health Protection Measures at any time,” and this could include restriction of movement when in port. There are countries that military members travel to that have vaccination laws, particularly for COVID-19, so those service members not vaccinated may not be able to attend joint exercises within those countries.

The Marine Corps, a branch within the US Department of the Navy, no longer requires vaccination for deployment. Capt.Ryan Bruce, a Marine Corps spokesperson, told Military.com that “Marines will defer to Combatant Command policies regarding deployments.”

Nothing has been said about the service members who were separated during the period since the COVID-19 vaccine was mandated. The Navy separated 2,089 active-duty sailors over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to USNI.

Spring cleaning for a military family hits a little differently. It’s a time to clean, and as the cleaning occurs, purge. Purge because a PCS or PCA is in the very near future. And while military families worldwide may not actually know when the move is happening, or even where the end destination will be, the reality is that preparing earlier is better. This is for all the military families that may move this summer, and even if you don’t move, this is a great time to spring clean the PCS/PCA way.

Keep

– Sentimental items – while it may be difficult to move great-grandma’s champagne flutes or your uncle’s cigar box in terms of packing and moving around the world that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep them. Family momentos aren’t items you can purchase later, so worth keeping.

– Photos – this might be a no-brainer, but worth mentioning.

– Basics – don’t toss things you need to purchase later. This might be easier at the moment, but it adds to your personal cost burden. Don’t toss or donate your dishes and pots and pans just to buy new ones so you don’t have to pack or move them. Inflation is not your friend in this.

– Clothes for different seasons – if you have clothes in sizes that you or your family members will wear in the coming years for the winter season and you are living in Hawaii, you may not want to keep them. However, replacing those items could add up in cost if you move to New York next year. The needs and desires of the military always supersede family members’ desires.

–  Sports equipment – if there are items you are still using seasonally – keep them.

Donations

Always have a donation bag or bin ready to go.  Clothes the kids have outgrown, dishes no longer used – these can be used by others. Consider these other items to donate:

– DVDs – if you are streaming it all anyway, you probably don’t need to cart those movies worldwide. Libraries gratefully take these donations.

– CDs – same goes for DVDs; if you are streaming music on an audio service, you may not need to keep all the CDs. Keep a few that are meaningful but it might be time to donate the rest to the library.

– Books – This category also weighs a ton, depending on the books. Consider donating books you may not reference or read frequently to the local library. You can always borrow a book if you have access to a library. Keep those books that you will use, re-read, or reference or are sentimental. If the library won’t take the books, look for a book recycler.

– Food You Won’t Eat or Use – If you have any food you won’t use before a move, don’t wait until the day you are leaving to toss it; donate it now to a local food pantry.

– Clothing – this is an easy one for children who have outgrown clothes. It is difficult to do when you don’t know what clothing type you will need for the next duty station. Whatever you do find, donate to the local base thrift shop or local Veterans organization.

– Stuffed Toys – If you have reached a time in your life that it is time to let go of some stuffed animals, donate them to your local animal shelter.

– Old towels – another donation item that animal shelters need are towels, and they will happily take old towels.

– Linens – Animal shelters often take linens as well to line crates.

– Kitchenware – gently used kitchen appliances like toaster ovens, blenders, and dish sets are welcome at local thrift shops and Goodwill. Check with the local military base thrift shop as well; many new families look to purchase kitchen items at the on-base thrift shops, especially if they don’t have a vehicle.

– Gifts – this one is tricky as it can be a gift from a family member, but if your grandma made a sweater you will never wear, it might be time to donate it.

– Infant care items – if you are out of the baby-raising stage of life, it is time to let go of those infant items.

Discard

While it is difficult to throw away things, especially when they have memories attached to them, it is pertinent before a PCS to discard broken, holey, falling apart items. Toss any expired pantry goods. If your couch is falling apart, or the mattress is only being held together by its fitted sheet, it’s probably time to bulk trash those items too.

Don’t forget outdated electronics. Depending on where you live, you may have to pay for e-recycling, but it is better than moving it to another state and having to dump it then.

Any loose papers you no longer need – shred any items with personal information, but recycle the rest.

A Note about Yard Sales

Yard sales used to be common practice, but sitting out and selling your items takes time. People haggle so you may sell the Osh Koshs your child first walked in for 25 cents. Is that worth it? While the tax write-off may not reach the amount required to write off donating may be the better way.  It will save you time and energy and help others in the community.

The key to moving preparations is the earlier, the better. While you may get last-minute orders, it is important to prep in the spring whether you are moving or not.  Doing an annual prep means less stress and less work on PCS years.

The Defense Department issued the Warning Regarding Poppy Seed Consumption and Military Drug Testing memorandum on February 21, 2023.

Drug testing is a common test performed among military units. They are performed at random, and not every member of a unit is tested at the same time. This is completed to ensure the safety and readiness of the military service members.

Poppy seeds have been a concern for drug testing in the past. The poppy seeds come from the poppy plant, which is utilized in the food and drug industry. Poppy seeds are utilized to make morphine and codeine, and poppy seeds can lead to a positive drug test for codeine.

Per the memorandum, recent data demonstrated that poppy seeds have a higher content of codeine than previously reported, so ingestion of poppy seeds can lead to a false positive test due to the poppy seeds. However, there is no test to determine the origination of the positive codeine test. Eating poppy seeds could lead to a positive urinalysis and its consequences within the military service.

Because of these concerns, the memorandum advises service members to avoid the consumption of poppy seeds in all food products, including baked goods that contain poppy seeds. Baked goods include bread, rolls, cookies, cakes, pastries like Hamantaschen and a kolache.

Service members are advised to work with their local legal office for urinalysis results concerns.

When the pandemic led to a lockdown, life as we know it became very different. Medical appointments were only for emergencies, masks were required to be worn within a medical office or hospital, and the necessary measure of telehealth became more commonplace. Some measures have continued despite the lockdown lift. Telehealth allows those unable to leave a certain state or area due to illness or travel restrictions to continue to receive their medications, even across state lines. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ ability to provide care was bolstered by telehealth visits.

The COVID-19 healthcare measures put in place, especially for those utilizing telehealth, will expire May 11^th per an announcement by President Joe Biden in January. The end of these measures means the end of federal allowances for hospitals treating patients with COVID-19 and the end of free COVID-19 home testing or vaccines.

The telehealth measurement has been extended until December 2024. The extension also included audio-only telehealth coverage, which is key, especially for older patients who may not have a smartphone or laptop to utilize audio-video telehealth websites or applications. The extension of telehealth capabilities allows for a time period for Congress to assess and provide a more permanent solution for telehealth.

In May, the extension of the ability to initiate controlled substances like opioids, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication, and benzodiazepines for anxiety will require an in-person medical evaluation. In addition, medications within the VA system will have to be prescribed within the state. Within the COVID-19 measures, medications could be prescribed across state lines. This is a concern for Congress as many veterans are older and may be in rural locations with mental health needs that would require medication. For instance, a veteran in rural Kentucky may have been receiving care from a VA clinic in Indiana due to distance. If the measures end, the veteran would have to change care from their long-time provider.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough cited that a veteran living in rural Colorado receives prescription renewals from a VA Clinical Resource Hub in Boise, Idaho, and further stated that the VA was working to preserve the cross-state prescriptive authority.

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) outlines financial budget and adds regulations for the Department of Defense. This year’s NDAA includes a repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House on December 8, 2022, and the Senate on December 15, 2022, and was signed by President Biden on December 23, 2022, just before the federal holiday. There was some speculation that President Biden would not sign the NDAA due to the inclusion of the specific COVID-19 vaccine legislation.

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate became policy in August of 2021, following the development of the vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, there has been debate about the inclusion of this vaccine into mandatory vaccines. Military members are required to have vaccines, including the recommended vaccinations for adults, including but not limited to polio, chickenpox, pneumonia, influenza, and meningitis. They are also required to have Anthrax and Small Pox vaccinations due to the nature of their jobs. In fact, at boot camp, recruits are vaccinated for measles, mumps, diphtheria, rubella, and smallpox, depending on the service branch.

With the signing of the FY 2023 NDAA, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate must be repealed. Representative Adam Smith, a chairman on the Armed Services Committee, stated that while he did agree with the mandate for the vaccine in August of 2021, he wasn’t sure if it was still necessary. “But as we are here now, in December 2022, does that August 2021 policy still make sense? Is it still the right policy?” The COVID-19 vaccine has had few adjustments to include new variants after the Omicron variant, which Mr. Smith noted.

Thousands of military troops were discharged when they declined the COVID-19 vaccine. The NDAA does not provide a mechanism for those discharged troops to return to active service. Not that all of those discharged service members want to return to service. For those that are in the appeals process for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, it is unclear what their fate will be. If an adverse determination is already in their file, they could still be discharged for different reasons.

Time will tell how this decision rollback will affect current military members and when the change will take effect for new recruits joining the military. Per the CDC data tracker, about 68% of the American adult population has been fully vaccinated per the age schedule. About one-third of American adults have had at least one vaccination.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 authorized a new pass program for veterans to enjoy the National Parks Service. Visiting the National Parks is a wonderfully affordable way to explore and learn about the United States and its development as a country over the last several hundred years. There are free passes for residents with disabilities, the military, 4th graders, and veterans, and affordable passes available through the National Parks.

Veterans and Gold Star Families can now obtain a military lifetime pass for free! This pass can be obtained by going to a National Park in person or through the USGS website with processing and shipping charges applied. Valid ID is required to include a veteran ID card, veteran health identification card, Department of Defense ID/CAC card, or a veteran designation on a state-issued driver’s license or identification card. Gold Star families are also eligible for the military lifetime pass.

Currently, active-duty military and their families are offered a free military annual pass. This applies to current U.S. military members in all the services, including Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force. It also applies to their dependents. A photo ID is required. This pass can be obtained by going to a National Park in person. The military annual pass can be ordered online, but does require shipping and handling charges. The active-duty military pass will remain an annual pass.

With the free pass, veterans and their families have access to 2,000 parks and public sites to explore. Getting the annual pass is easy, and you do not have to have a previous expired pass. Go to a National Parks site with available passes and show military identification, and a military annual pass will be provided if they have them. In addition, if no pass cards are available, military members and their family members will be allowed to enter for free.

There may be fees for camping or fishing, depending on the park location and the site type, so make sure to research the specific National Park site you plan to attend prior to going.

Now get out and explore this season. For Veterans and Gold Star Families, get your lifetime pass and begin exploring without having to get a pass each new year.

The Navy will now be the service with potentially the oldest enlisted recruits. The Navy has increased the latest age of enlistment to 41 in November, as long as the enlisted person reports to the training before their 42^nd birthday. This beats out the US Army, which has a cutoff age of 39. The Air Force and Space Force maximum age of enlistment up to age 39. The Marine Corps maximum age of enlistment of age 28.

The minimum and maximum ages for enlistment are not set by the military branches themselves specifically. Congress sets the ages through the National Defense Authorization Act. In 1968, the minimum age for men was no younger than 17 (but needed parental permission for those under 18 years old) and no older than 35 years old. The minimum age for women is age 18, with parental permission required if under age 21 per Public Law 90-235.

Prior to this change, the Army upped its maximum enlisted age to 42 in 2006 with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.  This came after the Army requested an increase in age through a Pentagon report in 2005. With the mandatory retirement age of 62, joining the services at age 42 would allow for 20 years of service before retirement. However, in 2011 the Army returned to its previous age limit to age 35.

The reason for the change? Navy Recruiting Command made a statement about the change. Cmdr David Benham, the spokesperson for Navy Recruiting Command, stated that this change would “widen the pool of potential recruits, creating opportunities for personnel who wish to serve, but were previously unable due to age.

According to the Council of Foreign Relations, in 2018, the Army had the largest group of service members over the age of 45 of all the service branches, with the Coast Guard close behind, then the Navy and Air Force, with the Marine Corps last.

Time will tell how much this changes the enlisted recruitment for the services. 

When a military service member is thanked for their service, some say it can lead to an awkward moment. The military member or veteran says, “you’re welcome,” but it isn’t always an organic response. While it is nice to be recognized and thanked, perhaps it isn’t commonplace enough to make it not lead to an awkward exchange.

Oddly enough, a resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of September by Representative Jack Bergman (R-Michigan-01) and J. Luis Correa (D-California-46). The resolution introduced the idea of replacing “thank you for your service” with “thank you for our freedom.”

Per the press release about the resolution Representative Bergman stated, “As a Nation, we have an obligation to support the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who risk their lives to protect the freedom of the American people, and our allies. Because of their service, we as Americans continue to live in a free Nation with the opportunity to prosper. This resolution will help ensure those of us blessed to call America home understand the personal importance of our servicemen and women’s sacrifice for our Nation.” Representative Correa stated, “Every servicemember deserves our respect and gratitude. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation to express our thanks and honor the brave men and women who have and continue to put their lives on the line for our country.”

Will this verbal change make a difference?

Service members say no. In fact, many felt it made the thanks more awkward – as they didn’t single-handedly save the world with the suit made of Iron or a vibranium alloy shield.  It “feels empty” said another service member about the change.

Zac Baddorf, executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism told Task & Purpose that it was a “pat on the head.”

Saying thank you is appreciated. It is kind. It doesn’t provide tangible programming and support that the military branches could use. There are barracks that are filled with mold and need to be demolished. What about the maintenance of military aircraft for the safety of service members? The programming for military family services has gradually been cut through the service branches leading to less support for those families that are being thanked. There is a global lack of childcare spots for military children on base, and off-base childcare costs limit the ability of military spouses to take work outside of the home. Addressing these challenges and concerns with tangible answers are ways Congress can say thank you.

What do you think?

Barracks built in the 1970s on Fort Bragg have been deemed uninhabitable and are scheduled to be demolished after all soldiers living there are relocated. Twelve barracks in total failed inspection in August due to mold. Mold has been a recurring issue in the barracks due to increased moisture levels due to poor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It was deemed that it would be too costly to pay for the changes to repair the building versus building new buildings altogether. In fact, the air conditioning unit leaks often and is too expensive to repair or replace.

The Soldiers planned to be relocated by the end of September. There is no new housing for the soldiers to move to immediately, and many will have to move to privatized housing which will not be as close in proximity to their unit as in the barracks. About 500 soldiers in total have been given or are awaiting approval for a move to privatized housing due to the mold.

Some soldiers were given days’ notice to move, and some were moved one floor down in the barracks. In addition to moving their items, the individuals also must clean their room of mold. Per reports, mold-covered walls, ceiling tiles, and furniture throughout the barracks.

While the decision to close some barracks may seem rash, the leadership at Fort Bragg admitted that they were unable to track the mold or problems in the barracks until recently. The software used to track issues in the barracks made it difficult to identify systemic issues versus outlier issues. Per a press conference, mold issues were previously dealt with through cleaning and moving individuals into different rooms. Once the recent inspections showed the level of mold, the decision was made that the buildings or certain areas were uninhabitable.

The demolition of twelve buildings is set for some time in 2023. Refurbishment is planned for another five buildings. Per a spokesperson for Army Material Command, the barrack construction and renovation will occur over 5 years and will require $13 billion in funding.