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New Year Countdown for the Moving Military Member

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It’s the Final Countdown!

A New Year for a military member looks a little bit different, especially on a PCS year. The traditional New Year’s Resolutions of a renewed exercise routine or drinking less caffeine may still be on the list, but there are other priorities for the moving military member. This is the list for those individuals.

It’s a new year; it’s a time to start preparing for the summer move cycle. Get your home ready, pack things, and move to the next destination. Where to start? Start in January; start early. It will lessen the stress during the moving season. It won’t abolish it, but it maybe more manageable.

January is for Beginning Decluttering

This can be done in a fashion that makes it easy to manage. The idea is to declutter and purge to start fresh with the next move.

Declutter by item type: books, clothes, kitchen tools, towels, kids’ games, clothing, etc.

Declutter by room – this one is easier to break down and manage because it compartmentalizes things.

Designate how you will declutter each type of room. Will it be on Thursdays or Sundays, or a week at a time? Starting early makes the task less daunting.

February is for Beginning Pantry and Freezer Clean Out

Beginning in January, analyze what is in the pantry. If there are any items that are hiding in the back or have fallen behind the pasta containers, now is the time to pull them out. Determine what is on hand, so it can be used in a timely fashion. This prevents food waste, and maximally utilizes your budget. Before you begin the moving-out meal roulette, use food items in the way you desire. The same goes for the freezer. Small things fall out and hide behind shelves. Find them before they spoil, leak, make a mess or have to be tossed out.

March is for Information Gathering

March is usually a time one can expect to have orders and be able to do the information gathering for the new duty station. About the job, find housing or secure a room, determine school ratings, and find doctors/dentists. While it is fun to plan and research the possibilities, once hard orders are in hand, March is the time for concrete searching.

April is for Moving Cleaning, not just Spring Cleaning

The deep cleaning that occurs with moving is a lot of work. While hiring a cleaner can be helpful, it can be an added expense during a costly moving period. Begin doing deep cleaning in January. Clean the fridge and freezer. Turn the oven on to cleaning mode. Steam clean carpets. Scrub the baseboards of the floors, the most forgotten areas. Make a list of what needs to be done and do it one step at a time.

May is for Packing

While the government can provide a moving company for you, you have the option for a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), or you can pre-pack boxes to assist with the organizing of your items. Pack sentimental items, ensure family china or jewelry is packed securely, and pull out any items that you wish.

June is the Big Push

With a summer move on the horizon, June is for all the last-minute things. One more decluttering round for the house. A once-over clean goes much faster because you have done the deep cleaning. The cupboards should be bare now that you have slowly been working on them.

Reusing Holiday Leftovers for Meals

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Making a holiday meal can be an all-day ordeal. Many only make a turkey or ham just a few times a year – and the hours-long labor is over after the 60-minute meal. Repurposing the leftovers beyond the second plate expands the hard work. Here are 8 ways to repurpose those holiday leftovers into yummy meals everyone will love.

Tacos

This is an easy one – utilize the protein of choice – turkey or ham – and add taco seasoning. Viola – add the meat with veggies and cheese into a hard or soft taco shell, and you have a meal that is very different than the holiday meal before.

Enchiladas

Another twist on the holiday meal. Use the holiday protein in your favorite enchilada recipe. Cover with sauce and bake for a warm, comforting meal from the holiday meal.

Nachos

An easy lunch and great for finger food while hanging out together watching a movie or decorating the house, nachos are a fun way to repurpose the meal. It can be made with any protein – from poultry to pork to beef – with your favorite taco seasoning for the meat and topped with veggies and cheese. We have even cut up green beans and sauteed them with the turkey for an extra crunch and bright green color.

Quiche

Make a pie crust and mix eggs with any protein and veggies for a filling quiche. Stuffing makes a great thickener to the custard as well. It can be used for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner and can be served cold or warm.

To three eggs, mix one cup of milk, salt, and pepper ad mix. Add in ¼ cup of chopped protein (turkey, ham, beef), ¼ cup of veggies, ¼ cup stuffing, and 1/3-1/4 cup of shredded cheese on hand. Add in any spices desired and bake in an oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Soup

Soup is a great way to stretch the leftovers. Use ham bone or turkey bones to make the stock. Add in any leftover veggies – from bok choy to spinach to cut-up potatoes. Add stuffing dumplings to make it a dumping soup. Boil the bones for several hours to get off any leftover meat – stretching that meal as far as possible.

Fried Rice

Fried rice is a great way to use any leftovers. Fry up cooked rice, and any meat or veggie can be added to it. Add in an egg or two to create the scrambled eff until cooked through. Add on the seasoning of soy sauce and ginger to taste and voila.

Crepes

Savory Crepes make a delicious lunch or dinner. Crepe batter is essentially a thin pancake but can be filled with anything. Make it a breakfast crepe with cranberry sauce. Make it a lunch or dinner crepe with turkey and veggies with a little cranberry sauce.

Stock

If you don’t need all the stock for the soup, save and freeze the stock for future soup or risotto recipes. Add flavor to rice dishes on the menu for the next month.

How do you repurpose holiday meals?

Military Families Celebrate the Holidays Around the World

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

Germany

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

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

Around the US

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

Italy

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

Japan

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

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

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

Great Britain

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

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

Free Lifetime Passes for Veterans at National Parks

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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.

Grab These 23 Stocking Stuffers at Your Commissary

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Don’t discount your grocery store as a place to buy gifts. Especially stocking stuffers! There are so many treats for family members of all ages. The military commissary, with its unique selection from produce to the well-stocked international aisle, will help you fill your stockings, all while you are doing your grocery shopping.  

  1. – Chocolates – From dark to milk chocolate, or shaped chocolates in Nutcrackers or oranges, there are many options to choose from.
  2. – Hot chocolate – these will be used throughout the winter months, so fun to have on hand
  3. – Gum – whether you are traveling over the mountains and through the woods and will need something to pop your ears, grab some gum. Just remember, this isn’t for small children.
  4. – Jams and Jellies – from your typical favorites to unique holiday ones like fig, hot pepper, or Meyer lemon jams and jellies
  5. – Spice mixes – the international aisle has a bounty of spice mixes. Try a curry mix or even an enchilada spice mix. It is a fun way to explore new flavors while gifting to your family and friends.
  6. – Jarred specialties – Roasted Red Pepper, sun-dried tomatoes
  7. – Dip Mix – If your family or friend loves ranch dip or fried onion mix, grab some to put in the stocking!
  8. – Pretzels
  9. – Trail Mix
  10. – Baking mixes – consider Yorkshire pudding or schnitzel mix from the international aisle.
  11. – Sunflower Seeds
  12. – Unique candies – Check out the holiday endcaps for holiday candies from around the world or specialty candies. Shaped peanut butter cups or animal-shaped marzipans are fun and wonderful treats to behold in the stocking.
  13. – Canned juices – Canned means it won’t break if someone grabs the stocking quickly and is shelf stable, so it won’t spoil over time. Mango juice or pineapple-orange juice is fun, and you can drink the morning of while enjoying the holiday fun!
  14. – Popcorn
  15. – Popcorn seasonings
  16. – Dried fruit – mango, papaya, figs, pineapple, and so many more.
  17. – Nuts – salted or coated in sugar or honey; these protein power snacks come in bags, canisters, or even small tins.
  18. – Jerky – spicy, or traditional, beef or turkey – these shelf-stable snacks are great for throughout the year.
  19. – Coffee
  20. – Tea
  21. – Electric toothbrush – the grocery store isn’t just for foodstuffs, and an electric toothbrush can entice and encourage young children into brushing their teeth.
  22. – Facial mask – a fun nod to a spa day at home, and who couldn’t use a spa moment after the busy schedules of the holidays
  23. – Don’t forget an orange!

Get your grocery shopping AND some holiday shopping done at once. Yup! All about the multi-tasking errand while providing nutritious and fun treats for the stocking. Better yet

Six Holiday Dips To Try This Season

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Holiday parties and gatherings are back, and its time to try out some new dips! While the comfort of our usual, tried, and trusted recipes are great, consider trying out these dips this holiday season.

Smoked Salmon Dip

The richness of the smoky flavor adds depth to this creamy dip. It can be paired with veggies and crackers and bread.

Ingredients:

-8 Ounce cream Cheese

-1/2 cup sour cream

-1 TBL lemon juice

-1 TBL dill

-1 tsp horseradish, drained

-1/2 tsp kosher salt

-1/4 tsp ground black pepper

-4 ounces of minced smoked salmon

Cream the cream cheese with an electric mixer. Mix in sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt, and pepper. Fold in the smoked salmon and mix so it is evenly distributed. Chill before serving.

Hot Crab Dip

Another seafood favorite is the creamy hot crab dip. A variety of dippable items from veggie to crackers to bread can be served on the side. Keep it warm in a crockpot to serve the ooey-gooey dip.

Ingredients:

-8 Ounce cream Cheese

-1/4 cup sour cream

-Hot sauce (to taste)

-1.2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning, or similar

-1 garlic clove, minced

-kosher salt and pepper

-12 ounces of crab meat

-2 scallions, thinly sliced

-1 to 2 TBL fresh parsley, chopped

-2-3 tsp lemon juice

Stir the cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, garlic, and Old Bay seasoning together. Add in the salt and pepper to taste. Heat the mix in a crock pot or saucepan until warmed through. Fold in the crab, scallions, and fresh herbs, and top with lemon juice. Serve when warm.

Five-Layer Mexican Dip

A crowd-pleaser, this dip deserves to be shared. Layer corn, beans, meat, and tomato with onion and avocado for a delicious dip. Zip up the tomato-onion combo with jalapeno and salt and pepper. Add spice to the beans with cumin and lime juice. Add cilantro to the corn. Add lemon juice to the avocado to keep it from browning. Layer each type and repeat until completed. Serve with warmed tortillas, celery, or chips.

BLT Dip

This one is a favorite because it uses only 4 ingredients. Combine chopped sun-dried tomatoes with ¾ cup of mayonnaise, 1 cup of sour cream, and ½ cup bacon bits. Season with salt and pepper. For added wow factor, serve in hollowed-out iceberg lettuce. Serve with pita chips, chips, or veggies.

Smores Dip

The classic dessert in a dip is a warm, delicious dip. Layer chocolate chips or bars and top with marshmallows – broil until marshmallows are browned and chocolate is melted. Serve with fruit and graham crackers.

Cannoli Dip

Cannolis are a time-intensive desert but a favorite. Make the dip for a nod to the dish. Beat together 2 cups of ricotta cheese and 8-ounce cream cheese until smooth. Add in 1 cup of powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Add in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, mini M&M’s, or butterscotch bits.

Can You Realistically Stay Within Budget During the Holidays?

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

Determine Your Number

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

Alternative Gifts

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

Make a Budget, and Stick To It

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

Coupon

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

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

Navy Raises Enlistment Age

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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 42nd 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. 

Congress Says, ‘Thank You For Our…Freedom’?

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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?