Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Save On Summer Camp for Your Military Kids

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While it is still winter, and snow is on the ground in some places, it is the time of year to plan ahead for the summer. Summer camps release dates and times and quickly fill up, so now is the time to find and pick summer camps. If you are looking for a way to send your military kids to camp, and potentially save a little money while you are at it.

4H Military Partnership Camps

These 4H camps are designed specifically for military-connected children. Each camp length and time differ per state, so check out the locations and information about each camp here.

Camp Corral

Camp Corral is a camp for children ages 8-15 who have a parent who is wounded, ill, injured, or fallen. Camps are located all over the United States. Camps are free of charge to military families with a $30.00 refundable deposit to hold the position. Camps vary in length and style based on the location of the camp.

Camp Trotter

The camp in Michigan offers five weeks of one-week long camp for seven to twelve-year-olds with military parents. The Camp is operated by the Department of Michigan and Veterans of Foreign Affairs and is taking applications now. There is a $300 fee for the camp.

DOD Starbase

The Department of the Defense Youth Program provides fourth, fifth, and sixth graders with STEM-based education at National Guard, Marine, Air Force, and Army bases around the United States. There are 70 locations across the United States this summer, check them out here.

Military Teen Adventure Camps

For teens of active duty, guard, reserve, and retired military personnel, military teen adventure camps offer a unique outdoor camp at no cost. There are funds available to help with transportation as well. You can search camps by location and date.

Operation Purple Camp

The National Military Family Association offers Operation Purple Camp in the summer. It is a camp for military children, typically ages 8 and up, and offers overnight camps. The camps vary in availability and location and fill up quickly, so check out the camps now. Campers enjoy activities including music, nature programs, swimming, boating, athletics, and leadership activities.

Operation Camp Program

The Armed Services YMCA offers a camp program through their Operation Camp Program. The offerings range from day, overnight, and holiday camps depending on the local branch. Some local branches, like ASYMCA San Diego, have the Horse of the Sun Ranch which offers equestrian camps. The program is offered at a no-cost or low cost, depending on the activity.

Operation Xtreme

This summer camp CRISTA Camps offers summer overnight camps for children of active duty, reserve, and retired military at the western-themed Miracle Ranch in Washington. The rates are based on rank, so are at a sliding rate. Gold Star families’ children can attend fee-free. The overnight camp offers activities like canoeing, disc golf, archery, high ropes, horseback, and arts and crafts.

Have a favorite summer camp you send your military kids to? Let us know in the comments!

Will the Commissary Add Grocery Delivery?

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Grocery delivery has been an amazing plus. When you have sick kids at home, are sick yourself, and your partner is deployed, gone or at training, grocery delivery means you don’t have to drag yourself out the door or pack up sick kids into the car. Grocery delivery has grown as an option to many stores over the last couple of years. It looks like the Defense Commissary Agency, or DECA, is looking to add this benefit to its stores.

A contract solicitation for grocery delivery was published by the Defense Department on January 31st. The pilot program states that grocery delivery could be provided within a 20-mile driving radius of select stores.

The eight stores where the pilot program is proposed includes:

  • Naval Base San Diego, California
  • Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
  • Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
  • Fort Belvoir, Virginia
  • Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
  • Fort Bragg South Post Commissary, North Carolina
  • MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

While the pilot program does not list a specific timeline for when the program would be executed, grocery has been a goal of the new Defense Commissary Agency Director Bill Moore. The ultimate goal is for all the commissaries in the continental United States to provide this service. There will be a service charge, keeping in line with other large stores’ grocery delivery services. A proposed service charge was not listed in the solicitation, but would likely be determined by the contractor who provides the delivery.

Grocery Pick Up is a currently provided service at the Commissaries. Click 2 Go provides free grocery pick up at Continental U.S. Commissaries. There is no minimum for grocery pick up and can be ordered all online, including digital coupons. The ability to grocery shop online without leaving your home, and then selecting a pickup time is great for meal planners, those who just don’t want to shop in the store or have napping children. The addition of grocery delivery would mean you wouldn’t even have to leave the house to get your favorite grocery items.

Will you use grocery delivery from the Commissary?

Secondary Caregiver Leave Updated for Navy and Marines

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The Marine Corps is updating its policy on leave allowed for secondary caregivers, often referred to as Permissive Temporary Additional Duty or PTAD. The update comes from Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs increasing the previous 14 days leave to 21 days of leave. Per Major Jordan Cochran from Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs, this “will further improve Marine and family readiness, as well as recruiting, retention, and overall talent management of the force.”

This policy is also updated for the Navy with a total of 21 days of leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Per Vice Admiral John Nowell Jr, the Chief of Naval Personnel, the “Navy is dedicated to supporting our new parents, and we fully understand that our families are as much a part of our service as our Sailors.”

These policy updates are short-term solutions “while we await more significant changes anticipated as part of [the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act]” which has a proposed change of paid parental leave for up to 12 weeks for all service members.  The authorization was signed into law in 2021 but requires Congress to pass the defense appropriations bill for funding to be assigned and available for these changes.

The Army and Air Force have had 21 days of parental leave. The Air Force has a Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) that provides non-chargeable leave entitlements following the birth or adoption of a child as long as the Service Member meets the eligibility requirements.  The Army’s policy of 21-day of non-chargeable leave has been policy since 2019 and can be used within one year of the birth or adoption.

The flexibility for non-chargeable leave is a growing topic of discussion. Some large civilian companies offer up to 20 weeks of paid time for mothers and up to 12 weeks of parental leave for other new parents. These additions are welcome changes as per Pew Research, the United States is the only country that lacks government-mandated paid parental leave across the board in comparison with 40 other countries.  

What If I Can’t Find a Rental?

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If your family has received military orders recently, you are probably already looking in every housing website and group for housing at your next destination. You have probably called the on-base military housing to scope out wait times, neighborhoods and maybe even sent in an application. It doesn’t hurt to have options, right? If you are moving to an area where the waitlist for on-base housing is 12+ months, and off-base housing has either low availability or pricing that is not supportable within Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), you might be looking for other options. While you might have to rent that house that is $500 above BAH, and that’s without utilities, you are probably looking for other options as well. So, what other options are there?

Long Term Stay Hotels

Check out chain hotels for “extended stay hotels” that offer larger hotel rooms with amenities that can make hotel living doable for a short period of time. Most of these hotels offer free breakfast, and maybe even free meals for dinner on weekday evenings.  They also offer free nights for stays longer than several nights or offer weekly rates which can lower the overall cost of the stay. If you are looking to cook, most extended stay hotels have a kitchen or kitchenette In with varying appliances depending on the location and brand. While the larger room and kitchen may make it feel like an apartment, it is still very much a hotel This means they may offer daily or weekly housekeeping dropping off coffee and tea and laundry service for towels and sheets. Bonus if there is a pool at the hotel property for burning off kid, and adult, energy at the end of the day. It can be fun for a short stay and make the wait for housing feel more like a vacation than an added stress. Some of these hotels are also pet-friendly, meaning you do not have to board your pet while staying at them.

Temporary Lodging Facilities

Temporary Lodging Facilities, or TLFs, are military hotels that are made with the idea of extended stays – whether it is for those who are coming to the base for training or for PCSing. The TLFs often have a kitchen in some form – usually a stovetop, fridge, freezer, and microwave. Some even have grills on the ground adding extra cooking ability, especially if you do not have an oven and you really want that pizza. TLFs usually have laundry in the hotel, or even may be available in each individual room. This allows for doing laundry all time of day, versus having to find a laundromat. These facilities offer rates based on rank, so usually don’t add up beyond BAH in a total month, or near it.

On Post RV Campground

So you can’t find a house at your next location, or you have a projected 6-12 month wait for on-base housing. If you have an RV, an RV campground is a great place to live. There are many military bases that offer RV campgrounds on the post. This means you can get a lay of the land in regard to the areas around the base and even schools if you have kids to make the best housing decision you can with more information. If you have been looking at getting an RV for your move and can’t find a home, maybe this is the sign to make the purchase. It can be a large purchase and shouldn’t be done simply because you do not have a home lined up. But if you have already been looking and planning on getting an RV, maybe this is your sign. Even if you can’t get a spot at the RV Campgrounds on base, look off base!

Crash At A Friends

This is not ideal for a long-term solution. It’s already rough moving with your teen for the third time in four years, but if you have a family friend that is at the new duty station who is willing to host you and your family and may even help in the transition of the move, this might be ideal for a few weeks. Think of it as one long staycation. Navigating a stay with friends can be tricky and should only be done when both parties can clearly outline expectations on both sides. Free or cheap lodging isn’t worth losing a friendship over.

Geo-Bach It Temporarily

Geo-Bach or Geo-Bachelor is a term used for when the service member goes to the next duty station unaccompanied, or without their family. While it is usually used for those who choose to, or it is deemed necessary for medical reasons, separate from the time of the tour, it can also be done in the short term. If you have a house where you currently live, is it possible to extend where you are while looking for a place to live at the new location or waiting for base housing? If you are on base, will the current military housing allow you to stay while waiting for housing at the next location? If you are locked into a lease at your current location, will the landlords allow you to move later if the military orders have already been executed without financial penalty? This isn’t ideal for everyone and is very much a personal choice, this can provide flexibility in an unknown housing world.

What do you do when you are waiting for on-base housing or can’t find a rental out in town?

Camp at Military Campgrounds To Save Even More

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According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry, there has been an increase in shipments of Recreational Vehicles (RVs) by 15% since 2020. Sales of camping equipment have increased by 31% in the United States since 2020. These numbers speak volumes -there is a greater desire to explore more of the great outdoors. Military families are not novices at “roughing it,” often going months without their household goods after moving overseas, or even across the country.  Did you know that there is an entire network of camping and RV parks for military families? Each campground has different eligibility requirements. Each campground has a different reservation system as well, some without advance reservations and some with advanced reservations with varying lead times. Make sure to look them up before you plan a trip.

Explore the North

The Great Pond Outdoor Recreation Area in Maine has 13 RV sites, 3 spaces for tents, 1 lodge that sleeps 8, 15 cabins that sleep 6, and 6 yurts. Prices range from $25 to $150 depending on the sleep site. The recreation center is closed November through April and pets are allowed on the campground. There is also a cottage with its associated lighthouses at Gull Harbor in Maine that make for a picturesque New England stay.

There are no military campgrounds in Connecticut or Delaware. There is an Air Force Inn at Dover Air Force Base, but make sure to check if there are restrictions on Space Available (recreational) travel.

Maryland is home to multiple military bases of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Andrews Air Force Base, and Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and each base has a recreation or camping ground. Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy, and Annapolis NS Campground with concrete sites for camping is nearby. There is also Camp Meade RV Park and Solomons Island Navy Recreation Center.

Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts has two campgrounds associated with it – Fourth Cliff Family Recreation Area and FAM camp with both RV sites and tent sites. The New Boast Air Force Station  Area Campground in New Hampshire has seasonal RV and tent sites.

New Jersey’s year-round campground at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has Willow Pond RV campground with RV sites.

West Point located in New York has two campground areas – Lake Frederick Recreation Area and Round Pond Campground – both offering season RV sites, Adirondacks, and tent sites. Fort Drum’s Remington Park also offers cabins in addition to the RV sites, Adirondacks, and tent sites

In Pennsylvania, the Tobyhanna Army Depot has Vacation and Business Villas year-round in the Coolbaugh Township.

Newport, Rhode Island is host to the Carr Point Campground with RV sites.

Stay in the South

Alabama has six campgrounds between Fort Rucker, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Coast Guard Group Mobile, and two other recreation areas. Because these campgrounds are in the south, they are open year-round and offer RV sites, tent sites, and cabins.

Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas has RV sites with hooks ups and tenting sites for rent – including monthly rentals for those on TDY orders. If you are driving through, Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center has an RV park.

Florida is another state with a bevy of military bases and campgrounds. The Keys have Sigsbee RV park with vocational rentals along with the RV and tent sites. Staying in the panhandle? The Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Blue Angel Naval Recreation Area has hook-ups at grass/dirt and concrete spaces in addition to tent platform, tent, and cabin spaces. Heading to Miami? Check out Marathon Recreation Cottages and RV Park with 4 cottages and 4 RV sites.

Georgia has 9 campgrounds with two in Lake Allatoona, as far south as Moody Air Force Bases’ Grassy Pond Recreation Area, as far east as Lotts Island Travel Camp at Hunter Army Airfield, and as far west at Fort Benning’s Uchee Creek Army Campground. No matter which roadway you are traveling through in Georgia, you can find a campground. Even better to have a variety of options if stationed locally and wanted to do a little local exploration.

Louisiana has five military campgrounds – two at Fort Polk, one at Barksdale Air Force Base, one at Belle Chasse, New Orleans, and Twin Lakes Recreation area at Beauregard, Louisiana. Fort Polk Toledo Bend Recreation Center and Twin Lakes Recreation area have mobile homes on-site in addition to tent sites.

Mississippi’s home to Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulport and Keesler Air Force Base which both have campgrounds. Lake Walker Campground has RV sites but no tent camping.

North Carolina has five military bases, and each has a campground. Fort Bragg has Smith Lake Army Travel Camp. MCAS Cherry Point has MWR Family Camping. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base has Fit. Fisher Air Force Recreation Area and FAM camp. Camp Lejeune has Onslow Beach Recreation Area. USCG Support Center, Elizabeth City has Weeksville campsites.

Charleston AFB and NWS have two campgrounds – Shady Oaks FAM Camp and Short Stay. Shaw AFB has two campgrounds with Wateree Recreation Area and Falcons Nest FAM Camp. Fort Jackson has Weston Lake Campground in their recreation area with RV, tent sites, and cabins.

Tennessee is home to Arnold AFB and its FAM Camp and NSA Mid-South’s Navy Lake Recreation Area. Between them, there are RV sites, tent sites, and cabins.

Virginia is no strange to camping options – from Fort A.P. Hill Recreation Facility and Fort Belvoir Travel Camp in the north to FCTCLANT Dam Neck in the southern portion of the state. In total, there are 11 campgrounds and RV parks.

MidWest

The U.S. Air Force Academy has two campgrounds – the Farish Recreation Campground and Peregrine Pines Family Camping. Also in Colorado, the Buckley Air Force Base has 40 RV sites with hookups and a laundry facility.

The Yellowstone Country Trailers at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho offers 10 RV site hookups and there are hardstand and tent sites at the Mountain Home Air Force Base Campground.

Illinois has campgrounds at Scott Air Force Base and at Naval Station Great Lakes. Indiana also has two military campgrounds- Camp Atterbury Campgrounds and Crane MWR campgrounds and cabins.  McConnell Air Force Base FAM camp in Kansas has RV sites with hook-ups. All year-camping is available at Fort Campbell Campground and Fort Knox-Camp Carlson Army Travel Campgrounds in Kentucky with family cabins, youth cabins, tent sites, RV sites, and picnic areas.

Camp Grayling Trailer Park at Camp Grayling, Michigan has over 50 RV sites and 10 tent sites for camping with boat launches, rentals, and access points.

Camp Ripley DeParcq Woods Campground in Minnesota is open for service members and their families with RV and tent sites.

Fort Leonard Wood’s Lake of the Ozarks Campground has fully furnished duplexes, cabins, and mobile homes for glamping to the max as well as RV and tent sites.

Malmstrom Air Force Base Campground and Timber Wolf Resort at Malmstrom AFB are open seasonally with RV and tent sites in Montana.

Offutt Air Force Base FAM Camp in Nebraska has RV sites with hookups.

North Dakota’s Grand Forks Air Force Base has RV and tent sites at their FAM Camp and Minot Air Force Base has RV sites at their FAM Camp.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has a FAM Camp on-site with RV and tent sites all year, but there is no available water hook-ups in the winter.

Oklahoma has FAM Camps at Tinker Air Force Base and Altus Air Force Base. McAlester Army Ammo Plant has Murphy’s Meadow Campground and Ft Sill has RV, tent, and cabins at Lake Elmer Thomas Campground. Blackhawk RV Park in the state has 12 RV sites with hook-ups.

South Dakota is home to Ellsworth AFB and their FAM Camp with lodge rooms and RV sites.

Texas is not without a lack of options. There are RV parks and campgrounds at Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Fort Sam Houston, and Red River Army Depot. There are campgrounds on Brooks AFB, Goodfellow AFB, Lackland AFB, Laughlin AF, Sheppard AFB, and Randolph AFB. Then there are the recreation areas and campgrounds at NAS Corpus Christ and two at NAS Kingsville.

Utah’s Hill Air Force Base has two campgrounds and Dugway Proving Ground has an RV Park and Campground.

Wisconsin is home to Pine View Campground at Fort McCoy with year-round RV site and yurts/cabins/duplexes on offer.

Wyoming’s F.E. Warren AFB is home to FAM Camp with RV sites, tent sites, and one cabin.

Venture Out West

Arizona is home to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Fort Huachuca, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in addition to the Gia Bend Campground. Each location offers varied lodging from hotels to RV sites to tents. On-base lodging has the perks of exchange and commissary for filling up on goodies at affordable prices. The Gila campground is a campground with basketball and tennis courts across from the campground and many amenities within the hotel but it is noteworthy to share that there are no showers on the campground itself.

California is a large state with a varied climate and has lodging available to military families as far south as El Centro Naval Air Facility Camp Ground and as far north as Beale Air Force Base campground. There are cabins on the ocean at Camp Pendleton and multiple hotel options in Monterey. If you are looking for a sunny spot in California to stay at for an affordable price, there are multiple options ranging from campground to RV sites to cabins to hotels.

Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base is home to Desert Eagle RV Park with year-round RV sites and tent sites, and RV sites are available at NAS Fallon Campground, but their restrooms are closed in the winter months.

New Mexico is home to Holloman Air Force Base and Kirtland Air Force base which both have FAM campgrounds. White Sands Missile Range -Volunteer Park Travel Campsite has year-round RV sites.

Oregon’s National Guard and Air National Guard have Camp Rilea Campground and Kingsley Field Campground respectively offering RV sites and tent sites year-round.

Washington has campgrounds at Fairchild AFB, McChord ABD, and Fairchild AFB. NAS Whidbey Island has Cliffside RV park with RV sites. NS Everett has Pacific Beach Resort, Grays Harbor CGS has Westport Recreation Park and Jim Cheek Naval Ration Station has Jim Creek Wilderness Recreation Area.

Beyond the Great 48

Seward Resort in Alaska is just that – a resort. Lodging facilities are open year-round while camping is weather permitting based on the season. The resort offers townhouses, a log cabin, and motel rooms for lodging in addition to RV pads, tent sites, and yurts. For those stationed or visiting Anchorage, For Richardson offers RV and camper sites in addition to cabins at the Black Spruce Travel Camp and the Upper Otter Lake Campgrounds has a log cabin in addition! Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and Elmendorf Air Force base have seasonal and self-contained camping throughout the year. At the base of the Chugach Mountains, Valdez Glacier campground has 94 standard campsites and 14 pull-through sites for the ultimate Alaska camping experience.

Going to Hawaii? There is military lodging in Honolulu at the Hale Koa. If camping is more your jam, then check out Kilauea Military Camp, the cottages and campsites at Kaneohe Bay, the recreation area at Hickam Air Force Base or Bellows Air Force base, or the beach cottages at Barking Sands. There are two more Recreation Areas – the Waianae Army Recreation Center and Barbers Point Recreation Area. The cottages at Kaneohe Bay offer coastal views along the beach, with the convenience of base comforts nearby but they do offer an isolated feeling of being on the other side of the airstrip.

Supplies

Don’t forget to check out what your military installation has to offer in way of renting or buying camping equipment. Renting equipment helps you try out bigger items like tents and coolers to see what will work well for your family and if it is worth the investment. Check with your Family Services per your military branch to see what they have to offer. When you are ready to buy, don’t forget about the military exchange system – both online and in-person – offering a variety of gear and when you buy on base there is the added savings of no tax!

Camping is a budget-friendly way to travel and explore your local area or save money while executing a military move.

Financial Planning When You’re Expecting a Baby in the Military

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While nursery decorating and clothes shopping may be more enjoyable tasks for first-time parents, there are many other aspects of child-rearing that need to be discussed as a family prior to welcoming a new family member into the home. Financial readiness is probably the biggest building block.

Budget

The immediate expenses like diapers, wipes, burp cloths, and clothes make sense, but what about planning for child care costs or schooling? Making a budget even without including children is not an easy task. Check out your Family and Fleet Services or Community Services to see if they offer a budgeting class. Being prepared for the usual costs can prepare you for the unusual. The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offers a Budget for Baby class that reviews not just budgeting in general, including helping your family to make a personalized budget for all expenses, and cover what expenses and what amounts to expect for Marine Corps and Navy families.

Medical

With TRICARE coverage, the labor, delivery, and any newborn screenings or treatments like circumcision and immunizations are covered. There may be a copay for certain hospitals or based on the TRICARE coverage plan you have, but these are typically very clear in regards to what to expect in regards to cost. For the last several years, TRICARE has also begun to cover breast pumps and all required supplies.  This means tubing, bottles, bottle caps, and storage bags are even covered. If you need a converter to use a breast pump overseas, that is covered. One breast pump is covered per birth.

If you received a referral to an in-network provider for breastfeeding counseling, the provider can bill TRICARE for services. Even non-network providers can submit for coverage. Starting January 1, 2022, TRICARE covers breastfeeding counseling from lactation consultants and counselors as part of the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) program that will run until December 31, 2026 at this time. The CBSD program will begin in overseas locations beginning January 1, 2025. No referrals are needed for services unless in TRICARE Prime and a referral is needed from the primary care provider. In fact, under the new program, non-medical support doulas will also be covered for those enrolled in the TRICARE Prime and Select programs.

Don’t forget the TRICARE Nurse Advice Line can also provide medical assistance via phone 24/7.

Wills and Power of Attorneys

Planning ahead with power of attorneys is a familiar dilemma for military families. When children are added to the military family, you also need to consider care plans for children. Head to the legal assistance office on your installation, and get wills completed and notarized without legal fees. If you have more complex family concerns, they can also refer you to a legal team that may provide legal advice for a discounted rate.

On Base Programming

Programming through your bases’ Family and Fleet Services or Community Services like New Parent Support programs can also help you navigate the world of child-rearing through free programming. Some groups offer visiting nurses without incurring a cost to help navigate feeding or diapering questions. If your local military installation has a USO, check to see if they are hosting a USO Baby Shower – these events offer parental advice books and workshops, and some people even get goodies that can help offset the cost in the short term.

Adding a family member to your family takes planning beyond the short-term, and there are many ways to get ahead financially thanks to these military resources. Is there a resource you have used on your base? Let us know!

Resources for Military-Connected Caregivers

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Caregivers caring for a special needs family member or a member with an injury have a lot on their plate. Knowing where the resources are on the military post and how to get them allows for the caregivers to have the time they need for themselves all while caring for the family member.

Exceptional Family Member Program

The Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, was established to ensure that family members with health needs would only be moved by the military to locations where those services could be continued. Each military installation has a EFMP office with coordinators there to ensure which services are available and how to get them.  

One program through the EFMP program is Respite Care. Respite care available for each family is different for each branch of service. If you are in the Navy or in the Army, it will not be the same across the board due to the different funding resources for each branch of service. Reach out to your local EFMP office to know what respite care is covered. The idea of respite care if provide a well-trained caregiver to care for the family member with additional needs all while giving the family caregiver a well-deserved and needed break.

Counseling

Caring for an injured or special needs family member adds unique challenges for the caregiver in the family. Non-medical counseling is available on Military One Source via telephone, in person or through live video sessions. There are phone numbers for both OCONUS and CONUS locations.

Medical counseling is available through the military health insurance, TRICARE. At the time of this writing, Telemynd is covered for telehealth counseling services.

The Military and Family Life Counseling Program through the Military and Family Support Center on the military installation offers non-medical counseling for all military-connected family members. They offer in-person counseling both on and off base, allowing for flexibility of the military family. Find your base program here.

Did you know that Military One Source offers Health and Wellness coaching? These coaches can help with managing stress and healthy eating habits. Call the Military One Source number to get in contact and learn more about the services here.

Caregivers Empowering Caregivers

The CEC program through Blue Star Families offers workshops connected caregivers to create peer networks while also sharing resources. These workshops are currently offered virtually but will transition to in-person as able.

Military Veterans Caregiver Network

Become part of a network of military-connected caregivers by competing for this form through Blue Star Families.

Other Resources

The National Alliance for Caregiving is a network and resource for unpaid caregivers caring for those with a mental health condition.

Operation Family Caregiver is a program through the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving that offers peer-to-peer networking for the military caregiver.

Psych Armor is a not-for-profit that offers free online education for military-connected caregivers.  

Here is a downloadable list of resources for military-connected caregivers.

Coping with Deployment as a Teen

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Deployments among military families are a commonality. While the operational tempo seems to have slowed in comparison to a decade ago, deployments are a normal part of military life. Deployments are not enjoyable for military children at any age. It is a time when one parent is across the world, unavailable for regular and usual communication. It can be especially difficult if the deployed parent is the one who does bedtime or the usual driving for the Saturday activities. Deployment is a change in pattern, no matter what is going on.

Can we all agree that being a teen is challenging? It is a time of building on self-esteem and evaluating body image to include the stress of academics and activities while developing character. Add in the challenge of family separation from a family member with the added worry about that family member during deployment and it can be a difficult situation to manage.

Communication

With as much lead time as possible, have an open discussion with the teenager about the deployment. Talk about expectations for the deployment from home and for the service member. Set aside time to allow for your teen to ask questions that may have come up later after the initial discussion. Having these open times for conversation can allow for more time to go over any questions or concerns. If able, turn off any distractions to allow for full attention to the conversation.

Communication continues after the initial discussion, and throughout the deployment. Review how this will happen – through letters, email, or applications like What’s App. This expectation setting helps set the tone for the deployment. Put up a calendar with the expected months of the deployment so there is a clear picture. This visual may be common for younger children, but it is helpful for all ages to have a timeline to return to and review.

Plan Together

As part of the communication, set up expectations for changes in responsibilities during deployment. Allow for a two-way discussion on what will change, what will stay the same, and overall plans. Write up a checklist, or a chart for the change in responsibilities. If it works for your family, decide on a reward system. Adding things to look forward to during deployment help change the focus to positive things to look forward to.

Planning together can continue during deployment. Maybe involve your teen in planning a trip for after deployment. Email back and forth with the deployed parent discussing ideas can keep communication open and allow for an activity to build on the relationship.

Alone Time

As much as possible, plan time for the service member and the teenager for a special outing or activity. Maybe it is to a movie of mutual interest, putt-putt golf, a new video game, or a beach day. There isn’t a magic outing, the idea is to just spend time together. Do what you enjoy together.

Routine, Routine, Routine

During deployment, any parent of young children will tell you to maintain a routine. Keep the routine and it will keep the family dynamic stable. This is still the same for teenagers. It is the same for adults. While teens may have more ability to be flexible in their daily schedules as they get older, teenagers still do well with routines which outline expectations.

Resources

Each military branch has community or family services with programming for families. There is programming for teenagers specifically – often monthly. These programs not only provide military-specific tools to help teens navigate military life but also gets other teens together. Network, community, and support are key to surviving deployment, no matter the age of the person. These teens have something in common – a military parent. Check with the military unit to see if they have gatherings of teens in the unit to get together bringing them together to build relationships.

Counseling

If your teen demonstrates the inability to cope, resume normal activity, or is more withdrawn or aggressive for over two weeks during deployment, these might be signs that there is difficulty in adjusting to the change. Follow-up with your child’s primary care provider, getting connected with Military Family Life Counselors, chaplains, or Military One Source counselors.

There are so many varied responses to deployment as a teen. Military Kids Connect has great text and videos for families and teens to read and review. These can be great ways to communicate about expected feelings or current emotions.

Don’t Forget About Military Lodging for Vacations

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Spring Break is coming soon, summer vacation is just around the corner and for some on the West Coast, ski week is coming. This means planning for potential vacation. While it is easy to head to the big-name destinations and spend thousands on a vacation, there are some military options that are often overlooked.

Grocery Availability

When staying on base or a military-connected campground, there is usually a military exchange or commissary nearby. This means filling up on groceries or necessities like diapers, wipes and snacks can be done conveniently.  There is no tax for on-base purchases, and it is much cheaper to prepare food in lodging rooms or at the campsite than it is to eat out every night. This is helpful when traveling with small children, and when you are traveling with little time to plan. Have a deployment that came up at short notice? Head to a local base for a vacation and buy what you need when you arrive.

Lodging

Military bases have their own lodging system. (Don’t tell us you forgot about our Top 10 Secret Military Vacation Spots article!) The hotel is usually the busiest when it is the height of the moving season, so summer isn’t usually the best time to get a reservation for a vacation. But if you are traveling in the off-season, or perhaps making a military base your destination for travel, check out the lodging on base. Most on-base Army hotels have their hotels listed on their IHG Army Hotel site. Lodging on Air Force Bases is offered through the Air Force Inns website. Lodging on Navy Bases can be found here. Recreation Lodging on Marine Corps bases can be found here and traditional lodging here. The added bonus with on-base lodging is that there is often have full-size washers and dryers, and sometimes temporary housing with full-size kitchens allowing for staying on top of laundry and preparing meals to both save time on the end of the vacation and money during the vacation.

Cabins

Many military bases offer unique lodging options such as cabins. For instance, Camp Pendleton in Southern California has two cabin areas – one in Del Mar at the south of the base and one on the northern part of the base at San Onofre. Both of these cabins are very popular, so it is recommended to go in person for reservations but for the less popular times you may be able to make reservations on the phone. Or maybe send a friend who is at the base to reserve for you. These beachside cabins are great for family-friendly beach vacations without the stress.

For those stationed in Okinawa, Okuma Resort is an exclusive resort for military and government employees right on the beach coast. The resort offers basic cabins for the rustic beach adventure with bunk beds, fridge, and microwave in the cabins – but bring sheets and be prepared to leave the cabin to use the restroom. Cabanas boasting bedrooms and bathrooms with beach views and easy access to the on-resort restaurant are also available. For larger parties or gatherings there are even available for groups of 10 or 18.

If the colonial period is your family’s jam, Cheatham Annex in Yorktown near the Historic Triangle in Virginia offers two, three, and five-bedroom cottages for military and DOD-affiliated families. There is even a two-bedroom pet-friendly cabin available.

Campgrounds

While some military bases also have campgrounds within them offering RV and tent sites, there are also campgrounds at other DOD Service Departments that offer unique amenities throughout the United States. There are very few states without a campground or RV site.

Big Bear Recreational Facility is maintained by the Marine Corps and offers cabin, campsites, and RV parking locations. Outside of lodging, there are bike paths, hiking trails, playgrounds, and equipment rentals. Check for updates on their website as the cabins are currently under renovation as of this writing.

Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area is on Federal land and managed jointly by the Air Force, Army National Guard, and Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (MOTSU) offers North Carolina coastal cottages, lodge rooms, RV parking sites, and tent sites to eligible individuals.

Check out if your state has options here.

Armed Forces Recreation Centers

Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRCs) are resort hotels designed specifically to provide affordable vacations for military families – from active duty to retirees.  There are five resorts currently, with two within the United States. Shades of Green in Orlando, Florida, and Hale Koa Hotel at Fort DeRussy, Hawaii offer resort accommodations at affordable prices. Overseas, there is Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmish, Germany, Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, Korea, and New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

Parks and Recreation

Check with your military installation’s Welfare and Recreation, Family Services, or Community Services to see what equipment you can rent to make your adventuring more comfortable, at affordable prices.  Need a paddleboard, tent, or sleeping bag? You are able to rent these items at a fraction of the price to own them allowing you to try out different items you may desire to purchase in the future.

ITT

Information Ticket and Travel, or ITT, is also called SATO Travel at some bases. Check with these locations to ask about discount tickets or packages for local campgrounds or vacations. While it may not be specifically military lodging, there may be more options to save money while on vacation.

Staycations are all the rage. They are perfect ways to test the travel waters with small children, allow for shorter travel distances, and can be more budget-friendly. As a military family, there is also the bonus of military lodging options to save money as well.

At-Home COVID Test not Reimbursable for those with TRICARE

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It is no surprise that COVID has shifted the world’s focus. Life shut down two years ago, and there are maintained restrictions and testing due to the previously unknown respiratory virus. The current President has set up an initiative to help curb COVID. The plan is to cover the cost of at-home COVID testing. At-home testing is convenient, reliable, and lessens the exposure of those performing the testing.

In January of 2022, private and group health insurers will be required to reimburse for the cost of up to eight at-home COVID tests per month. TRICARE, a federal program, is not part of this program. This means the TRICARE beneficiaries will not have the same access to cost-cutting as other private insurers.

TRICARE currently only covers COVID testing when the test is ordered by your provider, has symptoms, has exposure, is required for an upcoming surgery or procedure, or is needed for a move overseas. COVID testing for non-military travel, return to work, or return to school is not currently covered under the guidelines unless a provider orders testing.

COVID testing is being done through drive-throughs at many base locations across the United States. If you have symptoms or exposure and you are desiring to be tested, look up your base testing sites. Many states also offer to test for symptoms or exposure at no cost. You can also contact your primary care provider, and if they deem testing necessary, they can order the testing to be done. Based on where your primary care provider is, depends on where you complete your testing. If it is medically necessary, TRICARE will cover it without additional cost.

While at-home COVID testing is not currently covered by TRICARE, you can order 4 tests to be delivered to your home for free at covidtests.gov as part of a recent government initiative.