Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Tips for Getting Emergency Contacts at Your Child’s New School

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“Hi, are you new here?” the words often heard and repeated at the height of PCS season by military families who are “left behind.” The new faces at the pool, park, and in the ice cream truck line abound!

The next step for those that are new to that location is tackling the new school paperwork.

And then there is that dreaded page.

The page where they ask for emergency contacts.

Ugh! Hello! Just moved here – we don’t know anyone besides the driver who is driving our stuff from our last duty station, and James sure as heck is not an emergency contact since he isn’t local!

Realistically – how do you fill out that emergency contact list is up to you. Here are how some other military families do it.

  1. Use friends in the area. Thank goodness for military life in that we all move. Meaning that the friends you had two duty stations ago are showing up at the same place you are. Score! Someone you actually know, your kids actually know, and you already have their phone number. Sigh, a big sigh of relief because you have that list completed!
  2. Knock on doors. If you don’t know your neighbors because you are new to the area – introduce yourself. Their proximity to your home is useful, and getting to know them means your children will know their faces. Don’t just put their name and phone number down on the list without asking – make sure to ask and offer to be their children’s emergency contact as well.
  3. Use a sponsor. While a sponsor is more commonplace overseas than stateside, using the only person you know overseas can be used for the emergency contact. A sponsor is there to help with the transition, and being that they are military as well, they probably fully understand the need for an emergency contact for school paperwork.
  4. Contact from a summer group. If you could move in early summer, enroll your children in summer activities, or find a summer moms group. Perhaps you can find a friend or new acquaintance you feel comfortable adding as a new emergency contact within this forum. Consider homeschool groups, church groups, or MOPs groups in addition to any summer camps your children attended.
  5. Ask on social media. While this seems a little “new age,” the reality is that local social media groups are used for asking for the best local coffee, extracurricular for the kids, or babysitter suggestions – why not ask about an emergency contact? If asking outright seems strange, if someone appears to have similar interests ask for a meet-up with the kids and feel them out – or ask outright if being bold is your move.
  6. Your real estate agent. If you used an awesome real estate agent to find your new home, perhaps they will be kind enough to be the emergency contact.

Remember, you can change your emergency contacts. You might put one person down and make friends with a few other people later. It is okay to change the emergency contact. In addition, it is normal for emergency contacts within the military community to move mid-school year, so updating them on school forms is commonplace! Always ask before putting the person down as the emergency contact, so they aren’t surprised if they get a call from the school about your child. Also, make sure that your child is aware of who the emergency contact is if they have to pick them up from school on the off-chance.

Moving is not easy, and moving for children can be difficult to process. Don’t forget about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which all 50 states have adopted to help military children transition from school to school. The compact provides protection and details on the transition processes if there are other questions about schooling – from special needs assessment to extracurricular activities. In addition, reach out to the School Liaison at your new duty station. Finding schools, determining the best placement, and enrolling in schools is not always simple or easy – the school liaison should have the best local resources.

How to Prepare Your Family for a Less Stressful Deployment

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Let me preface this by saying that this is not an article that will say that deployments are totally stress-free. They are not. For both the service member deployed and for the family members “left behind.” There are many stress factors – separation from a key family member, financial concerns, or family illness, just to name a few. Nothing to say that Murphy doesn’t show up the minute your service member leaves and the dishwasher breaks, the water heater leaks, and you get a flat tire. Nope, not speaking from experience at all. This article is to share how to navigate and prepare for deployment as much as possible, leading to a potentially less stressful deployment. All that other stuff – the flat tire and broken dishwasher – can still happen. But preparing for it can help make it a smooth process.

Be prepared. Be paperwork prepared.

Not like in the scouts. This prepared is all about the paperwork. Before the service member goes, make sure the spouse or guardian has all the necessary paperwork needed. A power of attorney (POA) should be provided – either general or specific. The specifics of each type of POA should be explained to the deploying service member. Check with your homeowner’s and automobile insurance to see if they require a separate power of attorney if the primary account holder is the service member.

The legal documents to make sure are prepared are: power of attorney, will, life insurance paperwork. Also make sure you know where your passports, birth certificates, and marriage licenses are.

Make sure a family member knows where they are as well.

Communicate, communicate, communicate.

There is no such thing as over-communicating in regards to preparing for a deployment. Do communicate about expectations. Expectations on what family life will be like when the service member is gone. Communicate about the family budget and what to do in emergencies. Communicate about what the family member wants to hear about in letters or emails – do they want daily emails or weekly ones – perhaps they won’t have internet time often and want to maximize their internet time.

Keep In Touch

If your service member will be without internet, get an address for mailing letters and care packages. If your service member has access to email, email often. It may seem silly but share about every detail. While the family member left behind may be tired and the days feel long, the reality is that family life is happening while the service member is away, and they want to feel like they are part of the family still.

Crunch the numbers.

Speaking of budgets, prepare a deployment budget. Make sure there is an emergency fund for things like broken heaters or flat tires. If you haven’t budgeted in the past, look into resources offered on base from the military-specific services, like the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society who holds budgeting classes, or speak to the financial, military family life counselor on the base.

Know Your Resources

As a family member of a service member, know how to get ahold of the Red Cross if there is a family emergency involving a primary family member, and you need to tell the service member about it, and they don’t have an internet connection.

Know where your Military Family Support Centers are for your service branches – for the Army – Army Community Services, Marines – Marine and Family Programs, the Navy – Fleet and Family Support Program, and the Air Force – Airman and Family Readiness. These centers are hubs for resources for various programming across the bases that can help families thrive and survive the challenges of military life.

Prepare Your Children

Involve the children in planning as the family discusses the deployment, at the ages you and your family feel are appropriate. Keeping them in the loop will help them understand why and where the military service member has traveled to. There are several organizations there for support, including Sesame Street for Military Families, which has a website and app for your phone or tablet device for maximum support, and Comfort Crew for Military Kids with deployment comfort kits. For resources for parents of infants and toddlers, check out Zero to Three. Military Kids Connect has the Kids Deploy Too program with activities for children ages 6-17.

Prioritize Self Care

For the family member left behind, do not forget yourself. Take steps to enjoy gym time, reading a book you always wanted, or try a hobby you have always wanted. Self-care helps manage sanity levels which in turn manages stress levels. If you have children, consider getting a babysitter for an afternoon or night out for yourself.

Having clear expectations and communication can help manage the deployment stress. Having resources for the family and self-care also helps keep the sanity level on a  positive trajectory.

DOD Plans to Improve Housing with $1.4 Billion Budget Request

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Within the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Budget, the Department of Defense has outlined plans to improve military base housing. This aspect is among others being discussed as part of preparing military installations for every side of readiness. In fact, per the DOD News release, the $1.4 billion is requested within the Defense Budget is funding is for “construction, operation, and maintenance of the DOD’s worldwide non-privatized family housing inventory, which includes more than 34,000 government owned and 5,800 leased units.” Eight unaccompanied housing projects are also included in the request for funding.

Among military families, military housing on installation is a hot topic. Since housing was privatized, and no longer in control of the military service branches, there have been a series of issues made public including mold, flooding and unsafe hazards. These reports have become public through news or lawsuits. This shapes opinions of the military forces on military housing.

Why Military Housing?

For some, military housing is a must because there is a built-in community. Everyone in an on base community is military, theoretically, and therefore understands that ins and outs. If you mention the word deployment or duty, they understand what that means and entails and may be able to help with resources or knowledge to make it a bit easier. Part of that community is also for children – it is not a simple process to up and move and make new friends, and it is the same for children, but having parks in every neighborhood as a meet up spot makes building friendship a bit easier.

There are other perks of a neighborhood or community pool in addition to parks, tot lots and dog parks. The proximity to the base perks of military commissary and exchange add to the ease of life, and may even be within biking distance on some bases.

Affordable housing is not always easy to find, area dependent. On-installation housing provides a known entity and a way to reach out to people in the neighborhood for home layouts and to temper expectations. The community has a way to help each other out making on installation housing a comfort for some.  Sometimes it is the only practical option available.

Maybe not military housing?

With the community that military housing provides, there is also the concern of safety for some. Previous experience with mold triggering asthma in one base, leads to distrust for any privatized housing company. While many serving in the military now were not around when the service branches were in charge of housing for comparison, privatized housing agencies are not often seen as honest or caring about the person. This lack of trust and perceived lack of safety measures has led to a distrust for all housing on installation in some, and therefore not willing to live on base.

Not all bases are created equal. Some bases have parks in every neighborhood, and some do not. Some are dog friendly and some do not allow any cats. It’s not similar across the board and that is a point of contention for some families.

Another concern for some families is the lack of similarity in terms of home size. Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) is based on rank, and is the same for the rank with dependents. Families with larger and smaller sized families may all be in the same sized homes, or different sized homes, but all pay the same price.  It might be frustrating to forfeit the same BAH for a smaller house than others in the same grade because of the timing when you arrive.

What’s in a budget?

While the defense budget proposal does not specifically support the privatized housing agencies, the DOD does construct, operate and maintain military barracks/dormitories (depending on military service branch) and there is non-privatized housing available worldwide. In order to meet the demand for safe housing, funds must be procured. This includes removing Polyfluroalkyl substances from water sources at numerous military bases across the United States. In comparison to previous years requests for funding, there is a request of $50 million more for housing efforts as compared to the budget request 2 years prior.

Will this effort to renew some of the housing be met with positive outcomes? It is to be determined based on the actual outcome. This is a proposed budget, not approved budget. Oftentimes, efforts for non-force components are cut or cut down in budget reviews. The reality is that housing has a direct effect on readiness and if this can be demonstrated and shared, perhaps the budget will reflect these changes.

The entire defense budget request can be found here including the budget briefing and any associated press releases.

Navy Okays Maternity Flight Suits

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Per the Council on Foreign Relations, women make up 16% of the enlisted forces and 19% of the office corps within the military branches, excluding Coast Guard, as no data was available. This was compared to 1973, when women made up 2% of the enlisted forces and 8 percent of the officer corps. While being a minority within the service branches, women have the unique position of serving during pregnancy. The U.S. Navy began accepting females into their aviation program in 1974.  On Mother’s Day in 2021, the U.S. Navy gifted a uniform change to their pregnant service members – a flight maternity suit.

Lt Cmdr. Jacqueline Nordan, Commander Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR), received the first maternity suit as part of the early distribution program to determine its usefulness and effectiveness. Lt Cmdr. Nordan stated in a press release, “The addition of this uniform makes an immediate impact on women in the Navy. It shows that leadership is listening and is supportive in response to the issues that female aviators are raising. These additions are important because they show that leadership supports the idea that having a career and having a family can be compatible. Being a dedicated Navy professional while building a family can be done.”

The new flight suits have adjustable side panels that allow for comfort and professional appearance during pregnancy versus what was done previously – having to wear larger flight suits that require hemming or sleeve adjustments for comfort and don’t necessarily look professional in baggy flight suits. In addition, there is less expense involved with the maternity flight suit. This one suit can be worn throughout the stages of pregnancy versus multiple large suits being purchased to accommodate the pregnancy as it was done in the past.

All pregnant aircrew members within the Navy are eligible to wear the new maternity flight suit.  While per Navy guidelines, pregnancy is considered a disqualifier for flying duties, those with aircrew duties can get waivers based on medical service group. Flying after the third trimester is banned entirely.

With women growing their numbers within the military community, the recognition with a comfortable uniform during an uncomfortable period is a gesture of recognition of that fact.

U.S. Army Invokes Promotion Changes

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In a new move to develop leaders within the U.S. Army, all junior enlisted soldiers must now be a corporal before promotion to sergeant per a recently released statement. This change began July 1st for active duty members and October 1st for reservists.

Prior to July 1st, soldiers were given the rank of corporal when they were identified as leaders. The rank of corporal conferred the responsibilities of a noncommissioned officer (NCO), identifying those individuals as being prepared to lead their peers. Corporals were not a common rank, instead, they were more Specialists.  With the change, any soldier with the rank of specialist will be laterally promoted to the rank of corporal if they had been recommended for advancement/promotion and completed the Basic Leader Course (BLC). Also, current corporals will need to qualify for the promotion and have completed BLC or be laterally reassigned the rank of specialist. There is no pay change with corporal as it is considered an E4 rank, the same as a specialist. However, the rank of Corporal outranks Specialists as a Corporal is considered an NCO.

Within the statement from the U.S. Army, Sgt. Maj. Kenyatta Gaskins, Directorate of Military Personnel Management sergeant major, stated that “This is a junior leader development process and that’s how we’re looking at this.”  

Sgt Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston began the initiative “This is My Squad” to work on building cohesion within units and empower NCOs. This change in ranking falls in line with this initiative.  In regards to the change in promotions, Grinston stated “We rely on junior leads to build cohesive teams that are highly trained, disciplined, and mentally and physically fit. In many cases, a specialist is charged with that responsibility. This allows us to recognize their role as noncommissioned officer and ensure they’re getting the coaching and mentorship they need to be successful.”

In addition, beginning June 1, 2022, all active duty soldiers attending BLC must be recommended for promotion to sergeant. This goes into effect for reservists on October 1, 2022.

The time in rank as a Corporal will differ per military specialty. No matter the specialty, this change is intended to be a visible reminder of the focus on leadership within the Army’s ranks.

DOD Updates Tenant Bill of Rights for Privatized Housing

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Privatized Housing, also known as military housing or on-base housing, was created in 1996. That year, Congress passed the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI), which moved housing from under the control of the military service branch to private companies. This means that prior to MHPI, for example, a Marine Corps family’s home would be managed by the U.S. Navy since the Marine Corps is a branch within the Navy. The Navy’s facilities handled both their facilities for work and family housing. The change was made specifically to improve the housing and quality of life for service members.

Per Paul Cramer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment stated that the DOD has made it a priority to reform the MHPI to “rebuild tenant trust and help maintain the financial viability of MHPI housing projects per a release from the department. While the DOD has made this a priority, since they are no longer in charge of on-base housing, they have to get the privatized organizations on the military bases to agree. There are currently 14 different companies providing privatized housing on military bases.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 included 18 rights of military service members and their families who lived in privatized housing. Fifteen of the rights were released in a signed DOD release in 2020 here. At the time of the release, not all rights were fully available and are yet to be currently fully available. The key of the rights is to clarify what military families can expect for their housing and what privatized housing agencies are to provide for their tenants.

This reform began in response to the military families expressing concerns for mold, lead paint, asbestos, and pest infestations in their homes on military installations. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against privatized housing agencies in regards to these concerns.

Each base/post has adopted a different number of tenant rights, and they are not all the same. Upon arriving at the new location for housing, ensure that you ask for and understand which ones are active.

If the privatized housing agency does not comply with the tenant’s rights, there are recourses set into the bill for the government to act on the tenant’s behalf. It is unclear what the recourse is, but there has been discussion of the right to withhold rent until disputes are resolved and a clear process for this resolution.

The release of the updated tenant bill of rights has been delayed as of this writing until September 30th per a recent update from the Defense Department. While the DOD has decided on the 18 tenant rights, it has not had all 14 housing companies agree yet.

If you have lived or live in military housing, what do you think of the adoption of the tenant bill of rights? Do you feel represented or protected?

Air Force Follows Suit with Updated Physical Fitness Test

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In a move matching the changes in other service branches’ physical fitness tests, the Air Force begins a revamped physical fitness program that began on July 1, 2021. Airmen, time to combat the potentially lessened endurance of the last year or relaxed fitness standards and gear up!

What is the Air Force Fitness Test:

Three components:

  • Sit ups = 20 points
  • Push ups = 20 points
  • 1.5 mile Run = 60 points

This change has removed the waist measurement that was previously involved in the PFT scoring. In addition, the score for push-ups and sit-ups moved from 10 points to 20 points each. The scoring for the 1.5 mile run has remained unchanged.  A separate test for body composition will continue at the beginning of FY 2022 in October and details on the body composition program will be released in the future.

One big scoring change to the physical fitness test is that the scores will be group in 5-year age groups versus the previous 10-year age groups. This age groups are: 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59. In order to pass, all Airmen must receive 75 total point while meeting the minimum requirements per their age group and their gender in each component.

There will also be alternative “strength and cardiovascular testing exercise options” per the Air Force press release and those details will be release in future weeks.  The alternative testing options are planned to be available in January 2022, providing ample time for service members and fitness monitors have several months to understand the new model and testing.

The reason for the changes was clear per Air Force Chief of Staff General CQ Brown Jr, “We are moving away from a one-size-fits-all model. More testing options will put flexibility in the hands of our Airmen – where it belongs. We know not all Airmen maintain their fitness the same way and may excel in different areas. Alternate components provide choices while still providing a mechanism to determine overall fitness.” Similar sentiments were expressed by Chief Master Sgt. Of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, “Physical fitness is an important part of our everyday lives, it’s more than just a test – it’s a way of life, our readiness and ultimately our future success. [This is] a chance to refocus on building a lifestyle of fitness and health.”

In addition, the Space Force will utilize these guidelines for their physical fitness testing until their own physical fitness tests are established.

Watermelon Feta Salad

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This refreshing salad is perfect for a summer BBQ side dish or a light lunch. The watermelon is light and the mint adds the perfect touch of freshness.

Photo Credit: © Maryna Voronova /Adobe Stock
  • 1 medium Watermelon
  • 1/2 Red onion
  • 1 package Feta cheese
  • a few sprigs of Mint
  • 4 cups Arugula
  • Balsamic vinegar for drizzle

Dice or use a melon baller to create bite size pieces of watermelon. Set aside to drain. Chop the red onion and mint and mix with arugula. Once drained place the watermelon in your serve ware and gently stir in the arugula mixture. Crumble the feta over top and finish with a drizzle of balsamic. Enjoy!

ID Expired? Get a Renewal by October 31, 2021

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The pandemic put a wrench in the ID card renewal process. With closures on base to minimize contact, an extension on expired ID cards was provide by the DOD. This extension has been extended for all temporary Uniformed Services ID (USID) cards that expire between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. This time period has been outlined due to the increase in demand for ID card renewals secondary to the closures of renewal locations until recently. This does not apply to Common Access Cards (CAC).

Who does this affect, and by what date?

  • Foreign Affiliates and their dependents have until August 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Dependents of Active Duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members and their dependents have until October 31, 2021 to get a new card
  • Retirees and their dependents have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card
  • All other USID card populations have until January 31, 2022 to get a new card

What is the minimal age for an initial USID card?

While historically, children/dependents age 10 were required to get a USID card, it is has not been increased to age 14.

What about previous expiration dates?

Any cards that expired prior to January 1, 2020 have NOT been extended through this new extension and must be replaced.

What about expiration dates after July 31, 2021?

Per the DOD release, any ID cards that expire after July 31, 2021 should be replaced by their expiration date.

Where do I get an ID card renewed?

Visit the ID card office near you! To check for locations and available appointment times, check out the website for the ID Card Office online here.

Looking for the up-to-date Frequently Asked Questions about all things military ID card? Check out this resource here.

Fisher House Awards 500 Scholarships to Military Children

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        44-21                                                                                                                        

Date:                              June 21, 2021

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘Exceptional quality’

Fisher House awards 500 scholarships to military children from pool of over 3,600 applicants

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

The Scholarships for Military Children program once again came through for 500 students from military families who were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship grant for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 school year. The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissaries’ role in enhancing the military’s quality of life. To learn more,click here.

FORT LEE, Va. – Even as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on college and university academic schedules nationwide this year, the Scholarships for Military Children program once again came through for 500 students from military families who were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship grant for the upcoming 2021 – 2022 school year.

The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissaries’ role in enhancing the military’s quality of life. It’s administered by the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps service members and their families.

It was Fisher House’s efforts in recent years to modernize the entry process and bring it fully online which left it well prepared for a year complicated by a global pandemic, according to Marshall Banks, Fisher House Foundation’s director of community relations.

“We were very happy with the application process for the 2021-2022 scholarship programs,” he said. “The quality of applications received this year was exceptional. We received a total of 3,657 applications from 220 commissaries.”

While the application process went off without a hitch, the usual celebratory ceremonies held at commissaries for local scholarship winners had to be cancelled due to COVID.

“While we would normally hold a ceremony at the commissary, during these uncertain times with social distancing, ceremonies could not be held this year,” said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships program liaison. Instead, scholarship winners were notified by mail and will receive an official certificate mailed to them by the commissary where they were selected as the recipient.

Scholarship applicants submit their official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants must ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2021 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military Children website, as is the full list of this year’s winners.

“The window to apply for the 2022-2023 Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children should open in December and close in February, but the exact dates have not been determined yet,” said Dobson. “Be sure to check the scholarship page in mid-December for the opening of the program.”

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

“Fisher House Foundation is proud of our partnership with the Defense Commissary Agency that provides scholarships to well-deserving military children,” said Banks. “Over the last 21 years, we have provided $21,126,000 in scholarships.”

Fisher House Foundation is ranked a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator. No government funds are used to support the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Commissary vendors, manufacturers, brokers, suppliers and the general public donate money to fund the program.

-DeCA-