Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

The COVID-19 Impact on Childcare

By

Childcare in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic has had its challenges for the military family. The Child Development Center (CDC), on most bases, provides care for children ages 6 weeks through school-age up to the summer after 7th grade. These centers provide up to full-day care for the children of active duty military service members, spouses of active duty members, and government service employees. At times, children of retirees can even receive care at the CDC, depending on the space available.

Getting a coveted spot at the CDC is not an easy task. The first stop is often the Department of Defense website militarychildcare.com. After setting up an account, find the specific type of care desired of full-time or part-time care at a CDC, or perhaps a home-based child care program on base (also known as an FCC). If there is no available spot at the CDC or on-base in-home providers, Child Care Aware of America can be utilized to find fee assistance.

While already dealing with the unknown of child care and moving, the pandemic has added a new unknown variable.  Many CDC centers on base have the added hurdle of being open to essential personnel only, prioritizing active duty military and dual working couples. While the priority has always been to provide dual active duty and working families childcare, this year has lessened the ability for parents who are students to find care at the on-base CDC. With smaller class sizes and short-staffed facilities, many families have moved to seek care off base through fee-assisted care through Child Care Aware.  Families with a spot for fee assistance may have challenges if a childcare center temporarily shuts down or if work care has been delayed. These questions and more have been answered here.

If the on-base CDC has moved to essential personnel only and your family is unable to receive child care there, the military family is able to apply for community child care fee assistance.

If space is offered under the fee assistance waitlist, and there is not an immediate start date, the start date must be shared as soon as it is known.

If a family voluntarily removes a child from care, the family will still be provided the fee assistance if they are required to pay the provider during the absence.

If fee assistance is provided for one childcare program and that program is shut down, fees will not be paid for the same dates of service.

Due to these changes in care availability, many military families are seeking fee-assisted care for their childcare needs, which is not surprising. It is hard enough maintaining professional careers or pursuing a degree with multiple moves and around the world, child care is necessary for families with children. COVID-19 has led to less available at the affordable on-base CDC options, leading to increased use and need of Child Care Aware. Have you been affected by the change in childcare availability in the last year? How have you overcome this obstacle?

Why Some Retirees and Their Families Were Dropped from Tricare Select

By

Over 124,000 working military retirees and their families were dropped from TRICARE Select at the beginning of the year due to a change in the requirement for a monthly enrollment fee. In June 2020, Tricare notified TRICARE Select beneficiaries that are Group A (sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred before January 1, 2018) they must pay monthly enrollment fees to maintain their TRICARE health coverage beginning on January 1, 2021. This change is the first time this group will pay enrollment fees. At that time, Dr. Danita Hunter, director of the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency said, “In 2021, some TRICARE beneficiaries will pay enrollment fees for the first time, a change mandated by Congress. We’re communicating this well before the change is implemented so beneficiaries can be informed about the change, as well as their TRICARE plan and cost options.”

The initial group of more than 124,000 was dropped due to failure to set up payment for the new fees. Thru January about 75% have set up payment. For those that did not set up payment you were disenrolled and have 180 days from your disenrollment date to be reinstated.

What You Need to Know

Why is this happening?

This change to pay enrollment fees was part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The Defense Health Agency received a delay in implementation to calendar year 2021.

Who did this affect?

This only affected Group A which is those that entered the military prior to January 1, 2018 and are enrolled in TRICARE Select. Active duty family members enrolled in TRICARE Select won’t pay enrollment fees and see no change. Those that use TRICARE For Life, TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Young Adult will also see no change.

How do I set up payments?

Your TRICARE regional contractor can help you set up payments. Don’t set up your payment through your Department of Defense (DoD) pay center you must go through TRICARE. If you don’t receive payments from a DoD pay center you can set up payment through electronic funds transfer, a credit card or a debit card.

How do I know when changes are made to TRICARE?

Visit the TRICARE website and sign up for email alerts. It is important to keep up to date so you are prepared for changes.

Additional Information

The new enrollment fees are $12.50 per month for an individual plan or $150 annually and $25 a month or $300 annually for a family plan. Only those family members enrolled in TRICARE Select with a Group A retiree sponsor pay the enrollment fee. You can have family members enrolled in different plans. So, if you only have one family member enrolled in Select you will pay the individual fee not the family rate. The catastrophic cap is increasing from $3,000 to $3,500. TRICARE Select enrollment fees count towards your catastrophic cap. The enrollment fees are waived if you are an active duty family member, a medically retired retiree or family member, or if you are a survivor of an active duty sponsor or a medically retired retiree.

For those in TRICARE East contact Humana Military at 800-444-5445. For TRICARE West contact

Health Net at 844-866-9378. TRICARE Overseas contact International SOS or contact your TOP Regional Call Center.

How Many Passports do I need for an OCONUS PCS? And other questions to prepare for your OCONUS move.

By

You got that phone call from your military spouse – “Hey, we have orders.” Excitedly you ask where.

“Overseas”

Panic mode.

Take a breath.

And start a checklist of all the things you need.

And peruse this article for answers to some of your questions.

What does it mean to move overseas with an OCONUS (Outside of the Continental United States)?

Paperwork upon paperwork upon paperwork.

It is true; there is a lot more paperwork with an OCONUS move. Get a binder or a large folder with tabs and keep track of everything you can in one place. While there a lot more xx required for a move overseas, it is no different than any other move in that once you get it all done, you will be on your way overseas.

What happens to my Privately Owned Vehicle (POV)?

Most locations overseas do not allow shipping a POV as the vehicles overseas have the steering wheel and driving are on the opposite of the road. Most of the time, shipping of one vehicle is covered for OCONUS moves to Hawaii. Check your orders to see if shipping of a vehicle is covered.

In cases where shipping is not allowed or covered as part of the military orders, storing your POV may be covered. In most cases, a service member is eligible to have one POV stored at a storage facility in a government-procured storage facility. There are limitations on vehicle sizes that are covered, so make sure to read the updated TRANSCOM guidelines for storing a vehicle.

What is medical clearance?

Before moving overseas, medical clearance is required. Why? Many of the overseas locations have limited availability of specialized medical services. A medical screening is completed by your medical provider and the paperwork is provided to the military-specific medical group that will be overseeing medical care for you or your family overseas. The screening identifies if there are medications or conditions that cannot be filled while your family is living overseas, and identify any vaccinations that may be required. If a condition is identified that prevents a military move to that location, the service member will be notified. Once medical clearance is provided, your family will be provided area clearance which begins the process for the military to book flights for everyone on the military orders.

How many passports do I need for an OCONUS PCS?

When on a government-ordered move, federal passports are provided. This official passport is also called a “no fee” passport and can be used when on travel orders from the government. It is not to be used for leisure travel outside of the government move.  The “no fee” passport will be arranged for through the Human Resources or Travel Office arranging the travel for the move and be required for military dependents as well as the active duty service member. If leisure travel is desired while overseas, a tourist passport is required which can be obtained through the state department.

Will I need a Visa?

Each overseas location has requirements for military stationed overseas. The Travel Office will provide the required paperwork if a visa is required as part of your orders. The visa should be used with the “no fee” passport.

What about scheduling the move?

While most CONUS moves have one move – from door to door or door to a storage facility in one move, OCONUS moves require different moves. An advanced shipment called an unaccompanied shipment, typically smaller in weight allowance, will arrive quicker than a household goods shipment. A second shipment of the most household goods holds furniture and mattresses, etc., and will typically take several months to arrive at the OCONUS location. If there is a weight restriction for the OCONUS move, a third shipment that goes to storage with the other items can be arranged. In some cases, like moving to Okinawa, there may not be a weight limit, but some service branches still cover a storage shipment due to the smaller size of homes and lack of storage. If your OCONUS move has multiple shipments allowed, it will be in the military orders and loaded in the Defense Personal Property System for arranging.

A note about items to bring overseas – many overseas housing locations do not have a garage, basement, or deck, and housing choices are not known until the move has been accomplished.  It is best to store larger tool items or outdoor equipment.

Are pets allowed?

This is base dependent. If pets are allowed, they will be required to have a veterinary screening. The screening may include rabies shots, FAVN screening, and vaccinations based on the area moving to.

There may be limitations to flying pets during the summer months due to the heat with commercial airlines but may be allowed on the Patriot Express.

Upon arrival at the duty station, there will likely be a mandatory pet quarantine period for which some of the fees are reimbursable.

Moving overseas is a stressful move, yes, and there is a lot to do. Take each step slowly, and mark off each item as you accomplish it. Many military families had moved overseas before and survived, despite how you may feel after interacting with the military travel office.

In Honor of Women’s History Month – Military Women Who Are Making History

By

Women have a long history of service in the military dating back to the Revolutionary War where they supported the troops in unofficial roles. During the Civil War, Dr. Mary Walker provided medical care as a surgeon and become the first woman to receive the Medal of Honor. In World War I, women finally had official roles during the final two years of the war.

Women have come a long way in the military and today can serve in all branches of the military as well as any job they are qualified for. Basic Training is now coed. Here are some military women who will go down in history for the ceilings they broke and the many firsts.

General (ret.) Lori J. Robinson

Air Force General (ret.) Lori J. Robinson was the first woman in U.S. history to lead a combatant command at this level. At the time she served as the commander of the United State Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) she was the highest-ranking woman in U.S. military history. She retired with 37 years of military service.

General (ret.) Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody

General (ret.) Ann Elizabeth Dunwoody was the first woman in achieve the rank of a four-star general in 2008. Prior to that she was the top-ranking female in the Army when she was promoted to lieutenant general. She became the Commanding General of the United States Army Materiel Command. She retired from the Army in 2021.

Lt. General (ret.) Patricia D. Horoho

Lt. General (ret.) Patricia D. Horoho was the first woman and first Nurse Corps officer to serve as the 43rd Surgeon General of the United States Army and she served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command.

First Female Rangers

These three women broke barriers by graduating from the United States Army Ranger School. Kristen Marie Griest and Shaye Lynne Haver both Army Officers were the first to graduate in 2015. Staff Sgt. Amanda Kelley became the first female enlisted graduate in 2018.

Admiral(ret.) Michelle Howard

In 2014, Admiral(ret.) Michelle Howard became the highest-ranking female officer in U.S. Navy history when she was promoted the first female four-star admiral. She served as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the second highest position in the Navy.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-ILL

Iraq War veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-ILL, lost both legs when the Black Hawk helicopter she was flying was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004. She continued serving in the Army National Guard until 2014 when she retired as a lieutenant colonel. She was first elected to Congress in 2012 and is now serving as a Senator.

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz

Retired colonel and Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz broke many firsts during her time in the Air Force. She was the first female fighter pilot to fly an A-10 Thunderbolt II in combat. She was also the first female to command in combat a fighter squadron. In the court case McSally v. Rumsfeld, she successfully sued the U.S. Department of Defense to change military policy that required U.S. women stationed in Saudi Arabia to wear an abaya, the body-covering gown, when traveling off base. McSally served in Congress from 2015-2019.

Colonel (Ret) Eileen Collins

Colonel (Ret) Eileen Collins became the first female space shuttle commander in 1999. She joined the Air Force in 1999 and became a T-38 flight instructor. During her time at the Air Force Test Pilot School in 1990 she was selected for the astronaut program by NASA.

Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester

March 20, 2005 Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester’s squad was providing support to a supply convoy when it was ambushed by anti-Iraqi fighters. She was instrumental in the counterattack to repel the enemy. Hester’s bravery let to her receiving the Silver Star. She was the first woman to receive it since World War II for exceptional valor.  

This is just a small selection to honor the Women who serve in our Armed Forces.

The VA Vaccinates its 1 Millionth Veteran with the COVID-19 Vaccination

By

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently vaccinated its 1 millionth Veteran with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. They began vaccinations in December, 2020 and in just a month and a half administered 1 million does of the COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans and VA health care workers. The VA is currently using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with second doses given 21 days after the first shot and the Moderna vaccine with second doses given 28 days after the first shot.

“In addition to administering 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, VA has begun publishing the number of Veterans who have received Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna vaccines at each facility across its enterprise,” said Acting VA Secretary Dat Tran.  “The number of doses administered to Veterans at each facility will be updated daily on the VA COVID-19 National Summary website.” The summary publishes vaccine date daily as well as information on COVID-19 cases. As of February 25, 2021, the VA has vaccinated 1,471,228 individuals with their first dose and 785,255 have completed their course by receiving their second dose of the vaccine.

Out of these numbers, 264,167 employees received their first dose and 228,521 received their second dose. The VA is the nation’s largest health care system and employs more than 322,030 full time health care professionals and support staff. They are well on their way to ensuring their essential staff can receive the vaccine. Employees are working to vaccinate the VA’s health care personnel and Veterans most at risk as soon as possible. The VA makes the data about vaccine doses public as a step toward being as transparent as possible during the pandemic.

Currently there are more than 215 VA sites nationally providing vaccines. Currently the supply of vaccines is limited but once supply increases the number of sites will expand. The VA is following the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the VA COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Plan. “VA guidance encourages local flexibility to maximize COVID-19 vaccine access and efficiency while limiting potential vaccine waste,” said Acting VA Under Secretary for Health Richard Stone, M.D. “In this limited supply phase, our COVID-19 vaccination strategy is balancing site-specific resources, facility needs, vaccine availability and status of the pandemic locally, as well as strict storage, handling and transportation parameters of available vaccines.”

VA is reaching out to Veterans who are eligible for vaccination. Veterans who would like additional information can visit the VA COVID-19 vaccines webpage, visit their local facility’s website or contact their care team. The goal is to offer the vaccine to all Veterans and employees who want it as supply increases.

Ship Your Car and Rock a DITY When You Know your Joint Travel Regulations

By

It’s that time of year…when the military families around the world await that magical notification – the report of orders. Some families are expecting them. Some families are not.  Either way, when the military tells you to move, the service member has no choice but to go. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to prepare for your move – know your joint travel regulations.

The Joint Travel Regulations (or JTR) are updated annually to reflect the policy changes in regards to the travel and transportations allowances (i.e.: reimbursement) when it comes to temporary duty (TDY) and permanent changes of station (PCS).  While these regulations’ core remains the same, some key issues are discussed every year within the military spouse groups. It often feels like they are the first military family ever to move from their duty station when dealing with the moving office on the military base. Do yourself a favor – download the Joint Travel Regulations every year you PCS. Highlight key passages (specific sections discussed today are listed below) and know what applies to you. Just don’t try to print it, it’s huge!

Here are key notes to know and remember:

Reimbursement for Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly known as Do-It-Yourself (DITY) moves

Section 051502 in Chapter 5 of the Joint Travel Regulations covers personally procured HHG transportation – aka PPM or DITY.  The amendment made to the 2021 JTR is that the actual cost of the shipment is covered 100% of the maximum weight allowance. When you find your own movers, or move yourself, the government will reimburse up to 100% of your weight allowance utilizing the Monetary Allowance Method is used to determine the amount the Government would cover for a move if Government-procured moving transportation was provided. Check the entitlements page of move.mil to determine your moving allowance when getting quotes from moving companies or when purchasing supplies and renting trucks to make your own move.

Pro-Gear Weight Entitlements

Whether you are doing your own move or having Government-procured movers move you, there are pro-gear entitlements. These pro-gear weights are not included in the household goods weights and are not counted against the full weight allowance. This means if your total weight of household goods allowance is 10,000 pounds, the pro-gear is allowance of 2,000 pounds per service member is allowed separate from this.

The service member may claim up to 2,000 pounds of pro-gear. The spouse may claim up to 500 pounds of work-related pro-gear. The pro-gear must be separated from the household goods and marked as such on the moving inventory. This can be accomplished by telling the movers what pro-gear is and asking them to mark the weight on the inventory. Technically, the pro-gear is supposed to be weighed separately from household goods, but historically the moving company has guessed the weights and removed that weight from the total inventory.

Pro Gear is referred to as Professional Books, Papers, and Equipment (PB&E) in Chapter 5 of the JTR, specifically 054309. If you have questions about what counts as pro-gear, refer to your service’s travel office as each service uses the JTR as a baseline and provides specifications for what is covered. For example, furniture and printers are not typically allowances as pro-gear.

Shipping a vehicle for CONUS moves

Part E in Chapter 5 outlines shipment of a privately-owned vehicle, or POV, in the Continental United States (CONUS). Eligibility for shipment of a POV at government expense is authorized when orders are received for change in a ship’s home port or the service member is physically unable to drive or have sufficient time to drive to report to the new duty station.

The most common use of a POV shipment is by the service member during a move or PCS. A service member with eligible dependents (who are on the orders) can ship a POC for a CONUS PCS if all of the following conditions are met:

  1. The dependent is eligible for transportation at the Government expense and is relocating with the Service member – aka – the dependent is on the military orders to move.
  2. The Service member or the eligible dependent owns more than one POV that must be relocated.
  3. The Service member and all the eligible dependents travel at one time in one POV

To recap – if the Service member has eligible dependents on the orders, the Service member and/or dependent has more than one vehicle, and the eligible dependents on military orders are all traveling in one vehicle, you meet the conditions to ship a vehicle.

The reimbursement is based on the government calculated rate.  The reimbursement is not for the entire cost of shipping the POV, and instead is the difference in the monetary allowance in lieu of transportation (MALT). This is a JTR travel entitlement that is handled through your service branch’s administrative office, not DMO. The reimbursement provided by the government is based on the monetary allowance provided by the government for driving two POVs to the new duty station. Refer to Table 5-63 within the Joint Travel Regulations for the breakdown.

If your authorization to ship a POV is provided, no allowances will be provided for commercial travel at government expense for the service member or dependent, government-provided transportation, reimbursement for TDY or MALT to drop off or pick up POV, Government-expensed POV storage, or transportation of a POV within CONUS if the service member was stationed overseas unless it was stored at the Government expense due to inability to transport POV outside of CONUS.

These are just three of the reimbursements and allowances provided by the JTR. The latter is typically well-known by your service branch’s transportation office. The former two points are not always known, so ensure that they are aware of the appropriate allowances and written in your orders. If your administrative office or moving office is unaware of these allowances, print off the specific pages and ask nicely to talk to someone in charge regarding them. You may be able to share the changes with the office and provide a smooth move for not only your family but others as well.

How to Thank Military and Veteran Caregivers

By

Did you know there are more than 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers? Their voluntary and uncompensated care provides $14 billion in service for wounded warriors each year. Most programs focus on the care recipient not the caregiver. (Source: RAND Corporation – Hidden Heroes, America’s Military Caregivers). They experience much stress as they support their loved ones. It is important as these families transition out of the military that we don’t lose touch with them. Even from afar there are things you can do to support and thank these vital caregivers.

  • Write a Letter or Card – Sometimes just being recognized for your hard work is enough. Take the time to write a letter or pick out a nice care and thank the caregiver for their service. Acknowledge the work that they do and express your support.
  • Help – Don’t say “let me know if there is anything I can do” rather be very specific. For example, offer to mow the yard or to weed a flower bed. Maybe do some laundry. Make a visit and access the family’s needs.
  • Get a group together and offer to pay for a service to clean the house. Having someone come in once a month is an amazing help.
  • One thing I have found very helpful is when someone stocks my freezer. Get a group together and make a bunch of freezer meals. There are so many options online with some great ideas. Make sure to include a list which can be posted on the refrigerator so the caregiver will know what is available.
  • Put together a care package based on the caregiver’s likes. Self-care items like candles, lotions, aromatherapy or anything to induce relaxing. A good book, a bottle of wine, or some great handcrafted chocolates. Make sure to package it nicely, there is just something about a nice presentation that makes even the simplest items seem special.
  • Send dinner – Order a ham or something that can be used for multiple meals.
  • Give the Caregiver a Day Off – If the situation allows offer to sit with their loved one so they can take a day off. The gift of time for oneself is precious when you are a primary caregiver 24/7.
  • Flowers – Flowers always make a special gift that really shows how much you care. In addition to flowers, house plants also are a thoughtful present.
  • Care Milestones – If their loved one has procedures scheduled, do what you can to help relieve their stress. Put together a meal train so they will have meals brought. Offer to be a point of contact and make phone calls to provide updates. Offer to bring necessities to the hospital.
  • Gift Cards – These are always a hit whether it is to a favorite restaurant or store. Spa gift cards are a great way to provide a splurge. The nice thing about a gift card is it allows the caregiver to select what they would like.

These are just a few ideas. Visit Pinterest for a wealth of ideas for caregiver gifts.

Ponytails are in as the Army Announces Revised Grooming Standards

By

The Army has revised the grooming standards addressing the impact of grooming on females in this service branch. A special panel made up of soldiers from across the service representing all ranks, units, ages, career fields, age, and races making up the Army met to review proposed grooming and appearance modifications in 2020. Army senior leaders approved the modifications in December 2020  that take effect in late February 24, pending an Army memo to be sent out Sgt. Maj. Brian Sanders, Army G-1, Uniform Policy Branch sergeant major shared.

The panel included psychologists and dermatologists to make changes in standards for females, noting that Soldiers are not Soldiers 24/7 and have roles outside of the Army.

Hairstyle standard changes for females that will be authorized are:

  •   No minimum hair length for female Soldiers – a change from the minimum hair length of ¼ inch
  • Allow for multiple hairstyles at once – meaning braiding, twisting, or locs can be worn all at once
  • Short and long ponytails allowed instead of a bun
  • Long Ponytails allowed for Soldiers during physical fitness training and with the Army Combat Uniform (ACU), during tactical training where they are required to wear a helmet; Soldiers will be required to tuck long ponytails into the ACU blouse
  • Highlights allowed as long as it presents as a uniform and natural appearance; the colors of purple, blue, pink, green, orange, bright red, fluorescent or neon colors are prohibited

Other grooming changes that will be authorized:

  • Option to wear gold, silver, and diamond earrings while Female Soldiers are wearing the ACU
  • Solid lip and non-extreme nail colors for female Soldiers
  • Clear nail polish for male Soldiers

These changes in approved hairstyles stem from medical considerations as tight hairstyles can lead to conditions of the scalp to include hair loss, and tight buns prevent properly wearing the helmet allowing for full visual fields for females while wearing the gear.  Female soldiers are currently able to wear earrings with service and dress uniforms, and these changes allow for the earrings to be worn with all uniforms. However, pearl earrings are still only authorized with the service and dress uniforms.

Extreme colors such as purple, gold, black, blue, white, fire-engine red, hot pink, yellow, and other neon colors will not be allowed for lip or nail polish colors for female Soldiers in uniform. The addition of the allowance of clear nail polish for male soldiers allows for men working in specialties that are in contact with harsh chemicals to protect the nails.

  The grooming updates will be included in the next update to the AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.

Biden Releases Transgender Troop Policy

By

On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order which reversed the previous ban on transgender individuals serving in the United States military. This new order was signed in the presence of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and Vice President Harris.

The Executive Order states that “All Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States (“Armed Forces”) should be able to serve” and that gender identity should not prevent someone from serving in the military. Allowing transgender individuals to serve in the military does not negatively impact the DOD’s mission referencing the 2016 Rand Corporation study completed on transgender individuals serving in the Armed Forces to determine the costs and political readiness implications of transgender. The study was completed and provided several recommendations to include that the DOD include openly serving transgender service members to diversify their workforce based on the research that integrations of transgender individuals did not affect foreign military policy.

The order references further support for transgender service members being allowed to serve was demonstrated in 2018 when then Chief of Staff of the army, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force testified to Congress to that there was no morale or unit cohesion problem from those military members who were openly transgender. The executive order further states that “permitting transgender individuals to serve openly in the military was consistent with military readiness and with strength through diversity, such that the transgender service members who could meet the required standards and procedures should be permitted to serve openly.”

It further dictates that the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security in respect to the Coast Guard shall prohibit involuntary separations, discharges, and denials of reenlistment based on gender identity, retroactively review records of individuals who were involuntarily separated discharged or denied reenlistment or continuation of service based on gender identity, and to issue guidance to the Secretaries of each military section to correct military records.

Language within the Executive order repeals the previous Presidential Memorandum on this topic. Specifically, it states “The Presidential Memorandum of March 23, 2018 (Military Service by Transgender Individuals), is hereby revoked, and the Presidential Memorandum of August 25, 2018 (Military Service by Transgender Individuals), remains revoked.”

Preparing for Winter Storms when Moving from Military Housing to Off-Base

By

Are you prepared for winter storms? Winter preparations for your home differ if you live on base or if you live off. According to a study conducted in 2010 analyzing family housing choices, 22% of respondents lived in on-base military housing, 32% rented in the community, and 38% owned homes in the community. There is a learning curve to being your own landlord when transitioning from on-base housing to off-base housing. For those who have lived solely in on-base housing, preparing for winter in a rental home or your own home off-base is a new experience. Be equipped with these tips.

Trim trees

Trees look beautiful, draped in snow and ice. But a tree that came through a window in your bedroom with said winter décor is not. Tree branches become heavy when covered in ice and snow, so if there are tree branches within falling distance of your home, make sure to trim them back before the winter weather is anticipated.

Empty hoses

 Anything outside in the elements can allow the water to pool in it, which can freeze in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Pull hoses off of outside spigots and drain all the water from them. Store them in an outdoor shed or garage until spring.

Turn water off outside

In the same vein as hoses, turning off outside sources prevents water from pooling to that source. For instance, if the faucet outside fills with water and the temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside can expand and split the waterline. A crack in a water line can lead to a flood inside the home.

Prepare the pool

If you have a pool in an area with freezing temperatures in winter, hire someone to prepare the pool for winter. They can appropriately prepare all pipes and tubing as well as

Make sure your contact information is up to date for your insurance.

If there is a winter hail storm, for instance, your insurance will likely contact you if you are in an area with a storm. They will check to see if there is damage.

Check your HVAC.

If you have been living in base housing, you should have been provided filters to change monthly, but it is up to you to do it depending on the base. When you move into your own home, the need to continue to change your filters in the recommended time frame continues. Also, doing seasonal maintenance is key.

Clean Fireplaces.

Fireplaces are not standard in military housing. When moving into a home with a wood-burning fireplace, ensure that the chimney is cleared and allow for smoke to move freely. If it is a gas fireplace, make sure all the connections and fans are working appropriately. Either way, make sure there is a functioning Carbon Monoxide detector nearby.

Clean out gutters.

Clean out gutters of sticks and foliage from the gutter to prevent melting snow and ice from moving through the gutters. If there is a backup of vegetation, a build-up of ice can stay on the roof or gutter, leading to strain on the drainage system.

Prepare for snow/ice.

Make sure to have salt on hand to ice driveways and walkways. Plan for clearing snow off driveways or sidewalks.  Be familiar with what the county or state will do in regards to neighborhood roads. Be prepared to clear snow and ice on driveways and walkways in your direct vicinity.  

Do you have any tips to add to prepare your home for winter?