Military Life News

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Holiday Shipping Deadlines Rapidly Approaching for Military Service Members Stationed Overseas

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Yes, 2020 will have holidays and if you have loved ones stationed or deployed overseas time is running out. The first deadline for a December 25 arrival is November 6.  Here are the 2020 Holiday Shipping Deadlines from the United States Postal Service:

The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to domestic addresses and Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office addresses*:

  • Nov. 6   — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) USPS Retail Ground service
  • Dec. 9   — APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP Code 093 only) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
  • Dec. 11 — APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail services
  • Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service
  • Dec. 18 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express service
  • Dec. 18 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
  • Dec. 18 — First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
  • Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service
  • Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service

Did you know you can order free Military Care Kit online from USPS which contains boxes, tape and labels? There are also a variety of Priority Mail® APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes and other mailing supplies at Free Shipping Supplies.

Here are some tips to help you navigate the season:

  • Ship Online – Visit USPS.com. You can order supplies, print labels and if you ship using Flat Rate Boxes you can schedule a pickup at your home and avoid the lines at the Post Office. Just note that almost 500,000 consumers will use online services on Dec. 14, 2020 so plan to ship prior to that date.
  • USPS Busiest Time – If you must visit the post office know that customer traffic picks up beginning December 7. The week of Dec. 14-21 is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week.
  • Use Click-N-Ship for APO & FPO and sending overseas. Click-N-Ship® allows you to create Priority Mail International® and Priority Mail Express International® postage and address labels. When you send an international package through military and diplomatic mail, follow the destination country’s restriction policies, and include customs forms when necessary. Click-N-Ship will guide you through the customs forms process. Click-N-Ship will alert you to some of the prohibitions and restrictions based on the 5-digit Military Post Office ZIP Code™ you’re shipping to, but you are responsible for ensuring your package complies with the laws and regulations of the U.S. and the destination country. You often need a customs form to ship overseas. Click-N-Ship will also let you know which customs forms you need.
  • Note you can’t ship hand sanitizer or flammable sanitizing wipes overseas.
  • Properly prepare your shipment correctly. For international shipments tuck an address inside the box in case the box gets damaged and include delivery and return addresses. Also don’t forget temperatures in the desert can exceed 100 degrees so take that into account when planning a care package.

Properly Address Mail Going to an APO/FPO/DPO

According to the USPS website each shipment to an APO/FPO/DPO needs the recipient’s name, rank, and unit, and the APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP Code™. Always include a return address. Mail and shipments must be addressed to a specific person; addressing to “Any Service Member” is no longer permitted. To prevent mail from entering foreign mail networks, do not include city or country names in APO/FPO/DPO shipping addresses. Here are properly addressed shipment examples:

Army/Air Post Office (APO)

PFC JOHN DOE
PSC 3 BOX 4120
APO AE 09021

Fleet Post Office (FPO)

SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH
UNIT 100100 BOX 4120
FPO AP 96691

Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)

JOHN ADAMS
UNIT 8400 BOX 0000
DPO AE 09498-0048

Turn Your Halloween Candy Into Treats for Troops

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October 1st came, and BAM! It was time for Halloween. Your social media has been filled with images of pumpkins, spooky decorations, and costume ideas. You may be planning a countdown to Halloween complete with daily spooky activities. Halloween spirit is all around us. While costume parades and traditional trick-or-treating may be canceled in 2020, it’s nice to see the spooky spirit continue in other creative ways.

Want a sweet way to share the spooky spirit beyond your immediate community? Maybe you bought Halloween candy with the hope of trick or treating, but it has been canceled in your area. Or in wanting to keep a semblance of normalcy for 2020, you are planning on buying candy even if you don’t have an immediate need. What can you do with that excess Halloween candy? You can treat the troops!

Soldiers’ Angels Treat for Troops program is a candy collection program just for Halloween! Businesses like dentist offices or churches typically collect candy from families in their area in exchange for prizes and then send the candy to the Soldiers’ Angels. Soldier’s Angels then collects all the sent in candy and sends it to troops overseas. While families may not have excess candy this year, they can still donate candy to businesses designated as drop off sites near them.

Want to donate your candy to Treats for Troops?

To find a business near you that is a collection site for Treat for Troops, check here.  There is an interactive map of the United States, or you can search by zip code. When you search by zip code, it is just looking for businesses within your zip code and not close by, so it is easiest to search on the map by zooming into your area. Families that bring in the candy to be dropped off are typically awarded buyback prizes for every pound brought in. In previous years, businesses have offered toothbrushes, gift cards, stickers, art supplies, and even cash!

The interactive map is the best way to search for a site near you. If you are unable to find a drop off location near you, you can mail the donation to Soldiers’ Angels directly at 2895 NE Loop, Suite 107, San Antonio, RX 78218.

What candy can be donated?

  • Unopened, individually wrapped candy
  • Small bags of loose candy like jelly beans or candy corn
  • Chocolate, and no it doesn’t have to separated

What candy is not accepted?

  • Handmade candy
  • Homemade treats
  • Baked goods – store-bought or homemade

When to donate?

Most donation drop-off sites accept candy through the first week of November. Perfect for post-Halloween festivities! Check the drop-off site nearest you for their information.

Do you have a business or know someone a business that would be perfect for a drop off site for Treats for Troops?
Businesses who want to be a Treats for Troops drop-off site must register online with Soldiers’ Angels here. All candy collected by the business must be shipped to the San Antonio, TX location of Soldier’s Angels, and their address is provided to the business once they register as a drop off-site. Businesses are responsible for buying their own buyback prizes.

So, if you don’t goblin up all your candy (haha – get it?), you can send it off to sweeten another person’s day!

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

6 Tips to Create a Magical Disney Holiday at Home

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It is fair to say that from this Spring onward we have all been living through this strange world that feels like a cross between a Netflix mini-series and a misunderstood British comedy where none of the jokes make sense. All of us, adults included, just need a break. A Disney holiday is often an escape from reality – a much needed break from reality and resurgence of the fun and carefree feelings of being a kid again. Disneyland is currently still closed, and Disney World is at limited capacity.

Why not create an all-inclusive Disney holiday at home? Eat some Disney goodies, dress up to the nines, enjoy a few rides, and listen to the music of Disney with these links and tips below. This will be the most affordable trip to Disney – ever!

TASTE OF THE PARK

A favorite on Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom, Casey’s Corner showcases delicious Corn Dog Bites. These bite size hot cogs encased in cornbread is perfect for on the go eating. Which is also great for making it at home because you can prep them in a muffin tray. Prep and make these to snack on in between rides courtesy of YouTube.

The Turkey Leg is a giant meat snack that can be found in both U.S. Disney parks. If you don’t have a smoker, but have a traditional grill at home, use wood chips in an aluminum packet in your grill to create the smoker effect.  Pecan, oak and hickory wood chips provide a moderate to aggressive smoke flavor to the meat.

A Mickey pretzel is an iconic snack that can be found in all the parks. Biting off Mickey’s ear is an image often shared on social media. In the parks, the pretzels are shaped into snowman for the winter holidays, and different characters or themes throughout the seasons. Try your hand at folding the pretzel into fun shapes, or three circles for the classic Mickey outline we all use for pancakes.

The Adventureland classic of a Dole Whip is delicious and creamy and a must-have on a visit to the Magic Kingdom. The amazing bonus is that the treat is 100% vegan! We have tried this recipe with Coconut Cream instead of whipping cream as a dairy-free option. Take a spoonful and close your eyes and don’t be surprised when you start humming the Tiki room intro.

Thankfully the Commissary is stocked with these ingredients, so you can easily prepare for a tasty visit to the Disney Parks. Well, maybe talk to the butcher about the Turkey Leg.

COSTUMES

Matching vibrant shirts to easily spot family members in the park isn’t needed for a visit from home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress up! Chances are if you have solid color pieces at home, you can piece them together into an Alice costume or a Disney bound of the cats from Aristocats. Pinterest boasts many boards full of costume ideas using items or clothing you have at home. Use your closet without having to leave home to costume shop or spend extra money!

RIDES

Now that you are dressed up for the day and have food prepped and ready to go, it’s time for some rides.

Head to Tomorrowland and enjoy space travel through Space Mountain. The People Mover ride is a classic that is now only at Walt Disney World and while it isn’t considered a thrill ride, it’s a ride that will allow for taking in the atmosphere for the park. Another ride only at Walt Disney World, The Carousel of Progress, is one ride that Walt Disney personally worked on, preparing it for the World’s Fair in New York – bonus it can count as a history lesson for the kiddos.  Move to Fantasyland and take a ride on the musical) boat ride of It’s A Small World. While in Fantasyland, trade your boat in for a flying ship and go on Peter Pan’s Flight. Before heading over to Adventureland, make sure to ride Disneyland’s famed Storybook Land Canal boats. In Adventureland, riding Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise are a must do. Stop in New Orleans Square to ride the Haunted Mansion if you dare, before you ride the wildest ride in the wilderness at Big Thunder Mountain.  Disneyland’s Critter Country favorites of Splash Mountain and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are great ways to end the timeless rides.

Epcot’s classic rides of Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land are must dos. Don’t forget about Soarin’ Around the World and dive into the big blue world on The Seas with Nemo and Friends – all without the need for tickets, layovers or a long boat ride.

Make a stop over to the Animal Kingdom to ride Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur and Expedition Everest without worrying about height restrictions or long lines.

Toy Story fans will want to jump on the Slinky Dog Dash while those who favor the force will want to support the Rebels with the Star Wars – Rise of the Resistance and the Smuggler’s Run ride.

Head to Disneyland Paris to ride Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril! all while learning about the ride’s creation and history.

End the entertainment portion of your Disney day with a Fireworks show without the crowds or waiting. From the comfort of your own home, rain or shine, watch the feat of projected images, timed fireworks and music in the Happily Ever After Fireworks Show from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. When the music starts, close your eyes and let that goosebumps and exhaustion mixture wave over you…without having walked the 30,000 steps taken in one day pushing the stroller and humping with a backpack.

SOUNDS

If you are looking to stream Disney music throughout the day, check out fan favorite Sorcerer Radio. The radio channel can be found online, on their app and on Roku. Sorcerer Radio shares the sounds of the park, sometimes complete with park noise. The Atmospheres station shares loops of park background music while the Spa Day station provides instrumental versions of Disney classics. Seasons showcases seasonal parade music and sound effects and seasonal ride music immersing you in the sounds of, well, the season. Planet D is a new station as of October 2019 offering Disney Pop remakes and Disney park remixes along with the traditional Disney pop music.

The Dapper Dans are a barbershop quartet that walk and sing along Main Street U.S.A. Getting creative, the groups virtually linked together to serenade to When You Wish Upon A Star bringing the sounds of Magic Kingdom into your home.

Get motivated with Disney Broadway stars singing “Go The Distance” – a favorite from the notable animated Disney film Hercules.

EXTRA

Since the parks shut down due to the pandemic, Disney Parks YouTube channel has released how-to-draw videos with Disney Imagineers. This is by far our favorite pastime from the days of visiting Disney California Adventure and hiding out in Animation Academy to take in a lesson on how to draw a character. There are several Learn to Draw lessons, and you should definitely check out Draw Your Pirate Scene.

TECH TIPS

Use the HDMI connection from your computer to your tv to easily click through links on here for in your face views of the rides and entertainment. Alternatively, use a device like a FireStick or Roku to use YouTube on your TV to look up rides.

Now, all that is left is to have a magical time!

6 Budget Friendly Items You Need for a Home Gym

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After the nation-wide shut down in March and onward, going to the gym hasn’t been as easy. With a lack of child care, no schools, and gym shutdowns to limitations, there has been a large movement to begin building a gym at home. Physical performance and fitness are operationally important (required!) for the military member and serves as a mental health exercise and a break as well. For those reasons and more, here are six recommendations to help you start your own home gym,

  1. Floor Mats – Can be utilized for comfort while doing stretches, yoga and body weight exercises. Don’t discount your kids old play mats – they can serve a second-life as your gym mats!
  2. Kettlebells – These small yet powerful items can be utilized for multiple exercises, stored in small places, and pack easily for exercise on the road.
  3. Jump Rope – Get cardio in no matter where you are, without moving far. Jump ropes can be shared among the adult members of family as part of a round robin exercise routine, and pack well.  Make sure you have a good clear space first.
  4. Resistance bands – These come in various thicknesses which provide light to heavy resistance which can challenge the muscles for building strength, but also for providing flexibility. These bands also travel well, and compact enough to fit in a suitcase or sea bag.
  5. Pull-Up Bar – With options of door frame mounted or wall-hung. Even if your service does not require Pull-Ups, they are a dynamic exercise that will serve to maintain your health, physique, and improve your push-ups.
  6. Dumbbells – For those wanting to invest a little more in their home gym, dumbbells are great. Like kettlebells, they can be utilized for various exercises. They come in weights as low as 1, 3, and 5 lbs. and up from there in 5 lbs. increments to develop strength and power.

The home gym is achievable with these affordable starters. With current restrictions, and the difficulty of lack of child care, home gyms are more popular now than ever before.  And in case you missed it – the beauty of most of these items is their transportability – perfect for the frequent moves of the military family with everchanging home sizes. Remember the Genie in Aladdin – “Phenomenal Cosmic Powers! Itty Bitty Living Space.”

The Exchange has been getting more of these items in stock recently, so check them out if you are looking to start or stock your home gym.

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

How Will You Celebrate Thanksgiving this Year?

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The CDC releases guidelines for fall celebrations

With pumpkin spice lattes back and a bit of chill in the air, thoughts turn to the largest family gathering of the year, Thanksgiving. Families travel from all over the country to gather for a large meal, football games and parades. For military families, the holidays often mean travel to your hometown or family coming to visit you. This year with the COVID-19 pandemic, is it safe to have a large group of 20-30 in a home with no hope of social distancing? Can you enforce mask wearing? So how do you celebrate safely? The CDC recently released a set of guidelines to help mitigate your risk.

Before you plan to host a holiday celebration or attend one, check local regulations at local and state levels. Assess the current COVID-19 levels of the community where the event will take place. This factor as well as the location and duration of the affair contribute to the risk of getting infected. The safest way to celebrate is virtually or with just members of your immediate household. Anybody sick with COVID-19, has symptoms of COVID-19, been exposed to a person who has COVID-19 or anybody at higher risk of the illness should not attend.

CDC Guidelines on how to mitigate risk:

  • Do not hold your event if there are higher levels of COVID-19 in your community or where you are traveling to. Do not allow people to attend who are coming from higher risk areas.
  • If possible hold your event outside. Many parks have large pavilions to rent which allow for distancing. If you hold indoors open windows to increase ventilation.
  • The longer the event the greater the risk. Plan a shorter one to be safer.
  • Check your local restrictions on the number of people who can attend the event. The more people the greater your risk. Evaluate the space to make sure everyone can social distance.
  • Enforce safe behavior by requiring masks, social distancing of at least six feet and frequent handwashing or the use of hand sanitizer. Plan to have extra masks, tissues, and hand sanitizer available.
  • Have all attendees avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days prior to the event. After the event if you have been exposed to a lot of people outside of your immediate household
  • Avoid close contact. No hugs, kisses, or handshakes. Waving is a good substitute.
  • Food Safety – For those in contact with the food wash hands often. Have one person serve the food so multiple people are not in contact with the serving utensils. Use single serving condiments. According to the CDC, currently there is no evidence that handling or eating food directly spreads COVID-19.
  • Throughout the event clean and sanitize high touch areas. After the event wash all linens such as tablecloths, napkins, and kitchen towels as well as hand towels.

Although travel poses its own risks it may be a good option for multi-family get togethers. Pick a central destination for extended family to meet. Ideally a place within driving distance for everyone so no one must fly. If you do fly look for airlines that don’t book all the seats on a flight. Check out a full-service resort or a rent a separate cabin for each family. A resort allows separate sanitized rooms and lots of space on the property to spread out. The event planner can help plan a meal served in an event room which will allow for social distancing while dining. Some cabin resorts have facilities for groups and if you keep your numbers down can be a safer option. Outdoor activities like hiking or walks on the beach are safer ways to spend time together than sitting door to dinner in a packed dining room.

Photo Credit: ©Svetlana /Shutterstock

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? How do you plan to keep your family safe? Share your tips in the comments.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

8 Fall Pumpkin Recipes that Aren’t Your Basic Pumpkin Spice Latte

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It’s Fall Y’all. Which means it’s Pumpkin Time! If you are overseas, start hoarding those cans of pumpkin once they arrive at the commissary – you’ll want to try out all of these recipes! For those in the states- while canned pumpkin may be more readily available, you’ll still want to gather more than one can to enjoy these pumpkin recipes this fall!

BREAKFAST

  • Pumpkin Muffins: Who doesn’t love an easy grab and go breakfast or snack. These muffins are transportable, whole grain, low fat and full of flavor! Change up the cranberries for nuts, dark chocolate or other dried fruits and you could have a pumpkin muffin daily all season long. Make it a double batch and freeze some for later – that way you don’t eat them all in one week – they are that delicious.

LUNCH/DINNER

  • Pumpkin Soup: Cool fall days call for hearty warm soups and this creamy pumpkin soup delivers that with all the pumpkin-y goodness along with cream and spices. Top with roasted pepitas for a crunch.
  • Pumpkin Pasta Sauce: This one may surprise you, but pumpkin makes an amazing base for this delicious sauce for the heavenly bed of pasta.
  • Spicy Pumpkin Chili: Pumpkin and chili are two fall classics, so it makes sense that they are being combined for this robust chili. The addition of pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to the other spices are delicious and perfect for fall movie nights.

SNACKS

  • Pumpkin Bread: This bread is perfect for chill days at home, and this one has pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice in it! Where was this recipe when we were all on lock down this spring? Doesn’t matter, we will make this bread over and over again.

DESSERT

  • Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake: Cheesecake is a heavenly dessert, and when you add pumpkin to it, it just elevates it to fall-scented heaven. The gingersnap and pecan crust contrasts with the smooth pumpkin cheesecake filling. This recipe does take a bit more time as it needs to chill for at least 4 hours prior to serving so plan accordingly. This dessert may just lead to your eating a piece of it in a closet away from your spouse and/or children it’s so good.
  • Pumpkin Fluff Dip:  This is a personal favorite – it’s easy to make, only takes a few ingredients and is gosh darn delicious. It’s a fall dip that is sure to please! Dip graham crackers, animal crackers, apple slices or kohlrabi into the dip – there really isn’t a bad choice.
  • Pumpkin Twinkies: This classic favorite with a twist is perfect for fall indulgence. Who doesn’t love a Twinkie? Infuse it with pumpkin and it’s a win-win!

Orange you pumped for all these pumpkin recipes? (See what I did there?)

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

8 Ways to Celebrate Halloween During the Pandemic

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Halloween is eerie and amusing. In September and October, the weather cools, sweaters come out, crockpots are filled with chili and the weekends are filled with pumpkin picking and Halloween themed activities. Instead of visits to theme parks for their Halloween-themed parties or fall festivals with bobbing for apples, this year will be fueled by creative ways to celebrate the spirit of the holiday.  While the celebrations will be different this year, they are creative and safe ways to celebrate Halloween.

  1. Make costume making a contest at home. If everyone isn’t of an age to whip out the hot glue gun and sew sequins, make it a drawing contest! Make plans for fun costumes to make together by drawing ideas for family costumes. Challenge each other to be creative with what you have in the house. This will minimize going out for a shopping trip for costumes and utilize what you have on hand in a fun way. Get ideas for costumes using your solid color outfits on primary.com’s DIY costume section.
  2. Wear costumes once a week. Let’s be honest parents – we all love the costume activities throughout the month of October because we can get that unit cost down on that costume we bought. Keep that weekly spirit alive by designating a costume day a week. Maybe a Freaky Friday? Most of the country is virtual schooling anyway!
  3. Make fall treats at home. While large group gatherings aren’t recommended by the CDC currently, staying at home to make all the fall treats is still doable. Make popcorn balls, pumpkin cake, and apple cider at home. Check with local farms near you to see if they are offering curbside pickup of their treats to enjoy at home.
  4. Boo your neighbors and friends. Booing friends has become a tradition that we look forward to every year. So much so that we start prepping the next years basket in the current season! Booing can be done safely. Prepare baskets with store-bought items. If you want to provide extra precautions consider wrapping the basket in cellophane and “quarantine” it prior to delivery of said “Boo.” Given the different levels of comfort, text or call the person you are “boo”ing beforehand to make sure they are okay with it and let them know what precautions you took. If you are “Boo’d” and you don’t know who dropped it off, you can quarantine it for a few days before digging into it.
  5. Decorate your home outside. It is common for families to walk or drive around neighborhoods to take in holiday décor, why not decorate outside the home encouraging the neighborly spirit and take a walk enjoying the décor in your neighborhood?!
  6. Make it a Quarun-team Halloween. If you have a group of families or friends that have been socially distancing together, consider doing a round robin at just those homes or backyards for a Halloween themed activity or treat. It will keep up the Halloween holiday spirit without the large gathering.  
  7. Keep Trick or Treating Outside. While haunted houses (and garages) are awesome, closed spaces are not ideal this year. Don’t forget to wear cloth masks and avoid large crowds. Trick or treat with tongs to put candy into bags to minimize touching and once you are home from trick or treating, resist the urge to raid the bag for a few days allowing for your candy to “quarantine.” 
  8. Have one person hand out candy. To minimize multiple hands being in the bowl, have one person hand out the candy directly into the trick-or-treaters baskets. Other creative ways to trick or treat are to put candy on a laundry line for children or on straws in their yard to “pick” off the line or the ground.

If you or your child have been exposed to COVID-19 or may have COVID-19, it is recommended you do not participate in in-person Halloween activities like trick or treating or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Instead, stay home, rest, and cuddle up with The Great Pumpkin. Call your doctor or pediatrician as needed.

While this year has certainly required creativity for the everyday, it is in full effect for Halloween this year. Now as Shakespeare said in MacBeth, “double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.”

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

Army Moves to Change Shark Attack with First 100 Yards

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When you think of basic training in the military what do you think about? The typical movie scene of basic training showcases drill sergeants surrounding recruits in tipped hats, yelling and motivating the recruits. This movie scene is referred to as the “shark attack” within the Army.

The U.S. Army Infantry School has created a new program to use in lieu of the “shark attack.” Gone are the days when Drill Sergeants surround the new recruit and welcome them with in-your-face shouting. This generations old welcome to the Army is at its end and it’s a place a new program called “The First 100 Yards”.

The First 100 Yards was developed in early 2020 by the Infantry School and senior noncommissioned officers of the 198th Infantry Brigade, a unit that conducts Infantry One-Stations Unit Trainings. The First 100 Yards program uses training activities with the aim to instill the core warrior values, attitudes and pride of the Infantry community into the recruit. The ultimate goal with this exercise is to instill confidence in the recruits.

The reason for this change is a historical one. The “shark attack” was developed when the Army was a force made up of draftees. The “shark attack” exercise was used to determine who could stand up to the stresses the job as an infantryman would present. In response to training changes needed due to COVID-19, The First 100 Yards was developed for the all-volunteer military force.

The First 100 Yards program is a five-phase event that occurs the first day of the recruits’ 22-week infantry training. The phases include memorization of unit history and chains of command which will be used within the infantry training, conduction of a resupply mission, performing the new Army Combat Fitness Test and observing an infantry squad and weapons demonstration. The First 100 Yards ends when the drill sergeants march the new recruits to their platoon bays for two weeks of isolated training as part of the safety protocols that were developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Command Sgt. Major Robert Fortenberry, the Command Sergeant Major of the Infantry School at Fort Benning stated “this is not designed to be a hazing event but [to] promote attention to detail and urgency to execute a task in a timely manner.” Furthermore, he states that “this lays the foundation for the next 22 weeks of Infantry training.”

To learn more about The First 100 Yards, Fort Benning has released a video where Sgt. Maj. Robert Fortenberry presents the program in more detail.

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

Don’t Spend that Extra Money Yet

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Social Security Payroll Tax Deferral Begins

On August 8, 2020, a Presidential Memorandum was issued to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic by temporarily deferring the withholding of Social Security taxes from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) tax (Social Security taxes) rate is 6.2%. So, service members and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians will see a temporary increase in their paychecks of that amount. At this time, based on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance all deferrals will be repaid between January 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021 in addition to the amount normally withheld from their monthly pay.

As an example, if the monthly basic pay is $3,306.30 the service member would see an increase of $204.99 in their monthly net take home pay through December 31, 2020. In January, their monthly net take home pay would decrease $204.99, the deferred tax amount through April 2021 until the full amount is recouped.

A military service member or civilian employee should think about whether they should spend this money or put it aside in savings for when it will be recouped next year. Things you should consider is your household income down due to COVID-19? Will it increase in January due to a military pay raise and is that increase enough to offset the money that will be recouped? Each situation is different so you must decide what makes the most sense for your household.

Application of the tax deferral process will be different for Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves as well as DoD Civilians. Service members and families can contact Financial Readiness staff at their installation Military and Family Support Center, or Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647, if they need assistance in reviewing their Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) or have questions in planning for changes to their net take home pay.

Service members may view the Defense Finance and Accounting Service page for more information, Https://www.dfas.mil/taxes/Social-Security-Deferral/ and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, here. As more information is determined, updates will be posted on the site.

For more information, civilian employees may view the Defense Finance and Accounting Service page, https://www.dfas.mil/taxes/Social-Security-Deferral/ and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, here. As more information is determined, updates will be posted on the site.  For civilian employees with concerns regarding withholding of the deferred OASDI tax, please consult with an Employee Assistance Program financial counselor.

President Trump has stated that if he is reelected, he will forgive the amounts owed but he only has the authority to defer collection of the tax in a national emergency. Congress has the authority to forgive the deferred amounts. The president has directed the Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to work with Congress to pass legislation that would forgive the deferred amounts and pay back the Social Security Trust Fund.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Expired Uniformed Services ID Cards Now Good Until June 30, 2021

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By Marguerite Cleveland

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently extended the use of expired Uniformed Services ID Cards (USID) until June 30, 2021. USIDs are the identification cards used by family members and retirees. This extension only applies to USIDs and not expired Common Access Cards (CAC) used by active duty and civilians working on an installation or Volunteer Logical Access Credentials (VoLAC) which will now expire on September 30, 2020.

The original extension was issued in April 2020 and designed to help maintain operations at DoD ID card offices and to minimize the number of non-essential required visits to an office. The process was changed to temporarily extend the expiration dates on the cards during the COVID-19 pandemic so that less people were visiting ID card offices. Those with an expired USID can continue to use it to access their military benefits including health care, access to the installation, and Commissary privileges.

Those with expired CAC or VoLAC cards will need to visit an ID card office to replace their expired cards. Check your local installation for hours, COVID-19 requirements and whether you will need to make an appointment.

The DoD can remotely issue first time USIDs for family members and retirees. Lost or stolen cards can also be issued remotely. These ID cards are issued with an expiration date not to exceed one year from the date it is issued. The minimum age for initial USIDs for family members changed in April 2020 from age 10 to age 14.

Mobilized reservists and their eligible dependents will continue to use the reserve-component USIDs to obtain authorized active duty benefits.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com