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DeCA to begin daily health screenings of everyone who works in commissaries on May 8

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DeCA Corporate Communications

May 4, 2020
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FORT LEE, Va. – On May 8, the Defense Commissary Agency will begin daily health screenings of anyone who works in commissaries – including employees, baggers and affiliated contractors – before they start their shifts.

Commissaries will initially conduct the screenings with a questionnaire that focuses on any visible symptoms related to COVID-19, and traces their travel history as well as potential connections with anyone affected by the virus.

As stores receive their infrared thermometers, the screening will include temperature checks. If a temperature check determines anyone is a potential risk, they will be directed to go home and contact their health care provider. They can return to work once they have no signs of a fever or illness, and they will be screened again.

“Military resale is good at evolving and adapting, and screening the people who work in our stores is the first step in a new normal that helps reduce the risk of transmission for everyone,” said Rear Adm. (retired) Robert J. Bianchi, DOD Special Assistant for Commissary Operations. “We should expect to operate like this for the foreseeable future.”

Bianchi, who is also the CEO of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), said his Navy Exchange stores are also preparing to implement these procedures for the personnel working in their facilities.  

“There are probably going to be many commercial businesses that start implementing temperature checks for employees and wearing of face coverings, so this should be no surprise to anyone as they may experience this in many aspects of their personal lives,” he said.

The employee health screenings are the latest in a series of safety measures commissaries have implemented:

  • Anyone (including customers) entering a store must wear a face covering
  • Stores have plexiglass sneeze shields in all regular checkout lanes
  • Commissary personnel wipe down checkout areas, product display cases, restrooms and shopping carts with disinfectant, and practice routine hand washing and other basic sanitation measures
  • Touchless credit card processing eliminates the need for the customer to sign
  • Customers scan their own ID cards so cashiers can provide them touchless transactions
  • Reusable bag usage has been banned
  • Only authorized customers – this includes disabled veterans with VHIC cards – will be able to enter a commissary. Visitors will no longer be allowed to accompany authorized customers and a 100% ID check is in place
  • DeCA canceled special events such as the spring sidewalk sales, in-store product demonstrations (including DeCA’s free coffee program), group tours, vendor-sponsored events and other events to discourage group gatherings
  • Commissaries are working with installation leadership and public health personnel to implement risk reduction practices such as designated store hours for various patron groups, and limiting the number of patrons in the store.

Commissary customers should continue to refer to the federal government’s response to coronavirus, COVID-19 website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coronavirus site for updates and guidance regarding this virus. Updates related to the commissaries can be found on DeCA’s Coronavirus page.

-DeCA-

What It’s Like to Lose a Loved One During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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It’s Wednesday morning and I am in the air flying to my father’s funeral. It is so surreal to be experiencing this during the Covid-19 pandemic. In some ways, it is so much harder and in others way things are simpler. My father passed away on Monday of an emergency not the corona virus.

My father a retired naval officer lived in a Louisiana State Veteran’s Home. My Mother received a call there was a complication from a minor medical procedure and they were taking him by ambulance to the hospital. My Mother called the family and then proceeded to wait in the emergency room parking lot. She saw my Dad go into the hospital from the ambulance but was not allowed to be with him. The staff was kind to my mother and came out to update her that he had arrived and the doctor would come out once he had examined Dad. My Mom updated us and we weren’t thinking that anything was serious.

Death

Dying during a pandemic is a terrible way to die because you are alone. The doctor came out to see my mom and was full of empathy as he informed my mother that my dad had passed away while she sat in the car alone in the emergency room parking lot. My poor mother called everyone from the car and continued to wait in the parking lot until she could see my father for the last time. The wait involved waiting for the coroner. Finally, she was able to go into to see my father which was a real blessing for her. The last time she had seen him was through the window of the nursing home as no visitors were allowed. The doctor escorted my mother into see dad and he was so thoughtful. When my mom expressed a wish that her children could see him he helped her take a photo that she could share with us. She mentioned to me when she shared the story how young the doctor was. I couldn’t imagine how much death he had seen in his short career.

Getting There

After the shock subsided, all the questions emerged. Can we have a funeral? Should I fly? Is it risky to be with my mom coming from Washington State? Is it dangerous for me to go to Louisiana? My husband jumped into gear and was already looking into flights while I was on the phone. He said something that really resonated with me. “We got this, we are a military family and they aren’t like other families.” So true and with the precision of an operations order, flights were booked, notifications and decisions made. Due to travel restrictions for my husband and my son distant learning we decided I would go alone.

Flights were a little challenging as there were limited options. Luckily, I was flying out of a major airport and although I couldn’t fly into Baton Rouge the nearest airport I was able to get into New Orleans is only an hour drive away. A positive is that last minute flights are much less than they normally are and first class was not an expensive upgrade.

The Funeral

We were all nervous as to what would happen due to all the news stories about morgues and funeral homes overwhelmed. We lucked out and everything was arranged very quickly but also very sad. We can’t have a catholic funeral mass which is tragic for our family. We are only allowed 10 people in a cemetery service. One thing my dad has always expressed a wish for was to have military honors and that is not an option at this time. So even though it is very difficult it is also simpler with easy decisions and much less expense for my father’s estate.

The Silver Lining

My mother is 80 and I was worried about her and the fact we couldn’t travel. I am able to go spend a week with her. I am very grateful for the resilience I have built during my years as a military spouse that kicks in at times like these. I know I will get through this but I have to admit it is tough. So this is what it is like to lose a loved one during these times. Reach out to those you love especially the older ones. Call or use snail mail and connect in these uncertain times. You won’t regret it.

My Dad, LCDR (ret) Noel Daigle

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

What You Need to Know Now About the Feres Doctrine

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Troops are reliant on the military medical machine. But there isn’t much, if any, recourse when something goes awry. For years, the Feres Doctrine has prevented military personnel from doing anything.

With a late 2019 legal decision, the Feres Doctrine loosened up and finally gave troops options to seek justice when their medical care isn’t up to par.

What You Need to Know Now About the Feres Doctrine

Just what exactly these changes mean for you, your family and your medical is an important issue. One that we all need to be tracking as things shift.

What Is the Feres Doctrine?

In 1950, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that greatly expanded immunity for the US government.

It’s connected to the 1946 Federal Tort Claims Act. As part of this law, the federal government gained immunity to claims that arise from wartime combat. In 1950, the Supreme Court added non-combat or incident of service injuries. Meaning that sexual assault, toxic poisoning, medical negligence and other non-combat related injuries cannot be the basis of legal action against the US government or military.

Justice Antonin Scalia acknowledged that Feres was wrongly decided in 1987.

And then the Supreme Court left it up to Congress to fix.

Over the years, Congress has attempted to correct Feres, but major changes haven’t been made.

Until now.

How Feres Changed in 2019

As part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, military troops would be able to seek just compensation for medical malpractice by military doctors. In order to initiate the process, there is a new claims procedure being put into place.

This bill, however, stops short of allowing military troops to sue, a right that civilians have in the case of medical malpractice.

Additionally, there are limits to compensation and imposes financial burdens on troops making medical malpractice claims. The Department of Defense will be liable for only a portion of compensation due to a victim of medical malpractice by a DoD doctor.

The government will also not be liable to pay attorneys’ fees. Fees recovered by attorneys are limited to 20% of the paid claim.

Military Docs Missed Major Health Problem

The most recent changes were moved forward by Congresswoman Jackie Spier (D – CA). Earlier in 2019, Congresswoman Spier introduced the Sgt. First Class Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act.

Sgt. 1st Class Stayskal, an Army and USMC veteran, had seen military medical personnel repeatedly due to breathing problems and growing concerns over his health. Each time, he was told it was just asthma or pneumonia.

It was only when he sought another opinion from a civilian pulmonologist that Sgt. Stayskal learned that he had Stage 4 lung cancer. Military doctors and specialists had apparently missed a 3cm mass in one of his lungs.

This gross negligence spurred Congresswoman Spier and other political allies to create a movement for legal change, introducing the Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act and pushing to allow troops to seek justice against medical malpractice.

This incident follows upon decades of troops being injured or dying, in military service, in non-combat situations.

Army Capt. Katie Blanchard was attacked with gasoline and lit on fire by a civilian colleague. The civilian employee had been brought to the attention of supervisors. He was seen as a threat to others, ultimately completely disfiguring Capt. Blanchard.

She was not allowed to seek damages from the military.

Navy Lt. Rebekah Daniel died during childbirth at a military medical facility. Her surviving spouse, Walter Daniel, sued and the case rose to the Supreme Court in May 2019. Ultimately, Walter Daniel v. United States was denied Supreme Court consideration. However, Justices Ruth Bader Gindberg and Clarence Thomas called for a review of the case.

Lt. Daniel’s case will not benefit from the most recent changes to Feres.

The Feres Doctrine’s roots are in another Supreme Court case from post-World War II. Lt. Rudolph Feres had served his country in Europe, and survived. Only to be killed in a barracks fire after the war.

Lt. Feres’ widow attempted to sue the US military for negligence in the death of her husband. The fight took them to the Supreme Court, which handed down the decision preventing troops from suing in all cases of illness, injury or death related to any military service.

This law has been allowed to stand, with limited changes, since then.

How New Feres Will Impact You

If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice by a military doctor, you have up to two years after the incident to submit your claim to the DoD. The process for actually submitting a claim remained undefined at the time of publication.

After review, approved cases up to $100,000 can be directly paid out by the DoD. Cases approved for settlements in excess of $100,000 will be referred to the US Treasury for additional review.

In order to be considered, your medical malpractice must not have occurred in a combat zone.

Medical malpractice cases that predate 2017 have no options for recourse. However, cases occurring in 2017 will be able to file claims through the end of 2020. Following that, cases must have occurred within a two-year window, prior to the date the claim is being submitted.

Were you the victim of military medical malpractice? How do you feel about the changes to Feres? Does it go far enough? Sound off in the comments!

How the World Has Changed Since January 2020

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January 2020 started out as normal as possible. By the middle of April, the entire world had changed entirely.

How the World Has Changed Since January 2020

Back in January, Americans hadn’t really heard of coronavirus or COVID-19. If it had crossed our radar, it was as a distant threat – not something that would pause life as we know it.

Photo Credit: ©tanaonte /Adobe Stock

2020: A Very Interesting Beginning

In January, Americans were caught up in the daily drama of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. There were daily updates and new developments as Congress determined whether his alleged actions should result in his removal from office.

Generally, our worries were inward facing: impeachment, the wild winter weather, Kobe Bryant.

We were shocked as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced that they would become financially independent and move to North America immediately.

The attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad rattled us deeply. It felt too close to the other recent embassy attacks in 2013. Many celebrated when US forces killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. And we all worried when Iranian forces retaliated by shooting missiles at US bases. The rising toll of troops suffering from varying degrees of TBIs kept us glued to our seats.

Australia suffered a devastating bushfire season, with an estimated one million animals dying in the weeks-long blaze. We cried when images of scorched koalas or kangaroos flashed across our newsfeed.

Everything felt a little too fast, a little too much. It was the longest year ever – and it was only February.

Many Feel It’s the Longest Year on Record

By early February, the first coronavirus death outside of China was recorded in the Philippines. Nations across the globe began to tighten their borders, with many restricting or preventing travel from Chinese nationals. However, this looming international health crisis still didn’t seem real to Americans.

President Trump was acquitted on February 5, effectively ending his impeachment trial.

The Democratic presidential primaries continued their months-long slog toward the summer convention. Candidates launched barbed one-liners at each other in debates and attempted to appeal to the diverse liberal audience for support.

Still, coronavirus was lurking in the background as we marched toward March. The world watched as several cruise ships were quarantined in Japan, confirmed cases of COVID-19 aboard. Funny TikTok videos and grim daily Twitter updates competed for our attention on social media.

Still, the problem mostly seemed contained to Asia.

We saw a severe winter storm slam New England while Antarctica recorded the hottest ever temperature of approximately 65ºF.

Commenting on the possibly retaliatory firings of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, his brother Army JAG officer Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman and EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland was more pressing news than discussing coronavirus.

But by the end of February, coronavirus had spread from China, South Korea and Japan to Europe, Africa and North America. Major world sporting events, like the Tokyo Marathon, are impacted. The Marathon reduced its size to just 200 elite runners instead of the planned field of 38,000.

And the US recorded it’s first coronavirus death on February 29, 2020.

Swift Slide to Pandemic & Global Lockdown

From that very first death on the last day of February, many parts of the US swiftly moved from total ignorance to complete lockdown.

By mid-March K-12 schools were closed. Businesses and even the federal government moved toward teleworking options to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Suddenly, parents were attempting to both work-from-home while also supervising and facilitating distance learning.

President Trump also began giving daily briefing from the White House press room, supported by Dr. Anthony Fauci. Reports and recommendations from the White House often conflicted each other as well as the recommendations of the CDC and WHO.

States attempted a piecemeal approach to contain the spread of COVID-19. Some states quickly moved to cancel schools and limit public gatherings. Others are still not responding with any preventative measures.

The US death toll, as of April 6, has topped 10,000. In just one month, we have gone from complete denial to pandemic, from one death to tens of thousands.

A Nation of Hand Washers

Except in those places where the state or local governments haven’t acted, Americans are staying inside. We wear face masks when we leave the house and we stay 6 or more feet from everyone.

Every cough and sneeze in public is met with glares of suspicion, followed by people nearby swiftly scuttling far away.

Now, coronavirus dominates our news and conversations. The 2020 election and all the contention over President Trumps controversial presidency seem to have largely faded into the background. We’re all just focused on our daily survival.

Juggling working, educating kids and sanitizing our homes has taken firm priority in our lives.

Vacations are effectively canceled through at least June. Schools are closed for the year. Professional and college sports pulled the plug on whole seasons.

Suddenly, our world has shrunk. We have the four walls of our homes and any additional land. We have walks in the neighborhood or on unpopulated trails, staying far from all others.

Hands are washed ad nauseam. Never have counters and doorknobs been so very clean. Even groceries and mailed packages are being sanitized in an effort to keep COVID-19 far from our own doors.

The world has changed since the heady beginning of 2020. We’ve become more careful and also more community focused. Many of us are realizing the joys of interacting with people in real life instead of from a screen. Everything has become a little bit cleaner, more sanitary. Everyone has become a whole lot more worried, more aware of our own mortality.

And more grateful for the blessings we currently have: a roof over our heads, food on the table, the promise of tomorrow.

How has your world changed with the pandemic? Sound off in the comments.

We Need to Talk About Military Spouse Financial Abuse

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Abuse. You think it means bruises and physical violence. Maybe aggressive name-calling and emotional torture. But putting conditions on and tying love to money is financial abuse – and it’s a real problem in the military community.

However, financial abuse is hard to spot. It’s so often hidden as budgeting or “being smart with spending.” Exerting so much control over finances, in such a way that one partner is subservient to the other, is abuse.

And we need to start talking about it ASAP.

We Need to Talk About Military Spouse Financial Abuse

What is financial abuse?

Simply put, it’s tightly controlling the spending, earning and maintaining financial resources. This can include:

  • connecting use of joint accounts to “good behavior”
  • denying access to debit or credit cards
  • preventing a partner from working or controlling earnings
  • down to the penny accounting for spending

That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how finances and money can be used by one spouse to control the other.

It’s Happening Right Next Door

Your neighbor. The couple you know from the squadron or unit. You.

Spousal financial abuse is literally happening all around you – and you might never know it. It’s sneaky and easy to hide.

I’ll never forget the moment when a friend told me that she had “lost” her debit card. My immediate reaction was to call her bank and request a new one.

“No,” she explained. She’d simply lost the privilege of using the debit card connected to the joint account she shares with her husband. He felt justified in removing her access to money because…

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter why he took away her debit card. Not cleaning the house to his preference was one reason supplied. Another was not seasoning dinner to his liking. Her fitness level, style of dress, socializing with others.

There were endless reasons supplied over three or so years. Each one blamed her for something he didn’t “prefer.”

It’s About Control – Not Love

For my friend and everyone trapped in an abusive relationship, it’s all about control.

Abuse, no matter what form it takes, is always about control and power. It is never about love.

What financial abuse does particularly well is to remove the abused partner’s means of escape.

Leaving often requires some money to get started. Money for a bus, plane or train ticket. Cash for a hotel room or short-term lease. Even just a way to pay for a cab.

Without access to money, the abused spouse is effectively trapped.

Military Life Seems to Make This Easier

As Lizann Lightfoot noted in an article on Military.com, military budgets are often stretched to the very limit. With payday arriving every two weeks, military families – especially those who are young or have additional debts – might structure their spending around when money arrives in their account.

Creating a budget to account for spending, debt and frequency of income – that’s normal. It makes sense, especially for families who walk a financial tightrope.

But a lot of “common” money practices aren’t normal:

  • hiding “his” money to pay for basics between payday
  • losing access to accounts, credit cards or debit cards
  • receiving a strict “allowance” to pay for all household basics
  • giving over control of your paycheck entirely
  • refusing you or your children the resources to pay for food, clothing, hygiene supplies or shelter
  • refusing you access to participate in the financial planning aspect of the family

These six reasons are, again, just the tip of the iceberg of financial abuse. Whatever methods the abuser takes, the intent is always about power, control and limiting their partner’s access to resources.

Military life makes it uniquely easier, in a sense, for one person to gain that level of control over the other.

Moving every three years limits many spouses’ career or job options. Without a steady salary or income, it’s not uncommon to think about “they earn it all, so they can spend it as they see fit.” It’s a justification for limiting one partner’s access to finances.

When one partner controls all the income and expenses, without input from the other, that could be financial abuse.

What Can You Do?

In our community, we’re used to relying on others for support and resources. Financial abuse is no different.

If you suspect a friend or acquaintance is a victim of financial abuse:

  • offer support: I’m here for you…
  • help them process: How does it feel when…
  • validate their feelings: Thanks for sharing…
  • offer resources: Can I help you find…
  • give them a way out: Could we make a plan, just in case…

Military spouses in abusive relationships of any type have resources built-in to help support their survival.

If you are in an abusive relationship, you can make a report. Your report will either be restricted or unrestricted.

Restricted reports:

  • report to Family Advocacy Program clinicians or advocates, or to your PCM
  • law enforcement is not involved
  • chain of command is not involved
  • access to counseling and an advocate to help formulate your next steps

Unrestricted reports:

  • law enforcement conducts an investigation
  • chain of command is involved
  • support available from CoC includes no-contact order or protective order
  • access to all Family Advocacy Program resources
  • rights to access legal services
  • assistance applying for transitional compensation

By reporting to command, financial allotments can also be set up to help the abused spouse stay financially stable during this period of transition.

How do you and your spouse or partner handle the finances? Sound off in the comment!

13 Pantry Raid One-Pot Meals for Self-Isolation

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Since we can’t just swing into the grocery store for that random, unique ingredient for a speciality dish – thanks, social distancing – we’re raiding the pantry and fridge for easy to pull together recipes with lots of flexibility.

Pantry Raid One-Pot Meals for Self-Isolation

All of these recipes feature ingredients that you probably already have at home, like canned or frozen veggies or baking mixes. We also included items that you also probably have in your fridge or freezer, like cold cuts, chicken or eggs.

Everything comes together in a snap and uses just one pot, skillet, casserole dish, sheet pan or slow cooker to cook. Some recipes are also leftover-friendly, which means you can repurpose yesterday’s dinner for today!

One-Pot Slow Cooker Meals from Pantry Staples

  • Dump Soup: grab a 32 oz. container of any stock or broth; add chopped onion; add 1-3 cans of any beans; add 1 large can of diced tomatoes; add your favorite frozen veggies; serve hot after cooking 3-5 hours on high/6-8 hours in low
  • Easy Peasy Chili: combine 2-4 cans beans, 1 large can diced tomatoes, one chopped onion; season with chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper; cook 4 hours on high/6-8 hours on low; serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa
  • Chili Remix Potatoes: save some chili; clean enough potatoes for your family and poke them all over with a fork; season with olive oil and salt/pepper; cook 2.5-4 hours on high/6-8 hours on low; top with leftover chili, cheese, sour cream and salsa – inspiration from Passionate Penny Pincher
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner: place a whole roasting chicken in your slow cooker, seasoned all over to your preference; cook on high for 4-6 hours/6-8 hours on low; 1-2 hours before your chicken is done add in foil-wrapped packets of potatoes and carrots, all peeled and chopped; finish cooking and serve; save the liquid for soup
  • Dump Chicken Soup: add the chicken cooking liquid + 32 oz. chicken broth to a slow cooker; add in shredded cooked chicken, any frozen veggies, any canned veggies; season to taste; cook on high 2-3 hours

We love slow cooker meals because it cooks while you live your life, minimal hands-on time required!

One Skillet Meals You’ll Love

Everything cooks in just one skillet for easy, peasy prep and cleanup!

  • Taco remix: use what you have on hand – tortillas, crunchy shells, tortilla chips, rice – it all works; saute onions and garlic in a skillet until soft; add in ground meat and cook until browned; chop tomatoes, shred lettuce; combine your meat, veggies and tortilla/crunchy shell/chips/rice, top with salsa, sour cream and cheese
  • Easy Chicken Biscuits: use 1 cup Bisquick, following the recipe on the box for drop biscuits (1c mix + 1 egg + a little milk); preheat the oven to 350; in an oven-safe skillet cook onions and garlic until soft; add in chopped celery; add in chopped fresh or frozen veggies like carrots, corn, peas, beans, etc.; add in leftover cooked chicken; add 1 c broth or 1 c milk; bring to a boil until the liquid slightly thickens; dollop the Bisquick mix in rounded spoonfuls over the top; put the whole skillet into the preheated oven for 10-20 minutes or until the biscuits are slightly browned on top
  • Toad in a Hole: butter slices of bread on both sides; use a drinking cup to cut a circle out of the center of each slice; place each buttered slice of bread onto the hot skillet and crack an egg into the hole; cook until egg is done to your preference, adding in the cut-out bread circle and browning it on both sides; after all bread has been used, brown some thick-cut ham in the same skillet; serve hot
  • Leftovers Rizzoto: use the rice you have – about 2 cups uncooked regular rice; saute onions and garlic in oil or butter in a skillet; add in rice and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly, over medium heat; add in 2 cups of chicken or veggie stock; simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until liquid is reduced; add more chicken broth to just cover rice and reduce again; repeat until rice is tender; add in cooked shredded chicken, peas or other leftovers; serve warm with Parmesan cheese

These meals require a little extra hands-on time, but still only dirty just one skillet.

Dinner on a Single Sheet Pan

Arrange all your dinner ingredients on a single sheet pan, cook in the oven and you’re done! These are super simple to DIY in a pinch.

Pro Tip: use a silicon mat or aluminum foil to really cut cleanup time!

  • Sausage & Onions: heat oven to 375º; on a sheet pan or baking sheet, arrange sausages (any kind); in a separate bowl, combine one onion that’s been cut into eighths and then separated, 2-4 peeled and quartered potatoes, 1-3 peeled and chunked carrots; in the veggie bowl, drizzle olive oil, season to your preference; add veggie to sheet pan; cook for 30-40 min or until sausages are cooked through and veggies are roasted
  • Fish & Chips: pat dry 3-6 unbreaded fish fillets, like Coleson’s Catch; arrange on one side of a sheet pan; sprinkle with lemon juice, salt, pepper, rosemary; add a very small pat of butter to each fillet; peel and cut into “fries” 2-3 sweet and/or russet potatoes; arrange potatoes on the other side of the pan; bake at 350º for 20-30 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork
  • Open Face Custom Sandwiches: divide 1-2 baguettes or French/Italian loaves into sections, enough for 1-2 servings per person; arrange on a sheet pan, crust down; spread butter over the face-up side of the bread; add your preferred cold cuts and cheese to each section; top with banana peppers, roasted tomatoes or peppers, etc. to your taste; season with herbs, salt, and/or pepper to your taste; bake at 350º for 15-20 min or until bread is crispy and cheese is melted; serve hot, with lettuce, tomato, avocado, etc. to your preference
  • 1 Pan Chicken Dinner: preheat the oven to 375º; in the middle of a sheet pan, arrange chicken thighs, breasts, or legs; drizzle olive oil over the chicken, season with salt, pepper, herbs or your favorite spices; around the chicken arrange peeled and quartered potatoes, chopped carrots, quartered onions, turnips, whole garlic gloves, etc.; bake for 30-45 min or until chicken is fully cooked

We love dinners that leave us with almost zero cleanup in the end!

What’s your favorite one-pot meal that uses pantry or fridge staples?

Plant a Patio Garden to Harvest Fresh Produce All Summer

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We’re all stuck at home for the foreseeable future. And we’re trying to limit our grocery shopping outings. Right now is the perfect time to plan for your long game by planting a patio or container garden!

Plant a Patio Garden to Harvest Fresh Produce All Summer

Planting a small garden on your patio or balcony can help you to add more fresh herbs or veggies into your diet, while also reducing your spending on produce.

Just think about how much you’ll spend on tomatoes alone this summer!

Planting your garden in containers or raised beds makes things easier to manage. You can also control just how many plants you raise and how much space you take up with your fun stay-at-home project.

Get Set for Gardening Success

Before you go hog wild at the nursery, you’ll need to set yourself up for success.

  1. Scout your yard, patio or balcony for a sunny spot
  2. Measure the area
  3. Decide which plants you’re going to prioritize; look for easy care plants
  4. Choose your containers – long rectangles, big pots, hanging pots, raised bed
  5. Do a little research into your ideal plants to see what they like – sun/shade, soil type, best planting times for your climate zone
  6. Sketch out your ideal garden using graph paper to keep things neat and organized

It’s important to take these steps before you start actually planting things. It would be such a bummer to buy tomatoes and then realize that you’re not in the best set-up to grow them!

Another great tip is to keep your containers, whatever they might be, easy for you to access while also providing ample space for plants to grow. For square planters, stick to about 4’x4′ to keep all your plants within arms reach. Round or oval planters should err on the side of being bigger instead of a bunch of very small containers. This will give growing plants space to spout and help you avoid multiple repottings.

You can grab all your pots and containers on Amazon, along with your seeds. For living seedlings, best for herbs, broccoli and tomatoes, you’ll need to dash into the nearest gardening center or home improvement store.

While you’re there, pick up your soil. Lowe’s has a handy calculator to help you figure out how much soil you’ll need to buy.

Planting for Maximum Produce

No matter how much you love beans, if that’s all you’re planting you might end up getting sick of them before you finish your harvest.

Instead, diversify your garden with several types of plants. Before you buy, keep the actual space you have in mind. A giant pumpkin, for example, isn’t ideal for a teeny, tiny patio. They need lots of space to spread out – something you might not have.

Instead, try these plants for the space you have:

  • Tomatoes: use stakes or tomato cages to keep everything under control
  • Eggplants
  • Peppers
  • Beans: grow on a trellis or fabric netting stretched vertically
  • Greens, like lettuce, kale, Swiss chard
  • Radishes: grow in a deeper pot for these root veggies
  • Herbs
  • Cucumbers: use cages, netting or stakes to help train these vines to take up the least space
  • Squash: train these vine-y plants up or over on a trellis

To increase your harvest per square foot, you could follow the pairing method of planting or the square foot gardening method.

Farmers Almanac recommends planting crops of different heights with various harvest times but that have complementary soil, sun and nutrient needs. Some good partners are:

  • tomatoes + basil
  • peppers + basil
  • corn + beans
  • cucumber + peas
  • radishes + leafy greens like lettuce and kale

Another high-yield planting plan is the square foot gardening method. Instead of planting in rows, this method uses 1’x1′ squares that are then divided up into smaller squares.

Different plants require different amounts of space. For example, one tomato plant can be planted in a square foot, but 16 carrot, radish or turnip plants can be planted in that same space.

Maintaining Your Crops

Now that you’re a gardener and your crops are planted, you’ll need to keep a watchful eye to ensure their growth and success.

Making sure that your plants are watered is the first step. Next is weeding out, well, weeds.

Pull plants that are unwanted, like dandelions and grass, from your gardening containers. Using the paired planting or square foot method helps you to see which plants are yours and which are “extra.”

Last, watch for bugs and pests. Tomatoes are prone to aphids and big green worms. You can use natural deterrents, like marigolds or strategic planting pairings, to avoid some of the problem. You may still need to physically remove pests or bugs. Treating your plants with a pesticide or all-natural spray is another way to keep them healthy.

What are your best small-space gardening tips and tricks? Sound off in the comments.

A Special Message to Our Dedicated Commissary Employees

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We Salute You!

To all of our dedicated commissary employees working hard to keep the commissaries open and operating in order to deliver the commissary benefit in 240 stores worldwide, we thank you!

 Your hard work and dedication prove that you too are among the many unspoken heroes to emerge during these unprecedented times. Our servicemembers and their families rely on your commitment to serve by keeping our commissaries functioning in a safe and efficient manner. Your mission is critical and like the men and women you serve, your expertise and devotion has not gone unnoticed.

 We know that you too are on the front lines. Helping our military community replenish and restock their homes with groceries and supplies is mission critical. These times are unparalleled, but the work you have done and continue to do will not go unrecognized.

So today, we salute you!  

Help Others While Staying Socially Distant

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We’re all trying to stay 6-8 feet apart to prevent the spread of coronavirus through our communities. However, with so many people out of work and needing support, we still want to support others through the pandemic.

Help Others While Staying Socially Distant

Helping people is second nature for many in the military and veteran community. We thrive on supporting people in times of need. But right now we also need to keep our distance to prevent infection with COVID-19.

You can do both! Try these simple ways to help others with staying socially distant!

Remember, donating is a 100% contactless way to support others and provide relief for our most vulnerable communities.

Help the Global Community

People around the world are suffering under the pandemic. You can help by supporting charities through targeted giving.

  • Doctors Without Borders: supporting communities in need
  • Red Cross: providing needed medical relief and supplies for communities around the world
  • Save the Children: supporting kids in need by providing medical care, education materials and food
  • World Health Organization: the WHO has been on the frontlines responding to the pandemic since the early stages – you can support that mission

Charitable Giving in the US

Keep your donations closer to home through donations to US-based charities that provide support to vulnerable people.

  • Donate blood: use America’s Blood to find a blood drive near you (note: this is not a contactless donation)
  • Boys & Girls Clubs: help keep kids from going hungry by donating to your local chapter or the national organization
  • CERF+: support artists and craftspeople who are impacted by lost income due to canceled events or those who have fallen ill
  • DirectRelief: help them deliver needed protective equipment and supplies that medical professionals needs to keep operations going
  • Feeding America: helping by providing food boxes, supporting food pantries and keeping local operations running with grants
  • No Kid Hungry: supporting children who rely on school to provide nutritious meals and children in food insecure households
  • Meals on Wheels: help senior citizens eat with a donation to this essential organization
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities: supporting the families of critically ill children with housing and meals; currently repurposing some spaces for doctors and medical professionals who are on the frontlines of the pandemic

Give Support in Your Community

While helping on a global or national scale is definitely needed, there are lots of ways to donate in your own backyard. Remember: giving your money or in-kind donations if often contactless!

  • Donate to your local food back, either with monetary support or non-perishable goods
  • Check with the local school districts to see if they need support
  • Call senior centers and nursing homes to find out what they need
  • Contact animal rescues and shelters to find out more about fostering an animal or supporting in another way
  • Contact the local chapters of the Red Cross, No Kid Hungry or similar groups to offer your donations
  • Coordinate with homeless shelters or other support organizations to help pack kits of supplies or donate in another way

If you are stuck for ideas, search online for:

your community + coronavirus + donate

More Personal Ways to Help Your Hometown

If you don’t or can’t donate money, consider donating your time and energy. You can still help your neighbors in large and small ways during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Sew masks out of fabric
  • 3D print masks
  • Run errands for those in quarantine or who are at high risk of infection
  • Mow lawns and weed gardens
  • Walk dogs for overwhelmed parents, as well as elderly or ill neighbors
  • Take part in community scavenger hunts, like stuffed animal safaris or rainbow hunts
  • Offer your services for free, via online booking systems
  • Read children’s stories out loud on YouTube or Facebook LIVE
  • Surprise your loved ones with letters or postcards

Helping in the Military Communities We Love

Military families might be facing extra strain during this time, especially since the “normal” flow of our lives has been disrupted in different ways.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is providing support for Marines and sailors who have hit financial hardship.

The Air Force Aid Society is also providing support for airmen and their families during the pandemic.

You could also connect with the chaplains for your unit or at the nearest base. Ask about on-post food banks or ways to help.

Contact the CDCs on-base to see if they need supplies or protective equipment. Many child care centers are remaining open to provide care for essential military and civilian personnel.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is providing guidance and support for veterans throughout the pandemic. They are offering grants and monetary support for eligible veterans facing unemployment due to coronavirus.

VFW posts around the country are finding ways to support local veterans and the greater communities they serve. Contact your local VFW to learn about their work and how you can help.

How are you supporting others while staying safe? Sound off in the comments.

Channel the Greatest Generation to Grit Through the Pandemic

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Before D-Day and the Pacific island hopping campaign, the Greatest Generation learned the hard way how to get through the toughest of times. Many who served in World War II, as well as those who waited on the home front, had already survived the Great Depression, a time of massive unemployment and food insecurity beginning in 1929 and lasting right up to the start of the war.

Channel the Greatest Generation to Grit Through the Pandemic

As we face our own great test, the coronavirus pandemic, we should be modeling ourselves after the gritty men and women who made the best of what they had.

Facing an Uncertain Future

The Greatest Generation lived their formative years and early adulthood under the strain of economic depression. Families scraped by on what little they had and work was often scarce.

Jobs were uncertain. Food supply was uncertain. Life was a roller coaster.

Then, the world was plunged into a violent war across two oceans and continents. Even survival wasn’t guaranteed for the troops; loved ones lived with the knowledge that loss was likely imminent.

And yet, they survived. Many thrived. They lived to, literally, fight another day.

They did it by living in gratitude for what they had. This generation enjoyed simple pleasures and treasured their families.

Communities pulled together to get by during those challenging times.

Here’s how we can use the lessons of the Greatest Generation today:

  • love your family well
  • enjoy what you have today
  • be grateful for what you have
  • share what you can, when you can
  • tell your loved ones how you feel
  • save what you can for the future

Missing Loved Ones

During the Depression, many husbands and fathers needed to move away from their families just to find work. Then all able bodied men and many women joined the fight in World War II.

Missing someone they loved was a fact of life.

Here’s how the Greatest Generation made it through:

  • writing letters
  • sending pictures
  • keeping diaries
  • phoning when able
  • making the most of the days they were together

Use those tips with a modern twist:

  • send emails instead of, or in addition to, writing letters or postcards
  • start a shared photo album or add new photos to a digital photo frame
  • use a shared Google Doc to write down your experiences daily
  • connect via video chat
  • play games virtually via video chat
  • watch a move together, separately with Netflix Party
  • make plans for fun with friends and family post-pandemic

Essential Food Shortages

Before the current pandemic even started to really hit the US, stores saw their entire stock of toilet paper get wiped out. Now, we’re seeing shortages of food essentials like flour, milk, bread and eggs.

This wouldn’t have been unfamiliar to the WW2 generation. They lived through the Depression, when many food items were simply too expensive to buy frequently. And then the War brought food rationing to help keep the troops well fed.

They learned how to cook with smart swaps, like using applesauce for eggs or oil. We can use some of these recipes today!

What they couldn’t buy, they often learned to grow themselves! Almost every family had a victory garden in their yard, on their patio or as part of a larger community garden. You can still see victory gardens in Boston.

You can use these tips from the Greatest Generation to handle food shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • grow your favorite veggies at home in containers or raised beds
  • plant herbs in tin cans and place in a sunny window
  • join a CSA or farm co-op in your area to support local farmers and grab fresh produce
  • use pantry staples to cook filling meals
  • bake your own bread, if possible
  • learn how to can or pickle

Limited Travel Options

During World War II, gas was rationed, as were rubber tires. Both materials were desperately needed to supply the troops overseas.

This caused travel to be very limited. No long road trips!

Today, we are all mostly limited to socially distant outings in our immediate area. We can’t cross state lines for fun or adventure anymore.

In addition, flying for any non-essential reason is frowned upon. Cruises are floating petri dishes, too.

Vacations are basically canceled for the foreseeable future.

Channel the Greatest Generation to have fun in your own backyard:

  • explore a local hiking trail
  • take a walk in your neighborhood
  • garden
  • play games outside
  • sit outside and read
  • treat your town like a tourist – explore outside locations

Note: all activities in public spaces should be outside and observing the 6-8 foot social distancing guideline. Avoid crowded places, playgrounds and indoor activities in public places.

How has coronavirus impacted your daily life? Sound off in the comments.