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A Remote Learning Guide for Military Families Thrust into Homeschooling for the First Time

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If you’ve never been a homeschooler with schools around the country going to distance learning; you are now a military family homeschool. You may be lucky like I am with a school that anticipated a scenario where students would be at home and fully implemented a digital school plan. We finished regular school the week before and started distance learning the following Monday. Many aren’t so lucky. So here is a guide to help you out.

The most important thing to know is that a homeschool day is much shorter than a normal school day which is what appeals to those that homeschool full time. Most children work well independently and can complete their schoolwork by lunchtime. Create a schedule and if you want the school day longer you will have to plan for it. Consider adding art, music, virtual library time and P.E. to extend the day.

Photo Credit: ©Наталия Кузина /Adobe Stock

Create A Schedule

This is the number one most important thing you need to do. Treat each weekday as if it is a school/work day and follow a set routine. Children function much better when they know what to expect each day. Plan the day to mimic a school day. A simple routine:

Early morning – Wake children up at their normal weekday time. Have everybody get dressed, eat breakfast and complete any morning chores such as making their beds.

Morning – School begins at a set hour. Make sure you review requirements from your children’s school. They may have requirements to be online at a certain time. This is a good time to review what work they must complete for the day.

Lunch – Everyone in the household takes the same lunch break. Have time to eat and then have the kids get outside for a bit.

Afternoon – Finish up any work not completed in the morning. The afternoon should be devoted to electives like art, music, PT etc.

Dinner –

Evening – Free time, evening chores homework and then a set bedtime each night.

This routine is super simple and sometimes that is the best. Lindsay Power, @NoShameParenting has some great advice on Raising Kids During the Coronavirus and not being so stressed about being the perfect homeschool parent.

Military One Source is a great resource for military family homeschoolers because it also lists resources available on military installations. Here are their suggestions for planning your homeschool week:

  • Consider your child’s age. Transitioning to home-based learning will be very different for a preschool student than a middle or high school student. Discuss your expectations for learning at home and go over any concerns so you are on the same page.
  • Set and follow a weekday schedule for starting and ending the school day and going to bed. All children benefit from structure, even if they try to resist it.
  • Build in flexibility to accommodate your own work and other responsibilities. You may be teleworking, for example. See if you and your spouse, partner or another adult in your household can share some of the teaching. It might also help to set aside time in the evenings to check over assignments or work together on reading and other skills.
  • Take breaks. Schedule time during the school day for lunch, snacks and age-appropriate breaks. Think physical education, recess, etc.
  • Build in time for creativity. Make time for music, art and other creative subjects. This may include time for your child to practice an instrument, draw, paint, try their hand at drama or develop other skills. Have younger children practice counting by stacking blocks, or build a fort from sheets.
  • Help your child safely connect with friends and relatives. Connecting with friends and family members outside your household is important. Work with your child’s school, their friends’ parents and others to help them stay in touch. Consider taking turns leading virtual lessons or hosting virtual play dates. Have your child write letters to people they care about while practicing handwriting and grammar.

Preschoolers

A note on preschoolers. This can be a real challenge as not every state has preschool as part of the school system. The National Head Start Association which specializes in preschool education has a wealth of free resources to Learn at Home. I found their information on Noggin from Nickelodeon to be very helpful. They are offering three months free and have hundreds of read-aloud e-books, games, songs and other content geared to preschoolers. The platform also has a weekly series of play activities to do offline. Perfect for getting out all that toddler energy.

School Age Children

Make sure to tap into all the resources available through your child’s school. Most schools are going to digital learning with virtual lessons and online assignments. Help your child log on and if needed read instructions together to help them understand the requirements. Reach out to teachers or counselors for any help you may need. Also keep in touch if you have any issues regarding technology or if your child falls behind in the work that is do.

Electives

Integrate the arts and physical activity into each school day. You may also want to consider offering life skills and teach your children how to cook and do laundry. I once worked at a wilderness education program and we taught children math by planning and cooking meals.

Installation Resources

Each installation has homeschooling resources. Reach out to the school liaison officers to find out what is available on your base. If you are stationed overseas check out the Head Start/Sure Start programs . Did you know Military OneSource has Education Consultants? Call 800.342.9647 to make a one-on-one session to discuss your child’s education. They can help you find resources in your area.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Digital Library has tons of free online resources for children, teens and adults. In addition to e-books there are educational resources such as ScienceFlix which has hands-on projects. Videos and other interactive features to help teach science concepts and ideas.

Art, Music and Physical Education

Art can be anything from simple art projects. Pinterest or Michael’s are great resources for ideas. Look for your favorite art museum online. While they are closed many are offering special activities for children. The National Gallery of Art (NGA) kids app for iPad is an immersive experience giving children the opportunity to explore more than 300 years of art history. Animation and audio features make learning fun.  The app covers: Portrait, Landscape, Seascape, Still Life, Action Painting, Exploring Color, Color Field, Collage, Sketchbook, and My Art Gallery. This is a great resource. A fun activity is to have children pick a favorite famous painting and recreate it for sharing on social media.

Many music teachers that have military family students offer virtual lessons so a student can continue with the same instructor even after they move. Gen Mayo, is a veteran homeschool mom and a music teacher for over 25 years. On her blog, Music In Your Homeschool she shares Six Ways to Teach Music in Your homeschool. A very good resource. If you don’t want to get too technical, have an afternoon dance party. Introduce your children to different genres of music and explain what you like or dislike about each one.

Physical Education – For many families the military member is working from home now too. What a great resource to lead family PT each day. This is a good opportunity for the service member to connect with their children while giving the spouse a break. Mary Ann Kelley, has managed a homeschool website for more than 20 years. Read her Ideas for Homeschool PT.  Childcare Extension has some useful tips on integrating motor development and fine motor skills into play and learning. They also recommend a variety of resources.

Other Resources

The QNS website offers so many websites and resources. The COVID-19 Shelter in Place rules will be lifted before you have checked out everything listed on this site!

This is a tough and challenging time for everyone.

Most importantly, Be Kind to Yourself. And…

Enlist your spouse to assist with homeschool duties. What are your favorite homeschool tips which are helping you get through being a homeschool teacher?

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

How to Clean Your Groceries to Avoid COVID-19

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Coronavirus is impacting almost every corner of the globe, causing a wave of stay-at-home orders.

At this time, it is still uncertain how long coronavirus survives on surfaces. The WHO estimates that the virus can linger from a few hours or a few days.

How to Clean Your Groceries to Avoid COVID-19

Unfortunately, we all still need to eat. Which means grocery shopping yourself, using a service to facilitate store pickup or option for delivery. To keep yourself and your family healthy, it’s important to follow a few safety tips.

Staying Safe at the Grocery Store

We’re all wiping down all the surfaces in our homes regularly, so we’ve got cleaning wipes on-hand. If you’re running low or forget your stash, use the wipes at the store to thoroughly wipe down your shopping cart to basket.

According to the Huffington Post, it’s advised to scrub the handle of your cart. This means that you’ll want to do more than just a quick swipe. Put a little muscle into your cleaning.

If you’re shopping with a younger child, you should also wipe down the entire seat, including the metal parts of the cart.

Carry hand sanitizer with you. Use it after you clean off the cart. Then use it again after you have checked out.

Avoid using cash, if possible, Instead, use your credit card. If you need to sign a physical receipt, use your own pen.

This will help minimize the amount of possible transfer. Lots of people touch these places every day, and you don’t know how safe they are being right now.

You Touch It, You Buy It

Follow one simple rule at the store: if you touch a product, it becomes yours.

Yes, you do want the best produce and you need to check the ingredients list. Unfortunately, you and lots of other people are also touching all the things. And they might not have completed sanitation measures to eliminate possible germ transfer.

Instead of doing a touch test on produce, do a visual check for bumps and bruises. If you see something off, don’t buy that particular piece of fruit or veggie.

For packaged items, stick to what you know – especially if you have an allergy or dietary restriction. Now is perhaps not the time to try new brands or foods.

If you do need to pick up product, Huffington Post experts recommend using a plastic bag as a glove. Pick up the produce and immediately place it into another plastic bag or your own cloth produce bag. Tie the bag and stash it in your cart.

Avoid Contamination at Home

After you’ve secured the groceries, you need to bring them into your (sanitized) home.

Dr. Jeffery VanWingen shared his essential tips in a now-viral video.

He suggests setting up one surface, like a counter or table, as a cleaning space. Divide it into two zones: clean and not clean.

Use these main points from his video to help protect your family:

  • wash produce, like fruits or veggies, in warm water and give a gentle scrub for about 20 seconds
  • use a cleaning spray, like Lysol, and a paper towel to give all nonporous packaging a good wipe down; think: ice cream cartons, yogurt containers, bread bags, plastic bags of snacks
  • move bread and other bagged items into a clean container, then seal it
  • remove cereal bags and recycle boxes immediately

If you don’t want to do this cleaning process in your house, you could also do it outside.

Instead of two zones, have a “clean” bin to place groceries into after you’ve wiped them off.

Dr. VanWingen suggests skipping cloth or reuseable bags right now, in favor of single-use plastic bags. If you’d prefer to use your cloth bags, it’s important to clean them between grocery store trips. Good Housekeeping recommends popping cloth bags into the washing machine and giving plastic-y bags a good wipe down with warm soapy water.

Basic Safety Measures to Avoid COVID-19

First the good news: according to the CDC, it is not believed that coronavirus is transmitted via the GI tract. This means that you shouldn’t get sick if you eat food with COVID-19 germs on it.

However, since this is such a new disease, scientists are still working to understand its transmission and infection process.

To stay safe no matter where you are going, follow these basic safety precautions:

  • wear a fabric mask or face covering, like this no-sew version
  • wear gloves
  • avoid touching objects unnecessarily
  • pick off-peak times to visit shops and stores
  • wash your hands frequently, especially after handling objects, coughing, or sneezing
  • use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands
  • wipe down carts and shopping baskets with disinfecting wipes

The most important way to prevent the spread of coronavirus is to stay at home as much as possible. Limit your trips to essential needs only, like trips to the doctor, grocery store or pharmacy. Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people and stay at least 6 feet away from people outside of your immediate household.

How has your life changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Sound off in the comments.

Take a Virtual Vacation Since Your IRL Trips are 100% Canceled This Year

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Spring break is totally 2019! Or at least that what I’m trying to get my family to believe. Up until a month ago, we were still planning our epic Spring Break road trip to New England. Now we’re stuck in our house, dreaming of a day when we’ll be able to hop a quick flight to literally anywhere.

Instead of totally bumming about your canceled plans, take a virtual vacation instead!

Take a Virtual Vacation Since Your IRL Trips are 100% Canceled This Year

Luckily, we still have internet and streaming services. So we can at least plan for our next great adventure even when we’re stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s how we’re passing the time and getting psyched for our next adventure.

Travel Shows That Make You Feel Like You’re There

Travel shows are awesome! I love to watch some that feature favorite vacation spots as well as pie-in-the-sky dream destinations.

Here’s what’s on my watchlist:

  • Parts Unknown: late, great chef/adventurer Anthony Bourdain is a fan favorite because it’s not about the touristy hotspots, but about highlighting the off-the-beaten-path gems and unique cuisine of cool places around the globe; we especially love the Okinawa episode
  • Travels with My Father: comedian Jack Whitehall and his very conservative dad, Michael, head to southeast Asia in season 1 of this Netflix series; hilarity and familial struggles ensue
  • Planet Earth series: experience the wonder and majesty of our planet in this incredible documentary series that brings you to places you’ve never believed possible
  • Somebody Feed Phil: another food-centric show featuring the creator of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Phil Rosenthal, traveling around the world and eating all the things

I love travel shows because they show a real, albeit celebrity, person traveling. I get extra insights into the food and allure of different locations. For example, had I not binged Thailand and Hong Kong travel shows prior to our trips in 2017 and 2018, we might have missed some really cool experiences like eating fresh made dumplings and noodles at a tiny little store down a back alley. Or taking a train out to the Bridge on the River Kwai.

Travel Movies to Watch Right Now

Movies are great ways to see a highly finessed version of locations. But they’re also a perfect way to sink deep into the romance of a place without every visiting. Plus, as an added bonus, you don’t even have to be in the current era. You can 100% go back to the early 1900s in Paris.

I’m going to watch these movies during our pandemic shutdown:

  • Under the Tuscan Sun: a newly divorced woman travels to Tuscany with friends and ends up buying a villa! It’s not a spoiler to let you know that she’ll fall in love before the end of the movie.
  • Letters to Juliet: a young American woman and her chef fiance travel to Italy on a buying trip where she stumbles upon a secret society connected to Romeo & Juliet as well as her perfect match; the road trip around Italy will steal your heart
  • Indiana Jones movies: every movie takes place in a different, exciting location and features our dashing archaeologist saving the day – while getting the girl and vanquishing Nazis
  • Into the Wild: the romance of the Alaskan wilderness is dipped in tragedy that ends badly; this is a movie based on a book which is based on real life
  • The Sound of Music: not only do you get Julie Andrews, you get her in pre-war Austria in all its glory
  • Bottle Shock: witness the start of Napa Valley as a world-renowned wine region in this fictionalized version of the 1976 wine competition in Paris; it features the late Alan Rickman
  • Emma: whether you’re watching the 2020 version, 1996 Gwyneth Paltrow feature or the 2009 BBC miniseries, this is a winner – romance, history, Jane Austen and the beauty of the English countryside
  • Eat Pray Love: a woman embarks on a journey of self-discovery across southeast Asia and finds love along the way

Virtual Experiences to Transport You

Movies and TV are great, but sometimes you just want an immersive experience. These virtual travel experiences will help you to imagine you’ve escaped the house!

We’re loving:

  • Virtual Disney World: ride all the rides without a line via this YouTube channel that uses a 360º view to help you feel like you’re really there
  • Fullscreen360: travel around the world, from the US to overseas, with this incredible website; we love the Grand Palace in Bangkok
  • Japan: Visit Japan highlights the diverse beauty and experiences possible across their island nation in this engaging video
  • DC Cherry Blossoms: the festival went virtual this year – including a National Park Ranger-led tour!
  • Google Earth x UNESCO: travel to 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world thanks to this digital service
  • Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: even though all the Smithsonians are shuttered, you can still check out the recently updated dinosaur exhibit on a virtual tour!
  • National Zoo: check up on the cuddly pandas or hairless naked mole rats on the Zoo’s live stream feeds!

Where are you virtually traveling this year? Share your favorite virtual experiences, shows or movies in the comments!

Why Now is the Perfect Time for Military Spouses to Read a Book

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By Marguerite Cleveland

Now is the perfect time to read a book. Military Spouses across the country are embracing the extra time they have and opening up a book to escape into other worlds. Shelter in Place means no FRG meetings or volunteer work. Homeschooling is a perfect time to read as you monitor your child’s education and are available for questions. Here are why your fellow Military Spouses are picking up a book:

  • Susanna Hickman Bartee – Definitely finding more time to read with all of the after school and evening activities suspended. I find I just want to escape. Historical fiction is always my go to genre.
  • Stacie Preston Pogoncheff – This is a perfect time to read a book, as it gives you the perfect place to escape the monotony of staying home and social distancing. I had set a yearly goal to read 25 books, small as we were supposed to be moving…that 25 is now my pandemic goal. I have read 3 books in the last 2 weeks.
  • Tina Winn – I always read, but lately (with my teaching schedule) I’ve gravitated towards quicker, easier reads or reading novels for children to get ideas for my classroom. Knowing I am going to have a lot of time on my hands made this the perfect time to dive in!
  • Kirsten Campbell – This is the perfect time to accomplish lots of things we never seem to have time to do. Now we have time to read for pleasure, read to learn something new, read with our newly homeschooled students, just don’t read any more about COVID-19!
  • Jamie Lynn Blum- I’m in multiple book clubs, they keep me sane and grounded even in normal times. I’m not reading as much as I usually do now that I’m “crisis schooling” my children and doing my full-time job from home. I’ve been going for runs at night after my children are in bed (grandparents are home) and I listen to books on Audible. I’ve gone from 4-5 books a month to 3.
  • Patty Hembree – I don’t feel guilty taking time to read or escaping to a quiet room to read because no one has to go to a practice, so dinner doesn’t “need” to be served at a certain time and no urgent errands to be run. I’m “reading” 2 books at once nowadays. I listen to an audible  book while I run every morning and read a book at home.
  • Mary Christina Hold -This is the perfect time to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. We all desperately need an escape right now and a good book can let you travel mentally and emotionally into a different place. While my rate of reading personal books has actually gone down during this time due to my kids being home, it has allowed me to explore stories with my kids instead. We have been reading out loud together books from my childhood. These read-alongs are giving us all a much needed break from the difficult times.
  • Sarah Becking – I’m actually reading less right now because I’m working from home, and working in my garden, and then I started volunteering at a food bank, because many of their regulars are high risk, and their demand has increased.

With libraries and bookstores around the country closed, where can you get your book fix?

You Have Free E-Book Options Available To You Now!

When stuck at home, download Kindle from Amazon. You don’t have to purchase a Kindle to be able to read e-books just download the software from Amazon and read on your phone, tablet or computer. And with so many companies trying to ease the stress of quarantine, they’re offering free e-books from time to time. Disney, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iBooks have all made some E-books available at no cost.

If you are a member of Amazon Prime there is a whole section devoted to free reading for Prime members. Another option is to go online to your base’s library.  The Army MWR Library, Navy MWR Library, and Air Force Digital Library are all online resources to check out ebooks as well as a variety of other media and educational digital content. The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Digital Library is a wealth of digital content for children, teens and adults. In addition to eBooks, you can access digital newspapers, listen to concerts and take online classes. Well worth checking out. Also check out your local library online. Many are now offering digital library cards and have a variety of eBooks you can check out.

Did you know eBooks were first created back in 1971 by Michael Hart? He created Project Gutenberg to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks. The project has over 60,000 eBooks that can be read using a kindle or the free Epub Reader. Most of the books are older books that are out of copywrite protection and in the public domain. The program is volunteer run and a good source for out of print books you may have wanted to read.

Invest in a Daydream

And for those titles that aren’t available for free, you deserve to read what you want now more than ever. Invest in that book you’ve been eyeing for some time. Now is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book and get lost.

Nothing Compares to a Good Old Fashioned Hard Cover or Paperback

If you’re a book lover that truly loves the feel of the pages between your fingers, we’ve got you too! You can still read the old fashioned way. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble and HudsonBooksellers.com to order physical copies of the books you can’t wait to get your hands on and have them shipped directly to your home.

Are you reading more during the Covid-19 outbreak? What is on your reading list?

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

Canceled Spring Sidewalk Sale Among Many Adjustments Commissaries are Making Due to Coronavirus Concerns

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The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) recently announced the cancellation of the annual Spring Sidewalk Sales as well as other special events in the wake of COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus) concerns. “The cancellation of these events is due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our employees, customers and industry partners,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA’s director of sales.

DeCa has also implemented a rationing system. In-Store signage will indicate if an item is rationed and what the allowable quantity is. You also won’t be able to place a special order on these items. So no gaming the system and special ordering toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Commissary Store Directors decide locally which items are limited based on availability. Likely items include bottled water, spray disinfectant, baby wipes/sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, rice and bleach.

Central distribution centers, the central meat processing plant and DeCA stores are all designated mission-critical in DOD’s response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic according to Virginia S. Penrod, acting assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “”Providing for the care and feeding of our military members and families is a critical requirement that must be accomplished at all health protection condition levels,” she announced.

Grocery stores tend to have a high level of sanitation due to food safety concerns and with the outbreak your Commissaries are working hard to keep you safe. Commissary customers worried about whether or not it’s safe to shop in the store shouldn’t be, said Army Lt. Col. Angela Parham, DeCA director of health and safety. “We follow the highest standards of DOD health protection in our stores,” she said. “This means we are always vigilant to ensure our workforce follows the strictest precautionary measures including routine hand washing and other basic sanitation measures to avoid spreading germs.”

“Our commissaries undergo daily sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning regimens tailored to protect our customers’ health,” Parham added. “These routine measures used by food establishments to prevent ordinary foodborne illness also work to keep viruses from spreading and help keep customers and employees from getting sick.”

Here are other changes DeCA has made to ensure the health and safety of employees and patrons.

  • commissary cashiers will no longer handle patron ID cards. Instead, customers will be asked to scan their own ID; cashiers may use the handheld scanner if available.
  • 100% I.D. card checks at the entrance of the store. Children under 10 with their parents don’t have to have an ID Card.
  • Guests/Visitors will no longer be allowed to accompany patrons at the commissary.
  • designated ‘COVID-19 Vulnerable’ hours – check your local commissary for hours
  • No ‘Early Bird’ shopping hours.
  • As an additional precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic, the commissary will discontinue the use of reusable shopping bags.

When shopping the commissary in the next few weeks, make sure to allow extra time for I.D. checks and slower moving lines with social distancing. Don’t stress the system by shopping only for what you typically need and be conscious of your fellow patrons by not clearing the shelves of a select item.

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

How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Impacting Your Military Life

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Since January, when the coronavirus and COVID-19 first reached US shores, this pandemic disease has virtually shutdown life as we knew it. Across all duty stations, our military community is feeling the direct impact of coronavirus, too.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Impacting Your Military Life

We’re all feeling the effects of self-isolation and social distancing. But there are some unique circumstances for military troops and their families.

Troop Movements Halted by Pandemic

Military brass spent time since late January pondering just what to do about troops leaving for and returning from deployment, as well as PCS moves. On March 25, the DOD announced a halt to all overseas troop movements.

What this means is the troops scheduled to deploy or return from OCONUS deployments are officially on hold until at least May 11. Troops deployed around the world will be staying put. For units scheduled to leave, they’re staying where they are until further notice.

While this is likely welcome news for families who were getting ready to say goodbye to their loved ones, it’s been heartbreaking for those waiting for homecoming. Even with reunions days away, all movements that weren’t already actively in progress were halted.

In addition, as of March 16, there was a CONUS stop movement order issued on government-funded travel. This includes PCS orders. Service members who are anticipating or already have PCS orders should immediately contact their chain of command for further guidance.

Since PCSing is a stressful time, Move.mil has issued guidance to help troops navigate these unprecedented times.

Teleworking for Troops

Given the current pandemic, unit commanders have been given additional flexibility in allowing remote work, as possible.

Not all troops are able to telework, since some essential activities require service members to be physically present. However, teleworking options have been opened up with wide availability.

To see if your job could be handled remotely, in part or in whole, please coordinate with your immediate supervisor and chain of command.

Out-of-Area Leave Cancelled

Trips that were planned outside of your military family’s immediate local area have been canceled both by the US DOD and many state or local governments. Forty-five states have issued stay-at-home orders, in part or in whole, that prohibit leaving your home except in very specific, essential circumstances.

Troops are able to take leave, so long as they remain at or near their duty station.

Leave outside of this restrictions is cancelled, including CONUS and OCONUS travel.

DODEA, Public & Private Schools Closed

Across the US and the DODEA system, K-12 schools are closed.

Students and teachers are all transitioning to distance education, navigating this new reality together.

Families should support their child’s education by coordinating and communicating with the school and teachers.

On-Base Services

Fitness centers at some military bases remain open, while others have been closed. This appears to be a base-by-base decision, with final approval given to base commanders.

Base commanders also have the last say about closing libraries and other on-base facilities. Commanders are consulting their branch leadership and medical professionals to make decisions. Closures will likely change as the infection spreads throughout the US.

The commissary and exchanges remain open on most, if not all, military bases. Some bases have curbside pickup options at both the PX and the commissary. Check with the management at your locations to see what’s available.

Medical & Pharmacy Services

Some military MTFs are still seeing patients for routine appointments. However, that is not the case for all clinics or specialty care providers. You should contact your provider’s office to see if your appointment is still happening.

Military pharmacies have also issued a contingency plan to guide beneficiaries and ensure medications will be filled as needed. These may include staggered pickup times and moving some patients to retail or mail-order prescriptions. As a final option, some military pharmacies may end up closing.

For TriCare beneficiaries using civilian medical providers and retail pharmacies, it’s important that you contact your healthcare team to verify their policy.

Off-Base Services & Retail

Restrictions vary by location, since policy is largely determined by state and local government officials. As noted above, 45 states are under some form of stay-at-home or shelter-in-place guidance.

In many locations, the following places are closed:

  • libraries
  • movie theaters
  • concert or music venues
  • playgrounds and parks
  • running and hiking trails
  • shopping malls
  • non-essential businesses
  • gyms

In addition, many restaurants have moved to takeout or delivery only.

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your military life?

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research at the Forefront in the War Against COVID-19: Vaccine in the Works

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The Army has a long history of fighting infectious disease. Prior to World War I most battlefield deaths were caused by disease. Researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) are significantly contributing to the ongoing COVID-19 response. WRAIR has a robust infrastructure and decades of experience that allows researchers to rapidly respond to outbreaks and develop tests, vaccines and treatments on an accelerated timeline. With clinical research sites and laboratories all over the world, the military and civilian scientists can identify and prepare for emerging infectious disease threats.

“WRAIR was established 127 years ago to combat these type of health threats,” said WRAIR Commander Col. Deydre Teyhen. “We have every confidence in our civilian and Soldier scientists to work at the speed of relevance to develop new products to protect and treat our Service Members, beneficiaries and the global community.” WRAIR has a long legacy of response to emerging infectious diseases. It was the first to test humans for the current Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, and develop a Zika vaccine from conception to human testing in less than 9 months. These are just a few of their many accomplishments in the field.

Dr. Kavon Modjarrad is the director of WRAIR’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch (EIDB) and is leading the COVID-19 efforts to develop a vaccine. “We have been working on this since the beginning of the outbreak. If we hadn’t done that, we’d be weeks behind,” he said. Modjarrad’s experience with other coronavirus strains will be invaluable to these efforts. He was a researcher on the first human trial of a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) vaccine candidate and recently published the results. It is a coronavirus strain with a fatality rate of nearly 40%.

The EIDB research team has been working on a vaccine for almost three months now with promising early results. “Personnel at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), in partnership with other laboratories in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), are working quickly to develop a safe and effective vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. In the first days after COVID-19 was first identified as a new threat, we began designing our vaccine approach.  On January 9th, when the first genetic sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the illness known as COVID-19, were published, we started work on our vaccine,” said Modjarrad.

“Currently, my core team of approximately 20 scientists is designing, developing and testing several different versions of our vaccine in mice to identify the most promising candidate.  From there, we plan to take that vaccine forward for testing in larger animals and humans. We are currently on track to begin recruiting for a first-in-human trial in July and start the first vaccinations in September,” he said.

The team is also working closely with academic, government and industry efforts to develop other vaccines in an effect to get a vaccine to the public as soon as possible. “WRAIR is a singular national asset for developing vaccines, whether our own homegrown candidate or another on which we partner. We want to get a horse across the finish line as fast as possible, whether it’s ours or someone else’s, to protect our military families and civilians as soon as possible. At this early stage, having several vaccines in the pipeline improves the chances and pace of getting a successful vaccine for the public,” Modjarrad shared. 

The team is facing many challenges particularly that currently, there are no FDA-approved vaccines against any coronavirus. They also have some advantages. “We have experience studying other coronaviruses and we have developed some vaccines against some of those other coronaviruses. I have been fortunate to be the principal investigator of the first-in-human vaccine for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus at WRAIR.  The approaches we took for that vaccine and other approaches that are being used for COVID-19 have been tested for other viruses as well. This gives us a little bit of a head start in making a vaccine for COVID-19,” he said.

Like many first responders and health care professionals, they are facing the challenge of this work amid a pandemic. They face the same daily challenges of taking care of children and parents while working to prevent the spread of the virus.

In addition to working on a vaccine the scientists at WRAIR, as part of the Army response, are working with government and industry partners on a range of efforts to prevent and treat the illness. Modjarrad said, “In addition to the vaccine, there are other prevention strategies, to include specific antibodies that can be used as treatments. We are also working with partners to understand how best to select plasma, a fraction of blood, from survivors that can be transferred into sick COVID-19 patients as another treatment option. Our Experimental Therapeutics Branch is also partnering with industry and using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to screen libraries of more than six million compounds for their activity against COVID-19 to design new drugs from scratch.  They are working on existing drugs that can be used for COVID-19.”

With talented researchers such as Dr. Modjarrad and his team, there is a lot to be hopeful for regarding future treatments and the prevention of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses.

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

Military Families Get Priority Access to CDCs Following Review of Services

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Military families may soon have an easier time enrolling their children into on-base CDCs, thanks to a new policy created by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper in February.

This major change comes after Esper heard from military families recently.

“Child care is very important, so I want to put dollars there and I want to make sure we get the policies right,” Esper explained at a February town hall meeting with the Association of the U.S. Army. “I’ve got a lot of military kids who are not in on-base child care, and they should be. So it’s things like that I’m going to change, either from a funding perspective or a policy perspective.”

Military Families Get Priority Access to CDCs Following Review of Services

Effective June 1, 2020, active duty US military families will be given a higher priority to accessing child care at on-base centers. At that time, they will be bumped to the second-highest priority category, right behind the children of the actual CDC staff.

It is important to note that this category is going to be reserved for children of single active duty parents or in families where both families are actively serving in the military.

The categories are as follows:

  1. CDC staff
  2. single AD parents/dual military families; AD families with two parents who are working full-time
  3. families with an AD parent + parent working/seeking at least part-time employment
  4. families with an AD parent + parent attending school at least part-time
  5. DOD civilian families
  6. Space-A: all other eligible families

Making Space for Priority Access Families

The biggest change might impact families below second priority, technically labeled as Category 1B.

Starting June 1, families lower than Category 1B could be removed from their spots in on-base child care centers to make way for a student in the top two categories. This would only happen if there are no other on-base CDC spots available and/or the Category 1A or 1B family would be facing a wait time of longer than 45 days.

If a child is going to be removed from the program, their family will be given at least 45 days notice of the change.

Prior to this change, DOD civilian employees were generally given the same priority as active duty families.

Access to Cost-Effective Child Care Major Barrier for Military Families

“It’s a readiness issue, when you have active-duty members who can’t get to work because they can’t find child care. That’s a huge problem,” commented Nicole Russell, government relations deputy director of the National Military Family Association.

Military families have long felt the pinch of limited availability to CDCs, especially in areas of low civilian personnel turnover.

Russell noted that families can face exceptionally long wait times in the National Capital Region, San Diego, Norfolk and Hawaii.

Lack of access to child care often prevents military spouses from seeking or continuing employment or higher education.

Russell believes that making this change in prioritization categories will better serve military families as their nonmilitary partner seeks higher education or employment.

“We’re pleased that DoD is recognizing the hardship that child development center wait lists pose for military families.”

The NMFA has pledged to monitor the implementation of this new policy going forward.

“Through frequent moves and the demands of military service, our military families should be prioritized when moving to a new duty station and/or when a spouse gains employment,” the NMFA shared in a published statement. “We will closely monitor the implementation of this policy as we continue to advocate for all military families.”

Making Military Families a Priority at CDCs

After receiving feedback about the necessity and lack of access to quality child care, Esper has made major changes in both policy and practice.

In addition to the new CDC category prioritization structure, Esper has also pledged to shorten the hiring wait time for new CDC employees.

He cites the wait time in the hiring process as one of the reasons for open, but unavailable spots at many CDCs.

“In many cases the reason why our child development centers are not at full capacity is that we have an insufficient number of providers,” he said.

To combat this, Esper is committing to lowering the hiring period from an average of over 130 days in 2019 to under 60 days. This is anticipated to help fill open staff positions and allow CDCs to fill additional child care spots for eligible families quicker and more effectively.

“The DoD’s system of child care was established to assist service members as they face the unique challenges associated with the demands of military service,” Esper wrote in his February 21 memorandum. “Over time, child care access expanded to serve the total force, but we must not lose sight of the service member and mission requirements.”

Have you ever experienced excessive wait times at the military CDC that prevented you or your spouse from seeking employment? Sound off in the comments!

21 Military Homecomings to Watch When You’re Social Distancing

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Nothing brings on the happy tears like a good military homecoming video. It’s a feel-good moment to brighten anyone’s day.

And your day could sure use brightening – especially if you’re stuck in social distancing mode thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Military Homecomings to Watch When You’re Social Distancing

Settle back, grab the tissues and hit play on these amazing, emotional military homecoming videos that we can’t ever seem to get enough of!

Military Homecoming Compilations We Adore

What’s better than just one happy homecoming? Obviously it’s a whole bunch of these joyful moments smushed into one big video.

Cue the happy tears…

Okay, now that’s the sweetest! I’ve never seen such huge smiles or snuggly hugs!

Holiday Homecomings That Make Us Tear Up

Yup, it’s still spring and 100% not the holiday season. But a solid winter time homecoming, full of holiday cheer, is appropriate no matter what season it is!

And these sweet reunions definitely are putting us in a better mood today.

Is there a better present than your parent coming home from deployment just in time for the holidays?

I don’t think so!

Okay, fair to say: we’re obsessed with these holiday-themed military homecomings!

Pets Who Are Pumped Their Buddy Is Back

Scratch the holiday-theme as our fave military homecoming videos.

Now, we’re on to pets who are just over the moon happy that their best buddy is home.

Oh my gosh! So many kisses and snugs from that sweet pupper!

Fun fact: even rough, tough Marines are suckers for a cute pooch. Their mascot is a dog, after all.

These doggos are the best ever and deserve all the snacks.

Surprise! Your Soldier Is Home Videos!

Everyone loves a surprise. And these sweet families got one of the best unexpected gifts ever – their service member arriving home!

I think someone is slicing onions in here.

Yes, this is all about military troops surprising their families. But we couldn’t resist throwing in a reverse surprise that caught a sailor 100% off guard!

Too Cute Kids Who Just Got The Best News Ever

Military families go through so much during deployments, but kids are the heroes.

We’re suckers for any time that a child gets the best news ever – mom or dad is home!

That school day just got 100% better!

No matter the actual score. We already know who won this game!

Best. Photobomb. Ever.

Homecoming Proposal Videos To Make You Smile

The waiting is hard on partners. But these love birds got the best homecoming surprises ever!

Surprise homecoming + proposal = amazing!

Love is love is love is love!

I’ve learned that Marines are basically big ol’ softies!

TV Show Homecomings That Are Too Sweet

We love military homecomings. But do you know who else does?

Actually pretty much everyone!

And these fun TV reunions made all of us tear up.

Ellen: Doing the most to make us happy since forever.

Well, that was sneaky and wonderful!

Oh my gosh. I love Steve Harvey and some brotherly love, too!

Got tears in your eyes? Yeah, same.

#YoureWelcome

What’s your favorite military homecoming video? Drop the link to the video or share your own personal video in the comments!

Tips and Resources to Keep On Keeping On During COVID-19 Lockdown

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You’re working from home, and so are your kids. Leaving the house except for essentials is frowned upon. But you’ve got to keep on living, right? Even when you’re in lockdown mode thanks to COVID-19. Don’t worry, we’ve got you…from a safe distance of course.

Tips to Keep On Living In COVID-19 Lockdown

Even when you’re practicing social distancing, self-isolating or in full-on quarantine, you can still enjoy your life and be semi-social.

Photo Credit: ©Marina Andrejchenko /Adobe Stock

What Are The Essentials?

Yes, in some places you can still leave the house, but only for life-essential reasons. Things like:

  • necessary medical appointments
  • groceries
  • medication
  • work, if not already working from home (in some states work has been limited to essential employees only including grocery store employees, gas station attendants, pharmacy employees and medical staff)

****PLEASE BE SURE TO REFER TO OFFICIAL SOURCES AND YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR UP TO DATE GUIDELINES AND STIPULATIONS REGARDING COVID-19****

However, if you don’t need to leave the house, it’s better to stay home. There’s absolutely no need to:

  • get a haircut
  • spiff up your manicure or pedicure
  • visit a bar or restaurant
  • get buff at the gym
  • go to the beach
  • congregate in the park

Before you start your car, hop on a bus or ride the subway, be sure to truly consider the risks that now come with your trip. Coronavirus aka COVID-19 is spreading rapidly around the globe, with a mounting death toll. Every social or public interaction is another chance to pick up the virus or spread it to others.

However, you can live your life with an abundance of caution with joy and purpose!

Try These Activities When You’re Stuck Inside Solo

We love some good social distancing right now. Less germs, right? But all that alone time can get to be a bit, well, lonely.

Try these ideas to be social while staying in your own space:

  • Netflix Together: you can watch your favorite movies or binge a show together, with your friends, while still staying separated with a Chrome extension called Google Party!
  • Virtual Book Club: you’ve got time on your hands, and so do your friends, so read a book together and then discuss via FaceTime
  • Cooking Show: hop on Facebook LIVE during your next cooking session and share it with friends, a la Jennifer Garner.
  • Workout Together, Apart: jump on your Peloton and take the same “class,” use your treadmill to run the same distance or do the same YouTube workout video at the same time.

Social Distancing with Kids at Home

Maybe you’re not alone, but only because your kids are also at home since schools are closed. Days 1-3 seemed fine, but now you’re reaching your absolute limit.

Check out these ideas and resources to get you through:

  • Daily Schedule: create a loose schedule to organize your days – kids do better with structure!
  • Khan Academy Learning Plan: kids from PreK-12 can follow a comprehensive learning schedule from Khan Academy, a free digital learning service.
  • Join LiveStreaming Content: gain some sanity and add some fun with daily LiveStreaming educational kids content from professionals!
  • Exercise Together: fire up a YouTube kids’ workout, like Frozen yoga from Cosmic Kids, and get moving together.
  • Think Outside the Traditional Learning Box: everything can be learning if you let it! Try gardening, baking, sorting, cleaning, reading, watching TV, internet rabbit hole searches, etc. to pass the time and explore their interests.
  • Do Science Together: try easy science experiments with your kids for simple educational fun!

You’ve Got Time for Things You Never Had Time For Before

“If only I had the time to…”

Now fill in that blank. What’s something you wish you had time for, but never did because of your busy, modern life?

Due to COVID-19, maybe you’ve got time on your hands. And now you can do the things you never have time for, plus some essential household chores that just need doing.

Add these to your to-do list:

  • Start a New (Non-Social) Hobby: embroidery, scrapbooking, a new fitness trend – right now is the best time to try a new hobby!
  • Clean Your Closet: really go through all your clothes and be ruthless with your deep cuts, donate things you don’t want or use to a Buy Nothing community to “regift.”
  • Read: pick up an actual (or virtual) book and read it.
  • Garden: you’ve got some pots or land that are just begging for plants. Weed, till and plant those seeds!
  • Deep Clean: it took staying home 24/7 for the dust on the baseboards to drive you crazy. Take action and deep clean your home. Do one room a day to space it out.
  • Disconnect: you always say you want to socially distance yourself from the constant stream of social media or news alerts. Good news: now you can – guilt free!

Keep Living Your Life During the COVID-19 Shutdown

You can still do so many things, just in different ways, even when socially distancing yourself from others.

Try these creative ideas;

  • Date Night: instead of going to dinner and a movie, watch a new release that’s streaming and enjoy a homecooked meal together.
  • Exercise: your gym is a no-go, but you can still bike, hike, run and walk outside, with at least 6 feet of space between you and others. Add in some bodyweight moves for extra strength. Or tune into a YouTube workout video, for free, right from your house!
  • Fancy Dining: now is a great time to make like Julia Child and cook. Pick a favorite restaurant recipe and recreate it at home. You could also make up a meal using what’s left in your pantry.
Photo Credit: ©Monkey Business /Adobe Stock

So keep on keeping on, or KOKO during COVID-19. Don’t worry, we’ve got you.

For up to date information and the latest news on Coronavirus, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and WWW.CORONAVIRUS.GOV.

How are you keeping your sanity during the COVID-19 pandemic? Tell us in the comments