Military Life News

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Marine Corps Wide Barracks Inspections Forthcoming

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Marines are known around the world for their “cleanest bodies..[and] highest morale,” as Eleanor Roosevelt stated. It is imperative to maintain the highest standards of discipline, cleanliness, and safety within our barracks facilities to reflect those standards and ideals. The Marine Corps is preparing to inspect every barracks around the world. By March 15th, someone of Gunnery Sergeant or higher must examine each barracks room and each squad bay, and unlike the typical inspections after field day, these inspectors are outside of the chain of command for those areas.

The goal of the inspections is to ensure that the rooms and spaces are clean, safe, and healthy. They will also inspect the usability of furniture and appliances.  Per General Christopher Mahoney, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, the inspections are part of the Barracks 2030 initiative and will provide baseline information on “what condition these barracks are in.” There have been reports of mold, appliance issues, and faulty water heaters in the barracks. These inspections will bring to light what issues there are and what repairs are needed in each location.

The SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz, spoke to the Armed Forces Committee at a congressional hearing in regard to these inspections. “The quality of a Marines home is essential to their readiness,” he stated, and the Barracks 2030 project includes “deliberate investments to improve our barracks within the Corps.” He further stated during the testimony that planned repairs include fixing broken locks, replacing outdated furniture, and ensuring rapid maintenance responses. Long term, there will be further investments per General Mahoney as he desires to spend upwards of $1.5 billion on the barracks versus the $300 million currently spent on average.

Another part of the Barracks 2030 initiative, civilians will be placed in managerial positions at the barracks in the long term to ensure that the barracks will be maintained. The barracks maintenance and care are typically managed by military personnel as a secondary duty.

“Taking care of Marines is a warfighting function,” said Gen. Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps at the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) Installation Innovation Forum (IIF) in November of 2023. “Otherwise, they cannot focus on the mission at hand. Barracks, chow halls, and gyms are key to retaining Marines, and investments in quality-of-life initiatives are truly warfighting needs.”

There are no reports on how, where, or if the findings will be shared publicly, but with the promise of Marine Corps leaders, the Corps-wide inspections are a step in the direction to correct the barracks concerns.

Beyond Wearing Green for St Patrick’s Day with Base Activities This Year

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Saint Patrick’s Day began its celebratory roots in Ireland in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick. When Irish immigrants immigrated to America, they brought with them the celebration, which has now morphed into an annual celebration of the culture of Ireland. Now, cities like San Antonio, Chicago, and Tampa use non-toxic dye to dye their rivers green in honor of the holiday, and elementary schools across the nation set up leprechaun traps to get the elusive leprechaun that visits on St Patrick’s Day. Don’t forget to check out your local base for seasonal gatherings and celebrations.

Navy MWR Key West has a planned St. Patrick’s Day on March 15th at the Sunset Lounge Bar on Sigsbee Park, complete with a 3-piece Irish Folk Acoustic band, themed dinner and drink specials, and celebratory games. There is even a free T-shirt for the first 100 patrons.

Navy MWR Saratoga Springs has a seasonal craft planned on March 8th – a DIY St. Patrick’s Day coasters. Register by March 6th to ensure a spot. This is open to all eligible MWR patrons, with priority to Liberty Members.

The panhandle of Florida is not to be outdone with Navy MWR Whiting Field’s St. Patrick’s themed Fun Run and Pet Party. Run in all green gear and enjoy puppy challenges throughout the day with prizes for different categories.

NAVSTA Norfolk MWR is also holding a St. Patricks Day fun – a 5k! Registration ends on March 4th.

The Marine Corps Air Station at Camp Pendleton is holding its annual Shamrock Stampede – s 10K, 5K, and 2K kids run on the air station runway. The entry fee depends on the category of patron participating. Enjoy Get Your Green On free mini golf at Lake O’Neill.

Fort Liberty is promoting a Shamrock Skate at Cleland Ice Rink – show up in all things green, and well, shamrocks, to skate away with Irish-themed music. Cost is $10.

MCCS Hawaii has several St. Patrick’s Day-themed fun – the 5K Fun Run, a Block Party, and a meal cooked by Chef Robert Irvine. Check out the information for registration and activities here.

Most, if not every, library on military post will offer some St. Patrick’s Day themed activity – Storytime and/or craft. The chow halls will offer Irish fare of corned beef and cabbage or Irish Stew, and check out the bakery at the commissary for green goodies.

The beauty of each military base is the unique features and offerings of the bases. The activities showcase what there is to offer and how to celebrate the season with some fun local fun.

What are you doing this St. Patrick’s Day? Is your base holding a fun event?

Will Soldiers See A BAS Refund?

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Two letters from Soldiers, one a chaplain and one a company commander, have brought to light issues with BAS deductions despite meals not being eaten. BAS is provided to military personnel to assist in covering meals. This is deducted with meals eaten in the chow hall or during field exercises. However, the chaplain raised concerns that these meals may not follow some individuals’ religious guidelines. The DOD Comptroller guide does not have published guidance on BAS when meals aren’t eaten or for the concern of religious reasons when the chow hall cannot meet their needs in line with their faith traditions.

“We have had Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian [soldiers] request to reclaim their BAS due to the fact that the dining facility on the military installation cannot provide them meals in accordance with their faith tradition,” the chaplain per the letter shared by  Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

Charging for meals in light of the above creates double costs – once for the meal not eaten and second for the actual food purchased that does follow those guidelines. 

The company commander’s letter noted that while in the field, soldiers did not have the opportunity to eat certain meals, but the amount was still deducted.

These letters have garnered the attention of DC legislators, but any legislation would not be passed until the NDAA, which would not go into effect until 2025. The double costs and deductions are happening now and should be addressed sooner than next year. Army officials are looking into proposals to assist now, recognizing that the religious dietary restrictions may not be accommodated at every chow hall or exercise.

The BAS amounts shift with costs, and for 2023, they are $316.98 per month for officers and $460.24 per month for enlisted. With the cost of food in general rising, specialty foods like Hallal and Kosher items, for example, have also increased in cost. 

There are also periods of fasting where the individual may not be eating at all but still getting charged. The charges occur during field exercises when soldiers may not have the time to stop and get meals during the open chow hall hours. Every amount adds up over time, and with an annual salary of $28,530.00 for an E3 with less than two years’ experience, that monthly amount can be substantial. 

No word on what those accommodations will be have been publicly shared at the time of the publication of this piece.

Have you or someone you knew had BAS charged when unable to utilize the meals?

What to Expect When Flying Space-A

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Space A travel, also known as Military Airlift Command or MAC flights, are military flights that travel the globe. These flights are scheduled for the needs of the military – to move troops or move military families on their Permanent Change of Station (PCS) when moving to OCONUS locations including Hawaii. While these flights are at a significantly reduced cost, they also require some serious flexibility.

Where To Look

First thing first – where do you find Space A information? The first stop is the Air Mobility Command website.  The website provides the most up-to-date information on AMC travel. Many stateside bases that once had Space-A flights, have stopped post-2020. So while there may be a history of flying from places like MacDill Air Force Base, there have not been flights open to Space-A travel in the last three-plus years, so do not expect it to open anytime soon. While it is still listed on the AMC list, check with the specific passenger terminal for information.

Once confirmed that the terminal is open to Space-A travel, find their social media pages. This is often where the flight schedule is listed. The flight schedule will list the location the flight is going to and the number of open seats. For instance, a flight to Hickam AFB (Hawaii) may be leaving Kadena AB, Okinawa and have 60 seats available on a certain date. The priority for seats always goes to the active-duty military with military-assigned jobs. For instance, if a unit needs a last-minute flight to Hickam, they will get the seats before anyone else – even if they show up at the final boarding call – the flights are military-operated, after all.

Who Can Fly

In general, only service members, retirees, and their family members can fly. Each group is assigned a category of eligibility. The higher the category, the higher the likelihood of who will get a seat on the flight. National Guardsmen, reservists, and their families may be eligible when they are active or deployed.

The categories are as follows:

  • Category I: Emergency leave unfunded travel
  • Category II: Accompanied Environmental and Morale Leave
  • Category III: Ordinary leave, relatives, house hunting permissive temporary duty, Medal of Honor holders and foreign military
  • Category IV: Unaccompanied EML
  • Category V: Permissive temporary duty (nonhouse hunting), students, dependents, post-deployment/mobilization respite absence and others

Category VI: Retired, dependents, reserve, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate, Civil Engineer Corps, veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as total, surviving spouses of service members who died in active duty, inactive duty training or annual training status, and retired military members

Benefits

The cost is generally free. There may be charges for baggage or food, but this terminal and flight dependent. With air travel costs soaring in recent years, free air travel is a huge budget saver. Patriot Express flights are flights planned for military moves, and generally have a nominal fee per ticket if being utilized for Space A travel.

The flights are much more relaxed than standard commercial flights. All the passengers on board are military service members and their families – their collective background is a great way for people to communicate and connect. On flights, kids spread blankets, play together, share snacks, and parents share their travel plans.

Be flexible

When using Space-A, your travel dates must be flexible. Take a wide amount of leave. If you are planning a week’s vacation, take two weeks off. Start the process to fly out early. Most Space-A flights are scheduled Mondays through Fridays. Do not plan on flight availability on drill weekends or school breaks, as higher category eligible groups will likely take all available seats,

One family shared that they left Japan for Hawaii on the first day they started to depart, but ended up buying commercial tickets as all the spots for return flights to Japan were taken by active duty members flying for an exercise.

Be location flexible as well. Make sure to watch the 72-hour flight schedule frequently to see where flight destinations are and consider alternatives. If you want to get to Spain, and a flight to Germany is available, consider the Germany flight and look into ground transportation from there to Spain.

Being flexible in flights means having flexible hotel stays for arrival at your destination. Military hotels typically have the most relaxed cancellation policy and can provide the most flexibility. Check the cancellation policy on car rentals, or plan to use Uber or cabs to maximize flexibility.

Sign Up Early

Sign up for travel early – as early as 60 days prior to desired travel date here. Input passenger information, category, departure terminal, desired destinations and leave dates. Signing up allows email and text notifications about the desired terminal or travel destinations.

Check-In Early

The day of the flight has arrived – check-in as early as possible – this can be 6 hours prior to the flight. Read all the terminal-specific guidance to know when and where to check-in. Each terminal page will also list baggage limits.

Be Prepared To Wait

Checking in early means long waits. Flight schedules change with staffing and weather, which can extend the wait time. Plan ahead with lots of snacks, games, and any entertainment that travels well.  Some AMC. Terminals have playgrounds on the grounds, which is great for those traveling with children.

Pack For Every Contingency

Flights get diverted for the needs of the military. This means packing for cold weather, beach weather, and everything in between. This allows for maximum flexibility. Flights themselves can get cold, so packing winter hats, blankets, and gloves in carry-on baggage is useful. Like any other flight, consider packing noise-cancelling headphones for everyone in your travel party.

Have you ever taken a Space-A trip? How was the trip?

Ten Apps Every Military Family Should Have

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The digital world allows for connection for anyone, no matter the distance, and that is a key variable for every military family. Resources and connections can be achieved through applications. There is a bevvy of digital applications online. These are the best applications for military families to stay informed and connected.

Sesame For Military Families

The application provides topical resources to assist military families navigating birthdays, homecomings, routines, relocations, self-expression, transition to civilian life, family health and wellness, and so much more. Each topic has downloadable coloring sheets and activity sheets to bridge the gap of information for adults and children. There are videos and topical information available.

The Big Moving Adventure

The Sesame Street application walks through the moving process for a Sesame Character whose parent is a military service member. It starts with being informed about the move, then saying goodbye to friends and school, packing, and then the adventure of moving and unpacking. It is a fun and colorful game that is engaging to preschool and early elementary school-age children, putting the movie into understandable language for children of these ages. Available in English and Spanish.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame

The Sesame Street character has periods of frustration that the user has to help him walk through calming down. This helps children focus on calming down when they have big feelings through breathing and thinking through their feelings. Available in English and Spanish.

Sesame Street: Divorce

This application has tools for parents to help children ages 2-8 navigate divorce or separation. Available in English and Spanish.

United Through Reading

The application is an extension of the United Through Reading program, connecting military service members and their families through reading. The service members can record a story via video and then share the story with the family, no matter the distance.

Military News

Stay up-to-date with policy changes, and any military-related information with the Military.com application. The application allows for the customization of news for specific military branches or specific news topics.

Military Pay

The application powered by Military.com provides a calculator to calculate service pay. The calculator is updated with the current military pay rate and special pay, including BAH, BAS, and any special pay for complete monthly pay, providing the best estimation for military members’ awareness.

My Military One Source

Military One Source is an online website with resources and services for military service members and their families. The application is a mobile extension of the website, putting military-related information at military families’ fingertips.

For Army Families: Digital Garrison App

The new application from the Army and the Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) provides real-time information for Soldiers’ and their families about their Army communities. The application contains information on local services, including movie times and dining, exchange deals, and a Military Star card link.

For Air Force Families: AF Connect App

This application connects airmen to unit information, Air Force News, and base events. In addition, it sends notifications about the base, including road conditions and delayed reporting through the app.

Joint Travel Regulations Updated To Include Pets

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The 2024 Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) has an addition to include a benefit to pet owners. The Defense Travel Management Office, or TMO, updates the JTR annually. This year includes a win for pet owners. Their furry family members are now specifically mentioned in the JTR with a reimbursement for the costs related to moving with the military.

The 37 U.S.C. 453 was amended in June of 2023 and specifically authorizes “reimbursement of costs related to the relocation of a pet that arise during a permanent change of station (PCS). Under this new policy, a Uniformed Service member may be authorized reimbursement of up to $550 for a PCS within the continental United States and up to $2,000 for a PCS to or from a location outside the continental United States to cover expenses directly related to pet transportation, such as pet shipping and quarantine fees.” The amendment became effective January 1, 2024. The amendment comes from section 624 of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

This inclusion is a win for pet-owning military families. PCSing with pets has long been an added expense. Providing reimbursement lessens the financial burden of PCSing with their furry family members, especially for those military families moving to OCONUS who have to pay for pet travel and quarantine their pets when moving to the new country.  The cost of moving OCONUS can easily exceed the $2,000 reimbursement, with some families paying upwards of $5,000.

Prior to the inclusion of pets in the NDAA, each military service branch has slowly been addressing this issue. The US Army stated in December of 2022 that the pet reimbursement would take place 180 days from the signing of the NDAA – which was January 1, 2024, since the amendment occurred in June of 2023. The Marine Corps made an official statement about the NDAA, noting they would begin reimbursement on January 1, 2024, noting that no retroactive reimbursement would occur.

Military branch aid societies have been spanning the gap for pet reimbursement for years. Per the Army Emergency Relief and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, an average of $3,000 was loaned to each client. The Air Force Aid Society reported an average amount per client of $1,000.

While the reimbursement will likely not cover the total costs of moving pets for all military members, it is a step toward supporting military families. The furry family member is a member of the family, a support to family members when the service member is away, and a support to the active-duty service member. The burden of frequent moves with high costs is a financial drain, and the reimbursement will lessen that financial burden.

Have you utilized the pet reimbursement in 2024? How was the process? Let us know!

MYO Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day That Won’t Break the Diet

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Valentine’s Day is here and while the candy aisle is tempting, there are simple make your own treats you can make at home – and some may have health benefits! Whether you are gifting or enjoying something sweet yourself, here are some sweet treats you can make at home for Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate Covered-Fruit

While chocolate covered strawberries are the most associated with Valentine’s Day, there are many fruits that are delicious dipped in chocolate. Try dipping your friend or families’ favorite fruits as a gift. Pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, cherries, even pomegranate seed clusters are delicious when accompanied by chocolate. Consider dried fruits like apricots, dried pineapple, or even dried persimmons. The antioxidants in fruit prevent oxidative stress to brain cells, in other words, maintain a healthy brain.

Dark chocolate is also rich in antioxidants, so dipping the fruit in dark chocolate provides a double dose of antioxidants. Per Johns Hopkins Medicine, “the antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, thus lowering the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and death from heart disease.”  The flavanols in chocolate that protect the heart are also found in milk chocolate, so dip away in your favorite chocolate.

Before dipping any fruit in chocolate, be sure to wash and fully dry the fruit so the chocolate sticks to the fruit. Chill the fruits to ensure the chocolate fully hardens to the fruit before gifting. Or, enjoy with the slightly warmed chocolate and fruit as a treat at home.

Hot Cocoa

The cooler temperatures outside, even in Florida!, mean warm drinks inside. Hot cocoa is a drink that can be enjoyed by most. Prepare them in bomb form or a mix.

Mix

            Making a hot cocoa mix is surprisingly easy. Mix together 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1 cup of cocoa powder (dark or regular – we prefer dark), 2 cups of powdered milk and 1 tsp of kosher salt. Mix until well-combined. Add the mix to mason jars. You can mix in marshmallows or chocolate chips, or even peppermint chip pieces to taste. If gifting, add a ribbon to the jar with a note to use 3 TBL of powder for every 8 oz water.

Bomb

            For a hot chocolate bomb, you need a mold for the outside chocolate shell.  Melt down your favorite chocolate and coat the mold with the chocolate, allowing for full cooling before popping the chocolate out of the shell.  Smooth out the shells with a warm dish to ensure for smooth connection once filled. Fill one shell with the hot chocolate mix desired, and perhaps some marshmallows. To connect the two sides, warm one shell’s edge on a warm plate and attach to the filled bomb. If needed, add some melted chocolate to the shell seam. You can add colored sprinkles to this area for extra Valentine’s pizzaz.

Yogurt Parfaits

The beauty of parfaits is the personalization to individual tastes, what you have on hand or desire, and can be made ahead. Make these the night before Valentine’s Day to have a sweet start to your day.

Layer in seasonal fruit, yogurt and granola. Yogurt has natural bacteria which can aid in digestion and contains vitamin D and calcium which are key nutrients in maintaining bone health. Fruits, as previously mentioned, contain antioxidants which are involved in cardiovascular health. Consider sweetening plain yogurt with maple syrup or honey to taste – this lessens what extra stuff is in your yogurt. Other things to consider mixing or layering: nuts, chia seeds, dark chocolate pieces, raisins, or craisins. Get creative with what you have on hand, all while making breakfast, lunch or snacktime tasty and easy.

Chocolate Truffles

The BBC shared a simple chocolate truffle recipe using only three ingredients several years ago, and it still stands today as one of the best sweet treats at home. Use dark chocolate to keep all the health benefits of chocolate, all while enjoying both making and eating these sweet morsels. If you have a food scale, melt 50 g of unsalted butter with 300 g of heavy cream in a saucepan. Once the mix is melted, combine with 300 g of melted dark chocolate. Mix until a smooth mixture is formed. If you do not have a food scale, 300 g is 1 ¼ cups and 50 g is 1/3 cup.  Cool the mixture for at least 4 hours.

To form the truffle balls, dip a melon baller in warm water so it can easily scoop up the chocolate mixture and form into balls. Dip the truffles in the desired coating. Consider dark cocoa, nuts, candy pieces, peppermint pieces or even orange peel for different flavored truffles.

These are great for gifting but can also be stored in the fridge to enjoy when desired.

Raspberry Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seeds are packed full of protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Protein and fiber keeps you full longer, promoting healthy eating. Fiber also helps with healthy digestion.

To make the chia seed pudding, mix together 3 TBL chia seeds, 1 TBL maple syrup, 1 tsp vanilla and ¾ cup milk of choice. Leave the mixture on the counter for 15 minutes to allow it to thicken. The pudding mixture can then be stored in the fridge to be eaten the next day or enjoyed right away. Top with fresh raspberries for a pop of red color.

Enjoy these sweet treats this February or all year long!

DOD Tracking Drug Overdoses

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Per the National Safety Council, over 100,000 people died in America from drug overdoses in 2021. Of these numbers, about 92,000 were listed as preventable.  A Rolling Stone report exposed a rising number of overdose deaths among the military, specifically at then-named Fort Bragg, North Carolina, now named Fort Liberty. When the report was released, Senator Edward Markey, John Cornyn, Elizabeth Warren, Lisa Murkowski, and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Secretary Austin requesting specific information on the deaths and non-fatal overdoses occurring in the military. The Pentagon investigated these numbers and determined that the overdoses were increasing at the same velocity they had increased in the civilian population. As a result, the military will start compiling data in 2024 on overdoses among military members.

Per an article on Military.com, 330 service members have died of drug overdoses from 2017 to 2021, with 10% of those deaths occurring at Fort Liberty. In addition, 15,000 troops suffered non-fatal overdoses, with most being accidental. The annual defense bill requires the military to track the overdose locations, demographics, if the service member sought mental health treatment, and any prescriptions of opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants that are known to be addictive and increase the risk for overdose.

The DEA has recommended that any individual prescribed an opioid be prescribed naloxone. Naloxone, or Narcan, is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, which can quickly wake up a person who has taken too much opioid and returned to normal breathing patterns. It is a nasal spray that can easily be given to anyone with a possible overdose and by anyone without any medical training. As part of the NDAA, the military must make a plan to make Narcan available to all military troops. Some U.S. cities, like San Diego, have made Narcan available in publicly accessible vending machines for a much more affordable price than the pharmacies charge for the medication through patient’s insurance. Having Narcan available for any and all means that anyone can purchase the medication on hand if it is never needed in an emergency, even without a prescription or ever having been prescribed opioids.

Another method the DEA has begun to help lessen the availability of opioids for the public to consume potentially is to enact DEA National Take Back Day. On these official days, collection sites are set up to take back any unused opioids. The schedule and collection site locator can be found here. Many military pharmacies have take back prescription collection boxes daily, which any unused prescriptions can be turned in. Turning in unused prescriptions prevents children from finding and taking the medications or even an intentional overtaking by anyone with access to the medication.

Beyond prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants, these drugs can be purchased illegally on the street. These illegal drugs, though, are typically mixed with fentanyl to increase the sensation of feeling “high.” Fentanyl is more potent, and for those who have never taken the drug before can easily lead to opioid overdose and death.  

Over the last two decades, the war on drugs has increased and changed. The D.A.R.E. generation is beyond “just say no,” as fentanyl was not widely available on the streets of America at the time the program first started. While the D.A.R.E. program continues in the schools, more education and availability of tools to combat the opioid crisis are needed, and the DOD tracking this information within the military may help prevent further deaths among their ranks.

Five Surprising Superbowl Dips

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There are traditional dishes for a Super Bowl party, and you don’t have to veer too far to make them surprisingly different – and delicious. Wow your football-loving crowd with these five dips.

Caramelized Five-Onion Dip

Move over onion dip, this is the way to eat onions in dip form now! Thanks to Food and Wine magazine, everyone can make and eat this recipe for game day.

Ingredients:

  • 3 TBL extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 TBL unsalted butter
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 1 medium size yellow onion
  • 1 medium size red onion
  • 4 medium shallots
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Black pepper

For dipping: toasted bread, pita chips, veggies like broccoli, celery, carrots, etc

Instructions:

  • Heat oil and butter in a deep skillet over medium-high until butter melts. While butter melts, thinly slice the onions. Add the onions, shallots and salt to the pan. Cook onions until barely softened and just starting to brown. Once onions are starting to brown, reduce to medium-low to caramelize onions. This will take about thirty minutes. Add scallions in about 15 minutes into caramelizing onions. If onions stick to the pan, add a splash of water to release the onions from the pan. Transfer onions to a large bowl and place cream cheese on top, and place bowl aside letting onions cool. Once the onions are cool, mix onions until cream cheese. Add sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and cayenne to the onion mixture, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Chill for at least 3 hours. Before serving, let dip stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

This dip can be made a day ahead.

Sweet Potato Queso

It isn’t a football party without queso – but this one is with a twist – a veggie twist!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion, divided
  • ·       1 tablespoon canola oil
  • ·       2 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
  • ·       1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ·       1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ·       1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ·       1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
  • ·       1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • ·       1 cup mashed peeled cooked sweet potato (or pureed in a food processor)
  • ·       1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles (such as Rotel), drained
  • ·       4 ounces Colby-Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), divided

Instructions:

Set aside one tablespoon of chopped onion for garnish. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Add garlic and rest of onions to pan, cooking until softened. Add cumin, chili powder, and kosher salt. Whisk together evaporated milk and cornstarch in a separate bowl. Add milk mixture to onion mixture; cook, stirring often, until bubbly and thickened, about 4 minutes. Add sweet potato; whisk until smooth. Fold in diced tomatoes and chiles and half of cheese.

Turn on broiler. In a shallow 3- to 4-cup baking dish, add onion-cheese mixture and top with remaining cheese. Broil until cheese melts. Top with reserved chopped onion. Dip with any of your chosen accompaniments.

Bacon Guacamole

Guacamole is a traditional dip to accompany many football games. But for the Super Bowl – amp it up a bit with bacon! Make your traditional guacamole and add pieces of smoky bacon to it, or follow along with this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 3 large ripe avocados, halved, pitted, and scooped out
  • 3 strips bacon, cooked crisp and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/4 medium red onion, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
  • Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced

Instructions:

Mash avocado and stir in bacon, red onion, lime juice, paprika, chipotle and salt and pepper.  Once the mixture is combined, fold in tomatoes.

Smoked Salmon Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 large (2 ounces) shallot, quartered
  • 8 ounces cold-smoked salmon
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh juice (from 1 large lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons drained non-pareil capers, coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pita chips or bagel chips for dipping

Instructions

In a food processor, add shallot and pulse until finely chopped. Then add salmon and pulse until mixture is finely chopped. Take half the onion-salmon mixture and add it to a bowl. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the remaining salmon in a food processor and pulse until creamy smooth.

Transfer the creamy salmon mixture to the bowl with the finely chopped salmon mixture. Fold in the dill, chives, and capers. Salt and pepper to taste.  You are now ready to dip with the pita or bagel chips!

Pizza Dip

Who doesn’t love pizza? If you are gonna order it, might as well give this dip with a nod to the Pioneer Woman a try!

Ingredients

  • Hard salami, chopped
  • 2- 8 ounces cream cheese blocks
  • 1 cup grated parmesan
  • 1 TBL Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 2 cup grated mozzarella
  • ¼ cup sliced olives
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • Toasted baguettes or pita to serve

Instructions

In a medium bowl, stir to combine the cream cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Once mixed, layer this in the bottom of a 9-inch deep pie dish. Over this layer, spread ½ cup of marinara. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup parmesan, and 2 tablespoons each of pepperoni, black olives, and red onion. Repeat with the remaining marinara, mozzarella, parmesan, pepperoni, black olives, and red onion.

Bake dish in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melted, then turn on broil to get color on the cheese mixture. Let cool before serving.

DOD Expands Pilot Program to Renew USID Cards Online

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Per a Pentagon release, the DOD will expand the online program for ID renewal. The pilot program for the online ID renewal program began in 2023, allowing certain military dependents to renew their Uniformed Services Identification card (USID) to be renewed online. The expansion will allow military retirees and dependents to renew their military ID cards online.

Expanding the online program aims to free up appointments at the ID offices on military bases. A common complaint for military dependents is the lack of appointment availability to renew an ID card, and is often coupled with long waits once there for the appointment. With the availability of online renewal, appointments will be freed up for active duty military members and government employees who have to renew or apply for Common Access Card, CAC, which requires in-person visits.

Those who can renew online are those who are within the United States. Per the DOD, of the 4.5 million card holders, 2.5 million are USID card holders, with about a million eligible for online renewal. To complete a renewal online, military sponsors and card holders request the renewal online at the ID card office online. The sponsor will need to verify the dependent via the Form DD 1172-2.  

Further eligibility for online renewal:

  • The service member sponsor must have an active CAC with an active status for at least 30 days past the renewal request date
  • The dependent ID must not be expired
  • The dependent ID must not be expiring within 90 days
  • The sponsor and cardholder must have an email address registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). In order to do this, edit the profile on the ID Card office online.
  • The photo of the cardholder must be less than 12 years old
  • The card holder’s address must be within the Continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii, and cannot be a P.O. Box

The online program will not apply to those applying for a card for the first time. Those getting a USID for the first time will have to go to an ID office on base to complete their application on the Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System, RAPIDs.

If eligibility requirements are met, use the online website and click on “Family ID cards” and then “Renew Family ID cards.” The renewal card will be sent from the Defense Manpower Data Center, and emails will be sent to both the sponsor and the cardholder once the card is mailed.  Once the card is received, the sponsor will have to go back to the ID Card office online and acknowledge receipt of the card.

Once the new card is received, the old card should be returned to the local ID card office or can be mailed to: DMDC; DSC Attn: USID Card Returns; 2102 E 21st Street N.; Wichita, KS 67214. The military ID cards are considered government property, which is why the old cards are requested to be turned in.