Military Life News

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100% Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space – A

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By Marguerite Cleveland

As of August 18, 2018, 100% Disabled Veterans are now authorized to Fly Space-A   under H.R. 5515 – the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act.  The Veteran must have a permanent service-connected disability and have a DD Form 2765, Department of Defense/Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (TAN).  Veterans are only authorized to fly within the continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories. This new benefit comes with a catch. It will be extremely difficult to use for a veteran with severe mobility issues.

Space-A travel is like a lottery ticket, you sign up and hope your number gets called. Veterans will be in the last Space Available Travel Priority of Category VI. Being in the last category means you are the last to be called for a flight. With the uncertainty of whether you will get a flight or not, many veterans may find this challenging.

For those Veterans requiring the assistance of another person to help them when traveling will find Space – A travel is not an option. Dependent family members of Veterans are not eligible to use Space-A travel. Crewman and staff at the passenger terminal can provide limited assistance but a veteran should plan to not have assistance. They can travel with those that have the status and documents to fly Space-A

 The Air Mobility Command (AMC) published AMC Boarding Requirements – August 2018 which details the requirements to board and disembark AMC aircraft. There are many physical challenges to fly on a military plane. You must be able to climb ladders and move within the aircraft as well as be able to exit in the event of an emergency. If slides are used you must be able to physically stop yourself before reaching the ground without assistance. You must also be able to climb from 14 to 36 steps to board the aircraft.

So while 100% Disabled Veterans can now use Space-A travel it may be challenging for them to actually use this new “Benefit”. Do you think Veterans should be able to travel with a caregiver?

For more information contact your local Passenger Terminal for further details. Many now have Facebook pages. You can also review travel information found on the AMC Travel Website for specific details on the Space Available Travel at www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/ .

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.WanderWordsWine.com


Photo Credit: © Natalie Schorr/Adobe Stock

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Release Official 2019 Air Show Schedule

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Grab your noise canceling gear and head to a thrilling military air show this year! Watch the talented military pilots loop, swoop and dive through the sky. It’s an incredible experience your family will never forget!

Both the USAF Thunderbirds and USN Blue Angels have released their 2019 air show schedules.

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Release Official 2019 Air Show Schedule

Military air shows offer opportunities to connect with incredible pilots and feel inspired by our brave troops. Air shows are open to the general public.

Admission to shows located at non-military base events varies. Contact the specific event or location for more information. Admission to events on military bases is open to the public and tickets are typically free.

Thunderbirds 2019 Air Show Schedule

From the Super Bowl to a pre-holiday show, the Thunderbirds are crisscrossing the US and headed to select OCONUS locations, sharing their aerial exploits and daring.

  • February 3: look for a Thunderbirds flyover at the Super Bowl, held in Atlanta, GA
  • February 17: check the skies for a flyover at the Daytona 500 in Daytona, FL
  • March 3: the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will highlight the Thunderbirds with a flyover
  • March 23-24: check out “Thunder and Lightning over Arizona” on Davis-Monthan AFB
  • March 30-31: “Thunder Over the Bay” will thrill Travis AFB in California
  • April 6-7: go to the “Heart of Texas” in Waco, TX
  • April 27-28: the Thunderbirds will be at Seymour Johnson AFB with “Wings Over Wayne Open House”
  • May 4-5: Keesler AFB in MS will host “Thunder Over the Sound”
  • May 11-12: go to the national capital region for the Joint Base Andrews Air Show
  • May 18: Kirtland AFB plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • May 25-26: the Thunderbirds will be flying at the Jones Beach Air Show in Wantagh, NY
  • May 30: the Air Force Academy hosts the Thunderbirds in Colorado
  • June 1-2: join the “Defenders of Freedom” at Offutt AFB in Nebraska
  • June 8-9: go to Fort Wayne, IN for the Fort Wayne Air Show
  • June 15-16: the Thunderbirds will be in Mankato, MN
  • June 22-23: Dayton, OH plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • July 13-14: the squadron heads to Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia for an international air show
  • July 20-21: the Fargo Air Show will host the Thunderbirds in North Dakota
  • July 24: go to “Cheyenne Frontier Days” in Wyoming to catch the Thunderbirds
  • July 27-28: the Thunderbirds will head to Milwaukee, WI for the Water and Air Show
  • August 10-11: go north of the border to Abbotsford, British Columbia for an international air show
  • August 17-18: the Thunderbirds are in Sioux Falls, SD for the Sioux Falls Air Show
  • August 21: the Atlantic City Air Show in New Jersey plays host to the Thunderbirds
  • August 24-25: Rochester, NY will feature the Thunderbirds in their annual air show
  • August 31-September 2: the Cleveland National Air Show will showcase the talents of the squadron
  • September 7-8: Grisson ARB will host the Thunderbirds for their annual air show
  • September 14-15: the Thunderbirds will participate in the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV
  • September 21-22: NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA hosts their annual air show, featuring the Thunderbirds
  • September 28-29: the Thunderbirds will go south to Robbins AFB in Georgia for their air show
  • October 5-6: the Puerto Rico International Air Show in San Juan will feature the Thunderbirds
  • October 12-13: check out the Atlanta Air Show in Hampton, GA to see the Thunderbirds in action
  • October 19-20: it’s “Wings Over Houston” for the Thunderbirds as they head back to Texas
  • October 26-27: Sheppard AFB in Texas will feature the Thunderbirds in their annual air show
  • November 2-3: go to the Florida International Air Show in Punta Gorda, FL and watch the Thunderbirds
  • November 15-17: the Thunderbirds end their 2019 season at Nellis AFB in Nevada with “Aviation Nation”

For complete details about the USAF Thunderbirds, show dates, and more information, visit their website www.afthunderbirds.com.

US Navy Blue Angels Release 2019 Tour Dates

The Blue Angels, the US Navy’s premier squadron, showcases their talents at a variety of events through out the year.

All events are open to the public. Events held at military bases are typically offered free of charge. Ticket prices vary for events held on non-military property.

In addition to air shows, you can check out a Blue Angels practice session most Wednesdays at the National Aviation Air Museums, located aboard NAS Pensacola in Florida. There are often meet-and-greets with opportunities for autographs and photos at the museum following practices.

You can enjoy a Blue Angels show at locations around the US and Canada throughout 2019.

  • March 16: enjoy the first show of the season at NAF El Centro in California
  • March 23-24: head to Salinas, CA for the annual California International Air Show
  • March 30-31: NAS Key West, FL plays host to the Blue Angels at the Southernmost Air Spectacular
  • April 6-7: the Blue Angels visit Lakeland, FL for the Sun ‘n’ Fun Air Show
  • April 13-14: go to NAS Corpus Christi for “Wings Over South Texas”
  • April 27-28: the Blue Angels head to MCAS Beaufort for their annual air show
  • May 4-5: check out the show at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show, featuring the Blue Angels
  • May 11-12: head to the DC area for the Joint Base Andrew air show
  • May 18-19: the Blue Angels will stun the crowds at the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival in Missouri
  • May 22: the US Naval Academy hosts the Blue Angels
  • June 1-2: check out the Star Spangled Salute Air Show in Oklahoma City, OK
  • June 8-9 the Great Tennessee Air Show features the Blue Angles in Smyrna, TN
  • June 15-16: go to the beach for the Ocean City, MD air show
  • June 29-20: the Blue Angels are featured at the Quad Cities Air Show in Devenport, IA
  • July 6-7: watch the show at the KC Downtown Air Show in Kansas City, MO
  • July 13: the Blue Angels are back in their hometown for the Pensacola Beach Air Show
  • July 20-21: Duluth, MN hosts the Blue Angels for their annual Air and Aviation Expo
  • July 27-28: the Blue Angels are featured at the Grand Junction Air Show in Grand Junction, CO
  • August 3-4: Boeing hosts the Seafair Air Show in Seattle, WA
  • August 17-18: the Blue Angels head to the Windy City for the Chicago Air and Water Show
  • August 24-25: visit New Windsor, NY to see the Blue Angels in the New York Air Show
  • August 31-September 1: head to Nova Scotia for the Air Show Atlantic
  • September 7-8: feel the Spirit of St. Louis at the air show in Chesterfield, MO
  • September 21-22: NAS Lemoore plays host to the Blue Angels in California
  • September 28-29: MCAS Miramar features the Blue Angels in their annual air show
  • October 5-6: Sacramento highlights with Blue Angels in the California Capital Air Show
  • October 12-13: celebrate all things Navy and Marine Corps at Fleet Week in San Francisco, CA
  • October 19-20: visit Texas for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show
  • October 26-27: enjoy the Jacksonville Sea and Sky Air Show in Florida
  • November 2-3: Moody AFB hosts “Thunder Over South Georgia”
  • November 8-9: welcome the Blue Angels home with their homecoming air show

For more information about the Blue Angels, shows, practices and the team’s history, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Have you been to a military air show? Tell us about your experience!

SNAP Benefits Will See Continued Impacts of 35 Day Shutdown

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Due to continuing ripple effects from the 35-day partial government shutdown, families will be forced to stretch their SNAP benefits as much as 61 days.

According to numbers recently released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, almost all SNAP recipients are expected to face a more than 40-day wait between issuance of February benefits and dispersal of March benefits.

The extended wait between SNAP benefit dispersal is due to early release of February funds without a planned adjustment of March benefits being released early.

SNAP Benefits Will See Continued Impacts of 35 Day Shutdown

Families who qualify for the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have already received their benefits allotment for February. Most funds were dispersed on or around January 20. The next dispersal of funds is expected on or about March 1, with individual release dates being left at each state’s discretion.

The typical wait time between monthly SNAP benefits is about 28 to 31 days. Without an adjustment, families will need to make one month of food stamps last an additional 12 to 33 days, based on when they received February’s allotment and when they are scheduled to get their March benefits.

Military Feels Impact of Shutdown through SNAP

This wait could have a direct impact on veterans and troops who qualify for SNAP. Approximately 1.4 million veterans and thousands of active duty troops are currently enrolled in SNAP. Many are also supplementing their SNAP benefits with items from food pantries and food banks.

The entire Coast Guard, as well as many federal employees and contractors, went without pay even while continuing to do their assigned work. Many Coast Guard families faced uncertain financial futures as a result of the lack of pay. All told, approximately 42,000 Coast Guardsmen went without pay during the shutdown.

During the shutdown, many Coast Guard families were forced to rely on food pantries and apply for assistance to make ends meet. Many also received donations of food and other staple items, like diapers or toiletries. Donations were often crowd sourced via social media and virtual donation websites.

Members of the Coast Guard should have received back pay by January 31. However, there is the possibility of another shutdown beginning on February 15 should Trump and political leaders fail to reach a compromise.

Extended Waiting Time Between SNAP Dispersal Due to Shutdown

Benefits for February were advanced in January. This decision was based on the extended partial shut down that appeared to be without immediate resolution. As of press time, the US government has fully reopened pending continuing negotiations between President Donald Trump and members of Congress.

However, there is no clear plan for an early dispersal of March benefits as of January 30. There are no additional benefits for February. SNAP recipients will need to stretch their food stamps or EBT funds until the March funds are distributed.

They will need to make their benefits last at least two weeks and as much as an extra month, based on when they received February’s benefits and when the March dispersal is scheduled. Most families will need to make their benefits stretch at least 40 days, with some families looking at 50 or more days between SNAP dispersal.

This extended wait comes at a time when food banks and pantries are already feeling the strain of the shutdown impact. With many federal employees and contractors going unpaid, many turned to local food pantries to feed their families. Federal contractors will continue to feel the impact of the shutdown as they go without back pay.

Food pantries and food bank networks in locations with a high level of federal employees or near Coast Guard duty stations have seen an increase in use over the last two months. A food pantry has popped up at the Coast Guard Academy to serve students, instructors, staff and families stationed there.

The head of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Karl Schultz, acknowledged the increase in food pantry use by unpaid Coasties in an interview with CNN.

“But ultimately, I find it unacceptable that Coast Guard men and women have to rely on food pantries and donations to get through day-to-day life as service members,” Schultz said.

Food banks and food pantries rely on donations from corporations, businesses and individuals in order to secure food and fund distribution. An increase in need, such as during the recent shutdown, is not always met with an untick in donations or volunteers. This creates strain and causes limited food availability.

SNAP Helps Families with Food Stability

SNAP benefits allow qualifying families to purchase food items at grocery stores and farmers markets. Without continued SNAP benefits, families may need to turn to other sources to feed their families.

In order to qualify for SNAP, families need to meet income and demographic criteria set by the USDA and their individual state of residence. Benefits may only be used to purchase food items to consume at home and food-producing seed or plants.

Did your family feel the impact of the government shutdown? Share your story with us!

It’s Tax Time – Tips to Get You Ready

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By Marguerite Cleveland

I love tax time. We always have enough withheld so I know we will get a refund. There is something so satisfying about answering the questions on my e-filing software and seeing my refund tick upwards.  Filing your own taxes is surprisingly easy especially with software offered by H & R Block and Turbo Tax. Simply answer a series of questions based on your situation and the software fills out all the required tax forms and you submit everything online. Even having my own freelance business and rental property, the software can handle it.

This is the first year that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect your taxes. There are lots of changes but the most beneficial to military families is the increase to the Child Tax Credit from $1000 to $2000 for children younger than 17. With the married filing jointly modified adjusted gross income cap at $400,000 just about every military family will benefit. Even if you don’t owe any tax you will still receive up to $1400 for each qualifying child. Also new this year parents supporting children 17 and over will receive a $500 credit. For more information visit www.irs.gov and look for Publication 972 Child Tax Credit.

If you’re looking for the most affordable option for filing your taxes, most military installations offer a tax center which provides free tax services to service members, their families and retirees.  Typically they are open from January through April.  You can have someone help you with your taxes or use the kiosks with tax software provided by H & R Block if you prefer to do your own. Filing is free.

Another option is www.militaryonesource.com. Their website offers free tax preparation and e-filing software. In addition there are tax consultants that have knowledge of the unique tax circumstances military members face such as PCS moves and tax free income during deployments. There are plenty of helpful articles and other online resources.

If you really find taxes difficult and are not close to a military base, your most expensive option will be to visit the many commercial companies like Jackson Hewitt, H & R Block, and Liberty Tax Service. If you have a complex tax situation such as a divorce or inheritance or selling rental property you may wish to hire an accountant who will have more knowledge on complex tax situations.

The sooner you complete your tax return the sooner your refund will be on the way. To prepare your taxes get all your documents organized to make filing easier. Have all your W-2s, banking tax forms and any self-employment documentation such as 1099s available. Whichever method you choose, being organized will make everything run smoother.

 How are you completing your taxes this year? Any helpful tips?

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.WanderWordsWine.com

Photo Credit:
©devrim_pinar/Adobe Stock

Chef Irvine brings own brand of health, wellness to Fort Lee

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NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         07-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 25, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

FITNESS: IMPOSSIBLE

Chef Irvine brings own brand of health, wellness to Fort Lee

By DeCA Corporate Communications

Note:Go to DeCA’s YouTube page to watch a video related to Chef Robert Irvine. For photos, go to the agency’s Flickr page.

FORT LEE, Va. – Robert Irvine, celebrity chef, fitness guru, author and star of the Food Network television shows, Restaurant: Impossible and Dinner: Impossible, has a thing for the military and he’s not shy about saying it.

“One hundred fifty days a year of my being is spent with the military, understanding what it takes to be a modern day soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or coast guardsman,” Irvine said during an interview at the Defense Commissary Agency’s Fort Lee, Virginia, headquarters.

“Ultimately, food and nutrition, that’s what I do,” he added. “My love is to help those who need that in their daily lives. The commissary is part of our military and gives the added bonus of [providing] good products, teaching [patrons] how to use those products and keeping our men and women fit.”

Irvine, a 10-year veteran of the British Royal Navy, brought his unique brand of humor and personality to Fort Lee on Jan. 16, where he met service members and their families at the commissary and the exchange. The celebrity chef also is scheduled to visit the commissary and exchange at Naval Base San Diego Feb. 1.

To reinforce the chef’s message on fitness, The Robert Irvine Foundation is participating in an essay contest with commissaries and exchanges where the winner wins a cookout with Irvine. Essays must be submitted to www.MilitaryFitFamily.com no later Jan. 31. Patrons can also enter to win Irvine’s new cookbook, Family Table. The essay is about what the patron and their family is doing to get healthy in 2019 and beyond, and how the commissary and exchange will help them reach their wellness goal.

“As a force our lives are changing. We want a better, fitter more active force,” Irvine said. “We’ve changed the physical fitness areas in all our branches of the military, and what commissaries have done is adapt to that by giving us healthier choices, better-tasting foods, lower sugars, lower sodium, better protein bars and better protein drinks to allow us to keep up with those standards.”

For Irvine, commissaries and exchanges are a vital part of the military benefits package that supports the wellness of patrons’ wallets along with their physical health.

“When you are in the U.S. military, one of the benefits is being part of a place where you can get products at a very reduced rate and keep your family living,” he said. “If you think about the men and women who wear the cloth of our nation, we are in a salary bracket that sometimes doesn’t necessarily allow us great indulgent benefits.

“If I have a wife and two children, making $38,000 a year, for me to have a good life I have to be smart with money. Part of that smartness is using commissaries and exchanges because they offer great products at low prices and I can actually take care of my family. I call it hope. The commissaries and exchanges allow me hope to give my family the best I can give them rather than going outside and paying more money for it.”

-DeCA-

Scholarships for Military Children Entries Due Soon

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NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         06-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 25, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Application deadline Feb. 15

Scholarships for Military Children entries due soon

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page related to Scholarships for Military Children, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJrphCfYBY

FORT LEE, Va. – Students should be finishing up their preparations to apply for one of the 500 available $2000 Fisher House Foundation Scholarships for Military Children, as the deadline is approaching. Applications are being accepted through Friday, Feb. 15.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in 2001 to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force, and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. The program is administered by Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families.

This year is the first in which the entire application process is online, said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House vice president. “We are excited with the initial results from the online application process. We can track, in real time, the number of applications started and completed at each commissary.  We are on target for another highly competitive selection year.”

Eligibility for the program is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

Among requirements of the application process is providing a short essay. This year’s request is military lifestyle-related: “Please cite two examples of how being a child of a military service member has influenced your educational goals.”

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions and the application are available at MilitaryScholar.org.

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

Students enter brief background information and educational goals and the search tool will identify military-affiliated scholarships they may be eligible for based on their input. Once the search is complete, students receive a list of scholarships with a summary of eligibility requirements, points of contact and links to the scholarship provider’s website. Students can elect to have a PDF file of the results immediately emailed to them for use in selecting which scholarships to apply for.

The Scholarships for Military Children program is managed by Scholarship Managers, a national, nonprofit organization. If students have questions about the scholarship program application, they should call Scholarship Managers at 856-616-9311 or email them to militaryscholar@scholarshipmanagers.com.

No government funds are used to support the Scholarships for Military Children Program. Commissary vendors, manufacturers, brokers, suppliers and the general public donate money to fund the program.

-DeCA-

Alone and Lonely on Valentine’s Day

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*This article was originally published on February 4, 2015.

For whatever reason, my husband always seems to be away from home on Valentine’s Day. He is either away for training, deployed or even at school. This means that ever since we became a military family, I have spent almost every Valentine’s Day alone. I think he was home last year and we didn’t even really know what to do with ourselves. We were so accustomed to spending that holiday away from one another.

Each year, I’m trying to figure out a way to make it through this romantic holiday that the rest of the world seems to be embracing.

 

It would be easy to ignore the day or pretend it isn’t a real holiday. On the other hand, I really want to find ways to make it special even when my love is on the other side of the world.

One way to connect with your spouse during this time is by sending a Valentine’s Day care package. You can take the time to find some of their favorite items to put in the package.  You can make it as romantic as you would like. Make sure that you do send the package in enough time so they get it before February 14.

 

At home, you can make plans to do something fun with your friends or your children. Host a Valentine’s Day play date. Have all the moms bring something to eat and have all the children bring valentines for each other. I have always felt better about missing the holidays with my soldier when I can spend the day with others, especially those who know what it’s like to be alone on those special days.

Treat yourself to a nice dinner. When we were in Germany, I had 2 small children at home with me. It wasn’t possible to take myself out to eat on Valentine’s Day. I also knew if I did, seeing couples together might be hard. I decided to order in my favorite food from a local restaurant. I put the kids to bed early and ate my meal while talking to my husband online. A very modern military way to spend Valentine’s Day. Of course it wasn’t the same as having him home, but it made life a little easier on that day.

Sometimes you just can’t talk to your spouse on Valentine’s Day. This can make it harder but try to remember, it’s only one day. Set up a time to chat as soon as you can and make the day special for your kids and your friends.

I have also found that making Valentine’s Day cookies, putting up a few decorations and thinking about how I fell in love with my soldier can help me embrace the holiday even though we are apart. Sometimes it is the little details that can help you get through the tough days of a deployment or a busy training schedule.

Related: 5 Tips for Saving Money During a Deployment

Missed holidays are going to happen when you are married to someone in the military. There is nothing you can do to change that. You can however make the day a little nicer and plan to have a good holiday anyway.

Is your spouse working, gone for training or deployed on February 14? What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

*This article was originally published on February 4, 2015.

Photo Credit:
© artmim/Adobe Stock

Starting the PCS Purge

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How to get ready for your next move?

By Marguerite Cleveland

     It’s January but that is not too soon to start preparing for your next PCS move. All the buzz in the media right now is about Marie Kondo and her method to get rid of the clutter, but you don’t need to watch her Netflix show to find your own way to a clutter free move. The key is to plan ahead and to begin gradually purging until it is move time. Taking a gradual approach will lead to less stress.

  • Tax Time – Now is a great time to get control of your paper. Consider going paperless for as much as you can. It will make address change time much easier. Let magazine subscriptions lapse and don’t renew until you get to your new duty station. Start thinking about what important documents like birth certificates, passports, and shot records you will need at your next duty station. Always hand carry these items. Military paperwork, save everything. I can’t tell you how many times over the years we needed an LES, a copy of orders or a travel voucher. We use a large binder with document protectors broken up into categories like orders, award certificates and travel vouchers.
  • Toys and Kid Stuff – It wasn’t until recently that I learned that many childhood toys and collections that were lost in the move were actually purged before we moved. Move time is a good opportunity to cull through the stuff. Gradually start packing things up leaving out just a few favorites as you get closer to the move. For sets, put all the pieces together and box or tape up. Decide which you will keep and which you want to get rid of.
©Duriya/Adobe Stock
  • Clothing – At the end of the winter season, go through all winter clothes. Wash coats, gloves etc and then pack away. Get rid of anything you don’t wish to keep. I am a huge fan of big plastic tubs. The top seals and keeps out bugs. As you get closer to the move pick which summer clothes you will travel with and then plan to have the rest packed up. Usually less is more when you pack for a trip but consider how long you will be without your household goods.
  • Food – Start looking at what is in your freezer and as you get closer to the PCS plan meals to use up frozen food, open condiments and anything refrigerated. Usually unopened nonperishables can be shipped.
  • Sentimental Items and kids projects – With this lifestyle we live it is not practical to save everything. I recommend purchasing a trunk for each member of the family. Mine contains some treasures from my childhood, my children’s first baby outfits, letters from deployments etc. With kids projects keep one or two per year, I usually keep the flat items as they are easier to store.

     Now what to do with all the stuff you are getting rid of. First try to make a little money. I like to do a garage sale and I price to move the merchandise especially if I am going to donate what I don’t sell. It is amazing how quickly items priced $1 add up. Consignment stores are also an option. Usually the Thrift Shops on military installations are a good place to sell and donate. There are also online options like Ebay but you have to package and mail the items you sell. Whatever is left donate or recycle. Did you know items like the pile of plastic bags from the commissary can be donated to food banks so clients have something to carry the food in?

     Prepping for a PCS move will definitely reduce your stress and it is not too early to start. What is your favorite tip to help plan for a PCS move?

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

MWR – Morale, Welfare and Recreation

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Are you Taking Advantage of the many free and low cost programs?

Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs are available on all military installations around the country and the world. Did you know that when you shop your installation Exchange the majority of the earnings are returned to MWR to help improve the quality of life for military service members and their families?

Here are some great things you can take advantage of through MWR:

  • Installation Libraries. Many have fun programs and activities for younger children
  • Get Fit. After physical training hours in the morning there are a variety of fitness centers available for family use. Swim and workout on a variety of equipment at no charge. Take fitness classes (some posts or bases have a moderate fee). Many MWR programs offer a variety of fitness challenges and races such as mud runs, triathlons and 10K runs.
  • Outdoor Recreation. Offers a variety of equipment rentals such as skis and camping gear. Purchase fishing licenses and state park passes. Go on an outdoor adventure on one of the many trips they offer like white water rafting or a photography class at a stunning sunset location. Take scuba or kayak classes. Joint Base Lewis-McChord outdoor rec even offers a mountaineering program. Each installation will be different based on where it is located. For example Florida and Hawaii locations may be more aquatic centered while those in Colorado will have more mountain activities like skiing and rock climbing.
  • Are you crafty? Check out the Arts and Craft Centers and learn how to frame like a pro. It is a handy skill for all the awards and certificates your spouse will accumulate. Many offer ceramics and classes on various artistic endeavors. Some offer art classes for home schooled children.
  • Auto Skills Center. If you like to maintain your own car, this is the place for you. Skilled mechanics are available for questions and teaching while plenty of equipment to maintain your vehicle is available for a small rental fee. Some locations offer a free oil change for those with a deployed spouse, just bring your own oil and filter.
  • Bowling alleys, Clubs and Dining. MWR offers a variety of recreational activities for service members and their families. Some are specifically geared towards service members while others are family friendly. The bowling alley is very reasonably priced compared to civilian locations.
  • Golf. You may never get to play at the Augusta National Golf Club, home to the Masters tournament but you can play at the Gordon Lakes Golf Club located not far away at Fort Gordon. This is considered one of the finest courses in the South and was designed and built by Robert Trent Jones, Senior, a renowned golf course architect. There are great courses at military installations all over the country and you can play for much less than at a country club.
  • Armed Forces Recreation Centers. Enjoy a vacation at Disney World, in Germany, Hawaii and South Korea for much less than you would pay at other resorts. The Hale Koa Resort in Waikiki sits on a prime beach front location. In addition many installations have camping and cabins available for rent. The Navy has great MWR facilities with lodging at Pacific Beach in Washington State as well as in Fort Story adjacent to Virginia Beach and condos in Key West.  You can really stretch your vacation dollars at these locations.

MWR has many great opportunities for recreation and sports. Check out https://www.navymwr.org/, http://myairforcelife.com/, https://www.armymwr.com/. You can also find out more information by looking at the local MWR site for the installation you are assigned to.

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

‘The Savings Are Real’

By

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         02-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              January 11, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘The savings are real’

For commissary’s senior enlisted advisor, the benefit is personal

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: For photos of Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka O’Neal, go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157675474028927.

FORT LEE, Va. – Like most authorized commissary patrons, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal lives off the installation, where it would be more convenient to shop in the commercial grocery stores near her home.

However, convenience doesn’t always save money.

“Even as an E9, I still prefer my commissary over the so-called discount stores outside the gate,” said O’Neal. “And when I hear others talk about saving money, I just say why don’t you go to the commissary? I’ve done my homework, comparing sales receipts from the commissary and the civilian stores – the savings are real.”

As the new senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director, O’Neal makes it her business to learn everything she can about the commissary benefit so she can help other service members and their families save money. It’s a mission that she doesn’t take lightly.

“Right now I’m busy getting grounded in DeCA’s operations,” O’Neal said, “and concentrating on the mission, vision and focus areas that [retired Rear] Adm. [Robert J.] Bianchi, [DOD special assistant for commissary operations] wants me to target.

“From a senior enlisted advisor’s perspective it’s all about communications and messaging,” she added. “The ultimate challenge remains: How do we encourage our lower enlisted and mid grades to shop in our stores when many of them may be off post and near a number of commercial grocers? Messaging is so important as well as the ability of leaders to take our messaging and influence our patrons – and it’s all through communication.”  

In her previous assignment, O’Neal served as command sergeant major of the Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Command at Rock Island, Illinois.

At DeCA, she is the agency’s military advocate for enlisted service members – active duty, retired and reserve components – on all commissary benefit issues. The senior enlisted adviser is also the agency’s chief liaison to the military’s senior enlisted leaders.

“CSM O’Neal has an extensive background as a military leader,” Bianchi said. “As our new senior enlisted advisor, we are confident her experience will serve us well as she endeavors to help our patrons maximize their shopping experience and help us understand our patrons’ concerns about their commissary benefit.”

Throughout her nearly three decades in the Army, O’Neal has held a variety of battalion-, brigade- and command-level assignments that include the 1st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC), formerly known as COSCOM (1st Corps Support Command);  44th Medical Command; U.S. Army Special Operations Command; 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions; and the U.S. Army Materiel Command. O’Neal also provided logistical support for the production of the movie, Black Hawk Down, in Rabat, Morocco, and the Joint Logistics Command in Karshi Khanabad, Uzbekistan.

“I’ve always been an advocate for our commissary,” O’Neal said. “I just believe if you don’t take advantage of these benefits they will be on the chopping block; and we won’t realize what we had until it’s gone. Then it will be almost criminal to tell a young private to spend their money outside the gate, where they won’t get the same savings.”

She joined the Army as a parachute rigger in 1990 and later changed to automated logistical specialist in 1998. Her career has taken her to places such as Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Carson, Colorado; Camp Carroll, Korea; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and in Germany, Miseau and Kaiserslautern.

O’Neal holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Trident University International, (Cypress, California) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Campbell University (Buies Creek, North Carolina).

O’Neal’s complete biography is posted on the DeCA website.

-DeCA-