Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Honoring Our Veterans

By

by Marguerite Cleveland

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon Sets the Standard

Veteran suicide continues to be an appalling statistic with an average of 20 veterans committing suicide each day. One thing that many veterans miss when they return home is that sense of comradery and brotherhood they experienced while serving in the military and especially if they saw combat. For the past 15 years, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon have hosted a “Celebration of Honor” at the tribal owned Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon. This 5-day celebration brings together veterans and active duty military service members together to honor their service. The tribe has a long history of its members serving in the Armed Forces and there are Veterans from eras dating back to a senior member of the tribe, World War II Veteran Ed Ben. The tribe also provides space for personnel from the VA and veterans support groups which can help Veterans find assistance for medical, mental health or financial problems they may be experiencing.

The Field of Honor at sunset overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Chinook Winds Casino. Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

One of the highlights of the event is the Field of Honor which is a stunning display of 1000 full size flags set up on the casino grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Veterans of Oregon, a nonprofit group has a dedicated cadre of volunteers committed to ensuring that the service and sacrifices of every Veteran will never be forgotten. They set up the Field of Honor at events throughout the state of Oregon. The group also presents an Honorable Service Medal, made in America to those who have served honorably in the Armed Forces. The medal is for residents of all states but must be presented in Oregon. During the course of the 5-day event, volunteers reach out to the Veterans and encourage them to apply for the medal with a simple application verifying their service. On the last day of the Celebration of Honor a medal ceremony is held. The moving event presents veterans with this medal honoring their service and it is very emotional for many.

The Oregon Wall of Honor and other military displays were set up on the casino grounds. It was so interesting to see Veterans connecting and sharing their stories. The Vietnam era Veterans are very involved with ensuring that what happened to them when they returned home does not happen again. Jesus Montes is a Veteran who served during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. “When I returned home from Vietnam, people threw trash and tomatoes and called me a ‘Baby Killer’,” he said. Montes volunteers with nine different Veterans groups. “I reach out to the younger guys because I know exactly what they are going through,” he added.  Montes suffered from PTSD and the effects of Agent Orange and found that seeking help made a world of difference for him.

World War II, Korea, and Vietnam Veteran Jesus Montes shares his story. Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, should call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online at Veterans Crisis Online or send a text message to 838255.

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

 

Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards

By

By Marguerite Cleveland

Love to travel but prices cramping your style? Did you know Militaryshoppers.com has a travel club that you can join for free?  The Military Shoppers Travel Club is a program you sign up for online and you can use to receive discounts on all kinds of travel, including resort stays, flights, car rentals and activities. It allows travel businesses to show their appreciation to Active Duty military, those retired and the Guard and Reserves of all branches by providing special military discounts. In addition, the club offers contests, sweepstakes and prize drawings.

Score discounts at over 700,000 hotels in 198 countries worldwide.  More than 3000 family resorts in some of the hottest vacation destinations offer discounted 7 night stays. Top names in car rentals and flight participate in the program. View the activities section to get ideas for fun things to do on your next trip.

The stunning Skamania Lodge located on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is one of more than 700,000 hotels and resorts offering discounts through Military Shoppers Travel and Rewards Program.                      Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

The travel club works on a point system. Each point is worth $1 towards a travel discount off the public rate. The amount of points you can use varies based on the property, flight etc. Each time you book through the club you earn points towards your next travel.  There are three levels, Blue, Silver and Gold. The first level is Blue which is free.  This level starts you out with 100 points worth $100 USD. This is a complimentary annual award. At this level you receive discounts off Hotel nightly stays, tours, flights, car rentals, and save up to $50 off weekly stays.  You will earn 10 points for every $100 you spend.

If you travel more frequently a premium membership might be of greater value.  The Silver Level is $4.99 per month or $49.99 a year.  This gives you similar benefits to the Blue level but at a higher reward level.  Your complementary annual award points are 250 which equates to $250 USD. You will earn 15 points per $100 spent and you will get a discount of up to $100 towards a weekly stay. Shopping is added to the discounts you will receive.

Photo credit: Marguerite Cleveland

The best value is the Gold premium value which is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.  This level gets you 500 complimentary annual award points for a $500 USD value.  You will earn 20 points per $100 spent. The weekly stay discount is up to $200 USD. This level adds cruise discounts and a concierge service.

Visit www.militaryshopperstravel.com or click the link on the www.Militaryshoppers.com site to learn more about the travel club. With the Blue level a free option, you can sign up with your email address and look around the site to see what discounts can benefit you and your family.

 

 

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

How To Handle Deployment When You Have Children

By

Being a military child can be very challenging. The deployment stage can be a difficult transition for them, which sometimes, may last a lifetime. But, through this unfortunate period, it’s not impossible for a child to be okay.

You might be wondering:

What are the ways I could prepare my child when the time comes?

Will they get used to it? Ever?

What will happen when my partner comes back?

It’s very important to remember that both children and parents need to work on this transition together. In this article, we’re breaking down the deployment transition at different ages.

Babies and Toddlers
Babies and Toddlers are quite young to comprehend this transition. Yet, they do feel things. So, here are some important points to bear in mind.
Babies
Dealing with babies can be a bit tough. If the deployment happens during their infancy, then there’ll be concerns about how the baby will adjust to the parent when they come back home.

Fear not, here are a couple of things you can do to prepare them while your partner is deployed:

● Photographs:
Show your baby photos of the absent parent. You can hang them around the baby’s room.
● Audio Clips:
Play recorded audio clips of their dad. They’ll be acquainted with his voice.
● Video Calls:
Use the internet! Skype! Seeing and hearing their dad/mom’s face and voice may affect the baby far more than you think.
● Scent:
Wrap your baby around with their absent parent’s clothes. Let your baby get used to the scent.

Even though babies are too young to process deployment, however, they’ll still notice the absence of one of their parents. Babies can feel their parent’s stress and anxiety.

They become ten times crankier when they sense it. So, it’s supremely important you stay calm and take good care of yourself first.

Toddlers
Toddlers can be a handful even if there is no deployed parent in the picture. It shouldn’t be too hard to imagine how they will behave when the parent IS deployed.

Unlike babies, toddlers can understand and remember things. They might not understand exactly what deployment is, but they’ll realize the absence of one of their parents. It’s a difficult conversation to have with a toddler.

It’s essential to sit with them before the deployment. Being in touch with them is also very important.

They need to be reassured that their deployed parent loves them immensely and will come back soon. Video calls, photographs, and messages go a long way for toddlers as well.

Kindergarten
A kindergarten going military kid can be a different type of challenge to handle altogether. At this age, kids usually already have formed an attachment with their deployed parent.

It can be stressful for the parent staying behind. Having to play the role of an absent father/mother is no mean feat.

All the special games they might have played together, all the secrets shared, and the behavioral patterns they have associated with the absent parent can be a lot to take in.

Thus, have a one-on-one with your child. Explain to them as clearly as possible that this is a temporary phase and that their deployed parent will be back. Encourage them to stay connected.

Here are a few ways that can be done:

● Letters or Emails – Encourage them to write a letter to their dad/mom. Help them type up an email if they can process it.

● Performance charts – Make a chart listing all their achievements. It can be a little achievement like playing a new game, learning to swim, etc.

It’s a knotty situation to be in. Disciplining them can be complicated, especially when they’re testing your patience. They’ll often be unruly and rebellious at this age.

Kids act out when they are unable to express themselves properly. Having your partner be active throughout the deployment stage can help your kids be more compliant.

Plan with your partner to send occasional gifts to keep the kids in line. It’ll be an incentive for them to be in their best behavior.

School Going Kids
School going kids know what deployment is. It’s likely they’ll friends whose parents are also being deployed. So they’ll have a mutual understanding of the situation.

For your kids to understand what deployment is wins you half the battle. The best thing you both can do is be open to your children. It’s vital you and your partner do this before and also during the stages of deployment.

The goal here is to make your children understand that you’re cooperating as much as you can. They need your support and love to work through this.

Be their rock during these tough times and try to answer whatever questions they throw at you as gently and as patiently as possible. Be honest about who their dad or mom is, what they do, where he/she might be, and why.

At this age, kids follow routines comfortably. Keeping the environment just as it was during the pre-deployment days can pacify the matter.

Let them do what they normally did and try not to change anything too much. It helps them have a healthier mindset and less bitter towards you or their deployed parent.

Final Thoughts
It can be overwhelming for both father/mother and child after he comes home. Your child will want to spend time with him/her constantly. Let’s face it, parents need time to adjust as well.

Children, however, don’t really understand this. It’ll help to make a list of things they’ll want to do with the deployed parent after he/she gets back. They can both go over the list and choose what they’ll do that day. This will help them realize their parent’s effort and love.

The most important thing you need to remember is that communication is key. For this transition to work, it’s essential both parents participate together. Patience and a whole lot of faith go a long, long way.

*This is a guest post sent to Military Shoppers by Shawn R.

Author Bio:

Stepheny is a content writer at FeedFond. Being a military spouse and an aspiring author, her life is like a jagged graph
-full of ups and downs! To read more of her articles, visit Feedfond.com.

What Will Your Forever Home Look Like?

By

On her 30th move this military spouse’s forever home was unexpected.

By Marguerite Cleveland

After my 29th move, my husband and I began to seriously discuss where we wanted to live after retirement. This was surprisingly stressful for me because unlike most people I had literally moved every few years and sometimes twice in one year since I had been born. I had lived in so many amazing places the thought of just picking one and not moving again was quite scary to me.

The nice thing about moving so many times is that I had lived in everything from a tiny studio apartment to brand new homes built to our specifications. I lived in barracks rooms and historic mansions. Early on I envisioned my forever home to be one that was modern, upscale and large. Over the years, testing out all these homes and watching countless HGTV shows about renovating my vision changed. I knew I wanted an older home. They are just built better. We are soon to be empty nesters so we also wanted to downsize.

As we began our search we narrowed the location down pretty specifically to a small historic town near the base we currently lived at. Unfortunately we began shopping when it was a seller’s market with limited inventory and massive bidding wars. There were so few homes that we ended up putting in halfhearted offers on a few and were almost relieved when they were rejected. Then one day a home popped up. From the front it was very unassuming and looked like a squat log cabin. We almost didn’t look at it because we didn’t want the maintenance of a log cabin.

We decided to check it out during an open house. When I walked into the house and out onto the expansive deck with an incredible view of the Puget Sound, I knew I was home. I can only equate the feeling to what I felt when I found my wedding dress. I got pretty teary eyed I have to admit and tried to maintain my cool so the listing agent didn’t know how excited we were. The house was tiny but had enough room for our family and a large detached two car garage to hold all our stuff so we could downsize. It was at the top of our budget so we put in a lower than asking price knowing in this market we were unlikely to get the home. Much to our surprise, the counter offer was lower the asking price. We gladly accepted.

We have been in our forever home for three months now and it fits. Our big renovation plans are on hold as we discovered we are comfortable as is and don’t need more space. Downsizing fits us and it’s nice to know we are settled for retirement. Every time I step out on my deck and watch the sun set over the water I feel at home and finally after all those moves at peace.

What do you think your forever home will look like? Do you think your plans will change as the years go by? Whether big or small, you’ll know it’s the one because it will feel just right. Tell us your experience or thoughts in the comments down below.

 

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

 

Online Shopping Simplified: October 1 Marks First Day for Patron Access to Benefit

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:         66-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              September 27, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Online shopping simplified

Oct. 1 marks new day for patron access to benefit

By Jessica Rouse,

DeCA public affairs specialist

 

FORT LEE, Va. – The Defense Commissary Agency’s new customer portal, MyCommissary, launches Oct. 1, laying the foundation for more ways to shop and offering patrons access to their commissary’s biweekly sales flyer. In the future, customers will also be able to check their online shopping history, create shopping lists, read and submit product reviews and view product and pricing information.

“More and more of our patrons are accessing our website before they travel to their commissary,” said Hector Granado, DeCA marketing director. “With the launch of the MyCommissary portal, we are making their online shopping experience easier and more efficient.”

It’s easy to use. An initial sign-up is required the first time patrons access MyCommissary. During sign up, customers will enter their address, first and last name, date of birth and the last four digits of their social security number. It’s a one-time authentication – once customers sign up they will not need to do so again to navigate the portal’s different features.

“We know our patrons place a high value on keeping their information private,” Granado said. “They can rest assured that the information is only being collected to confirm their eligibility for the benefit.”

The portal will create no changes for patrons who currently use CLICK2GO, DeCA’s online ordering and pick up service, offered at Fort Lee, Virginia, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and Travis Air Force Base, California. Users only need to log into MyCommissary first to access the service or continue to log in directly from commissaries.com.

“One of the more notable changes will be the transition of the Commissary Rewards Card,” said Granado. “When patrons sign up for MyCommissary we encourage them to also update their rewards card to the new system.”

Patrons with active Commissary Rewards Cards should take note of the following information:

  • Beginning at 12 a.m. EST, Sept. 30, there will be a 24-hour outage for the current rewards card website. During that time, accessing the rewards card or clipping new coupons will not be available.
  • Any coupons already loaded to a card, but not redeemed, will be available for use until the expiration date.
  • Beginning Oct. 1, patrons can update their rewards card number within the MyCommissary portal using the number on the back of the card including the leading “4” and the following 10 digits.

For more questions about the rewards card, call 855-829-6219 (the phone number on the back of all rewards cards). For all other questions, use the Customer Comment Form.

-DeCA-

 

 

 

 

 

I Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

By

My hair was an absolute rat’s nest. I’d tried and failed, at no less than five different hairstyles. My locks had been straightened, curled and twisted to the breaking point.

It was also about 10 minutes before I needed to walk out the door for a military birthday ball.

I Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

From curly, poofy styles to sleek chignons, I’ve rocked a wide variety of hairdos over the years. My makeup has always been on-point. Across continents, climates and through late-stage pregnancies, I have successfully DIYed my military ball glamour. This year, I give up.

That’s how my friend found me. Standing in my Spanx and strapless bra, hair fried to a crisp, no makeup and a curling iron in each hand, I had tears running down my face. I also needed to breastfeed the baby.

You could say I was in a bit of a crisis.

Why I Have to Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

For the last decade, I’ve been a DIY military ball queen. I don’t make my own dress. That’s a bridge too far even for me. But I certainly do my own hair and makeup.

It’s been a smashing success, filled with lots of bobby pins and hairspray.

From curly, poofy styles to sleek chignons, I’ve rocked a wide variety of hairdos over the years. My makeup, while minimalist, has always been on-point, too. Across continents, climates and through late-stage pregnancies, I have successfully DIYed my military ball glamour.

This year, I give up.

I am finding other ways to look my best on military ball night.

It is not worth the amount of stress that I put myself through. Even the years that have turned out well were stressful. There is always the moment of panic. Suddenly, I’ll look in the mirror and realize that the ‘do I was trying for is miserably failing.

Or I notice, on my way out the door, that my eyeliner is really noticeably crooked.

Who could forget the year that I thought I left the curling iron on? I blame pregnancy brain for that one though.

Getting ready on the day of the military ball was much simpler before children were involved.

I could leisurely shower and shave in the hours before go-time. Lotion? Sure! It’ll have time to dry while I browse my shoe collection. Hair could be done again and again, maybe even totally shampooed for a freshly washed look.

With kids? I’m lucky to grab a 10-minute shower. Then, I’m feeding the baby some yogurt while answering the preschooler’s never-ending questions about life and attempting to apply foundation.

Oh, in the middle of all of that, I’ve also hunted down my husband’s extra stiff neck collar thingy and his cufflinks. They were exactly where he left them after the last military ball.

There simply isn’t the time for me to do my own hair or makeup in a way that approaches presentable. If I attempted it this year, I might wind up with the 4-year-old special: a bunch of pigtails, some random bows and lots of blue eyeshadow.

I’m dropping cash on one fancy night out.

In my world, this is the major date night event. We’ve got the sitter, glamorous outfits and we just might splurge on a taxi. This year might be crazy – we’ll get a hotel room for a truly immersive ball experience.

All of that costs cash.

It’s also only one night a year and I’m going to live it up. For my family, adding the cost of professional hair or makeup is not a budget buster. The cost of dry cleaning his dress blues to destroy lingering cigar odors will be pricey than my trip to the hair stylist.

While the military birthday ball is totally his night, it’s also my night on the town too. I want to look and feel good. I don’t want to find dried baby food in my hair.

Being able to spend some time getting my hair done also means that we won’t be rushing out of the house at the last minute. I won’t be hastily trying to shove my hair into a giant sock bun with 30 seconds to go. No more lipstick applications in the car either.

Maybe this year, I’ll be able to eat a little something before we go. Perhaps I’ll remember to sneak a few packs of fruit snacks into my clutch too. Those guest speaker comments can be rather long-winded and I’m used to eating at 5:30 pm.

Saving the money by doing my own hair and makeup isn’t worth the stress and aggravation anymore. Maybe it would be a different story if my hair was easy to work with or I was less picky. But it’s not and I’m not.

I refuse to be crying in my Spanx 5 minutes before we need to leave for the military birthday ball again.

After she finished laughing, my friend revealed that she was also not ready to go. We managed to pull our hair back into big buns and slapped on some mascara. Luckily, my tears had only managed to give me a dewy fresh glow and not puffy red eyes.

Once we slid into the car, we both solemnly swore that 2017 was the very last time that we would ever attempt to DIY hair and makeup for the ball.

From now on, at least one thing is going to be handled by a professional.

Really, it’s for our mental health. And so that our husbands will stop their anxious pacing and watch checking.

Do you get your hair done professionally or do you DIY before a military ball?

Do Military Wives Feel Threatened by Female Service Members?

By

I recently read an open letter from a military spouse. In this open letter this military wife unleashes all of her emotions about how she feels about women who serve in the military, how she thinks female service members feel about military wives and how these two group treat each other.

She clearly feels threatened by female service members and blames men for making her feel that way.

Do Military Wives Feel Threatened by Female Service Members?

I do not feel threatened by female service members. I’m impressed by them.

That’s what her letter comes down to or that’s what I’ve taken away from the read.

Initially I didn’t want to read the entire article, which is not like me at all. The executive editor pleaded with the readers in her foreword to read all the way to the end though, so I did.

The beginning mostly sounds like the whiny rant of a young military spouse.

That’s why I didn’t want to read further, but I did and I thought about what she said.

I Don’t Feel Threatened by Anyone

I certainly don’t feel threatened by anyone. Why would I?

Apparently, there are military wives that do or this letter wouldn’t have been written. I have been part of military life my entire life. Both of my parents were in the Army and my husband is in the Navy.

My husband does not serve on a ship. He serves in a small community that’s different from fleet Navy. There are a small number of female service members in this field. I do not feel threatened by them.

I’m impressed by them. Being a service member is a really tough job. It’s especially hard for a female. I think it’s amazing that these women are physically able to do the things that are required by this job.

I Feel Like Fighting on Behalf of Female Service Members

It takes an emotionally strong woman to be in a male-dominated field.

I hear what some of the men say about the female service members.

They don’t think they belong in the military.

They think they aren’t good enough.

And no matter how hard they work they won’t cut it in their minds.

Unlike the author of that open letter who wants to soak up every bit of that kind of conversation, I feel like fighting on behalf of the female service member.

The Relationship Between Military Wives and Female Service Members Is Complicated

I mentioned this open letter to a few military wives that have husbands serving on ships. They completely agreed with the author of that letter.

They relayed tales of male service members being kicked off ships for sleeping with female service members, of people cheating on their spouses while at sea and how female service members are a distraction to the mission.

They feel threatened by their presence.

Likewise, female service members taunt military wives for being overweight, lazy and unambitious.

They feel that military wives use their spouses’ rank to get their way.

They feel that military wives make up things to get them off ships.

It’s a pretty rough relationship between military wives and female service members.

Some of these situations are based off real events, but not all military wives fit this description and not all female service members act this way.

I’ve heard of these stereotypes but have never faced these situations, nor did I know it was such a big problem. I’m sure there are plenty more military wives and female service members that have experience with this.

Are you a military wife who feels threatened by the female service members that your husband works with? Are you a female service member who isn’t respected by your co-workers’ spouses? Share your story in the comments section.

Advance Your Career by Earning Your Degree Online with Cal U

By

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the California University of Pennsylvania. All opinions are 100% mine.

Veterans and military spouses know how to get things done. And oftentimes they get things done without the guidance of a supervisor.

But this internal drive to cross items off a to-do list or to accomplish personal goals is difficult to convey on a job application.

It’s hard to explain that even though you don’t have a college degree, you can definitely do that job. You know you can do it because you’re already doing these tasks in your current workplace. But you aren’t getting paid for them because you don’t have a college degree.

Frustrating, right?

The California University of Pennsylvania understands this frustration. That’s why they are working on ways to reduce this frustration by offering online degrees to veterans and military spouses.

Advance Your Career by Earning Your Degree Online with Cal U

Cal U offers veterans and military spouses a career-focused education with more than 100 undergraduate degrees, 50 professional and graduate programs and more than 75 fully online.

One of Cal U’s most popular online programs for veterans and military spouses is its master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion. The program provides a way for military spouses and veterans to turn their passion for a health lifestyle into a career.

Did you know that a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from the California University of Pennsylvania has a 98% placement rate?

Are you curious about Cal U’s exercise science and health promotion program? Here are the top three frequently asked questions about this 100% online program.

Should I quit my full-time job to earn my college degree?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: You shouldn’t have to choose between a paycheck and a college degree. But many within our military community do.

We’ve all seen the service member who decides to wait to start college until after he separates from the military. We’ve seen the military spouse who says she’ll go back to school once her children are grown and gone. We’ve seen the military spouse who needs that advanced degree to move into a management position, but she feels like she has to choose between school and work.

With the online program at Cal U, you can have both. You can work full-time during the day and be enrolled in college classes in the evening.

Cal U officials told us that many Cal U students take classes while on active duty. Cal U’s 100% online program provides a flexible higher education option for those who think they don’t have the time or the money to earn an advanced degree.

What happens to my enrollment at Cal U if we get PCS orders?

Short answer: Nothing.

Long answer: Cal U cares about you, not your ZIP code.

Cal U students are enrolled in online courses from all 50 states and from more than 20 countries.

As an online student, you will be fully engaged with your professors and peers through Cal U’s interactive approach to higher education. Cal U was the first college to launch a 100% online master’s degree in exercise science.

Another point to consider is that depending on when you start the exercise science program at Cal U, you may be able to complete it before you pack your bags for your next duty station.

Cal U’s master’s degree program, which includes professional certification recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, can be completed in 12 to 18 months.

My military life is unpredictable. Will Cal U professors get that? 

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: You are among friends at Cal U. Nearly 200 veterans and military dependents are currently attending classes at Cal U’s campus in California, Pa. More than 500 are taking courses online.

The California University of Pennsylvania Office of Military and Veterans Affairs offers free comprehensive support for veterans, eligible dependents, service members of the National Guard and Reserve and active duty service members. They also help veterans maximize their GI Bill benefits with tuition discounts.

Pro-tip: Cal U is a MyCAA eligible university. Military spouses should check to see if they qualify for MyCAA before enrolling at Cal U.

The Cal U Global Online program provides discounted tuition costs for active duty members and veterans of all military branches, as well as their spouses and eligible dependents. You can find out more information about this program at its Cal U Global Online website.

U.S. News & World Report listed Cal U Global Online bachelor’s programs among the nation’s best for veterans in 2017.

Cal U is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) consortium of schools, the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators and the Pennsylvania State System Veterans Advisory Network.

They are ready to offer veterans and military spouses the flexibility and support to earn a college degree. Connect with them today!

For more information about earning a degree in exercise science and health promotions with Cal U, click here.

Thinking Outside the Box: Commissaries.com Offers Shopping Lists, Recipes

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:         62-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              September 13, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

‘Thinking Outside the Box’

Commissaries.com offers shopping lists, recipes

for nutritious family meals

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

FORT LEE, Va. – Military families have very busy lives and juggling commitments can often come at the expense of family meals at home. Recipes and other resources found on commissaries.com ease the work involved to make those meals happen, which is good since September is National Family Meals Month.

“Research indicates that regular family meals lead to higher grades and self-esteem, healthier eating habits and weights, and less risky behavior in children, “ said Deborah Harris, the Defense Commissary Agency’s registered dietitian. “Adults eat healthier and consume fewer calories as well.”

To make it easier, DeCA has created dietitian-approved “Thinking Outside the Box” recipes and has prepared a complete dinner menu including weekly shopping lists for an entire month of family meals with links to the family-friendly, healthy recipes featured on commissaries.com. This venue offers quick and easy meal solutions featuring ingredients on sale at your commissary saving time and money.

“Designed with busy families in mind, there is a large assortment of easy-to-prepare, dietitian-approved meals, many of which are customizable for picky eaters, always one click away on commissaries.com,” Harris said. “We are continually adding new healthy recipes to ensure our military families stay healthy and save big.”

-DeCA-

 

 

Happy Birthday! Commissaries Honor Air Force’s 71 Years of Service

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:         61-18                                                                                                                       

Date:                              September 13, 2018

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

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

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

 

Happy birthday!

Commissaries honor Air Force’s 71 years of service

By Tamara Eastman,

DeCA historian

 

Note: To watch a video on DeCA’s YouTube page related to the Air Force, press the “Ctrl” key and click on the photo, or go to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzp1BZnv_jU.

 

For photos on DeCA’s Flickr page, go to

https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157695208707830.

 

 

FORT LEE, Va. – On Sept.18, the U.S. Air Force will celebrate its 71st birthday. On that date in 1947, W. Stuart Symington, who had previously been the Assistant Secretary of War for Air, was sworn in as secretary for the newly created armed services branch, the U.S. Air Force.

      The Army Air Forces was disbanded upon the creation of the U.S. Air Force, and the Air Force inherited the previous branch’s facilities, including their commissaries.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) salutes the Air Force community on their service’s anniversary, which from the start has been served by commissaries worldwide.

Air Force commissaries were initially supplied by the Army Quartermaster Corps until the Air Force took over running them independently. Shelf-stocking and commodity-purchasing decisions were made at store level.

The Air Force commissaries proved to be most beneficial to military families deployed overseas with the occupying forces in Japan and Germany.

The commissary benefit has helped greatly with the recruitment and retention of the all-volunteer military which went into effect in 1973. In 1976, the formation of the Air Force Commissary Service (AFCOMS) centralized control for all Air Force commissaries, which numbered 181 at the time, under one service, headquartered at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

As recently as the late 1980s, there was little standardization, no uniformity, no continuity of operations and no career path for commissary workers – civilian or military. DeCA was formed in October 1991, tasked with centralizing all of the service commissaries into one agency.

Today, DeCA provides the commissary benefit for all military services and provides patrons thousands of dollars in savings each year when compared to civilian supermarkets.

Since 1947 members of the United States Air Force have established a superb record of valor, sacrifice and honor and have served honorably during and after the Cold War, during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and are still serving proudly today.

-DeCA-