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8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

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When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do on a rainy afternoon was to look through old family photo albums. Not many of us take the time anymore to print out duplicate prints and bind them up into a notebook-sized trip down memory lane, but we are still a culture of pictures.

There are milestone photos of the kids, of course. Then there’s the annual family photo and the wallet-sized school pictures.

But are you forgetting to take photos that document your relationship with your spouse or significant other too?

Just like keeping the stubs from the concert tickets you got for your birthday or the hand-painted trinket from your cruise last summer, photos with your spouse help you to remember the journey you’ve taken together. Whether you keep them in a three-ring binder or in a virtual photo bucket somewhere in the cloud, make sure you remember to point the camera lens at the two of you together.

8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

A promotion is a big day in your service member’s career. Don’t forget to ask someone to snap a photo of the two of you.

Need some ideas for what pictures to take? Here are my top 8 photo opportunities all military couples should take advantage of:

Photos Documenting the Military Service Journey

Military service provides the security for your relationship, and quite frankly, nothing reminds me more of the reasons that made me fall in love with my husband than seeing him in uniform. My guess is I’m not the only one. So make sure you snap a photo or two of you and your spouse whenever you attend official military functions.

  • Promotions. This is a big day in every service member’s career, but it is also a milestone for your life together. Plus it gives you a great visual of the uniform evolution you’ve seen together. Don’t forget to take a photo at your service member’s reenlistment ceremonies too.
  • Graduations. They’ve put in the hours of work studying and training, and you’ve likely been left to manage the homefront so they can focus solely on advancement. Graduation photos are a way to celebrate a spouse’s military achievement.
  • Retirement. Like the light at the end of a very long tunnel, make sure you take the time to bask in the celebration that comes with retirement from military service. They’ve done the time in uniform, but you’ve been there too. A great photo of the two of you during the ceremony or the after celebration is a must-have photo.
  • Birthday Balls and Galas. It’s not often we get to call the military lifestyle glamorous, so take advantage while you can. Best part? These events often hire photographers, so all you have to do is show up and smile.
  • Farewells and Homecomings. These are some of the most important photos to have, not only for posterity, but to keep close during separations. Take the time to take a photo of every goodbye and every return. In those moments when the relationship requires a little extra work or distance brings loneliness, these photos are a great reminder of how much you mean to each other.
8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

Take the time to take a photo of every goodbye and every military homecoming.

Photos Documenting Your Relationship Journey

There are the standard must-haves like wedding and anniversary photos, but those are one day out of the year and aren’t often a true representation of your life together. Annual family photos are a great way to make sure you capture the kids as they grow (and yourselves as you age!), but they don’t capture the candid, funny and intimate moments that make the everyday so special.

  • Laughing Together. There are some that say a relationship filled with laughter is one destined to last forever. Even if it’s a selfie or a quick pic taken by the passerby you snag at the park, make sure you capture a funny moment now and then.
  • Hobbies. If the two of you are known to tear up the dance floor, swing a mean backhand or cook up a 7-course feast, make sure you capture you and your significant other in action. Not only will it serve as a reminder of all the things you love to do together, but it’s a great way to capture how doing those things might change or have to be modified with each duty location. Tennis in Alaska anyone? How about skiing in Texas?
  • Travel. Seeing the world (or even various parts of the United States) is a huge perk of military service, so make sure you take advantage of it. And don’t forget to take your camera. While you are filling your SD card with images of castles in England, Mount Fuji, or the California coastline, don’t forget to jump into the frame with your spouse. Memories are often fleeting. A picture will help you remember how clear the sky was that day or how cold the wind was, and how amazing it felt to be there…together.

Do you love taking photos? Submit your favorite photo with your service member to MilitaryShoppers’ monthly photo contest today.

How to Know if Your College Is Military Friendly

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Perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our children is an advanced education.

My oldest is finishing up her first college semester and it has been an eye-opening experience for both of us. Luckily, her chosen school is extremely military friendly. A tour of the campus included the opportunity to meet with a military veteran turned school administrator and ask the litany of questions we had compiled.

If you are a service member, veteran, military spouse or military family member looking to further your education, make sure you take advantage of the benefits that military affiliation can bring.

If enrolling at a military-friendly college is on your list of things to do, here are 6 things to look for when considering an university:

Is This College a Yellow Ribbon School?

Established by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help veterans and children of active duty service members to offset the cost of college tuition. Typically, GI Bill benefits will pay for tuition and fees at public institutions, but are limited to a nationally capped amount for private institutions (currently, just under $22,000 per academic year).

Universities and colleges participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for additional funds. A Yellow Ribbon school will contribute a specified amount of money toward tuition and fees, an amount then matched by the VA.

Not all private universities participate in the program, so if the cost of getting a degree, even with GI Bill benefits, seems out of reach consider looking at a Yellow Ribbon school to help offset the costs.

You can find more information about the Yellow Ribbon program and a list of participating colleges on the VA website.

Does This College Have a Student Veteran Affairs Office or a Veteran Student Organization?

A quick tip-off that a school is military friendly is the availability of staff and personnel dedicated to veteran and military students. It’s always nice to talk to someone who has been there done that.

Student Veteran Affairs staff members can be tremendous sources of information when you are trying to figure out the intricacies of the GI Bill and campus life.

Some colleges even offer veteran-only study halls and sponsor veteran and military-family oriented social events.

Does This College Allow for In-State Tuition Rates for Military Personnel and Families?

Surprisingly, at least for me, not all schools offer in-state tuition rates for military dependents. Most schools will offer in-state tuition for active duty dependents with a copy of the sponsor’s orders.

Thanks to a new law, passed just last year, in-state tuition is now guaranteed for all veterans and their dependents for the 3 years following separation from the military.

However, outside of that time frame, availability for in-state tuition depends on the institution.

Are There Plenty of Options for Housing within GI Bill Housing Allowance?

In addition to paying tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill also allows the children of active-duty service members, veterans and military dependents to receive a housing allowance to help offset room and board expenses. Typically, that amount is the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the ZIP code for your college or university.

Pro-tip: Make sure there are several options for housing within that range of pay. Military-friendly universities will sometimes also reserve a set number of on-campus housing options for military dependents and veterans, but you won’t know unless you ask.

Do They Offer Flexible Schedules?

For active-duty service members or working veterans and dependents, flexible scheduling options are a must. Many universities and colleges offer short-term course study or online class options.

Even some of the largest universities offer online courses, so don’t assume just because it isn’t local, it isn’t military friendly. Some also offer discounts to military service members and their dependents for online programs. Again, ask about a flexible schedule when meeting with university representatives.

Does This College Offer Credit for Military Experience?

For veterans and active duty service members, you can save a ton of time and expenses by using your on-the-job training as substitutes for some degree-required classes.

Many universities and colleges will evaluate your military training records and award you college credit for things you already know. You may earn credit for basic training.

There may be a small fee for transcript evaluation, but many military-friendly colleges will waive that fee for military-affiliated students.

As someone who only recently earned her bachelor’s degree, my hat is off to anyone who is willing to make that commitment.

No matter the university or college you chose, take the time to find out what opportunities and options they have for military students. The resources are out there, so take advantage of them.

Did you attend a military-friendly college? Tell us about your experience in the comments section.

What the Military Community Wants from Washington

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Dear Washington,

Election season has passed, and a new administration is getting ready to take office. That means it’s time for you to take stock of our military capabilities, troops and their families. Yes, the U.S. military is a huge organization and encompasses so much.

However, please take a minute to listen to us, to me, to find out what we want and need from you, right now and for the next 4 or so years.

First, take a hard look at the budget.

Actually look at it with a critical, non-partisan eye. Is there a place where we could trim a little bit of fat without reducing force readiness and family support?

We know that this department has become a huge and growing part of the annual budget. And we also know that something probably needs to change. Please try to do this judiciously, cutting or reducing funding for the (many) redundant portions of the budget while preserving those parts that serve a major purpose in our lives.

We don’t want military funding at the expense of other services we depend on, like education and other programs that serve the general population.

We use these, too. We want them funded and functional.

Next, we need more than lip service about your support.

It’s all well and good to “support the troops” in your speeches and press conferences, but will you actually follow through? A great first step is making sure that our equipment is funded for proper maintenance. With this, include money for adequate training on the equipment. If you want troops ready at a moment’s notice, then they need to be able to access perfectly running equipment AND know how to use it.

Cutting corners here can lead to deadly accidents.

Our fighting force is now a family. That means spouses and kids who depend on the military for both financial and lifestyle stability. If you cut programs that help support military families, you will quickly draw our ire and disdain. This includes medical care, employment programs, child care facilities, commissaries and family readiness programs.

If you want the troops to be ready to go, the whole family needs to be prepared and supported. When those on the homefront feel unstable, that deployed service member can’t do his or her job well.

Don’t forget the veterans, either.

For years now, we have watched the endless saga of corruption and mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hospitals and VA health care facilities have endless waits, leaving many in the lurch. These waits have added extra stress to those suffering from mental and physical health conditions.

Take this department to task and shape it up. Get rid of practices or personnel that are costing lives every day and streamline the process to receive care.

Veterans wrote a blank check to our nation and were willing to sacrifice their very lives to protect ours. The very least we owe them is top-notch medical and mental health care when they leave service.

Help us connect with the other 99%.

About 1% of our country serves in the military. That leaves most Americans without a connection to our troops and their families.

In years past, the entire country banded together to support our troops through war bonds, rations and taxes. Right now, it seems that most Americans just don’t understand what it means to serve our country. Help us to show everyone else what it means to live this life.

Highlight our sacrifices, beyond just the feel-good stories about homecomings and the devastating stories of loss. Help people understand that we have been at war for over 15 years. This war isn’t funding itself.

Pay us what we are worth.

Have you checked on the salaries for our service members from top to bottom lately? Without the “luxuries” of the commissary and military health care, many families wouldn’t be making it financially. Even with these benefits, there are too many military families who qualify for WIC, welfare programs and food stamps. That’s unacceptable.

In addition, due to operational tempo and frequent moves, many military families are trying to make it on just one salary.

Pay our troops what they are worth, based on the work that they do for our country. And pay them without factoring in the “benefits” we all count on just to make it from payday to payday.

These are just a few thoughts, Washington. If you need more ideas, just ask.

MilitaryShoppers readers, what do you want from Washington?

Why Your Family Should Make Family Goals for 2017

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“Don’t count the time, make the time count.”

As a military spouse, I often feel like I’m constantly counting time. I count down the months until we move to Hawaii. I count down the weeks until my husband comes home from deployment. I count down the minutes until bedtime.

When I’m counting down the time instead of making the time count, I miss the highlights of life. I’m stuck in the day-to-day task list. Did we make any memories as a family in the past year? Or were we so focused on homework, ballet recitals and work deadlines that we didn’t take the time to enjoy life?

Making a family goal for the new year helps me slow down and remember what’s most important in my life.

Here are 12 goals that your family may want to embrace in the new year. These 12 ideas are a starting point for your family’s discussion about choosing a goal for 2017. Don’t try to do all 12 goals. Pick one that you can do together throughout the 12 months.

Note: Whatever goal your family makes, write down your goal in the present tense. This goal isn’t a hope or a wish. With a realistic action plan, your family can achieve your goal.  

In 2017 my family is an active family. Everyone in my house benefits from fresh air, sunshine and physical activity. We know that. Yet we are tempted to stay inside and watch a movie when our bodies really need a bike ride.

In this goal, schedule a weekly family outdoor activity.

In 2017 my family is a curious family. When we moved to Mississippi 2 years ago, I made a bucket list of the local attractions that I wanted to visit.

Can you guess how many we’ve crossed off the list?

Exactly 3.

I tend to return to familiar places instead of exploring new ones. I need to push myself to be curious and go outside my comfort zone.

In this goal, plan a weekly curious day where your family finds a new park, visits a local museum or eats dinner at a new restaurant.

In 2017 my family is a face-to-face family. Limiting screen time is like eating vegetables in my house. We know we should do it, but we don’t do it as much as we probably should.

In this goal, turn school nights into no-screens nights. You will be surprised how easy a blanket policy like this can work for small children.

In 2017 my family is an “outside the box” family. After a long day, making a homemade meal is the last thing I want to do.

I want to order pizza. For the second time this week.

But with proper meal planning, we can eat healthy and balanced meals nightly. And honestly eating healthy doesn’t have to be time consuming. Check out these quick and healthy recipes from DeCA’s dietitian.

In this goal, set aside an afternoon for meal planning. Depending on your child’s age, he or she may be able to help with meal prep.

In 2017 my family is a responsible family. I once had a deployment goal of teaching my kids to be responsible for their own belongings. This meant hanging up their backpacks when they came home from school, putting their shoes by the front door and clearing their dishes when they finished eating breakfast. Rocket science, right? Teaching responsibility for personal items is no easy task. But with constant and consistent reminders, my kids will do it.

In this goal, set a nightly 7-minute timer where every family member picks up and puts away their personal items that may be scattered throughout the house.

In 2017 my family is a green family. Making smart environmental choices isn’t difficult. For my family, it means bringing reusable grocery bags to the commissary, turning off the lights when we leave a room and purchasing food items with less packaging. Many habits that are good for the environment are also good for your bank account.

In this goal, pick one non-negotiable green policy that your family will embrace in 2017.

In 2017 my family is a patriotic family. My children know that their father serves in the military. But do they know that their grandpa and uncle were both in the Army? Probably not. I want my children to value military service and to be grateful to veterans for their service and sacrifice.

In this goal, volunteer with a veterans organization or simply teach your children to tell a veteran “thank you” when they meet one.

In 2017 my family is a less-is-more family. My house is crowded and it’s not with people. It stuffed with stuff.

In this goal, commit to making thoughtful purchases in the new year. For example, stick to your shopping list at the store and wait 24 hours before buying an item online. Those late-night impulsive purchases are the worst.

In 2017 my family is a giving family. We know that it’s better to give than to receive, but how often do we give? Giving is on my radar during the high-demand holiday season but I forget about it during the rest of year.

In this goal, your family volunteers regularly with a nonprofit organization.

Pro-tip: You can make a donation to your favorite charity through the Combined Federal Campaign.

In 2017 my family is a frugal family. Spending less and saving more money is a constant goal of mine. Do you feel the same way? Like all habits, spending less isn’t going to happen naturally. I need to put forth the effort to examine our spending habits and make a spending plan. It isn’t fun but it’s so important.

In this goal, sit down with your spouse to make a spending plan for the next year. Break it down into weekly spending plans to help you achieve your financial goals in the new year.

Pro-tip: Sign up for MilitaryShoppers newsletter to have tips on saving money, military discounts and commissary specials delivered to your inbox.

In 2017 my family is a reading family. It’s only 20 minutes. But sometimes prioritizing those 20 minutes of nightly reading is more like 17 minutes of nagging to read and 3 minutes of actual reading.

In this goal, set a reminder on your phone to “alert” you when it’s time to read together before bed.

In 2017 my family is a “no” family. Does anyone else feel overwhelmed and over-scheduled? Our weekends are filled with birthday parties and military social events. I like the weekends to be a time to recharge our batteries, not drain them completely.

I have the control to do that and the power is found in one small word: no. I plan to practice saying “no thank you” a lot more in 2017.

In this goal, thoughtfully consider one event or activity that you can decline to attend every month.

Does your family make goals for the new year? What is your family goal for 2017?

11 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Kids

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Sparkly dresses, champagne toasts at midnight and partying until the ball drops might be a thing of the past for parents. Unless you are ready to pay a hefty babysitter fee.

Luckily, you can still party like it’s 1999 with your kids! Well, maybe not quite that much fun, but pretty close.

Here are 11 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your children.

Host a Kid-Friendly Soiree

Call up your other parent friends and invite them over for a fancy dress party. Serve finger foods like chicken nuggets and mini hot dogs, with champagne for the grown-ups and apple juice for the little ones.

Make Mocktails All Night Long

Older kids, and many adults, want to celebrate with fancy drinks but not the day-after results. Create fun mocktails with seltzer water, soda, fruit juice and garnishes. Make a mocktail of the hour and bust it out every 60 minutes. Check out these suggestions!

Celebrate a Different Midnight Ball Drop

The new year arrives at different times around the globe, which means that you don’t need to wait for midnight EST. Pick another location that matches your kiddo’s bedtime and roll with it! Live stream their celebrations, set the clocks ahead to match their time zone and blow your horns when the clock strikes midnight, over there. Kids get the fun of celebrating 2017, without staying up all night long.

Launch Sky Lanterns

Recreate the classic scene from the Disney movie “Tangled.” Sky lanterns symbolize hope and good wishes. They are perfect to ring in a new year! Have your kids write down their resolutions, wishes or prayers for 2017 and include them with the lantern. Then launch your lanterns as the sky is growing dark or just before bedtime. Make sure you are in a safe location and away from fire hazards. Check with your local fire department just in case.

Roast Marshmallows at a Christmas Tree Bonfire

What better way to get rid of a very dry Christmas tree than to have a bonfire! Gather up sticks and branches from the last winter storm or buy a few cords of wood. Invite your friends over to cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows over the flames. As a bonus, you’ll be nice and toasty while you enjoy some fresh air as 2016 ticks away. Just make sure you are following fire safety guidelines for your area!

Have an Epic Game Night

Bring out ALL the board games for one night of endless playtime. Make it a family affair or invite friends and neighbors over to play with you. Start with the classics and end with modern favorites or play games that you loved as a child. It’s a great chance to share memories and practice winning (and losing) with grace.

Invite Friends to Eat Around the World

New Year’s Eve at home is a great opportunity to try out all those Pinterest recipes you’ve been saving all year! Start early, with fun appetizers, and end with dessert just before bed. In between, try out recipes, tapas style, from around the world. Sushi from Japan, hummus and pita bread from the Middle East, bangers and mash from England, or poutine from Quebec.

To keep your New Year’s Eve menu kid-friendly, try serving Candy “Sushi” Fruit Roll Ups.

Go where your taste buds take you! If you’re really ambitious, you could attempt to coordinate a new food with when midnight arrives in that country or region.

If you’re not ambitious, you could order take-out from a variety of restaurants.

Snuggle on the Couch with a Classic Movie Night

Go with classic movies from the golden age of cinema or your favorite Disney movies as a kid or really any combination of movies you love. Snuggle up on the couch with popcorn, candy and pizza, then push play.

Celebrate Hannukah

The Jewish festival of lights ends on January 1, 2017. Celebrate hope and faith by lighting your own candles, menorah or sparklers. Play dreidel and eat delicious latkes or sufganiyot, a deep-fried doughnut filled with jelly or custard. Then initiate your children to the glory that is the “Hannukah Song” by Adam Sandler. Maybe edit out some of the more risque bits though.

Organize a Living Room Slumber Party

Set up sleeping bags, or make a tent out of blankets. Watch movies, play games and eat junk food until the kids fall asleep! Then you and your spouse can keep the party going, quietly, or can join your children in dreamland.

Make a Fancy First Breakfast

After all the celebrating the night before, refuel with a delicious breakfast on New Year’s Day! Go all out with pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast and juice (or mimosas). While you eat, ask your family to talk about goals for the new year or remember their favorite parts of 2016.

How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with your kids?

Are the Challenges of Military Life Worth It?

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At the end of the year, I find myself feeling a little introspective. This year has brought a lot of ups and downs, but perhaps the most monumental aspect of this year for my family is this:

we had our last military move.

Retirement is just around the corner. I’m not sure I even believe it yet. I grew up traveling the world with 2 active-duty parents. I took the oath of enlistment myself and then settled into the familiar life of a military spouse.

Every single moment of the first 40 years of my life has been influenced by the military community.

I have never known health care that wasn’t Tricare. Words like PX, PCS, TDY and ACUs are a part of my regular vocabulary. I have seen countless iterations of uniforms, moved from one side of the world to the other, and started and left more jobs than I can count.

As I think about this past year and imagine what a fast-approaching civilian future might look like, I have to wonder if the challenges we’ve faced as a military family have been worth it.

It’s a question not easily answered and so I did what any military spouse would do. I leaned on my military community and asked them: what are the biggest challenges of our particular lifestyle?

I empathized with their responses, and it wasn’t long before I noticed that almost every challenge listed was directly tied to the transient nature of our lifestyle. With that in mind, I sat down and gave some thought to this particular aspect of my life. Has moving 19 times been worth it?

Change Moving Is Never Easy

No matter your MOS or career field, this is one aspect of our military life that we all share in.

Often it’s a hassle, sometimes it’s an adventure, but it is always stressful.

Making sure you can find adequate housing, ensuring the school district is acceptable, finding a new job, setting up a new support system, picking a new primary care physician, figuring out which gate is open, the list goes on and on. I can honestly say that even though I have done all of these things many times, they never get any easier.

Moving is exciting when it’s just a set of orders and a daydream about the possibilities, but a nightmare when your entire life is packed into boxes, your spouse is headed out to God knows where for who knows how long, and you don’t even know where the closest grocery store is.

And then there is the separation. Separation from a spouse sent on deployment or TDY. Separation from extended family. Separation from the friends and co-workers who became your surrogate family when you first arrived at the new military installation.

As I sat reliving the stress and strain of military life, I could feel my blood pressure begin to climb.

And then it hit me. The lessons this life has taught me are invaluable.

Lessons Blessings in Disguise

If I had never traveled the world, I wouldn’t have lived in the beautiful, red brick townhome in England. Never had milk delivered in glass bottles right to our door. Never discovered that boiled Brussels sprouts are entirely unpalatable. I would never have played hide-and-seek in the small grove of olive and apricot trees on Crete. Never learned to swim in the Mediterranean.

If I hadn’t changed schools ever couple of years, I would have missed out on friendships that forever changed the way I saw the world and understood people. I would never have listened to a foreign friend tell me her secret dream was to one day become an American.

If I hadn’t said goodbye to countless friends, I would never have had the chance to say hello to so many others.

If I hadn’t waved goodbye to my spouse, I might never have learned that I am strong, smart and able to take care of our household on my own. And I would never have been able experience the sweet relief of watching him walk through the front door unharmed.

If I hadn’t agreed to quit a job to go where the Army sent us, I might never have learned how to make giant Christmas bows or develop a database or process a mortgage. I might never have learned how to create websites or work in social media.

I might never have learned that friendship, comradery, resiliency and a sense of duty will always trump adversity.

So has military life been worth it? For me, I think the answer is undeniably, yes.

How would you answer this question: Knowing what you know now, would you live your military life all over again?

Military Discounts for When Your Service Member Is Deployed

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Have you looked into military discounts and freebies for deployment items? I love free and discounted things. As yet another deployment looms shortly ahead for my service member, I, at least, have some of these military discounts to look forward to.

Here is a list of 11 military discounts and freebies you should consider while your spouse is deployed.

Create a Free Welcome Home Sign with Build a Sign

Build a Sign offers the option of 1 free welcome home vinyl banner, jumbo card or yard sign to present to your loved one at the end of their deployment. You only have to pay for shipping.

They suggest ordering 8 weeks before you need it, but you can choose a quicker shipping option. Expedited shipping costs more.

Free Lawn Care and Snow Removal for Military Spouses

Project EverGreen offers free lawn and landscape services and snow and ice removal for military spouses while their service member is on deployment.

I signed up for this service when my husband deployed after moving to an area where it snows. Being from the South, I’ve never shoveled snow. I was relieved to find local people and lawn care companies registered with the EverGreen Project to help me while my service member was on deployment.

Smile for a Free Family Portrait with HeartsApart

HeartsApart.org brings photographers from around the country together to provide service members with photography sessions, free of charge, with their families prior to deployment. The service member receives a portrait that is printed on a waterproof bi-folded card that can fit in his or her uniform pocket. Their family receives a DVD with the photos from the entire session with reproduction rights.

The program has recently increased to provide photos of newborn babies that are born when their father is on deployment.

Operation Love Reunited Captures Your Homecoming Kiss

Operation Love Reunited offers free photo sessions for military families worldwide when the service member will be on deployment for 4 months or more. Options include pre-deployment and mid-deployment sessions, homecoming photos and fallen loved ones sessions.

Two photo sessions are allowed per deployment. Pre-deployment photo sessions require the service member to be photographed in uniform. Fifteen prints will be shipped directly overseas.

Homecoming photos are taken at the time the military spouse and service member are reunited to capture the raw emotion of being reunited. Fifteen photos will be provided digitally.

Daddy Dolls Offers Comfort to Military Children During Deployments

Daddy Dolls started as comfort pillows for children with fathers on deployment. The front of the pillow is a picture of the service member. What makes Daddy Dolls unique is that the pillow is shaped like a person and the photo is full size to the pillow.

Many of my friends had them for their children and recommended Daddy Dolls to me. I bought one for our son during the last deployment and he has carried it all over town with him.

While there isn’t a specific military discount for these now, you can find discount codes online. They have also expanded their product selection and now offer items with similar sentiment.

Record a Bedtime Story with A Story Before Bed

A Story Before Bed is a wonderful website that allows deployed, or soon to be deployed, service members record a children’s book online with audio and video for free. A wonderful element to this is children can listen to the recording repeatedly on iPad, iPhone, Mac or PC.

Our Military Kids Pays Activity Costs for National Guard Children

This is a nonprofit organization that helps children between kindergarten and 12th grade that have at least one parent in the National Guard and Reserves on deployment. They offer grants to cover the cost of activities that could help children facing stress while their parent is away. The grants cover the cost of athletic fees, fine arts and tutoring programs. It is not available to children of active-duty parents.

Ask for a Military Discount on Your Auto Insurance

Active-duty service members can receive military discounts on auto insurance during deployment. USAA offers up to 60 percent off auto insurance if you choose to store your vehicle during deployment.

GEICO offers up to 15 percent military discount. Check with your insurance carrier to see if it offers a military discount during your service member’s deployment.

Interest Rates May Be Lowered to 6 Percent

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, you can request all interest rates and fees that you have paid on credit cards, mortgages, student loans and other loans be lowered to 6 percent per year.

Freeze Your Service Member’s Cell Phone Account

Many cell phone companies will lover your bill or even freeze your account for the period that a service member is deployed and not using the phone. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, those with at least 90-day orders to an area that does not have cell phone service can cancel their contract without penalty.

Ask Your Bank to Waive Fees

Many banks will lower or even completely waive fees while on deployment. USAA does not charge fees on credit card balance transfers or on convenience checks. Check with your bank to see if they will lower the APR on transactions.

Did we miss any military discounts on deployment items? Please tell us in the comments section.

Now Is the Right Time to Transfer Your GI Bill to Your Kids

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A benefit for military service members is the GI Bill. While many take advantage of the great opportunity to go to college with this financial support, others choose to pass it on to their spouse or children.

This option wasn’t always available and might not remain so, which makes now a great time to decide if transferring your GI Bill is the right move for your family.

Now Is the Right Time to Transfer Your GI Bill to Your Kids

Talk to your spouse and children to see if transferring your GI Bill benefits to one or all of them is the right decision for your family. Don’t wait until politicians change, take away, or make receiving these benefits harder.

What is the GI Bill?

The GI Bill is a government program that helps service members meet the financial needs of continuing their education once they leave the military. It was initially only available to the service members who met certain qualifications. Over the years the rules and benefits have changed.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the latest form of the bill. It provides money for approved educational programs for up to 36 months of school for service members, which must be used within 15 years after leaving active duty.

In 2009, a law was passed to allow service members to transfer these benefits to their spouses, children or both.

Who is eligible?

Any service member that completed 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, that is on active duty, or that was honorably discharged or discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days is eligible.

What is covered?

Monetary funds are available to cover up to 36 months of educational courses for approved programs that include higher education, vocational training and now flight school for example. Other financial support may be provided to cover a monthly housing allowance, annual books and supplies and one-time rural benefits.

Am I eligible to transfer my GI Bill?

In order to transfer your GI Bill, service members must meet certain requirements. Anyone on active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and also meets these requirements may transfer benefits:

  • Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election.
  • Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by service branch or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
  • Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the Armed Forces.

Why transfer your GI Bill now?

If you, as the service member, do not have any intention of using the entire 36 months of educational benefits, you might want to consider transferring some or all of the benefit to family members. The government started this program as a way of helping service members transition out of the military as well as an incentive to join the military. You have earned these benefits, so don’t let them go unused.

Last year Congress discussed changing the GI Bill benefit to make it more difficult to transfer to family members. They talked about increasing the number of years the service member must commit to in order to transfer the benefit. They also discussed limiting the scope of the benefit.

No legislation on this has been brought up, but the possibility is there. Why leave it to chance if you don’t have to?

How do I transfer my GI Bill?

Active duty service members may designate, modify and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) request on the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website.

After approval, there is one more form to turn in before a family member can use these benefits. Family members are required to apply to use the transferred benefits by submitting a VA Form 22-1990e with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Is there anything else I need to know about transferring the GI Bill to my spouse or children?

Family members enrolled in DEERS that are eligible for benefits at the time of transfer are able to use the benefits.

Spouses are able to use the benefits at the time of transfer, but children must wait until the service member has completed at least 10 years of service. The child or spouse can use it while their sponsor is actively serving or after they leave the military.

Military children cannot use the transferred GI Bill until they finish high school, or an equivalent, or turn 18 years old. The child is entitled to the monthly housing allowance even while their sponsor is on active duty, but the spouse is not. A spouse has 15 years to use the benefits once the service member separates from active duty, but the child does not have this restriction. They do however age out of eligibility at 26 years old.

Talk to your spouse and children to see if transferring your GI Bill benefits to one or all of them is the right decision for your family. Don’t wait until politicians change, take away, or make receiving these benefits harder.

Has your service member transferred his or her Post-9/11 GI Bill to you or your children?

 

Why a Surprise Military Homecoming Is an Awful Idea

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Deployment is almost over! The countdown is only a few weeks, days or hours. I am ready. Kind of.

I still need to clean the house, corral the kids, hose off the pets and pick out a stunning outfit for the BIG DAY.

Except now, here he is. The house is dirty. The kids are running amok. The dog just got skunked and I’m wearing sweats. I am so not ready for this military homecoming!

My worst nightmare is a surprise military homecoming.

Maybe because I’m an ultra Type-A planner who likes to be moderately in control at most times. To me a surprise military homecoming just seems like a bad idea.

First, the whole surprise thing. It’s a random time of day and the doorbell rings. There’s a person wearing some sort of uniform standing at my front door. For me, it would be heart-stopping shock. Not joy, shock about the potential despair that might be coming. All because there is a uniformed person on my doorstep, without warning.

Part of deployment is the mental prep and gamification of it. The countdown is front and center on the fridge. In my mind, I’m ready for X day. With a surprise military homecoming, the spouse or family might not be mentally ready.

Why a Surprise Military Homecoming Is an Awful Idea

A military homecoming doesn’t need to be a surprise to be special for your family.

Along with the mental prep work to welcome a service member home, comes some deep selfishness.

We have been apart for goodness knows how long, and my bed has been empty. The children have not seen their father in forever it seems. And we need that moment of just us-ness.

But a surprise military homecoming takes away that intimacy. They take away the “us-ness” of the moment by bringing other people into the mix.

It’s sheer logistics. Someone else will see him first, be next to him first, drive him first and arrange his first food.

Call me selfish, but the only humans I want to share those firsts with are my children. The deployment has been a build-up to the moment my spouse steps off the bus, plane or out of formation. I need the closure of that very first kiss.

Beyond just the “first” moments, let’s talk about the whole planning aspect of these surprise military homecoming shenanigans.

The service member has to contact someone at home to arrange everything. Someone has to be there to get her. She has to have food and something to drink, plus provide a change of clothes. The props have to be set up in advance, ready to go. Plus, someone has to move the spouse and kids into the correct position at the proper time.

That is a LOT of work. Chances are that the TV crew members don’t help out every person who wants to pull off one of these surprise military homecomings.

Last, but not least, let’s talk about the lies involved with a surprise military homecoming.

The building blocks of marriage are truth and trust.

After months apart, the service member has decided to keep a HUGE secret from his or her spouse: the time and date of return. Not only has she just not mentioned it, the service member has also likely actively engaged in deception to conceal the return window.

Reintegration following deployments is challenging enough without starting off with a giant lie. Failing to be truthful about when you are returning can be extremely hurtful.

Not to mention, the weeks leading up to reunions are unbelievably busy: cleaning, haircuts, notes to school, arranging child care, more cleaning, meal prep and getting children ready to be back in a 2-parent household again.

Just showing up can put a seriously huge (but happy) wrench into a lot of this prep time. Plus, there might be last-minute “distraction” adventures that families have planned to just get through the final few weeks or days.

I know I hit Disneyland an awful lot the month that a year-long deployment was winding down. What if my husband had picked a spontaneous Disney day to “surprise” me? He’d have been locked out while I rode Space Mountain, that’s what.

So, by all means, go right ahead and do your supposed to be fun and emotional surprise military homecoming stuff.

But please, before you get deep into plans, remember that not everyone likes surprises. Some families on the homefront need the non-surprise reunion to wrap their brains around the whole situation.

Trust me, even without the surprise aspect, every military homecoming is full of love.

Now it’s your turn: How do you feel about a surprise military homecoming?

Our Favorite Feel-Good Commissary Stories

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The commissary stocks your favorite foods. From fresh deli meats to moist birthday cakes, the commissary carries nearly everything a military family needs to bring the flavors of home to their homes.

These stores are so much more than just the items on their shelves. It’s the people we meet and personal connections we make that keep us going back time and again. We asked our readers to share their favorite feel-good commissary stories with us. Here’s what they said.

Our Favorite Feel-Good Commissary Stories

Always On

When the power went out at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey, this July, all military personnel and their families were left in the dark. The commissary still had full power, thanks to an independent generator. In the middle of the political turmoil, families were unable to charge their cell phones or use the internet to connect with loved ones back home.

So the commissary set out chairs, power cords and shared the store’s Wi-Fi with the community. Service members and families could swing in for pantry staples and get in touch with their families stateside. Plus, the commissary was the only open building with air conditioning!

Paying It Forward

Our budgets are often tight, even with a consistent paycheck coming in. It can make buying essentials, like milk or diapers, challenging for many military families.

Near Fort Bliss in Texas, the local Fox affiliate stopped into the base commissary to surprise military families by picking up their tabs. At the register, they stopped several customers and offered to pay for everything in their shopping carts. Just as a way of saying “Thank you for your service.”

One young mother explained a little bit more about her tight budget. The Fox team sent her back into the commissary to load her cart with diapers and milk for the kids. Then they paid for the whole thing!

Littlest Helpers

It’s the little things that make commissary trips or any shopping trip with kids easier.

Lizann, a military spouse, told me about a special connection between their son and one grocery bagger. On every grocery trip, this military spouse makes sure to be in this bagger’s line. This bagger remembers their little boy and lets him help her bag their groceries. She always greets him by name and often gives him a sticker.

It’s a great reward for helping his parents!

Special Attention

A military spouse on a specific diet in a new place can be a struggle. When one military spouse needed to skip the rice on her sushi, the kind people at the sushi counter were more than ready to help her.

They created special sashimi plates for her, with just fish and no rice. They also shared the nutritional labels for all of their products with her.

And every time she goes in, the sushi staff chats with her about her day!

Food Requests

Speaking of special diets, it can be costly to adhere to an exclusionary meal plan. One spouse was paying very high prices for non-dairy items out in town. And she was having to make multiple trips to different stores to track down specific products, Meg told me.

While grabbing some items in the dairy section one day, she bumped into the section manager. She shared her frustration about the lack of non-dairy yogurt with him.

The manager checked with the suppliers to see if the product was available for stocking. It was!

Less than 2 weeks later, her specially requested non-dairy item was on the shelves! Plus, the department started adding even more dairy-free products.

Touch of Home

On a 6-month tour in Italy, having a commissary with American food items helped one veteran feel more connected to home.

On weekends, he and his friends would go to the commissary and load up on their favorites. Then they would cook and eat together. It helped these troops to feel more connected to home, especially when stationed overseas.

For families with small children, it is also important to have the same foods no matter where they live. Being able to open the pantry and make macaroni and cheese while living in Japan is comforting.

The commissary also makes it easier to take new favorites with you. The diversity and depth of their international foods aisle makes it simpler to create authentic Spanish, Japanese or German meals while living in Kansas.

Recognition

Murphy’s Law struck one military spouse less than 24 hours after her husband left for his deployment.

While buying essentials at the commissary, she discovered that her military dependent ID card was missing. She searched high and low: in the car, in her purse and all around the store. Even retracing her steps in the parking lot. Nothing.

And her groceries were still sitting in the cart. Her face was burning with embarrassment!

Luckily, the commissary manager saw her predicament.

“I know you. You shop here all the time. You’re good!”

With groceries purchased, she finally found the missing ID in the parking lot of her children’s school! And never forgot this act of kindness.

Do you have a feel-good commissary story? Share it in the comments section.