Spouse 101

All About Your Military Spouse Life

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'Hallelujah Veterans Version' Written & Performed by Veteran

*Sitting here in tears listening….*

This beautiful rendition of Hallelujah Veterans Version is an original piece written by Sailor Jerri, a Navy Veteran. It is a moving tribute that touches the hearts of every mom, dad, wife, daughter, brother, sister, and loved one who has ever loved a servicemember serving our country.

A note from the creator: 

“Everyone asks me what is next… Where do I go, and what do I write? That put me under a lot of pressure until I realized the impact this song has had on veterans, and active duty.  Mothers are listening and remembering their sons, wives connect better with their combat veterans because of this song, daughters listen to it and remember their dads, and men and women who wear or have worn the uniform listen to it and remember people they have lost. ~ I can not top this.  Nothing I can do will surpass this, not even 50 hits that reach #1 can top this.   So the only pressure I have is wondering if I did them justice.  So I’ll keep writing and making music.  As long as they want to listen, Ill keep singing.”

Find out more here: https://www.sailorjerrimusic.com/hallelujah

Keep making beautiful music, Sailor Jerri!

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Know a Veteran? Tell a Veteran! Tax-Free, Online Shopping

Sponsored

Veterans of all United States Armed Forces will soon be able to shop the online exchanges.

Go to VetVerify.org and submit a verification form to check your eligibility.

Know a Veteran? Tell a Veteran!

Millions of Veterans don’t know that they are eligible for this benefits.

Do your part and share the news today!

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The Exchange is a paid partner of Military Spouse

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

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"Is Your Dad a Pirate?" A Tender Look at Life From the Eyes of the Military Child

I had the opportunity to read the most darling story written from the perspective of a young, military child called, “Is Your Dad a Pirate?“

You WILL be in tears by the end of this.

Brilliantly written by Tara McClary Reeves and beautifully illustrated by Daniel Fernandez, this story is an overview of a young girl’s daddy going away to war, how she views her military spouse mom at home, and how they both handle the experience of daddy coming home injured. Mrs. Reeves shares this tender story based on her own childhood experience.

It all starts in the mind of a precious milkid, processing the reality that her daddy has to leave their home and their family to fight for our country.

While he’s gone, she prays for him, she dances for joy when he calls, she writes him letters, and she imagines what they will do together when he comes home.

Time passes, and when they finally get the call that he is coming home, things look a little different than in her original pictures. Her daddy is going to come home changed.

But the joy from this little girl pours off the pages when he shows up at the door.

She is resilient and she adapts; she draws NEW pictures of what her daddy and she will do together, only this time, her dad wears an eye patch and only has one arm instead of two.

But to her, he is and always will be her same, strong daddy. And she’s always watching her mommy’s sacrifice, too.

This book isn’t very long, but it perfectly encapsulates, magnificently illustrates, and respectfully honors the war-torn veteran, the resilient military child, and the sacrificial military spouse on the homefront.

When the little girl is questioned about her dad being a pirate, she knows exactly how to answer:

“He’s a veteran, a hero.”

“And he married one, too.” 

I would highly recommend “Is Your Dad a Pirate?” for every single military family, no matter what branch your servicemember is affiliated with or how far along you are in the military life journey. You will be encouraged and uplifted, and it might just be the exact words you need for your own military family right now.

>>Buy Now on Amazon

Here is the Amazon review:

“Her daddy went away to fight for our country. And he came home changed. What’s a young family to do when a parent is injured? How might they respond to curiosity? In this tender account based on her childhood experiences, beloved author Tara McClary Reeves shares how her family adapted to the extensive physical losses her father, Marine Corps Lieutenant Clebe McClary, sustained. With warmth and humor, this book encourages children and spouses facing similar trials to cherish the gift of family. To hold on to faith. And to choose to be loving heroes on the home front. Is Your Dad a Pirate? will challenge your perspective and deepen your commitment to love.”

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

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Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win. Happy 70th Birthday, Air Force!

Officially established in 1947, the Air Force is celebrating its seventh decade on Sept. 18.

In one capacity or another, however, it’s been around since 1909, when the U.S. Army Signal Corps formed the Aeronautical Division. When World War II illustrated the value of airpower, President Truman signed the National Security Act, which not only created the Air Force as an independent service, but also established a single Department of Defense with a strong Joint Chiefs of Staff with the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs.

Today’s Air Force has just more than 315,000 active duty service members, including 12,669 pilots. Familiar names who have served under it include George W. Bush, Morgan Freeman, Johnny Cash, Ronald Reagan and James Stewart.

The branch does more than just fly through the skies; very few personnel actually fly. The Air Force handles missions such as bombing runs, in-flight refueling, special rescue missions behind enemy lines, medical service in impoverished areas, airborne mapping and monitoring of targets and maintenance of aerospace systems and planes, to name just a few.

Another Air Force duty? Tracking Santa each Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defense Command fire up its Santa tracker and handles calls from more than 200 countries to see where in the world is Santa.

“Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win.”

We thought one of the best ways to celebrate the Air Force was by catching up with what some of our Air Force spouses have been up to.

“I’m at Ramstein AFB in Germany. I’m working on helping Girl Scouts in Baumholder start up again and am spearheading our Thrift Shop (run by RESA-enlisted spouses) open up a Belle’s Boutique, a loan locker of sorts of formal attire for the ladies (and hopefully one day the gentlemen) in our area. I’m also heading to D.C. in September for the AF Awards. I also added child No. 5 in August.” ~Alicia Grabianowski-Barnett

“I’m in Waco, Texas, recruiting. I have been attending and helping my husband recruit by exemplifying the Air Force as a family and answer any questions families may have from the family perspective of the Air Force and its benefits.” ~Shelby Renninger

“I just left Spangdahlem, Germany. Following SOFA, I was able to start up a free Home-based Business Bingo for the base community. It raised money and benefited the local economy and our base, as well as HBB owners. I’m hoping to start something here now that I’m at Nellis AFB.” ~Carissa Jones

“I’m in Ellsworth, S.D., running my kiddos to school and sports and adjusting to my husband’s new squadron and work schedule. I’m also volunteering with the homeless, my husband’s squadron and in my children’s classrooms.” ~Amber Rose Odom

“I just PCSed from Seymour Johnson AFB to Altus AFB a few months ago. I signed on to be a key spouse for our new squadron and helping with the squadron’s social committee. I also volunteer for Odyssey of the Mind and am a stay-at-home mom to two kids.” ~Charissa Godfrey

“I’m the Kirtland AFB SOY 2016 and 2017 USAF Chaplain Spouse. Our family is three weeks into an unaccompanied remote assignment so that has made life a bit crazy with managing the home front and our almost 5- and 3-year-olds. However, I have managed to not only maintain my current volunteer positions but actually added a couple others. I was asked to provide support to spouses separated from service members stationed at the same remote location as my husband, their chaplain. I serve as a Key Spouse Mentor for two Wings at KAFB, among other positions with the Kirtland Spouse’s Club in which I represent the spouse community to senior leadership at IDS/CAIB meetings. I organize base-wide military spouse resiliency events that I have focused on marriage resiliency as this is the need of our community. Additionally, I work as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at a Christian Counseling Clinic off base and serve military and veteran families. I am also working with a local senator here in New Mexico to change legislation to protect teens who suffer from mental illness that make them vulnerable, a result of experience of my own niece who is mentally ill and had been missing for two years. Police refused to assist our family because she left on her own and the law had no consideration for her condition. This is something I hope to change for other families. Thankfully my niece was found alive and is now receiving treatment.” ~Dinah A. Dziolek

“I volunteer around our base helping families, at our schools on base and with the National Military Family Association. This year I am the co-president of the PTA with an active duty member. The past two years I have done Month of the Military Child at the school and hope to make each year better than the last. All of this while keeping up with my 12-, 11-, 9- and 7-year-olds and their activities.” ~Tesha Jackson

“I’m the 2014 Los Angeles AFB SOY. I recently PCSed to Maxwell while my hubby attends ACSC, so it’s quiet here commitment wise for now! I’m looking forward to getting involved with the ACSC spouses and working on short-term volunteer projects while helping a nonprofit I’ve worked with for several years. I’m looking forward to taking me time this year to expand my freelance writing and editing career.” ~Sheila Snodgrass Rupp

“I’m at Dover AF. I’ve been volunteering with NMFA for the past three years, and I help run a peer-to-peer PTSD/MST group in town where we do various group therapy to include yoga, knitting, crochet and community outreach. I’ve been working with several state’s officials in regards to mental health in our military families, benefits for the MWDs after retirement, and general health issues.” ~Jessica Nicholas-Salter

“Since winning the Shaw AFB MSOY 2017 I have become more involved in every facet of military life. I am the Shaw AFB Heartlink program emcee, working alongside the AFRC to welcome new spouses to the base every quarter. I volunteer at Right Start orientation briefings to introduce new airmen and their spouses to the Key Spouse program and encourage them to get involved. As a member of the brand new combined Shaw Spouses’ Club, I am the Chairperson for the Scholarship Auction aimed at awarding our largest amount of scholarship money in Shaw AFB history. On a national level, I am the Director for the New Military Spouse Support Program with Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN). We are working to mentor brand new military spouses and provide them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. I am so grateful to be able to share my passion with others and I look forward to many more opportunities in the future!” ~Whitney Armstrong

“I’m the 2016 Air Force Spouse of the Year. I’m the co-founder and Director of Adventure Learning at Cerno! I am busy running the Give A Squat® fitness challenge program, helping people reach their fitness goals one squat at a time and get money into the hands of deserving nonprofits. In June, our sponsors gave $1,450 to Semper Fi Fund and $100 to another nonprofit. I am also busy with our new Survival Challenge Team Adventure! We are having a blast helping teams get out of the office, connect in new ways, learn valuable lessons that apply back at the office, and gain a better appreciation for the military community. I also spend time speaking with large groups about attracting, retaining and engaging top talent, tapping into talent within the military community, and finding out how how we can achieve more and be more satisfied as individuals. I am looking forward to several upcoming engagements with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).” ~Michelle Aikman

“I am the Hurlburt Field SOY 2017 and am still involved and busy as ever. While my husband received PCS orders to Pensacola NAS; I’m still attached to the Hurlburt Field/Eglin AFB area as the Blue Star Families Chapter Director and the Hurlburt Spouses’ Club President. I have been working with building community relations with the schools, base and businesses for military through the various resources available. I love being able to interact with new/seasoned military spouses. It has been such a joy to learn new things. We are going to start up “Special Operations: Cinderella Project” this year through our Spouses’ Club. I still volunteer for my children’s school, church and national fraternity. My passion has always been to serve others and I can do this by continuing to connect with my military community through on/off base partnerships.” ~Hang Owen

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

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Military Spouse Unplugged: Why You HAVE to Get Off the Grid Sometimes

Going unplugged is more than just a trendy buzz-phrase…it’s NECESSARY, and we ALL need to do it.

That’s not to say that technology rules me, but it does play an integral part in my life…in ALL our lives, really. Social media alone has allowed us to keep in touch with almost every military family we meet and has become a tool to solidify and maintain friendships across those imaginary lines that separate us, among other things.

But having the world at our finger tips comes at a price. Everything from text messages, phone calls, emails, social media outbursts and the never-ending notification “dings” perpetually draws us deep into the 24/7 cycle leaving us exhausted and overstimulated all at once. I don’t care who you are; it’s affected all of us one way or another.

I didn’t exactly ‘decide’ to go off the grid on purpose. A fellow mil-peep invited my family to join hers at their cabin in the mountains. There were plenty of beds (i.e. cots), running water (minus the toilet which was replaced with an outhouse…yuck), and electricity (thank GOD). She’s told me stories before of all the great times her family has had there sitting by the fire, going on hikes and finding waterfalls. It all sounded amazing, but there was one catch: No WiFi, no cell service, no TV and NO communication with the outside world for the whole weekend.

Say WHAT?

I wasn’t so much worried about myself as much as I was my teenagers. I mean, they were born into the internet era…I’d never stopped to think about how that would impact them. Would it be like detox for them? Would they tweak if we took away that integral part of their lives? They were used to the “no phones at the dinner table” rule, but four whole DAYS? Isn’t that their equivalent of losing a limb? If not, then taking away their phones wouldn’t be an effective punishment when they screw up…but it works every time.

That’s when I knew we had to do it. That’s actually when I knew I had to do it. Not only to shut my own brain off for a while and decompress, but to show my kids what it’s like to have face-to-face conversations…that ‘maintaining eye contact’ is more than a sideways glance…that it’s totally possible to have fun without having the world on speed-dial. Shoot, at that point, I needed to be shown what that was like again. I’m thinking you might need that too.

Here’s what my family learned (and re-learned) when we “raged against the machines” over Labor Day weekend:

1. It’s OK to STOP and Just BE

These two cuties got it right. Surrounded by beauty and nature, our friend’s twin boys popped a squat and just sat for a moment. They’re too young for the bells and whistles of technology, so it was no issue for them to just STOP and BE. We should all take a page from their book. Forget about yesterday’s crap for a second, put tomorrow on hold and just press the damn pause button for a second!

2. Hard Work CAN be Fun

My son is no different than any other teen on the planet: he HATES hard labor (i.e. chores). I count myself lucky that he does what he’s asked at home with little more than a groan, but he’s never had the chance to do any ‘real’ hard labor. When our friend asked him to help chop wood for the fire, he was more than happy to be an ax-toting BA! So put down the phone, roll up your sleeves and get to work!

3. Beauty is EVERYWHERE

Dude, stop…just STOP. If we all just stopped and looked up from our digital ball and chain every once and a while, we’d see something beautiful. OK, sure, maybe not something as exquisite as this waterfall I snapped a photo of, but beauty comes in many forms. Like when someone gives up their seat on the bus for someone who needs it, or when someone smiles at you on the street. Beauty can be found around every corner if we just make the decision to LOOK. So LOOK dammit!

4. Family Isn’t Always Blood

When our friends invited us to join their family, I initially just thought it would be a fun time away. But in reality, sitting around a big table for each meal or making s’mores around the fire or going on hikes was more than just fun. Our mil-friends let us into their world to view the inner-workings of their family, and we did the same — both without judgement. Merging families for four days actually solidified our placement in one another’s lives. Military life already does that for the most part, but living together puts that relationship on a whole ‘nother level. #FRAMILY

Going unplugged is more than a trendy buzz-phrase…it’s a necessary staple we should ALL do once in a while. Our world didn’t end when our phones went silent, and it was still standing when we made it back to civilization.

Going off the grid forced us all to reflect, explore, create memories and have conversations we will all cherish for the rest of our lives. I don’t think we would have been able to do that with the distraction that IS technology.

So go ahead…Unplug and go off the grid. Press the damn pause button and start seeing the world through a new lens: YOUR OWN.

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Holy Shiplap! Chip and Joanna Gaines Announce a Target Line: Hearth & Hand with Magnolia

Shared by People.com

Fixer Upper fans are in for the treat of a lifetime: Chip and Joanna Gaines are launching another huge home line. Even better, it will be available at a store you probably already have in your town.

Joanna took to Instagram to announce the HGTV stars’ newest collection, Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, which launches at Target on November 5th, just in time to make your holiday gatherings Gaines-ified.

Slated to include 300+ items spanning tabletop, home décor and giftables, this collaboration — which will be ongoing, with new offerings every season — is sure to be your next inexpensive obsession. Prices start at 99 cents and Target’s Bullseye View blog reports that most items are under $30.

“For a while now, we’ve been working on a project that’s really meaningful to us and we are so excited to share the news with you!” Joanna writes in her Instagram post.

For a while now, we’ve been working on a project that’s really meaningful to us and we are so excited to share the news with you! Hearth & Hand with Magnolia will be available at Target November 5th. Chip gives all the details at the link in my profile. #HearthAndHand @target

A post shared by Joanna Stevens Gaines (@joannagaines) on Sep 12, 2017 at 1:29pm PDT

In a post on the couple’s Magnolia blog, Chip writes that the inspiration for all of their Magnolia Home product lines comes straight from the fans. “The most common request we get from people is for us to travel to their town and help them out with their house,” he writes. “We are adamant that anyone can put together spaces they can be really proud of — rooms that are both comfortable and beautiful. All it takes is some basic know-how and having a few design guardrails in place.”

Joanna’s paint, rugs and wallpaper were the start of their décor empire, and, according to Chip, are truly “the next best thing to Jo showing up at your front door with her sketchbook.”

The business venture also comes with a charitable component.

According to Target, “Magnolia will donate time to help local communities and families in need, as well as provide monetary donations through the Magnolia Foundation to support organizations involved in orphan care, youth development, family housing and community restoration.”

Plainly said, now that the “functional and beautiful” pieces are even more accessible, you can instantly add Joanna’s signature style to any spot in your home while also contributing to a greater good. And with the promise that it’s not going away any time soon, we can get used to finding a new piece to obsess every time we walk through the big red doors for years to come.

“Jo keeps calling the look ‘modern farmhouse,’ whatever that means,” Chip writes. “All I know is she’s so excited about this collection that she wants to register for our wedding all over again.”

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

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Sesame Street and The USO Hit the Road For Two-Month European Tour

Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families to visit and entertain hundreds of military families stationed at 19 military bases in six countries

 Arlington, Va. (Sept. 5, 2017) – This fall, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Rosita and other furry friends from Sesame Street will embark on a two-month USO tour to military installations throughout Europe. The 2017 Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families will perform more than 30 shows at 19 military bases in six countries; each 30-minute costumed character performance will center around the challenges military families face on a regular basis, including frequent moves and the military-to-civilian transition. The tour will kick off on Sept. 11 at NAS Sigonella in Italy before journeying to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain, wrapping up in mid-November.

“Since 2006, the Sesame Street/USO tour has brought to life the resources we’ve developed to help military families navigate the unique challenges they face,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s Senior Vice President of U.S. Social Impact. “Sesame Workshop is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the USO, employing our early childhood expertise and beloved Sesame Street characters to support and celebrate military kids and families as they learn, heal and grow.”

Sesame Workshop and the USO know that when one family member serves, the whole family serves, which is why they partnered to create Katie, a special character who models the real-life experiences of today’s military children. In the military-to-civilian transition show, “Katie’s Family Transitions to Civilian Life,” military families will follow Katie as she starts a new adventure outside of the military, confident that her family and all her Sesame Street pals will be there to support her throughout the transition.

The tour will also perform “Katie is Moving to a New Base,” which explores the feelings of uncertainty and excitement that come with moving to a new place. To best suit the needs of military families overseas, each installation will be given the chance to determine which show is performed on their base, with some installations opting for both.

“There is no better time to kick off our ninth-year run of the Sesame Street/USO tour than on Patriot Day – a day the USO is encouraging Americans everywhere to connect with service members by sending them a message of support at uso.org/Reflect,” said Lorie Hennessey, USO’s Senior Vice President of Entertainment. “We are incredibly grateful for our collaboration with Sesame Workshop and look forward to supporting hundreds more military families this year.”

The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families has toured the globe since July 2008, making it the longest-running traveling tour in the USO’s 76-year history. Based on Sesame Workshop’s award-winning Sesame Street for Military Families initiative, the tour has performed more than 1,100 shows on 150 military installations in 33 states and 11 countries and distributed more than 2.8 million outreach materials, entertaining nearly 600,000 service members and military families through the magic of song, dance and beloved characters. To learn more about this year’s tour, including upcoming tour stops visit uso.org/Sesame.

To learn more about military family resources and programming visit sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org and USO.org.

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About the USO: The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort and support. The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President’s Circle Partners: AT&T, Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, FedEx, Jeep, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, NFL, Southern New Hampshire University and Four-Star Partners: Altria, BIC, ConAgra Foods, GEICO, Harris Teeter, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, TKS, USAA and the Wawa Foundation. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

About Sesame Workshop:

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re active in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org.

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

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12 Incredible Books Written BY Military Spouses for YOU

We have any amazing community of military spouses who have incredible thoughts and experiences to share – and these are just a few of those who have taken action on their dreams and brought these books to life! We highly recommend each and every one of these 12 books.

Sacred Spaces

By Corie Weathers, 2015 AFI Military Spouse of the Year

Corie, a trained counselor, and her husband Matt, an Army chaplain, have pinpointed significant moments they experience independently as sacred spaces. After several deployments, these spaces started consuming a lot of emotional space in their relationship. A 2015 overseas trip to Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter helped Corie better understand deployment and lessen the impact of those sacred spaces. Corie’s journey not only took her thousands of miles around the world, but it also took her to the heart of her marriage and allowed her to leave behind her resentment and gain a new perspective of herself and of all military marriages. BUY NOW – $13.24

Olive Drab Pom-Poms

By Kori Yates

It’s time to live for real. As spouses, we proudly support our uniformed spouses in this olive drab world. But God has a bigger vision for us than just standing on the sidelines, waiting for deployment to be over or waiting for the next duty station. He has placed a calling on us and has a plan for our lives regardless of our locations and circumstances. Whether you’re a newlywed, a seasoned spouse, happily married or contemplating divorce, experience the adventure of military life and see what God can do for you. Do more than just survive. BUY NOW

Mommy Retailing

By Lakesha Cole, 2014 AFI Military Spouse of the Year

Marine spouse and owner of boutique She Swank Too, Lakesha draws on her entrepreneurial journey to provide a beginner’s guide to starting a business while being a full-time mom of three. She shares how she built a brand and business despite frequent moves and career pitfalls associated with military life. The book is chock full of solutions for balancing work and mom time, as well as steps needed to start your own retail store. It details business planning and day-to-day operations; how to fund your business; where and how to source merchandise, branding and marketing; how to pick a location; planning a grand opening; and how to use your business to give back to the community. BUY NOW – $13.99

Finding Joy

By Hope Griffin

Finding joy is tough, especially when you don’t even share a ZIP code with your spouse. As a military spouse and mother, Hope has questioned God’s faithfulness and the strength of her marriage. If you’ve ever felt the same way and wondered if you could thrive in a long-distance marriage, open this book. She uses personal experience, examples of others in history and Scripture to explore the possibility of a stronger and more fulfilling marriage. Won’t you join her? BUY NOW – $10.99

15 Years of War: How the Longest War in U.S. History Affected a Military Family in Love, Loss and the Cost of Service

By Kristine Schellhaas

Less than 1 percent of our nation will serve in the Armed Forces. As such, most don’t have a grasp as to what life is like for military families. This book offers a he said/she said perspective about coping with war in modern-day America. It profiles a dedicated Marine and his spouse and the unfathomable challenges and the triumphs from pre-9/11 days through 15 subsequent years of training workups, deployments and other separations. Filled with faith, love and resilience, this story offers insight into how more than a decade of war has redefined what it means to be a military family. BUY NOW – $19.99

Adventures of SuperDuperKid: Friendship Numbers

By El Brown, 2012 AFI Military Spouse of the Year

Meet SuperDuperKid, an 8-year-old with autism spectrum disorder, and his friends. The SuperKids in are diverse in personality and abilities, and enjoy playing together in an inclusive environment. A number concept book based on the KinderJam song, this book celebrates inclusive play. It is co-written by a child on the autism spectrum and his mom. BUY NOW – $12.99

Mama Bear: One Mom’s Story of Optimism, Autism, Advocacy, and Love

By El Brown, 2012 AFI Military Spouse of the Year

No parent expects their child to have autism; no prenatal test can detect the spectrum. The day El received her son’s diagnosis is branded in her mind, and she never wants another parent to go through that life-altering experience alone. She writes to empower and help prepare parents for the challenging, yet promising experience of raising a child with autism. Through storytelling and sharing her diary entries, El provides a positive outlook of love, advocacy and humor with her son affectionately known as SuperDuperKid. This memoir details one mother’s journey of love and acceptance. BUY NOW – $19.95

Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom and Strength in Military Life

By Terri Barnes

More than 40 writers come together to share their stories and connect people. This book features more than 50 personal essays, including from Sarah Smiley (Dinner with the Smileys), Tanya Biank (Army Wives), Kristin Henderson (While They’re At War), Artis Henderson (Unremarried Widow), Tara Crooks and Star Henderson (founders of Army Wife Network), Jeremy Hilton (Keep Your Promise Alliance) and more. Encompassing spouses, parents children and active-duty service members, each author draws on their own life to illuminate military experiences. Topics include moving and transition, renewing relationships after deployment, sex, romance, caring for special needs, friendship, career challenges, PTSD, and combat injury and recovery. BUY NOW – $14.06

Right Side Up

By Judy Davis

With the constant change, drama and stress of military life, it can be overwhelming. Remember, though, that every challenge and sacrifice you rise above will help you grow into the person you want to be. This motivational personal guide will define your role as a military spouse and tweak your expectations of military life; identify situations that cause you stress and create strategies to calm chaos, deal with drama and respond to change; and find out ways to cut the yuck from your life, make yourself a priority and fully embrace military life. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for a happier life, but exercises in this book will help you create a plan tailored to your needs, personality and insight. BUY NOW – $12.95

The Yes Process: Discover the Journey of Becoming Yourself

By Lori Bell, 2010 AFI Military Spouse of the Year

Leave behind everything you think you know about who “you” is and embark in a lifestyle journey of becoming your true self. This book serves as a blueprint for un-layering, unlearning and detaching from who you think you are based on what you’ve been told. Lori writes the fundamental framework for how to create a life of fulfillment, abundance, passion, grace, ease and flow by using examples from her own life, as well as those she coaches. If you’re unsure of your true purpose or lack clarity of where to go next, this book is for you. Break free from public opinion and live your authentic life today! BUY NOW – $10.99

Fitness SHIFT!: Intimate Journey of Women Who Use Fitness as a way to Shift Their Destiny

By Tiffany Edmonds (Co-Author)

This anthology comprises women who made a heart decision to use fitness as a way to shift their destinies. Each woman shares details of a seemingly never-ending vicious cycle, unhealthy habit or uncomfortable season in her life and describes how she summoned the strength to overcome it and move beyond stagnancy. The common denominator in all of these stories is the change is possible! These inspiring stories will help you make a shift in your life too. You, too, can live life to your fullest, realize change is possible and you already possess the strength to conquer it, eliminate excuses, create a healthy and fit lifestyle at any life season, and grab ahold of your courage to have a successful health and fitness journey. BUY NOW – $9.99

Behind the Scenes: The Tales of Military Spouses Making a Differene

By Cara Loken, AFI 2016 National Guard Spouse of the Year

There are roughly 1.1 million military spouses of the U.S. military around the globe. They are entrepreneurs, volunteers, educators, lawyers, authors, elected representatives, stay-at-home parents and advocates. This book captures the inspirational tales of the military spouses who support those in uniform and continue to make a difference daily. BUY NOW – $13.95

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/news/heres-the-time-hurricane-irma-is-probably-going-to-hit-florida/

Here's the Time Hurricane Irma Is Probably Going to Hit Florida

According to popculture.com

Florida is bracing for the landfall of Hurricane Irma, the devastating tropical storm slated to hit U.S. shores soon.

While the rains and winds are already beginning in South Florida, the main storm isn’t quite there yet.

As of 1:50 p.m. EST on Saturday, the National Weather Service is projecting that Irma will hit the Florida Keys close to 8 a.m. EST Sunday.

It will then head up Florida’s west coast and hit Fort Myers around 8 p.m EST Sunday.

Irma will continue up the coast and make contact with Tampa close to 2 a.m. EST Monday, according to ABC.

Irma’s path was updated on Saturday morning and is headed towards the West Coast of the state. Cities including Fort Myers, Tampa, Naples, Sarasota and St. Petersburg are all in the path of this new projection, with the in-land and eastern areas of Florida still at risk.

The island city of Key West is still slated to be hit the hardest and winds are already picking up in South Florida.

“This is a deadly storm and our state has never seen anything like it,” Florida Governor Rick Scott said. “Millions of Floridians will see major hurricane impacts with deadly storm surge and life-threatening winds.

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/military-life/warrior-games-david-iuli/

Meet Warrior Games Athlete Sgt. 1st Class David Iuli

Team: Army

Grade/rank: E-7/Sergeant First Class

Status: Veteran

MOS: 13B/Cannon Crewmember

Hometown: Fullerton, Calif.

Current location: Fredrickson, Wash.

Events: Archery, discus, shot put, sitting volleyball

When David joined the Army in 1989 he told his mother not to worry; he wouldn’t go to war. Then he found himself in Desert Storm and, later, in the War on Terror.

In 2016, he transitioned out of the military because of injuries, including cardiomyopathy, PTSD and knee and ankle injuries, and went to through the Warrior Care and Transition program at Joint Base Lewis McChord, where he participated in adaptive sports, leading to going to Warrior Games trials. In 2016, he competed in the games for the first time and made a return appearance this year.

David loves competing, but more than that, he loves the camaraderie. “Seeing my teammates again. Being around like-minded people who get my sometimes dark sense of humor. Being part of a team again. Having a group of people who have a sole purpose to compete and do well, and to represent the Army with dignity, honor and pride.”

Adaptive sports gave David an outlet. “I was in a really dark place when I was transitioning out and going through PTSD,” he says. “Sometimes I just didn’t want to be here. The people suffering the most are my family. Having done something for nearly 26 years you become somewhat institutionalized. When it gets taken away from you because they tell you that you can no longer serve because of injuries, it hits emotionally and psychologically. My motivation is to be around for my kids and not find myself in that situation again. This has given me an opportunity to be able to focus my energies into a goal: going to compete. It’s not always the destination. The journey makes it worthwhile for me.”

David and his wife, also an Army veteran, have been married for 16 years and have five children now – including a 1-month-old baby. “My kids are my team,” he says.

For David and many of his fellow athletes, the Warrior Games is therapeutic, not only physically, but also emotionally. And sometimes the emotional aspect is what is more needed. “Hold on in your recovery,” he says. “Seek help. You have to keep striving to get out of that hole. Sometimes you don’t want to but you have to force yourself up. I had my family and my faith to help me come out of there. Some veterans don’t. Every day you wake up breathing is a better day because your spirit is alive. Three months ago a soldier of mine posted on Facebook another soldier had taken his life. It hit me hard. All I can do is tell my fellow comrades I am here for you. I am here to help in any way. Just hold on.”

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/military-life/warrior-games-patricia-reynolds/

Meet Warrior Games Athlete Staff Sgt. Patricia Reynolds

Team: Marine Corps

Grade/rank: E-6/Staff Sergeant

Status: Active Duty, USMC

MOS: Radio Chief

Hometown: Sikeston, Mo.

Current location: Jacksonville, N.C.

Events: Shooting, cycling, swimming

Last October, Patricia became involved in a warrior reconditioning program to rehab her injured back. She had never swum before, but chose that as her sport because of its low impact nature. Early this year the coaches started talking about the Warrior Games trials and said anyone who had the ability to go would. “I was required to participate in two events,” she recalls. “Swimming was my main event and I chose shooting as my second event.” Not expecting much, Patricia ended up leaving trials with three golds, one silver and one bronze.

Before going to trials, Patricia heard fellow athletes complain they didn’t want to go. “But going there changed my life,” she says. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that had I not kept an open mind. You have to be positive in everything you do. For me the turning point was when I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and start working for myself. Without trials, I wouldn’t be the Marine or athlete I am right now. Having confidence and coaches backing you up and rooting for you boosts you. I think it’s all due to having a positive attitude and allowing the people around me to influence my recovery. If you keep a closed mind and don’t let people in you’re going through it by yourself. There are so many people and resources available. It’s not worth going alone.”

Patricia’s family also has been with her every step of the way. The dual active duty couple has an 11- and a 6-year-old daughter. She recalls winning gold in shooting at trials and calling her husband, asking if he had told their daughters yet. He hadn’t because he wanted Patricia to tell them herself. “So he puts me on speakerphone and I tell my kids I won gold,” she says. “My daughter said, ‘Mom, I don’t know what you’re talking about but you sound so excited and I’m so happy for you.’ Even when they don’t understand what’s going on or exactly how I’m being affected, they support me 100 percent.

“My husband and I beat the odds. I don’t know many dual active duty military couples who are still happily married. And we are. We’re just as in love today as we were the day we got married. Probably more so. Having children there is a blessing. I feel blessed to have had them here by my side.”

Her beloved family is Patricia’s motivation for pushing through even when it’s hard. “I realize the Marine Corps won’t always be around for me. I’d love for it to be, but it’s not. Every day my family is ultimately what my responsibility is. I have to be strong and set an example for my children and make sure I’m taking care of them. If I didn’t push through I wouldn’t be accomplishing that.”

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/military-life/warrior-games-frankie-reilly/

Meet Warrior Games Athlete Master Sgt. Francis “Frankie” Reilly

Team: SOCOM

Grade/rank: E-7/Master Sergeant

Status: Active duty, U.S. Air Force

MOS: Pararescue

Hometown: Jersey City, N.J.

Events: Cycling, field, swimming, track

Frankie joined the service 23 years ago at the suggestion of his father. After 9/11 and several subsequent deployments to Afghanistan, he and his family purchased a home. But then the housing market crashed and he was injured, putting the family under financial duress. Frankie connected with the SOCOM Care Coalition Program, which asked him to participate in activities to help communicate his injuries and financial struggles on a personal level to leadership. He even testified before Congress.

The program’s contact asked Frankie to join the SOCOM Warrior Games team as a personal favor in the 2011 games. “I was fighting so hard to get back into my job jumping again,” he recalls. “The Warrior Games and athletic events weren’t on my mind. I wasn’t ready to admit I couldn’t perform my duties at that point; I was in denial.”

Yet he agreed to be on the SOCOM team and today the soon-to-be-retired airman just competed in his second Warrior Games. “It’s absolutely essential to have those sports because my job was outdoors, high adventure and a lot of pushing yourself beyond mental and physical capacities. These types of sports allow us to engage as a team and compete, but still touch those areas in a different way.”

After the 2011 games, Frankie resumed active duty and assumed a leadership position. After a deployment to Turkey, though, he realized he was pushing himself physically and mentally to the point he was having trouble mentally processing and being a good father and husband. “I needed to slow down,” he said.

When he got emails from SOCOM about this year’s training camp and Warrior Games, Frankie asked command if he could participate. “I felt guilty asking my command if they minded if I did this,” he said. “It’s not easy to look at your brothers and ask them to carry your weight. Command told me absolutely. They give back to us just as much. They don’t make you feel guilty; I put that on myself. To do things like this is exactly what commanders want and what these programs are designed for. It gives you access to people who are going through similar circumstances.”

During the arduous road of recovery, Frankie recommends doing a lot of reflecting and to just breathe. “It’s not if we fall,” he says. “We all fall and we’ll all be tested. It’s those times we’re tested you look inside of yourself and see what kind of heart you had. Those are the moments that define you.”

One thing Frankie couldn’t have done without? His family. He describes his wife as his hero. His rock. “My family has seen the worst of me when I’m hurt and mentally challenged,” he says. “They’re the ones who see the damaged human being I am. They had to endure moving and personality changes in me. One day I was super physically fit, very confident and doing a very challenging job. The next day I wake up and I’m a different human being – not whole or complete. I stayed in a hospital for up to two years. It was devastating. My family had to see the change, the anger, the irritability.

“They have been supportive and loyal. They stick by me regardless of how I behaved. My wife was the rock of the house. They are my role models and my heroes. They are the true warriors. They are the true patriots. When people thank me for my service I tell them they should thank my family for all the sacrifices and all the things they’ve had to leave. They are the true heroes.”

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/military-life/warrior-games/

The 2017 Warrior Games Honor Athletes and Families

Discipline. Fitness. Teamwork. Athleticism. All of these traits, and many more, are crucial traits for service members. Military training amplifies all of those traits and ingrains them into a daily part of a service member’s life – both in the service and beyond.

But sometimes our service members return home with injuries that render their athletic, physical lifestyle impossible. Devastating though they can be, those injuries do not mean the end of teamwork, fitness, goal setting and, subsequently, goal reaching. Adaptive sports help wounded warriors rebuild their strength and endurance, and give them new goals to shoot for.

  In 2010, the Department of Defense held its inaugural Warrior Games where wounded, ill and injured service members competed in Paralympic-style events. It’s since become an annual event. This year the games were hosted by the U.S. Navy in partnership with the City of Chicago, marking the first time the games were held at a non-Olympic or military location. Seven teams – Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, SOCOM, the UK and Australia – competed against each other in archery, cycling, field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and wheelchair basketball.

Important as medical intervention was for the physical injuries, it took more than skilled medical professionals to get these service members moving again. Behind many of them is an exceptional family support system.

Recognizing that, the Warrior Games has made its program about more than just the athletes. It also is about the families. The No. 1 cheerleaders. The support systems. The ones the athletes say they couldn’t do without.

“The families are there from day one,” says Dario Santana, 2017 Warrior/Invictus Games Family Lead and Commander, Navy Installations Command. “That means they also have had challenges. A lot of these families have had to put their careers on hold. When an athlete gets to the point where they are participating in a sport on their own, that family member behind them also is recovered to that point because they walked this whole path with the service member and changed their whole life to ensure their loved one gets to that stage. They’re there when the lights go out, when they go home from the hospital, when the doctors aren’t here anymore. They know how the service member really feels. They’re the number one fans in the audience. It’s not just about the athletes; it’s about their families. They’re the true VIPs of the event.”

The Warrior Games finances an all-expenses-paid trip for up to two family members for each athlete, thanks to presenting sponsors Boeing and Fisher House Foundation Inc.

When the first Fisher House opened in 1991, the foundation perhaps didn’t realize it was just the beginning of making an extraordinary impact on military families across the nation. Today, 72 Fisher Houses provide free lodging for almost 30,000 families per year who need to be near their hospitalized service member.

Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House, noticed adaptive sports through the Invictus Games a few years ago and realized the connection between adaptive sports and the family. (Prince Harry founded the international Invictus Games after seeing the Warrior Games.) “I realized there was a real connection between the games themselves and the family’s journey,” he says. “In the beginning when Fisher House sees these families, their lives have been turned upside down. Their burdens have grown because they got that dreaded phone call a loved one is in the hospital. They walk this road together. The family serves as well.”

Adaptive sports become an integral part of their recovery. “They are empowered. It’s fantastic for self-esteem,” Fisher says. “For them to get to a point where they are competitors and not wounded warriors is not only great for them, but for the families. It became a celebration.”

That celebration recognizes the journey to get to the competition field. “In the beginning you were seeing uncertainty, frowns and despair on the faces of the families,” Fisher says. “Now I was seeing smiles and laughter. I was seeing so much of what we had always hoped we would see from these families. We’ve seen them at the worst possible time and now we’re seeing them at the best possible time.

These are men and women who were told years ago what they could never do again. Now, because of adaptive sports, they suddenly can do things even they didn’t think they could do. That’s a powerful reminder these men and women have incomparable spirits. It’s just remarkable.”

Santana recalls several stories from past years that illustrate what the Warrior Games is really about. He describes a Marine, about 6 feet, 4 inches tall. A country boy who once had been a football player. An active man. After multiple tours, a traumatic brain injury and PTSD, he segregated himself from life and stayed at his mom’s farm. When the Marine Corps visited to encourage him in general, the mother told them how her son didn’t leave the farm. So the Marines introduced this young man to adaptive sports. Specifically, shot put. “If you see this guy play shot, he threw this thing so far out,” Santana says. “There are tons of stories like that.”

Another woman – a mother of an athlete – told Santana the last time she had seen her son was in the hospital, newly missing a limb from combat injuries. The Warrior Games hosted her, though, giving her the means to see her son and grandchild for the first time in a long time.

Yet another family member – a wife of a service member – explained how she changed her whole concept of life after her husband was injured. Prior to that, she had been a successful hedge fund manager. The injury, and subsequent path to the new normal, let her see that life isn’t about money; it’s about being happy.

“What I can tell you is that these are men and women who raise their hands for their country, and behind them is a strong family unit,” Santana says.

Throughout the past seven years, the games have celebrated these athletes and their families, and have provided an opportunity for wounded service members to push themselves physically and rejoin a team and the camaraderie that comes with it – something a lot of them sorely missed. Read three of their stories.  

Master Sgt. Francis “Frankie” Reilly, Team SOCOM

Staff Sgt. Patricia Reynolds, Team Marine Corps

Sgt. 1st Class David Iuli, Team Army

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/sponsored/comcast-nbcuniversal-creates-virtual-job-opportunities-for-military-spouses/

Comcast NBCUniversal Creates Virtual Job Opportunities for Military Spouses

Sponsored

As part of its ongoing commitment to hire 10,000 members of the military community –

Military Spouses, Veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members – Comcast’s Beltway Region launched a first-of-its-kind Virtual Customer Care class in Summer 2017, creating new opportunities for Military Spouses to start their Comcast Career through programs with direct connections to military installations.

For more information on available jobs and benefits, check out ComcastCareers.com/military.

On June 29, the first class in this program graduated 13 new Comcast employees in the Fort Lee, Virginia area. This graduating class included 11 Military Spouses, one Veteran, and one actively serving National Guard member.

The program was the result of a collaboration with the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) and Fort Lee in Prince George County, Virginia. Together, the partnership led to this innovative hiring program, which expands on Comcast’s goal to serve the military community and provide a great customer experience for all customers through the expansion of their Virtual Customer Care Team.

During the ceremony, Betsy Patterson, a Fort Lee military spouse and virtual class graduate, shared a challenge that many military families face, “Being a military spouse brings experiences that are wonderful and then, experiences that are difficult,” she said. “One of the difficult things is moving for the needs of the Army. Even with a bachelor’s degree, it’s difficult to find employment due to moving every 3-4 years.”

—>> get more info on virtual opportunities here ComcastCareers.com/military.

Comcast recognizes that military hires bring exceptional strengths to the business and understands the incredible challenges and responsibilities of the military community. Beltway Region senior vice president, Mary McLaughlin, shared Comcast’s commitment to hiring and promoting military members and their families, “We know it takes a village. And these are great jobs for military spouses – they allow the spouses to move alongside their military members and still keep their virtual customer service jobs.”

The Comcast Beltway Region team’s collaborative efforts and innovative thinking not only fulfilled a business need but also generated a positive experience for their employees, customers, the military community and their business. As such, the Military Spouse hiring program has already started recruiting for a second class and has been identified as a best practice to replicate in other parts of the country.

In addition to this program, Military Spouses pursuing a career at Comcast NBCUniversal are afforded a distinct benefits package, including:

A transition assistance package that offers spouses the option to continue their career with Comcast NBCUniversal as their military member spouse PCSs and deploys, starting with job transfer (if the company has jobs in the spouse’s new home area), partnerships with other military spouse friendly companies (in order to connect spouses directly to a job, in the event Comcast does not have jobs in the area), and, if both of those options are not viable, a generous transition assistance package.

A dedicated human resources concierge to help during deployments and other duty-related events that may impact the family unit.

For more information on available jobs and benefits, check out ComcastCareers.com/military.

This article is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, a partner of Military Spouse

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/sponsored/10-reasons-you-dont-need-life-insurance/

10 Reasons You Don’t Need Life Insurance

Sponsored

You may find it strange that an insurance company would say you don’t need life insurance. However, here are some legitimate reasons why you might NOT need it:

1. There’s no one counting on your income.

If you’re single and no one depends on you financially, you might not need life insurance coverage. Just be sure to think about who would be responsible for any outstanding liabilities should something happen to you.

2. You don’t make any contributions to the household.

If you don’t contribute monetarily, consider the roles you take on that would need to be covered by someone else or hired out if you were no longer there. For instance, child care, tutoring or caring for aging parents are all examples of valuable contributions.

3. You’re completely debt free.

Common debts include credit cards or store cards, personal loans, car payments, student loans, and often the largest– a mortgage. But if you’re part of the nearly 25% of American’s that say they are currently without debt*, congratulations!

4. You have burial expenses covered.

If your financial plan includes paying for your funeral arrangements, you won’t need extra coverage for that.

5. You don’t feel the need to cover future expenses, like college education, for your children.

They can figure it out on their own!

6. You aren’t concerned with leaving a financial legacy.

You’ve already built a nice nest egg beyond retirement to leave to your family.

7. You live the life of a wanderer.

Ok this is probably a stretch, but if you’re a free spirit that doesn’t own anything but the clothes on your back- you probably don’t need life insurance.

8. You are independently wealthy.

All your financial liabilities are covered and you have enough for your family to maintain the same standard of living after all expenses are paid.

9. You do not need portable coverage outside of SGLI, FSGLI or your civilian career.

You have complete job security, so the policy you have through your employer is all you need.

10. You don’t need peace of mind knowing your family would be financially secure without you.

In fact, you like livin’ on the edge.

However, if you don’t fall into one or more of these categories- you probably DO need some life insurance. This Life Insurance Awareness Month, take the steps to learn more about this important topic.

Because it’s not for YOU, it’s for the one’s you love.

—>> Get More Info Here

About USBA: For over 55 years, nonprofit USBA has provided affordable life insurance, healthcare supplements and other financial service products to current and former military members, federal employees and their families. Find out more about the products and services offered to their members here:  www.usba.com. And be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for a chances to win VISA® gift cards during September’s Life Insurance Awareness Month campaign.

*According to a recent survey 

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/career/education/get-a-free-tablet-laptop-for-completing-this-6-month-program/

Get a Free Tablet & Laptop for Completing This 6-Month Program

Sponsored

Get Free Tablet and Graduation Gift for Top 20 Career Training Programs!

Are you looking to start a new career? World Education offers hundreds of career training programs that will prepare you for the exciting new career of your choice!

Our programs allow you to pursue a rewarding new career at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home.

This month World Education is offering a great promotional deal on our top 20 career training programs.

Enroll in any of the 20 programs listed below and you will receive a free 8” HD Fire Tablet with quick and easy access to your program’s eBooks!

And as a graduation gift, all enrollments during this special promotion will receive a free laptop upon graduation!

Along with the graduation laptop, students will receive 1 year of access to the World Education career portal where you can access career webinars, participate in student discussion forums, and contact your career counselor! On select programs, students will also receive their included industry certification preparation material and certification exam voucher. 

Enroll by 9/30 to be eligible! 

Terms and Conditions:

Promotion expires on 9/30/2017

Promotion is not valid for any enrollment prior to 09/01/2017

Promotion cannot be combined with any other discounts

Program tuition must be paid in full before the graduation laptop will be provided

Provided laptop value up to $200

No substitutions available for tablet or graduation laptop

Promotion only available for programs specified

Any student currently enrolled in a World Education Career Training Program that refers a new student to participate in this promotion will be eligible to receive the graduation gift free laptop. The referred student must enroll in one of the specified programs between 09/01/2017-09/30/2017 for the currently enrolled student to be eligible.

Eligible Programs:

Administrative Assistant & Professional Bookkeeping with QuickBooks

Six Sigma Green Belt Prep Course and Exam

Project Management for CAPM

Human Resources Manager with PHR

Certified Event Planning Specialist

Paralegal Professional with NALA Exam Prep

Social Media Strategist with Search Engine Marketing

Professional Photography

Clinical Medical Technician with Externship

Medical Billing and Coding with CPC Exam Prep

Pharmacy Technician

EKG Technician

Phlebotomy Technician

Dental Assistant

Veterinary Assistant Professional Program

Nutrition & Fitness Professional

Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Web Design Professional Certification Program

Certified Mobile Application Designer

CompTIA Computer Technician Specialist with Practice Labs & Exams

World Education sponsors Military Spouse

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New Post has been published on Military Spouse

New Post has been published on http://militaryspouse.com/news/mattis-freezes-transgender-policy/

Mattis Freezes Transgender Policy - Allows Troops to Continue Serving

Shared from USAToday.com

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis late Tuesday announced that transgender troops will be allowed to continue serving in the military pending the results of a study by experts.

The announcement follows an order from President Trump — first announced in a tweet — declaring that transgender service members can no longer serve in the military, effectively reversing an Obama administration policy. The order also affects the Department of Homeland Security, which houses the Coast Guard.

“Once the panel reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction,” Mattis said in the statement. “In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place.”

Mattis’ move buys time for the Pentagon to determine how and if it will allow thousands of transgender troops to continue to serve, whether they will receive medical treatment, or how they will be discharged.

As Defense Secretary, Mattis has emphasized that he has little tolerance for policies that detract from military readiness or the Pentagon’s effectiveness on the battlefield. At the last moment in June, he delayed the Pentagon’s plan to accept new transgender troops. His reasoning: He demanded more study to determine the effect of recruiting them on the Pentagon’s ability to fight and win wars.

Under the Obama administration, the Pentagon rescinded a longstanding ban on transgender troops from serving. It also outlined how those troops could receive medical treatment, including gender reassignment surgery, if it was deemed medically necessary.

Trump’s order by tweet on July 26 caught the Pentagon by surprise. The tweets said there was no room in the ranks for transgender troops and that the government would no longer pay for their medical treatment.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded by saying that the Pentagon would not change its policy until it was notified officially by the White House.

The president issued that notification Friday night. It directed Mattis to study the issue and determine how to implement Trump’s direction. It was assailed by advocates for transgender troops who called it discriminatory, and the American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against it.

Last year, the Pentagon commissioned a study by the non-partisan RAND Corp. to examine the effects on military readiness of allowing transgender troops to serve openly and the cost of providing them medical treatment. The study estimated that a few to several thousand transgender troops are on the active duty force of 1.3 million. Researchers found that paying for their health care needs would amount to about $8 million per year and their effect on readiness would be negligible.

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