After 10 years of war, are we meeting the needs of our military families? If not, what can we do to meet them? These questions need to be answered at the Military Family Readiness Council meetings, but after three years, we’re still waiting.

Congress created this council in 2008 to evaluate military family programs and make recommendations to improve vital family resources. Mandated to meet at least twice a year, the council is required to submit a progress report to Congress every February.

Instead, the council has been used only for information sharing — on the rare occasions it actually meets. In 2008 and 2009, the council met and established its charter and bylaws. The council also submitted an extensive report to Congress on the status of family readiness programs. It provided a summary of plans for the programs and assessment results of select family readiness programs based on DOD-wide goals and metrics.

In both 2010 and 2011, the council met only a single time. At the 2011 meeting, council chair Dr. Joanne Rooney, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, offered a list of “focal areas” unchanged from 2010: Spouse Employment and Empowerment, Education Development and Excellence, Childcare, Healthcare, Strategic Communications, Disability and Evaluation System, Dwell Time and the Exceptional Family Member Program.

But the council offered no assessments or problem-solving decisions discussed. So where’s the “focus?”

The council is comprised of the service vice chiefs of staff, senior enlisted advisors, officials from each reserve component and representatives of three military service organizations: The Armed Services YMCA, National Military Family Association, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. With this distinguished group of leaders at the table, it’s time for action and decisions. At a time when budget cuts loom, we’re past the point of simple information-sharing.

The council should live up to its statutory mandate to meet at least twice a year and make recommendations for action. Failing to do so sends the wrong message to our families. How can we stress the importance of family readiness at the small-unit level, when the DOD and service leaders themselves fail to make this council a priority?

In the past, congressional committee members have encouraged the creation of a Military Family Readiness Council website to enhance council transparency. Families should know who the council members are, when it meets and outcomes of any meetings. In addition, such a website could be used for families to provide feedback on family readiness programs.

Defense and service leaders need to “walk the walk” as well as “talk the talk” when it comes to recognizing and easing the extraordinary sacrifices of military families. Military service organizations stand ready to help.

But if we’re to make any real progress, Pentagon leaders should expect no less from themselves than they do from their unit leaders.

This blog first appeared as an Op-Ed on Stars and Stripes’ Ruptured Duck Blog (January 2012)

If you thought the fight between UFC Heavy Weight Champion Brock Lesnar and Alastair Overeem was unsettling, take a look at our military spouse unemployment rate that’s at 26 percent and rising according to a study done by the Department of Defense.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently reported that the national unemployment rate has dropped down two notches to 8.5 percent; it’s lowest in almost three years.

However, while the job market has been slowly on the rise for the majority of America with the government pumping over 200,000 jobs into the private sector, it’s hitting rock bottom among military spouses.

A recent University of Maryland Study found a 42 percent wage gap between military spouses and civilian spouses. If that wasn’t disheartening enough, they also revealed that military spouses were consistently more qualified than their civilian counterparts and those military spouses who want to work, can’t find jobs (Defined by the Defense Manpower Data Center).

How are America’s businesses responding?

Companies like TroopSwap.com are setting an example. TroopSwap’s workforce is comprised of 90 percent military spouses and veterans. Organizations, such as, The Mission Continues, are partnering with TroopSwap with the goal of placing more veterans into leadership-oriented employment opportunities.

TroopSwap.com, is the first e-commerce platform exclusively for military families and is member of Military Spouse Employment Partnership.  Lieutenant General (RET) Daniel Christman, former superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Anthony Principi, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs, both serve as advisors to the company.

Owned by a service disabled Veteran, the company further serves the military community by donating 10% of its profits to the Wounded Warrior Project.

To learn more, please e-mail: blake@troopswap.com, follow TroopSwap on Facebook, or Twitter @TroopSwap.

Sarah is a proud military spouse and the West Coast Director of Community Outreach for TroopSwap. She resides in San Diego, Ca with her husband on their ranch and is an active supporter of our troops and their families on a local and national level.

Teen to Extreme (T2X), is a brand new health literacy program being offered to teen agers aged 13-17 nationwide.

The T2X project was created as a result of a partnership with Health Net, UCLA School of Public Health, and EPG Technologies.

Health Net Federal Services is making a concentrated effort to reach out to teens of military families.

“It’s tough being a teenager today. It can be even tougher for those in military families, as they face unique challenges when a parent or loved one serves and is deployed and redeployed. The T2X program is a cutting-edge tool for teens to not only find support through the emotional cycles of deployment but also find the information to help them live a healthy and fulfilling life,” said Tom Carrato, president of Health Net Federal Services. “T2X empowers teens to take responsibility and become invested in their own health care and well-being.”

T2X is a teen only-community of users, with teen and professionally produced content, blogs, video sharing and other interactive media.

On T2X, teens will be able to find information on lifestyle issues such as nutrition, fitness, stress management and substance abuse.

Teens will be able to chat on line with health experts and ask questions, text key words to a designated number and receive customized content back to their mobile devices, participate in health oriented social networking through blogs, videos, and other transmedia tools.

The mission of T2X is to see teens become actively engaged in their health care and to promote health behaviors.

Parents and teen-check it out and tell us what you think.

After representing MOAA’s Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council at the Military Spouse Symposium & Career Fair in San Diego, CA last week, I walked away believing that we will be the generation of Military Spouses that “figures out” spousal employment.

We will be the generation that brings our stories to decision makers and legislators so that we will break through the glass ceiling particular to military spouses.

We will be the generation that fixes the licensing and certification process that results in significant cost outlays and large gaps in employment histories.

We will be the generation that fights chronic under-employment that is a result of discrimination and job hoarding by locals.

A sense of urgency
Over the course of the symposium I met countless spouses who share the same sense of urgency in addressing these challenges both for our own fulfillment and for the health of our fighting force. Many of us swapped stories of superstar service members we knew who left the service because their superstar spouses longed for meaty careers, too. We know that there must be a way for military spouses to have meaningful, continuously advancing careers while still supporting our spouse’s desire to serve.

Military spouse attorneys – unique challenges
One of the highlights of the symposium for me was meeting seven military spouses who are attorneys. In 2011, MOAA Spouse Council Member, Judge Erin Wirth, along with Mary Reding created the Military Spouse JD Network. The MSJDN aims to make it possible for military spouse attorneys to continue practicing law as they move across the country and around the world without the onerous tasks of taking multiple bar examinations and maintaining costly bar memberships.

My hope is that the success of the MSJDN will spur other occupational groups of military spouses to band together to ensure successful career transitions as they move from post to post. I envision a day when Facebook is teeming with “The Military Spouse Nurses’ Network” or “The Military Spouse Teachers’ Network” or “The Military Spouse Opticians’ Network.” By joining forces, these professionals can gather both success stories and horror stories to present to decision makers. They can share tips about where to find employment at particular duty stations and how to navigate the licensing process.

Employer support
As the businesses at the career fair packed up, I went from table to table thanking the exhibitors for taking the time to meet with these amazing military spouses. I shared with them how exceptionally qualified military spouses are to do high level work, how profoundly under-employed they typically are and how fiercely loyal and hard-working they are when they find a company that values their abilities.

We can do it
In 2012, let’s work together to “solve” spousal employment so that succeeding generations of military spouses never have to worry about supporting their spouse’s call to service by sacrificing their own dreams and ambitions.

Kate Leming serves on the 2012-2013 MOAA Currently Serving Military Spouse Advisory Council. She is an Army spouse, and her current full-time job is as a stay-at-home mom to her three children,  Mary,  Michael, and Elizabeth. Kate is a proud graduate of Cornell University where she received a BS in Applied Economics and Management with a concentration in Business Management and Marketing. 

“This event was very informative and covered many topics that are hard to get answers to,” said one Navy spouse.

“It was beneficial to hear the many perspectives from the employer panel,” added a Marine Corps spouse.

The employer panel, “Five Things Employers Want You to Know,” featuring military spouse and CEO of the United Way of the Midlands, Karen Bricklemyer, was an inside look at how employers see military spouse job seekers. And it’s not what you think.

Employers want to know why there is a gap in employment, the panelists agreed, but it’s not the time out of the workforce that concerns them, it’s the why. And military service isn’t red flag.

“Be a super star,” said Bricklemyer. “Highlight your results, not just activities.”

“Be a dragnet for local connections as you move around,” said Pamela Green, vice president with the Society for Human Resource Management, who grew up in a military family. “Companies are growing globally and your travels are an asset.”

Facebook, diversity director, Sara Sperling stressed the use of social media. “Build connections on line. Employers are using social media to find or research employees,” she said.

“Even though they aren’t supposed to,” added Green, which drew a laugh from the crowd.

Spouses peppered the panelists with questions on everything from work-life balance to underemployment. Hearing their stories, Lorraine Field, human capital lead for TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the event’s signature sponsor, was wowed.

“That room was full of talent,” she said.

Following the symposium, spouses attended a career fair with more than 50 employers and took advantage of the opportunity to talk with local experts on employment, legislation and healthcare for military families in a special area called, “Capitol Hill Q&A.” MOAA also delivered its popular seminar, “The Dollars and ‘Sense’ of Working Outside the Home.”

Missed the event? Check out our favorite Do’s and Don’ts for military spouse job seekers that we picked up from the day:

• Do clean up your Facebook page. 89 percent of employers use social media.
• Don’t come in defeated to an interview. Build a relationship with the employer.
• Do lots of informational interviews. People hire people they know.
• Do demonstrate outcomes. Employers want to see results, not just activity.
• Don’t worry about paid experience. Highlight your great work – paid or not.

Sign up for the MOAA Spouse E-Newsletter to learn more and get the scoop on the next spouse symposium.

Thanks San Diego spouses for being such great hosts! Stay tuned for pics from the event!

As a military spouse and a mother of three “highly mobile” military children, I personally understand the challenges of transitioning children to new schools.

My children experienced this turbulent student life firsthand.  My eldest child attended eight schools in 12 years. My middle child also changed schools eight separate times including the dreaded senior year move. My youngest is on his seventh school in ten years.

As parents, we face many challenges transitioning our children between schools:  class placement, records transfer, immunization requirements, course placement, graduation requirements, exit testing, and extra-curricular opportunities– to name a few.

To help alleviate some of these challenges and concerns, states can participate in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.  The Compact provides students consistent transition procedures between states, while maintaining the uniqueness of each state’s education policies.

To date, 39 states have joined the Compact to help ease the educational burdens facing our service families required to undergo inter-state school transitions. The Compact is a logical and sensible solution to this daunting challenge our military children face.

Georgia, with more than 42,000 military children, is the largest military-impacted state that has not yet joined the Compact.

Senate Bill 219, The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, passed the Georgia Senate by unanimous vote in 2011 but still remains eligible for action in 2012.

The time for action has come. The Georgia Governor wants to hear from military families now.

Contact Governor Deal today and urge him to support passage of Senate Bill 219.

Governor Nathan Deal’s contact info:

Address:
Office of Governor Nathan Deal
203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: 404/656-1776

Fax: 404/657-7332

E-Mail

Who can vote absentee in local, State and Federal elections?

• U.S. citizen 18 years or older and
• Active Duty member of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marine, Public Health Service, NOAA
• Family member of the above or 
• A U.S. citizen residing outside the United States.

 The Federal Voting Assistance Program offers the following information:

• Submit a request ASAP to your home state.
•  Many states require annual request for absentee ballots.  Don’t assume your request is valid from last year. 
• Service members and family members should update home and e-mal addresses with the Federal Voting assistance Program to ensure you receive your ballot quickly.

 Have questions?  The Federal Voting Assistance Program has answers.

 The Department of Defense State Liaison Office (DSLO) works to educate your state policymakers and other stakeholders about the challenges and issues faced by service members and their families. Each year the DSLO puts forth 10 Key Quality of Life Issues. 

 In addition to the work on National/Federal Issues, MOAA also works on state issues with the DSLO.  MOAA has been successful assisting with DSLO’s state level issues through MOAA’s robust chapter and council system.

Here’s the list for 2012:

 10 Key Quality of Life Issues:

1.  Facilitate Service Members Receiving Licensure and Academic Credit for Military Education, Training and Experience

2.  Facilitate Military Spouse Transition through Licensure Portability and Eligibility for Unemployment Compensation

3.  Minimize School Disruption for Military Children During Transition and Deployment

4.  Increase Access to Quality Affordable Childcare for Military Families

5.  Ensure Separation, due to Deployment, Does Not Determine Child Custody Decisions

6.  Improve the Absentee Voting Process for Service Members and Their Families 

7.  Provide Authority for Establishing Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs)

8.  Promote Consumer Protections and Enforcement of the Predatory Lending Regulation

9.  Comport State Laws with DoD Rules on Disposition

10.  Coordinate State-Wide Public-Private Support for Service Members and Their Families

 To learn more about the 10 Key Quality of Life Issues and see what your state is doing visit www.usa4militaryfamilies.org

As the parent of a son with significant disabilities, Ann Turnbull will share some of her own family stories of the tremendous payoffs that can result from investing time to find the right resources for families with special needs. She will review some common quality-of-life issues and help participants identify their own family-life priorities. Ann will also highlight three national family organizations that provide family-directed services, in which experienced families support families facing specific special needs challenges for the first time. The first in a three-part series, this one-hour webinar includes a fifteen-minute question-and-answer period after the presentation.  Email Ann with your questions before the webinar by clicking here. Register for the webinar by clicking here.

About the presenter: Dr. Turnbull has an Ed.D. in Special Education–Mental Retardation and is a professor at the University of Kansas in the field of special education with expertise in special needs/disability, family support, family quality of life, and family-professional partnerships. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Director for the Beach Center on Disability, where she oversees research and development on a wide range of disability-related topics including family support, public policy, self-determination, assistive technology, early intervention, transition to adulthood, positive behavior support, and school reform.

 Be on the lookout for a survey in the mail. Please fill it out and return it!

Did you work or live at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton between 1972 and 1985?  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), with the support of the U.S. Marine Corps, is conducting a survey to learn about your health. Your input is important. If you get a survey – please fill it out and return it.

The survey will be mailed to 300,000 people between June and December 2011.  Those receiving the survey include a representative sample of former Marines or sailors who were stationed at Camp Lejeune anytime from 1975 -1985, civilian employees who worked there anytime during 1972-1985, those who were part of a previous 1999-2002 ATSDR survey, and those who registered on the U.S. Marine Corps website before June 15, 2011, as well as a representative sample of people who lived or worked at Camp Pendleton during this time period.

The survey will ask participants about dates and locations of when and where they lived or worked at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton, as well as their work history and health. 

ATSDR will offer the survey in both paper copy and web-based version.  The findings are expected to be released in early 2014. 
Survey recipients can complete the questionnaire on paper or online.

 Additional information is available at:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/health_survey.html

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/docs/Health-Survey-Invitation-Amos(121510).pdf

Video message about the health surveys: Dale Dye urges Marines to fill out ATSDR Health Survey

For more information on the survey, please contact ATSDR at 770.488.0700.

Thank you to Booz Allen Hamilton  for sharing this important message