Military-Family Blog from MilitaryAvenue.com

Coming to a View Near You Almost Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:46:00 +0000

A lmost   ready    to   pop...
B etter   look    now!
C olor    just   about   set   to   unfurl.
D rama    alive    in    the    garden.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Irises look like purple lipstick tubes.

Hello Poppies! They are green balls now... but soon will be an orange bowl of color.

Strawberry blossoms... sweetness about to send us picking and grinning.

Yellow irises on scene. The light blue, dual colored and Japanese irises will fill in the landscape.

What is growing near you? Challenge yourself to do some daily checks to be there as new life pops into view. Happy Almost Wordless Wednesday!

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3 Must Take Avenues for the the Entrepreneurial Military Spouse

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:21:00 +0000

I had the wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts on Military Spouse Entrepreneurship over at USAA's Spouse Community.

Image Source: Army.mil

"As an entrepreneurial military spouse you have three avenues that you must take to help build your business clientele. Part of your journey you will have a small 'toll' to pay a charge to get from your starting point to your final destination. Some of your road-trip will be on the 'free-way'; there is no charge except for your time. Part of your journey is pure open country road, taking the time to get to know the passengers, otherwise known as your new clients. All three roads are a part of your journey, a great way to get to your final destination. You could become a known professional, reliable business, and successful entrepreneur."

What are some ways that you have spread the word about your small business? This was a fun article to write and put some easy thoughts down to paper.

Head on over to read the rest of the article I wrote: <Continued>

If that link doesn't work (USAA has some pretty strict cookie settings) you can read it by going to the Spouse Community (http://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_blogs/Community?action=communityhome&comm=milspouse) and then click on Money Matters:

Don't forget Military Spouses: Create your FREE ad for supporting the military family at: http://militaryavenue.com/ListWithUs.aspx We'd love to add you to our list of Businesses that Support the Troops!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Wounded Warrior Creed

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:38:00 +0000

The Wounded Warrior Games are taking place in Colorado Springs, May 11-16. What an amazing group of Veterans these warriors are! The Department of Defense Community is doing a great job of covering and you can learn more in our Reading Room or at the Department of Defense Warrior Games.

Take the time to read their Creed. How can you apply it to your circumstances? Their will to succeed far exceeds my heap of troubles of the day. These are soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that we can look up to.

I'm feeling stronger already and ready to conquer this day. Thank you Warriors for putting one foot in front of the other!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Redux! Happy Military Spouse Day! Let’s Talk Jobs for Spouses > DoD Blogger Roundtable

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

During the Happy Military Spouse Day! Let's Talk Jobs for Spouses > DoD Blogger Roundtable they told us that 36 states had passed legislation to assist military spouses with the transportability of their licenses or credentials between states which is absolutely fantastic. I had asked which states had NOT passed legislation so we could highlight which states needed to take action > to walk the talk of support to the military community. You can look up your governor or legislator and send them a note in support of legislation to assist military spouses with this critical issue.

Chief of the DoD State liaison office, Max Beauregard "As stated during the roundtable this afternoon, we have 36 states that have some statute/policy supporting military spouses to expedite endorsement of a license or expedite providing a temporary license. Of the 14 that have not enacted legislation or established policy, six have active legislation: Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The remaining eight states are: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska (considered a bill in 2013), New York (about to introduce a bill for 2013), Ohio, Vermont (considered a bill in 2013) and West Virginia."

Our state, Michigan is one of the Fourteen who need to step up to this effort! I just wrote Governor Snyder at http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57827-267869--,00.html to advise him of how far behind we were! You should do the same if your state is one of the fourteen! After all Governor, Getting it Right, Getting it Done seems a perfect slogan to support our military spouses. Maybe you can call Indiana or Wisconsin and asked them about theirs to make it easy!

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Photo Credit: http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57911---,00.html

Happy Military Spouse Day! Let’s Talk Jobs for Spouses > DoD Blogger Roundtable

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Do you remember...

What a great day! Celebrating the contributions of military spouses to their families, services and country! A special shout out to my favorite military spouses > MilAve_Deborah and MilAve_Leanne. Immense contributions at that but I digress from the purpose of this blog which is to announce how much progress can be said for military spouse employment and provide "How To" tools to help!

When the DoD Blogger Roundtable met yesterday afternoon there was no big announcements, no laudatory pats on the back, just continued improvement of tools that military spouses can use to find gainful employment or continued success in their choice of careers.

The top item of the Roundtable agenda was professional licensing for jobs that are transportable between states but require licenses. The top three jobs that spouses have identified with license issues between states (from MyCAA) were for 1) allied health (nurses, radiologists and other technicians), 2) K-12 Education and 3) Child Care professionals. The Chief of the DoD State liaison office, Max Beauregard said that they are working 10 issues a year on state policies and have now seen 36 states agree to improve the transportability of military spouse credentials (ie make it easier to move your license from one state to another). I did ask for the list of states that are not yet participating so we can hit them hard with “why not letters” and we will publish that after we receive it from DoDLive.

Max also said that a web page for licensing by state is ready to go on Military One Source and should be up any day! It will be an interactive map for each state’s licensing issues with links to each state for license application procedures > sounds like a fantastic tool!

Meg O'Grady, manager of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program said that MSEP (Military Spouse Employment Program) now has 160 business partners (up from 129) since we last met with her and that they are working on 30 more for this year’s program. They can identify 43,000 spouses that have been hired through MSEP.

One of the business partners is the Department of Defense and you can get a military spouse preference for federal employment! Call the Career Center through Military One Source for help with questions about federal jobs or any issues with employment. The number is 800 342 9647! They have career counselors standing by to help you and give you assistance with this somewhat arduous process. They do have quite a few openings according to Meg. The preference is also included for DoD Education Activity teachers so you can get going prior to an overseas PCS. They are trying to streamline the process but the Office of Personnel Management for the entire federal work force controls it so ….

The next level of effort for MSEP is going to be for spouse entrepreneurs and mentorship for this group of businesses. The MSEP is working with non profits like Blue Star Families to help with information and mentorship opportunities will be available. I came away from the Roundtable with a bit of excitement for the future of military spouse employment!

Have a great Military Spouse Day and best wishes in those career decisions! Do you remember this blog from MilitaryAvenue? 101 Ways to Thank a Military Spouse! It is a fun one to share on your special day! Maybe someone will take advantage of the list and do something special.

Here is a great list of resources for you! A big thank you to DoDLive and the Social Media Operations at Defense Media Activity who hosted the Roundtable.

Website/pages

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/12038/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdf

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/seco

http://www.usa.gov/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/YourCommissary

https://twitter.com/MSEPjobs The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) is a targeted recruitment and employment solution for all military spouses and companies.

https://twitter.com/JoiningForces Official WH twitter account.

https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense

https://twitter.com/Military1Source Offering resources, referrals, consultations and counseling services on the issues that concern military families; 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year.

https://twitter.com/MC_FP Military Community and Family Policy provides policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.

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Col K is a retired Air Force pilot who served with the best of the military community from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force. He flew combat rescue and special operations helicopters, fixed wing trainers and airlift and retired while flying the C-17 as the Vice Wing Commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord AFB. He enjoys writing about military issues and is a frequent contributor to the the DoD Blogger Roundtable at DoDLive. A member of a proud military family that created MilitaryAvenue.com to support the troops and their families, he enjoys the continued military ties from blogging.

Active Living in the US Navy Even Has an IPhone App! DoD Blogger Roundtable

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:29:00 +0000

"They have an IPhone App for their program..."

Spring seems to be a great time to get started on new workout plans, healthier eating, gardens and more! May is even designated as physical fitness and sports month so it was great timing for the DoD Blogger Roundtable to discuss the US Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System and some new and better ways to help stay healthy!

As a long time advocate for a healthy lifestyle I was very interested in the topic but wanted to make sure that it would be interesting for our followers. Diana Strock, Physical Fitness and Injury Prevention Program Manager said they had “resounding feedback” from sailors that the program was helping with resilience, reducing anxiety, improving nutritional choices, fitness test scores and much more.

Then they caught my ear:

They have an IPhone App for their program that includes menu features, five workout plans for different sailor needs, and after downloading can be used without an internet connection. I enjoy technology that helps me improve effort and have written about workout technology before that encouraged me to keep moving.

So when Diana and Lisa Sexauer, Fitness, Sports and Deployed Forces Support Program Manager explained in detail the Navy’s efforts to help the entire naval community including families it was exciting to hear. The IPhone App already has 20,000 downloads and within 30-60 days they are expecting IPad and Android Apps as well. Active Living is being shared across the Navy including command leadership schools, recruits and training schools and now has generated follow on testing for even better ways to help our sailors to eat and stay healthy.

Wild Michigan Blackberries

I queried the leadership about the food plans and ask were they compatible with at sea time or deployments? They have engaged with the culinary specialists and chiefs groups about the choices and the weekly planner is available that corresponds to the meal plans aboard ship. They said, “the sailors want to excel” and we are providing them the tools they can use to do that! They expect to release NOFFS 2.0 late this summer with even more options to live a healthier and better lifestyle so stay tuned for updates.

Here are some additional and helpful links that were shared during the Roundtable:

IPhone App for NOFFS

Navy Fitness Website (NOFFS)

Active Living (US Navy Health Promotion)

Undersea Warfare Article (NOFFS)

DoDLive Blogger Roundtable (Audio Transcript of the Roundtable)

Please enjoy more from Col K about Healthy Living, Exercise and Fitness on the MilitaryAvenue Blog, Our Letters to You.

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Image Credit: Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/active-living/Pages/active-living.aspx

Image Credit: MilitaryAvenue

Getting Ready to Garden! How to Build a Fence and Gate for Your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:42:00 +0000

Primary Tools for putting in the fence posts

Enter into these Gates with Thanksgiving

Our gardens during our years of PCS after PCS, overseas, deployments and lengthy TDYs etc. were small and mostly flowers. After retirement we settled in Michigan and focused on a vegetable garden in addition to the flower beds. We live in deer country – and rabbits, raccoons, chipmunks and more critters that love our garden too.

So we upgraded our garden fence this year! It was a good improvement and allowed us to hope for less damage from those lettuce loving animals.

Our first step was planning over the winter as we took down the previous metal pole and chicken wire fence that had served us well for a number of years but had become a bit worn and porous. We were looking for something easier to maintain and that required little expertise. We decided on treated 4 by 4 X 8 posts so we could staple a 7 foot high deer netting (plastic) to it. No tie wires, no zip ties, etc were going to be needed with the staples and wood combination.

MilAve_Deborah loves to garden

After measuring out the garden and how far apart the posts needed to be we came up with an estimate for the number of posts and an accurate number of feet for the netting. The gate entry for us was a new idea as the previous gate was not wide enough. We wanted one for the small garden tractor for spreading fertilizer, pulling in the trailer with bags of material or other chores. So we doubled the gate size by placing two taller posts (4 X 4 X 10) into 22 inch holes that I dug with a post hole digger > thank you for sandy soil. After leveling the posts we poured dry quick setting concrete into the holes and let “mother nature” take over by adding her own moisture. They set pretty quickly in about two days and we had posts to hang our gates from but first we put up the rest of the fence posts.

We put in the corner posts first and hung a plumber line (string) from the corners to have a reasonably straight line. The digging was not hard with our wonderful soil except for two holes with rocks that I had dig out wider with a shovel. By keeping the holes small and tight we could place the posts in about 20 inches deep with no concrete. After placing the soil back in the hole, I tamped it with my foot and then the shovel handle while Deb held the level and made sure we kept them straight.

We slid the chicken wire under the gate board before anchoring screws

Leveling the gate was challenging

The gates were made of 2 X 4 X 8s and we cut them to fit the hole and it worked great with a 96 inch board cut at 40 and 56 inches. We had no waste and no need for more boards. We took some of the old chicken wire fencing and cut it to fit the gate size and then partially drilled the wood screws into make a frame.

The second gate was better because we figured out how avoid a double cut on the wire and slid it under the boards before tightening the screws down. We used the same staples to finish up the gates and then went to hang them with some hefty hinges. The hardware store had been very helpful and the hinges were great but aligning the gates and keeping them level required several re-tries. Finally satisfied with the end product I drove the screws into the support posts for the last time and we had a new garden fence done.

The fencing material was easy to work with and we stretched it after stapling it on the first post. We got better taking out the waves created between poles as we went along and the staple gun needed a lot of pressure to get staples into the hard wood. But overall it was a simple operation.

Author MilAve_Col_K with new gate

It took us about a week of on and off effort for the fence and Our Garden is ready to plant! Our spinach went in the next day and we are getting ready for the rest of the seeds and plants when the freeze concerns are gone which is about May 15th. For us gardening is therapeutic and as one breast cancer survivor and one currently in treatment for sarcoma the garden is healthy, physically and mentally. We are really looking forward to all the fresh vegetables and canning and freezing for next winter.

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Do you enjoy gardening? Read more MilitaryAvenue Gardening articles by clicking on the daffodils below!

Wrapping up Month Of The Military Child: Brat Town Bugle

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:13:00 +0000

Today is the last day of Month of the Military Child; but isn't it something we should celebrate all year long?

We highlighted some great resources throughout April on our Facebook page. We shared Tips on Relocation, YMCA’s Operation Kid Comfort Program, and most importantly a reminder that YOU are the ultimate resource for your military child PLUS so much more. (Scroll through Facebook.com/MilitaryAvenue to see them all.)

One more resource I want to share is Operation We Are Here's Brat Town Bugle (tm).

The Brat Town Bugle is a wonderful way for your child, children, whole family to showcase what is happening at home. It could be a monthly project to send to a deployed loved one (mom, dad, uncle, brother, aunt or friend). Or you can send it to a grandparent, cousins, family friends who don't live near by but still wants to be a part of your child's life.

It will help your child develop writing skills, journaling skills and create lots of laughs and smiles as they highlight moments of their days, weeks and month. (This would be a great part of Summer Learning to keep your children's brains active even when not school-bound) Be sure to check it out. (and at the very least PIN it to your 'Good to remember' board ... yes, I'm a total Pinterest addict)

http://www.operationwearehere.com/BratTownBugle.html

As we close out this month my goal is to continue to highlight resource for our children through out the year so hold on tight it's going to be a great year!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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How to Paint Your World Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Deborah) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:16:00 +0000

How to Paint Your World Yellow

Plan, Plant, Play!

Plan: Picture a garden. Let the flow of colors move with the seasons!

Continue Reading for Gardening Tips

Spring seems to inspire the love of yellow… stronger and longer sunshine. New leaf green definitely has the yellow tone. Hallelujah for the emergence of tulip and daffodil bulbs and then forsythia.

Plant: Place daffodil bulbs in clumps, not spread out individually. They grow and love the friendship of kissing cousin bulbs…

They will pop though your garden turf and each year bring on new family members.

Trim bushes after flowers have faded. The goal is to get the bush compact and not just leggy.

Play: Walk and admire, sniff and be inspired! Cut flowers and bring the glorious color of sunshine into your home.

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“Welcome to Stagecoach"

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:31:00 +0000

A quick introduction to our MilitaryAvenue guest blogger. Mike Liguori is a Marine veteran and we are excited to share his coverage for MilitaryAvenue of Stagecoach. He is doing tweets, Facebook posts and blogs for us during this fun event! Be sure to follow along on some great stories about the performers and military supporters at "Stagecoach".

Today was quite the day for me. I barely have been able to sleep due to the overwhelming excitement of covering the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. You think after not getting the consistency of a good night’s sleep I would be dead tired today. Well folks, you are wrong. I am actually more energized now at 9:23 pm the night before. It reminds me of my old college days, anticipating the countdown of the kickoff. I could never sleep and tossing and turning became part of my pregame ritual.

Of course, I’m not playing football anymore but the pregame ritual still remains. I can’t stop thinking about the acts, the atmosphere, the promotions, the parties, all of it part of Stagecoach. But all of this does not topple the fact about the overwhelming support for the military Toyota has. I am thoroughly impressed. Being a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, service is engrained in you. It becomes part of who you are. I must say it is a little difficult to get such great treatment from Toyota and everyone involved in this weekend since Im use to doing things myself. But it’s their way of paying tribute to all those who served so I cant express how much gratitude I owe for their generosity.

Now on to the important stuff. Stagecoach is huge. It’s the country version of Woodstock. Some of the top artists in country today will be performing each day and I cannot wait. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get close enough to Toby Keith or Dierks Bentley to get some love from them for our men and women in uniform. Ill keep you posted on that effort.

Make sure you follow me on Twitter @mikeysandbox, Militaryavenue @militaryavenue, and Toyota @Toyota. Toyota is also giving away 6 signed Dierks Bentley guitars so enter by clicking on the link below https://www.facebook.com/toyota/posts/10151573066874201 We all keep you in the loop especially when Saturday night rolls around. Trust me. you don’t want to miss it. God Bless and I look forward to keeping you all in the loop -Mike Liguori

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Disclosure: Toyota partnered with MilitaryAvenue by providing transportation and lodging for our blogger at Stagecoach.

40 Ways to Find Solace in a Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:18:00 +0000

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”

― Oscar Wilde

Call your dad
Sip a hot cup of coffee
Take 10 minutes to soak up some sun on a warm, sunny front porch
Feet up & a good book
Jump on your bike and take a ride
Grab the music player, pop in the ear buds, play your favorite upbeat music and ask the vacuum to dance (Bonus you get some clean floors)
Give a lingering hug with someone you love
Look through old photos, create a collage of someone you love using Picasa or other photo editor
Take a quick walk around the neighborhood
Clean the kitchen window and let the sun shine in
Visit a local park and play, swing, jump, run with your kids
Pop in your favorite funny movie. It feels so good to laugh
Find a hand to hold, your husband, wife, mom, dad, child
Garden. Work the soil, kill the weeds, watch your plants grow
Enjoy the sunset
Plan a fun family activity for the weekend
Enjoy a thunderstorm, turn the lights down low and listen to the rain, the thunder, the sky as it lights up with lightening
Open up the curtains. The sun does wonders for the soul.
Pet the dog
Pray
Ask a friend to work on a project together; in the house, in the garage, just time together
Feed the birds
Perform an act of service, do something for someone else
Wash your car
Close your eyes, what do you hear? Wind, birds, the distant roar of an aircraft, children playing, the list may be endless.
Color (with or without kids)
Make bread (or pizza dough). Kneading dough releases tension.
Grab the camera and take some pictures of something beautiful
Wake up early. Enjoy the sunrise
Plan a much needed vacation, including easy ways that you can save for it
Enjoy some yogurt with some favorite toppings; nuts, fresh fruit, maybe some whip cream
Accomplish something that has been on the to-do list for way too long
Call or set up time to have coffee with a close friend
Email a long lost friend that you have fallen out of touch with
Send a letter in the mail to a grandparent
Pull out the play-dough
Cut some flowers for a vase inside
Take time for your hobbies, work on something you enjoy
Mow the lawn
Call your mom

What are some therapeutic ways to bring a smile to your face and a happier disposition when it just feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Leanne is the mother of four boys from 2 to 19 years old. The wife of a soldier. The daughter of an airman. A believer in Grace, Hope and Love and leans deeply on her Christian Faith. She writes for MilitaryAvenue as a reminder that we've all 'been there, done that' in one way or another. You can read additional blogs by her by clicking here: Leanne

Today’s Teachers: Frontline of Defense for Military Children

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:07:00 +0000

Today's Guest Post is from Levi Newman of Veterans United Network

Today’s military children have to adapt to more stressors than ever before. Their parents are deployed more frequently and many kids change schools anywhere from four to twelve times during the course of their parents’ military service.

It’s a stress many outside the military are unfamiliar with, especially teachers. The biggest service we can offer to these children and their teachers is to prepare them both for these transitions. And while the children can ask their parents how to prepare for these changes, who is there for the teacher?

You may be thinking, “What does a teacher need to know about the child’s move?” Well, it really depends on what type of teacher you strive to be. If you want to help that young person adapt to their new surroundings so they can flourish and succeed, then keep reading.

Military Children 101

As of Jan. 2013, there were 1.4 million people on active duty, with an additional 850 thousand in the seven reserve components. That means approximately 900 thousand of the 1.7 million registered military children (under 18) have had a parent deployed at some point in their lives.

This statistic, coupled with the fact that most military families move every two to three years, means military children are confronted with many unique challenges their nonmilitary peers will never face.

Some of these experiences include: absence of a deployed parent, moving, changing schools, leaving old friends and meeting new ones, coping with a parent’s injury or worse—death. Separation anxiety, sleep issues, withdrawal, frustration and fear aren’t just feelings limited to the home; they can be brought to school.

How Teachers Can Step Up

The most important thing to know is that teachers often act as the front line to children’s problems, meaning they can often spot problems before a parent or sibling even notice. Here are a few tips to help you better understand your student, as well as keep them on the right path.

1. Be honest and reassuring. Talk with your new student to let them know that you understand what they’re going through and that you’re there to help in their transition. Don’t make unrealistic promises.

2. If you know their parent is deployed, help them set aside a school scrapbook so they can mail (or keep) their work to show their parent when they return.

3. Understand that children may have difficulty studying if they’re thinking about deployed parents. Pairing them up with other students that share similar interests could help keep them on track.

4. Get in touch with their family and let them know you’re there to help. Parents in general often worry about their children’s education and success, so easing their minds even a bit can do wonders both or the child and for the service member.

5. Help kids express their feelings. Using different art mediums to let their emotions out can do wonders.

6. Each child reacts differently to change, meaning what works for one child may not work for another. Vary your teaching to help ensure your students are getting the most out of your teaching.

7. Spot problems early and be as encouraging as possible. If you notice a student starting to slide, make sure you contact their care provider. Letting issues linger can just lead to more problems.

Most military children will show you a character and strength that are unmatched in young people today. But children of all ages can always use a consistent, caring presence in their life. As a veteran and a father of three, I can’t tell you how invaluable a caring teacher can be. They can be the rock both the parent and student need in times of stress, and they can set the tone early after any move.

Remember that you are the first line of defense for today’s military student. And just by being open, honest, supportive and predictable, you can assuage many fears and concerns; ultimately reducing the risk of emotional turmoil and setting the student up for success.

Levi Newman is a 10-year U.S. Army veteran who served in multiple overseas deployments and assignments. Levi covers veteran benefits and news as the chief writer behind Veterans United Network and VA Benefit Blog. Connect with Levi on Google+.

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5 PCS Tips Before the Movers Arrive

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:21:00 +0000

Today's guest post is from Army Wife, mother and blogger at RecreateAndDecorate.com

With PCS season quickly approaching, many military families will be moving worldwide. Moving is known to be one of the most stressful events we encounter. However, planning ahead can reduce unnecessary stress and help your move run smoothly. Here is a list of tips that you can do in advance that will help eliminate some stress during your next PCS.

1. Decide what items you will be packing and moving yourself then separate them from the rest of your household goods.

If you are moving overseas, make sure you keep your passports and other essential paperwork out of sight from the packers. As we all know, packers are known to pack the unexpected, and they have been known to pack passports before.
Make sure you consider the weather and climate that you will be moving into and pack your clothing accordingly.
Pack a box of necessary items (toilet paper, soap, towels, toys, sleeping bags, inflatable beds, etc.) to have with you in the event you move into a home and have to wait on your household goods to be delivered.

2. Make hotel reservations

Make sure you have reservations made beginning the night of your pack out. A bed is great to sleep on after a long day of packing out.
Remember to make hotel reservations while traveling to your new duty station.
Temporary housing reservations can be made in advance and fill up quickly. Make sure you make reservations as soon as possible to ensure you have a room.
Make sure you make accommodations for your pet. Consider the no pet policy and make the appropriate accommodations.

Find Military Discounts near your Military Installation

3. Make flight arrangements.

If flying to your new destination, make sure you book your flights after you receive your dates for your move.
If you are flying with pets, make sure you contact the airlines to find out what the summer cut off dates are. Many airlines will not fly pets in the heat of the summer.
Make arrangements for transportation the day of your flight

4. Begin researching your next duty station and community.

Decide if you will be living on or off post. The housing office can let you know if housing will be available or not.
If you will be living off post, find out your BAH rate and start looking online for available housing. Militaryavenue.com and AHRN.com are great online resources offering available listings.
If living off post and you have school aged children, begin researching the local schools. Militaryavenue.com and Greatchools.com offer online information about schools in your new area. Knowing which schools are right for your child will help determine where you may want to live.
Check out your area for registered sex offenders at familywatchdog.com.

5. Begin searching for jobs and send out updated resumes if you plan to work outside the home.

Many jobs are filled by military spouses and may be coming available.

6. Begin organizing your household goods.

Before a pack out begins is the best time to get organized and to get rid of a lot of stuff.
Donate to your local thrift store if you do not have the time for a yard sale.

7. Arrange for a babysitter the day of the pack out. However have your children around some throughout the day. It is important they be a part of the moving process. Younger children can become overwhelmed and confused if they come home to a home that is already packed up.

Moving on to a new community can be a fun and exciting time, as well as stressful.. Learn about your new community and know what it has to offer before you move. Make sure you plan ahead and take the necessary steps to prevent adding stress to your next PCS.

Wanda is an Army wife of 15 years and mom attempting to raise 2 well rounded, grounded daughters. She is the author at www.recreateanddecorate.com where she shares tips and tricks for decorating homes on a budget, home organization tips, and homemaking tips for the very busy mom.

Thank you Wanda for your tips for our military community. We look forward to more guest posts.

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It is a Matter of Our Future

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:09:00 +0000

"Due to budget issues, Fort Bragg is cancelling its 4th of July celebration and reducing services in many other areas." - Fort Bragg Family and MWR

"Navy Cancels 2013 NAS Oceana Air Show with Blue Angels" - Naval Air Station Oceana

The 2013 Air Show has been canceled due to the impact of federal government sequestration budget cuts on Department of Defense and Aerospace Industry support of public air shows. - Cleveland National Air Show

Air Combat Command Stands Down Units Amid Budget Cuts: According to Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, the ACC commander, "Historically, the Air Force has not operated under a tiered readiness construct because of the need to respond to any crisis within a matter of hours or days," Hostage said. "The current situation means we're accepting the risk that combat airpower may not be ready to respond immediately to new contingencies as they occur."

Photo Courtesy: National Guard

Why are we putting our National Security on the line? Why are we making cuts that will affect our freedom, our 4th of Julys, our pursuit and celebration of independence ? I completely understand budgets and the need to watch spending but if I were to look at it from a 'household budget perspective' I would cut entertainment (vacations, Mr. President, as an example) before I would make cuts that affect safety of my family. I would think about the money I have thrown away because others were unprepared (medical care for illegal aliens), before I would make budget sacrifices for my own children's future. If I were to be making the budget my family, in the broader picture, my nation would come first.

For starters, Air Shows (as pure entertainment as they may seem) draw in thousands of people every year. Six-, Ten-, Sixteen-year olds MARVEL at our airpower, ground-power, sea-power, Marine-power. They look up at these shows and begin to think about their 'future possibilities'. Who their heroes are. Who they want to be. I'm sure today there is an immeasurable number of airmen, soldiers, marines, sailors or coast guard that first because to think about their future in the military as a youngster at an air show or other military-event.

Here's an interesting tidbit that my husband shared with me the other day. Free and Reduced Lunches were brought to use by the National School Lunch Act in 1946: "The legislation came in response to claims that many American men had been rejected for World War II military service because of diet-related health problems. The federally assisted meal program was established as “a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities.” - SchoolNutrition.org

If we saw back then the impact of childhood on the faces of our future military, shouldn't we still? And that is just a drop in the bucket. Did we not all witness and feel deep despair around 9/11/2001? If we cut back our defense now, back off on protecting our borders now, Stand Down now when will the next terrorist attack be?

These are just the thoughts of your every-day Army National Guard Wife... the mother of four (one is off to Boot Camp next week!)... the daughter of an airman. I don't live near a military base although I have for more then half of my life. I can image that my local cities will still have their fireworks this summer. I sure will miss the Air Show this Labor Day weekend in Cleveland; we go every year. But certainly of utmost importance is I would like to see the military-budget not looked at as a luxury but as a necessity. If we were willing to make cuts across the board (yes, your salary too Mr. Senator) and not huge chunks of National Security money then maybe we could all enjoy "The Sounds of Freedom" this summer and for years to come!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Pets for Patriots > A "How To" for Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Stephanie and Fly > Photo Credit Below

Our four legged friends can be the best when we face the tough times: Sharing our time, greeting us at the door, telling us when we need to pet them, finding us when we need to “snuggle”, a warm blanket while watching March Madness, taking walks in the woods, chasing squirrels while we laugh, playing “catch”, sitting on our feet when they know we are deep in thought and so much more!

So it was with eager anticipation that I waited to talk with Beth Zimmerman, the founder of Pets for Patriots! Are you a veteran or active duty service member? Do you need some loyal four legged companionship? Do you love animals? Beth gave me a “How To” on saving the life of an animal that is homeless and needs you as much as you need it!

She had a hot spot in her heart for the veteran community and the animals waiting for someone to love them. Pets for Patriots kicked off in 2010 with its first placement of an animal with a veteran. It has become a nation wide network of veteran patriots and partner providers of pets. Acting as a connection between the veteran community of all ages (they do have WW2 veteran adopters) and the local animal caregivers, Pets for Patriots does not accept donor animals but refers veterans to the right local animal welfare organizations.

How to Adopt a Pet with Pets for Patriots

1) Visit their website to find out how to qualify! You will need some documentation for your veteran status (please no third party applications).

2) Click on Patriots > to begin the adoption > to see if you qualify to join their honorable companion pet adoption program and save an animal that desperately needs a home.

Why should you use Pets for Patriots?

Ronald and Cocoa > Photo Credit Below

Zimmerman applauded all efforts to connect veterans with companion and service animals but cited three differences that make Pets for Patriots unique.

First, they are open to all veterans! Just as I mentioned earlier, they have WW2 veterans who have adopted a pet and more than 370 have followed in their footsteps to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Second, they focus on surrender prevention (returning a pet) by focusing on the primary reasons animals are surrendered: long-term cost of care. While animals are easily loved, the long haul includes caring for them that takes effort and resources. Their shelter partners offer various adoption specials, often an adoption fee discount, while their veterinary partners offer ongoing discounted health care. Pets for Patriots kicks in with a $150 gift card contribution from their Veterans' Pet Food Bank program to help get the veteran and pet off on the right foot!

Third, Pets for Patriots aims to help animals that will be killed. Two years old or older animals, disabled, big (greater than 40 pounds) are some examples of needy animals they target. Many veterans seeking companion animals connect with these animals who need help. Disabled veterans and disabled animals seem to have a natural bond.

She did emphasize that while they provide companion animals they can provide a referral service for service animals if needed. Do you know a military friendly veterinarian or local shelter? Please ask them to partner with Pets for Patriots! They can use the same website to qualify and join the team. They are encouraged to provide veteran discounts to ease the challenge of adoption expenses for the life of the animal.

Mark and Callie > Photo Credit Below

How to Qualify as Veterinarian or Shelter

Again, visit the Pets for Patriots website but choose the Veterinarian or Shelter header to find out how to get started! Non profit is a key word for shelters and recognizing the veterans’ service with a gift (Patriot Special) is part of the process. Advantages for the partners include free profile on Pets for Patriots website (they build it), connecting with the veteran community, demonstrating your veteran support to the civilian community, widget for your website, cross marketing and new customers!

How Can You Help?

Our discussion focused on the veteran piece of this effort but Beth did mention that “anybody can make a difference” and “how can I change lives” by supporting Pets for Patriots with a small gift via their website. As a disabled veteran who is part of “Grinda’s” pack and who enjoys that four legged companionship during those “tough times” I must give a big shout out to Beth’s efforts to help our veterans connect with these animals! Thank you.

Photo Credits: ©2013 Pets for Patriots, Inc.; all rights reserved

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Tutor.com for Military Families

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:13:00 +0000

My ~~poor~~ blessed children. When I was a child I wanted to be a teacher. The need to teach is somehow still ingrained in my bones. Now the need to teach and the need to see my children succeed are intertwined.

We finished up Spring Break last week and much to their groans and moans we did 30 minutes of reading and 30 minutes of education... EVERY DAY of break.

"BUT MOM we are on vacation"
"BUT MOM we would rather be playing"
"BUT MOM ..."

Didn't matter.

For us education was either time spent on some workbooks I had stored in the closet, time on educational website I had approved, or doing some creative writing with prompts I gave them.

Someday they will thank me. No, really.

But here is something really cool. Tutor.com has free membership for Military Families (Check eligibility here). Don't think of this as your traditional Tutor that sits down and helps you with homework you may be struggling with. It is much more than that.

What I especially love is the so much more part: "Thousands of lessons, worksheets, study guides and videos to help you."

If your child is struggling with fractions, as an example, find websites with fun games that will help reinforce the skill. If they need just a little extra reinforcement for Algebra, study guides for AP tests... we are talking skill set help from kindergarten through college (and beyond)!

Have them spend an extra 20 minutes each night using a resource you found on Tutor.com and they will become more confident in their ability which really will help them in so many ways. And a little extra work right now will help them appreciate the free time they do have. (Which really, isn't that a life lesson?!)

Learn more about your free Tutor.com account today: http://tutor.com/military/

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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The Insecure Military Brat (That's Me)

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:46:00 +0000

I started a wonderful book over Spring Break titled 'The Artist's Daughter', a memoir by Alexandra Kuykendall. MOPS International gave it to me and I have a hard time putting it down each time I pick it up.

If you ask me about my identity (a key question in this memoir) I struggle to answer. I have grown a lot through the years. Especially now, as a mom, wife, a resident of the same city for the last 12 years. But years before that? I was (and still remain) a Military Brat. I was always a little awkward. I had a SUPER hard time making new friends. The shy introvert who just wanted a few close friends each place I lived didn't always find the right fit. I'd finally find them and BOOM we'd move again.

But the things I have seen... Born in the desert of Nevada, started kindergarten in the Panama Canal Zone, started to form my true identity as child of the 80s in Texas. In Illinois we lived a mere 6 hours from my dad's family and visited often forming bonds that have lasted. In Florida when adolescents really started to hit I learned what cliques really were and I just really didn't 'fit' anywhere, at all. But the ocean! I swam in it on Christmas and every other month of the year. In New York I was accepted fast and we moved again... just as fast. In Iceland I saw the country; I saw Europe; I experienced things most high school kids would think only rich kids, gallivanting the world, get to see... yet, I struggled. I struggled to define who I was beyond the confines of daughter, sister, friend, child of God.

So when the author writes:

"The downside to adventure is insecurity"

it hits hard.

As a Brat riddled with insecurity it affects me to this day. I don't know exactly where the insecurity comes from but it was there, and remains. My parents supported me. My brothers loved me. I had best friends all around the country. But I had never thought too deeply about where the insecurity had stemmed from or led to.

There are a lot more quotes that resonate in that same chapter and chapters surrounding it about the strength of the author's mom that immediately made me think of my own mom. My mom would tell me to walk looking up, not down at the floor. She would push me to meet new friends through Youth Group & encourage me to join school clubs. She would try to help me in any way to just get to know new people, have a little bounce in my step when I wasn't feeling particularly sure of myself.

"Every daughter looks to her mother to see what a woman is supposed to be." - Alexandra Kuykendall

My mom was my rock growing up. I know as parents we aren't supposed to just be our children's friend, and she wasn't. She was SO much more then a friend. I looked up to her as a role-model, the person I was supposed to be as I grew up

This brings me to the age old question: If you had your life to live over and you had a choice in the matter would you be a Military Brat? I'd give you a resounding, "Yes!" Simply because insecurity isn't the end of the world. It creates empathy, kindheartedness, awareness, a listening ear. And through all of that I've seen the world (well, a whole lot of it anyway!)

Keep encouraging, helping, loving, being there for your military-children. They will grow up, too quickly, but they will know who had their backs through it all, even through their own insecurities!

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

PS: In many ways I can say, "Yes through the years, especially as I have come to be able to define my own lack of confidence, I have become secure in my insecurities." What a thought!

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Leanne is the mother of four boys from 2 years old to 19 years old. The wife of a soldier. The daughter of an airman. A believer in Grace, Hope and Love and leans deeply on her Christian Faith. She writes for MilitaryAvenue as a reminder that we've all 'been there, done that' in one way or another. You can read additional blogs by her by clicking here: Leanne

Month of the Military Child

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Some articles related to our military children you might find of interest:

Find more in our Reading Room

We are sharing a "Resource of a Day" related to our youngest military-heroes, our military children, on our Facebook page throughout the month of April: http://www.facebook.com/MilitaryAvenue (Just a few examples: MilitaryKidsConnect, Military Youth on the Move, The National Military Family Association toolkit.)

Find more resources on our 'Ways to Support Military Children' board and lots of great images of the hearts and souls of our Military Brats.

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Military Deployment: Waiting for Dad to Come Home

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:17:00 +0000

Books! You find a good one and you jump into it, lost in another world. A good book can teach you sympathy, empathy, show you that you are not alone or that the world is much bigger than you.

Sometimes it is nice to know it's not just you... and when a military child is missing his or her Mom or Dad a good book about other children coping with separation can be just what they need!

I had the pleasure of reading a new book by author Kristin Ayyar. She is an Air Force wife, mom, author and so much more. The title is Countdown 'Til Daddy Comes Home and shows how a young child copes with Daddy being gone, from special visits from Nana, care packages to Daddy and special kisses from Mom.

But it doesn't end there. The book finishes up with some discussion questions to help your child and some great Countdown ideas while waiting for your loved one to come home.

Learn more. Watch this promotional trailer: http://youtu.be/1z2_GvUGQCE

This book will officially be available April 3, 2013. Just in time for Month of the Military Child! What a great way to kick it all off. You can purchase it at Amazon. Or if you have any questions follow the author on Facebook: Facebook.com/DaddyCountdown or Twitter: @daddycountdown

What are ways you helped your children with deployment? We had some great books to enjoy, special visits to Michigan to visit my family, we even planned a trip to Disney for a couple months after Dad got home. (Learn more about Disney's 2013 Military Discount at their site: Walt Disney World) We kept time moving... which is just what this book is all about.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Tell Us About Your Installation

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Ah... the power of a recommendation. You move to a new place and you need to get your hair cut, you need to find a new church, you need child care, you NEED to find a good place for pizza! This was the thought that MilitaryAvenue.com was born on and we continue to build on that.

We make it easy for businesses that offer a military-discount, as a way to show appreciation to local military families, to advertise. In fact, they can advertise for free!

But we want your input, too, as the military-family that has lived there, been there, called "that place" home.

So tell us more:

Fill out as little as much of this form and click submit. It'll help us compile a great list of local resources for military families that will soon call their new station, base, post, field ... 'Home'!

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You can also fill this form out at My Base / Post

Find Military Discounts in your area: Military Rewards

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On Your Way to a Smooth Move: DoD Roundtable

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:49:00 +0000

It is that time! PCS season is upon us and many military families are negotiating orders and beginning the process of planning for a move. With that in mind, I had a great chance to listen to and speak with Barbara Thompson, Director, Office of Family Policy/Children & Youth, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.

We all know that a PCS can be an amazing adventure but also an incredible stressor on families. I have an example for you; in the late 80’s my family moved from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida to Keflavik, Iceland. Can you say, “Change of scenery”? In the end the move to Iceland was an amazing adventure, but you don’t know that when you prepare and first arrive at your next duty station. We took advantage of the tools available to us at the time. They don’t compare to what is available now. An important and valid point to keep in mind when moving with children is what the Director of Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth mentioned, “The less stress the parents manifest, the less the kids go through.” This is probably one of the most important points to keep in mind.

The discussion with Barbara Thompson was brief, yet informative. She was very clear when explaining the benefits of technology but also the importance of visiting. She explained it well by saying, “We need high-tech but also high-touch.” Technology is important but also a face to talk with and maybe even a hug. The PCS process is stressful. I can tell you after 12 different schools and 2 overseas stations that I can appreciate the how important information and support is.

To add more information to the mix, consider reading this National Military Family Association article about how sequestration will affect PCS orders:

“Fact: What will happen to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves is unclear. Funds for dislocation allowances tied to PCS moves will be available, but transportation offices will be short-staffed because of civilian furloughs. When we asked if funds to cover the transportation of household goods and families would be affected by sequestration, we were told each Service will decide soon on the extent of PCS moves this summer.”

- Sequestration Facts Without the Fiction: How Military Families Will Be Affected

Arm yourself with information before your next PCS. Empower yourself. Educate yourself. Use services like 'Plan my Move' from the DoD, print our Moving Checklist and put it in your PCS Binder, call your local Family Service Center and make an appointment to speak with a counselor. All of these steps will start you on your way to a smooth move.

- Dan from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Taking Advantage of a Military Discount > Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Colonel K) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:09:00 +0000

Taking advantage of the Disney World Military Discounts!

Do you find Military Discounts for your theme park visits, vacations, day to day living helpful? Keep up with national and local offers on MilitaryAvenue.com and Military Discounts Facebook page!

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The 'busy-ness' of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:37:00 +0000

Ah... Spring. A perfect adjective would be refreshing. We get out of the house. We start the garden. We clean off the deck. We pull out our soccer cleats, baseball gloves and running shorts. We pump up our bike tires, clean out our cars and hose off the outdoor dump trucks, bubble wands and kiddie pools. We open windows, smell the flowers, take long hikes. We start to fill the family calendar with all sorts of events.

As military families we also might be looking at orders. We clean out our closets, get rid of the 'extras', plan for the future. We make last ditch moments to see the town we called home for 15 months, 2 years, maybe even 5.

Officials Urge Planning Early for Household Moves

We have Hail and Farewells to go to, Spouse Clubs to step down from, favorite girl-friends to spend a few last evenings with. We find time in all of this to be a 'couple', a date night - or even a date-lunch perhaps? Through all of this we remember that while Spring is synonymous with Refreshing. Military-life is synonymous with Change. And we take it all in stride.

Through all of this what are some tips that you have for other military families perhaps overwhelmed by this season in their life? These are just some of my simple ideas; one simple idea at a time can make one evening better and sometimes that makes all the difference in the world:

The crock-pot! (Can I get an 'Amen'!?)
I took two old school-backpacks and put each of the boys' soccer gear (shin guards, cleats, uniforms) in their own bag. Nothing fancy. Just something to keep them organized and be able to say 'Grab your bag and get ready'.
I keep a golf umbrella and a "camping chair" in the van's trunk. (And I've had to use that umbrella more times then I'd like to count during past Springs.)
Another organization tip: I have a trunk-organizer that holds soccer balls, baseball mitts, and a few light coats in case it gets chilly. If we are going grocery shopping or travelling and I need the trunk space it comes right out. Otherwise, the boys know right where to check to make sure they have their stuff before we jump in the van to go.
Find a reliable babysitter for those events that you either (a) can't take the kids to or (b) it would be so much easier NOT to take the kids to. Perhaps become part of a co-op, ask a younger neighborhood teenager to watch your young ones while you do around the house work. Look into SitterCity. The DoD offers a free membership to help you find the sitter your family needs.
We have lots of resources too if you are going to be PCSing this summer. Many are neatly indexed at "The PCS".

Spring is a busy season. A fun season. A season to explore, prepare, be invigorated! Use the resources you have around you. Find time for yourself, your family, your spouse. Empower yourself to make this season the best season of your life.

- Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com

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Leanne is the mother of four boys from 2 1/2 to 19 years old. The wife of a soldier. The daughter of an airman. A believer in Grace, Hope and Love and leans deeply on her Christian Faith. She writes for MilitaryAvenue as a reminder that we've all 'been there, done that' in one way or another. You can read additional blogs by her by clicking here: Leanne

Impact of the Sequestration

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:48:00 +0000

A Compilation of Articles about the Sequestration and the impact on Military Families

From the Department of Defense & other relevant news sources:

Carter Reassures Defense Industry Amid Budget Uncertainty
March 12, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter pledged today that the Pentagon will not allow a $46 billion cut in spending and uncertainty over future funding to keep it from focusing on challenges facing the nation even though the current fiscal situation will lead to “perverse, unsafe and wasteful consequences.” (continued)

Sequestration Pinch Includes Tuition Assistance Suspension
March 12, 2013 – Though budget woes led the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force to suspend their tuition assistance programs and the Navy continues to consider its options, the program is important to the Defense Department and to service members, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

Sequestration Will Affect Programs, Readiness
March 12, 2013 – The Defense Department will see effects to long-term military readiness and support programs such as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors under sequestration’s fiscal constraints, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. (continued)

What to Expect From the Federal Fiscal Fallout
March 11, 2013 – With no alternative plan emerging in Washington, D.C., $85 billion in automatic 2013 federal spending cuts are set to kick in on March 1, and the government's response will affect the income of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, contractors and their employees. (continued)

Furloughs Can Begin April 26, DOD Comptroller Says
March 11, 2013 – Unless Congress acts to end sequestration, furloughs for Defense Department civilian employees can begin April 26, the department’s comptroller said here today. (continued)

Although no laughing matter to the military community, the sequestration may find us
being creative with our personal finances as well.

Army, Marines Stop New Tuition Assistance Enrollments

March 8, 2013 – Budget problems have forced the Army and Marine Corps to cancel the tuition assistance program, service officials said today. (continued)

Schools to announce sequestration impact next week - Stars & Stripes Article
March 6, 2013 - Students attending Department of Defense Dependents Schools should learn the impact of government funding cuts within a few days, officials said Thursday. (continued)

Sequestration to Affect DOD Schools, Commissaries
March 4, 2013 – Civilian personnel at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and the Defense Commissary Agency will be affected by sequestration, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

Sequestration ‘Wrong, Unfair, Not Smart,” President Says
Feb. 26, 2013 – Automatic spending cuts set to take effect this week “are wrong,” President Barack Obama said today during a visit to a shipbuilding company in Virginia. (continued)

Sequestration Poses Long-term Danger to DOD
Feb. 25, 2013 – Though little will change immediately if deep across-the-board spending cuts trigger March 1, the long-term changes will be disastrous for the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

If Sequestration Triggers, Furloughs Begin in Late April

Feb. 20, 2013 – If sequestration is triggered next week, unpaid furloughs for civilian Defense Department employees will start in late April, Pentagon officials said here today. (continued)

Find more Relevant News for the Military Family

MilitaryAvenue's Reading Room

Panetta Issues Message to DOD Workforce on Sequestration
Feb. 20, 2013 – With major, across-the-board defense spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today issued a message to the Defense Department workforce. (continued)

Sequestration Could Delay Redeployment for Soldiers in Afghanistan
Feb. 15, 2013 – The lack of an appropriations bill coupled with sequestration could eventually cause soldiers to be delayed in their redeployment home from Afghanistan, the Army's top officer said. (continued)

Sequestration Would Demonstrate Failure of Resolve
Feb. 14, 2013 – If Congress fails to de-trigger the sequestration mechanism in budget law that will impose across-the-board defense spending cuts March 1, it could demonstrate to allies and enemies that the United States lacks the resolve, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said here today. (continued)

Sequestration ‘Wolf’ Eats at Nation’s Readiness, Carter Says
Feb. 13, 2013 – “The wolf is at the door,” Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told members of the House Armed Services committee today during testimony on the effects of sequestration – major, across-the-board spending cuts that will take effect March 1 unless Congress finds an alternative. (continued)

Chairman Outlines Sequestration’s Dangers
Feb. 13, 2013 – Sequestration will force a drawdown “more difficult and decidedly different” than any other in the nation’s history, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today. (continued)

Sequestration Would Have ‘Devastating’ Effects
Feb. 13, 2013 – Sequestration and a yearlong continuing resolution would significantly hinder the National Guard’s ability to protect and defend the homeland, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. (continued)

Service Chiefs Describe Sequestration Worries
Feb. 13, 2013 – The Joint Chiefs of Staff joined Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey today in describing to the House Armed Services Committee the effects sequestration will have on the services. (continued)

Sequestration Would Impact Army Readiness
Feb. 12, 2013 – Furloughs, budget cuts and curtailment of training would significantly impact Army readiness if the billions of dollars in spending cuts triggered by sequestration are allowed to take place March 1, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno told lawmakers Tuesday. (continued)

Service Chiefs Detail Sequestration Consequences
Feb. 12, 2013 – Top officers from all of the military services today predicted dire consequences if looming automatic, across-the-board spending cuts are allowed to take effect, and they urged the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to do all in their power to stop the process. (continued)

Some Notable Opinion Pieces:

By the way this guy is an idiot...
Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade Of War - Huffington Post
January 30, 2013 - For more than a decade, Congress and the Pentagon have lavished money on the nation's 1.3 million active-duty troops and their families. Salaries and benefits soared far above civilian compensation, military bases and housing were refurbished, support services like day care, family counseling and on-base college courses were expanded. (continued)

... and in response
An Open Letter to Civilians and Mr. Wood - Army Wife Network's Loving A Soldier
March 12, 2013 - Since this whole open letter thing seems to be the way to communicate nowadays on social media, I thought I would give it a try. I feel compelled to write to you because of an article that came to my attention this morning from Mr. Wood for the Huffington Post. (continued)

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Last updated 3/13/2013

“Mondays in My Garden”: Four Easy Ways to Save Money when starting your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Leanne Kocsis) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:38:00 +0000

There are a few blogs that I just love. Household 6 Diva is one of them. Ann Marie is a down to earth Army spouse recently relocated from Germany to Texas and there are so many times that I think, "Wow, would we be good friends if our lives had ever crossed."

She started a series called "Mondays in My Garden". Be sure to read her inaugural post here: Welcome to “Mondays in My Garden”

Ah... my garden. Just the thought of it has my heart smiling. Yesterday it was 72 degrees out in NE Ohio. The back door was open all day. The front door was filled with sunshine. Smiles, laughs, giggles could be heart throughout the neighborhood. (Didn't know you could hear a smile? I know exactly what they sound like!)

I sat on my deck, hands in the "mud", filling cups with dirt, setting filled cups on seed trays, wetting the dirt with warm water, putting one tiny seed in each cup, and finally putting the plastic seed tray lid on each tray. When I got into bed last night, I /fell/ into bed. Such a good feeling!

However, it's mid March in Ohio. Snow is in the forecast for Wednesday. Therefore, right now my garden is in my kitchen, snug and warm on a shelf-unit with wheels which can move out of the way if necessary, up against our warm glass-deck door.

Find ideas for Reusing, Repurposing and Recycling:

Earth Day, Every Day

This year I'm beginning to appreciate the cost-savings of gardening. I have been herb & vegetable gardening for almost ten years now and so have grown to appreciate the investment that it takes to get it all started. If you are thinking of undertaking a garden here are four easy ways to save a little money.

Four Easy Ways to Save Money when starting your Garden:

Grow your own plants form seed. It is a bit of work but it's fun work to watch seeds turn to plants and in the long run you get a lot more bang for your buck by buying a packet of seeds then plants that are already started for you at a nursery
Save those cups. Over the years I have use kids' cups from restaurants. I put a couple holes in the bottom with a sharp knife for draining. These cups are a much better size then the small 'seed started pods' I had bought several years ago. When I start veggie plants this time of year they need room to grow and they have more space in the larger cups. What else can you use? I also used larger yogurt containers, milk jugs, adult size fast food cups, planters from different plants I've bought over the years. If you clean them up after your plants are in the ground. Stack them nicely and box them up till next season you may notice quite a savings. (I know you may need to purge for a PCS so it may not always be possible to save and reuse, but even reusing for a year or two will help.)
Spread out the age of your plants. Part of my overall-garden plan this year is ONE seed per cup. Other years I have done two or three seeds per cup and then pulled the weakest looking plants. But I tell you it breaks my heart with each growing plant I have to pull. This year, however, I did one seed per cup to start with. After the seeds have started if there are cups that don't have plants yet I'll put a new seed in them at that time. This will spread out the 'age of the plants' so that I don't have 20 tomato plants giving me 100 tomatoes all on the same week. (Same idea with my milk-jug garden, as I get an empty milk-jug I plant another seed. The seeds aren't all started at the same time.)
Behold the power of a toothpick. This one might seem silly but have you ever tried to put one *tiny* basil seed in a cup? My fingers suddenly become big fat chunky useless tools when put to the task of placing one seed in a cup. If you make a toothpick slightly wet (a little spit will do, just saying) and then put a few seeds in the palm of your hand you can easily pick up a seed, one at a time. AMAZING! I'm telling you it's a game changer for me. So instead of dumping 5 or 6 seeds in a cup I can easily place ONE seed in it. This is a saver because in the long run I will have more plants, loosing less seeds to waste. (I've also saved my sanity in knowing I haven't lost all hand coordination in the process.)

What have I started so far? Tomatoes, broccoli (I've never grown broccoli before), hot peppers, sweet peppers, basil, rosemary, & marigolds (good for keeping our rabbits out of the garden). I have more in the works but I don't start my cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, sunflowers, peas, or beans indoors. They get to wait till the ground is freshly rototilled and grown right in the great outdoor dirt.

My pieces and parts of my indoor Garden Cart

How about you? Do you love to garden? What do you grow? What haven't you every grown but want to try someday?

We've blogged about Gardening many times before. Check out these posts! http://militaryblog.militaryavenue.com/search/label/Garden

- Leanne at MilitaryAvenue.com

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