If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind… Alone.  It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother or father comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other.  Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home.  Your base’s Family Support Squadron will help you with your deployment.  But the last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film.  Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again.  With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.

If you are a member or family member of the United States Military, and are interested in having very special and touching images with a patriotic edge taken of you and/or your family before a deployment or during, and at your reunion, please contact a photographer in your area now.  You will receive a substantial package as a gift in appreciation for all you have been through as a military member.  The package will always include a 4×6 album of pre-deployment images, such as a child’s hand clasped in his parent’s with the faint glimpse of a BDU sleeve, a marine in dress with his family, a sailor with his parents right before departure, or a child playing dress up in combat boots and a helmet.  The album will be sent to the deployed soldier by the photographer, at no cost to you.  Also with your package, all session fees will be waived.  Your photographer may have a designated package or other options for Operation: Love ReUnited participants at their discretion with a signed model release.

Want more information? Please visit the Operation: Love ReUnited website! You can also find them on Facebook!

Great eBook for military spouses who haven’t worked outside the home in awhile!

Do you feel that you are an almost permanent fixture in an at home business? If you’re like some, you forget that “outside” work is a reality for most people. For those people, being prepared for the j-o-b search is important but even the most well equipped people can lose out on a job opportunity because their ability, knowledge or personality don’t shine through at the right time. 100 Job Search Tips from FORTUNE 500 Recruiters, a free download and share ebook, will help readers get an idea of what job recruiters are looking for.

Download and share the 100 Free Job Tips From Fortune 500 Recruiters (9) ebook

Vets Prevail is a social entrepreneurial startup founded by Veterans of the Iraq War. Our goal is to deliver cutting-edge, evidence-based online mental health support to Veterans dealing with the difficulties of reintegration, depression, and PTSD.

Vets Prevail understands that the need for care is urgent, and the time for action is now. They’re working around the clock to get this service to every Vet in the nation.

America’s Service Members keep their country safe. Now we’ve got to help keep them safe. You can support your Veteran community by spreading the word about mental health issues today.

Find Vets Prevail on Facebook or visit their website.

Got a cause that supports the troops and/or their families? Please feel free to contact me so I can post about it!

The USPS has a program for military family members and friends to supply them with packaging materials to send packages to troops overseas, Sailors on ships, etc.

Call 1-800-610-8734 and select option #1, then #1 again. Ask them for the “Military pack.” They will send you 8 boxes, tape, packaging materials and labels. They will also give you an I.D. number so if your supply runs low, you just call them up and they’ll send you more supplies.

The materials take about four to ten days to receive. Since most places charge you for the box, tape, filler, labels and everything else – this should help save some money.

For more information on mailing items to Service Members, visit the USPS FAQ page.

WARNING: 2010 Census Cautions from the Better Business Bureau

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their  questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. – Never click on a link or open any attachments in an email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Just for your awareness on some upcoming deadlines for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s (NMCRS) Education Programs / Scholarships and Assistance.

General information go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/education.html

Go to: http://www.nmcrs.org/travers.html The Navy-Marine Corps Relief
Society’s (NMCRS) Vice Admiral E. P. Travers Loan Program (Travers Program)
provides need based financial assistance for full-time undergraduate
students.
For:  Children of Active Duty Sailors and Marines (including Reservists
while on active duty over 90 days), Children of Retired Sailors and Marines,
and Spouses of Active Duty Sailors and Marines residing within the 50 United
States. Application deadline NLT 1 March 2010.

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/boorda.html Admiral Mike Boorda Loan Program –
offers loans ranging from $500 up to $3,000 an academic year, to eligible
active duty Sailors and Marines accepted to the following programs:
. Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP), . Medical
Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP), or . Meritorious Commissioning
Program (MCP).  Application NLT 1 May 2010

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/spec-prgm.html
USS TENNESSEE (SSBN 734) Scholarship Fund (TENNESSEE), the Navy-Marine Corps
Relief Society provides need based financial assistance in the form of a
grant for the undergraduate college education of dependent children of
active duty Navy personnel who are current or former members of the USS
TENNESSEE.  Application deadline NLT 1 March 2010.

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/goldstar.html
NMCRS Gold Star Scholarship Program.  for the children and unremarried
spouses of deceased service members — Application NLT 1 March 2010
– for unremarried spouses — application NLT Two months prior to the start
of school

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/sponsors-scholarship.pdf
Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy Centennial Scholarship Program
–  The Centennial Scholarship is offered to Iraq-Afghanistan combat wounded
veterans who have an Associate Degree or equivalent credits and are pursuing
a Bachelor’s Degree or university/college courses beyond a Bachelor’s
Degree, leading to teacher licensure.  There is no deadline for this
program, you may apply at any time.

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/mcalinden.pdf
Joseph A. McAlinden Divers Scholarship
is offered specifically to Navy and Marine Corps Divers, whether active duty
or retired, and their eligible family members.  This scholarship provides
financial assistance for full-time undergraduate and graduate students, who
must be participating in one of the following areas of study:  Oceanography,
Ocean Agriculture, or Aquaculture. There is no deadline for this Program,
you may apply at any time.

Go to:  http://www.nmcrs.org/stap.html
Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) — available to spouses residing with
their active duty service member sponsor, while stationed outside the fifty
United States.  Contact local NMCRS for info and deadlines.

They say that “the only thing permanent in life is change,” and as a parent in a military family, you know that’s true. But don’t worry – while change is a part of military life, risky behavior like drugs and alcohol, doesn’t have to be.

Here’s a helpful tool to help keep your child healthy during transition periods.

A child’s teen years are always challenging, but with the addition of deployments and other common stresses of military life, they can be emotionally overwhelming. The National Military Family Association, at www.militaryfamily.org, created this resource with the help of military children to offer insight into military teens’ lives, and give those who care about them helpful tips on minimizing stress and affirming the positive aspects of military life.

Find out what teens say are the best and hardest parts about military

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top 7 Parenting Tips for Good Parenting: Bring Out the Best in you and your Kids! (parenting-success.com)
• Kids grow up fast when a parent goes to war (cnn.com)
• Campaign targets military teens’ alcohol, drug use (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (AP) [source] — Two Navy SEALs accused in the mistreatment of an Iraqi suspect in the 2004 slayings of four U.S. contractors were arraigned in military court Monday, and one SEAL said he was gratified by support from the public and some members of Congress.

The judge scheduled courts-martial next month for Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas of Blue Island, Ill. A third SEAL will be arraigned later.

The SEALs have received an outpouring of public support on the Internet, and a California congressman has led a campaign urging Defense Secretary Robert Gates to intervene. About three dozen protesters, including the mother of one of the slain contractors, stood outside the Norfolk Naval Station gate Monday morning holding signs of support.

McCabe is accused of striking the detainee in the midsection, dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard the detainee, and lying to investigators. He deferred entering a plea until his Jan. 19 trial.

McCabe told reporters he was confident he would be exonerated.

“I feel very good about it,” he said as he made his way through the crowd of supporters, shaking hands and thanking them. “The support is phenomenal. It makes us feel better, all these people being behind us.”

Huertas pleaded not guilty to charges of dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and impeding an investigation. His trial was set for Jan. 11.

“He’s been a hero — two tours of Iraq and one tour of Afghanistan — and now this is the thanks he gets,” Huertas’ civilian attorney, Monica Lombardi, told reporters after the arraignment.

Military attorneys were not available for comment.

McCabe and Huertas both deferred a decision on whether to be tried by a military judge or jury. Lombardi said they couldn’t choose because they still have not received the prosecution’s evidence.

The men could have accepted a nonjudicial reprimand but wanted to go to trial to clear their names, Lombardi said. A reprimand could have resulted in a loss of rank; if they are convicted at trial, they could get up to a year in jail, a bad conduct discharge, or a loss of rank or pay.

McCabe declined to talk to reporters about specifics of the case. His father, Marty McCabe of Las Vegas, said all his son did was his job.

“It just turns my stomach to have these people send him over there and put him in harm’s way, and then they don’t have his back when he gets home,” Marty McCabe said.

Military officials have cautioned against a public rush to judgment, saying a true picture will emerge when all the evidence is heard. However, more than 45,000 people have signed onto a Facebook page supporting the SEALs, and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said in a letter to Gates last week that the prosecution was an overreaction by the military.

The charges stem from an alleged assault after the SEALs captured Ahmed Hashim Abed in early September. Abed is believed to be connected to the killings of four Blackwater security guards who were protecting a convoy when they were attacked by Iraqi insurgents. Their burned corpses were dragged through the city, and two of them were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River.

Donna Zovko of Cleveland, whose son Jerry Zovko was among the slain contractors, said the prosecution of the SEALs who captured Abed was “very heartbreaking.”

“For these young Navy SEALs, I am very thankful and hopeful that they will be OK,” Zovko said.

Along with McCabe and Huertas, Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe of Yorktown, Va., is charged with dereliction of duty and making a false official statement. His arraignment has not been scheduled.

The SEALs, based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Norfolk, are not in custody.

Related Articles: SEALs assault case goes to court, Navy SEALs Accused of Abusing Detainee

With many active-duty military fathers and mothers not home while fighting for our country, Sears is again calling on America to step up and say “thanks” to the families of our troops this holiday season. As part of its long-standing commitment to the military, and their families, Sears is kicking off the second year of its Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry. Adding to that, the retailer is also introducing its new Jobs for Vets program, which will provide job mentoring and placement to returning military veterans and their families.

Last year, the Heroes at Home Wish Registry helped thousands of military families. For many, the wishes were simple and practical including everything from warm clothes to new toys for their children to a Christmas tree and other holiday decorations for their homes. In fact, many veteran families that were helped by last year’s efforts have shared their stories to encourage customers to donate to the program this year.

The following video features Frantz from Virginia Beach, VA thanks Sears’ Heroes at Home for selecting his family to participate in the Heroes at Home Wish Registry program. He describes how memorable his holiday was last year!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Another video features a Sears executive sharing his experience about how it felt to meet the military families that the Wish Registry helped.

This fall more than 20,000 active members of the military registered to participate in the Heroes at Home Wish Registry. Now through Dec. 31, customers can visit www.Sears.com/heroesathome and read stories as well as donate to the Heroes at Home Wish Registry. Upon making a donation, customers can include a note to the families and wish them happy holidays. Donations made to the Wish Registry are not tax deductible and will be used to purchase Sears gift cards that will be equally distributed to all registered families.

Ps. My thoughts go out to my military spouse sisters & brothers who are spending this holiday season without their hero’s.