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Birds and Military Kids – the Split S Acrobatics and “Winged Adventures”
“… the tiny bird executed a perfect “Split S” acrobatic maneuver and dove between the railing posts.” Our military kids are located all over this great nation thanks to their parents service in the National Guard, Reserves or Recruiting Services. Some have parents that are retired with 20+ years of service or are disabled medical retirees that settled down in a new area for employment or returned to their roots. Others have a parent or parents that are deployed and they headed out to be near grandparents, etc. They come in all sizes and shapes; backgrounds and dispositions but all know when they are loved. Military kids are so vulnerable…
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Military Spouse Employment – Critical to Quality of Life for Many
…by making it easier to PCS your JOB in addition to your family and household goods! As many of you may know, the month of May is Military Appreciation Month! This year DoD began an effort to make it “31 Days of Military Spouse Appreciation” as well; to highlight their efforts to help with spouse employment. It is not a surprise to the military community that the economy, the health insurance issues for corporations and small businesses and career transportability issues have made it harder for spouses to find jobs in new areas of the country after a PCS. MilitaryAvenue Pinterest Spouse Employment ResourcesWhen the DoD Blogger Roundtable met with…
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Career Road-map for the Military Spouse
a Department of Defense Roundtable Maps are good. Especially when you are in unknown territory. You can reference them as you plan a trip across the country, or glance at a map (perhaps your GPS) as you make your way across town. We need maps unless we want to wander… aimlessly. As a military spouse we often find our way into new territory. A PCS (again), a deployment (again), a family to raise, a spouse who is quite frankly married to the _______ (fill in your branch). When we are plotting out this course called ‘life’ and we want a career to be a part of that it often…
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Commissaries Proposed Closing around the US
Updated note: I just read an interesting article over at Military Spouse Magazine confirming that Commissaries are not on the chopping block and the original quoted article added a line that proposals to cut commissary benefits would have to make it through Congress and the President, which they noted would be difficult. Perhaps, it’s the mad and loud voices of the military family that can keep our military-benefits, like the commissary, from meeting the chopping block. So now it’s time to let them know how we feel about raising TRICARE fees 100% to 500% for our deserving military retirees, as well as the importance of our military-benefits, like the commissary! Original…
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Inspiration for Veterans Day > A Critically Wounded Hero and His Wife Speak Up
As Veterans Day approaches my thoughts (and I am guessing many Americans as well) frequently go to images of World War II veterans, local veteran recognition, parades, corporate efforts for veteran employment announcements and images of Arlington National Cemetery. CPT Edward Klein and wife Jessica See below for photo creditThe wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created a new focus on veterans and one that often (thankfully) includes the wounded heroes who will bear the scars, invisible injuries and lost limbs of war. Captain Edward Klein, US Army, a triple amputee due to an IED attack in Afghanistan, and his wife Jessica joined the DoD Blogger Roundtable to discuss their…
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New and Old Adventures for the Military Family
Old adventure!A military PCS is always an adventure! In fact, “military lifestyle” is a synonym for adventure. Finding new fun things to do in your new community after a PCS can be challenging for a military family! Heading outdoors, new schools, new jobs, getting out the front door, off the installation, exploring social opportunities, meeting new friends, visiting local highlights, browsing new malls, walking new trails and playing on new park equipment can be the best of times. But last week I had the greatest time exploring an adventure from the past! Charleston, South Carolina was a wonderful place to live but the summer’s were hot and humid and each…
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A change of view, a new perspective
Check out this handsome guy. He is the definition of Enthusiasm.Brand new glasses and he is seeing the world a little bit clearer. But let me tell you how EXCITED he is about his new view. His excitement about his glasses is quite contagious. You can’t help but smile as he talks about no one recognizing him at school tomorrow, who is going to comment, how he can. not. wait. for a new school day. A little chuckle wells up as he asks for another wipe to clean his glasses. And as he says, “WOW, I can read the clock now!” you know that change is good. How about your new…
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New beginnings! Are you ready?
The new school year, a PCS this summer, a new job/employment, a deployment return or departure, a new or revitalized faith, a new workout routine, a wedding, a birth, a health crisis … all can be new beginnings for the military community. So how do you help yourself during new “stuff”? Remember the Old! It gives us strength to remember what helped us in the past. Looking at old pictures is a great way to enjoy old friends, family times, previous assignments, etc. More important though is the support emotionally and physically we get from the routines that we created to cope with the military lifestyle. The new school…
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A Gold Star Mom Speaks Up! DoD Blogger Roundtable
Staff Sergeant Carter See Photo Credit BelowStaff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter will receive the Congressional Medal of Honor on Monday, August 26th for heroism at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan on Oct. 3, 2009. There were eight soldiers from Carter’s unit killed during a ferocious battle that day. Pfc. Stephan Mace was one of them and his mother, Vanessa Adelson, has chosen to speak up to the American public about this story to highlight the sacrifices that are being made by the military community. The Gold Star community often serves quietly as Leanne noted earlier this week in her blog, “The Gold Star Family and Our American Flag“. Vanessa Adelson wants…
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Never Leave Phone at Home > First Veteran “Hackathon”
You might forget your wallet or purse but will “Never Leave Phone at Home” Chris Norton, AT&T Are you a Mobile APP military person > Veteran, spouse, active, reserve, guard or family member? This weekend is the first AT&T Mobile APP “Hackathon” for Veterans and they are going to build mobile applications for just the military community! All within in 24 hours. Ready, set, go at veteran-themed mobile app development contest, or hackathon. I spoke with Chris Norton, Senior Program Manager, Military Talent Attraction (and a US Army Reserve Major) and Alex Donn, senior marketing manager for the AT&T Developer Program and the mastermind behind AT&T’s hackathon program. Chris was…
