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Happy to be Home! DoDLive Blogger Roundtable
Photo Credit: Real Warrior Campaign“Happy to be Home”Normally you start a blog with the beginning and work your way to the end; today, I started with the closing comments of Master Sergeant Aaron Tippett, US Army. The Blogger Roundtable had the opportunity to interview and listen to the comments of an American hero and how he dealt with the challenges of PTSD. Listen up military spouses! He responded to his spouse after she saw the cumulative effects of multiple deployments. Stay in touch with your spouse! His advise for spouses was, “be there, listen, be supportive,” but don’t push it, each soldier is different. After his wife encouraged him to…
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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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May is Military Appreciation Month
“… being part of the military tradition and all of the hoopla!” This month is Military Appreciation Month and while it highlights an opportunity for government leaders, civilians, neighbors, extended family and businesses to thank our men and women in uniform, their families and veterans; we should take a moment to appreciate ourselves too! The military lifestyle is tough and we share a unique perspective on world events. Yes, we have/had jobs where our families watched CNN or other news to see where we might be going next. How many prayers have gone up for our safety, protection and success? This month is a great opportunity to reflect on what…
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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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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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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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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…
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Universities that Support our Veterans
I read a recent article about two universities that ‘get it’. Rutgers University and the University of Arizona; The Lumina Foundation highlighted them in their recent magazine, you can read more here: Lumina Foundation Features Two Colleges for Their Work Serving Student Veterans; America Needs More Vets with Degrees to Meet Attainment Needs Just think, only three years ago Rutgers didn’t have any type of Veterans Program and now they are receiving national recognition. It goes to show you don’t have to jump through hoops to make it happen you just need to make a plan and stick to it! I love support like this for our Veterans and I certainly…
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3 Must Take Avenues for the the Entrepreneurial Military Spouse
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…
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Redux! Happy Military Spouse Day! Let’s Talk Jobs for Spouses > DoD Blogger Roundtable
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…
