2020 MF AUGUST

I almost quit. It had been more than a decade since I took my first college course and I couldn’t see the point of continuing. I had racked up massive student loan debt, while being stuck in a painful cycle of registering for classes then dropping them because life was too busy. The reality was that I forgot why I even started in the first place and the guilt over spending our family’s money on my degree became overwhelming.

But a conversation with a friend put things in perspective. She asked, why did you start and what will be the consequence of not finishing?

Attending college as a nontraditional student, with kids and a husband in a constant state of deployment, is not quite the same as living on campus and only worrying about waking up for class. I had experience in both. My pursuit of a degree has become a constant in my life; the thing that always eluded me.

With one year to go until completion, I had to re-prioritize because it would have been a

massive waste of time and money if I quit. Not to mention, what message was I sending myself if I owned failure as my only option?

As students head back to class this fall, everything continues to look different with a pandemic invading every area of our lives. If you are like me and have some goal hovering over your head, remember your why—like Marine veteran Chris Molina who embarked on his college journey after an unexpected injury changed his military career plans.

We tell his story on page 14 in conjunction with a brand-new education guide addressing many of the barriers I faced above: scholarships to offset the need for loans, programs specifically designed to make a course load easier, and tips for students finding themselves in a virtual classroom. Download the toolkit from our website at https://militaryfamilies.com/ militarystudentsguide then reset your strategy for getting that degree, certification or license done.

Jimmy

Stephen

Lila Quintiliani

Bree Carroll

Norris

Ruiz

Stephanie Montague

Susan Malandrino

CONTENTS

Air Force spouse paddles her

by Andrea Downing Peck By Jimmy Norris

Military Families Magazine by AmeriForce Media, LLC, is published 12 times a year for active duty service members and their families. Copies are available through participating family service centers, relocation offices, transition offices, base lodges, libraries, daycare centers, MWR activities and other locations by request. Unit distribution requests can be made online at www.AmeriForceMedia.com/ mf/print-magazines/

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Military Families Magazine is published by AmeriForce Media, LLC, Bloomington, Indiana, a private company. Information and advertisements in this publication do not constitute endorsement by any branch of the military or the Department of Defense. No part of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of the publishers. AmeriForce Media, LLC, the publishers, and publisher’s agents make no endorsement of any advertised services or products and none should be inferred.

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Marine reels in success from off-duty charter business

By Stephen Ruiz

The first time John Cruise III and Steve Turner discovered they shared a connection beyond fishing, they were surprisingly on the Atlantic Ocean.

Turner booked Cruise’s company, Pelagic Hunter Sportfishing, for a charter, and as they fished for mahi, the talk flowed freely. During the course of their conversation, they learned something else.

Cruise and Turner are Marines.

“He was very assertive and very structured and very good at what he did, and that aligned perfectly with me,’’ Turner said.

Cruise, a major at Camp Lejeune, is in his 22nd year of military service. For 12 of those years, he has run a small charter-boat business that caught the largest fish at the renowned Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament earlier this year in North Carolina.

Cruise captained a 35T Contender boat that hauled in a 495.2-pound marlin.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities to build this business and to continue to work and to transition toward retirement,’’ Cruise said. “But there are challenges that come with that. The Marine Corps job is my main effort. It’s my most important job.’’

Cruise, 47, got a late start as a Marine.

The Toms River, New Jersey-native moved to Florida and tried his hand at roofing, fixing cars and being a handyman. He studied to become a mason but realized that wasn’t his calling.

Cruise enlisted when he was 25 years old.

“I was trying to get him into the Marine Corps when he was 18, 19, but he wanted to do his own thing, so I just let him go,’’ John Cruise Jr.,

a Vietnam War veteran, said of his son. “... His drill instructor says to me, ‘Mr. Cruise, your son is like an Energizer bunny. He does not stop. I can’t keep up with him.’’’

The younger Cruise said he was a gunnery sergeant before becoming a chief warrant officer. He switched to the limited duty officer program.

Pelagic Hunter Sportfishing consists of four full-time employees, not counting Cruise or his wife, Jessica, a real-estate agent who answers calls and relays messages to her husband. Cruise tries to respond during lunchtime or on his way to and from his job at the Marines.

Two other men run charters for Cruise, including Capt. Riley Adkins.

“He’s very good at reading people, and if he wants it done, you better have it done before he walks on the boat,’’ Adkins said. “I’ve baited for him many a day, and if it is not down to the ‘T’ of what he wants, you’re going to hear about it.’’

Adkins and second mate Kyle Kirkpatrick assisted Cruise during Big Rock. The size of their crew and boat (35 feet) was much smaller than most of the more than 200 other boats in the field.

“John approaches fishing, and especially tournament fishing, like nobody I have ever seen,’’ said Kirkpatrick, who served a decade in the Marines. “He approaches it and treats it just like a mission, so he does all of his planning, all of his preparation ahead of time. You can absolutely tell when you work on John Cruise’s boat that you’re working for a Marine officer. Very meticulous. Perfectionist.’’

Cruise’s father has fished his entire

Marine Maj. Cruise (left) pictured with his father, John Jr. Photo courtesy of the Cruise family.

life, but Cruise took it a step further.

Whether it was surf fishing, freshwater fishing or fly fishing, the boy seldom returned empty-handed. It was not unusual for Cruise to call his father, breathless with excitement, alerting him to a freshly discovered hot spot.

“In his bedroom on his wall, he has nothing but tuna, because I did a lot of tuna fishing, too,’’ the elder Cruise said. “I had tuna on the wall, mahi, all kinds of different kinds of fish, and he would keep them in his bedroom on his wall, all pictures of all kinds of fish. He was a real fisherman.’’

Said his son: “We catch a lot of fish, and we have a good time doing it.’’

Stories of just how good are just below the surface.

Cruise mentions, almost matter of factly, how he has caught several bluefin tuna in the 600- to 700-pound range. One even weighed nearly 850 pounds, the largest fish Cruise said he ever caught. The day before Big Rock, John Cruise Jr. mentioned his son caught two or three swordfish, all weighing at least 150 pounds.

And despite some doubters, Turner insists Cruise’s quick thinking once helped him land an 84-pound wahoo.

“He’s a student of the ocean,’’ said Turner, who is retiring from the Marines this summer after 24 years. “That man studies the ocean harder than any human I’ve ever met — waater temperatures, water breaks, depth, species, migration, patterns, historical data.’’

Starting a business while on active duty is challenging, Cruise said.

“You have to put a lot of money and energy and effort upfront, and it took us about three solid years before we really got on our feet and started … about three years of really breaking even,’’ Cruise said.

“If you’re going to open a business, make sure you love it and you have passion for it and reach out to the people who are very successful and have done it before. Try to pick their brain to see what works the best.’’

And, most of all, evolve.

Cruise said that is crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. He estimated more than 20 charters were canceled in April; a full-day charter can cost $1,200 or more, according to his company’s website.

“We’ll definitely have some impacts this year,’’ Cruise said. “It slowed the business down in regard to summer and some of the expectations that we were expecting for this upcoming season.’’

Business has rebounded since then, though, Cruise said.

The father of three intends to retire from the military “in the next year or so,’’ thus freeing time to devote to his business and more tournaments.

Until then, there are more fish to catch.

“I have the ability to make adjustments, work hard, prepare and apply those techniques,’’ Cruise said. “I can give the same exact spread to --- pick a captain -- and he may never know how to apply it the way we do. You’re constantly making adjustments and changes. It’s a really cool thing to do, and I love it.’’

Follow https://www.facebook. com/PelagicHunterSportsfishing for updates on Maj. Cruise’s business, located near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The crew of the Pelagic Hunter II took the top spot in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

OFFERS ASSISTANCE FOR

RELIEF ORGANIZATION LEARNING REMOTE COSTS

By AmeriForce Staff

A new program offsets costs associated with remote education for military kids.

Army Emergency Relief announced the financial assistance program earlier this year after evaluating the needs of Army families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. It provides up to $500 per family to defray the costs of supplies purchased for students in K-12. The program is retroactive to March, when many schools started going offline.

Examples of items covered under this program are “traditional educational materials such as pens, paper, and books as well as educational technology including computers, tablets, and software,” according to the AER website. Assistance may be provided as a zero-interest loan, grant, or combination.

Retired Lt. Gen. Raymond Mason, director of AER, said the idea for the program came after a discussion with partners from sister relief societies about COVID-19 support for military families. Eligible soldiers can apply for assistance directly on the AER website.

“We have an online application and that’s the first place to start. Once we work the assistance case — usually 12-24 hours, depending on how complicated it is and several other situations — we then send an electronic funds transfer from our bank account directly to the soldier’s bank account,” he said.

Soldiers from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve who have been mobilized in support of COVID-19 are also eligible to apply, but they must go through their chain of command.

“The chain of command can validate their status, as in they are mobilized in support of COVID-19, and then work it back in through the electronic process,” Mason said.

All of the new COVID-19 related programs created by AER — of which there are roughly three dozen — will exist at least until the end of the year, Mason said, and new programs are constantly being added as needs come to light. To date, AER has distributed $632,000 in COVID-19 assistance*, and Mason hopes more soldiers will request support.

“What keeps me up at night is that there is some need out there and it isn’t coming to us, either because of a communication problem or they are experiencing something that we haven’t thought of. We’ll always look at exceptions to a policy, so just because you go to our website and it isn’t there, don’t let that stop you. Come on in. …,” Mason said.

The most common ranks requesting AER assistance are E5s and E6s, but soldiers of any rank are eligible. And Mason is aware that service members can be hesitant to ask for help, which is why AER put a direct access program in place almost four years ago to achieve multiple objectives.

“It [the direct access program] allows soldiers to come to AER without chain of command involvement. It was really two reasons: One, it was the stigma, that survey data supports about asking for help, and secondly it was to get soldiers to come to us and not go to predatory lenders.

“Asking for help is a sign of strength.”

4 WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR HOME FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

By Jessica Manfre — SPONSORED

August is a busy month for military families. It typically brings PCS season to a close and military kids are getting ready to head back to school. To ensure a smooth transition from the summer break, organizing your home will set you up for success.

One of the first things you can do, according to seasoned Army spouse Maria Reed, is set up a command center. Reed is the founder and CEO of the television series “Moving With The Military”. Makeovers and organization tips are showcased in most episodes because she says it helps military families feel at home.

“I’m not sure who coined the phrase, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place,’ but they were onto something. Having an organized home creates a sense of peace,” Reed shared.

Being organized has a proven link to reduced stress and sleep improvement.

Reed says every time she and her family PCS, they immediately set up their own command center. She describes this as the space with the calendar, important documents, and keys to organizing the family.

“We always designate an area for what we call the command center. We have had command centers in garages, laundry rooms, storage

closets. It’s the place where we know everything will flow from here. You may not have it all together in all areas of your life, but if you always have a handle on your command center — you are heading in the right direction,” she explained.

When you set up your calendar, try color coding each family member. Once you have your family’s work, school and extracurricular activities mapped out for the month, you are on your way. After your command center is established, here are a few tips for organizing the rest of your home to be ready for your kids to go back to school.

Create a file organizer

Hang a wire basket near your command center with a file for each family member. Use this to keep track of to-do’s, homework, permission slips, and all the things that need your review.

Backpack central

Buy some hooks and establish a convenient and out of the way spot for your kids to hang their backpacks. You’ll never have to run around in the morning searching if they are always in their spots.

Homework station

Create a space in your home for your kids to complete their homework. If you are unable to set aside a space, you can easily buy a plastic bin to fill with all the items they will need for completing their homework.

Snack drawer

Buy snacks in bulk and individually portion them into small sandwich bags. When your kids come home, they can readily grab those independently instead of telling you how hungry they are while you try to get situated.

Military life is challenging, but having an organized home makes going back to school a breeze.

What steps do you take to prepare your household for this busy time of year?

By Andrea Downing Peck

What do you get when you combine a 25-year career in finance, passion for yoga, love of the ocean and an overseas military move? A surprising recipe for entrepreneurial success.

Air Force spouse Christine Considine, a former mortgage company executive, today is the owner of Salty SUP n Kayak and Boat Adventure on Lake Medina in Texas as well as OM Your Yoga and Expedition Yogi. But her career pivot from corporate bigwig to lifestyle entrepreneur began 7,500 miles away in Okinawa, Japan.

When the Considines arrived in Okinawa in 2015, Christine decided to step back from corporate America

to help her then-15-year-old autistic son adjust to their overseas duty station. While networking to get her son services he needed, Considine realized there was a void in activities available to military families outside the confines of Kadena Air Base.

“Everything was on base and there were those who just needed to get out of their bubble every once in a while,” says Considine, a long-time watersport and yoga enthusiast.

“There are a lot of fun things you can see and do, but if you’re in a country where most people aren’t speaking the same language as you, you can get feeling isolated.”

Considine’s solution was to open Salty SUP n Kayak, offering paddle boarding and kayaking excursions outside Kadena Marina, and an off-base studio specializing in hot yoga and aerial yoga. As a military spouse, opening businesses in Japan meant navigating both local and military licensing requirements and regulations.

“There was a lot of red tape, but I figured out how to do it,” says Considine, who returns to Okinawa each year to offer courses on operating a business in Japan as well as designing yoga workshops.

A native Floridian, Considine tapped personal experience when launching Salty SUP n Kayak, but she turned to uber-successful yoga-studio owners for coaching when developing the business model for her studio. She also took advantage of the Small Business Administration’s Boots to Business Program . By the end of year one, both ventures were profitable.

By year three, Considine was turning the page on her husband Adam’s new military orders. If starting multiple overseas ventures was challenging, letting go was harder. The yoga principle of “nonattachment” ultimately helped Considine focus on the journey, not the outcome. She closed Salty SUP n Kayak’s Okinawa location and sold the Okinawa Yoga Studio to Marine Corps veteran Tammy Borsini, one of her lead teachers. As part of the deal, Considine, a registered yoga teacher, returns to The Okinawa Studio each year to train instructors.

“Just because we moved doesn’t mean I can’t travel, be active with clients, or keep those relationships that already existed,” Considine says. “I soon realized with technology, travel and social media anything is possible.”

In the Texas Hill Country, Considine has launched a resort-based rendition of Salty SUP n Kayak. In tune with her new clientele, she recently added a party barge to her lineup of watersport activities and yoga. Despite being shut down for 30 days in April by the COVID-19 quarantine, the stateside-version of Salty SUP n Kayak has continued to flourish.

“It’s all about changing with the times. I had to figure out how to serve people through the pandemic.” explains Considine, who continued generating income by creating new protocols for equipment rentals, adding boat tours as the state reopened and teaching yoga online.

“This is our first summer of providing everything we’re doing and we’ve already hired our first employee,” she added.

Buoyed by endless enthusiasm for what she does, Considine would like more military spouses to turn their passions into paychecks.

“It just takes research on what it is you’re wanting to do and then asking the right questions of people who are already doing it,” she says, adding that base spouse clubs, welcome seminars and other activities provide built-in networking opportunities.

While the military lifestyle creates challenges for entrepreneurs,

Considine is proof dreams can become reality.

“Find a way to make it work,” Considine urges. “Think outside the box. Just because you might be at one place for a limited amount of time…make the best use of your time. And, use social media to help you grow and share what you love to do.”

GI Bill

MyCAA, updates

By Natalie Gross

Military spouses looking to boost their career prospects through education or a workforce credential now have better access to scholarship opportunities.

The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship, or MyCAA, has traditionally been available to spouses of junior enlisted service members looking to advance their training in portable career fields. And now, more fields than ever will qualify.

“What we heard from military spouses ... is that jobs work differently today,” said Lee Kelley, director for military community support programs at the Defense Department. “Careers that maybe didn’t used to be portable, now they have the ability to move from duty station to duty station.”

The update stems from the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that called for changes to MyCAA, a program under the Military OneSource Spouse Education and Career Opportunities division (SECO) providing a host of free resources for all military spouses.

MyCAA offers $4,000 scholarships for spouses to pursue an associate degree, license or certification if their service members are in the E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 pay grades. (Members of the National Guard and reserves must be on Title 10 orders for their spouses to qualify.)

Health and human services, business finance and administration, animal services, education, and information

technology are traditionally the top programs spouses pursue with these funds, Kelley said.

Previously, if a career field did not meet the MyCAA definition of “portable,” a spouse could seek a waiver, and these were often approved if there was a compelling case, Kelley said. The recent changes eliminate the need for waivers, however, though education and training programs still need to get approved by a MyCAA coach.

“It’s putting the power in the hands of the spouse,” she said.

Another recent change to MyCAA allows spouses to finish their education plans even if their spouse gets promoted out of the qualifying ranks.

The NDAA also called for Coast Guard spouses to get MyCAA access, but the Department of Homeland Security and DOD have not yet worked out a funding agreement, Kelley said.

Another education benefit available to military families is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Service members can use it while on active duty, provided they have served at least 90 days — or transfer it to their dependents while still in uniform.

The top three fields beneficiaries pursue are business, management and information technology, said Charmain Bogue, executive director of education service for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the cost of in-state tuition at public institutions and, currently, up to $24,476.79 at private institutions for service members who qualify for the full education benefit, meaning they have served at least 36 months on active duty, with some exceptions.

The benefit also comes with a housing stipend for users not receiving a basic housing allowance from DOD.

These housing stipends were briefly in question earlier this year, as the coronavirus pandemic saw many schools switching to virtual instruction. Ordinarily, onlineonly students receive a housing stipend equal to the national average that can be much lower for students attending in-person classes, depending on the area. Yet Congress has passed a law that will offer students the same rates they would have received for traditional brick-and-mortar programs, even as schools move online.

“It does bring up a larger conversation about online vs in residence, right?” Bogue said. “This has been a topic of interest for a long time now but COVID-19 has really highlighted the concerns and the difference between a student who decides to go online versus someone who decides to go to a brick and mortar. The workload is still the same, they’re just taking it in a

different form or a different avenue.”

Students will also continue to be paid for a time if their schools close, even temporarily. Bogue said the VA will be checking in with schools mid-fall to see if these exceptions need to continue into next spring.

Visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ to learn about eligibility and transfer options.

Keep your education on track, wherever your family is stationed.

Save time and money with Purdue University Global’s military spouse benefits, and complete your degree from virtually anywhere. With our leave of absence for military families,* you can stop and start your studies where you left off, without retaking classes— great news if your family is going through a PCS.

You may also be eligible for a special tuition reduction,† transfer credit recognition,‡ and a 3-week introductory trial §

By Jimmy Norris

Chris Molina’s days look much different from when he was on active duty with the Marines. The stay-at-home dad is a selfdescribed leadership enthusiast who has spent the last few years speaking at college campuses, running a podcast, and more recently, publishing a book tailored to veterans.

Molina grew up in the town of East Chicago, Indiana. He enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after high school and spent seven years on active duty in supply administration and operations.

His initial plan, he said, was to make a 20-year career in the military. Unfortunately, a knee injury in his sixth year of service forced a change of plans.

Following the end of his service, Molina attended Purdue University where he majored in management and minored in philosophy. His degree landed him a job with John Deere in the company’s supply management development program. He left that job two-and-a-half-years later to pursue an opportunity to inspire veterans in the civilian sector.

“Honestly, they’re [John Deere] a phenomenal company and I tell people I kind of wish they had treated me poorly because that would have made my decision very easy,” Molina said. “But I left because I found my passion.”

That passion is helping people become better leaders and better professionals; something he talks about at length in his book.

He was inspired to publish “I’m in a Leadership Role, Now What?” because of two problems he’s seen among college students and would-be leaders as he’s conducted his podcast and participated in various speaking engagements.

The first problem, he says, is ambitious college students and graduates are being told they need to differentiate themselves, but they don’t know how. He said the short answer to that problem is they need to seek out leadership roles. Even then, he adds, they are often unprepared.

“No one is telling these college students how to lead when they first get that first leadership role and because they’re not taught how to lead they’re shooting from the hip,”

Molina said. “They’re getting bad habits, and they’re also getting a bad taste in their mouths because as we all know, anybody that’s been in a leadership role, it’s not easy.”

The second problem happens a few years after students graduate when they get their first supervisor roles.

“They get their first leadership role where they’re a manager and they’re managing people. And that is when they start buying books on leadership, that’s when they start going to leadership seminars and conferences and that’s a problem because, why we wait that late to start teaching leadership to the managers and supervisors in our entire society is beyond me, and that’s something I’m trying to change. And those two things are the reasons why I speak to an audience, whether its college students or seasoned professionals, and I ask the question ‘please raise your hand if you’ve ever had a crappy boss in your life’. Everybody raises their hands and it doesn’t need to be that way,” he explained.

He said in the military, people are taught about leadership traits and principles. They’re exposed to people demonstrating leadership every day. But in college, students don’t always receive that kind of exposure.

He suggests college students try to take the lead on classroom projects or through part-time jobs.

“You might not be able to get into the leadership role but there are small opportunities always to take a leadership stance on something and just to take charge of a little project here or there,” he said.

Another suggestion he had, not just for younger students but also for transitioning student veterans was to get involved in campus organizations.

“There are so many student organizations and if there aren’t, because your campus is small, you can bring student organizations to your campus,” he said. “They’re always trying to expand so if you find one that you want to be on your campus you can bring it there or you can create your own.”

He said these organizations offer many leadership roles for students as well as a “safe place to fail.” He added these safe places to fail are advantageous for transitioning service members who may need to relearn some of their leadership skills.

“One thing that I’m trying to articulate that our transitioning veterans need to get over is that ego that comes with us having had life experience and having leadership experience,” he said. “So one thing that we pride ourselves on in the military is being really good at leadership. We’ve had tons of experience in it and so whenever we transition to the civilian world we think that’s naturally something that we’re going to be good at. Sometimes we are and sometimes we’re not because we try to apply the same military leadership that we had into the civilian world and it’s different. So this stage of our transition, being on college campuses, is a perfect opportunity to practice that leadership.”

Molina adds only 1% of Americans have served in the military since 2001 and reminds transitioning service members they are the ones who need to adapt, both on campus and in their new careers.

“It’s not up to the 99% of the population to understand you and to adapt to you. It’s up to us, the 1% to adapt to them,” Molina said. “When we’re at school we can look at other student leaders and become student

leaders ourselves and practice those skills while we’re at college.”

In addition to his own book, Molina recommends those with an interest in leadership to read “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” and “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” The former was written in 1989. The latter was written in 1936. Both are still in print for good reasons Molina said.

“People are still reading those books today. They each have tens of millions of books sold. And why is that?” Molina asked. “It’s because they teach the foundation of leadership and communication for the civilian world. So for any veterans that are out there, those are two classics that all successful professionals have read, and they practice.”

Are you heading back to the classroom? Check out the free 2020 Guide for Military Students, available for download at https://militaryfamilies.com/ militarystudentsguide.

* All images by Kendra P. Photography

SPOUSE LAUNCHES APP TO HELP MINORITY MILITARY MEMBERS FIND SERVICES

By Tiffany L.

Representation matters, and a Black military spouse has created a way to make it easier for active-duty minority families to find businesses that cater to their specific needs.

Jennifer Brantley, attorney and entrepreneur, wasn’t particularly excited that she and her husband, a chaplain in the Navy, had received orders to Nebraska from Atlanta, Georgia. They would be moving to a rural area that was unfamiliar.

“I looked up the house that we were moving to on Google maps and all I saw were corn fields and I’m like OK: How am I going to find the things I need?”

After 18 months, the new duty station started to grow on them. “We had our favorite areas of town that we would go and visit on the weekends. We knew where all the festivals were. I had finally found a hair stylist. At the time I had a pixie cut which you know is difficult to maintain.”

Hair care for Black women can be a tedious process. Whether it is chemically sleek or in its natural state, having certain products on

hand is a necessity, and having the option of going to a professional stylist who specializes in it is a gem. After arriving at a new location, it’s one of the first things minorities look for. There are even military minority Facebook groups where this is a prevalent and ongoing conversation.

For Brantley, this process of searching would start again after she received a text from her husband that they were moving to England.

“I’m looking and it was difficult. They don’t have Yelp or anything that is specifically for minorities because we have specific needs. Immediately I thought, how awesome it would be to have something directly at my fingertips every time that we moved. Military installations are often in rural locations and if you’re a minority, you’re hard pressed to find things that you need.”

Brantley is now making the transition easier for people like her. In April, she launched the FindMe Mobile App -- a mobile directory and social network geared toward the service member, military spouse and veteran.

Each business listed has been personally vetted and is community recommended. It means, “someone in the community has said, ‘I have been here, and the food was good and the service was good,’” says Brantley.

To begin, users choose a category — hair, health, dining, etc — and simply type in the name of a military base. FindMe will generate recommended businesses nearby. The “ASK THE TRIBE” feature allows for questions between users for clarity and suggestions. There are also guide videos in the app that link directly to YouTube for instructions on how to navigate.

Brantley’s app doesn’t only target minorities, but it can also build friendships. If you’re not a minority and have friends who are, you can use the app to help them in their search. Also, if you’re a part of a mixed family it will come in handy.

FindMe Mobile makes an already difficult journey a lot easier.

THE LESSER-KNOWN MISSION OF THE COAST GUARD’S SOLE HEAVY ICE BREAKER

By Jessica Manfre

The newest commanding officer of America’s only heavy icebreaker is no stranger to the vessel.

The Coast Guard has been conducting ice operations since 1867, with a 399-foot heavy icebreaker called the Polar Star. Its presence is vital for the continuation of scientific research in Antarctica and has conducted Operation Deep Freeze deployments annually since the ship’s reactivation in 2014. The Polar Star’s

primary objective includes breaking a channel through the fast ice to resupply the McMurdo Research Station in the Ross Sea, according to a press release. Resupply ships use the channel to bring food, fuel and other supplies to support a year of operations by the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Capt. William Woityra assumed command of the cutter in June of 2020, but it is not his first time serving aboard it.

“I graduated from the academy in 1999 and my first assignment was the Polar Star. I got here in July and we sailed for Antarctica in November. I have been icebreaking my entire career; I guess I caught the icebreaking bug,” he said.

After leaving the Polar Star the first time, Woityra made his way from Maine through Cleveland, breaking ice. From there he became the operations officer on the USCG Cutter Healy and completed five Arctic research missions, one of which included a historic sailing to the North Pole in 2015. He also spent time at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., working in polar icebreaking policy.

Woityra then spent a year studying in Finland as a cultural ambassador and spent time underway on their icebreakers, learning and teaching.

Before taking command of the Polar Star, he was the executive officer for two years. Despite the Polar Star being one of the most challenging assignments in the Coast Guard, he was ready to sign on for another two years as her captain.

“I said absolutely, there was no hesitation. … The opportunities and experiences are incomparable,” Woityra said. “When we are working, we are supporting the National Science Foundation. There is a logistical element to our mission. By creating a channel so that a fuel tanker and cargo ships

can make their way to Antarctica; they can do really important science,” he explained.

But they aren’t just supporting scientific research and guarding the environment; they are serving national security interests too.

“We are the lifeline that is providing the logistical support so that the United States maintains a leadership role in Antarctica. … by exerting a positive influence to ensure that the environment is protected and so that we can find out more about climate change in these places that are so far away and bring that information back home,” Woityra explained.

It’s a lot of hard work in harsh conditions, but the crew of the Polar Star knows how to have fun too.

“One of the very first things we do is we get into the ice and grant what we call ‘ice liberty’, we put the brow down and put the crew out there on the ice. They’ll be playing football out there with the penguins wandering around them. One guy even brought a snowboard and a kite surfing rig and he was kite surfing on the snowboard across the ice,” he said with a laugh.

The captain also shared that they have a lot of fun on the way down to Antarctica too, with port calls in

countries like New Zealand, Tahiti and Australia.

“We are gone on mission about four months a year; we leave around Thanksgiving and get back around the end of March. In addition, because the ship is so old and there is only one of us, we go to dry dock every single year. The ship just gets beat up,” Woityra said.

Although the ship is homeported in Seattle, the drydock can be anywhere.

“For six out of the last seven years, it’s been in California,” he said, which means the crew spends upwards of 300 days away from home.

This makes things extremely

challenging for crew members with families. The Coast Guard is working on getting a multiyear contract signed so that going forward everyone knows where the drydock will be for five years at a time. This will allow families to make the decision where they are going to live, so they can spend more time with their coasties.

“It’s an incredibly exciting mission and I consider myself so lucky to go to these amazing places and serve with the incredible men and women on this boat. They are the most proficient and hardworking coasties I’ve ever worked with,” Woityra said, adding “to be a polar explorer, is unlike anything else folks will do anywhere else in the Coast Guard.”

PARENTS FACE NEW AFTER DECISIONS SCHOOLING COVID-19

By Andrea Downing Peck

During the coronavirus quarantine, parents homeschooling their kids for the first time became fodder for an endless supply of jokes about the struggles of teaching kids at home.

“If you had asked me what the hardest part of battling a global pandemic would be,” one social media post said, “I would have never guessed ‘teaching elementary school math.’”

So, it may be surprising to learn 30% of parents polled by USA Today said they are “very likely” to homeschool their elementary-age children this fall rather than have them return to bricks-and-mortar classrooms in the midst of the pandemic.

How easy is it to make the switch from being parenting your student to being your child’s teacher? Marine Corps spouse Melissa Battles, a mother of five who began homeschooling when her 17-yearold was in first grade, maintains problems are few.

“One thing I hear a lot is ‘I don’t have the patience to homeschool,’ but you do,” she said. “Everybody and anybody can homeschool.

There are going to be some hard days and some wonderful days. But take it day by day. It’s such a rewarding thing to do.

“My biggest tip would be if your child is having a rough moment where they aren’t getting something or they’re struggling to focus, take a minute (or longer) and have them go play outside.” she adds. “If it’s raining, find an area in the house where they can burn a little energy. You’ll be amazed at the attitude change you will see.”

National Home School Association

Executive Director J. Allen Weston suggests the first step when transitioning to homeschooling is determining your child’s learning style, which may be visual, auditory or kinesthetic. Buying books for a child that learns by listening or doing or using audiobooks for someone who learns by seeing or doing would be a waste of money, he said. Curriculum materials also are separated into secular or faith-based.

One hot-button topic for those new to homeschooling is whether to pursue “school at home” — essentially replicating a public or

private school curriculum in a home classroom or online — versus more eclectic homeschooling methods taught at the child’s pace. The most unstructured form of child-andinterest-led learning is “unschooling.”

Weston believes child-led methods are the clear winners. “The most successful homeschoolers do not focus on what they are ‘supposed’ to be learning and instead focus on learning what is interesting and relevant to them,” he said.

The “busywork” phenomenon in a traditional classroom is one reason Becky Brown, a former teacher and Navy spouse, first considered homeschooling. When her husband started college out of state, Brown knew the time was right to make the switch.

“I wanted them to have time with their Dad,” said Brown, explaining homeschooling enabled her children to follow a school calendar that maximized family time.

While COVID-19 forced many families to spend last spring overseeing their children’s schoolwork from home, veteran homeschoolers are quick to point out that “quarantine schooling” has little in common with homeschooling.

“I’ve been homeschooling for 16 years and this is not normal,” Brown said last May. “We are all missing our normal activities and friends.”

Weston echoes those thoughts. “Homeschooling is a lifestyle dedicated to the joy of learning,” he says. “True homeschoolers understand that learning is an adventure to be experienced and cherished — not a chore to muddle through to get a grade.”

J. Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense

Association , notes military families have the legal right to homeschool in all 50 states. That legal protection extends internationally, even in countries such as Germany where homeschooling is illegal.

Parents of high schoolers do have to keep a transcript and comply with their state’s high school curriculum, particularly important if their child will be applying to college or enlisting in the military. Standardized testing, a thorn in the side of many public-school parents, is not as burdensome when homeschooling.

WHERE TO TURN FOR ADVICE:

National Home School Association https:// nationalhomeschoolassociation.com/index.php– Parents considering homeschooling can download a free e-book from the Home School Institute entitled “Terra Scholar –A Complete Handbook for Today’s Homeschooler”. https:// nationalhomeschoolassociation.com/terra-scholarhomeschool-ebook.php

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) https://hslda.org/ – HSLDA provides information on individual state homeschool laws while also offering advice on grading, year-end assessments and record keeping. It also offering a “Home School GPS” program that helps guide parents through the process of transitioning to homeschooling as well as over 40 online courses and an SAT Prep course.

Facebook – “Military Homeschoolers,” “Military Homeschool Family Network,” “Military Families Homeschool” and military-community-based homeschool Facebook Pages are sources of information on curriculum options, state requirements and local resources. Homeschool World Forum – https:// www.home-school.com/forums/viewforum. php?f=11&sid=307ef430b1730d3c9f5864f8ee847626 This forum includes a thread dedicated to military and overseas homeschoolers.

Military School Liaison Officers – Liaison officers are available to help with kindergarten through high school education issues and can connect families with local homeschool groups.

Non-Department of Defense Schools Program –https://www.dodea.edu/nonDoD/index.cfm This Department of Defense Education Activity program provides support and funding for families stationed overseas who want to homeschool.

“Less than half of states require standardized testing,” Smith said. “You can do standardized testing any time you want to, but you don’t have to unless the state you’re living in requires it.”

Most importantly, the decision to homeschool need not be etched in stone.

“You don’t have to commit for a lifetime,” Smith said. “You can start for six months at a time and see how it goes.”

With the coronavirus pandemic showing few signs of abating, Navy spouse Tiffany Chitwood has pulled the trigger on a third option. She’s waiting a year to enroll her fiveyear-old son in kindergarten.

“Washington state law allows you to wait until age eight, so I don’t see a real problem in waiting,” she said.

By Tiffany L.

For many years I had a 5x7 photo on my lampstand that sparked the same question from anyone who visited my home: Who are those people?

No other photo I’d displayed was given the same level of interest, but this one was different. It was my crew from grade school, and we’d gotten cute for senior friendship photo day. There were four of us and each face was significantly different. A Mexican, a Caucasian, a Korean and me. I am a Black.

At the time I didn’t realize the value of the diversity that came with my friends all being so unsimilar. But each time the question was posed to me I saw more and more that this wasn’t the norm. I decided to unpack what this connection meant for our individual lives. How did it affect our perspectives and what was the benefit?

A quote by the famed poet Maya Angelou says, “We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand

that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”

I made a choice after marrying into the military to be intentional about the world I created within this transient lifestyle. When I evaluated my high school relationships, I could tell that certain prejudices were not a reflex for me, because I’d actively included people of other cultures into my tapestry of life. It intrigued me to know how someone of a different race thought or felt. What were their jokes like and what appealed to their taste buds? What were their favorite foods at holidays and what did their cultural days of celebration entail?

Our first duty station together was Atlanta, Georgia, and it was a melting pot of ethnicities. An ongoing slide show of colors and newness surrounded me and I enjoyed every breath of our time there. I had a new circle that included Puerto Ricans, Bolivians, Indians, Jamaicans, Russians, Haitians and many more beautiful people.

Our second stop was Okinawa, Japan. When our feet landed, our friends — a white couple we’d previously known — scooped us up for our first Okinawan culinary experience. Although we could barely keep our eyes open from the tedious travel, we were eager to learn this new country.

These relationships not only expanded my cultural understanding, but by others being open and receptive I was able to share my views and expose them to commonalities of my culture as well. Because being Black is a different American experience.

Tiffany with her spouse bible study group at a Christmas party

The intentionality of having people who look different from you at your dinner table affords the chance to learn things like:

What do they find offensive?

What does their faith look like?

How do families operate and how are legacies left among them?

What traditions do they keep?

How deeply is their culture impacted by American habits?

How are they affected by policies and laws?

For years our country has been divided by race on a conscious and unconscious level. Even though our service members — a diverse group with one goal — fight side by side, prejudices that drive unfair actions still happen daily. The beginning of inclusion and equality is to acknowledge this societal deficit and hear each other out. But we can’t do that if we stay on opposite sides of the room.

I won’t lie and say I didn’t see the skin color of my high school friends. But I didn’t dismiss them because of our obvious differences, and those differences didn’t determine what I thought of them.

The first meal that Tiffany had after arriving in Japan.

Join a spouse group – It can be a bible study group, a book club a mom’s group, etc. To be sure that it aligns with your efforts to embrace other races, find one that openly supports the current fights to bring about social justice and racial equality.

Engage in mandatory fun –Although gatherings are currently limited, this won’t always be the case. Step outside of your comfort zone (and color) and build a bridge with someone new.

Use your influence – If you are in a position to make decisions

or to impact those who do, actively seek out people of different races to add to your pool of employees, members, participants etc.

The best thing I’ve done was to make this a way of life for my children. They don’t know what it is like to only have friends of one race. If we collectively pass this on to the next generation, the future will look significantly different from what has divided us in the past. And something as simple as four racially diverse friends in a photo won’t seem out of place.

Here are a few ways you can expand your circle to include and learn from people who don’t look like you:

SHOULD YOU

There’s no financial aid or scholarships given for retirement

FOR YOUR KID’S EDUCATION OR YOUR RETIREMENT?

By Lila Quintiliani, AFC®, Military Saves Program Manager

College costs have risen by more than 25% over the last decade, so it’s no wonder military families worry about saving for their children’s higher education. When you are just starting out, prioritizing your savings goals can be overwhelming: should you try to set up your kids for success by saving for college? Or should you be saving for your own retirement instead?

I have seen many clients decide that their kids should come first, setting up a 529 plan — a type of taxadvantaged college savings account, even before they have set up their own retirement accounts. Most parents feel it is their responsibility to provide for their children’s future because no one wants to see them saddled with college loan debt.

But I’m going to suggest that one of the best gifts you can give your children is to save for your own retirement first.

Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others

This is something we hear every time we fly, and in countless

memes. It may be clichéd, but it is also true: we can’t help others if we are not in a good place ourselves. We do our children no favors if we fund their education and then can’t take care of ourselves later.

The reason why it’s important to start saving for retirement early is you benefit from the power of compounding — a small investment now can build up into a healthy nest egg in the decades before you retire. And if your service branch or employer match your contributions, then it’s really a no brainer: you should be investing in your workplace retirement plan to at least get the matching funds.

Your child has the possibility of qualifying for financial aid, scholarships or even a federally backed or private student loan. There is no similar financial assistance given for retirement except for Social Security, that is rarely adequate and may only be paying 75% of benefits by 2035.

In a recent AARP survey, a third of respondents in their 40s, 50s, and 60s said they had to give their parents money, and most of the time it was for essential needs like housing and food.

I don’t want my kids to have to deal with that, especially given the current economic downturn and slow wage growth they will be facing when they head off to college in a couple of years.

There are other options

Many school systems now use career readiness software like Naviance to help students plan for college and how to pay for it.

As mentioned previously there are scholarship options out there, including some targeted specifically at military kids. Online search engines like Fastweb, Cappex, Unigo, College Board, and others make it a lot easier to apply.

Students may be eligible for financial aid in some form, and the dreaded FAFSA, or Free Application for Financial Student Aid, is now easier and shorter, and there’s even an app for it.

Some military children may even be entitled to GI Bill benefits that can help pay for tuition, housing

and books, and can be split among multiple dependents.

Get creative with ways to save

Did you know that you can set up a 529 College Savings Plan for your child and then have friends and relatives contribute to it?

Fidelity says that a $50 gift today could be worth $200 in 20 years (again, thanks to the power of compounding) and offers tips on how to ask others for a contribution.

There’s even a way to use contributions to a Roth IRA to help fund college. Since contributions are post-tax, it can be withdrawn without penalty. But I don’t think it’s a great idea to withdraw funds from a retirement account unless absolutely necessary.

You may be able to do both at some point

When my husband and I had our oldest daughter, we couldn’t imagine a time when we could possibly afford to contribute to both our retirement and her education, especially when we had her sister a couple of years later.

But a few years, three deployments, and a couple of promotions later, we finally got our savings act together. We paid off our car loan and then increased our TSP contribution, contributed a bit to an IRA, and then set up a 529 account for each of the girls. We have a few months of GI Bill entitlement left to split between each kid.

We’ve been upfront with our girls, letting them know we will help them as best we can, but that our main focus is on our retirement. In the end, taking care of ourselves puts us in a better place to help others.

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE MILITARY MARRIAGE DAY

By Bree Carroll, 2020 AFI Air Force Spouse of the Year

This August will see an inaugural celebration of the foundation of the community: military marriages.

Military couples are no stranger to adversity, often facing situations uncommon in the civilian lifestyle. On top of the usual challenges of lengthy separations, moves to isolated areas and demanding career expectations, 2020 tossed COVID-19 in the mix. It is among the reason why I felt compelled to set aside time to put our service members and their spouses front and center by marking August 14 as Military Marriage Day.

The year continues taking us all for a few loops, while grasping for some sort of normalcy. Honestly, most have just given up on 2020 altogether with sights set on 2021 for a fresh start. But before we throw in the towel, I formulated an idea to put a little spark in military marriages around the nation.

As unprecedented as this time in our history has been, it’s done us all a favor by shining the light on some really important areas in our lives. The pandemic rippled through country to country, which made us focus on staying healthy through extreme measures — even professional sports took a hit. Still, one lesson from it all is a proactive approach leads to prevention. And that had me thinking: If we can shut down entities as big as airports to focus on our well-being, then it should be a small task to take one day and focus on the wellness of our marriage.

COVID-19 also brought relationship issues to the surface. It amplified whatever state you were in. For example, if you were struggling in your marriage, the stay-home order required you to deal with those issues head on because there wasn’t anywhere to escape. In fact, the American Academy of Matrimonial Law predicts an increase in divorce

filings due to the quarantine.

But the reality is COVID-19 can’t end marriages, people do. Partners have the opportunity to take steps to make their relationship better each day. Military Marriage Day is a chance to take a big step in building strong military marriages as this is a day for all couples.

Here are 5 ways to celebrate MILITARY MARRIAGE DAY

DATE NIGHT

#WeAreStrongerTogether More than a hashtag, it’s a declaration of unity that we need one another. Military couples understand this better than most as they have a partner to rely on by their side or stateside that makes living their purpose a little easier. A date night is just another way to get some time together to strengthen that bond.

TIP: Get back to the basics. What brought you together in the first place? Maybe it’s a game night, movie marathon, ordering in your favorite food or playing up a running joke you two share. These are all starting points of a great date night. For more suggestions check out Moving with the Military’s Date Night Box giveaway at https:// www.movingwiththemilitary.tv

SIGN UP FOR A COURSE OR COUNSELING

All marriages require work, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Marriage courses offer community and connection to other like-hearted couples. Installation chaplains and family support centers have offerings to consider, but don’t be afraid to look off installation for programs that are a good fit for you.

Counseling is another great option to lean on a licensed professional to work through thoughts, emotions and feelings.

TIP: Look into the MMD course at https://bcarrollevents.com/militarymarriage-day or search for a licensed clinician through the Lifegiver Directory at https://www.life-giver.org/places/

CARE PACKAGE AND CARDS

Everyone enjoys a little love mail. If your loved one is deployed or sitting in the other room, plan to send sweet treats and words of affirmation their way. You can theme your box around Military Marriage Day and personalize it to reflect your military marriage story.

TIP: It wouldn’t be a holiday without a card. Check out Westhouse’s Military Marriage Day card and fun gift items at www.shopwesthouse.com

PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your marriage is take care of yourself. Yup, I said it! I’m a firm believer that a marriage is better when the individuals in it are taken care of. Time to yourself is not always the main topic of conversation when discussing marriage, but it brings a great balance to the relationship.

Self-care may be alone time to meditate, a massage (that can also be done as a couple), time for reading or writing; there is no wrong answer here. The idea is that you both sent time to do something that grounds you, brings you joy or fulfillment, and it doesn’t have to be a shared experience.

TIP: Commit to self-care by building it into your plan. This may require a sitter or other considerations. Look at your calendars and see if there is a time you both can commit to taking some “you” time. Try to make the time equal, get understanding on what the other will do and commit to both accomplishing your self-care so that it is not one sided.

WATCH THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION

We may not be able to party together yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate together. Tune into Military Marriage Day’s live celebration at 8 PM EST on August 14. For updates, go to https:// bcarrollevents.com/military-marriage-day.

2.

WHERE TO SPEND THOSE LEAVE DAYS

By Stephanie Montague

After months of sheltering in place, you are no doubt eager to get out and about. So, what are some safe vacation options if you’re still concerned about COVID-19?

Choose destinations with limited crowds, where families can have a self-contained space and primary activities outdoors. Your base or post MWR office has recreational facilities all over the country that fit the bill and are budget friendly.

Here are five ideas to get you started —

1.

This MWR facility, located 50 miles north of Acadia National Park, is an activity of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and offers year-round fun. During warmer months, enjoy hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and a range of water sports. In the winter, explore the area on snowshoes or cross-country skis, and try your hand at ice-fishing. Any equipment you need is available to rent.

Lodging options include fullyfurnished cabins that sleep up to six guests, two lodges for eight+ guests, RV sites, and yurts.

If you want an oceanfront getaway without the crowds of public beaches, look no further than this amazing MWR facility in Kure Beach, North Carolina. Located on a strip of land between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, Fort Fisher is the perfect place for a family vacation full of sand and surf.

Rent any type of equipment you could possibly need, including kayaks, surfboards, bicycles, fishing and camping gear, plus many recreation games.

Accommodations include 1-, 3- and 4-bedroom cottages, two hotel-style lodges, and an RV park/Famcamp.

facilities are top notch, and you have the security of staying on a base. But the big draw is the many incredible outdoor recreation options in the area.

“The Loop” in metropolitan Tucson offers more than 100 miles of paved recreation trails. Davis-Monthan is also a short drive from tons of hiking and mountain biking opportunities, including Saguaro National Park and the Santa Catalina Mountains. And the Tucson area is a golfer’s paradise, with numerous courses within a short drive from the base.

This beautiful mountain recreation area is only a 30-minute drive from Colorado Springs. Part of the U.S. Air Force Academy, it offers members of the military community a peaceful escape with plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy. Hike or bike the mountain trails, fish, or enjoy canoeing and paddle boating on the lake.

Farish Recreation Area has a wide range of lodging options. They offer 2-bedroom cottages, 1- and 2-bedroom duplexes, a small lodge, camper cabins, and RV/ camping sites.

A great option for anyone stationed in the Pacific Northwest, this MWR facility is on the beautiful, rugged Washington coast. While you’re there, enjoy the beach, the nearby Olympic National Forest, and the charming coastal town of Ocean Shores. Also, keep your eye out for whales from their Whale Watch Tower.

Pacific Beach rents any equipment you need to take advantage of the area’s activities, including tents, bikes, wake boards, and clamming gear.

They offer 3-, 4-, and 5bedroom cottages, a hotel-style lodge, and RV/camping sites. If you’re there during peak season (1 April – 30 September), you can stay in a deluxe onebedroom camper.

This FamCamp in Tucson, Arizona is a favorite among military RVers, and for good reason. The

Great Pond Outdoor Adventure Center (Maine)

Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area (North Carolina)

3. Farish Recreation Area (Colorado)

4. FamCamp at Davis-Monthan AFB (Arizona)

5. Navy Getaways Pacific Beach (Washington)

CHECKLIST STUDENT

For service members

What’s your end goal in pursuing an off-duty education: certification, license, degree? What time commitment you have for a course load?

Do you want to attend in person or online? Speak with the installation education center to determine the best program for your goals and schedule.

Research schools including accreditation, student reviews, and its standing with the DOD [See list of institutions with a DOD MOU].

Examine financial aid options such as the FAFSA, tuition assistance, scholarships, and GI Bill benefits.

After gathering the above information, apply to the program that fits your goals, budget, and manner in which you want to attend.

Design a course schedule with the whole semester in mind. For example, if you will be deploying with limited internet, a full course load might not be the best option. Create a designated space for homework and studying, or find a remote location like the base library or a local coffee shop. Review syllabi ahead of the semester; documenting assignment due dates and materials needed.

Connect with support groups, like Student Veterans of America.

Need extra help? Check out Tutor.com’s free program for military students.

For military spouses

What’s your end goal in pursuing an education: certification, license, degree? What time commitment you have for a course load?

Do you want to attend in person or online? Speak with a MySECO counselor to determine the best education program for your goals.

Research schools including accreditation, student reviews, and its standing with the DOD.

Apply for the FAFSA

Evaluate additional financial aid options, including MyCAA, scholarships, and grants [See page 7].

After gathering the above information, apply to the program that fits your goals, budget, and manner in which you want to attend.

Design a course schedule with the whole semester in mind. For example, do you have an impending PCS move, shift change at work or child care limitations? Create a designate space for study time. Review syllabi ahead of the semester; documenting assignment due dates and materials needed.

Need extra help? Check out Tutor.com’s free program for military students

By Susan Malandrino

“I kept thinking this is a story to tell and what better way to do so than through the story of a child and his dog?” Jones said.

Telling the story from the perspective of Major, the book follows the dog through separation from his family to training for deployment, then his harrowing war service in Italy, return home for detraining and finally the reunion with his family. Because the story is told from the dog’s point of view, the words and pictures reflect the way he would perceive the world, relying first on smell, second on hearing and last on sight. Illustrator Ming Hai used colors to show what Major would have smelled and heard to help children understand his world and experiences.

“Many of the illustrations are based on photos from our collections at History Nebraska,” Jones said. “We wanted to make sure that the story was not only captivating but as historically accurate as possible.”

In the beginning, much of the war dog program was trial and error. Jones tells the story of Dalmatian recruits.

re-trained as pets, then shipped back to their families. The dogs had discharge papers and Moore provided Major’s documentation, which is included in the book.

Major’s homecoming was tough for Moore.

“I felt like I had betrayed him. I could hardly look him in the eye,” he said.

Not long after, Major went to live on a family friend’s cattle ranch. Moore ended up never seeing his childhood friend again. Inspired by this childhood experience, Moore always felt a deep sense of patriotism. He went on to serve in the Army, the North Dakota National Guard and later taught history.

Reading “A Soldier Dog” brought back vivid memories for Moore. When the news broke that the war was over, he remembers all of the women in the neighborhood running out into street with sheer jubilation.

When Sidney Moore was five years old, his dog, a border collie named Major, was donated to the Dogs for Defense program. More than 75 years later, the story has been told in the book “Major: A Soldier Dog.”

During World War II, the U.S. military asked civilians to volunteer their dogs for service to be deployed to battlefields and military installations worldwide. More than 17,000 answered the call and donated pets to the program, headquartered at Fort Robinson War Dogs Training Center in Nebraska.

Moore, who is now 82, grew up in rural North Dakota and said Major was often his only playmate. When his family made the decision to donate their dog, the memory stuck with him.

“I still remember the day so vividly, the door slamming shut and the dog being pulled away,” he said. “It was really traumatic.”

Author Trevor Jones, who serves as director and chief executive officer of the History Nebraska, was inspired to write the book after uncovering documents about the program and connecting with Moore.

“Once they realized they stood out on a battlefield, they dyed them. After the first rain, it became clear it wasn’t the best idea,” he said.

The program was quickly refined in terms of breed, weight and height. It also became the genesis of the modern training still used today. Two key points remain: the dog needs to know the handler is in control and the dog will not function if afraid.

“A key idea is to make the dog a partner with the service member. These ideas are still are the cornerstones of military service dogs today,” Jones said.

As in the story, the real service dogs who survived were shipped back to Fort Robinson and

“They were crying, laughing and hugging,” he said. Their neighbors included 22-year-old young woman whose husband was fighting for the 101st Airborne Division in Germany.

“That woman, that young wife, she came out with two pans. She was beating those pans up over her head. I remember that quite well,” he said with a chuckle.

Since the publication of the book, Jones speaks to children regularly about the story. “Concepts of patriotism and sacrifice are abstract,” Jones said. “But when you say: ‘Would you give up something you love, like your pet?’ That really makes children think.”

“It’s a great story,” Moore said. “I would like for readers to realize the sacrifices people make during war.”

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

The Exchange is committed to ensuring Warfighters & their families can get critical products while maintaining physical distancing in a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Exchange has taken proactive measures to ensure your personal safety: Disinfecting customer service and sales points multiple times; transitioning the school meal program for military schoolchildren overseas to a grab-and-go format; deploying posters, floor decals and other visual reminders so shoppers can keep a safe distance between themselves and others; installing acrylic shields at points of sale and customer service areas; implementing buy online, curbside pickup, a no-contact shopping option.

Keep up to date on our efforts to protect the force at shopmyexchange.com/community