2022 MF FEBRUARY

LOVE IS ALL AROUND

As I prepared to interview Army Staff Sgt. Casey Raines and his wife, Brittany, for this issue’s cover story, I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth their busy family manages it all. Six kids (complete with tons of activities), five PCSes and counting, Casey’s job as a military police officer that often requires long hours and shift work, and a recent uptick in work travel for Brittany.

And yet, an ever-growing list of community service accolades proved impressive enough to earn them the 2020 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year award. “But, where do you find the time?” I prodded during our chat.

“It’s just really something that is second nature,” Brittany explained.

You see, for this military family, giving back is not something extra that they struggle to fit into their hectic schedules. Instead, it’s a way of life. They say showing love to others strengthens their connection. Serving is not a responsibility — it’s a choice.

Read more about their charitable efforts on page 10 and let the Raines’ insight serve as a reminder this Valentine’s month of all the different ways to show love other than chocolates, candlelit dinners and cards.

There is plenty more to love in our first issue of 2022, including a heartfelt feature by Associate Editor Teal Yost on a Gold Star spouse who has dealt with unexpected loss by focusing on new things that bring her joy and a profile of a Navy veteran who credits military service for his heart failure survival. On page 18, we introduce you to a few military families who have managed to thrive (and save tons of money) living in an RV — and they still love each other!

And don’t miss our new MilFam Matters section, where we will kick off each issue with important briefs for military families, our favorite things revealed and tips on top spots to visit around one base per month. Be sure to scan these pages for additional ways to connect with us online, including giveaways, discussions and daily digital content.

Let’s all channel the Raines family this month and spread plenty of love, especially to the ones who need it most.

Chris Adams

Jennifer Barnhill

Nikki Davidson

Kristen De Deyn Kirk

Army Staff Sgt. Casey Raines, Brittany Raines and their six children earned the title of 2020 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year through their dedication to serving others.

Photo by Ellenberg & Co., ellenbergco.com

Crystal Kupper

Jessica Manfre

Peyton H. Roberts

Melissa M. Stewart Content Editor

The Raines Family, 2020 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year. Photo by Ellenberg & Co., ellenbergco.com

FEBRUARY

18

22

Star spouse finds therapy through writing and family

14

United Heroes League helps military families offset the costs of youth sports

Proposed

extended tour lengths could reduce food insecurity 28

EDITORIAL

President and Publisher: Todd Taranto

Managing Editor: Bianca Strzalkowski

Content Editor: Melissa M. Stewart

Associate Editors: Kari Williams and Teal Yost

ADVERTISING PLEASE

President,

MIL FAM BRIEFS

matters

Opportunity:

Milestone: Happy birthday, USO! The nonprofit that has served 5 million service members and their families turns 81 on Feb. 4. Keep up to date with celebrations and events on bases throughout the month on facebook.com/theUSO

Completed applications for the Scholarships for Military Children Program are due on Feb. 17. The Fisher House Foundation will award 500 grants of $2,000 each to military students for the 202223 academic year. All rules and requirements can be found at militaryscholar.org

Event: In honor of Black History Month, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum will reveal a new video series plus virtual events and online programming for each week in February that share the experiences, challenges and triumphs of Black veterans. For updates: nationalvmm.org/education/monthlyawareness/black-history-month/

Overheard:

The number of consumers living paycheck to paycheck, according to a report from LendingClub Corporation. Learn how military families can save more, improve credit scores, get financially prepped for children and more by downloading the 2021 Military Money Guide at https://militaryfamilies.com/ lp24-2021-military-money-guide/

ON SCREEN

“DOG,” a new movie starring Channing Tatum, opens in theaters on Feb. 18. In the film, Tatum plays a U.S. Army Ranger who (reluctantly) learns to bond with Lulu, a Belgian Malinois working military dog.

The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue.”

– Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III after testing positive for COVID-19 in January.

PHOTO BY MGM

DOD PHOTO BY CHAD J. MCNEELEY

FAVORITES

Reads

Our Military Families Magazine Book Club pick for the month is “Sankofa” by Chibundu Onuzo, which tells the story of a mixed-race British woman who goes in search of the West African father she never knew. Look for a full review this month on militaryfamilies.com and join us our Facebook to discuss with the #militaryfamilesbookclub.

DEPLOYMENT DINNERS

Do you have a standout recipe that checks all of the boxes — delicious, different, easy, nutritious and even the kids will eat it? If so, we want to hear your suggestions for the perfect “deployment dinner.” Email melissa.stewart@ameriforcemedia.com (bonus points for including appetizing photos) and we will occasionally feature our favorite submissions on this page or online at militaryfamilies.com

Resources revealed

Listen up, if you need in-home child care, pet care, senior care, housekeeping or tutoring (so, pretty much all of us). The DOD provides military families free access to the Sittercity website. Typically, the service is $13/month if purchased annually. Sign up to view caregiver profiles, which include background checks, references, reviews, pictures and more. For more: sittercity.com/dod

GIVEAWAY

Military Families Magazine kicked off the New Year by launching our #militaryfamiliesfavorites finds. Our editorial team is now sharing the products, services, places and resources we love — complete with giveaways. Make sure to follow our Instagram page @militaryfamiliesmagazine and join us on Feb. 4 when we will tell you about Extra Ordinary Delights

You will have a chance to receive some of these irresistible chocolates, handmade by a blind and deaf former Army EOD tech and chef. They make a perfect Valentine’s treat … or everyday indulgence that supports an inspirational journey.

Find us online

Follow @militaryfamiliesmagazine for more news, giveaways, hot topics, live chats, polls and more.

BEYOND THE BASE

Fort Carson, Colorado

Location: Just southwest of Colorado Springs in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains

Military Population: 25,099 service members and 38,018 family members

One of the Army’s youngest installations, the Mountain Post was established just one month after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. If you are currently stationed in the Pikes Peak Region, consider scenic hikes, nature and doing anything outdoors some of your main missions. Here are a few recommendations for your time beyond the base.

• Take a day trip to Cañon City to visit Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, home to America’s highest suspension bridge.

• View Pikes Peak through the Siamese Twin Rocks Formations at the Garden of Gods Park, a registered National Natural Landmark.

• With 105 miles of urban trains and 106 miles of park trails, hike often and never take the same trek twice.

• Learn what it takes to be an Olympic athlete on a tour of the flagship U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, or enjoy an interactive experience at the recently opened U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

• Plan a weekend adventure to one of Colorado’s many hot springs. With a day pass to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, kids enjoy a splash zone filled with fountains and water slides, while parents soak stressors away in the mineral-rich natural pool surrounded by mountain scenery.

• Snag military-discounted tickets to see a bareback-riding, roping and racing rodeo at the Cinch Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo

• Spend the day eating all of your meals on Tejon Street in Downtown Colorado Springs — Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, La’au’s Taco Shop, Urban Egg and plenty more.

• See the stars or hear from a NASA astronaut at the Air Force Academy Planetarium

GARDEN OF GODS PARK

CINCH PIKES PEAK OR BUST RODEO

UNCLE WILBER FOUNTAIN ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE

U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC TRAINING CENTER PHOTOS COURTESY

comes

LIVING TO GIVE

BY MELISSA M. STEWART

Brittany Raines describes how her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Casey Raines, and six children delivered cupcakes to a local veterans home during the COVID-19 pandemic to honor the Army’s birthday in the best way possible. Her daughters played patriotic songs on their violins that were broadcast throughout the building, and they all wrote inspiring chalk messages in the outdoor area. It was one of her kids’ most memorable community projects (and there have been many), Brittany says, and it only took about an hour of their time.

“People were lining up in their windows,” Casey added. “We brought joy to however many veterans were in that home that day. It doesn’t have to be a huge scale, but if you can brighten one person’s day, that’s something that we strive to do.”

It’s a concept he calls “the ripple effect,” and the Raines family’s history of giving back proves that while the efforts may start small, their charitable spirit catches on quickly. The family founded The Warm Up Project, their

self-proclaimed “passion project,” in 2018 while stationed at Fort Drum in Upstate New York. An initiative that began as them collecting scarves and hats in the colder months and distributing them on light poles and benches in their area has now expanded to 15 states.

In addition to involvement with their church, Girl and Boy Scouts and the USO, Brittany currently serves as the executive consultant at AUSA Mid-Missouri Fort Leonard

PHOTO BY ELLENBERG & CO

The Raines squad — eight of them in all — celebrates plenty of birthdays in their large family. But one recent commemoration they planned together stands out more than others. They say they’ll never forget a special party for the Army.

AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year creates connections — to their community and each other — by making a difference

Wood Chapter and director of community engagement for the Inspire Up Foundation

Through her work with Giving Tuesday Military, she and her family have coordinated more than 50,000 acts of kindness.

And their long list of accolades proves others are noticing the Raines’ dedication to service. Brittany was recognized in 2017 as the AFI Fort Drum Military Spouse of the Year and in 2019 as the Volunteer of the Year for the 91st Military Police Battalion.

And perhaps their most significant acknowledgment — being named the 2020 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year, presented annually by the Association of the United States Army to one family with superior volunteer efforts. Brittany says the award definitely opened doors and gave her a platform both within the military community and beyond.

“Part of that award criteria is what you’re doing in the community,” she explained. “So, it’s not just being an FRG leader with the unit. It’s not just, you know, working at the USO,

where it’s very military specific. It’s what you are doing outside the gates, and that’s always my goal — to connect the military community to the community outside.”

Filling family buckets

Casey acknowledges that Brittany also does plenty inside … their home. Military life, he says, means that she acts as a single mom a lot of the time, balancing school schedules, sports and a slew of other activities on her own in addition to the family’s dedication to volunteer work. His work as a military police officer in the 14th Military Police Brigade means being away six days a week from at least 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When she married Casey 10 years ago, Brittany admits to having “zero exposure to the military.”

“I tried to warn her,” joked Casey.

With their latest move to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri about a year ago, the family has PCSed five times.

PHOTO BY ELLENBERG & CO

“The hardest part for us is rebuilding every time we have to PCS,” said Brittany. “Our family really enjoys the adventure of PCSing, but it’s taken some time to learn how to rebuild your communities every time you PCS, and now we are pros at it, I think.”

Their pro tip? Getting involved with things everyone loves as soon as possible. Brittany says they arrived in Missouri on a Saturday and her oldest son, Mason, had his first wrestling practice by Monday night.

She relies on her career and community service to make connections that fill her bucket.

“I think, for me, it’s easy to make friends,” she said. “I utilize my career and my work to get to know people and to learn about our new location. Especially with community service and community outreach, I have to get to know the community and where the gaps are to do my work. I get to really build connections with people and relationships that are bridges forever.”

Casey says he feels it’s super critical to do what he can to support his wife’s career.

“They [my family] have followed me everywhere I’ve gone and I don’t necessarily have control over that, so I am happy that

this job gives me the opportunity to allow her to do the stuff that she enjoys,” he said. “And then when we volunteer as a family, we are together doing things that fill all of our buckets. It brings happiness and joy to not just us but other people.”

Casey plans to keep working with the Army as long as he can continue interacting with his fellow soldiers. By retirement time, four of the Raines kids will be out of the house, which will feel like a retirement itself, he jokes.

“If I make the next rank then there is probably a good chance that I will stay doing this as long as I can stay engaged with soldiers,” he said. “The second I get a desk job is going to be when I no longer like what I do.”

He says he loves being on the frontlines, training other military police officers and mentoring. And that’s just fine with Brittany.

“Seeing him lead soldiers is one of my favorite things,” she said. “Those guys look up to him. The impact as a leader that he has made on soldiers is my favorite part of being a military spouse by far.”

Helping others is something that has always connected this couple, and they agree that

it’s critical to pass on the importance of goodwill to their kids.

“We believe in modeling that kindness for them because it really can make a difference in somebody’s world,” Brittany said. “And I think it does help them see the silver lining in situations.”

The AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional Army family dedicated to volunteer service that improves the local community. Recipients may be active duty, Army civilian or from the Army Reserve. For more information and to apply, visit www.ausa.org/ militaryfamilies/volunteer-familyaward.

PHOTO BY ELLENBERG & CO

VAREP champions military home ownership

BY JESSICA MANFRE

The Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals has come a long way since its founding in 2011. However, its mission of sustainable home ownership for the military community hasn’t changed.

“The mission is very clear. We focus on successful home sustainability and financial literacy for the active and veteran communities,” said VAREP Associate Director Carla Lemon. “We took it upon ourselves to start educating the real estate industry with boots on the ground, and our chapters grew and they still grow today.”

Lemon spent five years volunteering and growing her local chapter before VAREP National asked her to bring her talents to its headquarters.

She says education has always been a priority for the organization, which has grown to include writing courses specific to the VA loan process. While they can’t specifically correlate their efforts to growth, the neighborhoods with strong chapters have seen significant increases in homebuyers using the loan.

“We have a national legislative committee, and they have been very active in the bills that we’ve passed on behalf of our active

military and veterans for the VA loan benefit. One of those was the Blue Water Navy bill,” Lemon said.

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 gave recognition, resources and medical support for those exposed to Agent Orange and also enacted sweeping legislative changes for the VA loan benefit. These changes included removing the home loan limit and the funding fee for active-duty Purple Heart recipients.

“One of the other bills we are almost done being successful with is URL — the loan application borrowers use. We

have fought to have a box inserted in the middle of or somewhere in the form which asks if you’ve served,” Lemon explained. “If they’ve served, then they are required to receive a side-by-side comparison of the VA loan, FHL loan and a conventional loan. They [lenders] can no longer steer a veteran away from their VA loan. They have to educate them about those differences so that it has been placed on the form.”

It’s a huge win. In 2016, VA estimated only 6% of the 21 million veterans had taken advantage of the VA loan benefit in the previous five years.

The organization has not only focused on education and legislative efforts on behalf of veterans, but grassroots giveback, too. VAREP Cares is a program built into each chapter that focuses on four events throughout the year that fundraise for and support veteran causes.

Its Stop, Drop and Push program works within the military suicide prevention space to raise money to fund things like travel, lodging and food for veterans to make it to the alternative therapies. The Calloway Closing Grant supports those with financial needs in covering the costs associated with closing on their home loan.

Lemon’s passion for serving the military community began with her father, a veteran soldier.

“It’s a privilege to be able to choose whatever you want to do in life and that choice comes from those who are willing to sign on the dotted line to sacrifice everything and anything so that we can keep our freedoms,” Lemon shared. “I feel very fortunate that I’m able to work every day to try and offer something in return for that.”

Visit

PAY TO PLAY

United Heroes League helps military families offset the costs of youth sports

BY CHRIS ADAMS

The cost of youth sports has been accelerating for decades. And for those households just trying to keep pace with the demands of inflation, dropping more than $1,000 per year on extracurricular activities.

In particular, military families.

“Your average military sergeant that’s been serving for six to eight years and likely deployed at least once makes about $34,000 a year,” said Shane Hudella, the founder of the Minnesota-based nonprofit United Heroes League, which helps facilitate sports participation and experiences for militaryfamily youth.

“So, it’s tough to put kids through incredibly expensive youth sports when you’re on that kind of income,” he said.

It isn’t unusual for families to spend well above $1,000 in a given year. According to the Aspen Institute 2021 State of Play report ,

parents with a child in ice hockey face an average cost of more than $2,500 per year. The Aspen Institute is a leadership development and problem-solving nonprofit based in D.C.

The report states gymnastics costs $1,580 annually, lacrosse $1,289, and at the lower end of the spectrum are basketball, $427, and track and field, $191. It further notes some parents incurred expenses exceeding $12,000 during a 12-month period.

Col. Richard Erredge, the 960th Cyberspace Wing commander at the Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex in Texas, has been part of UHL for several years.

“Military families just can’t afford that, especially the younger airmen,” he said.

UHL has been instrumental in affording youth the opportunity to play sports.

“Our mission is to help military kids and families play the game they love,” Hudella said. “Most of that focus is on military kids.”

He said these kids are thrust into a kind of predicament. The field or rink is a crucial outlet for military kids suffering from emotional and mental stress.

“And things like deployments, whether it’s to the Middle East, or riot response, or COVID response, all of those things kind of take a toll on military kids who deal with mom or dad, or sometimes both, being gone for the holidays, or birthdays or that big game,” Hudella said. “So that creates a lot of stress and anxiety on military kids.”

UHL gets in the game

The birth of UHL occurred while Hudella was on Army active duty in the Twin Cities. He encountered some pro athletes interested in giving back to military families through hockey.

UHL kids on the diamond at a San Diego Padres baseball camp.

“There wasn’t really anything out there, so I just kind of decided overnight to start a nonprofit,” he said.

Erredge lived in the same city as Hudella and was unaware of UHL (called Defending The Blue Line at the time). He found out about the nonprofit through his brother, ultimately connected with Hudella, offered his help and has been involved ever since.

“We always knew what the need was,” Erredge said. “We knew we wanted our reach much broader … the only thing holding us back was money really.”

Erredge said the veteran nonprofit space is cluttered.

“Anywhere from a kid collecting a few bucks all the way to Wounded Warrior. And everything in between,” he said.

UHL founders wanted to stand out in a crowded room. Erredge says no organization was reaching out to the military youth demographic.

“So we said, ‘We gotta keep going. There’s no competitors in this space. There’s always going to be a need,’” he said.

In 2012, UHL received the Joining Forces Community Challenge recognition from the Obama White House as the best new military nonprofit in the country. The award helped springboard their program into a national one.

“Here we are, 13 years and $20 million in giving later,” Hudella said.

The primary mission of the UHL is five-fold. First, outfitting the military kids head-to-toe, Hudella said. Next, hosting sports camps exclusively for military youth throughout the country, many in conjunction with UHL pro-athlete ambassadors. He said former Minnesota Vikings tight end — the current New York Giants tight end — Kyle Rudolph runs a football camp every summer and a couple of hundred UHL kids have participated over the years.

UHL also furnishes cash grants up to $500 per child to help offset the costs of sports leagues, camps and equipment. They provide memories and family bonding activities too.

“We do ticketing for military families … we do that all over the country. It’s a great opportunity for families to reconnect after a deployment on a night out,” Hudella said.

“Or go out and enjoy an evening together before a deployment.”

Lastly, UHL provides special experiences for military kids, such as face-to-face time with professional athletes. The NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves took 10-20 program military kids in a limo-bus to Target during several Christmas holiday seasons pre-COVID.

“The Timberwolves players would come out and take them on a shopping spree for the holidays,” Hudella said.

UHL serves all branches of the military, veterans, active duty and the reserve components.

“If you served honorably and wore a uniform, you’re probably eligible for our benefits,” Hudella said. “And we are the only nonprofit in America that does this mission, which makes us very unique.” Find

WHY MILITARY AND VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS

INSURANCE NEED SMALL BUSINESS

BY KRISTEN DE DEYN KIRK — SPONSORED

A few years ago, the staff at USAA (a financial services company formally known as United Services Automobile Association) kept hearing the same question:

“DO YOU OFFER SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE?”

So, in Jan. 2021, USAA gave its members what they wanted and created coverage available in 30 states underwritten by USAA.

Traditionally focused on providing military members and their families with personal lines of insurance, such as auto, life and home policies, USAA began helping people in 1922. It knows how to listen with a goal of pinpointing each person’s insurance needs — then tailors a policy to meet those needs.

Effective and efficient insurance coverage means protection from financial setbacks, so it makes sense that USAA members should have it for their small business. In fact, entrepreneurship has become a growing career choice among those with a military affiliation. According to the Small Business Administration, veterans are 45% more likely to be self-employed than nonveterans. Plus, military spouses are choosing to launch businesses, in part, to overcome ongoing employment challenges that can be presented with frequent PCS moves.

USAA Vice President Larry Williams says it is a trend that is likely to continue as the pandemic enters its second year.

“We’re seeing a growth of small businesses coming out of the global pandemic. Plus, the percentage of veteran-owned businesses seems to be increasing at faster rates than the general population,” Williams said. “We’re really excited as we go toward our next 100 years to have launched these new small business policies. We’re leaning into our mission of offering a full suite of competitive products for the military.”

Does every military or veteran entrepreneur need small business insurance?

Yes, says Sean Scaturro, director of insurance advice at USAA. He’s seen some owners thinking they’re too small to worry about it. For example, a photographer might think, “It’s just me.” What could go wrong?

Scaturro believes it’s probably the number one mistake entrepreneurs make. Protect your financial well-being, no matter your size, Scaturro advises.

“You almost have to be a little cynical, to be able to evaluate risks you could face,” he said of small business owners. “And if we can’t be cynical enough ourselves, we’ve got to pick up the phone and speak to an expert who can evaluate all of the threats. USAA answers questions from business owners and also asks questions that a business owner doesn’t always know to ask.”

They need to consider the size of their business; how it’s structured legally; how many, if any, employees; current earnings; assets; liabilities; potential hazards; and potential expansions.

Larry Williams, assistant vice president of product development at USAA, knows it can be hard to find the time to analyze all the details: Business owners work all day because they’re building what they created. Then many take care of families for a bit in the evening and return to managing their business afterward. Investigating USAA coverage is one of the tasks they can complete then — or anytime.

“We see quite a bit of our members interacting with us after hours. We’ve sold policies all throughout the night, which is probably when they finally have time,” Williams said.

Visiting usaa.com/smallbusiness makes it easy. Answer a handful of questions, and the business owner learns what insurance options are available.

Doing so isn’t a one-and-done deal, though.

“It is very important that small business owners reevaluate their business with some regularity,” Williams stresses. “Make sure that they don’t have any changes that are complicating their policies. Maybe they added a new location or they’re selling a new product or they’re offering a new service.”

Owners should think about how their business has changed — or will soon change — at least once a year. Next, they should check in with their insurance agent and adjust their policy to match their business plan.

Williams grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, learning at a young age that small businesses are “the driver of the economy,” he emphasizes. When a small business owner is also connected to the military, he feels an even greater pull to assist them.

“I want us to provide protection of their American dream as they put their lives on the line to protect ours,” he says. “It’s very personal to me that we’re there for those members when they need us most.”

THIS IS HOW THEY ROLL

Amid rising housing costs, RV life offers a portable solution

BY PEYTON H. ROBERTS

After receiving unexpected, one-year orders to Norfolk, Virginia, Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Blandford struggled to find a house for herself, her 2-yearold daughter, and dog, Zorie.

“Renting a house was insane,” said Blandford, a Navy nurse practitioner, referring to the summer 2021 housing market. “It felt like I was going to be paying someone all this money to live here just so I could do this job.”

When an apartment search proved similarly expensive, she brainstormed other options.

“I started thinking, ‘What can I do that doesn’t require me to furnish something?’” Though she’d never camped in an RV, Blandford explored the possibility of a house on wheels.

In the pandemic economy, limited housing supply and skyrocketing rental prices have created additional challenges for military families undergoing a PCS. Some, like Blandford, have approached the housing crunch as an opportunity to sample full-time RV living.

After doing “tons and tons of research,” she purchased a two-bedroom, one-bathroom 40-foot fifth wheel. The option to hire a trucking company to move it was enticing, but ultimately, she swapped her hybrid sedan for a heavy-duty diesel pickup truck so she could haul it herself.

Purchasing a motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel can require a substantial up-front

Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Blandford and her daughter, Kennedy, pose with their new home on wheels. They began full-time RV living in the fall of 2021.

investment, especially as a larger remote workforce has spiked the popularity of onthe-go living. The RV Industry Association reports 72 million Americans plan on taking an RV trip next year, up from 62 million last year. According to J.D. Power, growing demand caused prices of new RVs to increase as much as 40% in 2021.

Despite high start-up costs, Blandford feels good about her decision.

“We can pick up and go anywhere,” she said. “I’m an adventurer at heart.”

Blanford also tackled finding a place to set up at her new duty station. Nearby military campgrounds were full, as were long-term spaces at commercial parks. Luckily, she secured an extended campsite at an RV park in Virginia Beach.

As a first-time RV owner, Blandford acknowledges a steep learning curve.

“I watched 80 years’ worth of YouTube videos to figure out how everything worked,” she said. Towing seven tons of house and managing sewage hoses and backwater tanks were all new to her.

Despite these set-up challenges, Blandford’s initial months of RV life have been a positive experience. She says her daughter loves playing in her bunkroom, and they both enjoy the park’s outdoor amenities, which include a playground, jump pillow, swimming pool and a huge field for Zorie.

Guaranteed togetherness

In Coronado, California, seasoned Navy spouse Lauren Moore recalls the housing conundrum that led her to consider an RV. In 2017 her husband, Josh, then a senior chief, received orders to a ship on the East Coast that was scheduled for a homeport move to the West Coast.

As that news sank in, Moore’s biggest concern was spending time together as a family. Brainstorming options, she said, “What about an RV? Because if our house has wheels, that would guarantee we’d spend more time together.”

The family purchased a 43-foot, twobedroom, two-bathroom fifth wheel with an extended five-year warranty. Shortly after her husband’s ship deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, in 2019, Moore and their two daughters, Caroline and Jacquelyn, packed up the fifth wheel and towed it to California.

Moore says the decision to go mobile was partly fueled by their nightmare experience as first-time homeowners.

“We had purchased a home in 2006 and then the housing bubble burst. When we weren’t able to sell it, we had to do a foreclosure,” she said.

Since settling into RV life, Moore says consistency is a major perk for their children.

“When we change duty stations, the girls have a constant: the same room and the same house. In an ever-changing Navy life, it’s nice to have something consistent.”

Though she’s happy living in an RV, Moore was quick to acknowledge the drawbacks. For one, their preferred RV park requires them to move every 30 days. And monthly fees can get expensive, especially in California where some parks charge extra per child, per pet, per vehicle and for electricity usage.

“Those costs can add up, especially for large families,” Moore said. Other hidden costs include frequent equipment repairs and satellite Wi-Fi plans.

School presents another hurdle. Many RV families choose to homeschool, but for those who prefer public school, Moore says it’s up to each school to offer admission without an established address in the district. She feels fortunate their daughters have attended the same public school for three years.

For Moore, the benefits of RV living outweigh the challenges. Her husband’s short commute to base and the amount of time they spend outdoors are high on her priority list.

“I enjoy that we have such a small space,” she said. “We spend less time managing stuff and more time actually living.”

Navy spouse Lauren Moore takes a selfie with her daughters, Jacquelyn and Caroline, in front of their family’s fifth wheel, which they purchased in 2017 as their primary residence.

Navy veteran credits military service for his heart failure survival

As Jon Rotenberry, a former Navy operations specialist, waited at the pharmacy to pick up the prescription his primary care doctor had written him earlier in the day, his phone rang.

BY NIKKI DAVIDSON

He had a severe cough, along with bouts of nausea and fatigue. Diagnosed with a case of pneumonia at a convenient care facility while on vacation, he was surprised to see his doctor’s number appear on the screen. The urgent message that followed was inconceivable.

“My doctor was pretty nervous that I would not even make it through the night,” recalled Rotenberry, now an air traffic controller. “That I would actually drown in my own lungs.”

Tests showed Rotenberry’s heart had doubled in size, and his lungs were full of fluid. The seemingly healthy 39-year-old was unknowingly experiencing late-stage heart failure caused by cardiomyopathy. His heart was struggling to pump blood through his body. His doctor ordered he get to the ER as soon as possible.

“I didn’t even have day-by-day; it was just minute-by-minute,” said Rotenberry. “To get this freight train of news that I’m probably not going to make it was probably one of the most unsettling things I’ve ever heard.”

He describes what happened next in the ICU as a blur; all he remembers is the cruel timing of the threat to his mortality. He and his wife had struggled with infertility issues in the past and were expecting a baby.

“The thought of not getting to see my child, that was the thing that really started to be my main motivation to get out of this,” he said.

Rotenberry admits he likely wouldn’t have scheduled that life-saving doctor’s appointment if it wasn’t for the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he assumed antibiotics could handle his illness, and he only wanted to see a doctor to be sure he wasn’t spreading the virus.

“I didn’t feel like I was at the brink of death or anything like that,” Rotenberry said.

Doctors do not believe he had COVID-19. However, the reluctant visit saved Rotenberry’s life.

Cardiology specialist Dr. Felton Anderson expressed that the veteran “would not have survived more than 48 hours otherwise,” as his heart was barely pumping any blood through

his body. Health professionals believe his condition was caused by a virus damaging his heart for six months or longer.

Rotenberry spent 22 days in the ICU before making a miraculous recovery. He credits a heart failure medication, Entresto, and his military training for his survival.

“Mindset is one of the biggest things for us [in the military]; we’re goal-orientated, and we need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keeping your mind right and not seeing all of the negatives can be important,” Rotenberry said, adding that his time in the service prepared him to “follow doctor’s orders well.”

Thousands of Americans do not recover like Rotenberry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four U.S. deaths is due to heart disease.

Researchers are now focusing their attention on how heart health affects service members. One study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2020 suggests female veterans with PTSD are 44% more likely to develop heart disease than those without PTSD. A separate study from the Journal of the American Heart Association reported that active-duty Army personnel have worse cardiovascular health than civilians of a similar age. According to the data, only 30% of soldiers have ideal blood pressure, compared to 55% of civilians.

Rotenberry urges other service members, especially veterans, to form a relationship with a medical provider, adding that if he had done so earlier, “some of the early tell-tale signs could have been caught.”

Anderson feels a military member affected by heart failure may have a better chance of survival than most as they’re trained to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain physical fitness. He stressed that Rotenberry’s recovery is remarkable and finds it impressive that the veteran practices jiu-jitsu as part of his fitness routine in recovery.

“He’s a tough guy,” said Anderson. “For

someone who went through what he did, jiu-jitsu is remarkable, and just a credit to him being in the service and knowing his body and how to exercise.”

Rotenberry manages his condition with his Entresto medication and a healthy, lowsodium diet. In February, he will turn 41, a birthday he once didn’t expect to see. He looks forward to celebrating it with his wife and very active 1-year-old daughter, Adalynn.

“She’s yet another reason I’ve got to keep up with my physical activity,” Rotenberry laughed.

Early heart failure warning signs

• Shortness of breath

• Chronic coughing or wheezing

• Swelling

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite

• Call 911 immediately if you have chest pain, fainting or severe weakness

“To get this freight train of news that I’m probably not going to make it was probably one of the most unsettling things I’ve ever heard.”

–Navy veteran Jon Rotenberry

Gold Star spouse finds therapy through writing and family

BY TEAL YOST

Katie Vail will be the first to tell you — she has a full, happy life.

She’s a mother of three, happily married and a successful blogger and Instagram influencer, sharing fashion, home decor, wellness tips and more. But while Vail feels fortunate and content, it isn’t necessarily the life she thought she’d have. That’s because Vail is also a Gold Star spouse.

Many people haven’t gotten married or started a career by 23. Meanwhile, Vail was already a war widow and serving as an Army officer.

She comes from a long line of Army officers.

“The military was always a part of my life — and I knew what it was to serve and what the military lifestyle was,” Vail said. Still, it wasn’t part of her plan.

“Honestly, it never crossed my mind to join the military,” she shared. “I told my dad there was a 1% chance I’d go to West Point.”

But she agreed to a visit, and before long, that long shot started to look more like a sure thing.

“Just walking around the campus, I had a feeling I’d never had before. It was a realization that this was where I belonged.”

Vail, who grew up in Georgia, had always pictured herself attending the University of Georgia and joining a sorority.

“Suddenly, my future looked very different,” she said. “I thought, if I get in, I’m going to be wearing Army boots and a uniform. I won’t be able to decorate my barracks room. It was a lot to take in.”

Still, Vail’s decision to become a cadet was the right one.

“I’ve never regretted it.”

It was at West Point that she met fellow cadet Dimitri del Castillo.

“He was funny, nice to everybody, just a joy to be around. I was smitten from the beginning,” Vail said.

They commissioned in 2009. Vail in the Adjutant General Corps (human resources) and del Castillo as an infantry officer, later becoming an Army Ranger.

Both were slated to deploy to Afghanistan in 2011.

“I was scared, but I was incredibly anxious for Dimitri. He was going to be an infantry platoon leader. We’d already lost friends and had friends injured, but you suck it up and do what you’re asked to do,” Vail said.

They married in a courthouse ceremony in December 2010 with a more traditional

wedding scheduled for July 2012, shortly after they were supposed to return from Afghanistan.

But that second ceremony wasn’t meant to be. Del Castillo was killed by enemy sniper fire on June 25, 2011, leading a platoon in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

Vail learned of her husband’s death sooner than the typical military spouse would have.

“I found out the same day,” she revealed. “You can protect your spouse when they are not also deployed, getting the same information. That wasn’t possible with me. I’d been anxious all day. I remember walking into my commander’s office. He and the chaplain were there. I saw their faces, and I knew immediately.”

Del Castillo was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously. They remain in Vail’s jewelry box more than 10 years later.

Also, more than a decade later, Vail is remarried and has three children.

“When I was pregnant with Jack [her oldest], I had so much grief in my heart because it was not the baby I had in my mind for all of college time.”

But —

“Circumstances change. They are the perfect children for me,” Vail said. “But with every milestone, grief never leaves you. And it comes up when you don’t necessarily expect it.”

For that reason, Vail is especially thankful for her current husband, Tom, a former Army EOD officer.

“I really needed someone strong that wouldn’t be threatened by the loss that I experienced. He knows that Dimitri will always be in my heart,” Vail said. “He’s not threatened, and I’m so thankful for that.”

Vail added it’s important not to compare the two men.

“I found Tom, who is totally different than Dimitri, but I felt his soul was exactly what I needed,” she said. “I couldn’t have asked for better.”

While her children are still young, Vail admits she hasn’t found the words to explain her loss.

“I’ve tried,” she said. “Jack has visited Dimitri’s grave. And I’ll continue to try as they get older. I want them to know about him, about our story — he deserves that.”

Vail left active-duty service in 2014 and has since shifted her focus to family and her lifestyle blog, Stripes and Whimsy, which she started in 2013.

“I was two years removed from Dimitri’s death,” Vail said. “I was working at the Pentagon and wanted a creative outlet. I’d always been interested in decorating, and clothing and writing was therapy for me.”

She’s built a community of more than 15,000 on Instagram, sharing decorating projects, fashion ideas, her love of running and more.

“I will say after losing Dimitri, after losing a spouse, I grew in a way,” she said. “I grew in my confidence. Knowing I could get through something so devastating, it gave me the courage to pursue started some things I’d always wanted to try.”

Follow Vail on Instagram @stripesandwhimsy

Space Force partners with universities to enhance training and retain talent

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

With the latest addition of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, the Space Force is now partnering with 11 American universities as part of its prestigious University Partnership Program (UPP).

“The reason that the Space Force designed the UPP is because we want to identify, develop and retain talent,” said Space Force Chief of Developmental Partnerships Sheilia Kane. “We want our future Space Force workforce to be diverse and highly qualified, and to help facilitate this objective, we chose to leverage the top academic institutions to provide opportunities to our Guardians.”

Top-notch aims

The UPP officially kicked off during a Memorandum of Understanding event in August 2021 at the University of North Dakota, one of the early partner schools. Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond said at the event that the UPP is necessary for an innovative American future.

“Our nation is depending on the next generations of scientists and engineers to help us solve the most challenging problems across a variety of industries,” Raymond said. “Any knowledge gained from the Space Force partnership is ultimately for the benefit of our society.”

The Space Systems Design Lab director at Georgia Institute of Technology, which

joined UPP in November, agrees. Dr. Glenn Lightsey envisions the partnership as a way to educate and train future and current Space Force workers and provide research opportunities. He says the Space Force reached out to Georgia Tech early in 2021, with the process of becoming an official partner culminating on Veterans Day. Raymond even gave a presentation about the Space Force at the school in 2020, establishing an early connection with the institution.

“We think it’s all really exciting,” Lightsey said. “This is the future of space exploration, and Georgia Tech wants to contribute to that, whether it’s through the research we do or our graduates and alumni who contribute to those activities.”

STEM to stern

Kane said that one of the first tangible portions of the UPP involves sending current Guardians to earn advanced STEM-related degrees at the partner universities.

“STEM and advanced education are going to play huge roles in the future development, new knowledge and innovation required to sustain the Space Force’s mission and overall national security,” she said. “In order to do that, we’ve got to have interest from younger ages in STEM programs to help tackle problems and drive advancement for the Space Force.”

The 11 institutions were chosen, Kane said,

based on four criteria: an established, strong STEM program; a campus ROTC program from which to draw future officers; diversity of student body; and programming designed to accommodate Guardian needs, such as online class capabilities.

Unlike the other branches, Kane pointed out, the Space Force plans to remain staffed equally by military and civilian workers.

“We want not just ROTC cadets, but we also want students,” she explained. “We’re very excited to have both kinds of members serving our country.”

In the future, the Space Force may expand the UPP beyond this current group of 11, Kane said, and there might be opportunities for other schools to participate in “mutually-beneficial research projects.” Besides Georgia Tech, North Carolina A&T and the University of North Dakota, the partner schools include Howard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas at El Paso.

“If you imagine what the future of space looks like, you imagine it as an active place where new discoveries are being made, and that’s where we want to go at Georgia Tech,” Lightsey said. “The idea that space is a growing area where a lot of things can happen, where these universities are part of the human enterprise looking into the future — that’s what’s thrilling to me.”

From left: Lt. Gen. Nina M. Armagno, U.S. Space Force director of staff, with Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Chaouki T. Abdallah and Provost Steven W. McLaughlin at a ceremony for the university’s induction into the Space Force University Partnership Program.

VETERAN-FOCUSED COMPANY LOOKS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH SHARED VALUES

BY KRISTEN DE DEYN KIRK - SPONSORED

A few months into his role as president and chief operating officer at AAG (American Advisors Group), Ed Robinson set a company goal for 2022: Delight customers.

Two little words, one big challenge. Robinson’s up for it, and he wants veterans to help him.

“Hiring veterans gives you a leg up on the competition,” the former Army staff sergeant says.

His fellow veterans have the qualities — discipline, rigor, selflessness — that make it possible to exceed customers’ expectations.

Paramount to Robinson is esprit de corps, the desire and ability to build camaraderie — whether it be with co-workers or customers.

AAG offers reverse mortgages, which allow homeowners ages 62 and older to access their home’s equity in exchange for cash. Many are familiar with “Magnum, P.I.” and “Friends” actor Tom Selleck endorsing AAG on TV, emphasizing how homeowners can remain in their homes and use the reverse mortgage funds to repair or remodel it — or take care of other needs*. AAG also specializes in all VA loans, including interest rate reduction refinance loans. AAG has carefully built its team to serve veterans (and service members). They’ve selected experienced professionals, some of them retired military, who are passionate about helping veterans and their families. In 2021, they hired 32 employees who previously served in the military.

The financial services industry looks like numbers and money, paperwork and signatures. And it is — with customers’ nerves and concerns, hopes and dreams fueling the process.

“Every transaction is personalized,” Robinson emphasizes. “Every situation is different; there are nuances.”

AAG employees must keep customers’ emotions top of mind and patiently, wisely listen. Robinson is proud of what he describes as the “unique way” AAG representatives talk to customers:

• The first interaction between the two is an in-depth conversation.

• The AAG representative gathers information.

• No product or service is offered.

The company always embraces a no-sales concept during that introductory call — and until they uncover the customer’s true needs.

“We are not pushy,” the president says. That initial conversation should demonstrate AAG’s first core value: Caring.

Their other two core values — driven and ethical — should also be reflected in that talk. All three AAG core values should be key elements later in the AAG customerAAG representative relationship when the representative offers and processes loans.

Robinson, as a third-generation military man, appreciates efficiency and productivity. When he arrived at AAG in August 2021, he spent several months streamlining the company’s loan process.

“We’ve gotten the ship extraordinarily tight,” he shares.

Those who served in the military are often ideal employees because of what they learned, no matter their branch, their rank or their job.

“Businesses recruit heavily from the military because we have leadership skills,” Robinson says. “We’re decisive and are ready with quick alternatives.”

Most important to him: The military teaches you how to interact with others.

He needs those types of employees — people who communicate clearly and problem solve quickly — because he wants his customers to expect the best. In fact, Robinson advises customers to keep high standards and take the following approach when looking into mortgages:

• Ask questions.

• Lean into an AAG representative; share all your financial details and concerns so that you can be fully prepared.

• Escalate any problems.

ADVICE FOR JOB HUNTERS

AAG President and Chief Operating Officer Ed Robinson, a former Army staff sergeant, shares three tips for transitioning military members and job-hunting veterans:

“Research, research, research,” he says. “I also refer to this as ‘know what you want to be when you grow up.’”

Robinson, as a 50-year-old who joined the military right out of high school, still asks himself that question. Then he strategizes.

A good plan, Robinson believes, has short, medium and long-term goals — one year, one to three years and beyond.

“Envision what opportunities you’d like to have and design a plan with milestones you need to achieve to get there,” he says.

Also consider experiences equally with experience. Robinson transitioned from “being a longrange reconnaissance sniper guy” to

“We do everything to avoid it, but I feel terrible if someone faces even a small issue when being helped by AAG,” Robinson stresses. “We want the chance to apply a Band-Aid, make it right and delight our customers.”

a “finance guy,” he says, not because of a direct connection between his Army service and finance. Instead, he leaned into leadership roles, relationship building and education, earning business degrees from Temple University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Think skillset, not just status.

Robinson’s “research, research, research” advice also applies to the process of evaluating the organizations you consider for employment: Who are they at their core? What values guide them? Read about the organizations and talk to their employees — past and present — to understand how they accomplish — or don’t accomplish — their goals.

In 2021, AAG hired 32 veterans as new employees, and they’re eager to invite more in.

Why?

“Their values and ours line up,” Robinson says.

—Kristen De Deyn Kirk

For more information on AAG VA loans, visit http://www.aag.com/va-loan-info or call (866) 948-0003. Veterans who are 62 and older may also qualify for a reverse mortgage. To learn more, visit, https:// www.aag.com/reverse-mortgage/ financial-tool-veterans/

right to remain in the home is contingent on paying property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, and complying with the loan terms. NMLS: 9392 (http://nmlsconsumeraccess.org); (866) 948-0003; http://aag.com/disclosure; 18200 Von Karman Ave. Ste 300 Irvine, CA 92612; aag.com

Proposed extended tour lengths could reduce food insecurity

BY JENNIFER BARNHILL

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III released a memo in November directing Pentagon leadership to combat food insecurity through several initiatives, including extended tour lengths. The directive leaves many military families wondering if implementable, people-first changes are on the horizon.

Austin’s strategy seeks to address the problem of food insecurity through the extended tours of duty and two additional methods of change: funding immediate relief and strengthening financial readiness programming.

Shannon Razsadin, executive director of the Military Family Advisory Network ( MFAN ), says it will be releasing data in 2022 related to the causal factors of food insecurity among families they’ve worked with in Texas.

MFAN and other military nonprofit organizations seek to combat food insecurity both by raising awareness and providing meals to hundreds of thousands of families at food events.

“What are the things that are happening in families’ lives that bring them to the point of being food insecure?” asked Razsadin. “Until we have that information, everything else is really a Band-Aid. We need to get at the root causes.”

Studies show frequent moves take a physical, emotional and economic toll on families. Razsadin says extending tours

could mitigate these issues, whereas simply improving financial training may not reach those on the frontlines — spouses.

“It’s often the military spouses who are making sure that the kids and the service member are fed,” she said. “And the military spouses, often women, are going without.”

Razsadin shared that MFAN is pleased to see progress on this issue but acknowledges that a multifaceted approach is required to combat the problem.

“Financial education is an important piece, but if you’re at the end of the day, and you can’t make ends meet no matter how much financial education you might receive, you still can’t make ends meet,” said Razsadin. “So, we’ve got to figure out how we can close that gap in a productive way.”

Move less, save more

Todd Ernst, founder and CEO of PCSgrades, believes reducing the number and frequency of military moves would reduce the financial burden faced by all military families.

“The problem [lack of affordable housing] is this has really been a national problem,” he said. “It’s more acute in a few areas, but not by much relatively. Extending a tour of duty is more of a universal impact.”

AL

In addition to saving military families’ money, this shift could also save the DOD money in moving costs and reduce the strain on already over-contracted moving companies. Of course, it also requires a shift in military mindset. Air Force spouse Andrea Singsaas is cautiously optimistic.

“Just having the option to stay creates the feeling that they have more sense of control within their life,” said Singsaas.

She also believes that hope for career advancement should not be limited to onehalf of a couple.

“I really think that there’s an opportunity to grow and develop in one place,” Singsaas said. “It just might be a little bit of a different path than what might have been considered traditional within an active-duty role.”

The added stability of longer tour lengths could also bring new challenges. According to a 2021 report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), “if large numbers of service members want to stay in locations where their spouses have professional licenses, it could be more difficult for DOD to ensure it has sufficient personnel in locations where they are most needed.”

“I feel like continuity for the service members’ career field and families would be really beneficial,” said Air Force spouse Courtney Walinski. “Of course, the flip side is, if someone isn’t great at their job or you don’t like where you are at, you are stuck. I think having the ability to choose … to have the option to stay longer versus extending the time as a standard would be nice.”

Most military families agree that options are key. Army spouse Helen Chou said she fought for months to maintain overseas status with her family while her husband finishes a six-month PCS back in the U.S. Afterward, he plans to come straight back to their current post for another assignment.

“We have kids in school; it’s not easy to constantly uproot families, especially with kids in tow or spouses who finally land a job,” she said. “And the latter has happened as well. I finally hear back on a job after getting clearance and find out we are getting curtailed on the assignment.”

Chou adds that an extension is a terrific option if the family is enjoying the tour, “but it should just be an option, not necessarily a must for everyone, because let’s face it — there are less desirable places out there.”

MFAN has been hosting food distribution events as part of its 1 Million Meals Challenge. Courtesy photo.

Q&A WITH WWII VETERAN AND AUTHOR SAM BAKER

BY MELISSA M. STEWART

Most people revel in relaxation during retirement. But 99-year-old World War II veteran Sam Baker decided to reinvent himself at age 95 with a brand-new career — as a children’s book author. After his time as a Marine and a 30-year career at NOAA, helping kids learn to love reading became a top priority. His latest story, “Oscar The Mouse,” is based on the pet rat he kept as a child.

After such a diverse background, what made you want to start writing?

Most of us have a bucket list that we never have time to do, until life presents us with spare time, and that is what happened to me. When I purchased my first computer, my son called and said, ‘Dad, now that you have a computer, why don’t you write down the stories you told us when we were kids, for your granddaughter?’ It was a perfect time and I wrote my first book.

Describe who your children’s books are written for.

Both of my books were written with two basic goals — to encourage children of all ages to learn to read and to impart an important life’s message of acceptance. Reading is the foundation for all future learning.

When you are not writing, what are some of your favorite things to do?

My son and I are waiting for the U.S. Patent Office to rule on our design for a new football helmet that greatly reduces the impact the players receive when contact between two players is made. This has required a substantial amount of time, but enjoyable time, well spent, and if successful, will be most gratifying when it reduces injuries.

What’s next?

Can you share a lesson learned from your time as a Marine?

During World War II, when I finally arrived on Guadalcanal and was assigned a platoon, I asked senior officers that I respected for advice: ‘Look after your men and when the time comes, your men will look after you.’

Book number three is on the way, and we hope to have it ready early- to mid-2022. If my book can encourage children to become avid readers, I will feel that I have been a great success.

For more information on Sam Baker or to order “Oscar The Mouse” or “The Silly Adventures of Petunia & Herman The Worm,” visit https://www.sambakerbooks.com/.