2022 MF NOVEMBER

by AMERIFORCE MEDIA, LLC

Life after the military

As my husband prepared to retire from the Marines four years ago, I focused on “other” aspects of leaving behind the only way of life we had ever known: choosing a location to call home, spending uninterrupted time together, and never saying goodbye again.

For example, which medical or dental plan should we use? Do we enroll in the Survivor Benefit Plan? Taxes! There are so many taxes, and it is quite the financial adjustment when it comes time to file.

Entering the military way of life straight out of high school affords a certain kind of safety net. For all the times I complained about having little control over our lives, I adapted to it like a champ. Now being faced with making grown up decisions on our own, it reinforced the old saying that the grass isn’t always greener. After all, if the new zip code was bad or the insurance didn’t cover the right amounts, we had no one to blame but ourselves. contributors

We took the formal steps for planning; he attended the Transition Assistance Program classes, I went to the Spouse Transition & Readiness Seminar. And it was encountering those first-time civilian things that proved to be the hardest. Classes and experts give you the tools to make decisions, but you still have to know how to use them for effectiveness.

Elena Ferrarin

Melissa M. Stewart

Brunella Costagliola

Ron Strzalkowski

Tiffany Lawrence

Ben Greene

Crystal Kupper

Will Martin

John H Davis

Amy Pottinger

Chris Adams

Jessica Manfre

Meredith Flory

At some point you will face these same choices and there is no shortage of information to steer you on a good path, like many of the topics we cover in this issue. The best advice I can offer is to read, listen and research as much as you can, but then do what’s best for you. What was the optimal career path for one of your peers, may not lead to meaningful employment for you; or just because one state is deemed “veteran friendly” does not mean it will check all the boxes for your household. Craft your next move on your own terms because you earned the freedom to do so.

Managing Editor Managing Editor

by Melissa M. Stewart

Individual requests can be made at https://militaryfamilies.com/subscribe-free/.

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 publisher. AmeriForce Media, LLC, the publishers, and publisher’s agents make no endorsement of any advertised services or products and none should be inferred.

by Ron Strzalkowski

by Ben Greene

Will Martin

MIL FAM matters

AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

Guardsmen and reservists can now submit their employer’s name for the 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Since its inception in 1996, 325 employers have been recognized for exceptional support of the reserve component. Nominations can be made at www.freedomaward.mil until Dec. 31, 2022.

GOING VIRAL

OPEN SEASON

TRICARE open season starts Nov. 14 and ends Dec. 13, 2022. It is the time of year when families can make changes to their health care plans. Visit TRICARE for a helpful checklist of what to know at https://newsroom. tricare.mil/Articles/Article/3154876/achecklist-to-help-you-prepare-for2022-tricare-open-season.

STAFF ON THE MOVE

National Account Executive Christina Gordon spends the day with the Blue Angels in Nevada. The last flight demonstrations of the year take place Nov. 5-6 at Peachtree City, Georgia, and Nov. 11-12 at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

Full 2023 schedule can be viewed at https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/ show.

OVERHEARD

“The Department of Defense has a sacred obligation to take care of our service members and families. Doing so is a national security imperative. Our military families provide the strong foundation for our force, and we owe them our full support.” – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III stated in a memo to senior leaders, titled “Taking Care of Our Service Members and Families.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jackie Sanders

DOD announced a number of actions in September that address the financial health of the force, including a BAH increase for 28 military housing areas; an increase of Dislocation Allowance for ranks E1-E6; improving access to child care programs; enhancing military spouse employment support; and more.

Next year will mark the 15th anniversary of Student Veterans of America, and the organization plans “12 months of celebration” kicking off with its annual national conference in January.

“Every month, we’re going to feature unique stories of the history and mission of SVA, and our vision for the future,” said Jared Lyon, national president and CEO of SVA, which has nearly 1,600 chapters representing an estimated 754,000 student veterans.

A big focus in 2023 will be to connect employers nationwide with student veterans, who earn bachelor’s degrees at twice the rate of the average American, Lyon said.

Employers who want to hire veterans typically focus on those who just came out of the

BY ELENA FERRARIN

military, Lyon said. However, 70% of people who leave active duty enroll in school within seven months, and about three-fourths of student veterans also work, mostly with parttime jobs in the retail and service industries, he said.

“There is this whole (pool of) talent hiding in plain sight,” he said.

SVA will work on increasing awareness among education institutions about the importance of providing inclusive child care, one of the most pressing issues among student veterans, Lyon said. A total 20% of student veterans are single parents, and 52% are married with children, he said.

Some universities are finding “creative solutions,” like Colorado State University,

Jared Lyon, national president and CEO of SVA

which has an early childhood center, staffed by students, that serves student veterans at a free or reduced cost, he said.

Representatives of local SVA chapters said it’s crucial to have supportive university leadership, including an administrator specifically entrusted with overseeing veteranrelated issues.

Allison Manville, SVA chapter secretary at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, said that when she enrolled in 2019, members met in a small area “shoved in a corner.” Then came a new university president who hired a military and veteran resource manager, and eventually the chapter secured its own space on two of the university’s campuses, she said.

“We can go there to eat lunch and spend time between classes,” she said. “It’s really nice.”

Besides the camaraderie, SVA is a great place to find resources like tutoring and information about things like veterans’ benefits, Manville said. The chapter also is connected to a veteran alumni group for continued support after graduation, said Manville, who has two children and will graduate in December.

Carla Suarez, 27, a member of the SVA chapter at Loyola University Chicago, said her chapter has grown largely due to the commitment of new leadership at the school’s military veteran student services office.

“There was a lot of turnover (at the chapter) before,” said Suarez, who also will graduate in December. “Now it’s a lot more stable and it feels like a community.”

The chapter currently meets in an “oversized cubicle” and hopes to secure its own space on campus, Suarez said. It has started to hold consistent monthly events, including recreational, and plans to work on connecting student veterans to employment opportunities, she said.

It’s especially important to bring together student veterans because their background and average age sets them apart from traditional undergraduates, Suarez said. After she took a semester off to welcome her child in April 2020, SVA helped her figure out that she could use her veteran’s benefits longer than she initially thought, she said.

“That took a really big load off me,” she said.

SVA hopes that next year, more states will enact legislation — like Nebraska has done — that paves the way for student veterans to

enroll in school when they leave active duty, Lyon said.

Additionally, colleges can do so individually, he said, following the example of Grand Valley State University, whose “Veteran Promise” offers deferred pre-approved admission for high schoolers who enlist for at least two years.

“At a time when the majority of branches are likely to not meet their recruiting mission, this is something really innovative,” he said.

Another area of focus for SVA will be addressing monthly housing allowances in the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which have become too low for today’s cost-of-living standards and penalize students who take online classes, he said. Also, student veterans’ benefits should include access to study abroad opportunities, he said.

Visit

BLAST HAVING A

“I get them all in suspense and then I tell them that the magic word is perseverance,” he said. “Don’t give up. Persevere when you run into a tough problem. I use the magic word a lot.”

When you consider Johnson’s success — the entrepreneur and engineer who created a best-selling toy is a 2022 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee — it might be hard to imagine his struggles.

But Johnson had plenty to overcome,

including occasionally talking his way out of trouble as a boy growing up in Alabama. As a curious child, he constantly tinkered, making things like homemade rocket fuel that landed him in the principal’s office when his brother brought it to their school.

“If I were a kid doing some of the things today that I did back then it would be a whole different ballgame,” Johnson said. “I got in trouble, but fortunately, my curiosity was not stymied, and I didn’t get into any trouble I couldn’t recover from.”

In 1968, Johnson introduced his “the Linex” compressed-air-powered robot, which won

first prize in a high school science fair held at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Johnson, who was the only Black student in the competition, said he has often been underestimated due to the color of his skin.

“Swimming upstream was something it seems like I’ve done all my life,” he said.

Just keep swimming … and soaking

Johnson’s obstacles never affected his desire to achieve. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Tuskegee University, where he participated in the ROTC program, Johnson worked briefly as a research engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the Air Force.

The Air Force veteran and inventor of the Super Soaker water blaster reveals the term when speaking to groups of promising young innovators.

Dr. Lonnie Johnson has a magic word — one that often prevents him from becoming saturated by a flood of challenges.

He led the Space Nuclear Power Safety Section at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, before accepting an offer to work as a systems engineer at NASA’s Jefferson Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Cassini mission to Saturn.

When he returned to the Air Force in the early ’80s, Johnson had the opportunity to help develop the stealth bomber program. During all of this career growth, he also found free time to focus on personal inventions. When conducting some experiments on an environmentally-friendly heat pump that used water instead of Freon, he hooked up a nozzle to his faucet.

“I shot this stream of water across the bathroom,” he said. “And I thought, ‘A highperformance water gun would be really, really cool.’”

His shot in the dark eventually turned into the Super Soaker sensation — but not before years of trouble shooting … literally.

“I got the idea for the invention, but the design and engineering were more deliberate than accident,” he said.

Johnson said he applied engineering know-how to the potential product and tested iterations of the toy on his family and colleagues.

“I used to take it to office functions when I was in the military,” he said. “It was always a great icebreaker.”

After meeting with many potential investors for seven years, Johnson sold his most well-known invention to Larami Corporation (acquired shortly after by Hasbro Inc.) in 1989, and it became the best-selling toy in America two years later.

A labor of love

Today, Johnson has found happiness in “a hobby that has become a job.” He is the president and founder of Johnson Research and Development Co., his technology development company (along with many spin-off companies) in Atlanta. Here, he and his teams develop energy technology like

Each December, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach, is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 2,500 participating locations in all 50 states and abroad. Now is the time to get involved. A $15 donation sponsors a live, hand-made balsam veteran’s wreath for placement on the final resting place of an American hero. To register to volunteer, or to sponsor wreaths, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

CFC #66860

a new generation of rechargeable battery technology and the Johnson ThermoElectrical Converter (JTEC), which converts waste heat to electrical energy.

“I tell people that Super Soaker spoiled me,” he said about the toy that has now generated more than $1 billion in sales. “If I want to get involved in something, I want it to be a game changer.”

Johnson said, just like with children, it’s nearly impossible to pick his favorite “game changer” throughout years of innovation. His patents also are the basis of Nerf’s N-Strike line of products.

Johnson now holds more than 100 patents in all.

“Human beings are very creative,” he said. “The difference is some of us follow through and some of us don’t.”

Kids across the world benefit from his perseverance, and today he’s happy to pass along advice and encouragement to the next generation of tinkerers.

“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “I enjoy what I do.”

Interested in becoming an innovator? Here are a few places to start:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office hosts a Veterans Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program event series for participants to learn from accomplished inventors, discover resources and gain practical tips. For information about the 2022 virtual event on Nov. 30, email InnovationOutreach@ uspto.gov or call 571-272-8033.

The VA’s Technology Transfer Program (TTP) assists researchers and other VA employees by licensing protected VA technologies to companies able to make and sell the inventions to the public. Visit https://www.research.va.gov/programs/ tech_transfer/default.cfm for more information.

DAV’s Patriot Boot Camp helps activeduty, veterans and military spouses in their mission to become creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs leading the new economy. To find an upcoming program, visit https://patriotbootcamp. org/

TO GUIDE WOMEN THROUGHOUT

VETERAN PENS BOOK MILITARY CAREER

BY BRUNELLA COSTAGLIOLA, AIR FORCE VETERAN SPOUSE

Catering to women who are considering joining the military, the book – which retired Army Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder called “the guide I wish I had before joining the U.S. Army” – is a thorough and reliable source of information to accompany women throughout their military career.

Huffman speaks to readers as a longtime friend, the kind that just gets it.

“I served in the Air Force for six years as a civil engineer,” said Huffman, recalling her military service, which included a deployment to Afghanistan.

Though choosing to leave the military with the arrival of her son, Huffman’s commitment to supporting her peers never ended. Aside from being a military spouse and mother to two children, Huffman hosts a weekly podcast, “Women of the Military,” where she interviews

women who have served.

She also started a mentorship program to help connect young women with others who are serving or have served. Huffman says “A Girl’s Guide to Military Service” was born from her desire to help other service women.

“How can I help women transition out of military service?” she asked herself. “The more I thought about it, the farther I went back and realized the best way to transition out of the military is to have support from the moment you start your career.”

As she embarked upon her writing journey, she was determined to create a book that “isn’t just focused on joining the military, but one that puts the information in your hands.”

Wishing to address the most pressing, often unspoken and pivotal topics, Huffman

covered everything from “military sexual trauma, sexual harassment, dating and periods, to finances, post-traumatic stress, preparing for life after the military, and even being a mom, whether as a single parent, dual military, or married to a civilian.”

Huffman warns readers that “the military isn’t right for everyone, and each branch has its own unique personality,” but she also encourages them to “find the right place for you, so you can have a successful career that can open doors to your future no matter if you serve four years, over 20 or somewhere in between.”

A book that the author hopes her readers will use as the go-to guide throughout their military career, it’s is an easy-to-follow narrative that is as informative in tone as it is encouraging.

“A Girl’s Guide to Military Service” can also be purchased at https:// militaryfamilybooks.com/ products/a-girls-guideto-military-service-byamanda-huffman.

“Make the best choice for you.” This is the message that Amanda Huffman wishes to spread with her book, “A Girl’s Guide to Military Service,” published by Elva Resa in September 2022.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN

HERE’S

Service members preparing to exit a military career – or veterans who are already there – likely have learned there is no one-size-fits-all approach to transitioning from the service. However, the list below is how I successfully moved into defense acquisitions shortly after retiring from the Marine Corps.

This is not an all-inclusive list, but my two cents from my own journey to becoming a program manager (PM) for the Department of Defense (DOD).

When looking to get hired within the DOD, choose a location that has a large propensity for DOD civilian labor, such as Huntsville, Alabama; Quantico, Virginia; and Pax River, Maryland. You will need the ability to change jobs and chase opportunities while staying local — this will prevent disruption on the homefront. Additionally, outlier locations that only have five or 10 position postings annually will limit your ability to gain experience and build your resume.

Unless your current MOS is an exact fit as a PM, you should look at becoming a DOD contractor (commonly referred to as contractor support services, or CSS) supporting a team that is responsible for managing cost, schedule, performance, and risk (CSPR) of a program or multiple projects. They will hire you for your specific qualities – and potentially within a different discipline

BY RON STRZALKOWSKI, MARINE VETERAN

like life-cycle logistics. However, you will be exposed to processes and procedures that are unique to program/project management. Spend your time as a contractor volunteering for more responsibilities and always look for opportunities to hone your skills for managing CSPR. Have searches already built within USAJOBS for 0343 series (program analyst) and 0340 series (program manager) positions. Use these vacancy postings as a checklist of what it takes to qualify for those positions. Continue to strive to gain that experience when working with your team as a contractor.

Once you feel that you qualify for those USAJOBS vacancies, start applying. Don’t worry about what program or what building you’ll be working in. Instead, focus on getting your resume to a “referred” status. This means that you made it through the first step and a human being at the program office will be reviewing your resume and possibly calling you for an interview. Apply everywhere and interview as many times as possible. A government interview is unique and should be prepared for differently. Pro tip: you may be surprised to learn that your current government lead is willing to assist you with your interview prep.

Once selected, take the first offer for a government position for any 0343 or 0340 position. It can be difficult to get into the government from the civilian sector. You will most likely have to use your veteran status to qualify for that position and not every position is open to the public. Most are for internal transfers only. So, take the first offer you receive.

Once you are in the government, learn as much as you can but always have a plan for what’s next. Chart your course and get as much out of your current position. Once the learning curve starts to shallow, learn how your agency advertises internal or lateral transfers. They may also refer to this as a voluntary reassignment. These are vacancies that are not listed in USAJOBS and are typically emailed internally to the agency with only a week to apply. This is the time when you want to be selective and start applying for positions that will further your career.

Choose future positions based on where the program is within the Acquisition Life Cycle (development, production, sustainment) phases. Get as much experience in every phase while trying to stay on large programs (ACAT). This is all geek DAU language but will make sense if you start to take interest. Self-learning opportunity: Acquisition Life Cycle.

All in all, if you choose the right location, you will have the flexibility to learn and progress without disrupting your household by changing schools or relocating every few years. There are many resources out there, but one of them is on Facebook. Give Veterans 2 Federal Government Jobs (U.S.) a look. Endless resources can be found there on resumes and interviews.

Caveat: government positions are not for everyone. Several program managers I have encountered are government contractors and

choose not to work for the government. Who you are employed by is a personal preference and my personal preference to work for the DOD should not persuade any one person to do the same.

Disclaimer: All views presented are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of DOD or its components. (5 CFR § 3601.108)

SPOUSES TALK ABOUT

TRANSITION MILITARY AHEAD OF A KEY DECISIONS

BY TIFFANY EVE LAWRENCE, MARINE VETERAN SPOUSE

More than 200,000 service members leave the military annually, triggering a range of decisions that need to be made — from choosing a location to finding employment, and more. The Department of Defense estimates nearly half of the active-duty force is married, according to a 2020 demographics report, which means this life change requires input from both parties to effectively plan the next chapter.

Two military spouses reflect on how they prepared for their exits from active-duty military life and what they wish they knew sooner.

Plan early

October marked one year since Nichole Nash and her husband, Brian, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, transitioned after 21 years of service.

Finding employment was at the top of the Nash family’s list of items to plan for.

“We didn’t need any lapse of paying because even though retirement is there, it’s not enough to live on while still raising kids that are in school,” Nash said.

By planning early, her husband was able to secure a job as a pilot. But that can look different for some families.

Many veterans struggle with finding employment. According to Pew Research, only one in four veterans has a job lined up and commissioned officers are twice as likely

to say they had secured employment after the military than NCOs or enlisted members.

Family and relationship dynamics

Tackling employment felt like hooking the biggest fish, but then, the unexpected came.

“Now you’re in my space,” Nash said.

Retirees often spend more time in the home than during their military career, especially if there’s a delay between jobs — creating friction in some relationships.

“Hence why I went and got a full-time job. Not that we needed it. I needed it to go back to how it was so we would still be civil with each other,” she said.

Amy Pottinger’s experience was similar. Her husband, Patrick, transitioned from activeduty Air Force, piloting an F-22 Raptor, to being an Active Guard Reservist in 2019. After serving for 12 years, she said the change was a lot to take in.

“He’s home all the time, which is definitely an adjustment because we’re both pretty independent people,” she said.

Spouses who’ve had to run their household independently can find it challenging to relinquish control when their spouse wants to help.

“It was me trying to release that and say, ‘It’s OK that he picks that up with the kids because he hasn’t before. We’re finding a new norm,’” Nash said.

She advised couples to vocalize when something bothers them to keep issues from festering.

Health care

Whether you’re leaving the military or transitioning to the reserves, Pottinger said you should understand the change in medical care. If you’re living 20 miles or more from a base, you’ll have to find a civilian provider for yourself and your children.

After attending many transition trainings, Nash said some of the basics weren’t clearly communicated.

“They don’t even tell you that you need a retirement ID,” she said. “We had to figure that out on our own.”

Write a list of questions you’d like addressed regarding health care. Include each step from choosing a provider, how dental and vision coverage works, and changing from the Exceptional Family Member Program to an Individualized Education Program for children with special needs.

Protect your mental health

Pottinger said to think about “what you need to be happy in that next stage.” While military families are used to reshuffling, making sure you’re in a healthy headspace for this final transition is vital.

Military OneSource covers free counseling services for families for up to a year after retirement.

Sierra Club, Outward Bound create camaraderie through wilderness adventures

BY BEN GREENE

Aaron Leonard, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, and seven other friends backpacked for days in Big Bend National Park. A photo of that beautiful landscape sits on Leonard’s desk, reminding the New York man that wilderness adventures enable uplifting friendships.

The former artillery officer served on active duty and in the National Guard. Now, he’s the program director for Another Summit and manages the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors campaign. Both nonprofits bring vets together to share life during and after outdoor pursuits.

“They join a program that takes people out into nature and they can reform that sense of belonging to a team, just like they did when they were in the military,” he said.

Sierra Club outdoor activities for veterans include bird watching, ice climbing, multi-day expeditions and day hikes. Likewise, Outward Bound’s Veterans Program offers many locations and opportunities.

Anthony Sousa, an Outward Bound lead instructor in North Carolina spent 26 years in the Marine Corps. The retired major now offers the therapy of wilderness to vets whenever he can. All Outward Bound veteran program activities are free.

“We go outside and we realize how we feel better,” Sousa said. “What we’re creating

in the outdoors is space and time without distraction to experience whatever it is that the veteran is seeking.”

Outward Bound helps with goal setting, leadership development, transitions in life or applying new skills to current challenges. A recent Blue Ridge Mountains course helped a veteran realize he often led his children like a military unit.

During that trip, Sousa said, the team dialogued about leadership based on collaboration. Therefore, the veteran had an eye opener: he could use different leadership styles at home.

“They are able to take on new challenges and learn new skills in a very short time period,”

Sousa said. “Sometimes people just need to be shown through an experience.”

Offering a spectrum of activities helps more people, Leonard said, because there are 18.5 million veterans. These people live in diverse communities with varying economic, personal and cultural dynamics.

Leonard said veterans can feel safe: trained trip leaders and properly-designed programs make a supportive, life-giving experience possible.

“Our outdoor leaders are trained on cultural competency for the veteran community,” he said.

Veterans have many barriers to outdoor recreation. For example, Leonard said veterans are often poor, people of color or older than the average American. So empowering veterans to come together is a challenge.

Outdoor camaraderie has saved lives, Leonard said, since many veterans struggle with loneliness, depression or suicidal ideation. The power of the wilderness community gives the clubs reasons to persevere against the challenges.

“We know that veterans who spend time with us on these day trips see increased trust with other veterans,” he said.

He keeps a reminder of such camaraderie in the outdoors on his desk: a picture of Big Bend, a beautiful place. He still remembers realizing the group had developed deep trust in one another.

“If everybody’s a veteran, it’s like this magical moment can occur fairly quickly,” he said about veteran-only trips. “We’re creating that safe space.”

DAV chapters assist veterans in claims process ‘We’re here to help’

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

Victor Siever listened to a speaker from Disabled American Veterans (DAV) during his Transition Assistance Program class in 2021. It was explained that DAV service officers not only help with filing Veterans Affairs’ disability claims, but they guide veterans every step of the way, even after a disability rating is received — all for free.

Photo by Sgt. Juanita Philip

Siever, a member of the Air Force then Air National Guard since 1982, was intrigued. He had watched friends attempt the maze of VA forms and regulations by themselves, and the results hadn’t been pretty.

“I’ve talked to people who’ve tried it on their own, and there is a lot to learn,” Siever said. “You’ve got to know all the forms, when to submit — it’s a whole process that can be confusing, long, frustrating and aggravating.”

He took those examples and marched in the other direction, right toward the office of DAV’s Greater Little Rock chapter in Arkansas.

With approximately 1,900 local chapters nationwide, DAV service officers stay busy helping clients like Siever with their VA claims. Marine veteran Carmen McGinnis, a DAV officer in Colorado, has one message for them: don’t do it alone.

“There is help when it comes to filing VA claims, but there’s so much bad information out there,” she said. “I think a common misperception is that you can more easily file a claim by yourself and figure it out through blogs and forums.”

Yet McGinnis often spends her days undoing mistakes made by well-meaning, lone-wolf veterans in their claims processes. It’s all added up to an unexpected passion for McGinnis and fellow DAV service officers: ensuring that veterans have all the assistance they need when navigating the bureaucracy of VA disability claims.

“To be a light in a fellow veteran’s story and be a safe place to walk them through this very confusing and frustrating process — to me, it doesn’t feel like work at DAV,” she said. “It feels like paying it forward. I can tell them what I wish I had been told in my own claims process.”

What to know about filing claims

If you’re still active duty, you can file your disability claim with the VA up to 180 days before you separate. But the window never shuts on your ability to file a claim; McGinnis once helped a Korean War veteran increase his disability rating from 10% to 100%.

To get the process going — even if you utilize a service organization like DAV — you need to document. McGinnis recommends you spend your final months on active duty visiting

your base clinic to verify any ailments with your medical providers. And if you received any treatment off base, including for areas like mental health, locate and obtain that documentation, too.

Knowing basic information like your dependents’ dates of birth, social security numbers and bank accounts also helps, McGinnis said. Make sure to call the local DAV chapter about a month before your separation date to get on their calendar, as they often get booked quickly. DAV officers can help with VA appeals, too, even

if you didn’t use their services for your initial application.

“Even if you’re unsure, let’s have a conversation,” McGinnis said. “Even if you already have benefits in place, the laws are always changing. We are trained to help you cut through that bureaucracy.”

To contact your local DAV service officer, visit www.dav.org/veterans/ find-your-local-office.

‘I didn’t want to be just a civilian’

Exploring the transition from active duty to reserve component

BY WILL MARTIN, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD & AIR FORCE RESERVE VETERAN

When Lt. j.g. Marcia Villavicencio was eyeing the end of her initial Navy enlistment, she was eager to transition from sailor to student. Free-spirited and expressive, she longed for college and its freedoms.

“I joined right out of high school,” she said. “Active duty can be all-consuming.”

But as campus life approached, Villavicencio realized she wasn’t ready to cut ties to the military altogether – especially the benefits and security it offered. So, she joined the Navy Reserve.

“I didn’t want to be just a civilian,” said Villavicencio, who has since commissioned and now serves as a Navy Reserve officer recruiter. “I wanted to have a safety net, in a way.”

Plenty of pros

Reserve component service – whether through the Army or Air National Guard or one of the reserve forces – offers plenty of benefits, especially to service members anxious about transitioning to civilian life.

“For me, it was kind of a ‘just in case’ kind of thing,” Villavicencio said.

While it’s not usually enough to live off, reserve component service offers a steady paycheck in return for training conducted (at minimum) one weekend each month and a couple weeks each year, usually in the summer. For a college student, that’s

good money, and for non-students, it can supplement a full-time gig while one gets established in the civilian workforce.

“Getting that extra paycheck can be really helpful,” said Sgt. 1st Class Pedro Cordoba, a recruiter with the Washington Army National Guard. “And your job is federally protected. … (Unlike civilian jobs) they can’t just fire or demote you.”

Just as significant, Cordoba added, was the offer of quality health care on the cheap. A single guardsman and reservist can secure TRICARE Reserve Select for around $50 each month, and those with families also enjoy reasonable rates. One need not be near a military base, either, so long as they use innetwork providers. Cost-effective dental plans are available, too.

Put in enough years, and one can retire from the Guard or reserves. After 20 or more years, one can call it quits and expect to pick up a retirement check when they hit around age 60. And the more active-duty time, the bigger the check.

“It’s like a part-time job you can retire from,” Villavicencio said.

Other reserve component benefits include:

• Bonuses for enlistments and highdemand career fields.

• Choice in where to live and work.

• Flexible training demands.

• Access to active-duty amenities, such as base commissary or gyms.

• Opportunities to go on short-term, fulltime military orders.

• Civilian networking opportunities.

• Continued military training, advancement and travel.

• Educational assistance (especially in the National Guard).

A couple of (pretty big) cons

As flexible as the reserve component service is, it can also be highly disruptive.

While most coming off active duty get short-term deferments, meaning they won’t likely get deployed for the first year or so of civilian life, mobilizations are a real possibility for guardsmen and reservists. In fact, during the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reserve component service members made up about half of those deployed to combat zones.

“If something goes down or something happens, you could get called up,” said Villavicencio. “You are still in the military, after all.”

And if you’re a guardsman, you also face the risk of getting mobilized for state emergencies. Wildfires in California and border missions in Texas, for example, can demand several months each year from a National Guardsman.

However, guardsmen, Cordoba notes, are less likely to get called up as an individual, as the National Guard tends to mobilize at the unit level.

“The reserve has the ability of plucking an individual out based on their MOS,” he

said. “If an active-duty unit in California is going to deploy to Africa, they can reach all the way back to West Virginia and grab a reservist and plug them into their unit. The National Guard doesn’t typically do that.”

For guardsmen and reservists, however, even deployments can be benefits, offering a sense of mission and fulfillment, strengthening their ties to their unique military tribes.

“It’s a community within community,” said Cordoba.

FAMILY MEMBERS: ACTIVE-DUTY

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The Federal Benefits Open Season is your annual opportunity to enroll in, change, or cancel a FEDVIP vision plan. This year, open season runs from November 14 through December 12, 2022, with coverage effective January 1, 2023.

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FROM COMBAT TO COLLEGE 5 THINGS VETERANS SHOULD EXPECT IN THE CLASSROOM

BY JOHN H DAVIS, ARMY VETERAN

I’ve been trained for combat, but nobody taught me how to be a student.

I arrived 15 minutes early for my first class and could hardly believe that more than half the class was late on the first day. An unforgivable sin in military culture, but I realized I had entered a different world.

Veterans can feel like Adam Sandler in “Billy Madison” going back to school, an out-ofplace adult surrounded by children. We are nontraditional students — older, with more responsibilities, more likely to have families and more than 50% of student veterans have a service-connected disability.

On the battlefield, as well as in the classroom, momentum matters. Veterans who make it through their first year are more likely to make it to graduation.

At first, expect the adjustment to be a struggle because you’re transitioning to more than college. You’re also getting out of the military, moving around the country and coming back into civilian life. Veterans aren’t only on a path to the degree; college is preparation for a successful life after.

Don’t expect to just go to class and leave. You’re there to build connections, learn and recreate your identity after military service.

In the military, it’s what you know, but on the civilian side who you know matters more. The military is hard, but it’s simple. You know precisely where you fit in. There isn’t a blueprint for college life, and like the military, strategy matters.

1. Expect less structure: Nobody is going to pound on your door or call you if you don’t go. It’s up to you to make every class. Treat it like a military contract and each semester you re-up your obligation.

2. Expect a financial delay your first semester: The housing allowance payment comes on the first and only on the first. Don’t bank on the money too early. Your economic health plays a lot into your mental health, so be prepared.

3. Expect to call for support: Every institution has tutors and academic assistance. Especially if you’ve been out of school for a while, do you remember any high school algebra? Work to develop healthy relationships with your advisor, professors and faculty.

4. Expect to be the only veteran in the room: You might be the only veteran your classmates have ever met. It takes effort to fit in, but it’s necessary because isolation is as dangerous as combat. Make friends, get involved and be patient with your peers if they aren’t up to military standards.

5. Expect anti-military civilian sentiments: Your peers, professors and even society can have differing views on veterans, the military and our conflicts. Lots of comments are more ignorant than malicious and not everyone is going to have a patriotic outlook.

College provides a healthy bridge between the military and civilian world. It’s easy to fall off, but the best advice for any student veteran is to find a mentor to lean on. Take your good military habits into college by getting up early, looking the part, working on a team, exercising, sitting in front and fighting to win.

College is for discovery, fun and growth — but expect it to be exactly what you make it. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you’re there. No lives are on the line. Nobody’s going to yell at you. And you know your schedule.

You earned the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but all it gives is the opportunity, not the degree. If you made it through the military, you can handle college by utilizing your military mindset.

John H Davis

BY AMY POTTINGER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. As a foodie, I love all get togethers surrounded by food preparation. Plus, this holiday offers the perfect opportunity to host other military families for a Friendsgiving celebration.

Here are three ideas that will make your menu even better:

Perfect turkey brine

Brining is the process in which sugar and salt are used to lock in moisture and flavor. This recipe is for a wet brine. You will first need a container large enough to fit the turkey, which includes submerging it in warm water.

Ingredients

3 oranges, sliced

2 lemons, sliced

1 cup whole black peppercorn

1 cup salt

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 ounce fresh sage

3/4 ounce fresh thyme

3/4 ounce fresh oregano

TIP: Many stores will also sell a poultry blend or herbs close to Thanksgiving time

Directions

1. Add sugar and salt to the warm water. Warm water is better for allowing sugar and salt to dissolve more thoroughly.

2. After making the brine solution, add in the citrus, peppercorn and herbs.

3. Submerge the turkey, cover it and refrigerate (anywhere from 12-24 hours).

Duchess potatoes

Duchess potatoes are like mashed potatoes, but they are piped into individual clouds of perfection. They can be made ahead (frozen, if need be), and then baked when you’re looking to serve them. You will want to make sure you have a piping bag and a large piping tip that allows for a sort of swirl pattern.

Ingredients

2 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and boiled well

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup sour cream

2 egg yolks

5 cloves of micro planed garlic/garlic paste

1/2 cup finely shredded parmesan

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. As the potatoes are boiling, add all other ingredients to a stand mixer. This way when the potatoes are added while hot, it melts the butter, cheese and ingredients together really well.

2. After the potatoes have been boiled and break easily when touched, add them to the stand mixer right away.

3. Mix with the paddle attachment until smooth and creamy.

4. Add your piping tip to your bag and then the mashed potatoes.

5. Pipe onto a silicone mat or parchment paper.

6. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 F.

Orange ginger icebox cake

If you never heard of icebox cake, you’re in for a treat. All you must do is make whipped cream, spread it on chocolate wafers and let it sit for 4 hours or overnight. In fact, making this dessert a day before adds to its perfect texture. The dry cookies absorb the whipped cream and become cakelike in texture. And while many of us have seen it made with chocolate wafers, did you also know you can make it with gingersnaps? I also add some Grand Marnier and orange zest to my whipped crème to make it even more Thanksgiving themed.

Ingredients

1 package of ginger snaps

2 cups heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 tablespoon Grand Marnier (or other orange liquor)

2 oranges

1. Mix the heavy whipping cream in a stand mixer with whisk attachment until it begins to stiffen. Add the vanilla and

powdered sugar until it is firm enough to hold a peak.

2. Zest 1 orange, add the Grand Marnier and mix on slow until well incorporated.

3. Using a spoon, smear a line of the whipped cream down the center of a serving plate. This will give the cookies something to stick to when you put them down.

4. Cover one side of a cookie with roughly 1 tablespoon of whipped cream and place another cookie on top of that whipped cream. Repeat this process a few more times and put the cookies onto the plate so that they stand vertically. Continue repeating this process until you have finished most of the package. I like to leave a few cookies to crumble on top for a garnish. You may also end up having two rows side by side, as I did.

5. Cover the cookies with the rest of the whipped cream.

6. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or a minimum of 3 hours if you’re in a pinch).

7. When you’re ready to serve, garnish with orange slices and crumbled gingersnap cookies.

NMCRS VISITING NURSE PROGRAM TURNS 100

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

A program that sends medical professionals directly into sailors’ and Marines’ homes is celebrating its centennial anniversary.

The Visiting Nurse Program began in South Carolina on Nov. 25, 1922, when the Parris Island Branch Auxiliary hired nurse Nell Watson to visit service members and their families at their homes. Since then, the program has utilized almost 900 paid and volunteer nurses to care for sailors, Marines and dependents.

“I attribute the longevity of Visiting Nurses to the flexibility of this organization,” said April Pearson, director of nursing at Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). “We can recognize the needs of military families and be up-to-date with what’s going on with them.”

Personal touch

Visiting Nurses work within a 50-mile radius of dozens of NMCRS offices around the globe, as well as through virtual classes. The health care professionals are equipped to offer free, in-home services for all ages, including diabetes care, lactation consulting, prenatal and pediatric concerns and general wellness inquiries.

OPERATION HEAL OUR PATRIOTS

Operation Heal Our Patriots® provides combat-wounded veterans and their spouses with a week of Biblically based marriage enrichment classes surrounded by the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, as well as ongoing chaplain care. This Samaritan’s Purse ministry is just one example of how we are helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of hurting people across the globe in Jesus’ Name.

Support our work via https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/

CFC #10532

Samaritan’s Purse®, Franklin Graham, President P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 | samaritanspurse.org

SamaritansPurse @SamaritansPurse @SamaritansPurse

© 2020 Samaritan’s Purse. All rights reserved.

“It might just be us and the patient present, or there could also be babies, toddlers, spouses, grandmas, even dogs,” Pearson said. “We sit at the sofa or kitchen table and get to work.”

That work could include activities like weighing an infant, recording vital signs, educating about a chronic illness — or just listening to someone who needs to connect with another human.

“In today’s sterile medical world, you usually only have 10-15 minutes to get all of the information back and forth between you and the provider,” said Pearson, who has been a visiting nurse since 2003. “But our nurses are able to sit down one-on-one with these families. Our visit may take two hours, or we may have multiple visits to ensure they get all of the info they need.”

Recently, Pearson heard from one of the program’s clients near their office in Corpus Christi, Texas. The woman, a new mother, needed some extra help with breastfeeding, driven in part by the nationwide formula shortage. A visiting nurse became a “gamechanger” for the woman, Pearson said, and empowered the mother with education and encouragement. It was so reassuring

having someone in her corner when things got tough, the woman told Pearson.

“I love being able to go in and sit with these families and watch them grow,” Pearson said. “When I start talking about what I do as a nurse, my whole heart lights up.”

Saying thanks

Lisa Negri began working as a visiting nurse in 1994 from her home base of Twentynine Palms, California. She has treated approximately 10,000 patients in that time, ranging from veterans of World War II and conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Because the Visiting Nurse program is funded by private donors, businesses like USAA and a yearly fundraising drive, there are zero insurance restrictions. The nurses can see a patient as many times and as long as necessary.

“We do not strive for quantity, but rather quality,” Negri said. “In an age where many nurses count cases in dollars, we are fortunate to be able to count lives.”

As the daughter of a soldier who served in Normandy during WWII, this job — one she plans to continue as long as possible — is a way to stay connected to her father, Negri said.

“We truly are about improving the quality of life for Navy and Marine Corps active duty, retirees and family members in need,” she said. “I have the greatest respect for people who serve us in the military.”

That quality-of-life improvement also extends to the online space, where visiting nurses teach classes on labor and delivery, breastfeeding, puberty, parenting and more.

NMCRS has hired a dozen new nurses since 2020 and plans for more, including at overseas assignments.

“From newborns up to 95-year-old retirees, all of our clients have a story,” Pearson said. “And we visiting nurses are privileged enough to get to hear them.”

To contact a visiting nurse, email visitingnurse@nmcrs.org.

ASPIRING MILITARY ENTREPRENEURS SHOULD ASSESS

STRENGTH FINANCIAL SMALL BUSINESS EXPERT SAYS

BY AFM STAFF

A survey revealed one in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran owned, with 45% of those who have active-duty military experience more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans.

Will Scott, vice president of business solutions at Navy Federal Credit Union, says veterans exploring this option should assess their financial strength.

“The first thing that I think they have to think about is their personal credit score,” Scott said. “Although there’s a misconception out there that you need business credit in order to get business loans or business financing, and the fact is — unless you’re a larger corporation — most financial institutions, including Navy Federal, are going to put a lot of weight on your personal credit score.”

He added that “680 is usually the minimum [score], but sometimes you can go down to 660 if you qualify for SBA loans.”

Savings, he says, is another significant asset for aspiring entrepreneurs.

“The second point is I would start to save some money for the business,” Scott said. “Typically in starting a business you’re going to have to demonstrate not only good credit but some financial strength — whether or not the business owner wants to borrow money or they’re going to bootstrap themselves. Ideally, the financial institutions would rather lend to those who have been in business for at least two years and have a track record of generating revenue and have some money in savings.”

Resources for veteran entrepreneurs

Scott, who has a graduate degree in banking from Stonier College at The Wharton School, brings more than two decades of business solutions expertise to his position. He also has strong family ties to the Army. He recommends those with a military affiliation explore programs at the Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA offers a range of support for active duty and veteran entrepreneurs, including funding assistance, training and counseling, and federal contracting opportunities. Navy

Federal Credit Union partners with the agency to support small businesses.

“They have a program called Boots to Business (B2B) training — and that’s a two-day, in-person introduction to entrepreneurship — focused specifically on military members and their spouses. They also have specific veteran outreach centers,” Scott said.

The VBOC program offers:

• Transition assistance programs;

• Pre-business plan workshops;

• Business plan preparation;

• Entrepreneurial training;

• Mentorship.

Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) exist across the U.S. to assist veterans in starting or growing a business. Local offices can be found online at https:// www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resourcepartners/veterans-business-outreachcenter-vboc-program

Scott adds that the SCORE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has helped 11 million entrepreneurs since 1964, has a network of 10,000 mentors available to work with service members and veterans through the Veteran Fast Launch Initiative

“The SCORE Foundation is basically retired businessmen who volunteer their time to help new entrepreneurs,” he said.

Franchise versus startup

For those seeking a business model with an established foundation, a franchise may be an option. The International Franchise Association defines this structure as “a method of distributing products or services involving a franchisor, who establishes the brand’s trademark or trade name and a business system, and a franchisee, who pays a royalty and often an initial fee for the right to do business under the franchisor’s name and system.”

Its site offers a search directory that serves as a match tool, with an additional field to find opportunities beneficial to those with veteran status.

“If you’re starting up a new business and you choose a franchise, you have a higher probability of getting financing through a financial institution because the franchise is considered to be a business model that is known to work properly,” he said. “The franchise provides a tried-and-true blueprint, whereas if you’re just out on your own and you’re creating your own business, you’re learning as you go. The more you learn, the more expensive it is.”

Navy Federal Credit Union has business lending officers who can assist with financing options, but Scott advises aspiring entrepreneurs work with partner organizations to understand their financial needs, “down to the cent,” before contacting a financial institution.

“Have an idea of exactly how much you need to borrow and why; what you’ll be spending it on and what you could possibly provide for collateral, if you have any for the loan,” he said. “And that’s where we can really assist with talking you through different types of collateral.”

As the global marketplace continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, business owners face new challenges in the wake of uncertain economic conditions and rising inflation rates. However, Scott says the characteristics ingrained in those who serve are the exact attributes that can make them prosperous in entrepreneurship.

“I think this is part of what makes our military men and women so great, and successful in the military, is that generally they have a level of bravery that exceeds the normal population. And whether or not you’re coming into a challenging economy or what’s considered to be a great economy, it’s not for the faint of heart,” Scott said. “You have to understand what your business opportunity is and, regardless of what the economic conditions are, there are always opportunities in the economy to make money. Is your business one of them?”

Visit https://www.navyfederal.org/ services/business/resources.html to

Entrepreneurship offers a successful postmilitary career path for veterans, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

CASTING A LINE

TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AMONG SERVICE MEMBERS

BY CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

A few years ago, Marine veteran Matt Ferry was going through a rough patch. Following a divorce and being newly sober from addressing PTSD-related symptoms with alcohol, he began fishing.

“I was not going out with the intention of either drinking or catching fish,” Ferry said. “If catching fish happened, great. But obviously, drinking was off the table. So it was just more about the … opening of my eyes and opening

up my ears and experiencing fishing like I never had before I caught.”

On a whim, he decided to create a Veterans Fishing webpage to forge a community via Instagram of veterans who liked to fish. It grew slowly but gained traction when he started selling hats, T-shirts and other apparel. Now Ferry puts veterans in boats.

“There’s not a lot we won’t do to try and

help these trips happen for people that need them that may not even know they need them yet,” he said. “The degrees of separation between myself and another 100,000 veterans is really not that far with the amount of connections and networking that I’ve done since I began this.”

The aim, according to Ferry, founder of Veterans Fishing, is to provide an enjoyable, stress-free fishing excursion that can also

serve as a type of therapy for veterans who have mental health diagnoses.

“The veterans are having a great time on veterans’ trips with each other,” Ferry said. While Veterans Fishing might not get participants hooked on fishing, it can hook them up with an expense-free day on the water. And more importantly, can be a useful intervention tool for suicide, which Ferry said is one of Veterans Fishing’s primary goals.

“This is the only way to put it … the second goal is, every day in collaboration with many other guys I work with, is to stop people from killing themselves every single day,” Ferry said. “We’ve been blessed enough to be told about this by the people themselves that have thought about taking their own life … there’s been a dozen-plus stories over the past few years of being reached out to at the right time.”

And to call it an organization is a stretch. It’s a one-man show. Ferry has devoted himself to providing a “treatment” to veterans in need.

“I’ve kind of morphed into almost like a part-time counselor for a lot of the people,” he said. “I mean, we have 12,000 people that follow the Instagram page.”

Ferry said he has talked to more than 10,000 veterans since starting Veterans Fishing in 2017.

“I wake up every day, and my goal is to do two things,” he said. “It’s to be available for anybody that does need to reach out. And secondly, is to help fund trips by any means necessary.”

When veterans reach out, Ferry is all-in on facilitating a trip.

“If I can’t get you on a boat, if I can’t get you with some sort of guide or outdoor veteranrelated charter of any kind … at the very least, what I’ll try to do is partner that person up with somebody local to them,” he said. “They can either just go out and fish with or somebody that might be able to show them the ropes.”

Ferry’s extensive database, networking and day job as a fishing gear expert helps put veterans on the water.

“I literally have a spreadsheet of veterans that I’ve kept track of over the years, where they’re from,” he said. “They’ve volunteered to fish with other people, strangers, no matter what.”

Ferry connects interested parties through social media and says the system has been successful.

“And you’d be surprised how many of those actually follow through and meet up,” he said.

He doesn’t run a boat himself yet, but he said he hopes to build a fleet of 12 located throughout the country. However, the focus now is on bringing veterans’ families into the fold. Ferry, located in North Carolina, thought up the family idea along with a West Coast counterpart and confidant.

“One thing that a lot of these guys are wanting to do is share that day-out-onthe-water-experience with their families,” Ferry said. “So we are aware of that. We’re transitioning some of these trips more and more to be veteran, significant other and children, if applicable. And so, it’s basically allowing the family to see what this day is doing for that veteran live and in-person.”

SPECIAL OPS FOUNDATION

GIVES FULL EDUCATION

BY JESSICA MANFRE, COAST GUARD SPOUSE

Nearly 40 children with fallen service members, Medal of Honor recipients or veterans as parents are beginning their post-secondary education careers this year at no cost.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation’s (SOWF) Cradle to Career program is funding the college journey for 39 freshmen, spread among 37 universities, including Arizona State and Belmont universities.

Alex Rowe, son of famed Green Beret James Rowe, is a former Cradle to Career recipient. His father was a West Point graduate who became a Green Beret. Not long after earning his special forces tab, James deployed in support of the Vietnam War. He was ultimately captured and kept as a prisoner of war for five years before escaping.

“On April 21, 1989, my mom got the call that changed our lives forever,” Alex said.

His father was the ground forces director for the Philippines’ Joint US Military Advisory group at the time and was killed on his way to headquarters.

“I was about 2 years old and my brother was

10 months old. We had to get our Kevlar vests on and hide because my mom was expecting an attack on the family next,” he said. “She sat at the kitchen table where she could see everything with her pistol just waiting.”

The second attack didn’t come and the family left the Philippines to rebuild their lives just outside of Fort Bragg, keeping close to the SOF community. When it came time to decide on post-secondary education, the SOWF stepped in.

“It was such a relief for my mom and for me knowing we wouldn’t be going into debt for my education,” Alex said. “I’m teaching high school. I joke I teach because of my mom, but I teach history because of my dad.”

SOWF formed after eight special operators were killed during the 1980 attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran. President and CEO Clayton Hutmacher, a retired Army major general who served in the Special Operation Forces and as a Marine, said there was something unique about the SOF world that pulled him in.

“The challenge of making it through the process and the prospect of working with some of the finest aviators and finest soldiers that our nation produces was really appealing to me,” he said.

Passion for the SOWF runs deep outside of the organization and the people it helps – so deep it’s led Cynthia “Cindy” Norris to commit to cycling across America to raise $100,000 for its programming. Her husband, Rick, was a Green Beret until a free fall accident led to medical retirement from the force.

Witnessing the continued losses was hard for the family to endure, leading them to look for a way to help.

“One day I was riding back and forth to work and started thinking how I could ride my bike across America to raise money for the children of the fallen special operators,” Cindy said.

She trained for two years for the mission and left her home in Washington with her husband following behind in July, hoping to reach the finish line in Delaware in October 2022. When she completes her journey, Cycle for the Kids, Cindy will have set the Guiness World Record for the oldest woman to ever cycle from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean using her route.

SOWF also provides financial grants to SOF warriors who are severely wounded, ill and injured requiring hospitalization.

“I can only speak for myself, but if something happened to me, I would want an organization like the Special Ops Warrior Foundation to give my kids every opportunity to achieve their full potential,” Hutmacher said. “And that’s what we do.”

to children of fallen, MOH recipients

Alex Rowe, Cradle to Career program recipient

Cindy Norris is cycling across America to raise funds

LEARNING TO SET FAMILY BOUNDARIES DURING LEAVE

BY MEREDITH FLORY, ARMY SPOUSE

Many young military couples feel pressure, real or imagined, to spend a lot of time and money traveling to family. It may take experiences or difficult conversations to realize that each military service member or family needs their own approach to rest and holiday traditions. Following are tips from experienced veterans and military spouses sharing ways to set boundaries if navigating holiday travel has become a source of stress.

Leave is for rest

Military families have expressed frustrations about traveling home, in part, because there is an expectation that they will work around others’ plans. Planning a schedule to stick with allows you to politely ask others to make time to see you.

“Families must understand this is a period of rest for the service member and to deprive them of rest could be dangerous,” said Roger Broussard, a former military and civilian pilot who now serves as creative director of Pilot School Hero.

If service members are visiting family, Broussard suggested having one large, planned gathering.

“There is a chance to see the service member without the event purely being about them,” he said. “This allows everyone to meet and

make memories, but doesn’t necessarily force the service member into a long-term stay or into a spotlight.”

Georgia P. Davis, a military spouse since 2001, said that in the beginning of her time as a military spouse their parents made comments about who they spent more time with.

“We had a ton of growing into ourselves,” she said.

They learned to better set boundaries to protect themselves.

“I had to forgive and realize that my family wasn’t what I had thought they would be like, but I could love them how they are and invite them into the experiences that I wanted to have with them,” she said.

Get creative with meet-ups

Davis’s sister became a military spouse too and Davis said she never wanted her sister to “have the same obligation and resentment of family not visiting.”

“So I made extra efforts to see her, especially

Georgia P. Davis said the benefit of a family cruise is it’s the one place the military cannot reach her husband. Courtesy photo

when our husbands were deployed. We visited them at each of their duty stations,” she said.

Traveling to each other could become an adventure. This eventually evolved into “Cousin Camp” for their children. Davis invited her nieces and nephews to Texas for a week of sight-seeing (and matching T-shirts), and they plan to make it a recurring event in different places.

Davis also learned that planning vacations with an open invitation to extended family worked well, starting with a trip to Disney. After her husband commissioned as a chaplain in 2018 they attended a training where a National Guard two-star general said cruises with family helped improve his worklife balance.

“It was the only place he found where work could not reach him. We knew that that was what we wanted to experience too,” she said.

Susan Lee, content creator of the lifestyle website Hey Ms. Lee, has been a military spouse for five years, already realizing how each move affects family time. At their first duty station, she was close enough for weekend trips, but now she lives overseas.

She said open communication is an important aspect of family visits.

“Fortunately, my parents and my in-laws have a great relationship. My in-laws are former military, so they are empathetic to our situation, but we still try to do what is fair,” Lee said.

Their families “agreed to visit us in Germany rather than having us travel to multiple parts of the U.S. It was my in-laws’ first time visiting Europe and to make the flight worthwhile, they stayed for two weeks.”

Prioritize ahead of time

Renelle Wolff, a military spouse, mother, clinical social worker and licensed therapist, said it’s “valid” to remember healthy boundaries are needed “to maintain a healthy mindset, mind and body.”

“Examples of boundary setting can look like: this year we are going to spend Christmas as our little family; it’s our time to reconnect,” she said.

Boundaries usually need to be set, according to Wolff, because someone has created “an

uncomfortable feeling, emotion or situation” previously, and family might push back or try to change your mind with guilt.

“If so, a clear, ‘No, we will not be traveling this Christmas,’ may be the best option,” she said. “This type of statement gives a very clear boundary.”

Instead of waiting until the homecoming, holiday or family event, have family discussions at times when you don’t need a quick decision. Discuss travel budgets, what events and holidays to prioritize, how

to handle large events, and travel dreams to maximize your time.

For military families that need more assistance in planning travel or setting boundaries, Military OneSource can help connect you to a counseling, travel resources, or coaching to improve your relationships at www.militaryonesource.mil/ family-relationships.

USPS announces holiday mailing deadlines to service members abroad

The Postal Service expects to process more than 10.1 million pounds of mail for APO/FPO/DPO destinations this holiday season, according to a press release. To ensure delivery by Dec. 25, officials recommend cards and packages be mailed by the following dates:

Use the Military Care Kit to send presents and care packages

The Postal Service created a free Military Care Kit based on the items most frequently requested by military families. The kit contains:

Two Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Boxes

Four Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes

Priority Mail tape

Priority Mail address labels

Six custom forms envelopes

To order flat-rate boxes featuring the “America Supports You” logo or a military care kit, call 800-610-8734 or visit https:// store.usps.com/store/product/shippingsupplies/military-care-kit-P_MILITARYKIT for more information.

Sailors receive mail cargo during a replenishment-at-sea with dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) aboard the guidedmissile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) in the Gulf of Oman, earlier this year. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lily Gebauer