2022 MF OCTOBER

OCTOBER 2022

by AMERIFORCE MEDIA, LLC

GOLD STAR FAMILY RUNNERS

PREP FOR MARINE CORPS MARATHON

Navy programs help with career

From start to finish line

Though Matthew Woodliff is now training for his second Marine Corps Marathon, he said that just a few years ago, he didn’t even consider himself a runner. It’s been a long road since his first race — the Army Ten-Miler — and I enjoyed speaking with him about his journey for this issue’s article on the nonprofit wear blue and its Gold Star Race Program.

In order to conquer his running goals, Matthew always attempts to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Michael Woodliff, an Army mortar specialist killed by an IED in Iraq in 2004. He described the fallen service member as someone who was always “all in” for any challenge in life. Matthew believes a marathon is something that anyone can check off their bucket list with the right motivation.

“I think it’s possible for all of us to go from start to finish line,” he said.

Read more about the Woodliff brothers and how wear blue is building a military community around running on page 20.

In a similar vein, it’s hard to imagine that Navy Cmdr. Tarus Chatman, now with a few thousand aircraft flying hours earned, stepped into his first airplane when leaving bootcamp for Naval Aircrew Candidate School.

He overcame his initial feelings of being “terrorized by it,” and eventually went from enlisted to officer through hard work, some smart choices and the help of a specialized Navy training program. Chatman talks about

his success and accomplishments throughout his military career in our cover story that begins on page 10. You’ll want to take some time to read advice like:

“Whatever job you have, be very good at that job and then apply. If you’re doing well, people will support you in your endeavors. Don’t just take one rejection.”

To help along the way, check out our resources in this issue on avoiding employment scams targeted at military consumers, navigating SOFA when you

are OCONUS and obtaining the right certifications.

A career journey often involves unexpected challenges, trainings and persistence, whether you are still active duty or making a transition out of the service. We hope you set a goal to go from start to finish line no matter what path you choose.

Melissa M. Stewart Content Editor

Photo

by Jessica Manfre

Reaching new heights

by Nikki Davidson

Military Families Magazine by AmeriForce Media, LLC, is published 10 times a year for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Copies are available through participating family service centers, relocation offices, transition offices, base lodges, libraries, daycare centers, MWR activities and other locations by request. Unit requests can be made online at https:// militaryfamilies.com/print-magazines/

Individuals can order a free digital copy of this issue at https://militaryfamilies.com/digital-magazines/ Editorial comments can be emailed to managing.editor@ameriforcemedia.com

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

by Melissa M. Stewart

by Peyton Roberts

President and Publisher: Todd Taranto

Managing Editor: Bianca Strzalkowski

Content Editor: Melissa M. Stewart

Associate Editors: Kari Williams and Teal Yost

MIL FAM

BRIEFS matters

NAVY BIRTHDAY

The U.S. Navy celebrates its 247th birthday on Oct. 13. The central theme of this year is “On Watch - 24/7 for 247 Years,” which highlights our Navy’s enduring ability to remain fully ready to respond to and effectively deter emergent threats.

VET THE VOTE

The U.S. is facing a shortage of poll workers for the upcoming 2022 midterm elections, which could lead to long lines on Election Day and polling locations being shut down. Vet the Vote is a national campaign to recruit at least 100,000 veterans and military families to work polls in their communities. Learn more about this effort at www.militaryfamilies.com.

Overheard:

OVERHEARD

“Today was a beautiful day in New London and for the Coast Guard. I am excited about the National Coast Guard Museum, a place where we can share our history and stories with the American public. I appreciate the many people who worked hard to get us here, and I can’t wait to see this new museum take shape.”

—Adm. Linda L. Fagan, Commandant of the Coast Guard at the keel-laying ceremony for the future National Coast Guard Museum, under construction in New London, Connecticut. Currently, the Coast Guard and Space Force are the only two branches of the U.S. military without their own museums. The National Coast Guard Museum is set to open sometime in 2024.

DATE

Oct. 26 marks the National Day of the Deployed, a day to honor U.S. military members deployed around the globe in service of our country. It also acknowledges the sacrifices made by military families while their loved ones are away.

FAVORITES

Resources revealed

Military spouses, did you know you’re eligible for a free year of LinkedIn Premium to help with job searches, networking and more? The yearlong membership is available through a partnership between the Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program and LinkedIn’s Military and Veterans Program. Spouses can verify their eligibility directly on the LinkedIn website

Note: Spouses who are within six months of a PCS or separation from the military can access an additional yearlong upgrade to LinkedIn Premium — even if you’ve used the offer before!

GIVEAWAYS

Those who work (or worked) in military aviation (as well as military aviation enthusiasts) will love our upcoming #MilitaryFamiliesFavorites giveaway! PATTERN OPS is a clothing company founded by an Air Force fighter pilot who said he wanted to “bring a bit of class to the normal military squadron swag.” Their button-up shirts feature airframes from every military branch and can be worn everywhere from squadron events to date night. And while PATTERN OPS started with aviation-themed apparel, they can make a shirt for any military unit –– in any color, custom pattern and quantity: vehicles, ships, equipment, emblems and more.

Watch our Instagram page, @militaryfamiliesmagazine, for your chance to win a PATTERN OPS shirt of your choice or 10% off a custom order of 50 shirts for your squadron/unit/base etc.

HALLOWEEN TREATS

By the end of this month, you’ll likely have a hefty stock of candy on hand. If you don’t want all of those Halloween goodies hanging around, why not share the sweets with service members? You can donate extra treats through a number of nonprofit programs. Halloween Candy Buyback, Operation Gratitude and Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops all collect candy which is then distributed to troops deployed overseas, local military units, veterans organizations, first responders and more.

Kaiserslautern Military Community

BY THE STOLLZOFF FAMILY

Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany, including Ramstein Air Base, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Panzer Kaserne, Rhine Ordnance Barracks and Sembach Kaserne

Military population: 54,000 service members and their families

About: Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) is the largest American community outside of the United States. Ramstein Airbase, known as the “Gateway to Europe,” hosts United States Air Forces in Europe, NATO Allied Air Command and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, responsible for providing care to service members and their families for almost 70 years. LRMC also serves as the primary hub for evacuating wounded service members from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Your tour guides: The Stollzoffs are an Army family of 12 years and have been stationed all over the continental United States, Alaska and Germany. Brent is in medical operations, and Margaret teaches yoga and meditation.

They have lived in KMC for a year and hope to stay for as long as they can. Follow the Stollzoff family adventures around Germany on Instagram @ktowndaytripper.

AREA RECOMMENDATIONS

Gartenschau Kaiserslautern: Gartenschau is a wonderful, family oriented park with dozens of to-scale dinosaur models, sand figures, thousands of flowers and trees and seasonal displays. You’ll find several playgrounds, as well as miniature golf and a skate park. For hot summer days, parkgoers can cool off in the natural spring creek that

flows through the grounds or grab an ice-cold beverage at the tasty food pavilion. Also included is an impressive display of original Lego creations.

Bingen am Rhein: About an hour and a half from Kaiserslautern is the town of Bingen am Rhein. Full of spectacular views of vineyards and known as one of the most castle-dense areas in Europe, you’ll enjoy the charm of this beautiful land along the famous Rhine River. Take a river cruise, hike the numerous trails, tour castles or relax and enjoy a glass of local wine.

1FCK Soccer Match at Fritz Walter Stadium: 1FCK is the local soccer team that currently plays in the second division of the German football league, the Bundesliga. Don’t let their status as a second-league team fool you — when 50,000 faithful 1FCK fans are shouting and chanting at the top of their lungs, you’d think you’re in the middle of a World Cup final. 1FCK has a long history in German football as one of the winningest teams. A loyal fan base always knows how to throw a good party, making this a must-do if given a chance to catch a match.

Burg Hohenecken: Enjoy hiking in and around the ruins of a medieval 13th-century castle near Kaiserslautern with spectacular views of the surrounding areas.

Burg Nanstein: Located in Landstuhl, less than 20 minutes from Kaiserslautern, is Burg Nanstein. Nanstein Castle is a red sandstone, 12th-century medieval castle where the Imperial knight Franz von Sickingen lived and fell mortally wounded during a siege in the 16th century. At the base of the castle is the cutest German restaurant, Burgschänke Burg Nanstein. There, be sure to try traditional German foods like schnitzel and sausages. The view overlooking Landstuhl is spectacular from this spot. In addition, a network of hiking and mountain biking trails surrounds Burg Nanstein for those looking for a bit more activity.

Karlstalschlucht, a.k.a Karlstal Gorge: Local to the Kaiserslautern area is Karlstal Gorge, a stunning spot with a gently flowing river decorated with a large amount of natural debris and low waterfalls. In the late 1700s, a famous landscaper noticed the area and added wooden footbridges and the iconic pavilion that spans the Moosalb River. The gorge was even the location of a royal visit in the mid-1800s.

REACHING

NEW HEIGHTS

An unexpected journey to naval commander

BY NIKKI DAVIDSON

PHOTOS BY AMY DOBBINS PHOTOGRAPHY

The future helicopter pilot and flight instructor grew up in rural Tennessee. Until then, he’d only seen and heard planes soar above him into clouds. Strapped into one while it sped through the air thousands of feet high sent his heart racing.

“I just kind of played like I wasn’t terrorized by it,” he laughed, recalling the trip. “I remember getting off the plane, and my ears were kind of stopped up, and I was all worried about it. Here I am today, a few thousand hours into aircraft flying and instructing.”

His path into the military came as an unexpected twist of fate. Unlike many who join the military at a young age, he didn’t have family or friends in the service. In high school, a childhood friend casually mentioned his plans to serve in the Navy after basketball practice. Chatman’s initial shock quickly turned into curiosity. Soon, he was in front

As Navy Cmdr. Tarus Chatman boarded his flight from boot camp to Naval Aircrew Candidate School, he tried to keep his cool. It was 1996 and the first time he’d ever stepped foot on an aircraft.

of the school recruiter, who directed him to the nearest Marine recruiting office to sign papers.

But something wasn’t quite right. As Chatman waited several minutes to speak with a representative, his excitement faltered. He nervously scanned the pictures of Marines on the walls and decided to bolt. On his way back to his car, the nearby Navy recruitment sign caught his eye. Recalling his friend’s plans to join the branch, he decided to stop in.

“I couldn’t even get the door open, and the guy was like, ‘Hey, how are you doing? How can I help you?” he said.

He instantly became hooked and convinced his parents to sign his paperwork before turning 18. At boot camp, he found out he was selected to be an aircrewman. The opportunity seemed surreal.

“It worked out for the good, for my own destiny, for what I should be doing in life,” said Chatman. He added that he had “no idea” what he was getting into when he first enlisted.

After aircrew school, his first role was as an anti-submarine warfare systems operator with the Patrol Squadron NINE “Golden Eagles” at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. His career goals reshaped when a friend mentioned their desire to become a naval officer. He’d never realized programs existed that make it possible to become an officer.

From enlisted to officer

When Chatman discovered the Broadened Opportunity for Officers Selection and Training Program, he went for it. He was accepted into the program and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in finance at the University of Memphis. He commissioned in 2004.

He served his first operational flying tour with the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR EIGHT in Florida. Since then, he’s been promoted to commander and serves as the detachment two officer in charge for the Tactical Air Control Squadron 11. Throughout his career, he’s deployed to the Eastern Pacific, Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.

He admits there were a lot of uncomfortable moments and grueling deployments but feels the sacrifices were well worth the career he’s built.

“I was open to not only staying where I am but open to where I could go in the military,” he said, pressing the importance of setting goals and going after them. “Don’t be idle-minded when it comes to your career and what you want to accomplish.”

Chatman pressed that getting outside help is integral to success in a military career. He advises junior enlisted members who dream of becoming officers to seek mentors to help with the competitive application process for advancement programs.

“Whatever job you have, be very good at that job and then apply,” he said. “If you’re doing well, people will support you in your endeavors. Don’t just take one rejection. If you don’t get selected the first time, reapply. If it’s something you really want, you will get it. You just have to stay diligent if you don’t get it the first time.”

New opportunities to advance today

While the specific BOOST program Chatman was part of has been modified through the years, there are similar opportunities for enlisted members to become naval officers today.

One example is the Seaman to Admiral STA21 Commissioning Program. STA-21 keeps participants on active duty at their current enlisted pay grade while they receive up to $10,000 per year to cover tuition, books and fees for college. The program is competitive, and the applicant’s fleet performance history and academic and leadership potential determine who is selected for the program.

Officer Candidate Sean Hall just became part of the STA-21 program. His father and grandfathers served in the military, which inspired him to enlist in the Navy in 2014. He started as a machinist’s mate nuclear, and his own growing family with three children motivated him to try to become an officer. He’s enrolled at the University of Wisconsin and aims to become a surface warfare officer after graduating within three years.

He still remembers the rush of finding out he made it into the competitive STA-21 program.

“I was really excited at first because it is a hard program to get into,” he said. “Once you find out you got selected, it’s like, ‘Wow, this is going to be real!’ You think about all of the changes that are going to happen.

Hall added that the application process

required a lot of legwork and patience.

“Once you get picked up, you hit the ground running,” he said, describing college enrollment as a blur.

Hall hopes this serves as an example to inspire his kids to go after their dreams.

“To show my kids that you don’t have to settle, you can still push yourself to do more with your life,” Hall said.

More than a career

Family is also a big motivator for Chatman.

He met his wife, Haley, while stationed in Monterey, California. He fondly remembers their first date. They went out for sushi and inadvertently wore almost identical outfits. Three years later, they married. A year ago, they welcomed their first son. Chatman deployed for seven months when his son, Zeb, was just one month old. He praises his wife for making the difficult situation as smooth as possible.

“Knowing that she had it under control and getting that good, positive feedback from her daily was very important,” Chatman said. “I appreciate what she brings to the table as a military spouse and mother and trying to deal with establishing her career. I’ve just been in awe watching her as a mother.”

Twenty-six years into his naval career, Chatman and his family are preparing for their first overseas tour in England. He’ll be the regional director for Science and Technology at the Office of Naval Research Global (ONR-G) in London.

He’s eager to see what comes next in his whirlwind of a career. He pressed that the best part of his story is it could have happened to nearly anyone.

“The military is an adventure,” he said. “Take advantage of the opportunities that it gives you.”

Exploring new solutions for SOFA and spouse employment

BY TEAL YOST

For many military spouses, the prospect of moving overseas means weighing opportunities for adventure and experiencing a new culture versus the lack of employment opportunities or complete inability to work thanks to a document called a status of forces agreement (or SOFA).

SOFA is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation sending military forces to that country. It defines the legal status of DOD personnel and their families and often addresses entry and departure from the host nation, employment, driving privileges, taxation and more.

Nerissa Alford, an Air Force spouse of 20 years, is familiar with living and working (or not working) under SOFA.

“I call my resume a chopped salad. I think a lot of spouses can relate,” she said.

Alford and her family spent four assignments overseas in Kuwait, Turkey, Korea and Germany.

Each location presented unique barriers to employment. With a background in apparel design and merchandising, Alford found

herself working part time at the embassy post office in Kuwait. In Turkey, she secured a position in the MWR marketing department doing graphic design.

“At least it was in my relative field, and I enjoyed it, but I think I was making $11 an hour,” Alford said.

New orders took the Alford family to Osan, Korea.

“With the SOFA agreement there, it was very limiting in terms of what I could do or where I could work. If a job could go to a local national, it was given to a local national first,” she explained.

This is a common theme among SOFAs. Many country-to-country agreements include stipulations that give employment preference to locally hired, non-U.S. citizens.

A final overseas PCS brought Alford to Germany, where she explored the option of her own business in visual and creative arts

but ultimately decided against it after hearing horror stories of employed spouses ending up with huge tax bills from the German government.

“We didn’t want to go that route. It was just a complication we weren’t willing to tackle,” Alford said.

While they typically enjoy their time abroad, the barriers to meaningful and well-paid employment for spouses can hit military families hard.

“A lot of these agreements were written in the 1950s when there wasn’t a necessity for a

two-income household. For many families, it is now,” Alford added.

Deborah Bradbard, Ph.D., is well versed in SOFA and its impact on spouse employment. As a lead research associate at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF), she’s authored many studies on the subject, including “Understanding the Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA): Removing Barriers to Military Spouse Employment Overseas” and “SOFAs Overseas: A Portability Roadmap for Military Spouses and Their Employers.”

“The SOFA agreements themselves are diplomatic agreements at the highest levels of state and defense, and so those are not easy to just change,” Bradbard said.

As a retired Navy spouse of 26 years, Bradbard brought firsthand knowledge of spouse employment difficulties to her work at IVMF.

“We were overseas for two tours, and not working was really challenging for me. It doesn’t just affect the spouse during that PCS overseas; it affects their career trajectory after that. If they have a gap, they’ve missed out not only on those years of employment, but maybe they’ve missed out on a promotion or earning towards retirement,” Bradbard said.

Still, she cautioned against a push to change these agreements to address spouse employment.

“That wasn’t their primary purpose,” she said. Instead, Bradbard said it might be helpful to assign legal officers at installations in countries where SOFAs exist with the collateral duty of de-conflicting these agreements for spouses.

“Right now, there’s no designated person to address these issues,” she said. “There needs to be more education, more resources and more oversight.”

She said additional guidance around remote work is needed for spouses and employers.

“The workforce has changed, but some of the policy has not kept pace,” she added.

Sue Hoppin, a retired Air Force spouse of 22 years and president and founder of the National Military Spouse Network, agrees that updating these decades-old SOFAs may not be the best answer.

The organization released its fourth annual National Military Spouse Network White Paper earlier this year. The report provided key recommendations for addressing military spouses’ barriers to gaining meaningful employment. One of those recommendations included expanding the use of the Department of State’s Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas program, which would help ensure that military spouses who secure employment with a federal department or agency can maintain their employment during assignments overseas.

“With military spouses, you have this potential pipeline for federal service that is underutilized,” Hoppin said.

Hoppin also thinks the DOD should better equip military families with information on SOFA before they decide on orders, when possible.

“It all comes down to getting a better handle on this topic. We need clarity of information so spouses aren’t blindsided when they get to a country and cannot work,” she added.

adrenaline-pumping

Former Green Beret takes veterans on adventures

BY JESSICA MANFRE

A retired soldier is using adrenalinebased outdoor adventures to bring healing to special operations veterans.

Travis Wilson, a former Green Beret, gave 21 years to the U.S. military. He almost gave his life, too.

But before a night jump training accident would almost kill him — he was a military brat raised to value service and hard work. Wilson’s dad was a pararescue specialist — known as a “PJ” for the Air Force — during the Vietnam War. Wilson said he grew up hearing the Ballad of the Green Berets sung throughout the house — the Army Special Forces operators had a special place in his dad’s heart.

Wilson’s own journey would take him from being an Army medic to making it through the Army’s selection for Q course to become an elite warfighter, a Green Beret.

There were endless battles fought, devastating losses experienced and then the fateful night jump that changed his life. Wilson finished out his career working outside the teams due to his injuries from a broken back but still working as a SOF operator in the shadows, alone this time.

Alpha Elite Performance Outdoors was born out of a belief that healing can be found for combat veterans together, outside.

“I personally witnessed it. That’s why I got involved in starting my own nonprofit. It was seeing guys come together on things like a hunt,” Wilson said. “That adrenaline and coming together, sitting around a campfire, and drinking some beers. Telling stories that they couldn’t normally tell the civilians or their spouses and just kind of reconnecting and finding out that that guy sitting over there is going through exactly what this guy’s going through.”

It would take him back to Africa, this time for a much different mission and without a uniform.

Alexander “Alex” Oelofse was raised by parents who were dedicated conservationists. His mother’s passion for saving rhinos resulted in the creation of the Mount Etjo Rhino Trust, a 36,000 hactare sactuary for various rare and endangered species, according to its website. It was Oelofse who invited Wilson to Namibia to hear his suggestions.

“I went over there to be of added value training wise to the anti-poaching unit – really to just add common sense ideas to [an] already great program. Sharing what I knew as a former Green Beret, having spent time in Africa going after bad guys, things like that. They actually have a great system in place,” Wilson said. “It was awesome to just be able to get away and just kind of go to God’s country — that place is absolutely amazing.”

He also began developing a way to bring a deserving veteran to the continent for free to enjoy Jan Oelofse Hunting Safaris, through AEP.

Since Wilson’s trip to Namibia and sharing about it through his social media channels, offers for additional outdoor opportunities for veterans have poured in.

“These are things veterans don’t normally get to experience. If I can keep finding ways to help make that happen, I’m all in,” he added.

In June of 2022 his nonprofit partnered with veteran owned RedRum Sport Fishing to take 10 combat veterans on a fishing trip in Cabo, Mexico. It’s been an experience that humbled Wilson.

“We have some guys who have lost kids and spouses, their friends. It was a healing experience for them to get away from the normal everyday stress and just be together in that way,” he added.

Wilson has watched many friends leave the military without purpose, losing themselves in the process. He says it’s his goal to help them find the good by not only being outside but also from experiencing the beauty of the “team” atmosphere again.

“These guys and gals, once they stop moving after getting out, some get a little bit behind the power curve, and it messes with their heads. Then depression sets in,” he explained. “Movement and getting outside is so important for wellbeing and I hope through our efforts with we can encourage more of it. They’re worth it.”

TOP SCAMS

AFFECTING

MILITARY FAMILIES

BY NIKKI DAVIDSON

The era of Nigerian princes who “kindly” ask for money through emails laden with major grammar errors is over. The internet has unleashed a new class of scammers more sophisticated than ever.

While some might assume criminals focus on the elderly population, the Better Business Bureau received more fraud reports from people aged 35 to 44 in 2021 than any other demographic.

Last year, the BBB recorded that military families typically lose more money to these hoaxes than their civilian counterparts. While non-military victims lose a median of $160 per reported case, a victim associated with military service loses a median of $204.

The Federal Trade Commission is committed to preventing the people who serve the country from being duped, so it recently released a military dashboard. It’s an online database updated every quarter to share the latest fraud statistics reported by service members and their families. According to the dashboard, since 2018, active-duty military service members have lost $87.8 million to scammers.

Financial stress, spouse unemployment, loneliness and the confusion that comes with moving to an unfamiliar place often put military families in the crosshairs of some of the most compelling scams. Experts warn

service members to be aware of two emerging tactics criminals use to steal money.

Employment scams

Roseann Freitas, public relations and communications manager for Better Business Bureau in Honolulu, says military spouses and veterans must be especially cautious of employment scams.

Many spouses seek flexible and remote job opportunities, which unfortunately means most of their communication with a potential employer is not in person.

Veterans might not have applied for a new job in more than 20 years, if ever, so it might be harder to identify suspicious behavior in a potential employer.

“Now you’re seeing everything is done online, and unfortunately, that’s where scammers are living as well,” Freitas said. “Sometimes it’s really hard to tell the difference between a legitimate job and somebody who is scamming because they just copy (job postings), and it looks legitimate.”

Job seekers should be alert for red flags, like if an “employer” appears from nowhere into their email inbox, offering a job that the recipient never applied for. Once a victim is “hired,” the thief will send them a check for a larger amount than initially specified. The scammer will claim they made a payroll mistake and ask the victim to send the extra back through cash apps or gift cards. Meanwhile, the victim can deposit the check, but that doesn’t mean it’s real money — even if a victim can withdraw it immediately.

“We find that the younger generation doesn’t necessarily understand how checks work because they don’t really write checks. They do cash apps,” Freitas said, adding that even if a check has hit a bank account, it can take up to 10 days to clear. “If it does not clear, then it’s back on the person who cashed the check.”

The FTC has also received complaints about scams centered around useless paid training programs or job placement services that are a hoax.

“If a placement firm asks you for a fee, you should walk away. You don’t want to be dealing with them because that’s just a scam. They’re not going to find you a job,” said Carol Kando-Pineda, an attorney with the FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education.

According to Kando-Pineda, legitimate recruiters get paid from the companies they find candidates for, not employees seeking work.

Cryptocurrency scams

As cryptocurrency rises in popularity, it’s also become one of the easiest ways to be duped out of a massive chunk of change.

“It’s the new hot way for scammers to ask you to pay,” said Kando-Pineda. “People are losing the most money to these.”

The average age of the crypto scam victims is

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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.

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20 to 49, a demographic Kando-Pineda said makes service members prime targets.

The FTC reports that since the start of 2021, more than 46,000 people have lost a collective $1 billion in crypto to scams. The median loss reported is $2,600. As crypto transfers can’t be reversed, there’s no way to get the money back.

The most common tactic crypto scammers use is placing an ad or post on social media; sometimes, they’ll even directly message victims. They’ll claim to be able to help their

targets get huge returns on their crypto investments. These sophisticated operations even feature fake websites that trick victims into thinking they’re monitoring the progress of their “invested” digital currency. However, once victims attempt to cash their money out, they can’t.

Before military families send money through crypto, gift cards or cash, do as much research as possible. A simple internet search for a company or “financial investor” might reveal the truth and save a potential victim thousands of dollars.

RUN TO REMEMBER

Nonprofit’s Gold Star Race Program provides bonding, support to Marine Corps Marathon team

BY MELISSA M. STEWART

When Matthew Woodliff begins to feel mentally or physically fatigued while training for the 47th Marine Corps Marathon, he doesn’t motivate himself to lace up by plotting to set records or improve his pace. Instead, he simply thinks about what his brother Michael would have done.

“In these moments where I feel a little tired, or I’m not feeling it at all, that’s usually when I tap into that memory bank, and just like that, I feel him around me,” Woodliff said after a recent preparatory 16-miler. “I just know he would embrace it. He would love that it’s not easy and it would still put an ear-to-ear smile on his face.”

Army Sgt. Michael Woodliff, a 22-year-old mortar specialist, was killed by a roadside IED in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004. If he were still alive, Matthew says they would be pounding the pavement together. And in some ways, they still are.

In his honor, Matthew runs wearing a copy of Michael’s dog tags and often names his shoes after divisions he was in — a red, white and blue pair was dubbed “82nd Airborne.”

“Without fail, I’m going to have memories that come across during my runs where I’m thinking about him and growing up with

him, and those are the things that get me through,” Matthew said.

Certainly, this will be true on Oct. 30 when he takes part in his second Marine Corps Marathon, participating this year as part of the wear blue: run to remember Gold Star Race Program. The nonprofit has created a running community that allows families of fallen service members to heal in an active way, active-duty members to remember their fallen brothers and sisters, and for communities to support military families through races and regular run groups.

Gold Star family members can apply to be part of special wear blue support teams that run in the Marine Corps Marathon, along with races in San Antonio; Fort Worth, Texas; and San Diego. Jessica Alley, Gold Star Race program director for the Marine Corps Marathon, leads the effort to host 10 Gold Star family members in Washington, D.C., for race weekend. Each athlete receives running shoes, wear blue gear and a training plan that

Gold Star family member Matthew Woodliff runs as part of the wear blue: run to remember team in honor of his brother Michael.

begins in June. Besides the main event, they attend an honorary dinner, shakeout run and wreath-laying ceremony.

“We have had moms and dads who have lost their children, siblings who have lost their brothers and sisters and children who have lost their parents,” said Alley. “I have watched athletes arrive on Thursday with trepidation and leave on Monday with an infectious, renewed strength and resolve. The transformation this experience provides is nothing short of incredible.”

This year’s cohort includes one parent of a fallen service member, one spouse and seven siblings representing the Army, Navy and Marines.

“For the first time in my memory, we have a father/daughter duo, running for their son/ brother,” Alley said. “It is a phenomenal group, made up of seasoned runners and first-time marathoners. I am greatly looking forward to October with them.”

Miles of memories

Matthew looks forward to race weekend with his wear blue Gold Star Program team as well, especially bonding over connections and shared stories.

He remembers Michael, one of four “Army brat” Woodliff brothers, as being born to serve. Matthew said Michael often dressed up in his dad’s uniform, stood up for other children and had an unrelenting interest in all things physical fitness. Matthew said he even tricked their mom into letting him enlist before age 18 by convincing her to sign what he claimed was a “field trip permission form.”

“In service and out, he squeezed every bit out

of every day,” said Matthew. “I have no doubt he loved what he did even if he left this world too soon.”

Michael was committed, said Matthew, and so is he — to crossing the finish line. Though his involvement with wear blue started in 2012, this year will truly be a race to remember. His parents will be volunteering along the wear blue mile, a section of the race course lined with placards depicting fallen service members and hundreds of American flags.

Though Matthew plans for it to be a very emotional experience, that doesn’t mean he also won’t try to keep things light, as Michael would have. He plans to stop for selfies with Marines and share hugs with his family.

“The beauty of this is that everybody’s going to find time to share and learn about others, remember and pay homage to these loved ones that we’ve lost,” Matthew said. “I would encourage anyone to do this. I think it’s an incredibly thoughtful way to bring people together.”

Alley said Matthew’s thoughts sum up the wear blue mission.

“We want to know about your fallen service member and watch you take purposeful steps in their honor,” she said. “We want to hear stories and know what your journey has been like. We want to provide a space where you can tackle something big — a marathon — with fellow survivors by your side.”

For more information on the wear blue Gold Star Race Program, visit wearblueruntoremember.org/goldstar-programs.

Army Sgt. Michael Woodliff was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2014.

The four Woodliff brothers grew up recognizing Army Sgt. Michael Woodliff (second from right) as the one who was born to follow in their father’s footsteps in the military.

Military families face numerous obstacles to quality health care

Military Family Advisory Network Survey shows lack of appointments, poor quality as top concerns

In July of this year, the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) released the results of its fourth Military Family Support Programming Survey, meant to comprehensively show the honest experiences of U.S. military families around the globe, and to serve as an early warning sign of issues these communities face.

The survey covered all facets of military life that affect families’ well-being, touching on health care, housing, food insecurity and finances.

Long waits for appointments contribute to frustrations

Dr. Gabby L’Esperance, director of research and program evaluation for MFAN, said families are “struggling.”

Out of more than 8,500 survey responses, one-third of active-duty family respondents ranked their ability to access general health care appointments as very negative or negative. Respondents listed lack of available appointments and provider availability as their top health care obstacle in the past two years. Poor quality of care closely followed.

BY KATE LEWIS

“Of those respondents who reported obstacles to securing health care, more than half (53.7%) said that wait times for appointments and providers have become so excessive as to render some requests for care irrelevant,” MFAN stated in its report.

The spouse of an active-duty Army service member anonymously responded to the MFAN survey with a heartfelt plea.

“It shouldn’t be this way,” the spouse wrote. “It is exhausting and sad – it is breaking military families. We really don’t want to beg for basic health care needs that we have been promised, but we need to in order to survive.”

Echoing these sentiments in their own anonymous response, the spouse of an active- duty Air Force service member indicated their difficulties in obtaining continuous health care drove them toward using civilian doctors and medical practices.

“Absolutely fine,” the spouse indicated of their health care interactions. “As long as we stay away from military providers.”

Telehealth becomes more prevalent

Even among active-duty family respondents, the MFAN survey data shows that less than half (47.3%) of active-duty family respondents ranked their satisfaction with care received as positive.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, military telehealth services increased and military families are utilizing them. According to the survey data, in 2019 only 11.3% of respondents indicated they used telehealth services – by 2021, more than 62.6% of respondents had used telehealth services that year.

But one key finding was that nearly half (48.1%) of respondents indicated they would not continue using telehealth appointments if copays were re-instated post-COVID.

Next steps: Increasing access

MFAN works to make its survey data actionable, L’Esperance said. Out of five key recommendations for action on overall factors that would increase the well-being of military families, increasing the availability of health care and mental health appointments was listed as No. 2.

MFAN’s research indicates that increasing appointment availability “would, in turn, improve both provider accessibility and possibly reduce wait times,” though there are a host of logistical factors to consider in making that possible.

To that end, MFAN hosted a Solutions Summit in mid-July with key stakeholders from the military, government and health care, whose recommendations are forthcoming on how to best address these issues. Survey sponsors included CVS Health and Humana Military, among others.

“Our troops love their families with all that they are,” said Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, in a recorded message of support for the comprehensive challenges military families face and the role of the Solutions Summit in identifying ways to resolve them. “We can’t expect to keep our best and brightest if our service members are forced to choose between their love of country and their love of family. That’s why giving our military community the support they need to thrive is a matter of national security.”

The Solutions Summit is only the first step in putting MFAN’s survey results to work improving health care for military families, along with taking action to solve the other identified issues. MFAN plans to delve deeper into the themes uncovered by its research through white papers, briefs and additional reports with further recommendations for action and change.

“The fact that families don’t have access … really is alarming, and something that everyone should be concerned about,” L’Esperance said.

What to know when a

loses a familychild military

BY PEYTON ROBERTS

To help ensure a smoother response, she urges service members to check that their command has a clear plan in place for leadership to implement.

In August 2013, Marines Michelle and Kyle Moskiewicz were navigating the typical rollercoaster of being first-time parents when they woke up in the middle of the night to discover their 3-monthold son, Chance, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Nine years later, Michelle, who is medically separated from the Marines and a mother of five (including Chance), shared insights from her experience with losing a child.

Every military dependent child has a life insurance policy.

For every service member covered under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), their dependent children are automatically covered with Family SGLI. The coverage, which is part of the military compensation benefits, is $10,000 per child and provides for burial and funeral expenses.

Parental bereavement leave is new and forthcoming.

The National Defense Authorization

Act for Fiscal Year 2022 established a new paid leave policy providing federal employees up to two weeks of parental bereavement leave following the death of a dependent child. In April 2022, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued guidance for all federal agencies to adopt this policy.

According to the American Federation of Government Employees, the Navy has implemented this leave, but inquiries could not confirm whether all services have.

Michelle, who took personal leave following her son’s death, said this would be a welcomed policy change, affording families a designated block of time to grieve and have a funeral.

Every military command needs a clear plan.

Michelle said their family’s grief was compounded by an apparent lack of formal procedures at either of their commands.

“You would have thought we were the first Marines on that base to ever lose a child,” she said. “Nobody knew what to do.”

Assign one point of contact for orchestrating help.

In the weeks after her son died, Michelle recalls countless phone calls from her command and well-meaning friends. But having to retell the story and make decisions about what to do next was overwhelming.

“Somebody needs to take charge. Because it’s not going to be the parents who just lost a child,” she said.

She recommends having one person from the command, like a mentor or staff officer who has a strong rapport with the family, serve as the primary point of contact.

Meet each family’s specific needs — especially meals.

What a family needs following the loss of a child is highly individualized to that family. If your command or readiness group organizes a meal train, sign up. Providing a meal, if requested, is one of the most practical ways to help a grieving family.

Stick around for the long haul.

When a loved one dies, condolences and

Michelle Moskiewicz

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Two bereaved mothers share insights on what to know and how to respond.

offers for help often rush in and then fade. Michelle wishes she’d had more support several weeks after the funeral.

“A month later when we were still dealing with the grief and coming out of that shock, that’s when we needed people, but everybody had gotten back on with their life,” she said. “It felt very isolating because then you started feeling like you were bothering people.”

The pain of losing of a child never fully heals.

Nine years after Chance’s death, Michelle teared up as she spoke about the night her son died.

“It’s weird to think that so much time has gone by, and it still affects you so much,” she said.

Connecting with other families who have experienced a similar loss has been helpful, and she mentioned several Facebook groups for veterans and family members who have lost a child. Still Standing Magazine, which was founded by a Marine spouse, offers a place for bereaved parents to share stories and resources.

“If you find a community of people, they can help walk you through it,” she said. “It all comes back to community.”

Overcoming the isolation of child loss.

At their first duty station in Pensacola, Florida, Army spouse Kristin Vanderlip experienced a devastating loss when their infant daughter, Hailey, passed away from a lethal chromosomal disorder. Losing a child, she said, complicated efforts to make new friends and isolated her from the community of support she desperately needed.

“When people would inquire about kids, it was like dropping a bombshell to say our daughter just died,” Vanderlip said.

Now a mother of two boys, Vanderlip said one of the most common questions she was asked — ‘How many kids do you have?’ — remains the hardest to answer.

“To not say I had a daughter felt dishonoring. I had to say her name. I had to share her,” she said. “But I learned that that’s heavy for a lot of people, especially when you first meet them.”

Instead, Vanderlip prefers the question,

‘What’s your family like?’

“Even for somebody who hasn’t lost a child. Even for somebody who’s going through a divorce or any other myriad of ways our family can look, that question feels so much more comfortable,” she said.

After years of navigating this tension, writing about loss on Instagram and coaching others to process grief through journaling, Vanderlip has found her rhythm.

“More often than not, when I am meeting

someone for the first time, I don’t share about our daughter. I don’t feel like I am betraying my daughter’s namesake like I used to,” she said. “Now I can see I am holding her memory sacredly and safely in my heart, and I can share when the time is right.”

Vanderlip says living as a bereaved mother remains difficult at times and requires discernment. She hopes sharing about loss and grief will help communities engage with sensitivity to others and the hard experiences they may carry.

LIFT expands Operation Next manufacturing certification program

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

Marine Lance Cpl. Drew Bolzman wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to do when he got out of the military. He knew one thing for certain, though: he didn’t want to jump into college classes.

That’s when an opportunity presented itself through DOD SkillBridge. A program called Operation Next prepares fresh-from-the-military men and women for careers in America’s most in-demand manufacturing jobs.

“Operation Next is an amazing program; I really don’t have one thing bad to say about it,” Bolzman said. “It just helps you get your foot in the door with finding a decent job when you get out.”

Operation Next recently expanded to troops serving at Fort Knox and those who are in the Kentucky National Guard or reserves — spouses included.

Future forward

Operation Next is run by Lightweight Innovation for Tomorrow (LIFT), a nonprofit public-private partnership between the DOD, industries and schools around the nation. The idea is for transitioning service members to fill the shortage of skilled tradesmen.

“Our service members are a great fit for advanced manufacturing jobs, because they oftentimes learned some of these skills while in the military, so Operation Next gives them credit for what they already know,” said Joe Steele, LIFT’s senior director of communications and legislative affairs. “We also know that they are disciplined, show up on time and want to see a job well done, which are all things employers are looking for.”

For no cost, program enrollees can study and become certified or credentialed in fields like welding, industrial technologies maintenance, computerized numerical control and robotics maintenance. Operation Next accepts separating military members, National Guardsmen and reservists and their spouses. Classes are available online and in-person through training centers in several states (Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin).

Interested in skilled trades from high school onward, Bolzman served as a combat engineer in the Marines. He then enrolled in an Operation Next-backed welding program in March and graduated on Aug. 18. He said he fully expects to find a quality welding job “pretty easily,” as Operation Next “really sets you up for success.”

“I’ve told all my friends about what SkillBridge and Operation Next provides,” Bolzman said. “Mostly just how great it is and how much I have learned.”

Kentucky calling

The DOD Manufacturing Engineering Education Program provides funding for Operation Next. Its latest expansion features a second post in the Bluegrass State. A pilot version succeeded at Fort Campbell, Steele said, so growth to Fort Knox was “natural.”

“Every new location is exciting because it helps us support those service members by meeting them where they are,” he said. “We are a Detroit-based, public-private partnership, but we have reach across the county, and these partnerships allow us to expand that reach.”

It’s all part of an ever-growing national growth plan, Steele said. Over the next year, Operation Next hopes to enroll at least 1,500 former service members and their spouses. Once finished, the graduates should “be able to join the civilian workforce immediately.”

“Operation Next provides us the opportunity to give back to those men and women who have bravely served our nation,” Steele said. “By giving them the chance to begin their civilian career, or begin a new career in advanced manufacturing, we are helping to not only fill the advanced manufacturing skills gap, but provide our service members with an opportunity to move ahead in their career.”

To learn more about and enroll in Operation Next, visit opnextjobs.com/ get-involved.

Dear Calvin Project creates video memories of fallen service members

BY ELENA FERRARIN

Charlie Jones knows exactly how he’d use his money if he won the lottery: fund his nonprofit Dear Calvin Project that creates video testimonial tributes for Gold Star families.

The 37-year-old Marine veteran lives in Fox River Grove, Illinois, and has wanted to get the nonprofit off the ground for nearly five years. So far, he’s produced one video, a tribute to his mentor, Sgt. Johnathan Davis, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Calvin is the name of Davis’ son.

Helena Davis said her son, now 13, is grateful for the nearly 23-minute professionally shot and edited video, which she called a “tremendous gift.” The Davis family also received handwritten and typed letters, digital raw footage and a customized fountain pen.

“From a family perspective, this gift pays dividends throughout every year,” said Helena, who lives in Southern California. “Anytime my son feels lost or lonely while missing his biological father, he can return to the video/letters/box.”

Jones, who runs an online resale shop, said his main obstacle in launching the nonprofit has been to push himself to ask people for money.

“I would get really gung-ho, then hit a snag and get discouraged,” he said. “It’s just me getting into my own way.”

His efforts were reinvigorated thanks to his participation in two nonprofit veterans’ programs, he said. One was a veteransin-residence business incubator program through Bunker Labs in 2021; the other was a five-month fellowship offered this year by Dog Tag Inc.

Jones said he’s now secured funding to produce a second video, and is optimistic about getting more.

“It’s not a political thing. It’s not even pro war or antiwar,” he said. “This is just remembering people and who they really were. So their children especially, more than anybody, can get a sense that they know that person.”

A native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Jones enlisted in the Marines out of high school in 2003. He spent four years on active duty, including 14 months in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II as a truck driver with Regimental Combat Team, 1st Marine Division. He also was an instructor/ controller at Mojave Viper training exercise in Twentynine Palms, California.

He started taking college classes in 2007 in Chicago, then reactivated into the Selected Marine Corps Reserve. He left as a staff sergeant in 2012 after he got unnecessarily angry about not being able to retake a physical fitness test that he’d failed, he said. It was a hasty decision that he regrets, he added.

Left without a sense of identity and drinking too much, he spiraled out of control, even becoming suicidal, he said. He got sober

Jan. 1, 2016. He went to rehab and a halfway house, and has been sober since.

The Dear Calvin Project gave him a renewed sense of purpose, Jones said.

The idea came after Helena asked her late husband’s buddies to write letters to her son. Jones wrote a double-sided, four-page letter, then opted for a video and asked the others to join him.

Jones said he secured some pro bono help but paid for flights, hotels and more to shoot the video in February 2018 in Atlanta. The more than $10,000 expense set him back financially for a long time, he explained.

So, what about doing the videos via smartphone or Zoom? That’s always a possibility, but there is something special about the dynamics of being together for professional filming, he said.

Dog Tag Inc. CEO Meghan Ogilvie praised Jones for his determination to build what she called “a meaningful and important undertaking” – along with his resilience, honest self-reflection, humor and generosity.

The official name of Jones’ nonprofit is Survived Inc., which has federal 501(c)(3) status. Jones said his vision is to someday offer additional support for Gold Star families, like mentorship for children.

“Aside from the effects of PTSD and the physical trauma of war, I honestly think those people have it the worst,” he said. “They have to move forward with a broken family. To me, it’s a very underappreciated group of people.”

For more information, or to donate to Dear Calvin Project, visit https:// www.dearcalvinproject.com/donate.

Marine veteran Charles Jones, founder of the nonprofit Dear Calvin Project

One look at their 2022 bank balances, however, shows a different story. After years of grueling work, Froehlich and Lagouros are both in a rare category: that of high-earning, active-duty military spouses.

“I didn’t know what I was doing when I started, but I just kept going and learning,” Froehlich said. “I think anybody can do what I’ve done, as long as you have the desire.”

What she’s done is build an online coaching and consulting business worth well over a halfmillion dollars annually — all while PCSing four times and becoming a mother. Lagouros, meanwhile, raked in over $2.5 million last year as a Virginia real estate agent and mother of two.

“It was a rough start, and we took a chance,” Lagouros said. “But here we are — I have a job I absolutely love, and it’s worked out for the best.”

And then some.

Leap of faith

Given the nature of military spouse life —

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER

drawing only a trickling of clients who needed help growing their businesses. She made approximately $20,000 that first year.

“So, 2016 was not sexy but it was my opportunity to learn,” Froehlich said.

She took it, breaking six figures for the first time in 2019. In the meantime, Froehlich hit the books, reading and listening to as much as she could on entrepreneurship, coaching, growth and leadership.

“I spent time in [Facebook entrepreneur] groups, reading and researching and watching YouTube videos,” she said. “And once I started generating revenue, I put that back into growing my business.”

Sweat equity

Lagouros, one of Virginia’s top real estate agents, has a similar story. She quit her $300,000-per-year position selling new construction, came home to Maryland and informed her test pilot husband they were moving to Virginia so she could sell real estate.

“I’ve moved around for 16 years with you, and I need you to do this one thing for me,” Lagouros told her husband. “I didn’t have a solid plan but thankfully he supported me.”

frequent PCSs, possible solo parenting, wary potential employers — finding a consistent job, let alone a high-earning one, is difficult. Self-employment allows spouses to build careers that travel with them. Nearly half of America’s 12 million military spouses are self-employed, business owners or aim to be, according to the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce (MSCC).

That’s the option Froehlich eventually took. After marrying her husband, an F-15E pilot, she quit her six-figure corporate job in favor of a $12-an-hour virtual assistant position. It was a short-term sacrifice, she said, made purposefully to position herself for long-term success.

“I had this desire to create something sustainable and portable, something allowing me to maintain my professional identity, because I didn’t realize how significantly that would be wiped away as a military wife,” she said. “I didn’t realize that was going to be such a challenge — and I wasn’t about to give it up.”

In 2016, Froehlich became a certified online business manager and growth strategist. Those initial rookie months were slow,

They moved in just two weeks, and Lagouros got to work.

The 18-hour days soon began paying off. In 2016, Lagouros sold 39 houses. Then 72, then 90, then 136 and 142.

“I know how I got here — making moves that were not safe,” she said. “Plus, a lot of people here are veterans and want to support military families, so they use me.”

Jaime Chapman, COO and co-founder of MSCC, said there is no one route to big bucks as a military spouse.

“While there are millionaire military spouses, they are the minority, and all over the page in how they got there,” she said.

The secret, Froehlich said, is that there isn’t one.

“You have to want it — you don’t get a secret cheat sheet,” she said. “It takes plenty of sweat equity. It’s worth it in the end, but you have to be willing to put in true grit in the beginning.”

Zero. That’s the number of clients Air Force wife Melissa Froehlich and Marine Corps wife Nikki Lagouros had when each kicked off their businesses several years ago.