2023 MF APRIL

WHAT FIRST TIME PCS’ERS NEED TO KNOW

APRIL 2023

RAMSTEIN FAMILY

EXPLORES GERMANY ONE DAY TRIP AT A TIME

BASEBALL LEGEND TALKS MARINE ROOTS

CADET SELECTED FOR MILLION GIRLS MOONSHOT

Hindsight is

I completed my final military move four years ago, shortly before the world was thrust into a global pandemic. As my husband was preparing to retire, he duped me into one last relocation to a zip code foreign to me. If you think regular PCS moves are hard, try going to a new town without a unit to connect with and, by the way, my company is remote — no coworkers to lean on. It was a lonely start, to say the least.

All the advice and tips in the world fall flat when you are in the midst of a challenging season of life, too. “Put yourself out there,” or, “You get what you put into it,” sound nice if you aren’t the one having to do it. So I won’t toss my two cents your way on how you should make the most of a duty station change, but I can share some of what I wish I could do differently.

Some bases are better than others (MCAS Yuma and I were not friends), and we have no choice but to give it a chance because torturing ourselves for roughly three years is a terrible strategy. When I look back at my hardest transitions, I was resistant to trying to make it better. In one case, I left a job I loved

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and amazing friends in North Carolina to melt in triple digit temps of Arizona. I mean, it was a layup that I could hate it, and everyone would give me a pass on my negative mentality. Now, looking back, I recognize I could have embraced the one-time opportunity of experiencing southwest living.

Maybe you’re heading somewhere on your bucket list, or maybe the military is sending you to an armpit — either way, it will be a chapter of your life that you own the rights to. How will you write those pages? Start small, maybe? Find one thing to do there that is solely beneficial for yourself — not for the kids, not for the spouse, not for the betterment of the armed forces.

A hobby, a class, a workout, an opportunity that will make you feel like you live there for more than just orders. And after you find it, tell us about it. Military families are moving every two to three years and there’s a good chance your success story can change someone else’s mindset. Share you experience with us at https://militaryfamilies.com/submit-your-story/

From a former PCS’er,

contributors

Rachel Mooney

Emily Solberg

Taneika Duhaney

Megan Harless

Jessica Manfre

Crystal Kupper

Sierra Starks

Stephanie Montague

Chris Adams

AmeriForce Media, LLC 304 Kirkwood Avenue, Suite 100 Bloomington, IN 47404

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“Make the best of every situation, especially the bad ones. There is always a silver lining.”

– TANEIKA DUHANEY

“It’s OK to ask for help. Watching children, walking a dog, or needing an extra set of eyes on everything, it’s OK to ask for help during your PCS.”

– MEGAN HARLESS

“Include an Apple air tag with your most important containers of HHG. Game-changer for PCSes!” – CRYSTAL KUPPER

“Weekly check-ins with friends via phone, FaceTime, etc., can help so much with the adjustment of moving to a new place. Even the smallest pieces of consistency can ground you in the stability you need as you transition.” –

SIERRA STARKS

“If you’re looking towards retirement, downsize your belongings as much as possible with each remaining PCS. Having less “stuff” will make you lighter on your feet and give you more flexibility in the size of home you need when you’re no longer receiving a tax-free housing allowance.”

“Focus on the positives of this time in your family’s life. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so in those times, enjoy the moment and document it to look back on.” – RACHEL MOONEY

For this month’s relocation issue, we asked our contributors to share their top PCS tip. Here is what they had to say:

– STEPHANIE MONTAGUE

MIL FAM

matters

ACCOLADES

Now it its 15th year, Operation Homefront announced the recipients of the Military Child of the Year® Award. A gala will be held this month to honor the seven teens representing Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Space Force. This year’s awardees have moved a combined 37 times and lived through 208 months of deployments, according to a press release, while logging 1,661 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations.

THE AWARDEES

AIR FORCE: Louis Geer, 18, San Antonio, Texas

ARMY: Mackenzie Hanna, 17, Grafton, Massachusetts

COAST GUARD: Haydn Jones, 17, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan

MARINE CORPS: Hannah Marie Tokiwa, 17, Pearl City, Hawaii

NATIONAL GUARD: Jackson Griggs, 18, Rainbow City, Alabama

NAVY: Jemma Bates, 18, Annapolis, Maryland

SPACE FORCE: Hayley Schreiner, 16, Colorado Springs, Colorado

CITIZENSHIP

Fifteen New York Army National Guard soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa received U.S. citizenship during an historic naturalization ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti City, Djibouti, last month. The soldiers are currently overseas for a nine-month deployment. 1st Lt. Joshua Castillon/Army National Guard

ONLINE

Author Lizann Lightfoot interviewed Tim Farrell, CEO of United Through Reading, about his organization’s milestone achievement of connecting 3 million military family members.

“[The program] was a difference-maker for my family and I on two different deployments to Iraq. Young kids don’t always understand why the service member isn’t available. Having that story time on demand gives peace of mind and makes us feel close. We were so grateful that our family was able to take advantage of that at a tough time, and a tough age for my kids,” he said.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma

BY RACHEL MOONEY, ARMY SPOUSE

Fort Sill, Oklahoma is an Army installation settled in southwest Oklahoma, named Fires Center of Excellence, for being the home of artillery. The nearest town of Lawton is bustling as it also houses Cameron University.

HISTORY

Fort Sill began as a cavalry post, built on the Southern Plains during the Indian wars. It is the only remaining active fort built during the wars. With the frontier’s presence and disappearance over the century, the first field artillery battery arrived at Fort Sill in 1902. Today, The Artillery Half Section, Fort Sill’s equine ceremony unit, represents this history.

CULTURE

The area contains prominent residing natives, including the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, and Fort Sill Apache tribes of Southwest Oklahoma. There are numerous casinos in Lawton associated with the tribes. Comanche National Museum & Cultural Center along with Fort Sill National Historic Landmark & Museum are top cultural attractions.

ADVENTURE

The Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge houses Mount Scott, a nearly 2,500-foot mountain with incredible views of the Oklahoma countryside. The Wildlife Refuge contains lakes, camping, hiking trails and wildlife. Free-range bison, coyotes, longhorns, elk and prairie dogs can be found along the way. The area is just a quick 15-mile drive from base.

Fort Sill also contains its own recreational area, called LETRA (Lake Elmer Thomas Recreational Area) where boat rentals, fishing, and cabin rentals are available.

TRAVEL

Fort Sill is situated 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and 60 miles north of Wichita Falls, Texas. It also lies 180 miles northwest of the greater Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. This creates a countryside feel to the area, while still having easy access to major metropolitan areas.

FOOD

A multitude of restaurants are contained within one main road, off post, called Cache Road. There’s a variety of choices, from pizza and pasta to burger joints and steakhouses.

In the morning, a local veteran-owned favorite is White Buffalo Coffee Bar, where an excellent menu of specialty coffees and food items are offered. The buffalo theme continues across the area, as it represents the Oklahoma state animal.

RAMSTEIN FAMILY

EXPLORES GERMANY ONE DAY TRIP AT A TIME

BY EMILY SOLBERG, ARMY RESERVIST AND MARINE SPOUSE PHOTOS BY DARIAN MATTHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

For some, getting OCONUS orders is like winning the lottery. For others, it can be an unwelcome shock.

From planning a long-distance move to assimilating into a new culture and learning a foreign language, living overseas certainly has its challenges. But one Army family shares how it was an amazing opportunity to explore, learn and create new experiences that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

Army Maj. Brent Stolzoff, his wife Margaret and their two daughters, affectionally deemed “the Lovelies,” are part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany, the largest American community outside of the U.S. It consists of Ramstein Air Base and its surrounding installations, including Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where Brent currently works in medical operations.

There are approximately 70,000 U.S. military personnel permanently stationed in Europe, of which half are located in Germany. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the number of personnel serving in Europe swelled to more than 100,000, and there are currently between 160,000 and 170,000 total active-duty troops stationed outside of the United States and its territories.

Living abroad has always been on the Stolzoffs’ bucket list, so when the opportunity arose, they were quick to jump on it. After Brent underwent a rigorous interview process, the family was approved to travel and the PCS process began.

Despite the added complication of moving during the COVID-19 lockdown, they were assigned a sponsor who helped them take care of everything.

“Without a good sponsor, help from the unit and our own research, the process would have been arduous,” Margaret said via email.

All in all, they say it went smoothly.

“Honestly, we keep thinking this has been the best move we’ve done together. We had a few months to prepare and organize household goods and paperwork. Although, this was our fifth military move so we might just be getting used to this kind of stress,” Margaret joked.

Once they arrived, the family quickly assimilated into the culture and community. From cheering on the local 1 FC Kaiserslautern fußball (soccer) team to visiting the famous German Christmas Markets to exploring nearby castles, hikes, parks and landmarks, the Stolzoffs have taken full advantage of everything their new home has to offer. The entire family even performed in a holiday production

of “The Nutcracker” through the “Ballet Dimension” Ballet School in Kaiserslautern.

“Through our village, school and activities, we have formed an incredibly tight-knit community of friends of all nationalities that have become our European family,” Margaret said. “This bond with others can only truly be experienced while stationed abroad away from family.”

And while being so far from friends and family can be hard, the Stolzoffs said they make it a priority to FaceTime often and family members frequently come visit.

As for the language barrier? Although the majority of locals speak English, the family enjoys attempting to speak German, and their efforts are always appreciated.

Their two elementary-aged daughters have also loved the experience.

“We’ve taught our daughters to appreciate new cultures, foods and experiences so they truly feel at ease and at home here in Germany,” Margaret said. “They have friends here from all over the world, and it’s amazing to see them appreciate their friends’ differences and learn from their cultures.”

The Stolzoffs chronicle their adventures abroad on their popular social media account, “Kaiserslautern Day Tripper,” where they share helpful, specific, and detailed information about places to visit and activities to do. They took over the account from another military couple, Oliver and Susan Davis (“Ollie and Nellie”), who the family met while stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. When it came time for Ollie and Nellie to

leave Germany, they asked the Stolzoffs to continue their legacy.

“Our primary goal is to continue the great tradition of sharing the unique opportunities of our wonderful duty station and taking the hard work and anxiety out of the picture so people feel comfortable traveling and experience this great place,” Margaret said.

Although the frequent day trips and vacations are amazing, the Stolzoffs agree the best part of living in Germany has been the quality and pace of life in Europe.

“Everything here seems more intentional, traditional, mindful and less stressful. Walking to our village grocery store and bakery, cooking meals together with friends, strolling through the beautiful German hills and fairytale-like forests surrounding our house — Germany living is good for the body and soul,” Margaret said.

The Stolzoffs’ best tip for families moving abroad is to reach out to the service member’s new unit and sponsor as soon as orders are cut.

“Communicate with your sponsor early and often. Do not delay — be proactive to a fault,” Margaret said. “If your sponsor is busy, check out local Facebook pages and post your questions there. Everyone else went through the same challenges, so they have lots of experience and tips to share.”

If all else fails and you continue to feel overwhelmed or have unanswered questions, Margaret encourages other military families to reach out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ktowndaytrips or @ktowndaytripper on Instagram.

How it feels to be a military child

In honor of the Month of the Military Child, Ballast Point Elementary in Tampa, Florida, hosted an essay contest for military kids. We are proud to share the winning submissions and thank all military children for their resilience in navigating their parents’ service to the nation.

Kaylee Z., 4th Grade

Are your parents in the military? Mine are. My parents are in the Marine Corps. So not only does that mean they work super hard and do a lot of work, but it also means I am a military kid! Military kids are strong and awesome. They get a great learning experience.

One way it makes you stronger and more awesome is how often they go away. They do a lot of work in their office, but they also do a lot of work in other countries like Ireland and Bahrain. Also they could be away for up to 1 year. But that only happens when they are deployed. Well how does this make you stronger? When your parents are away other people have to watch over you. This means you have to be more self reliable because usually the person watching you can’t or doesn’t know how to do some things. You also can show more respect by doing things by yourself. But you don’t only have to do things for yourself. You also have to do more things around the house or help out younger siblings.

Another way being a miliary kid makes you stronger is how much you move. You move to a bunch of different states, so you get to see a lot of new places. This gives you a great opportunity to see where you want to live when you grow up. You also have to meet new friends and go to a new school. You have to adjust to and learn new things. Finally, you get to see new environments.

In conclusion, being a military kid makes you stronger and more awesome. Also it is fun in many ways.

WHAT RENTERS NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ACCEPTING A HOME ON BASE

BY TANEIKA DUHANEY, VETERAN

A survey found that roughly one-third of military families choose to live on base, citing economic reasons as the main driver of the decision. However, advocates and former tenants caution renters to know their rights before committing to a home.

As with any decision, there are pros and cons to support on-post housing or opting to live off base. Privatized military housing can provide a significant cost savings, especially with current market prices, including utilities being part of the rental cost. But issues have come to light historically that prove renters can experience unsatisfactory living conditions in base housing communities.

Though DOD has oversight authority, a Reuters investigation found military families have faced poorly maintained homes, resulting in rampant mold and vermin infestations. Several filed lawsuits as a result.

“In the unit where my family and I live, we have ongoing issues with mold,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class LaMont DeShields, a current military base housing resident in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. “I’ve had military uniforms, including a set of dress whites, that I’ve had to replace because of mold damage.”

Megan Dew, military spouse and former Patuxent River child development home provider, agreed with DeShields’ concern about mold.

“Trying to get maintenance was a nightmare,” Dew said. “Once, our washer flooded the upper level, and [housing maintenance] came to fix the problem. They were prepared to leave without checking the ceiling fan even though it had been exposed to water. They were not worried about moisture, or anything, and mold is a major problem.”

According to Kate Needham, executive director of Armed Forces Housing Advocates, renters should exercise caution and know their rights. She said prospective renters should be aware of the Tenant Bill of Rights that commits the DOD to ensuring privatized housing tenants receive quality housing and fair treatment from the owners that operate and maintain privatized military base housing.

Currently, five companies operating military base housing have not implemented all or parts of the Tenant Bill of Rights. As such, prospective renters should research the company managing the housing they are interested in renting.

“The best way to do that is to look on their website. If you can’t find [the Tenant Bill

of Rights] on their website, definitely get it in writing from the management office,” Needham said.

In addition to knowing your rights as a renter, Needham recommended asking for a property’s history.

“We highly suggest that you ask for the property’s seven-year history, or if you have already moved in, ask for it anyway. The seven-year history gives you a really good idea of the scope of work and maintenance that has been done to the property,” Needham said. “Suppose you see something alarming such as emergency maintenance for a flood. In that case, you can ask the [military base housing] office to explain the work and preventive maintenance that was done afterward. It’s really important to know the history of your home so that if you find something like mold or deteriorating carpet, it’s not a surprise.”

Living on base can provide a range of benefits, according to BankRate, including a shorter commute to work, access to amenities like fitness centers and pools, security, and the opportunity to build relationships with others from the military community.

“Living in base housing was very convenient and close to my husband’s work,” Dew said. “He could walk to work if needed. We were also relatively close to amenities like the commissary, Exchange, and medical.”

Dew added that the base housing community was helpful for her child.

“Our son was able to interact with his peers who had a similar military upbringing and shared experiences,” she said.

Similarly, DeShields said he finds military base housing to be a benefit for his children who are homeschooled.

“Since my boys don’t go to public school, living in base housing provides a lot of opportunity for my kids to get that public interaction and develop their communication skills,” he said. “They also have friends who can relate to having a parent that is actively serving, and that’s a big plus.”

Visit AFHA’s website at https://afhousingadvocates.org/ guides/ to access resources, including a lease checklist and the Tenant Bill of Rights.

Checklist for first-time PCS’ers

BY MEGAN HARLESS, ARMY SPOUSE

Getting new orders and starting a PCS can be an exciting time as you are about to embark on a new journey. But moving can also be stressful and difficult, as you’re packing up life at one location and starting somewhere new. But it doesn’t have to be anxiety inducing.

Step one of the process is setting up your move with the local transportation office after receiving official orders.

You’ll want to take the time to read all the information they provide as well. Now, let’s walk through what you should know and should do when it comes to your first PCS.

Make a plan – After setting up your move, you’ll need to make a plan. What route are you taking? Where are you stopping? Do you have layovers? How are you moving your pets? You will need to map out the details. Make sure to include some wiggle room in the event your pack and load dates change.

Budget – Making a budget can help set realistic financial expectations and prevent you from going into unnecessary debt. Take the time to calculate what your entitlements/reimbursements may be (DLA, TLE/TLA, MALT, PPM) and start estimating expenses (gas, lodging, pet expenses, etc.). If you find that

you might be short on funds, you should have a government travel card (GTC) available to use, can request an advance of entitlements or contact your service branch relief organization to get a grant or 0% loan, depending on your needs.

Insurance – When preparing for any PCS, you should always review your insurance policies. You’ll want to make sure you have a policy that will cover your household goods in transit and in storage. Many rental or personal property policies will cover this, but if not, you’ll want to shop around. If you are purchasing or selling a home, you’ll need to double-check if your policy extends to cover the move or not. If you are planning an OCONUS move, you’ll also want to make sure your vehicle will be covered in transit and at your new location.

Inventory – Your moving company will make an inventory of the boxes and furniture you are moving. Before signing these inventories, you should take the time to review them and make sure they are as accurate as possible. While everything will not be listed on the inventory because they use general descriptions, you do need to ensure larger items are listed individually (ex. Each TV is listed with the serial number, even if multiple TVs are packed in one box).

You also need to confirm furniture condition codes to make sure they accurately reflect the current condition of your items. Furthermore, it is always a good idea to have your own home inventory in the event of missing boxes or a catastrophic loss and need to itemize the contents.

Lending closet – If you are in an OCONUS location, you should have access to a lending closet (sometimes called a loan locker). This lending closet can usually provide basic items like a cookware set, a folding table, chairs, dishes, and sometimes a couch, desk, or bed. These are items to be used temporarily until your household goods arrive. Many locations have premade boxes with items to make it easy to grab and go. Depending on where you are at a CONUS location, some installations like Fort Leavenworth also have lending closets to borrow from.

Personally Procured Move (PPM) -

If you choose to do a PPM the pay you receive is an incentive payment that is categorized as income and is taxable at 22%. However, any operating costs you have can lower the taxable amount of that incentive pay, so make sure all your expenses are paid after the date of your orders, and you save all receipts.

How this Coast Guard wife poured more than $1M into spouse employment

BY JESSICA MANFRE, COAST GUARD SPOUSE

An entrepreneur is marking more than 11 years of tapping into the military spouse and veteran talent pool to provide cost-effective solutions for businesses seeking growth.

Midwest native Jessica Bertsch, president of Powerhouse Planning, knows firsthand the skills today’s military spouses possess. She joined the community after meeting her coastie husband by accident.

“I was a poor grad student at the University of Arkansas and my friend brought me along on an all-expenses paid trip to the Bahamas,” Bertsch said.

When she spotted a man on the ship sporting a Michigan ball cap, she just had to talk to him. His Coast Guard cutter had just pulled into the Bahamas after a mission.

“We became friends and talked on the phone for about six months. All this happened while he was deciding if he was going to go to graduate school, and I was about to take a job with Purdue University. He chose to go to Purdue and then we decided we liked living around each other and we got married a year and a half later,” Bertsch said.

Years later, she had an established and successful career in corporate America but made the decision to step away.

“My husband’s job has always been a fast paced, high optempo, and we were ready to start a family. But I really wanted to maintain a career and was battling with myself on what I should do,” she said.

A former client approached her and asked if she’d do some freelance marketing work for him. Thinking she could turn it into something worthwhile, she made it an official business.

“It was just going to be me doing marketing, PR and then fast forward a few months into it,

I started to find all these other military spouses and veterans that were overly qualified and underutilized. They just couldn’t get a job for the life of them,” she said. “I kept thinking if I created this workspace with these men and women to keep their jobs, move after move, and they can just be on multiple contracts and fill in holes and whatever they’re talented in. It just took off.”

Powerhouse Planning marked a decade of operations last year. Initially, the company pursued small businesses to build up credibility and brand awareness. Soon Bertsch was negotiating government contracts, working short-term rentals and supporting nonprofit organizations.

“I have no intentions of selling or shutting down. I just want to grow at a healthy rate and continue to make an impact,” she said.

Since its founding in 2012, revenue has grown by more than 2,000%. She employs almost 30 remote team members across the country. In 2022, her team met in person for the first time for a retreat and celebration of the company’s decade milestone. But even with the virtual day-to-day distance between them, they find a lot of time for fun.

“We do book clubs and power hours where we learn how to paint or make charcuterie boards together. The company wants you to grow professionally but have fun together virtually, too. We’ve done virtual escape rooms,” she said. “I think another thing that sets us apart is we truly get the military life. If you have to take time off for a PCS or your spouse is deployed and you’re not yourself, we know.”

This savvy business woman wasn’t always aiming for the corporate ladder. Once upon a time, she wanted to be on television.

“My undergrad was in radio and TV film, so I really wanted to be a news anchor. I truly thought I was going to be the next Katie Couric,” she said with a smile.

Bertsch was also a ballerina all the way through college. She credits a lot of her dedication, work ethic and discipline to the rigorous commitment it required.

As for what she hopes other potential entrepreneurs take from her story, it was simple.

“You have to decide if what you’re doing is a hobby or a career. Once you make the decision to turn it into a career, go all in,” she said.

If you are a military spouse or veteran seeking freelance opportunities, visit www.powerhouseplanning.com.

15 things veteran service officers want you to know

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

Longtime Marine wife Carole Turner was speaking to another military spouse last year when they came to a startling realization: not many veterans or military families know what Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) are or can do.

“The younger generations of service members aren’t using VSOs as much,” Turner said. “But what if we could use our collective impact to create advocacy and awareness around the veteran service officer program?”

Awareness

Turner and her friend, Stephanie Muckey — an employee of Humana, the military-connected insurance company — were both in unique positions to do so. Turner is the vice president of strategic communications at PsychArmor, a California-based nonprofit that helps civilians more effectively engage with military members, veterans and their families. A large chunk of her job revolves around educating others on military-connected topics.

Turner pitched a campaign that focused on VSOs; people who are specially trained to help veterans with issues like VA claims, burial and survival benefits, military records and more.

The result was a to-be-released video curriculum called “15 Things Veteran Service Officers Want You to Know.” Turner and her colleagues hope to release it by the end of the year. Once finished, the video series will be available in PsychArmor’s extensive free

online library for individuals, businesses and employers, universities and more.

“It’s all about improving health and wellness outcomes for military members,” Turner said. “The energy behind bringing all these other organizations together and partnering with them is very important to us, and also very energizing.”

Dream team

Those other organizations include not only Humana — the major partner of the project — but stakeholders in the VSO world, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and Wounded Warrior Project.

Marine veteran Carmen McGinnis, a DAV VSO in Colorado and part of the “15 Things” collaboration, met with PsychArmor and Humana officials alongside other VSOs in January for a brainstorming session.

“It was extremely exciting to feel the energy and passion in the room from so many various perspectives, all in an effort to ultimately better serve anyone in the military and veteran community,” she said. “I’m excited to see what they come up with from the feedback that was provided by VSOs.”

The video series is in the research and data collection phase. PsychArmor is surveying several hundred VSOs from various organizations on their experiences, then will use subject matter experts to craft a script. The finished product will be the sequel to PsychArmor’s “15 Things Veterans Want You to Know.”

“I think this will be a valuable resource because the intention is to provide information on a variety of topics relevant to everyone in the community, whether they are active-duty service members, veterans, spouses or family members of either population; caregivers, employers, government leaders who create legislation that impact those populations, etc.,” McGinnis said. “I hope this video educates everyone that VSOs exist and we can bring a lot of value to their life for a variety of reasons.”

Both McGinnis and Turner are looking forward to the chance to correct misperceptions about who VSOs are and what they do. Though Turner cannot promise anything, she anticipates one of the top points in the video to be about payment for VA claims.

“People often falsely believe that their claim will have more attention or move faster if they pay someone to prepare it, but that is abso-

lutely not true,” she said. “VSOs are free, and it does not benefit you at all to pay someone to prepare your documents.”

McGinnis sees the evidence and consequences of those false beliefs regularly. This video series, she said, will be her chance to set the record straight.

“I think a big frustration for VSOs is the misinformation that exists online and amongst individual veteran circles that we then spend a lot of time correcting,” she said. “Making the information clear and in layman’s terms will be a key aspect of this video curriculum.”

To view PsychArmor’s most popular courses, visit psycharmor.org/ popular-courses

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS THE PERFECT PCS BED?

BY SIERRA LEONE STARKS, ARMY SPOUSE

Whatever name you give it — post-moving exhaustion, PCS fatigue or relocation anxiety — military families feel it every time they’re in the throes of relocating their livelihood.

“I think PCS fatigue is a real thing,” said Desiree Dillehay, an Army spouse whose family recently moved to Georgia. “And only people who are in the military and have moved around truly understand it.”

Dillehay and her family have had to relocate every year since 2019, a reality that has her dreading her next PCS, she said. While moving on an intermittent schedule comes with its own set of worries and anxieties for military families, furniture that gets lost or damaged during the move only adds to the stress. Yet it seems to be an inevitable consequence for many people navigating a PCS.

“We’ve had two very rough moves where we had a lot of damage,” Dillehay said. “You talk about fatigue and that, I think, is where it really comes in at.”

My family experienced something similar on a PCS. Broken lamps, cracked dishes, and scuffed artwork and furniture made the list of documented damage in our new home. Our bed also arrived broken. And that, for me, was when the PCS fatigue really set in.

While there isn’t an official psychological term to identify the burnout felt during a move, people can have emotional exhaustion from moving, said psychotherapist Teralyn Sell, Ph.D. That exhaustion can result in what would likely be called adjustment disorder, she said.

“This is basically when someone experiences depression, anxiety, or both as a result of a significant change in life that they might have difficulty adjusting to,” Sell said.

In my case, I can simplify it to this: I was ready to sleep in my own bed, and I couldn’t for weeks.

A good night’s sleep has always been important to me. And for good reason. Sleep is a significant part of our human experience as it’s a modulator of both mood and energy, according to Sell. Plus, research shows sleep deprivation and disruption can also play a role in disease and illness

We live and we learn from each PCS, so in our most recent move, I began to research beds that could potentially survive the remaining moves we have left in my husband’s Army career. We settled on The Thuma Bed, a high-quality platform bed with a modern aesthetic that’s both sustainable and functional. And though I doubt I’m done with PCS fatigue completely, at least I know I have a bed that can also weather whatever this military life throws at it.

What makes Thuma the potentially perfect PCS bed?

• The Thuma Bed frame is made out of repurposed wood, and the slats are made from recycled plastics, making this is both a durable and an environmentally responsible purchase.

• Assembling the bed is low-maintenance, user-friendly and requires no tools. The pieces of the frame seamlessly lock into place, and two hand-tightened screws secure everything in place.

• For the head of the bed, buyers can choose between the PillowBoard or the Headboard. The PillowBoard is a foam interior with interchangeable slipcover options. Bonus: The linen-weave fabric covers are removable and washable. When it’s time to transition to forever-home status, upgrading to the Headboard, crafted from the same recycled wood as The Thuma Bed frame, is a likely option.

Follow Military Families for more stories, resources, giveaways & opportunities to be featured in an upcoming story!

FOSTERING IN THE MILITARY

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

New Army couple Nick and April Sheets thought they would have to give up the life they had established as a foster family when they joined the military. But a social worker was the first to say that’s not the case.

Military members and their spouses can indeed foster disadvantaged children — even while on active duty, living on base and with the potential of deploying.

“I believe the mission of the military is very close to the mission of foster care,” April said. “Children get left behind in the system, and it’s our job to make sure they have a loving, warm and supportive home to go to at night.”

The Sheets family has been licensed in Texas, Virginia and North Carolina, fostering 28 children in total, even after PCSing. They are part of a small group of military foster families

around the States. Roughly 2,000 military families also foster or are seeking to adopt, according to DOD data from 2016-20.

Kelly Sprout and her husband, Robert, were one of those families, fostering 10 children and adopting two before Robert retired from the Navy in 2021. Like the Sheets family, they had long assumed that fostering and active-duty military service were mutually exclusive. But then they met a military foster family while stationed in Hawaii.

“All you hear is that you can’t, because you move too much or because of deployments, which is not true,” Sprout said. “It’s probably why we had never heard of anyone fostering in the military until we met our friends.”

Military members and their spouses’ motivations for fostering are the same as anyone else’s, Sheets and Sprout said: they want to

help children from birth to 18 whose parents are struggling. The process to become licensed is also nearly identical to a civilian’s. Single parents and couples ages 21 and older go through background checks and medical assessments, complete licensure classes and open their houses for a home study, according to Military OneSource.

The only extra steps for military families are disclosing how much time they have left in a certain location (most foster agencies prefer families with at least one year remaining at their current assignment) and when the service member(s) might deploy, alongside informing base housing (if applicable). Military OneSource also states that foster children are eligible to live on military installations, though they do not typically use base medical care or schools and do not travel to overseas assignments. Military spouses can still foster while their partner is deployed.

Amber Edington and family

However, since foster care agencies operate by state, foster children cannot remain with a military family when PCSing across state lines, unless the family is already in the process of adopting them. That means that military foster families might have to “give back” their foster children when moving to new assignments.

“I hate that part,” Sheets said. “And I think the hardest thing I’ve come across is that every time we move, the new states don’t recognize your certification and we have to redo almost everything again.”

That means repeated classes and background/medical checks.

Similarly, Navy wife Amber Edington and her husband had to drive to Arkansas from Virginia to obtain his driving record for their foster care licensure. Remembering every place they had lived and obtaining references from people who knew them well wasn’t easy either, she said — but it’s worth it.

“Me and my husband both believe that children belong in families, and if we can be that family, then why not?” Edington said. “The military lifestyle is already stressful, but we know we need to help these children and we have the ability, so we’re going to do it.”

BEFORE YOU FOSTER

Ready to become a military foster family? Here are some pro tips from Sheets, Sprout and Edington:

• Discuss the prospect with your partner, including the challenges of fostering (trauma behaviors, addictions, difficulty navigating legal systems, heartbreak, etc.). If both of you are not on the same page, things can go south quickly.

• Consider your family’s situation, including jobs and children already at home. What ages and abilities of foster children might fit best?

• Look at how much time you have remaining at your current duty station (at least one year, ideally) and any upcoming deployments.

• To begin the process, call or email your state’s specific agency that licenses foster parents. Find yours at childwelfare.gov, or google “How to become a foster parent in” your state.

• Get plugged into resources for military foster families, including Military OneSource (militaryonesource.mil/adopt-foster) and the Facebook group “{US Military Families} Adoption, Foster Care & Kinship Care Support.”

Kelly & Robert Sprouts

DESTINATIONS

Top three SPACE-A for OCONUS

families

BY STEPHANIE MONTAGUE, ARMY VETERAN SPOUSE

One of the top benefits that comes with an OCONUS duty station is the opportunity to travel. Living in another part of the world gives you easy access to places that would require much more time and money to visit from the States.

A fun way to visit new destinations is by flying Space-A. Depending on where you’re stationed, there are some easy “hops” you can take to explore yet another new part of the world. Here are three ideas to get you started for spring travel.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE (GERMANY)

Ramstein is in southwestern Germany, and it’s also the perfect “base” for a variety of day trips in the region. Within a few hours, you can visit many top destinations in Germany, as well as in France, Luxembourg and Belgium.

Popular day trips include:

Heidelberg, known for its famous castle.

Trier, the oldest city in Germany.

Strasbourg, a picturesque French city close to the border with Germany.

Bastogne, Belgium, site of Battle of the Bulge and a city rich in WWII history.

You can stay near the train station in the nearby towns of Landstuhl or Kaiserslautern and use Germany’s excellent rail system or rent a car and take a road trip.

Learn more about local transportation and other logistics of flying Space-A to Ramstein at www.poppinsmoke.com/ramstein.

OCONUS Bases with regular flights to Ramstein: RAF Mildenhall, UK; NAVSTA Rota, Spain; NAS Sigonella, Italy; and Incirlik AB, Turkey

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA (ITALY)

Sigonella is on the island of Sicily. For a relatively small geographic area, Sicily boasts a diverse range of attractions, including ancient ruins, gorgeous beaches, historic cities and Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe.

The base is on the eastern side of the island, within an hour’s drive of Mount Etna. If you visit in the spring, expect to see snow on the mountain, but you can hike or even explore on an ATV at lower elevations.

Among the many places to visit within a couple hours of Sigonella are:

Taormina, a beautiful medieval city on Mount Tauro that has epic views of the sea and a famous Greek theater. Syracuse, a stunning city on the southeastern coast of Sicily, known for its ancient ruins.

Catania, the closest major city to Sigonella, with many historical sites, delicious restaurants and a lively fish market.

Agrigento, a city on Sicily’s southwestern coast that is most famous for its five Greek temples.

Much of Sicily is accessible using public transportation, but renting a car will give you more freedom to explore the island.

Read more about transportation and where to stay when flying Space-A to Sigonella at www.poppinsmoke.com/sigonella.

OCONUS bases with regular flights to NAS Sigonella: NAVSTA Rota, Spain; NSA Naples, Italy; NSA Souda Bay, Greece; and Ramstein AB, Germany

KADENA AIR BASE (JAPAN)

Kadena is in Okinawa, a cluster of islands in the Pacific about two hours south of mainland Japan. Okinawa has a sub-tropical climate, amazing marine life and gorgeous beaches. Think of it as a less expensive version of Hawaii.

Okinawa boasts many activities for all ages and interests. The island is a paradise for anyone who enjoys snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking or simply relaxing on the beach. It also has important WWII history, including the Peace Memorial Park and the former underground headquarters of the Japanese Navy.

Other top sites in Okinawa are: Cape Hedo at the northern tip of the island, where the East China Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. Hiji Falls, the island’s tallest waterfall.

Churaumi Aquarium, which boasts a giant tank of whale sharks, manta rays and other large fish. The city of Naha and its most famous street, Kokusai Dori (a great place to buy souvenirs and sample local sweets).

If you’re flying to Okinawa from outside Japan, make sure you’re aware of the immigration procedures. Find out what you need to know, plus more intel about flying Space-A to Kadena at www.poppinsmoke.com/kadena.

OCONUS Bases with regular flights to Kadena: Yokota AB and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; Anderson AFB, Guam; JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; JB ElmendorfRichardson (Alaska)

Make the most of your time overseas by taking advantage of the travel opportunities. If you’ve never flown Space-A, learn how it works by visiting www.poppinsmoke.com/ MilitaryFamilies and add “taking a hop” to your list of OCONUS adventures.

TALKS MARINE ROOTS BASEBALL LEGEND

BY CHRIS ADAMS

The most successful baseball manager in Major League Baseball — arguably speaking, I suppose — is the Houston Astros’ Dusty Baker. Fresh off a World Series championship season and an aggregate win/loss total of 1969-1692 (a .538 winning average), Baker defines successful coaching. But that isn’t all. He has compiled a 34-34 postseason record and also led the San Francisco Giants to the series in 2002.

However, the former MLB outfielder — a .278 career average with 242 dingers and World Series courtesy of the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers — has earned a distinction that many don’t know about. In 2017, Baker became a member of the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame.

“One of the things that I’m most proud of all, is being in the Marine Corps Hall of Fame. And I just went down there and walked around, you know, for the day and reflected back on my life,” Baker said. “And you know … I’m proud of being in that Marine Corps Hall of Fame.”

Baker is no stranger to halls of fame. He’s been inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame, Riverside (California) Sports Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame. There’s only one remaining — and he’s a lock.

“Dusty Baker’s going to get into the [Baseball] Hall of Fame,” wrote Chris Bodig, a former producer for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, on the Cooperstown Cred blog. “If he can seal the deal with a (World Series) title this weekend, that will put the icing on his Cooperstown sundae. But he deserves to make it regardless.”

But Baker is also proud to have served in the Marine Corps.

“Some of my strength came from being raised in the church, and some of my strength came from being a Marine … I’m serious about that …. willing to work and not give up and keep fighting and fighting,” Baker told Military Families Magazine in an exclusive interview. “I mean this is what we’re taught as a Marine.”

Baker joined the Marine Corps Reserve while playing with the Atlanta Braves organization in the late 1960s.

“And so the first year, I didn’t leave until June after school was out. And I led the team in hitting,” he said.

Baker said the Braves felt he was on a fast track to a major league career.

“And they wanted me to join the National Guard.”

But that was around the time of the chaotic Democratic National Convention in Chicago when all hell broke loose between protesters and the Chicago police, fortified by the National Guard.

“And at that time, the National Guard were being called out, you know, with unrest and riots. And I’m like, ‘No, I can’t join the National Guard.’ And so they [the Atlanta Braves] said, ‘Well, you’d have to join the Marines,’ so I said, ‘OK,’ I joined the Marines then.”

Baker was sent to Parris Island for basic training and made the best of it.

“I took pride in trying to be the best at everything,” he said. “You know, I was expert in rifle and pistol, and I won the hand-to-hand combat with the other platoons.”

Baker’s father was in the Navy, and several of his uncles served too; Navy, Army and Air Force. He was familiar with the Armed Forces, and serving was really part of a family tradition. Baker said the Marine Corps enhanced his life.

“I learned about self-defense. I learned about hand-to-hand combat. I learned about weaponry. I learned how to survive,” Baker said. “I just learned a lot.”

Baker credits the Marines with playing a critical role in his proudest accomplishment as a player. The Astros skipper was traded from the Braves to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 1975 season and subsequently suffered a knee injury while playing basketball in the winter of 1976. And it showed during the season. He finished 1976 with a mere four home runs — he had averaged about 17 per year the prior four seasons — 39 RBIs and a .242 batting average.

“And boy, that was a tough year … They were booing me every day,” Baker said.

He had a knee operation during the off-season and hit 30 home runs the following season, helping the Dodgers earn a trip to the playoffs. But that first season in Los Angeles tested the long-time MLB manager and California native. What made it more difficult was he grew up a Dodgers fan and dreamt about playing for the iconic franchise.

“And then to get there and fail miserably, my first year, boy, that was a downer,” Baker said. “But you know, some of my strength came from being raised in the church, and some of my strength came from being a Marine … I’m serious about that. You know, the willing to work and not give up and keep fighting and fighting … this is what we’re taught as a Marine.”

Baker also was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had a stroke, but soldiered on, partly because of his experience as a Marine.

“Being a Marine had a lot to do with my perseverance, and between dad and the church had a lot to do with my perseverance, to keep striving and keep working,” he said.

And the veteran of the big leagues received a well-rounded “education” in the Marine Corps Reserve. He served in 50-caliber Howitzer and MP units from Richmond, Virginia, to Sacramento, California, and even chauffeured around generals.

“One time, they went to Pendleton, and I had brig duty in an MP unit. That was a little weird because there were a couple of guys in the brig that they said had done some Vietnam War crimes, but I grew up with them as kids,” Baker said.

Though his experience in the Marines wasn’t perfect, in true Baker form he embraced the positive and processed the negative.

“So, it was a learning experience, taught me discipline, which I needed at the time,” he said. “Once a month, you did a weekend in Atlanta, and then I go to the stadium and try to play the game, and then we leave for two weeks every summer. And we couldn’t touch a bat or ball ‘cause we were a Marine.”

Baker said serving his commitment and playing professional baseball had its trials, requiring him to jump right back into playing after missing days or weeks.

“I’d come back not hitting for two weeks, and I didn’t have a rehab assignment so they throw you right back in the lineup,” he said.

“That was a challenging part of it.”

But there were other disappointments too. Baker’s unquestionable

commitment never materialized in a higher ranking. Coming out of boot camp, he was promoted to lance corporal but that’s where his rank remained.

“I never got any more rank after that,” he said. “And that was the part that’s probably disappointing because everybody likes to see progress and likes to see themselves being elevated.”

However, Baker said the Marines taught him teamwork, probably more than any team sport ever did.

“You know, when you got to try to protect a guy’s life that you may not even like, but you need him to live, and he may need you to live … I learned a lot,” he said.

No doubt those experiences have helped him manage the many personalities he has encountered throughout his career, such as Barry Bonds, Justin Verlander, Bryce Harper, Aroldis Chapman, Sammy Sosa and a variety of owners and general managers.

“You learn how to coexist at the workplace, and you learn hard work … you learn the chain of command, you know?”

Serving as a reservist for six years seems to have “served” Baker well. His appreciation for the time spent in the Marine Corps is apparent.

“I don’t have any regrets. I mean, when you’re in it six years, seems like a long time. Now that I look back, six years, it wasn’t long at all.”

JROTC CADET CHOSEN FOR MILLION GIRLS

MOONSHOT

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

A youth ambassador program that encourages future STEM leaders announced its next Flight Crew of 43 girls, including a Navy JROTC cadet.

Ariana Perez, a 17-year-old junior from Placentia, California, was named to the Million Girls Moonshot 2023 Flight Crew. The program, a movement of STEM Next Opportunity Fund, is a charity to bring high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) opportunities to youth around the nation while closing the gender gap in STEM careers. This year’s Flight Crew was announced as a STEM Next commitment to the White House National Space Council’s priority to promote career awareness of space opportunities.

“When I learned I got selected, that was really cool,” said Ariana. “There are not too many things in high school where you get accepted on a national level, so that was pretty big for me.”

Ariana, a cadet at her high school’s Navy JROTC program since her freshman year, said she became interested in STEM activities in elementary school. Since then, she has competed in STEM competitions via CyberPatriot, a military association-affiliated contest for students to find and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities in virtual operating systems.

An only child, Ariana has parents who provided her with plenty of STEM-related opportunities from a young age. She says she is passionate about providing those same opportunities to other girls.

“With the younger girls we talk to, they feel like they can’t do STEM stuff because maybe they’ve been told certain things about their abilities in the past,” Ariana said. “I don’t think a lot of people think about what they say to girls about STEM, and I’ve seen how that has an impact on young girls, especially when they hear it from their peers or see it on media.”

Ariana discovered Million Girls Moonshot while researching STEM opportunities for girls. She was immediately attracted to its mission, applying for the Flight Crew with her parents’ permission.

“I think just being there to give the support and encouragement is definitely something that every girl should have,” she said. “And I can do that through Million Girls Moonshot.”

That’s exactly what Teresa Drew, deputy director of STEM Next, loves to hear: that more girls are not only learning about and participating in STEM activities, but they are becoming ambassadors for the field.

“When we launched Million Girls Moonshot, we were working with the afterschool community, hearing from lot of stakeholders, including program folks and different educational stakeholders, but who we weren’t hearing from was the kids directly,” Drew said.

“We knew if we really wanted to reflect the needs and aspirations of young people and girls interested in STEM, we needed to have a group of people we could regularly ask what they think and want, and hear their stories, and really be working on their behalf.”

The Flight Crew was the result, taking off for the first time with 16 young people in 2022. This year, the group expanded to 43 middle and high schoolers from 37 states who were already involved with afterschool STEM activities. Someday, Drew added, they hope to have a girl represented from every state.

Ariana was chosen for her acumen in cybersecurity, Drew said.

“There’s a huge opportunity in cybersecurity for young people and girls. This is an industry, especially when thinking about the cyber vulnerabilities of our country at large, where we need to have a brain trust that’s representative of the country at large,” she said. “Ariana represents that, and we wanted to make sure we had someone like her, sharing what she’s been doing and how she gives back in STEM.”

As part of the Flight Crew, Ariana will get speaking and mentoring opportunities throughout 2023, as well as the chance to bond with other Flight Crew members through monthly Zoom meetings and STEM challenges. She dreams of one day working in cybersecurity or law, possibly after attending West Point or another military academy.

“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “I get to work with this team of girls who all share the same passion — we want to make a difference and make STEM more applicable for everyone.”

For more information about Million Girls Moonshot and applying for future Flight Crews, visit https://www.million girlsmoonshot.org.

Q&A WITH

ALLEN

“NIX” NIKSICH

SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER

BY CRYSTAL KUPPER, AIR FORCE SPOUSE

School Liaison Officers (SLO) exist at military installations around the globe, serving as the primary point of contact for military families on all school-related matters. We spoke with Allen “Nix” Niksich, SLO at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, on tips for transitioning school-aged military children between schools.

Military families move every two-and-a-half years on average. In your experience, how does this affect kids?

Military kids may be forced to attend as many as eight or nine schools in their pre-K to 12th grade education. Leaving behind friends, homes and schools is especially rough on them; they don’t make the decisions to live the military lifestyle. Some people think as kids get older, it becomes easier. In reality, it becomes harder because their friends and environments become even more important to them.

What is the best thing a military family can do to prepare their kids for new schools before they PCS?

While the parents make the major decisions for the family, any conversation and ability to include the children in decision making is very important. If the kids feel they have a say in challenges and transition, it is more likely they will feel they have the support of their parents if and when challenges arise at their new school.

What are some tangible things parents can do with their kids to ease the transition?

Research schools on the internet together, find extracurricular activities that will interest the kids and even contact the new base with a youth sponsorship program so they can already have a friend before departing their current base.

In your experience, do parents ever have unfair expectations of their military kids?

I think parents just expect that military kids are resilient and will be fine — that it is OK for them to be stressed a bit — that it will make them stronger. Our military kids are indeed resilient, but they are that way by learning to deal with adversity, so help them learn.

What is the biggest mistake military families make in regards to new schools?

I think families need to spend more time preparing their children before they leave their current base. Many times, parents are

more concerned with housing, their next job and the trip to their new base. I think preparing for and ensuring the start of their children’s next educational experience in a comfortable setting will make the worry of some of those other subjects a whole lot easier to manage.

When do you feel like you’ve really hit a home run in your job?

Being a school liaison allows me the opportunity to talk to parents and students prior to them arriving at my base (pre-arrival emails, youth sponsorship and even a pre-arrival Zoom meeting 60 days from their arrival). While you can’t remember all their names and personalities, I always light up when the kids know my name and tell me that they saw me at an event, or better yet, that they like their school and their friends. Watching school staffs do their magic and seeing students shine makes my job easy and fun. Visit