Page 2
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
April 2013
//// OPERATION PURPLE
A Place Where Kids Can Be Kids By Jim Mahaffie
Photos courtesy of the National Military Family Association
April 2013
The strain of deployments is rough on individuals and couples—particularly when there are young children involved. But this summer, more than 1,100 children or servicepeople will attend a network of free camps around the country through Operation Purple. For the past 10 years, the National Military Family Association (NMFA) has been offering the free summer camp program to support military children, ages 7 to 17, who are dealing with the stress of deployment. In the pilot season in 2004, the NMFA started with 12 camp locations serving a thousand kids. Operation Purple has since served close to 45,000 military children and teens, according to Joyce Wessel Raezer, NMFA executive director. The camps are “purple”—open to children of all branches of the military. This includes active duty, National Guard or Reserve service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Children of professionals in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also eligible. “Deployment is a term that makes many military families cringe and nobody fully understands what deployment feels like unless they’ve been through it. For children, it’s a world that often can’t be fully expressed through their words, but rather in sharing moments with others that make them realize they are not alone,” said Raezer. “Operation Purple Camp offers military kids a time to get away and be kids in a stress-free environment. Campers ride horses, climb towers, plummet down waterslides, and also have the chance to celebrate their service as the children of service members.” Founded in 1969, the NMFA is a nonprofit organization focusing on issues important to military families, such as comprehensive child care, accessible health care, spouse employment options, great schools, caring communities, a secure retirement, and support for widows and widowers. “With 11 years of war under our belts, it’s no surprise that our children are feeling the effects,” said Raezer. “Our kids are our future and we are focused on helping military children not only cope with the challenges of this lifestyle, but also connect them with other military children so they realize they are not alone. Operation Purple
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Camps allow kids to be just that—kids. It’s a place of healing, growing and adventure, as well as a place to feel safe and understood.” Camps are held in Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. Depending on locations, there is horseback riding, climbing, swimming and waterslides, and more. “Oregon military families face a special set of challenges when one or more parents deploy overseas. We don’t have any federal military installations or MWR programming that offers youth of military families a sense of place where they can come together and build their own community capacity, social capital and sense of belonging to a military community,” said Ethan E. Erickson, camp director and executive director of Tsuga Community Commission in Oregon. “From my own military service as both an enlisted member and a commissioned officer, and from my years of professional residential camp experience, I am very proud to be able to continue giving back to Oregon military families developing Operation Purple Camp as Oregon’s favorite military family support program.” Operation Purple has a distinguished list of sponsors, including servicepeople-focused groups such as the Bob Woodruff Foundation and Veterans Support Foundation; others include Lockheed Martin and the Newman’s Own Foundation. The Operation Purple program also includes camps for teens, family retreats at national parks, and camps geared to address the needs of children and families of our nation’s wounded service members. Operation Purple Family Retreats provide military families with the opportunity to reconnect after deployments as a family; the Operation Purple Healing Adventures program supports wounded service members and their families by allowing them to rediscover family fun and togetherness after an injury. “Even with many soldiers coming home, it is critical that we continue programs like this as our children need our support now more than ever,” said Raezer. For more information about Operation Purple Camp, Operation Purple Family Retreats or Operation Pur ple Healing Adventures, email OPC@militaryfamily.org or visit militaryfamily.org. Page 3
//// THE
SECRET LIFE OF
MILITARY KIDS
What They Can Teach Us about Resiliency and Survival
Photos courtesy of Alice Swan
Above: Robin Swan, 3, in DeRidder, La. Top right: Mary, 7, Robin, 11, and Hannah, 5, at the Badlands in South Dakota. Bottom right: Robin, 4, stands in a helicopter at Fort Polk, La.
By Alice Swan Everyone can agree that more than 12 years of war, deployments and fiscal uncertainty have stretched military resources to the breaking point. The most important element of those resources—the human factor—has been the focus of studies and research to determine how to build stronger service members, families and civilian employees. You’ve probably seen these called resiliency studies or resiliency programs. The Army recently announced the Ready and Resilient Campaign. As Department of Defense officials focus on the topic of building resiliency, they may be overlooking a group of experts on the subject right in their midst. The Army defines resilience as “the mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral ability to face and cope with adversity, adapt to change, recover, learn and grow from setbacks.” As I’ve learned through my own family experience, our military children are some of the most resilient individuals in the nation. These kids deal with parent deployments, moves, leaving and making friends, school Page 4
transitions, trying out for new teams, finding new clubs to join, and more serious traumas than their peers may ever experience. And yet, with each PCS, with each deployment, with each school transition or with helping a wounded parent heal, for the most part, our military children bounce back, thrive and excel. And more often than not, they are doing it faster than their parents. What’s their secret? In a March 2012 article by Sarah O. Meadows on The RAND Blog, she noted that “we hope to be able to tackle some of the tricky questions that remain elusive to military family researchers.” Through surveys of 2,000 military members and their families over three years, one of the known focuses of the RAND Corporation’s Deployment Life Study is why “Despite Military-Related Stress, Resilience is the Norm among Military Families.” “While children (and to some degree parents) in military families experience a decline in well-being, particularly during parental absence due to a deployment, most families find ways to cope. Prior studies have shown that, during peacetime, DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
kids from military families do not differ from their nonmilitary peers in terms of mental health and behavioral outcomes, and in some cases, fare better on these outcomes. Other studies have found that, although children may have elevated symptoms during a deployment, the severity of symptoms often does not reach a clinical threshold.” In less clinical speak, our military children are handling the pressure (though they may be driving the spouse/parent left behind to a rubber room) and have developed their own coping mechanisms. How do they do it? While a military parent, my own childhood could not have prepared me less for what military life would be like. Growing up in one home, attending school in the same neighborhood with the same friends, I had no fallback positions to be able to relate to life as a military child. So, to get some real answers, I turned to my personal panel of experts—Robin, age 24; Mary, 20; and Hannah, 18—to unlock their secrets of resiliency. April 2013
What is the hardest part of growing up in a military family? Robin: The toughest part was just dealing with moves; having to move away from friends multiple times can be pretty rough. Mary: I also feel that there is a kind of subconscious rule that you have to carry yourself in a specific manner [because] of your parents and also because of the people you are surrounded by. Hannah: I’d have to agree. There is a definite standard that military kids are held to. I think it’s because some of our actions could get our parents in trouble on post. So there’s the pressure of being held to a higher standard, even if that pressure is in your mind, along with the hardships of being thrown into new environments and, especially for military kids in the past decade, parent deployments. Is there a character trait you’ve developed as a military child that has helped you cope with these difficulties? Robin: Flexibility and adaptability—you learn to deal with changing circumstances at an early age, as well as adapting to different social environments. This is a big help when you are in a new area and need to make friends, or are just dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Military life absolutely teaches you ways to handle the stresses of those situations. Mary: As a military child, being able to adapt to new environments and situations is a key to survival. Being able to adapt allowed me to make friends and find a niche in each new home. Are there positives to growing up in a military family? Hannah: The best part was traveling and getting to experience new people and places. We had an opportunity to forge memories that our peers don’t really get to.
Mary: I definitely agree that we’ve gotten to experience things that most people won’t get to experience in their whole lives. However, the best part of living in a military family is the extended family. Our family isn’t just our parents and siblings. Our family includes all those we’ve served with, all of the spouses that [mom] went through deployments with and all of the military brats who welcomed us to each post because that’s just what military families do. What is the most important thing that military parents can do to ease the stress and transitions for their children when facing a move or deployment? Robin: Encourage kids to take part in activities like sports, Scouting, clubs, etc. It’s a good way for them to make new friends and to quickly adapt to a new place. Hannah: You always did a good job with moving because we would turn it into a vacation. I remember the drive from Fort Polk to D.C. when we stopped at different places along the way to explore. It also helped that we researched our new homes before we would go. As for deployments, when dad left for Iraq and we were all crying, we went to see “Shrek” and that helped a lot. You just have to turn a stressful situation into an exciting or funny one. Mary: The encouragement to join a sports team or club after a move was always good advice because often we were able to make friends before the school year even started. That always made me a little more confident on the first day of school because I knew that I would have people to talk to in the cafeteria. I think the best thing that parents can do during deployments is to try and take our minds off of it. Going to “Shrek” after dad deployed to Iraq was great. Even though we were sad and scared, going to the movie allowed us to let go of that and laugh. I also remember the family support group gatherings we had in Germany and
Fort Polk during deployments because all of the kids went too. It was nice being able to be with kids who were going through the same things that we were. Well, there it is. The secret to military children’s resiliency could be the fact that they are military children. Most of us adults are approaching situations and problems from a background of growing up in one place, going to the same schools with the same people and moving when we get our first job—developing a somewhat narrow life view. Our military children are weaned on adaptability from a young age and learn early how to use flexibility, acceptance and adaptation to thrive anywhere they live. Perhaps that sense of “expected behavior” also helps military kids develop the strength of character that can guide them through difficult periods. It’s the “WWDWMTD” or “WWMWMTD”—What would dad (or mom) want me to do?—theory. The military parent may be deployed, but the emotional connection between them stays strong, helping to influence decisions. Couple that with the support provided by other military families, especially their peers, and our military children can face any situation. Military parents should take pride in the fact that we are raising, or have raised, such successful, resilient children. It may not seem that we are doing everything right in the moment, but we are having a positive impact on our children’s lives. Who knew a simple decision to see a funny movie would be the one thing that helped three children through such a stressful event. The challenge is to not burden our children with our own worries and fears. Lead with your heart, and our military kids will follow.
DCMilitary Family Life John Rives, Publisher Comprint Military Publications 301-921-2800 Maxine Minar, President Circulation of 110,000 printed by offset as a civilian enterprise quarterly magazine for installations within the National Capital Region by Comprint Military Publications, a division of The Gazette. Comprint Military Publications is located at 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone 301-921-2800. Editorial content, including graphic art and photographs that support messages, new stories, and feature articles, are prepared in the Marketing Offices of the installations that contribute the information and blogs from DCMilitaryFamLife.com. Letters and suggestions may be mailed to DCMilitary Family Life Publisher, Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. The printer is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense. Opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors to this Marketing publication, and they are not to be considered an official expression of the Department of Defense. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense of the products or services advertised.
April 2013
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Page 5
//// MILITARY
CHILDREN
Face Challenges that Could Help in Adulthood
By C.D. Carter When Sarah Pietrowski hears the term, “military brat,” she knows it can have myriad meanings. Sarah, 14, of Arlington, Va., whose mother Jean Pietrowski serves as a reservist in the Navy, had heard the derogatory term tossed around her middle school with little thought as to how it might impact the children of military service members. “Brat,” Sarah said, can refer to a kid who is moved from school to school, and has stopped trying in the classroom while remaining socially isolated, unwilling to make new friends because the next move could be just a few months away. “Brat” could also refer to a military child who has no aspirations but to follow their mother or father’s career path: entering the military, serving for 20 years and retiring. That’s flattering in a way, said Sarah, but it’s also limiting. She’d like to be a history teacher one day; she’s not sure many people know that. “There’s a lot of stereotyping when it comes to kids from military backgrounds,” Sarah said. “And like all stereotypes, they’re usually wrong.” Military families nationwide are recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child, a salute to the 1.9 million children in military families, with 1.3 million schoolaged, according to Department of Defense 2012 statistics on DoDLive. More than 765,000 children have parents who are on active duty and 225,000 have a parent who is deployed. And, more than 700,000 children have seen one or both of their parents deployed for military service since 2001, according to the DoDLive statistics. The DoD, recognizing the frequent hardships faced by children moved from city to city as their mothers and fathers serve the country, established the Military Youth on the Move website, which dispatches advice to military kids seeking help in adjusting to new communities and schools. The site includes a testimonial from a Page 6
Photo courtesy of Erin Henderschedt
Tom Henderschedt, a Navy commander, receives a welcome homecoming from his most recent deployment from wife Erin and children (from left) Huck, Zeke, Jack and Jed.
teenager from a military background who attended eight schools by the age of 16. The department’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology also launched MilitaryKidsConnect.org, a site that allows military children to connect online and form friendships during their transient childhoods. Jean Pietrowski, who entered the Navy three years ago, first moving to Bethesda, Md., said her family is still getting acclimated to life in the military, which has already moved them once. “This is new to us, it’s new to [Sarah],
and other children don’t necessarily understand it and what she’s going through,” said Pietrowski, who lived in North Carolina before enlisting and moving to the D.C. region. Pietrowski said she admires active-duty families who are forced to move across the country—sometimes across the world— with little notice. It’s a wonder those families adjust to new schools, neighborhoods, grocery stores and everything else that comes with integrating into a community they could have to leave at a moment’s notice, she said.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
“This is the lifestyle these kids live. The reservists just get a taste of it. We sort of see it a little, understand just a little bit,” she said. “You hear about what they go through, and it’s only then that you sort of realize that you never even really touch the surface of what they have to go through. It’s amazing, really.” That pervasive term for military children—“brat”—is fairly common, Pietrowski said, but she’s not sure children and teenagers know what it means. “I think some kids see it as a way of putting [military children] in a box,” she said. April 2013
“If you asked a kid to define the word, they probably wouldn’t say much beyond, ‘A kid in the military’ … They hear it on TV a lot. I think that’s where a lot of it comes from.” Erin Henderschedt has moved so often during her husband’s time in the Navy that she’s developed a programmatic approach to helping her four sons adjust to life in a new town. Henderschedt, who documents her life as a military wife and mother on The Deployment Diatribes blog, said in the first few days in a new place, she looks to enroll her kids—who range from 5 to 14— in sports programs, cooking classes or any other social activity that could help her boys meet children with similar interests. “Most kids we meet have known each other since kindergarten, so my boys have to work harder to break in and really make friends in these new places,” said Henderschedt, whose husband, Tom, has been in the Navy for 21 years. The family lives in Oak Hill,Va. Both these military families said there is one distinct advantage to moving from town to town and learning to adjust on the fly: The military life helps kids mature at a faster rate than most, as they learn how to remain socially active despite an unpredictable existence. “I don’t know if they’re naturally that way, or if they’ve had to adjust to the military lifestyle, but they like meeting new people,
Metro Creative Graphics
and it seems that they’ve adapted to that,” Henderschedt said. “They walk up to someone and shake their hand … They interact with some kids like they’ve known them all along.They’re not at all socially intimated.” Huck Henderschedt, 8, reinforced his
mom’s thoughts on how military children adjust to unpredictability. After a move, even a tough one, Huck said, it’s important not to dwell on what you’ll miss. “Sometimes it makes me sad to lose my friends, but you just have to think about
making new friends at the new place you’re going to,” Huck said. “You just have to talk to people, ask them to be your friends … Then they’ll introduce you to new people.” Sarah Pietrowski, an eighth-grader, said she has met many children from military backgrounds who have matured at a much faster rate than their peers—in part because of the constant acclimation to new surroundings, but also due to the extra responsibilities they have to take on when their parents are deployed. “I really think military kids tend to grow up faster,” she said. “I feel like I have the maturity of a 30-year-old sometimes. We become more mature than normal kids our age … and I believe that’s a very good thing. I look at some of the kids my age who act like 5-year-olds.” The accelerated maturation of kids from military families will certainly pay dividends when they reach college and fend for themselves, Henderschedt said. Not every recent high school graduate is ready for that major transition, she said, but her kids will be. “They’ve experienced so much in their short lives, by the time they get to college, they’re going to be fine because their feet are firmly planted on the ground,” she said. “I think that puts them ahead of the game in a lot of ways.”
April 2013
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Page 7
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling MWR Earth Day Fun Day April 20 | 8 a.m. | Marina Parking Lot Enjoy a day full of fun as we celebrate Earth Day with our Spring River CleanUp, Earth Day 5K Run/Walk, USAF & USN Drill Team performance, Blessing of the Fleet, Chili Cook-Off Contest, MWR booths and much more! Volunteers are needed to help us clean up the Bolling and Anacostia Waterfront to make our surrounding a cleaner and better place to live. Please call 202-767-1371 for more information.
Month of the Military Child Carnival April 26 |3 to 6 p.m. |Bolling Green Park/Pavilions 7 & 8 Join the CYP Staff for the Month of the Military Child festivities as we celebrate you—the Military Child. Open Rec will begin at 8 p.m. Please call 202-767-4003 for more information.
Sounds of Summer: Acoustic Night feat. Barry Charlton May 3 | 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Slip Inn Bar & Grill Listen to the sounds of the guitar featur-
Page 8
ing some of your favorite songs during our first Sounds of Summer kick-off! Please call 202-767-5840 for more information.
Intramural Track and Field May 11 | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. | JBAB Track & Field Participate in the JBAB’s Intramural Track and Field event! We will feature individual open events, relay events and field events. You must be registered for the events within the first two weeks of the track meet. Please call 202-767-5895 for more information.
Sounds of Summer: Asian Pacific Heritage Month Luau May 10 | 3 p.m. | Slip Inn Bar & Grill Can’t miss this! Join us as we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month featuring the DC Luau Entertainment, Hula/Tahitian Dancers and Drummers, Fire Spinners and temporary face and body tattoos! Please call 202-767-5840 for more information.
Mother’s Day Brunch May 12 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Bolling Club Show your appreciation to the women
in your life by treating them to the best Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet in the National Capital Region. The buffet will feature all your favorite breakfast items to include made to order omelets; a carving station with prime rib and ham; and dozens of other specialties. Come hungry and save room for dessert; we’ll have a chocolate station! Reservations will start on April 15. Club Members: $26.95 Non-Members: $30.95 Children 6-11: Half Price Please call 202-563-8400 for more information or to make reservations.
Navy Air-Force Half Marathon and Navy 5 Miler September 2013 | 7:30 a.m. | Washington, D.C., National Mall Join us for the 2nd Annual Navy-Air Force Half-Marathon and 10th Annual Navy 5-Miler on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The race is open to military and civilian runners, and participants and volunteers can find more information and register at www.navyairforcehalfmarathon.com.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Metro Creative Graphics
April 2013
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall MWR Spring into Warm Weather at MCCS Henderson Hall Submitted by Doriann Geller, MCCS Marketing Officer
MCCS Henderson Hall, located on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, offers a great variety of activities for active duty personnel, reservists, retirees, family members, and DOD civilians in the National Capital Region. From our awesome gym and an extraordinary Marine Corps Exchange to family support activities, we offer something for just about everyone. We invite you to check out www. mccsHH.com, a comprehensive site encompassing all things MCCS Henderson Hall. And now, we offer mobile content, optimized for smartphones and tablets, at www.M.mccsHH.com. We know you are visiting us on-the-go, so we’ve made it easier for you to view our content.
and 18 holes, and, thanks to our generous sponsors, a goody bag and door prizes. Reservations are essential, as the roster fills quickly. Call 703-697-2706 for more information or check www.mccsHH.com/ SemperFit.html.
est training tool specifically for and open only to active duty personnel and reservists. Our staff members are trained and look forward to working with you in the new HITT Center. For more information, please visit our Web page, www.mccshh. com/HITT.html.
Family Programs
Spring Wine Festival On Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., taste over 100 wines from the U.S., Germany, Argentina, Spain, Italy, France and Chile. Join us and visit with vendors from The Vineyard Wine & Spirits, who will introduce their wines and share their expertise. Rod J. Vasquez—“El Don” of El Don Chilean Wines—and José Luis Villar of Bodegas Frutos Villar Wines will sign bottles of their wines. There will be DJ entertainment and drawings for prizes, too! Lunch will be available for purchase. Must be 21 years old or older to taste.
Metro Creative Graphics
a “Semper Fi-ght” Obesity 5k Fun Run with Navy Mutual Aid Association on Oct. 23, and the annual Turkey Trot Joint Base 5k Fun Run on Nov. 15. For more information, please call 703614-5959. And, if you would like to be notified when runs are opening for registration, please sign up by going to our website, www.mccsHH.com/SignUp.html, and ask to be included on the email list.
HITT Center Opens
Semper Fit Runs
Golf Tournaments
If you thought the Cpl. Terry L. Smith Gym was great before, you’ll love it even more with the opening of the High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) Center this spring. HITT is the Marine Corps’ new-
Check the OohRah Run Series Web page at www.mccsHH.com/oohrahrunseries. html. Upcoming runs include the Iwo Jima 7k Race on May 22, Chesty’s 5k Fun Run on June 26, the Devil Dog 7K on Sept. 18,
“Golf With Us,” Semper Fit’s tournament series, is underway monthly through September at courses in Northern Virginia. Play is open to all DOD ID card holders and their guests. Fees include lunch, cart
April 2013
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
MCCS Hender son Hall offer s a wide range of services to Marines and their family members throughout the National Capital Region and beyond to a 105-square-mile area around Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Through a robust outreach program, the programs provide information on topics such as relocation assistance, school liaison services, education and career resources, personal financial management, and counseling support. For an overview of the services available, please visit www.mccsHH.com/MFS.html. Want to keep in the loop on MCCS Henderson Hall offerings? Visit us at www. mccsHH.com or www.M.mccsHH.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ mccsHH, and like us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/mccsHH.
Page 9
NSA Annapolis MWR NSA Annapolis Summer Camp Registration Starts in April
Metro Creative Graphics
Page 10
School’s not even out yet, however parents need to plan ahead for children’s summer activities. Registration for the Billy the Kid Youth Center’s Summer Camp started on April 8 and runs to April 19 on a priority basis. NSA Annapolis’s summer day camp will run for 12 one-week sessions from June 10 through Aug. 24, depending on public school schedule. Navy School-Age Care (SAC) Summer Camp operates weekly sessions for military and eligible families who need full-time SAC services for the entire 12-week summer. The SAC program gives priority to families who need year-round full-time care and places them in spaces first. After those who need regular weekly full-time services are placed, then families who want individual weeks can request any vacant spaces. When an individual week reaches maximum capacity, requesting families will be placed on the waiting list for that week. SAC provides opportunities for spaces for families who request “selected weeks” of
care based on space availability not filled by full-time families. Registration for the entire summer camp will follow the priority listing below: 1. April 8-10 (Children currently enrolled in the School Age Care (SAC) program) 2. April 11-12 (Military families not enrolled in SAC with priority for those who enroll for all 12 weeks) 3. April 15-17 (DoD civilians) 4. April 18-19 (NDW contractors, if space is still available) Parents can enroll after the above dates but take the risk of certain weeks being full. Eligible patrons can choose any or all weeks in the summer. Charges will be based on the entire week per category. Camp fees are based on income and eligibility. Costs range from $52/week to $140/week and depend on eligibility category and number of children (20-percent discount is given for multiple children in same household). Families will need to take their ID and LES (leave and earning statement) from both parents for verification. For more information, please contact the NSA Annapolis Billy the Kid Youth Center at 410-293-9396.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
CYP SUMMER CAMP 2013 “LET YOUR FUN SET SAIL” WEEKLY THEMES June 10-14
Anchors Aweigh
June 17-24
Down By The Bay
June 24-28
Wild Kingdom
July 1-5
Olympics
July 8-12
Under the Sea
July 15-19
Championship
July 22-26
Disco Fever
July 29-Aug. 2
Have a Book-Will Travel
Aug. 5-9
Weird Science
Aug. 12-16
Splish Splash
Aug. 19-23
Around the World
Aug. 20-24
Fiesta
April 2013
NSA Washington MWR Unravel Your Travel Show Wednesday, May 1 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Free Admission Catering and Conference Center – Bldg. 211,Washington NavyYard Planning a vacation, cruise or international trip? The MWR Information, Tickets and Travel Office on the Washington Navy Yard can help you! Not only do we have a full-service travel agency on base, but the Travel Office is hosting “Unravel Your Travel Show.” This trade show will include over 25 destination experts, tour operators and amusement park experts who will present the thousands of available travel options. In addition, a number of the exhibitors will provide giveaways, ranging from gift certificates to trips, as well as provide insight on military and government discounts. Travel vendors such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, Sandals Resorts and Europe Express will be present at the show, as well as amusement park vendors such as SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Kings Dominion and Legoland to name a few sharing information, as well door prizes.
April 2013
Metro Creative Graphics
This will be a great event that allows all of our customers to view different travel options for upcoming vacations, honeymoons, weddings or just some good ole’ fun! For event information, please contact the MWR ITT Travel Office at 202-685-8298.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Page 11
NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren MWR Sign up to get a free subscription for the NSF Dahlgren Fleet and Family Readiness (FFR) weekly Marketing Office Electronic Newsletter (e-News) at FFRPMarketing_ Dahlgren@navy.mil for a weekly update of MWR special events, movie schedule, restaurant menu, sports events, Fleet and Family Support Center class schedules and more! Like NSA South Potomac on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NSASouthPotomac. Don’t miss out on base events and news — let NSASP and Facebook keep you up to date!
Subway franchise coming soon to NSF Dahlgren Officials announced that the Game Time Sports Grill operation located inside the Cannonball Lanes Bowling Center will permanently close and renovations will begin to accommodate a new Subway franchise. Subway management hopes to be able to open the franchise by June 1. During the renovation, patrons of the bowling alley may bring in their own food items or have food delivered. The bowling center will sell beverages including soda, water, beer and provide snacks during the interim.
April is the Month of the Military Child Every April military children have reason to celebrate. Why? Because it’s the Month of the Military Child. Wanting to honor military kids for their sacrifices and courage, in 1986 Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger designated April as the Month of the Military Child. Since then, military installations, organizations and communities have created special events to pay tribute to these little military heroes. Throughout their lives, our military kids endure a lot. They attend multiple schools, sometimes moving mid-school year; they deal with a parent coming and going on a regular basis to both stateside and deployed locations; and they make new friends and leave old friends repeatedly. That’s a lot for anyone to deal with, especially a young child or teenager. We ask a lot of our military kids, and they adapt and bounce back to grow and thrive in the face of adversity and change. Military kids learn to adapt and change rapidly, to make new friends quickly, and learn to love the life they live. April is a special time set aside for us as a nation to recognize our military children as we honor them throughout the Month of the Military Child. Our military kids do not wear a uniform or show any outward signs of their service, but it is important that we take this month to identify and honor each and every one of them. They are just as deserving of the adoration that we give their Page 12
Metro Creative Graphics
parents in uniform as they serve side by side with their family. If you’d like to celebrate Month of the Military Child, an excellent resource to help you locate events and planned activities in your area is the “state search” at Operation Military Kids. It doesn’t take a lot to put a smile on a child’s face. If you cannot find events or activities in your area, don’t worry, the solution is easy. Pick a date and have your son or daughter choose how they’d like to spend the day.You may be surprised at their simplistic request. Regardless of how you fill the hours, make sure they understand the day is meant to honor and celebrate them—the military child.
Month of the Military Child National Library Week April 15 to 20, Free Eligible patrons include all with base access. It’s National Library Week! Come in and check out our wonderful Dahlgren General Library. All week every new library card sign-up or check-out transaction will earn you an entry to win a $50 or $25 Books-A-Million gift card. On Saturday, April 20 at 11 a.m., we’ll be reading a kid’s book “Germs Are Not for Sharing” having a germ-themed crafternoon and making soap! For more information, please contact the Dahlgren General Library at 540-653-7474. Sponsored by: NSWC Federal Credit Union.
Month of the Military Child – Youth Ice Cream Social & Welcome and Farewell April 24, 6 p.m., Free Location: DahlgrenYouth Activities Center For youth school-ages K to 17, dependants of active duty, DoD civilians and base contractors and their parents. This is a welcome and farewell event for kids who are coming and leaving the area. Play games and enjoy ice cream and a variety of toppings! Training on cyber safety for kids will also be covered. Register at theYouth Activities Center by April 22. For more information, please contact the Youth Activities Center at 540-653-2087. Sponsored by: NSWC Federal Credit Union.
April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM Proclamation) ‘Hurts One. Affects All…Preventing Sexual Assault is Everyone’s Duty’ WHEREAS, The Depar tment of Defense has declared April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month”; and WHEREAS, sexual assault is a devastating crime that affects thousands of men, women, and children across the Department of Defense each year; and WHEREAS, the emotional and physical scars resulting from sexual violence are often severe and long lasting; and WHEREAS, we recognize all those who work on behalf of rape survivors and their families—we acknowledge the many law enforcement officers, prosecutors, counselors, victim advocates, and health care
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
professionals whose dedication and service to rape survivors has helped them recover from this crime; and WHEREAS, with leadership, dedication, and encouragement, there is compelling evidence that we can be successful in reducing incidents of this horrible crime through increased awareness and by holding perpetrators who commit sexual violence responsible for their actions; and WHEREAS, we ask that all members of our community take a pledge to stand up against sexual violence by supporting survivors and challenging societal myths and behaviors that perpetuate sexual violence; N OW, T H E R E F O R E B E I T RESOLVED, that we do hereby proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and urge all members of the Naval Support Activity, South Potomac community to stand up against sexual assault and make a difference.
NSF Dahlgren Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) 5K Run/Walk April 24, 11 a.m. Location: Dahlgren Fitness Center Eligible patrons include all with base access. Free teal ribbon pin to all runners, free T-shirts to the first 25 registrants. Awards will be given to first place men’s and women’s winners overall and first place active duty. For more information, please contact the Fitness Center at 540-653-8580. Sponsored by: NSWC Federal Credit Union and Carroll’s Automotive. April 2013
MCCS Quantico MWR MCCS Quantico Stay in the Know
Little Tykes Basketball Contest Saturday, April 20, 12 to 1 p.m. Toy department at the MCX. Open to ages 2 to 4.
MCCS Quantico has a lot going on this month. Stay in the know by signing up to receive our Monthly Trifold at the MCCS website, or like us on Facebook at facebook. com/Quantico MCCS. April is the Month of the Military Child, and MCCS Quantico has many things planned to celebrate the Military Child.
Apple Clinic Demos Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m., 12 and 1 p.m. Learn all about Apple products in any of these 30-minute presentations given by an official Apple representative located in the Electronics Department.
Cutest Baby Photo Contest April 15 to 20 Photos will be on display for customer voting at the MCX. For more information, call 703-432-8800.
Teddy Bear Tea Friday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. New Parent Support Program Activity Room Bring your kids along with their favorite teddy bear, doll or stuffed animal. This is an interactive workshop to promote manners with young children through play. Call 703784-4248 for more information.
April 2013
Metro Creative Graphics
Book Signing Pretty Me Teen Make-Over Day With Cosmetic Consultants April 19 and 20 Sign up with skin care experts from Clinique, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, Smashbox, Too Faced and Elizabeth Arden. Call 703-432-8893 or visit the Cosmetics Department at the MCX to make an appointment.
April 19 to 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Glenna Orr will be signing her book, “Open Minds, Open Hearts” in front of the MCX.
Diaper Derby Contest Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m. Bring your registered CRAWLER across from the Children’s Department in the MCX. Registration until April 19. Please call 703-432-8800 for more information.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Xbox Dance Revolution Saturday, April 27, 2 to 3 p.m. Electronics Department at MCX Open to 12- to 18-year-olds. Please join us and show your dance moves. For more information, call 703-432-8800.
Kids First Fair Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come have fun with games, activities, information booths, clown, face painting, and much more. Open to all. Located at 3314 Purvis Road at the new CDC. Call 703-784-4470 for more information.
Page 13
USCG Sector NY MWR Summer Camp Registrations are filling up The Children’s Aid Society’s Goodhue Center’s William Osborn Day Camp. The Children’s Aid Society is (in a way) the forerunner of the current Boys & Girls Clubs of America. When the Coast Guard signed the partnership with BGCA, the CAS reached out to provide their services to the Coast Guard community. Another benefit of the program is the bus service that picks up the children at the Sector NY school bus stop. Other stops at different locations are available; contact CAS for details. The William Osborn Day Camp “aims to have a lasting influence on the lives of the children through our creative and nurturing programs and environment.” The children are placed in small groups with other children of the same ages and all groups are guided by counselors who provide the care, attention and the love that promotes healthy growth. Campers are 5 to 13 years old with the 13- to 15-year-olds participating in the Counselor-in-Training Program. Young children have a full schedule of activities planned during the day, while the older children can pick a planned track of activities such as the arts, computers, theater & dance, and sports. The program starts Monday, July 8 and concludes Friday, Aug. 23. Flexible weeks are available making this ideal for military families and transfer season. Contact CAS for complete details concerning flexible dates. There is a special mini-camp the week of July 4. Running from July 1 to 5 and closed on July 4, there are minimum requirements and no bus service for this special week. The fees? At press time they were not available, but with the relationship between the CAS and the USCG MWR Department, the fees are 50-percent off the posted prices. Exact prices will be available from Sector NY MWR when you read this announcement. All service members at Fort Wadsworth are eligible for this discount. The facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a pool house, woodlands and trails, baseball and soccer field, two outdoor basketball courts, and a sun-safe playground facility. For more information about the William Osborn Day Camp, contact them at 718447-2630.You can also view their website at www.goodhuecenter.org.
Spring in New York City The snow is gone, honestly! And with the green grass and blossoming flowers comes the opening of the amusement parks. Sector NY handles the tickets for Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., as well as Dorney Park in Allentown, Pa., and Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa. Page 14
you a great view that the immigrants would have had when they arrived in the early 1900s. Stopping at Battery Park, the location allows for travel to see either the east side or the west side of Manhattan. If the Coast Guard is booked, you can stay at the Staten Island Navy Inn, located on Staten Island. And if they are booked, check with the Coast Guard’s overflow military-friendly housing options. You will always have a great place to visit the greatest city in the world. After you have your housing, contact MWR as the big day draws near. There are plenty of locations for easy viewing alongside the river. You might want to bring one of the inexpensive folding chairs you can find in the Exchanges, so it’s easy to carry and disposable if necessary. Bring your cameras because the views will be fantastic!
Sector NY’s Own Guest Quarters
Photos courtesy USCG Sector NY MWR
All the parks have their own uniqueness to encourage you to visit each one. Want a small park atmosphere with rides for everyone? Check out Dorney Park. On your way to the park, be sure to stop off in Easton, Pa., and visit the Crayola Experience.This is a unique opportunity for all children. Love coasters? Be sure to visit Six Flags Great Adventure. Sector’s discounted tickets also allow you to visit their safari and the theme park in one day. During the heat of the summer, visit their Hurricane Harbor water park. Three great parks within commuting distance of NewYork City. And if its history and amusement parks you want, stop off at Coney Island. Check out the Cyclone at Coney Island. The famous wooden roller coaster is in the middle of a redevelopment plan for the area, but is always a hit. And of course you have the famous Coney Island Boardwalk and Beach. You can enjoy a Nathan’s hot dog at the famous restaurant where the dog eating contests are held each year. And see the beaches where New Yorkers went for vacation away from the city in early times. It will be a trip to remember. Check out their website for more information: www.coneyisland.com/tourism.shtml. Finally, the sweetest park is Hersheypark. While the park can be visited in one day, we recommend making it an overnight trip. Lodging can be arranged through the military voucher program and the discounted tickets will make for a special day at Hershey. And yes, the smell of fresh
chocolate permeates the air in the morning. While there, you can visit Lancaster in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and the northeast Pennsylvania mining country complete with a tour of a mine near Hazleton. Get your tickets and more at the Sector NY MWR Office.
4th of July New York City Style The biggest bash of the summer wouldn’t be complete without the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, but you have to plan now. Hotels fill up quickly for one of the largest tourist attractions NYC has to offer. When you consider the Statue of Liberty; the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum; and the fireworks, July is the time to visit if you are military. But you have to start your planning now to get lodging at a reasonable rate. Macy’s has been hosting the birthday bash for over 30 years. Each year the show has been getting bigger and bigger with its patriotic spirit and pyrotechnic spectacular. And again, this year’s show will bring all the magic and wonder spectators have come to expect, and so much more. Planning a visit to New York during this holiday season? You have to start now! The limited number of military-friendly hotels fills up quickly. Of course, you can’t beat the Coast Guard’s own Guest Quarters located at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. The leisure travel units allow you quick and easy access to Manhattan via the Staten Island ferry. The 25-minute ferry ride gives
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
What’s the best deal in town? Our vote is for Sector New York’s Guest Quarters. The MWR Department operates a two-bedroom and three-bedroom, fully furnished, former family townhouses that are available for all MWR eligible patron usage. The current fees are only $104 for the two bedroom and $109 for the three bedroom; the reservation policy allows you to book as far in advance as you care to, but full payment is required at the time of the reservation. There is a cancellation fee. The excellent location allows for a discounted price, as well as easy access to the heart of New York City—Manhattan. Enjoy the free ferry boat ride from Staten Island to Battery Park as you pass the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island, the former home of the New York Coast Guard Commands. Once in Manhattan, all the attractions are just a short and safe distance away. Broadway, the theater district, is only a subway ride away. Enjoy a discounted show by visiting the TKTS ticket booth. Tickets are sold only for the same day or day before matinees, but you can always see a good show. If you want to purchase a discounted ticket before your arrival in NewYork, check out www.broadwaybox.com. They also have a link to purchase tickets for shows that are sold out.You never know what bargains you can find there! The National Museum of the American Indian-New York is within walking distance of the ferry terminal and is free! The World Trade Center site and St. Paul’s Chapel is also within walking distance of the ferry. We all know America’s baseball team, the Yankees. Hop on the #4 subway and you see the ballpark. The Yankees are in their new home and everyone attending a game there raves about the new home that Ruth built. April 2013
Need more ideas? The Botanical Gardens located in the Bronx and Brooklyn, Central Park and Grand Central Terminal are just some of the locations that are just a subway ride away. Don’t miss the Intrepid (a former aircraft carrier now museum) and the Statue of Liberty. Sector MWR ITT office has military vouchers for both venues. And don’t forget the museums. From the world famous Met to the less known Cloisters, history is in New York for your
April 2013
enjoyment. You can spend hours enjoying the past. The American History Museum is free with a military ID so enjoy, enjoy! For more information about staying with the Coast Guard at all their locations, check out their website at www.USCG.mil/mwr for Coast Guard Recreational Lodging. And if our units are full, don’t forget the Navy Inn colocated with us. The lodging is affordable for NewYork City, just stop by the office and say “hello” so we can answer any questions you have about NYC attractions.
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
Page 15
Page 16
DCMilitary Family Life - Advertising Supplement
April 2013