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	September 2005 - FLO Notes Chief's Corner: Today's Army Family still carries torch of freedom Recently I had the opportunity to visit several historical wonders that dated back to the birth of our Nation. The Liberty Bell is a sight to see for sure. As I marveled at this one symbolic reference to freedom I was humbled with the understanding that world wide there is probably no object that represents freedom more than this one item. As most tourists I had my picture taken in front of this grand monument of liberty. From the Liberty Bell I went to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787. Close by are Congress Hall and Old City Hall ... all the birth place of our Nation. I was struck with reverence as to the significance of these wonderful reminders of our history and the significance of what service to our Nation really means. The tremendous risk of life and family to those who supported the Declaration of Independence is apparent. And I could imagine the great debates that must have occurred as the constitution was crafted. Just the mere reading of the Declaration of Independence was historic and carried with it a significant element of risk. I walked through these grand places of our history and found the humble notion that after it was all said and done our Soldiers and Sailors were the ones that made the real difference. Everything that happened by the historic turn of the pen was solidified by the sacrifice of our military counterparts. As it is today there was a need for jointness, civilian support and even contract support to make it work well. Service to this nation, or even more profound, to our fellow neighbor cannot be a higher calling than it was back before my time. I hear many parents of our young adults that discourage this lofty calling to military service and I am disappointed. What would have happened if this attitude had been prevalent during the birth of our nation and during times of need throughout our history? What would happen if we discouraged service in the police force, firefighters, and many other professions of service that make a difference just because it is dangerous? I certainly don't envision a nation of strength, goodness and symbolic of freedom for the oppressed. We are fortunate in the Army. We have a wide range of Soldiers, civilians, families, and contractors who share a bond to a calling of service to our nation. I hope those who follow us a hundred years from now will feel as grateful as I do today for those I know only in our accounts of American history. I hope they would be proud of us, honored that we made good their promise of a strong Nation and better world. If ever there was a way to thank those who serve it is in our commitment to succeed, carry the torch of freedom and ensure that others see the light of liberty. Anne Morse said it best in her article in the "National Review" ... "A sense of calling means that each of us does our best to help free the world from the darkness and devastation that threaten to overwhelm it. Through work well done, we witness to the One who calls us &mdas; just as Casey Sheehan did." Army launches spouse employment Web site The Army announced a new spouse employment Web site � www.militaryspousejobsearch.org � which contains more than 26,000 job vacancies, and is designed to provide spouses employment opportunities while fulfilling corporate America's demand for skilled workers. Military Spouse Job Search is a database where spouses can build their resumes and research valuable information. Spouses can also access career tools, labor market information, career assessment, training and education opportunities as well as information on colleges and technical schools. The site also has a financial aid center for spouses considering going back to school and a relocation center for families considering a permanent move or temporary change of location. The new Web site is a joint venture between Army Spouse Employment Partnership, U.S. Community and Family Support Center, and the Department of Labor. "It was easy to create an account," said Christine Jumper, an Army spouse who lives near Fort Lee, Va. "I had immediate access to the skills profiler which was great." The diversity of employable military spouses is an important factor for the corporations involved in the program, said Teresita Rivera, manager, Employment Readiness Program, USACFSC. "These partners are looking for good talent and they know that they can find it on the MSJS Web site," Rivera said. As a pre-requisite for access to Military Spouse Job Search, employers must be an inducted partner or accepted new partner in the Army Spouse Employment Partnership. Current inducted partners include Adecco USA, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Army Career Alumni Program, Army Civilian Personnel, BellSouth, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Computer Systems Corporation, CVS/pharmacy, Defense Commissary Agency, Dell, EURPAC Service Inc., Hospital Corporation of America, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, Manpower Inc., Merck and Company, Sears Holdings Corporation, and Sprint. Army to implement Virtual Family Readiness Group A new initiative, known as the virtual Family Readiness Group, designed to support and improve how information is passed to families when Soldiers are deployed will launch October 1 on the World Wide Web. "The Virtual Family Readiness Group is designed to replicate the major components of FRGs but in a virtual context," said Jay M. Burcham, chief of Deployment and Mobilization Readiness Division for the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center's Family Programs Directorate in Alexandria, Va. "This Web System is not just a Web site. Soldiers down range in Iraq, Korea or wherever they are deployed will be able to communicate with families around the world by logging into this system. The virtual Family Readiness Group Web system will use technology to move today's FRGs into the 21st Century to meet the demands of the Army's Expeditionary Force." The initiative began in June 2004 when CFSC in support of the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea created a virtual FRG to reach out to families of Soldiers who would be deployed. Most Soldiers deploy as individual replacements to Korea, which basically is a stable environment and communication with family members is routine, Burcham said. Prior to the vFRG, the families need for support was addressed by the "waiting families" program that Army Community Service operates. Families also received support from their previous unit's physical FRG. With the War on Terrorism things changed though. Soldiers were being deployed from Korea to Iraq making communication with families difficult. Adding to that, families were reading and seeing stories on the news of bombs going off in areas where their Soldiers were located. "To ease the added stress placed on Soldier's families, the 2nd Infantry Division provided up-to-date command information as well as the capability to download photos, send newsletters and organize families by location and unit," Burcham said. "This was a new concept to take the physical FRGs and turn them into a virtual context." The development and fielding of the vFRG for Korea and Iraq was completed in five weeks by DefenseWeb Technologies, Inc., San Diego, Calif. "The overall purpose of the vFRG supporting Soldiers deploying to Korea and Iraq was to provide a Web portal for official and unofficial information between the brigade, Soldiers, and families" said Tonya Bowers, Army program manager at DefenseWeb Technologies." The brigade now had the means to communicate with the families of deployed Soldiers, Bowers added. Follow-on development built functions to automate the capabilities of today's physical FRGs. These capabilities include instant messaging, forums and discussion groups, post cards, and file and document sharing. The final phase of the program broadens what was developed for the 2nd Infantry Division and provides training, outreach and support across all three components of the Army, active, Guard and reserve. When released for use by units it will feature a unit vFRG locator, a kids and teens area, a phone tree organization chart, in case of emergency family plans, blogs, a training tracker and metrics for the unit commander to determine the state of family readiness, FRG leader forums content, and more. The site will also provide a single location for users to obtain news and updates relating to FRGs and their unit. Users will be able to make updates to the phone tree and e-mail distribution list for rear detachment commanders and FRG leaders to use for mass communication to Soldiers and families. Users of the site must first register at www.armyfrg.org and be authenticated by command level administrators. This feature is very important to unit commanders concerned with maintaining Operational Security of the information that they provide to families Burcham said. "After they have been authenticated, users can go into the system, join their unit's virtual FRG, and update the information in their registration file especially if they are changing duty stations" Bowers said. "There are many benefits to using the vFRG system", Burcham added. "Members of the Army Reserve and the National Guard see this as an answer to the communications issues they have to deal with because they are geographically dispersed. Families of mobilized Individual Ready Reservists will be able to join the vFRG of the unit their Soldier is deployed with." Members of the National Guard emphasize that they see this as a great way to enhance family readiness, Burcham said. It gives them the capability to maintain an FRG and communicate with their FRG members on a year round basis, which frequently is only organized during deployments. "This vFRG allows them to stay organized throughout the year with a known place where people can login and communicate without the worry and expense of bringing families into reserve or Guard headquarters which could be 100 miles away," Burcham said. "It is not designed to replace the existing physical FRG, but to enhance them," Burcham said. To support the upcoming start of the system, a waiting list area where units can sign up to establish a virtual FRG has been added to www.armyfrg.org. For more information, e-mail armyvirtualfrg@cfsc.army.mil. Coalition supports military children To address the challenges that military-connected students face every time their parents move to different assignments around the world, the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) has created an innovative program called "Student to Student," or S2S, to help solve the problem. Starting with six schools last year, the S2S program has grown to 51 schools across the country in just one year. Most are Public schools on or near military installations. The program caters not only to issues students have at new assignments, but also to helping students getting ready to leave a place they know. The MCEC is also taking steps to support the growing number of "suddenly military" students. Because of the high number of National Guardsmen and reservists fighting the global war on terrorism, the MCEC has created a program to teach educators and others how to help "suddenly military" students of deployed citizen-Soldiers. The coalition established a workshop, called Supporting Children and Families of Guard and Reserve Institute. The institute is a professional development program to help schoolteachers, counselors, administrators and members of the Guard and reserve and their families to reach out to the children of Guard and reserve members. The workshop helps participants understand what children's reactions to a parent's deployment might be. The first such workshop was conducted in Texas in 2004, and several more workshops were piloted during the past school year, training 241 persons. The coalition plans to institute training sessions in eight more states the rest of this year. They include Georgia, Florida, South and North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Texas and Maryland. The organization earmarked these states because of their large numbers of deployed Guardsmen and reservists. MCEC hopes to bring the workshop to 25 states annually. For more information on these and other programs, visit the MCEC's Web site. DoD launches Deployment Health, Family Readiness Library Servicemembers, their families and their healthcare providers have a new online Defense Department resource for deployment health issues. The DoD Deployment Health Risk Communication Working Group and the Joint Task Force for Family Readiness Education on Deployments have joined together to create the Deployment Health and Family Readiness Library. Ellen P. Embrey, deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness, announced the new online library Aug. 9. It is intended to provide servicemembers, families and healthcare providers a quick and easy way to find the deployment health and family readiness information they value, she said. "Information is a powerful tool. We must remain proactive in providing deployment-related health information to better safeguard our servicemembers," she said. "Most people fear the unknown. Through accurate, timely information, we are able to ensure that our servicemembers are better equipped to prepare for, cope with, and recover from the myriad health risks faced during deployments." The online library includes fact sheets, guides and other products on a wide variety of topics. The topic listing was based on feedback from servicemembers, their families, and healthcare providers, Embrey said. New information will be added to the site as new topics and areas of concern emerge. In focus-group meetings, Embrey explained, servicemembers and their families have said their need for information varies before, during and after deployments. Leaders, in particular, look for accurate information before the deployment. While the servicemembers are deployed, their families are especially interested in getting deployment health-related information, she noted, and following deployments, both servicemembers and families look for this information. Embrey said many information sources are available on line, but noted that too often it's difficult to tell if the information source is accurate. "We are absolutely committed to providing the best information found in sound science and based on medical evidence," Embrey said. "We want this site to be the authoritative source for deployment health and family readiness information. This is another step we are taking to ensure that those who protect our country and our freedoms are also protected." Fund helps troops' children, spouses Rebecca Campbell started the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund in 2003 to raise college tuition for the children of servicemembers killed in the war on terrorism. The fund has since expanded to encompass other financial needs. It now aims to provide a wide range of assistance to the children and spouses of troops who have been killed or injured. "These funds may be awarded to applicants of U.S. military families who are in need of assistance with housing, utilities, medical expenses, groceries, clothing, school supplies and other expenses deemed necessary in order to provide them with some support and alleviate their need," Campbell said. She said she feels a real need for this type of allocation because of the financial void often experienced by a death in a military family. "Often, when a loss occurs in these families, what was a two person income becomes one. The financial hardships placed on these families are very difficult to deal with," she said. CFSRF raises money through direct donations and fundraisers. The organization began collecting donations in May 2004, Campbell said. "Through the generosity of the public we have raised a little over $85,000 and have kept administrative costs in 2004 to less than 9 percent," Campbell said. "All proceeds go directly to qualified families." The nonprofit organization has also received the help of country singer Brad Cotter, the 2004 winner of USA Network's show "Nashville Star." The fund has been chosen as the beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds from Cotter's new single, "An American Dream," Campbell said. CFSRF is made up exclusively of volunteers, and in an effort to keep expenses to a minimum Campbell does most work, such as Web site design, IRS filings, printing, advertising and mailings from her home, she said. Campbell noted that none of the organization's board members has been affected personally by the loss of a servicemember. Campbell said her son, David, 25, served in Iraq for a year with the 82nd Airborne Division. "I cannot begin to explain the fearful and sleepless nights during his year of deployment," she said. "The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund is simply a group of individuals who have a tremendous amount of respect for our servicemen and women," she said. "We are an enthusiastic group of family, friends and business people who choose to never forget the sacrifices made by others on our behalf." CFSRF began taking applications from military families in January and granted its first round of awards, totaling $17,000, to families in California, Pennsylvania and Indiana in June. Campbell concedes that there's no way to erase the pain of losing a loved one, but she aims to lessen the blow. "There is no substitute for a parent, but we strive to ease their pain and suffering and honor the memories of our fallen soldiers," she said. "I realize only too fully that each and every day that I have to live as a free person is only because of them and their sacrifices as well as their families." For more information, visit the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund Web site. DEERS registration protects newborn healthcare eligibility Any changes that impact family status � including marriage, divorce or a new child � must be reported to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Because DEERS enrollment is directly tied to TRICARE eligibility, care may be denied if the sponsor and family members are not enrolled in DEERS. A TRICARE Fact Sheet, available at www.tricare.osd.mil, outlines the procedures parents of newborns must follow to ensure continued healthcare eligibility for their child. To ensure that eligibility, servicemembers must enroll their newborn infant in DEERS as soon as possible after birth. By enrolling your newborn in DEERS, you establish TRICARE eligibility for the infant and avoid potential claims problems or other financial hardships for your family in the future. A newborn infant is covered as a TRICARE Prime beneficiary in DEERS for the first 60 days after birth � as long as one additional family member is enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Prime Remote. After the initial 60 days, any claim submitted for a newborn will process as TRICARE Standard until the infant is enrolled in DEERS and TRICARE Prime, or the infant's TRICARE Standard eligibility ends. Eligibility for TRICARE Standard benefits ends 365 days after birth for any newborn infant who is not enrolled in DEERS. To establish a newborn's TRICARE eligibility in DEERS, you must: Submit a certificate of "live birth" and a copy of a verified and approved DD Form 1172 "Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card" signed by the sponsor to your personnel office. Apply for your child's Social Security number. Go to the Social Security Administration Web site, www.ssa .gov, or call 1-800-772-1213 for an application. Once you receive your child's Social Security number, go to your nearest ID Card-issuing facility to update their information in DEERS. For more information on enrolling a newborn in DEERS, parents or guardians may contact or visit the nearest military personnel office, ID card-issuing facility, or the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) at 1-800-538-9552. A list of military ID card facilities is available on the DMDC Web site. More information on DEERS eligibility is also available on the TRICARE Web site. Well-Being Liaison Office The Well-Being Liaison Office's Army Families Online Web site will soon launch a new "Forum" module, which will provide Army Families, as well as all members of the six other Well-Being constituent communities with a place to communicate freely with others about their personal Army experiences. In the recent past, the Web site's "Guest Book" has received numerous posts from family members of deployed Soldiers, who were looking to communicate with others who are missing their deployed Soldier. The new Forum will provide a place for such communications. Additionally, the Forum will provide an opportunity for users to share comments and opinions regarding Army programs and initiatives, as well as Army life in general. To ensure that our Army Families are secure and protected, registration will be required to participate in Army Families Online's moderated Forums. However all users will be able to read posted information. The target release date for the Forum module is September 6. Well-Being Liaison Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, ATTN: DAPE-HRP-FLO, 300 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0300. Toll-free 1-800-833-6622 (in all states including, AK, HI; Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Island) or call (703) 696-5393; DSN: 426-5393, e-mail: ArmyFamily.Link@hqda.army.mil, Well-Being Liaison Web site www.aflo.org. Articles are for information only and are not an endorsement of referenced sites, products, or services contained therein. WBLO support@aflo.org August 2005 - Family Liaison Office (FLO) Notes Chief's Corner: FRGs key in Army's mission success Families have been a part of Army life since its inception 230 years ago. However, until recently, the manner in which families are taken care of has not always been thought of by leaders to be critically linked to mission success. The role Family Readiness Groups play in a unit's mission has only become formally recognized by Army leaders in the last few decades, and it has continued to evolve into a structure that is much more than just a commander-sponsored program. Today families have such an impact on mission accomplishment that the Army is dedicated to ensuring that families are ready to cope with whatever the Army requires of the unit - be it deployment, training, combat or even reconstitution and transformation. Army leaders have taken this concept far beyond the era of just providing families with support - as it did as recently as the mid- to late- '90s when it referred to these groups as Family Support Groups - and with the reclassification of FSGs to FRGs Army leaders provided families with greater empowerment to be more actively aware of what's going on within the unit, how those events impact their Soldier, as well as how they impact the family. However, the credit for the evolution of FRGs by and large belongs to Army spouses, for they are the ones who have gotten actively involved and made FRGs what they are today; they have taken it upon themselves to tell Army leaders what they need to ensure the readiness of Army families and keep leaders apprised of family concerns. Today, as in the days of the Family Support Groups, leaders in FRGs are still volunteers. However, what has changed is the emphasis that these volunteer leaders, as well as FRG members, place on ensuring that Army families are truly ready to be an active part of the Army's mission. Additionally, FRGs continue to become more active in the National Guard and Army Reserve as well. This is especially important in an era where the Army's Reserve Component units are being pressed into service more commonly and frequently than in the past. As the Army continues to transform, FRGs are transforming to meet the needs of Army families in this changing environment. One such transformation initiative for FRGs is the addition of the Army Family Readiness Group Leader Assistant (FRGLA), a full-time employee who serves as a link between Soldiers, families, FRGs and community resources. The FRGLAs assist the command in properly and effectively responding to Soldier and family needs by: providing information and referrals to families who need assistance to the appropriate installation and community resources scheduling and coordinating training assisting in establishing and updating FRG rosters working with Rear Detachment Commanders to provide FRG leaders with timely and accurate information providing assistance with the preparation of pre-deployment, sustainment and reunion activities assisting with FRG newsletters and Web sites helping to "lighten the volunteer load." Now, more than ever, FRGs are communicating with each other across the Army, as well as across components. Technology is rapidly advancing the further development of FRGs on a grand scale, as FRG leaders harness the power of computers and the Internet to connect, maintain contact, and provide information to spouses and family members of all Soldiers, reach out to other FRGs and share from their experiences. As FRG leaders and members, you continue to enhance the Army's mission capability. Congratulations and thank you for caring for Soldiers and families. Keep up the good work! Horatio Alger offers scholarships The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is accepting applications from June 1 through Sept. 1, 2005 for its Horatio Alger Military Veterans Scholarship. All applicants must send the following items with their application: A copy of the front page of your tax return (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) for 2004 in order to verify income stated on application. Proof of service in the Iraq or Afghanistan theater during 2001 or later by submitting a complete copy of Department of Defense Form 214 (DD214). Documents should be mailed to: Horatio Alger Association, ATTN: Military Scholarship Program, 99 Canal Center Plaza, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information or to apply, visit the scholarship page on the association's Web site - www.horatioalger.com/scholarships/index.cfm. Internet radio program keeps families informed Army Wife Talk Radio, a relatively-new Internet radio program, strives to keep families informed of issues relevant to Army life, and is available at www.armywifetalkradio.com. The program first aired on the Internet in March. Since the first show it has featured topics such as information on buying and selling a home; moving; Army programs; relationships; Operation Homefront; time management and relaxation; what JAG can do for you; and many others. The show is recorded weekly, and each episode runs between 60 and 85 minutes. The show also features guests who are invited to share their expertise in the featured area of interest. In addition to each new episode, archived episodes are also available through the site. For those on the go, and who are a little more tech savvy, the show is also available in Podcast format. Episode 12 - "Salute to Army Families," which aired the week of July 4, featured the Fisher House Foundation and Operation Hero Miles; the Well-Being Liaison Office; and Podcast to Troops. New DoD program extends childcare help America's military families have traditionally faced numerous childcare challenges, including the need to locate care many different times because of relocation, or for families living away from military installations, the ever-increasing childcare expenses which often outpace military income levels. However, a new Department of Defense initiative officially launched earlier this summer, in partnership with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), will step in to help military families find and pay for childcare directly in their communities. Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood provides financial support and assistance in locating quality childcare for eligible military families who do not have access to the DoD's installation-based childcare options due to waiting lists or geographic location. Eligible servicemembers include recruiters, Reserve Office Training Corps instructors, Military Entrance Processing personnel and servicemembers who are serving in independent duty assignments. The largest employer-supported childcare program in the nation, the DoD child care program serves more than 200,000 children daily and has been hailed as a model of childcare quality. Unfortunately, an ever-growing number of military families do not live close enough to a military installation to take advantage of the program. "The demand for the high-quality childcare that servicemembers experience with the DoD's on-base child development programs has never been higher," said Janice Witte, director of the Pentagon's Office of Children and Youth. "The Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program will greatly extend our ability to serve the military families who don't have access to our on-base services." Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood is a sister-program to Operation: Military Child Care, which launched in early spring. Both locate and subsidize childcare comparable to what a servicemember would receive on a military installation. OMCC is specifically focused on providing relief to the families of those serving in the Global War on Terror, including National Guard and reserve servicemembers. "Finding and paying for quality childcare is a major concern for nearly every family with young children in America," said Linda Smith, executive director of NACCRRA. "In some areas of the country, infant care can cost more than $13,000 per year. Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood not only supports the military's geographically-dispersed families, but also elevates the quality of care available in communities by certifying participating providers to meet the DoD's high standards of childcare." The MCCIYN initiative will be administered by a network of NACCRRA member agencies that will walk families through the process of locating a qualified care provider. Once approved, NACCRRA will provide financial support directly to the provider on behalf of DoD, so that servicemembers' fees can be reduced. The amount of financial assistance will vary for each family and will depend upon factors such as total family income, geographical location, military services' childcare fee policies, available funding, as well as certain family circumstances. Eligible families can call the Child Care Aware hotline at 1-800-424-2246 or visit the NACCRRA Web site for assistance in applying for the subsidy and locations. DoD announces increase in Death Gratuity, SGLI On July 1, the Department of Defense announced a significant increase in the death gratuity for the survivors of servicemembers killed in action and the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for servicemembers deployed to designated combat zones. The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief Act 2005 (Public Law 109-13) increases this immediate cash payment from $12,420 to $100,000 for survivors of those whose death is as a result of hostile actions and occurred in a designated combat operation or combat zone or while training for combat or performing hazardous duty. The supplemental also increases the maximum amount of SGLI coverage from $250,000 to $400,000 for all servicemembers effective Sept. 1, 2005 and provides that the department will pay or reimburse the premiums to servicemembers who are deployed in a designated combat zone for $150,000 of SGLI coverage. Until the effective date for the SGLI increase, the supplemental provides for a special death gratuity of $150,000, retroactive to October 7, 2001, for survivors of those whose death is in a designated combat operation or combat zone or occurred while training for combat or performing hazardous duty. The Secretary of Defense has designated all areas where servicemembers are in receipt of the combat zone tax exclusion as qualifying combat zones and all members deployed outside the United States on orders in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom as participating in qualifying combat operations. Effective immediately, survivors of servicemembers, who die in these qualifying zones or operations, will receive the increased benefits. The services will also identify eligible survivors of servicemembers who died in these designated zones and operations since October 7, 2001 and begin making the retroactive payments within a few days. The process of identifying all eligible beneficiaries and completing these retroactive payments will take several months. Survivors of members who did not die in a designated combat operation or combat zone, but were training for combat or performing hazardous duty, will also qualify for the increased benefits. Circumstances that qualify include: aerial flight, parachute duty, demolition duty, diving duty, war games, practice alerts, tactical exercises, leadership reaction courses, grenade and live fire exercises, hand-to-hand combat training, confidence and obstacle courses, accident involving a military vehicle or military weapon, exposure to toxic fumes or gas and explosion of military ordnance. No amount of monetary compensation or level of assistance can replace a human life. However, it is our country's duty to recognize the loss of a servicemember with dignified and appropriate support for the family members left behind. These death benefit enhancements recognize the direct sacrifice of life of those servicemembers placed in harm's way and in service to the nation. All beneficiaries for retroactive payments will be contacted by mail or telephone. If someone is not contacted, but thinks he may be entitled to added benefits, he may inquire at the following addresses or telephone numbers: Army - Department of the Army Casualty Operations at toll-free 1-800-626-3317. Navy - Navy Personnel Command (PERS-62), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-6200 or call toll-free 1-800-368-3202. Air Force - Air Force Personnel Center Casualty Services Branch at AFPC/DPFCS, 550 C Street West, Suite 14, Randolph AFB TX 78150-4216 or call toll-free 1-800-433-0048. Marine Corps - HQMC Casualty Office, 3280 Russell Road, Attn: MRPC, Quantico, VA 22134 or call toll-free 1-800-847-1597. Coast Guard - Coast Guard Personnel Services Center, 444 SE Quincy St., Topeka KS 66683-3591; Phone (785) 339-3570. Army programs combat rising divorce rate An increase of divorces among active-duty Soldiers has Army chaplains undertaking a number of programs to combat the rising trend and help Soldiers cope. Divorces among officers tripled from fiscal year 2002 to 2004, according to statistics compiled by the Defense Manpower Data Center. After Operation Iraqi Freedom began, there was an Armywide increase of 3,024 divorces. "These statistics are a sign of a loss of a dream. People don't get married to divorce," said Chap. (Col.) Glen Bloomstrom, director of the Ministry Initiatives Directorate for the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. Several programs now help Soldiers cope with life and parenting after divorce. Divorce Care Support groups and Divorce Parenting classes are mandatory for Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. "We recognize [Soldiers] come because they are required," said Lt. Col. David Scheider, director of Family Life Chaplain Training Center at Fort Hood. "But it is difficult to get time off on a duty day, so the requirement makes leaders willing to let them go." Also available is Army One Source which is a toll-free nationwide number as well as a Web site that allows Soldiers to contact a consultant regarding life's issues. Through this service, Soldiers and their families have access to up to six in-person counseling sessions at no cost to them. Although deployment is an indicator of the stress on the force, both Bloomstrom and Scheider agreed that the problem is that many couples do not have the skills needed to make their marriage work. "Anytime there is a lot of stress, there is a higher opportunity for people to stray," Scheider said. Marital skills have been studied by researchers at the University of Denver. The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health through the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. PREP is known for thorough empirical research. Through PREP findings, Army chaplains are educating Soldiers and their families about coping skills and the skills needed to make a marriage successful. Chaplains have established several programs and services in the Army that are designed to help couples manage stresses associated with the military lifestyle. Bloomstrom said all of the programs focus on three primary areas: awareness, attitudes, and skills. The Building Strong and Ready Families program "was the first marriage education program that was systemically and systematically implemented in the Army," said Bloomstrom, who has been involved with the program since its origin in 1999. BSRF was first established at Hawaii's 25th Infantry Division Artillery. BSRF is not marriage counseling, said Bloomstrom. It is marriage education. As stated in the 2002 Executive Summary interim report of BSRF, "While the Army has developed and deployed numerous programs to treat and respond to family and couple issues, the strengths in the underlying design of BSRF lie in a focus on prevention rather than reactive, crisis management." Retreats for couples in BSRF are called Strong Bonds retreats. This year, there are about 600 retreats scheduled Army-wide, each with 20 to 50 couples attending. For National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers, there are weekend retreats. Active component Soldiers have one-day events and overnight retreats. All U.S. states and territories have an event scheduled. Soldiers and their spouses can contact their State Family Program Office to find out what is being offered in that state. Chaplains and chaplain assistants are also available to assist Soldiers wanting to talk. "They have a relationship usually with that unit," Bloomstrom said of battalion and brigade chaplains. "There is a real benefit having them involved, as opposed to someone you don't know." Scheider mentioned that Soldiers also trust the unit chaplains because of the confidential communication. There has been a doubling of total Army divorces from fiscal year 2000 to 2004 - an increase of nearly 5,000 divorces over this period. A year before Sept. 11, 2001, total active-duty Army divorces were at 5,658 among 255,353 marriages. Divorces rose a year later to 7,049 from 248,180 marriages. Still, these statistics can be misleading. Bloomstrom explains that if it is a dual military couple, the divorce counts twice. He also said the statistics do not take into account if these soldiers are married and divorcing for a second time. He points out that normally, couples face a 50-50 chance of their marriage surviving. Couples in their second marriage face a 60-70 percent chance of their marriage ending in divorce. Bloomstrom said that the Army needs to focus on its Well-Being. "We recruit a Soldier, and retain a family," he said. "We need to listen to the other part of the fighting force which is the family that stays home and supports the Soldiers." Editor's note: This article was written for the Army News Service by Monica Barrera. SCRA, USERRA protect Soldiers, families It is important that military families know about the two laws that provide financial protections for servicemembers. Here's a short summary of these laws. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Addresses civil, judicial, and administrative proceedings, interest rates on pre-service credit cards and mortgages, eviction, mortgage foreclosure, and residential and automobile rental agreements. Provides protection to active duty, as well as National Guard and reserve Soldiers called to active duty for 20 days or more. Allows a Soldier to stay court hearings or administrative hearings if they are unable to appear due to military service. Allows a Soldier to reduce the interest rate on pre-service loans and obligations to six percent per year, if military service materially affects his/her ability to pay the debt. Requires a court order before evicting Soldier or their families from premises for which the monthly rent does not exceed $2,534.32 for the year 2005. This rental ceiling is adjusted annually for inflation. Requires a court order before foreclosure on property purchased by a Soldier prior to entry on active duty. Allows a Soldier to terminate real property leases if ordered to active duty, in receipt of Permanent Change of Station orders, or ordered to deploy for at least 90 days. Allows a Soldier to terminate automobile leases. Pre-service automobile leases may be cancelled if the Soldier receives orders to active duty for a period of 180 days or more. Automobile leases entered into while the Soldier is on active duty may be terminated if the Soldier receives PCS orders to an overseas location or deployment orders for a period of 180 days or more. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Applies primarily to Reserve Component Soldiers. Ensures that members of the Uniformed Services are entitled to prompt return to their civilian employment upon completion of their service. Protects individuals from discrimination in hiring, promotion, and retention on the basis of present or future membership in the Uniformed Services. Requires that a person who intends to invoke these reemployment benefits must provide advance written or verbal notice of the forthcoming military service to the employer. Sets time limits for invoking the reemployment rights based on the length of the period of active service. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is the primary DoD organization to help Soldiers protect their rights under USERRA. For more information on protecting your rights, contact your local military legal assistance office. More detailed information on these laws can be found at the U.S. Army Legal Assistance Web site. Editor's note: Provided by the Office of the U.S. Army Staff Judge Advocate. Well-Being Liaison Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, ATTN: DAPE-HRP-FLO, 300 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0300. Toll-free 1-800-833-6622 (in all states including, AK, HI; Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Island) or call (703) 696-5393; DSN: 426-5393, e-mail: ArmyFamily.Link@hqda.army.mil, Well-Being Liaison Web site www.aflo.org. Articles are for information only and are not an endorsement of referenced sites, products, or services contained therein. WBLO support@aflo.org July 2005 FLO Notes Chief's Corner: Customer service, you Most all of you know the Well-Being Liaison Office operates the Army Information Line � 1-800-833-6622. And, many of the calls we receive through the Army Information Line have to do specifically with customer service in one way or another. Normally, when we receive a call it means that the caller either received an unfavorable comment or a level of service, from the Army agency they were dealing with, that did not meet the customer's expectation. From our point of view the customer is most always right. The solution is normally easy, and once the right person to resolve the issue is found it's not long before a successful resolution for the customer is achieved. Why should we have to go through this kind of stress in the first place? This begs the question, what level of service should the average Soldier, family member or civilian expect? My opinion is the answer should be excellent. At a minimum we should be faced with a person on the other side of the counter that is cheerful, pleasant, eager to help ... and generally happy to see you. Excellent service can sometimes mean a little hard work for an agency, if done right. The other day I took off work to go to one of our ID Card Facilities and get an ID Card for my wife. She also works so we made an adventure of the event. We were greeted by the person charged with the responsibility to provide for our need with a terse "do you have an appointment?" I replied with a polite "No." "Well," she said, "you know you are required to have an appointment to get an ID Card." We must have looked lost or pitiful because the sergeant told us she would take care of us anyway. We were the only customers and it was obvious we had made a major mistake. We had obviously taken the wrong day off. How nice it would have been if we had been greeted by someone who was happy to see us! This happens all the time and unfortunately overshadows those who really try hard and truly care about giving excellent service. It is not enough to be proficient at your job in today's Army. It is also not enough to be technically knowledgeable. Our business is not like a department store, where you can walk in and buy an item. If you don't like the item you just take it back and get a refund. You also have a choice on where to shop, so if you are not treated properly you can go to the next store down the street. In the Army there is normally one housing office, one ACS, one transportation office, one PX, the list goes on. We buy service with our sacrifice and time away from family and friends. Our civilians and families buy service with their commitment to our Soldiers and the mission. Therefore, the level of service we receive should reflect the level of dedication each Soldier has to their country. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FirstGov features wealth of military resources Whether you're active or retired, FirstGov has arranged a section with all the resources you need. From news about current military operations to information on the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), this section has it all. The site features information on benefits and retirement, family support, housing, training, education, and much more. For veterans, FirstGov.gov has organized a variety of useful topics, such as pension and health benefits, home loans, and life insurance in one easy to find place. Find out more by going to FirstGov and click on the "Military and Veterans" link under the "By Audience" section. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commissaries celebrate 138th anniversary The Defense Commissary Agency will mark its 14th anniversary Oct. 1, but commissaries have been operating considerably longer than that. It was 138 years ago � on July 1, 1867 to be exact � that every Army post in the United States was simultaneously authorized to begin selling grocery items from its subsistence warehouse "at cost" to soldiers of all ranks. This provided considerable savings compared to goods they could purchase from civilian merchants known as post traders. That was the start of what is now the oldest resale activity on U.S. military installations: the military grocery store, originally called the sales commissary but known today simply as the commissary. Many Army outposts did not immediately have fully-functioning commissaries. In those areas post traders continued to sell goods out of necessity but as commissaries spread, post traders were phased out of business by 1895. Subsequently, the Navy and Marine Corps opened their first commissaries in 1910, and the Air Force did so in 1948. Over the last 138 years, the stores have operated at nearly 1,000 different locations throughout the world. Today DeCA runs 270 stores worldwide, providing a premier commissary benefit to active duty military personnel, military retirees, members of the National Guard and reserve, and their families. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Combat-Related Special Compensation The Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a $22 billion program that provides tax-free monthly payments to disabled retirees of all uniformed services. CRSC payments are retroactive (to June 2003 or January 2004 depending on eligibility), supplement a servicemembers' Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability pay, and service retired pay. Eligible applicants include retirees who served 20 or more years on active duty, or as a reservist, age 60 with a minimum of 20 creditable years (per 10 USC 12731); are in a retired status; are entitled to retired pay that is offset by VA payments (a VA Waiver); and have at least a 10-percent VA disability rating. Combat related criteria include those VA disabilities that occurred under the following situations: 1. In the performance of duty under conditions simulating war (e.g. exercises, field training); 2. While engaged in hazardous service (e.g. flight, diving, parachute duty); 3. Through an instrumentality of war (e.g. combat vehicles, weapons, Agent Orange); OR 4. As a direct result of armed conflict (i.e. Purple Heart). Eligible retirees should apply today. For more information or to receive an application, call CRSC toll free at 1-866-281-3254 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Retirees can also find CRSC information and resources on the Internet at www.crsc.army.mil. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USAR goes hi-tech to reach out to families The U.S. Army Reserve unveiled a new Web portal to support deployed Soldiers and their families June 15. The U.S Army Reserve Family Programs Portal is a "one-stop shop" that provides USAR families with information and services and enhances communications between Soldiers, their families and USAR staff. There are more than 1 million Army Reserve Soldiers ready to support their active-duty counterparts and serve the nation when called upon by the President. Currently The Army Reserve has nearly 62,000 Soldiers deployed worldwide. The US Army Reserve Family Programs staff currently provides vital information and services to Army Reserve Soldiers and their families. The U.S Army Reserve Family Programs Portal, developed by DefenseWeb Technologies of San Diego, replicates this physical family support system in a readily accessible virtual environment. "Army Reserve Soldiers, unlike active-duty troops, are not centrally located on a base," said Michael Evans, USAR family programs manager. "Since Soldiers are widely dispersed across cities, towns and villages in virtually every state, communicating with them can be more of a challenge. This new Web portal allows USAR staff to quickly and effectively communicate with Soldiers and their families. The new Web portal provides Soldiers and their families with easy access to information and services to support their Well-Being." The USAR Family Programs Web Portal provides information and services to: Army Reserve Soldiers (deployed and stateside) � the latest Army Reserve news and information, links to family services and updates on Family Programs, as well as interactive online resources. Families � information on the various programs and services available to help family members adjust to change, deal with challenges related to mobilization, deployment and every day living. Employers � information to help civilian employers support their citizen-Soldier employees. Family Programs staff � a readily accessible resource for effectively delivering, tracking and reporting the status of Family Programs services provided to soldiers and their families. For more information about the U.S. Army Reserve, visit Army Reserve Web site. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Survey seeks input on educating military children The education of military children is a huge concern for the military community. From maintaining on-post schools to involvement in the local community schools, military families are concerned about the quality of education of their children. Military children face very unique challenges, from the high school teens who are required to take additional testing and classes for graduation requirements for, yet again, another state due to a PCS move to parents' need for information about the schools in the area for a new school-aged child. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is soliciting information on the children's educational needs of military families and wants to hear about your family's experience in ensuring that the educational needs of children are met. To participate in NMFA's military children education survey, log on to NMFA's Web site and take part in the "Your Child's Education" survey. Tips for PCSing The summer months are here, so too is the high-volume PCS (permanent change of station) season. If you are PCSing outside the continental United States (OCONUS), or to a remote location with family members, here are a few tips from Community Health Nursing (CHN) to make your family-member OCONUS screening hassle-free: 1. To prevent travel delays, family-member screening appointments should be scheduled upon receipt of appropriate military OCONUS travel screening forms. 2. Bring all family member medical and immunization records to the appointment. 3. Ensure family members have current and complete medical information. Children up to age 2 must have an up-to-date Well Baby visit documented in their medical records. Children 3-17 and adults must have documentation of a physical exam within the last year. (Appointments with CHN can be before your physical exam appointment with your primary-care manager.) 4. Be aware that any outstanding tests or consultations ordered by the provider must be completed prior to the final medical clearance (for example, if the provider ordered a cardiology consultation, it must be completed and the results documented in the family member's medical record). 5. Bring a copy of the current Individualized Education Program or Individualized Family Services Plan for any family members receiving special-education or early-intervention services. 6. Bring all family members 6 years old or younger to the appointment. Editor's note: This story was written by Carla Benjamin who is a community health nurse at the Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort Meade, Md. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beware of hoaxes The wife of a Fort Carson, Colo., Soldier, who is deployed in Iraq, received a hoax telephone call. Reportedly, a man claiming to be a colonel called the wife to say something happened to her husband, but the call proved to be a fake. This call has been at least the second such reported hoax perpetrated on the spouses of Fort Carson Soldiers, Army officials said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scholarships for Military Children Thanks to the Scholarships for Military Children program 500 students will receive $1,500 scholarships to apply toward college tuition this fall. Eligibility includes sons and daughters of active-duty, National Guard and reserve Soldiers, as well as those of retired servicemembers. The annual scholarship program is usually announced in early November with an entry deadline of mid-February. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soldier, family life consultant initiative begins Following the success of an Office of the Secretary of Defense pilot program in the United States Army Europe, the Department of the Army "Soldier and Family Life Consultants Initiative" began in June. The program provides informal support to Soldiers and their family members, offering free, anonymous reunion and reintegration support to active-duty Soldiers, National Guardsmen, reservists and their families. For more information on this program, contact Carol Menichetti via e-mail at Carol.Menichetti@us.army.mil, or by phone at (703) 681-1545. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spouses to Teachers program unveiled Spouses to Teachers, which was developed from a program to help servicemembers become teachers, is helping military spouses already working as teachers to get certified in a different state. The program offers several forms of assistance and financial help up to $600 per person for testing and certification costs. For more information, visit the Spouse to Teachers Web site. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Military Spouse Career Center The Military Spouse Career Center, commissioned by the Department of Defense Office of Military Community and Family Policy, launched in April, and can be accessed on the Internet at www.Military.com/spouse. The new resource connects America's 1 million military spouses with education options, scholarships, training programs, career planning tips and employment opportunities. For more information, visit: www.Military.com/spouse. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hot weather food safety tips No matter where you're stationed, it's a pretty good bet your weather is about as hot as a firecracker by now. It's the time of year for lazy days at the beach or pool, complete with a picnic basket of goodies, or backyard cookouts with friends and family. If you'd rather not be remembered as the host who had to serve "Alka-Seltzer" cocktails a couple of hours after the hamburgers and hot dogs, then it's a good time to review food safety basics. Knowing how to prepare, handle and store food properly is always important, but summer temperatures kick spoilage actions into high gear. Normally the rule of thumb for safely allowing foods to remain at room temperature while the meal is being served and consumed is two hours. At temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit it's only one hour. That's why it's important to know summer food safety rules and apply them properly. Keep it clean � Wash hands with soap and water often while handling food, and do the same for surfaces food will come into contact with. On a picnic, take along paper towels and hand sanitizer. Don't forget to give fresh fruits and vegetables a bath, too. Do it just before you're ready to use them, and don't use soap. Just rinse them good under cold running water, scrubbing briskly with your hands or a soft brush, then dry well with paper towels. Even produce such as cantaloupe and watermelon � with a rind that you don't intend to eat � need this same washing routine to prevent harmful organisms from contaminating the fruit's flesh when sliced open. Separate so you don't contaminate � This caution starts at the commissary and carries through to refrigerator storage, packing a cooler, and even cooking and serving. Always keep raw meat, poultry and seafood, and their leaking juices away from cooked, ready-to-eat foods and fresh produce. Before handling other foods, use soap and water to wash hands, utensils and cutting boards that have come into contact with raw meats. Never put cooked meats back on the same plate that held them raw. If raw meats, poultry or seafood must share space in a cooler with other foods, carefully pack each in sealed, leak-proof containers. Chill perishable foods promptly and thaw foods properly � Nothing provides a better environment for the quick growth of germs than the thawing of foods on the kitchen counter at room temperature. Thaw foods in the refrigerator, allowing 24 hours for each five pounds of frozen food to be thawed. For quick thawing, submerge foods wrapped in airtight packaging in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Thaw foods in the microwave only if you'll be cooking them immediately. Refrigerate perishable foods immediately upon returning home from the commissary, placing raw meat, poultry and seafood on the bottom shelf to eliminate the possibility of accidental drips that can contaminate other foods. Cook it safe, test the temperature � If you're not in the habit of using a meat thermometer to verify that items like hamburgers, pork chops or chicken breasts have reached a safe internal temperature, please, do yourself and your family a favor by changing that bad habit. Even though the accepted advice is to "cook ground beef patties until the center is no longer pink," judging when food is done based on color alone has proven to be unreliable. A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that one out of every four hamburgers turns brown in the center before it reaches a safe internal temperature. If you're a fan of rare hamburgers, be aware that you are taking a calculated risk every time you eat one. Why is it okay to eat a medium rare steak, but not a medium rare hamburger? Harmful bacteria typically reside on the surface of a whole piece of meat like a steak. The high temperature and amount of time required to brown the steak's exterior will kill the surface bacteria and sufficiently warm the center to a safe level. With ground meats, surface bacteria get dispersed throughout the product in grinding. Check the accompanying chart for the safe internal temperature for steaks, roasts, poultry, ground meats and egg dishes. Then break out that meat thermometer and make temperature-taking a regular habit. Editor's note: This article was written by DeCA Europe consumer advocate Kay Blakley. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRICARE update TRICARE Standard beneficiaries who live within a 40-mile radius of a military medical treatment facility will no longer be required to obtain a non-availability statement or pre-authorization from an MTF before receiving inpatient care (other than mental health services) or maternity care from a civilian provider. DoD is still authorized to make exceptions under certain conditions through a waiver process. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well-Being Liaison Office The Well-Being Liaison Office would like to extend a warm welcome to its two newest employees � Alicia Kadesch and Kristin Kilbane. Alicia Kadesch is a constituent liaison serving on the Army Information Line staff. A 2004 graduate of the University of Florida, Alicia holds a BA in Political Science with a concentration on International Relations, and she proudly calls herself a military brat. Kristin Kilbane is the new content manager for the WBLO's Army Families Online Web site. The daughter of a retired lieutenant colonel and Vietnam veteran, Kristin holds a Masters degree from the Catholic University of America, and brings with her a wealth of experience in the field of Web editing and publishing. Well-Being Liaison Office, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, ATTN: DAPE-HRP-FLO, 300 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0300. Toll-free 1-800-833-6622 (in all states including, AK, HI; Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Island) or call (703) 696-5393; DSN: 426-5393, e-mail: ArmyFamily.Link@hqda.army.mil, Well-Being Liaison Web site www.aflo.org. Articles are for information only and are not an endorsement of referenced sites, products, or services contained therein. June 2005 - FLO NOTES Chief's Corner: Sorrowful goodbye We are sad to say good bye to a friend and colleague of Army Soldiers and families worldwide. During the past two years Marion Sakowitz has served the Well-Being Liaison Office with dignity and brought a level of expertise and professional bearing to everyone she has touched. She followed in a long line of very distinguished professionals who have served this office with distinction by making a significant impact on the Well-Being of our people. Marion spearheaded the WBLO's Disabled Soldier Support System effort marking a pivotal moment in the Army's history of providing for our Soldiers who have either been hurt beyond a 30-percent disability or were severely injured. The Well-Being Liaison Office was a major element in this effort by standing up the DS3 Web site, conducting outreach operations and representing the Army family during the planning stages of this great effort. Marion was the WBLO lead in the conduct of outreach and planning stages of DS3. Because of her efforts we are proud to note that we contacted well over 700 Soldiers and family members in the past year. The WBLO's dedicated Army Information Line was the backbone of this operation with Marion as their manager. Countless hours beyond the contracted 40 hours per week mark the intensity of effort she spearheaded. Marion's actions, attention to detail, expert advice and profound caring for the welfare of our people has made a significant impact on the Quality of Life and Well-Being of the Army's Soldiers, retirees, veterans, civilians and families. I will deeply miss Marion, her gentile mentorship, guiding hand and the results of her selfless dedication to the Well-Being of our people. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Free stuff for troops, families via the Internet Many organizations set out to provide support to Soldiers and their families during a period of time when our nation is actively engaged in waging a Global War on Terrorism. The following list of Internet links is a sampling of this support. Additionally, many of these sites provide information on how people can get involved, and in some cases even make donations of various types to help support the cause: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Homelink (http://www.operationhomelink.org/) Operation Homelink is a non-profit organization that exists to help facilitate e-mail communication between deployed Soldiers and their families back home. Recognizing that many lower income families are not able to afford a computer, and therefore must rely on expensive phone calls or postal service to stay in touch, Operation Homelink provides free, refurbished, computers to the spouses or parents of Soldiers in Grades E-1 to E-5. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Little (Military) Mailbox My Little (Military) Mailbox - www.mylittlemailbox.com, or www.SarahSmiley.com - "Syndicated military columnist and Navy wife Sarah Smiley, along with her site "Shore Duty," has teamed up with "My Little Mailbox" to offer unique fun and greetings for a very special group of children - the boys and girls who wait while their parent, or parents, serve overseas," according to a press release from PRWeb. Registered dependent children will receive a delivery from "My Little (Military) Mailbox" that includes a note from a favorite character or "pen pal," and a special surprise (stickers, craft, or small present). Additionally, the deployed servicemember parent will have the opportunity to select what their child's note says, which pen pal it will be from and what surprise will be included. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Uplink (http://www.operationuplink.org/) Operation Uplink keeps Soldiers and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. The program relies on contributions from supporters to purchase phone cards and distribute them to Soldiers who are separated from their loved ones. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AnySoldier.com AnySoldier.com provides contacts for where to send letter and care packages to deployed Soldiers. The site provides a listing of what Soldiers need, and ensures that Soldiers who do not receive much or any mail get a little something special. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appreciate and Thank Our Troops (http://appreciateourtroops.org/index.php) Appreciate and Thank Our Troops sponsors Operation "Mug a Troop," which affords people the opportunity to purchase a Troop Appreciation mug set. For each set sold, a personalized partner mug, which features the Soldier's name and rank, is made and sent to a Soldier. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Shoebox (http://www.operationshoebox.com/) Operation Shoebox encourages citizens to show their support for deployed Soldiers by sending shoebox-sized care packages, or posting messages of support. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blue Star Moms (http://www.bluestarmoms.org/) Blue Star Moms is a support and service group of mothers who joined together to share their worries, pride and devotion to their loved ones' service in all branches of the U.S. armed services, and is an official chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. Blue Star Moms offers two particularly interesting opportunities through their Web site. The first is Fair Military Airfare (http://www.bluestarmoms.org/airfare.html) , which features information about legislation signed by President Bush on Dec. 17, 2003, which provides for reduced airfare for active-duty servicemembers. The second is Care Packageshttp://www.bluestarmoms.org/care.html), in which the organization addresses care packages to deployed sons and daughters of families who have contacted the Blue Star Moms. Included with each care package is a letter that asks the Soldier to share the package with his or her unit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Air Conditioner, Inc. Since June 2003 Operation AC has been sending 110v single-phase air conditioners to our troops in Iraq. The organization also provides voltage converters, as many of these units are powered by 220v generators. Since the program began, the organization has also adapted their effort to include sending the troops items that may be hard to find in Iraq as well. Despite having sent more than 9,000 air conditioning units to Iraq thus far, the organization still receives many requests. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Hero Miles (http://www.heromiles.org/) Operation Hero Miles provides a way to assist Soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan by donating unused frequent flyer miles, as well as providing family members of wounded Soldiers with travel to medical facilities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prayer Central (http://prayercentral.net/engage/militaryprayer/daily.php) Prayer Central offers daily devotionals and prayers for our Soldiers and families. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Military Moms "Support Our Troops" (http://www.militarymoms.net/sot.html) Military Moms provides a place for family members to sign up their Soldier to receive care packages, which are built from donated items. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operation Military Pride (http://operationmilitarypride.org/) Operation Military Pride is a volunteer organization with a wide range of activities - all of which seek to boost the morale of our troops deployed overseas. The organization not only sends cards, letters and care packages, but also distributes troop names and addresses to patriots wanting to send cards, letters or care packages directly to troops. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soldiers' Angels (http://www.soldiersangels.org/) Soldiers' Angels was founded by Patti Patton-Bader, the mother of a Soldier who has recently returned from a year's deployment to Iraq. Started in June 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer run, non-profit organization, incorporated in the state of Nevada. The organization's mission is to provide aide and comfort to any of the armed forces and their families. The volunteers of Soldiers' Angels send care to deployed Soldier's and their loved ones at home. To date they have sent thousands of care packages to deployed Soldiers, helped the wounded at three major military hospitals and provided assistance to many military families. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Treats for Troops (http://www.treatsfortroops.com/) Treats for Troops was founded in early 2003 by a Denver business woman, who was determined to make it safe and simple for every American to send packages and messages of support to our men and women in uniform year round. Since the Treats for Troops Gift Shops opened in June of 2003, friends, family members, groups, organizations and individual sponsors have sent over twenty tons of treats to American Soldiers through Treats for Troops. Individuals, organizations and groups who don't personally know anyone in the military, but want to show their support can sponsor Soldiers through the organization's Foster-A-Soldier Program. Sponsors can choose their Soldiers by branch of service, home state or gender. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Army goes live with Web registry for childcare The U.S. Army Family Child Care program now offers a Web-based information and referral tool for parents considering using home-based care - www.armyfcc.com. The FCC program provides servicemembers or qualified civilians a home away from home for their children through military family members or independent contractors in individual housing units located on a military installation, in government-controlled housing off the installation or civilian housing off the installation. "We hope ArmyFCC.com will allow parents to view the program in a way they haven't been able to do before," said Marilyn Judge, FCC director at Fort Sam Houston Texas. "Getting information out to the perspective parents is very helpful to us, parents and providers." A virtual tour of an FCC home offers parents, who may be reluctant to visit a series of homes in order to make a selection, pictures and information they need to know to make an important decision. "It's making our referral process much more efficient," Judge added. "The providers will make their own updates from their home computers." The Web site also allows the providers to tell, in their own words, what they do and what is important to them and gives each one an equal chance to impress prospective parents. "It is an opportunity for us to showcase our homes and really introduce ourselves as independent businesses," said Shawn Lowery, an FCC childcare provider at Fort Sam Houston. "The program helps break the babysitter stereotype, moving us to a new category." The secure section offers protection to both the providers and the parents so that only eligible parents can view provider information. The Central Enrollment Registry staff at each installation will assist in the search process and can answer questions parents may have about individual FCC provider profiles. To make it a fair process for all families, parents must request childcare through the installation's CER office. The officials said that, although ArmyFCC.com gives parents an advance start in selecting the best placement for their child, it does not guarantee a space in a specific home and parents should not use ArmyFCC.com as a substitute for the parent and provider interview. As the number of temporary duty trips and deployments rises, the FCC program makes life easier for Soldiers and their diverse work hours by offering full-day, part-day and hourly care. FCC's special services include 24-hour and long-term care during mobilization and training exercises, evening and weekend care, and care for special needs children and mildly ill children. In order to benefit from any CYS programs, to include FCC services, families must complete a registration process and pay a registration fee, but it is not necessary to complete the registration process to place a child's name on the waiting list. The installation Central Enrollment Registry office follows DoD, Army and installation policies for managing waiting lists. When a child's name comes to the top of the waiting list, a CYS registration clerk will contact the parent to offer the vacancy and provide information on the process of selecting a program or individual provider. "I think it's great that the providers are getting this kind of support and attention," Judge said. "They put in long hours to provide childcare, and they are not as visible as an activity taking place in a facility. It gives them proper exposure." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exercising voting rights important even in 'off' years Soldiers and citizens overseas should participate in local off-season elections, the director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program said recently. "I think it's always important for us to exercise our right to vote," Polli Brunelli said. "We've seen from past elections that our uniformed services members and overseas citizens vote in large numbers. They're engaged in the absentee-voting process, and some actually vote in person as well." Just because this is not a presidential election year does not mean this election is not important, she added. Many elections will decide state and local issues. Brunelli said it's important for absentee voters to look at all of the issues, state and local, which concern them in their state of legal voting residence. But it is up to each individual voter to decide what issues are important and to research the candidates. "[It's] a little bit easier than it used to be in the old days, where we found our overseas citizens were mostly getting information on elections from their friends and family members," Brunelli said. "They would either send them local newspapers or tell them what the candidates stood for and what the issues were." The FVAP Web site provides multiple links to states' Web sites, state associations, political party sites, and other organizations where voters can find a plethora of information. News organizations can also be accessed via the Web, she said. Voter-registration and absentee ballot-request forms are readily available as well. Brunelli said it takes research to cast an effective vote. "It's incredibly important to be informed about these issues," she said. "An informed voter is a good voter. It shows civic responsibility in that regard when you're informed." "The [Federal Post Card Application] is the easiest way to request registration and an absentee ballot," Brunelli said. "And the easiest way to get the form is from voting-assistance officers at military installations. And at overseas activities, local organizations provide them. Embassies and consulates also provide them. There are Democrats and Republicans abroad who are overseas citizens who stock these forms. And the forms are also available on our Web site, the Federal Voting Assistance Program's Web site." Military members or other citizens overseas can contact their unit or installation voting-assistance officer, call the FVAP, or send an e-mail via the FVAP Web site. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breast cancer awareness As cells divide when new cells are not needed, they form too much tissue. The mass or lump of extra tissue, which is called a tumor, can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Finding a lump in your breast does not mean you have breast cancer. Early breast cancer does not usually cause pain, but as the cancer grows it can cause changes that women should be alert for. Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through self-exams. Watch for: A change in the size or shape of the breasts. A discharge from the nipple. A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, areola or nipple (dimpled, puckered or scaly). A lump in or near breasts or underarm. Swelling, redness, or warmth that does not go away. Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle. An itchy, sore, or scaling area on one nipple. But remember: finding symptoms is not diagnostic of breast cancer! Consult your healthcare provider. Every two minutes in the United States, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. This year more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the U.S. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. It is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. And breast cancer is not just a female disease. Sixteen thousand men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 400 are predicted to die. Diagnosis may use any combination of the following: 1. Palpitation. A benign lump often feels different from cancerous ones. 2. Mammography provides information about a lump. Starting at the age of 40, women should have annual screening mammograms. Today, mammography has little radiation risk. A diagnostic mammogram is used to evaluate a woman with a problem/symptom or an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram, and will be focused on the area where there is thought to be abnormal tissue. Since a small percentage of breast cancers cannot be identified by mammography, it is important to practice regular BSE (breast self-exam). 3. Ultrasonography (ultrasound) uses high-frequency sound waves to show whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid. 4. Screening and early detection is best accomplished by mammograms, clinical breast exams (by doctor or nurse) or BSE. Based on these exams, the doctor may decide that no further tests are needed. Often, however, based on the finding, fluid or tissue must be removed from the breasts to make a diagnosis. Aspiration, or needle biopsy, is used to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from a breast lump with a needle. Surgical biopsy is used by the surgeon to remove part or all of a lump, which will be examined by a pathologist. Every woman should examine her breasts once a month to become familiar with how her breasts look and feel. The best time is about five to seven days after the beginning of her menstrual cycle. If she no longer has a cycle, she should choose a specific date each month; a date that is significant to her. Fibrocystic breast changes, lumpiness, and tenderness at certain times of the month do not increase your chance of getting cancer, but keep in mind - performing BSE will help a woman become familiar with what is normal for her breasts. While the percentage of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer is small, men should also give themselves monthly exams and note changes to their physicians. New information suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables are linked with lower cancer rates, and eating at least five servings a day can help keep your daily calorie intake low. Just take it easy on the cheese sauce! Editor's note: This article was written by Dorothy Lopez, who is a community health nurse at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort Meade, Md. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well-Being Liaison Office The Well-Being Liaison Office would like to extend a warm welcome to its newest member - Cathy Jackman, who will serve as a Special Projects Officer for the WBLO. Cathy is a senior Army spouse of 23 years, married to Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman, and the daughter of a retired Army officer. The Jackmans have two sons - David 17, and Patrick 15. Throughout her association with the Army, Cathy has volunteered her time working with a number of Army Family Readiness groups at varying levels. She has most recently volunteered as an Army Arlington Lady. Cathy has a deep appreciation for Soldiers and their families and said that she is looking forward to working as a member of the WBLO team serving all seven Army Well-Being constituent groups. While it brings us great joy to welcome a new member to our team, we are also sad to announce the departure of two other WBLO employees - Ayandria Barry and Sandra Floyd-Miller, both of whom work as staff on the Army Information Line as Constituent Liaisons. Ayandria, or Yan as we've all become accustomed to calling her, has been a dedicated member of the WBLO Staff since August 2003. She is the proud wife of an Army first sergeant - 1st. Sgt. Melvin Barry, who serves with the 12th Aviation Battalion at Davidson Army Airfield, Va. - and a mother of two children - Melody, 14; and Gabriel, 4. During her time with the WBLO, Yan has been completely dedicated to assisting Army families. She was also very instrumental in conducting a number of interviews with Soldiers as part of the Army's Disabled Soldier Support System (DS3) effort. All of us who've been privileged enough to work with Yan have come to see her as a fighter; having been diagnosed with breast cancer during her time here, she is now a survivor. With her departure from the WBLO staff, she will truly be missed. We wish her luck as she moved on to a position with the Army DS3 staff at Human Resources Command in Alexandria. Sandra, retired Army master sergeant who joined the Army Information Line staff in September 2004 is also moving on to a position with the Army DS3 staff. Since joining the staff she has been very instrumental in supporting the Army's DS3 effort as well as providing assistance to Army Information Line callers. Married to Master Sgt. (Ret.) Dlanao Miller, and the mother of four children - Gregory, 23; Janell, 22; Icess, 17 and Janita 14 - Sandra will also be missed.

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