Misty was able to get school supplies for all five of her children
The kids excited to go back to school
Monday, August 8, 2011
School Supplies
We would like to thank those who donated school supplies to our school children. They were very excited about getting to pick out the school supplies they needed from their lists. Parents were also relieved to have some help this year through these generous donations.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Coming home
When your soldier comes home it can be an emotional experience for everyone, especially for children. They are so used to having their soldier gone that they can become clingy upon their return. As everyone reacts differently, I will just share my video of my husband's return home.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Red Cross
Having a deployed soldier can be difficult to deal with but life does go on while they are away, so do emergencies. I find myself thinking that would never happen to me.
But it did.
Just last week, we had a medical emergency for my mother-in-law and my husband is overseas. What do I do? Even though it is great to notify them directly, it cannot help bring them home in the event of medical issues or death. You must contact the Red Cross.
So to be prepared. Make sure you have the following available at all times and make sure more than one person has this information in case you have the medical emergency.
Name, rank, unit, & Date of Birth of soldier
Address of soldier
Country of deployment
Name of commanding officer
Your contact information
The Red Cross will need to verify any medical emergencies or death so have the following,
Medical emergency:
Name, relationship, and contact information of person with emergency
Name and contact information of hospital
Name and contact information of Doctor
Death
Name & relationship of person who has died
Name and contact information of funeral home
Being prepared will make these situations less chaotic and will expedite your soldier's trip home.
But it did.
Just last week, we had a medical emergency for my mother-in-law and my husband is overseas. What do I do? Even though it is great to notify them directly, it cannot help bring them home in the event of medical issues or death. You must contact the Red Cross.
So to be prepared. Make sure you have the following available at all times and make sure more than one person has this information in case you have the medical emergency.
Name, rank, unit, & Date of Birth of soldier
Address of soldier
Country of deployment
Name of commanding officer
Your contact information
The Red Cross will need to verify any medical emergencies or death so have the following,
Medical emergency:
Name, relationship, and contact information of person with emergency
Name and contact information of hospital
Name and contact information of Doctor
Death
Name & relationship of person who has died
Name and contact information of funeral home
Being prepared will make these situations less chaotic and will expedite your soldier's trip home.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Fundraising
Why do FRGs do fundraisers?
Fundraisers are used to supply funds for the FRG.
What are the funds used for?
Funds are used to send our soldiers care packages, have arts & craft supplies to make things for our soldiers, and have activities (like cookouts, Holiday parties, and the best the Welcome Home celebration).
Do you have to participate in fundraising if you come to FRG meetings?
There is no obligation to participate in fundraising.
How can we fundraise?
We do fundraising events within our unit or company. "For us, by us".
We cannot ask people to donate to our unit or company, but we can accept donations if they were unsolicited.
We cannot do raffles or any other fundraising that involves things that are considered gambling.
Our current fundraiser is Joe Corbi's. If you'd like to order online here is the link Joe Corbi's orders are due by August 7, 2011.
Fundraisers are used to supply funds for the FRG.
What are the funds used for?
Funds are used to send our soldiers care packages, have arts & craft supplies to make things for our soldiers, and have activities (like cookouts, Holiday parties, and the best the Welcome Home celebration).
Do you have to participate in fundraising if you come to FRG meetings?
There is no obligation to participate in fundraising.
How can we fundraise?
We do fundraising events within our unit or company. "For us, by us".
We cannot ask people to donate to our unit or company, but we can accept donations if they were unsolicited.
We cannot do raffles or any other fundraising that involves things that are considered gambling.
Our current fundraiser is Joe Corbi's. If you'd like to order online here is the link Joe Corbi's orders are due by August 7, 2011.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Why participate in a FRG?
Imagine, you just got married three days ago and today you are watching your new husband get on a bus while you are holding your nine month old child. You know he is going to be gone for a long time and you have no idea how you will manage without him. Now imagine you come home to a waterfall in your house because a pipe broke and shortly after your child's pediatrician tells you they have a high lead level. What do you do? Where do you go? Who can you ask for help?
This was me when my husband had his first overseas deployment to Iraq. I knew nothing about the military and had briefly heard there was a Family Readiness Group (FRG). I went to a meeting not knowing what to expect and I found support that I needed, information that I needed, and life-long friends.
I had never spent time with families who had ever had close family members deployed overseas before. Both my family and my husband's family had no members in the military for several generations and my co-workers had not experienced it either. To my surprise the members of the FRG understood how I felt because they were feeling that way too. It was a very open and honest group and I know our spouses and children benefited from the bonds that we made.
My husband is deployed overseas again, and now I have a new role in the FRG. I am a volunteer. I have learned so much through my husband's deployments that I can now give advice to those that have never done this before. Not to say, I have no worries or fears; just a I am more mentally and emotionally prepared this time around. And I definetly find the support of my FRG comforting during this time.
This was me when my husband had his first overseas deployment to Iraq. I knew nothing about the military and had briefly heard there was a Family Readiness Group (FRG). I went to a meeting not knowing what to expect and I found support that I needed, information that I needed, and life-long friends.
I had never spent time with families who had ever had close family members deployed overseas before. Both my family and my husband's family had no members in the military for several generations and my co-workers had not experienced it either. To my surprise the members of the FRG understood how I felt because they were feeling that way too. It was a very open and honest group and I know our spouses and children benefited from the bonds that we made.
My husband is deployed overseas again, and now I have a new role in the FRG. I am a volunteer. I have learned so much through my husband's deployments that I can now give advice to those that have never done this before. Not to say, I have no worries or fears; just a I am more mentally and emotionally prepared this time around. And I definetly find the support of my FRG comforting during this time.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Our Military Kids, Inc.
This organization is a great resource. It provides up to $500 every six months for each child (ages 3- 12th grade) of a deployed parent to participate in a single activity.
I applied for the grant for my daughter the day my husband left on his deployment. I received a letter telling me she had gotten the grant five days after I submitted it and the money was sent directly to her gymnastics provider.
All that is needed is to fill out the application and have the following:
1. Copy of deployed soldier's orders
2. Copy of One of the following:
Child's Military ID card
Form 1172 for Child
Birth certificate of child if deployed is biological parent
3. Documentation of the cost of activity
Brochure
Website
Typed Letter from activity provider
The goal is to nuture and sustain Our Military Kids while they are separated from their parents.
I applied for the grant for my daughter the day my husband left on his deployment. I received a letter telling me she had gotten the grant five days after I submitted it and the money was sent directly to her gymnastics provider.
All that is needed is to fill out the application and have the following:
1. Copy of deployed soldier's orders
2. Copy of One of the following:
Child's Military ID card
Form 1172 for Child
Birth certificate of child if deployed is biological parent
3. Documentation of the cost of activity
Brochure
Website
Typed Letter from activity provider
The goal is to nuture and sustain Our Military Kids while they are separated from their parents.
MASCOT PMCS
BY: SSG. Blagg
MFO Mascots are valuable force protection assets for the remote sites due to their natural territorial instincts. They are also loyal companions which provide comfort and companionship to the Soldiers. Cleanliness is one of the first lines of defense in disease prevention.
USBATT Soldiers take the time to make sure that the Mascots out at the OP’s maintain their proper level of cleanliness. PV2 Kyle McNamara, Buddy, and PFC Antonio Washington of C. Co 1/175th INF out at one of the remote sites. “Next time I come out here I’m bringing clippers, sorry Buddy but you’re getting a Mohawk” said PV2 McNamara jokingly.
Mascot Bones with PFC. Washingtonenjoying his towel dry. When asked “Why are you drying the dogs off on a 100° day?” PFC Washington said “Two reasons, one we don’t want to let
these wet dogs run through the sand and get more dirt then they had on them. And two this is my squad leader’s towel.”
MFO Mascots are valuable force protection assets for the remote sites due to their natural territorial instincts. They are also loyal companions which provide comfort and companionship to the Soldiers. Cleanliness is one of the first lines of defense in disease prevention.
USBATT Soldiers take the time to make sure that the Mascots out at the OP’s maintain their proper level of cleanliness. PV2 Kyle McNamara, Buddy, and PFC Antonio Washington of C. Co 1/175th INF out at one of the remote sites. “Next time I come out here I’m bringing clippers, sorry Buddy but you’re getting a Mohawk” said PV2 McNamara jokingly.
Mascot Bones with PFC. Washingtonenjoying his towel dry. When asked “Why are you drying the dogs off on a 100° day?” PFC Washington said “Two reasons, one we don’t want to let
these wet dogs run through the sand and get more dirt then they had on them. And two this is my squad leader’s towel.”
Friday, May 13, 2011
Military Acronyms
The military is big on using acronyms and as a spouse of a service member you may find it difficult to understand them all.
Here is a list of a few common ones:
ACU - Army Combat Uniform
AIT - Advanced Individual Training
AWOL - Absent without Official Leave
BAH - Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS - Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BCG - Birth Control Glasses or Goggles
BDU - Battle Dress Uniform
BCT - Basic Combat Training
Chow - Food
Class A's - formal service uniform
CO - Commanding Officer
DoD - Department of Defense
DFAC - Dining Facility
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
Fireguard - Overnight Desk Duty
FTX - Field Training Exercise
FUBAR - Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition
GI - Government Issue
IBA - Individual Body Armor
Klicks - kilometers
Latrine - Bathroom
LCE - Load Carrying Equipment
LES - Leave and Earning Statement
MOS - Military Occupational Specialty
MP - Military Police
MRE - Meal Ready to Eat
NBC - Nuclear, Biologic, Chemical
NCO - Noncommissioned Officer
NCOER - Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report
POV - Privately Owned Vehicle
PX - Post Exchange
TPS - Thrift Savings Plan
UA - Unauthorized Absence
WOFT - Warrant Officer Flight Training
XO - Executive Officer
Hope this helps, go to this link for more Military Acronyms
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Service Members Civil Relief Act
Did you know there is an act that provides some financial protections to service members when they are deployed?
The Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) can reduce your interest rate on mortgage payments and credit card debt to at least 6%, Protect you from eviction if your rent is less than $1200 a month, and delay any court actions, like bankruptcy, foreclosure or divorce. You may also be able to break leases or agreements do to the absence of the account owner, like an alarm system.
You are required to notify any lenders, landlords, or court officials about your deployment. Some may require a copy of the service members military orders and/or a letter stating your account number and signature.
Some lenders may even drop your interest below 6%.
To note this only applies to debt acquired prior to deployment, you cannot purchase a home or get a loan while on a deployment and have this protection.
Please check out the following link if you have further questions or contact your unit.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet/library/scra.cfm
The Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) can reduce your interest rate on mortgage payments and credit card debt to at least 6%, Protect you from eviction if your rent is less than $1200 a month, and delay any court actions, like bankruptcy, foreclosure or divorce. You may also be able to break leases or agreements do to the absence of the account owner, like an alarm system.
You are required to notify any lenders, landlords, or court officials about your deployment. Some may require a copy of the service members military orders and/or a letter stating your account number and signature.
Some lenders may even drop your interest below 6%.
To note this only applies to debt acquired prior to deployment, you cannot purchase a home or get a loan while on a deployment and have this protection.
Please check out the following link if you have further questions or contact your unit.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet/library/scra.cfm
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Special time
Today I took my four year old swimming at the YMCA. FYI free membership for spouse and children of deployed National Guard soldiers. You need at title 10 form, a copy of the orders, and a military ID. She loved this special mommy daughter time, just the two of us. Sometimes kids can get lost in the shuffle during a deployment when a parent is now wearing both hats. I have decided to schedule time with each of my children alone, so I can focus on them one at a time. I have arranged with a teenage neighbor to come over to watch one of my children while I do something special with the other one each week, such as swimming at the Y.
I find myself shuttling my children and I from one activity or place to another keeping them busy, while in my own head I am worried about the next thing. Take some time to spend by yourself as well away from your children. I know it is hard, but try to at least do it once every other month if not more often. I suggest things like getting your nails done, a massage, or a nice bath. Everyone needs to take a break and just because your spouse is deployed does not mean you have to wait till they return.
I find myself shuttling my children and I from one activity or place to another keeping them busy, while in my own head I am worried about the next thing. Take some time to spend by yourself as well away from your children. I know it is hard, but try to at least do it once every other month if not more often. I suggest things like getting your nails done, a massage, or a nice bath. Everyone needs to take a break and just because your spouse is deployed does not mean you have to wait till they return.
Monday, May 9, 2011
What is a Family Readiness Group?
A family readiness group (FRG) is set up by the unit commander to be a support system for the families and friends of military personnel. The FRG is run by volunteers appointed by the unit commander and they provide information, support, and fun activities for family and friends of the soldiers in a unit. The FRG is most important during deployments where the military member is separated from their families and friends.
Our soldiers have recently started a deployment and our FRG participated in a wonderful Easter Egg hunt at the Maryland Country Club in Towson. Thank you to those in the community that continue to support our families.
Our soldiers have recently started a deployment and our FRG participated in a wonderful Easter Egg hunt at the Maryland Country Club in Towson. Thank you to those in the community that continue to support our families.
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