1. April 19, 2012
O MBUDSMAN NOTES
Beth McDaniel
NOSC Manchester
(207)837-1280
manchesterombudsman28@yahoo.com
Hello everyone! Here is the latest edition of my
quarterly newsletter. I hope it is of some use to
you when you are looking for ideas and
information on family support. Please remember
that it is essential to keep me updated on any
changes such as your e-mail address and phone
number. This makes it much easier for me to be
able to contact you in the event of an emergency.
If you would like this newsletter sent to a family
member please also let me know and I will add
them to my distribution list. April is the Month of the Military
Child and National Stress
Currently NOSC Manchester has 16 deployed
sailors. We are all looking forward to their safe Awareness Month
return!
Military children make up a very special part of our
Beware of Scam nation’s population. These young, brave unsung
The following was posted to the DFAS Facebook heroes stand in steadfast support of their parents
page recently: "Beware-scam letter! A letter is who risk their lives to protect American Freedom.
making the circuit purporting to be from DFAS In their honor, April is designated as the Month of
asking military member's fiancées to register in our the Military Child to celebrate the unique
system entitling them to benefits in the event of the contributions, commitment and sacrifices military
member's death. All for only a $350 fee. Bottom children make on behalf of our country. Many of
line, save your money. It's not true, it's not a DFAS you know that stress and children come hand in
letter, it's a scam.” DFAS will never send you hand, especially in the military. This is why April
unsolicited email messages requesting your myPay is also recognized as National Stress Awareness
login ID and password or any other personal or Month. Stress happens. Sometimes it is
financial information. We also will not send you unavoidable, at times it is unbearable. That is why
unsolicited email messages with attachments. If taking time for yourself is a necessity. Stress does
you receive an e-mail message that appears not merely affect your mind; it can also affect you
suspicious, do not click on any links or open on a cellular level. In fact, long-term stress can lead
attachments, etc. Additionally, the DFAS to a wide range of illnesses – from headaches to
Corporate Communications team is working up a stomach disorders to depression – and can even
draft "Protect yourself" webpage within DFAS.mil increase the risk of serious conditions like stroke
that will be more permanent and address a number and heart disease. Understanding the
of potential scam scenarios, what to look for, what mind/stress/health connection can help you better
to do, etc. Corporate Communications team also manage stress and improve your health and well-
advises this is a few days away but will be another, being. To find ways to manage stress, visit
more permanent way to warn folks, as well as alert www.foh.dhhs.gov/calendar/april.html.
them to past scams and ones in progress.

2. Page 2 Ombudsman Notes
Online Career Fairs for Military Military Kids Connect
Spouses and Veterans Kids deploy, too. MilitaryKidsConnect (MKC)
offers children a safe, fun, interactive place
Milicruit is holding its Annual Military Spouse
where they can build resilience and learn coping
National Virtual (Online) Career Fair on Monday,
skills to help deal with the challenges of having
May 7, 2012, from 1 to 4 p.m. EST. You can
a deployed family member. Through
access the fair online at
participation in MKC’s monitored online
http://veteranscareerfair.com/. Milicruit is
forums, children (ages 6-17) can share their
supported by the White House Joining Forces
experiences with other military children, letting
Program and DOD in their efforts to hire 10,000
them know they are not alone. The site hosts a
veterans and spouses through company
message board, games, activities and videos.
partnerships by Dec 2013.
The My Stuff area allows kids to personalize
In the last 3 weeks over 1,000 veterans and spouses
their space with a picture or avatar and earn
have been hired through the 10,000 Jobs Challenge
different stamps for their “passports” as they
partners. There are some great companies that are
travel through the site. In the Deployment Daily,
participating for the Spouse Career Fair. So far
users have the chance to read what other kids are
these are the confirmed companies:
thinking about various deployment topics and
Aetna, Camping World, CBRE, Citi, DaVita,
learn some helpful coping tips. Parents and
DISH Network, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group,
educators have an area, too. MKC provides
Graybar, Lowe's, NCO Financial, Penske Truck
information to help them understand what it
Leasing, Pfizer, Philips, Progressive, Sears, State
takes to support military children in home and
Street Corporation, Xerox Business Services,
school settings.
American Corporate Partners.
https://www.militarykidsconnect.org/
There will also be two work from home companies
that are partners of Milicruit and will be attending
as well: Convergys and Arise Virtual Solutions Returning Warrior Workshop
Inc.
The Returning Warrior Workshop (RWW) is an
offsite workshop designed to help families in the
They have also updated the site to make jobs with
reintegration and reunification process. The
their partner companies easier to find. All job
weekend affords the Sailor and his/her
seekers need to do is enter the state they are
spouse/guest an opportunity to get away from
looking in or job they are looking for and the
the distracting demands of family
companies and positions pop up so they can go
responsibilities to focus on re-establishing their
right to the booths to speak to the recruiters about
relationship. Married and single sailors who
the position.
have returned from IA/ deployment are invited
to attend and bring a guest, excluding children.
Here are the rest of the National events up until
This event is highly recommended by Sailors
August for all Veterans, Transitioning, Retired,
who have returned from a deployment looking
Reserve including their spouses.
to reconnect family relationships.
May: Monday May 7th 1-4 EST Military Spouse
National and Wednesday May 23rd- 1-4 EST The next RWW in the New England area is from
Nationwide April 20-22 in Burlington, Vermont and July27-
June: Tuesday June 26th - 1-4 EST Nationwide 29 in Boston, Massachusetts. Please make
July: Tuesday July 31st - 1-4 EST Nationwide arrangement through your command to attend
August: Tuesday August 21st - 1-4 EST the RWW.
Nationwide
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for
this newsletter or for myself, please feel free to contact me
at (207) 837-1280 or
manchesterombudsman28@yahoo.com