This document provides a summary of various events and initiatives from the Military Community & Family Policy organization for the week of March 4, 2011. It includes information on a congressional hearing on preventing abuse of tuition assistance, a robotics competition for DoDEA students in Germany, DoDEA schools participating in Read Across America day, the availability of the online summer workshop application for teachers, various spouse and family fitness programs from MWR, an upcoming military family conference in Chicago, a meeting to discuss support for families with special needs, and an employment skills program for military youth.

1. http://www.health.mil/blog/10‐06‐24/Family_Resiliency_Webinar.aspx.
This Week in MC&FP
March 4, 2011
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Today is another national birthday of sorts. In 1789 on March 4th, the first Congress met
in New York. A quorum wasn’t obtained in the House until April 1st and in the Senate April 5th, so
formal organization took a while. With the quorum in place, the electoral votes were counted and on
April 6th, George Washington was declared president and John Adams vice president.
Have you noticed that the days are getting longer? Before you learn to love the early morning sunshine,
we want to remind you that Daylight Savings Time begins next week on Sunday, March 13th. For your
own safety, think about getting ready now. Experts recommend adjusting your sleep schedule in half-
hour increments the two days before daylight savings time begins. Lack of sleep – in already sleep-
deprived people – can lead to decreased performance at work or in school, memory and cognitive
impairment and a general decrease in the quality of life. It also increases the risk of occupational and
automobile injuries. On average, there were 3.6 more injuries on the Mondays following the switch to
daylight saving time compared to other days, and 2,649 more days of work were lost as a result of those
injuries. An ounce of prevention could be many pounds of cure!
Have a good week and take care.
Your MC&FP Team
Please note: Some hyperlinks in this text are lengthy, sometimes extending more than one line. For
best results, cut and paste the entire link into your Web browser.
From the Hill
• Congressional Hearing – Preventing Abuse of the Military's Tuition Assistance Program
On March 2, 2011, Robert L. Gordon, our Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Kathy Snead of
the Servicemembers Opportunity College, and George Scott from the Government Accountability
Office, testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and
International Security. The subcommittee asked DoD to address the management system of the
tuition assistance program and the steps taken to prevent predatory schools from taking advantage
of the taxpayer-funded tuition assistance benefits. In addition, they questioned the witnesses about
the findings identified in the recently released GAO report. Congressional member statements,
testimony, a transcript of the hearing, and a Webcast are available on line. See
http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=60f1ee5f-
2466-4134-9440-bade4daf5df2
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.

2. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
From DoDEA
• Germany’s Wiesbaden, Vilseck High School Students to Compete in Robotics Contest
A team of 22 students from Wiesbaden High School and Vilseck High School in Germany will
participate in this year's FIRST Robotics Contest. ‘FIRST,’ or ‘For Inspiration of Research Science
and Technology,’ is a nationwide event attracting thousands of high school students in a
head-to-head engineering competition. The DoDEA team will spend thousands of hours
community service, fundraising, designing, building, and programming their sophisticated
130 pound robot during the six-week build season. They'll be ready for our regional competition in
Las Vegas, Nevada on March 29th and April 1st. For more information, visit:
http://www.wies-hs.eu.dodea.edu/Club/RoboWarriors/HTML/robomain.html
• DoDEA Joins Nation in Celebration of ‘Read Across America’ Day
Wednesday, March 2nd, was the 14th annual Read Across America Day, sponsored by the National
Education Association, when millions of readers – both young and old – will be in the company of
a good book. Since 1997, Read Across America has celebrated reading and the ongoing daily
efforts to build a nation of readers. Read Across America falls on the birthday of beloved children's
author, Theodore S. Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. The celebration endeavors to bring caring
adults to schools to read with children. Every year, parents, teachers, school employees, students
and community members participate in the nation's largest reading celebration by engaging in a
wide range of local activities that help excite and encourage children of all ages to pick up a book
and read on March 2nd and throughout the year. Many DoDEA schools and military communities
in many locations around the globe joined the celebration.
Ms. Merilee Fitzgerald, DoDEA’s acting director, read selected Dr. Seuss stories to students in 1st,
2nd and 5th grade classes at DoDEA schools at Marine Corps Base-Quantico, Virginia.
• DoDEA’s Online Summer Workshop Application Now Available
DoDEA announced recently its summer training for teachers through the on-line Summer
Workshop Application process. Continuous professional growth opportunities are critical for
enhancing the repertoire of strategies, skills and competencies of educators. DoDEA values the
professional educator as most important in achieving exemplary learning opportunities for our
students. Professional development days have been provided to the districts and areas to support
district and school specific training needs throughout the year and during the summer months.
District and area offices are primary resources for delivering professional development services to
the schools. DoDEA Headquarters continues to provide training for specific needs. For more
information, see https://webapps.dodea.edu/swa_cf/index.cfm
From the Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation
• MWR – the Place for Spouse and Family Fitness
Looking for a fitness program geared to spouses? Look no further than your MWR department.
Tons of programs are in place to help spouses get in shape, stay in shape, and meet new people
while getting a workout in. Each installation has programs that vary in concept and design, so there
is something for everyone. Here’s a snapshot of some of the more popular programs you may find
on your installation:
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3. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
Stroller Strut – Outdoor fitness on a track which combines intervals of walking and running along
with strength and endurance exercises.
Morning Movers – Outdoor exercise class and walking program offered at the school bus stop to get
parents moving once their child is on the bus.
Saturday Program – Structured play for children ages 5 – 12 in two-hour intervals giving parents
time to work out. The local Commissary provides healthy snacks.
Family Zumba – Mom and children ages 4 and up enjoy the Zumba craze.
Many installation fitness centers now have family member work out spaces that allow parents to
supervise small children in a play area while they work out. Some centers are now equipped with
exercise equipment for school aged children to get them actively involved in fitness at a young age
and help develop a culture of fitness that will last a lifetime.
Whatever your fitness needs, check out your local MWR fitness programs or contact your
Installation fitness professionals to get you started.
From the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth
• “Forging the Partnership” – Registration now open!
Have you marked your calendars and plan to join us at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, April
27- 29? Registration opened this week – be part of this unique experience! See
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/FRC2011
The conference will offer more than 200 presentations including: keynotes, research presentations,
workshops, interacts and computer workshops. Topic areas will address early childhood, school-
age, teens, parent/family, health, and community capacity building.
In addition, the conference will include more than 80 program showcases and more than 40
research posters. Plans are under way for two town hall meetings – one with the Services’ senior
enlisted advisors and the second with religious ministry.
From the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs
• Staff meet with ‘Kids Included Together’
Isabel Hodge met with the executive director of Kids Included Together, a national training center
on inclusion, on February 23rd. They discussed Exceptional Family Member Program family
support and materials for parents available in Braille and multiple languages.
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4. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
From the Office of Communication
• Youth Employment Skills Program – Build your résumé and earn money for college!
The Youth Employment Skills program –YES – is a unique volunteer program for high school
students of active duty/Title 10 Air Force members. Students can earn a potential $1,000 grant by
working at an on-base location, and gain valuable employment skills while serving their local
community. Students can claim their ‘banked’ grant funding upon high school graduation to be
applied directly toward post-secondary educational expenses. Please contact the youth director at
your base Youth/Teen Center to learn more about the YES program and enrollment procedures.
This program, underwritten by the Air Force Aid Society, is a joint effort with the Airman and
Family Services Flight.
• College Grants Up For Grabs – Completed Applications Due March 11, 2011
The Air Force Aid Society plans to award up to 3,000 grants to dependents of Air Force members
for their college education through the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program.
Applications for these $2,000 need-based grants are now available from the Society’s Web site,
http://www.afas.org/. Completed forms must be received by the Air Force Aid Society no later
than next week on Friday, March 11, 2011.
The grant program is open to dependent children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended
active duty, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reservists and deceased
Air Force members. Spouses of active duty members and surviving spouses of deceased personnel
are also eligible. All applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates at an accredited
college or university during the 2011-2012 academic year, and are required to maintain a minimum
2.0 Grade Point Average.
Selection is heavily based on cost of attendance, family income, and is dependent on the number of
eligible applicants competing. Final need assessment will be determined by an independent agency.
Apply now!
From Resale
• Commissary On-Site Sale Events
The Guard/Reserve On-site Sales Program provides the commissary benefit to deserving
Guard/Reserve members and their families who live in areas that aren’t close to an existing
commissary store. These sales are not only for the Guard and Reserve – they're for any authorized
shopper. Currently, there are no on-site sales for online ordering. For more information, visit
http://www.commissaries.com/guard_reserve_sales.cfm.
In the next few weeks, DeCA will deliver the benefit:
March 11-12 Guard and Reserve Charlotte, N.C.
March 12-13 Guard and Reserve Grenada, Miss.
April 1-2 Texas Army National Guard Austin, Texas
April 1-3 Guard and Reserve Smyrna, Tenn.
April 2-3 Guard and Reserve Rome, N.Y.
April 8-9 Air National Guard Fresno, Calif.
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5. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
In the News
• From the American Forces Press Service – DoD Improves Troops’ Access to Quality Education
Defense Department officials are taking extensive measures – from education reviews to agency
partnerships – to ensure service members have access to quality education and learning
opportunities in their off-duty hours, a DOD official said.
Robert L. Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family
policy, outlined these efforts for members of a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs subcommittee yesterday.
Each year, one-third of the nation’s service members enroll in post-secondary education courses
leading to associate’s, bachelor’s and advanced degrees, Gordon said. And this past year alone,
officials tallied more than 857,000 course enrollments and more than 45,000 service members who
earned a degree or certification. See http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63012
• From the American Forces Press Service – Holly Petraeus Aims to Protect Troops’ Finances
Years ago, Holly Petraeus and her husband, then a young Army officer, went shopping for a new
desk. Looking for a bargain, they honed in on a gray, metal desk at a rent-to-own store, where the
monthly payments were set low to attract customers and to distract from an inflated bottom-line
cost. “We spent, I’m sure, far more by the time we finished renting the thing than we would have
spent just going out and buying a desk,” Petraeus said. “It was really ugly too -- enormous and hard
to move,” she added with a laugh. “I had to think, ‘Why did we do that?’”
See http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63000
• From the Family Matters Blog –Mrs. Petraeus Seeks Financial Feedback
I was a young airman when I fell for my first scam. I was seeking a loan to purchase some
furniture – my credit cards were all maxed – and spotted an ad in the local newspaper. It drew me
like a beacon, advertising quick and easy loans to people with shaky credit histories. I figured I
could score some cash with minimal stress and pay it back with a military allotment. I called and
gave them my personal information and then was told, since my credit score wasn’t the best, that
I’d have to send in a lump sum before I’d be granted the loan. I don’t recall the exact amount, but it
was at least $500. I sent the money off and waited to hear from the loan company – and waited,
and waited. After a few weeks, I called the number again and it was disconnected. No loan and my
money was long gone. See http://afps.dodlive.mil/
• From the American Forces Press Service – Supreme Court Decisions Affect Servicemembers, Vets
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued three decisions with military connections over the last two
days. In what may be the most contentious of the cases, the court ruled that members of a
Westboro, Kan., church have the right to picket at funerals for service members killed in action.
Yesterday, the court reversed a lower court decision and decided a reservist had been the victim of
bias due to his military service. Also yesterday, the court ruled that Veterans Affairs Department
deadlines for veterans applying for benefits do not have “jurisdictional consequences.” See
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=62994
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6. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
Tips of the Week
• Nutrition Tip of the Week – Nutrition Tip – Salt: The Hidden Truth (Part 2)
Shopping tips to help reduce your sodium intake:
- Fresh is best when trying to eat less salt or sodium. Avoid the aisles. Shop the perimeter of the
store where you’ll find the produce, lean meats and dairy foods, which are naturally low in
sodium, and all at significant savings of more than 30 percent.
- In the center aisles, look for the many reduced–sodium foods that are available today. These
include everything from soups to chips and crackers. All of these foods may be included when
trying to reduce your salt intake.
- Read the nutrition labels to find out how much sodium per serving is in the food you are buying.
Choose the lower–sodium foods, especially soups. When possible, make your own soup to
better control the amount of salt you eat.
- Buy and use the sodium-free marinades for chicken, beef, pork and seafood. You can also use
any marinade left in the bottle to cook vegetables, potatoes or pasta.
- When buying and using canned vegetables and beans, rinse them under running water at home.
This will remove up to 40 percent of the sodium.
- Buy and use herbs and seasoning powders instead of seasoning salts. Create your own mixes
with different herbs. When in doubt, use garlic and onion powder to season meat or vegetables.
- There is a nationally known eating plan, the DASH diet, that can help lower high blood
pressure. DASH, which stands for ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,’ isn’t a
weight-loss diet, but rather an eating style to help reduce your risk of serious health
complications. It helps lower blood pressure by including nutrients, such as potassium, calcium
and magnesium, all of which are associated with lower blood pressure. These key nutrients are
boosted by including more fruits, vegetables and low-fat or nonfat dairy in your daily diet. If
you are battling high blood pressure, or just want to follow a healthy eating plan, DASH helps
lower sodium or salt in your diet.
For more information on making healthy and nutritious food choices, check out the Commissary’s
website at http://www.commissaries.com/
• Parenting Tip of the Week – Social Media, Technology Connects Communities
You may have heard how Fort Benning in Georgia hosted a town hall meeting via Facebook in
January. More than 14,000 people tuned for the meeting, posting almost 150 questions during the
event. Another unit based in Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed to Afghanistan had a Facebook page,
which its captain routinely updated. These are just two examples of how technology can be used to
keep military families and command staff connected. Regardless of what kind of social media
outlets you may use, take advantage of the free military family resources and networks available via
the internet. One good place to start is Military HOMEFRONT at www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.
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7. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
• Let’s Move/Childhood Obesity Tip of the Week – 5-2-1-0 Fitness Program for Children and Families
In a nutshell, the 5-2-1-0 plan is:
5: Eat five or more fruits and vegetables every day.
2: Cut TV and computer play screen time to two hours or less every day.
1: Participate in at least one hour of moderate physical activity every day or 20 minutes of vigorous
activity at least three times a week.
0: For almost zero sugar-sweetened drinks every day, restrict soda pop, sports drinks, and fruit
drinks. Instead, drink water and three to four servings a day of skim or 1 percent milk.
For more information see: http://letsgo.org/
• Financial Tip of the Week – How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Skimming
While you've grown accustomed to the convenience of credit cards, thieves have used the
technology to create a new kind of fraud – card skimming. It's one more danger you must guard
yourself against and another maddening example of how the crooks find ways to turn technology on
its head.
Bad guys buy magnetic card readers – readily available online – and attach them to legitimate card
readers at ATM machines, gas station pumps, movie rental kiosks, or anywhere they think they can
get away with it. The counterfeit card reader captures the credit card information of everyone who
uses the machine. On ATM machines, thieves also attach tiny video cameras to steal PIN numbers.
Crooks then remove the phony device and use the stored information to buy online or write the data
onto new magnetic strips to make counterfeit credit cards or ATM cards. The newest skimmers are
outfitted with radio devices, which send the information over a cellular network to the bad guys,
giving them instant access to your credit card.
Portable skimmers – small enough to fit in a palm – can be used by anyone who handles your credit
card, such as a waiter. All he has to do is get your card out of your sight for a second. That's
enough time to swipe it through the device, and steal your information without you suspecting a
thing.
Until the new authentication technology takes root, follow these tips to protect your credit card
from skimming:
- Don't let your credit card out of sight. Watch carefully anyone who handles your card.
- Keep track of receipts and check your credit card statements regularly to make sure you
authorized all purchases.
- Report any unauthorized purchases immediately to your credit card companies.
- Don't use a credit card reader if there are any signs of tampering. Don't swipe your card
through devices that offer to clean the magnetic strip. Those are scams designed to capture your
credit card information.
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8. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
• Military OneSource Tip of the Week – Quick Tips for Learning to Relax
Learning to manage your stress will help you feel healthy and happy. Many people deal with stress
by getting exercise or going for a long walk. But the fast pace of military life doesn’t always allow
time for that. Here are 10 quick things you can do to manage stress and feel more relaxed:
- Practice deep breathing. Take five slow, deep breaths. Concentrate on filling your lungs by
breathing in through your nose, then slowly letting all of the air back out through your mouth.
Breathing slowly in and out at least five times – more if you can – will help you slow down and
relax.
- Relax your facial muscles. Close your eyes and try to imagine letting go of all of the muscles in
your face. Gently massage your scalp and face with your fingers.
- Do five slow neck rolls. Close your eyes, and gently tilt your head from side to side or around
in a circle to stretch the muscles in your neck. Your neck muscles often hold a lot of tension and
neck rolls will help release some of that stress and help you feel more relaxed.
- Tighten, and then loosen, the muscles in your hands. Clench your hands up tightly, and hold
this position for a second, then release your muscles. Repeat this a few times.
- Keep a picture of your child, a friend, your spouse, a pet, or a favorite outdoor spot in your
workspace or another place you spend a lot of time in. When you start to feel stressed, look at
the picture for a few minutes.
- Get up, go outside, and take a quick walk at home or during your break at work. You’ll be
surprised at how much better you feel after even just a few minutes outside.
- Laugh. Share a joke or a funny story with a co-worker, friend, or family member. Laughter is a
great way to reduce feelings of stress and feel more relaxed.
- Keep a stress ball with you and toss the ball from one hand to the other for a few minutes, or
squeeze the ball a few times to help release some of your tension.
- Listen to music that makes you feel good on your way to and from work. Music is a wonderful
stress reducer. Try to find music you like that makes you feel calm and relaxed.
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs to help you feel relaxed. Find healthier ways to manage stress and
feel good. Going to the gym or going for a walk are much better at relieving stress and will
make you feel better in the long run. Try to find activities that help you relax and that you can
fit into your busy schedule on a regular basis.
Your Family Center can give you information and support on many issues that affect service
members and their families. And Military OneSource, a free 24/7 service from DoD, available to all
active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families, provides information and referrals
plus face-to-face counseling. Call (800) 342-9647 or access http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com.
• Spouse Tip of the Week – Spouse Career Well-being and a Happier, Healthier You
What you spend your time on each day has a significant effect on your self-esteem and identity,
your overall health and stress levels, and your level of happiness regardless of whether you’re a
paid employee, a volunteer, a student, a parent or a retiree. Work-related experiences become part
of your proud history of accomplishments and fuel future career decision making. If you like what
you do and are surrounded by people you like, your career well-being will be enhanced. If the
opposite is true, your mental and physical health can be negatively affected short and long term.
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9. This Week in MC&FP March 4, 2011
According to Chief Scientist Dr. Jim Harter for Gallup’s International Workplace Management and
Well-Being Practice, boosting career well-being might also reduce the risk of anxiety and
depression and lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. These results suggest that there is
a direct link between satisfaction with workplace experiences and physical health. Harter’s
research also suggests that finding meaningful ways to spend work time each day might be one of
the most important priorities to consider for maintaining overall good health and happiness over the
years.
To learn more about military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) and career well-
being, visit the MilitaryOneSource.com website. Resources and support services offered through
this site could help put you on the path to greater work satisfaction and result in a more confident,
happier, healthier you. Don’t wait. Start today.
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