This week in mcfp sept 9 2011

http://www.health.mil/blog/10‐06‐24/Family_Resiliency_Webinar.aspx.

This Week in MC&FP
Friday, Sept. 9, 2011
_________________________________

In Memoriam: the Tenth Anniversary of September 11th

American history is marked with moments of great triumph and devastating heartbreak. Among them,
no date stands so clearly in recent memory as Sept. 11, 2001, the day we suffered horrific terrorist
attacks that claimed the lives of more than 2,800 Americans—firefighters, police officers, service
members, and many people going about their daily lives.

On this, the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, Military Community and Family Policy family encourages
you to take a moment out of your busy day to remember. Please pause to appreciate the strength and
courage of not only American citizens contributing to a greater America, but of firefighters, law
enforcement officers, and service members and families who have dedicated their lives in service to our
country. They give of themselves every day to prevent these kinds of attacks from happening in our
country and in other places around the world. Pause to honor those who suffered injuries in the attacks
and who have not only survived but have proven themselves to be amazingly resilient, refusing to be
cowed or to let go of the hope and pride that defines us as Americans. Please pause to remember those
who did not survive, whose lives were cut short, leaving friends and family to carry on and move
forward with grace and honor.

From everyone in the MC&FP community—we remember.

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.

Meeting the Educational Needs of Military Families

Robert L. Gordon, III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Military Community and Family Policy)

The value of education is something I learned from my parents at a very young age and something that
my wife and I have passed down to our own children as well. As a result, we’re like many other
military families. In fact, a high-quality education is consistently ranked as one of the top priorities for
military families with school-aged children, and to facilitate this, we must pursue and demand high
standards, a rigorous curriculum, and facilities that foster learning.

This Week in MC&FP Friday, Sept. 9, 2011

Full Article on DoD Live, http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/09/meeting-the-educational-needs-
of-military-families/

News

 Survivor Supports Families in Wake of 9/11
It’s been a decade since American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, but
Bonnie Carroll vividly recalls the aftermath. As a family-support volunteer, she spent hours
“listening and sharing” with families who were waiting to be notified about a missing loved one.
Carroll, president of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, was among a team of
volunteers who responded in the wake of the devastating terrorist attack that took 184 lives at the
Pentagon. That day “changed everything about the world in which we live,” she said. “It gave every
American an appreciation of those on the front line protecting freedom -- a renewed sense of
appreciation.” More, http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65245

 Explaining 9/11 to My Daughter
With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 just a few days away, I asked my 9-year-old daughter last night if
she understood the significance of the day. “I remember hearing about that in school,” she told me.
To my daughter, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are just another chapter in a history book or
a lesson to learn in school. She was born post-9/11, and has grown up knowing only a nation with a
heightened sense of security — and a nation at war in distant lands. More,
http://afps.dodlive.mil/2011/09/07/explaining-911-to-my-daughter/

 Recruiters Recall Patriotism of Post-9/11 America
Like so many Americans, Army Sgt. Cheri Depenbrock watched the horror of 9/11 unfold from her
office television. What was different for the Army recruiter was how it changed her job in the
weeks after. In seven years of helping ensure the Army met its recruiting goals, Depenbrock was
used to reaching out to young people, telling them what the Army could do for them, and mostly
answering their questions about how they could get their college paid for by signing up. More,
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65272

 Austin’s Warrior Playroom: A New Space for Families at Walter Reed
Tomorrow is the grand opening of Austin's Warrior Playroom, a great new addition to the Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center. Austin's Playroom is a space for young family members of
wounded warriors to play and relax while their parents attend to medical needs. The Austin’s
Warrior Playroom located in the newly-established Warrior Transition Unit on the campus of the
new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Mario Lemieux, the current
owner and former NHL player who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to two consecutive Stanley
Cups, and his wife Nathalie Lemieux helped make Austin's Warrior Playroom possible as an
initiative of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. More,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/06/austin-s-warrior-playroom-new-space-families-walter-
reed

Page 2


 Never Leave a Warrior Behind – Tools to Combat Service Member Suicide
From www.dcoe.health.mil: The Department of Defense takes the issue of suicide very seriously
and is actively working to reduce the number of suicides. It is important that service members,
veterans, Guardsmen and Reservists and their families learn how to recognize stressors in order to
help those around them who may be having difficulty. More,
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/09/never-leave-a-warrior-behind-tools-to-combat-service-
member-suicide/

 Mullen Praises Military Support Organizations
Volunteer organizations that improve the lives of service members and their families must continue
their leadership in today’s challenging times, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, said today at the Newman’s Own Foundation Awards ceremony held in the
Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Six nonprofit military support organizations were awarded a total of
$75,000 for their work to better the lives of service members and their families, courtesy of
Newman’s Own Foundation and the event’s cosponsors: the Fisher House Foundation and Military
Times. More, http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65240

 DOD Establishes School Attendance Policy
A new Defense Department school policy underscores the importance of student attendance, while
also considering military families’ unique needs, the acting director of the Department of Defense
Education Activity said. The policy, which went into effect Sept. 1, requires students attending
DOD schools to be in attendance for 180 instructional days per academic year, barring illness and
emergency situations. Most schools typically have 181-183 days scheduled per school year. The
policy also takes into account military parents’ requests for excused absences related to a military
lifestyle, including those related to deployments and moves. More,
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65255

 Navy Streamlines EFM Enrollment
Navy launched an Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) enrollment and tracking
application on the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) website Sept. 1.
The EFMP application adds an electronic enrollment capability for the Navy's Exceptional Family
Member Program and allows service members to track the progress of the enrollment process. The
initial phase will only allow new enrollees to use the system. The next phase, which is due out by
the end of the year, will allow access to all enrollees of the EFMP. More,
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=62559

 Bureau Seeks Financial Products Info to Protect Troops
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today announced that it is seeking public input on
consumer financial products and services tailored to service members and their families.
The information provided will help the CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs to develop
financial education and outreach initiatives for military families. “Military families face unique
challenges especially when it comes to their finances,” said Holly Petraeus, the assistant director for
the Office of Servicemember Affairs. “We believe that open dialogue is key to addressing these
challenges. More, http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=65265

Page 3


 The USO is asking military members and their families to participate in a survey to determine
what programs and services they find most valuable.
From September 7th through October 5th the USO will be asking service members and their families
to participate in an online survey. The survey, conducted annually, will provide important data to
the USO to help determine what areas of USO support are most valuable to our nation’s military
and their families. The survey is conducted by a third party and is available online at
www.TellUSO.org. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and participants who
complete the survey are entered in a drawing to receive a $500 Visa gift card.

 DFAS announces changes to military retiree pay dates
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service announced that paydays for military retirees and
those who receive portions of retired pay will change for September and December.
The changes were made to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2011,
which requires military retiree pay to be processed on the first day of the month. When the payday
falls on a weekend or a national holiday, the pay date is moved to the preceding business day.
More, http://federaldaily.com/articles/2011/09/07/dfas-announces-changes-to-military-retiree-pay-
dates.aspx?s=FD_080911

 President Obama Honors NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson
Today, President Obama congratulated Jimmie Johnson on his fifth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series Championship and welcomed other 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers, Denny
Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton to the
White House. The President also commended the contributions NASCAR has made to the country,
particularly through the support of military families, “Now, what also makes NASCAR special is
the difference that it makes in the lives of so many people, especially our troops and their families.
And I personally thanked all these guys for what they’ve been doing on behalf of military families,
who are obviously huge fans of NASCAR.” More,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/07/president-obama-honors-nascar-sprint-cup-champion-
jimmie-johnson

 Medical Monday: 8 Battlefield Skills That Make Reintegration Challenging
Warriors returning home from deployment may experience challenges when reintegrating into
civilian life due to survival skills they have developed while living in a combat environment. Below
are eight battlefield skills that families can educate themselves about to better understand the
common reintegration challenges of returning service members. More,
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/09/medical-monday-8-battlefield-skills-that-make-
reintegration-challenging/

 Guard/Reserve On-Site Sales
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:

Sept. 9 Guard and Reserve Devil's Lake, ND
Sept. 9 - 11 Guard and Reserve Chicopee, MA
Sept. 10 Fargo Air Guard Fargo, ND

Page 4


Sept. 10 - 11 Guard and Reserve Greenville, KY
Sept. 10 - 11 WV National Guard Huntington, WV
Sept. 10 - 11 Army National Guard Syracuse, NY
Sept. 11 Guard and Reserve Duluth, MN
Sept. 15 - 17 Guard and Reserve Wailuku, HI
Sept. 15 - 18 75 Battle Group Training Division Houston, TX
Sept. 16 - 17 Utah Army National Guard Riverton, UT
Sept. 16 - 17 Oregon National Guard Roseburg, OR
Sept. 16 - 18 Guard and Reserve Fairmont, WV
Sept. 23 - 24 Oregon National Guard Pendleton, OR
Sept. 23 - 24 Army National Guard Scottsbluff, NE
Sept. 24 - 25 Wyoming National Guard Douglas, WY

Tips of the Week

 Nutrition Tip of the Week. “Added Sugars” & How to Identify Them – Part I
A lot of us have heard of “added sugars” and how they have managed to find their way into so
many of our foods. But what are they and what does that even mean? Added sugars are sugars and
syrups that are added to foods or beverages when they are processed or prepared. This does not
include naturally occurring sugars such as those in milk and fruits. Reading the ingredient label on
processed foods can help to identify added sugars. Names for added sugars on food labels include:

 anhydrous dextrose brown sugar
 confectioner's powdered sugar
 corn syrup
 corn syrup solids
 dextrose
 fructose
 high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
 honey
 invert sugar
 lactose
 malt syrup
 maltose
 maple syrup
 molasses
 nectars (e.g., peach nectar, pear nectar)
 pancake syrup
 raw sugar
 sucrose
 sugar
 white granulated sugar

You may also see other names used for added sugars, but these are not recognized by the Food and
Drug Administration as an ingredient name. These include cane juice, evaporated corn sweetener,

Page 5


fruit juice concentrate, crystal dextrose, glucose, liquid fructose, sugar cane juice, and fruit nectar.
But where are these “added sugars” found? Check out next week’s tip to find out…
Source: USDA

 Parenting Tip of the Week, Home Safety
When you have a baby on the way, there is a lot to think about. Besides making sure that you have
baby furniture, clothing and other necessities for your new son or daughter, you'll want to check
that your home is safe. These tips can help you cover all the safety bases.

Before you bring baby home:

 Check the safety of your baby's crib and other baby items. Check for recalls and get
information on buying a safe crib and mattress at the U.S. Consumer Product Information
Safety Commission website.
 Remove pillows, blankets and stuffed animals from the crib to prevent your baby from
suffocating.
 Check to see that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are
working.
 Make sure handrails are installed and secure in stairways.

Most babies begin crawling around six to nine months. Crawling on your hands and knees will
reveal many dangers to your baby. Thinking ahead to the toddler years will help you to take care of
other hazards before your baby grows and finds them first. Here are some things to do before your
baby is crawling:

 Look for and remove all small objects within reach. Objects that easily can pass through the
center of a toilet paper roll might cause choking.
 Keep chords out of baby's reach. Tack up chords to vertical blinds and move furniture,
lamps or electronics to hide chords.
 Secure furniture and electronics, such as bookcases and TVs, so they cannot be pulled down
on top of your baby.

Visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/ or
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/tf/newparentsupport for more safety tips.
Source: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 Let’s Move/Childhood Obesity Tip, Making Wise Choices in the Dairy Group
Include milk or calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) as a beverage at meals. Choose fat-free or
low-fat milk.
 If you usually drink whole milk, switch gradually to fat-free milk, to lower saturated fat and
calories. Try reduced fat (2%), then low-fat (1%), and finally fat-free (skim).
 If you drink cappuccinos or lattes — ask for them with fat-free milk.
 Add fat-free or low-fat milk instead of water to oatmeal and hot cereals.
 Use fat-free or low-fat milk when making condensed cream soups (such as cream of
tomato).
 Have fat-free or low-fat yogurt as a snack.

Page 6


 Make a dip for fruits or vegetables from yogurt.
 Make fruit-yogurt smoothies in the blender.
 For dessert, make chocolate or butterscotch pudding with fat-free or low-fat milk.
 Top cut-up fruit with flavored yogurt for a quick dessert.
 Top casseroles, soups, stews, or vegetables with shredded reduced-fat or low-fat cheese.
 Top a baked potato with fat-free or low-fat yogurt.

Keep it safe to eat
 Avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk or any products made from unpasteurized milk.
 Chill (refrigerate) perishable food promptly and defrost foods properly. Refrigerate or freeze
perishables, prepared food and leftovers as soon as possible. If food has been left at
temperatures between 40° and 140° F for more than two hours, discard it, even though it
may look and smell good.
 Separate raw, cooked and ready-to-eat foods.

For those who choose not to consume milk products
 If you avoid milk because of lactose intolerance, the most reliable way to get the health
benefits of dairy products is to choose lactose-free alternatives within the Dairy Group, such
as cheese, yogurt, lactose-free milk, or calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) or to
consume the enzyme lactase before consuming milk.
 Calcium choices for those who do not consume dairy products include:
 Calcium fortified juices, cereals, breads, rice milk, or almond milk.
 Canned fish (sardines, salmon with bones) soybeans and other soy products (tofu
made with calcium sulfate, soy yogurt, tempeh), some other beans, and some leafy
greens (collard and turnip greens, kale, bok choy). The amount of calcium that can
be absorbed from these foods varies.
Source: USDA

 Financial Tip of the Week, "Free Trials" Aren't Always Free
A chance to try something out for free? What have you got to lose? If you're interested in a
particular product or service, trying before you buy might seem like a no-brainer. But what
starts as a free trial — or for a very low cost - might end up costing you real money.

All free trials eventually end and typically, if you don't want to buy what you've tried, you need
to cancel or take some other action before the trial is up. If you don't, you may be agreeing to
buy more products. But some dishonest businesses make it tough to cancel, hiding the terms and
conditions of their offers in teensy type, using pre-checked sign-up boxes as the default setting
online, and putting conditions on returns and cancellations that are so strict it could be next to
impossible to stop the deliveries and the billing. Or, the "free trial" might come with small
shipping and handling fee. You think you're only paying a couple of dollars, but you're really
giving over your credit card information, resulting in much higher charges after the trial.

Strings Attached
Other "free" offers enroll you in clubs or subscriptions. If you sign up, you may be agreeing to
enroll in a club that will send you more products and bill you until you cancel, or to a
subscription that's automatically renewed each year.

Page 7


Here's What To Do
So how can you avoid the costs that might be hiding in free trials?
 Research the company online. See what other people are saying about the company's
free trials and its service. Complaints from other customers can tip you off to "catches"
that might come with the trial.
 Find the terms and conditions for the offer. That includes offers online, on TV, in the
newspaper, or on the radio. If you can't find them or can't understand exactly what you're
agreeing to, don't sign up.
 Look for who's behind the offer. Just because you're buying something online from one
company doesn't mean the offer or pop-up isn't from someone else.
 Watch out for pre-checked boxes. If you sign up for a free trial online, look for already-
checked boxes. That checkmark may give the company the green light to continue the
offer past the free trial or sign you up for more products - only this time you have to pay.
 Mark your calendar. Your free trial probably has a time limit. Once it passes without
you telling the company to cancel your "order," you may be on the hook for more
products.
 Look for info on how you can cancel future shipments or services. If you don't want
them, do you have to pay? Do you have a limited time to respond?
 Read your credit and debit card statements. That way you'll know right away if you're
being charged for something you didn't order.

If you see charges you didn't agree to, contact the company directly to sort out the situation. If
that doesn't work, call your credit card company to dispute the charge. Ask the credit card
company to reverse the charge because you didn't actively order the additional merchandise.

Where to Complain
If you've been wrongly charged for a free trial offer, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
You also can contact your local consumer protection agency, which you can look up at
consumeraction.gov, and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). To file a
complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-
HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
Source: Federal Trade Commission

 Military OneSource Tip of the Week, Teenagers and Deployment
Here are some ways to help your teenager cope with predeployment stress:
 Have a family discussion about how the deployment will affect each family member
left at home. Topics like these may be especially important for your teenager:
 What will my responsibilities be?
 How will I get to after-school activities?
 Will we have enough money?
 Can I still drive the car?
 How will I talk to you while you're gone?
 What do we do if there's an emergency?
 What if I don't like the changes?

Page 8


 What will happen to us if something happens to you?
 Encourage your teenager to share her feelings with you. In the weeks before
deployment, the service member will be spending more and more time on
preparations for deployment. It's important for your teenager to know her concerns
are being heard.
 Plan some time for your teenager to spend alone with the deploying parent. This
could be a scheduled event or just some "down time" together, relaxing and having
fun. Let your teenager suggest some activities.
 Develop a relationship with your teenager's school counselors and teachers. Let them
know about the deployment so they can watch for signs that your son or daughter
may be struggling.

 Spouse Tip, How Spouses Are Overcoming Licensing and Credentialing Barriers
According to officials at the Department of Defense State Liaison Office (DSLO), state
licensing and professional credentialing requirements oftentimes limit employment and career
opportunities for frequently relocating military spouses and separating or retiring military
service members.

To help spouses and veterans overcome these barriers, DSLO has been working with state
government officials across the nation to raise awareness for the need to develop and share best
practices which offer alternative certification and credentialing options and streamlined
licensing procedures to support the unique needs of military personnel and their spouses.

Although we still have a long way to go, much progress has been made. Currently, there are ten
states (and four more with bills filed) that offer an alternative solution to meeting state licensing
and credentialing requirements: Map of States Who Alleviate Licensure Barrier For Spouses.]

 License By Endorsement -- Allows a state board or regulator to recognize professional
credentials granted by another state.
 This works well for military spouses who have an active license or credential.
 For spouses who live in overseas or remote locations, they may still have
difficulty seeking and maintaining current work experience. Employment gaps
can lead to expired credentials.
 Use the link to the map (above) to find out if your state allows alternative ways
for spouses to demonstrate professional competency rather than recent work
experience (e.g. supervision or continuing education units (CEUs)).
 Temporary or Provisional Licenses -- Beneficial to spouses who are working towards
getting a professional license or credential (e.g. those who are preparing to take a state
administered exam or trying to meet residency or other unique state requirements).
 This works well for military spouses who are not yet fully licensed in another
state or who have an expired license.
 Use the link to the map (above) to find states that offer temporary or provisional
licenses to help spouses gain employment while they are working to satisfy
requirements at their new duty location.

Page 9


 Expedited Procedures -- Allows applicants for licenses and credentials to obtain an
endorsed, temporary or provisional license based on information they provide in their
license or credentials application package.
 Boards check applicant credentials from other states after they grant new state licenses.
Boards will discipline applicants if there are discrepancies in the application package.

Need education financial assistance to acquire a portal career license or credential? Visit the
MyCAA web portal (https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa) to see if you are eligible, or call a Spouse
Career Center consultant from Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) for assistance.

 Relocation Tip, Update Your Contact Information
Update your contact information. Defense Personal Property System (DPS) places you in direct
contact with your carrier to manage the movement of your personal property. It is extremely
important to ensure your phone number, email address, and contact information is updated and
current in DPS, http://www.move.mil/home.htm

####

Page 10

This week in mcfp sept 9 2011

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to This week in mcfp sept 9 2011

More from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

Recently uploaded

This week in mcfp sept 9 2011