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There is no better time to plan for emergencies than National Preparedness Month. Those who are prepared
recover faster and can work together to help others. So what does it take to be ready? Not a lot of effort!
Start by gathering these four essentials:
The experts remind us that emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility between individuals, families,
businesses and communities. Do your part during National Preparedness Month. For more information, see
www.Ready.gov.
Have a safe Labor Day holiday and a good week. Take care.
Please note: Some hyperlinks in this text are lengthy, sometimes extending more than one line. For best results,
cut and past the entire link into your Web browser.
DoDEA „Kicks Off‟ School Year With Focus on Student and Staff Wellness
When planning meals and snacks, we need to teach young children about making healthy choices by
explaining how ‘grow-and-go’ foods will help them feel good and have fun at school. Grow-and-go
foods are foods high in complex carbohydrates, good sources of protein, include vitamins and minerals
and a moderate amount of fat. The Defense Commissary Agency has a partnership with DoDEA to
share suggestions for parents on packing lunches and snacks that are grow-and-go foods. See:
http://www.dodea.edu/wellness/. Staff wellness programs provide opportunities for the school faculty
to engage in a wide variety of leisure time physical activities geared to adult interests and fitness
readiness as well as nutrition education, physical fitness education, stress management and weight
management.
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.
This Week in MC&FP September 3, 2010
The accessible playground is a layout of specifically selected playground equipment connected and
arranged in a manner that is barrier free and supports child development. DoD funding has supported
playground construction for 40 military installations stateside and overseas.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star
Families, a national, non-partisan, non-profit network of military families. See http://www.arts.gov and
http://www.arts.gov/news/news10/blue-star-museums-13.html
Save the Date! DoD/USDA 2011 Family Resilience Conference “Forging the Partnership”
Mark your calendar now to be in Chicago on April 26 - 29, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency. The
interagency conference, Forging the Partnership, will bring together professionals from DoD
and USDA and will build connections, competency and the capacity of our agencies and
programs.
The conference will feature keynote speakers, current youth and family research presenters, interactive
workshops and computer labs. The call for proposals will be published in early fall and registration will
open sometime in January. We’ll keep you posted. For more information, see
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/service/conferenceandworkshops/fy2011
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This Week in MC&FP September 3, 2010
1,096 Navy
265 Marines
369 Army
134 Coast Guard
165 Air Force
The participant with the top score at the end of the season will win a trip to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas,
Texas. In addition, all participants will have a chance to win the national contest, with a grand prize of
$100,000! The contest is open to all active duty personnel, their family members, retirees, reservist,
National Guard, DoD and Coast Guard civilians.
Registration and all drafts must be started by Sunday, Sept. 12 at 8 a.m., EDT. Each player can field as
many as 60 teams, each of which will draft and play a full season of fantasy football games against 11
Fantasy Football Professionals, including Joe Namath, MVP of Super Bowl III. For more information,
see http://www.armymwr.com/news/news.aspx?nid=280.
DECA Delivers
DeCA is delivering the benefit at the following Guard and Reserve locations:
In the News
• From the American Forces Press Service -- First Lady, Dr. Biden Urge Troop, Family Support
Just days after the combat mission in Iraq ended, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden,
wife of Vice President Joe Biden, reminded Americans that their commitment to military families
must carry on. See: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=60726.
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This Week in MC&FP September 3, 2010
• From the American Forces Press Service – Operation New Dawn and Combat Pay
The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect Iraq's status as
a combat zone; only a revised or new Executive Order would change this. Additional entitlements
in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait or other countries in the Arabian Peninsula combat zone or direct
support areas are not tied to troop levels. Rather, the additional entitlements members receive are
based upon a location's designation as a combat zone or direct support area. See:
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60679.
Financial Tip of the Week Know the New Consumer Credit Rules
Starting August 22, new rules may result in interest rate reductions as well as limitations on some fees
for credit cards. Here’s a look at the three major provisions of the new law:
Interest Rates:
If your credit card’s interest rate has been increased since January 1, 2009, the new rules require
issuers to evaluate whether the reasons for the increase have changed and, if appropriate, to reduce
the rate.
Issuers must also perform a review every six months on accounts that receive a rate increase. The
review should determine if changes in key factors (such as cardholder credit risk, payment history,
and market conditions) give reasons to reduce the rate.
The catch in this is two words, ‘if appropriate.’ The final decision is left with the card issuers.
Fees:
The new rules also protect card users from unreasonable late payment and other penalty fees.
Issuers can only charge one fee for a single event or transaction that violates the cardholder
agreement. The late payment fee can’t be more than $25 or more than the cardholder’s minimum
payment. However, if one of the last six payments was late, issuers can charge up to $35.
The rule also eliminates inactivity fees. Credit card companies can no longer charge fees for not
using your card.
Gift Cards:
The new rules apply to all store and merchant gift cards, as well as cards for general use, such as a
Visa gift card. These rules include:
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This Week in MC&FP September 3, 2010
o Limits on expiration dates the money on your gift card will be good for at least five years
from the date the card is purchased. Money added or loaded on to the card must also be good
for at least five years.
o Replacement cards. If your gift card expires and there is unspent money, you can request a
replacement card at no charge.
o Fees. The law bans dormancy, inactivity and service fees on gift cards unless there has not
been any activity for twelve months and the issuer clearly discloses all fees on the packaging.
In those cases, consumers can only be charged one fee per month.
o Some states have stronger state laws for gift cards and these will remain valid. Many states do
not allow fees or expiration dates. In California, a card with cash value of $10 or less may be
redeemed for cash.
Spouse Tip of the Week Quick Tips for Spouses of Service Members Coming Home
Your spouse's deployment return can bring both joys and challenges. These tips can help:
Plan a special homecoming. You might want to make a welcome-home banner or a special
meal.
Make a back-up plan, just in case. Your spouse may be exhausted, so be ready to adjust your
plans if you need to.
Understand that it's normal to feel out of sync with your spouse at first. Both of you have
grown and changed during the separation.
Ease into intimacy. It's not easy to regain physical and emotional closeness after stressful
situations.
Be patient with yourself and your spouse. Fatigue, confusion, and worry can lead to short
tempers.
Spend time talking together. Sometimes it's easier to reconnect if you talk while doing
something else together, like taking a walk or working out.
Expect your children to test the rules now that both parents are home. Set aside time with
your spouse to come up with an approach you both agree on.
Enjoy life. Make time in your schedule for activities you enjoy as a couple and as a family.
Know when to seek help. If you, your spouse, or other family members are feeling signs of
stress, physical or emotional, it's important to seek expert help – the earlier the better. Contact
your installation's family center, the Department of Veterans Affairs at
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov and toll-free at (800) 827-1000), or Military OneSource at
http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com; toll-free at (800) 342-9647.
Your Family Support 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.
Military OneSource Tip of the Week Quick Tips for New Military Spouses
Some quick tips to help you with military spouse benefits:
Get a copy of your marriage certificate and keep it with other important documents. Ask
for it from the city, town, or county clerk's office where your wedding took place.
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This Week in MC&FP September 3, 2010
Ask your spouse to enroll you in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. This
lets you receive medical and other benefits. Links to the DEERS site and contact information can
be found on the TRICARE site, http:// www.tricare.mil/deers/.
Obtain a military identification card from the ID card facility. You will need it to receive
military spouse benefits and to gain admission to installations, exchanges, and commissaries.
Memorize your spouse's Social Security number. You will need it for all sorts of paperwork
and forms.
Learn how to read your spouse's Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). It tells you how
much pay, allowances, and leave time your spouse has. Visit http://militarypay.defense.gov/ or
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay.html to learn more.
Learn about the military's health benefits. Visit http://www.tricare.mil to learn about the three
options available under TRICARE, and ask your spouse for enrollment information in the United
Concordia Dental Plan, http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com.
Visit your installation's Family Support Center. It can give you information about relocation,
local job and volunteer opportunities, and much more. Be sure to ask about the new spouse
orientation program.
Register your vehicle on the installation. Check with the Provost Marshall or Military Police to
see what documents you'll need.
Ask your spouse to list you as a beneficiary on his or her Servicemembers’ Group Life
Insurance policy. This is also the time for your spouse to update his or her record of emergency
data sheet (DD Form 93).
Learn the lingo .
o DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
o LES: Leave and Earnings Statement
o TMA: TRICARE Management Activity
o SGLI: Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance
Your Family Support 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.
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