Visit this link for more information and to apply: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/
DEADLINE October 21, 2010.
Please share with everyone you know who may be eligible.
Showing posts with label deployment issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deployment issues. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
DoD 9/11 Special Pay deadline looming
Service members, veterans, and beneficiaries of servicemembers whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009 are eligible for RSLSP.
Visit this link for more information and to apply: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/
Please share with everyone you know who may be eligible.
Visit this link for more information and to apply: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/
Please share with everyone you know who may be eligible.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Musing At the Cleveland Airport
I am sitting here in the Cleveland airport after my flight was diverted due to snow. This always happens to me when I fly. I can be flying in the middle of August and somewhere, somehow, there is going to be some sort of storm with my name on it. It usually happens when I am nowhere near Disney or anywhere there is a good movie theatre or nail place.
My husband always laughs because this is my karma. I truly believe that in a past life, I killed the entire village that was trying to raise those children. I'm only kidding, but you get what I am talking about. The good news is that there is a difference this time. I spent my weekend in Fayetteville, NC. That's right – Fort Bragg. I have never been there, nor would I have chosen this area for a trip, but I am happy I went because I was enlightened. I met some of the nicest, most accomplished women who are also military spouses at an event called SpouseBUZZ Live, sponsored by Military.com. The best part of this entire scenario is that I am one of them. Yes, I have known this for the past 11 years of milspousedom, but this weekend it hit home. I met the folks for whom I am trying to work, for whom I look for career options, and for whom I would do anything in my power to help.
I heard from a lady who accepted help from another spouse named Barb. She later discovered she was the General's wife, but to Becky, she was just another wife who offered to help in a time of need. I met Ginger (Sew Much Comfort) who started an entire organization that gives adaptive clothing so that service members have something to where while recovering from disfiguring injuries. I met a woman who became a blogger after filling in for her blogger husband while his hands were mending after being injured by an IED.
These women made me feel unworthy to call myself a military spouse – at first. Then I realized that we all have our individual experiences. It is okay that my husband has never been on a deployment, only TAD's. I have not had to deliver my children alone, nor have I moved overseas alone. All of this is okay because I am still a spouse, supporting my country by supporting my sailor. I, too, never know what the next day will bring and am grateful every time he walks in the door. I, too, have moved more times than I care to mention. And I, too, have friends to whom I have grown close and to whom I have had to wave goodbye as they PCS'ed to another duty station, leaving me behind to try to bond with a new bunch of people.
So, I will continue to try to help those of us who need help, information, or just a shoulder to cry on. I will write about our issues and concerns so as to enlighten the civilian population among whom I live, far away from my comrades closer to base where I am not such an uncommon denominator. And I will laugh like I did this weekend. I will laugh about the gremlins that descend the minute Hubby pulls away with his orders in hand and his collar devices polished. I will laugh about the Tricare issues that will always, I fear, come up when I least need them. And I promise to always laugh – or cry – right along with you, my sisters at arms.
I am honored to be a part of this group. Thank you for your service and may those gremlins pick on someone else the next time your spouse deploys.
My husband always laughs because this is my karma. I truly believe that in a past life, I killed the entire village that was trying to raise those children. I'm only kidding, but you get what I am talking about. The good news is that there is a difference this time. I spent my weekend in Fayetteville, NC. That's right – Fort Bragg. I have never been there, nor would I have chosen this area for a trip, but I am happy I went because I was enlightened. I met some of the nicest, most accomplished women who are also military spouses at an event called SpouseBUZZ Live, sponsored by Military.com. The best part of this entire scenario is that I am one of them. Yes, I have known this for the past 11 years of milspousedom, but this weekend it hit home. I met the folks for whom I am trying to work, for whom I look for career options, and for whom I would do anything in my power to help.
I heard from a lady who accepted help from another spouse named Barb. She later discovered she was the General's wife, but to Becky, she was just another wife who offered to help in a time of need. I met Ginger (Sew Much Comfort) who started an entire organization that gives adaptive clothing so that service members have something to where while recovering from disfiguring injuries. I met a woman who became a blogger after filling in for her blogger husband while his hands were mending after being injured by an IED.
These women made me feel unworthy to call myself a military spouse – at first. Then I realized that we all have our individual experiences. It is okay that my husband has never been on a deployment, only TAD's. I have not had to deliver my children alone, nor have I moved overseas alone. All of this is okay because I am still a spouse, supporting my country by supporting my sailor. I, too, never know what the next day will bring and am grateful every time he walks in the door. I, too, have moved more times than I care to mention. And I, too, have friends to whom I have grown close and to whom I have had to wave goodbye as they PCS'ed to another duty station, leaving me behind to try to bond with a new bunch of people.
So, I will continue to try to help those of us who need help, information, or just a shoulder to cry on. I will write about our issues and concerns so as to enlighten the civilian population among whom I live, far away from my comrades closer to base where I am not such an uncommon denominator. And I will laugh like I did this weekend. I will laugh about the gremlins that descend the minute Hubby pulls away with his orders in hand and his collar devices polished. I will laugh about the Tricare issues that will always, I fear, come up when I least need them. And I promise to always laugh – or cry – right along with you, my sisters at arms.
I am honored to be a part of this group. Thank you for your service and may those gremlins pick on someone else the next time your spouse deploys.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Giving Thanks
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and there is much to be thankful for in my home. The main things are healthy children and their daddy who is here and not in The Sandbox. There are many families who are not so lucky, and we need to remember them during this holiday season.
Take a moment to check out this link and remember those who are far from home. Will you wear blue on Fridays? And if you want to be even more proactive, cook a meal for the spouse of a deployed service member, or offer to rake his or her leaves. Something this simple means the world to someone missing their husband or wife who need to be Daddy AND Mommy, plumber AND auto mechanic, good cop AND bad cop (if you have children). Those who pretend they are okay when they are not and the children catch them crying. Who give themselves a pep talk when the phone does not ring when it is supposed to. Who need to be both parts of the team when their other half is away working as part of someone else's team ... for now.
Be there for them if they need you. Their families are also sacrificing for our country; the one you and I call home. Be there to support the greatest supporter of our military members - the military spouse.
To all of the military spouses reading this, whether your spouse is deployed or not, I thank you for your service.
With much admiration and very sincerely,
Rosemary
Take a moment to check out this link and remember those who are far from home. Will you wear blue on Fridays? And if you want to be even more proactive, cook a meal for the spouse of a deployed service member, or offer to rake his or her leaves. Something this simple means the world to someone missing their husband or wife who need to be Daddy AND Mommy, plumber AND auto mechanic, good cop AND bad cop (if you have children). Those who pretend they are okay when they are not and the children catch them crying. Who give themselves a pep talk when the phone does not ring when it is supposed to. Who need to be both parts of the team when their other half is away working as part of someone else's team ... for now.
Be there for them if they need you. Their families are also sacrificing for our country; the one you and I call home. Be there to support the greatest supporter of our military members - the military spouse.
To all of the military spouses reading this, whether your spouse is deployed or not, I thank you for your service.
With much admiration and very sincerely,
Rosemary
Friday, October 19, 2007
Deployment and Lemonaid
NATIONAL MAMMOGRAPHY DAY!
Find your local center and check "the girls." It may save your life.
Right now, I am writing a couple of articles for Military Spouse Magazine http://www.milspousemag.com/. Once again, I am struck by the courage of women – military wives in particular.
This piece is about ringing in the new year without your spouse, a common occurrence in the days of war. They say that when given lemons, you should make lemonaid. Well, that is what these spouses have done. As I read the responses to my e-mails, and hear the stories over the telephone, I cannot help but burst with pride. No, I do not think it is a good thing to be away from your spouse for an extended period of time, especially while he is in a war zone. I do however believe we have to step up to the plate and do what’s required when things do not go our way, and that is what all of these women have done.
They have decided to make lemonaid. Some return home with their parents or other relatives for the duration of the deployment, while others simply jump in and act as Mom AND Dad for their children. Others spread the love and reach out to others in the military community who might need help coping.
As I said, I am bursting with pride because I, too, am a part of this community of strong women – the military spouse. I have only spoken to wives, but I know there are husbands out there doing the same things, with and without children, while their wives are deployed. I tip my hat to all of the spouses, whether or not they are facing deployment of their other half. We all share a bond and we should all be proud of ourselves and each other.
What do you do differently when your spouse is deployed or TAD?
Chime in and let us know the type of lemonaid you make when you are handed those lemons.
P.S. Military Spouse Magazine goes monthly in January 2008, and hits the commissaries later in the spring. Check out this publication specifically geared to the military spouse. Tell 'em Rosemary O'Brien sent you.
This piece is about ringing in the new year without your spouse, a common occurrence in the days of war. They say that when given lemons, you should make lemonaid. Well, that is what these spouses have done. As I read the responses to my e-mails, and hear the stories over the telephone, I cannot help but burst with pride. No, I do not think it is a good thing to be away from your spouse for an extended period of time, especially while he is in a war zone. I do however believe we have to step up to the plate and do what’s required when things do not go our way, and that is what all of these women have done.
They have decided to make lemonaid. Some return home with their parents or other relatives for the duration of the deployment, while others simply jump in and act as Mom AND Dad for their children. Others spread the love and reach out to others in the military community who might need help coping.
As I said, I am bursting with pride because I, too, am a part of this community of strong women – the military spouse. I have only spoken to wives, but I know there are husbands out there doing the same things, with and without children, while their wives are deployed. I tip my hat to all of the spouses, whether or not they are facing deployment of their other half. We all share a bond and we should all be proud of ourselves and each other.
What do you do differently when your spouse is deployed or TAD?
Chime in and let us know the type of lemonaid you make when you are handed those lemons.
P.S. Military Spouse Magazine goes monthly in January 2008, and hits the commissaries later in the spring. Check out this publication specifically geared to the military spouse. Tell 'em Rosemary O'Brien sent you.
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