Deployment is a difficult time for military families. Exchanging letters, email and video calls can help combat the feelings that accompany separation, but many soldiers still long for the familiar luxuries from home. One thing military families can do for their heroes is send care packages. There is nothing like being halfway across the world from everything and everyone familiar and receiving a big box of your favorite items from home. AFBA has complied a list of items to include in your next care package.
Personal care items
The military provides soldiers with personal hygiene products, but some specialty items are not included. Your servicemember is hard at work most days, so sending a tub of IcyHot or other topical pain reliever can really make his or her day. Things like lip balm and exfoliating body washes are also appreciated. However, package any items that could leak in a Ziploc bag to avoid contaminating the rest of the package. Servicemembers also spend a great deal of time on their feet. Keep your soldier's feet dry and comfortable by sending cushioned camping socks and gel insoles regularly.
Activities for downtown
While your servicemember will have his or her fair share of action, there is still plenty of downtime. Send some items to combat boredom, such as movies and video games. iTunes gift cards and mp3 players are another luxury your servicemember is sure to appreciate. However, there may not always be a way for them to play or watch. Include non-digital items like books, puzzles, board games and decks of cards in your care package.
Reminders of home
Even though your servicemember is busy, he or she will inevitably get homesick at some point during deployment. By including photos of the family, the house and favorite places around town you can give them a piece of home to carry along. Handwritten letters are great care package items. While email may be faster, there is something special about reading the handwriting of loved ones as they wish you well. If you have the opportunity, you could also pack home videos that include messages from friends and family, the baby's first steps or a younger sibling's graduation. USB drives can hold quite a few photos and videos, and they fit well in care packages.
Special foods
The military makes sure that your servicemember will never go hungry, but many soldiers find the food repetitive and bland. A care package is the perfect opportunity to send along some luxury food items. Veteran United Network recommended including a bottle of your servicemember's favorite sauce or condiment from a local restaurant to give the package that extra personal touch. Typical American snacks like beef jerky, potato chips, sunflower seeds and hard candies are always appreciated. Make sure the food is non-perishable and will not be crushed or leak during shipping.
Deployment is rough on both servicemembers and their families, but care packages are a great way to connect. They help families feel like they are there for their servicemembers, even when they cannot be physically present, and it gives the soldiers something to look forward to.
Active duty military personnel and first responders have some of the most stressful careers. The day-to-day demands of their jobs can sometimes cause that stress to trickle over into off-duty life. AFBA has compiled eight activities to help servicemembers and first responders relax.
1. Practice some yoga
Yoga is great for relaxation because it is low impact but it still releases pent-up energy from your body. It is an activity that forces you to focus inwardly and shut out the rest of the world. Not many yoga routines exceed a half-hour, so you can do a quick session after work to leave behind the stress from the day.
2. Read a book
Sometimes you just need to leave reality behind. Books are the perfect way to transport yourself into a different world and take a glimpse into someone else's life for a while. Aside from providing an excellent distraction, reading is scientifically proven to have a calming effect on the mind.
3. Engage with music
There are many ways in which music can help you de-stress. One of the simpler ones is to put on some headphones and crank up your favorite tunes. Focusing on the rhythm and lyrics can help you forget about any anxiety from the day. Dancing is another relaxing activity involving music. Whether you go to a club or just cut a rug in your own home, dancing helps you shake off stress and let loose. A third option for de-stressing with music is to play an instrument. Many people find that strumming a guitar or tapping on a keyboard relieves frustration and relaxes them.
4. Do some exercise
Scientists have backed physical activity as a way to relieve stress for decades. However, as military personnel or a first responder, your job can sometimes be physically demanding. You may not have the energy to go for a run after a long shift. Don't worry. A walk around the block or an easy bike ride through the park can have the same relaxing effect.
5. Play with pets
If you own a cat or dog, take some time when you get home to snuggle or play fetch. Giving attention to your furry friend can help you let go of the pressures of the day and enjoy a social interaction with no ulterior motive. Even if you live in a place where pets are not allowed, you can volunteer at your local shelter to clock some time with a cuddly critter or two.
6. Visit your favorite place
Everyone has that spot that immediately makes them happy. Maybe it is a secret bench in the park or a rooftop with a great view. Wherever you find peace and comfort, take an evening and spend some down time there. You are sure to unwind where you feel most at home.
7. Take a drive
As long as you do not venture out during rush hour, driving can be a relaxing activity. If the weather is nice, crank up your radio and roll down your windows. A drive through a scenic area of town could be just the thing to help you forget about your worries.
8. Cook a meal
You have to eat anyway, right? Instead of ordering take-out, spend some time experimenting in the kitchen. The novelty of preparing a meal you have never tried will encourage your creativity and may distract you from the pressures of your day. Additionally, biting into your delicious concoction will eradicate whatever stress may have followed you home.
As military personnel or a first responder, stress may be an inevitable part of the job. However, that does not mean it has to ruin your off-duty time. Find out which of the eight activities above work best for you and use them to help you unwind.
For military personnel and first responders, transfers are always possible. It can be difficult to leave behind the life you have established in one city or area. It can be even harder to say goodbye to friends and stationmates. These individuals have been through similar experiences and you have formed close bonds. However, your career is one where moving may not be an option. Making friends in a new base or station house can be difficult, but it can also make the adjustment easier. AFBA has outlined some tips to assist you in meeting new people after a transfer.
1. Take advantage of technology
There are plenty of websites dedicated to helping people meet for a romantic relationship, and this is equally true for those seeking new platonic relationships. Before you move, join a friend finding website and look for people in the same line of work as you in your new area. Who knows? You may even establish a connection at your new base or station before you make the transfer. There are also apps designed to help people meet new friends. The apps ask you to list your interests and then generate a list of activities where like-minded people will be hanging out. Technology can connect you with people in your new area long before you ever move.
2. Step out of your comfort zone
Sometimes this is easier said than done, but it is an effective way to make new friends. Join an organization that involves your interests to establish connections with people who enjoy the same things you do. You can also find classes, either fitness-oriented or hobby-based, and use them as a way to introduce yourself to a new group of people. The fear of rejection keeps most people from reaching out to those around them, but if you can overcome this feeling, you will find yourself in a position to make plenty of new friends.
3. Get old fashioned
Not many people know their neighbors anymore. When you get to your new base or station house, do not be afraid to make the rounds. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and stationmates. You may not make friends with all of them, but at least you have established a connection and opened the lines of communication. Most people will probably appreciate your outgoingness and welcome you into your new community. Another great opportunity to make new friends is to host a housewarming cookout on base or invite your new stationmates out to dinner. A meal is an easy way for people to connect.
Relocating is stressful for most people, but it can be especially difficult for military personnel and first responders. You have built friendships around common experiences and interests, and the memories you have made with your current friends on base and stationmates are difficult to replicate. However, establishing successful friendships is an important part of adjusting to a new base or station. By following the advice listed above, you may have an easier time making friends in your new location.
If you have ever served in the military, you probably have many stories to tell about the people you met and the things you experienced. Military stories make some of the most memorable and inspiring narratives. Take a look at AFBA's top five military novels that epitomize what it means to be a soldier and most accurately recount war.
1. 'Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10'
This nonfiction story follows Operation Redwing leader Marcus Luttrell and his unit. This elite team was tasked with taking down a known al-Qaeda leader on the Pakistani border in 2005. By the end of their mission, only Luttrell remained alive. Operation Redwing saw the largest loss of Navy SEAL life in history, but it also recounts Luttrell's unrelenting will to live as he crawled, wounded and alone, 7 miles through enemy territory in the Pakistani mountains. This amazing story follows the leader's account of his survival and recovery, and it is a must-read for anyone who has ever known the loss of a unit member.
2. 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
Erich Maria Remarque's classic 1928 novel has often been referred to as the greatest war novel of all time. Remarque tells the story of Paul Bäumer, a young man who follows his friends into enlistment with the German army. Bäumer quickly becomes disenchanted with the war and rejects the senseless hatred that drives men into battle. The young soldier witnesses many horrors and makes a vow to combat the prejudices that turn men against one another if he can survive the war.
3. 'Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest'
This novel follows the U.S. Army's 506th Airborne Division. The real men who fought in this unit were notorious for getting some of World War II's toughest assignments. Stephen Ambrose's nonfiction novel recounts their mission to parachute into Berchtesgaden in France on the morning of D-Day to the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest. This mission resulted in a 150 percent fatality rate. The novel demonstrates the unfailing courage of the American soldier to complete assigned missions and the brotherhood that is forged along the way.
4. 'The Killer Angels'
Michael Shaara's historical fiction is one of the most interesting accounts ever written about the Battle of Gettysburg. The novel gives unique insight into the thoughts and emotions commanders from each side may have experienced. More than that, it defines what the American Civil War was all about. More than brother vs. brother, the war pitted two different ideologies against each other. Starving, exhausted men fought with everything they had left to preserve the country they believed in. Shaara's dramatic recount captures all of this in an unforgettable way.
5. 'Black Hawk Down'
Set in Somalia in October 1993, Mark Bowden's nonfiction novel tells the story of the 100 Americans who were airdropped into a Mogadishu marketplace. Their mission to capture two lieutenants to a major Somalian warlord was supposed to be a quick one. Instead, it became one of the toughest missions in American history. The Americans had to spend an entire night fending off thousands of armed Somalians. The novel documents their bravery in the face of adversity, and it demonstrated the strength it takes to survive in the face of certain doom.
There are many novels that convey the bravery of soldiers and equally as many that tell of the strength it takes to overcome the horrors of war. However, the five novels outlined above stand out from the rest. They take the reader on a journey through the lives of soldiers and show what it takes to be a hero.
Since 2014, the American College of Financial Services, the nation's largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services, has honored an individual with the Soldier-Citizen Award. This award is meant to decorate an honorable person who served in the military, is successful in the financial services industry and demonstrated selflessness in giving back to his or her community. This year's honoree is four-star Gen. Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart, formerly with the United States Air Force.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Gen. Eberhart spent 36 years as a Commander, U.S. Northern Command and Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. During this time, he logged over 5,000 hours of command flight time. In retirement, Gen. Eberhart continued to serve his country by accepting the position of president and chairman of The Armed Forces Benefit Association in 2009.
Gen. Eberhart is also the chairman of 5-Star Bank and 5-Star Life Insurance Company, and he serves on the board of several organizations, such as TERMA, Jacobs Engineering, Rockwell Collins, Triumph Group, VSE and Segs4Vets. Not only does the general give his time to those companies, but he is currently a trustee for the Falcon Foundation and a director on the board of the USAFA Endowment. At one time, Gen. Eberhart served his alma mater as a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates Board of Directors.
"General Eberhart followed his illustrious military career with a spectacular career in the financial services industry," said Ted Digges, the executive director of The American College Penn Mutual Center for Veterans Affairs and chair of the selection committee. "We are proud to honor such an individual with this award."
The award ceremony will take place on Aug. 20, 2015, at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Military servicemembers and first responders have some of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Not only that, but they are more likely to experience a traumatic event than people in other careers. As a result, individuals who serve in the military and work as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and other first responders have a high probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that can greatly affect the quality of an individual's life. AFBA has compiled a list of seven programs designed to help servicemembers, veterans and first responders heal their PTSD.
1. Starlight Military Program
The Stonington Institute launched this program after World War II. The Starlight Military Program specializes in unique treatment for active duty servicemembers and veterans. It offers cognitive therapy and substance abuse programs.
2. Paws for Veterans
One issue many veterans face while dealing with PTSD is the feeling of isolation. Paws for Veterans works to eliminate these feelings by pairing returned servicemembers with a trained dog in need of adoption. The dogs are trained to have a variety of special skills, including therapy and guide dog behaviors.
3. The Station House Retreat
The program was specifically designed by first responders to assist other first responders with their PTSD recovery. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders can come to The Station House Retreat to participate in therapy sessions, exercise programs, meditation and medication management classes all designed to treat PTSD.
4. Homecoming for Veterans
The EEG Institute developed this program to better understand the effects of PTSD on the brain. Homecoming for Veterans provides free neurofeedback and PTSD treatment for former military servicemembers. Not only is this program providing care for veterans, but it is working to better understand the neurological damage they experience in order to improve treatment.
5. Omega Veterans Trauma and Resilience Program
This program was created by health care professionals to help veterans heal from PTSD and other problems that may arise because of the trauma they experienced. Omega offers a variety of seminars and therapy sessions.
6. Princeton House First Responder Program
This inpatient program is designed to provide first responders with whole-body healing methods. It focuses on mental health therapy. The Princeton House First Responder Program teaches first responders who are experiencing PTSD to rediscover the mind-body-spirit connection through fitness, counseling and medication management.
7. Meghan's Foundation
The program was developed with the purpose of providing alternative healing to veterans dealing with PTSD. Meghan's Foundation offers veterans a chance to heal through yoga and meditation as opposed to doctors and medication. The foundation is designed to teach veterans to self-heal and rely on their inner strengths.
PTSD can be a life-altering condition, and many veterans and first responders will be faced with overcoming the challenges of this disorder. Fortunately, there are a number of programs created specifically for individuals in these careers. These programs offer healing, counseling, support and guidance as those coping with PTSD navigate toward healing. The VA also offers a regional-specific list of PTSD help.
When people think of the Army, they don't usually think of their favorite food. However, the military is responsible for creating some of America's tastiest treats. Take a look at which foods are products of the U.S. military.
1. Supermarket bread
Out of necessity, the military created bread that lasts much longer than it used to. Regular bread goes stale and grows mold much faster than supermarket bread. This is because the bread you buy at the store is treated with starch-eating bacterial enzymes. These enzymes keep the bread soft and safe to eat longer.
2. Cheetos
During World War II, the military needed a way to reduce the volume and weight of its food shipments without losing the caloric intake of its soldiers. As a result, they created a full-fat dehydrated cheese product. When the war ended, the manufacturers responsible for the production of this food decided to add it to crunchy corn snacks, and the Cheeto was born.
3. TV dinners
While we mostly enjoy these convenient meals in front of the television or computer screen now, they were originally intended to feed bomber crews during World War II. These crews often had to take long overnight flights to get to their mission point, so the military found a way to freeze the basic parts of a meal such as meat, vegetables and starches in a tray for later heating.
4. Energy bars
For centuries, the military struggled with convenient, portable ways to keep its soldiers fed and alert. Luckily, in 1940, the Hershey corporation invented a melt-resistant chocolate bar for World War II soldiers. The Hershey invention was later freeze-dried and sent to space with the first astronauts, but it still had not reached its full potential. Not until Natick Soldier Systems Center took control in the mid-1960s did the modern energy bar take shape. While most energy bars today are dessert flavored, Natick's initial product was hamburger flavored.
5. The McRib
The military cannot really take credit for inventing the McRib, but the sandwich would not exist without military technology. In 1976, the Natick Soldier Systems Center innovated military rations once more. They needed a way to reduce the amount of money spent on meat, so they restructured cheaper cuts to look like tasty expensive ones. A few years later, fast food powerhouse McDonald's borrowed the process to create the seasonal meal we know today.
Maybe you didn't think of the military as an inventor of food before, but maybe now you do. Many of America's favorite foods are the direct result of military supply and demand.
In the 2011 soccer match between the U.S. men's team, the American Outlaws, and Mexico, Mexican supporters outnumbered fans from the U.S. 20 to 1. The American Outlaws fan group hopes to change that this year by sending active duty military, veterans and their families to the game. The group intends to send about 2,500 veterans to the match, which is scheduled to take place Oct. 9 at the Rose Bowl. The match is a qualifier for the Confederations Cup, which will be held in Russia in 2017.
The American Outlaws fan group started a GoFundMe page with the original intent of raising $5,000. When they easily met that goal, they increased their request to $15,000 in an attempt to buy 10 rows of 25 seats for active servicemembers and veterans. The U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, helped them surpass that goal as well with a generous $1,000 donation. The group and its supporters now hope to purchase an entire section of the Rose Bowl for veterans to go and support the U.S. team.
The fan group's thought is that that by sending the active duty personnel and veterans, they can increase the number of American supporters in the stands to help cheer the team on to victory.
On average, military families move once every three years. This can be stressful on the adults in a military family, but it can be even more difficult for military children. Kids need stability, and military life does not always allow for that. There are ways to reduce the stress and difficulties you put your kids through during your next transfer.
Communicate with them
Kids ask a lot of questions, but that is only because they want to understand the world around them. By communicating the possibility of a move as soon as you know there is a chance for one, you reduce the shock factor. You should also have an open dialogue regarding the move. Listening to your kids' questions and complaints about the move may be the last thing you want to do as you prepare, but try to be patient. The more you talk with them about it, the easier it will be on everyone involved.
Prepare them
Military transfer can happen relatively quickly, so you may not have much time to prepare your children for the move. If you have time, give them a taste of where they will be living. Show them pictures of the new base and the new city online and discuss things to do in the area. Try to give them enough time to say goodbye to their friends and make a few last-minute memories in their favorite hangouts. If you are moving to a foreign country, help them learn and practice the language as much as possible beforehand so they do not feel isolated upon arrival.
Support them
Remember that your kids are leaving behind the familiar, and they do not have a choice about it. If they seem angry or rebel against the move, respond with understanding. This can be difficult during a stressful move, but letting your children know that their feelings are valid can help them accept it easier. Military Youth on the Move is a helpful website that offers more advice and activities to help your children come to terms with relocation.
Put them first
You may have the urge to get rid of a lot of items before your move, but if possible, try to avoid getting rid of a bunch of your children's items. This can add to the sense of loss they are experiencing. Additionally, when you get to your new location, set up your kids' rooms before the other nonessential rooms in the house. This way they begin to feel at home in their new environment quicker. If they want to explore the new base, go with them and help them feel out their new setting. Even if you are still tired and stressed from the move, understand that your child has just experienced the same thing. Help them find ways to implement their old routines into their new life.
Moving is difficult for any family, but military families experience these stresses more often than most. Follow the advice above to help make these frequent moves easier on the children in your family.
During their service, military men and women develop skills that make them advantageous hires for any business. Their training crafts them into responsible people with qualities that set them apart from other candidates. Outlined below are some examples of those highly marketable skills.
1. Leadership
From day one, military personnel are trained to be leaders. They learn how to effectively communicate orders and delegate responsibility. Their leadership has often been tested in some of the toughest environments. If your business could use a management boost, consider hiring a veteran. They know how to lead a team to success.
2. Integrity
This quality is one that is innate to most veterans. It is part of what leads them to sign up to serve their country. Former servicemembers are not afraid of hard work, and they often hold themselves to a higher standard of conduct than others.
3. Teamwork
If anyone knows how to work efficiently on a team, it is a veteran. They understand hierarchy and when to allow someone else to take control. They are also trained to feel responsible for the other members of their team, so they can be counted on to promote group success.
4. Versatile
In combat, veterans were regularly faced with difficult situations that could quickly change. Life in the service, especially in battle, is rarely predictable. Veterans are equipped to handle uncertainties, and they are always prepared to make decisions quickly.
5. Efficient
You do not make it far in the military if you do not learn to be efficient. Drill training and combat preparedness teach servicemembers how to complete tasks quickly, sometimes under a large amount of stress. Tight schedules and tough deadlines are challenges that most veterans can overcome with relative ease.
6. Crisis management
The dangers of combat are very real, but military members are trained to handle any situation that may arise. This translates well to the workplace where issues like cyberattacks and budgetary problems can arise at any time. Veterans have the readiness and cool-headedness to deal with crises as they come.
7. Fast learners
Servicemembers must be able to learn quickly on the job. It is a matter of survival in combat. This skill comes in handy in a corporate setting where things may have to change regularly with the market. Veterans have proven capabilities to pick up new skills and procedures.
8. Structured
If you hire a veteran, do not expect him or her to show up to work late or leave his or her workspace messy. From the day veterans begin service, they are trained to follow regimens and taught strict organizational skills. Veterans will likely develop a productive schedule and stick to it.
9. Intuition
Some believe that this skill cannot be taught, but the military teaches its recruits to trust their gut instinct. Veterans have experience with intuition, which can make them advantageous players in careers where a lot of variables are at play.
Training and combat develop veterans into some of the workforce's most valuable employees. Former military servicemembers have the potential to be great assets for any company given the chance.