-
Valour-IT
Resources
-
Categories
- 5 questions
- Basic Training
- Blue Star Moms
- Care Packages
- deployment
- Gold Star Mom
- Honor Their Service
- Household6
- LAW
- Mamaw
- Military News
- Military Parents
- Military Resource
- National Guard Parents
- Note from Admin
- One Army Mama Bear
- One of our own
- Parents News
- Proud Mom 3
- Retroactive Stop Loss Pay Program
- Rules & Regulations
- SemperFi Wife
- Some Soldier's Mom
- Survey
- This & That
- Veterans
- Wounded Warrior
Recent Posts
Have you taken our survey?
Links
The Bonds That Tie
Over at PBS.org I have written a post about the meaningful bonds that are forged during military service… among soldiers… among wives… among parents…
Throughout the course of our lifetimes, we make and break bonds with people. Some bonds are formed in friendship: schoolmates, neighbors, fellow workers. I have close friends from each of those groups. I maintain, however, that the bonds forged in military service are perhaps the strongest of all bonds. Stronger than steel. Stronger than adversity. Stronger than time.
We all know the story of veterans sittin’ around and one says, “No shit!! There I was…” followed by a story of improbability or hilarity, typically punctuated with profanity, irreverent phrases and sordid images. It will end with much backslapping and hearty handshakes. The circle might contain members of a single unit or a single war, or it might contain an assortment of veterans from many of this nation’s conflicts. But they are bonded and tied to each other by the commonality of their service. Some are bonded by the mettle and the blood of battle. You need look no further than the Illiad or the St. Crispen’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V for evidence of the emotional connection these men share.[snip]
Some of my closest friends today are people I didn’t know before my son deployed. We met via military blogs (including my own) and private online Internet forums established by parents of soldiers — one by a Third Infantry Division parent, another established by military moms for military moms. These were places to share information, to share worry, to celebrate good news and to commiserate when the news was bad. These were places that let us share this bond, hammered and shaped by our worry for our sons and daughters. These relationships are equal parts ethereal and practical; as much emotional as they are physical. It involves both the spiritual and the material worlds — prayers and novena candles as well as care packages and cookie recipes. It is an inclusive sisterhood for which we did not volunteer, but in which we are now forever members.
You can read it all at PBS/POV: Conversations on Coming Home
Thanks for coming back to visit! If you would like to write for Parents Zone - please let LAW or TechMama know!
PBS/Point of View: Regarding War
A few weeks back, PBS re-launched its Regarding War site and invited a number of bloggers to blog on experiences of reintegration of soldiers to the civilian world. I am fortunate to be one of the bloggers. In my third post (and in the fourth next week) I am addressing some misconceptions on PTSD (next week on some resources).
PTSD looks to be the diagnosis of the decade. Seems everyone has it, or wants to claim it. In the 80s the diagnosis was ADHD… In the 90s, was it narcissism? And now, PTSD: apparently you can get it soon after watching a movie, or years after some bad act. It’s all the rage in the news, and a convenient excuse for bad behavior. Even if someone has never personally experienced the trauma, it seems like they only have to hear about someone else’s trauma, and POOF — they have PTSD! Worse still are those who point to combat stress as proof that service members are the victims of some nefarious plot. If you believe the media and some politicians, every bad act by someone who happens to be a veteran is the result of some neglect or refusal to identify and treat this condition.
Welcome Back Veterans Video Thanks
http://www.welcomebackveterans.org/thanks
Hope you can take a second to take a look and join the movement.
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay
What is it?
Soldiers, veterans and survivors of those whose service was involuntarily extended under Stop Loss between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2008 can apply to receive $500 for every month, or portion of a month, they served under Stop Loss. The 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act established and largely funded the payment for all military services, but dictated that each service process and pay their own applicants. The Army estimates that 136,000 of the approximately 174,000 eligible servicemembers served in the Army.
What has the Army done?
The Army has created an application process for active-and-reserve component Soldiers, veterans, and survivors of Soldiers to process claims for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay. By law, the Army can only accept claims between October 21, 2009 and October 21, 2010. Eligible candidates must submit their request within this time frame, or the Army will not be able to process their request. The Army has set up an email address to field questions people have regarding the benefit.
How can people apply?
Candidates for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay must submit a claim at Retroactive Stop Loss Web site . This Web site is the preferred method for submitting applications; however, other means for doing so, such as by mail or fax, will be available to those without access to computers. Additional communications will provide instructions for alternative forms of submission. During the application process, candidates will be asked to show documentation that indicates the time they served under Stop Loss. The necessary documentation, depending on their type of service, includes the following:
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
The Army will review, process and pay qualified candidates as they submit their applications at Retroactive Stop Loss Web site. Candidates who meet the criteria and show the required documentation will receive their retroactive payment in a one lump sum. The Army will not accept applications submitted after October 21, 2010.
Resources: Retroactive Stop Loss Web site
Blog World – MilBlogs
Well, I love a challenge and now have quite a large one on my plate. It seems that the folks at Blog World & New Media Expo (Las Vegas, NV Oct. 15-17, 2009) think we can get 200 people to the milblog track, and is willing to back that with up to 200 free memberships!! He has challenged me to get the word out to as many military members (current and veteran), milbloggers, milblog readers, military supporters, and others as possible, particularly in the California, Arizona, Nevada region.
Do it. It’s a great experience!!
Soldiers Have Parents??
New to the Army? Help Keep Your Parents in the Loop
If you’ve just joined the Army and your parents aren’t familiar with military life, keep them in the loop with these materials:
The information under “When Your Son or Daughter…” is pretty basic (it’s a starting point), but you should also seek out additional information from sites specific to the military installation/branch of service where your child is undergoing training.
As the parent of a soldier, you should become familiar with some of the other resource information contained on other Army and Dept. of Defense sites for future reference… such as the Army Well-Being site and the Military Homefront page.
I’d really like the Army and the other services to produce content specific to parents (or non-spousal family) with the idea that these people are usually remote (away) from their soldier’s military installation and typically have no idea how to contact the installation or chain of command (or even who that might be) in an emergency… or what resources are available to their soldier/sailor/marine/airman/coastie or to the family member (be that a parent, aunt, uncle, sister or brother…) when faced with serious issues involving their child (for example, post-deployment issues). (And, yes, I know that there are those who actually joined the military to AVOID their parents… but every soldier has a next-of-kin somewhere — that are not “in the loop” but should be!)
I did also find some parent-related information for the other services (some official, some unofficial):
for Parents of Marines
A Parent’s Guide to the Marine Corps
USMC – Recruit Training
Marine Parents.com
For Navy Parents
Navy for Moms
Navy Dads
For Air Force Parents
Parents of the Enlisted
For Coast Guard Parents (nice job CG!!) For National Guard Families General informational links for all branches, Guard and Reserves at Today’s Military and Military.com I know a bunch of “will-be-daddy” guys and some soon-to-be-moms who will welcome this news!! What is it? The Army’s new paternity leave policy gives fathers additional time to be with their families when a new child is born. The policy, which was signed into law under President George W. Bush on Oct. 14, grants married Soldiers up to 10 consecutive days of non-chargeable administrative leave after the birth of a child. Paternity leave must be taken within 45 days of the child’s birth; deployed Soldiers must take the leave within 60 days after returning from deployment. Leave not taken within the established time frame will be lost. Single Soldiers who father a child out-of-wedlock are not eligible for paternity leave. What has the Army done? The Army recognizes the importance of families being together during significant events such as the birth of a child. It has developed a flexible paternity leave policy that allows male Soldiers to support their spouses during the joyous, but possibly stressful, time of adjustment following the arrival of a new family member. It also provides Soldiers returning from deployments uninterrupted time with their child to begin building bonds that will last a lifetime. The policy allows Soldiers who have taken annual leave in connection with the birth of a child since October 2008 to request up to 10 days of leave be restored/re-credited to their leave account. Soldiers must provide documentation to support their claim (e.g., DA Form 31 or LES) and submit it through the unit S1 or Personnel Administrative Center.
My question is, “Does this apply to adoptions as well?? (It should!) Stacy and I talk regularly and I am in touch with a number of other milmoms and milspouses via email… and while I have most definitely “been there, and absolutely done that“, I am not “there” this time as I have no relations deploying this year. I am not discounting the Navy son’s current at-sea deployment… but he’s not boots on the ground and neither he nor we will worry whether the contracted and meagerly-paid Ugandans providing security have been adequately trained and armed, nor will we worry whether our son will have hot meals, safe showers, or whether he will have to duck for cover. Nor will we worry whether his combat or security operation has all the requisite Iraqi approvals. (As if just serving in a combat zone were not worry enough!!) Of course, we and our daughter-in-law and their daughters miss our son (and he, us and them) while he is deployed; and, of course, we worry because being on a large Navy ship has its dangers and perils. But this time — with these deployments — I feel on the outside looking in. Yes, my heart speeds up when I think about Stacy’s son Michael going again (he was last deployed when Noah was in Iraq) and when I think about Melinda’s DH; and yes, I am often misty-eyed trying to find the right words of encouragement and solace for my close personal friends as well as for any number of moms and parents who email. My heart especially hurts for Melinda’s daughters who must do without their Dad’s loving arms and whispered encouragements and who cannot fully understand their father’s Mission and commitment to it. I am saddened that Kristy will miss out on this most precious first year of marriage and I pray that this deployment will serve to strengthen their bond for all the years to come. Make no mistake: talking to Stacy and thinking of Kristy and Melinda brings back every twinge, palpitation, caught breath and skipped heartbeat. While all of us who have experienced the part of being HERE while they are THERE like to fool ourselves that we have buried and dealt with those emotions, they are never far away; the waves of fear and the tingling of tears are much closer to the surface than we care to admit, and they rush up and smack us and consume us with the least bit of prodding. But.it.is.not.the.same. I will most definitely be there for Stacy, Kristy, Melinda, M1 and M2 and their Guys just as they were there for me and My Guys. And I ask each of you to re-commit yourselves to taking REAL efforts to support our Troops and let them know that we have not forgotten them. You can start by stopping by Stacy’s and Melinda’s blogs and letting them know that they and their soldiers are in your thoughts and prayers… and then GO HERE. You can make a difference. x-posted at Some Soldier’s Mom So let’s all support Homes for Our Troops… every little bit helps! x-posted at Some Soldier’s MomHELP OUR HEROES
the newest addition to that list is a new and worthwhile NON-PARTISAN organization to advocate on behalf of veterans of ALL wars and all peace time service as well as for those who still serve — the WARRIOR LEGACY FOUNDATION. For information on the necessity and mission of WLF, read Blackfive’s post HERE. You need not be a veteran to join — just someone who wishes to honor those who serve and those that have served. Membership is free, although donations are welcome.
HELP OUR HEROES
Adopt a Sniper
ARMY PATERNITY LEAVE
Paternity Leave
Outside Looking In
my twin sister and I and our friends went to the DD in Wheeling, IL and had 2 long johns and coffee before school EVERY DAY! and sometimes on the weekends as well!
