Family Readiness

4MCA.com / Operation Reach Out: Suicide Prevention App

3 Things You Should Know About the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act of 2009 (MSRRA) is now law. Unlike some laws (gravity, for instance), MSRRA is not necessarily very easy to understand. Hopefully most states have already gone through their “growing pains” in adapting to and adopting the MSRRA, but that does not mean there aren’t...
Read more...
Some Moms Wear Combat Boots

It’s hard to imagine that not so long ago it was mandated that any women who served in the Armed Forces would be immediately discharged upon the confirmation of pregnancy. In 1951, an Executive Order (EO 10240) signed by former president Harry S. Truman, clearly stated. “That any women...
Read more...
The Challenges Of Reintegrating: The Perspective Of A Wounded Warrior Wife

A guest article by Cherly Gansner, the wife of a severely injured veteran. Cherly founded WifeofaWoundedSoldier.com and is group leader on WoundedWarriorWives.org. My soldier and I had only been dating a mere six months when he deployed to Iraq the first time. We were very much in love and missed...
Read more...
Bumper Stickers and Opsec: Caution for Military Families

As military family members, most of us have been admonished about operational security (opsec in military-speak) countless times. We are told- though not nearly enough of us seem to remember- never to post anything online about our spouses’ flight times, arrival times, or destinations; or anything our spouses share with...
Read more...
Getting Involved on Post

When you move to a new duty station it can feel a little overwhelming and scary when it comes to meeting new people. It can also be a little lonely while you work on making new friends. I know for myself it has always taken a good six months before...
Read more...
A Soldier To His Son: “Keep Me In Your Heart, I’ll Stay There Forever”

Read more...
Five books to help Young Children Deal with Deployment

When my husband left for his last deployment our two older boys were only four and two years old. We tried to explain as best we could that Daddy was going away for a while, but at such young ages there was no real way they could grasp the concept...
Read more...
Parents of Servicemembers Share Experiences and Advice

Parenting comes with its own challenges, but being the parent of a service member is even more complex. A small group of parents shared what they faced, and advice they have for new military parents. CONCERNS Charles Henckler, USCG ret., and his wife had concerns about their daughter’s safety and...
Read more...
Never Leave a Pet Behind, Either!

At our new station, I met a lady with two gorgeous and sweet-tempered German shepherds. Both were assistance dogs, and when she told me about their background, she mentioned that both had been abandoned and rescued. “Who would ever abandon such beautiful, affectionate dogs?” I asked. She told me that...
Read more...
Which Benefits Are Available to LGB Military Families?

Gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been able to serve openly since September 20th, 2011, when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was officially revoked. However, due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal government is barred from recognizing same sex marriages – even if a couple...
Read more...