Family Readiness

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Homecoming

The day your service member returns from a deployment is one of the most anticipated events in your relationship and the life of your family. You probably want it to be perfect for your loved one. No matter how much you plan and how great your intentions are, it’s not...
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5 Things Nobody Tells You About Deployment

My husband just returned from his second deployment as a Soldier; it was his third total, since he did one as a Marine prior to a stint as a civilian which led to the Army. It was my first. As the year progressed, I realized how many things I wished...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 3: Grave Markers

Read Part 1 of the Final Arrangements series here, and Part 2 here. Marker Types and Materials The VA will provide each deceased veteran with an upright grave marker in granite or marble, or a flat grave marker in granite, marble, or bronze. Upright grave markers are two-to-three-inch thick slabs...
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What I Love about Army Life

Being an Army wife has been a difficult and humbling experience for me. Seven years ago this November we became an Army family and it hasn’t been what I thought it would be. We have had our ups and downs. Deployments and frustrations. There are however a few things I...
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Care Packages, Part 2: How to Send Them

Now that we’ve covered What To Send in a Care Package in Part 1, today in Part 2 we explain HOW to send it. Without a doubt the best way to go is USPS. They have priority flat-rate boxes (pictured) made specifically for those who are sending mail to APOs...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 4: Cemetery Options

You can read Part 1 of the Veterans Guide to Final Arrangements here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. National Cemeteries Any veteran who meets the eligibility criteria may be buried in a National Cemetery. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 131 National Cemeteries in thirty-nine states (and Puerto...
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Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 2: Memorial Items

In addition to burial allowances, grave markers, and veterans’ cemetery interments, the families of deceased veterans are also eligible for a couple of memorial keepsake items: a burial flag and a memorial certificate signed by the President of the United States. (Read part 1 of the Final Arrangements series here)...
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Personal Responsibility and Health, in the Military and Beyond

I learned a great life lesson from my First Sergeant during our train up for Afghanistan in 2008. We were at Fort Bragg at FOB Patriot with many on the team getting sick from the 18 hours a day, 7 days a week pace accented by the wearing of body...
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Disaster Readiness for Military Families

No matter where you live, you live with the possibility of some type of natural disaster – a blizzard, an earthquake, a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or a wildfire – or man-made disaster – a blackout, a nuclear or chemical plant incident, a pandemic, or a terrorist attack. These...
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The Pat Tillman Foundation now accepting applications for the 2021 Class of Tillman Scholars through February 28, 2021

The Pat Tillman Foundation seeks to unite and empower remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Founded in 2008, the Tillman Scholars program supports our nation’s active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses by investing in academic...
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