1

Military

Child

Education

Coalition

8

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

What can Military OneSource do for you?

For details, check out page 7.

Family

Assistance

Centers

Map

18

1ST BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM

SOLDIER & FAMILY TOOLKIT

Volume 12

March 2013

Free Tax

Prep and

Tips

4 The intent of this toolkit is to provide you with available events, deals, resources, and important information. Please take a few minutes to glance

at these resources and visit a few sites!

Beyond

the Yellow

Ribbon

Events

3

The mission at Defending The Blue Line (DTBL) is ensuring that children

of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the

game of hockey. They accomplish this by providing free equipment for

military kids, hockey camps, special events, and financial assistance for

registration fees and other costs associated with hockey. For more info:

http:www.defendingtheblueline.org/

2

HOME FRONT EVENTS AND DEALS……………………………………………………………….....3

TAXES.........................................................…………………………………….……………………..4

GUARD RETIREMENT PAY……………………………………………………………………………..5

WHAT CAN MILITARY ONESOURCE DO FOR YOU?.................................................................7

MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION………………………………………………………….8

DEPLOYMENT RESOURCES……………………………………………………………..………….....9

VACATIONS & RETREATS………….………………………………………………………..………..10

ARMY / NATIONAL GUARD…………………………………………………………………………11

CARE PACKAGES / MAIL…………………………………………...…………….………………....11

CHAPLAINS...............................................................................................................................11

CHILDREN………………………………………………………...…………………………………....11

COMMUNICATION…………………………………………………..……………………………....12

COUNSELING SERVICES………………………………………………………...……………….…..12

COUNSELING / ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR……………………………………….……………….…..13

CULTURAL RESOURCES…………………………………………………...……………………….…13

DEPLOYMENT……………………………………………………………...…………………….….....13

EDUCATION……………………………………………………………………………………………14

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE……………………………………………………….…………………14

FAMILY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE…...……………………………………………..……………14

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CREDIT RESOURCES……………………………………………..15

HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH…………………………………………………………………………..15

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE……………………………………………………………………………….16

LEGAL ASSISTANCE / ISSUES………………………………………………………………...……...16

MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS…………………………………………………………………..16

MORTGAGE OR RENT ASSISTANCE………………………………………………………………..16

PARENTS OF SOLDIERS……………………………………………………………………………….16

PET CARE…………………………………………………………………………………………….…17

SPOUSES & SIGNIFICANT OTHERS…………………………………………………………...….….17

STRESS MANAGEMENT……………………………………………………………………………….17

SUICIDE PREVENTION……………………………………………………………………………...…17

MISCELLANEOUS ……………………………………………………………………………………..17

FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER MAP………………………………………………………………...18

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3

www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org

HOME FRONT EVENTS & DEALS

Check out the Beyond the

Yellow Ribbon website and

sign up for exclusive email

updates on monthly local

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

events and deals.

Military Discount to see the Minnesota Wild

When: March 12, 7 p.m.

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul

About: Lower level tickets offered for $45. Follow the link

and use your military email address to qualify. More Info:

Website

Contact: Lindsay Weier at 651-312-3495 for groups of eight

or more

Purple Up! for Military Kids

When: April 13, 2013

Where: Nation Wide

More info: April marks the nation’s “Month of the Military

Child”, a time to honor youth impacted by deployment. Op-

eration: Military Kids (OMK) is encouraging everyone across

the country to wear purple on Friday, April 13 to show sup-

port and thank military children for their strength and sacri-

fices. Take this opportunity to appreciate and celebrate these

young heroes. For a flyer with more information and ways

you can help promote Purple Up!, visit

www.operationmilitarykids.org, then click on “State Infor-

mation”, “Minnesota”, and “News”.

Outward Bound Voyageur - Orienteering Race When: April 13, 2013

Where: Not specified

More info: Flyer, or call the Brooklyn Park Vet Center at 763

-503-2220

Outward Bound Voyageur - Hiking at Afton State Park When: May 11, 2013

Where: Not specified

More info: Flyer, or call the Brooklyn Park Vet Center at 763

-503-2220

Outward Bound Voyageur - Winter Weekend When: March 1-3, 2013

Where: Baker Regional Park

More info: Flyer, or call the Brooklyn Park Vet

Center at 763-503-2220

Outward Bound Voyageur - Indoor Climbing

and High Ropes Course When: March 9, 2013

Where: Not specified

More info: Flyer, or call the Brooklyn Park Vet

Center at 763-503-2220

Get Notice-And get Hired

When: March 5, 2013 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Rasmussen College, Bloomington

About: Get tips from recruiting professionals at

Volt's free Lunch & Learn event for Service

members and their spouses. Representatives are

currently recruiting positions in light industry/

warehouse, accounting/finance,

call center/customer service and IT/engineering.

More Information: Website

Joint Women's Leadership Symposium When: March 10-12, 2013

Where: Gaylord National Hotel & Convention

Center, Washington, D.C.

About: Largest gathering of women in uniform in

the world highlighting professional development,

networking and mentoring opportunities.

More Info: Website

4

5

GUARD RETIREMENT PAY Retirement Planning for Guard members can be very confusing. The goal of this article is to

help families understand the basics of the Guard retirement system and how to plan for retire-

ment. Because there are so many unique circumstances surrounding each soldier’s military ser-

vice, it is important to consult with a retirement counselor at your unit.

Guard soldiers that enlisted after September 8th,

1980 use the retirement plan known as “High

36” and requires a soldier to be in the military

for twenty years. They will receive their retire-

ment pay at age 60, but some may qualify to start

earlier. The pay system is based on a point

scale with one point for every day of active duty

and two points for every full day of drill.

The High 36 plan takes the average pay of a sol-

dier’s highest 36 months of Basic Pay times

2.5% for each year of service (total points

earned/360). SSG Snuffy’s total points equal six

years (2160 points/360). His highest 36 months

will be at the rate of E7 with an average monthly

pay of $4,274 using the 2012 pay scale. 15% of

$4,274 equals $641. Using a 2023 pay scale*,

SSG Snuffy’s pay would be $994. If he decides

to join the Retried Reserve when he retires in-

stead of taking a discharge, he will earn longev-

ity credit for the time he serves. If he stays in

the RR until age 60, he will get paid at the 2043

pay scale* of $2,209 a month.

*These figures use an average of a 4% annual increase, which is consistent with historical figures and inflation.

SSG Snuffy joined in 2000. He plans to

retire in 2023 as an E7 with 22.5 years of

service, with his last five years being an

E7. Here is an estimate of his points.

Being a Guard Member: 15 points

Basic & AIT (180 days): 180 points

Two deployments

(365 points each): 730 points

Twenty years of drill

(35 points per year): 700 points

Twenty years of AT

14 points per year): 280 points

Schools and Active

Duty Assignments 255 points

Total 2160 points

Save early

and often

in your

Thrift

Savings

Plan

6

HOW MUCH SHOULD I SAVE FOR

RETIREMENT?

There are lots of handy online calculators available to help with this question. A good one

takes into account the five “I’s”.

Income- The first step to answering this question is

to determine how much money you will need to

live on in today’s dollars. Keep in mind that for

some families this number may be higher or lower

than what it is today. An additional consideration

is housing. If a couple plans to live in a paid-for

house, their housing expenses may be lower than a

couple that plans to rent an apartment.

Return on Investment- A return on investment is

the amount of money an investment makes in a

year. This can be represented several different

ways. A piece of rental real estate could bring in

$12,000 a year after expenses. A mutual fund

could have an 8% rate of return.

Inflation– This is the measurement of the increase

in cost of goods. For example, it may cost $2.10

next year to buy a loaf of bread that costs $2 today.

This would be 5% inflation. Some streams of re-

tirement income may adjust with inflation, others

will need to be manually adjusted. A mutual

fund’s rate of return could be 12%, but if inflation

is 4%, the adjusted rate of return for retirement

calculation purposes could be 8%. Military pay and real estate are historically tied to inflation

Insurance- One way to reduce the amount of some of the large possible expenses during retire-

ment is to have insurance. The purpose of insurance is to transfer the financial risk of a major

event. Common types are medical, home, renters’, and auto. Long Term Care Insurance pro-

tects the family nest egg in case someone needs long term care. Health Insurance helps transfer

the financial risk of major medical events.

Inheritance- As part of the retirement planning process, families need to decide whether they

plan to spend down their nest egg or pass it along to someone else. If they plan to pass it along,

they will need to make sure their living expenses are less than their returns on investments. It is

also very important to meet with an estate planning attorney to put together an estate plan. The

cost of mistakes made by not consulting an attorney can easily be in the tens and hundreds of

thousands of dollars.

SSG Snuffy and his wife plan to retire

in their paid-for house when they turn

70. They estimate that they will need

about $2,000 a month in addition to

SSG Snuffy’s Guard retirement pay to

live off of in today’s dollars. They

would like to save their nest egg for

their grandkids. That means that they

will need a $24,000 annual return on

their investments after inflation in to-

day’s dollars in order to retire. If they

had an 8% rate of return on their sav-

ings they would need to have a $300,000

nest egg in today’s dollars. If inflation

averages 3%, they will need to have

$995,000.

If SSG Snuffy started saving $100 a

month at age 20, he would have

$800,000 at 8%, 1.75 million at 10%,

and 4 million at 12%.

7

Real help, Anytime, Anywhere 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week

Services are private and provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to you.

CONSULTATION, RESEARCH and REFERRALS: Relocating to a new com-munity, need child care, spouse employ-ment, help with home repairs, or have a special needs issue? Call or email a Master’s-level consultant today! No question too small. No issue too big.

INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLA-TION: In more than 140 languages. Writ-ten documents can be translated and inter-preters can facilitate three-way phone calls to ensure communication between you and a third party.

COUNSELING: You have access to six in-person non-medical counseling sessions right in your own community at no cost to you. Licensed counselors can help with is-sues such as:

• Coping with deployment and return

• Adjusting to your new location

• Marital and couples concerns

• Parenting and family matters

• Grief and loss

• Combat stress and more…

You will get a privacy statement ex-plaining the limits on confidentiality when you call the service and see a counselor. Counseling is only available in the United States.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: Whether you’re a new parent, dealing with relation-ship issues, or buying your first car, Mili-tary OneSource has booklets, CDs and au-diotapes to help. Order your free copies online or by phone.

INTERACTIVE WEB SITE: You’ll find locators for education, child care, and elder care; informative articles; referrals to mili-tary and community resources; financial calculators; Webinars; relocation tools; au-dio podcasts; access to consultants; and much more!

Military OneSource is available for all ac-tive-duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status), and their families.

www.militaryonesource.com

Stateside: 1-800-342-9647

En español llame al 1-877-888-0727

TTY/TDD accessible 1-866-607-6794

Overseas: access code,*800-3429-6477

*Use access code before dialing the toll free number.

Access codes can be found online.

Collect from outside the US: 484-530-5908

Dial the international operator first

What can Military OneSource

do for you?

8

9

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for Children (PDF) www.cfs.purdue.edu/MFRI/resources/public/book_resources_for_children.pdf

Recommendations for Teens and Young Adults (PDF) www.cfs.purdue.edu/MFRI/resources/public/book_resources_for_teens.pdf

Recommendations for Adults and Families (PDF) www.cfs.purdue.edu/MFRI/resources/public/book_resources_for_adults.pdf

Recommendations for Educators (PDF) www.cfs.purdue.edu/MFRI/resources/public/book_resources_for_educators.pdf

POST-DEPLOYMENT AND REINTEGRATION RESOURCES

After Deployment Wellness Resources: www.afterdeployment.org www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/coming_home_adjustments_for_military_families Military OneSource: www.militaryonesource.mil Becoming a Couple Again: The Courage to Care: www.usuhs.mil/psy/RFSMC.pdf Concerned Significant Others Article: www.afterdeployment.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/library/

eLibrary_COS.pdf Real Warriors, Real Battles: www.realwarriors.net/active/afterdeployment/familylife.php Operation Healthy Reunions: www.nmha.org/reunions/resources.cfm Department of Veterans Affairs: PTSD Center: www.ptsd.va.gov National Veterans Foundation: www.nvf.org Wounded Warrior Project: www.woundedwarriorproject.org Adapt Parenting Program, U of MN: www.cehd.umn.edu/fsos/adapt University of Minnesota Extension- Parenting Education Resource: www.extension.umn.edu/FamilyRelations/components/militaryfamilies.html Homefront and Deployed Parent: Reunion Checklists: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING COMBAT STRESS, PTSD OR OTHER STRESS RELATED ISSUES: Take your stress related symptoms seriously and contact your: Chain of Command - Team leaders, squad leaders, platoon sergeants/leaders, first sergeants,

company/battalion/brigade commanders, command sergeants major Chaplains – Battalion or Brigade Chaplains or local place of worship Fellow Soldiers - Talk to your friends about your feelings. Oftentimes they are a reality check Military Family Life Consultants Military One Source Call 1-800-342-9647, or visit the Web site TRICARE Counseling - Spouses can go for free. Service members can often share a family

member's appointment for marriage counseling Veterans Administration - or Veterans Centers. Army Substance Abuse Program - Especially helpful if the Soldier or family member has a

problem with alcohol or drugs Primary Care Managers - Many family practice physicians, physician assistants and nurse prac-

titioners are quite comfortable treating depression and sleep problems

Community Mental Health Service - They usually have at least one psychiatrist and a variable number of psychologists and social workers on staff as well as behavioral health technicians

DEPLOYMENT RESOURCES WWW.MNVETERANSCOALITION.COM

10

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL VACATION DISCOUNTS www.afvclub.com

LOCAL MINNESOTA SUMMER R&R:

Free & Reduced Stays at Leech Lake Resort: www.andersonsleech-lake.com 15% military discount to all cur-rent Servicemembers and up to a free week stay for all Service-members within a year of their return from deployment overseas. They offer fully equipped lake homes (whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, Cable TV, wireless internet, fully equipped kitchens) to daily planned children's activities to excellent fishing. See their website for more information.

Veterans on the Lake Resort: Where: 161 Fernberg Road, Ely, MN 55731 Toll free at 1-800-777 7538. http://www.veteransonthelakeresort.com/ A barrier-free full service resort for veterans and their families. In conjunction with the US Forest Service and the provisions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness, Enjoy lake view cabins in Northern Minnesota, inside the Superior National Forest area.

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

STRONG BONDS: COUPLE AND SINGLE SOLDIER RETREATS

The Minnesota National Guard Chaplain’s Office is offering you a truly outstanding program. Strong Bonds offers a fresh approach. It is basic and straightforward.

Strong Bonds begins with teaching effective communication skills, addresses problem resolution strategies that work, re-veals how to discover the hidden issues in every relationship, and then moves into caring, fun, and friendship.

In addition to the couples retreats the Single Soldier program is designed to help you establish relationship goals and gain essential skills to help you make a good choice prior to picking a partner for life.

11

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

ARMY / NATIONAL GUARD

www.minnesotanationalguard.com

www.theredbulls.net

www.defense.gov

www.armyonesource.com

www.militaryonesource.mil

www.jointservicessupport.org

CARE PACKAGES / MAIL

www.usps.com/shippingdates/welcome.htm

www.operationgratitude.com

CHAPLAINS 1/34 ABCT Chaplain: MAJ Buddy Winn

612-227-7825 philip.winn@us.army.mil

State Chaplain’s Office: SFC Hickory Smith

651-282-4287 hickory.p.smith.mil@mail.mil

CHILDREN

www.mdva.state.mn.us/child

www.mnchildcare.org

www.ausa.org/family

www.guardfamilyyouth.org

www.operationwearehere.com/Children.html

MN Military Teen Summit and Newsletter: www.btyr.org/teen-panel

Minnesota Parents Know: www.parentsknow.state.mn.us

After Deployment Adaptive Parenting Tools, U of MN, www.cehd.umn.edu/fsos/adapt

Military Kids Toolkit: www.militaryfamilly.org/publications/kids-toolkit

Military Child Education Coalition: www.militarychild.org

GRANTS TO HELP PAY FOR ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN OF DEPLOYED SOLDIERS

Website: www.OurMilitaryKids.org

$500 after school activity grant for youth ages 3 – 18 during a deployment. Our Military

Kids can also help fund scouting, driver’s education, camps, and more.

MILITARY & FAMILY LIFE CONSULTANT

Darlene Wetterstrom 651-212-0943 Provides assistance in a variety of areas, including guidance on reintegration with children following deployment.

Websites specific to Military Children and Families: www.militarychild.org www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

12

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS COMMUNICATION

www.skype.com

www.magicjack.com

www.google.com/voice

www.yahoomessenger.com

COUNSELING SERVICES

Military One Source: 1-800-342-9647 http://www.militaryonesource.com. Provides assistance to soldiers and their families facing a large variety of problems or needs; Provides 6 free counseling visits; Will refer if they cannot provide the assistance needed. MOS provides guidance and assistance with career, crisis, education, elder care, legal, mind, money, moving, parenting, recreation, relationships, special needs, transi-tion and more. Available 24 hours day, 7 days a week.

Veterans Linkage Line: 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838) www.minnesotaveteran.org

They will provide assistance connecting soldiers and families to necessary resources to obtain help with

crisis counseling, veteran’s benefits, healthcare, education, and reintegration. Available 24 hours day, 7

days a week.

VA OIF/OEF Program & Hotline: 612-467-3757 *Available 7am-5pm, Monday through Friday. Connects OIF/OEF Veterans with local resources. When calling the number, press 2 to be con-nected to crisis center.

VA Regional Office OIF/OEF Coordinator: Duane Kamp 612-970-5249 Provides assistance with VA Benefits - available Monday through Friday.

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Counseling and Family Resources of MN: 1.888.881.8261 www.lssmn.org

Director coordinating counselors for units around MN: Debra Schloer 612-879-5317 Available Monday through Friday and has a 24 hour crisis line. *Support for individuals and families, assistance for couples, and helps for children *Specialized Financial Counseling: Money problems can create other problems. LSS offers budget, debt management, and bankruptcy counseling so that people can regain control of their finances.

Catholic Charities of Minneapolis and St. Paul: 612-664-8500 Assist in a large variety of problems and needs, including counseling and financial support.

13

COUNSELING SERVICES CONTINUED…

MN Guard Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC): Call 24 hour line at 651-282-4078

Statewide Domestic Abuse Hotline at the House of Peace: 1-866-223-1111 Offers temporary shelter for women and children leaving domestic abuse situations. *Available 24/7.

COUNSELING / ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR

Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-437-8422 *Available 24 hours day, 7 days a week

Drug Information, Treatment and Referral Hotline: 1-800-662-4357 Provides support for people dealing with drug addictions. *Available 24 hours day, 7 days a week

National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-522-4700: www.ncpgambling.org Confidential hotline for people struggling with gambling, Helps connect people to resources to help them fight their gambling addiction. *Available 24 hours day, 7 days a week

CULTURAL RESOURCES

The World Fact Book: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Culture Gram: www.militaryonesource.mil

o Free access through the DoD MWR Library Tab on the side of page.

DEPLOYMENT

Focus on Family: Know Before you Go: www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0610_knowbefore

www.ausa.org/resources/familyprograms/Pages/default.aspx

www.operationwearehere.com/MilitaryLifeDeployment.html

www.afterdeployment.org

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

14

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

EDUCATION

Scholarship and programs: www.education4military.com

Spouse Career Center: www.militaryonesource.mil

Military Child Education Coalition: www.militarychild.org

Service Members Education/GI Bill: www.gibill.va.gov

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE Transition Assistance Advisor:

Provides assistance to soldiers seeking employment and help in accessing Veterans Affairs benefits and health care services such as TRICARE from active duty and when you return. They also as-sist with dental care programs, insurance information such as SGLI and TSGLI, rehabilitative care, and help with disability claims. Available Monday through Friday

Contact Vince Hokkanen: vincent.hokkanen@us.army.mil or 651-282-4234 Office: Cottage Grove Armory: 8180 Belden Blvd, Cottage Grove, MN 55016

Work Force Centers: www.positivelyminnesota.com/JobSeekers/WorkForce_Centers

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development:

www.positivelyminnesota.com

Family Medical Leave Act: www.dol.gov/whd/fmla

Jobs for Veterans Program: Career Counselor and Employment Specialist Lisa Nabbefeld: 612.752.8408 Provides assistance to soldiers seeking employment. *Available Monday through Friday

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR): www.esgr.org What: ESGR exists to maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing

outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflict through mediation. Their vision is to Develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees. Service members are encouraged to follow “best practices” to keeping their employers aware of their service commitments.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

State Specific Family Support:Minnesota Army National Guard State Family Programs Office:

651-268-8200. The MN Army National Guard has ten different Family Assistance Centers (FAC’s) located throughout the state. Call the FAC nearest to you for assistance or access to information regarding the many programs available to soldiers, family members, children and couples. *See FAC Map at the back of toolkit Military Family Care Initiative: www.militaryfamilies.state.mn.us Coordinates free assistance for MN soldiers and families in a variety of ways. Examples include: wood chopping, cleaning gutters, wedding or baby showers, handyman (minor home repairs) etc…

15

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CREDIT RESOURCES

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University: http://www.daveramsey.com/military/home or https://fpuonline.daveramsey.com

Military Debt Relief: (National) www.militarydebtrelief.org Provides direction for people with large credit card, school loan, tax, or other debt. List your debt types, estimate your total debt, and get a free quote to see how much you can save on monthly payments.

Potential Mortgage Relief (National): www.makingHomeAffordable.gov This is a website to help consumers find out if they are eligible to reduce their monthly mortgage payment as part of the "Making Home Affordable" program.

Free Credit Report: Go to http://ww.annualcreditreport.com By law, everyone is entitled to one free credit report a year.

Improve your Credit: http://www.optoutprescreen.com Sign up to be put on the national do not call list for credit and insurance solicitations. Signing up

can help raise your FICO score.

Energy Assistance Program: www.commerce.state.mn.us Get connected to the program in your area, call 1-800-657-3710

Minnesota Military Family Foundation: Leave a voicemail at 763-544-2255 or email info@minnesotamilitaryfamilyfoundation.org for help. Their mission is to seek funds to financially support deployed Minnesota military

HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH

TriCare: Military Health Care Program: www.tricare.mil

Telephonic Counseling 24/7 and other resources www.militaryonesource.mil

Military Pathways: Free Mental Health Screening: www.militarymentalhealth.org

Exceptional Family member Program: Special services for disabilities: www.armyonesource

Complimentary Health Care Services: www.nwhealth.edu Northwestern Health Sciences University and the Adler Graduate School have combined to pro-

vide a new complimentary health care service program available to all military personnel and their families. Chiropractic health care services, Oriental medicine, psychological therapy, fam-ily counseling, acupuncture, and massage therapy are available to all Servicemembers and their immediate family. Senior interns supervised by faculty clinicians provide services.

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

16

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

VA OIF/OEF Medical Outreach Coordinator: Dianne Peterson 612-467-5087

VA Medical Center Minneapolis: Troy Perdue troy.perdue@va.gov 612-467-1514

VA Medical Center St. Cloud: Mike Mynczywor (pronounced “minz-war”) 320-255-6480 ext. 6453

VA Medical Center Fargo: Deb Kunkel 701-232-3241 ext. 93787

VA Medical Center Sioux Falls: Elizabeth Flinn 605-335-3230 ext. 96983 LEGAL ASSISTANCE / ISSUES

Legal Assistance – ***Refer to your Family Assistance Center

www.minnesotanationalguard.org/soldiers_and_airmen/legal.php

ww.military.com/benefits/content/military-legal-matters

MN Assistance Council for Veterans will refer to legal aid: Metro area: 612-726-1327 Duluth: 218-722-8763 Mankato: 507-345-8258

MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS

Strong Bonds: Marriage Retreats: www.strongbonds.org

www.militaryonesource.com

www.5lovelanguages.com

MORTGAGE OR RENT ASSISTANCE

Rent or Mortgage Assistance - MN Assistance Council for Veterans: Website: www.mac-v.org or 612-726-1327 If you fear you may be unable to pay your rent or mortgage, call the MN Assistance Council for Veter-ans. They provide rental assistance and mortgage assistance for veterans in danger of becoming homeless. They cannot make backdated payments on mortgage or rent, so contact them as soon as you see a potential problem. They will also refer you for additional help you may need.

PARENTS OF SOLDIERS

www.bluestarmoms.org

www.operationwearehere.com/Parents.html

www.militaryfamily.org

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

17

PET CARE

www.netpets.org/militarypet/foster.php (recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense)

www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org

SPOUSES & SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

Spouses and Significant Others: www.militarysos.com

Military Spouse Magazine: www.milspouse.com

Military Wives and Women in Uniform: www.cinchouse.com

www.nationalmilitaryspousenetwork.org

www.armymwr.com/recleisure/promotions/spousesresources.aspx

www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

STRESS MANAGEMENT

www.hooah4health.com

www.militaryonesource.mil

www.defense.gov/specials/stressawareness SUICIDE PREVENTION

Suicide Prevention Lifeline (soldier specific): 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Provides the following support to anyone interested in suicide prevention, treatment, and service referrals ***Services are free and confidential.

- Dealing with suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness or extreme sadness - Concerned about a loved one who may be experiencing these feelings - Experiencing abuse or violence, Economic problems, Post-disaster needs, Homelessness issues, Substance abuse/addiction, Physical illness, Loneliness, Relationship problems, Family problems. The hotline is staffed by trained counselors and can refer to support services that can help you.

*Available 24 hours day, 7 days a week

MISC…

Firewood - Free Firewood for Families of Deployed Minnesota Service Members The Adjutant General for the State of Minnesota has authorized the availability of firewood from the Camp Ripley for families of all Minnesota Service Members that are currently deployed (including pre-deployment and post-deployment). Families are entitled to 2 full cords of wood per year. Contact Mrs. Tami Klucas from the Family Assistance Center at 320-616-3117. This is an ongoing offer.

ONGOING RESOURCES & DEALS

18