homefront magazine

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homefrontS O U T H E R N E D I T I O N

D E D I C AT E D T O M I L I TA R Y FA M I L I E S

INTERVIEW

JILL BIDEN SPEAKS ABOUT

THE DIFFICULTIES FOR SERVICE

MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

HOW-TO CARE PACKAGES

DAY IN THE LIFE: WEST POINT CADET

SPOTLIGHT ON THE DURHAM VA

DECONSTRUCTING THE GI BILL

A look at Michelle Obama and Jill Bidens

initiative encouraging Americans to support and honor their many military families

WOUNDED IN ACTION: VETERANS

FACE CHALLENGES WITH A BACK-

LOGGED VETERANS AFFAIRS SYSTEM

AND AN INEFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY

JOININGFORCES

T A K I N G A C T I O N T O S E R V E A M E R I C A S M I L I T A R Y F A M I L I E S

J O I N I N G F O R C E S . G O V

I Serve, Too.Even though they arent in the military, kids serve in many ways, often taking on new responsibilities when situations change in their families.

Learn how you can help families through ]VS\U[LLYPZTHK]VJHJ`HUKUHUJPHSZ\WWVY[WWW.M I L I TARY FAM I LY .ORG

According to Census data, there are currently more than 1.5 million active military members, with more than 20 million living veterans in the United States, many of whom have shared their inspiring and he-roic stories. But this number does not account for the many stories that are rarely shared the stories of their families.

Homefront magazine has one goal: to be a supportive voice for military families across the nation. We recognize this kind of magazine is vital for families, and we strive to provide information and answers to them beyond the official line they receive.

At Homefront, were sure about this everyone has a story that should be told. And each story is unique. We want to share the story of the mother, shaken by her daughters decision to enlist in the Army. The child, who has moved a dozen times due to his fathers job in the Marines. And the soldier, struggling to readjust to life at home after deployment.

All of these individuals are connected to one another in some way. Many of them have asked similar questions, confronted similar issues and overcome similar obstacles. Our objective is to unite these indi-viduals, no matter the distance or their place in life.

With every issue of our publication, we promise to provide answers, activities and stories, in hopes that we will enlighten, entertain and inspire each and every person in these special families.

Our mission is to serve not just the family members of those actively serving in the military, but also those left behind those on the homefront.

Sincerely,

Maggie Cagney Editor

Letter from the editorEDITORIAL STAFFMaggie Cagney, EditorChristina ClevelandRachel ColemanWill DoranJake KleinJonathan Larowe

DESIGN STAFFCatherine Sum, Art DirectorRachelle Branca, Asst. Art DirectorKevin Uhrmacher, iPad EditorMolly Sutherland Kaitlyn CookCece Pascual

PHOTOGRAPHYRebecca YanJulia WallCameron Robinson

SPECIAL THANKSLinda BrinsonTerence OliverDana McMahanSusan KingNicole YangKelly McHughSierra Piland

COVERU.S. Air Force Capt. Andy Rhodes, navigator for 9thSpecial Operations Squadron, hugs his wife, Tina, on EglinAir Force Base, Fla. afterreturning from deploymentin Iraq on Jan. 6, 2012.Photo by Airman 1st ClassChristopher Williams viawww.dvidshub.net

Table of contents

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE MILITARYThe dos and donts of sharing for family members on the homefront8

CARE PACKAGESWhat you can and cant send to your ser vice member10

INSIGHT: BOOKS AND MOVIESWe take a look at Siobhan Fallons You Know When the Men Are Gone and Listed Pictures Lifted

MILITARY CELEBRITIESFind out who was in the militar y before they became famous

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ASK UNCLE SAMHave questions? This month we answer some about militar y fit-ness, housing and education

OPERATION: GET FITLearn some militar y fitness tips and tricks

FINDING FUN WHILE AT THE FORTThings to do and see near some of Nor th Carolinas most popular bases

JILL BIDEN Q&AThe Second Lady talks about Joining Forces

PROFILE: MEREDITH BROWNSnapshots from the life of a Marine combat correspondent

JOINING FORCESFirst Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are encour-aging Americans to step up to suppor t and honor militar y families with their initiative

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THROUGH THEIR EYESFor militar y children, the world is their hometown

REINTEGRATIONReturning from deployment can often mean an unexpected readjustment period

WOUNDED IN ACTIONBrain injuries to troops are being noticed more than ever before

THE BENEFITS START HEREA look into the resources offered at the Durham VA

POSTCARDS FROM PARADISESer vice members choose some of their favorite travel experiences

LT. COL. MEGAN STALLINGSAn Army officer and mom tells us about her extensive career

A DAY IN THE LIFEA look at a West Point cadets militar y education

MILITARY MIDWIFECapt. Tiffany Johnsons experiences delivering babies

DECONSTRUCTING THE GI BILLHow veterans can make the most of their benefits

ELECTION 2012: POLITICIANS AND THE MILITARYSee what Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have to say on a number of militar y issues

THE ULTIMATE TESTTwo Army Reser ve families seek balance

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MilitarytheandmediasocialsocialSS

or military families, using the Internet to connect with

one another can lessen the anguish of being separated from a loved one. But because of its transparency, the Internet can be more harmful than it is helpful. Whether you are an active member of the military, a family member or a friend, it is important to use social media responsibly to protect the safety of our troops.

BY CHRISTINA CLEVELAND

Graphics by Rachelle Branca

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9JULY 2012 |

What Not To PostNever reveal specific, sensitive

information like schedules or loca-tions. For the safety of your fam-ily, do not post when or if you are going on a vacation, or if you will leave the house vacant. In addition, do not post gossip or anything derogatory. Try to ensure that you are using social media in a respectful manner.

The Armys handbook offers some examples of how to make potentially harmful posts safer:

My soldier is in XYZ in ABC camp in ABC, Afghanistan My soldier is deployed to Af-ghanistan

My soldier will be leaving Kuwait and heading to Iraq in 3 days My soldier deployed this week

My soldier will be coming back to ABC on XYZ day My soldier will be coming home this summer.

PrivacyMost social network profiles be-

gin as public. Change your profile settings to friends only, and never add a friend whom you dont know or havent met. Unknown friends could be potential threats or en-

emies of the troops. If you think you or your military

family member is being imperson-ated on Facebook, you can report or block this person at: facebook.

com/help On Twitter, report this account as

spam or visit:support.twitter.com/forums/imper-sonation

Photos and VideosFamily members should not tag

a location of where the troops are stationed or landing.

Troops should remember, espe-cially when they are deployed or deploying, to not give away loca-tion or specifics on their mission via their videos or photos. Avoid posting images that contain easily identifiable landmarks when the troops are there. For example, with deployed Navy ships, it is usually OK to post images after the ship has left a port, but not before or while its still there.

Remember anyone can see online images, so closely review each photo or video before uploading. Think twice about posting photos or videos that could be shocking, inflammatory or offensive.

Blogging In case you didnt know, there

are several official military blogs maintained by each branch. These blogs allow you to become part of an online community full of our troops and their families. Check out armylive.dodlive.mil and armystrongstories.com for some examples. There are also many unofficial blogs, run by active duty troops, veterans, family members, and friends, that are available to follow. For example, visit: truemilitarywivesconfessions.ning.com and navyformoms.com

tips tricks&

Helpful resourcesThe 2011 U.S. Army Social Media Handbook provides helpful social media tips for soldiers and their friends and families. Many of these basic tips can be useful when ap-plied to any military branch. Check out the handbook at: http://www.slideshare.net/USArmySocialMedia/army-social-media-handbook-2011

Dont forget!The U.S. Army says it is important that troops constantly update their families about operations security and what can and cannot be posted online. Many military branches will block troops from certain websites if social media are used carelessly.


The first step in putting together a care package is deciding, What do I pack?

Greg Vaughn, a Marine formerly stationed in southern Iraq, says, A good care package has a little bit of everything in it: food, supplies, entertainment. Being deployed can sometimes feel like being in prison. You miss your friends, your family, good food and good fun. If you can pack enough to make station feel like home for just a few days, youve done a good job.

Care PackagesNot many things brighten the day of our men and women in uniform more than

a carefully planned care package.

BY JAKE KLEIN

Graphics by Kaitlyn Cook

How-to:

11JULY 2012 |

This is an example of a customs form.

While you cant ship drinks overseas, Vaughn and other sources agree that troops love getting packets of powdered drink mixes, especially Gatorade and coffee.

In addition to food and drink, certain personal supplies that are difficult to come by while serving overseas can make our troops lives much easier. Vaughn says that hy-giene products and tobacco prod-ucts are passed around and help build camaraderie. Most infantry guys use chewing tobacco, and its really hard to come by when de-ployed, he says. The guys youre out there with are your brothers. If you have something they want or need, youre glad to give it to them.

Those who have sent and received care packages in the past also sug-gest sending some miscellaneous items.

Items that will give the recipient a laugh, such as a high bounce ball or some other kind of fun toy will often help lighten the mood. Stay away from large items, but small balls and items such as sock mon-keys are known to brighten up a

dull day.Once your package is ready to

go, the next step is to write down everything in the box before you seal it up. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection require that you record every item in the package before mailing it. Instead of using plain cardboard boxes, consider using United States Postal Service flat rate boxes.

As long as your items fit in the pre-paid box, the box ships no mat-ter what the weight.

You can pick these boxes up at the post office or order them online from www.usps.com, and the rates are similar for domestic and inter-national shipping.

Customs forms can be picked up at your local post office and should be filled out before you take your package to the post office. If the package is big, you might need more than one form.

Remember that packages need at least two weeks to arrive at their overseas destination, so plan ahead!

Vaughn's packingsuggestions

FOOD:

B e e f j e r k y Tr a i l m i x P r o t e i n b a r s H o t s a u c e S u n f l o w e r s e e d s Pe a n u t s S e a s o n i n g s a l t H a r d c a n d i e s H o m e m a d e c o o k i e s

PERSONAL: M a g a z i n e s E a r p l u g s L i p b a l m B a b y w i p e s S h a m p o o S o a p S h a v i n g l o t i o n B a t t e r i e s

If you would like to send a care package to a service member but dont have time to make one yourself, there are numerous organizations that will do it for you. Some organizations that are popular with military families include: Give2TheTroops www.give2thetroops.org AnySoldier www.anysoldier.com Operation Shoebox www.operationshoebox.com

If you would like to send a care package, but dont personally know a service member, the United Service Organizations operates Operation USO Care Package, which takes a $25 donation and sends a care package and your personal note to a randomly selected de-ployed service member. Visit their website at:

www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx

My son will be go-ing to boot camp in a few months. Is there anything he can do to prepare himself ?

Basic training varies for each branch of the mili-tary, but they all require one thing: motivation. A lack of motivation will guarantee him a spot at the bottom. He will need to be able to run and do certain strength training exercises such as push-ups before he leaves, as physical train-ing will start as soon as he arrives. He might want to practice going to bed and waking up earlier than he normally does. Recruiters will send him a list of what he can and cannot bring, so make sure he pays close attention to that list. He should bring extra socks, toothpaste and foot cream, because these are things he will be using frequently.

The military wants all of its personnel to receive the educa-tion they desire. Though it will take extra work, completing your degree while serving can be done. If you cannot physi-cally attend a university, taking online courses is a valuable option, and most universities offer them. Military members can also get credit for courses by passing online tests through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). If youre worried about money, the Tuition Assistance (TA), Federal Student Aid (FSA), and the GI Bill are all helpful in reduc-ing the cost of your education.

How difficult will it be for me to serve in the military and get my college degree at the same time?

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There are a number of factors that go into this decision how long hell be stationed there, if you have children, how much you receive in your basic allowance for housing (BAH) but there are some things you should ask yourself before making a decision. Should I live on base?If you have a family, living on base is a great option because its free, and you will most likely be part of a strong commu-nity atmosphere. However, base housing is often available by waitlist only, and its likely that your living quarters wont be as cozy as what you might be used to. Consider asking your-self how long youre capable of waiting for available housing, and if you can handle living less comfortably than usual.Should I rent?Similar to living on base, renting a house or apartment can be an inexpensive option. Living below your BAH earnings will also allow you the opportunity to save money to buy a house in the future, if that is what you are thinking about. Before you decide to rent, find out if you will receive any tax advantages by renting; if the local economy is weak; or if theres a chance that your military base may close due to Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). It is wise to look for a rental agreement that has a military clause allow-ing you to break your lease if you are reassigned.Should I buy a house?Buying a house is expensive, so make sure youve got a good idea of whether youll soon be moving again. Ask yourself if you have the money upfront to buy a house, if you could afford to manage your house as a rental in the future and if youre going to be living there for more than four years.

My husband was recently assigned to a new military base. Should we buy a house or live on base when we move there?

ASKUNCLE SAM

BY RACHEL COLEMAN


Supporting those who have sacrificed for us

Find out how you can help at operationhomefront.net

s the men of Fort Hood, a Texas Army base, are deployed to Iraq, we experience

another battleground a war at home, fought by the de-voted wives who are struggling to live without their husbands.

Siobhan Fallons book You Know When the Men Are Gone is a col-lection of loosely connected short stories of the spouses left behind, forced to manage life on their own.

Fallon, who is also a military spouse, vividly paints a profound image of the dramatic shift when the men leave home: The base shifted from a world dominated by camouflage uniforms to one of brightly colored baby carriages and diaper bags, Mommy & Me meet-ings at the First Cavalry Museum, women on pastel picnic blankets lounging on the parade field and sharing cinnamon rolls.

Although the book is fiction, many of the stories depict common issues military families are confront-ed with on the domestic frontline.

ABY MAGGIE CAGNEY

You Know When the Men Are Gone

This book is about wives, missing the lives they shared with their husbands, who are now many miles away. It is also about them as moth-ers, struggling to keep a relationship with their children, while also deal-ing with their personal battles.

Not only will the readers expe-rience the distance between the women of Fort Hood and their ab-sent husbands, but they will also see the detachment that occurs when the men return home the feeling of betrayal as a husband finds out that his wife has moved on without him; the feeling of anxiety, as one man tries to balance his job with his wifes recent cancer diagnosis; and the deep feeling of pain as a father misses his childs first words, first steps and first birthday.

Fallon depicts a vivid picture of a world many of us are not aware of but should be. This quick read is inspiring and motivational for mili-tary families. These short stories are not only about the pain of waiting, but they are also stories of bravery bravery on the homefront.

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The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldiers Education Craig M. Mullaney

Home FrontKristin Hannah

Dear John Nicholas Sparks

Shooting the MoonFrances ORoark Dowell

Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children Various Authors

BOOK PICKS

KIDS PICK

KIDS PICK

INSIGHT


TBY MAGGIE CAGNEY

sing. And indeed he does. The boy knows how to hold a beat, as a talented R&B singer. Henry sends his father his latest music, bring-ing the two together despite the many miles that separate them.

Although Henrys story is unique, it is also similar to that of many children of those in the armed forces. Its the story of finding a way to connect with a loved one while he or she is fight-ing overseas. Its also about finding inspiration in the little things in order to escape the pain of a diffi-cult world. Henrys mother be-comes desperate while her husband is away, and begins to use drugs again. Henry knows he can help his family by entering an Alabama singing contest, which has a $5,000 award. The drug content in Lifted may be inappropriate for younger viewers, but the story is an inspir-ing one for all ages. This little man with a huge heart learns how to take responsibility while his father is gone, facing conflicts not many of us come across in our adult life.

Lifted is a unique movie that military parents should watch with their children. Its a beautiful story of faith to raise your voice in a disconcerting world.

here are few movies that ac-curately depict how war can affect military families as a whole. We often encounter

how it affects the spouse, longing for the intimacy he or she shares with the missing partner. We have seen how it affects parents, worried for their childs safety while fight-ing overseas. But rarely do we see depictions of how war can affect children. And more often than not, it is the most difficult for children to grasp the meaning of war and the meaning of death.

The 2010 movie Lifted stars a young boy named Henry Matthews (Uriah Shelton), who finds faith in music, as the rest of his world seems to fall apart. His reservist father, William (Dash Mihok), has been called to active service for the Marines in Afghanistan. Henrys mother, Lisa (Nicki Aycox), is a recovering drug addict who fears that her husbands departure will cause her to relapse. When Wil-liam leaves for Afghanistan, he asks Henry to do one thing

Lifted

Photos courtesy of Listed Picture

A Walk in My Shoes John Kent Harrison

Act of ValorMike McCoy, Scott Waugh

We Were SoldiersRandall Wallace

Saving Private Ryan Steven Spielberg

JarheadSam Mendes

Army Wives (Lifetime TV)Katherine Fugate

MOVIE PICKS

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FAMILYOPTION

SERIESOPTION

15JULY 2012 |

JULIA CHILD ICE-T

BY WILL DORAN

Many celebrities and politicians like Audie Murphy, Dwight Eisenhower or Ernest Hemingway are famous for their mili-tary service in addi-tion to whatever they did after. But there are many more veterans whose service isnt as famous, from come-dians to rappers and even gourmet chefs.

Famousfacesin themilitary

Military connection: served four years in the Army Rangers

Famous for: bringing French cuisine to mainstream AmericaMilitary connection: was a member of the Office of Stra-tegic Services (precursor to the CIA); spent the war doing top-secret research and com-munications, including mak-ing a shark repellent to keep the animals from swimming into anti-submarine explosives

Famous for: his rap career and role as a detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Noted: said he was prepared for potential danger because of his previous experience in the Crips gang in south-cen-tral Los Angeles, telling The New York Times, I aint afraid of combatNoted: was rejected from the

special womens service groups for both the Army and Navy in World War II for being too tall (6 feet 2 inches)


17JULY 2012 |

JESSE VENTURA DREW CAREYBILL COSBY

Famous for: being governor of Minnesota, his professional wrestling career

Famous for: being the host of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and star of the aptly named The Drew Carey ShowMilitary connection: worked as a hospital corpsman for five

years in the Navy and ran on the Navy track team (despite being a victim of racial segregation)

Famous for: delivering ba-bies as Dr. Heathcliff Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show

Military connection: served as a frogman on a Navy Un-derwater Demolition Team (UDT) during the Vietnam War; after that, served in the Navy Reserve as part of SEAL Team OneNoted: said he would be interested in running as Ron Pauls vice presidential candi-date should Paul run as a third party candidate in the 2012 general election

Military connection: served six years in the Marine Corps ReserveNoted: is a die-hard fan of all Cleveland sports and is also a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer team

Noted: used his Navy track experience to win a track scholarship to Temple Univer-sity, where he studied physical education and played fullback on the football teamG

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OPERATION:

GET FIT

CORE STRENGTHWhats Required:For most branches, the average set to be competitive is about 100 sit-ups in two minutes. Where to start:If you dont have someone to hold your feet down, try hooking them un-der a bed, couch or other heavy object that wont move while exercising.

UPPER-BODYSTRENGTHWhats Required:Push-ups and pull-ups are the meat and potatoes of these workouts. Some branches stress this muscle group more than others, but all want a lot. Where to start:A recommended training exercise is to be able to do 100 push-ups in two minutes, as well as 100 pull-ups spaced over several repetitions of about 15 or 20 each time, with a short rest in between.

SWIM EXERCISEALTERNATIVES

We here at Homefront have kindly combed the fitness requirements for each branchs special forces. And while we cant always help with the emotional and psychological fortitude these roles require, we can at least help you get a better idea of the physical training they meet and exceed for their jobs.

HIKINGWhats Required:Each branch requires you to com-plete a long hike with a heavy pack. Where to start:If you enjoy backpacking, this should be no trouble, but if you dont have experience or motiva-tion, buying a hiking pack and weights for it might be a little expensive.

RUNNINGWhats Required:You should be able to run at a 5 or 6-minute mile pace for 2 or 3-mile runs, and a 7 or 8-minute pace for 5-mile runs. Where to start:Try running just one mile a day for a week at that pace. During the second week, run two miles at that pace every day, and then keep mov-ing up.

SWIMMINGWhats Required:Each branch requires you to swim at least several hundred yards in full uniform.Where to start:You can do that at home by swim-ming in the clothes you own or normally wear. Or, swim 1,000 yards (in a bathing suit) in 22 or 24 minutes instead of 500 yards (uniformed) in 9 or 10 minutes like the SEALs require.

Dont have a pool? Look below for swim exercise alternatives.

Photos by Julia Wall

BY WILL DORAN

Flutter kicks are great for leg strength, and upper body exercises help your stroke. And remember the more slowly you do the individual movements in these exercises, the more control and strength you will gain in each motion.

FLUTTER KICKSAim to complete at least 50 flutter kicks.

Remember to keep your abs engaged while moving legs up and down.

PULL-UPSBegin with your

maximum repetition of pull-ups. If you dont have a pull-up bar, find a low wall to use. Start with straight arms and

remember to breathe at the bottom.

PUSH-UPSDo 40 push-ups and focus on your

breathing. Inhale as you lower to the ground and exhale pushing up.

19JULY 2012 |


Elizabeth City State University PlanetariumExperience night sky tours, star and laser shows, films and guided tours of the solar system under a star-filled dome at this planetarium. www.ecsu.edu/planetarium

Airborne & Special Operations Museum

This free-admission museum has several incredible exhibits, includ-ing a main gallery, a temporary gallery, a four-story-tall theater, a video theater and a motion simula-tor ride. Excitement for all ages!www.asomf.org

Cape Fear Botanical GardenThese botanical gardens feature more than 2,000 varieties of orna-mental plants and several specialty gardens including Camellia, Daylily and Hosta gardens. The area also has a childrens garden, providing a unique and educational experience for the young ones.www.capefearbg.org

CAMEO Art House Theatre

Preservation North Carolina rec-ognizes Fayettevilles alternative cinematic experience as the coolest place downtown. This is a wonder-ful family venue, exhibiting movies, live theater and special events.www.cameoarthouse.com

Museum of the Albemarle

Features the Madrin Gallery, a 6,200 square-foot exhibit that is a showcase of over 700 artifacts that depict the story of the Albemarle regions watermen, farmers, lifesav-ers and soldiers.www.museumofthealbemarle.com

Fascinate-U Childrens MuseumThis museum offers many fun activities, including shopping at the Gro-Right Grocery & Deli, responding to 911 calls at the Emergency Dispatch Center, giv-ing the NC weather forecast at the WNUZ center, and more!www.fascinate-u.com

E L I Z A B E T H C I T YFAYE T T EV I L L EPope Field Air Force Base Fort Bragg Army Base USCG Air Station Elizabeth City

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neNorth Carolina is home to a large variety of military bases ranging from the Air Force to the Coast Guard, with everything in between. If you are a family that is looking to visit a loved one who is stationed at a base in North Carolina, you will need to find activities in the surrounding area that can liven up your visit. This list includes some of the most popular military bases in the state, and also provides entertainment options for you and your kids to enjoy while visiting your loved one.

Finding fun while at the fortBY JONATHAN LAROWE

Port City Pirates & Ghosts Learn how to sword fight, help load and fire a working cannon, and hear some of the areas scariest ghost stories in a fun-filled tour in-side an authentic, haunted historic building. www.portcitytourcompany.com/moreheadcitypiratesghosts

The History Place Research your full family tree at this museum and find out who might be a long-lost relative.www.thehistoryplace.org

Wayne County Museum

At this museum, you can find numerous objects illustrating the history, science and cultural heri-tage of Wayne County and central eastern North Carolina.www.waynecountyhistoricalnc.org

Paramount TheatreThe theater offers a vast array of performing arts including ballet, dramatic and musical theater, gym-nastics and live concerts. This state-of-the-art facility hosts a 500-seat auditorium, giving the audience an intimate setting to enjoy all the theater has to offer.www.goldsboroparamount.com

GOLDSBORO HAVELOCKSeymour Johnson Air Force Base Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Marine Corps Air Station New River

Lynnwood Park Zoo

This incredible zoo is home to over 80 animal exhibits, with species including reptiles, birds, mammals, and more.www.lynnwoodparkzoo.com

Equine Country USAThis horse facility offers boarding, riding lessons, wagon rides and trail rides perfect for your young cowgirl or cowboy!www.equinecountryusa.com

J ACKSONV I L L EMarine Corps Air Station

Cherry Point

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Greetings fromHistory, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling

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Elizabeth CityThe Harbor of Hospitality

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Graphics by Cece Pascual

21JULY 2012 |

Joining Forces

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are encouraging Americans to step up to support and honor military families.

BY MAGGIE CAGNEY Photo by Lawrence Jackson

23JULY 2012 |

ast year on Thanksgiving, Army wife Jessica Allen received an unexpected call a phone call from First

Lady Michelle Obama. She was calling to thank Allen not only for her husbands service to the coun-try, but also for her own service as a military wife and mother.

You are amazing, Obama said during the phone call.

You are the kind of example and the story we want to make sure that all of America hears and knows about, because in addition to man-aging your family, we understand that you are also a super support system to other military families, walking people through the emo-tional process, she continued.

On Jan. 22, 2011, while in the Zhari district of Afghanistan on a dismounted patrol, Allens husband, Staff Sergeant Chaz Allen, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He instantly lost both legs and broke his elbow.

An IED doesnt just hurt one person, it hurts all of us, Jessica Al-len says. But thank God for medical technology. Legs can be replaced.

It was only his legs it could have been his life.

The phone call to Allen is just one example of the ways in which the national initiative Joining Forces is reaching military families across the country.

On April 12, 2011, Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama

launched Joining Forces, an initia-tive that provides ways in which Americans can step up and lend a helping hand to military families who are challenged daily.

The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of our society citizens, communities, businesses, nonprof-its, faith-based institutions, philan-thropic organizations, and govern-ment to ensure military families have the support they have earned, according to Joining Forces web-site, JoiningForces.gov.

Military families are confronted with challenges every day. It could be something as simple as finding a baby sitter while the stay-at-home military spouse goes to a doctors appointment. Or it could be more difficult, like having to switch jobs several times a year because of a partners deployment. Whatever the difficulty, Joining Forces aims to bridge the gap between military families and Americans, encour-aging individuals outside of the military community to give back.

After her husbands injury, Al-len became more involved in the military community, reaching out to men, women and children near and far.

Her blog, The War of a Wound-ed Warrior Wife, has become a resource for many followers. Whether it be an inspirational post after her husband took his first steps on March 21, 2011, or an in-formative post on how to approach

a wounded warrior appropriately, she is always trying to find ways to encourage and enlighten those in the military community.

Through my blog, I have met and helped so many families, Allen says. I want other people to know they are not alone, whether its your husband or son being deployed, there are other people out there in the same boat, paddling along.

Which is exactly the mission of Joining Forces to help members of military families know they have the support of the American public.

A military life means living in increments taking one day, one deployment, at a time. Members of the military are confronted with issues involving physical training, separation and more often than not, the threat of death.

Yet the battle on the home-front can be just as painful. There is the constant worrying about a deployed spouse; the difficulty of being forced to relocate and start over again; and the distance a spouse may feel, not only when his or her partner is serving, but also when the partner returns. Joining Forces is not just about healing those wounds, whether physical or emotional. Its also about providing some sense of normalcy for military families, helping them share many of the opportunities civilians have.

And for that, Joining Forces recently created the Joining Forces Community Challenge, a call to action for community organiza-

L

Joining Forces aims to bridge the gap between military families and Americans, encouraging individuals outside of the military community to give back.


tions and citizens who recognize the needs of military families and provide programs and services to help ease the challenges and burdens many of these families face.

The White House announced 20 finalists on Jan. 23, 2012. After pub-lic voting and additional judging, the White House announced on April 6 five winners of the challenge: Our Family for Families First Founda-tion, Armed Forces Service Center, Defending the Blue Line, Give an Hour, Project Sanctuary and the City of Richfield, Utah.

One of the 20 finalists was HeartsApart.org, an organiza-tion in nearly 25 states across the country that helps families stay connected while their loved ones

are overseas. HeartsApart.org pro-vides families with pictures of their spouse and children, taken by local professional photographers, says Elizabeth Bloch, director of media relations for the organization.

The photographs are printed on waterproof, bi-folded vinyl cards, which fit securely in soldiers uniform pockets, Bloch says. This is only a tiny thanks in the face of what these families not only endure every day, but endure with a smile and with a grateful heart.

Bloch says the program is com-pletely free, and it includes a profes-sional photo session, hair and make-up styling and a CD of the images.

There is no end to the project just a commitment to continue to

serve our armed forces while they serve us.

The mission of Joining Forces is simple, as Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden described when the initiative was launched: Everyone can do something.

Whether it be helping throw a baby shower for a military wife while her husband serves overseas, or taking the time to speak with a wounded warrior about his or her story, a small act of giving goes a long way. Members in the armed forces and their families are doing their part; It is now time for the American public to join together to join forces and support and honor them.

Dr. Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama greet volunteers at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas. The center helps care for the families of wounded service men and women. Photo by Chuck Kennedy

Armed Forces Service CenterMSP Airport Food and shelter for traveling troops

HeartsApart.orgWilmington, N.C. Professional photography

for military families

Rocky Mountains, Colo. 6-day family retreat

for military families

Sacramento, Calif. One-on-one

psychological treatment

Canines for Veterans -Canines for ServiceWilmington, N.C. Service dogs for veterans

The LandingsSavannah, Ga. Military family relief fund

Joining Forces Community Challenge

Richeld, Utah Support for National Guard

Community Covenant program

Rebuild HopeMenlo Park, Calif. Financial support

for veterans

New Directions

Project SanctuaryClovis, Calif. Support for teenage

girls with parents deployed overseas

Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs

The Soldiers Project

Nationwide programs

Tillman Military ScholarsEducational scholarshipsfor military veterans and their spouses

Our Family for Families FirstScholarships for membersof military families

Education Lifestyle/Families MedicalBirdies for the Brave

Outreach initiative inconjunction with thePGA Tour

Give an HourCoordinates free mental health services forwounded veterans

Trees for TroopsFree Christmas treesfor military families

Defending the Blue LineHockey equipment, NHL tickets for military families

Operation Wedding GownFree designer weddinggowns for military brides

GreenCare for TroopsFree lawn andlandscaping servicesfor military families

Operation HomelinkTechnology to connect families with troops abroad

Lukes WingsConnects injuredservice members withtheir families

Los Angeles, Calif. Program for homeless

and addicted veterans

Graphic by Kevin Uhrmacher

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden created the Joining Forces Community Challenge in an effort to rec-ognize citizens, communities, schools, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and local governments for their strong support of military families.

These citizens and organizations have helped ease and alleviate the emotional and mental stress on military members and their families. To learn more, visit:joiningforces.challenge.gov

= Named a Community Challenge winner on April 6, 2012

25JULY 2012 |


A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H

Second Lady

Jill Biden

D r. J i l l B i d e n , w i f e o f V i c e Pr e s i d e n t J o e B i d e n , r e c o g n i z e s t h e c h a l l e n g e sm i l i t a r y f a m i l i e s f a c e a n d h a s w o r k e d t o ra i s e a wa r e n e s s t h r o u g h h e r i n i t i a t i v e

w i t h Fi r s t L a d y M i c h e l l e O b a m a , J o i n i n g Fo r c e s .

Photo by Chuck Kennedy

H O M E F R O N T: What made you want to launch the Joining Forces campaign? J I L L B I D E N : One of the best parts of being Second Lady is the opportunity to visit and meet with so many service men and women and their families. I am always inspired by their incredible service and sacrifice for our country. First Lady Michelle Obama and I launched Joining Forces as a way to encourage all Americans to recognize, honor

and take action to support military families. Americans are stepping up individuals, community organizations, nonprofits and businesses are all taking action to support and honor our military families. As a military mom, this is also personal for me. When my son Beau was deployed in Iraq as a captain in the Army National Guard, I saw how important the support from neighbors and friends was to his family. The small kindnesses shoveling

the driveway in a snowstorm or bringing over dinner can make a tremendous difference in lives of military families. That kind of support is exactly what Joining Forces is all about.

H F: What have you learned about military families? J B : Military families are incredibly resilient. Whenever I visit with military families and veterans, I always walk away inspired by their commitment to service, their

27JULY 2012 |

strength and the many ways they support one another. Regardless of the challenges they face, they are proud of their service to our nation, and they almost never ask for help. Thats why it is so important that we help the rest of the country understand some of those challenges and let people know that we all have a role to play.

HF: What do you believe is the prominent challenge many of these families are facing today? JB: This is a challenging time for many Americans and military families are often facing those same challenges while a spouse is deployed. One parent is carrying the day-to-day challenges of raising a family, children are often transferring to new schools and spouses are faced with the challenges of finding new jobs and possibly dealing with professional licensing issues as they transfer bases or deal with deployments. They are making tremendous sacrifices, for which we owe them our deepest gratitude. When the First Lady and I visit with military families, two issues come up over and over. The first is education. After 10 years of continuous combat, the lives of many military children have been marked with parental separation and anxiety about a parents deployment. But military children also have a unique set of challenges even when both parents are at home. Military children on average attend six to nine different school systems. Through each transition, they are faced with leaving their friends and adjusting to new schools and new surroundings, all of which can affect a students opportunity to

Americans are stepping up individuals, community organizations, nonprofits and businesses are all taking action to support and honor our military families.

achieve academic success. Another issue that the First Lady and I have heard about over and over again as we travel around the country and meet with military families is professional licensing for military spouses. Because military transfers often require spouses to move from state to state, this issue can be a real challenge. Military spouses move 10 times more than their civilian counterparts and 35 percent of spouses in the workforce are in jobs that require a professional license. This means that there are currently 100,000 military spouses that are affected by a maze of credentialing and requirements that oftentimes hinder their careers and prevent them from advancing professionally. Its happening to nurses, teachers, child care providers, accountants and social workers. Thats why the First Lady and I have made this a priority as part of Joining Forces and are urging all 50 states to pass legislation that addresses these licensing issues by 2014.

HF: This magazine wants to make sure that the content we produce is beneficial to each and every member of these families. As the mother of a son in the military, what content would you find most helpful? JB: In addition to covering stories that military families can easily relate to, I think it is important to highlight the variety of resources that are available to them. Raising awareness through community organizations, job hiring fairs and schools are all important ways to reach military families. We also want to make sure our military families know there are places to turn if they recognize any of the warning signs of post-traumatic stress or other invisible wounds of these conflicts. We should encourage families to seek help, to talk about these issues and let them know there is help and support available. No family should face those challenges alone.

HF: What future plans do you have for Joining Forces? JB: We are coming up on the one-year anniversary of Joining Forces and are looking forward to highlighting all the progress that has been made in the past year. As part of that, we are looking forward to recognizing finalists of the Joining Forces Community Challenge, an effort that is intended to recognize the many community-based projects that support military families across the country. Beyond the anniversary, we will continue to find ways to build on our progress and find more ways to support military families in our workplaces, our schools and our communities.

29JULY 2012 |

t began with a handshake agreement to join the service between two fifth-grade pals. And what became of that

young promise led one of those pals into the U.S. Marine Corps.

Corporal Meredith Brown, 23, was one of those two fifth-graders who knew from a young age that she wanted to be in the military. Brown grew up in Germanton, N.C., a small town outside of Win-ston-Salem. She got her chance to experience the importance of service during her senior year of high school when she signed up for Marine Corps JROTC.

Once I was in the class, I knew it was for me, says Brown. I loved the discipline, determination and drive that the teachers could instill in kids from some of the worst backgrounds imaginable.

It gave them a sense of purpose and a future.

This sense of a future began for Brown on Nov. 13, 2007, when she enlisted in the Marines as a sopho-more at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill without informing her parents. The other partner in the pact was already at the U.S. Naval Academy, preparing to be a Navy officer.

I talked with my parents about enlisting in the Marine Corps dur-ing my senior year [of high school], and they really wanted me to go to college, says Brown.

Neither of them are college graduates, so they were trying to set up the best future they could for me.

However, once Brown got to UNC-CH, she says she realized that if she wanted to pursue her dream as a Marine, she would have to do so at a young age, which meant giving up her education at that moment.

Once I was [in college], I didnt really know why, other than to ob-tain a degree so I could get a good job, get married and continue on that path, she says. That was not what I wanted to do.

Besides the desire of her parents, an unforeseen injury also stood in Browns way, causing her to fail the first physical for boot camp. Brown underwent back surgery in 2008.

While her parents thought that her dream of being a Marine was over, Brown had different plans. She went through physical rehab, took summer courses and prepared to take the physical exam a second time and pass.

In October 2008, Brown received clearance from her surgeon to go to boot camp.

Although Browns parents may have had a different future in mind for their daughter, her father encouraged her to do what she wanted to do.

Like any parent who loves their children, I was concerned, says Jeff Watts. But there comes a

time when they leave the comfort of their home and make a life for themselves.

Her mother, Beth Watts, remem-bers an email she received when Brown told her about her decision to pursue her dream as a Marine.

All I could envision at the time was her being on the front lines, she says. My greatest fear was los-ing my child. I will always remem-ber an email she sent me telling me that she believed that if this wasnt Gods will for her that he would take this desire from her.

From that point on everything changed for me, Beth says.

After deciding to drop out of UNC-CH during the fall semester of her junior year, Brown began boot camp on Oct. 27, 2008, in Parris Island, S.C.

After boot camp, Brown entered into the public affairs field in the Marines, where she was trained as a combat correspondent and broadcaster. When she graduated from boot camp in 2009, she had to attend Marine Combat Training (MCT) for a month of basic infan-try skills training at Camp Geiger in Jacksonville, N.C.

She began her training as a com-bat correspondent at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) in Fort Meade, Md., where she took journalism and broadcasting classes, as well as on-the-job training.

It wasnt until graduating from

BY MAGGIE CAGNEY

Meredith Brown knew from a young age that she wanted to join the service, but what she couldnt predict was where her duties would take her.

DINFOS that her real journey began a journey of about 11,000 miles from her small-town home.

On Feb. 6, 2010, Brown traveled to American Forces Network Oki-nawa (AFN) in Okinawa, Japan, where she served as a broadcaster, shooting video, editing video and doing voice packages for more than a year.

Brown says AFN Okinawa services more than 75,000 troops in Okinawa with English-speaking news, television and radio. Brown also assisted as disc jockey for the radio station.

Brown spent 14 months in Oki-nawa, a lengthy term that took a toll on her family back home.

Having a sister in the Marines can be difficult, says Morgan Watts, 21, Browns sister.

Meredith has had to miss a lot of important events in my life: She wasnt there for my high school

graduation; [she] has missed my last four birthdays; [she] wasnt in the States when I got engaged; and Christmas sure isnt the same when she is gone, says Morgan.

But Brown tries to keep in touch with her family in every way pos-sible phone calls, Facebook, email, Skype whatever allows her to be constantly updated with life on the homefront.

And with technology comes op-portunities, says Browns husband, Gil Brown.

One of the coolest things weve done in terms of using Skype is that she actually got to watch and listen to my brothers wedding, says Gil. We set up an iPad on the front pew of the church so she had a front row seat to a wedding in North Carolina.

Despite the miles that separate her from her family, Brown is there for them every chance she has,

something her sister agrees with.I know she is always just an

email, Skype call or phone call away, Morgan says. I dont resent Meredith for missing all of these things I know she hated missing them as much as I wanted her to be there. And if she could have been there, she would have.

I know she is living out her dream and making a difference, and that is whats important to me.

In July 2010, while she was serving in Okinawa, Brown was granted permission for an impor-tant family event that she knew she could not miss her wedding.

Brown was given a few weeks to get fitted for her wedding dress, say I do and spend a few days on her honeymoon in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., before returning to Okinawa. The couple was married on July 10, 2010.

The time at home flew by,

TIMELINE: MEREDITH's TRAVELSTIMELINE: Meredith's travels

Begins boot

camp in Parris

Island, S.C.

OCT. 27, 2008

Enlists in the Marines asa sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

NOV. 1 3, 2007

Begins trainingas a combatcorrespondentat the DefenseInformation School

Graduates from

boot camp and

attends Marine

Combat Training

at Camp Geiger in

Jacksonville, N.C.

2009

Graphic by Catherine Sum


Arrives at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistans

HelmandProvince after

serving six months in

Jacksonville, N.C.

OCT. 2011

Projected date

Meredith will be

out of the Marine

Corps if she gets

a 3-month early

out; would start

school in August

JULY 26, 2012

Travels to Ameri

-

can Forces Net-

work Okinawa,

where she serve

s

as a broadcaste

r,

shooting/editin

g

video and doing

voice packages

FEB. 6, 2010

Marries Gil Brown in Germanton, N.C.

JULY 10, 2010

Photos cour

tesy of Mere

dith Brown

Brown says. It was as if I was watching a two-hour movie on someone elses life before it was time to get on the plane to head back to Okinawa.

Each day was packed with last-minute wedding details dress fittings, bridal portraits, pre-wed-ding festivities and wedding re-hearsals. Each event contributed to making Browns wedding as special as it could be.

Browns parents, sister, husband and his family did much of the planning. They all helped organize the event, and Gils mother, grand-mother and aunt made Browns wedding dress.

It took countless hours on their part, Brown says. I just showed up, tried it on and they made ad-justments. In less than two days, I was doing bridal portraits.

Browns mother, Beth, says they had to pull together the wedding in

a matter of weeks. We really planned

her entire wedding in about seven weeks, Beth says. Although the time restraints made planning stressful, it really wasnt difficult because Meredith is so easy to please.

Looking back on it now, Brown says the event was perfect.

Like I told [my family], regardless of how things went down, at the end of the day if Im married then it was a success, she says. The love and support showed by all my family and friends was encour-aging and greatly appreciated as [my husband and I] started this interesting, lifelong journey together.

Browns personal journey con-

Wedding

July 10, 2010

31JULY 2012 |

GERMANTON, N.C.to CHAPEL HILL, N.C.90 mi

336 mi

330 mi

371 mi

7677 mi

8007 mi

8007 mi

7976 mi

7290 mi

7298 mi

OKINAWA, JAPANto JACKSONVILLE, N.C.

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.to JACKSONVILLE, N.C.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.to PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.

OKINAWA, JAPANto NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C.to HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

JACKSONVILLE, N.C.to FORT MEADE, Md.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.to OKINAWA, JAPAN

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTANto NEW RIVER, N.C.

Merediths experiences have taken her all over the world. Shes traveled about 47,382 miles thats enough to circle the globe about 1.90 times. See how those distances stack up below.

tinued as she returned to Okinawa two weeks after the event.

As the months continued and Christmas approached, Brown received one of the best presents she could ask for a holiday with her husband.

My parents paid for my husband to fly out to Okinawa so that we could spend our first Christmas to-gether as a married couple, she says.

Brown commented on her holi-

day on her blog saying, Im not go-ing to say it was a fairy tale Christ-mas, but it suited us just fine.

A fairy tale that helped her get through her final months in Oki-nawa. After spending a total of 14 months overseas, Brown had a permanent change of station to Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C., where she served as a military journalist.

Brown says the transition from Okinawa to North Carolina was a difficult one, and it was challenging for her to remember everything she had been taught as a print journal-ist instead of as a broadcaster.

But dealing with the differ-ence in fields wouldnt last long. After serving in Jacksonville for six months, Brown volunteered to serve as combat correspondent

Frequent flyer milesFrequent flyer miles

FORT MEADE, Md.to OKINAWA, JAPAN

SOURCES: worldatlas.com, earth-info.nga.mil

Gra

phic

by

Cat

herin

e Su

m


every month and a half.Meredith and I have become

very talented at playing things by ear and just taking it day by day, Gil says. I think that is the best way to deal with being tied to the Marine Corps.

Gil, 24, says he has known Mer-edith since middle school, but the two began dating in 2007. While she was in Afghanistan, he was finishing graduate school at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

Gil says being in graduate school made the infrequent communica-tion easier, as well as their personal-ity types.

While for many this may seem unimaginable to go weeks with-out communicating with loved ones many military families must

deal with this struggle on a daily basis. But Browns family found alternate ways to constantly keep updated with her routine.

Because Meredith is a journalist, I search her name to learn of news stories she had covered and figure out where she had been, says Jeff.

And the occasional conversation always brings her family joy.

Every once in a while there has been that won-derful phone call when you actually get to hear her voice that is price-less, says Beth.

But for most military families, nothing can compare to the moment of being reunited with a loved

at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. She arrived in Afghanistan in October 2011, where she was confronted with new challenges as a Marine.

One challenge she discovered immediately was the difficulty in communicating with loved ones back home.

In Okinawa and Jacksonville, she had access to Internet connection and was able to call, email and Skype.

But in Afghanistan, her ability to communicate with family and friends was limited.

Brown says the Internet connec-tion was unreliable, causing her to have to email home whenever she got the chance. She was able to call her husband once every two weeks

and her parents once

TO READ MEREDITHS BLOG, VISIT:insightthruexperience.blogspot.com

AfghanistanOctober 201 1

one when he or she returns from deployment something Brown ex-perienced again in March 2012 when she returned to New River, N.C.

After several months in Afghani-stan, Meredith returned to the homefront, where she began a new chapter in her life.

I am going to actually try to take the three-month early out so that I can return to college and get my degree as a history and economics high school teacher, she says. That would mean I would get out of the Marine Corps July 26, 2012, and go to school in August.

The life of a young Marine is always challenging. From the constant globe roaming, to the feeling of helplessness when miss-ing birthdays, graduations and engagements of loved ones back home, the journey can be tiring. Yet for Brown, pride in service always remained.

The truth is, I have never been more proud to call my sister my sister, says Morgan. I know what she is doing is making an impact in so many different ways.

And as Brown noted in her first blog post in January 2010 as she began her journey, the impact she is making will never cease:

I have decided that my journey through life is probably worth noting.

33JULY 2012 |


Graphics by Rachelle Branca

normal life is something that many soldiers desire but hardly ever get to expe-

rience. After completing their service in the U.S. Army, normalcy is typi-cally what they look forward to most on their arrival back home.

Upon return, many soldiers are forced to cope with the unenviable task of putting the pieces of their home lives back together again. But in the case of some veterans, even though they have served the manda-tory time, they feel that their service is not yet complete. They still yearn to be a part of the military. For these soldiers, the Army Reserve is wait-ing for them.

Jeff Schwartz was one of those soldiers. Schwartz was an active member of the military for five years, but upon his return to Waco, Texas, in 1985, after the culmination of his active tour of duty, he felt that it was not the time to end his affilia-tion with the Army.

I got involved basically right after coming off active duty as part

of the process of perpetuating my involvement in public service, Schwartz says.

After managing to secure a job with a Reserve unit in Waco, Schwartz had to learn how to bal-ance his dual life of aspiring lawyer against that of an Army reservist. One weekend out of every month, he was called to take part in monthly drills, which were made to emulate real-life scenarios that the soldiers could be faced with in combat. It is basically a months worth of work in two days, Schwartz describes.

Aside from the monthly drills, two weeks out of every year, reservists must join together to take part in annual training. Annual training involves the entire unit meeting once a year to practice carrying weapons, wear-ing uniforms, fighting in defensive positions and any other situation that could present itself in combat.

After serving in Waco for three years, Schwartz moved to northern Virginia in 1988 with his wife, Belin-da. He wanted to continue his Army

Reserve service and, fortunately, was able to find a job on Fort Belvoir.

Schwartz worked as a reservist on Fort Belvoir for four years before being promoted to work for a unit in Norfolk. During his time at Belvoir, his wife had their first child in 1990. Unfortunately, the birth of his son was occurring at the same time that the U.S. began increasing its involve-ment in the Gulf War.

Schwartz knew that if his name was called, he had to be ready to leave on a moments notice.

I wasnt looking forward to being separated from my family, but it is just part of the deal, he says. I think anyone in the military internalizes that there may be times when you are going to be separated from your family, but that is just part of what service is about.

When the U.S. began to deploy troops to Iraq, Schwartz readied himself for the realistic possibil-ity that he would have to leave his newborn son under the care of just one parent.

BY JO

NAT

HAN

LAR

OWE

Two Army Reserve families seek balance on the homefront

35JULY 2012 |

I know there was some anxiety on Belindas part because she had just moved from Texas to Virginia, and here I was, working as a reservist and there is this new war starting, he says. She was pregnant, getting ready to have our first child, and we knew that there was a possibility that I would have to go to the desert for some time. While I didnt necessar-ily think I would be going, I was also packing my bags, he says.

In addition to having a bag packed at all times, Schwartz also had to prepare each day for the possibility that at any time, he could be called into active duty. He made sure to stay in the best shape possible.

Aside from the fitness tests that were administered during his monthly drills at Fort Belvoir, Schwartz worked out every day to meet the strict requirements for reservists about

maintaining a certain level of physical endurance. In addition to staying in shape, he also had to make sure that all his finances were in order.

We had to make sure there was a will in place, he says. You need to have all of your financial ducks in a row. There is a certain amount of ad-ministrative things that the Reserve do on an annual basis to make sure everything is in order in case you have to leave.

But he admits that he was lucky. His wife was an accountant and was fully capable of handling all the bills and taxes in the event of his depar-ture. He was also confident that she could take care of their newborn son until he returned.

But he never had to test her abili-ties as a single parent Schwartz was never deployed as reservist.

However, there are members of

the Reserve who are called into ac-tive duty amidst living a normal life. While Schwartz was never called into active duty in his 18 years as a member of the Army Reserve, Douglas Dinon was.

Dinon finished his active duty military service in September 1987, and upon his arrival, he immediately decided to join the Army Reserve. He found a job at Fort Benning in Georgia working as part of a garrison support unit.

After September 11, Dinon knew that there would be a strong likeli-hood that he would be called into active duty. As a member of a gar-rison support unit, Dinon had the responsibility of standing up first to get the mobilization station pre-pared for battle.

As soon as 9/11 happened, our unit immediately thought that it would be literally any day at that time that we would receive orders to go to Fort Dix into full-time status to stand the mobilization station up, Dinon says.

And sure enough, Dinon was sent to Fort Dix, located in New Jersey, where he served from October 2001 to October 2002. At the time of his departure, Dinon was already mar-ried with three children. His children were in kindergarten and first grade at the time.

But Dinon was not worried about his wifes ability to survive without him. He was already married when he was serving on active duty, so she was accustomed to the military lifestyle. Dinon says that her previous experience with his military schedule helped to prepare her for the possi-bility of his absence.

My wife experienced four to five years of active Army time when we were just recently married, Dinon

Doug Dinon being promoted to colonel in February 2004 at his Division Headquar-ters in Fort Totten, New York. He is surrounded by his wife Mary and their three children. Photo courtesy of Doug Dinon


and Dinon admits that reintegration after 15 months was even harder than the first time. To help with the process, he planned a backpacking trip in Europe for the whole family.

We flew on a cargo plane from McGuire Air Force Base to Ger-many, he says. It was a great adven-ture for the kids, and I think it really helped with the transition.

Dinon left the Army Reserve in June 2010 after completing 30 full years of military service.

As both Dinon and Schwartz can attest to, joining the Army Reserve is not for the faint of heart. It is hard on the reservist, not knowing if or when he or she might have to relocate, but it is even more challenging for the family. The tension is enough take a toll on anyone, but for reservists like Schwartz, that uncertainty never came to fruition.

But many other families are not quite so lucky. Doug Dinon had to leave his family twice to fulfill his duty to the military. But he knew what he signed up for and, although it was hard on his family at times, Dinon would not give that back for anything.

says. She was prepared to take on the mission in the case of me being deployed. To go away was not really anything different, but going away permanently was new. We always prepared for it, but to actually acti-vate that plan was a little surreal.

The plan was for Dinons wife, Mary, to take over as the head of the household while Dinon was stationed at Fort Dix. While Di-non was away, she assumed many of his responsibilities.

I had two 6-year-olds and one 7-year-old, so that was a major hard-ship, Mary Dinon says. It was hard for me to be everything to the three of them, but once we got into a rou-tine, we were OK. The hard part for some wives is having Little League and events like that. You arent used to pitching the ball to your sons and that used to bother me, but overall I think we were OK.

Dinon returned in October 2002 after one year away from his fam-ily. He had the option to extend his tour of duty for another year, but he chose not to because he did not want to spend an additional year away from his family while his kids were still young.

Dinon admits that the process of reintegrating himself into his work life was much easier for him than reintegrating into his family life.

With me being gone for 12 months, it is not like I can walk back through the door and be in charge again, he says. At home, my wife

was so used to running things that I had to constantly remind myself to let her continue in that capacity. I have technically never really been back in charge at the house, and that is the truth.

But the reintegration process was not just difficult for Dinon. His wife admits that it was hard for her and the kids to adjust to having him back in the house because they were so used to the routine they followed when he was away.

That was hell on everybody, Mary Dinon says. He came from an existence where when he speaks, no one else does, but the kids dont act like that. The kids were small enough that when he came back, they would come to me when they needed anything and they would take their direction from me. That did not make him too happy, because he was used to giving the orders

It took a good long time, almost six or seven months, to actually start to feel like he was Dad again or be a real husband again.

Dinon was again mobilized on April 2006 and he was on active duty until August 2007. The family had to undergo the same process as before,

37JULY 2012 |

For military children, the world is their hometown. Heres a look at how

constant moves have provided them with an experience that few others will know.

BY CHRISTINA CLEVELANDPhotos by Cameron Robinson

In the early hours of most weekdays, while many of her peers are sleeping from hours of studying, Alyssa Gray is up participating in physical training with Army ROTC. Grays 5-foot-something frame may seem meek, but be-hind her perfectly coiffed hair and coordinating clothes is a soldier. Coincidentally, the uniform of a soldier attracted

her to military life. I wanted to be in the Army in the eighth grade, she says. I

thought the uniforms were so cute, and this was when they were still wearing the uniforms in green.

She joined JROTC that year, and by 12th grade was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of South Carolina.

The 21-year-old is now a senior finishing her undergraduate degree in international studies. After her May graduation, she will commission as a second lieutenant in the Army. She is leaving

39JULY 2012 |


Charleston, SCAmarillo, TX Little Rock, AK

Woodbridge, VA

Seoul, South Korea

Well-traveledAlyssa has lived in Asia and various parts of the US, moving five times since the age of 2. Check out the Homefront iPad app for

an interactive map and additional photos from our shoot!

South Carolina for training at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., where she will be a signal corps officer working with communications and satellites.

She says her parents, especially her mother, love the fact that she knows what she will be doing after college, and she is waiting for her sister and brother to come around.

Most people out of college dont know what theyre going to do but I have a job; my mom loves that, she says, smiling.

Gray is not only a member of the military, but also a product of it. She is a part of one of its best known subcultures: the mili-tary brat. Call them brats, world citizens or proficient travelers, the children of the military have had vast, and sometimes fascinating, experiences that many kids dont have growing up.

These experiences can be nega-tive or positive. Either way, they are often challenging.

This is because military brats experiences highlight one of the biggest strains on military families: maintaining stability.

Grays father, Carl, joined the Navy in 1968 at age 17, and worked as engine mechanic on a ship. In the 1980s, he retired from the Navy to later join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he works today.

Since serving in the corps he has been deployed on several occasions, moving the family and Gray across the States and the world.

He was very strict and harsh, she says about her father. I couldnt date until I was 16; I had only been to a few sleepovers. If he didnt

know where I was, I couldnt go. It was always school, work and home for me.

Despite his restrictions, Gray says she enjoyed her childhood, even though she failed to realize at the time the toll the incessant moving had on her.

As a kid, you dont know why you have to leave so often, she says. Youre always thinking: Why are we leaving? We just got here.

Grays family now lives in Wood-bridge, Va. the last stop on the wide array of places she moved to throughout her childhood. She has lived in four states and one foreign country. She was born in Charles-ton, S.C., but at the age of 2 moved to Amarillo, Texas.

At 7, Gray moved to Little Rock, Ark., and in seventh grade she was off to Seoul, South Korea. When her parents made their last move to Virginia in 2008 after she

had graduated from high school, she left again for Columbia, S.C., to begin college.

Gray spent six years in Seoul, South Korea, on Yongsan base, and graduated from high school at Seoul American High School. The transition to the densely populated foreign city took her aback at first.

It was so huge and crowded, she says. People stared because they had never seen a black per-son before. They always wanted to touch your skin and hair.

But despite the initial culture shock for both her and the native population, Gray says Seoul was one of the best places she has lived.

I really loved it, she says. I hope I go back one day.

Gray also loves the military way of life, especially its structure and

41JULY 2012 |

focus on respect. She credits it and her college experience for springing her into adulthood.

Six hours away from where she is doing morning pushups and situps lives Andrew Coleman a college senior who experienced frequent moves as a military child, as Gray did.

His father is a retired Navy SEAL captain, who served for 26 years. Coleman now calls Virginia home, as well, and has one sibling an older brother who is a lieu-tenant in the Navy. His grandfather also served three years in the Army Air Corps after he was drafted dur-ing World War II.

Andrew Coleman might follow family footsteps; hes considering joining the military if he doesnt go to law school. But first, hes finish-ing his studies in St. Augustine, Fla., at Flagler College.

The senior political science major remembers his fathers multiple de-

ployments, and the ensuing change of schools and switching friends.

You dont make any long-term connections; I dont stay around people for too long, Coleman says about his teenage relation-ships. You know the longest youre going to be there is two years. You always know youre going to leave in two years you dont really get attached.

His father, George Coleman, describes his son (Hunter to his family) as outgoing, talkative and witty. He believes these traits, along with his athletic abilities, allowed his son to adapt and meet friends.

I coached many of the athletic teams that he played on in our vari-ous locations, and we have a close family that I think is very support-ive, George Coleman says.

Andrew Coleman, a wrestler and swimmer, moved mostly in his adolescent years. He spent a year in Rhode Island during elementary

school, but mostly moved back and forth from Virginia Beach to Alexandria, Va. He lived in Tampa, Fla., for two years during eighth and ninth grade; and then moved to Alexandria, Va.; and for his final year of high school, he moved back to Virginia Beach.

Coleman attended three high schools in four years. He did play sports and attended junior prom, but admits that he missed out on some typical high school traditions. Coleman says by his senior year, when he moved back to Virginia Beach, he simply put his head down to get ready to graduate and prepare for college.

However, he acknowledges that being in college has changed his outlook.

You put up roots, make more connections, easier connections that is, and better relationships, he says. Its different; you cant escape every two years, but I definitely en-

Andrew Coleman, left, and his brother, Chase Coleman, celebrate a North Carolina Thanksgiving in 2011 with their new puppy. Photo courtesy of Andrew Coleman


FLEXIBLE, RESPECTABLE AND INDEPENDENT Alyssa Gray is preparing to commission as a second lieutenant, becoming a full-fledged member of a lifestyle she grew up in. After years of transitioning, many military families have learned to adapt to and embrace the challenges they face daily. Photo by Cameron Robinson

joyed college. I dont find anything wrong with living in the same place for a while.

Now 22, hes grateful for the experience of being a military brat. Coleman says hes glad he moved around, and that its not as hard as some may think.

He says the strength of his parents, especially his mother, Jen-nifer, helped the family manage the incessant moves.

Colemans father admits that the constant separation unfairly stressed his wife. Over his years of service, he completed eight deploy-ments, each about six months in duration. For each one he had to train in advance, which in some cases could last a year, with half of that time spent out of town.

Over the course of 26 years, I

was not home for eight whole years while the boys were growing up, he says.

He genuinely believes his wife deserves an abundance of acknowl-edgment for those times.

I think that all of us have be-come very independent and flex-ible, as well as being able to plan things out better than most peo-ple, George Coleman says.

Flexibility, the Rev. Charles McGathy agrees, is one of many benefits of being a child of the military. McGathy, the pastor at First Baptist Church in Madison, N.C., served 22 years in the Navy, during which time he raised five children.

You have to be flexible with the punches that life throws your way and be able to make changes

quickly and successfully, McGathy says. Independence is key. Every-thing about the military is about standing up.

McGathys children all have had varying experiences. His two oldest children, Michael and Erin, expe-rienced the most change. Erin was born in Japan with dual citizenship, and Michael was born at the Naval Hospital in Twentynine Palms, Calif., near the Mojave Desert.

We call him the desert rat, McGathy says, laughing.

The two were not able to gradu-ate from the high schools of their choice because of their fathers constant deployments to differ-ent states and Europe, which was troubling for him.

Personally, I always felt a little bad that I couldnt provide that for

43JULY 2012 |

My children have seen all different types of geography, have met all kinds of dif-ferent people. They learn about the world from a whole different viewpoint.

Rev. Charles McGathy

them, he says about their lack of geographic stability. But at the same time they got other benefits from it, and I think both Erin and Michael are very appreciative of those.

He always knew a support sys-tem was available to him and other military families especially since he spent much of his career as a part of that system. McGathy worked as a chaplain for the Marines and Navy, where his job was to provide ministry to families who needed counseling and help with adjustment.

Its always some type of adjust-ment; change is the one thing you always encounter in the military, McGathy says.

Its hard to imagine when you dont live in it, that every day it only takes a single email, a single tele-phone call, a Hey can I see you in my office for a moment, for your entire life to change.

After his first wife, Susan, died in 2000, he remarried a year later, and helped raise his current wifes three children from a previous marriage. Shortly after the marriage, Mc-Gathy and his family moved from San Diego, Calif., to Spain for his final tour of duty, with the children still in elementary school.

Later, the family settled back in the States and moved to ru-ral North Carolina. McGathy says the three youngest children, Liam, Kevin and Noel, still live at home and have adjusted well to North Carolina.

The pastor believes command-ing officers have a difficult task making sure that their men and women do their best when theyre

not happy at home. Thats where he stepped in, providing guidance and assistance. He says that sustaining military families is no easy task, but that it can be done.

The families who do adjust to that and do learn those things do fabulously well and really find the military to be a wonderful way of life, he says. But for many, many families it is a really difficult way of life.

This rings true for George Cole-man, who thinks that although a military parent does often miss lifes little moments, there are many posi-

tive things about it that those who havent lived it wouldnt understand.

Those moments were far too precious for Thomas Ross mother to sacrifice. Ross, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a member of Navy ROTC and lived on Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., most of his life.

When people ask whos a mili-tary brat and I raise my hand, they say, Well how many places have you been? and when I say none theyre shocked, Ross says.

His father, Brian, served in the

Marine Corps for 21 years and was deployed several times, even serving two tours in Iraq. But Ross mother wouldnt move. She was comfort-able and did not want her four chil-dren to face the transitions.

It does make it easier growing up in a military town than always moving, he says.

But Ross says even though he lived in one location, it was still hard adjusting at times. His clos-est friends are a part of military families because it is easier for him to relate to them. To him, military kids, understand things in a differ-

ent way from civilians. And McGathy would agree. He

says military children have a per-spective and other opportunities that prove to be advantageous.

It causes one to view the world in an entirely different fashion than if one lived in a rather isolated society where you only kind of go and hang out with people just like you, he says.

My children have seen all dif-ferent types of geography, have met all kinds of different people. They learn about the world from a whole different viewpoint.


Returning from deployment:

Easing the stress of reintegration

and getting back into civilian lifeBY RACHEL COLEMANPhoto courtesy of Chase Coleman

45JULY 2012 |

oin the Navy and see the world!

Lieutenant Chase Coleman heard this

from countless recruiters before he decided to join the Navy. The chances to travel the world, visit ex-otic places and live away from home all draw thousands of Americans to join the armed forces every year. Coleman was no different.

When you join the Navy, you expect to be deployed, and thats what I signed up for, says Cole-man, a naval officer who was stationed in Spain and the Persian Gulf for eight months in 2011.

But what happens after eight months of deployment, where troops are exposed to fighting, death, near-constant exhaustion and an overall new way of living?

For some, readjusting to everyday civilian life is extremely difficult. Aside from post-traumatic stress disorder, common side effects after deployment can include anger,

LIEUTENANT CHASECOLEMAN EXPECTED TO BE DEPLOYED WHEN HE JOINED THE NAVY THATS WHAT HE SIGNED UP FOR. BUT what HE, ALONG WITH COUNTLESS OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS, DIDNT EXPECT WAS THE readjustment period THAT CAME AFTER.

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insomnia, anxiety, physical injuries, dependence on drugs or alcohol, and a general strain on relationships.

The Injury Prevention journal published a study that says U.S. Army suicides rose 80 percent dur-ing the five years after troop de-ployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, a rate that many are trying to slow.

The recent increase in suicide rates may be viewed as the tip of the mental health iceberg, sig-naling more prevalent underly-ing mental health problems, the studys authors wrote.

And while many service mem-bers face these side effects, not all members of the military experience the same thing.

Personally, it was easy for me to adjust back to civilian life, says Sergeant Jonathan Motilall, an Army Infantry Team Leader from the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, who served two terms in Iraq and is now deployed in Afghanistan.

After basically seeing the chaos that is Iraq, I felt sorry for its peo-ple and realized, Wow, Im a lucky person, and so is every American, Motilall says.

Regardless of you or your loved ones position, its important not to ignore the changes that will occur after deployment. Pay attention to symptoms, and if you do find you or someone else having a hard time dealing with reintegration, seek help.

Make time for yourselfWhether youve been living at sea

or in another state or country, youve probably grown accustomed to being surrounded by people at all times.

When youre deployed, youre sharing everything with 20 other guys from the bedroom to the bathroom, nothing is truly yours, Coleman says.

Returning service members often consider privacy a difficult concept to come back to. The Real Warriors Campaign, an initiative launched by the Defense Centers of Excel-lence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), recommends setting aside time to rest before you rush back into everyday life.

Initially, one of the hardest things to get used to was solitude, Coleman says. On a Naval de-stroyer, you are almost never truly alone, so it was a little eerie to spend a few nights by myself in my own room.

Specialists at the National Mili-tary Family Association recommend looking into ways to manage your personal stress, whether through diet or exercise, as well as remembering to take care of yourself both physi-cally and emotionally.

After I got back and had more free time, one of the hardest things for me was to keep running and exercising every day, Motilall says. It takes effort, but keeping this

kind of stamina will help both your mind and body stay in shape.

Also, keep in mind that when a service member is returning from deployment, its not uncommon that the entire family will want to come visit and tell their military family member how much theyve missed him or her. But no one who has spent the last year in war is going to want to play host to many family members, so take it slow. Start by reconnecting with your spouse or parents, then move on to friends and extended family.

Maintain relationships with your loved ones

When you return home and are faced with your family, spouse and friends for the first time in months, its hard to know how to act. Mili-tary members say that communi-cation is key after returning from deployment.

The best advice ever given to me is to talk about your experiences with someone, Motilall says. A family member or friend who is there to support you will know the true you better than most, so its helpful to let them understand any of the problems youre having.

If youre married, tell your spouse how you feel, and listen to him or her in return, advises the National Military Family Association. Youve probably both grown more indepen-dent while away from one another,

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