One of the most important decision a service member can make prior to deployment is the selection of a financial institution. Selecting a good financial institution is very important as there are many things to consider relating to financial transaction during your deployment. Some things to consider include, ease of use, the ability to make wire transfer and accessing your bank account online just to name a few things.
It is important that you shop around for a financial institution that knows how the military functions and if possible provides benefits for servicemembers at reduced cost. There are quite a few such financial institutions out there. In my book I give examples of what to look for in selecting a financial institution to handle not only your financial matters and transactions but other money matters as well. These may include personal and property insurance as well as investing and setting up a brokerage account.
You will be certain to find ways to save money after reading the section of my book titled Selecting a Financial Institution. I will also give you my top pick!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Selecting a "Deployment Friendly" bank
One of the most important decision a service member can make prior to deployment is the selection of a financial institution. Selecting a good financial institution is very important as there are many things to consider relating to financial transaction during your deployment. Some things to consider include, ease of use, the ability to make wire transfer and accessing your bank account online just to name a few things.
It is important that you shop around for a financial institution that knows how the military functions and if possible provides benefits for servicemembers at reduced cost. There are quite a few such financial institutions out there. In my book I give examples of what to look for in selecting a financial institution to handle not only your financial matters and transactions but other money matters as well. These may include personal and property insurance as well as investing and setting up a brokerage account.
You will be certain to find ways to save money after reading the section of my book titled Selecting a Financial Institution. I will also give you my top pick!
It is important that you shop around for a financial institution that knows how the military functions and if possible provides benefits for servicemembers at reduced cost. There are quite a few such financial institutions out there. In my book I give examples of what to look for in selecting a financial institution to handle not only your financial matters and transactions but other money matters as well. These may include personal and property insurance as well as investing and setting up a brokerage account.
You will be certain to find ways to save money after reading the section of my book titled Selecting a Financial Institution. I will also give you my top pick!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Service Member Support Toll-Free Numbers
Crisis and other toll-free numbers are often listed in the front cover or first few pages of the phone book. You may also want to check under “Social Services” in the blue or yellow pages for additional hotlines and local numbers.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
Medical Centers: 1-800-827-1000
Persian Gulf War Helpline: 1-800-749-8387
Focus on Recovery Helpline
A 24-hour national alcohol and drug abuse addition and treatment hotline: 1-800-374-2800 or 1-800-234-1253
National AIDS Hotline
Talk to someone who knows about HIV/AIDS and can tell you about AIDS services in your city or state: 1-800-CDC-INFO
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
1-800-838-4357 (1-800-VET-HELP)
National Crisis Hotline
1-800-784-2433
National Suicide Support Number
1-888-784 2433 (1-888-SUICIDE)
Department of Veterans Affairs
Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
Medical Centers: 1-800-827-1000
Persian Gulf War Helpline: 1-800-749-8387
Focus on Recovery Helpline
A 24-hour national alcohol and drug abuse addition and treatment hotline: 1-800-374-2800 or 1-800-234-1253
National AIDS Hotline
Talk to someone who knows about HIV/AIDS and can tell you about AIDS services in your city or state: 1-800-CDC-INFO
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
1-800-838-4357 (1-800-VET-HELP)
National Crisis Hotline
1-800-784-2433
National Suicide Support Number
1-888-784 2433 (1-888-SUICIDE)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Combating Battlefield Strees
Tom and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admerial Mike MullenIt never ceases to amaze me that no matter how removed from war service members are upon their return, they continue to face battles. Returning service members face unseen enemies....Stress!
Whether you wear a medal on you chest or just courage in your heart, the effects of war are real. Service members should never be ashamed to seek mental health counseling. There is no shame in recognizing that you are having problems dealing with the effects of your combat deployment. In fact, it is honorable and shows a great deal of courage for you to seek out and get the treatment you need to succeed. In the past seeking mental health counselling may have affected your ability to obtain or keep a security clearance or even certain jobs in the military. Recently there have been changes on security clearance application procedures. You are now allowed to check the "no" block when asked if you have any mental health issues as long as you are seeking and undergoing treatment with a mental health provider. As l look back over the two years I spent deployed to the Iraq war theater of operations, I am amazed at the many experience I have had. I have held positions that helped service members return home for much needed Rest and Recuperation as the Deputy Chief of USARCENT's R&R Program. The R&R program, with nearly a billion dollar per year budget, did just that.
Whether you wear a medal on you chest or just courage in your heart, the effects of war are real. Service members should never be ashamed to seek mental health counseling. There is no shame in recognizing that you are having problems dealing with the effects of your combat deployment. In fact, it is honorable and shows a great deal of courage for you to seek out and get the treatment you need to succeed. In the past seeking mental health counselling may have affected your ability to obtain or keep a security clearance or even certain jobs in the military. Recently there have been changes on security clearance application procedures. You are now allowed to check the "no" block when asked if you have any mental health issues as long as you are seeking and undergoing treatment with a mental health provider. As l look back over the two years I spent deployed to the Iraq war theater of operations, I am amazed at the many experience I have had. I have held positions that helped service members return home for much needed Rest and Recuperation as the Deputy Chief of USARCENT's R&R Program. The R&R program, with nearly a billion dollar per year budget, did just that.
I also on a more relevant note to this book held the position of S1/Adjutant. However for me by the end of my deployment I learned that the truly most important thing in life was the connection you have with family and friends. Family is and will always be the most important thing in my life. My wife has surprised me with her strength and courage. Remember when you serve, your entire family serves with you. When you are under stress so is your family. It took a combat deployment for some to realize this fact. If you suffer from stress associated to your deployment contact your base mental health provider or the Veterans Administration. They are well equipped to assist you as you navigate on your road to recovery and mental health bliss.
Never let your relationships become a casualty of war!
Never let your relationships become a casualty of war!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Book release celebration for The Service Members Guide to Deployment; What every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine should know prior to be deployed!
It is finally here! I would like to announce the world wide release of my new book "The Service Member's Guide to Deployment; What every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine should know prior to being deployed". Copyright 2009
The book will be available through most major on-line retailers to include Amazon. (As this is a new release, it may take a couple of weeks to "filter" it's way through the system.)
If, however, you would like to purchase an autograph copy of my new book, the only place to get it is though this website! So to all of my loyal "blog" readers, make sure you place your order here now!
I hope you all enjoy reading my book as much as I have putting it together. I truly hope that it helps all that read it.
God Bless!
Tom "The Adjutant" Mengesha
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day
CPT Tom "The Adjutant" Mengesha flying over Iraq with the symbol of The United States.Happy Veteran's Day to all our Veterans! A day to honor and celebrate all the men and woman that have fought and served to keep our country safe! May God Bless you all!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Mailing Property During Your Deployment
From souvenirs to additional equipment, it is surprising just how much “stuff” service members acquire during their deployment. Most service members, after spending a year in a deployed environment, will accumulate a tremendous amount of property. I was surprised at how much “stuff” I had acquired after only being in Kuwait for 1 year. It should then come as no surprise that after spending two years in the desert, I pretty much amassed a small museum of artifacts and items that I had picked up along my travels throughout the Middle East.
The question that comes up often among service members deals with shipping personnel property back home. The answer is not as simple as one might think. Making a hasty decision could cost you hundred dollars in unnecessary packaging and shipping expenses at the post office. All too often service members will pay hundreds of dollars to ship their items home. However, there is an avenue of shipping your personnel property home that cost nothing.
The Central Receiving and Shipping Point or “CRSP Yard” as it has come to be known in some circles is a great opportunity for service members to ship large amounts of personnel property home at no cost. Well actually the items are not sent to your home but to a military center closet to your home. From there, you must retrieve the items.
You may ask yourself why do this when all you may want to do is put everything in your unit designated “conex”? That may be an option; however, most unit conexs have to be packed for shipment as much as 45 days prior to the unit departing from theater. Most importantly not all deployed service members will return to the home station of the unit they deployed with.
As an example, when I was deployed in 2006, I was considered an Individual Agmentee (IA). My Reserve Unit was a unit in Michigan but my deploying unit, with whom I had no previously relationship with, was in South Carolina. Sending my personnel items in the Unit conex of the South Carolina unit would make no sense as I live in Michigan and that is were I would return. Also, the unit I deployed with left a year prior to my redeployment in 2008.
Shipping my property through the Central Shipping and Receiving Point or “CRSP Yard” was the perfect choice for me. However, it is important to point out that you will still have the restriction on items sent in the mail in much the same way as you would at the post office. For example you will not be able to mail back hazardous material, weapons, or classified material in most cases.
Arrangements may have to be made for customs agents to inspect your shipment prior to mailing. However, if you are willing to undergo a few minor inconvenaces, the “CRSP Yard” may be the way to go when shipping personnel property home.
The question that comes up often among service members deals with shipping personnel property back home. The answer is not as simple as one might think. Making a hasty decision could cost you hundred dollars in unnecessary packaging and shipping expenses at the post office. All too often service members will pay hundreds of dollars to ship their items home. However, there is an avenue of shipping your personnel property home that cost nothing.
The Central Receiving and Shipping Point or “CRSP Yard” as it has come to be known in some circles is a great opportunity for service members to ship large amounts of personnel property home at no cost. Well actually the items are not sent to your home but to a military center closet to your home. From there, you must retrieve the items.
You may ask yourself why do this when all you may want to do is put everything in your unit designated “conex”? That may be an option; however, most unit conexs have to be packed for shipment as much as 45 days prior to the unit departing from theater. Most importantly not all deployed service members will return to the home station of the unit they deployed with.
As an example, when I was deployed in 2006, I was considered an Individual Agmentee (IA). My Reserve Unit was a unit in Michigan but my deploying unit, with whom I had no previously relationship with, was in South Carolina. Sending my personnel items in the Unit conex of the South Carolina unit would make no sense as I live in Michigan and that is were I would return. Also, the unit I deployed with left a year prior to my redeployment in 2008.
Shipping my property through the Central Shipping and Receiving Point or “CRSP Yard” was the perfect choice for me. However, it is important to point out that you will still have the restriction on items sent in the mail in much the same way as you would at the post office. For example you will not be able to mail back hazardous material, weapons, or classified material in most cases.
Arrangements may have to be made for customs agents to inspect your shipment prior to mailing. However, if you are willing to undergo a few minor inconvenaces, the “CRSP Yard” may be the way to go when shipping personnel property home.
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