Establishing a Family Care Plan Prior to Deployment

So what happens when you receive your "orders" to go? Generally speaking your Unit, if you are deploying as a unit, will receive unit orders informing the Command that their unit will be deploying. If on the other hand you are an individual deployer as I was, you could receive your initial order via a phone call followed by orders requesting that you report for active duty. The amount of notice given to a service member ranges anywhere from several months in advance to only several days prior to the date ordered to active duty. I received my orders only three weeks before my scheduled day to report for duty.

There have been millions of Americans deployed to war zones around the world since this great country was founded over 230 years ago, however, recently it appears that many soldiers are deploying in greater frequency then ever before. In addition, some of those deployed are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th deployment. In many cases, the deployment is involuntary and not knowing all of the information that will make the deployment less stressful creates a tremendous burden not only for the deploying service member but the family of that service member as well.

Deployment is much like a roller coaster ride at an amusement park. You first have the uncertainty of the entire event much like what you feel as you enter the gate to a roller coaster that you have never ridden before. You are unsure if you will make it. You may even attempt to get out of it at the very last minute. The roller coaster makes its climb and just as you begin the process of family planning and the actual deployment, you become anxious and nervous. After you’ve made it to the top of the roller coaster, you brace yourself for your quick decent, and at this point you realize there is no turning back. This is a similar feeling to what you may experience upon reaching your mobilization site but you brace yourself anyway and prepare for the many highs and lows this ride will offer.

One of the first things a service member should do prior to deployment is review and/or implement a current family care plan. Your family care plan should be reviewed certainly, if you are being deployed, but also at least once a year regardless of deployment status. It is said that “the strength of the Family is the strength of the Soldier is the strength of the Military is the strength of the Nation!” So it logically follows that caring and providing for the families of service member alleviates many of the stresses related to deployment and combat. This in turn leads to the strong national defense of the United States of America.

The very first responsibility of a service member scheduled for deployment is to inform the family and start making a plan. While I would not say it is easier deploying without having a family, it certainly is challenging if you are a deployed service member with a family. Regardless, if you have children or not, you should have some form of a Family Care Plan in place.

In my book, I go into great detail explaining what a Family Care Plan is and how to set up a good Family Care Plan.

What happens when you receive Deployment Orders sending your to war

The sequence of events on September 11, 2001 changed America forever. On this day, The United States of America lost its innocence. The land of the free was no longer as free as it once was. Open and free travel no longer seemed as open and free following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Subsequently, America soon found itself at war with Iraq and Afghanistan. The number of service members needed to adequately fight this war was tremendous. The number of service members on active duty was not enough to engage in effective combat. As such, the burden to pick up the slack fell upon the Reserve and National Guard forces of our military. Not in recent memory has there been a greater number of service members deployed conus or oconus. From a military development standpoint, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan provoked the number of deployments to grow substantially. Since September 11, 2001, over 1.7 million service members have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Operation Enduring Freedom’s military focus is on securing the nation of Afghanistan, while as its name suggest, Operation Iraqi Freedom is concerned with securing the nation of Iraq. In addition to the service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of service members were deployed to Kuwait and Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Moreover, tens of thousands service members were deployed in support of contingency operations around the world.

So what happens when you receive your "orders" to go? Generally speaking your Unit, if you are deploying as a unit, will receive unit orders informing the Command that their unit will be deploying. If on the other hand you are an individual deployer as I was, you could receive your initial order via a phone call followed by orders requesting that you report for active duty. The amount of notice given to a service member ranges anywhere from several months in advance to only several days prior to the date ordered to active duty. I received my orders only three weeks before my scheduled day to report for duty.

There have been millions of Americans deployed to war zones around the world since this great country was founded over 230 years ago, however, recently it appears that many soldiers are deploying in greater frequency then ever before. In addition, some of those deployed are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th deployment. In many cases, the deployment is involuntary and not knowing all of the information that will make the deployment less stressful creates a tremendous burden not only for the deploying service member but the family of that service member as well.

Deployment is much like a roller coaster ride at an amusement park. You first have the uncertainty of the entire event much like what you feel as you enter the gate to a roller coaster that you have never ridden before. You are unsure if you will make it. You may even attempt to get out of it at the very last minute. The roller coaster makes its climb and just as you begin the process of family planning and the actual deployment, you become anxious and nervous. After you’ve made it to the top of the roller coaster, you brace yourself for your quick decent, and at this point you realize there is no turning back. This is a similar feeling to what you may experience upon reaching your mobilization site but you brace yourself anyway and prepare for the many highs and lows this ride will offer.

Over the next several post, I will attempt to share some insights for service members and their families as to of what to expect during the time of deployment and the best way to minimize many difficulties sure to occur...

What to do if you become a Prisoner of War!

I have never been officially declared a Prisoner of War or POW but I have been detained against my will. Being a prisoner of war must certainly be one of the most terrifying conditions a service member must face. Most POWs are mistreated and certainly (in most cases) not treated as well as POW's held by the United States. As a POW, expect to be held in conditions that are trying both mentally and physically. You may be confined and restrained to a very small area and have your movements strictly controlled. You should also understand that even as a POW, you have a Code of Conduct that must be followed.

The Code of Conduct is the legal guide for the behavior of military members who are captured by hostile forces. The code itself is broken down into six Articles that address various situations that may arise.

The military Code of Conduct is as follows:

Article I I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

Article II I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

Article III If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

Article IV If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

Article V When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

Article VI I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

As a POW, you may become sad, depressed and even suffer from anxiety attacks, you must always keep your wits about you! You are confined and possibly even separated from your other prisoners, you may never know what the future holds. Always know there are people and forces out there that are trying to reach you and set you free.

If you find yourself a Prisoner of War the following are some things that have helped me through my ordeal as a detainee.

1. Start a routine or an activity to keep your mind off your current condition and circumstance.

2. Exercise. Even in a confined environment, you can do activities to stay in shape.

3. To the extent possible eat as best as you can, there are actually certain foods that have stress lower properties. According do some nutrition experts, foods that help fight anxiety are:

a. Berries, any berries

b. Guacamole

c. Mixed nuts

d. Oranges

e. Asparagus

f. Chai tea

Understand as a POW you will only be able to eat what is offered, but at least now you have and idea of some good food choices.

4. Get as much fresh air as possible. Every opportunity you have should be a chance to take in some fresh air. When I was a detainee, I suffered an anxiety attack like non other I had surfered before. What helped me was taking in as much fresh air as possible.

5. If there are other POW's at your facility it may be helpful to build relationships . The company of others is a good thing during stressful times. When I was a detainee, I along with another detainee, shared a small space his name was Anthony Wright and he was from Chicago. While we had extremely different backgrounds, we both did a lot to keep each other's spirits up. We would tell each other jokes and share the limited supplies our detainers provided us. Anthony Wright helped me survive my ordeal as a detainee and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Lastly, you should never give up hope! You should pray to whatever power gives you strength as well as spiritual renewal. The power of prayer is real and should not be taken lightly or for granted!

Remember your training. Remember you are not alone. Remember they may have your body but never your mind! Remember that your family, friends and country love you and will never forget you. Keep the faith. Pray and most of all, always remember that God will be with you...always!

President Obama signs new GI Bill for 'all who serve'

President Obama saluted the extension of GI Bill education benefits to post-9/11 veterans today, saying they sacrificed abroad while others back home sought to make money or play politics.

"While so many were reaching for the quick buck, they were heading out on patrol," Obama said. "While our discourse often produced more heat than light, especially here in Washington, they have put their very lives on the line for America. They have borne the responsibility of war."

During a ceremony at George Mason University, Obama said helping veterans with college tuition and housing is more than a "moral obligation."

"We do it because these men and women must now be prepared to lead our nation in the peaceful pursuit of economic leadership in the 21st century," said Obama, who was joined at the ceremony by Vice President Biden.

The legislation is expected to cost up to $70 billion over the next decade.

President Bush actually signed the new GI Bill last year, but it did not take effect until last Friday. It basically gives college financial assistance to veterans of the war on terrorism, post 9/11, including those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families. The bill also covers reservists and National Guard members.

"Over the last eight years, they have endured tour after tour of duty in dangerous and distant places," Obama said. "They've experienced grueling combat, from the streets of Fallujah to the harsh terrain of Helmand province. They've adapted to complex insurgencies, protected local populations and trained foreign security forces."

Obama said, "You pick the school, we'll help pick up the bill."

Presidents are always looking to link themselves to historic pieces of legislation, and few fit that definition better than the GI Bill.


First signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, the GI Bill helped provide college educations for up to 8 million veterans from World War II, creating a social and cultural revolution in the Baby Boom years that followed.

GI Bill recipients would come to include three U.S. presidents, three Supreme Court justices, 14 Nobel Prize winners and two dozen Pulitzer Prize winners, Obama said. "But more importantly, it produced hundreds of thousands of scientists and engineers, doctors and nurses, the backbone of the largest middle class in history."

He added that the GI Bill "paid for itself many times over through the increased revenue that came from a generation of men and women who received the skills and education that they needed to create their own wealth."

In 1984, Congress extended GI Bill benefits to Americans who volunteered for military service in peacetime.

Taken from USAToday.

Mental Health Support for Returning War Veterans.

Give an Hour™ is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization’s mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society.

Currently, GAH is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of the troops and families affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The provide counseling to individuals, couples and families, and children and adolescents. The offer treatment for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, sexual health and intimacy concerns, and loss and grieving.

GAH has been featured and Dr. Van Dahlen has been interviewed in countless articles, television segments, and radio casts in the last few months, as the mental health needs of the troops have become strikingly apparent.

For more information or to obtain a brochure, press kit, or a video about GAH, you may visit them via this LINK http://www.giveanhour.org

Tom Watson and Tom Mengesha

TURNBERRY, Scotland — On an ancient stage hard by the craggy Ayrshire coast, Stewart Cink— always quick with an autograph or an interview — became a villain.
With Tom Watson making an implausible march against Father Time and soaking in the appreciation of adoring galleries as he tried to author perhaps the greatest story in golf, Cink ruined the fairy-tale ending with a stirring finish of his own.

In the fading light by the Firth of Clyde, Cink first canned a 15-foot birdie on the 72nd hole that forced a playoff when Watson missed an 8-foot par putt on the same hole, then crushed his deflated foe as Watson "hit one bad shot after another" in a four-hole playoff. Instead of Watson winning his sixth British Open, Cink rode away with the 17-inch silver beauty known as the Claret Jug.

"The dream almost came true," Watson said.

Finishing regulation play tied with Watson at 2-under-par 278 on a course affectionately known as "Old Lady," Cink grabbed his first major championship with a six-shot win in the playoff, highlighted by birdies on the final two holes.

Watson, less than a year removed from having his left hip replaced, two months shy of turning 60 and three years from qualifying for Social Security, played like the Watson of old. Although he signed on to work as an ABC-TV commentator for the tournament, Watson began thinking during his practice rounds that he could contend — despite the 500-1 odds against him in the betting shops at the start of the week and a world ranking of 1,374. The winner of five Opens — including one here on the Ailsa Course in his epic "Duel in the Sun" against Jack Nicklaus in 1977 when he shot 65-65 to his rival's 65-66 on the weekend — knew he had a chance.

Proving to be a prophet, he flashed his trademark grin, braved the harsh elements and used his experience in links golf to subdue his younger rivals for 71 holes with superior ball-striking and clutch putting. But on the verge of becoming the oldest player, by 11 years, to win a major championship, Watson hit an 8-iron on the 72nd hole that trickled over the green, and he failed to get up-and-down.

Then his swing broke down.

But the biggest story for most of the week was Watson, who tugged at hearts in the gallery and the locker room. He also produced tears that reached all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida, where Nicklaus, 69, said on his website he shed a tear or two as Watson assumed possession of the 54-hole lead.

"I take from this week just a lot of warmth, a lot of spirituality in the sense that, you know, there was something out there. I still believe that," said Watson, who will play in his last Open next year at St. Andrews — unless he wins it. "It helped me along. It's Turnberry. Great memories here. This would have been a great memory.

"It was fun to be in the mix of it again and having the kids who are my kids' age just look up at you and say, 'All right, nice going. You can still play.' When all is said and done, one of the things I hope that will come out of my life is that my peers will say, 'You know, that Watson, he was a hell of a golfer.' "

"Whether Tom was 59 or 29, he was one of the field," Cink said. "I'm just filled with pride and honor. This article was taken from USAToday.

Possible ban on tobacco use by troops

WASHINGTON — Pentagon health experts are urging Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and end its sale on military property, a change that could dramatically alter a culture intertwined with smoking.

Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, says he will recommend that Gates adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.

The study by the Institute of Medicine, requested by the VA and Pentagon, calls for a phased-in ban over a period of years, perhaps up to 20. "We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith says.

A tobacco ban would confront a military culture, the report says, in which "the image of the battle-weary soldier in fatigues and helmet, fighting for his country, has frequently included his lit cigarette."

Also, the report said, troops worn out by repeated deployments often rely on cigarettes as a "stress reliever." The study found that tobacco use in the military increased after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said the department supports a smoke-free military "and believes it is achievable." She declined to elaborate on any possible ban.
One in three servicemembers use tobacco, the report says, compared with one in five adult Americans. The heaviest smokers are soldiers and Marines, who have done most of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the study says. About 37% of soldiers use tobacco and 36% of Marines. Combat veterans are 50% more likely to use tobacco than troops who haven't seen combat.

Tobacco use costs the Pentagon $846 million a year in medical care and lost productivity, says the report, which used older data. The Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion in treatments for tobacco-related illnesses, says the study, which was released late last month.
Along with a phased-in ban, the report recommends requiring new officers and enlisted personnel to be tobacco-free, eliminating tobacco use on military installations, ships and aircraft, expanding treatment programs and eliminating the sale of tobacco on military property. "Any tobacco use while in uniform should be prohibited," the study says.

The military complicates attempts to curb tobacco use by subsidizing tobacco products for troops who buy them at base exchanges and commissaries, says Kenneth Kizer, a committee member and architect of California's anti-tobacco program.

Seventy percent of profits from tobacco sales — $88 million in 2005 — pays for recreation and family support programs, the study stays.

Strong leadership could make the military tobacco-free in five to 10 years, Kizer says. President Obama, he says, could set an example for the military by ending his own smoking habit once and for all. Last month, Obama said he is "95% cured" but "there are times when I mess up" and smoke.