Soldier and Family Programs Newsletter

Mission:

USACC partners with universities to recruit,

educate, train, and commission leaders of

character for the Total Army and partners with high

schools to develop accomplished, responsible

citizens who value service to their communities..

Soldier and Family

Programs Newsletter

Inside this issue:

JAN 2021 2nd Quarter

Newsletter Editor/Publisher:

Teresa Bolton, SFSC MAT, Inc.

Contractor Teresa.l.bolton6.ctr@

mail.mil

U.S. Army Cadet Command: Leadership Excellence

CDC COVID-19 Info p.1 and 2 DOD/DA Suicide Prevention Conference p. 3 inTransition p. 3 Army Emergency Relief p. 3 Leased Gov’t Housing p. 4 SAMHSA Tips for Teens p. 4 CWV Trailblazer Nomination Info. p. 4 Dates to Remember p. 5 Virtual Marriage Management Retreat p. 5 Spouse Employment Assistance p. 5 Onward to Opportunity p. 5 Chaplains’ Corner p. 6 Special Addition, “It’s a Wonderful Life” p. 6, and 7 Born the Battle p. 8 Tutor.Com p. 8 BDE and SFP Contact Info p. 8

COPING WITH COVID

As we welcome in the New Year, we look ahead to the continued adjustment of coping with the Covid-19 Pandemic. If you are one of many, who are dealing with the stress of it all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has some information to help you cope. Pandemics can be stressful. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Know the facts to help reduce stress. Knowing the facts about COVID-19 and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress and stigma. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can help you connect with others and make an outbreak less stressful. Take care of your mental health. Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency. People with pre-existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders may be particularly vulnerable in an emergency. Mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior in a way that influences their ability to relate to others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term) or long-lasting (chronic). People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. If you think you have new or worse symp-toms, call your healthcare provider. Watch for behavior changes in your child. Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include: Excessive crying or irritation in younger children. Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting). Excessive worry or sadness. Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits. Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens. Poor school performance or avoiding school. Difficulties with attention and concentration. Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past. Unexplained headaches or body pain. Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Continued on page 2 of this News Letter.

Page 2 Soldier and Family Programs Newsletter

CDC COVID Pandemic information, continued. Ways to support your child. Talk with your child about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child can understand. Reassure your child that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn from you how to cope with stress. Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand. Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities. Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members. Spending time with your child in meaningful activities, reading together, exercising, playing board games. In the workplace. Communicate with your coworkers, supervisors, and employees about job stress while maintaining social distancing (at least 6 feet). Identify things that cause stress and work together to identify solutions. Talk openly with employers, employees, and unions about how the pandemic is affecting work. Expectations should be communicated clearly by everyone. Ask about how to access mental health resources in your workplace. Identify those things which you do not have control over and do the best you can with the resources available to you. Increase your sense of control by developing a consistent daily routine when possible — ideally one that is similar to your schedule before the pandemic. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Take breaks from work to stretch, exercise, or check in with your supportive colleagues, coworkers, family, and friends. Spend time outdoors, either being physically active or relaxing. If you work from home, set a regular time to end your work for the day, if possible. Practice mindfulness techniques. Do things you enjoy during non-work hours. Know the facts about COVID-19. Be informed about how to protect yourself and others. Understanding the risk and sharing accurate information with people you care about can reduce stress and help you make a connection with others. Remind yourself that each of us has a crucial role in fighting this pandemic. Remind yourself that everyone is in an unusual situation with limited resources. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and mentally exhausting. Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns, how you are feeling, or how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting you. Connect with others through phone calls, email, text messages, mailing letters or cards, video chat, and social media. Check on others. Helping others improves your sense of control, belonging, and self-esteem. Look for safe ways to offer social support to others, especially if they are showing signs of stress, such as depression and anxiety. Watch for Suicide risks. Different life experiences affect a person’s risk for suicide. For example, suicide risk is higher among people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence. Feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and other emotional or financial stresses are known to raise the risk for suicide. People may be more likely to experience these feelings during a crisis like a pandemic. However, there are ways to protect against suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, support from family and community, or feeling connected, and having access to in-person or virtual counseling or therapy can help with suicidal thoughts and behavior, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about CDC’s work in suicide prevention. CDCINFO: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) | TTY: 1-888-232-6348 Website: cdc.gov/info Other Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish, or Lifeline Crisis Chat. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat SAMHSA Suicide Prevention https://www.samhsa.gov/suicide Suicide Risk Factors and Warning Signs https://www.ihs.gov/suicideprevention/riskfactors Five Action Steps for Communicating with Someone Who May Be Suicidal https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org


Are you in Transi on and need help?

inTransi on provides a bridge for poten al gaps

during a service member’s transi on to a new medical facility, a new geographic loca on or into a new health system. inTransi on is a free, confiden al program offering specialized coaching and assistance for ac ve‐duty service members, Na onal Guard members, reservists, veterans and re rees who need access to mental health care when:

reloca ng to another assignment

returning from deployment

transi oning from ac ve duty to reserve component or reserve component to ac ve duty

preparing to leave military service

any other me they need a new mental health provider, or need a provider for the first me

inTransi on services are available to ALL military

members regardless of length of service or discharge status and there is NO expira on date to enroll. Enroll today at (800) 424‐7877.

For addi onal informa on on inTransi on, visit

h ps:// www.pdhealth.mil/resources/intransi on or send email to dha.ncr.j‐9.mbx.intransi [email protected].

SAVE THE DATE

2021 U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) /

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Biennial Suicide Prevention Conference

May 18 - 20, 2021

Virtual Conference Information

The 2021 DOD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference, jointly organized and hosted by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will take place virtually May 18-20, 2021.

This year’s theme – Make Every Connection Count: Putting the 7 Strategies for Suicide Prevention to Work – promotes a comprehensive approach to prevention, which uses evidence-informed programs, tools, and practices to foster connectedness, increase coping and problem-solving, create protective environments, and strengthen suicide care, among other efforts. Suicide prevention among our Service members, Veterans, and families is a top priority for the DOD and VA. As collaborations are key to preventing suicide, we must continue to collaborate across our agencies, as well as with other Federal agencies, nonprofits, academia, and in communities across the Nation to prevent suicide.

Due to coronavirus-related considerations and with an abundance of caution, this year’s conference will be hosted virtually. The virtual format will still offer the same opportunities to:

Discuss key insights on ways to leverage and implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s seven evidence-informed strategies to prevent suicide across the military and veteran communities;

Share the latest evidence-informed practices for suicide prevention;

Listen and learn from keynote and luminary speakers;

Engage with community experts through virtual campfire sessions, lightning talks, and poster presentations; Network with speakers and attendees via live chat and sessions, among other means.

For additional information on the virtual conference, visit https://www.dspo.mil/Conference/

Soldiers helping Soldiers since 1942

The U. S. Army’s Nonprofit Organiza on To see all the ways AER can assist you visit: www.armyemergencyrelief.org/

Soldier and Family Programs Newsletter Page 4

The Center for Women Veterans (CWV) is accepting nominations of women Veterans to highlight as Trailblazers. For this initiative, CWV has defined a women Veteran Trailblazer as a woman who has served and separated from the service and makes an impact by enhancing the lives of other Veterans, Veteran families or Veteran caregivers. Impact may be a single event or action or may be demonstrated over a period of time in one or more of the following areas: Education Employment Entrepreneurship Homelessness Legal Mental Health and Wellness For additional information or to download a nomination form, visit https://www.va.gov/womenvet/

Leased Government Housing (LGH) is a program designed to offset the high costs and difficulty of finding a suitable home while living in a geographically dispersed location. The LGH program does not have housing set aside for Soldiers and their Families and there are a limited number of leases available each year. If approved for the program, the Soldiers relinquish all of their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to the Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineer enters into the lease agreement with the landlord. The LGH can be of benefit for areas with appropriate rentals greatly exceeding the BAH rates. If there are suitable rental options within the Soldier’s BAH plus 5.0% out of pocket (OOP) costs and within a 60 minute commute (during peak commuting times) to their official duty location or a Military Installation where housing is available, the LGH program will not be an option. When LGH is determined to be a viable option, the Soldier will submit an application for approval to the Corps of Engineer. A copy of the Soldier’s PCS orders, DD Form 1172 (dependent verification), LGH Statement of Understanding and the LGH Application Information page are needed to begin the application process. Once the complete application is received and submitted by USACC to the Corps of Engineer, the process takes a minimum of 45 days. Soldiers must meet all eligibility requirements set forth by the Corps of Engineers, listed below. If interested in the LGH program Soldiers should contact Soldier Family Programs (SFP) upon PCS notification. To apply for the LGH program or for further details about LGH, contact the Cadet Command Soldier and Family Programs office: usarmy.knox.usacc.mesg.hq-g1-soldier-and-family-programs@mail.mil Eligibility for Family Leased Housing The program is open to all ranks for Soldiers with dependents. All eligible personnel must be receiving BAH at the ‘with dependent rate' and accompanied by dependents. In cases of joint custody of dependents, only the Soldier who has custody for more than six months per year is eligible. Permanent duty station must be located in a location that is greater than a one-hour commute from a military installation which has Government housing. If adequate suitable housing is identified by the Corps of Engineers but declined by the Soldier, the Soldier is dropped from the program. They cannot reapply for the program until they have orders for a permanent change of duty station. Total annual cost of housing plus utilities must not exceed the maximum annual cap set by the Corps of Engineers. Bedroom Entitlement: Unit size is based on number of dependents up to a maximum of four (4) bedrooms as listed below: Member and spouse share one bedroom. Children under 6 years of age share bedroom with same or opposite gender (maximum of 2 children per bedroom) Children 6-9 years of age share bedroom with same gender only (maximum 2 children per bedroom) Dependent parents are entitled to their own bedroom Soldier must show proof that a child between the ages of 18 to 22 years old is enrolled in school/college, child loses bedroom entitlement on 23rd birthday NOTE: Number and age of dependents may increase the bedroom

Have Teenagers in your home? If so, take a look at the SAMHSA's Tips for Teens series. It is designed to help teens learn more about marijuana, tobacco, E-Cigs, stimulants, hallucinogens and many more substances and their harmful effects.

Order or download for free at: https:// store.samhsa.gov/?f%5B0%5D=series%3A5567


Black History Month is celebrated all through February, beginning Monday February 1st through Sunday February 28th. Groundhog Day is Tuesday February 2nd. Valentines’ Day is Sunday, February 14th. Presidents’ Day is Monday February 15th. Saint Patricks’ Day is Wednesday March 17th. The 1st day of Spring is Saturday March 20th.

One good way to start off the New Year and celebrate your marriage would be to attend a virtual Marriage Retreat. The one sponsored here, MarriageManagement.org is for all Veteran and Military couples.

Marriage Management \\MMC380\Documents\MMC\TVC\TVC 2020-2021 Programs\

Onward to Opportunity (O2O)

O2O is a free career training program providing professional certification and employee support services to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. O2O combines industry-validated curricula, strong partnerships with leading veteran service organizations and private sector companies, and comprehensive career coaching services to prepare and match you with your next career. For future program participants, please contact [email protected] or call 315-443-6898 with any questions.

Is your Military Spouse needing assistance with Employment

Opportunities? The below websites can help. Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) has approximately 300 partner employers. https://msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil/msep The DoD Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) Program enables spouses to explore career paths allowing for success despite frequent moves required by the military. https://myseco.militaryonesource.mil/portal My Career Advancement Scholarship Program offers up to $4,000 of financial aid for eligible spouses to pursue a license, certification, or Associate’s Degree in a portable career field/occupation. https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/Default.aspx Army Directive 2019-18 allows for State Licensure and Certification costs reimbursement up to $1000 incurred by Army Spouses resulting from a PCS move. Retroactive to 12 DEC 17. https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-616522 AER offers up to $2,500 Re-Licensing Aid for Spouses. https://www.milsuite.mil/book/thread/217696


Special Edition -- It's a Wonderful Life What does a life worth living actually look like? Could it include suffering? Could it even involve catastrophically difficult circumstances? Considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time, "It's a Wonderful Life" addresses that question. See the special edition PDF in the next page of this News Letter for more. You'll also learn more about James Stewart who rose from Private to Brigadier General by the time he retired. Thanks for being a light and making a difference where you are at with the people in your life; I've observed that many of you are in fact doing that and it always encourages me to see this. Take care, CH Brooks


It’s a Wonderful Life –the man behind the movie: James Stewart acted in 80 films from 1935 to 1991. In what would later become his most famous film, he acted as George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). While many of you have seen this holiday classic, you may not be familiar with his military service. He served 27 years in the Army Air Corps, Army Air Forces, and the US Air Force Reserve. He rose from Private to Colonel in the 4 years of WWII, and retired as a Brigadier General in 1968. He piloted the B-24 Liberator, B-36 Peacemaker, B-47 Strato jet, and the B-52 Strato fortress. He flew

over 20 combat missions over Germany and one B-52 Arclight mission over North Vietnam. During his career he earned numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the Air Medal (three oak leaf clusters), and the U.S. Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

It’s a Wonderful Life: As with all films, you’ll need to watch with discernment; however, don’t miss the massively positive themes placed over a dark and intense backdrop. Stewart portrays George Bailey as being in crisis and then the movie backtracks to review the major arcs of his life story leading up to the crisis. George grew up with big dreams to travel to wonderful places and to occupationally achieve great things, but time and again his dreams are dashed. In great contrast to his aspirations, he is stuck working a boring and tedious job in his hometown with long exhausting hours. As if the years of this weren’t enough, on one

Christmas Eve his entire life comes crashing down; he intends to commit suicide and then an unexpected intervention takes place by what turns out to be an angel. George is given a chance

to see what the world would be like if he had never been born and his outlook is ultimately transformed. When he returns to his real life, he embraces it wholeheartedly, trials and situations as they are. Then he discovers that he is rich in the ways that really matter. He really is living a wonderful life! Many life-enriching resources come to his rescue as he draws upon his faith (and for many of us that could include the more broadly defined idea of spirituality), friends, and family. This is a superb life-affirming film that causes us to really reflect what a life worth living may actually look like (vs. pre-conceived notions). It also highlights that each of us matter and we can make daily decisions which bring blessings to others despite our own difficult circumstance.

SIDE NOTE ON SHORT FILM, “WINNING YOUR WINGS.” In 1942 Lieutenant James Stewart starred in a recruiting film named “Winning Your Wings” for the Army Air Forces (17 minutes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrVVFWIHznM). This extremely successful endeavor led to a big boost in recruiting. He said that with 65,000 fighting planes this year and another 100,000 to be built the next, they needed 15,000 Captains, 40,000 LTs, and 35,000 flying Sergeants. The film reviews all the possible pathways of joining to become part of one big American team to all pull together to bring victory and gives a good overview of what recruits may expect in joining, training, and serving. The film instills confidence in both the training and their equipment. For both air and ground positions, it reviewed each position as each being an important

part of the team-effort. In addition to the wonderful technical training they would receive, they would learn other things that would bring huge payoffs in their lives: how to work with people, taking pride in one’s work, and courage. They would keep the war from coming home, providing safety for their loved ones. He concludes with some great lines, here’s part of one: “the roar of 100,000 motors sing their song, and theirs is the song of freedom.”


Brigade Contacts 1st BDE: 502-624-1448 2ndBDE: 609-562-5164 3rd BDE: 847-668-3328 (ext. 110) 4th BDE: 910-396-9620 5th BDE: 210-295-0861 6th BDE: 912-315-4613 7th BDE: 502-624-2473 8th BDE: 253-926-1581 CCHQs: Division Chief 502-624-5297 CCHQs: Drug Testing Coordinator 502-624-7219 CCHQs: SFP Support Coordinator 502-624-7226 CCHQs: SFP Support Coordinator 502-624-6239 CCHQs: SHARP Program Manager 502-310-6601

*Disclaimer: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States government.

USACC SFP is here for Soldiers and Families, contact us through the following means:

Cadet Command Website: http://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/

Cadet Command Soldier and Family Programs Webpage:

http://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/family_programs.aspx

Cadet Command Soldier and Family Programs Facebook group (NEW): https://www.facebook.com/groups/USACCSFP

Cadet Command Soldier and Family Programs Email Address:

usarmy.knox.usacc.mesg.hq-g1-soldier-and-family-programs@mail.mil

USACC SFP Support Coordinator Telephone Numbers: 502-624-6239, 502-624-7226

Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, is a

program that provides on-demand, online tutoring and homework help at no cost to eligible service members, civilian personnel, and their dependents. With live, expert tutors available 24/7, military-connected students can receive academic help at their moment of need—anywhere they have an internet connection. As of April 2020, all DoD service members, civilian personnel, and all dependent family members (kindergarten-college/adult) are eligible to use Tutor.com/military at no cost. For more information go to: https://military.tutor.com/

Launched in late 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs weekly podcast is a part of its ongoing effort to engage and reach out to Veterans. “Borne the Battle” recognizes each battle, challenge, and sacrifice our Veterans endure during and after their service, as well as spotlighting important resources, offices, and benefits VA offers our Veterans.

“Borne the Battle” is dedicated to:

Bridging the military/civilian divide

Educating VA employees about the warriors they serve

Promoting Veteran advocacy initiatives thru the voice of Veterans

Inspiring and educating transitioning Veterans with positive stories

Informing Veteran listeners about new information from VA as it is released

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/borne-the-battle-podcast/