Dc military mag 032715

2 | DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine MARCH/APRIL 2015

3DCMi l i tary.com/magazine DCMilitary MAGAZINE |MARCH/APRIL 2015

CONTENTS

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVALCelebrating a beautiful gift

10

CAREGIVERSCaregivers face battles of their own

12

FUN (& IMPORTANT)STUFF TO DO

14

LEAVING THE MILITARY?Get your finances in order

16

WHO’S WATCHING THE KIDS?Tips to aid your child care search

4

OPERATION KID COMFORTHomemade quilts offer hope

6

VETERANS CORNERNew process for disability claims

7

A SHARED STRUGGLEThe unsung heroes of war

8

THIS PAGE: THINKSTOCK: ABLESTOCK.COM, PHOTOOBJECTS.COM, PHOTODISC

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hen the recent lyreleased Militar yCompensation andRetirement Mod-ernization Commis-

sion report listed improved accessto child care among its top 10recommendations, military par-ents everywhere must have stoodand cheered.Military families know that

quality, affordable child care is amission necessity. However, servicemembers who are single parents,dual military or dual income fami-lies, and spouses in need of respiteor hourly care often struggle to findcare that doesn’t break the familybudget.What do you do when localmilitary child care facilities are fullor inconvenient to home, or you arenew to a community? Here’s whatchild care professionals and militarymoms advise:

Military Child DevelopmentCenters are among the most af-fordable options for parents, whichmeans they fill up fast, according toSunny Smith, director of the CodyChild Development Center at JointBase Myer-Henderson Hall. SincetheMilitary Compensation and Re-tirement Modernization Commis-sion report’s suggestions could takea while to implement, Smith offeredmore timely tips for finding care.

“As soon as you find out youare going to have a baby, contactthe nearest (Child DevelopmentCenter) to register and get on thewaiting list,” Smith said. Infant carecan be one of the hardest to securedue to tighter controls on baby-to-caregiver room ratios. This advicealso can apply to families facingchange-of-station moves. Once youhave orders, call the parent servicesoffice at your new duty station to getyour child care search started.Smith suggested that parents

register children at an installationChild andYouth Services programeven if full-time care isn’t available.“Parent services can direct you toalternatives, whether other militarycenters or quality civilian programsthrough the (Department of De-fense’s) Child Care inYour Neigh-borhood initiative,” said Smith.Theoffice can also put you in touch with

other military parents, who serve asan important search network, Smithsaid. “Register your children so atleast you have access to hourly care,”she said. “I’ve worked with parentson putting together piecemeal careuntil full-time care is found. Ourmission is to reduce the conflict be-tween having a military career anda family. You can’t do your job ifyou’re worried about your child.”

Off-post care is the solutionmost military families in this areahave to rely on, according to localreal estate agent Karen Olmstead,spouse of an Army Reserve soldierand mother of three boys ages 8,6 and 3. Olmstead has used homeday care, private centers and afterschool care since her oldest was6 weeks old because, as a reservefamily, they did not have priorityaccess at military Child Develop-ment Centers.

ON THE HOMEFRONT

BY ALICE SWAN

Tips to aid your child care searchWHO’S WATCHING THE KIDS?

WTHINKSTOCK/STOCKBYTE


Finding the best provider foryour family takes lots of research,and visits to homes or centersOlmstead said. “Joining onlinegroups in your community suchas Old Town Moms or Fort Bel-voir’s Facebook group can help.Don’t be afraid to post questionsto get recommendations fromother families.”Olmstead said thatfamilies can expect to pay $250 to$325 a week per child for in-homecare. Center care in the area costsabout $300 a week per child.Mostschool districts have income-basedfee schedules or subsidies.Au pairs could be a solution for

thosewho needmore flexibility, es-pecially for dualmilitary or two-in-come families, said MaraWork, anArmy spouse and mother of two.“With an au pair you’re able tocoordinate extended or after hourcare.You’re able to have childrenparticipate in after school activitiesbecause an au pair can take them.And the family benefits from a cul-tural exchange,” said Work, whohas used au pairs for seven years.“We became familiar with au

pairs through military friends,”Work said. “They had done re-search and found a program spon-sored by the United States De-partment of State—AuPairCare.”Work has since become AuPair-Care’s area director forWashing-ton, D.C. and Arlington,Virginia.Under the AuPairCare pro-

gram, providers are able to workin the U.S. through a 12-month J1Visa. Au pairs are required to dosix credit hours’ worth of studyduring their off hours.Their visascan be extended if the host familyand provider agree.

PHOTO BY DAMIEN SALAS

Kerryann Barr, lead caregiver at Cody Child Development Center,watches as preschool students prepare get-well-soon cards at the

FortMyer portion of Joint BaseMyer-Henderson Hall.

RESOURCES ONLINEChild Care Aware of AmericaDid you know that financial assistancefor child care expenses is availablethrough Child Care Aware? Visitnaccrra.org/military-families and clickon your service branch icon to learnmore about eligibility, where aid can beused and how to apply.

militarychildcare.comComing soon to an installation nearyou is the newmilitarychildcare.comwebsite. Still in a test phase, thisDepartment of Defense search tool isexpected to offer military families instantaccess to information about availabilityat their installations’ Child DevelopmentCenters, listings of community careproviders and evenmaps. It promises tobe a big help in a service family’s childcare planning.

Child Care in Your NeighborhoodChild Care in Your Neighborhood is aDOD program that helps parents findchild care resources. Information aboutthe program is available at militaryonesource.mil.

AuPairCareAuPairCare is a program sponsoredby the U.S. Department of State thatenables foreign students to providein-home child care through a 12-monthJ1 Visa. Findmore details online, ataupaircare.com, or send an email [email protected].

Local resources onlineSittercity enables military families tosearch screened listings of baby sittersfor free. The DOD providesmember-ships for active-duty, Guard and Reserveservicemembers. Go to Sittercity.com/dod to begin the registration process.Local governments also have onlinelistings of local licensed providers. InVirginia, the City of Alexandria keeps alist at alexandriava.gov/dchs/children-family. Local school districts offer beforeand after school programs, which arefeatured on government sites such asAnne Arundel County’s school-age carepage, aacounty.org/RecParks/childcare.

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DCMilitary Magazine is published by DCMilitary,a Civilian Enterprise media company serving 13military installations and the Pentagon in Maryland,Washington, D.C., and Virginia. A division of PostCommunity Media, LLC, DCMilitary is located at9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.Telephone: 301-921 2800.

It has a circulation of 110,000 printed by offset as acivilian enterprise bi-monthly magazine for installa-tions within the national capital region.

The publisher is a private firm in no way con-nected with the Department of Defense. Opinionsexpressed herein are those of the contributors tothis marketing publication, and they are not to beconsidered an official expression of the Departmentof Defense. The appearance of advertisements inthis publication does not constitute an endorsementby the Department of Defense of the products orservices advertised.

Maxine Minar, executive editor and presi-dent ([email protected])

Tiffany Arnold, managing editor

Lorraine Walker, designer

Alice Swan, On the Homefront columnist

Karen Finucan Clarkson,events and calendar columnist

Chuck Lucas, retired U.S. Air Force ChiefMaster Sgt., Veterans Corner columnist

Contributing WritersLeslie C. SmithJim Mahaffie

Send press releases and editorialsubmissions to [email protected].

John Rives, publisher and sales executive([email protected])

Tom Forsey, sales account representativeserving Prince George’s County, Maryland andWashington, D.C. ([email protected])

Kelley Kennedy-Lapping, sales accountrepresentative serving Northern Virginia andWashington, D.C. ([email protected])

Ryan Ebaugh, sales account representativeserving home builders, the real estate marketand apartments ([email protected])

James Constantine, sales account represen-tative serving Welcome Guide customers([email protected])

Jennifer Trinch, sales account representativeserving Welcome Guide customers([email protected])

For advertising information, call 301-921-2800.

Cover Photo by Rachel Larue

OPERATIONCOMFORTKID Wrapping kids in comfort

whenmommy anddaddy are deployed

BY LESLIE C. SMITH

he Armed ServicesYMCA has a spe-cial program designed to offer supportand comfort for the children of mil-

itary families—Operation Kid Comfort, a pro-gram gives handmade quilts and pillows to thechildren of deployed military service members.“They are all sacrificing,” said Giselle Schnei-

der,director of programs andOperationKidCom-fort coordinator. “The person that is deployed issacrificing, but so is the family that is left behind.”

Operation Kid Comfort originated at FortBragg/Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina in2003 and has since produced more than 21,000quilts and pillows.The program is offered at nineArmed ServicesYMCA branches and communityYMCAs around the country. Because requestsgrew so rapidly, the Armed ServicesYMCA na-tional headquarters developed kits for volunteers,whomail quilts and pillows to the children.Parents can sign up online to request a quilt

for children 7 and younger or a pillow for chil-

PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLIE C. SMITH

Armed Service YMCA’s Operation Kid Comfort provides a bit of comfort to children whomay have a parent deployed.

T- CONTINUED ON 18 -


Funeral AssistanceThe Department of Veterans Affairshas opened an online funeral directorsresource kit.Funeral directorsmay usethe kit when helping veterans and theirfamilies make burial arrangements inVA national cemeteries or at Arling-ton National Cemetery, operated bythe Department of Army.The web-site enables helps families plan burialsand apply for VA memorial benefits.Videos are available in English andSpanish. The website is available atcem.va.gov/cem/funeraldirector.asp.The Department of Veterans Affairsmaintains 3.2million gravesites in 131VA national cemeteries. More than

118,000 veterans and familymemberswere interred in 2012. Information onVA burial benefits can be obtainedfrom national cemetery offices, onlineat cem.va.gov or by calling theVA at1-800-827-1000.To make burial ar-rangements at aVA national cemetery,call the cemetery scheduling officeat 1-800-535-1117. For informationabout interments at Arlington Na-tional Cemetery, which is operated bythe Department of the Army, call 1-877-907-8585.

Claims FormsAddedA newVA disability claims form willstandardize the process to file claimsand initiate appeals. Previously, noform was needed for written claims,which caused delays due to missinginformation. The update also stan-dardizes the traditional informalclaims procedure by employing a newIntent to File a Claim process, whichgives the claimant one year to compilenecessary documentation or evidenceto support the claim while preservingan effective date of claim.

Defense FinanceandAccountingServiceHeardYouIn response to numerous pleas fromits customers, the Defense Financeand Accounting Service has easedpassword requirements to its web-site.The required password lengthof 15 to 30 characters will changeto between nine and 30 characters;the time between required passwordchanges will expand, from every 60days to every 150 days. No spacesare permitted in the password,which must include at least one up-percase and one lowercase letter, anumber, and a special character.

Consumer ComplaintsTheConsumer Financial ProtectionBureau accepts complaints aboutproblems with gift cards, benefitcards and general purpose reload-able cards.The bureau also acceptscomplaints about debt settlementservices, credit repair services, pawnand title loans. For more informa-tion visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint, call 1-855-411-2372 or writeto CFPB, P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City,Iowa 52244.

New processfor disability claims

VETERANS CORNER

BY U.S. AIR FORCE CHIEF MASTERSGT. CHUCK LUCAS, RETIRED

More than 118,000 veteransand family memberswere interred in 2012.

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Caregivers are unsung heroeswho face battles of their ownalong the road to recovery

or the wounded, the fightnever ends.”Shirts adorned with

this message can be seenthroughout the halls of

Walter Reed National MilitaryMedicalCenter.For soldiers, sailors,Marines, airmen andCoastGuards-men facing a serious illness or injury,this simple message is a reality.The apparel is from Operation

Ward 57, a small nonprofit dedi-cated to supporting wounded, in-jured and ill service members, vet-erans and their families since 2006.OperationWard 57 understand thatthe men and women in uniformwho have served and sacrificed,both physically and mentally, arenot the only ones shouldering a tre-mendous burden.There are unsungheroes who are instrumental alongthe difficult road to recovery. Someare parents, siblings, spouses, sig-nificant others or friends. Regard-

less of the relationship, those whohave earned the title of caregiverfight their own battles right along-side their loved ones.Serious disabilities such as trau-

matic brain injury, amputations andspinal cord injury impact not onlythe service member, but their fam-ily.Many severe physical injuries arecompounded by mental or emo-tional illness for veterans, compli-cating the care regimen.The physical, emotional and

economic needs of the veteran be-come the focus for caregivers and,at times, become an overwhelmingjob when juggled with parenting,a career or both. A study by theRAND Corporation, Hidden He-roes:America’s Military Caregivers,suggests that the unique challenges

facing militarycaregivers aretaking a toll.The re-port found that caregiv-ers were more likely to experi-ence worse health outcomes—men-tal and physical problems, strains infamily relationships and problemsin the workplace—compared tonon-caregivers.In particular, post-9/11 caregiv-

ers faced unique challenges com-pared to caregivers of earlier eras.The study noted that this could beattributed to age, since more than40 percent of post-9/11 caregiv-ers were between 18 and 30. Re-search shows this demographic ismore likely to help veterans copewith emotional and behavioralchallenges.The caregivers were athigher risk for depression. Post-9/11 caregivers supporting a spousehad an increased likelihood of mar-ital problems, including separationand divorce.

GUEST COLUMNBY CHARITY EDGAROPERATION WARD 57

“F

ASTRUGGLEUNDERSTOODANDSHAREDBYCAREGIVERS

TOP:Caregiver Siobhan Mary

Fuller poses with OperationWard 57 Board memberDoug Cox at a Holiday

Cheer event.

MIDDLE:A group of caregivers

take a break after tryingflying trapeze during a

caregiver event.

BOTTOM:Operation Ward 57

Executive Director BrittneyHamilton poses with Siob-han Mary Fuller, who caredfor her son Derek McCon-

nell. McConnell lost both hislegs to a roadside bomb at-tack in 2011 and later died

from the injuries.


Perhaps most telling was the stu-dy’s finding that more than half ofpost-9/11 caregivers said they lackeda support system.“Serving as a caregiver is a de-

manding job, physically, mentallyand emotionally,” said BrittneyHamilton, Operation Ward 57’sexecutive director. “The men andwomen who support our woundedwarriors in this role do not ask forrecognition or assistance.They arehumble heroes that go above and be-yond the call of duty, day after day.”

“While we can never fully repaythem for so selflessly serving our na-tion’s veterans, we can ensure theyknow that their efforts do not go un-noticed,” Hamilton said. “What mayseem like a small gesture can actuallybe a big help for caregivers.”OperationWard 57 prides itself

on seeing no request as too small.The group’s volunteers can oftenbe spotted delivering meals from afavorite restaurant for patients andcaregivers at Walter Reed, simplyto offer a break from hospital food.Sometimes, the gesture comes in

the form of a toaster or other smallappliance mailed to a caregiver whojust moved into a new adaptive homewith their loved one.“After my son was injured, mem-

bers ofOperationWard 57 showedupin the (intensive care unit). I neededa flashlight, and they went to thestore and brought it back. One day,I was craving a roll with butter, andin walked a volunteer with a bag ofrolls and a tub of butter,” said Siob-han Mary Fuller, a caregiver to herson who lost both legs in 2011 after aroadside bomb explosion in Afghan-istan, which later claimed his life.“For (my son) Derek’s birthday, notonly did he get a cake from them, but

chicken nuggets, as well.Whateverwe needed, they were there to pro-vide.While he tried to heal, they werethere with emotional support, giftcards and anything else we needed.When my son passed away, the loveand support was unparalleled.”Operation Ward 57 also brings

cheer to recovering service membersand their families in the hospital.Vol-unteers come to visit patients year-round, planning extra events duringthe holidays. For a seventh year, Op-erationWard 57 has hosted partiesfull of food, gifts and fun forWalterReed patients.“For some of our nation’s ill and

injured veterans, getting home for

the holidays isn’t an option,” saidHamilton. “That’s why OperationWard 57 brings the holidays to ourheroes. Holiday cheer is our smallway of saying thanks for their serviceand sacrifice.”The holiday cheer extends out-

side Bethesda, Maryland.The orga-nization’s Adopt aWoundedWarriorFamily program made the monthof December even brighter for 668children. For a second year, Opera-tionWard 57 matched organizations,businesses and individual sponsorswith wounded warrior families.Thesponsors agreed to purchase gifts foreach child in the family, as well asprovide a gift card for a family meal.Emily Mather was a recipient in

2013. In 2014, her family sponsoreda wounded warrior family.“I am veryproud that we were able to be recip-ients and are now in the position ofbeing able to give back,” saidMather.“Our wounded families have sacri-ficed so much physically, mentallyand spiritually that it is importantnot to forget those sacrifices that they

“The men and women who support ourwounded warriors in this role do not ask forrecognition or assistance. They are humbleheroes that go above and beyond the

call of duty, day after day.”Brittney Hamilton

Operation Ward 57 executive director

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10 | DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine MARCH/APRIL 201510 MARCH/APRIL 2015| DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine

CHERRYBLOSSOMSSIGNAL SPRING’S ARRIVALSIGNAL SPRING’S ARRIVAL

An Explosion of PetalsAn Explosion of Petals

PHOTO COURTESY OF

RON BLUNT PHOTOGRAPHY

The cherry trees thatbloom around the TidalBasin draw thousands oftourists toWashington,D.C. each spring.

ou don’t need a calendarto know it is spring in thenation’s capital. Just lookto the cherry trees sur-rounding theTidal Basin.

Their blooms—which peak betweenmid-March and mid-April, depend-ing on the weather—are a sure signthat spring has sprung.More than 1.5million people are expected to enjoynature’s spectacle, and take part inthe activities and events that comprisethis year’s National Cherry BlossomFestival,which runs throughApril 12,according to organizers.The 88-year-old festival com-

memorates the 1912 gift of 3,000cherry trees from the mayor ofTokyoto the District of Columbia. Todaythere are more than 3,700 treesgracing the grounds tended by theNational Park Service. The festival,which began as a simple re-enactmentby local school children of the origi-nal planting of the Japanese cherrytrees, now spans four weekends andincludes a variety of family-friendly

events, most of which are free andopen to the public. “Who would haveknown that a gift of trees would be-come the centerpiece of the nation’spremier springtime festival?” askedDiana Mayhew, president of the Na-tional Cherry Blossom Festival.While the festival has evolved and

expanded, it remains true to its roots,according to Danielle Davis, the Na-tional Cherry Blossom Festival direc-tor of communications. “Our signa-ture events are steeped in tradition,”she said. That’s not to say they arestaid. “Each year we take these eventsand infuse them with energy and addnew events, as well.”The Anacostia River Festival

joins the lineup for the first time thisyear. Scheduled for April 12, the wa-ter-themed event at Anacostia Parkcelebrates the arts, environment andrecreation.Activities include canoing,kayaking, bird watching, bike ridingand nature walks.The National Cherry Blossom

Festival offers something for everyone.

Y

BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON

11DCMi l i tary.com/magazine DCMilitary MAGAZINE |MARCH/APRIL 2015 11DCMi l i tary.com/magazine DCMilitary MAGAZINE |

PHOTO COURTESY RON ENGLE

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade inWashington,D.C. attracts participants and spectators from around the world.

NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVALSelect Events

Blossom Kite FestivalMarch 2810 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Washington Monument grounds, ConstitutionAvenue and 17th Street Northwest877-442-5666nationalcherryblossomfestival.orgThe Blossom Kite Festival kicks off the kite flying seasonwith open kite flying, displays, activities, competitionsand demonstrations. Bring your own kite. Children canmake a kite (while supplies last).

Step into Spring FitnessMarch 28, April 410 a.m.–3 p.m.Washington Monument grounds along 17th Streetand Constitution Avenuenationalcherryblossomfestival.orgJoin us for a workout with a stunning view. Get movingwith free group activities at the Washington Monument.

Cherry Blossom Family CelebrationApril 411:30 a.m.–3 p.m.Eighth and G streets Northwest202-633-1000nationalcherryblossomfestival.orgCelebrate the cherry blossom season with crafts, livemusic, a gardening demonstration and a display ofJapanese paper dioramas.

Southwest Waterfront Fireworks FestivalApril 41–9 p.m.600 Water St. SW877-442-5666nationalcherryblossomfestival.orgFree music, family-friendly water-related activities, liveentertainment and delicious foods at multiple outdoorvenues along the Southwest Waterfront. Fireworksbegin at 8:30 p.m.

National Cherry Blossom Festival ParadeApril 1110 a.m.–noonConstitution Avenue, from Seventh to 17th streetsNorthwestnationalcherryblossomfestival.orgOne of area’s largest and colorful spectator events runsfor 10 blocks along iconic Constitution Avenue. Freepublic viewing between Ninth and 15th Streets North-west. Arrive early for the best views.

Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street FestivalApril 1110:30 a.m.–6 p.m.Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, between Ninth and14th streets202-833-2210sakuramatsuri.orgThe Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is thelargest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in theU.S. with more than 50 cultural groups, vendors andfood booths, and more than 30 hours of performanceson four stages. Advance tickets cost $8. Day-of-the-fes-tival tickets cost $10 online or at the gate, $5 after 3 p.m.Free admission for children 12 and younger.

“There’s kite flying, fireworks, a parade and lotsof entertainment,” said Mayhew. “What’s greatis, because the events span several weekends, youdon’t have to pick just one.”Kite flying season takes off March 28 on the

grounds of the Washington Monument. Theevent runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and fea-tures activity stations, public kite flying, compe-titions and demonstrations, including the HotTricks Showdown and the Rokkaku Battle.More than seven hours of music, activities

and food precede the 8:30 p.m. pyrotechnicsdisplay at the SouthwestWaterfront FireworksFestival on April 4. Live entertainment will beoffered in several locations along three blocks ofWater Street Southwest. Great views of the fire-works,which take place rain or shine, also can behad from East Potomac Park.The Cherry Blossom Family Celebration, at

Eighth and G streets Northwest, includes crafts,livemusic, a gardening demonstration and a dis-play of Japanese paper dioramas.The five-hourcelebration gets underway at 11:30 a.m.April 4.Giant helium balloons, elaborate floats,

marching bands and celebrity entertainers willfill 10 blocks of Constitution Avenue during the

PHOTO COURTESY OF RON BLUNT PHOTOGRAPHY

Colorful helium balloons, elaborate floatsand marching bands from across thecountry are hallmarks of the annual Na-tional Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

More than 1.5 million people are expected toenjoy nature’s spectacle, and take part in theactivities and events that comprise this year’sNational Cherry Blossom Festival.

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BY JIM MAHAFFIE

ou might imagine the strugglesof a wounded warrior returninghome to physical and social chal-

lenges, adjusting to a new life, and dealingwith the medical and benefits system. Butwhat about the spouses who must now be-come caregivers, young people with newfamilies and life stresses of their own?Theseare the unsung heroes of our country’s re-cent conflicts.The WoundedWarrior Project reports

that in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Op-eration Enduring Freedom, for every U.S.soldier killed, seven are wounded. Morethan 52,000 servicemen and women havebeen wounded in these conflicts.As many as400,000 livewith the invisiblewoundsofwar,such as combat-related stress, depressionand post-traumatic stress disorder. Another320,000 are believed to have experienced atraumatic brain injury while on deployment,according to theWoundedWarrior Project, anational organization that raises awarenessand enlists the public’s aid for the needs ofinjured service members.For families and friends, trying to con-

nect the dots and find resources to help canseem overwhelming. “It’s 24/7,” said JanetGrampp, manager of Fisher House at JointBase Andrews, a home away from home forthe families of hospitalized service members.Gampp is also a former service member andcaregiver. “You can be consumed by it,” shesaid.“You’re just trying to get by,moment bymoment.You don’t always know how to askor who to ask for help.”You’re not alone. There are many re-

sources to turn to, not the least of whichare people who have been through this be-fore and are coping today and sharing theirwisdom. Locally, there are regular caregiverworkshops and resource fairs, such as eventson the campus of theWalter Reed National

CAREGIVERS

Y

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEDDA CARTER

Tedda Carter and her husband Matthew Carter pose with a service dog.Matthew Carter was diagnosed with Gulf War illness and post-traumatic stress disorder.

He retired in 2013 with 23 years of service. - CONTINUED ON 19 -

THE UNSUNGHEROES


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While it was an adjustment tohave a new person living in her fam-ily’s home,Work said it has been asuccessful care option. “And it hasbeen very affordable,” she said.Thecost amounts to $7.50 an hour whenaveraged over time, she said.Au pairswork no more than 45 hours a week.TheWorks had no problem get-

ting post access for their au pairs.MaraWork said thatmost installationsare willing to provide an access card.Housing offices can make accommo-dations for an extra bedroom whenapplying to live on post, she said.Online referral services allow

you to scan the resumes of hun-dreds of local care providers forfull-time, hourly or date-night care.And thanks to DOD’s partnershipwith Sittercity (Sittercity.com/dod),military families can search theirscreened listings for free, said Cath-erine Panzica,marketing director forthe company’s military program.Since 2009, the DOD has pro-

vided Sittercity memberships for ac-tive-duty, Guard and Reserve servicemembers, saidPanzica.Military fam-ilies just have to visit the website tobegin the registration process. “Onceyou click on the ‘activate member-ship’ tab, you’ll first set up an ac-count and then complete a DEERSeligibility form,” Panzica said. “Thatinformation goes through a screen-ing by the DOD.” Panzica said ap-proval is usually instantaneous.Panzica said that the 20,000

providers listed in the greaterWash-ington, D.C. region have undergonean identity check and sex offenderregistry screening. Military parentscan also request a background checkon a potential sitter, a service thatis covered through the partnershipwith the DOD.The hourly cost forcare—determined by the provid-er’s experience and number of chil-dren—typically runs $11–$13 in thisregion, Panzica said.

- CHILD CARE, CONTINUED FROM 5 -

PHOTO BY RACHEL LARUE

A child from the Strong Beginnings Class at the Cody Child DevelopmentCenter waves during a graduation ceremony in the Spates Community

Club on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall on June 1, 2012.

FUN (& IMPORTANT) STUFF TO DOMarch

SilentWitnesses: Artifacts of theLincoln AssassinationThroughMay 25Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NWWashington, D.C.202-347-4833fords.org/event/silent-witnessesFor the first time since April 1865,this exhibition reunites an extra-ordinary collection of artifactsthat were in the theater or carriedby Abraham Lincoln on the nightof his assassination. Tickets avail-able online. Limited day-of ticketsavailable at Ford’s Theatre.

Teen Opportunity FairMarch 252¬–6 p.m.ClubMeade, 6600Mapes RoadFort Meade, MarylandExplore employment, intern-ship, volunteer, educational andscholarship opportunities. Forages 14–21.

April

EasterMonday:AWashington Family TraditionApril 610 a.m.–4 p.m.NationalZoologicalPark, 3001 ConnecticutAve. NWWashington, D.C.202-633-4888nationalzoo.si.eduThis free family-focused eventincludes special activities, suchas an Easter egg hunt, animaldemonstrations and live enter-tainment. Rain or shine.

Opening Day atNationals ParkApril 64:05 p.m.1500 S. Capi-tol St. SEWashington,D.C.202-675-6287washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ballparkTheWashington Nationals takeon the NewYorkMets in its 2015season home opener.

8th Annual DC Design HouseApril 11–May 10956Mackall Farm LaneMcLean, Virginiadcdesignhouse.comWork from the area’s top interiordesigners will be on display ina renovated 8,869-square-foothouse. Tickets cost $30 at thedoor. Ticket proceeds benefitChildren’s National Health Sys-tem. Children younger than 8 notpermitted.

The Lincoln TributeApril 14–15Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NWWashington, D.C.202-347-4833fords.org/event/lincoln-tributeThis around-the-clock event willmark the 150th anniversary ofAbraham Lincoln’s assassina-tion. Ranger talks, a one-act playand panel discussions will focuson the legacy of the 16th presi-dent. A wreath-laying ceremonyand the tolling of church bellsacross the city at 7:22 a.m. April15 will mark his death. Ticketsavailable online.

Earth Day 5K RunApril 188 a.m.Burba Lake Park, 4424McKay St.Fort Meade, Maryland301-677-3318www.ftmeademwr.com5K run and 1-mile walk are opento the general public, runninggroups and othermilitary instal-lations, and featuremale and

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THIS PAGE: THINKSTOCK: LIQUIDLIBRARY, PHOTDISC: EASTER EGGS, BASEBALL. PAGE 21: THINKSTOCK: PHOTOOBJECTS.COM, PHOTODISC, LIQUIDLIBRARY: CANNON, CINCO DE MAYO. PAGE 22: PHOTODISC

Check out more photos at online, at dcmilitary. com/magazine.


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16 | DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine MARCH/APRIL 2015MARCH/APRIL 2015| DCMilitary MAGAZINE DCMi l i tary.com/magazine16

LEAVINGTHEMILITARY?NOWWHAT?

THINKSTOCK/PHOTODISC


o you remember youremotions the day youjoined the military, rais-ing your right hand andgetting sworn in? Now,

here you are so many years later,and you’re facing life outside themilitary—either through retirementor ETS.There are a variety of feel-ings, too, as you envision aworld outof uniform.This is not an unusualscenario:Nomatter the rank or timein service, all service members willfeel some anxiety and sense of lossas the “final out” approaches.Thisanxiety is due, in large part, to fearof the unknown—perhaps for thosewhoneverworked in the civilian sec-tor—or overall lack of preparation.I’ve had the opportunity to work

with thousands of transitioningmili-tary members—from general officerto junior enlisted—transitioning dueto ETS, medical reasons or retire-ment. Successful military transitionshave one thing in common:Thosein transition all have taken actionto accomplish most of the itemslisted below.Whatever your circum-stances, you can set yourself up forsuccess. Here are some things youcan do to ease the transition to ci-vilian life:1. Understand that retirement

preparation begins the first day youenter the military. So, if you are read-ing this and are not leaving the mil-itary anytime soon, start making therightmoves today to ensure your suc-cess later on.What if you didn’t pre-pare from day one, and now it’s “gotime?”Don’t worry, keep reading.2. Build your war chest. This

means having six months of liv-ing expenses saved up. Why sixmonths?That’s the average amountof time it takes to find employmentin the civilian world. For many ofyou, it will not take that long.Youhave great marketable skills, tran-sition leave and available career as-sistance. Still, begin your financialpreparation with a solid foundationof savings.This is step one of yoursuccessful transition. If you end upnot using your savings, so much thebetter. At least your financial riskwas minimized.3. If you are within one year of

separation, do not take on addi-tional debt. It is amazing to see thenumber of military members who

view their upcoming separationas a final financial blowout and goon spending sprees that will latercrush them. Now is the time toreduce your debt load and startbuilding the savings stockpile justdiscussed. Remember, you will nolonger receive the tax-free BAHand BAS stipends.Additional debtpayments will only make it moredifficult to afford suitable housingor obtain a mortgage. Set yourfamily up for success by delayingpurchases until after you have thatfirst civilian paycheck in hand.4. Few military benefits can

compare with the value ofTricare.Consider that civilians’ deduct-ibles are far greater thanTricare’sfamily limit of $300. Upon retire-ment, you will be offered a choiceofTricare programs.The primarydifferences usually boil down tothis: Is it worth paying more out ofpocket in order to see the doctor ofyour choice? For some people, it is.In that case,Tricare Standard willprobably be the plan for you.Theco-pays for Standard are higher,but the limit on the out-of-pocketexpense to you (known as the“catastrophic cap”) is the same asPrime, $3,000 per year. Carefullystudy the details of both plans anddecide which is better for yourfamily’s medical situation.5.What to dowithTSP?Hope-

fully, you have invested in TSPthroughout your career and haveaccumulated significant assets inthe plan. Over 20 years, your 10percent to 15 percent yearly con-tribution, invested in a balancedcombination of funds, might total

D

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GUEST COLUMNBY ARTHUR LYONS

1050513


dren 8 and older.The quilt and pil-low have pictures of the parent andchild. “The children don’t want tolet go,” said Schneider. “They take iteverywhere, to school for show andtell.Many say it’s a hug from daddy.”Schneider said that sometimes

the organization tries to surprise kidsby giving them the quilt at school orat an event. “Even if they receive it inthe mail it’s just as special becausethey are getting somethingmade spe-cifically for them,” she said.Headquartered in Springfield,

Virginia, theArmed ServicesYMCAprovides programs and services tomilitary service members and theirfamilies. Programs include HolidayJoy withWoman’s DayMagazine, anart and essay contest for kids, andOperation Hero.

Operation Kid Comfort was anArmed Services YMCA programthat Schneider said was dear to herheart. “Because I know what it’s liketo be that child,” Schneider said asshe wiped away tears.“Because whena parent is gone, a lot of times, chil-dren just don’t understand.”Schneider said she was inspired

to volunteer for the organizationafter her son was deployed. “It wasvery early in the morning, Camp Le-jeune,” she said. “It was totally darkand foggy so you couldn’t see any-

thing except what was in front of you.The only person I could see was myson. So as a mom, I was just thinkingof the perspective of a mom, ‘Oh,myson is getting deployed. I’m not goingto get to see him.’”Then she said she was struck by

another image. “The children,” shesaid, her voice trailing off. “I saw thechildren and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh,how selfish I am thinking just aboutmyself and here are these children.Their parent is deploying.’”When she returned from Camp

Lejeune, she discovered OperationKid Comfort. “I started makingquilts right away,” she said.The pictures, Schneider said, are

whatmake the quilts special. She saidmoms have told her that their chil-dren find the quilts comforting.

“And I firmly believe it not onlycomforts the child, but it also com-forts the parent that is stateside aswell as the parent that is abroad,”Schneider said. “Like a little pebblein the water, it comforts the child,(and) it comforts the parent and any-one who is connected to that child.When they see that child comfortedthey are comforted.”For more information about

Armed ServicesYMCA, OperationKid Comfort and its other programs,visit asymca.org or go to its Facebookpage facebook.com/ASYMCAOKC.

- KID COMFORT, CONTINUED FROM 6 - “when a parent is gone, a lot of times,children just don’t understand.”

Giselle Schneiderdirector of programs and Operation Kid Comfort coordinator.

have made.”Another nationwide initiative,

Honor & Courage Special Grantsprogram, provides financial sup-port to wounded veterans and theircaregivers on an as-needed basisto help them get back on their feetafter falling on hard times. From alocal grocery store gift card to helpcovering the cost of adaptive vehicleequipment or paying an electricalbill, the Honor & Courage SpecialGrants program is OperationWard57’s small way of thanking veteransfor the sacrifices they made.“OperationWard 57 helped take

the strain off the everyday worries soI can focus on helping my husbandheal,” said an Army spouse aidedby the organization. “They not onlyhelped to pay for groceries formy kids,they also took care of my phone billso I could talk to my husband whenI could not visit him at the hospital.”One of the most important ser-

vices OperationWard 57 provides isa support network, a much-neededservice as outlined by the HiddenHeroes: America’s Military Caregiv-ers report.Honor & Courage provides a

confidential outlet for caregivers andveterans.The hotline is staffed by car-ing casemanagers andwoundedwar-rior mentors who are empathetic lis-teners.The hotline (267-210-6956)is available 24 hours a day, seven days

a week. For some caregivers, havingsomeone outside of the situation totalk to makes a world of difference.Another of the program’s aims is

to get the loved ones out of the houseand to a fun activity with men andwomen who understand the chal-lenges of being a caregiver. Camara-derie-filled activities such as concertsand spa days are enjoyed in Opera-tionWard 57’s headquarters inWash-ington and Seattle.

A recent trip to a trapeze schoolwas especially meaningful for onecaregiver. “Thank you for the won-derful caregiver day out,” said StaceyKelley. “As a caregiver, we are alwaystaking care of others and having totake the lead role. I had to put all mytrust in a total stranger, and this reallyhelped me to step outside my com-fort zone.”Hamilton said she understands

that the role of caregiver is not an easyjob. “Adjusting to a life-altering injury

or illness isn’t easy for veterans or theircaregivers,”saidHamilton.“OperationWard57wants to ensure bothhave thesupport they need, in the hospital andbeyond.Wewant veterans and caregiv-ers alike to know that they are neveralone on the road to recovery.”To learn more about Operation

Ward 57, visit operationward57.orgor like the organization on Facebook,facebook.com/operationward57.

-WARD 57, CONTINUED FROM 9 -

OPERATIONWARD 57

A group of caregivers hangout during an event coordinated by OperationWard 57.



Military Medical Center sponsoredby Hope ForTheWarriors. Foundedby military wives, Hope For TheWarriors offers programs for thewounded, their family members andfamilies of the fallen. “It is essentialthat we devote more attention tothe caregivers because of the impacttheir caregiving role can have on theirphysical health and psychologicalwell-being,” said Dana Thompson,a regional social worker with HopeForTheWarriors. “The physical andpsychological problems that militarycaregivers experience can greatly im-pact the care of the wounded warriorand the family’s overall stability.”Anne Barnwell, communications

director, said that almost all of HopeForTheWarrior’s programs apply to

caregivers as well as veterans. “Wereally focus on the entire family unitwith creative ways to nurture anddevelop the family, because if youonly take care of the service member,you’ll have problems in the long run.”OperationWard 57, a nonprofit

organization that supports woundedsoldiers, their loved ones and familymembers, has a 24-hour hotline forhelp and pairs new caregivers withlongtime caregivers, people they canlean on. “With their jobs, paperworkand red tape, and kids and homeschooling, and all the back and forthfor caregivers, there’s lots of uncer-tainty about moving forward,” saidBrittney Hamilton, executive directorof OperationWard 57.Tedda Carter said she appreciates

“caregiver days out” like the monthlymeetings organized by veteran supportgroups OperationValor or by Opera-tionWard 57, where she can spend anentire day with fellow caregivers, beingtogether, laughing and having fun.“I have learned that I have to take

care of me before I can take care ofanyone else,”Tedda Carter said.Her husband Matthew Carter

went through Desert Storm deploy-ment as well as the recent war inIraq. He was in numerous convoys,

was rocked by improvised explosivedevices and was also concussed byblast waves from mortars. Diag-nosed with Gulf War illness andpost-traumatic stress disorder, heretired in 2013 with 23 years of ser-vice.The couple visits aVA hospitalinWashington State weekly.TeddaCarter has a job, but with varioustriggers a problem for Matthew, shesaid it’s hard to leave her childrenand husband at home.Hearts ofValor provides a com-

munity of support to caregivers, aswell.The network includes caregiverretreats, support groups and on-line forums. Program coordinatorCheryl Gansner’s husband Bryanspent 20 months at Walter ReedArmy Medical Center. In additionto her work with Hearts ofValor, she

blogs about her family’s experienceat wifeofawoundedsoldier.com.“New caregivers should sign up forHearts ofValor ... to build a supportnetwork for themselves and also finda good therapist,” said Gansner.Grampp said that in her time at

Fisher House she’s found that care-givers do better with larger supportnetworks. “What most important isthat you don’t feel like you’re goingthrough it alone,” said Grampp.“You feel so isolated if you don’tconnect with others. It feels like thewhole world’s on top of you.”Grampp recalled a wife of an

active-duty soldier. She had threesmall children and was pregnant.Her baby was going through cancertreatment. Every day, the womanwould get the children up, and thewhole family would go to chemotogether, singing and upbeat. “Shemade it a big adventure and the kidswere sowell-adjusted,”saidGrampp.Those around caregivers of in-

jured military veterans say thereis a strength and determinationthroughout their ranks.“These are amazing, strong peo-

ple,”Grampp said,“and they inspireme every day.”

- CAREGIVERS, CONTINUED FROM 12 -

“You’re just trying to get by, moment bymoment. You don’t always know how to

ask or who to ask for help.”Janet Grampp,

manager of Fisher House at Joint Base Andrews

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National Cherry Blossom FestivalParade. One of the area’s largest andmost colorful spectator events, theApril 11 parade is a favorite of resi-dents and tourists, who line the pa-rade route—between Ninth and 15thstreets Northwest—well before thestart of the 10 a.m. event.Tickets forgrandstand seats begin at $20 and areavailable for purchase online.While the bulk of the events take

place on weekends, cherry blossomviewing is a daily occurrence duringthe festival.TheTidal BasinWelcomeCenter is a great place to get questionsanswered. Staffed by park rangersand volunteers fromMarch 29–April13, thewelcome center offers first aid,food, souvenirs and books.The wel-

come center is located at 1501MaineAve. SW in the paddle boat parkinglot and is open noon to 5 p.m. Sun-day throughThursday, and noon to 6p.m. Friday and Saturday.TheTidal BasinWelcome Center

is one several locations where visitorscan send a postcard to the troops.The postcard features the official art-work of the 2015 festival, a colorfuldesign by Jing JingTsong of Hawaii.“We are proud of this program,” saidMayhew, “and the lift it gives to theservicemen and women who receivethe postcards.”The National Cherry Blossom

Festival features more than 30 activ-ities and events.To learn more, visitnationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

- CHERRY BLOSSOM, CONTINUED FROM 11 -

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARREN BARNES

Tourists and residents enjoy the blossoming cherrytrees around the Tidal Basin.

$250,000 or more. With that kindof money, it may be time to exploreadditional investment options thatcould reduce your risk. True, TSPhas the lowest fund expense of mostanything available, but the investmentchoices are limited. Additionally, youmay now want this very significantasset to be managed by a professionaladvisor, so you can devote more timeand energy to your new civilian careerand reconnecting with your family.Toavoid taxes and penalties, your TSPfunds need to remain as is or placedin an IRA rollover account at anotherfinancial institution. Either way,TSPassets should be considered in yourtotal financial plan and measuredalong with your other household in-vestments.6.The military won’t let you take

service members group life insurance(SGLI) with you.The veterans grouplife insurance (VSGLI) alternative isa “high risk pool” and are really in-tended for those who are uninsurablewith any other insurance company.The vast majority of military mem-bers can find better rates elsewhere.I would encourage you to start withAAFMAA (a 135-year-old, militarynonprofit association) to shop for low-cost insurance. Remember, there’snothing magical about the $400,000SGLI limit. Most families need farmore. A person with two childrenand a rank of E-6 or higher would$800,000 to $1 million to replace

lost income, fund college and providehousing. Other households withoutchildren may still need low cost terminsurance to offset a large mortgageand other debt obligations, often inexcess of that $400,000 threshold.7. Along those lines, the Survivor

Benefit Program (SBP) is a prettygood deal for those who are eligible.Considering that, according to actu-ary tables, women outlive men, SBPis a useful financial tool, especially ifthe wife is younger than the SM.Thecost of SBP is so reasonable that theresimply isn’t a lower cost alternativeavailable. Since SBP is a different typeof coverage than life insurance, youwill need to carry both in order to bestprotect your household.8. Obtain more education when-

ever you have the opportunity.Today’sjob market is obsessed with degrees,training certificates and verifiable cre-dentials.This means that, for some ofyou, despite all your military experi-ence, you will need to acquire addi-tional civilian education or skill train-ing.That’s just the way things are.Thesooner you come to grips with that re-

ality, the sooner you can begin work-ing constructively on your next career.In a perfect scenario, additional edu-cation can be obtained throughout amilitary career, but the demands ofmilitary service do not always allowthe time to do so. Now you will havethat time.So, even if you find full-timeemployment, continue to take advan-tage of yourGIBill benefits by attend-ing a part-time program.Vocationaland trade schools are eligible for edu-cational benefits, too. Still, some maywant to pass on their Post-9/11GIBillbenefit to other family members. Justmake sure that election is completedprior to leaving the service. Once theDD 214 is issued, that benefit is non-transferable.9. Approach your civilian job

search like it was a military mission:well-prepared, planned and executed.Plan ahead by using all the career as-sistance programs offered. Put your-self through mock interviews as oftenas possible—nothing will give youmore confidence. Remember, each“no” will only get you closer to theone “yes” you need.Active interview-

ing three to six months before yourfinal out date is usually the optimalperiod of time.This is all so much to consider

and plan for, but there is no need toget overwhelmed.Take things step bystep. Sit down with your family andwork through your priorities. It is anexciting time in your life, filled withnew opportunities.This transition pe-riod is also a time to reexamine yourfinancial, investment and estate plan-ning goals.Most military, due to mis-sion, family and time demands, havenot been able to really plan out theirhousehold finances and goals. An in-dependent, fee-only financial advisorcan objectively help youwork throughthis process, regardless of where youare financially.With your military career coming

to a close, cherish your past service asyou work toward a rewarding future.Taking action on even a few of thesesteps will provide you and your familywith a successful transition experience.

“With your military career coming to aclose, cherish your past service as youwork toward a rewarding future. Takingaction on even a few of these stepswill provide you and your family witha successful transition experience.”

- TRANSITIONING, CONTINUED FROM 17 -

Arthur Lyons has more than 30years experience in the invest-ment field and is a senior rela-tionship manager with AAFMAAWealthManagement & Trust inReston, Virginia. In addition toinstructing at the (Army) GeneralOfficer’s Transition Course, he isalso acting first sergeant for hisArmy National Guard unit.



- FUN, CONTINUED FROM 14 -

female positions in various agecategories. Pre-register online;day-of registration is on site.

Special OlympicsApril 189 a.m.–noonMCCSQuantico, Butler Stadium(located behind Building 2073),Barnett Ave.Quantico, Virginia517-931-0526Open to all active-duty servicemembers, retirees, families andcivilians in the D.C.-NorthernVirginia region. Athletesmust beage 5 or older with a diagnosedintellectual disability or devel-opmental disability, or enrolledin the EFMP. In the event of rain,event will take place at BarberPhysical Activity Center.

CYYS Family Fun FairApril 2510 a.m.–2 p.m.Burba Lake Recreational AreaFort Meade, Marylandftmeademwr.comInformational booths, entertain-ment, food, displays, rides andattractions are the highlight of this

popular event celebrating theMonth of theMilitary Child.

Kids First FairApril 2510 a.m.–noonMCCSQuantico,Butler Stadium(located behindBuilding 2073),Barnett Ave.Quantico, Vir-ginia703-784-3760quantico.usmc-mccs.orgJoin us as we celebratemilitarychildren and their families. Thiscarnival-like event includesgames, info booths, and refresh-ments.

May

FlowerMartMay 1–210 a.m.–6 p.m.Friday; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., SaturdayWashington National Cathedral3101Wisconsin Ave. NWWashington, D.C.202-365-3222allhallowsguild.orgShop for plants, enjoy diverse

food, puppet shows, carouselrides and entertainment forthe whole family. Proceedsbenefit the gardens and groundssurrounding theWashingtonNational Cathedral.

Quantico Marina AnnualOpen HouseMay 211 a.m.–3 p.m.Quantico Marina, located at theeast end of Potomac Avenue inBuilding 25Quantico, Virginia703-784-2359Free Potomac River pontoonboat rides on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cinco deMayo FestivalMay 3Noon–6 p.m.The National Mall between Ninthand 12th streetsWashington, D.C.

202-258-5283facebook.com/TheNationalCincodeMayoFestivalNow in its 23rd year, this annualcelebration features livemusicand dance, children’s arts andcrafts workshops, and food,games and activities for theentire family.

A Call to Arms: RevolutionaryWar EncampmentMay 2–38 a.m.–5 p.m.GeorgeWashington’s MountVernon, 3200Mount VernonMemorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia703-780-2000mountvernon.orgMeet RevolutionaryWarmilitaryre-enactors, learnmore aboutlife in the 18th century, discussmilitary techniques andwatchbattle re-enactments. Ticketsavailable online.

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Religious Icons

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Patriot Pride 5K/10K RunMay 168 a.m.Murphy Field House, 8451Zimborksi Ave.Fort Meade, Maryland301-677-3318www.ftmeademwr.com10Kand5K runs and1-milewalkare open to thegeneral public,runninggroups andothermilitaryinstallations, and featuremale andfemale positions in various agecategories. Preregister online;day-of registration is on site.

DC Dragon Boat FestivalMay 16–178 a.m.–5 p.m.Thompsons Boat Center,2900 Virginia Ave. NWWashington, D.C.202-333-9543www.dragonboatdc.comThis two-day festivalfeatures competitive dragonboat races on the PotomacRiver, colorful cultural perfor-mances and hands-on activities.Approximately 60 teams fromall over the East Coast competeannually.

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15

-Compiled by Karen Finucan Clarkson

888-377-9369www.pohankacollision.com

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25 GREAT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU!1050357



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