4thmaintbn newsletter - spring/summerfy11

8/6/2019 4thMaintBn Newsletter - Spring/SummerFY11

1/10

in how we as a Battalion

support the reserve and

active component. Thank

you for your continued

support to this battalion and

to our Unit Personal and

Family Readiness Program.

Semper Fidelis,

LtCol M. C. Griffin

Commanding Officer

4th Maintenance Battalion

Dear Marines, Sailors and

Families of the Fourth

Maintenance Battalion,

Summer is here and that

means we are in the thick of

annual training exercises

and mobilizations in supportof the overseas contingency

operations. Lets make sure

that all of our personal and

family readiness plans are

up to date. As always, our

command team, with the

outstanding Unit and

Personal Family Readiness

Officer Ms. Kati Toney, is

ready to assist and serve as

an information resource for

you and the families of

Fourth Maintenance

Battalion.

For those of you who were

able to attend the Yellow

Ribbon Program event in

Dallas, Texas, I am hopefulthat you were not only able

to take advantage of the

speakers, our command

team staff in attendance,

and to meet with other

Marines and Sailors in the

Battalion, but also the great

venue.

Lets continue to build on

our outstanding reputation

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Commanders

Corner

1

SgtsMaj

Straight Talk

1

From the

FRO

2

Chaplains

Message

3

Post 9/11 GI

Bill Info

4

MyCAA 5

Spouse

Employment

Partnership

6

Summer

Youth Camps

9


Unit, Personal & Family ReadinessS P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 1V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 3

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Post 9/11 GI Bill

Info

Spouse Education

and EmploymentOpportunities

VA Caregiver

Support Program

Vacationing on a

Budget

and more!

Commanders Corner

Seargants Major Straight Talkwill welcome LtCol

Castellano, who will be

reporting as our new

Inspector-Instructor for 4th

Maintenance Battalion.

I hope you all have a

wonderful summer, enjoythe very hot weather and be

extremely safe during this

dangerous and

very fun season.

Semper Fidelis,

SgtMaj Braswell

Marines, Sailors and 4th

Maintenance Battalion

Families,

Greetings to all!

Summertime is upon us and

it is very busy here in the

Battalion. We just sent our11.2 Marines to Camp

Lejeune, NC and we have

many of your Marines

headed out on their Annual

Training events as well.

The Marines of 4th

Maintenance Battalion are

doing great things around

the globe. We continually

support operations in

support of the war on

terror, not to mention all

that is done in the United

States and other countries

throughout the globe.

We really appreciate all that

you do to support your

Marines and Sailors to

ensure we can accomplish

the mission. They

absolutely couldn't do it

without you.

In July we will be losing our

Inspector-Instructor, LtCol

Peterson. He is moving on

to the Marine Corps

Recruiting Command, and

they will be very lucky to

have him on their staff. We


2/10

P A G E 2

4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N

Ms. Kati Toney

Family Readiness

Officer4th Maintenance Bn

Charlotte, NC

704-598-0015 x337

BB: 704-488-9770

[email protected]

FACEBOOK

Kati Toney-Fro

From the FRO:

5/13/2011 By Lance Cpl. Fenton Reese , Marine Forces Reserve

DALLAS The stage was set; the tables were covered and the low roar of side chatter and laughte

filled the room as Marines, friends and families took their seats. The conference was about to begin

Marines of 4th Maintenance Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group were brought together in Dallfor a pre-and-post deployment conference sponsored by the Yellow Ribbon Program, April 29-May

2011. The event was coordinated by Katie Toney, the family readiness officer for the battalion.

This event is especially appreciated and understood by Lt. Col. Mike Griffin, the commanding offi

of 4th Maint. Bn. Griffin was mobilized in 2003 and again in 2005. During that time there was neithe

family readiness officer nor a Yellow Ribbon Program for pre- and post-deployment.

We had some pre-deployment training and some post-deployment programs, but nothing to the

level that this program is doing now, said Griffin.

Day one of the conference was set for meeting, greeting and registration. This was an opportunit

for the Marines and their guests to get settled in their rooms and prepare for the events of the

weekend to come.

Day two of the conference was a series of briefs that all Marines are required to have prior todeployment. These briefs included classes on such topics as combat operational stress control,

deployment awareness, Tricare information, sexual assault, administrative and legal rights while

deployed and more.

The third and final day was the highlight of the conference. This was an interactive workshop exerci

in which a panel of Marines returning from their second, third and even fourth deployments answe

questions from Marines and families preparing for their first deployment.

The workshop was set up as a question and answer open discussion. The topics consisted of wha

4th Maintenance Battalion Hosts Yellow

Ribbon Program Conference

Greetings, Marines, Sailors,

Families and Friends!

For those of you that were

able to join us in Dallas, Tx

for our first ever Battalion-wide Yellow Ribbon

Conference, it was

absolutely wonderful to be

able to spend some time

with you that weekend! I

hope you got a lot of useful

information out of it, but

just as importantly, I hope

you were able to take away

from that conference

validation in things that you

may be experiencing, new

friendships, and the

realization that you arent in

this alone. Not only do you

have each other to lean on

for support, but you have awhole support team at your

disposal, as wellyour FRO

and Deputy FROs, your

Chaplain, and your command

staff.

Below, you will find an article

written by Public Affairs on

our conference.

Summer is here! That means

FUN times are here

cookouts, 4th of July, NO

SCHOOL, and vacation! Just

remember the dangers that

come along with the summer

HEAT and all the festivities! Be

safe, but have FUN!!

We send our best wishes to

LtCol Peterson and his family as

they leave 4th Maintenance

Battalion! They will be missed!

We also welcome LtCol

Castellano and his family to our

family!

Hope to see some of you this

summer!

Kati


3/10

P A G E 3V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 3

Duty. In the mean time, my

wife Barbara and five kids

(Grace, Micah, Faith, Daniel,

Joy) are enjoying this exciting

ministry to which God has

called us. Since graduating

chaplain school last November,

I have already had the privilege

to serve onboard CVN-77 for

two weeks, at a Yellow Ribbon

Event, at several family training

conferences, and most of all,

with you all at 4th

Maintenance

Battalion as your chaplain. My

desire is that I would exhibit

and promote a spirit of humility

and grace as we all serve

together as United States

Marines and Sailors.

What does your chaplain do?

There are about 850 Navy

Chaplains who provide pastoral

care to active and reserve

Marines, Sailors,

Coastguardsmen, and Merchant

Mariners. The DOD and

SECNAV take seriously both the

benefits and responsibilities of

the navy chaplains. LtCol.

Griffin, our 4th

Maintenance

Battalion CO, has given me

three primary responsibilities:

1) to provide or facilitate

counseling for anyone in the

battalion; 2) to provide or

facilitate worship services on

drill weekend Sundays for all

sites; 3) to be available for

advisement, special projects, or

anything else determined by

the command. During Julys

Command Conference, I will be

reviewing with leadership the

DOD & SECNAV instructions for

the command, as well as how I

can best meet the needs of the

battalion and specifically each

individual drill site. If you have

any input, please let me know.

One point needs to be clear

the CRP (Command ReligiousProgram) is owned by the CO,

not by the chaplain. The CO is

the one ultimately responsible.

As chaplain, I am responsible to

ensure implementation the

COs CRP.

Most importantly, use your

chaplain. Thats why were

here. If you need a confidential

discussion, spiritual counsel, or

a religious referral, call me

anytime at 864-325-1828. You

can also reach me on my

confidential e-mail at:

[email protected].

Blessings,

Chaplain Turpin

Ph: 864-325-1828

Eml: [email protected]

H U M I L I T Y & G R A C E

Who is your chaplain? I never

thought I would be a chaplain. I

was born in Canada and spent

most of my childhood in

Norway as a missionary kid. I

later went to school at both

Bob Jones University and

Seminary in Greenville, SC,

studying to become a pastor in

Norway or some developing

country such as Cambodia. I

also became an EMT so that I

could also have a community

skill for use in such a country.

But God turned our lives

around. My wife developed

some serious physical problems

(including brain, back, and fourother surgeries) that foreign

missions work was out. I had

also become a supervisor at

UPSmaybe I would be a well-

trained lay-leader in churches,

helping pastors with finances

so I began taking MBA

coursework. But I was not

satisfied. I had trained for years

to do pastoral care; anything

else left me less fulfilled. After

much prayer and counsel, the

Lord opened another door. I

remember the table at Atlanta

Bread Company where I sat

when I told my wife I had seen

a recruiter to become a

chaplain. She was like most of

your familycompletely

surprised, but wholeheartedly

encouraged me to take the next

step. As the Lord continues to

lead, I would like to go Active

Chaplains Message

(Cont from previous page)

expect while overseas, the kind of things Marines will see and deal with within the unit and abroad and

what families should know and be ready for during the time their Marine is deployed.

Overall I think this was a success. Weve learned what works and what to work on for the next

time, said Toney.


4/10

P A G E 4

The realmeasure of

your wealth is

how muchyou'd be worthif you lost all

your money.

~AuthorUnknown

Post 9/11 GI BillAs of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is effective for training. Approved training under the Post-9/11

GI Bill includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training

programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits.

Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under

the Post- 9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by a public

educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support that an individual

may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing.

This Post 9-11 GI Bill will pay eligible individuals:

Tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public

Institution of Higher Learning. See chart listing maximum in-state tuition rates

For more expensive tuition, a program exists which may help to reimburse the difference. This program is

called the "Yellow Ribbon Program". (Note: This is NOT the same as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration

Program

A monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at thelocation of the school.

For those attending foreign schools (schools without a main campus in the U.S.) the BAH rate is fixed

at $1,347.00 for 2011 and $1,348.00 for 2010.

An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.

A one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals.

This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). If you are enrolled

exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will

not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of

education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill todependents.

For more information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, including how to transfer benefits to a dependent,

please visit the following links:

http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.html

http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.html

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/

***For more information on upcoming IMPORTANT CHANGES to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, please

visit:

http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.html

http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/tuition_and_fees_2010.htmhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.htmlhttp://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/Post911_changes.htmlhttp://www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/index.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/transfer_of_benefits.htmlhttp://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.htmlhttp://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/tuition_and_fees_2010.htm


5/10


Spouse Education OpportunitiesMyCAA (My Career Advancement Account) News

October 25, 2010 - MyCAA is open and the response is great!!! Due to heavy phone volume, you are encouraged to

please use the MyCAA messaging system if you have a question and we will respond within 5 business days.All

Education & Training Plans and Financial Assistance requests will be processed within 15 calendar days, in the

order in which they are received and cannot be taken out of order. If additional information is needed to approve

your plan, notification will be sent via your MyCAA Message Box. Be sure to check your Message Box regularly for

information and notifications about your request. We thank you for your patience.

The MyCAA program is open to all eligible spouses under the new program guidelines below:

Spouse of an active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine service member, or activated Reserve member in pay

grades E1-E5, W1-W2, or O1-O2.

If the spouse of National Guard and/or AGR member, the sponsor must be on federal Title 10 active duty

orders as reported in DEERS.

Spouses of Guard/Reserve members in an Alert, Transition Assistance, or Post Deployment status are not

eligible.

MyCAA accounts will be limited to the new $4,000 maximum benefit with a $2,000 fiscal year cap. Waivers to

the fiscal year cap will be available for spouses pursuing licensure or credentials with a cost that exceeds the

$2,000 fiscal year cap up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000.

Spouses must finish their program of study within three years from the start date of the first course.

Funding is limited to only Associates degrees, certifications and licensure programs.

Spouses (even if you no longer qualify for the MyCAA program) that have had a MyCAA account can still access their

course information by logging in into the MyCAA Web site. If information is needed on other sources of financial

assistance please contact a Military OneSource consultant at 800-342-9647.

For this and more information, please visit:

https://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/

MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspx

MyCAA Fact Sheet

http://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/

FactSheet.pdf
https://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspxhttps://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspxhttps://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspxhttp://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdfhttp://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdfhttp://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdfhttp://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdfhttp://cs.mhf.dod.mil/content/dav/mhf/QOL-Library/Project%20Documents/MilitaryHOMEFRONT/MyCAA/FactSheet.pdfhttps://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspxhttps://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/FindInformation/Category/MilitarySpouseCareerAdvancementAccounts.aspx


6/10

P A G E 6

"A ship

without

Marines

is like a

garment

without

buttons."

(Admiral David

D. Porter, USN,

1863.)


Military Spouse Employment Partnership

Launches June 29

By Robert L. Gordon III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Military Community and Family Policy)

Mark your calendars!

On June 29, we will launch the Military Spouse Employment Partnership MSEP. Through MSEP,

Americas employers will have direct access to a diverse and talented workforce, and military

spouses can connect with meaningful, long-term employment opportunities.

The Joining Forces: Launching the Military Spouse Employment Partnership ceremony marking

the formal launch of the program will take place at the Chamber of Commerce, in Washington

D.C. The event will feature speakers including Mrs. Deborah Mullen, wife of the Chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff and a powerful advocate for the employment of military spouses; Dr. Clifford L.

Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; and Thomas J. Donohue,

President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

At the launch ceremony, 15 new corporate partners will join 57 existing partners. Thats 72

companies committed to hiring our military spouses, and thats only the beginning!

Fortune 500 PLUS companies, which include businesses large and small, government agencies, and

organizations across America, are partnering with the military services to create career

opportunities for military spouses that move with them. The partnership is available to spouses in all

the military services, including the Coast Guard.

Over the past few months, youve told us that career advancement and steady employment are

extremely important to you. That portable, flexible career options are crucial in your ability to

provide continued support to your family and your service member as you transition from one duty

assignment to the next.

Lastly, your talents and skills deserve recognition in all career fields.

Comprehensive Summer Safety Tips

For comprehensive information and guidance on Summer Safety from Walter Reed Army MedicalHospital, to include topics such as Heat Exhaustion, Water Safety, Boating Safety, and Fireworks-

related Injuries, please visit their website at:

http://www.health.mil/Themes/Outdoor_Safety.aspx
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/06/military-spouse-employment-partnership-launches-june-29/http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/06/military-spouse-employment-partnership-launches-june-29/http://www.health.mil/Themes/Outdoor_Safety.aspxhttp://www.health.mil/Themes/Outdoor_Safety.aspxhttp://www.health.mil/Themes/Outdoor_Safety.aspxhttp://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/06/military-spouse-employment-partnership-launches-june-29/http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/06/military-spouse-employment-partnership-launches-june-29/


7/10


The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on May 9, 2011 they will be starting the appli-

cation process for eligible veterans and service members designated family caregivers. The applica-

tion process is simple. Those interested in applying should download a copy of the Family Caregiver

program application (VA CG 10-10), which is located at www.caregiver.va.gov. The application al-

lows eligible veterans and service members to designate a primary family caregiver and a secondary

family caregiver.

The application form is posted on the VAs website. Applicants must click on the banner Apply

Now! VA Family Caregiver to access the application process. The applicant will be asked a series of

three questions to help determine eligibility before completing an application form. The application

form must be completed online and then printed or the blank application form can be printed and

filled out by hand. The application form can be directly downloaded at: www.1010ez.med.va.gov/

sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdf. The original application and supporting material must bemailed to the local VA medical center. Applicants can also call the VAs call center at 877.222.8387

for assistance with questions in applying for the caregiver benefit. Another method is to visit a Care-

giver Support Coordinator at your local VA medical center. The VA will be hiring caregiver support

coordinators at each of the 152 VA medical centers.

Caregivers of veterans from all eras are also eligible for additional benefits. They include: respite

care, education and training, plus VA services that are already being provided to caregivers. The VA

has created a caregiver website at www.caregiver.va.gov. In addition, there is a family caregiver as-

sistance healthy living center on VAs My HealtheVet website at www.myhealth.va.gov.

The National Military Family Association, along with several other organizations, have worked longand hard on the passage of this important benefit for caregivers of our wounded, ill, and injured ser-

vice members and veterans. Our Association is very pleased to hear the VA is beginning to take ap-

plications. We will continue to monitor the implementation and we would like to hear from you

about your experience with the application process.

We have also requested the VA provide retroactive stipend payments back to when the law was to

have been implemented, January 31, 2011. Recently, the VA stated stipend payments will only go

back to the date of the submitted application process and not to the date the law should have been

implemented. We believe the caregiver should not be penalized for the delay in implementation of

the law. We will continue to advocate for those caregivers who would have been eligible for these

additional stipends.

VA Announces Caregiver Enrollment
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/http://www.caregiver.va.gov/http://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdfhttp://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdfhttp://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdfhttp://www.caregiver.va.gov/http://www.caregiver.va.gov/http://www.myhealth.va.gov/http://www.myhealth.va.gov/http://www.facebook.com/militaryfamilyhttp://www.facebook.com/militaryfamilyhttp://www.facebook.com/militaryfamilyhttp://www.myhealth.va.gov/http://www.caregiver.va.gov/http://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdfhttp://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdfhttp://www.caregiver.va.gov/


8/10

P A G E 8

"Marines take

care of their own

- period. The

enduring pledge

between Marines

is never more

sacred than

during time of

war. Just as every

Marine makes a

commitment to

the Corps when

they earn the title

Marine, the Corps

makes an

enduring

commitment to

every Marine -

and an enduring

commitment to

their family."

(Quote by

General

Conway, 34th

CMC Planning

Guidance)


Vacationing on a Budget

From MC&FP E-Magazine, June 2011

When the weather starts warming up, everyone gets excited about a break from school, work,

and the day-to-day aspects of home. In these tough economic times, a family vacation may seem

out of reach, but there are several ways to enjoy a summer vacation and keep the familys

financial readiness goals intact.

When saving for a vacation, creating a separate savings account is always a good idea so that

vacation savings will not be confused with savings for retirement or incidentals. Make putting

money into this account painless by setting up an automatic transfer at a regular interval. This is

easy to set up and can really add up over time. A transfer of $14/week ($2/day) adds up to just

short of $730 by the end of a year. Be careful not to use money that is already allocated for

another purpose; it's important to keep building those savings separately. Discuss saving for a

vacation with the whole family. It can be a great time for children to learn about the financial

preparation needed to plan a vacation and the benefits of saving for a goal. Encourage children

to save their own allowances, so that they can buy souvenirs or other mementos on vacation.

Early planning and research can also help keep the family vacation within budget. Start bydeciding whether it makes the most sense to fly, drive, or take the train. In addition, check the

various travel websites for airfare, hotel, and excursion prices. Online travel sites offer travel

deal notifications on airline and hotel deals for specific destinations. By keeping travel dates

flexible, it is possible to get significant savings.

There are several resources designed to help military families take fun and affordable

vacations. The military recreationsection of Military OneSource, the Armed Forces Recreation

Centers, and the Armed Forces Vacation Club. If families decide to drive to their destination,

there are websites available to check gas prices in order to budget the anticipated cost. Local

libraries and Military OneSource's Best Kept Secretsare also great resources; they may have free

passes to nearby exhibits or information on destination ideas close to home.

Mini-vacations are another great way to get away on a small budget. They tend to be close tohome and short, so they allow families to spend less on accommodations. When planning a long

vacation far away from home, consider vacationing with another family to save money. Rental

properties often have several bedrooms and fully furnished kitchens, so families can save money

by not dining out each night. Be sure to research and reserve rental properties in advance

because they tend to book up fast, especially around the holidays. Other great budget options to

consider are cruises or all inclusive resorts where the price includes food, lodging, and activities

for the whole family.

Unnecessary purchases during the vacation can easily break a budget, so proper packing is

important. Every member of the family should pack for a variety of temperatures and weather

conditions to avoid buying extra sweatshirts, umbrellas, or swimsuits. Budget for daily spending

money and avoid credit card purchases, which can cost more in the long run with interest ratesand fees. Pack healthy lunches and snacks for the family in order to avoid stopping at restaurants

while on the road or purchasing expensive in-flight snacks.

With the proper research and planning, families can maintain financial stability, learn valuable

lessons about saving, and still have a fun-filled vacation this summer!
http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR.aspxhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR.aspxhttp://old.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/http://old.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/http://old.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/http://www.armymwr.com/travel/offdutytravel/afvc.aspxhttp://www.armymwr.com/travel/offdutytravel/afvc.aspxhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR/BestKeptSecretsMWR.aspxhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR/BestKeptSecretsMWR.aspxhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR/BestKeptSecretsMWR.aspxhttp://www.armymwr.com/travel/offdutytravel/afvc.aspxhttp://old.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/http://old.armymwr.com/portal/travel/recreationcenters/http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Tools/MilitaryRecreationMWR.aspx


9/10


From MC&FP E-Magazine, June 2011

As the air gets warmer and the flowers begin to bloom, everyone starts to look ahead to summer. For

children and youth, summer brings the end of the school year, a chance to unwind, and a lot of free

time. For parents, it's a great chance to get children enrolled in summer camp to learn a new sport orskill, get some fresh air, make new friends, or take their minds off of a difficult deployment. There are

a number of excellent choices designed just for military youth!

The Department of Defense is funding Military Teen Adventure Campsfor youth 14 - 18 years old. The

camps, developed through a partnership between DoD and of the United States Department of Agri-

culture, take advantage of the expertise of the land grant university system. These low-cost, high en-

ergy, high adventure camps take place all across the United States and offer a unique outdoor experi-

ence that allows teens to develop leadership, self-confidence, independence, and teamwork skills.

Teens can participate in activities such as river rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, ropes

courses, and much more. Camps for youth with special needs are also available in California, Ohio, andNew Hampshire. Families can visit the website to download brochures and get specific information on

dates, contact information, and locations. The camps will be open on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Another great resource for summer camps is Operation: Military Kids (OMK), which hosts hundreds of

camping experiences for children, youth, and families experiencing deployment. The camps include

opportunities for outdoor activities such as canoeing and camping, as well as indoor experiences such

as cooking, movies, and the arts. Campers can vary in age from six to eighteen and there are several

camps designed for youth with special needs, including a camp focused on providing horse therapy. By

visiting the OMK website, parents can view all of the camp options listed alphabetically by state, in-

cluding full descriptions and registration information.

The National Military Family Association also offers summer camps to children of deployed military

members free of charge through its Operation Purpleprogram. The camps provide military children

with a chance to have fun, learn coping skills, and develop relationships with other kids in similar situa-

tions. Parents can visit the website to learn more about different summer camp experiences, specific

locations, and dates.

In addition, parents and caregivers can contact their closest military installation youth programs to see

what other unique summer activities are available for youth in their immediate area. Contact informa-

tion for youth programs is available through MilitaryINSTALLATIONS. In the Looking for a specific pro-

gram or service? box, select "Youth Programs/Centers" from the dropdown menu.

Take advantage of the opportunities the military and its partners offer to enhance the lives of militaryyouth across the country!

Summer Camps for Military Youth
http://militaryfamilies.extension.org/military-teen-adventure-camps/http://militaryfamilies.extension.org/military-teen-adventure-camps/http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/EventDetail.aspx?ID=2487http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/EventDetail.aspx?ID=2487http://operationpurplecampinfo.com/http://operationpurplecampinfo.com/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://operationpurplecampinfo.com/http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/EventDetail.aspx?ID=2487http://militaryfamilies.extension.org/military-teen-adventure-camps/


10/10

6115 N Hills Circle

Charlotte, NC 28213

Phone: 704-598-0015

Fax: 704-598-0070

Useful Websites

Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.com

Military Home Front: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

Military Spouses: www.milspouse.com

Marine Parents: www.marineparents.com

Blue Star Mothers: www.bluestarmothers.org

Marine Corps Community Services: www.usmc-mccs.org

Military Pay: www.dfas.mil/militarypay.html

Tricare: www.tricare.mil/mybenefit

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Marine Forces Reserve: www.marforres.usmc.mil

Official Marine Corps Website: www.marines.mil


USMC:

Improvise.

Adapt.

Overcome

TurboTap.org:your connection to money, benefits, jobsTurboTAP.org is Department of Defense's official website providing information for servicemembers on

transitioning from military service. This site is also supported by the Departments of Labor and Veterans

Affairs. TurboTAP.org is intended to supplement the services offered by the Transition Assistance Offices

and other groups.

About Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

The DoD Transition Assistance Program was developed to assist in the transitioning of military personnel

and family members leaving the service. Returning to civilian life is an exciting time, but is also a complex

undertaking. There are many steps to take, with questions to be answered. The DoD Transition Assistance

Program is here to help.

TAP services are provided on major military installations by Transition Assistance Offices. For Army

installations, services are provided by ACAP Centers. On Navy and Marine Corp installations, the transition

assistance office is typically located at the Family Support Service Center. Air Force TAP services are

provided through the Airmen and Family Readiness Flight centers. Coast Guard TAP services are offered

through the Work-Life offices. Use our search engineto locate the transition assistance office near you.
http://www.militaryonesource.com/http://www.militaryonesource.com/http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/http://www.milspouse.com/http://www.milspouse.com/http://www.marineparents.com/http://www.marineparents.com/http://www.bluestarmothers.org/http://www.bluestarmothers.org/http://www.usmc-mccs.org/http://www.usmc-mccs.org/http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay.htmlhttp://www.dfas.mil/militarypay.htmlhttp://www.tricare.mil/mybenefithttp://www.tricare.mil/mybenefithttp://www.redcross.org/http://www.redcross.org/http://www.marforres.usmc.mil/http://www.marforres.usmc.mil/http://www.marines.mil/http://www.marines.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/http://www.marines.mil/http://www.marforres.usmc.mil/http://www.redcross.org/http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefithttp://www.dfas.mil/militarypay.htmlhttp://www.usmc-mccs.org/http://www.bluestarmothers.org/http://www.marineparents.com/http://www.milspouse.com/http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/http://www.militaryonesource.com/