ChristianMilitaryWives

An Opportunity to Prevent a National Tragedy

Large numbers of our veterans are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan finding that they must cope with a wide range of psychological difficulties. Many are struggling with severe physical injuries or traumatic brain injuries—referred to as TBIs. We have both the opportunity to prevent a national tragedy and the obligation and resources to do so.

 

Our Knowledge

Fortunately, we are more capable of responding to this potential tragedy than ever before. We have more knowledge about the psychological impact of war than any prior generation has ever had. We know that at least 12 percent of the returning soldiers will come back with a serious mental disorder. Some reports have identified as many as onethird returning with psychiatric symptoms. In addition, we anticipate that as many as 20 percent will suffer a TBI. We know that family members are also severely affected by a soldier’s experience of trauma. Indeed, we now refer to “secondary trauma” as a significant mental health consequence of war. We know that children who grow up in families where post-traumatic stress disorder is not treated often become severely impaired themselves. Luckily, we also know that early treatment of mental health symptoms is the best way to prevent long-term consequences.

 

Our Resources

The U.S. military is clearly trying to stay in front of this issue. Studies conducted by the military community provide information that was not available during prior wars. In addition, the military is making an unprecedented attempt to encourage personnel to seek treatment. Unfortunately, limited resources are available to provide the needed mental health care, and, while the inevitable budget debates are important and necessary for future policies, they will not help the soldier disabled today by his or her psychological demons or physical injuries.

 

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan give us all the opportunity to reach out to those in need to ensure that they can continue to function as productive members of our society. Some of us have specific skills that can and should be tapped. There are over 400,000 mental health professionals in the U.S. We represent a tremendous resource. As mental health professionals, we now have the opportunity, through the volunteer network established by the nonprofit organization Give an Hour™, to respond to this clear and obvious need. As we continue to build our national network, our efforts will provide much needed assistance to the military’s efforts to care for its own.

 

Our Mission

Give an Hour™ is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop a national network of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise in our society. We are currently establishing a national network of mental health professionals to reach out to the U.S. troops and families affected by the current military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

Thus far, nearly 5,000 professionals from the mental health community have registered to participate in this critical effort. These mental health professionals sign on to give an hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. Professionals are being asked to provide the type of services they currently provide in their offices. They may also have the opportunity to engage in public education and to provide consultation to other agencies and organizations tasked with responding to the needs of our military community. In fact, since we began providing services in July 2007, our providers have donated nearly 25,000 hours in direct counseling, education, and outreach.

 

While no additional training is required, we offer a variety of training opportunities to those individuals interested in increasing their knowledge of military culture and the specifics of combat stress. In addition, our participants will have the opportunity to interact with each other, to share information about their experience, and to seek feedback and additional resources.

 

We ask our providers to participate in our network for one year in order to offer continuity of care for these deserving families. Over the past two years, we have started to match members of the military community in need with members of our network. Indeed, we are now hearing from military personnel and their families on a regular basis. Many of these men and women share their stories and express their gratitude. They are so thankful that members of the mental health community have stepped up to join this effort. Those individuals who receive services from the Give an Hour™ network will be given the opportunity to give back to their own communities.

 

Our Partners

We have developed important relationships with DoD, the VA, and many Veterans Service Organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), the USO, Blue Star Families, Vets 4 Vets and Christian Military Wives. As a result of these relationships, our mental health professionals will have opportunities to work with individuals from a number of organizations to co-lead support groups and participate in community events.

 

We have also developed important relationships within the mental health community. In February of 2008 the American Psychiatric Association officially endorsed Give an Hour™ and began encouraging its 38,000 members to join our network of providers. In partnership with the American Psychiatric Foundation, we were awarded a $1 million

grant from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation to assist in our public education efforts. In November of 2008 we announced the support of the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the

Anxiety Disorders Association of America. In addition, we have recently joined forces with Mental Health America and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

 

We have also developed cooperative relationships with such noteworthy organizations as the Red Cross, Student Veterans of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Postpartum Support International. We are proud of our efforts to bring the military and mental health communities together as we strive to provide critical services to these deserving men, women, and families.

 

Your Help

We are asking all mental health professionals to join in this critical effort. If you are currently licensed, please visit our Web site at www.giveanhour.org to sign up for our national network and to learn more about our organization. We also welcome volunteers who want to join us in developing and implementing this project. Please share our Website with your colleagues. Thank you.

Melanie started a great topic on our message board... she had questions about the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act... check out our message board for great converstation. 

If you are asking yourself, "what's that?" then read on! ;-)

f you're a reserve component service member called to active duty, you're protected by a law that can save you some legal problems and possibly some money as well.

Under the provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, you may qualify for any or all of the following:

• Reduced interest rate on mortgage payments.
• Reduced interest rate on credit card debt.
• Protection from eviction if your rent is $1,200 or less.
• Delay of all civil court actions, such as bankruptcy, foreclosure or divorce proceedings.

CLICK HERE for more information!

Ingredients:

1 lb bread dough

1 small onion chopped

2 ripe tomatoes sliced

1 clove of garlic chopped

Mozzarella cheese

Fresh or dried herbs (basil, rosemary are our favorites)

 

Directions:

Roll out dough about  ¼ - ½  in thick, lay on cookie sheet

Top with chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs

Cover with shredded cheese

Bake at 400 degrees until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown

FROM: Operation Military Kids

LES 101: What it tells you and
why you should examine it every payday

By: Claire Shackelford

When my husband first joined the military I had so many new names, acronyms, and forms thrown my way that I was sent into information overload. I had a very hard time prioritizing what item of business should be taken care of before another. Fortunately, I had a very wise and experienced Army wife who shared a sage piece of advice with me. I want to pass that along to you.

She said that as soon as the essentials were taken care of (such as making sure all of the information in DEERS is correct and housing is nailed down) to be sure to comb over my husband’s LES every single payday.

If an error is made and the military overpays your spouse, did you know they can and will take it back out of a future paycheck once the error is found? I have talked to a few wives who had not kept up with their husband’s LES and then the find out that there has been an error and the military will be taking a chunk of an upcoming paycheck. It has happened to some families, and much to their own financial chagrin.

Here are some pointers and basic information that will help you use the LES to keep yourself informed:

1. Always know your spouse’s base pay and your BAH pay. The only time this should fluctuate is during training, after a PCS (adjustments for cost of living), and other normal raises and allowances. Always investigate any unexpected increase or decrease in pay. Be sure it is not an error. If you are not sure about an increase, never spend the money. Always set it aside until you are certain. Two things to remember: 1. If the Army owes you money they will pay it back in small increments. 2. If you owe the military money they normally take it out in one huge chunk! It’s better to have that extra money sitting in savings so that when it’s time to pay the military piper you are not left flat!
2. If you are missing money on your LES report it immediately. Be sure to take the name of each person you may have to talk with, and be sure to get specific information such as when you can expect to see the money you are owed reflected on your LES.
3. Know what information is on your LES and what it tells you. Following the LE displayed below is a key to help you understand what each line means (image fromwikipedia) Continue reading beyond the picture for a detailed description of each item on the LES:

Here's a link to a large image of an LES. I had it posted here but it's messing up the format of the post. Feel free to open it in another tab for reference if needed.

(The following information was found on www.dfas.mil)
Field 1 NAME. The member’s name in last, first, middle initial format.
Field 2 SOC. SEC. NO. The member’s Social Security Number.
Field 3 GRADE (or rank). The member’s current pay grade.
Field 4 PAY DATE. The date the member entered active duty for pay purposes in
YYMMDD format. This is synonymous with the Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD).
Field 5 YRS SVC. In two digits, the actual years of creditable service.
Field 6 ETS. The Expiration Term of Service in YYMMDD format. This is synonymous with the Expiration of Active Obligated Service (EAOS).
Field 7 BRANCH. The branch of service, i.e., Navy.
Field 8 ADSN/DSSN. The Disbursing Station Symbol Number used to identify each disbursing office.
Field 9 PERIOD COVERED. This is the period covered by the individual LES. Normally it will be for one calendar month. If this is a separation LES, the separation date will appear in this field.
Field 10 ENTITLEMENTS. In columnar style the names of the entitlements and allowances being paid. Space is allocated for fifteen entitlements and/or allowances. If more than fifteen are present the overflow will be printed in the remarks block. Any retroactive entitlements and/or allowances will be added to like entitlements and/or allowances.
Field 11 DEDUCTIONS. The description of the deductions are listed in columnar style. This includes items such as taxes, SGLI, Mid-month pay and dependent dental plan. Space is allocated for fifteen deductions. If more than fifteen are present the overflow will be printed in the remarks block. Any retroactive deductions will be added to like deductions.
Field 12 ALLOTMENTS. In columnar style the type of the actual allotments being deducted. This includes discretionary and non-discretionary allotments for savings and/or checking accounts, insurance, bonds, etc. Space is allocated for fifteen allotments. If a member has more than one of the same type of allotment, the only differentiation may be that of the dollar amount.
Field 13 +AMT FWD. The amount of all unpaid pay and allowances due from the prior LES.
Field 14 + TOT ENT. The figure from Field 20 that is the total of all entitlements and/or allowances listed.
Field 15 - TOT DED. The figure from Field 21 that is the total of all deductions.
Field 16 - TOT ALMT. The figure from Field 22 that is the total of all allotments.
Field 17 = NET AMT. The dollar value of all unpaid pay and allowances, plus total entitlements and/or allowances, minus deductions and allotments due on the current LES.
Field 18 - CR FWD. The dollar value of all unpaid pay and allowances due to reflect on the next LES as the +AMT FWD.
Field 19 = EOM PAY. The actual amount of the payment to be paid to the member on payday.
Fields 20 - 22 TOTAL. The total amounts for the entitlements and/or allowances, deductions and allotments respectively.
Fields 23 through 30 contain leave information.
Fields 31 through 36 contain Federal Tax withholding information.
Fields 37 through 41 contain Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) information.
Fields 42 through 47 contain State Tax information.

Field 48 BAQ TYPE. The type of Basic Allowance for Quarters being paid.
Field 49 BAQ DEPN. A code that indicates the type of dependent.

• I - Member married to member/own right
• R - Own right
• A - Spouse
• C - Child
• W - Member married to member, child under 21
• G - Grandfathered
• D - Parent
• K - Ward of the court
• L - Parents in Law
• S - Student (age 21-22)
• T - Handicapped child over age 21

Field 50 VHA ZIP. The zip code used in the computation of Variable Housing Allowance (VHA) if entitlement exists.
Field 51 RENT AMT. The amount of rent paid for housing if applicable.
Field 52 SHARE. The number of people with which the member shares housing costs.
Field 53 STAT. The VHA status; i.e., accompanied or unaccompanied.
Field 54 JFTR. The Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) code based on the location of the member for Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) purposes.
Field 55 DEPNS. The number of dependents the member has for VHA purposes.
Field 56 2D JFTR. The JFTR code based on the location of the member’s dependents for COLA purposes.
Field 57 BAS TYPE. An alpha code that indicates the type of Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) the member is receiving, if applicable. This field will be blankfor officers.

• B - Separate Rations
• C - TDY/PCS/Proceed Time
• H - Rations-in-kind not available
• K - Rations under emergency conditions

Field 58 CHARITY YTD. The cumulative amount of charitable contributions for the
calendar year.
Field 59 TPC. This field is used by reserves.
Field 60 PACIDN. The activity Unit Identification Code (UIC)

***********************************

If you experience any problems with your LES address them immediately. Be sure to take the name of the individual you talk with. This helps if there is any conflict in information shared.

I'd like to take this post to recognize the winner of our Newlywed Valentine's Day contest! The requirements for participation were simply to write a post about a memorable date that the CMW member had had with her husband.

The prize was a "Date Night" gift basket valuing over $100!! The basket included candles, popcorn, sparkling grape juice, a girly bath set, a Blockbuster gift card, a couples devotional book, an audio playbook of The Five Love Languages, a book with creative date ideas, and a specially donated leather-bound journal copy of The Love Dare and the movie Fireproof! A SPECIAL thanks goes out to The Source Bookstore for their donation of the Love Dare and the movie! Thanks also to Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry and Military One Source for some of the other donations!

The winner was chosen by putting all of the names in a bowl...my hubby drew the winner.

And the winner is....

 

Brandon's Girl