Military pediatricians and youth professionals developed DVD’s to helpmilitary children understand and deal with the emotions related to a family member’s deployment.
The United States Army Medical Command and the American Academy ofPediatrics produced “Military Youth Coping with Separation: When FamilyMembers Deploy,” to address a variety of deployment-related concerns for teens. For elementary age children there is a, “Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Reunion After Deployment” DVD. The animated host, Mr. Poe, mentors and provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss deployment.
For more information about the DVDs visithttp://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=396.
Both videos are available for online viewing on the American Academy of Pediatrics Deployment Support Web site at www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/
index.htm.They are also available for ordering, in DVD format, through Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 orhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/
home.aspxMilitary pediatricians and youth professionals developed DVDs to help military children understand and deal with the emotions related to a family member’s deployment.
The United States Army Medical Command and the American Academy of Pediatrics produced “Military Youth Coping with Separation: When Family Members Deploy,” to address a variety of deployment-related concerns for teens. For elementary age children there is a, “Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Reunion After Deployment” DVD. The animated host, Mr. Poe, mentors and provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss deployment.
For more information about the DVDs visit: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=396.
Both videos are available for online viewing on the
American Academy of Pediatrics Deployment Support Web site at:www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/
index.htm.They are also available for ordering, in DVD format, through Military One Source at: 1-800-342-9647 orhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/
home.aspx
Captive or Captor?
By Claire
Captive or
Captor?
Anticipatory Grief and the
Christian
One day a couple of months before Mike’s second deployment I caught myself anticipating ‘anticipatory grief!’ Those of you who have been through a deployment know exactly what I am talking about. You are standing in the shower at 6 am waking up and preparing for your day when suddenly the thought enters your mind “What if I get the call today?” You are grocery shopping in the produce aisle when a thought enters your mind about funeral arrangements.
Anticipatory grief has been defined for a while, but it is fairly new ground when helping family members understand their emotional reaction to deployment. Anticipatory grief is usually defined as a grief reaction to a loss that is anticipated but not necessarily realized. When you suffer with anticipatory grief you may have intrusive thoughts of the “what ifs” and some times even flashes of a picture of your soldier suffering or being wounded.
I have yet to meet a spouse or parent of a soldier who has either been deployed, is deployed or is ready to deploy that has not dealt with these feelings. The feelings, intensity and expression of them all fall on a continuum, but they are real and can be disturbing, nonetheless.
Grief is the internal feeling we have when we have a loss. That loss is not always death, although that is usually the first thought that comes to our mind when we think of grief, grieving, and mourning. The loss that is grieved can be a real or perceived loss (such as with the anticipatory grief.)
With deployment there is always grief felt over the loss of close contact, the loss of “peace” while grappling with the concepts of war, as well as the loss of the perception of safety for our loved one. When we are actively grieving we usually find ways to express this internal (and very intense feeling) outwardly.
Some cultures are very passionate in the ways that people release their feelings of grief — their mourning style is very intense, immediate and more primitive than we, as Americans, tend to express our grief. We tend to internalize things more. It’s a cultural norm and expectation. Even in the Psalms we find expressions of grief that are quite desperate and expressive, so I don’t know how congruent our expected cultural norms are with the way we are created.
As a Christian I struggled with trying to figure out this concept of anticipatory grief and what my response to it should be. In Romans 12:2 I am told:
I did not want to just allow myself to succumb to this grief I was experiencing.
Anticipatory grief is really a very intense form of worry. Let me clarify. When someone has received a terminal diagnosis and death is imminent then I would say that anticipatory grief is truly a person anticipating the imminent loss of a loved one. When the loss that is being grieved is not imminent but only possible then it seems to be, at least to me anyway, a form of intense worry -- worry that something might happen that would cause you to grieve.
The biggest distinction between the two is for those who are dying and their loved ones, anticipatory grief allows the grieving process to start gently and they start exploring the feelings of loss before the loss occurs. For those whose loved one is in a dangerous job, anticipatory grief is more of a mental chore of tackling “maybes and possibilities” to avoid fear and the feeling of being out of control -- in a sense, worry!
When addressing worry and grief now, at this stage in my life, I have found a ‘plumb’ contained right in the Word of God. First, I had to repent from the lack of discipline I displayed in controlling my thought life. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we are told:
How do we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ when we are busy worrying and not trusting in His sovereign and good provision moment to moment? First I had to confess my addiction to fear, and that addiction to fear came more from an immature belief in Christ’s desire to truly save me from my sin. I once was told by a very wise friend that I had confused unworthiness with worthlessness. That cleared so much up for me. In I John 4:18 we are told
I had the reverent and grateful ‘fear’ confused with the fear of an angry father who could not be pleased.
I had to let go of my own misconceptions of who my Heavenly Father is, and I had to trust His Word and what it tells me about Him. My first step was not trusting or relying on my own understanding of God. I need the Holy Spirit and the Word to light my path, guide my steps and tell me which way to walk. Without them I am stumbling in the darkness!
After much prayer and study I found such a wonderful and practical tool in a Scripture passage that I had read and quoted many times before this. Only the Holy Spirit can make a passage come to life and give you the ability to practically apply it in a way that is life transforming!
The passage is Philippians 4:6-9
This is not merely a suggestion, but rather it is a direct instruction - a directive.
And with that directive comes a promise! You will have peace and your heart and mind will be guarded by that peace in Christ Jesus if you obey!
When you are tempted to indulge in worry and fear around all the possibilities of what could or what might happen to your soldier, airman, marine, or sailor, ask yourself these questions: Is it true? is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent or praiseworthy? Because if you ask yourself these questions you will not be able to answer honestly and continue to worry.
Once you put the litmus test into practice and you use it to judge your thought life, be sure you fill your thought life with things that DO pass the test. I used things in scripture and from my life that fit within the description of what we should dwell on to fill my thoughts.
For example, along with Bible study and focus on scripture I would also think of the day I married my husband and how much I love him. That certainly fits. I would think of the day my children were born and I held them for the first time. I thought of my friends in Church, and my family members. I would think of this Country and how blessed I am to be an American and how grateful I am to those who defend our Constitution.
I do not want to be held captive by my own fear and thought life, but rather I want to live in that freedom and victory that belongs to a child of the living God, through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus! Through Him I am the captor - not the captive!
Loss and Grief
By Claire
I
have been thinking a lot about grief and mourning
lately. It's on my mind when I am praying for my friends who
are dealing with grief, and while I am working through other
things in my life that leave me a little lost. I have had to
deal with my own serving of grief and mourning through out my
soldiers' deployments and assignments. I am realizing, now
more than ever, that grief and mourning are inevitable when
you are facing the deployment of a loved one to a war zone,
and there is certainly an amount of grief and mourning when
you are separated from your spouse even for a period of
training.
Some of it is anticipatory grief -- where you may suffer from intrusive thoughts of the "what ifs" and some times even flashes of a picture of your soldier suffering or being wounded. I have yet to meet one spouse or parent of a soldier who has either been deployed, is deployed or is ready to deploy that has not dealt with these feelings. The intensity and expression of these feelings all fall on a continuum, but they are very real and can be very disturbing, nonetheless.
Grief is the internal feeling we have when we have a loss. That loss is not always death, although that is usually the first thought that comes to our mind when we think of grieving, and mourning. The loss that is grieved can be a real or perceived loss (such as with the anticipatory grief.) With deployment there is grief over the loss of close contact. the loss of "peace" while grappling with the concepts of war, as well as the loss of the perception of safety for our loved one. When we are actively grieving we usually find ways to express this internal (and very intense feeling) outwardly. In some cultures there are very passionate ways that people release their feelings of grief -- their mourning style is very intense, immediate and more primitive than we, as Americans, tend to express our grief.
In our culture we often only acknowledge the deepest kind of grief, and that is when someone has lost a loved one. Even then we often want to hurry the process, and we want to rush the person left grieving. We have "nice" funerals, we send cards, flowers, and then a month or two later we are often trying to figure out why the person hasn't moved on yet, or even worse we have forgotten the one left in mourning. I have heard time and time again that all of the help and support comes in the first 2-4 months, and after that the mourner is often forgot about by even the most sincere of well wishers. We have a very immediate society, but somethings can not be rushed... should not be rushed, and grief and mourning is most certainly one of those things.
Mourning is the only outlet for grief. It is the only way we, as humans, have to purge our hearts of the painful realization that we have a life-loss, or someone we love very much is gone -- and in some instances is gone forever. It is incredible to me when I contemplate the process of grief. It really does drive home for me that we are truly "fearfully and wonderfully made." When we are faced with the stress of confronting a loss -- regardless of where it falls on the continuum of depth and intensity -- we actually absorb it in small doses. We have these incredible and amazing internal devices that protect us from a burden that could crush it should it fall on us all at once.
The physical and mental stress of a severe loss, such as learning of the death of a loved one, is too much for a person to absorb at once. With out the protective mechanisms in place I have no doubt that most of us would go into mental overload, or maybe suffer a serious physical ailment such as a heart attack, immediately following the information. Instead we go into shock and we linger in shock while we drift between belief and disbelief and bargaining. In this phase of grief there is a feeling of surrealism that keeps us safe from the very hard, cold and cruel reality that we are trying to integrate. This takes time, and considering what the griever is facing I would say it is a very important time in the grief and mourning process.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is well known as the pioneer in the study and understanding of grief, bereavement and mourning. In my social work studies I was blessed to sit under a Professor who had learned directly under her. He was a PhD in Sociology, and he taught a wonderful "Death and Dying" class in conjunction with an MSW who had worked at Hospice. Dr. Kübler-Ross broke grief down into stages, which are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. She did not assert that these stages happen in a clock-work fashion, nor did she assert that these happen like steps in that we leave one and go to the next in that exact order. These stages blur, and the time spent in each really depends on many variables such as how sudden and tragic a loss or death was, how close the person mourning was to the one who has left or passed away, and how much support the person who is grieving has as well as issue around resiliency.
We are at war, and with war comes a lot of grief for those who love the soldiers who go off to battle. That grief has left many of us in a time and period of mourning, and we are mourning, often in the presence of people who simply do not understand our grief and its expression. Sadly, too, often when they don't understand the grief they also will not know to honor it -- and some may not want to be around the mourning because it reminds them too much of their own mortality and the mortality of those they love. I can understand that. I hope that through my own professional and personal experiences that I have learned how to honor another's grief and mourning, but it is not easy. It really is our nature to be pain and stress avoidant -- we can do this through measures from hedonism to bravado.
So, today, if you know someone who is in grief and who is mourning, find a way to offer a supportive word. Don't tell them that they have been grieving long enough. Don't tell them that they need to cheer up, let go, or "get over" their pain. Instead offer them a "drink in a dry land." Listen to them, talk with them, and offer a little patience and empathy. After all, we would want the same if the tables were turned and that brother or sister sitting across from us may very well be the one we need to turn to later in life when we are facing a loss that is indescribable.
Body & Soul “Stretch past your comfort zone”
By ClaireBody & Soul “Stretch past your comfort zone”
By Theresa Rowe
As I was digging through old cardboard boxes to find pictures
that would chronicle my life, the photo search brought back
memories of years past and present. The 700 Club needed
pictures of me to show on my television interview of the time
when I was adopted, my childhood dancing days, the famous 80’s
aerobic pictures and of my children and family. I laughed
out loud as I looked at myself in the black and white diamond
patterned leotard and leg warmers, sporting a full head of wavy
hair, braided headband and dark eye make up with thick
mascara.
Continuing my search, one picture in particular grabbed my heart as I sat against the wall in my bedroom. The instant Polaroid picture was taken of my daughter Christina at the age of 6 weeks and me sitting by our apartment complex pool in Wichita Falls, Texas. I had my blonde hair pulled into two thick braids and we both were sporting a bathing suit. How precious my daughter looked, so innocent and new. How very young I looked, not knowing how to raise a new baby, or how to be a wife to my new air force husband.
The year was 1982 and I felt lost and alone most of my first year of marriage. I was 19 years old, far from Kentucky, with an infant daughter.
My husband took our only car to Air Force training school each day; I was stranded in our small apartment. There were no other military wives in our apartment complex. And Wichita Falls, Texas, was so hot you could have fried eggs in the shade!
So I stayed inside, watched soap operas, took care of baby Christina and ate. I gained 25 pounds and lost all contact with the outside world. My marriage felt like it was already falling apart and I was terribly lonely.
Looking back on those years, I see that I should have reached out beyond my comfort zone and found people to be with. I could have gone to church. I could have found a ride to the base and looked for an activity or support group, a new mother’s club, any way to connect with other women. But I didn’t. I was too young, insecure and afraid.
After a year in Wichita Falls, we were transferred to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. Things began to look up. Not only were there several military couples at our new apartment complex, but I began working at a steakhouse. It was my first job!
And another first—an acquaintance asked me to take an exercise class with her at the health club she belonged to. I was nervous about going, but when I found out they offered childcare, I pushed my fears aside and went. Soon I became a member.
For some reason, the classes there began to mean more to me than just a place to exercise. They made me feel like I had a purpose, like I was growing.
With the teacher’s encouragement, I began to reach for a new and exciting goal—to become certified as a fitness instructor. Not only did my body become flexible, it felt like my horizon was widening with brighter sunshine ahead. I soon began teaching fitness classes on the Offutt Air Force base and at a local health club.
These memories remind me that when we stretch ourselves emotionally, physically or spiritually, we shake off our stiffness, our distorted selves, and open up to the world and the people around us. Soon, we are able to walk as God has called us to walk and be who He has called us to be. Isaiah 54:2 encourages all of us to stretch and lengthen ourselves as we move forward and allow God to lead us. “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
Here’s one of my favorite stretches. Take it to just past your comfort zone, hold, then release. It’s easy to do at work, and it makes your back feel great.
Upper Back Stretch
1. Inhale and stand or sit straight, maintaining good posture, with your knees slightly bent. Place your feet hip-distance apart.
2. With your palms facing forward, exhale and extend both arms in front of you as far as you can reach with one palm resting on the top of the opposite hand.
4. Repeat up to five times.
Shaped by Prayer
Lord, my prayer today is that I would grow stronger in my faith as I stretch my arms out in service to You. Help me to be an extension of You as I reach out to others. Strengthen my weak limbs and equip me with your sword of truth. You are the vine, and I am one of your branches; May I honor You in all that I do today. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen!
Blessings,
Theresa
Summer Employment Opportunity for Military Youth (ages 14-22)
By ClaireThe summer job always caused a bustle in our home. Applications being sent in for every position from janitorial work at the airport to fast food service. The goal was always to earn enough money to blow on some fun things and then some to save toward the coveted computer or car.
If you have a younger teen (14 years or older) or a college student (up to age 22) they qualify to apply.
Summer hire program now accepting applications
Apr 7, 2010
By Margaret Banish-Donaldson
RED CLOUD GARRISON - The Civilian Personnel Advisory Center will accept summer employment applications until May 3 for family members, ages 14 - 22.CPAC officials said the 2010 Summer Hire program, which provides jobs from May 17 for college students and June 21 for high school students is designed to provide young people an opportunity to gain and prepare for future education and career goals, while supporting the Army mission.
Jobs are available in clerical, labor, and non-hazardous work.Salary for these positions is $5.50 per hour; however, subject to change.
"Federal Law requires all students to have a valid social security number," said Geraldine Jones, CPAC director. "Students are required to have their paychecks electronically submitted to a U.S. bank of their choice. And, no changes to student assignments will be permitted."
Students will be responsible for arranging their own transportation and only will be placed with the commuting distance of the sponsor's duty location, Jones said. Duty locations are Uijeongbu and Dongducheon, which includes USAG-Red Cloud, Camp Jackson, Camp Stanley and USAG-Casey.
Applicants for summer hire positions must be unmarried family members of active duty service members, Department of Defense civilian employees or non-appropriated fund (Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation or Army and Air Force Exchange Service) civilian.
Priority 1: all students ages 16 - 22.
Priority 2: students ages 14-15.Applicants must submit an online application form, Jones said. Forms must be completed and submitted to the CPAC as soon as possible, but not later than June 15. Persons under the age of 18 will not be employed as caregiving personnel at child care, school-age, or youth centers. Persons aged 16 years and older may be assigned to these programs to perform clerical or labor duties. Supervisors will provide line-of-sight supervision according to DOD Instruction 1402.5 and AR 608-10.
The Summer Hire Program is designed to provide young people an opportunity to gain meaningful job experience, prepare for future educational and career goals, and support the Army mission.
For more information, call 732-7766. SOURCE
New DVD released to help children deal with deployment
By ClaireIn celebration of our the little heroes in today’s military. April is Month of the Military Child.
New DVD Helps Children Deal With Deployment
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, March 31, 2010 – Defense and USO officials joined military families at the U.S. Navy Memorial here yesterday to celebrate the launch of a new DVD created to help military children cope with a parent’s deployment.
“With You All the Way” — a joint effort by the Defense Department, USO and the Trevor Romain Co. — offers school-age children help with preparing for and dealing with all stages of deployment, from pre-deployment to separation to reintegration.
“We are grateful for the dedication and creativity of people like Trevor Romain and the generosity of groups like the USO,” said Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon’s office of family policy and children and youth. “With [their] support, we are better able to help bridge the gap that results from months and miles of separation between children and their parents. This is no small feat and the worthiest of missions.”
The free DVD is slated to be distributed through USO centers and Military OneSource in May as part of a children’s deployment kit that also contains a stuffed bear called Cuzzie, postcards, a journal and a set of dog tags inscribed “With You All the Way.”
“The USO is devoted to supporting the military family, especially military children who aren’t able to choose their situations,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president. “Our partnership with Trevor Romain allows us to bring unique programming to these individuals, giving them resources to handle some of the tough circumstances and sacrifices that come with being a military child.”
Thompson echoed his remarks, calling the DVD a “fantastic resource.”
“The DVD helps to let [military children] know that even though it may feel like they are alone, we are with them all the way,” she said yesterday.
The DVD follows main characters Jack and Skye as they help their friends Darrell, Pablo and Brittany deal with different aspects of deployment. Darrell’s brother is preparing to deploy, Pablo’s mother has deployed again, and Brittany is adjusting to having her father back home. It also includes interviews with military families who discuss how they work to stay connected. Noted children’s author and motivational speaker Trevor Romain interacts with the characters and guides viewers through the DVD.
When faced with deployment, Thompson noted, parents and children often deal with a gamut of emotions ranging from anger and fear to worry and uncertainty.
“But something else that I know … is that together they work hard to stay connected and to work through all those feelings,” she said.
April is Month of the Military Child
By ClaireApril is designated as Month of the Military Child. The Month of the Military Child website has some great information as well as some ideas for lesson plans for teachers, scrapbook ideas and arts and crafts links. Go HERE for more information.
Here’s a sample of some of the arts and crafts links you will find:
- #1 Mom & #1 Dad Picture Frames
- Beaded Flag Tin
- Beaded Wrapped Pens
- Felt Bookmark
- Flower Pencil
- Foam Egg Magnet
- Fresh Paint Window Garden
- Gift Bags
Example of the first craft page and directions you will find:
Designed by: Casey Kortas for Fibre-Craft Materials Corp®
(www.Fibrecraft.com,www.creativehands.com)
Skill Level: Easy
Decorate a colorful picture frame for your mom or dad using Creative Hands® Cool Foam® Stickers! Just peel & stick to create the perfect gift for the perfect parent!
Materials:
- Creative Hands® #8685-99 #1 Fun Frame
- Creative Hands® #22402-01 Crazy Creatures 3-D Foam Stickers
- Creative Hands® #22432-01 Alphabet & Numbers 3-D Foam Stickers
- Tape or craft glue
Instructions:
- Trim a photo down to 4 ¼-in x 5 ¼-in and tape or glue to backside of frame opening. Replace backing.
- Peel & stick Crazy Creature, alphabet and number Cool Foam® stickers to decorate front of frame.
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
By ClaireThe folks at Care Meridian contacted me to let me know about Brain Injury Awareness Month and to offer some information.
We have many CMWs members who live daily through the consequences
of TBI. We have talked about doing a show with some of the wives,
and although it is not possibly to do that in the month of March,
I think it is feasible to do in April or May. Keep your eyes open
for the announcement.
Some soldiers are diagnosed when it's very obvious from wounds
sustained in battle, but some soldiers go undiagnosed when it's a
milder case, or they are misdiagnosed. I am hoping this month we
can post a lot of good and useful information about TBI and what
we can do as family members to love and support our soldiers.
The following information is from CareMeridian.
Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Military
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming a common wound of modern warfare. It has even been coined the “signature wound” of the War on Terror. While TBI is becoming more prevalent in wartime activity, many service men and women continue to go undiagnosed. Institutions, like the US Department of Veterans Affairs, are working to make quick and accurate diagnoses in order to prescribe appropriate and effective treatment.
TBI is caused by forced trauma to the head, either by being shaken or hit. The severity of a TBI varies from case to case, but symptoms range from mild concussions to a debilitating state. The majority of TBI’s acquired by military personnel are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI). Initial symptoms of MTBI consist of loss of consciousness, disorientation, loss of memory, headache, and temporary loss of hearing and vision. They are often partnered with anxiety, irritability, difficulties processing information, limited concentration amongst other problems experienced down the road. While MTBI is most common amongst the men and women of the armed forces, more severe cases of TBI are happening much more frequently and often require the victim to attended specialty rehabilitative nursing centers, likeCareMeridian.
The most common cause of a TBI in the military is due to blasts. There are three degrees of blast injuries where a TBI is common; Primary (due to blast itself), Secondary (due to objects being propelled by a blast) and Tertiary (due to a collision with a third party object). According to the Veterans Health Initiative, active male members of the military from the ages 18-24 are hospitalized with a TBI at a rate of 231 per 100,000 and females 150 per 100,000. Based on military force projections this would mean that 4,141 military personnel are hospitalized on average each year with a TBI, and these numbers often rise during wartimes.
The best prevention for veterans to avert the long-term effects of a brain injury is to recognize the symptoms of a TBI. Once the symptoms are identified an individual should take basic precautionary measures in order to begin the healing and recovery process until a more specific diagnosis can be made.
Service men and women give so much to protect this country and they deserve to come home to a happy and healthy life. Creating awareness about TBI will help ensure their long term health. By helping our veterans, their friends and their families recognize the early warning signs of a TBI, treatment can be sought as early as possible.
Military Youth Coping With Separation: Deployment DVDs Available
By ClaireThe Art of Being a Military Kid
By ClairePay close attention to the deadline... I just found this. The entry has to be postmarked by this coming Friday, February 26th!
The MCEC's 2010 Call for the Arts:
The Art of Being a Military Child
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) seeks to promote
the Arts by featuring the great works of military children.
Each year children are asked to submit work that can be
utilized in the MCEC's publications, conferences, and other
activities. Included in the request for work from
military-connected children, kindergarten through high school,
are artwork, film, and writing (essays, poetry, and short
stories).
Artwork in the visual arts is featured at the MCEC's national conference each year. It is utilized in the On The Move magazine, the annual calendar, the conference program, and other MCEC publications.
Writing, including essays, poetry, and short stories, is featured in the national conference program, the On The Move magazine, the annual calendar, and other MCEC publications.
Film is considered for the "Reel Military" Youth Film and Video Festival at the national conference each year.
Please see the attached documents for details. All submissions must be postmarked no later than February 26, 2010.
Information Link to the .pdf file with all Entry Information
MCEC's 2010 Call for the Arts: The Art of Being a Military Child
How to read an LES and Why you should!
By Claire
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:
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
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