Service Member and Family Support Services

  
 
 






Service Member and Family Support Services
 
http://www.pdhealth.mil/hss/smfss.asp#amsi

 
 
 
This section of PDHealth.mil provides information and guidance for service members and their families about the service member and family support services that are available from the military, VA, and the private sector. 
 

 
Table of Contents
 
DoD Family Services 
DoD Helplines 
Military OneSource 
Other Organizations Providing Family Services/Resources 
Transition and Employment Services 
Wounded Warrior Support 
Casualty Assistance Information 
Military Pathways® (Mental Health Self-Assessment 
Guides to Service Member and Family Assistance Services 
National Guard/Reserve-Specific Healthcare and Support Services 
 
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ADA: Know Your Rights - Returning Service Members with Disabilities

 http://www.ada.gov/servicemembers_adainfo.html
 
U.S. Department of Justice
 Civil Rights Division
 Disability Rights Section 
 
 
ADA: Know Your Rights 
 
 
Returning Service Members with Disabilities
 
 
You've been seriously injured while serving on active duty in the U.S. Military -- perhaps you've lost a limb, sustained a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, sustained hearing or vision loss, or are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -- and now you're back in the States trying to adjust to living with your injury. This publication explains your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides information on where to get assistance. 
Introduction
 The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life -- to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the ADA is an "equal opportunity" law, not a benefit program entitling you to specific services or financial assistance because of your disability. 
 
The ADA uses different standards than the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs in determining disability status. The ADA covers people with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, speaking, lifting, hearing, seeing, reading, eating, sleeping, concentrating, or working. Major life activities also include the operation of major bodily functions such as brain, immune system, respiratory, neurological, digestive, and circulatory functions. Businesses and State and local government agencies must take reasonable steps to make it possible for people with disabilities to be their employees or customers.
 
Employment
 Obtaining Employment: What to Expect
 
 
The Hon. L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs 
The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified employees or job applicants on the basis of their disability. It covers all employment practices, including the job application process, hiring, advancement, compensation, training, firing, and all other conditions of employment. Under the ADA, employers cannot use eligibility standards or qualifications that unfairly screen out people with disabilities and cannot make speculative assumptions about a person´s ability to do a job based on myths, fears, or stereotypes about employees with disabilities (such as unfounded concerns that hiring people with disabilities would mean increased insurance costs or excessive absenteeism).
 
Additionally, employers must make "reasonable accommodations" for employees with disabilities, which means changing the work environment or job duties to eliminate barriers that keep an individual from being able to perform the essential functions of the job. Employers are not, however, required to make accommodations that would result in an "undue hardship," which means accommodations that would result in significant difficulty or expense. Also, employers are not required to provide accommodations unless an employee requests them. So, if you´re a veteran with a hidden disability like PTSD, you can decide whether to reveal the disability and request accommodations. If you don´t need accommodations, you don´t have to disclose the disability. Employers with fifteen or more employees must comply with these provisions. 
 
Typical examples of reasonable accommodations are: 
 
Flexible scheduling at a retail store or restaurant, so a sales clerk or cashier with PTSD can attend counseling sessions or an employee with a spinal cord injury who has a lengthy personal care routine in the mornings can start his or her workday later. 
For an employee who has a brain injury, reducing clutter and distractions, providing instructions and information in writing, breaking down complex assignments into small steps, or allowing a job coach on the worksite to help a new employee get settled into the job. 
Specialized equipment for a data-entry operator who has lost an arm, hand, or finger, such as a one-handed keyboard, a large-key keyboard, a touchpad, a trackball, or speech recognition software. 
Making sure materials and equipment are in easy reach for a factory worker who uses a wheelchair. 
Raising an office desk on blocks for a worker who uses a wheelchair, and making sure supplies, materials, and office machines are at a height that is easy to reach and use and are in a location that is not obstructed by partitions, wastebaskets, or other items. 
Allowing more frequent work breaks or providing backup coverage when an employee who has PTSD needs to take a break. 
Providing a stool for a sales clerk who uses crutches so he or she can sit when not serving customers. 
If the employer has an employee parking lot, reserving a parking space close to the entrance for an employee who has difficulty walking because of the loss of a leg, foot, or toe. 
Providing instructions and information in writing for an employee with hearing loss. 
Allowing an employee to bring his or her service animal to work. 
Allowing an employee with tinnitus to play soft background music or sounds to help block out the ringing in his ears. 
For more information about these provisions or how to file a complaint, see Contact Information for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For practical advice on workplace accommodations, see Contact Information for the Job Accommodation Network. 
 
Customer Access
 Purchasing Goods and Services: What to Expect
 
There are over seven million businesses in the United States that provide goods or services to the public, including grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants and bars, hotels and motels, gas stations, dry cleaners, laundromats, banks, law offices, medical offices, insurance agencies, movie theaters, art museums, gyms, amusement parks, and other businesses. All businesses that provide goods or services to the public, even small ones with only one or two employees, must comply with the ADA, including the following requirements:
 
Reasonable Modifications
 
> Businesses must make "reasonable modifications" in their policies, practices, or procedures when necessary so that people with disabilities can be their customers. Businesses are not, however, required to make any changes that would fundamentally alter or change the nature of the business or its services. Additional information about the rules for "reasonable modifications" can be found at www.ada.gov/reachingout/lesson11.htm or by calling the ADA Information Line. See Contact Information. 
 
Typical examples of reasonable modifications are:
 
Modifying a no-pets policy to allow someone with PTSD to bring in a service animal that has been trained to calm the person when he or she has an anxiety attack. 
Modifying a membership policy at a health club to allow a person who uses a wheelchair to bring an aide to provide assistance in getting on and off exercise equipment, in and out of a swimming pool, or to assist with showering and dressing in the locker room, at no additional charge to the club member. 
Instructing staff that if a customer who has lost the use of his or her arms asks them to reach into a shirt or jacket pocket to retrieve the wallet or credit card needed to pay the bill, they should honor the request. 
Modifying procedures at a bank so customers who have difficulty standing for a long time can sit down without losing their place in line. 
Providing refueling assistance at the self-serve price for a customer with a disability who cannot pump his or her own gas. 
An example of a fundamental alteration or change is: 
 
At a gas station with only one employee whose primary job is to protect the cash box or activate the gas pumps remotely, it would be a fundamental change for the employee to leave his or her post unattended in order to pump gas for a customer with a disability. 
Effective Communication
 
Businesses must communicate effectively with customers who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. The businesses, not the customers, are responsible for providing the tools or services that are needed for "effective communication." Businesses are not, however, required to provide any tools or services that would be an "undue burden," which means significant difficulty or expense. The type of tool or service needed depends on the nature of the communication as well as the particular customer´s disability. Additional information about the rules for "effective communication" can be found at www.ada.gov/reachingout/lesson21.htm or by calling the ADA Information Line. See Contact Information.
 
Examples of effective communication are:
 
At a restaurant, the waiter can read the menu to a person with vision loss. 
At a grocery store, a staff person can assist a person with vision loss by locating and retrieving items from the shelves or reading price and content information to him or her. 
At an apartment rental office, the agent can provide a large print copy of a rental contract for a person who has vision loss or an audiotaped or electronic copy for a person who is blind. 
At a retail store, the sales person can write notes to answer simple questions from a customer who is deaf or has hearing loss. 
At a movie theater, staff can provide an assistive listening device for someone who has hearing loss. 
A pizza delivery service must accept calls through the telephone relay service from a customer who uses a TTY because of a speech disability. 
New Construction and Alterations
 
Businesses whose facilities were built or altered since the ADA went into effect must comply with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design so that the facility is accessible to and usable by people who have mobility disabilities as well as people who have sensory disabilities and people who have limited dexterity or grasping ability.
> 
Barrier Removal
 
In addition, businesses have a continuing obligation to remove architectural barriers when it is "readily achievable" to do so. For example, if inaccessible features in an older facility can be corrected easily and inexpensively, they must be corrected. If there are several inaccessible features and it is not easy and inexpensive to correct them all at once, they should be corrected over time. 
 
When an inaccessible feature cannot be corrected, if there is another easy and inexpensive way to provide service to a customer who cannot access the business, the business must offer that alternative for the customer. 
 
Additional information about the rules for "barrier removal" can be found at www.ada.gov/reachingout/lesson41.htm or by calling the ADA Information Line. See Contact Information.
 
Inexpensive steps businesses might take to improve access may include:
 
Installing a ramp over a step or two at the main entrance. 
Making a curb cut in the business's sidewalk. 
Rearranging tables, chairs, vending machines, display racks, and other furniture to allow for easy passage throughout the business. 
Installing grab bars in a toilet stall. 
Lowering a bathroom's paper towel dispenser. 
Restriping a portion of the parking lot to create accessible parking spaces. 
Installing a paper cup dispenser at an inaccessible water fountain. 
Examples of alternative ways to serve a customer when barrier removal is not feasible are:
 
At a dry cleaner's, providing curb-side service for a customer dropping off or picking up clothes. 
At a neighborhood restaurant, providing home delivery or carry-out service for a customer who cannot enter the restaurant. 
For more information about these provisions or how to file a complaint, see Contact Information for the U.S. Department of Justice.
 
Civic Life
 Using State and Local Government Services and Activities: What to Expect
 
State and local governments offer a wide variety of services and activities that returning service members might need or wish to participate in, and all of these must comply with the ADA. Here are just a few examples of the many types of public services that are covered by the ADA: public trade schools and community colleges, public libraries, public hospitals, public parks and recreational facilities, public transit buses and trains, city and county offices where people go to renew licenses, apply for food stamps, pay their taxes, attend town meetings, serve on boards and commissions, or conduct other government business.
>
> The rules for State and local governments concerning policy modification, effective communication, and facilities built or altered since the ADA went into effect are very similar to the rules for businesses, as described in the previous section of this publication. However, the rules for government facilities that have architectural barriers are different than the rules for businesses. The rules for government facilities are outlined here.
>
> Government offices are not required to make all of their facilities accessible, but are required to make all of their programs accessible. They can do this by removing barriers at an existing facility, by relocating the program to an accessible facility, or by providing the program in a different manner. Government offices are not, however, required to undertake steps that would result in an "undue burden" or that would fundamentally change the nature of their programs.
>
> Examples of making a program accessible are:
>
> A community college has two campuses, one is accessible while the other is not. It is not necessary to remove physical barriers at the inaccessible campus, if the two campuses offer the same courses, have the same hours, and serve the same geographic area.
> If the community college offers different courses at its two campuses, offers different programs (for example, day courses at one campus and evening courses at the other), or serves different geographic areas, it must undertake physical improvements at the inaccessible campus or move classes to accessible locations.
> If a person who uses a wheelchair volunteers to serve on a city Parks and Recreation Commission and the Commission's regular meeting place is inaccessible, the Commission must remove barriers at the regular meeting place or relocate its meetings to an accessible location, such as the auditorium of a nearby high school.
> An example of providing a program in a different manner is:
>
> A public library that cannot be made accessible can drop books in the mail and allow them to be returned by mail to accommodate an individual who uses a wheelchair.
> An example of an "undue burden" and how it might be solved is:
>
> In a small municipality, the town council holds its public meetings in an auditorium on the second floor of an historic town building. There is no space on the accessible first floor large enough to hold the meetings, there is no other building where the meetings could be held, and the cost of installing an elevator is beyond the town´s financial ability and would destroy the historic features of the town hall. The town´s solution may be to install a video conference system in a room on the first floor so people with mobility disabilities can participate in the meetings.
> If a city or county employs 50 or more people, it is required to have an ADA coordinator. If you encounter problems when trying to use or participate in local government services and activities, you should ask your city or county if it has an ADA coordinator and see if the coordinator can resolve the problem. All State agencies should have an ADA coordinator to resolve problems in accessing State government services and activities.
>
> Contact the U.S. Department of Justice for more information about the ADA or how to file a complaint. For information about the ADA's public transit provisions or how to file a transit-related complaint, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation. For information about the ADA's public education provisions or how to file an education-related complaint, contact the U.S. Department of Education. See Contact Information.
>
> Other Federal Laws
> Other Federal Disability Rights Laws
>
> As noted earlier, the ADA covers employment, access to goods and services, and State and local government programs, activities, and services. There are other Federal disability rights laws that cover housing, air travel, telecommunications, Federal programs and services, and other topics. For more information, see the Department of Justice publication called "A Guide to Disability Rights Laws." You can read or download a copy at www.ada.gov/cguide.pdf or order a copy from the ADA Information Line. See Contact Information.
>
> Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
>
>
> Gen. Hal Hornburg, USAF (Ret), with two service members
> The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) prohibits discrimination against employees or job applicants on the basis of their military status or military obligations. It also protects the reemployment rights of people who leave civilian jobs to serve in the uniformed services. It applies to all veterans, not just those with service-connected disabilities. Under USERRA, employers must make "reasonable efforts" to help returning employees become qualified for reemployment in the positions they would have attained if they had not left for military duty, or comparable positions. This includes providing training or retraining, at no cost to the veteran. For more information about this law or to file a complaint, see Contact Information for the U. S. Department of Labor.
>
> Benefit Programs
> A Word about Benefit Programs
>
> You have probably already received information from your service branch or the Department of Veterans Affairs about programs designed to assist returning service members. But you may not know that there are many other benefit programs for people with disabilities, whether you´ve served in the military or not.
>
> All over the United States there are organizations called Independent Living Centers that provide information about benefit programs and other services for people with disabilities. You can find out how to contact the center nearest you by calling the ADA Information Line or by calling your regional DBTAC - ADA Center. See Contact Information.
>
> State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies also offer services to help people with disabilities enter or return to employment. Your State´s contact information is available at www.rehabnetwork.org/directors_contact.htm or from the ADA Information Line.
>
> Publications
> The following publications can be ordered by telephone or viewed online.
>
> A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
> www.ada.gov/publicat.htm#Anchor-14210
> 800-514-0301 (voice)
> 800-514-0383 (TTY)
>
> Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers
> www.ada.gov/q%26aeng02.htm
> 800-514-0301 (voice)
> 800-514-0383 (TTY)
>
> The ADA: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With a Disability
> www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html
> 800-669-3362 (voice)
> 800-800-3302 (TTY)
>
> Veterans with Service-connected Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
> www.eeoc.gov/facts/veterans-disabilities.html
>
>
> Accommodating Service Members and Veterans with PTSD
> www.jan.wvu.edu/corner/vol03iss02.htm
> 800-526-7234 (voice)
> 877-781-9403 (TTY)
>
> Accommodating Employees with Traumatic Brain Injury
> www.americasheroesatwork.gov/accommodatingTBI.html
> Accommodating Employees with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
> www.americasheroesatwork.gov/accommodatingPTSD.html
>
> So You Want to Go Back to School
> www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/back-to-school-2008.html
>
> Contact Information
> All the agencies listed below provide technical assistance to help businesses, State and local governments, and individuals with disabilities understand the ADA. Each agency specializes in different ADA topics.
>
> The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides information about the employment provisions of the ADA.
>
> For questions
> 1-800-669-4000 (voice)
> 1-800-669-6820 (TTY)
>
> For ordering publications by mail
> 1-800-669-3362 (voice)
> 1-800-800-3302 (TTY)
>
> For ordering publications online
> http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/index.cfm
>
> Website
> www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm
> Email address -- info@eeoc.gov
>
> Please include your zipcode and/or city and state so your email will be sent to the appropriate office.
>
> Mail
> Please call, or click on the website´s link "Contact Us," to get the address for the office that serves your area.
>
> The Job Accommodation Network provides information about accommodating employees with disabilities.
>
> 800-526-7234 (voice)
> 800-232-9675 (voice)
> 304-293-7186 (voice)
> 877-781-9403 (TTY)
> 304-293-5407 (fax)
>
> Website
> www.jan.wvu.edu
>
> Job Accommodation Network
> PO Box 6080 Morgantown, WV 26506-6080
>
> The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the provisions applying to businesses and State and local government agencies, including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Contact the ADA Information Line to speak to an ADA Specialist who can answer questions and help you understand the ADA´s requirements. All calls are confidential.
>
> ADA Information Line
> 1-800-514-0301 (voice)
> 1-800-514-0383 (TTY)
> 24 hours a day to order publications by mail
> M-W, F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Th 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (eastern time) to speak with an ADA Specialist.
>
> Website
> www.ada.gov
>
> U.S. Department of Justice
> Civil Rights Division
> 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
> DRS-NYA
> Washington, DC 20530
>
> The U.S. Department of Transportation provides information about the public transit provisions of the ADA.
>
> ADA Assistance Line
> 888-446-4511 (voice)
> TTY: use relay service
>
> Website
> www.fta.dot.gov/ada
>
>
> E-mail address
> FTA.ADAassistance@dot.gov
>
> Federal Transit Administration
>
> East Building
> 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
> Washington, DC 20590
>
> The U.S. Department of Education provides information about the public education provisions of the ADA.
>
> 800-421-3481 (voice)
> 877-521-2172 (TTY)
>
> Website
> www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
>
> E-mail address -- ocr@ed.gov
>
> Mail
> Please call, or click on the website´s link "Office Contacts," to get the address for the office that serves your area.
>
> The ten regional DBTAC - ADA Centers provide information about the ADA.
>
>
> 800-949-4232 (voice and TTY)
>
> Website
> www.adata.org
>
> The U.S. Department of Labor provides information about the provisions of USERRA.
>
> 202-693-4731 (voice)
> TTY: use relay service
>
> Website
> www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm
>
>
> For persons with disabilities, this publication is available in large print, Braille, audio tape, and on computer disk.
>
> Reproduction of this publication is encouraged.
>
> January 2010
>
>
> ADA: Know Your Rights Returning Service Members with Disabilities (PDF version)
>
>
> ADA Home Page
>
>
> Last updated August 17, 2010
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *********************************************************************************************
>
>
>
>
> Very Respectfully,
>
> Shari Parrow, MSW LCSW
> U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
> Advocate
> Serco, Inc. Contractor
>
> Providing personalized support to severely wounded, injured and ill
> Soldiers and their Families for, "as long as it takes".
>
> Direct: (701) 306-8751 (C) (Leave Messages Here)
> Toll Free: 1-877-393-9058
> Email: shari.a.smith@us.army.mil
> Online: www.AW2.army.mil
>
> (160 D&T-0)
> RM 1135-d
> Fargo VAMC
> 2101 North Elm Street
> Fargo, ND 58102
> Fargo VAMC Office: (701)232-3241 - 9/4412 (Do not leave messages here)
> Faxination: VAMC Fargo, ND (Atten: Shari Parrow (AW2) 701-237-2578
>
> NOTICE: Freedom of Information Act: The information contained in this communication is intended for the sole use of the named addressees/recipients to whom it is addressed, in the conduct of official business of the United States Government. This communication may contain information that is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, USC 552 and the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552a Addressees/recipients are not to disseminate this communication to individuals other than those who have an official need to know this information in the course of their official Government duties.
>
> Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: This document may contain confidential information that is legally privileged under the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552(a), and/or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (PL 104-191) and its various implementing regulations. If this correspondence contains healthcare information it is being provided to you after appropriate authorization from the patient or under circumstances that do not require patient authorization. You are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality subjects you to application of appropriate civil and federal criminal sanctions. If you have received this correspondence in error, destroy any copies you have made and notify the sender or the local MTF Chief, Patient Administration Division or Privacy Officer. Access rights to this information are defined in AR 40-66 and DOD Regulation 6025.18, Health Information Privacy Regulation 60.

When Christmas is Over...

 

 
Dear Angels,

Here at Soldiers' Angels we're finishing up Christmas, thanks to the generous help and hard work of hundreds of thousands of Angels.  We made those donations stretch for miles, but now is not the time to relax!!

It's after Christmas that things can get really tough.  When the decorations are put away, the last treat has been eaten and the party in the tent in Afghanistan or the base in America is over, there's a letdown for everyone—the troops, their families, and the volunteers.

When morale takes a dip during deployment, soldiers sometimes tell each other, "We're at war; America is at the mall."  Now, a lot of us have been at the mall lately, but we certainly DID NOT FORGET the troops! 

Please help make sure that our heroes KNOW that we haven't forgotten them just because Christmas is over!  The need doesn't stop when the Holiday Season ends.  There are still wounded warriors… still deployed heroes… still veterans who need to know someone cares… still families on the homefront who need our support.  They need to know that we are here for them 365 Days a Year!

I know it's been a tough year, but every $5 or $10 makes such a difference.  When we pool our modest resources, we accomplish amazing things for our heroes!

Please help us ensure Angel support and care packages flow seamlessly through the year! 

Christmas is a time to give of yourself.  Take a moment to donate $5, $10, $25 or even $100 or more to make sure our military heroes and their families know that we have NOT FORGOTTEN them, to make sure that Soldiers' Angels is standing behind them, watching over them and backing them up as they do their vital job--It is because of THEIR  SERVICE AND SACRIFICE that we have a safe and comfortable country in which to celebrate with family and friends. 

Here are four easy ways to donate immediately and make sure the troops know we haven't forgotten them when Christmas is over:

To Donate $5, Text SOLDIERS to 20222

Soldiers' Angels 4408 N PanAm Exprwy San Antonio, TX 78218

If the buttons do not work for you,
Thank you for all you do to make sure the troops know we are there for them EVERY DAY.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Wingtip to Wingtip,


Patti
Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter -  www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Families Weather Holidays Without Deployed Loved Ones

 

Families Weather Holidays Without Deployed Loved Ones By Elaine Wilson American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2010 - As she has in years past, Pat Moseley lit the Hanukkah menorah earlier this month, and then the Christmas tree, without her deployed soldier husband. Kari Armstrong readies a care package to send to her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Armstrong, who is deployed in Afghanistan. December 2010, Fort Campbell, Ky. Courtesy photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. As a 20-plus-year military spouse, Moseley has grown accustomed to celebrating her family's dual, month-long holiday season without him. But this year, as she watched the Hanukkah candles flicker and said her prayers in the family's Fort Campbell, Ky.,-area home, she did so not only with her husband's safety in mind, but also her older son's. Moseley's husband, Sgt. 1st Class Jon Moseley, of the 101st Airborne Division's 4th Brigade, and their son, Army Spc. Chris Moseley, are both deployed in Afghanistan for a year, although to separate locations. As a seasoned Army wife and mom, Moseley is familiar with the roller-coaster ride of emotions a deployment entails. "I know I'll be a little down, a little depressed; it's hard around the holidays," she said. "But I've learned to reach out to friends, put more effort into the [family readiness group]." Moseley is one of thousands of family members weathering the holidays without a deployed loved one this year. More than 140,000 U.S. servicemembers are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with thousands more to other locations around the world. Back home, their families are tackling the task of upholding long-standing holiday traditions, or creating new ones, while working to keep spirits high and their deployed loved ones close at hand. Rather than dwell on past traditions, and the lack of her husband and son to share them, Moseley is determined to create new memories that will sustain her through the long winter days ahead. Moseley and her younger son, Jon, will celebrate the holidays in a cabin with close friends. She plans to cherish their time together, particularly since Jon, an Army specialist, is set to deploy to Afghanistan in the spring. "One will be coming back and two more will be there," she said, referring to Jon and her husband, who won't return until the summer. Although tucked away in the countryside, Moseley will ensure she's able to include her husband and deployed son in the festivities. If they can time it right, they'll open gifts "together" online. "The Internet is a blessing," she said. "Having a voice connection is so important." While she misses them when they're away, Moseley said she's proud for the sacrifices her husband and two sons have chosen to make. "I'm so very proud of them, for the choices that they've made and what they've done for me and their country," she said. Donnie Mock also has shifted his family's traditional holiday plans to avoid the ghosts of Christmas past. Rather than drive to visit family in Ohio, he plans to stay home at Fort Campbell and enjoy a quiet holiday with his three children. "I figured we'd have the holidays here; do something different, said Mock, whose wife, Army Sgt. Kelly Mock, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, is deployed in Afghanistan. Mock, a stay-at-home dad, plans to cook a big dinner for their children: 10-year-old Donnie III, 4-year-old Dayon and 2-year-old Seagurin. The highlight of their day, he said, will be when they talk to Kellie online via Skype. "We're going to call her on Christmas for her time zone and then on Christmas here, so it's like having two holidays," he said. On their third deployment, Mock also is accustomed to the gamut of emotions that comes with separation, and is understanding when his youngest wakes him up in the middle of the night wondering, "Where's Mommy?" His focus during the holidays, and every other day, he said, is to be his family's rock. "I want to be there for her and the kids as well as our extended family," he said. "They're also worried. But it helps to have someone standing strong, and I would like to think that's me. "I keep spirits going, hopes up high, that no harm will come to her or anyone else," he said. Mock finds comfort in knowing that his wife is serving a greater good, and tries to pass that knowledge on to his children. "I tell them she left for a really good reason," he said. "It helps to grasp the concept of why she left and what it's for; it's a good thing. "It takes a strong mind and soul to be in the armed forces," he added. "It takes a special kind of person to do the job we do -- spouses and military." Kari Armstrong, wife of Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Armstrong, of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, will be drawing on her own reserve of strength this holiday season while her husband is deployed in Afghanistan. This holiday will be her first without her mother, who died in February. On Christmas, she plans to spend time with her father, who has Alzheimer's disease, and with her Army wife friends. "We do everything together when the holidays come," she said of her friends. "We've formed that typical Army wife, buddy bond." Armstrong has kept busy since her husband deployed from Fort Campbell in July, the second time in their four years of marriage. "The best way to cope is to stay busy, stay involved with the family readiness group," she said. "It makes it go by faster." Still, Armstrong wishes her husband, whom she calls the "rock of the family," could be home, "not just because of the holiday, but what it will be like without [my mother]," she said. As with many military spouses, despite her own challenges, Armstrong offers her husband unwavering support. "My husband is doing what he loves to do," she said. "I'm here for the ride no matter what he does. He always has a support system back home." Her holiday wish for him, she added, is that he returns home safely. Moseley said she has one wish for her husband, son and all the deployed troops: "I wish them a peaceful day," she said, "that they can have a moment of peace to enjoy the blessing of Christmas."

Ten-year-old Donnie III, 4-year-old Dayon and 2-year-old Seagurin help prepare dinner. Their father, Donnie Mock, has a big holiday dinner planned to help keep spirits high while his wife, Army Sgt. Kelly Mock, is deployed in Afghanistan. December 2010, Fort Campbell, Ky. Courtesy photo Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

 

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VA Urges Veterans to Sign Up for Direct Deposits - Treasury Publishes Final Regulation to Phase Out Paper Checks by 2013

 
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel <http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel> 
 
 
VA Urges Veterans to Sign Up for Direct Deposits 
 
Treasury Publishes Final Regulation to Phase Out Paper Checks by 2013
 
WASHINGTON (Dec. 21, 2010)- The Department of the Treasury announced a
 new rule that will extend the safety and convenience of electronic
 payments to millions of Americans and phase out paper checks for federal
 benefits by March 1, 2013. Officials at the Department of Veterans
 Affairs (VA) urge Veterans to sign up for electronic payment of their
 benefits.
 
"Receiving VA benefits electronically will increase the security,
 convenience and reliability of these vital payments," said Secretary of
 Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "VA encourages Veterans who are now
 receiving their benefits in paper checks to set up direct deposits
 before the deadline."
 
On March 1, 2013, VA will stop issuing paper checks. People who do not
 have electronic payments for their federal benefits by that time will
 receive their funds via a pre-paid debit card. Called the Direct
 Express card, it is issued by Comerica Bank as the financial agent of
 the U.S. Treasury. 
 
Another deadline affects people receiving VA's compensation or pensions
 for the first time after May 1, 2011. Those people will automatically
 receive the benefits electronically. 
 
Anyone already receiving federal benefit payments electronically will be
 unaffected by the changes. To learn more about the federal government's
 switch to direct deposit - or to change VA benefits to direct deposit --
 visit www.GoDirect.org. Information about the federal government's "Go
 Direct" campaign is also available at 1-800-333-1795.
 
Along with payments for VA benefit, the change will also affect
 recipients of payments from Social Security, Supplemental Security
 Income, Railroad Retirement Board,or Office of Personnel Management.
 
For more information about VA benefits and programs, go to www.va.gov
 <http://www.va.gov/> or call toll free 1-800-827-1000.
 

Thank You! from Afganistan

  
 
  
Dear Soldiers Angels,

I received a care package today from your organization and wanted to thank
you.  I am currently finishing my deployment here in Afghanistan and will be
headed home to my lovely wife here in a few short weeks. 
 
 I am active duty Navy and have been in for 12 years now, I may not be able to enjoy
everything in the package since I am leaving shortly but I will pass it on
to other service members who can utilize it. 
 
 
Again thank you and I hope you
have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

        Chris O 

thank you with picture of military family christmas

 
Hello my name is Valerie and our family was soponsered by one of
your angels. It was such a blessing and we are so blessed and thankful this
is our second year without my husband home for the holidays and its been
getting tougher because this year I no longer work for medical reasons.
 
He dropped of some amazing gifts for our kids and I can't wait to see their
faces light up Christmas morning. I am so appreciative and thankful for this
program <3 you guys are awesome and truely an Soldiers' Angels oh btw they
send a few care packages to my husband so here is a pic of me and our
sponsor by the tree and presents he brought over.
 

A Different Way to Get Down the Mountain

 A Different Way to Get Down the Mountain
 By Dennis Walburn, Guest Blogger
 

AW2 Veteran Dennis Walburn, a leg amputee, found the right combination of ski equipment needed to get himself back on the ski slopes.
 Monoboards, also known as monoskis, can be used as an alternative way for many wounded warriors to ski. In the 1980s, monoboarding was popular in Europe, but was eclipsed by snowboarding, which was popular here in the United States. Monoboarding seemed to never really catch on in the U.S.
 
Monoboards look a lot like snowboards. The major difference between these two types of boards, is that monoboards have two ski bindings side-by-side near the middle of the board. This is contrary to traditional snowboards that have a front and back foot alignment. Typical lengths are around 150 to 170 centimeters.
 
I became interested in trying to monoboard after the first year I learned to ski one-legged in 2005 in Breckenridge, CO. I found that I easily tired out after a few runs when I skied one-legged. I was looking for a way to overcome this obstacle. While looking on the Internet, I found that there were several manufacturers in the U.S. and in Europe that still made monoboards.
 
I do not wish to recommend a particular company, but suggest you search the Web and find the one that appears right for you. A board that is shaped more like a normal ski or snowboard may be the best choice for a first purchase. Make sure you work with the vendor to get the board that is right for your height, weight, and ability.
 
In 2005, the XT9 High Activity Knee (XT9), a skiing leg system, was just becoming available and I thought I could use the XT9, a monoboard, and outriggers (ski tip retention devices that look like ski poles) together to see if the combination would work for me. As a mid-thigh amputee, I do not have enough of my leg present to successfully steer a regular left ski using the XT9, but I have enough leg left that in concert with my good leg on the monoboard, I can properly steer.
 
On the XT9 you can have your prosthetist pick a foot that works in conjunction with a ski boot or get a specially made ski foot. I have used both setups successfully. You might also consider a runway-type prosthetic ankle. These are normally used by people who want an ability to adjust their ankle according to their shoe heel height. My prosthetist took my runway-type prosthetic ankle and reversed it, allowing me to have my leg positioned more forward over the boot into a more "normal" ski stance with my virtual knee more directly over the toe of the boot. The last piece of equipment I have on the leg is a torsion adapter that allows the prosthetic leg to mimic the side-to-side motion delivered by my good side. The torsion adapter is an optional part of the set-up that works very well for me.
 
Since then, I have also used the Bartlett Tendon Universal Knee System successfully. Allowing me more freedom than the XT9, the Bartlett system allows me to get on and off the chair lift more easily. It also allows me to easily get up on those rare times that I fall. I would recommend beginner skiers use the XT9, but I also think that either one would work fine for most amputees.
 
I use outriggers that are set up for my height, just like if they were being used by three or four-track stand-up skiers. Like a three-track skier, you need to either have the brakes on your outriggers adjusted for your ability level and as your ability improves you can adjust the brakes back. Knowing or learning how to do a "hockey stop" to come to a stop is also an essential skill you should work to perfect as your speed and ability improve. On my good leg (not the expensive metal one), I wear a sturdy knee brace for added protection in case of a fall or impact. By the way, you should protect everything that needs it including a helmet, goggles, and good boots.
 
I first used my skiing equipment system at Durango Ski resort during the 2006–2007 ski season with the help of the adaptive program there. Very quickly, I was able to ski more difficult runs that I had done the previous year using a regular ski and outriggers.
 
Wounded warriors whom I believe could benefit from using the setup I described might include: single-leg above the knee amputees, bilateral amputees with one amputation being below the knee, someone with one or two bad knees with well fitting prescribed knee braces, and perhaps bilateral above knee amputee with sufficient residual limb length to provide sufficient authority in both legs with two ski legs. The last example would probably have the greatest challenge. Lastly if one or both arms were injured to the point where outriggers are hard to use, my system might also be too difficult to use.
 
I wish good luck to those who start working towards getting back to the slopes. For those that have the ability, I encourage you to explore your options.
 
The expressed comments and views of guest bloggers do not reflect the views of WTC or the United States Army
 
 
 
http://aw2.armylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/12/16/a-different-way-to-get-down-the-mountain/
 December 16th, 2010

FAN CLUB MEMBERS OF THE MONTH: JEFF BADER

 

FAN CLUB MEMBERS OF THE MONTH: JEFF BADER

As you know, I meet a lot of people while on the road. A lot of times, I meet someone and they make a lasting impression on me. This is true of the gentleman I am about to introduce you to. I've named him "The Most Un-Selfish Man in the World". His real name is Jeff Bader and he has earned this month's Fan Club Member of the Month.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff in Memphis, TN many months ago. Jeff and his wife Patti are the Founders of Soldiers' Angels. Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families. This is the organization that is helping us with our Letters for Lyrics campaign. Jeff came out to volunteer for Letters for Lyrics at the Memphis show and told me that day that he was going to try to come to a lot of shows and help the volunteers gather written letters. Little did I know then I would work with Jeff at every show from that point forward.  The reason I named Jeff "The Most Un-Selfish Man in the World" is because he does everything in his life to help others, yet wants NO recognition for it at all. He rents his own car, stays in his own hotel, buys his own gas and food and shows up at every show to write letters to the soldiers. He asks me for nothing. When I offer to feed him at the Eat & Greet, he tells me that it is ok, he doesn't want to put us out, he just wants to help us collect letters for the soldiers. He never asks to go back stage, or see the band, or anything. He just shows up in every city with a huge smile on his face and the most incredible, positive attitude. Jeff also joined the Zamily because he loved being a part of our team.  Jeff recently presented every band member, the Southern Ground Artists and myself with a beautiful award for all that we are doing to help Soldier's Angels. In my opinion, Jeff Bader deserves an award for being "The Most Un-Selfish Man in the World."My new, very good friend has made me want to be a better person. He inspires me on a daily basis and I hope his story can inspire you.  Thank you for your dedication to all Soldiers, Jeff. This world is a better place because you are in it.  T Bird

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DMA Holiday Video

 
All-
 
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you Happy Holidays and to share a special video that we at the Defense Media Activity Emerging Media directorate produced, with the participation of more than 40 commands worldwide.
 
Servicemembers from each of the services, stationed everywhere from Afghanistan to Antarctica, helped make "Twas a Night in December," a variation of the popular holiday story rewritten with a military twist. Country music singer and active military supporter Toby Keith introduces our holiday video.

 
Please feel free to share this video with your friends and family. And if you'd like to share it on your Facebook pages, blogs, and other social media, we'd be grateful!
 
You can link to the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j_icz3ZEHw

 
And, you can view the entire blog post: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/12/twas-a-night-in-december/

 
Happy Holidays,
 
V/r,
 
LT Jennifer Cragg
 Emerging Media Directorate
 Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
 Defense Media Activity
 601 North Fairfax Street, Suite 311
 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-2007

GOLD STAR WIVES DAY - December 18th

Senate resolution designates Gold Star Wives Day

 

By C. Todd Lopez

Army News Service

 

WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- For the first time, America officially recognizes the contributions and dedication of military widows with ''Gold Star Wives Day.''

 

A Senate resolution designates Dec. 18 as a day to honor and recognize the contributions of the members of the Gold Star Wives of America Inc.

 

The group, with about 10,000 members, provides service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of military personnel who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected cause.

 

"This is the first year we've had a Gold Star Wives day.  It's something that our government relations committee has been working on," said Kit Frazer, president of Gold Star Wives of America Inc.  "It's national recognition for the organization, which is wonderful.  It's something very special to us."

 

Mrs. Frazer's husband was an Army helicopter pilot and was killed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.  She said the organization represents military widows from every war since World War II.

 

Vivianne Wersel serves as the chairman of the Gold Star Wives government relations committee.  Her husband, Marine Lt. Col. Rich Wersel, died Feb 4, 2005.

 

She said she hopes the observation brings awareness to the efforts of the Gold Star Wives.

 

"Part of it is public awareness, that the organization does exist and has existed since 1945, and the only time when we are really in the eye of the public is when we are on (Capitol Hill)," she said.

 

One of the issues Mrs. Wersel said the Gold Star Wives would like to bring attention to is how widows receive benefits after the deaths of their husbands -- in particular, how dependency and indemnity compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs affects a survivor's payments from the Survivors Benefit Plan.

 

Mrs. Wersel said some are confused by what the organization is working for when they ask that the rules governing benefits be changed.  She said it helps to understand that a military wife often gives up a chance to earn her own retirement benefits when she agrees to move with their husband's military career.

 

"When you are a spouse and you have to move 10 times to 10 states in 10 years you don't get your own retirement," she said.  "Your retirement is a team retirement."

 

She said one of the things Gold Star Wives of America Inc., works for is to bring attention to that issue, and she hopes the observation Dec. 18 will bring attention to that effort.

 

Related Link:  Gold Star Wives of America Inc.

Announcing DCoE's 2011 Monthly Webinar Series

 
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic
 Brain Injury (DCoE) recently completed its first year of monthly webinars
 (http://www.dcoe.health.mil/Events/MonthlyWebinars.aspx), a promotional and
 informational series that offers resources, speaker presentations, best
 practices from government and non-government organizations, and the
 opportunity to dialogue with experts in areas of psychological health and
 traumatic brain injury.
 
Since our first webinar in November 2009 about chaplains and chaplain
 assistants, the listserv has increased by more than 1,240 percent; actual
 attendance has increased by more than 400 percent; RSVP rates have increased
 by more than 750 percent. These numbers clearly show an interest in national
 and international discussions on various topics surrounding psychological
 health and traumatic brain injury, such as reintegration, mobile technology,
 support for caregivers and suicide prevention.
 
We are pleased to announce the 2011 DCoE Webinar schedule
 (http://bit.ly/hJdrJ7). The 2011 topics range from technical and
 research-focused subjects like indirect neurotrauma and neuropathophysiology
 of mild traumatic brain injury to personal and emotional subjects like
 compassion fatigue and holidays away from families. The webinar topics are
 as varied as the issues and topics that DCoE focuses on in support of
 servicemembers, veterans and their families.
 
 

TRICARE Offers Help for the Holiday Blues

 
FYI: TRICARE Offers Help for the Holiday Blues [ http://www.tricare.mil/mediacenter/press_article.aspx?fid=507 ] 
 
The holidays are usually an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends, but this time of year can also present significant stress. Joyous reminders of the holiday season for some can bring pain and loneliness to others. 
 
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, encourages service members and family members to reach out for help if they are struggling with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression through the video "Getting the Help You Need, When You Need It" at http://www.youtube.com/tricarehealth#p/u/4/SzMk-n8nY8k&feature=related. 
 
Getting the Help You Need, When You Need It [ http://www.youtube.com/tricarehealth#p/u/4/SzMk-n8nY8k&feature=related ] 
 
Please reach out to your family and friends if you are experiencing any holiday blues. Try to talk about your feelings with someone you trust, or seek confidential counseling through the TRICARE Assistance program (TRIAP) in the privacy of your home at www.tricare.mil/TRIAP [ http://www.tricare.mil/TRIAP ]. 
 
See what TRICARE Deputy Director Rear Admiral Christine Hunter has to say about getting help: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/12/medical-monday-tricare-assistance-program-is-here-for-you-during-the-holidays. 
 
A complete list of websites and other links are available at the TRICARE Mental Health Resource Center at www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth [ http://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth ]. 
 
 
 
Sign up for TRICARE e-mail updates at www.tricare.mil/subscriptions [ http://www.tricare.mil/subscriptions ]. 
 
Connect with TRICARE on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/tricare [ http://www.facebook.com/tricare ] and www.twitter.com/tricare [ http://www.twitter.com/tricare ]. 
 
The TRICARE Management Activity administers the worldwide health care plan for 9.6 million eligible beneficiaries of the uniformed services, retirees and their families. 
 
________________________________________________________________________
 
TRICARE [ http://www.tricare.mil/ ] Questions for TRICARE? 
Contact Us [ http://www.tricare.mil/contactus/ ] 
 

Praise our heroes everyday....

A Poem Worth Reading     He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he once fought in and the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one. And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened quietly for they knew where of he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away, and the world's a little poorer for a Soldier died today. He won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. for he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, going quietly on his way; and the world won't note his passing, 'tho a Soldier died today. When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Soldier goes unnoticed, and unsung.  Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his country and offers up his life? The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are often disproportionate, to the service that he gives. While the ordinary Soldier, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.   It is not the politicians with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.  Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand? Or would you want a Soldier-- his home, his country, his kin, just a common Soldier, who would fight until the end. He was just a common Soldier, and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us we will need his like again. For when countries are in conflict, we find the Soldier's part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start. If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Soldiers' Angels Germany December Newsletter

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.  Christmas Bears "To Go"   A small Army of Christmas bears ready for distribution to patients leaving Germany for the US over the next week. This way our guys will have a little gift for very young children who would be too young to understand why Daddy doesn't have a Christmas present for them...  Photo: Soldiers' Angels.          December's stories of interest   Must-see - "Traveling Home with America's Wounded Warriors" : An NBC Nightly News report "Traveling Home with America's Wounded Warriors" featuring interviews with patients and one of Landstuhl's long-time ICU nurses, Dee Dee Price. Watch it here.   Wounded Warrior Story - House groundbreaking ceremony for Marine Cpl Zach Briseno : If the name sounds familiar, it's because you've met Zach before.  We've been following Zach's progress since we checked on him at Landstuhl back in 2007 on behalf of his uncle, Soldiers' Angel David Cordova. Now you can see Zach talk about what this new home will mean for him and his son Elijah here.      Profiles in Courage: The Two Who Stood Their Ground :  "What he didn't know until then, and what he learned that very instant, was that Marines are not normal." Choking past the emotion the Iraqi Police Officer said, "Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what they did. No sane man. They saved us all."   Read the story of 2 young Marines who died with rifles blazing to protect their brothers-in-arms.    Montana Soldier "glad" he stepped on IED :  "I'm just glad I stepped on that IED. Otherwise, it would have been one of my buddies."  That's the incredible statement from Army Sgt. J.D. Williams, who is now a triple amputee.  Grab a tissue and read about this Hero and his incredible attitude here.     The Hospital on the Hill :  Each year during the Christmas season a cross shines brightly on the hill above the town of Landstuhl at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center site.   See the photo here.     Most-needed items of the Month The updated list can be found at the Soldiers' Angels Germany blog here.  We are receiving a very high number of patients daily and are distributing a record amount of supplies. As always, thank you for your prayers and for your support! With warmest regards this Christmas season, Your Soldiers' Angels Team in Germany Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization CFC #25131 To visit the main Soldiers' Angels website, click here.   As the official Soldiers' Angels organization in Germany, our mission is to support patients medevaced to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center from Iraq and Afghanistan. To visit the Soldiers' Angels Germany blog, click here. Other Information Information about Soldiers' Angels in Germany.  Click here. Information about medevac evacuations to Germany (with videos). Click here.