This document provides information from various military and family support organizations in a weekly newsletter format. It includes announcements about webinars on family resiliency and financial management being offered by Military OneSource, a survey of student and parent satisfaction with Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and the dedication of a new Fisher House for families of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base. It also provides tips and resources on nutrition, parenting, physical activity, personal finances and strengthening family connections during deployment.

1. http://www.health.mil/blog/10‐06‐24/Family_Resiliency_Webinar.aspx.
This Week in MC&FP
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.
November 12, 2010
___________________________________________________________
We wish a hearty “Happy Birthday,” to our U.S. Marines and their families who
celebrated 235 years of service on Wednesday, November 10th
. From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores
of Tripoli and beyond, the Marine Corps family has much to be proud of. And we join our nation in
expressing our gratitude to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed
Forces. In his Veterans Day proclamation, President Obama noted that it’s “not our weapons or our
technology that make us the most advanced military in the world; it is the unparalleled spirit, skill, and
devotion of our troops.” Thank you for your service!
Have a good week and take care.
Your MC&FP Team
Please note: Some hyperlinks in this text are lengthy, sometimes extending more than one line. For best results,
cut and past the entire link into your Web browser.
From DoDEA
• DoDEA’s 2010 Customer Satisfaction Survey Under Way
The survey allows parents and students the opportunity to share their thoughts on DoDEA's
operations. A recent DoD blog highlights DoDEA's Virtual High School principal, Terri Marshall,
encouraging participation in the survey. See: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/11/family-
focus-dodea-releases-customer-satisfaction-survey/
• DoDEA Partnership Staff Attend Education Forum
DoDEA Educational Partnership Staff attended the Investment in America Forum Education
Initiative at the Pentagon on Nov. 10. The forum works to increase national awareness about the
crisis in American education with a goal of motivating all sectors to take action to increase resources
for effective education programs. First held in 2002, the objective is to promote cross-sector dialog
among public, social, and private leaders. In the past three years, the focus of discussion at the
forum has been workforce readiness and education.
• WWII soldier Meets With Zama Students for Veterans Day Event
Mike Jurkoic considered getting drafted during World War II a stroke of luck. It was 1942 and the
23-year-old had been trying to join the Navy for several years but was always rejected for “being a
shrimp.” The Army called him to duty that year after the military lowered its physical standards to

2. This Week in MC&FP November 12, 2010
boost the ranks fighting in Europe and the Pacific. See: http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/wwii-
soldier-meets-with-zama-students-for-veterans-day-event-1.124860#commentsForm-82584
From the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth
• Military OneSource to Offer Family-Focused Webinars
In support of Military Family Month, Military OneSource will offer four Webinars. Webinars are
Web-based training sessions using teleconference audio and the Internet to deliver an interactive
seminar. All times listed are Eastern Time. For more information, see
http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/OnlineCommunity/Webinars.aspx
- Health Coaching: What’s it all about?
Tuesday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m.
- Don’t Bust Your Budget
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 11 a.m.
- Managing Holiday Stress
Friday, Nov. 19, 12 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m. (Eastern Time)
- The Sibling Battle
Monday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 11 a.m.
• College Grants Up For Grabs
The Air Force Aid Society plans to award up to 3,000 grants to dependents of Air Force members
for their college education through the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program.
Applications for these $2,000 need-based grants are now available from the Society’s Web site.
Completed forms must be received by AFAS no later than March 11, 2011.
The grant program is open to dependent children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended
active duty, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reservists and deceased
Air Force members. Spouses of active duty members and surviving spouses of deceased personnel
are also eligible. All applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates at an accredited college
or university during the 2011-2012 academic year, and are required to maintain a minimum 2.0
Grade Point Average. For more information, see http://www.afas.org
• “Forging the Partnership” Conference Planning Continues
If you haven’t done so yet, mark your calendars to be in Chicago April 27- 29, 2011, at the
Hyatt Regency for the interagency family readiness conference, “Forging the Partnership.”
The conference will bring together professionals from DoD and USDA and will build
connections, competency and the capacity of our agencies and programs.
Proposals for workshops, computer labs, research posters, and program showcase exhibits were due
Friday, November 12, 2010.
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3. This Week in MC&FP November 12, 2010
The conference will feature keynote speakers, current youth and family research presenters,
interactive workshops and computer labs. For more information, see
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/service/conferenceandworkshops/fy2011
From Casualty and Memorial Affairs
• Fisher House for the Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base Dedicated
Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Michael Donley, and Air Force Chief of Staff, General
Norton Schwartz, Mr. Robert L. Gordon III and other senior leaders, participated in the dedication
of the new Fisher House for Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base on November 10, 2010.
Kenneth Fisher, the chairman of the board of trustees for the Fisher House Foundation, Inc., hosted
the event. . Noted entertainer and Marine Corps veteran, Mr. Montel Williams, served as the
narrator for the event.
The home consists of nine bedrooms, a common dining room, living room and kitchen and will
accommodate up to 24 family members and their accompanying Casualty Assistance Officer,
Family Liaison Officer, and support staff. The site also includes a meditation pavilion surrounded
by a garden area to provide families a separate, quiet place of reflection. The facility is adjacent to
the Center for the Families of the Fallen and staffed with chaplains, mental health professionals and
counselors who are available to help families as needed throughout their stay. The Fisher House,
Meditation Pavilion, and Center for the Families of the Fallen will be in an enclosed “Campus of
Care” ensuring utmost care and privacy are provided to families. For more information, see:
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123230488
From the Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs
• “ Supporting Military Family Members with Disabilities” Featured at Arc Convention
Isabel Hodge was a guest speaker at The Arc's National Convention on November 4 and 5. She
provided information about DoD’s Exceptional Family Member Program, the new Office of
Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs, and the challenges military families
with special needs members face when they relocate. Each session attendee received a Military
OneSource handout detailing available materials and the specialty consultations for military
families with special needs. The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and
participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. For more information, see:
http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2772:
From Resale
• Gift Vouchers Extend Holiday Cheer to Commissary Shoppers
During November and December, the Defense Commissary Agency reminds anyone who wants to
send some holiday cheer to authorized military shoppers that they can do so with gift vouchers. Gift
vouchers are available in $25 denominations. Anyone – civilian or military – can purchase them, but
only authorized shoppers can redeem them in a commissary. Vouchers are available at commissary
customer service areas, cash offices, and from cashiers at full-service checkout lanes.
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4. This Week in MC&FP November 12, 2010
• Commissary On Site Sale Events.
There are no on-site sales scheduled for this week at Guard and Reserve locations. For more
information, visit http://www.commissaries.com/guard_reserve_sales.cfm.
In the News
• From DefenseLINK – Military Family Appreciation Month
“Across America, military families inspire us all with their courage, strength, and deep devotion to
our country. They endure the challenges of multiple deployments and moves; spend holidays and life
milestones apart; juggle everyday tasks while a spouse, parent, son, or daughter is in harm's way;
and honor the service of their loved ones and the memory of those lost." See
http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/1010_militaryfamily/
• From the Family Matters Blog – Program Helps Children with Homecomings
Just as spouses must prepare for their servicemembers’ reintegration after a year-long deployment,
children also need help preparing for mom or dad’s return. See
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=61634
Tips of the Week
• Nutrition Tip of the Week – Meat and Beans? A food group?
Yes! What's in the meat and beans group? Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and
seeds are considered part of this group. Dry beans and peas can count as a serving from either the
meat group or the vegetable group. Fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so choose these foods
frequently instead of meat or poultry. For more information on making healthy and nutritious food
choices, check out the Commissary's website at http://www.commissaries.com/.
• Parenting Tip of the Week – Social Networking Dos and Don’ts
Social Networking – with millions of users on social networking Web sites, it’s likely you and/or
your children have an account with at least one of the numerous networking sites. While social
networking sites can be good for personal and professional use, it is important to keep the following
in mind.
Do:
• Keep sensitive, work-related information off your profile.
• Use available privacy settings.
• Closely monitor your children's use of the Internet.
Don't:
• Post any personal identifying information.
• Use the same passwords for your online accounts.
• Discuss any details regarding your deployed service member's locations and times of
deployments.
• Let’s Move/Childhood Obesity Tip of the Week – How much physical activity do children need?
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Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.
This may sound like a lot, but don't worry! Your child may already be meeting the Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans. And, you'll soon discover all the easy and enjoyable ways to help your
child meet the recommendations. Encourage your child to participate in activities that are age-
appropriate, enjoyable and offer variety! Just make sure your child or adolescent is doing three
types of physical activity:
Aerobic Activity
Aerobic activity should make up most of your child's 60 or more minutes of physical activity each
day. This can include either moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or vigorous-
intensity activity, such as running. Be sure to include vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on at least 3
days per week
.
Muscle Strengthening
Include muscle strengthening activities, such as gymnastics or push-ups, at least 3 days per week as
part of your child's 60 or more minutes.
Bone Strengthening
Include bone strengthening activities, such as jumping rope or running, at least three days per week
as part of your child's 60 or more minutes. For more information, see
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html
• Financial Tip of the Week – Five Ways to Simplify Your Personal Finances
Simplifying your personal finances is rewarding through a reduction of stress and clutter. You will
have more mobility and flexibility, and if for any reason another individual needs to step in and help
you manage your finances, it will be easier.
Reduce the number of bank accounts. If you follow the latest changes among high-yield savings
accounts, you may have accumulated a collection of bank accounts with small sums of money in
most. Consider reducing your banking matrix to only the essential. Recommend keeping one
interest-bearing checking account at a convenient location and one online savings account, but you
may want to simplify even further by maintaining only a checking account.
Merge your investment accounts to one location. Create an automatic investment plan at a
brokerage with no minimum investment amount. Better yet, take full advantage of Thrift Savings
Plan. When you have number of non-retirement accounts spread out across several brokerages, you
have to manage several extra forms to document for filing income taxes. It takes some work and
possibly access to a notary public, but it is worthwhile to merge these accounts at your favorite
discount brokerage as much as possible.
Eliminate unnecessary credit cards. When you check your credit report from
AnnualCreditReport.com (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp) you may notice you
have several inactive credit cards. While canceling older cards could affect your credit score,
considering keeping the oldest cards and consolidating your balances and credit limits. You may
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6. This Week in MC&FP November 12, 2010
still need to avoid fees when transferring a balance from one card to another, so pay attention to the
terms.
De-clutter your possessions. It's easy to fill up a house with things you like. There is an argument
for getting rid of all but the most essential items. For example, you can clean out your CD and DVD
collection by selling them on eBay or Craigslist or by trading them in for Amazon.com gift
certificates.
Optimize your records. As a result of having too many bank accounts, investment accounts, credit
cards, and possessions, you may find you have too much paperwork. Eventually you get around to
filing papers, but there is a better system. All that's needed is a scanner and a shredder. After
scanning important documentation, organize all your electronic documents and back up your files to
an external hard drive or an online service.
• Military OneSource Tip of the Week – Quick Tips for Strengthening Family During Deployment
When you’re deployed far from your family, it can sometimes feel hard to bridge the distance. Here
are some ways to help your family stay connected with you while you're away:
Surprise your children with lunchbox notes. Send home a batch of short "I love you" notes for your
spouse or your children’s other caregiver to tuck into your children's lunchboxes or under their
pillows.
Send individual e-mails to your children. For a young child, you can create a Word document with
big letters that can be printed.
Ask your family members to read your letters aloud at the dinner table. Even when there is no letter,
ask them to bring you into their dinnertime conversation.
Share what you know. Have a regular "show-and-tell" where you teach your children something
new in an e-mail, letter, or on the telephone. And your children can tell you about something new
they learned in school, or discovered from a book or a friend.
Write a running letter. Start it in the morning and add to it in the evening, if you can. If you do this
for several days before you mail the letter, your family will have a better idea of what your life is
like. Ask your family members to do the same. You can do this by e-mail too, of course, but it can
be extra gratifying for your family to see something in your handwriting.
Share a letter. Write the first paragraph of a letter or story, then send it to your family and ask them
to add another paragraph. Continue adding to the letter throughout your deployment.
Have an ongoing trivia contest. Through e-mail or letters, ask your spouse or children trivia
questions and have them do the same for you. This could be trivia about a family pet, a vacation you
took as a family, favorite music, or sports that you all enjoy.
Think of each other at a regular time each day. Set up a time each day, adjusting for the time
difference, when you will stop what you're doing for a moment and think about each other.
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Your Family Support Center can give you information and support on many issues that affect service
members and their families. And Military OneSource, a free 24/7 service from DoD, available to all
active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families, provides information and referrals plus
face-to-face counseling. Call 1-800-342-9647 or access http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com
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