We are having some issues with Twitter today. This affects all contributors that are posting.
New posts will not show up on Twitter until we get it fixed. This post will be updated when this service will be back. We are trying different plugins right now, trying to resolve this.
For right now, if I see that you made a post, I will try and update Twitter like we have been.
Well, our backup and upgrade went off without a hitch. We have also added a ton of features for contributors to make it easier to, well, contribute!
We added too many features to list here, but some of the good ones are
-Ability to write a post from an iPhone/iPod Touch
-Lots of Twitter features
-Changed some permissions
If you haven’t signed up already, register here. It’s a great place to share your experiences, converse with people in the same boat you are in, and get feedback and advice. If you want to become a contributor, please send me an email. We will upgrade your account and I will personally welcome you to the club.
Some things we have planned:
-IRC Chat Room on irc.freenode.net
-Facebook Group
-More posts from news sources such as the .mil sites.
Of course, we would love for you to post your own stories, advice, and other random things. It doesn’t even have to be about the military.
Join the team today!
This is my debut on this site, and I hope to write original posts to inform the military male spouse community about all sorts of issues. So, here it goes!
We’ve all heard on AFN or by other means that it is inportant to have seperate wills. This post will be to sort of piggyback on the importance of their message.
It is important to have a will. Things happen, and although slightly morbid, you will eventually pass away one day. Avoiding family and legal disputes, having your wishes fulfilled, and revealing important information to loved ones are just a few of the reasons why having a will is so important.
Not everyone has the same wishes, though. The wife may want their wedding ring to be passed to a granddaughter, or the husband may want his card collection to go to his son. These wishes need to be spelled out in seperate wills.
Even if there are no children in a marriage, it is still a great idea to get started on seperate wills.
A great start would be to contact your legal office. They are there to help you write your wills, with little or no cost to you. I advise everyone to see them whenever a life changing event happens, like the birth of a child, to update your wills.
Please visit the legal office site of your branch for more information.
Navy – www.jag.navy.mil/
Army – www.jagcnet.army.mil/
Marines – www.sja.hqmc.usmc.mil
Air Force – www.hqja.jag.af.mil
Coast Guard – www.uscg.mil/legal/
We are looking for military male spouses that are wanting to post stories of their own, responses to stories posted, and input as to how this website should be oriented. If you are an avid reader of the news on this site, start out by becoming a member of our community. Register for this site, or contact info@militarymalespouse.com.
Become a contributor today!
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — The Navy announced changes to the performance evaluation system and advancement policy March 9 to better reflect service as an individual augmentee (IA)/Global War on Terror support assignment (GSA) and physical fitness assessment results.
The changes apply to all reports ending Aug. 1 or later and come as a result of Sailor feedback, according to NAVADMIN 083/10.
Under the new policy, a new billet subcategory code will be added to performance evaluation and fitness reports to provide a mechanism for reporting seniors to identify Sailors performing an IA/GSA.
“The IA/GSA billet subcategory was added to ensure IA and GSA Sailors are recognized for their service away from their parent command and remain competitive with their counterparts,” said Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, chief of naval personnel. “Our Sailors are doing great work around the world, whether assigned to traditional billets, joint commands or as an IA. We want to ensure all Sailors are properly recognized for superior performance.”
Additionally, both concurrent IA/GSA and regular evaluations will be used to determine performance mark averages and time-in-rate waivers to ensure outstanding performance during an IA/GSA is properly rewarded.
The new policy also requires reporting seniors to document all physical fitness assessments (PFAs)conducted during the regular reporting period using new PFA codes on performance evaluation and fitness reports. The change supports Navy’s culture of fitness and is another tool available to leaders to identify and reward top performers, according to the message.
The new policy applies to performance reports ending Aug. 1 or later. Timing of the change minimizes impact to selection board deliberations and the advancement process.
For more information, read NAVADMIN 083/10.
For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.
From Navy.mil
BAUMHOLDER, Germany – Baumholder Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation is advocating for units and groups to take advantage of the designated driver promotion that DFMWR just rolled out for the holiday season. It is called I’m Stuck with Stupid. The promotion is available at FMWR Baumholder clubs encouraging responsible adults to take charge of their friends, colleagues and Soldiers.
“This promotion was originally inspired by one of my personal favorite leaders ‘The Ragin’ Cajun’ Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who is famous for his quote ‘Don’t get stuck on stupid,’” said Greg Galloway, Baumholder’s director of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Designated drivers abstain from alcohol on a social occasion in order to drive their companions home safely. It is intended as a safe alternative to being under the influence of alcohol. The Baumholder FMWR has designed a promotion for individuals and groups to simply ask the bartender at an FMWR facility (Shooters, Strikers and the Rheinlander) for an “I’m Stuck with Stupid” sicker. The sticker entitles the wearer to approved free non-alcoholic drinks during the promotion. Galloway approved FMWR to roll out the promotion immediately in order to serve the holiday party crowd.
The designated driver concept was developed in Scandinavia over several decades beginning in the 1920s, leading to a formalized program in the United States in the 1980s. The campaign is credited as a contributing factor to the decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities since 1988 based on data gathered.
“Before you drink, make a plan and stick to it,” said Galloway.
The FMWR promotion streamlines the sentiments of leadership in a timely manner since Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander, Installation Management Command, is pushing to “stamp out stupid.” Lynch says in his list of “Lynch Pins” that if common sense were truly common, more people would have it.
“We are just trying to make it easy for folks to practice a little common sense and give them some encouragement by offering free, non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers,” said Galloway.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol-impaired driving is a major factor in motor vehicle crashes, especially during the holidays. The percentage of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes during the last two weeks of December (Christmas to New Year’s) statistically goes up and is especially high for 21- to 24-year-olds who have the highest percentage of impaired drivers.
“We have a significant percentage of our population between the age of 18-24,” said Galloway. “We don’t want to lose a single life in such a tragic way.”
From Army.mil
From Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West
WASHINGTON (NNS) — On the occasion of Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 8, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/SW) Rick D. West sent the following message to the fleet, including Navy spouses and families:
“When I took this job in December, I made a promise to every one of you that I would do everything in my power to ensure you are supported, that you have the quality of life you deserve and when your loved ones are deployed, our Navy will take care of you when you need it.
These were not just words, and I will say the same thing to every family member or Sailor I meet. This is very important to me because I know of the sacrifices our families make so that our Sailors can defend this nation.
The life of a Navy spouse is unlike any other. We ask that you give us your husbands and wives for months at a time. We ask you to support them because nothing is more important to their peace of mind. We ask you to understand the weekend watches, the deployments, the missed holidays and birthdays. You continue to give and ask for very little in return.
We are grateful for that, but we owe you a huge debt. We owe you an equal amount of understanding for the sacrifices you make, and I can promise that you have that from Navy leadership.
May 8 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and, we will pause a moment that day to thank you appropriately. Please take my word on this when I tell you the appreciation we have for what you do goes far beyond one day per year.
Thank you for your continued support of your Sailor, our Navy and our nation.
HOOYAH!”
From Navy.mil
Military Spouse Portable Career Fast Emerging
Portable careers for military spouses are a fast emerging concept. Being married to a serviceman; spouses are often left floundering and finding it difficult to maintain a meaningful career.
Relocations are difficult and make it tough to find employment for military spouses. To overcome the unique career obstacles Laura Kennedy formed MilitarySpousePortableCareer website. With a focus on educating and supporting Military Spouses and offering them an opportunity to have a rewarding career while traveling around the country or world with their military family.
Laura has created some powerful partnerships; and with their help a portable career can be created. With a focus on education and training Laura’s team has designed a robust 4-part training course.
There are some pre-requisites:
You MUST:
Be a spouse or dependent to an active duty service member (also available to veterans)
Attend an initial virtual workshop designed to determine whether you are prepared to become an independent business owner.
Each phase of this training is intended to help you move forward in establishing your business one step at a time in a logical progression so as to minimize the learning curve and confusion prior to starting the next phase.
Phase One Getting Started
Phase Two Office Administration
Phase Three Getting Clients
Phase Four Follow-Up Sessions
The launch of this new service will afford military spouses the invaluable opportunity to continue to advance their career and “take it on the road.” No matter where you live in the world your business will follow nearly seamlessly.
For more information about the course content or to schedule your free consultation, be sure to visit our website at www.militaryspouseportablecareer.com
From WiredPRNews.com
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) — With flu season quickly approaching, officials for the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) are urging military personnel and their families to be aware of the risks of seasonal flu and how to prevent contamination.
Influenza is not the common cold and can be a severe to life-threatening disease. Immunization remains the primary method of reducing seasonal influenza illness and its complications. Getting an annual influenza vaccine immunization protects many people from getting the disease or becoming severely ill. The vaccine not only helps protect vaccinated individuals, but also the community as a whole by preventing and reducing the spread of the disease.
“If you are healthy, you should take care of yourself, follow medical practices, and stay in touch with medical providers,” said Capt. Bruce A. Cohen, commanding officer in charge of NMCPHC.
It is the current Department of Defense’s (DOD) policy that annual seasonal influenza vaccinations are required for all active duty military personnel, Selected Reserves, and healthcare workers.
According to Cohen, the people that are affected most are the elderly, the very young, and people who are sick or not as healthy as the general population.
Flu viruses are spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. People may also become infected by touching something with influenza on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Some ways to prevent becoming infected or spreading the virus is to practice coughing into your elbow, rather than your hand. Also, for added protection, wash your hands frequently using proper hand washing techniques.
With the pandemic H1N1 virus still making headlines, NMCPHC officials want military families to be prepared and to receive the H1N1 vaccine once available.
“It’s important that people listen to the information that is coming out,” said Cohen. “It is very easy to take this information and misinterpret it.”
All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus and it is anticipated the vaccine will also be available to all military family members who wish to be immunized. Because the seasonal flu is a different strain of flu than H1N1, it is still important for everyone to receive a seasonal influenza vaccination in order to be protected from seasonal flu.
Navy Medicine will be monitoring the 2009 H1N1 virus carefully over the coming months and will be proactive in developing contingency plans to address any public health issues if required. Although force health protection is the responsibility of every commander and service member, it is important for all hands to take the proper actions to protect personnel, beneficiaries, coworkers and family members against influenza of any kind.
Seasonal flu immunizations have already began across military facilities worldwide. The H1N1 vaccination program is expected to begin in early October.
For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nehc/.
From Navy.mil
From Army.mil
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — A new rule took effect Friday that allows qualified military spouses to be hired for federal jobs non-competitively.
Eligible are spouses of active-duty service members who move because of a permanent change of station; spouses of separated or retired service members, who are 100-percent disabled; and unmarried widows and widowers of service members who died on active duty.
Spouses have up to two years after a PCS move to make use of the rule, but can do so only once per PCS move. Applicants must meet the qualifications required to fill the position.
Fort Jackson Army Community Services Employment Readiness and the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center will be offering seminars for interested spouses. The classes are scheduled for Oct. 20 and 27 and Nov. 3, 10-11 a.m. To register, call 751-4862.
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