Transitioning From the Military – A Family Challenge
Kathleen Moakler, Government Relations Director
The dictionary defines transition as movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another. Military families define it as a constant condition. We find ourselves frequently facing the challenges of change whether it’s becoming a new military family member, helping our children navigate a new school, finding a new job in a new community, or holding the family together during yet another deployment. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Servic...
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Accessing Mental Health Care
By Barbara Cohoon, Government Relations Deputy Director
Military life comes with challenges that sometimes require military family members to seek help for them or their family members. Military families and service members, who need assistance with deployment-related stress and relationships—as well as more serious issues such as depression—have several options for help. The variety of mental health programs available include: preventative care; life, skill, and stress management assistance; and behavioral mental health counseling and...
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Home for the Holidays
By Heidi Gabrielle Nobles, National Military Family Association Volunteer, Abilene, TX
As the holiday season approaches, many of us again face our differences as military families. Maybe you’ll be opening presents with your loved ones via Skype—after months of careful planning to get packages mailed across long distances. Maybe you’ll be crowding into cars or airplanes for trips back to visit extended family. Or maybe you’ll be staying home in gratitude for the chance to be together this year. Knowing our holidays look different from our civilian counter...
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Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Helping Parents Feel Connected to the Military Community
Volunteer Writer, New York
From time to time, new service members bring their parents and/or siblings to pre-deployment events. This is a great way to educate their families by exposing them to military culture, other military families, and to hear about the resources available to service members.
As civilians, most parents only know what they hear on the news, but they are thankful for the job service members do for our country. When a son or daughter chooses to serve and they are not from a military fa...
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Letter from the Chairman
By Mary Scott, Chairman of the Board of Governors
There is absolutely no better day than today to thank a military family. Perhaps you are part of a military family yourself, in which case I thank you for your service! We recognize the vital role played by military families. We salute you who provide the love and support to our American heroes who actively serve. At times the military presents a challenging lifestyle, requiring devotion and determination. Devotion to the one you love, who, though often far away, is never out of heart and min...
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