Military Families

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February 22, 2012 | 10:40 AM | By

Military Families’ Ire Helps Change Airline Pet Policy

Miss Chien / Flickr

Dog on an airplane

The outrage of military families stationed overseas over a new pet fee policy by United Airlines has helped bring about a change in that policy. The Houston Chronicle reports United is giving military families a way to bypass the fee.

First, a little background: United Airlines currently charges a flat rate of about $280 to ship pets overseas. But United plans on changing its pet policy as of March 3rd because of its merger with Continental. That change would bump the cost of shipping pets to the U.S. from overseas to between $1,440 to $3,869, according to the Stars and Stripes.

Military families, stationed in places like South Korea and Japan, became fearful they would not be able to afford to ship their beloved pets back to the United States when they moved back home. Anthony Millsap started an online petition to protest the pet fee increase. More than 2,400 signatures have already been gathered.

And it worked! Today United Airlines released a statement to the Houston Chronicle saying military families could avoid the new fee:

“We evaluated our policies and developed a special process for military families traveling on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Orders only. This process allows them to transport their four-legged family members using the PetSafe product without the need for a third-party freight forwarder.”

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, airline pet fees, Continental Airlines, Houston Chronicle, Japan, Military Families, military pets, overseas travel, PetSafe, South Korea, United Airlines
February 14, 2012 | 1:29 PM | By

Valentine’s Day Party for Military Families TODAY

San Diego Armed Services YMCA

2011 Armed Forces YMCA Valentine's Day Party

Is your husband or wife deployed overseas this Valentine’s Day? Well, if so, the San Diego Armed Services YMCA wants you!

The group is hosting a special party for the families of the deployed at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park this afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you’ve never been to the Reuben H. Fleet, it’s very kid friendly – in fact, there’s an exhibit called “Kid City” just for youngsters 5 and under.

The folks at the Reuben H. Fleet will also provide a free showing of the IMAX movie “RESCUE” – which is appropriate viewing for kids ages seven and older.

Click here for more information on today’s party.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, War, Balboa Park, Deployments, IMAX movie RESCUE, Military Children, Military Families, Military Spouses, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Armed Services YMCA, valentine's day, Valentine's Day party
February 14, 2012 | 12:11 PM | By

Happy Valentine’s Day from the USS Carl Vinson (Video)

For military husbands and wives whose Valentines are deployed far away, I’m guessing a video message from their sweeties tops a box of chocolate-covered strawberries or delivery of flowers any day of the week.

Well, good news. Crew members from the USS Carl Vinson have been videotaping Valentine’s Day shout-outs for their loved ones back home since last week. Home Post has put up a few on the blog. You can watch them all on the USS Vinson Facebook page by clicking here.

So, in honor of the big day o’ love, here’s today’s video shout-out from Vinson crew members:

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, USS Carl Vinson, chocolate-covered strawberries, Deployments, flower delivery, hearts, military boyfriends, Military Families, military girlfriends, military husbands, Military Spouses, Military Wives, St. Valentine's Day, U.S. Navy, USS Vinson crew members, USS Vinson Facebook page, valentine's day
February 10, 2012 | 12:00 PM | By

More Valentine’s Day Shout-Outs from USS Vinson (Video)

Crew members aboard the USS Carl Vinson has been shooting Valentine’s Day shout-outs for their sweethearts back home. Each day, the Vinson Facebook page is posting one of those videos, filled with messages from several crew members. Here’s the second video in the series:

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, USS Carl Vinson, Women in the military, aircraft carriers, Deployments, love, military boyfriends, Military Families, military girlfriends, military husbands, Military Spouses, Military Wives, romance, shout-outs, St. Valentine's Day, U.S. Navy, USS Vinson, valentine's day
January 31, 2012 | 11:29 AM | By

Camp Pendleton Marine Gets Free Trip to Super Bowl

Marines.mil

Master Sgt. David Jarvis

Master Sgt. David Jarvis of Camp Pendleton is headed to the Super Bowl with his wife Tina, a gift from a company called News America Marketing. (NAM is owned by News Corporation, the same company that owns Fox News.) The Kitsap Sun reports Jarvis, the battalion training chief for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, was recommended for the honor by his superiors.

Jarvis will be treated to a four-night stay at a hotel in Indianapolis, along with tickets to the big game. Jarvis told the Kitsap Sun:

“I expect to get the good name out there for the Marine Corps and have a good time.”

Jarvis was awarded the Silver Star in October 2011 for heroic actions in Afghanistan. According to Marines.mil, Jarvis battled Taliban fighters so that a medical helicopter could land and rescue a critically wounded Marine. The Silver Star is the military’s third-highest honor for valor.

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Eli Manning, Fox News, Indianapolis Indiana, Military Families, Military Spouses, New England Patriots, New York Giants, News America Marketing, News Corporation, Silver Star, Super Bowl, Tom Brady
January 30, 2012 | 3:06 PM | By

Fallen Navy SEAL’s Family Makes Tribute Video

3minutesout / YouTube

Jon Tumilson's dog Hawkeye

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson was one of 30 American servicemembers killed on August 6, 2011 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down by insurgents in Afghanistan. The photo of Tumilson’s dog, Hawkeye, lying next to his master’s coffin captured the hearts of the countless people who saw it.

This past weekend, Jon’s brother Scott wrote on the In Memory of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson Facebook page:

Jon’s belongings from Afghanistan are being brought to the house by some wonderful souls tomorrow. It is bittersweet to know that soon we will be in the presence of the items that were with him in the last days of his life. While I understand they are just things; I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I hope to catch a glimpse of him somehow in the mundane objects that are even now en route to Rockford.

The Tumilson family put this video together in anticipation of the difficult weekend:

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, War, Afghan war, August 6 2011, Chinook helicopter crash, dog lying next to coffin, dogs, Facebook, Hawkeye the dog, Jon Tumilson, Kathy Tumilson, Lisa Pembleton, Military Families, Military Funerals, Navy Seals, Taliban, tribute videos, U.S. Navy
January 30, 2012 | 11:19 AM | By

Military Families Get 12 Weeks of Leave Under New Plan

National Guard / Flickr

Military family

A proposed update to the Family and Medical Leave Act would give military families as much as 12 weeks off from work when their servicemember is deployed on short notice. According to the Associated Press:

Family caregivers could attend military functions, deal with child care issues, or update financial affairs without fear of losing their jobs.

And if a servicemember is injured or gets seriously ill, a caregiver in the military family could take up to 26 weeks off from work to take care of their loved one.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced the proposed changes today, saying:

“Many service members come home stressed, ill or injured. They need attention, care and support from the people that love them the most. And we’ve got an obligation to help them make that possible.”

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Active Duty, Barack Obama, Family and Medical Leave Act, Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, MIchelle Obama, Military Families, Military Spouses
January 27, 2012 | 1:46 PM | By

Video of Airman Rapping During Wife’s Birth Goes Viral

Staff Sgt. Charles McDaniel / YouTube

Staff Sgt. Charles McDaniel

This may be the first time the word “cervix” has been used in a rap song. The man behind the rap “heeheehoohoo,” Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles McDaniel, came up with the catchy tune while waiting for his wife LaQuita to have her baby at Aviano Air Base hospital in Italy last December.

According to what McDaniel wrote on YouTube:

So we chillin in the labor and delivery room in Aviano Italy AB waiting for my baby boy to be born when the heart monitoring machine kept acting up. Well, after a while that same redundant noise began to sound like music.

McDaniel was videotaping the experience, all the while rapping to keep LaQuita calm (and from the looks of it, amused).

The Stars and Stripes reports the couple celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary yesterday, and their new healthy baby boy Kingston is their fifth child.

And if we’re talking numbers, McDaniel’s rap video has more than 200,000 hits. Take a look (and a listen):

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Aviano Air Base, giving birth, Italy, Military Children, Military Families, Military Spouses, Military Wives, rap, Staff Sgt. Charles McDaniel, United States Air Force, YouTube
January 26, 2012 | 3:01 PM | By

Deployment Dolls: Creepy or Cute?

Facebook

Deployment Dolls

I came across the Facebook page for “Deployment Dolls” while visiting the MCAS Miramar page for another story. I was struck by the picture of the dolls, which are actually homemade creations with the face of a deployed servicemember stitched on.

I don’t know much about the company that makes the toys, except that it’s called “US Deployment Dolls.” The company’s website claims it is a family-owned business.

The company’s Facebook page advertises:

These dolls are Perfect for your child, while dealing with the separation anxiety our children go through when mommy or daddy are in the field training or deployed overseas. Perfect for Mom missing her young son or daughter at war. Perfect for a New bride, Girlfriend or Wife to cuddle with her loved one. Perfect for our Fallen warriors Families so we never forget.
The dolls won’t be available for sale until this Spring. My first response upon seeing these dolls was that they looked kind of creepy. But more importantly, what do you think of Deployment Dolls? Creepy or cute?
FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, War, Deployment Dolls, Deployments, Military Children, Military Families, Military Spouses, toys
January 26, 2012 | 9:08 AM | By

Military Spouse Job Fair TODAY in San Diego

US Navy / Flickr

Military spouse

The Military Officers Association of America and Blue Star Families are hosting a free career fair today in San Diego. It starts at 1 o’clock this afternoon at the San Diego Convention Center.

According to the event press release, there will be a free career-development seminar called “The Dollars and ‘Sense’ of Working Outside the Home” as part of the fair.

There will be also more than 50 participating employers on hand, including:

SHRM, Microsoft, Troopswap, Zeiders Enterprises, Booz Allen Hamilton, Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES), The Navy Exchange System, Starbucks, USAA, and the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

Don’t forget to bring your résumé, even if it’s just a rough draft. Experts will be at the fair to offer helpful résumé critiques. For more information about the career fair, click here.
FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES), Blue Star Families, Booz Allen Hamilton, career fairs, job fairs, Microsoft, Military Families, Military Officers Association of America, Military Spouse Career Fair, Military Spouses, Military Wives, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, SHRM, Starbucks, The Navy Exchange System, Troopswap, USAA, Zeiders Enterprises