Bonnie Stone - Beating the G.I. Blues: The Military Spouses Guide to Living Well with Uncle Sam

Beating the G.I. Blues

The Military Spouses Guide to Living Well with Uncle Sam

Bonnie Domrose Stone

The Military Spouses Guide to Living Well with Uncle Sam

Bonnie Domrose Stone

Copyright 2011 by Bonnie Domrose Stone

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written consent from the History Publishing Company.

Published in the United States by

History Publishing Company LLC

Palisades, NY 10964

www.historypublishingco.com

Cover design: Robert Aulicino, Aulicino Design

Interior design: Angela Werner, Hhne-Werner Design

SAN: 850-5942

Stone, Bonnie Domrose, 1941-2011

Beating the G.I. blues : the military spouses guide to living well with Uncle Sam / Bonnie Domrose Stone.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

LCCN 2011937157

ISBN-13: 9781933909103

ISBN-10: 1933909102

1. Military spouses--United States. 2. Families of military personnel--Services for--United States.

3. Home economics. I. Title.

UB403.S76 2011

355.120973

QBI11-600175

Printed in the United States on acid-free paper

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

How to get your ID card and what it does for you; how a base (or post) is laid out; introduction to healthcare, dental, wills and power of attorney; shopping, recreation, keeping busy; family services, affordable education, and courage under fire.

Military culture is a drastic lifestyle change. Right from the get-go you are making relationships that will affect your husbands career. While you are facing rules of military etiquette that have been relaxed in recent decades, the question remains: Is there a correct way to act? What do you need to know about rank and social niceties?

Uncle Sam, the largest landlord in the nation, operates units on and off military bases throughout the world. Included will be pertinent information on your entitlements, what you can expect, temporary quarters, partnerships with the civilian sector, and your rights.

Specifics are given so that you know exactly what is expected of you as you clean and check out of your quarters on base. Developed by seasoned military spouses, youll have a step-by-step battle plan that will enable you to successfully check out of either military quarters or a civilian rental.

Moving for the first time can be overwhelming. Knowledge is power. Because you know what will happen when, youll have specific tips on what absolutely needs to be hand-carried, how to organize a to-do list, supervise the civilian movers, face possible disasters, create an open first box to simplify unpacking, and decide if you should move yourselves.

Because you are married to an active-duty military member, you and your family have access to free 24-hour medical care on base. If you live off base and have access to a nearby facility, your military ID card acts as your insurance card for all medical care. Youll have information to help you navigate the maze of military medicine if you require a specialist not available on post, or if the post facility is unable to care for you. You may be referred into the civilian community for health care. The military health care systemcalled Tricareuses a combination of military hospitals and clinics as well as civilian professionals to treat uniformed members, retirees, and family members. Tricare, like many health care organizations, offers different options including an HMO and other packages that allow you to choose your own doctors.

Knowing how much money you have coming in and how much you have to pay each month is absolutely critical. Youll learn the basics of bills, budgets, savings, and pocketbook spending. If this is your first time away from home, youll have to learn to keep a checkbook, pay bills on time, and know where you can go for help when the paycheck doesnt arrive. Youll also learn about educational benefits for both of you, as well as information about Savings Deposit Programs and Federal Thrift Savings if your spouse is in a combat zone.

On one hand, after a century of being a single mans army for the enlisted, in the 1900s the military slowly began to change into a married military with children. As a result, the military welcomes your children. You will find that while each base or post differs in what is offered, each will have post-sponsored recreational activities such as sports, bowling, arts, dancing, and movies. On the other hand, you are responsible for the behavior of your children because they reflect on your spouses military record. Therell be tips on finding special education for your child, as well as a guide to home schooling.

To be honest, you will have to job hunt every time you moveeven if you work for the government. Yet, you have so much help available from the military, including job training centers on base, jobs on base, tips on how to get into civil service, and tips on portable jobs, home-based businesses, and virtual jobs.

When facing deployment, every service member must have a will drawn up at the Legal Office on base. They will also execute a limited power of attorney that you can use to transact business with the military in the absence of the military member. Two federal laws are now on the books designed to help you when your spouse is deployed away from home. One is the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act that cuts interest rates on existing loans, the other a law that protects the military member from foreclosure or other legal action while away. Other legal matters critical to you will be discussed.

My mother always said that homesickness was the worse emotion shed ever experienced. Well, she was right. With all the troop deployment overseas, you may find yourself alone, in a strange city with no friends and a limited amount of money to either call or go home. How are you going to survive? How are you going to stay connected? Written from the heart of a spouse who has lived through it, youll be given suggestions to not only help you survive, but prosper. Youll learn to lean on your military community, that you are not the only one dealing with homecoming, the abrupt shift of power in a marriage, the honeymoon and reintegration of a marriage. Youll also have the facts about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in case your spouse needs help.

In World War II, the troops coming home from the war zones had weeks on cargo ships or days on airplanes to begin to make the transition from fighting in a dangerous war zone to returning to civilian life. Now, one day your spouse is in combat getting shot at and within hours he or she is in the commissary shopping with the family. There is no transition from killing zone to life at home. Youll have information to help you define abuse and if you are the victim, know where to go for help.

If your spouse is killed on active duty, you will have to make major decisions on where you will live, where the furniture will be sent, what will be sold, and what you will keep. Youll learn about the resources available in your time of need.

Join the Navysee the world is a slogan that certainly applies to all services today. One of the enormous benefits to serving Uncle Sam is living and experience foreign lands and culture. Youll have travel tips; learn how to take advantage of military welfare and recreation, discounted travel, stays in military hotels, tickets to professional games, plays, and events, as well as renting sporting equipment. If rooms or spaces are available, you can stay at military posts at discounted rates throughout the United States and fly Space A aboard military transports.