ssness, and horror. These are all legitimate reactions to the combat experience. It's important to learn to recognize signs of a reaction to combat stress in yourself, in another service member, or in a family member who has returned home from a war zone. Knowing when and where to seek professional help — and knowing that it's the right thing to do — is a critical step toward getting better.

This month in recognition of Down syndrome awareness we are featuring the heart-warming story of a couple raising children with Down syndrome. You will also hear about a popular program that is getting children excited about reading. In this issue, there are plenty of resources, including information about voting and people with disabilities, emergency preparedness, adoption, and more.

To view the interactive flip version of The Exceptional Advocate, click on the link below.

http://apps.militaryonesource.mil/efmp/book/2012/October

Happy Reading!

From the Department of Defense
Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs

ly, you probably know that it can have devastating consequences. Victims carry the emotional scars of abuse long after they're out of harm's way. And abusers, if not stopped, can escalate the violence until they lose everything -- their family, career, self-respect, and even their freedom. The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) aims to prevent domestic abuse and child abuse/neglect within military families. When abuse occurs, FAP works to ensure the safety of victims and provides services to help families overcome the effects of violence and change destructive behavior patterns.

The following information will give you a better understanding of FAP and the ways it supports families and the military mission.

other. And the possibility of having to deal with serious adversity is always present.

Long deployment separations, difficult post-deployment adjustments, frequent moves, and major life changes caused by combat-related trauma or loss are just a few sources of stress and adversity for military families. While most families do very well managing the unique demands of military life, you may have noticed that some people and even entire families seem to be especially able to keep moving forward during periods of high stress and to recover from traumatic experiences.

The following information will help you understand the concept of resilience and how you can work to nurture it in your family.

le service members and military families: Healthy Living, Family Life in the Military, Personal and Family Readiness, Career and Education Spotlight, and Tools and Resources. By clicking on any one of those topical panels, you will be able to access the monthly article! Read all five articles or just one, the choice is yours, but all of the options are available within one easy to use format!

Enjoy!

Your MC&FP Team

Military Community and Family Policy
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.

October eMagazine offers the latest on voting assistance, the Family Advocacy Program, and the Military Academic Advancement Program. It also features several new tools, including Military OneSource financial calculators, the eBenefits web portal, the Federal Voting Assistance Program's new mobile website, and the Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System that makes it easier to get a military ID card.

Our next issue will be published in December.

Your MC&FP Team!

Military Community and Family Policy
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families