Living in Whoville?

By Terri Barnes
Published: March 27, 2012

Living in a civilian community during deployment, Army wife Benita Koeman said she felt like a citizen of Who-ville, wanting desperately to be heard by an oblivious outside world.
In “Horton Hears a Who,” by Dr. Seuss, the Whos are finally heard when they band together to make noise and shout, “We are here!”

The story was part of Benita’s inspiration to create “Operation We Are Here: Encouraging the Military Home Front,” an extensive online clearinghouse of support and information for military families and the civilian communities who support them.

Here comes the bride ...

By Terri Barnes
Published: March 19, 2012

A soon-to-be military bride sent me a question about living overseas without command sponsorship. Here is a compilation of our email discussion, starting with her questions and comments:

My fiance is stationed in Germany currently, and we would like to get married before he is due to return to the States. Our wedding date next year is four or five months before he is due to PCS. He does not want to extend his tour, so I will not be able to get command sponsorship. (Command sponsorship requires that he have at least 12 months remaining in his assignment.)

He’s an O-1 and lives in an apartment off base. We don’t have any children, so it would be just me going to Germany to live with him. Paying for my own travel expenses isn’t a big deal to us, and there isn’t anything we would need to have shipped over that I can’t fit into a suitcase or two.

Cutting costs, breaking faith

By Terri Barnes
Published: March 12, 2012

Blame it on a tough economy. Blame it on my move to the politically charged environment of Washington, D.C. Blame it on bad news from my dentist. Blame it on me, because I am the one on the soapbox.

On the whole, I find little to complain of in my military life. I was born to it, still live it and love it for many reasons. For those reasons, I am increasingly dismayed by the erosion of our government’s fiscal commitment to those who live a life of military service.

Get moving after a move

By Terri Barnes
Published: March 6, 2012

With each move, we military spouses must rebuild our lives to some extent: new friends, new schools, new babysitter, piano teacher, orthodontist, hair stylist and more. For me, rebuilding a healthy exercise routine is often at the end of the list, if it makes my list at all.

I’m neither an athlete nor a gym enthusiast. It’s an effort to find an activity I like that qualifies as exercise. How I wish that reading could burn fat and build muscle. When I do find something active that I like to do, it seems a move always interrupts my stride.

Latest Blog Postings

Ernie Gates, ombudsman

Election Scorecard: Has Stripes played fair in 5 big moments in the presidential campaign?

Column preview: How has the newsroom handled the conventions, the terrorist attack in Libya, the ‘47 percent’ comment, and the first debate?
The Ruptured Duck

Richmond renovation part of nationwide push to help highlight veterans

Home Depot manager hopes the chance to help fellow veterans through service projects brings more recognition to their ongoing needs
Stripes Central

Upbeat jobs report brings good news for vets, too

The unemployment rate for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan eras dropped below 10 percent again in September, a sign of continuing improvement.
Stripes Central

House Intel Committee chairman: New cyber threat looming

The unnamed threat comes from an "unusual source."
Stripes Central

Debate features little talk about military, no mention of veterans

Wednesday night’s first national showdown between the presidential candidates featured plenty of talk about the budget but only a few passing mentions on defense spending.
The Ruptured Duck

To save his family, a Marine fights his war again, from a therapist's chair

"It may be too late to save my family," said Andrew J. Czubai. "But there is no harm in trying."

Spouse Calls Archives

2012 (41)