Coast Guard Family Month: Letters from home
“Mail call” is a sweet phrase to hear when you are deep in the throes of an intense eight-week indoctrination. In today’s world, where technology enables you to connect with loved ones in an instant, it’s hard to imagine a time when hand written letters were the primary source used to share news, check on the well being of another or simply say ‘I love you” to people far away. The hand written letter is an antiquated correspondence that has been largely rendered obsolete by the existence of instant communication. There is, however, a small contingent of the younger population who now become giddy at the sight of a mail truck since letters are the only form of connection and comfort with family and friends outside the walls of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May.
From the Homefront: Thanksgiving recipes and tips from the experts
Thanksgiving; the time of year when stretchy pants make the best dinner pants! Next week at this time, food will be on everyone’s minds and plates! Not sure of your own cooking abilities for this year’s feast? Well never fear, Coast Guard food service specialists share some tips for feeding a large crowd! And if you haven’t planned your own menu yet, make sure to check out the recipes included in this post if you want to take your culinary skills to the next level.
Coast Guard Family Month: Life insurance is peace of mind for your family
Life insurance is one of the most valuable financial tools you can own, providing financial security and peace of mind for you and your family. If you don’t think you need it because you are young, or single with no kids, you could be wrong. Read the article to see why life insurance can be a critical part of your financial security – especially when you’re just starting out in life.
TRICARE and You – Benefits for parents who are your dependents
Did you know that you may be able to claim parents or parents-in-law as dependents. If you do claim your parents as dependents, they too have certain TRICARE benefits. In order for your parents to be eligible to be your dependents you must be paying more than half of their expenses. However, unlike your children, your parents do not need to live with you for over half the year for you to claim them. You’ll also need to enroll your dependent parents in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS) so that they can access TRICARE Plus. Read the full post to learn more about this program!
Coast Guard Family Month: The Honor Guard’s creed; a commitment to servicemembers and their families
The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard has a unique duty to represent the Commandant, the Military District of Washington and the United States Coast Guard through ceremonial operations held before world leaders and dignitaries. But they also have the distinct honor to help ensure that families have a special moment to remember their loved ones’ service to their country. This includes providing military honors for funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Continue to the post to read one Honor Guardsman’s thoughts on what it means to be part of such an humbling event.
CG-SUPRT: Here to help you quit smoking
According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet more than 40 million Americans still smoke cigarettes and use other tobacco products. However, more than half of these smokers have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year. Smokers are encouraged to use the Great American Smokeout on November 17, 2016 to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards achieving a healthier life and reducing cancer risk for themselves, their families, and their fellow Coasties!
Coast Guard Family Month: Spouse employment and transition resources
Being a Coast Guard spouse can be difficult at times. Between deployments, training, and PCS moves, finding a job or starting a career could seem impossible for spouses. But that isn’t the case! CG SUPRT offers free spouse employment and transition resources to help Coast Guard spouses navigate moving and transition-related challenges. Spouses can call CG SUPRT 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get assistance.
Coast Guard Family Month: Special Needs Program helps real life heroes
Parenting has its challenges, but on top of that, parents of children with special needs have some extra challenges. The need for specialized doctors and to be assigned in an area close to family for support are just a couple of those. Brittany Joseph, Coast Guardsman and single mom to a daughter with special needs, wants others to know they are not alone if they have a child with special needs. She discusses how the Coast Guard’s Special Needs Program has allowed her to be the best mom and servicemember that she can be. The Coast Guard’s Special Needs Program provides a comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to community support, housing, medical, educational, and personnel services for Coast Guard families with special needs. Read the full post to learn more about the Joseph family and the Coast Guard’s Special Needs Program.
TRICARE and You – Mental health care
Mental health issues are often difficult challenges for Coast Guard members and their families. There’s frequently a lack of knowledge about where and how to get help, concern about stigma, career implications and other social concerns. But help is available for members and families suffering from mental health problems. This article will provide you with some of the available resources.
Parental leave for Coast Guard families: Time for the family to bond
In February 2016, the Coast Guard extended its maternity leave policy from six weeks to 12 weeks. In order to ensure the policy is achieving its objectives, the Commandant has tasked the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (CG-12B) to undertake an assessment of the maternity leave policy as an initiative under the Human Capital Strategy (HCS). Many initiatives under the HCS have the objective of making changes that matter to not only our active duty and reserve service members, but also to our civilian contingent. As we share new policies coming out of the HCS, we hope that you will subscribe to the All Hands blog and the Paratus Report to get the latest updates on how the Coast Guard is working to fulfill its Duty to People. This post highlights two dual-military couples that have had children under the new policy and how this new policy has affected their personal and professional lives.
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