Yes, a lot of these idiots are trolls but I am shocked at the vitriol being spewed by such a large number of commenters.

Here is my response to those who think military families are uneducated “moochers” living off of their tax dollars:

And for intelligent and articulate commentary on the shutdown, check out Krystel Spell of Army Wife 101 on MSNBC.

My hero does not like me to broadcast his heroic acts but, although I will respect his wishes, I believe talking about true heroism inspires others to act!

Are you married to a real hero?  Of course, I think all servicemembers are heroes–but are you married to a hero who has gone above and beyond?  Do you want to recognize your hero and shout it from the rooftops or at least the glossy pages of a “major women’s magazine”?  Here’s your chance:

[blockquote]We are looking for the heroes of 2010/2011 to feature in a major women’s magazine.  To be considered you must meet the following criteria (NO EXCEPTIONS).

You must:

• Be Married
• Have performed a truly heroic act and been recognized in the press for it.
• Send me a compelling paragraph giving me the details.  Please do not send more than two paragraphs.
• Send over the name, age, location and 2 photos of the hero as well as a link to articles/video detailing the act.
• Get your information to me no later than Thursday, February 10.

Please do not send over information unless you meet all criteria.

BDCCasting@gmail.com[/blockquote]

Photo credit: Captain America

And if you are really feeling the love, you can tell a friend or two on twitter and facebook!  I know we Military Family Members stick together and I can count on you, amiright?

I am professional educator–I used to teach in the classroom and now I am an educational writer and consultant.  It is what I have been doing for years and I am so happy to be able to share some of my activities, crafts, and ideas with the online community.  Currently, it is a labor of love.  I have no ads on that site (though I may eventually decide to offer limited, and carefully considered advertisements and sponsorships) and I do it for the pure joy of connecting with other parents and educators.

And if you are an educator and/or parent, I hope you will come connect with me at Naturally Educational.

This sort of recognition would mean a great deal to me…so I hope you will take a few minutes of your time to register and vote–and don’t forget to nominate or vote for your other favorite blogs while you are there!

Commander’s wife banned from brigade [EXCERPTS...Click Title for Full Article]

…The confrontation between Leslie Drinkwine and Jenio was emblematic of an environment within the 4th Brigade, particularly its family readiness group, that was so toxic that it triggered an investigation by a three-star general.

Leslie Drinkwine’s influence was “negative, divisive and harmful,” several FRG advisers told investigators.

What’s more, the investigation concluded that the 4th BCT’s commander, Col. Drinkwine — who told battalion commanders “my wife speaks for me” — was his wife’s “key enabler.” Col. Drinkwine not only failed to dispel the perception that his wife “held a level of authority that resembled command authority,” he worsened it, the investigation concluded.

The findings — accompanied by more than two dozen sworn statements many of which describe Leslie Drinkwine’s allegedly abusive manner and widespread use of her husband’s rank to harass and bully the brigade’s officers and their wives — led 18th Airborne Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick to ban Leslie Drinkwine from any and all contact with the FRG and the rest of the brigade.

In his sworn statement, Col. Drinkwine denies any wrongdoing by himself or his wife and attributes the FRG’s dysfunction to “the inability of a few ladies to work professionally with one another.” Leslie Drinkwine strongly denies her influence could affect careers and says that she “felt humiliated, her reputation defamed and slandered” by an earlier decision to remove her as FRG adviser.

Both Col. and Leslie Drinkwine declined to be interviewed for this story. [...]

Now, I do not know any of the people involved. The letters section of the most recent Army Times includes several letters or online postings from people who claim to have known Mrs. Drinkwine and vouch for her as an ethical and concerned FRG leader. Without having been there, I can’t say whether or not the allegations are true. If they are, certainly the actions were completely inappropriate.

Without making any judgments in this particular situation, I wanted to give my community a chance to discuss some of the issues raised.

I have never heard a spouse threaten another spouse’s soldier’s career.  However, I have heard from some spouses that they feel that their participation (or lack there of) as an FRG volunteer could affect their soldier’s career negatively.

There is also the issue of officers’ wives pulling rank.  The only case I ever personally came across was when one of our key callers was screamed at by an NCO’s wife because, as the wife of “just a specialist” she had “no business” calling an NCO’s wife to share information.  Again, however, I have heard plenty of second and third hand stories about officer’s wives who seem to think they have command authority.

I’ve also witnessed a conflict of personality between FRG leaders and a senior commander’s wife–but this was kept between these wives and did not spill over into the rest of the FRG or affect anyone’s career.

On the one hand, I think it is important to remember that FRG leaders are unpaid volunteers.  They have demands placed on them from the command structure (who in turn have demands placed on them from their superiors) and the families.  They work the equivalent of a part or full time job for free.  Perhaps this sort of position attracts petty dictators but I would have to imagine that the majority volunteer because they care deeply about the family’s in their soldier’s unit.

The spouses of senior commanders also tend to be older and have more experience as military spouses.  So, it is natural that they have some level of authority within the structure of the FRG–but this should not translate into command authority.

On the other hand, there is no excuse for the sort of nasty behavior alleged in the article.

I think that incidents like these argue for a professionalization of the Family Readiness Group.  There should be Battalion level, paid FRG coordinators for any unit that has received deployment orders.  Volunteers can help with making phone calls, writing articles for the newsletter, running bake sales, etc.

Have you ever encountered a spouse who has “pulled her husband’s rank”? How did you handle it?  How can the military overhaul the FRG structure to make it more professional?  (Please, do not use anyone’s full name in your comments…use pseudonyms or first names only.)

Or, rather, bought us a cake from the ice cream parlor down the street.

So, do you feel appreciated now?

Presidential Proclamation–Military Spouse Appreciation Day

A PROCLAMATION

When Americans answer the call to serve in our Armed Forces, a sacred trust is forged. Our men and women in uniform take on the duty of protecting us all, and their spouses and families also help shoulder this important responsibility. As we mark Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to supporting and honoring the husbands, wives, and loved ones of our Nation’s servicemembers.

At the heart of our Armed Forces, servicemembers’ spouses keep our military families on track. They balance family life, military life, and their careers all while supporting other military families and giving back to their communities. Many have served in uniform themselves and, understanding the obligations involved, can provide unparalleled support. They are pillars of strength in their families, often celebrating their children’s life milestones while the other parent is away.

Military spouses also care for our wounded warriors and honor the memory of our Nation’s fallen heroes, including their own loved ones. They impact countless lives on military bases and in schools, places of worship, and neighborhoods across our Nation. Their contributions help protect our freedom by strengthening our communities and our servicemembers.

My Administration is committed to improving opportunities and quality of life for these brave spouses and families who know the separation and stress of war. We are increasing servicemembers’ compensation as well as funding for better housing, job training, counseling, outreach, and support for spouses and their families. We are also expanding our ground forces to reduce the strain of repeated deployments, and to give servicemembers more time with their loved ones.

There are many ways for each of us to show our appreciation for military spouses. Working through community based organizations, workplaces, schools, and places of worship, we can help them support their families, establish or build a career, and address the unique challenges they face.

I am inspired every day by our men and women in uniform and their families. They are America’s greatest military asset, and my Administration is committed to fulfilling our obligations to them. Today, let us honor the spouses and families who support our servicemembers and, in doing so, help defend our Nation and preserve our liberty.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2010, as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I call upon the people of the United States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

My understanding is that all military personnel must have a working family care plan, whether or not a deployment is imminent.

As much as I feel for a single mother trying to take care of her family and serve her country, I suspect there is more to this story.

In this AP article, a spokesperson for the Army claims that “he did not know what Specialist Hutchinson was told by her commanders but that the Army would not deploy a single parent who had nobody to care for a child.” The article quotes him as saying, “If she would have come to the deployment terminal with her child, there’s no question she would not have been deployed.”

Thougths?

Photo: AP

People join the military for a lot of reasons and I think health insurance is certainly a valid one.

I want to wish this family better health and better times.  Here’s a beautiful quote:

“Seventy percent of the reason is for the insurance,” said Bill’s mother, Marguerite Hemiller. “He told me, ‘I’ve always wanted to do something for my country and I have to help Michelle.’”

Now that Bill Caudle and his wife are part of our family, I wonder if there is a way we can reach out to them and support them?