-
J U LY 2 0 1 2
homefrontS O U T H E R N E D I T I O N
D E D I C AT E D T O M I L I TA R Y FA M I L I E S
INTERVIEW
JILL BIDEN SPEAKS ABOUT
THE DIFFICULTIES FOR SERVICE
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
HOW-TO CARE PACKAGES
DAY IN THE LIFE: WEST POINT CADET
SPOTLIGHT ON THE DURHAM VA
DECONSTRUCTING THE GI BILL
A look at Michelle Obama and Jill Bidens
initiative encouraging Americans to support and honor their many
military families
WOUNDED IN ACTION: VETERANS
FACE CHALLENGES WITH A BACK-
LOGGED VETERANS AFFAIRS SYSTEM
AND AN INEFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY
JOININGFORCES
-
T A K I N G A C T I O N T O S E R V E A M E R I C A S M I L I T
A R Y F A M I L I E S
J O I N I N G F O R C E S . G O V
-
I Serve, Too.Even though they arent in the military, kids serve
in many ways, often taking on new responsibilities when situations
change in their families.
Learn how you can help families through
]VS\U[LLYPZTHK]VJHJ`HUKUHUJPHSZ\WWVY[WWW.M I L I TARY FAM I LY
.ORG
-
According to Census data, there are currently more than 1.5
million active military members, with more than 20 million living
veterans in the United States, many of whom have shared their
inspiring and he-roic stories. But this number does not account for
the many stories that are rarely shared the stories of their
families.
Homefront magazine has one goal: to be a supportive voice for
military families across the nation. We recognize this kind of
magazine is vital for families, and we strive to provide
information and answers to them beyond the o!cial line they
receive.
At Homefront, were sure about this everyone has a story that
should be told. And each story is unique. We want to share the
story of the mother, shaken by her daughters decision to enlist in
the Army. "e child, who has moved a dozen times due to his fathers
job in the Marines. And the soldier, struggling to readjust to life
at home after deployment.
All of these individuals are connected to one another in some
way. Many of them have asked similar questions, confronted similar
issues and overcome similar obstacles. Our objective is to unite
these indi-viduals, no matter the distance or their place in
life.
With every issue of our publication, we promise to provide
answers, activities and stories, in hopes that we will enlighten,
entertain and inspire each and every person in these special
families.
Our mission is to serve not just the family members of those
actively serving in the military, but also those left behind those
on the homefront.
Sincerely,
Maggie Cagney Editor
Letter from the editorEDITORIAL STAFFMaggie Cagney,
EditorChristina ClevelandRachel ColemanWill DoranJake KleinJonathan
Larowe
DESIGN STAFFCatherine Sum, Art DirectorRachelle Branca, Asst.
Art DirectorKevin Uhrmacher, iPad EditorMolly Sutherland Kaitlyn
CookCece Pascual
PHOTOGRAPHYRebecca YanJulia WallCameron Robinson
SPECIAL THANKSLinda BrinsonTerence OliverDana McMahanSusan
KingNicole YangKelly McHughSierra Piland
COVERU.S. Air Force Capt. Andy Rhodes, navigator for 9thSpecial
Operations Squadron, hugs his wife, Tina, on EglinAir Force Base,
Fla. afterreturning from deploymentin Iraq on Jan. 6, 2012.Photo by
Airman 1st ClassChristopher Williams viawww.dvidshub.net
-
Table of contents
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE MILITARYThe dos and donts of sharing for
family members on the homefront8
CARE PACKAGESWhat you can and cant send to your ser vice
member10
INSIGHT: BOOKS AND MOVIESWe take a look at Siobhan Fallons You
Know When the Men Are Gone and Listed Pictures Lifted
MILITARY CELEBRITIESFind out who was in the militar y before
they became famous
14
16
ASK UNCLE SAMHave questions? This month we answer some about
militar y fit-ness, housing and education
OPERATION: GET FITLearn some militar y fitness tips and
tricks
FINDING FUN WHILE AT THE FORTThings to do and see near some of
Nor th Carolinas most popular bases
JILL BIDEN Q&AThe Second Lady talks about Joining Forces
PROFILE: MEREDITH BROWNSnapshots from the life of a Marine
combat correspondent
JOINING FORCESFirst Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are
encour-aging Americans to step up to suppor t and honor militar y
families with their initiative
12
1820
26
28
22
-
JULY 2012
THROUGH THEIR EYESFor militar y children, the world is their
hometown
REINTEGRATIONReturning from deployment can often mean an
unexpected readjustment period
WOUNDED IN ACTIONBrain injuries to troops are being noticed more
than ever before
THE BENEFITS START HEREA look into the resources offered at the
Durham VA
POSTCARDS FROM PARADISESer vice members choose some of their
favorite travel experiences
LT. COL. MEGAN STALLINGSAn Army officer and mom tells us about
her extensive career
A DAY IN THE LIFEA look at a West Point cadets militar y
education
MILITARY MIDWIFECapt. Tiffany Johnsons experiences delivering
babies
DECONSTRUCTING THE GI BILLHow veterans can make the most of
their benefits
ELECTION 2012: POLITICIANS AND THE MILITARYSee what Barack Obama
and Mitt Romney have to say on a number of militar y issues
THE ULTIMATE TESTTwo Army Reser ve families seek balance
38
4450
5864
66
6872
74
76
34
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE8
!
!!?
MilitarytheandmediasocialsocialSS
or military families, using the Internet to connect with
one another can lessen the anguish of being separated from a
loved one. But because of its transparency, the Internet can be
more harmful than it is helpful. Whether you are an active member
of the military, a family member or a friend, it is important to
use social media responsibly to protect the safety of our
troops.
BY CHRISTINA CLEVELAND
Graphics by Rachelle Branca
F
-
9JULY 2012 |
What Not To PostNever reveal speci#c, sensitive
information like schedules or loca-tions. For the safety of your
fam-ily, do not post when or if you are going on a vacation, or if
you will leave the house vacant. In addition, do not post gossip or
anything derogatory. Try to ensure that you are using social media
in a respectful manner. "e Armys handbook
o$ers some examples of how to make potentially harmful posts
safer:
My soldier is in XYZ in ABC camp in ABC, Afghanistan My soldier
is deployed to Af-ghanistan
My soldier will be leaving Kuwait and heading to Iraq in 3 days
My soldier deployed this week
My soldier will be coming back to ABC on XYZ day My soldier will
be coming home this summer.
PrivacyMost social network pro#les be-
gin as public. Change your pro#le settings to friends only, and
never add a friend whom you dont know or havent met. Unknown
friends could be potential threats or en-
emies of the troops. If you think you or your military
family member is being imperson-ated on Facebook, you can report
or block this person at: facebook.
com/help On Twitter, report this account as
spam or visit:support.twitter.com/forums/imper-sonation
Photos and VideosFamily members should not tag
a location of where the troops are stationed or landing.
Troops should remember, espe-cially when they are deployed or
deploying, to not give away loca-tion or speci#cs on their mission
via their videos or photos. Avoid posting images that contain
easily identi#able landmarks when the troops are there. For
example, with deployed Navy ships, it is usually OK to post images
after the ship has left a port, but not before or while its still
there.
Remember anyone can see online images, so closely review each
photo or video before uploading. "ink twice about posting photos or
videos that could be shocking, in%ammatory or o$ensive.
Blogging In case you didnt know, there
are several o!cial military blogs maintained by each branch.
"ese blogs allow you to become part of an online community full of
our troops and their families. Check out armylive.dodlive.mil and
armystrongstories.com for some examples. "ere are also many
uno!cial blogs, run by active duty troops, veterans, family
members, and friends, that are available to follow. For example,
visit: truemilitarywivesconfessions.ning.com and
navyformoms.com
tips tricks&
Helpful resourcesThe 2011 U.S. Army Social Media Handbook
provides helpful social media tips for soldiers and their friends
and families. Many of these basic tips can be useful when ap-plied
to any military branch. Check out the handbook at:
http://www.slideshare.net/USArmySocialMedia/army-social-media-handbook-2011
Dont forget!The U.S. Army says it is important that troops
constantly update their families about operations security and what
can and cannot be posted online. Many military branches will block
troops from certain websites if social media are used
carelessly.
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE10
!e "rst step in putting together a care package is deciding,
What do I pack?
Greg Vaughn, a Marine formerly stationed in southern Iraq, says,
A good care package has a little bit of everything in it: food,
supplies, entertainment. Being deployed can sometimes feel like
being in prison. You miss your friends, your family, good food and
good fun. If you can pack enough to make station feel like home for
just a few days, youve done a good job.
Care PackagesNot many things brighten the day of our men and
women in uniform more than
a carefully planned care package.
BY JAKE KLEIN
Graphics by Kaitlyn Cook
How-to:
-
11JULY 2012 |
This is an example of a customs form.
While you cant ship drinks overseas, Vaughn and other sources
agree that troops love getting packets of powdered drink mixes,
especially Gatorade and co!ee.
In addition to food and drink, certain personal supplies that
are di"cult to come by while serving overseas can make our troops
lives much easier. Vaughn says that hy-giene products and tobacco
prod-ucts are passed around and help build camaraderie. Most
infantry guys use chewing tobacco, and its really hard to come by
when de-ployed, he says. #e guys youre out there with are your
brothers. If you have something they want or need, youre glad to
give it to them. #ose who have sent and received
care packages in the past also sug-gest sending some
miscellaneous items.
Items that will give the recipient a laugh, such as a high
bounce ball or some other kind of fun toy will often help lighten
the mood. Stay away from large items, but small balls and items
such as sock mon-keys are known to brighten up a
dull day.Once your package is ready to
go, the next step is to write down everything in the box before
you seal it up. #e U.S. Customs and Border Protection require that
you record every item in the package before mailing it. Instead of
using plain cardboard boxes, consider using United States Postal
Service $at rate boxes.
As long as your items %t in the pre-paid box, the box ships no
mat-ter what the weight.
You can pick these boxes up at the post o"ce or order them
online from www.usps.com, and the rates are similar for domestic
and inter-national shipping.
Customs forms can be picked up at your local post o"ce and
should be %lled out before you take your package to the post o"ce.
If the package is big, you might need more than one form.
Remember that packages need at least two weeks to arrive at
their overseas destination, so plan ahead!
Vaughn's packingsuggestions
FOOD:
B e e f j e r k y Tr a i l m i x P r o t e i n b a r s H o t s a
u c e S u n f l o w e r s e e d s Pe a n u t s S e a s o n i n g s
a l t H a r d c a n d i e s H o m e m a d e c o o k i e s
PERSONAL: M a g a z i n e s E a r p l u g s L i p b a l m B a b
y w i p e s S h a m p o o S o a p S h a v i n g l o t i o n B a t t
e r i e s
If you would like to send a care package to a service member but
dont have time to make one yourself, there are numerous
organizations that will do it for you. Some organizations that are
popular with military families include: Give2TheTroops
www.give2thetroops.org AnySoldier www.anysoldier.com Operation
Shoebox www.operationshoebox.com
If you would like to send a care package, but dont personally
know a service member, the United Service Organizations operates
Operation USO Care Package, which takes a $25 donation and sends a
care package and your personal note to a randomly selected
de-ployed service member. Visit their website at:
www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx
-
My son will be go-ing to boot camp in a few months. Is there
anything he can do to prepare himself ?
Basic training varies for each branch of the mili-tary, but they
all require one thing: motivation. A lack of motivation will
guarantee him a spot at the bottom. He will need to be able to run
and do certain strength training exercises such as push-ups before
he leaves, as physical train-ing will start as soon as he arrives.
He might want to practice going to bed and waking up earlier than
he normally does. Recruiters will send him a list of what he can
and cannot bring, so make sure he pays close attention to that
list. He should bring extra socks, toothpaste and foot cream,
because these are things he will be using frequently.
"e military wants all of its personnel to receive the educa-tion
they desire. "ough it will take extra work, completing your degree
while serving can be done. If you cannot physi-cally attend a
university, taking online courses is a valuable option, and most
universities o$er them. Military members can also get credit for
courses by passing online tests through the College Level
Examination Program (CLEP). If youre worried about money, the
Tuition Assistance (TA), Federal Student Aid (FSA), and the GI Bill
are all helpful in reduc-ing the cost of your education.
How di!cult will it be for me to serve in the military and get
my college degree at the same time?
A:
A:
Q:
Q:
A:
Q:"ere are a number of factors that go into this decision how
long hell be stationed there, if you have children, how much you
receive in your basic allowance for housing (BAH) but there are
some things you should ask yourself before making a decision.
Should I live on base?If you have a family, living on base is a
great option because its free, and you will most likely be part of
a strong commu-nity atmosphere. However, base housing is often
available by waitlist only, and its likely that your living
quarters wont be as cozy as what you might be used to. Consider
asking your-self how long youre capable of waiting for available
housing, and if you can handle living less comfortably than
usual.Should I rent?Similar to living on base, renting a house or
apartment can be an inexpensive option. Living below your BAH
earnings will also allow you the opportunity to save money to buy a
house in the future, if that is what you are thinking about. Before
you decide to rent, #nd out if you will receive any tax advantages
by renting; if the local economy is weak; or if theres a chance
that your military base may close due to Base Realignment and
Closure Commission (BRAC). It is wise to look for a rental
agreement that has a military clause allow-ing you to break your
lease if you are reassigned.Should I buy a house?Buying a house is
expensive, so make sure youve got a good idea of whether youll soon
be moving again. Ask yourself if you have the money upfront to buy
a house, if you could a$ord to manage your house as a rental in the
future and if youre going to be living there for more than four
years.
My husband was recently assigned to a new military base. Should
we buy a house or live on base when we move there?
ASKUNCLE SAM
BY RACHEL COLEMAN
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE12
-
Supporting those who `Yn]kY[ja[]\^gjmk
Find out how you can help at operationhomefront.net
-
s the men of Fort Hood, a Texas Army base, are deployed to Iraq,
we experience
another battleground a war at home, fought by the de-voted wives
who are struggling to live without their husbands.
Siobhan Fallons book You Know When the Men Are Gone is a
col-lection of loosely connected short stories of the spouses left
behind, forced to manage life on their own.
Fallon, who is also a military spouse, vividly paints a profound
image of the dramatic shift when the men leave home: "e base
shifted from a world dominated by camou%age uniforms to one of
brightly colored baby carriages and diaper bags, Mommy & Me
meet-ings at the First Cavalry Museum, women on pastel picnic
blankets lounging on the parade #eld and sharing cinnamon
rolls.
Although the book is #ction, many of the stories depict common
issues military families are confront-ed with on the domestic
frontline.
ABY MAGGIE CAGNEY
You Know When the Men Are Gone
"is book is about wives, missing the lives they shared with
their husbands, who are now many miles away. It is also about them
as moth-ers, struggling to keep a relationship with their children,
while also deal-ing with their personal battles.
Not only will the readers expe-rience the distance between the
women of Fort Hood and their ab-sent husbands, but they will also
see the detachment that occurs when the men return home the feeling
of betrayal as a husband #nds out that his wife has moved on
without him; the feeling of anxiety, as one man tries to balance
his job with his wifes recent cancer diagnosis; and the deep
feeling of pain as a father misses his childs #rst words, #rst
steps and #rst birthday.
Fallon depicts a vivid picture of a world many of us are not
aware of but should be. "is quick read is inspiring and
motivational for mili-tary families. "ese short stories are not
only about the pain of waiting, but they are also stories of
bravery bravery on the homefront.
12345
The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldiers Education Craig M.
Mullaney
Home FrontKristin Hannah
Dear John Nicholas Sparks
Shooting the MoonFrances ORoark Dowell
Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children Various
Authors
BOOK PICKS
KIDS PICK
KIDS PICK
INSIGHT
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE14
-
TBY MAGGIE CAGNEY
sing. And indeed he does. "e boy knows how to hold a beat, as a
talented R&B singer. Henry sends his father his latest music,
bring-ing the two together despite the many miles that separate
them.
Although Henrys story is unique, it is also similar to that of
many children of those in the armed forces. Its the story of #nding
a way to connect with a loved one while he or she is #ght-ing
overseas. Its also about #nding inspiration in the little things in
order to escape the pain of a di!-cult world. Henrys mother
be-comes desperate while her husband is away, and begins to use
drugs again. Henry knows he can help his family by entering an
Alabama singing contest, which has a $5,000 award. "e drug content
in Lifted may be inappropriate for younger viewers, but the story
is an inspir-ing one for all ages. "is little man with a huge heart
learns how to take responsibility while his father is gone, facing
con%icts not many of us come across in our adult life.
Lifted is a unique movie that military parents should watch with
their children. Its a beautiful story of faith to raise your voice
in a disconcerting world.
here are few movies that ac-curately depict how war can a$ect
military families as a whole. We often encounter
how it a$ects the spouse, longing for the intimacy he or she
shares with the missing partner. We have seen how it a$ects
parents, worried for their childs safety while #ght-ing overseas.
But rarely do we see depictions of how war can a$ect children. And
more often than not, it is the most di!cult for children to grasp
the meaning of war and the meaning of death."e 2010 movie Lifted
stars a
young boy named Henry Matthews (Uriah Shelton), who #nds faith
in music, as the rest of his world seems to fall apart. His
reservist father, William (Dash Mihok), has been called to active
service for the Marines in Afghanistan. Henrys mother, Lisa (Nicki
Aycox), is a recovering drug addict who fears that her husbands
departure will cause her to relapse. When Wil-liam leaves for
Afghanistan, he asks Henry to do one thing
Lifted
Photos courtesy of Listed Picture
A Walk in My Shoes John Kent Harrison
Act of ValorMike McCoy, Scott Waugh
We Were SoldiersRandall Wallace
Saving Private Ryan Steven Spielberg
JarheadSam Mendes
Army Wives (Lifetime TV)Katherine Fugate
MOVIE PICKS
123456
FAMILYOPTION
SERIESOPTION
15JULY 2012 |
-
JULIA CHILD ICE-T
BY WILL DORAN
Many celebrities and politicians like Audie Murphy, Dwight
Eisenhower or Ernest Hemingway are famous for their mili-tary
service in addi-tion to whatever they did after. But there are many
more veterans whose service isnt as famous, from come-dians to
rappers and even gourmet chefs.
Famousfacesin themilitary
Military connection: served four years in the Army Rangers
Famous for: bringing French cuisine to mainstream
AmericaMilitary connection: was a member of the O!ce of Stra-tegic
Services (precursor to the CIA); spent the war doing top-secret
research and com-munications, including mak-ing a shark repellent
to keep the animals from swimming into anti-submarine
explosives
Famous for: his rap career and role as a detective on Law &
Order: Special Victims Unit
Noted: said he was prepared for potential danger because of his
previous experience in the Crips gang in south-cen-tral Los
Angeles, telling !e New York Times, I aint afraid of combatNoted:
was rejected from the
special womens service groups for both the Army and Navy in
World War II for being too tall (6 feet 2 inches)
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE16
-
17JULY 2012 |
JESSE VENTURA DREW CAREYBILL COSBY
Famous for: being governor of Minnesota, his professional
wrestling career
Famous for: being the host of the improv comedy show Whose Line
Is It Anyway? and star of the aptly named !e Drew Carey
ShowMilitary connection: worked as a hospital corpsman for #ve
years in the Navy and ran on the Navy track team (despite being
a victim of racial segregation)
Famous for: delivering ba-bies as Dr. Heathcli$ Cli$ Huxtable on
!e Cosby Show
Military connection: served as a frogman on a Navy Un-derwater
Demolition Team (UDT) during the Vietnam War; after that, served in
the Navy Reserve as part of SEAL Team OneNoted: said he would be
interested in running as Ron Pauls vice presidential candi-date
should Paul run as a third party candidate in the 2012 general
election
Military connection: served six years in the Marine Corps
ReserveNoted: is a die-hard fan of all Cleveland sports and is also
a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer
team
Noted: used his Navy track experience to win a track scholarship
to Temple Univer-sity, where he studied physical education and
played fullback on the football teamG
raph
ics b
y Ca
ther
ine
Sum
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE18
OPERATION:
GET FIT
-
CORE STRENGTHWhats Required:For most branches, the average set
to be competitive is about 100 sit-ups in two minutes. Where to
start:If you dont have someone to hold your feet down, try hooking
them un-der a bed, couch or other heavy object that wont move while
exercising.
UPPER-BODYSTRENGTHWhats Required:Push-ups and pull-ups are the
meat and potatoes of these workouts. Some branches stress this
muscle group more than others, but all want a lot. Where to start:A
recommended training exercise is to be able to do 100 push-ups in
two minutes, as well as 100 pull-ups spaced over several
repetitions of about 15 or 20 each time, with a short rest in
between.
SWIM EXERCISEALTERNATIVES
We here at Homefront have kindly combed the fitness requirements
for each branchs special forces. And while we cant always help with
the emotional and psychological fortitude these roles require, we
can at least help you get a better idea of the physical training
they meet and exceed for their jobs.
HIKINGWhats Required:Each branch requires you to com-plete a
long hike with a heavy pack. Where to start:If you enjoy
backpacking, this should be no trouble, but if you dont have
experience or motiva-tion, buying a hiking pack and weights for it
might be a little expensive.
RUNNINGWhats Required:You should be able to run at a 5 or
6-minute mile pace for 2 or 3-mile runs, and a 7 or 8-minute pace
for 5-mile runs. Where to start:Try running just one mile a day for
a week at that pace. During the second week, run two miles at that
pace every day, and then keep mov-ing up.
SWIMMINGWhats Required:Each branch requires you to swim at least
several hundred yards in full uniform.Where to start:You can do
that at home by swim-ming in the clothes you own or normally wear.
Or, swim 1,000 yards (in a bathing suit) in 22 or 24 minutes
instead of 500 yards (uniformed) in 9 or 10 minutes like the SEALs
require.
Dont have a pool? Look below for swim exercise alternatives.
Photos by Julia Wall
BY WILL DORAN
Flutter kicks are great for leg strength, and upper body
exercises help your stroke. And remember the more slowly you do the
individual movements in these exercises, the more control and
strength you will gain in each motion.
FLUTTER KICKSAim to complete at least 50 flutter kicks.
Remember to keep your abs engaged while moving legs up and
down.
PULL-UPSBegin with your
maximum repetition of pull-ups. If you dont have a pull-up bar,
find a low wall to use. Start with straight arms and
remember to breathe at the bottom.
PUSH-UPSDo 40 push-ups and focus on your
breathing. Inhale as you lower to the ground and exhale pushing
up.
19JULY 2012 |
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE20
Elizabeth City State University PlanetariumExperience night sky
tours, star and laser shows, !lms and guided tours of the solar
system under a star-!lled dome at this planetarium.
www.ecsu.edu/planetarium
Airborne & Special Operations Museum
"is free-admission museum has several incredible exhibits,
includ-ing a main gallery, a temporary gallery, a four-story-tall
theater, a video theater and a motion simula-tor ride. Excitement
for all ages!www.asomf.org
Cape Fear Botanical Garden"ese botanical gardens feature more
than 2,000 varieties of orna-mental plants and several specialty
gardens including Camellia, Daylily and Hosta gardens. "e area also
has a childrens garden, providing a unique and educational
experience for the young ones.www.capefearbg.org
CAMEO Art House Theatre
Preservation North Carolina rec-ognizes Fayettevilles
alternative cinematic experience as the coolest place downtown. "is
is a wonder-ful family venue, exhibiting movies, live theater and
special events.www.cameoarthouse.com
Museum of the Albemarle
Features the Madrin Gallery, a 6,200 square-foot exhibit that is
a showcase of over 700 artifacts that depict the story of the
Albemarle regions watermen, farmers, lifesav-ers and
soldiers.www.museumofthealbemarle.com
Fascinate-U Childrens Museum"is museum o#ers many fun
activities, including shopping at the Gro-Right Grocery & Deli,
responding to 911 calls at the Emergency Dispatch Center, giv-ing
the NC weather forecast at the WNUZ center, and
more!www.fascinate-u.com
E L I Z A B E T H C I T YFAYE T T EV I L L EPope Field Air Force
Base Fort Bragg Army Base USCG Air Station Elizabeth City
FIRST CLASSN
ORTH
MAY 72012
C A R O L I
NA
North Carolina is home to a large variety of military bases
ranging from the Air Force to the Coast Guard, with everything in
between. If you are a family that is looking to visit a loved one
who is stationed at a base in North Carolina, you will need to find
activities in the surrounding area that can liven up your visit.
This list includes some of the most popular military bases in the
state, and also provides entertainment options for you and your
kids to enjoy while visiting your loved one.
Finding fun while at the fortBY JONATHAN LAROWE
-
Port City Pirates & Ghosts Learn how to sword !ght, help
load and !re a working cannon, and hear some of the areas scariest
ghost stories in a fun-!lled tour in-side an authentic, haunted
historic building.
www.portcitytourcompany.com/moreheadcitypiratesghosts
The History Place Research your full family tree at this museum
and !nd out who might be a long-lost
relative.www.thehistoryplace.org
Wayne County Museum
At this museum, you can !nd numerous objects illustrating the
history, science and cultural heri-tage of Wayne County and central
eastern North Carolina.www.waynecountyhistoricalnc.org
Paramount Theatre"e theater o#ers a vast array of performing
arts including ballet, dramatic and musical theater, gym-nastics
and live concerts. "is state-of-the-art facility hosts a 500-seat
auditorium, giving the audience an intimate setting to enjoy all
the theater has to o#er.www.goldsboroparamount.com
GOLDSBORO HAVELOCKSeymour Johnson Air Force Base Marine Corps
Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Air Station New River
Lynnwood Park Zoo
"is incredible zoo is home to over 80 animal exhibits, with
species including reptiles, birds, mammals, and
more.www.lynnwoodparkzoo.com
Equine Country USA"is horse facility o#ers boarding, riding
lessons, wagon rides and trail rides perfect for your young cowgirl
or cowboy!www.equinecountryusa.com
J ACKSONV I L L EMarine Corps Air Station
Cherry Point
Greetings fromHistory, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling
*UHHWLQJVIU
RP
+RPHWRWKH6H\PRXU-RKQVRQ$LU)RUFH%DVH Elizabeth City
The Harbor of Hospitality
Elizabeth City
Jacksonville
Fayetteville
Goldsboro
Havelock
Graphics by Cece Pascual
21JULY 2012 |
-
Joining Forces
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are encouraging
Americans to step up to support and honor military families.
BY MAGGIE CAGNEY Photo by Lawrence Jackson
-
23JULY 2012 |
ast year on "anksgiving, Army wife Jessica Allen received an
unexpected call a phone call from First
Lady Michelle Obama. She was calling to thank Allen not only for
her husbands service to the coun-try, but also for her own service
as a military wife and mother.
You are amazing, Obama said during the phone call.
You are the kind of example and the story we want to make sure
that all of America hears and knows about, because in addition to
man-aging your family, we understand that you are also a super
support system to other military families, walking people through
the emo-tional process, she continued.
On Jan. 22, 2011, while in the Zhari district of Afghanistan on
a dismounted patrol, Allens husband, Sta$ Sergeant Chaz Allen,
stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He instantly lost
both legs and broke his elbow.
An IED doesnt just hurt one person, it hurts all of us, Jessica
Al-len says. But thank God for medical technology. Legs can be
replaced.
It was only his legs it could have been his life."e phone call
to Allen is just
one example of the ways in which the national initiative Joining
Forces is reaching military families across the country.
On April 12, 2011, Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President
Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama
launched Joining Forces, an initia-tive that provides ways in
which Americans can step up and lend a helping hand to military
families who are challenged daily.
"e initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from
all sectors of our society citizens, communities, businesses,
nonprof-its, faith-based institutions, philan-thropic
organizations, and govern-ment to ensure military families have the
support they have earned, according to Joining Forces web-site,
JoiningForces.gov.
Military families are confronted with challenges every day. It
could be something as simple as #nding a baby sitter while the
stay-at-home military spouse goes to a doctors appointment. Or it
could be more di!cult, like having to switch jobs several times a
year because of a partners deployment. Whatever the di!culty,
Joining Forces aims to bridge the gap between military families and
Americans, encour-aging individuals outside of the military
community to give back.
After her husbands injury, Al-len became more involved in the
military community, reaching out to men, women and children near
and far.
Her blog, "e War of a Wound-ed Warrior Wife, has become a
resource for many followers. Whether it be an inspirational post
after her husband took his #rst steps on March 21, 2011, or an
in-formative post on how to approach
a wounded warrior appropriately, she is always trying to #nd
ways to encourage and enlighten those in the military
community.
"rough my blog, I have met and helped so many families, Allen
says. I want other people to know they are not alone, whether its
your husband or son being deployed, there are other people out
there in the same boat, paddling along.
Which is exactly the mission of Joining Forces to help members
of military families know they have the support of the American
public.
A military life means living in increments taking one day, one
deployment, at a time. Members of the military are confronted with
issues involving physical training, separation and more often than
not, the threat of death.
Yet the battle on the home-front can be just as painful. "ere is
the constant worrying about a deployed spouse; the di!culty of
being forced to relocate and start over again; and the distance a
spouse may feel, not only when his or her partner is serving, but
also when the partner returns. Joining Forces is not just about
healing those wounds, whether physical or emotional. Its also about
providing some sense of normalcy for military families, helping
them share many of the opportunities civilians have.
And for that, Joining Forces recently created the Joining Forces
Community Challenge, a call to action for community organiza-
L
Joining Forces aims to bridge the gap between military families
and Americans, encouraging individuals outside of the military
community to give back.
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE24
tions and citizens who recognize the needs of military families
and provide programs and services to help ease the challenges and
burdens many of these families face."e White House announced 20
#nalists on Jan. 23, 2012. After pub-lic voting and additional
judging, the White House announced on April 6 #ve winners of the
challenge: Our Family for Families First Founda-tion, Armed Forces
Service Center, Defending the Blue Line, Give an Hour, Project
Sanctuary and the City of Rich#eld, Utah.
One of the 20 #nalists was HeartsApart.org, an organiza-tion in
nearly 25 states across the country that helps families stay
connected while their loved ones
are overseas. HeartsApart.org pro-vides families with pictures
of their spouse and children, taken by local professional
photographers, says Elizabeth Bloch, director of media relations
for the organization.
"e photographs are printed on waterproof, bi-folded vinyl cards,
which #t securely in soldiers uniform pockets, Bloch says. "is is
only a tiny thanks in the face of what these families not only
endure every day, but endure with a smile and with a grateful
heart.
Bloch says the program is com-pletely free, and it includes a
profes-sional photo session, hair and make-up styling and a CD of
the images.
"ere is no end to the project just a commitment to continue
to
serve our armed forces while they serve us."e mission of Joining
Forces
is simple, as Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden described when
the initiative was launched: Everyone can do something.
Whether it be helping throw a baby shower for a military wife
while her husband serves overseas, or taking the time to speak with
a wounded warrior about his or her story, a small act of giving
goes a long way. Members in the armed forces and their families are
doing their part; It is now time for the American public to join
together to join forces and support and honor them.
Dr. Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama greet volunteers at the
Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas. The center
helps care for the families of wounded service men and women. Photo
by Chuck Kennedy
-
Armed Forces Service CenterMSP Airport Food and shelter for
traveling troops
HeartsApart.orgWilmington, N.C. Professional photography
for military families
Rocky Mountains, Colo. 6-day family retreat
for military families
Sacramento, Calif. One-on-one
psychological treatment
Canines for Veterans -Canines for ServiceWilmington, N.C.
Service dogs for veterans
The LandingsSavannah, Ga. Military family relief fund
Joining Forces Community Challenge
Rich!eld, Utah Support for National Guard
Community Covenant program
Rebuild HopeMenlo Park, Calif. Financial support
for veterans
New Directions
Project SanctuaryClovis, Calif. Support for teenage
girls with parents deployed overseas
Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs
The Soldiers Project
Nationwide programs
Tillman Military ScholarsEducational scholarshipsfor military
veterans and their spouses
Our Family for Families FirstScholarships for membersof military
families
Education Lifestyle/Families MedicalBirdies for the Brave
Outreach initiative inconjunction with thePGA Tour
Give an HourCoordinates free mental health services forwounded
veterans
Trees for TroopsFree Christmas treesfor military families
Defending the Blue LineHockey equipment, NHL tickets for
military families
Operation Wedding GownFree designer weddinggowns for military
brides
GreenCare for TroopsFree lawn andlandscaping servicesfor
military families
Operation HomelinkTechnology to connect families with troops
abroad
Lukes WingsConnects injuredservice members withtheir
families
Los Angeles, Calif. Program for homeless
and addicted veterans
Graphic by Kevin Uhrmacher
First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden created the Joining
Forces Community Challenge in an effort to rec-ognize citizens,
communities, schools, nonprofits, faith-based institutions,
philanthropic organizations, and local governments for their strong
support of military families.
These citizens and organizations have helped ease and alleviate
the emotional and mental stress on military members and their
families. To learn more, visit:joiningforces.challenge.gov
= Named a Community Challenge winner on April 6, 2012
25JULY 2012 |
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE26
A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H
Second Lady
Jill Biden
D r. J i l l B i d e n , w i f e o f V i c e Pr e s i d e n t J
o e B i d e n , r e c o g n i z e s t h e c h a l l e n g e sm i l
i t a r y f a m i l i e s f a c e a n d h a s w o r k e d t o ra i
s e a wa r e n e s s t h r o u g h h e r i n i t i a t i v e
w i t h Fi r s t L a d y M i c h e l l e O b a m a , J o i n i n
g Fo r c e s .
Photo by Chuck Kennedy
H O M E F R O N T: What made you want to launch the Joining
Forces campaign? J I L L B I D E N : One of the best parts of being
Second Lady is the opportunity to visit and meet with so many
service men and women and their families. I am always inspired by
their incredible service and sacri#ce for our country. First Lady
Michelle Obama and I launched Joining Forces as a way to encourage
all Americans to recognize, honor
and take action to support military families. Americans are
stepping up individuals, community organizations, nonpro#ts and
businesses are all taking action to support and honor our military
families. As a military mom, this is also personal for me. When my
son Beau was deployed in Iraq as a captain in the Army National
Guard, I saw how important the support from neighbors and friends
was to his family. "e small kindnesses shoveling
the driveway in a snowstorm or bringing over dinner can make a
tremendous di$erence in lives of military families. "at kind of
support is exactly what Joining Forces is all about.
H F: What have you learned about military families? J B :
Military families are incredibly resilient. Whenever I visit with
military families and veterans, I always walk away inspired by
their commitment to service, their
-
27JULY 2012 |
strength and the many ways they support one another. Regardless
of the challenges they face, they are proud of their service to our
nation, and they almost never ask for help. "ats why it is so
important that we help the rest of the country understand some of
those challenges and let people know that we all have a role to
play.
HF: What do you believe is the prominent challenge many of these
families are facing today? JB: "is is a challenging time for many
Americans and military families are often facing those same
challenges while a spouse is deployed. One parent is carrying the
day-to-day challenges of raising a family, children are often
transferring to new schools and spouses are faced with the
challenges of #nding new jobs and possibly dealing with
professional licensing issues as they transfer bases or deal with
deployments. "ey are making tremendous sacri#ces, for which we owe
them our deepest gratitude. When the First Lady and I visit with
military families, two issues come up over and over. "e #rst is
education. After 10 years of continuous combat, the lives of many
military children have been marked with parental separation and
anxiety about a parents deployment. But military children also have
a unique set of challenges even when both parents are at home.
Military children on average attend six to nine di$erent school
systems. "rough each transition, they are faced with leaving their
friends and adjusting to new schools and new surroundings, all of
which can a$ect a students opportunity to
Americans are stepping up individuals, community organizations,
nonprofits and businesses are all taking action to support and
honor our military families.
achieve academic success. Another issue that the First Lady and
I have heard about over and over again as we travel around the
country and meet with military families is professional licensing
for military spouses. Because military transfers often require
spouses to move from state to state, this issue can be a real
challenge. Military spouses move 10 times more than their civilian
counterparts and 35 percent of spouses in the workforce are in jobs
that require a professional license. "is means that there are
currently 100,000 military spouses that are a$ected by a maze of
credentialing and requirements that oftentimes hinder their careers
and prevent them from advancing professionally. Its happening to
nurses, teachers, child care providers, accountants and social
workers. "ats why the First Lady and I have made this a priority as
part of Joining Forces and are urging all 50 states to pass
legislation that addresses these licensing issues by 2014.
HF: "is magazine wants to make sure that the content we produce
is bene#cial to each and every member of these families. As the
mother of a son in the military, what content would you #nd most
helpful? JB: In addition to covering stories that military families
can easily relate to, I think it is important to highlight the
variety of resources that are available to them. Raising awareness
through community organizations, job hiring fairs and schools are
all important ways to reach military families. We also want to make
sure our military families know there are places to turn if they
recognize any of the warning signs of post-traumatic stress or
other invisible wounds of these con%icts. We should encourage
families to seek help, to talk about these issues and let them know
there is help and support available. No family should face those
challenges alone.
HF: What future plans do you have for Joining Forces? JB: We are
coming up on the one-year anniversary of Joining Forces and are
looking forward to highlighting all the progress that has been made
in the past year. As part of that, we are looking forward to
recognizing #nalists of the Joining Forces Community Challenge, an
e$ort that is intended to recognize the many community-based
projects that support military families across the country. Beyond
the anniversary, we will continue to #nd ways to build on our
progress and #nd more ways to support military families in our
workplaces, our schools and our communities.
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE28
-
29JULY 2012 |
t began with a handshake agreement to join the service between
two #fth-grade pals. And what became of that
young promise led one of those pals into the U.S. Marine
Corps.
Corporal Meredith Brown, 23, was one of those two #fth-graders
who knew from a young age that she wanted to be in the military.
Brown grew up in Germanton, N.C., a small town outside of
Win-ston-Salem. She got her chance to experience the importance of
service during her senior year of high school when she signed up
for Marine Corps JROTC.
Once I was in the class, I knew it was for me, says Brown. I
loved the discipline, determination and drive that the teachers
could instill in kids from some of the worst backgrounds
imaginable.
It gave them a sense of purpose and a future."is sense of a
future began for
Brown on Nov. 13, 2007, when she enlisted in the Marines as a
sopho-more at "e University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
without informing her parents. "e other partner in the pact was
already at the U.S. Naval Academy, preparing to be a Navy
o!cer.
I talked with my parents about enlisting in the Marine Corps
dur-ing my senior year [of high school], and they really wanted me
to go to college, says Brown.
Neither of them are college graduates, so they were trying to
set up the best future they could for me.
However, once Brown got to UNC-CH, she says she realized that if
she wanted to pursue her dream as a Marine, she would have to do so
at a young age, which meant giving up her education at that
moment.
Once I was [in college], I didnt really know why, other than to
ob-tain a degree so I could get a good job, get married and
continue on that path, she says. "at was not what I wanted to
do.
Besides the desire of her parents, an unforeseen injury also
stood in Browns way, causing her to fail the #rst physical for boot
camp. Brown underwent back surgery in 2008.
While her parents thought that her dream of being a Marine was
over, Brown had di$erent plans. She went through physical rehab,
took summer courses and prepared to take the physical exam a second
time and pass.
In October 2008, Brown received clearance from her surgeon to go
to boot camp.
Although Browns parents may have had a di$erent future in mind
for their daughter, her father encouraged her to do what she wanted
to do.
Like any parent who loves their children, I was concerned, says
Je$ Watts. But there comes a
time when they leave the comfort of their home and make a life
for themselves.
Her mother, Beth Watts, remem-bers an email she received when
Brown told her about her decision to pursue her dream as a
Marine.
All I could envision at the time was her being on the front
lines, she says. My greatest fear was los-ing my child. I will
always remem-ber an email she sent me telling me that she believed
that if this wasnt Gods will for her that he would take this desire
from her.
From that point on everything changed for me, Beth says.
After deciding to drop out of UNC-CH during the fall semester of
her junior year, Brown began boot camp on Oct. 27, 2008, in Parris
Island, S.C.
After boot camp, Brown entered into the public a$airs #eld in
the Marines, where she was trained as a combat correspondent and
broadcaster. When she graduated from boot camp in 2009, she had to
attend Marine Combat Training (MCT) for a month of basic infan-try
skills training at Camp Geiger in Jacksonville, N.C.
She began her training as a com-bat correspondent at the Defense
Information School (DINFOS) in Fort Meade, Md., where she took
journalism and broadcasting classes, as well as on-the-job
training.
It wasnt until graduating from
BY MAGGIE CAGNEY
Meredith Brown knew from a young age that she wanted to join the
service, but what she couldnt predict was where her duties would
take her.
-
DINFOS that her real journey began a journey of about 11,000
miles from her small-town home.
On Feb. 6, 2010, Brown traveled to American Forces Network
Oki-nawa (AFN) in Okinawa, Japan, where she served as a
broadcaster, shooting video, editing video and doing voice packages
for more than a year.
Brown says AFN Okinawa services more than 75,000 troops in
Okinawa with English-speaking news, television and radio. Brown
also assisted as disc jockey for the radio station.
Brown spent 14 months in Oki-nawa, a lengthy term that took a
toll on her family back home.
Having a sister in the Marines can be di!cult, says Morgan
Watts, 21, Browns sister.
Meredith has had to miss a lot of important events in my life:
She wasnt there for my high school
graduation; [she] has missed my last four birthdays; [she] wasnt
in the States when I got engaged; and Christmas sure isnt the same
when she is gone, says Morgan.
But Brown tries to keep in touch with her family in every way
pos-sible phone calls, Facebook, email, Skype whatever allows her
to be constantly updated with life on the homefront.
And with technology comes op-portunities, says Browns husband,
Gil Brown.
One of the coolest things weve done in terms of using Skype is
that she actually got to watch and listen to my brothers wedding,
says Gil. We set up an iPad on the front pew of the church so she
had a front row seat to a wedding in North Carolina.
Despite the miles that separate her from her family, Brown is
there for them every chance she has,
something her sister agrees with.I know she is always just
an
email, Skype call or phone call away, Morgan says. I dont resent
Meredith for missing all of these things I know she hated missing
them as much as I wanted her to be there. And if she could have
been there, she would have.
I know she is living out her dream and making a di$erence, and
that is whats important to me.
In July 2010, while she was serving in Okinawa, Brown was
granted permission for an impor-tant family event that she knew she
could not miss her wedding.
Brown was given a few weeks to get #tted for her wedding dress,
say I do and spend a few days on her honeymoon in North Myrtle
Beach, S.C., before returning to Okinawa. "e couple was married on
July 10, 2010.
"e time at home %ew by,
TIMELINE: MEREDITH's TRAVELSTIMELINE: Meredith's travels
Begins boot
camp in Parris
Island, S.C.
OCT. 27, 2008
Enlists in the Marines asa sophomore at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
NOV. 1 3, 2007
Begins trainingas a combatcorrespondentat the DefenseInformation
School
Graduates from
boot camp and
attends Marine
Combat Training
at Camp Geiger in
Jacksonville, N.C.
2009
Graphic by Catherine Sum
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE30
-
Arrives at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistans
HelmandProvince after
serving six months in
Jacksonville, N.C.
OCT. 2011
Projected date
Meredith will be
out of the Marine
Corps if she gets
a 3-month early
out; would start
school in August
JULY 26, 2012
Travels to Ameri
-
can Forces Net-
work Okinawa,
where she serve
s
as a broadcaster,
shooting/editing
video and doing
voice packages
FEB. 6, 2010
Marries Gil Brown in Germanton, N.C.
JULY 10, 2010
Photos cour
tesy of Mered
ith Brown
Brown says. It was as if I was watching a two-hour movie on
someone elses life before it was time to get on the plane to head
back to Okinawa.
Each day was packed with last-minute wedding details dress
#ttings, bridal portraits, pre-wed-ding festivities and wedding
re-hearsals. Each event contributed to making Browns wedding as
special as it could be.
Browns parents, sister, husband and his family did much of the
planning. "ey all helped organize the event, and Gils mother,
grand-mother and aunt made Browns wedding dress.
It took countless hours on their part, Brown says. I just showed
up, tried it on and they made ad-justments. In less than two days,
I was doing bridal portraits.
Browns mother, Beth, says they had to pull together the wedding
in
a matter of weeks. We really planned
her entire wedding in about seven weeks, Beth says. Although the
time restraints made planning stressful, it really wasnt di!cult
because Meredith is so easy to please.
Looking back on it now, Brown says the event was perfect.
Like I told [my family], regardless of how things went down, at
the end of the day if Im married then it was a success, she says.
"e love and support showed by all my family and friends was
encour-aging and greatly appreciated as [my husband and I] started
this interesting, lifelong journey together.
Browns personal journey con-
Wedding
July 10, 2010
31JULY 2012 |
-
GERMANTON, N.C.to CHAPEL HILL, N.C.90 mi
336 mi
330 mi
371 mi
7677 mi
8007 mi
8007 mi
7976 mi
7290 mi
7298 mi
OKINAWA, JAPANto JACKSONVILLE, N.C.
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.to JACKSONVILLE, N.C.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.to PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.
OKINAWA, JAPANto NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
JACKSONVILLE, N.C.to HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
JACKSONVILLE, N.C.to FORT MEADE, Md.
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.to OKINAWA, JAPAN
HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTANto NEW RIVER, N.C.
Merediths experiences have taken her all over the world. Shes
traveled about 47,382 miles thats enough to circle the globe about
1.90 times. See how those distances stack up below.
tinued as she returned to Okinawa two weeks after the event.
As the months continued and Christmas approached, Brown received
one of the best presents she could ask for a holiday with her
husband.
My parents paid for my husband to %y out to Okinawa so that we
could spend our #rst Christmas to-gether as a married couple, she
says.
Brown commented on her holi-
day on her blog saying, Im not go-ing to say it was a fairy tale
Christ-mas, but it suited us just #ne.
A fairy tale that helped her get through her #nal months in
Oki-nawa. After spending a total of 14 months overseas, Brown had a
permanent change of station to Marine Corps Air Station New River
in Jacksonville, N.C., where she served as a military
journalist.
Brown says the transition from Okinawa to North Carolina was a
di!cult one, and it was challenging for her to remember everything
she had been taught as a print journal-ist instead of as a
broadcaster.
But dealing with the di$er-ence in #elds wouldnt last long.
After serving in Jacksonville for six months, Brown volunteered to
serve as combat correspondent
Frequent flyer milesFrequent flyer miles
FORT MEADE, Md.to OKINAWA, JAPAN
SOURCES: worldatlas.com, earth-info.nga.mil
Gra
phic
by
Cath
erin
e Su
m
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE32
-
every month and a half.Meredith and I have become
very talented at playing things by ear and just taking it day by
day, Gil says. I think that is the best way to deal with being tied
to the Marine Corps.
Gil, 24, says he has known Mer-edith since middle school, but
the two began dating in 2007. While she was in Afghanistan, he was
#nishing graduate school at North Carolina State University in
Raleigh.
Gil says being in graduate school made the infrequent
communica-tion easier, as well as their personal-ity types.
While for many this may seem unimaginable to go weeks with-out
communicating with loved ones many military families must
deal with this struggle on a daily basis. But Browns family
found alternate ways to constantly keep updated with her
routine.
Because Meredith is a journalist, I search her name to learn of
news stories she had covered and #gure out where she had been, says
Je$.
And the occasional conversation always brings her family
joy.
Every once in a while there has been that won-derful phone call
when you actually get to hear her voice that is price-less, says
Beth.
But for most military families, nothing can compare to the
moment of being reunited with a loved
at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. She arrived
in Afghanistan in October 2011, where she was confronted with new
challenges as a Marine.
One challenge she discovered immediately was the di!culty in
communicating with loved ones back home.
In Okinawa and Jacksonville, she had access to Internet
connection and was able to call, email and Skype.
But in Afghanistan, her ability to communicate with family and
friends was limited.
Brown says the Internet connec-tion was unreliable, causing her
to have to email home whenever she got the chance. She was able to
call her husband once every two weeks
and her parents once
TO READ MEREDITHS BLOG,
VISIT:insightthruexperience.blogspot.com
AfghanistanOctober 201 1
one when he or she returns from deployment something Brown
ex-perienced again in March 2012 when she returned to New River,
N.C.
After several months in Afghani-stan, Meredith returned to the
homefront, where she began a new chapter in her life.
I am going to actually try to take the three-month early out so
that I can return to college and get my degree as a history and
economics high school teacher, she says. "at would mean I would get
out of the Marine Corps July 26, 2012, and go to school in August.
"e life of a young Marine is
always challenging. From the constant globe roaming, to the
feeling of helplessness when miss-ing birthdays, graduations and
engagements of loved ones back home, the journey can be tiring. Yet
for Brown, pride in service always remained.
"e truth is, I have never been more proud to call my sister my
sister, says Morgan. I know what she is doing is making an impact
in so many di$erent ways.
And as Brown noted in her #rst blog post in January 2010 as she
began her journey, the impact she is making will never cease:
I have decided that my journey through life is probably worth
noting.
33JULY 2012 |
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE34
Graphics by Rachelle Branca
-
normal life is something that many soldiers desire but hardly
ever get to expe-
rience. After completing their service in the U.S. Army,
normalcy is typi-cally what they look forward to most on their
arrival back home.
Upon return, many soldiers are forced to cope with the
unenviable task of putting the pieces of their home lives back
together again. But in the case of some veterans, even though they
have served the manda-tory time, they feel that their service is
not yet complete. "ey still yearn to be a part of the military. For
these soldiers, the Army Reserve is wait-ing for them.
Je$ Schwartz was one of those soldiers. Schwartz was an active
member of the military for #ve years, but upon his return to Waco,
Texas, in 1985, after the culmination of his active tour of duty,
he felt that it was not the time to end his a!lia-tion with the
Army.
I got involved basically right after coming o$ active duty as
part
of the process of perpetuating my involvement in public service,
Schwartz says.
After managing to secure a job with a Reserve unit in Waco,
Schwartz had to learn how to bal-ance his dual life of aspiring
lawyer against that of an Army reservist. One weekend out of every
month, he was called to take part in monthly drills, which were
made to emulate real-life scenarios that the soldiers could be
faced with in combat. It is basically a months worth of work in two
days, Schwartz describes.
Aside from the monthly drills, two weeks out of every year,
reservists must join together to take part in annual training.
Annual training involves the entire unit meeting once a year to
practice carrying weapons, wear-ing uniforms, #ghting in defensive
positions and any other situation that could present itself in
combat.
After serving in Waco for three years, Schwartz moved to
northern Virginia in 1988 with his wife, Belin-da. He wanted to
continue his Army
Reserve service and, fortunately, was able to #nd a job on Fort
Belvoir.
Schwartz worked as a reservist on Fort Belvoir for four years
before being promoted to work for a unit in Norfolk. During his
time at Belvoir, his wife had their #rst child in 1990.
Unfortunately, the birth of his son was occurring at the same time
that the U.S. began increasing its involve-ment in the Gulf
War.
Schwartz knew that if his name was called, he had to be ready to
leave on a moments notice.
I wasnt looking forward to being separated from my family, but
it is just part of the deal, he says. I think anyone in the
military internalizes that there may be times when you are going to
be separated from your family, but that is just part of what
service is about.
When the U.S. began to deploy troops to Iraq, Schwartz readied
himself for the realistic possibil-ity that he would have to leave
his newborn son under the care of just one parent.
BY JO
NAT
HAN
LAR
OWE
Two Army Reserve families seek balance on the homefront
35JULY 2012 |
-
I know there was some anxiety on Belindas part because she had
just moved from Texas to Virginia, and here I was, working as a
reservist and there is this new war starting, he says. She was
pregnant, getting ready to have our #rst child, and we knew that
there was a possibility that I would have to go to the desert for
some time. While I didnt necessar-ily think I would be going, I was
also packing my bags, he says.
In addition to having a bag packed at all times, Schwartz also
had to prepare each day for the possibility that at any time, he
could be called into active duty. He made sure to stay in the best
shape possible.
Aside from the #tness tests that were administered during his
monthly drills at Fort Belvoir, Schwartz worked out every day to
meet the strict requirements for reservists about
maintaining a certain level of physical endurance. In addition
to staying in shape, he also had to make sure that all his #nances
were in order.
We had to make sure there was a will in place, he says. You need
to have all of your #nancial ducks in a row. "ere is a certain
amount of ad-ministrative things that the Reserve do on an annual
basis to make sure everything is in order in case you have to
leave.
But he admits that he was lucky. His wife was an accountant and
was fully capable of handling all the bills and taxes in the event
of his depar-ture. He was also con#dent that she could take care of
their newborn son until he returned.
But he never had to test her abili-ties as a single parent
Schwartz was never deployed as reservist.
However, there are members of
the Reserve who are called into ac-tive duty amidst living a
normal life. While Schwartz was never called into active duty in
his 18 years as a member of the Army Reserve, Douglas Dinon
was.
Dinon #nished his active duty military service in September
1987, and upon his arrival, he immediately decided to join the Army
Reserve. He found a job at Fort Benning in Georgia working as part
of a garrison support unit.
After September 11, Dinon knew that there would be a strong
likeli-hood that he would be called into active duty. As a member
of a gar-rison support unit, Dinon had the responsibility of
standing up #rst to get the mobilization station pre-pared for
battle.
As soon as 9/11 happened, our unit immediately thought that it
would be literally any day at that time that we would receive
orders to go to Fort Dix into full-time status to stand the
mobilization station up, Dinon says.
And sure enough, Dinon was sent to Fort Dix, located in New
Jersey, where he served from October 2001 to October 2002. At the
time of his departure, Dinon was already mar-ried with three
children. His children were in kindergarten and #rst grade at the
time.
But Dinon was not worried about his wifes ability to survive
without him. He was already married when he was serving on active
duty, so she was accustomed to the military lifestyle. Dinon says
that her previous experience with his military schedule helped to
prepare her for the possi-bility of his absence.
My wife experienced four to #ve years of active Army time when
we were just recently married, Dinon
Doug Dinon being promoted to colonel in February 2004 at his
Division Headquar-ters in Fort Totten, New York. He is surrounded
by his wife Mary and their three children. Photo courtesy of Doug
Dinon
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE36
-
and Dinon admits that reintegration after 15 months was even
harder than the #rst time. To help with the process, he planned a
backpacking trip in Europe for the whole family.
We %ew on a cargo plane from McGuire Air Force Base to Ger-many,
he says. It was a great adven-ture for the kids, and I think it
really helped with the transition.
Dinon left the Army Reserve in June 2010 after completing 30
full years of military service.
As both Dinon and Schwartz can attest to, joining the Army
Reserve is not for the faint of heart. It is hard on the reservist,
not knowing if or when he or she might have to relocate, but it is
even more challenging for the family. "e tension is enough take a
toll on anyone, but for reservists like Schwartz, that uncertainty
never came to fruition.
But many other families are not quite so lucky. Doug Dinon had
to leave his family twice to ful#ll his duty to the military. But
he knew what he signed up for and, although it was hard on his
family at times, Dinon would not give that back for anything.
says. She was prepared to take on the mission in the case of me
being deployed. To go away was not really anything di$erent, but
going away permanently was new. We always prepared for it, but to
actually acti-vate that plan was a little surreal."e plan was for
Dinons wife,
Mary, to take over as the head of the household while Dinon was
stationed at Fort Dix. While Di-non was away, she assumed many of
his responsibilities.
I had two 6-year-olds and one 7-year-old, so that was a major
hard-ship, Mary Dinon says. It was hard for me to be everything to
the three of them, but once we got into a rou-tine, we were OK. "e
hard part for some wives is having Little League and events like
that. You arent used to pitching the ball to your sons and that
used to bother me, but overall I think we were OK.
Dinon returned in October 2002 after one year away from his
fam-ily. He had the option to extend his tour of duty for another
year, but he chose not to because he did not want to spend an
additional year away from his family while his kids were still
young.
Dinon admits that the process of reintegrating himself into his
work life was much easier for him than reintegrating into his
family life.
With me being gone for 12 months, it is not like I can walk back
through the door and be in charge again, he says. At home, my
wife
was so used to running things that I had to constantly remind
myself to let her continue in that capacity. I have technically
never really been back in charge at the house, and that is the
truth.
But the reintegration process was not just di!cult for Dinon.
His wife admits that it was hard for her and the kids to adjust to
having him back in the house because they were so used to the
routine they followed when he was away.
"at was hell on everybody, Mary Dinon says. He came from an
existence where when he speaks, no one else does, but the kids dont
act like that. "e kids were small enough that when he came back,
they would come to me when they needed anything and they would take
their direction from me. "at did not make him too happy, because he
was used to giving the orders
It took a good long time, almost six or seven months, to
actually start to feel like he was Dad again or be a real husband
again.
Dinon was again mobilized on April 2006 and he was on active
duty until August 2007. "e family had to undergo the same process
as before,
37JULY 2012 |
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE38
-
For military children, the world is their hometown. Heres a look
at how
constant moves have provided them with an experience that few
others will know.
BY CHRISTINA CLEVELANDPhotos by Cameron Robinson
In the early hours of most weekdays, while many of her peers are
sleeping from hours of studying, Alyssa Gray is up participating in
physical training with Army ROTC. Grays 5-foot-something frame may
seem meek, but be-hind her perfectly coi$ed hair and coordinating
clothes is a soldier. Coincidentally, the uniform of a soldier
attracted
her to military life. I wanted to be in the Army in the eighth
grade, she says. I
thought the uniforms were so cute, and this was when they were
still wearing the uniforms in green.
She joined JROTC that year, and by 12th grade was awarded an
Army ROTC scholarship to the University of South Carolina."e
21-year-old is now a senior #nishing her undergraduate
degree in international studies. After her May graduation, she
will commission as a second lieutenant in the Army. She is
leaving
39JULY 2012 |
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE40
Charleston, SCAmarillo, TX Little Rock, AK
Woodbridge, VA
Seoul, South Korea
Well-traveledAlyssa has lived in Asia and various parts of the
US, moving five times since the age of 2. Check out the Homefront
iPad app for
an interactive map and additional photos from our shoot!
South Carolina for training at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga.,
where she will be a signal corps o!cer working with communications
and satellites.
She says her parents, especially her mother, love the fact that
she knows what she will be doing after college, and she is waiting
for her sister and brother to come around.
Most people out of college dont know what theyre going to do but
I have a job; my mom loves that, she says, smiling.
Gray is not only a member of the military, but also a product of
it. She is a part of one of its best known subcultures: the
mili-tary brat. Call them brats, world citizens or pro#cient
travelers, the children of the military have had vast, and
sometimes fascinating, experiences that many kids dont have growing
up."ese experiences can be nega-
tive or positive. Either way, they are often challenging. "is is
because military brats
experiences highlight one of the biggest strains on military
families: maintaining stability.
Grays father, Carl, joined the Navy in 1968 at age 17, and
worked as engine mechanic on a ship. In the 1980s, he retired from
the Navy to later join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he
works today.
Since serving in the corps he has been deployed on several
occasions, moving the family and Gray across the States and the
world.
He was very strict and harsh, she says about her father. I
couldnt date until I was 16; I had only been to a few sleepovers.
If he didnt
know where I was, I couldnt go. It was always school, work and
home for me.
Despite his restrictions, Gray says she enjoyed her childhood,
even though she failed to realize at the time the toll the
incessant moving had on her.
As a kid, you dont know why you have to leave so often, she
says. Youre always thinking: Why are we leaving? We just got
here.
Grays family now lives in Wood-bridge, Va. the last stop on the
wide array of places she moved to throughout her childhood. She has
lived in four states and one foreign country. She was born in
Charles-ton, S.C., but at the age of 2 moved to Amarillo,
Texas.
At 7, Gray moved to Little Rock, Ark., and in seventh grade she
was o$ to Seoul, South Korea. When her parents made their last move
to Virginia in 2008 after she
had graduated from high school, she left again for Columbia,
S.C., to begin college.
Gray spent six years in Seoul, South Korea, on Yongsan base, and
graduated from high school at Seoul American High School. "e
transition to the densely populated foreign city took her aback at
#rst.
It was so huge and crowded, she says. People stared because they
had never seen a black per-son before. "ey always wanted to touch
your skin and hair.
But despite the initial culture shock for both her and the
native population, Gray says Seoul was one of the best places she
has lived.
I really loved it, she says. I hope I go back one day.
Gray also loves the military way of life, especially its
structure and
-
41JULY 2012 |
focus on respect. She credits it and her college experience for
springing her into adulthood.
Six hours away from where she is doing morning pushups and
situps lives Andrew Coleman a college senior who experienced
frequent moves as a military child, as Gray did.
His father is a retired Navy SEAL captain, who served for 26
years. Coleman now calls Virginia home, as well, and has one
sibling an older brother who is a lieu-tenant in the Navy. His
grandfather also served three years in the Army Air Corps after he
was drafted dur-ing World War II.
Andrew Coleman might follow family footsteps; hes considering
joining the military if he doesnt go to law school. But #rst, hes
#nish-ing his studies in St. Augustine, Fla., at Flagler College.
"e senior political science major
remembers his fathers multiple de-
ployments, and the ensuing change of schools and switching
friends.
You dont make any long-term connections; I dont stay around
people for too long, Coleman says about his teenage relation-ships.
You know the longest youre going to be there is two years. You
always know youre going to leave in two years you dont really get
attached.
His father, George Coleman, describes his son (Hunter to his
family) as outgoing, talkative and witty. He believes these traits,
along with his athletic abilities, allowed his son to adapt and
meet friends.
I coached many of the athletic teams that he played on in our
vari-ous locations, and we have a close family that I think is very
support-ive, George Coleman says.
Andrew Coleman, a wrestler and swimmer, moved mostly in his
adolescent years. He spent a year in Rhode Island during
elementary
school, but mostly moved back and forth from Virginia Beach to
Alexandria, Va. He lived in Tampa, Fla., for two years during
eighth and ninth grade; and then moved to Alexandria, Va.; and for
his #nal year of high school, he moved back to Virginia Beach.
Coleman attended three high schools in four years. He did play
sports and attended junior prom, but admits that he missed out on
some typical high school traditions. Coleman says by his senior
year, when he moved back to Virginia Beach, he simply put his head
down to get ready to graduate and prepare for college.
However, he acknowledges that being in college has changed his
outlook.
You put up roots, make more connections, easier connections that
is, and better relationships, he says. Its di$erent; you cant
escape every two years, but I de#nitely en-
Andrew Coleman, left, and his brother, Chase Coleman, celebrate
a North Carolina Thanksgiving in 2011 with their new puppy. Photo
courtesy of Andrew Coleman
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE42
FLEXIBLE, RESPECTABLE AND INDEPENDENT Alyssa Gray is preparing
to commission as a second lieutenant, becoming a full-fledged
member of a lifestyle she grew up in. After years of transitioning,
many military families have learned to adapt to and embrace the
challenges they face daily. Photo by Cameron Robinson
joyed college. I dont #nd anything wrong with living in the same
place for a while.
Now 22, hes grateful for the experience of being a military
brat. Coleman says hes glad he moved around, and that its not as
hard as some may think.
He says the strength of his parents, especially his mother,
Jen-nifer, helped the family manage the incessant moves.
Colemans father admits that the constant separation unfairly
stressed his wife. Over his years of service, he completed eight
deploy-ments, each about six months in duration. For each one he
had to train in advance, which in some cases could last a year,
with half of that time spent out of town.
Over the course of 26 years, I
was not home for eight whole years while the boys were growing
up, he says.
He genuinely believes his wife deserves an abundance of
acknowl-edgment for those times.
I think that all of us have be-come very independent and
%ex-ible, as well as being able to plan things out better than most
peo-ple, George Coleman says.
Flexibility, the Rev. Charles McGathy agrees, is one of many
bene#ts of being a child of the military. McGathy, the pastor at
First Baptist Church in Madison, N.C., served 22 years in the Navy,
during which time he raised #ve children.
You have to be %exible with the punches that life throws your
way and be able to make changes
quickly and successfully, McGathy says. Independence is key.
Every-thing about the military is about standing up.
McGathys children all have had varying experiences. His two
oldest children, Michael and Erin, expe-rienced the most change.
Erin was born in Japan with dual citizenship, and Michael was born
at the Naval Hospital in Twentynine Palms, Calif., near the Mojave
Desert.
We call him the desert rat, McGathy says, laughing."e two were
not able to gradu-
ate from the high schools of their choice because of their
fathers constant deployments to di$er-ent states and Europe, which
was troubling for him.
Personally, I always felt a little bad that I couldnt provide
that for
-
43JULY 2012 |
My children have seen all different types of geography, have met
all kinds of dif-ferent people. They learn about the world from a
whole different viewpoint.
Rev. Charles McGathy
them, he says about their lack of geographic stability. But at
the same time they got other bene#ts from it, and I think both Erin
and Michael are very appreciative of those.
He always knew a support sys-tem was available to him and other
military families especially since he spent much of his career as a
part of that system. McGathy worked as a chaplain for the Marines
and Navy, where his job was to provide ministry to families who
needed counseling and help with adjustment.
Its always some type of adjust-ment; change is the one thing you
always encounter in the military, McGathy says.
Its hard to imagine when you dont live in it, that every day it
only takes a single email, a single tele-phone call, a Hey can I
see you in my o!ce for a moment, for your entire life to
change.
After his #rst wife, Susan, died in 2000, he remarried a year
later, and helped raise his current wifes three children from a
previous marriage. Shortly after the marriage, Mc-Gathy and his
family moved from San Diego, Calif., to Spain for his #nal tour of
duty, with the children still in elementary school.
Later, the family settled back in the States and moved to ru-ral
North Carolina. McGathy says the three youngest children, Liam,
Kevin and Noel, still live at home and have adjusted well to North
Carolina. "e pastor believes command-
ing o!cers have a di!cult task making sure that their men and
women do their best when theyre
not happy at home. "ats where he stepped in, providing guidance
and assistance. He says that sustaining military families is no
easy task, but that it can be done.
"e families who do adjust to that and do learn those things do
fabulously well and really #nd the military to be a wonderful way
of life, he says. But for many, many families it is a really
di!cult way of life."is rings true for George Cole-
man, who thinks that although a military parent does often miss
lifes little moments, there are many posi-
tive things about it that those who havent lived it wouldnt
understand."ose moments were far too
precious for "omas Ross mother to sacri#ce. Ross, a sophomore at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a member of
Navy ROTC and lived on Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., most of
his life.
When people ask whos a mili-tary brat and I raise my hand, they
say, Well how many places have you been? and when I say none theyre
shocked, Ross says.
His father, Brian, served in the
Marine Corps for 21 years and was deployed several times, even
serving two tours in Iraq. But Ross mother wouldnt move. She was
comfort-able and did not want her four chil-dren to face the
transitions.
It does make it easier growing up in a military town than always
moving, he says.
But Ross says even though he lived in one location, it was still
hard adjusting at times. His clos-est friends are a part of
military families because it is easier for him to relate to them.
To him, military kids, understand things in a di$er-
ent way from civilians. And McGathy would agree. He
says military children have a per-spective and other
opportunities that prove to be advantageous.
It causes one to view the world in an entirely di$erent fashion
than if one lived in a rather isolated society where you only kind
of go and hang out with people just like you, he says.
My children have seen all dif-ferent types of geography, have
met all kinds of di$erent people. "ey learn about the world from a
whole di$erent viewpoint.
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE44
Returning from deployment:
Easing the stress of reintegration
and getting back into civilian lifeBY RACHEL COLEMANPhoto
courtesy of Chase Coleman
-
45JULY 2012 |
oin the Navy and see the world!
Lieutenant Chase Coleman heard this
from countless recruiters before he decided to join the Navy. "e
chances to travel the world, visit ex-otic places and live away
from home all draw thousands of Americans to join the armed forces
every year. Coleman was no di$erent.
When you join the Navy, you expect to be deployed, and thats
what I signed up for, says Cole-man, a naval o!cer who was
stationed in Spain and the Persian Gulf for eight months in
2011.
But what happens after eight months of deployment, where troops
are exposed to #ghting, death, near-constant exhaustion and an
overall new way of living?
For some, readjusting to everyday civilian life is extremely
di!cult. Aside from post-traumatic stress disorder, common side
e$ects after deployment can include anger,
LIEUTENANT CHASECOLEMAN EXPECTED TO BE DEPLOYED WHEN HE JOINED
THE NAVY THATS WHAT HE SIGNED UP FOR. BUT what HE, ALONG WITH
COUNTLESS OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS, DIDNT EXPECT WAS THE readjustment
period THAT CAME AFTER.
J
Cutalong
thedashed
line
-
| HOMEFRONT MAGAZINE46
insomnia, anxiety, physical injuries, dependence on drugs or
alcohol, and a general strain on relationships. "e Injury
Prevention journal
published a study that says U.S. Army suicides rose 80 percent
dur-ing the #ve years after troop de-ployments to Iraq and
Afghanistan, a rate that many are trying to slow.
"e recent increase in suicide rates may be viewed as the tip of
the mental health iceberg, sig-naling more prevalent underly-ing
mental health problems, the studys authors wrote.
And while many service mem-bers face these side e$ects, not all
members of the military experience the same thing.
Personally, it was easy for me to adjust back to civilian life,
says Sergeant Jonathan Motilall, an Army Infantry Team Leader from
the Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, who
served two terms in Iraq and is now deployed in Afghanistan.
After basically seeing the chaos that is Iraq, I felt sorry for
its peo-ple and realized, Wow, Im a lucky person, and so is every
American, Motilall says.
Regardless of you or your loved ones position, its important not
to ignore the changes that will occur after deployment. Pay
attention to symptoms, and if you do #nd you or someone else having
a hard time dealing with reintegration, seek help.
Make time for yourselfWhether youve been living at sea
or in another state or country, youve probably grown accustomed
to being surrounded by people at all times.
When youre deployed, youre sharing everything with 20 other guys
from the bedroom to the bathroom, nothing is truly yours, Coleman
says.
Returning service members often consider privacy a di!cult
concept to come back to. "e Real Warriors Campaign, an initiative
launched by the Defense Centers of Excel-lence for Psychological
Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), recommends setting aside
time to rest before you rush back into everyday life.
Initially, one of the hardest things to get used to was
solitude, Coleman says. On a Naval de-stroyer, you are almost never
truly alone, so it was a little eerie to spend a few nights by
myself in my own room.
Specialists at the National Mili-tary Family Association
recommend looking into ways to manage your personal stress, whether
through diet or exercise, as well as remembering to take care of
yourself both physi-cally and emotionally.
After I got back and had more free time, one of the hardest
things for me was to keep running and exercising every day,
Motilall says. It takes e$ort, but keeping this
kind of stamina will help both your mind and body stay in
shape.
Also, keep in mind that when a service member is returning from
deployment, its not uncommon that the entire family will want to
come visit and tell their military family member how much theyve
missed him or her. But no one who has spent the last year in war is
going to want to play host to many family members, so take it slow.
Start by reconnecting with your spouse or parents, then move on to
friends and extended family.
Maintain relationships with your loved ones
When you return home and are faced with your family, spouse and
friends for the #rst time in months, its hard to know how to act.
Mili-tary members say that communi-cation is key after returning
from deployment.
"e best advice ever given to me is to talk about your
experiences with someone, Motilall says. A family member or friend
who is there to support you will know the true you better than
most, so its helpful to let them understand any of the problems
youre having.
If youre married, tell your spouse how you feel, and listen to
him or her in return, advises the National Military Family
Association. Youve probably both grown more indepen-dent while away
from one another,
-
47JULY 2012 |
Common side effects after deployment can include:- Anger-
Insomnia- Anxiety- Dependence on drugs and alcohol- General strain
on relationships
Returning service members may oftenconsider privacy a
GLIFXOWFRQFHSWWRreadjust to, says the Defense Centers of Excellence
for Psycho-logical Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
According to theU.S. Department ofVeterans Affairs, one military
veteran will die by suicide every 80 minutes
In one study, theInjury Prevention journal sai