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Use the MWR and MCCS as Resources for Holiday Fun Complete with Social Distancing

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While it seems that the Grinch has taken over holiday celebrations this year, canceling the holidays all together cannot happen. Across the U.S. outdoor celebrations are continuing.

At Army Base Fort Hood, the holiday tradition of Nature in Lights at the BLORA Ranch, a five and a half mile holiday lights attraction will continue from November 13, 2020 – January 3, 2021.

Cost:

  • Car, Mini-van, and Truck: $20
  • Limos, 15-Passenger Vans and RVs: $35
  • 24-Passenger Van: $55
  • 47-Passenger Van or Bus:  $80

Navy Base Little Creek’s MWR Fitness is continuing their Reinder Run 5k complete with wearing holiday attire! Registration can be completed by December 4th. The run is completed outdoors and masks must be worn if cannot maintain 6 feet of social distance.

Navy MWR is hosting two virtual events in December. The Virtual Scavenger Hunt and Virtual Murder Mystery will be completed on Zoom. Because they are virtual, the event is open to all authorized Navy MWR Patrons after 18 and older or at least 17 years old and on active duty at any base.

Portsmouth MWR is hosting a virtual Gingerbread House contest. All the supplies to build the gingerbread house are available at the River’s Edge Recreation are available for pickup, or create with supplies at home. All pictures of the creation are submitted to their Facebook messenger. Planning ahead to New Years’, they are also planning a Happy Noon’s Year Eve. Who wants to stay up late when you can celebrate early and have an early bedtime! Yes!

MCCS Camp Pendleton is creating a drive-through Winter Fest Express. The drive through includes a free Tree from Trees for Troops, a holiday treat, children’s gifts, and a holiday box. Two additional events of Santa Cruise where you can do a “drive-by” visit with Santa and Mrs. Clause.

Navy MWR Bahrain has a host of activities to celebrate the holidays while maintaining social distance. A drive-in holiday movie, drive-through Winter Wonderland, a Command Tree Decorating Contest, and online-hosted holiday bingo series. These creative activities allow for families or quarun-teams to celebrate in their own cars or homes while still promoting community holiday spirit which can be challenging when stationed far away from loved ones.

S’mores Holiday Fun at MCCS Lejeune has plans for a scavenger hunt and s’mores over a firepit for each family allowing for appropriate social distance while enjoying the outdoors and an outdoor visit with Santa, holiday cheer, and ooey-gooey s’mores.

In true New Orleans fashion, the holiday in December is the time to plan (via Zoom meetings and online groups) the continuation of the Mardi Gras season. In lieu of parades, this year families are asked to decorate their house as a float – yup House Floats! And in lieu of throwing beads, face masks are being thrown – from a distance or down a shoot to follow social distancing rules. Can’t keep that NOLA spirit down!

Christmas Tree lightings around the world are being hosted by MCCS and MWR and streamed on social media so everyone can enjoy them from a safe distance. Check out your bases’ social media pages to what they are doing. Even if you don’t watch it “Live,” the beauty of streaming is that you can watch it whenever is convenient for you or your family.

Whatever, wherever, and however you celebrate the season, have a healthy and safe holiday season!

What is your base doing to support the holidays this season? Let us know so we can share it!

9 Organizations that Support Military Families During the Holidays

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The holiday time can be a difficult time for military families. It can be a time spent apart from families due to deployment. Even when the military service member is stateside, it doesn’t mean families can travel back home as it can be expensive, and use precious leave. In 2020, traveling is not recommended due to the requirement of quarantine prior to travel and returning home. Creating that sense of holiday in any year can be emotionally taxing, and in 2020 it is even more so. There are many organizations that plan throughout the year to support military families, and this year is no different. If your family or someone you know would love a tree, food, or holiday spirit, check out these organizations.

Trees for Troops

Trees for Troops has been operating for over 15 years delivering live Christmas trees to military bases across the United States for military families to pick up for FREE. All the trees are donated by farms, nurseries, or individuals across America who want to demonstrate their support of military families with this gift of appreciation. The organization is planning delivery to 79 bases from November 30th to December 11th. Check to see if your base is on the list here.

Operation Homefront Holiday Meals

The tradition of a holiday meal in November and December is a common practice across America. For some military families, the expense of such a large meal is not something that can be accommodated in the budget. And quite honestly, if a military family is going through a deployment during the holidays it is emotionally taxing as well. Through partnerships with local businesses, Operation Homefront has been able to provide Holiday Meals for military families. Meal pick-up times and locations are pre-arranged and registration is required. Eligibility is extended for E1-E6 active duty military families and post 9-11 wounded, ill, or injured service members of any rank even if no longer serving on active duty. Registration is open by searching for the location nearest you here.

Operation Holiday Joy – ASYMCA

The Armed Services YMCA organization is committed to supporting active-duty military families throughout the year, and the holiday season is no different. Operation Holiday Joy provides food baskets to military families and toys to military children every year. Look up your local branch for registration details and pick up times.

If you want to donate to the program, they are always accepting donations here.

Operation Christmas Spirit

A part of the Operation Help a Hero program in California, Operation Christmas Spirit adopts military families to provide them gifts for Christmas. The entire family is adopted and through donations provided toys, gas and grocery gift cards, and much more. The goal of the organization is to provide support to any active duty military family who is concerned about providing Christmas presents to their children.

If you are an active duty or Gold Star family in need of assistance or know someone who is, click this link here. While some locations are full, many locations are not. To be an eligible active-duty family, families must be E5 or below, any rank with 4+ children, any rank with a justification of a need, or families with a legitimate need for assistance. Gold Star families with children age 17 and under, Gold Star spouses, or guardians of Gold Star children are eligible to apply.

Full Circle Home

Full Circle Home is an organization that helps deployed troops send reminders of their love home to their loved ones. Since the organization’s start in 2007, Full Circle Home has helped over 21,000 troops send holiday wishes to their family members at home. Being the military family member at home during the holidays is emotionally and mentally challenging, and this year it is even more so. If you are a deployed service member and want to send a gift home, sign up here to complete the registration form. Currently, gifts sent are for adult women only – so military members can send gifts to their mother, adult female family member, or spouse. The gifts are chosen for the service member and the service member writes a love note on the registration form.

If you know someone who wants to donate to help with this mission, check out the donate page here.

Soldiers Angels Adopt a Family

Soldiers Angels’ Adopt a Family program is open for families of deployed service members, post 9-11 wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans and their families or veteran families enrolled in the HUD/VASH program. The deployed service member must be E1-E6 rank, not be scheduled to return from deployment prior to December 25th, and must demonstrate financial need. Further details on eligibility read here. To register to be adopted, click here. If adopted, the team will ask for details of what is on the children’s wish list to provide gifts for the children and the grocery store for a grocery gift card.

If you know someone who wants to donate to help support the Adopt A Family program, the volunteer time link is here.

Wreaths Across America

Saturday, December 19th is National Wreaths Across America this year. Meaning, you can sign up to volunteer at any of the 2100 cemeteries for wreath-laying across the United States and abroad. This amazing effort to let no fallen service member be forgotten cannot be completed without donated time, funds, and sponsored wreaths. You can sponsor a hand-crafted all-American balsam wreath to be laid at this event in honor of a family member or friend. In addition to sponsorship, wreaths can be purchased as gifts with service-specific flags on them. For every wreath purchased, a wreath is sponsored. The non-profit runs with a small staff, and thousands of volunteers every year. The volunteer number often grows to the millions on the wreath-laying day. While initially the wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery was canceled, there is still a plan for the wreath-laying to occur on the 19th in person with a small group and will be streamed virtually.

Toys for Tots

The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program provides new, unwrapped toys to children in need. The deadline to request a toy varies per the location so make sure to click the link to learn more about the Toys for Tots Campaign nearest you.

Donations of toys can be completed in person at drop off locations or online with their virtual drop box.

Meals and Programming from the USO

Since 1941, the USO has been supporting service members as they prepare for deployment and while serving overseas. The organization continues support overseas by bringing holiday meals to those deployed or living overseas, and they also provide Turkeys for Troops or holidays meals at each of their 250+ locations worldwide. Check your local USO to see what programs they are providing this holiday season.

The holiday season can be a difficult period in a normal year for those military family members deployed or far from family. It can be an expensive time of year that challenges the family finances and these organizations desire to demonstrate support and care to military families during this time of year. Share with anyone you know who would be interested in learning or sharing these programs!

The 8 Cookie Recipes You Should Try This Season

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While the 2020 Holiday calendar won’t be full of holiday parties, it doesn’t mean you can’t try some new holiday treats at home. We dug through the Military Shoppers Recipe Archive for some unique and fun recipes to try with test in your kitchen.

Peanut Butter Lover Cookies – Mix the three ingredients of peanut butter, sugar and an egg for this fun drop cookies you can make when you want a quick sweet treat or want to do something with your kids with minimal dishes.

Gingerbread – A classic holiday cookie filled with the holiday spices of cinnamon, allspice, clove and ginger. This recipe is perfect for cookie making and building houses for those cookies to “live in” until they are eaten of course. The gingerbread dough also makes for excellent ornament making

Eggnog Kringla – Another cookie filled with the season’s flavors using 4 cups of egg nog and nutmeg to this chilled dough. Shape the cookies into fun holiday shapes or a pretzel-like shape. The light Scandanvian cookie is a lovely holiday cookie that is perfect cookie for a holiday

Lebkuchen –  Lebkuchen is a cake cookie that is often enjoyed as part of the German holiday celebrations. This spiced cookie from the European continent is filled with ginger, cinnamon, allspice, anise, mace, cloves and cardamom. The spices will coat your kitchen with the holiday aroma before your first bite.

Crushed Candy Cane Cookies – Peppermint. The smell and taste brings the warmth and sweet flavors of the holiday. The two sugars of white sugar and brown sugar make a sweet dough that is perfect to roll in the crushed peppermints and then baked.

Ugly Cookies – While the name may remark on the look of these cookies, the taste is amazing. They are filled with the good stuff – semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch, heath bits and almond slivers.

Cinnamon Stars – These cookies are made from egg white, ground almonds, confectioners sugar and cinnamon are gorgeous to look at. They do take time with an overnight drying before baking them, so plan accordingly. These make for beautiful gifts and holiday treats.

Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cookies – Peppermint and chocolate are two holiday flavors that belong together. Crumble peppermint onto these warm chocolate brownie cookies and the peppermint pieces melt ever so slightly for an amazing chocolatey holiday treat.

Bon appetit!

Changes made to the Army Physical Fitness Test

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Two changes to the Army’s physical fitness requirements will remain in place for the 2021 fiscal year. Recruits and Soldiers graduating from initial entrance training courses will no longer be required to pass a fitness test to graduate outside of the general physical testing of the course. In addition, failing scores of the new accepted fitness test of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) replacing the Physical Fitness Test will not be counted against soldiers.

New recruits or Soldiers graduating from Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, One Station Unit Training, Warrant Office Basic Course and the Basic Officer leader course will no longer be required to pass a fitness test to graduate. This temporary suspension begins with the new fiscal year of October 1, 2020 and will remain in place until September 30, 2021, the end of the fiscal year. This temporary suspension will align the trainees to the fitness test policy of the rest of the Army.

In 2019, the Army began requiring trainees to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to graduate from the training courses, allowing a passing grade even if failing one of the events. Beginning October 1, 2020, the ACFT became the gold standard, the only accepted fitness test replacing the Army Physical Fitness Test. The fitness test was made of six events: 3 repetition maximum deadlift (MDL), standing power throw (SPT), hand release push-up – arm extension (HRP), spring-drag-carry (SDC), leg tuck (LTK) and 2-mild run (2MR). The tests were designed to test flexibility, agility, endurance and strength. However, given the decreased availability for training and testing during the pandemic, failing score will not be counted in the 2021 fiscal year.

The new ACFT testing required new equipment and gear to be distributed to all initial military training locations and duty stations. Coupled with the pandemic restrictions in place for several months in 2020, there was decreased time and ability to train for the ACFT. With the equipment now in place in most locations, Soldiers will begin training and using the equipment to take the ACFT. Training resources for preparing for the ACFT are available here.

Talk (Safe) Turkey to Me – A Note about Holiday Food Safety

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While this year’s holiday gatherings may be smaller this year, the desire to avoid the hospital or doctor’s is perhaps stronger. Avoid food-induced illness by making sure to follow these criteria to prevent food poisoning.

Cook Food Thoroughly

Cooking large birds or meat is not something that we do often. Make sure to follow the directions on the package to defrost and cook to the appropriate temperature per the packaging.  Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the food, making sure to stay within the meat and not hitting a bone as that can lead to an inaccurate reading of the temperature.

Thaw Food Appropriately

Read the instructions on the turkey, if you are having one. Thawing must be done slowly in an ice bath, in the fridge or a cooler. Make sure to follow the thawing directions on the label of the items and refer to Food Safety Charts. When thawing in an ice bath, make sure to change the water when the ice is defrosted or every 30 minutes. And for the love, do not thaw your Turkey directly on your counter.

Keep Cold Things Cold

Anything that was made to stay cold like pies, egg-nog, dairy-based dishes and the like should remain cold upon serving. An increase in temperature to above 40 degrees Farenheiht is an increased risk for bacteria to grow leading to food-borne illness. Refrigerate or freeze any cold items and do not leave them out beyond 2 hours.

Keep Hot Things Hot

When you prepare hot foods like stuffing, potatoes, casseroles and meat dishes, they need to remain hot to avoid bacteria from growing. Bacteria growing in the food can lead to food-borne illness. Put away and refrigerate leftover food after 2 hours of being out.

Wash Your Hands

As if we need any other reminders to wash our hands in 2020, but you do. Before and after touching meat, vegetables or fruit, make sure to wash your hands. Especially when moving from raw meat to something else.

Wash knives and cutting boards

When cutting or preparing raw meat, vegetables and fruit, make sure to watch the knives, preparation tools and cutting boards in between each item. This prevents cross-contamination from raw chicken or beef between to fruits and vegetables.

Read the directions

This one is for all the people who like to wing it. Make sure to read the directions. Even fully prepped, meals ready-to-eat (not the brown envelope ones), have directions on reheating. While they can cook from frozen, make sure to cook to the correct internal temperature before fully digging in.

2020 has been a difficult year and it can feel difficult to find what we are grateful for. Keeping the tradition of a holiday meal, and time with no virtual school is worth a little celebration – especially keeping it safely.  Happy and healthy eating to all!

Yoga Pants Authorized Attire at Commissary and Military Exchanges

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On November 2, 2020, then Defense Secretary Mark Esper released a memorandum allowing physical fitness attire in the Commissary and Military Exchange facilities. Historically, any physical fitness attire – including yoga pants – has been a no-go at the Commissary. In fact, it is common for some females to keep skirts in the car to throw over the leggings before running into the Commissary to pick up milk or eggs. But now, no additional skirt needed – athleisure is now authorized.

Per the memo, both service-issued PT uniforms and their civilian equivalents can now be worn inside the commissary and exchanges as long as the clothes are “clean, serviceable and in good condition and appropriately modest.” It further delineated that the Secretaries of the individual Military Departments are “authorized to make exceptions to this policy for Service members based on mission requirements and the need to maintain good order and discipline.”

Bases across the world do have varying clothing policies. Commissaries and Exchanges in the beach-destination of Camp Pendleton and tropical Okinawa allow flip-flops while they are seen on showering gear at other bases. The accepted dress code overall is individualized at each base. The November 2, 2020 memo is meant to cover all bases while allowing continued individualization within the service branches as needed for service members. Any specifics for service members will not apply to military dependents, which includes military spouses and children.

While the military collective is not looking to join the ranks of big-box “People of” groups, you are now allowed to go from the gym to the commissary. And yes, it was already happening, but now it is authorized.

Freebies and Discounts for Military in Honor of 2020 Veteran’s Day

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In previous years, businesses across the United States have cultivated opportunities and discounts in honor of those who honorably served. 2020 has been a strange year, but many retailers are offering discounts to military and veteran families on Veterans’ Day, throughout the month or even the year!

Some of the discounts require eating-in to get the deal. Use common sense and situational awareness to determine if you should eat-in at a restaurant. Some locations have outside eating set up. Some locations have expanded their offers for a to-go orders and we applaud them.

If you have found a Veteran’s Day deal or discount, let us know!

Eateries

54th Street Grill: Active Duty and veterans get a free meal up to $12 on November 11th. Dine-in only.

7-11 : Active duty, retirees, veterans, Reserve, National Guard and their dependents can get a free coffee or Big Gulp in 7-11 stores or through the 7-11 app

Applebee’s : Veterans and Active Duty can choose a free meal from their Veteran’s Day Menu on November 11th. Dine-in only.

BJs Restaurants: All current active duty and veteran military get a free meal up to $14.95 and a free Dr. Pepper beverage on November 11th. Dine-in only.

Blank Angus Steakhouse: Order in or place a takeaway order, active duty and veterans get an All-American Steak plate with 8 oz Angus Beef, mashed potatoes, broccoli with garlic butter with a non-alcoholic beverage for $10.99.

Bob Evans: Active Duty and veterans get a free meal from their special menu on November 11th, dine-in only and beverage not included.

Buffalo Wild Wings: On November 11th, veterans and active duty military receive a complimentary order of 10 boneless wings and fries.

Chili’s: Active Duty and Veterans can enjoy a meal on their special menu on November 11th. Dine-In Only.

Cracker Barrel: Veterans and Active-duty military receive complimentary slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola cake when dining in on November 11th.

Friendly’s: Complimentary All-American meal on offer for lunch or dinner to active-duty and veterans on November 11th. Dine-In Only.

Golden Corral : Offering free dinner to active duty military, veterans, retirees, National Guard and Reserves, and due to capacity limitations the promotional card for a free “Thank You” meal can be picked up during the month of November. The card can be redeemed from November 1 2020 to May 31, 2021.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Veterans, Gold Star Parents and Gold Star Spouses are offered ½ price entrees on November 8th.

Mission BBQ: Veterans and active duty members get a free sandwich on November 11th.

Red Robin: Join the Red Robin Royalty program and active duty and veterans can enjoy a Tavern Burger and Steak Fries anytime between November 12 and November 30th for either dine-in or to-go.

Starbucks: Free tall coffee to active duty military, veterans, and military spouses on November 11th.

Yard House : Active Duty military and veterans receive a complimentary appetizer on November 11th, dine-in only

Entertainment

Colonial Williamsburg: Active-duty, Reservists, National Guard, Retirees and Veterans receive complimentary admission once annually for themselves and up to three direct dependents on Veteran’s Day Weekend, proof of service required

Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Tampa: Active-Duty military, Reservists and National Guard are offered complimentary one day admission for the service member and up to three direct dependents. Veterans can receive up to six discounted tickets. Verification of service is done online through ID.me.

Sea World San Diego: Active-Duty military, Reservists, National Guard and Veterans are offered complimentary one day admission for the service member and up to three direct dependents.

Sea World Orlando: Complimentary one-day admission is offered to Active-Duty military, Reservists, and National Guard and up to three dependents.

Mount Vernon: Complimentary admission to Mount Vernon for all active duty, former or retired military personnel on November 11th.

Apparel & Retail

Columbia: Columbia employee stores in Oregon, California and Kentucky are open to active, retired, reserves, veterans and dependents. Military personnel and their families also recived 20% discount on November 11th at all Columbia and outlet stores.

Great Clips: Free haircut for military personnel on November 11th or receive a free haircut card to use at a later date.

Office Depot:  25% discount is offered for veterans and active duty military and their dependents for qualifying regular and sale-priced purchases on November 11th – November 13th.

Target: Active Duty, Veterans and their families can register on Target Circle to get a 10% coupon off an entire cart. There are restrictions so read the fine print. Coupon can only be used once from November 1 -11.

Chains that offer discounts year-round:

Apple offers 10% off their products year-round to veterans and active duty military using their online verification. Check your local military exchange too, because it may be cheaper to buy on base without tax than with the discount.

AT&T offers military and veteran families a 25% discount off their wireless plan.

Big Lots has announced they will offer a year-round 10% discount for active duty and veterans who are part of their Big Rewards program.

Colonial Williamsburg: Active-duty, Reservists, National Guard, Retirees and Veterans can purchase an annual pass for themselves and up to three dependents for 25% off.

Dell offers an additional 10% off personal computers and electronics on their website by emailing militarydiscount@dell.com.

Hometown Buffet and Old Country Buffet offer a 15% discount to all military personnel in uniform or with a valid ID. They also offer Military Monday with a special discount for active duty, reserve and veterans plus up to 3 family members for dine-in orders.

Home Depot offers a 10% discount in the store all year long.

L.L.Bean offers 10% off for active duty, veteran and reservist personnel of the U.S.  Armed Forces. Verification of service is completed on their website.

Lowe’s offers a 10% discount in store. You can link your military service to your Lowe’s card.

LuLulemon offers 25% discount off in-store purchases to military members and military spouses.

Microsoft offers up to 10% off select products to active, former and retired military personnel and their families.

Outback Steakhouse offers a Heroes discount of 10% off for veterans and active duty off their dining check.

Pottery Barn offers 15% discount to military and veterans and their families for in-store purchases. Check your local store to see if this offer can be utilized for curb side pick up as well.

T-Mobile offers hefty discounts on their wireless plans to active duty and veteran families.

Verizon also offers a discount on wireless plans which is dependent on plan type and number of lines.

Before you head to enjoy these discounts, make sure you have your CAC card, DD214 or other proof of service as required and check the location of the place you will visit to determine if they are participating.

Food Security Part of FY 2021 House Defense Bill

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Food Security is not achievable for all in the military and the House passed a draft of the defense bill that provides a provision for an extra allowance for some military members to pay for basic needs. For many young families, groceries are bought with each paycheck and stretched over the following two weeks. If the number of food banks established just for military members is any indication, the bi-monthly pay sometimes isn’t enough. Military spouse employment, and the lack thereof, is a great part of the funds of a family and oftentimes military families are solely relying on the active duty service members pay.

Section 602 of the House’s current National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) has a provision for an extra monthly allowance of pay for some service members, on top of a proposed 3% pay raise for all troops. The monthly allowance would be intended for basic need coverage like food, tolietries, clothing and diapers. The annual allowance would be equal to 130% of the Federal poverty guidelines of the Department of Health and Human Services minus the service member’s gross income and divided by twelve for a monthly allowance. Currently, 130% of the poverty leve is $28,200 for a family of 3. Eligibility for the allowance will be conducted by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), with the hopes for each qualifying member to be notified by December 31 of each year. Each eligible service member will be able to opt-out of the extra pay stipend annually if they desire.

According to research, this type of provision was written into the 2019 House proposal of the National Defense Authorization Act as well but was not included in the final version of the bill. The White House

According to Blue Star Family’s 2018 Military Family Lifestyle survey, 12% of veteran families and 7% of military families reported food insecurity in the previous year with 18% of veteran families and 9% of military families reporting use of an emergency food pantry or charity. The additional allowance will assist in bridging the gap in food security.

The Senate has passed their own version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S.R. 4049), and it is yet to be determined what will be in the final, accepted version of the bill will come out of the conference committee. This will be determined after the November 3rd election. You can follow the bill’s movement and amendments on Congress.gov.

8 Ways to Celebrate the Military Birthday Ball in 2020

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2020 certainly feels like a remix, on repeat, of polka and ska. The ball season is being mixed up as well. Large gatherings are not recommended and military balls are cancelled. Military families are used to going with the ebb and flow and are making plans to celebrate in different ways.

  1. Dress down to dress up. Without the etiquette of a long ball gown for a ball, dressing up for this years’ military ball can be as casual as families want.
  2. Watching the service specific message. This summer, Army Senior Leaders released their birthday message. In August, the Coast Guard released their birthday message.  In September, the Air Force recognized the resiliency of the force in their birthday message. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday, released a birthday message in October. The Marine Corps will release the Commandant’s message in November.
  3. Donating to their favorite organization. Families are adding up the cost of ball tickets, ball dresses, baby-sitting, up-dos, military uniform updates and donating that sum as a way to celebrate the military birthday.
  4. Support local. A night off without cooking is part of the fun of the military ball. This year families are choosing to purchase a meal from a local restaurant as a way to support local and celebrate the night without cooking.
  5. No dry cake! Along the same lines as supporting local restaurants, some are choosing a local bakery to buy a dessert to celebrate the ball. No dry sheet cake here!
  6. Dance Party. Breaking out the dancing shoes is an annual tradition for military balls. A dance party at home, with everyone in the family, will keep the tradition alive with a smaller gathering.
  7. Outdoor Gathering. Small groups are gathering outside tailgate style, keeping distance between family groups as a way to be together, but remain socially distant.
  8. Thank a veteran. Making it a family activity and write to veterans at your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Just like invitations of veterans to military balls, military families are extending their thanks locally.

Ball seasons’ selfies may look different this year, but your military service birthday is worth celebrating. Here is to another year of unknowns and ebb and flow.

The Service Members Civil Relief Act is Amended to Include Stop Movement Order

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The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) enacted in 2003 expanded on the 1940 Soldiers’ and Sailor’s Civil Relief Act. At its core, the law was written to alleviate financial stress on active duty military, with some benefits extending the military dependents. The SCRA may be most well-known by military families as providing protection with terminating a residential lease for a permanent change of station (PCS) or deployment. When a military member receives PCS orders, they can tell their landlord and break their lease without financial penalty. If their next rent is due on October 1st, and the military member tells their landlord and provides military orders on September 20th, then they pay for September and October’s rent but do not pay a penalty for breaking a lease early.

The SCRA has undergone multiple amendments since its original writing. In May of 2020, an amendment was introduced allowing for the extensions of the “lease protections for servicemembers under stop movement orders in response to a local, national, or global emergency, and for other purposes” (Congress.gov). When the pandemic hit the United States in the spring of 2020, many families across the world were gearing up for a PCS. That came to a stop. Several families had already handed in their notice to terminate their lease, and were left negotiating with landlords who may or may not have been understanding of the situation. Some families had two leases signed, one in the location they lived in, and one in the location they would be moving to as they anticipated the move. The Senate passed the amendment on 8/14/2020.

This amendment to SCRA is retroactive, meaning families can request reimbursement for rental payments that were paid during the stop movement order when they or their family was not living in the home.

The final adopted language of the amendment further states that the bill applies to service members who execute a lease upon receipt of PCS orders “for a period of no less than 90 days and thereafter receives a stop movement order issued by the Secretary of Defense in response to a local, national, or global emergency, effective for an indefinite period or for a period of not less than 30 days, which prevents the servicemember or the service member’s dependents from occupying the lease for a residential, professional, business, agricultural, or similar purpose.” Layman’s terms – if the servicemember already signed a lease but cannot reside in it due to the stop order for at least 30 days, the service member can terminate the lease with a copy of the military orders and providing that termination lease to the landlord.

To Terminate a Lease Due to Stop Move Order:

  • A written notice of termination and a copy of the military orders must be provided to the landlord
  • The delivery of the notice must be done in one of three ways:
    • Hand delivery
    • By Private Business Carrier
    • Mailing the written notice in an envelope with appropriate postage with return receipt requested and addressed to the landlord or the landlord’s agent

The termination of the lease is effective on the date that all of the above is completed. READ: No 30-day notice needed if the stop movement order was the reason for the move, or lack of move.

If you or a military family you know was affected by the stop-move order, make sure they know about the new changes to SCRA.