Right about now, you should be making your list of back-to-school supplies and getting ready for the kids to head back into the classroom. Except this is 2020 and nothing is certain, even K-12 school. No matter what the next 10 months hold, you can still do a little prep for an uncertain school year.

How to Prep for an Uncertain School Year

The first thing is to make peace with the uncertainty of education for our kids. Just like the last six or so months, normal is no longer a thing. We’re all navigating this new world together.

Right now, the best thing we can do is maintain flexibility. Luckily, being able to pivot on a dime is something the military community is good at!

Consider Your Options

While many states and districts are looking to reopen in some capacity, not all schools will be returning to traditional 5-day a week instruction.

What is more likely is for schools to offer one or more options to families. Those options may likely include:

• 100% remote learning
• Hybrid learning with some in-person learning and some online learning
• Traditional instruction

Each option your school or district may offer needs to be carefully weighed and considered.

In making your decision, you should consider:

• Your child’s learning style since online learning doesn’t work well for all children
• Additional learning needs, like IEPs, 504 Plans and Gifted Education
• Your work schedule and job requirements
• Child care options outside of K-12 school

Know Where We Stand on COVID-19 & Schooling

As of publication, COVID-19 cases are spiking in many states in the US. When other nations reopened their public schools, cases were in a steady decline or had been nearing zero.

Much like this spring, the ultimate decision about school reopening in any capacity may ultimately out of your hands. If your school opens in August or September, future surges of COVID-19 could force the building to close again. Already, schools in LA and San Diego will be shuttered in September amid a sharp rise in cases.

Should similar circumstances occur in other areas of the US, it would not be surprising if schools were closed again in the 2020-2021 school year.

Understand & Teach Safety for School

Part of safely returning to school in the fall means taking additional measures for your child’s personal safety, as well as supporting teachers’ efforts to stay healthy.

Before entering the classroom your child should understand:

• Importance of wearing a mask 100% of the time
• Social distancing as often as possible in school
• Proper hand washing routines
• Need to frequent hand sanitization
• Rationale behind not sharing anything with anyone

Right now, there isn’t a lot of data about COVID-19’s spread among children. However, schools and classrooms are closed environments where students will be in close quarters. Maintaining recommendations about masks and keeping physically distant from others is important to keeping everyone healthy.

To support teachers, parents should:

• Keep your child home at the first sign of illness
• Help teachers keep the classroom sanitized with cleaning products and hand sanitizer
• Be vocal with school leaders to support teachers’ well-being and continued health

Remain Ready to Pivot to At-Home Learning

No matter what you personally do to keep your own family safe, you do not have control over other families. A spike in cases has the potential to close physical school building and return to distance learning.

In order to make this pivot, it’s important that all families prep early – just in case.

Right now, parents should:

• Consider back-up child care options for hybrid learning and possible school closures
• Talk with their employer about work-from-home options
• Think about other options for K-12 education, if possible

At home, consider setting up an at-home learning center for your child if you don’t already have a similar space. You could include a desk, pens/pencils, art supplies, folders and notebooks as well as a place to charge computers or tablets.

If you do not believe that the current online learning program provided by your child’s school is a good fit, now is a great time to explore other options.

• Private tutoring
• Homeschool co-op
• Private online school
• Individual homeschool
• Private in-person school

The most important way to prepare right now, though, is to remain flexible and consider all of your options. We have no way to predict the future of both the pandemic and the state of K-12 education in the US. The situation remains fluid and is evolving daily.

Parents of school-aged children should be prepared to pivot to distance learning or to jump to alternate child care and schooling options as needed.

What is your family planning to do for K-12 education this fall? What factors are you considering? Sound off in the comments.

If you or your loved one suffers from PTSD, the COVID-19 pandemic can have an effect on their symptoms. The ways we keep safe during this pandemic by sheltering in place, staying away from loved ones and wearing masks can increase anxiety. According to the National Center for PTSD, here are some ways the pandemic can affect those suffering from PTSD:

• Health and Safety – Many people have concerns about their health and safety during a pandemic but for those with PTSD it can be more intense or more frequent. They may find themselves more anxious even in places they felt safe in the past. There may be more worry about catching the illness. Open public places can be a trigger and those suffering may be more “keyed up” than normal about things other than COVID-19.
• Trauma Triggers – All the talk of COVID – 19 and the constant discussion of it on the news night after night like it is a battle or war can be triggering. If the trauma involved difficulty breathing, wearing a mask can induce panic or other symptoms.
•  Avoiding Things That Are Safe – There are plenty of things we can’t do now because of the pandemic but you or your loved one may find themselves avoiding shopping or exercising outside which are considered safe or isolating more than necessary by not communicating over video or telephone.
•  Negative Thoughts and Feelings May Increase – Some examples are feeling you have no control over anything due to COVID-19. Activities you normally do to control your symptoms may not be available to you causing irritability. Spending more time with loved ones than usual can cause a short fuse. Feelings of guilt and shame can arise over not being able to do something for yourself.
• Sleep and Concentration – You may find falling asleep or concentrating more difficult due to the pandemic. An increase in PTSD symptoms can effect the quality of your sleep.

Visit the Veterans Administration’s The National Center for PTSD for more information and resources available during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

There has not been enough research on whether dogs help treat PTSD but owning a dog helps you feel less stress, lifts your mood, and helps you feel better by providing companionship. All owners including those with PTSD can receive these benefits. Some treatments for PTSD include the use of service dogs or emotional support dogs but these are not substitutes for effective PTSD treatment. According to The National Center for PTSD, here are some other benefits:

• Help bring out feelings of love.
• Are good companions.
• Take orders well when trained. This can be very comfortable for a Servicemember or Veteran who was used to giving orders in the military.
• Are fun and can help reduce stress.
• Are a good reason to get out of the house, spend time outdoors, and meet new people.

The VA does not provide service dogs but it does provide veterinary care for service dogs (not emotional support animals or pets) that are medically necessary for Veterans with permanent physical conditions. The VA has an ongoing research study on dogs and PTSD which will take several years. If the research determines that use of service dogs is beneficial for PTSD then the VA will provide veterinary care for these dogs.

For those interested in adopting a dog to help combat feelings of isolation during this pandemic here are some resources:

Pets for Patriots –  This organizational helps Veterans adopt a dog or cat from local shelters as a pet and they are not service animals. You must have a DD-214 to determine eligibility. If you are accepted into their program there are lots of benefits that can help reduce the costs of pet care. They will help you find, adopt and afford a pet. From their website, benefits include:

• ADOPTION SPECIAL – Our shelter partners provide at least one additional benefit to you upon adoption, such as pet training, ‘day one’ essentials or adoption fee discounts.
• DISCOUNTED PET CARE – Every one of our veterinary partners offers a minimum ongoing 10% fee discount for the care of pets adopted through our program.
• MEMBERS-ONLY DISCOUNTS – We curate exclusive discounts from high-quality pet e-tailers to help veterans in our program save money on pet health insurance, treats, pet food, medication and supplies from trusted brands.
• ‘WELCOME HOME’ GIFT CARD – We give a one-time $150 pet retailer e-gift to help with the purchase of pet food, supplies, and essentials, and which can be used online or in-store. Arrangements available for veterans without internet access.
• PRE-ADOPTION COUNSELING – Have questions about pet adoption, our program, or just need a ‘helping paw’ at the shelter? Our team is available to make your pet adoption process as smooth as possible.
• POST-ADOPTION FOLLOW UP – We’ve got your six! While our official follow up occurs over a one-year period, we’re always here if you have questions, need information or other pet-related assistance.
• VIP PETCARE PARTNERSHIP – Veterans who adopt an eligible dog or cat through Pets for Patriots now have access to additional savings on affordable, routine, preventative veterinary care through our partnership with VIP Petcare.

Pets for Vets – Veterans must go to their website to apply. This program provides a four step process called ‘Super Bond’. It helps a Veteran find the perfect pet for their situation in four steps:

• Step 1 Getting to Know the Veteran – They spend time with the Veteran to learn about what will be the best pet fit for them based on lifestyle, personality, and needs. This helps them pick the perfect Pet for the Veteran.
• Step 2 Getting to Know the Veteran – The next step involves getting to know the animal so they can find the best fit for the Veteran.
• Step 3 Training – Founder Clarissa Black designed a training program using positive reinforcement training philosophy. This helps the Veteran and the dog build trust and respect while not using force.
• Step 4 The Match – This is the day that brings the Veteran and their new pet together.

American Humane – First to Serve – This is an organization devoted to the safety and welfare of animals and it has a variety of military initiatives. One is theirPups4Patriots which rescues unwanted dogs and trains them to be service dogs for veterans with PTSD and TBI. They also do grants to help Veterans pay for and care for a service dog and help navigate the applications process for a PTS service dog. Currently there are no national standards for PTS service dogs which leads to many obstacles for Veterans. American Humane is leading an effort to create national training standards and advocate for the rights of Veterans and their dogs.

A pet can be a great way to help those suffering from isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’d like to help any of these organizations accept volunteers or donations to help with their missions.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

On March 26, 2020, the Senate passed the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019. This was a different version of the bill which the House passed on July 23, 2019. With the Senate changes the bill is now at the House where it is waiting a final vote. The bill changes the current program by allowing blind veterans to use the program, increases funding from about $85,000 to about $98,000, and it extends access to the funding from three times to six times.

According to the news release from Senator Jerry Moran’s (R-Kan.) office who sponsored a Senate version of the bill with Senator Kyrsten Sineme (D-Ariz.), the bill was introduced to expand Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) eligibility for seriously injured or ill veterans. It was named after Army Colonel (Ret.) Paul Benne, MD, MPH. The companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), David Roe (TN-01) and Mike Levin (CA-49),to the House and named the Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019.

“This legislation will serve veterans who may need similar assistance to that received by Colonel Benne by expanding SAH eligibility qualifications for seriously ill or injured veterans,” said Sen. Moran. “This modernized and expanded grant program will allow veterans to utilize vital SAH grants in a way that best fit their needs – providing greater support and improving the quality of life for many of our nation’s veterans. Thank you to Colonel Benne and his wife, Christine, for their decades of selfless service to our nation and for their advocacy, resiliency and willingness to share their story, which will undoubtedly help many veterans in the future.”

“Many veterans carry wounds from their service that make everyday life more challenging,” said Sen. Sinema.“That is why our bill is so important; it breaks down barriers and helps veterans access the specially adaptive housing benefits they’ve earned.”

Col. (Ret.) Benne received a rating of 100 percent disabled when he retired from the U.S. Army after 23 years due to a medical condition. He applied for a SAH grant to help pay for the costs of making his home wheelchair adaptable. After trying for more than a year to receive a grant through this program he reached out to Sen. Moran’s office for assistance. After three months Sen. Moran’s office was able to help Benne achieve a favorable decision on his claim. The legislation was developed to help other veterans facing the same issues Benne had while navigating the process. At the time Benne said, “Sen. Moran is good about putting veterans first. “This SAH grant has given me the ability to stay at home and my family the ability to better care for me. As my disease continues to change, the ability to change my surroundings will be met with this legislation.”

Currently Blind Veterans do not have access to an SAH grant. This bill will allow them to participate in the grant program. Some technology used to adapt a blind person’s home includes safer cooktops, voice-activated thermostats and for those with poor vision special lighting and window treatments.

The bill will also provide access to SAH grants more times for disabled Veterans. This is needed so that when a Veteran moves to a bigger home to accommodate a growing family or moving due to a new job they will have a grant to help with the cost of adapting the new home such as widening hallways and doorways, adding wheelchair ramps or lowing countertops to accommodate a wheelchair. Also, some modifications need upkeep over time such as replacing a wheelchair ramp.

The urgency of getting bills like this passed for our veterans really hit home when Col. (Ret.) Paul Benne for whom this bill was named died in December 2019 at the age of 54.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Military troops and federal employees, to varying degrees, cannot use their roles, positions, uniforms or jobs to support or demean any political party, movement or elected official at the federal and state level. Basically, what it means is that troops can’t say they support or oppose someone while in uniform.

But where does that leave the spouses of military personnel?

Can Military Spouses Be Vocally Politically Active?

Quick answer: yes. You, as an American, citizen have the right to exercise your First Amendment right to free speech during election season.

You can speak out about your political views, support your candidates of choice and join any political marches or protests you’d like.

There are also limits to what you, the non-serving spouse, may display at your home or on your car.

For example, bumper stickers on cars are totally fine, according to an article on The Balance Careers. However, military members, and their families by extension, should avoid large signs, posters or banners on cars, in yards or in homes are not allowed.

Military spouses who also hold a federal job, like a DODEA teacher, also fall under the Hatch Act. The rules regulating political speech and activity are similar to those that military troops must follow. Basically, don’t use your role or position as a federal employee to promote anything politically.

Many Military Spouses Fear Repercussions for Political Views

While military spouses can be visibly politically active, it seems that many abstain out of fear.

Articles on MilitarySpouse, NextGenMilSpouse and Military Families all noted that many spouses avoided being political in order to maintain the status quo. Some have felt that their politics were outside the “norm” or might prevent their spouse from being promoted.

However, your political activity should not impact your spouse’s career since you do not fall under the same political speech regulations as active duty troops.

If you feel more comfortable avoiding political discussions, that is your choice to make. You should not feel as though your political views will impact your spouse’s military career.

Ways You Can Get Politically Involved

Military spouses can get be politically involved in whatever way feels comfortable to you.

Before you jump into the fray, do a little research. Know your political views and research your positions. The Pew Research Center has a comprehensive assessment to help determine which political views, and candidates, match your opinions.

Then reach out to the local organizing committee in your current area. It’s as simple as searching for “political party + location” online. Send an email or use their contact form to get involved. Political organizers are always looking for volunteers!

Finally, follow through. Stay involved and up-to-date on the issues surrounding the upcoming election. Reading newspapers and watching news broadcasts from across the political spectrum can be useful in helping to create an informed opinion.

Military spouses can even run for local office wherever you are stationed. Homefront Rising is a grassroots organization associated with the Military Spouse JD Network to help facilitate this process.

Have you been politically active as a military spouse? Share your experience in the comments!

I’ve been living the military life for over a decade now. In that time, we’ve lived all over the world, including homes both on and off military bases.

While living on base definitely has it’s perks, like being completely surrounded by a community that “gets” situations unique to military life, I’m a strong advocate for living off base whenever possible.

The Case for Living Off Base

Don’t get me wrong. We’ve enjoyed living in base housing. Being surrounded by mostly caring military families who understand about TDYs and deployments is great.

However, living on base, to me at least, means that my spouse is living where he works. He, and by extension our whole family, is constantly surrounded by military colleagues.

Again, that’s great when you need to have the always awkward “will you be my emergency contact” conversation with a person you met three seconds ago.

Still, living inside the military bubble 24/7 is a lot.

We Were Really Never Off Duty

From here on out, I’m going to use “we” because when our family has lived on base, we have been way more tied to everything about my husband’s military job. Every second of every day is consumed with military-centered realities.

There is no time for him to be “off.” Sure, there are weekends and he can take leave. Which is great and much needed.

But also, he’s still shaving every day and prepping for the inevitable moment when we run into his CO randomly.

Shop talk is always happening. There is never a chance to just talk-talk, to talk about literally anything other than the military life. All of his conversations when we’ve living on base seem to revolve about work – even on weekends or when he’s on leave.

He is never not on duty, which means we are also always on duty. There is no break, no complete separation between work life and home life. Everything is military 24/7.

Off Base Living Gives Us Space to Breathe

Right now, we live off base. We’re coming off of three years of living in military housing OCONUS.

We needed a break from being constantly “on.”

Sure, he’s still “on” duty and reachable by phone or email 24/7. But it feels different than when his boss lived just down the street. He has to leave our living space to physically go to work or have work conversations. It’s no longer an in-passing situation.

I can see how much he needed this space away from the grind of military duties. Living within the military 24/7 meant he was never able to switch it off, ever.

Now, he leaves and returns our home in civilian clothes. There is a clear, definite transition between job and home. When we walk outside, there is very little chance of getting roped into future planning with a colleague or CO.

There is no shop talk.

We Have Freedom to Choose

We often joke that we had our biggest home before we had kids, and it’s true. Our first on base house dwarfs our current civilian home.

But we had no choice in where we lived on base. Sure, we were given “options,” but it was mostly choice in name only.

We could go with A or B, this or that.

The lack of choice was especially apparent OCONUS. On base living wasn’t even a choice; rather the housing office made that decision for us. Then they gave us two choices, this one or that one.

Luckily, our options were somewhat different, a townhome or an apartment. Others stationed with us were sometimes given adjoining townhomes, and asked to choose. We also know people who were asked to select between two identical apartments, on the same and often in the same building.

There was no choice in where we were assigned to live.

Living off base has given us this freedom back.

Making our housing decisions during our last move was great. We could consider all sorts of factors and options that just weren’t a thing had we lived on base.

We talked about square footage, windows, yard space, schools and commute options. We talked about neighborhoods and green spaces.

We had true, radically different choices to make about where we were going to live. And it felt so freeing.

Building Connections Between Military Life and Civilian Life

One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard in the last 12 years is that civilians just don’t “get” military families or military service.

Have you ever thought that maybe it’s because many military families are self-isolating in on base housing?

Right now, we have a few military-connected neighbors, but mostly our community is filled with folks who have no immediate connections to the DOD. It’s wonderful.

Beyond just being able to turn the military side of our lives off outside of working hours, it’s really cool to see the wonder and genuine curiosity if our neighbors eyes,

When we got dressed up for the ball last year, everyone came out to see us off. They had never seen those classic dress blues up close and personal. The kids wanted to examine his sword. And everyone thought it was incredible that I still got to dress up as a grownup; for everyone else that mostly stopped after their wedding day.

A few weeks ago, my husband casually mentioned that new neighbors (also military) would have been stuck in their old duty station under the recent stop movement orders had they moved any later. That thought never occurred to them before, that your whole life revolves around orders.

Over drinks a few months ago, someone asked about deployments. When I shared our deployment story, a refrain that common in our military community, my neighbors were stunned.

They had never really considered that someone they know and like had experienced something with the potential to be deadly. Hearing that I was only in my early 20’s, sending my spouse off to combat, knowing that people we knew wouldn’t make it home alive – I think it put things into a different perspective. Suddenly the casualty numbers became a little more real to them.

Living off base allows everyone to learn and grow freely as we build these important bridges together.

Do you prefer living on or off base? Sound off in the comments!

This weekend Americans will join together (hopefully at a safe distance) to celebrate the birth of the United States of America. From backyard BBQ’s to watching fireworks light up the night sky, we’ll unite as a nation to commemorate our Independence.

This year, let us remember that throughout history during uncertain times, we have been able to come together and unite for justice, peace, equality, wellness and love for all. This time is no different. This Independence Day, let all Americans not forget that what unites us are our differences and it’s our differences that make us stronger. They make us a nation, they make us the U.S.A.

One of the most well known excerpts from the Declaration of Independence reminds us of the groundwork for our civic responsibility and sets the foundation for citizenship that Americans must uphold.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson

We as citizens, should live by these words and never forget how they brought us together and will continue to do so as a nation.

This day and every day forward we stand united!

From our Military Shoppers News family to you and yours, we wish you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Sure, the community fireworks displays and parades might need to be reconsidered this summer, but we can still safely celebrate the 4th of July in patriotic style!

Safely Celebrating the 4th of July During the Pandemic

For many, 4th of July means huge BBQ blowouts, fireworks and parades. This year, with the highly contagious pandemic still rolling through our communities, many of us are considering different ways to safely celebrate.

To help you stay safe while honoring America’s Independence Day, we’ve brainstormed a few options to get inspire you!

Backyard BBQ for Just You

Instead of hosting your entire neighborhood or unit for a massive party, keep the guest list smaller and more intimate. Perhaps consider limiting invites to your immediate family only or including one other family with whom you’ve been quaranteaming.

However, big or small your BBQ is in 2020, it’s still a great time to go all out!

Fire up the grill and cook:

• burgers
• hot dogs
• ribs
• chicken
• corn
• veggies

Go nautical with a seafood feast, including:

• steamed clams, oysters, muscles
• peel-and-eat shrimp
• crayfish
• crabs

Include yummy sides like:

• chips and dips
• veggie trays
• corn on the cob
• potato salad
• pasta salad
• fruit salad

Even though your celebration is slightly smaller this year, it’s no less patriotic!

Decorate & Celebrate the 4th Safely

There are no parades, but your home and yard can still get all decked out!

Consider flying a flag, putting out bunting or painting artistic fireworks for your windows with DIY window paint! Get your children involved in the process and talk about why we’re celebrating independence in America.

If you live in a location that allows sparklers, you might consider enjoying a few of them to light up the night. Remember to observe fireworks safety and closely monitor children.

Enjoying a small fire and roasting marshmallows is another great way to enjoy the 4th of July safely. Break out the s’mores supplies for an evening of fun together.

Watch a Patriotic Movie Marathon

Celebrate the 4th of July with film. There are tons of great movies out there that honor our fight for freedom or have ties to independence as a theme.

Check out this list:

• The Patriot: the Mel Gibson Revolutionary War classic explores the ties between fathers and sons against the backdrop of 1776
• Top Gun: there’s nothing like the sound of jets and competing for the top spot to honor our independence
• The American President: watch a US president fall in love and navigate political upheaval
• National Treasure: Nic Cage follows a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence while evading the bad guys; make sure to watch the sequel, too!
• Independence Day: Will Smith saves the US and world from alien invaders
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: a Jimmy Stuart classic about an idealistic young politician in DC
• Glory: the heroic actions of the 54th Massachusetts regiment in the Civil War are incredible
• Gettysburg: in 1863, Confederate and Union troops “celebrated” by fighting over the future course of the US in this Civil War classic
• Captain America: this superhero saves American troops, and the world, from Nazis and the forces of evil
• A League of Their Own: during WW2 women played professional baseball, with Tom Hanks giving a home run performance as a troubled coach

Take a Virtual Trip to DC

Sure, you might not be going to the fireworks on the Mall this year, but you can still enjoy a capital fourth virtually!

For 40 years, PBS has held a concert and fireworks display on the National Mall on July 4. While this year’s celebration is canceled, you can watch videos of last year’s concert and fireworks online!

While you’re “in” DC, you could also take virtual tours of the monuments and memorials on the National Mall or pop in to a Smithsonian for a quick peek.

How is your family celebrating Independence Day during the current pandemic? Sound off in the comments!

Protests supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and speaking out against racism have been sweeping across all 50 states and DC since late May. These protests were sparked by several recent deaths of Black Americans.

Now military leaders, both active and retired, have released statements and memos related to the protests, the political reactions in DC and military policies.

Recent Deaths of Black Americans Touch Off Nation-wide Protests Against Racism

George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25 seemed to be the final spark that initiated the current protests. Floyd, 46, was killed while in police custody when a white officer kneeled on his neck. Floyd, as seen in an 8 minute and 46 second video, repeatedly told the four officers involved that he couldn’t breathe before dying. All four officers have been fired and are being held on charges related to Floyd’s death.

This followed the March killing of Breonna Taylor, 27, a Nashville EMT, when police executed a no-knock warrant at her home. Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was hit by a truck and then shot while out on a jog in Glynn County, GA, in February.

Since late May, protests supporting anti-racism and Black Lives Matter have been organized across the US. From big cities to small towns, Americans are demonstrating and calling for systemic changes.

Protests have also been heavily filmed by demonstrators who are documenting their experiences and sharing them on social media. During these protests, police officers in several other cities have been suspended, fired or are being otherwise investigated for excessive force.

Retired Military Leaders Speak Out About Protests, Racism

Since the protests have begun, retired military leaders have published letters around the issue of racism and the White House’s response to protests.

Former Secretary of Defense General James Mattis, USMC ret., is possibly the highest profile retired flag officer to speak out in the last month. His scathing letter, published in The Atlantic, condemned racism and called for political leaders to avoid using troops to suppress freedom of speech.

Mattis’ letter followed a photo op for President Donald Trump at a damaged church near the White House. In preparation for the president to walk to the church, police used tear gas and other forcible means to clear otherwise peaceful protestors from Trump’s path.

“Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside,” Mattis wrote on June 3.

Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, USN ret., also spoke out in The Atlantic about the use of force against protestors in DC.

“It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel—including members of the National Guard—forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president’s visit outside St. John’s Church,” Mullen wrote on June 2.

On June 7, Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, USA ret., added his voice in an interview on CNN. In his interview, Powell issued a firm rebuke to Trump while also showing support for protestors and his fellow military leaders.

“I think what we’re seeing now, is (the most) massive protest movement I have ever seen in my life, I think it suggests the country is getting wise to this and we’re not going to put up with it anymore,” Powell told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Top Marine Calls for Removal of Confederate Flags, End to Racism in Corps

In April, General James Berger, Commandant of the USMC, issued a strong directive regarding displays of confederate symbols on Marine Corps installations.

“We are a warfighting organization, an elite institution of warriors who depend on each other to win the tough battles. Anything that divides us, anything that threatens team cohesion must be addressed head-on,” Berger wrote in April.

At the time of his initial letter, Berger directed USMC leadership to facilitate the removal of all displays of the Confederate battle flag and related symbols.

“We must remove those symbols that have the effect of division and not mere disagreement,” he wrote.

As protests continue across the US into June, Berger has issued another letter, clarifying his earlier position and calling for the eradication of racism in all forms in the Corps.

“Current events are a stark reminder that it is not enough for us to remove symbols that cause division — rather, we also must strive to eliminate division itself,” Berger wrote in June. Only as a unified force, free from discrimination, racial inequality, and prejudice can we fully demonstrate our core values, and serve as the elite warfighting organization America requires and expects us to be.”

Top Military Leaders Echos Calls for Equality in Military

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley, USA, asked his fellow military leaders in a memo to “please remind all our troops and leaders that we will uphold the values of our nation, and operate consistent with national laws and our own high standards of conduct at all times.”

Milley has previously appeared with Trump at the controversial photo op at St. John’s Church. However, he has since walked back his involvement and acknowledged that being with Trump at the church was inappropriate.

“My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics,” Milley said in a pre-recorded video commencement address.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper also spoke out about racism and the use of active duty troops to quell protests.

“The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations,” said Esper at a June 3 news conference. “We are not in one of those situations now.”

Leaders from across the branches have also joined in, sharing memos and social media messages standing against racism, as reported in the Marine Corps Times.

Army leadership has also reopened the possibility of renaming bases that honor Confederate generals, like Fort Benning. Also under scrutiny are Fort Hood and Fort Bragg, also both named for prominent Confederate generals.

Have you seen or experienced racism in the military? Sound off in the comments.

With most Federal employees’ jobs not effected by the COVID-19 pandemic the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign takes on greater importance. Food banks are struggling to meet the demand of so many people out of work and food insecure. This year, 2020 marks the 11^th annual FFF campaign which reaches out to employees from all federal departments and agencies to donate food, services and time. Resources collected go to food banks and pantries around the country. The campaign takes place in June and July but throughout the year FFF sends out seasonal reminders to donate throughout the year.

“During these challenging times with coronavirus, I am amazed by the generosity of the American people and their giving nature,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Our USDA family has the most dedicated employees in the federal government and this campaign is our chance to help feed those in need.”

The 2020 Food Drive is focusing on healthy, nutritious foods. Participants may collect nonperishable foods and fresh foods (as appropriate for each food bank). Items most wanted by food pantries include high protein foods such as canned or dry beans, peanut butter, canned tuna, and salmon. Also in demand: grains (such as brown and white rice, pasta, and macaroni and cheese), hot and cold cereal, canned vegetables, canned fruit, dried fruits, 100 percent juice drinks, granola bars, and soups.

There are many ways to participate:

• Become an FFF Champion at your department or agency to motivate your colleagues to participate.
• Donate online: Purchase food at an online grocer and have it delivered directly to a food bank or pantry. Or make a monetary donation to a food pantry or food bank. Record your donation in either pounds or dollars on the FFF Hub.
• Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): Donate money to a food pantry or food bank through the CFC special solicitation through June 30 and also during the regular CFC giving season from September through January. Record your donation on the FFF Hub.
• Attend a virtual food drive event: Join your colleagues online to learn about food insecurity in your community and how to donate pounds to participating local organizations.
• Drop off donations at your local food bank or pantry: Record your donation in pounds on the FFF Hub.
• Plant-a-row: Plant an extra row of produce in your garden and give the extra harvest to local feeding programs.
• Field Gleaning: Field Gleaning is the harvesting of unused or unharvested produce. Search for gleaning opportunities in your community that you can do on your own time. Learn about gleaning with the USDA Gleaning Toolkit. Weigh the produce or ask the farm to help you calculate pound and record your donation on the FFF Hub.
• Warehouse Gleaning:Warehouse Gleaning is volunteering to sort and package food donations at a food bank or pantry and is completed on your own time. Ask the food bank or pantry to help determine the weight of food resulting from your volunteer time and record your donation on the FFF Hub.

Check with your local commissary to see if they are participating in the campaign. They have two ways to participate; purchase a prepackaged brown bag and drop it off in the designated bin or purchase, or bring in, any nonperishable or personal hygiene product and drop it in the bin.

You can also check out the FFF new website, the FFF Hub to find out more about participating in the campaign. FFF measures their donations in pounds rather than dollars and the website provides a way to record contributions. It also provides information on ways to participate and success stories.

According to the FFF website, Since Feds Feed Families launched in 2009, this campaign has collected more than 92 million pounds of food for donation. In 2019 alone, federal employees donated more than 2.8 million pounds. USDA is the designated lead agency for the National Feds Feeds Families campaign for the U.S. government nationwide.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Being stuck in the house can be awesome, but staying put for weeks and maybe months on end can be, well, a lot. In this time of crisis, we’re all looking for ways to stay sane and keep our cool.

Which leads to a lot of impulse shopping online. I’m guilty of adding a ton of things to my cart, but refuse to feel any guilt over these quarantine impulse buys!

49 Quarantine Impulse Buys We Feel Zero Guilt Over

No matter what your guilty pleasure might be, chances are high that there is a product out there to help you scratch that itch. Since you’re stuck in an endless judgement free zone, there’s nothing stopping you from treating yourself.

It’s for your mental health.

Best Quarantine Impulse Entertainment Purchases

Whether you need something to make the endless hours of working from home less boring or you need to keep the kids occupied to, you know, actually work, entertainment is on everyone’s list.

Here’s what we bought to keep us all entertained:

• STARZ: binge watch Outlander and the new series Dublin Murders with a free trial
• Disney+: we bought this pre-pandemic, but it’s been paying off in spades with endless child entertainment hours
• Board games: honestly, we love a board game and so we stocked up on expansion packs for Cards with Friends and the kids’ version of Clue
• Puzzles: 500 pieces for me and under 100 piece puzzles for the kids mean lots of mind-challenging entertainment
• New York Times Sunday: just the At Home and puzzle sections alone make this worth it for tons of entertainment
• Inflatable movie screen: watch all of your best screening services in the backyard with a fun under-the-stars experience
• Nintendo Switch: it’s fun for the whole family and sanity for all parents

Zero Guilt Fitness Quarantine Impulse Buys

All the anxiety baking means lots of added calories. But some of us are committed to leaving self-isolation with some extra definition.

Here’s what’s on our fitness purchase list:

• Peloton bike: it’s the buzziest at-home fitness trend of the last 18 months, but also they have a sweet military discount
• Pull-up bar: you might already have one of these, but there’s nothing that says you can’t have two
• Rollerblades: relive your youth with a new pair of rollerblades – don’t forget a helmet and knees pads though
• Treadmill: if you’re not really into spinning, try jogging instead
• Kayak: maybe you live near water right now or maybe you’re planning for a future vacation
• Pedal boat: another fun buy if you’ve got a pond nearby

Backyard Fun & Essential Yard Purchases

We all need to escape our homes. If you’ve got a backyard, patio or even a decent sized balcony, you might consider grabbing some of these no guilt quarantine impulse buys.

• Yard games: badminton, corn hole, volleyball – we’re investing in all the classic backyard games
• Swings & slides: because the kids need a place to play since all the playgrounds are closed
• Tents: we’re really loving backyard camping in our 4 person setup, plus I can run inside for a real bed anytime I want
• Plants: some of us have gone extreme in the garden right now, with veggies, flowers and fruit being potted 24/7
• Trampoline: gets all the energy out and doubles as a fun fort, too
• Sprinkler: bring back the glory of our childhood with this retro way to cool off in the summer
• Bounce house: if you’ve got a little more space, pump one of these up in your yard and be the envy of your neighbors
• Sumo or dino costume: plant yourself costumed self on the porch while you work and watch your neighbors reactions to your style
• Hammock: your WFH boss just instituted a new afternoon routine, napping in the hammock
• Fire Pit: it’s not camping if you don’t make s’mores

Around the House Zero Guilt Quarantine Impulse Buys

You’re stuck inside the house, so you might as well do a few little things to spruce up the place. Or, you know, shop for an entirely new place to call home!

• A new house: whether it’s a pre-PCS purchase or a vacation/retirement home, the market hasn’t been this good in a while
• Pressure washer: keeps things looking nice and also ideal for taking out a little pent up aggression with the power of water
• Lovesac: if you’re spending all this time at home, you might as well be extra comfy
• Bar: since you can’t go to your favorite watering hole, bring it to you with a cool place to chill after a long day of WFH
• Roomba: suddenly, I’m seeing so much dirt around the house but don’t want to actually clean it myself
• Pool & hot tub: we only invested in a blow-up pool for the kids, but our friends went for an above ground pool and hot tub

Self-Care Purchases for the Win

Taking care of yourself and stying healthy is priority number one right now. Which makes all your pampering items feel less indulgent and more 100% necessary.

• Everything from LUSH: if I’m staying home 24/7, I’m going to do it smelling good
• Guilty pleasure TV: Melrose Place, the original 90210, Gilmore Girls -whatever your fave comfort TV show is, buy all the seasons and binge it
• Puppies & kittens: it doesn’t matter if you’re fostering or adopting or maybe just wandering through PetFinder, cuddly animals are 100% self-care right now
• Bidet: because being clean is essential right now, in all ways
• AirPods: if they’re in all the time, no one will know if I’d on a work call or if I’m listening to murder podcasts
• Korean face masks: again, I’d like to look nice while not seeing anyone at all

Guilt-Free Kitchen Items We’re Buying Right Now

It seems like we’ve all agreed that quarantine is going to be the time that we all become incredible cooks and/or bakers. Between sourdough starters and DIY canning, we’re all in the kitchen. Might as well do it up right.

• KitchenAide stand mixer: the piece de resistance of kitchen appliances, every serious home chef needs to own at least one
• Vitamix: whip up some healthy smoothies or make a batch of tomato soup, this mixer can do it all
• AirFryer: so that french fries can have some redeeming nutritional value, since that’s all the kids want to eat right now
• Pasta strainer: we just scored one that literally clips onto the pot, which is great for carbo loading to combat my pandemic anxiety
• Ice cream maker: if I can’t to Ben & Jerry’s, I’ll make my own cool flavor combos at home

Quarantine Impulse Buys We All Feel Zero Guilt Over

Be honest: even if you haven’t bought any of the things at the top of this list, you’ve definitely purchased at least one of the things on this, the final list of quarantine impulse buys.

• Toilet paper: because you can never have enough
• Booze: whatever you prefer, you’re gonna stock up just in case things get really bad
• Takeout or delivery: cooking 3 meals a day, every day gets really old, really fast
• Target pickup: if you can’t get your Target fix, you can at least get your most essential impulse buys brought to your car
• Beans: canned, dried, refried – we’re all buying beans for their long shelf life
• Flour & yeast: because we need ingredients to become the next Iron Chef
• Hair dye: whether you went with semi-permanent or really committed, we’re all switching up our looks right now
• LEGOs and puzzles: even work doesn’t fill our entire day, so we’re deep diving these sets – first up: Harry Potter
• Coffee: because we all need to be caffeinated to handle life right now

What’s your no guilt quarantine impulse buy? Sound off in the comments!