It happens every single PCS: you’ve purged but have nowhere to put all the things you want to have leave your house.

Some of it is awesome quality, but you don’t want to go through the hassle of selling it. Other things are useable but well-loved. And then you have the random odds and ends from your pantry.

Where to bring all of this, well, stuff?

Enter Buy Nothing, a community-building movement that invites you to “gift” the things you’ve KonMaried from your house to your neighbors – for free! It’s literally the answer to everything.

Fall in Love with Your Buy Nothing Community

I’m a recent Buy Nothing group convert. And now I preach it’s gospel to anyone who will listen – Hello, Military Shoppers News friends!

Yes, it seems crazy. Give a whole bunch of your stuff away for free to your neighbors? Nuts!

There is a method to the madness, I promise.

The basic philosophy is pretty much “one person’s no longer needed item is another person’s treasure.” All those random spices and sauces you collected in your PCS prep purge? Someone might really enjoy cooking with them!

Support Your Neighbors with Buy Nothing

Buy Nothing also keeps those gifts hyper-local, too. As in within a few streets or blocks of your house.

Every Buy Nothing group is neighborhood-based, often times by established subdivisions, city districts or zip codes.

Each time you gift items from your home, one of your neighbors picks it up to use in their home. When they’re done, they might opt to post it in the Buy Nothing group again to find another new home. In this way, each item can get used by many families before it’s worn out!

Connect to Your Neighbors’ Gifts via Facebook

Sounds great! I get to off-load all the things I no longer want to people who can currently use them. Where do I sign up?

Actually, it’s all right on Facebook! Every group operates a private Facebook group. New members join by identifying two streets nearby (not revealing their actual address).

Everyone in the group can post “gifts,” or things they’re getting rid of, or “asks,” items they could use.

On gift posts, you can “bid” on the items you might want to claim. There can be clauses, like share a recipe you’ll make with this gift, in order to be considered. Other times, things are offered first-come, first-served.

If you are “gifted” the item(s) of your choice, you’ll connect with the donor to arrange a swap.

For asks, members will explain why or how they need the requested material(s). Sometimes, it might be needed for a short time – like air mattresses for overnight guests or a cocktail dress for a wedding. Other times it is items to keep – like missing ingredients for dinner that night or boots for a child.

Here’s Why I’m Obsessed with Buy Nothing

When we arrived back stateside in summer 2019, I received all of our HHG that had been in storage for three years. In other words, items I had learned to live without and mostly did not miss.

As each box was opened, I kept muttering the phrases: “Why did we keep this?” and “Where are we going to put this?”

The answer to both questions was a resounding “No clue.”

Enter Buy Nothing.

As I unwrapped those “no clue” items, I snapped a picture and posted it to my Buy Nothing group. That let people know it was available for gifting. Sometimes within minutes, I would have comments and replies asking to be considered for the item. And then each thing exited my house, into the grateful hands of a new owner!

100% awesome.

With very few exceptions, I was able to “gift” several moving boxes worth of items I no longer wanted or needed. No trip to the GoodWill. No selling or, let’s be real, attempting to sell.

Sample list of things I’ve gifted:

• Outgrown children’s clothes
• DVDs
• Books
• Decor
• Jane Austen action figure (yes, that’s a real thing)
• Shoes

I posted. It was claimed. And then it was just gone from my porch!

At first, I was just a gifter. As we’ve settled in and winter has arrived, I’ve turned into a giftee as well.

Three years in the sub-tropics didn’t really prepare us too well for, you know, cold and snow. My kids had approximately zero winter clothes or shoes.

Until I was gifted some via Buy Nothing.

I’ve also gratefully received:

• Home decor
• Potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and other veggies
• School uniforms
• Work clothes
• An entire wardrobe of barely-worn Lularoe (some new with tags!)

Will You Commit to Buy Nothing with Me?

My USMC husband was super skeptical at first.

“People just, like, give these things away? What’s the catch?”

There is no catch, except the extra cash in your wallet!

After realizing that Buy Nothing is a community based on saving money, he was hooked. Not having to spend on pricey school uniforms completely sold him on the concept.

In total, I would guess we’ve gifted several hundred dollars worth of things we’ll no longer need but that still had life left. On the other hand, we’ve also received about that much back in gifts. It really evens out!

Plus, we’re no longer storing all the things in our (very tiny) house. Once we’re done, the item moves to a new home.

Everyone likes saving money! And it’s a good way to make sure that things get all the way used up, too.

It’s also kind of made for military communities! We rely so much on each other generally. This just makes sure you’re being more economical in the process.

What’s your favorite way to reduce, reuse and recycle? Sound off in the comments!

According to recent coverage by MOAA, Tricare will soon be dropping thousands of prescriptions from coverage at MTFs and by mail. You’ll still be able to get the medications you need – just from a retail pharmacy and at full cost.

Will Tricare Still Cover Your Prescriptions?

These most recent changes follow on the heels of a shift started in fiscal year 2018. During the National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Health Agency was authorized to move certain types of drugs to Tier 4, medications that are no longer covered in any way by Tricare. Their cost does not apply to the annual catastrophic cap either.

Tier 4 drugs are supposed to be limited to those that:

• Offer little to no benefit generally or relatively
• Are in danger of doing more harm than good
• Could be replaced by another drug
• Come at a higher cost than covered alternative medications

At first, this wasn’t a huge issue. The prescription medications impacted were used by relatively few beneficiaries, according to MOAA.

In August 2019, the first round of Tier 4 medications was announced. It included:

• Glumetza: an anti-diabetic medication
• Vimovo: used to treat various forms of arthritis
• Lexette: a psoriasis treatment

Relatively few of Tricare’s beneficiaries used these specific medications.

Widely Used Prescriptions Get Bumped to Tier 4

In November 2019, Dexilant, a GERD medication, was removed. This change impacted approximately 19,000 Tricare beneficiaries according to MOAA.

At the start of 2020, MOAA learned that Tricare and the DHA were considering moving Cialis and Viagra to the Tier 4 list. This decision was pending a final decision from the DHA director as of mid-January 2020.

A review panel voted 6-2 to remove the brand name medications from the formulary, or covered, drugs. Only the generic version of these drugs would remain available via Express Scripts or an MTF pharmacy.

This vote also determined that men over age 40 would not need prior authorization from their PCM to receive erectile dysfunction drugs. Men under age 40 or those with enlarged prostates would still need authorization.

In addition, this policy change would move other brand name and generic erectile dysfunction drugs to the Tier 4 list. Those could include:

• Stendra
• Staxyn
• Levitra
• all associated generics of these brand names

From Covered to Non-Covered

When this new tier of medications was announced for fiscal year 2018, a process for consideration was also released.

New drugs could be considered for the move to Tier 4 quarterly on a limited basis. This allowed DHA to identify reasonable generic or formulary alternatives to replace the possibly non-covered medication.

The removal of a medication’s coverage status would take place over an extended period. This would allow patients to consult with their doctors about alternative treatments.

Express Scripts, the prescription mailing service used by Tricare, would also notify beneficiaries of their medication’s tier change 30-60 days before the final switch. At that time, patients would also be informed of next steps to take to ensure continued care.

MOAA’s Concern Over Tier 4 Drug Changes

While there are checks in place to prevent a large number of beneficiaries from feeling the impact of a drug’s change in status, MOAA is concerned that this might not be enough.

They cite the 19,000 patients impacted by Dexilant’s Tier 4 status change in November 2019. There are currently three other formulary alternatives available that are comparable to Dexilant, per a January 29, 2020 search of the Tricare formulary database.

In addition, MOAA is concerned that the panel has not followed the 2018 policy language with fidelity. They especially point to the phrase “provide very little to no clinical effectiveness.” MOAA does not seem to support the idea that the targeted erectile dysfunction medications or the GERD medication meet this standard for exclusion from the formulary.

How often do you check to make sure your medication is still covered by Tricare? Sound off in the comments!

By Marguerite Cleveland

Facial hair except for mustaches is not allowed in all branches of the service but there are a few exceptions. The first is for medical reasons that affect shaving. The second reason is for religious reasons. Some special operators are allowed beards to blend in with local populations. Can you grow a beard in the military, the answer is no unless you have a sincerely held religious belief or you have a medical reason? It is important to note that the reason beards and facial hair are prohibited is due to the fact that respirators and chemical masks do not get a proper seal with facial hair. This can put the service member at risk. That is why it is required to be clean shaven every day.

Medical reasons for not shaving usually have to do with razor bumps where hair becomes ingrown due to shaving and primarily occurs in African Americans. In this case the beard is typically limited to 1/4 inch. Some branches of the service will allow a permanent profile for this condition but recently the Navy did away with permanent shaving waivers for sailors diagnosed with razor bumps. The reason being that facial hair hinders the effectiveness of breathing devices.

The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1300.17, Accommodation of Religious Practices Within the Military Services prescribes policy, procedures, and responsibilities for the accommodation of religious practices in the military services. DoDI 1300.17, paragraph 4.b, states “[r]equests for religious accommodation will be resolved in a timely manner and will be approved when accommodation would not adversely impact mission accomplishment, including military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, health and safety, or any other military requirement.” This regulation allows service members to apply for a waiver of grooming standards for religious accommodation.

These requests are evaluated on a case by case basis and there is quite a bit that goes into a decision. The first is evaluating if approved would the accommodation would impair the safe and effective operation of weapons, military equipment, or machinery; pose a health or safety hazard; interfere with the wear or proper function of special or protective clothing or equipment; or otherwise impair discipline, morale, unit cohesion, or accomplishment of the unit mission.

The next step is evaluating if a service member has a deep and sincere belief in a religious faith. The Department of Defense recognizes 221 religions including; heathenry, humanism, paganism, and Wicca. Requests for waivers regarding grooming go all the way up to the Secretary level for approval. Two recent cases one which was approved and one that was disapproved show how each case is unique.

In a case which was approved a soldier who practiced the Norse Pagan faith, a heathen religion received an approval for a beard waiver in accordance with his faith. In 2017, the Army recognized waivers for Sikh soldiers allowing them to honor their religious traditions. The Air Force also approved a waiver for a pagan Airman to allow him to grow a beard.

But not all requests are the same. SPC John Hoskins, a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster which are known as Pastafarians, was recently denied a waiver even though he professed a deep and sincere belief in the Pastafarian faith. The reason for the refusal was that he had not demonstrated a sincerely held religious belief.

So although the military has relaxed the grooming standards for medical or religious reasons, the average service member will not be authorized to have a beard or facial hair other than a mustache.

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.WanderWordsWine.com

When Seth Brees left the Air Force after 12 years of service, he didn’t immediately find his niche. Instead, he took the first job he was offered.

“I floundered a little bit, I didn’t have a goal or a direction,” he explains. “I took the first job that came along and I was miserable. Now I know why: it just wasn’t for me. We’ve all had one of those jobs. I felt kind of lost.”

Military Veteran Champions Homeless Veterans, Transition Support

Even though he had taken the transition assistance classes offered by the Air Force, he still struggled after he EASed. Something was missing.

“For me, I needed a new mission, a direction, a focus.”

Shortly after, Brees discovered Passageways, LTD. a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting homeless veterans in and around Wichita, KS. Passageways was founded in 2014 by Jennifer Garrison and Susan Moellinger in an effort to provide a solution to the homeless veterans in their city.

“The founders were watching the news and a homeless veteran died under a bridge due to cold exposure,” shares Brees. “They called around and nothing was being done. Now, 5 years later they’re getting ready to open their own neighborhood for homeless veterans.”

Brees connected with the homeless veterans he was serving through Passageways, LTD. over shared experiences following their military service.

Air Force Vet Finds New Mission Helping Homeless Vets

“(Volunteering with Passageways) started mainly just me looking for something to get excited about when I left the military,” he explains. “And that was it. I found it and I’ve been going full speed ahead ever since.”

As his connection to Passageway’s mission grew, Brees became more committed to being a changemaker for homeless veterans. In the process, he’s discovered that veterans often end up with uncertain housing situations due to a rough transition to civilian life.

“It’s very much a psychological event,” he says. “You get used to a certain lifestyle, the comradery with military culture. When you leave the military, you don’t have the comradery.”

Beyond the seachange in lifestyle and support, there is often trouble translating their years of military experience into information that civilians can understand.

“Decoding your military experience is how I usually put it,” Brees says. “I recognized that the biggest thing that we can offer is some guidance. We have (transition assistance) on military bases, which is great. But there is so much more that we can do and it requires that personal touch.”

Added to the equation is having some level of financial security or mobility. Having instability here, even if there is housing currently, could lead to bigger issues in the near future.

“You’re one incident away from homelessness,” Brees shares. “If you lose your car, you’re done. You lose your means to go make money. There’s a difference between being homeless with a car and without, because then you’re relying on public transportation and getting employment gets significantly harder.”

Combatting Veteran Homelessness Inspires Air Force Veteran

Over the years that Passageways has been supporting homeless veterans in Wichita, Brees notes that over 8o veterans have transitioned to stable housing. In total, Passageways has helped approximately 2,500 homeless veterans.

“With Passageways, the youngest (veteran) has been 27 and the oldest has been 97, a WW2 Veteran. He lived out of his car for 30 years and not anymore!”

As a board member, Brees has supported Passageways towards a major goal: opening a neighborhood of homes for homeless veterans.

“Operation homefront will be a gated community only for homeless veterans in the Wichita area. Open to men and women, families, and service animals.”

Brees excitedly shared the details of this new project, one of the first of its kind specifically for homeless veterans. All told, there will be 15 one-bedroom homes for individuals and 15 two-bedroom homes for families with up to three children. Service animals will be welcomed and community support features are built into the neighborhood.

Launching a New Mission to Support Transitioning Veterans

While working with homeless veterans, Brees realized that often they needed a little extra support and guidance to translate their military experiences into civilian jobs. This led to his small business venture, Veterans Mentor.

As part of his business, Brees offers personalized support and assistance navigating life post-military.

In addition to his business, Brees also hosts a podcast – The Veterans Advocate. He uses this platform to share stories and experiences, veteran to veteran.

Part of his mission is to educate veterans about the resources available, as well as share advice from those who have been there, done that. A large portion of his podcast guests has been veterans that have transitioned out of homelessness.

“I just want to talk to somebody who has a story to tell,” says Brees. “I don’t want a perfect success story. I want someone who is relatable. Anyone who has been through a rough transition and has some advice to offer, that’s what I’m after.”

Whether on his podcast, through his business or via Passageways, Brees has been struck again and again by the willingness of the military and veteran community to support each other.

“Overwhelmingly veterans are eager to help other veterans with anything. All you need to do is ask.”

While he has his podcast and business, Brees’s heart is overwhelmingly with Passageways.

“If I can get anything accomplished, I just want to get the name and story of Passageways out there.”

To support Air Force Veteran Seth Brees and Passageways, LTD., please consider making a donation. Your support will allow them to complete the Operation Homefront neighborhood and continue reaching homeless veterans in and around Wichita, KS.

Know a veteran making a difference that we should feature? Comment below or email us!