This document provides a weekly summary of news and events from the Military Community and Family Policy organization. It includes announcements about upcoming webinars on family resiliency and dealing with depression around the holidays. It also summarizes various educational and youth programs happening in the DoD school system and provides tips for military families on nutrition, parenting, finances, and communicating with teenagers.

1. http://www.health.mil/blog/10‐06‐24/Family_Resiliency_Webinar.aspx.
This Week in MC&FP
December 3, 2010
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We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration and returned refreshed,
renewed and recharged. We certainly did! In addition to the festivities, we used the shorter work week
to put the finishing touches on a newly redesigned Military Community and Family Policy eMagazine.
The December edition was posted earlier today. We hope you like what you see and find news you can
use. We continue to look for ways to better serve you and your information needs and look forward to
your feedback.
On Tuesday, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we’ll commemorate a “day that will live in infamy.”
Flags will fly at half-staff in remembrance of the more than 2,400 Americans who lost their lives in the
surprise attack that day. We will think of those who died and honor all those who sacrificed for our
liberty during World War II.
Have a good week and take care.
Your MC&FP Team
Please note: Some hyperlinks in this text are lengthy, sometimes extending more than one line. For best results,
cut and past the entire link into your Web browser.
From DoDEA
• Customer Satisfaction Survey Continues through December 15, 2010
As a reminder: On November 1, 2010 DoDEA launched the on-line Customer Satisfaction Survey.
The purpose of the survey is to give parents and students an opportunity to provide DoDEA with
feedback on the effectiveness of educational programs offered. The survey was designed so that
each level of the organization (DoDEA, area, district and school) will receive information for
decision-making from each of these very important groups. The Customer Satisfaction Survey will
close on Wednesday, December 15. Schools are currently working to maximize the participation
rate. To participate, see https://webapps.dodea.edu/CSS1011
• Luge Team Members Meet with DoDEA Students
Members of the U.S. Luge Team visited three DoDEA Schools in Germany as part of a USO
education tour this week. Twelve USA Luge team members and four coaches split into groups and
visited Vogelweh Elementary School, Vogelweh Middle School and Ramstein Middle School. The
group included six 2010 Winter Olympians. The athletes and coaches brought sleds, racing suits and
Providing policy, tools, and resources to further enhance the quality of life of service members and their families.

2. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
helmets in order to explain the nuances of luging, and talk about how the skills needed to succeed in
elite-level sports are the same as those needed to succeed in life.
See a2b4f0ff-7f64-45fa-ad0c-2003e05c18e7.m4v
• Wiesbaden RoboWarriors Club to Compete in the First National Competition
The first robotics contest is a nationwide event attracting thousands of high school students in a
head- to-head engineering competition. Students attending DoDEA’s Wiesbaden High School in
Germany, are looking forward to participating in the national competition this year in Las Vegas,
Nevada, during the first week of April. Their team of 30 students will spend thousands of hours
fundraising, designing, building, and programming their sophisticated 130 pound robot. More than
$14 million in scholarships are at stake and Wiesbaden students hope to earn some of that. To find
more, see http://www.wies-hs.eu.dodea.edu/Club/RoboWarriors/HTML/robomission.htm
From the Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth
• Military Pathways to offer Depression, Deployment and the Holidays Webinar
The holidays can be stressful for service members, veterans and family members – especially when a
loved one is away. Military Pathways will host a free “Depression, Deployment and the Holidays”
Webinar on Wednesday, December 8th, at 3:00 p.m. (EST).
Speakers include Dr. Erin Scott Daly, the director of the Center for Returning Veterans, and Todd
Labreck, a veteran and licensed clinical social worker. As part of the webinar, participants will:
– Learn to distinguish between depression and the holiday blues
– Receive advice, tips and strategies to cope with sadness and stress that may be triggered by
deployment, particularly over the holiday season
– Discover ways service personnel and families can manage multiple deployments
– Learn about the range of treatment and educational resources available
This Webinar is for servicemembers, veterans, family members and clinicians who work with
members of the military. To register, click the link below:
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/programs/military/resources/webinar-library.aspx
• Sending a care package this holiday season?
Family care packages are always a welcome treat for our deployed servicemembers and especially so
during the holidays. Are you looking for postal information? Go to www.ourmilitary.mil; see the
box on the right for "Holiday Mail for Troops." In addition, DoD’s Office of Community Relations
provides some helpful guidelines. For the link to holiday care package guidance, see
http://www.ourmilitary.mil/pdf/Sending_Care_Packages_This_Holiday_Season.pdf
• “Forging the Partnership” Conference Planning Continues
If you haven’t done so yet, mark your calendars to be in Chicago April 27- 29, 2011, at the
Hyatt Regency for the interagency family readiness conference, “Forging the Partnership.”
The conference will bring together professionals from DoD and USDA and will build
connections, competency and the capacity of our agencies and programs.
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3. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
The conference will feature keynote speakers, current youth and family research presenters,
interactive workshops and computer labs. For more information, see
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/service/conferenceandworkshops/fy2011
From the Office of Communications
• MC&FP’s e-magazine December edition is hot off the press today!
We are excited to present the newly redesigned December edition of the Military Community and
Family Policy eMagazine!
This issue highlights the resilience of our military community and most importantly its families.
Never is this more important than during the holidays, as many service men and women are
performing their duties in harm's way. You’ll learn more about the expansion of child care options
for military families, as well as the latest ways to stay up to date and connected through social
media. The next issue will be published in February. See http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/mcfp/emag
• Leadership Scholarship for Military Daughters
For the third year in a row, The Julie Foudy Leadership Foundation will continue to honor and
support families who are serving our country by offering full scholarships to military daughters
interested in attending the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy. These scholarships have been
generously funded by TriWest Healthcare specifically for military families. Applications for 2011
will be available the first week of January at the Foundation’s Web site,
www.foudyleadershipfoundation.org.
The application is a PDF file, which will need to be downloaded, printed, completed, and then
mailed to the address provided. Interested applicants with questions about the Foundation and/or the
Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy before the first of the year can contact Kerri McClellan at
kerri@foudyleadershipfoundation.org or at (949) 338.5544.
• College Grants Up For Grabs
The Air Force Aid Society plans to award up to 3,000 grants to dependents of Air Force members
for their college education through the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program.
Applications for these $2,000 need-based grants are now available from the Society’s Web site.
Completed forms must be received by AFAS no later than March 11, 2011.
The grant program is open to dependent children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended
active duty, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reservists and deceased
Air Force members. Spouses of active duty members and surviving spouses of deceased personnel
are also eligible. All applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates at an accredited college
or university during the 2011-2012 academic year, and are required to maintain a minimum 2.0
Grade Point Average. For more information, see http://www.afas.org
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4. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
From Resale
• Gift Vouchers Extend Holiday Cheer to Commissary Shoppers
During November and December, the Defense Commissary Agency reminds anyone who wants to
send some holiday cheer to authorized military shoppers that they can do so with gift vouchers. Gift
vouchers are available in $25 denominations. Anyone – civilian or military – can purchase them, but
only authorized shoppers can redeem them in a commissary. Vouchers are available at commissary
customer service areas, cash offices, and from cashiers at full-service checkout lanes.
• Commissary On-Site Sale Events.
There are no on-site sales scheduled for this week at Guard and Reserve locations. For more
information, visit http://www.commissaries.com/guard_reserve_sales.cfm. In December, DeCA will
deliver the benefit:
Dec. 10-12 Guard and Reserve Chattanooga, Tenn.
Dec. 12 National Guard Fresno, Calif.
In the News
• From the Family Matters Blog – Obama Thanks Troops, Families for Service
President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan today to thank U.S. servicemembers
for their service and sacrifice, and to personally pass on his holiday greetings. See
http://afps.dodlive.mil/
• From the American Forces Press Service – First Lady Dedicates Fisher House at Bethesda
When servicemembers travel the road to medical recovery, families often must travel that road with
them, First Lady Michelle Obama said today at the opening of a new Fisher House at the National
Naval Medical Center here. "When the nation's servicemen and women are called to serve, their
families serve, too," Obama said. "Their sacrifice is their families' sacrifice, particularly when our
servicemembers or veterans are sick, wounded and are struggling to get well again."
See http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=61935
• From the American Forces Press Service – New Policy Bridges Korea Tour Normalization
Army Gen. Walter L. “Skip” Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, announced the new system
this week to control the flow of command-sponsored military families to ensure infrastructure
improvements underway are prepared to accommodate them, he explained in his “Sharp Point” blog.
See http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=61929
• From the American Forces Press Service – Dr. Biden Welcomes Guard Children at Holiday Event
To kick off the holiday season, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, welcomed children
with parents serving in the National Guard as well as children from local schools to the official
residence of the vice president yesterday to make holiday ornaments, decorate cookies and write
letters to servicemembers overseas. “One of the things I love about being the wife of the vice
president is getting to welcome people to our home,” said Biden, adding that school children also
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5. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
visited last year. “This year, I wanted to welcome school children to come back and be our very first
holiday guests.” See http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=61918
Tips of the Week
• Nutrition Tip of the Week – Eat your Fruits and Veggies
Almost all are naturally low in fat, sodium and calories, none have cholesterol, and all are important
sources of dietary fiber. How much fiber do you need each day? Strive for 14 grams of fiber for
every 1,000 calories consumed. For more information on making healthy and nutritious food
choices, check out the Commissary's Web site at http://www.commissaries.com/
• Parenting Tip of the Week – Home Schooling
A growing number of U.S. students receive their education through home schooling. Is your child
home schooled? If so, Child and Youth Services and other community resources provide services
for sponsors choosing to home school their minor dependents. School Liaison Officers can also
provide helpful information. Visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS at www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil,
where you can find specific information about programs and services available at a particular
installation or state.
• Let’s Move/Childhood Obesity Tip of the Week – Familiy Meals
Family meals are a comforting ritual for both parents and kids. Children like the predictability of
family meals and parents get a chance to catch up with their kids. Kids who take part in regular
family meals are also:
• more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and grains
• less likely to snack on unhealthy foods
• less likely to smoke, use marijuana, or drink alcohol
In addition, family meals offer the chance to introduce kids to new foods and to act as a role model
for healthy eating. Teens may turn up their noses at the prospect of a family meal – not surprising
because they're busy and want to be more independent. Yet studies find that teens still want their
parents' advice and counsel, so use mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Consider trying these
strategies:
• Allow your teen to invite a friend to dinner.
• Involve your teen in meal planning and preparation.
• Keep mealtime calm and congenial – no lectures or arguing.
What counts as a family meal? Any time you and your family eat together -- whether it's takeout
food or a home-cooked meal with all the trimmings. Strive for nutritious food and a time when
everyone can be there. This may mean eating dinner a little later to accommodate a child who's at
sports practice. It can also mean setting aside time on the weekends, such as Sunday brunch, when it
may be more convenient to gather as a group.
Source: Nemours
http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/habits.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle
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6. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
• Financial Tip of the Week – Sales Pitches to Resist
This holiday season, retailers are rolling out more tricky marketing strategies to encourage recession-
scarred shoppers to spend. Get to know these hidden triggers, and next time you go shopping you
can look at retailers’ pitches with a more critical eye -- and maybe avoid blowing your spending plan
(budget):
“Our Big Sale ends tomorrow/today/in a few hours.” Aimed at: Your survival instincts.
Why you fall for it: Fear, pure and simple. This tactic appeals to a basic instinct to grab what’s
available or be left without. Think of the crowds stocking up on bottled water and canned goods
before a major storm comes through. In those frenzied hours, it’s a matter of survival.
“Get 23% off.” Aimed at: Your love of a bargain.
Why you fall for it: Real estate brokers have long known that uneven pricing (say, $524,755 versus
$525,000) catches buyers’ attention, because those odd numbers suggest a bargain that has already
been marked down -- whether that’s actually the case or not. This year, retailers have picked up on
that tactic this year as a way to separate their sales from the sea of 20%-off offers. Although price-
comparing consumers are unlikely to buy if the deal isn’t the best out there, just looking opens up
the door to impulse buys on other sale items.
“Shop today and save 50% next week.” Aimed at: Your best intentions.
Why you fall for it: The promise of bigger savings in the future appeals to people who think they
can game the system. You figure on buying just one or two things now, then returning to pick up a
few more. But volume-driven retailers are using the now-and-later tactic this year to steer
consumers back to stores when they know they’ll have new stock or other promotions that help you
buy more than you planned.
• Military OneSource Tip of the Week – Quick Tips for Communicating with Your Teenager
One sign that you child has become a teenager is that he talks with you less than he used to. It can
be hard not to feel excluded. To maintain a close relationship with your teenager, you’ll want to find
new ways to communicate and connect. Here are some ideas that can help:
Make an effort to really listen to your teenager. Give him or her your undivided attention. Avoid
distractions, such as a ringing phone or the television. Try not to interrupt or jump to conclusions.
Respect your teenager’s need for privacy. Teenagers are working out their independence, and
part of that process may involve spending lots of time alone or with friends and not sharing
everything with their parents. Try not to be hurt and remember that this is a normal part of
growing up.
Show that you’re interested in your teenager’s activities, schoolwork, and friends. Ask questions
about sports events, art shows, or tests. Take the time to attend school events, recitals, or
matches. This helps you stay connected and gives you a common ground for communicating.
Ask questions that can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead of asking, "Is
everything okay with you and Angie?" say, "I haven't heard you talk about Angie recently.
What's going on with her?" Open-ended questions can help start the conversation with your
teenager.
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7. This Week in MC&FP December 3, 2010
Ask your teenager what he thinks. Ask for his opinion about TV shows, movies, music, the
news, and anything that’s going on in his life. By asking for his opinion and then listening to it,
you’ll be showing that you respect his opinion.
Think hard about offering unsolicited advice. For many teenagers, taking advice from parents
feels like taking a step back in their struggle for independence. Even when your teenager asks for
advice, she might not follow it. Sometimes when teenagers ask for advice, what they’re really
looking for is someone to listen to them, not someone to tell them what to do.
Take advantage of the time you are together, especially in the car. Instead of trying to force a
conversation right after school, when your teenager wants to relax and decompress after the day,
try talking at other times, such as when you’re driving to school events, sports practices, or
friends’ homes.
If your teenager seems upset, wait until he has cooled down before you try to talk. He may
simply need time alone or on the phone with friends. But don’t let him think you don’t know or
care he’s having a problem. “You seemed really upset when you came home. Did something
happen at school? Do you want to talk about it later?”
Use other ways to communicate. Communication doesn’t have to always be face-to-face. Send
an e-mail to say hello and ask your teenager how his or her day went. Many teenagers rely on
texting as a primary form of communication. You can try sending your teenager a text with a few
words of support or encouragement.
Your family center can give you information and support on many issues that affect service members
and their families. And Military OneSource, a free 24/7 service from DoD, available to all active-
duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families, provides information and referrals plus face-
to-face counseling. Call (800) 342-9647 or access http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com.
• Spouse Tip – Promoting Personal and Workplace Values during Your Next Job Interview
Current workplace research confirms that trust, pride and camaraderie among employees are three
elements that contribute to bottom-line business success for many of “America’s Top 100 Places to
Work.” So, how can you use this information to enhance your chances for being hired into a new
job in a new community?
As you prepare for your next job interview, think of community volunteer and workplace experience
examples that demonstrate how you value and have worked hard to create trust, pride and
camaraderie at past duty locations. Concrete examples will demonstrate to future employers that
you have the personal characteristics, creativity, leadership and corporate values that can help
produce healthy communities and business success.
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