In 2015 officials estimated that over 900,000 Americans were injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those requiring long-term, specialized care may number more than 100,000. This also means that there are thousands of mothers, fathers, siblings and spouses serving as caregivers to their wounded veterans. Add in the number of veterans from previous conflicts, including Vietnam and World War II, who need more assistance as they age and there are a lot of caregivers tending to our veterans.

November is National Caregiver Month, a time to support those tending to the injured or disabled. The National Alliance for Caregiving has put together a webinar titled Circle of Care Mental Health Toolkit for caregivers.

The webinar will air Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m., EST. The alliance has partnered with mental health advocates and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to assist those who are caring for someone with mental illness. The webinar will cover the following topics:

• Key Facts & Figures on Mental Health Caregiving
• Planning for the Future 
• Taking Care of Yourself
• Getting an Accurate Diagnosis 
• Communicating with Health Professionals 
• Finding Community Services 
• Confidentiality and Family Involvement
• Discharge Planning 
• Health Insurance: Navigating Parity and Access Issues 
• Finding Providers Who Understand & Treat the Condition 
• Dealing with the Criminal Justice System 
• Economic Impact of Mental Illness on Caregivers

To register for the webinar or check out the other helpful articles and resources for caregivers, visit https://www.caregiving.org/caregiversmonth/

I just returned last week from visiting Wyoming. It was our first duty station, and it felt weird to be back. Plus, I needed the break from constantly thinking about school! I am still doing my best and meeting my mini goals, but this class is even tougher than I had anticipated and to be honest, I’m questioning my own success right now. So, I happily welcomed a little vacation.

Anyway, when we left Wyoming, I was so ready even though I had enjoyed our time there. But, as I drove back home to Oklahoma, I started thinking about what I missed about Wyoming and how to enjoy those same things here at our new duty station.

First, I thought about all the people that I met. I met some of my closest friends in Wyoming, and one by one they have all left and moved on. It was a strange feeling to drive past friends’ houses and have them all gone now.

Since we have left, I have let some of those friendships diminish, not because I wanted to, but because I forget to answer texts and return calls. Life takes over sometimes.

Returning to our first duty station reminded me to appreciate the time we spent together even if the friendships change after we all leave. It reminded me of the value of forming friendships and how even if we don’t stay in close contact, those friends impacted my life.

I also started to think about all the experiences we had in Wyoming and all the events we will never relive. My husband and I got married at city hall in Wyoming, our son was born in the hospital downtown, I earned my bachelors, and my husband received several promotions all while we were there.

We spent so many important times there, but I didn’t understand how much a part of me Wyoming had become and how much I would miss those feelings and memories.

Even though I liked living there, I always counted down the days until we could escape the prairie and wind instead of soaking in every experience I could. It almost seemed to me like I could redo those life events somewhere “better.” Going back made me recognize that I can’t change where the memories took place, but I could have stopped waiting for something more exciting by living in the moment.   

Lastly, I think I took Wyoming for granted. We went everywhere we could, and we enjoyed exploring, but when I drove in on this last vacation, I looked at everything with fresh eyes.

I forgot to appreciate seeing the mountains, watching the amazing sunsets across the prairie, and I know I complained often about the antelopes lying in the middle of the road and never moving. Now that we don’t see antelope every day, I almost wanted to take pictures of them this time. Almost.

It has taken me time to realize that, because of the military, my family can experience not only big moments but also the day to day in many unique places. I have always loved to travel and move but returning to Wyoming gave me a chance to realize how much I gained from those years in Wyoming. 

Keeping that in mind, I hope in Oklahoma I can value the people, experiences, and location just a little more than I did when we were at our last duty station.

I know that Wyoming made me a better person, offered me new life experiences, and introduced me to great friends and opportunities. I hope to never take another duty station for granted or forget the friendships that shaped my life even for a brief time.  

By StatePoint Media

Everyone knows about scholarships. They’re no-strings-attached money to help students pay for their higher education. Right?

Usually, but not always. In some cases, there are significant strings attached -- including situations in which scholarships are treated as taxable income. While unusual, it’s important for students, their families and scholarship providers to understand all the implications.

Tax Status

The tax status of scholarships first codified in 1954 was simple: for students pursuing a degree, all scholarships, fellowships and grants were tax-free. But later legislation specified portions of a scholarship could be taxed if it is considered “fees for services,” or if it’s used for living, travel or research expenses.

What’s more, scholarships for non-degree-candidates are also taxable. As professional certifications and certificate programs become vital to certain industries, experts say these laws put non-traditional students at risk of a heavy tax burden.

The Impact

Some experts say taxing scholarships comes at a cost for students and scholarship providers and even the federal government.

“For students, it can harm their ability to pay for their education,” says Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit scholarship and education support organization. “For providers wanting to make the biggest charitable impact, it can make providing scholarships less attractive than alternative philanthropic efforts.”

With most federal financial aid calculations based on the pre-tax value of the scholarship, students risk a shortfall in aid. All of this has a disproportionate impact on low-income students. Those from the bottom income quartile spend the largest percentage of family income on higher education; almost half of that money is spent on the non-tuition costs for which scholarship awards are taxable.

“Taxing scholarship funds may increase government revenue in the short term, but it’s short-sighted,” says financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz. “The federal government benefits financially long-term when students graduate and have the potential to earn more taxable income.”

Should They Be Taxed?

Kantrowitz, along with Scholarship America’s Despina Costopoulos Emerson, say restoring scholarships’ tax-free status will help certificate- and degree-seeking students, and those who must work out of necessity, pursue their education without undue financial burdens.

To learn more about taxing of scholarships visit blog.scholarshipamerica.org.

“Scholarship America and our partners are in ongoing talks with members of Congress, and we hope to see some progress on initiatives that will ensure qualified scholarships are available to students to pay the full cost of education and allow scholarships to be used, tax-fee, to pay for room and board, transportation and other college-related expenses,” says Ballard. “In the meantime, students and their families should research the specifics of all grants, scholarships, fellowships and tuition waivers they are offered in order to understand the true value of their financial aid package after taxes and plan accordingly.”

Are you a spouse looking for a job with great pay and benefits? Do you hope to keep that military connection long after your spouse retires?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may be worth a look.

The VA is the nation’s largest healthcare system and they hire in nearly every career field. Currently on www.vacareers.va.gov there are 2,584 job listings at VA sites around the nation.

If you are a well-qualified candidate who is willing to relocate, you may have a wide range of options.

And the VA has a roadmap to help you be hired.

At www.vacareers.va.gov click on the “Navigating the Hiring Process” tab. Here you will find a list of helpful information such as how to prepare your application, how to submit it and how to prepare for your interview.

Applicants to VA positions are expected to describe what the VA calls KSAs, or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for each position. How well you describe your KSAs can determine whether or not your resume is pulled.

The VA website also has tab detailing how to craft your resume to show off the KSAs the VA is looking for in candidates.

Before you begin filling out those forms and sending your resume, also check out www.fedshirevets.gov

This website details how federal jobs are filled and how military members and their families can best plan a job search in the federal realm.

Securing a job with a federal or military agency can make for a smooth transition from military life. It can also be a complicated process. Take a day or two to familiarize yourself with the process, the lingo and the expectations by visiting the two websites mentioned above.

The extra preparation may mean the difference between being hired or becoming lost in a sea of applicants.

In case you haven’t heard, Tricare is changing.

For the first time, Tricare beneficiaries will participate in an open season, meaning you pick the level of care and the amount of your monthly payment. While an open enrollment is typical for civilian employers, this is a first for the Department of Defense.

For military families who have access to military medical care and an HMO through a spouse’s civilian employer, it is a great time to compare coverage and pick what is truly best for your family and your budget.

Comparing plans and making a decision that can’t be changed until next year’s open enrollment can also feel overwhelming.

Tricare is hosting a webinar to answer questions and explain the process.

The webinar will be held Nov. 15 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

You can register for the webinar at this link:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4375975309006624515

By Jenna Moede

In the past I have mentioned the mess I had when I didn’t realize my class had an early deadline for the last week. It not only affected my grade for that class, but my overall GPS.

This semester I’ve dutifully studied hard and completed all my assignments so far, but I wanted to talk about one of the most important tools that students receive from their professors: the syllabus.

The syllabus, also known as the piece of paper I usually stuck in the back of my folder and took notes on, matters.

Each syllabus might look a little different, but I’ve listed several items a syllabus could include and why we should pay attention.

First the syllabus will often list the course description along with the credit hours earned upon completion. This semester, I read the description and class objectives a few days before classes started as soon as it became available to students.

Reading it helped me set my learning expectations for the class since I knew the class focus. It also influenced my mini goals for this semester since I figured out how they’d fit with the class objectives.

Next, students can usually find required reading materials and any recommended e-resources, books or additional materials listed on the syllabus. This helps students determine what they will have access to through the course and what they may want to consider purchasing before the start date.

Often during my undergraduate courses, I completely ignored the recommended materials, but judging from my use of them now, they would have benefitted me then too.

The syllabus sometimes includes a weekly breakdown of topics and maybe even assignments. When I have one that lists them by week, I scan the assignments to prepare for the time commitment each week. I note weeks with high value, long assignments and midterms and finals.

Knowing early what’s coming helps when planning my schedule each week.

Sometimes my syllabus has even included my professor’s office hours. Keeping those hours in an easily accessible place or highlighting them may come in clutch when I feel stuck or need a more detailed explanation, and I have already used that resource this semester.

Lastly, most contain a grading scale. I think everyone already knows professors include it on the syllabus, but I really studied it on my first day to make sure I understood the expectations of my new program.

I appreciate that I also know exactly how many points I need to earn to receive the final grade I want. Knowing the exact number makes it easy to see my progress with each assignment.  

To prepare myself for success, I printed my syllabus so I could mark it up and refer to it whenever I have a question. It has become like a map to my class.

I hope other students take the time to look each syllabus over, highlight it, transfer dates to a calendar, and become familiar with it so that surprises in the course don’t have to happen. Doing this has helped me feel more prepared, excited and focused, and has helped me overcome my nervousness of returning to school.

The fall is a great time to job search! Many companies are hiring extra help to assist with the holiday rush and it is a great opportunity for you to show an employer what you are capable of. A part-time holiday gig could easily turn into a fulltime opportunity.

Check out these upcoming job fairs below, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Be sure to click on the link and register as spaces fill quickly.

Nov. 2

Uncasville, CT

Mohegan Sun Vets Rock 2018 Veterans Day Event and Hiring Fair

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/4th-annual-mohegan-sun-vets-rock-2018-veterans-day-event-and-hiring-fair

Nov. 6

Colorado Springs, CO

AMPLIFY Military Spouse Career Intensive

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/amplify-military-spouse-career-intensive-colorado-springs

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/joint-base-anacostia-bolling-military-hiring-fair

Nov. 14

For Buchanan, Puerto Rico Military Hiring Fair

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/fort-buchanan-puerto-rico-military-hiring-fair

Nov. 29

Military Spouse Employment Workshops - Carlisle Barracks, PA

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/military-spouse-employment-workshops-carlisle-barracks-pa-0

Sometimes, good things really do come to those who wait.

And to those who have a good strategy.

Some of you might remember my previous posts about The Great Job Hunt. The quest has finally come to an end.

I will be officially employed as of Nov. 5 as a communications specialist for a local city government where I live, running their social media pages and writing and editing documents and information for residents, among other things.

How did I finally get a job, after submitting nearly 30 job applications in the past 15 months or so?

I did it with patience, professionalism and experience.

We moved to a completely new place in August of 2017. We didn’t know a single person here. I had often worked during my spouse’s military career. I have years of experience in my career field, both full-time and part-time, and as a freelancer. I never had any problem finding a job. In fact, up until my most recent attempts, I was hired for every job I ever applied for.

Post-retirement, I figured it would be just as easy. I have years of experience as a journalist, writer and communicator. I’ve worked around the world as a journalist and writer. My resume is extensive. And now, finally, I was in one place, with no threat of moving in a year or two or three. Now, I thought, I’d be even more attractive to employers.

I quickly discovered that wasn’t the case. First, my last full-time job was in 2012. Second, I didn’t have any local connections.

I knew I needed a better plan. So I decided to continue freelance writing, and, more importantly, do some volunteer work.

I’ve never been a firm believer in the philosophy that volunteer work will help get you a job. I’ve had dozens of military- and unit-related volunteer “jobs,” but I rarely bother to include those in my resume.

While volunteering is extremely important and rewarding, it typically matters little or nothing to potential employers.

Here’s the exception: Volunteer work in your specific career field can matter a lot. In my case, it was a key reason I got this job.

How did I make this happen? I went to volunteermatch.org and searched for a position with a duty description as close as possible to the paid job I wanted to secure. I was lucky and found an almost exact match with a downtown revitalization organization in the heart of my new town.

That volunteer work gave me three crucial things I needed to succeed in my job hunt. The first was recent, relevant experience. The second was local references. The third was a product I could show prospective employers.

And last week, I ended up with two job offers on the same day.

Here are six other tips I learned during The Great Job Hunt that might help you, too:

1. Target your application. At first, I was applying to any job that seemed remotely a good fit. That quickly became frustrating. I decided to be more thoughtful about the process. Not only did I narrow down my applications to positions that I was closely qualified for, I also determined which companies and organizations I would most want to work for. In the interviews for both jobs I was offered, I was able to honestly answer the question of why I wanted to work there. I knew both organizations fairly well, and had a good idea of whether I would fit and whether I would enjoy the company culture.
2. Don’t be afraid to follow up. Nearly all applications are done online, and go through automatic sorting by keyword and other data. Every time I sent in an application, I did my best to find the direct supervisor, or as close as I could tell from Googling. I then emailed that person a cover letter and a copy of my resume. Often I followed up with a phone call, too.
3. Tailor your resume to each specific application. I spent hours sometimes doing this. And don’t just base it off the job posting – do some research on the company to find out what they do and what their mission is. Pay attention to what kind of language they use on their website and other written content. And, of course, try to include as many keywords from the job posting as you can, without it being a direct copy.
4. Include samples of your work, or cite specific achievements for each job listed on your resume. This was a hard one for me as I’ve never really been in a job that had specific goals or targets to meet. But I was able to come up with a few key achievements, and I did have writing samples.
5. Make connections. Make sure everyone you meet knows you are looking for a job. Tell people at your kids’ school, people you volunteer with, your neighbors, your church, the cashier at the liquor store. Anybody and everybody.
6. Most importantly, have a plan. If you are fortunate enough to be able to wait for a great job, do so. Don’t rush into something if you don’t have to. Figure out the best way to get where you want to be, and make that happen.

Hiring Our Heroes has spent years cultivating relationships with employers around the country to help ease the transition for military spouses as they PCS.

They hold popular spouse-only job fairs each month across the U.S.

If you are stationed in Japan, they are coming to you in 2019. You don’t want to miss it!

The 2019 Okinawa Career Summit, to be held Feb. 25 and 26, 2019, will help to connect you directly with HR experts and hiring managers via industry-specific employment briefs, attend a resume building and digital networking workshops to super-charge your transition to a civilian career, then network with dozens of companies at a free evening networking reception.

The second day will include an opportunity to get firsthand information on transition, recruitment, and the hiring process during an interactive discussion with employers from a cross-section of industries, followed by your chance to meet with local and national employers at a massive career fair in the afternoon.

This event is free and is open to active duty service members, Guard and Reserve, veterans, and military spouses. Registration will open soon. To register or learn more, visit https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/2019-okinawa-career-summit

Then, on Feb. 27 and 28, the fun moves to Yokosuka!

At the 2019 Yokosuka Career Summit, you’re invited to connect directly with HR experts and hiring managers via industry-specific employment briefs, attend a resume building and digital networking workshops to super-charge your transition to a civilian career, then network with dozens of companies at a free evening networking reception.

The second day will include an opportunity to get firsthand information on transition, recruitment, and the hiring process during an interactive discussion with employers from a cross-section of industries, followed by your chance to meet with local and national employers at a massive career fair in the afternoon.

This event is free and is open to active duty service members, Guard and Reserve, veterans, and military spouses. To register or learn more, visit https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/2019-yokosuka-career-summit-1

Space at these events fill up quickly and pre-registration is required. Be sure to check the website for updates and information on more opportunities.

By Jenna Moede

My new semester started a few weeks ago now, and I’m adjusting myself to the schedule for graduate students which extends from Wednesday to Wednesday. In my undergraduate work the week was always Monday to Monday, so it feels strange to change the days around.

Anyway, when my semester kicked off, I decided to set goals each semester in addition to the overall goals of my program. Usually I share my big goals with my support system, but this time, I decided to set little challenges just for myself to see if I could crush them.

I am trying this mini goal setting because I hope it will make a difference in my overall performance as a graduate student and help me have a consistent positive attitude about my decision to return to school even when it feels like graduation is forever away. I hope these mini goals will be subtle motivators for me to keep pushing forward and provide an opportunity to see how far I’ve come.

I want to find another benefit in this process which is determining which study tactics and process work for me as a student. I want these small goals to become the foundation for good habits so I can focus on creating and celebrating new little successes each semester to form even more good habits.

Right before my classes started, I brainstormed struggles and study habits that I hoped I could improve during my online graduate studies. Out of those, I have decided to pick three each semester that I feel would benefit me the most during that time.

This semester the three little goals I have chosen are: to read all the book material (really read, not skim), complete homework before the due date, and actively participate in online discussions.

When I chose these three goals, I felt they would have the most current value, and they would benefit me hugely overall in my graduate courses because they are such basic steps to success.

In what we’ve covered of my first class so far, the book material hasn’t been discussed in great detail so it may not boost my grade a terrible amount this time. However, familiarizing myself with the book concepts will help my application and understanding of the assignments. I also know that the book discussion varies by class and professor so, if I create this habit, I’m sure it will pay off for me sometime. Plus, it never hurts to learn a few extra nuggets of information!  

For my second goal, turning in my homework on the due date isn’t a problem, but I don’t always allow myself enough time to review and edit my work. In this current class, I have started out strong by finishing my assignments with at least two days to revisit the rubric, instructions and material before I turn them in.

Lastly, I am working hard to actively participate in online discussions as much as time permits. In the past I have been guilty of meeting the requirements and not really learning anything of substance from the discussions which means I’ve wasted my time on the assignments. It turns out that my classmates really do have interesting ideas and I have considered many different viewpoints because of the discussions that I may have otherwise missed.

Ultimately when I chose these three, I considered what I thought would make me a better learner and a better student. I really focused on the areas that have tripped me up in the past in hopes of improving them moving forward.

Like I mentioned before, I didn’t share these goals with my support network because I made them only as personal challenges. To remind myself of the goals though, I did make three colorful sticky notes. I put them behind my desk so that when I don’t feel like reading the book or reading posts, I can remind myself of what I want to accomplish and why.

I encourage everyone starting a new class or a new semester to consider setting some small goals to help you reach bigger goals. These little goals are like stepping stones on the way to graduation.