I am officially all-awared out.
Anyone who has spent more than four weeks in a military base knows that each month is designated as (insert cause here) awareness month!
There are seminars. There are lunches. There are cultural events. There is sign-holding at the gate to promote, or discourage, that cycle’s chosen cause/nemesis.
I get it. The official designation can help spread the much needed word about conditions, disease, history, etc. But it can be a little overwhelming.
And then I stumbled across Nellis Air Force Base’s official Awareness Months Calendar. I became eternally grateful that the military didn’t feel the need to celebrate each and every cause.
Drumroll, please, for my favorites and how I think we should celebrate:
Family Fit Lifestyle Month (January) – Let soldiers come home in time in the evening so their wives can actually get to the gym for an aerobics class. Let them go to their children’s sports practices and help coach. Currently, our base has to limit the number of kids who can play because there are no parents available to coach. No wife I know can attend the aerobics classes because her husband is still stuck in the office. The vicious cycle of no shows in class means the base cancels the class.
Wise Mental Health Consumer Month (February) – I’m not sure what this even means, but by my interpretation, it means getting the proper care and knowing what to do if you are not. I’ve noticed on our base that during awareness months the command is great about announcing the month but miserable at actually providing resources. If they are going to bother to celebrate the cause, they should also bother to put together literature that lists resources for Mental Health. These should be readily available at units and information desks. It doesn’t do much good to throw a parade and not tell anyone what it’s for.
Better Sleep Month (May) – Mandatory naps. Every. Day. Of. The. Month. You’ve all heard of mandatory fun, right? The command books a day of activities and sports that you are required to attend? Mandatory naps; this idea could make me president.
Revise Your Work Schedule Month (May) – Hey boss, I’m tired of working 12 hour days. I will see you later! So, this probably wouldn’t work as well as I hope but it might be a good time to reassess how you use your time behind the desk and perhaps streamline your work schedule so you can make your son’s soccer practice or let your exhausted wife go to yoga (see Family Fit Lifestyle Month above).
Social Media Month (May) – Mandatory Facebook time! It could happen.
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month (October) – How about we tweak this to be Learn What It Takes To Actually Own And Care For A Dog Before You Adopt One Month? Too many military families fall in love with a tiny, fluffy puppy and then dump it in the street come deployment or PCS time. Those same animals are left in the backyards of housing for 24-hours at a time through heat and cold. Military families have a lot more stressors and instability and having a pet means more coordination and planning. Not every family is up for it. Officials should make sure they are before they send that cute fluffball off to a life of misery and eventually, abandonment.
Other unusual month themes that caught my eye:
School Library Media Month – April
Spring Ahead for Life Month – April
Work Life Enrichment Month – April
Correct Posture Month- May
World Habitat Awareness Month – April
Recommitment Month – May
Self-Discovery Month – May
Tickling Month – July
Children’s Good Manners Month – September
Political Correctness Awareness Month – December
Want to see the whole list? Check it at http://www.nellis.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-111213-022.pdf
