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Tag: COMPASS

Child hugging military father

Children & Deployment – How to Help Them Cope

The effects of deployment on children can vary depending upon their age. Even children that have gone through a deployment before can react differently to the next one.

Here are some typical behaviors that occur:

  • Sadness, anger and anxiety
  • Problems sleeping and/or eating
  • Acting out
  • Sucking their thumb again
  • Being clingy and requiring lots of reassurance and encouragement

Remember to give your child the same patience and emotional support you give yourself. Even little babies know that the household has changed.

How do you help them cope?

  • Talk about the deployment before it happens. Have a family meeting!
  • Assure them they are loved and will still be taken care of
  • Don’t relax discipline
  • Don’t hide your emotions
  • Give plenty of hugs, kisses and reassurances
  • Answer their questions

There are also LOTS of activities you can do with your children. Like writing letters to the deployed parent, communicating through email and/or video (if available), looking at videos that are pre-recorded and looking through pictures.

Visit your local Fleet and Family Resource Center for information and resources to help your family through deployment.

Our Virtual COMPASS Session will also provide you with a wealth of knowledge and power to help you succeed. Sign up today!!

SIGN UP FOR COMPASS
Credo & ePrep written in pink next to pink roses and the NS FamilyLIne logo

CREDO & ePREP

CREDO and ePREP know that “love takes learning” and with this program you can learn from the failures and successes of thousands of people.

You will learn the communication and conflict management skills to talk without fighting about your key relationship issues, you will learn how to protect and preserve fun and friendship and you will enhance your commitment and love for each other.

WHAT IS ePREP?

PREP (Preventiontion and Relationship Education Program)

Over 40% of married couples will divorce, and 31% of married people report being unhappy in their marriages.

  • Couples can learn how to talk without fighting
  • Keep friendship and fun alive
  • Beat the odds of relationship difficulties.

To learn more about the ePrep program, visit: https://www.lovetakeslearning.com/

What is CREDO?

(CREDO), a Chief of Navy Chaplains sponsored relationship enrichment program, was established in 1971 to help improve job performance and enhance quality of life for active-duty service members and their families.

https://www.cnic.navy.mil/content/cnic/cnic_hq/regions/cnrma/om/religious_programs.html

A Donate Pile & Keep Pile of Clothhing for the PCS Purge

PCS Purge Benefits & Tips

What are the benefits of purging some items before you PCS?

The biggest one….it reduces your weight limit! Every service member has a certain weight allowance and if your HHGs are over that limit, you have to pay the difference.

Another benefit of purging is it helps you to downsize and free up some space. Every duty station has different BAH and home sizes and by getting rid of some extra stuff, you free up some space (in case your home may be smaller).

If you are selling or renting your home before you move, purging helps to declutter and stage the home for pictures. It creates a great opportunity for potential buyers/renters to see your beautiful home!

Some helpful tips for the “PCS Purge”:

  1. Find a good balance–don’t look at your whole home and think “everything must go!” Pinpoint certain areas that have more clutter than others and start there. Then move onto other areas that may need some decluttering.
  2. Look at your items and give a good think on if it’s something you really need or use. Does it make you happy?
  3. If you have multiples, get rid of one!
  4. Go through closets (of everyone in the home) and get rid of clothes that don’t fit, you never wear and ones that need to be updated.

Learn more tips and tricks like these in one of our Virtual COMPASS Sessions!

https://nsfamilyline.org/compass-registration

QUESTIONS? ANSWERS! painted in contrasting colors on a brick wall

Common Questions & Answers

Do you have a question about something you heard or read about? Here are some common questions asked with answers!

Q: What is scuttlebutt?
A: Slang for gossip or rumors.

Q: Why is a ship referred to as “she”?
A: Early seafarers spoke of their ships in the feminine gender for the close dependence they had on their ships for life and sustenance.

Q: What is a ditty bag?
A: A ditty bag contains a Sailor’s personal items. (It was originally called a ditto bag because it contained at least two of everything–two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, etc.)

Q: What is a Shellback and a Pollywog?
A: A Sailor who has crossed the equator on a Navy vessel and has been initiated is called a Shellback. A Sailor who has not crossed the equator is a Pollywog.

Q: What is a wardroom?
A: The wardroom aboard a ship is where officers take their meals, relax, and socialize.

Q: What is Geedunk?
A: To most Sailors the word geedunk means ice cream, candy, potato chips and other assorted snacks, or even the place where they can be purchased.

If you have more questions, please join us for one of our virtual COMPASS sessions to learn more from fellow spouses and get those questions answered!

https://nsfamilyline.org/compass-registration

Navy Wife Reaching For PCS Folder Box of Important Documents

How to Make a PCS Binder

Every PCS move is different for each military family. There are lots of variables that come into play-CONUS to OCONUS, movers vs DITY. How do you stay organized? A great way is to create a PCS Binder and you will have everything you need right at your fingertips!

First things you’ll need:

  1. 3 Ring Binder (with a zipper) or an accordion style file folder
  2. Sheet protectors
  3. Zipper Pouch
  4. Dividers with tabs
  5. Extras ie: binder clips, paper clips, pens/highlighters, calculator

Ideas to organize your binder:

  • Important documents (Birth/marriage certificates, SS cards, passports, etc
  • Military orders (have multiple copies!)
  • Auto/home information (insurance, shipping info, etc)
  • Checklists (check out https://planmymove.militaryonesource.mil to make a personalized one)
  • Medical records (for your pets too!)
  • School Records
  • Moving documents (high value sheet, inventory sheets, etc)
  • Travel documents

This is a great list to get you started and on your way to being organized. Moving can be stressful, but if you take the time to prepare and make checklists, the process will be much smoother!

Sign up today to take a Virtual COMPASS class and you will get ALL the tips, tricks and information to help set you up for a successful move!

https://nsfamilyline.org/compass-registration

happy movers helping you with hhg

PPM/DITY vs HHG

A Personally Procured Move (PPM or DITY-Do It Yourself) is when the member decides to personally move their household items instead of using a government provided mover. All of the packing, wrapping, loading & shipping is done by you. This is only for a CONUS move! You still need to set the move up in DPS so you can receive your calculated estimated incentive payment.

A HHG (Household Goods) move is when the government schedules a mover to pack/unpack and ship all of your items. This is done through local moving companies as well as larger contracts. You may not have a choice in the company the government chooses. Other than setting up the move in DPS, everything is done for you.

You can do both a Partial PPM and a HHG type move. Typically, this occurs when you want to use your personal vehicle to ship household items as you move from one duty station to the next. This type of move will require full/empty weight tickets of the vehicle. Be sure to contact your local personal property office to understand your entitlements.

Please visit move.mil to learn more about moving and what you need to do to be prepared!

The ultimate source of information is found in the JTR (Joint Travel Regulations). Here is where you will find ALL of your entitlements. This is the policy and law on travel and transportation allowances.

https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/travelreg.cfm

United States Navy Chaplain Corps Seal

Spotlight: Navy Chaplains

The Navy Chaplain Corps is made up of over 800 Navy Chaplains. Chaplains confirm more than 100 different faith groups currently represented (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and many others). Each Chaplain is also a Navy Officer – meaning each holds an important leadership role.

Navy Chaplains offer everything from faith leadership to personal advice to much-needed solace. They are a source of information within the Navy system and can offer privileged communications and speak to individuals without fear of information having to be reported up the chain of command or to legal authorities. Navy Chaplains are a great source of support when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. They even can provide information on retreats, seminars and events designed for individual and family resiliency.

The Chaplain Mission:

  • Provide religious ministry and support to those of their own faith
  • Facilitate the religious requirements of those from all faiths
  • Care for all servicemembers and their families, including those subscribing to no specific faith
  • Advise the command to ensure the free exercise of religion

Visit the Navy Chaplain Corps website for more info!

http://chaplaincorps.navylive.dodlive.mil/

September 2020 – Chairman Statement

To all our incredible volunteers, sea serving spouses and families,

As our summer comes to an end and we enter our 6th month fighting this pandemic which continues to plague our world…we usher in the month of September with reasons to stay hopeful and maintain a positive outlook.

We are all experiencing unprecedented challenges this year. We have had to adapt and figure out a new normal. I am happy to share that Naval Services FamilyLine is doing an incredible job getting our programs out there “virtually” to all who seek and need it.

Our COMPASS teams have been working hard to translate our in-person sessions to virtual formats. They have held multiple training and practice sessions and are about to launch their first virtual sessions this month in Mayport, San Diego, Annapolis, and Norfolk. Our CORE teams, partnering with the Navy League of the United States, are busy collaborating and planning on presenting relevant topics…such as a workshop on the Exceptional Family Member Program, and a webinar for Chief Petty Officer spouses prior to Chief Selectee season. We are also working diligently to develop a platform to provide our Anchors Aweigh program in a classroom setting. Lots of great things to look forward to, and I cannot be more proud to work alongside these incredible volunteers making it all happen.

Volunteers contribute out of the kindness of their heart with little compensation other than personal satisfaction in return. I would also like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to all our Ombudsmen out there. September is the month we celebrate your dedication and service in helping the families and sailors of your respective commands. Working towards our shared goal to be a resource, advocate and support for our sea serving spouses and families…Naval Services FamilyLine applauds and appreciates all that our Ombudsmen do!

Despite how COVID19 continues to challenge us, please try to maintain a positive vision. Even though an end to this virus is uncertain and our daily situation remains fluid, remember you are never alone. You can find valuable resources through our website www.nsfamilyline.org and through the MyNavy Family App.

Naval Services FamilyLine stands by you and is determined to help you succeed in and enjoy your military life journey.

Sincerely,
Junifer Thomas
Chairman, Naval Services FamilyLine