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Reserve Training
Center Naval District
Washington FAMILY READINESS |
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From the PWST, Inspector-Instructor Staff, Washington DC
I
am excited to have joined the site as the Peacetime Wartime Support Team OIC. The reputation of these Marines and Sailors
precedes them – a reputation for professionalism and excellence. But the success and readiness of the unit
hinges on the support provided by the families. Your sacrifices are recognized and appreciated. In return, my staff and I are committed to
ensuring that our families are taken care of – in time of peace and in those
times when we are honored to answer America’s call for protection. Thank you in advance for your continued
commitment and support. I am always
available to assist with any issues regarding family readiness.
My
thanks to the 1st FSSG PWST, who provided some of the helpful info below!
Semper Fidelis,
ThePWST
OIC, I-I Washington DC
703-784-3433 (office)
mleo10379@aol.com (email)
Are You and Your Family Ready for Mobilization?
Mobilization, it begs the question- ARE YOU READY, NOW? The call for duty can come
anytime. However, the more vital question remains- IS YOUR FAMILY READY, NOW? As we discovered in
Desert Storm, reserve units were not prepared to offer support to the families
that were left behind. Consequently, emotional strain and financial hardship
emerged. Don't put your family through the proverbial wringer. It’s tough
enough having you leave… especially if you deploy without a projected return
date!! Your family deserves the best support possible and they qualify
for more than you think.
The Commandant's guidance is clear:
"Marine Forces Reserve must have ready families if we are going to be a
completely READY, WILLING, and ABLE Force. To build ready, self-sufficient
families, we have Marine Corps Family Team Building (MCFTB) programs to help
us." Among those programs are: the Key Volunteer Network (KVN), Family Readiness
Officers (FRO), Peacetime Wartime Support Teams (PWST), LINKS (Lifestyle,
Insights, Networking, Knowledge, Skills), PREP (Prevention and Relationship),
and CREDO (Chaplain's Religious Education Development Operation). I will go into more detail on the “essentials”
of family readiness below, but for a comprehensive treatment of all of these
topics please visit the Marine Corps Community Services Family Team Building
web page at http://www.usmc-mccs.org/MCFTB/fa_te_build_main.html
The most comprehensive solution available to us is a
solid Key Volunteer Network (KVN).
Military spouses supporting one another and helping each other to cope
when a deployment occurs is what the KVN is all about! In virtually no time, you will be "up to speed" and
part of the solution! You will have answered all your own questions
about: insurance, service member contact, base privileges, and civil rights. There's
an old adage that says "Plan your work and work your plan." I'm
asking, what is your plan? Discovering what you qualify for is the first step
of organizing that plan. Don't wait until you get "the call."
Once it comes you'll want to spend every possible moment with your family.
Readiness will take a back seat. If you have a spouse encourage him or her to
get involved. "We're looking for a few good spouses!"
If you think you're ready for deployment try this
self test:
What's the difference between types of Tricare coverage? At what point do I or
my family members qualify for them? Which is most affordable? How does the
spouse get hold of my service-member in the event of an emergency? When can I
break my lease without a penalty? Do I qualify for reduced interest rates
during deployment? What re-employment rights do I have? What is DEERS and
why is it important? What is USERRA? The SSCRA? Can I use the commissary?
Is it worthwhile to term your lease and store your household goods? Where will
you store your POV? Reduce auto insurance to what level? Read the fine print on
your policy. Increase life insurance or drop it and stick with SGLI?
-Memberships (associations, gym, clubs...) and
Subscriptions (Internet Provider, cell phone, pager, beeper, newspaper,
magazines): Can they be put on hold or your account credited? Utilities (phone,
gas, electric, water, trash): Should you cancel? Pay in advance with post-dated
checks? Credit cards: cancel some, consolidate the rest? Do I need a general or
special power of attorney? Is my will current?
Now, here is a sneak peak into just one of the
many issues that need to be addressed before a Marine or Sailor deploys,
the TRICARE question:
TRICARE Prime is a managed care option similar to a civilian HMO.
It's the only TRICARE option that requires enrollment. Active duty
service members are required to enroll in Prime. Active duty family
members, retirees and their family members are not, so long as they are
properly enrolled in DEERS (see below). TRICARE Extra is a preferred
provider option (PPO) in which beneficiaries choose a medical provider within
the TRICARE provider network. Cost share after deductibles is 15%. TRICARE
Standard is a fee-for-service option. You can see an authorized
provider of your choice. This flexibility means that care generally costs
more. Cost share after deductibles is 20% for active duty families (25%
for retirees + families), plus the difference between Tricare
allowable charge and the billed charge. Tricare has a very informative
website: http://www.tricare.osd.mil
or else you can call the below phone numbers based on where you live:
SOUTHEAST (FL, GA, SC) 800-444-5445
MID ATLANTIC (NC, VA) 800-931-9501
CALIFORNIA 800-242-6788
CENTRAL TRIWEST (KS) 888-874-9378
NORTHEAST (approximately everything north of Quantico)
888-999-5195
Where do I start
to learn about what I need to get my family to do so they’ll be prepared for my
deployment?
A good starting place is to
download the Unit Deployment Guide for Families which is located at
http://www.usmc-mccs.org/MCFTB/Deployment%20Guide%20for%20Families.doc This very helpful guide contains
pre-deployment checklists and helpful information concerning financial and
legal planning, security, medical and dental information, emotional issues
involved in deployment of a spouse, and many other helpful topics.
I also recommend checking out detailed
pre-deployment checklist located at http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/family/toolkit/pdf/C-1-1.pdf
As every family has unique concerns, no one
checklist can possibly cover any possible contingency, but if you print out
what is contained at the above two links, you will have a very detailed
preparation kit. There are many bases
to cover!
The Key Volunteer Coordinators are wonderfully competent
and talented people, but they need your assistance. Specifically, you can volunteer to do something as small as play
an active role in your Unit’s phone tree, which is used to pass information,
especially upon activation of a Unit.
Especially given this time of increased alert for our Reserve Units, it
is all the more compelling to think about how the network of spouses/volunteers
would operate in time of the activation/deployment of our Sailors and
Marines. If you are a spouse or family
member of one of our Marines or Sailors, and you are interested in being a Key
Volunteer, or learning more about the program, please call me at
703-784-3433, and ask for the PWST Officer, or email me at mleo10379@aol.com.
If you have already volunteered, please check
out the USMC Key Volunteer training page at http://www.usmc-mccs.org/MCFTB/Key_Vol/keyvol_main.asp You can download training materials as well
as check the specific dates and times of the next Key Volunteer training
session as a local Marine Corps base.
Note: if you do not live near a
Marine Corps base and still want to be a Key Volunteer, WE NEED YOU! Please call me, and check out the training
materials at above mentioned web site.
Military ID Cards DEERS Enrollment **Important**
The key thing to remember is that a reservist and
his/her family normally rates a reserve ID card, and is entitled to the
benefits listed at http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/publications/handbooks/benefits.pdf
However, if the reservist is
activated for 30 days or more, the service member and his/her eligible
family members receive a whole new set of additional
benefits, to include medical care.
It is important for the reservist and family members to receive this
active duty ID card before the service member departs the area!
As part of the Marine Corps family, Marines and
eligible family members can take advantage of many benefits and
entitlements. In order to take advantage
of these benefits, Marines and eligible family members MUST have an
identification (ID) card. It is
imperative that ID cards are obtained as soon as possible so family members
have access to medical and dental coverage and facilities if the Marine
mobilizes.
To verify eligibility for medical care, the
service member and their family need to be enrolled in DEERS (Defense
Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System).
This is normally done whenever you obtain or renew ID cards.
Family members who are eligible for ID cards
includes the member’s: spouse (and
possible former spouse); children at age 10 and unmarried children under the
age of 21 (including adopted or stepchildren); children under age 10 may be eligible
for an ID card if they are not living with a family member who is eligible for
an ID card, or under special circumstances, such as living with a sole parent;
unmarried children between 21 and 23 who are attending college full-time.
Eligible family members who need an ID card
should go with their Marine to one of the DEERS locations listed below. You will need to prove eligibility to get ID
cards, so have these documents available:
· Marriage certificate.
(Clear copy acceptable.)
· Birth certificates of
children. (Clear copy acceptable.)
· As required, a certified copy of:
· court order for adoption.
· court order establishing paternity (for
illegitimate children).
· divorce decrees.
· certificate of full-time enrollment from school
registrar for dependent children over 21 and less than 23.
To enroll in DEERS and obtain and ID card, call the base/station nearest you for an appointment and directions.
Where to find even more information on Activation/Deployment Issues, and news
and military information
KVCs are here to help you answer questions and find
information regarding family member benefits, and how those would change if
your spouse activates (for > 30 days).
The following web sites are also very useful in gathering news and
information.
Marine Corps
Community Services home page**
http://www.usmc-mccs.org/
LifeLines
Services (family support and chaplains) http://www.lifelines.2000.org/home.asp
TriCare Dental: www.ucci.com
DEERS: www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl
Relocation: www.dticaw.dtic.mil/mapsite
Family Resource
Centers: www.mfrc.calib.com
American Red
Cross: www.redcross.org
Reserve Family Readiness
Programs Toolkit** http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/family/toolkit/
USO of Washington
Area:
http://www.usometrodc.org/contents.html
Marine Corps home
page (news and info)
http://www.usmc.mil
Navy home page
(news and info) http://www.navy.mil
Defense
News
http://www.defenselink.mil
Operation
Enduring Freedom http://mfrc.calib.com/Enduring)Freedom/index.htm
Marine Corps
Family Network (camaraderie/support) http://www.oocities.org/Pentagon/Quarters/2584/index.html
Marine Corps
Times (news and
info)
http://www.marinetimes.com/
Marine Corps
Wives Web Site (camaraderie/support) http://www.marinewives.com/
DC area military
information
https://www.dcmilitary.com
Lifelines Course about
Deployment: http://www.lifelines2000.org/services/deployment/index.asp
Mobilization Frequently
Asked Questions: http://mcrsc.mfr.usmc.mil/Mob/MobFAQs.asp
A Mobilization Information
and Resource Guide: http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/mobil/
Deployment Info
for Families from MCRSC: http://mcrsc.mfr.usmc.mil/Mob/FamilyMembers.asp
** links to DEERS, TRICARE,
legal, and Key Volunteer Network information also found here!
THE FOLLOWING
TWO WEB SITES INFORM YOU ON YOUR RIGHTS AS AN ACTIVATED RESERVIST (e.g.
RE-EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS, AND SPECIAL MONETARY RELIEF YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR SUCH AS
INTEREST RATE CAPS). PLEASE READ!!!
Employer Support
of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) http://www.esgr.org (addresses issues with Reservists leaving their “regular”
workplace, reemployment rights, etc)
Soldier &
Sailors Civil Relief Act (financial/other protections provided to
activated reservists, this is important!)
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/sscra/blsscra.htm
Personnel Services/Family Readiness Centers
These are resources that provide support to the
Reserve and Department of Defense (DOD) community to maintain readiness and
retention. These centers also assist
families in adapting to the demands of reserve life and responding to family
concerns.
Who is eligible for
these services?
Reservists, National Guard members, DOD civilians,
Active duty military members, military retirees, and family members.
What
services are available?
information
and referral
volunteer
outreach
Where are these located?
There
is a center at almost every base/station.
Please visit http://ocean.dtic.mil/cic/BASIS/famcen/www/mapsite/SF
to find the location nearest you.