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by Nancy LavalleeSome say it doesn’t exist.Others speak of it in hushed, ominous

tones, afraid to tempt fate by uttering its name.It strikes when we are alone; when we are

at our most vulnerable.They call it … the Deployment Curse.I’m willing to bet it’s struck most of us at

one time or another during those longmonths on our own. At first, everythingseems to be going so well. You’re starting tosettle into the rhythm of deployed life, startingto believe you’ll make it through the next sixmonths without being hit by any major catas-trophes. There’s no such thing as a curse,right? Right?

And that’s when it will strike—the waterheater will fail, the transmission will go out, oryou and the kids will be hit with a particularlyscary stomach virus that you spend the nextsix weeks trading back and forth.

Even the nonsuperstitious among us musthave noticed it; it’s almost inevitable. Ourspouses deploy, and within a week or two,we’re walloped by it as if we’re being initiatedinto some Sisterhood of Deployed Spouses.

Yes, I’ve been a victim of the Curse, too. My

husband’s first deployment came when I wasfive months pregnant with our second child. Acouple of weeks after he left, I pulled over tothe curb beside a mailbox and jumped out ofthe car to mail a letter. While the car was stillstuck in drive. With my 15-month-old in thebackseat. Speaking of curses, I let forth a stringof colorful ones, and onlookers were treated tothe sight of a pregnant woman running acrossthe O Club parking lot after her car while a tod-dler laughed happily in the backseat.

The car lurched several feet forward intothe back of a pickup truck before the truck’sdriver managed to jump into my car andthrow it into park. It could have been muchworse, but there was no major damage toeither vehicle. Nevertheless, the Curse hadfound me.

The next year, I was rear-ended while I wasstopped at a stop sign. On the same day myhusband deployed. While driving a car wehad bought only a week before.

The next several deployments were free ofmajor disasters, but the deployment gremlinswere just lulling me into a false sense of secu-rity. Toying with me. Waiting to strike.

The Taleof the Curse

See CCUURRSSEE on page 11

The Taleof the Curse

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by Alice SwanThe election season may be over, but the

military community still faces concerns overthe looming fiscal cliff and sequestrationthreats and the future of military family pro-gramming. At the Association of the UnitedStates Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting andExposition in October, senior Army leadersreassured AUSA Family Forum attendees oftheir continued commitment to FamilyProgram resourcing, a commitment sharedby leaders of all the services.

Army officials noted that the 2013 Armybudget includes $1.3 billion for soldier andfamily life programs, more than double theamount in previous years. While recognizingthat supporting families is a key factor inmaintaining strong volunteer forces, officialsalso noted that the Army has to begin work-ing to prioritize and support the programsthat are most effective.

Much of the resource focus will be on rein-tegration services for soldiers and families,substance abuse, mental health, and suicideprevention programs. There is also a push todevelop a Soldier for Life initiative that will fol-low a soldier through recruitment, assignment(with improved sponsorship programs),Expiration of Time of Service or retirementwith revamped transition services and jobplacement, according to officials. But, theyalso noted, as the conflicts of the last 11 yearsend, some programs may be consolidated oreliminated as their funding sources go away.

However, many family program initiativesthat have been developed during this sametime have come from outside theDepartment of Defense and may not be asaffected by those internal military budgetconstraints. From resources created by mili-tary spouses to support programs devel-oped by Sesame Street, military families willstill have many places to turn to for help.

1. Male spouses are findingtheir collective voice

Wayne Perry, Army spouse and cofounderof MANning the Homefront, said that thereare more than 98,000 male spouses acrossthe services, and when National Guard andReserve families are included, the numbergrows to 186,000. With more women joiningthe military, he expects the number to contin-ue to grow. “Think of (units) as a kind of frater-nity and female spouse groups as a sorori-ty…male spouses need that type of commu-nity,” said Perry.

Through MANning the Homefront andMachoSpouse.com, Perry and others are try-ing to create a Battle Buddy organization forfellow male spouses. “We’re trying to reachmale spouses, bringing them together tobuild resiliency and community,” he said. Youcan find MANning on Facebook or visitwww.machospouse.com. The site featuresvideos from other male spouses, helpful linksto resources, job finding tips and a MaleSpouse 101 tab.

2. Sittercitychild care program

Finding child care may be one of the hard-est things military families face each timethey move. Sittercity provides military familiesa clearinghouse for finding reliable child care.Sittercity is an online service connecting fam-ilies with screened and reviewed caregivers,babysitters, nannies, senior care, pet care,housekeepers and even tutors. TheDepartment of Defense currently funds mem-bership in Sittercity for all the military servic-es and has helped more than 78,000 militaryfamilies to date. Visit www.sittercity.com/dodfor more information.

3. Realwarriors.net

This online resource is designed to providetools and tips to help military families throughall stages of deployment. There are video pro-files of real military families sharing how theycoped and conquered the physical and psy-chological effects of combat service. Thereare also resource links for the war fighter,spouse and children to build family resilience.The Real Warriors Campaign is sponsored bythe Department of Defense and the DefenseCenters of Excellence for PsychologicalHealth and Traumatic Brain Injury.

4. Operation Give a Hugwww.ogah.org

For founder and Army spouse Susan Agustin,it started as a simple way to help her daughterMaddie cope with her dad’s deployment. Backin 2002, Maddie had gotten a Huggee Miss Youdoll as a gift from her cousins, which had theirpicture in the face. When Maddie’s dad Capt.Gene Agustin deployed, Susan Agustin had theidea of putting dad’s face in the doll. It quicklybecame Maggie’s source of comfort while dadwas gone.

DCMilitary Family Life

Circulation of 110,000 printed by offset as a civilian enterprise quarterly mag-azine for installations within the National Capital Region by Comprint MilitaryPublications, a division of The Gazette. Comprint Military Publications is locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone 301-921-2800.

Editorial content, including graphic art and photographs that support messages,new stories, and feature articles, are prepared in the Marketing Offices of the installationsthat contribute the information and blogs from DCMilitaryFamLife.com. Letters and sugges-tions may be mailed to DCMilitary Family Life Publisher, Comprint Military Publications, 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

The printer is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense. Opinionsexpressed herein are those of the contributors to this Marketing publication, and they are notto be considered an official expression of the Department of Defense. The appearance ofadvertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department ofDefense of the products or services advertised.

John Rives, PublisherComprint Military Publications

301-921-2800Maxine Minar, President

Outlook for militaryfamily programsremains strong


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“Since she took it everywhere, other mili-tary spouses saw it and would ask how to getone,” Susan Agustin said. “I contacted thewoman who made the original and workedwith her on creating a military doll.”

In 2003, she began distributing the dolls asa home-based business to her local militarycommunity, but as the deployments grew, sodid the requests from across the services.Agustin created her nonprofit, Operation Givea Hug, in 2004, and in 2008, partnered withthe Department of the Army to create a spe-cial doll for children of deployed soldiers. Thedoll features a hangtag with tips andresources for parents.

Operation Give a Hug has been able to pro-vide more than 500,000 comfort dolls to mili-tary children across the world. Dolls are dis-tributed through the website, FamilyReadiness Groups, school counselors, majormilitary medical facilities, Operation: MilitaryKids programs, and family life consultants.

5. A Backpack Journalistwww.abackpackjournalist.com

This relatively new program for militaryyouth ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 18 wasdesigned to build resilience in children byhelping them find their voice. By aiding mili-tary youth in developing their creative com-munication skills, they’ll be better able tocommunicate their problems and emotions

with parents, teachers and peers. The organi-zation provides classes, workshops, summercamps and exciting events to help membersget through all phases of the deploymentcycle. Backpack Journalists were even onhand to cover the Army Ten-Miler and theAUSA’s annual meeting—from interviewingracers, veterans and Wounded Warriors tojoining in a press conference with Gen.Raymond Odierno. A few of the teen journal-ists were family members from theWashington, D.C. National Guard. From creat-ing deployment raps to photography to writ-ing hard news stories, Backpack Journalist isopening new doors for older military childrento connect and cope with the stress of mili-tary life. Also find them on Facebook.

6. Student 2 Student/Junior Student 2 Studentwww.militarychild.org

Imagine your high school or middle schoolstudent being able to email, text, Facebookchat or actually talk to a fellow military child ata new school before you arrive. Imaginethem being able to set up a lunch date for thefirst day of school; learn about clubs, sports,courses and teachers; and actually be excit-ed about going to a new school. That is thegoal of this student-led program developedby the nonprofit Military Child EducationCoalition (MCEC).

Military and civilian teens and preteens aretrained to lead these peer-based programs attheir schools to help ease the trauma ofschool transition. A list of participatingschools—including many Maryland highschools and Mount Vernon High School inAlexandria, Va.—can be found on the website.Parents and students in the Military District ofWashington can find information on theMCEC website about forming programs intheir schools.

7. Little CHAMPSthelittlechamps.org

Elementary-age military children now havetheir own support program through LittleCHAMPS. This new, public health initiative isdesigned to encourage coping skills inyounger children and raise awarenessamong their civilian peers, teachers andschool leaders about what military childrenare experiencing. Through the book “TheLittle CHAMPS: Child Heroes Attached toMilitary Personnel,” as well as songs, videosand training materials, schools can helpyounger military children feel more under-stood at school, according to developer andauthor Debbie Fink. The CHAMPS programhas partnered with the USO, The AmericanRed Cross, MCEC and others to share thisinitiative with the more than 600,000 elemen-tary-aged military children.

8. Sesame Street resourcesfor military families

www.familiesnearandfar.org

According to Lynn Chwatsky with SesameWorkshop, Sesame Street has been work-ing on projects to support military childrensince 2005. These programs are designedto not only help toddlers and preschoolers,but also parents and caregivers by provid-ing age-appropriate tools to support andreassure children. Chwatsky noted duringthe AUSA Family Forum that their programsare effective because the characters res-onate with children and speak to familiesdirectly, encouraging communication.School-aged military children can also takeadvantage of the new Electric Companyactivities online.

With the USO, Sesame Workshop hasbeen taking a deployment-themed show tomilitary communities and has introduced twoapps—“Feel Electric!” and “Sesame Street forMilitary Families.” The “Talk, Listen, Connect”series has English and Spanish video pro-grams on deployments, homecomings,change and dealing with grief.

These are just a few of the many resourcesavailable to military families. Additional pro-grams can be found at sites such aswww.militaryonesource.mil, www.ausa.organd www.militaryfamily.org.


By Siobhan Fuller-McConnellFifteen months ago, life changed forever

for me and for my family. My son, Derek, then21 years ago, was injured in Afghanistan.

At the time of his injury, I was an attorneywith a mid-size law firm practicing family law,and I loved it. The cases were difficult, but Ifelt as if I was helping wonderful people getthrough the hardest times in their lives. It wasfulfilling and rewarding. I was also a singlemom of five kids, raising my children aloneafter their father left the state. My oldest,Michael, had just arrived home after servingfour years in the U.S. Navy. My twins, Kellinaand Ryan, 16, and my son, Sean, 14, were inhigh school. We didn't have a lot of money,but we had a small, comfortable home, petsand a good life.

I walked away from it all for nine months.My employers were understanding for thefirst two months, but then I was let go. Derekwas still “in the woods,” and I was needed atWalter Reed National Military Medical Center

in Bethesda, Md. My children moved in withmy sister, who took over for me.

Would life ever be the same again? Could Ireturn to my prior life after this ordeal wasover? What would be left of my prior life whenI did return? Could I go back?

What followed over the next few monthschanged all of us forever. Not only did I findmyself out of work in a terrible economy, butwe all saw how quick and easy our livescould change.

On the plus side, my children becamemore self-sufficient. They learned to rely onthemselves and not look to Mom to solveeverything. All three are now employed parttime while attending school. Their incomeshelp with the little, extra expenses. But, as amom, this is hard to accept, at times. I stillwant to be Mommy.

The medical staff at Walter Reed is topnotch, most of the time, and our woundedwarriors heal and move on with their lives. It’sa long, hard road, but there is a lot of support

to get them through it. They have nonprofits,federal programs and so much more to helpthem rebuild and move on.

But what about the moms? I am working fivepart-time jobs at present, and I am still notmaking ends meet. I write, substitute teachand sell Mary Kay. In addition, I just hung myown shingle to open my own law office and Iam taking a mediation class so that I can medi-ate disputes. We still might lose the house. Allthis because of one incident, on July 23, 2011,that changed everything forever.

While at Walter Reed, we all have accessto nonprofits and other organizations andprograms that will help us, but when wereturn home, what is there for us? Where canwe go to pick up the pieces? Can we everreally go back?

At times, I feel so disconnected. In speak-ing with other moms who have also gonethrough this, my plight is not unusual. Formonths, we devote ourselves to helping oursons heal. We spend all day, every day,

enmeshed in medical procedures, therapyand life-altering decisions. We are surround-ed by people who have “been there, donethat,” and they understand what we aregoing through.

When we leave the safety of the “BethesdaBubble,” can we adjust to real life again?There are no more wounded warrior gameson the porch of Building 62. There are nomore spontaneous gatherings of caregiversto chat, drink, shop, whatever. We are thrownback into the real world without a net.

After nine months at Walter Reed, Derekwas well enough for me to return home. But Ileft a piece of me behind. I am not the sameperson I was before. Part of me has changedfor the better, but there is that other part ... thelost part ... the confused part. One day, I knowI will have myself back together. Just as oth-ers have done, I will pull on my big girl pantiesand deal, but for now, I am still longing forsomething that was lost. I am still wanting togo back to life as it was before the boom.

Can You Ever Go Back?Can You Ever Go Back?

PHOTO COURTESY/SIOBHAN FULLER-MCCONNELL

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1036049

By Nancy LavalleeI remember when I went to my first

spouses’ gathering after my husband wentback onto active duty. I was a new militaryspouse, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Itwas lovely; the women were very friendlyand welcoming, but I was shocked that thefirst question I got after introductions weremade was, “So, what does your husbanddo?”

I was taken aback. I had a successful lawcareer I had been pursuing for the pastdecade. I had just left a job as an assistantcity solicitor. Why didn’t anyone ask mewhat I did?

My husband tried to explain that it was-n’t meant as an insult. It is natural forstrangers to want to find common bonds,and in our diverse world, the military wasthe one thing we all had in common. Iunderstood, but I worried that I would startto identify myself solely through his job.Would I lose my sense of self? Would Ilose the things that made me who I was?

More than a decade later, I don’t eventhink twice about it anymore, and I’ve got-ten used to not only answering “the ques-tion,” but I find myself asking it, too. The mil-

itary is such a huge part of our daily lives.Our spouses’ jobs shape not just where welive, but how we live—how we think of our-selves and our famil ies, whether ourspouses are intel officers or medics ormaintainers.

When you live in a military community,you get used to seeing minivans with“Proud Air Force Wife” tooling aroundtown. You know people wi t h emai laddresses like [email protected] LUVMYF16 [email protected].

That kind of pride and support is wonder-ful, but the thing is, a military spouse is anaccomplished person in his or her ownright. We have advanced degrees. Wecook and paint and write. We runmarathons. We volunteer at our churchesand our children’s schools. But marrying amember of the military often means puttingour own careers and interests on hold, ifnot sacrificing them altogether.

Of course, being a military wife is likebeing a pastor’s wife or a politician’s wife.His job becomes your job, too. It’s a jobthat requires not just total commitmentfrom the employee, but from the entirefamily.

There are very few jobs like that. I can’tsay I ’ve ever seen any “I Love MyInsurance Adjuster” or “Proud Mortician’sWife” bumper st ickers. St i l l , I real izethere’s no comparison. Being married toan insurance adjuster or a mortician or alawyer is not the same as being married toan active duty military member. Being alawyer was my job. The military is a life.

The important thing is to keep it frombecoming an all-consuming life. Althoughwe all know spouses who still “wear rank,”the military has changed significantly forspouses in the last 50 years. More of usare able to pursue our own goals and inter-ests. Still, being a military spouse is a 24-hour job. There is no downtime.

At our last base, my husband’s flying

squadron was filled with newlywed younglieutenants just out of pilot training. Theirnew wives proudly wore airplane jewelryand squadron T-shirts, and it was wonder-ful to see them so enthusiastic.

I hoped they would remain as proud andenthusiastic, just as I hoped they wouldmaintain their professional licenses orkeep running triathlons or teaching yoga orwhatever they can to carve out a small cor-ner of military life for themselves.

In the end, it’s more of an observationthan a complaint. I’m enormously proud ofmy husband and I have never been any-thing but proud to support the mission. Idon’t regret any of the choices we made asa family.

And he’s proud of me, too. He has beennothing but supportive as I studied for a barexam, worked as lawyer or sang in thechurch choir. I think that kind of support isone of the greatest gifts a spouse can begiven.

There may not be a “Proud Attorney’sHusband” bumper sticker on his car, but hehas been known to wear a “Real MenMarry Lawyers” T-shirt under his flight suit.


Identity Crisis

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When you live ina military community,you get used to seeing

minivans with“Proud Air Force Wife”tooling around town.


Holiday Decorating Contest

Get in the holiday spirit and get creative! Spread your holi-day cheer at your office space or home and submit a photoof your decorated door/cubicle to win a prize!

Please submit one jpg/pdf photo of your decorated spaceto [email protected]. Include your name, phone #,location and a brief description/inspiration. All submittedphotos will be uploaded to the JBAB MWR Facebook pageand the photo with the most votes will be the winner!

AAggee CCaatteeggoorriieess:: 12 and under & 13 and aboveMMuusstt SSuubbmmiitt EEnnttrriieess BByy:: Midnight, Thursday, December 13thVVoottiinngg wwiillll bbeeggiinn oonn:: Midnight on Friday, December 14th to

Tuesday, December 18thWWiinnnneerr wwiill ll bbee aannnnoouunncceedd oonn:: www.facebook

.com/JBAB.MWR on Wednesday, December 19thPPrriizzeess::1122 aanndd uunnddeerr - $50 dollars Warfighter and Family

Readiness Bucks (accepted at all WFR facilities)(2) AMC Movie Tickets(2) $20 Potomac Lanes Bowling Center Coupons

1133 aanndd uupp - $50 Warfighter and Family Readiness Bucks(accepted at all WFR facilities)

(2) AMC Movie Tickets(2) $20 Potomac Lanes Bowling Center CouponsAll ages are welcome to participate. Only one entry per

person. Open to Active Duty Military, DOD, Civilians andContractors on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The door/cubi-cle must be located at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.

Please call the Marketing Department at 202-767-1371 or

visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JBAB.MWR)for more information.

Holiday Tree Lighting

December 5th at 6p.m.; Post Office parking lotKick off the holidays with our Annual Tree Lighting event!

There will be entertainment, refreshments and special guestappearances for the whole family to enjoy!

New Years Eve Membership Event

December 31st, 8p.m. to 2a.m. at Bolling ClubCelebrate New Year’s Eve at your Club! Our members can

ring in the New Year FREE! There will be three rooms of non-stop entertainment featuring Elvis (Lionel and the NewWorld Band), DJ Scott and others. Party favors and compli-mentary breakfast will be served at 12:15am included FREEfor all members.

Club Members are FREE in advance (pick up your ticketsat the Club administrative office through December 28th) or$10 at the door. Non-members are $25 in advance and $35at the door.

Child care is also available – limited space, so make yourreservations early! $10 per child in advance (sign up byDecember) or $75 at the door. Please call 202-563-8400 formore information.

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NSA Annapolis MWR15th Annual

"Here's To Our Health,Nutrition and Fitness” Fair

MWR Annapolis’ 15th Annual "Here's toOur Health, Nutrition and Fitness Fair," will beheld on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Recreation ServicesBldg. #89 at Naval Support ActivityAnnapolis.

The fair promotes the Navy's health and fit-ness programs and exposes military andcivilian employees and their family membersto fitness and wellness opportunities avail-able in the local community.

Exhibits will include free glucose and bloodpressure screenings; vision, and hearingscreenings; chiropractic screenings; bonedensity screenings; body fat analysis; infor-mation on dental health, healthy cooking,weight loss programs and alternative well-ness such as acupuncture, asthma informa-tion, and information on athletic shoes and fit-ness apparel.

There will be healthy snacks and informa-tion on various walking / running clubs and fit-ness programs. Free trial massages will beavailable!

There will be the annual “Marine Corps Pull-Up Challenge” and a push-up contest withprizes for male and female first place win-ners. Door prizes will be drawn throughout

the day. Admission is free. The fair is opento all active duty, USNA Midshipmen, retiredmilitary, reservists, Coast Guard, NationalGuard, active and retired DoD civilian employ-ees including USNA faculty and staff and allfamily members, DoD contractors and NAAApersonnel and Naval Academy AlumniAssociation personnel.

If you are interested in being an exhibitor orsponsor or would like more informationabout the Health Fair, please call DonnaRuokonen, MWR Commercial SponsorshipCoordinator, at 410-293-9206.

Congratulations, Winner!

Congratulations to Carol Robillard, spouseof CDR David Robillard, professor in theOcean Engineering Department at the U.S.Naval Academy. Carol’s name was selectedfrom among 161 entries - mostly local - butsome from far away as Texas, New York andCalifornia. Both Carol and David are lookingforward to the weekend package, attendingthe game and having a small vacation withoutsix children.

Look for the “Winner’s Circle” photo onlineat: http://www.usna.edu/MWR/MARCOM/7thAnnual-Army-NavyFootballWeekendGiveaway-ContestPage

The annual contest was hosted by Morale,Welfare and Recreation Annapolis and waspublicized in the Fall issue of“DCMilitaryLiving,” the Joint Services LeisureGuide in the National Capital area. The con-test page was promoted on the USNA MWRwebsite.

The winner received a luxury weekendpackage which included four tickets to the113th Army-Navy game at Lincoln FinancialField (Philadelphia), four tickets to the Army-Navy Alumni pre-game tailgater and an auto-graphed football sponsored by the NavalAcademy Athletic Association; weekend full-size car rental sponsored by Enterprise Rent-a-Car; and a dinner cruise for four sponsored

by the Spirit of Philadelphia. Prizes wereobtained via the Navy’s Commercial Sponsorand Partnership Program.

Disclaimer: MWR Annapolis thanks thesponsors of this contest, however neitherMWR, the Navy nor any other part of the fed-eral government officially endorses any com-pany, sponsor or their products or services.

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NSA South Potomac and NSF Dahlgren MWRSign up to get a free subscription for NSF

Dahlgren Fleet and Family Readiness (FFR)weekly Electronic Newsletter (e-News) [email protected] for spe-cial events, restaurant menu, sports events,Fleet and Family Support Center classschedules and more!

Visit Naval Support Activity SouthPotomac (NSASP) on the web! Our webaddress is www.cnic.navy.mil/SPotomac

Have you found Naval Support ActivitySouth Potomac (NSASP) on Facebook?www.facebook.com/pages/Naval-Support-Activity-South-Potomac/481418550575

Auto Skills CenterOpen 4 days a week for service or the do-

it-yourselfer. The Auto Skills Center is avail-able for all your basic car maintenance.Qualified staff will assist you in doing it right!

Cannonball LanesBowling AlleyOpen 6 days a week, Cannonball Lanes

has 10 lanes of bowling featuring AMFequipment with state-of-the-art Bose soundsystem, concessions and shoes available.Activities include open bowling, specialevent nights, leagues, and party rentals.

GameTimeSports GrillOpen 6 days a week, located within

Cannonball Lanes! The Dahlgren MWRDepartment recently changed over theMean Gene's Burgers food operation locat-ed in Cannonball Lanes to the "Game TimeSports Grill". This new food operation pro-vides more options and a larger variety ofmenu items. Hours of operation are Mondaythrough Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday noon to mid-night; open Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Cannonball CaféOpen 6 days a week, the Café is located

within Cannonball Lanes! Proudly servingSeattle's Best Coffee. Freshly brewed hot oriced coffee, lattes, cappuccino and espres-so are available. Lounge includes Wi-Fi hotspot.

ChildDevelopmentCenter (CDC)

Open 5 days a week, the CDC provides afull-time child development program for chil-dren six weeks to five years old. The centeris open from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. The CDC isaccredited by the National Association forthe Education of Young Children, holds DoD

certification and participates in the USDAchild and adult care food program.

CraftechHobby ShopOpen 5 days a week, Craftech offers

classes in stained glass, ceramics, framingand matting along with many more! Craftechcarries craft supplies and will special orderparts and supplies for customers. Is yourchild into art? How about a crafting birthdayparty? For more information please stop bythe Craftech Office.

DahlgrenAquatics CenterFall/Winter Pool hours will be starting

Labor Day. Open year round for Red CrossCPR & Life Guard Training, swimming les-sons, lap swimming, and aqua aerobicsclasses and special family events monthly.Please call the pool for hours of operation,prices and facility rental at 540-653-8088

ChildDevelopmentHomeCare Program

Training available for Military & DoDspouses who live on base to offer childcarein their own homes and provide the samehigh standard of care as in the Child and

Youth Programs. This program is highlymonitored and is a great convenience forcivilians working on the base. If you areinterested in becoming a Child DevelopmentHome care provider contact Trische Mollnerat 540-653-4342 for more information.

Gray’s Landingon thePotomacRestaurant

Hours of Operation – Open 7 days a weekBreakfast 6 - 9 a.m.Lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.Dinner 4 - 6 p.m.Weekends and Holidays10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Brunch4 - 6 p.m. – Dinner

Gray's CaféOpen Mon - Fri from 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and

located within Gray’s Landing on thePotomac Restaurant. Gray’s Cafe proudlyserves Starbucks Coffee, fresh brewed cof-fee, lattes, frappuccinos, cappuccinos andespresso, and includes fresh baked pas-tries, bottled beverages, fruit cups, yogurtparfaits, a selection of wraps and grab-n-gomeals, along with other beverages. Loungewith Wi-Fi hot spot and television.

Dahlgren Fitness CenterOpen 7 days a week. You can join a vari-

ety of group fitness classes, includingCardio Boxing, Spinning, Power Yoga,Strength and Stability and Kettlebells. TheFitness Center offers racquetball throughoutthe year. Other sports and tournaments areoffered, such as softball, soccer, flag foot-ball, dodgeball, and basketball. Karateclasses are also offered throughout the yearevery 3 months for children ages 6 throughadult. Ballet and jazz classes are offeredduring the school year.

Information, TicketsandTours (ITT)

Open 5 days a week – The ITT officeoffers information, maps and directions tolocal shopping, restaurants, historical sitesand entertainment - Discount tickets toRegal Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon Theaters,Baltimore Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, DisneyWorld, Sea World and more! Ask for infor-mation on Military Discounts and the ArmedForces Vacation Club. Also call the ITTOffice at 540-653-8785 for more informationon MWR facility rentals.

See NNSSAASSPP on page 13


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Then, during a deployment two years ago, Ileft the mall to find that my car had been hit inthe parking lot. On Christmas Eve.

We’ve all gotten the pamphlets from FamilyReadiness or sat through countless prede-ployment briefings giving us advice on howto prepare while our spouses are away. Evenso, there’s nothing that can prepare you for adeployment like actually going through it, andover the years, we’ve all learned ways toavoid, or at least mitigate, the damagecaused by the Deployment Curse.

Many spouses get so handy with a tire jack,drill and set of tools, they could host their ownDIY show on cable. I prefer keeping the num-ber of a good handyman on speed dial andmaking sure my AAA membership is up todate. Not to say that I am completely helpless;I can hook up any DVR with a blindfold on andI do work a mean Phillips-head screwdriver.

My own secret talisman to ward off the evilof the Curse is a good up-to-date power ofattorney, and my husband never goes awayfor more than few days at a time without leav-ing me with one. I keep one on hand like VanHelsing keeps garlic.

Most of the area’s military installations willprovide this free service to active duty mem-bers, retirees and their dependents on a walk-in basis. Having a POA almost guarantees thatyou will never need it. But if you do ever loseyour ID in a 20-plus year military career, it willbe when your spouse is deployed.

I also make sure I have contact informationfor the unit’s key spouse and first sergeantloaded into my cell phone and not just scrib-bled on a piece of paper that inevitably man-ages to work its way out of my wallet and into

the bottom of my purse with the crackercrumbs and loose change. Military spousesare a pretty self-reliant bunch, but there arethose times when a household catastrophe orserious family illness means we need to call inreinforcements or to contact our servicemember. While it isn’t the first sergeant’s jobto come change a lightbulb or mow your lawn,the first sergeant, or your branch of service’sequivalent, is your first call in a real crisis. If theshirts don’t have the answer, they can proba-bly point you to someone who does.

In the end, there’s not a lot we can do toavoid the pitfalls and minor disasters thatcome with deployed life except to prepare asmuch as possible, brace ourselves and hopefor the best.

It also helps to surround yourself with agroup of wise and supportive friends whocan help you appreciate that most of thecatastrophes that the Curse visits on us areof the “someday we’ll laugh about this” vari-ety. Neighbors, coworkers, other militaryspouses—good friends like this may not beable to fend off the Curse, but they can helpput things into perspective. It also helps ifthey know how to fix a leaky faucet.

Of course, I don’t really believe in curses.Deployment only just feels like one of thosehorror movies where the heroine has to sur-vive a night in a haunted house. It’s hard; it’sscary. There are dangers lurking in the darkcorners. But somehow, we manage to makeit through until morning, feeling a little bitwiser and a little bit tougher.

But a curse? I don’t think so.Still, it’s probably not a good idea to get in

the car with me while my husband isdeployed.

Just in case.

CCUURRSSEE continued from page 3



The winter is upon us and the discountedski tickets are available for the snow that wehopefully will be receiving this year. Whilevery few of us want to be digging out fromthe white stuff, the fun-side is always lookingfor that perfect opportunity for a quick get-away and enjoying the slopes.

MWR will be selling discounted tickets toMountain Creek, known for their famousTriple Play, as well as CamelBack andShawnee Mountain. Check our website forthe prices and the various options as theybecome available.

And visit New York in the winter? For theCapital Region, this is one of the best times tovisit even if we get a load of the white stuff.After all, the highways are plowed first, as wellas the road to the ferry. You travel inManhattan in the subways so transportationisn’t an issue. All that leaves is shorter lines atthe Broadway Shows, lower prices at therestaurants and far less tourists on thestreets. And activities just for you!

What’shappening:December 31, 2013; Times Square NY:

Celebrate the arrival of 2014 with the annualTimes Square Ball Drop. Nothing compareswith the exhilaration of watching the fete fromthe streets, plus you can catch music andother performances before and after mid-night. With all the revelry, it's best to get toTimes Square as early as possible in the day;street closures begin during the mid-after-noon and the choicest spots are usually filledby 3pm or earlier. For more information, visittimessquarenyc.org.

JanuaryNNeeww YYoorrkk BBooaatt SShhooww; Jacob K. Javits

Convention Center nyboatshow.comDon’t miss the boat. Yachts, fishing boats,

kayaks—you’ll find them all at the New YorkBoat Show, a New York City institution formore than a century. Each year, tens of thou-sands flock to the event to check out the lat-est in boats and fishing equipment. Visitorscan also attend daily seminars with a full slateof top fishing and boating pros.

JJeewwiisshh FFiillmm FFeessttiivvaall; The Jewish Museum;thejewishmuseum.org; This film festival—acollaborative effort between the JewishMuseum and the Film Society of LincolnCenter—aims to record, investigate and cele-brate the Jewish experience around theworld with two weeks of cinematic offerings,including narrative feature-length films, shortsand documentaries. Previous NYJFFs havefeatured films that went on to great nationalacclaim, like Nowhere in Africa, Beaufort andEmpty Nest

WWiinntteerr AAnnttiiqquueess SShhooww; Park AvenueArmory; winterantiquesshow.com Each win-ter, the most prestigious antiques show inAmerica comes to the Park Avenue Armory.The show features the best selection ofpieces from antiquities through art deco. The

show also serves as a benefit for the EastSide House Settlement.

FebruaryCChhiinnaattoowwnn; Manhattan, NY; Check out the

Lunar New Year celebration happening inChinatown for stunning visuals, tantalizingtreats and impressive performances. Thisstreet party features all sorts of vendors, foodand festivities for all ages. Walk the mainstreets of Lower Manhattan—from Little Italythrough Chinatown—to get a glimpse of theofficial Lunar New Year Parade. For moreinformation, visit explorechinatown.com

WWeessttmmiinnsstteerr DDoogg SShhooww; Madison SquareGarden; westminsterkennelclub.org

Each year, dog fans flock to MadisonSquare Garden to find out which pooch will bedesignated Best in Show. Founded in 1877,the Westminster Kennel Club is America's old-est organization dedicated to the sport ofpurebred dogs. Crowd and judge favoritesinclude hound dogs, terriers, retrievers, SaintBernards, bulldogs, dachshunds and theever-stylish poodle. Come watch these regalcanines compete for top-dog honors.

NNeeww YYoorrkk IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall CChhiillddrreenn''ss FFiillmmFFeessttiivvaal; gkids.com; Helping to redefine whata “kids' movie” has to be, the New YorkInternational Children’s Film Festival shines alight on some of the most unique, engagingand thought-provoking youth-oriented filmsmade outside the Hollywood system. Fromobscure animated shorts to full-length, live-action dramas, the NYICFF covers nearly

every style, age group and cultural back-ground, making it an ideal event for the family.

LodgingFor the best value in town, stay with the

Coast Guard Guest Quarters. There are twounits, a two bedroom and a three bedroomformer family housing unit complete with a liv-ing room, dining room and kitchen. Each unithas its own bath. Reservations are taken asfar in advance as you care to make themunderstanding that full payment is required at

the time of the reservation and there is a can-cellation fee.

If the Guest Quarters are full, we refer you toour neighbor, the Navy Lodge. Co-located inthe same parking lot, this leisure travel gem isideal for the couples who do not need thespace available that the Guest Quarters offers.

Remember, the Coast Guard ITT office isthe only ITT office located in New York City.Be sure to check us out atwww.secnymwr.com before visiting the citythat never sleeps.

USCG Sector NY MWR

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LibertyCenter(Single/UnaccompaniedSailorProgram)

Open 7 days a week, The Liberty pro-gram sponsors free or reduced-priceevents for all active-duty personnel. Contactthe Liberty Coordinator at 540-653-7277 forinformation and scheduled events. IDrequired for Liberty discounts.

LibraryOpen 6 days a week with a variety of fic-

tion, non-fiction, periodicals and referencematerials, movies for check-out, audio CDs,daily papers and reading lounge with Wi-Fihot spot and television are available.Computers, copier and a fax machine areavailable for patron use. Computer classesoffered seasonally, story time for the kidsevery Friday at 10 a.m. and a variety ofevents offered monthly.

Gear Issue&EquipmentRental/ RV&Boat StorageOffice

Open 4 days a week. Located within theAuto Skills Center, Gear Issue & EquipmentRental offers a selection of recreation equip-ment for fishing, camping, picnics, specialevents, sporting equipment and more.

Rentals can be daily, weekly or for the week-end. Call during hours of operation fordetails and pricing.

TheDahlgrenMovie TheaterThe NSF Dahlgren Movie Theater has

gone digital! Join us at the newly remodeledDahlgren Movie Theater. We have new seat-ing with drink holders, new carpet, newpaint, new curtains and a new digital moviesystem (capable if showing 3-D movies).

Friday and Saturday evening movies shownyear-round, featuring recent movie releases.Concessions are available including foodand beverages. A significant savings whencompared to commercial movie theaters.Eligible patrons include all with base access.For more information please contact themovie info. line at 540-653-7336.

Hours of Operation: Friday: 7 p.m.Showing; Saturday: 7 p.m. Showing

Price of Shows$5 Civilian, $4 Active Duty, Retired &

Reserve Mil E7 & above & their family mem-bers with ID, $2.50 E1-E6 and below andtheir family members with ID, $2 Child (6-11),Free - Child (5 and under).

YouthActivity CenterOpen 5 days a week from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Before and after school program and sum-mer camp for youth grades K-12. Our staffmembers supervise a range of activitiesfrom recreation to crafts to homework time.

NNSSAASSPP continued from page 10



Quantico MWRMCCSQuanticoStay in theKnow

MCCS Quantico has a lot going on this fall.Stay in the know by signing up to receive ourMonthly Trifold at the MCCS website. Or like uson facebook, facebook.com/Quantico MCCS.

TheClubsatQuanticoThe Clubs at Quantico has a new executive

chef, Chef Frank, and is your prime locationfor a unique lunch experience, delectabledinners and club events. They offer a dailylunch buffet, take-out menu Monday-Fridayfrom 1100-1330, and special dinnersWednesday-Friday 1600-1930. Variousevents are held throughout the week for ourMarines to relax and enjoy the camaraderieof their fellow Marines. TCAQ also offers aConference Center that is the perfect locationfor your special event. Call 703-784-4264 formore information or visit the dining section onthe MCCS website.

MedalofHonorGolfCourseGGoollff OOuuttiinnggssFall is the perfect time to schedule a golf

outing! The Medal of Honor Golf Courseincludes an 18-hole golf course, practicerange, putting green, a beautiful Clubhousewith an expanded Pro-Shop, and Mulligan’sRestaurant. For fees and more information,call 703-784-2424 or visit the recreation sec-tion on the MCCS website

AAuuttoommaatteedd TTeeee TTiimmeeThe Medal of Honor Golf Course takes Tee

Times via the Automated Call-in System.Patrons should stop by the Pro Shop withtheir identification and sign up for a pin num-ber. The pin number is required to identifyTee Time priority. There is no charge for a pinnumber. Automated Tee Time phone num-ber: 703-432-8536.

BarberPhysicalActivityCenterBPAC houses Physical Fitness, Health

Promotion, Athletics and Youth Sports. Thefacility offers a large variety of recreationalopportunities with a 9,600 square foot fitnessdeck, group exercise room, spin studio, func-tional fitness room, three racquetball courtsand one full-sized basketball court. It alsooffers a TV and Wi-Fi lounge, smoothie bar,child co-op, locker rooms and separatesaunas for men and women. For more infor-mation call, 703-432-0590 or visit the SemperFit section on the MCCS website.

HHeeaalltthh PPrroommoottiioonnThe Semper Fit Health Promotion Center is

located in the Barber Physical Activity Center,Building 2073, Barnett Avenue, which isstaffed by both Navy medical and MarineCorps personnel. They offer many classesand screenings to Active Duty, Retirees, DoDCivilians, Spouses, and Dependents. Formore information call, 703-784-3780 or visitthe Semper Fit section on the MCCS website.

PPhhyyssiiccaall FFiittnneessssThe Quantico Physical Fitness Program is

located in the Barber Physical ActivityCenter, Building 2073, Barnett Avenue.Fitness programs include personal training,group exercise programs, health promotion,fitness lecture series and a variety of special-ty programs. The Physical Fitness Programsupports the Marine Corps PFT, CFT andweight control requirements. For more infor-mation call, 703-432-0593 or visit the SemperFit section on the MCCS website.

AAtthhlleettiiccssThe Marine Corps Base, Quantico

Athletics program guarantees to provide acomprehensive range of individual andteam sports for both men and women withan emphasis placed on mass participation. Itis designed to provide programs that assistMarines in maintaining morale and esprit decorps while keeping mentally alert andphysically fit. In addition, to fulfill the leisuretime needs of interests of military personnel,their family members and DoD civiliansthrough recreational and competitive activi-ties. For more information call, 703-784-5627or visit the Semper Fit section on the MCCSwebsite.

Youth SportsQuantico Co-ed/Inclusive Youth Sports are

recreational/instructional leagues. Our firstpriority is fair and equal play for all youth ath-letes. All players get equal time on the fieldand/or court regardless of skill level. Oncethis is achieved, our next focus is on teach-

ing teamwork as well as building and/orimproving sports skills. All of our coachesare volunteers. This means that not all teamswill be starting their practices on the sameday. Historically, we get the majority of ourcoaches when they register their child.However, to get the entire number of coach-es needed, we may have to call parents andtry to recruit coaches. Teams without coach-es will be dissolved and registration fees willbe refunded. If you have questions about theYouth Sports program, please call or e-mailhe Youth Sports office: 703.784.5637/9756or [email protected]

Any complaints about the program,coaches, officials, etc. need to be put in writ-ing and taken to the Youth Sports Office atBarber Gym. For more information call, 703-784-9756 or visit the Semper Fit section onthe MCCS website.

Quantico AutoHobbyCenterGet your car ready for fall trips by stop-

ping by the Quantico Auto Hobby SkillsCenter Shop to make sure it runs smoothly.The center can assist you with repairs, main-tenance, and instruction on automotiveneeds and also offers Free Holiday Pre-Inspection and Women’s Preventative AutoMaintenance classes. For more information,call 703-784-2729 or visit the recreation sec-tion on the MCCS website.

Rec/ITTAre the kids bored? Want to plan a family

excursion? Stop by or call Recreation,Information, Tickets, and Tours located inthe Marine Corps Exchange, Building 3500,Russell Road. They have information andbrochures about many local and regionalattractions. The staff searches out "hotspots" suitable for individual family outingsand/or tours of special interest to their cus-tomers. Rec/ITT offers discounts to manylocal attractions: Kings Dominion, BuschGardens, Six Flags, Colonial Williamsburg,and the Verizon Center. For more informa-tion, call 703-432-8850 or visit the recreationsection on the MCCS website


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