Homeland Magazine April 2022 by HOMELAND MAGAZINE

Vol. 11 Number 4 • APRIL 2022

Homeland MAGAZINE

PURPLE UP!

Your Children Deserve the Best of You!

FOR MILITARY KIDS

Youth Caregiver Lights the Way

Month of the Military Child CHILDREN ARE A PRIORITY Shining a Light on Military Children

SEALKIDS

TRANSITION

Strategies & Expectations

Realities of Remote Work

Especially for Working Parents

MENTAL HEALTH WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Resources Support Transition HEALTH INSPIRATION

Homeland Magazine A Veterans Magazine by Veterans for Veterans

www.HomelandMagazine.com Voted 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021 BEST resource, support media for veterans, military families & military personnel. 2

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EDITOR’S

LETTER

Publisher Editor-In-Chief Mike Miller mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com

Contributing Writers Holly Shaffner Veteran Advocate

RanDee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens

Jenny Lynne Stroup Real Talk: Mental Health

Vicki Garcia

Enlisted to Entrepreneur

CJ Machado

SD Vets & Homeland Photojournalist

Kelly Bagla, Esq. Legal Eagle

Tana Landau, Esq. Legally Speaking

Joe Molina

Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Eve Nasby

www.HomelandMagazine.com

What’s Next - Transitioning

Amber Robinson Arts & Healing

Eva Stimson Greetings and a warm welcome to Homeland Magazine!

Veteran Advocate

Please take some time to get to know the layout of our magazine. The Magazine focuses on national resources, support, community, and inspiration for our veterans and the military families that keep it together.

Human Resources

Our magazine is driven by passion, vision, reflection and the future. The content is the driving force behind our magazine and the connection it makes with our veterans, service members, military families, and civilians. The magazine is supported by a distinguishing list of national veteran organizations, resource centers, coalitions, veteran advocates, and more. We are honored to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people. Homeland Magazine is a veterans magazine for veterans by veterans. We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of Homeland Magazine.

Mike Miller

Publisher/Editor mikemiller@HomelandMagazine.com 4

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Paul Falcone

Money Matters VA Lending & Personal Finance

Collaborative Organizations Wounded Warrior Project Raquel Rivas Disabled American Veterans American’s Warrior Partnership * Including National Veteran Organizations, Advocates & Guest Writers

Homeland Magazine 9528 Miramar Road, Suite 41 San Diego, CA 92126

(858) 275-4281 Contact Homeland Magazine at: info@homelandmagazine.com

Your Children Deserve the Best of You!

APRIL

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans 8 Yellow Ribbon Fund 10 DAV - Driven to Serve 12 THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD 13 CHILDREN ARE A PRIORITY 15 Purple Up For Kids 16 SEALKIDS 18 Camp Corral: Military Veteran Children 20 Shining a Light on Military Children 22 WWP - Youth Caregiver Lights the Way 24 Real Talk: Month of the Military Child 26 Helping Kids Cope with Divorce 28 Shelter to Soldier Announces Partnership 31 Guide Dogs of America 34 Veterans with a Substance Use Disorder 36 LENS: Military Separation 38 What’s Next: Your Next Mission 40 HR: Realities of Remote Work 42 Life After Military Service 44 Successful Transitioning Stories 46 Veterans in Business: Masterminds 48 Healthcare Careers: A Perfect Fit 50 Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship 52 Legal Eagle: Entrepreneur Trends 56 Careers in Law Enforcement 62 Inside the Monthly Columns WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans! • They flew more day and night missions, and more combat missions than any other unit in Vietnam. They flew over 78,000 missions, accumulated over 131,000 flight hours, and flew 1,530 medical evacuations. • Their actions saved countless lives! For their bravery, courage, and heroism, they were awarded medals at the highest levels - 5 Navy Crosses, 31 Silver Star Medals, 2 Legion of Merit Medals, 5 Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 156 Purple Hearts, 101 Bronze Star Medals, 142 Gallantry Crosses, over 16,000 Air Medals, and many more awards. • Their service came at a price - 44 Seawolves were killed in action and over 200 were wounded.

Photo by Gary Ely

By Holly Shaffner This fall Honor Flight San Diego will open their “Tour of Honor” flight to Vietnam veterans for the first time. Approximately 100 Vietnam veterans will travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built for their service and sacrifice. Since 2010, Honor Flight San Diego has been taking senior veterans (currently WWII and Korea era veterans), and veterans from any era with terminal illnesses on the three-day trip. The trip is no cost to the veteran and nearly 1,500 veterans have flown from San Diego.

• Their unit was not formally recognized until 38 years after the Vietnam War. They were finally recognized by Congress in House Resolution 1228 in July 2010. The Seawolves were established to provide close air support for the Navy’s Game Warden River Patrol Force (a.k.a. Brown Water Navy) in South Vietnam to take control of the rivers. Navy helicopterpilots, skilled at antisubmarine warfare and search and rescue operations which required a similar all-weather capability which was better able to cope with this environment than their Army counterparts.

In September, history will be made as the organization starts with the Vietnam era. The organization wanted to start with an extraordinary and unique group; they selected the Navy HA(L)-3 Seawolves. If you haven’t heard of the Seawolves, they were an all-volunteer squadron in the US Navy formed in support of Naval Special Warfare operations and Mobile Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. They served in country from July 1966 to March 1972. Here’s a few facts about the Seawolves: • They are the most decorated Navy Squadron in the Vietnam War, and in all of Naval Aviation History. • They were the only rapid reaction armed helicopter squadron ever commissioned in the U.S. Navy and only Naval Unit to be commissioned and decommissioned in country during the Vietnam War. They had no U.S. home base during the war. 6

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Photo by Anthony Rosario

When units called in “Scramble Seawolves” on the radio, they were in the air within a few minutes. HAL-3 pilots flew the heavily armed helicopters and provided rapid reaction close-air support to a host of naval craft, and often provided dedicated armed reconnaissance and fire support for Navy SEAL operations. SEAL teams went in, backed by flotillas of river patrol boats (PBRs) - SEALs and SEAWOLVES became an inseparable and dominating warrior team in areas where they were co-located. Ultimately 2,556 men - pilots, maintainers, and aircrewmen would serve as “Seawolves” in the Vietnam War.

Photos by Anthony Rosario

Seawolf door gunner Gary Ely helped the organization reveal the announcement. When the media asked him about serving in Vietnam, he said, “I was just doing my job.”

He and his brothers are already looking forward to the trip. When we asked what it means to go on his Honor Flight, he said, “Being able to stand tall with my brothers when we go back is going to be a significant part of my life.” Honor Flight San Diego will visit the National WWII, Lincoln, Korea, Air Force, and Marine Corps Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the National Navy Museum. The most anticipated stop will be the visit to the Vietnam Wall. There, these men will spend as much as needed to visit their 44 brothers who did not make it home. Then on Sunday, these Vietnam veterans will return to San Diego to the homecoming they should have received when they came home from Vietnam. They will get the welcome home they deserve from about 1,000 San Diegans waving American Flags and saying thank you.

Walt Frazier & Gary Ely Photo by Chris Stone

Walt Frazier, a Seawolf door gunner on the Huey helicopter said to the media, “I am humbled they selected the Seawolves to go first. I’ve always wanted to go on an Honor Flight.” There is an estimated 60,000 Vietnam Veterans in San Diego County. For the fall flight, Honor Flight San Diego is ONLY accepting Vietnam veteran applications from Navy Seawolves. Seawolves can apply at: www.honorflightsandiego.org. The organization learned of the Seawolves story after watching a documentary called, “Scramble the Seawolves.” It was the opening night film at the GI Film Festival in 2019 and it documents the history and legacy of the historic squadron.

Walt Frazier

To learn more about the Seawolves, go to: www.scrambletheseawolves.com WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Yellow Ribbon Fund is a military family charity that serves post-9/11 injured service members, caregivers and loved ones from hospital to hometown. The services and programs offered by the nonprofit enable families to stay together during critical recuperation phases and are designed to support its recipients, which leads to better outcomes. Its two primary programs include the Crossroads Program, which provides logistical support to military families while their loved ones are treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the Keystone Program, which provides military caregiver support, advice and education. Since 2005, the organization has served an average of 15 families each month at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir and more than 1,600 caregivers across the US. Crossroads Program When a military service member returns home injured, their family’s world instantly changes, and the consequences can be profound. When admitted to a military hospital for treatment, each family must drop everything to be with them. Unfortunately, not all families have the resources to uproot and relocate temporarily. Filling this gap through its Crossroads Program, Yellow Ribbon Fund provides essential services, such as short-term and long-term housing and transportation for the injured service members’ families at no cost. The goal is to keep families together during recovery, eliminating the stress of travel and housing logistics so they can focus on what matters most. Executive Director, Gina Harrow has walked in these shoes. She explains, “My husband Ben, U.S. Army Special Forces Captain, West Point graduate and double amputee, was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in May 2012. I immediately booked my airfare and rushed to his side at Walter Reed, leaving our 14-month-old son with my parents. I was alone, scared and lost. I literally slept in a chair in my husband’s room.”

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Keystone Program When a service member is hospitalized, typically, caregivers have a plethora of support; however, when they return home, most support dwindles. Not only has the service member’s life changed instantaneously, but so has the caregivers, most often a spouse. Many times, the caregiver is forced into the role unprepared, and the responsibilities of caring for their loved one become a full-time job. Many face job/income loss and substantial financial, physical and emotional distress. Because of this, Yellow Ribbon Fund’s Keystone Program offers resources that complement each caregiver’s journey. Instead of their needs being secondary, the program ensures they don’t walk alone and fills the much need gap to provide respite and transitional services geared specifically for the military caregiver. Yellow Ribbon Fund’s Keystone Program has eight chapters nationwide and, as of 2020, a virtual chapter offering military caregiver support. The program, focused on empowering caregivers, includes career retraining opportunities, health and wellness services, respite, family trips and wellness retreats, training and education. These military caregiver resources boost morale, promote self-care and resilience, and foster deep friendships and family bonding. Marites Roberts began her caregiving journey in 2016 after her husband, JD, lost his right leg. JD retired from service in 2018 following his injury and relocated his family from Arizona to Texas.

After a friend invited Marites to a family wellness retreat, Marites joined Yellow Ribbon Fund. As a result, she received support helping her cope with the everyday stress of her husband’s health and injuries and help with her health problems. Career Development Program One popular Keystone Program is the Career Development Program. Many military caregivers leave their jobs to provide full-time care to their injured service member. Unfortunately, according to a 2011 MetLife study, an estimated $3 trillion is lost in income from caregivers leaving the workforce early; military caregivers and families are often placed in financial hardships that can be difficult to escape. Additionally, when military caregivers can return to work, they have usually lost some of their professional skills and training. This difficulty can make it difficult to secure or retrain for a new position. This is where Yellow Ribbon Fund steps in. Annually, Yellow Ribbon Fund sponsors 48 scholarships for military caregivers reentering the workforce to the MilSpo Academy powered by CareerDash. The 13-week program provides an online, flexible, personalized career boot camp with hands-on experience. Yellow Ribbon Funds’ partnership with the MilSpo Academy powered by CareerDash has led to a 90% job placement rate for its military caregivers.

Yellow Ribbon Fund is a Military Family Charity that Serves Post-9/11 Injured Service Members, Caregivers, and Their Loved Ones. To Learn More and Donate Go To www. yellowribbonfund.org

We Provide Housing, Transportation, Physical & Mental Wellness Support, Events, Respite, Family Wellness Retreats, & Caregiver Scholarships to The Career Development Program to Increase Financial Security For Our American Heroes

Creating a Positive Impact “We know how necessary support and community are when caring for your loved one who has come home injured,” said Harrow. “We’re dedicated to ensuring each program we offer is of service to our military families so that we can make the biggest impact in their lives. I’m so thankful for our donors who allow us to change the lives of military families in need every day.” Change a Life Today Yellow Ribbon Fund is a national wounded veteran charity offering military family support services. It is 100% supported by generous donors. For more information on ways to help, visit www.YellowRibbonFund.org. To learn more about available programs, visit www.yellowribbonfund.com/programs/keystone/ or www.yellowribbonfund.org/programs/crossroads/. www.facebook.com/YellowRibbonFund www.twitter.com/YRFund www.instagram.com/YellowRibbonFund/

Driven to serve

Student volunteers from Godley Independent School District in Godley, Texas, load boxes filled with nearly 50 pounds of food into vehicles during a mobile food pantry at the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic. The event served veterans in the area facing food insecurity.

Texas high school students volunteer with veteran mobile food pantry as part of DAV-supported leadership development program By Brian Buckwalter

ith the support of DAV and nonprofit Team America, a group of high school students from Godley Independent School District (ISD) in Godley, Texas, have partnered with the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic and the Tarrant Area Food Bank to help distribute meals during a mobile food pantry event for area veterans facing food insecurity. RC Shields, a specialist with the VA North Texas Healthcare System Center for Development and Civic Engagement, organized the event—the first of its kind in the region for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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“The more that we collaborate with other organizations, the more that we collaborate with community, the greater that we can serve the vets,” said Shields. “Without the collaboration, we can’t serve vets to the fullest.” Jason Hill, a coach with Godley High School, said his school’s students were invited to participate because of their involvement with the Tomlinson Center for Leadership, a development program founded by former NFL football player and Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson as part of his Team America organization. DAV is a supporting partner of Team America. “Partnerships like the one DAV has with Team America are an effective way to introduce volunteering to a younger generation,” said DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “The opportunity Godley’s students had to serve veterans in their community hopefully inspires them to seek out

Students from Godley Independent School District in Godley, Texas, had a chance to eat lunch and talk with veterans at the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic after participating in a mobile food drive for food-insecure veterans. The students are part of the nonprofit Team America’s Tomlinson Center for Leadership program that partners with DAV for volunteer opportunities. Other organizations involved were the Tarrant Area Food Bank and the VA North Texas Healthcare System. (Photos by Aubrey McDade)

more ways to help veterans.” Kleindienst said there are plans to offer more schools participating in the Tomlinson Center for Leadership program opportunities to volunteer with veterans through DAV. For Hill, the hours the students spent volunteering that early Monday morning, which was a day off for the school district, are part of the push to develop them into elite citizens. “Leadership is about serving others,” said Hill. “And what better way to typify that than going and serving at the VA and being able to serve veterans.” Before the cars started lining up, the group of students worked together to fill boxes with nearly 50 pounds of food. Each box contained an assortment of fresh produce, eggs, dairy and dry goods, and the students handed out the boxes to recipients as they arrived. Organizers, including Shields and Team America representative Aubrey McDade, encouraged the students to not just hand food out but engage with the veterans as well. “A lot of the stories they had just in that short 30 to 45 seconds of them driving through … showed us how much they appreciated us being there,” said Nathan Wisely, a senior at Godley. Wisely said the appreciation veterans showed also helped keep the students’ energy up throughout the morning that, for them, started before sunrise. After food distribution ended, the students had time to eat lunch and talk with some of the veterans at the center. One veteran in particular was so impressed with the students’ genuine engagement and effort that he wrote an email to Hill.

“In this day and age, it does not seem like young people really have the time or interest, but I saw your group working early in the parking lot and then going around talking to different veterans,” wrote Steve Mix, who was at the VA that morning for a checkup. Sophomore Payton DeFoor said the day made her more thankful for what she has and helped her gain a better understanding of what some veterans have been through. McDade, a Marine veteran and Navy Cross recipient, said that Team America encourages volunteer events for students in its leadership development program because they have a transformational impact on students, help them learn that leadership means service and that they should strive to be people of character. He also said volunteer service ties into the organization’s hallmarks of inclusiveness, tolerance and character development. “They did an amazing job,” said McDade. For Shields, partnerships like the one between the VA and DAV are critical because they introduce new groups of people to the needs of veterans and fuel a passion for volunteerism. It’s DAV’s partnership with Team America that paved the way for Godley ISD’s participation during this mobile food pantry. “If we’re going to be successful for veterans, we’ve got to have everybody involved,” said Shields. “It takes a whole team to really serve veterans like they need to be served.” n

Learn More Online

For more information about Team America, visit teamamerica.org. To learn about volunteer opportunities with DAV, visit VolunteerforVeterans.org.

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Homeland Magazine

APRIL 2022 12

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Holding space for your children is a priority! By: Cindy Grossman, LCSW, Executive Director, Kids’ Turn San Diego Did you know the divorce rate in military families tends to be about 75%? Kids’ Turn San Diego offers Family Workshops for Separated and Divorced Families and we have seen a significant increase in military connected families attending the program. In 2016, 54 military connected parents and their children participated in a Family Workshop, compared to 137 in 2021! Thank you to all the military families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe! Let’s take a minute to look back over the past two years. As our world shut down and everyone was ordered to “stay home”, most of us felt alone and scared. As time went on, we heard new fears from military families. Deployments typically have a beginning and an end. But what about those who had a spouse deployed when the pandemic surfaced? Did someone on the ship get COVID, were they exposed, would my partner ever return home? Many families were resilient, and others struggled. Divorce may be a decision for many military families but holding space for your children must be the priority!

You can choose how you are going to interact with your child’s other parent. You may not like it! You may feel like you are compromising or giving in, but this doesn’t mean that you are less than others or bad in any way. This means that you are putting your children first! Children want to see their parents, they want you to say nice things about their other parent, they want to see their relatives, they want their parents to get along. Your children want to be heard, understood and to feel important in the eyes of both their parents. Divorce may be a reality for you but support your children as they transition from one home to two. No matter how you feel about their other parent, show your children how to be kind. A smile (even if it is fake) or a brief wave is huge in your child’s eyes. Give them this gift! Virtual programming continues at Kids’ Turn San Diego so reach out for support from wherever you live. In honor of Month of the Military Child, we’re here if you need us www.kidsturnsd.org. Thank you for your service!

The number one theme we hear from children, month after month, is that they want their parents to stop fighting and yelling at each other. They want their parents to get along! Parents, you have no control over others, only yourself. Only you feel your feelings and understand your thoughts. Only you can choose your behavior. Are you reacting and sharing your frustrations through yelling and lashing out at others? Are you internalizing and using substances to manage your emotions? Are you distraught and immobilized? Do you tell your children your problems and hope they will help you solve them? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone! The good news is . . . YOU have control of your feelings and thoughts and your behaviors! You can choose to respond instead of react. You can choose to seek support from other adults (friends or professionals). WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Your Children Deserve the Best of You!

“Look around and

enjoy what you see. Don’t pay attention to what you’ve lost. Pay attention to the future. You can do anything even if it seems like its hard because being a military kid will make you stronger!” - Taylor, the daughter of a dual-military couple. Kids’ Turn San Diego

Kids’ Turn San Diego applauds Taylor and other military children for their resilience, dedication to their parents, and the sacrifices they have made. We know how difficult it is for a child to move and change schools, leave friends, and experience a parent on deployment. 14

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April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome. The Month of the Military Child is part of the legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He established the Defense Department commemoration in 1986. San Diego Veterans Magazine joins the Department of Defense and the military community in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child. In DoDEA communities around the world, our most essential strategic imperatives are: establishing an educational system that progressively builds the college and career readiness of all DoDEA students; and establishing the organizational capacity to operate more effectivelyand efficiently as a model, unifiedschool system. We aim to challenge each student to maximize his or her potential and to excel academically, socially, emotionally and physically for life, college and career readiness. www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/Military-Child-Month

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SEALKIDS By Dr. Gretchen McIntosh Executive Director, SEALKIDS, Inc.

Navy SEALs are some of the most courageous and strong individuals in the world. SEALs make up just 1% of all Navy Personnel. While we may not always see what SEALs are up to because of their privacy and protection, SEALs are sent on missions daily that are unimaginable to most of us. SEALs spend up to 9 months of the year out of the home on mission and in training. With SEALs being gone for most of the year, their spouses and families must make sacrifices to keep SEALs on mission. Dad doesn’t get to come home at 5 pm and eat dinner with the family; SEAL families accept a unique normal and may need help to support children while one parent is away on life-threatening missions. Because even our bravest individuals need support, the National Nonprofit SEALKIDS exists to help provide additional team members and support for SEALs and their families.

Being an active-duty service member’s child is many things. Mostly it’s a challenge. I am so proud of my father for choosing to serve; but I won’t pretend it’s easy on the rest of the family. It’s a challenge in that deployments bring a natural fear of your parent not returning home. It’s hard when you see your friends lose loved ones. Emotional stress is always lurking around. We, military kids, learn to either push the stress down or use it to grow us. Deployments seemed harder the older I got. I moved a few times so changing schools had its challenges as well. Each school had new learning styles. I would often feel as though I needed to “catch up” to the new styles of learning. I was diagnosed with a neuro/ visual condition at a very young age that added to my struggles.

SEALs are never out of the fight, and neither is SEALKIDS. A SEALKIDS SUCCESS STORY Since 2011, SEALKIDS has helped over 1,000 children reach their academic goals across the USA. SEALKIDS works as a partner with parents, schools, and the Naval Special Warfare community to address the unique challenges faced by some of our heroes’ children. SEALKIDS, through its programs, supports the children of Naval Special Warfare—everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances. This encompassing approach of academic testing, tutoring, therapy, advocacy, and enrichment fosters the success and wellbeing of the child, critically reducing family stresses and ultimately keeping today’s Navy SEAL in the fight. Lauren, a recent SEALKIDS graduate, shares her story: Being an active-duty service member’s child is many things. Mostly it’s a challenge. I am so proud of my father for choosing to serve; but I won’t pretend it’s easy on the rest of the family. It’s a challenge in that deployments bring a natural fear of your parent not returning home. It’s hard when you see your friends lose loved ones. Emotional stress is always lurking around. We, military kids, learn to either push the stress down or use it to grow us. 16

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Photo by Spring Dyer Photography

Once my mom found out about SEALKIDS and I began tutoring, things changed quickly and for the better. I learned SO much about learning different techniques, especially in math! It all began to click. My tutors were so smart and really plugged in to work with me several days a week until I graduated (in the top 5% of my class!). SEALKIDS made me feel honored. Heard. Important. SEALKIDS made all of the difference for me. They know a little help can go a long way. SEALKIDS provided me access to the necessary resources which fostered my growth and success. SEALKIDS knows the struggles and knows how to help us.

MONTH OF THE

MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION IS A

BATTLEFIELD We make sure that no child gets left behind.

Now, I am a fulltime college student at SMU in Dallas, TX on a pre-med/pre-law tract with a BioChem major and a minor in math. To handle the everyday challenges of military life, it takes teamwork and SEALKIDS became part of my team. SEALKIDS gave me the confidence to push myself harder and to excel in school, despite my obstacles. HOW TO JOIN THE SEALKIDS SQUAD SEALKIDS is able to work with the over 300 children they currently serve due to generous donors who have decided to sacrifice for those that sacrifice for us. By raising funds for SEALKIDS, you are helping the only non-profit organization devoted solely to children’s educational support and success in the Navy SEAL community. Your generosity will help children living in a world most cannot comprehend, improve their grades and confidence to pursue their own mission in life. You can fund their future. Ways to Get Involved With SEALKIDS: • Learn about SEALKIDS - www.sealkids.org • Attend local events - www.sealkids.org/calendar • Add SEALKIDS to your Amazon Smile https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F

• Companies can reach out to contact@sealkids.org to create a partnership with SEALKIDS to raise funds and awareness for SEALKIDS and their companies. IN NEED OF SERVICE? If you are in a SEAL family or know a SEAL family that could benefit from SEALKIDS services, please go to www.sealkids.org/request-help and fill out the form to request service.

SEALKIDS provides professional tutors that give a tactical advantage to the children of Navy SEALs, providing the academic skills necessary for a brighter future. Our tutoring services take aim at learning challenges and eliminate those issues with the precision of a designated marksman.

LEARN MORE

& DONATE

SEALKIDS.ORG/DONATE WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

What do military and veteran children want us to know? Camp Corral supports kids by listening to them first National nonprofit, Camp Corral, serves the families of our nation’s military heroes by starting with their children. Since its inception in 2011, Camp Corral has recognized the very real hardships that go along with serving as a military-connected child, especially one who has experienced the trauma of having a parent who is wounded, ill or fallen because of their military service. As part of its vision to empower these children to live their best lives, Camp Corral develops and delivers specialized programming designed to meet their unique needs. Nearly 35,000 children from every state in the nation have participated in Camp Corral’s weeklong summer camps — all at no cost to their families. In addition to camps designed to offer respite, build peer-support networks, strengthen self-confidence and reinforce coping skills, Camp Corral plays an active role in advocating for military-connected children, particularly among non-military individuals who may not understand what it means to have a parent serving our nation. This past year, the nonprofit joined DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and PsychArmor Institute to share responses from more than 2,000 militaryconnected children and make their voices heard in an educational video titled “15 Things Military and Veterans’ Kids Want You to Know,” which can be viewed at www.campcorral.org/resources and used as an educational resource. Highlights from the educational resource include the fact that military kids cope with stress in unique ways and process their feelings differently from other children. That stress can manifest as physical symptoms, such as a stomachache, which they may not want to share with others over worries of overburdening friends or family members. Stress and worry may also be amplified by the fact that military children often step up to serve as caregivers. Camp Corral surveys indicate that more than 70% of children who participate in its programs take on caregiving duties in their household. 18

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These kids may struggle to adapt as they care for a changed parent who returns from deployment with physical injury or mental trauma. Yet throughout these struggles, military children remain proud of who they are and the service their parents give to this country. These kids serve in their own way, and communities owe them the same respect they give their parents. It is in the spirit of honoring the sacrifice of these kids that Camp Corral hosts its annual week-long summer camp experiences, while also delivering holistic-focused programs that serve military families year-round. Such programs include virtual peer networks, which empower children to maintain the peer connections they make at camp throughout the rest of the year, and family camp retreats, which support the needs of the entire wounded warrior family. The value of summer programs designed specifically for military children can be seen in the days, weeks and months after a child participates in camp. One month after participating in a Camp Corral program, 60% of parents said they or their child were still in contact with friends they met at camp. Additionally, 70% of parents saw a positive impact on their child’s mental health after attending camp. The improved mental health and strong peer networks children receive from camp can help set them on the path towards improved self-confidence and academic performance. To maximize the reach of these resources, Camp Corral hosts programs throughout the country with new week-long camps and family retreats added every year. A full list of camp dates and locations are available on the Camp Corral website along with an application portal for families to apply for future camp openings. Most importantly, each of these programs are available to children and their families at no cost to them. This is made possible by the generous support of businesses, community leaders and individuals who offer donations to Camp Corral. For more information on Camp Corral programs, including opportunities to participate or support future camps, visit www.campcorral.org.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Shining a Light on Military Children For almost 25 years, the Military Child Education Coalition® has been dedicated to providing the best educational experience for military-connected children. Our programs provide exceptional support by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle. We have some exciting events coming up this year as we celebrate children across the nation returning to school after a period of remote learning during COVID. In April, we will be celebrating the Month of the Military Child with our theme of “Time to Shine.” We will be highlighting how military-connected children are not just getting by in the demanding military lifestyle but thriving. As a part of the festivities, we will be announcing the winners of our 20th annual Call for the Arts contest, where we get to recognize outstanding works of art from military-connected children across the globe.

school students as guests and guest hosts of our MCEC Podcast to hear their voice on military life from their perspective. Visit www.MilitaryChild.org for more information, and be sure to follow MCEC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see stories about these amazing MilKids. MCEC is proud of the support we’ve been able to provide to our military communities. Our Student 2 Student® (S2S™) program trains student ambassadors to provide a friendly face and a warm welcome to new students who transfer into their schools due to military relocation. This year, we will be sending 12 of these outstanding student volunteers to a unique leadership experience as a part of our 2022 Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program™. We are also excited to announce that MCEC is expanding our Community Coordinator program to 13 military communities. Our Community Coordinators work closely with local school districts to provide resources to teachers and students and ensure the military-connected children’s unique social and emotional needs are being addressed.

MCEC® will also be supporting recognition efforts in schools throughout the country with our Month of the Military Child digital toolkits, which provide resources for schools to decorate and celebrate when it’s time to “Purple Up.” We will also be featuring military high

MCEC has joined forces with community-led efforts across the country as the National Advocate for Purple Star Schools™, a program that supports militaryconnected children as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. Established and certified at the state level, each Purple Star School has a new student transition program, a professional development program for teachers and staff, and hosts military recognition events to help military and veteran families feel included. 20

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Thirty states have established programs so far, with legislation pending in eight more states. MCEC is proud to be the nation’s most complete resource for states seeking to establish this important program. MCEC is excited to announce our 24th annual event, the MCEC Global Summit, July 18-20 in Washington, D.C. We have an inspired and renewed commitment to level up the learning opportunities for everyone who serves and supports the educational needs of militaryand veteran-connected children. The content for our 2022 MCEC Global Summit theme, The Journey of the Military Child, will build on a whole child and holistic approach to military-connected youth. Emphasis will focus on supporting and nurturing all areas of development and learning while incorporating a broader view of the skills and knowledge militaryconnected children need for long-term success. Visit www.MilitaryChild.org/MGS for registration information and further details.

Veteran Resources & Organizations Navigating the resources available to veterans can be confusing, but Homeland Magazine believes no veteran should have to go it alone. At Homeland Magazine you can find Veteran organizations and private nonprofits with resources for veterans that can help ease the process of attaining earned benefits, coping with the lasting effects of service-connected injuries and finding programs and services that meet your specific needs.

If you are inspired by our mission and would like to help, consider making a donation in recognition of a military child during the Month of the Military Child. All donations support MCEC programs and efforts to make a difference in our communities. Visit www.MilitaryChild.org/Donate to learn more.

Homeland Veteran Resources & Organizations available at:

www.MiramarPostalPlus.com

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Homeland Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

A Youth Caregiver Lights the Way for Acceptance, Awareness of PTSD Month of Military Child By Raquel Rivas, Wounded Warrior Project Most 17-year-olds don’t have Kris Rotenberry’s keen awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggers. Then again, most teenagers don’t have a U.S. Marine Corps dad who lived through combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. That awareness was evident when Kris was first to notice his dad’s reaction after a balloon popped in the middle of a friend’s birthday party. “It was already chaotic and loud,” Kris recalled. “I knew the whole night that he was going to be stressed. I saw my dad run to the bathroom. He threw up. He ran outside. I followed him out.” A Marine veteran, and friend of Kris’ dad, also followed. Kris’ dad, Chuck Rotenberry, was able to count on their support as he verbalized how the balloon triggered flashbacks. It dragged him back downrange to the time an IED detonation immediately followed hours of fierce gun fighting. “My dad saw his fellow Marine lose both legs, then they were ambushed and had to fight for hours,” Kris said. The now high school senior understood what his dad was going through, and how daily life can be a minefield of PTSD triggers. Kris was glad to be there for him. Kris is insightful as he describes how people could interpret his dad’s reaction in different ways. He sees not only his dad’s perspective, but others’ as well. That gives him both a wisdom and a burden beyond his years. “Kris has taken on so much and has so much weight on his shoulders,” his mom, Liz, said. Liz left her original career to become a caregiver. She eventually became a caregiver advocate and a program manager for Hidden Heroes, an Elizabeth Dole Foundation program that supports military families and veteran caregivers. 22

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Liz reminded Kris as he was growing up that she would prefer to have him play and “not worry about me and your dad and the house.” His dad feels guilty about the effect combat stress and PTSD have had on Kris and his younger three siblings. The parents have reached out and found support through veterans service organizations that surround the entire family in nurturing, education, and PTSD treatment options. Programs like Hidden Heroes® from Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Warrior Care Network® from Wounded Warrior Project® have extended the family’s network of support. Secondary PTSD in Youth Caregivers is Real According to WWP’s annual warrior survey, 4% of warriors served by WWP list a child as primary caregiver. Data from a recent Elizabeth Dole Foundation study suggest there are approximately 2.3 million Hidden Helpers in the U.S. – children living with an injured veteran parent or guardian. We are still learning about the impact of caregiving on this population and the longterm repercussions in military and veteran families. When children take on caregiving roles, the lines of responsibility can be blurred. While their role may appear less involved than that of an adult caregiver, the mental burden and challenges are no less important or life changing. For children with a wounded parent or guardian, caregiving can be an additional difference from their civilian peers, just like the frequent moves inherent in active-duty family life. These differences can contribute to children feeling isolated and facing challenges building positive connections with peers. “Kris and his siblings grew upliving the active-duty military life,” Liz said. “By the time Kris was 10 or 11 years old, he had already changedschools six or seven times.” Even though the moves were positive and the Rotenberry children learned to enjoy making new friends and seeing new places, frequent changes in school curricula, rules, and general atmosphere make a difference. The family landed in Baltimore, Maryland, where they’ve remained since honorably leaving the military. Kris was 7 years old when his dad returned from his last deployment. Before he turned 8, he had absorbed some of his dad’s behavior and PTSD signs. “Kris adopted some of the same symptoms his dad displayed,” Liz said. He had headaches that mirrored his dad’s, tended to isolate, and questioned why he had to go to school when his dad got to stay home.

It happened gradually, but Kris and his siblings started to display moments of hypervigilance and anxiety at home and at school. “When my dad came home, I remember he looked about the same, and he hugged me all the same,” Kris said. “Eventually, I started to realize he wasn’t quite the same.” At that young age, he remembers thinking that maybe “dad didn’t want to play with us, and he didn’t like to joke around.” The 7-year-old version of Kris attributed his dad’s changes to “being tired or maybe he was sick.” He noticed his dad spent more time in his room and slept more than before. “It took a while for me to realize that he wasn’t the same,” Kris said. “I had no clue what my dad was going through at the time. All I knew was that he went away for a long time, and he came back from his job. After a while, I started to do what he was doing. I, too, spent more time in my room.” Family members of veterans managing PTSD can experience secondary trauma symptoms — or indirect trauma — very similar to what warriors face: anxiety, depression, irritation, and social isolation. According to WWP’s mental health team, if a warrior deals with PTSD triggers through avoidance, family members can learn the same habits, isolating themselves in life as well. That’s why WWP staff works to increase awareness and bring attention to, not only warriors coping with PTSD, but family members facing secondary trauma. Before he understood what PTSD was, Kris was doing things like holding back his siblings from greeting their dad effusively at the door and potentially overwhelming him – in an attempt to evade a trigger. His mom took notice of how Kris was becoming a buffer for the family and reached out for help.

“We sought out mental health,” Liz said. She found a Johns Hopkins-Kennedy Krieger program tailored to military families. Kris and his siblings had the opportunity to talk to counselors who either served or understood the military. Together, the siblings started to build an understanding of their own mental well-being. That understanding has empowered Kris to do well in school, cultivate friendships with peers, and feel at ease among adults as well. These days, Kris enjoys marine biology class and also learning a trade from adult mentors at a mechanic shop where he works. His supervisor knows the family and gives Kris room to balance work, school, and time with his family. Kris’ viewpoint on his dad and veterans’ challenges has matured and expanded. “With me getting older, my dad and I can talk as friends, and we have developed a bond,” Kris said. “I’m glad to see my dad getting help from Warrior Care Network and be able to go all the way to California for some of the best help available. Things have been progressively getting better for him and for me.” As Kris thinks of life ahead of him, maybe a career as a mechanic or a welder, opening his own business, and perhaps even traveling a bit, he also reflects on how far he’s come and what he would say to his younger self. “I would say that it gets easier,” Kris said, quickly and wisely correcting himself while calling attention to how he’s learned to positively adapt over the years: “I mean, it doesn’t get easier, but you get used to it. You learn how to deal with it. There are ups and downs – you just got to stick with it. I wouldn’t change anything I’ve been through because of where I am today. I would just tell my younger self, ‘Don’t question things; just do your best.’” To learn more about how Hidden Heroes supports families, visit https://hiddenheroes.org. To learn more about how WWP helps warriors and families grow together through physical wellness, career counseling, mental health, and PTSD treatment options, visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs. About Wounded Warrior Project Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org. WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Real Talk: Mental Health By Giselle Vallejo, MA, LPCC, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics

Celebrating the Month of the Military Child As we go into the month of April, let us take some time to recognize and celebrate the many strengths of a military child. A military child will sometimes, if not often, experience a permanent change of station (PCS) and move out of state or even across the world! With that comes starting a new school, making new friends, adjusting to a new culture, and having to leave friends and family behind. In addition, they may also experience being away from one or both caregivers (if both are serving in the military) due to assignments or deployments. All these changes can be extremely difficult for adults, let alone children. Although changes like these can be exciting, for some it can cause distress. Having increased awareness of how children typically express challenges can help us be more supportive. We often see children either shut down, keep to themselves more often, or become more concerned with trivial things. In other cases, they may experience an increase in anger outbursts, or we may see a shift in their grades and schoolwork. While this is a general list of some common changes, it is important to keep in mind that not all children’s behaviors will be expressed in these ways. So, what are some ways that caregivers and others in their community can help support military children as they adjust to their new environments and changes? Communicate:

- Praise the things they are doing well.

It can be difficult sometimes to recognize successes amid managing multiple responsibilities. Being able to praise children for those smaller successes can go a long way. It not only reinforces those positive behaviors but also lets them know that you are paying attention. For example, “Thank you for picking up your plate after dinner” or “You did such an amazing job at completing your homework all on you own!” You are letting them know that even though you have also been very busy, you are grateful for their ability to adapt and be flexible. 24

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- Validate how difficult change can be.

When your structure becomes unstructured, even for a second, those changes are difficult, and people can often feel alone. Therefore, when someone recognizes your challenges and validates your emotions, it feels pretty good. It is as if they are saying, “What you are feeling is okay to feel”. Military children learn to become flexible, adapt to changes well, and are extremely strong. Let them know it is okay to feel upset, angry, or sad.

- Name your emotions and model healthy coping strategies.

Being able to name your emotions in front of a child can really help them put a name to theirs. Even if you have not experienced a PCS or deployment, as the child’s teacher for example, you can express your frustration when something does not go your way during a lecture

and model appropriate ways to verbalize and cope with it. The same goes for the caregivers. Maybe dinner got slightly burnt and that was the cherry on top of having to deal with all the other tasks throughout the day. Practice breathing techniques, go for a walk with the family, or take five minutes to yourself to cool down. Modeling positive coping techniques can not only help you but also your family.

- Write letters to service members who are away.

When those phone calls or video calls are difficult to schedule, scheduling a time at home when the family writes letters to the service members can be a nice alternative. This helps children express and communicate their current feelings while also maintaining a sense of connection. When the child is not old enough to write, they can draw a picture to express what they would like to say instead. These letters can be shared amongst each other during this time, or they can be kept private. Providing them with the option to choose can give them the opportunity to share their feelings with the rest of the family.

- Provide some space for children to adjust.

We all adjust to changes to the beat of our own drum. And we also express ourselves differently too! Being patient and providing some compassion during the phases of adjustment can be extremely helpful. Some children adjust very quickly while others may have more difficulty. Remember to praise their successes, model how to name emotions when possible, and validate! If the pandemic taught us anything it is that normalizing and sharing our similarities can unite us. It reminds us that we are not alone! How can we help celebrate these resilient children? - Wear purple during Purple Up Day (April 19th) to visibly show support and thank them for their strengths and sacrifices.

Provide structure, stability, and a sense of security:

- Schedule family activities.

Sometimes service members’ work schedules can be challenging and inconsistent in comparison to civilian workers. Their work hours are constantly changing, and they may often work very long hours. Scheduling family events can provide stability and structure for military children. For example, maintaining a consistent dinner time (when possible) or scheduling family game nights in efforts to include all family members. While difficult schedules and deployments interfere with these attempts, continuing these events with the family at home can help children have stability and structure.

- Provide them with options.

Providing children with options can help create a sense of control and security. For some children, not having control can feel unstable. Children, just like adults, want to have some control in their daily activities. For example, how to wear their hair or choosing what they would like to wear. Providing options and control can be especially helpful in situations where they often have no control, like moving to a different city. One way to provide options in a situation such as a big move, can be allowing them to choose how they want to decorate their room. When that is not a feasible option, another approach can be to allow them to choose what they would like to have for dinner once a week. When their choices are endless it can be overwhelming. Instead, you can provide two options which can be less stressful. For example, letting them choose between pizza or spaghetti.

- If you are feeling concerned, confused, overwhelmed, or are unsure how to navigate these changes, The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD is here to help! Our therapists are experienced and knowledgeable with the many hurdles’ military families experience. They are there to help you and your child gain a better understanding of how to identify and implement the coping strategies you need. Remember that you are not alone! Let us help you strengthen your abilities. Giselle Vallejo is a bilingual clinician at the Cohen Clinic at VVSD. As a clinician she implements a traumainformed and person-centered approach when working with clients. Giselle believes every person has their own unique experience and has a strong passion for working with people who have intergenerational and complex trauma. For more information about the Cohen Clinic at VVSD, visit www.vvsd.net/cohenclinics WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Legally Speaking Military Focused Family Law Facts By Tana Landau, Esq.

HELPING KIDS COPE WITH DIVORCE Going through a divorce is never easy. It becomes even more difficult when children are involved. Children not only have to adjust from a one-household dynamic to a two-household dynamic, but they may also witness turmoil between their parents during the divorce process. Naturally, many parents worry how this will affect their children. There are several things you can do to protect your children’s emotional and psychological well-being during the divorce process. Many children will go through a roller coaster of emotions when they learn their parents are getting divorced. Some may see themselves as the reason for their parents’ divorce as kids tend to be “egocentric” and believe their actions or thoughts cause bad events.

It is important to let your children know that it is in no way their fault. Keep the line of communication open with them. Talk about the feelings that are natural under these circumstances. Let them know it is normal to feel sad or angry about a divorce. Your children should be able to talk freely with you about any fears or concerns they have. It is important not only that they can do so, but that they feel comfortable doing so.

Children also tend to keep their feelings inside because they don’t want to upset either parent, so it is always a good idea to check in with them frequently during the divorce process. If you have very young children or a child who tends to bottle up their emotions, it may be a good idea to get them to express their emotions through play. Children feel most comfortable while playing, so you can try role playing, drawing, or games.

One of the mistakes that you can make is to fail to validate your children’s emotions or demonstrate that you accept what they are feeling.

Reassure your children that they will always have your love and the other parent’s love. Do not ever talk badly about the other parent in front of your children.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

This is probably the biggest mistake parents make during the divorce process, and it can have profound effects on your child’s emotional and psychological well-being. You never want your child to feel like they must choose between either parent. When you speak negatively about the other parent in their presence, you are setting the stage for them to feel like they have to choose or that they are wrong for loving the other parent. They need to feel like both parents are valuable. When you place blame on the other parent in your child’s presence or speak badly of the other parent, you are also deterring your child from keeping an open dialogue with you. Remember, children keep their emotions to themselves when they are afraid to upset you. Explain what things will look like now so they have a sense of stability and certainty. For example, let them know what day they can expect to be with you and what day they will see the other parent. Keep a sense of familiarity in both homes. If this means them taking their favorite objects between homes, let them do it. Do not tell your children that stays at mommy’s house or it can’t go to daddy’s house. Show your children what good coparenting looks like. This is the hardest for most parents going through a divorce, but your children’s well-being should be a priority over your feelings toward your ex-spouse. If you can, keep the routines and discipline consistent between both households. This again takes both parents working to be the best coparents they can. If you are having difficulty doing so, try a coparenting app or take a coparenting class. Kids thrive on stability and consistency during a divorce. It’s the uncertainty, inconsistency, and negative interactions between parents that can disrupt a child’s well-being. Last, consider the benefits of therapy or counseling. You can work with an experienced therapist or counselor on not only how to handle addressing the divorce with your children, but also for assistance in processing your own feelings so that you can ultimately be a better coparent. Children can benefit greatly from therapy during the divorce process. Sometimes they can express themselves more freely with a therapist, sharing emotions or thoughts that they are worried will upset either parent. Children will often experience guilt, anxiety, behavior issues, regression, or become withdrawn during a divorce. If you think your child would benefit from therapy, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. For more information about how we can help with your military divorce or child custody case, check out our website: www.frfamilylaw.com or call (858) 720-8250 and ask to speak with military family law attorney Tana Landau.

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Legal Experts with Humanity WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Shelter to Soldier Announces Partnership with PupLid® By Eva Stimson

What do you get when you are a dog who loves the beach but have sun-sensitive eyes, and an Engineer Dad and a Veterinarian Mom? A custom designed hat that protects your eyes from the sun! PupLid®, a California-based small business with a mission to help dog families enhance the lives of their pets with their innovative dog hats has partnered with the non-profit organization, Shelter to Soldier (STS) to raise funds for post-9/11 veterans and rescued dogs supported by the STS psychiatric service program. PupLid has designed a special hat with a camouflage pattern (Camo PupLids) that shields the sun’s glare from dogs with sun-sensitive eyes. To commemorate their Camo launch, PupLid will give 20% of all proceeds from Camo PupLids and their matching Camo baseball caps for humans to STS through the month of April 2022. Kathy Burnell, DVM, a veterinarian who sought a solution for her dog, Buddy, that loves the beach but has sun-sensitive eyes, co-founded PupLid in 2014 with her engineer husband, Tony Choi. When she could not find Buddy a stylish hat that fit well, Kathy and her husband Tony designed and made a trucker hat for him. Buddy’s hat worked so well, that they patented the design in 2018 and made six sizes to fit dogs of all shapes and sizes, from two to 100 hundred pounds.

PupLid Co-Founders Kathy Burnell, their dog Buddy wearing a trucker hat and Tony Choi

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

When PupLid created their Camo PupLids they wanted to utilize this product as a way to give back to U.S. veterans. Their familiarity with the exemplary work of Shelter to Soldier in Southern California and the large military community in San Diego, made supporting Shelter to Soldier their clear and very first choice. Kathy expresses her thoughts, “As a veterinarian, I’ve been so impressed with Shelter to Soldier, their dedication to their mission of ‘saving lives, two at a time’ [™] and their team. I feel fortunate that through PupLid, we can support Shelter to Soldier by raising awareness and funds for their amazing organization. Our PupLid team is truly inspired by their compassion and the veterans they support. We’re tremendously excited to announce this collaboration with Shelter to Soldier regarding the product launch of camouflage dog baseball caps with matching caps for people.” The six-panel Camo PupLid baseball cap for dogs is the latest addition to the PupLid product line for dogs that prefer a more adventure-ready look. Like PupLid’s trucker hats for dogs, the camouflagepattern baseball caps feature a patent-pending “Furfect Fit” system for maximum comfort, stability, and adjustability. PupLid also offers matching human hats so that dogs and their humans can look mutually coordinated. (www.PupLid.com).

Scout

Barley Kathy elaborates, “We know that bright sunlight can cause discomfort for our eyes, so most of us wear sunglasses or a hat on sunny days to avoid squinting and eye damage. The same is true for dogs; light sensitivity is especially common in dogs with blue and light-colored eyes. A little shade can go a long way to make them [dogs] more comfortable outdoors. There are also many eye conditions where sun protection is important, including pannus (chronic superficial keratitis), iris atrophy and sun-induced cancers of the eyes, eyelids and pigment around the eyes. For dogs with shorter noses that are shaded by the bill [of the PupLid], this can also help protect the nose from sunburn and reduce the risk for sun-induced skin cancers on the nose.” As with any new accessory for a pet, implementing positive reinforcement when introducing a dog to their PupLid is essential. An STS-PupLid instructional video link is provided at: www.tinyurl.com/STS-PupLid Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or other psychological injuries. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS visit our website at www.sheltertosoldier.org call 760-870-5338 PupLid Still Photo by Allison Shamrell Pet Photography, Video courtesy of Shelter to Soldier

Homeland Veteran Resources & Organizations available at:

www.MiramarPostalPlus.com

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Homeland Magazine A Veterans Magazine for Veterans by Veterans WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

FREE ASSISTANCE DOGS FOR VETERANS Our assistance dogs master more than 40 commands to assist veterans with disabilities with daily tasks. DONATE. APPLY. VOLUNTEER. cci.org/veterans info@cci.org 800.572.BARK

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Guide Dogs of America At Guide Dogs of America, we transform lives through partnerships with service dogs. We breed, raise, and train guide dogs for individuals who are blind/ visually impaired and service dogs for veterans and children with autism. We also place facility dogs with professionals in hospitals, schools, and courtrooms. Our highly skilled canines become trusted companions that increase people’s confidence, mobility, and independence. All programs and services, including transportation, personalized training, room/board, and postgraduate support, are provided at no cost to the recipient.

This heartfelt note is from US combat Vietnam Veteran. Jim served with the 173rd Airborne for 18 months. He was exposed to Agent Orange and suffers from PTSD. “My name’s Jim Reed, and this is my friend Triton. It’s been a long time since I had a friend, and even longer since I wanted one. When I first got here, I was real nervous. Which I am now. But, I’ve felt the feeling of easiness and calmness that I thought I left somewhere in the past.

RAISE A PUPPY... CHANGE A LIFE! Open your home and your heart, to a future service dog in-training Like I said, I have PTSD and a few things that agent orange had to offer. At night when the dark dreams come, and 1968 comes looking for me just like it always does, now Triton will be there to wake me up and bring me home. And for that, I’d like to thank everyone involved in this program from the bottom of my heart. I’ve been told a few times since I’ve been here that Triton is a tool to help me navigate through life, which he is, but I like to think of him as my guardian angel.” Volunteers Needed www.guidedogsofamerica.org All photos courtesy of Shelter to Soldier

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Text “PUPPY” to 51555 Or Call: (818) 362-5834 www.guidedogsofamerica.org WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Back to Better: Mental Health Care for Veterans, Service Members, & their Families

Cohen Clinics provide therapy for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and transitional issues for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families, including National Guard / Reserves. CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy available.

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Support the Cohen Clinic Your donations help provide high-quality mental health care to veterans, service members, their families.

Make a gift today: vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego

“I’m happier with myself. Having been in therapy, period, has helped me be in a better place now.” Rogelio “Roger” Rodriguez, Jr US Navy (1987 – 1993) US Air Force (1993 – 2013)

PTSD treatment can turn your life around. For more information visit: https://go.usa.gov/xe9CK

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Fentanyl Leaves No Margin for Error for Veterans with a Substance Use Disorder After spending the last forty years of my life helping people recover, I must acknowledge that we have recently entered a new era in the battle against addiction, and the main catalyst has been the widespread availability of the hyper-potent opioid fentanyl. There is simultaneously so much hope and despair in the field of addiction treatment. On the one hand, we have more tools than ever before to help people who are addicted to substances. On the other hand, the overdose epidemic has quietly run rampant and taken an unbelievable toll. Accidental overdose has emerged as the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45 (according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control). Some demographics are affected more than others, and younger people (aged 18-30) make up the majority of these overdose fatalities. Their ranks include active military members, as we are reminded by devastating stores like the four West Point cadets who overdosed last month on Spring Break. Of course, Veterans are a ‘high risk’ demographic, as they have traditionally struggled with substance abuse at a higher rate than civilians.

Encouraging Data and Signs for Hope The most encouraging development has been the positive outcomes we are getting for people who use medication assisted treatment (MAT). At Confidential Recovery, the outpatient drug rehab program that I founded in San Diego, we achieve the highest rates of recovery by combining MAT with counseling, and selfhelp programs. The appropriate use of medication (such as buprenorphine) minimizes cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For most clients, these medications produce no sedation or cognitive impairment. Research has shown that these medications have no adverse effects on a person’s intelligence, mental capability, physical functioning, or employability. This ‘whole patient’ approach helps the patient feel ‘well’ as quickly as possible, and supports their commitment to living free of drugs. By combining the medication with counseling and self-help programs (like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous), we give our clients the opportunity to profoundly change their lives. Studies conducted in the U.S. have shown that the success rate for medication assisted treatment can be 80% (or higher). Every Use is Potentially Deadly (So Take Action Now) I can’t over-emphasize the urgency with which you should address a substance abuse problem, especially if street drugs are being used that may contain fentanyl. Fentanyl is increasingly mixed in with other drugs, like cocaine. The result is so often deadly that every use should be considered potentially fatal. There is Hope Available Everywhere The good news is that addiction is a predictable beast, and the path to recovery is well-worn. When I get a call from a concerned family member of a Veteran who is slipping deeper into drug abuse, I have a proven playbook to get them started toward recovery. It can sometimes require an intervention, which is a process through which we organize the loved ones of the substance using individual, and offer them the gift of treatment. The process of recovery might not be easy, but it is simple. We can show you a proven design for living drug-free. It can be unfathomable to the user in the throes of addiction, but once they start recovering, momentum builds from every positive decision, and soon their life gets better than they imagined possible.

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Get Started by Seeking Professional Help If you have a cell phone, then hope is waiting for your call. If you know of a Veteran who is in Southern California area, you can contact me directly at (619) 993-2738. Confidential Recovery can help them, as we have with countless others. Our Operations Manager is Jay Wylie, who served our country as a Naval Officer for 22 years. If you are concerned about someone outside of the Southern California area, a good place to start is the

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMHSA) Treatment Locator. This government

resource catalogs providers in every city. They also have a toll-free number that is staffed 24/7. 12-Step Support Groups are Nearby As Well While there’s no substitute for professional help, there’s also free, 12-Step support groups for the substance user to attend. The most common groups are Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which are often a starting point for many who enter recovery. Another very powerful organization is Al-Anon, which is for family members of the substance abusing individual. Those of us with a substance addicted loved one often feel helpless and frustrated. The members of Al-Anon will help you cope with these feelings and help you learn how to avoid enabling your loved one to continue their addiction. The disease of addiction is deadly, but the solution is out there waiting for you – get started today! About the Author Scott H. Silverman was addicted to alcohol and illegal drugs when he “hit bottom”and pursued treatment in 1984. He’s been helping others recover from addiction ever since. In 2014, he founded Confidential Recovery, a drug treatment program in San Diego that specializes in helping Veterans overcome substance abuse. You can reach them at (619) 452-1200, or by visiting the Confidential Recovery website. www.confidentialrecovery.com

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

A Different Lens Mental Health Monthly

By RanDee McLain, LCSW

Healthy Communication thru Military Separation I am officially about 6 weeks into being a geobachelor. As I mentioned before, my partner took orders overseas. These orders have us geographically separated for approximately 24 months. Once the shock wore off, we talked a lot about what that would look like and how we can best stay connected. Neither of us are new to the military life or extended time apart. He has over thirty-six years of military experience himself and I am a veteran as well. That does not make it easier. A few months ago, I talked about the rollercoaster of emotions involved in military transition and some strategies to get thru the difficult times. One of those strategies was healthy communication…. but what does that really mean? What does it mean to have healthy and effective communication and why is it so important? Let us start with the easier question of why it is so important. Healthy communication fosters healthy relationships. Healthy communications reduce misunderstandings and can elevate a sense of connectedness. When partners can communicate effectively even thru distance it can boost the overall moral of both individuals. I will reiterate what I said before BE INTENTIONAL. Set aside time for conversations and minimize the distractions. That may be hard with time difference but do your best. My partner and I have a 17-hour time difference. That means one of us is either waking up or going to sleep while the other is wide awake. That makes for interesting conversations. The other choice of time is right in the middle of my workday. Sometimes, I can schedule this for a convenient break. The challenge is actively working with veterans …. I can’t always schedule their crisis moments. So many times, a call in the middle of day isn’t feasible.

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The other challenge with the timing of calls is striving too not be superficial. It is easy to fall into the rut of …how are you? How is work? How was workout? …. the same series of questions on repeat. In my case we are usually in a time crunch, so we hit the basic. Even though we talk often there is a lack of substance at times. This is on me to be more intentional in my timing and communication. Here are a few ways to keep the communication going. Emails: Generally, emails are a quick and effective way to share information. Emails are great to give updates or keep your partner in the loop on current things going on. The challenge of emails is at times you can not truly understand the emotion or personalization that comes across in a phone call or video chat. You are not able to express the same level of connectedness. Care Packages: This is where you can be creative and let the kids in your life put input into the package. This can include cookies, photos, magazines, hygiene items…. really anything your loved one may be missing while they are away. This is especially impactful for holidays they may miss while they are away. Cards/Letters: These are inexpensive and meaningful. These can be re-read over time and used as mementos. It is a great surprise for your service member to receive. I recently learned that the dollar store has some great cards – very inexpensive. This is also great to include the kids and they each make a special card for your loved one. Phone/Video: There are various apps that can be used to video chat. WhatsApp is a free app that allows you to video chat and text with your loved one. This app only uses the data but no additional fees. This is great to actually see your loved one. There are many ways to stay connected. Find what works for you and your loved one and be intentional! Stay healthy…and stay communicating!

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WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy

Your Next Mission is Transition: Tips from Sergeant Major Jack Tilley Sergeant Major Jack Tilley graduated high school at the early age of 17. A prodigy? Nope. At age 4, he’d follow his older brother to school, so his parents thought it was easier to just start him young. He had no idea what to do when he graduated, so when his buddy suggested they join the Army, Tilley said “OK.” Little did he know that meant actually fighting wars. He finished basic AIT Jump school, going straight to war in Vietnam. “I went from being 18 to 55 real quick,” says Tilley. He went from the 173rd Airborne and into his first infantry in 1967. Then the shock set in. His buddy had his stomach blown out and bled to death. This took a toll. He eventually decided to get out, but after 2 years, he realized he liked being a soldier vs a civilian, and went back for another 30 years. He was deployed across the Middle East and promoted to Sergeant Major in 2000. In DC, he walked out of the Pentagon minutes before the plane hit on 9/11. He ran back in to help, but the scene was too dangerous. What he saw would stay with him forever. After holding every key leadership position in the Army, he retired in 2004 as CEO for a company that specializes in placing military leaders into corporate America. Sergeant Major Tilley is well-equipped with advice to help those thinking about transition. 1. Start the process of transition about 2 years out. Use that time wisely. Network with everyone you can. Look for military associations and go to their annual meetings. They have vendors there looking for employees, so go meet them. Gather and keep business cards. Start reaching out to those contacts about a year out and testing the waters. 38

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2. Have 2 resumes: 1 military and 1 civilian. You’ll need one that can position your military experience into relatable skills and accomplishments for corporate America. But if you were to work for a DoD Contractor, your language can be military speak. Also, don’t use acronyms! Spell it out. And start floating your resume to your contacts early-on. 3. Get a mentor (or several). Mentors are invaluable. They can help you translate your military experiences into real-world accomplishments, and help guide you on where you want to go. Ask questions, get their feedback and input based on their experiences. 4. Complete your education. If you have a 2 year degree, get a 4 year degree. If you have a 4 year degree, get an advanced degree. This has a HUGE impact on your net worth. 5. Know your worth and understand your value. How can you know your worth if you haven’t had a salary to base it on? You ask your mentors and do your research. When Tilley was asked what he was worth, he had no idea! He assumed maybe $50-60K. His mentor informed him, “no, you’re worth WAY more than that.” And he was. Much, much more. It’s also important to understand upward mobility. Sometimes you take a job for less money to work your way up. 6. Figure out your niche. You have to be comfortable with what you’re doing. Take the time to really figure out what you love. Also, your niche doesn’t have to be limited on location. In this era, you can pretty much work from anywhere! 7. Keep your spouse involved in the transition process. They’re a good sounding board! And, they deserve input! Tilly notes,” if you’ve been in the military over 20 years, the person who makes the decision on where to live is your spouse.” When you get out, you want to pay your spouse back by giving her what she needs. He laughs as he recalls his wife saying “you used to have 1.3 million people under you, now you have me!”

8. Realize the importance of military connections. There’s a special connection to anyone who’s served in the military. You’re bonded for life. If you’re looking for a job, find out if the employer ever served in the military. You can use LinkedIn or other networking tools to look for employers that have senior execs that have served. 9. Know that it’s OK that you’ve experienced trauma. Tilley says the worst thing is people getting killed around you. Probably 1 in 5 have some form of PTSD. How do you buck up and keep moving forward? You have to bear down and continue forward so you don’t get depressed. Stay connected. TIlley is purposeful in maintaining his relationships with his military family, and makes sure to reach out to one of his comrades once a week to check on them. Even if 2 years have gone by, just keep connected. You won’t feel alone, because you’re not alone.

Tilley says, “Transition can be hard but it’s not the hardest thing you’ve ever done.” Jack Tilley served for almost 37 years in the United States Army, culminating in his appointment in 2000 as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, a post he held until his retirement on January 15, 2004. He was the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in that position. Additional information and resources: Bio: www.ausa.org/army/12th-sma-jack-l-tilley Book: Soldier for Life: www.tinyurl.com/soldierforlife Podcast Series: Your Next Mission is full of content about military experiences and transition. https://yournextmission.org/

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HUMAN RESOURCES Transition to Business By Paul Falcone

The New Realities of Remote Work, Especially for Working Parents Our April edition is dedicated to the “Month of the Military Child,” and that certainly conjures up ideas of the many changes coming children’s way in the near future. But those changes need to be filtered first through their parents’ experiences in raising families in the new normal of our COVID world. Remote work and closed school districts have caused intense disruption to families over the past two years, and they’ve caused human resources professionals many sleepless nights as well. After all, trying to keep employees happy, families safe, and business continually operating was no easy balancing act. The message from most organizations was to take care of your health and your family’s needs first. Organizations attempted to help in even the most nuanced ways, from purchasing groceries and paper products and masks for employees to standing up temporary onsite childcare centers to arranging for testing and vaccinations for all staff members. As we look back at the pandemic historically, however, we’ll find that we were fairly well prepared for its many challenges.

To this last point, COVID expedited a trend that was already well under way. Combined with the technology available for videoconferencing like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, our business world and society pieced everything together and fueled a new normal that many of us didn’t see coming—a non-9-to-5 work routine that was actually successful. Balancing Work and Family Remotely Which takes us to our next point: this new normal has created both challenges and opportunities for working families like never before. How do we balance working remotely while supporting our children whose schools may close on a moment’s notice? First, it’s critical that you separate work from family.

COVID Sped Up Trends Already Underway First, the flexibility of remote work met the needs of the Gen-Y Millennials (the 35 and under crowd) as well as the Gen-Z Zennials (25 and under). These are the two most studied generational cohorts in human history, and they currently make up around 45% of the U.S. workforce (and are growing rapidly, especially as Baby Boomers move into retirement at the pace of 10,000 people per day). What is it that this 35-and-under crowd wants in its top five priorities consistently across all surveys? • Diversity, equity, and inclusion • Corporate social responsibility • Environmentalism • Career and professional development • Work-life control and flexibility 40

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To try and do both simultaneously will likely lead to burnout and guilt. Employers should understand the new normal of working 9 – 5 with the kids at home, but if you suspect there’s any resentment or tension building, meet with your boss one-on-one and explain how you’re planning on managing your dual responsibilities, including pockets of time during normal business hours where you may need to dedicate your focus to family. Transparency is key, and we’re all doing our part to make remote working relationships succeed. Second, ensure that you’re using technology like Slack and that good old-fashioned telephone to connect with peers for staff meetings as well as non-business conversations. It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re

not in the office or on the shop floor, so staying connected is not only good for business—it’s good for your mental health. Finally, structure your day like you would in the office and keep a separate workspace for yourself at home, no matter how small or tight. You’re both a professional and a parent.

T H E PAUL FALCONE LEADERSHIP SERIES WORKPLACE ETHICS EFFECTIVE HIRING NEW MANAGERS LEADERSHIP OFFENSE LEADERSHIP DEFENSE

Maintaining space for yourself is critically important so that you can “serve both masters” without overstressing on what at times may feel like an impossible split. At a time when we’re focusing on the children while maintaining our work productivity, it’s critical that we take care of ourselves as parents first, which is the best way of guaranteeing that the kids’ needs are being met at most times as well. You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/paulfalcone1 Paul Falcone (www.PaulFalconeHR.com) is a human resources executive and bestselling author on hiring, performance management, and leadership development.

www.HarperCollinsLeadership.com

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Preparing for life aftermilitary service: Resources for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses By Tim Winter Transitioning out of the military can be daunting. There are so many significant decisions to be made, it can be extremely overwhelming. Such as, where are you going to live? What are you planning to do? Each year, more than 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life. Understanding that service members may need assistance to plan for life after the military, Congress mandated that transitioning service members be required to participate in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) prior to leaving the military. TAP is a cooperative effort between the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), Department of Education, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Small Business Administration, and Office of Personnel Management. VETS administers DOL’s portion of the program. DOL TAP provides information, tools, and no-cost training to ensure transitioning service members, veterans, and their spouses, are prepared for a civilian career.

VETS provides a multitude of resources including Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition (EFCT), a one-day employment preparation workshop for transitioning service members. VETS also offers the Wounded Warrior and Caregiver Employment Workshop to help wounded, ill, or injured service members and their caregivers find the perfect job. Whether they’re looking for general employment preparation or career exploration and credentialing, there is a DOL workshop that can help. DOL TAP workshops can be found at www.TAPEvents.mil/courses. VETS also offers complementary employmentfocused training and services to assist veterans and their spouses. In 2021, more than 2,800 VETS’ staff, contractors, and grantees served over 370,000 transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. Some of these resources include the Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP), Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT), and Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses and Caregivers (TEAMS). Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot VETS designed this initiative to provide one-on-one assistance to transitioning service members and their spouses as a supplement to traditional DOL TAP workshops. Employment Navigators provide

www.hiringourheroes.org/2021-military-spouse-employment-summit-highlights/ www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WB/mib/WB-MilSpouse-factsheet.pdf 42

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personalized support to review resumes, explore careers, provide referrals for mentorship, networking and employment opportunities. The pilot is available at select military installations worldwide and more information may be found at www.dol.gov/employmentnavigator. Off-Base Transition Training Are you a veteran looking to refresh that resume or build a profile on LinkedIn? OBTT may be a great place to start. OBTT is a series of workshops designed to help veterans (including those veterans currently serving in the Reserve Component (National Guard and Reserve members)) and their spouses plan for a meaningful career. In-person workshops are available in a few states, but all workshops (live and instructorled) are offered virtually. Employment Resource Coordinators in each state can also assist participants with connecting to local employment resources such as American Job Centers. Register for OBTT workshops at www.dol.gov/OBTTworkshops. Transition Assistance Employment for Military Spouses (TEAMS) In 2021, military spouse unemployment reached 38 percent , and underemployment among the spouse community lingered between 30 to 50 percent . Military spouses have barriers to employment including frequent moves, licensing and credential barriers between states, and childcare needs. Understanding the needs of military spouses, DOL VETS developed TEAMS to provide employmentrelated assistance specifically for spouses. TEAMS workshops help spouses and caregivers of transitioning service members to identify and address common employment barriers. These virtual workshops explore employment resources at no cost to the attendee. Spouses and caregivers interested in registering for a TEAMS workshop can do so at www.dol.gov/TEAMSworkshops Everyone that joins the military must eventually make the transition back to civilian life. VETS is there to facilitate a successful transition and enable your full potential in the workplace.

Tim Winter served eight years in the United States Marine Corps and is honored to continue his federal service as the Director of Transition Assistance Programs for DOL VETS.

2021

GOALS www.HomelandMagazine.com

Transitioning out of the Military into the Civilian Workforce? Finding a job in the civilian world may seem easy at first. After all, you have learned skills, practiced leadership and demonstrated initiative that will make you successful wherever you go. The reality, though, is that it can be difficult. In fact, it can be downright depressing, demotivating and you may feel totally disillusioned. Veterans In Transition is dedicated to you and to helping you succeed in your transition For editorial & monthly columns regarding transitioning to business, career advice, tips, workshops, transition to education, entrepreneurship, straight-forward legal tips for military and veteran business owners and more, visit the following link: www.tinyurl.com/Homeland-Transition

VETERANS IN TRANSITION

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Successful

Transitioning Stories By Dr. Julie Ducharme www.synergylearninginstitute.org

This month I was excited to interview Dr. Tiffany Tajiri, a retired Air Force officer. Dr. Tiffany Tajiri is a licensed, board-certified clinical psychologist, veteran U.S. Air Force officer and Special Operations-trained psychologist that has taken part in the selection and assessment of Special Forces personnel. Dr. Tajiri is the author of “Peace After Combat:

Healing the Spiritual and Psychological Wounds of War” – a book about recovery and restoration for military veterans and their families. Dr. Tajiri is currently chief of the largest behavioral health clinic serving Fort Bliss (El Paso, TX). She and her team work with soldiers providing behavioral health treatments to improve coping and resilience. When you were getting ready to transition what was your process:

Reality is we don’t know all the nuances that will spring up for us. We have to have a general idea of where we are going, the time, patience, practice and get educated on what we are doing and this will start opening new doors. When I was in the Air Force, I would not ever think I would write a book or create recovering programs, but I had an idea of where I wanted to be and that was in helping and serving other people. This guided me to all these other opportunities and accomplishments. Tips for Transitioning - Visualizing Your Future Our brains do not know the difference between a real or imagined experience. I tell veterans you have to see what you want for yourself. When you start doing this you start laying down new neural networks in your brain. And you start gravitating to the places you need to go. There is a book out there called The Secret of Attraction Secrets by Timothy Willlink and it echoes that what comes out in our thinking will also dictate the paths we are looking to go towards. Let me give you a great tidbit from research. There was a Doctor Kelly back in the day. She did a research project having one group do visualizing exercises, one that physically did the exercises and one that did not do them. 44

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In the end the ones who did the visualization exercises had clinical significant muscle gain for muscular strength. You think, how could this be? What you are doing in your visualizing is you are strengthening the neural connections in your motor cortex just by the process of visualization. Let’s talk about your book and how did you get inspired to write a book? This really goes back to my active duty days. This is about where is God in War and in Trauma. Faith and spiritually is the greatest protective factor when it comes to suicide prevention. I wanted to provide a book that would educate them on what trauma is and that it’s normal. How the brain functions and how the brain understands and deals with it. There are some very serious, raw, and graphic stories but it shows how the progress of how these service members are recovering from their trauma, rewiring their brains, and using visualization as a means of healing. When all we see is pain we have these pain blinders on; the memory is stored away in the amygdala, this is the fear center of the brain. We can only see with blinders on and we have to learn how to remove those blinders. Physical and Mental Health So when people are getting out of the military their battle rhythm or as we call is their operational tempo slows down and then what happens, the idle mind is the Devil’s playground. Everything that is unprocessed and unresolved from combat to life experiences causes chaos very quickly. Then they don’t know what to do, their means of coping before was immersing themselves into work. One of my greatest tips is take care of your physical needs before you get out. You need and take care of your spiritual and psychological health, go talk to a behavior health specialist and process these unresolved emotions. Final Tip - education I have a podcast called Peace After Combat to offer more education and tips for active military and as well veterans. I co-host this podcast with a VA psychologist where we cover all these topics such as: transitioning, trauma, and struggles, with the goal of continuing to help and provide support to our active duty and veterans. Feel free to find us on any place that you can get a podcast. To get education from Dr. Tiffany click link below https://drtiffanytajiri.com/meet-dr-tiffany/ To watch the Dr. Tiffany live interview click the link below https://youtu.be/oeWm4Oa3keA For more help on active duty transition, education, and more click the link below www.synergylearninginstitute.org

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BUSINESS FOR VETERANS By Barbara Eldridge www.mindmasters.com

commitment in place and serves as an insurance policy on your journey to success. Solo professionals often find themselves guilty of two things. First, they tend to minimize the story of their ‘doing’ and they rarely celebrate or acknowledge a success before they are off and running to the next thing. They tend to skim over the value and meaning they have just created. In a true ongoing regular “mastermind” there are people who help acknowledge or witness each other’s doing. Someone holding the space for them with empathy and encouragement to honor the work and the progress. People to remind them of the bigger vision - the why behind all the details.

What is a Mastermind? With the change in how we have had to conduct business, online “masterminds” have proliferated over the internet. Coaches have been challenged to work with groups. Subject matter experts have promoted their trainings by offering Facebook groups and Meetups’ that are showing up like masterminds. After spending almost 30 years facilitating “master mind” groups I have come to realize that many of those more recent groups bring different things to the table; but what is it that really works in a true “mastermind”? The real focus of in a true “mastermind” meeting is to address the challenges and opportunities confronting each individual in the group. The member partners ask clarifying questions and then give candid feedback and suggestions. It’s an amazing opportunity to share experiences and—more importantly— find solutions! It is a level of support that most small business owners do not ever get to experience in their entire lives!! It is about tapping into the experience and positive expectations of others that can give you that kick to take action. In addition, we know that accountability works. There is evidence that successful completion of a task increases dramatically when you commit to another that you will do it. It is the glue that holds a goal or 46

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When members in a group are accountable - they have a focus on what they say they will do but even more than that, they are excited to share what they accomplished. Sharing it, being acknowledged, gives it joy and meaning. And that creates motivation to do more and gives the doing greater value and is the beginning of a new success narrative. If you have never experienced a “real” mastermind, give it a try and experience the value of participating in the brainstorming experience. Napoleon Hill in his bestselling book Think and Grow Rick, says that a master mind is the “Coordination of knowledge and effort in a spirit of harmony between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose” which he stresses is the necessary “POWER” to bring that purpose to fruition.

Barbara Eldridge has built a solid reputation as a Success strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy. www.mindmasters.com

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Healthcare Careers: A Perfect Fit for Military and Civilian Life By Stephanie Lee, Air Force Veteran & Enrollment Manager, CareerStep Sometimes, the sense of division between life in the military and life as a civilian feels like a vast chasm. In fact, for military families, this sense of division joins a long list of challenges that specifically impact the men and women who sacrifice so much for the country. These challenges couldn’t be more apparent than when it comes to finding a post-military career or one that is flexible enough to align with military spouses’ unique needs—a career that checks all the right boxes: satisfaction, security, and stability. Finding industries and employers that understand the skills of veterans and their families can seem like an uphill climb at times, and it shows. For example, the unemployment rate for veterans rose to 6.5% in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Reasons for this vary, but one contributing factor could be that lessons learned under the harsh conditions of combat don’t always translate to private-sector jobs. And for military spouses—60% of which say they’re looking for full- or part-time work—finding a profession that’s both portable and in-demand is increasingly difficult.

However, there is hope and there are opportunities. First, it’s important to consider key reasons why a career in healthcare—the fastest-growing sector in the U.S. economy according to BLS data—might just be what bridges that expansive gap between military and civilian life. 1. Meaningful Work Most who enter the military are looking for fulfilling work—an opportunity to make a difference. A real difference. But few civilian careers allow veterans to make as much of a difference as those found in healthcare. That’s because working in this particular field, regardless of the role, provides the opportunity to impact peoples’ lives in profound ways. From mending wounds and healing minds to saving lives, the difference healthcare workers make is undeniable. 2. Transferable Skills There’s a reason healthcare is an overwhelmingly popular career choice for veterans and their spouses: it’s an industry in which military-specific skills are undeniably relevant. Creative problem solving, adaptability, and effective communication—they’re all valuable skills that healthcare organizations can’t ignore if they want to provide the best possible service and care to their patients. And they’re all skills that veterans and their spouses already possess. 3. In-Demand Careers People need healthcare. In turn, the industry needs people willing to step up to the proverbial plate.

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Economic and labor experts believe we need to hire 2.3 million new healthcare workers by 2025 if we’re going to keep pace with the needs of our aging population. But a persistent shortage of skilled workers with exceptional knowledge and training means hundreds of thousands of positions will remain unfilled. Home health aides, medical assistants, lab technicians, and more are all in high demand. 4. Portable Jobs For a working military spouse, it can be difficult to cultivate a strong professional network, and when the time comes to pack up and move to a new city, the wrong vocation can leave even the most talented pro scrambling to start over. That’s why job portability is so important. Healthcare training provides the skills and certifications that employers are looking for in highgrowth, high-demand fields in virtually every city in the entire world. Supportive Training for Success These days, there are multiple training options for learners to pave their road to success. These organizations often have hiring network relationships, so it’s important to keep in contact and inform them when certification is achieved. It’s especially important for members of the healthcare sector to be fully qualified and properly trained. An early step is to start by choosing a specific discipline and then find a provider that can help learners develop the concrete job skills employers are looking for. The good news is that there’s a significant amount of trusted providers who specialize in transforming entrylevel learners into high-performing, certified healthcare professionals. And they all do this with expansive catalogs of fully online career training programs that are fast, portable, and eligible for military education grants—often covering up to 100% of the cost.

Healthcare Training For Your Next Phase of Life Our online training programs are approved for military education funding—all designed to help military members and their spouses build skills and thrive in careers that are portable, in-demand, and rewarding. Start training today so you can be prepared for meaningful work tomorrow.

Finding the right fit takes a little time and it is important to explore the possibilities. Doing the research is crucial as it can improve the learning experience—and potentially lead to faster employment. Deciding to pursue a career in healthcare is a fulfilling and viable option for veterans and their spouses. About the Author: Stephanie Lee served in the Air Force for 11 years as a Munitions Systems Craftsman. She now serves as an Enrollment Manager for CareerStep, (www.careerstep.com/military/), the Allied Health training division of Carrus. (www.carruslearn.com)

For more information, call (877) 201-3470 or visit www.careerstep.com/military WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Youth Programs Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship in Our Military Communities By: Joseph Molina National Veterans Chamber of Commerce veteransccsd@gmail.com It has been my experience that today’s youth and especially those coming from a military environment tend to start businesses in areas of personal interest including types of businesses that represent a rewarding aspect of their lives, which result in businesses that are full of innovation, out of the box ideas that hit a home run! I find it amazing that many of the students who have participated in business programs through their schools or community have little or no interest in limitation, but a huge interest in helping the world be a better place. They want to create products that help the elderly, people in pain and on and on. What drives them? Money is not the motivating factor but the social impact their ideas will have on society is. “Promote an Entrepreneurial Environment”: To promote entrepreneurship, the birth of new ideas, we need to have an “Entrepreneurial Mind-Set” – a way of thinking that perceives entrepreneurship as a “New Opportunity”, a way to find and create new solutions to old problems or new solutions to new problems. Having the right mind-set will encourage the right environment that welcomes entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurial ideas. · Allow kids to try: With the understanding that mistakes and or failures are just part of a business cycle. They are nothing more than opportunities to try something in a different way. · Provide resources: Be ready to invest time and money in a few tools, resources and or training. · Create a platform of business opportunities: Connect with businesses and organizations in the community to bring potential opportunities to the youth encouraging them to learn as well as contributing to a business. This creates a work ethic and encourages self-esteem. There are so many ways we can engage and use the creativity and skills of our youth to foster entrepreneurship. · Make kids be accountable and responsible for money earned: It is important that they learn how to manage money. This becomes a crucial skill as the business grows. 50

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

“Encourage and Coordinate Presentations to Potential Customers: Coordinate and schedule presentations with potential buyers such as local store owners, the local flower shop, the local coffee shop, etc. Selling is a skill that when provided that will greatly benefit our young business owners. · Be a mentor or a business coach: Mentors are key to the success of these young entrepreneurs. Mentors/ business coaches are essential to the development of business ideas and business concepts. Mentors/ business coaches help by guiding and directing the business process, brainstorming ideas and identify solutions to potential obstacles. “Establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Program”: Creating a Youth entrepreneurship program is easy. Youth programs can be located at a local school or at a city organization. It only needs to have one coordinator a group of passionate teachers, parents and/or volunteers who will be committed to developing programs and projects that will help students “test drive” their ideas. The program must establish a partnership with the local business community to help support and encourage the program. Here are some ideas of projects that are fun to organize and very effective in helping students discover their entrepreneurial potential: 1. “Business Idea Pitch It Competition”: This project allows for students to present their business idea in front of a panel of judges providing constructive feedback. 2. “Take it to the Market”: This gives a group of students the experience and skills to create and implement a sales strategy for a product or service as well as identify its market potential. 3. “Marketing Plan Competition”: The business community submits a “Project” for a group of students to work on. These are real life scenarios/issues that students help identify solutions to solve the problem. 4. Invention and Innovation: Students submit “a prototype” of an idea or product that currently does NOT exist, but could be created and possibly developed. Students showcase their prototype in front of a panel of judges. In Summary, the youth of today have an amazing entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit, an unlimited source of ideas and a potential for greatness. Let’s come together and see that we create “opportunities” that can be presented to our next generation of Entrepreneurs to encourage their greatness.

NATIONAL VETERANS

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legal Eagle Straight-forward legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRENDS New technologies, evolving customer demands, societal shifts, and the COVID-19 pandemic are rapidly changing the business landscape. These factors paved the way for independent companies, niche markets, disruptive industries, as well as global reach. To reap the benefits that these changes have to offer, you must keep yourself up to date on the emerging entrepreneurship trends, as such you can keep your business moving forward in the changing times and keep your edge against the competition. Many people put entrepreneurship on a pedestal. However, it is really hard to become a successful entrepreneur. To illustrate, only half of new businesses survive five years or longer, while only a third reach the 10-year mark. This is attributed to the many hurdles and challenges that lurk in the everchanging business landscape.

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Many new entrepreneurs fail to keep up with their ever-evolving market, as external market forces are not the only things to overcome. Researchers have found that there are 5 top reasons why startups fail: 1. 42% of small businesses fail because there is no market need for the product or service. 2. 29% of small businesses fail because they run out of cash. 3. 23% of small businesses fail because they do not have the right people in the right positions to help advance the company. 4. 19% of small businesses fail because their competitors have out preformed. 5. 18% of small businesses fail because they have not budgeted for cost issues.

For a startup to thrive in today’s business world, it must be able to follow the trends, such as having the ability to work remotely. A few years ago, we started witnessing the rise of people working from home. A huge percentage of the workforce has chosen to work from home. This gives entrepreneurs more flexibility with their money as now they don’t have to pay for long expensive leases to rent offices, none to very little overhead costs, no electricity bill, and no equipment upkeep. Working remotely, can offer an opportunity to entrepreneurs to work from anywhere and be able to work for anyone on a global scale.

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Having the ability to work from anywhere and to work with anyone brings us to the next trend, which is actually working globally. With the level of connectivity that we have today, more and more businesses are choosing to go international to expand their customer reach. The truth is that globalism has been a general trend for many years already, but sometimes we mistake it to be just an option for bigger companies. This globalism trend is really hot in particular sectors especially media and professional services. Many businesses now, more or less, cater to customers worldwide. So, it makes sense that entrepreneurs build connections with people from across the globe to understand their target markets better. In years to come, working with a global mindset will largely continue to be the norm among top performing businesses. Becoming a business owner, you control your own destiny, choose the people you work with, reap big rewards, challenge yourself, give back to the community, and you get to follow your passion. Knowing what you’re getting into is smart business because the responsibility of protecting your family and yourself falls on you.

You can incorporate your business, find contracts, and download free resources from www.GoLegalYourself.com For more information on how to legally start and grow your business please visit my website at www.golegalyourself.com

Disclaimer: This information is made available by Bagla Law Firm, APC for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, and not to provide specific legal advice. This information should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

Award-winning attorney, Kelly Bagla shows you how to avoid legal pitfalls FROM DAY ONE! The last thing an entrepreneur wants is to spend valuable time and resources on legal issues, which is why they often drop to the bottom of the pile. But this can be a COSTLY MISTAKE—and Go Legal Yourself is here to make sure it’s one you avoid. • • • •

Gather the right documentation Protect your brand Avoid expensive legal pitfalls Plan and manage growth competatively

Rest assured that no nasty legal surprises will stand between you and your success.

www.GoLegalYourself.com

Get your copy at amazon today! WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

BEFORE SERVED HONORABLY.

Workshops for Warriors is a nonprofit school that provides veterans and transitioning service members with hands-on training and nationallyrecognized credentials in CNC machining, CAD/CAM programming, and welding. Our students earn credentials that open doors to jobs anywhere in the U.S. Call us at (619) 550-1620.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

AFTER EARNED A CAREER IN JUST 4 MONTHS. ENROLL NOW AT WFW.ORG CAD/CAM Programming CNC Machining Welding DoD SkillBridge Organization

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Discover an exciting new career opportunity after serving your country. Heavy Equipment Colleges of America proudly supports and honors the brave women and men who fight for our country. • VA education benefits and Career Skills Program (CSP) • Job placement help and hands-on, classroom interaction • Get certified in as little as three weeks

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TRAIN TO BECOME A CRANE OPERATOR TODAY. Visit: www.heavyequipmentcollege.com No Official US Government or DOD endorsement is implied WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

Opportunities in Law Enforcement You’ve served your country, now serve your community!

Military and law enforcement have had a longstanding relationship with overlaps in training exercises, equipment, and, most important, personnel. It is not uncommon for a service member to make the jump from the military to law enforcement as both professions look for the same characteristics; leadership, fidelity, chain of command, and teamwork are all common themes in both professions. Quite understandably, many American military veterans often gravitate to a career in law enforcement when the time comes to rejoin the civilian workforce.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

The two professions have many fundamental similarities; from the uniforms they wear with pride, to the firm command structure they serve under, to great personal risk they endure while protecting those who cannot protect themselves. The following agencies are actively hiring & proudly support our veterans, active military and the families that keep together.

Military service can be a perfect entrance into a law enforcement career.

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

www.rva.gov/police/personnel

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

WE DON’T JUST THANK

VETERANS,

WE HIRE

THEM.

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INSIDE THE MONTHLY COLUMNS Homeland Magazine features monthly columns & articles on topics of interest for today’s veterans, transitioning military personnel, active military, and the families that keep it together. • Real Talk: Mental Health • A Different LENS Mental Health Monthly • Arts & Healing Arts for Military Veterans

Homeland Magazine

• What’s Next Transition to Civilian Life • Human Resources Transition to Business • Business for Veterans • Legal Eagle Legal Business Tips • Legally Speaking Military Family Focused Law • National Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Feel free to review & bookmark our supportive & resourceful monthly columns:

---------------------------------------------------------------Real Talk: Mental Health By Outreach and Clinical experts from the Cohen Clinic at VVSD Deployment, transition, reintegration – as a veteran, service member or military family member, you’ve likely had to face all three. The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at VVSD, part of Cohen Veterans Network, provides high-quality, evidence-based mental health care to the military community. Our Mental Health Column provides advice on various topics related to these challenges.

Learn more: www.cohenveteransnetwork.org 62

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

A Different LENS Mental Health Monthly By Randee McLain, LCSW A Different Lens reflects on RanDee’s personal experiences as former law enforcement, Veteran, military spouse, and clinician. A Different Lens explores all things mental health related and the struggles our veterans and their families may face.

Connect with Randee at www.linkedin.com/in/randee-mclain-lcsw-8335a493 -------------------------------------------------------------Arts & Healing

Arts for Military Veterans By Amber Robinson Arts & Healing is a reflection of Amber’s personal experiences in healing through the arts as a disabled combat veteran as well as a reflection of our San Diego veteran artists and how they are using art to transform and heal, too.

You can read Amber’s columns at www.tinyurl.com/SDVM-Art

What’s Next

LEGAL EAGLE

Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy

Legal tips for Military and Veteran Business Owners By Kelly Bagla, Esq.

Transitioning from the military into the civilian work world can be anxiety-producing, depressing, and demoralizing without being prepped with the right mindset and tools for success. What’s Next shares stories, insights, tips, and resources from those who have transitioned, so those in the process (or thinking of starting the process) are armed and ready to find rewarding opportunities, ace the interview, and embark on a successful career journey.

Business Formation and Asset Protection Expertise. An all-inclusive comprehensive overview, of common expensive pitfalls business owners are subjected to, that YOU need to know about. Asset protection musthaves and unparalleled guidance through the Shark infested waters of Business Formation. Kelly Bagla, Esq. is an international award-winning corporate attorney who has been in the business of turning passion projects into profits for more than two decades. Trust an Expert.

You can connect with Eve at

www.linkedin.com/in/eve-nasby-given-hiring-expert/ or eve@bandofhands.com ----------------------------------------------------------------

Contact Kelly at www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bagla-esq Websites: www.BaglaLaw.com www.GoLegalYourself.com

Human Resources

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Transition to Business By Paul Falcone

National Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Moving from the military into the private sector isn’t going to be seamless. The transition process can be difficult, particularly because the job search, interview, and onboarding processes are relatively new territory for many veterans. The HR Column offers a unique perspective on hot topics and relevant issues in corporate leadership and management today.

You can connect with Paul at www.linkedin.com/in/paulfalcone1 or via his website at www.PaulFalconeHR.com ----------------------------------------------------------------

By Joseph Molina The National Veterans Chamber (NVCC) helps connect Military/Veterans Community by housing organizations that serve the Veteran Community. We write about Entrepreneurship, Employment, Education, Wellness, Family and Faith. The NVCC was founded in 2017 with the simple goal of Empowering Individuals and Organizations that offer programs that will have a positive impact on the Veteran Community.

Business for Veterans

You can connect with Joe at josephmolina@nationalveterans.org or visit www.nationalveterans.org

By Barbara Eldridge

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The Business for Veterans column is by Barbara Eldridge who has built a solid reputation as a Success strategies specialist, within industry and business over the past 40 years. Her unique message, since starting Mind Masters 30 years ago for entrepreneurs and small business owners, continually stresses vision, purpose and values as the key elements of business philosophy.

Lean more at www.mindmasters.com -------------------------------------------------------------Legally Speaking Military Family Law By Tana Landau

SanLegal Experts with Humanity. For more information visit our website: www.frfamilylaw.com or call (858) 720-8250 and ask to speak with military family law attorney Tana Landau.

Homeland Magazine Current & Past Issues are available at: www.homelandmagazine.com/archives/ WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / APRIL 2022

READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CAREER? Talk to our friendly veterans admissions counselor today! admissions@icohs.edu (858)581-9460 www.icohs.edu Become a certified IT professional in 15 weeks with no prior experience necessary!

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