JULY 2020
In this Issue... Supporting Transitioning Sailors: FFSC Adapts TAP and Employment Readiness Services Ombudsman Moment July 2020 Sexual Violence and Oppression Good Nutrition = Good Health Camp Closed This Summer? Consider Virtual Finance Camp Instead! Visit us online at:
Virtual Family Employment Readiness Services Although virtual hiring fairs are nothing new to our Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), the number of events and participation is rising. The Department of Defense’s 2020 Military Spouse Symposium had more than 4,000 virtual participants. The hardships of finding employment and relocating during the global pandemic may present adversities for military spouses trying to maintain stable employment and create obstacles that affect morale, readiness and well-being of the military community. Military spouses are highly skilled and dedicated employees. They have impressive technological skills, are highly resilient and capable of adapting to the virtual lifestyle. The new normal of hiring practices are virtual careers and job fairs! You can learn ways to succeed in a virtual career fair to land that job you want.
WHEN PREPARING FOR A VIRTUAL JOB FAIR, YOU SHOULD: Prepare
your resume: During registration, you will asked to upload your resume. Also, if you have the option of uploading a professional headshot photo, do so to increase your chances of success.
Visit
the event lobby: In the lobby, you will be able to read each company’s description, view their available jobs and download any related attachments or links.
Research
the companies attending: By doing research, you will learn about industries that might be new to you and determine what interests you.
Get
familiar with the icons on the landing page: Hover over each icon to see what options are available before the event, so that you can be prepared when they appear later in the career fair.
Family Connection is a publication of the Fleet and Family Support Program. The Navy’s Fleet and Family Support Program promotes the self-reliance and resilience of Sailors and their families. We provide information that can help you meet the unique challenges of the military lifestyle. The appearance of external links in this newsletter does not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense. If you have questions or comments, contact the Fleet and Family Support Program, cnic.ffsp.fct@navy.mil.
FFSCs can provide you with resources and virtual workshops if you want to enhance your virtual opportunities. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) and Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) are just two notable organizations focused on hiring and helping military spouses with virtual employment opportunities. For additional information about Family Employment Readiness, please visit your local Fleet and Family Support Center for more information or contact a Certified Career Counselor at Military OneSource by phone at 800-342-9647. ATTENTION READERS: Make Family Connections Interactive! Share your questions, comments, good news stories, useful resources and articles you have written or found helpful. As space allows, we will include them in future newsletters OR release on social media. Submit to cnic.ffsp.fct@navy.mil
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JULY 2020
Supporting Transitioning Sailors: FFSC Adapts TAP and Employment Readiness Services BY: ALLISON HERSCHEL, FFSC NEW LONDON As the Fleet and Family Support Center quickly adapts to meet clients’ needs through online, video and telework resources, we’ve kept abreast of how other TAP programs throughout the FFSC system have adjusted their service delivery and stayed informed about changes in access to VA and GI Bill benefits. We have learned that the job market is ever-evolving during this dynamic time. By tapping into the best practices of other DoD programs, the FFSC has adapted and adjusted service delivery across all transition programs. First, programs across the country have moved delivery of the congressionally mandated curriculum of TAP to JKO. In New London, April and May TAP classes have been moved completely to JKO delivery. This allows for the flexibility that comes with the “right time, right place” convenience of an electronic platform. Pre-separation counseling and CAPSTONE appointments are being completed via teleconference with an FFSC TAP staff member or can be completed by your Command Career Counselor. If you are uncertain about your future career plans, perhaps CONSEP (Career Options and Navy Skills Evaluation Program) is the course for you. We offer first-term and mid-career service members training on career opportunities available in the Navy and in the civilian sector. In addition, did you know that you might have the option to extend your service in 3-11 month increments if you do not feel ready to separate due to challenges created by COVID-19? FFSC staff can discuss that option with you. One of the immediate challenges for transitioning sailors will be entrance to the job market. It is more important than ever to know that FFSC Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) staff can help Sailors navigate uncertainty through specific skill development such as networking or with opportunities to pursue higher education. We provide résumé assistance, opportunities to practice interview questions, dress-for-success tips and access to online job fairs. Sailors can be confident they will have the tools to be well prepared to join the civilian job market. Spouses and family members can use all FFSC employment services. This availability is particularly critical for spouses who may face an unexpected new job search due to a COVID-19 layoff or a reduction in income. Despite some rumors to the contrary, VA benefits are not being reduced and GI Bill benefits, including housing allowance, are not affected, despite the move to online classes. Where else will you see changes? There are some changes to Skill Bridge including some lost internships and other added opportunities to include spouses. Finally, this rapidly evolving environment has advanced opportunities for teleworking, which it is likely to be the future of DoD and civilian business. We are using non-traditional and innovative solutions to combat the isolation of physical distancing measures now in place and to find new ways to strengthen our sense of community in the future. The FFSC is working hard to incorporate new technologies that will foster a sense of connectedness and in turn build a foundation for success. For some Sailors, the combination of transition and COVID-19 has created a higher level of stress. FFSC staff understands the difficulty this creates and prioritizes teaching coping skills necessary to meet these challenges. As the FFSC accelerates the capability to deliver services through new technologies, it will be Sailors and family members, like you, who will reap the benefits. As we continue to learn about the effects of COVID19 on TAP service delivery and the near-term job market, will we modify our programs accordingly and meet the Navy’s needs during these unprecedented circumstances.
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Ombudsman Moment July 2020 CRISIS CALLS AND DISASTERS We must acknowledge that emergencies can and will happen to anyone, with or without warning. Thus, at some point, an ombudsman may receive a call from someone experiencing a crisis or disaster. Ombudsman are trained to recognize a situation, make an appropriate referral as soon as possible and report certain situations as required by law, military instruction and the commanding officer. An individual crisis might include domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, suicide or the death of a loved one. Disasters could involve command emergencies such as an accident at sea, natural disasters such as a hurricane or earthquake or man-made disasters such as an active shooter. Regardless of what happens, ombudsmen trained in responding to these events will keep the families supported and informed. Ombudsmen provide resources that assist during a crisis or disaster. One of the familiar resources is the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) at https://navyfamily.navy.mil. This site enables the Navy to account for, assess and monitor the recovery process for Navy personnel and their families affected by a widespread catastrophic event. Ask your Sailor if he or she has recently updated your family’s information in NFAAS. Another great resource is Ready Navy at https://www.ready.navy.mil/. This site is the Navy’s emergency preparedness program, sponsored by Commander, Navy Installations Command. Ready Navy provides information, tools and resources that empower the Navy family to better prepare for, react to and recover from an emergency, with or without advanced warning. The primary tenets of Ready Navy are to be informed, have a plan, make a kit and stay informed. During a crisis or disaster, reporters may approach ombudsmen or family members, asking for information about the event. Ombudsmen are encouraged to have the phone number of the installation’s Public Affairs Officer (PAO) in their phone so they can make the appropriate referral to the official point of contact, avoid being placed in an uncomfortable position or possibly violate operations security (OPSEC). To learn more about how to respond in a crisis or disaster or to find your command ombudsman, contact your FFSC Ombudsman Coordinator or RCC Warrior and Family Support Specialist, or use the Contact Your Ombudsman feature on the Ombudsman Registry home page at https://ombudsmanregistry.cnic.navy.mil.
Sexual Violence and Oppression As the Navy’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program continues to make improvements in primary prevention, current events remind us that sexual violence is rooted in forms of oppression, including racism. If we are to prevent sexual assaults from occurring, then the work begins by challenging inequality and unjust systems, attitudes and behaviors. Do you know how oppression is related to sexual violence? It is both cause and effect. On an individual level, a person who commits sexual violence may target someone who has less power in the world and has access to fewer resources for help. On a broader scale, we can see the relationship between sexual violence and oppression in adherence to rigid gender roles, normalization of violence and less resource allocation or funding for marginalized populations, to name a few. So what can we do with all of these forces at work, especially when they seem bigger than us? As the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Mike Gilday, mentioned in his June 3, 2020 message to the Fleet, “First right now, I think we need to listen.” The CNO also shared information on addressing racist comments that directly translates into skills for speaking up to prevent sexual violence, “So, when that happens, I want you to think about approaching that person. Think about dignity and respect. Think about having a private conversation – an honest conversation in educating them. Make them more self-aware of what they did and what they said. If we don’t do that, racism, injustice, indignity and disrespect – it’s going to grow and it’s going to continue.” For more information or to make a report of sexual assault, contact your local Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) via the DoD Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247 and https://safehelpline.org/. To learn more about the topics mentioned in this article, check out these resources. CNO Message to Sailors: https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=113160 National
Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/blogs/preventionista/sexual-violence-and-oppression-framing-ourwork-using-sexual-violence
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Good Nutrition = Good Health BY: LCDR MELISSA AMESCUA, MS, RD/LD, MSC, USN, BEHAVIOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, OPNAV N17, 21ST CENTURY SAILOR PROGRAM, MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE As the world continues to change, often one’s focus changes. Making sure our focus does not drift away from eating a healthy diet is important not just as a warfighter, but as a partner, a spouse, a parent and even just an everyday person concerned about their health. Recently, there have been research articles published that have provided information supporting obesity concerns related to COVID-19 and sheltering in place. In addition, stress levels, depression and anxiety have commonly increased during these times. All of these factors may be contributing to unhealthy eating habits. Increasing unhealthy food choices or “comfort foods,” ordering fast food for pick up and not planning food choices and eating whatever is convenient becomes the normal routine for many when feeling overwhelmed. For others, habits may have not changed but maybe our activity level has gone down and our waistlines are trending up. Nutrition is important for immune health, the prevention of obesity and reduction of the risk of disease. It has to be our focus and our pathway for improved health. What we eat affects how we feel, weight management and can even impede our ability to fight off disease. Food is fuel and it assists us with our decisions, our mood and our ability to perform. We need to remember that we are not living to eat, but eating to live and to find the balance that will sustain us, improve us and make us a healthier group of people as a whole. On a positive note, a few smaller recent studies reported that some people have started improving their lifestyle during the current pandemic. These people should be applauded for changing their lifestyle by eating healthier, exercising more, stopping smoking or whatever else they might be doing to be healthy. We need to look to these people in setting the trend for the military community. If you are ready to make changes and do not know how, here are some basic tips to start: 1. Set a goal and be realistic to make lasting changes. 2. Find support and have someone to help hold you accountable. 3. Make a plan. Get a notebook, use a journal or find an app on your phone that works for you. 4. Be visual with your plate. Use the plate method from the choosemyplate.gov website to help you be visual with your plate, focus on portions and identify what is covering your plate. If you are eating half of a plate of plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables this is a good plan. These foods typically are lower in calories to help control weight but also provide you more antioxidants to combat disease. 5. Pick the right foods. Try focusing on eating the rainbow with increased fruits and vegetables, add in protein sources such as eggs, low-fat yogurt, milk, chicken, turkey, beans, nuts, and fish high in omega-3s that also provide you a dose of healthy fats too. Adding in those healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, olives or olive oil are all great sources as well. Other items to add are whole grain foods such as brown rice and oats and avoiding refined foods. Your health matters, nutrition is important for your health. Making healthy changes and changing your focus to making nutrition a priority will improve your longevity, performance and readiness, which is key for anyone being a part of the military family. You are welcome to contact melissa.amescua@navy.mil for any questions or comments on nutritional health.
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Camp Closed This Summer? Consider Virtual Finance Camp Instead! Are you looking for an engaging and enriching summer program to keep the kids busy while school is out? Well, you are in luck because the St. Louis Federal Reserve is offering a free virtual personal finance summer camp from now until August 14, 2020. This weeklong program will teach K-8 children personal finance lessons on money management, using debit and credit cards and making smart financial choices. This is a chance for kids to build a healthy mindset and knowledge about their finances to guide them into their future. Interested students will access the camp with a Google account login. To enroll, visit https://www. econlowdown.org/index.php?s=42, login with a Google account and enter one of these applicable codes: „ For elementary-school students, grades K-5, enter the classroom code: WMTJhNu. „ For
middle-school students, grades 6-8, enter the classroom code: wsATScu.
At the end of the program, students will earn a virtual badge to signify their completion of the course. If you ever wanted to instill good money management skills in your children, do not miss this opportunity.
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JULY 2020
TO PARTICIPATE
Go to mynavyfamily.com to create a LMS account. Once logged in, access LIVE webinars to register for a session. For NMCI use https://learning.zeiders.refineddata.com.
Deployment Monday, July 20th Thursday, July 16th
2:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST
Employment Wednesday, July 8th Tuesday, July 14th
Wednesday, July 15th Wednesday, July 15th Thursday, July 16th Wednesday, July 22nd Tuesday, July 28th Tuesday, July 28th
Finances
Wednesday, July 1st Tuesday, July 7th Tuesday, July 7th Wednesday, July 8th Wednesday, July 8th Thursday, July 9th Tuesday, July 14th
2:00 PM EST 3:00 PM EST 3:00 PM EST 3:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST 10:00 AM EST 1:00 PM EST
Deployment and Your Child’s Educational Needs Deployment and Children
1:00 PM EST 9:00 AM EST 1:00 PM EST 1:00 PM EST 11:00 AM EST 4:00 PM EST 9:00 AM EST 4:00 PM EST
Effective Resume Writing Job Search Strategies During Challenging Economic Times Information on Applying for Federal Employment Salary and Negotiation Skills Career Planning: Planning for Your Dream Job Winning Interview Techniques Virtual Interviewing Techniques Financial and Employment Resources
Financial Readiness: Investing for Your Future Understanding Survivor Benefit Plan Teaching Your Teen$ About Money Car Buying Newly Married? Let’s Talk Money! Financial Responsibility in the Military Saving and Investing
Command Financial Specialist (CFS)
Friday, July 10th Monday, July 13th Wednesday, July 15th Friday, July 17th Monday, July 20th Wednesday, July 22nd
12:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST
CFS Online Certification Course: Session 1 CFS Online Certification Course: Session 2 CFS Online Certification Course: Session 3 CFS Online Certification Course: Session 4 CFS Online Certification Course: Session 5 CFS Online Certification Course: Session 6
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JULY 2020 JULY 2020
Life Skills
Ombudsman Tuesday, July 14th Tuesday, July 21st
Parenting
Wednesday, July 8th Thursday, July 9th Thursday, July 16th Friday, July 17th Wednesday, July 29th
Tuesday, July 7th Wednesday, July 8th Thursday, July 9th Friday, July 10th Friday, July 10th Tuesday, July 14th Wednesday, July 15th Thursday, July 16th
2:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 9:00 AM EST 2:00 PM EST 5:00 PM EST 2:00 PM EST 2:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST
Friday, July 17th Friday, July 17th
11:00 AM EST 2:00 PM EST
Friday, July 17th Tuesday, July 21st Wednesday, July 22nd Thursday, July 23rd Friday, July 24th Tuesday, July 28th Wednesday, July 29th Thursday, July 30th
4:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST 2:00 PM EST 2:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST 2:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST
Adjusting to the “New Normal” Organize Your Life Stress Management Couples Communication Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Stress Management 101 Communication Skills Lemons into Lemonade: Approaching Challenging Situations Disaster Preparedness How to Manage COVID-19 Stress and Anxiety Resolving Conflict With Others Being the Best You - Part 1 Five Love Languages Thriving In Times Of Uncertainty Yikes! Emergency Organization Being the Best You - Part 2 Suicide Prevention Navigating Our New Normal
9:00 PM EST 10:00 AM EST
Navy Region Northwest July Ombudsman Assembly Sponsor Training
2:00 PM EST 1:00 PM EST 4:00 PM EST 1:00 PM EST 12:00 PM EST
Teens and Tweens What about the Kids New Moms and Dads Dads and Discipline Parenting Tips
Relocation Thursday, July 16th
Thursday, July 16th Wednesday, July 22nd
9:00 AM EST 1:00 PM EST 10:00 AM EST
How to Complete A Household Goods Move Financially Planning for a PCS Relocation: Smooth Move
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