2025 Blogs
Coping With Change Using Cognitive Reframing
2/15/25
We all must cope with change in our lives. We know it will come. Some change can be overwhelming, even frightening. It can also be abrupt, not planned or expected so you can’t prepare. Change can add a lot of stress to your life.
Fighting Procrastination
3/15/25
Have you ever put off a project because you just didn’t know how to get started? Have you ever avoided a task and only finally got it done because you had to?
2024 Blogs
Family Child Care Homes Provide Options, Employment Opportunities for Army Families
12/15/24
The number of Family Child Care program homes is growing, giving Army Families more options for affordable and flexible childcare to support their work schedules and Army careers.
Military Spouse Employment Resources
12/03/24
There are one million military spouses in the global military community. They provide critical support to our Soldiers and their careers in the Army, and often, their careers suffer as a result. The Army and the Department of Defense recognize that many military Families need two incomes and that military spouses sacrifice years of education, hard work and experience in service to our nation.
Is Your Family Healthy or Dysfunctional? Here Is How to Tell and What to Do About It
11/11/24
In the hectic routine of work, Family, and household obligations, a child running late for school can lead to a shouting match, a sink full of dirty dishes can turn into criticism and a forgotten errand can lead to name calling. If these moments become a pattern, a home that is supposed to be a safe haven can feel like a battleground.
Military Parents Can Help Their Children’s School Increase Funding Through Impact Aid Survey
10/24/24
Schools near military installations receive less local funding, and military parents can do something about it—and it takes less than five minutes!
Holiday Party Safety
10/7/24
Leaves on the ground are the first sign that the holiday season is fast approaching, and it also means it is time to remind ourselves and each other how to stay safe while celebrating. From Halloween to New Year's, as we celebrate, we can have fun, remain vigilant, be aware, and stay safe. Use these eight tips to have a great holiday season.
Military Consumer Month and Financial Protection for Army Families
7/15/24
Did you know that, according to the Federal Trade Commission, military Families are 76 percent more likely than other adults to be victims of banking fraud? Due to the increased threat, July was designated Military Consumer Month to bring awareness to the benefits and protections created to defend service members and their Families' economic well-being.
Positive Test Results for Delta-8 THC Found in Popular Gummies, Vapes Now Reported to National Firearm Background Check System
7/1/24
Many Soldiers may not be aware that testing positive for Delta-8 THC, commonly used in gummies, vapes or similar hemp and cannabidiol, or CBD products, can result in losing the right to purchase or possess a personal firearm for one year.
Child Development Center Tuition-Fee Waiver Not Taxable
06/13/2024
Child Development Center employees have just had a tax benefit confirmed.
The Armed Forces Tax Council has determined that the Child Development Center tuition fee waivers for CDC employees is not taxable.
DOD Changes Codeine Cutoff Rate
05/13/2024
On March 4, the Defense Department’s Military Personnel Drug Abuse Testing Program raised the codeine cutoff rate from 2,000 nanograms/per milliliter to 4,000 ng/mL to mitigate false positive results for military service members.
Financial Capability Month
04/23/2024
During the month of April, the Army recognizes the value of financial education in improving the financial well-being for Soldier, Families, and Civilians with National Financial Capability Month. Financial literacy has been proven to be the key to saving and investment behavior, debt management, and borrowing practices. By developing short-term and long-term financial habits and skills, we have a greater ability to cope with emergency expenses and weather financial shocks that affect our security and freedom of choice.
2023 Blogs
What Are We Doing About Drug Overdose?
08/31/2023
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a time to remember and honor those who have died of an overdose and those who mourn their loss. Building awareness of the problem of overdose and the accompanying stigma is also a component of IOAD. It’s also an opportunity to take action to end overdose.
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Laughing Has Health Benefits
05/18/2023
The National Cancer Institute found that people who laugh regularly boost their immune system by decreasing hormones related to stress inside their body. In addition, laughter ups the number of natural killer cells and activated T cells, which are two things that can help your body stay healthy and strong. If you are feeling lonely or depressed, try watching a comedy and have a good laugh. There is a good chance that it will make you feel a little better.
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Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources for Soldiers
05/11/2023
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. In the past few years, the Army has looked at its resources and programs available to Soldiers and worked to improve upon them based on the feedback from and needs of Soldiers and leaders.
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Finding Peace of Mind
05/04/2023
Each of us goes through challenging times. Whether it’s loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, or some other draining event, we will have to get through it and move on.
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Keeping a Journal Can Be Good Medicine
02/02/2023
Resilience is about coping with setbacks. It’s about finding the strength to respond to life’s challenges. There are many setbacks in life one must meet and overcome. One of those challenges is the loss of a loved one.
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Peer-to-Peer Influence in the Prevention of Harmful Behaviors
01/12/2023
Over the past few years, the Army has been updating and developing policies and directives to better prevent harmful behaviors. Since 2020, a few committees and commissions have done a deep dive into harmful behaviors within the DOD and the Army to find more effective methods aimed at tackling these behaviors.
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New Goals for the New Year? R2PCs Can Help Your Journey
01/04/2023
At the start of a new year, people create goals or resolutions of things they’d like to accomplish, as this time represents a new beginning. Sometimes the goals created can cause a bit of stress or anxiety, as it may be a new venture or something that has been put off for a while.
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2022 Blogs
Suicide is never the answer- Help is always available
06/01/2022
Recently, Sec. Def. Lloyd Austin directed the establishment of a Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee to address and prevent suicide in the military. The SPRIRC will conduct a comprehensive review of the Department’s efforts to address and prevent suicide.
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Junior Leaders’ Roles and Responsibilities in Fostering Connections to Prevent Harmful Behaviors
05/13/2022
Junior Leaders are in charge of squad size elements and are often new Soldiers’ most direct supervisor when new to the Army. The Army categorizes junior leaders as those in the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Staff Sergeant.
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Strengthening Your Connections Prevents Harmful Behaviors
04/01/2022
DOD’s suicide prevention initiative “Connect to Protect” not only perfectly rolls off the tongue but is also backed by science.
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7 Things a Suicide Survivor Wants You to Know
1/27/2022
We all can have bad days where we may choose to isolate, sulk, or even have a good cry. For some however, these days can turn into several days, weeks, or even months feeling as though a thundercloud is looming over our heads.
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2021 Blogs
Make Your Goals Even SMARTER
12/30/2021
As 2022 begins, texts, emails, and social media feeds will be flooded with resolutions. “New year, new you” can actually be feasible and a lot easier to achieve by creating SMARTER goals. Try this method to step up your resolution game.
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Don’t Let the Holidays HALT Your Sobriety
11/19/2021
The holidays are a time to be thankful--for your family, friends, career, and your sobriety. But they can also put you around familiar people, places and things--all potential triggers that can make it tempting to steer away (even briefly) from the sober life you’ve worked so hard to attain. Being mindful of your environment and taking a moment to HALT can keep you right on track.
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Saying No Isn’t a Bad Thing
08/20/2021
Saying “no” doesn’t make you a bad person. Sometimes we need to draw the line on what we do for others so we don’t max out ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Establishing boundaries sets the expectation of what you are willing to do for others while still taking care of yourself. Even telling others you don’t want to talk about a specific topic because it makes you uncomfortable is setting a boundary.
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Spanning the Split-Second Margin
07/22/2021
One tenth of a second. One inch. One slightly off centered shot out of one hundred. The difference between winning an Olympic medal and finishing out of the running is often minute, and yet often, spanning these margins remains unachievable for even the most talented athletes.
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Do Your Part to Shatter Social Stigma
06/30/2021
No one likes a label that could potentially hinder their overall quality of life, especially within their career and relationships. According to the CDC, substance overdoses and suicide are the top two leading causes of death among Americans under 50 years old.
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Recognize When to Power Down
06/17/2021
Technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives. We use it to work, learn, connect with others, exercise, and ease the burden of daily chores and activities.
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Turn It Up – Raise Your Gratitude Volume
06/09/2021
“There is no joy without gratitude,” says Brene Brown. What if turning up the volume on our gratitude could make a positive impact on our daily environment and bring joy to others and ourselves? It can! It can! And it’s all backed by science (see related).
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Those Old Prescriptions Do More Harm Than Good!
05/27/2021
Have you ever pulled a muscle and instead of going to the doctor, you took some odd pill left over from an old prescription? Well, this could actually do you more harm than good, and the Army is taking measures to deter Soldiers from using outdated medication by setting the expiration dates at six months past the date the prescription was filled.
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Tech Positive: Accelerate Your Personal Resilience
05/20/2021
Technology is meant to improve our lives, but does it? Chris Dancy, ARD webinar guest and “World’s Most Connected Man,” says a critical mistake we frequently make when using tech is that we value what we’ve measured instead of measuring what we value. In other words, we let the technology dictate how and what impacts us.
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Spring: The Perfect Time to Grow Resilience
05/04/2021
Spring is a time for rebirth, rejuvenation, and refocusing. Many people “spring clean” to get rid of unwanted items and energy from their home or barracks, but did you know that you can also do the same for your body and spirit?
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The 7C’s of Resilience for Military Kids
04/27/2021
When Soldiers serve the nation, their Families also serve. And like their parents, military kids also face some of the challenges of Army life such as Family separations during deployments and leaving friends behind during Permanent Change of Station moves.
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Your Career on Marijuana
04/13/2021
Marijuana, despite being legal or decriminalized in some states, is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and considered an illicit substance. This includes all parts of the plant, whether is THC (the chemical that gets you high) or CBD (the chemical that calms you down).
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10 Signs You Are Not in a Good Relationship
04/07/2021
Relationships – especially new ones – often feel euphoric and exciting (that’s the dopamine in your brain doing its happy dance), but eventually the honeymoon phase fades away. This is totally normal but how can we tell if things are going downhill?
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Gambling and the Windfall of Deception
03/23/2021
Flashing lights, jackpot bells, and millions of dollars waiting to be won on table games, sports betting, and slot machines, all at a casino likely near your installation. With gambling arenas being permitted in more states, casinos and gambling apps are popping up everywhere like spring crocuses.
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10 Signs You May Have Found Your Forever Person
03/16/2021
We’ve all seen it in the movies, two individuals lock eyes from across the room, fall in love, nearly get torn apart by tragedy or a spiteful ex, reunite, and live happily ever after. New relationships are fun and exciting.
Soldiers Are the Army’s Professional Athletes
02/23/2021
Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville, has said that our Soldiers are like professional athletes and the Army wants to give them all the capability they need to stay on the field and play their position. Thus, just like elite athletes, Soldiers need to take care of themselves both physically and mentally to perform at their peak.