Free Portrait at JC Penny for Deployed Military Families

For more details go HERE.

JC Penny is offering Military Families with a Deployed Soldier a free traditional portrait and one shipped free to you Soldier's APO. AND the sitting fee is waived... Completely FREE! WOW!

Thanks MommySavers for the heads up! Always be sure to check out MommySavers for the latest deals and coupons.

Operation Iraqi Freedom becomes Operation New Dawn

Some of you might be worried if your Soldier is deployed to Iraq under Operation New Dawn, they won't receive combat pays. If you are worried, stop. This was released today:

"WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2010 – The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive, a Pentagon spokeswoman said today.
 
Servicemembers deployed to Iraq will still receive hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses. Some troops will qualify for family separation allowances. Also, all pay for warrant officers and enlisted members is tax exempt, while officers are exempt from taxes for up to $7,611.30 each month they serve in an eligible area."
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60679

By the way... What do you think of the new name?

FREE Military Care Package from Scion

Scion is giving out free care packages to our troops, deployed or not. So no matter where your Soldier is at the moment, take a second and send them a care package courtesy of Scion!


Head HERE to sign up!

The wonder of Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney... or as all the Army says: POA. For those of you who have yet to take the journey down POA Lane there is not just one Power that will cover everything you need to do in your daily life, oh no! That would make life too easy for us Army Wives! There are DOZENs of different Powers of Attorney! During a deployment year you will need every single one, including the one that allows you to buy a boat in his name.

Why do we need so many? Why can't we just put everything in our name and transfer over later? Because the Government will give us discounts for him being in the Military (to compensate for the lack of pay) when it comes to buying a home, or registering a car... But the "Service Member" (the one in the Military) must be listed on the title or deed! There are numerous reasons why you would want both of your names on a home rental agreement or car loan; but in order to do so you must have a ... POA!!

I recommend to everyone that they get every possible Power of Attorney that exsists. A General covers very little... You need a Special POA for:
- Taxes (To file them in his name or if you file jointly, because you have to file taxes every year)
- To Register your Vehicle
- To get the JAG (in some states) form to get state tax exempt on your Vehicle.
- Your Bank or Credit Card might require something different
- To rent/buy a house
- To get a Military ID
- To get a loan in his name

If you have children you will also need to fill out a temporary POA to whomever is going to watch them should something happen to you.

Essentially, I would recommend getting every POA possible. It is better to have them and never use them than not have the one you need in a desperate situation.

**A reminder: Only the Soldier can fill out a Power of Attorney. Never the Spouse!**

Deployments...

Oh, how I thought and hoped I would never have to think about this again... But I highly doubt any American can escape the reality of deployment. For those of us "married to the Military", any attempt to escape is futile. We are either on the brink of deployment, in the middle of deployment, or have just come home from deployment.

My personal experience is as a very young, frightened wife freshly married saying goodbye to my husband... then as a more mature wife, furious at the Army because they pulled our orders to move, saying goodbye again at 4am.

The homecomings are the happiest days of your life; topping everything else, including your wedding day. But is that day worth the worry, the fear, the separation? I have decided not ask myself this question. We cannot change the fact deployment occur on a yearly rotation, so we must accept, deal, and move on.

Every soldier, every spouse, and every family member is in my prayers nightly.