218 MEB

Welcome Home Event for Combat Veterans All Veterans and their family members are cordially invited to the second annual Welcome Home Event for Combat Veterans sponsored by the VA Medical Center on September 20 aboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.  Click here to download the Welcome Home flyer.

Operation Military Kids
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/

FREE Counseling 24-7 Military OneSource This free 24-hour service, provided by the Department of Defense, is available to all active duty, Guard, and Reserve members and their families. Services include consultation online or by telephone, with referral for up to six free face-to-face counseling sessions, on issues including reunion and reintegration, to a professional in your community. You can reach the program by calling toll-free 1-800-342-9647 or through the Web site at http://www.militaryonesource.com. Remember, your privacy is assured and no one knows you reached out for support unless there is a threat of harm to yourself or others.

Do you have school-aged children who play sports? Or do they take dance, music or arts classes? Maybe they would they like to try something new... like Karate? Could your child benefit from a tutor to stay at grade level? If the answer is YES to any of these questions, Our Military Kids grant program may be able to help.  Click here to download the Our Military Kids Flyer.

YMCA MEMBERSHIPS The Department of Defense has partnered with the Armed Services YMCA to fund memberships at participating YMCAs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for the following DoD military groups: Families of deployed (deployment must be for a minimum of six months) National Guard and Reserve personnel (Army / Navy / Air Force / Marine Corps). Must be federal Active Duty (Title 10) Status.Active duty and their families at independent duty locations. Independent Duty personnel are Active Duty Service members who are serving in a location remote from a military installation and the active duty member does not have access to a free fitness program. You must complete the Independent Duty Eligibility Request Form for all interested personnel in the command which must be approved by Service POC- (please call Military OneSource for contact information. Must be federal Active Duty (Title 10) Status. Active duty personnel and their families assigned to newly established joint bases. Must be federal Active Duty (Title 10) Status.Relocated spouse and family members of deployed active duty personnel (deployment must be for a minimum of six months).  Must be federal Active Duty (Title 10) Status.

MEDICAL CORNER What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening. Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD.   Suicide is the 11th most frequent cause of death in the U.S. — someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes. Suicidal ideas and attempts to harm oneself are the result of problems that may seem like they can't be fixed. Together, Vet Centers and VA Medical Centers stand ready to reach out and help veterans at risk for suicide. Seek professional help...Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention hotline and indicate you are a veteran. You'll be immediately connected to VA suicide prevention and mental health professionals. We can help! If you feel you are in crisis, call the Suicide hotline  1-800-273-TALK (8255) your local VA Medical Center or Vet Center today!

SC National Guard Online Community
 http://www.guardfamily.org/

Build A Sign
BuildASign.com is offering us a special 25% off all of their products through the end of June to help them continue their support of our troops. I hope you will help support this company that has done so much for military families around the country. 25% Off All Products at BuildASign.com (If this link does not work, you can use the promo code NEWFRIENDS09 to get 25% off your order at checkout.)
http://www.buildasign.com/

Reserve Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing financial support to the families of Reserve Service Members from all services, who have been called to active duty and are experiencing financial difficulty.
http://www.reserveaid.org