News

Saban Military Wife Educational Scholarship

Molly Blake — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:24:00 -0400

Operation Homefront and the Women's Self Worth Foundation are offering the Saban Military Wife Educational Scholarship to wives of uniformed servicemembers. To be eligible, applicants must be a legal wife of a military member currently serving on active duty. Applicants must be accepted for registration by a vocational school in one of the required medical fields and be an active volunteer in their community.

Applications are being accepted until June 12, 2012.

For more information and to download an application, visit the Operation Homefront website at www.operationhomefront.net/scholarship/. All questions should be directed to Operation Homefront Program Manager by mail at Operation Homefront-Scholarship Program, 8930 Fourwinds Drive, Suite 340 San Antonio, Texas 78239. For more on military education programs and benefits, visit the Military.com Education Center.

http://www.military.com/military-report/scholarships-for-military-wives?ESRC=mr.nl

Least Among Saints Premiere

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:28:42 -0400

GI Film Festival and Papazian Hirsch Entertainment Cordially invite you and your guest to a Special Washington D.C. Invitational Premiere of

LEAST AMONG SAINTS

Saturday May 19 at 2:15pm

at the United States Navy Memorial Theater Located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington DC 20004

Immediately following the screening will be aQ&A with the filmmakers and special guests

RED CARPET: 1:30 PM SCREENING: 2:15 PM
Q&A: 4:00PM

RSVP and MEDIA Information:

Gene Schwam Hanson&Schwam Geneschwam@hsprnet 310 248 4488 off 310 753 8765 cel

D'ann Long GI Film Festival www.gifilmfestival.com Reel Stories. Real Heroes dann@gifilmfestival.com 951-315-6534

LEAST AMONG SAINTS

A Film By Martin Papazian

"Compassion is an immediate participation in the suffering of another to such a degree that you forget yourself and your own safety and spontaneously do what's necessary.” ~ Joseph Campbell

A haunted soldier just back from war and a boy who has never known peace in his home life embark on a life-changing journey as they become unlikely friends --and one another’s last shot at redemption

Writer, director and actor Martin Papazian’s debut film LEAST AMONG SAINTS movingly illustrates a man’s hard-fought road towards reconciling with his better self. Coming home to a broken marriage and unsure future, veteran Anthony Hayward (Papazian) thinks he’s at the end of his rope. But when his troubled ten year-old neighbor, Wade (Tristan Lake Leabu), calls out for help, Anthony can’t seem to turn away. To the dismay of the boy’s embattled social worker (Laura San Giacomo), Anthony sets out on a fool’s quest to help this heartbroken but hard to reach child find his long-lost father, who might not even exist. Yet in the midst of this new mission – the first that seems to matter since his return -- Anthony begins to come to grips with both the costs of war and the universal power of human connection. As the film builds to an emotional climax, Papazian finds both the gravity and the grace in ordinary, flawed characters pushed to extraordinary acts of compassion and decency.

Operation Free Ride

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:29:00 -0400

CALIFORNIA HORSEBACK RIDING FACILITIES HONOR OUR MILITARY HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES

Meet the horses and tour the facilities that are part of our national movement to offer free horseback rides to active duty military personnel, veterans, Wounded Warriors and their families.

All rides are given by appointment with the participating facility. For more information or to register, visit www.operationfreeride.com or call 888.987.4376 or 702.645.8446. To attend an open house, please RSVP directly to the facility. Horses4Heroes is a non-profit organization that is making horseback riding affordable for our military heroes and their families. For information visit us at www.Horses4HeroesUSA.com.

Saturday, May 19

Heaven's Hoofprints Equestrian Center

30330 Byfield Drive, Castaic 91384

Noon to 4 p.m.

RSVP 661.645.0278

Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Call 714.848.0966 for information and directions

End of the Trail Ranch

21211 Tyson Road, Perris, CA 92570

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

RSVP 623.341.7032 or visit www.endofthetrailranch.net

Horse-n-Around/The Mitchell Ranch

980 Travers Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076

RSVP 480.528.5461

Sunday, May 20

Los Angeles Equestrian Center

Mike Dunn Performance Horses

480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA 91506

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Call 818.398.1900 to RSVP and for information and directions

Monday, May 28 * MEMORIAL DAY

Redwood Ranch

2745 Redwood Road, Oakland, CA

RSVP 410.531.0262

Sunday, June 10

Rockin' L&D RancH

1019 Deodar Road, Escondido, CA

RSVP 760.224.2483

Military Family & Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:56:22 -0400

Join us for the Inaugural BSF Military Family & Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament

Patuxent Greens Golf Club, Laurel, Maryland ~ On Golf Digest’s List of Best Places to Play!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Please contact Pamela Stokes Eggleston at (301) 910-9340 or pamela@bluestarfam.org for information on sponsorship opportunities.

All tournament proceeds will go to Blue Star Families to support our mission and to provide innovative programs and services to military families.

"Golf helped my wounded warrior husband tremendously; it was and continues to be moving meditation for him and made our lives easier. The game of golf has helped numerous wounded warriors and their families begin to put the pieces back together." Pamela Stokes Eggleston, wife of a Wounded Warrior

__________________

Blue Star Families is a nonprofit organization passionately dedicated to helping military families across America. Our mission is to support, empower and connect military families to each other, their communities and to people in power. For more information visit www.bluestarfam.org

Salute To Military Spouses

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:36:00 -0400

The 6th Annual GI Film Festival is shaping up to be another star-studded event particularly for military SPOUSES! Yep, you heard right, this year military spouses are being recognized. Join the cast of Army Wives and tons of other celebs at this amazing evening. Already thinking about what to wear ... well then be one of the first TEN people to email info@gifilmfestival.com with your favorite scene from Army Wives and you can WIN A TICKET TO THE RED CARPET EVENT!!!

No matter what, be sure and check out the "Salute to Military Spouses" Night at the GI Film Festival on Saturday May 19, 2012 in Washington DC.

The night will begin with a 7 pm red carpet entrance, a film screening and a reception with a meet and greet of some of the cast from "Army Wives."

Here's the scoop: The first ten people to email info@gifilmfestival.com with their favorite scene from Army Wives will win a ticket to the Red Carpet event! Be sure and include your name and email address.

Hunt Companies strikes partnership with Blue Star Families

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:55:00 -0400

Strategic Partnership with Blue Star Families aims to improve the lives of military families

El Paso, TX (May 14, 2012) – Hunt Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Blue Star Families. Blue Star Families is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military families across the country.

Hunt and Blue Star Families will seek to increase program and membership outreach to military families on military bases across the country. Areas of focus for the partnership include deployed spouse services, re-integration support, improving quality of life and providing community connections for military families.

“We are excited about this partnership”, says Sinclair Cooper, Co-President of Hunt’s Public Private Partnership division. “Blue Star Families is an organization that supports families of military members and promotes causes and interests to positively affect their lives. Hunt is in the business of developing and managing military communities on military bases throughout the country. We have mutual interests in ensuring the best quality of life possible for our military members and their families.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” says Mark Smith, Executive Director of Blue Star Families. “This partnership with Hunt will give Blue Star Families an opportunity to ensure that our programs reach more military families in more locations across the country. We applaud Hunt for working with us to help improve the lives of military families.”

###

ABOUT HUNT
Hunt Companies, Inc. is a leading national real estate company dedicated to building values through development, investment, and management. Hunt is focused in the core areas of public private partnership, military housing, community development, real asset investment management and multifamily housing.

Hunt is firmly rooted in a legacy of leadership, integrity, and trust. Together, Hunt and its affiliates have more than $13 billion in assets under management, including 115,302 multi-family housing units and 7.7 million square feet of office, retail and industrial properties. Hunt has also developed 89,000 housing units and thousands of acres of land. Development project costs have totaled more than $6.3 billion with more than $8.2 billion in construction costs.

Hunt’s SEC registered investment advisor, Hunt Investment Management, has $3.2 billion of assets under management and manages funds and separate accounts across all real estate sectors in the U.S. and Europe.

Visit www.huntcompanies.com to learn more about Hunt, its heritage and commitment to values that build.

ABOUT BLUE STAR FAMILIES

Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable through programs and partnerships like Books on Bases, MilKidz Club and Blue Star Museums. Membership includes military spouses, children and parents as well as service members, veterans and the civilians who strongly support them all. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org.

I’ve Got Your Six, Girlfriend.

Pattie Reitz — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:31:00 -0400

Recently I was reading Lily Burana’s military wife memoir, I Love a Man in Uniform. I related to some of her experiences with the newness of the military culture. My husband joined the reserves as his second career, so when he decided to join the active duty Air Force I had a lot to learn.

I also learned from the book what the expression “got your six” means (although I surmise with the new Hollywood support campaign, it’ll soon become common parlance). It means, I’m flying behind you at the six o’clock position; in other words, I’ve got your back.

As a military wife, I’m appalled when I see military wives attacking each other online. I’ve seen it on message boards, blogs, and on Facebook: some women are spreading their unhappiness and criticism with an unhealthy dose of bitterness. And I don’t get that. I’m a peacemaker at heart, and I strive to serve and live at peace with everyone.

I am thankful every day for the women I met at Grand Forks Air Force Base, who answered all of my questions and never made me feel silly for asking. Who took me under their figurative wings and showed me what a squadron looks like. Who took the time to ask how I was doing, and listened for the answer beyond the smiling “I’m fine” response.

When I see “mean girl” posts online, it stings. When I hear someone try to one-up someone else on the “I have it worse” scale, it hurts. Besides, as Burana says, there is no prize for placing first in the “Suck It Up Olympics” (unless it’s an ulcer).

I wish we could do more to help each other, rather than resorting to snippy comebacks and tearing one another apart with sarcasm and aphorisms like “put on your big girl panties and deal with it” or “pull yourself up by your bootstraps and move on.”

During this military spouse appreciation week, I’d like to challenge you to find a spouse who needs encouragement. Send a card to someone who works hard for the squadron or FRG or FFS. Give every spouse you see this weekend a high-five and a smile.

The closing lines of Burana’s book summarize my thoughts: “The heart of every dedicated spouse pumps out lifeblood that binds all of us together as both a family of sorts and heirs to a unique national legacy.” We are family. I’ve got your six, girlfriend. I know you have mine, too.

Pattie Reitz is the proud wife of an Air Force chaplain, mom of two daughters, blog editor for Wives of Faith, and college English instructor. She lives with her family in Alaska.

Buy and Sell on eBay to Support Blue Star Families

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:26:57 -0400

BUY AND SELL ON EBAY FOR BLUE STAR FAMILIES

You can support Blue Star Families when you buy or sell on eBay, with the eBay Giving Works program. Here’s how:

Buy:

You can find whatever you're looking for on eBay – from baseball cards to new cars and more. When you do, shop for items that benefit us. You can get a great deal and support military families at the same time!

Shop now to support Blue Star Families

Sell:

You can also support Blue Star Families when you sell on eBay. Just designate our organization to receive 10-100% of your final sale price the next time you list something great.
Did you know that charity listings often get more bids and higher prices than regular eBay listings? Boost your sales and support our critical work while you’re at it! Plus eBay gives back to you too, with a fee credit on your basic selling fees.

Sell now to support Blue Star Families

Check back later this week to bid on a suit worn by Stephen Colbert and donated to support military families!

Campaign Spotlights Veterans as Civic Assets and Leaders

Stephanie Himel-Nelson — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:29:41 -0400

In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, Blue Star Families, the Military Child Education Coalition, and their partners will provide reintegration tools and training to 300,000 military families and 100,000 primary and secondary school educators by December 2014.

Top Hollywood Studios, Television Networks, Talent Agencies and Guilds Come Together For Launch Of New Veterans Campaign: “Got Your 6”

Los Angeles, CA—May 10, 2012—In an unprecedented show of support for veterans and military families, nearly every major studio, broadcast and cable network, talent agency, and guild in the entertainment industry has united with top-tier nonprofit organizations to launch the Got Your 6 campaign (www.gotyour6.org). Got Your 6 will create a wide array of opportunities for veterans to successfully convert their leadership and operational training into positive civilian roles in communities nationwide.

“Got your six” is a military expression that means “I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine.” The six o’clock position or “six” is the designation of the rear of a military formation.

Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces initiative and formed as an entertainment industry commitment at a Clinton Global Initiative America convening, Got Your 6 launches today with tremendous strength.

“The entertainment industry captures our imaginations, opens our eyes and touches our hearts, and I’m proud to work with them on our Joining Forces initiative,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “By sharing the stories of strength and resilience that define our military families, we can motivate even more Americans to honor these courageous individuals in new ways. That’s why I’m looking forward to working with the industry in the months and years ahead."

Entertainment industry partners that have already signed on to Got Your 6 include (in alphabetical order): A+E Networks, ABC, Bad Robot Productions, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), CBS Corporation, Directors Guild of America, Entertainment Industries Council, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Fox Audience Strategy, foursquare, Funny or Die, HBO, International Creative Management (ICM), NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Producers Guild of America West, SAG-AFTRA, Shine America, Showtime, Sony Pictures Entertainment, United Talent Agency (UTA), Viacom Media Networks, Warner Bros., William Morris Endeavor (WME), and Writers Guild of America West. The campaign mobilizes the assets, expertise and talent of the entertainment industry, spanning film, television, gaming, print, radio, outdoor media, and social platforms to elevate the conversation around veterans.

“On behalf of the entire entertainment industry, we are proud to be engaging with our veterans through the Got Your 6 campaign,” said Ron Meyer, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “Together, we are uniting to bring awareness to this incredibly important issue of bringing our country's trained leaders home to be a valued part of our communities across the nation.”

A star-studded public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Alec Baldwin, Michael Douglas, Tom Hanks, Milla Jovovich, Bradley Cooper, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tracy Morgan, Brian Williams, Pharrell Williams, Wendy Williams and many more will raise national awareness of Got Your 6.

Script integrations for TV and film projects, original digital content, and other creative initiatives will generate additional visibility. The campaign will also offer pathways for Americans to connect and engage with Got Your 6, including logo merchandise, special events, and “calls to action” for individuals.

The Got Your 6 movement already has enthusiastic bi-partisan support in the nation’s capital. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska) was the first Senator to put her support behind the program, and earlier this week, “6” logo lapel pins were provided to every member of Congress.

Got Your 6 brings together more than two dozen top-tier, national nonprofit organizations that serve as the subject matter experts for the important veterans issues at the core of the overall campaign. Each nonprofit partner will have opportunities to showcase their initiatives and to tap in to the web of resources within the Got Your 6 community.

Chris Marvin, a former Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot who was wounded while serving in Afghanistan, is the Director of Civilian-Military Partnerships for ServiceNation and the Managing Director of Got Your 6. ServiceNation, a campaign of Be The Change, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the organizing body, coordinator, and fiduciary agent of Got Your 6.

“Over the next five years, more than one million service members will return to civilian life. It is imperative that Americans see this as an opportunity. As we welcome this generation of veterans home, it is crucial that we view them and their families as leaders and civic assets. Got Your 6 is a clear call to action for all Americans to join with our veterans in reinvigorating our communities,” said Marvin. “Inspired by the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, this is a true collaborative effort that spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors, putting competition aside in favor of cooperation.”

In order to position veterans and military families for success in their return to civilian life, Got Your 6 will focus on six pillars of reintegration, working with a lead non-profit organization to activate each pillar in pursuit of a specific, substantial launch goal. The launch goals are:

Jobs

Hiring Our Heroes - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program will engage the business community in a campaign to hire 500,000 veterans and military spouses by December 2014.

Education

Transitioning through Education - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, Student Veterans of America, the Pat Tillman Foundation, and their partners will collect pledges from 500 colleges and universities to offer supportive veteran-specific resources, programs and policies by June 2014.

Health

De-mystifying PTSD - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, Give an Hour and its partners will lead a program to educate 100,000 graduate students in mental health disciplines on the unique issues of veterans and military families.

Housing

Ending Veteran Homelessness - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, the 100,000 Homes Campaign and its partners, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and over 120 participating communities, are leading an effort to house 10,000 chronically homeless veterans by July 2014.

Family

Strengthening Military Families - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, Blue Star Families, the Military Child Education Coalition, and their partners will provide reintegration tools and training to 300,000 military families and 100,000 primary and secondary school educators by December 2014.

Leadership

Continuing the Mission of Service - In coordination with the Got Your 6 campaign, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, and their partners will engage veterans and military family members in 1.5 million hours of volunteer service in communities nationwide by July 2013.

Each Got Your 6 pillar is led by an activation partner — a nonprofit organization that is a subject matter expert in its field. Goodwill Industries is the National Activation Partner of Got Your 6. For each substantial goal, official commitments have been made through the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), and activation partners publish their quantitative goals and provide plans to track and report their progress. A complete list of activation partners is available at www.gotyour6.org.

CGI has played a significant role in the development of the Got Your 6 campaign. At the CGI America annual convening in 2011, ServiceNation and representatives of the entertainment industry first laid the groundwork for this collaborative endeavor. CGI has been instrumental in providing guidance and frameworks for the metrics-based goal setting of the campaign.

In addition to their CGI commitments, Got Your 6 nonprofit activation partners have developed specific “calls to action” for the American public, designed to provide tangible, achievable opportunities for any person who wishes to express gratitude or serve their community in support of Got Your 6. An updated menu of Got Your 6 calls to action is available online at www.gotyour6.org.

Using Intercast, a rich-media interactive platform developed by Brand Knew, several Got Your 6 partners will feature the campaign’s May 10, 2012 launch event on their websites and social media channels, empowering viewers to chat, answer polls, submit questions and even make donations.

Got Your 6 Activation Partners include: Goodwill Industries International (National Activation Partner), 100,000 Homes Campaign, Blue Star Families, Give an Hour, Military Child Education Coalition, The Mission Continues, The Pat Tillman Foundation, Team Rubicon, Student Veterans of America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes.

Got Your 6 Strategic Partners include: American Red Cross, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Code of Support Foundation, Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), Operation Gratitude, Points of Light Institute, Sierra Club, Volunteers of America, USO, and Warrior Gateway.

Got Your 6 is grateful to the following government entities for continued counsel: The White House’s Joining Forces Initiative, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and The Corporation for National and Community Service

About Got Your 6

Got Your 6 is a campaign designed to change the conversation in America such that veterans and military families are seen as civic assets and leaders who will reinvigorate our community. The campaign combines the reach and resources of the top American entertainment studios, networks, guilds and agencies with the expertise and commitment of more than two dozen non-profit organizations. Through an extensive media footprint and a set of substantial service commitments, Got Your 6 will ensure successful reintegration of veterans into civilian life. For more information, visit www.gotyour6.org. ServiceNation is the organizing body and fiduciary agent for Got Your 6. The campaign is managed by Propper Daley. Mering-Carson developed the Got Your 6 brand, star/six device, and related creative. Brand Knew LLC developed the GotYour6.org website and the social media presence. Beck Media & Marketing handles all media and publicity.

If you missed the press conference, click here and you can watch the whole thing! It’s pretty cool to see all the celebs up there recognizing military families and vets!

Georgia Signs on for Military Children

Janet McIntosh — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:52:00 -0400

When my soldier and I moved our family to Georgia a year ago, we had no idea what would be in store for us when we went to enroll our daughter into the Georgia School System. Normally this was one of the easier parts of a PCS move, but this time we faced many challenges. Working with Blue Star Families, I found many spouses who had similar stories to share. One of the reasons military families struggled was due to the fact that Georgia had not signed on to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact. The Compact helps military children as they transition between schools across state lines. It addresses important issues facing families, such as enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation.

Well, I am thrilled to be able to share that this will not be the case anymore for Georgia military families. Last week, I had the honor of representing Blue Star Families at Fort Benning, for the signing of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact, by Governor Nathan Deal. This was a momentous occasion for military families and I was so honored to be a part of it. I want to take a moment to thank Congressman Sanford Bishop Jr. for asking Blue Star Families to be a part of this event. He has worked closely with Blue Star Families as an advocate for military families in Georgia. Congressman Bishop and his staff continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for military families in Georgia. This legislation will help more than 42,000 military children. Georgia is the 42^nd state to sign onto the Military Interstate Children’s Compact.

Governor Deal gave a speech noting the importance of our military families and how this was a great opportunity for Georgia to show their support of the troops and their families. Governor Deal also signed another piece of legislation that will allow active duty soldiers who have received a Purple Heart to obtain the honorary Purple Heart license plate. Governor Deal explained that there was no reason why an active duty soldier should have to wait until they retire to have the honor of showing their distinction as a Purple Heart recipient.

One thing that was missing from this momentous occasion was the mention of the many military organizations that have worked so hard to ensure that Georgia would sign the Military Interstate Children’s Compact. So I would like to take a moment to thank the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), The Military Child Education Coalition, The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), The National Military Family Association, Blue Star Families, and the many other organizations that supported this very important cause. Your work will forever be appreciated by our military families.