Brevard, NC - Army Reserve Family Programs

M AKING A D IFFERENCE IN B REVARD , NC
NOVEMBER 2014
IN THIS ISSUE:
#RethinkVETs................................................1
Money Smart Workshop.................................2
Hire a Veteran Week ......................................2
Tutor.com .....................................................2
2014 Asheville Holiday Parade.......................2
There are employers who see hiring and supporting Veterans as more than
just their patriotic duty. It’s about having the best-of-the-best as part of
their workforces. To help inspire employers to make concerted efforts to
employ former military men and women and inform organizations across
the country about all that Veterans have to offer, Families and Work Institute
has launched a video series titled: #RethinkVets.
The mission of the series is to encourage employers to hire and support
Veterans and their families by having Veterans and employers share their
best practices and advice. #RethinkVets strives to ensure employers and
employees to rethink not only how they go about hiring and supporting
Veterans and their families in the workplace, but also how important it is
to reach out to Veterans day-to-day and treat them just like you would
other colleagues. If they do, the benefits from a bottom line and societal
perspective will be great.
The first video in the series features Todd Nelson, a wounded Veteran who
fought in Afghanistan and is now a talent advisor for USAA. He’s calling
for employees and employers to rethink relationships with Veterans. He
misses the close connections he had with fellow Soldiers in the military
and suggests employers and employees reach out and develop close bonds
with Veterans.
Deer-Vehicle Collisions ..................................3
Honoring Our Veterans ...................................4
Ready and Resilient.......................................4
Veteran Flu Shots ..........................................4
Did You Get a Call From Area Code (876)? ......5
Tricare Retiree Dental Program .......................5
Ten Ways to Build Self-Esteem .......................6
Moving Forward ............................................6
The Great American Smokeout .......................6
Military Sexual Trauma ..................................7
2015 Army Digital Photo Contest ...................7
2014 Army Reserve Association Scholarship ...8
ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER
152 E French Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
SUSAN BENNETT
Contract Customer Support Coordinator
(828) 884-9482
[email protected]
HILLARY COALSON
Contract Customer Support Coordinator
(828) 885-7895
[email protected]
OFFICE HOURS
Monday—Friday, 8am—5pm
Closed November 27-28
For more information and for access to the video series, visit the Families
and Work Institute website at www.familiesandwork.org/5786-2.
The information presented in this newsletter is for informational awareness only and does not represent
endorsement, sponsorship, recommendation, or promotion of any commercial event(s), commercial names
or brands by the editors of this Newsletter, the Department of Defense, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force,
US Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserve, and the federal government. Usage of commercial or trade mark
names is for identification purposes only.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 1
Money Smart Workshop
Henderson County
Thursday, November 6, 2014 |6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Etowah United Methodist Church
110 Brickyard Road | Etowah, NC 28729
Take Control of Holiday Spending - Instructor: Tamara
Lee, On Track. Workshop is open to the public, NO
COST, sponsored by St. James Charities and On Track
Financial Education and Counseling. Registration is
required to determine space needed, number of dinner
servings to anticipate, and if child care will be needed.
Workshops are required for those participating in the
Section 8 WCCA Family Self–Sufficiency program.
To register, contact Maryann at (828) 693-1711.
2014 Asheville Holiday Parade
Honors Veterans
Saturday, November 22, 2014 | 11:00 AM
Jingle Fest | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
US Cellular Center
87 Haywood Street | Asheville, NC 28801
Following the 2014 Asheville Holiday Parade is the
JingleFest, held in the US Cellular Center, downtown
Asheville with free family fun, entertainment, and
children’s activities in the arena, and a small craft/holiday
market on the concourse, all indoors so the weather will
not be a problem.
For Parade route, visit
www.ashevilledowntown.org/holidays.
Hire a Veteran Week
November 10, 12-14, 2014 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
NC Works Career Center
48 Grove Street | Asheville, NC 28801
The Asheville NC Works Office hosts Veterans Need to
Know information workshops which are open to all
Military, Veterans, Veteran Family Members, Businesses
and Support Service Agencies.
Note: Building sign has “Employment Securities
Commission.” There is plenty of free parking and on the
city bus line.
For more information, contact Brenda Ploss, DVOP
Specialist at (828) 251-6200 or
[email protected].
ASCC
“We invite and appreciate your
feedback with regards to the content of
this newsletter. Please contact the ASCC
via email, phone, or postal mail to let us
know what you think.”
The ASCC Team
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 2
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) states, while a crash involving a deer can
happen at any time, the majority of deer-vehicle collisions occur between the months of October and
December, when deer activity increases due to the mating and hunting seasons. Incidents are most
common during the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., when deer movement increases and limited lighting makes
it more difficult for motorists to see them on or near roads.
NCDOT offers the following suggestions for motorists to avoid being in a deer-vehicle collision:
Use caution when driving at dawn or dusk and scan roads and roadsides ahead.
 Reduce your speed at night and use high beams when possible.
 Be sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts and children are properly restrained in child safety seats.
 Slow down when approaching deer standing near the roadside, as they may suddenly bolt into the road.
 Deer often travel in pairs or groups, so slow down and be alert that others may follow.
 Briefly use flashers or a headlight signal to warn approaching drivers when deer are spotted.
 Be alert and use caution when traveling through frequent deer crossing areas marked with signs.
 Do not rely on devices, such as deer whistles, extra lights or reflectors, to deter deer. Research has
shown that your best defense is your own responsible behavior.
 Motorcyclists should be especially alert for deer as motorcycle-deer collisions have a higher fatality rate.
 If a deer does run in front of your vehicle, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a vehiclevehicle collision or cause the vehicle to strike a pedestrian or potentially deadly fixed object, such as a
tree or utility pole.
For more information, visit www.ncdot.gov/travel/safetytips/.

BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 3
Honoring Our Veterans
Ready and Resilient
November 11, 2014 marks Veterans Day, a celebration in
honor of America’s Veterans for their patriotism, love of
country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the
common good. Thank a Veteran for their service to the
United States of America and for preserving the freedoms
that all Americans enjoy. On this day and always, the
ASCC staff give our respect and sincere appreciation to
our Veterans, Fallen Heroes, and their Families.
We talk a lot about being Ready and Resilient, and the
Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign, but what does
resilience really mean? What does a resilient person look
like? We know there are many definitions out there, so
we wanted to produce a video that would help explain
through a personal story of strength and resilience.
Experts in Positive Psychology were also part of the
video to explain the history, research, and science behind
resilience. Use this video as a tool to help you build
personal resilience, strengthening the resilience of others,
and to build a resilient Army.
A veteran is someone who, at one point in
his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to
“The United States of America," for an amount
of "Up to and including my life."
The video is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=phUjgRXFoaU.
Unknown Author
Veteran Flu Shots
Department of Veterans Affairs Partners with
Walgreens
Flu season is here again, and we have great news about
how we are making it more convenient for Veterans to
get their annual flu shot! The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a national program
with Walgreens to make it easier than ever for Veterans
to stay healthy. Now, protecting a Veteran’s health with
a flu shot is as close as their local VA or neighborhood
Walgreens! By getting their flu shot from either their
local VA health care facility or neighborhood Walgreens,
they don’t have to complete VA forms or carry around
paper records. Now that’s seamless service!
Veterans Day—Discounts
and Freebies
For information on the 2014 Veterans Day Restaurant
Offerings, Travel and Recreation Discounts, Retailer
Offerings, and Veterans Day Events, visit
www.military.com/discounts/veterans-day.
“The VA is proud to partner with Walgreens to provide
needed vaccines to our nation’s Veterans,” said VA
Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “This partnership is a
great example of how government and the private sector
can work together to effectively and efficiently provide
Veterans the care and benefits that they've earned.”
For more information, visit www.ehealth.va.gov/
Immunization.asp.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 4
Did You Get a Call From
Area Code (876)?
By Aditi Jhaveri, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Ring, ring… you get a call from a number starting with
area code (876). They call to say you’ve won the “Mega
Millions” Jamaican lottery, and you could even win a car!
All you have to do is pay a few thousand bucks in taxes or
fees, and the big jackpot is yours. That’s great news,
right? Wrong. Don’t send money to anyone who claims
to have a prize for you. Odds are good that it’s a scam.
And just so you know, playing a foreign lottery is against
federal law.
A new twist: scammers are asking people to pay “taxes
and fees” with prepaid cards. They tell you to go to the
nearest pharmacy or a big retail store, buy a card, and call
them back to read them the number. Whether you use a
prepaid card or a wire transfer — once you send your
money, you can’t get it back. So keep card and account
numbers to yourself. Scammers use this information to
hustle even more money out of you — and your
accounts.
We get complaints from people who have lost A LOT of
money to foreign lottery scams. Some folks have told us
that they’ve been threatened with physical harm if they
don’t pay the fees.
If you get a call about a foreign lottery, we recommend
that you hang up. And before you do, you might want to
tell the caller:

I never entered a foreign lottery, so I couldn’t have
won

I never send money to someone who calls me

My phone number is on the Do Not Call Registry,
so you shouldn’t be calling me — and I’m reporting
your number
Have you gotten a call like this? We want to hear about
it. Submit a complaint at ftc.gov/complaint, or call
(877)-FTC-HELP.
TRICARE Retiree Dental
Program
The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) is
offered by the Department of Defense (DoD) through
the Defense Health Agency (DHA). The Federal
Government Programs division of Delta Dental of
California, located in Sacramento, California, administers
and underwrites the TRDP under contract with the
DoD.
The TRDP offers a voluntary group benefits program of
cost-effective dental coverage for retired members of the
Uniformed Services and their family members,
unremarried surviving spouses and children of deceased
members, and other select individuals. The Uniformed
Services include the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and U.S. Public Health Service as well as
their Reserve and National Guard components.
Enroll in the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program today
and get coverage the following month for the most
commonly needed and sought-after dental services like
exams, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, root canals, gum
treatment, extractions and dental accidents. Then, after
only 12 months of continuous enrollment, enjoy the full
scope of benefits including crowns, bridges, dental
implants, partials and dentures, and orthodontics for both
children and adults. Don’t wait, watch our video and
learn everything you need to know about this exceptional
dental program and enroll today!
For more information, contact TRICARE Retiree Dental
Program at (888) 838-8737 or www.trdp.org.
Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management
tool. Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease
the body's 'fight-or-flight' (stress) response, and help with
mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management.
www.t2.health.mil/apps/breathe2relax.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 5
Ten Ways to Build Self-Esteem
in Your Military Child
Self-esteem refers to the confidence a person has in
themselves. The way you interact with your child, even
from a very young age, can significantly affect, for better
or worse, your child's early development of self-esteem.
To give your kids the best chance of developing a positive
self-image, nurture them as they grow and let them know
you believe in them. You can't give your child selfesteem, but you can help provide an ideal environment in
which to nurture and develop it.
Moving Forward
Moving Forward is a free, on-line educational and life
coaching program that teaches Problem Solving skills to
help you to better handle life’s challenges. It is designed
to be especially helpful for Veterans, Military Service
Members and their families. However, Moving Forward
teaches skills that can be useful to anyone with stressful
problems. Are you ready to Move Forward?
For more information, visit startmovingforward.dcoe.mil.
1. Hug and kiss your child every day. When away on
assignment, express your love through daily letters,
calls, or other communications.
2. Praise your child. Acknowledge accomplishments
big and small.
3. Help your child feel special. Emphasize the
privilege, responsibility, duty, and pride that go
along with being a military child.
4. Concentrate on the positive. Remember, children’s
self-confidence needs an extra boost when they fail
at a task.
5. Treat your child as a unique, valued, and respected
individual, not just an extension of you.
6. Take time to hear your child’s feelings and
concerns, especially those that concern your
military lifestyle.
7. Be a good listener. Children feel good about
themselves when they know others value what they
have to say.
8. Show respect for your child’s interests and ideas,
even when they differ from your own.
9. Encourage your child to do his/her best. Show your
appreciation and pride in those efforts.
10. Love your child unconditionally. Express your love
frequently.
The Great American Smokeout
The American Cancer Society marks the Great American
Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year
by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to
quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By
quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an
important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead
to reducing cancer risk.
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause
of disease and premature death in the US, yet about
42 million Americans still smoke cigarettes — a bit
under 1 in every 5 adults. As of 2012, there were also
13.4 million cigar smokers in the US, and 2.3 million
who smoke tobacco in pipes — other dangerous and
addictive forms of tobacco.
Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of
success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell
you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and
provide quit-smoking programs, resources and support
that can increase your chances of quitting successfully.
To learn about the available tools, (800) 227-2345 or
visit www.cancer.org.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 6
Military Sexual Trauma
Imagine being the victim of sexual harassment or sexual
assault and having to continue working with this
individual. This tragedy is all too often lived out within
our military ranks.
The latest statistics indicate approximately 24% of
women and 1% of men, who have served in the Armed
Forces, have experienced Military Sexual Trauma. The
Department of Veterans Affairs defines the term “military
sexual trauma (MST)” as a sexual assault or sexual
harassment that occurred while the Veteran was in the
military.
People who have experienced Military Sexual Trauma
often have these reactions:

Feeling hopeless about the future

Trouble concentrating

Being jumpy or startled at sudden noises

Disturbing dreams, memories or flashbacks

Problems at work and/or school
Physical Reactions:

Upset stomach

Trouble sleeping

Edginess

Alcohol or drug use
Emotional Reactions:

Depression/Sadness

Increase Anxiety

Irritability or having outbursts of anger

Blaming themselves

Not trusting others

A negative view of the world

Withdrawing
The Department of Veterans Affairs is required by law to
provide counseling to all Veterans who have experienced
Military Sexual Trauma. This care is limitless and at no
expense to the veteran. Further, the Veterans Health
Administration has directed all veterans who receive
services to be screened for Military Sexual Trauma.
There is no requirement to have a service-connected
disability to receive counseling and treatment for Military
Sexual Trauma through the VA.
If you have experienced Military Sexual Trauma, contact
the nearest VA facility or go to www.vetcenter.va.gov.
2015 Army Digital Photo
Contest
The Army announced that entry submissions for the
Army Digital Photography Contest will be accepted from
Oct 15 to Nov 30. This annual contest allows online
entries from contestants in two divisions: active-duty
personnel and other Army Morale, Welfare and
Recreation patrons.
The purpose of the contest is to recognize the artistic eye
of enlisted Soldiers, commissioned officers and civilians
alike for their simple and true captures of garrison life
around the world. Any Army MWR patron with an AKO
address may participate.
Prizes this year are $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place
and $100 for 3rd place in each category. Contestants may
enter and could win in more than one of these categories:
animals; design elements; digital darkroom; military life;
still life; people; and nature/landscapes.
Winners will be selected in February, 2015 and a list of
all winners in the 2015 Photo Contest will be viewed at
the same web address below.
Contestants can submit their entries online at
www.armymwr.com/recleisure/artsandcrafts/
default.aspx.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 7
The Army Reserve Association (ARA) has announced the Army Reserve Association
Enlisted Scholarship. For 2014, the ARA will be awarding 50, $1000 scholarships to
deserving Army Reserve Soldiers or their dependents.
The minimum qualifications are:

Enlisted member of the US Army Reserve not under flag or pending disciplinary
action.

MOS qualified in position of assignment.

Attending or entering a regionally or nationally accredited 2 or 4 year college or
vocational school. Graduate school is not eligible for scholarship.

Dependents registered in DEERS may apply if sponsor meets all qualifications.
All eligible applications must submit the following documents:

ARA Scholarship Soldier or Dependent Information Sheet

ARA Scholarship Validation Form

Soldier or Dependent Consideration Letter (one page letter on “Why I should be
awarded the ARA Scholarship”).

Proof of current enrollment by the school’s Registrar.

Major Support Command (MSC) CSM Letter of Recommendation (no longer than
one page).
All packets should be submitted electronically to the following address, by the MSC CSM
or elected MSC CSM representative no later than 17 November 2014 to
[email protected] .
For more information or for the application contact the ASCC.
BREVARD ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2014 | PAGE 8