The Military Community On Twitter

(Nov. 11, 2009) With the creation of twitter lists, we can now make it easier to connect with our military community on twitter. Here's how to get listed:

Leave you comment with your twitter name and which category you should be listed in.

(May 31, 2009) This wonderful list is growing at a rapid rate, which is a good thing! Please check to see if you're on the list and if you're following these great folks on twitter. Help spread the word by sharing this with everyone you know on twitter so we can all continue to connect and support one another. Be sure to bookmark this post so you can check back to see how it grows. Don't forget to follow us too! @MailOurMilitary and @eMOMS .

(April 10th) There are lists for moms and lists for dads but at eMail Our Military (eMOM) we're looking to create the ultimate list of military moms, dads, spouses, service members, etc. for you to follow and connect with on twitter.

If you fall into one of these categories leave a comment with your @name and the category we should list you under and we'll add you! We'll update the list as information comes in and publish it here so we can all connect, share resources and support each other. As our list grows we'll may break the categories down into separate posts for you.

Military Service Members:
@LTCJonBrazelton
@Mosqueda
@GKkrigger
@Deployedteacher
@AjaxthePixie
@Bouhammer
@ChrisShort
@AndersonEriks
@Mikeyman213
@sgtDanger
@BriskUSMC
@BigGun731
@DM_Green
@NAVY_BUILT
@ChaplainAndrews
@rpiperUSMC
@womprat99
@CJGrisham
@WinObs
@PurtyTXRose
@WhoDeeni
@mjzitek
@NavySquid
@AdamWillis
@AdamV81
@AFPAChick
@USTommyMC
@haleylost
@SailorDad

Military Wives:
@Dayngr
@MailOurMilitary
@MarineWfe
@bunnypoo4U
@Jovialjacki
@USMCwife8999
@theArmyWifeLife
@hamf
@tantonik
@rebekahzjones
@MilAve_Leanne
@MilAve_Deborah
@Amandapink09
@FortBlissWives
@ArmySpouse
@ArmyWifeNetwork
@karenroush
@marsies
@NeoconBlonde
@mochaep
@ATColwell
@AFwife08
@MizzJuliax3
@Meadowbax
@MilitaryMama
@GreenEyedKat
@AFinnie
@Jpomeroy
@imheartcore
@threeheartphoto
@AJae
@StarrySkye81
@tsoniki
@TammyMunson
@kpiper
@CMWTR
@SaraHorn
@Avon_Momma
@KissMyGumbo
@KateKashman
@SailorsGrl
@ElizGomez
@Arielanna
@Ceece
@TaraCrooks
@SofterImageGrl
@SoCalHeart
@OrbitalDiamonds
@mrisner
@SubDigitWife
@ChristinaJade
@WilCoComm
@AreWeThere
@crazyadventures
@Shannan79
@GuardWife
@HeartAndHome
@MissingMadiera
@Mariaod
@UndercoverMama
@JenTheArmyWife
@HeatherV72
@ArmyWife88
@ArmyWifeAndMom
@A_Soldiers_Wife
@DeltaWhiskey1
@Riyaan
@AdrianeLohr
@RandomArmyWife
@MyMilitaryLife
@bundle2baby
@kjones122
@LinLori
@donnakaiser2006

Military Husbands:
@RedPorscheKilla
@PreppyDude
@SaintJer

Military Girfriends:
@AjaxthePixie
@whiskey_kitten
@clearforesight
@Meb821
@LtBeyer
@KelseyMW
@Armylovelife

Military Boyfriends:
@JustinSMV

Military Moms:
@Knottienature
@2020nexus
@PattyGale
@mcthornburg
@ArmyMom
@YankeeMom
@SweetSue
@KneeDeep
@Military_Mom
@SoldiersParent
@ArmyWifeAndMom
@bbias2
@BBWilbern
@alfwags
@jjshelton2000
@Pay4This

Military Dads:
@Tojosan
@SemperFratres
@trreed

Military Sons & Daughters
@kokomodianne
@MilitaryChild
@SonOfASoldier
@ChristinaJade
@WilCoComm
@armybrat1959
@McCore

Military Veterans:
@MilBlogging
@CarlinComm
@PaulSwansen
@Andy_Bearden
@EricjCox
@Lisa_Michele
@ThatTallDude
@WiredPig
@Just_A_Grunt
@SemperFratres
@JusBeachin
@MilAve_Col_K
@MarineMajor
@SaintJer
@AJae
@Greenbacker
@Sjvo
@SlipDown
@MarineAG
@JKiss77
@MPushkal
@kr8tr
@doubleduece
@threeheartphoto
@SEAL_Strong
@Tojosan
@RKThunder
@LauraKennedy
@CamBeck
@GannonBeck
@KentBeatty
@Tiggr
@DanPerry
@TroutScout
@DarthDilbert
@MikePratt
@OrbitalDiamonds
@mrisner
@CopTheTruth
@WilCoComm
@Gonendunit
@qascat
@RLScovens
@1USAVET
@AfghanOldBlue
@alfwags
@nanna95

Military Bloggers:
@eMOMS
@MilBlogging
@fieldsteven
@JanesList
@CJGrisham
@Bouhammer
@Blackfive
@KneeDeep
@PublicRelations
@JohnMichaelPix
@MilitaryPundits
@ArmyWifeBlogs
@BillRoggio

Military Support Orgs., Supporters, Veteran Advocates, etc.:
@MailOurMilitary
@eMOMs
@GreatAmericans
@usaa_news
@JohnHancock61
@MichaelDarwin
@YouServed
@Alaunit472
@MilitaryAvenue
@PaulRieckhoff
@ArmyWifeNetwork
@FortBlissWives
@ArmySpouse
@BobWoodruff
@HealMyPTSD
@LindyKyzer
@SoldiersAngels
@AmericanWP
@FifsBizNetwork
@NWNavynews
@CamoCrowd
@ThankHeroes
@AAFES_STYS
@VargasL
@BurstingwPride
@CourageCo
@CamoCrowd
@ThankHeroes
@TweettoRemind
@qascat
@MilitaryVote
@WarriorsLegacy
@PraetorMarching
@HonorAir
@SendTasteofHome
@ArmyNYC
@HeroLegacy
@VAspeechwriter
@SkipInc
@BonitaSmith
@CardsForHeroes
@ChandlersWatch
@DefendersOwn
@InflictAirsoft
@mymilitarylife
@AOS_Louisiana
@militaryhousing
@ArmyStudyGuide

Official Military Twitter Accounts
Department of Air Force: Alan Black, Public Affairs
Public Affairs Department of Air Force: Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nev.
@USArmy
@HQAMC
@WarriorForge
@AFPAA
@NDNationalGuard
@AAFES_STYS
@BurstingwPride
@FortHoodFMWR
@180thFW
@618_TACC
@621CRW_PA
@AFNeurope
@AFResRecruiting
@AirForceLive
@AirForceNews
@AMC_PA
@ArmyImcom
@ArmyTeamC4ISR
@ArmyROTC
@NavyNews
@FlyNavy
@US7thFleet
Joint Staff Department of Defense
Maxine Teller, Public Affairs, Department of Defense
Mark Drapeau, Research Fellow, National Defense University
Army & Air Force Exchange Service
U.S. Joint Forces Command
U.S. European Command (via Ed Buclatin, Captain, US Navy, Director of Public Affairs)
U.S. Pacific Command
U.S. Southern Command
U.S. Central Command
Air Force Public Affairs Agency
USAF Band
US Army
US Navy
US Pacific Fleet
Naval Air Forces
Naval Surface Forces
US 7th Fleet
Navy Personnel Command
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs
National Naval Aviation Museum
Hampton Roads Naval Museum
Navy Office of Information New York
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division: HJ Armstrong, Public Affairs
Naval War College
Navy Exchange
Submarine Group 2
Navy Experimental Diving Unit
USS Constitution
USS Nimitz
USS Bonhomme Richard

For a complete list of Government and related twitter accounts, please check out the GovTwit Directory. Also, don't forget to add yourself to the ever-growing list on MilBlogging.com

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, now you can. Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to correspond with service members one-on-one.

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Connect with eMail Our Military (eMOM) on twitter at: @MailOurMilitary or follow the blog feed at: @eMOMs. If you're reading this via email or in your feed reader, stop by and add your comments.

The 10 OPSEC Points

Within the Navy, the odds of making it through boot camp without hearing ‘Loose Lips Sink Ships’ are improbable. Though the slogan is old, it still embodies the basic principle of Operational Security, or OPSEC.

OPSEC (Operational Security) has been established by the D0D and has strict rules. It's broken down here to make it simple for everyone to understand and remember.

The 10 OPSEC Points:

1. Don’t discuss current or future destinations, ports of call, or bases.
2. Don’t discuss current or future operations or missions.
3. Don’t discuss current or future dates and times of exercises or missions.
4. Don’t discuss readiness issues and numbers.
5. Don’t discuss specific training equipment.
6. Don’t discuss people’s names, military occupation or operations.
7. Don’t speculate about current or future operations.
8. Don’t spread rumors about current, future, or past operations or movements.
9. Don’t assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you; they are.
10. Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when online, using eMail and the Phone.

For more on OPSEC you can read OPSEC Is Everyone’s Responsibility

# # #

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, you've found it! Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to eMail/Mail our military one-on-one.

Connect with eMail Our Military (eMOM) on twitter at: @MailOurMilitary, follow our blog feed at: @eMOMs or connect with us through one of the services below.

If you're reading this via email or in your feed reader, stop by and add your comments.

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The Latest Military Benefits & Legislative Updates

Benefits & Legislative Updates

DoD Secretary Addresses Budget
Get College Credit for Military Experience
AF Charity Campaign Ends May First
House Votes More Widows' Pay
See All Updates

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, now you can. Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to correspond with service members one-on-one.

Connect with eMail Our Military (eMOM) on twitter at: @MailOurMilitary or follow the blog feed at: @eMOMs. If you're reading this via email or in your feed reader, stop by and add your comments.

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Defense Department Celebrates 'Month of the Military Child'

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 – The Defense Department has long understood the value of caring for and celebrating children of servicemembers.

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome.

Military children face many obstacles unique to their situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and frequently being uprooted from school.

"Military children endure a great deal of change as a result of a parents military career," Douglas Ide, a public affairs officer with the Army's Community and Family Support Center, said. "The military family averages nine moves through a 20-year career. And in doing so, their children must say goodbye to friends, change schools, and start all over again."

Throughout the month, numerous military commands will plan special events to honor military children. These events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle, defense personnel and readiness officials said.

"Installations are honoring military children by providing the month packed with special activities that include arts and crafts shows, picnics, carnivals, fairs, parades, block parties and other special activities, focusing on military children that highlight the unique contributions they make," according to a Defense Department fact sheet.

The Defense Department will also launch a new toolkit series called "Military Students on the Move." The toolkit includes material designed to promote more efficient and effective methods of moving military children from school to school. The toolkit includes material for parents, children, installation commanders and school officials, Defense Department officials said.

In addition, the U.S. Air Force recently launched its "Stay Connected" deployment program kits in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child. The kits include items like teddy bears, writing pens and disposable cameras.

"The purpose of the Stay Connected kit is to provide young people and parents an avenue to keep a connection during the deployed members' time away from home," Eliza Nesmith, an Air Force family member programs specialist said. "The items in the kit come in pairs, so that the young person and parent can have an item that will help them remember each other."

Air Force bases will choose the best distribution method to correspond with an existing event or develop a new event to best serve their families. For example, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., will give out Stay Connected kits to deploying servicemembers during its basewide Month of the Military Child celebration, planned for April 8, Nesmith said.

oughout the month of April, the U.S. Navy child and youth programs will also be hosting special programs and events to salute military children. These events will include, carnivals, health screening for children, youth talent shows, and more, Navy officials said.

ents that celebrate the Month of the Military Child stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle," Larrie Jarvis, a Navy child and youth programs analyst said.

Army bases will plan their own events such as fun runs, bicycle safety courses, carnivals, fishing derbies, community service projects, and other events geared specifically toward children and youth, Army officials said.

The Month of the Military Child is part of the legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who died March 28. He established the Defense Department commemoration in 1986.

Also visit the Month of the Military Child Website at: http://www.monthofthemilitarychild.com/

If you've been searching for a way to support our troops easily, now you can. Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to correspond with service members one-on-one. .

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, Patriotism, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, Month of the Military Child, Military Children, Military Child ]

Connect with eMail Our Military (eMOM) on twitter at: @MailOurMilitary or follow the blog feed at: @eMOMs. If you're reading this via email or in your feed reader, stop by and add your comments.

And the Winners Are...

We gave you all weekend to get your entries in and now it's time to announce the winners of eMOM's Valentine's Giveaway!

We'd like to thank everyone who entered the eMail Our Military Valentine's giveaway featuring flowers, gift baskets and goodies from ProFlowers.com.

The following five winners were picked randomly and have each won a $70 gift certificate to ProFlowers.com. Congratulations!!

1. TheHooahWife
2. Kristen
3. BearTwinsMom
4. Military Mom
5. Velvet Hammer

Please contact us before midnight (EST) on Tuesday to claim your prize. In the event that one of our winners fails to contact us in time, we'll draw another name from the list.

Thanks to everyone for taking part in our contest. We hope you all stick around for all the other exciting goodies we have in store for you along with plenty of excellent blog posts. We wish everyone a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Note: We think you're all winners so, we've got something special for ALL our visitors, readers and troop supporters. An exclusive eMail Our Military offer of 20% off on ALL ProFlowers orders PLUS a FREE glass vase, but you'll need to use THIS LINK.

* Would you like to correspond with a military service member year-round? Register with eMail Our Military (eMOM) today! *

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Compliment a Military Wife, Girlfriend or Servicemember

Today is National Compliment Day. The day when we recognize the worth of words and the Party Planning Professor has a great write up on her website. There, she thanks and has a message for a special group of women - military wives, girlfriends, mothers and more. Here's a snippet:

A compliment is a noun. A compliment is a remark, or act, expressing praise or admiration. With all of the words that we type online how much are possitive? How often is your keyboard a pathway to make someones day beter?

You can read the full story at: National Compliment Day and please take a moment to share this story with someone you know but more importantly - compliment someone special to you today.

* Would you like to correspond with a military service member year-round? Register with eMail Our Military (eMOM) today! *

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, National Compliment Day, Party Planning Professor, Military Families, Military Wives, Military Moms, Military Girlfriends ]

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Elmo, Grover, Rosita, Zoe and Cookie Monster Deployed

Sesame Street Tour is Huge Success, Supports More Than 76,000 Military Families
From the "Your USO at work" newsletter

Elmo and company are a huge hit with the younger military children!

They danced. They laughed. They screamed with excitement. More than 76,000 service members and their families showed up in droves for a chance to see their idols - the legendary Muppets of Sesame Street - perform as part of the “Sesame Street Experience for Military Families” USO tour.

Trekking to 23 states in 18 weeks, the lovable Elmo and his friends, Grover, Rosita, Zoe and Cookie Monster visited 42 military bases and performed more than 100 shows for children of all ages. Connecting with kids, as only Sesame Street can, the Muppets touched on a variety of topics that are particularly tough for military children, such as deployments, feeling sad and expressing their feelings.

An extension of Sesame Workshop’s “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative, a military outreach program launched in 2006, the tour also provided military families with an abundance of fun and educational giveaways. In all, attendees walked away with more than 175,000 toys; 33,000 “Talk, Listen, Connect” kits and 12,000 USO brochures, among many other items.

Having kicked off at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms in California in early July, the tour wrapped up at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois on November 2. Deemed a tremendous stateside success, the tour received more than 70 mentions in the media and was featured on CNN and NBC Nightly News.

Determined to help military families deal with the emotional stresses that come with being a military parent or child of a deployed service member, the USO and Sesame Workshop are currently in talks to extend this successful program to 30 or 35 more military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

To see all the photos from the tour please visit the event list.

* Would you like to correspond with a military service member year-round? Register with eMail Our Military (eMOM) today! *

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Disney, Army Resort Make Vacations More Affordable for Troops

By William Bradner
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2009 – A Disney vacation just got more affordable.

Naval officers Lt. James Corbett and Lt. Cmdr. Erin Duffy take a whirl on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel with daughters Maggie, left, 5, and Aoife, 8 months, and son Dessie, 2. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Co.

With the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer, active and retired U.S. military personnel, including active members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reserves, can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney’s U.S. theme parks, and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.

“For so many of the men and women who serve in our U.S. military, time together with their families is cause enough for celebration,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are grateful for their service and hope ‘Disney’s Armed Forces Salute’ will allow our troops to create wonderful, magical memories with their family and friends.”

Shades of Green, a resort hotel on Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., is open exclusively to servicemembers, retirees, defense civilians, and their families. It is a safe haven for military families whether they’re reintegrating after an overseas deployment, having one last “family fling” before mom or dad deploys, or simply getting away for a weekend.

“If I suddenly break down and cry in a Holiday Inn, everyone’s going to be looking at me funny,” one guest recently explained. “Here, if it suddenly dawns on me he’s leaving in a week and I start to cry, I’ve got 10 people asking how they can help and offering support.”

The resort manager, Brian Japak, is a retired soldier, and his son has survived two roadside-bomb attacks while serving in Iraq.

“I have great empathy for the families that we serve here,” he said.

Japak said the staff makes every effort to ensure the guests are pampered Disney style -- with just a touch of “home” through the tax-free Army and Air Force Exchange Service shoppette and a Mickey Mouse statue decked out in red, white and blue. Security at the hotel complies with standard base force protection regulations, ensuring the soldiers and families can sleep soundly and not worry about their personal safety.

Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center hotel run by the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command based in Alexandria, Va. The command’s mission is to provide soldiers and their families with the same quality of life they are sworn to protect. Rates are set on a sliding scale, based on rank, and with no shareholders to answer to or profits to be made, the rates are kept remarkably low.

At the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, from Jan. 4 to Dec. 23, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one free five-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with “Park Hopper” and water park options. The ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions.

During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel also may make a one-time purchase up to five "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets – good for five days -- for $99 each, plus tax, for family members or friends. Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More options, it can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. All tickets and options are nontransferable and must be used by Dec. 23.

A similar offer is in place at Walt Disney Land in California. More information is available at installation ITT/ITR offices.

AFRCs offer four other world-class destinations for families, including Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany; Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, South Korea; the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu, and the Cape Henry Inn and Beach Club at Fort Storey, Va.

(William Bradner works at the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command’s public affairs office.)

Related Sites:Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command

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Soldier’s Book Helps Kids Cope with Deployments

Second Lt. Korey R. Outerbridge reads his book, "Good Morning, Honey. Goodbye, Daddy. Goodnight, Sweetheart" to children at ABC Learning Center in Petersburg, Va. Outerbridge got the idea for the book while on a deployment to Iraq. (P. Kevin Morley / Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch via AP)

By Peter Bacque
Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch via The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 6, 2009 12:11:43 EST

PETERSBURG, Va. — Korey Outerbridge was in Iraq when the idea came to him: He needed to write a children’s book.

“We had phone tents when we deployed, for soldiers to call back to the states,” Outerbridge said.

Crossword-puzzle and race-car magazines lay scattered about the phone tents. Soldiers would thumb through them while they waited to contact to their families, the 29-year-old Newport News native recalled.

“I got the idea: Why not put something in that they could share with their youngsters back home?” he said.

Outerbridge, now an Army lieutenant living in Prince George County, has written that book: “Good Morning, Honey. Goodbye, Daddy. Goodnight, Sweetheart.”

He wanted the book to be comforting and inspiring, so that members of the armed forces could read it to their children and help their young ones understand why parents in the military sometimes have to leave for long and trying periods.

Outerbridge recently read “Good Morning, Honey” to 3- and 4-year-olds at the ABC Learning Center in Petersburg.

“We have quite a few kids who have military parents here in the center,” said Danielle Lucas, the school’s assistant director. “They identified with the soldiers in the book. They understand when he talks about being deployed. It’s about them.”

Written in his off-duty time, bachelor Outerbridge’s little book tells the story of how a serviceman and his young daughter, each in their own way, deal with being separated during the man’s deployment to Iraq.

The book, illustrated by Newport News artist Stanley B. Washington, also demonstrates the soldier’s love for his daughter, his commitment to duty and the joy of reunion with his daughter.

The story takes the family through the homey events of daily life: waking up, cleaning up, making breakfast, buckling up for the drive to school, learning to ride a bicycle, bandaging a scraped knee.

When his orders come to deploy, he shows his daughter where Iraq is on a globe and explains how long he’s going to be gone. “Even though you won’t be there with me, you’ll always be in my heart,” the father tells his child.

Outerbridge, a veteran of combat in Iraq, wanted children to see how soldiers fight for freedom and still stay bonded with their children.

“When Daddy was in Iraq, he did all that he could to keep Mommy and I safe,” the daughter says in “Good Morning, Honey.”

And when the father comes home, “I hugged him like I never hugged him before,” she says. “Then he looked me in the eye and said, ‘Daddy loves you and Daddy missed you.’ ”

Outerbridge enlisted in the Army in June 1997, a week after he graduated from high school. He trained as a supply specialist at Fort Lee and went on to earn a chestful of demanding military qualification badges: parachutist, air-assault soldier and parachute rigger.

He’s served in combat in Iraq — twice — and deployed to the Balkans.

Outerbridge rose quickly through the ranks and then was selected for Officer Candidate School. Now he’s on detached duty, completing his degree in business at Virginia State University before he returns to a regular Army unit.

His own childhood was not as idyllic as the family life described in his self-published book.

His father often was absent, and Outerbridge and his five siblings were raised largely by his mother, Catherine S. Slaughter, who works as a janitor for the Newport News public schools.

“She’s definitely my biggest inspiration,” Outerbridge said. “She overcame. She kept a roof over our heads.”

And, using the local newspaper, his mother taught him how to read before he started school, a skill that has served him well.

“I’ve always been interested in writing,” he said. “I write poetry, children stories. I have maybe four children’s stories complete.

“I like to write uplifting, motivating stories that send positive messages.”

So, how did it go when he read the book to the kids at the preschool center?

“They just wanted to hear a story,” he said. “They had a ball.”

* Would you like to correspond with a military service member year-round? Register with eMail Our Military (eMOM) today! *

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, Second Lt. Korey R. Outerbridge, Good Morning Honey Goodbye Daddy Goodnight Sweetheart, Books for Military Kids ]

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Never Miss Mail Call Again

Never miss mail call again no matter where you are in the world.

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If you've been looking for a way to support our troops, now you can. Participate in one of our many projects or register with eMOM and sign up to correspond with service members one-on-one. Learn more about our holiday project to support our troops.

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, Earth Class Mail, Military Mail Options, Deployed, Deployment, PCS ]

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Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide

The 2008 Veterans Day teacher resource guide is now available. The guide includes information on the history and meaning of Veterans Day, youth volunteer opportunities, facts and figures, and a classroom activity guide. There’s even a coloring book, maze and word scramble game for kids. The guide, along with a Veterans Day poster, is being distributed on CD–ROM to principals at 118,000 schools nationwide. To view or download your own copy of the guide, visit the Resources section of the Veterans Day Web site at http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/index.asp.

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Courage eMail, Veteran's Day 2008 Resource Guide for Teachers, Veteran's Day ]

2008 Military Children's Scholarship Handbook

2008 Free Military Children's Scholarship Handbook

A college degree has become the essential tool to unlock doors for future success. This handbook contains all the latest information about getting a college degree, including: types of higher education, resources for finding the right college, entrance exams, financial aid resources, paying for college, applying for federal student aid, Pell Grants, Direct and Federal Family Education Loans, PLUS loans, Consolidation loans, Federal Work-Study Program, U.S. Armed Forces and ROTC, and much more!

» Click here to request your FREE Handbook

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, 2008 Military Children's Scholarship Handbook ]

2008 Getting Uncle Sam to Pay for Your College Degree

2008 Guide to Getting Uncle Sam to Pay for Your College Degree

This unique handbook, written for active military personnel, covers everything you need to know about: the G.I. Bill, tuition assistance, scholarships, veteran benefits, student aid, selecting the right degree for you - why some degrees might be better for you than others, finding the right military-friendly school, tips on staying ahead of the curve, and much, much more!

» Click here to request your FREE Handbook

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail ]

2008 Base Installation Directory - NEW

2008 Base Installation Directory

The Base Installation Directory, one of the newest handbooks, provides contact information for every military installation in the United States. From information about military housing to the commissary to the base dental clinic, youll find the contact number and addresses you need in one easy to access guide

» Click here to request your FREE Handbook

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Duty eMail, Base Installation Directory ]

Veterans Day Teacher Guide

The 2008 Veterans Day teacher resource guide is now available. The guide includes information on the history and meaning of Veterans Day, youth volunteer opportunities, facts and figures, and a classroom activity guide. There’s even a coloring book, maze and word scramble game for kids. The guide, along with a Veterans Day poster, is being distributed on CD–ROM to principals at 118,000 schools nationwide. To view or download your own copy of the guide, visit the Resources section of the Veterans Day Web site at http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/index.asp.

[ Tags: eMOM, eMailOurMilitary, Military Support, Troop Support, Supporting Our Troops, Messages of Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Coasties, National Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, Any Service Member Mail, eMail Our Military Blog, Honor Courage eMail, Veteran's Day 2008 Resource Guide for Teachers, Veteran's Day ]

5 Things You May Not Know About Deployments

There's less than 2 weeks to go here for eMOM's Operation Soldier Care, and the internet is buzzing about it so, Nancy and I thought some quick facts on what it's like for the average service member in Iraq or Afghanastan might be in order.

Nancy and I both have husbands with military careers so we have first hand information on “a day in the life” of our military heroes. Nancy's husband, Alex, is a retired US Army officer and mine is currently serving. Here are the top five things that many people don’t know about military deployments:

1. Mail call is the highlight of the day for every service member deployed. The importance of that connection at home can not be understated. Sending cards, letters, and care packages mean more than you will ever know to our heroes overseas. (Even with email, nothing really beats the excitement of getting a package or a piece of mail you can hold!)

2. The climate is harsh and unpleasant. The average temperatures in Iraq range from higher than 48 degrees C (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in July and August to below freezing in January.

A majority of the rainfall occurs from December through April and is more abundant in the mountainous region and may reach 100 centimeters a year in some places. The summer months are marked by two kinds of wind phenomena: The sharqi and the shamal. The southern and southeasterly sharqi, a dry, dusty wind with occasional gusts to eighty kilometers and hour, occurs from April to early June and again from late September through November. The shamal, a steady wind from the north and northwest, prevails from mid-June to mid-September. Very dry air which accompanies the shamal permits intensive sun heating of the land surface but also provides some cooling effect. Dust storms accompany these winds and may rise to heights of several thousand meters, causing hazardous flying conditions and closing airports for brief periods of time. Extremes of temperatures and humidity, coupled with the scarcity of water, will effect both men and equipment.

During dry season, clouds of dust caused by vehicle movement will increase detection capabilities in desert regions. Flash flooding in wadis and across roads will hinder traffic ability and supply efforts during the rainy season. Clear, cloudless skies make air superiority a prerequisite to successful offensive operations throughout Iraq. Air operations may be reduced during windy season.

The Iraqi climate is similar to that of the extreme southwestern United States with hot, dry summers, cold winters, and a pleasant spring and fall. Roughly 90% of the annual rainfall occurs between November and April, most of it in the winter months from December through March. The remaining six months, particularly the hottest ones of June, July, and August, at approximately 102 degrees F are dry. The influence of the Persian Gulf on the climate of Iraq is very limited. Near the gulf the relative humidity is higher than in other parts of the country.

3. Personal hygene and comfort items are in limited supply and not affordable for many soldiers. Imagine that you are camping in the desert. What would you take with you? Those items that you use every day are not in the backpack of the average service member overseas.

4. Many service members are having back to back deployments. Even reservists are frequently called up for several tours in a row, taking them away from their civilian jobs and families. (although employers are required to keep a position open while a service member is deployed, career advancement is often jeopardized by time away from the job.

5. Every day is like “Groundhog Day“. If you have ever seen that movie where the main character keeps waking up to the same day, that is what it is like for many service members. One difference being that each day is one day closer to their trip home.

Nancy Sutherland teamed up with eMail Our Military for the Operation Soldier Care project to provide comfort items to our troops. She's matching each donation dollar for dollar to have the maximum impact on the number of care packages that we send to our troops. You can make a difference today. Either pitch in any dollar amount you're comfortable with using the ChipIn widget on our blog or order directly on Nancy's website and put Operation Soldier Care in the comments section. Your gift will then be sent directly to our deployed service members.

You can see photos of some of the packages on our flickr account.

We look forward to your participation and sharing photos and letters from our troops once this project is complete.

[ Tags: Nancy Sutherland, Operation Soldier Care, Mary Kay Products, Mary Kay, Sun Care For Our Troops, Skin Care For Our Troops, Military Support, Messages of Support, Troop Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, eMOM, eMail Our Military ]

Green Care for Troops

Lawn and landscape maintenance might be something you take for granted but it becomes a definite hardship when a family's major breadwinner is on active duty away from home. GreenCare for Troops is designed to show the green industry's concern for this situation, helping affected families maintain their homes' green spaces.

To date, Project EverGreen has signed up more than 6,000 military families and over 1,300 lawn/landscape contractors and volunteers to assist in this effort. If you are interested in helping a family in your area, please take a moment to complete our online application.

While Project Evergreen's GreenCare for Troops program continues its mission to help our military families, we hope that the future will bring PEACE to everyone.

Project EverGreen's GreenCare for Troops non-profit program appreciates the contractors/volunteers who have stepped forward to help our military families at home. Thank you all!

About GreenCare For Troops

GreenCare for Troops is a nationwide outreach program coordinated by Project EverGreen that connects local lawn and landscape firms with men and women serving our country in the armed forces away from home.

GreenCare has helped over 1,300 volunteers provide free lawn and landscape services for over 6,000 military families nationwide. The cost to manage the GreenCare for Troops Program is underwritten by Cub Cadet Commercial.

Check them out and consider volunteering in your area.

[ Tags: GreenCare for Troops, Project EverGreen, Military Support, Messages of Support, Troop Support, Moral Support, eMail The Military, eMailing Our Military, Mail Our Military, Mailing Our Military, Mailing The Military, Military Care Packages, Military eMail, Military Pen Pals, Armed Forces, Army, Soldiers, Navy, Sailors, Air Force, Airmen, Marine Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, Guardsmen, Patriotism, eMOM, eMail Our Military ]