New School Policy for Fallen Warrior Dependents

The Department of Defense Education Activity announced it has changed a policy regarding the education of the dependents of Fallen Military members. The new policy states that currently enrolled students in Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools who are dependents of a Fallen Military Member may continue in DDESS schools without limitation, regardless of their physical residence or upcoming school transition points. The policy change is effective immediately.

The prior policy allowed currently enrolled DDESS students who were dependents of a Fallen Military Member to continue in DDESS schools until the end of the school year without any special permission. It allowed for students to stay in the DDESS school until they would normally transition to another school level, i.e. elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school.

“This change in policy will mean so much to military families who have had a loved one make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” said Dr. Shirley Miles, Director Department of Defense Education Activity. “It gives me a great deal of peace to know that we are taking care of the education of the families of our fallen military members for as long as they need our assistance. It’s the right thing to do.”

After reflecting on the previous policy and with input from families and commanders, DoDEA reevaluated the policy to ensure the organization was doing everything it could to assist families who lost their loved one in service to the nation.

Continued enrollment requires a one-time parental request to the respective school. Yearly registration is required and students will need to meet all other requirements for enrollment – student conduct standards, etc. The student’s family will have to assume responsibility for transportation.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for DoD dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) located overseas, and DDESS schools located in the United States and its territories and possessions. DDESS operates 64 schools on 17 installations, organized into 5 districts with a total of just over 2,300 education professionals serving about 25,000 students.

There is a separate policy for dependents of Fallen Military Members enrolled in Department of Defense Dependents Schools. This policy allows the dependents of deceased active duty military members and DoD civilians to be able to enroll in DoDDS schools on a space available, tuition-free basis.

DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.

Is your family taking advantage of the free respite care provided by the Army Child, Youth and School Services?

Since October 2008, the Child, Youth and School Services directorate of the Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command – part of Army Installation Management Command – has provided more than a million free respite care hours at garrisons worldwide.

CYS provides free respite 16 hours per child per month for children of Soldiers who are deployed, starting 30 days prior to the deployment and continuing 60 days after.Parents need not be current CYS Services patrons to use deployment-cycle-support respite care – any custodial parent or legal guardian caring for a child of a deployed Soldier or Department of Defense civilian is eligible.Respite care is provided in numerous ways, including: designated Child Development Center spaces; family child care homes; summer camps for school-age children; trained babysitters referred to parents by CYS Services outreach offices; and parent/child play groups.

For more on the Army Family Covenant: http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/10/17/5641-army-leaders-sign-covenant-with-families; about IMCOM-Europe: http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/06/30/23634-covenant-continues-to-provide-for-army-families/?ref=news-europe-img7.

From The Washngton Post http://bit.ly/6n2ji: Excellent Army Spouse Commentary

From The Washington Post:

A Soldier's Wife
By Georgie Hanlin
Saturday, July 4, 2009

"My childhood friend of 31 years visited my home on base, in Quantico, a few months after I gave birth to my first baby. As we took a leisurely stroll one evening through the lingering humidity of early September, I explained to her how different military life is from the world in which we grew up in San Francisco. We passed rows of colorful houses on the tree-lined, manicured blocks and gazed at the playgrounds around the neighborhood, ready to welcome the children of the officers who live there. American flags hung from virtually every front door. The occasional 'My daddy fights for your freedom' bumper sticker adorned some vehicles. As we looped around the bend toward my house, my friend turned to me and asked, 'How do you accept what your husband does for a living?'"

For the remainder, please visit http://bit.ly/6n2ji

4th of July Message from LTG Wilson to Members of the Installation Management Team

This Independence Day, we celebrate our nation’s 233rd birthday. For the men and women in uniform, July Fourth is more than the birthday of our nation, it is a day we celebrate freedom.

As Americans, we continue to value our liberty with the same passion as those who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Freedom is cherished the most by those who defend it. The proud members of today’s great Army steadfastly pledge to defend the United States of America, just as those who fought to establish her.

Our nation has prospered because of the unwavering service and commitment of Soldiers, Civilians and Family members. You on the Installation Management Team, around the globe, contribute to the pursuit of liberty and justice. You do not take your duties lightly, because you know the price of freedom, and feel a sense of duty and service to country.

Thank you for your dedicated and selfless service to our Army and country. May God bless you and may God bless America.

ROBERT WILSON
Lieutenant General, USA
Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
Commanding General, Installation Management Command

Fireworks Safety

Fireworks have lit up the skies of many warm summer nights. Although beautiful, the delicate sprays of green, gold and orange can quickly turn into the red and white strobe of an ambulance if extreme caution is not exercised while handling fireworks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2006, the last year a fireworks-related injury report was generated, 11 people died and an estimated 9,200 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States. The Army is not immune to these statistics. Just four years ago, a Soldier lost his eye after a firework ignited prematurely and hit him in the face.

Our advice: Go out, relax and let someone else do the dangerous work while you sit back and enjoy. But if you do handle fireworks, learn about fireworks safety at www.fireworksafety.com. For information about the Army’s Safe Summer Campaign, visit https://safety.army.mil.

“Smart Gates” a Smart Move for Army Security and Best Business Practices

A new automated "smart gate" that uses your CAC, or Common Access Card, is up and running at Patton Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany. Why smart gates? While enhancing Army security, the new installation gates are also cost effective. According to one source, posting one guard for 24 hours for a year costs the Army about $190,000. http://tinyurl.com/nq7lpw

234th Army Birthday Photos

Check out photos of the 234th Army Birthday celebrated on 14 JUN and throughout the month at http://tinyurl.com/npvhy5 http://tinyurl.com/m7hkzz, http://tinyurl.com/nrtbby
and http://tinyurl.com/ku8nlx.