from the editor
Working for You
MOAA helps the entire military family — whether it’s fighting for veterans’ hard-earned benefits, supporting military spouses, or funding education for the children of servicemembers.
November has always been a month that seems to pass with the blink of an eye. Soon after you have closed the front door to the last trick-or-treater, family and friends will start arriving to celebrate Thanksgiving or to make that first holiday shopping trip to the mall.
However, this year, a lot will go on between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Some states will have elections. The Marine Corps celebrates its founding Nov. 10, and Nov. 11 America will pause on Veterans Day to honor those who have served our nation. There also will be commemorations of two significant events in American history: Nov. 19 will mark 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln delivered his now-famous address at Gettysburg, Pa., and Nov. 22 the nation will commemorate 50 years since President John Kennedy was lost to an assassin’s bullet.
The November issue of Military Officer is likewise full. Between the covers, we provide insight into happenings on Capitol Hill in Washington Scene, page 33, and in our council and chapter system with Chapters in Action, page 44.
Our cover story, “Linking Resources for Mental Health,” page 52, reviews the 2013 Warrior-Family Symposium*, cohosted Sept. 12 by MOAA and the National Defense Industrial Association. The event highlighted efforts by the public and private sectors to offer innovative, integrated care for servicemembers returning from war with mental health issues and for their families.
In “Close to Home,” page 58, Molly Blake looks at how some military spouses have taken to writing to share their lives and experiences and bring to light many of the challenges military families face.
We also are pleased to present the three finalists of MOAA’s 2013 essay contest, page 62. We invite you to read the essays and vote for your favorite by visiting
www.moaa.org/essaycontest. We will announce the results in the January issue of Military Officer, in Rapid Fire.
Also in this issue is a listing of 833 of the nearly 1,700 students who, for the 2013-14 school year, have received interest-free college loans and grants from the MOAA Scholarship Fund. MOAA members’ donations make it possible for the association to assist in funding the dreams of children from military families.
Finally, Military Officer is proud to provide MOAA members with the 2013 “State Report Card,” page 67, in which we examine the level of support each state provides when it comes to a variety of military-related services and benefits. Take a look at how your state stacks up and use the guide to spearhead appropriate action at the local level to improve your states’ standings.
And, just as quickly as it began, November is nearing its end.
— Capt. Gordon J. Hume, USN (Ret)
*online: Visit
www.moaa.org/wfs2013 for complete video of the 2013 Warrior-Family Symposium.
12 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2013
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