Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall

Military Appreciation Day at Kitsap Mall is scheduled for next Saturday, March 29, 2008. This annual event, sponsored by Kitsap Mall, the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce, and local military installations, is a salute to our military men and women as well as their families.

Local businesses will be on hand offering demonstrations of their products, as well as discounts and specials. Many military divisions will also be showcased. Entertainment includes NJROTC drill units, Navy EOD divers, Navy Working Dogs, and performances by Navy Band Northwest. Other local entertainers will be the Clan Heather Dancers and Halau Hula O Healani.

For elementary kids, the Marine Security Force will hold a special mini-boot camp, featuring a climbing wall and giant slide.

The event is free and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Displays will be both inside and outside Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

FREE Over-the-Counter Meds for Military

I've been a navy spouse for eight years now, and was a navy brat for more than, well, I won't tell my age. I like to think I am a pretty well-informed military spouse, but I had no idea how easy it was to get over-the-counter meds free from the Bremerton Naval Hospital until recently!

I had heard that you could get certain meds free, but I always assumed that it would be a huge pain in the rear to do so, like so many "benefits" of the military are. But my good friend, Barbara A., told me to go check out the drive-through refill pharmacy at Jackson Park, near the Bremerton Naval Hospital.

Sure enough! It only took ten minutes, and I didn't even have to get out of my car. A really cool thing, especially since I am on crutches right now and had my three year old son in the car.

Take the second right turn off of Austin Drive into the Jackson Park navy housing complex, and the refill pharmacy is immediately on your right. As you pull in to the drive-through window, you will see a box of forms on the driver's side. Grab a form for each of your family members, and fill it out as you wait in line or pull back into a parking spot to fill it out if the line is short.

Military is allowed 3 unique products per family member in any 30 day period. I got adult acetamenaphine, children's liquid acetamenophine, cough suppresant, antacid, and a cream for hubby's athletes foot (welcome to hot days on deployment in the gulf in bad shoes and socks!). All free!

Do understand that these are not name-brand products, but they have the same ingredients and work just as well. When you realize how much it would have cost me to buy these items in a drug store, it was definitely worth the drive and a few minutes of my time. And, they are open on Saturdays!

PS I thought I was the only navy spouse who didn't know about this, but then I ran into my friends and past clients Chris and Tammy K. at Wal-mart, and they were surprised that it was so easy too!

Military: Scholarships Available for Military Kids

Your eligible child can receive scholarship money for winning an essay contest sponsored by military commissaries!

Every commissary that receives an entry from an eligible applicant will give away $1,500 in scholarship funds through the 2008 “Scholarships for Military Children” program.

Applicants must be under 21 and planning to attend or currently attending college, or under 23 and currently attending college. Scholars must have a 3.0 GPA based on a 4.0 scale, and must be in the DEERS system, meaning he or she must hold a current military ID card.

Scholarship funds are available to unmarried children of active-duty, retired, Reserve and Guard service members. Children of deceased service members are eligible as well. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college or university as a full-time student for the fall 2008 term.

The question for this year’s essay is “Every able-bodied citizen should be required to serve a two-year period of time in the military. Why or why not?” Applications can be found at any military commissary or by clicking here.

Military: USS John C. Stennis Education Fair

This is the chance to advance in your career and begin planning for your career after retirement!

Use your GI Bill benefits to get your degree while still receiving your military pay check!

The USS Stennis is sponsoring an education fair, featuring more than 25 colleges and universities from around the country offering a variety of degrees in different areas of concentration. The fair is free to members of the active duty military community.

The fair will be held on Wednesday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1000 to 1400 in Navy lingo) on board the USS Stennis barge. For more information, call 360-476-4282.

Start planning now for your time after military service has ended. It's never too early!

Military: Give Life to a Military Service Member!

You have the ability to save the life of a wounded service member or a member of their family!

By donating blood through the ASBP, you support our military and their families. All blood donated through ASBP goes directly to military men and women, both at home and abroad, as well as their families. Whole blood and blood platelets are needed daily for transfusions for our injured combat troops, cancer patients, transplant patients and many more.

As a transplant recipient and the spouse of a naval officer, I can not emphasize enough the blessing of receiving those blood donations. I have no idea who my blood came from during those eight hours of surgery, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. By encouraging others to donate, perhaps I can return the favor.

Donating whole blood takes less than an hour of your time, and could save a life. The ASBP will be in our Kitsap County several times before the New Year. December 6, the ASBP will be accepting donations at Naval Base Kitsap - Keyport, Building 105. December 12, they will be at Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor. Although they will be located at the Trident Training Facility, access to dependents, retirees and contractors can be arranged through the TTF Security Desk.

The ASBP will also be taking blood donations at the Bremerton Naval Hospital on December 18. As long as donors have base access, they may donate blood at this event.

Military service members, dependent family members, retirees and their family members, and civilian government contractors are encouraged to give blood. To see if you are an eligible donor, please go to http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/.

For more information, call 253-968-1903. And thank you for supporting our heroes!

Military: Free Class on VA Loans Offered to Military

Be prepared when you buy your first home!

Military home buyers are invited to a free seminar on using a VA loan to purchase a home. The class will be held on the Bangor Submarine Base on November 6, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The class is free to active duty and retired military and their families, as well as reserve service members.

The class will cover various topics regarding VA loans, including the general process of buying a home, benefits of a VA loan, steps to obtaining a VA loan, and avoiding common first-time homebuyer pitfalls.

For example, you can use your VA loan more than once. Also, there is no such person as a VA inspector. Credit, eligibility, and negotiating are also discussed.

This information is offered by Kym Mason of Mason Mortgage and Marlene Scheffer and Terry Wimmer of Realty Station. The instructors are real estate professionals experienced in VA loans. Marlene Scheffer and Terry Wimmer are military spouses and have first-hand experience purchasing homes with a VA loan.

To register or for information on base access, please call Terry at Realty Station at 360-377-5699.