Military Officer - February 2006 - (Page 27) rapidfire Spouse Spotlight Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings. The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier’s Account of the War in Iraq (Riverhead Hardcover, 2005): John Crawford, a National Guard member, describes his experience in Iraq, equipped with shoddy equipment, led by incompetent officers, and abusing pharmaceuticals. Why We Fight (Sony Pictures Classics, 2006): This award-winning film from Eugene Jarecki looks at the anatomy of the American war machine, weaving unforgettable personal stories with commentary by a “who’s who” of military and beltway insiders, including Sen. John McCain, William Kristol, Gore Vidal, Richard Perle, and others. Dirty Jobs (Discovery Channel): Mike Rowe takes his show, which features hardworking men and women who overcome fear, danger, and sometimes stench and overall dirtiness to accomplish their tasks, to the 22nd Maintenance Group airmen at McConnell AFB, Kan. The episode that looks at McConnell’s fuel cell maintainers will air during the new season, which begins in February. A ngela SportelliRehak, mother of three and wife of a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, has written a series of books to help children cope with deployments and family moves. Where did the idea for When Duty Calls come from? When our kids were little I couldn’t find a book that addressed the unique challenges they face when the family has to move or a parent deploys. After Sept. 11, I felt the time was right. What is a child’s main concern when a mom or dad deploys? Whether or not they’ll still be a family. It’s very important to make sure that daily routines are put in place — you have to go on as nor- mally as possible, and that’s a big challenge. You also wrote Moving Again Mom, a book about how military families are often uprooted. How does moving disrupt kids’ lives? They’re often afraid they won’t be able to make new friends. Their school and extracurricular life is their whole world, so there can be a sense of loss — even anger. It sounds like you’re writing from experience. Yes, we’ve moved about a dozen times for various deployments. I remember one particularly memorable move where my 9-year-old son flew into a rage, yanked pictures off the wall, and tore off the bedspread. How do you handle that kind of situation? You have to let kids know they’re not alone, that they’ll still be able to make friends at the next base. Convey a positive message: “You should be proud that you’re Uncle Sam’s kids. This is what you’re doing to support your country: helping to hold down the fort at home when mom or dad has to take off.” — Mark Cantrell One Stop for Jobs M ilitary personnel and veterans will receive wallet-sized cards and key charms with critical employment and job-training information in the next few months, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The card will be attached to a brochure for demobilizing and transitioning servicemembers as they go through the joint Labor Department, VA, and DoD Transition Assistance Program. For veterans who already have made the transition, additional information and professional staff guidance will be available at the nearly 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide. MO RESOURCES ■ For more information, call (877) US2-JOBS (872-5627) or visit www.servicelocator.org to locate a One-Stop Career Center. IMAGES: LEFT, STEVE BARRETT; ABOVE, LEWIS AGRELL http://www.servicelocator.org
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