Military Officer - February 2008 - (Page 28) rapidfire Spouse Spotlight T ara Crooks’ weekly, live Internet program, “Army Wife Talk Radio,” was featured on “The CBS Evening News,” and anchor Katie Couric called her “Oprah of the armed forces.” Crooks is married to Maj. Kevin Crooks, USA, and is involved in many ventures supporting military families, including Web sites, blogs, and magazine columns. Congratulations on the success of “Army Wife Talk Radio.” You’ve been featured on national news programs a few times now. What’s that like? It’s a lot of fun and very flattering, but I’m a little worried. My 6-year-old thinks it’s normal to have a film crew follow you around. What does your husband think of your success? He’s excited, proud — really [he’s] my biggest cheerleader. And he’s on his second deployment in Iraq? Yes. He was in one location for three weeks where he had access to a Webcam, which was fantastic. Now we’re back to e-mail every day. He gets one from me every morning, and I get his every night. And we have a phone call once a week. We miss him. With your husband deployed and two little girls at home, how do you find the time and energy for your work and family? Sometimes I wonder. It helps that I’m a very scheduled person. I work between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., when my daughter gets home from school. I try to keep the weekends free for the girls. It gets hectic. I take breaks when I need them, and I tell other working moms, “Schedule your time first, and then fit other things around that.” I go to the gym three mornings a week, and I treat that time as an appointment I can’t break. Your Web site www.fieldprob lems.com helps address the challenges of today’s military families. What is the most pressing challenge? Families with a deployed parent want more support with day-to-day needs. They need good child care, help with their homes, [and] more support in the community. I wonder if most Americans realize one of the best ways to support our troops is to support their families back home. When they know their families are taken care of, they are better able to concentrate on their mission. — Ellen N. Woods Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings. TV The Pacific (Dreamworks SKG, 2009) This 10-part miniseries from the creators of “Band of Brothers” will tell the intertwined stories of three Marines during America’s battle with the Japanese in the 28 MILITARY OFFICER Pacific during World War II. The miniseries will air on HBO in 2009. BOOK The Long War (Columbia University Press, 2007) Andrew J. Bacevich edits essays by historians, political scientists, and sociologists that examine the emergencies, controversies, and confusions that have characterized the Cold War, the post-Cold War interval in the 1990s, and today’s war on terrorism. BOOK Military Misdemeanors (Osprey Publishing, 2007) Terry Crowdy examines how some of America’s most revered political figures were about “as principled as your average frat boy.” MO PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT FEBRUARY 2008 http://fieldproblems.com http://fieldproblems.com
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