USS ARDENT (MCM 12) EMBARKED

IN THIS EDITION:
Photos FRG Calendar FFSC Workshops Deployment Countdown Calendar Theres a Resource for that...

Crew Constant Deployment Edition

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The Big D - Deployment

Deployment brings a mixed sense of sadness and great pride. Crew Constant has trained and is up to the mission before them. In this special Deployment Edition you will find information we hope will aid Crew and Family as we transition to deployment. Communication during this transition can be a bit frustrating for all. The good news is because we were just there our crew knows many ways to get in touch with us via email, skype, and even lower-cost telephone. In the mean time the command will get information to the Ombudsman as soon as possible who then will pass it along via mail and Facebook. If you are not receiving information from the Ombudsman via email please send an email from the account you wish to use with your name and the name of your Sailor (mcmcrewconstant@hotmail.com). Facebook will be another source of information on the crew, the FRG and more. Please friend the MCM Crew Constant Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ MCMCrewConstant. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ CrewConstantOMB. Cards, letters and care packages are still a HUGE hit. Packages on average take approximately 7-10 days to transit to Bahrain. Of course during the holiday season it can take longer. The USPS provides boxes and shipping labels free of charge. The kit may be requested by calling 1-800610-8734 and: 1. Choose your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish). 2. Choose option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail service, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed). 3. When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04. Kit arrives in about 7-10 days.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FRG

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Chaplains Corp This month in Photos Calendar

It may take about a week or so for the command to receive access to the servers incountry and receive their email assignments.

Important Contact Info!

Crew Constant Address
Family Readiness Group Email: crewconstantfrg@yahoo.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ MCMCrewConstantFRG OMBUDSMAN INFO Your Ombudsman team is here for you! They have the latest info on opportunities and events in the area as well as

Bucket List Update FFSC

PERSONAL MAIL
Rank, First name Last Name USS Ardent (MCM 12) FPO AE 09564-1932

official command communication, resources and support: Cell: 619-210-3868 Email: mcmcrewconstant@hotmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ mcmcrewconstant Twitter: www.twitter.como/ CrewConstantOMB

Resource of the Month

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Family Readiness Group: In It Together!

The Crew Constant Family Readiness Group (FRG) hits the ground running with the departure of the crew. July 4th BashFRG President, Vanessa Dorbandt, is hosting the families and friends of the crew at her house. Bring your favorite picnic dish and join us at: 2985 Korink Ave, San Diego, 92111 We will continue the Friday Night Potluck on the first and third Fridays of the month beginning 6 July. Interested in hosting one? Contact Vanessa Dorbandt for details at mcmcrewconstantfrg@gmail.com. Dont forget the FRGs Wednesday Morning Wake -ups. These events give you another chance to get together with other spouses while our children get together to play at various locations. Finally, our monthly FRG meeting is 10 July at 6pm. There are many ways to get involved and be a part of the FRG. Vanessa is eager to hear your ideas and is looking for volunteers to serve as officers and committee leaders. Connect with Vanessa at crew crewconstantfrg@yahoo.com. Friend them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ mcmcrewconstantfrg to learn more and connect with the families of MCM Crew Constant! We looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

Enjoy the Vortex at the FRG July 4th Picnic!

From relocation assistance, financial counseling to scholarship and childcareMOS can be your first and last resource!

Resource of the Month: Military One Source

Did you know you have an Employee Assistance Program at your fingertips? Miltary One Source is a free service provided by the DoD for all active duty, guard and reservists and their families. The services they provide are diverse and expansive and too many to list here. While our local FFSC provides local resources and support and military specific support Military One Source augments that with expertise and resources literally across the globe. MOS can research neighborhoods for your next move, recommend childcare providers, help with elder care, provide free, confident counseling (12 sessions), free legal assistance (6 sessions), research educational scholarships for you and your children AND research schools, colleges and universities and so very much more. They offer webinars on a myriad of topics, publish newsletters and more. Check out their website at www.militaryonesource.com or call them at 800-342-9647. They are available 24/7 and have translators of over 100 languages. Check them out!

Deployment Bucket List Accomplishments

Whats in your Bucket List?
If you joined us at the Spouse Dinner Event you know we talked about a Deployment Bucket List - those things you want to accomplish during deployment. Each month this article will highlight accomplishments of our Bucket ListSailors and Families! So, what is in your Bucket List? Would you like a partner to help you accomplish your list? Watch for coming opportunities to connect with others, share your bucket list. In the mean time one military wife offers these tips to set and ACCOMPLISH your deployment bucket list. 1) Set a deadline. Pull out that calendar and put deadlines and milestones on the calendar to keep you on track. 2) Find a buddy! Even if your goals arent the same having a girlfriend to share your progress and ideas with can keep you on track. 3) Have Fun! Make sure some of your goals are FUN. Deployment is stressful but goals that include recreation help us with all goals.

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FOCUS presents: Little Kids can Keep Cool!

FOCUS presents a workshop for early childhood military children (ages 3-4) and their parents. Please RSVP as space is limited. In this group you and your child Parents are will: highly encour- Bowlby aged to join this Learn to identify basic feelgroup so the skills learned can ings, be brought back to your home Play with other children and setting. This is an opportunity their parents, for hands-on training with your child. Practice makes for suc Practice cool-down techcess. niques,
If a community values its children, it must cherish their parents.

as a military family.

TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012 10:00am10:45am FOCUS San Diego Office NBSD Bldg 265, Dolphin Alley San Diego, CA 92136 To sign up for more info, please call or email: 619-556-6075 or sandiego@focusproject.org Learn more about FOCUS at www.focusproject.org
Navy Chaplains: Called to Serve To serve our people, ensuring they and their families are

Develop tools for thriving

Chaplains Corner
The Chaplains Corps of the Navy can be the least utilized resource available to Navy Sailors and Families. We have perhaps all driven by the base chapel, maybe even attended meetings there. But the Chaplains Corps is more than Sunday morning services and a meeting place. Did you know the Navy Chaplains are bound by total confidentiality? One Chaplain told me, A Sailor or Marine could be in my office having just robbed the base mini-mart and, with the MAs driving by, I am bound to be silent. However, he also added that he would be having a serious conversation with that Marine/Sailor about the need to do the right thing. The Chaplains are trained to support ALL faiths and even those with no faith background with counseling, support, resources and programs to enhance our lives and help us with the demands of military life. (please see article on free CREDO Retreats next edition). Check back here each edition for contributions from various chaplains from the fleet. To learn more about the Chaplains Corp or connect with one logon on to www.chaplain.navy.mil or call the Service Force Ministry Center at 619-556-5542.

ready for the demanding life of military service.

Homefront Story: What are You Up To?

This newsletter is distributed to the crew, families and friends of MCM Crew Constant. With our crew deployed we want to highlight and report on happenings on the ship AND the HOMEFRONT so our crew can stay connected to life here as well. This section is dedicated to what YOU are up to. Military families are among the most amazing and giving. We are known for our contributions and participation in the community and we want to let others know what you are up to. Did you walk in the Relay for Life? Did you help with storm/fire recovery? Are you coordinating a blood drive, a fund-raiser for the troops or perhaps you volunteer with the Red Cross or NMCRS or Soldiers Angels. We want to know about it! Please submit your articles to Beth (mcmcrewconstant@hotmail.com). Articles should be 300 words or less and a photo is also welcomed. We know you are busy...tell us what you are up to!

What are you doing?

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FFSC Spotlight:
Fleet and Family Support Center has a boatload (no pun intended) of workshops and services for Fleet and Family. Fleet and Family Support Centers provide info and workshops on relocation assistance, new parent support, deployment services, clinical counseling services, financial management counseling, family employment services, family advocacy and the transition assistance programs for separating or retiring Sailors and their families. Child and Youth Programs provide services including Child Development Centers, the Child Development Home Program, Youth and Teen Centers, School-Age Care, instructional/leisure classes and the Navy School Liaison Officer Program. Each edition we will feature two or three of their many workshops right here. This edition we recommend: League of Extraordinary Spouses a connection of spouses for fun, information and connection. Childcare is provided for this monthly event. This months meeting is July 18, 10:30am-11:30am. Love Long Distance: LongDistance Relationships & Keeping Connections Stronglets face it, military relationships are often longdistance relationships. Learn how to keep yours growing strong across the miles July 6, 9-10am. To learn more or see more workshops logon to www.cnic.navy.mil/navylifesw.

Register for FFSC Workshops by calling 866-923-6478 or email them at FFSCSanDiego@msr sw.com.

Crew Constant in Pictures: Ombudsman graduation, Retirement, Advancement, Spouse Dinner, Command Support Spouses

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FRG & MWR Calendar

July 2012
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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2 9 16 23 30

3 10 FRG 17 24 31
Meeting: Argonaut Hall, NBPL

4 FRG July 4th 5

Picnic Freedom Festival

6 FRG Fri13 20 FRG

day Potluck

7 14 Auto 21
Skills Workshop

11FRG Wednes- 12
day Wakeup Play date: Bayshore Park, Coronado Island

18FRG Wednes- 19
day Wakeup Play date: Serrra Mesa, Next to NEX

Friday Potluck

25FRG Wednes- 26
day Wakeup Play date: Balboa Park, 2200 Park Blvd.

27 Summer 28
Family Fitness & Movie Night

Freedom Festival
Wednesday, July 4 3-9 pm NMAWC, Naval Base Point LomaEnjoy a children's fun zone, live entertainment, face painting, balloon, caricature artists, interactive family games, crafts and grand finale fireworks over the bay! Bring a little cash for some tasty summertime treats. Kick-off cannon salute from the tall ship Californian at 3 pm. No BBQ grills, weapons, glass containers, or pets other than service animals allowed on event grounds.

NBSD Auto Skills Monthly Training: Oil Change & Under Car Inspection
Saturday, July 14 NBSD Auto Skills Shop (Bldg. 3234)Oil Change & Under Car Inspection: presented by a Frank Hyundai automotive expert-Learn general preventive vehicle maintenance from a certified mechanic on the second Saturday of every month at 9 am. The workshops are FREE and refreshments are provided for all participants. No vehicle needed to attend, just bring a pen and notebook and dress accordingly with closed toe shoes. Reserve your space today by calling 619-556-7009.

Summer Family Fitness & Movie Night

Friday, July 27 6:30-9 pm FREE 619-553-4259NBPL Main Base Fitness Center Bldg. 1, Outdoor Exercise Area @ Smugglers Cove. Parents and children of all ages are welcome to join MWR Fitness for a night of outdoor family friendly fitness activities followed by a movie. Presented by MWR and USAA.

For more MWR events logon to www.navylifesw.com/sandiego. For details on FRG events logon to www.facebook.com/MCMCrewConstantFRG or email crewconstantFRG@yahoo.com.

From your Ombudsman

Ombudsman Hours: Routine Hours: Mon-Fri 10am7pm. Emergencies: 24/7
Mil-speak Trivia Every profession has its acronyms - sometimes it seems the Navy raised acronym-speak to an art-form. Here we will explore the acronyms of our lives. FSAFamily Separation Allowance: FSA provides compensation for added expenses incurred because of an enforced family separation under one of the following conditions: Deployment on duty aboard a ship, and the ship is away from homeport continuously for more than 30 days. You are on temporary duty (TDY) (or temporary additional duty) away from the permanent station continuously for more than 30 days, and your dependents are not residing at or near the TDY station. How much is monthly FSA? Post your answer on Crew Constant Facebook.

What is an Ombudsman and what can they do for me? An ombudsman is a volunteer, a spouse of a member of the command who is appointed by the CO to support the COs Family Readiness Mission. The Ombudsman is trained to support the command families through regular communication, information, referral, support crisis assistance. This means you have someone to turn to for information on resources, events, opportunities, best practices and challenges of military life. Theres a resource for that... Are you looking for housing, childcare, scholarships, EFMP or a job? Your Ombudsman can give you information and resources for this and so much more. Stay connected to your ombudsman for the latest in command information, community events and opportunities and support in the hard times. This page is dedicated to bringing you information, resources and best practices to enhance our lives. Please dont hesitate to contact useven if it is just for a cup of coffee!

DEPLOYMENT CALENDAR
And the countdown begins...the good news about deployment is everyday that passes without our Sailor brings us closer to the day we have them home! So how do we pass the time? Military families have been finding creative ways to mark down the time . Below are some of the creative ways weve discovered:

Best Practices/Safety/OPSEC Journal

Deployment Chain: this standard is just as fun and excitinghave the children make a paper chainone link for each day your Sailor is gone. Remove one link each day of deployment. And check out these variations

Deployment To Do List: I love this twist! Develop a calendar with things to do; visit grandma, trip to zoo, rearrange bedroom, learn to tie shoes, master math tables. When tasks are Accomplished Daddy comes home.

Anchors away: One navy wife drew a timeline around her sons room and put a picture of her Sailors ship on the timeline. Each day they moved the ship along the timeline to mark the time to homecoming. The Kiss Jar: A soldier put together a large jar of Hersheys Kisses with one kiss for each day of deployment. Go ahead, say itAwwwwwww.

Mom & Dad can write something on the inside of the links for special days or events such as Birthdays, trip to the Zoo, etc. Great way to keep the curiosity and excitement.

Counting down the days is an emotional boost for all and a calendar can be a family/ spouse tradition. COUNTDOWN SAFETY: Remember OPSEC is still important so while electronic countdown calendars are fun an electronic deployment calendar on your facebook page or other pages present an OPSEC and PERSEC challenge. We do not want to give info to anyone who would want to harm our Sailors or announce that we might be home alone. So what are you doing to mark the time? Post your ideas on our Facebook page!

This workbook calendar is available from Military Community Awareness