Latest news with #militaryspouse
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
5 Reasons why a national cemetery belongs on your summer road trip itinerary
Summer is here, and while theme parks and roadside attractions promise excitement, there's one unexpected stop that might leave the most profound impact: a national cemetery. Many military families are planning their PCS travels, summer visits to their hometowns, and bucket-list stops, but what if your most meaningful stop this summer isn't on a thrill ride or waterfront escape? What if it is somewhere quieter and more peaceful? A visit to a national cemetery is not only a wonderful and solemn way to pay your respects, but it is also a remarkable way to learn and enjoy a beautiful place. As a veteran and military spouse, I understand the importance of pausing to express gratitude for someone else's sacrifice, and I truly don't take it lightly. This is exactly how I now get to write this, because in our own travels as a family, we have chosen to stop at many national cemeteries to be there when it seems to be extra quiet. So, what if during your summer travels you include these resting places to reflect on the ones that made your freedom to travel possible? Honor the Fallen Physically visiting a national cemetery in person can help you connect with sacrifice. Headstones stretching across lawns while flags wave in the wind give you time to reflect and learn to pause in the middle of a busy summer. Each headstone represents a life of service as well as someone left behind to continue a legacy. There are over 150 national cemeteries in the United States, each of which uniquely preserves that sacrifice and history. From the iconic and historic grounds at Arlington National Cemetery to the beautiful grounds of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (which rests on Punchbowl Crater on O'ahu) to the picturesque view from the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery overlooking San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean. These places are sacred spaces, where honor and the beautiful grounds come together in remembrance. You can honor the fallen through your travels by learning the story, visiting these spaces, reading their names, and leaving coins or flowers behind. Teach, Reflect, and Connect with Military History Reflecting on the power of legacy is not only for those who have lost a service member, but also for the families who can visit these resting places to create time for important conversations with younger generations. Families can make the most of these visits, allowing their children of all ages to learn about the ultimate sacrifice, talk about the history of wars, the different service eras, and why remembering matters. These sites are not only perfect for families to learn and find connection, but also for history buffs to discover the preserved stories and appreciate the extensive visitor centers and historic sections. You can also learn about the local history where the cemetery is located, including battles in the region. A visit to a national cemetery during your summer road trip provides everyone with the opportunity to learn about a timeline of events in American military service, spanning major conflicts and eras of combat and non-combat. These sacred places are part of who we are as a country and how we can remember and learn from the service and sacrifice of those who served our military. Scenic Beauty National cemeteries can be found in some of the most beautiful spots in the country. Along the coast, overlooking the ocean, surrounded by rolling hills, showcasing mountain backdrops… these sacred places are hidden sanctuaries with panoramic views. These road trip stops can offer breathtaking vistas in a quiet, solemn way that beats the summer crowds and rushing of the PCS season. For example, the Chattanooga National Cemetery, located in Tennessee, offers stunning views of rolling green hills and Lookout Mountain. The landscape is also steeped in Civil War history, enticing visitors to learn more about the country's past. If you love the tranquility of the desert climate, visiting the Bakersfield National Cemetery will reveal its beauty while nestled in the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains. The white headstones rest in an area with wide-open stretches of land, with native flora that offers a quiet and beautiful setting. From the desert to a semi-rural mountain landscape, you can visit the Tahoma National Cemetery in Washington. This resting place offers beautiful views of Mt. Rainier, spanning over 158 acres with a lush and evergreen forest setting. These places offer calm and stillness, surrounded by landscapes that provide a natural setting without distraction. We know the summer season is filled with busy roads, beachside crowds, loud amusement parks, and chaotic PCS moves. We know finding peace in the chaos can be difficult ,but our national cemeteries offer just that, a rare break from all of that. A restful stop on hallowed ground that shares American history with stunning views, allowing us to honor and remember. These shouldn't just be detours; they can be summer destinations. Destinations that offer reflection and can become memorable experiences. Whether you're a military family, a history buff, or simply someone looking for meaningful moments in your travels, a stop at a national cemetery will stay with you long after the trip ends. Don't Miss the Best of Mighty Milspouse We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. These hacks are 'totes' the smart way to PCS These military spouses were unsung heroes of American history 9 Incredible day trips from Stuttgart, Germany for any military family
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
4 Ways to fake it til you make it at your first change of command ceremony
No one knows what a change of command is until they're sweating through their bra and Googling 'is a dress with pockets disrespectful.' No one ever says what the event actually is. The invite said 'ceremony.' The group chat said, 'Optional but recommended.' Your partner said, 'You don't have to go.' Which, obviously, meant you had to go. So now you're standing outside in full sun, surrounded by people who seem to know when to stand, where to sit, and how to clap with military-appropriate enthusiasm. You, meanwhile, are just trying to figure out if your shoes are too loud and whether it's weird to cry at the national anthem even though you're not totally sure why you're crying. Welcome to the change of command. A formal, awkward, often heat-adjacent rite of passage that no one explains, everyone fakes their way through, and yes, you're now part of it. This isn't just about surviving one weird event. It's about learning how to hold your own in a room where you don't speak the language (yet). And doing it with enough grace that someone else in the crowd thinks: 'Oh thank god, I'm not the only one faking it.' Start with the uniform: dress code says, 'business casual,' but everyone reads that as 'summer barbeque with slightly better accessories.' Go neutral. Go closed-toe shoes, even if it's 103 degrees. Flat-bottom shoes that won't sink into grass, get destroyed on gravel, or spark a scandal. You're not dressing to be remembered. You're dressing to survive a long change of command ceremony with dignity. If you want to look like you've done this before, the trick is to look vaguely polished and emotionally unreachable. Even if you watched a few of these on YouTube, no two are the same. Inevitably, someone will speak for too long. Someone will clap early. Someone will faint in formation (okay, probably not. But you can feel the possibility hanging in the air). Keep your cool by nodding when others nod. Clap half a second after the first person claps. Smile at no one in particular. If you furrow your brow during a speech, people will assume you're reflecting on leadership. But we know you're probably thinking less about leadership and more about whether you have to go to the unit potluck after this is over. Posture is everything. If you don't know what's happening at the change of command, square your shoulders, lift your chin, and stand like you've been to six of these, even if this is your first and you're dying to Google, 'what is a guidon?' There's always one. She's already seated. She knows the difference between a brigade and a battalion. She brought sunscreen, bug spray, a fan, and a granola bar she won't eat but will absolutely offer to someone else's kid. She's not trying to be the main character at the change of command ceremony. She just knows what's about to happen and how long it's going to take. You don't have to talk to her. But if you're not sure what to do, look in her direction. She'll stand half a second before everyone else, clap exactly three beats after, and remove her sunglasses during the anthem like it's choreography. It kind of is. She's not there to make you feel small. She's there to make this whole thing run without catching fire. Let her do her thing. Let her carry the energy. And if you accidentally match her timing?Congratulations. You now look like someone who's been here before. Your spouse probably spent days prepping for this change of command ceremony, but you didn't get that chance. So yeah, you're right to feel like you have no idea what's going on. That's normal. Here's what we all wish someone had said: If there's a program, take it. You won't read it, but it'll give you something to hold while you panic. If they say, 'We'll begin shortly,' that means at least fifteen more minutes in full sun. Pace your water accordingly. If you're standing in a group of people and someone starts doing something official-looking, do your best to move three feet to the left. You are always, somehow, in the wrong spot. This is the law of physics. If someone in uniform makes a joke during their speech and you're not sure it was a joke, wait one full second before laughing. This is how we avoid being featured in someone's after-action report. And finally: sunnies off during the National Anthem, even if your mascara is halfway down your face. Especially then. We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. 4 secret skills milspouses have but don't realize 4 milspouse personas you'll meet during deployment How to explain commissary etiquette to your civvie bestie
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
You answered one Tricare question and now you're the expert
Tricare is one of those systems you either kind of understand or absolutely don't. There's no in-between. And if you're one of the unicorn spouses who somehow managed to figure it out? If you've navigated MilConnect without rage-quitting, chosen the right plan, locked in a PCM who isn't deployed, and convinced a provider to actually accept Tricare rates? You're it now. You're the reference point. The urgent care whisperer. The unofficial customer service rep for your entire spouse group. It usually starts small. You answer one question in the group chat correctly. Or you mention something helpful at a Unit Family Day. Next thing you know, someone's texting you at 8:42 p.m. to ask whether urgent care visits count toward the deductible under Tricare Select, and you're explaining how referrals work with all the clarity of someone who never meant to memorize the rules but accidentally did. You didn't sign up for this job. But now everyone thinks you work there. It took you three PCS moves, one misrouted prescription, and two near-screaming matches with an off-base pediatric clinic to finally understand how Tricare actually works. And now you do. On more than one occasion, you've explained the following: Your coverage lives and dies with DEERS. If it's not up to date, nothing else works. If your info isn't correct in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, your kid doesn't show up in the system and you're paying out-of-pocket at the pharmacy until it's fixed. You update DEERS on MilConnect now like it's a ritual, every move, every baby, every new assignment. The plans aren't one-size-fits-all, and no one explains that clearly. You know that Tricare Prime is free but requires referrals for anything more complicated than a sinus infection. You know that if you're not near a military treatment facility, Select will give you more control but comes with out-of-pocket costs. You've explained the difference at least a dozen times to new spouses who thought 'Select' meant 'better.' Guard/Reserve coverage doesn't just happen. You've watched families assume they were covered under Tricare Reserve Select, only to find out (during an emergency, of course) that enrollment requires paperwork and premiums. No one told them. You tell them. Tricare for Life is a gift but only if you enroll in Medicare Part B on time. You've walked one too many retirees through the panic of almost missing that deadline. Your knowledge base for Tricare extends beyond just booking routine appointments. Now you know that: Express Scripts delivers prescriptions straight to your door for free, and anyone standing in line at the pharmacy on base might be doing it the hard way (unless it's antibiotics—then you know you're back in line with the rest of us). The Nurse Advice Line is your secret weapon when it's 10 p.m., your kid has a fever, and you don't know whether you need urgent care, ER, or just Tylenol and a popsicle. It's open 24/7. Most people don't even know it exists. Referrals must go through your PCM, and calling a specialist directly—no matter how well-meaning—is a great way to get hit with an unpaid bill. You've now said, 'Wait, did you get a referral for that?' more times than you can count. Not all providers who take Tricare accept Tricare rates. That's a hard lesson. And you've learned to check the Tricare Provider Directory every time before scheduling anything outside the MTF. You've learned the hard way that understanding your plan is the only thing that stands between smooth care and complete chaos. When you're the one who knows the system, it's easy to become the person everyone turns to. And for a while, that feels good. But eventually, it catches up with you. You find yourself answering questions in the school pickup line, in the commissary aisle, in the middle of your own dental cleaning. Being generous with your knowledge doesn't mean making yourself available at all times. You're allowed to redirect and to say, 'I'm not sure, but you can find that on the Tricare site.' We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. These hacks are 'totes' the smart way to PCS 4 secret skills milspouses have but don't realize 4 milspouse personas you'll meet during deployment
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman Defends Mentioning Husband's Deployment to Middle East on TikTok After She's Accused of 'Breaking OPSEC' (Exclusive)
Cassady Yarbrough is a military spouse whose husband is currently deployed overseas Following the news of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, she took to TikTok to post a video she believed to be harmless Commenters thought otherwise and accused her of "breaking OPSEC"Cassady Yarbrough is a stay-at-home mother who often shares candid lifestyle content, including the unique challenges of life as a military spouse with a deployed husband in the Army Reserve. "Each deployment brings its own emotions. It's always hard to say goodbye, and even though I've been through it before, it never gets easier - just more familiar," she tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I'm naturally pretty independent, and I've learned how to manage things on my own, especially while taking care of our two girls." On June 24, 2025, she revealed that her husband was deployed in the Middle East on TikTok. In the clip, Yarbrough is seen mouthing the words to a popular audio track: "I wanna be sparkly, in pinks and purples, but the world is on fire and I am angry." "But I just saw there is a cease I don't need to be angry anymore," she captioned the video, referencing the ceasefire agreement brokered between Iran and Israel one day prior. "This is actually his fourth time deploying to the Middle East - once before we met when he was in the Marine Corps, and this is our third time since we've been together," Yarbrough explains. "I'd be lying if I said the current situation doesn't feel a little more intense. But based on where he is and what he's doing, I don't feel overly worried. We've been through this before and trust each other completely." Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan. Iran responded by launching a missile strike against a U.S. military base in Qatar. With tension escalating between Israel and Iran – especially after the two countries reportedly broke the ceasefire Trump announced on June 23 – viewers cautioned the 33-year-old mom from Nebraska to be more careful with what she reveals online. In the comments, other military wives and soldiers chimed in on whether Yarbrough was "breaking OPSEC" (Operational Security) with her video. 'As an army wife myself, please don't post things like this,' one commenter wrote. 'Always respect OPSEC, for the safety of your husband, my husband, and all other soldiers!!" Another commenter took to Yarbrough's defense, writing, 'Girl, we're not at war with anyone. YET there's no OPSEC and the Middle East is a very vague term. She's fine. - As a soldier.' An official from the U.S. Department of Defense tells PEOPLE that Yarbrough did not, in fact, "break OPSEC," as Operations Security is actually a process rather than a code that can be broken. According to the definition provided by the official, "OPSEC is the process by which we protect critical information, whether it is classified or unclassified, that can be used against us. It focuses on preventing our adversaries' access to information and actions that may compromise an operation. OPSEC challenges us to look at ourselves through the eyes of an adversary and deny the adversary the ability to act." While it's something to take extremely seriously, simply stating that your spouse or someone you know is deployed is not a violation, given there are nearly 40,000 people deployed in the Middle East. If a spouse were to reveal sensitive information, such as the exact location of soldiers and their operational details, which could jeopardize missions and soldier safety, the official says they wouldn't be arrested. Instead, the compromised operation could change and adapt to ensure soldier safety, and the spouse would get little to no information about missions in the future. In a follow-up video addressing the comments, Yarbrough explained that she purposefully left the location vague and even asked her husband of 15 years if she had broken OPSEC, to which he responded, "No." 'I promise I know what I'm doing,' she captioned the post. 'I understand the world is crazy right now, just wanted to make a funny video.' Yarbrough was in disbelief that viewers would think the video was more than just a joke. She believes it's important for other military spouses to see that they can share their experiences without crossing any lines. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Honestly, when I saw those comments, I kind of rolled my eyes. I take OPSEC seriously and would never put my husband or anyone else at risk," she tells PEOPLE. "I even ran the video by him before I posted it, just to be sure everything I said was okay. It's easy for people online to jump to conclusions without knowing the full story." Despite ongoing uncertainties, President Trump has repeatedly insisted that the ceasefire is still in effect and that the U.S. is not at war. Read the original article on People
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
What we know about deportation of an Australian woman from the US
Nicolle Saroukos, 25, from Sydney, was deported from the U.S. after visiting her husband, a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed in Hawaii. Saroukos claims she was detained overnight in a federal prison alongside convicted criminals after being flagged for extra screening at Daniel K Inouye International Airport. Border officials allegedly laughed at Saroukos when she mentioned her husband's military service and questioned her about tattoos and potential visa overstay. Saroukos says she was subjected to a body cavity search and was paraded through the airport in handcuffs before being deported, with officials failing to notify her husband. After her mother contacted the Australian consulate, Saroukos was put on the same returning flight home, and she and her husband are now together in Sydney, with Saroukos stating she feels she can never enter the United States again.
