Military Brats: After Burn

Ten questions with Sherry D. Ficklin, author of Military Brats: After Burn

1. What made you decide to write this particular book?

Growing up a military brat myself I was constantly surrounded by people and situations that I thought were ‘normal’. When I married and had a family of my own I realized that military brats are a completely different and unique subculture of people. They think differently, react differently, and on a whole have a vastly different childhood experience than civilian kids do. Being a young adult writer, I wanted to explore that culture, to kind of put a spotlight on how difficult it can be. The book reflects pretty honestly on the day to day life of a military brat, with all its challenges, but it also gives a good look at the kind of bonds that people form with both family and friends when they grow up in that lifestyle.

2. What is After Burn about?

After Burn is a throwback to the classic Nancy Drew type of teen mystery novels, but from a very modern point of view. It’s about a young girl who struggles with being uprooted by her Marine father, deals with the loss of her mother, explores new relationships with boys, and all while ‘investigating’ some threats being made to her father’s squadron from somewhere inside her high school.

3. Are there any more in this series?

Yes. Military Brats is a four part series, each focused on one branch of the Armed Forces. After Burn is the Marine Corps book, Book 2, Dangerous Tides, is the Navy book and is due out this April.

4. What was it like being a Military Brat for real?

It was hard sometimes, but it was an adventure sometimes too. My dad was a Marine, so we moved a lot, which at sixteen is pretty much the end of the world, but as an adult that bug hits me sometimes and I want nothing more than to pick up and go somewhere new. My dad developed MS during his time in service and was medically retired. He passed away a few years ago. These books, all of them, are in his memory.
Then of course, I married a Marine also. We have four beautiful, brat children of our own now.

5. What do you hope readers take away from your book?


I think with any fiction book it’s really all about the escape. I hope readers have a fun adventure while at the same time connecting with the characters and with their struggles. And maybe they walk away with a new respect for what these kids go through.

6. Why is there a Blue Angel on the cover of After Burn if it’s a USMC book?

Oh, I get this a lot. First, I remind people that the Marine Corps is a department of the Navy, (to which my husband snorts and replies, “Yeah, the men’s department.”) and second, because the airport here has two military planes on static display, an A-6 and a Blue Angel. While the A-6 would have been more accurate, and this is where my girlieness comes through, the blue one was just ‘prettier’. We did, however, hoist a 14 year old girl onto the wing of that plane in a prom dress and combat boots to get that shot. You can see more of the photos from that shoot in the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU7yQG-kVHs

7. What was the best/worst part of writing this series?

The best thing has been seeing people’s reaction to it. When I first decided to publish it, people sort of looked at me like, what? A teen book with no vampires in it? It was really hard to find someone who got me and got the work. As it turns out, my publisher is a military wife and it really struck a chord with her when she first saw it. Now when people read it, they’re like, Yeah. That’s what’s been missing in teen literature.

The worst part was some of the parts of the story that were ripped from my own experiences. Some of them were really hard to put on paper, but when it was finished, it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

8. What is your favorite quote from the book?


Actually, the first chapter heading is my favorite. It says, “Patience is a virtue, forgiveness is divine. Neither is Marine Corps policy.”


9. What are three things people may not know about you?

Well, I collect rubber ducks. It’s true. The weirder the better. My current favorite is my Zombie duck. I still have a major crush on David Bowie that I’ve had since the first time I saw ‘Labyrinth’. And every year my family and I trek from Colorado to DC to visit The Wall. (I keep a rubbing with my grandfather’s name on the board beside my desk.)

10. Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes, a big thank you to all the wonderful, hardworking people at MCAS Cherry Point and NAS Whidbey Island for tolerating me and my ‘research’, and thanks to the people down here at West Star Aviation for letting me borrow your jet. And thanks Marc, for having me here today!
And remember, whatever your political beliefs always support the men and women of our Armed Forces and the families who make their sacrifices possible.
*Thank You!*


And now, for your prize! Answer these three questions correctly and e-mail your answers to sdficklin@bresnan.net . The FIRST TWO entries received will win a Military Brats prize pack loaded with goodies from the Brats Registry and Sherry herself.

1. What shirt does Reece wear on her first day of school?
2. What is the name of the restaurant where Paul took Reece before their first date?
3. What is a TFOA report?


Good luck everyone!!

TRICARE to Extend Dependent Coverage to Age 26

TRICARE to Extend Dependent Coverage to Age 26

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2011 – To ensure military families don’t get left out as the new national health care reform law extends parent’s health insurance to their children up to age 26, TRICARE plans to roll out its new Young Adult Program by spring and to provide an option to make coverage retroactive to Jan. 1.

The new program will allow qualified, unmarried military children up to age 26 to buy health care coverage under their parents’ TRICARE plans through age 26, defense officials announced yesterday. That’s up from the current maximum age of 21, or 23 for full-time college students whose parents provide more than half their financial support.

The fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act President Barack Obama signed Jan. 7 gave the Defense Department the authority it needed to extend TRICARE coverage to young adults, TRICARE spokesman Austin Camacho explained. This ensures benefits extended under TRICARE are in line with those all American families receive under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that took effect in March.

“We’ve been working hard to make sure we could put TRICARE Young Adult on a fast track,” said Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine Hunter, who heads the TRICARE Management Activity. “Fortunately for our beneficiaries concerned about health care coverage for their adult children, the law signed by the president includes opportunities for military families to elect this new premium-based plan retroactive to Jan. 1.”

Qualified young adults who don’t have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage will be eligible to purchase it through TRICARE on a month-to-month basis, Camacho said.

Details about how much those premiums will cost under the new program still are being finalized. But because the 2011 defense authorization specifies that the rates must cover all program costs, Camacho said, premiums will be based on commercial insurance data about the costs of providing care.

Once the new program is in place, Hunter estimated that it could extend TRICARE coverage to several hundred thousand additional beneficiaries.

“The premium allows us to provide the excellent benefit to our military families while responsibly addressing the impact of health care costs on the DOD budget,” she said.

Meanwhile, the TRICARE staff has moved into overdrive to iron out the program details: determining eligibility and coverage criteria and costs; designing, testing and implementing the required software and systems changes; updating eligibility databases; and crafting education efforts, Camacho said.

Officials plan to roll out the new program in two phases, first offering a premium-based TRICARE Standard/Extra benefit, Camacho said. Then, later this year, they plan to introduce the TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Prime Remote plan, including overseas options, and the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan.

Once the program is in place, eligible young adults may submit an application and premium payment to the appropriate regional or overseas contractor for processing, Camacho said. Cost shares, deductibles and catastrophic caps will vary, based on the plan selected and the sponsor’s status.

Young adult beneficiaries will receive an enrollment card after they buy coverage, and their payment is reflected in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, Camacho said.

The new beneficiaries may choose to pay premiums back to Jan. 1, which will entitle them to file claims for any health care costs they have accrued since that date. To do so, officials advise that they save all receipts to ease claims processing.

For adults who need health insurance coverage but no longer qualify for TRICARE coverage, officials advise exploring the Continued Heath Care Benefit Program. This premium-based program offers temporary, transitional health coverage for 18 to 36 months. Coverage must be purchased within 60 days of losing TRICARE eligibility. Information about the program is posted on the TRICARE website.

Biographies:
Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Christine S. Hunter

Related Sites:
TRICARE

My Last Christmas in Germany

by Maryellen Fuller Kitchen
Scottsdale, Arizona

Whenever Christmas carols fill the air I always think of the last Christmas our family spent in Germany based with the U.S. Army at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.

I was 13 years old and had spent more than half of my life in a foreign country. We felt deprived as military children of some things my cousins back in the U.S. took for granted such as real hamburger rolls and ice cream. They were sometimes flown in as a treat for the servicemen and their families, especially around the holidays.

We attended Sunday school every week and Christmas was always a special time. The junior department presented a nativity scene as a dramatic ending to the adult choir’s concert. I had been an angel hidden in the background the year before but this time my secret desire was to be Mary. After all, my long brown hair seemed more appropriate than my blond competitor’s. I also had a crush on Robert who was a shoo-in to portray Joseph.

As fate would have it, the night arrived and I’ll never forget how much more angelic I felt as the choir sang “O Holy Night”; I was Mary and Robert (sigh) was Joseph.

I never saw pictures taken of our Christmas scene for we soon departed Germany and they never caught up with us in the mail. However, the memory of that beautiful nativity scene has endured for years! My favorite Christmas carol has always been “O Holy Night”, too.

###

If you have a favorite "Growing Up Military" Christmas story, please email it from the Military Brats Registry contact page.

Once A Brat, Always A Brat

New Book by Marilyn Celeste Morris

It was a real Treat last night to see an email from my publisher that Once a Brat, Always a Brat, is now "live" on Amazon.com.

Brat: Def: (1) An unruly child Def: (2) A child of the military. We wear the Brat name with pride. Those who argue that the term is demeaning simply don t understand. Once a Brat, Always a Brat is not intended to be a serious study of children of the military. It is neither an apology nor a rallying cry for our unique experiences. While some of my fellow Military Brats, missionary kids, children of the diplomatic corps, oil company employees offspring and others raised outside their home country may find similarities in my narrative, I must emphasize that the first part of this book is based solely on events transpiring between 1938 and 1958, with comments on how the Military Brat experience affected my life. Other Military Brats have contributed to this book, writing about their experiences in their own words. A Resources section is included for those who are seeking information about the various organizations who can offer advice and counsel to our current Military Brats and their families.

About the Author
As one of the first dependents to be sent overseas at the end of WWII, eight-year old Marilyn Celeste Morris received her very own orders from The War Department. From Seoul, Korea to Linz, Austria, she traversed the globe from 1938 to 1958 with her Army Officer father, mother and younger brothers. Between assignments in the primitive world of the Far East, to the sublime luxury of exploring castles in Bavaria, the family shuttled between the various Stateside Forts: Bragg, Bliss, Hood and Sill. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes gut-wrenchingly sad, her narrative is part travelogue, part therapy session. She still cries at Taps and stands tall when the colors pass; yet she realizes she carries an odd mixture of pride and resentment over her nomadic way of life. Her conclusion, however, is that she wouldn't have had it any other way. Once a Brat, Always a Brat.

90 year old veteran tells his story

90 year old WWII veteran tells a great story!

This is a very unique way to tell an extremely interesting story. Only 2.25 minutes long...watch it!

PUERTO RICO CANCELS PREVIOUS BIRTH CERTIFICATES

If you were born in Puerto Rico you will need to apply for a new birth certificate beginning in July, 2010.

Event: Birth, Death, Marriage

Cost of copy: $5.00

Address:
Department of Health
Demographic Registry
P.O. Box 11854
Fernandez Juncos Station
San Juan, PR 00910

Remarks: Central office has had records since July 21, 1931. Copies of earlier records may be obtained by writing to Local Registrar (Registrador Demografico) in municipality where event occurred Additional copies ordered at the same time by the same person are $4.00 each.

Money order should be made payable to Secretary of the Treasury. Personal checks are not accepted. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (787) 767-9120 .

All applications must be accompanied by a photocopy of a recent, valid IDENTIFICATION OF APPLICANT.

More Information... (Adobe PDF Document)

Mail-in application

Latta Introduces Bill to Honor Military Children

WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has introduced H.R. 5333, a bill to honor the children of active duty soldiers and veterans of the United States armed forces. H.R. 5333, if passed, will create a program to make available a lapel pin to the children of active duty and veterans of active military duty for them to display and honor their parents’ service to our nation. These pins will be purchased by the recipients.

"I feel it is important to honor these children whose parent(s) currently serve or have served on active duty while these children were growing up. It is important we recognize these military children for their contribution to the military through their parent(s), whether it is the children of military service members from WWI or Afghanistan and Iraq. These children and families tend to be shaped by frequent moves, long and short-term absence of a parent, strong patriarchal or matriarchal authority, threats of parental loss in war, and a military family unit."
H.R. 5333 has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

American Military Families in the Occupation of Japan

After many years trying, I’ve finally succeeded in securing a publisher (a regular, nationally-respected one, not a vanity house or strictly e-book type) for my book on the role of American military families in the occupation of Japan. Our family was one of them; we lived in Yokohama in 1949-‘50, when I was 10 and 11 years old. I use my memories to flesh out and provide examples supporting the books’ thesis, which is that the families provided the model the Japanese observed and emulated in rebuilding their society, and also the paradigm upon which they fashioned their postwar industrial colossus. I am seeking the experiences of my contemporaries to flesh out my story by providing more and more varied examples. If you would like to participate in this project, kindly write me at: jimlam1@comcast.net. Please have your email include a brief sketch of your time in Japan: when/where you lived, highlights, lowlights, notable routines, how the experience affected your life, etc. What you tell me in your email(s) likely will trigger back-and-forth dialogue in which I might elicit more (and possibly more revealing) data. I once was a working journalist, so know how the process works. I hope to get many contributions, all of which will be cited and, in part at least, quoted. Thank you. James Lamont, Deerfield, Illinois.

YouTube - Military Brat: Travis

This video was posted a year ago on YouTube.

What is a military brat? A series in which different Military Brats answer that question.

Military Brat: Travis

The Mad Redhead Blog

Sometimes you stumble across interesting people online. Check out "About Me" on Alice's blog, "Assume Nothing" and her most recent post: Fresh Eggs.

Here's a little from the post...
"I was born in California, but was only there for about four years before my family moved overseas. Therefore, all of my formidable years were spent in the Far East, South Pacific, and Europe. We came back to the mainland or the states when I was a teenager. I was not a happy camper to say the least and try my best to get out of the country whenever the opportunity presents itself.

My upbringing was different then most kids of my generation. My mother always worked and we were never allowed to talk about what my father really did. Actually, I didn’t find out the truth until a few years ago, yes I was duly impressed. I was basically raised by my sister and a string of live in housekeepers. This helped in my language acquisition… I had four different languages under my belt by the time I reached eleven."

Military Brats, Inc. receives IRS approval

It's official! Military Brats, Inc. is now recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The purpose is to preserve and promote the culture and history of Military Brats. Check out www.MilitaryBratsInc.org
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We need a volunteer to help design our website!

A Pittance of Time

Veteran's Day video from Terry Kelly.

The Price of Peace

Deployment Ceremonies are never easy. Emotions can be overwhelming as families and friends gather together for their good-byes.

Twelve-year-old Alyssa Gaddis and her sixteen-year-old sister Cassy, of Springfield, IL, know this firsthand. They've been to so many such events because their father, CW5 Jim Gaddis, is the command chief warrant officer of the Illinois Army National Guard. They've felt the power of families being torn apart.

These experience insipired Alyssa to write a song -- a song to lift the spirits of those enduring deployment, a song to inspire courage and hope. Alyssa titled her song "The Price of Peace."

Watch the video here. (tissues recommended)

New law makes changing schools easier for children of military parents

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.

MONTGOMERY - Military brats understand the hassles associated with transferring to a new school especially in the middle of a school year.

A law signed today by Gov. Bob Riley is designed to ease the transition.

Alabama becomes the 19th state to join the Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.

The legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. Craig Ford of Gadsden and Democratic Sen. Ted Little of Auburn would allow Alabama to work with other states to reconcile variations in graduation requirements and other school issues.

Air Force Lt. General Al Peck, commander of Air University, said the new law would assist school-age children transition into and out of Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base every year.

Death By Innocence

New fiction novel by Military Brat author, Thomas Slagle

In 1969, at the height of the Viet Nam War, four American military and State Department brats spend their last year of high school on an American military base in Ankara, Turkey. Rampant drug use and innocent lapses of judgment combine to produce emotional scars that will last their lifetimes.

Available now in the Brat Store!

The Wanderer: Life as Military Child

By Debra Lu Kaiser

I was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. My father was an Army man of just a year at that time. The next few years of my life we lived in Prum, Germany. Then it was back to the U.S. My mother was pregnant with my brother at the time we flew back. It was illegal for a pregnant military wife to fly, so my brother flew home illegally before he was even born!

My father then enlisted in the Air Force when his Army duty ended. As we visited my grandmother in Nebraska, she was charmed with the way I said “Auf Wiedersehen.” That simple German word for goodbye defined much of my life from then on. We went to California to get settled, then to Wichita Falls, Texas for my dad’s training; then back to California for his assignment.

The very first clear memory I have is wandering lost among the Texas weeds that were taller than my three year old body. My next memory was getting lost trying to find my way home from school the first day of Kindergarten. Interestingly, these earliest memories formed a metaphor for my childhood.

The full story is available at Nancy Gonzalez's Blog

I'm a Military Brat

For many years the "I am a Military Brat" poem has been floating around the internet with an "Anonymous" signature. The original was published in 1975 in a military magazine with the title "Brat is Beautiful." Obviously, someone wrote it!

After a recent newsletter, one member of the Military Brats Registry sent me an email and said "Hey, that's not anonymous! I have a framed version of the original article that was given to me in 1977." He gave me the name of the author and within an hour I had tracked her down and called her. She was amazed that the very first article she ever had published in 1975 had touched the lives of so many Military Brats.

We talked for about 30 minutes..it would have been much longer but she was on a deadline for her latest book! Soon we will do a podcast so she can tell her story of growing up military, and being a military wife. We have also created a beautiful 11x17 parchment (and a framed version) that is available in the Brat Store. For the first time in over 40 years, Debby will receive royalties for this inspiration to us all.

Here is a portion of the original...

I am a Military Brat

I am an Army Brat. My hometown is nowhere, my friends are everywhere, and if I haven't been someplace yesterday, I am sure to go there tomorrow. I grew up with bugle calls and artillery salutes and the knowledge that home is where the heart is and the family--with no dependence on the dwelling.

Mobility is my way of life. I have found security and happiness in motels and guest houses, in duplexes and apartments around the world. Some would wonder about my roots, yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak's. I sink them quickly, absorbing all an area offers and hopefully giving enrichment in return.

Like all Army dependents, I can say "Hello," "Good-bye," and count to 20 in five languages. I can tell of the shores of Maine, the marketplaces of Mexico, the Buddhas of Japan; and my knickknack shelves look like those of an import shop, for my memories span the globe.

The full copyrighted article continues exclusively by permission at http://www.MilitaryBrat.com/bratpoem.cfm

--
Marc Curtis
Military Brats Registry

The Brat Store

Remember...Every Brat Has a Story...what's yours?

Podcasts
Brat Stories (RSS Feed)

Interview with Michael Ritter

Michael Ritter chronicles his life as a military brat in his new book, The Brat Chronicles. Ritter shares his inspiration for the book as well as advice, and his favorite novels, with Book Addict contributor Krysten Lindsay Hager.

Tell us about your new book, The Brat Chronicles.

The title refers to my growing up as a military brat, and it’s a coming of age story that takes place from the mid-1950’s through 1974. It’s not unlike many stories from that era – a time of change that had long-term effects on our nation, and me personally. It’s a funny book – not a “tell-all-poor-pitiful-me” saga. It has an episodic format with each chapter being a story unto itself, so it’s an easy read. In a nutshell, it’s the story about people who spent their childhoods in a world that stopped promptly at 5:00 to pay homage to the flag; where everything was painted in shades of green, and hometowns were places that only existed on television. It mirrors the experiences of thousands of Americans who fought the good fight – not on the field of battle – but in living rooms of military housing around the world. Anyone who experienced that life has stories to tell … The Brat Chronicles reflect some of mine.

More...

TCK Research Study

I am conducting my thesis work in Psychology. This is the second part of a two phase study that I welcome you to take part in. You do not have to complete the first part to participate.

http://silicon.network.ncf.edu/ingmar.gorman/tck_test/

A research team from the New College of Florida is looking to examine the effects of a multicultural environment on human psychology. We are particularly interested in individuals who have experienced high mobility, although this is not a requirement for participation. We hope this research will further the understanding of human development and support positive outcomes of a multicultural upbringing.

After completion of the survey you will be given instructions on how to receive the results of the study once it is finished. This study is anonymous and has been approved by an Institutional Review Board. If you have any questions about this research study, please contact Ingmar Gorman at ingmar.gorman (at) ncf.edu

Your participation will be most appreciated!"
Thank you! Ingmar Gorman

Entertainers join Elmo to help military families find 'new normal'

by Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

1/30/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special Apr. 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

Actor/singer Queen Latifah and singer John Mayer will join Elmo to present, "Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change." The special carries a message for children whose parents suffered a physical or psychological wound in combat.

"Rosita's father is in a wheelchair and (she) talks to Elmo about her feelings," Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, said. "Elmo very graciously says, 'You need to talk to your dad about that.'"

Rosita does talk with her dad and learns that even though they can't do all the things they used to, they can do other things.

"It gives this sense of relief that I can talk about the change. That my dad is still my dad (and) my parent is still my parent," Ms. Thompson said. "It's very powerful for ... parents to see ... what it's like from a child's perspective, what they're feeling and experiencing."

Having celebrities participate also adds value, beyond the "cool" factor, Ms. Thompson said.

"I think it ... draws a larger (portion) of the population to the issues that military families (face)," she said. "It shows, I think, people's interest."

The half-hour special, which will air at the beginning of the "Month of the Military Child," is a part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, which began two years ago.

The first phase of the TLC program addressed the issues of multiple deployments and their impact on young children. It included the half-hour TV special, "When Parents Are Deployed," hosted by Cuba Gooding Jr.

The second phase, which includes the upcoming TV special, addresses the issues of changes, both physical and psychological, and the impact those changes can have on a family. It does this, in part, by telling the stories of servicemembers with challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder, and the struggles these families face in finding the "new normal," Ms. Thompson said.

To help parents communicate better with their children on these topics, the Sesame Workshop has created an informative kit in both English and Spanish. Defense Department employees served as subject matter experts for the Sesame Workshop kit, which contains two DVDs and printed materials.

"Of course (the Sesame Workshop is) the creative force behind it," Ms. Thompson said. "They know how to craft those messages so that children really benefit from the comfort of the Sesame characters."

More than 1.3 million kits are being distributed through Military OneSource, an online resource available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The materials also are available through various military organizations. The Sesame Workshop Web site also offers a variety of resources, including printed material, and videos and music to help military families communicate about issues affecting them.

"The range of media tools available through 'Talk, Listen, Connect' truly provides fundamental ways for each family member to support each other through all stages," Gary E. Knell, president and chief executive officer of Sesame Workshop, said. "The deep impact of this project continues to inspire us, which is why we are excited to create (this) new special that will further champion the needs of the military community and will help these families ... find ways to be there for each other."

Sesame Workshop produced the special in association with Lookalike Productions and David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

"The men and women of our military have made indescribable sacrifices," Mr. Letterman said. "The very least we can do is tell their stories, and to honor the bravery and strength of both the soldiers and their families."

The special is scheduled to air Apr.1 at 8 p.m. EST.