Making it in the MilLife

Read below for some great information on an awesome, confidential and no cost support resource for military families.

Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC) Program
Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Service Members & their Families

Military families face unique challenges. They may struggle with everything from combat-related stress and reintegration to the pressures of managing parenting and finances alone while a loved one is deployed. For Guard and Reserve families, these challenges can be amplified by the fact that many are located too far away from an installation to access support services.

The Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC) Program can help – with short-term, non-medical problem-solving counseling services that address these and other issues. These counseling services are designed to help Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Service Members and their families around the world cope with normal reactions to the varied stresses of military life, enhancing their lives and boosting military readiness.

MFLC Program Active Duty Services
MFLC Rotational Services

MFLCs and Personal Financial Counselors (PFCs) are located on installations worldwide to provide MFLC services to Active Duty Service Members and their families on issues they face as a result of the military lifestyle. Through the MFLC Program, MFLCs provide nonmedical counseling support on the following topics:

• Deployment stress
• Life Skills
• Anger management
• Conflict resolution
• Communication
• Parenting
• Relationship issues
• Decision-making skills
• Productivity at work
• Military Lifestyle
• Separation
• Coping skills
• Building resiliency
• Homesickness
• Sadness, grief & loss
• Relocation adjustment
• Emotional well-being
• Reintegration: warrior to citizen

MFLC schedules are flexible to meet the needs of Service Members and their families and can be provided on or off of military installations. MFLCs rotate among Service installations to meet emerging needs such as deployments, extensions of deployments, and return and reintegration. Continue Reading »

On October 20th, 2011, Chelle McIntyre-Brewer received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, the second highest civilian award, from President Obama.   This is Chelle’s story in her own words:

The White House has an aura about it. After all, it is the People’s House. As I gathered with 13 other people to accept the Presidential Citizen’s Award, I felt like the White House was being used to recognize the different facets that contribute to make this country a better place- the metaphorical pillars that keep our nation strong. Amongst those being honored were three American citizens recognized for their military focused initiatives, one of which was me. It was very strange accepting an award on behalf of myself when my work is an extension of those who represent sacrifice, honor, and courage. It was a humbling experience, to say the least.

I founded Soldier’s List in 2003 in order to create a link between children in the United States and service members. What started out as a care package project turned into a worldwide effort to find support for those facing extreme trials in the midst of military service. Today, Soldier’s List works with EFM (Exceptional Family Members), military personnel, and children referred through servicemembers or humanitarian organizations who face life-threatening or traumatic events in order to coordinate care, support, and navigate services for them. It also honors Veterans through its satellite program, Socks for Vets, which provides hygiene supplies, gratitude, and honor for those who have come before us.

The impetus for Soldier’s List is obvious: as a military child, I grew up understanding the need to support our all-volunteer force so that Service Members can focus on their missions and return home safely whenever possible. The focus on helping those in stressful situations really evolved when my daughter was born missing half of her heart. We lost her twin brother during that time and our worlds were turned up-side-down. We weren’t even sure our daughter would survive. Fifteen heart procedures later, she continues to defy medical expectations and taught me a valuable lesson about life: to survive is one thing, but to thrive is to give inspiration.

I refused to let her struggle for life consume our family with negative thoughts and fear. Early on, I realized that the best way to keep myself optimistic was to help others who were going through similar situations. Providing support, knowledge, and opportunities to other families dealing with medical or psychological challenges became a way to acknowledge this strange new world of impossibilities and to prove that life’s obstacles can be turned into inspiration. Nearly eight years later, Soldier’s List continues to thrive and so do the people that benefit from its services.

I was honored to be able to accept the Presidential Citizen’s Award on behalf of all of the families in this country who face hardship at some point in their lives and succeed in taking those moments and making them memorable in a positive way. Now I just need to focus on the future and ensuring that military families continue to get the support they deserve, especially in this time of uncertainty.

-Chelle  is an Army Spouse and mother of three.  Chelle serves on the 2011-2012 MOAA Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council.