In 2021, The U.S. Air Force deployed to the field the first semi-autonomous robot dogs. They were delivered to Tyndall Air Force Base March 22 for integration into the 325th Security Forces Squadron. The Air Force, a branch of service that prides itself on innovation and embracing emerging technologies, naturally would find a military robot dog that would make the Jetson’s Astro look archaic.

The purpose of the Quad-legged Unmanned Ground Vehicles, or Q-UGVs, is to add an extra level of protection to the base. The military robot dog, designed by Ghost Robotics and Immersive Wisdom, are the first of their kind to be integrated onto a military installation and one of many innovation-based initiatives to begin at Tyndall AFB, coined the “Installation of the Future.”

Air Force officials say that the military robot dog will increase situational awareness for Air Force security forces who will use the military robot dog as a mobile sensor platform. The military robot dog can patrol remote areas of a base while defenders can continue to patrol and monitor other critical areas of an installation.

Features applied to the military robot dog allow for easy navigation on difficult terrains. The military robot dog can operate in 40-degrees below zero, and in 131-degree heat. The military robot dog has 14 sensors giving it 360-degree awareness. The military robot dog is also equipped with a crouch mode that lowers their center-of-gravity and a high-step mode that alters leg mobility, among other features.

Air Force officials at Tyndall AFB said the military robot dog is highly mobile and with the amount of construction happening at Tyndall over the next few years, the military robot dog will help them maintain and increase their security posture. Tyndall AFB is expected to set the benchmark for the rest of the Defense Department when it comes to Q-UGV usage.

In December 2021, the Portland Air National Guard began to use the military robot dog, making it the first Air National Guard base to house the innovative technology. Like Tyndall, the military robot dog is being deployed and utilized by Air Force Security Forces at the 142nd Security Forces Squadron.

Security Forces members refer to the military robot dog as an autonomous defender. The 142nd will use it to get real-time video feedback which they hope will serve as a deterrent.

The dog, officials said, can also be used to respond to alarm activations and security forces can use the dog to gain awareness of what is happening inside of a facility without exposing any personnel to a possible threat inside.
The military robot dog can independently track the perimeter of a base, scan an area with multiple different camera types, travel long distances on one charge, provide active surveillance of an area, and funnel that information back to those in the security forces squadron through secure means. The security forces can interrupt the autonomous function of the dog at any time and manually control it to focus or direct the capability based on the circumstance.

Officials added that the Air Force should be looking to bring about more similar change like the military robot dog so that some duties that humans don't necessarily have to do or don’t do well can be taken over with the use of technology or some version of innovation that will free up the manpower. The military robot dog can be used autonomously or can be controlled by remote. They can also respond to voice commands.

The use of the military robot dog also prevents real dogs (and their human handlers) from being unnecessarily exposed to danger. Additionally, the camera capabilities provide information that would not be perceptible to the human eye.

Of course, not to be outdone, the tech geek of all military branches, the U.S. Space Force (USSF), had to get its hands on a military robot dog. In July 2022, the Space Force conducted a demonstration using Q-UGVs military robot dogs.

The USSF plans to use the military robot dog for security patrols and other repetitive tasks. And the military robot dog will be used on space launch delta 45 for damage assessments and patrols to save significant man hours. The unit using the military robot dog is responsible for all space launch operations at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. 

The military robot dog can also serve as communications network force multiplier. It can carry antennas that effectively extend networks beyond existing infrastructure or in remote locations where communications infrastructure does not exist.

The military robot dogs are a part of the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System data-sharing network. In 2020, military robot dogs at Nellis AFB in Nevada provided real-time strike targeting data to USAF operators in Florida using satellite links.

The military robot dog can withstand water and weather, and if equipped, they can travel underwater.

That’s a good boy!

Within the ranks everyone knows that a service member does not complete his or her mission alone. Behind every man or woman in uniform is an extensive network of support personnel, a team ensuring that they get the job done.

A large part of that team consists of military spouses. Military spouses are the cornerstone of any military formation. Without them, married service members are unable to perform their mission.

To recognize the efforts of some of America’s great military spouses, USAMM developed this list of five military spouses who have made a difference. And what we mean by that is women and men who have helped the military and veterans.

What was our selection criteria? Well, if the military spouse founded a charity, the charity had to have good ratings and be certified as a safe organization to donate to. The service to the military and veteran community had to be sustained in nature.

Are these truly the top five spouses? They are to us, but given opinions vary and that the U.S. military has a plethora of talented and generous spouses who give their time and energy to make the lives of those wearing the uniform that much better, we’ll just say these folks are USAMM favorites.

We wish we could acknowledge all military spouses out there because we know what it is like to walk in your shoes. Some of us at USAMM have been military spouses and many more of us have had military spouses in our corner with sponge and bucket. We appreciate all that you do for our service men and women.

Here they are in no particular order.

1. Sue Hoppin (far right in above pic)
Hoppin is a nationally recognized expert on military spouse and family issues working to bridge the cultural gap between government, private and public groups and military communities. She is an advocate, published author and consultant with more than 20 years of experience and expertise in military community programs. She has a proven record of developing programs focusing on military issues, serving as spokesperson for various organizations and committees, and reaching out to train top tier military-affiliated groups, veteran/military services organizations, and key leadership within major military commands. 

In 2012, Hoppin was appointed by President Obama to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy; she completed her tenure in 2018 as the board's vice chairman. In 2010, she founded the National Military Spouse Network, a professional development and networking membership organization supporting the professional career and entrepreneurial goals of military spouses.  

Hoppin holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Denver, a master's degree in international relations from the University of Oklahoma and a certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University.

2. Mia Reisweber
Having endured several PCS moves and several deployments as a military spouse, Reisweber certainly has the experience of a seasoned military spouse. In 2014 at her first duty station with her spouse, she connected with U.S. senators in New York and Hawaii to help them understand military spouses who are pursuing careers.

In 2015, she connected with National Military Family Association and became an advocate to help introduce the Military Family Stability Act which was signed into law in 2018. The following year, she was a panelist for Hiring our Heroes at LinkedIn where she discussed military spouse employment.

In 2020, she began exploring spouse employment and childcare accessibility and in 2021, she became a local advocate at the installation level to mitigate childcare challenges. Last year, she joined a think tank to address childcare challenges and to understand child development center staffing issues. This year, she is on the Military Officers Association of America Spouse Advisory Council.

3. Sarah Verardo
Verardo is a National Advocate for wounded Veterans and their caregivers. Her husband, U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Verardo was catastrophically wounded in Afghanistan in 2010 – in two separate IED attacks that took his left leg, much of his left arm, and left him with polytraumatic conditions that have required more than one hundred surgeries and years of speech, visual, physical, and occupational therapies.

Like other military spouses at other nonprofits, Verardo started as a volunteer with The Independence Fund, Sarah’s steadfast devotion, experience, and drive led to her eventual selection as the organization’s first chief executive officer. Founded in 2007, The Independence Fund is committed to empowering our nation’s catastrophically wounded, injured, or ill veterans to overcome physical, mental, and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty.

The Independence Fund is dedicated to improving the lives of veterans and their families. Through their mobility, caregiver, advocacy, casework, Operation Resiliency, Independence@Home and family programs, The Independence Fund strives to bridge the gap of unmet needs for veterans and their caregivers.

4. Stephanie Brown
Brown is a Navy spouse who grew up as an Air Force Brat; her father was a Vietnam War veteran, serving two tours. She is an entrepreneur at heart and she once owned an interior design company in Washington, D.C. But when she married a naval officer, a Navy SEAL, and became a Navy wife, she put her career on hold.

Years later while searching for a contractor to repair their home, she had problems finding a veteran-owned business. She realized there was a niche market to make veteran business owner’s information accessible to American consumers. She asked two fellow Navy wives to join her, and through the use of a veteran IT developer, the Rosie Network was born.

The Rosie Network’s mission is to build stronger military families by developing entrepreneurial programs and support services that empower military spouses, transitioning service members, and veterans increasing the financial stability and self-sufficiency of American families who serve. The site is named for the iconic “Rosie the Riveter.”

5. Allyson Sue Hash
Hash has endured six deployments as a National Guard spouse with her husband who is a National Guardsman. One the day he enlisted she joined the Family Readiness Group as a volunteer. Within a year, she was the Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG) lead volunteer, a position she held for 15 years.

Hash was also a Family Readiness Support Assistant for four years, and served as the Maryland and District of Columbia Military OneSource State Consultant for three years. She has also volunteered with local school systems, Gunpowder Wounded Warrior Outreach, Operation Homefront and United Through Reading over the past 22 years.

She has more than 8,000 volunteer hours and has helped raise more than $50,000 in support of guardsmen. She reflects the very best qualities of military spouses everywhere.

 

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. May 30 was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery and ceremonies centered around the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After the ceremonies, officials and civilians went through the cemetery adding flowers to every grave marker.

There are several dozen cities in the United States that claim to have first commemorated a Decoration Day type of event. Most of them are in the south where the majority of the casualties were experienced.

In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations giving their personnel instructions on how to observe Memorial Day at their facilities.

It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

Most Americans, sadly, spend Memorial Day weekend enjoying a long weekend. They do some kind of recreational activity or take advantage of sales. Few of them know how to observe Memorial Day.

Well, this post is written specifically for those people and others who are willing to spend at least one day out of their long weekend acknowledging and recognizing the sacrifices made by so many.

Here is a short list of how to observe Memorial Day. The entire weekend does not have to be devoted to remembering, but any gesture of recognition will go a long way in understanding that many people have died in service to the United States and it is important that as a nation we remember those sacrifices. If you do not have any ideas on how to observe Memorial Day, there are some small things you can to if you find yourself asking how to observe Memorial Day.

Here is USAMM’s list of how to observe Memorial Day in no particular order.

1. Fly the Flag
This is probably the easiest of ways to observe Memorial Day. Buy a flagpole and a U.S. flag and put it in your front yard. If you live in the suburbs, most homeowners’ associations allow the American flag (but check with them just in case) and this is a great way to show patriotism and respect for those who have fallen.

On Memorial Day, flags are flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon, then raised to full-staff until sunset.

2. Museums
Museums all over the country, especially military museums, have great exhibits and open their doors to lots of visitors this time of year. The event does not have to be somber, but it can be enlightening and educational, if that is a concern for families with younger kids. So remember, if you are asking how to observe Memorial Day, visiting a museum can be a great learning experience for the entire family.

The museum at Grissom Air Museum in Indiana is a wonderful place and very educational. And the Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas puts on a simulated battle, complete with a Sherman tank, in order to teach younger generations about the history of those who fought in WWII. It isn’t gruesome or dark in anyway.

3. Parades
In military towns there are ordinarily parades that commemorate Memorial Day. Some of the larger cities in the United States have longstanding parades and even small-town America makes it a point to recognize Memorial Day and honor the fallen.

Parades are also very family friendly and they can serve as a good conversation starter to teach children about the sacrifices of those who fought and died for the country.

4. Visit a Cemetery or a Memorial
There are national and state veteran cemeteries located throughout the United States. They are full of America’s war dead and those who died while serving. For adults and children old enough to understand and manage their emotions, visiting a cemetery can be a powerful event.

Many of these cemeteries have ceremonies that honor the fallen and they can be very somber, as they should be. These events allow anyone attending the opportunity to reflect and in their own manner, think about those who have sacrificed so much for their country.

A practice is to leave something at a grave that is visited. Stones, coins and other items left atop the grave marker all have different meanings. Flowers can also be left and you do not need to know the deceased in order to honor them.

5. Check with Local Veterans Organization
Locally, there are many opportunities to commemorate Memorial Day if you find yourself asking how to observe Memorial Day. Veteran service organizations have events which can include a memorial service that includes a chaplain, a guest speaker, a color guard and a bugler playing Taps.

But some also open their doors to the community for cookouts which continue to celebrate those who have died, but also raise money for special veteran organizations that might take care of the family of those who have fallen.

If none of those things interest you, consider watching the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. Each year, this concert is broadcast from Washington, D.C. and has a great lineup of hosts and entertainers and they recognize veterans of current wars. The concert is free for those who live near D.C.  

At the very least, if none of that is possible, for whatever reason, simply stopping and participating in the moment of remembrance is also a way to observe Memorial Day.

At 3 p.m. (varies in all time zones) on Memorial Day, pause and reflect for one minute on the sacrifices made by so many throughout the history of our country.

 

Being a mother is hard, but being a military mom is one of the toughest things around. Biologically, women are connected to their children in ways science cannot even understand and it is unlike any connection children can have with their fathers. Not to say that mothers have deeper connections with their kids, but there is a unique relationship that blossoms when someone is nurtured in the womb of another human.

Military moms face unique challenges in their relationship with the military and their families. As service members, like their male counterparts, they might have to leave their children and possibly deploy. Military moms must also train, and that can lead them away from family for an extended period.

That said, shopping for these tough women who wear the uniform can be easy with a little thought. So, the venerated veteran employees of USAMM, some of them former military moms, headed to a meeting room where they discussed what would be the best military mom gifts. Below are their ideas of the top military mom gifts, in no order of precedence. We hope it will help folks find military moms great military mom gifts for Mother’s Day.

Personal Military Mom Gifts
One veteran employee at USAMM mentioned that in the summers when on vacation as a child, he and his mother would wake before the rest of this family and walk the shoreline on the beach. One morning, he and his mom found two perfect sand dollars. Years later, he put them in a shadowbox and gave it to her as a Mother’s Day gift. He instantly became her favorite child, or so he says.

The point is, military mom gifts should be meaningful and sentimental, so consider that when you are looking for gifts for military moms. Military moms wear uniforms but it doesn’t mean they are emotionless robots as Hollywood sometimes likes to portray veterans. Finding a nice shadow box and filling it with meaningful mementos will never be a bad gift.

One USAMM veteran employee talked about his spouse whose father had served and died in a training accident. He assembled his father-in-law’s militaria which he had collected by doing research and talking to family members. He placed all of it in a shadow box and presented it to his wife. Gifts of this nature are deeply personal military mom gifts and USAMM’s team of experts can help assemble a great shadow box for any veteran.

Service-Related Military Mom Gifts
Shopping for military mom gifts is actually pretty easy for children whose mothers are in the military. Military uniforms always need something. Whether it is new ribbon racks, badges, rank, hats or boots, these items tend to need replacing regularly. It seems there is always a need for something.

However, giving uniform items as gifts is a slippery slope. For starters, selecting the wrong size or the wrong uniform item will force the purchaser to have to manage a return, or worse. The return will be put on the military mom and she will have to manage it.

This is why every top gift list written by the staffers of the Depot Blog always includes gift cards. Gift cards are useful and practical military mom gifts because it enables a military mom to purchase what she needs, when she needs it. USAMM gift cards are ideal military mom gifts for Mother’s Day.

Mothers who are in the ranks can benefit from other military mom gifts that are more oriented to their assigned duties and not necessarily uniform related. Multitools, knives, and any gear that makes their jobs easier to perform are also solid military mom gifts.

Service Pride Military Mom Gifts
Service pride military mom gifts are the most fun to purchase and give because they allow military moms and opportunity to express their personalities. T-shirts, stickers, hats, and other types of gifts are fun and the best part is since many of these military mom gifts are affordable, several gifts can be presented or they can be included in a nice gift basket along with some of the military moms favorite treats.

Drinkware
The military is a coffee-fueled environment so getting military moms high-quality military coffee mugs are great military mom gifts. USAMM offers customization on many of their items such as tumblers.

But there are military moms who aren’t coffee drinkers. If that’s the case, then consider purchasing quality drink sets so she can keep her military mom spirits ready to go when she is off duty.

Undecided about coffee mugs or cocktail glasses, then consider the Battle Mug which can handle both hot and cold beverages and it is fully customizable. Personalizing these mugs makes great military mom gifts and even better keepsakes. She can either raise a toast at the unit cookout or start her day with a steaming cup of joe.

Car Bling
Military moms, like other military personnel, take pride in their rides. USAMM offers a lot of military related car gifts that would make great Mother’s Day gifts. License plate frames, decals, badges and other items can help a military mom show her military service pride.

Shopping for a military mom does not have to be difficult and break the bank. Gifts that recognize a mother’s military service are always going to be welcomed by the recipient. As we know, less than one percent of the U.S. population will ever wear the uniform. A fraction of that one percent are military mothers so they are a unique group and they deserve gifts fitting of who they are and what they do.

The International March of Diekirch originally organized by the Luxembourg Army, was first held in 1968. The number of participants in the International March of Diekirch on its inaugural debut was only 267. Around 8,000 people now take part in the International March of Diekirch every year in order to commemorate the liberation of Luxembourg twice from foreign oppression and show gratitude toward U.S. soldiers who liberated Luxembourg in 1918 and in 1944.

The Medaille de Marche Internationale de Diekirch (MID), is a permanent and wearable foreign award from the Armed Forces of Luxembourg, also known as the Diekirch Medal, which commemorates a 14th Century Luxembourg king, known as John of Luxembourg (1296-1346), King of Bohemia (1310-1346), is awarded to those who complete the International March of Diekirch.

According to U.S. Army officials, the country and army of Luxembourg graciously opened up the International March of Diekirch to all formations across the world and it gives Luxembourg’s military allies the opportunity to participate in the longstanding event.

The Luxembourg Embassy in Washington, D.C. states on their website the walk itself consists of a 12, 20 or 40 kilometer hike. The march is open to military personnel and civilians alike, including children, and since its inception more than 250,000 individuals have participated.

In recent years, as recent as 2022, some U.S. military units participate in the event virtually by registering and then conducting their march at their home stations as part of a regular unit training event. National Guard and reserve component units were eligible and have performed the march by taking the challenge and completing the 12.4-mile (20 km), or the 24.8-mile (40 km) distance. There is also a 7.45-mile route (12 km).

However, according to officials at the International March of Diekirch, those virtual exceptions were made due to COVID-19 restrictions in an attempt to accommodate those willing to participate but unable to travel due to the virus. Since then, International March of Diekirch officials have stated that virtual events are no longer authorized and will not be recognized by the Marche Internationale de Diekirch. USAMM reached out to them to confirm that virtual events were no longer authorized and received no response, but it was clearly stated on the International March of Diekirch’s Facebook page.

Unit leaders planning a virtual International March of Diekirch should check with the organizers to ensure that the event will be authorized to earn the MID.

The 54th edition of the International March of Diekirch will take place June 3-4, 2023 in the rolling terrain of the Ardennes Forest in northern Luxembourg. There is a fee to register and participate in the event. Those interested in attending should visit the International March of Diekirch’s website for more information. There are accommodations nearby and also camping at the march itself. Food stands are situated along the march’s route.

In 2022, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command announced that the MID would not be allowed for wear on the U.S. Army uniform. Citing a multitude of reasons, including that soldiers had to pay to participate in the march, the Army deliberated the decision after backlash from soldiers in the field who argued the International March of Diekirch was not only an international team building event, but that it was also a good training opportunity for units.

The award of the MID was reauthorized on Dec. 14, 2022 and is backdated to Aug. 31, meaning troops who received the medal from walking in the International March of Diekirch during the period when the Army had banned the MID for permanent wear can now petition the first one-star general in their chain of command to add them to their ribbon racks. The award is a medal and a ribbon that can be permanently worn on U.S. Army uniforms.

Army officials removed the MID from the approved-for-wear list in August 2022 because they felt payment of registration fees violated military rules against soliciting foreign awards and badges. HRC also questioned the validity of MIDs earned through virtual events, which Luxembourg authorized due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

One of the arguments presented in support of reauthorizing the MID was by a U.S. officer who said that limiting the awards took away opportunities for soldiers to connect with allies. She argued that completing the marches and being awarded the MIDs, awards of U.S. Allies, matters when Americans interact with allies formally. She further argued that it is a shared experience that can bridge language and cultural gaps.

The rules of the march are simple, according to the march’s website:

• Civil and military persons without age limit may participate.
• Children under 10 years have to be accompanied by an adult person.
• There is no weight restriction of luggage for military persons.
• Every walker participates at the event at his own risk.
• Participation can be done individually or in group, regardless the category enrolled.

Registration is easy. The march’s website states:

Registrations for individuals or groups can be done via the online app by following the instructions on http://www.marche.lu. Registration is also possible on site.

Hikers can participate either on Saturday, Sunday or on both days. On every day, they can choose among three routes. After registration, participants receive a confirmation by email.

First aid services are available at the International March of Diekirch. As previously mentioned, stands for food supply are installed along the route. The march will no longer distribute disposable plastic cups because they are harmful to the environment. They ask that walkers bring their own reusable drinking vessels or to buy them at the march.

It is also requested that garbage be tossed in acceptable receptacles and smoking is strictly prohibited at the event and along the route.

The International March of Diekirch is a great event not just to earn foreign awards, but also to see beautiful European countryside and bond with members of other countries.

Every year children head to retailers to try to find the ideal gift to give their dads on Father’s Day. For some, it is a struggle because they care so much about their dads that they want to find something perfect. For others, it comes easier because their dads might be easy to shop for; a bottle of bourbon and some cigars, and he’s happy.

This year, the venerated veterans of USAMM have done it again. We put our heads together and came up with a list of great gifts for military dads. Why should you listen to us? Well, we had dads and some of us are dads. Not to mention, as veterans, we all served, so we are three for three.

Our gifts for military dads list is presented in no particular order and we hope it makes it easier to shop for pappy, poppa, daddy, dad, dada, pop, the old man, viejo; or the guy affectionately known as father.

1. Shadow Boxes or Display Cases
Most military personnel and veterans are pretty humble and likely have their military medals and badges tucked away in a box somewhere. Shadow boxes and display cases make great gifts for military dads because they allow the service member or veteran to organize and display their military awards and decorations.

Even if your dad insists that he won’t mount the shadow boxes on the wall, these military gifts are a great choice because they enable the recipient to organize their military awards and mementos into an appropriate storage container that can become a part of a family’s heirlooms. Military service is something to be proud of and shadow boxes or display cases are really nice gifts for military dads.

Do they already have a shadow box or a display case? Then read on.

2. Service Pride Clothing
Whether your gift recipient served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard, there are tons of wearable military gifts that make awesome gifts for military dads and allow them to show their service pride. USAMM happens to have everything from hats to hoodies to golf shirts.

The key here is to ensure you are buying the right size. Hats can be easy if you look for one-size-fits-most, adjustable hats. Shirts and hoodies can be a little trickier, but there are ample ways to learn a person’s size without them knowing what you are up to. Find something that they are wearing and check the tag. For example, maybe they have a favorite spring time hoodie that they keep near the front door. Sneak over, check the tag and get the size.

USAMM recently released, new for 2023, a truckload of new t-shirt designs that are guaranteed to appeal to any dad. They make hip gifts for military dads.

3. Gift Cards
USAMM veterans hate to admit it given the stigma gift cards have, but we love gift cards. What makes these super gifts for military dads is that a dad can turn around and buy whatever they want. We all agreed, we would rather get something we like, than receive something we would prefer to return (like socks).

If you are on the prowl for some gifts for military dads, and all else has failed, and you can’t find a gift that you’re 100 percent jazzed up about, consider a gift card that will allow your military loved one to pick whatever military gifts they want.

If they are still on active, Guard or reserve duty, they can possibly purchase themselves a much needed uniform item, like a new ribbon rack, or maybe they can use it to get themselves some service pride stickers for their car or truck.

4. Gifts for the Home Office
With millions of Americans working from home these days a lot of investment has gone into improving home offices. If you have a veteran in your life with a home office, there are a lot of gifts for military dads that can make their home offices have a nice touch of military culture. And this isn’t just for veterans. Many active, reserve and National Guard personnel have home offices to keep up with their unit workload, so they would certainly enjoy these gifts for military dads as well.

Lamps, paperweights, posters, and drinkware can all bring a nice service pride touch into any home office, as can custom plaques.

5. Battle Mug
The military culture loves its coffee and there is no better way to drink a steaming hot cup of joe than in a Battle Mug. The Battle Mug is machined from a 10.5 pound solid bar of 6061 T6 billet aluminum into a 2 pound sculpted American made work of art. These are totally awesome gifts for military dads and a USAMM veteran favorite.

The Battle Mug’s Picatinny rails allow optional handles, one of which can be fitted with an optional lid, and other tactical gear to be attached. Battle Mug features a M1913 Picatinny 3-rail interface system which allows the operator to mount a standard issue M4 carry handle, tactical light, laser device, holographic sight, or any tactical device imaginable for your operations. Why not? This is one of those sturdy gifts for military dads that can be used for the rest of their lives and handed down as a family memento.

The best part about the Battle Mug is that it is something that can be used for cold and hot beverages alike, so they’re great at the barbeque and even better around the campfire. And when your dad’s military buddies see it, they will definitely want one and he will be the envy of his military pals. Oh yeah, and they are customizable. 

The most important thing is that you actually remembered to get that special military person in your life a gift and no matter what you purchase, it is sure to make them happy. And if none of this sounds good to you, remember, the gift of time is the greatest thing we can give each other, so don’t sweat it. We're sure your military dad would love it.

 

With Military Appreciation Month upon us, we are presented with the opportunity to give to those who serve our nation in the armed forces and show our gratitude. There are different ways to show appreciation to those in the U.S. military during Military Appreciation Month. For some, it means thanking veterans and current members of the military for their service. For others, it can mean anonymously picking up the tab for a nearby table of soldiers eating lunch.

There are numerous ways to support members of the military during May, but you can also donate to military charities which directly support veterans and members of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve components. But navigating the massive field of military charities can be tricky. For example, there are some so-called military charities that are legal on paper, but essentially there are folks leading the military charities who have managed to parlay a hobby into a charity. Donors unwittingly pay the cost for the charity’s leader to do their hobby and they include veterans so it fulfills a charitable mission.

With that said, the venerated veterans of USAMM got together and came up with this short list of our top five military charities listed in no particular order. We have all either been personally touched by these military charities or we know someone who has been positively impacted by them.

1. The Independence Fund
Founded in 2007, The Independence Fund is one of the top military charities committed to serving the warfighter community by providing innovative programs and services to support the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual independence of servicemembers, combat veterans, their caregivers, families, and those allies who served in combat alongside our troops, through innovative mobility and adaptive technologies and therapies for combat veterans; suicide prevention; caregiver and family support; and veteran advocacy with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other government agencies, federal and state legislators, and other partners.

The Independence Fund also has a 100 percent rating (as of April 1, 2023), four stars, the top score from Charity Navigator, an independent charity reviewing organization. USAMM contributes to the Independence Fund regularly and works closely with members of the organization. That's an indicator that this is a great organization to contribute to.

2. USO
Since 1941, the USO has been one of the nation’s leading military charities. The USO operates centers at or near military installations across the United States and throughout the world, including in combat zones, and even unstaffed USO service sites in places too dangerous for anyone but combat troops to occupy.

USO airport centers throughout the country offer around-the clock hospitality for traveling service members and their families. It is a place where weary service members can grab a snack, recharge and relax. The USO has more than 250 centers in countries on every continent. The USO is also responsible for USO tours that bring celebrities to service members who are assigned far from home, to entertain them.

The USO’s Charity Navigator rating is 88 percent, three stars, (as of April 1, 2023). While that is a “good” score from Charity Navigator, there should be no reason for alarm. The USO is still recommended by USAMM and Charity Navigator and you can donate with confidence to the USO which is one of America’s oldest military charities. USAMM has been a longtime donor of the USO.

3. Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Like the USO, WWP is one of the more popular military charities known primarily because of their celebrity endorsements and television commercials, but also because of the great work they do. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women; to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.

Years ago, WWP was the subject of some scrutiny, but as of April 1, 2023, they receive an 89 percent rating, three stars on Charity Navigator. This is one of those military charities that is a safe investment. And much like the Independence Fund, their focus is on helping those who have been wounded in combat.

4. Gary Sinise Foundation
The Gary Sinise Foundation is another one of the USAMM veterans’ favorite military charities because they serve the nation by honoring defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. They do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. But let’s face it, who doesn’t love, Lt. Dan and the popular Lt. Dan Band?

While a lot of military charities are focused on a particular issue or demographic of veterans, the Gary Sinise Foundation has a wide reach and depth of programs to help the military community. For example, since it was created in 2011, the Gary Sinise Foundation has provided 52 specially adapted cars to wounded veterans, and 81 specially adapted smart homes have been completed for severely wounded veterans.

The Gary Sinise Foundation received a 98 percent, four-star rating from Charity Navigator (as of April 1, 2023).

5. Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is one of the nation’s oldest veterans’ organizations. Separately, it has a non-profit foundation, the VFW Foundation, which seeks to provide unique and urgently needed services that improve the lives of veterans, military personnel and their families.

During deployments, the VFW Foundation was responsible for providing long-distance communication options for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and military hospitals through the distribution of telephone cards (almost 10,000,000 so far) and cyber café calling days; financial grants for military families in need to help pay for rent, mortgage, utilities, medical treatment and food; assistance for veterans in the filing of entitlement claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and patriotic student essay contests that award money for college to America's youth; etc. All VFW Foundation programs are free and require no VFW-affiliation for assistance.

Many USAMM employees are members of the VFW including our USAMM CEO. This is one of those military charities near and dear to our hearts.

The VFW Foundation received an 88 percent, three-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Remember, if you are unable to donate financially, there are numerous military charities that can use the gift of your talents and your time. Time, talent, or treasure are the greatest things we can offer those who have served our nation.

If there is a reputable military charity you would like to raise awareness of that we may have left off our list, please comment below with a link to the organization. 

While Purple Up Day is not an official holiday, it marks an important day in the Month of the Military Child. April 15 is Purple Up Day which is also sometimes referred to as Military Child Day.

In 1986, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger established the Month of the Military Child intended to recognize the sacrifices made by military children of the United States whose parents serve in the U.S. military. Purple Up Day is a special day that asks others to wear purple clothing items in order to raise awareness of the often demanding and challenging life that military children live while they are a part of military families.

Why purple? In the U.S. military, every branch uniform is a different color. Within the ranks, if a military person is assigned to a joint billet, meaning if their assignment is in a unit that has Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force members in it, that assignment is known as a joint assignment because multiple service branches are working jointly together. Unofficially, service members refer to those assignments as “purple,” because that is the color a person would get if they mixed all of the different uniform colors together.

Purple Up Day for military kids is a day to wear purple to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. It is sort of like wearing red on Fridays for R.E.D. days (Remember Everyone Deployed) when folks put on red as a show of support for those who are deployed. In this case, the color purple shows support for all branches of service. The goal of Purple Up Day is for military kiddos to actually see the support in their school, youth groups, and the community.

Military personnel are easy to spot when they are in their uniforms. As the country wraps up 20 years of warfighting, many people still feel compelled to thank service personnel for their service when they see them. However, for military kids who often spend holidays without a parent, celebrate birthdays with a parent over a phone, or graduate while a parent is away, the sacrifices are just as hard as their parents, but there is little recognition or appreciation from the public. And that’s not to imply that military kids need the kudos, they do not and they are just as humble as their parents, but wearing purple on Purple Up Day shows them that appreciation and it lets them know that they have support and that they are not alone. It enables others to recognize the sacrifices of military kids.

What most people do not know about Purple Up Day is that it is not just for military families and military organizations to celebrate. Civilians and those not connected to the U.S. military in anyway can partake in Purple Up Day. If you have school-aged children and know that there might be military children in the community, try to reach out to their parents to see if you can work with them to get the military kids recognized at school for Purple Up Day. If that doesn’t work, you can still raise awareness by wearing purple on April 15, and using Purple Up Day hashtags on social media to help others learn about the special day.

Localized neighborhood social media boards are great channels to raise awareness about Purple Up Day. Most neighbors are unaware that there are military families in their neighborhoods and many would jump at the opportunity to show their support for Purple Up Day and not because military families are charity, but because military kids endure more than the average American kid as they grow up.

It's important though not to wait until April 15 to raise awareness. Start spreading the word in April and let neighbors and others know that on April 15 they should wear purple for Purple Up Day. Purple is a pretty unique color and some might have to purchase clothing items in order to dress accordingly. It is good to give them plenty of runway.

If you work outside of your home, wearing purple for Purple Up Day and encouraging your co-workers to wear purple for Purple Up Day shouldn’t be too difficult. You can broach the topic at meetings or mention it in an email. It’s recommended you ask your leadership if it’s okay to show support for military kids. Some companies might find the topic political and might ask you to refrain, but we suspect most will support showing appreciation and support for military kiddos.

To muster support in the workplace, simply do the same things as you would in your neighborhood. Notify people that the event is approaching and explain to them the importance of wearing purple for Purple Up Day. This will give them time to react and along the way give them small reminders.

You can also see if any of your co-workers served or are in the National Guard and Reserve. While Purple Up Day is mostly about military kids of active duty members, Purple Up Day also includes military families from the reserve components who make similar sacrifices as their active duty counterparts. Maybe you work alongside of a reservist with a family who was mobilized a couple of years ago. She can talk about what her family endured during her deployment. If she is willing to bring in her kids, that’s even better.

Take up a collection from your team and buy some donuts, bagels and coffee and juices and the entire team can share breakfast and talk to the military family. If you don’t have military families in your company, you can still show support by having everyone wear purple for Purple Up Day and you can take a group photo and post it on social media on April 15 using Purple Up Day hashtags. This will not only help raise awareness for Purple Up Day, but it will also show that your company is socially aware.