JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 2018 THE FOCUS IS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS & FAMILIES, VETERANS, RETIREES & SURVIVORS

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1 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 2018 June Family Focus Mission: Service Member & Family Support enhances and empowers the lives of our customers with consistently exceptional service & support. Service Member & Family Support Phone: THE FOCUS IS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS & FAMILIES, VETERANS, RETIREES & SURVIVORS What Do Donuts and TSP Have in Common? To some, June 1 is the most important day of the year: National Donut Day. Among the greatest of America's completely arbitrary and made-up holidays, National Donut Day features discounted or free donuts from bakeries, shops and donut franchises nationwide. Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme and even our brethren based in the North at Tim Hortons get in on the action. Which makes sense, because: donuts. Because nothing says "National Donut Day" like saving for retirement through TSP and the Blended Retirement System (BRS). "Simple contributions to your TSP can add up over time. By opting into BRS, the DoD contributes 1% automatically and will match up to 4% of funds, maxing out at a 5% contribution. So take a little of that daily donut money and put it somewhere that it can grow. Double check your TSP contributions on your LES, mypay, MarineOnline or IN THIS ISSUE Pages 2-3 Pages 4-5 What doesn't make quite as much sense is the Pentagon's decision to get in on the action. No, not by offering donut savings at DFACs worldwide. Instead, the Pentagon launched a Thrift Savings Plan contribution awareness campaign. Thanks, bean counters, for that sticky-sweet reminder. (But while we're on the subject, 'donut' forget to check out Military.com's pay app. It can be used while eating a donut). Full article available at Military.com Page 6 Page 8 Disclaimer: The announcements that appear on this page(s) or attached are intended to inform Soldiers, Airmen, veterans, and their families of special offers provided to Service Members, veterans and their families and are not intended to constitute an endorsement by the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard, the United States Army, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. It is strictly intended to be used for informational purposes only.

2 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 2018 Disclaimer: The announcements that appear on this page(s) or attached are intended to inform Soldiers, Airmen, veterans, and their families of special offers provided to Service Members, veterans and their families and are not intended to constitute an endorsement by the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard, the United States Army, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. It is strictly intended to be used for informational purposes only.

3 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 3 Are you ready for the Black Hills Veterans Job Fair on June 27, 2018? Registration for this event can be obtained at there is also a job fair preparation class on June 20 that you can also register for that will provide assistance and information on the job fair. Subject matter experts in resume preparation, interview techniques and job fair strategy will be available at the class. Those who register for either event will be able to receive a list of registered employers and obtain exclusive access to employers 30 minutes prior to the rest of the nonregistered job seekers. Now, let s look at how to work that job fair to your advantage. Preparation is a key part in success. Research the employers that will be at the fair. Download the Career Fair Plus app to have this information on your phone. Be able to discuss what that company does and how the positons you are looking for fit in with their plans for success. Identify employers that match your career goals and prepare targeted resumes for those companies. Prepare and practice a 30 second sound bite or elevator speech that introduces yourself in such a way that it is relevant to their company s needs. Most likely they will want to learn more about you. Prioritize which employers you want to meet and have a plan to make sure you visit them. Prepare your wardrobe a week before the fair. That way you have time to get to the dry cleaners if needed. On the day of the job fair make sure the picture you present is the best it can be. Dress for success is not just a saying. You want to project a clean, professional appearance that a prospective employer would think they could put you out in front of customers as a positive image for the company. Unless you are applying for a position with a sports team, leave the ball caps, logo shirts, etc. in the car or better yet, at home. After hours party clothes have their place but not at a job fair. No colognes or perfumes. Your prospective employer may be allergic or just really dislike the scent you re using. Plan for child care. Employers do not want to deal with children during a discussion with you or have them running from booth to booth scooping up the company advertising materials like Halloween candy. It s not just what you say but how you present the whole picture. From the time you enter the parking lot, people are watching you your interview has already started. Have small breath mints with you but NO GUM. You do not want anything in your mouth when talking with a prospective employer. Start with an employer that is not high on your list or possibly one that is not even on your list. This will get you in the swing of things and help get the initial nervousness under control. Introduce yourself with confidence. Establish good eye contact and have a good firm (but not crushing) handshake. Make sure you remember their name and use Mr. or Ms. unless they tell you to use first names. Showing respect is a sign of a professional. Get points of contact and business cards from everyone you talk with. Leave a resume and your business card. Thank them for their time and ask about being able to follow-up with them. This is where those 30 minutes of early entry can pay off by having quality time with an employer. Always remember, you are in the interview mode until you physically leave the job fair. You don t want to be the one people talk about for inappropriate behavior or unprofessional attire. After the fair, follow-up with thank you notes to those employers who took time with you. The vast majority of job seekers do not and quickly melt into the background. Those who take the extra effort to do a professional closing to the fair do get remembered in a good way. If you are fortunate to have an on the spot hire, immediately follow-up with an rather than a hand written note. These are just a few tips for you. You can get more details at the June 21 class. Please let Scott MacDonald, contact information is below, know if you have any questions on getting ready for the next job fair. Good luck! Scott MacDonald South Dakota Program Support Specialist, Amyx, Inc. National Guard Employment Support Program Contractor Comm: Cell: scott.macdonald.ctr@mail.mil smacdonald@amyx.com

4 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS Military Youth Camps Shipwrecked! Explore! It's time for Youth Camp - we're looking forward to another great summer with our Campers, Junior Counselors, and Volunteers! Our SD Military Youth Camps are wonderful opportunities for our military youth to learn life and leadership skills, to work together as a team and build resilience, and also to grow as individuals and connect with other military youth. Both camps focus on military values, resilience, and outdoor activities in the beautiful Black Hills. Thank you to the National Guard Association of South Dakota (NGASD) for helping to support our 2018 SD Military Youth Camps! These camps are for military youth who are legal dependents/stepchildren of a SD military member or retired member, as listed in DEERS. Military youth who are a grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, etc. of a SD military member are also eligible to attend, however priority will be given to dependents listed in DEERS. Youth not listed in DEERS will be placed on a waiting list, with attendance confirmation provided within a week after the registrationdeadline June 2018 Campers ages 9-11 / Junior Counselors ages Storm Mountain (Rapid City) Registration due by June 8 th! Shipwrecked - it's all about team building, communication, decision making, and resilience while facing challenges around us. We've also included Camp favorites with military cadences, marching, a talent show, Mt. Rushmore, and swimming. A week of connection and growth for our military youth! Shipwrecked is for Campers ages 9-11, and Junior Counselors ages There is availability for 120 campers and 12 junior counselors. Junior counselor selection is through an application process July 2018 Campers ages Dakota Frontier (Sturgis) Registrations due by July 6th Explore - This summer we'll continue with exploration activities focused on leadership, teambuilding, military values, communication, and connecting our military teens. Explore is for Campers ages There is availability for 100 campers this summer. There is a $60 registration fee for campers that are legal dependents/step children. There is a $200 registration fee for militaryconnected youth not listed in DEERS. Registration fees are payable to "SD Military Camps" and assist in covering 4 days at camp, meals, lodging, transportation during camp, supplies, activities, entrance fees, snacks, etc. Transportation across the state (via I-90) will be available upon request and space availability. These camps would not be successful without VOLUNTEERS - we thank you for your time, energy, and commitment! Please contact me with any questions regarding being a camp volunteer. Taryn Broomfield, Contractor Lead Child & Youth Program Coordinator

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7 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 2018 Disclaimer: The announcements that appear on this page(s) or attached are intended to inform Soldiers, Airmen, veterans, and their families of special offers provided to Service Members, veterans and their families and are not intended to constitute an endorsement by the South Dakota Army and Air National Guard, the United States Army, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. It is strictly intended to be used for informational purposes only.

8 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 8 NGCampRapidSDSurge@magmflc.org cell: Camp Rapid (SMFS Area in BLDG 420) West Main St. Rapid City, SD In armory on Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday & Friday mornings, drill weekends and always by phone until July 7th, SDNG Temporary MFLC frequently asked questions. Q. Who are Military Family Life Counselors (MFLC)? A. MFLC(s) possess a master s or doctorate degree in a mental health field and are licensed or certified in a SD to practice independently. Q. Who is eligible for support? A. Members of the SDNG and their families. Eligible individuals may receive up to 12 non-medical and financial counseling sessions per person, per issue. Q. What types of issues can MFLC(s) address? A. Military and family life counselors assist service members and their families with circumstances occurring across the military lifecycle and are aimed at enhancing operational and family readiness. MFLCs provide support to individuals, couples, families, and groups, for a range of issues including but not limited to: deployment stress, reintegration, relocation adjustment, separation, anger management, conflict resolution, parenting, parent/child communication, relationship/family issues, coping skills, homesickness, and grief and loss. Q. What issues are not appropriate for non-medical counseling? A. Non-medical counseling is not intended to address active suicidal or homicidal thought or intent or other threats of harm to self or others, Family Advocacy Program cases, sexual assault, child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, alcohol and substance abuse, mental health conditions that have required recurring in-patient hospitalizations, someone prescribed psychoactive medication, someone currently receiving therapy by another practitioner, fitness for duty evaluations and court ordered counseling. Q. When and where can I meet a MFLC? A. MFLC(s) can meet at their work location identified in this flier or at a location you and the MFLC agree to. Their hours are flexible to meet during the work week, evenings and weekends. However, MFLC(s) are limited to a 50-mile travel radius. Q. How do I schedule an appointment with a MFLC? A. Contact the MFLC directly at the phone/ provided in this flier.

9 JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 9 SDNG SERVICE MEMBER & FAMILY SUPPORT SMFS Director: LTC Brendan Murphy Rapid City SMFS Deputy Director: MAJ Quenten Johnson Rapid City SD Family Assistance Center Family Assistance Coordinator: Rickkie Martinmaas Rapid City Family Assistance Specialist: Corinne Mahlen Watertown Family Assistance Specialist: Sarah Neugebauer Rapid City Family Assistance Specialist: Kathy Reamer Rapid City Family Assistance Specialist: Jenn Holien Brookings Family Assistance Specialist: Rachel Vanderzee Sioux Falls Family Assistance Specialist: Ruth Ragels Mitchell Senior Family Readiness Support Assistant: Wendi Albers Rapid City Family Readiness Support Assistant: Tracy O Sullivan Rapid City (109 th RSG-JFHQ-196 th RTI) Family Readiness Support Assistant (196 th MEB): Sioux Falls Lead Child & Youth Coordinator: Taryn Broomfield Rapid City Child & Youth Coordinator: Candice Bloom Watertown Yellow Ribbon: SFC David Neugebauer Rapid City ESGR Program Director: MAJ Lona Christensen Rapid City ESGR Volunteer Support Technician: Michele Mustain Sioux Falls ESP Employment Support Specialist: Scott MacDonald Rapid City Transition Assistance: Christian Johnson Rapid City Citizen Soldier For Life: Kenny Wheeler Rapid City Citizen Soldier For Life: Laura Allen Sioux Falls Citizen Soldier For Life: Emy Hauck Watertown Survivor Outreach: Michele Anderson Rapid City Funeral Honors & Operations NCO: MSG Mary Mallow Rapid City Funeral Honors Coordinator: Bob Sack Rapid City Airman & Family Readiness: Nikki Wajer Sioux Falls Military OneSource: Mike Nei Watertown Trauma Crisis & Suicide Prevention: Bill Meirose Rapid City Suicide Prevention Lifeline: TALK Director of Psychological Health: LTC Amber Heinert Rapid City Psychological Health Coordinator: Amy LaBay Brookings State Chaplain: Chaplain LTC Lynn Wilson Rapid City Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC): Rapid City DoD Safe Help Line:

10 T JUNE FAMILY FOCUS 10 Did you know? The Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) Program serves Active and Reserve Component service members of ALL branches of the military AND Veterans who have dedicated themselves to serving our nation, often at great personal sacrifice. The program s principal role is to provide direction to Reserve Component service members so that they can secure all benefits, entitlements, and services earned through their military service with the compassion of someone who s been there. You may not need assistance at this time, but you may have a friend or family member that could use some assistance. Common services provided are: - Requesting Military Service records - Enrollment into the VA Healthcare - Counseling on Education Benefits - Supporting deploying and returning units - Employment - Tricare - State specific benefits - Navigating local, state and federal programs I am a current service member in the SDARNG, an OEF-Afghanistan veteran, former full-time Soldier, education counselor and will put to use my skills and relationships to ensure your needs are met. Contact your TAA today at or christian.m.johnson.ctr@mail.mil June Family Focus Service Member and Family Support South Dakota National Guard 2823 W. Main St, Rapid City SD We We also recommend that you like and follow us on Facebook as we continuously update new and exciting information. Have suggestions of thing you would like to see in a future issue of the focus? Please contact us!