News 6 Mashup: March 9, 2020
Here are the top stories for March 9, 2020, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
Some TRICARE Beneficiaries Moving to Civilian Doctors
Military Times.com reported “More than 200,000 TRICARE beneficiaries, including 80,000 active-duty family members, will no longer be seen at thirty-seven military health clinics across the country in the coming year.” These changes will impact Air Force, Army, and Navy facilities and is aimed at refocusing treatment to troops. Beneficiaries will be referred to civilian doctors and civilian medical facilities.
MOREs Give Extra Calories During High Intensity Training Days
Fort Leonard Wood’s BCT trainees have been eating MOREs, also known as Modular Operational Rations Enhancements, which offer about 1,000 additional calories. The Rolla Daily News reported that these extra calories are usually in the form of additional protein and electrolytes. Examples include “small packaged snacks such as caffeinated pudding and gum, dried fruit, energy gel packs, and filled pretzels.” The MOREs have been authorized during high intensity training days.
Staff Sgt. La-Tia Rondeau said that the MOREs have been helpful “because we only utilize them during certain events, I believe it has been extremely beneficial—especially when they eat before, during, and after (events),” Rondeau said. “They have more energy, they stay awake, and they’re more alert throughout the ruck march.”
Peak PCS Season Is Coming: Get Ready!
Peak PCS season is right around the corner! The season falls into about 100 days, just over a quarter of the year. The moving industry goes from about 5,000 military moves per day to 15,000 moves per day during June, July, and August. This is a reminder that we need to be patient, kind, and check our expectations going into peak PCS season. If you’re moving this year, now is the time to begin preparing. Read through the Ultimate PCS Checklist. This four-part (read parts 1, 2, 3, 4 here) series explores CONUS moves, but, spoiler alert!, we’re working on creating an OCONUS handbook too. Gear up for your move with fantastic tips from seasoned spouses who have been there, moved that. You’ll find tips like Ziplock bags are your friend for packing up the “junk” drawer, prepping your spices, and all those other odds and ends that you want to keep together. Our handbook also explores deeper issues in the moving industry, from a nationwide truck driver shortage, to understanding that the military doesn’t pay for a dedicated moving truck. Make this PCS your best one yet!
AAFES Ships 200,000 Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies
In very sweet news for troops stationed abroad, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has shipped more than 216,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to AAFES retailers in Europe and the Pacific region. Get your Girl Scout cookie fix while supporting your local Girl Scouts. Better move quickly! Sales end in March.
