September, 2013 - Riverside Sheriffs' Association

Military Corner
Benefits for Veterans,
Reservists and Guardsmen
By Robert Simmons
Contributing Writer
This month
I want to
highlight several
programs that
helped my family
out personally while
I was deployed to
Afghanistan in 2011.
They are the National Military Family Association
(NMFA), Our Military Kids and
Military OneSource. These programs are
mainly designed to help families who have
deployed members.
Our Military
Kids
Our Military Kids is an
organization that provides
tangible support to the children
of deployed and severely
injured National Guard and
Military Reserve personnel
through grants for sports, fine
arts and tutoring that nurture
and sustain the children during
the time a parent is away in service to our
Ryan Simmons, Age 8
Military OneSource
Gabby Douglas, 2012 Olympic Gymnast
Gabby Douglas, 2012 Olympic Gymnast
deployment to Iraq. The $500 grant she
received allowed her to attend an Olympic
training camp that boosted her talents to
prepare her for the 2012 Olympics.
country. The organization will provide up to
$500 for childcare services or for your child
to start, or continue, a sports program or
National Military fine arts program. In our case, my son Ryan,
The third program I want to highlight is Military OneSource, which has a website that
who was 6-years old at the time, was interested
benefits in taking up to Tae all Kwon military Do. My wife members Military and veterans, OneSource too extensive
provides Family resources Association to a myriad of
applied for the grant and the organization
here. They
The NMFA
assist
is an organization
with locating
that
programs
sent a check directly
for children
to the studio,
of
which
all ages,
The
spousal
third program
benefits
I want to highlight
and deploye
veteran works military with various summer members. camps to Military covered OneSource 6 months of classes. does Ryan not started provide is Military services OneSource, themselves, which has a website but they
provide retreats for military families and out as a white belt and loved it so much, we that provides resources to a myriad of benefits
to all military them members onto and veterans, one website
provide camps links for children to of various deployed members, organizations kept him who in the program do, in after a I way returned. that combines
easy among access. many other They programs. also They screen have the 2 ½ programs years later he is and a black monitor belt, working them. too extensive My wife to list and here. They I have assist with used this
one program called “Operation Purple” on his second Dan, and has competed in locating programs for children of all ages,
many that times sent our as son a to starting a camp near Santa point for several getting national information competitions. for either spousal ourselves, benefits and deployed or our or veteran troops. I
recommend Barbara the year making I was deployed it a and favorite on
The
your
program
internet
even assisted
search
2012
engine. military members. Military OneSource does
helped him engage with children going Olympic gymnast, Gabby Douglas. In 2006, not provide services themselves, but they
through the same experience he was. her father, SSgt Timothy Douglas, deployed provide links to various organizations who
Operation Purple camps offer a free week with the Air National Guard for his second
Resources
do, in a way that combines them onto one
of summer fun for military kids
website for easy access. They also screen
with parents who have been, are
the programs and monitor them. My wife
http://www.militaryfamily.org/
currently, will be deployed.
and I have used this site many times as a
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/
The goal of the Operation
starting point for getting information for
Purple camp program is to give
either ourselves, or our troops. I recommend
http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/
military children tools to help deal
making it a favorite on your internet search
with the stresses that result from
engine.
“Deputy a parent’s Simmons deployment, is currently through assigned to the San Jacinto Station. He is an Army veteran and currently serves as a Major in
Force a Reserve. memorable His camp email experience is rls452asts@gmail.com if you have any military/veteran Resources related questions or issues you would lik
researched.” in a “purple” environment.
www.militaryfamily.org
Operation Purple camps are open
www.militaryonesource.mil
to military children of all ranks
www.ourmilitarykids.org
and Services: active and reserve
Ryan Simmons, Age 8
components—and give priority
to children whose parents are
in a deployment phase between
September and December of the
year you apply. Their website is
listed at the end of this article. Ryan Simmons, Age 8
Deputy Simmons is currently assigned to the
San Jacinto Station. He is an Army veteran and
currently serves as a Major in the Air Force Reserve.
His email is rls452asts@gmail.com if you
have any military/veteran related questions or
issues you would like researched.
Military
Page 20 • All Points Bulletin Issue 9, 2013