USAA Magazine Fall 2006

BabetteMaxwellFPHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA CARPENTERMatters of the(military) heartThree USAA members help militaryspouses deal with deployments,relocations, raising kids solo, and moreBabette Maxwell, founder and editor ofMilitary Spouse magazine, understandsthe stresses of military life. A militaryspouse herself, she makes sure the magazine weighsin on the struggles, but adds a dash of star power tothe publication when she can. She’ll ring up countrysinger Toby Keith or actor Gary Sinise to chat abouttheir trip to entertain troops in Iraq, for instance. Shebalances lighthearted stories about pampering yourselfwith no-holds-barred features, such as an articleabout spouses with mates stationed in Baghdad.THE ROSTEREnjoy these fall events, all sponsored by USAA.For more, visit usaa.com/events.“People ask, ‘What’s so different aboutbeing a military spouse?’ I say, ‘When wemeet, we know what we’ve been through,’”Mrs. Maxwell says. “No military spouseis a stranger.”With the same sensibility, Tara Crooksoperates Army Wife Talk Radio, a weeklyInternet broadcast. “We’ll talk about manytopics,” Mrs. Crooks says, “from relationshipsto deployments and anything in between.”Stemming from the show’s success, Mrs.Crooks and military spouse Starlett “Star”Henderson formed Field Problems, aimedat empowering and supporting military families.Known as Crooks & Henderson, the duocan be found online and in print as part of theMilitary Times, or at speaking engagementsdubbed Field Exercises.Mrs. Henderson’shusband, David, has deployedto Iraq twice andBosnia once. Mrs. Crooks’husband, Kevin, is servinghis second deployment inIraq. Mrs. Maxwell’s husband, alsonamed David, flies fighter jets. Themultimedia outlets this trio hascreated underscore that strugglesassociated with war and militarylife aren’t limited to the battlefield.“We’ve experienced exactlywhat our spouse listeners haveexperienced,” Mrs. Hendersonsays. “That’s why we can connectso well with what they’re feeling.”PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNDA GREENYIStar Henderson (left) and Tara CrooksDECEMBER 1DECEMBER 29JANUARY 12Army-Navy Football GameBaltimoreAlamo BowlSan AntonioMilitary Appreciation Night —San Antonio SpursSan AntonioEND-OF-YEAR TAX TIPIf you’re age 70 1 ⁄2 or older, 2007 presents a one-timetax-planning gem: This is the last time you can take up to$100,000 from your IRA and give it to charity — withoutpaying taxes on the gift. You can’t deduct the sum onyour 2007 tax return, but it will come out of your IRAcompletely tax-free. Your donation also will satisfy yourrequired minimum distribution for the year.USAA.COM WINTER 2007 USAA MAGAZINE 7