Happy 237th Birthday to our U.S. Marine Corps

On this 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, American Military Families Autism Support salutes our Marines and Marine families on the importance they play in service to our nation.

Marine (as all military) families serve America with pride, diligence and honor. They are unique in background and experience, supporting both on the home front and in harm’s way. Tireless warriors supporting the mission. And in the case of families in our community, supporting the fight in this war on autism.

Marine families operate on the tip-of-the-spear when it comes to autism advocacy. The term autism warrior is directly applicable to their Devil Dog determination in combating the challenges of autism.

On this special day, Semper Fi Marines! We’re glad you’re part of our joint team in supporting our children.

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus and Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, cut a cake at the Marine Corps birthday celebration at the Pentagon. (Photo by Chief Petty Officer Sam Shavers)

AMFAS recognizes Military Family Month

November is a special time of year for our military families. In addition to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving holidays, the entire month is recognized as Military Family Month.

During the month, American Military Families Autism Support will continue to recognize our military families dealing with autism, providing news, information, community and support that directly impacts them.

Our families go through a lot in support to a grateful nation and encounter challenges that non-military families will likely never experience, whether their family member is dealing with autism or not.

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URGENT SUNDAY DEADLINE: Tell your military autism story to Congress

by Jeremy Hilton

Next Wednesday, June 20, at 1430 (in Room 232-A Senate Russell Bldg), the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel will be holding a hearing on the issues impacting our military families affected by disabilities. I will be testifying along with four or five other witnesses. Here is the specific info on the hearing: http://armed-services.senate.gov/e_witnesslist.cfm?id=5303

I suspect a large portion of the testimony and discussion will be referencing a potential Senator Gillibrand amendment regarding ABA and the recent OPM decision to include ABA as a medically necessary therapy for the dependents of federal workers. I intend to address that issue in my written testimony, along with other issues relevant to our community including special education, Tricare, Medicaid waivers, and the EFMP programs.

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Autism speaks: Marine dad listens, helps piece together puzzle

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – My son has autism. There, I said it – not easy for a Marine and a proud father. More specifically, he has Asperger Syndrome. Some call it a disease, but it’s not. Let’s make sure that is clear up front. People can’t catch it just being around him.

He is not a freak or weirdo, at least no more so than you or I. He is a young teen, working through the difficulties of puberty with the added bonus of learning, understanding, teaching and dealing with his relatively new diagnosis.

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Tour of AMFAS Part 5: Worldwide Installation Resource

When it comes to helping our military families, you are critical. You know what is available around installations you are at or installations you have been to. You know where to find qualified doctors, labs, autism treatment specialists, grocers with organic or specialty foods for special diets, etc.

Did you know you that only you can make a difference for other military families by sharing this information? Read on.

The

AMFAS Worlwide Installation Resource is our easy to use, full-featured way to provide any military family at any installation worldwide a way to add, search, rate and review support and services both on military installations and in the local area surrounding them. Any registered member can contribute. Read more

National Medal of Honor Day recognizes valor, heroism

It comes of untold heroism, against peril of warfare. Service members are not awarded this honor; they are bestowed it.

It is the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military honor given for valor to an individual serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The medal is generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress.

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Initiative encourages autism awareness; 1:88 educate, advocate, elevate

CAMP FOSTER, Japan – According to the TRICARE operations manual, Chapter 20, Section 10, “Among the more than 1.2 million children of active-duty military personnel, approximately 8,500 carry one of the ASD diagnoses.”

Within the military community, it is estimated that there are at least 13,243 children and young adults diagnosed with ASD, or an average of 1 in every 88 people. With numbers like that, it is likely you will meet a military family affected by autism at some point in your lifetime.

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AMFAS one of first to unveil new Facebook format

On the same day as the nation’s military services unveiled their new Facebook page layouts, American Military Families Autism Support followed suit.

AMFAS, the nation’s first grassroots support organization for military families dealing with autism spectrum disorder, was one of the first organizations to change on Feb. 29 to the new pages format that includes Facebook’s timeline. That format was unrolled recently for personal pages. All pages are scheduled to change to the new format by March 30.

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Tuesday, Jan. 31 on Capitol Hill: A day of support

By Nicholas Sabula

On Jan.31, I will be taking the day off work to support other military families dealing with autism, as they pay a visit to Capitol Hill to tell their stories.

The event is a briefing hosted by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and U.S. Rep. John Larson of Connecticut on the challenges faced by military families raising children with autism spectrum disorder.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to our military families

Today is the day that many families woke up, raced to a spectacular tree and found what Santa Claus left them.

It is a day of magic, of heritage, of faith. The day has a different meaning for everyone.

Merry Christmas to all our military families. Whether you view Dec. 25 as a religious day signifying the birth of Jesus Christ, a day of presents and family, a day off, or a day with significance based upon your own religious preferences, have a great day!

For our families who are Jewish, enjoy this sixth day of Chanukah, Rosh Hodesh.

As a national holiday, today is a day for everyone to be with family and relax. Please remember that there are some of our families who don’t get that option. As military families, we answer the nation’s call; sometimes that call is during the holiday season. Please remind both our deployed service members and their families deployed on the homefront that you are thinking of them, that their sacrifice now is important and never forgotten.

In thinking of them, here are holiday messages from our Commander in Chief, Secretary of Defense, Chairman and members of the Joint Staff.

From American Military Families Autism Support — the only national organic grassroots support effort for military families, by military families — best wishes and happy holidays to you and your loved ones.




President Barak Obama and Mrs. Obama holiday message

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta holiday message

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey and Mrs. Dempsey holiday message

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Mrs. Schwartz holiday message

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno and Mrs. Odierno holiday message

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos and Mrs. Amos holiday message

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathon Greenert and Mrs. Greenert holiday message