Howdy y’all and buckle up for this week’s News 6 Update!

DOD Addresses Military Spouse Food Insecurity 

A survey administered by the Department of Defense given to military spouses came back with concerning results regarding food insecurity. The survey revealed that one out of four spouses had experienced food insecurity, but only 3 percent used benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) .

The survey also addressed  topics like spouse employment, PCS moves, financial health, child care and satisfaction with military life. It is given out roughly every two years and has done so since 1985.

Only 21 percent of spouses filled out the survey, however this is a bump from the 16 percent in 2019.

“The results of the latest survey allow us to prioritize solutions that meet their most pressing needs,” said Patricia Montes Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, in an announcement of the results. “I am truly grateful to the spouses who share their experiences and opinions through our surveys.”

The military is taking steps to address the ever growing concern of food insecurity. This includes the newly congressionally mandated Basic Need Allowance, a monthly allowance designed to help keep food on the table for military families struggling with food insecurity. 

To be eligible for this allowance you must be an active duty service member with dependents whose gross household income and household size put them below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines for their geographical location.

Here’s to the military tackling this all important issue head on! Everyone deserves a seat and a meal at the table, especially our military families. Find out more at militarytimes.com

Marines Share Superbowl and a Kidney

John Gladwell and Billy Welsh met each other around 20 years ago during their time in the Marines. They both got out and settled down, John in Kansas City and Billy New Jersey. 

They stayed in touch and checked in from time to time. That all changed when in 2019 Billy made a Facebook post explaining that he had polycystic kidney disease and desperately needed a kidney donor.

John answered the call and his kidney turned out to be a perfect match. Gladwell flew to Philadelphia where they endured a 10 hour procedure that was completed successfully.

While the buddies have a vital organ in common they have one difference that came to play big time this year. John is a KC chiefs fan and Billy is an Eagles fan.

Word got around about their inspiring friendship and good hearted rivalry. So much so it caught the ear of Eagles President Don Smolenski and his Chiefs counterpart Mark Donovan. They pulled together to get the marine buddies an all expenses paid trip to  the Super Bowl, including side by side tickets. 

“The opportunity to bring these two guys together, their two teams playing on the biggest stage in sports, it’s very, very humbling and gratifying,” Smolenski told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Gladwell said about the experience that he hopes “that it brings out a lot of awareness for organ donation. You’re not a match for everybody but you are a match for somebody.”

While football is America’s game, sacrifice and bravery is the calling of our military heroes. Hope you enjoyed the game fellas! Sorry about the loss Billy! Your team may have lost but you have a brother for life!

Find out more at Marinecorpstimes.com

New Program Means New Career Prospects for Overseas Spouses

The Navy and Air Force are leading the way for overseas spouses to acquire DOD jobs more quickly. This new direct hire authority will cut through some the red tape that slows down the hiring process, hopefully shaving two weeks from applying to hiring. 

Many DOD organizations already prioritize spouses in their hiring process, but it can still be quite a lengthy process. With overseas  spousal unemployment rates of 21 percent, these two branches are hoping to simplify the process.

“We recognize that spouse employment is a fundamental quality of life issue for our airmen and guardians, especially for families in overseas locations,” said John Carbone, director for civilian force management for Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services, at the announcement of the pilot program.

“We’re hoping having access to this new hiring authority will open up greater opportunities for spouses, which in turn will positively impact military retention, the financial well-being of the family, and Department of the Air Force readiness.”

The program was authorized by congress in the  2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DACA) and the Department of Defense Education Agency (DODEA)   are two organizations that are already jumping on this program and implementing it into action

Military spouses make up 20 percent of their workforce, so speeding up the process helps on both ends! 

They will be able to apply directly to the hiring manager and are also able to apply earlier than other applicants.A spouse overseas is just as valuable an asset to the workforce as they are Conus, and we’re glad the DOD agrees! Find out more at militarytimes.com

Today in History 

On Feb. 27, 1922, the Supreme Court, in Leser v. Garnett unanimously upheld the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed the right of women to vote.

While voting had been a constitutional right for a year and a half by the beginning of 1922, a Baltimore lawyer named Oscar Leser argued that Maryland women should not be allowed to vote as their state constitution still stated that only men had the right to vote and that Maryland legislature had voted against women voting. 

The Supreme Court unanimously voted against Leser, an astounding feat as just two years prior the approval of the 19th amendment had just squeaked by. 

Women must have gotten a lot done in those two years and have never slowed down since!

May we never forget that our history is small and our rights should always be exercised! 

That’s it for me! I’m Emma Tighe with News 6, signing out….