Homefront Help

The Defense Centers of Excellence is looking for poems to post on its blog. According to an explanatory post, "It doesn't matter if you are a service member, a loved one or a caring citizen; we want to read and share the poems you've written that express your thoughts and experiences - hardships and joys."

Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts have partnered to create the Blue Star Museums, a group of 750 museums in all 50 states that offer free admission to military personnel and their families through Labor Day, September 6, 2010.

An app created by the online support community Hope for One aims to provide support for military veterans and their families struggling with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Guest blogger James Schenck, a U.S. Army veteran and president of the PenFed Foundation, reflects on the military community as we prepare to celebrate our nation's birthday. "This Fourth of July, I ask you to join me in saluting the sacrifices of all veterans who served to defend our nation and remembering their contributions. While the nation reflects on sacrifices of veterans this Independence Day who did not return back from war, I also would like to salute members of the military who sacrificed in other ways."

CareerOneStop is accessible through the HireVetsFirst site, but companies seeking veterans and veterans seeking employment can save time by going directly to the military transition section.

America's Heroes at Work addresses the employment challenges facing service members returning from overseas duties who suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Come check out SIGNAL Connections' new Homefront Help page on Facebook! People and organizations can use the page as a forum to post messages of thanks and encouragement to the troops, tout organizations and programs that assist the military community and connect with other troop supporters.

The USO in conjunction with the Trevor Romain Foundation has released a free, animated movie titled "With You All the Way! Dealing With Deployment." The DVD addresses preparing for deployment, staying connected during the separation and planning for reunion. The movie also helps civilian children understand the challenges their friends in the military community face when a loved one is deployed.

The Defense Department is offering H&R Block At Home online tax filing free to active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members and their families. Eligible participants can access the service through Military OneSource. Users must go to the link on the Military OneSource Web site to access the customized product and create an account. Please do not create an account on the public H&R Block site. Tax consultation by phone also is available by calling Military OneSource's tax hot line at 800-730-3802. Hot line consultants are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. More information is available online. 

Outback Steakhouse has pledged $1 million to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency and morale support for active troops, veterans and their families. The public can help the restaurant chain meet its obligation by dining at Outback restaurants in the United States during the month of March and ordering off the "Red, White and Bloomin'" menu.