In the past, energy has been a side conversation for the Army. It tended to be an area of concern for some experts and specialists, but, for a lot of us, whether Soldiers and civilians in the workplace or family members in the community, we did not give it much thought.

Labor Day is dedicated to the achievements of American workers who contributed to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our nation. Labor Day weekend marks the symbolic end of the summer, and the end of the DoD’s “101 Critical Days of Summer.”  Over this long weekend, take a well-deserved break to recharge, and celebrate the fact that we have had very few accidents this summer.

Recently, my husband and I took our boys to register for the upcoming soccer season. There are a couple of firsts for us with this latest venture into organized sports.

I often hear stories of military families helping each other, whether it’s through deployments, moves or just a tough day of parenting. Their support can range from the emotional, with an offer of a shoulder to cry on, to the more practical, such as help with a broken-down car or washing machine. These stories are touching and, thankfully, very common within military culture.

After two months of summer vacation, the natives are restless. My kids have been at home, in close quarters, for weeks at a time, now, and the tension is mounting.

Caller: My concern is about the barriers that are down along Tompkins Basin. I’m handicapped and I can’t walk more than 100 yards - not even 100 yards. And, I would like to be able to go down near the park benches and fish from the shore.

With the reshaping of the My Career Advancement Accounts program, … I wanted to pass along information about additional educational resources for military spouses. Pursuing a four-year college degree can have benefits for the military spouse and the entire family. The average annual salary difference between someone with a four-year degree and a person with a high school diploma is approximately $20,000.

I had the opportunity (recently) to listen to a teleconference sponsored by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury about life after deployment, reintegrating with family and life outside a war zone.

Our Soldiers have been steadfast in their service to the nation during the past nine years of conflict. Their families have been just as constant in their own, dedicated service, providing the strength and support that enables Soldiers to do their jobs. Our Soldiers and families persevere in their service to the nation in the face of repeated deployments and even greater challenges.

My family and I weren’t expecting much adventure when we headed into the Fort Belvoir Main Exchange July 25, but the afternoon got interesting pretty quickly.