Leatherneck Magazine

Join Thumbs Up Johnnie as he discovers what it means to be an American in “Thumbs Up to Red, White & Blue,” offered at half-price to military children through the end of this year.

B ain’s most recent addition to the eight-book series, “Thumbs Up to Red, White & Blue,” was launched at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., last October. This new book promotes American pride as Johnnie and friends discover the national monuments, the Pledge of Allegiance and the armed forces. The final page in the book features Johnnie admiring the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., with the parting words: “Be proud as you leave your ‘thumbprint’ on history and our nation’s future!”

The series also includes two books that are in both Spanish and English: “Johnnie Finds a Buddy” and “Jimmy Jam Germ & The Happy Handshake.” Other books promote good money sense, sign language and signs, and helping a friend in need. The author will return to MCAS Miramar on April 17 to read and sign books. Consult the Miramar Marine Corps Exchange for more information about this event ( www.mccsmiramar.com).

These new boxes are available at post offices, or online at www.usps.com/sup-plies, or by calling (800) 610-8734.

COURTESY OF PIXIE STUFF L.L.C.

Some of the new boxes carry the America Supports You logo, representing the Defense Department program that connects citizens and companies with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. The boxes bearing the America Supports You logo will be available only online or at select post offices near military bases. All flat-rate boxes are available for international shipping, although the discount applies to only the large flat-rate box, and only if it’s being shipped to an APO or FPO address.

Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service

• Coordinating the Quilts for Warriors project, with patterns suitable for children to sew offered at www.quiltsforwarriors .com.

• Partnering with America Supports You to sponsor a craft activity at the Pentagon Courtyard on “Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work” day April 24.

To access other Month of the Military Child events, visit the Web sites www . americasupportsyou.mil and www.month ofthemilitarychild.com. Also check with Marine Corps Community Services on your base to discover local activities and promotions that honor military children this month.

Beth Hess Connect and Join Liaison

Activities Celebrate Military Children

To recognize and pay tribute to military children, Connect and Join, a company that provides services to keep military families in touch during separations, offers programs to celebrate April 2008 as the Month of the Military Child. Connect and Join supports the Month of the Military Child by:

• Providing free arts and crafts projects online at www.monthofthemilitarychild .com.

• Publishing an arts and crafts curriculum for elementary-age children

• Encouraging retailers to hold events to welcome military families. (A.C. Moore arts and craft stores will hold free kids events every Saturday in April.)

This special offer to military children includes a wristband bracelet, a bookmark and a discount on the Johnnie Reading Buddy stuffed toy made by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Items can be ordered online at www.thumbsupjohnnie.com (click on “Johnnie Merchandise”), or by calling toll-free (866) 749-4378. To receive a 50 percent discount on the books and the stuffed toy, use the coupon code “ Leatherneck” when ordering.

Jennifer Jaffin Hein Pixie Stuff L.L.C.

Postal Service Offers Discount

Military families have long used the U.S. Postal Service’s flat-rate shipping boxes to send care packages around the globe. In March, they got a price break.

The discount applies only to the new “Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box,” which normally carries a $12.95 price tag for shipping. However, when the 12-by-12- by-51/2-inch box is sent to an APO or FPO address, a $2 discount applies, dropping the cost to $10.95.

Marine Maj Michael Schutte creates sand art with his daughters, Abigail, 12, and Elinore, 6, during last year’s “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” day at the Pentagon. This year the event will be held on April 24.

Institute Seeks Participants for Study

The RAND Corporation, a private, nonprofit, public policy research institute, is conducting research for the office of Military Community and Family Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. RAND has been asked to study the occupational choices of military spouses, with emphasis on occupations that are perceived to be complementary to military life.

As part of the study, RAND is seeking interviews with military spouses who meet all of the following criteria:

• Female, 18 years or older

• Married to an enlisted active-duty member of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps

• Currently employed in one of these career fields: nursing, education, finance/ accounting, information technology

• Residing in the United States

Participation in the interview is voluntary. The phone interview will last approximately 45 minutes. Volunteers may skip any questions they prefer not to answer or stop the interview at any time.

RAND will use the information provided for research purposes only and will not disclose the identities of volunteers to anyone outside of the project team. During the course of the study, all information will be safeguarded, and after the study is complete, the information that identifies participants will be destroyed.

Volunteers will be provided with a copy of the report once it has been released to the public. The report will be available publicly at www.rand.org/pubs.