European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                82007 stars and stripes pages tax free Active duty pay fairly simple i understand that the Active duty members pay is not taxed for the period that they Are deployed to a War zone is this True does this happen automate Cally is Mere something that must be done to let Dias know not to take the taxes out or spouse Calls is it just claimed at the end of the year when filing taxes pm Ramstein air base Germany yes the irs says military members Are exempt from Federal income tax on military pay earned in a combat zone All enlisted pay is exempt and offic ers pay is exempt up to the highest level of enlisted pay plus hazardous duty pay needs is of the w2 the tax assistance officer for my husbands office said any income earned in a combat zone is shown in Box 12 preceded by a q she also said that if your spouse served in a combat zone during 2006 and there is no amount in Box 12 your spouse should request a corrected copy of the w2 from the finance office no other form or proof of combat zone earnings is required with your tax return Barnes How do 1 help my children adjust in the Best Way Possi ble when we move Wjk Las Cruces no helping your children make transitions is not something you do just before and after a move it is a Way of life throughout every assignment there Are things to love and enjoy and things to be endured you get to choose which ones to emphasize and your children will often follow your Lead even More Good news for spouses Back Home there is no additional paper work for this tax Benefit All the red tape finding a great school a great neigh concerning pay should be covered in boyhood new friends All these Are the myriad of paperwork the military helpful but the Way you talk to your member must Complete before Depar children about your Mobile life the Way Ture at tax time this Benefit is still fairly they see you react in transition these hassle free All the information the irs Are so important i dont mean just put on a Happy face you can Comfort your children by talking about your own sadness at leaving friends behind if you depend on your Faith your children will see that too this Bond of shared experience especially in difficult times makes your family stronger your Fame Lys inner strength will help you weather the outer friction caused by moving Here Are a couple of practical suggestions first make the Effort to stay in touch with Good friends when you move visit faraway friends when Possi ble All this gives your children continuity roots and the knowledge that the Bonds of Friendship Are stronger than geography second when arriving at a new place Start right away to find activities that your children enjoy the sooner you do the sooner they will Start to make friends and get acclimated look for places to plug in All the members of your family at the Chapel or local Church sports programs and Volunteer opportunities the older the children the trickier the transition your children might resist your positive attitude rather than embrace it but they will still see your exam ple and it makes a difference what they complain about now they May later remember fondly clarification a Reader wrote last week to Point out that the Dodea Home school directive recommends but does not require Home schooners to Contact their school Liaison officer i spoke again with Den Nis Bohannon Public affairs officer at Dodd Europe to get clarification installation requirements for Home schooling vary Bohannon said depend ing on the Branch of service and the Host nation some installations or com mands do require Home school registration he said contacting a school Liaison officer is highly encouraged Bohannon said not Only to find out what Are specific rules there May be but also because the so can put them in touch with a great number of resources including other parents Home schooners who wish to take advantage of classes must enrol and show they Are eligible to attend just As full time students must do Home school ers who wish to join school clubs and sports Are Welcome Bohannon said they too must show eligibility but can take part in extracurricular activities without enrolling Terri Barnes is a military spouse and Mother of three she and her family live in Germany where her husband is stationed at Ramstein a Send questions or comments to her at easter chocolate fills iced drink void first of All i would like to remind readers that today easter Sun Day is the last Candy Holiday until october 31 St those extra displays weve been tripping Over in the commissary Are about to go away until fall so the time is now to Stock up on paste and chocolate bunnies Ive been More indulgent than usual this year repeatedly sneak ing into the easter treats hidden away for the boys the Reasti i think is because of the sacrifice i made Irr Observance of Lent 1 stopped going to Starbucks and panera bread and every other place that serves up mocha filled Coffee drinks that look and taste like milkshakes the places that sell Sych drinks give them different fancy names so the customer Doest have to admit Shes just ordered a hot fudge sundae Acup Complete with whipped Cream on top i knew the drinks were loaded with calories and tried to justify my actions by skipping lunch still a mocha Fra Puccino is a far cry a Protem Dar or slim fast drink my habit had grown to include at least three of the Pam Zich of cappuccinos or any drink that resembles smooth chocolate concoctions per week one in simpler terms i gave up my habit by Valentines Day it was pure deca of slurping Down oversized chocolate Dence Jenny get a grip Pam my conscience told me but i didst listen something had to be done and along came Lent i decided to give it a try even though As a Southern by Terian in technically off the Hook As far As having to observe the season through sacrifice my conscience reminded me that i had enjoyed plenty of Mardi gras parties in the past and could certainly take part in the less fun part that comes after fat tuesday resisting Starbucks became As much a part of my daily routine As doing Laun dry it took me a week or two before i realized Why the minute i gave up my liquid lunches i lost my will to resist anything made of chocolate nothing was More tempt Chandra thanks for keeping Jura while i picked up Denny from Day care Hes in bed now but i need to doafewthin6sbeforei get Julia is that Okay Jenny sure take As Long As you Nee Chandra do you Wanna go Check that out Chandra its a mom thing Jenny is drawn by Julie Negron of Kadena air base Okinawa her web site is ing than the colourful displays of easter Candy waiting to Greet me in every retail store i walked into most of my no depleted stash of goodies came from the commissary because paying less for Candy didst seem As bad As buying it at Walmart As i walked the aisles chocolate in All shapes and forms screamed out for my attention and some of it wound up in my cart 1 even bought Boohoo for the first time in years a 12pack that i hid from the kids luckily they sniffed it out within 24 hours forcing me to share my behaviour had become As out of control As glory that is Why As i write the Only Choco late left in our Kitchen is in the form of Cocoa Nestle Quik and chocolate chips in trying to limit myself to one cup of hot chocolate a Day after easter in going to allow myself to Cross the threshold of Starbucks again but i dont intend to become the frequent visitor i was before Lent i Hope that knowing 1 can once again indulge myself at Starbucks will keep me from sneaking treats from the boys easter baskets just to be Safe i have decided to re mind myself just How hard it would be to explain a one eared Peter Rabbit to Ronnie theres an ugly image in my mind of the mangled chocolate Bunny and Ronnie looking suspiciously from me to glory and Back to me a Mother of three boys Pam Zich has moved eight times in 16 years of marriage to her Marine corps husband they have been stationed in various locations including Okinawa California Texas and their current Home in Springfield a email her at  or find the Zichos online at