Military Tips

Advice on military life, real estate, finance, education, and deployments

7 Ways to Watch US TV Overseas

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1. Netflix

Netflix has a lot of great content. They ship to APO addresses, although it does take a bit longer to receive the discs in the mail.

Top Shows: Futurama, 30 Rock, How I Met your Mother, The Wonder Years (yeah that’s right!), Breaking Bad, Lost

How I Met Your Mother

2. Hulu

During the first part of my deployment, Hulu was blocked and required a VPN service. But towards the end, they opened it up and I could access it from a military base. So give Hulu a shot! Like Netflix, they have a lot of great content. The interface is very slick.

Top Shows: The Office, Family Guy, Southpark, Tosh.0, Desperate Housewives, Modern Family

The Office

3. Amazon Instant Video

Amazon has really improved their service over the last two years. Viewing shows over Prime used to be very clunky. But I logged into Amazon Prime with my PS3 the other day and was surprised how nice it was. My son and I watched Spongebob for a few hours!

Top Shows for free with Prime: Spongebob Square Pants, The West Wing, Arrested Development, Dora the Explorer, Dinosaur Train

Top Shows for Purchase: Breaking Bad

Spongebob Squarepants

4. iTunes

Of course iTunes doesn’t have anything for free. But they do have the best selection. If you can’t find your favorite TV show for “free” on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, then iTunes is probably your best bet.

They’re also one of the best options for overseas military, since they don’t block you from downloading while connected to an overseas IP address (that’s my experience).

iTunes

5. HBO Go

HBO Go only works if you subscribe through your cable provider. In addition, they only support certain cable providers, such as Comcast and Cox. If you’re lucky enough to have this working, then congrats! HBO has some of the best shows on television!

Top Shows: The Wire, True Blood, Sopranos

HBO Go

6. Slingbox

If you deploy overseas but still have cable back in the states, then you can hook up a Slingbox and stream all of your channels to your laptop. I would love to hear some feedback from someone who has this working. I haven’t personally used it, but wish I had tried it during my last deployment.

Slingbox

7. Streaming from network TV web sites

NBC, ABC, CBS, TNT

This was how I watched Survivor every week while deployed. Just be careful when browsing to the episode. Sometime they show you who gets kicked off!

Tell us which solutions are working for you in the comments!

Property Tax Rates by State

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This calculator provides an average annual property tax bill, which can be used to estimate property tax before purchasing a home. I tested it against my home in South Carolina, and it was within $50.

Select State:
 Enter Home Value: Result:

The data is based on a 2010 study (PDF) of average owner-occupied state property tax rates conducted by the Tax Foundation.

State Property Tax Rates

State Avg Annual Tax Rate Annual Tax Bill on a $150,000 Home
Alabama 0.41% $615.00
Alaska 1.24% $1860.00
Arizona 0.85% $1275.00
Arkansas 0.57% $855.00
California 0.78% $1170.00
Colorado 0.61% $915.00
Connecticut 1.70% $2550.00
Delaware 0.49% $735.00
Florida 1.09% $1635.00
Georgia 0.93% $1395.00
Hawaii 0.27% $405.00
Idaho 0.74% $1110.00
Illinois 1.93% $2895.00
Indiana 0.84% $1260.00
Iowa 1.34% $2010.00
Kansas 1.35% $2025.00
Kentucky 0.78% $1170.00
Louisiana 0.43% $645.00
Maine 1.17% $1755.00
Maryland 0.98% $1470.00
Massachusetts 1.08% $1620.00
Michigan 1.82% $2730.00
Minnesota 1.10% $1650.00
Mississippi 0.73% $1095.00
Missouri 0.94% $1410.00
Montana 0.85% $1275.00
Nebraska 1.82% $2730.00
Nevada 0.98% $1470.00
New Hampshire 1.92% $2880.00
New Jersey 2.01% $3015.00
New Mexico 0.66% $990.00
New York 1.38% $2070.00
North Carolina 0.81% $1215.00
North Dakota 1.36% $2040.00
Ohio 1.44% $2160.00
Oklahoma 0.80% $1200.00
Oregon 0.98% $1470.00
Pennsylvania 1.40% $2100.00
Rhode Island 1.47% $2205.00
South Carolina 0.55% $825.00
South Dakota 1.32% $1980.00
Tennessee 0.70% $1050.00
Texas 1.90% $2850.00
Utah 0.65% $975.00
Vermont 1.61% $2415.00
Virginia 0.77% $1155.00
Washington 0.98% $1470.00
West Virginia 0.58% $870.00
Wisconsin 1.85% $2775.00
Wyoming 0.62% $930.00
Washington, D.C. 0.54% $810.00


Five Books That Will Supercharge Your Military Career

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Today I want to introduce you to five books that have influenced my life in every way. These books are straight forward and simple, but yield amazing results.

1. Getting Things Done by David Allen

Getting Things Done

Productivity. It’s essential in today’s military. There’s not enough time to accomplish everything on your To Do list. Your head feels cluttered trying to keep up with your primary job, family, volunteering, and college. Getting Things Done is the answer to the knowledge worker’s problems.

In his book, David Allen shows you how to capture everything that you think about into a single system. Write down all your projects and commitments. Organize them by context, or the place where you will likely accomplish them. If something takes less than two minutes, do it.

I’ve used GTD for five years now and have accomplished so much. I feel good about myself knowing I’m keeping up with my job and not neglecting my family. Give GTD a try!

 2. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Total Money Makeover

The first books I read on personal finance were about investing. I was really into the Motley Fool and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Those books are great, but you need to read Total Money Makeover first. Why? You need to have your finances in order before you start investing.

You need an emergency fund (at least $500). You need to pay off your credit cards and get out of debt (for good!). Dave Ramsey calls these baby steps and he lays them out in plain english.

Dave Ramsey has a great radio show that will keep you on track. My favorite thing about Dave Ramsey is how he keeps you motivated!

3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleA huge part of leadership is learning to deal with people. I can’t think of a better way to learn this skill then by reading How to Win Friends.

This part of the book has always stuck with me:

Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

This book shows you how to treat people, whether it’s in the workplace or not. I’ve given this book to several NCOs that were trying to improve their leadership skills, and have seen improvement in every one.

Improving your relationships will improve your life. This is a book that everybody should read at least once.

4. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleThis is a great all around book on improving yourself. If you want to get promoted at work, just try implementing the first seven habits:

Be Proactive
Begin with the end in mind
Put first things first

There are countless books written on each of these three subjects alone. Steven Covey covers them brilliantly and in a simple fashion. His final habit “Sharpen the Saw” reminds us to continually read, learn, and exercise to keep our bodies and minds in excellent shape.

5. Body for Life by Bill Phillips

Body for LifeBody for Life is a great book that will help you get in shape. It not olny covers fitness, but also eating healthy. The support files on the web site are great and help keep you on track.

How to Pass the PT Test – When you Suck at PT

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PT Test

The PT test is stressful. You can’t prepare for it overnight, and there’s a lot riding on the line if you fail. If you’re like me and suck at PT, you need to put the odds in your favor. Here’s how:

1. Schedule your PT test well ahead of your annual report

Do not take your PT test three weeks before your annual report is due. Take your test at least six months ahead of time. Why? If the worst case happens and you fail, you can make it up so it does not impact your personal records. If you are test right before an annual report, you leave your supervisor little choice but to issue you a bad report. This could have serious repercussions.

2. Start preparing early

You need to start preparing for your test at least three months early.

3. Work out for yourself – not for the PT test

You will get in much better shape if you get into fitness for yourself. There are too many ways to cheat yourself if you work out only for the PT test. Work out to feel better and to look good. Try to impress your friends. Set some goals. You will do a much better job if you’re in it for yourself.

4. Choose a plan and stick to it

Fitness plans, such as Body for Life, give you simple instructions and schedules that anybody can follow. I use Body for Life when I need to get in shape fast. It’s tough to stick with it in the long run, but you WILL see results.

Body for Life Fitness

5. Know the exact scores you need and watch them closely on test day

You should know exactly how many sit-ups you need to pass. You should come across the finish line glancing at your watch, knowing you have xx seconds to spare. I’m always surprised when I see people check the score card AFTER the test and see they failed by 2 push-ups.

PT Score Charts

6. Use a pace runner to motivate you through the run

Have a friend or supervisor run with you at a set pace. They may be able to motivate you through spots where you may have quit.

7. Ask for help

Above all, there is nothing wrong with asking your supervisor for help if you’re worried about the test. Every unit I’ve been in would gladly help someone get in better shape. So don’t be ashamed. It shows more maturity to get help and pass rather than surprise everyone by failing.

Hawaii Traffic and Commute Times

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Before moving to Hawaii I heard about two problems: the traffic and the schools. Well I’m here on the island and I’m going to tell you the ground truth. Yes, O’ahu has bad traffic during certain times of day, in certain areas. But it’s not all bad!

Why O’ahu Has Bad Traffic

All of the affordable housing on O’ahu is near Ewa Beach, Mililani, and Kapolei, which are on the west side and central part of the island. But most of the jobs are near Pearl Harbor, Hickam AFB, and Honolulu.

Hawaii Traffic Housing and Jobs

Every morning commuters travel from the affordable housing to their jobs, and back home in the evening. The choke point for this traffic is the H-1 and H-2 merge.

Hawaii Traffic Choke Point

There is little room for accidents or breakdowns on Hawaii’s freeways. So a simple flat tire involving a tow track can slow traffic significantly. Since that car takes up an open lane, all the cars have to merge over to get around the stuck vehicle.

Is it always bad?

Here’s the good news. Traffic in Hawaii is packed during the morning and evening commutes, but is very clear the rest of the time.

So if you live in Ewa Beach and need to pick up a friend from the airport at 9Am, you will have an easy drive. Likewise, driving on the weekend is fast and convenient to most parts of the island.

The bad traffic is mostly confined to H-1 and the portion of H-2 flowing into H-1.

Choosing a Home Based on Traffic

You only need to be concerned about the traffic if you’re considering living in the following areas:

Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani, or Waikiki

AND you’re commuting to Hickam AFB, Pearl Harbor, Camp Smith, Fort Shafter, or Tripler Medical Center.

If you’re stationed at Schofield Barracks or MCB Kaneohe, you’re lucky. Schofield has some great housing near by (Mililani), that is very close to base. MCB Kaneohe has expensive housing nearby, but we’ll save that for another article – this is about traffic, and I don’t think folks at MCB Kaneohe are stuck in traffic very often.

Morning Commute from Ewa Beach or Kapolei

This commute is known as the worst on the island. It’s bittersweet because this is where all the beautiful, affordable homes are! It’s a tough drive. Whether it is worth it is up to you.

If you want to beat the traffic for this commute you have to get up early! The traffic pattern works like this:

  • Before 5:30AM you can drive anywhere on the island with minimal slowdown
  • At 5:30AM traffic starts to slow on H-1E near exit 7 by Waikele, adding about 10 minutes to your commute
  • By 6:00AM the traffic slows down by Ewa Beach, adding 20 minutes to your commute
  • Between 6:00AM and 7:30AM the traffic adds at least 25 minutes to your commute
For example, my commute from Kapolei to Camp Smith takes 25 minutes with no traffic. But as you can see, traveling at different times in the morning makes my commute from 25 minutes to an hour. By leaving very early my commute is normally 30 minutes.

Commute from Mililani to Hickam/Pearl Harbor

This commute is slightly better than coming from Ewa Beach. The merge onto H-1 will slow you down, adding 20 or more minutes to your commute time between 6-7:30AM.

Commute from Kaneohe to Hickam/Pearl Harbor

Due to the construction of the H-3 freeway, the commute from Kaneohe or Kailua to the other side of the island is a breeze.

You can expect this drive to take around 35 minutes. It’s a better drive than Ewa Beach because there is rarely any traffic. The only traffic I’ve ever heard of is the tunnel getting blocked due to an accident. Besides that, it’s smooth sailing.

Oh, and the scenery along this raised freeway is amazing!

H3 Hawaii

Traffic Near Waikiki

There is no easy way to get in and out of Waikiki, so expect it to take an hour to get there from most locations on the island. But there are no military bases in this area, so going to Waikiki is more of a splurge.

If you live at the Hale Koa while house hunting this may impact you. But come on, you’re at the Hale Koa! There’s not much to complain about.

How to Decrease your Commute Time

Hawaii has a “zip lane” that is open in the morning from 5-8:30AM. They allow cars with 3 or more passengers, motorcycles, and buses. A giant truck moves blocks into the west-bound lane, taking one of the lanes to make H-1E wider.

For most military it’s not that useful because it’s tricky to organize three people to leave and come home at the same time every day. But if you drive a motorcycle it’s a slick way to bypass the traffic and get to Hickam or Pearl Harbor or the other bases in that area.

If you can organize a few folks, DoD has a great program that gives you a free van with gas to use as a commute car.

Useful Links

Hawaii Traffic Cameras – Best one to view is H-1/H-2 merge

Final Note: Speeding on O’ahu

I got a speeding ticket during my first week on the island. The top speed limit on the island is 65mph. But most areas on H-1 are 55.

The police like to hide on curves or on the incline of a hill. They park their motorcycle and stand near it with a radar gun. The first time you see this you will think a motorcyclist is pulled over on the road! The police are out checking for speeders often.

The police seem unforgiving and wrote me a ticket for the exact speed I was over. In addition, I forgot to put my insurance card in my glove compartment after I picked it up from the shipping company. So I got a ticket for that as well!

Friendliest Drivers in the US?

You may find crowded traffic in Hawaii, but what you won’t find is rude drivers or hostility. You rarely hear a car horn on the island. I used it once when the driver in front of me failed to move at a green light. Everybody looked at me like I was an asshole!

Hawaiians are friendly when dealing with merging traffic, and usually take turns letting people in rather than blocking cars in a merging lane. You’ll often see the “shaka” sign when you let someone in your lane, as a thank you.

[ois skin=”Hawaii Optin”]

 

Bad Grades in High School? No Problem

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I graduated high school with a low 2.3 grade point average (GPA). This was good enough to get me into the Air Force, but it sure as hell wasn’t getting me into med school.

Despite my low grades, a short three years after high school graduation I did the following:

1. Earned a full ROTC scholarship to pay for college

2. Was accepted into two excellent universities (UCLA, UC Davis)

3. Met the girl of my dreams 🙂

I did this by going to Junior College.

Junior College Gives You a Fresh Start

Junior college, community college, whatever you want to call it… is the perfect place to go and start over.

All of the good universities have transfer programs that allow you to start school as a junior. Their applications require the GPA from your last 60 credits (two years) of school. They do not even ask about high school.

With a junior college GPA of 3.7, military experience, and community involvement, I was able to apply to the top universities in California and was accepted into two out of three.

An Amazing Opportunity

Maybe you’re thinking – ok Casey you must be some kind of smarty pants that goofed off in high school but easily caught up in college.

The only difference between me in high school and me in Junior College was the military. Something about military life kept me focused and motivated. I had less distraction in the military and worked harder to achieve my goals. My supervisors pushed me to go to school and I took it seriously.

Create a Plan

Whatever your dream is, to achieve it you need a plan. I recommend doing the following:

1. Choose a degree that you are passionate about. Do not go for an electrical engineering degree because you heard the money is good. Do it because you’re curious about it and are truly interested.

If you are unsure of the degree you want, go with this: are you good at writing or math. Most degrees can be divided into one of those two broad categories. Stick to the one you are good at.

2. Find universities that are good for the degree you want to pursue.

3. Go to the junior college you are interested in and make sure their credits transfer to the colleges you like.

Many junior colleges are part of a state system that ensures credits transfer to major universities. It is best to attend a junior college that falls within one of these programs. For California this system is called IGETC.

Please email me if you have any questions! Stay focused on your dream and it will come true. It’s not too late to start over.