Obama Meets Military Dads on Fathers Initiative

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama met today with two active-duty military men in honor of the upcoming Father’s Day weekend and as part of a new “Fatherhood Buzz” campaign.

The president met Army 1st Lt. Bill Edwards and Army Capt. Joubert Paulino, as well as two local barbers, for lunch here at Kenny's BBQ Smokehouse as part of the campaign sponsored by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Buzz campaign is designed to reach out to fathers with positive information through barber shops. The campaign is currently focused on distributing information on financial literacy and job training through barbers to fathers around the country, according to White House officials. Barbers have signed on to the program in at least eight major cities, including Washington, the Clearinghouse website says.

Obama talked about the initiatives with the four men over a platter of beef ribs, greens, black-eyed peas and rice, according to a press pool report. The president said he wants to work with the barbers to spread information about local resources to help fathers.

“It makes a huge difference” to men and their families when fathers are involved with their children, Obama said.

Edwards is the National Fatherhood Initiative’s 2012 Military Fatherhood Award Winner. He is based at Fort Jackson, S.C., where he lives with his wife Esther, and their four children. He was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division Band in 2007-2008 for 14 months in Iraq. While Edwards was deployed, he sent a flag that had flown over Camp Victory headquarters in Iraq to his daughter's preschool as a reminder of how much he cared about his family.

Paulino is based at Fort Meade, Md., where he lives with his wife, Ginamarie, and their two children, Jonah and Julia. Paulino travels frequently with his specialized emergency response team, part of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense.

Navy Dad Receives Military Fatherhood Award

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan Riley, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- A Naval Base Kitsap Sailor received the 2011 Military Fatherhood Award during a ceremony in Bremerton, Wash. June 16.

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) selected Logistics Specialist 1st Class Christopher Cady, leading petty officer at priority material office headquarters aboard Naval Base Kitsap, from nominees around the world.

NFI honors a military father every year who is dedicated to his children and displays ongoing commitment to father from a distance while deployed, balances military life and family life, and helps mentor other military fathers and children who are separated from each other.

"It's extremely humbling," said Cady. "I didn't learn about the award until I found out I was nominated; extremely humbling."

Out of nearly 600 nominations, Cady was narrowed down to one of the three finalists by NFI. The public then was able to vote for the winner through a special Facebook page which had video stories of each finalist.

Cady said NFI sent the finalists video cameras and instructions for making their video submissions.

"I don't think I'm doing anything that any other father wouldn't do," Cady said. "I am honored and humbled to receive this award."

NFI President Roland C. Warren said Cady exemplifies the best of what involved, responsible and committed fatherhood is all about. He said Cady has fully dedicated himself to caring for his son, but also honorably serves the Nation as an exemplary Sailor.

"NFI is truly honored to give this award to a truly amazing dad and Sailor," Warren said.

Cady is a single father who cares for his 11-year-old son, Joshua, who was born with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and is legally blind and deaf. CMV affects muscle control and can cause seizures.

Cady says he's not comfortable being in the limelight but he likes the attention CMV is getting throughout his experience.

Family Matters Blog: Obama Salutes Military Dads

By Elaine Sanchez

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2011 – With Father’s Day nearly at hand, President Barack Obama took time to single out military dads yesterday, thanking them for their service to the nation.

“Thank you for your dedication,” he told the dads gathered for a special screening of the Disney-Pixar Hollywood movie “Cars 2” on the White House complex. “And when I say thank you, it’s not just to those in uniform; it’s to the families as well who are also serving.

“We could not be more proud of you,” he added, “and we are grateful because you help not only to keep us secure, but also keep us free.”

The movie screening marked the start of a summer-long partnership between First Lady Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces military support campaign and the Walt Disney Co. Disney will host movie screenings at military bases across the country, Obama said.

“This partnership with Disney will give an opportunity for military families to spend some time together, have fun, and provide a brief respite from all the incredible responsibilities you guys carry out,” he said.

The president wished the dads an early Happy Father’s Day. “For the families, please know that we understand that you’re serving right alongside anybody in uniform, and that’s why the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden have made such a big priority on military families,” he said. “This is just one small way that we can say thank you to all of you."

The bottom line is, the president told them, “We’re proud of you. We are grateful to you.”

Obama also used the opportunity to stress the importance of fatherhood, and announced the launch of “Year of Strong Fathers and Strong Families,” an initiative to help connect dads with their kids in “simple, meaningful” ways, such as bowling or trips to the zoo. People can find out more and search for activity discounts at Fatherhood.gov, he said.

For more family-related posts, visit Family Matters blog or check out Family Matters on Facebook and Twitter.

Group Seeks Outstanding Military Fathers

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 6, 2007 - The National Fatherhood Initiative is looking for a few good military fathers for the 2008 NFI Lockheed Martin Military Fatherhood Award. "The purpose of the award is to recognize the outstanding efforts of military fathers to stay engaged with their families while meeting the military missions, even through deployments," said Jim Knotts, Lockheed Martin Corp.'s director of corporate citizenship. "(It) helps bring attention to those sacrifices and celebrates the efforts above and beyond the call of duty to balance military duty with family obligations."

Though the award is given to the father, he added the National Fatherhood Initiative's first guideline for being a good father is to respect the children's mother; therefore, he said, it recognizes the whole family.

The first award was presented in 2007 to Marine Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Andrade.

Nominations for the 2008 award are being accepted through Jan. 4, Knott said. Nominations in the form of a one- to two-page explanation of how the nominated father meets established contest criteria can be e-mailed through the National Fatherhood Initiative Web site, www.fatherhood.org/mfa.asp.

Any father serving on active duty or in the National Guard or reserves is eligible for the award. It is not required that he be deployed.

The winner will be announced Feb. 28 and honored at an April 29 gala in Washington.

Nomination information must include name, rank, and service affiliation of the nominee, as well as information about his family, number and ages of children, marital status, and his contact information. The nominator also should include his or her name, contact information and connection to the nominee.

Knott said the award is part of Lockheed Martin's "United in Gratitude" initiative to provide support to servicemembers in many different areas.

"With a large number of employees who are veterans, and employees who are activated and deployed, we understand the challenges faced by our military families," he said. "Outstanding military fathers take extraordinary efforts to father from a distance during military separation and go to great lengths to successfully balance mission requirements and their fathering role.

"They also are active to help other military fathers or military children who are separated from their fathers," he said.

Knotts, a father and veteran, also gave a nod to the moms. "It simply would not be possible (to be good military fathers) without the steadfast dedication and support of our military moms," he added.

Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to support from the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.