Does your family have what it takes? Published Dec. 7, 2006 By Kelly Twedell Staff writer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- It takes a special unit on the home front to support their Airmen and the current mission. Military families face unique challenges as they too are called to a lifestyle of selfless service. Here at Pope we would like to see more of our own families recognized for their contributions. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) provides the monthly opportunity to nominate a family. Do you know of a family who has made the most of their military adventure and embraces the military lifestyle? Now is the time to submit your nominations. Anyone can submit a nomination, just go to www.nmfa.org and complete the nomination form that includes a 500 to 750 word (approximately 1 page) narrative. Don't be modest, let the light shine on your family if you have a story of strength, courage or commitment to share. The NMFA Family Award is given to 12 families who best exemplify the military family lifestyle. Each month, one family will be chosen to receive the NMFA Family of the Month Award. The winning family will receive $500 and a $250 donation to the charity of their choice. In June, NMFA will select one of the 12 families to receive the coveted, NMFA Family of the Year Award. This special family will receive an additional $1,000 and a trip to Washington D.C. where they will be honored at a reception with key military leaders and program coordinators. Essays can include, but are not limited to stories of strength, courage, perseverance, commitment, duty, service, or everyday heroes. Please focus your narrative on how the entire family is involved. If the nominee is planning to move within four months after they are nominated please provide details at the end of the narrative on how they can be contacted after they move. If your family or the family you nominate is not chosen, you may resubmit your nomination. Unfortunately, we cannot carry over past nominations. The panel of active NMFA members and other individuals, representing servicemembers and families from various ranks and services, judge the narratives using a "blind" format, meaning that the names and identifiers of the nominees submitted are blocked out. Who is eligible to be nominated? Any active duty, reserve component, or retired family of the armed services. These also include families of fallen servicemembers, or those injured in the line of duty within the past three years. Who Can Nominate? Anyone. This is your time to tell your personal story or recognize a special family that you know. We only require that you be at least 18 years of age to submit a nomination. Military families often feel that what they do on a daily basis is nothing extraordinary. We disagree. This is your time to boast; don't be modest. Take a look at your family's achievements or those of a military family you know and complete a nomination today! What charitable organizations can receive the Family Award Contribution? Any charity whose work benefits military families can receive the award contribution with two exceptions. Charities in which a member of a winning family is a principle stakeholder are not eligible to receive the donation. Additionally, the Department of Defense stipulates that the military cannot receive money from private organizations. Therefore, we cannot make contributions to many of the federally funded family programs and organizations on or off the military installation. Members of the Board of Governors, Board of Advisors, Representatives, Volunteers, Employees, and their immediate families (spouses, parents, children, and their spouses or children) or those living in the same household whether related or not are not eligible to participate.