If President Obama is hoping that an economic recovery will be powered by consumer spending, the message hasn't made its way over to the Pentagon, which is advising military families this holiday season to "Look for ways to cut back on the number of gifts you buy," send "e-cards instead of regular cards," and ask, "could you drive instead of fly? Stay with a friend or relative instead of in a hotel room? Make do without a rental car?"
If the retail, card, hotel, or airline industries have a strong holiday season, it's not going to be thanks to the military, at least if they follow the advice given in this article from the official Armed Forces Press Service, based on a Defense Department Web site for military families.