I'll spare you the long transcript of this press conference, but I pulled this from the DoD website from Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell. He discusses the upcoming Iraqi elections and many other matters related to the U.S. military, which is pretty important in the grand scheme of things for Iraq and Afghanistan. Keep in mind it is one side of the story. The historian in me would love to see how these events are reported in the Middle East press, and I'll search for that as well and get back to you. The official DoD side of things will have to do for now:
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4345
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
FCS Continued
PDR OK Clears FCS Way, For Now
By Colin Clark Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 1:23 pmPosted in Land
Defense Secretary Robert Gates may have left the fate of the Future Combat System (FCS) hanging during his congressional testimony yesterday, but the acquisition system is grinding ahead and the program won a potentially significant decision last week.
After five days of meetings between military and industry officials, permission was granted to proceed with the next phase of all eight Manned Ground Vehicles in the program. “Based on what was presented at the MGV PDR formal permission will be granted to enter detailed design for all eight MGV variants in early February,” Paul Mehney, head spokesman for FCS, wrote in an email this morning. I spent the last two days travelling with Paul and other Army officials, visiting Tank and Automotive Command and the plant in Lima, Ohio where the FCS chassis will be built.
Lima, Ohio doesn’t figure large in most defense reporting. For much of the last 20 years the plant built and rebuilt Abrams tanks and then started building part of the Strykers.
But the politically uncertain march of FCS’ Manned Ground Vehicles toward production means General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) workers, who run Lima for the government, are investing in new equipment, planning and testing how to build the most technologically advanced ground combat vehicles ever built and readying to hire at least 200 more workers over the next year.
Right now, Lima is building three prototypes Non-Line of Sight FCS models, P-2, P-7 and P-8. They are basically very shiny huge hunks of shaped and welded aluminum at this stage. Workers are finishing internal welds, clambering around inside the shell that will be enclosed in bolt-on armor. They are readying the shells to go to the GDLS Shelby, Mich. plant where they will be filled with engines, huge lengths of custom-designed flat wire clusters (designed by Army scientists to take up less space and still deliver the impressive amounts of power used by the hybrid engine, the computers and other subsystems) and fitted with the unique elastomer (sort of like rubber) treads that are still being perfected.
The plant is readying for the first efforts at production, planning to build 20 FCS chassis in 2009. To improve the quality of the all-important welds that bind together the inside aluminum shell they have built a unique welding machine — the Friction Stir Weld — that basically shoves a hardened screw into the aluminum and spins at high speed and moves along the weld line to soften the aluminum without distorting it too much. According to several Lima welders aluminum tends to mover quite a lot when welded and is very difficult to weld to some other metals, such as titanium. The new process, which was originally developed in Britain, “is almost like reforging the metals,” according to Army Lt. Col. Ted Epple, the commander at Lima. They bond and there are far fewer defects caused by a tired or errant human hand.
The enormous blue horseshoe-shaped machine was largely paid for with a $6.8 million congressional earmark championed by former Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), who used to represent the Lima area. The money was spread over three years. There is other new technology and equipment being readied in Lima for this effort. I’ll have more on that and some of the new FCS technology over the next few days.
By Colin Clark Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 1:23 pmPosted in Land
Defense Secretary Robert Gates may have left the fate of the Future Combat System (FCS) hanging during his congressional testimony yesterday, but the acquisition system is grinding ahead and the program won a potentially significant decision last week.
After five days of meetings between military and industry officials, permission was granted to proceed with the next phase of all eight Manned Ground Vehicles in the program. “Based on what was presented at the MGV PDR formal permission will be granted to enter detailed design for all eight MGV variants in early February,” Paul Mehney, head spokesman for FCS, wrote in an email this morning. I spent the last two days travelling with Paul and other Army officials, visiting Tank and Automotive Command and the plant in Lima, Ohio where the FCS chassis will be built.
Lima, Ohio doesn’t figure large in most defense reporting. For much of the last 20 years the plant built and rebuilt Abrams tanks and then started building part of the Strykers.
But the politically uncertain march of FCS’ Manned Ground Vehicles toward production means General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) workers, who run Lima for the government, are investing in new equipment, planning and testing how to build the most technologically advanced ground combat vehicles ever built and readying to hire at least 200 more workers over the next year.
Right now, Lima is building three prototypes Non-Line of Sight FCS models, P-2, P-7 and P-8. They are basically very shiny huge hunks of shaped and welded aluminum at this stage. Workers are finishing internal welds, clambering around inside the shell that will be enclosed in bolt-on armor. They are readying the shells to go to the GDLS Shelby, Mich. plant where they will be filled with engines, huge lengths of custom-designed flat wire clusters (designed by Army scientists to take up less space and still deliver the impressive amounts of power used by the hybrid engine, the computers and other subsystems) and fitted with the unique elastomer (sort of like rubber) treads that are still being perfected.
The plant is readying for the first efforts at production, planning to build 20 FCS chassis in 2009. To improve the quality of the all-important welds that bind together the inside aluminum shell they have built a unique welding machine — the Friction Stir Weld — that basically shoves a hardened screw into the aluminum and spins at high speed and moves along the weld line to soften the aluminum without distorting it too much. According to several Lima welders aluminum tends to mover quite a lot when welded and is very difficult to weld to some other metals, such as titanium. The new process, which was originally developed in Britain, “is almost like reforging the metals,” according to Army Lt. Col. Ted Epple, the commander at Lima. They bond and there are far fewer defects caused by a tired or errant human hand.
The enormous blue horseshoe-shaped machine was largely paid for with a $6.8 million congressional earmark championed by former Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), who used to represent the Lima area. The money was spread over three years. There is other new technology and equipment being readied in Lima for this effort. I’ll have more on that and some of the new FCS technology over the next few days.
FCS
US Army Looking Hard at Modernization Plan
Aviation Week's DTI Bettina H. Chavanne January 22, 2009This article first appeared in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.
The U.S. Army is engaged in a holistic evaluation of its modernization and procurement plans, including Future Combat Systems (FCS), its vice chief of staff asserts.
Gen. Pete Chiarelli says the so-called midcourse review includes a "soup-to-nuts" look at FCS. The Army needs to "understand where we are and where we need to go," Chiarelli told reporters at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Jan. 21. He would not predict the outcome of the review, which he said should be complete by late February and would incorporate lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We've done a lot to FCS since its inception," the four-star general said. "The Manned Ground Vehicles are not the same today as they were envisioned five or six years ago."
The Army's second-highest officer stressed survivability is an issue reframed by the current conflicts. "We have a 360-degree war," he said. "Survivability is not just an issue for tanks and Bradleys. It's an issue we've had to address with the entire force."
The review encompasses numerous other aspects of Army modernization, including procurement. Chiarelli said he supports an acquisition approach with faster results: "As I look at the amount of time it takes us to move from requirements to a fielded system, does [the 1960s-era procurement system] really work in today's world?"
He cited the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle as an example of a quickly fielded system that did not have to pass through Program of Record hurdles. "But when you talk procurement reform, you're talking about something that's in the DNA of everyone," Chiarelli said. The services, Congress and industry are all part of the problem, he added, "I hope someone tackles that."
Aviation Week's DTI Bettina H. Chavanne January 22, 2009This article first appeared in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.
The U.S. Army is engaged in a holistic evaluation of its modernization and procurement plans, including Future Combat Systems (FCS), its vice chief of staff asserts.
Gen. Pete Chiarelli says the so-called midcourse review includes a "soup-to-nuts" look at FCS. The Army needs to "understand where we are and where we need to go," Chiarelli told reporters at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Jan. 21. He would not predict the outcome of the review, which he said should be complete by late February and would incorporate lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We've done a lot to FCS since its inception," the four-star general said. "The Manned Ground Vehicles are not the same today as they were envisioned five or six years ago."
The Army's second-highest officer stressed survivability is an issue reframed by the current conflicts. "We have a 360-degree war," he said. "Survivability is not just an issue for tanks and Bradleys. It's an issue we've had to address with the entire force."
The review encompasses numerous other aspects of Army modernization, including procurement. Chiarelli said he supports an acquisition approach with faster results: "As I look at the amount of time it takes us to move from requirements to a fielded system, does [the 1960s-era procurement system] really work in today's world?"
He cited the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle as an example of a quickly fielded system that did not have to pass through Program of Record hurdles. "But when you talk procurement reform, you're talking about something that's in the DNA of everyone," Chiarelli said. The services, Congress and industry are all part of the problem, he added, "I hope someone tackles that."
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Blog-adocious
So, I don't really talk that much. I did talk to the old man today. He has been talking about doing security for the upcoming elections in Baghdad. It is hard for me to imagine what he must be going through. Although I am sure he finds it hard to imagine what I am going through here at Bragg. It's called compartmentalization, and for the most part it's healthy in the emotional sense. I spent some time last night with the wounded warriors group. They managed to raise over 8,000, which is fantastic. What they do is amazing. I feel lucky just to be able to contribute what time I have to the group.
I have been trying to read up on what the latest information is concerning the "war on terror." I noticed that the day of the [Obama] inauguration, as I was surfing on the white house website looking for the status of forces agreement, that the site changed. There was a blank page stating how they (the white house) were currently updating the new white house website. I am interested to see how things play out with the Obama administration, and also interested to see how Shinseki plans to proceed with the Veteran's Adminstration (VA). I think he has quite the task ahead of him. I'd like to see someone with integrity in that position, so I am very pleased to see him there. On the skeptic side, however, I recall a period in the late 90s-early 2K Army, the Army introduced a new sock, and the Army proper issued socks to units to test and get feedback on this new sock. It was called the "Shinseki sock test." There are some things/issues, large and small, that concern me about this institution (U.S. Army) and the taxpayer dollar in the broadest sense. I wonder how it was determined who would fill out forms about the sock test. What would you say about a pair of socks anyway, how much can you really say? They were itchy...I know as the daughter of an infantryman, though, that socks are pretty important. If an infantryman doesn't have his feet, he has nothing. I say he, because women are currently not allowed in the infantry, which I feel is short-sighted (topic for another time). At any rate, regardless of what might seem to be mocking on my part, socks are at the heart of it all really. And feet in general.
So anyhow, my original point was... I forget. To start talking, speaking for myself and for my sweet Penelope. To be informative, to make other spouses feel as though they are not alone. Which, we all are anyway, no denying that.
All the best,
Penelope's mom.
I have been trying to read up on what the latest information is concerning the "war on terror." I noticed that the day of the [Obama] inauguration, as I was surfing on the white house website looking for the status of forces agreement, that the site changed. There was a blank page stating how they (the white house) were currently updating the new white house website. I am interested to see how things play out with the Obama administration, and also interested to see how Shinseki plans to proceed with the Veteran's Adminstration (VA). I think he has quite the task ahead of him. I'd like to see someone with integrity in that position, so I am very pleased to see him there. On the skeptic side, however, I recall a period in the late 90s-early 2K Army, the Army introduced a new sock, and the Army proper issued socks to units to test and get feedback on this new sock. It was called the "Shinseki sock test." There are some things/issues, large and small, that concern me about this institution (U.S. Army) and the taxpayer dollar in the broadest sense. I wonder how it was determined who would fill out forms about the sock test. What would you say about a pair of socks anyway, how much can you really say? They were itchy...I know as the daughter of an infantryman, though, that socks are pretty important. If an infantryman doesn't have his feet, he has nothing. I say he, because women are currently not allowed in the infantry, which I feel is short-sighted (topic for another time). At any rate, regardless of what might seem to be mocking on my part, socks are at the heart of it all really. And feet in general.
So anyhow, my original point was... I forget. To start talking, speaking for myself and for my sweet Penelope. To be informative, to make other spouses feel as though they are not alone. Which, we all are anyway, no denying that.
All the best,
Penelope's mom.
82nd Article
I am still trying to figure out how to post things, and am sure that I am not internet blog savvy enough to post every article I read, so please forgive the links. Until I figure out how to post a better way...
Google News Alert for: "3rd brigade", "82nd airborne"
Fallen soldier left many memoriesThe Huntsville Times - al.com - Huntsville,AL,USAAfter joining the Army, he became a combat engineer for the 3rd Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, before being ...
Google News Alert for: "3rd brigade", "82nd airborne"
Fallen soldier left many memoriesThe Huntsville Times - al.com - Huntsville,AL,USAAfter joining the Army, he became a combat engineer for the 3rd Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, before being ...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Army Hoarding
Army's Unneeded Parts Worth Billions
Stars and Stripes Matt Millham January 16, 2009
The Army's inventory of spare parts for aircraft, vehicles and tanks swelled from $2.7 billion worth in fiscal 2004 to $4.1 billion in fiscal 2007, mostly because the way the service projected its need for such items was flawed, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.
The GAO, after scrutinizing four years' worth of Army supply inventory data, found that the Army had on average $3.6 billion in spare parts that exceeded the service's current requirements in each fiscal year from 2004 to 2007.
The Army contested the report's characterization of the parts as being in excess of its needs, saying the GAO generally classifies "current requirements" as what is required in the current year, and that the GAO figures include parts the Army intends to use.
"However, the Army plans for inventory to be either on hand or on order for the current plus the next two years thereby ensuring an adequate supply to meet the Combatant Commander's needs," an Army spokesman wrote in an e-mail.
Based on Army forecasts, the service had enough of some parts to satisfy several years, or even decades, of anticipated needs, but was short by an average of $3.5 billion on other needed parts from 2004 to 2007.
Several examples of such excesses and deficits are cited in the study.
One cites how, after anticipating an increase in the use of Black Hawk helicopters, the Army purchased 95 parts of a calibration tool used to maintain the aircraft. The anticipated uptick never came, and in fiscal 2007, the Army had 130 more of the parts than it needed, valued at $7.4 million.
At the same time, there was an unanticipated increase in operational demand for the Kiowa Warrior helicopter, "which increased the need for repairs and replacements through procurement," according to the GAO. The increase left the Army short 128 parts, valued at $1.2 million, needed to maintain the Kiowa, the report stated.
"The Army has acknowledged that challenges exist in its forecasting procedures and has begun to take steps to address shortcomings," according to the report.
In October 2008, the Army cut its forecast period in half to better account for changes in demand, and issued guidance directing managers to update their forecast models so that they match up with the actual number of parts being used.
"These two changes constitute steps toward improving the accuracy of demand forecasts, but GAO was unable to assess their effectiveness because this guidance was issued as GAO was completing its audit work," according to the report.
In December, the GAO issued a similar report criticizing Navy supply procedures, though it blamed management mistakes for the service's spending $7.5 billion a year on unneeded equipment and parts from 2004 through 2007.
Copyright 2009 Stars and Stripes. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.Related Articles
Stars and Stripes Matt Millham January 16, 2009
The Army's inventory of spare parts for aircraft, vehicles and tanks swelled from $2.7 billion worth in fiscal 2004 to $4.1 billion in fiscal 2007, mostly because the way the service projected its need for such items was flawed, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.
The GAO, after scrutinizing four years' worth of Army supply inventory data, found that the Army had on average $3.6 billion in spare parts that exceeded the service's current requirements in each fiscal year from 2004 to 2007.
The Army contested the report's characterization of the parts as being in excess of its needs, saying the GAO generally classifies "current requirements" as what is required in the current year, and that the GAO figures include parts the Army intends to use.
"However, the Army plans for inventory to be either on hand or on order for the current plus the next two years thereby ensuring an adequate supply to meet the Combatant Commander's needs," an Army spokesman wrote in an e-mail.
Based on Army forecasts, the service had enough of some parts to satisfy several years, or even decades, of anticipated needs, but was short by an average of $3.5 billion on other needed parts from 2004 to 2007.
Several examples of such excesses and deficits are cited in the study.
One cites how, after anticipating an increase in the use of Black Hawk helicopters, the Army purchased 95 parts of a calibration tool used to maintain the aircraft. The anticipated uptick never came, and in fiscal 2007, the Army had 130 more of the parts than it needed, valued at $7.4 million.
At the same time, there was an unanticipated increase in operational demand for the Kiowa Warrior helicopter, "which increased the need for repairs and replacements through procurement," according to the GAO. The increase left the Army short 128 parts, valued at $1.2 million, needed to maintain the Kiowa, the report stated.
"The Army has acknowledged that challenges exist in its forecasting procedures and has begun to take steps to address shortcomings," according to the report.
In October 2008, the Army cut its forecast period in half to better account for changes in demand, and issued guidance directing managers to update their forecast models so that they match up with the actual number of parts being used.
"These two changes constitute steps toward improving the accuracy of demand forecasts, but GAO was unable to assess their effectiveness because this guidance was issued as GAO was completing its audit work," according to the report.
In December, the GAO issued a similar report criticizing Navy supply procedures, though it blamed management mistakes for the service's spending $7.5 billion a year on unneeded equipment and parts from 2004 through 2007.
Copyright 2009 Stars and Stripes. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.Related Articles
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Good News...
Army Wife Credits Military Life Experience
By Sgt. Micah E. Clare. U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office
Rosella Glenn helps a Tajik woman harvest cotton in a field outside of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Oct. 25. Glenn said Tajik women in the central Asian nation often must work hard to make enough money to support their families, sometimes without the aid of a husband. Glenn credits the experience she has gained during 16 years married to Col. Mike Glenn, deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division, for much of her success as an expert in international affairs. Rosella Glenn doesn't live like most Army wives.She wakes up in the morning and checks to see if the lights turn on. If the heat has gone out again she decides whether to drain the radiators. She tries the water to see if it's working and clean enough to take a shower. Sometimes she takes a walk and chats with farmers and villagers at the local bazaar in Tajik, Uzbek and Russian.This is Glenn's life in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan. Just north of Afghanistan, the country is the poorest of the former Soviet republics. Her job there is to teach people about America and conduct research about the hardships the nation's women face.It's a far cry from her own humble roots in northern Italy to her mission today as a U.S. State Department expert in international affairs, from small-town girl with a limited grasp of English to Fulbright scholar. And Glenn gives much of the credit for her success to the opportunities and experiences provided by 16 years as an Army spouse."There are always challenges," she said. "But within the military community there is always help. Even moving around; it allows you to think outside the box, to adapt to different cultures and environments. You just have to learn to organize your life in a way that gives you support."When Glenn left Borgosesia, Italy, at age 22 to live with her new husband, then an Army captain stationed at Hohenfels, Germany's Combat Maneuver Training Center as an observer/controller, she immediately faced obstacles because of her limited English."I spoke what broken English I learned in high school with my husband, but it was overwhelming speaking with a lot of people at once," she said.In a new environment with many challenges ahead, Glenn said she realized her situation actually offered unique opportunities."The military always has something for you to do, even if it's just volunteering," she said.So that's what she did. One day before leaving for a field exercise, her husband took her to Army Community Service to see what they could offer."The best way for someone to get around handicaps like a language barrier, or simply not having friends or knowing the area, is to dive right in and volunteer," said Col. Mike Glenn, now serving as deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division here.While she may have been new to life as a U.S. Army spouse, Rosella discovered she had skills ACS could use."Back in Italy, I had some background in fine arts," she said. "ACS started me off designing flyers, which led to learning computer skills, which then opened up doors to marketing and advertising."Eventually volunteering led to a paid job as a marketing specialist. At the same time she began studying German affairs and started the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.When the Glenns were later reassigned to Garmisch, Germany, Rosella said she was compelled to return to volunteering, and a new window of opportunity opened. "While I volunteered at the visual information branch I saw published material that dealt with former Soviet republics. I then saw and met people from those countries coming to Garmisch to attend conferences and courses," she said. "I was so curious, because I've always enjoyed reading about world affairs and watching news."That curiosity drove her to continue her formal education in foreign affairs, even as she added raising two boys, Bryan and Martin, to her challenging regimen.During the family's next tour in Virginia she enrolled at George Mason University, earned her bachelor's degree in global affairs with a focus on Russia and Central Asia, and began work on a master's. Unfortunately, delays in her citizenship application process pushed back her goal of working for the U.S. government. Yet she said even that delay led to opportunity."I had to go back to volunteering in the Washington D.C. area," she said. "I took any opportunity that came along, and I was given an intern position at the Helsinki Commission."She said her work with the congressional commission, which is responsible for monitoring and encouraging international human rights compliance, taught her about many issues involving the Central Asian Turkmen, Uzbek, and Kazakh peoples.Faced with even greater challenges when her husband deployed to Afghanistan, leaving her to take charge of the household, she said she still managed to continue her studies and seek out opportunities. She said that while studying the Uzbek language she became involved with the Fulbright program, a renowned academic fellowship whose membership has included heads of state, congressmen, and Olympic athletes.The State Department calls its Fulbright Student Award the largest international exchange program offering opportunities for students to undertake international graduate study. Rosella said the program seemed ideal for her."I thought it would be very exciting," she said. "It would finally be something that would match what I'd learned with a practice."The program required her to choose a country in which to pursue that practice. She said she chose Tajikistan because she felt women there were most affected by changes after the fall of the Soviets.While her formal education prepared her for the job, she said the Army taught her how to do something equally vital to her new mission."Move to a new place and adapt," she said. "My 16 years as an Army spouse prepared me so much for what I'm doing now. Because of it, as they say in Italy, I'm not lost in a glass of water."Rosella said working, studying, and raising a family has not always been easy, but that she feels strongly about giving back to America because it has given her so much."I'm not sure what's ahead, but I can feel that it's going to be good," she said."I'm very proud of my wife," said Mike Glenn. "I'm most proud of the example she has set for our children. They see in her the ability to jump right in and do something without reservations. She has shown that life is full of experiences ready for the taking."
Rosella Glenn (right) helps a Tajik woman harvest cotton in a field outside of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Oct. 25. Glenn said Tajik women in the central Asian nation often must work hard to make enough money to support their families, sometimes without the aid of a husband. Glenn credits the experience she has gained during 16 years married to Col. Mike Glenn, deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division, for much of her success as an expert in international affairs.
By Sgt. Micah E. Clare. U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office
Rosella Glenn helps a Tajik woman harvest cotton in a field outside of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Oct. 25. Glenn said Tajik women in the central Asian nation often must work hard to make enough money to support their families, sometimes without the aid of a husband. Glenn credits the experience she has gained during 16 years married to Col. Mike Glenn, deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division, for much of her success as an expert in international affairs. Rosella Glenn doesn't live like most Army wives.She wakes up in the morning and checks to see if the lights turn on. If the heat has gone out again she decides whether to drain the radiators. She tries the water to see if it's working and clean enough to take a shower. Sometimes she takes a walk and chats with farmers and villagers at the local bazaar in Tajik, Uzbek and Russian.This is Glenn's life in the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan. Just north of Afghanistan, the country is the poorest of the former Soviet republics. Her job there is to teach people about America and conduct research about the hardships the nation's women face.It's a far cry from her own humble roots in northern Italy to her mission today as a U.S. State Department expert in international affairs, from small-town girl with a limited grasp of English to Fulbright scholar. And Glenn gives much of the credit for her success to the opportunities and experiences provided by 16 years as an Army spouse."There are always challenges," she said. "But within the military community there is always help. Even moving around; it allows you to think outside the box, to adapt to different cultures and environments. You just have to learn to organize your life in a way that gives you support."When Glenn left Borgosesia, Italy, at age 22 to live with her new husband, then an Army captain stationed at Hohenfels, Germany's Combat Maneuver Training Center as an observer/controller, she immediately faced obstacles because of her limited English."I spoke what broken English I learned in high school with my husband, but it was overwhelming speaking with a lot of people at once," she said.In a new environment with many challenges ahead, Glenn said she realized her situation actually offered unique opportunities."The military always has something for you to do, even if it's just volunteering," she said.So that's what she did. One day before leaving for a field exercise, her husband took her to Army Community Service to see what they could offer."The best way for someone to get around handicaps like a language barrier, or simply not having friends or knowing the area, is to dive right in and volunteer," said Col. Mike Glenn, now serving as deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division here.While she may have been new to life as a U.S. Army spouse, Rosella discovered she had skills ACS could use."Back in Italy, I had some background in fine arts," she said. "ACS started me off designing flyers, which led to learning computer skills, which then opened up doors to marketing and advertising."Eventually volunteering led to a paid job as a marketing specialist. At the same time she began studying German affairs and started the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.When the Glenns were later reassigned to Garmisch, Germany, Rosella said she was compelled to return to volunteering, and a new window of opportunity opened. "While I volunteered at the visual information branch I saw published material that dealt with former Soviet republics. I then saw and met people from those countries coming to Garmisch to attend conferences and courses," she said. "I was so curious, because I've always enjoyed reading about world affairs and watching news."That curiosity drove her to continue her formal education in foreign affairs, even as she added raising two boys, Bryan and Martin, to her challenging regimen.During the family's next tour in Virginia she enrolled at George Mason University, earned her bachelor's degree in global affairs with a focus on Russia and Central Asia, and began work on a master's. Unfortunately, delays in her citizenship application process pushed back her goal of working for the U.S. government. Yet she said even that delay led to opportunity."I had to go back to volunteering in the Washington D.C. area," she said. "I took any opportunity that came along, and I was given an intern position at the Helsinki Commission."She said her work with the congressional commission, which is responsible for monitoring and encouraging international human rights compliance, taught her about many issues involving the Central Asian Turkmen, Uzbek, and Kazakh peoples.Faced with even greater challenges when her husband deployed to Afghanistan, leaving her to take charge of the household, she said she still managed to continue her studies and seek out opportunities. She said that while studying the Uzbek language she became involved with the Fulbright program, a renowned academic fellowship whose membership has included heads of state, congressmen, and Olympic athletes.The State Department calls its Fulbright Student Award the largest international exchange program offering opportunities for students to undertake international graduate study. Rosella said the program seemed ideal for her."I thought it would be very exciting," she said. "It would finally be something that would match what I'd learned with a practice."The program required her to choose a country in which to pursue that practice. She said she chose Tajikistan because she felt women there were most affected by changes after the fall of the Soviets.While her formal education prepared her for the job, she said the Army taught her how to do something equally vital to her new mission."Move to a new place and adapt," she said. "My 16 years as an Army spouse prepared me so much for what I'm doing now. Because of it, as they say in Italy, I'm not lost in a glass of water."Rosella said working, studying, and raising a family has not always been easy, but that she feels strongly about giving back to America because it has given her so much."I'm not sure what's ahead, but I can feel that it's going to be good," she said."I'm very proud of my wife," said Mike Glenn. "I'm most proud of the example she has set for our children. They see in her the ability to jump right in and do something without reservations. She has shown that life is full of experiences ready for the taking."
Rosella Glenn (right) helps a Tajik woman harvest cotton in a field outside of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Oct. 25. Glenn said Tajik women in the central Asian nation often must work hard to make enough money to support their families, sometimes without the aid of a husband. Glenn credits the experience she has gained during 16 years married to Col. Mike Glenn, deputy chief of U.S. Army Europe's global rebasing and restructuring division, for much of her success as an expert in international affairs.
Memorial
Paratroopers honor fallen comradeBy Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B Jan 19, 2009 - 5:59:23 PM
Blackanthem Military News
Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ward, a close friend of Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer, renders a salute in tribute to his fallen comrade during a memorial ceremony Jan. 16 at Forward Operating Base Loyalty. Ward said Bauer was the best Soldier he had ever seen. Bauer served as a squad leader for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. He was killed when an improvised-explosive device struck his vehicle during a combat patrol Jan. 10 in Baghdad. Bauer, a native of Loveland, Colo., is survived by his wife, Kari, mother, Connie Haddock, and father, Gregory Bauer. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B)FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Paratrooper, who was killed in eastern Baghdad, was honored for his ultimate sacrifice during a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Jan. 16. Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer, a 24-year-old infantryman from Loveland, Colo., was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed in action when an improvised-explosive device struck his vehicle during a combat patrol Jan. 10 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. He was serving on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."I don't know where America finds men like Staff Sgt. Bauer," said Capt. Darren Glenn, Bauer's commander company. "But I do know that America is the land of the free because of the brave. I am indebted to Justin for his service to his country. He will be truly missed."His fellow Paratroopers also remembered him as being a true leader and friend."I will never forget Staff Sgt. Bauer, his leadership and what he meant to us," said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ward, Bauer's platoon sergeant and personal friend. "I will never forget the true friend I loved and admired." Bauer enlisted in the Army in October 2004 as an infantryman. He completed his one-unit station training and Airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga. Along with his two deployments to Iraq, Bauer supported Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, La., in September 2005. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze service star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachute Badge. He is survived by his wife, Kari, his mother, Connie Haddock, and his father, Gregory Bauer.
Blackanthem Military News
Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ward, a close friend of Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer, renders a salute in tribute to his fallen comrade during a memorial ceremony Jan. 16 at Forward Operating Base Loyalty. Ward said Bauer was the best Soldier he had ever seen. Bauer served as a squad leader for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. He was killed when an improvised-explosive device struck his vehicle during a combat patrol Jan. 10 in Baghdad. Bauer, a native of Loveland, Colo., is survived by his wife, Kari, mother, Connie Haddock, and father, Gregory Bauer. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Licea, 3rd BCT PAO, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B)FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Paratrooper, who was killed in eastern Baghdad, was honored for his ultimate sacrifice during a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Jan. 16. Staff Sgt. Justin Bauer, a 24-year-old infantryman from Loveland, Colo., was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. He was killed in action when an improvised-explosive device struck his vehicle during a combat patrol Jan. 10 in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad. He was serving on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."I don't know where America finds men like Staff Sgt. Bauer," said Capt. Darren Glenn, Bauer's commander company. "But I do know that America is the land of the free because of the brave. I am indebted to Justin for his service to his country. He will be truly missed."His fellow Paratroopers also remembered him as being a true leader and friend."I will never forget Staff Sgt. Bauer, his leadership and what he meant to us," said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ward, Bauer's platoon sergeant and personal friend. "I will never forget the true friend I loved and admired." Bauer enlisted in the Army in October 2004 as an infantryman. He completed his one-unit station training and Airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga. Along with his two deployments to Iraq, Bauer supported Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, La., in September 2005. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze service star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachute Badge. He is survived by his wife, Kari, his mother, Connie Haddock, and his father, Gregory Bauer.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
82nd Casualty
While on a route clearance mission, PFC Ricky L. Turner's vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He was pronounced dead at (3:30PM - Iraq time) (7:30AM - US time) on January 16th, 2009 . PFC Ricky L. Turner, 20 years old, of Athens, Alabama was a 21B (Combat Engineer) from A Company. PFC Turner is survived by his wife and stepdaughter, Nyoka Turner and Arissa Stone of Athens, Alabama. His also survived by his mother Regina Turner of Decatur, Alabama and his father James Turner. More details will follow in reference to PFC Turner's memorial service here at Fort Bragg, the expected day will be February 4th at the Division Memorial Chapel.
Army Spouse DVD...
Accessions Command introduces new Army spouse DVD
Jan 09
By Patrick Buffett (U.S. Army Garrison Fort Monroe, Installation Management Command-Northeast)
Photo credit Patricia Radcliffe Diana Wells from the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis, Va., presents Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC Commanding General, one of the first copies of the New Spouse Orientation DVD during a December gathering at USAAC headquarters on Fort Monroe.
FORT MONROE, Va. - If the transition to Army life is challenging for a new recruit, imagine what it's like for the young military spouse who dives into that world without the benefit of initial entry training or easy access to a cadre of subject matter experts.Frequently, the fledgling family member's first experience with the military is arrival at the initial duty station and the start of a crash course in Army acronyms, pay procedures, housing regulations, support agencies and so forth."Now imagine what it's like for them when their Soldiers deploy just months after initial entry training, which is typical these days," noted Jean Mills, Soldier and Family Program Manager for U.S. Army Accessions Command at Fort Monroe. "It means our new spouses are facing more challenges than ever before, and we need to do everything we can to arm them with information that makes that transition easier."Enter the New Spouse Orientation DVD that is scheduled for release this month. It includes an overview of administrative, family and community support programs provided by the Army and listings of available resources that are accessible via the internet. Copies will be distributed by Army recruiting offices and ROTC battalions across the nation."The DVD complements a booklet titled 'Welcome to the Army Family' that our recruiters have been handing out for the past year," said Mills. "The DVD is 35 minutes in length, and it incorporates state-of-the-art features that will appeal to today's Internet generation. For instance, the information is divided into subject matter areas - like Army Community Services, education and Child, Youth and School Services - so the spouse or family member can pick and choose the topics that are of interest to them."Other subjects addressed in the video include TRICARE, housing, legal services, Army Emergency Relief, the Exceptional Family Member Program and more. While the information won't make the viewer a subject matter expert in any particular area of Army life, the USAAC team is hoping it will increase the "comfort factor" to a point where the family member never feels abandoned or isolated from the military community. "As a result of the DVD," Mills noted, "new spouses will feel empowered to walk into any agency and know what is offered and the services to which they are entitled.""That's really the heart of the matter ... doing everything we can to show the support network that's available to these young spouses, even if they're still at home awaiting the move to their first duty station," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC's Commanding General. "It's important to the Soldier as well. You can't stay focused on training if you're constantly worried about family problems at home. The awareness of being able to reach out to support agencies like Army Community Services or important online tools like Military OneSource will mitigate a lot of stress."Helping spouses realize their importance to the Army team is another huge plus for the DVD, the lieutenant general added. Service leaders have gone to great lengths to acknowledge the contributions of families during the ongoing fight against global terrorism. That effort is evidenced by the Army Family Covenant in 2007 and the Army Community Covenant in 2008. Both measures guarantee the nation's commitment to "providing the best quality of life in the world to the best Soldiers and Families in the world." "This DVD will help us show the support network available in Army life in ways a new Army spouse will understand," Freakley said. "Why is this important? ... Because the spouse is a huge factor in the decision-making process on whether to join the Army. Spouse support also is very important to retention. We like to say we enlist Soldiers, but we re-enlist families."Mills offered a final note of thanks to the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis for their production work on the New Spouse Orientation DVD.
Jan 09
By Patrick Buffett (U.S. Army Garrison Fort Monroe, Installation Management Command-Northeast)
Photo credit Patricia Radcliffe Diana Wells from the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis, Va., presents Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC Commanding General, one of the first copies of the New Spouse Orientation DVD during a December gathering at USAAC headquarters on Fort Monroe.
FORT MONROE, Va. - If the transition to Army life is challenging for a new recruit, imagine what it's like for the young military spouse who dives into that world without the benefit of initial entry training or easy access to a cadre of subject matter experts.Frequently, the fledgling family member's first experience with the military is arrival at the initial duty station and the start of a crash course in Army acronyms, pay procedures, housing regulations, support agencies and so forth."Now imagine what it's like for them when their Soldiers deploy just months after initial entry training, which is typical these days," noted Jean Mills, Soldier and Family Program Manager for U.S. Army Accessions Command at Fort Monroe. "It means our new spouses are facing more challenges than ever before, and we need to do everything we can to arm them with information that makes that transition easier."Enter the New Spouse Orientation DVD that is scheduled for release this month. It includes an overview of administrative, family and community support programs provided by the Army and listings of available resources that are accessible via the internet. Copies will be distributed by Army recruiting offices and ROTC battalions across the nation."The DVD complements a booklet titled 'Welcome to the Army Family' that our recruiters have been handing out for the past year," said Mills. "The DVD is 35 minutes in length, and it incorporates state-of-the-art features that will appeal to today's Internet generation. For instance, the information is divided into subject matter areas - like Army Community Services, education and Child, Youth and School Services - so the spouse or family member can pick and choose the topics that are of interest to them."Other subjects addressed in the video include TRICARE, housing, legal services, Army Emergency Relief, the Exceptional Family Member Program and more. While the information won't make the viewer a subject matter expert in any particular area of Army life, the USAAC team is hoping it will increase the "comfort factor" to a point where the family member never feels abandoned or isolated from the military community. "As a result of the DVD," Mills noted, "new spouses will feel empowered to walk into any agency and know what is offered and the services to which they are entitled.""That's really the heart of the matter ... doing everything we can to show the support network that's available to these young spouses, even if they're still at home awaiting the move to their first duty station," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, USAAC's Commanding General. "It's important to the Soldier as well. You can't stay focused on training if you're constantly worried about family problems at home. The awareness of being able to reach out to support agencies like Army Community Services or important online tools like Military OneSource will mitigate a lot of stress."Helping spouses realize their importance to the Army team is another huge plus for the DVD, the lieutenant general added. Service leaders have gone to great lengths to acknowledge the contributions of families during the ongoing fight against global terrorism. That effort is evidenced by the Army Family Covenant in 2007 and the Army Community Covenant in 2008. Both measures guarantee the nation's commitment to "providing the best quality of life in the world to the best Soldiers and Families in the world." "This DVD will help us show the support network available in Army life in ways a new Army spouse will understand," Freakley said. "Why is this important? ... Because the spouse is a huge factor in the decision-making process on whether to join the Army. Spouse support also is very important to retention. We like to say we enlist Soldiers, but we re-enlist families."Mills offered a final note of thanks to the Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis for their production work on the New Spouse Orientation DVD.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Fun With Spouses
Military Spouse Employment Barriers
Terry Stevens November 03, 2008
A Military member's active duty status has always played havoc with their working Spouses career opportunities and development -- and may continue to do so.
The number of military spouses, working outside the home, has grown to about 70 percent and has, in many cases, become an absolute necessity to maintain a desired standard of living.
The military moves active duty members with little regard to their family situation -- except in special cases like Join Spouse, Children Have a Potential (CHAP), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other types of hardship. The move order is simply to get the most eligible or best qualified military member into a current or projected vacancy -- regardless of where that vacancy may be.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently acknowledged that frequent deployments in support of ongoing combat operations and permanent change of station moves has brought about the highest level of stress on military families since World War II.
It is not only the combat stress factor that impacts military families it is also the loss of income and the interruption of the spouse's career development that comes with many PCS moves.
Many military spouses are professionals in their own right; Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Lawyers, Business Leaders, Certified Public Accountants, Teachers and Counselors just to name a few.
Their careers are immediately placed on hold when the PCS notification comes. Many civilian jobs require advance departure notices and when those are given the employer starts an immediate search for a replacement. So, while the military move may not be for months, the spouse may lose their job much earlier.
According to testimony given to the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, June 19, 2008, if a new military assignment is to a state where income tax is higher, the spouse could lose as much as 10% of their income. In addition, a RAND Corporation study found the average spouse income shrinks by more than $5,500 annually when compared to a civilian counterpart because of moving.
The Department of Defense is not unsympathetic to the working spouse's situation and tries to improve their circumstance. There are also avenues for working spouses to get help from their own military service. All branches have types of "Family Support Centers," both at the losing and gaining bases. Support centers provide counseling, resume service and job placement assistance.
"The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative (Pilot Program) provides assistance to military spouses seeking to gain the skills and credentials necessary to begin or advance their career."
Career Advancement Accounts pay the costs of training and education that enable spouses to earn a degree or credential in in-demand, portable fields in most communities.
Military Home Front is the official Department of Defense website for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers.
The National Military Family Association is another great site to assist with spouse employment.
There are also other sites designed to help transition military working spouses, such as:Military OneSource andArmy OneSource
President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order on September 30, 2008, to make Federal Employment easier to obtain for Military Spouses. The order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster.
There are numerous directives that provide priority placement for military spouses, including the following:
Section 10, United States Code 1784, "Employment Opportunities for Military Spouses," January 1997
Public Law 99-145, Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986, Section 806, "Employment Opportunities for Military Spouses," November 8, 1985, as amended
Public Law 99-661, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, November 14, 1986
Public Law 100-180, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989, December 4, 1987
Executive Order 12721, "Eligibility of Overseas Employees for Noncompetitive Appointments," July 30, 1990
Another source for employment preferences is: Priority Placement Program (PPP) Guidance and Information. This site also includes some customer-friendly fact sheets.
Currently, the Military Spouse Preference Program does not apply to:
Positions in the excepted service
Positions filled from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) certificates or under agency Delegated Examining Unit or Direct Hire Authority procedures and Non-appropriated fund (NAF) positions
Positions in foreign areas, whether in the competitive or excepted service
Positions filled under component career program procedures
Positions filled at the full performance level that are covered by a mandatory mobility agreement
Despite the efforts of the military departments and DoD, many professionals will lose vesting time for retirement, career progression opportunities, or become unemployed due to accompanying an active duty member on PCS.
Many military spouses are forced to accept employment outside their area of professional expertise. While this may be better than nothing, it degrades the spouse's professional qualifications, resume and competitiveness when they return to an area where their specialty is in demand.
Civilian Personnel Offices could pave the way for employees in transit from one DoD installation to another by providing advanced applications, qualifications and recommendations to fill any related vacancy -- or projected vacancy, for which the spouse is qualified, at the new location.
Home basing (of military personnel) would provide a better solution to the problem, but would also create larger problems for the military in their equitable distribution of human resources. Unfortunately, there has never been a good answer to the working military spouse riddle. Their best hope is to take advantage of existing employment preference opportunities and push for their expansion.
Copyright 2009 Terry Stevens. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.Related Articles
Terry Stevens November 03, 2008
A Military member's active duty status has always played havoc with their working Spouses career opportunities and development -- and may continue to do so.
The number of military spouses, working outside the home, has grown to about 70 percent and has, in many cases, become an absolute necessity to maintain a desired standard of living.
The military moves active duty members with little regard to their family situation -- except in special cases like Join Spouse, Children Have a Potential (CHAP), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other types of hardship. The move order is simply to get the most eligible or best qualified military member into a current or projected vacancy -- regardless of where that vacancy may be.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently acknowledged that frequent deployments in support of ongoing combat operations and permanent change of station moves has brought about the highest level of stress on military families since World War II.
It is not only the combat stress factor that impacts military families it is also the loss of income and the interruption of the spouse's career development that comes with many PCS moves.
Many military spouses are professionals in their own right; Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Lawyers, Business Leaders, Certified Public Accountants, Teachers and Counselors just to name a few.
Their careers are immediately placed on hold when the PCS notification comes. Many civilian jobs require advance departure notices and when those are given the employer starts an immediate search for a replacement. So, while the military move may not be for months, the spouse may lose their job much earlier.
According to testimony given to the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, June 19, 2008, if a new military assignment is to a state where income tax is higher, the spouse could lose as much as 10% of their income. In addition, a RAND Corporation study found the average spouse income shrinks by more than $5,500 annually when compared to a civilian counterpart because of moving.
The Department of Defense is not unsympathetic to the working spouse's situation and tries to improve their circumstance. There are also avenues for working spouses to get help from their own military service. All branches have types of "Family Support Centers," both at the losing and gaining bases. Support centers provide counseling, resume service and job placement assistance.
"The Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative (Pilot Program) provides assistance to military spouses seeking to gain the skills and credentials necessary to begin or advance their career."
Career Advancement Accounts pay the costs of training and education that enable spouses to earn a degree or credential in in-demand, portable fields in most communities.
Military Home Front is the official Department of Defense website for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers.
The National Military Family Association is another great site to assist with spouse employment.
There are also other sites designed to help transition military working spouses, such as:Military OneSource andArmy OneSource
President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order on September 30, 2008, to make Federal Employment easier to obtain for Military Spouses. The order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster.
There are numerous directives that provide priority placement for military spouses, including the following:
Section 10, United States Code 1784, "Employment Opportunities for Military Spouses," January 1997
Public Law 99-145, Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986, Section 806, "Employment Opportunities for Military Spouses," November 8, 1985, as amended
Public Law 99-661, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, November 14, 1986
Public Law 100-180, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989, December 4, 1987
Executive Order 12721, "Eligibility of Overseas Employees for Noncompetitive Appointments," July 30, 1990
Another source for employment preferences is: Priority Placement Program (PPP) Guidance and Information. This site also includes some customer-friendly fact sheets.
Currently, the Military Spouse Preference Program does not apply to:
Positions in the excepted service
Positions filled from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) certificates or under agency Delegated Examining Unit or Direct Hire Authority procedures and Non-appropriated fund (NAF) positions
Positions in foreign areas, whether in the competitive or excepted service
Positions filled under component career program procedures
Positions filled at the full performance level that are covered by a mandatory mobility agreement
Despite the efforts of the military departments and DoD, many professionals will lose vesting time for retirement, career progression opportunities, or become unemployed due to accompanying an active duty member on PCS.
Many military spouses are forced to accept employment outside their area of professional expertise. While this may be better than nothing, it degrades the spouse's professional qualifications, resume and competitiveness when they return to an area where their specialty is in demand.
Civilian Personnel Offices could pave the way for employees in transit from one DoD installation to another by providing advanced applications, qualifications and recommendations to fill any related vacancy -- or projected vacancy, for which the spouse is qualified, at the new location.
Home basing (of military personnel) would provide a better solution to the problem, but would also create larger problems for the military in their equitable distribution of human resources. Unfortunately, there has never been a good answer to the working military spouse riddle. Their best hope is to take advantage of existing employment preference opportunities and push for their expansion.
Copyright 2009 Terry Stevens. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.Related Articles
Army Times PTSD Article
VA diagnosing higher rates of PTSD
By William H. McMichael - Staff writerPosted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 16:18:25 EST
More than 44 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who have sought treatment at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility have been diagnosed with one or more possible mental disorders, according to the agency’s most recent summary of veteran health care.
All told, a total of 178,483 veterans who came to VA for help were diagnosed with possible mental disorders from fiscal 2002 through September 2008, according to the January report of the VHA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards.
Of that total, 92,998 service members, or 23 percent, were diagnosed with possible post-traumatic stress disorder, while 63,009, or 16 percent, were found to have possible depressive disorders.
The VA figures overlap to an unknown extent because officials say a veteran may have been diagnosed with more than one disorder.
In addition, the total of those who have come to VA for health care is a limited sample of the 1.7 million service members who have served in the two wars — as of Sept. 30, 2008, 400,304 war veterans had sought such treatment over the past seven years, or about 24 percent of the totals number of troops who have served in the conflicts.
Because the service members seeking treatment were not randomly selected and are less than one-quarter of the total population of veterans of the wars, VA cautions that they are not a true representative sample.
VA also says that up to one-third of its diagnoses might not have been confirmed because they were provisional pending further evaluation, and that revising records is a resource-intensive effort rarely done in the public or private sector.
At the same time, the number of VA’s possible diagnoses of PTSD has risen “quite steadily” over the past seven years. And, said Antonette Zeiss, VA’s deputy director for mental health services, “there’s a steeper rate of increase between each of the quarterly reports as time goes on.”
In addition, the 23 percent of veterans seen by VA who were initially diagnosed with PTSD, Zeiss agreed, is generally in line with outside estimates.
In an April study by the Rand Corp., nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans surveyed reported symptoms of PTSD or major depression. Many of those who have served in the wars, Rand noted, have been exposed to prolonged periods of combat-related stress or traumatic events.
Rand also found that many service members say they don’t seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they fear the repercussions will harm their careers. “We know there are guys who desperately need help who aren’t coming to us,” said Phil Budahn, a VA spokesman.
And even among those who do seek help for PTSD or major depression, Rand found, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider “minimally adequate” for their illnesses.
Rand concluded that a “major national effort is needed to expand and improve the capacity of the mental health system to provide effective care to service members and veterans.”
Anumber of causes could be behind the increase in VA diagnoses, Zeiss said: multiple and prolonged deployments to the wars; better screening by VA; efforts by VA and the military to destigmatize PTSD; and veterans possibly choosing VA care over other options.
Other possible mental health diagnoses of returning vets, according to the VA report, were neurotic disorders (50,569 veterans), affective psychoses (35,937), non-dependent abuse of drugs (27,246) and alcohol dependence syndrome (16,217).
VA notes that while the diagnoses are of war veterans, it cannot be certain that all of the conditions are war-related.
But, said Zeiss, “most of these conditions would not have been present prior to being in the military. In VA, we assume that these are veterans coming to us who have had significant stresses as a result of their involvement with the military and in war. And we want to treat them and respect that there’s a possibility that these are due to their experience in the military.”
Despite that and the other caveats, Zeiss said the diagnoses statistics “tell us what level of demand for services there is likely to be.”
Since the number of VA’s PTSD diagnoses is on the rise — and, she noted, represent only about half of all mental health disorder diagnoses — “we also need to sustain an overall mental health system that can treat the whole range of mental problems.”
The figures, she said, also support a VA decision made three years ago to start training mental health providers to be able to provide the strongest evidence-based treatments for PTSD, such as cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy, and application of medications for PTSD symptoms.
Overall, possible mental health disorders ranked slightly behind disorders of the joints and back; VA said that about 49 percent of those veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with possible musculoskeletal problems.
A category called “symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions” — a collection of mostly normal symptoms that don’t have an immediate, obvious cause during a clinic visit — was third on the list, with 42 percent of veterans seeking VA health care receiving this possible diagnosis.
These were followed by diagnoses of possible diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (36.6 percent), digestive problems (32.4 percent), and diseases of the endocrine, nutritional and metabolic systems (23.2 percent).
As with the mental health diagnoses, veterans could have been diagnosed with more than one condition, VA noted.
The vast majority of the 400,304 war veterans who came to VA were seen as outpatients.
Of the roughly 1.7 million service members who have served in the two wars, 945,423 veterans have become eligible for VA health care — 483,136 active-duty troops, and 462,287 reservists. Some 209,099 and 191,205, respectively, have actually sought care at VA.
The latest VA figures represent 42 percent of the care-eligible population. Most — 88 percent — were male; 50 percent were ages 20-29; 92 percent were enlisted; 52 percent were active-duty; and the vast majority, 64 percent, were Army soldiers.
Just 13 percent of veterans who sought VA treatment were Marines, and just 12 percent were sailors and airmen, respectively.
By William H. McMichael - Staff writerPosted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 16:18:25 EST
More than 44 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who have sought treatment at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility have been diagnosed with one or more possible mental disorders, according to the agency’s most recent summary of veteran health care.
All told, a total of 178,483 veterans who came to VA for help were diagnosed with possible mental disorders from fiscal 2002 through September 2008, according to the January report of the VHA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards.
Of that total, 92,998 service members, or 23 percent, were diagnosed with possible post-traumatic stress disorder, while 63,009, or 16 percent, were found to have possible depressive disorders.
The VA figures overlap to an unknown extent because officials say a veteran may have been diagnosed with more than one disorder.
In addition, the total of those who have come to VA for health care is a limited sample of the 1.7 million service members who have served in the two wars — as of Sept. 30, 2008, 400,304 war veterans had sought such treatment over the past seven years, or about 24 percent of the totals number of troops who have served in the conflicts.
Because the service members seeking treatment were not randomly selected and are less than one-quarter of the total population of veterans of the wars, VA cautions that they are not a true representative sample.
VA also says that up to one-third of its diagnoses might not have been confirmed because they were provisional pending further evaluation, and that revising records is a resource-intensive effort rarely done in the public or private sector.
At the same time, the number of VA’s possible diagnoses of PTSD has risen “quite steadily” over the past seven years. And, said Antonette Zeiss, VA’s deputy director for mental health services, “there’s a steeper rate of increase between each of the quarterly reports as time goes on.”
In addition, the 23 percent of veterans seen by VA who were initially diagnosed with PTSD, Zeiss agreed, is generally in line with outside estimates.
In an April study by the Rand Corp., nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans surveyed reported symptoms of PTSD or major depression. Many of those who have served in the wars, Rand noted, have been exposed to prolonged periods of combat-related stress or traumatic events.
Rand also found that many service members say they don’t seek treatment for psychological illnesses because they fear the repercussions will harm their careers. “We know there are guys who desperately need help who aren’t coming to us,” said Phil Budahn, a VA spokesman.
And even among those who do seek help for PTSD or major depression, Rand found, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider “minimally adequate” for their illnesses.
Rand concluded that a “major national effort is needed to expand and improve the capacity of the mental health system to provide effective care to service members and veterans.”
Anumber of causes could be behind the increase in VA diagnoses, Zeiss said: multiple and prolonged deployments to the wars; better screening by VA; efforts by VA and the military to destigmatize PTSD; and veterans possibly choosing VA care over other options.
Other possible mental health diagnoses of returning vets, according to the VA report, were neurotic disorders (50,569 veterans), affective psychoses (35,937), non-dependent abuse of drugs (27,246) and alcohol dependence syndrome (16,217).
VA notes that while the diagnoses are of war veterans, it cannot be certain that all of the conditions are war-related.
But, said Zeiss, “most of these conditions would not have been present prior to being in the military. In VA, we assume that these are veterans coming to us who have had significant stresses as a result of their involvement with the military and in war. And we want to treat them and respect that there’s a possibility that these are due to their experience in the military.”
Despite that and the other caveats, Zeiss said the diagnoses statistics “tell us what level of demand for services there is likely to be.”
Since the number of VA’s PTSD diagnoses is on the rise — and, she noted, represent only about half of all mental health disorder diagnoses — “we also need to sustain an overall mental health system that can treat the whole range of mental problems.”
The figures, she said, also support a VA decision made three years ago to start training mental health providers to be able to provide the strongest evidence-based treatments for PTSD, such as cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy, and application of medications for PTSD symptoms.
Overall, possible mental health disorders ranked slightly behind disorders of the joints and back; VA said that about 49 percent of those veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were diagnosed with possible musculoskeletal problems.
A category called “symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions” — a collection of mostly normal symptoms that don’t have an immediate, obvious cause during a clinic visit — was third on the list, with 42 percent of veterans seeking VA health care receiving this possible diagnosis.
These were followed by diagnoses of possible diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (36.6 percent), digestive problems (32.4 percent), and diseases of the endocrine, nutritional and metabolic systems (23.2 percent).
As with the mental health diagnoses, veterans could have been diagnosed with more than one condition, VA noted.
The vast majority of the 400,304 war veterans who came to VA were seen as outpatients.
Of the roughly 1.7 million service members who have served in the two wars, 945,423 veterans have become eligible for VA health care — 483,136 active-duty troops, and 462,287 reservists. Some 209,099 and 191,205, respectively, have actually sought care at VA.
The latest VA figures represent 42 percent of the care-eligible population. Most — 88 percent — were male; 50 percent were ages 20-29; 92 percent were enlisted; 52 percent were active-duty; and the vast majority, 64 percent, were Army soldiers.
Just 13 percent of veterans who sought VA treatment were Marines, and just 12 percent were sailors and airmen, respectively.
No End in Sight...
Obama to Face Major Troop Decisions
January 17, 2009Associated Press
-->
WASHINGTON - Lingering decisions on how quickly the Pentagon can get U.S. forces out of Iraq and into Afghanistan are being pushed off until after the Obama administration takes over next week as military commanders continue to wrangle over where the troops are needed most.
By the end of this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to approve sending more Marines to southern Afghanistan, effectively lowering their numbers in Iraq's western Anbar province, and he may also endorse deploying an Army brigade equipped with armored Stryker vehicles. Senior military officials say there is general agreement to cut back on the 22,000 Marines in Iraq, but Army officials have concerns about how to free up the Stryker unit.
As the Pentagon looks to double the existing force in Afghanistan, the overall cast of the military's growing force in Afghanistan is becoming clearer: Commanders want to beef up the expeditionary units and trainers in the south and east with enough new troops to stem the violence without becoming an occupying force that would alienate the Afghan population.
Their challenge, however, is to get troops out into the hundreds of tiny villages in the volatile southern region, where the Taliban insurgency has been centered. To do that, Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has asked for more mobile forces and believes the strykers will allow Soldiers to move more easily along the rugged trails to the widely dispersed tribal enclaves.
Stryker brigades come outfitted with several hundred eight-wheeled, 19-ton Stryker vehicles, which offer greater protection than a Humvee and are more maneuverable than the heavily armored mine-resistant vehicles that are being used across Iraq.
With generals heading the Iraq war reluctant to give up troops, and those in Afghanistan demanding more help, Pentagon officials have been struggling to stretch an already-strained force to meet both needs. But as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office, there is already increasing pressure to more rapidly reduce forces in Iraq, to meet Obama's stated intention to make Afghanistan a higher priority.
A key unanswered question - which will ultimately determine the size and makeup of the force - is what the Obama administration's goal in Afghanistan will be.
Will he continue President George W. Bush's emphasis on spreading freedom and democracy? That would create the need for an extensive, lengthy and diverse effort to stabilize and modernize the weak Afghan government, build infrastructure and require a commitment for decades or more.
Or will he say the mission is simply to do enough military damage there to ensure that Taliban, al-Qaida and other terror groups in Afghanistan and along the Pakistan border are dismantled or defeated enough to prevent another attack on America?
In an interview during his final days in office, Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, told The Associated Press that he believes the fight for democracy must go on, and that more special operations forces are needed in Afghanistan.
"I think it's important for this new administration not to lose the emphasis on the importance of freedom and democracy as an element of succeeding in Iraq and Afghanistan, and succeeding in the war on terror," Hadley said.
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters that Obama and his national security team are still discussing their Afghanistan strategy and how it will take shape.
Fundamentally, Morrell said, it will be a counterinsurgency fight and the next president, advised by Gates and his military leaders, "will ultimately come to some understanding about where this president wants to lead the mission in Afghanistan."
A second challenge, is how to meet the need for various support forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Under a U.S.-Iraq security agreement, American combat forces must be out of Iraqi cities by June, and out of the country by 2011. But support forces - ranging from intelligence and surveillance experts to engineers and logistics personnel - are specialists the Iraqis don't have and will continue to need.
At the same time, those are the same forces McKiernan needs in Afghanistan to build the infrastructure for his growing force and to enhance surveillance, particularly along the Pakistan border.
Pentagon officials have said they plan to send up to 30,000 additional troops to the Afghan war, including four combat brigades and thousands of support forces. Of those, Gates said three brigades and some of the support troops will go in by summer. A brigade is roughly 3,500 troops.
Even as decisions on major units have been delayed, Gates this week approved the deployment of about 2,000 new support troops to Afghanistan, including about 660 Navy sailors from a construction and engineering unit based in Gulfport, Miss. The others include military police, medical personnel and other logistics specialists, senior military officials said.
The sailors - known as Seabees - can deploy quickly for emergencies or disasters to build roads, bridges and other facilities. A few hundred Seabees serving in Kuwait have already been transferred to Afghanistan, according to the Navy.
There are currently 33,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including 15,000 with the NATO-led coalition and 18,000 fighting insurgents and training the Afghan army and police. There are 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq - still more than the total there before the force build-up which began in early 2007, and is credited in part for the decline in violence.
Future troops levels also depend on the outcome of several military reviews of the Afghanistan strategy that are under way or recently completed, including a key administration study that Bush officials expect to deliver to the Obama White House.
By the end of the month, Gates is expected to approve the deployment of the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade to Afghanistan. But senior officials say they are still working out the numbers. A MEB can vary in size and makeup, and can swell to as many as 20,000 Marines, although a total that high is unlikely.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
January 17, 2009Associated Press
-->
WASHINGTON - Lingering decisions on how quickly the Pentagon can get U.S. forces out of Iraq and into Afghanistan are being pushed off until after the Obama administration takes over next week as military commanders continue to wrangle over where the troops are needed most.
By the end of this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to approve sending more Marines to southern Afghanistan, effectively lowering their numbers in Iraq's western Anbar province, and he may also endorse deploying an Army brigade equipped with armored Stryker vehicles. Senior military officials say there is general agreement to cut back on the 22,000 Marines in Iraq, but Army officials have concerns about how to free up the Stryker unit.
As the Pentagon looks to double the existing force in Afghanistan, the overall cast of the military's growing force in Afghanistan is becoming clearer: Commanders want to beef up the expeditionary units and trainers in the south and east with enough new troops to stem the violence without becoming an occupying force that would alienate the Afghan population.
Their challenge, however, is to get troops out into the hundreds of tiny villages in the volatile southern region, where the Taliban insurgency has been centered. To do that, Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has asked for more mobile forces and believes the strykers will allow Soldiers to move more easily along the rugged trails to the widely dispersed tribal enclaves.
Stryker brigades come outfitted with several hundred eight-wheeled, 19-ton Stryker vehicles, which offer greater protection than a Humvee and are more maneuverable than the heavily armored mine-resistant vehicles that are being used across Iraq.
With generals heading the Iraq war reluctant to give up troops, and those in Afghanistan demanding more help, Pentagon officials have been struggling to stretch an already-strained force to meet both needs. But as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office, there is already increasing pressure to more rapidly reduce forces in Iraq, to meet Obama's stated intention to make Afghanistan a higher priority.
A key unanswered question - which will ultimately determine the size and makeup of the force - is what the Obama administration's goal in Afghanistan will be.
Will he continue President George W. Bush's emphasis on spreading freedom and democracy? That would create the need for an extensive, lengthy and diverse effort to stabilize and modernize the weak Afghan government, build infrastructure and require a commitment for decades or more.
Or will he say the mission is simply to do enough military damage there to ensure that Taliban, al-Qaida and other terror groups in Afghanistan and along the Pakistan border are dismantled or defeated enough to prevent another attack on America?
In an interview during his final days in office, Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, told The Associated Press that he believes the fight for democracy must go on, and that more special operations forces are needed in Afghanistan.
"I think it's important for this new administration not to lose the emphasis on the importance of freedom and democracy as an element of succeeding in Iraq and Afghanistan, and succeeding in the war on terror," Hadley said.
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters that Obama and his national security team are still discussing their Afghanistan strategy and how it will take shape.
Fundamentally, Morrell said, it will be a counterinsurgency fight and the next president, advised by Gates and his military leaders, "will ultimately come to some understanding about where this president wants to lead the mission in Afghanistan."
A second challenge, is how to meet the need for various support forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Under a U.S.-Iraq security agreement, American combat forces must be out of Iraqi cities by June, and out of the country by 2011. But support forces - ranging from intelligence and surveillance experts to engineers and logistics personnel - are specialists the Iraqis don't have and will continue to need.
At the same time, those are the same forces McKiernan needs in Afghanistan to build the infrastructure for his growing force and to enhance surveillance, particularly along the Pakistan border.
Pentagon officials have said they plan to send up to 30,000 additional troops to the Afghan war, including four combat brigades and thousands of support forces. Of those, Gates said three brigades and some of the support troops will go in by summer. A brigade is roughly 3,500 troops.
Even as decisions on major units have been delayed, Gates this week approved the deployment of about 2,000 new support troops to Afghanistan, including about 660 Navy sailors from a construction and engineering unit based in Gulfport, Miss. The others include military police, medical personnel and other logistics specialists, senior military officials said.
The sailors - known as Seabees - can deploy quickly for emergencies or disasters to build roads, bridges and other facilities. A few hundred Seabees serving in Kuwait have already been transferred to Afghanistan, according to the Navy.
There are currently 33,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including 15,000 with the NATO-led coalition and 18,000 fighting insurgents and training the Afghan army and police. There are 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq - still more than the total there before the force build-up which began in early 2007, and is credited in part for the decline in violence.
Future troops levels also depend on the outcome of several military reviews of the Afghanistan strategy that are under way or recently completed, including a key administration study that Bush officials expect to deliver to the Obama White House.
By the end of the month, Gates is expected to approve the deployment of the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade to Afghanistan. But senior officials say they are still working out the numbers. A MEB can vary in size and makeup, and can swell to as many as 20,000 Marines, although a total that high is unlikely.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Another ripple in the MRAP adventure
Race for Lighter MRAP Heating Up
Aviation Week's DTI Bettina H. Chavanne January 10, 2009This article first appeared in AviationWeek.com.
Competitors for the U.S. military's Multipurpose All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV) have a Jan. 12 deadline to submit proposals, ushering in a new generation of vehicles sporting all the survivability of an Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle without MRAP-like bulk.
Navistar Defense remained mum about its proposal. President and CEO Archie Massicotte told Aviation Week only that the company is "locked and loaded" on the two prototype vehicles due Feb. 23. The company hopes its experience in the MRAP market will give it an edge in the MATV competition. Since May 2007, Navistar has been awarded $3 billion in Defense Department contracts for its MaxxPro MRAP variants.
"You don't just take a commercial truck, paint it green and say it's military," Massicotte said. "Every truck has its own recipe."
Indeed, with MRAP production winding down, companies are looking at creative ways of supporting subsequent generations of manned ground vehicles. Tony Russell, vice president of vehicle armor at BAE, which has supplied more than 5,000 MRAPs to the Army and Marine Corps since the Iraq war made them critical equipment, sees one of the challenges of the future being the sustainment of the relatively expensive MRAP fleet (Aerospace DAILY, Jan. 7).
The first MATV unit is slated to be fielded in fall 2009. Although the government expects to order only about 2,080 vehicles, it has specified a minimum of three test articles and maximum program of 10,000 vehicles in its solicitation notice.
Aviation Week's DTI Bettina H. Chavanne January 10, 2009This article first appeared in AviationWeek.com.
Competitors for the U.S. military's Multipurpose All-Terrain Vehicle (MATV) have a Jan. 12 deadline to submit proposals, ushering in a new generation of vehicles sporting all the survivability of an Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle without MRAP-like bulk.
Navistar Defense remained mum about its proposal. President and CEO Archie Massicotte told Aviation Week only that the company is "locked and loaded" on the two prototype vehicles due Feb. 23. The company hopes its experience in the MRAP market will give it an edge in the MATV competition. Since May 2007, Navistar has been awarded $3 billion in Defense Department contracts for its MaxxPro MRAP variants.
"You don't just take a commercial truck, paint it green and say it's military," Massicotte said. "Every truck has its own recipe."
Indeed, with MRAP production winding down, companies are looking at creative ways of supporting subsequent generations of manned ground vehicles. Tony Russell, vice president of vehicle armor at BAE, which has supplied more than 5,000 MRAPs to the Army and Marine Corps since the Iraq war made them critical equipment, sees one of the challenges of the future being the sustainment of the relatively expensive MRAP fleet (Aerospace DAILY, Jan. 7).
The first MATV unit is slated to be fielded in fall 2009. Although the government expects to order only about 2,080 vehicles, it has specified a minimum of three test articles and maximum program of 10,000 vehicles in its solicitation notice.
Monday, January 12, 2009
January Family News
This comes from the January newsletter and can be found at myarmylifetoo.com:
Welcome to the Family News—the monthly newsletter from Army Community Service (ACS) and MyArmyLifeToo.com, the Army's most comprehensive portal for family members.
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE:
Expansion of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Disability Evaluation System Pilot
Travel Reimbursement Increases for Eligible Veterans
New Treatments for Warriors’ Psychological Care
New SFAC Helping Families of Wounded Warriors
High-Adrenaline Program Reduces Risk Behavior
UMUC Scholarship Fund Will Help Soldiers and Spouses
TroopTube Boosts Morale among Deployed Soldiers
TRICARE Increases Reimbursement Rates for Some Mental Health Benefits
TRICARE Reserve Select Premiums Decrease Significantly
AAFES Participates in Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Overseas Program
Wounded Warrior Resource Center
Long-term Risks Associated with TBI
Expanded Benefits of Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)
Operation Comfort Warriors: Meet the Challenge
2009 Pensions, Disability Compensation Rates
Missing VA Paperwork Protections
VA Plans Revised Process for Appointment Scheduling
Go Direct Deposit with the VA
Grace after Fire—A Resource for Women by Women
National Guard Child Care Subsidy Program
New OPM Hiring Rules for Military Spouses
Spouse Education Assistance Applications
NMFA Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarships
Scholarships for Survivors and Dependents
Say Thanks to the Troops with Xerox
AAFES and the Music Industry Partner Up for Servicemembers and Families
God Bless America Quilt Exhibit on Tour
DOL Updates Family and Medical Leave Regulations
Report Your Consumer Complaints to FTC and DoD Officials
Expansion of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Disability Evaluation System PilotThe Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) have announced an expansion of the Disability Evaluation System (DES) to 19 installations. The pilot is a test of a new process designed to eliminate confusing elements of the current disability processes of the departments. For a list of locations and to view the full news release, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12339.
Travel Reimbursement Increases for Eligible VeteransEffective November 17, 2008, eligible veterans will see an increase in their mileage reimbursement, from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information, visit http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1617.
New Treatments for Warriors’ Psychological CareThe Department of Defense (DoD) is investigating new treatments as part of a focused, sustained campaign to assist wounded warriors suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Military health care is also exploring the use of new therapies for PTSD and TBI. Some $300 million has been invested for research and to help therapists better understand the effects traumatic injury has on the brain. To learn more, go to http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51818.
New SFAC Helping Families of Wounded WarriorsSoldier Family Assistance Centers (SFAC), located at 34 Army installations, are a one-stop shop where wounded warriors and their Families can find assistance and information to help with difficult times. This specialized care system combines all of the components—from Veterans Affairs to specialized medical information—to help Families get the help they need in one location. For more information and to find a location near you, visit https://www.myarmylifetoo.com/sfac.
High-Adrenaline Program Reduces Risk BehaviorThe Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC) has launched a new program, Warrior Adventure Quest (WAQ), that combines existing high adventure outdoor recreation activities with Battlemind training to help soldiers adjust to a calmer paced lifestyle. The program is used to alleviate high rates of risky and destructive behaviors attributed to some redeploying Soldiers. To learn more about WAQ, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51348.
UMUC Scholarship Fund Will Help Soldiers and SpousesThe University of Maryland University College (UMUC) announced a new scholarship fund to assist active-duty, enlisted Servicemembers and their Families. The $200,000 fund will cover the cost of textbooks for enlisted, active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as tuition assistance to spouses. All awards will be need-based, renewable, and contingent upon the student’s academic standing. For more information, visit http://www.ed.umuc.edu/news/news081104.html.
TroopTube Boosts Morale among Deployed ServicemembersServicemembers overseas can now receive near-real-time video “shout-outs” from their stateside loved ones. TroopTube, modeled after the popular video-viewing site, YouTube, is a website managed by the Department of Defense’s Military OneSource information network. The website allows Family events and milestones to be viewed by the deployed Servicemembers, letting them feel closer to home. TroopTube can be accessed at http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com.
TRICARE Increases Reimbursement Rates for Some Mental Health BenefitsTRICARE has increased mental health reimbursement by five percent for 24 mental health services. The psychiatric procedures affected by this change range from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 90804-90829. Other TRICARE payment rates for providers will continue to stay the same until February 2009. All rates for procedures can be found by location at http://www.tricare.mil/cmac.
TRICARE Reserve Select Premiums Decrease SignificantlyTRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) is a premium-based health plan for National Guard and Reserve personnel who are not eligible for or enrolled in Federal Employee Health Benefit plans. Effective January 1, 2009, TRICARE will reduce the monthly premium rates for TRS. Monthly premiums for individuals will drop 44% from $81 to $47.51, and premiums for Families will drop 29% from $253 to $180.17. To read more, visit http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news_print.aspx?fid=480.
AAFES Participates in Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Overseas ProgramThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved overseas Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) bakeries to produce three different breads in support of the WIC Overseas Program. AAFES bakeries in Germany, Korea and Japan are producing whole wheat and whole grain breads for military Families participating in the program. For more information, contact your local WIC Overseas office at http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/SpecialPrograms/WICOverseas/Offices.
Wounded Warrior Resource CenterThe Department of Defense announced establishment of the Wounded Warrior Resource Center through Military OneSource. Assistance provided by the resource center will not replace the specialized wounded warrior programs established by each of the military services, but offer an alternative resource for assistance. Specially trained consultants will ensure consistent, quality customer services. The resource center consultant will maintain communication with the caller until the issue or concern is resolved. Servicemembers and their Families can call 1-800-342-9647 or email their questions or concerns to wwrc@militaryonesource.com.
Long-term Risks Associated with TBIThe Institute of Medicine has released a report which concludes that approximately 22 percent of wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan have a brain injury. The report recommends that every soldier exposed to a blast, even a low-intensity one, be screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—and that all Servicemembers receive pre- and post-deployment brain-function tests. The report also urges the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments to maintain a registry of TBI patients. For more information, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28050479/.
Expanded Benefits of Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)TSGLI benefits have been expanded to include more injuries. Benefits now covered under the insurance program include 15-day hospital visits, treatment of malignant bone tumors, uniplegia (total paralysis of a limb), facial reconstruction, second- and third-degree burns, and new types of amputations and loss of sight for 120 days or more. The changes are retroactive to October 7, 2001. To learn more about the changes made to TSGLI, go to www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/ExpandedBenefits.htm.
Operation Comfort Warriors: Meet the ChallengeThe American Legion is requesting monetary donations to help them purchase nonessential items such as clothing, books, and other items that will help keep wounded Servicemembers comfortable during the recovery process. To make donations online, go to http://www.legion.org/ocw or mail checks to Operation Comfort Warriors, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
2009 Pensions, Disability Compensation RatesIf you are a military veteran with a service-related disability, you may qualify for over $3,100 in tax-free monthly benefits. To learn more, see http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm.
Missing VA Paperwork ProtectionsThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set forth special procedures for processing claims from veterans, Family members and survivors. The special procedures cover documents submitted during the 18-month period between April 14, 2007 and October 14, 2008. Veterans and other applicants have until November 17, 2009 to file previously submitted documents under these special procedures. For more information, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit http://www.va.gov.
VA Plans Revised Process for Appointment Scheduling. A new report has found that Servicemembers missed approximately 4.9 million appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in FY 2008. These appointments were not refilled with other patients. The VA could save $76 million a year if its scheduling system were more efficient. In a written response to the report, VA health officials vowed to develop a revised scheduling system that will include a waiting list for patients ready to fill openings left by others who have cancelled appointments. To learn more, visit www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2009/VAOIG-08-00879-36.pdf.
Go Direct Deposit with the VA. The Go Direct program was introduced by the Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks, as an alternative way for VA compensation and pension, Social Security and Social Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries to enroll in direct deposit. The Go Direct program is currently unavailable for the GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation or those receiving Compensation/Pension benefits through guardian or conservatorship. For more information and to enroll in the direct deposit program, visit http://www.godirect.gov/signup/welcome.cfm.
Grace after Fire—A Resource for Women by WomenGrace after Fire is a resource solely for women veterans to support their need to connect with each other and yet remain anonymous. Women can reach out to those who have similar experiences with concerns of re-entry into the civilian world, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other topics relating to women in service. Grace after Fire will be available in January 2009. For more information, call 1-877-490-5757 (toll free), or visit their website at http://www.graceafterfire.org.
National Guard Child Care Subsidy ProgramThe National Guard is working to assist spouses and Family members with the cost of child care during deployment. Guard and Reserve members who are in Title 10 status are eligible to receive a subsidy to use off-post child care. The subsidy program is coordinated through the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). The amount of the subsidy is based on total Family income, the number of children and type of child care needed. The minimum monthly pay out is $100 per child per month. A call center has also been set up to help Guardmembers with the process of receiving the subsidy. For more information on the program, visit the National Guard Family Program’s website at http://www.guardfamily.org or call 1-888-642-2799.
New OPM Hiring Rules for Military SpousesThe Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has drafted new rules to implement an executive order that applies to military spouses whose Servicemembers are incapacitated or killed, as well as those relocating on PCS orders. These changes allow managers in all federal agencies to hire qualified military spouses without utilizing the normal competitive hiring process. The change is retroactive for spouses who have relocated within one year before the regulation becomes effective. Spouses must qualify for the federal positions for which they apply. To read the rules for hiring military spouses under this executive order, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28747.pdf.
Spouse Education Assistance ApplicationsThe Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is a need-based assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers with financial aid in pursuing educational goals. To apply for SSEAP, visit https://www.aerhq.org/AER_Spouse_Stateside/SpouseSSApplicationCheck.asp.
NMFA Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse ScholarshipSpouses of Soldiers, including active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retiree and survivors, are eligible for the 2009 National Military Family Association (NMFA) Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. Scholarships of up to $1,000 are awarded to military spouses to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school. These scholarships may be used to assist with tuition, fees, and school room and board, and funds are paid directly to the accredited educational institution. Applications are due by 1 February 2009. For more information or to apply, visit http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Spouse_Scholarship
Scholarships for Survivors and Dependents. Folds of Honor, an education based foundation, offers scholarships to spouses and dependents of Servicemembers who have been killed or disabled as a result of their military service. For more information, or to apply for a scholarship, visit http://www.foldsofhonor.org.
Say Thanks to the Troops with XeroxXerox is hosting a “Thank You” to the troops. Visit http://www.LetsSayThanks.com to pick out a thank you card, and Xerox will print the card and send it to a Soldier serving in Iraq. Participants will not be able to choose the recipient, but all cards will go to a member of the Armed Forces.
AAFES and the Music Industry Partner Up for Servicemembers and FamiliesSince good music is an integral part to boost morale among Servicemembers, Grammy Award winners and nominees have teamed with the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to deliver “For the Troops II,” an assemblage of songs from artists such as Maroon 5, Keith Urban, Daughtry and Five For Fighting. The songs are available for free download at http://www.aafes.com.
God Bless America Quilt Exhibit on TourThe God Bless America Quilt Exhibit is on tour and travels to duty stations all around the U.S. and Iraq. The 125 quilt exhibit is a way to encourage and boost morale among Servicemembers. At the end of the three-year tour, some of the quilts will be donated to be displayed at military hospitals, schools and the U.S. Capitol. To learn more, visit http://www.heavenlypatchwork.com.
DOL Updates Family and Medical Leave Regulation. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule to update its regulations under the 15 year old Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that will help workers and their employers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and speed the implementation of a new law that expands FMLA coverage for military Family members. Final rule actions implementing the expansion of FMLA for military Families included Military Caregiver Leave and Leave for Qualifying Exigencies for National Guard and Reserves. For more detailed information, visit http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20081703.htm.
Report Your Consumer Complaints to FTC and DoD OfficialsThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Defense (DoD) officials want to hear from you! Military Sentinel allows service members, military civilian employees and their Families to report consumer protection complaints directly to the FTC and DoD officials via a secure online form. The FTC uses consumer complaints as a tool to determine companies or individuals to target for law enforcement actions. To file a complaint, go to: http://www.consumer.gov/military/.
The Family Programs Six-Month Calendar of Events
26-30 Jan 09
Army Family Action Plan Conference, Alexandria, VA
27 Jan 09
AFAP GOSC, Alexandria, VA
TBD Mar 09
Army Family Readiness Advisory Council (AFRAC), Alexandria, VA
8 May 09
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
Welcome to the Family News—the monthly newsletter from Army Community Service (ACS) and MyArmyLifeToo.com, the Army's most comprehensive portal for family members.
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE:
Expansion of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Disability Evaluation System Pilot
Travel Reimbursement Increases for Eligible Veterans
New Treatments for Warriors’ Psychological Care
New SFAC Helping Families of Wounded Warriors
High-Adrenaline Program Reduces Risk Behavior
UMUC Scholarship Fund Will Help Soldiers and Spouses
TroopTube Boosts Morale among Deployed Soldiers
TRICARE Increases Reimbursement Rates for Some Mental Health Benefits
TRICARE Reserve Select Premiums Decrease Significantly
AAFES Participates in Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Overseas Program
Wounded Warrior Resource Center
Long-term Risks Associated with TBI
Expanded Benefits of Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)
Operation Comfort Warriors: Meet the Challenge
2009 Pensions, Disability Compensation Rates
Missing VA Paperwork Protections
VA Plans Revised Process for Appointment Scheduling
Go Direct Deposit with the VA
Grace after Fire—A Resource for Women by Women
National Guard Child Care Subsidy Program
New OPM Hiring Rules for Military Spouses
Spouse Education Assistance Applications
NMFA Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarships
Scholarships for Survivors and Dependents
Say Thanks to the Troops with Xerox
AAFES and the Music Industry Partner Up for Servicemembers and Families
God Bless America Quilt Exhibit on Tour
DOL Updates Family and Medical Leave Regulations
Report Your Consumer Complaints to FTC and DoD Officials
Expansion of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Disability Evaluation System PilotThe Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) have announced an expansion of the Disability Evaluation System (DES) to 19 installations. The pilot is a test of a new process designed to eliminate confusing elements of the current disability processes of the departments. For a list of locations and to view the full news release, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12339.
Travel Reimbursement Increases for Eligible VeteransEffective November 17, 2008, eligible veterans will see an increase in their mileage reimbursement, from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information, visit http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1617.
New Treatments for Warriors’ Psychological CareThe Department of Defense (DoD) is investigating new treatments as part of a focused, sustained campaign to assist wounded warriors suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Military health care is also exploring the use of new therapies for PTSD and TBI. Some $300 million has been invested for research and to help therapists better understand the effects traumatic injury has on the brain. To learn more, go to http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51818.
New SFAC Helping Families of Wounded WarriorsSoldier Family Assistance Centers (SFAC), located at 34 Army installations, are a one-stop shop where wounded warriors and their Families can find assistance and information to help with difficult times. This specialized care system combines all of the components—from Veterans Affairs to specialized medical information—to help Families get the help they need in one location. For more information and to find a location near you, visit https://www.myarmylifetoo.com/sfac.
High-Adrenaline Program Reduces Risk BehaviorThe Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC) has launched a new program, Warrior Adventure Quest (WAQ), that combines existing high adventure outdoor recreation activities with Battlemind training to help soldiers adjust to a calmer paced lifestyle. The program is used to alleviate high rates of risky and destructive behaviors attributed to some redeploying Soldiers. To learn more about WAQ, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51348.
UMUC Scholarship Fund Will Help Soldiers and SpousesThe University of Maryland University College (UMUC) announced a new scholarship fund to assist active-duty, enlisted Servicemembers and their Families. The $200,000 fund will cover the cost of textbooks for enlisted, active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as tuition assistance to spouses. All awards will be need-based, renewable, and contingent upon the student’s academic standing. For more information, visit http://www.ed.umuc.edu/news/news081104.html.
TroopTube Boosts Morale among Deployed ServicemembersServicemembers overseas can now receive near-real-time video “shout-outs” from their stateside loved ones. TroopTube, modeled after the popular video-viewing site, YouTube, is a website managed by the Department of Defense’s Military OneSource information network. The website allows Family events and milestones to be viewed by the deployed Servicemembers, letting them feel closer to home. TroopTube can be accessed at http://www.MilitaryOneSource.com.
TRICARE Increases Reimbursement Rates for Some Mental Health BenefitsTRICARE has increased mental health reimbursement by five percent for 24 mental health services. The psychiatric procedures affected by this change range from Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 90804-90829. Other TRICARE payment rates for providers will continue to stay the same until February 2009. All rates for procedures can be found by location at http://www.tricare.mil/cmac.
TRICARE Reserve Select Premiums Decrease SignificantlyTRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) is a premium-based health plan for National Guard and Reserve personnel who are not eligible for or enrolled in Federal Employee Health Benefit plans. Effective January 1, 2009, TRICARE will reduce the monthly premium rates for TRS. Monthly premiums for individuals will drop 44% from $81 to $47.51, and premiums for Families will drop 29% from $253 to $180.17. To read more, visit http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news_print.aspx?fid=480.
AAFES Participates in Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Overseas ProgramThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved overseas Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) bakeries to produce three different breads in support of the WIC Overseas Program. AAFES bakeries in Germany, Korea and Japan are producing whole wheat and whole grain breads for military Families participating in the program. For more information, contact your local WIC Overseas office at http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/SpecialPrograms/WICOverseas/Offices.
Wounded Warrior Resource CenterThe Department of Defense announced establishment of the Wounded Warrior Resource Center through Military OneSource. Assistance provided by the resource center will not replace the specialized wounded warrior programs established by each of the military services, but offer an alternative resource for assistance. Specially trained consultants will ensure consistent, quality customer services. The resource center consultant will maintain communication with the caller until the issue or concern is resolved. Servicemembers and their Families can call 1-800-342-9647 or email their questions or concerns to wwrc@militaryonesource.com.
Long-term Risks Associated with TBIThe Institute of Medicine has released a report which concludes that approximately 22 percent of wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan have a brain injury. The report recommends that every soldier exposed to a blast, even a low-intensity one, be screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)—and that all Servicemembers receive pre- and post-deployment brain-function tests. The report also urges the Defense and Veterans Affairs Departments to maintain a registry of TBI patients. For more information, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28050479/.
Expanded Benefits of Traumatic Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)TSGLI benefits have been expanded to include more injuries. Benefits now covered under the insurance program include 15-day hospital visits, treatment of malignant bone tumors, uniplegia (total paralysis of a limb), facial reconstruction, second- and third-degree burns, and new types of amputations and loss of sight for 120 days or more. The changes are retroactive to October 7, 2001. To learn more about the changes made to TSGLI, go to www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/ExpandedBenefits.htm.
Operation Comfort Warriors: Meet the ChallengeThe American Legion is requesting monetary donations to help them purchase nonessential items such as clothing, books, and other items that will help keep wounded Servicemembers comfortable during the recovery process. To make donations online, go to http://www.legion.org/ocw or mail checks to Operation Comfort Warriors, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.
2009 Pensions, Disability Compensation RatesIf you are a military veteran with a service-related disability, you may qualify for over $3,100 in tax-free monthly benefits. To learn more, see http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/index.htm.
Missing VA Paperwork ProtectionsThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set forth special procedures for processing claims from veterans, Family members and survivors. The special procedures cover documents submitted during the 18-month period between April 14, 2007 and October 14, 2008. Veterans and other applicants have until November 17, 2009 to file previously submitted documents under these special procedures. For more information, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit http://www.va.gov.
VA Plans Revised Process for Appointment Scheduling. A new report has found that Servicemembers missed approximately 4.9 million appointments with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in FY 2008. These appointments were not refilled with other patients. The VA could save $76 million a year if its scheduling system were more efficient. In a written response to the report, VA health officials vowed to develop a revised scheduling system that will include a waiting list for patients ready to fill openings left by others who have cancelled appointments. To learn more, visit www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2009/VAOIG-08-00879-36.pdf.
Go Direct Deposit with the VA. The Go Direct program was introduced by the Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks, as an alternative way for VA compensation and pension, Social Security and Social Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries to enroll in direct deposit. The Go Direct program is currently unavailable for the GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation or those receiving Compensation/Pension benefits through guardian or conservatorship. For more information and to enroll in the direct deposit program, visit http://www.godirect.gov/signup/welcome.cfm.
Grace after Fire—A Resource for Women by WomenGrace after Fire is a resource solely for women veterans to support their need to connect with each other and yet remain anonymous. Women can reach out to those who have similar experiences with concerns of re-entry into the civilian world, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other topics relating to women in service. Grace after Fire will be available in January 2009. For more information, call 1-877-490-5757 (toll free), or visit their website at http://www.graceafterfire.org.
National Guard Child Care Subsidy ProgramThe National Guard is working to assist spouses and Family members with the cost of child care during deployment. Guard and Reserve members who are in Title 10 status are eligible to receive a subsidy to use off-post child care. The subsidy program is coordinated through the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). The amount of the subsidy is based on total Family income, the number of children and type of child care needed. The minimum monthly pay out is $100 per child per month. A call center has also been set up to help Guardmembers with the process of receiving the subsidy. For more information on the program, visit the National Guard Family Program’s website at http://www.guardfamily.org or call 1-888-642-2799.
New OPM Hiring Rules for Military SpousesThe Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has drafted new rules to implement an executive order that applies to military spouses whose Servicemembers are incapacitated or killed, as well as those relocating on PCS orders. These changes allow managers in all federal agencies to hire qualified military spouses without utilizing the normal competitive hiring process. The change is retroactive for spouses who have relocated within one year before the regulation becomes effective. Spouses must qualify for the federal positions for which they apply. To read the rules for hiring military spouses under this executive order, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28747.pdf.
Spouse Education Assistance ApplicationsThe Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is a need-based assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers with financial aid in pursuing educational goals. To apply for SSEAP, visit https://www.aerhq.org/AER_Spouse_Stateside/SpouseSSApplicationCheck.asp.
NMFA Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse ScholarshipSpouses of Soldiers, including active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retiree and survivors, are eligible for the 2009 National Military Family Association (NMFA) Joann Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. Scholarships of up to $1,000 are awarded to military spouses to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school. These scholarships may be used to assist with tuition, fees, and school room and board, and funds are paid directly to the accredited educational institution. Applications are due by 1 February 2009. For more information or to apply, visit http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Spouse_Scholarship
Scholarships for Survivors and Dependents. Folds of Honor, an education based foundation, offers scholarships to spouses and dependents of Servicemembers who have been killed or disabled as a result of their military service. For more information, or to apply for a scholarship, visit http://www.foldsofhonor.org.
Say Thanks to the Troops with XeroxXerox is hosting a “Thank You” to the troops. Visit http://www.LetsSayThanks.com to pick out a thank you card, and Xerox will print the card and send it to a Soldier serving in Iraq. Participants will not be able to choose the recipient, but all cards will go to a member of the Armed Forces.
AAFES and the Music Industry Partner Up for Servicemembers and FamiliesSince good music is an integral part to boost morale among Servicemembers, Grammy Award winners and nominees have teamed with the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to deliver “For the Troops II,” an assemblage of songs from artists such as Maroon 5, Keith Urban, Daughtry and Five For Fighting. The songs are available for free download at http://www.aafes.com.
God Bless America Quilt Exhibit on TourThe God Bless America Quilt Exhibit is on tour and travels to duty stations all around the U.S. and Iraq. The 125 quilt exhibit is a way to encourage and boost morale among Servicemembers. At the end of the three-year tour, some of the quilts will be donated to be displayed at military hospitals, schools and the U.S. Capitol. To learn more, visit http://www.heavenlypatchwork.com.
DOL Updates Family and Medical Leave Regulation. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule to update its regulations under the 15 year old Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that will help workers and their employers better understand their rights and responsibilities, and speed the implementation of a new law that expands FMLA coverage for military Family members. Final rule actions implementing the expansion of FMLA for military Families included Military Caregiver Leave and Leave for Qualifying Exigencies for National Guard and Reserves. For more detailed information, visit http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/esa/esa20081703.htm.
Report Your Consumer Complaints to FTC and DoD OfficialsThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Defense (DoD) officials want to hear from you! Military Sentinel allows service members, military civilian employees and their Families to report consumer protection complaints directly to the FTC and DoD officials via a secure online form. The FTC uses consumer complaints as a tool to determine companies or individuals to target for law enforcement actions. To file a complaint, go to: http://www.consumer.gov/military/.
The Family Programs Six-Month Calendar of Events
26-30 Jan 09
Army Family Action Plan Conference, Alexandria, VA
27 Jan 09
AFAP GOSC, Alexandria, VA
TBD Mar 09
Army Family Readiness Advisory Council (AFRAC), Alexandria, VA
8 May 09
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
About Ms. Penelope
Penelope is actually my dog. We got her a few months ago right before the deployment. She is now six months old. We decided on the name because Penelope was Odysseus' wife in Homer's Odyssey. She is a shepard mix mutt, and is the cutest dog alive. Her older brother, Moose is a lab mix and he is hanging in there after 14 years.
I have found it difficult to navigate the turbulent waters that arise when you are attached to the military. I thought I could share and share alike some of the resources I have accumulated over the last few years. I grew up a military brat and have lived on many different Army bases: Fort Hood, TX, Fort Polk, LA, Germany (multiple posts), Monterey, CA, Fort Riley, KS, Carlisle, PA, Washington D.C., Fort Knox, KY. I am sure I am leaving out a couple.
I have learned a few things moving around, specifically- how to get settled in and how to do research before getting to an area. There are not a lot resources out there for new spouses and people attached to the military, and the Army isn't a lot of help, assuming you'll figure it out after a couple of moves.
I am going to give this a try to see if I can't get some good information on this site, so wish me luck.
All the best,
Penelope's mom.
I have found it difficult to navigate the turbulent waters that arise when you are attached to the military. I thought I could share and share alike some of the resources I have accumulated over the last few years. I grew up a military brat and have lived on many different Army bases: Fort Hood, TX, Fort Polk, LA, Germany (multiple posts), Monterey, CA, Fort Riley, KS, Carlisle, PA, Washington D.C., Fort Knox, KY. I am sure I am leaving out a couple.
I have learned a few things moving around, specifically- how to get settled in and how to do research before getting to an area. There are not a lot resources out there for new spouses and people attached to the military, and the Army isn't a lot of help, assuming you'll figure it out after a couple of moves.
I am going to give this a try to see if I can't get some good information on this site, so wish me luck.
All the best,
Penelope's mom.
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