Military Report - Week of December 19, 2011

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Military Report - Week of December 19, 2011

Navy Reserve Advancement News The Navy recently announced the February, 2012 Navywide examinations for advancement for E4-E7 Selected Reserve (SELRES) personnel and FY-13 SELRES Selection Boards. The Cycle 090 exams apply to Sailors serving on Voluntary Recall, Active Duty Training, or Active Duty under any Presidential Recall Authority including mobilization. These Sailors will compete as SELRES Inactive (USNR-Inactive). For E6s that are eligible, The FY-13 SELRES E7 selection board will convene May 14 2012; all correspondence for the board must be postmarked no later than April 30. For more information, contact the NPC Customer Service Center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672). To find out how much pay you would make with a promotion, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/conten ... harts.html) updated pay charts on Military.com.

Have What it Takes to be a Thunderbird? America's premier air demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, is accepting applications for several positions. Available positions include demonstration pilot, operations officer, executive officer, maintenance officer, and public affairs officer. Officers serve a two-year assignment on the tam, while enlisted members serve three or four. For full application preparation and submission instructions, or for information about other personnel opportunities and issues, visit the (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Services website. For more military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/news) Military.com News Center.

Defense Bill: Pay and TRICARE Fees Go Up After weeks of wrangling over a provision dealing with detaining terrorism suspects, Congress finally sent the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 to President Barack Obama for signature. This should mean troops will get their (http://www.military.com/military/benefi ... ay,00.html) January 1, 2012 across the board military pay increase on time. In addition, the defense bill will peg any future increase in (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... -proposed/) TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for military retirees to future (http://www.military.com/benefits/conten ... d-pay.html) retiree Cost-of-living-Adjustments (COLA). Read the (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... done-deal/) Military Advantage blog to learn more.

Get Help Prepping for Transition Today's economy is demanding -- servicemembers need specific skills, the right mindset, and a powerful network to help them get in the door and make an impact on civilian industry. Fidelis is a rigorous end-to-end education solution that is being built to help veterans better navigate through their transition. Fidelis is partnering with top tier colleges and companies to provide service members personalized pathways out of the military and into industry by offering custom coursework, personalized transition coaching, a mentor network, and job opportunities delivered through a next-generation social platform. Veterans pay nothing additional for Fidelis' services. Learn more at (http://www.fideliseducation.com/) www.fideliseducation.com.

Army Offers MBA Fellowship The U.S. Army is searching for a few good logisticians. Those captains and majors selected will receive the Maj. Gen. James Wright's MBA Fellowship to pursue their Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on logistics at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Interested officers should apply online at the (http://mason.wm.edu/) William & Mary Mason School of Business website and click on prospective students. Under the Apply Now, click on Full-Time MBA Application. Create a new account to obtain a PIN and password and start the application process. Once accepted by William & Mary, participants need to submit a Department of the Army Form 1618 with letter of acceptance and undergraduate transcripts to their Assignment Officer no later than Jan. 6, 2012. For more on military education programs and benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education Center.

All-DoD Football Team: Nominate Your Kid The first annual Military.com All-DOD Team, presented by Military.com and Football University, is made up of the 24 premier football players who are currently dependents of active military personnel throughout the globe. The 24 best high school players (11 offensive players, 11 defensive players, a kicker and a punter) will be selected from all of the nominations submitted and honored at jersey presentation, held at a local school and/or military base, that celebrate their selection as a Military.com All-DOD Team member. (http://alldodteam.military.com/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Submit a video nomination today.

5 Reasons To Get Your Tech Certification Whether you are studying for a career in the IT networking industry, researching opportunities, or already in this field, (http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;250255439 ... t/military) Cisco Certifications can help you build a career in one of the hottest industries available today. The number one reason to get your Tech Certification is More Money. To a hiring manager, a raise is much easier to justify when employees have taken it upon themselves to learn a new skill and become certified. (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/pa ... RC=mrvr.nl) See all 5 reasons on Military.com.

AF Voluntary Separation Update The Air Force has announced the expansion of voluntary officer separation measures for fiscal 2012 as part of the service's ongoing force-management initiatives. The FY12 Officer 10-8 Commission Waiver Program allows eligible officers in certain categories to retire with reduced active commissioned service. The Time-in-Grade Waiver Program is offered to lieutenant colonels in certain competitive categories or specialties. The FY12 PALACE CHASE program provides additional active duty service commitment waiver authority for lieutenant colonels and below in select Air Force specialties to facilitate transfer from active-duty service to an Air Reserve Component. For more information on these force management programs, visit the (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Services website. For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/news) Military.com News Center.

AF Airmen December Promotion List More than 290 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the December enlisted supplemental promotion process. The promotion list can be found (http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/doc ... 07-013.pdf) online. Airmen can also access their score notices at the same time on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight through the (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Services website. For more information about personnel issues, visit the (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Services website. To find out how much pay you would make with a promotion, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/conten ... harts.html) updated pay charts on Military.com.

Servicemembers Get Free Phone Cards The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has announced military members underway or forward-deployed during the holiday season will be given a free $10 phone card to call loved ones back home. NEXCOM will distribute $10 AT&T prepaid phone cards to those ships with AT&T Direct Ocean Service that will be deployed and away from their homeport for the December holiday season including Coast Guard vessels, submarines as well as forward deployed forces. NEXCOM expects to distribute nearly 45,000 free phone cards during the holidays. For discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.

GI Bill Calculator: Measure Your Benefits Visit the (http://www.military.com/gi-bill-calcula ... RC=mrvr.nl) Military.com GI Bill Calculator to find out how much your GI Bill may be worth in 2012.

GI Bill 2.0: New Housing Allowance The Post-9/11 GI Bill now offers a housing allowance for students enrolled in online classes -- The housing allowance is payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning (including Online Education), the housing allowance is half the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents (the rate will be $673.50 for 2011). This I subject to prorating based on the number of credits being taken. - Effective October 1, 2011. (http://www.military.com/education/conte ... anges.html) See all new rules for the GI Bill now in effect. Note: This does not include active duty or their GI Bill eligible spouses.

(http://edu.military.com/gibill?ESRC=mrvr.nl) Request information from schools to find a degree program that fits your specific requirements.

Navy Civilian Career Opportunities The Department of the Navy's (DoN) Office of Civilian Human Resources has launched its Civilian Careers Campaign, which recruits non-military personnel and veterans to the civilian component of the Navy. A website has been setup to help encourage Sailors who may be affected by ERB, PTS and SERB to consider continuing their service to country in the civilian sector of the DoN. (http://www.public.navy.mil/donhr/Employ ... fault.aspx) Visit the site. For national job listings and civilian job guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.

Army's First Cyber Brigade The U.S. Army recently activated its first computer network operations brigade. The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command created the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade to support U.S. and Army Cyber Commands. The brigade's 781st MI Battalion and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, at Fort Meade, and the 782nd MI Battalion, located at Fort Gordon, Ga., will collectively enable the unit's mission to conduct signals intelligence, computer network operations, and when directed, offensive operations, in support of DoD, Army and interagency operations worldwide. For more information, see (http://www.military.com/news/article/ar ... idage.html) this article on Military.com and read the (http://www.ftmeadesoundoff.com/news/947 ... ort-meade/) Fort Meade Sound Off!.

Top 35 Veteran Employers We've posted a list of the "35 Top Employers for Military," compiled by Civilian Job News, which took a look at a variety of companies, both large and small, over different industries. Included with each listing below are links to more information about veteran hiring, as well as current Monster.com job postings for those companies. These companies include: Amazon, The Exchange, BNSF Railway, CACI International, Capstone Corporation, CenterPoint Energy, Chesapeak Energy Corporation, Cintas and More. (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/co ... oyers.html) Get the full list of our top 35 Veteran Employers. (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Search for Military-friendly Jobs

$200k Protection for $14.52 a Month Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Give your family $200k worth of financial security for as little as $14.52 a month by purchasing affordable life insurance through ASMBA. (http://www.military.com/insurance/asmba/?ESRC=mr.nl ) Get more information.

AAFES Pulls Body Building Supplements Stars and Stripes reports that weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements containing a popular new stimulant were recently pulled off the shelves at Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores due to concerns they could be related to soldier deaths. The drug DMAA, which is an extract of the geranium plant with the chemical names 13 dimethylamylamine and methylhexanamine, triggered the recall of 18 athletic supplements sold worldwide. For discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.

AAFES, AFRC Resorts Sweepstakes The Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) Resorts is offering a vacation for a one Lucky family of four that wins the "AFRC Resorts Sweepstakes." The family will receive roundtrip airfare and seven nights' accommodations at one of four AFRC Resorts. Military shoppers can enter the "AFRC Resorts Sweepstakes" at their local Exchange through January 1. No purchase is necessary to enter and the drawing will take place on or about Feb. 6, 2012. For discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.

Navy Retention Board Results Sailors considered by Phase II of the Enlisted Retention Board may now view their retention status on (https://www.bol.navy.mil/DefaultPub.aspx?Cookies=Yes) BUPERS Online. The Phase II ERB reviewed the records of ERB-eligible E-6 through E-8 Sailors from 31 overmanned ratings. Sailors not selected for retention will have access to the Navy's transition assistance management program and other benefits for members who are involuntary separated. This assistance will be proactive, comprehensive, tailored and supported by every level of the chain of command. For job listings across the nation and civilian job guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.

New 2012 GI Bill Housing Rates - CORRECTED The Department of Defense released the new Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 2012. Most eligible Post-911 GI Bill recipients will see a modest increase in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Stipend as a result. However, these new rates will not go into effect until August 1, 2012.

AAFES Offers Check Cashing Service The Exchange is offering shoppers inexpensive access to their money with free check cashing and cash back on debit transactions. Authorized shoppers can cash personal checks up to $300 per day, per customer at no charge and as always, checks will be accepted up to the exact amount of any purchase. Customers will also be able to use their debit cards to receive up to $50 cash back at the registers. The Exchange also cashes a wide variety of other checks and instruments for cash at no charge such as U.S money orders, traveler's checks, Western Union checks and payroll checks issued by authorized government contractors and other non-appropriated fund agencies. Shoppers can visit their local Exchange for more information about its free check cashing policy. For discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts) Military.com Discount Center.

AF to Play in Military Bowl The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons will play the University of Toledo Rockets Dec. 28 in the 2011 Military Bowl in Washington D.C. ESPN will televise the first meeting between the Falcons, who are in the Mountain West Conference, and the Rockets, who are in the Mid-American Conference. Portions of the proceeds from the Military Bowl benefit the USO. Tickets are available through TicketMaster or via the Military Bowl's website at (http://www.militarybowl.org/) www.militarybowl.org/. For more sports and entertainment-related military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment) Military.com Entertainment Center.

Navy Jumpers Backordered Naval Supply Systems Command has announced a backorder of common sizes of the Navy Blue Jumper, commonly referred to as the "crackerjack," because they are in short supply. Some white jumpers are in short supply, as well. If not available in the Navy Exchange, Sailors can place backorders for Jumpers online at www.mynavyexchange.com or by calling the Uniform Support Center at 1-800-368-4088. Continuous updates are available on the Naval Supply Systems Command's Facebook Page at (http://www.facebook.com/navsup) www.facebook.com/navsup.

Deal of the Week: Disney Discount

Guests presenting a valid military ID when checking in at select Walt Disney World Resorts are eligible for special room only discounts. (http://www.military.com/discounts/deal- ... RC=mrvr.nl) Get this deal. (http://www.military.com/discounts/deal- ... RC=mrvr.nl) (http://www.military.com/discounts/?ESRC=mrvr.nl) See all Military Discounts

Service Dogs for Veterans Trained service dogs are helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The non-profit organization Stiggy's Dogs trains psychiatric service dogs to perform specific tasks from reminding veterans to take their medicine, waking them up from a nightmare or alarm clock ringing, to directing them through a crowd. For more information, visit the (http://stiggysdogs.org/) Stiggy's Dogs website. For more news and adoption/care guides for military and veteran pets, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment/pet-corner/index) Military.com Pet Corner.

Holiday Concert Features Air Force Band The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air Force Strings recently joined Grammy-winning vocalist Lee Ann Womack and the Grammy-nominated band Little Big Town in the annual "Holiday Notes from Home" concert. The hour-long special will air on the Great American Country Channel (GACC) at various times and dates up to Christmas Day. The program will also be shown on American Forces Network (AFN) on Dec. 25 on Prime Pacific, Prime Freedom and Prime Atlantic. Please check the (http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/ScheduleChart.aspx) AFN schedule for exact show times. Viewers can also check their local listings for other show times on the GACC. For more entertainment-related military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment) Military.com Entertainment Center.

NASA Seeking Astronaut Candidates NASA is accepting applications for astronaut candidates, via the USAJobs website at (http://www.usajobs.gov/) www.usajobs.gov/, through Jan. 12, 2012. To be eligible, members must be active duty officers or enlisted, be U.S. Citizens, and have earned a bachelor's degree or graduated from an accredited institution in engineering, mathematics, biological science, or physical science. For information on the NASA program and openings, go to www.usajobs.gov and search for NASA. For more information about the Air Force Astronaut Nomination program and for instructions to complete and submit an application, visit the (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/) Air Force Personnel Services website. For job listings across the nation and civilian job guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.

Navy E-7 - E-9 Continuation Board News A performance-based board for continuation of senior enlisted Sailors recently convened at Navy Personnel Command (NPC). The Fiscal Year 2012 Senior Enlisted Continuation Board (SECB) will review records of approximately 7,700 personnel in pay grades E-7, E-8 and E-9 for continued service. Commanding officers will be notified of the results via BUPERS Online and will have seven days to notify and counsel those Sailors not selected for retention. After seven days, Sailors may review their individual status on BUPERS Online. Sailors not selected for continuation must transfer to the fleet reserve or retire by Sept. 30, 2012 and will have access to the Navy's Transition Assistance Management Program. For more information about the SECB, visit the (http://www.npc.navy.mil/) Navy Personnel Command website or contact NPC customer service center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC. For job listings across the nation and civilian job guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.

Many to See BAH Increase in 2012 Due to an overall increase in the cost of housing, military Basic Allowance for Housing rates across the country increased an average of 2 percent over last year's rates. Some locations will see an increase of as much as 40 percent ( (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... t-but-why/) Minot, ND). The national-average increase of 2 percent can be tied to several factors including: local costs for rent, utilities, housing shortages, and local economic pressures. (http://www.military.com/benefits/conten ... rates.html) Check out the 2012 BAH rates for your locality. Learn how these increases will also affect (http://www.military.com/gi-bill-calculator/) Post-9/11 GI Bill housing stipends.