Military Report - Week of July 30, 2012

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Military Report - Week of July 30, 2012

Give Blood; Give Life
The Armed Services Blood Program is the official contributor of the blood supply to the military and their Families. Unlike many community type blood organizations, the ASBP is limited to recruiting donors from military facilities and from federal employees alone. In recent weeks, the need for blood has increased due to heavy combat activity overseas. Take part in supporting the troops by donating blood. For more information, registration details and to find a blood drive near you, visit the Armed Services Blood Program websites at (http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil) www.militaryblood.dod.mil and (https://www.militarydonor.com/index.cfm?group=op) https://www.militarydonor.com.
For more links to support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Spouse and Family Center.


Walgreens, Express Scripts Agreement
The impact on TRICARE of a new retail pharmacy agreement between Express Scripts, Inc., (ESI) and Walgreens pharmacy has not yet been determined. The two companies announced a new network agreement on July 19, 2012. Walgreens left the ESI retail pharmacy network when their contract with ESI expired on Dec. 31, 2011. At this time, it has not been determined how the new agreement affects TRICARE. Specific details have not been released, but the new agreement does not go into effect until Sept. 15, 2012.
(http://www.tricare.mil/walgreens/) Read the full press release on the agreement on the TRICARE website.


Two AF Officers in Olympics
Two Air Force officers have qualified for primary and alternate positions on the U.S. Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Games in London. Capt. Seth Kelsey, 310th Force Support Squadron supply officer from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., is competing in individual men's epee fencing, and Capt. Justin Dumais, 157th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., is an alternate competitor in the men's three-meter synchronized diving event. Kelsey and Dumais are a part of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program. For more information about the program, visit the Air Force World Class Athlete Program website at (http://www.usafsports.com/WCAP.htm) www.usafsports.com/WCAP.htm.
To keep up with sports and entertainment news that involves the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment) Military.com Entertainment section.


Shape Up Your Credit to get a Mortgage
Even with interest rates at historic lows, there can be a big difference in the rate you'll be charged if you have good credit and not-so-good credit. How much? The difference over the lifetime of a 30-year, $200K mortgage can be $67K. That's a serious chunk of change. There are two metrics that home lenders will use to determine whether or not to approve your mortgage: debt-to-income (DTI) and credit score. (http://www.military.com/money/home-owne ... RC=mrvr.nl) Get more information on how to shape up your credit.


Re-enlistment Bonuses for Airmen
The U.S. Air Force has released the fiscal year 2012 mid-year selective re-enlistment bonus (SRB) list along with some changes to the program. In addition to a rebalance in overall payments, the Air Force identified 53 Air Force specialties to receive bonuses. Deleted bonuses will take effect August 18. Even though SRB multiples have decreased for many career fields that remain on the list, Airmen may still be able to get a bonus that approaches the $90,000 maximum allowed by law by reenlisting for a longer term. Airmen will have 30 days from today to re-enlist under the current bonus offerings. The newly released bonus list is available at (http://mypers.af.mil) myPers. For more information, contact your local military personnel flight.
For more on military pay and bonuses, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay) Military.com Pay Center.


Thank Our Troops
A $10 contribution provides a $50 gift card good at over 18,000 restaurants nationwide to an American Hero. The gift is tax-deductible too. (http://www.thanksabunch.org/milcom/?oid=1010_6) Say "thanks a bunch" today.


Air Force LEAP Accepting Applications
The Air Force Language Enabled Airman Program is accepting applications from active-duty officer candidates, commissioned officers and enlisted Airmen from select career fields who meet specific Defense Language Proficiency Test standards among other qualifications. Participants selected for LEAP will receive continuous language training to keep their skills sharp. The application window for the next selection board is open now until the end of August. For more information on LEAP including career fields eligible and other application requirements, visit the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) website at (http://www.culture.af.edu/) www.culture.af.edu/ .
For more on military education programs and benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education Center.


Featured Employer: Allstate is Hiring Vets
Visit the (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... RC=mrvr.nl) Allstate Veteran Talent Portal to search jobs, view hiring event dates, and learn more about what it's like to work for a company that values veteran talent. At Allstate, we celebrate creative problem solving, full engagement and working together to keep all people in Good Hands(R), and we recognize our military veterans as men and women who share this vision. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... RC=mrvr.nl) Learn more and apply for jobs.


TRICARE Prime Overview
According to TRICARE all active duty servicemembers are eligible in TRICARE Prime. However they must fill out an enrollment form and submit it to the regional contractor by either filling out the enrollment form. In addition servicemembers receive most of their care from military medical personnel. For active duty families, there is no enrollment fee for TRICARE Prime, however they must complete an enrollment form to select Prime as their coverage plan.
(http://www.military.com/benefits/tricar ... rview.html) Visit the Military.com TRICARE section to get a full overview of your benefits.


PCS Tip: Claims for Lost Items
Here are several tips for permanent change of station movers to recoup money from damaged goods. First, create an inventory of all household goods being moved with the transportation service provider (TSP) including receipts and other proofs of ownership and costs. During the move, verify that your inventory matches the TSP's at pick-up and note any disagreements about the quality of the household goods on both inventories. After the move, document any loss or damaged goods on a TSP notice of loss or damages form. The completed form must be submitted to the TSP within 75 days of delivery. Submission of notice through the online Defense Personal Property System is preferred for DPS shipments. For more information, visit the Move.mil website at (http://www.move.mil/home.htm) www.move.mil/home.htm.
For more PCS tips and moving guides, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/pcs-dity-move) Military.com PCS section.


Navy Video Contest
The U.S. Navy is seeking creative Sailors to help communicate an important message in the Suicide Prevention Public Service Announcement Video Contest (SPPSAC). Video submissions must convey at least one of the two 2012 core suicide prevention program messages: "It's Okay to Speak Up When You're Down" and/or "Life is Worth Living." Some element of the acronym Ask Care Treat (ACT) should be included. Individual and team submissions will be accepted postmarked or uploaded to the FTP site through Aug. 24. For more details, official contest rules and entry information, read the SPPSAC Standard Operation Procedure on the Navy Suicide Prevention webpage at (http://www.suicide.navy.mil) www.suicide.navy.mil.
For more videos related to the military, everything from the front lines to the personal side of military life, visit the (http://www.military.com/video) Military.com Video Center.


Troops to Teachers Update
The Troops to Teachers program provides funds to recruit, prepare, and support former members of the military services as teachers in high-poverty schools. Servicemembers with a baccalaureate degree or higher are eligible to begin the teaching certification process to become a teacher. However, many servicemembers may already qualify to become a vocational/technical teacher. Military members from all of the armed forces can use tuition assistance for their teaching certification while on active duty. For more information, visit the Troops-to-Teachers Program webpage at (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/troops/index.html) www2.ed.gov/programs/troops/index.html and the Department of Education Teachers-Teachers.com website at (http://www.teachers-teachers.com) www.teachers-teachers.com, which lists teaching vacancies for each state.
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.


Help for Separating Sailors
The outplacement service company the Navy has contracted to personally coach and assist Sailors separating through the Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) is helping Sailors with job interview techniques. Coaches at Challenger, Gray and Christmas (CGC) coach work with each Sailor improve interview skills through the free outplacement services offered to all ERB Sailors as part of their transition benefits. Sailors are encouraged to contact CGC by calling 1-800-971-4288 or by e-mail at (mailto:cgcusnavy@challengergray.com) cgcusnavy@challengergray.com if they desire services and have not heard from CGC. Sailors can also contact the Help Center at Commander, Navy Personnel Command by calling 866-827-5672 for more information. For more information visit the (http://www.npc.navy.mil/boards/ERB/) NPC ERB website, contact the NPC customer service center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672) or email (mailto:cscmailbox@navy.mil) cscmailbox@navy.mil.
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.


Army Prohibits Marijuana Substitutes
Soldiers face a new drug threat in the form of Salvia Divinorum and "Spice," two substances that have been on the rise as marijuana substitutes. Recent changes in federal law make it illegal to possess most forms of Spice. Similarly, all marijuana substitutes are illegal in the Army and may subject the Soldier to court-martial, nonjudicial punishment (Article 15) or separation. Soldiers should not be tempted to experiment with these substances or be fooled by the ease by which they can be obtained. For more information, read (http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/asa ... ues%29.pdf) Army Directive 2012-14.
For more Army news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Training Grants for Spouses
The Department of Defense's Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program (MyCAA) offers a grant of up to $4,000 for spouses to train in portable career fields. To qualify the person must be the spouse of an active duty servicemember in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2, or the spouse of an activated Guard or Reserve member within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders. A MyCAA account covers tuition for associate degree programs and vocational training courses that lead to licensing and/or industry certifications. For more information, visit the (http://www.military.com/education/money ... l-aid.html) Military.com website and the (https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa) MyCAA website.


TRICARE Offers Pharmacy Choices
TRICARE beneficiaries have plenty of pharmacy options, including military pharmacies, TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery and 56,000 network pharmacies. Military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacies fill prescriptions free of charge. Beneficiaries can use the (http://pec.ha.osd.mil/formulary_search.php) TRICARE Formulary Search Tool to find out if a medication is available at their MTF pharmacy. Registered users may also request prescription refills at TRICARE Online (http://www.tricareonline.com) www.tricareonline.com. Call 877-363-1303 or visit the Express Scripts website at (http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/) www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE/ to find a network pharmacy. For more information, visit the TRICARE Prescriptions webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy) www.tricare.mil/pharmacy or contact Express Scripts customer service at 877-363-1303 to learn about the four ways to fill prescriptions.
For more on TRICARE, including guides to all TRICARE options, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE section.


Blue Nile: Guide for Your Wedding Day
This is your celebration and there are many details all wrapped up into a few memorable hours. From selecting your wedding rings to bridesmaids' gifts, our guide simplifies your wedding day details. (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... RC=mrvr.nl) View the Blue Nile Wedding Guide.


Financial Checklist for Deployment
If you have a family, the single most important thing to think about when it comes to deployment is ensuring that they're well taken care of while you're away. Finances are a big part of this, but they can also become a source of friction. According to a survey by the National Military Family Association, 28% of military families say financial issues are among their greatest challenges during deployment. (http://www.military.com/deployment/chec ... RC=mrvr.nl) Get the Financial Checklist on Military.com.


AIT Prof Develops New Apps
Maj. (Dr.) Kennard Laviers, assistant professor of computer science in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology, recently developed a new app called Anagram-it. The new app is a word puzzle game where the object of the game is to find as many sub-words as possible from a given word. Anagram-it was in the top 50 for word games in the Apple app store for a few days and stayed in the top 100 for a few weeks. It continues to sell copies on a daily basis. His second new app, currently referred to as Webzywill, be available in the Apple app store soon. For more information, visit the (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/anagram- ... 96053?mt=8) Apple iTunes store and visit (http://princess-apps.com/) Major Laviers' support website.
To keep up with game and entertainment news involving the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/entertainment) Military.com Entertainment section.


Army Bans DMAA Supplement
The Department of Defense has put a ban on all products containing DMAA. These products, formerly sold on-base at GNC stores, were pulled off shelves at the beginning of this year. Servicemembers are prohibited from using the supplements pending further testing on their health effects. DMAA is found in many of the popular energy and weight loss supplements such as Jack3d or OxyElite Pro. These pre-workout and thermogenic supplements increase metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and the body's heat production. Sudden death cases have been reported involving DMAA users.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.