Military Report - Week of December 09, 2013

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Military Report - Week of December 09, 2013

AF Issues New Personnel Policies
The Air Force will implement new personnel policies to posture for future force management programs as it prepares to become smaller. The Air Force plans to make changes to many personnel policies in anticipation of the reductions to include changes in Selective Reenlistment Bonus eligibility, enlisted retraining quotas, enlisted and officer promotion rates and some officer accession programs. Details on each of these programs will be released in the coming weeks. Supervisors at every level should make time to discuss options with their impacted Airmen as specific programs roll-out. For general personnel questions, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Airmen Should Check Records
If your records meet a board tomorrow, would they accurately illustrate your suitability for promotion or retention? Each Airman is ultimately responsible for ensuring their records are accurate and up-to-date. Airmen can access their records on (https://mypers.af.mil/) myPers through the Personnel Records Display Application (PRDA). To access enlisted record reviews, visit (https://mypers.af.mil/) myPers, scroll down to the "I would like to" section and select "view my records." Click the link and follow instructions to access PRDA. Airmen who need to make record corrections should contact their local military personnel section. For more information about records access and other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil/) myPers (https://mypers.af.mil/) website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Navy Chaplain's Corps Launches Blog
The U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps launched its first official blog on its 238th anniversary, Nov. 28, 2013. This new blog, hosted on the DoD Live platform, will help to inform and create a dialogue on how chaplains support the religious and pastoral care needs of Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians and their families. Blog topics will include the following areas where chaplains are deeply involved: casualty support, wounded warrior care, suicide and sexual assault prevention and humanitarian assistance. Visit the new (http://chaplaincorps.navylive.dodlive.mil/) Chaplain Corps blog. For more information on the Chaplain Corps, visit the Navy Chaplain's Corps webpage at (http://www.chaplain.navy.mil) www.chaplain.navy.mil and the Chief of Navy Chaplains Facebook page at (http://www.facebook.com/chiefofnavychaplains) www.facebook.com/chiefofnavychaplains.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


AF Specialties Affected by Reduction
As many as 1,000 Airmen may be affected by a recently identified decrease in fiscal 2014 retraining objectives, with 35 or more Air Force specialty codes removed from the retraining-in list. Retraining classes scheduled for Jan. 1 or later will be cancelled, and affected Airmen will be notified. First term Airmen approved for retraining whose classes will be cancelled are entitled to a career job reservation in their current field. For first term and career Airmen who are still interested in retraining, there are some options, which are listed on the retraining advisory in the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website. To see the real-time retraining advisory, or to get more information about other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil/) myPers (https://mypers.af.mil/) website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Tips: Pre-Deployment Family Support
If your servicemember is preparing for deployment, this is an important time to touch base with him or her as well as their close friends, spouse, and family. If possible, talk to your servicemember's family about the best way for you to stay in touch while she's deployed. If you're in a position to offer help to those closest to your service member, ask your service member how you can best provide support. Depending on the closeness of your relationship, attempting to support the servicemember's family could include going over for dinner (often the hardest part of the day for families with deployed service members), offering to watch the children for the at-home spouse, attending their sports or school events, or planning other activities to do together. For more tips on handling pre-deployment with a servicemember's family, see (http://www.military.com/deployment/pare ... yment.html) this article.


AF Seeks Airman of Year Nominees
The Air Force is seeking nominations for the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award for 2014. There are three categories for award: Airman, noncommissioned officer and senior NCO. Major commands and the Air Force District of Washington will each nominate three candidates, one per category. Nominations are due to the Air Force Personnel Center by April 2, 2014. All nominees must be enlisted in the Air Force through Sept. 30, 2013. Any nominee with a projected separation date prior to Sept. 30, 2015 must take immediate action to extend or re-enlist in the Air Force. For information about the Air Force recognition program and other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


TRICARE Offers New Section
TRICARE beneficiaries now have an easy way to access customer service features. The TRICARE.mil homepage at (http://www.tricare.mil/) www.tricare.mil launched Dec. 1 a new "I want to..." section offering beneficiaries a gateway to links that help them manage their health care from prescriptions to enrollments and much more. The quick links to secure login portals for more than a dozen customer service features including managing prescriptions, finding a doctor, updating personal health information, paying a bill, booking appointments, and viewing military health records.
For more on TRICARE benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE section.


Be Cautious During the Holidays
The holidays are a prime time for online fraud and phishing scams. Do not be fooled by holiday-themed spam emails that claim to support good causes or offer great deals. These could be phishing schemes, and responding to or clicking on a link within an unsolicited email can put your personal information in jeopardy. Here are more tips: (1) look for clues--phishing emails often contain misspelled words, come from unknown senders, and redirect to unfamiliar or external websites; (2) know whom you are dealing with--never give out personal, financial, or other sensitive information in an email; and (3) do not forward the email to others. For more tips, visit the (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/22 ... 75851.html) Huffington Post website and the Internet Crime Complaint Center website at (http://www.ic3.gov/media/2013/131126.aspx) www.ic3.gov/media/2013/131126.aspx.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


Veterans to Receive 1.5 Percent Cost-of-Living Increase
Veterans, their families and survivors receiving disability compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs will receive a 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase in their monthly payments beginning Jan. 1, 2014. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013 ... RC=mrvr.nl) this Military.com article.


Coping With Holiday Stress
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) will host an online event, "Virtual Mental Health Fair: Coping with Holiday Stress," on Facebook, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST) Dec. 11. The event builds on the first virtual mental health fair DCoE hosted in June that brought together more than 50 mental health-related organizations. The December event brings attention to the stress that servicemembers, veterans and their families coping with mental health concerns may experience during the holiday season. Government and non-profit organizations dedicated to mental health care for servicemembers, veterans and military families will showcase their resources and answer questions in a live format. For more information, visit the (http://www.dcoe.mil/MediaCenter/News/de ... tress.aspx) Defense Centers of Excellence website or e-mail (mailto:mrmc.dcoe.socialmedia@mail.mil) mrmc.dcoe.socialmedia@mail.mil.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


AF Launches New Website
The Air Force recently launched the (https://doctrine.af.mil) Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education's new doctrine database website. The online database is organized into five core volumes and 29 supporting annexes with more than 900 doctrine topic modules (DTMs). The five core volumes are basic doctrine, leadership, command, operations, and support. The annexes are derived from current approved Air Force doctrine documents (AFDD) and retain the corresponding joint publication numbering convention. Before the restructure, doctrine was posted on the Air Force's e-Publishing website, and any revisions or updates normally took years before making it to the pages on the site. The new website many features not available on the Air Force e-Publishing site.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Free College Admissions Testing
Your local Navy College Office (NCO) offers paper-based American College Testing (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) college admissions testing at base education centers to active duty servicemembers free-of-charge. In order to help prepare for the SAT and ACT, the local NCOs offer (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=77948) free materials to servicemembers including official test guide booklets that offer information about each exam, including practice tests. Additional information on the ACT and SAT is also available at ACT website at (http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf) www.act.org/aap/pdf/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf and the (http://sat.collegeboard.org/SAT/public/ ... he-sat.pdf) SAT website. Other offerings available at NCOs at no charge include the (https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/dsp_oasc.aspx) Online Academic Skills Course (OASC) and the (https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/dsp_cpst.aspx) College Placement Skills Training Course (CPST). Educational services specialists are available at your local NCO. To learn educational materials offered through the NCO, visit the (https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/default.aspx) NCO website.
For more military education benefits information and news, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education Center.


Navy Wounded Warrior--Safe Harbor Program
The Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW) -- Safe Harbor Program coordinates the non-medical care and treatment of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, and provides resources and support to their families. NWW's goal is to return Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to duty and, when that is not possible, to work collaboratively with federal agencies, and state and local organizations, to ease them back into their communities. Sailors and Coast Guardsmen can self-refer to the program or be referred by family, command leadership or medical providers. For more information, visit the (http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil/) Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW)-Safe Harbor Program website.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Family Center.


Happy Birthday National Guard
The National Guard, which celebrates its birthday every December 13, is the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces and (http://www.military.com/national-guard- ... RC=mrvr.nl) one of the nation's longest-enduring institutions.


Six Steps for Fighting the Flu
National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 8-14, 2013. When a person with the flu sneezes, the virus can spread up to six feet away. The influenza virus can also be spread by a person even before they know they have it. Here are some tips to avoid getting the flu: (1) get your flu shot; (2) know how the flu is spread; (3) know the symptoms of flu; (4) keep your hands and surfaces around you clean; (5) cover your coughs and sneezes; and (6) stay home when you are sick. For more information, read the (http://www.va.gov/health/NewsFeatures/2 ... he-Flu.asp) article on the VA website and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Influenza Vaccination Week webpage at (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/) www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/.


Exchanges Offer Free Layaway
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is offering again its fee-free layaway plan. Through Dec. 24, the Exchange will waive the $3 processing fee for all layaway purchases. A deposit of only 15 percent is required when starting the layaway process. Shoppers can visit customer service at any exchange for complete program details and eligibility information.
For updated discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discount) Military.com Discount Center.


AF Sergeant of Year Award
The Air Force is seeking nominations for the 2014 First Sergeant of the Year award. Nominations must include examples of leadership and job performance in the nominee's primary duty, significant self-improvement, and base or community involvement from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013. Organizations and base-level personnel must contact their major command, field operating agency, or direct reporting unit for applicable suspense dates and additional information regarding nomination procedures. Each MAJCOM, FOA or DRU may submit one nomination. Completed nomination packages must be sent to the Air Force Personnel Center by April 22. For more information about personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


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Healthcare Decisions During Career Transition
You've made the decision to transition from the military and may be wondering how this impacts your healthcare benefits. Let's take a quick look through two lenses: military retirement eligible or not, from Katherine Tracy, MOAA's Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs. For more details, read (http://www.moaa.org/MRtransitionhealth) this article.


Army Tuition Assistance: New Restrictions
Beginning next year, the U.S. Army will place new restrictions on its Tuition Assistance program to ensure officers and enlisted personnel are focusing more on soldiering than higher education. Soldiers will have to wait one year after completing initial-entry training before they can participate in the TA program. Also, soldiers who use TA money to complete a four-year baccalaureate degree will have to wait 10 years before using TA again to pursue a post-graduate degree. The changes will likely affect approximately 40,000 soldiers based on current program participation rates, Army officials estimate. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013 ... tance.html) this Military.com article.


AF Museum Plans Expansion
The (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is adding a 224,000-square-foot building that will open in 2015. Construction is to begin in spring 2014 and finish in summer 2015 with a public opening is anticipated in late 2015. The new building will provide more educational opportunities, increase visitor access to the presidential and research and development aircraft, and improve visitor experience with space exhibits and large aircraft. The Air Force Museum Foundation recently gifted the funds necessary to begin construction of the building and will continue fundraising toward its campaign goal of $46 million, which would provide additional options and amenities for the building. For more information on the museum, visit the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force website at (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.


Cadets May Be Eligible for Release
Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets slated to graduate in 2014 and recently commissioned graduates in the Individual Ready Reserve waiting to enter active duty may be eligible for release from their military service commitment. Cadets and recent graduates classified into fields listed on the (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... lease.aspx) U.S. Air Force website may apply. The Air Force will not seek scholarship or stipend recoupment in exchange for release from their service commitment. Eligible cadets and IRR officers can apply for release Jan. 6-24, 2014. Interested cadets should contact their ROTC detachment for eligibility and application information. Interested IRR officers should contact the AFPC Accessions office at (210) 565-2275.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


AF Seeks Aerospace Nominations
Nominations for the 2014 Air Force Association Aerospace Awards are due to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 7. A list of each award is available on the U.S. (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... jan-7.aspx) Air Force website. Each major command, combatant command, field operating agency and direct reporting unit may nominate one person for each award. Organizations and base-level personnel must contact their MAJCOM, COCOM, FOA or DRU for applicable suspense dates and nomination procedures. Completed nomination packages must be submitted to the AFPC Recognition Programs Office. For submission directions, more information on Air Force recognition programs and other personnel information, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Navy Releases Leader Planning Guide
The U.S. Navy's Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) has released the 2014 edition of the Naval Leader Planning Guide (NLPG). Commands can download the PDF version free-of-charge from (https://www.nko.navy.mil/) Navy Knowledge Online under the Leadership tab. Users can also download a file that can be imported into Microsoft Outlook that will populate personal calendars with the dates found in the product. Commands are authorized to use the downloaded source files to arrange for printing at local facilities to satisfy unit-level requests for the resource. The 2014 product includes the latest Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Professional Reading Program list, as well as the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program list updated for 2014.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Legion Challenges VA Claims Accuracy
The American Legion testified at a Dec. 4 hearing on Capitol Hill that examined VA's track record in processing complex disability claims that deal with conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and military sexual trauma (MST). Zachary Hearn, deputy director of benefits for the Legion, appeared before the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on disability and memorial affairs; he also submitted written testimony for the record. The Legion challenged the accuracy of online statistics from VA's Monday Morning reports, claiming they were not consistent with the Legion's review of recently adjudicated claims; of 260 claims examined, 55 percent contained errors. "This statistic is in stark contrast to the approximate 90 percent accuracy rating in claims adjudication indicated by (VA)," the Legion stated. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/benefits/2013/1 ... uracy.html) this article.


AF Announces Promotions
More than 800 Air Force medical corps, dental corps, biomedical science corps and medical service corps captains, majors and lieutenant colonels have been selected for promotion. Eligible officers were considered during the September 2013A Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major MC/DC, 2013B Colonel BSC/MSC, 2013C Lieutenant Colonel BSC and 2013B Major BSC Central Selection Boards. Selection lists are posted on (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers and the (https://www.my.af.mil) Air Force Portal. For more information about career development and other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


AF Removes Some Bonuses
Forty-five Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) will no longer be eligible for the selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) effective Dec. 5 with the advent of the new SRB list. Critical and emerging career fields with high operations demands and low manning will remain on the SRB list. A list of AFSCs that will remain on the SRB list is (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... aller.aspx) available. Airmen who are in an AFSC being removed from the SRB listing will no longer have 30 days to reenlist from the date the AFSC is removed. Instead Airmen in an AFSC being removed will have through Dec. 4 to reenlist and receive an SRB. Anyone reenlisting on Dec. 5 or later will use the new SRB list. In addition to these changes Airmen will no longer be able to request accelerated SRB payments. For more information about SRB changes and other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center. For more on pay benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Sailors, Marines Receive Phone Cards
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has announced that Sailors and Marines in 40 ships and submarines deployed away from their homeports and those forward deployed to overseas ports during the holiday season will be given a free $10 phone card to call loved ones back home. The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) announced Dec. 2 that Sailors and Marines in 40 ships and submarines deployed away from their homeports and those forward deployed to overseas ports during the holiday season will be given a free $10 phone card to call loved ones back home. A list of U.S. Navy ships that will receive free phone cards is available on the (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=78011) U.S. Navy website.
For updated discounts for servicemembers, veterans and military families, visit the (http://www.military.com/discount) Military.com Discount Center.


Featured Employer: Tyco Hiring Vets
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AF Seeks Civilian Award Nominations
Nominations for the 59th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award are due to the Air Force Personnel Center by Feb. 25. The award is the highest presented to DOD career civilian employees whose careers reflect exceptional devotion to duty and significant contributions. Each major command, combatant command, field operating agency and direct reporting unit may submit one nomination in each category. Organizations and base-level personnel must contact their MAJCOM, COCOM, FOA, or DRU for applicable suspense dates and nomination procedures. For more information on Air Force recognition programs and other personnel issues, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers website.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Navy Disestablishes Pool
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the Reserve Ready Mobilization Pool (RMP) will no longer be used to involuntarily recall Reserve Sailors. The RMP is being eliminated due to the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan and the extremely high mobilization volunteer rate throughout the Navy Reserve Force. The Ready Mobilization Pool (RMP) was first implemented in 2009 to manage the mobilization of Reserve Officers. In 2010, Reserve Enlisted personnel were added to the pool.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Navy Releases Sexual Assault Reports
The U.S. Navy has released an overview of alleged sexual assaults is compiled based on 22 initial reports across the Navy from Nov. 18-24. Twelve reports come from events that occurred on-base, eight from events that occurred off-base, and two from unknown locations. The overview is available on the (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=77988) U.S. Navy website. To contact a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator at the Department of Defense Safe Help Line, call (877) 995-5247. To learn more about Navy's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, visit the SAPR website at (http://www.sapr.navy.mil) www.sapr.navy.mil.
For more articles on sexual assault, see (http://www.military.com/topics/sexual-assault) this Military.com section.


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Business Help and Advice for Veterans
American Corporate Partners is a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with corporate professionals. Some 60% of ACP applicants want help in understanding what kinds of jobs would match their skills and experience, and they want to learn how to explain those attributes to job recruiters. These veterans need assistance to understand where to find jobs that will provide opportunities for advancement, how to get an interview, how to do well in that interview, and, ultimately, how to succeed and progress in a civilian organization. ACP works with companies that join its Veteran Mentoring Program to assist new veterans, and it helps veterans gain access to the companies' employee resource groups for internal training and military transition support. For more details, see (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/ca ... erans.html) this article.
For more veteran job news, tips, and job postings, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.