Military Report - Week of January 06, 2014

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Military Report - Week of January 06, 2014

Ending Veteran Homelessness
Even one veteran without safe and stable housing is one too many. Get in touch with your local Veterans Service Organization to see how you can help homeless veterans. For more information, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless webpage at (http://www.va.gov/homeless/index.asp) www.va.gov/homeless/index.asp or call 1-877-4AID-VET, (1-877-424-3838).
For more on veteran benefits programs, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Searching for the DoD Budget Bottom Line
When it comes to numbers, sometimes the facts can be hard to find. In early November, the service chiefs, one after another, outlined to members of the House Armed Services Committee that rising personnel costs are unsustainable and now consume nearly half the DoD budget. Read the rest of the article at (http://www.moaa.org/MRDecBottomLine/) Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).


Protect Your Family in 2014: Less than $1 a Day
Your family's future is important. Could your family survive financially if the unthinkable happened? Prepare your family with (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... =mr0106.nl) $400,000 quality coverage from less than $1 a day.


VA Health Care Meets ACA Rules
If you are enrolled in VA health care, you don't need to take additional steps to meet the health care law coverage standards that began January 1, 2014. The health care law (Affordable Care Act) does not change VA health benefits or Veterans' out-of-pocket costs. For more information, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website at (http://www.va.gov/health/aca/index.asp) www.va.gov/health/aca/index.asp.
For more on veteran health benefits programs, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits Center.


Proposed Navy Training and Gun Ex Area
The U.S. Navy recently issued a Record of Decision for the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement. Following several years of research, environmental analysis, and public involvement, the Navy has proposed to conduct training and testing activities, sonar maintenance, and gunnery exercises throughout the in-water areas around the Hawaiian Islands, off the coast of Southern California, in the transit corridor between Hawaii and Southern California, and at Navy pierside locations. The ROD is now available to the public along with the the HSTT Final EIS/OEIS at The Navy Hawaiian Southern California Training and Testing EIS/OEIS website at (http://www.HSTTEIS.com) www.HSTTEIS.com.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


VA Loan Limits Are Up for 2014
Thinking about a zero down payment VA home mortgage in the New Year? See what the new loan limit is in your area. (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans/ ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


Deployment Tips: Support for Stressed Spouses
As a couple, it's important to understand up front how stress can impact your relationship. Even before your service member leaves, consider learning about the common effects of a deployment. For more, see (http://www.military.com/deployment/stre ... ouses.html) this Military.com article.


Gains in Military Pay and Benefits Stalled in 2013
As it came to a close, 2013 seemed to leave a kind of high water mark on the wall of more than a decade of steady, impressive gains to military and veterans' (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay) pay and benefits. Will those gains now begin to recede? We take a close look at the situation in (http://www.military.com/benefits/2014/0 ... -2013.html) this Military.com article.


Navy Testing for Synthetic Marijuana
As part of a new Department of Defense (DoD) policy, the Navy began testing for synthetic marijuana compounds during random urinalysis. Testing for synthetic marijuana compounds will now be randomly conducted on samples submitted to all drug screening laboratories, and positive results will subject members to disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The change will be largely transparent to the command, requiring no changes to the way they currently collect and ship urine samples for drug testing. For more information about Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP), visit the NADAP webpage at (http://www.nadap.navy.mil) www.nadap.navy.mil.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


NORAD's 'Track Santa' Sets Record
The North American Aerospace Defense Command's NORAD Tracks Santa Program exceeded its own records in the number of calls, emails and social media followers this year. The program, which began after a misprinted ad in a local paper in 1955, has more than 1,200 volunteers and NORAD staff answering queries on the location of Santa Claus as he circles the globe delivering presents. The volunteers in the 23-hour NTS operations center answered 117,371 calls from children looking for Santa Claus. The NORAD Track Santa (NTS) website at (http://www.noradsanta.org) www.noradsanta.org had 19.58 million unique visitors access the site from 234 countries and territories. For more information, visit the NORAD Track Santa website at (http://www.noradsanta.org/) www.noradsanta.org.
For more military news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


American Commercial Lines Committed to Hiring Veterans
Start your civilian career with American Commercial Lines. As a transportation and manufacturer leader they can provide endless opportunity and a career path that lets you choose where you want to be. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... RC=mrvr.nl) Read More.


TRICARE and Preventive Care
No matter which resolutions beneficiaries make, TRICARE recommends they put their health first and start the year off with preventive care services. Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime may receive clinical preventive services from their primary care manager or from any network provider without a referral or authorization at no cost. For those who use TRICARE Standard or Extra or are enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, or TRICARE Retired Reserve, there are no cost shares for the following clinical preventive services: (1) breast cancer screenings, (2) cervical cancer screenings, (3) colorectal cancer screenings, (4) prostate cancer screenings, (5) immunizations, and (6) well-child visits for children under age 6. For more information about TRICARE's preventive care coverage, visit the TRICARE Preventive Services webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/LiveWell/Preventive) www.tricare.mil/LiveWell/Preventive.
For more on TRICARE, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE Overview.


Top Navy Photos of 2013
The Navy has released its Top Ten Photos of 2013 on Flickr. View the photos at on (http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/12/30/ ... vy-flickr/) Navy Live.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center and see (http://www.military.com/slideshows/year ... -2013.html) Military.com's 2013 Year in Review slideshow.


Navy 2014 CSADD Topics
The U.S. Navy has announced the 2014 monthly topics for chapters of the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) to emphasize in their awareness and peer mentorship efforts. These key focal training topics are designed to provoke thought, inspire young leaders to discuss these issues, and create awareness through a variety of social networks and activities at the most junior level. A list of the key focus areas for each month in 2014 is (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=78479) available. For more information on CSADD, visit the (http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/s ... ault2.aspx) Navy Personnel Command website.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


AF Enlisted Retention Board Set for June
An Air Force enlisted retention board will convene in June to consider eligible senior airmen through senior master sergeants for retention. Airmen eligible to be considered by the retention board can apply for voluntary separation (or retirement if they are eligible) in lieu of board consideration. Airmen approved must separate by Jan. 31, 2015, or retire by Feb. 1, 2015. The Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) will accept applications Jan. 14 through April 3, 2014. For complete eligibility requirements, application instructions and retention form information, visit the (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers site and enter PSDM 13-129 in the search window.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Register for the 2014 AF Marathon
Registration for the 2014 Air Force Marathon opened at midnight EST on Jan. 1, 2014. Last year's event sold out in May 2013 and organizers anticipate selling out even faster this year. The number of runners in 2014 will stay the same, capping the participants at 15,000. The Air Force Marathon will be Saturday, September 20, 2014. For more information about the race, visit the Air Force Marathon website at (http://www.usafmarathon.com/) www.usafmarathon.com.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Keeping Your New Year Resolutions
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers five easy steps for making changes your New Year's resolutions, and sticking with them: (1) change one behavior at a time: Unhealthy behaviors develop over the course of time. Thus, replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones requires time. Do not get overwhelmed and think that you have to reassess everything in your life; (2) talk about it: consider joining or starting support group to reach your goals, such as a class at the fitness center or a group of co-workers who aim to quit smoking; (3) do not beat yourself up: Perfection is unattainable. Remember that minor missteps when reaching your goals are completely normal; and (4) ask for support: Everyone needs a cheerleader from time to time. Accepting help from those who care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and ability to manage stress caused by your resolution. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your goals on your own, consider seeking professional help.
For more military family support resources, visit the (http://www.military.com/spouse) Military.com Spouse Channel.


TRICARE Debuts Pharmacy Calculator
The TRICARE website at TRICARE.mil features a new tool that lets beneficiaries calculate how much they can save by switching their prescriptions from a retail pharmacy to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Visit the TRICARE Pharmacy webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy) www.tricare.mil/pharmacy to use the calculator. A 30-day supply of medication at a retail pharmacy has a copayment of $17. Prescriptions through Home Delivery can be filled for up to 90-days at a cost of $13. Home Delivery works for "maintenance" medications. Beneficiaries can sign up for Home Delivery through e-prescribing from their doctor, or by calling, mailing or having their doctor fax their prescription to Express Scripts, the TRICARE pharmacy contractor. Call 877-363-1303 or visit the TRICARE Home Delivery webpage at (http://www.tricare.mil/homedelivery) www.tricare.mil/homedelivery to get started today.
For more on TRICARE, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Military.com TRICARE Overview.


New Navy Self-Service NRTC
For Sailors, unlocking their Non-Resident Training Course (NRTC) online account just got a little easier. Because of the large number of unlock requests, NRTC staff has implemented a self-service option by using a Command Access Card (CAC) verification, Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) authentication and security question challenge process. Users falling in a greater-than-45-days-inactivity-window will receive challenge questions generated from the account holder's profile. Correctly answering the questions will allow users to update their account and re-enable access. Users who are unable to use the self-service unlocking service are encouraged to contact the NRTC helpdesk anytime via email at (mailto:NRTC@navy.mil) NRTC@navy.mil and Monday through Friday by commercial phone at 1-877-264-8583, or DSN at 753-6070.
For more Navy news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


The AF Year in Photographs
The 2013 Year in Photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This yearly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. Visit the (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/t ... hotos.aspx) Air Force 2013 Year in Photos feature.
For more Air Force news, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center and see (http://www.military.com/slideshows/year ... -2013.html) Military.com's 2013 Year in Review slideshow.


AF Sets 2014 Tour Lengths for Turkey
Dozens of positions at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, will be 24-month tours, regardless of accompanied status, beginning with any assignment selections that take place Jan. 1, 2014 and later. The positions include those held by airmen first class through lieutenant colonels who directly support the Priority Level One mission at Incirlik. All enlisted positions will be advertised via the Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing (EQUAL Plus, accessible through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight or the myPers website), and will clearly indicate the new tour length requirement. Airmen currently assigned to PL-1 positions will not be affected and will continue their 15- or 24-month assignments. For more information about assignment opportunities 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.