Military Report - Week of January 05, 2015

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Military Report - Week of January 05, 2015

Get Ready to Use Your $0 Down VA Loan Benefit in 2015
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New Exchange on Guam
A ribbon-cutting ceremony recently commemorated the opening of the new Naval Exchange (NEX) Minimart on Naval Base Guam (NBG). The 10,000-square foot facility is the first newly-constructed NEX building on Guam in 25 years. It also has a 30-foot food bar and the first NEX diesel dispensing station on Guam. The new Minimart will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year.
For shopping discounts for military families and veterans, visit the (http://www.military.com/discounts/museums) Military.com Discount Center.


Air Reserve Officer Promotions
The Air Reserve Personnel Center has announced results for the 2014 Air Force Reserve Line and Non-line Colonel Promotion Selection Boards. Categories considered during these promotion boards were: Air Force Reserve Line, Chaplain, Dental Corps, Line of the Air Force-Judge Advocate, Medical Corps, Nurses Corps, Medical Service Corps and Biomedical Sciences Corps. A list of individuals selected for promotion is available on (https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/login/ ... N2dkdZaw==) myPers or the (http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/shared/medi ... 19-058.pdf) ARPC website. For more information, call the Total Force Service Center - Denver at DSN 665-0102, 210-565-0102, or 800-525-0102.
For more Air Force news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Training for the Navy
The U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program was established to commission college graduates as Naval officers who are motivated toward careers in the Naval service. The Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC includes Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp, the NROTC programs at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command OTC in Newport, Rhode Island, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide. For more information, visit the (https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/) NROTC website (https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/,) , the (http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/) NSTC website or the (https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/) NSTC Facebook page.
For more on joining the military, visit the (http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces) Military.com Joining the Military section.


New Army Leader's Guide for Training
(https://atn.army.mil/media/docs/LG_to_UTM_FINAL.pdf) The Leader's Guide to Unit Training Management (UTM) is the Army's how-to manual for training management techniques. It explains doctrinal processes and concepts in great depth and, is based on the training doctrine of (http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pu ... drp7_0.pdf) Army Doctrine Publication and Army Doctrine reference Publication 7.0. Created by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Combined Arms Center -- Training, the guide features a resource page available online on the (https://atn.army.mil/) Army Training Network, with a link to the 7-0 doctrine, a downloadable Leader's Guide, how-to tutorials and examples of what training "right" looks like. For more information, visit the (http://www.army.mil/standto/archive_201 ... id=standto) U.S. Army Stand-To! Website.
For more Army news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Recap of 2014 Military and Veteran Legislation
MOAA's government relations team spent 2014 educating and informing members of Congress on the unique aspects of military service and defending key pay and benefits in order to ensure the continued viability of the All-volunteer Force and appropriate recognition for military families who have shouldered the burden of more than 13 years of combat operations. With the recent passage by Congress and signing by the President of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, it's time to recap some of the wins and frustrations and also provide a peek at what we expect will be driving our advocacy agenda for 2015.
For all the details, see (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... egislation) this article.


More Veterans Owning Businesses
A growing group of veterans are not looking for jobs; they are looking to create them. Veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than people with no military experience. Aging census data show that at least 2.4 million U.S. Businesses are veteran-owned, but experts say the number could be twice that. Exit surveys of new vets leaving the military found that nearly one quarter are interested in starting or buying their own small businesses. The percentage is even higher among women veterans. Across the country, universities, the government and nonprofits are beginning to focus on assisting veterans who want to begin start-ups. There is even a magazine called Vetrepreneur. For information on programs for veteran entrepreneurs in your area, contact your state department of veterans affairs.
For more veteran job news, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


AF Mentorship Program
All Air Force active-duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Public Affairs officers, enlisted, and civilians, are encouraged to participate in the Air Force Mentorship program. Any individual or organization participating in the Air Force Public Affairs Mentoring Program, regardless of role, does so freely and without special pay or compensation from the Department of Defense or the United States Air Force.The program uses a mentoring platform that allows Airmen to advertise their skills, search for mentors, identify what mentoring topics are trending, set up conferences and publish material. For more information, read (http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/produ ... 6-2643.PDF) Air Force Manual 36-2643 and the (http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a424958.pdf) research report.
For more Air Force news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Tax Season is Just Around the Corner
As wage and earning statements will soon be available for Soldiers and civilian employees online at (http://www.mypay.dfas.mil) www.mypay.dfas.mil, base tax centers are gearing up to provide free tax-preparation and e-filing services. In January, the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, will train and certify tax filers. Military ID cardholders, including Soldiers, DoD civilians and retirees who wish to use the free tax-preparation and e-filing services should have all of their income documents, including prior year tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, mortgage statements, and receipts, along with social security cards, and bank account and routing numbers ready when they meet with the preparers. This is especially true for taxpayers with complicated returns, such as capital gains, rental real estate income or loss, foreign earned income or foreign taxes paid, or multiple state income tax returns. For more information, contact your servicing legal assistance office or tax center.
For more guides and tips for tax season, visit (http://www.military.com/money/personal-finance/taxes) Military.com's Tax Center.


Army Revises Officer Career Mgt Pamphlet
Recently revised Army Pamphlet 600-3 emphasizes the importance of broadening assignments to Commissioned Officer Professional Development and Career Management. It recognized that officers need a broader base of education. It also outlines a new competitive intermediate level education selection process, and adds a chapter on the Electronic Warfare officer, to reflect a new functional area. Other changes include updated career-development models for branches and functional areas. The latest pamphlet is available (http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/376665.pdf) online. Questions can be addressed to a Soldier's chain of command or a career and branch manager at Human Resources Command.
For more Army news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Services at Your Base Legal Office
A base legal office provides professional, ethical, accurate, and timely legal advice and services to the commanders, Soldiers, family members, and qualified civilian employees. When making an appointment, provide the legal office with the following: name, topic for which you require assistance, phone number and email address where you and be reached and the names of other persons involved in the issue (if any). Persons normally eligible for legal assistance services include service members on active duty and their dependents, retired or disabled service members and their dependents. Proof of eligibility is required upon appointment scheduling or arrival (i.e. Military identification card). For more information, contact your base legal office.
For more on military legal matters, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/military-legal-matters) Military.com Benefits Center.


AF Pillars of Resiliency
Although resiliency training is an important part of the Air Force, Airmen may have difficulty implementing the skills they learn into their lifestyles. During the new year, practicing the pillars of resiliency is crucial. Understanding the physical, social, and mental pillars of resiliency can be simple. But, many do not fully comprehend the meaning of spiritual resilience, which is the ability to sustain an individual's sense of self and purpose through a set of beliefs, principles or values. A helpful way to exercise spiritual resilience is by cultivating gratitude and counting your blessings. Be thankful for what you do have rather than focusing on what you are missing. It is important to remember the resources available for Airmen such as the mental health clinic, Family Advocacy Program, Military Family Life Consultant and Airman & Family Readiness.
For more mental health and wellness guides and tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... d-wellness) Military.com Mental Health and Wellness section.


Troops Get 1% Pay Raise
Most service members will receive a one-percent increase in basic pay in January. Basic pay for service members will increase one percent, except for general and flag officers who will not see an increase in 2015. Basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates for service members in 2015 will increase on average $17 per month, or half a percent. Service members can calculate their BAH payment by using the basic allowance for housing calculator at (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... calculator) Military.com pay calculator. The 2015 basic allowance for subsistence rates for military members will increase by 2.9 percent over last year. Roughly 12,000 members will see a decrease in their CONUS COLA payments, while some 7,000 members will see an increase or no change. service members can also calculate their (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... -cola.html) CONUS COLA rate.


New Suicide Prevention Law
The new Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act was recently signed into law by President Obama. It includes language that will require all members of the U.S. Military -- active, National Guard and reserve -- to receive annual mental health assessments beginning in 2015. The legislation also requires an evaluation of existing mental health practices and provides measures to keep the privacy of service members who seek mental health care. The new law was named for an Indiana National Guardsman who took his own life during a 15-day leave from Afghanistan. The text of the original bill is available at (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s2300/text) GovTrack.us.
For more on legislation that affects the military and veterans, visit the (http://capwiz.com/military/home/) Military.com Legislative Center.


DoD Releases 2015 Pay and Allowance Rates
The Department of Defense has announced the 2015 military pay and compensation rates for service members with most service members receiving a 1 percent increase in basic pay. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH rates) for service members in 2015 will increase on average $17 per month, or 0.5 percent. service members can calculate their BAH payment by using the (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... calculator) Pay calculator at Military.com. The DoD also released its 2015 CONUS COLA rates. service members can calculate their allowance by visiting Military.com's (http://www.military.com/benefits/milita ... #calculate) CONUS COLA section. The new rates for basic pay, basic allowance for housing (BAH), basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), and the cost of living allowance (COLA) rates for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) took effect on Jan. 1, 2015.


New HOMES.mil Website Launched
The Navy, along with the other military branches, has announced a new website, HOMES.mil, that is dedicated to helping service members, Department of Defense civilians and their families with home finding services. The new DoD website is a secure website that allows property managers, landlords and service members a means to market their properties. Those using the website are able to control their listings, and upload photos and floors plans to the website. For more information, visit the (https://www.homes.mil) Homes.mil website. For questions about HOMES.mil and other housing information, visit the Navy Housing website: (http://www.cnic.navy.mil/HOUSING) www.cnic.navy.mil/HOUSING.
For more on veteran home loan programs and home purchase and selling tips, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans) Military.com VA Loan and Homebuying section.


What Is a VA-Guaranteed Loan?
Veterans Administration-guaranteed loans are made by private lenders to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home, which must be their own personal occupancy. Veterans apply for a loan through a lender and if the loan is approved the VA guarantees a portion of the total loan. Lenders include banks, credit unions or mortgage companies. VA's guarantee allows the veteran to obtain a competitive interest rate without a down payment. The amount of the loan a veteran can be approved for depends on the property location and entitlement available, as well as credit and income factors. For more information, visit the (http://www.military.com/money/va-loans) VA Home Loans webpage on Military.com.


Marine Corps Water Survival Course
The Marine Corps Water Survival Course enables Marines to earn both Marine Corps and civilian certifications for water rescues. During the course the Marines advanced their aquatic skills with endurance tests, speed drills, underwater swims and strength training. Marines practiced rescuing their classmates who simulated being both active and passive drowning victims. Marines also practice carrying dead weight in the water. The instructors push the class endurance level out of the water as well. Marines who pass the course earn American Red Cross certifications for lifeguarding and first aid. They will also carry a secondary military occupational specialty for water safety. For more information, read (http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publi ... 00.52D.pdf) Marine Corps Order 1500.52D.
For more Marine Corps news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Navy Requires Training for E-9
All senior chiefs hoping to become master chiefs are now required to complete the Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA) course at U.S. Naval War College (NWC). For E-8s, that means approximately twice the number of students will be going through the program. SEA currently offers a course to Reserve personnel that combines both distance learning and in-house education. Using that model as a basis, the SEA leadership team modified and developed the new course with that in mind. SEA has limited spaces reserved for students in other branches of service, as well as some Reservists. Navy senior chiefs can also attend other senior enlisted academies instead of the Navy SEA. The inaugural course is scheduled to begin in March, 2015. For more information, visit the U.S. Naval War College website at (http://www.navy.mil/local/nwc/) www.navy.mil/local/nwc/.
For more on military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education section.


Sexual Assault Response Resources
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when 1) submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis of employment decisions; 2) submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of employment or, 3) such conduct unreasonably interferes with job performance or has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile, offensive, or intimidating work environment. Sexual harassment can be physical, verbal or nonverbal. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Remember the motto: See it! Report it! Stop it! For more information, visit the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) website at (http://www.army.mil/sharp/) www.army.mil/sharp/ and the U.S. Army SHARP website at (http://www.preventsexualassault.army.mil/index.cfm) www.preventsexualassault.army.mil.
For more news related to sexual assault and the military, see (http://www.military.com/topics/sexual-assault) this Military.com section.


Get $100 Mil Coverage from Only $7 a Month
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Spotlight: Naval Air Technical Training Center
The Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) graduates approximately 15,000 Navy, Marine and international students annually. The majority of the student body comprises enlisted personnel attending "A" schools, where they gain the knowledge and skills required to perform in the fleet as technicians at the apprentice level. NATTC also conducts technical training for officers in aviation fuels, carrier air traffic control center operations, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, shipboard aircraft firefighting and amphibious air traffic control center operations. For more information, visit the (https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/cnatt ... fault.aspx) Naval Air Technical Training Center website.
For more on military education benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/education) Military.com Education section.


Army Announces Safety Goals
The (https://safety.army.mil/Portals/0/Docum ... t_2014.pdf) Army Safety and Occupational Health Objectives, released annually by the Army chief of staff and secretary of the Army, provide senior leaders and subordinate commanders specific safety goals to meet in the upcoming fiscal year. The objectives fall under the (http://www.asaie.army.mil/Public/ESOH/S ... rategy.pdf) Army Safety and Occupational Health Strategic Plan, which communicates leadership commitment to the safety and health of Soldiers, family members and civilian employees through accident prevention. The director of Army Safety will continue to work with Army leadership in developing yearly objectives targeted to emerging trends in safety and accident prevention. Leaders requiring assistance with meeting their objectives may contact the (mailto:usarmy.rucker.hqda-secarmy.mbx.safe-helpdesk@mail.mil) U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center.
For more Army news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Match Your Skills with Jobs at Capital One
Your military experience can translate to a successful civilian career at Capital One -- your problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills will help you thrive. See how your military skills and leadership translate into career opportunities with Capital One. (http://www.military.com/veteran-employe ... =mr0105.nl) Learn more.


Did Congress go Too Far on Star-Rank Pay?
This week Tom Philpott reports that in 2006 Congress, at the urging of then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, took aggressive steps to raise pay and future retirement of currently serving general and admirals, particularly those serving beyond 30 years. The results have left some retired star-ranking officers getting more from their retirement than they did on active duty -- leaving some asking if Congress went too far. (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... tired-pay/) Read the full Military Update article to get the full story.


AF Special Investigations
A select group of special agents assigned to Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is dedicated to ensure the safety of Airmen and their base communities. Air Force OSI agents strive to identify, exploit and neutralize criminal, terrorist and intelligence threats to the Air Force, Defense Department, and U.S. Government on a daily basis. In addition to being stationed across the entire U.S., OSI agents are stationed in more than 40 overseas locations to include areas in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. OSI special agents investigate all major crimes regarding Air Force personnel to include homicides, missing personnel, sexual assault, and drug-related crimes. For more information, visit the Air Force Office of Special Investigations website at (http://www.osi.af.mil/) www.osi.af.mil and read the Fact Sheet at (http://www.osi.af.mil/library/factsheets/) www.osi.af.mil/library/factsheets/.
For more Air Force news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Warrior Care
Caring for and supporting wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and their families is an enduring mission and sacred obligation. The (http://www.wtc.army.mil/) Warrior Transition Command (WTC) is the lead proponent for the (http://www.wtc.army.mil/about_us/programs.html) Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) -- an Army-wide structure to provide support and services for wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. WCTP enables the Army to evaluate and treat Soldiers through a comprehensive, Soldier-centric process of medical care, rehabilitation, professional development, and achievement of personal goals. Since 2007, Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) have supported more than 62,000 Soldiers throughout the recovery and transition process. Nearly 50 percent of these Soldiers have returned to the force. For more information, visit the (http://www.wtc.army.mil/modules/soldier ... ogram.html) Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) webpage.
For more veteran and family support resources, see this (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) Military.com Spouse Channel article.