Military Report - Week of February 23, 2015

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Military Report - Week of February 23, 2015

Vets4Warriors
A veterans resource called "Vets4Warriors" is a national call center that provides a confidential peer-to-peer support for active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families. Spouses, parents, siblings or other family members can contact Vets4Warriors if they are concerned about their service member or if they are facing problems of their own. Vets4Warriors is staffed with veterans and military family members. Call Vets4Warriors, toll free, at 1-855-838-8255. Reach a Vets4Warriors counselor at (mailto:Info@Vets4Warriors.com) Info@Vets4Warriors.com or in an online chat on the Vets4Warriors website at (http://www.vets4warriors.com/Contact.htm) www.vets4warriors.com/Contact.htm. Information is always kept confidential.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article.


Hot Video: 5 Things You Don't Know About AK-47s
As part of our continuing video series, we look at five entertaining, lesser-known facts about the (http://www.military.com/video/guns/rifl ... 222264001/) AK-47 rifle, the most widely-used assault rifle in the world.


Overpayment on Roth TSP
If you contribute to a Roth TSP, and diligently made () the changes required by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in January, you got overpaid on February 13, 2015 because DFAS failed to take those new TSP contributions out of the mid-month pay. Your end-of-month pay will have the entire Roth TSP contribution deducted, and the two paychecks together should come out to the right amount. For more details and guidance, see (http://paycheck-chronicles.military.com ... yesterday/) this Paycheck Chronicles post.


Navy Reserve to Celebrate 100th Birthday
In 2015 the U.S. Navy Reserve will be 100 years old. First created in response to the outbreak of World War I, legislation for the creation of the Naval Reserve Force was passed on March 3, 1915. Since that time, reservists have served in every major war in which the United States has fought. As of December 2014, 107,687 reservists were serving as either the Selected Reserve (SELRES), or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Sailors. On any particular day, 25 percent of the Navy Reserve is delivering global operational support to the fleet and combat forces. For more information, visit the Navy Personnel Command Selected Reserves (SELRES) webpage at (http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/e ... ault2.aspx) www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted ... ault2.aspx or the Navy Personnel Command Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) webpage at (http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/c ... ault2.aspx) www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/r ... ault2.aspx.
For more Navy news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) tracks the total number of service members throughout the Department of Defense who have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since the year 2000, over 313,000 service members have been diagnosed with a TBI. Following a mild TBI, it is common for individuals to experience headache, sleep disturbance, difficulty with balance, reduced attention/concentration, reduced memory ability, irritability, and/or mood swings. For more information, visit the CDC's Traumatic Brain Injury webpage at (http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/index.html) www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/index.html, the (http://dvbic.dcoe.mil/resources) DVBIC website, and the Defense Centers of Excellence website at (http://www.dcoe.mil/TraumaticBrainInjury.aspx) www.dcoe.mil/TraumaticBrainInjury.aspx.
For more on TBI and disability compensation, see this (http://www.military.com/benefits/vetera ... rview.html) Military.com TBI page.


Military Crisis Line
Active, Reserve or National Guard service members in crisis or service members who are in need of urgent help can call "The Military Crisis Line," a confidential support line that's accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Veterans can also call. The service is free. Qualified responders from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff the Military Crisis Line, many of whom have served in the military. A Military Crisis Line responder can provide support any time of the day. Call, toll free, 1-800-273-8255, and press 1. For more information, visit the Visit Veterans Crisis Line website at (http://www.veteranscrisisline.net) www.veteranscrisisline.net.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article.


AF Offers FitFamily
To help Airmen and their families lose weight, get in shape and eat healthier, the Air Force offers the Air Force FitFamily initiative. To enroll in the program, families can log on to the USAF FitFamily website at (http://www.USAFFitFamily.com) www.USAFFitFamily.com and click on 'Register My Family.' Once enrolled, the system will email a password to each family member's address. The Air Force FitFamily website includes health and fitness articles, recipes and tips to help families become more active together. Families can register on 'My Goal Tracker,' earn points and achieve levels for participating in family fun activities, sports and fitness events and making healthy eating selections. For more information about the FitFamily or Living Fit programs visit the USAF. To find out about other quality of life programs, visit MyAirForceLife.com at (http://www.myairforcelife.com) www.myairforcelife.com.
For more fitness advice and workouts, visit the (http://www.military.com/military-fitnes ... re-muscles) Military.com Fitness Center.


Navy Seeks Female Submariners
The U.S. Navy submarine force is now open to female enlisted Sailors from E-1 to E-8. Enlisted females who complete a non-nuclear rating conversion will attend Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) in Groton, Connecticut, prior to arriving aboard their ship. BESS provides screening of future submariners in adaptability and reliability and prepares Sailors to pursue submarine qualifications aboard an operational submarine. For more information about enlisted females in submarines, visit the Navy Personnel Command Enlisted Women in Submarines webpage at (http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/e ... rines.aspx) http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/e ... rines.aspx.


Non-Profit Groups Access to Installations
Non-profit groups with a track record of helping Soldiers and their families will soon experience a more streamlined process to get them access to military installations. The defense secretary recently issued two memos directing the military services to implement additional procedures to improve access to installations for service and support organizations. Installations are legally bound to provide installation access to Department of Veteran Affairs-recognized VSO/MSO entities to assist Soldiers with their Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, claims, if the senior installation commander receives and approves a written request. VSO/MSO organizations include the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, American Red Cross, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Nonprofit organizations supporting Soldiers and families, including VSO/MSOs not processing VA claims, may be required to provide an IRS Form 990 to establish their credentials.
For more veteran and family support resources, see (http://www.military.com/spouse/military ... vices.html) this Military.com Spouse Channel article. For a complete guide to military bases around the country, visit the (http://www.military.com/base-guide/) Military.com Base Guide.


Pick Your Cuts: Tricare Changes
Among the many budget cut proposals that have popped up this year, the one that would have the biggest day-to-day impact on the lives of everyone -- active duty families, Guard and Reserve users and retirees -- is changes to Tricare. But what will the changes be? We're taking a poll on what you would pick for your cuts if you could. Pick your option and see how others have responded in (http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2015/02/poll ... -cuts.html) the poll.


Navy Offers Cyber-Sec Training
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command's (SPAWAR) Reserve Program provides free cyber security training across the globe. The SPAWAR Reserves has developed a five-day training event to provide that hands-on training VMware training for ships that have received or will soon receive the Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise System (CANES). Commands that will receive a CANES upgrade in the near future should contact Dennis Stewart at (mailto:dennis.b.stewart1@navy.mil) dennis.b.stewart1@navy.mil. to learn more or schedule training. For more information on SPAWAR, visit the SPAWAR website at (http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pages/default.aspx) www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pages/default.aspx, the SPAWAR Facebook page at (http://www.facebook.com/spaceandnavalwa ... emscommand) www.facebook.com/spaceandnavalwarfaresystemscommand , the (https://twitter.com/SPAWARHQ) SPAWAR Twitter page, the (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwk7Z4 ... hZV2tAVzmg) SPAWAR Syscom YouTube webpage, and the Team (https://www.flickr.com/photos/teamspawar/) SPAWAR Flickr webpage.
For more Navy news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


Vet Job Tips: Salary Negotiation
Negotiating a salary is every job hunter's final hurdle. To develop a negotiation strategy, analyze your financial needs and wants. Determine what compensation you will require by preparing a brief balance sheet of your assets and liabilities. Also, research current compensation packages within your specific career field. You can find salary information in the Jobs Rated Almanac, the American Almanac of Job Salaries and the Occupational Outlook Handbook at (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm) www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm. Never be the first to mention money. You want the employer to reveal their money position first -- this gives you the upper hand in negotiation. If you find yourself at an impasse with a potential employer, try to negotiate something other than salary such as benefits.
For more veteran job tips, job postings and transition advice, visit the (http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs) Military.com Veteran Jobs Center.


PepsiCo Hiring Veterans
PepsiCo has a long legacy of military hiring and remains committed to veteran hiring across all lines of business and roles. The company believes in providing opportunity for military hires, not just in the name of service, but because they help the business win. (http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employe ... index.html) Search and apply now.


Protect Your Online Privacy
Here are several ways to protect your privacy while on the Internet: (1) Set privacy settings on social media sites to restrict access to posts; click (http://airforcelive.dodlive.mil/files/2 ... s-2014.PDF) here for a detailed how-to guide on how to secure your Facebook profile; (2) do not share information that you are not willing to share with the world; (3) do not post personal information such as your home address or phone number; (4) disable location-based social networking, or geotagging, on all social media platforms; (5) avoid posting work or personal schedules and travel itineraries; (6) be aware of open Wi-If hot spots in public areas; (7) do not publicize your association with military forces; and (8) be cautious when accepting friend requests. If you have concerns, alert the social media platform's help center and your local Operations Security (OPSEC) manager for assistance.
For more military news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


AF Promotes 443 More Enlisted
The Air Force selected 443 enlisted Airmen for promotion via the supplemental promotion process. To see the list, visit the (https://www.my.af.mil) Air Force Portal and select the promotion news link, or visit (https://mypers.af.mil) myPers, select "Search All Components" from the drop down menu and enter "Active Duty: Enlisted Promotions Home Page" in the search window. Select the page and scroll down to the supplemental promotion section. For more information about other personnel issues, visit myPers.
For more Air Force news updates, visit the (http://www.military.com/daily-news) Military.com News Center.


DoD Plan Would 'Destroy' Commissaries, Say Industry Reps
The Defense Department's fiscal 2016 budget request would slash taxpayer support of base grocery stores by $322 million in 2016 and by $1 billion next year, enough to "destroy" the shopping benefit, warns the American Logistics Association. ALA, which represents manufacturers, distributors and brokers of products sold in commissaries and base exchanges, released a position paper that contrasts DoD's plan to "wreck" commissaries with less onerous recommendations of a blue-ribbon panel to consolidate all base store operations to gain efficiencies. That would seem to leave Congress with an easy choice. But the Army and Air Force Exchange Service warns in its own position paper that the store consolidation path laid down by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission won't produce the savings it touts. For more details, see this (http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2 ... stry-reps/) Military Update article.


Family Protection for Less: Get $100k Protection from Just $7 a Month
Family Protection for less. Get $100,000 Coverage from just $7 a Month. (http://www.military.com/insurance/?lpid ... rvr0223.nl) Could your family survive if something happened to you?


Tax Filing as a Military Spouse
Moving around as a military spouse creates all sorts of challenges, especially when it comes time to file your income tax returns. The biggest question is usually: where do I file? Thankfully, the law is pretty clear and simple. For most people, moving means changing your () legal residence (domicile), and paying state taxes in the state where they are domiciled. Active duty folks, through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, are not required to change their domicile when they move, and they are allowed to file their state income taxes in the state where they are domiciled. For more details, visit (http://paycheck-chronicles.military.com ... ry-spouse/) this Paycheck Chronicles post.


AF Changes Policy on Carrying Over Leave
Effective Sept. 30, military members will no longer be able to carry more than 60 days of leave into the next fiscal year. Unless they are approved for special leave accrual, regular Air Force and Active Guard Reserve, or AGR, members who have more than 60 days of leave must use it or lose it by Oct. 1, 2015. Members who have approved special leave accrual (SLA) are exempted from the use-or-lose rule. SLA approval is for members who couldn't use their leave because of national emergency, crisis, catastrophe or national security situations. For more information about military benefits, like leave, or other personnel issues, visit (https://mypers.af.mil/) myPers.
For more on military benefits, visit the (http://www.military.com/benefits) Military.com Benefits section.