Armed Forces News Issue: Friday, November 12, 2004 FEDweek is the largest information resource in the federal government with now over one million weekly readers. To Subscribe, Go to http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm
Valued Added Service to Our Readers: Federal Job Search http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/821891/341/0/ Job Bulletin Board http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/821891/341/0/ Unlimited Internet Access for as low as $10.90 http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/821891/222/0/ Our Readers Will Get Special Discounted Travel Rates Including, Airfare, Hotels, RV's, Car Rentals, and Special Weekend Getaways--Anywhere in the world http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/821891/339/0/ In This Week's Issue *********************************************************** 1. Happy Birthday to Marines 2. Vets Give VA Top Health Care Rating 3. Golden Corral Sets Military Appreciation Monday 4. Blue to Green Gets DoD OK 5. DoD Stresses Troop Support Mail Policy 6. Shipboard Phone Call Costs Slashed By Half 7. Airmen May Wear Medals Before System Catches Up 8. Food Stamp Users Outnumber FSSA Recipients 9. VA Issuing New ID Card 10. Free Anti-Virus Software Available 11. Recent Military Promotions: 12. Brand New 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook Just Published--Plus, You'll get a FREE Publication, Your Strategic Guide to Investment & Financial Planning. http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/821891/344/0/ *********************************************************** 1. Happy Birthday to Marines The staff of Armed Forces News sends a hearty congratulations to the United States Marine Corps on the occasion of its 229th birthday. 2. Vets Give VA Top Health Care Rating For the fifth year in a row, the independent American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) found veterans are happier than most other Americans with the health care they receive. The study showed that veterans scored health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs at 91 of a possible 100 for customer satisfaction. The ACSI said the results "should be considered a benchmark for (federal) agencies." Veterans also gave the VA's inpatient hospital services a rating of 84 and outpatient services 83, compared to private-sector patients rating their health care providers at 79 and 81 respectively. The VA also came out high in patient loyalty, with a score of 92, meaning that nearly all veterans under VA care intend to continue using the VA and to speak positively to others about their experiences. 3. Golden Corral Sets Military Appreciation Monday The more than 400 Golden Corral restaurants in 39 states are offering U.S. military personnel, past and present, a free "thank-you" dinner buffet on Monday Nov. 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. Golden Corral's fourth annual Military Appreciation Monday is based on the honor system, with no ID required. Reserves and National Guard members are included in the special recognition offer. The Disabled American Veterans Organization, with 2.3 million disabled veterans, their families and survivors, will have members in the restaurants to distribute literature, sign up new members and volunteers, and accept donations in support of the DAV. An estimated 252,000 veterans attended last year, helping this event raise over $241,000 for the DAV. 4. Blue to Green Gets DoD OK Principal Defense Department deputy for personnel and readiness Charles Abell signed a policy memorandum Oct. 18 that formalizes Operation Blue to Green. Under Blue to Green, the Army hopes to fill vacancies by recruiting qualified members who are leaving other services. The memo allows enlistment contracts to be executed for another service prior to the end of current enlistments; arranges for enlisted transfers without any break in service; arranges for transfer of pay grades, leave balances and bonuses to the gaining service; and allows families to stay in government housing during the transfer. 5. DoD Stresses Troop Support Mail Policy The Department of Defense announced on Nov. 2 the continued suspension of the "Any Servicemember" mail program, and has urged the general public not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members during the holiday season. DoD continues to emphasize that names and addresses of military service members must not be distributed by the media, Web sites, companies, non-profit organizations, schools and individuals for the purpose of collecting letters of support or donations for mailing to service members. Members should receive mail only from those friends and family members to whom they personally give their address. Americans who don't have loved ones deployed overseas can show support during the holidays by other means, such as those listed at http://www.defendamerica.mil. DoD also is encouraging family members to view the mailing guidelines at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2004/pb22138.pdf. 6. Shipboard Phone Call Costs Slashed By Half The Navy Exchange Service Command has announced a lower rate, effective Nov. 15, on its AT&T Direct Ocean Service to $.50 per minute, down from $1 per minute. This 50 percent price cut was made possible through the cooperative efforts of NEXCOM, AT&T Direct Ocean Service, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command. "We identified five cost reduction initiatives that allowed us to reduce the overall program's expenses," said Rear Adm. Robert E. Cowley III, NEXCOM commander. "This 50 percent cost reduction will represent a $5.1 million savings to our Sailors and Marines in 2005." AT&T Global Prepaid Ship-To-Shore phone cards can be purchased in any ship's store in $20 through $40 denominations. Profits stay aboard ship to support shipboard quality of life programs, said a NEXCOM official. 7. Airmen May Wear Medals Before System Catches Up Air Force officials have assured eligible Airmen that they may wear certain decorations even if the military personnel data system has not been updated to reflect the awards. Decorations affected include the Korean Defense Service Medal, Gallant Unit Citation/Meritorious Unit Award, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the "V" device on the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. Officials stress that Airmen should ensure they meet the proper criteria before wearing any new decoration. Eligibility requirements are at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/awards/Recently%20approved%20awards.htm. For more information, Airmen can contact their local military personnel flight or call the Air Force Personnel Center's contact center at (800) 616-3775. 8. Food Stamp Users Outnumber FSSA Recipients Based upon the Defense Department's records for 2002, the most recent year available, the number of military families using food stamps plummeted to 2,084 from 19,400 in 1991. In comparison, however, only 647 families were drawing Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance. The programs differ because a family living in base quarters might qualify for food stamps, while the same family living off base wouldn't. This occurs because qualification for food stamps includes counting housing allowance as income but not the value of base quarters. FSSA, on the other hand, factors in either the housing allowance or the value of military quarters. DoD attributes the huge decrease in families using food stamps primarily to pay and housing allowance increases, and only secondarily to FSSA, according to a DoD spokeswoman. 9. VA Issuing New ID Card Because identity theft is the major fraud reported by Americans in 2003, the Department of Veterans Affairs has designed a new identity card for veterans that will safeguard confidential information. The card, known as the Veterans Identification Card, will have veterans' photos on the front and identify them as enrollees in the VA's health care system. The card includes the words "service connected" under the photo if the veteran has a service-connected disability. Veterans should request the new card at their local medical center. Processing will take five to seven days once eligibility is verified. The VA said it hopes to complete the conversion to the new card by mid-November. Existing cards will remain valid until veterans receive their new cards. 10. Free Anti-Virus Software Available Defense Department Web sites offer free anti-virus software intended for use on members' home computers. The software is licensed for both military and civilian DoD employees. Members must be at a .mil workstation to access any DoD-related sites offering free anti-virus software. They can either download via file transfer protocol or go to the INFOSEC FAQ page for slower downloads, then choose the software. Anti-virus software from McAfee is available, in addition to Symantec and TrendMicro, plus regular signature updates to keep PC workstations current. Mac users can download McAfee Virex software and signatures for OS X, as well as earlier Mac operating systems. The sites also offer VirusScan for UNIX and DOS users. To obtain software, go to the SPAWAR Web site at www.infosec.navy.mil, and click on "Anti-Virus Information," or visit www.navcirt.navy.mil, or the DoD site at www.cert.mil/antivirus/av_info.htm. The other branches of service have anti-virus software at similar sites. 11. Recent Military Promotions: Army The FY05 Master Sergeant, Selection Board Results https://www.perscomonline.army.mil/select/Msg05.doc Marine Corps FY 2005 Approved Selections to Sergeant Major and Master Gunnery Sergeant http://www.usmc.mil/maradmins/maradmin2000.nsf/0872a7ac9a4c08a6852569b9000bc3f1/8d8407aed733988a85256f43006e0d05?OpenDocument 12. Brand New 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook Just Published-- Plus, You'll get a FREE Publication, Your Strategic Guide to Investment & Financial Planning. BRAND NEW FREE OFFER BEGAN YESTERDAY: SPECIAL FREE PUBLICATION: YOUR STRATEGIC GUIDE TO INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL PLANNING FEDweek will give you absolutely FREE this sought after financial planning pub. Here's a partial look at an overview of the table of contents of this FREE Pub: * How to Build a Retirement Portfolio * Low-Risk, High-Return Stock Market Strategies * Fixed Income Investments for Steady Cash Flow * Search the Globe for Profits * Invest for After Tax Returns * Making the Most of Your Golden Years * And Much More! This FREE Book offer is good for the first 5,000 orders we receive for The 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook. And considering the dramatic response this offer won't last too long, so get your order in now! (Limited One FREE Book per order) This is one way we can say thank you for allowing us to serve your needs and we hope to for many years to come! **************************************************** Dear Armed Forces News Reader: For 2005, The Retired Military Personnel Handbook has been COMPLETELY REVISED AND EXPANDED AND IS STILL ONLY $9.95! The Retired Military Personnel Handbook is now in its sixth year and has been distributed to military installations and federal government agencies all over the world! It is specifically written for all military personnel and retirees and their families and is designed to guide you through every aspect of your retirement, explaining what benefits you may qualify for and how to get them, as well as providing a context for making many of the important decisions that lie ahead. Here's a look at just some of what's NEW in the 2005 edition: TRICARE Plus program--A complete, down-to-earth explanation of the eligibility requirements and the covered benefits Federal LTC Insurance program--Contains the eligibility, benefit choices, and premium considerations, including how the program differs for active employees versus retirees, tax considerations and other aspects of the program Tax Policies--The latest information affecting your retirement accounts, estate tax treatment and long-term care premiums New Retirement Lifestyle Information--Including how to evaluate continuing care communities and nursing homes Incapacity Planning--New important information on protecting your heirs Pay and Benefit Policies--The latest on COLAs, health and life insurance, Medicare and Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Defense Department programs, and a look at key legislative initiatives affecting retirees Important Points of Contacts--Just updated points of contact, benefit rates, addresses, tax treatment of annuities, status of important legislation and other vital material The new SGLI family coverage option--What it will cost you and what it will provide Survivor Benefits--The latest information on survivor benefit policies and rates Moving in Retirement--Special considerations for those moving in retirement PLUS, COMPLETELY REVISED INFORMATION ON: Retired pay and benefits--how the latest changes affect you and your family Disability retirement--qualifying, compensation, implications Medicare and Social Security benefits--eligibility and requirements Re-employment with the Government--the veterans' advantage Financial planning--maximizing your military retirement income Taxes in retirement--minimizing your tax burden A plain-English explanation of TRICARE for Life--what it does and doesn't cover, eligibility rules and how to make in prescription drug policies The new Senior Pharmacy Program--who is eligible, and how you can use it to save money on your prescription drugs Tricare dental benefits--what's covered and what's not VA health benefits--eligibility and facilities Survivor benefits--spouses and family members, divorce VA retirement compensation--types and how much Life insurance--USGLI, VSLI and other Government plans Other VA programs--assistance with loans, income, education, etc. And much, much more! "The 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook gives you the absolute latest information available on your military retirement and is a perfect tool to be used as a reference guide whether you are just nearing retirement or are already retired." Don Mace Publisher, Armed Forces News http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm Special FREE Special Report to Our Readers: Everyone who orders the 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook will receive a FREE Publication: Your Strategic Guide to Investment & Financial Planning. *********************************************************** HOW TO GET "The 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook It's Available only at FEDweek! Go to http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm or see Below. *********************************************************** The 2005 Retired Military Personnel Handbook is only $9.95 (plus $4 s&h) and you can place your order online at http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm under our Military Interest section. You may also call our 24 hour toll-free order line at (888) 333-9335 and place your order or send your order with payment ($13.95) to: FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058. *********************************************************** Don't Forget to Ask for Your FREE Copy of "Your Strategic Guide to Investment & Financial Planning When You Place Your Call Your order in. (This offer is only good while inventory lasts) Armed Forces News 11541 Nuckols Rd. Suite D Glen Allen, VA 23059 Publisher, Don Mace Website: http://www.armedforcesnews.com Published weekly by Armed Forces News, LLC * A 100% VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ** [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are subscribed to armedforcesnews as [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
