Our Staff Here at Armed Forces News Would Like to Wish All of You a Happy Thanksgiving And We are Proud of our Troops in Combat and the Tremendous Job You are Doing. We Salute All of You. Don Mace, Publisher Armed Forces News
Armed Forces News Issue: Friday, November 26, 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/294977225/274810/341/0/ Job Bulletin Board http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/274810/341/0/ Unlimited Internet Access for as low as $10.90 http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294977225/274810/222/0/ 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/294977225/274810/339/0/ In This Week's Issue *********************************************************** 1. $100K Payout On Tap for Some Sailors 2. Overdue CRSC Payees Get Toll-Free Number 3. DoD Launches 'America Supports You' 4. Rare Blood Infection Hits Injured Service Members 5. New Military Pay System Coming 6. Air Force Working Present Pay System 7. CENTCOM: Don�t Send Troops Unsolicited Mail 8. Alternatives to Unsolicited Mail for Troops 9. Boy Scout Support Okayed For DoD 10. 2005 In-Print Retired Military Personnel Handbook Available For Immediate Shipment--Only $9.95 http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm ************************************************ 1. $100K Payout On Tap for Some Sailors A new Navy policy issued Nov. 5 makes certain nuclear-qualified Sailors eligible for Enlisted Supervisor Retention Pay (ESRP) of up to $100,000 if they re-enlist and hold one of the following NECs: 3363, 3364, 3365, 3366, 3393, 3394, 3395 and 3396. To qualify, they must be at least an E-6 and be in re-enlistment Zone C (have between 10 and 16 years of active service). Under the policy, outlined in NavAdmin 253/4, half the ESRP will be paid up front, and the rest will be paid in equal annual installments during the remainder of the contract. The full amount will be determined by a mathematical formula of base pay, the number of months of the re-enlistment, and a multiple assigned the skill. The total amount of re-enlistment bonuses during a career is capped at $200,000. ESRP replaces the Selective Re-enlistment Bonus for eligible Sailors. 2. Overdue CRSC Payees Get Toll-Free Number Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) officials have announced that DFAS has completed processing the backlog of more than 9,000 Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) retroactive payments that had been approved for more than 60 days. The backlog was created when legislation passed in June 2003 and January 2004 changed entitlements and required additional policy and coordination between the military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and DFAS. CRSC applications will normally be paid within 60 days of military service approval. Military retirees whose applications have been approved but who have not been paid for more than 60 days since the approval may call 1 (800) 472-7098 between 8-4:30 EST. Officials emphasize that this number should be used only by those retired members whose eligibility has been verified and whose payments are overdue. 3. DoD Launches 'America Supports You' The Department of Defense has launched "America Supports You," a nationwide program to showcase and communicate American support to service men and women. In announcing "America Supports You," principal Defense deputy for personnel and readiness Charles Abell said that thousands of Americans, including individual citizens, businesses and organizations, have spearheaded activities and projects in their communities to show their support for America's Armed Forces, especially those serving in harm�s way. "These activities of support have a positive impact on the morale and spirit of those who serve," said Abell. He said the �America Supports You" program will showcase these community activities and projects on a new website so that the American public and the U.S. military serving at home and overseas will know firsthand how much the American people appreciate their service and sacrifice. Individuals and organizations engaged in support activities can register them at http://www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. 4. Rare Blood Infection Hits Injured Service Members The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted that during January 1, 2002--August 31, 2004, 102 patients were infected with acinetobacter baumannii at military medical facilities treating service members injured in Afghanistan and the Iraq/Kuwait region. Forty-five cases were at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, District of Columbia, and 33 were at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. The remaining 24 were at U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, and Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Whether the infections were acquired from environmental sources in the field or during treatment at other military medical facilities such as field hospitals is unknown, said the CDC. A. baumannii are commonly found in water and soil. Treatment can be difficult because the organisms resist certain antimicrobial agents and have acquired resistance to many others, noted the CDC. For additional information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip. 5. New Military Pay System Coming The Defense Finance and Accounting Service plans to phase in the "Forward Compatible Payroll" beginning in March. DFAS expects the FCP to end problems service members have encountered from the present "Defense Joint Military Pay System," which is actually two barely compatible systems for active duty and reserve component troops. The reserve system has been unable to handle pay efficiently for the thousands of reservists who have been mobilized because it was designed only to pay members for weekend drills and two weeks' annual active duty. The Army Reserve and National Guard are scheduled to convert to FCP in March, followed by the active duty Army in July, the Air Force and Air Force Reserve in November and the Department of the Navy in March 2006. The FCP also will include a more understandable Leave and Earnings Statement. 6. Air Force Working Present Pay System On Nov. 18, Michael Montelongo, senior Air Force financial manager, told the Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee on readiness and management support that Air Force officials are using an approach similar to the Army's to deal with pay issues involving reservists and guardsmen. "We set up a (council) where we ... work on three areas: integrating the people involved in the process, making sure our processes are as integrated as possible and doing some of the near-term fixes in our personnel (and) pay systems so that we mitigate ... pay problems," said Montelongo. These areas include the Air Force's personnel and finance communities and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the Department of Defense- level agency responsible for paying service members. In the past, pay issues have risen from disconnects between at least two of those areas -- those internal to the Air Force, he said. 7. CENTCOM: Don�t Send Troops Unsolicited Mail The commander of U.S. Central Command is asking Congress for help in eliminating unsolicited mail to service members. Army Gen. John P. Abizaid said the military mail service is running at capacity, and he noted the propensity of America to be especially generous during the holidays. "I would greatly appreciate your assistance in communicating to your constituents the challenges bulk donations from the public present," General Abizaid wrote in a letter provided to congressmen inquiring about mail issues. Unsolicited mail is no longer accepted because of the stress it creates on the military mail system and because of the possible threat it can pose to service members. "As a matter of policy, the Department of Defense and United States Central Command generally discourage bulk donations because of the added burden on the DOD transportation and distribution system and the real threat of bioterrorism and associated security concerns," General Abizaid wrote. 8. Alternatives to Unsolicited Mail for Troops Although the Defense Department discourages unsolicited mail as a method of supporting the troops (previous item), many alternatives exist. For example, organizations such as the services' relief societies, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Red Cross, the Armed Forces YMCA and the United Service Organizations are accepting donations to pay for care packages. Donors can contribute to the USO, for instance, through its Web site, or by phone or mail. Donors can direct their contributions to one of several programs, including "Operation USO Care Package," which DOD endorses. Through that program, service members receive items they have indicated they want or need. The USO also runs "Operation Phone Home," using donations to buy international phone cards for deployed troops. In addition, a general donation to the USO supports, in part, USO centers worldwide that offer free Internet and e-mail. Visit www.uso.org. 9. Boy Scout Support Okayed For DoD A partial settlement Nov. 15 of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the Defense Department and other organizations allows the military to continue supporting the Boy Scouts of America, as long as commands don't officially sponsor Scout units. The ACLU lawsuit, filed in 1999, alleges that the Boy Scouts religiously discriminate because the Scout Oath requires youth to swear to do their duty to God and country. The partial settlement requires DoD to issue a letter reminding commands of its policy: "The Boy Scout Jamboree will still go on as scheduled at Fort A.P. Hill," said Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Richard. "We are still fully supporting the Boy Scouts. But, we are reminding base commanders and post officials they can't sponsor non-federal organizations in their official capacity. It's not a new policy, but we are reminding people." The jamboree will be held July 25 through Aug. 3. 10. 2005 In-Print Retired Military Personnel Handbook Available For Immediate Shipment--Only $9.95 http://www.fedweek.com/rmph.htm Plus, You'll get a FREE Publication, Your Strategic Guide to Investment & Financial Planning when you order your 2005 RMPH. BRAND NEW FREE OFFER EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR READERS: SPECIAL FREE PUBLICATION: YOUR STRATEGIC GUIDE TO INVESTMENT AND FINANCIAL PLANNING FEDweek will give you absolutely FREE this sought after financial planning pub. 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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. 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"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 PUBLICATION 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]
