USAWOA ONLINE Guard & Reserve News |
USAWOA ONLINE Guard & Reserve News |
Assistant Vice President for Guard Affairs - CW5 Rhea Pruett
Assistant Vice President for Reserve Affairs - CW4 Janie Diamond
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News
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Defense Commissary Agency Takes Benefits to Guard, Reserve Members - see more.
5/6/08
Looking for a new and exciting direction in your life? Check out the Army Reserve Military Technicians Program - see more.
JOLDTS in Atlanta! The 2008 Joint Officer Leadership Development and Training Seminar (JOLDTS) for all Reserve officers in grades O-1 through O-4 and WO1 through CW4 is scheduled in conjunction with the ROA National Convention in Atlanta, Ga., June 24-28. This will be the 10th anniversary edition for this joint officer professional development and group leadership skills seminar, unique for Citizen Warriors. Highlights include: Group exercises to challenge and sharpen your skills, Senior leader speakers and briefers, Mentoring and networking opportunities, “First Night Atlanta” arrival dinner and icebreaker, “Understanding Behavioral Diversity” seminar, and “Proactive Leadership,” a seminar featuring four leadership styles. Complete information and participation requirements can be found on the JOLDTS page at: www.roa.org/joldts
2009 Presidential Inauguration Opportunity - Are You Ready to Soldier Up? Are You Army Strong? Want to be Part of a Change Era? - see more.
Warrant Officer Applications for Active Duty & Reserve Veterinary Services Food Safety Officer (MOS 640A)solicited - see more.
General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award Winners Announced - see more.
Novosel Warrant Officer of the Year Award presented at ROA Mid-Winter Conference - see more.
(Army Reserve photo)
First Community Sites to Open for Reserve, Active-Duty Families - Recognizing the challenges Reserve families face during deployments, Laura Stultz, wife of Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, is promoting a virtual installation concept that helps bring information and other resources within reach of families far from military posts.
(See more in the Armed Forces Press Service News Article)
More Education Benefits Coming to Reservists, Guardsmen, Changes Affect Those with Multiple Tours
- Some members of the National Guard and the Reserves who serve on active duty will see a significant increase in their educational benefits, thanks to improvements announced today by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Under new provisions, members who accumulate three years on active duty, regardless of breaks in service, may be eligible for the maximum payment under the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). Previously, reservists and guardsmen had to serve two continuous years on active duty to receive the highest payment. The new eligibility rules are retroactive to October, 1, 2007. The top payment under REAP is currently $880.80 per month. The new law, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, also expands the period of eligibility for certain Guard and Reserve members who complete their service obligation before separation from the selected reserve. Members meeting these criteria may be eligible to use REAP benefits for a period of ten years following discharge. Benefits typically end upon separation for members who do not complete their full, obligated service. Additionally, some REAP-eligible National Guard and Reserve members may now make an extra contribution to the Department of Defense to increase their monthly benefit rates. Service members receive an additional $5 per month for each $20 contributed. With the maximum $600 contribution, this option can add up to $5,400 to a member's total 36-month education benefit package. Beginning on October 1, 2008, participants in REAP and the Montgomery GI Bill program for the Selected Reserve who pursue non-degree programs lasting less than two years may also be eligible to receive accelerated payments. During FY 2007, more than 60,000 National Guardsmen and reservists were paid under REAP, more than 41,000 were paid under the Montgomery GI Bill program for the Selected Reserves, and approximately 344,000 participants were paid under the Montgomery GI Bill for active-duty members. For more information on changes to VA's GI Bill benefits, go to www.GIBILL.va.gov or contact VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL1 (or 1-888-442-4551). (Source VA New Release, 3 Mar 08)
President Signs Fiscal 2008 Defense Budget Legislation Into Law - Pay raise now 3.5% plus recruiting and retention bonuses again authorized - see more.
2/5/08
Army Message solicits applications for the FY 2008 Medical Service Corps Aeromedical Evacuation Officer Branch Transfer Board - Aviation Branch Warrant Officers are eligible to apply. The board will convene at USAREC on/about 24 June 2008. Deadline for receipt of the completed application packet is 2 June 2008. See MILPER Message 08-028 for details and application procedures.
Help us find our Lost Members - we do not have a current mailing address for many members. They are not receiving their NEWSLINER. If you know anyone on the list, please ask them to contact us - see listing
Nominations Solicited: 2008 is an Election Year for USAWOA National Offices - see more.
1/15/08
USAWOA Scholarship Foundation 2008 Application Season Opened Jan. 1st - see more. 12/18/07
Winter Warrant Officer Symposium
- 29 February 2008 through 2 March 2008. The Symposium will be held at the Kenichi Uchida Army Reserve Training Center, 5290 West 700 South, Salt Lake City, UT. The focus of the symposium is on recruiting and growing the USAR, Warrant Officer Professional Development, and maintaining focus on the mission of Reserve Component warrant officers in the 21st century. Warrant officers of all grades, WOCs and NCOs' interested in becoming warrant officers from all Components of the Army are welcome to attend. For additional information contact CW5 Denise Scarboro at denise.scarboro@us.army.mil. 12/18/07
TURBOTAP, the new DoD Transition Web Portal - The Department of Defense in collaboration with the Departments Labor and Veterans Affairs has developed a new DOD web portal for transiting Service members from the Active and Reserve Components. The new portal, called TurboTAP, provided transition and other related information for transitioning and demobilizing Service members. TurboTAP can be accessed at http://www.TurboTAP.org. The Army has linked TurboTAP to the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) web site at http://www.acap.army.mil. In addition, information about TurboTAP has been incorporated into the mandatory pre-separation counseling required to be completed by separating/retiring Soldiers, to include demobilizing RC Soldiers. The information and services offered by TurboTAP supplements the programs offered by ACAP.
9/18/07
ALARACT 192/2007 Continuation on Active Duty (COAD) and Continuation on Active Reserve (COAR) Status - This message provides an interim policy guidance change to AR 635-40 for the period of time Soldiers can serve in a COAD or COAR status. Previous policy and procedure for the length of time a Soldier is eligible to serve in a COAD or COAR status is normally up to the last day of the month in which the Soldier attains 20 years of active federal service or the minimum time required for the Soldier to be issued and receive their 20-year letter of qualifying service. Effective immediately, Soldiers approved for COAD may remain on active duty (provided otherwise qualified) until their retention control point (RCP), mandatory removal or retirement date (MRD), age 62 for active duty or age 60 for AGR, whichever occurs first. Soldiers approved for COAR may serve to their maximum years of service (MYOS), MRD, or age 60, whichever occurs first - see message
. (Courtesy Warrant Officer Net)
The Army Call to Active Duty (CAD) program ongoing. This program is used to fill Active Component branch/functional area shortages (Army Competitive Category only) and is an opportunity for Reserve Component (RC) officers and warrant officers to serve in the Active Component. The current CAD program is being expanded to include RC LTs assigned to the IRR. All officers are also encouraged to seek opportunities for active duty in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program. See ALARACT message for specifics & applications.
Income-Replacement Program for Mobilized Reservists, Guardsmen
- The Reserve Income Replacement Program (RIRP) will pay eligible National Guard & reserve members mobilized for extended or frequent periods the difference between their monthly civilian pre-mobilization income and their current total monthly military compensation. Payments are not automatic. Guard & reserve members must apply for the RIRP thorough their service personnel offices - see more.
Presidential Recognition on Retirement from Military Service - new message and guidance supercedes MILPER MSG 05-112 for Presidential Recognition upon retiring with at least 30 of active service, 30 years of Reserve Component Service, or 30 years of combined service - see MILPER MSG 06-124, 4/28/2006.
Troops can file employment complaints online - A new online service makes it easier for troops and veterans to file complaints about violations of their employment rights. The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has developed an online process allowing complaints to be filed electronically through easy-to-use forms available on the Web site. Other resources are:
- If you are one of the thousands of reserve component service members called to active duty in support of current operations you are protected by a law which can save you some headaches -- and possibly more than just a few dollars. Learn more about your rights under the Soldiers and Sailors Act of 1940 at the American Forces Information Service Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act web site.Database helps Reserve, Guard members find help - Employers United for a Stronger America has launched a web site at www.employersunited.org with a Resource Center designed to be a comprehensive resource for information about services from governmental and non-governmental organizations for Guard, Reserve, and military personnel.
Army Reserve, Guard Job Center - The Army Career and Alumni Program Demobilization Center in Alexandria, VA is there to help the Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers currently mobilized for the war on terror to find new jobs. The center can respond to questions about eligibility for transition services and benefits as well as offer referral to other service providers such as the Department of Labor and Department of State Employment Office and Veterans Affairs. A returning Reservist or Guardsman can be put in touch with the person who can help by calling 1-877-722-2270 or emailing acap4rc@hoffman.army.mil. Additional details are at www.acap.army.mil.
Web site Highlights Provision of Soldiers & Sailors Relief Act
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USAWOA Online 5/6/2008
United States Army Warrant Officers Association