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States Army Warrant Officers Association
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Introduction
Families of our members are
important to us.
We include you in several of our ongoing programs. Among those that include
family members, is our Annual Scholarship Awards Program. Competition for
Family Member Scholarships is open to spouses
and legal dependents (high school senior and above under the age of 23).
Information and an application forms are published in the NEWSLINER, and are
available on the
Member Services page and
USAWOA Scholarship Foundation
website. Many of the benefits shown on that page are also available to
family members. Examples are: rental car discounts; Classic and Gold VISA
cards; services of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union; educational assistance
from Capital for Knowledge; our "10-10" Dial Around Service, memorabilia
items, USAWOA Job Seek and Career Center which specializes in "Military
Friendly" job placement activities for transitioning military, veterans,
spouses & families, and much more.
We also recognize the support
rendered by
warrant officer spouses
through presentation of the annual award of the Virginia Holcombe Memorial
Spouse of the Year. (Criteria
and nomination procedures)
USAWOA is involved in
legislative affairs
through our interaction with
The Military Coalition (TMC). Within this forum we support the quality
of life programs that directly affect the military family. Also, through
TMC, we weigh in on matters concerning military schools, commissaries,
family health care, and a wide range of other subjects that affect the
military family.
Other areas
in which we strive to assist you are
News For Military Families and
family related websites.
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News for Military Families
Group Sponsors
Annual Children's 'Freedom Art' Contest
-
As Flags Across the Nation, a North
Carolina-based troop-support group, gears up for its 7th Annual Children's
Freedom Art Contest, it is looking for patriotic drawings or paintings
that signify the unyielding spirit of America after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks. The required
entry form is available on the group's Web site at
www.flagsacrossthenation.org.
The contest is open to children in grades 1 through 6 across America. They
are allowed to use pencils, crayons, paint, makers and fabric -- but not
glitter -- for their artwork. The piece should be on 8.5-by-11-inch paper
and mailed to Flags Across the Nation, P. O. Box 78995, Charlotte, NC
28271-7045 by Aug. 7. None of the artwork will be returned. The
winner will be announced Sept. 11 on Flags Across the Nation's Web site. The
grand prize winner's art will be featured on the Web site, and he or she
will receive 13 note cards that feature the winning image. The grand prize
winner also will receive a $50 U.S. savings bond. The art of 12 runners-up
will be featured on the group's Web site and sent to deployed troops.
6/30/09
Law Gives Military Renters More Protection
Against Foreclosures
-
President Barack Obama's latest efforts to look after
home renters gives military members additional protection if the homes they
rent are foreclosed. The president's Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act
of 2009 was signed into law on May 20. The legislation ensures that renters
aren't forced out of their homes if foreclosure occurs and a new landlord
takes over. Renters in every state now have more time to find new homes. The
new law greatly benefits the military, as the vast majority of active duty
service members rent homes throughout the United States. See more at
www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54747.
6/19/09
Army to fund foreclosure-driven local moves
- see more.
5/12/09
'Operation
Purple' Offers Summer Fun to Military Kids -
The National Military Family
Association will host more than 9,000 military children at "Operation
Purple" youth camps across America this year. These free, weeklong,
overnight camps are meant to bring children of deployed service members,
ages 7 to 17, together for an exciting and memorable experience. Camps will
be held in 62 locations and 37 states and territories across the United
States -
see more. 4/7/09
Paternity
Leave for Married Soldiers in Effect
- The Army is now
issuing a new entitlement allowing married active duty Soldiers 10 days of
non-chargeable administrative leave if their wife has given birth since
October 14, 2008. Paternity leave is limited to no more than 10 days and
must be taken consecutively within 45 days after the birth of the child. To
learn more about this entitlement read more at
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/03/army_paternity_leave_031609w/.
4/2/09
Army Disaster
Personnel Accountability and Assessment System (ADPAAS)
(the Army's way of accounting for personnel and families
after catastrophes. It is a web-based, user-friendly system
that enables the Army to collect accurate and timely reports
in times of emergency. All Soldiers, civilians, family
members and overseas defense contractors must report their
status and whereabouts following any natural or man-made
disaster, if directed to do so by the Secretary of Defense.)
DoD Relocation Tool for Families
- It's almost peak moving
season again for military families, and Defense Department leaders want
families to know new resources are available to help. "Plan My Move," is the
next generation of DoD's Military Homefront tools to provide an integrated
"e-moving" solution. Moving to a new community can be a stressful event for
all service and family members, This tool helps to ease that burden. It will
put our Servicemembers and their families in direct contact with those who
can help every step of the way, from their current home and community to the
new one -
see more.
Web Site Helps Troops, Families Adjust After Deployments
-
A Military Health System Web
site continues to help returning service members and families adjust after a
deployment ends. About 20 percent of service members returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan experience adjustment difficulties such as stress, irritability
and sleep problems. The afterdeployment.org project is one of several core
projects within the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, known as
"T2," located at Fort Lewis, Wash. T2 is a directorate of the Defense
Department's Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic
Brain Injury. Possible barriers to obtaining services, including a perceived
stigma, stop many service members from seeking out care. Ciulla emphasized
that online resources have many advantages. "Users can log on to
afterdeployment.org in the privacy and comfort of their own homes and work
with the site's resources anonymously.
-
see more.
Disney, Army Resort Make Vacations
More Affordable for Troops
-
see more.
Busch Gardens presents "Here's to the Heroes"
Program
- Any active duty, activated or drilling
reservist, or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under
the Here's to the Heroes program. He or she need only register,
either by
clicking here and submitting his or her information or in the
entrance plaza of participating parks, and show a Department of
Defense photo ID. As many as three direct dependents of military
personnel also are entitled to free admission. Dependents may take
advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult
must accompany minor dependents, and dependent ages 10 and over must
present valid dependent I.D. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld
San Antonio and Sesame Place are seasonal operations that will
remain closed until spring 2009. Military personnel interested in
visiting those parks should check operating schedules.
Click here for Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Click here for SeaWorld San Antonio.
Click here for Sesame Place. Make sure you print your
registration form on line. Forms are also available at all of the
Busch Gardens locations. For more information visit
www.herosalute.com/cavatx/overview.html.
Free SAT & ACT
Test Prep Software is Donated to U.S. Military Service Members and Their
Families
- Through
a special donation program sponsored by the Department of Defense and the
National Football League, eKnowledge Corporation is offering free SAT and
ACT test preparation software worth $200 (for only shipping
and handling costs)
for service members and their
families. You pay only for only shipping and handling costs. Simply log on to
Military HOMEFRONT and follow the directions.
The sponsorship will last through July 1, 2009.
Families may now use the program for an
entire year even if the program is requested the last day of the
sponsorship.
TroopTube Restores Streaming Video To Our
Nation's Finest - (TechCrunch) In honor of
Veteran's Day, Delve Networks has teamed with Military OneSource (a service
of the Department of Defense) to launch TroopTube - a YouTube-like site that
gives all active-duty military personnel and their families a place to share
their videos online. The site features much of the functionality seen on
sites like YouTube or Metacafe, but with one key difference: you won't be
able to embed your clips elsewhere on the net (Military OneSource would like
to keep TroopTube somewhat private) -
see more.
Are
you moving and have children, check out the Local School Directory at
www.localschooldirectory.com.
Executive Order Eases Federal Employment for Military Spouses
-
President Bush signed an executive order during
the last week of September that will make it easier for spouses of service
members to get federal jobs. The order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of
spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster for those in
this category -
see more.
Family-Support Program
Expands; DoD, YMCA Strengthen Partnership
-
The letter that
appeared in a soldier’s mailbox promised an offer almost too good to be
true: a home improvement loan approved by Congress and backed up by a
government agency. Officials at the Federal Citizen Information Center
fear it’s a scam targeting military members that uses the center’s
credibility to lure victims in. An eagle-eyed soldier notified the
Federal Citizen Information Center after receiving the ad from the “Home
Information Center” linked to post office boxes in Dallas and in Owasso,
Okla. The letter included a reference to FCIC’s Web site in an apparent
attempt to show a federal endorsement -
see
more.
DoD Will Protect Renters from Landlord Foreclosure
- The Department of Defense (DoD) has sent advanced notice to
Servicemembers that a change will be placed in the Joint Federal Travel and
Regulations in November. The change authorizes the military to pay for a
local household goods move when the Servicemember or dependent is forced to
move from rental housing because of a foreclosure against the landlord. The
change is retroactive to July 30. Officials urge Servicemembers or family
members to contact their installation’s housing office or their unit’s
administrative/personnel office for information and assistance. To read the
full article, go to
www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_renter_foreclosures_081208w/.
9/18/08
Free Training Program for Military Spouses
- Operation Life
Transformed created Education Purple, a free credited training certification
program for military spouses. Spouses of Servicemembers who have received
the Purple Heart since 2001 are eligible for the program. For more
information on the certifications offered and application requirements,
visit
www.lifetransformed.org and click on “Education Purple.”
Sesame Street Helps Military Children Cope with
Parents' Deployments
With soldiers playing an ever-expanding role in the war on terrorism,
multiple deployments and combat-related injuries can take a toll on a
soldier. When that soldier is a parent, he has special needs for his
family while he is deployed and after he returns. Sesame Street lends
a helping hand through a bilingual video series aimed at children aged 2-5.
To view the videos, visit:
http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/
What's more, Sesame Street is on the road with USO! The Sesame Street
Experience for Military Families travels the country. Visit Elmo
online to view the schedule of events:
http://archive.sesameworkshop.org/tlc/tlc-tour.php
Sesame Street is one of many resources available to you. As always,
Military One Source is a great one-stop-shop for all of your family's needs
at
www.militaryonesource.com.
(Courtesy ROA Army Newsletter, Sept. 2008)
TSA policy for family members of military
personnel departing and returning from deployments
-
According to Security Directive
1544-01-10w, families of military members may be granted access to sterile
concourse areas to escort the military passenger to departure gates or to
meet a military passenger at arrival gates. The family member should go to
the airline that the military member is flying on, present a copy of the
Soldier's orders, and provide proper identification to receive a gate pass.
Family members will still be required to go through the normal security
screening checkpoints as other passengers. Although most airports and
airlines have been operating under these guidelines already, the new TSA
directive will help ensure that Soldiers and family members are properly
afforded access to see Soldiers off to and welcome them back from theater.
America Supports You: Postal Service Offers Discount
- Military families have long used the U.S. Postal Service’s flat-rate
shipping boxes to send care packages around the globe. Beginning March 3,
they’ll get a price break. The discount applies only to the new “Priority
Mail Large Flat-Rate Box,” which normally carries a $12.95 price tag for
shipping. However, when the 12-by-12-by-5.5-inch box is sent to an APO or
FPO address, a $2 discount applies, dropping the cost to $10.95. The new
boxes will be available in post offices nationwide on March 3. Those who
can’t wait to start packing the boxes, however, can order them from www.usps.com/supplies. They’re also available by calling
1-800-610-8734 -
see more.
MyArmyLifeToo (MALT) Web System
- the Website of Choice for Army Families - The
MyArmyLifeToo.com Web Portal is a
Web site that highlights Family Programs services in Army Community Service,
the Army National Guard and Army Reserve Family Programs. It is written in
easily understood language for Family members versus Army terms, acronyms
and program names. It is the face of Family Programs and serves as the Web
site of choice for information on programs and services. To date, there are
over 66,000 registered users. The Web site is easy to navigate with most
information available for the user within four clicks. Users who register on
the site receive the monthly newsletter, Family News. The site is publicly
accessible thus available to all Soldiers and to immediate and extended
Family members.
Free Space-A Flights for Families of Deployed
-
Military families of deployed personnel may be able
to save some travel money thanks to a new Space A policy for families. As of
Dec. 6, 2007, spouses and children of personnel deployed 120 days or longer
now can use military transport in CONUS, to/from CONUS, and within/between
theaters, provided they have a verification letter from the military
member's commander -
see
more.
Family Readiness Groups and Special
Initiative: The vFRG
- A new system, the Virtual Family Readiness
Group (vFRG) web system, provides all of the functionality of a traditional
FRG in an ad-hoc and on-line setting to meet the needs of geographically
dispersed units and families. Unlike FRGs that are located with the unit,
the vFRG links the deployed Soldier, their family, the FRG leader, the unit
commander, the rear detachment, and other family readiness personnel on
their own controlled access web portal to facilitate the exchange of
information and provide a sense of community, using technology to automate
manual processes and provide enhanced services and communications. Over
1,100 vFRGs are established linking Families on the Homefront to those
forward deployed. The Army has limited development of vFRG sites to units at
the Battalion-level and higher in an effort to serve the most Soldiers and
families across the Active, Guard and Reserve. For more information
click here.
(Courtesy
STAND-TO!, Dec. 27, 2007)
Program Builds Strong Army Marriages
- As members of the world’s
premier fighting force, Army Soldiers sacrifice for our country every day,
and so do their loved ones. Military life places extreme hardship on
relationships, especially in wartime, so the Army – backed by Congress - has
committed unprecedented resources to help Soldiers build stronger
relationships with their spouses through the
Strong
Bonds Program -
see Press Release.
Program
expands services to Families of fallen - As
part of ongoing efforts to better assist Families of fallen Soldiers, Army
Long Term Family Case Management added 11 new categories to the Support
Program section on its Web site. Each category contains brief summaries and
contact information for both national and local programs related to careers,
children and youth, counseling, finances, emotional support, education,
healthcare, legal assistance, military and government, peer support,
religion, and substance abuse. The information can be found in the Support
Programs section of
www.ALTFCM.army.mil. Families of
fallen Soldiers are encouraged to contact ALTFCM for personal assistance, or
benefit concerns, by calling toll-free 1-866-272-5841; visiting the Web
site, or by e-mail to
ALTFCM@conus.army.mil. Army Long Term Family Case Management's support
coordinators personally provide ongoing support to Families of fallen
Soldiers the months and years following their loss. ALTFCM is a service
provided by the Army's Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center. To
date, ALTFCM has served over 3,000 Family members and distributed more than
600 million dollars in retroactive benefits.
Family Assistance Centers, What is it?
- The National Guard Joint Force Headquarters
Command (JFHQ) within each state, territory, and the District of Columbia
coordinates family assistance for all military dependents within each
respective location under the guidance of a State Family Support Program
Director (SFPD). Family Assistance Centers (FACs) are located in the 54
states and territories. These FACs are strategically placed in each state
and territory to overcome the geographic dispersion of both Active and
Reserve Component families from centralized, installation-based service
providers. Each FAC is staffed with military and civilian personnel, members
of the Recruiting and Retention force, Soldiers on Active Duty Special Work
orders, contract personnel, temporary technicians, state employees, and
volunteers. For more information, please go to
www.guardfamily.org .
|
See listing of Family Related Web Sites &
Downloads |
We continue to look for additional services and
benefits for our families. We encourage you to
submit your ideas to the Home Office by mail, fax
to 703-742-7728, call 1-800-587-2962, or
.
(Many files throughout this site
are a PDF files.
A free reader is available for download.)
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USAWOA Online
6/30/2009
