[afsachapter254] FW: AFSA eNewsletter - 07/17/2009
- From: "Brian P. Kush" <brian_kush@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'E-Mail List'" <afsachapter254@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Erica Fox" <erica.fox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Jason Anderson" <ja3021@xxxxxxxxx>, "Lemaun Koonce" <lemaun.koonce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Megan Arias" <maxoxojl@xxxxxxxxx>, "Mike Purvis" <michael.purvis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Nathalie Swisher" <nathalie.swisher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Nina Brehe" <nina.brehe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Rob Stanley" <guitarrob22@xxxxxxxxx>, "Ryan Quigg" <ryan.quigg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Bren-Mikal Brickweg" <bjbric2@xxxxxxx>, "Craig Smith" <craig.smith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Joe Allen" <joechiney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Louis A. Moussette \(home\)" <osanmoose88@xxxxxxxxx>, "Louis A. Moussette" <louis.moussette@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Quincy Allen" <qeallen@xxxxxxxxx>, <quincy.allen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Russell E. Wagner" <russell.e.wagner@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Stephanie Anderson" <saande6@xxxxxxx>, "Stephen R. Anderson" <srande@xxxxxxx>, "Stephen R. Anderson" <stephen.r.anderson@xxxxxxxxx>, "Tony Jackson" <tojack313@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Tony Jackson" <tony.jackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Torey Moore" <torey.moore@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:20:04 -0400
FYI
Brian
BRIAN P. KUSH, MSgt, USAF
President, AFSA Chapter 254
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755-5260
DSN: 622-0125/0856 CMCL: (301) 677-0125/0856
Home: (410) 695-5701 Cell: (301) 875-5080
e-mail: brian.kush@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or brian_kush@xxxxxxxxxxx
From: Monahan, J. P. [mailto:JMonahan@xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 7:06 AM
To: Chapter 102; Chapter 201 ; Chapter 211; Chapter 254; Chapter 258;
Chapter 259; Chapter 264; Chapter 265; Chapter A201; Chapter A211; Jadrian
J. Haywood ; Nefertiti Haywood ; Vice President; Amanda Mocanu; Bill
McMullen; Dan Bergeron; Frank Bearse; Jennifer Holton
Subject: FW: AFSA eNewsletter - 07/17/2009
Here is the most current AFSA Newsletter forwarded for your information and
further dissemination.
_____
From: JP Monahan [mailto:jpmonahan@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:34 PM
To: Monahan, J. P.
Subject: FW: AFSA eNewsletter - 07/17/2009
From: AFSA eNewsletter [mailto:subscribe@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 4:44 PM
To: jpmonahan@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: AFSA eNewsletter - 07/17/2009
<http://www.hqafsa.org/>
July 17, 2009 Volume 4, Edition 28
_____
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HAPPENINGS
This week, we met with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) in order to continue
educating new members of Congress on our legislative platform, the Quality
of Life needs of the enlisted corps, and AFSA concerns for their attention.
_____
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND NEWS
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3155:> H.R.3155: the
"Caregiver Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act," by Rep. Michael
Michaud, D-ME, to provide certain caregivers of veterans with training,
support, and medical care.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas:> H.AMDT.291: Amends: H.R.2965, by
Rep. David Reichert, D-WA, an amendment to give preference to organizations
that are located in under represented states and regions, or are
women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, or minority-owned when awarding
grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach efforts authorized
under Title III (rural development and outreach).
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3199:> H.R.3199: by Rep.
Jane Harman, D-CA, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants
to State emergency medical service departments to provide for the expedited
training and licensing of veterans with prior medical training.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1415:> S.1415: the "Military
and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act," by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, to amend
the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to ensure that all
uniformed services voters (including those overseas) are aware of their
voting rights and have a genuine opportunity to register to vote and have
their absentee ballots counted.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1426:> S.1426: the "National
Guard and Reserve Soft Landing Reintegration Act," by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR,
to provide for the retention on active duty after demobilization of members
of the reserve components of the Armed Forces following extended deployments
in contingency operations or for a homeland defense mission.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1427:> S.1427: the
"Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital Quality Report Card Act of 2009,"
by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card
Initiative to report on health care quality in Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Centers.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1429:> S.1429: the
"Servicemembers Mental Health Care Commission Act," by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR,
to establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with
post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental
health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care providers to
assist such veterans and members, and to ensure such veterans are not
discriminated against.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1440:> S.1440: the
"Wounded Warrior Retention Act of 2009," by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, to
establish requirements applicable across the military departments for the
retention in the Armed Forces of members who seek to remain in the Armed
Forces following injury or disability incurred in the line of duty in the
Armed Forces.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1443:> S.1443: by Sen. James
Inhofe, D-OK, to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting
Act to modify State responsibilities under such Act.
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1452:> S.1452: by Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-NY, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for
purposes of service-connection of disabilities.
_____
To view the full text of the following news articles, click on the title.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
MTI Special Duty Pay to Increase: Thanks to AFSA CEO Doc McCauslin's
perseverance, Military Training Instructor (MTI) pay has been increased.
During his term as AFSA International President, he visited Lackland AFB,
Texas where the MTI pay disparity and manning shortages were discussed in
great detail. Special duty pay increases were approved by Congress and left
to the discretion of the service secretaries. He "trusted but verified the
information" and "discussed" the concerns with senior Air Force leadership
in the Pentagon in subsequent meetings. The appropriate authorities reviewed
the concern and have subsequently approved the increase in Military Training
Instructor special duty pay.
<http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=543:> New TRICARE Regional
Managed Care Support Contractors Selected: The Department of Defense (DoD)
announced today the selection of new TRICARE Managed Care Support (MCS)
contractors for the North, South and West TRICARE regions in the United
States. The TRICARE West region retains its current contractor, TriWest
Healthcare Alliance Corp. The selected contractors in both North and South
are new. Aetna Government Health Plans, Hartford, Conn., is selected for
the North Region where Health Net Federal Services is the current
contractor. United Health Military & Veterans Services, Minnetonka, Minn.,
has been selected for the South Region to replace Humana Military
Healthcare Services.
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158494:> CMSAF Discusses Force
Priorities, Continued Support for Families, Wounded Warriors: Chief Master
Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said some primary focus areas for the
enlisted force include reinforcing professional military education,
integrating better with joint and coalition partners, and supporting
military families and wounded warriors.
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158264:> Military Leaders Embrace
Social Media: The very day he assumed his post as NATO's supreme allied
commander for Europe last week, Navy Adm. James Stavridis reached out in a
way none of the previous 15 NATO commanders since Army Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower; he posted a blog.
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158077:> Scholarship Program
Rewards More than 600 Military Children: FORT LEE, Va. (AFNS) -- The 2009
Scholarships for Military Children Program has awarded 625 scholarships
worth $1,500 each to children across the United States and overseas.
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158228:> Report Urges Timeline for
Tobacco-Free Military: "The military has come a long way from the time
when it packaged cigarettes in with rations, but more must be done,
according to.the report, titled "Combating Tobacco in Military and Veteran
Populations," (which) calls for Defense Department officials to set a
timeline to eliminate smoking on military installations." Jim Garamone,
American Forces Press Service
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=55119:> Mullen Thanks
Servicemembers in Afghanistan: BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 14,
2009 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offered some guidance and
his gratitude to about 300 military members during an all-hands call.
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=55121:> On the Ground:
Human Rights Conference Adds to Optimism in Iraq: A human rights
conference, a meeting of Iraqi and Kurdish forces and medical technician
training are just a few events U.S. forces in Iraq have been involved in
recently to give hope in Iraq's future.
Joint <http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=55112:> Missions
Lay Groundwork for Brighter Future in Afghanistan: LOGAR PROVINCE,
Afghanistan - Joint operations have become a key term for U.S. and Afghan
forces. The soldiers patrol local villages nearly every day, typically with
Afghan security forces by their side. To ensure the safety of U.S. and
Afghan forces, hours of training are put in before every mission.
_____
VETERANS' FOCUS
<http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1729:> More Than 1,100
Colleges and Universities Partner with VA
<http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1729> to Improve GI
Bill Benefits: Out-of-State, Private and Graduate Educations Made More
Affordable: The Yellow Ribbon program, a provision of the new Post-9/11 GI
Bill, funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state
undergraduate tuition rate. Institutions can contribute up to 50 percent of
those expenses, and VA will match this additional funding for eligible
students.
_____
AIRMEN IN ACTION
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158461:> Airmen Improve Base in
Iraq: <http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158461> CONTINGENCY
OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq (AFNS) -- Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary RED
HORSE Squadron are changing the landscape of the base and improving the
operational capability of Multinational Division South with the new
buildings that they are putting up.
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158583:> Hobby Earns Spangdahlem
Airman $10K: <http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158583> SPANGDAHLEM
AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The new program dubbed "SpIDER System" is the
creation of Master Sgt. Erich Reichley, the 52nd Operations Support Squadron
NCO in charge of intelligence operations. The computer savvy sergeant
created this replacement for an Excel-based system and walked away from the
project with $10,000 for his efforts through the Innovative Development
Through Employee Awareness Program.
_____
COMMENTARY
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123157580:> NCOs: Be the Example:
<http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123157580> "Airmen don't realize the
significance of what they do each and every day and how it plays a critical
role in fighting the current conflict. As NCOs, it is our duty to
communicate this to our junior Airmen. It is our responsibility to lead by
example and show them we are in this fight with them." Master Sgt. Terry
Kelly, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
The Art of Objective <http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123158205:>
Decision Making "Making decisions is something we all do each and every
day... Some decisions involve time and thought, and can impact more than
just ourselves. These are the decisions where the process is an art: it
defines who we are as leaders." Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Commander, Air
Education and Training Command
<http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090714-050.pdf> Airmen's Roll
Call
_____
AFSA MEMBER BENEFITS
2009 Professional Airmen's Conference: AFSA has been granted an extension on
the last day to make reservations with the Hyatt Regency Atlanta at the
guaranteed contracted rate. The guarantee contracted room rate has been
EXTENDED until FRIDAY, July 17, 2009 @ 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time.
NOTE: AFSA cannot guarantee contracted room rates after Friday, August 17,
2009 @ 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time. In addition, if you are planning to arrive
before August 15, or stay after August 19, 2009, AFSA cannot guarantee
contracted room rates and you must call the Hyatt Regency Atlanta
reservation line to make your reservations 1-800-233-1234.
MOVING DISCOUNT: North American Van Lines offers a "Moving Discount" for
AFSA members making an interstate (state-to-state) move. Moving can be a
stressful time so AFSA has negotiated very attractive terms with two of the
nations largest and most respected names in the moving industry. For more
information, or to receive an estimate of cost call 1-800-524-5533 or e-
mail: tmento@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Be sure to let them know you are an AFSA
member!
529 College Education Savings Plan: Wachovia Securities, John Hancock and
AFSA have come together to create a one-of-a-kind 529 College Educational
Savings Plan for AFSA members, employees and family members only. Visit the
AFSA website: <http://www.hqafsa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home>
www.hqafsa.com and select 529 Plan under education assistance or member
services. As a special bonus, management fees have been waived for AFSA
members when you complete the "AFSA 529 Application" form and submit
directly to our AFSA Wachovia Securities Specialist.
Rental Car Discounts
Special discounts from Enterprise, Hertz, and Alamo. In most cases, rates
are lower than those available with a government ID card.
. Enterprise: Code 16WAFSA (866) 279-9963
. Alamo: Code 93804 (800) 354-2322
. Hertz: Code 0010635 (800) 654-6511
OTHER INFO
CMSAF Paul W. Airey Legacy Coins are available at www.CMSAFCOIN.com with all
proceeds going to the CMSAF Scholarship fund. Dependents of enlisted
members are eligible for these lucrative grants.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN SERGEANTS MAGAZINE?
Published bimonthly, SERGEANTS is the only publication dedicated solely to
serving Air Force enlisted members and their families. For advertising
rates and information, please contact the Advertising Sales Manager at
adsales@xxxxxxxxxxx
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