This newsletter is published bi-monthly by the AUSA Family Programs Directorate. If you would like to receive the Family Programs Update by e-mail, please send a message to familyprograms@ausa.org and type “subscribe” in the subject line.

   This Issue: 

• New Secretary of the Army Announced
• GI Bill Funds Part of War Spending Bill
• Report Cites Long-Range Concerns over GI Bill
• Bill to Ease VA Proof of PTSD Moves Forward
• Bill Would Protect Jobs of Veterans Who Need Care
• VA Life Insurance Limit Called Inadequate
• Resolutions to Honor Intel Community
• Colorado Latest State to Sweeten GI Bill Deal
• Oklahoma Drops State Taxes on Servicemembers’ Pay
• Deployment Extension Stabilization Pay
• Army to Celebrate 234^th Birthday
• Army Publishes first National Guard Retirement Guide
• Army Cracks Down as Drug, Alcohol Cases Rise
• Army Closing Some Special Care Units
• Army Nixes Extra Brigades for Three Forts
• For Families, Toughest Times May Lie Ahead
• Family Support Hearing
• Families of the Deployed Soldiers Preyed Upon
• Creditors Use Loophole to Seize Benefits
• Error Left 39,000 Out of ‘VA Retro Pay’
• CBO Predicts No Retiree COLA on Dec. 1
• TRICARE Offers Resources for Stressed Military Families
• TRICARE Reminder about Covered Infertility Treatments
• Centering Pregnancy Program helps mom-to-be to stay healthy
• Army has Identified Two Key Resources for Crisis Intervention
• Volunteers Help Returning Soldiers with PTSD
• Deployed Servicemembers Share in Graduation
• High School Mixes Algebra and Homeland Security
• Military Youth Saves Contest
• BX/PX Contest Offers ‘Sweet’ Housing Allowance to Exchanges’ Youngest Shoppers
• Hunting Essay Contest Can Win Youth of Military Families Big Game Hunts
  

President Barack Obama announced Congressman John McHugh as the next Secretary of the Army. McHugh has represented northern New York in the House of Representative since 1993 and is the senior Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee. In Congress, McHugh has devoted himself to protecting and expanding Fort Drum in northern New York, home to the Army’s 10^th Mountain Division. To find out more information, click here: http://www.military.com/news/article/June-2009/obama-picks-republican-for-army-secretary.html

GI Bill Funds Part of War Spending Bill

Democrats are using an approximately $100 billion war funding bill to give recently expanded GI Bill education benefits to the children of military Servicemembers who die while on active duty.  The provision would give GI Bill benefits to each child of a Service- member killed in action or while on active duty, instead of a single family member as permitted under current rules.  The new GI Bill passed last year would essentially guarantee a full scholarship at any in-state public university, along with a monthly housing stipend for those who serve in the military for at least three years.  To read more about this article, please visit the following site:  http://www.military.com/news/article/gi-bill-funds-put-in-war-spending-bill.html?col=11

Report Cites Long-Range Concerns over GI Bill

The Veterans Affairs Department announced that more than 700 colleges and universities have signed up to provide discounted tuition for veterans under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits program. However, officials are fending off allegations that contracting problems will imperil the planned Aug. 1, 2009 start date for benefits payments. The VA reached an agreement with the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to provide expertise on creating the technology required for a fully automated system. The command turned over most of the work to outside contractors, and what began as a single $2.5 million project is now totaling about $66 million, according to the IG report. The IG not only cites cost as one concern, but has also cited “poor” administration, broad agreements lacking deadlines, and work underway that was outside the scope of the VA-Navy agreement. If these allegations are found true; the start date for the new Post 9/11-GI Bill may change.  To find out more information and to read the article in full, click here: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_gibill_contractingproblems_060509w/

Bill to Ease VA Proof of PTSD Moves Forward

A bill designed to assist veterans in receiving benefits and immediate care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) moved to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The bill is expected to be voted on by the committee the week of June 8^th.  HR 952 would clarify for those seeking service-connected benefits for disabilities that “combat with the enemy” is defined as duty in a combat theater during a time of war or against a “hostile force during a period of hostilities.” This bill will enable Soldiers to receive the proper treatment and assist them in obtaining the benefits required through the VA without having to face further obstacles. To read the legislation, click here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.952: To read the article in it entirety, click here: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_serviceconnection_care_060509w/

Bill Would Protect Jobs of Veterans Who Need Care

Under a bill approved this week by the House of Representatives, employers would not be able to fire or demote employees who need time off for medical treatment of service-related injuries or disabilities. HR 466 would ensure that disabled veterans are not forced to choose between medical treatment and holding down a job. The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act would extend employment and re-employment rights and rules that apply to mobilized members of the National Guard and Reserve to disabled veterans who need medical treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs for a service-connected injury, illness or disease. These could be illnesses that are the direct result of, or were aggravated by, military service. To read the legislation, click here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bdTTel:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/111search.html| and to read the full article, follow the link: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_woundedveterans_employment_060909w/


VA Life Insurance Limit Called Inadequate

Congress introduced a bill, which was referred for consideration to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. HR 2713 suggests that a 58 year old veteran’s life insurance program should be updated. The current VA group life insurance program, which has not had an increase in coverage for over 50 years, offers only $10,000 of coverage for disabled veterans. The bill calls for a maximum coverage increase of $100,000, and for every disabled veteran to have the chance to sign up for the higher coverage, regardless of whether or not they now carry group life insurance. It has also been suggested that veterans who are 100 percent service-disabled should be eligible for an additional $50,000 in supplemental insurance coverage, a $30,000 increase over the current supplemental insurance. To learn more, read the legislation at the following link: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.2713: To read the full article, visit: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_veterans_lifeinsurance_060509w/

Resolutions to Honor Intel Community

Representative Mike Rogers, a member of the intelligence committee and terrorism subcommittee, has proposed a resolution to honor the intelligence community of the United States, whose work has assisted in protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks the past eight years.  Rogers and other representatives called on the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi to quickly bring the resolution to a vote. Twenty lawmakers co-sponsored the resolution with Rep. Rogers. To read the full article, follow the link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/08/washington-in-5-minutes-73770890/print/

Colorado Latest State to Sweeten GI Bill Deal

Under the GI Opportunity Act, Colorado will begin offering in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for active-duty members, their families, and all honorably discharged veterans.  By promising in-state tuition rates to Servicemembers and their families who might get the new GI Bill benefits under a transfer option and to veterans who don’t live in the state, Colorado is promising free education to a potentially large population.  To read more on this article, please visit:  http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_gibill_colorado_060309w/

Oklahoma Drops State Taxes on Servicemembers’ Pay

Senate Bill 881, which will remove the state income tax on Federal pay to Servicemembers in Oklahoma, will take effect on July 1, 2010.  The exemption will apply to all active duty military personnel, including National Guard members and Reservists.  Military personnel often switch their state of residency on military financial documents to avoid states with income taxes.  Oklahoma will now be one of 16 states with an active-duty military tax break.  For more information on this article, please visit:  http://ww.military.com/news/article/okla-drops-state-taxes-on-troops-pay.html?col=118

Deployment Extension Stabilization Pay

A new program that provides special pay for National Guard Soldiers deploying past their end-of-service dates is set to take effect Sept. 1, 2009. The Deployment Extension Stabilization Pay program replaces the Army's "Stop Loss" involuntary extension program and pays a cash bonus of up to $6,000 to Soldiers in units set to deploy who elect to stay in past their end-of-service date to deploy. For more information read the full article at: http://www.military.com/military-report/deployment-extension-stabilization-pay?ESRC=miltrep.nl

Army to Celebrate 234^th Birthday
The US Army has been defending America’s liberty since June 14, 1775, and to help celebrate its 234^th birthday, Army commands will host a variety of events throughout June.  To find out events, times and locations, please visit:  http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/army-to-celebrate-234th-birthday.html

Army Publishes first National Guard Retirement Guide

The Army has published a 56-page retirement guide for National Guard Soldiers and their families, which covers subjects ranging from retirement point credits to how to apply for retirement pay.  The Army National Guard Information Guide on Non-Regular Retirement was a collaborated effort between the Army G-1 retirement services division and the National Guard.  To view the guide please visit:  http://www.armyg1.army.mil/retire and to read more about this article, please visit:  http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/06/01/21953-army-publishes-first-national-guard-retire

Army Cracks Down as Drug, Alcohol Cases Rise

Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli directed commanders across the service to do a better job of getting drug and alcohol offenders into treatment separate from the Army. Chiarelli is leading an Army-wide crackdown on violations and placed renewed emphasis on reporting requirements. That could mean increased inspections of barracks rooms and more visits by leaders to Soldiers’ off-post homes to make cursory evaluations of their living conditions. The substance abuse problem and lack of compliance by leaders came to light May 8, 2009 in an internal message from Chiarelli. His message is part of a larger campaign plan launched in April to uncover the reasons behind a record number of suicides among soldiers. Chiarelli feels that Soldiers need to be referred to the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). Only 70 percent of Soldiers who tested positive for illegal drug use have been referred to ASAP for treatment in the past three years, according to ASAP officials. To read the full article, visit: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/army_crackdown_060809w/

Army Closing Some Special Care Units

The Army announced that due to the declining numbers of wounded, ill and injured Soldiers it will close three warrior transition unit installations located in Kansas and Alabama.  The size of four other warrior transition units at posts in Kansas, Georgia, Washington and the Fort Campbell installation will be reduced.  Two units in Virginia will merge.  Commanders say the decrease is due to the Army imposing stricter screening procedures for admitting Soldiers into the units.  For more information, please read attached link:  http://www.military.com/news/article/army-closing-some-special-care-units.html?col=11

Army Nixes Extra Brigades for Three Forts

Army Secretary Pete Geren announced that plans to add one combat brigade to each Army post in Georgia, Colorado and Texas have been scrapped. The Army had planned to increase its total number of brigades each with 3,000-5,000 Soldiers—from 43 to 48 brigades. The proposal to add five brigades was part of the Army’s plan to grow by 65,000 active-duty Soldiers. The Army reached that goal earlier this year with a total of 574,000 Soldiers. However, in April, Defense Secretary Robert Gates proposed a plan to trim defense spending which called for scaling back the expansion to just 45 brigades. To read this article in full, please follow the link: http://www.military.com/news/article/army-nixes-extra-brigades-for-3-forts.html

For Families, Toughest Times May Lie Ahead

Sheila Casey, wife of Army Gen. George Casey Jr., in a testimony before a Senate panel, stated that although military families are generally tough and resilient, the cumulative effects of eight years of war are showing.  Casey explained that current stress levels are causing some families to avoid dealing with current issues, which she feels will resurface when the pace of deployment drops.  The Defense Department and Congress are all looking at ways to improve family support.  For more information about this article, please visit:  http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_casey_families_060309w

Family Support Hearing

The Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Armed Services held a hearing on support for military family programs, policies, and initiatives. Representatives from MC&FP, Service family programs, military spouses, and others testified on issues affecting military family members and their needs. The topics discussed at the hearing focused on mental health care of family members, quality of education for children, high ops tempo, little dwell time, opportunities for career advancement for spouses, quality of base housing, and building awareness of the family support programs that are available to assist families. Everyone expressed concern about cumulative effects of multiple, long-term deployments on children. The Committee members requested information on studies or research that would enlighten the efforts.

Families of the Deployed Soldiers Preyed Upon

Some deployed Servicemember's families are receiving letters expressing sympathy for the loss of their Soldier and asking for personal information including a bank account number so the beneficiary could receive benefits. This is considered a suspicious activity and requires certain actions. Please ensure all family members are made aware of this situation and ensure Soldiers know to follow the procedures regarding submission of a suspicious activity report.  When submitting a report to the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (J34) Joint Forces Headquarters, the following should be included:
1. Date/time of activity.
2. Type of suspicious activity and description of incident/event.
3.  Name of local law enforcement organization notified (i.e. PA State Police, Harrisburg Police, etc)
Suspicious activities can be a crime and could lead to other indicators of larger criminal or terrorist activity.


Creditors Use Loophole to Seize Benefits

Bill collectors are exploiting a legal loophole to seize Social Security and veterans’ benefits even though federal law is supposed to protect the payments from creditors.  Federal law has long protected Social Security and veterans’ benefits from most creditors, but creditors have been seizing the payments anyway by getting court orders to freeze and garnish bank accounts that receive the benefits through direct deposit.  Lawmakers are introducing a bill that would stop promotion of the direct deposit programs for Social Security and veterans’ benefits until the Treasury Department issues rules to protect the benefits from creditors.  More than 80 percent of 51 million Social Security recipients get their payments through direct deposit.  For more information about this article, please visit: http://www.military.com/news/article/June-2009/creditors-use-loophole-to-seize-benefits

Error Left 39,000 Out of ‘VA Retro Pay’

As many as 39,000 disabled military retirees have been left out of the VA Retro Pay Program by mistake, according to officials at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), who are calculating the amount of money owed. This latest problem was uncovered after DFAS received a rising number of complaints from retirees.  None of the retirees calling in had been screened for retroactive payment, but follow-up calculations confirmed that each had been underpaid. All recipients of the VA Retro payments have served in the military for 20 or more years and all have disabilities that qualified them for one of two relatively new entitlements. Some of the 39,000 retirees are owed money from DFAS, some are owed money from the VA and some are owed money from both departments.  DFAS said it could be several more weeks before it can estimate the average amount to be repaid. To read this article, follow the link: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,191738,00.html

CBO Predicts No Retiree COLA on Dec. 1

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) there will not be an increase this year in inflation-adjusted federal benefits for military retirees, disabled veterans, and others receiving this benefit.  Due to falling energy and transportation expenses, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows consumer prices are lower today than one year ago.  To read more of this article please visit:  http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_nocola_retirees_060409w/

TRICARE Offers Resources for Stressed Military Families

Military families regularly face deployments, moves and other transitions, which could result in potential behavioral issues, including depression.  TRICARE allows eight self-referred behavioral health office visits for active-duty family members each fiscal year.  With the required referrals and authorizations, two behavioral health sessions per week in any combination of individual, family or group sessions is included through continuing TRICARE coverage.  For more information on this article, please visit: http://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/articles/2009/06/04/dod_news/dod9.txt

TRICARE Reminder about Covered Infertility Treatments

Many TRICARE beneficiaries may be wondering what their options are if they find themselves in a situation where infertility becomes an issue.  With a few important exceptions, TRICARE covers most infertility treatments. Therapies covered by TRICARE include hormonal treatment, corrective surgery, antibiotics, administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or radiation therapy depending on the cause. These therapies are covered for both sexes. Treatments excluded from TRICARE coverage include in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for women. Reversal of surgical sterilization is not covered for either sex. To read this article in full and to find out more information on TRICARE coverage, click here: http://www.emilitary.org/article.php?aid=14527

Centering Pregnancy Program helps mom-to-be to stay healthy

The Centering Pregnancy Program provides pregnant women and their partners information about medical and lifestyle issues related to a healthy pregnancy.  The program curriculum is designed to encourage pregnant women to adopt healthy behaviors during pregnancy.  This program is offered at both military and civilian hospitals.  To read more about this article, please visit:  http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/06/02/22014-centering-pregnancy-program-helps-moms-to-be-to-stay-healthy/

Army has Identified Two Key Resources for Crisis Intervention

The Army has identified Military OneSource and the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury as primary phone and online services to support the Soldiers, Army civilians, and their families in need of crisis intervention. The Military OneSource crisis intervention line supports active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Servicemembers and their families, 24/7/365. Professionally trained consultants assess a caller's needs and can refer them to health care professionals for follow-up, face-to-face counseling. The Military OneSource web site can be found at http://www.militaryonesource.com.

Another key crisis intervention resource available to the Army community is the DCOE Outreach Center. The Outreach Center is staffed 24/7/365 by health resource consultants with the latest information on psychological health and TBI issues and who can connect Soldiers, family members and veterans with agencies that promote recovery, resiliency and reintegration. The DCOE Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at Resources@DCoEOutreach.org and at http://www.dcoe.health.mil/resources.aspx.


Volunteers Help Returning Soldiers with PTSD
Fishing guide Captain John “Giddyup” Bunch, a professional fishing guide on Pine Island, and his group, Operation Open Arms, have helped more than 2,000 members of military-returning from combat by donating a free vacation and by giving these Soldiers a chance to relax and decompress. The group also offers psychological counseling to help Soldier while on their trip to have the freedom to talk about what they have experienced and to assist the Soldiers in combating the effects of PTSD. To learn more about this group, visit their website at: http://www.operationopenarms.com/  To read the interview with Ann Curry click here: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/ahiggins/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLKB/e20090604aaindex_concat.html#e20090604681849.html


Deployed Servicemembers Share in Graduation

For the past five years the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) has provided webcasts of graduation ceremonies from 17 European schools.  They are continuing that tradition again this year. When the DoDEA graduation season is complete, about 125 parents deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations will have been able to participate in their son's or daughter's high school graduation ceremony.  To access the remaining graduation ceremonies to be broadcast, go to: http://www.doddsegrads.net/Default.aspx.  Enter the username “2009grads” and the password “lucky2009”


High School Mixes Algebra and Homeland Security

Two Maryland high schools are offering a four-year course in homeland security, an initiative being watched closely by schools in other states.   The goal is to help graduates build careers in one of America’s few growth industries.  After two years, the student can choose a related career track such as law, public service or engineering.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-spy-highschool10-2009jun10,0,2393893.story

Military Youth Saves Contest

Military Youth Saves, a social marketing program designed to encourage kids and teens to develop good savings habits, is sponsoring a contest to help name their Military Youth Eagle.  Winners will receive a $50 savings bond and a military saves Coin.  For contest and prize information, please visit:  http://www.militarysaves.org/resourcekit/militaryyouth.asp

BX/PX Contest Offers ‘Sweet’ Housing Allowance to Exchanges’ Youngest Shoppers

Army & Air Force Exchange Service locations, in conjunction with Hershey’s Chocolate, are giving away more than $40,000 worth of children’s playhouses through June 25,2009.  Authorized exchange shoppers can register in-store at participating BX’s and PX’s throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Guam, Japan and South Korea.  For further details, please visit: http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp

Hunting Essay Contest Can Win Youth of Military Families Big Game Hunts

Dick Dodds, owner of Elkhorn Outfitters, and Jim Zumbo, television host of Jim Zumbo Outdoors are reaching out to military families and challenging youngsters to write a story about what hunting means to them and their family in 1000 words or less.  Entrants are invited to include their parents’ military service and what it means to them.  For more information on contest rules and to read more about this article, please visit:  http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/story/1234581589jczjh9j6yyt