Government and You E-News - February 27, 2007

Topics in This Week's News Include:

Here's the News!!!

1. Marines Take Care of Their Own: General James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, is putting this motto into action with the new Wounded Warrior Regiment. This new unit which is still in the planning stages has evolved from the success of the wounded warrior barracks at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Camp Pendleton, California.

The mission of the new unit is to provide wounded Marines the administrative structure to make sure they receive all needed medical care, before and after their discharge from service. The unit will have a headquarters in the National Capitol Region and a battalion on both the east and west coasts. Conway discussed the new unit at a recent Marine Corps Association luncheon. During his remarks he admitted that the Marine Corps has lost track of some wounded Marines. By standing up the Wounded Warrior Regiment, the Marine Corps will have a structure to ensure that Marines do not slip through the cracks.

NMFA applauds the efforts of the Marine Corps to ensure that our wounded warriors and their families receive the care and attention they deserve. (Source: Marine Corps Times 12 February 2007)

2. Military Spouses to Benefit from Free Career Coaching and Assistance: The Military Spouse Career Center recently added a free service that is sure to be a popular resource for military spouses seeking employment or career counseling. Spouse Employment Assessment, Career Coaching and Assistance (SEACA) will be provided free of charge by IMPACT group, a St. Louis-based global career management firm, and recognized leader in career management services. Military spouses worldwide will be able to take advantage of professional, certified, on-demand career coaches who will assist spouses identify and work towards employment and career aspirations.

Certified Career Coaches will aid spouses on:

Career self assessment
Goal setting
Resume / cover letter & application development
Identification of opportunities
Interviewing
Negotiating
Career Mobility

To receive this free expert assistance military spouses should contact the Spouse Employment Assessment, Coaching and Assistance Program (SEACA) at:1-800-768-3480 or visit: www.military.com/spouse for more information. (Source: http://www.military.com/spouse/cf/0,,cf_SEACA_013007,00.html)

3. Army Families First Casualty Call Center Marks One Year Anniversary: The Army Families First Casualty Call Center (FFCCC) enters its second year of assisting families of fallen Soldiers by providing one-on-one support. During its first year, FFCCC helped more than 3,000 families receive benefits, referrals for support services, and directing family members to resources. The comprehensive program was established to serve the spouses, children, parents and extended family who have lost a loved one and provide long-term support and advocacy in the months and years following a loss. FFCCC provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Support Coordinators, former military personnel, not only take calls from family members but also reach out to beneficiaries who are eligible for benefits. Part of the Army’s Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC), FFCCC most recently notified families about their eligibility and assisted over a thousand beneficiaries with applying for enhanced death benefits made possible by the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act. For information on this and other benefits please contact FFCCC toll-free (866) 272-5841 or by visiting the Center online at http://www.armyfamiliesfirst.army.mil/

4. New Veteran Centers on the Horizon: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 23 new vet centers to open throughout the country in the next two years. These community-based centers provide returning war veterans readjustment, mental health and employment counseling along with education, family and outreach services. The centers are often staffed by former combat veterans. These additional centers will place these valuable resources geographically closer to veterans allowing them quicker access to care. The program was established in 1979 by Congress to allow eligible veterans, and survivors to receive free care at these Vet Centers. Services to veterans’ families are also available as long as the problem is military-related.

Six new centers are scheduled to open in 2007 with the remaining vet centers scheduled for completion by 2009. The new centers will be located in various cities/towns in AL, AR, CA, CO FL, GA, KS, LA, MA, MI, NH, NM, NY, OH, PA, TX and WA. There are currently 209 vet centers in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
(Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/docs/vet_ctrs_expand.doc).

5. “Military Saves” Week Kicks Off: Military Saves week was kicked off with a “Moneywise in the Military” event held at MCRD San Diego on February 24. The Moneywise events are being held at various installations throughout the country. Throughout this week installations are holding information fairs and registration events for the ongoing “Military Saves” program. The Pentagon will host an information fair all week, February 26th through March 2nd with a variety of organizations providing educational materials to Pentagon personnel.

“Military Saves” is a social marketing campaign to encourage military members and their families to get out of debt and save money. The motto is “Build wealth, not debt”. This program is one of many initiatives DoD has partnered with to improve financial literacy throughout the military. NMFA is proud to be a member of the Military Saves National Partners Committee and a DoD partner for financial literacy. For more information on the “Military Saves” program, visit the website at http://militarysaves.org/default.asp.

6. Patriotic Photo Contest: Military Family Network Community Connections is partnering with Flags Across the Nation to sponsor a Patriotic Photo Contest. Eligibility is open to everyone. The desired themes of the photographs are Military, Patriotism, Freedom, Americana scenes of landscape, and images of the American Flag. Photos must be mailed by March 19th, 2007 and one submission is allowed per person. First place winner receives $300 and all winners receive an American Flag. Thirteen entries will be selected and sewn onto the Flags Across the Nation Patriotic quilt to be part of the traveling Flags of Freedom Patriotic Traveling Exhibit. For more information visit: http://www.iloveamericaday.org/ and http://www.flagsacrossthenation.org/.
(Source: http://www.emilitary.org/)

7. Marine Corps Assessment of Deployment Readiness Survey: Beginning February 26th Marines and their spouses have the opportunity to tell Headquarters Marine Corps their opinions with regard to the deployment readiness of Marines and their families. This confidential, on-line survey will gather feedback on the effectiveness, quality and satisfaction with the Key Volunteer Network Program, the Lifestyles Insights Networking Knowledge and Skills (LINKS) program, and the Spouses’ Learning Series (SLS) workshops.

To access the survey visit www.usmc-mccs.org/surveys between February 26th and April 1st. The survey consists of multiple choice questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. For more information contact your local Marine Corps Family Team Building director or the survey project officer, Nancie Sullivan, at (703) 784-9517, or e-mail Nancie.Sullivan@usmc.mil.

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