A Day at the Memphis Zoo
February 27th, 2010
Today, the wife and I went to the Memphis Zoo, of which we are members, and we snapped nearly a hundred photos of the current residents. I am only going to bore you with a few of my favorites in this post.
First off, the pride of the Memphis Zoo. Only a handful of zoos around the country are able to afford the costs of “rental” and up-keep of these beautiful animals, we are very lucky that Memphis Zoo is one of them.
Panda relaxing at the Memphis Zoo
Now, I wanna side track you a second before I show you more of the animals. Right outside of the Panda exhibit, there is this Chinese symbol embedded into the ground (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (7)
System Integrator Position Available
February 24th, 2010
Attention on Deck! There is a System Integrator job available at the Training Support Center in Hampton Roads, Virginia. May be a great opportunity for a qualified Navy Information Systems Technician (IT) or even a Cryptologic Technician – Networks (CTN); if you meet the qualifications listed below and are close to finishing your contract, this opportunity may be for you.
Principle Duties and Essential Job Functions:
Leads and participates in highly complex system integration projects. Installs, generates, maintains, (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (0)
USS Franklin (CV-13)
February 23rd, 2010
The USS Franklin (CV-13), will be holding their reunion from the 18th to the 21st of March 2010.
USS Franklin hit by Japanese divebomber on March 19, 1945
“The Ship That Wouldn’t Die!”
(Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (0)
No Waivers for Domestic Violence Convictions
February 21st, 2010
If you are considering enlistment in the Navy, and you have questionable conduct in your past that includes a charge of domestic violence – this post may answer a few of your questions.
Domestic Violence is incompatible with military service and contrary to the Navy’s core values. If you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you are ineligible for enlistment; however, there are exceptions to the rule, which are discussed below.
If you have a conviction for domestic violence, as defined in Title 18 U.S. Code Sections 921 and 922 as discussed below, you are ineligible for all military service – not just the Navy. Domestic violence offenses may also include, but are not limited to, assault, assault and battery, and disorderly conduct convictions in which the perpetrator and victim meet the conditions of the domestic violence rule. The domestic violence rule must be applied regardless of whether or not you were charged with domestic violence.
Rule: The crime of domestic violence means any crime which includes the attempt or use of physical force or the threat of use of a deadly weapon, where you (the perpetrator) are the: (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (132)
LRP for 2010
February 18th, 2010
The Navy Student Loan Repayment Program (LRP), for those who ship to boot camp in FY-2010, has now been limited to the following rates/programs:
Information Systems Technician (IT)
Nuclear Field
Aircrew Rescue Swimmer Program
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Navy Diver (ND)
Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB)
Special Warfare Operator – SEAL (SO)
The maximum benefit is $65,000, and it is taxed as income. Loan repayments can be made to qualifying loans like Stafford, Perkins, Ford, and other loans that typically are described as “Title 4″ loans.
LRP participants may utilize the GI-Bill; however, to qualify, you must re-enlist for a second term (and have served a minimum of 24 months of that second term).
Currently, (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (30)
911GIBill Break Pay
February 10th, 2010
Help get this word out!
As you may be aware, I am attending college full time using my Post 9/11 GI-Bill. Recently, I had a couple of questions for the Veterans Administration (VA) – first question concerned two payments I received that I didn’t expect (nor did I know what they were for); one payment just before Christmas and the other at the beginning of January, and my second question had to do with why my current Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) payment didn’t equal the 2010 amount for the schools zip code.
First, the latter BAH question. The issue is that the VA is having to update all the records by hand, as the automated system hasn’t been finished; as a matter of fact, that is (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (1)
Sorry for the Delays
February 9th, 2010
I would like to apologize to everyone over the last 4 days who submitted a question either via email or as a comment in this blog. For the last 4 days, we have had a new set of stairs installed, and my main problem was that my home office is on the second floor. My home PC has all the instructions loaded whereas my laptop did not. As of the time I made this post, I have completed the backlog. I have also loaded all the new instructions and publications I use to help formulate a response on to my laptop, so I hope I never get so far behind again.
The stairs may not look like much in this picture, but (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (1)
Concurrent Receipt in 2012?
February 1st, 2010
Concurrent Receipt is not dead! UPDATE: On January 18, 2011, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-R), introduced H.R.303, the “Retired Pay Restoration Act”, to amend Title 10, United States Code, to permit additional retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation and to eliminate the phase-in period under current law with respect to such concurrent receipt. If adopted, the combined benefit would be effective January 1, 2012. For full information about the bill and the the current text – go here.
Last year, in his budget, President Obama proposed “to expand concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation to all retirees receiving disability retired pay.” We tracked the progress of the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 closely, and we were disappointed when we found the bill failed, even with overwhelming support, because, from what it boiled down too, the bill did not meet the “PAYGO” rules.
This year, a similar proposal is in the 2011 budget – but, unlike last year, the verbiage actually states, (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (72)
Average 4.2% Increase in 2011 BAH
February 1st, 2010
President Obama’s 2011 budget request for Department of Defense, released officially today, requests an average housing allowance increase of 4.2 percent, as well as a variety of monthly special skill-based payments, enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, and other benefits.
Family support programs grow over 3% – some of the main increases are $87 million, to expand availability for affordable, high-quality child care services at over 800 child development centers both in the United States and overseas – $37 million, for expanded counseling and assistance services, from (Read the rest of the article…)
Read Comments (56)
