Pay Raise Forgotten?
November 28th, 2011
For the first time in over a decade, the bill that is being considered in the Senate for the fiscal year defense authorization makes no reference to a military pay raise.
The House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA) sent over to the Senate, HR1540, clearly has it listed in SEC. 601(b), “Increase in Basic Pay- Effective on January 1, 2012, the rates of monthly basic pay for members of the uniformed services are increased by 1.6 percent.” But the NDAA version the Senate is currently debating, S1867, has the 1.6% pay raise omitted, erased – gone.
What gives!?
Don’t worry, the United States Code, Title 37, Chapter 19 § 1009 to be exact, has it covered. The Title states, (Read the rest of the article…)
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Coming Soon, Educational Tier Tweeners
November 23rd, 2011
The current rendition of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 that hit the full Senate for consideration this past Friday contains some language that should make a whole lot of people thinking about a future in the military, happy. If passed as written, expect a lot of currently evaluated Tier II schools to be treated as Tier I.
According to SEC. 526, equal treatment will be given for individuals who graduate from a legally operating secondary school. I would think that would encompass state recognized charter schools, Home School, and other schools that don’t fit the old idea of a regular traditional public high school. It should take away the requirement for a 50QT minimum for Home School graduates. Gone should be the days when a recruiter would need to advise an applicant who graduated a non-traditional, state approved high school that their diploma wasn’t enough, and that they needed to go to college and obtain at least 15 college credits.
Well, hopefully.
As with just about all laws that are written, there are loopholes. Competing interests get involved, and those in congress try and make everybody as happy as they can be – a little give and take, as it were. This section mandates “Equal treatment“, (Read the rest of the article…)
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Designer Drugs Will End Your Career
November 17th, 2011
The Navy’s drug abuse policy is crystal clear – zero tolerance. Sailors that unlawfully use, possess, promote, manufacture, or distribute drugs and/or drug paraphernalia shall be disciplined, as appropriate, and kicked to the curb; normally, with loss of all benefits, including the GI Bill and other Veteran’s Administration benefits. No second chances. No waivers.
The Navy’s policy includes the use/misuse, possession, promotion of all substances recognized as illegal by the federal government and the controlled substance analogues (synthetic/designer drugs), natural substances (e.g., fungi, excretions), chemicals (e.g., chemicals wrongfully used as inhalants), propellants and/or prescribed or over-the-counter drugs or pharmaceutical compound with the intent to induce intoxication, excitement, or stupefaction of the central nervous system – Products that contain synthetic cannabinoid compounds, such as Spice, Genie, Blaze, Dream, Ex-Ses, Spark, Fusion, Dark Knight, Yukatan Fire, and K2. Natural substances such as salvia divinorum and mushrooms. Common items abused by inhaling or huffing, such as dust off, glue, paint thinner and gasoline. Over-the-counter products such as Robitussin and Coricidin HBP.
If you are thinking about joining the Navy, you must understand that this is not a joke – think about it, if you get kicked out for drugs, more than likely your parents won’t want you living in their house (make sure you ask before you join, “hey, Mom and Dad, if I get kicked out of the military for drugs, can I have my old room back? I suggest you stand at more than arms length when you ask), employers won’t hire you, and you won’t even get an unemployment check – your best hope is that somebody left a semi-intact refrigerator box (Read the rest of the article…)
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Cooking with the Troops
November 11th, 2011
Food, according to Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary, is “that which is eaten, drunk, or absorbed by an organism for maintenance of life and the growth and repair of tissues.”
The timing, delivery and atmosphere in which the food is delivered can go a long way toward increasing its benefits.
The military provides the sustenance to live. Whether it delivered as an MRE, box lunch or a full course chow hall meal, our Servicemembers are gonna eat, but when those meals are provided, they are part of the routine; part of the same ol’ grind.
I, like just about everybody else, looked forward to extracurricular events that would help break up the routine; especially those events that included food. Ah, nothing quite like a good Steel Beach picnic to boost the morale!
It is with that little bit of background I would like to introduce you to an organization that makes it their mission to break up the routine and provide an extra boost (Read the rest of the article…)
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