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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When the GI Bill Entitlement Exhausts During a Term
August 15th, 2011
In a McDonald’s up in State College, PA soaking up some free WiFi and decided to post the following information about the GI Bill. Hope it makes sense, and I hope this barbeque sauce is easy to get out from between the keys of my keyboard.
With a new college semester starting at the end of this month, it was time to follow-up with the VA to ensure they received all the paperwork required to ensure the book stipend, BAH and tuition gets paid on time. Before I made the call, I realized that my oldest son, who also is in college, was doing the same thing to ensure everything is in order. He informed me that although this is his last year of school, this coming semester was the last one he would receive his GI Bill benefit. As a matter of fact, he only has 16 days of benefit left, but after reading statements like, “If an individual’s entitlement exhausts during a term, benefits may be extended until the end of the term.” he thought this upcoming semester was taken care of… he was wrong. (Read the rest of the article…)
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Military Austerity Suggestions
June 6th, 2011
Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Robert Gates (SECDEF) recently delivered a policy speech in which he suggested that politicians must do something to fix the military compensation system in order to make it more efficient or DoD will not be able to meet its obligations in the coming years. With a strong call to reduce the national debt, which is nearly $15 trillion, the DoD budget will most certainly be less and less in the coming years. Change is coming.
I think there are modifications we can make in the areas of pay, retirement and education, some painful, (Read the rest of the article…)
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Child Care and DOD Education Increases For 2012
February 14th, 2011
Today, December 15, 2011, the Department of Defense released the 2012 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, which take effect Jan. 1, 2012. Overall rates will increase an average of 2 percent this year; regrettably, the 2% average raise in BAH is over two percent less than first proposed by President Obama in his initial budget proposal for 2012.
Note for those attending school utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill: According to the Veteran’s Administration, if your housing rate decreased for 2012, you will continue to receive the higher 2011 rate unless you change schools or have more than a six month break in school attendance.
14 Feb 2011, President Obama released his “Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012.” I have taken the liberty to extract the portion within the Defense budget overview that related to our members and families.
Also in the budget, it is projected that Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) will increase an average of 4.2 percent, and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) will increase 3.4 percent.
DoD schools and child care are to receive roughly $3.6billion.
(Read the rest of the article…)
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DADT Survey
August 11th, 2010
DOD is asking that you return your Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) survey results as soon as possible.
I guess there is one aspect of the debate that concerns me more than the others. It seems to be all or nothing. What level of gay is OK? (Read the rest of the article…)
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Honor Those Who Gave Their All
May 31st, 2010
To a large part of the American population, Memorial Day is just a paid day off from work that traditionally we fire up the backyard grill, and enjoy time with our family and friends.
Countless heroes have died while in the service of this great country, we should be honoring them everyday, but Memorial Day does provide a focus. At 1500, your local time (3pm), take a moment to remember the supreme sacrifice of our fallen heroes. During that moment, take the time to tell the stories of men like;
HM3 Wayne M. Caron, “…HM3 Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire. Although knocked to the ground, he regained his feet (Read the rest of the article…)
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2010 Milblog After Action Report
April 12th, 2010
For the past five years, military bloggers have formally congregated, either in Washington D.C., or Las Vegas, NV, to discuss the challenges and the future of military blogging, share ideas and best practices, and meet new people and further strengthen the bonds previously forged in the depths of cyberspace.
My wife, Bonnie, and I, look forward to these events for a multitude of reasons, but none more important than meeting up with folks who are becoming closer friends with each visit …even if I still don’t know some of their real names (CDR Salamander)!
The Navy was pretty well represented this year – Navy Bloggers (Read the rest of the article…)
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Popeye’s the Military’s Favorite?
March 11th, 2010
Today on CNBC, I heard the Chief Executive Officer of AFC Enterprises (NASDAQ:AFCE), Cheryl Bachelder, say that Popeye’s is the favorite fast food restaurant of the United States military. AFC Enterprises is the operator of Popeye’s. She based her assumption on the fact some service members were seen wearing a tee-shirt saying so…. huh.
I do like Popeye’s chicken, but my favorite fast food? Nope, maybe third. Micky D’s gets my vote! What is your favorite? (Read the rest of the article…)
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911GIBill Certificate of Eligibility
May 21st, 2009
May 1, 2009 was the first day you could submit your application via the VONAPP web site for the Post-911 GI Bill (911GIBill). It was on that day I filled out the remarkably easy to follow form, and submitted my request. Then I waited.
Today I received my answer via snail mail. (Read the rest of the article…)
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Free Disney Golf for Military
April 26th, 2009
I hope your sitting down with 9-1-1 pre-dialed into your phone when you read this, it is amazing news that just might test the strength of your heart!
FREE GOLF at Disney World!! I am not talking about a buy one get one free thingy, no no – FREE as in show up and play because you’ve already earned it FREE.
Walt Disney World, amongst its PGA golf courses, has a little known 9 hole executive course available for play. What most people don’t know, even those currently staying here at the Shades of Green, if you have your Disney’s Armed Forces Salute complementary (Read the rest of the article…)
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