MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM
Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place: La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $13.00 pre-paid on or before Sept. 3
$15.00 pre-paid after Sept. 3
$20.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique Shields, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, Sept. 6 (Monday)
Register: Online Link
Featuring: Speaker Karl (Skip) O. Moe, Ph.D., Chief of Staff
National Center for Telehealth & Technology
JBLM-Lewis Main
The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) researches, develops, and evaluates new and existing technologies for psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) across the Department of Defense (DoD).
T2 meets this mission by serving as the principal DoD office in such areas as innovative technology applications, suicide surveillance and data evaluation, online behavioral health tools, and telehealth strategies.
T2 is a center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), which leads a collaborative global network to promote the resilience, recovery and reintegration of Warriors and their families who face psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2010-11 Calendar: as of Aug. 18, 2010
Chamber on Facebook: You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
WA Among States MOVE'd
The Department of Defense announced today that Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island were approved for waivers temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.
"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."
In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.
The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.
In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.
This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.
"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.
Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.
These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here. In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.
For more information about state waiver applications, visit here. State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.
"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."
In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.
The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.
In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.
This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.
"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.
Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.
These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here. In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.
For more information about state waiver applications, visit here. State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Military Forum: What Is T2?
MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM
Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place: La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $13.00 pre-paid on or before Sept. 3
$15.00 pre-paid after Sept. 6
$20.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique Shields, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, Sept. 6 (Monday)
Register: Online Link
Featured Speaker: Karl (Skip) O. Moe, Ph.D., Chief of Staff
National Center for Telehealth & Technology
JBLM-Lewis Main
The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) researches, develops, and evaluates new and existing technologies for psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) across the Department of Defense (DoD).
T2 meets this mission by serving as the principal DoD office in such areas as innovative technology applications, suicide surveillance and data evaluation, online behavioral health tools, and telehealth strategies.
T2 is a center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), which leads a collaborative global network to promote the resilience, recovery and reintegration of Warriors and their families who face psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2010-11 Calendar: as of Aug. 18, 2010
Chamber on Facebook: You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.
Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, Sept. 8, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place: La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $13.00 pre-paid on or before Sept. 3
$15.00 pre-paid after Sept. 6
$20.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique Shields, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, Sept. 6 (Monday)
Register: Online Link
Featured Speaker: Karl (Skip) O. Moe, Ph.D., Chief of Staff
National Center for Telehealth & Technology
JBLM-Lewis Main
The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) researches, develops, and evaluates new and existing technologies for psychological health (PH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) across the Department of Defense (DoD).
T2 meets this mission by serving as the principal DoD office in such areas as innovative technology applications, suicide surveillance and data evaluation, online behavioral health tools, and telehealth strategies.
T2 is a center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), which leads a collaborative global network to promote the resilience, recovery and reintegration of Warriors and their families who face psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2010-11 Calendar: as of Aug. 18, 2010
Chamber on Facebook: You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Military Gets More Time for Homebuyers Credit
For most Americans, the home buyer tax credit expired on April 30. But Congress, recognizing that many members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have missed out on the opportunity to take advantage of the credit due to being posted overseas, has given service members more time to take advantage of it.
The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. “Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.
Qualified service members who are eligible for the home buyer tax credit have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in this rule.
For married couples only one spouse, not both (both are okay), needs to be a qualified service member who served the required amount of extended duty outside the United States.
In many cases, the rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for service members. If the home owner or their spouse receives government orders for qualified official extended duty service and have to sell their home, they do not have to pay back the credit. This applies even if they have to sell in the same year they purchased the home. The new place of duty must be at least 50 miles from the principal residence being sold.
The IRS also made sure that soldiers and other service members who are wounded overseas, or have to return to the United States for other medical reasons, are not denied the credit if their time spent overseas ends up less than 90 days.
For more information on the home buyer tax credit, go here. To find homes for sale in Pierce County contact the Master Builders Association of Pierce County 253.272.212 or their members under “Find a Contractor.”
The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. “Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.
Qualified service members who are eligible for the home buyer tax credit have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in this rule.
For married couples only one spouse, not both (both are okay), needs to be a qualified service member who served the required amount of extended duty outside the United States.
In many cases, the rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for service members. If the home owner or their spouse receives government orders for qualified official extended duty service and have to sell their home, they do not have to pay back the credit. This applies even if they have to sell in the same year they purchased the home. The new place of duty must be at least 50 miles from the principal residence being sold.
The IRS also made sure that soldiers and other service members who are wounded overseas, or have to return to the United States for other medical reasons, are not denied the credit if their time spent overseas ends up less than 90 days.
For more information on the home buyer tax credit, go here. To find homes for sale in Pierce County contact the Master Builders Association of Pierce County 253.272.212 or their members under “Find a Contractor.”
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Dicks at Military Affairs Forum
Q&A was part of Cong. Dicks' presentation at the Military Affairs Forum. More photos here.
Today, Cong. Norm Dicks (D-WA), shared his expertise and perspectives with the attendees at the Chamber's Military Affairs Forum.
Serving as Chairman, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Vice-Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Dicks is next in line for the Chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee. His partnership with others in the Washington Congressional delegation, especially with Cong. Adam Smith as Chair of the HASC's Air Land Subcommittee, serves our region's defense installations well.
Among his comments, Cong. Dicks referenced the potential for a new aviation brigade at JBLM. "Although a decision has not been made, it is receiving serious consideration at the highest levels," he said.
Among several issues, Cong. Dicks spotlighted his collaboration with Cong. Adam Smith and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates about on-base schools, the needed attention to I-5 congestion around JBLM and the successful retention of on-base housing at JBLM-McChord Field. Still ahead, he referenced the need for the KC-X tanker and Fairchild AFB as a first or leading installation for those aircraft.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Mortar Boards Cap School Needs
New schools for our military-dependent children!
That's the welcome news from Cong. Norm Dicks, who said, “one of the most urgent concerns for our deployed troops is for their families and kids to be properly cared for, and one area where we have seen great deficiency is the condition of our on-base schools.”
The details, covered in The News Tribune, speak to replacing six schools through consolidation and new construction. This Congressional initiative follows on remarks by Secretary of Defense Gates, who expressed serious concern during a visit to Fort Riley, KS in May.
These complementary efforts by Congress and the Administration follow on homework by Clover Park School District, operator of the on-base schools and the Chamber. Chamber Pres. David Graybill collaborated in the production of an educational video that demonstrated the needs and the value for our children.
Led by Chamber Board member Jeff Brown, BCRA, the Chamber made this issue a principal objective during its Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip in 2009, with conversations with the Pentagon, Office of Economic Adjustment and Congressional offices. Cong. Smith's offices note that there has been a real turn-around in this issue within the last eight months.
That Chamber initiative was continued during the 2010 Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip during meetings with Dr. Craig Collge, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and members of Congress. Again at that time, Cong. Dicks indicated a strong commitment to addressing this problem.
Next steps will include full adoption of the authorization and approriation bills for the Defense budgets.
That's the welcome news from Cong. Norm Dicks, who said, “one of the most urgent concerns for our deployed troops is for their families and kids to be properly cared for, and one area where we have seen great deficiency is the condition of our on-base schools.”
The details, covered in The News Tribune, speak to replacing six schools through consolidation and new construction. This Congressional initiative follows on remarks by Secretary of Defense Gates, who expressed serious concern during a visit to Fort Riley, KS in May.
These complementary efforts by Congress and the Administration follow on homework by Clover Park School District, operator of the on-base schools and the Chamber. Chamber Pres. David Graybill collaborated in the production of an educational video that demonstrated the needs and the value for our children.
Led by Chamber Board member Jeff Brown, BCRA, the Chamber made this issue a principal objective during its Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip in 2009, with conversations with the Pentagon, Office of Economic Adjustment and Congressional offices. Cong. Smith's offices note that there has been a real turn-around in this issue within the last eight months.
That Chamber initiative was continued during the 2010 Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip during meetings with Dr. Craig Collge, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and members of Congress. Again at that time, Cong. Dicks indicated a strong commitment to addressing this problem.
Next steps will include full adoption of the authorization and approriation bills for the Defense budgets.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
ADC Wildfire
Rumors ran like wildfire through the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) at Monday's announcement and press release by Secretary of Defense Gates.
The call to eliminate 50 general officers was only noted in passing (see where the priorities aren't?). And the closing of Joint Forces Command itself commanded only some interest. But the reported (here at the ADC Conference) call for identification of extraneous base assets raised a conflagration! Speculation ran rampant if this is the beginning of a next dreaded BRAC, when the deadline looms next month for all tasks of the 2005 BRAC to be accomplished.
Whatever the process ahead, local PNWers should relax - somewhat. The consolidation of Ft. Lewis and McChord AFB into one Joint Base (JB Lewis-McChord), headed toward finalization in September, should, given the strategic value of the joint base, make the local installation as impregnable as it is possible to be.
BUT, always in the realm of possibility have been programmatic changes. The Commander in Chief and the Secretary of Defense have always had the authority to realign units without the concurrence of Congress and Governors (as with the Guard).
It is no less likely today, than yesterday or tomorrow, that the nation's defense will require individual units to be reassigned. The first Stryker brigade was realigned from Ft. Polk, LA to Ft. Lewis BEFORE BRAC 2005. Other troop movements transferring troops and units here to growth installation JBLM did not occur because of BRAC.
So, which Army units remain at JBLM-Lewis Main, or whether any Air Force units remain at JBLM-McChord Field always has and always will be subject to their military mission and the dictates of their Commander in Chief, our President.
It is and always has been up to the community to work to insure that our local military installations retain the highest and most current military mission possible (including locally controlled factors).
The call to eliminate 50 general officers was only noted in passing (see where the priorities aren't?). And the closing of Joint Forces Command itself commanded only some interest. But the reported (here at the ADC Conference) call for identification of extraneous base assets raised a conflagration! Speculation ran rampant if this is the beginning of a next dreaded BRAC, when the deadline looms next month for all tasks of the 2005 BRAC to be accomplished.
Whatever the process ahead, local PNWers should relax - somewhat. The consolidation of Ft. Lewis and McChord AFB into one Joint Base (JB Lewis-McChord), headed toward finalization in September, should, given the strategic value of the joint base, make the local installation as impregnable as it is possible to be.
BUT, always in the realm of possibility have been programmatic changes. The Commander in Chief and the Secretary of Defense have always had the authority to realign units without the concurrence of Congress and Governors (as with the Guard).
It is no less likely today, than yesterday or tomorrow, that the nation's defense will require individual units to be reassigned. The first Stryker brigade was realigned from Ft. Polk, LA to Ft. Lewis BEFORE BRAC 2005. Other troop movements transferring troops and units here to growth installation JBLM did not occur because of BRAC.
So, which Army units remain at JBLM-Lewis Main, or whether any Air Force units remain at JBLM-McChord Field always has and always will be subject to their military mission and the dictates of their Commander in Chief, our President.
It is and always has been up to the community to work to insure that our local military installations retain the highest and most current military mission possible (including locally controlled factors).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Whidbey NAS Wins MX Award
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today the 2010 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance.
A total of six field-level awards are presented in three categories - large, medium, and small. The recipients of this year's Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards in the in the medium category includes the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash.
The awards will be presented to the winners at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet on Nov. 17, 2010, during the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition at the Tampa convention center in Tampa, Fla. Additional information regarding the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition can be found here.
A total of six field-level awards are presented in three categories - large, medium, and small. The recipients of this year's Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards in the in the medium category includes the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash.
The awards will be presented to the winners at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet on Nov. 17, 2010, during the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition at the Tampa convention center in Tampa, Fla. Additional information regarding the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition can be found here.
Monday, August 2, 2010
AUSA Recognizes Outstanding Legislators
The Association of the United States Army recognized Reps. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., and Rodney Freylinghuysen, R-N.J., at its Outstanding Legislator award presentation on Capitol Hill last week.
Dicks, Chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, said in accepting the award, “We are committed to helping the troops” and that the committee has and “needs to operate on a bipartisan basis. I pledge to you that I will keep that going.” He cited the work of his fellow recipient and Reps. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., and “Bill” Young, R-Fla., both former full committee chairmen, in working together on legislation to improve the lives of soldiers, their families and retirees.
Soldiers in all components “are doing incredible work” and “sometimes we don’t realize that.” He added, “We cannot do enough” to help wounded warriors.
AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., said, “These two congressmen, as well or better than anyone in this business, understand what the military is up against and understand its impact on the nation.”
Sullivan thanked Dicks for being “an advocate for a strong national defense to include military end strength increases.” Sullivan also cited Dicks' assistance in raising the death gratuity, helping enact the Post 9/11 GI Bill and in health care.
Cong. Dicks will be a speaker at the next Military Affairs Forum on August 18. You may register for that event here.
Dicks, Chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, said in accepting the award, “We are committed to helping the troops” and that the committee has and “needs to operate on a bipartisan basis. I pledge to you that I will keep that going.” He cited the work of his fellow recipient and Reps. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., and “Bill” Young, R-Fla., both former full committee chairmen, in working together on legislation to improve the lives of soldiers, their families and retirees.
Soldiers in all components “are doing incredible work” and “sometimes we don’t realize that.” He added, “We cannot do enough” to help wounded warriors.
AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., said, “These two congressmen, as well or better than anyone in this business, understand what the military is up against and understand its impact on the nation.”
Sullivan thanked Dicks for being “an advocate for a strong national defense to include military end strength increases.” Sullivan also cited Dicks' assistance in raising the death gratuity, helping enact the Post 9/11 GI Bill and in health care.
Cong. Dicks will be a speaker at the next Military Affairs Forum on August 18. You may register for that event here.
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