Career Day Details

Hire America’s Heroes Career Day! Here is some helpful information in preparation for the day:  Friday, Sept. 2.

LOCATION: Cheney Stadium: 2502 S. Tyler Street, Tacoma, WA 98405 -
PARKING:
   · Parking during Career Day will be complimentary.
   · Parking during Game Time is $5 per car – each car pays for its own parking

CAREER DAY EXHIBITORS with TABLE NUMBERS:

Summit Club
1. Alaska Airlines
2. Amazon
3. Americold Logistics
4. The Boeing Company
5. Comcast
6. DeVry University
7. ESGR
8. Enterprise Rent-a-Car
9. Fluke Companies
10. IBM
11. Hyatt
12. Institute for Systems Biology
13. Intel Corporation
14. Kaplan University
15. Microsoft
16. Northern California College of Construction
17. Navy Exchange
18. Port of Seattle
19. Puget Sound Energy
20. State Farm Insurance
21. TLG Learning
22. T-Mobile
23. Trident Seafoods
24. Union Pacific Railroad
25. VOLT Military Heroes Program
26. Wimmer Solutions
27. Zones

Level 2 Mezzanine Deck
1. Prudential
2. University of Phoenix
3. US Bank
4. Wells Fargo Bank
5. Workforce Central

CURRENT STATS:
   · Over 600 registered attendees
   · Over 450 Job-Seekers
   · 32 Exhibitors

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES:
   · 7:00am to 9:00am - Gates are open to Exhibitors only
   · 9:00am – Gates open to Job-Seekers - Career Day Employers in Summit Club and on Mezzanine
  NOTE: All attendees arriving at 9:00 or later use the Barbeque Gate Entrance to Cheney Stadium
   · 9:00am to 4:00pm – Career Day
– Food Concession Stand on Concourse open throughout the day
– Hire America’s Heroes Information Table on Concourse

Job-Seekers - win a new LENOVO THINKPAD LAPTOP! Pick up your Exhibitor Check-List at the Information Table. Enter the drawing. WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED Friday Night!
– Pre-Scheduled On-Site Informational Interviews begin – Level 3, Suite #12
– Pre-Scheduled Videotaped Interview Sessions begin – Level 3, Suite #15
– Career Coaching Kiosks – Job-Seeker Assistance with Resumes and Career Strategies
   Career Coach Kiosk locations:
   § 2 in Summit Club
   § 3 Breezeway just outside Summit Club
   § 5 on Level 2 Mezzanine Deck
– Boeing Group Information Sessions - Section H in the Stands (outside)
   § 10:00am
   § 12:00 noon
   § 2:00pm
– State Farm Insurance Group Information Sessions – Level 2, Suite #2
   § 11:00am
   § 1:00pm
   · 4:00pm Career Day Activities End

NOTE: everyone must vacate the premises no later than 4:30 to allow the Cheney Stadium clean-up crew time to re-set for the game
**********

Hire America’s Heroes Night at the Ballpark - Tacoma Rainiers vs. Fresno Grizzlies
   · 5:30pm – Cheney Stadium Gates open for Suites and Clubs
   · 6:00pm – Cheney Stadium Gates open to General Public
   · 7:05pm – First Pitch – game between the Tacoma Rainiers and the Fresno Grizzlies
   o Salute to Our Military Heroes
   o Color Guard Opening Ceremony
   o Wounded Warrior Tribute
   o Fan of the Game – Warrior Mom
   o Hire America’s Heroes T-shirt Toss
For additional information or to ask questions, please contact: Hire America's Heroes or 425-503-0228

DoD Announces School Buildings Ratings

The Department of Defense announced today the findings of the facilities assessment which is part of an overall education review of public schools on military installations and operated by local education agencies (LEAs).

The replacement of local obsolete and deteriorating schools was a primary objective of the Chamber's annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip for the last two years.  A cooperative effort with the Clover Park School District and other community advocates resulted in a new and first funding for replacement of schools on installations. 

Each school was graded red, yellow or green in two criteria condition and capacity based on the assessment. The schools were then grouped based on similar condition and capacity ratings, and then the schools were banded based on criteria scoring three points for red, two points for yellow, and one point for green. Finally, the schools are ranked within each band by the numerical score for condition (worst to best). Condition is weighted slightly heavier than capacity.

JBLM SCHOOL PRIORITY LISTING

Band One: Hillside ES

Band Two: Carter Lake ES

Band Four: Greenwood ES, Clarkmoor ES, Beechwood ES

Band Six: Evergreen ES

Not Rated (Closed): Heartwood ES

"The Department of Defense is strongly committed to ensuring that the children of military families receive an excellent education that prepares them for successful careers and to be active contributors to their communities and the nation," said Leon Panetta, secretary of defense. "High quality facilities and instruction are essential, of course, to providing the kind of education they deserve. That's a top priority."

Based on the Defense Department's priority list, public schools on military installations with the greatest need will be invited by the Office of Economic Adjustment to apply for grants to be used towards construction, renovation, repair, or expansion of current facilities. The grants will be paid through provisions in Section 8109 of Public Law 112-10, the "Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011," which appropriates $250 million recapitalization of public schools on military installations.

Only LEAs that operate a public school on a military installation, and receive a written invitation from OEA, may request funds under this program. OEA will initially request LEAs with schools having the most serious capacity or facility condition deficiencies as determined by DoD to submit proposals. DoD will conduct an initial meeting with representatives of the invited LEAs, and representatives from their respective installations and States, to discuss the specific deficiencies noted for the affected school, the purpose of the funding, the application process, and the matching share requirement. As decisions are made, additional LEAs on the Priority List may be notified until all funds are exhausted.

"The education review and its findings are part of DoD's overall ongoing strategy to ensure school-aged children of our service members receive an excellent education encompassing the entire individual regardless of their age, capabilities or goals." said Clifford Stanley, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

The key areas for the triennial assessment are condition, capacity and age using the Department of Defense Quality Rating – Q-Rating – standards. Based on these assessments DoDEA has developed a five-year investment plan of $3.7 billion for fiscal years 2011-2016 to add, replace, and/or renovate schools:

• Currently 134 of the 194 schools (70 percent) within DoDEA rate at the Q-3 or Q-4 level – meaning they are safe but under-maintained or need to be replaced.

• The goal of the recapitalization plan is to ensure all 194 schools are rated at a Q-1 (new or well-maintained) or Q-2 (satisfactorily maintained) condition standard by fiscal year 2018.

DoD assessed the condition and capacity of 157 of the 160 public schools on military installations. Three of the 160 public schools were not included in the assessment because they were built within the last year.

For more information on the school facility assessment, including the schools priority list, methodology and grant process, click here .

Next Deployments from JBLM

The Department of Defense announced today a unit to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan. The announcement involves one brigade combat team totaling about 3,200 soldiers. The scheduled deployment date for this unit is December 2011.

Specific unit:  3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA

DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved. For information regarding the 2nd Infantry Division, contact Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield at 253-370-9861.

REF Seeks SB Nimbleness for Solutions

Our community is lucky to have a new, dynamic Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA), Jimmy Collins. Mr. Collins wants to connect Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber members to Army procurement opportunities.

First focus: the Rapid Equipping Force (REF) portal that has been responsible for several of the gains made in quickly equipping Stryker Brigade Combat Teams from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

During every war, Army units are confronted with shortfalls that require immediate action to neutralize an adaptive enemy. These urgent warfighting needs often emerge faster than the institutional acquisition processes can address them.

In November 2002, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army created the REF as a unique, singular organization designed to address an Army-wide, systemic deficiency in providing immediate and innovative technology solutions.

Many of the most innovative solutions the Army has employed have come from small businesses, yet the Army is challenged with making this part of the business community aware of both their requirements and the opportunities to partner with them to better serve our soldiers.

Enclosed is an information paper about the REF to help increase awareness among small businesses about ways they can contribute to satisfying our soldiers most urgent equipment needs. Look for future articles in the coming weeks with more detailed information on REF's current focus areas and the most urgent problems to solve.

The REF is located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Together, small businesses can meet critical warfighter needs faster.

Job Seekers: Open to the Military "Family"

Senator Schedules Vet Listening Sessions

Defending the Deficit

With the done deal on the federal deficit, regardless of whether one thinks enough was done or not, the question is who the losers are?

The very conservative right and the very progressive left both are expressing their beliefs that they lost big. Since there are no new taxes, it’s hard to credit the contention the very conservative right lost, even though a balanced budget constitutional amendment is not part of the accepted deal.

The very progressive left is upset that there are neither new taxes on the rich nor closing on tax benefits to oil companies. However, the Bush-era tax cuts are due to expire beginning in 2013 anyway.

So, what’s done? First, nothing is cut until 2012. Then, mainly the deal cuts come from half defense/secuity and half from discretionary spending (not Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security), and sets a process for automatic cuts if directed cuts aren’t made.

On the automatic cuts, all depends on whether Congress accepts recommendations by a panel of peers. If not, half the cuts affect defense and security (Defense, State, VA and Homeland Security), the other half in discretionary spending. That’s $648 for each half. But, the final eight years of the deal don’t mandate cuts to “security” accounts.

In the middle term, could liberals (tending to oppose to defense spending) hope to do better than cut defense by $684 billion in fiscal 2012 and $686 billion in fiscal 2013? And, after 10 years, the federal deficit will be much larger then than now.

But, of course, it is notoriously difficult for a present Congress to limit the actions of a future Congress.

Defense Health Board Opens Tacoma Meeting

Defense Health Board, a Federal Advisory Committee to the Department of Defense will hold its next meeting at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Anyone who might be interested is welcome to attend: veterans, retirees, and family members, healthcare personnel both military and civilian.

The Board’s Director (government liaison), Ms Christine Bader, expressed a desire to have members of the local community present at the meeting on the 8th. The sessions on the 8th will take place at the Murano Hotel, 1320 Broadway Plaza in Tacoma. There is no fee to attend, the only request is that individuals who wish to attend sign up preferably via the web, (scroll down to the meeting citation), alternately at the hotel prior to the sessions.

The Board holds four meetings annually, two of which are in locations outside the Washington DC area. At these meetings Board members receive update briefings on evaluations and studies in-progress by one of the many subcommittees of the Board. The Board also votes on some completed reports with their findings and recommendations; approved studies are then prepared for submission to the Department. Finally, the Board receives briefings about the local commands and activities located on the particular installation they visit.

The Board membership includes a number of medical school deans, former senior military members and other private sector healthcare experts with an interest in helping our warriors get the best care possible. Brief bios are available on the website.

Community Challenge for Joining Forces

In an effort to recognize those citizens and organizations with a demonstrated, genuine and deep desire to be of service to military families, the First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden have established the Joining Forces Community Challenge.

The Challenge was established with the expectation that recognizing and celebrating those who are dedicated to improving the lives of military families will have the added benefit of encouraging others to do so as well.

The Joining Forces Community Challenge will award several national prizes that recognize citizens, communities, schools, non-profits, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations and local governments for their efforts in supporting military families. These are non-monetary awards.

Joining Forces is a comprehensive national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

Citizens and organizations providing programs, services or support designed to ease the burden and alleviate the emotional and mental stress on service members and their families are encouraged to apply for the Joining Force Community Challenge. Nominations will also be accepted.

The Joining Forces Community Challenge will be conducted in two stages. During the first stage, a panel of judges will review applications and nominations and select and announce 20 finalists on November 30, 2011. In the second stage, finalists will be profiled on http://www.challenge.gov/ where the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite – the People’s Choice winner. Public voting and additional judging will take place after finalists are announced and continue to January 2012.

Winners selected by judges and the People’s Choice winner will be announced in January 2012. Winners’ profiles will be featured at Champions of Change, the Administration’s website where extraordinary community efforts in the areas of innovation and education are celebrated.

Prize winners will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C. in February 2012.

Joining Forces:

• Brings attention to the unique needs and strength of America’s military families.
• Inspires, educates, and sparks action from all sectors of our society – citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government - to ensure veterans and military families have the opportunities, resources, and support they have earned.
• Showcases the skills, experience, and dedication of America’s veterans and military spouses to strengthen our nation’s communities.
• Creates greater connections between the American public and the military.

In this ongoing effort, they’re highlighting issues that are of special importance to the military families they have met with across the country, including the areas of employment, education, and wellness.

Employment. In many cases, military spouses move from one community to another when their spouses are assigned to new duty stations. These transfers can make it very difficult for spouses to continue with their careers or to find similar jobs in new locations.

Joining Forces:

• Highlights the workforce potential of veterans and military spouses;
• Expands employment and career development opportunities for veterans and military spouses; and
• Helps employers create military family-friendly workplaces.

Education. Military children move frequently due to a parent’s reassignment. These moves can make it difficult to transfer records, secure spaces in courses, stay included in extra-curricular activities, and complete required testing on time.

Joining Forces:

• Supports the academic achievement of military children by helping schools become more responsive to the unique needs of military children and families; and
• Promotes and supports higher education institutions and programs that expand education opportunities, eases transferability for military-connected students, and expands job training opportunities for military spouses and veterans.

Wellness. The stress of war, multiple deployments, and frequent moves can affect the wellness of military families. Children and spouses can experience anxiety, changes in relationships with family and friends, isolation or emotional challenges in dealing with deployments, illness or injury, and high mobility.

Joining Forces:

• Calls attention to the critical issues facing veterans and military families; and
• Expands access to wellness programs, and resources for military spouses and families.

Joining Forces provides ways for all Americans to step up and show their gratitude to our service members and their families. Through this effort, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden ask Americans to do more for those who have done so much for us. They are highlighting outstanding American citizens, communities, and businesses that are supporting our troops and making commitments to serve our nation’s military families. They are asking Americans to get involved in any way they can.

Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced today that the President has nominated Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., U.S. Army, for appointment to the grade of general and for assignment as commander, U.S. Northern Command/commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Jacoby is currently serving as the director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. and formerly served as Commanding General, I Corps & Ft. Lewis.