The companies
of Glowpoint, MSpace, and TANDBERG are opening their videoconferencing
networks to military families - nationwide - this holiday
season so that they can communicate face-to-face with
their loved ones deployed to Iraq this holiday season
on Thursday, Dec. 13, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. EST.
Military
families in New York, New
Jersey, Virginia,
Texas, Georgia,
Minnesota, and California
can arrange for hosted videoconferencing calls to Freedom Call Centers in Iraq. The New Jersey
location is Glowpoint, 225 Long Avenue, Hillside. There is also a location in New York at: The Digital Sandbox, 55 Broad Street, Fourth Floor, New York, NY.
Working
in partnership with the Freedom Calls Foundation, the
host companies will connect families and military personnel
stationed in Iraq for 30-minute
videoconferences at one of the following five military
installations on the day of the event:
v
Camp
Taji
v
Al Asad Air Base
v
Camp
Fallujah
v
Camp Victory (Baghdad)
v
Camp
Taqaddum
Please call
Christopher Welch at 866-456-9764 extension 2002 or at
cwelch@glowpoint.com to request a videoconferencing session - and
for additional information - for Thursday, December 13,
2007. You may also go to www.glowpoint.com and click on the Freedom Calls icon to make
a request. The deadline for all requests is 5 PM (EST)
on Friday, December 7.
Country music icon and military supporter
Charlie Daniels will also take part in the "Mission:
See Your Soldier" project by making video calls to the
troops stationed in Iraq. Daniels
traveled abroad in 2005 and 2006, visiting Iraq
and Kuwait
to perform for U.S. troops
as part of the Stars for Stripes tour. During the 2006
tour, The CDB performed at some of the camps that will
participate in these videoconference calls.
108th holding
holiday party on Dec. 9
From
the desk of 1st Lt. April Kelly, 108th ARW PAO
On Sunday,
Dec. 9, the 108th Air Refueling Wing will be hosting a
Commander's Call to include a Holiday Party for unit members
and their families. The 108th will sponsor Operation Youth
Deployment where family members will be able to take part
in a simulated deployment.
Military
Officers Association honors 177th Airman, Officer of
the Year
The Military
Officers Association of America's Southern New Jersey
Chapter has announced the recipients of its Outstanding
Company Grade Officer and Airman of the Year awards for
2007. The 177th
Fighter Wing's Senior Airman Walter Kienzle of the Security
Forces Squadron and Capt. John Cosgrove of the Civil Engineers
Squadron will be honored at a MOAA luncheon this month.
The awards recognize military members who demonstrate
outstanding service and performance of duties.
Congratulations to both!
"Wreaths
Across America"
coming to Doyle cemetery
Starting
in 1992, Morrill and Karen Worcester (owners of the Worcester
Wreath Company of Harrington,
Maine) began voluntarily
donating and shipping truckloads of holiday wreaths to
Arlington National Cemetery.
Through their efforts, some 5,000 wreaths were placed,
last year, on the graves of the honored dead who are entombed
at the historic venue.
Now known
as "Wreaths
Across America,"
the initiative seeks to involve every national and state
veteran's cemetery in the nation in honoring our deceased
veterans, and their families, during the holiday season.
The Brig. Gen. William C.
Doyle Veterans
Memorial Cemetery,
located at 350
Provinceline Road, North Hanover
Township, will participate for the second straight year. On Saturday, Dec. 15, at noon, there will
be a brief ceremony at the Memorial Walkway at the Doyle Cemetery.
This ceremony will be held in concert with 229 other veteran
cemeteries across the nation.
During the
ceremony, representatives of the New Jersey Wing of the
Civil Air Patrol will join with members of the cemetery's
Joint Honor Guard to present wreaths honoring each branch
of our armed services.
All members of the New Jersey Army and Air National
Guard, active duty military and the general public are
invited to attend.
State Employees'
Toy Drive
looking for toys, gifts
The New
Jersey State Employees Toy Drive will start on Nov. 26,
and will run through Dec. 17. The toys and gifts will
be distributed to children under the supervision of the
Department of Children and Families, Division of Youth
and Family Services. Gifts are needed for all age groups,
the greatest need each year is for children ages 10-17
years old. Gifts should be new and unwrapped. A suggested
list is provided for age appropriate gifts.
Toys can
be dropped off at the drop off boxes that were used for
the annual coat drive located in various locations. For
Central Office the drop off box is located in the central
lobby.
If you have
any questions, contact Paul Serdiuk, coordinator at 609-530-6878.
He can supply you with gift suggestion lists for the children.
253rd FRG
meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30
From the
desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike
Hughes, Family Assistance Specialist
The 253rd
Transportation Company's Family Readiness Group has their
next meeting scheduled for Jan. 30, 2008, at 7 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the Cape May Court
House Armory.
Bush declares
holiday for federal workers on Dec. 24
President George W. Bush signed an Executive
Order on Thursday, Dec. 6 that closes all executive branch
departments and agencies of the Federal Government and
excuses their employees from duty on Monday, Dec. 24.
Certain offices and installations may remain open
and employees must report to duty for reasons of national
security or defense or other public need.
MRSA seminar
to be given by NJ Dept. of Health at Lawrenceville
"Let's
Talk About MRSA" - Media reports in the fall of 2007
raised public awareness of skin infections that were resistant
to anti-biotic caused by MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
What exactly is MRSA? Who is at risk? How
is it treated? What can you do to protect yourself? These
questions and more will be answered in this timely seminar.
A representative
from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
will be in Conference Room A, Central Office, on Friday,
Dec. 20, 10-11 a.m., to give a presentation on MRSA with
a question and answer session after the presentation.
Seating
is limited, so please contact Paul Serdiuk at 609-530-6878,
or Serdiuk@njdmava.state.nj.us to reserve a seat.
FRG volunteers:
track your time
From the
desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike
Hughes, Family Assistance Specialist
Here is
a friendly reminder to all Family Readiness Group volunteers.
First of all we would like to thank each and every one
of you personally for your time and dedication to our
troops and their families. If you have not already
done so we would appreciate it if you would take a few
minutes each day, week or month to go into the Volunteer
Tracking System on guardfamily.org and insert the precious time that you have committed
to making our Family Program the best! This is a
way for the Family Program and the senior leadership to
see who is helping out in their Guard communities and
to award those who go the extra mile.
ReserveAid
gives support to families of deployed service members
From
the desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike
Hughes, Family Assistance Specialist
Reserve
Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to
providing financial support to the families of Reserve
Service Members called to active duty in all five branches
of the Armed Forces. Reserve Aid makes unrestricted, need
based grants to military families who have a Reserve service
member on full-time deployment to a combat zone or homeland
security position. Their goal is to alleviate the
emotional and financial burdens placed on the men and
women called to serve our country by supporting their
families at home. For additional information and
application procedures go to: http://www.reserveaid.org
2-1-1 -
new statewide number for assistance
From
the desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike
Hughes, Family Assistance Specialist
Need help?
Dial 2-1-1: You can find everything from basic
needs like food, housing and healthcare to legal services,
drug treatment, job assistance, childcare, mental health
services, transportation, financial assistance, municipal
programs and much more. The 2-1-1service is a new
statewide number for New
Jersey residents. It connects
people with the resources they need to solve problems.
It is free and confidential.
Vietnam Vets
Memorial Foundation holds holiday lighting ceremony
From
the desk of Sibley Smith,
Director of Education, Vietnam Era Educational Center
On Saturday,
Dec. 1, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation,
with assistance from the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, held its annual Holiday Lighting ceremony at
the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel.
More than
200 people attended the commemorative event, designed
to not only kick-off the holiday season, but to remember
the men and women who cannot be with us to celebrate the
holidays because they were killed in action or became
missing in action during all American wars, past and present. The event was held at the Memorial's gateway
near the flags of the United
States and the State of New
Jersey. Just beyond, down a short walkway, is the
circular, black granite wall bearing the names of 1,560
New Jerseyans whose lives were lost in the Vietnam War.
The ceremony
began with welcome address, posting of the colors and
a Junior Girl Scout trout leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sid Lichter, the State Commander of
Jewish War Veterans of America, assisted
by Ellen Rosen, State President of
Jewish War Veterans of America, Ladies
Auxiliary, gave a reading about the Hanukkah Celebration.
Children of the Jewish War Veterans of America then led the lighting
of the Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival
of Lights.
Willie Mitchell,
of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 779, honored the
audience with a reading about the African-American holiday
celebration known as Kwanzaa.
Kelly Watts,
Executive Director of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans'
Memorial Foundation, gave a reading about the celebration
of Christmas. This was followed by Shane Watts touching
the Christmas tree to help it "magically" light up.
The color guard led the procession into the Memorial for
the presentation of wreaths, followed by the Girl Scouts
singing "God Bless America."
Following
the ceremony, attendees enjoyed hot cocoa and cookies
at the adjacent Vietnam Era Educational
Center
and its museum exhibit was open for viewing.
Web site
provides support to separating military members
TurboTAP (Transition Assistance Program) is
an easy to use, interactive Web portal that provides life-long
support to separating military service members (Active
Duty, Guard and Reserve) and their families. It is a single
source starting point for accessing key resources available
for servicemembers transitioning out of the military at
any point in their military career.
Resources include Department of Defense, Department
of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of
Education, Small Business Administration, the National
Veterans Corporation and the National Guard Bureau.
For more information go to www.TurboTAP.org or email TAPHelp@military-inc.com.
NJVVMF "Salute to Patriotism" Gala
2007
By Sibley Smith, Director of Education, Vietnam Era
Educational Center
On Thursday,
Nov. 29, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation,
with assistance from the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, held its annual "Salute to Patriotism" gala at
the Vietnam Era
Educational Center
and the nearby Robert B. Meyner
Reception Center
in Holmdel.
More than
250 people attended the fundraising commemorative program,
which began with a reception at the Vietnam
Era Educational
Center museum
and culminated with dinner and a formal program at the
Robert
B. Meyner
Reception Center.
Money raised from the gala goes towards funding educational
programming at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
and the Vietnam Era
Educational Center.
Assisting
in the program were the 514th Air Mobility Wing Honor
Guard, McGuire Air Force Base; Fabiola Franck, West Orange
High School; Chaplain (Maj.) Michael Seaman, Beverly Fedorko-Ott,
president of the N.J. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation;
N.J. Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen; retired Col. Stephen G.
Abel, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, DMAVA;
and, Gary Englert, director, Division of Veterans Services,
NJDMAVA.
Abel, Englert and Assemblyman Cohen presented the N.J. Distinguished
Service Medal, N.J. Vietnam Service Medal and the N.J.
POW Medal, to a number of veterans in the audience.
The keynote speaker was retired Army Gen. Frederick J. Kroesen
Jr. Gen. Kroesen,
a native of New Jersey and a graduate of Rutgers
University, began
his service in 1944 as an Army officer, commanding in
Europe during World War II, then in Korea. Kroesen
also served two tours in Vietnam commanding the 196th Light
Infantry Brigade, part of the 23rd Infantry ("Americal")
Division. He was wounded in each of these wars as well
as in the Cold War, after Vietnam,
when he returned to service in Europe as survived an assassination
attempt against him while stationed in Germany. Since his retirement 20
years ago, he has continued to serve his country and the
military as an advisor and inspirational speaker.
The attendees
to the gala were treated indeed to a patriotic spectacle
and they greatly helped support the efforts of the non-profit
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation. The
money raised during the gala, more than $40,000, will
help the foundation in its efforts to provide quality
educational and commemorative programs to the public.
Military Training,
Schools, Opportunities
254th Regiment
announces upcoming courses
Here are
the 254th Regiment courses that are on the calendar. When using ATRRS, the school code is 1004.
Inactive Duty Training
(IDT) Courses:
The Army Instructor Training Course, (TAITC)
April 5-June 7, 2008 - 12 openings
Basic NCO Course, (BNCOC)
April 5-Sept. 7, 2008 - 48 openings
Pre WARRIOR Leadership Course (3 weekends)
Jan. 5-6, 2008
Feb. 2-3, 2008
March 1-2, 2008
Officer Candidate School (OCS)
begins March 1, 2008
Active Duty Training (ADT) Courses:
68W Combat Medic Training Course Sustainmen
Feb. 4-13, 2008 - 32 openings
***NEW ON ATRRS, Combat Lifesaver Course (CLC-06)
11 classes
Dec. 4-6, 2007
Dec. 11-13, 2007
Dec. 18-20, 2007
Jan. 2-4, 2008
Jan. 8-10, 2008
Jan. 15-17, 2008
Jan. 22-24, 2008
Jan. 29-31, 2008
Feb. 5-7, 2008
Feb. 11-13, 2008
Feb. 19-21, 2008
13D10 MOS-T FA Tactical Data System Specialist
March 15-29, 2008 - 12 openings
13F10 MOS-T Fire Support Specialist
March 15-22, 2008 - 18 openings
31B10 MOS-T Military Police
March 8-22, 2008 - 20 openings
88M10 MOS-T Motor Transport Operator
March 15-29, 2008 - 16 openings
Company Level Command Team Course (for new Commanders & their
1SGs)
April 12-13, 2008 - 60 openings
11B10 MOS-T Infantryman
May 3-17, 2008 - 34 openings
11B40 Infantryman ANCOC
June 7-21, 2008 - 31 openings
If you have any questions, contact
Master Sgt. Gary Davidson, 732-974-5912 or gary.davidson@nj.ngb.army.mil.
For Your Calendar
Time to
register for DMAVA holiday party is now
From
the desk of Darlene Laarz, Holiday
Committee
Hurry up
and get your reservations in for the DMAVA /JFHQ's Holiday
Party which will be held on
Dec. 14. There will be a mandatory Town Hall
will be at 11:30 a.m., with the holiday party immediately
following. The cost of the event will be $10, which
will include a raffle ticket for a big flat screen TV
and a meal from Amici Milano's. If you wait too
late, payment to attend the party will be $20 at the door
and limited to only 35 more people. Those employees who chose not to attend the
holiday party must return tho their regular duty station
after the Town Hall for a full and normal workday. Buses
will be provided to and from Fort Dix
for those attending the Town Hall only.
See your
department representative to make your reservations:
v
DMAVA - Darlene Laarz, 609-530-6992; Karen Wallace, 609-530-6766;
Dawn Esposito, 609-530-6717; and Tina Taylor, 609-530-7170
v
Fort
Dix
- Marie Durling, 609-562-0739; and Barbara Alcott, 609-562-0870
v
HSCOE - Kevin Hearn, 609-530-7069
Honorable Mention
Better Business
Bureau partners with Air Force
The Air
Force began an official partnership with the Council of
Better Business Bureaus (BBB) recently. The partnership
encourages Airmen and their families to use the bureau's
free programs, services and materials.
The BBB
Air Force Line website aimed specifically at its Air Force
audience. The site includes BBB products and services
such as reliability reports on businesses and charities,
consumer tips and alerts, and a link to file complaints.
The site also includes news items of particular interest
to military consumers. Through the website, Airmen may
sign up for a monthly newsletter that contains a regular
"scam alert" feature. Visit http://www.bbb.org/airforce for more information.
Affordable
TRICARE benefit for drilling National Guard members
The John
Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2007 (P.L. 109-364), enhanced the TRICARE Reserve Select
(TRS) health plan. Under this new TRS health plan, effective
October 1, 2007, certain members of the Selected Reserve
may qualify for health care coverage under TRS at $81
for single coverage and $253 for family coverage.
Selected Reserve members who are enrolled or eligible
to enroll in a health benefit plan under chapter 89 of
title 5 U.S.C. Federal Employees Health Benefit Program
(FEHBP), IRR and ING Soldiers are excluded from purchasing
TRS.
Soldiers
currently enrolled in the three tier TRS program must
have transitioned to the new program by Sept. 30, 2007.
For more information or to enroll contact your
state representative listed on http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit, select the "benefits update" link
for the Tricare Reserve Select information page.
N.J. licenses,
registration extended for deployed troops
New Jerseyans who are active
duty military, including the National Guard and military reserves, serving in the war on terrorism, are eligible
for automatic extensions of a valid driver license, registration
or inspection expiration dates. Go to www.nj.gov/mvc/ for more information.
DMAVA Suggestion
program alive and well
The DMAVA
Suggestion Program is still in effect and the Suggestion
Box is located in the cafeteria on the center column wall.
You can
find the suggestion form at www.nj.gov/military; click on Blank Forms. Unsigned
suggestions may/or may not be answered, depending on their
importance. Unsigned suggestions, if they warrant
a response, will be answered at Town Hall Meetings.
All signed suggestions will receive
a response from Col. Alan Bunting, TAG-SEA.
If you have
any questions regarding this program, call Renee McGuire,
609-530-6983.
Free downloadable
CD available for military
By Samantha
L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service
Just in
time for the holidays, 13 major recording artists have
created a musical "Thank You" for the troops.
"CD for
the Troops" will be available for anyone with a valid
military identification card to download at no cost from
the Army and Air Force Exchange service Web site, www.aafes.com, beginning tomorrow, Nov. 17.
Musicians
such as Billy Joel, Brooks & Dunn, the Goo Goo Dolls,
Jewel, Josh Groban, Los Lonely Boys, Melissa Ethridge,
the Neville Brothers, Sarah McLachlan, the Lt. Dan Band,
Montgomery Gentry, the Fray and Five for Fighting contributed
to the project.
John Ondrasik,
the singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name
"five for fighting," spearheaded the project.
Ondrasik is a staunch support of America's service members. He hopes the downloadable version of the CD
will be available on the AAFES Web site through April.
Hard copies of the CD will be sent to troops in theater,
military hospitals and Fisher Houses. Onderasik hopes
the music "inspires, motivates, provides and avenue for
reflection or simply distracts you from a mission few
can imagine, much less undertake."
"If anything,
let each tune be a small piece of home to carry you forward,"
he said. "Thank you for all you do, and feel free to shoot
me an e-mail with requests for 'CD for the Troops II.'"
Guard, Reserve
members, families encouraged to nominate employers
The Department
of Defense will open the nomination season for the 2008
Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on
Nov. 1, 2007. National Guard and Reserve members
and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate
employers who have gone above and beyond in their support
of military employees. Nominations will be accepted
at www.esgr.mil from Nov. 1, 2007 to Jan. 21, 2008.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award
is the U.S.
government's highest recognition given to outstanding
employers.
For questions
regarding the nomination process, please contact New Jersey
ESGR at 609-562-0156.
Discounts
offered for State employees
Are you
a state employee looking to save a few $$$?
Visit www.state.nj.us/personnel/discounts/index.htm and you can find a number of businesses who
offer discounts to New
Jersey state employees.
From amusement parks to fitness to computer to
phones and lots of other discounts between, you will find
many ways to save money. For more information, please
contact Cindy Leese at cindy.leese@njdmava.state.nj.us
or call 609-530-7056.
For the Families
Position openings in Family Programs
There are several contractor positions open in
Family Programs.
Family Assistant
Center Coordinator - 2 openings
Locations: Jersey
City and Morristown
General Duties: Serve as liaison between NJNG members, family
members, the local community and the State Family Programs
Director. Provide assistance to family members of deployed
service members to include referral service, resource
assistance/management, Family Readiness Group training
and moral support . Must
also be able to develop working relationships with state
and local agencies, military, government and social services
agencies, business and civic organizations that are willing
to offer assistance and provide services in support of
National Guard members and their families.
Family
Readiness Assistant - 1 opening
Location: Joint Force Headquarters, Ft. Dix
General Duties: Assist the State Family Programs Director
in developing and maintaining Family Readiness Groups
(FRG) throughout NJ. Train
FRG committee members on overall conduct to include regulatory
guidelines, limitations, duties and responsibilities.
Serve as a liaison between Rear Detachments, military
points of contact and volunteers.
Resumes should be submitted no later than Dec.
28 to:
NJ Army National Guard
JFHQ-NJ, Attn:
Family Programs, CPT Glatz
3650 Saylor's Pond Road
Fort
Dix, NJ 08640
For more information call Capt. Amy Glatz, State
Family Programs Director at 609-562-0668.
Identity theft and your child
With all the talk of identity theft, one group
has been completely forgotten: your children.
In 2004, more than 400,000 children were identity
theft victims; double the number from 2003.
So how is this possible? Simple, children
are registered for social security numbers almost immediately
after being born. Because they have no history,
their records are the perfect opportunity for abuse by
identity thieves.
Here are some simple steps to prevent this from
happening:
v
Discuss with your child about the importance of keeping
their information private and never share that information
with strangers.
v
Watch the mail for offers from credit card companies or
bills with their name on them; report any suspicious activity
to credit bureaus.
For more information on identity theft; go to
www.ftc.gov/credit.
Photography contest for military youths
From the desk of Amanda Balas, State Youth
Coordinator
Operation Military Kids project in New Jersey is sponsoring
a photo contest. The
theme is "Families in the Military." Any youth of a military
family in any branch of the service, including active
duty, National Guard and Reserves is eligible to enter.
The age categories for entries are grades 2-5,
grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
Photos can be black and white or color and can
be in digital or 35mm format.
Photos must be taken by the youth and should
capture a unique moment or setting their family life or
in their community that means something special to them.
They will be judged on originality and creativity. First and second places will be awarded in
each age category.
Contact Amanda Balas, N.J. National Guard State
Youth Coordinator, for entry forms and more information
at 609-562-0742 or Amanda.balas@us.army.mil. Deadline
for submissions is Jan. 14, 2008.
Army Information Line: 1-800-833-6622
The Army Information Line (1-800-833-6622) is
designed to help all Soldiers and their Family members
whether they are deployed; stationed stateside or overseas;
are brand new to the Army; or are 30 year veterans.
In addition to The Army Information Line, Army
Well-Being's Army Families Online Web site www.ArmyFamiliesOnline.org recently
welcomed its 2-millionth visitor this year.
The Army Information Line also celebrates its
25-year existence of providing information and referral
services to those Soldiers and Family members.
Support for military children of deployed and
injured Guard members
From the desk of retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hughes, Family Assistance specialist
Our Military
Kids (OMK) provides tangible support to the children
of deployed and severely injured National Guard and Military
Reserve personnel through grants for enrichment activities
and tutoring that nurture and sustain the children during
the time a parent is away in service to our country. OMK
grants are made to honor the sacrifices military parents
make and to ensure that the children have access to activities
and support that help the children better cope with challenges
arising during a parent's deployment or injury recovery.
For additional information go to www.ourmilitarykids.org
N.J.
State
Family Readiness Council offers Family Grants Program
The New Jersey National Guard State Family Readiness
Council has expanded its Family Grants Program to include
an additional grant. There are now two levels of
Family Grants; TIER I is the $2,500 grant that has been
in place for the past couple of years. The TIER
II opens family grants to New Jersey Army and Air National
Guard non-deployed service members who were on State Active
Duty or State Missions (e.g., hurricanes, floods, border
missions) for more than 20 consecutive days. Service
members meeting these criteria are eligible to apply for
a financial hardship grant up to $1,500. Applications
are available at all New Jersey Army and Air National
Guard Family Assistance Centers.
Program offers assistance to spouses of deployed
military
The Deployed Military Spouses Assistance Program
provides direct assistance and referrals to existing programs
for spouses of deployed military personnel (active duty,
reserve and National Guard) who face unusual financial
and emotional stress as a result of the deployments.
Applicants should contact Fawn Mutschler at 609-543-6200
ext. 325 or wocmilitarygrant@ymca-bc.org to obtain
an application. In addition to the completed application
form, applicants will also need to submit the following
documentation: LES/paystub for applicant and spouse; statement
of Financial Need (i.e. reason for applying and how the
grant will help); bill or pricing of expenditure as well
as any other supporting information the applicant feels
may be helpful. Additional information can be found at:
www.state.nj.us/dca/dow/depmilspouseasst.shtml
Travel Help, Ideas
Armed Forces Vacation Club offers affordable
lodging
The Armed Forces Vacation Club is a "space
available" program offering Department of Defense
affiliated personnel affordable condominium vacations
at over 3,500 resorts around the world. Visit http://www.afvclub.com/ for more
information.
Shades of Green offers Disney for military
Now that the summer is almost over, thoughts
of how to spend next summer or your next vacation week,
can start to pop into your mind.
"Can we go someplace better or different, nearer
or farther from home, all without breaking the bank?"
One place to consider if Florida
is one of your next vacation places is Shades of Green
in Orlando. Minutes
from the Disney attractions, this resort is also close
to golf, dining and other Florida
attractions.
Their web site, www.shadesofgreen.org can give
you tours of their rooms and family suites, the local
attractions and other amenities that are offered by the
resort. The rates
are reasonable and will be a opportunity to visit Orlando with your family.
Visit West Point,
take in the Ike Hall theater
Are you looking for a different place to visit
to find history, food and performances of a good variety? Think about visiting the United States Military
Academy.
While there you can tour the historic grounds,
find lodging and meals, go to the visitor center where
you can purchase something to remember your visit and
then enjoy live entertainment at the second-largest theater
in New York
- the Eisenhower Hall theatre.
The list of upcoming entertainment includes stage
productions of musicals and plays, ballet, and music -
orchestra, jazz and individual performers.
Three performances in September included acrobats,
opera and a comedian.
Individual ticket prices range from approximately
$25-50 for most performances.
The post is open to civilians; everyone 16 and
older must present photo ID.
Find out more information about Eisenhower Hall
at http://www.ikehall.com/. To find out more about the United States Military Academy,
visit http://www.usma.edu/.
Scholarship, Education News
Commissary agency offers scholarships for 2008
The Defense Commissary Agency's 2008 Scholarships
for Military Children are now available in commissaries
worldwide. The $1,500 scholarships are for children of
active-duty and retired military, as well as children
of Guard and reserve servicemembers. Applicants must be
must plan to attend an accredited college or university
full time in the fall of 2008. The deadline to apply is
Feb. 20, 2008. At least one scholarship will be awarded
at every commissary location with qualified candidates.
Applications and further eligibility requirements are
available in commissaries and online at http://www.commissaries.com or at http://www.military
scholar.org.
Free SAT/ACT Offer Extended
A group of NFL, NFL Europe, AFL, and CFL football
players have announced they are extending their sponsorship
of the SAT/ACT training to all military families.
The sponsorship allows any military person (active,
Guard, reserve, or retired) to request as many programs
as they need for the students in their lives. There
is a secure website to confirm a person's military status
before directing the user to the software order site.
Logon to:
www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/itc/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_0?current_id=20.20.100.30.0.0.0.0.0
Programs are shipped to domestic U.S. addresses and APO
addresses. The
sponsorship covers the purchase price of $199 and the
family pays only the shipping and handling of $9.95.
American Legion offers scholarships, booklet
on their Web site
The American Legion has scholarship information
on their Web site - www.legion.org - including
the 152-page booklet, Need
a Lift, which is a complete financial aid reference
guide for veterans, family members and the American Legion
family. When you
get on the site, click on "Scholarship Information" in
the "Useful Links" block.
Association News
Enlisted Association wants YOU!
By retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hughes, EANG-NJ
The Enlisted Association National Guard-New Jersey
is off to a good start for 2008 as we have realigned all
the committees and filled both the Executive Council and
Committees with a cross section of Army and Air, uniformed
and retirees, and several junior NCOs.
Everyone appears to be enthused and pledges to
support the Association in all its efforts. All we need now is for you to get on board
as a member and bring your fellow soldiers and airmen
with you.
We have many challenges facing us over the next
few years whether it is another round of base closures
via the Base Realignment Commission (BRAC), reduction
in TRICARE benefits, reduction in troop strength, attempts
to maintain the retirement age at 60, etc. We need a powerful voice to put our message
across to the State and Federal Legislators and this can
only be accomplished through a strong membership in our
State Association (EANG-NJ) and the National Association
(EANGUS).
The new membership year starts on 1 January 2008
and we need your help in making our Association grow. We encourage all enlisted soldiers and airmen
to join the Association as Active Members and also welcome
all officers, warrant officers, federal, and state employees
to join as Associate Members.
Applications for membership can be obtained from
our website www.eang-nj.org.
NGANJ group life insurance available to members
Are you covered by the NGANJ Group Life Insurance
Program? As a member
of either the Officers or the Enlisted Association, you
are entitled to enroll in your Association Life Insurance
Program. This special
program provides from $5,000 to $50,000 of Life Insurance
for you, "round the clock".
Premiums range from as little as $2 per month and
may be payroll-deducted from your drill check.
Family coverage is also available at low rates
designed for you as a member of the New Jersey Army and
Air National Guard. Think
of it!! No aviation
exclusions...No hazardous duty restrictions...No war clauses.No
checks to write. Dependent coverage includes spouses and all
children. Information
can be obtained by contacting retired CWO Jack Petrosilli
at 609-530-6843, or retired Brig. Gen. Robert S.
Dutko Sr. at 609-273-1004.
Enrollment forms can be obtained by calling retired
Col. Frank L. Carlone, Program Coordinator at 732-249-8335.
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of
New Jersey
The Enlisted Association is seeking members to
help give our state a larger voice.
The Association speaks on legislative issues that
benefit military members and families. The association
works at the Federal & State level on all important
issues. Visit the web site EANG-NJ.org, click on Become a Member for the application and find out more about what
the association does.
Veterans Information
N.J.
Militia Museum
conducting Retiree Oral History Program
The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey
has put together a National Guard Veteran Retiree
Oral History Program. In the past, the NJNG has
not conducted oral exit interviews of commanders, full-time
personnel, and retirees to preserve history. The
museum is going to institute a volunteer program to try
to catch up. If
you wish to participate, contact the museum at 732-974-5966.
The New Jersey State Building and Construction
Trades Council's Helmets to Hardhats Program (NJ H2H)
is designed to help transitioning military personnel,
National Guardsmen and Reservists find the careers in
the building and construction industry. The program seeks to help military members
find a career in one of 15 affiliated trades, such as
electrical workers, carpenters and painters.
They work in cooperation with the national Helmets
to Hardhats program, adding a personal component to the
program's on-line services.
NJ H2H offers veterans preparation for successful
application to any of New Jersey's registered apprenticeship programs
in the building and construction trades. Services include
career counseling, entrance test preparation and referral
to supportive services.
For program registration and information, visit
online at www.njbctc.org/h2h or contact at 732-499-7295
or at H2H@njbctc.org.
Vet Career Connect helps military members find
jobs
Vet Career Connect is a program designed to connect
military service members with New
Jersey employers. Vet Career Connect
matches veteran's specific abilities, drives and interests
with jobs requiring those specific abilities.
Participants complete a Caliper Profile, which
is an on-line self assessment. They will receive an Individual
Developmental Guide outlining personal motivators and
areas of developmental opportunity. Participants will
then have the opportunity to place the results of the
Caliper Profile, their resume and military achievements
onto a database which will be viewed by New Jersey-based
companies who have indicated a strong interest in employing
veterans.
Vet Career Connect program is available at no
cost to service members. In order to participate in this
program, or if you have additional questions please email
or call Barbara Foos,
Project Administrator, at 609-524-1228 or bfoos@calipercorp.com.
DMAVA Veterans Outreach Campaign continues
The DMVA Veterans Outreach Campaign continues
with kiosk displays at selected malls throughout New Jersey. The schedule is as follows:
January 8,9, 2008 |
Woodbridge
Center |
February 5, 6, 7 |
Moorestown Mall |
March 4*, 5, 6 |
Paramus
Park Shopping
Center |
April 1, 2, 3 |
Voorhees
Town Center |
May 6*, 7, 8 |
Ocean County Mall |
*Medal ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m. on these
dates. The kiosk
will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
N.J. Vietnam
Veterans Memorial
N.J. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Educational
Center's
upcoming events:
=================
Free guided tours of the Memorial are offered
on the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Dec. 8,
1 p.m. - Ghosts in the Landscape: Vietnam Revisited, a
photo gallery display and book discussion by the author/photographer,
N.J. Vietnam Veteran Craig J. Barber.
Jan. 19,
1 p.m. - The U.S. Air Force in the Battle of
Khe Sanh, an oral-history presentation by N.J. Vietnam
Veteran, ret. Maj. Gen. Clark W. Martin, U.S. Air Force.
Feb. 2,
1 p.m. -
In the Navy in Vietnam, an oral history presentation
by N.J. Vietnam Veteran and Monmouth University President,
ret. Vice Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II, U.S. Navy.
Mar. 1,
1 p.m. - American Vietnam Veterans Who Wouldn't Come Home, an
oral-history discussion about American ex-patriots recently
encountered on a trip to Thailand by Steve Lonegan, Mayor
of Bogota, N.J.
Apr. 12, 1 p.m. - We Were There:
Voices of African American Veterans, from World War II
to the War in Iraq, a book
discussion by the author, Yvonne Latty.
May 7, 11 a.m. - New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day
Ceremony at the Memorial.
May 17, 1 p.m. - On the Road to
Recovery, an oral-history discussion by NJ Vietnam-Era
veteran Bishop Fred Rubin about his service tending wounded
G.I.s in the Army hospital in Hawaii during the Vietnam
War.
May 26, 11 a.m. - Memorial Day
Ceremony at the N.J. Vietnam
Veterans' Memorial.
====================
For further information call 1-800-648-VETS or
visit www.njvvmf.org.