Here is some helpful information for soldiers
*Check out these websites for an interesting Veterans Study
http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=59efc13c0df4ab7524f42b8f3&id=8bc093e432&e
=3a3fdecf11
http://www.neurostrength.com/
*MNNG Force Protection Travel Advisory
* Free Tax Prep
Once again the MN Association of CPA's wants to do taxes for returning
service members.
If you or a family member (husband/wife) is deployed or has returned from a
deployment in the last 12 months, you are able to get you taxes done for
free.
All you have to do is call me or Jan Fournier at the Family Programs office
651-268-8200.
* FYI Read the Below Message Carefully
Please familiarize yourself with your State's casualty notification process to prevent what
happened below to your military family members! A Family member was recently called by an unknown person and told their Service Member had been seperated from their unit for 48
hours and told to give personal information. The Family member gave this person their
address (imagine other personal information that could be coerced out of a Family member
under stress). Concerned, the Family member contacted the Rear Detachment Commander
who in turn called the unit and the Service Member was fine (not missing). A message was
relayed to the Service Member to call home and reassure his family. Also, local law
enforcement has been notified and this family is getting regular checks. Once you have
familiarized yourself with your State's proper casualty notification procedures, please let
families know the process and that scam artists are out there!
*Job Opportunity
MN National Guard Full-Time Vacancies:
Click here to view this Technician vacancy announcement:
*My Pay Security Changes
1. During this fall season, MyPay will implement changes to the security features for all
ARNG Soldiers and civilian employees. The security enhancement will require users, to include users with Restricted Access PIN, to create a new Login ID and password. A Restricted Access PIN allows access to pay account information by a designated person other than the Soldier.
2. The Login ID will be unique to one user only and cannot be duplicated by another user. The Login ID must meet the following requirements:
a. Must be six to 129 alphanumeric characters
b. May also contain the following special characters: @ (at sign), _(underscore), - (dash), . (period) and ' (apostrophe).
c. Cannot be nine numbers (prohibits SSAN)
3. The password will be created by each user and must meet the following requirements:
a. Be eight to 15 characters
b. May not include the last four of the user's SSAN
c. May not match the user's Login ID
d. Must contain at least one letter, one number and one special character
4. Instructions for creating the Login ID and password will be available on the MyPay website. In addition, users can call customer support at 1-888-332-7411 or click the "Contact Us" link on the MyPay home page for assistance.
-Approved for distribution by Maj Barb Hudson-
*Helpful Information for Soldiers going through MSP Airport
Armed Forces Service Center - Open 24/7 ... all free stop w/sleeping bunks.
OFFICE: (612) 726-9156 / CENTER: (612) 726-9155 / CELL: (612) 280-7677 Web
* Airport Police - For escorts to tarmac to greet plane, authorization for charter bus to meet troops curbside, transfer of UA or AWOL personnel (not permitted in AFSC). (612) 726-5577
* Military Baggage - Military personnel are exempt from airline baggage fee's
* TSA security check point 3 - For employee's & military personnel (w/military ID card)
* Airline "gate passes" - Available for military & family members to greet troops at the gate
* Park-n-Go - Open 24/7 ... Free parking for combat troops (only)
* Super Shuttle - Open 24/7 ... flat rate $20. per person for trips within the metro area
* Wounded Troops -AFSC works closely w/TSA, Airlines & VA Hospital toprovide respite or escort
* Boots - Military in uniform do not have to remove boots at the TSA checkpoint (unless they alarm)
* Escorts (for honor guards or families of fallen) - At MSP, the AFSC & TSA provide this service.
* Large groups - When informed the AFSC works with all at MSP, for
notifications needed.
* Weapons - When informed of weapons transport, the AFSC notifies Police, TSA & Air Carriers.
*AFSC Troop Greeters: Meet-n-greet combat troops arriving at MSP, via military charter flight or bus (w/a mobile canteen).
*GI Bill Update VA makes calls to check up on GI Bill users
If you are a student-veteran using the Post-9/11 GI Bill and someone calls to ask if you have questions about your education benefits, it's not a hoax - that really is the Veterans Affairs Department on the phone, and it really is trying to help.
VA representatives will be phoning randomly selected veterans to see if they are getting all the benefits they deserve and if they have any questions about the program, which launched Aug. 1.
VA officials said calls will be made to the address a veteran used when applying for benefits, and that family members will be asked for contact information if a veteran is away at school. Other than that contact information, VA representatives will not ask for any personal information.
That includes not asking a veteran's Social Security number, birth date or any information about the bank account where GI Bill benefits are being deposited.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill has suffered a number of glitches in its young history, from problems calculating payments because some states took a long time to set tuition rates for public colleges and universities, to delays in paying tuition, fees, living stipends and book allowances as claims processors wrestled with a flood of applications and a new set of rules.
*The following is information specifically for those veterans who are waiting on their VA school benefits checks.
Thousands of Checks to Alleviate Student Financial Burden
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Oct. 2, 2009.
*Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financialdifficulties,* Secretary Shinseki said. *Education creates life-expanding opportunities for our Veterans.* Starting Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, students can go to one of VA*s 57 regionalbenefit offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to request advance payment of their education benefits. Because not all these offices are located near students, VA expects to send representatives to schools with large Veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs.
*I'm asking our people to get out their road maps and determine how we can reach the largest number of college students who can't reach us,* VA's Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick Dunne said. *Not everyone has a car. Not everyone can walk to a VA benefits office.*Although VA does not know how many students will request emergency
funds, it has approximately 25,000 claims pending that may result in payments to students.
The funds VA will give to students now are advance payments of the earned benefits for education. This money will be deducted from future education payments.
VA officials said students should know that after this special payment, they can expect to receive education payments on the normal schedule -- the beginning of the month following the period for which they are reimbursed. *This is an extraordinary action we're taking," said Shinseki. *But it's necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our Veteransface.* More than 27,500 students have already received benefits for
housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, or their schools received their tuitionpayments
* Nations Veterans and the dangers of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure
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