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Military Report is the most comprehensive military benefits and quality-of-life newsletter for military personnel and retirees. Make sure that you and your colleagues subscribe for this free update publication. -------------------------------- 14 JANUARY 2008------------------------------------------- Join the ROTC Network Find old friends and stay in touch with your ROTC unit. Build a page, post messages and pictures, search for friends and more -- join the network today - Sponsored by USAA. Pay and Bonuses Still In Limbo Without the authorization bill, the military's pay raise appearing in mid-January checks will be 3 percent, not the 3.5 percent as passed by Congress. More Deal of the Week: Save up to 12% As a government employee, you're eligible for Dell's exclusive member discounts. These discounts are on top of most generally advertised Dell promotions. More Earn Six Sigma and Project Management Credentials from Villanova Villanova University's online Master Certificate programs will give you the industry-leading skill sets and prestigious credentials you need for your resume. More New Rules for Housing Grants Seriously injured veterans and servicemembers are elibable to receive many new grants available from the VA for constructing or modifying homes. More Military Special Discounts Military personnel and their families get $25 off new activations and receive discounts on service & equipment. Shop 24/7. Top 25 Jobs for Veterans in 2008 This New Year brings new job opportunities for transitioning servicemembers and veterans interested in careers in health care, technology and consulting. More Find ROTC Classmates Take a look in the new ROTC Network on Military.com to see what your old classmates and friends are up to. More Featured Job: NYPD As the largest police department in America, the NYPD is widely recognized as the nation's leader in law enforcement technology. More Get in Shape in 2008 Military.com just launched a fitness channel. It's a great place to jump start your New Year with great fitness ideas, top workouts, nutrition tips, and more. More DoD Announces Competition The Department of Defense announced the inaugural $1.75 million Wearable Power Prize competition will be held Sept. 22 until Oct. 4. More Enter the Tuition Top-Up Program Top-Up is a program that allows GI Bill participants' to use the GI Bill to supplement the tuition and fees not covered by tuition assistance. More Bonds Limit Set at $5,000 Under the new rules, the annual limitation on purchases of United States Savings Bonds an individual can buy a maximum of $5,000. More Several Air Force Bonuses Suspended All re-enlistments for eligible Airmen in Air Force Specialty Codes with a selective reenlistment bonus have been suspended until further notice. More The Thrift Savings Plan All active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. uniformed services are eligible to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. More Travel System Continues Rollout A top Defense Department priority is to expand DTS to cover some 25 to 30 additional categories of official travel by 2009. More Voter Registration Push Underway Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008, is less than a year away. So, there is no time like the present to register to vote. More No Premiums for Some Retirees Effective Oct.1, 2008, Uniformed SBP participants who reach 70 and have made 360 payments will no longer have to pay premiums for continued SBP. More Tax Help Available at Fort Bragg The Fort Bragg Tax Center is offering help with preparing and filing returns. The center provides free tax preparation, electronic filing and tax form distribution. More Marine Corps Seeks Nominations The Marine Corps is soliciting nominations for the 2008 Department of Defense Women's History Month Award. More CRDP CRSC Open Season Retirees that are eligible for both CRDP and CRSC may elect to change their current payment program during the 2008 CRSC/CRDP Open Season. More Honor Flight Program Humana Veterans Healthcare Services and Congressman Jeff Miller have announced the sponsorship of the inaugural Emerald Coast Honor Flight trip. More Patriot Express Loan Program The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is taking steps to increase awareness of its new Patriot Express Loan program. More Savings Deposit Program Military members deployed in combat zones or qualified hazardous duty areas may be eligible to deposit their unallotted pay into a DOD savings account. More Calendar Provides Troop-Support Ideas The DoD America Supports You program connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. More Army Adds Advisors at Hospitals Soldiers seeking to determine eligibility for payments under TSGLI, have a new ally in Soldier Family Support Specialists (SFSSs). More Minnesota Program Goes National The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program will soon expand to all members of the Guard and Reserve. More Converting Your Savings Bonds If you own paper savings bonds, you can trade them in for electronic bonds in TreasuryDirect using an online program called SmartExchange. More Association Offers Congressional Guide The Fleet Reserve Association is offering a free guide called "Communicate With Your Elected Officials" to promote participation in the legislative process. More VA Distributes Insurance Dividends More than a million veterans are in line to share $349 million in annual insurance dividends during 2008, according to the VA. More Post-Deployment Guidance for Airmen Beginning Jan. 19, 2007, active-duty Airmen who deploy 12+ months during a preceding 36-month period are entitled to administrative absence time off. More Veterans Receive Pay Increases Millions of veterans and eligible family members will see their disability compensation, pension, and survivors' benefits increased. More Hero Appreciation Months Travel Discount The Sequoia Foothills Chamber of Commerce and member businesses will honor the nation's heroes during special appreciation months. More Army's New Wounded Warrior Blog The U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) announced the debut of the "Army Wounded Warrior Program Blog." More VA Shares Health Information DoD officials have announced the organization-wide release of enhancements to share electronic health information with the Department of Veterans Affairs. More Coast Guard Releases Top Videos The U. S. Coast Guard released a video compilation of its most dramatic rescues of 2007. More Exchanges Offer Calendar The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is offering military shoppers a host of savings with the introduction of the 2008 Patriot Family POG Calendar. More Marine Corps Clubs Eliminate Dues Membership dues for Marine Corps officer and SNCO clubs were eliminated as of Jan. 1, 2008. More Marine Corps Scholarships The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is looking for eligible students to apply for its 2008 scholarships. More Extending Your Dollars Gaining more control over your finances is a good New Year's resolution. The first thing to do to avoid financial disasters is to have a strategy. More Scholarship Application Deadline Nears Applications for the 2008 Scholarships for Military Children Program must be turned in to a commissary by close of business Feb. 20, 2008. More Up-to-the-minute Military News Full Military Report Start Your Own Subscription Forward this newsletter to your friends and colleagues in the military community. Military Report Published by Military.com Editors: Brian Aguilar, Ho Lin Editorial Questions: http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1?file=FAQ Web site: subscribe ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |