Government and You E-News - February 27, 2007

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Topics in This Week's News Include:


1. Marines Take Care of Their Own


2. Military Spouses to Benefit from Free Career Coaching and Assistance


3. Army Families First Casualty Call Center Marks One Year Anniversary


4. New Veteran Centers on the Horizon


5. "Military Saves" Week Kicks Off


6. Patriotic Photo Contest


7. Marine Corps Assessment of Deployment Readiness Survey


Here's the News!!!


1. Marines Take Care of Their Own: General
James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, is putting this motto
into action with the new Wounded Warrior Regiment. This new unit which
is still in the planning stages has evolved from the success of the
wounded warrior barracks at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and Camp
Pendleton, California.


The mission of the new unit is to provide wounded Marines the
administrative structure to make sure they receive all needed medical
care, before and after their discharge from service. The unit will have
a headquarters in the National Capitol Region and a battalion on both
the east and west coasts. Conway discussed the new unit at a recent
Marine Corps Association luncheon. During his remarks he admitted that
the Marine Corps has lost track of some wounded Marines. By standing up
the Wounded Warrior Regiment, the Marine Corps will have a structure to
ensure that Marines do not slip through the cracks.


NMFA applauds the efforts of the Marine Corps to ensure that our
wounded warriors and their families receive the care and attention they
deserve. (Source: Marine Corps Times 12 February 2007)


2. Military Spouses to Benefit from Free Career Coaching and Assistance:
The Military Spouse Career Center recently added a free service that is
sure to be a popular resource for military spouses seeking employment
or career counseling. Spouse Employment Assessment, Career Coaching and
Assistance (SEACA) will be provided free of charge by IMPACT group, a
St. Louis-based global career management firm, and recognized leader in
career management services. Military spouses worldwide will be able to
take advantage of professional, certified, on-demand career coaches who
will assist spouses identify and work towards employment and career
aspirations.


Certified Career Coaches will aid spouses on:


  • Career self assessment

  • Goal setting

  • Resume / cover letter & application development

  • Identification of opportunities

  • Interviewing

  • Negotiating

  • Career Mobility

To receive this free expert assistance military spouses should
contact the Spouse Employment Assessment, Coaching and Assistance
Program (SEACA) at:1-800-768-3480 or visit: www.military.com/spouse for more information. (Source: http://www.military.com/spouse/cf/0,,cf_SEACA_013007,00.html)


3. Army Families First Casualty Call Center Marks One Year Anniversary:
The Army Families First Casualty Call Center (FFCCC) enters its second
year of assisting families of fallen Soldiers by providing one-on-one
support.  During its first year, FFCCC helped more than 3,000 families
receive benefits, referrals for support services, and directing family
members to resources.  The comprehensive program was established to
serve the spouses, children, parents and extended family who have lost
a loved one and provide long-term support and advocacy in the months
and years following a loss.  FFCCC provides support 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.  The Support Coordinators, former military
personnel, not only take calls from family members but also reach out
to beneficiaries who are eligible for benefits.  Part of the Army's
Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center (CMAOC), FFCCC most
recently notified families about their eligibility and assisted over a
thousand beneficiaries with applying for enhanced death benefits made
possible by the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act.  For
information on this and other benefits please contact FFCCC toll-free
(866) 272-5841 or by visiting the Center online at    http://www.armyfamiliesfirst.army.mil/


4. New Veteran Centers on the Horizon:
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 23 new vet centers to open
throughout the country in the next two years. These community-based
centers provide returning war veterans readjustment, mental health and
employment counseling along with education, family and outreach
services. The centers are often staffed by former combat veterans.
These additional centers will place these valuable resources
geographically closer to veterans allowing them quicker access to care.
The program was established in 1979 by Congress to allow eligible
veterans, and survivors to receive free care at these Vet Centers.
Services to veterans' families are also available as long as the
problem is military-related.


Six new centers are scheduled to open in 2007 with the remaining vet
centers scheduled for completion by 2009. The new centers will be
located in various cities/towns in AL, AR, CA, CO FL, GA, KS, LA, MA,
MI, NH, NM, NY, OH, PA, TX and WA. There are currently 209 vet centers
in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
(Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/docs/vet_ctrs_expand.doc).


5. "Military Saves" Week Kicks Off:  Military
Saves week was kicked off with a "Moneywise in the Military" event held
at MCRD San Diego on February 24. The Moneywise events are being held
at various installations throughout the country. Throughout this week
installations are holding information fairs and registration events for
the ongoing "Military Saves" program. The Pentagon will host an
information fair all week, February 26th through March 2nd with a
variety of organizations providing educational materials to Pentagon
personnel.


"Military Saves" is a social marketing campaign to encourage
military members and their families to get out of debt and save money.
The motto is "Build wealth, not debt". This program is one of many
initiatives DoD has partnered with to improve financial literacy
throughout the military. NMFA is proud to be a member of the Military
Saves National Partners Committee and a DoD partner for financial
literacy. For more information on the "Military Saves" program, visit
the website at http://militarysaves.org/default.asp.


6. Patriotic Photo Contest:
Military Family Network Community Connections is partnering with Flags
Across the Nation to sponsor a Patriotic Photo Contest. Eligibility is
open to everyone. The desired themes of the photographs are Military,
Patriotism, Freedom, Americana scenes of landscape, and images of the
American Flag.  Photos must be mailed by March 19th, 2007 and one
submission is allowed per person. First place winner receives $300 and
all winners receive an American Flag. Thirteen entries will be selected
and sewn onto the Flags Across the Nation Patriotic quilt to be part of
the traveling Flags of Freedom Patriotic Traveling Exhibit.  For more
information visit: http://www.iloveamericaday.org/ and http://www.flagsacrossthenation.org/.
(Source: http://www.emilitary.org/)


7. Marine Corps Assessment of Deployment Readiness Survey:
Beginning February 26th Marines and their spouses have the opportunity
to tell Headquarters Marine Corps their opinions with regard to the
deployment readiness of Marines and their families. This confidential,
on-line survey will gather feedback on the effectiveness, quality and
satisfaction with the Key Volunteer Network Program, the Lifestyles
Insights Networking Knowledge and Skills (LINKS) program, and the
Spouses' Learning Series (SLS) workshops.


To access the survey visit www.usmc-mccs.org/surveys
between February 26th and April 1st. The survey consists of multiple
choice questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. For more
information contact your local Marine Corps Family Team Building
director or the survey project officer, Nancie Sullivan, at (703)
784-9517, or e-mail Nancie.Sullivan@usmc.mil




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2500 North Van Dorn St., Suite 102, Alexandria, VA 22302-1601
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