Topics in this Week's News Include:
1. TRICARE Beneficiary Personal Information at Risk
2. Free Financial Planning for Injured Service Members
3. NFL Players Extend Free SAT Prep Program
4. Wounded Warriors Commission to Hold Last Public Meeting
5. USAA Tops the List of Military Spouse Friendly Workplaces
6. Local Initiatives Promote Military Spouse Employment
7. H&R Block Offers Full Scholarships for Military Spouses
Here's the News!!
1. TRICARE Beneficiary Personal Information at Risk:
Late last week, Science Applications International Corporation, SAIC,
announced that personal data including names, addresses, Social
Security numbers, birth dates, and/or limited health information in the
form of codes for as many as 867,000 TRICARE beneficiaries may be at
risk for compromise. The personal information was being processed by
SAIC under several health care contracts for the Department of Defense
(DoD). The information was held on a single, SAIC-owned File Transfer
Protocol (FTP) server at a small SAIC location in Shalimar, Florida.
The server was not behind a firewall and did not contain adequate
password protections, which is in violation of SAIC policy. SAIC
stopped using this server when security concerns were raised. Forensic
analysis has yielded no evidence that personal information maintained
on the server was removed or compromised; however, SAIC cannot rule out
that possibility.
All affected beneficiaries will be notified. SAIC is sending one
notification letter per identifiable adult (e.g., service member,
spouse, dependent parent) or one per family when there is an affected
minor dependant in a service member sponsor's household. The letter
will be sent from ID TheftSmart™ and delivered by the U.S. Postal
Service. This package will include a letter from SAIC, a letter from
the government, and information from Kroll Inc. on their IDTheftSmart™
identity restoration service. In addition, all affected beneficiaries
will be provided with a free one-year membership in Kroll's ID
TheftSmart identity restoration service.
After receiving notification, impacted individuals with questions
may call the Incident Response Center Monday Friday from 8 a.m. to
midnight (Eastern Time) at:
- United States: 1-888-862-2680
- International, call collect: 1-515-365-3550
These dedicated telephone lines are reserved for use by those
individuals identified and notified in writing by SAIC, in coordination
with the government, about this incident.
In response to the incident SAIC has launched an internal
investigation into the situation and several employees have been placed
on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation. In
addition, SAIC has:
- Established a company-wide task force to ensure that the company
responsibly addresses any adverse impact on the company's customers and
any affected individuals. - Conducted a detailed forensic
analysis of the server and data, which included assistance from some of
the company's and the government's top experts in computer security. - Initiated
a systematic, company-wide assessment to assure that such lapses do not
exist elsewhere in the company and determine whether any changes in
policy, methods, tools and monitoring are needed to make sure that such
a lapse does not recur. - Launched an internal investigation
using outside counsel to determine exactly how this security failure
occurred and placed a number of employees on administrative leave
pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a letter to NMFA, a senior SAIC official pledged the company
would "do everything we can to support military members and their
families." He also stated the company would "ensure it does not happen
again."
For more information on the security breach and what you can do to
protect your personal information and recover from a theft of that
information, go to: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=299.
2. Free Financial Planning for Injured Service Members:
The Project for Financial Independence is now offering pro bono
financial planning to severely injured service members through a
partnership with the Department of Defense Heroes to Hometowns (H2H)
program. In addition to the new financial planning services, H2H
assists severely injured members find suitable homes, adapt vehicles to
accommodate their injuries, secure transportation to medical
appointments, find jobs, and locate child care. To learn more about
Heroes to Hometowns, visit: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/. Look for the QOL Resource box and click "Heroes to Hometowns."
3. NFL Players Extend Free SAT Prep Program:
For the past three years a group of NFL players has partnered with
EKnowledge and DoD to offer free SAT preparation materials to military
families. VSG/NFL Players and EKnowledge recently announced that the
program has again been extended and now provides the materials for
JROTC cadets as well as children of military personnel. Some of the
athletes involved in the program are: Mark Anderson, Chicago Bears; Jon
Bradley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Scott Young, Philadelphia Eagles;
Garrick Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Corey Williams, Green Bay Packers;
Jason Radar, Miami Dolphins; and Ahmaad Galloway, San Diego Chargers.
For additional information or to obtain the SAT Prep program visit the Military Homefront website at: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/itc/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_0?current_id=20.20.100.30.0.0.0.0.0. Requests can also be made by calling EKnowledge at 951-256-4076 or via e-mail at support@eknowledge.com.
4. Wounded Warriors Commission to Hold Last Public Meeting:
The President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded
Warriors will hold its final public meeting on Wednesday, July 25th at
11:15 a.m. At this final meeting, the Commissioners will discuss and
vote on final recommendations to the President concerning care for
America's returning wounded and injured service members. It will be
held at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center's
Atrium Ballroom in Washington, D.C.
(Source: http://www.pccww.gov/)
5. USAA Tops the List of Military Spouse Friendly Workplaces: Military Spouse
magazine recently released their list of "Top 10 Military Spouse
Friendly Employers". USAA topped the list and was noted for exemplary
HR policies. In addition, USAA has a stated goal to comprise 20 percent
of its workforce with military and military spouses. All of the
companies on the list offer comprehensive benefit packages, job
sharing, tuition assistance, on-site child care, and liberal leave and
re-employment policies. Other evaluation criteria included efforts to
recruit military spouses, results in recruiting spouses, and policies
for spouses of Reserve and Guard members. Other companies on the list,
in order of rank, were AAFES, RE/MAX, The Home Depot, Wachovia,
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Sears Holdings, Kelly Services,
Lockheed Martin, and Starbucks.
(Source: Military Spouse Magazine press release)
6. Local Initiatives Promote Military Spouse Employment:
NMFA has long known that military spouses are excellent employees.
Military spouses are culturally diverse, well traveled, educated,
experienced, loyal, hard working and resourceful. Research also shows,
however, that despite these qualities military spouse employment
outcomes are less successful than their civilian counterparts. This
disparity is likely linked to frequent moves.
The Military Family Employment Advocacy Program in Brevard County,
Florida is working with military spouses to develop portable careers.
The program is funded by the Florida legislature and administered by
the Brevard Workforce Development Board. All military family members
are eligible to utilize the program. Services include resume
assistance, career and educational opportunity training, job search
assistance, and assistance with support services like child care.
Snohomish County Washington, led by the Greater Marysville Tulalip
Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure that spouses in their area are
recognized for the value they bring to a company. The Snohomish County
Military Family Friendly Employment Partnership Initiative seeks to
educate local employers about the advantages of hiring military family
members. The program will officially launch in September with a seminar
at Naval Station Everett. Currently the chamber is meeting with local
municipalities urging them to join the network. The hope is that local
governments will lead by example in hiring military family members.
Ultimately, companies will be asked to join and agree that they will
continue to create job opportunities for military family members.
NMFA applauds local efforts to promote military spouse employment. This is truly a win-win situation for all involved.
7. H&R Block Offers Full Scholarships for Military Spouses:
Military spouses are currently eligible to attend a H&R Block
Income Tax course on a full scholarship. After successful completion of
the course students may be eligible to interview for employment with
H&R Block. No previous training is required and the program is open
to active duty and reserve component military spouses. For more
information contact your local H&R Block office. Call
1-888-412-7880 for more information.
