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Wow, we came across  a compelling story on CNN.com, told by Mike Scotti, a servicemember who talks of feeling alienated and isolated after returning home from Iraq.

It was 2003, and I was attending a friend’s wedding. As I sat at the table listening to the conversation, I suddenly realized that someone who had never been in combat could never even remotely understand what I had just been through.

I looked around. The chamber music quartet, the beautiful bridesmaids, the steak dinner … none of it was real. My buddies were, at that moment, probably on patrol and quite possibly engaged with the enemy. That was real.

Scotti is the subject of the documentary film Severe Clear. For the men and women returning home from the battlefield, this looks like it could be one film they need to see.

The Pat Tillman Foundation invites you to apply to become a Tillman Military Scholar. The Pat Tillman Foundation is dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for veterans, servicemembers and their families. Veteran and active servicemembers and their dependents (children and spouses) portray the very nature of leadership that the Foundation seeks to inspire in young people across the country.

Additional information can be found under the “Tillman Military Scholars” section of the Pat Tillman Foundation website.

The application process is open March 15- April 30, 2010. Apply today!

Now in its second year, the Tillman Military Scholars program supports educational opportunities for active and veteran servicemembers and their families by covering direct study-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other needs, such as child care. In 2009, the Pat Tillman Foundation awarded $642,000 to 52 Tillman Military Scholars to men and women at 21 universities in 16 states for the 2009/2010 academic year. With these scholarships, the Foundation ensure these leaders have every opportunity to pursue broader educational goals.

Building on its Elevate America program to provide technology training to help prepare people for 21st-century jobs, Microsoft Corp. today announced an initiative to bring together a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations to give veterans and their spouses the skills and resources they need to be successful in today’s civilian work force.

Microsoft will contribute $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software over the next two years to support programs for members of the armed services and their spouses who are separating from the military and reintegrating into their civilian communities and the work force. Through a competitive funding process, Microsoft will award cash, software and other resources to eligible organizations, including veterans service organizations, work force agencies, community colleges and other nonprofit organizations.

The initiative will provide veterans and their spouses with the support they need to be successful in their transition to civilian careers, including technology skills training, job placement, career counseling and other support services such as childcare, transportation and housing. The initiative is intended to support active duty service members who are transitioning out of the military as well as members of the National Guard and Reserves who are returning to their civilian jobs.

At the NAWB Forum, Passman reported on the results of Elevate America so far:

• Twelve states have implemented the program: Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington.
• To date, Microsoft has distributed more than 300,000 free training and certification vouchers to these states.
• More than 50 percent of people who received vouchers proactively took the next step — beginning a training course or taking a certification exam.
• Around 70 percent of the people who received the vouchers were unemployed.
• Sixty percent were women, and 37 percent were between 41 and 55 years of age.
• Thirty-three percent had a high school diploma or GED, and 42 percent had some postsecondary education or training (certificate, some college or four-year degree).

Organizations and veterans can find more information on this initiative by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/elevateamerica, and can get updates by following Elevate America on Twitter at http://twitter.com/elevateamerica.

Nearly 20% Indicate Increases in Compensation Due to Changing Employers

Professionals holding active federal security clearances maintained a compensatory advantage with average earnings of $92,368, according to ClearanceJobs.com, the leading online career resource for professionals with active federal security clearance. Compensation is defined as including salary, overtime, “danger pay,” and bonuses. However, 19 percent of defense industry workers who received pay increases attribute the gain to changing employers – suggesting a high turnover rate among professionals with security clearance.

“Government agencies and their contractors are vying for the same talent pool of security-cleared professionals and the poaching goes both ways,” said Evan Lesser, founder & Director of ClearanceJobs. “Continued increases in defense and homeland security needs drive both the strong job market and healthy compensation. However, government agencies and contractors should take note of the turnover issue which isn’t new, but indicates a level of competition to fill key security-cleared positions not seen in other industries.”

Domestic vs. Abroad Clearance Makes a Difference

Across the country, California, Virginia and Washington, DC earned on average at least $98,500. While cleared professionals based in Florida report average compensation of $81,034, below the average, they were the most satisfied stateside respondents with their compensation.

The top 10 highest average earnings for cleared professionals by state/district are:

2010

• California $98,968
• Virginia $98,658
• Washington, DC $98,542
• Maryland $94,398
• Ohio $90,948
• Colorado $85,395
• New Jersey $83,808
• Florida $81,034
• Alabama $79,990
• New York $77,391

Nearly one-quarter of security-cleared professionals working in the Capital region (Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia) attributed their compensation increases to changing employers, above the national average. In addition, the region boasts the richest concentration of respondents (39%) with current polygraphs creating an earnings edge.

Nationally, security-cleared professionals with current polygraphs earned approximately 20 percent more than those without a polygraph. Topping six-figures, their compensation averaged $105,785.

Please visit www.clearancejobs.com/files/salary.htm for the full survey results, including reports and analysis on compensation by location including a specific break-out of the Capital region, clearance level, polygraph level, employer type, war zone, satisfaction, job category, and salary premiums for cleared technology professionals.

To honor the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, the Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea will kick off a 16-nation tour this June to honor and thank veterans for their sacrifices.

Free tickets are being offered to veterans and their families for the performances June 9 and 10 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. While priority will be given to Korean War veterans and their families, all veterans will be offered complimentary tickets for the performances on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of 4 complimentary tickets will be offered for each veteran and his or her family.

The Little Angels’ tour will begin in the prestigious Kennedy Center’s Opera House in Washington, D.C., with four performances from June 9-12, all beginning at 7:30 p.m. The first two performances on June 9 and 10 will be benefits for the veterans. The third and fourth performances on June 11 and 12 will be public events for which tickets must be purchased. All public tickets will be at a reduced rate as a tribute to the Korean War veterans.

To request your complimentary tickets for June 9 or June 10, send an e-mail to KW60tickets@gmail.com or call 800-616-0861; up to four tickets per veteran.

We’re not choosing sides here, but if you’re in the market for some appliances,  hardware, tools, or building supplies, both Lowe’s and Home Depot are now offering their military discounts year-round!

In addition, both companies have long-standing programs geared toward hiring servicemembers (both active duty and retired) and their spouses, and supporting military charities.  Supporting our troops, one purchase at a time!

Check it out:

• The Home Depot offers a year-round, 10 percent discount, up to a $500 maximum, to all active duty military personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans and their immediate families. We offer this discount to thank them for their outstanding service to this nation and to help make their homes more comfortable and safe. Customers requesting the discount should present a valid military ID. This discount is not available for our online shoppers or in addition to existing discounts or promotions.
• Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced today it will expand its support of the military by offering an all day, every day 10 percent discount to all military personnel who are active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members, with a valid, government-issued military ID card.All other military veterans will receive the discount on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. The discount is available on in-stock and Special Order purchases up to $5,000. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards.

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3/15/10 at 1:53 pm

Webmaster update- Due to the many member questions and comments (both on this blog and via email), MOAA double checked the veracity of the Home Depot offer with their headquarters again. This offer is valid, though they are still working to ensure that ALL of their many stores and thousands of employees are educated on the new policy.

If you have any further questions on this offer as it pertains to your local  store, please contact: sarah_care@homedepot.com

Teens with a parent in the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard can sign up to attend a free leadership summit this summer. April 16 is the deadline to apply for the 2010 AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summits. Participants must be 14 to 18 years old.

Applications and instructions are available online at www.georgia4h.org/AFRANGTeenSummit. To attend one of the following sessions, teens must answer essay questions and complete code of conduct and transportation forms:

• Classic Summit, June 13-18 at the Wahsega 4-H Center, Dahlonega, Ga. Attendees will be flown into Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport. The summit will focus on developing an awareness of programs and services available to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard dependents. Activities at the summit include a high/low ropes course, rock climbing, white water rafting, hiking, environmental education and leadership classes.

• Survival Summit, July 20-25, Colorado Youth Programs, Boulder, Colo. Teens must have attended a previous AFR/ANG Teen Leadership Summit to apply for this camp. Attendance is limited to 36 teens. The teens will fly into the Denver International Airport. The summit will begin at a base camp where the teens will have a day to prepare for a three-day, two-night survival experience.

• Adventure Summit, Aug. 10-15 at Cheley Camps, Estes Park, Colo. Attendees will be flown into Denver International Airport. In this setting, they will choose from daily activities, such as Rocky Mountain hiking, Western horseback riding, Colts campers learning what is involved in training horses, backpacking, mountain biking, technical climbing, archery and a low-ropes challenge course.

More information is available by contacting Stacey.young@us.af.mil or calling Ms. Young at (800) 223-1784, extension 70971, or brandi.mullins.ctr@us.af.mil or calling Ms. Mullins at (800) 223-1784, extension 72090.
Become a fan of the AFR/ANG Leadership Summit on Facebook – AFR/ANG Leadership Summit

Transitioning military veterans will have the chance to receive financial and career assistance in 2010 through the “Gradient Gives Back” Community Outreach Program. The program, launched by Gradient Financial Group, the country’s leading financial services firm, and Afterburner, the global leader in organizational execution, aims to help the 220,000 military veterans transitioning into civilian life this year.

Gradient and Afterburner are seeking up to 50 transitioning military veterans across the U.S. to earn a seat at one of three Veteran Transition Assistance Boot Camps. These fully-immersive, three-day courses will help transition military veterans into civilian life through Afterburner’s military-to-business vernacular training, coaching and career placement.

Top candidates from each boot camp will be vying for select positions with Afterburner’s network of Fortune 500 clients and will be awarded two years-worth of financial services from Gradient, which will include asset analysis, risk tolerance assessment, retirement planning, home mortgage origination, tax planning, and debt review and reduction strategies.

One deserving military veteran will be selected in late 2010 to receive the Ultimate Financial Gift – six months of mortgage/lease payments; waiver of home mortgage origination or refinancing fees; debt reduction; free tax planning and filing of 2010 and 2011 taxes; and career counseling and guidance!

To learn more about Gradient Gives Back Community Outreach Program or to nominate a deserving veteran in your community, visit: www.gradientgivesback.com. Follow us on Twitter @gradientgives.

Building on previous work, a new study from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, examines the extent and causes of underemployment among military spouses. Comparisons of military wives with a group of similar civilian wives show that military wives have a much greater tendency to be underemployed.

Military wives are much more likely not to be in the labor force, more likely to involuntarily work part-time, and more likely to have relatively high levels of education for their jobs than their civilian counterparts.

However, there does not seem to be a strong link between military wives’ labor force position and satisfaction with their life situation. RAND researchers conclude that the effects of underemployment among military spouses may not be as serious as previously thought.

The study, “Measuring Underemployment Among Military Spouses” can be found online.

Starting about March 15, more than 130 million addresses will receive a 2010 Census form by mail or hand delivery. The 2010 Census will document the changes in our nation since the last decennial census in 2000 and tell us how we’ve evolved as country. Because census data affect how more than $400 billion in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state, and local governments, the census also will frame the future of our country and our community for the next 10 years.

During Census 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent as of the April 2000 cut-off. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. For these and many other reasons, everyone’s participation in the census is encouraged.

Other facts:

It’s easy. The 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. It is one of the shortest census forms in history.

It’s important. Census data are used to reapportion seats in Congress and ensure proper district representation in state and local governments. Information from the census helps determine locations for child-care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers.

It’s safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The most efficient way to respond to the 2010 Census is to complete the form as soon as it arrives and return it in the postage-paid return envelope. Census workers will visit households that do not return forms by the end of April to take the count in person.