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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.

• Hon. Duckworth and Brig. Gen. Vaught to be inducted on March 17, 2010
• The Foundation’s Symposium (free and open to Army women—RSVP needed) will be held in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• It will assess the programs assisting servicewomen in transition by analyzing 3 key areas:

1. Combat to Classroom
2. Combat to Career
3. Combat to Corporate

• 5 scholarships will be presented, including 3 Ft. Hood scholarships to commemorate fallen Army women Sgt. Amy Krueger of Kiel, Wis.; Pfc. Francheska Velez of Chicago, Ill.; and, Lieut. Col. Juanita Warman of Havre De Grace, Md.

Communication through satellite link-ups has become an increasingly important element in the military’s bag of tricks, so having a portable satellite terminal can be a big asset.

That’s where an inflatable satellite terminal made by GATR Technologies in Huntsville, Ala., fits into the picture. The Department of the Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center has awarded GATR Technologies a one-year contract (with renewable options) for $26 million to deliver an indefinite quantity of the inflatable satellite terminals.

The terminal mounts a collapsible parabolic antenna on an inflated ball that can be set up on a satellite in 40 minutes. The reflector is available in 1.8 and 2.4 meter parabolic versions. “There’s a flexible reflective dish on the inside of the inflated ball,” says Dean Hudson GATR’s marketing director. “The ball has two chambers, and pressure is carefully managed to make sure the dish stays rigid and can support the feed mount which attaches to the outside of the unit. The larger the dish, the lower the power needed to transmit and receive.”

The advantage of the system is its portability, says Hudson. The system weighs 89 pounds ,and it fits into two checkable airline hard cases. “The system is reusable, quick to deploy, and easy to transport,” Hudson says. “After the recent earthquake in Haiti, we were the first to deploy a large aperture high bandwidth antenna. While others were trying to figure out how to get the crates onto a ship or cargo plane, we packed one into the back of a Cessna and flew in, helping the UN in support of search and rescue missions. The U.S Army had another of our units at the other end of the airport.”

Paul Gierow, president of GATR Technologies, says that besides Haiti, the firm has inflatable satellite systems in operation in Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, and Korea. “The unit enables missions that would not otherwise be able to be done, which is what makes it unique for military use,” Gierow says. “It’s transportability and reduced cube also are key and the unit opens up a lot of areas where users can get in quickly as opposed to waiting a week or two.”

About the author: Alan M. Petrillo is a Tucson, Ariz., freelance writer who works in a wide variety of fields, writing for national and regional magazines and newspapers. He’s also the author of the mystery novel, Full Moon, and several books on historical military small arms.