Message Center

Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), administered by the Office of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy (WWCTP), has begun offering a series of virtual learning opportunities to transitioning Service members and families.

The free online classes are available to any servicemember worldwide, and cover essential employment search topics such as resume writing and interviewing. The classes are recommended for any Service members looking enhance their practical, real-world employment search and transition skills. The webimnars are a great resource for members of the National Guard and Reserves who don’t have access to the same transition services as their active duty counterparts. The classes are also open to military family members.

The live classes are offered weekly and Service members can register for them at www.TurboTAP.org. Some of the classes that have been offered are:

• Building Better Resumes
• Decoding Military Skills for Civilian Employers
• Landing a Federal Job
• Common Job Hunting Mistakes
• Acing the Interview
• Social Networking and the Job Search

This week’s webinars are:

1. Accept, Adjust, Repeat: Strategies for Transition Success – Tuesday, August 23, 9:00 pm EST
2. Combat to College – Thursday, August 25, 8:00 pm EST

Since launching in late spring, more than 3,000 Service members, from Anaheim to Afghanistan, have registered for these classes.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has once again chosen Sittercity’s Corporate Program to help hundreds of thousands of military families across the nation find in-home caregivers. Sittercity is America’s largest and most trusted online solution connecting families with high-quality, local babysitters, nannies, elder care providers, dog walkers and more, with nearly 2 million caregivers nationwide.

The Sittercity Corporate Program, which was originally selected by the Department of Defense in 2009, provides all Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force families (including active duty, reserve and guard) with a paid membership to Sittercity through a custom built military portal at www.sittercity.com/dod.

Since the Sittercity Military Program launched in January of 2010, Sittercity has helped tens-of-thousands of military families find the right caregiver for their family. In fact, Sittercity connects a caregiver with a military family every nine minutes.
“Sittercity is honored to continue working with the Department of Defense,” said Martin Clifford, Sittercity CEO. “The challenges military families face in serving their country while caring for their family are significant and we are proud serve them and be a part of their support system.”

Eligible military families can activate their paid Sittercity membership at www.sittercity.com/dod.

Just for our DC-area peeps, sorry folks:

Thursday, June 30, 2011
Hello Cupcake Capitol Hill (Barrack’s Row)
705 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003
4 – 6 pm

To thank the men and women of the armed forces, and their families, for their service, and to provide a fun atmosphere to celebrate with friends and family, Hello Cupcake is hosting a free private event at our NEW location in Barracks Row.

Families will decorate patriotic themed cupcakes, meet with friends and celebrate Independence Day early. Light fare will be provided. All members of the military in DC are invited to attend this free event.

RSVP at: http://cupcakesforcourage.eventbrite.com

Can’t make it to the event? From June 30th-July 4th, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of patriotic-themed cupcakes will be donated to Camp Desert Kids, a program of Military Families United that helps military children understand the deployments that shape their lives.

United-Continental Airlines will now join Delta in allowing servicemembers to check a fourth bag (under 70 pounds, of course) for free. This is a change in the previous policy, adding one additional bag. And you have two Reservists to thank!

From the story in USA Today- Travel:

The policy changes came after two soldiers returning from Afghanistan posted a video on YouTube on Tuesday complaining that 36 reservists from Oklahoma lost more than $2,800 in out-of-pocket baggage expenses because Delta charged them for a fourth bag. Their plight was first publicized by WXIA-TV in Atlanta.

The two soldiers, Army Staff Sgts. Robert O’Hair and Fred Hilliker, taped the video while flying from Baltimore to Atlanta on their way to Fort Polk in Louisiana. In it, Hilliker says in a voice heavy with sarcasm: “Good business model, Delta, thank you. … Not happy. Not happy at all.”

So what do you think about all this baggage business? Was this change made to better show our men and women in uniform the appreciation of a grateful nation? Or to correct an unfortunate but minor oversight?

We’re okay with it, either way.

If you’re planning a DITY (do-it-yourself) or Personally Procured (PPM) move, you’ll have to navigate the choppy waters of packing, renting trucks, and physically moving to your new PCS location yourself!

Penske is offering a discount of up to 20% off truck rentals for  military members, and has some useful tools like “vehicle scale locators.”

MOAA also offers a listing of useful links for PCS moves online, as well as informational articles covering everything from how to cope with deployments to getting info on your new community to moving overseas!

More news on the housing and mortgage front for servicemembers:

CitiMortgage announced the Citi® Disabled Veterans Mortgage Relief Program, a new initiative that will allow veterans wounded, injured or otherwise disabled in the line of duty to make reduced monthly payments on CitiMortgage-owned mortgages. The new program will offer an interest rate reduction of 2.5% on existing mortgages for a period of two years. Surviving spouses of military personnel who died while on active duty may also be eligible for the program.

The offer is part of the Citi Homeowner Assistance Program, which features a number of initiatives to help borrowers in hardship. Borrowers do not have to be delinquent or facing imminent default to participate in the program, and there are no fees to participate.

About the Citi Disabled Veterans Mortgage Relief Program

Homeowners are first evaluated for eligibility for a permanent mortgage modification. Those ineligible for a permanent loan modification may then be considered for the Disabled Veterans Mortgage Relief Program. CitiMortgage will bring qualifying clients’ loans current if they are delinquent by waiving outstanding late fees and forbearing all past due amounts and other uncollected fees. Program details:

• The program is being offered to veterans disabled, wounded or injured in the line of duty.
• Surviving spouses of military personnel who died while on active duty may also be eligible for the program, if they are co-borrowers on the loan.
• Applicants must provide their discharge documents and a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming they have a service-connected disability.
• The loan must be a first mortgage owned by CitiMortgage on the principal residence.
• The program is open to both current and delinquent borrowers.
• There is no requirement to prove financial hardship.
• Applicants must also sign the program agreement and, if they are currently delinquent, make one reduced payment before being enrolled.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veteran’s Affairs (VA), Rural Development and loans currently under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protection are not eligible for the program.
• CitiMortgage is including a notice about the program in its May 2011 mortgage statements. The company is also targeting an email campaign about the new program to its client base. Interested veterans should contact CitiMortgage directly for full details by calling (800) 283-7918.

Citi has a long-standing commitment to complying with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the protections available to military personnel.

CitiMortgage Series of Initiatives to Help Homeowners

Below are some of the programs Citi has implemented since the economic crisis began in order to assist at-risk borrowers in finding loss mitigation solutions tailored to meet their needs. Since January 2007, Citi has helped more than 1.1 million homeowners in their efforts to avoid potential foreclosure on mortgages totaling more than $135 billion.

• Citi Unemployment Assist Program – Since March 2009, this program has served as a bridge to longer-term solutions for certain qualifying recently unemployed and delinquent borrowers with Citi-owned mortgages. The program lowers monthly mortgage payments to an average of $500 for three months for most eligible borrowers.
• Citi Homeowner Assistance Program (CHAP) – Launched in November 2008, CHAP includes a series of initiatives designed to proactively help potential at-risk borrowers remain current on their payments and ultimately remain in their homes.
• Office of Homeownership Preservation (OHP) – Established in 2007, OHP provides a range of support services that go beyond modification of a mortgage loan, including an extensive partnership network with non-profit organizations that offer legal assistance, counseling and translation services to borrowers.

To see the most recent comprehensive report about Citi’s foreclosure prevention efforts, please go to: Citi U.S. Consumer Mortgage Lending Data and Servicing Foreclosure Prevention Efforts, Fourth Quarter 2010.

For further information please call 1-800-283-7918 visit www.citimortgage.com.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that special disaster assistance may be available to Veterans with VA-guaranteed home loans who have been affected by recent tornadoes in Missouri.

“We will to do everything we can to help Veterans and their families get through this difficult time,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We urge Veterans to use VA resources available to help them recover from this disaster.”

VA strongly encourages mortgage companies not to initiate any new foreclosures in the disaster areas for a period of 90 days. The agency also encourages mortgage companies that service VA-guaranteed home loans to extend every possible forbearance to borrowers who are in distress through no fault of their own. This includes suspension of reporting to credit bureaus and waiving late charges for affected borrowers.

Veterans should contact their insurance company as soon as possible to file claims for losses. At the same time, they need to contact their mortgage companies to let them know their circumstances.

Veterans should also start the FEMA disaster application process as soon as possible by calling 1-800-621-3362. Low interest loans, cash grants, and housing assistance may be available from agencies associated with the disaster recovery effort.

VA has information available on its web site (www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans) that provides basic guidance on options veterans should consider following a major disaster. Veterans may also contact their nearest VA Regional Loan Center at 1-877-827-3702.

For updated information on eligible counties, visit the “Are you a disaster survivor?” section on the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm.

While May is Military Appreciation Month, Piccadilly Restaurants, LLC actively supports military troops and their families year-round by offering a 10-percent discount everyday.

“Piccadilly has been a great American tradition since 1944,” said Angele Anson, Piccadilly’s Vice President of Marketing. “We are proud to show our appreciation and support for the service men and women who give so much to our country everyday. Nothing says ‘thank you’ like a tasty, home-style meal!”

Piccadilly is very pleased with the new Joining Forces program, a national initiative headed by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden that “mobilizes all sectors of our society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they deserve.”

America’s armed forces of over one million military troops are supported daily by the wives, husbands and children here on the home front. Piccadilly hopes to help make a difference in the lives of military families by providing a 10-percent discount on well-balanced, homestyle dine-in or takeout meals.

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Piccadilly Restaurants, LLC has been serving Louisiana families since 1944. Currently, Piccadilly has over 100 restaurants and over 50 food service operations, primarily located in the Southeastern United States, employing approximately 4,000 team members. For more information please visit the company Web site at www.piccadilly.com.

The Army and Navy Club, that is!

MOAA is pleased to announce that all Life Members are now eligible for a waiver of initiation fees for The Army and Navy Club of Washington DC, when they join the Club as a Resident or Non-resident Member. With Club membership, you’ll gain access to the most prestigious private club for current and former military officers in the United States and more than 200 private reciprocal clubs worldwide.

The Army and Navy Club, which was founded in 1885, is located on Farragut Square in the heart of Washington, DC, just blocks from the White House. Learn more about this exclusive Club at www.armynavyclub.org or see the feature article in the May 2010 issue of Military Officer magazine.

Resident Club members (those living within 30 miles) enjoy regular access for dining, a variety of social and educational activities, athletic facilities, and banquet rooms for weddings, retirements, and special events.

Non-resident Club members (those living beyond a 30-mile radius) enjoy use of the Club’s 29 first class hotel rooms (at advantageous rates) as well as all of the Club’s amenities when visiting Washington, DC. All Club members may use the dining and lodging facilities of more than 200 private reciprocal clubs worldwide.

Regular membership in The Army and Navy Club is open to all commissioned officers who are serving or who have honorably served in one of the Uniformed Services of the United States (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Public Health Service). For Club membership rates and questions, please contact the membership office at The Army and Navy Club at 202-628-8400 or by email at membership@armynavyclub.org.

Not yet a MOAA Life Member? Call MOAA’s Service Center at 800-234-6622 to upgrade your membership status to today to take full advantage of this new Life Member benefit and all that Life Membership has to offer.

San Francisco’s Walt Disney Family Museum (WDFM) is a must-see for military families visiting the Bay Area this summer – admission is waived for Active or Retired Military and their families.

Most people are unaware of Walt’s contributions towards World War II; its effect on the Disney Studios was profound – nearly bankrupting it. The Army took over Disney Studios shortly after December 7, 1941 and Walt Disney whole-heartedly devoted himself and his organization to winning the war. He created ‘Victory Through Air Power’ viewed by Roosevelt and Churchill at the Quebec conference, made hundreds of training and propaganda films and even pin-up posters. Even Pluto enlisted, becoming Private Pluto. A stunning series of exhibits showcases this pivotal time through never-before-seen images, rare video clips, and moving stories.

Check out the May Military Officer feature story on military cartoons, including an inside look at the partnership between animation studios and the military services in World War II!

Summer focus:

• Memorial Day through Labor Day -$20 admission waived for Active or Retired Military and their families with valid Military Personnel Identification. WDFM is a member ofBlue Star Museums,a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more than 900 museums in all 50 states to offer free admission to military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, through Labor Day, September 5, 2011.
• June: Film of the Month – Bambi; shown on the big screen at 1 and 4pm daily (except Tuesdays); Gallery Five focuses on the creation of Bambi with a look at stunning concept art, character models, and rare behind-the-scenes footage of Walt and the animators working live animals as models in the Studios. Bambi was nominated for three Academy Awards.
• July: Films of the month focus on Walt’s space and science movies and classic Disneyland programming: Academy Award nominated Man in Space, Man and the Moon, Mars and Beyond, Eyes in Outer Space and Our Friend the Atom. Shown on the big screen at 1 and 4pm daily (except Tuesdays); Gallery Seven focuses on the creation of these films and Walt’s other post-WW 2 films with a look at concept art and artifacts from Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, Cinderella, as well as other live action films including Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This stunning gallery also features four touch-table kiosks where guests are invited to explore more about hundreds of topics in the wonderful world of Walt Disney.
• August: Films of the month: Saludos Amigos, an animated feature film with Donald Duck and Goofy, about Latin America, made up of four animated segments tied together by live-action footage of the activities of Walt Disney and his artists on their Goodwill Neighbor Tour there on behalf of the United States government; Three Caballeros, four short films on Latin America featuring Donald Duck. Shown on the big screen at 1 and 4pm daily (except Tuesdays); Gallery Six focuses on the creation of these films with a look at art, dolls, artifacts and sketches from his animators—highlighting work from Mary Blair, Walt’s ‘favorite animator.’

Special activities:

Saturday, June 11 – The Art of Tyrus Wong, 3:00pm I Theater ($)
Disney legend and landscape artist Tyrus Wong had a real gift for evoking incredible feeling in his paintings. Walt saw that Ty was able to produce exquisite watercolor paintings that brought the audience into the forest and made the environment feel real and alive. Walt Disney’s vision for Bambi and use of Tyrus’ work influences many films today. Join us as we hear from Charles Solomon, Ralph Eggleston, and Paul Felix about how the art of Bambi forever shaped animation and continues to influence many of our favorite films.

Saturday, June 25 – The Anatomy of an Animal: Animating a Deer with J.B. Kaufman, 3:00pm I Theater ($)
Walt Disney went to great lengths to ensure that his animators had everything they needed in order to draw animals realistically, for Bambi. Real fawns were brought into the studio so that the animators would be able to study the animals and sketch them from every angle. This “life study,” along with advanced anatomy classes and trips to the Los Angeles Zoo made the production of Bambi a slow one but the study paired with the emotion made for a spectacular and heart wrenching film! Hear from noted Author and Historian J.B. Kaufman about the visual style and evolution of Bambi.

Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 19 – Disney Discoveries, 1:00pm – 3:00pm I Learning Center Art Studio (A)
Bring the forest scenes of Bambi to life in your own 3D diorama! Capture the beauty of the trees and the drama of “little April showers” in a miniature woodland landscape.

Saturday, June 4 – Finger Painting for Big Kids: Intro to Painting, 1:00pm – 4:00pm I Learning Center Art Studio ($)
Learn painting at its most fundamental level; mix colors while exploring the color wheel, experiment with acrylic paints, and water colors. Adopt the vocabulary of an artist and know how to care for your artist tools and paints. If you have ever wanted to learn to paint, this is the class for you! Registration required. Email education@wdfmuseum.org or call 415.345.6814.
Price: $40 Members; $45 Non-Members

Saturday, June 25 – Live Study Sketch Session, 10:00am – 12:00pm I Front Lawn (A)
This activity is weather permitting.
We’re bringing in real animals, just like Disney did, for you to study and sketch!! Don’t miss this opportunity to join an artist on our front lawn and bring life to your illustrations!

About The Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum, founded by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and The Walt Disney Family Foundation, opened in 2009 to present the life and achievements of the man who raised animation to an art, transformed the film industry, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a global and distinctively American legacy. The Museum tells Disney’s story in his own words and those of his family, friends, and co-workers. Using a mix of historic materials and artifacts, Disney’s achievements come to life through innovative displays that include listening stations, interactive media, more than 200 video monitors and a 114-seat screening room. Different iconic characters, films, shorts, classes and speakers are showcased monthly.