Making it in the MilLife

Defense Bill Passed

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 was approved late last week and is on its way to the President for his signature.  Here are the highlights that may impact your family:

Active Force Provisions

• A 1.6% military pay raise
• Authorizes changes to hostile fire and imminent danger pay prorating that pay to the number of days spent in a qualifying zone
• Authorizes early retirement and voluntary separation incentives to reduce the need for involuntary separations during the coming force reductions
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe a policy that addresses the amount of dwell time between deployments. 

Family Provisions

• Revises membership of DoD military Family Readiness Council.  Removes reserve (but not Guard) members and the spouse of a general or flag officer from the Council; adds the spouse or parent of a member from each service
• Provides $40 million for schools with significant numbers of military dependents and $5 million to school districts for military children with severe disabilities
• Requires GAO to review effectiveness of programs aimed at promoting military spouse employment to include:  the number of spouses who have obtained employment following participation in one of their programs
• Requires a DoD report on the cost of expanding the Homeowner Assistance Program to help more service members who are “upside-down” on their mortgages

Health Care Provisions

• Limits the percentage increase in TRICARE Prime enrollment fee in any year to the percentage growth in military retired pay
• Requires a report on the DoD autism pilot including all other efforts being conducted by DoD on autism services

 Guard/Reserve Provisions

• Establishes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Safeguards reemployment rights for Guard members ordered to full-time duty under state orders
• Authorizes a death gratuity and related benefits for Reserves who die during an authorized stay at their residence during or between successive days of inactive duty training
• Enhances the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for wounded warriors and their families

1) Tell you what you think?  Will these provisions impact your family?E-Mail us at moaaspouse@moaa.org

2)  Stay informed.  Sign up for MOAA’s weekly legislative update by emailing msc@moaa.org.  We will keep you informed and up to date with what is happening on the Hill.

What do you do with 5000 extra Christmas Wreaths? 

You honor the fallen.

Twenty years ago, Wreath company owner Morrill Worcester took 5000 unsold Christmas wreaths and placed them at gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery.  It was his way of thanking our nation’s veterans. 

Fast forward to 2011. 

 Worcester’s desire to thank our fallen has grown into Wreaths Across America.  700 ceremonies.  225,000 wreaths.  Our fallen  will be  thanked, honored and remembered.

Over 100,000 wreaths will be placed on gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery on December 10th, 2011.

If you and your family would like help with the Arlington Wreath Laying, please read below. 

To participate at Arlington National Cemetery:

Click here for directions for the Metro, Parking, or Maps of the Cemetery.

On December 10^th, the Opening Ceremony starts at 8:30 A.M at the Memorial Amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknowns. During our sectional wreath laying special wreath ceremonies will occur at President Kennedy’s grave (11:00 A.M); at the USS Battleship Maine Mast Memorial (11:30 A.M.), and at the Tomb of the Unknowns (12 Noon). Depending on the number of wreaths we receive, general wreath laying may last well into the afternoon.

0715 Arlington National Cemetery Gates open to public
0745 Ceremonial Wreaths Across America Truck Parade arrives Arlington Main entrance (time approx)
0830 Opening Ceremony (Memorial Amphitheater)
0845 Flyby by HMX1 helicopters; Wreath laying begins at sites throughout cemetery
1100 Wreath laying ceremony at President Kennedy grave
1130 Wreath laying ceremony at USS Maine Mast
1200 Wreath laying ceremony at Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Due to limited parking available within the Cemetery and the high number of volunteers expected, we highly encourage all who can to take the Metro Rail to the Arlington Cemetery Station on the Blue Line. In addition to the Arlington Cemetery stop (Blue Line), pedestrian accessible gates are a short walk from Rosslyn (Orange Line) and both Pentagon and Pentagon City (Yellow and Blue Lines). At this time, the Cemetery has advised us that POV’s will not be allowed to enter the Cemetery itself unless they have a valid ANC Family Pass or a Valid Handicap Pass. Parking will be available at the Cemetery’s Visitor Pay Parking lot for up to about 400 vehicles. Other parking may be available at the South Parking Lot areas of the Pentagon and at the Navy Annex if we can obtain permission from Pentagon officials. Parking may also be available for military personnel at Ft. Myer near the Chapel Gate.

No other formal registration or sign-up is required. Just show up at the designated time and place.

One final note: Please join us for the Wreath Cleanup Saturday 28 January 2012. Details will be posted in early January.  For more information regarding cleanups please contact Wayne Hanson at driftabit@aol.com.