MilitaryConnection.com Archives

Military Connection: Obama Signs Vet-Friendly Bill: By Debbie Gregory

December 22, 2014/in Archived Blogs

On December 3, 2014, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 was passed in the House as H.R. 5771, by a vote of 378-46. On December 16^th, the bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 76-16. On December 19^th, the Tax Increase Prevention Act was presented to President Obama, who signed it into law.

The newly-passed bill approved a one year renewal for over forty tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013, extending them through the end of 2014. The law allows employers, energy users, and large corporations to claim a slew of tax breaks for 2014.

Among the programs extended by the passing of the bill were two Veteran employment tax credits. Both were previous government programs that offered employers an incentive to hire Veterans.

The Employer Wage Credit (EWC) allows businesses who employ members of the active duty military to claim a special tax credit.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit made available to employers who hire individuals from specified target groups that have been recognized as having difficulty finding employment. Veterans make up one of these target groups, especially female Veterans and Veterans from the Global War on Terror era. Both have had consistent unemployment rates far above the national average.

Previous bills have been unsuccessful in getting long-term extensions approved for these same programs. Renewing the expired tax credits will create an incentive in the form of tax credits for employers who hire Veterans and members of other target groups, making them more desirable hires for businesses of all sizes.

There are close to fifty tax credits included in the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, including tax extenders that will benefit both individual citizens and business owners. Individual tax extenders include deductions for mortgage insurance premiums, tuition expenses, contributions of property interests for conservation purposes, and expenses accrued by K-12 teachers. There are also exemptions for distributions from individual retirement accounts for charitable purposes. Individuals can also get energy tax extenders, including tax credits for residential efficiency improvements.There are also numerous tax extenders for the use of renewable and environmentally safer energy sources.

A full list of tax credits can be seen on the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 Web portal at Congress.gov

MilitaryConnection.com has advocated for and promoted this specific legislation and several similar bills before it. We are thrilled that WOTC, the EWC and several other tax credits that benefit Veteran employment and regular citizens’ tax returns have been approved as components of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. We would like to commend our elected leaders for looking beyond party politics and getting this legislation passed.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Obama Signs Vet-Friendly Bill: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Navy Nearer to Drone Approval: By Debbie Gregory

December 22, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The U.S. Navy is one step closer to production of its next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle (U.A.V., also called drones) that will launch from aircraft carriers and have the capability of refueling in the air.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Navy is set to pick a model from among the four defense contractors asked to design a prototype of the aircraft.

Drone development has seen a massive boost over the last several years. Eventually, as many as eight prototype units of what the Navy is calling its Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) drones will be embarked on aircraft carriers. They will be able to conduct intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting and striking capabilities around the clock.

The advantage of utilizing carrier-launched drones is instantaneous intel and striking capabilities. As routine as manned aircraft take-offs and landings from aircraft carriers are, they are still extremely dangerous. Plus, using drones calls for significantly fewer man-hours of training than piloting a jet.

With aerial refueling capability, a drone would be able to stay airborne for five to ten times longer than any manned aircraft would.

But even with all of the advantages, the UCLASS drones will most likely not serve in active combat roles. Many Navy and DOD officials want drones limited strictly to an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) function, as opposed to using them for strikes and attacks.

In August, Northrop Grumman ran successful trials of its prototype candidate, the X-47B. The X-47B successfully took off and landed from the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Tests included daytime and nighttime take-offs, landings, touch-and-goes, and operations conducted alongside manned aircraft, from the same flight deck. Once contractors develop a method to refuel this next generation of drones in the air, this useful tool will seemingly have no operational limitations. It will be up to military leadership as to how they will be used.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Navy Nearer to Drone Approval: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: USAF Officer Sells Screenplay: By Debbie Gregory

December 22, 2014/in Archived Blogs

When they have time off, many service members exercise, take classes, volunteer, or find other ways to better themselves or their surroundings. Others catch up on sleep, watch movies, play video games or communicate with loved ones back home, as a way to recuperate from their stressful occupation. Air Force Capt. Eric Koenig chose to write screenplays during his spare time. And his hobby proved to be a highly lucrative undertaking.

Koenig is a dental flight commander attached to the 412^th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, out of Edwards Air Force Base near Lancaster, California. For the last few years, he has been spending his free time writing screenplays.

This year, on Veterans Day, Capt. Koenig was contacted by Paramount Pictures concerning the purchase of one of his works. The studio offered the military officer/screenwriter an undisclosed mid-six-figure sum for a script titled “Matriarch.” The story is about a female serial killer and her prison psychologist. The psychologist is attempting to uncover information that would reveal the location of the prisoner’s final victim. The tension is heightened by the ticking clock of the serial killer’s upcoming execution. Capt. Koenig likened the feel of the story to a “Silence of the Lambs” and other dark and violent thrillers that he, himself, enjoys.

The Air Force captain turned Hollywood writer does not have any formal training in screenwriting. He said that he learned how to write and format screenplays by reading books on the subject.

The script received notice through a Launch Pad contest on a Hollywood insider information website. Koenig’s “Matriarch” made it to the top 25, which drew the attention of a marketing team, including an agent, a manager and an entertainment lawyer, who brought the script to the studio.

The purchase of the script does not guarantee that it will be made into a motion picture. But the money that Koenig received from the sale is his, either way. Which begs the question- what are you doing with your off time?

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: USAF Officer Sells Screenplay: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Trees for Troops: By Debbie Gregory

December 21, 2014/in Archived Blogs

Each year, hundreds of thousands of American service members spend their holiday season away from home and families, in locations around the country and around the world. While they are proud to do their duty and make sacrifices for their country, it’s a hard time of year to be away from their families. Morale can dip around the holidays, and many service members have a hard time finding their holiday cheer. But one national charity is raising spirits for American service members and military families.

Trees for Troops is a charity that spreads joy and raises spirits for all branches of the U.S. military. Since 2005, the non-profit has provided more than 139,000 American-grown Christmas Trees, free of charge, to the military community.

The program is designed to bring holiday cheer to deployed military and military families. For deployed troops, the tree symbolizes a touch of home around the holidays, and for military families, it spreads joy by expanding their holiday budgets.

Trees for Troops became a national program in 2005 when the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, a charitable arm of the National Christmas Tree Association, unified the programs of tree growers and state Christmas Tree Associations. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation partnered with FedEx Corporation to ship the Christmas trees from the tree growers, delivering them to military bases.

Last year, 450 tree farms delivered over 17,000 Christmas trees to 62 military bases. Trees for Troops estimates that FedEx traveled 78,839 miles to deliver last year’s trees for the charity.

It is only through the generosity of the American people and their donations to Trees for Troops that the program is able to continue the delivery of Christmas trees, a valuable gift to service members and military families. To donate, visit http://www.treesfortroops.org/dnn/Donate.aspx

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Trees for Troops: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: VA Officials Make Select List: By Debbie Gregory

December 20, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proud to announce that their interim Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, was ranked number 19 on Modern Healthcare Magazine’s 2014 list of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

The annual list is compiled by the magazine, and nominations come from readers and healthcare professionals. There were more than 15,000 nominees, with editors and staff members reducing the list to the top 300. More than 155,000 votes were cast to determine the top 100.

Dr. Clancy’s responsibilities as Interim Under Secretary for Health include overseeing the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The VHA is a division of the VA that administers medical, dental, and mental healthcare for millions of Veterans and their dependents at 1,700 facilities. The VHA is considered the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system.

Dr. Clancy joined the VA in August, 2013, as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health in Quality, Safety and Value, where her responsibilities were to serve as the Chief Quality Management Officer for the VHA.

Dr. Clancy and VA Secretary Robert McDonald recently collaborated to launch the VA’s Blueprint for Excellence. The memorandum outlines the steps that the VA will be taking to improve the quality of care, promote a positive culture of service, advance healthcare innovation for Veterans, and increase access to care and accountability.

“This is a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Clancy’s expertise, knowledge, judgment and informed approach to developing and implementing new initiatives here at VA,” said VA Secretary Robert McDonald. “As anyone who knows and works with Dr. Clancy can attest, she is a person of enormous integrity, tireless work ethic and a deep love and respect for Veterans. As VA undergoes a transformation focused on delivering the best outcomes for patients, Dr. Clancy brings a dedication to quality and safety that is exemplary.”

This year marked the eleventh straight year that Dr. Clancy has appeared on the publication’s notable list. Joining Dr. Clancy on the list is President Obama, who nabbed the top spot. VA Secretary Robert McDonald ranked number 47.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: VA Officials Make Select List: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: NORAD Tracks Santa Website: By Debbie Gregory

December 19, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has opened its NORAD Track Santa website for the 2014 Christmas season.

NORAD, and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have been tracking Santa Claus for 59 years. According to the website, the tradition began in 1955, when a Sears Roebuck & Co advertisement listed the wrong phone number for Santa Claus, and gave eager children the CONAD commander’s ‘hotline” instead. With the influx of calls and the quick thinking of then-Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, staff members began fielding the calls and giving children updates on Santa, as seen from their radar. From a simple mistake and the kindness of service members, a great tradition was born.

Through the decades, the Santa tracking tradition has evolved, with the website now available in eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish. The site also offers official NORAD Tracks Santa apps for Apple, Google Play and Windows devices. The site has also taken to social media and offers games, trivia and Santa tacking through Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Google+ accounts.

New features to the 2014 edition of NORADSanta.org include fun activities for Christmas lovers of all ages. The North Pole location lets users visit Santa’s Village, with access to a festive menu of games, music, movies, and special NORAD intelligence on Santa Claus. You can also visit the online Gift Shop, where you can buy official Santa and NORAD gear.

From the home page, there is an official Santa Tracker countdown that keeps track of the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the NORAD tracking of Santa’s sleigh, beginning at 12:01 a.m. MST on December 24^th. While kids and parents wait for the countdown, there are fun Christmas themed games that can be played on the website and its apps. There are 23 games that will be unlocked, one game each day, between December 1^st and 23^rd.

The holiday movies and music available on the website will get anyone in the holiday spirit. There is also a library that provides information about Santa, and proof that Santa Claus is real. The library also provides special NORAD specs on Santa’s sleigh, holiday activities, and information about holiday traditions around the world.

If you have small children, grandchildren, or just love some good, clean holiday fun, visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website, available now online, on smartphones and tablets.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: NORAD Tracks Santa Website: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Why Report Sexual Assaults? By Debbie Gregory

December 19, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The number of sexual assaults on men in the U.S. military is higher than people would think. The DOD estimates that as many as 10,500 men and approximately 8,500 women in the military experience unwanted sexual contact each year. But according to the Pentagon, only 14% of the sexual assaults reported by service members last year involved male victims.

The fact of the matter is that sexual assaults involving male victims often go unreported. Male victims, especially those in the military, are usually too afraid to be seen as victims. There is also the fear of humiliation and appearing to be weak, vulnerable, or homosexual. This stigma is intensified in the military, where men are supposed to be strong, masculine and capable of not only defending themselves, but sticking up for others as well.

But what sexual assault victims need to realize is that sexual assault is more about power and control than sex, and usually has little to do with homosexual behavior. Aggressors almost always identify themselves as heterosexual, sometimes even ultra-masculine.

Over the past several years, the DOD and its service branches have increased efforts to reach out to male victims, urging them to report sexual assaults. The campaigns encourage service members to intervene in potential in any and all assault situations, not just the ones where the victims are women. Service members are also urged to report any assault, including ones prior to their enlistment, or ones that involve civilian assailants, so that the victims can receive treatment and officials can go after perpetrators.

The services have already started assembling training materials aimed at male victims, including videos with scenarios of service members drinking, and discussions about when to intervene. Military leaders are learning that they should tailor their approaches differently for men and women, in order to effectively reach individuals.

Despite the poor reporting numbers, the Pentagon’s initiative is having an effect. Although the reporting numbers are still low, the number of reports of sexual assault among male sailors and marines tripled this year, from the year before.

Service members who have experienced sexual assault should not be afraid to come forward. They need to be reminded that they were victims and the person who perpetuated the assault is the one to blame, and must be stopped, before they repeat the deplorable behavior with another victim.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Why Report Sexual Assaults? By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Senate Bill for New VA Wait Lines: By Joe Silva

December 18, 2014/in Archived Blogs

There is a bill making its way through Congress intended to remedy the recently reported delays in wait times for Veteran burials.

Over the past year, there have been reports of long delays for the interment of deceased Veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries in California, and elsewhere around the country. Rep. Ed Royce (CA) proposed similar legislation earlier this year in the House. Congressman Royce cited a May report by the Los Angeles Times that stated that 52 unclaimed bodies of deceased Veterans had accumulated in the Los Angeles County morgue.

Under the Senate bill, the VA would be required to track and record any burials not completed within a month, as well as what entity would be responsible for the bodies, including local medical examiners, funeral directors, and county service groups. Also, data on the burial delays would be collected in an annual report and given to Veterans’ Affairs congressional committees.

On the heels of 2014’s VA scandals and subsequent reform, many politicians and citizens will be quick to lash out at the entire VA over these claims. No one wants to see the same mistakes made by the same people. But if the reports are true, the same people would not be to blame.

Many Americans don’t know that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), headed by the secretary of the VA, is organized into three major subdivisions, called administrations. The three administrations of the VA are the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration. The VHA is responsible for maintaining healthcare facilities and treating Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. The VBA is responsible for accepting all VA claims and administering benefits, including claims for healthcare, disability, education benefits, and mortgage loans. The National Cemetery Administration is responsible for maintaining VA cemeteries, as well as providing memorial and burial benefits.

It is important to note that when talking about wait time problems within the VA, different administrations collectively make up the VA, and operate independently from each other. An example of this would be how the Army and the Navy both operate under the Department of Defense, but are completely different entities.

The reports of delays within the National Cemetery Administration and its system of 131 cemeteries are completely separate from the highly scandalized patient wait times within the VHA. But none the less, the reported wait times at VA cemeteries will only add to the problems that the VA is already in the process of correcting. In order to be respectful to these Veterans, the issues need to be remedied immediately and effectively.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Senate Bill for New VA Wait Lines: By Joe Silva

Military Connection: Navy Engineer Turned Spy: By Debbie Gregory

December 18, 2014/in Archived Blogs

On December 10, 2014, a federal judge denied bond for a man who attempted to sell technical plans of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier to foreign agents.

Mostafa Ahmed Awwad was arrested on December 5^thfor stealing schematics for the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, and attempting to sell them to who he thought was an Egyptian intelligence officer.

Awwad, 35, currently resides in Yorktown, Virginia. Originally from Saudi Arabia, Awwad immigrated to the U.S. in 2007, and became a citizen in 2012. Awwad graduated from Old Dominion University in 2013, and began working at the Norfolk Naval Shipyards as a Navy civilian engineer in the shipyard’s nuclear engineering and planning department.

The charges against Awwad state that in late October, he attempted to steal technical data of the designs of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Awwad also provided computer drawings downloaded from the Navy to an undercover FBI agent, posing as an Egyptian intelligence officer. The undercover agent speaking in Arabic contacted Awwad in September, and got Awwad to meet him at a park the next day. At the meeting, Awwad declared his intention to use his position of trust with the Navy to obtain military technology and then pass it on to the Egyptian government.

Awwad and the undercover FBI agent met again in October. During this meeting, the engineer is alleged to have described a plan to circumvent Navy computer security by installing software enabling him to copy documents, without tripping a security alert. Awwad reportedly gave the undercover agent drawings of the aircraft carrier, marked with warnings that foreign distribution could result in criminal prosecution. Awwad indicated to the agent that he understood the computer drawings would be used in Egypt. He also agreed to provide the agent with passport photos to produce a fake Egyptian passport so Awwad could travel without alerting U.S. government officials. The affidavit also claimed that Awwad asked the agent for $1,500 to buy a tiny camera which would enable him to photograph restricted material around the shipyard.

The FBI has evidence of Awwad completing a cloak-and-dagger drop that was coordinated with the undercover agent. On October 23^rd, Awwad stashed an external hard drive and two passport photos on a secluded area of a hiking trail, in exchange for $3,000 in cash that was left at the site.

The information that Awwad was trying to sell would have put the USS Gerald R. Ford’s future crew of 4,000 sailors at risk. It is also alleged that Awwad told the agent that he would be able to plant tracking devices on American submarines. If all of his claims are true, and evidence points to that likelihood, Awwad was a serious threat to the U.S. Navy.

Given the enormity and seriousness of the charges, U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Miller denied bond for Awwad, which would not allow the engineer out of prison pending trial. Awwad faces up to 40 years in federal prison.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Navy Engineer Turned Spy: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Submit Your Story for TV Show: By Debbie Gregory

December 17, 2014/in Archived Blogs

Do you have an amazing or miraculous survival story? If so, it could be used on a new television series.

The TLC Network is looking for people who have experienced extraordinary events. For this new show, TLC is teaming up with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey for a series about miracles and answered prayers. Downey will host the specials, and her husband, Burnett, will serve as executive producer.

Downey rose to fame starring in the CBS drama, Touched by an Angel. The husband and wife team previously collaborated on the miniseries The Bible for the History Channel, which led to the 2014 feature film adaptation, Son of God.

Producers of this new untitled series are looking for amazing, miraculous stories; stories of unexplained happenings, amazing coincidences, extraordinary survivals, or fortuitous reunions. They could also be about medical miracles, twist of fate love stories, or any other event that defies science and logic.

Many Veterans have remarkable stories. Just the nature of the work that service members perform as part of their daily duties can place them in harm’s way. In combat, training exercises, and in their travels around the globe, service members from every branch and every era experience close brushes with serious injury and death, haunting encounters, and tremendous tales of true love.

The stories do not have to be military in nature. If you or someone you know has experience any of these events, either in relation to an illness or injury, while participating in extreme sports, while traveling, or as part of their everyday life. The one major requirement is that the stories have to be true.

MilitaryConnection.com strongly encourages Veterans to remember back to their days in the service. If there was an event or occurrence that defies explanation, your story could be made into part of this TLC series.

To submit your story, please follow this link to the show’s submission page: https://ccasting.wufoo.com/forms/untitled-miracle-project-application-1/

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.