American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON — Although no changes to the tuition assistance policy will be made in the near term, defense officials stated the tuition assistance program will be considered as part of the holistic review of the military compensation package. Current policy provides eligible service members up to $4,500 in tuition assistance. The […]
DoD establishes school attendance policy
September 7, 2011
By Elaine Sanchez: American Forces Press Servic WASHINGTON — A new Defense Department school policy underscores the importance of student attendance, while also considering military families’ unique needs, the acting director of the Department of Defense Education Activity said. The policy, which went into effect Sept. 1, requires students attending DoD schools to be in […]
DoD focuses on school renovations
September 6, 2011
On orders from Congress, the Department of Defense is deciding how to spend a first appropriation — $250 million — to upgrade a set of public schools that are in disrepair or disturbingly overcrowded. The catch is that these schools, though part of local school districts, are on stateside bases and 94 percent of their […]
DOD makes progress in civilian hiring reform
May 19, 2011
By Donna Miles: American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON — Until recently, applying for a civilian job at the Defense Department was an exercise in navigating through a byzantine federal hiring process and amassing thick application packets, with applicants sometimes waiting up to a year for any word on their applications. Pasquale M. Tamburrino Jr., the […]
DoD commits to disabled veterans’ businesses
July 23, 2010
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden: American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON — Defense Department officials are committed to providing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses with contracting opportunities, and are closer to its goal of awarding 3 percent of department contracts to such businesses, the acting director for the Pentagon’s Small Business Programs Office said […]
DoD program eases adoption expenses
June 30, 2010
By Elaine Wilson: American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON — For many people, $2,000 doesn’t add up to much money in the long haul; it won’t, after all, buy a new car or a house. But for Air Force Master Sgt. Kipp M. Bourgeois and his wife, Christina, the money was just enough to fulfill their […]
DoD policy requires generic prescriptions
March 12, 2010
American Forces Press Service FALLS CHURCH, Va. —Popular generic drugs like omeprazole, zolpidem and cetirizine, which treat gastrointestinal problems, insomnia and allergies, also are available under familiar brand names. While generic drugs are not advertised on television or in magazines, they provide the same benefits as their brand-name counterparts at a lower price for TRICARE […]
DoD program funds temporary summer jobs
February 12, 2010
By Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs Office RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Air Force organizations have the opportunity to begin hiring students March 17 for temporary, funded positions as part of the 2010 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities. The Air Force is participating this summer in the annual program sponsored […]
DOD officials: Military will have enough H1N1 vaccine
November 2, 2009
By Judith Snyderman: Defense Media Activity-Emerging Media Directorate WASHINGTON — As shipments of some 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine ordered by the Defense Department continue to arrive from the manufacturer, more than enough will be available for all military personnel and their beneficiaries, military medical experts said here Oct. 30. Navy Cmdr. Danny Shiau, […]
DOD program seeks servicemembers' input
August 5, 2009
Air Force News Service SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Have you ever had your household goods moved and at the end of the process, thought, “That was the best move I’ve had. I hope my next move is that good.” Or conversely, “That move was horrible. I hope no one else has to use […]
World No Tobacco Day, encourages quitting
May 14, 2009
27th SOW Public Affairs Office The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country.Just after Memorial Day is Sunday, May 31, which is World No Tobacco Day, sponsored by the World Health Organization. The Department of Defense […]
Sharing medical data imperative for care
August 28, 2006
By Tom Philpott: Military Update William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, took time during a teleconference with journalists last week to tout his department’s ability to transfer electronically the medical records of separating service members to the Department of Veterans Affairs. In doing so, Winkenwerder ignored a rising chorus of critics […]
Military back pay cost will be shared
August 7, 2006
By Tom Philpott: Military update The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have worked out a plan for sharing the cost and the task of delivering about $500 million in back pay to more than 100,000 military retirees with VA rated disabilities. The retroactive payments are owed to nearly half of all recipients of Combat-Related […]
Base supporters unfazed by report
July 5, 2005
By Marlena Hartz: CNJ staff writer A report recently submitted to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission provides a peek into the 2005 Department of Defense BRAC process. The in-depth analysis, however, left local base supporters generally unfazed. Ret. Brig. Gen. Hanson Scott said the report, generated by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, reflects information […]
Cannon supporters make their case
June 24, 2005
CNJ Staff Nine supporters of Cannon Air Force Base spent 90 minutes Friday trying to convince Base Realignment and Closure commissioners to remove Cannon from a proposed closure list. Most argued that Defense Department information was flawed and incomplete and emotions ran high with an audience of about 1,400 applauding the speakers on more than […]
Air Force officials: ‘Military value’ central to decision
May 15, 2005
By David Irvin: CNJ staff writer “Military value” was at the center of the decision by the Department of Defense to place Cannon Air Force Base on the initial Base Realignment and Closure list, according to high-ranking Air Force officials. Maj. Gen. Gary W. Heckman said in a teleconference Friday the decision to recommend Cannon […]
House bill bad news for military spouses
May 2, 2004
Tom Philpott: Military Update The Department of Defense says it does not support imposing new limits on the number of years that former spouses can receive court-awarded shares of military retirement. Such limits are at the heart of the Uniformed Services Divorce Equity bill (HR 1111), introduced by Rep. Cass Ballenger, R-N.C., to better protect […]
