
Army.TogetherWeServed Newsletter - December, 2008

In This Issue Merry Christmas! Growing Strong! Remembering Pearl Harbor - 7 Dec 1941 Featured Upgrades this month Jobs for Soldiers TWS Army Store - for ALL your merchandise needs Complimentary Upgrade to those serving in OIF/OEF Military News from around the services Free OIF/OEF Maps Chief - National Guard Bureau Member submitted photos this month Reservists may qualify for early Retired Pay Army.TWS Forums and Chat Boards - Sound Off! Trade Banner Links with TWS! Lost your Password? TWS Fallen Soldier Memorial Project To Your Health "The Bayonet" Reunions & Get Togethers Comments/Suggestions From the "Dogface Humor Board" Stay Connected -- Keep Your E-mail Addresses Current! Enjoyed This Newsletter? Quotable Quotes THE Christmas Poem The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, standing alone, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. 'What are you doing?' I asked without fear, 'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!' For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.' 'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,' Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.' My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.' ' So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.' 'But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son.' Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, 'Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.' Source: unknown Vet Topics - Gen Jones (USMC/Ret) and Gen Shinseki (USA/Ret) nomited to key posts General Eric Shinseki nominated as Secretary of Veterans Affairs WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama announced General Eric Shinseki as his selection to be United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. During the press conference, President-elect Obama praised General Shinseki's service to his country, and reinforced the importance of the sacred trust between America and her troops. General Shinseki, a native of Hawaii, is the first Asian American to reach the rank of four-star general. He served two combat tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action. On the anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President-elect Obama stressed the importance of the post General Shinseki would hold. "We owe it to all our veterans to honor them as we honored our Greatest Generation," the President-elect said. "Not just with words, but with deeds." General Shinseki's appointment has garnered the support and praise of veterans' organizations. National President of Vietnam Veterans of America John Rowan called the selection "a promising choice." Veterans for Common Sense released a statement in "strong" support of Shinseki. The statement read: "In February 2003, General Shinseki honestly and correctly assessed our nation's military needs before the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. This same level of candor and honesty will serve President-elect Obama well so he can quickly and accurately identify VA's many challenges and then implement responsible solutions that take into consideration our veterans' needs and concerns." Bipartisan members of Congress have weighed in positively on the selection. On the "Fox News Sunday" program, Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama called Shinseki "a great soldier, a great leader." Referring to Shinseki's recommendations to former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a 2003 assessment of the American military involvement in Iraq, Sen. Shelby said, "we should have listened to [Gen. Shinseki]... We didn't and look where we are today." On the same program, Democratic Senator Carl Levin said that the selection shows that the President-elect "will welcome people who disagree with him to express those views to him." In a release from his office, Sen. Patrick Leahy praised the selection, saying, "throughout a stellar career, especially in his time as the Army's Chief of Staff, [Shinseki's] words and deeds reflected an overwhelming care about soldiers and all of our military service members." Gen James L. Jones (USMC/Ret) selected as National Security Advisor President-elect Barack Obama has named retired four-star general James Jones to be his national security advisor. Mr. Obama says General Jones has the skills to bring together all elements of U.S. power to defeat unconventional enemies and promote American values. General Jones is a tall, imposing former commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. His looks and demeanor have been compared to those of the late actor John Wayne. Jones served for more than 40 years in the U.S. military. He rose in the ranks from leading a platoon in Vietnam to serving as the supreme allied commander in Europe for the NATO alliance. Jones also served as the Bush administration's envoy to design an Israeli-Palestinian security model in the West Bank city of Jenin. He also traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan on fact-finding missions for the Pentagon. The retired general says the Iraq war has caused the U.S. to "take its eye off the ball" in Afghanistan and has warned the consequences of a failure there are just as grave as in Iraq. Jones grew up in Paris and is fluent in French. As a young officer in the 1980s he was the Marine Corps' liaison to the U.S. Senate. President-elect Obama says General Jones brings both military and diplomatic experience to the job of national security advisor. "I am convinced that General James Jones is uniquely suited to be a strong and skilled national security advisor," he said. "Generations of Joneses have served heroically on the battlefield, from the beaches of Tarawa in World War II, to Foxtrot Ridge in Vietnam. Jim's Silver Star is a proud part of that legacy. He will bring to the job the dual experience of serving in uniform and as a diplomat." General Jones will be part of a foreign policy team that will include Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a carry-over from the Bush administration, and Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. As national security advisor Jones will have extraordinary access to Mr. Obama. He will work in the West Wing of the White House and will consult with the president several times a day. Past advisors have had to mediate between the Pentagon and State Department, and Jones says a coordinated security strategy is essential. "National security in the 21st century comprises a portfolio which includes all elements of our national power and influence working in coordination and harmony towards a desired goal of keeping our nation safe, helping to make our world a better place and providing opportunity to live in peace and security for the generations to follow," he said. Jones is currently president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy, an effort designed to unite energy producers and policymakers behind a strategy to secure U.S. energy supplies. While serving in Europe he encouraged NATO to regard global energy as a security issue. President-elect Obama says the link between energy and security is important. "Jim is focused on the threats of today and the future. He understands the connection between energy and national security and has worked on the frontlines of global instability, from Kosovo to northern Iraq to Afghanistan," Mr. Obama said. "He will advise me and work effectively to integrate our efforts across the government, so that we are effectively using all elements of American power to defeat unconventional threats and promote our values." The 64-year-old retired general shares at least one hobby with the president-elect. Mr. Obama enjoys playing basketball and General Jones played the sport while studying at Georgetown University. Source: VOA News NATIONAL GUARD: 372 YEARS OF SERVICE By Renee Hylton for the AFTWS TALON ARLINGTON, VA - The United States is a young country, but four of the oldest military organizations in the world are in the country's National Guard. The National Guard celebrated its 372nd birthday on Dec. 13, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony divided its citizen-soldiers, or militia, into the North, South and East regiments in 1636. The Massachusetts Bay colony was seven years old in 1636. About 5,000 men, women, and children had made the two-month voyage to the New World, leaving behind the relative comfort and safety of England. In Massachusetts, they confronted a wilderness of dense forests, wild animals and suspicious Indians. The colonists needed a military force for protection, but they had no money to hire a mercenary army, which was common practice in Europe at the time. So they turned to the English tradition of the militia -- citizen-soldiers who gathered for military training and who could fight when needed. In Massachusetts, all able-bodied men between ages 16 and 60, except ministers and judges, were required to join the militia. By 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony militia was large enough to be divided into three separate regiments. Today, the military lineage of these original 17th Century regiments from is carried on by the 101st Engineer Battalion, 101st Field Artillery, 181st Infantry and the 182nd Cavalry, which are all still part of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. These four units, in one form or another, have been in continuous service since 1636, and are the oldest units in the US Army. Much has changed in this country since 1636, but one thing has not: citizen-soldiers still gather to train and deploy as they have for the past 372 years. Army News - Realistic Training Prepares Paratroopers for Combat - Army Opens Living History Exhibit at Pentagon - Army Farewells Wallace Team as TRADOC Transitions - Medic Who Rescued Troops from Flames Earns Distinguished Service Cross - Army CID: Warning to Online Holiday Shoppers - Army, Navy Mesh to Complete Mission A NEW PLAYMATE - Army SGT Jason Rex plays with an local Iraqi boy during a neighborhood presence patrol in Malha, Iraq. Rex is assigned to the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division's Company D, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds), 3rd Brigade Combat Team. - US Army photo by SGT Kani Ronningen GUARD FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD CARE SUBSIDY WASHINGTON - For National Guard members who are about to deploy, there is a lot to think about before heading overseas. Changes have to be made to school and work schedules, arrangements have to be made for routine household chores, but for many, child care is one thing that weighs heaviest on their minds. For Guard family members, there is help. The National Guard's Child Care Subsidy Program works to assist spouses and family members with the costs of child care during deployment. The program, which has been around for about five years, grew out of a program initially designed for deploying active-duty personnel, said Mike Conner, chief of program services for the National Guard Bureau's Family Program office. "There was an increased need for child care on the (military) installation," said Mr. Conner. "When the deployments occurred, the daycare centers on the installations were already at the peak. This made (the need) even higher and the stress just increased." As a result, changes were made to allow those on active duty to receive a subsidy to use off-base child care, Mr. Connor said. Guard and Reserve members later were made eligible as long as they were in Title 10 status. "If you are deployed in Title 10 status and your spouse is either working or in school full time you are eligible for a child care subsidy," he said. Recently, those on Title 32 Active Guard/Reserve orders also were added to the eligibility list. The subsidy program is coordinated through the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, which approves applications and determines the amount paid as part of the subsidy. Though Guardsmen of all ranks may take part in the program, the amount of the subsidy is based on a variety of factors, rank not being one of them. "(There are) a number of things taken into consideration," said Dr. Kathryn Goedde, the program manager. "They look at total family income, they look at the number of children, they look at the type of child care needed. "For instance, full-time care for an infant is going to be way more expensive than after-school care for an elementary-aged child," she said. Though no matter what, the minimum amount paid out is $100 per child per month, said Ms. Goedde. "So even if you can't provide all your information, they're going to issue $100 per month per child," said Ms. Goedde. "Once you provide all your information then that may go up." There are, however, stipulations as to which child care providers are eligible to be used as part of the subsidy. One of those stipulations is that the child care provider must be licensed by the state, which may create problems in states that don't license them. In that case, an "exception to policy" letter is needed. "We also write a lot of exception to policy letters, because only about 40 percent of the states use the term 'licensed' in their legislation for child care," Ms. Goedde said. A call center has been set up to help Guardmembers navigate the paperwork process required to receive the subsidy. "There are 15 folks there, and we train them to within an inch of their lives so when a family member calls they have the right answer," said Ms. Goedde. "And if they don't have the right answer, there is somebody sitting right next to them who does." The call center has been set up to make it easier for Guardmembers to apply. Previously, Guardsmen had to contact NACRA and navigate the system on their own. "Now when you call, you either get a live person or somebody calls you back within about two hours," said Mr. Conner. "Some of them are Guardsmen, some of them are Guard spouses, so they know what you're going through." Once the call center is contacted, those at the call center fill out the application and all the paperwork for the Guardsman and submit it to NACRA for approval. "We do the application for (the Guardsman), so they're not required to figure anything out," said Ms. Goedde. "We take them through step-by-step. We then follow up with their provider and we fill out the provider application as well." To date, more than 1,100 Guardmembers have taken advantage of the program, said Mr. Conner. For more information on the program visit the National Guard Family Program's Web site at www.guardfamily.org or call 1-888-642-2799. This is YOUR website, help secure it! This is YOUR Website - help secure it Army.Togetherweserved is your website - please help secure its future by upgrading to Full Membership As you know, there are no advertisements on TWS and There is no charge to join ATWS and remain a Free Member. Without advertisments, TWS is a member-supported website and there are considerable benefits to becoming a Full Member. By upgrading to Full Membership, which is modestly priced and very simple to do, you not only have access to premium areas of the website but, in so doing, you also help support the ongoing development, maintenance and promotion of Army.TogetherWeServed.com and keep it advertisement free. Think about it - how many websites do you visit that have no advertising? TWS is unique and it's here to serve YOU! Using a Government E-mail Address on ATWS? Are you using a "army.mil" email address in your ATWS profile? If so, you might want to consider a freebie, non-military address. A couple of reasons not use your official Army email addy here at ATWS: Should you get transferred and forget to log in after your PCS, you may experience some difficulty in logging back on to ATWS. Or, if you get email from a long-lost boot camp buddy or "A" School classmate, you won't get the notification they're trying to contact you. Nor will you receive this monthly ATWS Newsletter. Besides, the 1stSgt just might look sideways on your using the gov pc....and we wouldn't want that. If you don't already have a civilian email account, choose of the many free web-based email providers (Hotmail, Yahoo!, Google Gmail, etc.) and get one. Sign-up is pretty much painless, and you'll have an alternate emaill address to throw around. Just pick one that suits your needs. To change the email address on your profile, click on the EDIT button in your Personal Details section and insert your new email address there. Just remember to click SAVE below the text area when you are finished. One more email-related item: If you have a spam guard program on your email, please configure it to allow messages from admin@togetherweserved.com to come through and not treat it as spam. This allows us to send you messages without any hassle. Let Lets Say Thanks! Send a Free Postcard to a US Service member LetsSayThanks.com The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women. The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country. All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3^® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops^®. Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service. TWS Invite Cards - Free for the Asking! TWS Invite Cards are two-sided (sample below) and include a spot for you to print your member number and instructions for your invitees to credit you with the invitation. *As a reminder, you get 6 months of free premium access for every 5 members you invite that create a profile page.* There's also a new feature in the registration process as now new joining members are asked to include the member number of the person that invited them while they are registering. If you simply write your member number on the invite card, your invitees can enter your member number as they register and you'll automatically be credited for the invite. These cards are a great ice-breaker to start conversations with other Soldiers and they're the perfect tool to help Spread The Word about TWS. We've mailed out over 60,000 of these cards in the last year when considering all the TWS websites. Please drop us a note to share any success stories you've had using these cards to meet other Soldiers. If you'd like to receive a batch of these cards, please send an email to admin@army.togetherweserved.com and tell us how many you'd like to receive and where to send them. Useful Military Links Defenselink -- The OFFICIAL source of news and information from the Department of Defense, related agencies and all military branches. Multi-National Force - Iraq -- Official website of MNF-I. Multi-National Corps - Iraq -- Official website of MNC-I, "Leading the transformation of Iraq." International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) -- Official website for coalition forces in Afghanistan The Pentagon Channel -- 24-hour broadcasts of official military news and information for members of the US Armed Forces through select stateside cable systems, and overseas via American Forces Network (AFN). My AFN.mil -- American Forces Network (AFN) provides multi-channel, broadcast-quality radio and television services and expanded internal information products to all DoD members and their families stationed overseas, on contingency operations, and onboard Navy ships around the world. We Bring You Home. Military Homefront -- A DoD Web portal for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find what you need! Stars & Stripes -- The DoD-authorized UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper for US Forces overseas, printed in European, Pacific and Mideast editions. Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) -- DoDEA operates more than 218 public schools for grades K-12 in 14 districts located in seven U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 12 foreign countries to serve the children of military service members and Department of Defense civilian employees. Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) -- The military's largest retailer. A mission-essential, and the premier quality of life provider for all DoD military members, civilians, contractors and their families worldwide. Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) -- The Navy's Family Store providing quality goods and services at a savings and supporting the naval quality of life programs. Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) -- Delivering the premier quality-of-life benefit to military members worldwide. United Service Organizations (USO) -- The USO supports U.S. troops and their families wherever they serve. Across the United States and around the world, the American military knows that the USO is there for them. Until Every One Comes Home. Space Avaliable Travel fact sheet -- Answers to the most common Space A travel questions, courtesy of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, CA. OFFICIAL SERVICE BRANCH MAGAZINES: NAVY - All Hands MARINE CORPS - Marines ARMY - Soldiers AIR FORCE - Airman COAST GUARD - Coast Guard Navy World Wide Locator -- For locating individuals on active duty, those recently discharged, and current addresses for retired Navy service members. Navy Retired Activities Branch -- Keeps the retired community informed of their benefits and provides customer service to Navy retirees and their families. Shift Colors -- The Magazine for Navy Retirees. UNIFORM REGULATIONS: NAVY - NAVPERS 15665I MARINE CORPS - MCO P1020.34G ARMY - AR 670-1 AIR FORCE - AFI 36-2903 COAST GUARD - COMDTINST M1020.6E Global Terrorism Incident Map If you want to know what is going on in the world of terrorism, threats, explosions, airline incidents, etc., keep this web page. It's not just about terrorism - it's about what is happening every day, every minute some place in the world that could affect all of us in some way. It updates every 30 seconds, constantly. You just click on any map icon for full info at any time. Global Incident Map TWS Cafe! Coffee, Mugs and more... Be sure to visit the "TWS Cafe!" In partnership with our friends at Snipers Brew/Devil Dog Brew, we're proud to present the TWS Cafe where you can purchase custom coffee blends of "Snipers Brew at a discounted price especially for TWS Members. In addition to coffee, initial product offerings include Custom Coffee Mugs and poker chips! Stay Tuned, an Army.TWS Challenge coin will be availabe soon, along with Bumper Stickers and more... TWSCafe.com POW-MIA - You are Not Forgotten!		Merry Christmas! *Seasons Greetings!* This is the time of year when we should all take a moment to count our blessings and say a special Thank You to every Service Member who is currently serving in defense of our freedom! As we close 2008, I'd like to take this time to wish each of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or Good Winter Solstice. What ever Holiday you celebrate, share the spirit of it with those less fortunate. A strong NATION begins with STRONG COMMUNITIES. Do something nice for a stranger -- commit random acts of kindness. True Warriors also have compassion -- and that extends to the neighborhoods in which they live. All of us here at TWS Admin can't say enough how thankful we are for this website to have experienced the success and explosive growth that you have made a reality in such a short time. From all of us to all of you, here's wishing peace and prosperity to you and yours this Holiday Season. God Bless! Until next year... The TWS Admin Team Growing Strong! Remembering Pearl Harbor - 7 Dec 1941 Featured Upgrades this month Feature your Army Family Members Many of you are from Families with proud traditions of service - in some cases with three generations of serving Soldiers in the family. We have often been asked how members should best identify their relatives on the site, beyond adding them to the My Brothers list. We have come up with a way to feature selected Brothers directly on your profile. If you visit the profile of any of your brothers you will see a new My Brothers section at the top of the left profile page: All you need to do is select a title to give the member concerned and click Update and they will be featured in a special section on your profile. For example by selecting "Son" in the drop down field above and clicking Update your profile left page could look like this: To remove a featured Brother just return to their profile and set the title to None. Lastly you can also select brothers to feature directly from the My Brothers page: Just select the Brothers you wish to feature, choose a title and click Feature Selected. Also There Emails We have also added a new feature to notify you (at most once a month, and only as required) if any new members list assignments to the same unit(s) as yourself, with overlapping years of service - these are the members you are most likely to know and we have often been requested to add such a notification. If you do not wish to receive these automatic emails they can be turned off from your account preferences page, as can all of our communications. Jobs for Soldiers Recently left the Army? Maybe you're looking for a new career, or planning on going in a different direction from your present job? Visit the Soldiers' Job Board which is on the left hand Home Page. You'll find numerous job listings. All positions, described in detail, are posted by fellow Army.TWS Members who are familiar with the credentials and experience offered by Veterans: Position Offered: Executive Administrative Assistant Location: Tysons Corner, VA Salary Range: $70-$90K Position Offered: Part Time - Arabic Linguists Location: DC area and work from home Salary Range: $25-$50/hr Position Offered: Senior Digital Network Intelligence Analyst Location: Fort Belvoir, VA Salary Range: Negotiable Position Offered: Media Exploitation Data Specialist Location: Northern Virginia Salary Range: $70-$85K Position Offered: Assistant Professor Business/Public Policy Location: Young Harris, GA Salary Range: $38-$48K Does the jobs board work? Please see these comments submitted by a recruiting professional: "[TWS]..Thanks for the note and the opportunity to give you feedback. We think of the TWS board as a vital piece of our recruiting capabilities. As a business yourself you know that it is a cardinal sin to refuse work. We do it daily and we are glad to do so! When we look at a company that is asking us to recruit for them, we look first at why they are asking specifically to help them. After all, there are no shortage of recruiting firms. If they are not offering long term stability, we would never recruit for them. If they are just trying to get publicity for hiring a vet, we would never help them. Our vets ARE NOT circus performing monkeys. They are men and women that have been trained to excel while others are running for the door. They are taught to never give up until the battle is done and they are taught others before self. If a company doesn't mirror that philosophy, they are not worthy of having our brave men and women in their ranks. Wal Mart recently asked us to recruit wounded warriors to act as greeters in their stores. We declined, our wounded warriors can do far more than offer a shopping basket to a patron. A key reason that we are able to be selective is because we have been able to keep our overhead low in part because the TWS job board is a integral part of our recruiting tools. The thing that makes the TWS board different from other services is that because it doesn't cost us to post, we charge a much lower fee to firms when we get the resume from TWS. We have 3 people that we are placing that found us through TWS. As such, we are going to make a $500 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project and cite TWS as the reason. It is a joy for our company to place service members and it is even more rewarding to us when these folks find us through together we served because it proves that the fellowship and brotherhood that binds servicemen and women is one that transcends what color uniform you wore, what your rate or MOS was or is, or what your race, gender or economic status is. We are all brothers and sisters in arms. Our company only focuses placing veterans and the spouses of active duty service men and women. My team is very focused on finding a great match for them with a company that will value them as valuable contributing member of their team. Every email that our team sends out to potential job candidates and or transition counselors has a reference to the Together We Served website. I think that if someone leaving the military maintains ties to active duty folks as well as join a network of prior military, it will make their transition back to civilian life much smoother. If we as a company are able to play a part in helping them find positive careers using TWS to do it, that is much better for everyone involved. Military.com approached me about 3 weeks ago about becoming a partner for military transition for some new thing they are trying to do. I thanked them for the call but told them they had lost focus on what they had originally wanted to do and that they needed to take the TWS model and copy that because their model isn't working anymore. I have assembled a very strong board of advisors including a former assistant attorney general, a retired Navy Captain, a retired Navy 2 star and very soon, we will have a retired 3 star Army General. All of them are impressed with what you are doing for our service men and women. None think that Military.com is anything more than a site that is out to just make a buck. Keep doing what you are doing. You are doing great things for our veterans and for that, I say thank you very much." Kevin Dunlap President/CEO Vetrecs Services Corporation a Veteran Owned Business - - - - - - - Additionally, if your company has any positions suited to Soldiers seeking employment, you are very welcome to post these on the Job Board. This is a FREE service to TWS subscribers Post a Job on TWS Currently Posted Positions. If you have had success with either finding employees or with locating employment on the TWS Jobs Board, please let us know! This is a valuable FREE service to all TWS Members and employers and we're always interested in hearing your success stories. Please email TWS Admin with the details: admin@army.togetherweserved.com TWS Army Store - for ALL your merchandise needs Pay a visit to our online TWS Army Store. For all your Army Merchandise needs - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more! (The Army Store can also be found under the "Army Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into TWS) Over 9000 Quality Items at lowest prices and a 30 day money back guarantee! Here are some brand new items just arrived: ARMY Golf Shirts (Various logos and colors) Jostens Classic Army Ring - Oval Stone ARMY Hats License Plates "I'm, a new customer, and a satisfied one at that. Your service is excellent, and so are your prices - talk about time to receive items! Its service like the old days. Semper Fi" Cpl Rogers Alexandre (Gunner) Thank you for your support of the TWS Army Store. All Store proceeds go towards advertising the TWS website, bringing more Soldiers to the TWS Community. Complimentary Upgrade to those serving in OIF/OEF TWS proudly provides a FREE 12 month Premium Membership to any deployed service member. Just let us know who you are, on the honor system and we'll upgrade your profile. email TWS Admin Military News from around the services A FAREWELL TO THE TROOPS - President George W. Bush waves to military members on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. After giving a speech, he shook hands and individually thanked troops for their service. The President made two surprise visits to troops and government leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan. - USAF photo by SSgt. Samuel Morse DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - 'Good Progress' Made, Challenges Ahead in Afghanistan, Bush Says - Officials Set Military Housing Allowance Rates for 2009 - CJCS Mullen Readies USO Tour to CENTCOM, EUCOM Areas - Vietnam War MIA Remains Identified - SECDEF: Procurement System Must Be More Responsive to Current Requirements - GIs Work With Iraqi Veterinarians to Enhance Animal Care - Coalition, Afghan Forces Give Gift of Medical Care A COASTIE KIND OF CHRISTMAS - Two USCG 41-foot utility boats moored at Coast Guard Station New Orleans wear a coat of snow as they wait ready to respond. New Orleans recently experienced a bout of abnormal snowy weather. - USCG photo by PA3 Tom Atkeson ROUND AWAY! - A 155mm high-explosive round bids farewell to Gun 1, from Battery K, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, during a fire mission at the Joint Combat Weapons Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan. Training events like this one take place several times each year throughout Japan. - USMC photo by Cpl. Eric D. Arndt AIR FORCE - Alaska NG, ANG continues Operation Santa Claus tradition - NYC AF recruiter recovering after stabbing - Air Force leaders chair first nuclear oversight board - USAFA to meet Houston at Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl - Portuguese AF applies USAF's lean initiatives - New Year brings new tools to quit tobacco - Earthlings can exchange Holiday greetings with space station crew ONE OF SANTA'S HELPERS - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin helps Santa pass out gifts during Operation Santa Claus 2008 in Kivalina. Operation Santa Claus, an Alaska National Guard community relations and support program, provides toys, books and school supplies for young people in communities across the state. - US Army photo by SPC Paizley Ramsey PIGGY-BACK LANDING - A modified NASA Boeing 747 carrying the space shuttle Endeavour touches-down at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, TX. The shuttle was en route to Kennedy Space Center, FL after making an alternate landing at Edwards AFB, CA. The shuttle's next mission - to deliver parts to the International Space Station - is slated for June 13. - USN photo by MC2 D. Keith Simmons MARINE CORPS - 'Steel Rain' Rededicates Colors, Reflects on Lineage - Navy Corpsmand Gets 'Shot' For a Good Cause - Jerusalem Priest Receives Title of 'Honorary Marine' - Darkside Devil Dog Awarded Marine of the Year - Snowy Season Signals Safety - Be Smart With Alcohol This Holiday Season DESERT MISSION - Two USAF pararescuemen depart from a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during a personnel recovery training exercise on Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. More than 800 ground recovery personnel took part in Angel Thunder 2008, a combat search and rescue exercise. - USAF photo by SrA. Noah R. Johnson COAST GUARD - CG Offers Holiday Boating Gift Suggestions - FEATURE STORY: A Step Beyond Expected - America's Waterway Watch Program Relevant In Wake of Mumbai Attacks - Hawaii USCG Units Save Energy To Save Lives - A Coast Guard Family Returns to Visit Cutter 10 Years Later PASS IN-REVIEW - Navy Captain Jake Washington (left), Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest commanding officer, returns the cadet brigade commander's salute during a pass-in-review by Navy JROTC cadets at Proviso West High School in Hillside, NY. CAPT Washington served as reviewing officer during a formal unit inspection and encouraged the battalion's 335 cadets to remain dedicated to being good citizens and to continue making positive choices for their future. - USN photo by Bill Couch Free OIF/OEF Maps Click the highlighted text for maps of Iraq and Afghanistan in Adobe PDF format. Chief - National Guard Bureau CNGB's BIRTHDAY MESSAGE As the National Guard celebrates its 372nd Birthday, I take great pride in thanking our more than 470,000 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen for their dedication and outstanding service to the nation. Today's Guard men and women continue the commitment and selfless service of the first militiamen who banded together at a moment's notice to defend their towns and colonies. An established operational force, the National Guard's duties range from emergency response and defending the homeland to protecting our nation's freedom and that of countless others through our numerous, ongoing deployments around the world. I want to extend my deep appreciation to the families and employers of our National Guard men and women; their support is unfailing and, without their sacrifice, our National Guard would not be the strong, agile and vigilant institution that it is today. As we look to the future, we renew our non-negotiable contract with America to answer the call. We pledge to continue our unwavering defense of our communities and our nation. Craig R. McKinley General, USAF Chief, National Guard Bureau Member submitted photos this month Army.TWS now hosts more than 92,000 photos! Here's a small sampling of the more than 35,000 photos you posted this month. Reservists may qualify for early Retired Pay 12/11/2008 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Department of Defense officials here have issued new guidelines for early receipt of retired pay for members of the Reserve components. Instead of having to wait until age 60 to receive Reserve retired pay, eligible members may receive retired pay prior to age 60 but not before age 50. Under interim changes to Department of Defense Instruction 1215.07, Service Credit for Reserve Retirement, issued under a law passed by Congress effective Jan. 28, 2008, Reserve component members are able to reduce the age at which they are eligible to receive retirement pay by three months for each cumulative period of 90 days served on active duty in any fiscal year. Under the new law, members eligible to receive retired pay earlier than age 60 must still wait until age 60 to receive health-care benefits. Involuntary mobilization and voluntary active duty in support of a contingency qualify, but there is no requirement to be involuntarily mobilized, to support a contingency or to serve on active duty outside the continental United States to receive credit under the law. Most active-duty time qualifies, including training, operational support duties and school tours. It does not matter whether active-duty time is paid for under military or reserve personnel appropriation accounts, provided such active duty is performed under the authority of 10 U.S. Code § 12301 (d). Also included is full-time National Guard duty served under a call to active service by a governor and authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense under 32 U.S.C. § 502(f) for purposes of responding to either a national emergency declared by the president or a national emergency supported by federal funds. The following time served on active duty is not creditable service for purposes of reducing retired pay age: as a member of the active Guard and Reserve (10 U.S.C. § 12310); on annual tour (10 U.S.C. § 12301(b)); while in captive status (10 U.S.C. § 12301(g)); for medical treatment, medicalXevalXuation for disability purposes or medical study (10 U.S.C. §12301(h)); as a member not assigned to, or participating satisfactorily in, units (10 U.S.C. § 12303); under active-duty agreements (10 U.S.C. § 12311); for disciplinary/courts-martial (10 U.S.C. § 12315); or for muster duty (10 U.S.C. §12319). Qualifying active-duty service performed after Jan. 28, 2008, the date on which the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act was enacted, is creditable. The law does not provide credit for time served on or before that date. Here's an example of how these new guidelines work. A reservist performed five days of active-duty service on MPA orders in February 2008. He then volunteered for active duty beginning June 1 and ending Nov. 30 (leave, reconstitution and post-deployment/mobilization respite absence included, as applicable). The reservist performed a total of 127 days of active-duty service in fiscal 2008 and 61 days in fiscal 2009. Under this scenario, all of the active-duty time the reservist performed could be credited toward reduced retirement age eligibility because it was active-duty time performed under circumstances permitted under the new law (i.e., orders for voluntary service, 10 U.S.C. § 12301(d)). However, because time credited must total 90 days or must be in multiples of 90 days in the aggregate during a fiscal year in order to correspondingly reduce his retirement age by three months, or multiples of three months, the reservist will be able to reduce his retirement age by three months for fiscal 2008. Had he performed 53 more days of active-duty service after Jan. 28 and before going on active duty June 1, he would have accumulated 180 total days for fiscal 2008 and thus would be able to reduce his retirement age by six months. Similarly, because the reservist has so far served on active duty 61 days in fiscal 2009, he must perform an additional 29 days of active-duty service some time during the year in order to reduce his retirement age by an additional three months. Source: Air Force News Service Army.TWS Forums and Chat Boards - Sound Off! What was your best duty station or assignment and why? What is the recipe for that good chow you know how to make out of an MRE? Where's the coldest beer in Korea? Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, or things to watch out for if you have a disease? These are just a few of the topics that are covered by the many Forums on Army.TWS. These forums provide you, the members, a variety of places to discuss with other members the many topics we have in common. Those members still on active duty would probably like to know about good assignments when they make out their "dream sheets" or talk to their Detailers. Those who have worked as Detailers or served on a board might want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to talk about their next assignment. If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you give others about the disease and things to watch out for with diabetes? Encourage a fellow Marine to keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time. These are but a couple of topics that are available for you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with other Marines, etc, or just vent your frustrations about. So pull up a foot-locker and start shooting the breeze, the forums are for you. Trade Banner Links with TWS! If you operate an Army orientated website and are willing to trade links with TWS, click here for information on posting a TWS banner on your site. In return, please contact us at admin@army.togetherweserved.com with your site's URL, up to 100 words describing your website and a 468x60 website banner in jpeg format, if available. We'll be happy to post a reciprocal link in our Preferred Army Links Section in the category of your choice. TWS Army Links Pages are conveniently organized under different categories. Lost your Password? If you have forgotten your User ID and Password you can be quickly and easily reminded by clicking on the "Reminder" link contained on the Login page or following this Link. Your Username and Password will be immediately sent to you by e-mail. TWS Fallen Soldier Memorial Project TWS is a place to honor the service history of all Soldiers who served including those who fell in combat. So that they will not be forgotten, we have created a special facility where any TWS Member can post a Remembrance Profile for a Fallen Soldier they knew or would like to honor, and this can be accessed via the "Remember a Soldier" link on the LH Home page. We have also developed an important feature which will enable TWS Members to adopt the Profile of a Fallen Soldier already posted on the site. TWS has already researched and compiled comprehensive information on all Soldiers who fell during the Vietnam War, 1965-1975, and these are now installed as Fallen Profiles accessible via the LH Home Page link. Additionally, another 35,000 Memorial Profiles were added this month and are ready for adoption. As no one is assigned to maintain these Profiles, we invite TWS Members to adopt one or more Fallen Profiles as custodian and researching and adding any additional information when available. To adopt the Profile of a Fallen Soldier from the Vietnam War, please click on the Adopt a Fallen Soldier Profile link on the left hand Home Page after you log in or click here To Your Health New Year Brings New Tools to Quit Tobacco FALLS CHURCH, VA - The Department of Defense (DoD) and TRICARE are offering new innovative online tools to help military service members keep their New Year’s resolutions to quit tobacco. The DoD-sponsored educational campaign, Quit Tobacco - Make Everyone Proud, is expanding its interactive Web site. Users can now create a blog when they register on the site, www.ucanquit2.org, to share their experiences with family and friends and sign an electronic "I Resolve to Quit" Bulletin Board to publicly announce their resolution to become tobacco free. They will also have access to a customizable Quit Calendar after Jan. 4 to record milestones and track progress. The expanded networking capabilities allow users to share ideas, tips and advice with fellow service members, as well as family and friends. "Giving up tobacco is a challenge, but a challenge that the men and women of the military have the strength and determination to overcome. We encourage them to make 2009 the year to start a healthier lifestyle," said Captain (US Public Health Service) David Arday, MD, MPH; chairman of DoD's Alcohol and Tobacco Advisory Committee. "The online tools are there to support you in keeping your New Year's resolution," he added. Deciding to quit tobacco is the first step, but becoming tobacco free may take more than one try. On average, it takes 11 attempts before a person can quit tobacco for good. Motivation and support are key factors in giving up tobacco products. Studies show that if a person attempts to quit with a friend, they are 36 percent more likely to remain smoke free. The Web site allows service members to get the support they need to quit from family and friends, no matter where they live. Studies show that quitters who seek counseling and support increase their chances of remaining quit to 15.8 percent, as compared to only 10.8 percent for those who do not seek counseling. Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud is aimed at supporting enlisted active-duty military personnel in their efforts to quit tobacco. DoD urges service members to log on and take advantage of the Web site to increase their chances of becoming tobacco free. The new features build on the interactive support tools already available on the Web site. Service members can listen to podcasts, chat anonymously with a trained tobacco Cessation Coach, browse research articles, locate local cessation programs, calculate how much money they’ll save when they quit tobacco, and create personalized quit plans. Individuals who want to help someone they know quit tobacco can visit the Web site to find information on giving up tobacco, send motivational e-cards, and view their friend's and/or family member's progress to support them in reaching their goals. "The Bayonet" A monthly online publication of Army.TogetherWeServed.com, a commercial entity in no way affiliated, authorized or endorsed by the US Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or any of its agencies. Opinions and views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Army.TogetherWeServed.com, the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. This ATWS Newsletter is published and distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered official Army or DOD policy, regulation or doctrine. Contact your command's administration section concerning all current Army policy, regulation and doctrine issues. All photos used in this online publication are official US Department of Defense imagery and cleared for public release, unless otherwise indicated. Please send any comments, quality improvement suggestions or story ideas to: admin@army.togetherweserved.com. Maj W.T. Prater (USMC/Ret) Administrator/Editor Reunions & Get Togethers The TWS Reunions & Get Together's Forum Board is a ready-made clearing house of information and we're happy to feature any specific announcements you may have. If have reunion or get together information you'd like to have published in this newsletter let us know. Email your command/club/association reunion announcement as early as possible to: admin@army.togetherweserved.com Comments/Suggestions Please forward any comments or suggestions that you feel would further improve the website to info@army.togetherweserved.com or just reply to this newsletter. From the "Dogface Humor Board" submitted by: Merrifield, Albert (PathfinderMP), SSG Stay Connected -- Keep Your E-mail Addresses Current! There are two ways in which an old friends and Airmen can contact you via the AFTWS website: The first is via your "public" e-mail address displayed in your Personal Details on your Profile Page; and the other is by leaving a message in your Message Center Inbox. The latter triggers an advisory e-mail, sent to your "private" e-mail address to inform you that you have received a message and who it's from. Your "private" e-mail address, which is the one that TWS uses, is contained in your Account Details at the top of your Profile Page which you can modify at any time. AFTWS Members' "private" and "public" e-mail addresses are usually the same. So, please regularly log-in and update any changes to your e-mail addresses both in the Account Detail and Personal Detail sections of your Profile. Enjoyed This Newsletter? ENJOYED THIS ISSUE OF THE Bayonet? Please forward this link to other Airmen you know, your friends, and your family! http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/newsletter2/4/newsletter.html As ATWS continues to grow, so does its potential to find old buddies and new friends; as well as creating a vibrant and enjoyable Army online community representing all eras, from WW2 to present-day. Sincerely, The ATWS Administration Team http://army.togetherweserved.com
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