February 3, 2012 – American Forces Press Service

President Barack Obama today continued his commitment to improving employment among veterans by introducing an initiative to hire them as the country’s first responders.

“In my State of the Union address, I proposed a new initiative called the Veterans Jobs Corps to put veterans back to work protecting and rebuilding America,” he said. “And today, we’re laying out the details of this proposal.”

Speaking at a fire station here to veterans, firefighters, police officers and national park employees, Obama shared the venue’s significance before his remarks.

“This is a fire station that holds some special significance for our country,” he explained. “On September 11th, the firefighters of this house were among the first to respond to the attack on the Pentagon.

“You guys answered this nation’s call during its hour of need,” Obama added. “And in the years that followed, as Americans went to war, some of you answered that call, as well.”

Read the full article.

February 3, 2012 – American Forces Press Service

As service members begin preparing for the annual tax season, they may want to consider a new savings plan designed for young people, a Defense Department tax official said today.

Service members and their dependents who earn less income today than they expect to earn in the future, such as those in junior ranks who look forward to getting promoted to higher grades, should consider investing in the Thrift Savings Plan’s new Roth option, said Army Lt. Col. Evan Stone, director of the Armed Forces Tax Council.
“The Roth TSP is a good option for service members who are paying less tax now than they expect to pay later,” Stone said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

The traditional Thrift Savings Plan defers taxes on earned income until the money is withdrawn, Stone explained. The Roth option allows a member to contribute after-tax dollars that grow tax free and are not taxed upon withdrawal, he said.

Read the full article.

You are invited to attend the Certificate for Veteran Service Providers Conference presented by Operation College Promise. The CVSP Conference will be held at the Harris Alumni Center on the UNC Charlotte campus, from March 6 to 8.
Operation College Promise is a national non-profit group that focuses on developing veteran student support services at institutions of higher education. The participants range from university presidents to student affairs staff that work directly with veterans and service-members, or those who wish to develop those services on their campus. Because of the huge growth in the presence of these students on college campuses, many colleges and universities want to develop better resources and services to ensure these students succeed in their transitions and degree completion.
The conference includes modules such as information about the dynamic new GI Bill, developing Student Veteran Organizations, training on PTSD and TBI, and will include presentations from:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Director of North Carolina’s State Approving Agency
• The Wounded Warrior Project
• The NC National Guard Education Services Officer
• The President of SOC
• The American Council on Education

(The full agenda can be found here: http://www.operationpromiseforservicemembers.com/CVSP_March_2012_Agenda.html)

Thanks to generous support from UNC President Tom Ross, NCCCS President Scott Rawls, and the Aurora Foundation the conference registration is being offered at a discount, so please take advantage of this opportunity. So far the seats are filling with representatives from Defense Agencies, Non-Profit Organizations, UNC campuses, NCCCS campuses, Private NC institutions, and other organizations from outside of the state. We hope that we will see veterans representatives from our entire state join us in Charlotte for the conference and continue our work setting a high standard of veteran support services across the North Carolina.
If you have any questions regarding the conference please contact me at any time. Also, please find attached the official invitation from Operation College Promise. Thank you, and we’ll see you in Charlotte.

  Charlotte_CVSP_Invite.pdf (1.6 MiB, 3 hits)

This is a 12 hour class that  meets from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Two sessions will be offered, as follows (choose one):  January 30-31 (Monday and Tuesday) or  March 15-16 (Thursday and Friday)

All classes held at Western Wake Campus,  Room 110
3434 Kildaire Farms Road, Cary, NC 27518

  Career_Planning_for_Veterans_color.pdf (230.8 KiB, 5 hits)

February 2, 2012 – American Forces Press Service

The deadline is swiftly approaching for the Fisher House Foundation’s 2012 Scholarships for Military Children Program, conducted at military commissaries worldwide.

Applications must be completed and delivered – not postmarked, but delivered – to a commissary by close of business Feb. 24, according to an agency release. People can pick up applications at their local commissary or download it from the scholarship program’s website.

A minimum of one $1,500 scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location where applications are received. The Defense Commissary Agency operates nearly 250 commissaries on military installations around the world, according to its website.

The program is open to currently enrolled or college-bound children of active duty, reserve or retired military commissary customers.

Read the full article.