Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp Scholarship

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1 M AKING A DIFFERENCE IN WALKER, MI FEBRUARY 201 Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp Scholarship NASA Space Camp ( is a place of learning where kids come together for a journey they will never forget. For many, it is a lifechanging event helping them make decisions about their educational and vocational careers. This extraordinary adventure teaches youth about astronauts and space travel and so much more. They learn leadership, and they develop bonds of friendship that can last a lifetime. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) created a Space Camp scholarship program in memory of one of America s bright young Military Children, Bernard Curtis Brown II. Bernard, the 11-year old son of Chief Petty Officer and Mrs. Bernard Curtis Brown, died tragically on September 11, 2001, when the hijacked airliner on which he was a passenger crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. At the time, Bernard was on his way to California to represent his school at a National Geographic event. Bernard s parents agreed to allow the MCEC to honor Bernard s memory with this scholarship to provide other military-connected children with the opportunity to experience the worlds of science and learning, and share their experiences of service to the nation, as proud members of Military Families. For more information and to apply for this scholarship: Military Child Education Coalition Attn: Space Camp, 909 Mountain Lion Circle, Harker Heights, TX (254) IN THIS ISSUE: Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp Scholarship... 1 Kent County DHS Resource Fair... 2 Military and Dependent ID Cards... 2 Veterans Employment Specialist at ASCC.. 2 Hiring Our Heroes Career Fairs... 2 Two New Military Kids Kits... FREE Tutoring... DeCa Scholarships for Military Children.. DoD Ending Paper Checks... 4 Did you know?... 4 What is Space-A?... 4 Celebrate Black History Month... 4 Top Jobs from Top Employers... 5 VA Gives Veterans Money to Pay for Elder Care Services at Home... 5 ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION: Army Strong Community Center Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Army Reserve Center 870 Three Mile Road NW Walker, MI 4954 TROY KLINGE Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: x169 [email protected] DEBRA UNSELD Contract Customer Support Coordinator Office: x166 [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: Monday Friday, 8am 5pm NOTE! Closed 18 February in observance of Presidents Day. The information presented in this newsletter is for informational awareness only and does not represent endorsement, sponsorship, recommendation, or promotion of any commercial event(s), commercial names or brands by the editors of this Newsletter, the Department of Defense, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserve, and the federal government. Usage of commercial or trade mark names is for identification purposes only. Army Strong Community Center (ASCC) is an Army Reserve Family Program WALKER ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 201 PAGE 1

2 Kent County DHS Resource Fair for Seniors, Disabled & Veterans 14 MARCH 201 1PM TO 2:0PM 121 FRANKLIN GRAND RAPIDS, MI For more information contact Lisa Orr at or the Army Strong Community Center at Ext 166 or 169. Military and Dependent Identification Cards The Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) is fully operational at the Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Army Reserve Center. Appointments are required for this service, and may be scheduled through the ASCC for Tuesday and Thursday starting at 8:0am and ending at :0pm. ID cards may be issued for Military Members, Retirees, Contractors, Dependents, and 100% Disabled Veterans. It also allows for the updating of information in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS). Contact the ASCC for more information. Veterans Employment Specialist at the ASCC EVERY FRIDAY 9AM-NOON AND 1-5PM Dave Marin, Veterans Employment Specialist from the State of Michigan, is now on location every Friday at the Walker ASCC to assist Veterans in finding employment in the area. Please contact Dave Marin at: (616) ext.172 (616) You may also contact ASCC Customer Support Coordinators Troy Klinge or Debra Unseld to schedule an appointment. Hiring Our Heroes Career Fairs FREE OF CHARGE for Job Seekers and Employers Join us for job fairs for Veterans, active duty Military Members, National Guard, Reserve Members and Military Spouses. Lake Michigan College 15 FEBRUARY AM 2PM 2755 E. NAPIER AVENUE BENTON HARBOR, MI Ford Community and Performing Arts Center 2 APRIL AM 2PM MICHIGAN AVENUE DEARBORN, MI Employers and job seekers must register at HOH.Greatjob.net. Walk-ins are welcome but space is not guaranteed unless you register. For registration questions, please contact [email protected] or call OREGON WALKER BREVARD CITY ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY OCTOBER NOVEMBER PAGE PAGE 42

3 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: TALK (8255) (press 1 for Veterans Suicide Hotline) or go to National Military Family Association is Offering Two New Military Kids Kits Military Family.org has two new kits Military Kids toolkit and Military Teens toolkit which can be ordered at no cost. These two kits are geared toward elementary school-age military children 6 to 11 years old. This is the second in a series from the National Military Family Association to give people in military kids lives - teachers, school counselors, coaches, community leaders, religious leaders, neighbors, Family friends, or relatives - a way to help them manage stress and affirm the positive aspects of military life. For more information please visit DeCa Scholarships for Military Children Applications for the 201 Scholarships for Military Children Program are now available at commissaries worldwide, and also online at and The scholarship program awards at least $1,500 at each commissary. To be eligible to apply for a scholarship, the student must be a dependent, unmarried child, younger than 21 (or 2, if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university) of a Service Member on active duty, reservist, guardsman, retiree or survivor of a Military Member who died while on active duty, or survivor of a retiree. Students with questions about the scholarship program application can call Scholarship Managers at FREE Tutoring Available for Children of Deployed National Guard & Reservists, Wounded Warriors and Fallen Heroes of OIF/OEF/OND *Wounded Warriors must have at least 0% Service -Connected Disability Tutoring services are provided by Professional Tutors of America, Inc. through a grant facilitated by Our Military Kids, Inc. while funding is available (up to $500 per child). Customized One-to-One Tutoring Direct to Your Home or Local Library Convenient Scheduling, Available 7 Days a Week Tutoring in All Subjects, including Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Study Skills For more information please contact: Professional Tutors of America 50 E. Birch Street, Suite 108, Brea, CA (714) OREGON WALKER CITY ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY NOVEMBER PAGE PAGE

4 What is Space-A? Space-A is short for space available travel on government owned or contracted aircraft. Under the Space-A program, eligible passengers can fill unused seats on DoD owned or contracted aircraft once all of the duty passengers have been accommodated. With patience and flexibility, you can travel the world very inexpensively. DoD Ending Paper Checks The Department of Defense (DoD) will no longer issue paper paychecks as of March 1, 201. On that date, electronic funds transfer for military pay will become mandatory for all Servicemembers, Retirees and DoD civilians. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is encouraging personnel to set up a direct deposit checking or savings account ahead of the March 1 deadline. About 99% of DFAS customers already receive their pay by direct deposit. For more information, visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website at Did you know? If you want to file your DD Form 214 / Discharge papers with your local Town / City Clerk or Tax Assessor s Office, you must request an original certified copy from your branch of service. The Michigan Legislature does not recognize e-filed DD214s as true, certified copies, and as such Clerk and Assessors cannot accept them. Town/City Clerks and Assessors offices cannot accept any DD214 with an e-signature, and/or that has been ed to the Military Member. Success with Space-A travel depends on flexibility and good timing. Since Space-A passengers travel only after all duty passengers and air cargo have been accommodated, there is no guarantee that a flight will have enough seats for every potential customer. Space-A passengers should be prepared with sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of lodging and alternative transportation should seats not be available. Remember; space available travel is just that space that is available only after all mission requirements are fulfilled. * ** * There is no guarantee ** * * The following are eligible for Space A travel: Members of the Uniformed Services and their Family Members Foreign exchange Service Members on permanent duty with the DoD Retired members of the Uniformed Services and their Family Members Members of the Reserve Components Civilian employees of the DoD stationed overseas and their Families American Red Cross personnel serving overseas with the U.S. Military DoD Dependent School (DoDDS) teachers and their Family Members For more information please visit Celebrate Black History Month Visit these web sites for military history, stories and facts For support 24/7, 65 days a year, contact the Outreach & Support Call Center at OREGON WALKER BREVARD CITY ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY OCTOBER NOVEMBER PAGE PAGE 4

5 VA Gives Veterans Money to Pay for Elder Care Services at Home Top Jobs from Top Employers MilitaryFriendly.com now delivers jobs at more than 150 Military Friendly Employers! Victory Media, a Veteran-owned business founded in 2001, has led the industry as a ratings entity for over a decade, surveying tens of thousands of institutions and adjudicating lists that capture best practices in recruitment and retention of military personnel as civilian employees, students and franchisees. In 200, Victory Media brought the notion of hiring military talent to a new level by conducting a data-driven survey of the Fortune 1000 s military recruitment practices and publishing the first Military Friendly Employers list. The survey-driven list of Top Military Friendly Employers has been published every year since. The 201 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list includes companies with over $500 million in revenue that exhibit leading practices for military recruitment and retention. These employers represent the top tier of companies with leading employment solutions for military service members and spouses. GET STARTED! Just follow the steps below to create your own custom list of employers and find your dream job. You can rest assured you re starting your career search with a pre-screened, vetted list of top employers who are vying for military talent. 1. Visit 2. Use the filters to make a custom list of employers.. Check out the jobs at each employer. 4. Apply online. 5. Save your list and share it with friends. Under certain conditions, about % of all seniors in this country could qualify for up to $2,019 a month in additional income from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This money can be used to pay just about anyone to provide elder care services at home. As an example, these funds can be used to pay children, other relatives, friends, home care companies, or domestic workers. Adequate documentation and evidence must be provided in order to receive money from VA for these services, particularly the services provided by Family Members or other non-professional providers. The National Care Planning Council furnishes detailed instructions and training to those practitioners who wish to help Veteran households receive this valuable source of revenue to pay for home care. This little-known source of money for paying long-term care costs is known as Veterans Pension and is available to Veterans who served on active duty during a period of war, or to the single surviving spouses of these Veterans. Pension is also known popularly as the aid and attendance benefit. Of approximately 5 million Americans age 65 and older in this country, about 11.5 million are Veterans who served during a period of war or their surviving spouses. This represents about % of the senior population. The Pension benefit has an income and an asset test. Veteran households with income or assets above the test levels will not qualify for the benefit. Fortunately, there are special provisions that allow under certain circumstances individuals who would normally fail the tests to still qualify. VA typically does not tell potential applicants about the special provisions. A practitioner who understands how to obtain the aid and attendance benefit can help potential applicants receive the benefit even when they have been told by VA that they do not qualify. Pension income is often used to pay costs of long-term care such as home care, assisted living or nursing home care. That's because the nature of these expenditures allows potential applicants for the aid and attendance benefit to meet the special provisions of the income test. Over the past months the National Care Planning Council has received requests from Veterans Families all over the country who are trying to find help with their loved ones long-term care needs. Many of these Veterans households would likely qualify for the aid and attendance benefit mentioned above. As a result of these inquiries, the council wants to train Veterans benefits consultants to help Veterans obtain their benefits and to handle these requests. OREGON WALKER BREVARD CITY ARMY STRONG COMMUNITY CENTER NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY OCTOBER NOVEMBER PAGE PAGE 45