DMVA
Weekly Highlights
28
March 2003
Joint
Chief of Staff, COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith
1.
STATE APPROVING AGENCY IMPACTS NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.
2.
NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (NJARNG) SUPPORTS OPERATION
NOBLE EAGLE III (ONE III).
3.
STATE ACTIVE DUTY (SAD) W2s WILL BE CORRECTED BY THE NJ DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY FOR SAD EARNINGS FOR TAX YEAR 2002 BASED ON
FEDERAL MILITARY PAY REGULATIONS AND NJ STATE STATUTES.
4.
ARMY ACTIVATES FAMILY ASSISTANCE HOTLINE.
5.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS FOR THE GREATER TRENTON SYMPHONY'S FINAL
CONCERT OF THE SEASON ARE AVAILABLE.
6.
AIR NATIONAL GUARD ANNOUNCES FY03 1ST QUARTER RECRUITING AND
RETENTION AWARDS.
7.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT HAS
TEAMED UP WITH USA FREEDOM CORPS TO LAUNCH "ON THE HOME
FRONT," A NEW RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING TO SUPPORT
OUR TROOPS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL
WAYS.
8.
NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARY PROVIDES SERVICES TO STATE EMPLOYEES
ONLINE.
9.
DMVA WELCOMES MR. ERNIE RAZZANO TO ITS STAFF.
10.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, VIETNAM SERVICE, AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE
MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONIES ARE SCHEDULED.
11.
FROM OF THE OFFICE OF THE G6: "SECURE YOUR E-MAIL"
12.
DMVA PICNIC SCHEDULED FOR 27 JUNE 2003.
13.
NJ VIETNAM VETERANS' MEMORIAL AND VIETNAM ERA EDUCATIONAL
CENTER ANNOUNCES UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
14.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) CONDUCTED THEIR
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE NJ VETERANS MEMORIAL HOME AT MENLO
PARK DURING THE WEEK OF 17 MARCH.
15.
ARMORY HAPPENINGS - CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AN ARMORY
NEAR YOU.
16.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR STATE - NEW JERSEY.
17.
SOME WORDS NEVER LOSE THEIR MEANING OR RELEVANCE.
******
1.
STATE APPROVING AGENCY IMPACTS NEW JERSEY ECONOMY.
As you may know, the State Approving Authority Agency, which
is part of the Veterans Service Division Team, has the responsibility
for certifying educational and training programs for the US
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA's recent report
on the "Geographic Distribution of VA Expenditures by
State" showed that New Jerseyans received more than $29
million dollars in educational benefits during 2002. Great
job, SAA!
2.
NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (NJARNG) SUPPORTS OPERATION
NOBLE EAGLE III (ONE III). NJARNG has been tasked to support
Operation Nobel Eagle III. ONE III requires NJARNG soldiers
to provide base security to Fort Dix, Ft. Monmouth, and Picatinny
Arsenal. The 50th Main Support Battalion, D 112th FA and elements
of the 5/117th Cavalry are scheduled to provide soldiers in
support of this mission. This activation is scheduled to begin
in May 2003 for a one-year duration.
3.
STATE ACTIVE DUTY (SAD) W2s WILL BE CORRECTED BY THE NJ DEPARTMENTOF
THE TREASURY FOR SAD EARNINGS FOR TAX YEAR 2002 BASED ON FEDERAL
MILITARY PAY REGUALATIONS AND NJ STATE STATUTES. This will
adjust the gross earnings not to reflect military allowances
and require SAD members to submit a corrected 1040 (1040X).
The State pay system does not allow for military allowances.
There is a modification that will come out in the future,
but until then DMVA and the Office of Management and Budget
are working in concert to come up with a solution. W2Cs will
be distributed through the military channels down to each
and every soldier. Any questions should be forwarded to COL
Steven Bell at the Homeland Security Center of Excellence
at (509) 530-7021.
4.
ARMY ACTIVATES FAMILY ASSISTANCE HOTLINE.
The U.S. Army has established a toll-free Family Assistance
Hotline for Operation Iraqi Freedom at (800) 833-6622. The
hotline will provide referrals and information to the families
of deployed or activated soldiers. Staff will answer calls
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Emergency service will be provided
between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. EST. The hotline is
intended for use only by family members of soldiers on active
duty, as well as those in the Army National Guard and the
Army Reserve called to active duty. Additional information
on deployment issues and benefits can be accessed at http://military.com/deployment?ESRC=mr.txt.
5.
COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS FOR THE GREATER TRENTON SYMPHONY'S FINAL
CONCERT OF THE SEASON ARE AVAILABLE to our Department's employees.
The concert is being held on Sunday afternoon, 6 April 2003,
at 3:00 p.m. at the Trenton War Memorial, and is being dedicated
to the men and women of the Armed Forces. In addition to the
Star Spangled Banner and the Armed Forces Salute, the program
will also consist of musical tributes to two great figures
in American music, Marian Anderson and Duke Ellington. Please
contact Laura Branham at laura.branham@njdmava.state.nj.usor
at telephone number 609-530-6987 if you are interested in
obtaining tickets.
6. AIR NATIONAL GUARD ANNOUNCES FY03 1ST QUARTER
RECRUITING AND RETENTION AWARDS. Congratulations to the 108th
Air Refueling Wing for achieving the distinction of the Wing
with the Highest Average Accessions within Region V. Also,
congratulations go to MSgt Miguel Justiniano of the 108th
and TSgt Rebecca A. Lee of the 177th Fighter Wing for being
selected as the Recruiters with the most accessions within
Region V. Great job! Keep up the outstanding effort!
7.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT HAS
TEAMED UP WITH USA FREEDOM CORPS TO LAUNCH "ON THE HOME
FRONT," A NEW RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING TO SUPPORT
OUR TROOPS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL
WAYS. President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps
Office at the White House to foster a culture of service,
citizenship, and responsibility. DOD recommends the following
ways of sending support:
8.
NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARY PROVIDES SERVICES TO STATE EMPLOYEES
ONLINE.
Did you know that NJ's state employees could use the Research
Desk and borrow books (they can be delivered to you via interoffice
mail) from the State Library? The State Library publishes
a listing of Selected New Books each month. You can receive
this listing via e-mail by e-mailing your address at http://ppolo@njstatelib.org.
One Book New Jersey (OBNJ) is an exciting program that libraries
and their partners across the state are promoting in the Spring
of 2003. The goal is to bring people together through literature
by encouraging residents across the state to read the same
book and participate in discussions and other events centered
on that book. The four titles in this program for Spring are:
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury), Among the Hidden (Margaret
Peterson), Regarding the Fountain: A Tale, in Letters, of
Liars and Leaks, and Tacky the Penquin (Helen Lester). Visit
the State Library at their website, http://www.njstatelib.org
and see what they have to offer.
9.
DMVA WELCOMES MR. ERNIE RAZZANO TO ITS STAFF.
On Monday, 24 March 2003, Mr. Ernie Razzano began his employment
as a Health Professions Recruiter within the Division of Veterans
Healthcare Services. Mr. Razzano will be recruiting healthcare
professionals for employment at the three New Jersey Veterans
Memorial Homes. Ernie is wished the best of luck in his new
position!
10.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, VIETNAM SERVICE, AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE
MEDAL PRESENTATION CEREMONIES ARE SCHEDULED.
10
April - 1100 hrs Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious
Service Medal
National Guard Training Center
Building 35
Sea Girt, NJ
11.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE G-6: "SECURE YOUR E-MAIL."
The Department of Defense and the Army policy for official
email is that it will not be forwarded outside of federal
government sponsored email systems. The Reserve Component
Automation System (RCAS) and the Army Knowledge Online (AKO)
email systems are certified for "sensitive but unclassified"
information. Forwarding email outside of these systems to
commercial email makes it subject to compromise. Before AKO
email was available, official mail could not be read/sent
unless you could gain access to the network. The AKO email
makes official email available from any Internet connection.
Remember the old World War II phrase "Loose Lips Sink
Ships?" Loose email (or other information sources) can
violate operations security and put our personnel in danger.
Think about where the information may end up before you click
that send button.
12.
DMVA PICNIC SCHEDULED FOR 27 JUNE 2003.
This year's picnic will be held at the John F. Recreational
Park Building, 6045 Doughboy Loop, Fort Dix from 1200-1700
hours. Cost will be $10 for adults and $5.00 for children
under 12. Reservations must be made by 20 June 2003.
13.
NJ VIETNAM VETERANS' MEMORIAL AND VIETNAM ERA EDUCATIONAL
CENTER ANNOUNCES UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
29
March 1:00 pm |
Devil
Doc: A Navy Corpsman in Vietnam
A slide show and discussion presented by Albert Naar (USN/USMC,
1965-1969, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Medical Battalion,
Phu Bai and Quang Tri) |
26
April 1:00 pm |
Thirteen
Months, Thirteen Stories, One Tour |
7
May 11:00 am |
Remembrance
Day Ceremony |
10
May 1:00 pm |
Not
at Ease: Photographs of America’s Continuing Engagement
with the Vietnam War |
26
May 11:00 am |
Memorial
Day Ceremony |
14
June 1:00 pm |
Unknown
Soldier |
14.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) CONDUCTED THEIR
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE NJ VETERANS MEMORIAL HOME AT MENLO
PARK DURING THE WEEK OF 17 MARCH. The facility was 100% in
compliance with VA standards and the inspection team praised
the staff on their accomplishments. This guarantees that the
Menlo Park facility will continue to receive VA per diem reimbursement,
which amounts to several million dollars each year.
15.
ARMORY HAPPENINGS - CHECK TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AN ARMORY
NEAR YOU.
28
Mar |
Circus |
Washington
Armory |
30
Mar |
NASCAR
Collectibles Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
2
Apr |
Circus |
Woodbridge
Armory |
2-6
Apr |
Antique
Show & Sale |
Morristown
Armory |
12
Apr |
Medieval
Festival |
Washington
Armory |
19 Apr |
Wrestling |
Cherry
Hill Armory |
23-27
Apr |
Ball
& Dinner Dance |
Morristown
Armory |
28
Apr -7 May |
Carpet
& Furniture Show |
Morristown
Armory |
16.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR STATE - NEW JERSEY.
The State Seal. Pierre Eugene du Simitiere designed the state
seal in May of 1777. The three plows in the shield honor the
state's agricultural tradition. The helmet above the shield
faces forward, an attitude denoting sovereignty and particularly
fitting for one of the first governments created under the
notion that the state itself is the sovereign. The crest above
the helmet is a horse's head. The supporting female figures
are Liberty and Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain, symbolizing
abundance. Liberty carries the liberty cap on her staff. Ceres
holds a cornucopia filled with harvested produce. Below them
is a scroll bearing the motto "Liberty and Prosperity"
and the year of statehood, 1776.
17. SOME WORDS NEVER LOSE THEIR MEANING OR
RELEVANCE.
"These
are the times that try men's souls.
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this
crisis,
Shrink from service to their country.
But those who stand for it now
Deserve the love and thanks of every man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered."
~~Thomas
Paine, December 23, 1776~~
(Ordered
read to all the troops by General George Washington before
crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day.)
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