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April 28, 2009


1. Association Testifies at Appropriation Hearing


2. Five States Pass Compact in the Month of the Military Child!


3. Military OneSource Expands Counseling Sessions


4. Post 9/11 GI Bill Applications Accepted


5. New VA and SG Positions


6. Swine Flu Information for Military Families


7. Scholarships for Military Children and Spouses


8. Last Week to Apply for Free Training in the Personal Finance Profession




1. Association Testifies at Appropriation Hearing:
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Chet Edwards
(D-17th/TX), held a hearing on Thursday, April 23rd to listen to
several agencies and organizations. The subcommittee regularly holds
hearings to listen to groups that want to support certain
appropriations for the 2010 appropriations process. Barbara Cohoon,
Deputy Director of Government Relations for the National Military
Family Association joined other organizations such as Friends of
Veterans Affairs (FOVA), National Association for Uniformed Services
(NAUS), and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to testify
on behalf of service members of all components, retirees, their
families, and survivors.

Dr. Cohoon highlighted several of the Association's top priorities:
increased funding for childcare services, alternative housing
arrangements for veterans, and new or expanded Commissaries in areas
experiencing growth due to BRAC. In her statement, she stressed the
need for Congress to fully fund the effort of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Defense to make medical records easier to transfer
between the two agencies. Additionally, Ms. Cohoon asked the
subcommittee to appropriate 100 million in funding to upgrade schools
in overseas locations. Other issues were included in the full written
testimony which can be found on our website at www.nmfa.org/testimonies.


Representative Zach Wamp (R-3rd/TN) raised a question from his
constituents about assisting military families. He extended an
invitation to the National Military Family Association to visit his
office to discuss why people may be prohibited from helping military
families and what to do about it. Ms. Cohoon spoke of programs and ways
that people can get in contact with organizations that support service
members and their families. Representative Wamp also inquired about the
state of military families related to the economy and whether this
could be related to the increase in suicide rates in service members.
Ms. Cohoon made the point that if a service member is thinking about
money problems back home, he or she may not be fully focused on doing
their job. In response to the question about suicide rates, Ms. Cohoon
expressed the importance of the community being educated on signs and
symptoms of mental health problems. She also stated that there is a
shortage of mental health providers that could address these issues
early on.


National Military Family Association thanks the Subcommittee for the
opportunity to testify at the hearing and for their constant attention
to the well-being of military families.


2. Five States Pass Compact in the Month of the Military Child!: Alaska,
Indiana, Maryland, Texas, and Washington all found a great way to say
"thank you" to military children in the Month of the Military Child.
Each State passed the Interstate Compacton Educational Opportunityfor Military Children and
has sent the legislation to their respective Governors. Indiana
Governor Mitch Daniels is the first from these States to sign the bill
into law, making Indiana the 15th State to enact the Compact. Alabama
and Hawaii are close to passing the legislation as well. This is
tremendous news for our military families!


National Military Family Association has worked hard to help move
the Compact forward in these States. In addition to submitting
testimony and writing letters of support, Candace Wheeler, Deputy
Director for Government Relations, served as the Chair of the Maryland
Task Force for the Compact and testified in support of both the House
and Senate bills. Liz Larson, our new Western Region Field Coordinator,
testified twice in Texas. Dick Loney, a volunteer for our Association,
helped push the bill forward in Indiana by briefing the Governor's
Chief of Staff and his State Senator on the Compact, contacting members
of the committees, and testifying in support of the bill. He was
present when Governor Daniels signed the legislation. Our Association
Representative Paula Pawlowski helped support the bill in Alaska by
educating her Congressman and others on the Compact.


We are proud of our contribution to the Compact's progress in these
States. Wecongratulate the Department of Defense Regional State
Liaisons for all of their hard work, as well as others who have
contributed to this success. Together, we are truly making a difference
in the lives of our military families!


3. Military OneSource Expands Counseling Sessions:
Military OneSource announced an increase in the number of nonmedical
counseling sessions it will now offer to service members, Guard and
Reserve members, and their families. As of April 1, 2009, eligible
service members and their families may now receive 12 sessions per
person, per issue, and per counselor within 120 days. The new
12-session limit applies to face-to-face, short-term solution-focused
telephonic consultations, and online consultations. Previously Military
OneSource allowed 6 sessions. For those who are currently enrolled, but
began Military OneSource nonmedical counseling sessions prior to April
1st, your counselor must contact Military OneSource to request the
additional 6 sessions. If you have finished the 6 sessions, you may
contact Military OneSource to get reassessed for the additional 6
sessions.


According to Military OneSource, additional sessions will be granted
on a case-by-case basis by them. If you need counseling for a different
issue, you must call Military OneSource and speak with a consultant to
get another referral for a different counselor. You can only see a
counselor for a maximum number of 12 sessions.


For more information, call (800) 342-9647 or go to: www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx.


4. Post 9/11 GI Bill Applications Accepted:
Starting May 1, 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will
begin accepting applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The application
form is available online.


The form requires that individuals currently eligible for another
education benefit make an irrevocable election from their existing
program to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Typically individuals who are
eligible for more than one benefit may use a combined total of 48
months of entitlement. Therefore, for those individuals eligible for
the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program, please be advised that if you
have entitlement remaining under the MGIB, the number of months of
Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement you will be eligible for will be equal to
the number of months remaining under MGIB. However, if you exhaust all
of your MGIB entitlement, then you may be entitled to a maximum of 12
additional months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.


Starting May 1, 2009 VA will begin processing applications for
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and you will receive a letter explaining
VA's decision regarding your eligibility for the program. Payments for
the Post-9/11 GI Bill will not be processed until August 1, 2009.


Go to www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-1990-ARE.pdf to access the application form which includes instructions for submitting completed applications.


(Source: http://www.gibill.va.gov/)


5. New VA and SG Positions:
The U.S. Senate confirmed Ladda Tammy Duckworth to be Assistant
Secretary of Veterans Affairs on April 22, 2009. She will direct the
Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Public Affairs and
Intergovernmental Communications, oversee their public affairs
operations, and homeless veterans' programs. She is the former Director
of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and serves as a Major in
the Illinois Army National Guard. She was injured in 2004 while serving
in Iraq as a helicopter pilot.


President Barack Obama nominated Major General (Dr.) Charles Bruce
Green to become the 20th Air Force Surgeon General. Maj Gen Green is
currently the Air Force Deputy Surgeon General. His appointment is
pending approval by the U.S. Senate. For Maj Gen Green's biography, go
to: www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5613.


(Source: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1650 and http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123145140)


6. Swine Flu Information for Military Families:
National Military Family Association, along with other Associations,
received an advisory from the Under Secretary of Health for the
Department of Veterans Affairs, Michael J. Kussman, MD, which contained
important information about the swine flu. For full details, see www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=swine_flu.


7. Scholarships for Military Children and Spouses:
ThanksUSA is planning to give 500 deserving military dependents
(children age 24 and under or spouses) $3,000 scholarships to attend
school this fall. Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis
of financial need, academic record, demonstrated leadership,
participation in school and community activities, and a goal statement.
Preference will be given to children or spouses of service personnel
killed or injured during active duty.


To be eligible for these scholarships you must be a dependent child
or spouse of an active-duty service member (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps or Coast Guard). Visit the ThanksUSA Scholarship website for further eligibility details.


The scholarship application deadline for the 2009 fall-term is May
15, 2009, or until 10,000 applications are received (whichever occurs
first). If 10,000 applications are received before May 15, 2009, then a
notice will be posted on the ThanksUSA home page.


(Source http://www.thanksusa.org/main/scholarships.html)


8. Last Week to Apply for Free Training in the Personal Finance Profession: National
Military Family Association, in association with the Association for
Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE) and Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation is
accepting applications for the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse
Accredited Financial Counselor® Fellowship. This program will provide
up to 200 military spouses with the education necessary to enter the
financial counseling career field.


The fellowship covers the costs associated with completing
Accredited Financial Counselor® training and testing. Upon successful
completion of the program and required practicum, the participant will
be awarded the Accredited Financial Counselor® designation from AFCPE®.


Many employers such as credit unions, financial aid offices, and
community housing agencies need well-trained, ethical, and caring
financial counselors to meet the increasing demand for financial
counseling services. Military spouses can fill this need while building
a rewarding career that is flexible to the demands of the military
family lifestyle.


Applications are only accepted online at www.nmfa.org/fellowship and must be received by midnight EDT April 30, 2009.


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