Changes in 2011

Several things that may impact our brothers and sisters still in uniform!

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

With the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell", service members can expect 2011 to be the first year gays can serve openly in uniform. The precise timeline remains unclear, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signaled that preparations for the change will take about a year. Be ready for a political battle between Pentagon leaders and activists for the gay community as
they wrangle over implementation details and the pace of change. Don't expect any new barrack construction projects for gay troops. But 2011 will probably be filled with new training session on how to work alongside gay troops and how commanders should respond to potential problems. Also, expect new reminders on the military's rules against public displays of affection for all troops, gay and straight.

Changes On Subs

Two changes will affect the Navy's undersea warriors in the upcoming year: female shipmates and no smoking. The Navy's first female submariners, now enrolled in the officer training pipeline, will begin arriving in the fleet at the end of 2011. They will join the ballistic-missile subs Wyoming and Maine and guided-missile subs Georgia and Ohio. Both blue and gold crews will receive two female officers, along with a female supply lieutenant who's there to serve as a role model. There are 21
women in training. Two more subs will be integrated in 2012, followed by one each year until 2015, according to the plan. There are no plans to integrate the more cramped attack subs, and the Navy is studying ways to integrate the enlisted ranks.
Another change will effect Jan. 1: The smoking light extinguishes across the sub fleet at the stroke of midnight.

Next SECDEF

The DoD is due for a major shake-up in 2011 with the retirement of Defense Secretary Robert Gates. On the job since 2006, before Iraq the surge of troops in Iraq, Gates said he plans to retire in 2011. That could have a big impact on Pentagon budgets, since Gates was among the strongest advocates for cutting some big weapons systems like the Air Force's F-22 and the Army's Future Combat Systems. For troops, the biggest may be whether Gates sticks around long enough to push for health care reform. Gates famously said the military's health care costs are "eating us alive", and some fear that will mean fees for Tricare beneficiaries. It's unclear whether Gates retire before the end of the surge in Afghanistan and controversial drawdown the White House promised for July.

Hill Changes

The 2010 congressional are a career-ender for many moderate to conservative House Democrats who had spent political their careers on military issues. In an election turn control of the House over to Republicans, the most prominent
among the defeated was 17-term Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the House Armed Services Committee chairman, who had fought for improvements to professional military education and family support programs — and balked at any reductions in the size of the military. Five of the six most-senior Democrats on Skelton's committee were also defeated, as were 13 of 18 Democrats on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. However, the freshman class of incoming representatives, mostly Republicans include 18 veterans, nine of whom served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Information Via AFVN American Forces Vietnam Network http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFVN/message/62681

Veterans Day a Day to Remember

All Americans remember and appreciate those who have served on active duty and thank them for their sacrifice and dedication to preserving our freedom. Veterans Day is an opportunity to commemorate the contributions of living veterans and is a day we fly the flag at full mast. Across the land, the grounds of virtually every state capital and county courthouse host monuments, memorials and plaques honoring those who served. They date back as far as the American Revolution and as recent as Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a nation, it is essential that we keep this date of November 11 as the one specifically reserved for the American people to demonstrate recognition in public or in private for the 23.8 million veterans living today.

Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have fully joined the ranks of America’s veterans, VFW generations who span WWI to the present day. We thank each and every one of you!

Liberty Mutual Quote For Hope

Military Benefit Association members are eligible to participate in the Liberty Mutual Quote for Hope campaign running September 1 through November 30, 2010.
Partnering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Liberty Mutual will contribute $5 to the fight against breast cancer for every auto, home and renters insurance quote completed. Visit www.libertymutual.com/qfh-mba or call 1-888-652-2145.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Foundation is the world’s largest breast cancer organization and the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Who Should You Trust ?

Who Should You Trust?
(For Supplemental Life Insurance)

It seems there is some confusion over the choices military members have if they want life insurance in addition to the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI). First of all, don’t let anyone tell you how much life insurance you need. No one knows your unique set of circumstances better than you do.

If you decide to buy life insurance, go with a reputable association sponsoring group term life insurance. The premium you are quoted will be the premium you will pay, providing your application is approved. Beware of a “bait and switch” offer where you are quoted very attractive premiums, but required to complete an extensive medical questionnaire. Consider this from Financial Web http://www.finweb.com/:

“When you first hear the terms and rates for the best term life insurance, the prices advertised are extremely low, generally speaking. The rates quoted in these ads are generally the preferred plus rates – for the customers in the best health.

“To get these rates, you must be in excellent health, not smoke or use tobacco, have no history of substance or alcohol abuse, be within the average weight category (not obese), have average (not high) blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

“The majority of people who get life insurance do not qualify for preferred plus rates, so when you compare rates, make sure you’re comparing the actual rate for which you qualify.”

Also, make sure you’re not penalized with a higher premium or no payout because you are in the military or have deployment orders. Good supplemental insurance for the military should not have clauses that limit payout for members on flight duty or when death occurs in an area of conflict.

Remember, whether or not you think you need additional life insurance now, you should have it prior to leaving the military. When you separate, your SGLI will terminate and you will be offered Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Compare the cost of VGLI coverage with your association-sponsored insurance. Chances are you can save money and have more benefit options available to you through the association. For more information on association-sponsored life insurance, contact 877-MBA-1020.

The Story and Origins of 'TAPS'

In 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern. Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son’s uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as “TAPS” that is used at all military funerals. In case you are interested, these are the words to “TAPS”:
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh.

(Via http://www.nefla.com/military/stories.html)

Let Military Benefit Association help you 'strike' the right financial balance!

Keeping the Right Financial Balance Can Be 'Tricky'. Let MBA Help You Strike That Balance.

Check out the New Electronic Application

Military Benefit Association now offers a quick and easy online electronic application.

This exciting new application is available for active/retired Military (Term 90 ) and also Veterans (non-retired)(Veterans Patriot Term).

Our goal is to make the application process as straightforward and convenient as possible. The automated application uses advanced cryptography to protect your personal information. A virtual agent will guide you through the application process and upon completion you will be asked to review and electronically sign your forms. You will then be given the opportunity to print your documents for your records.

Visit www.militarybenefit.org to check availability in your state.
*Eligibility for coverage requires applicants to be under age 62 on the coverage effective date.

If you would like more information about MBA, our insurance programs and our member benefits, please visit our website or call us toll free at 1-800-336-0100

Check Out Some Of Our' Lift The Spirit Contest' Entry Ideas

We thought it would be a neat idea to share some of our ‘Lift The Spirit’ contest entry ideas. We had some great entries, here’s some of them;

1) A printed calendar with pictures of my husband who is deployed and my children at home so each can keep a countdown of their re-union together. (This is a great morale booster)
2) A pre-paid phone card so my deployed spouse/father can call home easier to our family/son (This can really help lift the spirits of everyone)
3) A copy of a special movie we always watch together and quote incessantly! Also his favorite homemade cookies. (From a friend to remind him of home)
4) Gather my family together with recordable greeting cards so each family member can record a personal message/funny story/words of encouragement . Glue recent photos of family members in the cards. (Gives the deployed soldier fond memories of home. We loved this idea)
5) A special cake to tell him/her how proud we are and that we are always thinking of him. (This was one of our winners and we had the ’ WireACake’ company send a cake to Afghanistan)

IRS Drops and Gives You Ten…Military Tax Tips

IRS Drops and Gives You Ten…Military Tax Tips

YES, it's that time of year again! It's Tax Season! With the exception of those serving in combat zones or stationed outside the U.S, most military service members and their families must file taxes by the deadline of April 15th 2010.

Here are 10 IRS tax tips military members can keep in mind to help with filing a tax return.

1. Moving Expenses If you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and you move because of a permanent change of station, you can deduct the reasonable unreimbursed expenses of moving you and members of your household.

2. Combat Pay If you serve in a combat zone as an enlisted person or as a warrant officer for any part of a month, all your military pay received for military service that month is not taxable. For officers, the monthly exclusion is capped at the highest enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay received.

3. Extension of Deadlines The time for taking care of certain tax matters can be postponed. The deadline for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims for refund, and taking other actions with the IRS is automatically extended for qualifying members of the military.

4. Uniform Cost and Upkeep If military regulations prohibit you from wearing certain uniforms when off duty, you can deduct the cost and upkeep of those uniforms, but you must reduce your expenses by any allowance or reimbursement you receive.

5. Joint Returns Generally, joint returns must be signed by both spouses. However, when one spouse may not be available due to military duty, a power of attorney may be used to file a joint return.

6. Travel to Reserve Duty If you are a member of the US Armed Forces Reserves, you can deduct unreimbursed travel expenses for traveling more than 100 miles away from home to perform your reserve duties.

7. ROTC Students Subsistence allowances paid to ROTC students participating in advanced training are not taxable. However, active duty pay – such as pay received during summer advanced camp – is taxable.

8. Transitioning Back to Civilian Life You may be able to deduct some costs you incur while looking for a new job. Expenses may include travel, resume preparation fees, and outplacement agency fees. Moving expenses may be deductible if your move is closely related to the start of work at a new job location, and you meet certain tests.

9. Tax Help Most military installations offer free tax filing and preparation assistance during the filing season.

10. Tax Information IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, summarizes many important military-related tax topics. Publication 3 is available for download at IRS.gov or may be ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

All information in this article is based on information supplied by the IRS in the Armed Forces Tax Guide.

Hope for Haiti Telethon Hosted By George Clooney

The Hope for Haiti telethon, to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake is being organized by Hollywood star George Clooney. The telethon will air live on nearly all major television networks on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. central time. Networks airing the concert include ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, HBO and MTV.
George Clooney will be hosting the show from Los Angeles and Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean will co-host the show from New York. CNN’s Anderson Cooper will broadcast live from Haiti during the event. Also Twilight star Robert Pattinson has signed on to present from London, UK. Other stars appearing will be Taylor Swift, Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Sandra Bullock and Shakira.
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt may possibly be seen together again as both have signed on to present the Hope for Haiti concert.
It is still possible that concert organizers will be able to sign-up the rest of the Twilight trio –Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner – to hopefully attract younger viewers.

Here's some simple ways to help lower your heating bill through the winter months

Did you know that heating could be 50% of your winter bills? Simple ways to help lower your heating bill through winter months

Heating can account for almost 50% of the average family’s winter energy bill. Make sure that your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance yearly. Set your thermostat to a comfortable 68 degrees. When going away for extended periods make sure to turn off the heat. Open your shades and drapes to let the daytime sun in, but be sure to close them at night. Move furniture away from outside walls. Close all heating vents in rooms not in use such as attic, basement, spare bedrooms etc. You can also add draft-excluders to your doors and windows where possible and wear warm clothes indoors.