Family News

February 2010

Welcome to the Family News—the monthly newsletter from Army Community Service (ACS) and ArmyOneSource.com, the Army's most comprehensive portal for family members.

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: Military Saves Week Free Tax Filing through MOS/Tax Law Changes/Combat Zone Tax Errors American Red Cross's Service to the Armed Forces Casualty Assistance Program Veterans Owed 'Stop-Loss' Special Payment Must Apply to Receive It DoD Trains Thousands to Help Millions with Registration to Vote Soldiers and Families Could Face Cuts in Base Services State of Virginia Program Reaches Out to Veterans Who Need Help Massachusetts Restores Funding for Veterans Clinics TRICARE Introduces New Benefit Military Pathways Helps Soldiers and Families with Mental Health/Alcohol Issues Toolkit Helps Answer Service Members' Healthcare Questions Scott & White Healthcare Adds Military Mental Health Services near Fort Hood Increase in Suicide Rate of Veterans Noted Vets, Homeless Dogs Paired, and both Benefit Operation Homelink DisABLEDperson Scholarship Competition Nominate a Dad Tylenol Arthritis Pain Reliever Recalled VA and DoD Increase Number of Federal Recovery Coordinators More Information on Free DoD Vaccine TRICARE Expands Behavioral Health Care Options Credit Card vs. Debit Card — Tips to Help You Decide Walt Disney World celebrates the U.S. Military in 2010

Military Saves Week Military Saves was developed and tested by its non-profit sponsor, Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the military services from 2003 to 2006, and launched throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) on February 25, 2007. It is part of two larger campaigns -- the DoD Financial Readiness Campaign and the national America Saves campaign. The Department of Defense has designated February 21-28, 2010 as Military Saves Week. The purpose of Military Saves Week is to encourage Soldiers and their Families to establish positive fiscal management habits through savings and sound financial planning. Financial security directly impacts Army readiness, and reduces stress on Soldiers and their Families. For more information about Military Saves Week, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/MilitarySaves.

Free Tax Filing through MOS/Tax Law Changes/Combat Zone Tax Errors Military OneSource (MOS) again offers service members H&R Block At Home® (formerly TaxCut) online tax filing through the MOS web site and telephonic tax consultations by calling the MOS tax hotline at   1-800-730-3802 . You can prepare your 2009 state and federal taxes with this easy-to-use program. Provided by the Department of Defense, H&R Block At Home® is free to active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members and their Families. If you have questions, click FAQs. Tax consultants are available to answer your questions 7 days a week from 7 am - 11 pm ET by calling the Military OneSource Tax Hotline at    1-800-730-3802 . NOTE: You must use the link on the Military OneSource Web site to access our customized product and create your account. Do not go to the public H&R Block Web site to create a user account. For more information, or to begin your tax preparation, go to: http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/TaxFiling. Many of the recent tax breaks will phase in over the next nine years, or are indexed to inflation. To help determine how these tax laws affect long-term plans, follow the link to read the changes scheduled to come into effect through 2017. Changes for 2009 are included because they affect tax returns. To read more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/TaxLaw. A recent audit revealed that hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians who have served in combat zones may not have received all their earned tax benefits or have continued to receive benefits to which they are not entitled. According to the audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, "active combat zone indicators" remained on the 2007 tax records of some 339,027 taxpayers beyond the date of their departure from a combat zone. That was 40 percent of the total number of taxpayers with combat zone indicators on their records for that tax year. Service members and civilians can self-identify as serving in a combat zone by annotating their tax return or by calling or e-mailing the IRS. The IRS has not required proof to support such claims. To read more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/TaxRules.

American Red Cross' Armed Forces Casualty Travel Assistance Program The Service to the Armed Forces Casualty Travel Assistance Program (CTAP) is a one-time grant available to up to two immediate Family members who are not on Invitational Travel Orders (ITOs) or government-funded. The program provides assistance for travel, lodging and food expenses for: Travel to the bedside of a service member injured in a combat zone in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR), who is hospitalized in a medical facility in the continental United States/U.S. territories. Assistance will be provided upon the recommendation of the attending medical authorities. Travel to the funeral or a memorial service for a service member killed in action in the CENTCOM AOR. For more information, individuals should contact your local Red Cross chapter. To locate a local chapter, visit http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/RedCross.

Veterans Owed 'Stop-Loss' Special Payment Must Apply to Receive It About 185,000 veterans forced by wartime "stop loss" orders to serve on active duty beyond their approved separation dates are due a retroactive special payment of $500 for each extra month they served. However, these veterans must apply by October 21, 2010 to receive the extra money which was set aside in appreciation for the extra time they had to serve. Through December 2009, only about 15,000 veterans and current members had applied for "Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay." The average lump sum payment made to eligible Army veterans so far is $4500. That suggests an average stop-loss period of nine months, considerably longer than required by any other service. To read more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/StopLossPay.

DoD Trains Thousands to Help Millions with Registration to Vote The Defense Department's Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) began training voting assistance officers at military bases worldwide recently.  Thousands of voting assistance officers will help an estimated 6 million uniformed and overseas citizens vote absentee this year. DoD and Department of State directives require a voting assistance officer at the unit level and at every embassy and consulate to facilitate this effort. Because the law has changed significantly since last year, voters need to be aware that they will not automatically receive ballots from absentee ballot applications submitted in previous years. Military voters should submit a new federal post card application every year, and every time they move, deploy, or redeploy. Overseas civilian voters should submit an application before every federal election. Military and overseas voters should only use the Federal Post Card Application (available from voting assistance officers and at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/FVAP), and not state registration and absentee ballot application forms; the FPCA provides specific federal rights and guarantees that the state forms do not. Voters should use the http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/FVAP web site and check the "Voting Assistance Guide" to make sure they get it right. Voters should watch the FVAP Web site closely to learn about the launch of new online tools that will assist uniformed service members and overseas civilians.

Soldiers and Families Could Face Cuts in Base Services Soldiers and their Families on Army posts around the country could see cutbacks in trash pickup, lawn mowing and other services as the military tries to hold down non-war spending while escalating the fight in Afghanistan. As total defense spending rises, the portion of the Army budget dedicated to running its bases is down 20 percent this year. Budgets for individual bases are not yet final, and proposed cuts vary in size and can be as much as 40 percent at some major installations. To learn more about base funding, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Cutbacks.

State of Virginia Program Reaches Out to Veterans Who Need Help Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 230,000 troops have been deployed to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from Virginia military bases. The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program is using a tiny budget to reach a big problem -- veterans with behavioral-health problems, ranging from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The program is operating with an annual budget of $2 million, of which $1.7 million was awarded through a competitive grant process to the five health planning regions of the state. Since its founding in mid-2008, the Wounded Warrior Program has trained service providers in how to care for someone with TBI; trained providers in all regions on traumatic brain injury and PTSD; prompted community services boards to identify veterans already receiving services; created a database that can be used to ensure that veterans and Families get all their entitlements; and partnered with the Department of Defense's Real Warriors Campaign, which is aimed at veterans who are reluctant to seek help. To learn more regarding this program, click here: http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/StateProgram.

Massachusetts Restores Funding for Veterans Clinics Two outpatient veterans' clinics in Massachusetts, closed because of the state's budget crisis, will reopen. The state cut $1.89 million from the clinics at the state Soldiers' homes in Chelsea and Holyoke, prompting both to end outpatient services, and sparking outrage from veterans and their advocates statewide. The clinics provide free outpatient care, including vision and dental care, physical therapy and a pharmacy. To learn more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Massachusetts.

TRICARE Introduces New Benefit TRICARE introduced several new programs recently to include the TRICARE Assistance Program (TRIAP), which provides short-term professional counseling assistance. TRICARE's new Extended Care Health Option (ECHO), which provides benefits for eligible Family members diagnosed with extraordinary physical or psychological conditions. For information about TRIAP and other behavioral health resources, visit the TRICARE Mental Health Resources Center. For more information on TRICARE's new dental program and pharmacy benefits, visit the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program website at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/ADDP and the TRICARE Pharmacy Program webpage at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/TRICARE.

Military Pathways Helps Soldiers and Families with Mental Health/Alcohol Issues The Department of Defense launched Military Pathways to provide free, anonymous mental health and alcohol self-assessments for Family members and Service members in all branches including the National Guard and Reserve. Military Pathways is available online, by phone, and at special events held at installations worldwide. Self-assessments include a series of questions that, when linked together, help create a picture of how an individual is feeling and whether they could benefit from talking to a health professional. The primary goals of the program are to reduce stigma, to raise awareness about mental health, and to connect those in need to available resources. The self-assessments address depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use and bipolar disorder. After an individual completes a self-assessment, referral information is given about services provided through the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. To read more about Military Pathways, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/MentalHealth.

Toolkit Helps Answer Service Members' Healthcare Questions One in five service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. To help service members affected by a behavioral or other health condition, TRICARE created the Toolkit for wounded, ill, and injured service members. The Toolkit is located at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/TRICAREWII and is a good resource for wounded service members seeking information about healthcare.

Scott & White Healthcare Adds Military Mental Health Services near Fort Hood Scott & White Healthcare expanded its mental health program to help more military men and women deal with trauma and stress. Additionally, the Temple, TX-based hospital system changed the name of the services to Scott & White Military Homefront Services. Scott & White delivers the program in partnership with the Fort Hood-Central Texas Chapter of the Association of the U. S. Army. Established in 2008 as Project Homefront, the program delivers free mental health services to service men and women, who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as to their Families.  Since its inception, Scott & White Military Homefront Services has served 4,518 patients. Homefront added services to help victims of the November 2009 Fort Hood shooting, where 13 people were killed and 31 injured. The program, which was created and funded through a foundation grant, seeks an estimated $500,000 to $4 million in donations or grants to establish an endowment and continue its services. The program is available to military service members and their Families in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Navarro and Robertson counties. To learn more about this program, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/ScottWhite.

Increase in Suicide Rate of Veterans Noted The suicide rate among 18- to 29-year-old men who have left the military has gone up significantly. The rate for these veterans went up 26 percent from 2005 to 2007, according to preliminary data from the Veterans Affairs Department. VA officials said they assume that most of the veterans in this age group served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Significant in the data is the fact that, in 2007, veterans in the group who used VA health care were less likely to commit suicide than those who did not, an improvement from 2005 data. In recent years, the VA has hired thousands of new mental health professionals, and established a suicide hot line credited with "rescues" of nearly 6,000 veterans and military members in distress. To read more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/VetSuicide.

Vets, Homeless Dogs Paired, and both Benefit Pets2Vets pairs homeless pets with combat veterans, law enforcement/emergency personnel, and those affected by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pets2Vets was started by an Air Force senior Airman who, after returning home from Iraq, struggled with his own experience. He went to a pit-bull rescue facility and adopted a puppy. Through his own success, he started the group. This group has made two or three matches a week since October. The group's objective is to assist our nation's heroes and their Families with rehabilitation through pet therapy, save sheltered pets from being euthanized by providing them with homes, and to raise public awareness of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To learn more about this group, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/VetsDogs.

Operation Homelink Operation Homelink provides refurbished computers to the spouses or parents of junior enlisted (E1-E5) U.S. deployed service members, enabling email communication with their loved ones deployed overseas. To date, the nonprofit organization has partnered with corporate donors to link 3,200 deployed Soldiers with their Families using Internet-friendly computers. Regardless of where computers are sent, they are provided to units that are scheduled to deploy overseas in the next 90 days. Operation Homelink does not accept individual requests for computers. For more information, visit the Operation Homelink website at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/OperationHomelink.

DisABLEDperson Scholarship Competition DisABLEDperson, Inc. announced the Spring 2010 scholarship competition for college students with disabilities. The competition for the $1,000 scholarship award will end on March 1, 2010. To qualify, a student must be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled full-time in a two-or-four year accredited college or university in the U.S. Upon winning, the student will prove disability through the Disability Student Services department. Disability is defined as "A disadvantage or deficiency, especially a physical or mental impairment that interferes with or prevents normal achievement in a particular area, something that hinders or incapacitates." Entries are due before the March 1, 2010 deadline. The winner will be announced on the disABLEDperson website at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Disabled on March 15, 2010.

Nominate a Dad Nominate a Dad for the 2010 National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) Military Fatherhood Award. National Fatherhood Initiative will be accepting nominations for the 2010 Military Fatherhood Award, presented by Lockheed Martin, starting on Tuesday, January 19th at 12pm, but NFI will only be accepting the first six hundred nominations. To learn more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/NominateDad

Tylenol Arthritis Pain Reliever Recalled A recall has been issued for Tylenol(r) Arthritis Pain Caplet 100-count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-Open cap because of consumer reports of nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has removed from its shelves several lot codes of Tylenol Arthritis 100-count EZ-Open cap. A list of the lot numbers is available on the http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Commissaries  website. Consumers who have purchased the recalled product are advised to stop using it. Commissary customers can return any recalled products to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, visit the Tylenol website at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Tylenol.

VA and DoD Increase Number of Federal Recovery Coordinators The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced they will be hiring five new Federal Recovery Coordinators (FRC). This will make 20 FRCs helping to coordinate care for our Nation's most severely wounded, ill, or injured service members, veterans, and their Families. http://www.myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/FRC

More Information on Free DoD Vaccine DoD is allowing eligible beneficiaries to visit a TRICARE retail network pharmacy to receive three types of vaccines: the Seasonal flu, the H1N1, and pneumonia vaccine. There will be no cost to the beneficiary. This expanded coverage is available to all TRICARE beneficiaries eligible to use the TRICARE retail pharmacy benefit. This new benefit even allows TRICARE for Life beneficiaries to qualify for these free vaccines. DoD recommended that beneficiaries call their TRICARE retail pharmacy. The reason for the call is that vaccine distribution by a pharmacist is dictated by State law. The pharmacist must be certified to provide the vaccine and not all pharmacists have become certified. The State also dictates what vaccines can be given and to whom. This means this benefit may vary across the Nation. When you call the pharmacy, ask the manager "Do you participate in the DoD vaccine program; which vaccines can you administer; will the pharmacist be available to give the vaccine; and do you have the vaccine(s) in stock?" A list of participating TRICARE retail network pharmacies is at http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Pharmacy. You can also call Express Scripts at  877-363-1303  877-363-1303 . Remember, all other vaccines must still be administered in your primary care office or authorized clinic to be fully covered by TRICARE's preventive health services cost-share waiver. For more information, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/Vaccines.

TRICARE Expands Behavioral Health Care Options TRICARE has made the valuable treatment option of psychiatric partial hospitalization available to more beneficiaries by streamlining its certification procedure for this type of behavioral health care. Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) at TRICARE-authorized hospitals are now considered TRICARE-authorized providers and no longer need a separate certification. Freestanding PHPs, however, must be certified and be participating TRICARE providers. To learn more, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/BehavioralHealth.

Credit Card vs. Debit Card — Tips to Help You Decide Debit cards are becoming increasingly more popular, partly because they allow you to pay for purchases directly from your bank account. In fact, they are used more frequently than credit cards. For some important factors to consider when deciding between credit and debit card use, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/CreditDebit.

Walt Disney World celebrates the U.S. Military in 2010 As Disney Parks ask "What Will You Celebrate?" and invite guests to turn their personal milestones into magical Family vacations in 2010, America's military personnel will have more reasons to celebrate: Special offers on theme park tickets and accommodations. For information, go to http://myarmyonesource.com/News/2010/02/WaltDisney.

The Family Programs Calendar of Events April 2010 Child Abuse Prevention Month April 2010 Month of the Military Child April 2010 Sexual Assault Awareness Month 18-24 April 2010 National Volunteer Recognition Week