Wednesday, April 15, 2009

GI Bill Also Benefits Dependents

Soldiers’ Newest GI Bill Exceeds Tuition Assistance, Also Benefits Dependents

By Rob McIlvaine
FMWRC Public Affairs

Though the road was long and hard, the efforts and advocacy of the Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) have resulted in a major victory for Soldiers and Families.

The creation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill was driven by AFAP Issues #497, #385 and #525. It becomes a reality August 1, 2009, and will offer all Soldiers with six years of service the opportunity to transfer unused Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents.

With this new bill, what started as an enlistment incentive has grown to become a retention tool in our all volunteer Army. The ability to provide for the Family by transferring benefits to spouses and children becomes a powerful retention incentive. Benefits must be transferred before separating from the military. Veterans are not eligible to transfer unused benefits.

Veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, could receive full tuition and fees, a new monthly living stipend, and a $1,000-a-year books and supplies stipend. The Bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, paid on a pro-rated basis, depending on length of qualifying active duty service.

A few select Soldiers were offered the opportunity to transfer Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) benefits as part of a Pilot program which the AFAP committee was instrumental in developing. Participation in the Pilot program was limited to Soldiers with critical skills and required those who participated to accept a reduced reenlistment bonus.

The AFAP General Officer Steering Committee (GOSC) aggressively advocated elimination of rules which prevented all Soldiers from participating in this valuable program. The legislation creating the Post 9/11 GI Bill, supported by the AFAP GOSC, rectified this limitation by offering all Soldiers, with six years of service the opportunity to transfer unused Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.

This Bill (Chapter 33) boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944.

Officially known as the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008” by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), was signed by President Bush on June 30, 2008. It will be published as Army policy by the end of April 2009, and will become effective August 1, 2009.

Generally, to be eligible to transfer benefits, Soldiers must have at least six years in the Army, active and/or Selected Reserve service, and agree to serve four more years on active duty or in the Selected Reserves.

The Department of the Army (DA) is reviewing transferability policy options for Soldiers who have 20 or more years of service on August 1, 2009 and for those with ten or more years of service who are unable to commit to four additional years of service.

If a service member is already enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill and meets the criteria for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, he or she has the option to convert the remaining MGIB benefits to the new program.

AFAP was created in 1980 through focus groups but was fully developed with the first official AFAP Conference held in July 1983. The mission of AFAP is to help Army leaders address the needs and concerns of the total Army Family. The program enlists representatives from around the world to identify and prioritize issues that will improve the standard of living in the Army.

This feedback to leaders results in policy changes that become tangible end-products at garrisons across the Army. AFAP beneficiaries include Soldiers (all components), retirees, Department of Army civilian employees and all their Family members.

"We recognize what it takes to be an Army Family, and that our Soldiers draw great strength from their Families,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. at the 2008 AFAP Conference. “The welfare of Army Families is increasingly important to all of us," he said, adding that the Army was committed to building a partnership with Families embodied in the Army Family Covenant.

Six hundred and fifty-one issues have been identified through AFAP in the past 25 years. AFAP has driven 110 legislative changes, 155 Army policy and regulatory changes and 177 improved programs and services. It is also notable that 61% of all active AFAP issues impact all the Services.


GI BILL SIDE BAR:

To view facts currently posted about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, please visit the following:

Main VA Post 9/11 GI Bill site:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/benefits.htm#CH33

FAQ's:
https://www.gibill2.va.gov/vba/vba.cfg/php.exe/enduser/std_alp.php?&p_search_text=post-9%2F11&p_sid=5Hxz6eaj&p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl&p_sort_by=&cat_lvl1=17&p_cv=1.17&p_cats=17

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Yongsan manager wins 'Executive of the Year' award

by David McNally(USAG-Yongsan Public Affairs)

YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea - Installation Management Command officials are set to recognize winners of the prestigious Directorate of Public Works Awards program April 7 in Houston.

U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan employee John Ghim won the DPW Operations and Maintenance "Executive of the Year" award.

"John plays a critical role as a team member and leader at one of the best installations in the Army today," said Chuck Markham, USAG-Yongsan Public Works director. "This award recognizes his positive contributions to the complex activities and responsibilities he carried out in planning, programming and executing the engineering operations, sustainment, maintenance and repair mission of the USAG-Yongsan DPW."

Last year, Ghim was responsible for implementing a new annual maintenance program to address "critical needs and services" for Yongsan. The aging Yongsan infrastructure has led DPW officials to think outside the box to bridge the gap until the eventual installation closure.
Since Ghim started the maintenance program, infrastructure related service order numbers dropped by more than 50 percent. This resulted in a savings of $1.4 million and 40,000 man hours per year.

The program also led to the cancellation of 108 previously identified projects that are no longer necessary, saving a potential $11 million.

Ghim has also been proactive in seeking out alternative energy solutions. He developed and submitted a winning Yongsan energy savings package to the Department of Energy, which resulted in a $1.3 million Energy Conservation Investment Program for USAG-Yongsan for 2009.

USAG-Yongsan is one of only eight U.S. Army installations worldwide to win and receive the funding to implement ECIP. Once implemented, USAG-Yongsan will save more than $2 million a year or 800,000 gallons of fuel a year.

As USAG-Yongsan moves to close in the future, USFK provided another challenge. In a move toward "tour normalization" in Korea, USFK increased the number of command sponsored families. As a result, USAG-Yongsan is actually increasing its population.

With the additional community members, the support structure must grow, but remain within severe budgetary constraints.

"This mission has called for creative leaders," Markham said. "John was the lead in successfully completing a DoD school expansion project on time and under budget."

Markham said Ghim personally took on the responsibility and risk in developing and guiding the DPW in-house and external contracting team to complete this fully functional classroom building in three months and under $600,000.

"This Herculean effort greatly benefited the students and the school," he said. "Furthermore, he served as the USFK subject matter expert for infrastructure sustainment requirements at the command's contingency underground command and control facility."

Ghim routinely briefed the senior leadership on sustainment and infrastructure issues, status and solutions. Garrison officials recognized Ghim for his outstanding support during recovery from a real-world emergency operation resulting from a power outage during a recent high-level military exercise.

Ghim, a former U.S. Army officer, served as Utilities Branch chief for nearly five years, and worked as the Operations and Maintenance Division chief for almost a year and a half. His is now the Deputy Director and Business Operations chief for USAG-Yongsan DPW.

"My goal is to continue to pursue my career and work on bigger challenges in IMCOM," Ghim said. "I'm pursing a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma to broaden my horizons.
Ghim said the award is a reflection of his workforce.

"It's not just what I have done, it's a team effort," Ghim said. "It involves the hard work of all the O&M Division that made the transformation possible."

Ghim is no stranger to recognition. He won the 2006 Secretary of the Army Energy Award for the individual category.

"Mr. Ghim is a highly valued member of the USAG-Yongsan and IMCOM-Korea Public Works team," said Garrison Commander Col. Dave Hall. "His personal efforts contributed immensely to the sustainment and improvement to the quality of life in the garrison."