NCNGA Weekly Guardsman for April 30, 2020

April 30, 2020

 

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Armed Forces Benefit Association


 IN THIS EDITION:

Tax Free Military Pension Call to Action! Contact Your North Carolina Representative and Senator. NCNGA 
Write to Congress to Support Federal Legislation That Will Benefit The Guard. NCNGA 
EANGUS Providing Emergency Relief to Current or Former Guard Soldiers & Airmen EANGUS 
COVID-19 Products Offered to National Guard Members, Retirees NCNGA 
Protecting Space, what is the US Interests in Space Defense? Mitchell Institute 
A new Bradley? The Next Generation Combat Vehicle becomes the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. FAS 
The Sergeant Major of the Army Shares His Reading list. Green Notebook 
College Within Reach 2020: Applications Are Open NCNGA 
AFBA/NGAUS Scholarship Now accepting applications NCNGA 
EANGUS Award Nominations Deadline: 15 May 2020 NCNGA
Guard Members, Spouses: Sound Off on How You’re Coping with COVID-19 AF Magazine 
NGAUS Capitol Summit Nominations Due April 24th for 19-21 July event NCNGA
New NGAUS Rates! NCNGA 
April 23rd — Today in Guard History National Guard 


Tax Free Military Pension Call to Action! Contact Your North Carolina Representative and Senator. NCNGA 

As the NC State legislature returns to session at the end of this month, the focus will rightfully be enacting legislation in response to COVID-19. However, there is pending legislation in both the NC Senate and House that could be moved forward during this session. Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 650 provide state tax exemption for all federal military pensions and military retiree survivor benefits.
To find you NC Representative and Senator visit https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators and enter your address. When you click on the name of your NC Representative or Senator, you will see their email, mailing address, and phone number. You can use the attached example for an email, written letter, or phone script when you contact your legislator.
While this legislation being approved during this session is not guaranteed, what is guaranteed is that it will not get approved if the legislators do not hear directly from their constituents. This is not only the sentiment of the Association, but also the direct statement of a number of elected officials who support this legislation.
Your Association is working closely with other organizations in this effort. However, it is your individual voice that will make the difference in this effort.

Click the links below to download the letters for your House Representative and your Senator:
Tax Exemption Form email House
Tax Exemption Form email Senate

UPDATE! Last week the Association asked you to contact your NC State Senator and Representative. Some of you did and have received some feedback. While this effort is definetly impacted by COVID 19 focus, there is momentum for this effort and if there is no movement over the next few weeks the momentum will carry over to a tentative late summer session and next years session.

Feel free to contact me at Larry@ncnga.org if you have any questions.

Write to Congress to Support Federal Legislation That Will Benefit The Guard. NCNGA 

Write to Congress to support federal legislation that will benefit the Guard. Be on the lookout for something similar at the state level in weeks to come.

In an effort to get the word out and to enable Guard members to become more involved NGAUS developed a write to congress feature. Here individuals can click and send a full letter with a message about one or more advocacy efforts to their representative. Current advocacy efforts include: equalize hazard-duty incentive pay for Guardsmen and Reservists, restore reprogrammed National Guard funds, and TRICARE Reserve Select Expansion.

Click here to write to Congress…

EANGUS Providing Emergency Relief to Current or Former Guard Soldiers & Airmen EANGUS 

The Enlisted Association of the United States (EANGUS), through its We Care Foundation will be establishing grants to provide emergency relief to current of former National Guard Soldiers or Airmen. These grants are for those experiencing financial hardship due to a loss of income or an increased financial burden due to COVID-19.

Full details can be found here.

COVID-19 Products Offered to National Guard Members, Retirees NCNGA 

Correction Enterprises of NC DPS is making these PPE and cleaning items available to current National Guard Servicemembers and retirees. Items must be picked up at their Yonkers road location.

Protecting Space, what is the US Interests in Space Defense? Mitchell Institute 

A discussion on mitigating the evolving space threat, space architecture development, and US Space Command/National Reconnaissance Office Collaboration. To learn more you can watch this panel discussion between Lt Gen (Ret.) Dave DePaul, Dean of the Mitchell Institute, BG James and Maj Gen Guetlein.

Watch now…

A new Bradley? The Next Generation Combat Vehicle becomes the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. FAS 

Laying out priorities for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle that could replace the Bradley, survivability is the most important element of design, the Army told interested industry representatives. Mobility, the ability to upgrade, capabilities and weight were also high on the list of what the Army wants. The vehicle’s mission will be detecting and destroying targets while staying out of reach of enemy weapons.

Read the full report…

The Sergeant Major of the Army Shares His Reading list. Green Notebook 

Recently, I spoke with the Sergeant Major of the Army about COVID-19 and the challenges and opportunities we are facing right now as an Army and a Nation. He highlighted that now is the time to reassess our goals and set new ones. One of your goals might be to read a book or two during this time. Goals are important and they are even more important now, as we all deal with the necessary restrictions to stop the
spread.

We spoke again this week and he shared his reading list with me. He found that reading has helped him grow professionally and as a person. SMA Grinston also shared that reading helps him take a mental break from the day-to-day stressors of life. He even says that if he wasn’t a reader, he wouldn’t be the Sergeant Major of the Army.

Read more…

College Within Reach 2020: Applications Are Open NCNGA

The College Within Reach 4-H National Mentoring Program focuses on building relationships and college and workforce preparedness for military-connected youth between the ages of 12-17. Participants will be matched with mentors who share common experiences and interests while exploring topics such as college and career readiness, college application processes, academic and career goal setting, and creating sustainable plans leading to long-term success!

To find more detailed information regarding the College Within Reach program, participants can visit our program website.

Follow the links below to fill out an application for various roles in the College Within Reach Program.

Mentor and Site Liaison Application | Mentor and Parent Application

If your constituents would like more information you can refer them to the Program Manager, Cam Rutledge, at collegewithinreachnc@ncsu.edu or 919.513.2703.T

AFBA/NGAUS Scholarship Now accepting applications NCNGA

NGAUS Active Life Members and their dependents are eligible to apply for the AFBA (Armed Forces Benefit Association)/NGAUS scholarship, awarding two applicants, each with a $5,000 scholarship.

Now accepting applications through June 1, 2020.

Scholarship Application

Not a NGAUS Life Member? Become one today.

Please feel free to contact membership@ngaus.org with any questions you may have about the NGAUS and AFBA Scholarship or NGAUS Life Membership.

EANGUS Award Nominations Deadline: 15 MAY 2020 NCNGA

Just a reminder: Please review the EANGUS Awards SOP dated 11 November 2017, and consider nominating an EANGUS member from your State or Area to be recognized for their contributions or achievements at the 2020 EANGUS National Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The SOP includes the criteria, eligibility, and details for each award. If you would like to nominate an individual please contact the North Carolina National Guard Association by the 1st of May or sooner for full instructions. You can reach them at Larry@ncnga.org or 984-664-0308

Guard Members, Spouses: Sound Off on How You’re Coping with COVID-19 AF Magazine 

The COVID-19 Military Support Initiative—a joint program of the military nonprofits Blue Star Families and Association of Defense Communities—recently launched a poll to determine the biggest challenges the new coronavirus pandemic is posing to U.S. troops, veterans, their families, and their communities.

But the head of Blue Star Families said CMSI needs National Guard members and their families to sound off on their experiences, since they’re underrepresented in the survey so far.

“We’re collecting information on what in real time America’s military families, the servicemembers, and their families, [are] experiencing right now,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO, co-founder, and board president at Blue Star Families, during an April 16 CMSI virtual town hall about supporting the Guard during the pandemic. “Unfortunately, we have really good participation with the Active duty, [but] not enough information from the National Guard to report out.”

CMSI’s COVID Military Families Pain Points Poll looks to capture a dynamic picture of how its target demographics are coping with the outbreak. However, any individual aged 18 or over may take the survey, whether or not they’re military-affiliated.

Read More…

NGAUS Capitol Summit Nominations Due April 24th for 19-21 July event NCNGA

NGAUS Capitol Summit: This event that occurs three times during CY2020 and is a NGAUS professional development program for company-grade officers. The program brings Air and Army Guardsmen from each state and territory to the nation’s capital for a close look at how the government works and the role NGAUS plays in the legislative process. This should be performed in a non-duty status and funding for transportation, lodging, and meals is provided by NGAUS. North Carolina authorized one attendee per event. If you are a company grade officer and interested in attending please contact the North Carolina National Guard Association at Larry@ncnga.org or 984-664-0308.

New NGAUS Rates! NCNGA 

At the NGAUS Conference in Denver, there was a majority vote that our dues structure would be reduced from 15 different price points to three. This rate change will be going into effect on October 1, 2019 for the 2020 membership year.

  • Company Grade – $40
  • Field Grade – $80
  • Flag Grade – $130

You can renew or join for the year 2020 here.

April 23rd — Today in Guard History National Guard 

1944
Forino, Italy – After nearly two months of rest and to allow replacements to join and train with their depleted regiments, the 36th Infantry Division (TX) prepares to again enter the fight to capture Rome. The division had been in some the hardest fighting of the Italian campaign, from its assault landing south of Naples in September 1943, up the “boot” of Italy to the disastrous failed crossing of the Rapido River in January and its unsuccessful assaults to try to capture Monte Cassino. After this period of rest and refitting the unit will land at the Allied beachhead of Anzio and fight its way into Rome, helping to secure the city on June 5th (one day before the D-Day landings in France). In September the 36th will land in Southern France and fight it way into Germany through the Alps. It ended the war deep in side Germany, along the Rhine River. Its wartime record will show that the division had 16,800 casualties, the ninth highest number of all Army divisions in all theaters of the war. And it had 14 men awarded the Medal of Honor.

Read More…

 

 

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