NCNGA Weekly Guardsman for May 13, 2021
May 13th, 2021
News | About | Legislative | Benefits | Contact
IN THIS EDITION:
Master of the Globe AFMag
How Fort Bragg, the Largest Military Base in the US Today, Got Its Start a Century Ago Military.com
House Bill 83 Almost Back on Track NCNGA
The 2021 National Guard Almanac & Education Guide EANGUS
Equal Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay for National Guard EANGUS
OPERATION VETCARE EANGUS
Apply for the $5,000 Scholarship NGAUS
This Week in NCNG History NCNG Museum
May 13th — Today in Guard History National Guard
Master of the Globe AFMag
As the Globemaster III racks up its 4 millionth flight hour, planners ready upgrades and begin to imagine what comes next.
Base Charleston, S.C., and took off for a rendezvous with history. Not long after takeoff, the jet joined up with a KC-46 Pegasus tanker and logged the 4 millionth flying hour for the unique airlift, a plane that began as a case study for acquisition failure and transformed, over nearly three decades, into the backbone of U.S. military airlift.
“This is a significant milestone for the program,” said Col. Scott Ekstrom, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center C-17 System Program Manager. “It is truly a testament to the dedication and hard work that has gone into producing and keeping the C-17 fleet operational and effective over the years. It has been a team effort, everyone who has supported the C-17 fleet should take pride in this milestone.”
“We’re optimistic on analysis, but this requires continuing study for what we would have to do to that airplane.” – Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, AMC commander
The Air Force’s 222 C-17s are the major portion of a global fleet of 275 aircraft flown by nine nations, including an international consortium. They are the go-to airframe to transfer personnel and materiel to combat zones and remote locales around the world, enduring conditions from dirt airstrips in the Syrian desert to ice and snow in Antarctica.
Today, Air Mobility Command (AMC) anticipates keeping “the Moose” relevant out to around 2060, while it develops requirements for a “family of systems” that someday will replace it.
How Fort Bragg, the Largest Military Base in the US Today, Got Its Start a Century Ago Military.com
While looking for a place to start a new artillery training camp in June 1918, Col. Edward P. King stopped in a little town in North Carolina called Fayetteville. He and his partner, an official from the U.S. forestry service, stopped their search.
Why the two men chose the site to establish what was then known as Camp Bragg isn’t really known, but it soon became an important fixture in the development of the U.S. military. Today, Fort Bragg is the largest-sized military installation in the United States.
Back when King was roaming around looking for a small piece of the U.S. to blow up with artillery trainees, the United States was more of a third-rate military power. The U.S. entry into World War I began to change that.
In 1917, the United States began a military buildup that changed the fortunes of the Triple Entente powers in the Great War raging across Europe. By 1918, American doughboys were headed “over there” by the thousands. The U.S. Army, needing some place to train them, started building new camps all over the country.
In North Carolina alone, three camps were established, Camp Bragg, Camp Greene and Camp Polk. The only requirements were necessary water supplies, good soil, rail transportation and weather that could facilitate a year-round training cycle.
House Bill 83 Almost Back on Track NCNGA
Representative John Szoka of Fayetteville continues to fight for military pension tax exemption. After meeting with him this week he is hopeful that it should be back before the full House later this week or next. Once it receives the support of the full House it can then be considered by the Senate.
Your support is still needed if you haven’t done it yet please contact you NC Representative. To find them visit ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators and enter your address. Below is a sample letter/email for your use.
In addition to contacting your local Representative it is critical to contact John.Szoka@ncleg.gov, George.Cleveland@ncleg.gov, Keith.Kidwell@ncleg.gov, Tim.Moore@ncleg.gov
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.
Sample Letter Body:
Dear Elected Official,
Did you know that 33 states fully exempt military retirement pay and North Carolina is not one of them? In addition to these 33 states several have pending legislation that impact military retirement pay.
As your constituent, I write to ask that you support House Bill 83 that will eliminate state tax on military pension.
This important measure would extend tax exemption on retirement pay for a retired member of the Armed Forces of the United States or as survivorship benefits for survivors of active duty or retired members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Currently, only those military members who have five or more years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989 have their military retirement pay exempt from state income tax. Also there is no current tax exemption on survivor benefits.
More than likely, those Servicemembers retiring from North Carolina’s military, a population of well over 120,000, and making the choice to stay in North Carolina can expect to pay state taxes on their military retirement income. This taxation impacts the most recent group of retiring Service Members who very likely served in combat at least once, if not multiple times, since 1990. Taxation of their retirement income can be a serious consideration in deciding in which state to retire.
On average, military retirees are under 50 years of age with over 20 years of work history and a desire to start a second career. This type of employee profile is exactly what is needed to fill civilian or contractor positions within North Carolina’s military and defense sector.
I strongly support this legislation and ask that you support this bill and use your influence to advance the bill during the upcoming short session.
Thank you for considering my views. I look forward to your response.
The 2021 National Guard Almanac & Education Guide EANGUS
This year’s publication includes two sections:
- An Education Section includes information about scholarship opportunities and other resources available to National Guard members.
- The Almanac Section highlights key National Guard leaders for each of the 54 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia as well as their State Association contact information and State benefits.
We thank Grantham University for their sponsorship of this publication. We are proud to continue our partnership with Grantham and have highlighted information in the Education Section regarding their educational programs and the two scholarships they are offering this year.
We are also extremely grateful for the continued partnership and scholarships offered to our EANGUS members, their spouse, and dependent children by Colorado Technical Institute, Grand Canyon University, and the University of Phoenix. Along with Grantham University, these institutions provide a total of eight full-tuition scholarships, which are a significant benefit to those selected as the recipients each year. We are also appreciative of the additional funding provided for scholarships at Excelsior College, and the scholarship funds provided by USAA, AFBA, and the CSM Advisory Council which can be used by the recipient at the college or university of their choice.
On behalf of the EANGUS Executive Council, I trust that you will find this information of value, and we wish the best to our members pursuing their dreams of a higher education.
Sincerely,
Karen M. Craig
CSM, USA, Retired
EANGUS President
2021 National Guard Almanac & Education Guide
Equal Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay for National Guard EANGUS
The military has many hazardous jobs, and the men and women in these positions qualify for special incentive pay. According to DoDI 1340.09, Hazard Pay Program states, “HDIP provides a monetary incentive to servicemembers who volunteer to perform a duty designated as hazardous, based upon the inherent dangers of the duty and risks of physical injury.” Members of the military who volunteer for these precarious positions include pilots, SEALs, divers, parachutists, and more. The Navy offers special pay for being onboard submarines and working with nuclear energy plants. Jobs that qualify for hazardous duty are deemed more dangerous than others.
To compensate U.S. servicemembers assigned these high-risk duties, the Armed Forces allow for a special payment that starts at $150 per month, known as Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay.
National Guard servicemembers DO NOT receive equal pay when it comes to performing these duties. Although requirements are the same for a National Guard servicemember, they are only paid 1/30th of what their active-duty counterparts receive.
EANGUS is urging the 117th Congress to ensure National Guard servicemembers receive equal Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP) at the same rate as their active-duty counterparts because they are required to meet the same monthly standards for performance of duty (Title 37 U.S.C § 301)
Operation VetCare was established in 2017 by EANGUS as a program designed to assist Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families who faced special issues or challenges associated with military service. This program has continued to grow over the last several years. Assistance provided through this program may vary based on the limited funds available but may assist by providing support in the form of gift cards for food, clothing, and other necessary items during a service-related crisis. Through this program, EANGUS has been able to assist hundreds of people during a time of significant need. Click button for more information on how to can support this initiative through donations or to request assistance.
Apply for the $5,000 Scholarship NCNGA
AFBA/NGAUS Scholarship
Now accepting applications
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, 2021.
Not a NGAUS Active 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.
Chief Details National Guard Contributions in a Year of Trial DOD News
Over the past year, National Guardsmen were called on time and again to help out their fellow U.S. citizens, and they deployed to operations around the world, National Guard Bureau Chief Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense yesterday.
“The year 2020 was unprecedented and historic,” Hokanson said in written testimony.” National Guard members supported every combatant commander around the globe and met every mission here at home. On June 6, 120,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were mobilized in support of overseas and domestic missions — one of the highest levels of National Guard support to our nation since World War II.”
Guardsmen participate in a socially distant deployment ceremony in a hangar.
And National Guardsmen helped their fellow Americans in many different ways.
The coronavirus pandemic saw large numbers of Guardsmen called up, first to help in testing stations and later at vaccination sites. “The men and women of the National Guard served more than 7.6 million days in support [of] the COVID-19 pandemic – a mission that continues today,” the chief said. “They provided over 632 million meals to neighbors; distributed over 539 million pieces of personal protective equipment to essential workers; and tested or screened over 16.1 million people for the virus across the 50 states, 3 territories and the District of Columbia in 2020.”
This Week in NCNG History NCNG Museum
If you know of anything significant to the NCNG that occurred on any of these dates, and would like it added to our records, please email 1LT Dearie at kory.k.dearie.mil@mail.mil
May 13th — Today in Guard History National Guard
1865
Cameron County, TX – The last battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch, is fought on the Rio Grande near Brownsville, TX, adjacent to the U.S. – Mexico border. It ends in a Confederate victory; an ironic twist, because soon thereafter, word arrives of the surrender of the Confederate armies in the east to Union forces over a month prior to this engagement. These men give themselves up to victorious army on June 2nd. The Civil War is officially over at the cost of more than 600,000 dead.
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