NCNGA Weekly Guardsman for June 3, 2021

Posted on: June 2, 2021 June 2, 2021
Author: ncngaweekly

June 3rd, 2021

News | About | Legislative | Benefits | Contact

IN THIS EDITION:

Soldier’s missing pay triggered Army secretary double confirmation snafu ArmyTimes
NCNG, 1st responders practice helicopter aquatic rescue Army.mil
House Bill 83 Almost Back on Track NCNGA
The 2021 National Guard Almanac & Education Guide EANGUS
WGU North Carolina Military Service Scholarship WGU
This Week in NCNG History NCNG Museum
June 3rd — Today in Guard History National Guard

Soldier’s missing pay triggered Army secretary double confirmation snafu ArmyTimes

By all accounts, the new secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, was supposed to have a smooth, eventless confirmation.

That was until late Wednesday evening, when the Senate unanimously confirmed her and then, two hours later, reversed her confirmation. The body then unanimously confirmed her again on Thursday morning.

The snag? Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., held true to his promise to hold up Wormuth’s nomination until an Army major’s pay issues were fixed.

“I have a soldier I know who has been over in Africa for 10 months and not receiving his appropriate pay for active duty,” Cramer told reporters Thursday afternoon.

The affected soldier, who is in a family of four, has been underpaid by more than $50,000, according to Cramer.

“It was never about [Wormuth],” he added. “It’s about the Army and this very archaic [human resources] system that doesn’t pay people.”

Cramer first raised the issue in Wormuth’s confirmation hearing, as Army Times previously reported.

North Carolina National Guard Aviators joined first responders from 16 state and local agencies for North Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team training at Weldon, North Carolina, May 19 – 20, 2021.

The training at the rapids of the Roanoke River simulated swift water rescue missions.

“NC HART partners conduct training rescues over land, water, tree, and building ten times a year on average to prepare for Hurricane season,” said Army Lt. Col. Benny Collins, NCNG State Army Aviation Officer.

Before mission, NCNG Aviators and civilian aviation staff swarmed over the 64-foot-long twin engine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter preparing it for water rescue. Seats and doors are prepped to allow for civilian first responders to be lowered by hoist.

The NCNG crew chief briefed the teams of civilian first responders on safety and each person’s responsibilities during the mission. The teams then board the helicopter and lift off from the improvised airfield, a small park’s athletic field next to the river.

Pilots and aircrew look out the windows for a fellow first responder in the river needing rescue.

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

WGU North Carolina Military Service Scholarship WGU

WGU North Carolina is pleased to once again offer the Military Service Scholarship. We are proud to support our troops and their families by awarding $2,500 scholarships to local currently serving military members, veterans, and their family members.

For 11 consecutive years, WGU has been named one of the “Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities” by Military Advanced Education and Transition Magazine and has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping servicemen and women apply their knowledge and life experiences towards a high-quality degree that will open the door to career opportunities in business, healthcare, education, or information technology.

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.”

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