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Commanders Corner
S P E CI AL POINTS OF INTEREST:
Summer Vacation Opportunities Financing College VA Home Loans and more!
Dear Marines, Sailors and family members of 4th Maintenance Battalion, The last several months have been hectic for all of us, and as we look toward a summer full of Annual Training exercises, upcoming deployments and formal transition to Combat Logistics Battalion-451, we have a solid newsletter that has been developed to communicate upcoming battalion activities and helpful tips & tricks for you. I will tell you that I am truly looking forward to hearing about the challenges, successes
and experiences you will have this season while out representing our battalion. Whether it be in 29 Palms for our Reserve Integrated Training Exercise or Enhanced Equipment Allowance Pool, are overseas in Norway or are on another annual training event- you will be the face of 4th Maintenance Battalion and I could not be more happy. Our battalion is constantly impressing me in what we bring to the table, but also at the individual scale where you as individuals are the
best and brightest that the Marine Corps has to offer. I would like to take this time to also formally welcome Sergeant Major Neel to our family, and wish farewell to Sergeant Major Cummings. SgtMaj Neel hails from A Co, 4th Maintenance Battalion (cont on page 2)
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Kati
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Chaplains Message
Greetings Marines! Since December 2012 I have been on ADSW (similar to ADOS) in New Orleans as the MARFORRES HQ BN and Support Facility Chaplain. It has been interesting seeing the struggles, challenges, and rewards associated with a different level of command. Yet they too experience the same joys and satisfactions of jobs well done, as well as headaches such as short-fused tasks from higher headquarters (the higher up, the more demands). We all need stability. Easier said than done. I often cant control circumstances, you say in frustration. True. Howeveryou can control the stability of your responses. No one can make you respond negatively such as anger, bitterness, or frustration. You are a Marine. You learn to respond to out-of-control circumstances on the battlefield. How is your response to out-of-control circumstances such as FSRG, sequestration, continuing resolution, etc.? Are you responding with determination, resolve, and a gracious spirit? By doing so, you enable yourself to be calm on the inside despite the craziness going on all around. We now have a second chaplain on deck. Chaplain (LTJG) Jack Carmody is currently completing Chaplain School requirements. He is a Presbyterian pastor from Columbia, SC who will now be drilling regularly with us. In fact, while I am on orders until the end of FY13, Chaplain Carmody will be the primary chaplain. Please feel free to contact him anytime for any reason at jack.r.carmody@gmail.com or his cell 803-760-8003. Semper Fidelis, Marines! Always Be Faithful100% of the time! Chaps
The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money. ~Author Unknown
Greetings! My name is Chaplain Jack Carmody and I am the new Chaplain for 4th MB. This is my first billet since being commissioned and I am excited to be serving with you! As far as my background, I grew up in Atlanta, GA where I spent the first eighteen years of my life. I went to undergrad in Clinton, SC at Presbyterian College. Although I grew up going to church, I did not have a personal relationship with God until my freshman year of college. Funny story I actually accepted Christ at about midnight at a Waffle House! Upon graduation I worked as a student ministries director for a few years in Greenwood, SC where I met my wife. Next, God led us to further our training and we enrolled in Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. After three years there we were called back to South Carolina to Chapin Presbyterian Church, where I am an assistant pastor. I was commissioned as a Chaplain in August 2013. I am here to serve you in any way that I can, whether that be helping to meet your religious needs, offering a prayer for/with you, or simply lending a listening ear. If you ever need to get a hold of me for any reason do not hesitate to call me at 803-760-8003 or email me at jack.r.carmody@gmail.com. Looking forward to getting to know you all better! CH Carmody
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Financing a College Education FREE Tax Prep cont. With college costs rising each year, most students will need help funding their education. Even
if college is still a few years away, you'll be faced with the realities of paying for it sooner than you think. Navigating the complexities of the different programs available to finance college can seem overwhelming. The process will take time, and most importantly, you'll need a plan. When your children are younger, planning for college may mean putting money into a 529 plan, which grows tax-free as long as the earnings are used for college expenses. As your children get older, you'll want to educate yourself on how to apply for the different financial aid, college loans and scholarship options. Fortunately the Department of Defense offers a range of services and support, like personal financial counseling, that can help you find information and explore your options. The following steps can help you get started with a plan to pay for college: Calculate the cost of college. This first step will help you know what you're up against so you can set realistic savings goals. Use the Department of Education College Affordability and Transparency Center (http://collegecost.ed.gov/catc/Default.aspx) calculator. It lets you generate reports based on the type of college you are interested in attending. Start saving. Take the Military Saves (www.militarysaves.org) pledge and commit to saving a little each month toward a college fund. Explore all available options for tuition help, such as grants, loans and scholarships. If you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (www.gibill.va.gov), you may be able to transfer the benefits to your children in certain circumstances. Read Tuition Help for Military Children (http://www.militaryonesource.mil/k-12-and-college-education? content_id=268720) for more ideas. Seek out and apply for scholarships. There are many types of scholarships available, including ones offered in the local community and ones for military children. Applying for scholarships can be time consuming, so it's important to encourage your student to target those scholarships he or she is most likely to receive. Check out Collegescholarships.org (www.collegescholarships.org), which offers a comprehensive review of scholarship websites. Get smart on deadlines for federal student aid. Learn about the process for applying well before it's time to submit an application. There are federal, state and school deadlines for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/), and they may vary by state or by institution. Visit your child's high school counselor, who can help you apply for financial aid and find scholarships that are available to students locally. Shop around for student loans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Know Before You Owe (http://www.consumerfinance.gov/students/knowbeforeyouowe) initiative is helping parents and youth make informed decisions by encouraging the use of a new form, the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. This form can help simplify college financial information for students and their parents.
"We make Marines and we win our nations battles. Then we turn those men and women back to Americas society better people."
(Quote by General Krulak, 31st Commandant, USMC)
Even though planning for college can seem like a daunting task, a little time and preparation can help understand your options and make informed choices. Visit the personal financial counselor at your installation's military and family support center, or visit Military OneSource (800-342-9647) to learn more. -from Military Community and Family Policy Newsletter, June 2013
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VA Home Loans
VAs Home Loans: More Than Just Buying a Home
June 11, 2013 By Curtis Coy
Stable housing leads to long-term stability, which factors into reliability and other characteristics of successful employees. Are you aware that loans guaranteed by the VA Home Loan Program (http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/) have had the lowest foreclosure rate in the past 19 quarters compared to all other types of home loans? This is pretty significant given the trials and tribulations of the housing market during the past several years. Many do not know that VAs Home Loan Program Benefit is not a one-time benefit, but can be reused. Since 1944, more than 20 million Veterans and Service Members have enjoyed the benefit of a home purchase through the VA Home Loan program. Veterans who have already used their VA benefit in their home purchase may reuse that benefit to purchase another residence, or to refinance to a lower rate. This is referred to as an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) (http:// benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/irrrl.asp) or Streamline Refinance Loan. No appraisal or credit underwriting is required. Consider this: If a Veteran used their benefit, perhaps while on active duty, to purchase a home, they should compare their interest rate with current rates in their area. That Veteran can reuse their VA benefit to refinance their home with no money out of pocket, as costs may be included in the loan. If that Veteran has since separated or retired from the military and receives disability compensation of at least 10%, he or she is exempt from the funding fee. This can be a considerable monthly or total savings for the Veteran. On average, Veterans saved more than $200 per monthly payment on IRRRLs last year, saving those Veterans over $900 million in their first two years alone! Veterans may obtain a Certificate of Eligibility online through eBenefits (www.ebenefits.va.gov/) or through their lender. I encourage Veterans to seek the advice of a financial professional and to contact several lenders for quotes to determine what is in their best interest. If you have any questions, you can contact your closest VA regional office with Loan Guaranty staff by calling 877.827.3702, or visiting this website (http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/ contact_rlc_info.asp). Curtis Coy is VAs Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Opportunity and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Veteran.
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"We make Marines and we win our nations battles. Then we turn those men and women back to Americas society better people."
(Quote by General Krulak, 31st Commandant , USMC)
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Partner institutions After choosing a program area, students can complete their degree through one of several partner universities within the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance. These universities include:
Colorado State University Iowa State University Kansas State University Michigan State University University of Missouri Montana State University University of Nebraska-Lincoln North Carolina State University North Dakota State University Oklahoma State University South Dakota State University Texas Tech University
Financial aid and other assistance for the military community Each of the partner institutions within the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance offers assistance specifically for members of the military community. This assistance includes potential financial aid through the university, help with state-level financial aid for military families, assistance with transferring military and other institutional education and training into course credits and help accessing federal-level educational benefits such as the G.I. Bill. More information on financial and other assistance available to members of the military community is available through each of the university websites. Colorado State University Iowa State University Kansas State University Michigan State University University of Missouri Montana State University University of Nebraska-Lincoln North Carolina State University North Dakota State University Oklahoma State University South Dakota State University Texas Tech University More information More information on the program is available on the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance Military Academic Advancement Program (http://www.hsidea.org/
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Using the tools and assessments on the site, you can begin to explore your interests, skills, passions and personality type to determine the best fit for education and career choices for building a portable and meaningful career path. MySECO offers top industry-leading assessments such as Myers-Briggs, Strong Interest Explorer, Kuder Journey, Career Scope and more. These key assessments provide the following essential capabilities: Career aptitude assessments Interest inventories Personality assessments Work values inventories Skills assessments
Functions of MySECO The functions of the MySECO website allow you organize and track your personal information such as education and work histories and quickly seek out helpful resources to help you navigate and manage your education and career lifecycle phases. Many of these functions are available on the site now; other functions will be added as the site is updated. With the new capabilities, you will be able to do the following: Develop a personalized profile Explore new topics using keywords, MySECO internal search engine or by following the site menus Find answers to common questions using the "How do I..." feature Import a LinkedIn profile* Build and manage a resume(s)*
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View and print occupational information on hundreds of Department of Labor defined occupations*
*Coming Soon MySECO on the go The SECO website can be delivered to all mobile devices and tablets seamlessly and quickly, while maintaining a singular set of content. Career Counselors Along with all the resources and tools available on MySECO, SECO Career Counselors are there with you every step of the way to provide you with the support and information you need to achieve your career goals and aspirations. Counselors are master's-level subject matter experts and certified professional counselors who can provide you with the following: Assistance locating funding for education Help with locating the right school/program Advice on balancing work and family life Assistance with resumes, interview skills and more Support in developing an individual career plan for a portable career
If you would like to speak to a SECO Career Counselor, you can call 800-342-9647. Additional Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Websites The SECO program also sponsors two other websites, MyCAA Scholarship and MSEP Career Portal, which support military spouses' goals to further their education and explore their career opportunities. The MSEP Career Portal is an employment and career partnership connecting military spouses to more than 160 military-friendly partner employers who have pledged to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers. The portal allows spouses to set up a personalized account, build a resume, search for available positions and link to MSEP Partner websites to apply for available jobs online. The site also provides additional resources and support services, as well as advice on how to make and manage networking connections. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance for eligible spouses to meet their education, licensing or certification goals. Spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 on Title 10 military orders are eligible for the scholarship. The MyCAA Scholarship website offers educational program information and lists of approved programs of study, as well as approved MyCAA schools. Spouses can also create a personalized MyCAA account and an education and training plan. Start your education and career journey with SECO - Learn. Advance. Succeed.
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"We make Marines and we win our nations battles. Then we turn those men and women back to Americas society better people."
(Quote by General Krulak, 31st Commandant, USMC)
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Links Recap!
Here you will find the links to everything listed in this newsletter
Blue Star Museums
http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index-ongoing.php
Shades of Green
http://www.shadesofgreen.org/
Military Saves
www.militarysaves.org
G.I. Bill
www.gibill.va.gov
CollegeScholarships.org
www.collegescholarships.org
VA Benefits online
www.ebenefits.va.gov/
MySECO Website
https://myseco.militaryonesource.mil/
MyCAA
https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx
SitterCity
sittercity.com/DoD
Safe Helpline
Safehelpline.org