April 8, 2009

ROA Reaffirms Commitment to Reserve Employees and ESGR
LtGen Dennis McCarthy, ROA Executive Director, and Jim Rebholz, Chairman of the National Committee for Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR), jointly signed a statement of support reaffirming ROA's commitment to its Citizen Warrior employees. ROA has had a long and supportive relationship with ESGR. We greatly admire what the Committee does, and think it is a natural fit for ROA. We signed our first Statement of Support in 2005, and are please to renew that commitment. 
 ESGR Web site


Post-9/11 GI Bill Published in Federal Register
The Final Rule for the Post-9/11 GI Bill was published March 31 in the Federal Register. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this final rule to establish regulations regarding a new educational assistance program for individuals who serve on active duty after September 10, 2001. The new program, known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, was authorized by title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008). This final regulation includes the rules necessary to implement the provisions of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 that govern the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will become effective on August 1, 2009. (NOTE: “transferability” rules are within DoD’s purview and have not yet been published.)  See the article on ROA MGIB Page

NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATE:
Join Us in Orlando, Fla., for the Final ROA Summer Convention as We Honor the HEROES AMONG US—Our Nation’s Citizen Warriors 
In what is scheduled to be the last large-scale summer annual meeting for the Association—and a new national meeting format in which the convention will move to Mid-Winter and the National Council meeting will move to the summer beginning in 2010—ROA will hold elections and conduct other Association business, along with a slate of national security briefings, armed services and policy updates, and education programs, including the Joint Officer Leadership Training Seminar.
 For registration information, visit ROA's Orlando Web page  

ROA Academy on July 8, Orlando National Convention
Attention, all newly elected Department Presidents, and all other new Department and Chapter leaders! The ROA Academy is designed to prepare you for success in your term of office, and there is no fee to attend. This once-per-year event is not to be missed. 
 See the ROA Web site, or call ROA Member Services at 1 (800) 809-9448 for details.
 Additional ROA Academy Information (PDF)
 Register Online Here
 Download Registration form (PDF)

EDUCATION UPDATE:
Symposium on Mental Healthcare Delivery to Reserve Components Successful
The signature injuries of the Global War on Terrorism have been Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the cost to servicemembers and their families and to the military has been enormous both on the personal and financial levels. As part of a continuing series of programs sponsored by the ROA and its educational arm, the Defense Education Forum on healthcare delivery to the Armed Forces, a special program was conducted on mental healthcare delivery and recent developments. The program was conducted on March 23, at the ROA Minuteman Memorial Building located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The program featured leading physicians and mental health specialists from both the military and civilian worlds as well as from the Veterans Administration. Click below to view the PowerPoint Presentations:
 TBI: The Iraq and Afghanistan Experience And What Will Evolve From It by Col. Christopher S. Williams, USAF
 Addressing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the U.S. Military by Lt. Col. Jay M. Stone, USAF

NEWS FOR CITIZEN WARRIORS:
Gates Lays Out Budget Recommendations (Defenselink.mil)
New DoD Budget Means Gains for Some (Military.com)
Former Governor Tapped as Next SecNav (Armed Forces News)
Command of 22nd Air Force Changes (AFPA)

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATES:
Highlighted on ROA's Web Site: ROA Testimony
The Reserve Officers Association testifies before Congress as expert witnesses in support of specific national defense issues and as a part of the annual budget authorization and appropriations processes. Check to see if your issues have been met, or resolved.
 ROA Testimony Page

Great American Video of the Week
Tune in to watch this week's Great American video: Homes for Our Troops. Homes for Our Troops is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 2004. The organization is strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries.   
 Watch this week's video
 Upload your videos on the Great Americans Web site

ROA News:
Ten-Miler Sold Out in 6 Days
The 2009 Army Ten-Miler race registration sold out in a record breaking six days with 30,000 runners signing up by 10:05 a.m., Monday, April 6. This year celebrates the 25th anniversary of the “Army’s Race.” If you have already signed up, and wish to join the ROA team, please contact John Nolan. 
 For continuing information on the race, to include race weekend and race day activities, go to the Web site.

ROTC Award Requests
Please submit your ROTC Award Requests to Richard Booth at (202) 646-7731.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 
IRS-Military Tax Tips Podcast Now Available 
Last week, IRS created a special audio podcast to explain how being in the military may impact your federal income tax return and tells you where you can go for more information and assistance. Issues like combat pay, extensions to file, and free services for military personnel are discussed.
 Armed Forces Tax Guide (in PDF)
 Podcast

Laptop Contest for Military Families Launches
AllAmericanDirect.com, a leading e-commerce provider of consumer electronics and satellite services, announced the company’s first essay contest which will award one laptop with an embedded Webcam (for the family) and an additional Webcam (for the soldier) to two families who have an immediate family member serving in any branch of the U.S. military overseas. Winning families will be announced bimonthly through the end of 2009.
 Visit the Web site for more information

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