NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/soc/veterans/1292

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From: [e-mail] (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Svc 11/16/92
Date: 16 Nov 1992 21:37:36 -0600
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
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872.  SGLI hike
873.  NCO retraining
874.  Homeowners' assistance
875.  CMSgt selections
876.  OA-10 crash
877.  GI Bill change
878.  Bond increase
879.  College deadline
880.  New Jersey Guard openings
881.  Delaware Guard openings
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872.  SGLI hike
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Servicemembers can apply for additional Servicemen's
Group Life Insurance coverage up to $200,000 beginning Dec. 1.
     The Veterans Benefits Act of 1992, signed by the president Oct. 29,
raises the maximum amount of available SGLI coverage from $100,000.  The
additional $100,000 coverage is optional insurance requiring a voluntary
election.
     Cost for the new SGLI coverage will remain at 8 cents per $1,000, for a
maximum of $16 per month for $200,000.  Those wishing the additional coverage
cannot apply until Dec. 1, when a 120-day conversion period begins for people
to decide on the new maximum level.
     It is in the members' interest to apply for the increased SGLI coverage
before Jan. 1 officials said, because they anticipate a large number of people
will want to increase their SGLI coverage between Dec. 1 and March 31, when
the conversion period ends.
     Applications taken after March 31 will require a statement of health, as
required under the present SGLI program.
     Officials also said that people who desire to continue their current SGLI
coverage need not take further action at this time.  But people who currently
have less than the maximum coverage, as well as people who currently have
$100,000 SGLI, and who desire to increase coverage must elect in writing the
desired amount of coverage up to the new maximum amount of $200,000.
     In addition to the SGLI change, Veterans Group Life Insurance also is
increased from $100,000 to $200,000.
     Under the present law, VGLI provides a five-year, nonrenewable, insurance
protection.  But the new law changes VGLI to a five-year, renewable term
insurance with an option to convert to a permanent policy with one of the
insurance underwriters.  The change also allows people to review VGLI coverage
at the end of each five-year period.
     Current age-based premiums for VGLI will remain unchanged.  Effective
date of these changes is Dec. 1.


873.  NCO retraining
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Air Force will retrain about 1,900 NCOs in 1993
as part of its plan to fill some NCO shortages with people in overage
positions, personnel officials said.
     The fiscal 1993 NCO retraining program affects staff sergeant through
master sergeant.  The program, which began Oct. 1, also identifies those
people in Air Force specialty codes and grades at risk for involuntary
retraining.
     People at risk for involuntary retraining were individually notified by
their local personnel office.  Selection for involuntary retraining was based
on total active federal military service date, with the earliest date being
most vulnerable, officials said.
     Another phase of the program will ask for the involuntary selection of
NCOs for retraining out of those skills in which there are insufficient
volunteers to meet the retraining targets.
     In the last two years, for example, retraining programs had to rely on
involuntary means to meet final goals, officials said.
     As of Nov. 9, the retraining-out goal has been met in AFSCs 451X6B and
452X5.  Overall, 876 applications have been approved.
     However, that figure represents only 46 percent of the program's goal.
While volunteer rates vary by AFSC, if the current trends continue,
involuntary retraining will be implemented for many other AFSCs, officials
said.
     AFCSs affected are: 116X0, 452X3B, 455X2, 552X0, 811X2, 341X4, 452X3C,
466X0, 566X1, 361X0, 452X4M, 542X0, 566X2, 451X6, 453X1, 542X2, 602X3, 451X6A,
453X2, 545X0, 603X0, 452X3, 455X1, 551X1, 811X0.
     Moreover, officials said there are still about 60 AFSCs with
retraining-in requirements to select from.
     The requirements vary by grade but include, for example, a number of
master sergeant quotas for first sergeant, staff and some technical sergeant
quotas for strategic aircraft maintenance, technical sergeant quotas for
intelligence specialties, and all grades in administration and personnel.
     All people eligible to retrain, especially those notified as being at
high risk, are being asked to reconsider a retraining decision and to contact
local classification and training sections.


874.  Homeowners' assistance
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A bill approving the homeowners' assistance program
for certain losses in southern Florida stemming from Hurricane Andrew was
signed by the president.
     People eligible for the program are U.S. government civilian employees or
members of the armed forces assigned to or employed at Homestead AFB, Fla., on
or before Aug. 24.
     Other criteria apply to reimbursement for losses and the amount of
reimbursement will be determined by the U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah,
Ga.  People who think they may qualify for the reimbursement should contact
their local housing office.
     The housing office will provide the necessary paperwork to complete, as
well as the Army Corps of Engineers Homeowners Assistance Program leaflet
which outlines procedures for submitting claims.
     The Homeowners Assistance Program was authorized by Congress and is
administered by the Corps of Engineers for all services.  The program is
available to servicemen and women and federal civilian employees and is
designed to prevent catastrophic losses on real estate values by providing
partial reimbursement.
     For the program to be implemented in a certain area, there must be no
present market for sale of property under reasonable terms.
     More information is available at local housing offices, by writing to the
Army Corps of Engineers, PO Box 889, Savannah, GA 31402-0889, or by calling
[phone] or 5013.


875.  CMSgt selections
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force selected 442 of 4,711
eligible for promotion to chief master sergeant, a 9.38 percent selection
rate.
     The 93S9 Chief Master Sergeant Evaluation Board met Oct. 19 at the Air
Force Military Personnel Center.
     The average total score of selectees during the fiscal 1993 cycle was
692.20.  Average score breakdowns are:
     -- 135.00, performance reports;
     -- 69.17, U.S. Air Force Supervisory Examination;
     -- 15.00, professional military education;
     -- 30.60, time in grade;
     -- 21.91, time in service;
     -- 19.33 points for decorations; and
     -- 401.15, board score.
     The average selectee had 3.94 years time in grade and 20.87 years time in
service.
     Those selected will be promoted to chief master sergeant between Jan. 1
and Dec. 1, 1993.


876.  OA-10 crash
     WARREN GROVE, N.J. (AFNS) -- The pilot of a Pennsylvania Air National
Guard OA-10 safely ejected before his plane crashed in southern New Jersey
Nov. 12.
     Capt. Scott R. Hreso, 33, 111th Fighter Group, Willow Grove, Pa., was
taken to the Southern Ocean County Hospital, Manahawkin, N.J., for
observation.
     The plane crashed during a training flight in a wooded area about two
miles southeast of the Warren Grove test range.
     The accident is under investigation.


877.  GI Bill change
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Basic educational assistance rates for the
Montgomery GI Bill active-duty program will increase based on changes enacted
in the Veterans Benefits Act of 1992.
     Beginning in April, GI Bill rates will increase to $400 per month for
full-time participants who initially serve three years or more on active duty,
$325 per month for those who serve two years of active duty, and $190 per
month for full-time participants in the GI Bill-selected reserve program.
     The rate increases are effective April 1.  Increases thereafter will be
mandatory, based on the consumer price index, Veterans Affairs officials said.
     Another GI Bill benefit in the Veterans Benefits Act of 1992 is a death
benefit to survivors of participants who die of a service-connected
disability.
     The new benefit is extended to death occurring within one year of the
veteran's discharge from active duty, officials said.
     A tutorial assistance allowance is also authorized for members of the
selected reserve participating in the GI Bill-selected reserve program.


878.  Bond increase
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The semiannual market-based rate for U.S. Savings
Bonds, in effect from November through April, has been set a 5.04 percent, the
Treasury Department said.
     The new rate, down from the 5.58 percent semiannual rate of the May
through October period, reflects the general decline in market interest rates
over the past year.  However, the guaranteed minimum rate set in Nov. 1986
remains at 6 percent, Treasury officials said.
     The new 5.04 rate is 85 percent of the average market yield during the
preceding six months on Treasury marketable securities with five years
remaining to maturity.
     The savings bond semiannual rate is changed each May 1 and November 1.
As of September 30, the total value of savings bonds held by the public was
$150.321 billion, an increase of 11 percent over holdings of $135.366 billion
a year earlier.
     Current rates and other bond information can be obtained toll-free by
calling 1-800-4US BOND.


879.  College deadline
     MAXWELL AFB, Ala. (AFNS) -- The Community College of the Air Force
deadline for documentation of Air Force graduates in the April class is Feb.
23.
     Transcripts and any other documents required for graduation must be
received at the CCAF records branch by the close of business Feb. 23.
     Any late documents will delay graduation until next fall, college
officials said.
     More information is available from local education offices.


880.  New Jersey Guard openings
     MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. (AFNS) -- The New Jersey Air National Guard has
vacancies with the 170th Air Refueling Group and the 108th Air Refueling Wing.
     Openings exist in Air Force specialty codes 454X3, 454X4, 457X0, 458XX,
623X0 and 631X0.
     More information is available by calling DSN 440-4137 or toll-free,
1-800-331-1806.


881.  Delaware Guard openings
     NEW CASTLE, Del. (AFNS) -- The Delaware Air National Guard has openings
with the 166th Tactical Air Lift Group.
     Openings exist in Air Force specialty codes 242X0, 201X0, 454X4A, 454X1,
458X3, 623X0.
     More information is available by calling the unit at DSN 445-7444 or
toll-free, 1-800-742-6713.
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