The Issue: Support Legislative Proposal to the NDAA during Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Mark-up to HALT Retirement, Transfer and Divestment of Air National Guard Aircraft.

Immediate Action Required: Contact your senators to ask them to support efforts to include language in the NDAA during SASC mark-up on Tuesday, May 22.

NGAUS needs you to contact your senators to urge them to support language in the National Defense Authorization Act during SASC mark-up to halt the disproportional cuts to the Air National Guard in the Air Force’s FY13 budget.

The House Armed Services Committee, during full committee mark-up, included an amendment co-sponsored by Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA) along with 15 other members of the Committee that prohibits the Air Force from divesting, retiring, or transferring any aircraft in its inventory as of May 31, 2012. These prohibitions stop the Air Force and Army from moving forward with proposed retirement of Active Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Army National Guard aircraft in fiscal year 2013, including all C-27, A-10, C-130, F-16, KC-135, E-8, MC-12, C-23, or other aircraft slated for retirement/transfer in the President’s budget request.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will be holding their closed session mark-up on Tuesday, May 22. It is critical that they also include this language to halt the cuts to the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard’s C-23s until further analysis is provided to justify the drastic reductions to the most cost effective force in the nation’s military.

Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to stand up for the brave men and women who volunteered to serve our country and halt the disproportional cuts to our Air National Guard.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION: 
By using the “Write to Congress” feature, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives.  A sample letter is included. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire.

Please direct any questions concerning this issue to to Emily Sass, NGAUS Senior Legislative Affairs Manager for Air Programs, at 202-408-5893 or via email at emily.sass@ngaus.org.

Standing Up For Those Who Serve Our Country

Join us for Military Appreciation Days in Myrtle Beach during the entire month of May!  We’re celebrating military men and women of active duty, reserves and National Guard and veterans from every service branch.  Look for military discounts from hotels and restaurants, along with concerts, special events, the big Saturday parade and family activities in downtown Myrtle Beach.
Click here for more information.

Dear Operation North State’s Friends and Supporters:

It’s a pleasure to announce Operation North State’s (ONS) Second Annual NCCARES Charity Auction. Mark your calendar, tell your friends and share on Facebook.  Operation North State (ONS) welcomes your support in providing a little extra “Christmas Joy” to North Carolina’s deployed troops this coming December.

This fun-filled family event will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 12 – until at the Sports Page Food & Spirits in Mooresville (Lake Norman).  The NCCARES Charity Auction will feature both silent and live auctions with over 240+ North Carolina-related products, services, events and gifts. Additionally, music, entertainment, special guest appearances, kids’ activities, great food and beverages, exhibits, etc. will round out the festivities.  All proceeds from the auction will be used to fund ONS’ Christmas Gift Box Project whereby we are shipping 1500 gift boxes filled with North Carolina products, goodies and messages of thanks and support to North Carolina’s deployed troops this coming December.

The Sports Page at Lake Norman has graciously offered their facility and to host the event. The goal of the auction is to secure 240+ of North Carolina’s best, most unique and enjoyable products and services to be auctioned with all proceeds from the event going to fund the 2012 Christmas Gift Box Project. Our financial goal for the NCCARES Charity Auction is to raise $20,000.

For more information, click here.

Thanks for your help!

United States Senator Kay R. Hagan and the Community Blueprint Network cordially invite you and your spouse to attend the Military Spouse Appreciation Day in honor of all military spouses on Fort Bragg and Pope Field on Friday, 11 May 2012 at the Airborne Special Operations Museum (100 Bragg Blvd Fayetteville).

This Memorial Day weekend, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and teams will visit Charlotte Motor Speedway for one of the nation’s most prestigious motorsports events, the Coca-Cola 600.   The Charlotte Motor Speedway and the USO of NC have teamed up to invite military ID card holders to the Coca-Cola 600 race on Sunday, May 27.  The only 600-mile event on the NASCAR schedule, this race tests the endurance of both drivers and equipment. The Coca-Cola 600 is a memorable experience each year for fans to enjoy great side-by-side action and salute America’s armed forces.

THIS OFFER IS FOR ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE & NATIONAL GUARD MILITARY PERSONNEL ONLY

For 2 tickets, please respond to CocaCola600@uso-nc.org with all requested information:
We are unable to process incomplete requests!

• First Name:
• Last Name:
•  Mailing Address (must include Street Address, City, State, Zip):
• Phone:
• Email Address:
• Last 4 of SSN:
• Service Branch:

Due to the limited amount of tickets available, only 2 vouchers per service member will be distributed.  Please only request tickets if you plan on attending the race. Additional tickets can be purchased at a discounted rate at the time that vouchers are redeemed at any Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket booth (in turns 1, 2 and 4-Buy 2 tickets, get 2 FREE Front Stretch 25% off tickets.  Children ages 13 and under are half off in all areas except family sections; Turn 4 X-GG and Diamond Tower Turn 2, where they are $10.00). When your request is received and processed, you will receive a confirmation email. For general information on the Coca-Cola 600, please visit Charlotte Motor Speedway/Coca-Cola 600.

Thank you!

Charlotte Motor Speedway and USO of NC

Annual Wake County Veterans Stand Down – May 18, 2012  The Stand Down Committee needs help!  The Dental Bus has been reserved for this event. However, they need 2 dentists and/or hygienists to volunteer their services on the bus. Do you know of any one that would be willing to volunteer? If so, please have them contact Mr. John Youker at (919) 857-9428 or via email at John.Youker@wakegov.com.

SCAM ALERT:  Annoucement from DFAS (http://www.dfas.mil/) on their homepage:

Beware – scam emails – that appear to be sent by DFAS employees!  There are emails being sent to individuals, including military members, military retirees, and civilian employees, which appear to be sent by a DFAS employee.  Although the email appears to come from a DFAS employee and displays a dot mil address it is actually from a non-government email account.  This is an example of what’s called “spoofing.” The emails indicate that individuals who are receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be able to obtain additional funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  These emails are not issued by DFAS and will likely result in a financial loss if you comply with the suggestions in the email.  Bottom line – do not send your personal information or copies of your tax returns and 1099s to the individual listed in the email.  Go to DFAS website for more info. 

April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  An invitation is extended to attend the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Concert at the Raleigh NCNG JFHQ Auditorium on 20 April 2012 at 1230.  440th Army Rock Band will be performing as well as presentations of key awareness messages.  Anyone who wants to attend needs to let let Jeffrey Travers know by 1200 on the 19th so that names are on the roster to be let into the compound.  Jeffrey J. Travers, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, NCNG,  919-418-4867
Support Military Missions In Actions’s current fundraiser.

The Rex Hospital Open is an official week-long event on the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour, held at TPC Wakefield Plantation in North Raleigh, May 31 - June 3, 2012. By purchasing tickets for this event through Military Missions in Action (MMIA), you are helping to support a local non-profit raise funds that will go towards helping a military veteran with home repairs that he/she would not otherwise be able to afford. Tickets are $10 for the entire four-day event. Children ages 16 and under are admitted for free with an adult who has purchased a ticket. If you are interested in helping support MMIA but are not interested in attending The Open – you can still purchase tickets and donate them back to MMIA; who, in turn, will provide the tickets to local active duty military members and veterans.

To learn more about the Rex Hospital Open, please visit their website at www.rexhealth.com/rexopen or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RexOpen

To learn more about Military Missions In Action, please visit our website at www.militarymissionsinaction.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MilitaryMissionsInAction

To purchase tickets, please contact MMIA at (919) 552-1603.

For tickets, please respond with all requested information to wellsfargogolf@uso-nc.org.

Charlotte’s premier PGA TOUR event, the Wells Fargo Championship and USO of NC have teamed to invite 500 military ID card holders to the Wells Fargo Championship, April 30 – May 6 being held at Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC.

If you are an Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard military ID card holder and wish two complimentary tickets, please email the following information. Incomplete requests cannot be processed or held.

1.     Branch of Service
2.    First Name
3.    Last Name
4.    Telephone
5.    Email Address
6.    Last 4 of your SSN
7.    Date for Ticket Pickup
8.    Ticket Pickup / Will Call location (Symphony Park, Carowinds, or Ballantyne)
9.    Date(s) Requested

Ticket Pickup / Will Call Locations are open as follows:

•  Symphony Park – Central Will Call location

Located in the parking lot of Symphony Park (the Dick’s Sporting Goods parking lot at the intersection of Carnegie Blvd. and Barclay Downs)

Open Monday, April 30 – Sunday, May 6 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Plaza Fiesta Carolinas – Satellite Will Call location

Located across the street from Carowinds

Open Monday, April 30 – Friday, May 4 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Ballantyne Corporate Park – Satellite Will Call location

Open Saturday, May 5 – Sunday, May 6 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 ___________________________________________________________________

Children 12 and under are admitted free with grounds access when accompanied by an adult ticket holder (one child per adult). Tickets may be picked up at one of the “Will-Call” locations conveniently located in authorized tournament parking areas when you present your ID.

For more general information regarding the Wells Fargo Championship, please visit www.WellsFargoChampionship.com.