Answer the last two Calls 10-12: TRICARE Retired Reserve & 10-13: Post 9/11 GI Bill Improvements Today!
Subj: 10-12 Ask recipients to urge OMB to expedite its review and approval of the new TRR rule as soon as possible so that the Department of Defense (DoD) may begin offering enrollment in the Fall of 2010.
10-13 Ask your Representatives to show their support for the National Guard by co-sponsoring H.R. 5933.
Take Action Now!!
TO RESPOND TO CALL 10-12 CLICK HERE
TO RESPOND TO CALL 10-13 CLICK HERE
EANGUS Executive Director Job Announcement
Job Announcement and Position Description of Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS). EANGUS is a professional military association representing the interests of the 420,000 enlisted Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard as well as retirees and families of the National Guard. EANGUS has an active membership of 42,000 members located in the 54 States and Territories and the District of Columbia. The Executive Director manages the full time staff of EANGUS and reports to the Executive Council of the association. EANGUS is located on 3133 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, VA.
EANGUS requests that you share this announcement with others that you think may be interested in the position. EANGUS wishes the widest dissemination of the announcement. EANGUS appreciates your assistance in this matter.
Click on links below to view and download Job Announcement and Position Description:
Executive Director Job Announcement
Executive Director Position Description
Both the Job Announcement and Position Description are posted on the EANGUS Homepage for easy access.
90 YEARS AND GETTING BETTER
Warsaw, North Carolina is home of the “Oldest Continuous Veterans Day Celebration in America”, this year is our 90th. Warsaw is a small, rural town located in southeastern North Carolina with a population of approximately 3000 people. We feel that we represent “small town” America in many ways: we strive for a better future for our children and our fellow citizens, we don’t give up even when the economy is tough; we are for the most part church going citizens, our faith(s) is an integral part of our lives; and WE ARE EXTREMELY PATRIOTIC. We are what have made the United States the great nation that it is.
We are unique from other small towns in one very special way: the Annual Veterans Day Parade which has an average attendance of 10,000 people and the festivities associated with this celebration. We are proud to say that we are home of the OLDEST, CONTINUOUS VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION in the entire United States of America. Our first celebration was on November 11, 1921–five years before the U. S. Congress officially recognized this special day. It was Armistice Day way back when. We have never had a year when the event was not recognized. The parade has always happened. Rain, snow, hail and sleet have not stopped this small town from recognizing the contributions of present and past serviceman to our great country. We have never failed to recognize this important day because of economic depressions (the Great Depression, we still recognized and honored this day and all it represents) or unpopular wars (Viet Nam is a prime example). Regardless of the weather, the economy, the state of politics, or our personal feelings and agendas we come together each year to recognize the men and women who have kept our country free, strong, and proud. Our overriding theme each year remains the same: “If You Love Your Freedom, Thank a Veteran.
Each year is somewhat the same in regards to the activities; there may be minor changes, but as a rule we have the following events:
l. “The General’s Cup” golf tournament is held in October. We strive to have at least one team if not more from all the different branches of the service. This is considered the kick-off event for the
Celebration.
2. We usually have a church service the week before the actual day, Nov. 11th. Various churches, ministers, and choirs are invited to participate. It is an ecumenical event.
3. On the Saturday before Nov. 11 we have our big day! It always begins with a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Lodge. This event begins at 8:00 A. M.
4. At 9:00 A. M. a sidewalk sale begins with various vendors offering a variety of products.
5. At 10:00 A. M. our Warsaw Veterans of Foreign War Post 9810 always holds a Memorial Service at Veteran Park in downtown area. This year our speaker will be Past North Carolina Department commander William “Bill” Sloan. It is an integral part of our day. We refuse to forget those who gave all.
6. At 11:00 A. M. the highlight of the day begins: the military flyover and the parade! The flyover always announces that it is time for the parade to begin, and for reasons known only to those in attendance, it always brings out the intense patriotism we Americans have. Each year the Veterans Committee decides on the “focus” for the current year’s Veterans Day. It may be a branch of the military such as the Army Airborne, a particular war such as World War II, or some other aspect of the military; regardless of the focus, all veterans are honored each year. A grand marshal is then chosen and a theme is selected. For example in 2008 the focus was on the Army Airborne, four star General Dan K. McNeill was the grand marshal, and the theme was simply “Airborne.” General McNeill is a son of Warsaw … he grew up here and is proud to call us his hometown. In 2007 Colonel Dr. Stephen
Higgins was our grand marshal, the focus was on the Department of the Air Force and the theme was “Service before Self.” In 2004 the focus was on Medal of Honor winners from all branches of the military. We were proud to have Lt. Joe Marm, Sgt. Robert Patterson, and Cpl. Rodolf Hernandez; the theme was “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.” This year we plan to have a Marshal from each branch of the service and our Theme is: “By Air, Land & Sea We Go Forward Together” This year our Celebration will be Saturday November 6th and all are invited to come and celebrate with us. For information call Linda Kitchin at Warsaw Chamber of commerce (910) 293-7804 or e-mail warsawchamber@embarqmail.com.
7. At noon a BBQ is served by both the Warsaw Fire Dept. and the American Legion Post.
8. From 1:00 to 4:00 PM the Duplin County Veterans Memorial Museum located in Warsaw has an open house. Artifacts from every war are displayed in various rooms; an ”Honor Roll” of Duplin County men and women who have served this country from the Revolutionary War to the present day is always on display; many are always presently surprised to learn that Duplin County was the home of eleven generals; and periodically musical entertainment of a patriotic bent is provided. In 2004 we were honored to have our grand marshals autograph sold copies of the book MEDAL OF HONOR.
We strongly feel that 90 years of continuous recognition to all veterans on this special day speaks loudly to the pride, love, and loyalty this community has for all veterans; these qualities were first displayed in 1921 and the torch has been carried forward.
Army Aviation Golf Tournament
3rd Annual Golden Corral Patriot Run
3rd Annual Golden Corral Patriot Run to be Held on Saturday, November 20, 2010
Greenville, NC (For Immediate Release): East Carolina University’s Army ROTC “Pirate Battalion” is proud to announce that Golden Corral has signed on as the Title Sponsor of the 2010 Patriot Run. The Patriot Run is presented by ECU Army ROTC and the Brook Valley Country Club and will be held on November 20th. The 5 mile run route will wind through the picturesque Brook Valley golf course and subdivision. A 1 Mile “Fun Run” will also be featured at the same time as the 5 mile run. Both the 5 mile and 1 mile courses are completely on the road and promise to be fun and challenging for all levels of runners.
In its third year in Greenville, the Patriot Run has shifted its charity focus this year. After raising over $10,000 in two years supporting wounded warriors, the Pirate Battalion now wishes to pay tribute to our fallen heroes and their families. All proceeds from the 2010 Golden Corral Patriot Run are going to the Ft. Bragg Survivor Outreach Services (SOS). SOS’s mission is to advocate on behalf of the families of fallen service members for support from their communities. They provide an avenue of resources to include support groups, bi-monthly newsletters, information briefs, and social events.
The “Pirate Battalion” is also proud to have Grady White Boats and Physicians East on board as Major Sponsors, VFW post 7032 as the Finish Line Sponsor, and Rob’s Hydraulics, Columbo Kitchen Attorneys and Trade Wilco as Contributing Sponsors for this year’s run.
For additional Information on sponsorship opportunities or to register for the race please visit www.patriotrun.com. For more information on Ft. Bragg Survivor Outreach Services visit http://www.fortbraggmwr.com/acs/sos.php.
NC Army National Guard Enlisted Ball Golf Tournament
WHEN: October 15, 2010 / 1300hrs
WHERE: Grandover Golf, Resort and Spa http://www.grandover.com/
FORMAT: 4-Man Captains Choice
COST: $50.00 per Person / $200 per Team Limited to 25 Teams / 100 Golfers Mulligan’s / Skirt’s Available
PRIZES:
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Teams Individual Trophies
• Longest Drive
• Closest to Pin
• Door Prizes
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
• 1130 Range Opens / Range Balls Provided at No Additional Price
• 1300 Shotgun Start
• Beverage and Food Tents Along Course
• Hospitality Room at Koury Convention Center after tournament.
RSVP:
Fill out Entry Form and send to SFC Brian Hayes, 110 Franklin Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27401. Make checks payable to the NCNG Enlisted Ball NLT 08 OCT 2010
ENTRY FORM TEAM
Player 1:_________________ Player 2:__________________
Player 3:__________________ Player 4:__________________
ENTRY FORM INDIVIDUAL
Player 1:_______________ Handicap / Average Score:_____
We will make every attempt to place you with a team
Wayne Church Retirement Golf Tournament & Dinner
Where: Pudding Ridge Golf Course, 224 Cornwallis Drive, Mocksville, NC 27028-6103 (336) 940-4653 When: 08 October 2010
Time: 1:00 shotgun start
Format: 4 man Captain Choice
Entry Fee: $60 per person
CW5 Wayne Church is retiring with 41 years of service effective 05 December 2010. Please join us to honor this great American Soldier on Friday, 08Oct10. Proceeds from this tournament will benefit the North Carolina National Guard Educational Foundation. We will purchase a brick in the Walk of Honor to recognize Wayne and his wife and the remaining funds will go to our 505ECB Len Adams Memorial Scholarship. If you do not play golf, plan to join us for the dinner meal to follow and/or sponsor a hole.
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Entry price includes golf, carts, dinner meal, and drinks/beer. Prizes will be awarded for 1st and 2nd place teams. Closest to Pin and Long drive prizes will be awarded as well as raffle drawing prizes. Mulligans will be sold 2 for $10.00 and tickets will be used for the raffle. Dinner will be served after the round. Individuals can enter and will be paired up with other applicants. Teams can sign up together below and mail checks to Michael Sherrill @ 2100 Robinwood Road, Gastonia, NC 28054. Hole sponsors are $50.00 each. Any questions call MSG Reggie Hill or SSG Michael Sherrill at 704-865-3066.
Top Investor Traps of 2010
By Barbara Bennett, Investor Education Specialist, Secretary of State Securities Division
The NC Secretary of State Securities Division wants to keep you from losing your hard earned “green” on phony eco-friendly investments and other scams. Con artists are creating new and innovative ways to convince potential victims that they will not only make big profits, but also help the environment or reduce our foreign oil dependence. These traps could leave you in a financial hole for many years. So take a look at this year’s list of traps and be leery of offers that sound too good to be true.
Green Schemes: Investment opportunities tied to the development of new energy-efficient “green” technologies are increasingly popular with investors and scammers alike. Scammers cash in on unsuspecting investors by exploiting headlines like investments related to the clean-up of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill or the rising national interest in environmental innovations tied to “clean” energy, such as wind or wave energy, carbon credits and other alternative energy financing.
Oil and Gas Schemes: Fraudulent energy promoters continue to capitalize on oil and gas as investment alternatives to the stock market, which tend to be highly risky and unsuitable for investors who cannot afford the risk. They can also carry high sales commissions.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): While these resemble mutual funds in many respects, some may contain hidden traps and complexities. ETFs are designed for short-term trading (such as day-trading), and not for buy-and-hold strategies.
Foreign Exchange Trading Schemes (FOREX): Promoters profit by charging high commissions or selling investment strategies. Some salesmen and promoters who claim to have complex algorithms or propriety software programs which allow them to beat the market are actually just running Ponzi schemes.
Gold and Precious Metals: High gold prices have trapped some investors in gold bullion scams in which a seller offers to retain “purchased” gold in a “secure vault” and promises to sell the gold for the investor when it gains in value. In many instances the gold does not even exist.
Affinity Fraud: As I wrote in my first article last year, scam artists have found it lucrative to abuse their own membership or association with an identifiable group, such as the military, to convince a potential investor to trust the legitimacy of an investment. The use of group affiliation can convince investors to trust unquestioningly.
Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest: Not all advice is given with your best interest at heart. Some salespeople receive lucrative commissions or other incentives by selling products that are risky or inappropriate for an investor. Ask your financial professional to explain how they are compensated.
Private or Special Deals: Some investors encounter investment opportunities couched as “private” or for “special clients only.” While securities laws do offer businesses the opportunity to raise capital by selling securities to a relatively small number of investors in a non-public offering, these securities are not subject to the same review as others. Although properly used by many legitimate issuers, they have become an attractive option for con artists who promote the special or private nature of these schemes and make false and misleading representations.
“Off the Books” Deals: Be cautious if your broker offers an investment on the side instead of one sold through his or her employer. These “off the books” investments may not only be illegal, but they can also be especially risky without the oversight and supervision of the broker’s employer.
Unsolicited Online Pitches: Promoters of fraudulent investment schemes are moving beyond e-mail and turning to social media and online communities, such as Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist and YouTube to solicit unsuspecting investors. Some may use these sites to spread misinformation or promise high-yield, tax-free returns from investments in offshore markets. Once the money is sent to another country, investors may be difficult or impossible to get it back. Investors should approach any unsolicited investment opportunity with suspicion.
The Securities Division recommends that investors do business with licensed brokers and advisers. Calling us at 1-800-688-4507 before investing can help protect your financial security. And, reporting any suspicion of investment fraud to the Securities Division might prevent others from becoming scam victims.
USO of NC, Ft. Bragg and BB&T team up to support our returning troops
Raleigh – USO of North Carolina is teaming up with volunteers from BB&T to welcome soldiers home after returning from an overseas assignment. Employees from BB&T (Retail Banking and IT Services) will volunteer over 30 hours of their time throughout the months of August and September to help collect and purchase personal items that will be used in making “Rack Packs” to be given to each soldier.
“The efforts of BB&T are greatly appreciated by the USO of North Carolina. Rack Packs are a priority for the Fort Bragg Center and the donations mean a great deal to the Single Soldiers who are returning from the war zone,” said Renee Lane, Fort Bragg Center Director, USO of North Carolina.
USO of North Carolina and BB&T invite other members of the community to join them as they work to stuff the “Rack Packs” by making a small donation at any BB&T branch in Cary, NC. Items being collected include washcloths, travel size shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste and toothbrushes. For more details, members of the community may contact of any of our BB&T branches in Cary or email Edward Kenney at ekenney@bbandt.com .
“We wanted to work with the USO of North Carolina because of the great work they do in support of our troops and their families based in the Tarheel State,” said Velinda Moore, Banking Officer. “We’re proud to team up with them and help in any way we can.”
The BB&T volunteers are taking part in the company’s second annual Lighthouse Project. The teams have each selected a project to assist a non-profit agency to complete during August or September to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need. BB&T hopes their efforts encourage others in the community to volunteer their time and support organizations such as the USO of North Carolina.
Last year, BB&T employees donated nearly 53,000 hours to help improve the lives of 1.6 million people in 25 states. Employees overwhelmingly voted to bring back the initiative this year. For more information about the Lighthouse Project, go to www.bbt.com/bbt/lighthouseproject/.
About USO-NC
The staff supports nearly a quarter million patrons each year at deployments, homecomings, Honor Support Team activations, airport lounges, Smiles over Miles, United Through Reading and numerous other programs and services. The USO of NC operates four centers in Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune, Raleigh Durham Airport, Charlotte-Douglas Airport and Fort Bragg/Fayetteville; and a mobile center. North Carolina is home to nearly 25 percent of our nation’s military – active, guard and reserve. The USO OF NC has adopted digital communications to supplement their traditional outreach opportunities, operating a website (www.USO of NC.org/) a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/USOofNC), Twitter page (twitter.com/USOofNC) and a Youtube page (www.youtube.com/usoofnorthcarolina).
About BB&T
As of March 31, 2010, BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) is the 10th largest financial services holding company in the U.S. with more than $163 billion in assets and market capitalization of $22.4 billion. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates more than 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., and offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others. More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at www.BBT.com.
Change of Command, 1st Battalion 113th FA
Article and photos by CPT Jonathan Hearn
On 17 July 2010, LTC Forrest M. Grimes Jr. relinquished command of 1st Battalion 113th Field Artillery to LTC Vernon H. Simpson Jr. at the Charlotte National Guard Armory. LTC Grimes served as commander of the “Axehandle” battalion since June of 2007, leading his troops through an aggressive pre-mobilization train up and deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
COL Lusk passes the guidon of 1st Battalion 113th FA to incoming commander, LTC Simpson during the ceremony on 17 July 2010.
The Soldiers of 1-113th FA welcomed back a long time leader within the “Axehandle” battalion. LTC Simpson returned to the battalion after a short three year absence. By taking command of the battalion, LTC Simpson became the first and only member to successfully command and lead troops at all positions within the battalion from private to lieutenant colonel. Positions held during his career in 1-113th FA include all positions of a howitzer crew to include Gun Chief, Battalion Operations Sergeant, Battalion S1 and Administrative Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer.
The transfer of authority ceremony took place with a large audience in attendance to include eight former “Axehandle” Battalion Commanders, three former “Axehandle” Battalion Command Sergeant Majors and numerous other former commanders of the Field Artillery community. COL Lusk, the 30th HBCT Commander, oversaw the transfer of authority thanking LTC Grimes for his dedication to the “Old Hickory” Brigade and welcoming back LTC Simpson to the “Old Hickory” Brigade.
Several past and present commanders and command sergeant majors attended the ceremony. They are CSM Frank Biers, LTC (R) Bernard Funck, COL Mark Strong, LTC Forrest Grimes, Jr., CSM Ralph Johnson, LTC Jamie Mosteller, Jr., LTC Vernon Simpson, Jr., COL (R) Bobby Dowless and BG (R) Mabry Martin.
