It may take up to five years to finalize the standards for the Army Combat Fitness Test as the service struggles to address the performance gap between male and female soldiers on the service’s first-ever gender-neutral fitness assessment.
The Army just completed in late September a year-long field test of the ACFT, involving about 60 battalions of soldiers. And as of October 1, soldiers in Basic Combat Training, advanced Individual training and one station unit training began to take the ACFT as a graduation requirement.
This photograph show the old Hickam Base Exchange facility that was replaced by the first building of the current complex in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
Back then, drill weekend visits to the Exchange were limited to “incidentals.” Over the years, benefit changes evolved to where we have full access to the exchange (and commissary) everyday.
These benefit changes were a direct result of political action taken by the national and local officer and enlisted associations. It was a long uphill battle that included hearings and a lot of letter writing.
From the Financial Review website
Washington | Many thoughts can go through your mind at the airport as your phone’s battery dwindles from green to yellow to red. How is it already dead? What if I can’t call Uber when I land? Where is my charger? But when you find a place to plug in and charge, it may not be as simple – or safe – as you think.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is warning travelers using Los Angeles International Airport of a new scheme targeting people who need a quick boost at public USB charging stations. The USB charging scam, also known as “juice jacking”, involves hackers spoofing charging stations to steal information.
Thanks to Billy Change for sharing this article for posting
It’s short for cannabidiol, and it’s a natural compound found in both marijuana and hemp plants. There’s some evidence that it might help treat pain, seizures, and some other health problems. But much more research is needed for doctors to know for sure what it can do.
The Office of Veterans’ Services (OVS) is starting a brand new Veteran Newsletter database. If you would like to receive the Hawaii Veteran Newsletter please email or mail the bottom portion of this page to let us know how you would like to receive your newsletter.
Mailing expenses constitute approximately half the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter. In an effort to continue providing you with the Hawaii Veterans Newsletter we are asking for your cooperation in accepting the newsletter electronically (by email) if at all possible.
We understand that some of you do not have direct access to a computer or email. If this is the case, our branch offices will carry hard copies of the newsletter that you can pick up for free. If you would like to continue receiving a hard copy of the newsletter, email us at ovs@hawaii.gov.
Your assistance in this new endeavor will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your continued participation.
From an Island Insurance flyer
Hawaii continues to have one of the highest alcohol-impaired driving rates in the country. Those who illegally drink and drive jeopardize their and others’ safety, and face severe legal, financial and personal ramifications.
Under Hawaii’s Driving under the influence (DUI) law, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. New legislations passed on July 1, 2019 allows even harsher penalties for anyone caught driving drunk.
First Offense
– Driver’s license revocation for one year
– Minimum 14-hour substance abuse program
– One of more of the following:
>>> 72 hours community service
>>> Two to five days in jail
>>> Fine of $250.00 to $1,000.00
Second Offense
– Driver’s license revocation for two to three years
– One or more of the following:
>>> 240 hours of community service
>>> Five to 30 days in jail
>>> Fine of $1,000.00 to $3,000.00
Two or more offenses in a 10-year period
– Charged with a Class C felony
– Up to five years in jail or five years of probation with conditions to include:
>>> Driver’s license suspension for three to five years
>>> No less that 10 days in jail
>>> Fine of $2,000.00 to $5,000.00
Hawaii’s Zero Tolerance Law means that anyone who is under 21 years old will automatically be charged with DUI if they are caught driving with any amount of alcohol in their system. The penalties for anyone under 21 years old may also include a mandatory fine of $500.00 and two days in jail.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. It has the power to reboot franchises on screens big and small. The sheer force of well-placed nostalgia can practically move mountains. Or can–at the very least–get us in our feelings for a minute or two. Holidays are fuel for nostalgia. Big movies like Star Wars come out, playing on our childhood loves, while Christmas commercials prey on our memories of yesteryear. But you can’t exactly blame the companies that use old characters to sell us new things–it works.
On January 1, some copayments for your prescription drugs will increase. If you get your prescriptions through the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or at a retail network pharmacy, you’ll pay anywhere from $2 to $7 more starting January 1. Congress made this change in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year to close October 1 – September 30, 2018.
There’s still no cost to fill your prescriptions at military pharmacies. And these cost changes don’t apply to active duty service members (ADSMs). If you’re an ADSM, you still pay nothing for your covered drugs at military and network pharmacies.
“Military pharmacies remain to be your lowest cost option,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Melissa Pammer with the Pharmacy Operations Division at the Defense Health Agency. “Your next lowest cost is if you use the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery.”
Webmaster Comment: These increases are in response to Congressional direction to reduce program costs. Additionally, TRICARE is part of the Department of Defense budget; not an independent department like Veterans Affairs. TRICARE’s portion of the overall budget has increased considerably since the programs’ inception.
From the U.S. News & World Report website
With the holidays approaching, you may be receiving wish lists from children and grandchildren. And the larger your family grows, the longer your shopping list for gifts might be.
Before going to the mall, evaluate your gift options. “Retirees have much to offer family members by way of love and wisdom,” says Sharon Oberlander, managing director and wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch. “When applied to gift giving, these attributes can have a tremendous impact on loved ones, especially during the holiday season.”
Now may be the ideal time to pass along financial life lessons you’ve learned. Read on for money-savvy gift ideas that could make a big difference for a loved one.
Retiree News 