This hurts us more than it hurts you. That’s the essence of the regular Army’s message to the National Guard about the Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI), a controversial cost-cutting plan that — among other things – strips the Guard of all its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Pain is on its way for all of us, leader after leader told me, and ARI is the least worst way to allocate it. But can they convince a skeptical Congress?
Continue reading http://ow.ly/zyf2a
Thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email”: Joseph “Primo Joe” Ah New
You can register to receive an email every time there is a new post. In the “Follow Blog via Email” section and press “Follow”. On the next screen, enter your email address and press ENTER. Shortly, you will receive a confirmation email to your address from WordPress.com. You acknowledge the email and you are a registered reader.
After you compete this short registration process, you get a notification email every time there is a new posting. The email has a quick teaser of the posting, along with tags that indicate how the posting relates to special topics/areas.
The conventional idea of retirement is being challenged in the 21st century. A new analysis reveals that many commonly held beliefs about work in retirement are obsolete as life expectancy and aspirations improve.
Retirement is no longer being defined as a period of inactivity. According to Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, retirement now has four distinct phases: pre-retirement, career intermission, reengagement, and leisure. The reengagement phrase is the biggest surprise in the study, as three out of four pre-retirees older than 50 say their ideal retirement will include working in some capacity. Furthermore, money is not the biggest motivator for staying in the workforce.
“This study turns conventional wisdom on its head,” said Andy Sieg, head of Global Wealth and Retirement Solutions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “By embracing these new realities and attitudes toward work in retirement, everyone from policy makers to employers and the financial industry will be better equipped to help people pursue their goals.”
Let’s take a look at four popular retirement myths debunked by the extensive study of more than 7,000 respondents across the nation. http://ow.ly/zmaQx
Exercise for more than just weight loss: From your nose to your toes, working out produces tons of total-body benefits.
Here’s why you should break a sweat today. http://ow.ly/zfM6i
National Guard is the official publication of the National Guard Association of the United States. The July 2014 edition of National Guard is available online. This month’s issue features
Cyber Uncertainty Governors want to tap the Guard’s growing cyber capability. The Guard wants to help, but a lack of clear policy from Washington is an impediment. By William Matthews Conference Update Some important travel tips and the latest news on NGAUS and host-state plans for next month’s 136th General Conference & Exhibition in Chicago Off the Rails GUARD ROOTS: America’s first major labor dispute was one of the Guard’s darker hours, but the experience led to changes that helped the force come of age. By Bob Haskell Read the entire issue http://ow.ly/zqRhV The National Guard Association of the United States One Massachusetts Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20001 | www.ngaus.org P: 202.789.0031 | F: 202.682.9358 | newsletter@ngaus.orgJust because something is labeled “smart” doesn’t mean it’s an intelligent choice. Get the inside scoop on popular diet darlings to find out what to avoid and what to eat.
Continue reading http://ow.ly/z5yNk
On Thursday, July 17, 2014, Colonel Kenneth Hara, had the honor of administering the enlistment oath to his son, Justin. The ceremony was at the Honolulu Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawai‘i.
click on photograph to enlarge
The Hara family has a long tradition in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. Justin is the first third generation Guardmember.
Justin’s grandfather, was Lieutenant Colonel Henry Hara commanded the 2nd Battalion, 299 Infantry in Hilo for 13 years, and retired in 1988. Henry’s brother was Lieutenant Colonel Horace Hara, who served as a M-Day soldier.
LTC Hara’s four sons are the second generation to serve.
– Major General Gary Hara currently serves as the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Pacific
– Colonel Kenneth Hara is the Chief of the Joint Staff, Hawai‘i National Guard
– Sergeant Major Dennis Hara served in the HIARNG for 42 years and just retired from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard
– Master Sergeant Larry Hara is a technician with the Combines Support Maintenance Shop #2 in Hilo.
After Justin’s enlistment, COL Hara spoke on the Hara family history with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. This is an edited version of his speech: The Hara Family
Photos by Stephen Lum
Without realizing it, you could be sabotaging your weight loss with some common diet mistakes — or by not being vigilant in your efforts.
Here’s why your weight loss may be stuck. http://ow.ly/zfLTl
James Michael Doolin is a success story, a reflection of his personal drive and determination in life.
In the 1980s, he enlisted in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard after a tour with the United States Marine Corps. Mike became the frequency manager at the Headquarters, 201st Combat Communications Group. He graduated number one in his frequency management course – a multi-service, joint officer-enlisted course. Upon his return from school, he subsequently became the frequency manager at United State Pacific Command (PACOM) as a civil service employee.
After serving as the 201 CCG’s frequency manager for a few years, he graduated from officer school and became a second lieutenant. Mike served in positions within the Headquarters and the 293rd Combat Communications Squadron.
Shortly thereafter, his civil service career took him to Scott AFB, Illinois. He eventually became a member of the Air Force Reserve at Scott.
His email to Retiree News describes the rest of his story.
I was trying to connect with you on Linked In recently. Thinking of my Hawai‘i Air Guard brothers and sisters a lot lately. I retired from civil service last fall as Director of Communications, 72 Air Base Wing, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. A Group-level Director job leading a 450 person Directorate of civilians and contractors supporting the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, and 45 tenant organizations, including the 3rd Herd and the 38 EIG.
Ironically, the 3rd, the 201st, and I retired at about the same time last year. I was Director of Communications at Tinker for 3.5 years following an opportunity to attend Air War College, graduating in May 2010 at Maxwell AFB, Mississippi.
Since my retirement from civil service, I’ve been on full-time orders as Chief, Cyber Plans, J3Y, Joint Cyber Center atUnited States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Scott AFB, Illinois. I was fortunate to be promoted to Colonel July 1 in the USAFR. Maj Gen Mike Kim, Commander, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit, officiated at my promotion ceremony on July 12 at USTRANSCOM. My Hawai‘i brothers and sisters were heavy in my thoughts and heart that day.
Gen Kim has a Hawai‘i connection. His father is retired military and lives in Kāne‘ohe, no more than a couple of miles from where we lived in the Haiku area. He reminds me of my special time in the Hawai‘i Air Guard.Hawai‘i will always be home for me and my family. My family continues to do well and our children have excelled.
I was looking back at old OPRs this past week and was reminded of how much Col Jeff Okazaki did for me, sponsoring my commission opportunity, along with folks like you, and many others like Brig Gen Kathy Berg, Barry Castellano, and Jiro Arakaki, all positively influencing my career path. Senior NCOs like Elmer Looney, Walt Furuyama, Norm Uyechi, Roy Yamasaki, and many more…helped make me look better than I was along the way.
So many tremendous memories for me that I could go on and on… If there is an opportunity to work once more in Hawai‘i I would love the chance to do so. Not sure how many more years I’ll work, now 57. In October, Joni and I are meeting up with our Hawai‘i family (Al and Cy Young, and Joni’s sisters Lori and Kelly) in San Francisco. Then, in November we will join them for a trip to Japan.
Please pass my Aloha to all.Mike Doolin, 293rd CCS and 201st CCG alumni.
BTW: Mike’s father-in-law is Al Young, the former First Sergeant of the then 154th Supply Squadron.
While there are a number of websites that rate new vehicles for older drivers, one of the most credible is Edmunds.com, a top-rated online resource for automotive research information.
For 2014, they developed a list of “top 10 vehicles for seniors” based on user-friendly features that help compensate for many of the physical changes – like diminished vision, arthritis, and range of motion loss – that can come with aging.
But before we get to the list, here is a rundown of different features that are available on many new vehicles today and how they can help with various age-related physical problems. So depending on what ails you or your wife, here’s what to look for. http://ow.ly/zmaeT
Sam Wong, retired Chief Master Sergeant, emailed corrections and additions to the webmaster’s comments post.
* Retiree News reported Ramona Fujimoto was a member of the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, when she in fact retired from the 204th Airlift Squadron.
* The Chief went on, “Also retiring from the 204 AS that very same day was MSgt Todd Knight, Flight Engineer with the C-130s and Loadmaster with the C17s. Along with Todd and Mona, TSgt Steve Oshiro, Loadmaster, 204 AS.”
Thanks again to the Chief.
The beach chair is beckoning, but isn’t it also tempting to save a wad of cash? Hold off on the sand and surf for just a bit, and take some time for your midyear tax review. By getting a head start on your 2014 planning, you’re likely to find many strategies to shave your payments to Uncle Sam.
To get started, take out your 2013 return. “Note what is changing for 2014 regarding your income and deductions,” says Martin James, a certified public accountant in Mooresville, Ind. “You need to look at
It’s also crucial, according to James and other tax experts, for taxpayers to take a multi-year approach to their annual tax review. James says a move that could trim taxes one year could “create a tax nightmare in the future.” For instance, he says, a taxpayer who reduces her tax tab each year by pulling money from a taxable account—rather than withdrawing from an IRA and paying taxes—could find herself in a higher tax bracket later when it’s time to take required minimum distributions from a large IRA.
Continue reading http://ow.ly/znw4P
The link to Air Force Magazine in the “Periodicals” drop down menu is gone. The Air Force Association has placed access to full issues behind a “pay wall”. Unless you subscribe to the magazine, you cannot get to the individual issues.
Ibuprofen belongs to the class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include such other over-the-counter medications as naproxen and aspirin. These drugs are very effective in relieving minor pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries and arthritis, as well as many other causes of pain. There are, however, significant potential side effects associated with both long-term and short-term use.
Continue reading http://ow.ly/zm9xC
