The December 2013 edition of National Guard is available online at http://ow.ly/suJFT
The position of Director of the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy (YCA) is vacant.
The YCA provides opportunities for at-risk/non-traditional students to learn life skills; and become productive responsible and successful citizens while working towards a high school diploma. The Director is responsible for the operation, administration, and management of the YCA Program in accordance with the Federal-State Program Cooperative Agreement.
The duties of the State Director include: Develops and implements program policies and procedures; integrates and coordinates the YCA program with existing Department of Education and community programs/resources; compiles and reviews budget requests and develops the operating budget; and develops and maintains efforts to reach government, business and community leaders to support the YCA programs.
The position is located in Kalaeloa, Oahu and the salary ranges from $71,674.00 – $93,175.00 per year.
Learn more about this job opportunity at the Department of Human Resources Development website http://ow.ly/synmS. If you have any questions regarding this non-civil service exempt position, please contact Deborah Kaneshiro at (808) 733-4217 (Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (HST).
Albert Kawai‘iho‘olana Iokepa Jr., 51, of Honolulu, an Army and National Guard veteran, Ampco System Parking senior operations manager and employee of the Koko Marina 76 gas station, passed away on December 27, 2013. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by son Albert III, daughters Jasmine Ramilo and Maelani Iokepa, brothers Donald and Robert Iokepa, and sisters Karen Rodrigues and Lee Anne Iokepa.
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All current and retired members of the armed forces need to read this article – will affect you in one way or another.
The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment in Washington reported last year that if personnel costs grow unabated at their current rate and the defense budget remains flat with inflation, troop outlays alone would consummate all defense spending by 2039. (25 years from now)
Concerned, Congress established the Commission on Military Pay and Retirement Modernization as part of the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act to review the situation. The commission began its work last month (November 2013) and hopes to make recommendation to Congress this spring.
“The Commission on Military Pay and Retirement Modernization made it clear to the National Guard of the United States representatives in a meeting that everything is on the table.”
Read the article from the December issue of National Guard magazine. Money Talks
The Hawaii National Guard recently celebrated the 377th Birthday Commemoration of the National Guard at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in the Coral Ballroom. MidWeek published some photographs from the ball in their January 8, 2014 issue. http://ow.ly/stTTV
Digital files are your best weapon in the battle to conquer clutter. This article In the January 2014 issue of Kiplinger Magazine provides information about going paperless. Read more http://ow.ly/sc4wF
Last year, Stephen Lum of the department’s Public Affairs Office completed a photo gallery recognizing the eighteen individuals who served as Hawai‘i’s adjutants general through the years. Each photo includes short biography of officer. This photo gallery is in the hallway outside the Adjutant General’s office here at the State Headquarters.
Special thanks to Steve for another superb job.
To share Steve’s hard work, we will post one of the photos each week. This week’s photo features Hawai‘i’s eleventh Adjutant General, Major General Benjamin J. Webster.
click on photograph to enlarge
The December-January time frame is a period where retirements take place. Among the retirees this year, are two long time Hawai‘i National Guard family members.
Colonel Stanley “Ulu” Snow has his retirement ceremony this past UTA weekend. Ulu retired as the Headquarters, Hawai‘i Air National Guard Director of Operations. During his time with the 154th Wing and the 109th Air Operations Group, he flew KC-135R Stratotankers and F-15 Eagles, and served in several command and staff positions. Ulu plans to split time between Hawaii and Utah while continuing to fly as a senior captain with United Airlines.
Lenora Lee retired from her State position at the end of December. She served with the 154th Security Forces Squadron for over 20 years, helping Air Guard members with vehicle decals. When the Department of Defense stopped issuing decals, she moved to a new position with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard.
Happy Trails to Ulu and Lenora as they start their retirements!
The 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team completed a Change of Command ceremony during the January UTA weekend. Colonel Stephen Logan assumed command from Colonel Kenneth Hara during the ceremony on the Kapolei High School football field.
This change of command is part of movement of officers across the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. Retiree News reported the command and staff changes earlier in a September 2013 post. http://wp.me/p3639O-QR
Congratulations to all on their new positions!
Colonel Bryan Suntheimer‘s pinning ceremony is set for Friday, January 17, 2014. The ceremony will start at 1500 in the Governor’s Ceremonial Room at the State Capitol.
“General Suntheimer” has a good ring to it.
And finally, Tracey Saiki, retired Hawai‘i Air National Guard member, is recovering from a serious medical challenge. Keep her in your thoughts.
Special thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email” last week: Eddie Chung-Hoon, Jimmy Young
In 2006, Holly Deni’s 99-year-old aunt was hospitalized after she was found unconscious in her Manhattan apartment. Deni’s aunt, who had no children, had a will but had never given anyone power of attorney for her finances or health care
As a result, Deni couldn’t manage her aunt’s bills, retrieve personal items from her apartment or move her to a long-term-care facility near Deni’s home in New Jersey. It took Deni six months to become her aunt’s legal guardian, at a cost of $15,000.
Read more http://ow.ly/sc34V (link to a Kiplinger Magazine article)
click on photograph to enlarge
Colonel Duke A. Pirak requests the pleasure of your company for an assumption of command ceremony at which Lieutenant Colonel Bo G. Masuyama will assume command of the 204th Airlift Squadron from Lieutenant Colonel Michael H. Guerrera.
When: Sunday, January 5, 2014, starting at 1300 Where: C-17 Auditorium, Bldg 2140 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI Please click on the link below to view the invitation and RSVP. https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=179516&k=03664B0C7A51If you are unable to click on the link below, please copy and paste the address into your web browser.
Point of Contact: Capt Preston Kahikina Executive Officer, 204th Airlift Squadron Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam 808-449-1223 preston.kahikina@us.af.milBased on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there will be a 1.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for retired pay and Survivor Benefits Plan annuities effective December 1, 2013. Cost retiree and annuitants will see the change on their December 31, 2013 payment.
Happy New Year! Live we live in Hawaii.
2014 will be a great year.
