NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Navy to Design New GI Bill Software
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. JPAC Goes to India
2. Military Healthcare Online Town Hall Meeting
3. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Navy to Design New GI Bill Software: A navy command center in
Charleston, SC, has been chosen to design the new GI Bill software which
VA will use to implement its education benefits. The Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) has experience with sophisticated
software that can perform some of the complex calculations that are
required under the new law. The benefit rollout is scheduled for Aug.
1, 2009. The new education benefit will pay full tuition up to the cost
of the most expensive four-year public college or university in the
state where a service member or veteran attends school. It also pays a
living stipend based on zip code and other fees for the student veteran.
SPAWAR is still awaiting funding from VA in order to begin the initial
stage.
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. JPAC Goes to India: The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command investigated
two WWII crash sites in India in mid-October, following U.S. and host
government negotiations that started earlier this year. One crash site
was determined to be a B-24 Liberator named "Hot As Hell" that was lost
with a crew of eight on January 25, 1944. JPAC is planning to return to
India in 2009 to conduct a recovery operation. This action is in
keeping with VFW Resolution No. 439 recently adopted at the 109th
National Convention. The resolution can be viewed at
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=caphill.levele&eid=4703.
2. Military Healthcare Online Town Hall Meeting: The Military Health
System will host a web town hall meeting on Nov. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. on
www.health.mil <http://www.health.mil/> between senior military leaders
and service members and their families about the Defense Department's
medical care programs and services for its wounded, ill and injured
troops. The online event will feature a live web discussion with senior
leadership and subject matter experts on warrior and family and veterans
issues. It will provide participants with the opportunity to interact
with an array of service members and families who have been touched by
warrior care. Town hall participants may submit questions starting
today and throughout the live program on Nov 19. Click HERE
<http://www.health.mil/Content/docs/Warrior%20Care%20Webhall%20Instructi
ons.pdf> to obtain instructions on how to participate in the event.
3. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 96,023; Navy Reserve, 6,041; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 10,399; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,946; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 848. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 120,257, a decrease of 53 from last week. These
figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated
Reserve Component members. Of this total, 93,638 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 26,619 are voluntarily serving on active
duty.
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