4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013

7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013

1/14

together another group of

informave arcles to assist

you at this important me,

so please take a look and

review what is being passed

along.

Semper Fidelis,

LtCol K.D. Pierson

Commanding Ocer

4th Maintenance Baalion

Dear Marines and Sailors of

4th Maintenance Baalion-

Now that the holidays are

behind us and we look to

2013, we as a baalion have

the opportunity to approach

much of what we look

forward to with a fresh

start. From our upcoming

Combat Logisc Baalion

transformaon to upcoming

exercise support, there are

many moving pieces in play

that will aect us all. As a

result, it is important that

we look collecvely to

ensure we are

communicang as best we

can. If you are reading this

newsleer, we are o to a

great start. But as leaders,

we are responsible for

ensuring that this sort of

informaon makes its way

through all layers of our

command to be as eecve

as possible, so please keepup the good work and

maintain the momentum.

The focus of this quarterly,

baalion-wide newsleer is

on personal nance and

administraon, as you will

see in many of the following

arcles we have pulled

together for you here. It is

tax me, and Ka has done

a fantasc job of pulling

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Commanders

Corner

1

SgtsMajStraight Talk

1

From the FRO 2

Tax Info 2-6

Financial

Links Recap

9

Plan My

Deployment

10

OPSEC 10

TRICARE

Changes

11

TSA Pre-check 12

4th Maintenance Battalion

Unit, Personal & Family ReadinessW I N T E R 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

TSA Pre-Check

Tax Resources

Budget/Financial

Resources

and more!

Commanders Corner

Sergeant Major Straight Talk

its many acvies. Mishaps

connue to aect us many

mes, worse than an enemy

could. Use proper planning

and connue looking out for

each other. As always, I

enjoy vising the sites andspending me with those

Marines. There are a few

sites I haven't goen to, but

look forward to hopefully

very soon.

Semper Fi.

SgtMaj L.B. Cummings

Sergeant Major

4th Maintenance Baalion

Marines, families, and

friends,

Here we are already moving

towards spring me. I would

like to rst say thank you for

your hard work and

dedicaon, especially for

those being aected by our

re-organizaon. Together,

we will move forward

for the beer. As

we move

towards the

annual training

(AT) season,

keep in mind

that personal

military educaon (PME)

should be your priority.

Please make sure you

manage your careers

carefully. Without proper

PME, you will not be

promoted or re-enlisted.

This newsleer also has a

lot to oer in regards to

planning, preparaon and

taxes. Please make sure you

take advantage of the

resources provided.

Addionally, with the

warmer weather, I would

ask you to be careful while

enjoying the outdoors and


2/14

P A G E 2

Ms. Ka ToneyFamily Readiness

Ocer

4th Maintenance BnCharloe, NC

704-598-0015 x337

BB: 704-488-9770

[email protected]

FACEBOOK

Ka Toney-Fro

From the FRO:Greengs, Marines, Sailors,

Families and Friends!

The holidays have come and

gone and January just past.

We all know what comesnext, right?? TAX TIME!!!

For some, it can be a great

me of year, for others it

can be, well, prey awful.

Either way, the process can

be dicult. So, Ive included

resources in this newsleer

to assist you in preparing for

your tax returns as well as

planning for the upcoming

year.

Along with tax preparaoncomes budget planning and

paying o that Christmas

credit card debt. It can be

overwhelming knowing the

best steps to take, but

hopefully, the resources

provided in this newsleer

will help lessen the headache

of trying to gure everything

out.

Preparing, planning,

budgeng...are we nocing a

theme here?? Haha! Its

important to plan and

prepare so we arent caught

by surprise when the

unexpected happens.

Whatever that may be.

Deployments are a perfect

example of the importance of

preparing and planning (and,

yes, theres resources in here

for that, also!).

January is also the month when

semesters change in school.

That means class changes, etc.

Tutor.com is available to assistyou for FREE if you qualify.

More informaon on this

valuable program is also

included here.

This newsleer is packed with

informaon! I hope you will

take the me to read through it

and take advantage of some of

these resources! As always, Im

just an email or phone call away

if you need me! :-)

Kati

4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N

Just thinking about the start of tax season is enough to cause most people a major headache. Between

collecng the right documents, following all the tax laws and geng everything submied on me, tax

me can be overwhelming. But with the correct preparaon on your part and some help from outside

resources, like your installaons Volunteer Income Tax Assistance oce and Military OneSource, you

can make this tax season much less stressful for you and your family.

Preparing ahead of me

One way to make tax me easier is to start gathering all the necessary documents and informaon you

need ahead of me. Designate a specic locaon (a folder, a drawer, a shoebox, etc.) where you can

place all the relevant informaon, so that when you are ready to le, you have everything you need.

Here are some of the things you should start gathering:

Social Security number and date of birth for you, your spouse and your dependents

child care, educaon and adopon costs

W-2 forms from all employers for you and your spouse

Form 1099 for independent contractors

Investment income forms

Alimony informaon

Social Security benets

Miscellaneous income

Form 1098-E for student loan interest

Charitable donaons

Uninsured medical and dental expenses

Filing Your TAXES Without the Headache


3/14

P A G E 3V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2

Real estate taxes

Receipts for any deducble expenses

W-2 forms are typically available from your service branch beginning in January. You can download your military

W-2 from myPay (hps://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx). Tax forms are available at your local post oce and library.

You can also download them from the IRS website (www.irs.gov).

In addion to gathering important documents, here are some other ways to get ahead of the tax me curve:

Create a list of quesons for a tax consultant. You may wonder whether or not you can write o certain expenses

or whether you qualify for an extension. Write all of this down and ask a professional.

Dont wait unl the last minute to start your taxes. Just because the deadline is in April doesnt mean you have to

wait unl then to get started.

Be aware of special tax benets you may qualify for as a service member, including a ling extension. Visit the IRS

website (hp://www.irs.gov/uac/Special-Tax-Benets-for-Armed-Forces-Personnel) or contact a Military

OneSource tax consultant (hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/

Topic.do?centerId=1&topicId=1583) to nd out more about these benets.

Pay aenon to tax scams. Each year, the IRS informs and educates the public about the most common tax

scams, which include unscrupulous tax preparers or phishing. To learn more about how to avoid these scams, visit

the IRS website (hp://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams

-Consumer

-Alerts).

Taking advantage of Military OneSource Tax Services

Military OneSource provides free access to the H&R Block At Home Basic online tax ling service. The service al-

lows you to complete and electronically le your federal and up to three state tax returns or lings. Your calcula-

ons are guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate or H&R Block pays the penales and interest. The H&R Block At

Home Basic tax ling service protects the security and condenality of your personal informaon by using indus-

try-recognized security safeguards. You do not have to complete the return all at one me. When you begin, you

create a secure user ID and password, which enables you to log on, save, close and return to the program as need-

ed.

In addion, Military OneSource provides year round access to tax consultants who can help you and your familynd answers to your tax quesons and maximize your refund. Military OneSource tax consultants:

Share informaon about the unique tax requirements and issues related to military personnel and their families

Idenfy applicable IRS and state tax regulaons, denions and forms

Provide electronic copies of tax forms and help you understand how to complete them

Review opons for using a refund, including opons for using it to pay down debt

Explain addional tax services available to the military community such as VITA clinics

To learn more about Military OneSource Tax Services, call 800-342-9647 or go online

(www.militaryonesource.com).

Determining your eligibility

The following individuals are eligible for the Military OneSource Tax Services:

All acve duty service members

Naonal Guard and members of the reserves (regardless of acvaon status)

Members of the Coast Guard Reserve acvated as part of the Department of the Navy under Title 10 authority

Spouses and dependent children who are authorized in DEERS

A family member who is taking care of the aairs of an eligible service when the service member is deployed

A severely injured service member of one of the services noted above, or a designated family member of a se-

verely injured member who is incapable of handling his or her own aairs; medically rered individuals are eligible


4/14

P A G E 4

The realmeasure of

your wealth ishow much

you'd be worthif you lost all

your money.

~AuthorUnknown

4 T H

Most of the tax changes for 2013 aect those with a high-income household (over $400,000),

however there is one in parcular that you may already be feelingthe full 6.2% of Social Secu-

rity will now be withheld from your pay. Most of us have had at least one pay check in 2013

already and noced a slight decrease in the amount you bring home. The holiday lasted two

years, and this increased percentage will help connue funding to the Social Security system.

The following deducons were le untouched and extended through 2013:

1. Discharge of qualied principal residence exclusion. Filers going through a foreclosure or

short sale who may have had loan forgiveness should look into this as it will exclude most, if

not all, of the forgiven amount from taxable income

2. Educators may connue to deduct $250 in related job expenses as an adjustment to income

3. Mortgage insurance premiums may be deducted as mortgage interest

4. The deducon for state and local sales taxes may sll be taken

5. The $1,000 Child Tax Credit, the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit, and the enhanced

American Opportunity Tax Credit will all be extended through 2017;

6. Tuion costs may be deducted as an adjustment to income

7. IRA-to-charity exclusion from taxable income remains including a special provision that al-

lows transfers made in January 2013 to be treated as made in 2012.

Beginning on Jan. 1, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel

trucks) will be 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, 24 cents per mile driven for medi-

cal or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizaons. For

further informaon, contact your tax advisor.

-excerpt from JSS Financial Frontline Newsleer, Jan 2013

Tax Changes for 2013

unl 180 days past their End of Tour of Service, rerement date or discharge date

Addional resources

The personal nancial readiness of service members and their families is a top priority of the Depart-

ment of Defense. The DoD provides a wide range of tools and services to help service members and

their families reduce debt, achieve savings goals and aain nancial exibility. Here are some resources

designed to assist you and your family:

The Personal Financial Management Program-

The PFMP is an installaon-based program oered by

each of the Services. Personal nancial counselors provide educaon and counseling services that ad-

dress a range of nancial topics, including rerement planning, banking, budgeng, record keeping and

more.

Financial counseling - Financial counseling is available through Military OneSource (in addion to the

tax consultaon services) and the Joint Family Support Assistance Program. To nd a JFSAP team in your

state, visit Military INSTALLATIONS (hp://www.militaryinstallaons.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0).

VITA Program - The VITA Program provides free tax advice and preparaon, return ling and other tax

assistance to military members and their families. To nd a VITA site near you, visit

hp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparaon-for-You-by-Volunteers

IRS - The IRS website (www.irs.gov) is full of helpful resources, forms and ps to make tax me easier

for you.

Military families prosper when they can manage their nances well and save money for the future. Start

this year with a stress-free tax season and get on track to nancial readiness and long

-term nancial well

-being.

Addional Links:Tax Informaon for Members of the Militaryhp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Military


5/14


The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs oer

free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.

VITA

The VITA Program generally oers free tax help to people who make $51,000 or less and need assistance in

preparing their own tax returns. IRS-cered volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparaon

with electronic ling to qualied individuals in local communies. They can inform taxpayers about special

tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the

Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries,

schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locaons.

TCE

The TCE Program oers free tax help for all with priority assistance to people who are 60 years of age and

older, specializing in quesons about pensions and rerement issues unique to seniors. IRS-cered

volunteers who provide tax counseling are oen rered individuals associated with non-prot organizaons

that receive grants from the IRS.

Self-Help Tax Preparaon

In addion to tradional face-to-face tax preparaon, the IRS is oering a self-assistance service at many

VITA and TCE locaons. If individuals have a simple tax return and need a lile help or do not have access to

a computer, they can visit one of the parcipang tax preparaon sites and an IRS-cered volunteer will

guide them through the process.

Find a VITA Site Near You

There are thousands of VITA sites located across the country. You may nd a site near you between January

and April using the VITA Locator Tool or call 1-800-906-9887.

Find a TCE or AARP Tax-

Aide Site Near You

A majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundaons Tax Aide Program. To locate the nearest

TCE site or AARP Tax-Aide site between January and April use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888-227-

7669.

**Note: Majority of the VITA and TCE sites are open annually from late January/early February to April 15.

During this me, you can locate a site near you using the above locator tools.

Items you need to bring

To have your tax return(s) prepared at a VITA or TCE site you need to bring the following informaon with

you:

Proof of idencaon Picture IDSocial Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number vericaon leer

issued by the Social Security Administraon or

Individual Taxpayer Idencaon Number (ITIN) assignment leer for you, your spouse and dependents

Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN

Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers

Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

A copy of last years federal and state returns if available

Proof of bank account roung numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check

FREE Tax Prep (even for parents!)


6/14

P A G E 6

"We make

Marines and we

win our nations

battles. Then we

turn those men

and women back

to Americas

society better

people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)


U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

FREE Tax Prep cont.Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax idenfying number (theprovider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Idencaon Number)

if appropriate

To le taxes electronically on a married-ling-joint tax return, both spouses must be present

to sign the required forms.

It is extremely important that each person use the correct Social Security Number. The mostaccurate informaon is usually located on your original Social Security card. If you do not have

an SSN for you or a dependent, you should complete Form SS-5, Social Security Number

Applicaon. This form should be submied to the nearest Social Security Administraon

Oce.

If you or your dependent is not eligible to get a Social Security Number, you may need an

Individual Taxpayer Idencaon Number (ITIN).

On Feb. 25, the Department of Defense will kick o Military Saves Week, part of its larger

Military Saves campaign, created to meet the unique nancial challenges facing service

members. Military Saves Week encourages service members and their families to commit

or recommit to securing nancial stability by planning for the future and making

responsible nancial decisions on a daily basis.

This week-long focus on creang nancial security within military households encourages

service members to take the Saver Pledge and formally commit themselves to saving

money, reducing debt and building wealth over me. Since the rst Military Saves Week,

more than 128,000 individuals have taken the pledge and commied to focusing onnancial readiness within their families.

Military Saves Week will feature a nancial fair in the Pentagon hosted by the Oce of the

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy. The fair will

bring representaves from nancial instuons and organizaons together to aid service

members in implemenng personal nancial plans with goals of spending less and saving

more.

Installaons around the world will host events promong the same mission and

encouraging service members and their families to take the Saver Pledge. These events

will oer further informaon on tools and resources available to help them meet debt

reducon and savings goals.

For more informaon, and to take the Saver Pledge, visit www.militarysaves.org

-from Military Community and Family Policy Newsleer, Feb 201

Military Saves Week


7/14


Whether you need help planning your nances, geng on a budget, managing your debt, reviewing

saving and investment plans, or seek informaon on stocks, bonds and rerement plans, Military

OneSource is here to help.

As a member of the Armed Forces, you are faced with some unique nancial issues due to

Permanent Change of Staon, deployments, security clearance, and various tax situaons (combat

pay, state residency, etc.). These can present signicant challenges for military families. Financial

counselors will help you to keep sight of these challenges, while providing soluons that foster

nancial peace of mind. We can provide:

Producve counseling: Work with a counselor to help set nancial goals and develop a plan to

achieve those goals. Examples include purchasing a vehicle or home, or sending kids to college.

Preventave counseling: Financial counselors will help you evaluate your current nancial status

and point out strengths and weaknesses to stay on track and avoid any potenal problems. Topics

that may be covered include:

how to know when a lile debt can become a major problem

what to do to build and maintain a great credit reputaon

how to implement an emergency fund for unforeseen circumstances

Remedial counseling: If you are experiencing a nancial crisis, you can work with a counselor to

regain control of your nances. This can be done through credit report review, strategies to reduce

debt, strategies to negoate with creditors, reducon of expenses, and reallocaon of your nancial

resources to work through the crisis and establish a sound nancial future.

Avoiding fraud

Service members are constantly bombarded by adversements for military payday loans, military

debt consolidaon loans, and other oers that sound like great deals. Our nancial counselors can

help you sort through this maze of informaon and provide guidance to make wise nancial

decisions.

Service members also need to protect themselves against identy the. Please do not hesitate to

contact us so we can help you avoid becoming a vicm or help you deal with identy the if it

occurs.

Keeping informed

Military OneSource nancial counselors work hard to gather informaon that pertains to service

members. Here are a few examples:

You can renance an exisng VA loan through the Interest Rate Reducon Renancing Loan (IRRRL).

It is also referred to as a Streamline or VA to VA. If you are eligible for Thri Saving Plan (TSP),

you can contribute to a new Roth opon. This allows you to contribute on an aer-tax-basis to a TSP

account and receive tax-free earnings when funds are withdrawn. Roth TSP elecve deferral limits

are the same as tradional TSP limits ($17,000 for regular contribuons and $5,500 for catch -up

contribuons). The Roth TSP is currently available to members of the Marine Corps and civilians

working for the DoD and will be available to members of the Army, Navy and Air Force in October of

this year.

Under Service Members Relief Act (SCRA), you can reinstate health insurance upon terminaon or

release from service. Insurance must have been in eect before service commenced and terminated

Military OneSource Financial Counselors


8/14

P A G E 8

"We make

Marines and

we win our

nations

battles. Then

we turn those

men and

women back to

Americas

society better

people."

(Quote by

General

Krulak, 31st

Commandant, USMC)



during the me of military service. This reinstatement does not apply to service members

parcipang in employer-based insurance. You must reapply for reinstatement within

120 days aer terminaon or release from military service.

We are here for you

It is never too late to start overhauling your nances or planning your nancial future.

The best nancial advice for everyone is to start now. Time is your most valuable ally,whether you are trying to get a handle on nancial issues or looking to save and invest for

a brighter future.

Take a moment to look at your nances and know that you have a support system

dedicated to help you with many of your nancial situaons. If you are eligible for the

Military OneSource program, you have year-round access to free telephonic nancial

counseling. Please call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 to speak with a nancial

counselor.

By Military OneSource Sta

Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647

TTY/TDD: 1-866

-607

-6794

En espaol llame al: 1-877-888-0727

Financial CalculatorsDo you need help managing your nances? Check out the nancial calculators and

see whether these tools are useful to you. This resource oers nancial calculators

that e in to ve categories. Each calculator has acve elds where you can plug in

your own numbers, hit Compute and view a detailed, esmated payment schedule

or graph. Individual calculators also oer ps and details about results. The ve

categories are:

Home Financing

Personal Financing

Investment

Rerement

Lease

Keep in mind that the payment schedules and other informaon may not be perfectly

applicable to your individual situaon. Be sure to consult a nancial professional prior

to relying on the results. If you are eligible for the Military OneSource program, you

have year-round access to free telephonic nancial counseling. Please call Military

OneSource at 1-800

-342

-9647 to speak with a nancial counselor.

Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647

TTY/TDD: 1-866-607-6794

En espaol llame al: 1-877-888-0727

hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/


9/14


Financial Links Recap:

myPayhps://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx

IRSwww.irs.gov

Special Tax Benets for Armed Forces Personnelhp://www.irs.gov/uac/Special-Tax-Benets-for-Armed-Forces-Personnel)

Military OneSource tax consultant

hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/Topic.do?centerId=1&topicId=1583

Tax Scamshp://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts

Military INSTALLATIONShp://www.militaryinstallaons.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0

VITA

hp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-

Tax-

Return-

Preparaon-

for-

You-

by-

Volunteers

Tax Informaon for Members of the Militaryhp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Military


10/14

P A G E 1 0

"We make

Marines and we

win our nations

battles. Then weturn those men

and women back

to Americas society

better people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)

4 T H

M A I N T E N A N C E

On Jan. 10, Military OneSource launched a new applicaon to take some of the stress out

of deployment and mobilizaon. Plan My Deployment is an online applicaon that provides

helpful arcles, planning tools, checklists and important ps for service members and their

families during all phases of deployment and mobilizaon.

Whether it's your rst deployment or your h, PMD is customized to t your individual

needs. The applicaon starts by asking users to idenfy their duty status, service branch,

familial status and expected deployment and return dates. From there, users get access

to a wide range of informaon tailored to their needs. For example, if you are married with

kids, you will have access to informaon on how to prepare your family for the

deployment, as well as informaon about connecng with your children while you are

gone. If you are a member of the Guard or reserve, you will nd informaon about your

pay changes and benets once you become mobilized.

As you move through the site, you will be able to create a unique checklist that contains

the informaon you need to successfully navigate the deployment process. The checklist

becomes an easy to reference "to-do list" when the stress of deployment or mobilizaon

begins to set in.

The site is divided into four phases: Pre-deployment and Mobilizaon, Deployment and

Mobilizaon, Reunion and Reintegraon, and Reintegraon. Each phase is intended to

prepare you for the challenges you may face during that phase of deployment and to

provide you with the informaon and resources you need. Within the Pre-Deployment

secon of the site, you can access detailed informaon and checklists on everything from

creang a power of aorney to making sure your health benets are in order. Within the

Deployment secon, PMD provides great ideas for staying connected to your loved ones

and preparing for unexpected emergencies. The last two secons deal with postdeployment

maers, helping to make your transion home as smoothly as possible by providing ps on reu-

ning with your loved ones, creang a new budget and exploring your new educaon and training

benets.

So head on over to check it out and let PMD help you navigate your next deployment or

mobilizaon from start to nish.

PMD Website: hps://apps.militaryonesource.mil/PMD

The Importance of Operaonal Security (OPSEC)

As a family member or friend of a deploying Marine, you will have access to unit informaon whic

when pieced together with other indicators, can provide taccal advantages to our adversaries.

Your Marine or Sailor is responsible for the informaon they share with you. If he/she tells you the

date he/she is leaving or returning and you post that on a website, that Marine or Sailor can be

punished for violang operaonal security.

The following informaon is o-limits for public disseminaon: specic sizes of units; unit move-

ments; troop rotaon schedules; posion and movement of U.S. Navy ships; descripons of over-

seas military bases; unit morale; and in general, any informaon which may be benecial to our

enemies. Most OPSEC violaons are commied unintenonally. If you have a queson about

informaon that may be discussed in a public forum, please contact your unit.

NEW!! Plan My Deployment Website


11/14

P A G E 1 1V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2

FALLS CHURCH, Va. New copayments for prescripon drugs covered by TRICARE will go intoeect February 1, 2013. The Fiscal Year 2013 Naonal Defense Authorizaon Act requires

TRICARE to increase copays on brand name and non-formulary medicaons that are not lled

at military clinics or hospitals. There is no increase to copays for generic medicaons.

TRICARE Pharmacy copays vary based on the class of drug and where beneciaries choose to

ll their prescripons. The copay for generic medicaons stays at $5 when a prescripon is

lled at a network pharmacy. There is no co-pay when generic prescripons are lled through

TRICARE Home Delivery. The new copay for a 30-day supply of a brand name medicaon

purchased at a retail network pharmacy will be $17, up from the current $12. Beneciaries

using TRICARE Home Delivery will pay $13 for brand name drugs, up from $9. However, the

Home Delivery price is for a 90-day supply.

The greatest change in copays applies to non-formulary medicaons. The $25 copay for these

drugs increases to $44 at retail pharmacies and $43 through Home Delivery. The TRICARE

Uniform Formulary is a list of all the medicaons TRICARE covers.

For scal 2014 and beyond, the new law directs that copays increase annually by the same

percentage as reree cost-of-living adjustments

(hp://militaryadvantage.military.com/2013/01/2013-reree-and-veteran-cola-announced).

In years when a COLA increase would total less than a dollar, it will be delayed a year and

combined with the next adjustment so increases will always be $1 or more.

Pharmacies at military hospitals and clinics will connue to provide medicaons with no

copays. Visit www.TRICARE.mil/pharmacycostsfor more details.

TRICARE Co-Pay Changes
http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/


12/14

P A G E 1 2

"We make

Marines and we

win our nations

battles. Then we

turn those men

and women back

to Americas

society better

people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)



TSA-PreCheck: Everything you need to know

TSA Pre Website: www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2/acve-duty-military

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are entrusted to protect the security and values of cizens

with their lives and as such TSA recognizes that these members pose very lile risk to aviaon

security. As part of our intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security TSA now oers TSA

Pre expedited screening benets to acve duty service members at Charloe Douglas Interna-

onal Airport (CLT), Hartseld-Jackson Atlanta Internaonal Airport (ATL), Honolulu Internaonal

Airport (HNL), Ronald Reagan Washington Naonal Airport (DCA), Seale-Tacoma Internaonal

Airport (SEA) and Washington Dulles Internaonal Airport (IAD). Eligible service members include

U.S. Armed Forces service members including reservist and Naonal Guard members, who pos-

sess a valid Common Access Card (CAC).

Acve duty service members should present their valid CAC card to the TSA Travel Document

Checker, along with their boarding pass, in the TSA Pre lane. The TSA Travel Document Checker

will scan the CAC card to verify the travelers status as an acve U.S. service member. If TSA can

verify service members are acve and in good standing with the Department of Defense (DoD)

they will then receive expedited screening benets such as no longer removing the following

items:

Shoes

3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on

Laptop from bag

Light outerwear/jacket

Belt

Service members should use the following checkpoints to see if they qualify for TSA Pre expe-

dited screening:

Charloe Douglas Internaonal Airport (CLT): Main Terminal, Checkpoint B

Hartseld-Jackson Atlanta Internaonal Airport (ATL): Main Checkpoint

Honolulu Internaonal Airport (HNL): Main Terminal, Checkpoint 3

Ronald Reagan Washington Naonal Airport (DCA): North Pier Gates 35-45, South Pier Gates

10-22

Seale-Tacoma Internaonal Airport (SEA): Checkpoint 3

Washington Dulles Internaonal Airport (IAD): Main Terminal, TSA Pre ? Checkpoint

Eligible service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of TSA Pre benets

and family members ages 12 and under can process through expedited screening as well, as they

already receive modied screening procedures at airports naonwide.

By expanding TSA Pre to acve duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, TSA is able to focus its

resources and improve the passenger experience at security checkpoints. While nothing would

ever guarantee expedited screening TSA must retain a certain element of randomness to pre-

vent terrorists from gaming the system the tesng of this concept holds the potenal to signi-

cantly change the travel experience for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.


13/14

P A G E 1 3V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2

Frequently Asked Quesons

Q. How does it work?

A. As part of TSA Pre, U.S. service members possessing a valid Common Access Card (CAC) should pre-

sent their card to a TSA Travel Document Checker to determine whether they are eligible for expedited

screening benets. TSA ocers will scan the CAC card to verify the travelers status as an acve U.S. servicemember. Once veried, the traveler may be directed to a lane to receive TSA Pre expedited screening.

TSAs random and unpredictable measures will sll be applied as part of the agencys layered approach so

that the system cannot be gamed. Service members should use the checkpoints outlined before to see if

they qualify for TSA Pre expedited screening.

Q. Are all members of the military eligible to parcipate?

A. At this me, acve duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as

acve drilling members of the Naonal Guard and Reserve, who are issued CAC cards, are eligible to parci-

pate in TSA Pre.

Q. Does the service member need to be in uniform or on ocial travel to parcipate?

A. No. Service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of expedited screening benets.They just need to present their valid CAC card to a TSA Travel Document Checker at the designated check-

point.

Q. How will TSA determine who is in good standing? Is that something that is imbedded in the infor-

maon on the CAC card?

A. Through an agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD), a TSA Travel Document Checker will scan

the service members CAC card, providing real-me vericaon that the service member is in good standing

with DoD.

Q. Is the travelers informaon retained or stored when their CAC card is scanned?

A. There is no storage capability on the equipment used to verify the service members status. Once the

CAC card is scanned and TSA determines whether the traveler is eligible for expedited screening, their per-sonal informaon is automacally erased.

Q. Are civilian Department of Defense employees who have CAC cards eligible to parcipate in TSA

Pre?

A. At this me, only U.S. Armed Forces service members who possess a valid CAC card are eligible to parci-

pate in TSA Pre?.

Q. Is TSA considering expanding these benets to military dependents, rerees and contractors?

A. TSA will connue to explore the expansion of TSA Pre to groups that can benet from expedited

screening at security checkpoints while ensuring that overall transportaon security is not compromised.

Q. When will TSA Pre be available to other U.S. service members? Does TSA ancipate a naonwiderollout of this program?

A. TSA hopes to expand TSA Pre? acceptance of service members to addional airports once operaonally

ready.


14/14

6115 N Hills Circle

Charloe, NC 28213

Phone: 704-598-0015

Fax: 704-598-0070

Useful Websites and Contacts

Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.com

Military Home Front: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

Military Spouses: www.milspouse.com

Marine Parents: www.marineparents.com

Blue Star Mothers: www.bluestarmothers.org

Marine Corps Community Services: www.usmc-mccs.org

Military Pay: www.dfas.mil/militarypay.html

Tricare: www.tricare.mil/mybenet

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Marine Forces Reserve: www.marforres.usmc.mil

Ocial Marine Corps Website: www.marines.mil

DStress: www.dstressline.com or 877-

476-

7734

Naonal Suicide Prevenon Hotline: 800-273-TALK ((8255)

Naonal Resource Directory:

www.naonalresourcedirectory.gov

4th Maintenance Battalion

USMC:

Improvise.

Adapt.

Overcome

4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013

Documents

Transcript of 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013