Military-Net.Com featuring military school info

posted by admin on May 27

According to an April 2008 Rand Corp. Report, about 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can lead to other, more serious, mental illnesses that can have major negative effect on the veterans and their families. PTSD can also lead to homelessness and suicide. As the U.S. military is short on therapists, thousands of private counselors have decided to offer free services to troops returning from the dreadful war places, namely Iraq and Afghanistan. In cooperation of the American Psychiatric foundation, 40,000 more volunteers are expected to join the cause in the next 3 years.

posted by admin on May 19

Veterans area a very important part of the society, they fought valiantly to defend the country. Most of them lost friends in the wars that they fought, some of them even lost limbs. Now that they are in the twilight years of their lives isn’t it just right that the government give them the benefits that they have rightfully earned.

Veterans and widows of veterans may qualify for a little-known, little-used benefit through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Wartime veterans and widows may qualify for up to $22,000 a year in tax-free funds to pay for assisted living expenses. It’s been available since 1951 and no one knows about it. Only a little over 200,000 people are using it. According to a report, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widows receive the benefit. A VA study says that veterans generally “are completely unaware that the program exists.”

However, military service and financial requirements must be met for eligibility. Military requirements call for 90 days of continuous active duty with at least one day served during a declared time of war, including World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Gulf War. Veterans may have any kind of discharge except dishonorable. They must also be disabled or at least 65 years old.

Benefits are available in the amount of $18,654 for an unmarried veteran, $22,113 for a married veteran and $11,985 for a widow of a veteran. The benefit increases each year.

posted by admin on May 17

Air traffic control specialist

Coordinates activities of and supervises personnel engaged in operating an air traffic control tower. Directs radio searches for overdue or lost aircraft. Should be responsible, decisive and handle stress well. Must be a U.S. citizen, age 30 or younger.

• Training: Complete program sponsored by Federal Aviation Administration; pass a certification exam.

• Average pay: $74,773.

Elevator installer and repairer

Also called elevator mechanic. Assembles, installs and replaces elevators, escalators, chairlifts, dumbwaiters and moving walkways in office buildings and homes. Must follow safety regulations and building codes. Should have some math skills and be able to read blueprints.

• Training: Four-year apprenticeship offered by the International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 34.

• Average pay: $50,943.

Power plant operator

Controls and monitors boilers, turbines, generators and auxiliary equipment in power-generating plants. Distributes power demands among generators, combines the current from several generators and monitors instruments to maintain voltage and regulate electricity flow from the plant. May use computers to keep records of switching operations and loads on generators, lines and transformers. Should have strong computer and technical skills.

• Training: Prior experience or on-the-job training.

• Average pay: $61,118. Read the rest of this entry »

posted by admin on May 16

STARKVILLE, Miss. — By the time he completed his four-year stint in the military three summers ago, Frank Wills had gotten used to taking orders, carrying a rifle and taking pictures of dead bodies as a combat photographer.

He knew how to be a Marine. He hadn’t a clue how a Marine becomes a college student.

Neither did anyone else on campus. Advisers at one school Wills attended gave him incorrect information. Officials at a second offered no help. Often, he says, he felt like “the new kid who didn’t fit in.”

The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill, helped turn a college education into a right of middle-class America. It covered the cost for millions of World War II veterans as compensation for having disrupted their lives to serve.

Today, with tuition climbing, and a college degree increasingly the ticket to economic security, the promise of money for education is no less important to service members. The Department of Defense says 95 percent of Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard sign up for the GI Bill when they enlist.

For many, like Wills, 28, it is the reason they join. Yet his experience, and those of other recent veterans, suggests that often the road from combat to college can be riddled with potholes.

Read the full article here.

posted by admin on May 15

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) — North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command unveiled their new integrated command center in a ceremony May 13 attended by dignitaries from both Canada and the U.S.The command center opening coincided with NORAD’s 50-year anniversary of the partnership between Canada and the U.S. in defending North America from air and space threats.

“This is really the culmination of a lot of great effort,” said NORAD and USNORTHCOM commander Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., “by people who have taken this idea of unity of effort, of integration of capabilities, and brought them together in this room as a symbol of a true integrated approach to both warning and defense of our homelands.”

NORAD and USNORTHCOM have shared a commander and a headquarters building since 2002, when USNORTHCOM was established. Sharing a command center with integrated land, air, space, missile warning, maritime and cyber domains brings the commands’ missions together in a way “that creates great synergy,” General Renuart said.

“Our command center will be a huge improvement in our ability to integrate situational awareness, to begin to respond to a major event in either of our countries, and then to take the national capabilities that respond to disasters, both man-made and natural, and bring relief to our citizens in our communities,” the general said. “So this is really a weapons system for the future.”

Canadians greatly value their defense partnership with the U.S., said Canadian Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay. “In fact, we’re constantly revisiting and constantly upgrading our participation, our ability, to continue this strong relationship that we have enjoyed now for 50 years. The opening of NORAD and NORTHCOM’s new command and control center, especially now in the context of this ongoing 50-year anniversary celebration, is truly something that we value.

Read the full story here.

posted by admin on May 8

Army Secretary Pete Geren said May 7 that the Army has appropriated $248 million in emergency funds to fix problems found during inspections of 148,000 rooms at bases worldwide over the past two weeks.”We ordered a look at literally every single room,” Geren said. “We didn’t find any looming danger to their health and safety.” Geren made his comments at Fort Bragg, N.C., which became the flash point for the Army’s latest move to upgrade the conditions of its old barracks after a Soldier’s video of his run-down barracks ended up on YouTube.

Read the full story here.

posted by admin on Apr 29

The U.S.  Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has just announced that a grant of $75 million to offer permanent housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veteran nationwide. This includes the HUD-VASH or the HUD’S Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, which provides local public housing agencies with an estimated 10,000 rental assistance vouchers. Read the rest of the story here.

posted by admin on Apr 23

What is the “Grill Sergeants”?  It is a program that the Pentagon Channel. It will be filmed at the Naval Base San Diego on May 12-16 2008. However, all of its episodes have been shot at Fort Lee, Virginia, which is the home to the Army’s Advanced Culinary Skills Course. The program presents the culinary skills of military chefs. Read more….

posted by admin on Apr 23

Unfortunately, servicemembers who have been using their VISA credit cards on- and off-post are currently charged with International Service Assessment fee, particularly on overseas transactions.  The assessment charge ranges from 0.15% to 1% of the purchase. However, the VISA people assure that customers buying at their commissary, post exchange and US Embassy will not be charged with the extra fee, or as long as the transaction is domestic.

posted by admin on Apr 23

The military authorities are encouraging servicemembers to take advantage of all the educational programs, which could include those from the private sources, federal and of course military-related. In fact, there are many organizations that offer to assist the members of the troops to pursue their educational dream. The Federal Student Aid is an example. The scholarship grant provides for tuitions and other educational loans. Click here for more information.