By: Karen Jowers, Military Times, December 21, 2016

 

'Tis the season for seeking out scholarships, and the Fisher House Foundation has launched a free search tool to help troops, veterans and families get their share of these education-budget boosters.

 

The Scholarships for Service tool can help those with any affiliation – active- or reserve-component members, veterans, retired military personnel​ and military family members. There are more than 3,000 scholarships available to those with various affiliations in the military community, offered from organizations ranging from the military relief societies to associations for Seabees and 82nd Airborne Division troops, to name just a few. 

 

The Fisher House Foundation has helped provide scholarships to military children and spouses for 17 years, and recognized through that work the need to help families search further, according to the group's CEO, Ken Fisher, in a statement announcing the new tool http://www.militaryscholar.org/

 

Because of this involvement, he said, “we routinely received calls asking if we knew of any other financial resources available to help service members, veterans, and their families with college funding. We did the best we could to pass on information about other scholarship programs, but we came to recognize that we were only scratching the surface and needed to do more.” 

 

Unlike other scholarship search tools, Scholarships for Service is tailored specifically to search for scholarships that are available to those in the military community.

 

“We get questions about scholarships all the time,” said Brian Gawne, a retired Navy captain who is vice president of community relations for Fisher House Foundation. 

 

Fisher House Foundation developed Scholarships for Service search tool with AdmitHub, which specializes in college application support, scholarship search assistance, and enrollment advising. Plans call for refining the tool as more users try it out, Gawne said; programmers already have added additional organizations, offering newer scholarships, to the database. 

 

Students or students-to-be enter brief background information and education goals, and the tool will quickly identify potential military-affiliated scholarships. With each offering comes a summary of eligibility requirements, points of contact and links to the scholarship provider’s website. Students can have a PDF file of the results emailed to them. 

 

Neither Fisher House Foundation nor AdmitHub collects any data from the site, Gawne said. 

 

“You don’t have to register, we don’t collect information. We just wanted a pure service,” he said. “There won’t be any emails afterwards, because we don’t sell anything to marketing agencies. ... If nothing else, it gives a sense of how many scholarships there are out there.”  

 

Karen Jowers covers military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

The US Air Force Could Pick New Army-Marine Corps Ride to Guard Missile Field

By: Valerie Insinna, January 4, 2017, Defense News (Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Austin M. Schlosser/US Marine Corps)

WASHINGTON — The Army and Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle could be one option on the table as the Air Force seeks new vehicles for its security forces protecting missile-launch facilities. The service is in the earliest stages of the process, and no decisions have been made on the number of vehicles needed or whether to opt for a military-specific or commercial product, officials told Defense News. Procurement by the Air Force would be an unexpected boon for JLTV manufacturer Oshkosh Defense, which is eagerly looking to add to its customer base. At this point, requirements have been formalized by Air Force Global Strike Command and are currently being vetted by the Air Force’s Security Forces Center and the Vehicle Supply Chain Operations Squadron (VSCOS), Air Force spokesman Capt. Chris Mesnard said. Once they are set in stone, Air Force Materiel Command will take the lead in the acquisition process.

The Air Force needs a specialized vehicle for missile field security to replace the aging Humvees currently in operation, Maj. Gen. Michael Fortney, vice commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a December interview. “We had been using up-armored Humvees for a long time,” he said.  According to the Air Force, some of those models date as far back as 1998 and have not been modernized since their purchase, which Fortney said creates problems in upkeep. “Those [vehicles] are no longer going to be supportable in the DoD after a certain point in time. So what is the right vehicle for that mission set up there?” he said. Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is seen as one potential option. Air Force representatives visited Marine Corps Base Quantico in early December to see the ride in action, receiving briefings and demonstrations from Army and Marine Corps officials. Individuals from Air Force headquarters, Global Strike Command (AFGSC), AF Security Forces Center, VSCOS and Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex were in attendance, Mesnard confirmed. Should the Air Force decide to buy into the JLTV program, it could benefit from the economies of scale inherent to such a large procurement. The Army and Marine Corps plan to buy a total 54,599  vehicles over the course of the program. The company delivered the first seven JLTVs to the Army and Marine Corps in late September. According to an Army statement, Oshkosh will provide about 100 vehicles over the next year for testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

And once full-rate production starts in 2019, the services hope that lower-than-expected unit prices can drive bigger purchases every year, shaving about $6 billion in costs, Scott Davis, the Army’s program executive officer for combat support and combat service support, said in an October news release. Air Force officials stressed that no decision to procure the JLTV has been made. In an emailed response to questions, Mesnard said the service believes both military and commercial, off-the-shelf vehicles may be able to meet its requirements. The Air Force on Dec. 21 issued a request for information on tactical vehicles that will be used to help the service identify potential options ahead of a competition. The RFI includes divides vehicles into “Level 1” — ultra-light variants less than 10,000 pounds — and a larger “Level 2” vehicle that can weigh up to 20,000 pounds. The JLTV, which has a curb weight of 14,000, fits into the heavier category. Level 2 vehicles should also be able to meet speeds of at least 65 miles per hour, have a 3,000-pound payload capability, and have a fuel range of 350 miles while traveling at 35 miles per hour. The Level 1 vehicles have a smaller payload — only 1,500 pounds — but must be able to hit 75 mile per hour speeds.  “The number of vehicles AFGSC will buy depends on things like procurement cost, mix of light and medium variants, available budget, etc.,” Mesnard stated.  If the Air Force does opt for the JLTV, the service has also not determined whether it would need Oshkosh to modify the vehicles for service-specific requirements driven by the harsh, frigid climates of the northern-tier missile bases. Cost considerations and long lead time would likely preclude the service from purchasing a clean-sheet design, Mesnard said, adding that “the Air Force would only pursue a service-specific buy if a suitable joint vehicle was not available to meet mission requirements.”

A spokeswoman for Oshkosh declined to provide specifics about the company's level of involvement in the demonstrations to Air Force officials in Quantico, but signaled that the company would welcome adding a third US military service to its list of customers. "While we defer to the US government on their program requirements and procurement plans, we are confident that the JLTV platform provides superior performance, off-road mobility and protection for all services, including the Air Force,” Jennifer Christiansen, Oshkosh’s vice president of global strategy and marketing, said in a statement. “Oshkosh stands ready to produce JLTVs for all services to ensure our troops receive the next generation equipment the need to successfully complete their missions." 

Disney has extended the Awesome Disney Armed Forces Salute for 2017, see full details on Disney Armed Forces Salute Page

Armed Forces Salute History

The Walt Disney Company has offered an Armed Forces Salute since 2009. These fantastic Military Discounts have been on both theme park tickets and resort rooms, and have allowed many military families to have a great vacation. In late 2016 it was announced the Disney Armed Forces Salute would continue until 16 December 2017.

- Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper or Water Park Fun Option for $209 each plus tax.

- Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets with Park Hopper or Water Park Fun and More Options for $246 each plus tax.

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Active duty and retired U.S. military personnel can also take advantage of specially priced room at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotels.

And if you are planning as far ahead as 2018 … well check this site 2018 Disney Armed Forces Salute

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Disney World's New Tech: Magic Bands, FastPass Plus, and all the rest.

Universal Orlando has discontinued their military salute. But there was enough inertia behind Disney's offers to keep them going. SeaWorld Parks has offered their Waves of Honor Salute every year since 2005.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST SF CHIEF MASTER SERGEANTS ... well done Chiefs!!

 

(name and base)

Rebecca P Bateman, Pentagon        

Kurt D. Black, Hurlburt Field  

Anthony S. Burleson, Dyess            

Danny C. Christ Jr, Kirtland        

Michael F. Daly, JB Langley-Eustis

James A. Forcella, JB Elmendorf-Richardson

Charles W. Guthrie, MacDill        

Michael W. Hayes, Creech          

Michael A. Holland, JBSA Lackland-Kelly

Robert C. Innis, Minot          

Keith D. Long, Patrick        

Vanessa L. Mcmackin, Minot          

Michael J. Naquin, Barksdale      

Brian G. Pederson, JBSA Lackland-Kelly  

Anthony D. Quigley, Pentagon        

Ahmad A. Rashard, JB Langley-Eustis

Matthew J. Rebholz, Pentagon        

Todd R. Rosenzweig, Spangdahlem AB  

Rick A. Schlachter, Andersen        

Allen M. Sell, Geilenkirchen  

Gerald F. Sullivan, JB Andrews      

Max Y. Yanausdal, Ramstein        

Michael P. Vonahnen, Vogelweh

Matthew C. Walter, Ramstein        

Jeremy D. Yates, Malmstrom

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWEST SF GROUP & SQUADRON COMMANDERS!

Defenders - congratulations on your selection for Group Command! This is a significant milestone in your careers and for many of you, this represents the first time as senior leaders you will be asked to take off the beret and lead Airmen performing missions outside our core skill set. Continue to be an Ambassador for the Defenders, while building bridges for us with the rest of the Air Force, our joint and coalition partners, and the communities we serve. You should be well proud of this accomplishment. Please thank your families for the role they've played in supporting your service as an Airman, take time to celebrate this achievement, and thank the Airmen serving with and for you for being great teammates. Well done!

- Col (S) Jason Beck to 17th Mission Support Group

- Col Matthew Boschert to 99th Mission Support Group

- Col John Grimm to 90th Security Forces Group

- Col Aaron Guill  to 341st Security Forces Group

- Col Philip Holmes to 35th Mission Support Group

- Col Don Layne to 78th Mission Support Group

- Col (S) Leonard Rose to 88th Mission Support Group

- Col David Williams to 39th Mission Support Group

 

Defensor Fortis,
ANDREA D. TULLOS, Brig Gen, USAF
Director of Security Forces
DCS/Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection

 

NEWEST SF SQUADRON COMMANDERS ANNOUNCED!

(rank, name and new unit of command)

Maj Donald F. Bartholomew III - 19 SFS, Little Rock AFB

Maj Ryan Barton - 9 SFS, Beale AFB

Lt Col Patrick J. Bass – 380 ESFS, Al Dhafra AB

Maj(s) Daniel J. Beaudoin – 91 SSPTS, Minot AFB

Lt Col Johnathan E. Bennett – 341 MSFS, Malmstrom AFB

Lt Col(s) Tyrone P. Bess – 741 MSFS, Malmstrom AFB

Lt Col Mark W. Breed – 379 ESFS, Al Udeid AB

Capt Steven C. Brenoskie – AFSFC Det 2, Miramar NAS

Maj William J. Brokaw - 82 SFS, Sheppard AFB, TX

Maj David E. Bullock - 377 SSPTS, Kirtland AFB

Maj Michael J. Cheatham - 374 SFS, Yokota AB

Maj(s) Michael R. Cheng - 736 SFS, Andersen AFB

Lt Col(s) Brian J. Copper Jr. – 8 SFS, Kunsan AB

Lt Col Marcus Corbett - 10 SFS, USAFA

Lt Col Kim M. Crawford – 42 SFS, Maxwell AFBL

Lt Col Erik L. Dutkiewicz – 86 SFS, Ramstein AB

Maj(s) Eric J. Eaton – 14 SFS, Columbus AFB

Maj Phillip B. Ferris – 48 SFS, Lakenheath RAF

Maj(s) Tyler J. Hughes – 455 ESFS, Bagram AB

Maj Pedro Jimenez – 97 SFS, Altus AFB

Maj Eric C. Judd – 377 SFS, Kirtland AFB

Maj Michael J.Kennedy – 354 SFS, Eielson AFB

Lt Col David M. Knight – 21 SFS, Peterson AFB

Lt Col(s) Jose A. Lebron – 78 SFS, Robins

Maj Min Y. Lee – 17 SFS, Goodfellow AFB

Maj Alexander Liggett – 11 SSFS, JB Andrews

Lt Col Brian S. Loveless – 56 SFS, Luke AFB

Lt Col Steven R. Lovett – 52 SFS, Spangdahlem AB

Maj Cameron Maher – 92 SFS, Fairchild AFB

Lt Col Tyrell Mayfield -- 75 SFS, Hill AFB

Lt Col Anthony McCarty -- 90 MSFS, FE Warren AFB

Maj(s) Matthew C. McGinnis 47 SFS, Laughlin AFB

Lt Col Kevin McMahon – 91 MSFS, Minot AFB

Lt Col Jason Medsger – 49 SFS, Holloman AFB

Lt Col Michael J. Morales – 436 SFS, Dover AFB

Maj Adam Morgan – 821 SFS, Thule AS

Maj Jonathon Murray – 81 SFS, Keesler AFB

Maj Shannon E. O’Neal – 1 SOCSF, Hurltburt Field

Lt Col Tara L. Opielowski – 18 SFS, Kadena AB

Maj(s) Christopher H. Osborne – 71 SFS, Vance AFB

Lt Col Joseph J. Parsons – 377 WSSS, Kirtland AFB

Maj Gerald Patton – 823 BDS, Moody AFB

Maj Clifford M. Piernick – 36 SFS, Andersen AFB

Maj Brenton K. Pomeroy – 27 SOCSF, Cannon AFB

Maj(s) Taylor E. Reynolds – 61 SFS, Los Angeles AS

Maj Schneider Rislin – 319 SFS, Grand Forks AFB

Maj Aaron W. Rittgers – 88 SFS, Wright Patterson AFB

Maj(s) Tito M. Ruiz – 387 ESFS, Kuwait City Int Airport

Maj Brian M. Rutt -- 423 SFS, RAF Alconbury

Maj Nicole M. Schatz - Soto Cano JTFB

Lt Col Christopher M.Sheffield – 879 ESFS, Eskan Village

Lt Col Kenneth M. Shirley – 811 SFS, JB Andrews

Maj Brett M. Skates – 66 SFS, Hanscom AFB

Lt Col(s) William C. Smith – 55 SFS, Offutt AFB

Maj David M.Stamper – 7 SFS, Dyess AFB

Maj Derek M. Tosie – 65 SFS, Lajes AB

Maj Joshua A. Webb – 91 STS, Minot AFB

Lt Col Douglas W. Whitehead – 802 SFS, JBSA-Lackland

Maj Aaron W. Williams – 386 ESFS, Al Salem

Maj Damien P. Williams – 343 TRS, JBSA-Lackland

Lt Col(s) Lawrence Wyatt Jr – 100 SFS, RAF Mildenhall

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