JANUARY 2010
Family
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A New Year – A New Beginning
Be Counted!
Fleet and Family Support
Program is on Facebook
Military Spouses Residency Relief
Act Signed
Nominate Your Employer for
the 2010 Secretary of Defense
Employer Support Freedom
Award!
Streamlined Hiring for Some
Military Spouses
Resolve to be Deployment
Ready!
DHS Unveils New Veterans Hiring
Web Site
Filing Taxes When a Service
Member is Deployed
Family Connection is a
publication of the Fleet and
Family Support Program.
The Navy's Fleet and
Family Support Program
promotes the self-reliance
and resiliency of Sailors and
their families. We provide
information that can help you
meet the unique challenges
of the military lifestyle.
For more information about
the Fleet and Family Support
Program, or to join the
conversation about deploy-
ments and military life, visit:
https://www.nffsp.org
http://www.facebook.com/
pages/Washington-DC/Fleet-
and-Family-Support-Program/
105861457742?ref=mf
http://twitter.com/Fleet_Family
If you have questions or
comments about the content
of Family Connection, please
contact Bruce Moody at
bruce.moody@navy.mil.
The
Fleet & Family Support
Center
Connection
JANUARY 2010
A New Year – A New Beginning
Panshella GM Cole, Family Employment Readiness Analyst
With the New Year here, this is a time when
many of us reflect upon our lives and make
New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions can
range from considering a career change, learn-
ing a new language, or perhaps, this is the year
that you have vowed to become financially
savvy. The great thing about making a resolu-
tion is that you can take the time to evaluate
your life and pinpoint the things you want
to change.
Have you vowed to make this year the year
to learn something new? Whether you take a
course or read a book, you will find education
one of the most motivating and rewarding
New Year’s resolutions to keep.
The same is true when it comes to finding a
new job. One of the key elements in the em-
ployment search is obtaining information. The
Fleet and Family Support Program offers a wide variety of educational programs to assist you with
your job search and help you chart the course for maintaining your resolutions.
Here are five resolutions you may want to consider when looking for a job:
1. Become a perpetual student. Never stop learning--whether you are conducting research or
enrolled in a class. Never stop learning. Log on to NKO. That’s Navy Knowledge Online, a vast
and free resource for the life-long student. Do you want to learn about finance? Learn a new
language? Brush up on history? NKO is an amazing gateway to books, tapes, tutorials, Web
sites and self-guided classes. Check it out today!
2. Network outside the box. Have you looked through the holiday cards you received from fam-
ily and friends with an eye towards networking? Have you talked to every one of them about
your job search?
3. Get on line to be in line -- for the next great job offer that is! Get an account with Linked-
In and be sure it’s loaded with a polished and up-to-date resume. Use Facebook to locate
professional groups in your area. Most schedule networking socials exclusively through Face-
book. They are great networking opportunities, usually free, and they often feature a guest
speaker who will speak about something relevant to your career field.
Continued on page 2.
Supporting the Fleet, Fighter, and Family
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 JANUARY 2010

A New Year –A New Beginning

Continued from page 1.

4. Reach out to at least five new people per week. Do this from now until you start your new
job. Resolve to network with at least five new people every week. When you grow weary of
schmoozing, remind yourself that as many as eighty percent of all jobs are not advertised.
5. Review your resume with a fresh set of eyes. Send your resume to three of your closest and
most trusted friends and ask them to review it with razor-sharp precision. Or stop by the
FFSC to have the Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) staff review it. Your goal is to
have a letter-perfect resume that truly stands out from the rest.

For more information on keeping your “Employment New Year’s Resolution” visit your local Fleet
and Family Support Center or go online to www.ffsp.navy.mil.
Have a safe and prosperous New Year!

Be Counted!
Complete the Survey for Military Families
The Military Family Needs Assessment survey is part of an ongoing project funded by the Office
of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and Family Policy) and the Na-
tional Institute of Food & Agriculture (USDA).
The purpose of this study is to hear directly from military members and families about what
is working and what is not, regarding military family education and support as well as overall
adjustment during and after deployment. This information will be provided to policy makers and
service providers as a complement to ongoing assessment efforts by the military services and
all its components. This information will be utilized in the development and refinement of edu-
cational programs, support networks and services, and their delivery in ways that better support
service members’ families.
In this online survey, you and your service member will be asked to comment about participation
in and your experience with any educational programs, support networks, and other services
within the military community. The information you provide is completely anonymous. The
survey may be accessed at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1253631402808.

Fleet and Family Support Program is on Facebook

Just a reminder that the Navy Fleet and Family Support Program is on Facebook. The Facebook
page helps promote self-reliance and resiliency of Sailors and their families, and provides the
information you need to meet the unique challenges of the military lifestyle.
Click on this link to connect with the Fleet and Family Support Program.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-DC/Fleet-and-Family-Support-
Program/105861457742?ref=mf

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 JANUARY 2010

Military Spouses Residency Relief Act Signed

In November 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Military Spouses Residency
Relief Act HR 1182. This bill amends the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940, guaran-
teeing the equity of the spouse of military personnel by providing them the option to claim the
same state of domicile as their active duty spouse. The law improves the quality of life for military
families by allowing them this option and guaranteeing equity regarding matters of property,
taxes, voting, and residency. Often, military spouses would experience difficulties in voting and
property ownership as well as in employment and education because they accompanied their
active duty spouse to a new duty station and were required to become a resident of that state.
This new Act gives spouses the option of choosing their state of residence based on what is
most advantageous to them.

Nominate Your Employer for the 2010 Secretary of

Defense Employer Support Freedom Award!
Thousands of employers across the nation employing National Guard and Reserve members are
fully aware that at any moment they may be called to serve. And when this happens, both the
employee and employer face challenges. We are grateful for the many employers who remain
patriotically steadfast in support of their military employees, both financially and emotionally,
going well beyond what is required by law. Supportive employers allow service members to
perform their duties while alleviating concerns about their jobs and loved ones back home.
The 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in September at the 15th
annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Recipients of the 2009 award met with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates, and received their awards at a ceremony with the keynote address given by Dr. Jill Biden.
If you are a National Guard or Reserve member or their families and believe your employer has
provided exceptional support, please consider nominating them for the Secretary of Defense
Employer Support Freedom Award. You are encouraged to nominate your employers now
through January 18th, 2010 at www.freedomaward.mil/.

Streamlined Hiring for Some Military Spouses

In August 2009, the Office of Personnel Management finalized a rule allowing federal agencies
to hire the spouses of some service members without requiring them to go through the usual
competitive process. The intended effect of the rule, according to documents listed in the
Federal Register, “is to facilitate the entry of military spouses into the federal civil service as part
of an effort to recruit and retain skilled and experienced members of the armed forces and to
recognize and honor the service of members injured, disabled, or killed in connection with their
service.” For further information, the guidelines are posted in the Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 154
5 CFR Parts 315 and 316 (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/) under the title: “Noncompetitive Ap-
pointment of Certain Military Spouses.”

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 JANUARY 2010

Resolve to be Deployment Ready!

Are you ready for deployment? With the Navy’s current deployment schedule it is important to
always be deployment ready. Two things that you can do to ensure employment readiness are:
1. Contact your command ombudsman. Not sure how to reach your ombudsman? Do one of
the following:
NN Call your local Fleet and Family Support Center and ask for the ombudsman coordinator.
NN If you are a Reserve family member, contact your Navy Operational Support Center
(NOSC) and ask for the ombudsman’s contact information.
NN Whether active duty or Reserve, you can go online to www.ffsp.navy.mil and click on
“Ombudsman Program”. Then click on “Contact your Ombudsman.”
Once you have your ombudsman’s information, be sure to get on the mailing list so that you
receive all e-mails, newsletters, etc.
2. Register for NFAAS. NFAAS (Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System) is used by
the Navy to contact family members throughout an IA deployment and if there is any type of
disaster. All families should be registered. To register go to https://navyfamily.navy.mil/.
Be sure to check with both your ombudsman and NFAAS to see that all your information is up-
to-date. By checking on these issues, you can be assured that you are starting out the New Year
deployment ready!

DHS Unveils New Veterans Hiring Web Site

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking for a few good men and women! DHS
has launched a new Web site with information for veterans and their families on careers with the
DHS. The site, www.dhs.gov/veterans, was initiated in accordance with president Obama’s execu-
tive order requiring all government agencies to emphasize recruiting and training of veterans.
The site offers employment and procurement (contracting with veteran-owned businesses) op-
portunities for veterans and service-disabled veterans. DHS has pledged to increase its veteran
workforce to more than 50,000 employees by 2012. Currently, the DHS employs approximately
47,000 veterans or about 25 percent of its workforce.

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 JANUARY 2010

Filing Taxes When a Service Member is Deployed

Arnie Norem, Personal Financial Management Program Analyst

Although it may only be the beginning of January, it is time to decide how to complete and file
your tax returns if your Sailor is deployed. There are several options to consider.
1. Tax assistance may be available to your Sailor, particularly on larger ships. If you are going to
file, be sure your Sailor has all necessary information including IRS Form 2848, Power of At-
torney and Declaration of Representative for giving another person the ability to file taxes on
one’s behalf. Remember, they may also need other paperwork such as: childcare information,
home mortgage interest, etc., to complete the return.
2. You file taxes on behalf of your spouse and yourself. You will need the information above as
well your Sailor’s W-2. To access the W-2 from the MyPay Web site you must have your Sailor’s
personal identification number (PIN).
3. File an extension. If you want to wait until your Sailor returns from deployment to do your taxes,
you have an automatic 60-day extension (until June 15) to file your return and pay any federal
income tax due. Write “US Navy – Deployed outside CONUS” on top of the tax form when you
file. If you need more time, you can file for a four-month extension using IRS Form 4868.
You can get help at many installations through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program
(VITA). Check with your legal center to see if this service is available at your installation. VITA
volunteers will help you file your taxes free of charge. Go as early as possible before the filing
deadline to avoid long lines.
If your Sailor is deployed and in a combat zone, you can receive relief from compliance actions,
such as audits or enforced collections, until 180 days after the Sailor has left the combat zone. Tax-
payers qualifying for such relief can notify the IRS directly of their status via e-mail: combatzone@
irs.gov. Name, Social Security number, stateside address, date of birth, and date of deployment to
the combat zone must be provided. Notification can be made by the service member, spouse, or
authorized agent or representative. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) notifies the
IRS when individuals enter and exit a combat zone.
Check the following resources for further information:
NN My Pay Web site at https://mypay.dfas.mil.
NN IRS form 2848 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2848.pdf.
NN IRS Armed Forces Tax Guide at www.irs.gov/publications/p3/index.html.

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