My Life As A Military Spouse: December 2006

2006/12/29

Wonderful Wishes for 2007

2006/12/28

The Call to Duty

Right Wing Guy is answering his own call to duty!

Go over and share your gratitude and thoughts with him.

2006/12/26

2006 DFAS Tax Statements

Schedule Announced for Release of Tax Statements

Servicemembers, military retirees and annuitants, and federal civilian employees paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service can expect to receive their 2006 tax statements beginning this month.

DFAS customers with access to the secure, Web-based “myPay” system will be able to retrieve their tax statements electronically up to two weeks sooner than those relying on regular mail delivery, officials said.

The myPay system includes layers of defense against identity theft, officials noted, adding that its technology meets or exceeds security requirements in private industry worldwide.

“Tax statements are available online, allowing customers to view and print W2s and 1099Rs. Whether anyone needs the statements to complete taxes or just want an extra copy for their records, the tax statements can be accessed and printed at any time,” Patrick Shine, DFAS operations director, said. “The printable statements are approved by the Internal Revenue Service.”

Here are projected distribution dates for DFAS customers’ tax statements:
-- Retiree Annual Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 9, mailed Dec. 16-31;
-- Retiree 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 15, mailed Dec. 16-31;
-- Annuitant Account Statement: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- Annuitant 1099R: Available on myPay Dec. 18, mailed Dec. 19-31;
-- VSI/SSB W-2: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 4–5;
-- Active Duty Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 22, mailed Jan. 23-29;
-- Reserve Air Force, Army, Navy W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 2, mailed Jan. 5-8;
-- Marine Corps active and reserve W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 5, mailed Jan. 9-10;
-- Civilian employee W-2: Available on myPay Jan. 9, mailed Jan. 11–18;
-- Savings Deposit Program 1099INT: Available on myPay Jan. 19, mailed Jan. 19-20; and
-- Vendor Pay 1099: Not available on myPay, mailed Jan. 27-31.

Shine added that current myPay account holders can eliminate the costs associated with generating and distributing the tax statements immediately by signing up and using myPay. www.mypay.dfas.mil.

2006/12/23

Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!

2006/12/22

Resources for military spouses

If you are a military spouse in need of counseling or domestic/spouse abuse help, please see the below postings.

Counseling Options

Domestic Violence

Labels: military spouse counseling, spouse abuse in the military

Things to make note of.....

PBS special on military families airs Dec. 27

Air Force Master Sgt. Jerrod Roth said he hopes a PBS special premiering Wednesday, Dec. 27, will help Americans realize that when service members deploy, they leave families behind.

Junior War College offers summer course to teens

High school students can explore what it’s like to plan and fight a battle — and earn college credit while they’re at it — through the Junior War College program this summer.

Charity drive for homeless veterans still open

Residents of the Washington metropolitan area still have time to donate gently used coats, sweats, flannel shirts and sweatshirts to homeless veterans in a clothing drive through Dec. 24.

Border agents plead for 'Christmas pardon'

I have been very busy with our move and have been taking a break from (avoiding) the news for awhile.

However, this just chaps me.

I rarely criticize our legal system or commander, but if they can get involved in something such as the Terry Schiavo case (which they should not have) then they SHOULD get involved in this particular case and do the right thing. I am horrified by the related stories I am reading.

2006/12/19

WWE RAW Tribute To The Troops

I know that I am crazy to watch wrestling. I don't really get into all of the wrestling bit, but CO does! However, I do find John Cena to be a hottie and I would love to meet him.

I love that these guys are doing the below show for our troops in Iraq!

Free Military Offers

Two new offers help military families stay connected

Two companies are making donations to ease the financial burden of communicating for deployed military members and their families, joining the ever-growing numbers of companies, organizations and individuals who have been making such efforts.

The company Web.com is giving away free Web pages to the first 2,007 people who sign up. The donation includes a free domain, and the tools to build the Web site — such as www.CaptJaneDoe.com — and all the associated services, such as e-mail addresses, blogs, video, audio and pictures. Service members and their families will have the ability to upload material to their own sites as a way to stay connected. The free period is for one year and is valued at $120.

To sign up for the free Web page, service members and their families can call toll-free, 1-800-338-0934. The promotion is open to all current and former members of the military and their families, including National Guard and reserve members, retirees and veterans.

Also, about $100,000 worth of free Pingo prepaid phone cards have been distributed to military communities by iBasis, a company that provides Voice Over Internet Protocol services and prepaid telephone services.

The donation was made in 40,000 prepaid cards worth $2.50 each, distributed in October at the Association of the U.S. Army convention to commanders to take back to their troops.

The system uses VoIP, but a person does not have to be at a computer or have an Internet connection to use the system. Simply sign up once on the Internet, and from there, a local dial-in number is provided.

The cost per minute varies depending on the country called, said Chris Conti, a spokesman for iBasis. For example, calls to London cost 2 cents per minute. Calls to Afghanistan cost 28.5 cents a minute. Calls to Baghdad cost 13.5 cents a minute, and 17 cents per minute elsewhere in Iraq. No extra fees are imposed, he said, and the costs are the same regardless of where the call originates in the U.S.

Currently, Pingo calls can not be made from Iraq or Afghanistan, although the system can be used in 35 other countries. For more information, go to www.pingo.com.

In another organized donation effort that is one of the largest to date, Americans have donated some 174,617 Military Global Prepaid Phone Cards to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, worth about $4.3 million, through the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’ “Help the Troops Call Home” program. Those cards are $39 each for 182 minutes of calling time, with no extra fees. Shipping fees may apply if the cards are bought online.

Labels: deployed offers, free military offers

2006/12/17

2007 Military BAH Rates

The highly anticipated 2007 BAH rates are out! (click yes when the certificate comes up)

As I always say, I really wish these rates were not made public. As rates rise in certain areas, so will rent when landlords and realty companies get wind of the new rates! This does not allow for BAH to truly reduce out of pocket costs for military members and families.

It also seems a little interesting to me, that in the areas that I have looked up (where installations have recently gone to privatization) the rates have risen dramatically. Not that I and others don't appreciate the rise, but it is interesting. The rates being put forth to the public though, will only serve to increase rent rates in those surrounding communities. This is a fact of common sense and defeats the entire program which was said to be set up to help reduce our out of pocket expenses over the last several years!

Anyway, I hope the new rates will meet your needs, but rates in some areas have actually gone down this year instead of up.

Labels: 2007 BAH Rates, Basic Allowance for Housing Rates, Military Housing Rates

2006/12/15

Still kickin'

I am still alive, we are just in the middle of PCS HELL!

More to follow soon!!

I am.....A thirty-something active duty army wife. A mother and teacher. A southern born girl. I love sports! An independent conservative - sometimes I talk (or bash on) politics. You are not required to like my opinions or politics. I am a strong woman. I am not a feminist. Be sure to check out the sidebar for the most updated information.