Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Navy Week Makes a Splash in Oceanless Spokane


By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean P. Gallagher, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

SPOKANE, Wash. (NNS) -- Navy Week Spokane 2012 kicked off May 14 with a Mayoral proclamation at Spokane's city hall.

Rear Adm. Douglas Asbjornsen, deputy commander, Navy Region Northwest, along with Sailors from USS Constitution and the local area, attended the ceremony.

The Navy Week program is designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas that traditionally do not have a naval presence and include community relations projects, speaking engagements and media interviews with flag hosts and area Sailors.

"As a long time resident of the greater Spokane area, I am exceptionally pleased and excited that Spokane is one of 15 cities in the nation to host Navy Week," said Asbjornsen. "[It is a] great opportunity to share what the Navy is all about, especially to the American public, who may not be exposed to the Navy."

Spokane locals will be able to meet with Sailors from the Leap Frogs, Naval Operational Support Center Spokane, Navy Recruiting District Seattle, as well as two of the Navy's highest ranking officers, Asbjornsen and Rear Adm. Kevin Kovacich, associate director of Assessments Division at the Chief of Naval Operations.

"Navy Week is a wonderful time to really highlight what we do in the Navy and we have a number of great events planned," said Asbjornsen. "We really encourage the locals to interact with our Sailors; they are the best and brightest we've ever had."

Navy Week will bring with it several assets to demonstrate its capabilities to the public. The US Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, is planning to make several jumps. Navy Band Northwest will be putting on performances throughout the week. Sailors from USS Constitution and local Sailors from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) will be participating in various outreach events such as community relations projects.

Spokane Navy Week 2012 is scheduled to be one of 15 Navy Weeks held this year.

Program Offers Paid Training for Unemployed Veterans

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Unemployed veterans ages 35 to 60 can apply for up to 12 months of paid training through a new program sponsored by the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs.

The population the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program will serve is particularly in need, Curtis L. Coy, the VA’s deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity, said in an email interview. Of about 900,000 U.S. veterans who are unemployed, nearly two-thirds are between 35 and 60 years old, according to the Labor Department.

“The program was created to provide assistance to unemployed veterans … who are not covered by any of our education programs and need training or [an] education boost for today's high-demand occupations,” Coy said.

“They may have had entitlement to education benefits at one time, but have either used them or the time frame to use them has passed,” he added. “This generous new benefit geared toward this specific cohort of veterans provides them the opportunity to 'jump start' a new career that they may not have otherwise been able to afford.”

The program, which began today, provides 12 months of training assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program, which currently pays $1,473 per month.

Participants must be enrolled in a community college or technical school program approved for VA benefits. The program must lead to an associate degree, non-college degree or certificate.

To qualify, a veteran also must:

-- Be unemployed on the day of application;

-- Have a discharge that is not dishonorable;

-- Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill;

-- Not receive VA compensation for being unemployable;

-- Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training program; and

-- Pursue a program that leads to employment in one of 210 occupations the Labor Department designates as high-demand.

The list of occupations, available on the VA website, includes jobs in construction, machine operation, transportation, preschool education, health care and many other fields.

The program will fund up to 45,000 participants between July 1 and Sept. 30, and an additional 54,000 participants from Oct. 1, 2012 through March 31, 2014. Labor officials said the department will offer employment assistance to every veteran who completes the program.

“The overall aim of VRAP is to help veterans attain personal and economic success,” Coy said.

The retraining program is funded under the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. The law expanded education and training for veterans, strengthened the Transition Assistance Program for service members returning to civilian life, and provides tax credits for employers who hire unemployed or disabled veterans.

Eligible veterans may call 800-827-1000 to learn more about the program, or visit the websites listed below. Applicants will receive a letter in the mail letting them know if they are eligible to participate, Coy said.