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Friday, October 11, 2013 Vol. 48, No. 40 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
Alpha Company graduates
Page 15
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.”
n Entertainment n News Briefs n Weather n In The Community n Around The Corps n Graduates
2 3 3 5 10 15
Losing weight the right way Page 4
Air Station participates in Shake Out drill Page 6
Air Station Marine to go to MARSOC Page 14
SHUTDOWN: Department of Veterans Affairs affected Sgt. Terika King Press Chief
Page 4
Due to the government shutdown, the Department of Veterans Affairs furloughed thousands of employees, causing many of its offices and programs to be affected. While Beaufort’s VA clinic, located at Naval Hospital Beaufort will remain open and fully operational because VA health services are pre-funded for the year in order to protect it from budget problems, other services will either not be available or will operate at a reduced capacity. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Benefits Administration regional offices which helps process benefit claims will be closed until further notice. The closing of South Carolina’s regional office in Columbia could impact any veteran with pending claims for appeal or remand as those services are suspended until there is a shutdown resolution. This setback comes at an inopportune time as the VA was finally making headway on its backlog of more than 400,000 claims. A statement from the
VA informed veterans that Freedom of Information Act queries and Privacy Act requests will also not be processed. With so many workers furloughed, it is understandable that the VA also enacted a hiring freeze with the exception of applicants for the Veterans Health Administration. VA call centers and hotlines are also affected by the government shutdown. The VBA Educational Call Center and the Inspector General Hotline are suspended and the Consumer Affairs number accessed via the “contact us” function of the va.gov homepage are unavailable. Congressional Liaison Veterans queries is suspended as well. For now, the VA has funding for many veterans compensations and programs for October including funding for payments in the compensation, pension, education and vocational rehabilitation programs. “However, in the event of a prolonged shutdown, claims processing and payments in these programs would be suspended when available funding is exhausted,” a statement from the VA explained.
Voluntary Separation Pay Program Renewed for FY 2014 Active Duty Marines with 6 to 20 years in the Marine Corps may be eligible for voluntary separation pay according to Marine Administrative Message 519/13. The offer is part of an on-going force-shaping effort in order to help the Marine Corps reach its reduced manpower strength. It is not considered an entitlement and requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. By accepting voluntary separation pay, Marines agree to a three year obligation to the Individual Ready Reserve. For more information, see MARADMIN 519/13.
Eligibility: • All Marine staff sergeants of any MOS who have failed selection for promotion to gunnery sergeant at least one time are eligible to apply. • Staff sergeants and gunnery sergeants of selected MOS’s. • At least six years of active service, but less than 20 years of active service. • Have no pending disciplinary action . • Have no pending administrative separation or mandatory discharge. • Must meet reenlistment criteria. • Have an effective date of separation, or end of active service, no later than Sept. 30, 2014.
NHB thinks pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Lance Cpl. Brendan Roethel Staff Writer
Naval Hospital Beaufort hosted it’s annual Pink Walk and Breast Cancer Awareness Month Cake Cutting Ceremony, Oct. 3. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a collaboration of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to services. The event educates men as well as women on the importance of early
detection, self-checking and receiving regular mammograms. “We hold the cake cutting ceremony and walk to raise awareness about the importance of screening and the early detection of breast cancer,” said Cammye Little, the breast care coordinator for Naval Hospital Beaufort. “Women have an increased chance of surviving breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. Statistics show the number of deaths caused by breast cancer has gone down in recent years due to an increase in the number of see
AwAreness, pAge 12
Tri-Command housing gets facelift Cpl. Brady Wood
project which is currently in the approval process. The project includes the addition of 42 new homes aboard Laurel Bay and Atlantic Marine Corps Communities and 53 duplex-style homes on Naval HospiLend Lease, the parent company for AMCC, tal Beaufort. The commanding general’s celebrated 10 years of privatized housing at home aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot the Laurel Bay community center, Oct. 4. During the celebration, residents learned see Housing, pAge 12 about a new community improvement Staff Writer