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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Staff report
November is Military Family Appreciation Month, a celebration of the Military Family in which the Department of Defense and the nation honors the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of the nation’s service members. We offer the following to raise awareness on matters of importance among Kentucky’s unsung heroes.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Money is often cited as the number one problem when it comes to preserving domestic tranquility. Money builds us up and it brings us down. Some think it is the key to happiness; the mismanagement of it is most certainly key to our misery.
Not everybody has a Santa to bail them out during the holiday spending season. Good money management can be the greatest gift your family can receive. (Kentucky National Guard file photo)
In the military community money is a huge factor when it comes to wartime deployment. Adding to those hardships are complications arising from pay issues, particularly during the recent sequestration and federal shutdown.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Kentucky National Guard recognizes these challenges. Regina Harris is an accredited finance counselor on staff with the Family Programs as a personal finance counselor. Let’s see what she has to say about money and what to do about it.
So what exactly is your job?
My official mission is to assist service members with any personal financial issue that arises in their or their families lives. I strive to let them know that my services are free, anonymous and confidential.
Is this strictly a National Guard program?
While I work with National Guard Family Programs, I’m available to help any military service member, active duty and reserve force. We support Kentucky’s entire military community.
What are some of the financial challenges military families face?
Couples don’t always see eye to eye on finances. It helps to have a neutral person assist or guide them to making sound financial decisions; establishing that neither person is right or wrong. We can always realize outlandish financial decisions without any other input.
It’s not just married couples, either. Single service members often need someone to talk with about financial accountability. I can do that for them. Service members sometimes want guidance on budgeting, buying a car, buying auto or life insurance, buying a house, getting into an apartment, child support, preparing for a Furlough or answering a Security Clearance inquiry. Also, relieving debts, saving for emergencies and retirement are worthy topics.
Does a military service member have to be in trouble to use your services?
No, you do not have to be in financial distress. A personal finance counselor may be the only phone number you have to connect you to other resources; we gladly connect. Even when things are going fantastically well financially we can be a sounding board to help you plug any possible financial oversights or to agree with your plan.
Do you ever visit units on site?
Yes, I’m happy to provide financial briefs at the unit level. I regularly attend Yellow Ribbon ceremonies and I’m available for other events as well.
It’s my pleasure to help service members feel good and in control of their money. It’s my passion to serve, it’s what I do and it’s why the DOD has provided these person financial counselor services for you.
If you need help with your finances or just have general questions contact Regina Harris at 502-548-4836 or rharris@mflc.zeiders.com
Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Adjutant General, Kentucky
October 8, 2013
To all members of the Kentucky National Guard, their families and to those who support our National Guard:
I wanted to reach out to you all with the most up-to-date information at my disposal. If you have a specific question related to you or your section, don’t hesitate to use the chain of command to garner the answers to your questions. Your Kentucky Guard leaders are in constant contact and are briefed several times daily regarding the Government Shutdown, the mil-tech recall, and other pending issues.
UPDATE ON FURLOUGHED MILITARY TECHNICIANS:
We are extremely thankful to have the vast majority of our Full-Time National Guard Duty Service Members back to work as a result of the Pay Our Military Act and the Secretary of Defense’s interpretation of the same.
We are diligently working with our respective representatives at the National Guard Bureau and our contacts within the DoD to bring ALL of our Full-Time National Guard Duty personnel back to work.
The government is still shut down. As an obvious consequence, ‘business is NOT back to normal.’ The nation’s military – as a whole – has been extremely limited in its ability to perform by the lapse of appropriated funds for FY14, which started on October 1st.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AND OUR KENTUCKY GUARD:
Drills have been suspended. Mission support is limited. Travel is restricted. The National Guard-funded cooperative agreements with our state entities and facilities are in extreme flux and remain very much at risk.
The entire National Guard needs appropriated dollars to do our job.
I speak for each and every Kentucky Guardsman when I say, “We want to do our job.”
OUR JOB is to stand ready for when the Governor or the President calls us to duty. This duty may be stateside in the Commonwealth or in a neighboring state; fighting the waters, the winds or the earthquakes. OUR JOB may be conducted overseas to battle terrorism and to keep our freedoms free.
Our Kentucky National Guard members want to do the job we signed up to do.
Right now, we can’t do OUR JOB.
I’m deeply concerned that this lapse in appropriated funds is crippling our ability to respond in time of crisis. Our traditional Guardsmen can’t train, can’t prepare, can’t conduct drills to ready ourselves and our equipment to deal with disasters –natural or man-made.
The longer the government operates with a lapse in appropriation, the worse our readiness becomes for our state and our nation, as part of the Homeland Defense team.
I once again assert that all Soldiers and Airmen of the Kentucky National Guard are mission critical to our Commonwealth and our country.
As best we can, we’ll continue to stand ready, with a very lean force, to respond to the call of our Governor to save lives and property here at home. We still are the most cost-effective force to defend America abroad when called.
I am committed to working with senior military and political leaders, encouraging them to allow us to train to maintain our ability to do our job when called.
Again, you, too, can express your concerns to our elected officials.
Your voice, as a member of the Guard, is crucial to ensure that we can do our job.
Our representatives, our senators and our President are accountable to us and need to hear our concerns.
I know the continuing budget uncertainty is stressful and frustrating. Please reach out to your Guard leadership for continued support.
Your professionalism and commitment to our Guard makes us the best force and the best Troops available for our Commonwealth and our country.
Thank you for your continued service in these very uncertain and challenging times.
God Bless you all.
Major General Ed Tonini
The Adjutant General – Kentucky
Staff Report
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Due to the current federal government shutdown Kentucky National Guard military and civilian technicians have received furlough notices, and orders have been cancelled for a significant number of troops on temporary duty. The shutdown impacts approximately 1,300 full-time equivalent personnel and their families.
The approximate statewide payroll cost of the shutdown is $319,000 per day.
Many full-time employee positions will be backfilled by active duty guard members not affected by the furlough. The furloughed personnel will be reinstated upon appropriated funds by Congress.
In addition, military drill training weekends for the part-time troops, both Army and Air, have been suspended until further notice. This affects all 8,500 Soldiers and Airmen in the Kentucky National Guard.
More than 160,000 National Guard members are affected in 54 states and territories nationwide by the shutdown.
For specific information regarding how the government shutdown affects National Guard members go to http://www.nationalguard.mil/default.aspx
If you are a Kentucky National Guard member, military or civilian technician and want to know how you are affected, contact Col. Hal Lamberton at 502-607-1083.
Media queries should come to David Altom, 502-607-1562.
Affected employees are advised to monitor the news for updates on the furlough situation.
TRI-CARE
When ADOS orders are revoked and removed from DEERS, Active Duty TRICARE stops, service members can purchase TRICARE Reserve Select without a break in coverage.
Click here for instructions on how to apply for TRICARE Reserve Select.
TRICARE Contact Numbers- North 877-874-2273 / South 800-444-5445
TRS Monthly Premiums:
- $52 Single - $195.81 Family
TRS Annual Deductibles:
- E4 and below $50 Single/$100 Family
- E5 and above $150 Single/$300 Family
For more information contact:
1SG(r) Joan Kivior
KY Family/Soldier Assistance Coordinator DoD Contractor/DEERS VO
MPSCRC/Kentucky National Guard
502-607-1513/502-682-6519 BB
800-372-7601 opt 1
fax 502-607-1570
