frg newsletter july 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Nancy De Anda FRG Coordinator July, 2014
Hello, it has only been the blink of an eye and we are once again back at drill. Like our Commander said, we understand
how tough and hard this must be for you and your children being away from mommy or daddy but try to stay positive.
We are only a month away from AT and we need to be strong for our children, our soldiers and ourselves. Now is the
perfect time to start preparing ourselves for that long month where we will need to be the ones taking care of everything
back home while our loved one is going though and intense training at OCTC. A lot of the time, we take for granted all
the little things our loved one might do while at home. That is why if you are not used to paying the bills, mowing the
lawn, taking out the garbage, and being the one to talk firmly to your child, you need to take action and make a plan. It
might sound silly but it’s true, trust me it has happened to me and the less stress you have at home the better your
soldier will perform doing AT. Communication with our loved ones might not be the same as any other drill weekend so
please if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just need to vent and talk to someone that will understand how you
feel, feel free to call/ email me. We are all in this together. If your are planning on going to visit/stay with family out of
town/state please make sure to take with you all the information you might need. (Medical, Insurance, Dr/Dentist Office
Numbers, Your Soldiers Information just in case something might happened.) Please let me know if there is anything I
can do to help make this time easier on you and your family. “Mission First – Families Always”
Nancy De Anda, FRG Coordinator
A Note From The Commander:
A very short turn around for everyone to be back in for drill. I understand that this is very inconvenient for the soldiers
and the families. On a positive note, our upcoming drill is a very exciting one for your soldiers, as everyone will be doing
what they like to do most and that is shoot big guns and blow things up! I can reassure everyone that safety is our number
concern coming into this weekend, as our training will be starting to ramp up as we are getting ready for Annual training
and next year’s NTC rotation.
Once again, I want to warn everyone to be prepared for the extended time that the soldiers will be gone for this Annual
Training. In addition, due to our training schedule, your soldier may not be able to communicate as much as everyone
would like. I encourage everyone to take the time and prepare as best as you can, as it will be the small things that will
turn out to cause the most stress.
I also encourage everyone to take the time and read the new Battalion FRG newsletter. While it is very similar to ours, I
believe that it will help give everyone a “bigger picture” perspective, as the Battalion Commander and Battalion FRG
Coordinator have done a great job in beginning a BN FRG newsletter to give you their thoughts on where our unit will be
heading in the future and how it will affect our families.
ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT!
CPT Jorge De Anda
“Adder 6”
Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Nancy De Anda FRG Coordinator July, 2014
Here is a look of the Next few Drill Dates.
Please be advised this dates may be Subject to Change.
Aug. 09-30,2014 Boise - AT/OCTC
Sep. 13-14, 2014 Home Station/Family Picnic
Oct. 17-19, 2014 Umatilla- Army Depot (UTC)
Nov. 14-16, 2014 Umatilla- Army Depot (UTC)
Dec. 12-14, 2014 Umatilla- Army Depot (UTC)
Aug. Training will be held at the
Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC) Boise, ID.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
September 13th is Family Day! The FRG team is currently planning this Momentous
day so if you have any Ideas, Please let us know.
The Army is full of acronyms. In order to survive as a
spouse, family member, or friend of an Army soldier,
it will help to know some basic Army acronyms.
BC- Battalion Commander
CSM- Command Sargent Major
The Battalion Commander and the Command
Sergeant Major are the senior leaders responsible
for leading soldiers and caring for their families.
CO- Commanding Officer. The Officer in Command of
a Military Unit. For our unit is the rank of Captain.
1SG- First Sergeant is the Senior Non-Commissioned
Officer of a company-sized unit and in charge of
developing the Non-Commissioned Officers of the
unit and serves as the main advisor to the CO.
XO- Executive Officer is the second-in-command,
reporting to the Commanding Officer (CO) and in
charge of logistics & maintenance.
PL – Platoon Leader. The Officer in charge of the
Platoon, usually new to the military.
PSG – Platoon Sergeant. The Senior Non-
Commissioned Officer of the Platoon. It is their job to
mentor and develop the Platoon Leader and oversee
the execution of the Platoon’s plan.
SPC SOK PISITH NMN 5-Jul
SFC SCOTT KEVIN WALLACE 7-Jul
PV1 CARRERA JORGE LUIS 10-Jul
SPC AMBROCIO JESSE LORAN 13-Jul
SPC BUSH JEFFREY DALE 14-Jul
SGT PARNELL JASON DAVID 15-Jul
SPC PARSONS ZACHARI ALLEN 15-Jul
SSG WALLER JORDAN MATHEW 17-Jul
SGT SIMMONS MATTHEW AARON 18-Jul
SGT HALLADAY CALVIN JAMES 19-Jul
SGT PLACE GRAHAM LYSLE 24-Jul
SPC COY MARK RYAN 30-Jul
Effective IMMEDIATELY tobacco use is prohibited at all Oregon
Military Department facilities, which includes the surrounding
grounds, buildings, parking areas, and private vehicles located
on the property. Prohibited tobacco products include, but are
not limited to, cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pip tobacco, loose
tobacco, chew, snuff, electronic cigarettes and smokeless
tobacco. Any questions about this policy can be addressed
through your Chain of Command or the FTUS.
CONGRATULATIONS WISHING YOU ALL
THE BEST!
To The Following Soldiers!!
SPC Sherburne, 9 Years
SPC Strong, 4 Years
Congratulations to these Soldiers for achieving the following
time in service for pay milestones in the month of May:
STATE TOBACCO POLICY
Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Nancy De Anda FRG Coordinator July, 2014
To be part of the FRG!
There are many ways of get involved with the
FRG, we are always looking for more Volunteers.
Please let us know if you would like to be a part
of this team. Being part of the FRG is Fun and very Rewarding!
We finally have most of our soldier’s information
up to date. Please expect a call by the end of the
month or first week of Aug.
What Is a Phone Tree?
A system used to quickly & accurately
disseminates information to unit Families,
upcoming FRG events - unit’s status - unit news –
Helps with RUMOR CONTROL.
Assures Families that there is someone to assist
during Family emergencies Or someone that they
can express their concerns to, someone who will
listen. Can help improve the quality of life and
morale of the unit
Point Of Contact (POC) Information
Commander: CPT- Jorge De Anda
FRG Coordinator: Nancy De Anda
FRG Treasurer: Lara Hunsaker
FRG Point of Contact: SGT. Iven
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Mini Bagels (Your Favorite)
Whipped Cream Cheese (Soft)
Fresh Fruit- What You & Your Kids Like.
Powder Sugar & Vanilla To Your Taste
In a small bowl, mix the whipped cream
cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Toast your bagel (or Not), and when it’s
cool spread the cream cheese mixture on
the bagel and top with fruit. You can add
more powder sugar to the top of the
fruit or even add some sugar sprinkles.
You can also replace the bagel with your
favorite Homemade or Store Bought
Sugar Cookie and replace the cream
cheese with your favorite frosting.
Alpha Company 3/116 CAV ORNG – FRG
Or Become our FRIEND
AlphaCompany Cav
You can also find us using our FRG email:
Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Nancy De Anda FRG Coordinator July, 2014
STUDENT LOAN INFORMATION
Presidential Executive Orders to Help Service members with Student Loans
President Obama signed an Executive Order that will automatically apply a 6% interest rate cap to eligible
federal student loan borrowers under the Service members Civil Relief Act without the need for additional
paperwork.
In October 2012, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published The Next Front
<http://1.usa.gov/1g3vsbH>, a report that identified troubling trends regarding student loan borrowers having
trouble accessing their SCRA rights.
We shared the consumer complaints featured in the report with the Department of Justice, which led to the
recent settlement against Sallie Mae <http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/May/14-ag-502.html> , the nation's
largest student loan servicer. The settlement required Sallie Mae to proactively determine which of its
borrowers were eligible for the 6% interest rate reduction, and apply the rate cap without the need for
borrowers to submit a request or military orders.
Executive Order extends this relief to all federal student loan borrowers, not just those with loans serviced by
Sallie Mae.
If you are a service member and you have a federal student loan that you took out before you entered the
military, you are no longer required to ask your Student loan servicer and to send in your orders for an interest
rate reduction. Your interest rate reduction will be applied automatically.
Borrowers with private student loans should still contact their student loan servicer to inquire how to obtain
their SCRA benefits. In most cases, you will need to send a written request and include a copy of the orders
calling you onto military service.
Additional resources:
1) Submit a complaint about your student loan servicer. Consumers may wish to file a complaint if they are
concerned their account was illegally handled. Visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint
<http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint> or call 855-411-CFPB (2372).
2) Share the action guide for service members with student loans. Since this new guidance has yet to take
effect, we advise service members interested in accessing their benefits and protections to check out our
action guide <http://1.usa.gov/1suD3Cm>. We will continue to update the guide as this new guidance
takes effect.
For more information, please visit consumerfinance.gov/service members
<http://www.consumerfinance.gov/servicemembers> and consumerfinance.gov/students
<http://1.usa.gov/17Zz6xM>.
Related links:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/09/presidential-memorandu
m-federal-student-loan-repayments
Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Editor: Nancy De Anda FRG Coordinator July, 2014
r
If your soldier needs a job or a better job, please go on to https://h2h.jobs/
Build a profile and the zip code will send you to me to assist you in your job search.
Joint Transition Assistance Program (JTAP)
Stephen Rex Jensen Jr Reintegration Specialist, Eastern Oregon
Mobile (503) 884‐0130
E-mail: [email protected]
This is our first attempt at a FRG
newsletter for our company. Please
let us know your thoughts!
If anyone has any suggestions on
how we can improve the FRG, you
would like to volunteer, you have
any suggestions for the next
newsletter or if you would like to
write an article, you could email us
your ideas, remarks, etc. If you
have anything, you would like to
send to be put in our next
newsletter please email those too.
Hope Everyone Had A
Happy, Fun & Safe Fourth
Of July Weekend!!
Thank You To All Our
Alpha Company Man &
Women For Your Service
and For Keeping Us And
This Country Safe.
Please remember to share this Newsletter and
our FB pages with your Friends and Family. Share
your pictures, family events or anything you like
with us on FB or Newsletter.
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When a military family experiences a crisis, the American Red Cross is
there to help. Red Cross will deliver notification of an emergency such
as the death or serious illness of an immediate family member, as well
as the good news of the birth of a service member's child or grandchild.
The American Red Cross Emergency Communications Center is available to help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call (877) 272-7337 (toll-free)
When calling the Red Cross, be prepared to provide as much of the following information about the service member as is known:
Full Legal Name - Rank - Branch Of Service (Oregon National Guard)
Social Security Number - Date of Birth - Military Unit (Alpha Company)
Where He’s Located (OCTC Boise, Idaho)