The Summer Fit Pass schedule is now available and Summer Fit Pass classes begin today, Monday, June 22. An unlimited Summer Fit Pass is only $29. With smaller class sizes over the summer, this is a great time to try something new! Our fitness staff looks forward to seeing you soon!
ALSO:

 

Rent Outdoor Gear from the Adventure Leadership Institute

The sunshine has arrived and it’s time to rent all the gear you need to enjoy the great outdoors from Recreational Sports. The ALI Gear Rental Shop is open to all students, Recreational Sports members and the OSU community for outdoor gear rental . Students and Recreational Sports members receive a DISCOUNT rate on rentals. Additionally, if you need your bike tuned up, the bike shop is your one stop shop for preparing your bike for the road or trails! Visit the ALI in Dixon for more information!

Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund

Forrest Schweiger, son of Advanced American Diving Service co-founder Konrad Schweiger, lost his life in a construction accident in 1999 at age 26. To honor and commemorate Forrest, Advanced American Construction, Inc. of Oregon City, OR, formed the Forrest L. Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund. With the untimely death of Konrad Schweiger on April 11th, 2002, the Fund’s name was changed to the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Fund provides annual scholarships to applicants wishing to pursue educational excellence in construction and construction-related fields.

The Memorial Fund awards annual scholarships to selected students at the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Awards Banquet each Spring.

Thanks to the generous financial contributions received from our friends, 181 scholarships, totaling $467,000, have been awarded since the program began.

Applications and Additional Information

Scholarships have been awarded for 2013-2014.  Please check back periodically for information on upcoming 2014-2015 application details.

Please mail the original application to:

Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund
c/o Advanced American Construction, Inc.
P.O. Box 83599
Portland, OR 97283

 

Making Dreams of Careers in Construction Come True

In 1999, Advanced American Construction, Inc. a marine construction company in Portland, Oregon formed the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for students with dreams to pursue careers in the construction industry. Over the last 16 years, thanks to generous contributions from Advanced American’s customers, vendors, employees and friends, the Fund has awarded 181 scholarships totaling $467,000

BAH Rate Cuts: 99% BAH – The New Reality & The Future of BAH

BAH Rate CutsThe DoD recently announced the there would be BAH Rate cuts in the 2015 budget. Instead of the 100% BAH rate which has been the norm since 2005, the Department of Defense announced they would reduce BAH to 99% of expected costs. This is part of a larger, long-term goal of implementing BAH Rate cuts to cover only 95% of expected costs.

Don’t fret about this change yet. BAH Rate Protection protects your BAH Rates, so you shouldn’t see an immediate decrease in your BAH check each month, except under a few circumstances, which will will cover in a bit. Let’s take a look at the new 99% policy, why it has come to be, and discuss BAH Rate Protection.

Why Move to 99% BAH?

The DoD, along with the rest of the government, is hurting for money. They are looking for places to cut back spending. And since BAH affects majority of the military population, it is a prime target for cuts. This 1% cut is expected to save the government approximately $200 million per year.

The 2015 defense budget called for plans to cut BAH to 95% of expected costs over the next several years. So this is only the first step. While many servicemembers and their families will start seeing more money out of pocket in the coming years, this is still a much better situation than the 1990’s, when BAH only covered 80% of expected housing costs.

BAH Rate Protection

We have a full-length article covering BAH Rate Protection, but here are the basics. Your BAH Rate is protected from the time you arrive on your installation, until you leave, with the exception of three circumstances:



  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
  • Reduction in paygrade
  • Change in dependent status

In other words, your BAH rates can only increase, not decrease, unless you move to another base via a PCS, you receive a reduction in paygrade, or your dependent status changes from with dependents to without, or vice-versa. For the rest of your assignment, your BAH will be the higher of the published BAH Rate on January 1, or the BAH Rate you held on December 31 of the previous year.

I will say it again: Your BAH Rate will not drop during the middle of your assignment, even if the rates for your location decrease in any given year.

Note about a PCS moves: If you live in an area with two bases close to each other and you receive a permanent change of station assignment to the other base, you could possibly remain in the same home, but still face a decreased BAH because it would officially be a PCS move.

How Much Will This Cost Me When I Move?

At the time of this publication, the DoD hasn’t announced exactly how the cuts will take place. They could do one of several actions, including decreasing BAH 1% across the board, calculating the total cuts across the entire DoD and applying an average cut to everyone who receives BAH, or some other calculation.

Andrew Tilghman of the MilitaryTimes reported,

“Military officials do not want to create a new incentive for troops to prefer rural areas over costly urban ones, so it is likely that the Pentagon will calculate some sort of single across-the-board cut for all BAH checks.

For example, they might take the average of all 1 percent reductions nationwide and use that to determine a single dollar amount to shave from every BAH check. For example, regardless of the location and actual BAH rates, each service member may face a reduction of about $200 a year.”



Let’s look at an example: We’ll look at two different BAH rates for an E-5 with dependents. The first is the rate used for the Post-9/11 GI Bill when you take classes exclusively offered online (in-residence classes are based on the ZIP code for your school). The other BAH Rate is an E-5 in Chicago, chosen to illustrate the difference in a high-cost of living location:

  • E-5 with Dependents Rate (non-location, used for Post-9/11 GI Bill): $714.50, *99% = New Rate of $707.36, a difference of $7.14/month, or $85.68/year
  • E-5 with Dependents Rate (Chicago): Current Rate: $1,977.00, * 99%, New Rate = $1,957.23. Difference of: $19.77/month, or $237.24/year.

When put in the context of a monthly cut, $7 – $20 is noticeable, but not a massive cut. Especially if you don’t see it due to BAH Rate Protection. When you PCS to your next base, you should have a good idea of the BAH in your new area and can use that BAH when setting your budget for your new location.

BAH Rates Can and Do Change for Other Reasons

It’s also important to note that BAH Rates change when cost of living in a local area changes. In general, the BAH should increase as the cost of living increases, and the BAH may decrease when the cost of living in an area decreases. Falling BAH Rates were common after the real estate markets crashed in 2007-2009. This is when BAH Rate Protection was helpful for many servicemembers. It’s also possible that you may see increased BAH payments, even with BAH paid out at 99% of the calculated rate. The important thing to remember is that your BAH Rates should not decrease, regardless of what happens to the published rates. Your rates should only increase throughout the duration of your tour.

What is the Future of BAH?

Right now, we can only go from the information we have at hand, which is from the recent budget talks. The DoD wants to decrease BAH to 95% of the actual cost of housing, but Congress limited to cut to 1%. This 1% decrease could just be the first step. Right now we don’t even have the full picture on the implementation. But going forward I would expect the decreases to continue on an annual basis for the near future. The DoD won’t implement the full 5% overnight, and the BAH Rate Protection should protect a large portion of servicemembers over the next few years. The largest impact to most servicemembers probably won’t be felt for the next couple years.

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Date published: December 17, 2014.

Student Veterans of America and Raytheon have partnered to provide three (3) $10,000 STEM scholarships to student veterans pursuing engineering degrees or a degree in a closely related field. These student veterans have the potential to fill a critical skills gap plaguing the nation and usher in a new generation of technological advancements.

The 2014 Raytheon-SVA Scholarship application will remain open until October 1, 2014 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Student veterans must complete an online application, answer two essay questions, attach the required documents, and have one letter of reference be submitted prior to the deadline to be considered. Visit http://studentveterans.org/component/content/article/15-scholarships/97-raytheon-sva-scholarship.html to apply.

Eligibility

All successful candidates must:

  • Be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year of undergraduate study, or be enrolled in a graduate program for the 2015-2016 academic year
  • Be attending full-time at an accredited four-year university in the United States
  • Be pursuing an engineering degree or a degree in a closely related field, as listed below
  • Demonstrate a commitment to and passion for their chosen field of study
  • Demonstrate leadership and engagement in their community
  • Be a current student veteran, as proven by a DD 214 and transcript
  • Have received an honorable discharge, or be in good standing with his/her branch of service

Closely related fields include:

  • Software Engineering / Computer Science / IT
  • Computer Engineering
  • Cyber Security / Network Security
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Essay

Please provide answers to the following two essay questions (maximum of 300-500 words per essay). Your word document should include your name and clearly specify each answer by number.

1. What sparked your interest in your chosen field of study? What do you hope to accomplish with your degree?  In your answer, please describe how your experiences have influenced the goals you have for yourself.

2. Please provide 1-2 examples of how you have demonstrated leadership.  Explain how you were influential and what you were trying to achieve.  These need not be demonstrated through formal or traditional leadership roles.  Think broadly and examine the many ways you are having an effect on the members of your technical community, your chapter, your university, or your broader community.

Letters of Reference

You must arrange for one letter of reference be emailed directly to SVA at scholarships@studentveterans.org. The email should contain in the subject, “2014 Raytheon-SVA Scholarship Letter of Reference for (Provide Your Name)”.  Letters can also be mailed to:

Student Veterans of America c/o Raytheon-SVA Scholarship Committee 1625 K Street NW Suite 320 Washington, DC  20006

All letters of recommendation must be sent by the author, signed by the author, and be on official letterhead.

Additional Materials

A complete application must include:

  • Current copy of your Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Unofficial copy of current university transcript updated for the most recently completed semester
  • One letter of reference from a professor, adviser or supervisor
  • Responses to the 2 essay questions
  • DD 214, Certificate of Discharge

Questions

Should you have any questions, or experience any problems, please submit a contact form so an SVA team member may help you, or give us a call at (202) 223-710.  Good luck!

Please visit the link below to submit your application:

 

http://studentveterans.org/component/content/article/15-scholarships/97-raytheon-sva-scholarship.html

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans,

This is a note for Veterans who have or are in a Master’s degree program.  If you are, or know of a Veteran who might qualify please read on.  This is a great opportunity.

In any event, we’d like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend with family and friends.

For Veterans who are considering careers in diplomacy and international development, I want to make you aware of a great opportunity for which you may be eligible. The U.S. Department of State has launched the Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP), a new public-private alliance platform aimed at serving America’s Veterans and separating Servicemembers by preparing them for diplomacy and development careers, providing education and employment resources and expertise while enhancing America’s global leadership.

They are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2014 class of VIP Fellows. The main focus of VIP is to build and deploy strategic partnerships between the U.S. government and the U.S. private sector to mobilize resources and build networks to promote foreign affairs career opportunities for Veterans.

The VIP fellowship will include the following components:

  • Full-time employment beginning in Fall 2014 and lasting for one year
  • Responsibilities and compensation commensurate with a Master’s degree
  • Mentoring and professional development opportunities throughout the year

Eligibility Requirements

VIP fellowships are only open to Veterans who:

  • Are enrolled in a Master’s degree program in the preferred fields of International Business, International Relations / Affairs, Public Policy, Public Administration, or related fields (this includes MPA, MPH, MPP, MBA, and JD degrees).
  • Completed a Master’s degree in the preferred or related fields listed above less than two years prior to applying for the fellowship (except for Veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, they will have up to six years after degree completion to apply).
  • Are able to obtain a Secret Level security clearance.
  • Provide a resume. Use your resume to highlight your education, expertise, achievements and honors, extracurricular activities / community service, and any leadership experience. The resume should not exceed two pages.
  • Criteria include outstanding leadership and life experience, as well as excellence in academic, cross-cultural and communication skills.
  • To be considered, an applicant’s cumulative GPA for the Master’s degree should be 3.2 or above on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to be a VIP Fellow, please submit your resume to apply@vipfellowship.org. Subject to funding and further arrangements, the application deadline is currently September 15, 2014, with participants beginning their fellowship in Fall 2014. Please refer to www.vipfellowship.org and @vipfellowship for further information and updates.

 

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Core Values:  Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence (“I CARE”)
Please Remember:

If you would like to contact us about your VA education benefits:

You can send us a secure email that will usually be answered within 48 hours. You can also search for answers to frequently asked questions and register to be notified of any updates to the information. This contact method is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can also be utilized worldwide. Click here to enter the “Ask A Question” site or here to review our frequently asked questions.

You can call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). This line only accepts calls from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM central time Monday – Friday

The Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU), University Housing & Dining Services (UHDS), INTO University Partners, New Student Programs & Family Outreach, and the OSU Office of the Dean of Student Life, are working together to present the first annual OSU Off-Campus Housing Expo. The expo is to be held March 6th from 11am-3pm in OSU’s Memorial Union Ballroom. The expo will be a chance for property managers to showcase their businesses and prospective properties to students; for Corvallis and Benton County civic agencies to provide students with relevant information about responsibly living in our community

 If you are interested in accessing and applying for other VA benefits such as medical, disability, VA home loan information, etc., come see the new Benton County VSO, Mary Newman.  Mary will be on campus in my office (Registrar Office) the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month 1:00 to 4:00. Mary’s first day on campus will be Thursday, March 6, 2014.  If you are interested in an appointment please call Mary at 541-758-1595 or email  mnewman@ocwcog.org.   

GB

Hello,

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have received phone calls, emails, and had conversations with individuals about the Bipartisan Budget Deal of 2013 passed by Congress earlier this month.  Several have commented to me that there is a provision within this bill that affects our Military and Veteran Community.  Others have questioned how this will affect their VA education benefits.

 

In the interest of informing the OSU Community and outside community members who support our Student Veterans, I have researched several websites looking for the language of the bill.  Please understand my reporting on this information does not constitute my office agreeing or disagreeing with any or all of the provision of the bill.  In addition, please be advised the bill has not been signed by President Obama.  Additionally, other bills are in process that could change the outcome of this bill.  In my research, I was not able to find a full text of the bill.  However, I was able to find this information.

 

According to each of the websites listed below the following language is in the bill.

 

–        American troops who have retired and are under the age of 62 would have cost-of-living(COLA) adjustments cut by 1% each year under the new deal.

 

In addition, according to the websites this cut is one of many intended to reduce the overall deficient by 23 Billion over the next 10 years.

 

Based upon this language many have asked me how this could affect their VA Education Benefits.  At this point, it appears there is not language that will change or stop VA education benefits.  However, if that changes I will be glad to report out on those changes as they are made public.

 

I hope this help answers some of the questions some of you may had surrounding the Bi-Partisan Budget Deal of 2013 and VA education benefits.

 

Thank you and have a great day.

 

Gus L. Bedwell

Veteran Resources Coordinator

 

The American Legion Website:

http://www.legion.org/legislative/218104/senate-passes-budget-bill-fails-veterans

 

The Washington Times:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/23/rep-paul-ryan-defends-cuts-military-retirement/

 

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America:

http://iava.org/press-room/press-releases/veterans-blast-budget-agreement

 

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisan_Budget_Act_of_2013

The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will soon be filling a permanent position for a Procurement Technician at the Supervisor’s Office with a duty station of Springerville, Arizona. This position offers a challenging career opportunity for an individual seeking experience on a busy and complex forest.

 

TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN THE PERMANENT POSITION: Please fill out the attached outreach response form and send to Joe Vieth, Supervisory Administrative Management Specialist, jvieth@fs.fed.us by COB January 10, 2014.

 ABOUT THIS POSITION

Provides clerical and technical support to Contract Specialists on tasks such as soliciting offers; conducting discussions with contractors; evaluating quotes, bids, and proposals; compiling necessary data or reports on contractor performance; and awarding, administering and closing out contracts. The employee receives procurement requests for services and work which are covered under established fixed price, time and materials and other delivery order contracts.  Reviews requests for accuracy and completeness and assures that requested work or services fall within the scope of the contract.  Resolves or clarifies requirements with technical personnel as required.  Maintains contents of solicitation and contract folders, with oversight.  Reviews and assures contracts comply with governing procurement regulations, policies and procedures.  Assists in the administration of on-going contracts by performing follow-up or expediting deliveries.  Monitors progress and takes necessary action to identify problems or deviations.  Brings unusual situations or problems to the attention of contract specialists.  Prepares invoice transmittals to submit for payment.  Prepares routine contract files for closeout upon completion of contracts in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and agency policy.  Reviews files for completeness, and follows up on unfinished documents in order to complete and close out the files.  Makes purchases under the Micro-Purchase threshold via a government purchase card.  Manages the facility warehouse and mailroom.  Performs other duties as assigned.

THE APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS

The Apache and the Sitgreaves National Forests were administratively combined in 1974 and are now managed as one unit from the Forest Supervisor’s Office. The forest is 2,110,000 acres in size and is located in east-central Arizona along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains. The forest covers portions of Coconino, Navajo, Apache, and Greenlee counties; borders the Coconino, Tonto, and Gila National Forests; and borders the White Mountain Apache and San Carlos Indian Reservations.

The Apache-Sitgreaves has 34 lakes and reservoirs and more than 1080 miles of perennial rivers and streams – more than can be found in any other Arizona National Forest. The White Mountains contain the headwaters of several Arizona Rivers including the Black, the Little Colorado, and the San Francisco. The forest ranges in elevation from 3500 feet near Clifton to nearly 11,500 feet on Mount Baldy. The congressionally proclaimed Mount Baldy, Escudilla, and Bear Wallow wilderness areas and the Blue Range Primitive Area make the forest one of America’s premier backcountry Forests.

The management concerns on the Apache-Sitgreaves include the health and restoration of the forest, watersheds, and ecosystems, and providing a sustainable recreation program.  Over one-quarter of the forest (538,000 acres) was burned by the 2011 Wallow Fire. The highest priority work is associated with rehabilitation of the burned area, reducing the dangers associated with wildfire in the urban interface, forest restoration, and Forest Plan Revision implementation (Forest Plan scheduled to be completed in mid-2014). There will be continued opportunities to work with forest leadership as they incorporate restoration and recovery into the forest-wide program of work.

There are a total of 96 active allotments covering the majority of the forest. Fish and wildlife habitats in and around allotments for federally-listed species include Mexican spotted owl, Mexican wolf, Southwestern willow flycatcher, Chiricahua leopard frog, and numerous fish species including the Apache trout, Gila trout and loach minnow.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Springerville is located in East-Central Arizona on U.S. 60 and State Highways 180-191, approximately 220 miles Northeast of Phoenix and sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet. It was originally established in 1879. Combined with a mild climate and proximity to a wealth of outdoor recreation year round, ranging from hunting and fishing to winter skiing, Springerville is a haven for recreational enthusiasts in Arizona and New Mexico.  The towns of Springerville and Eagar are contiguous and make up the area referred to as Round Valley. A variety of industries shape the economic profile. In the early days, cattle and sheep ranching were principal economic activities, but these have gradually been augmented by tourism, agriculture, construction, forestry, and retail sales in support of the 6,000 local residents.

Springerville and Eagar offer a range of facilities to their residents, including a library, hospital, museum, and numerous athletic facilities as well as a campus for Northland Pioneer College. Sunrise Ski area, located on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, is 30 minutes away. Springerville is also home to Casa Malpais, a nationally recognized archeological ruin.  There are several local restaurants offering a variety of food and drink.  Recently opened is the XA Saloon and Dance Hall, a traditional country western saloon frequented by John Wayne in older times.

There are two supermarkets and a variety of convenience stores located in the Round Valley.  There is also one drug store, one Alco (mini Wal-Mart style) store, automotive parts stores and several specialty stores located in the Round Valley area. Shopping in Pinetop-Lakeside and Show Low 45 miles away includes Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Home Depot, larger grocery stores, clothing and shoe stores, and many other specialty stores.  There are two banks located in Eagar and one bank in Springerville.  There are seven motels ranging from Best Western to local owned.

 

GB

 

WEBSITES

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: http://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf/

Apache County Chamber of Commerce: http://www.apachecounty.com/

Town of Springerville: http://www.springervilleaz.gov/index.html

Town of Eagar: http://www.eagaraz.gov/

Town of Pinetop-Lakeside:  http://ci.pinetop-lakeside.az.us/

Town of Show Low:  http://www.ci.show-low.az.us/newsite/homerun/

OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM

SOUTHWESTERN REGION

APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS

Procurement Technician GS-1106-5/6 (Permanent Position)

Springerville, AZ

Respond by January 10, 2014

 

NAME:

E-MAIL:

MAILING ADDRESS:

PHONE:

 

 

Agency:

   USFS    BLM    Other

Type of Appointment:

   Permanent    Temporary    Term    VRA    PWD    Other

Current Title/Series/Grade:

Current Location (Region/Forest/District):

 

 

 

 

 

Briefly explain your interest in this position and attach a resume:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN OUR VACANCY!

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Joe Vieth, Supervisory Administrative Management Specialist (928) 333- 6261.

Please return your completed outreach form by COB January 10, 2014 to Joe Vieth by email at jvieth@fs.fed.us