A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., changed our Nation forever through his leadership, service, and clarity of vision. On the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we honor the lasting legacy of this great American, remember the ideals for which he fought, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that our country's promise extends to all Americans across this great land.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080116-3.html
African American History http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/africanamerican/
Friday, January 18, 2008
Plan to fix pay raise and bonuses takes shape
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 9:35:22 EST
The revised 2008 defense authorization bill expected to be sent to the White House as early as next week sets the stage for a retroactive military pay raise and creates a 120-day sanctuary period to deal with the unexpected termination of authority for many bonuses and special pays.
The 120-day period for signing enlistment, re-enlistment or service obligation commitments is aimed at protecting from financial harm anyone who was eligible for a bonus or special and incentive pay since Dec. 31, when the services lost permission to make new payments of more than 30 types of bonuses.
Bonuses lapsed, and service members received a 3 percent increase in basic pay instead of the 3.5 percent passed by Congress after President Bush refused to sign the annual defense policy bill because it included a provision that involved freezing U.S.-held assets of foreign countries facing lawsuits from American citizens.
Under the new bill, the 3.5 percent raise proposed by Congress would be retroactive to Jan. 1, setting the stage for modest back payments to make up the difference. Lawmakers will leave it to the Defense Department to decide how to provide the back pay, but it is most likely to come as a lump sum in the first paycheck after the revised bill is signed into law. Defense officials did not immediately respond to questions about how the back pay would be provided.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_authorizationbill_080116w/
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 9:35:22 EST
The revised 2008 defense authorization bill expected to be sent to the White House as early as next week sets the stage for a retroactive military pay raise and creates a 120-day sanctuary period to deal with the unexpected termination of authority for many bonuses and special pays.
The 120-day period for signing enlistment, re-enlistment or service obligation commitments is aimed at protecting from financial harm anyone who was eligible for a bonus or special and incentive pay since Dec. 31, when the services lost permission to make new payments of more than 30 types of bonuses.
Bonuses lapsed, and service members received a 3 percent increase in basic pay instead of the 3.5 percent passed by Congress after President Bush refused to sign the annual defense policy bill because it included a provision that involved freezing U.S.-held assets of foreign countries facing lawsuits from American citizens.
Under the new bill, the 3.5 percent raise proposed by Congress would be retroactive to Jan. 1, setting the stage for modest back payments to make up the difference. Lawmakers will leave it to the Defense Department to decide how to provide the back pay, but it is most likely to come as a lump sum in the first paycheck after the revised bill is signed into law. Defense officials did not immediately respond to questions about how the back pay would be provided.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_authorizationbill_080116w/
Troops, Civilian Employees Must Follow Rules for Political Activities
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2008 – As U.S. servicemembers and Defense Department civilians ponder candidates during the election season, they should realize there are limits placed upon their involvement in certain political activities.
Political-related "dos and don’ts" pertaining to military members of all service branches are proscribed within Defense Department Directive 1344.10, titled: Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty. The federal Hatch Act delineates what federal civilians, including those working for the Defense Department, may or may not do in the political realm.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48694
DODD 1344.10, Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf
Hatch Act for federal employees http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2008 – As U.S. servicemembers and Defense Department civilians ponder candidates during the election season, they should realize there are limits placed upon their involvement in certain political activities.
Political-related "dos and don’ts" pertaining to military members of all service branches are proscribed within Defense Department Directive 1344.10, titled: Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty. The federal Hatch Act delineates what federal civilians, including those working for the Defense Department, may or may not do in the political realm.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48694
DODD 1344.10, Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134410p.pdf
Hatch Act for federal employees http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm
Intent to nominate Nelson Ford as Under Secretary of the Army
The President intends to nominate Nelson M. Ford, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of the Army. Mr. Ford currently serves as the Acting Under Secretary of the Army and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management as well as Comptroller of the Army. Prior to this, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller of the Army. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Budgets & Financial Policy. Mr. Ford received his bachelor's degree from Duke University and his master's degree from the University of Delaware.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080117-4.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080117-4.html
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sonar gets green light for ASW training
By Pauline Jelinek - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 12:06:18 EST
WASHINGTON — President Bush exempted the Navy from an environmental law so it can continue using sonar in its anti-submarine warfare training off the California coast — a practice critics say is harmful to whales and other marine mammals.
The White House announced Wednesday that Bush had signed the exemption Tuesday while traveling in the Middle East.
The Navy training exercises, including the use of sonar, "are in the paramount interest of the United States" and its national security, Bush said in a memorandum.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_sonar_080116/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080116.html
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 12:06:18 EST
WASHINGTON — President Bush exempted the Navy from an environmental law so it can continue using sonar in its anti-submarine warfare training off the California coast — a practice critics say is harmful to whales and other marine mammals.
The White House announced Wednesday that Bush had signed the exemption Tuesday while traveling in the Middle East.
The Navy training exercises, including the use of sonar, "are in the paramount interest of the United States" and its national security, Bush said in a memorandum.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_sonar_080116/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080116.html
Demand Rises for Talent-Management Software
By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
January 15, 2008; Page B8
Two years from now, Diana Hatcher knows she will be ripe for promotion to a more senior job at United Parcel Service Inc. Based on her most recent performance review, the company's talent-management system determined that she will qualify to advance by then if she gains experience in a different area within her department. Right now, her boss is helping her make the switch.
Hoping to reduce turnover and increase worker satisfaction, companies are upgrading the way they manage, assess and share employee performance data. They are investing in Web-based software that tracks the progress of workers from the time they apply to work at a company until they leave.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120035522634389823.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
January 15, 2008; Page B8
Two years from now, Diana Hatcher knows she will be ripe for promotion to a more senior job at United Parcel Service Inc. Based on her most recent performance review, the company's talent-management system determined that she will qualify to advance by then if she gains experience in a different area within her department. Right now, her boss is helping her make the switch.
Hoping to reduce turnover and increase worker satisfaction, companies are upgrading the way they manage, assess and share employee performance data. They are investing in Web-based software that tracks the progress of workers from the time they apply to work at a company until they leave.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120035522634389823.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Vetoed authorization bill puts military bonuses on hold
By Megan Scully, CongressDaily
After relying heavily on financial incentives to attract recruits and retain war-weary troops, the military has had to put the brakes on awarding signing bonuses until Congress and the Bush administration resolve a dispute over President Bush's veto of the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill.
House Democrats announced Monday they would hold a vote Tuesday night "disposing of" the president's veto of the annual policy measure over a provision the administration fears would tie up the assets of the current Iraq government in court claims filed by Saddam Hussein's victims.
A Democratic aide said a vote to override the veto is possible Tuesday, even though the White House contends the bill was killed by a pocket veto, a rejection that cannot be challenged by Congress.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39024&dcn=e_gvet
After relying heavily on financial incentives to attract recruits and retain war-weary troops, the military has had to put the brakes on awarding signing bonuses until Congress and the Bush administration resolve a dispute over President Bush's veto of the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill.
House Democrats announced Monday they would hold a vote Tuesday night "disposing of" the president's veto of the annual policy measure over a provision the administration fears would tie up the assets of the current Iraq government in court claims filed by Saddam Hussein's victims.
A Democratic aide said a vote to override the veto is possible Tuesday, even though the White House contends the bill was killed by a pocket veto, a rejection that cannot be challenged by Congress.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39024&dcn=e_gvet
Defense to begin recruiting foreign language corps
By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
The Defense Department is assembling a corps of people fluent in critical foreign languages to serve the nation during times of emergency or international need.
By 2010, the department will recruit at least 1,000 people to serve in the new National Language Service Corps, said Gail McGinn, deputy undersecretary of Defense for plans and head of the Defense Senior Language Authority. "We're going out to America and asking those who have foreign language skills to come and use them in support of the U.S. government," she said.
Congress gave Defense the authority to start a pilot project to create the corps in the fiscal 2007 Defense authorization act.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39027&dcn=e_gvet
The Defense Department is assembling a corps of people fluent in critical foreign languages to serve the nation during times of emergency or international need.
By 2010, the department will recruit at least 1,000 people to serve in the new National Language Service Corps, said Gail McGinn, deputy undersecretary of Defense for plans and head of the Defense Senior Language Authority. "We're going out to America and asking those who have foreign language skills to come and use them in support of the U.S. government," she said.
Congress gave Defense the authority to start a pilot project to create the corps in the fiscal 2007 Defense authorization act.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39027&dcn=e_gvet
Defense Department, services gird for review battle
By Greg Grant
Every four years, the Pentagon and military services take part in a budget and strategy review. Congress first mandated the Quadrennial Defense Reviews in 1997 and the reviews must make specific decisions regarding defense and force levels.
The next QDR, due in 2010, will coincide with a new presidential administration and new management team at the Department of Defense. The review will likely take more than a year.
Greg Grant examines the upcoming battles within the military that the next QDR is likely to spawn in a feature story in the January issue of Government Executive.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39021&dcn=e_gvet
Every four years, the Pentagon and military services take part in a budget and strategy review. Congress first mandated the Quadrennial Defense Reviews in 1997 and the reviews must make specific decisions regarding defense and force levels.
The next QDR, due in 2010, will coincide with a new presidential administration and new management team at the Department of Defense. The review will likely take more than a year.
Greg Grant examines the upcoming battles within the military that the next QDR is likely to spawn in a feature story in the January issue of Government Executive.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39021&dcn=e_gvet
You Bet Your Bureaucracy!
A Government Futures Market ...
(from Govexec.com)
In partnership with our friends at Government Futures <http://www.governmentfutures.com/talk/> , we're conducting an online survey <http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=822633> to measure your views of what will be hot in 2008. On top of that, you can place your bets on what's going to happen at the prediction markets <http://governmentfutures.inklingmarkets.com/> section of the Government Futures site. On Jan. 17, we'll host a webinar to discuss the results of the survey and present an analysis of the predictions. Stay tuned to GovernmentExecutive.com for more details on that event.
(from Govexec.com)
In partnership with our friends at Government Futures <http://www.governmentfutures.com/talk/> , we're conducting an online survey <http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=822633> to measure your views of what will be hot in 2008. On top of that, you can place your bets on what's going to happen at the prediction markets <http://governmentfutures.inklingmarkets.com/> section of the Government Futures site. On Jan. 17, we'll host a webinar to discuss the results of the survey and present an analysis of the predictions. Stay tuned to GovernmentExecutive.com for more details on that event.
Labor Department to fly solo on veterans' employment complaints
By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
The Labor Department once again has sole jurisdiction to investigate military service members' complaints about their federal employment, even though a study examining the processing of such claims was considered inconclusive.
A pilot project created by Congress in 2004 sought to determine which of two federal agencies -- Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service or the Office of Special Counsel -- was better suited to investigate alleged violations of the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The law protects veterans from employment discrimination resulting from their service.
Lawmakers allowed the demonstration project to expire on Jan. 1, 2008, and federally employed service members now must return to consulting VETS for initial investigation of their claims.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39004&dcn=e_gvet
The Labor Department once again has sole jurisdiction to investigate military service members' complaints about their federal employment, even though a study examining the processing of such claims was considered inconclusive.
A pilot project created by Congress in 2004 sought to determine which of two federal agencies -- Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service or the Office of Special Counsel -- was better suited to investigate alleged violations of the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The law protects veterans from employment discrimination resulting from their service.
Lawmakers allowed the demonstration project to expire on Jan. 1, 2008, and federally employed service members now must return to consulting VETS for initial investigation of their claims.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39004&dcn=e_gvet
Q&A: Public diplomacy at the Pentagon
By Katherine McIntire Peters
Last May, Michael Doran became the first deputy assistant secretary of Defense for support to public diplomacy, a newly created position to develop policy for strategic communications at Defense. Earlier this week, Government Executive interviewed Doran at his office in Arlington, Va. Edited excerpts from the interview follow:
You recently testified about CIST, that is, "countering ideological support to terrorism." Did you invent that term?
There were a number of different acronyms floating around government. There was countering violent Islamic extremism, countering violent extremism, countering ideological support for terrorism. When I came aboard we decided on CIST. It was floating out there. We didn't create it.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38996&dcn=e_gvet
Last May, Michael Doran became the first deputy assistant secretary of Defense for support to public diplomacy, a newly created position to develop policy for strategic communications at Defense. Earlier this week, Government Executive interviewed Doran at his office in Arlington, Va. Edited excerpts from the interview follow:
You recently testified about CIST, that is, "countering ideological support to terrorism." Did you invent that term?
There were a number of different acronyms floating around government. There was countering violent Islamic extremism, countering violent extremism, countering ideological support for terrorism. When I came aboard we decided on CIST. It was floating out there. We didn't create it.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38996&dcn=e_gvet
Panelists debate public service academy proposal
By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
A panel of public policy experts on Wednesday debated whether establishing a bricks-and-mortar undergraduate academy would be the solution to the federal government's looming workforce challenges.
At a forum sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, panelists expressed support for or suggested alternatives to creating a U.S. Public Service Academy, on par with the nation's military academies, to inject prestige into federal service and highlight the importance of government work.
Panelists noted that the government faces myriad personnel challenges over the next decade as 60 percent of the federal workforce and 90 percent of senior executives become eligible to retire. Chris Myers Asch, one of the architects of the academy proposal, noted that establishing a national academy would create a cadre of talented individuals to help fill the void and make federal service a more noble career path.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38985&dcn=e_gvet
A panel of public policy experts on Wednesday debated whether establishing a bricks-and-mortar undergraduate academy would be the solution to the federal government's looming workforce challenges.
At a forum sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, panelists expressed support for or suggested alternatives to creating a U.S. Public Service Academy, on par with the nation's military academies, to inject prestige into federal service and highlight the importance of government work.
Panelists noted that the government faces myriad personnel challenges over the next decade as 60 percent of the federal workforce and 90 percent of senior executives become eligible to retire. Chris Myers Asch, one of the architects of the academy proposal, noted that establishing a national academy would create a cadre of talented individuals to help fill the void and make federal service a more noble career path.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38985&dcn=e_gvet
Private military industry continues to grow
By Rafael Enrique Valero, National Journal
Blackwater Worldwide's gunfights in Iraq have attracted more congressional scrutiny than the private security industry would like. It was bound to happen, though. After all, men with guns tend to draw attention. And isn't that the point?
But while Congress and the public decide what to make of this new generation of corporate warriors, and what rules if any should apply to them, the industry as a whole isn't looking back.
In October, leaders in the private military security industry -- ArmorGroup, DynCorp, MPRI, and several others -- gathered at the Phoenix Park Hotel near the Capitol for the annual three-day summit of their trade group, the International Peace Operations Association. Panel speakers and members of the audience debated the future of nation-building efforts in failed states. Almost snapping to attention, the former military officers who dominate this industry introduced themselves in sincere baritones of "Lieutenant Colonel So-and-So, retired," or "Major So-and-So, retired." The one active-duty soldier I met handing out his business card that day, Army Lt. Col. James Boozell, a branch chief of the Stability Operations/Irregular Warfare Division at the Pentagon, said that the U.S. military was in fact experiencing a "watershed" moment in its 200-plus-year history -- nation building was now a core military mission to be led by the Army.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38972&dcn=e_gvet
Blackwater Worldwide's gunfights in Iraq have attracted more congressional scrutiny than the private security industry would like. It was bound to happen, though. After all, men with guns tend to draw attention. And isn't that the point?
But while Congress and the public decide what to make of this new generation of corporate warriors, and what rules if any should apply to them, the industry as a whole isn't looking back.
In October, leaders in the private military security industry -- ArmorGroup, DynCorp, MPRI, and several others -- gathered at the Phoenix Park Hotel near the Capitol for the annual three-day summit of their trade group, the International Peace Operations Association. Panel speakers and members of the audience debated the future of nation-building efforts in failed states. Almost snapping to attention, the former military officers who dominate this industry introduced themselves in sincere baritones of "Lieutenant Colonel So-and-So, retired," or "Major So-and-So, retired." The one active-duty soldier I met handing out his business card that day, Army Lt. Col. James Boozell, a branch chief of the Stability Operations/Irregular Warfare Division at the Pentagon, said that the U.S. military was in fact experiencing a "watershed" moment in its 200-plus-year history -- nation building was now a core military mission to be led by the Army.
Full story: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=38972&dcn=e_gvet
Honest Evaluations
By Alyssa Rosenberg arosenberg@govexec.com
January 10, 2008
It's no secret that the National Security Personnel System is far from universally popular. The consensus that the system is flawed is reflected in an appeal filed by the American Federation of Government Employees with the Supreme Court on Monday, Congress' efforts to prevent the Defense Department from suspending collective bargaining rights for its employees, and the comments section on GovernmentExecutive.com.
Regardless of your feelings about NSPS, my colleague Brittany Ballenstedt's January cover story on how the system is changing the way managers supervise their employees and what that means for performance ratings and pay is a must-read.
The opening section is particularly revealing.
"Performance reviews were of no value to the employee because they were done without any conscience," before NSPS, Pat Tamburrino, an assistant deputy chief in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, told Ballenstedt. "Managers didn't spend a lot of time setting objectives, and [employees] didn't get a lot of feedback from their bosses during the course of the year."
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0108/010908pb.htm
January 10, 2008
It's no secret that the National Security Personnel System is far from universally popular. The consensus that the system is flawed is reflected in an appeal filed by the American Federation of Government Employees with the Supreme Court on Monday, Congress' efforts to prevent the Defense Department from suspending collective bargaining rights for its employees, and the comments section on GovernmentExecutive.com.
Regardless of your feelings about NSPS, my colleague Brittany Ballenstedt's January cover story on how the system is changing the way managers supervise their employees and what that means for performance ratings and pay is a must-read.
The opening section is particularly revealing.
"Performance reviews were of no value to the employee because they were done without any conscience," before NSPS, Pat Tamburrino, an assistant deputy chief in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, told Ballenstedt. "Managers didn't spend a lot of time setting objectives, and [employees] didn't get a lot of feedback from their bosses during the course of the year."
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0108/010908pb.htm
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Happy New Year!
To readers of TFX News as well as our sister blogs, TFX Reader (www.tfxreader.blogspot.com) and TFX Reports (www.tfxreports.blogspot.com).
Please check out a new link - Multi-National Forces West (www.mnfwest.usmc.mil), a website with daily news about our Marines in Anbar Province. It's listed under "Links" on this page.
Please check out a new link - Multi-National Forces West (www.mnfwest.usmc.mil), a website with daily news about our Marines in Anbar Province. It's listed under "Links" on this page.
Rig stage for rocking: Masso jams in Vegas
By Philip Ewing - Staff writerPosted : Saturday Jan 5, 2008 17:56:01 EST
Las Vegas audiences at the end of December showed a lot of love and affection for the golden-haired twins of rock, Nelson, partly because Matt and Gunnar brought in a guest guitar player for their version of their father Rick Nelson’s 1961 song, "Travelin’ Man."
Sitting in was Rear Adm. Sonny Masso, the Navy’s deputy chief of personnel and the commanding officer of Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn.
"It was kind of cool from my standpoint, because this is one of their dad’s signature songs," Masso said of the hit, in which a very sailorlike girl-in-every-port narrator pines after his "sweet fraulein" in Berlin and his "China doll down in old Hong Kong," among others.
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