US Coast Guard Reserve News & Announcements

Commandant's New Years' Message: ADM Allen's latest All Hands for the New Year. (Posted 5 JAN 09)

Enlisted Reserve Advancements: Enlisted Reserve Advancement Announcement (ERAA) No. 001-09, lists those eligible for advancement or change in rating to fill vacancies in the Selected Reserve as of 01 JAN 09. To review the list, see ALCGRSV 055/08. Bravo Zulu! (Posted 23 DEC 08)

Reserve Program Administrator 50th Anniversary Reunion: Saturday, 31 JAN 2009, Fort Myer Officers' Club, Fort Myer, Va. For info, click here and/or contact LT Sandor Schump, 202-493-1237, Sandor.L.Schump@uscg.mil (Posted 23 DEC 08)

Employer Support of Guard & Reserve Freedom Awards: Nominate your employer for an ESGR Freedom Award. Nominations will be accepted until 19 JAN 09. For more info, click here, or see www.freedomaward.mil or http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/alcoast537.08.txt,  (Posted 30 OCT 08, Updated 22 DEC 08)

Reserve Component Member Workshop: The Procedures and Development team at Personnel Services Center in Topeka, Kan.  proudly announces the newest addition to their workshop offerings -- THE RESERVIST! This workshop is open to all CG Reserve members as well as those assigned to assist Reserve members. The objective of this course is to provide reservists with basic information on specific points of interest. Some of the topics include: Direct Access, ASQ, Direct Deposit, TSP, Reserve Bonus programs, advancement policies and procedures, your LES and Reserve Retirement Point Statements and more. For more information, go to the following web site and scroll to "Reserve Component Member Workshop," http://www.uscg.mil/hr/psc/pd.asp. Use the Quote Request Form on PSC's Web site if you'd like to attend an upcoming workshop being offered once a month from January to April 2009. Travel and per diem expenses must be funded by the benefiting unit (no PSC funds available). ADT/ADT-OTD orders for reservists must be funded and approved by the servicing ISC. (Posted 5 DEC 08)

Reserve Communications Survey: Please take a moment to complete this survey. It's very brief and will only take a few minutes to complete. http://survey.uscg.mil/Perseus/se.ashx?s=7C81B7DD478C2AEE (Posted 5 DEC 08)

PY08 Reserve Component (RC) Chief Warrant Officer Appointment Board Timelines: ALCGRSV 052/08 announces the schedule and requirements for the PY09 Reserve CWO Appointment Board. http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcgrsv/ALCGRSV05208.txt (Posted 5 DEC 08)

Modernization Special Issue 2008: THE RESERVIST Modernization Special Issue 2008 includes an interview with the Commandant, articles by six Flag officers, the MCPOCG, MCPO-CGRF as well as a double-sided poster on Modernization with the reverse side a 2009 Events Calendar. To review, click here. If you would like extra copies of this issue, e-mail the editor at: TheReservist@uscg.mil. ALCOAST 626/08. (Posted 24 NOV 08, Updated 06 JAN 09)

REAP Education Assistance Update: The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) is designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components who are called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress. If you served 90 days or more in support of a contingency operation on or after 11 SEP 2001, you may be eligible. If you were released before 90 days due to injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, you may be eligible. The educational allowance is a percentage of the MGIB-AD rate based on the number of continuous days or a cumulative of three years served on active duty.  If eligible, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement. If you’re also eligible for other VA education programs, the maximum amount of benefits is 48 months. For further information, see ALCOAST 227/08 or check out the following sites : www.gibill.va.gov or www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/rates.htm. If you have immediate questions, email ReserveVAeducation@uscg.mil. Please put REAP in the subject line. (Posted 24 NOV 08)

TRICARE Reserve Select Rate Reduction: Effective 1 JAN 2009, TRICARE will reduce the rates for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). Monthly premiums for TRS individual coverage will drop 44 percent from $81.00 to $47.51, and TRS family coverage will drop 29 percent from $253 to $180.17. To view the entire news release visit: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=480 (Posted 21 NOV 08)

ROA Coast Guard Reception: D.C. Coast Guard Chapter 4 invites all USCG officers and Reserve Officers Association (ROA) members to this annual event, Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, 5:30 p.m. at ROA Headquarters, One Constitution Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. Reception opens at 5:30 p.m., with official ceremonies to begin at 6:30 p.m. Attire is Coast Guard Service Dress Blue Bravo or business suit (coat & tie). Cost: O3 and below, $20; O4 and above, $30; O3 and below couples, $35; O4 and above couples, $45. For more info, contact CDR Steve Weagraff, USCGR, 13703 Northbourne Drive, Centreville, VA 20120; 703-608-8894; E-mail: steveweagraff@yahoo.com Checks should be made payable to: ROA DC Chapter 4. (Posted 12 NOV 08, Updated 1 DEC 08)

Coast Guard Exchange Scholarship Program: CGES established a scholarship program for students who are dependents of Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and military retired members, current civilian NAF and ADF employees and Coast Guard Auxiliarists embarking on undergraduate college/university studies. A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to the most outstanding applicant. Deadline is 27 FEB 09. For details, see ALCOAST 489/08: http://www.uscg.mil/announcements/alcoast/ALCOAST48908.txt  (Posted 06 OCT 08, Updated 07 OCT 08)

Personnel Service Center FY09 Weekend Staffing Dates: If you need assistance from PSC on the weekends, they will be open on the following weekend dates during Fiscal Year 2009: 31 JAN-1 FEB, 21-22 FEB, 7-8 MAR, 21-22 MAR, 16-17 MAY, 13-14 JUN, 27-28 JUN, 18-19 JUL, 1-2 AUG, 15-16 AUG, 12-13 SEP, 19-20 SEP. PSC's number is 1-866-PSC-USCG (772-8724). (Posted 30 SEP 08, Updated 6 JAN 09)

Coast Guard Implementation of Periodic Health Assessment (PHA): The Health, Safety and Work-Life Directorate (CG-11) is pleased to announce pilot testing has begun for implementing the PHA Coast Guard wide within the next few months. The PHA is a targeted medical screening that will replace the routine five-year physical examination and this annual screening is devised to ensure all members are healthy and medically ready to support Coast Guard missions. All Coast Guard Active Duty and Selected Reserve personnel will be required to complete an annual PHA during their birth month. Check out future issues of THE RESERVIST to find out how the PHA will impact you. (Posted 12 AUG 08)