Find Insurance Online

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignment:

Rear Adm. Mark D. Guadagnini will be assigned as director, readiness and training, N4/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Guadagnini is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, Everett, Wash.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Thursday the following assignment:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph P. Aucoin, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Programming Division, N80, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Aucoin is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Wash.

Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen compose a vital part of our community. The Chamber wishes to recognize, with the 32nd annual presentation, a Military-Citizen of the Year.

The Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee will make the selection of the honoree. Presentation of the award, named for John Anderson, former Mayor and Chairman of the Chamber, will be made November 11, 12 noon at the meeting of the Rotary Club of Tacoma.

You are requested to submit nominees for this award. The guidelines are:

• An active-duty Soldier, Airman, Sailor or Marine
• Residing in Tacoma or Pierce County
• Professional in military occupation
• An exemplary volunteer in the community

Nominations should be no longer than two pages, no photos. While military professionalism is important, this is usually a given standard. It is recommended that the nomination focus on the nominee's volunteerism in the community.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Nov. 1. Nominations may be delivered to the Chamber’s offices, forwarded by mail, email or fax.

The Department of Defense announced today that Washington, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island were approved for waivers temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.

"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."

In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers.

In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.

This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.

"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.

Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.

These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found here.  In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.

For more information about state waiver applications, visit here.   State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.

For most Americans, the home buyer tax credit expired on April 30. But Congress, recognizing that many members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have missed out on the opportunity to take advantage of the credit due to being posted overseas, has given service members more time to take advantage of it.

The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between Jan. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. “Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.

Qualified service members who are eligible for the home buyer tax credit have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in this rule.

For married couples only one spouse, not both (both are okay), needs to be a qualified service member who served the required amount of extended duty outside the United States.

In many cases, the rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for service members. If the home owner or their spouse receives government orders for qualified official extended duty service and have to sell their home, they do not have to pay back the credit. This applies even if they have to sell in the same year they purchased the home. The new place of duty must be at least 50 miles from the principal residence being sold.

The IRS also made sure that soldiers and other service members who are wounded overseas, or have to return to the United States for other medical reasons, are not denied the credit if their time spent overseas ends up less than 90 days.

For more information on the home buyer tax credit, go here.  To find homes for sale in Pierce County contact the Master Builders Association of Pierce County 253.272.212 or their members under “Find a Contractor.”

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today the 2010 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance.

A total of six field-level awards are presented in three categories - large, medium, and small. The recipients of this year's Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Awards in the in the medium category includes the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash.

The awards will be presented to the winners at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet on Nov. 17, 2010, during the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition at the Tampa convention center in Tampa, Fla. Additional information regarding the 2010 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition can be found here.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignments:

Capt. Kelvin N. Dixon, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as director, International Transition and Advisory Mission - Navy, Umm Qasr, Iraq. Dixon is currently serving as deputy reserve commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Wash.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Douglas J. Asbjornsen, will be assigned as reserve deputy commander, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, San Diego, Calif. Asbjornsen is currently serving as deputy commander, Navy Region Northwest, Reserve Component Commander, Silverdale, Wash.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Samuel Perez Jr. will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group One, San Diego, Calif. Perez was previously announced as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Wash. Perez is currently serving as deputy commander, Joint Interagency Task Force, U.S. Southern Command, Key West, Fla.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignment:

Rear Adm. (lower half) James F. Caldwell Jr., who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Caldwell is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Wash.

The annual - some would say even prehistoric - Evergreen Fleet Cruise met with great success yesterday.

Over 250 Cruisers - military guests, Chamber hosts and Tacoma Yacht Club skippers/First Mates joined into a great mixer with plenty of good food (by Gallucci's Catering) and camaraderie. In addition to these presenting hosts, special recognition is deserved for the Joint Base Financial Alliance of Harborstone Credit Union and America's Credit Union. And, the Cruisers were pleased with the participation of the U.S. Navy's Old Man IV.

Enjoy these few pictures of a great event filled with and for great people!

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nomination:

Navy Reserve Capt. Kelvin N. Dixon has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Dixon is currently serving as deputy reserve commander, Navy Region Northwest, Everett, Wash.

Being distributed to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership and community contacts is the new 2010 Military Impacts, containing articles on military civic volunteerism, economic impacts and a roster of the region's military leadership.

All you Chamber members will be receiving a printed copy as an insert in today's Calendar mailing.  For all others, you may download your copy here. 

The Chamber will distribute copies of the 2010 Military Impacts in the community at special, mililtary related-events, starting with the Citizen-Soldier of the Year event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations:

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph P. Aucoin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Aucoin is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Wash.

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) James F. Caldwell Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Caldwell is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Wash.

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark D. Guadagnini has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Guadagnini is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, Everett, Wash.

Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Navy Adm. Eric Olson will deliver remarks and answer questions Thur., Apr. 1 at 9 a.m. EDT regarding "USSOCOM: Function and Focus" at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, 1800 K Street, Washington, D.C. Credentialed members of the press who would like to attend must RSVP.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignment:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Scott H. Swift, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director for operations, J3, U.S. Pacific Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Swift is currently assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, Everett, Wash.

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
Aug. 28, 2009

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph P. Aucoin will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, WA. Aucoin is currently serving as deputy director, Air Warfare Division, N88B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark A. Vance, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Programming Division, N80, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Vance is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, WA.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has worked since 2003 with their Military Line for targeted services for military personnel and families.

BBB has an up-to-date link on laws and policies for both military and vets. There are features on:

• scams targeting military personnel
• identity theft
• fraud prevention

And then, if you just want to know how to make your dollars go farther or for the best:

• legitimate deals for military personnel
• purchasing or remodeling your home
• buying or fixing your car
• finding reliable local businesses

An estimated 500 guests, including Governor Christine Gregiore and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, applauded the roll out of the Navy’s next generation electronics surveillance/submarine hunter at the Boeing Renton plant on July 30, 2009. The P8A Poseidon provides a leap forward in capabilities over the P3C Orion it replaces.

Photo: Boeing Company

Nearly 100 officers and sailors from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, an eventual home for the P8A, flocked to the new aircraft following the official ceremony to check it out and “kick the tires.”


The Navy plans to buy 117 of the aircraft, while India will purchase 8 more and Australia has expressed an interest in 4 aircraft. More purchases by foreign navies could on the horizon upon flight test and certification.

The roll out of the P8A trailed the roll out of the Navy’s version of the F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) at the Lockheed-Martin plant in Houston, Texas earlier this week.



Guest Blogger: Roger Olsen, Navy League of the U.S. Tacoma Council

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
June 15, 2009

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Timothy M. Giardina, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, readiness and training, N4/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Giardina is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Nine/commander, Submarine Group Ten, Silverdale, Wash.

Want to see what the US Navy has built ever since the 1880s?