Grandmother Graduates From Explosive Ordnance Disposal Sch

Grandmother Graduates From Explosive Ordnance Disposal School

Grandmother Graduates From Explosive Ordnance Disposal School
By Rich Lamance
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 10, 2010 - The Navy's School is one of the toughest schools in the military, with a dropout rate often exceeds 50 percent. But an Army specialist and 42-year-old grandmother from North Carolina has proven that when it comes to meeting tough challenges, age sometimes is just a state of mind.

Spc. Jennifer E. Moore graduated today from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School, where she has spent close to a year learning the delicate techniques of how to recover, evaluate, safely render harmless and dispose of live ordnance. For Moore, paying attention to the details of such things as ordnance identification, disarmament, transportation and disposal, as well as rigging principles, reconnaissance procedures and nuclear, biological and chemical training can literally help save lives on the battlefield.
Moore entered the Army after graduating from high school in Charlotte, N.C., in 1986 and finished her first stint in 1990. She admitted that the year-long training has been tough.
"Training, for me, has been mentally and physically exhausting," she said. "There is so much you need to learn to make it through this school, and so little time to learn it.
"The extreme heat and high humidity here in Florida added to the challenge when we had to perform EOD procedures wearing our protective clothing that included the bomb suit and chemical suit," she continued. "However, the school has been one of the most awesome experiences of my life."
The Navy EOD school trains close to 2,000 students each year from all branches of service, and while each person volunteers for a different reason, Moore said, she had reservations at first.
"I enlisted in the Army after a 19-year separation," she said, "and due to my high test scores, I figured I would have a long list of jobs available to me."
However, Moore said, at the time she enlisted, the EOD specialty was the only one on the table.
"I had wanted to come back into the Army for years, and EOD school was the only one available to me at the time, so, I took it," she said. "I decided to continue with the training and see if I liked it. I stayed in EOD because I love it."
Moore and many of her fellow students believe that the extensive training they endure will play an important part in their future, especially during upcoming deployments.
"I'm hoping that the training I had here, along with my continued training in the field, will help me part of a team that has an impact in saving lives," she said.
While youth has its advantages in the military, Moore acknowledged, much of her success lies in having the right attitude.
"I have learned that age and gender won't stop you from finishing a tough school like this one," she said. "But a lack of will can. The most challenging part of this training, for me, was stepping out of the civilian world and into the ordnance world with absolutely no background. I have to say, that my favorite part of the course was dealing with nukes and weapons of mass destruction."
Moore said that while her family was supportive, early on they had definite reservations. "My family initially thought I was crazy to come to EOD school," she said. "They seem to have accepted it over time and look forward to having me back now that I've graduated. Of course, my friends still think I'm nuts."
Her first assignment is scheduled to be Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. \vetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">

CONTRACTS

NAVY

                Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $60,549,708 not-to-exceed undefinitized contract modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5341) for Standard Missile-1 (SM-1) core support, missiles, spare components and parts.  This contract modification will provide for the procurement of one SM-1 Block VI-B inert operational missile; 407 MK 56 regrained dual thrust rocket motors (DTRMs); and one option to procure an additional three DTRMs.   This contract involves foreign military sales to Taiwan (98 percent) and Italy (2 percent).  Work will be performed in Camden, Ark. (45 percent); Sacramento, Calif. (45 percent); and Tucson, Ariz. (10 percent).  Work is expected to be completed by August 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
                The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Md., is being awarded a $59,249,394 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of two enlisted dining facilities at the Chappo (Area 22) and Edson Range (Area 31) areas at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  The dining facility at Edson Range will provide modern state-of-the-art cafeteria-style dining for regular meals, short-order meals, and fast food service to support approximately 3,374 permanent party personnel and recruits.  The dining facility at Chappo will provide modern state-of-the-art cafeteria style dining for regular meals, short-order meals, and fast food service to support approximately 2,294 personnel.  The contract also contains planned modifications which, if issued, would increase cumulative contract value to $64,449,394.  Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 16 proposals received.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-10-C-5012).
                Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $12,000,000 firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-09-G-0005) for services required to address obsolescence of the SP-103C single board computer shop replaceable assembly utilized within the tech-insert mission computer and tech-insert flight management computer.  Work will be performed in Owego, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in October 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
                Tetra Tech EC, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $11,714,772 for firm-fixed-price task order #0006 under a previously awarded environmental multiple award contract (N62473-10-D-0809) for additional remediation at Installation Restoration Site 17 Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point.  The work to be performed provides for radiological support for the entire Site 17 remediation; planning documents, provide input to Site 17 draft final remedial action work plan as it relates to Site 17 radiological work; and remove impacted soil and sediment in the radiological anomaly area near Outfall F but outside the Site 17 northwest remediation area.  Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Three proposals were received for this task order.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
                Summers Concrete Contracting, Inc.*, Hahira, Ga., is being awarded an $8,509,384 firm-fixed-price contract for construction to repair the aircraft parking apron at Barksdale Air Force Base.  The project will include the removal of existing Portland cement concrete pavement and replacement with a stabilized sub-grade, rapid draining aggregate sub base, aggregate base course, under drains, filter fabric, static grounding rods, and jointed Portland cement concrete pavement.  The existing liquid fuel pipeline will remain and be repaired as necessary and storm drainage will be repaired.  It also includes removal of airfield obstructions and replacement of trench drain covers.  Work will be performed in Bossier City, La., and is expected to be completed by September 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-10-C-1763).
                AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $7,281,743 for firm-fixed-price modification to task order #0002 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity environmental multiple award contract (N62473-08-D-8816) for expansion of Area 1a, remedial action for Area 1b (burn area), and expansion of Area 1b alternative below water table at Alameda Point.  The work to be performed provides for support of the design and construction of the Installation Restoration Site 1 record of decision.  The work consists of design and construction of a soil cover, multi-agency radiation survey and site investigation manual surveys, and excavation activities.  After award of this modification, the total cumulative task order value will be $28,845,274.  Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2012.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity. 
                Three Phoenix, Inc.*, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $5,943,911 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-6274) for a technology insertion photonics mast.   The procurement of this mast will allow for the continued engineering assessment, design and development of a non-developmental item submarine optronics system.  This mast is in support of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Topic Number 04-138 "Real Time Data Fusion and Visualization Interface for Environmental Research Data."  This SBIR Phase III contract is to provide engineering services to support software development, procurement of commercial off-the-shelf products, and hardware/software integration required to provide improved technology for U.S. Navy open architecture and network centric operations, and warfare systems in support of USS Virginia class submarine and other submarine/surface ship systems.  Work will be performed in Wake Forest, N.C. (75 percent), and Fairfax, Va. (25 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
                Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $5,654,240 for firm-fixed-price task order #0009 under a previously awarded multiple award environmental remediation contract (N62473-10-D-0807) for range clearance and target replacement activities at SR-10, G-10, and K-2 impact areas at Marine Corp Installations Range Complex, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune.  The work to be performed provides for radiation surveys, range clearance and surface clearance of unexploded ordnance, range residue to include ordnance scrap and target debris.  Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., and is expected to be completed by September 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Five proposals were received for this task order.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

                Al Raha Group for Technical Services, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was awarded a $44,440,960 contract which will acquire foreign military sales third-party logistics repair and return management services for the F-15 and low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night support equipment that supports the U.S. Air Force F-15 aircraft, Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night System Program Office, and the Royal Saudi Air Force.  At this time, $27,142,082 has been obligated.  WR-ALC/GRMK, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8505-10-D-0006).
                Science and Engineering Services, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $39,800,000 contract which will resolve pending obsolescence of various instruments within the F-15 electronic systems test set.  At this time, $4,404,315 has been obligated.  ASC/WWQK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8634-10-D-2650).
                Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $25,778,000 contract modification which will procure Radome Phase II Advanced medium range air to air missile Radome Pyroceram restart.  At this time, the entire amount has been obligated.  695 ARSS/PK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA3002-09-C-0003; AO0017).
                Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $23,801,224 contract which will procure biometrics, identity management, and homeland security technologies research and analysis for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic.  At this time, $2,091,297 has been obligated.  55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380; Delivery Order 381).
                Rockwell Collins, Inc., Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $22,151,935 foreign military sales contract modification tol purchase and install the global air traffic management and control column actuator brakes modifications on seven Turkish Air Force KC-135R Stratotankers.  At this time, the entire amount has been obligated.  OC-ALC/GKCK, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8105-10-C-0005).
                Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $14,880,483 contract which will procure commander, Navy Reserve Forces mission assurance and operational force transition through survivability analysis and technical reports.  At this time, $2,773,000 has been obligated.  55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380; Delivery Order 376).
                Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded an $11,772,172 contract which will procure Bureau of Medicine and Surgery survivability, vulnerability, and homeland defense/homeland security analysis, assessment and evaluation.  At this time, $198,413 has been obligated.  55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380; Delivery Order 379).
                Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded an $8,927,736 contract which will procure survivability/vulnerability analysis for the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office studies and conferences.  At this time, $289,683 has been obligated.  55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380; Delivery Order 380).
                Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, was awarded an $8,655,397 contract modification which will research human exposure to chemical and biological agents/metabolites to develop state-of-the-art science processes for bio-monitoring measurements and validations, sample collection techniques, and information technology solutions for handling laboratory information and analytical data.  At this time, $1,459,643 has been obligated.  55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-3180; Delivery Order 0674).
                Rehabilitation Services Mississippi, Madison, Miss., was awarded a $7,986,886 contract modification which will procure full food services at Keesler Air Force Base with a period of performance of Oct. 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.  At this time, the entire amount has been obligated.  81 CONS, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., is the contracting activity (FA3010-08-C-0002; PO0040).
                Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., was awarded a $6,938,105 contract modification which will procure the study for the replacement for the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) transponder module used in the AMRAAM telemetry section.  At this time, the entire amount has been obligated.  AAC/EBAK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-09-C-0052; PO0021).

ARMY

                Hellfire Systems, LLC, Orlando, Fla., was awarded on Sept. 8 a $20,073,228 firm-fixed-price contract to transition the new air-to-ground missile AGM-114R Hellfire II Romeo missile into the current Hellfire II missile production line.  Estimated completion date is Sept. 30, 2013, with work to be performed at Orlando, Fla.  One sole-source bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Army Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0361).
                Hensel Phelps Design-Build Team, Chantilly, Va., was awarded on Sept. 8 a $19,563,000 firm-fixed-price construction contract for the design and construction of an Army administration facility at Fort Belvoir, Va.  Estimated completion date is Sept. 8, 2011.  Five bids were solicited and five bids were received.  US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-10-C-0091).
                Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Mclean, Va., was awarded on Sept. 8 a $9,784,397 time-and-material contract to provide information technology, consulting, technical analytic, and industrial engineering support for the Army Working Performance System Program to prospective installation clients at the Army Materiel Command (AMC), maintenance and ammunition installations, and possibly at the AMC manufacturing sites (arsenals).  Estimated completion date is Sept. 8, 2011, with work to be performed at Mclean, Va.  One bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-08-F-3025).
                Navistar Defense, LLC, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 8 an $8,013,265 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of 29 recovery/wrecker trucks.  Estimated completion date is April 30, 2011, with work to be performed in Ooltewah, Tenn.  One bid was solicited and one was bid received.  Tank and Automotive Command LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-D-G097).
                Jeppesen. Inc, Englewood, Conn., was awarded on Sept. 8 a $7,613,253 firm-fixed-price contract for database of the Jeppesen military chart services.  Estimated completion date is Sept. 1, 2011, with work to be performed at Englewood, Conn.  One bid was olicited and one bid was received.  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, St. Louis, Mo., is the contracting activity (HM1574-10-C-0005).
                Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $260,056,118 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of 2,060 medium tactical vehicles.  Estimated completion time is March 31, 2012, with work to be performed at Oshkosh, Wis.  Bid solicitation was posted on the web with three bids received.  Tank and Automotive Command LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0159).
                American Science and Engineering, Billerica, Mass., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $46,136,508 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide maintenance and sustainment for vehicle and cargo inspection systems located in Southwest Asia.  Estimated completion time is Sept. 28, 2011, with work to be performed in Afghanistan and Iraq.  One bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Tank and Automotive Command LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W52H09-08-D-0393).
                Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $36,580,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement to convert three diverted UH-60M aircraft to the Mexico Navy configuration to include the integrated operator manuals, technical data packages, and the aircraft warranty.  Estimated completion time is Dec. 31, 2010, with work to be performed at Stratford, Conn.  One bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).
                CH2M Hill Constructors, Chantilly, Va., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $20,162,959 firm-fixed-price construction contract to design and construct fiscal 2009 close air support apron expansion; fiscal 2010 aviation operation and maintenance facility; and fiscal 2010 expeditionary fighter shelters.  Estimated completion date is June 2, 2011, with work to be performed at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.  Fifty bids were solicited with six bids received.  US Army Corps of Engineers, Middle East District, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-10-C-0047).
                Creative Times, Inc., Ogden, Utah, was awarded on Sept. 7 a $16,694,577 firm-fixed-price contract for an addition to fiscal 2010 Unmanned Aerial Squadron, field training unit-complex-vertical, Maintenance Hanger Building 500 and Squadron Operations Building 318, Hellfire precision guided munitions facility, Hayman storage facility.  Estimated completion time is April 12, 2011, with work to be performed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.  Bid solicitation was posted on the web with eight bids received.  US Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, N.M., is the contracting activity (W912PP-10-C-0026).
                Big-D Construction Corp., Lindon, Utah, was awarded on Sept. 7 a $14,350,300 firm-fixed-price contract for an addition to the deployment center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.  Estimated completion time is April 30, 2012.  Bid solicitation was posted on the web with nine bids received.  US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-10-C-0072).
                Kipper Tool Co., Gainesville, Ga., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $12,491,870 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to produce carpenter tool kits and subsets.  Estimated completion date is Jan. 30, 2013, with work to be performed at Gainesville, Ga.  Twelve bids were solicited with five bids received.  Tank and Automotive Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (DAAE20-03-D-0067).
                Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $7,596,000 firm-fixed-priced contract to dredge upland material from the Newark Bay Channel, Newark Bay, N.J.  Estimated completion date is Dec. 20, 2010.  Twenty-three bids were solicited and five bids were received.  US Army Corps of Engineers, New York, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-07-C-0015).
                General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Poway, Calif., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $7,229,228 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract that is a modification to contract W58RGZ-09-C-0153 for the extended range/multi-purpose quick reaction capability contractor logistics support replenishment sustainment spares.  Estimated completion date is June 6, 2012, with work to be performed at Poway, Calif.  One bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0153).
                GM GDLS Defense Group, LLC, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $6,137,163 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to acquire the labor, material and travel associated with the retrofit of Stryker vehicles.  Estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2011, with work to be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich.  One bid was solicited and one bid was received.  Tank and Automotive Command LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-D-M112).
                National Services, Inc., Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded on Sept. 7 a $5,893,807 firm-fixed-price contract to modernize classroom infrastructure at the Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.  Estimated completion date is Sept. 6, 2012.  Bid solicitation was posted on the web with three bids received.  Mission & Installation Contracting Command, Fort Eustis, Va., is the contracting activity (W911S0-10-C-0008).
*Small business

Source:
U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

To:

brianluke1@yahoo.com

Navy Sees Increase in Safety Program Effectiveness Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:30:00 -0500

Navy Sees Increase in Safety Program Effectiveness By Ian Graham Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 - Servicemembers have enough threats to deal with. Adding unsafe off-duty activities to their own load only adds to the stress of military service. During a "DoD Live" bloggers roundtable yesterday, Navy Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, commander of the Naval Safety Center, discussed the Navy's most recent safety campaign, which marked record reductions in overall off-duty fatalities. "We just concluded our summer safety campaign with the conclusion of Labor Day weekend, and the results have been satisfactory," he said. Labor Day marked the traditional end of summer for sailors and Marines, and also the end of the Naval Safety Center's annual summer safety campaign, "Live to Play, Play to Live." Although reports for the long weekend are not complete, it appears that both the Navy and Marine Corps enjoyed the safest summer since the center started keeping these statistics, Johnson said. Fourteen sailors and 14 Marines lost their lives between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Last year, 39 sailors and Marines lost their lives during the same period. The Navy's goal is zero preventable incidents, Johnson said, but this year's numbers are "satisfactory" and indicate a positive trend. "Bottom line, some of the awareness efforts are starting to pay dividends," he said. "Our sailors are making better decisions and are acquitting themselves better out there in the real world." He attributes a big part of the increase to an increased sense of ownership and involvement by sailors and Marines in safety programs. The more servicemembers feel as if they're a part of safety training, and not just recipients, he said, the more the positive trend will continue. "We have observed an increase in the safety program by sailors and Marines throughout the fleet," he said. "We are starting to see some benefits of that increase." (April Phillips of the Naval Safety Center contributed to this article.)

Biographies: Navy Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson Naval Safety Center Related Sites: "DoD Live" Bloggers Roundtable

Officials Extend Spouse Career Program Deadline Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:32:00 -0500

Officials Extend Spouse Career Program Deadline By Elaine Wilson American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 - Officials have extended a spouse employment program enrollment deadline in the hopes that more military spouses will be able to take spring semester classes. Effective Sept. 13, spouses currently enrolled in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program, commonly known as MyCAA, will be able to request financial assistance for classes with a start date that is on or before Jan. 31. Previously, the start-date cutoff was Jan. 15. However, spouses still must submit their financial assistance request by Oct. 21, officials emphasized. The change was based on feedback from spouses and schools. Many schools offer a later start date for the spring semester, and extending the enrollment deadline will give more spouses the opportunity to attend courses, said Robert L. Gordon III, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy. "We appreciate the feedback from military spouses currently participating in the MyCAA career advancement program," Gordon said. MyCAA is active at this time only for currently enrolled spouses, who can participate in the program through Oct. 21. At that time, the program will ramp down in preparation for the Oct. 25 launch of a revamped program. Earlier this year, officials reviewed the popular spouse employment program and decided to make changes to bring it back to its original intent: equipping spouses of junior servicemembers with portable careers, such as real estate and home health care, that can convey from duty station to duty station. Previously, MyCAA offered a lifetime benefit of $6,000 to all spouses of servicemembers. But starting Oct. 25, financial assistance will be limited to spouses of active duty servicemembers in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members within those ranks can participate as long as they can start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders. Eligible spouses will be able to receive a maximum financial benefit of $4,000 for up to three years from the start date of the first class, with a $2,000 annual cap. The money can be used to fund associate's degrees, licenses and certification programs, but not higher degrees. The annual cap can be waived if a license or certification's cost exceeds $2,000. Currently enrolled spouses who meet the new criteria will be able to continue with the program after Oct. 25, but under the new parameters. Spouses who no longer will be eligible to receive financial assistance after Oct. 25 still will be able to access career and education counseling services. The new MyCAA program will include assistance in identifying and securing information on additional financial resources, employment readiness, and career exploration and counseling for all spouses of active duty servicemembers. Military spouses can find more information about MyCAA on the Military OneSource website at http://militaryonesource.com or by calling Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647.

Related Sites: MyCAA Military OneSource Related Articles: Spouse Jobs Program to Relaunch in October ICE arrests 19 in southeastern New Mexico, including 7 criminal aliens Fugitive Operation Team targets people with criminal convictions ROSWELL, N.M. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents and other law enforcement partners arrested 19 people, including seven with criminal records, as part of a four-day enforcement surge. The operation, which ran Aug. 30 through Sept. 2, took place in the communities of Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs in southeastern New Mexico. It was supported by ICE officers and agents with the ERO Albuquerque and El Paso fugitive operations units, who worked in teams with other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers and agents from the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations (OFO). The criminal aliens in custody have convictions that include: possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana; aiding and abetting aliens to defraud the United States; aggravated driving while intoxicated; damage to property; and shoplifting. Others arrested include immigration fugitives, or individuals with an order to depart the country, and individuals who had been previously deported. "Arresting criminal and fugitive aliens is a positive step in ensuring public safety for our communities. ICE ERO El Paso will continue to conduct enforcement operations to make New Mexico and west Texas a safer place to live," said Dorothy Herrera-Niles, acting field office director for ICE ERO in El Paso. Herrera-Niles said arresting and removing criminal aliens in the El Paso area of responsibility is a continuous effort for ICE ERO. Herrera-Niles oversees operations in west Texas and New Mexico. All of the 19 individuals arrested were from Mexico, with the exception of one Canadian. Agents arrested 18 adults and placed a 16-year-old girl with relatives. The oldest person arrested is 53 years old. Of the 19 arrested, six are females. ICE removed 148,717 criminal aliens from the United States so far this fiscal year, a record number. Of those 8,619 were removed from El Paso.

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