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7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
1/14
together another group of
informave arcles to assist
you at this important me,
so please take a look and
review what is being passed
along.
Semper Fidelis,
LtCol K.D. Pierson
Commanding Ocer
4th Maintenance Baalion
Dear Marines and Sailors of
4th Maintenance Baalion-
Now that the holidays are
behind us and we look to
2013, we as a baalion have
the opportunity to approach
much of what we look
forward to with a fresh
start. From our upcoming
Combat Logisc Baalion
transformaon to upcoming
exercise support, there are
many moving pieces in play
that will aect us all. As a
result, it is important that
we look collecvely to
ensure we are
communicang as best we
can. If you are reading this
newsleer, we are o to a
great start. But as leaders,
we are responsible for
ensuring that this sort of
informaon makes its way
through all layers of our
command to be as eecve
as possible, so please keepup the good work and
maintain the momentum.
The focus of this quarterly,
baalion-wide newsleer is
on personal nance and
administraon, as you will
see in many of the following
arcles we have pulled
together for you here. It is
tax me, and Ka has done
a fantasc job of pulling
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Commanders
Corner
1
SgtsMajStraight Talk
1
From the FRO 2
Tax Info 2-6
Financial
Links Recap
9
Plan My
Deployment
10
OPSEC 10
TRICARE
Changes
11
TSA Pre-check 12
4th Maintenance Battalion
Unit, Personal & Family ReadinessW I N T E R 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
S P E C I A L
P O I N T S O F
I N T E R E S T :
TSA Pre-Check
Tax Resources
Budget/Financial
Resources
and more!
Commanders Corner
Sergeant Major Straight Talk
its many acvies. Mishaps
connue to aect us many
mes, worse than an enemy
could. Use proper planning
and connue looking out for
each other. As always, I
enjoy vising the sites andspending me with those
Marines. There are a few
sites I haven't goen to, but
look forward to hopefully
very soon.
Semper Fi.
SgtMaj L.B. Cummings
Sergeant Major
4th Maintenance Baalion
Marines, families, and
friends,
Here we are already moving
towards spring me. I would
like to rst say thank you for
your hard work and
dedicaon, especially for
those being aected by our
re-organizaon. Together,
we will move forward
for the beer. As
we move
towards the
annual training
(AT) season,
keep in mind
that personal
military educaon (PME)
should be your priority.
Please make sure you
manage your careers
carefully. Without proper
PME, you will not be
promoted or re-enlisted.
This newsleer also has a
lot to oer in regards to
planning, preparaon and
taxes. Please make sure you
take advantage of the
resources provided.
Addionally, with the
warmer weather, I would
ask you to be careful while
enjoying the outdoors and
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
2/14
P A G E 2
Ms. Ka ToneyFamily Readiness
Ocer
4th Maintenance BnCharloe, NC
704-598-0015 x337
BB: 704-488-9770
Ka Toney-Fro
From the FRO:Greengs, Marines, Sailors,
Families and Friends!
The holidays have come and
gone and January just past.
We all know what comesnext, right?? TAX TIME!!!
For some, it can be a great
me of year, for others it
can be, well, prey awful.
Either way, the process can
be dicult. So, Ive included
resources in this newsleer
to assist you in preparing for
your tax returns as well as
planning for the upcoming
year.
Along with tax preparaoncomes budget planning and
paying o that Christmas
credit card debt. It can be
overwhelming knowing the
best steps to take, but
hopefully, the resources
provided in this newsleer
will help lessen the headache
of trying to gure everything
out.
Preparing, planning,
budgeng...are we nocing a
theme here?? Haha! Its
important to plan and
prepare so we arent caught
by surprise when the
unexpected happens.
Whatever that may be.
Deployments are a perfect
example of the importance of
preparing and planning (and,
yes, theres resources in here
for that, also!).
January is also the month when
semesters change in school.
That means class changes, etc.
Tutor.com is available to assistyou for FREE if you qualify.
More informaon on this
valuable program is also
included here.
This newsleer is packed with
informaon! I hope you will
take the me to read through it
and take advantage of some of
these resources! As always, Im
just an email or phone call away
if you need me! :-)
Kati
4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N
Just thinking about the start of tax season is enough to cause most people a major headache. Between
collecng the right documents, following all the tax laws and geng everything submied on me, tax
me can be overwhelming. But with the correct preparaon on your part and some help from outside
resources, like your installaons Volunteer Income Tax Assistance oce and Military OneSource, you
can make this tax season much less stressful for you and your family.
Preparing ahead of me
One way to make tax me easier is to start gathering all the necessary documents and informaon you
need ahead of me. Designate a specic locaon (a folder, a drawer, a shoebox, etc.) where you can
place all the relevant informaon, so that when you are ready to le, you have everything you need.
Here are some of the things you should start gathering:
Social Security number and date of birth for you, your spouse and your dependents
child care, educaon and adopon costs
W-2 forms from all employers for you and your spouse
Form 1099 for independent contractors
Investment income forms
Alimony informaon
Social Security benets
Miscellaneous income
Form 1098-E for student loan interest
Charitable donaons
Uninsured medical and dental expenses
Filing Your TAXES Without the Headache
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
3/14
P A G E 3V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
Real estate taxes
Receipts for any deducble expenses
W-2 forms are typically available from your service branch beginning in January. You can download your military
W-2 from myPay (hps://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx). Tax forms are available at your local post oce and library.
You can also download them from the IRS website (www.irs.gov).
In addion to gathering important documents, here are some other ways to get ahead of the tax me curve:
Create a list of quesons for a tax consultant. You may wonder whether or not you can write o certain expenses
or whether you qualify for an extension. Write all of this down and ask a professional.
Dont wait unl the last minute to start your taxes. Just because the deadline is in April doesnt mean you have to
wait unl then to get started.
Be aware of special tax benets you may qualify for as a service member, including a ling extension. Visit the IRS
website (hp://www.irs.gov/uac/Special-Tax-Benets-for-Armed-Forces-Personnel) or contact a Military
OneSource tax consultant (hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/
Topic.do?centerId=1&topicId=1583) to nd out more about these benets.
Pay aenon to tax scams. Each year, the IRS informs and educates the public about the most common tax
scams, which include unscrupulous tax preparers or phishing. To learn more about how to avoid these scams, visit
the IRS website (hp://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams
-Consumer
-Alerts).
Taking advantage of Military OneSource Tax Services
Military OneSource provides free access to the H&R Block At Home Basic online tax ling service. The service al-
lows you to complete and electronically le your federal and up to three state tax returns or lings. Your calcula-
ons are guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate or H&R Block pays the penales and interest. The H&R Block At
Home Basic tax ling service protects the security and condenality of your personal informaon by using indus-
try-recognized security safeguards. You do not have to complete the return all at one me. When you begin, you
create a secure user ID and password, which enables you to log on, save, close and return to the program as need-
ed.
In addion, Military OneSource provides year round access to tax consultants who can help you and your familynd answers to your tax quesons and maximize your refund. Military OneSource tax consultants:
Share informaon about the unique tax requirements and issues related to military personnel and their families
Idenfy applicable IRS and state tax regulaons, denions and forms
Provide electronic copies of tax forms and help you understand how to complete them
Review opons for using a refund, including opons for using it to pay down debt
Explain addional tax services available to the military community such as VITA clinics
To learn more about Military OneSource Tax Services, call 800-342-9647 or go online
(www.militaryonesource.com).
Determining your eligibility
The following individuals are eligible for the Military OneSource Tax Services:
All acve duty service members
Naonal Guard and members of the reserves (regardless of acvaon status)
Members of the Coast Guard Reserve acvated as part of the Department of the Navy under Title 10 authority
Spouses and dependent children who are authorized in DEERS
A family member who is taking care of the aairs of an eligible service when the service member is deployed
A severely injured service member of one of the services noted above, or a designated family member of a se-
verely injured member who is incapable of handling his or her own aairs; medically rered individuals are eligible
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
4/14
P A G E 4
The realmeasure of
your wealth ishow much
you'd be worthif you lost all
your money.
~AuthorUnknown
4 T H
Most of the tax changes for 2013 aect those with a high-income household (over $400,000),
however there is one in parcular that you may already be feelingthe full 6.2% of Social Secu-
rity will now be withheld from your pay. Most of us have had at least one pay check in 2013
already and noced a slight decrease in the amount you bring home. The holiday lasted two
years, and this increased percentage will help connue funding to the Social Security system.
The following deducons were le untouched and extended through 2013:
1. Discharge of qualied principal residence exclusion. Filers going through a foreclosure or
short sale who may have had loan forgiveness should look into this as it will exclude most, if
not all, of the forgiven amount from taxable income
2. Educators may connue to deduct $250 in related job expenses as an adjustment to income
3. Mortgage insurance premiums may be deducted as mortgage interest
4. The deducon for state and local sales taxes may sll be taken
5. The $1,000 Child Tax Credit, the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit, and the enhanced
American Opportunity Tax Credit will all be extended through 2017;
6. Tuion costs may be deducted as an adjustment to income
7. IRA-to-charity exclusion from taxable income remains including a special provision that al-
lows transfers made in January 2013 to be treated as made in 2012.
Beginning on Jan. 1, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel
trucks) will be 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, 24 cents per mile driven for medi-
cal or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizaons. For
further informaon, contact your tax advisor.
-excerpt from JSS Financial Frontline Newsleer, Jan 2013
Tax Changes for 2013
unl 180 days past their End of Tour of Service, rerement date or discharge date
Addional resources
The personal nancial readiness of service members and their families is a top priority of the Depart-
ment of Defense. The DoD provides a wide range of tools and services to help service members and
their families reduce debt, achieve savings goals and aain nancial exibility. Here are some resources
designed to assist you and your family:
The Personal Financial Management Program-
The PFMP is an installaon-based program oered by
each of the Services. Personal nancial counselors provide educaon and counseling services that ad-
dress a range of nancial topics, including rerement planning, banking, budgeng, record keeping and
more.
Financial counseling - Financial counseling is available through Military OneSource (in addion to the
tax consultaon services) and the Joint Family Support Assistance Program. To nd a JFSAP team in your
state, visit Military INSTALLATIONS (hp://www.militaryinstallaons.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0).
VITA Program - The VITA Program provides free tax advice and preparaon, return ling and other tax
assistance to military members and their families. To nd a VITA site near you, visit
hp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparaon-for-You-by-Volunteers
IRS - The IRS website (www.irs.gov) is full of helpful resources, forms and ps to make tax me easier
for you.
Military families prosper when they can manage their nances well and save money for the future. Start
this year with a stress-free tax season and get on track to nancial readiness and long
-term nancial well
-being.
Addional Links:Tax Informaon for Members of the Militaryhp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Military
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
5/14
P A G E 5V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs oer
free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.
VITA
The VITA Program generally oers free tax help to people who make $51,000 or less and need assistance in
preparing their own tax returns. IRS-cered volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparaon
with electronic ling to qualied individuals in local communies. They can inform taxpayers about special
tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the
Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries,
schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locaons.
TCE
The TCE Program oers free tax help for all with priority assistance to people who are 60 years of age and
older, specializing in quesons about pensions and rerement issues unique to seniors. IRS-cered
volunteers who provide tax counseling are oen rered individuals associated with non-prot organizaons
that receive grants from the IRS.
Self-Help Tax Preparaon
In addion to tradional face-to-face tax preparaon, the IRS is oering a self-assistance service at many
VITA and TCE locaons. If individuals have a simple tax return and need a lile help or do not have access to
a computer, they can visit one of the parcipang tax preparaon sites and an IRS-cered volunteer will
guide them through the process.
Find a VITA Site Near You
There are thousands of VITA sites located across the country. You may nd a site near you between January
and April using the VITA Locator Tool or call 1-800-906-9887.
Find a TCE or AARP Tax-
Aide Site Near You
A majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundaons Tax Aide Program. To locate the nearest
TCE site or AARP Tax-Aide site between January and April use the AARP Site Locator Tool or call 888-227-
7669.
**Note: Majority of the VITA and TCE sites are open annually from late January/early February to April 15.
During this me, you can locate a site near you using the above locator tools.
Items you need to bring
To have your tax return(s) prepared at a VITA or TCE site you need to bring the following informaon with
you:
Proof of idencaon Picture IDSocial Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number vericaon leer
issued by the Social Security Administraon or
Individual Taxpayer Idencaon Number (ITIN) assignment leer for you, your spouse and dependents
Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN
Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers
Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
A copy of last years federal and state returns if available
Proof of bank account roung numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check
FREE Tax Prep (even for parents!)
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
6/14
P A G E 6
"We make
Marines and we
win our nations
battles. Then we
turn those men
and women back
to Americas
society better
people."
(Quote by
General Krulak,
31st
Commandant,
USMC)
4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N
U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S
FREE Tax Prep cont.Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax idenfying number (theprovider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Idencaon Number)
if appropriate
To le taxes electronically on a married-ling-joint tax return, both spouses must be present
to sign the required forms.
It is extremely important that each person use the correct Social Security Number. The mostaccurate informaon is usually located on your original Social Security card. If you do not have
an SSN for you or a dependent, you should complete Form SS-5, Social Security Number
Applicaon. This form should be submied to the nearest Social Security Administraon
Oce.
If you or your dependent is not eligible to get a Social Security Number, you may need an
Individual Taxpayer Idencaon Number (ITIN).
On Feb. 25, the Department of Defense will kick o Military Saves Week, part of its larger
Military Saves campaign, created to meet the unique nancial challenges facing service
members. Military Saves Week encourages service members and their families to commit
or recommit to securing nancial stability by planning for the future and making
responsible nancial decisions on a daily basis.
This week-long focus on creang nancial security within military households encourages
service members to take the Saver Pledge and formally commit themselves to saving
money, reducing debt and building wealth over me. Since the rst Military Saves Week,
more than 128,000 individuals have taken the pledge and commied to focusing onnancial readiness within their families.
Military Saves Week will feature a nancial fair in the Pentagon hosted by the Oce of the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy. The fair will
bring representaves from nancial instuons and organizaons together to aid service
members in implemenng personal nancial plans with goals of spending less and saving
more.
Installaons around the world will host events promong the same mission and
encouraging service members and their families to take the Saver Pledge. These events
will oer further informaon on tools and resources available to help them meet debt
reducon and savings goals.
For more informaon, and to take the Saver Pledge, visit www.militarysaves.org
-from Military Community and Family Policy Newsleer, Feb 201
Military Saves Week
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
7/14
P A G E 7V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
Whether you need help planning your nances, geng on a budget, managing your debt, reviewing
saving and investment plans, or seek informaon on stocks, bonds and rerement plans, Military
OneSource is here to help.
As a member of the Armed Forces, you are faced with some unique nancial issues due to
Permanent Change of Staon, deployments, security clearance, and various tax situaons (combat
pay, state residency, etc.). These can present signicant challenges for military families. Financial
counselors will help you to keep sight of these challenges, while providing soluons that foster
nancial peace of mind. We can provide:
Producve counseling: Work with a counselor to help set nancial goals and develop a plan to
achieve those goals. Examples include purchasing a vehicle or home, or sending kids to college.
Preventave counseling: Financial counselors will help you evaluate your current nancial status
and point out strengths and weaknesses to stay on track and avoid any potenal problems. Topics
that may be covered include:
how to know when a lile debt can become a major problem
what to do to build and maintain a great credit reputaon
how to implement an emergency fund for unforeseen circumstances
Remedial counseling: If you are experiencing a nancial crisis, you can work with a counselor to
regain control of your nances. This can be done through credit report review, strategies to reduce
debt, strategies to negoate with creditors, reducon of expenses, and reallocaon of your nancial
resources to work through the crisis and establish a sound nancial future.
Avoiding fraud
Service members are constantly bombarded by adversements for military payday loans, military
debt consolidaon loans, and other oers that sound like great deals. Our nancial counselors can
help you sort through this maze of informaon and provide guidance to make wise nancial
decisions.
Service members also need to protect themselves against identy the. Please do not hesitate to
contact us so we can help you avoid becoming a vicm or help you deal with identy the if it
occurs.
Keeping informed
Military OneSource nancial counselors work hard to gather informaon that pertains to service
members. Here are a few examples:
You can renance an exisng VA loan through the Interest Rate Reducon Renancing Loan (IRRRL).
It is also referred to as a Streamline or VA to VA. If you are eligible for Thri Saving Plan (TSP),
you can contribute to a new Roth opon. This allows you to contribute on an aer-tax-basis to a TSP
account and receive tax-free earnings when funds are withdrawn. Roth TSP elecve deferral limits
are the same as tradional TSP limits ($17,000 for regular contribuons and $5,500 for catch -up
contribuons). The Roth TSP is currently available to members of the Marine Corps and civilians
working for the DoD and will be available to members of the Army, Navy and Air Force in October of
this year.
Under Service Members Relief Act (SCRA), you can reinstate health insurance upon terminaon or
release from service. Insurance must have been in eect before service commenced and terminated
Military OneSource Financial Counselors
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
8/14
P A G E 8
"We make
Marines and
we win our
nations
battles. Then
we turn those
men and
women back to
Americas
society better
people."
(Quote by
General
Krulak, 31st
Commandant, USMC)
4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N
U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S
during the me of military service. This reinstatement does not apply to service members
parcipang in employer-based insurance. You must reapply for reinstatement within
120 days aer terminaon or release from military service.
We are here for you
It is never too late to start overhauling your nances or planning your nancial future.
The best nancial advice for everyone is to start now. Time is your most valuable ally,whether you are trying to get a handle on nancial issues or looking to save and invest for
a brighter future.
Take a moment to look at your nances and know that you have a support system
dedicated to help you with many of your nancial situaons. If you are eligible for the
Military OneSource program, you have year-round access to free telephonic nancial
counseling. Please call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 to speak with a nancial
counselor.
By Military OneSource Sta
Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647
TTY/TDD: 1-866
-607
-6794
En espaol llame al: 1-877-888-0727
Financial CalculatorsDo you need help managing your nances? Check out the nancial calculators and
see whether these tools are useful to you. This resource oers nancial calculators
that e in to ve categories. Each calculator has acve elds where you can plug in
your own numbers, hit Compute and view a detailed, esmated payment schedule
or graph. Individual calculators also oer ps and details about results. The ve
categories are:
Home Financing
Personal Financing
Investment
Rerement
Lease
Keep in mind that the payment schedules and other informaon may not be perfectly
applicable to your individual situaon. Be sure to consult a nancial professional prior
to relying on the results. If you are eligible for the Military OneSource program, you
have year-round access to free telephonic nancial counseling. Please call Military
OneSource at 1-800
-342
-9647 to speak with a nancial counselor.
Contact a Consultant Now: 1-800-342-9647
TTY/TDD: 1-866-607-6794
En espaol llame al: 1-877-888-0727
hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
9/14
P A G E 9V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
Financial Links Recap:
myPayhps://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx
IRSwww.irs.gov
Special Tax Benets for Armed Forces Personnelhp://www.irs.gov/uac/Special-Tax-Benets-for-Armed-Forces-Personnel)
Military OneSource tax consultant
hps://www.militaryonesourceeap.org/achievesoluons/en/militaryonesource/Topic.do?centerId=1&topicId=1583
Tax Scamshp://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts
Military INSTALLATIONShp://www.militaryinstallaons.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0
VITA
hp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-
Tax-
Return-
Preparaon-
for-
You-
by-
Volunteers
Tax Informaon for Members of the Militaryhp://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Military
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
10/14
P A G E 1 0
"We make
Marines and we
win our nations
battles. Then weturn those men
and women back
to Americas society
better people."
(Quote by
General Krulak,
31st
Commandant,
USMC)
4 T H
M A I N T E N A N C E
On Jan. 10, Military OneSource launched a new applicaon to take some of the stress out
of deployment and mobilizaon. Plan My Deployment is an online applicaon that provides
helpful arcles, planning tools, checklists and important ps for service members and their
families during all phases of deployment and mobilizaon.
Whether it's your rst deployment or your h, PMD is customized to t your individual
needs. The applicaon starts by asking users to idenfy their duty status, service branch,
familial status and expected deployment and return dates. From there, users get access
to a wide range of informaon tailored to their needs. For example, if you are married with
kids, you will have access to informaon on how to prepare your family for the
deployment, as well as informaon about connecng with your children while you are
gone. If you are a member of the Guard or reserve, you will nd informaon about your
pay changes and benets once you become mobilized.
As you move through the site, you will be able to create a unique checklist that contains
the informaon you need to successfully navigate the deployment process. The checklist
becomes an easy to reference "to-do list" when the stress of deployment or mobilizaon
begins to set in.
The site is divided into four phases: Pre-deployment and Mobilizaon, Deployment and
Mobilizaon, Reunion and Reintegraon, and Reintegraon. Each phase is intended to
prepare you for the challenges you may face during that phase of deployment and to
provide you with the informaon and resources you need. Within the Pre-Deployment
secon of the site, you can access detailed informaon and checklists on everything from
creang a power of aorney to making sure your health benets are in order. Within the
Deployment secon, PMD provides great ideas for staying connected to your loved ones
and preparing for unexpected emergencies. The last two secons deal with postdeployment
maers, helping to make your transion home as smoothly as possible by providing ps on reu-
ning with your loved ones, creang a new budget and exploring your new educaon and training
benets.
So head on over to check it out and let PMD help you navigate your next deployment or
mobilizaon from start to nish.
PMD Website: hps://apps.militaryonesource.mil/PMD
The Importance of Operaonal Security (OPSEC)
As a family member or friend of a deploying Marine, you will have access to unit informaon whic
when pieced together with other indicators, can provide taccal advantages to our adversaries.
Your Marine or Sailor is responsible for the informaon they share with you. If he/she tells you the
date he/she is leaving or returning and you post that on a website, that Marine or Sailor can be
punished for violang operaonal security.
The following informaon is o-limits for public disseminaon: specic sizes of units; unit move-
ments; troop rotaon schedules; posion and movement of U.S. Navy ships; descripons of over-
seas military bases; unit morale; and in general, any informaon which may be benecial to our
enemies. Most OPSEC violaons are commied unintenonally. If you have a queson about
informaon that may be discussed in a public forum, please contact your unit.
NEW!! Plan My Deployment Website
7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
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P A G E 1 1V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
FALLS CHURCH, Va. New copayments for prescripon drugs covered by TRICARE will go intoeect February 1, 2013. The Fiscal Year 2013 Naonal Defense Authorizaon Act requires
TRICARE to increase copays on brand name and non-formulary medicaons that are not lled
at military clinics or hospitals. There is no increase to copays for generic medicaons.
TRICARE Pharmacy copays vary based on the class of drug and where beneciaries choose to
ll their prescripons. The copay for generic medicaons stays at $5 when a prescripon is
lled at a network pharmacy. There is no co-pay when generic prescripons are lled through
TRICARE Home Delivery. The new copay for a 30-day supply of a brand name medicaon
purchased at a retail network pharmacy will be $17, up from the current $12. Beneciaries
using TRICARE Home Delivery will pay $13 for brand name drugs, up from $9. However, the
Home Delivery price is for a 90-day supply.
The greatest change in copays applies to non-formulary medicaons. The $25 copay for these
drugs increases to $44 at retail pharmacies and $43 through Home Delivery. The TRICARE
Uniform Formulary is a list of all the medicaons TRICARE covers.
For scal 2014 and beyond, the new law directs that copays increase annually by the same
percentage as reree cost-of-living adjustments
(hp://militaryadvantage.military.com/2013/01/2013-reree-and-veteran-cola-announced).
In years when a COLA increase would total less than a dollar, it will be delayed a year and
combined with the next adjustment so increases will always be $1 or more.
Pharmacies at military hospitals and clinics will connue to provide medicaons with no
copays. Visit www.TRICARE.mil/pharmacycostsfor more details.
TRICARE Co-Pay Changes
http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://www.tricare.mil/pharmacycostshttp://militaryadvantage.military.com/2012/11/2013-retiree-and-veteran-cola-announced/7/29/2019 4th Maintenance Battalion Newsletter - Winter2013
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P A G E 1 2
"We make
Marines and we
win our nations
battles. Then we
turn those men
and women back
to Americas
society better
people."
(Quote by
General Krulak,
31st
Commandant,
USMC)
4 T H M A I N T E N A N C E B A T T A L I O N
U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S
TSA-PreCheck: Everything you need to know
TSA Pre Website: www.tsa.gov/tsa-pre%E2%9C%93%E2%84%A2/acve-duty-military
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are entrusted to protect the security and values of cizens
with their lives and as such TSA recognizes that these members pose very lile risk to aviaon
security. As part of our intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security TSA now oers TSA
Pre expedited screening benets to acve duty service members at Charloe Douglas Interna-
onal Airport (CLT), Hartseld-Jackson Atlanta Internaonal Airport (ATL), Honolulu Internaonal
Airport (HNL), Ronald Reagan Washington Naonal Airport (DCA), Seale-Tacoma Internaonal
Airport (SEA) and Washington Dulles Internaonal Airport (IAD). Eligible service members include
U.S. Armed Forces service members including reservist and Naonal Guard members, who pos-
sess a valid Common Access Card (CAC).
Acve duty service members should present their valid CAC card to the TSA Travel Document
Checker, along with their boarding pass, in the TSA Pre lane. The TSA Travel Document Checker
will scan the CAC card to verify the travelers status as an acve U.S. service member. If TSA can
verify service members are acve and in good standing with the Department of Defense (DoD)
they will then receive expedited screening benets such as no longer removing the following
items:
Shoes
3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on
Laptop from bag
Light outerwear/jacket
Belt
Service members should use the following checkpoints to see if they qualify for TSA Pre expe-
dited screening:
Charloe Douglas Internaonal Airport (CLT): Main Terminal, Checkpoint B
Hartseld-Jackson Atlanta Internaonal Airport (ATL): Main Checkpoint
Honolulu Internaonal Airport (HNL): Main Terminal, Checkpoint 3
Ronald Reagan Washington Naonal Airport (DCA): North Pier Gates 35-45, South Pier Gates
10-22
Seale-Tacoma Internaonal Airport (SEA): Checkpoint 3
Washington Dulles Internaonal Airport (IAD): Main Terminal, TSA Pre ? Checkpoint
Eligible service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of TSA Pre benets
and family members ages 12 and under can process through expedited screening as well, as they
already receive modied screening procedures at airports naonwide.
By expanding TSA Pre to acve duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, TSA is able to focus its
resources and improve the passenger experience at security checkpoints. While nothing would
ever guarantee expedited screening TSA must retain a certain element of randomness to pre-
vent terrorists from gaming the system the tesng of this concept holds the potenal to signi-
cantly change the travel experience for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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P A G E 1 3V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 2
Frequently Asked Quesons
Q. How does it work?
A. As part of TSA Pre, U.S. service members possessing a valid Common Access Card (CAC) should pre-
sent their card to a TSA Travel Document Checker to determine whether they are eligible for expedited
screening benets. TSA ocers will scan the CAC card to verify the travelers status as an acve U.S. servicemember. Once veried, the traveler may be directed to a lane to receive TSA Pre expedited screening.
TSAs random and unpredictable measures will sll be applied as part of the agencys layered approach so
that the system cannot be gamed. Service members should use the checkpoints outlined before to see if
they qualify for TSA Pre expedited screening.
Q. Are all members of the military eligible to parcipate?
A. At this me, acve duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as
acve drilling members of the Naonal Guard and Reserve, who are issued CAC cards, are eligible to parci-
pate in TSA Pre.
Q. Does the service member need to be in uniform or on ocial travel to parcipate?
A. No. Service members do not need to be in uniform to take advantage of expedited screening benets.They just need to present their valid CAC card to a TSA Travel Document Checker at the designated check-
point.
Q. How will TSA determine who is in good standing? Is that something that is imbedded in the infor-
maon on the CAC card?
A. Through an agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD), a TSA Travel Document Checker will scan
the service members CAC card, providing real-me vericaon that the service member is in good standing
with DoD.
Q. Is the travelers informaon retained or stored when their CAC card is scanned?
A. There is no storage capability on the equipment used to verify the service members status. Once the
CAC card is scanned and TSA determines whether the traveler is eligible for expedited screening, their per-sonal informaon is automacally erased.
Q. Are civilian Department of Defense employees who have CAC cards eligible to parcipate in TSA
Pre?
A. At this me, only U.S. Armed Forces service members who possess a valid CAC card are eligible to parci-
pate in TSA Pre?.
Q. Is TSA considering expanding these benets to military dependents, rerees and contractors?
A. TSA will connue to explore the expansion of TSA Pre to groups that can benet from expedited
screening at security checkpoints while ensuring that overall transportaon security is not compromised.
Q. When will TSA Pre be available to other U.S. service members? Does TSA ancipate a naonwiderollout of this program?
A. TSA hopes to expand TSA Pre? acceptance of service members to addional airports once operaonally
ready.
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6115 N Hills Circle
Charloe, NC 28213
Phone: 704-598-0015
Fax: 704-598-0070
Useful Websites and Contacts
Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.com
Military Home Front: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
Military Spouses: www.milspouse.com
Marine Parents: www.marineparents.com
Blue Star Mothers: www.bluestarmothers.org
Marine Corps Community Services: www.usmc-mccs.org
Military Pay: www.dfas.mil/militarypay.html
Tricare: www.tricare.mil/mybenet
American Red Cross: www.redcross.org
Marine Forces Reserve: www.marforres.usmc.mil
Ocial Marine Corps Website: www.marines.mil
DStress: www.dstressline.com or 877-
476-
7734
Naonal Suicide Prevenon Hotline: 800-273-TALK ((8255)
Naonal Resource Directory:
www.naonalresourcedirectory.gov
4th Maintenance Battalion
USMC:
Improvise.
Adapt.
Overcome