HRO Bulletin Template FINAL 20191018 (002)

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All Personnel

Technician Personnel Performance Appraisal Application (PAA) Dates FY20 Telework Codes Leave Without Pay (LWOP) Code KG Leave Without Pay (LWOP)‐Personal Code KA Use or lose leave for 2019 2019 Holiday Season Leave Guidance Retirement Planning Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB)/Federal Employee Dental Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Open Season SF182, Authorization, Agreement and Certification of Training State Personnel Retirement Seminars Upcoming Holidays for State Employees Carryover Limit for Vacation/Pay Periods in 2019 Excellence in State Service Recognition for 2018 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Military Orders – Copies to HR Nearing Retirement Age? – Medicare Information Available Dependent Status Change – Terminating Coverage

Active Guard and Reserve Personnel Military Parental Leave Program for AGR ARNG and ANG Annual Recertification of Basic Allowance for Housing ARNG AGR Collection of Basic Allowance for Subsistence Federal Vision Insurance Program for AGR Dependents Clarification of Military Leave in Combination with Pass MIPER Message 19‐290 TRICARE Open Season Transfer of Education Benefits Equal Employment Office/Diversity Hispanic Heritage Month

HRO LEADERSHIP Human Resources Officer Lt Col Nicole Nuss 402.309.8170

Deputy HRO MAJ Matthew York 402.309.8144

Occupational Health Nurse Mr. Josiah Unger 402.309.1832

HRO-19-004

18 October 2019 GKO Job Announcements HRO Web Site

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TECHNICIAN PERSONNEL BRANCH Supv HR Spec (Classification/Staffing) Ms. Deb Burling 402.309.8187

Classification/Manpower Mr. Larry Martin 402.309.8184

Recruitment, Staffing & Pay Mr. John Winterfeld 402.309.8186

Classification/Staffing SSgt Melanie Petersen 402.309.8324

Benefits & Services Mr. Devin Alt 402.309.8189

Mr. Jon Sronce 402.309.8173

A1C Camille Svoboda 402.309.8190

Supv HR Spec (Labor) Mr. Stephen Oppliger 402.309.8185

Information Systems Ms. Denise Anderson 402.309.8177

Management Analyst Ms. Desirae Dockter 402.309.8155

Employee Development Ms. Jessica Pan 402.309.8182

Website: https://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Pages/Technician‐Title‐5‐Branch.aspx PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL APPLICATION (PAA) DATES FOR FY20 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS). Plan‐ Established (NLT 30 April 2019) with a start date of 1 April 2019 Progress Review (between 1 October and 30 November 2019) Appraisal End date 31 March 2020 (NLT 30 April 2020) Effective 1 June 2020 Awards submitted NLT than 18 May 2020 Awards Board 18 June 2020 HR will be notifying supervisors who do not have plans in place. The weather could be changing and if you are approved to telework due to weather below are the codes TELEWORK TIME CODES. – If you are teleworking you must code ATAAPs There are 3 types of Telework and if you have been approved to telework you must code your timecard accordingly. Telework Medical – TM Telework Situational – TS (Most common for us) ‐ Weather Telework Regular –TW This is a highly visible program for the federal government, if you telework you must code your ATAAPs with the proper code. If you are changing the type of telework you are using you must complete a new DD 2946, Department of Defense Telework Agreement. LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (LWOP) CODE KG. Technicians on Leave without Pay (LWOP) for Military Duty for One (1) Day or more:

LWOP‐US under 30 Days Technicians requesting leave without pay (LWOP) for military duty for one (1) to twenty‐nine (29) days are required to submit a SF52, Request for Personnel Action, and a copy of their military orders. The employee requesting the action must sign the SF52 in Block 5 (Action Requested by) and the supervisor must sign in Block 6 (Action Authorized By). Part D, Remarks, should state the period of time requested. The paperwork will need to be routed through their appropriate chain of command to HRO prior to departure.

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LWOP‐US over 30 Days Technicians requesting leave without pay (LWOP) for military duty for over thirty (30) are required to submit a SF52, a copy of their orders and Elections/Acknowledgement of USERRA Entering Military Duty located at: https://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Documents/Election‐Doc.pdf. The employee requesting the action must sign the SF52 in Block 5 (Action Requested by), the supervisor must sign in Block 6 (Action Authorized By) and Part D, Remarks, should state the period of time requested. The paperwork will need to be routed through their appropriate chain of command to HRO prior to their departure. Upon Return to Duty, Technicians must contact HRO and complete the Return to Civilian Federal Employment from Military Duty Form located at: https://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Documents/RTD‐Doc.pdf Supervisors will need to code the above mentioned employees in ATAAPS as a 5/8 hour work schedule while on those military orders. Individuals on military duty for over 30 days and currently on a Maxi‐flex Work Schedule must complete a NE TAG 444‐R, Request for Alternate Work Schedule (AWS) to change to a 5/8 Work schedule and send the form to the appropriate Finance Office (i.e. ARNG‐USPFO and ANG‐155CPTF) prior to their departure. LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (LWOP)‐PERSONAL CODE KA. This code is used only for personal reasons not for military duty and this may impact your benefits. If you are not sure what code to use, please contact the HR office at 402‐309‐8189/8173. LEAVE GUIDANCE FOR 2019 HOLIDAY SEASON for Technician Personnel Holidays is a time to spend with your family and maximum leave is encouraged over the Holidays. As a reminder, the Friday after Thanksgiving is a work day, and leave must be used to take it off. USE OR LOSE LEAVE FOR LEAVE YEAR 2019.

If you have use or lose leave it must be schedule not later than 18 Nov 2019, if for some reason (i.e. government Shut down) you are not able to use your leave and you fail to have it schedule by 18 Nov 2019, you will lose it. Protect yourself and schedule your leave. RETIREMENT PLANNING.

Mr. Shunkwiler will be here on 29 and 30 Oct, he is not a federal employee but is an expert in financial planning with the emphasis federal retirement FERS/Social Security/TSP – He will talk about Traditional TSP verses Roth. This is not limited to current technician employees. Any Federal Employee Technician or AGR is welcome to attend. 29 Oct JFHQ Classroom 0900‐1100 and 1330‐1530 30 Oct LRS Classroom 0900‐1100 and 1330‐1530 FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS (FEHB)/FEDERAL EMPLOYEE DENTAL VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM (FEDVIP) OPEN SEASON.

Open season is 11 Nov‐9 Dec 2019. The rates for FEHB and FEDVIP are available at:

FEHB

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare‐insurance/healthcare/plan‐information/premiums

FEDVIP Vision and Dental

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare‐insurance/dental‐vision/plan‐information/premiums/2020visionpremium.pdf

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SF182, AUTHORIZATION, AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF TRAINING. The SF182 is required for TRAINING that is 8 hours (or the majority of the day) or longer in Technician or Title 5 status. It is normally not required for annual conferences unless there is a tuition/registration fee that needs to be charged to one of our Government Purchase Cards (GPC). Employees must complete the first 2 pages on the SF182 and send to HRO. HRO also needs supporting documentation (i.e. MOI, LOI, flyer/brochure for the training with price quote). If the training is longer than 80 hours or more than $1000, the employee must sign the Continued Service Agreement to continue service in the agency for at least three times the length of the course. For example, if the course is 80 hours, then the employee would sign the agreement for 6 weeks beyond the course end date. For ANG employees requiring a Training Line Number (TLN), HRO must receive the SF 182 NLT 50 days prior to the scheduled class start date. For ARNG employees requiring a reservation in ATRRS, best practice is to ensure HRO has the SF 182 at least 90 days prior to the scheduled class start date to ensure reservation. The SF 182 must be signed by the supervisor and sent to HRO – Training before the DTS authorization is input. DTS authorizations must be input at least 30 days prior to travel. After training is completed, send a copy of the training certificate to HRO for input into DCPDS. The SF 182 is located at: https://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Documents/SF182.pdf Point of contact for training is Ms. Jessica Pan at 402‐309‐8182 or [email protected].

STATE PERSONNEL BRANCH HR Manager Ms. Polly Putney 402.309.8172

HR Assistant / Benefits Mr. Tim Diedrichsen 402.309.8180

HR Assistant / Payroll Ms. Sue Spence 402.309.8178

Website: https://gko.portal.ng.mil/states/NE/Directorates/J1/Pages/State‐HR.aspx RETIREMENT SEMINARS. Although, the Nebraska Public Employee Retirement Systems (NPERS) has started its 2019 seminar season, there are still some meetings scheduled for October and November that you could attend. There are two types of seminars for teammates to attend: (1) Eligible plan members under 50 can attend a Financial Management seminar and (2) Eligible plan members over 50 can attend a Retirement Planning seminar. Those members who wish to attend are encouraged to mail in a registration form as soon as possible. Forms and information are available on the NPERS website at https://npers.ne.gov/SelfService/ ‐ located under Retirement Seminars on the left side of the screen. The fee to attend is $25.00 per plan member. Plan members can bring a spouse or a guest for an additional $25.00. If you cannot access the seminar form or you have any questions you can contact NPERS for assistance at 402‐471‐2053. Please notify the HR office if you sign up to attend a seminar.

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UPCOMING HOLIDAYS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES Paid holidays in the last quarter of 2019 for all State teammates are: November 11th (Veterans Day), November 28th and 29th (Thanksgiving), and December 25th (Christmas Day). If there are any questions on about holiday pay or how time should be recorded in a workweek that includes a holiday please contact the State HRO in the JFHQ building (2nd Floor). CARRYOVER LIMIT FOR VACATION/PAY PERIODS IN 2019 Normally, State teammates have 26 paychecks in a calendar year. However, 2019 contains 27 paycheck dates due to a payroll being paid on December 31 instead of on January 1 since it is a holiday. The Administrative Services Accounting office is determining whether the 27th pay check period will accrue leave earnings for vacation and sick. All of the 2019 official leave earnings will have been earned during the 26 pay periods. For those teammates that are now close to or could be over the 280‐hour vacation leave carryover limit on December 31, 2019, you should have a plan to use any vacation accrual that will be over 280 hours by December 31. Additionally, it is recommended that you add an additional accrual for the 27th pay period, to ensure that you will be under the carryover limit on December 31, 2019. Leave earnings for the 27th pay period would be similar to a teammate’s leave earnings from the 26th pay period. Leave used on and before December 31, 2019 will reduce the leave balance that you have at the end of 2019. EXCELLENCE IN STATE SERVICE RECOGNITION FOR 2019. The following State employees are receiving recognition for Excellence in State Service (years of service) in the Military Department.

NAME YEARS OF

SERVICE

NAME YEARS OF

SERVICE

Donald Christensen 10 Timothy Diedrichsen 20

Karen Heath 10 Matthew Siemsen 20

Leo Larkin 10 Sean Runge 25

Christopher Ulrick 10 John Keane 30

Ryan Alston 15 Terri Kattes 40

Robert DeMoss 15 Randi Krygier 40

Robert Roth 15

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP). Deer Oaks website: www.deeroakseap.com TOLL‐FREE: 866‐792‐3616

Deer Oaks, your EAP, is always available to you and your household members. Life can be hectic. The EAP can help you find balance. Struggling with children, finances or want some practical advice on health? It is a free confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Contact Deer Oaks by calling the Help line toll‐free at 866‐972‐3616. Counselors are available 24/7 to provide you with immediate care. WEBSITE: USERNAME: SON PASSWORD: SON

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MILITARY ORDERS – COPIES TO HR. Any teammate who takes leave from work due to military orders, unit training assembly (UTA), battle assembly (BA) annual training plan (ATP) training, or any other military duty must provide copies of orders or other documents that state the dates of service to State Human Resources prior to the departure date. If military orders are amended, please provide the final copy of orders to the State Human Resources Office. NEARING RETIREMENT AGE? – MEDICARE INFORMATION AVAILABLE. If you are nearing retirement and have questions about signing up for Medicare, the State Human Resources Office can obtain information for you that will help you understand your Medicare options. It is helpful if you contact the State HR Office 4 to 6 months ahead of your eligibility for Medicare. DEPENDENT STATUS CHANGE – TERMINATING COVERAGE. Teammates must notify the State Human Resources Office (State HRO, 2433 NW 24th Street, 2nd Floor) as soon as they know of a qualifying status change event for a dependent which may require the dependent to be added or dropped from one or more of their State insurance plans. Teammates will need to initiate changes in the Employee Work Center (EWC), except when the dependent is turning 26. The process to drop or add a dependent must be completed within 30 days after the status change event. The date of the status change event is the date when a dependent loses insurance coverage (last day of coverage) or gains insurance coverage because they are newly eligible for insurance elsewhere (first day of coverage). If a dependent is no longer eligible (for example, dependent turns age 26), coverage officially terminates at the end of the month in which the status change event occurs. This event is coordinated through the Benefits Office. Teammates should receive a notice (an email or letter) from the Benefits Office that lets you know that a dependent is nearing age 26. There are continuation options available. ASI COBRA, a company that works with the State, sends a packet with additional information regarding COBRA or the LB551 option. If you have questions on the LB 551 option you can call Tim Diedrichsen in the State HR Office at 402‐309‐8180 or the Benefits Office at 402‐471‐4443. Any decision on continuing coverage with the LB551 option must be made in writing BEFORE any current insurance ends.

AGR PERSONNEL BRANCH NAME POSITION TITLE TELEPHONE E‐MAIL

CW4 Jeff Thomas AGR Branch Manager 402.309.8171 [email protected]

SGM Lucas Poppe AGR Branch SGM 402.309.8175 [email protected]

SFC Eric Martin ANG & ARNG Announcements, Accessions, Retirements

402.309.8183 [email protected]

SSG Ben Schall ANG & ARNG Personnel Support, Finance, Actions, Orders


SPC Richard Piper ANG & ARNG Personnel Support and Tricare


Website: https://gko.portal.ng.mil/states/NE/Directorates/J1/AGR‐Branch/Pages/default.aspx

MILITARY PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM FOR AGR ARNG AND ANG.

References ANGI 36‐3003, Army Directive 2019‐05 and PPOM #19‐003

Authorizes Maternity Convalescent Leave (42 days), Primary Caregiver Leave (42 days) and Secondary Caregiver Leave (21 days). Members will request primary and secondary caregiver leave using Leave Web and Leave Log. Caregiver

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leave is non‐chargeable and is retroactive until 23 December 2016. ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (ARNG). AGR members are required to complete an annual recertification of their BAH through their unit of assignment. Members with changes to their BAH need to have their unit send their DA 5960 to the AGR Branch for submission to Finance. AGR COLLECTION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR SUBSISTENCE. Reference DoD FMR 7a, 250204. Government Provided Meals AGR members who are provided government meals or rations are obligated to initiate collection of their BAS. ARNG members will need to initiate a DA 4187 at the unit level for submission to the AGR Branch and ANG members may contact Susan Baden at (402) 309‐1140. FEDERAL VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR AGR DEPENDENTS. Open enrollment for vision insurance with FEDVIP is from 11 November 2019 through 9 December 2019. AGR members can find enrollment information and sign up dependents at www.benefeds.com or call 1‐877‐888‐3337. Vision insurance coverage will start on 1 January 2020 for those dependents who are enrolled during the open period. Dependents can also be enrolled within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event. CLARIFICATION OF MILITARY LEAVE IN COMBINATION WITH PASS MILPER MESSAGE 19‐290.

This message provides guidance for granting ordinary leave in combination with pass for AGR members and specific examples for the upcoming 2019 holiday season. ARNG members can also reference AR 600‐8‐10 and ANG members will find leave and pass information in AFI 36‐3003. Passes are not automatic and Supervisors should consider mission needs, leave balances, work performance, and impact on other employees before granting special passes.

For the Thanksgiving 2019 Holiday Period, if Supervisors grant a special pass, the 4‐day special pass period for Thanksgiving is Thursday through Sunday. AGRs granted the 4‐day pass may depart the local area after duty on Wednesday and must return before duty on Monday. AGRs on leave the Wednesday before Thanksgiving must be charged ordinary leave for the entire absence if they are also on leave on the Monday after Thanksgiving (leave‐pass‐leave is not authorized). AGRs, if in the local area, may be granted pass combined with leave (e.g., pass Saturday and Sunday (23‐24 Nov), followed by leave Monday through Wednesday (25‐27 Nov), and pass Thursday through Sunday (28 Nov‐1 Dec)). However, to avoid being charged for more than three days of leave, Soldiers must be on duty Friday (22 Nov); in the local area on Monday (25 Nov) and Wednesday (27 Nov) to start and end leave, and back on duty Monday (2 Dec)).

For the Christmas 2019 Holiday Period, Christmas 2019 is on Wednesday, 25 Dec. It may be extended into a 3‐day special pass by including 24 Dec and 26 Dec. However, it cannot be combined with a weekend unless ordinary leave is requested and granted. AGRs granted a 3‐day special pass may depart after duty on Monday (23 Dec), and must return before start of duty on Friday (27 Dec). AGRs, even if remaining in the local area, may not be granted leave on both Monday and Friday unless their entire absence from duty is charged as ordinary leave. AGRs in the local area, may be granted pass combined with leave (e.g., pass Saturday and Sunday (21‐22 Dec), followed by leave on Monday (23 Dec), and pass Tuesday through Thursday (24‐26 Dec)). However, they must be on duty Friday (27 Dec). As an alternative, AGRs working on Monday (23 Dec) and staying in the local area may be granted a special pass Tuesday through Thursday (24‐26 Dec), leave on Friday (27 Dec), and pass 28‐29 Dec. AGRs wanting to combine the Christmas holiday with a weekend, and not remaining in the local area, must be charged ordinary leave for their entire absence.

For New Year 2020 Holiday Period, New Year’s Day is on Wednesday, 1 Jan. As with Christmas 2019, the New Year holiday may be extended into a 3‐day special pass (by including 31 Dec and 2 Jan). However, it cannot be combined with a weekend unless ordinary leave is requested and granted.

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TRICARE Open Season

TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when you can enroll in or change your health plan for the next year. The 2019 TRICARE Open Season begins on Monday, November 11th and ends on Monday, December 9th.

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During TRICARE Open Season, you can:

Continue in your current health plan through 2020 or as long as you’re eligible. • Enroll in a plan. If you’re eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan now. • Change plans. If you’re already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option, or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment. What Happens if I Don't Take Any Action? If you aren't already in a plan and don't enroll in a plan, you'll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available. Making Enrollment Changes Outside of Open Season Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change enrollment to TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select following a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE is a certain change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which may mean different TRICARE options are available to you. A TRICARE QLE opens a 90‐day period for you to make eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member means all family members may make enrollment changes. To learn more, visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents. Outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you may only make changes to your existing FEDVIP plan if you experience a FEDVIP QLE. Remember, FEDVIP QLEs may be different from the TRICARE QLEs. Transfer of Education Benefits. The new Transfer of Education Benefits for the Post 9/11 GI Bill between 6 to 16 years of total creditable military service has been delayed until 12 January 2012. Members will find the current eligibility information at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect or contact CPT Ed Bosland at (402) 309‐8149.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OFFICE / DIVERSITY EEO Mr. Kevin Rose 402.309.8111

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. "The Nebraska National Guard would like to recognize Hispanic Americans for their contributions to the successful defense of our Nation and their service to our great State. September 15th through October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month where our nation celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America. Hispanic Americans have performed admirably in the defense of our nation. Their hard work and dedication to the American way of life add to the diversity of our society. Hispanic culture is a rich and colorful addition to the American melting pot."

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On behalf of the Special Emphasis Group, the Nebraska National Guard would like to recognize Hispanic Americans for their contributions to the successful defense of our Nation and their service to our great State. September 15th through October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month where our nation celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America. Hispanic Americans have performed admirably in the defense of our nation. Their hard work and dedication to the American way of life add to the diversity of our society. Hispanic culture is a rich and colorful addition to the American melting pot.

For additional Resources about the Hispanic Culture please visit the websites below:

Roy Benavidez – Medal of Honor Recipient https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUtJxE4sjs Los Borinqueneers ‐ The 65th Infantry Regiment of the Puerto Rico National Guard https://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/Modern/Borinqueneers Cesar Chavez – Hispanic Civil Rights Leader https://americanation.one/cesar‐chavez‐biography‐civil‐rights‐activist‐folk‐hero Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Military https://www.army.mil/hispanics Hispanic Culture in the United States https://www.interexchange.org/articles/visit‐the‐usa/latino‐hispanic‐culture‐in‐us Traditional Hispanic Food https://www.ehow.com/about_4578072_traditional‐hispanic‐food.html Hispanic Demographic Information http://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts‐for‐features/2015/cb15‐ff18.html