News from the Veterans Coalition January 20, 2021

You are also invited to our Facebook page with over 4,600 friends (Nebraska Veterans Coalition) that contain many interesting topics. You are encouraged to post veterans’ events on our Facebook, Nebraska Veterans Coalition, and Twitter @VetsCoalitionNE The Nebraska Veterans Coalition would like to invite you to visit our website and advertise as a veteran- owned business or business that hires veterans. Send your business card to the Webmaster and your business will be added as a supporter of the Coalition and is a free posting. Email this website’s Webmaster [email protected]

WHAT WE DO AND WHAT OUR GOALS ARE: UPDATED, 12/15/20

The Nebraska Veteran's Coalition is a non-partisan group, formed to bring awareness to veterans about legislative activity in the Nebraska Unicameral, to inform them of who their elected officials are, and update them about Veterans’ benefits.

PRIMARY PURPOSES: 1. Encourage legislative efforts to create a positive environment to attract and retain veterans, collaborating with other departments and groups to draw talent and promote Nebraska 2. Encourage the improvement of medical treatment of veterans by working with the VA and the establishment of a Home Base program similar to Iowa and Massachusetts. 3. Provide information to veterans and family members about available benefits from the VA and the state of Nebraska 4. Share information about activities within the VA, the US Congress, and the Nebraska Unicameral to improve the support of veterans and their families

PRIMARY EFFORTS: a. Communicate with Legislators, the Governor’s Office, and community leaders concerning the need and benefits of persuading Veterans to remain in Nebraska b. Establish and maintain information distribution through our Facebook page, website, newsletters, emails and meetings c. Work with Chambers of Commerce and Veteran Service Organizations to maintain and grow our veteran numbers d. Advocate for methods to improve retention of veterans in Nebraska e. Establish open dialogue with NE legislators and Nebraska Veterans Commission to provide information about veterans needs and benefits of using veterans to expand the workforce

We continue efforts to increase the number of veterans and supporters on our Facebook page. Members are encouraged to post veteran events on our Facebook page, website, or Twitter page. We continue to work with the Nebraska Department of Labor and the Department of Veteran Affairs to improve the services offered to veterans and their families in this state.

The Nebraska Veterans Coalition (NVC) shall not have any liability for the accuracy of the information contained in this Newsletter, or for the delays or omission therein. The NVC will not be liable for any third- party claims or losses of any nature, including but not limited to direct, incidental, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages. You are instructed to verify information located on this Newsletter by third parties prior to its use. If any information located is found to be inaccurate, please contact us so that the information can be updated. Although all information is believed to be accurate, no information shall be warranted or guaranteed in any way. All information should be verified before acting upon it and it is the user’s sole responsibility to do so. The NVC reserves the right to remove or replace all information located on Newsletters found to be inaccurate. All information or services provided are without warranty of any kind. We never solicit funding or donations for the NVC, sell or provide information to third parties for marketing. If you receive a solicitation for money notify us immediately by email. .

​Defense Finance and Accounting Service Providing payment services for the U.S. Department of Defense https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/

ABOUT R&A PAY R&A Pay establishes, maintains and pays military retirees, and their eligible surviving spouses and other family members. Who We Are, What We Do Who to Contact? DFAS, the VA or the Military How Long Does It Take? LATEST NEWS Retiree Newsletter Survivor SBP Newsletter Find information about current topics and more Retiree and Annuitant Pay Dates

Retiree payments will be made as scheduled on February 1, 2021. Annuitant payments will be made as scheduled on February 1, 2021. Spouse SBP annuitants who are subject to the DIC offset may see the first change in the SBP annuity payment they receive on February 1, 2021.

Retiree 1099-Rs: Incomplete Payer's Federal Identification Number in Mailed Documents

Retiree IRS 1099-Rs mailed in early January contain a Payer's Federal Identification Number (FIN) that is missing the last digit because of a printing error. The correct Payer's FIN is: 34-0727612. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will mail you a corrected 2020 IRS 1099-R with the correct Payer's Federal Identification Number. You can also download a correct 2020 IRS 1099-R from myPay. It is available now. Please see the Managing Your Retirement - Taxes webpage for more information. The Payer's FIN on the annuitant 1099-Rs is correct.

SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination - 2021 Phase One

January 2021 SBP and SSIA payments are paid on February 1, 2021. Some spouse SBP annuitants will see an increase in the SBP annuity payment they receive on February 1, 2021. Some spouse SBP annuitants will not see a change in phase one of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination. You DO NOT need to call DFAS to tell us you are affected by the change in the law. See our full range of FAQs. *Note: the change in the law does NOT affect the amount of DIC you receive from the VA. You should continue to receive your normal DIC amount from the VA.* DFAS mailed individual letters in December with estimates of how the first phase of the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination (effective January 1, 2020) will affect your SBP pay. Please do not call our Customer Care Center for your estimate. **Click here to download a helpful explanation of the estimates in the 2020 letter**

Retirees and Annuitants: 2020 Tax Year Statements

2020 tax statements for retirees are available in myPay as of Dec. 15, 2020 2020 tax statements for annuitants are available in myPay as of Dec. 19, 2020 Tax statements sent through the U.S. Postal Service will be mailed no later than Jan. 31, 2021. In many cases, the electronic online forms are available much earlier and more securely than those sent to customers electing delivery by mail. 1099-R Reissues can be sent beginning February 10, 2021. Please note: IRS Form 1095-B will only be available online via myPay, unless a request is received for a copy by mail.

CRDP/CRSC Open Season Deadline Extended to March 1, 2021

Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay/Combat-Related Special Compensation Open Season letters are in the mail. DFAS is extending the deadline for CRDP/CRSC Open Season elections until March 1, 2021 because of mail delays. CRDP/CRSC Open Season changes must be postmarked no later than Monday, March 1, 2021. Find out more on the CRDP/CRSC FAQ webpage at www.dfas.mil/crdpcrscfaqs Check Out Our New Survivor SBP Newsletter - First Issue Now Online !

DFAS has a new Survivor SBP Newsletter! Check out the first issue, with lots of news and helpful info for survivors/SBP annuitants. Learn all about the upcoming changes to the SBP-DIC offset, when you’ll get your tax statements, the new School Cert process, our helpful form tools and more! Get it here: https://go.usa.gov/x7eMc

2021 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index, there will be a 1.3 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for most retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, and the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA), effective Dec. 1, 2020. With the COLA applied, the maximum amount of SSIA payable will be $327. Retirees will see the change in their Dec. 31, 2020 payment and annuitants in their Jan. 4, 2021 payment. For details, see the Fiscal Year 2021 COLA Memorandum: https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/cola/

TRICARE Enrollment Fee Allotments

Please contact your TRICARE regional contract. DFAS cannot set up these allotments. They must be set up by TRICARE through the regional contractors. The information to set up allotments through the regional contractors is as follows: TRICARE East Humana Military 1-800-444-5445 Allotments can be set up online or via phone. For more information on setting up allotments, visit https://www.humanamilitary.com/selectfees or call 1-800-444-5445. TRICARE West Health Net 1-844-866-9378 Allotments can be setup online, via telephone self-service, or by paper application. For more instructions on setting up allotments, visit https://www.hnfs.com/content/hnfs/home/tw/bene/enroll/allotment.html or call 1-844-866-9378. TRICARE Overseas International SOS For Country Specific Toll-Free Numbers, visit: http://www.tricare-overseas.com/contact-us Please contact your country-specific number via phone for more information about setting up your allotment. See the December DFAS Retiree Newsletter for more information on setting up the new TRICARE Select Enrollment Fees

SBP Student Child Annuitants: New Form Wizard for the School Certification Form!

Find out more on the School Certifications webpage. You can now use the new DD 2788 School Certification Form Wizard to fill in your form! The form wizard will ask you a series of questions and fill in your answers in the appropriate areas of the form. When you have finished answering the questions, you can either choose to electronically sign your form or click a button to generate a ready-to-print-and-sign PDF with your answers. Did you know there’s a new easier, annual plan for School Certifications with no school signature or transcript needed? You can get on the annual plan by sending us a new DD Form 2788 using the new form dated May 2020. Then, if nothing changes in your status, you won’t need to send another form until next year!The new school certification form is shorter and simpler. Check out the School Certifications webpage for a new how-to checklist to use for the transition from the old school certification form to the new form and for all of the good news.

Spouses and Children of Recently-Deceased Retirees

We have new tools and information to assist you with the SF 1174 for claiming the retiree’s Arrears of Pay. We can now deposit an Arrears of Pay (AOP) payment directly to an eligible claimant’s bank account instead of mailing a check. Please see the How to Claim Arrears of Pay Using the 1174 page for details. Spouses, Eligible Former Spouses, and Children of Deceased Retirees

We have new tools and information to assist you with the DD Form 2656-7 for starting a Survivor Benefit Plan Annuity. Please see the Start an SBP Annuity page for details.

Processing Time Frames - How Long Does It Take?

Please see our new webpage for current typical processing time frames: How Long Does It Take?

R&A Pay is Expanding Communication through Emailed SmartDocs

As part of our commitment to continually improving our customer service, R&A Pay is expanding the use of emailed SmartDocs as a way to communicate about changes to your account and actions that may be needed. Email notifications will speed up the time it takes to notify you about your account. If you don’t yet have an email address in myPay, please add one now so you can receive these email notifications. Direct Deposit Required

A treasury mandate requires us to pay our customers electronically. Most military retirees and annuitants getting paper checks need to set up direct deposit. Start direct deposit now. Direct Express® Debit Card Program provides members who do not have a bank account an alternative to payment by EFT.

Direct Deposit Bank Account Changes

Follow these steps to avoid missing or incorrect payments! Same-Sex Marriage SBP Department of Defense issued implementing guidance extending SBP coverage to same-sex spouses of military members and retirees. FIND IT FAST Pay Schedule Pay Verification / Proof of Income Survivor Benefit Plan Information

HOW DO I? Get My 1099R Correct My 1099R Change My Arrears of Pay Beneficiary Start or Change Direct Deposit Change My Address Manage My Allotments Start International Direct Deposit Report a Retiree's Death Report an SBP Annuitant's Death myPay Puts You In Control myPay: Get started guide The most convenient way to manage your retirement account is through myPay, our online account management system. myPay Login Instructions: If you've never logged into myPay If you forgot your login ID If you forgot your password

Nebraska Department of Labor

NDOL Locations Map with Addresses_LegalSize (1)-1.pdf(Review)- Adobe Document Cloud Nebraska Department of Labor Job Centers https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:abba260e-f0e9-4cd1-b189- f7b3b710e25d Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists: develop job and training opportunities for veterans, with special emphasis on veterans with service-connected disabilities. DVOP specialists provide direct services, such as resume assistance, to veterans to help them compete in the job market. They offer assistance to disabled and other veterans by promoting community and employer support for job and training opportunities, including apprenticeship and on-the-job training. Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVER): LVER staff performs outreach to local businesses and employers to advocate for the hiring of veterans. JVSG TEAM: NDOL Veterans Program Contact List UPDATED 1/4/2021

REGION CITY NAME OFFICE # EMAIL ADDRESS POSITION CELL # 1 Scottsbluff AJ Trook 308-632-1423 [email protected] DVOP 308-765-5286 2 North Platte Tom Gann 308-535-8023 [email protected] DVOP/W N/A 3 Grand Island Josh Whited 308-385-6090 [email protected] DVOP 308-833-0241 3 Hastings Greg Gentert 402-462-1876 [email protected] LVER/WP 402-460-0934 4 Beatrice Sandy Grigg 402-223-6622 [email protected] DVOP 402-239-2953 5 Columbus Paul Curry 402-564-3116 [email protected] DVOP 402-419-3955 5 Norfolk Mike Nordyke 402-370-4429 [email protected] DVOP 402-844-0132 5 Norfolk (All- 5) Sadie Dorn 402-370-4446 [email protected] LVER N/A 7 Omaha Art Davis 402-934-2663 [email protected] DVOP N/A 7 Omaha Nina Rogers 402-934-2631 [email protected] DVOP N/A 7 Omaha Jon Lokamas 402-934-2361 [email protected] LVER N/A 9 Lincoln Andrew Strasburg 402-471-4477 [email protected] DVOP/ISC 402-432-0491 9 Lincoln James Manning 402-471-2279 [email protected] LVER 531-207-3216 State Lincoln Mark McDonald 402-473-7017 [email protected] VPC 531-739-2095

VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care SystemCurrent Operating Status Situation Update As of Monday, January 25, 2021 3:23 PM CST If you are scheduled to receive a COVID-19 shot or have a medical appointment either at one of our main VA campuses or at one of our community-based outpatient clinics, please be aware that if you are unable to travel due to the inclement conditions, we will be reaching out to you to reschedule the appointment. Facility Status Parent Facility VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Normal Hours Community Based Outpatient Clinics Bellevue, Nebraska Normal Hours Community Resource & Referral Center Normal Hours Grand Island, Nebraska Normal Hours Holdrege, Nebraska Normal Hours Lincoln, Nebraska Normal Hours Norfolk, Nebraska Normal Hours North Platte, Nebraska Normal Hours Shenandoah, Iowa Normal Hours

Telephone Numbers Emergency: 911 Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) 24 Hour Nurse: Monday-Friday (Daytime) Call your primary care clinic nurse Evenings (after 4 pm), weekends and holidays 1-800-451-5796 Change Your Appointment: Omaha 402-346-8800 or 1-800-451-5796, press 2 See below for CBOC appointment numbers Media Inquiries: 402-995-4719 National Veterans Helpline: 1-800-507-4571 Patient Locator: 402-346-8800 or 1-800-451-5796 Pharmacy Refill: 1-855-560-1722 Staff Locator: 402-346-8800 or 1-800-451-5796 Telephone Care: Monday-Friday (Daytime) Call your primary care clinic nurse Evenings (after 4 pm), weekends and holidays 1-866-687-7382 Change Your Appointment (Nebraska CBOCs): Bellevue 402-591-4500 Grand Island 308-382-3660 or 1-866-580-1810, press 2 Holdrege 308-995-3760 Lincoln 402-489-3802 or 1-866-851-6052, press 2 Norfolk 402-370-4570 North Platte 1-866-580-1810, press 0 Change Your Appointment (Iowa CBOCs): Shenandoah 712-246-0092 https://www.nebraska.va.gov/NEBRASKA/emergency/index.asp? fbclid=IwAR3pO5NDYuBwfBQCsVVJeDhFsIiPEXHDJ1j0MjsMrXYZ-RJpmczfvL_ut0M

Dave Bloomfield 4d · I watched this morning as the Nebraska Legislature passed a rule change that will have the Pledge of Allegiance to our American flag be recited each morning during the opening of the Legislature. District 17 Senator Joni Albrecht proposed and got this change passed. The fight for this change has been going on for roughly 10 years now and it is finally done. Thanks, Joni!

Remembering the night two atomic bombs fell—on North Carolina Sixty years ago, at the height of the Cold War, a B-52 bomber disintegrated over a small Southern town. An eyewitness recalls what happened next. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2021/01/remembering-night-two-atomic-bombs-dropped-on- north-carolina/

Nebraska State Parks Reconnect with nature and enjoy swimming, cabins, hiking, fishing, and more at Nebraska’s eight beautiful state parks: Nebraska’s first state park, Chadron State Park was founded in 1921 and is nestled among the distinctive buttes and canyons of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. Since its founding a century ago, it’s remained a popular spot for camping, family reunions, and old-fashioned vacations where guests can escape and enjoy spending time in one of the state’s most famous landscapes. View park info Eugene T. Mahoney State Park This modern state park is the perfect year-round destination for a family escape. Families can visit the aquatic center and indoor playground, explore the park’s hiking and biking trails, climb the observation tower and, when the weather turns cold, enjoy sledding and ice skating. Mahoney State Park is located midway between Nebraska’s two largest cities, Lincoln and Omaha, and is open year-round. View park info State Park Stunning Fort Robinson State Park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, compelling Old West history, exceptional lodging, scenic camping, and the park’s own buffalo and longhorn herds. Fort Robinson is a particularly popular destination for family reunions and has been named one of the nation’s top family reunion spots by USA Today, among other publications. View park info Named for the large sandstone cave within the park, Indian Cave State Park encompasses 3,052 rugged acres bordering the mighty Missouri River. The park is well known for its beautiful camping and picnicking spots, as well as for its 22 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. The park boasts sweeping views of the wide, winding Missouri river and a majestic hardwood forest that puts on a spectacular show of colors each autumn. View park info Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraska’s northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors a wide array of outdoor experiences. This scenic, tranquil park offers cabins, both primitive and RV camping, picnicking, swimming, boat ramps, horseback trails, hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching opportunities. View park info State Park Quaint Platte River State Park is nestled halfway between Nebraska’s two largest cities – Lincoln and Omaha. popular draws are the park’s picturesque waterfall, scenic hiking, and biking trails, and two observation towers that allow those who climb to the top a spectacular view of both the Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, which is just across the river. View park info Situated in the picturesque Missouri River bluffs in northeastern Nebraska, Ponca State Park is the eastern gateway to the 59-mile section of the Missouri National Recreational River, one of two picturesque, unchannelized stretches of the river bordering Nebraska. Comfortable lodging, unique events, and sweeping views of the river have made Ponca state park a popular destination for all types of family gatherings, from family vacations to weddings. View park info State Park Scenic Smith Falls State Park is home to Nebraska’s highest waterfall, also called Smith Falls. The state park is a popular destination for campers, as well as canoers, kayakers, tubers, and others who visit the area to experience the beautiful , a National Scenic River. Not only is the land home to the beautiful falls, it is also an area of biological significance where several ice age species can still be found. View park info http://outdoornebraska.gov/parks/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE State park camping reservation booking window of 180 days begins Feb. 1

LINCOLN, Neb. – Beginning Feb. 1, guests can make camping reservations up to 180 days in advance of arrival for stays at Nebraska state park and recreation areas. Guests will be able to book stays for a maximum of 14 days, and will have the ability to make multiple reservations for eligible sites and dates. There is no change to the cabin and lodge room reservation booking window. It remains at a year to date. In addition to reservable campsites, first-come, first-served campsites are available year-round at all park locations. The 180-day booking window was determined based on current public health conditions and takes into account statewide and nationwide reservation trends and public input. This new reservation window will be evaluated throughout 2021 and may be adjusted in the future. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NEGPC/bulletins/2ba9afb

Make the Connection

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS RESOURCES https://www.maketheconnection.net/resources/va-results/? zip=68116&pageNo=1&miles=200&state=NE&va=

VA Medical Center Outpatient Clinics Vet Centers PTSD Program Suicide Prevention Coordinators VA Chaplains Veterans Benefits Administration Offices

Offutt Enlisted Spouses Club January 11 at 6:24 PM · While our annual craft bazaar was cancelled, our Quilt Raffle fundraiser for the Offutt Enlisted Spouses Club scholarship fund is now underway with tickets on sale during business hours at the Rising View leasing office. The patriotic quilt up for grabs is 74 inches by 65 inches and created by our Scholarship Chair Molly Phillips and the Offutt Enlisted Quilters. Tickets are $2 each. Per-state rules for raffles, we can only accept cash or checks made out to the Offutt Enlisted Spouses Club. Ticket sales end March 31 unless sold out prior. One winner will be drawn April 1 during our membership meeting. If you have questions, please email [email protected].

United Veterans Club Local Business

United Veterans Club Address 1914 West Capital Avenue Grand Island, Nebraska, 68803 Phone 308-381-1555 Fax 541-479-4875 Hours Mon 2:00 PM-8:00 PM; Tue-Thu 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Fri-Sat 10:00 AM-11:59 PM; Sun 12:00 PM-8:00 PM About the United Veterans Club The United Veterans Club, located in Grand Island, NE, provides support for veterans of the US Armed Forces. Veteran Services connects veterans with several government agencies and nonprofit organizations at the federal, Nebraska state, and Grand Island level. These services include veteran benefits assistance, services for veterans with disabilities, and information about medical care, insurance, and education benefits. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also provides veteran services in Grand Island. https://tinyurl.com/y6eru6b6

Air Force Aid Society's Education Programs - 2021 Application Open The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is committed to helping Air Force families pay for college, ando ne online application opens the door to three education programs: General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant – Application Available Now! - Remains the centerpiece and gateway to all of the Society’s education programs. The Arnold Grant offers grants ranging from $500 to $4,000 based on each student’s particular level of need, with the highest levels of assistance going to the students who show the greatest need. Eligible applicants include dependent children of Active Duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended active duty, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, Retired Air Force members, Retired Reservists with 20+ years of qualifying service, and deceased Air Force members. Spouses of active-duty members and Title 10 Reservists and surviving spouses of Air Force members who died while on active duty or in retired status are also eligible to apply. All eligible students must enroll as full-time undergraduates in colleges, universities, or vocational/trade schools whose accreditation is approved by the US Department of Education for participation in federal aid programs and must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. Application is available from our website at https://www.afas.org/general-henry-h-arnold- education-grant/. Merit Scholarship – Incoming freshmen with top GPAs as verified through the Arnold Education Grant application will be contacted directly by AFAS in June to compete for these $5,000 merit-based scholarships. A minimum of 10 scholarships is awarded annually. Supplemental Loan Program – AFAS provides the loan applications in August to eligible applicants identified through the Arnold Education Grant Program, regardless of whether or not they have sufficient financial need to receive the Arnold Grant. Sponsoring members may request up to $1,000 per eligible student to help reimburse out-of-pocket education expenses. Repayment is by allotment over a 10-month period. Feel free to post the attached flyers within your unit. As always, it is very important to note that senior NCOs and officers should not opt out of the competition just because they believe their rank or income disqualifies them. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the Society awarded 2,172 grants, with the bulk of them going to dependents of more senior officer and enlisted members, as they typically have college-aged children, and to spouses of more junior officers and enlisted members. That represents 70% of all applicants, and 100% of eligible applicants with verified financial need! The deadline for applications is 30 April 2021. APPLY EARLY… and commit to completing all steps toward an award next year! AFAS Education​ Air Force Aid Society t: 703-972-2647 e: [email protected] w: www.afas.org afas.org Air Force Aid Society | The Official Charity of the Air Force The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force and has been meeting

Pay & Benefits DoD drops plan to give exchange shopping benefits to more than a half- million DoD civilians A proposal to give military exchange shopping privileges to more than a half-million Department of Defense civilians is dead, according to defense officials. “DoD is not pursuing military exchange access for DoD civilian employees at this time,” said DoD spokeswoman Lisa Lawrence, in response to a question from Military Times. She had no comment about why the proposal has been dropped. This is a reversal in direction for DoD since October, when an official said thep roposal to give exchange shopping privileges to DoD civilians was working its way through the final stages of the approval process. At that time, the official said it would probably be after Election Day before the initiative got final approval. It was expected to bring in about 575,000 new eligible customers into exchanges, said Berry Patrick, who works in the DoD Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Nonappropriated Fund Policy, during an Oct. 20 virtual conference of the American Logistics Association. There are about 796,000 DoD civilians in the U.S., but about 221,000 of those employees already have exchange benefits resulting from another beneficiary category such as retiree or military spouse, he said. The new benefit would have applied to both appropriated fund and nonappropriated fund employees, he said. The shopping benefit would have applied only for exchanges, not commissaries. DoD civilians stationed outside the U.S. have exchange shopping privileges. Nicole Russell, government relations deputy director for the National Military Family Association, said the organization is aware of the differing opinions surrounding the proposal while acknowledging that NMFA represents the interests of military families, not DoD civilians. Some active duty members and family members contend that the benefit was not intended for DoD civilians, she noted. Commissaries and exchanges exist primarily for active duty service members and their families. However, there’s an argument that expanding the shopping base to include DoD civilians would also bring more sales revenue to the military exchanges, providing more money for morale, welfare, and recreation programs on installations. Part of the profits from the military exchanges goes back to the service branches for MWR programs, and exchanges and MWR programs have been hit hard by the pandemic. “Any move or policy change that would increase revenue for exchanges, thereby increasing the funding available for MWR is positive for our military families,” she said. DoD civilians are on the base every day, DoD’s Patrick noted in October. Based on projections of the civilians’ buying patterns, he said, DoD estimated exchange sales could increase by about $287 million a year, with a potential increase of $48 million in profits going back to support the services’ MWR programs. DoD has been deliberating the policy change for about three years. The American Logistics Association will continue to pursue expanding shopping privileges to DoD civilians, said Steve Rossetti, president of the association, which represents businesses that sell to commissaries, exchanges, and retail MWR activities. “The stores have sufficient capacity and would provide a great convenience and source of vital products for these DoD civilians, especially critical during the pandemic,” he said. “Civilians work side by side with their military counterparts, making huge contributions in service to the nation,” he said. “For exchanges, civilian patronage would increase contributions to vital on-base MWR programs that have suffered huge financial losses due to the loss of traffic during the pandemic.” The American Federation of Government Employees had no comment on DoD’s move to drop the proposal. One indicator of the popularity of the benefit among DoD employees was the situation in March as the pandemic hit when DoD gave base commanders temporary authority to give commissary and exchange privileges to DoD civilians and contractor employees considered mission-critical. Many people misinterpreted that to mean that every DoD mission-critical civilian employee automatically got those privileges, and DoD officials were getting phone calls from those potential customers, Patrick said. But it was up to each installation, and some commanders gave the privileges while others didn’t, for various reasons such as concern about the strains on the supply chain’s ability to provide enough products for the stores during the pandemic. In May 2019, officials in the Department of Homeland Security took a step for its civilian employees similar to the proposal that DoD has rejected, giving access to all Coast Guard exchanges to the more than 200,000 civilian employees in all DHS agencies. https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2021/01/12/dod-drops-plan-to-give-exchange-shopping- benefits-to-more-than-a-half-million-dod-civilians/

File Your Federal Taxes Online for Free What Is IRS Free File? The IRS Free File Program is a public-private partnership between the IRS and many tax preparation and filing software industry leaders who provide their brand-name products for free. It provides two ways for taxpayers to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free: Traditional IRS Free File provides free online tax preparation and filing options on IRS partner sites. Our partners are online tax preparation companies that develop and deliver this service at no cost to qualifying taxpayers. Please note, only taxpayers whose adjusted gross income (or AGI) is $72,000 or less qualify for any IRS Free File partner offers. Free File Fillable Forms are electronic federal tax forms you can fill out and file online for free. If you choose this option, you should know how to prepare your own tax return. Please note, it is the only IRS Free File option available for taxpayers whose income (AGI) is greater than $72,000. Find what you need to get started, your protections and security, available forms and more about IRS Free File below. The Agency The IRS is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury and one of the world's most efficient tax administrators. In fiscal year 2019, the IRS collected almost $3.56 trillion in revenue and processed more than 253 million tax returns. The IRS spent just 33 cents for each $100 it collected in FY 2019. (Source: Table 31, IRS 2019 Data Book PDF). The IRS Mission Provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all. This mission statement describes our role and the public’s expectation about how we should perform that role. In the United States, the Congress passes tax laws and requires taxpayers to comply. The taxpayer’s role is to understand and meet his or her tax obligations. The IRS role is to help the large majority of compliant taxpayers with the tax law, while ensuring that the minority who are unwilling to comply pay their fair share. Statutory Authority The IRS is organized to carry out the responsibilities of the secretary of the Treasury under section 7801 of the Internal Revenue Code. The secretary has full authority to administer and enforce the internal revenue laws and has the power to create an agency to enforce these laws. The IRS was created based on this legislative grant. Section 7803 of the Internal Revenue Code provides for the appointment of a commissioner of Internal Revenue to administer and supervise the execution and application of the internal revenue laws. Address, Main Office Internal Revenue Service 1111 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20224 https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free? fbclid=IwAR15wgA7s4efuz8HZ0irquW4wLdIRm-VVOK-6AmlWdU_iAo3LzFbokM90Ro Job Seekers Find a Job Create a Résumé Unemployment Training Services Employers Find a Candidate Post a Job Opening Employer Incentives Additional Services Labor Market Information Labor Market Analysis Labor Market Facts Employment and Wage Data Additional Services https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx? enc=8Nx7XUXgkBLD38QUz9Pwq8uAmYQj9a13nv8yHvLWwaQspFMCn+qs0C+3xQxx0bg79Z2Q4m4w5 YfL2cVYtkknnhXDbqRiwZdOHFOX90yFu4s=

Lee Greenwood's signature bourbon will be made at La Vista distillery Country star Lee Greenwood has launched a signature brand of whiskey, joining the ranks of fellow musicians Darius Rucker, John Rich of Big & Rich, and the guys in Florida Georgia Line. And it’s made by a local company. The singer, best known for the ubiquitous “God Bless the USA,” has partnered withS oldier Valley Spirits to launch Lee Greenwood Signature bourbon in April. It is being produced at the company’s La Vista distillery. The six-year-old whiskey blends Soldier Valley’s house-made bourbon — distilled from Nebraska corn — with sourced bourbon for a mix that is 45% alcohol by volume. The bottle looks like a World War II-era canteen, with a red, white, and blue dog tag around the neck. Greenwood’s signature is on the label. Soldier Valley was started by veterans, said President David Young.

That was attractive to Greenwood. “If you look at the history of my career, you won’t find my name associated with anything else other than something military,” he said in a press release. “We looked at other companies but Soldier Valley was the only one that stood out as an endorsement of our military and that’s pretty much what I am all about.” Greenwood said he toured the Soldier Valley distillery and was impressed with the employees, the clean atmosphere, and the product. The company donates to several organizations for vets, including Omaha National Cemetery, and plans to give a portion of the profits from the Greenwood bourbon to such groups. Founder Jeff Hadden served in the Army National Guard in the 1980s. He was an alcohol wholesaler after he left the military. He loved whiskey and became interested in making it himself. He started Soldier Valley in 2013 to turn his hobby into a business. He recalls being moved by “God Bless the USA” when it debuted in 1984. He said he realized how meaningful the partnership with Greenwood would be when they were discussing it around the singer’s kitchen table. “Here I am so many years later after hearing that song, and, knowing that song has always given me goosebumps, it was just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s meant to be,’ ” Hadden recalled. The signature bourbon will retail for $55 and will initially be sold on the Gulf Coast and at military bases around the country. It will be introduced elsewhere throughout 2021. Young, who served in the Marine Corps, said Soldier Valley was proud to be chosen to produce the bourbon, especially considering that there are many larger distilleries out there.

“It’s a pretty big deal for us,” he said. “We are a small craft distillery.” https://omaha.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/lee-greenwoods-signature-bourbon-will-be-made-at-la- vista-distillery/article_2b657c2a-569e-11eb-8678-7f18a175dcef.html? fbclid=IwAR19Wfm7ALXdN6EvBucm4oTKANDsXGcMxe3DdekT- 7kZo7ZXHAvLYrv0vEM#utm_source=omaha.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter-templates%2Fnews- alert&utm_medium=PostUp&utm_content=8f2581b0c9dfef208dd66a1fb58b2987c7057b1a

Midwest Division Marine Corps League Mission Statement The mission of the Marine Corps League is to promote the interest and to preserve traditions of the United States Marine Corps; strengthen the fraternity of Marines and their families; serve Marines, FMF Corpsmen, and FMF Chaplains who wear or who have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor; and foster the ideals of Americanism and patriotic volunteerism.

WHAT WE DO The Marine Corps League is proud to support our Marines in many areas. We have 10 Divisions covering 48 Departments, and over 1,140 Detachments in communities across the Country.

We support the Toys for Tots efforts working with the Marine Corps Reserve and Toys for Tots Foundation to raise millions of dollars for the youth of America, collect and distribute millions of toys all across the United States.

The Marine Corps League provides funeral honors support to over 10,000 funerals per year. This support allows the Marine Corps (Active and Reserve) to focus more of their resources on mission preparation. The Marine Corps League supports the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Mack's Marines, and the Young Marines.

We have several scholarship/award programs including the Merchant Marine Academy Marine-Option Honor Graduate, Marine Corps University LtGen Lejeune (luh-jern) Leadership Award, Delta Dental Scholarship, and college scholarships through the Marine Corps League Foundation.

One of our most critical missions is assisting transitioning Marines and their families in support of the Marine Corps' Marine for Life program.

With our partners at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, we produce the Marine Military Expositions including Modern Day Marine Expo, Marine West Expo, and Marine South Expo.

The Marine Corps League produces a quarterly publication called the Semper Fi Magazine.

We have many programs supporting our Marines, their families, and our community: Veteran Service Officers (VSO) Scouting/Eagle Scout Program Marine Roses Program POW/MIA Remembrance Rifle and Pistol Competition Matches Volunteer Assistance Veterans Service (VAVS) Color Guards http://www.midwestdivisionmarinecorpsleague.org/nebraska.html

Just making your way through all of the history museums, historic attractions, and historic sites would take ages...and by the time you're done, you'll want to go over it all again.

16 Reasons Why Nebraska Is The Most Underrated State In The US Nebraska doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. It’s a great state to visit and to live in, but it’s often dismissed as one big, flat, boring cornfield. We know better, though – Nebraska is the perfect blend of vibrant, historic, down-home, modern, and traditional. Here’s why we think Nebraska is the most underrated state in the union. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: onlyinyourstate.com/nominate https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nebraska/underrated-ne/? utm_medium=email&utm_source=nebraska&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_content=nlbuttonB1&fbclid =IwAR0h84bHlFkINF-qo4l-DA9LirGv9OfpLLz-FJ0fMG4Y_oU1EYkn8IL0Bew

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