DMVA Town Hall with the Adjutant General (06/22/2010)
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DMVA Town Hall with The Adjutant General (06/22/2010) 2:56 Moderator: Greetings! Today’s virtual town hall session is about to begin. Before we introduce Maj. Gen. Wright please review the following ground rules: Tuesday June 22, 2010 2:57 Moderator: 1. Please submit only one question at a time. 2. You will be limited to 300 characters for each question. 3. DO NOT include personal information, such as home address, phone number, social security number or individual health-related data in your question. 4. DMVA reserves the right to combine questions on the same subject and to edit them in the interests of clarity. 5. If we are unable to respond to your specific question during our 1-hour timeframe and you would like a response, please submit your question in writing and mail it to the following address: DMVA Virtual Town Hall c/o Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright Bldg. S-0-47 Fort Indiantown Gap Annville, PA 17003 Tuesday June 22, 2010 2:58 Moderator: If during our Town Hall there is a shortage of questions or we are busy developing responses, we may post some Frequently Asked Questions and/or Fast Facts from the moderator to keep the session informative and interesting. Tuesday June 22, 2010 2:59 Moderator: It is now my privilege to introduce The Adjutant General. Tuesday June 22, 2010 2:59 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: Good afternoon and thank you for joining me for this Virtual Town Hall. I have several members of my senior staff assembled to assist me in answering your questions today. I look forward to answering your questions now. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:02 Moderator: Did you know…FREE Regal Fritillary butterfly tours are slated for July 2, 3, 4, 9 & 10 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon County. The tours allow the public to see this rare butterfly colony, as well as many other natural spectacles on the 17,000-acre military post, which serves as the Pennsylvania National Guard’s headquarters. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:02 Moderator: We are now accepting questions - please submit questions to be answered in the "comment" field. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:03 [Comment From Kathy Weller] Thank you Major General for the opportunity to participate in your Town Hall Meeting. What is your opinion of the State Civil Service Commission not properly administering the Veterans’ Preference Program? How will you ensure that the Veterans’ Preference Program is applied properly once you are confirmed to serve on the State Civil Service Commission? The current Civil Service Commissioners made a decision in March, 2010 dismissing an appeal of a veteran that was not selected for a position despite the fact that the veteran was one of the top three available candidates and the position was not a promotion. This decision is contrary to the Veterans’ Preference Program in Pennsylvania as provided by the Military Affairs Act of August 1, 1975 (P.L. 233, No. 92), and the Civil Service Commission’s own policy as quoted from their website, “Applicants entitled to veterans’ preference who are among the top three available candidates on certifications have mandatory preference in appointment over non-veterans”. In addition to this, the Auditor General conducted an audit on the performance of the State Civil Service Commission’s application of the Veterans’ Preference Program, and made recommendations to the Commission due to Commonwealth agencies not applying veterans’ preference in its employment decisions or applying the preference in an unsatisfactory manner. Thank you. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:04 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: Thanks for your question. I look forward to serving on the State Civil Service Commission and to bring a veteran's perspective to the office. I cannot comment on any individual cases, but I hope that we can address all concerns about veterans' preference in the years ahead. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:06 Moderator: Did you know…If you join the PA National Guard we will pay for up to 100% tuition at any accredited state college in the commonwealth. Learn more about this valuable opportunity at www.nationalguard.com. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:09 Moderator: TAG is preparing responses for several questions - please standby for answers and continue to submit questions using the "comment" field. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:10 Moderator: Did you know…Almost half of the contact we receive from veterans and others pertains to locating a DD 214. We highly recommend that veterans record their discharges with their County Courthouse in order to obtain free certified copies for the remainder of their life and made available upon their death. To learn more about DD214’s, visit www.paveterans.state.pa.us. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:13 [Comment From Guest] Could you elaborate about what is happening at Willow Grove with the Stryer HQ being built? Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:13 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: The building is nearing completion. Pre-final inspections will be held within the next two weeks. Furniture procurement is in progress. A Ribbon-Cutting ceremony will be held sometime after the scheduled August 6 2010 completion date. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:14 [Comment From Hummelstown Grandma] I would like to come with several of my grandchildren for a tour of the post and to see the butterflies. Who do I speak to? Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:14 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: The Regal Fritillary Butterfly Tours are scheduled for 2,3,4,9, and 10 July. The tours are free and open to the public. The tours are guided by members from the installation's environmental team. The POC for these tours is our Biologist, Mr. Joe Hovis. He can be contacted at 717-861-2449. There is also additional information on our website http://www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/2443.htm Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:15 Moderator: Did you know…You can now follow the PA National Guard online at: http://www.facebook.com/panationalguard http://www.twitter.com/panationalguard http://www.youtube.com/panationalguard http://www.flickr.com/panationalguard Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:16 [Comment From SGT Jordan Purcell] Do you know when construction will start on the new Medical Detachment Building? Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:16 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: Yes. Design is at 100%. The project package is being reviewed by Commonwealth Department of General Services. Construction award will be in early September, with construction start on or about 15 October 2010; completion is expected by early summer 2011. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:18 Moderator: We are continuing to accept questions - please submit questions using the "comment" box. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:19 Moderator: Did you know…Current PA Army National Guard members can earn $2,000 just for referring someone who enlists in the National Guard by participating in the Guard Recruiting Assistant Program (GRAP)? For more info, visit http://www.grap.com. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:20 [Comment From Kate Walsh] Ma'am do you foresee the RDO program returning for the 213th ASG? Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:20 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: Implementation of the RDO program is a commander's prerogative. At this time, 213th ASG has decided not to participate in this program. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:25 [Comment From Guest] Why can't clothing sales at Ft Indiantown Gap carry more Air Force Clothing. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:25 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: The clothing store will continue to carry Air Force uniform items. Less common items such as mess dress uniforms and some sizes may need to be ordered. But, according to AAFES, these orders can usually be filled in less than 48 hours. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:25 [Comment From jstump] Are there any plans on expanding/opening more State VA Homes throughout the state? If so were would the new facilites be located? Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:26 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: In response to a request by Governor Rendell, a study was performed to determine if there is a need for additional State Veterans' Homes. The study noted that there should be consideration for additional bed capacity in North Central Pennsylvania, South Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. At this point in time, we are evaluating the necessity of additional Homes, and matching that consideration to availability of funding from the federal Veterans Administration. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:27 Moderator: Did you know…Pennsylvania offers a special one-time payment to honor the service and sacrifice of its veterans who served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations from Aug. 2, 1990 – Aug. 31, 1991. To learn more, visit www.persiangulfbonus.state.pa.us, or call toll-free, 1-866-458-9182, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:27 [Comment From SFC Shoff] With the draw down in Iraw should we as soldiers be looking at less deployments? Many of our soldiers are asking because they are trying to get finished with their schooling. Tuesday June 22, 2010 3:28 MG Jessica Wright - TAG: The Army assigns unit and soldier mobilizations based on a cyclical system called the Army Force Generation Model (ARFORGEN). Based on the current drawdown in Iraq, we expect to see fewer units and soldiers being deployed to Iraq according to the Army's ARFORGEN model. At this time we do not know exactly what requirements their will be in the future for the National Guard in Afghanistan. Therefore, we cannot predict a decrease in mobilizations in Afghanistan for the time being.