The Newsletter for Navy OLORS Retirees Volume 64 Issue#2 Navy Personnel Command Fall-Winter 2018 SECNAV answers council report MyNavy Career Center offers round-the-clock retiree customer service Naval Personnel Command Public Affairs Office MILLINGTON, Tenn. – The MyNa- vy Career Center (MNCC), which launched Sept. 24, is now delivering expanded customer service to Sailors On Aug. 7, 2018, the Office of the ation Board (PEB), lack of a single seeking career assistance with a new Secretary of the Navy provided re- web-based system connecting Service contact center. sponse and action to the report made Headquarters, BUMED, and the PEB, The center, now open 24 hours a day, by the Secretary of the Navy Retiree multiple stakeholders and operational seven days a week, is also capable of Council. The council had convened at lines resulting in bureaucratic delays providing support to retired Sailors and the Washington Navy Yard in August and communication/coordination their families. of 2017 to discuss issues of concern challenges, and inadequate staffing.” By communicating with an MNCC for retirees and presented its report for Council’s Proposed Solution/Rec- agent by phone or email, retirees and SECNAV review on Oct. 30, 2017. ommendation (1): Analyze Army their families can inquire about a num- and Air Force processes to ascertain ber of topics such as ID cards/DEERs, Issue 2017-01: why they have a smaller percentage medical benefits, status of Reserve re- Temporary Disability Retired of personnel in the TDRL pipeline to tirement, Post-911 GI Bill, and survivor List (TDRL) Process. determine if there is an opportunity to benefits plans improve the DON TDRL program. If an inquiry or request cannot be Issue Description: The report de- Secretariat Response: The TDRL handled by a customer service agent, scribed the TDRL process as “pro- process can be complex and admin- it will be escalated to a subject-matter tracted” and “complex” and that it istratively challenging both for the expert, who answer the question or help “imposes a significant administrative services and the service member. As to resolve the issue. burden and cost on the system and noted in reference (b ), Section 525 of The center is also designed to evolve service member.” While applauding the National Defense Authorization Act to take on even greater functionality to the recent statutory change reducing (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) better support the customer base. maximum tenure on the TDRL from reduced the maximum length of time “As we receive feedback and gain more five years to three years, the council members may spend on the TDRL from insight and experience into what ser- identified several problems, namely: five years to three years for any member vices are needed, we’ll continually add “ .. service members not receiving newly placed on the TDRL on or after more capability to the MNCC contact notifications, personal health challeng- January 1, 2017. This change is an im- center,” said Ann Stewart, director, Pay es interfering with the service mem- portant step in reducing the tenure that and Personnel Management. ber’s ability to comply with regulations, members may spend awaiting final de- To reach an agent by phone, call (833) a cumbersome, outdated web-based termination and has been implemented 330-MNCC/6622 or via email at tracking system at the Physical Evalu- See SECNAV, Page 4 [email protected]. www.shiftcolors.navy.mil NPC celebrates 20th anniversary Inside this MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Sailors, civilians and contractor personnel from Navy Person- issue: nel Command (NPC) recognized the 20th Anniversary of its establishment during a 3 Navy Retiree Seminar ceremony Oct. 1. & Appreciation Days “The primary mission of NPC is to man 4-5 SECNAV responds the fleet and support the Navy’s manpower needs by assigning the right Sailor in the (continued from Pg. 1) right job at the right time,” said Read Adm. 6 Retiree Dental Program Jeff Hughes, Navy Personnel Command. ending in December. “The organization has evolved to provide the Survey: Top reasons for full-spectrum of human resource programs unexpected dental visit. and services throughout a Sailor’s career.” The decision to create NPC was due to a 1993 Base Realignment and Closure 7 VA policy protects vet See NPC, Page 3 homeowners from predatory practices. From the RAO: VA implements new fiduciary regs, names Updated contact information for retirees acting deputy secretary. 1. Combat Special Related Compensation: Our office fields a lot of phone calls for Combat Special Related Compensation, but we’re not the 8-11: Reunited, finally and subject-matter expert, nor do we own this process. forever: Inseparable Visit the CSRC link at: twins together again. www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/pages/crscb/uycs.aspx 12 Study examines impacts 2. Retiree passing: To report a passing of a retiree, call the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) at (800) 321-1080. of noise, chemical For questions about Reserve component (pay exposure on hearing. 3. Reserve Retirements: and gray-area) retirement questions, contact PERS-912. You can call (866) 13 On Capitol Hill 827-5672, email [email protected] or visit the website at: https://go.usa.gov/xPWbD 14-15 Reunions 4. Active Component Retirements: For all questions and issues about 16 Retired Activities Office Active Component retirement information, including 30-year retirement Phone Listing certificates after retirement, go to Active Retirements at: 17 Ready Reference www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/retirement/Pages/default.aspx Contact Information For more information, visit the Retired Activities Office website at: https://go.usa.gov/xPWbW Shift Colors Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel; Shift Colors, the newsletter for Navy Send correspondence to: Commander, Navy Personnel Cmd: Retirees (NAVPERS 15886), is pub- Navy Personnel Command Rear Adm. Jeffrey W. Hughes lished in accordance with Department Shift Colors of the Navy (DON) Publication and 5720 Integrity Drive NPC Public Affairs Officer: Printing Regulations. The Secretary of Millington, TN 38055 Cmdr. Karin Burzynski the Navy has determined this publica- Editor: tion is necessary in the transaction of E-mail: Gene H. Hughes business required by law of the DON. [email protected] 2 Fall - Winter 2018 www.shiftcolors.navy.mil NPC from Page 1 Commission recommendation that FY19 NAVY RETIREE SEMINAR the Bureau of Naval Personnel move from Washington, D.C. to Naval Sup- & APPRECIATION DAY EVENTS port Activity Mid-South in Milling- Naval Station Great Lakes 0730, Saturday, 3 Nov. 18 ton, Tennessee. The relocation began Retired Appreciation Day Hickam Officers’ Club in mid-1995 and culminated with the Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 - 8 a.m. POC: (808) 474-0032 establishment of NPC on Oct. 1, 1998. Epicenter, Bldg. 525 Navy Personnel Command plank POC: (847) 688-2430 Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. owner Laurie Lee Gschwend, now a Retiree Seminar human resource specialist working Navy Operational Support Center Saturday, Apr. 13, 2019 - 8:30 a.m. in civilian pay, began working with (NOSC) Phoenix, Ariz. NAS Jacksonville Dewey’s POC: (904) 542-5745 NPC before the establishment as part Retired Appreciation Day Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 - 8 a.m. Email: of the relocation team, converting Bldg. 300 [email protected] schoolhouses and classrooms into POC: [email protected] NPC buildings. Naval Base Kitsap/Naval “It [NPC] constantly changes and Submarine Base Station Bremerton, Wash. re-organizes, but the mission, it New London, Conn. Retiree Appreciation Day never changes,” said Gschwend. “It Retired Appreciation Day Saturday, May 11, 2019 - 9 a.m. starts with taking care of Sailors; Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 - 9 a.m. Jackson Park Community Center making sure the fleet is manned, and Dealy Center (Base Auditorium) 90 Olding Road the support team takes care of all. POC: [email protected] POC: (360) 396-1768 The support people are not always Email: [email protected] recognized, but we all work together Naval Air Station to accomplish the mission.” Pensacola, Fla. NSA Mid-South Millington, Tenn. Since standing up in 1998, NPC has Retired Appreciation Day Retiree Appreciation Day gone through many organizational 0900, Saturday, 20 Oct. 18 Pat Thompson Center Station Theater, 824 Hancock Cir. 5700 Attu Street and technological changes, and some POC: [email protected] Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 - 8 a.m. external events have shaped the com- POC: [email protected] mand including the relocation of the Naval Amphibious Base/ Navy Reserve Personnel Center to Joint Expeditionary Base Air National Guard Base Millington after Hurricane Katrina in Little Creek, Va. Selfridge, Mich. 2005, and a flood in 2010. Retiree Appreciation Day Retiree Appreciation Day “The flood of 2010 was so devas- Friday, Nov. 2, 2018 - 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 - 8 a.m. tating, but to see community of the Rockwell Hall Dining Facility, Bldg. 164 Navy – civilian, contractors and POC: (757) 462-8663 43156 Wagner Street all of the military – jumping in (to POC: [email protected] help). There were no questions asked; Naval Base San Diego, Calif. everyone got on a team and did what Retiree Seminar Naval Air Station needed to be done. That was a very 0800, Saturday, 3 Nov. 18 Lemoore, Calif. proud time to be a part of NPC,” said Anchors Conference Center Retiree Appreciation Day POC: (619) 556-7412 Saturday, Sept. 22, 2019 - 8 a.m. Gschwend, who has served under MWR Movie Theater, Bldg. 822 15 different admirals during her 20 Naval Base Rota, Spain Hancock Circle years at NPC and after a 36-year Retiree Appreciation Day POC: (559) 998-4524 Navy career will be retiring later this Saturday, 1 Nov. 1, 2018 - 7:30 a.m. year. “Military and civilians come Naval Hospital ROTA Navy Operational Support Center and go.