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Travel Restrictions: Green Locations, June 29, 2020
Here’s a link to the locations:
Navy Department Awards Web Service Moved and Modernized
Here’s a link to this article and the NAVADMIN it references:
It’s a PCS Season Like None Other. Here’s What You Need to Know
Here’s a link to this article:
It’s a PCS Season Like None Other. Here’s What You Need to Know
Navy Establishes COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Program
Here’s a link to this article:
Navy Expands Government Travel Card Use for PCS Moves
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — Sailors are now authorized to use the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) for permanent change of station (PCS) moves. This announcement comes in advance of the conditions based restart to the PCS move process, and provides a proven and reliable option to Sailors to support their financial travel needs during a PCS move.
“Over the past year, the Navy has piloted the use of the GTCC for PCS travel expenses and the feedback we have received and our assessment give us confidence that this provides a great option for Sailors during the PCS move process,” said Capt. Chris Harris, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Assignment, Leave and Travel business design owner.
“The ease of use combined with our new GTCC PCS Support Cell for immediate support during a PCS move really gives our Sailors a great resource to make the moving experience better.”
NAVADMIN 176/20 announced the final rollout of GTCC use for PCS travel and expands the program so that active-duty Sailors moving within or outside the continental U.S. can use the GTCC for PCS-related travel expenses in lieu of a traditional travel advance for PCS moves.
To provide enhanced customer support, NPC has established a GTCC PCS Support Cell within the MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center to assist Sailors who have questions or are experiencing difficulties using their GTCC during PCS. This cell builds on the previous MNCC success with the Command Pay and Personal Administrator (CPPA) Pro-to-Pro cell stood up last year to provide direct support to CPPAs.
This cell is easily reached through the MNCC Contact Center and is staffed with subject matter experts including CPPAs and GTCC Agency Program Coordinators (APC) to quickly solve problems Sailors might experience while using their GTCC for PCS purposes after detaching from their previous command.
Additionally, Sailors in extremis can contact Citibank directly (number on the back of the card) for help requesting a temporary credit limit increase for up to five days under their “No Strand” policy.
Adding to the MNCC vast arsenal of tools to help Sailors, these GTCC PCS Support Cell agents are able to provide services such as placing a Sailor into a mission critical status during a PCS move in the event there is an issue. Upon normal check-out, APCs at the losing command should place cards in a mission critical status before the Sailor departs.
GTCC holders who elect not to use the card prior to travel may still activate it during the PCS process. The GTCC PCS Support Cell can be contacted by calling the 24/7 MNCC call center regarding issues related to the GTCC at 1-833-330-MNCC (1-833-330-6622) or by email at askmncc@navy.mil. Sailors will then be directed to a GTCC PCS Support Cell agent.
The option to use the GTCC for PCS travel is for active duty Sailors. Expenses covered include Temporary Lodging Expenses or Temporary Lodging Allowance at the old or new permanent duty station, fuel for a privately owned vehicle when authorized as the mode of transportation, rental cars and fuel (if authorized), lodging and meals in route, dislocation allowance expenses normally used to establish a household, and ATM withdrawals.
The use of the GTCC cannot be combined with a travel advance, used for personally procured moves (formerly known as do-it-yourself or DITY moves), used for commercial airfare for PCS travel (all commercial airfare for PCS travel will continue to be booked through the Navy Passenger Transportation Office), used for personal travel arrangements during leave in conjunction with orders, or used for medical expenses.
The GTCC option for PCS is another service provided by the MyNavy HR team to modernize the pay and personnel process and improve the customer experience for Sailors and their families. It adds to the number of recently released products to support Sailors during a PCS move that include numerous offerings available via the MyPCS Mobile web enabled site.
On MyPCS Mobile you can view a streamlined, plain language set of orders, complete an interactive PCS checklist tailored to your move plan, use a PCS Entitlements Calculator, and complete an easy to use electronic travel claim. MyPCS Mobile can be downloaded from the Navy App Locker at https://www.applocker.navy.mil.
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For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.
NAVNORTH FRAGO Summary Graphics
Here are the graphics that summarize the COVID-related restrictions due to the NAVNORTH FRACO recently released:
SG’s Message – Words That Define Us
Esteemed colleagues:
At this time last year we were happily awaiting the Fourth of July holiday, relishing the opportunity for outdoor recreation, barbecues, and relaxing with our friends and family. Little did we know, a year later, we would be facing the prospect of a fifth month of restrictions in our daily life including social distancing, the need to wear facial coverings, and the loss of our cherished freedom of movement.
We begin this summer very different as we continue to face an adversary that shows no signs of backing down. Recent trends, in fact, demonstrate a concerning increase in cases affecting all of our Navy and Marine Corps team, to include Navy Medicine personnel. How will we respond to this ongoing challenge? For me, four words that describe Navy medicine’s foundational characteristics provide the answer: resolve, persistence, toughness, and resilience.
Resolve: to decide firmly on a course of action. As the Navy’s medical force, our war fighters and their families look to us to provide the expertise to protect them. They also look to us as role models for how to behave and act in this challenging environment. We must demonstrate the resolve to practice what we preach and become the standard-bearers for how to overcome this adversary.
Persistence: firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Time and again, Navy Medical personnel have demonstrated the ability to fight through adversity to complete their mission. We are no strangers to sustained, superior performance. Now more than ever, staying the course, even in the face of what may seem like overwhelming odds and insurmountable challenges, is critically important.
Toughness: the ability to deal with hardship or to cope in difficult situations. Toughness is a core Navy attribute. We relish the opportunity to show others that we have what it takes, no matter the circumstance. When the going gets tough, Navy Medicine gets going. As our Navy motto attributes – Semper Fortis.
Resilience: the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. A key characteristic of high reliability organizations is that they take a hit and come back stronger. SARS-CoV-2 has hit us hard, but much like the USS Constitution, we are built of sterner stuff. As a learning organization, we know knowledge is power and each encounter with our adversary has made us stronger. Every day the insights gained by our scientists, public health experts, and medical teams have made us more powerful. We use this power for the benefit of those that we have the privilege of protecting. We thrive on the opportunity to grow and adapt.
Resolve, persistence, toughness, and resilience…these words define our incredible team and the characteristics that will see us through this challenge. As our Nation finds itself in the midst of this generational struggle, know that you are the living embodiment of these words, and it is you who gives Navy Medicine its power to prevail. Thank you for all you do and please know what a privilege it is to serve alongside you.
With my continued respect and admiration,
SG
Bruce L. Gillingham, MD, CPE, FAOA
RADM, MC, USN
Surgeon General, U.S. Navy
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Special Pays Update – Senate Proposal to Increase Pays and BUMED Pays Update
FY21 NDAA – SASC Bill Released
Please note the good news below, including a PROPOSED increase in special pays, in the legislative summary from the BUMED Legislative Liaison. While it is just a proposal at this point, at least it is a sign that they read the GAO report that concluded that military physicians are grossly underpaid and that they appreciate the extra efforts everyone has been giving due to COVID:
The SASC has released their version of the FY21 NDAA. Please note the bill still needs to be voted on by the Senate, which will include amendments being proposed. I have attached two modified documents: One includes sections 602 and 612 (described below), the other includes all of Title VII – Health Care Provisions. The full bill can be found here.
Below is a brief summary of notable legislative provisions included in the Bill:
Sec. 602. Hazardous duty pay for members of the Armed Forces performing duty in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019.
Sec. 612. Increase in special and incentive pays for officers in health professions. This provision increases the amounts of the accession bonus, retention bonus, incentive pay, and board certification pay.
Sec. 703. Waiver of fees charged to certain civilians for emergency medical treatment provided at military medical treatment facilities. A military MTF may waive a fee charged to a civilian who in not a covered beneficiary under certain conditions. Please note there is related report language (to be conducted by GAO) in Sec. 751 entitled Assessment of receipt by civilians of emergency medical treatment at military medical treatment facilities.
Sec. 721. Modifications to transfer of Army Medical Research and Development Command and public health commands to Defense Health Agency. While this section is largely focused on Army and preserving the infrastructure and personnel of MRMC/MRDC, it does include language very similar to the house language with respect to delaying the transition of R&D and PH to DHA. The HASC is delaying until 2025, SASC is 2024.
Sec. 748. Audit of medical conditions of tenants in privatized military housing. GAO audit of the medical conditions of eligible individuals and the association between adverse exposures of such individuals in unsafe or unhealthy housing units and the health of such individuals.
With both the HASC and SASC bills moving to the floor of their respective chambers, we will keep you updated if we find anything of significant interest to Navy Medicine from amendments that are adopted. Once the House and Senate pass their versions of the bill, we will produce a Navy Medicine Leadership Side-by-Side including both versions of the Bill.
One of my Army colleagues sent me this summary of the proposed changes to the maximum pay caps:
- HPO Accession Bonus (AB) from $30,000/yr. to $100,000/yr.
- Critically Short Wartime Specialty Accession Bonus (CSWSAB) from $100,000/yr. to $200,000/yr.
- Retention Bonus (RB) from $75,000/yr. to $150,000/yr.
- 4. Incentive Pay (IP) for physicians and dentists from $100,000/yr. to $200,000/yr. and ancillary specialties from $15,000/yr. to $50,000/yr.
- Board Certification Pay (BCP) from $6,000/yr. to $15,000/yr.
Special Pays Update from BUMED
Here is a cut/paste of a message e-mailed to the Special Pay POCs that spells out the various Incentive Pays (IPs). As usual, anyone with questions should address them with their command admin/HRD, or to the BUMED Special Pays email address:
usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.specialpays-bumed@mail.mil
Subject: IMPORTANT-INCENTIVE PAY DATES UPCOMING THIS SUMMER (UNCLASSIFIED)
Ladies and Gentlemen, please make sure this email is disseminated as much as possible. As you can see by all the names and email addresses, there are a large number of contacts for the special pays office, and this is only the ones we are aware of, and we communicate with on a regular basis. There are even more than this we work with, but do not necessarily have up to date POCs identified, such as Fleet Support Teams etc.
This email is to remind everyone of the dates for submitting for Incentive Pay, which particularly for Medical Corps is vital in the summer months. This information is also in the Pay Guidance for each Corps, and the Special Pays Information Power Point under reference on the BUMED Special Pays webpage.
For those MC completing residency 30 June, the GMO IP should have already been submitted to BUMED Special Pays. If not then get it done ASAP. For all commands when a MC or DC officer completes a residency 30 June, they cannot submit for the specialty IP until 60 days out from the effective date, which means if they completed the residency at another command they cannot submit for the specialty IP until they are at your command. Make sure individuals checking in are advised on when, and how to submit, for the IP at your command. DO NOT assume they know, or someone else in the command will tell them. Send out emails, advisories, or anything that will get out to your command telling them they need to submit. We are continuing to receive too many retroactive requests, and many do not have justification to support why an officer has not been paid for over a year.
Medical Corps –
New interns reporting to AD from Medical school via USUHS or HPSP etc. Eligibility for IP is 3 months after completing medical school, and on AD, so if an officer completes Med School 3 May 2020, is eligible for Internship IP effective 3 August 2020, provided on AD on that date.
Residency IP – If completing Internship eligible for IP 3 months after completing internship, but must be licensed. If not licensed at 3 months, then not eligible for IP until become licensed, and eligibility date is date licensed. If entering residency after GMO/UMO/Flight Surgery tour, then eligibility date is residency start date, and must submit.
GMO IP – If completing internship, same as residency IP, 3 months after completing internship, and licensed. If completing residency, eligible for GMO IP day after completing residency if residency completed while on AD.
Specialty IP – 3 months after completing residency/fellowship.
Dental Corps –
General Dentist IP – 3 months after completing dental school, and must be licensed. If not licensed at 3 months, then eligibility date is date licensed.
Specialty IP – Same as MC specialty IP, 3 months after completing residency.
MSC/NC –
Specialty IP is same as MC specialty IP 3 months after completing qualifying training program.
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