Guest Post – Conversion to the New Pay Plan Can Adversely Impact Your TSP
by Brendon Drew
DFAS has struggled to accurately implement the new pay plan, and most physicians notice the impact on their LES. What most don’t realize, though, is that the errors may have also impacted their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) investments. If you contribute to the TSP with any of your medical specialty pays, you should thoroughly investigate your LES and your TSP statements. Here’s an example of what can happen.
I was transitioned off of the legacy pay in February 2017:
When DFAS completed the retroactive pay changes, $785.93 was removed from my 2017 TSP contribution total:
While that may not seem like much, consider that my TSP earned 27% in 2017, the money grows tax-free in a Roth account, and I plan on having that account for another 30-40 years.
Since the involuntary withdrawal occurred in calendar year 2018 but went back into calendar year 2017, I was unable to provide “catch up” contributions in 2018.
I recommend that you review your LES carefully. In the month(s) you are transitioned from the legacy system, look for a negative VSP and/or BCP entitlement. If you see one of these, go pull your TSP statements from the corresponding period and you may find that money was taken out of your retirement account and given back to you as cash.
If you have questions about this, feel free to email me on the global address book. Make sure you have access to your LES and prior TSP statements.
GAO Reports on New Joint Trauma System
A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that DoD’s plans for a new Joint Trauma Care System do not fully incorporate leading practices. You can read an article that summarizes things here:
DoD’s New Trauma Care System Plans Do Not Fully Implement Leading Practices
You can read the GAO reports here:
MOAA Post – Service Secretaries Want to Shake Up the Military’s Personnel System
I belong to the Military Officers Association of America because they lobby for our benefits in DC and they do a great job keeping me up-to-date on what is going on with our benefits and careers. In this post they tell you about how the…
Service Secretaries Want to Shake Up the Military’s Personnel System
Message from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
(I was at the MHS Senior Leader Symposium last week, so I can answer any questions people have in the comments section of this post.)
MHS Team:
With six months to go until October 1, 2018-our long-anticipated target of
NDAA 2017 Section 702 implementation-I wanted to share with you a few key
updates and reflections as we move towards this significant transition for
the Military Health System.
First, thank you to the more than 100 leaders that convened last week from
across the DHA, Services, and MTFs for the MHS Senior Leader Symposium
focused on developing performance plans to operationalize, target, and
tailor our efforts throughout the MHS transition process. Thank you for
sharing your perspectives, expertise, and insights as we work together to
build out our plans for October 1 and beyond. Your feedback will help
inform our efforts as we move forward to implement the Department’s
construct to carry out the reforms required by NDAA FY17 Section 702.
I emphasized to that group that MHS leadership remains laser-focused on
achieving an even more integrated, higher-performing MHS that meets the
intent laid out in the NDAA and continues years of Department progress in
strengthening the MHS’s ability to deliver high-quality care and support our
readiness mission. This requires a collective effort to reduce stovepipes
and enhance standardization across the MHS and to increase our effectiveness
by eliminating unnecessary duplication. The more we can reduce the costs of
running the system, the more we can invest to improve readiness and patient
care.
We’ve made great strides these past few months in operationalizing the MHS
transition, but much work remains. As we move forward, I’d like to reaffirm
three key takeaways from this past week to the MHS team.
First, the MHS transition process and change we’ve set out to do are hard.
But this change is also necessary. Since my first day at the Department of
Defense, I have been deeply impressed by the culture of adaptability and
resilience-the United States military lives, breaths, and succeeds by its
ability to accept change, take on a challenge, and accomplish results. While
the MHS embarks on some of the most sweeping changes in 30 years, I am
confident that you will adapt, lead, and successfully execute the next
chapter in our story.
Second, I understand how critical communications will be these next six
months, and I am committed to sharing updates on decisions and plans
regarding the MHS transition as they become available. Communications will
be key to ensuring every level of the MHS understands what changes are
taking place, how they impact the way we do business, and enable feedback
loops to confirm continuity of high-quality care to our patients. My ask to
you is to communicate these messages to your audiences, be they providers,
leaders on installations, or patients.
And third, now through October 1 and beyond, I’d like us all to uphold a few
key priorities that will guide our collective approach. We must never lose
sight of our core mission, which is to support the warfighter and care for
the patient. We must leverage the 702 transition to build and strengthen a
truly integrated and even more effective health care system. And lastly, we
must commit to integration and coordination of our readiness and health care
delivery missions.
Thank you for making the MHS a leader in health care and for working every
day to keep improving what we do and how we do it. And thank you for your
patience and perseverance in the months ahead to make this transition
successful. I look forward to working with this talented MHS team to make
these changes real and in doing so, improving the support and health care to
our 9.4 million Service members, retirees, and families who rely on your
efforts every single day.
Tom McCaffery
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Naval War College Will Accept Applications for 2018-2019 Fleet Seminar Program
NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) — U.S. Naval War College (NWC) will accept online applications April 1 through May 31 for NWC’s College of Distance Education’s 2018-2019 Fleet Seminar Program (FSP).
NWC’s FSP offers intermediate level joint professional military education (JPME-I) through a set of three courses: Strategy and War, Theater Security Decision Making and Joint Maritime Operations. Each of these courses are available at multiple locations across the U.S. in keeping with efforts of the Chief of Naval Personnel to foster a deliberate and flexible learning environment.
Applications from active and reserve commissioned officers and civilian employees of the federal government are accepted. There are no tuition fees and course materials are provided on a loan basis. All applicants must have previously earned at least a baccalaureate degree.
To be eligible for FSP, applicants must either be: Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard O-3 and above; Army or Air Force O-4 and above; or federal civilian employees in the grade of GS-11 or equivalent and above. Selected staff members serving in the federal Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary branches are also eligible for enrollment.
For academic year 2018-2019, the program’s planned 19 regional locations are: Annapolis, Maryland; Dahlgreen, Norfolk, and Pax River, Virginia; Everett, Kitsap and Whidbey Island, Washington; Fort Worth, Texas; Great Lakes, Illinois; Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida; Millington, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Newport, Rhode Island; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and Port Hueneme and San Diego, California.
The FSP courses are similar in content and delivery methodology to the intermediate level program of study offered by the resident NWC’s College of Naval Command and Staff. Coursework is conducted by NWC in unison at all FSP locations. This provides students a unique opportunity to attend class at multiple FSP locations while completing mission-essential transfers and temporary assignments.
Qualified individuals currently stationed at FSP locations and those who expect to transfer to a FSP location, prior to Sept. 1, 2018, are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is May 31, 2018, and all applicants will be advised of their enrollment status by mid-June 2018.
All FSP students are led by adjunct and visiting NWC faculty and meet as a seminar of no more than 18 students, one evening per week, starting in early September and ending in May.
Successful completion of all three courses results in the award of a NWC College of Naval Command and Staff diploma, as well as credit for intermediate JPME Phase I.
For more information read NAVADMIN 066/18 and visit NWC’s College of Distance Education FSP website at www.usnwc.edu/college-of-distance-education/fleet-seminar.
Updated Navy Guidelines Concerning Pregnancy & Parenthood
Here is the recently updated Navy policy on pregnancy and parenthood:
OPNAVINST 6000.1D Navy Guidelines Concerning Pregnancy and Parenthood
Navy Times Article – Lawmakers Criticize Navy’s Plan to Retire One of Two Hospital Ships
The Navy has been talking about this for years. Here’s an article from Navy Times about recent discussions:
Lawmakers Criticize Navy’s Plan to Retire One of Two Hospital Ships
Director of Professional Education at NMCP – O5/O6
Director, Professional Education (DPE) is responsible for oversight of:
- Graduate Medical and Dental Education (GMDE)
- Clinical Investigation Department (CID)
- Staff Education and Training (SEAT)
- Visual Information Department
- Healthcare Simulation & Bioskills Training Center
- Nursing Research
- Health Sciences Library.
The position is open to Navy Medical Corps officers at the O-5/O-6 level. Interested candidates should submit (preferably via e-mail) a letter of interest, a short bio, copies of their 3 most recent FITREPs, a CV (templates here) and Specialty Leader concurrence no later than 21 March 2018 to: CAPT Will Beckman, MC USN (contact info is in the global address book).
Junior Officers Sought to be White House Aides
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Navy junior officers interested in serving as White House social aides are invited to apply for acceptance into the program through April 9.
White House social aides have supported presidents and first ladies since the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt and are represented by all branches of the military. They help manage guests who attend social functions at the White House, facilitate interactions with the president and first lady and escort dignitaries.
Unmarried naval officers in the paygrades of O-2 through O-4 who are currently stationed in the National Capital Region are eligible to apply to the program, which is a collateral duty, not a permanent change of station. Due to a lengthy clearance process, applicants must have 18-24 months remaining on current orders within the National Capital Region. The program also requires the signed endorsement of an applicant’s commanding officer articulating support for participation in the program to include a time commitment of one full morning, afternoon or evening per week.
Selected aides in good standing are eligible to remain in the program until they are no longer assigned to a command in the National Capital Region, become married or promote to O-5.
Applicants interested in this program must be comfortable interacting with the public, possess the highest levels of tact and discretion, and have demonstrated sustained superior performance in their careers as naval officers. Those selected represent the Navy, and must possess impeccable appearance and military bearing.
Applications must be requested via email from the navy service program manager, Lt. John Harry, at john.harry@navy.mil.
Scanned applications must be emailed to john.harry@navy.mil no later than April 13. Selected officers will be invited to interview at the Pentagon, April 26. Each interview will last approximately 15 minutes. The selection results will be available no later than May 4.
Director of Primary Care at NMC Portsmouth – O5/O6
The details of this position are in this document:
DPC Vacancy Announcement MAR18
Applications are due 31 MAR. CV, Bio, and Letter of Intent templates can be found here.
If you are not already at NMCP or destined to go there, you’ll need to check with your Detailer and Specialty Leader if you want to apply.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 