Military Certified Housing Specialist Course

Welcome

Thank You!USA Cares extends its sincere gratitude to

National Mortgage Professional Magazine

For sponsoring the USA Cares

Certified Military Housing Specialist Course

USA Cares Mission

USA Cares is a national 501(c)3 non profit whose mission is help bear the burden of service by assisting post 9/11 military members and their families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need.

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What Makes Us Different• The government isn’t the answer to everything.

We fill the “gaps” for immediate needs.• We “grant” financial assistance. No repayment

is asked nor expected.• We directly pay the creditor.

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USA Cares operates four assistance programs

• Combat Injured • Emergency • Housing• Jobs

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• Provides critical assistance in areas not covered by a government program.

• It pays essential household bills while a service member attends prescribed rehabilitative treatment.

• Over 500 veterans helped with $1 million in direct assistance.

Combat Injured

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Emergency• Gives emergency financial assistance for

essential bills. This program keeps the lights on, the car in the driveway and food on the family table.

• Yearly request keep growing: – 2007- 4,146– 2008 – 5,670– 2009 – 5,877– 2010 – 5,526– 2011 – 6,501

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HOUSING

• Pays the rent/mortgage• Must complete budget counseling

To Date:• Over 4,500 homes from foreclosure &

eviction saved!• Over 6,000 children kept from

becoming homeless.• Over 2,000,000 in assistance provided

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Jobs• Reduces joblessness• USA Cares works directly with public and

private businesses to develop real training that leads to a real job

• Since the program’s start in 2010, 196 Veterans employed

• Assistance totaling $262,747

Today’s AgendaUSA Cares Overview• Military 101• Rank & Language• Military Pay• Resources

Section 1: Military 101

Branches of Service Reserve Components

Branches Of Service

ARMY

AIR FORCE

NAVY

MARINE CORP

COAST GUARD

• Established- June 14th , 1775

• Main ground force

• Approximately 76,000 officers & 401,000 enlisted members in the active duty army

• Supported by 2 Reserve Forces• Army Reserves• Army National Guard

Website: www.army.mil

ARMY

• August 1, 1907 –Aeronautical Division• (3 ½ years after the Wright brothers flew the first

powered airplane at Kitty Hawk)

• The Department of Air Force was Created as a result of the National Security Act of 1947

• Delivers global reach, power and engagement

Website: www.af.mil

AIR FORCE

• US Navy Founded October 13, 1775

• Department of Navy Established in 1798

• Three principle components:• Navy Department• Operating Forces• Shore Establishment

• Deter aggression and maintain the freedom of the seas

Website: www.navy.mil

NAVY

• Continental marines• Served in every conflict in U.S. history• Rapidly responds to regional crisis• Important tool for American foreign

policy

Website: www.marines.mil

MARINE CORP

• Five Primary Missions• 35,000 civilian volunteer

branch• Responsible for

approximately 18,000 highways & railway bridges in the US

Website: www.uscg.mil

COAST GUARD

• 39 Days of Military duty per year

• Guard & Reserves

• 8 Different Reserve Components

Website: www.usar.army.mil

RESERVE COMPONENTS

What Have We Learned?

• Servicemembers need respect for their voluntary service; knowledge of their pay system

• As a result of the National Security Act of 1947, there are five military branches: Army; Air Force; Navy; Marine Corps; Coast Guard

• The United States Army is the main ground-force of the United States military.

• The Army is the largest U.S. Military Service.

The Air Force defends the nation's airspace and

• projects combat power in support of national

• tasking.

What Have We Learned?

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

The United States Marine Corps has served in every conflict in U.S. history.

The Coast Guard does not fall under the Department of Defense, but under the Department of Homeland Security.

The National Guard's -Title 32 Orders refer to a state mission; -Title 10 Orders refer to a Federal Mission.

Recognizing Military Rank & Status

Ranking Charts

Section 2 Rank & Language

Military Language

• Rank • Commissioned Officers

• Warrant Officers• Enlisted Personnel

• Rate - Navy & Coast Guard Enlisted

• Grade- Used for pay functions

Military Status

Basic Allowance for Housing Cost of Living Allowance Department of Defense discharge form Defense Finance and Accounting Service Enlistment Bonus Estimated time of separation Improvised Explosive Device Leave and Earning Statement Judge Advocate General (Military Legal

Dept) Permanent Change of Station Service Members Group Life Insurance Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Warrior Transition Unit Traumatic Brain Injury/ Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder – invisible wounds of war

BAH COLA DD214 DFAS EB ETS IED LES JAG PCS SGLI SCRA WTU TBI/ PTSD

Military Language

What Have We Learned?

Three General categories of rank/rate: Enlisted personnel, Warrant Officers and Commissioned Officers

“Grade” is used for Personnel and pay functions

Judge Advocate General refers to the military legal department

Military pay receipt is known as the LES - Leave and Earning Statement

WTU refers to "Warrior Transition Unit" IED is an Improvised Explosive Device,

found in war zone  

What Have We Learned?

TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are examples of invisible wounds of war

Department of Defense Discharge Form is DD214 ETS is Estimated Time of Separation/Expiration

Term of Service SGLI is Service Members Group Life Insurance The Air Force is the only branch of service that does

not have Warrant Officers

Section 3: Military Pay

Overview & How to Read an LES

Factors that impact military pay

Special Pay

Bonuses

Thrift Savings Plans

Who Can Help?

Wounded Warrior Program

Disability Retirements

Military Pay Overview

• 70 types of pay and allowances• The Defense Finance and

Accounting Service (DFAS)• The LES is divided into three major

areas: Entitlement, Deductions and Allotments.

• Pay Options (AOP/EOM)• Requesting a VOE and payroll

recordsAccurate income calculation is imperative for the positive outcome of any loan.

DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE MILITARY LEAVE AND EARNINGS STATEMENT

ID NAME (Last, First, MI) SOLDIER, JOE EVERYDAY 1

SOC. SEC. NO. *****1234 2

GRADE E4 3

PAY DATE 070827

4 YRS SVC

05 5

ETS 140302

6 BRANCH ARMY

7 ADSN/DSSN

4821 8

PERIOD COVERED 1-30 SEP 12

9 ENTITLEMENTS DEDUCTIONS ALLOTMENTS SUMMARY

Type Amount

Type Amount

Type Amount

+Amt Fwd 13 .00

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O

BASE PAY BAS BAH 10

2266.50 348.44 912.00

TOTAL 20 3526.94

FEDERAL TAXES FICA-SOC SECURITY FICA-MEDICARE SGLI STATE TAXES AFRH SGLI FAM/SPOUSE TUITION DEBT AAFES/NEXCARD DEB MID-MONTH-PAY 11

32.48 95.19 32.86 27.00 26.00

.50 5.00

105.00 157.97 687.54

21 1169.54

DISCRETIONARY ALT TRICARE DENTAL BANK ACCT ALLOT BANK ACCT ALLOT US DEBT US DEBT PRIVATZED HOUSING 12

185.95 30.89

250.00 177.00

55.83 58.74

912.00

22 1670.41

+Tot Ent 14 3526.94 -Tot Ded 15 1169.54 -Tot Allt 16 1670.41 =Net Amt 17 686.99 -Cr Fwd 18 .00 =EOM Pay 19 686.99

DIEMS 070821

23

RETPLAN CHOICE

24

LEAVE BF Bal 26.0 25

Ernd 30.0 26

Used 13 27

Cr Bal 29.0 28

ETS Bal 72.0 29

Lv Lost .0 30

Lv Paid .0 31

Use/Lose .0 32

FED TAXES

Wage Period 2266.50

33 Wage YTD 20398.50

34 M/S M 35

Ex 04 36

Add'l Tax .00 37

Tax YTD 292.32

38 FICA TAXES

Wage Period 2266.50

39 Soc Wage YTD

20398.50 40

Soc Tax YTD 856.71

41 Med Wage YTD

20398.50 42

Med Tax YTD 295.74

43 STATE TAXES

St MO 44

Wage Period 2266.50

45 Wage YTD 20398.50

46 M/S M 47

Ex 04 48

Tax YTD 234.00

49 PAY DATA

BAQ Type W/DEP

50

BAQ Depn SPOUSE

51 VHA Zip 66027

52

Rent Amt .00 53

Share 1

54

Stat R

55

JFTR

56

Depns 0

57

2D JFTR

58 BAS Type

59

Charity YTD .00 60

TPC

61 PACIDN

DBWD5QAA 62

THRIFT SAVINGS

PLAN (TSP) Base Pay Rate

0 63

Base Pay Current .00 64

Spec Pay Rate 0

65 Spec Pay Current

.00 66

Inc Pay Rate 0

67 Inc Pay Current

.00 68

Bonus Pay Rate 0

69 Bonus Pay Current

.00 70

Currently not Used

71 TSP YTD Deductions

.00 72

Deferred .00 73

Exempt .00 74

Currently not Used

75

REMARKS: YTD ENTITLE 32183.32 YTD DEDUCT 3038.23 76 77 78 IF TSP ELECTION AMT EXCEEDS NET AMT

DUE, TSP WILL NOT BE DEDUCTED. -REPORTING ALL ABSENCES FROM AN IDP LOCATION TO THE SUPPORTING FINANCE OFFICE. SEE YOUR FINANCE OFFICE FOR PROCEDURES. -ROTH TSP AVAILABLE OCT 1. CHECK OUT WWW.DFAS.MIL/MILITARYMEMBERS/ROTHTSPFO RMILITARY.HTML (LOWER CASE) FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION. -KEEP THE EQUIVALENT OF YOUR ACTIVE DUTY PAY WHILE SHAPING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. LOOK INTO BECOMING AN ARMY JROTC INSTRUCTOR AT WWW.USARMYJROTC.COM. IT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE! -COMBAT HAS MORE ACCIDENTS FROM VEHICLE

OPERATION THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE. DRIVE SMART-RIDE SMART-STOP THE LOSS. -PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN GOING ON NOW! MEMBER'S SGLI COVERAGE AMOUNT IS $400,000 FAM/SPOUSE SGLI COVERAGE AMOUNT IS $100,000 TUITION DEBT CURRENT DEDUCT 52.50 TOTAL DEBT 525.00 BALANCE 210.00 TUITION DEBT CURRENT DEDUCT 52.50 TOTAL DEBT 525.00 BALANCE 210.00 AAFES/NEXCARD DEBT $157.97S OF EOM 1208 START US DEBT ALLOTMENT 1209 (245) BAH BASED ON W/DEP, ZIP 66027 $55.83 ALLOT: AER - SECTION 09001 ACCT # 01010101010101101 BANK CITIBANK FEDERAL SAVINGS BA

WWW.DFAS.MIL

Factors Which Affect Pay

& Entitlements• Annual Pay Raise• Promotions• Longevity raises• Basic Allowance for Housing• Basic Allowance for Subsistence• Cost of Living Allowance• Military Special Pays

Military Special Pays

• Aviation Pays• CSRC – Combat Related Special

Compensation• CZTE – combat zone tax exclusion• Diving Pays • Foreign Language Proficiency Pay• Hardship Duty Pay (HDP)• Imminent Danger Pay and Hostile Fire

Pay• Medical and Dental Special Pays • Special Pay for Nuclear Power Officers• Sea and Submarine Duty Pay

Bonus Entitlements• Enlistment Bonuses

• Reenlistment Bonuses

• Selective Reenlistment Bonus

• Bonus Extension And Retraining (BEAR) Bonus

• Career Service Bonus

• Critical Skills Retention Bonus

Thrift Saving Plan• Federal Government-sponsored

retirement savings and investment plan

• Established in 1986

• Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001

• Participation in the TSP is optional

WHO CAN HELP WITH PAY QUESTIONS?

"DFAS 411" - 888-332-7411 http://www.dfas.mil/ Military Retirees - 1-800-321-1080 https://ca.dtic.mil/dfas/s-retired/ret-pay.htm Annuitants - 1-800-321-1080 (U.S.) or 216-522-5955 (Outside U.S.) https://ca.dtic.mil/dfas/s-retired/ret-pay.htm Military Former Spouses - 1-888-332-7411

https://ca.dtic.mil/dfas/s-garnish/garnishinquiry.htm

Wounded Warrior Program Pay

Purpose: To Provide accurate, real-time financial support to servicemembers

Entitlements• Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)• Casual Pay• Pay & Allowance Continuation (PAC)• Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life

Insurance

Disability Retirements

Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL)

Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL)

Retirement Status

The Leave and Earning Statement (LES) is a comprehensive statement which shows the service member's leave and earnings for the month.

The LES is divided into three major areas: Entitlement, Deductions and Allotments.

Fields 1 - 9 contain the identification portion of the LES.

Basic Pay is established by grade and pay date.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is a cash allowance intended to enable an equitable standard of living in areas where cost of living is unusually high.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), takes the responsibility of watching over America's servicemembers' payroll matters.

What Have We Learned?

When a servicemember transfers, you can bet that their BAH and COLA will probably change.

Factors that affect military pay and entitlements:Annual pay raise, longevity, BAS, BAH, COLA, promotions, and special pays.

The Thrift Savings Plan offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans.

Certain types of military pay are exempt from taxes.

Who can help with pay problems? DFAS 411 and www.dfas.mil.Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) allows military members to exclude all or a portion of pay and entitlements earned while serving in designated combat areas from tax liabilities.

LES Field 77 shows the service member's YTD Entitlements

What Have We Learned?

What Have We Learned?

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Pay Support Team is to provide accurate, real-time financial support to servicemembers who are medically evacuated as a result of wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving in a combat zone.

A member of the TDRL or the PDRL is a retired member of the armed forces.

If a physical evaluation board finds a member unfit to perform duties by reason of a disability which may not be of a permanent nature, he or she may be placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List.

What Have We Learned?

PAC (Pay and Allowance Continuation) authorizes the continuation of all pay and allowances (including any bonuses, incentive pay, or similar benefit) that were being paid to the member at the time the member incurred a wound, injury, or illness in the line of duty.

All soldiers assigned to Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) are also assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) once they leave the initial stage of hospitalization and begin what is often a long process of rehabilitation.

Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) allows certain military retirees to receive both their military retirement pay and VA Disability Compensation.

All members of the uniformed services that have part-time or full-time SGLI are automatically covered by TSGLI while the member is in service.

Section 4 Resources

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION & HOUSING ASSISTANCE

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STEPS TO FORECLOSURE PREVENTION4

SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF (SCRA)2

LOCAL MILITARY SPECIALISTMFHEP- OPERATIONS GUIDE

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MFHEP- STANDARDS OF PRACTICE6

THE UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT OF 1994

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Foreclosure Prevention &

Assistance

Military Housing ProgramUSA Cares Assistance ProgramMaking Homes Affordable Programwww.KnowYourOptions.com NHS.Org (Neighborhood Housing Svcs)

SCRA Guidelines & Benefits

Temporarily suspends legal action while on active duty & for a time thereafter

Allows for termination of leases:Home, car, cell phone etc

Reduction of interest rates Free legal assistance for service

members through their nearest JAG office

USERRA* (38 USC 4301-4335)

*THE UNIFORM SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT OF 1994

• Who is covered

• Basic Provisions/Requirements

• Employee Rights

• Notices and Posters

Resources USA Cares DFAS USERRA Department of HUD Department of Veteran Affairs Free JAG legal assistance FDIC Foreclosure Prevention Neighbor Works America Homeownership Preservation

Foundation

Course Collaterals•Certificate of Completion-Individual

•Certificate of Completions-Organization

•Certified Military Housing Specialist Seal

•USA Cares Logo

• Press Release Language

Thank you for caring!Joann Muncey

Director of Emergency and Housing Assistance

joann@usacares.org1-800-773-0387 ext 113

Website: www.usacares.org