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VOLUME 4 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION LETTER
Volume 4, FY10 / 21 July 11A Real Job
You know, some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living.
This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the Uniformed Services do what they do for a living. And an example of what those who have never served think of the Military.
Senator Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real "job"?"
Senator Glenn: "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program.
It wasn't my checkbook; it was my Life on the line. It was not a 9 to 5 job where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank. I ask you to go with me...as I went the other day... to a Veterans Hospital and look at those men with their mangled bodies in the eye and tell them they didn't hold a job. You go with me to the space program and go as I have gone to the widows and orphans of Ed White and Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their dad didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day, and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends than I'd like to remember - and you watch those waving flags, and you stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell me that those people didn't have a job.
I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum, you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men-SOME MEN- who held a job. And they required a dedication to purpose and a love of country and a dedication to duty that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible..
I HAVE HELD A JOB, HOWARD! What about you?
HRO Staff Directory
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VOLUME 4 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION LETTER
Human Resource Officer – Col Kevin Dawkins 272-4206
Deputy Human Resource Officer – LTC Henrik Fast 272-3809
Employee Relations Specialist –Mrs. Gayle Hinrichs 272-4210
Workers' Compensation Program
Employees Benefit/Entitlements
Performance Mgmt & Awards Program
Adverse Action/Disciplinary Actions
Employees Assistance Program
Federal Technician Retirements
Labor Relations Officer-1Lt Jennifer Davis 272-3749
Labor Relations
Air AGR Manager –SMSgt Mary McKenna
272-4228 Air AGR issues
Staffing Specialist – MSgt Leann Reid 272-4220
Recruiting, Announcing and Staffing Vacancies
Compatibility and Eligibility
Federal Pay Setting/Pay Scales
State Merit Placement Plan
Restoration/Re-employment rights
E-Verify Program
Human Resource Specialist – MSgt Jeff Guzi
272-4225
Retirements
Classification Specialist-TSgt Yvonne Hopper
Full-Time SPMD Position Management
Position Classification Guidance
Desk Audits 272-4221
Federal Technician Position Descriptions
Wage Development - Coordinator for Boise
Environmental Differential Pay/Hazardous Pay
Equal Employment Opportunity – Mrs Gayle Hinrichs 272-4210
Equal Employment Manager
Affirmative Action Program Manager
Special Emphasis Program Coordinator
Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator
State Personnel Manager – Mrs Paula Edmiston
Maintain Merit Program 272-4236
State Position Manager
State EEO Officer
Personnel Regulations Maintenance
State Pers Asst. Ms Wendy Ackley 272-4237
Employee Benefits Administration
Performance Appraisals
Salary Administration
Job Announcements
State Workers Compensation Claims
Customer Service:
Pers. Asst. –SSG Jeff Renon 272-4218
Workers Compensation
Servicing last names beginning with: R-Z
Pers. Asst. – MSgt Jeff Guzi 272-4225
Military Buy back
Servicing last names beginning with: L-Q
Pers. Asst. – Mrs. Pat Barth 272-4223
Mass Transit
Servicing last names beginning with: A-E
Pers. Asst - SSgt Melissa Loepp 272-3780
Awards Program
Servicing last names beginning with: F-K
Employee Benefits
In-Processing
Personnel System Manager –Mr Tracy Mortenson 272-4229
HRO LAN/IMO Group Administrator
CIV-MOD Database Manager & ADPE Monitor
Personnel System Assistant- Mr Roger Gleason
272-4257
Employee Development Specialist – SFC Becky Burkhart (DEPLOYED CALL 4226) 272-4226
Technician Training Applications
Technician Travel Orders
Supervisory Training Coordinator
Individual Development Plans
Defense Travel System
Army AGR Manager—MSG Arlin DeGroot
272-4215
Army AGR Issues
ADSW Tours
AGR Medical
Army AGR Assist- SGT Jackie White 272-4217
PFC Dustin Dyer 272-4214
Customer Service (AGR-ADSW/ADOS)
WORK SCHEDULE POLICY
http://inghro.idaho.gov/hr/policies/HR-11-002-IDNG%2034.pdf
Effective 28 March 2010, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) changed the nature of action previously known as LWOP-US to Absent-Uniformed Service. In this status the technician was considered absent (whether in a pay or non-pay status) to perform duty with the uniformed services. HR Policy Letter 10-04 instructed commanders and supervisors to submit an SF 52, Personnel Action, when a technician was performing military duty, regardless of the technician’s pay status. After careful consideration that policy is hereby rescinded and the following new guidance is provided concerning the nature of action ABSENT-US:
a. If a Federal technician is in a “paid” leave status for the entire duration of the military order no SF 52, Personnel Action, will be required.
b. If a federal technician plans to use paid leave to cover some of the absence (annual, military, compensatory earned, compensatory travel, time-off awards) a SF 52, Personnel Action, Absent-US, will not be required until the first full “unpaid” (KG) scheduled duty day during the military order. In this case, supervisors will also submit a SF 52, Personnel Action, Return to Duty, normally effective the day after the military order ends. (The only exception would be when the technician desires to return to technician duty while still on orders in a military terminal leave status.) Please insure that a copy of the military order is attached to the SF 52, Personnel Action.
4. Technicians who are in an ABSENT-US status for 30 days or more, and who are on
an alternate technician work schedule will convert to a normal eight (8) hour technician schedule. The normal basic work week is established as a minimum 40 hrs, 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday.
5. Should there be any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Employee Relations Specialist at 272-4210.
Department of the Army
Department of Transportation
Mass Transportation Benefit Program (MTBP)
Guidance for Participants
This guide is to assist participants with the following:
• Determining eligibility
• How to apply
• Determining amount of benefit
• Timeline for getting started
• Retroactive benefits
• Revalidation
• Obtaining fare media
• Changes and withdrawals
• Making adjustments
• Other questions
• Who is eligible to participate in the Army’s Mass Transit Benefit Program?
• All Army Active Component (AC) military service members.
• Army Reserve Component (RC) military service members (including both Army Reserve and Army National Guard) who are currently on active duty.
• DA Federal civilian employees, including part-time federal employees and interns.
• DA Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) personnel employed by a duly constituted Army Non-Appropriated Funded Instrumentality (NAFI) under the control of the Secretary of the Army and organized under the provision of AR 215-1 (Military Morale, Welfare, And Recreation Programs And Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities), (e.g., NAFI activities managed by the U.S. Army Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Command).
• Who is NOT eligible to participate in the program?
• Army Reserve Component service members who are drilling or training in an Inactive Duty for Training (IATD) status.
• Contractors.
• Service members and civilian employees on TDY.
• NAF employed personnel whose salary is not funded by a duly constituted Army NAFI under the provisions of AR 215-1.
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students unless they are enlisted in a military branch and serving on active duty.
• Army military retirees and Army civilian employee retirees.
• Military dependents.
• How do I apply for the Mass Transit Benefit?
• Contact ACHD (208-387-6164) to complete the required forms to ride the Commuter Van, and to find out what the fare will be for your particular van.
• Submit a signed and completed application form to your Mass Transit Benefit Program POC for processing. The D.O.T. form for commuter checks must be filled out with the correct information to include current work phone number and email address, correct amount of fare, and must be signed by the applicant and supervisor. Once completed the form must be submitted to the Mass Transit POC. The form is now available on the HRO website http://inghro.state.id.us under forms (Mass transit).
• POC for Army Guard Participants is Pat Barth at 272-4223.
• POC for Air Guard Participants is Tim Gibbons at 422-6466.
• How do I determine the benefit amount that I am eligible to receive?
• Contact ACHD at (208) 387-6164) to determine your benefit amount.
• Parking fees are not authorized for reimbursement and will not be included in calculating commuting costs.
• The cost for seat reservations on vanpools during a participant’s absence from the workplace is not authorized for reimbursement and will not be included in calculating commuting costs.
• As of 1 January 2007, the maximum mass transit benefit is $200 per month, dependent on your route.
• How long does it take to enroll in the mass transit benefit program?
• The turnaround time for the participant to receive benefits is approximately 30 workdays or six weeks from the date of submission.
• Can I be retroactively reimbursed for the mass transit costs I have already incurred or will incur prior to my application being processed?
• No. The MTBP is a benefit, not an entitlement; thus, there is no retroactive reimbursement for the program.
• How do I obtain my fare media?
• The participant is notified by email by the Program POC that their commuter checks are available. It is critical that the employee have the correct email address and telephone number on their application form. There will be specific times and dates posted for the distribution of the commuter checks. If the employee is a new participant they will be notified by email and telephone about the disbursement of their checks. If unable to pick up their commuter checks when notified, the employee must contact the Mass Transit POC thru email and the commuter checks will be held until he or she can pick them up and sign for them. The employee will need to schedule a special date and time to pickup the disbursement with the Mass Transit POC.
• If my commuting circumstances change, can my benefit amount be changed?
• Yes. Participants are required to submit a new MTBP application form to your POC for “making a change” if there is a change to your commuting circumstances or costs.
•
• Should I submit an updated application if any of my personal information changes?
• Yes. Submit a new application form for “making a change” whenever changes occur (address change, name change).
•
• What if I decide to withdraw from the program?
• Participants must submit an application form for “withdrawal” if they choose to withdraw from the program, or when they depart from their command. Departure includes retirement, separation, dismissal and transfer. The participant must also return all unused fare media to Mass Transit POC upon departure.
• I have just learned that I must go TDY for the rest of the month but I’ve already picked up my fare media for this distribution period. What should I do?
• Participants on temporary duty travel (TDY), leave or no-cost orders for longer than 10 out of 21 consecutive business days are not eligible to claim the benefit for the period of their absence.
• If the participant knows of leave or TDY before the fare media distribution, he/she can ask for a reduced benefit amount.
•
• What if I have more questions?
• Your installation POC should be able to help with any additional questions.
POC for Army Guard Participants is
Pat Barth at 272-4223.
POC for Air Guard Participants is
Tim Gibbons at 422-6466.
HOW TO READ YOUR LEAVE AND EARNINGS STATEMENT
http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/newinformation/Reserve_Guard_LES_Guide.pdf
Note: It is important that you go to the Update My Information link and update your work e-mail with your actual military e-mail. This is how you and your supervisor will coordinate the appraisal process. Also, reports will be sent to you through this process.
**VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT**
You can now do this from you’re my Biz account. Check it out.
Select “Employment Verification”. Elect the details to share for employment and salary or for employment only. You will need the e-mail for the bank, agency or individual the information should be forwarded to. You will receive a copy by e-mail also.
https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil
TALX, the previous employment verification process, is no longer available for use by National Guard Technicians. This process was terminated effective 11 February 2011. Technicians now must use the process in My Biz which is located in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System (DCPDS). My biz and associated web pages are web-based tools created by the Department of Defense (DoD) as part of DCPDS to allow DoD personnel access to and management of their personal, personnel records.
In-Processing -
All new Temporary, Indefinite, Conditional and/or Permanent Technicians will need to bring their Military ID, Drivers License, Social Security Card, their Banking Account Information (which includes their routing and checking account number) and any DD214’s they may have (Member Copy 4).
Previous Temporary Technicians will not need to attend the in-processing briefing. However, they will need to schedule an appointment to come into HRO and fill out their Appointment Affidavit, W-4, Direct Deposit, and Address Form.
Technicians who are converting from Temporary Technicians to Indefinites, Conditional and/or Permanent Technicians will need to attend the Permanent In-Processing Briefing given.
Emails will be sent to the employee and to the employee’s supervisor letting them know of their in-processing time and date. If they are unable to attend please let the HRO in-processing representative know so that we are able to re-schedule them for the next week’s in-processing.