By Peter G. Bielagus “The Go To Guy For Young People and Their Money.”
www.peterbspeaks.com
Top Seven Things Servicemembers Do To RUIN Their Credit:
1. Hiding from their report:
I deliver close to thirty presentations for the military every year. After speaking to servicemembers about the importance of credit, a common response is, “mine is so bad, there would be no point in checking”.
What many servicemembers fail to realize is that often mistakes on a credit report are not the fault of servicemembers themselves. People can have outright errors, be victims of irregular billing, or even third party responsibility (such as an insurance claim that should have been paid but wasn’t).
Indeed many servicemembers who have bad credit are 100% responsible. But even fixing one inaccuracy can drastically boost a score. And while it may not skyrocket to the land of A+ credit, it gives an immediate sense of accomplishment and fuels a desire to keep going.
Action: Check ALL three of your credit reports at least once a year (for free) at www.annualcreditreport.com.
2. Hiding from creditors and collection agents:
Many people believe that collection agents give up if you simply don’t answer the phone. Truth be told, some do. But plenty of collection agents are working to get their money from you even if your phone has long stopped ringing.
A collection agent has only two bullets he or she can pull against you. One, they can ruin your credit. If your phone has been ringing for more than 90 days they certainly have done that. The other bullet is that they can take you to court. With a court order, they may be able to garnish your wages or money you have in the bank. A silent phone doesn’t mean they are not still trying to get their day in court.
If they are successful, judges get pretty mad at anyone who simply “ignores” a collection agent. The courts are supposed to be used as a tool of last resort for both the borrower and creditor. On your court day, it will help you greatly if you can prove (in writing) that you have made every attempt to negotiate with the collection agent. Courts are much more sympathetic to a person who has tried to work it out rather than someone who simply unplugged the phone and hoped the problem would go away.
Action: If you are being hounded by a creditor, make every attempt to work it out. Only promise what you can deliver and only communicate in writing. Your on base financial counselor can help.
3. Believing that certain debts− such as medical− do not show up on your credit report.
The simple fact is this: any debt can show up on your credit report if the creditor is willing to fill out the necessary paperwork (or use a third party to do it for them). Yep, that’s right. If your mom loans you 100 bucks and you don’t pay her, she can ruin your credit if she wants!
The most common myth has to do with medical debts. People believed hospitals couldn’t report medical debt because it would be an invasion of privacy. To some extent that is true. A hospital is not allowed to report that fact that you owe $50,000 for a heart operation. But they are allowed to report that you owe $50,000 for medical services to XYZ hospital. As long as they are not specific, they can report it.
Action: If you owe a debt, take active steps to find out how to get it paid down. Being silent won’t help.
4. Trusting a credit repair firm.
Servicemembers often ask me, “If credit repair firms are so bad, how come my friend Bill used one and got his credit cleaned up?” Indeed it is a puzzling question. Financial authors and experts slam credit repair firms, yet everyone seems to know someone who had a positive experience from them.
Seriously, do they work? And if they don’t, how did it work for my friend?
Credit repair came onto the scene several years ago. While credit reports have been around since the late 1800s and credit scores since the 1950s, individuals did not have access to their own reports until the year 2000, when the mortgage company E Loan started giving reports to their customers (a common practice now but a groundbreaking move at the time). As people began to see their own credit reports for the first time, they began to see the mistakes littered about them. And poof, credit repair firms appeared to assist with the corrections.
The funny thing is they used to work a lot better than they do now. When people began to get a glimpse of their own reports, credit bureaus were flooded with complaints. Often those complaints were submitted by credit repair firms. This inundation caused the credit bureaus to throw up their hands and simply remove bad marks (even the accurate ones) because they simply could not keep up with the paperwork. So back in the day many people had a fair amount of success with credit repair firms.
But the credit bureaus got pretty efficient, pretty quickly. What’s more, legislation has now been passed to make it illegal to dispute something you know to be accurate.
The sneakiest trick of all is still in practice. Often a credit repair firm will charge say $1,000, but they guarantee to raise your score 100 points or your money back. How can you lose? So you pay them and sure enough within thirty days they clean everything off your credit report and your score skyrockets. Their work is now done and you’re happy. Right?
Wrong!
What they don’t tell you is that credit bureaus often remove stuff immediately for investigation purposes only. By removing stuff from your report they buy time to do a thorough investigation. But it often appears as if the items have been removed forever. A few months later, the items are back on your report but by then you have already given your money to the credit repair firm.
Action: Anyone can repair their own credit. It just takes time and organization. Don’t pay someone else to do a lousy (and possibly illegal) job when you can do a good one yourself for free!
5. Not getting the free help on base.
A credit counselor typically costs between $150-$350 per hour. They are often well worth it for civilians, but servicemembers have unlimited access to a free credit counselor! Still many members of the armed services choose to use outside help (and pay for it) because they fear being labeled as financially unsecure. By going off base, servicemembers not only pay more but they risk doing business with an unscrupulous firm.
It is crucial for those serving in the military to realize that the financial savvy folks are the ones who are visiting their base financial counselor. It’s a free valuable service that costs a small fortune in the civilian world.
6. Not taking simple steps to protect themselves from identity theft
The fastest growing crime in the world is identity theft, which is the illegal act of impersonating someone else for financial gain. Contrary to popular belief, people are most vulnerable to identity theft in the physical world, not online. Unlocked mailboxes are one of the most common ways ID criminals attack you.
Protecting yourself from identity theft needn’t involve costly monthly monitoring services. Here are a few simple things you can do right away to keep your information safe.
Action:
Write the words “Check ID” on the back AND front of all your credit and debit cards. Even if the merchant doesn’t check your ID an identity criminal will get scared away if he sees this simple step has already been taken.
Set up automatic emails with your bank and credit card. We’re often told not to give out our personal information. But when you are at a restaurant, you give your credit card to the waiter and he walks away with it for 5 minutes! How do you protect yourself? Simply arrange to have your bank email you when a charge is made. That way you can be sure it is your charge. Most banks offer this for free. If they don’t, switch banks.
Get a locked mailbox.
Go to www.optoutprescreen.com to stop those preapproved credit cards offers from coming to your doorstep. This website is like the “Do Not Call List” for credit card companies.
Read over all your bank and credit card statements every month.
And of course, check your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com every year.
7. Not knowing your significant other’s credit history
The number one cause for divorce in America is due to money management disagreements. While couples often know what their significant other earns, credit history usually comes as a big surprise when it comes time to buy that first car, first home, or even upgrade to a nicer apartment. Often one person in the relationship has great credit, while the other one doesn’t, causing a lot of tension. Financial goals are impeded because of this person’s credit history which leads to arguments and accusations.
This is not to say you should only seek relationships with people who have great credit. It simply means that you have to know a lot of stuff about your significant other and credit history is one of them. If you are smitten with someone who has a disastrous report, that’s okay. Talk about how you are going to work together to improve their score.
Peter Bielagus is a former financial advisor who now travels the world giving speeches to servicemembers. He can be reached at peterbielagus@gmail.com.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
CNRFC Mobilization Newsletter - January 2011
News:
· Current Mob Picture: Currently, 7,306 Reservists are under mobilization orders. 4,816 Reservists are boots on the ground; 331 are in their training pipeline; 2,159 are awaiting start of orders (pre-NOSC report) or in pre-training processing. RC mobilization requirements are 5,433. FYTD “orders in hand” notification has increased to 145.1 days.
Looking back on CY 2010
· Mobilizations and Requirements: At the beginning of the year, we were rapidly drawing down in Iraq while increasing our support in Afghanistan. We started CY2010 with 5,728 Reserve Sailors mobilized to 5,373 requirements, and finished the year with 5,607 mobilized to 5,433 requirements. We averaged 6,107 Reserve Sailors on mobilization throughout the year with a peak of 6,831 on 26 August 2010.
· Notification: We’ve come a long way in improving the amount of advanced notification our Reserve Sailors receive before mobilization. In December 2010, our Reserve Sailors were receiving their orders (on average) 120 days before mobilization. We ended the year with orders being received (on average) 147 days before mobilization. To put this in perspective, in December 2008, our Reserve Sailors were receiving their orders (on average) only 55 days before mobilization.
· Mobilization Readiness and Screening: Early TRICARE eligibility. About mid-way through the year, medical and dental coverage up to 180 days prior to mobilization was implemented for Reserve Sailors and their families. This was an important pre-mobilization benefit that gives the Navy Reserve the opportunity to screen their mobilizing Reserve Sailors early and get them ready for mobilization. This benefit, along with increased mobilization notification should help significantly reduce our mobilization fallouts caused by medical or dental issues.
NOSC and Unit commanding officers should be using the early TRICARE eligibility, increased notification time, and FY11 Execution Guidance authorizing use of AT to complete mobilization screening, within 30 days of their Reserve Sailors receiving mobilization orders. This will allow follow-up time to correct any issues that are found well before the mobilization date.
· Ready Mobilization Pool (RMP): After beta testing the RMP concept with officer requirements in 2009, we released RMP2010 for both officer and enlisted Reserve Sailors. RMP2011 went further and included the NECC units expected to mobilize over the next two years. The RMP allows commanders to focus limited resources and raise the readiness levels of those on the list in preparation for an expected mobilization. It also allows RC Sailors not on the list to be fairly confident that they will not mobilize in the next 12-18 months. Feedback from the Force has been very positive and we will continue to use the RMP as a pre-notification tool while the RC is tasked to support OCO mobilizations.
where we’re going with navy reserve mobilizations
· Mobilizations and Requirements: There is a lot of uncertainty with what the Navy Reserve’s OCO tasking will be in the future. For FY11, we’re still expecting to maintain support for over 5,000 requirements, which means we’ll be maintaining between 5,000 and 6,000 Navy Reserve Sailors mobilized for the remainder of the year.
In FY12, we are starting to see some missions that the Navy Reserve has led be switched to AC. These missions include the Law and Order Detachment, Kuwait and Navy MP Company, Afghanistan. We’re also seeing significant decreases in our assigned requirements supporting embedded training teams and provincial reconstruction teams. These changes alone cut RC reoccurring tasking by over 300 requirements. We expect further reductions will occur as leadership determines what our overall footprints will be in Iraq and Afghanistan through the end of this year and into next. The MOB Cell predicts at the close of CY11, we’ll be supporting approximately 4,000 to 4,500 RC requirements; however, some COAs still have us supporting over 5,000 requirements through FY12, and into FY13.
· Mobilization Initiatives: In this section we’ll describe several initiatives recently implemented or that we’re working on to improve the mobilization process and visibility of mobilization requirements.
o Monthly Mobilization Opportunity Advertisements: The MOB Cell has been advertising as many mobilization opportunities through the GovDelivery distro system as our validation timelines allow. To further improve our mobilization advertisement process, we will be sending a monthly consolidated mobilization opportunity advertisement out through Gov Delivery. This advertisement will contain all mobilization opportunities available to our Sailors to volunteer for. First consolidated advertisement was transmitted 13 January. To sign up for GovDelivery go to the following link and follow the registration directions:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNRFC/subscribers/new
Individual mobilization opportunities will continue to be sent out as CNRFC receives mobilization tasking.
o Mobilization Instructions: Rewrite of OPNAVINST 3060.7, the Navy Manpower Augmentation Guide, is in routing and will be released in the next few months. The rewrite incorporates changes and lessons learned to the augmentation/mobilization process over the last couple of years. Along with the OPNAV instruction, CNRF will issue a Mobilization Procedure Instruction to formalize processes we should be following to effectively execute mobilizations. This instruction should be out late January/early February.
o Mobilization Mission Descriptions: To provide more information on mission and location our Reserve Sailors will be supporting, a consolidated list of missions, by Noble Eagle number, was put together for use by NOSCs when conducting notifications. NOSCs are expected to provide at a minimum the NE# supporting, mobilization date and mission location to their Reserve Sailor when conducting the initial mobilization notification. The NE# Mobilization Mission Description Table can be found at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fWhere%20we%20are%20mobilized%20to&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Single Source Deployability/Readiness Display: We are developing a deployability/readiness module in Navy Reserve Readiness Module (NRRM) that will allow Unit and NOSC leadership, OSOs, and AC commands to see the overall administrative and medical readiness of their Reserve units. It will also allow leadership to drill down to individual Reserve Sailor’s records to see everything from security investigation status, PFA history, command information, MAS/IMS code status, contact information, and individual medical readiness all in one page. This display will make it much easier, and give leadership a single display to view their unit’s and Sailor’s deployability. Expected rollout of this display is 31 March.
o Web-based Volunteer Portal: The Mobilization Volunteer PORTAL will allow our Reservist to "volunteer to mobilize" by filling out an online form. The form will be accessed through the Navy Reserve website. The form will allow the Reserve Sailors to provide up to 3 preferred mobilization locations and 3 preferred missions. After the volunteer form is submitted, an automated email will be sent thanking the Sailor for volunteering and informing them that their form has been received. When a mobilization is assigned, an automated email with the NE number, mobilization date, location of mobilization, and short mobilization job description (as OPSEC rules allow) will be sent to them letting them know they were identified for mobilization. Expected roll out is summer 2011. This will replace the current volunteer email process found at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fVolunteer%20to%20Mobilize&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Mobilization Cancellations/Fallouts: We’ve been looking very closely at the reasons our Reserve Sailors are disqualified or fallout from mobilization. Our mobilization cancellation tracker came on line 1 April 2010, and we’ve been able to gather good data on reasons for cancellations. We’ve been working with Force Medical to capture the medical reasons and are developing guidance on ways to reduce our fallouts. Initial analysis of the data, shows that we should be able to reduce our cancellations by almost 20% by just meeting our current readiness reporting requirements. To see how an individual NOSC is fairing with cancellations, view file “By NOSC December 2010 Cancellation Report“ found at: https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fMobilization%20Fallout%20Data&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Best practices:
§ NOSC Mobilization Processing Tracker: Based on feedback from the field, we asked for input on best practices for how to track Reserve Sailors identified for mobilization. The trackers we received are posted on our website at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fBest%20practices&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
If any NOSC has a best practice that could be beneficial for other NOSCs, send to the MOB Cell and we’ll distribute to the field and post in our “best practices” folder.
§ Security Investigation Practices/Reports: Last year, we sent out a JPAS Report Generation Guide developed by NOSC Eleanor. This guide shows NOSC security managers how to run a report in JPAS to show the current status of their command’s security investigation status. This guide can be found in our “best practices” folder at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fBest%20practices&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
We’ve also been working with the RCCs on developing a better way of tracking security investigation completion rates. The RCC security managers have some good ideas that are being developed into a user’s guide, which will be distributed once completed. Our goal is to get our security investigation programs to above 90% compliance by the end of this year.
Important weblinks:
COMNAVRESFORCOM “Volunteer to Mobilize” Process (CAC Required)
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx
Download Mobilization Orders from BUPERS Online
https://www.bol.navy.mil/DefaultPub.aspx?Cookies=Yes
USFF IA Website:
http://www.public.navy.mil/ia/pages/index.aspx
NMPS links (once at link scroll down for specific NMPS sites)
http://www.public.navy.mil/ia/pages/nmps.aspx
Expeditionary Screening Checklist - NAVADMIN 1300/22
http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/377F1D2F-3E4F-444F-B5CA-D8823FC34716/0/N1300_22.pdf
Expeditionary Medical and Dental Screening for Individual Augmentee (IA) and Support Assignments to Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) – NAVMED 1300/4
http://www.med.navy.mil/directives/Pages/NAVMEDForms.aspx
Ready Mobilization Pool Status Reports
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fRMP&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Security Investigation Stats and Useful Information
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fSecurity%20Clearance%20Information&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Mobilization Cancellation and Fallout Reports
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fMobilization%20Fallout%20Data&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Mobilization Mission Descriptions and Locations
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fWhere%20we%20are%20mobilized%20to&FolderCTID=&View=%7bE09A73ED%2d1F06%2d4A57%2d9E2D%2dAB9BBB32F482%7d
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Information www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/ExceptionalFamilyMember.
· Current Mob Picture: Currently, 7,306 Reservists are under mobilization orders. 4,816 Reservists are boots on the ground; 331 are in their training pipeline; 2,159 are awaiting start of orders (pre-NOSC report) or in pre-training processing. RC mobilization requirements are 5,433. FYTD “orders in hand” notification has increased to 145.1 days.
Looking back on CY 2010
· Mobilizations and Requirements: At the beginning of the year, we were rapidly drawing down in Iraq while increasing our support in Afghanistan. We started CY2010 with 5,728 Reserve Sailors mobilized to 5,373 requirements, and finished the year with 5,607 mobilized to 5,433 requirements. We averaged 6,107 Reserve Sailors on mobilization throughout the year with a peak of 6,831 on 26 August 2010.
· Notification: We’ve come a long way in improving the amount of advanced notification our Reserve Sailors receive before mobilization. In December 2010, our Reserve Sailors were receiving their orders (on average) 120 days before mobilization. We ended the year with orders being received (on average) 147 days before mobilization. To put this in perspective, in December 2008, our Reserve Sailors were receiving their orders (on average) only 55 days before mobilization.
· Mobilization Readiness and Screening: Early TRICARE eligibility. About mid-way through the year, medical and dental coverage up to 180 days prior to mobilization was implemented for Reserve Sailors and their families. This was an important pre-mobilization benefit that gives the Navy Reserve the opportunity to screen their mobilizing Reserve Sailors early and get them ready for mobilization. This benefit, along with increased mobilization notification should help significantly reduce our mobilization fallouts caused by medical or dental issues.
NOSC and Unit commanding officers should be using the early TRICARE eligibility, increased notification time, and FY11 Execution Guidance authorizing use of AT to complete mobilization screening, within 30 days of their Reserve Sailors receiving mobilization orders. This will allow follow-up time to correct any issues that are found well before the mobilization date.
· Ready Mobilization Pool (RMP): After beta testing the RMP concept with officer requirements in 2009, we released RMP2010 for both officer and enlisted Reserve Sailors. RMP2011 went further and included the NECC units expected to mobilize over the next two years. The RMP allows commanders to focus limited resources and raise the readiness levels of those on the list in preparation for an expected mobilization. It also allows RC Sailors not on the list to be fairly confident that they will not mobilize in the next 12-18 months. Feedback from the Force has been very positive and we will continue to use the RMP as a pre-notification tool while the RC is tasked to support OCO mobilizations.
where we’re going with navy reserve mobilizations
· Mobilizations and Requirements: There is a lot of uncertainty with what the Navy Reserve’s OCO tasking will be in the future. For FY11, we’re still expecting to maintain support for over 5,000 requirements, which means we’ll be maintaining between 5,000 and 6,000 Navy Reserve Sailors mobilized for the remainder of the year.
In FY12, we are starting to see some missions that the Navy Reserve has led be switched to AC. These missions include the Law and Order Detachment, Kuwait and Navy MP Company, Afghanistan. We’re also seeing significant decreases in our assigned requirements supporting embedded training teams and provincial reconstruction teams. These changes alone cut RC reoccurring tasking by over 300 requirements. We expect further reductions will occur as leadership determines what our overall footprints will be in Iraq and Afghanistan through the end of this year and into next. The MOB Cell predicts at the close of CY11, we’ll be supporting approximately 4,000 to 4,500 RC requirements; however, some COAs still have us supporting over 5,000 requirements through FY12, and into FY13.
· Mobilization Initiatives: In this section we’ll describe several initiatives recently implemented or that we’re working on to improve the mobilization process and visibility of mobilization requirements.
o Monthly Mobilization Opportunity Advertisements: The MOB Cell has been advertising as many mobilization opportunities through the GovDelivery distro system as our validation timelines allow. To further improve our mobilization advertisement process, we will be sending a monthly consolidated mobilization opportunity advertisement out through Gov Delivery. This advertisement will contain all mobilization opportunities available to our Sailors to volunteer for. First consolidated advertisement was transmitted 13 January. To sign up for GovDelivery go to the following link and follow the registration directions:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNRFC/subscribers/new
Individual mobilization opportunities will continue to be sent out as CNRFC receives mobilization tasking.
o Mobilization Instructions: Rewrite of OPNAVINST 3060.7, the Navy Manpower Augmentation Guide, is in routing and will be released in the next few months. The rewrite incorporates changes and lessons learned to the augmentation/mobilization process over the last couple of years. Along with the OPNAV instruction, CNRF will issue a Mobilization Procedure Instruction to formalize processes we should be following to effectively execute mobilizations. This instruction should be out late January/early February.
o Mobilization Mission Descriptions: To provide more information on mission and location our Reserve Sailors will be supporting, a consolidated list of missions, by Noble Eagle number, was put together for use by NOSCs when conducting notifications. NOSCs are expected to provide at a minimum the NE# supporting, mobilization date and mission location to their Reserve Sailor when conducting the initial mobilization notification. The NE# Mobilization Mission Description Table can be found at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fWhere%20we%20are%20mobilized%20to&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Single Source Deployability/Readiness Display: We are developing a deployability/readiness module in Navy Reserve Readiness Module (NRRM) that will allow Unit and NOSC leadership, OSOs, and AC commands to see the overall administrative and medical readiness of their Reserve units. It will also allow leadership to drill down to individual Reserve Sailor’s records to see everything from security investigation status, PFA history, command information, MAS/IMS code status, contact information, and individual medical readiness all in one page. This display will make it much easier, and give leadership a single display to view their unit’s and Sailor’s deployability. Expected rollout of this display is 31 March.
o Web-based Volunteer Portal: The Mobilization Volunteer PORTAL will allow our Reservist to "volunteer to mobilize" by filling out an online form. The form will be accessed through the Navy Reserve website. The form will allow the Reserve Sailors to provide up to 3 preferred mobilization locations and 3 preferred missions. After the volunteer form is submitted, an automated email will be sent thanking the Sailor for volunteering and informing them that their form has been received. When a mobilization is assigned, an automated email with the NE number, mobilization date, location of mobilization, and short mobilization job description (as OPSEC rules allow) will be sent to them letting them know they were identified for mobilization. Expected roll out is summer 2011. This will replace the current volunteer email process found at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fVolunteer%20to%20Mobilize&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Mobilization Cancellations/Fallouts: We’ve been looking very closely at the reasons our Reserve Sailors are disqualified or fallout from mobilization. Our mobilization cancellation tracker came on line 1 April 2010, and we’ve been able to gather good data on reasons for cancellations. We’ve been working with Force Medical to capture the medical reasons and are developing guidance on ways to reduce our fallouts. Initial analysis of the data, shows that we should be able to reduce our cancellations by almost 20% by just meeting our current readiness reporting requirements. To see how an individual NOSC is fairing with cancellations, view file “By NOSC December 2010 Cancellation Report“ found at: https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fMobilization%20Fallout%20Data&FolderCTID=&View=%7bFE978535%2d0C3B%2d41EF%2dBD0A%2d76E3142B4C24%7d
o Best practices:
§ NOSC Mobilization Processing Tracker: Based on feedback from the field, we asked for input on best practices for how to track Reserve Sailors identified for mobilization. The trackers we received are posted on our website at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fBest%20practices&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
If any NOSC has a best practice that could be beneficial for other NOSCs, send to the MOB Cell and we’ll distribute to the field and post in our “best practices” folder.
§ Security Investigation Practices/Reports: Last year, we sent out a JPAS Report Generation Guide developed by NOSC Eleanor. This guide shows NOSC security managers how to run a report in JPAS to show the current status of their command’s security investigation status. This guide can be found in our “best practices” folder at:
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fBest%20practices&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
We’ve also been working with the RCCs on developing a better way of tracking security investigation completion rates. The RCC security managers have some good ideas that are being developed into a user’s guide, which will be distributed once completed. Our goal is to get our security investigation programs to above 90% compliance by the end of this year.
Important weblinks:
COMNAVRESFORCOM “Volunteer to Mobilize” Process (CAC Required)
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx
Download Mobilization Orders from BUPERS Online
https://www.bol.navy.mil/DefaultPub.aspx?Cookies=Yes
USFF IA Website:
http://www.public.navy.mil/ia/pages/index.aspx
NMPS links (once at link scroll down for specific NMPS sites)
http://www.public.navy.mil/ia/pages/nmps.aspx
Expeditionary Screening Checklist - NAVADMIN 1300/22
http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/377F1D2F-3E4F-444F-B5CA-D8823FC34716/0/N1300_22.pdf
Expeditionary Medical and Dental Screening for Individual Augmentee (IA) and Support Assignments to Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) – NAVMED 1300/4
http://www.med.navy.mil/directives/Pages/NAVMEDForms.aspx
Ready Mobilization Pool Status Reports
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fRMP&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Security Investigation Stats and Useful Information
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fSecurity%20Clearance%20Information&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Mobilization Cancellation and Fallout Reports
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Mobilization%20DocumentsPolicies/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fMobilization%20Fallout%20Data&FolderCTID=&View=%7b40788C2F%2d3EB7%2d47B0%2d86FA%2d0289B1A862BE%7d
Mobilization Mission Descriptions and Locations
https://private.navyreserve.navy.mil/3447B/n3/Shared%20Documents/N35.aspx?RootFolder=%2f3447B%2fn3%2fMobilization%20DocumentsPolicies%2fWhere%20we%20are%20mobilized%20to&FolderCTID=&View=%7bE09A73ED%2d1F06%2d4A57%2d9E2D%2dAB9BBB32F482%7d
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Information www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/ExceptionalFamilyMember.
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