Fort Drum Survivor Outreach Services

02/03/2020

2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment

Today the Catamounts honor SPC Robert J. Cook, SGT James A. Scott, and SSG Shawn M. Clemens. SPC Cook, SGT Scott, and SSG Clemens served honorably during our 2004 deployment to Afghanistan and died when a weapons cache exploded in Ghazni Providence. While they may be gone, their memory lives on forever with the Catamounts. Conquer Men and Mountains! 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

01/15/2020

Time to start thinking about Summer Camp opportunities. Camp Corral registration opened JAN 2020.

01/14/2020

Dine & Dial Tomorrow evening....

Sharing information for the January 15, 2020-Dine and Dial Financial Educational Call for Survivors - See Flyer for more details.

Financial “Dine and Dial” (1-605-475-5910 access code 7681905#); 7:00 PM Central/ 8:00PM Eastern

The January 15th Financial "Dine and Dial" Call is facilitated by Mark Dunlop, CFP, AFC, Survivor Outreach Financial Counselor, Fort Leonard Wood: 573-596-0153; mark.j.dunlop2.civ @mail.mil

01/09/2020

If anyone wants to meet at Cracker Barrel for Lunch on
14 JAN @11:00am - let me know. 772-6357
Stay warm today.....Brrrrrr.

01/09/2020

Please see DFAS webpage for SBP-DIC News - for information on the status of the implementation of this new law. Based on the NDAA, Spouse SBP annuitants who are subject to the DIC offset will see the first change in the SBP annuity payment they receive on February 1, 2021. Please check this webpage for updates.

The December 2019 DFAS Retiree Newsletter is now available here: https://go.usa.gov/xpMkc. It contains helpful information about getting your 1099-R, tools for easily filling out required forms, the SBP-DIC Offset Phased Elimination, the 2020 COLA and much more. We also have a downloadable PDF version you can share with friends.

01/09/2020

Recent pictures from Snowball Express December 2019

12/26/2019

www.dfas.mil

www.dfas.mil

12/23/2019

Defense Finance and Accounting Service - DFAS

Annuitant 1099R's are now available for download at myPay. https://mypay.dfas.mil

12/23/2019

12/19/2019

Pictures from the "Wreaths for Veterans Ceremony" at the Sackets Harbor Military Cemetary on 14 DEC 19.

12/10/2019

FYSA.....

Are you a college student who receives a military annuity payment? It's School Certification time again!

College students receiving a military Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payment need to send a School Certification form before the end of every school term. You can now upload your signed and school-certified School Cert form through our convenient AskDFAS online upload tool.

We're now sending e-mail reminders. If you have a valid e-mail address in a myPay account, we'll send you a reminder when you have an upcoming School Cert due date.

Have you sent your form? Download the form and information here: http://go.usa.gov/xEcVH

12/10/2019

Military families in line for tens of thousands in benefits under plan to dump the ‘widows tax’

Military families in line for tens of thousands in benefits under plan to dump the ‘widows tax’

The provision is part of the massive defense authorization bill compromise unveiled Monday night.

12/09/2019

Fort Drum SOS Families on their way to Snowball Express in Florida.....

12/09/2019

Gary Sinise Foundation

Families of fallen service members are currently departing from airports across the country en route to the Most Magical Place on Earth, Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, as part of Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express. Transported to and from Orlando aboard the red, white, and blue of our partner, American Airlines, the annual 5-day trip honors the children and surviving spouses of fallen military heroes who gave their life while in service to the nation. With the passing of each day, children and spouses come together in support of one another, bonding over their loss while building lasting friendships and sharing happy memories along the way. #GSFSBE #SnowballExpress

12/09/2019

A Soldier's Child Foundation

ASC spent the day at the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express to get more families signed up for birthday presents, camps and more! Over 150 new recipients were added to the ASC family today! #lovehonorhope

Visit our website to see how you can help us register more families that have lost their military hero. www.asoldierschild.org

12/02/2019

U.S. Army Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Division

Kick off the season at today's Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting in front of Hays Hall! Fort Drum FMWR has big plans involving carriage rides, an appearance by Santa himself and a present for every child he greets. Bundle up and meet us by the tree!

11/22/2019

Defense Finance and Accounting Service - DFAS

myPay users: If you log in to your myPay account using your user ID and password, make sure you get your password updated by December 1. That will give you myPay access through the entire tax season so you can pick up your W-2 or 1099R when you need it. Click on the Forgot or Need a Password? link (https://mypay.dfas.mil/) on the myPay homepage to get started.

11/19/2019

Note from DFAS if you have moved in the past year...

Retirees and Annuitants: Have you moved since the last time we sent you a 1099R? If you’re planning to receive one in the mail this year, make sure we know where you are. Follow instructions to update you address at https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/manage/changeofaddress.html

11/07/2019

Tricare Open Season (NOV 11th - DEC 9th)

#Doughnut despair, get to know your TRICARE plan options before Open Season begins on Monday, Nov. 11.

TRICARE Select:
https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/5_22_19_Get_to_Know_Your_TRICARE_Select_Plan

TRICARE Prime:
https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/3_20_19_Get_to_Know_Your_TRICARE_Prime_Plan

USFHP:
https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/8_29_19_Get_to_Know_Your_US_Family_Health_Plan_Coverage
#TakeCommand #OpenSeason19
#NationalDoughnutDay

11/05/2019

Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration
Hays Hall December 2, 2019

Mark your calendars! Fort Drum FMWR is hosting an Old-Fashioned Holiday Celebration on December 2 at Hays Hall.

11/05/2019

ACS Calendar November 2019

10/23/2019

Recent issue of the Army Echoes Newsletter
(Official Newsletter for Retired Soldiers, Surviving Spouses & Families).
The Oct 2019-Jan 2020 issue features article on the FEDVIP Vision Program, Benefits of using myPay for SBP Annuitants, and information from DFAS to help prepare for the upcoming tax season.

Visit: Army Echoes Newsletter; Oct 2019-Jan 2020
https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/echoes/current.pdf

10/23/2019

Operation Homefront - Holiday Meals for Military
November 21, 2019 American Legion Post 673
Register at MyOperationHomefront.org

10/23/2019

The Thriver's Bowling Night planned for 6 NOV has been postponed. FMWR will be completing some renovations to the lanes. More to follow....

10/21/2019

"Getting ready for the 2020 tax season should start now. The most important task is to make sure you have an active myPay account and your mailing address is correct. If you have updated your information with another government agency, such as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) or the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting Service (DEERS), you also need to update your information with DFAS and vice-versa."

For those who have a myPay account set up, "your 1099-R tax statement will be available much sooner in myPay than through postal mail. 1099-Rs generally become available in myPay in late December, while paper copies aren’t mailed until mid-to-late January. In addition, in myPay you can download or print your current year tax statement, as well as prior year 1099Rs (up to four prior years for retirees and up to two prior years for annuitants)."

DFAS also recommends that, although tax return season is still a few months away, "Now is a good time to check and adjust your tax withholding, if needed... The IRS has a new online Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine how much tax you need to have withheld. The calculator helps taxpayers estimate if the right amount is being withheld from their income to cover their tax liability...The IRS urges both pension recipients and wage earners to do a Paycheck Checkup now and review their withholding for 2019. This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill or penalty when they filed earlier this year."
To view the new online IRS Tax Withholding Estimator visit www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator .

(To read full article visit https://www.dfas.mil/…/ne…/Tax-Season-Just-Around-the-Corner)

For more information on myPay, DFAS has posted helpful informational vides on YouTube. "If you need to get started with myPay, reactivate your account, or change your email or mailing address or banking direct deposit, we have step-by-step videos on YouTube to show you how." The videos are available at the DFAS YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/DFAS

10/02/2019

TAPS Spring Education Care Package

TAPS Education Support Services is excited to open the application period to sign up to receive the spring Education Care Package for incoming college freshmen.

These care packages are for surviving children and siblings headed off to college as freshman in the spring 2020 semester.

Apply today: http://bit.ly/2nQVUA5

09/28/2019

Building named for fallen Fort Drum soldier

Building named for fallen Fort Drum soldier

A fallen 10th Mountain Division soldier awarded with the second highest military honor is being commemorated on Fort Drum.

09/23/2019

North Country Troopers assisting Troops - Military Recognition Day 2019

North Country Troopers assisting Troops - Military Recognition Day 2019

09/05/2019

Fort Leavenworth Survivor Outreach Services (SOS)

Financial "Dine and Dial" Ask Questions on on FAFSA, Chapter 36 Services of the VA and open enrollment...

Information:

Oct 16, 2019-Dine and Dial Financial Educational Call for Survivors

Financial "Dine and Dial" (1-605-475-5910 access code 7681905#); 7:00 PM
Central

Facilitated by Mark Dunlop, CFP, AFC, Survivor Outreach Financial Counselor,
Fort Leonard Wood:
573-596-0153; mark.j.dunlop2.civ @mail.mil

This call will have focus on the FAFSA, Chapter 36 Services of the VA, and
open enrollment ( which tentatively starts Nov 11, 2019 ) considerations
with Tricare and BENEFEDS .

. Who: Military Survivors and friends are invited to dial into the
next quarterly Financial "Dine and Dial" call.

. What: This quarterly call in program provides a forum for Military
Survivors and friends to ask questions on education tools to better
understand identity theft minimization, saving and investing, estate
planning considerations, tax issues, insurance, potential financial
resources and budgeting concerns in creating financial success.

. Where: The Call number is (1-605-475-5910 access code 7681905#);
the call originates from Ft. Leonard Wood Survivor Outreach Services. (*6
mutes or unmutes the call) and is a joint venture between the financial
counselors from the Ft. Leonard Wood SOS program, and the Leavenworth SOS
Program.

. When: Wednesday, Oct 16th, 2019 7:00 pm Central

. Why: Many Survivors have asked for assisting in navigation of
potential resources including how to better grasp potential projected
positive cash flow opportunities and estate planning techniques.

Note: Some of the specifics will be based on Missouri/Illinois/Wisconsin
/Michigan/Kansas/Iowa, Nebraska issues as this conference call originates
from the Garrison of Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, but the concepts are
non-state specific.

09/05/2019

Tricare Open Season is upcoming.....

This year’s TRICARE Open Season and FEDVIP Open Season will run from Nov. 11, 2019 - Dec. 9, 2019. Keep your information in DEERS up to date to receive the latest updates: https://tricare.mil/Resources/GoPaperless/UpdatePersonalInfo

08/20/2019

The Moving Wall | One AUSA

The Moving Wall - Sackets Harbor Battlefield this weekend August 23-25

The Moving Wall by Michael Robles | Aug 1, 2019 | Events Thank you to AmeriCU Americu Credit Union Thank You For Supporting the 2019 Moving Wall https://www.americu.org/   Read More Thank you To Watertown Savings Bank Watertown Savings Bank Thank You For Supporting the 2019 Moving Wall https://www....

08/16/2019

U.S. Army Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Division

This year's Outdoor Adventure Day is just around the corner and Fort Drum Natural Resources recently visited 7 News to talk about what visitors can expect from the event! Catch the whole interview here: https://www.wwnytv.com/2019/08/06/th-annual-outdoor-adventure-day-later-this-month/

08/01/2019

Gary Sinise Foundation

Registration for our 2019 Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express service is now open and will remain open until August 22, 2019

SNOWALL 2019!! A message from the Gary Sinise Foundation…please read!!

Registration for our 2019 Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express service is now open and will remain open until August 22, 2019 at 12:00 AM CST. This year's annual trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida is scheduled from Saturday, December 7th through Wednesday, December 11th.

Please remember ALL families that have enrolled must sign up each year for the December event, this is not automatic.

As you can imagine, over the years the number of eligible families has grown. While our desire is to have everyone attend, the reality is we have an attendance limit based on the number of available hotel rooms. With that in mind, registering does not guarantee you a spot.

When registering for Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express 2019 please consider the following items:

* The eligibility ages for 2019 are between the ages of 5 – 18 or High School Graduation, whichever comes first. Children must have turned 5 prior to the start of the event. 17-year-olds that will be graduating in the spring of 2019 will not be eligible in December 2019 or the annual event.

* Returning families: At this time due to space limitations, registration is only opened to first time families, families with between 4-7 years of attendance and families with graduating seniors. After registration closes, if there is space available, registration will reopen to more families.

* Final registration will be filtered by years of attendance in the Snowball Database.

* Please make certain that you CAN and WILL be able to attend when registering. It would be unfortunate if a family was not allowed to register/attend, and then spots were unused due to last minute cancellations with the exception of documented medical emergency. Past last-minute cancellations/no-shows may result in your registration being denied.

* There will be no escort or guardian changes after October 15, 2019

* Cancellations become very costly in a group this large so we need to be mindful of the donors, volunteers, and families that are attending.

* Please check with your child’s schools and your employer prior to registering. You can download the school absence letter, work absence letter, and escort authorization letter from our web site at: Caution-https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/snowball-express/ < Caution-https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/snowball-express/ >

* During the registration process, please be sure to choose the correct mode of transportation to and from the event. Please plan on all family members traveling together. Special requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Use the special request box located in the travel section when signing up. Once tickets are purchased changes will not be made.

The following criteria will be used to determine who will be selected first and the order of how the families will be selected.

1. New families who never have attended
2. Families with a 17-year-old that will be graduating in the spring of 2019 or 18-year-old attending for the last time.
3. Number of years a family has attended. Priority will be given to families who have attended 4-7 years.
4. A lottery system will be put in place in an attempt for all families to experience Disney at least one time.

Remember registration closes on August 22, 2019 at 12:00 AM CST.

Serving Honor and Need

08/01/2019

Army Captain Andrew Caswell

07/31/2019

(Child Annuitants Attending School)
DFAS has a new, online option for submitting school certification forms.
DFAS created a new online module where students can upload a school certification form through AskDFAS on the DFAS.mil website.
Online submission module is at: https://go.usa.gov/xymaH

To use the new, online module to submit a school certification form, students need to fill in the required information in the online screen, and then upload a PDF of their completed and signed DD 2788 - Child Annuitant's School Certification form. This online module can only accept school certification forms and accompanying documentation. It cannot be used for other types of annuitant documents or requests.
Students who need to submit school certifications can now receive email reminders from DFAS when school certifications are coming due.
DFAS is developing new email reminders when it is time to submit school certifications. Student child annuitants who would like to receive these reminders just need to have a myPay account with a valid email address, and DFAS will email reminders when it is time for school certifications to be submitted. Information on getting started with myPay is at: https://myPay.dfas.mil"

For more information visit https://www.dfas.mil/retiredmi…/…/School-Certifications.html

College Student SBP Recipients: Skip the fax, save the stamp; submit your School Certification form online. Are you a college student who receives a DoD Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity? DFAS has a new, online option for submitting your School Certification form. Find out more at https://go.usa.gov/xyfY2