WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Calling it “a matter of fundamental equity,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today signed a memorandum to the service secretaries and the Pentagon’s top personnel official extending benefits to same-sex partners of service members. Here is the secretary’s announcement of the policy change: “Seventeen months ago, the United States military ended the…

WASHINGTON – When a new policy takes effect — probably this summer — schools will need to have a signed memorandum of understanding to participate in the Defense Department’s Tuition Assistance Program, Pentagon officials said. A 90-day extension that expired March 30 allowed DOD officials to work with stakeholders to address issues associated with the…

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department is nearing completion of an agreement with post-secondary schools to ensure service members have the best possible experience in continuing their education, a senior Pentagon official said today. The department will release later this summer a memorandum of understanding to be signed by colleges, universities and technical schools to make…

WASHINGTON (AFNS)  — If sequestration is triggered next week, unpaid furloughs for civilian Defense Department employees will start in late April, Pentagon officials said here today. Sequestration is a provision in budget law that will trigger major across-the-board spending cuts March 1 unless Congress agrees on an alternative. DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale told reporters…

WASHINGTON – Service members and Defense Department civilian employees who are eligible for the Thrift Savings Plan will soon have a new Roth option for retirement savings under the program, defense finance officials announced today. The change will allow participants to contribute after-tax dollars to the federal government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan, according to…

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Department of Defense civilian employees eligible for the Thrift Savings Plan may begin to contribute to the Roth TSP. This new feature allows members to contribute on an after-tax basis and receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw funds from their TSP accounts. Air Force serviced civilians may make elections…

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed two separate reviews to ensure that the U.S. military justice system is appropriately protecting victims of sexual assault as well as dispensing justice to the accused, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. The orders are an outgrowth of a case against Air Force Lt. Col….

WASHINGTON – Policy changes announced in February opening more than 14,000 new assignments to women in uniform will take effect May 14, Defense Department officials said today. Officials issued a Pentagon press release confirming that two changes to the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule can now move forward since the Congressionally-mandated notification…

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) — Beginning October 1, 2012, any travel authorization that includes air travel must be approved and ticketed at least 72 hours in advance of the scheduled flight departure to avoid airline reservations from being cancelled. This is due to a new policy being instituted by the airlines under the…

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — As part of its ongoing transformation from paper-based to electronic claims processing, the Department of Veterans Affairs has continued to improve the automated payment of benefits for Veterans participating in the Post-9/11 GI Bill education program. As a result, VA is now providing benefit payments to currently enrolled students in an average…