Paid-up SBP provisions were mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 1999. The law also established a paid-up status, also beginning on October 1, 2008, for participants in the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan once they reach 70 years of age. No action is required of SBP participants to be placed in Paid-up SBP status. Once the eligibility criteria has been met, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will automatically stop deducting premiums from qualifying military retired pay accounts.

The law establishing Paid-up SBP does not allow for refunds of premiums paid before October 1, 2008, even though a retiree may have reached age 70 and made 360 or more premium payments. DFAS is currently developing changes to the military retiree pay systems that will monitor the number of SBP premiums paid and the age of the participant. The system updates are targeted for a May 2008 completion date. At that time, SBP participants who will be eligible for Paid-up SBP status on October 1, 2008, or will meet eligibility within a short time of the implementation date, will be notified by mail of their impending paid-up status.

Those military retirees who become eligible for Paid-up SBP status after the initial group will be notified of their SBP status on their December 2008 annual Retiree Account Statements that will note the number of premiums paid to date. Each RAS issued after December 2008, whether annually or as a result of a pay change, will include the Paid-up SBP premium "counter," based on DFAS records, to help retirees monitor their eligibility status. (Courtesy of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service)

Jennifer Sinsel, AFA Teacher of the Year

AFA Names 22nd National Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Sinsel, a fifth grade teacher at Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita, Kansas, was named National Teacher of the Year by the Air Force Association, in the honor of educator/astronaut Christa McAuliffe. The administration of the Wichita Collegiate School nominated Sinsel for this national award. She will receive a $5,000 cash award during the AFA National Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, DC, on September 24, 2007. The second place award of $2,500 is awarded to a team of teachers from The Gereau Center, in Rocky Mount, Virginia -- Sandy Sampson and Robert Keck. Sampson and Keck were nominated by the Roanoke Chapter AFA. The third place award of $1,000 will be given to Kareen Borders, who teaches at Key Peninsula Middle School in Lake Bay, Washington. Borders was nominated for the award by the McChord Chapter AFA. The presentations of the second and third place awards are being coordinated with the sponsors.

Airmen Recognize Impact of Enlisted Heritage
CMSAF Rodney J. McKinley (right) shakes hands with CMSAF Paul Airey at the Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference Heritage Dinner July 26 in Montgomery, Ala. Chief Airey was the first airman to ever hold that position. The eighth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, Sam Parrish, stands between them. (U.S. Air Force photo by MSgt Lee Roberts) Click here for story.

Airmen Support Historic Change of Command in Afghanistan
Royal Air Force Air Commodore Ashley Stevenson (right) takes command of Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, from U.S. Army Col. Richard L. Stevens July 31. Presiding over the historic change-of-command ceremony is Royal Netherlands Maj. Gen. Freek Meulman (left), the International Security Assistance Force deputy commander for air. The ceremony culminated a year- long effort to bring Kandahar under NATO control. The ceremony marked the first time NATO has taken full control of a large airfield and operational staging base in an active operational theater using a multi-national team. (U.S. Air Force photo by MSgt Jim Varhegyi) Click here for story.

A-10 pilot Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
Col. Kenneth Todorov pins the Distinguished Flying Cross on Maj. Keith Wolak during an award ceremony at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., July 27. Major Wolak, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the 23rd Fighter Group at Pope AFB, received the honor for a combat search and rescue mission he coordinated July 2, 2005, when he cleared a helicopter landing zone while suppressing the enemy's attacks. The mission was to rescue a U.S. Navy SEAL on the ground. Colonel Todorov is the 23rd Wing commander at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Murchison) Click here for story.

Life Support, Survival Equipment Career Fields Merging
Aircrew life support and survival equipment Airmen always have had jobs that mirrored each other somewhat. Under a new directive, the two Air Force specialty codes are merging, and Airmen are far into the merger process. Click here for story.

Former Secretary of the Air Force Dies
Former Secretary of the Air Force John C. Stetson died Aug. 2 at his home in Lake Forest, Ill. Mr. Stetson was the 12th secretary of the Air Force, serving from June 1978 to May 1979. Click here for more.

Full Replacement Value on DOD-Funded Personal Property Shipments
Department of Defense customers, including servicemembers and DOD civilians, will soon be eligible for full replacement value protection on most DOD-funded personal property shipments. Full replacement value coverage will apply to personal property shipments with a pickup date on or after: Oct. 1, 2007 for international shipments; Nov. 1, 2007 for domestic shipments; March 1, 2008, for nontemporary storage; and March 1, 2008, for local move/direct procurement method shipments. Under the full replacement value program, the transportation service provider is liable for the greater of $5,000 per shipment, or 4 times the net weight of the shipment, in pounds, up to $50,000. Click here for more information.

Wright-Patterson Airmen take Over Hickam Air Operations
TSgt Timothy Opp helps a passenger in the passenger terminal center July 2 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Reservists from the 87th Aerial Port Squadron from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, are conducting their two-week duty with the 735th Air Mobility Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Shane A. Cuomo) Click here for story.

Improved Health Care Plan for Reservists Starts Oct 1
Reservists can begin signing up Aug. 11 for more affordable TRICARE Select Reserve health care that starts Oct. 1. For some, it means they will pay a third of what they are paying today. Click here for more.

VA's Suicide Hotline Begins Operations
To ensure veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock access to trained professionals, the Department of Veterans Affairs has opened a national suicide prevention hot line for veterans. The toll-free hot line number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). VA's hot line will be staffed by mental health professionals in Canandaigua, N.Y. They will take toll-free calls from across the country and work closely with local VA mental-health providers to help callers. Click here for more information.

Freedom Walks Planned
Planning for the 2007 America Supports You Freedom Walk is well under way in the nation's capital as well as in 41 states across the country. The inaugural America Supports You Freedom Walk, created by Pentagon employees to commemorate the attack on the building and honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, was held Sept. 11, 2005. America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad. Click here for story.

Air Force Magazine Highlight
War Budgets, Then and Now
Today's political leaders have been reluctant to confront the public with the need for any sacrifice. Click here for Air Force Magazine Editorial.

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