The document provides information about how a potential government shutdown may affect military families at Fort Rucker. Essential services like medical care would continue but pay may be delayed. Civilian and military personnel are asked to report to work as normal. Upcoming training opportunities and community events are also announced. The document concludes with updates on TRICARE coverage for young adults and information about applied behavioral analysis therapy for autism.

1. USAACE Weekly
Family Update
8 April 2011
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How the Possible Government Shutdown
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Affects You
1 How the Possible Operations and activities that are essential to safety, protection of human
Government life, and protection of our national security, are 'excepted' from shutting
Shutdown affects you down. Excepted activities will include inpatient and essential outpatient
2 Healing the Wounded care in DoD medical treatment facilities; emergency dental care; non-
Organization -- appropriated funds activities such as mess halls and child care activities;
Webinar certain education and training activities to include the DoD education
activity schools. It is unclear exactly which agencies will be affected; a
3 Alabama Operation consolidated list will be generated and distributed as that situation
Military Kids develops. In the interim, recommend calling ahead.
(OMK)/4-H Fort
Clover Military personnel are not subject to furlough and will report for duty as
normal during a shutdown.
Civilian personnel deemed to be performing excepted activities will be
notified by their supervisor and will continue to work during the period of a
shutdown. If there is a government shutdown beginning on Saturday, April
“If you have knowledge, 9, all DoD personnel should still report to work on their next scheduled duty
let others light their day, beginning at their normal duty hours to receive additional instructions.
candles at it.”
~Margaret Fuller If the government shuts down, the DoD will have no funds to pay military
members or civilian employees for the government is shut down. However,
both military and civilian personnel will receive pay for the period worked
prior to the shutdown (1-8 APR) as normally scheduled. Military personnel,
and civilians occupying excepted status positions and required to work, are
entitled to be paid for work performed during the shutdown, and will be
paid retroactively once the department receives additional funding.
Our goal is to keep you informed to the fullest extent possible, further
information will be published as it solidifies.
www.operationautismonline.org

2. Page 2 Newsletter Title
Upcoming Training:
 FRG Training – 14 April at Bldg.
Main Post Power Outage
5700, Rm 284 from 5:15 pm – A scheduled power outage will take place Sunday, April 10th from
9:15pm. Register by calling 0001 to 0400 (12 AM to 4 AM). This outage will affect the entire
(334) 255-9578.
Fort Rucker Cantonment Area, to include Main Post, Lowe Field,
 Resilience Training for spouses – Hatch Field, Hanchey Field, Knox Field, Ech Field, the Lake
25 April, 6 & 13 May, and 3 June Tholocco area and Family Housing.
from 0830 – 1130. Participants
must be able to attend all the The purpose of this outage is to perform required testing and
classes for continuity purposes.
To register call (334) 255-3735. preventive maintenance on the Electrical Distribution System.
Upcoming Events:
 Newcomer’s Welcome at The
Landing -- 15 April from 0830 – Thank you to all Fort
1030 at The Landing
Rucker Volunteers for
 Children’s Festival – 16 April helping to make our
from 1:oo – 4:00 pm at the Fort
Rucker Festival Fields. Easter
Egg Hunt begins at 1:30 pm
agencies and organization
such a huge success!!
 Family Fun Run/Walk – 16 April
beginning at 0930. Registration
is $10, $5 no T-shirt option. For
more information call (334) 255-
3898.
 Voices of Men – 18 April from Ken Blanchard FREE Webinar -- Healing the Wounded
1830 – 2000 at the Fort Rucker Organization on 20 April. "The organization has weathered the
Post Theater. FREE and open to storm, but not without its share of cuts and bruises—especially to
all military ID card holders. For
details call (334) 255-9636. the human side of the organization.” In this webinar, best-selling
business author Ken Blanchard shares three key strategies for
 5th Annual Wiregrass United returning your organization to full health with all cylinders firing.
Against Sexual Assault and Child You’ll learn how to:
Abuse Conference – 18 April
from 0815 – 1600 at the
Daleville Cultural and •Create a compelling picture of the future
Convention Center. For •Re-establish trust that may have been strained during hard times
information and to register call •Get everyone aligned and moving in the same direction
(334) 255-3898.
This may be geared toward businesses, but can certainly be applied
 Thunder on Tholocco – 30 April
Race begins at 11am. Tickets to our Family Readiness Groups as well. To register visit
available at Outdoor Rec and http://www.webex.com/webinars/Healing-the-Wounded-
Leisure Travel -- Advanced Organization
tickets $5, at the gate $7,
Children 12 and under FREE.
Additionally there is an article titled Rebuilding Trust,
Commitment, and Morale from the April 2011 Ignite! Newsletter –
found at
http://www.kenblanchard.com/Business_Leadership/Management_
Leadership_Newsletter/April2011_main_article/
Visit www.commissaries.com

3. Newsletter Title Page 3
TRICARE UPDATE
Officials plan to roll out the new program in two phases, first offering a premium-based TRICARE
Standard/Extra benefit, Camacho said. Then, later this year, they plan to introduce the TRICARE Prime and
TRICARE Prime Remote plan, including overseas options, and the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan.
Once the program is in place, eligible young adults may submit an application and premium payment to the
appropriate regional or overseas contractor for processing, Camacho said. Cost shares, deductibles and
catastrophic caps will vary, based on the plan selected and the sponsor's status.
Young adult beneficiaries will receive an enrollment card after they buy coverage and their payment is
reflected in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, Camacho said.
The new beneficiaries may choose to pay premiums back to Jan. 1, which will entitle them to file claims for
any health care costs they have accrued since that date. To do so, officials advise that they save all receipts
to ease claims processing.
For adults who need health insurance coverage but no longer qualify for TRICARE coverage, officials
advise exploring the Continued Heath Care Benefit Program. This premium-based program offers
temporary, transitional health coverage for 18 to 36 months. Coverage must be purchased within 60 days of
losing TRICARE eligibility. Information about the program is posted on the TRICARE website.
Autism Awareness Month – ABA Therapy
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is an approach to learning that uses discreet trial teaching methods to
acquire new skills or reduce adverse behaviors in children on the Autism Spectrum. It is one-on-one
therapy unless a social skill group is added periodically. Typical ABA sessions are two hours in length.
ABA Therapy is offered here at Fort Rucker through the Progress Center or in Dothan at the Spectrum
Clinic.
TRICARE typically covers up to $3,000/month in ABA Therapy for children with an Autism Spectrum
related diagnosis and who are active duty dependents. Families need to be enrolled in Extended Care
Health Options Program (ECHO) by calling Cindy Wilson – 1-866-323-7155. Each family has a
TRICARE monthly co-pay which typically ranges from $25 to $75 (depending on the sponsor’s rank).
To get approved for the program:
 Obtain a diagnosis for your child through a psychologist
 Apply for approval into the TRICARE DEMO program by calling a case manager with TRICARE
at 1-866-323-7155
 Request Jennifer Underwood to be assigned as your Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Jennifer
will do the evaluation and design a behavior plan.
 Call Progress Center to request the paperwork needed to start a file with your child in the program –
(334) 899-4333. Angie Marshall is the Program Administrative Director.
 Once authorization for services is received you will be contacted for the initial evaluation.

For more information of if you have questions, contact the EFMP program at (334) 255-9277.

4. Page 4 Newsletter Title
AC/RC Pay Concerns – Director Defense Military Pay Office
As a direct result of the unsigned budget, the April 2011 mid-month payments for all AC members was
decreased by seven days of pay for the period of April 9-15, 2011. Leave and Earnings statements reflect a
partial payment established and collected, representing the seven days of pay. Once the budget has been
approved, a subsequent payment for the residual amount will be issued and sent direct deposit to the
member’s financial institution for the pay that was suppressed by this action.
As a direct result of unsigned budget, the April 2011 mid-month payments for all RC members serving long
tours was decreased by seven days of pay for the period of April 9-15, 2011. Leave and Earnings statements
reflect a debt was established and collected, representing the seven days of pay. Once the budget has been
approved, a subsequent payment for the debt amount will be issued and sent direct deposit to the member’s
financial institution for the pay that was suppressed. For Reserve Soldiers on tours over thirty days, the
midmonth was processed with the normal calculations and then a casual pay debt was processed to offset the
pay for the calculated net amount of pay for the 9th through the 15th.
DFAS has not yet released a planned automatic email message to the Soldiers' AKO accounts nor sent out
general information to finance offices or the media on this adjustment. There is no specific remark on the
LES explaining the adjustment other than the normal CP collection remark. Assuming the current budget
impasse is resolved in time, the DFAS plan is to process a casual pay through the daily payment cycle to each
affected Soldiers account in order to hit on the 15th simultaneously with the midmonth payday.
Additional information will be provided as it is received.
www.realwarriors.net