The document provides information on several topics: 1) The Department of Defense has approved a new medal to recognize service members contributing to combat operations from afar. 2) Resources for military family educational funds and benefits are listed, including federal student aid and scholarship programs. 3) Changes to TRICARE networks will impact 171,000 beneficiaries starting in October. 4) Over 100 Navy tax assistance centers are open to help with tax filing until the April 15th deadline.

1. Navy Career Wise PRINT Edition. For those who have low bandwidth & limited
access online. Compiled from this weeks posting on MSC Social Media Career Page:
www.facebook.com/careerwise . For comments & questions contact Chief Editor:
NCC(AW/SW/SCW) Astro at Military Sealift Command via your CCC.
*** DoD Announces New Medal *** he Department of Defense has approved the new Distinguished Warfare Medal, which is designed to recognize service
members directly affecting combat operations who may not even be on the same continent as the action. (One example could be the work of an unmanned
aerial vehicle operator who could be operating a system over Afghanistan while based in the United States.) The new medal cannot be awarded for acts of
battlefield valor and cannot be used as an end-of-tour award. The Distinguished Warfare Medal will be below the Distinguished Flying Cross, and will be
limited to achievements that are truly extraordinary. Award criteria will be incorporated into the next revision of DOD Manual 1348.33-V3, Manual of Military
Decorations and Awards, Volume 3.
*** Military Family Educational Funds and Benefits ***Here are some helpful websites for family members who need cash for college:
•http://studentaid.ed.gov/guide - This guide provides valuable information about federal student aid programs. Published by the U.S. Department of
Education.
•http://www.imagineamericafoundation.com/ - Imagine America is proud to announce a Military Scholarship Program. Visit the link for details.
•http://www.nmfa.org/ - National Military Family Association has useful information for military families as well as a scholarship program for spouses of
military members.
•http://www.militaryscholar.org/ - This site offers a scholarship for children of military members.
*** TRICARE Prime Online Tool & Changes *** Beginning in Fiscal Year 2013, managed care networks operating beyond 40 miles of military treatment
facilities or base closure sites will be halted under next-generation TRICARE support contracts. The change, to impact 171,000 beneficiaries, is intended to cut
TRICARE costs for taxpayers. The TRICARE Management Activity has a new online tool for retirees under age 65 and surviving spouses to verify if their Prime
network will end Oct. 1, forcing them to use TRICARE Standard. For details on this rollback:
http://www.tricare.mil/Welcome/MediaCenter/CurrentTopics/ChangestoPSAs.aspx
*** Great Financial Benefits: Navy Tax Centers Open *** More than 100 Navy tax assistance centers around the world are now open for business. Navy tax
assistance centers provide Sailors and others free assistance with filing their taxes.
The tax filing deadline is April 15, 2013, and Navy tax assistance centers in the U.S. will be open through this date to assist customers. Sailors assigned
overseas automatically receive a two-month extension to file their taxes. Sailors and their dependents who are not assigned near a Navy tax center may
access Military One Source online at www.militaryonesource.mil to utilize free tax preparation software.
A complete listing of Navy tax centers and other important tax references are available online by accessing the Navy JAG website at
www.jag.navy.mil/organization/code_16_tax_info.htm.

2. *** Discussion: Navy Civilian Furlough and Budget Cuts*** Will it exam with an interim clearance issued by the unit commanding officer
affect your work or career in the Navy as active duty? How is budget cut while awaiting formal adjudication from DONCAF. Some exceptions
affecting your career decisions? The dire effects of the Budget Control apply. For additional information on PTS eligibility requirements visit the
Act of 2011 (sequestration) are triggered March 1. The continuing FleetRIDE (PTS/REGA) webpage: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-
resolution (CR) expires March 27 - even without sequestration, no npc/career/careercounseling/pages/fleetride-pts.aspx
appropriation could spur a government shutdown. Share us your
thoughts. Go to www.facebook.com/careerwise to join the discussion. *** Navy Housing Hits Social Media *** Navy Housing strives to
Click this link below on how it may relate to your current work in the connect with servicemembers and their families timely through social
Navy. For more information on this issue: media. Navy Housing's biggest innovation in connecting with customers
www.navy.mil/docs/CivilianFurloughsInfoImpacts_19FEB13.ppt & online is the Housing Early Application Tool (HEAT). The first of its kind
https://www.portal.navy.mil/donhr/OCHRHQ/Pages/Furlough.aspx for servicemembers, HEAT connects customers with one or more of
their prospective installations' HSCs so they may begin their housing
*** Family & Active Duty Educational Benefits and Free Special search even before receiving official orders.
Assistance *** www.tutor.com is an all-purpose educational and career
resource for the entire family. Online tutoring services are available The Navy Housing Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/NavyHousing
along with a multitude of resources including: connects photos and floor plans of military housing at individual bases.
►K - 12 help in all academic subjects, Combine that with the videos on Navy Housing's YouTube page at
►Academic assistance for college students www.youtube.com/NavyHousing, and servicemembers can visualize
►Study Help for State Standardized Tests, military housing from all angles from the convenience of their computer.
►Career help for adults For more information, visit the HEAT website at
►Job searches www.cnic.navy.mil/HEAT and find your local HSC contact information at
►Test Prep for GRE/GMAT, GED, ASVAB & more the Navy Housing Program webpage at www.cnic.navy.mil/Housing
►Improving your Financial Literacy
►Proof Reading services *** Training: NCW Social Gram Weekly, Documents and Career
You MUST log in via Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) to get this for FREE Information Slides *** Check out the latest Training tools while on the
and clicking the Reference tab at the top of the webpage. go on Navy Career Wise Slideshare. Click Documents or Presentation on
www.nko.navy.mil the menu on Plain Talks, Tips, Navy Career Wise Weekly Digest, Veteran
Handbooks, New Tools, Training materials, and more.
*** PTS: Submission Deadline on 28 February & PTS Sailors Can Take •For Training: http://www.slideshare.net/tonyastro/presentations
March Exam *** Remember you only have 2 days to submit your PTS •For Documents: http://www.slideshare.net/tonyastro/documents
via your CCC on FleetRIDE. A recent policy change allows Sailors with a
PTS "Intends to Separate" status to participate in the upcoming March, Click to access the previous Navy Career Wise Social Gram
2013 examination. Sailors who have received final PTS denial (Denied
Final - Active) on their December PTS application remain ineligible to
participate in the March examination. A policy change in the security
clearance requirement now allows a Sailor to take the advancement