Family Readiness Corner: Upcoming Classes and Teen Camps Published March 2, 2011 By Carolann Wunderlin 129th Rescue Wing Airman & Family Readiness Program Coordinator MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- Operation Ready Families Upcoming Classes The Operation Ready Families is the California National Guard's family Assistance Network. Its mission is to assist units as they support the families of servicemembers during peacetime and times of training and deployment. The Premarital Interpersonal Choices & Knowledge (PICK) program is offering a course in San Diego, Calif. Mar 12 and 13. The course is designed for single Soldier and Airmen, is a research based program that is designed to equip singles to ask the right questions, look for the right (and wrong) characteristics in a potential spouse, and keep relationships at a proper pace. Other seminars that focus on married couples deal with issues such as communication, intimacy, trust and problem solving, but the PICK program helps you find the right person in the first place. Please register for one event at a time, for processing purposes. For example, if you wish to attend the Family Readiness Course and the Volunteer Only Course, register for FRC first and then submit. Once submitted, return and register for the Volunteer Only Course. Go to http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=Readyfamilies&fm=1 to register. In the Quantity/Selection enter "2" to register a couple for Marriage Enrichment or select the check box to register for the Family Readiness course, PICK program, or the Volunteer Only course. When asked for payment contact information, it is not used for payment information, that's just how the system labels it, this is the information we will use to reach you. If you are requesting an Invitational travel order, this address MUST be your home address. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. For more information regarding registration please go online to www.calguard.ca.gov/readyfamilies. Also, send your questions or comments to ready.families@ca.ngb.army.mil or call toll free to 1-800-449-9662. 2011 Teen Leadership Summits The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Teen Leadership Summits combine high-adventure activities with leadership classes for allowing teens, ages 14 to 18, to tap into their leadership potential and discover hidden strengths while developing a sense of belonging to the Air Force community. Participants must have a parent in the Air Force Reserve and submit their application before April 8. Teens must answer essay questions and complete the code-of-conduct and transportation forms to attend one of the sessions, application can be found at www.georgia4h.org/AFRANGTeenSummit. If selected, Airfare, transportation while at the Summit, camp fees, lodging and meals are covered by Air Force. Parents will be responsible for getting their teen to/from the airport, baggage fees, spending money for snacks, souvenirs and meals during airline travel. The following Teen Leadership Summits are scheduled for summer 2011: Classic Teen Leadership Summit: June 19-24, Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega, GA During the summit, participants will take part in group activities such as high ropes, zip-line canopy tour, white-water rafting, hiking, fishing, archery and survival classes. The participants will also attend leadership classes throughout the week. Capitol Teen Leadership Summit: July 24-29, Washington, DC Attendees will focus on citizenship, character building and high adventure. Their experience will include exploring the wonders of the nation's capital, such as monuments, memorials and the Smithsonian museums. They will also have the chance to meet with their congressional member or a member of his or her staff (this summit is for teens who have previously attended an AFR/ANG Teen Summit). Adventure Teen Leadership Summit: Aug. 9-14, Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park, CO During the summit, participants will take part in daily adventure activities including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, horse colt training, arts and crafts, woodworking, technical rock climbing, and archery. Leadership classes taught throughout the week include the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. They will gather for programs including campfires and songs, musical performances and environmental education classes. For more information, please contact Family Member Programs at afrc.youthprograms@us.af.mil or Stacey Young at 478-327-0971 or stacey.young@us.af.mil. For additional information about Georgia 4-H, visit http://www.georgia4h.org/AFRANGTeenSummit. 2011 Aviation, Space, and Teen Leadership Camps Air Force Services Child and Youth Programs offer a number of activities to educate, guide, and entertain the young. Programs are available throughout the year at installations throughout the world. Explore the information below for this summer's camps or visit http://www.afyouthprograms.com/ for more great opportunities. Teen Aviation Aviation Camp is an awesome opportunity for teens to have a glimpse of life at the United States Air Force Academy. Aviation Camp is offered annually the first week in June. Flying in a Cessna 145 is just one of the highlights at this camp (only available for teens entering 10th or 11th grade). Teen Leadership Camp Leadership camp is held at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Teens will engage in team building, classroom workshops, and leadership activities while experiencing college campus living. Space Camp Air Force Space Camp (AFSC) is a residential 6-day program that shows firsthand what it takes to be an astronaut. Activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions, training simulators, rocket building and launches, scientific experiments, and lectures on the past, present, and future of space exploration. The camp is held the last week of July (only available to youth ages 12-18). Teens interested in applying must complete the electronic Summer Camp Nomination Registration Form. All Applicants must be verified for eligibility and interviewed for selection. Military dependent ID cards are recommended for verifying eligibility, please scan and submit with the Application/Nomination Form. All applications need to be submitted electronically to Sandra Mason at santra.mason.ctr@ang.af.mil by the corresponding suspense dates. The earlier suspense date will allow time to conduct interviews and be forwarded on to meet HQ AFSVA/SVPY suspense dates (Youth Staff members interested in serving as a counselor also need to have applications in to HQ AFSVA/SVPY by April 1): Teen Aviation Camp Due to Sandra Mason - March 21 Due to HQ AFSVA/SVPY - April 1 Teen Leadership Camp Due to Sandra Mason - April 1 Due to HQ AFSVA/SVPY - April 15 Teen Space Camp Due to Sandra Mason - April 1 Due to HQ AFSVA/SVPY - April 15 All lodging, meals, and program costs will be centrally funded at no cost to participants or their installation. Airline or travel costs to each camp are the responsibility of the attendees or their installation. If you are interested in nominating your teen for this opportunity, contact Master Sgt. Gary Ginestra, the 129th Services Flight supervisor, at 650-603-9291 or gary.ginestra@ang.af.mil or Carolann Wunderlin, the Airman and Family Readiness Office coordinator, at 650-603 or carolann.wunderlin@ang.af.mil, they will provide the required documents necessary for an application. If you have any further questions, please contact Sandra Mason at 301-836-8138 or sandra.mason.ctr@ang.af.mil. New JP Morgan and Chase Military Programs JP Morgan is implementing new military programs including a Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) mortgage interest rate of 4%. This is a two point improvement over the law's 6% provision. These provisions were implemented after litigation surrounding improper policies and internal controls relating to servicemembers mortgages and the SCRA. Below is a list of new Chase programs: Reduced Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Pricing Effective Apr 4, subject to any required approvals, Chase will put in place a rebate or similar program for SCRA-protected military personnel, which will lower eligible borrowers' effective mortgage interest rate to 4% while on active duty and for a year thereafter. That maximum rate is 2% lower than the 6% rate currently required by SCRA. Military Modification Program Beginning Apr 4, Chase will introduce an enhanced modification program for all members of the military who have served on active duty as far back as 9/11/01. The program will be offered to those who are delinquent or having trouble making their mortgage payments. Subject to the required regulatory and investor approvals, the program will go beyond the government's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) requirements. In addition, in cases when we modify any Chase-owned or Chase-serviced primary residential mortgage, if there is a second mortgage on the same property that is also owned by Chase, we will! modify the interest rate on the second to 1%. Home Ownership Assistance Chase will not foreclose on any currently deployed active military personnel. This change goes beyond current SCRA requirements, which protects military borrowers against foreclosure only if they took out their loans prior to going on active duty. In cases where Chase mistakenly foreclosed on military borrowers who should have been covered by SCRA, in addition to rescinding the sale, it will forgive all remaining mortgage debt. Going forward, if Chase ever has a wrongful foreclosure sale on an SCRA covered customer, it will forgive all of their remaining mortgage debt, as well. Chase plans to - Donate 1,000 homes to military and veterans over the next five years through non-profit partners. - Open five new Chase Homeownership Centers by the end of 2011 in cities near these military bases: + Ft. Hood in Killeen, TX + Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA + Ft. Bragg/Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, NC + Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC + Ft. Campbell in Clarksville, TN - In 2011, Chase will host 10 borrower outreach events near large military bases. - Homeownership Centers will be staffed with employees specifically trained in military programs. Enhanced SCRA Controls Chase recently opened a dedicated hotline for military customers staffed by a unit of experts that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any military borrower who has a question about a Chase loan should call: - Mortgage questions: 877-469-0110 - Credit Card questions: 888-520-3863 - All other consumer product questions: 800-242-7399 For more information please contact Deborah Schroeder at deborah.schroeder@ang.af.mil. To subscribe to the National Guard Bureau's Joint Services Support emails and receive similar information and search through their resources, please go to https://jointservicessupport.org/Join.aspx to create and account. Please direct questions and concerns regarding JSS to feedback@jointservicessupport.org. For more information about the Airman and Family Readiness Office and its programs please visit http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/resources/familyreadiness.asp.