Family Readiness Corner - September 2010 Published Sept. 8, 2010 MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. -- This is a compilation of tools, tips and important information provided by the Airman and Family Readiness office. Free Tutoring for Military Famlies at Tutor.com from MilitaryOneSource.com Parents and kids alike are raving about Tutor.com, the free online tutoring service provided to eligible military families around the world by the Department of Defense. Students can work with a certified, professional tutor online to get help with homework, study skills, test prep, and more. Tutors cover math, science, social studies, and English from K-12 to the introductory college level. To get started, go to www.tutor.com, select your service branch, and follow the directions to get a password. After registering, you will receive an e-mail with your access code and you'll be ready to begin chatting online with your tutor. Those eligible for the service include active-duty military members and their dependents, reservists on active duty in a deployed status and their dependents, National Guard personnel on active duty in a deployed status and their dependents, and DoD civilians in a deployed status and their dependents. If you need help getting started, you can e-mail the staff at help@tutor.com or call them at 1-800-411-1970. For more information about this and other services please visit the Military One Source newsletter at http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100908-036.pdf. Spouse Battlemind Course Sat. Sept. 11 from 1:00-2:00pm Class intended for new spouses or inexperienced spouses and significant others dealing with deployment separation. If no dependent ID, those interested should RSVP with Carolann Wunderlin 650-603-9118 or email carolann.wunderlin@ang.af.mil indicating your full name and U.S. citizenship status so that they can be identified on the NASA Bases Access List for entry through Macon Gate. "Send Some Love to a Loved One" - JCPenney Portraits Exclusive offer for families of deployed military members from Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2010. Free sitting fees, one traditional portrait sheet and one portrait sheet shipped to your service members APO. Additional traditional portrait sheets $3.99 each, plus save 40% on collections. Must show valid military I.D. For more information visit http://www.jcpportraits.com/offers/portraitsoflove.html NOTE: Reference to JCPenney does not constitute as an endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Air Force, The California Air National Guard or the 129th Rescue Wing. This listing is provided for information sharing purposes only. Parent's Guidebook To Deployment Please visit http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100908-041.pdf to view "Our Sons, Our Daughters" A National Guard Parent's Guidebook to Deployment by Paula Sumrall. Packed full of wisdom and helpful hints, this book will assist parents during the deployment process: from how to use resources like the Family Readiness Group and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, to knowing how to contact your child overseas and what to consider when raising their dependents. The guidebook includes a pre-deployment checklist, information about family readiness groups, emergency notifications, dealing with wounded warriors, post traumatic stress disorder, tips from fellow parents, it even includes an appendix with a list of Web sites for getting free stuff and much more. This book is a must for the parent who wants to support their Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen and the important mission they've been called to do. For more information please visit the National Guard Bureau Family Program Office www.guardfamily.org. Airman & Family Readiness Regional Youth Team Forming Now! If you are interested in being part of a 129th Youth & Teen Volunteer Team, you will receive training and represent the 129th Rescue Wing at Yellow Ribbon Events. Those interested should contact Carolann Wunderlin at carolann.wunderlin@ang.af.mil or call 650-603-9118. National Guard Special Needs Survey Extended The National Guard Family Programs office has received numerous inquires about extending the deadline on the Special Needs Survey from 31 Aug. to 30 Sept. Service Members attending the September drill will now have the opportunity to respond until the end of September. Anyone interested in participating in the survey can click on the following links: http://tinyurl.com/39v85ph or https://www.jointservicessupport.org/Survey/TakeSurvey.aspxPageNumber=1&SurveyID=403 Timely News For Deployers Combat And Other Hazardous-Duty Entitlements Remain For Troops Serving In Iraq The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive, a Pentagon spokeswoman said today. Servicemembers deployed to Iraq will still receive hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses. Some troops will qualify for family separation allowances. Also, all pay for warrant officers and enlisted members is tax exempt, while officers are exempt from taxes for up to $7,611.30 each month they serve in an eligible area. For more information please read the article posted from the American Forces Press Service at http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60679 For more information about the 129 Rescue Wing Airman and Family Readiness office and its programs please visit the website at http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/resources/familyreadiness.asp .