January 2012 OMB newsletter

1. THE SULLIVANS TIMES
January 2012
Ombudsman Family Newsletter By Meagan Snyder and Sarah Wester
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
COMMAND REMARKS……….PAGE 1
OMBUDSMAN REMARKS………. PAGE 2
FINANCIAL AND TAX RESOURCES……….PAGES 3 & 4
“HOW I MET MY SAILOR”………PAGE 5
CRAFT OF THE MONTH & CEILI SCHEDULE ……….PAGE 6
USEFUL LINKS……….PAGE 7
“CAN YOU SPOT YOUR SAILOR?”………..PAGE 8 & 9
OMBUDSMEN AND BASE CONTACT INFORMATION……….PAGE 10
Command Remarks
THE SULLIVANS’ Friends and Families,
Happy New Year to all of you! I hope you all had a great holiday and are recovering from the stress of the
holiday season. Since our last newsletter we have been conducting our operational tasking and had a
fantastic opportunity to spend the holidays in Haifa, Israel. The crew experienced a much needed break
from the daily grind at sea and enjoyed guided tours to Jerusalem and Nazareth, which was truly an
experience we will never forget. We departed Haifa and proceeded to our next port of call, Souda
Bay, Greece, for New Year’s. The crew has been working hard and continues to hone their warfighting
skills while proving to be a critical asset in support of the President’s policy for Missile Defense of Europe.
You can be proud of your Sailors as they are performing exceptionally well in all aspects to include a
number of multi-national exercises. Your Sailors are setting new standards of readiness and excellence
throughout the European theater of operations and have received accolades from the Squadron and Fleet
Commanders!
Please join me in congratulating Chief Petty Officer Chatman, Petty Officer Havens, Petty Officer Wells,
and their families as they welcomed new babies to their families in December. I am happy to welcome the
following Shipmates who recently reported and their families to our team: BMC Edwards, GMC Myles, FC1
Sherry, ICFA Joseph, SN Gonzalez, BMSN Dombovari, HTFR Kendall, CTI1 Sheffer, CTI1 Agee, CTI1
Hubenthal, CTI2 Collins, CTR2 Duncan, and CTI1 Barron. Welcome aboard!
Our families are always on our mind and it was tough to weather the holidays away from home this year,
but the deployment is nearing the halfway point and we will be returning before you know it. I appreciate
your continued support for our Sailors and all that you are doing at home. Please continue to reach out to
the ombudsmen, Meagan and Sarah. They are doing a superlative job as our liaison with you and I am
grateful for their continued dedication the crew.
Commanding Officer, CDR Derick Armstrong, sends.
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2. Ombudsman remarks
By Meagan Snyder
January brings a new year full of exciting possibilities and opportunities to improve your life; start fresh and
begin new. January can also bring a lot of stress and worry when the credit card bills start arriving in the
mail from the holiday season. What seemed like fun and festive giving last month can seem like a huge
headache now. Facing a large amount of holiday debt can put a huge damper on that “new start” outlook.
Here are some statistics to consider:
 Only 32% of Americans would be able to cover a 5,000 dollar emergency with cash without going
into debt for it.
 Almost 14 percent of all credit card accounts in the United States are currently 90 days or more
delinquent.
 Average household debt in the United States has now reached a level of 136% of average
household income.
 Today, 46% of all Americans carry a credit card balance from month to month.
 700,000 Americans have signed up for a credit card that has an interest rate as high as 59.9%.
 One out of every seven Americans is now on food stamps.
 One out of every six elderly Americans now lives below the federal poverty line.
 According to a survey released very close to the end of 2010, 55 percent of all Americans are
now living paycheck to paycheck. A major economic downturn could quickly wipe out millions of
families.
Don’t let the holiday debt stress ruin a new year. We have put together a long list of financial recourses
that can help you learn how to budget, learn how to pay down credit card debt the right way and get on the
road to financial security. We have also listed some valuable tax resources since tax season it right
around the corner. Many of these websites offer free e-filing for active duty military members.
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3. Financial Resources
Disclaimer: The listing of any private companies does not constitute endorsement by the US Navy, the command or the
Ombudsmen. We are only providing a listing of resources that are available.
Feel free to research this topic for additional resources as well.
 Fleet and Family Service Center- There are several very informative classes available at the NS
Mayport and NAS Jax FFSCs. The class schedules for January have been posted to our Facebook
page. If you require additional information, please let us know.
 www.mint.com  www.daveramsey.com
 www.capitalone.com  www.mindyourfinances.com
 www.money.cnn.com  www.kiplinger.com
 www.USAA.com  www.bills.com
 www.navyfederal.org
Military OneSource Free Tax Service
Coming in January 2012: Military OneSource Sponsors H&R Block at Home® Free Tax Filing Service
In January 2012, Military OneSource Tax Program will launch the H&R Block at Home® free electronic
filling tax service. File your Federal and State taxes online for free! This is the same program you may have
used before. If you have already created an H&R Block account, your login credentials for that account will
still work and you will be able to access your personal tax information.
Please wait for the service to launch here at Military OneSource before trying to access your H&R Block
account. This will prevent any applicable charges being applied to your account when preparing to file your
return. The free offer is only valid through the Military OneSource site.
A brief overview of the program:
* Participants must register for Military OneSource and log on to the site for access to the H&R Block At Home (formerly
TaxCut) Basic product. A separate logon for the H&R Block At Home (formerly TaxCut) site is required.
* Those eligible for the program are active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status), spouses and
dependent children (authorized in DEERS), family members handling the affairs of a deployed service member, and severely
injured service members or family members handling their affairs.
* Participants will have free access to the H&R Block At Home (formerly TaxCut) Basic product. Those with more
complicated returns may incur charges if they upgrade to the H&R Block At Home (formerly TaxCut) Premium product.
* Participants can file up to three state resident returns for each federal return that they file with the H&R Block At Home
(formerly TaxCut) Basic product.
* Participants can speak with a Military OneSource Tax Consultant if they have tax related questions, or need assistance
using the H&R Block At Home (formerly TaxCut) Basic product.
Find out more about the program by visiting the Military OneSource Tax page and
FAQs at www.militaryonesource.com
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4. Filing Taxes When a Service Member is Deployed
Arnie Norem, Personal Financial Management Program Analyst
Although it may only be the beginning of January, it is time to decide how to complete and file your tax
returns if your Sailor is deployed. There are several options to consider.
1. Tax assistance may be available to your Sailor, particularly on larger ships. If you are going to file, be
sure your Sailor has all necessary information including IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration
of Representative for giving another person the ability to file taxes on
one’s behalf. Remember, they may also need other paperwork such as: childcare information, home
mortgage interest, etc., to complete the return.
2. You file taxes on behalf of your spouse and yourself. You will need the information above as well your
Sailor’s W-2. To access the W-2 from the MyPay Web site you must have your Sailor’s personal
identification number (PIN). (Or a Limited Access Account created for you by your Sailor)
3. File an extension. If you want to wait until your Sailor returns from deployment to do your taxes, you
have an automatic 60-day extension (until June 15) to file your return and pay any federal income tax due.
Write “US Navy – Deployed outside CONUS” on top of the tax form when you file. If you need more time,
you can file for a four-month extension using IRS Form 4868.
You can get help at many installations through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).
Check with your legal center to see if this service is available at your installation. VITA volunteers will help
you file your taxes free of charge. Go as early as possible before the filing deadline to avoid long lines.
If your Sailor is deployed and in a combat zone, you can receive relief from compliance actions,
such as audits or enforced collections, until 180 days after the Sailor has left the combat zone. Taxpayers
qualifying for such relief can notify the IRS directly of their status via e-mail: combatzone@irs.gov. Name,
Social Security number, stateside address, date of birth, and date of deployment to the combat zone must
be provided. Notification can be made by the service member, spouse, or authorized agent or
representative. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) notifies the IRS when individuals enter
and exit a combat zone.
Check the following resources for further information:
 My Pay Web site at https://mypay.dfas.mil
 IRS form 2848 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2848.pdf
 IRS Armed Forces Tax Guide at www.irs.gov/publications/p3/index.html
The Armed Forces' Tax Guide, Publication 3, provides information on extensions and other tax topics. It is
available at http://www.irs.gov/publications/p3/ar02.html#en_US_2011_publink1000176333
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5. HOW I MET MY SAILOR: HOW I MET MY SAILOR:
BM2 Andrew Werner GSE3 Victor Doroy
By: Tricia Cieckiewicz
By: Erin Doroy
I met my sailor online. I was scrolling through It was right before Christmas break.
some personals, many of which gave me very And I was in my home room class. When
little hope in the male species, and I saw an ad
in walked a boy that I knew with a
that read "in need of help". My curiosity caught I
friend that I had never talked to before.
just had to read, and loved what I read. So I
answered the ad and held my breath while I
Victor walks straight towards me and
waited all day for a response. I was so excited
when he finally wrote back. We hit it off
says something that makes me laugh and
instantly and sent dozens of emails over the next walks away. So the next day he does the
two days before exchanging numbers. We texted same and so on and so on. I was so
each other about every two minutes, cute for interested in him; he made me laugh so
star struck teenagers laughable for two nearly hard all the time.
thirty year old adults.
One day, he finally sends me a letter,
Finally after a week we meet for the first time.
with “Will you go out with me? Yes or
We just felt an instant connection, it’s one of
no?” We have been in love ever since.
those things until you experience it for the first
We were in the 6th grade and were
time you really can't imagine the feeling. We
fortunate enough to have an open heart
spent the most incredible weekend at a beautiful
beach front hotel, and I had no doubt I found at that age to find the right one so
that one person I wanted to be with. Andrew is soon.
always incredibly sweet, he thinks of everyone
else before himself, and always loves with all his He is my best friend and the love of my
heart. He's an amazing father and treats my kids life.
like his own. I am looking forward to our life
together and our growing family.
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6. Craft of the Month
Coffee Can bank
(Courtesy of Family Fun Magazine: www.familyfun.go.com)
Wishes Can Come True
Ring in the New Year with a project that your child can bank on:
A custom container that lets him save up for something he really wants.
Materials
 Coffee can
 Paper
 Magazine photos
 Paint
 Markers
 Crayons
 Other decorative elements of your choice
Total Time Needed: 1 Hour
Instructions
1. Have your child decorate an empty coffee can with images of what he pines for (a pet, video
game, new book). Then cut a slot in the lid that's large enough to accommodate coins and folded
bills.
2. Make the first deposit to get him started.
UPCOMING CEILIS
What is a Ceili (kay-lee)? A Ceili is simply a social gathering. During deployment and throughout the year,
the Ombudsmen host Ceilis to foster friendship and camaraderie throughout the families and Sailors of
USS The Sullivans.
13 January 18 February
5-7pm 2-4pm
Location: Mayport USO Location: Big Air
2560 Mayport Road 13475 Atlantic Blvd # 8
Atlantic Beach, FL Jacksonville
Bring your favorite craft or make a HALF WAY PARTY!
Valentine for your Sailor which will be
hand delivered to the ship.
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7. USEFUL LINKS AND INFO
NEW BABY REGISTRATION IN TRICARE: Due to the many new and upcoming births here is the
link for information on how register your new bundle of joy into DEERS and TRICARE. This is a
time sensitive process: http://www.humana-military.com/south/bene/billing-
enrollment/NewFamilyMembers.asp
Military HOME FRONT: MilitaryHOMEFRONT is the Department of Defense website for official
Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) program information, policy and guidance
designed to help troops and their families, leaders, and service providers. Whether you live the
military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find what you need:
Their website is: http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/
DEPLOYMENT STRESS AND CHILDREN: If your child is having some trouble adjusting to this
deployment here are some links for counseling and/or outlets for their feelings:
 Military One Source: Counseling is available by calling 1-800-342-9647 or you can visit
their website @ www.militaryonesource.com
 Deployment Kids website: This website provides activities and children centered
information about how to deal with deployment: http://www.deploymentkids.com/
 Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC): Your local FFSC can provide options for many
different situations regarding deployment. Below is the contact information for our three local
FFSC’s.
 NAVSTA Mayport
Phone: 904-270-6600
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/mayport/index.htm
 NAS Jacksonville
Phone: 904-542-2766
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/jacksonville/FleetAndFamilyReadiness/SupportServices/Fam
ilies/index.htm
 SUBASE Kings Bay
Phone: 912-573-4512
http://www.subasekb.navy.mil/page_departments_ffsc_home.htm
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8. CS3 Clarissa Davis (left) and ET3 Carrie Jackson
(right) pause for a photo in the wardroom galley
[Photo provided by USS The Sullivans]
BMSN John Stanavage shoots a bearing to
a contact while USS The Sullivans makes
its entrance into Haifa, Israel.
[Photo provided by USS The Sullivans]
DC1 Bredeson preparing to “pie”
DCC White during the ship’s MWR “Pie in
the Eye” Fundraiser.
[Photo provided by USS The Sullivans]
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9. 3 January 2012-USS The Sullivans in
action!
[Photo provided by USS The Sullivans]
The Crew of USS The Sullivans poses for a picture in front of the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. Two tours of approximately 80 crew members each were able to take
part in tours of Jerusalem and Nazareth during the holiday port visit in Haifa, Israel
[Photo provided by USS The Sullivans]
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10. OMBUDSMEN CONTACT INFORMATION
MEAGAN SNYDER: EMAIL: PROUDSULLIVANSWIFE@GMAIL.COM PHONE: (904) 403-0048
SARAH WESTER: EMAIL: SULLIVANSOMBUDSMAN@GMAIL.COM PHONE: (904) 955-7864
WEBSITE: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SULLIVANS.OMBUDSMAN
CARELINE (RECORDED MESSAGE): Toll Free: 1-888-799-8081
THE SHIP’S ADDRESS IS:
USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68)
FPO AA 34093-1287
HELPFUL SHIP, BASE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY CONTACTS
USS THE SULLIVANS QUARTERDECK:
(904) 270-7981 AMERICAN RED CROSS:
(877) 272-7337 (toll-free)
CENTRAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS: When calling the Red Cross, please provide
(904) 542-4677 as much of the following information about
the service member as is known:
NS Mayport Medical Clinic:
(904) 270-4303  Full name
 Rank/rating
Fleet and Family Support Center:  Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air
(904) 270-6600 Force, Marines, Coast Guard)
 Social Security Account number or
Base Chapel: date of birth
(904) 270-5212  Military address
 Information about the deployed unit
ITT Office: and home base unit (for deployed
(904) 270-5145 service members only)
Outdoor Recreation: USO (United Services Organization):
(904) 270-5221 http://www.uso.org
Youth Center: Mayport USO
(904) 270-5680 2560 Mayport Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Child Development Center: Phone: 904-246-3481
Off-base-(904) 270-7740
NAS Jacksonville USO
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Building 1050 (on NAS Jax)
(NMCRS): Jacksonville, FL 32212-0108
(904) 270-5418 Phone: 904-778-2821
Pass and ID (Main Gate/decals):
(904) 270-5585
Base Security: (904) 270-5583
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