Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Military Simulation Paintball Guns
The advancement and progression of law enforcement and military exercises and training, in addition to military simulation and real action games, is taken into account in the design phase and manufacturing process of these military simulation paintball guns. Since most of these paintball markers are made for use in police and military training, the guns are made to be extremely durable and can withstand a lot of strain and any blows that might occur when out on the field.
Monday, September 9, 2013
The Ways That The Military Is Using Alternative Energy
The Ways That The Military Is Using Alternative Energy
The US military knows that its branches must revamp their thinking about how to engage in “the theater of war” in the new, post-Cold War world of the 21st century. One thing that the military leaders stress is the desire for the forces deployed in the theater to be able to be more energy-independent. Currently the US military has policies and procedures in place to interact with allies or sympathetic local populaces to help its forces in the field get their needed energy and clean water when engaged in a foreign military campaign. However, this is not wholly reliable, as the US might well find itself facing unilateral military activities, or have itself in a situation where its allies cannot help it with the resources it needs to conduct its military actions successfully.
The US military is very interested in certain alternative energies that, with the right research and development technologically, can make it energy independent, or at least a great deal more so, on the battlefield. One of the things that greatly interests the military along these lines is the development of small nuclear reactors, which could be portable, for producing theater-local electricity. The military is impressed with how clean-burning nuclear reactors are and how energy efficient they are. Making them portable for the typical warfare of today’s highly mobile, small-scaled military operations is something they are researching. The most prominent thing that the US military thinks these small nuclear reactors would be useful for involves the removal of hydrogen (for fuel cell) from seawater. It also thinks that converting seawater to hydrogen fuel in this way would have less negative impact on the environment than its current practices of remaining supplied out in the field.
Seawater is, in fact, the military’s highest interest when it comes to the matter of alternative energy supply. Seawater can be endlessly “mined” for hydrogen, which in turn powers advanced fuel cells. Using OTEC, seawater can also be endlessly converted into desalinated, potable water. Potable water and hydrogen for power are two of the things that a near-future deployed military force will need most of all.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act / SCRA Common Questions
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act / SCRA Common Questions
Who is eligible for the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)?
The Act applies to active duty military personnel who had a mortgage obligation before enlistment or before being ordered to active duty. This includes:
– Members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard
– Commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration engaged in active service
– Reservists ordered to report for military service
– People ordered to report for induction (training) under the Military Selective Service Act
– Guardsmen called to active service for more than 30 consecutive days.
– In limited situations, dependents of servicemembers are also entitled to protections.
Am I entitled to debt payment relief?
The Act limits interest that may be charged on mortgages taken out by a servicemember (including debts incurred jointly with a spouse) before he or she entered into active military service. At your request, lenders must reduce the interest rate to no more than 6% per year during the period of active military service and recalculate your payments to reflect the lower rate. This provision applies to both conventional and government-insured mortgages.
Is the interest rate limitation automatic?
No. To ask for this temporary interest rate reduction, you must submit a written request to your mortgage lender and include a copy of your military orders. The request may be submitted as soon as the orders are issued, but no later than 180 days after the date of your release from active duty military service.
Am I eligible even if I can afford to pay my mortgage at a higher interest rate?
If a mortgage lender believes that military service has not affected your ability to repay your mortgage, they have the right to ask a court to grant relief from the interest rate reduction. This is does not happen very often.
What if I can’t afford to pay my mortgage even at the lower rate?- (Top)
Your mortgage lender may let you stop paying the principal amount due on your loan during active duty service. Lenders are not required to do this but they generally try to work with servicemembers to keep them in their homes. You will still owe this amount, but will not have to repay it until after you complete active duty service.
Most lenders also have other programs to assist borrowers who can’t make their mortgage payments. If you or your spouse finds yourself in this position at any time before or after active duty service, contact your lender immediately and ask about loss mitigation options. If you have an FHA-insured loan and are having difficulty making mortgage payments, you may also be eligible for special forbearance and other loss mitigation options.
Am I protected against foreclosure?
Mortgage lenders may not foreclose while you are on active duty or within 90 days after military service without court approval., A lender would be required to show in court that your ability to repay the debt was not affected by your military service.
What information do I need to provide to my lender?
When you or your representative contacts your mortgage lender, you should provide the following information:
– Notice that you have been called to active duty
– A copy of the orders from the military notifying you of your activation
– Your FHA case number
– Evidence that the debt precedes your activation date
– HUD has reminded FHA lenders of their obligation to follow the SCRA. When notified that a borrower is on active military duty, an FHA lender must inform the borrower or representative of the adjusted payment amount due, provide adjusted coupons or billings, and ensure adjusted payments are not considered insufficient payments.
Will my payments change later? Will I need to pay back the interest rate “subsidy” at a later date?
The change in interest rate is not a subsidy. Interest in excess of 6% per year that would otherwise have been charged is forgiven. However, the reduction in the interest rate and monthly payment amount only applies during the period of active duty. Once the period of active military service ends, the interest rate will revert back to the original interest rate, and payments will be recalculated accordingly.
How long does the benefit last? Does the period begin and end with my tour of duty?
Interest rate reductions are only for the period of active military service. Other benefits, such as postponement (delaying) of monthly principal payments on the loan and restrictions on foreclosure, may begin immediately upon assignment to active military service and end on the third month following the term of active duty assignment.
How can I learn more about relief available to active duty military personnel?
Servicemembers who have questions about the SCRA or the protections they may be entitled to, can contact their unit judge advocate or installation legal assistance officer. Dependents of servicemembers can also contact or visit local military legal assistance offices where they live. A military legal assistance office locator for each branch of the armed forces is available at www.legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/locator.php
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Military Loans A Brief Synopsis
Military Loans A Brief Synopsis
Like anyone else, from time to time active and former personnel of the US Military will find themselves in need of some money fast. They may have a bill that needs paying, a project that needs completing, or a repair that needs done and not have the time to save up for it. That is where personal military loans come in. These loans are offered at a lower interest rate with favorable terms to those in the military or formerly in the military. Whether you were in the USAF, USMC, US Army, Navy, or even the National Guard you are eligible for these fast and easy loans available from many financial institutions.
Military loans can actually be used for a number of purposes. You can use them for bills that are running behind, repairs on your car or home, or even child related expenses that can surprise you. You can even use the money for a much needed vacation or debt consolidation. New baby on the way? You can use a military loan to pay for that new nursery or baby supplies you need at the last minute. The uses for a military loan are endless.
There are actually several military loans available. Some are good for anyone in any form of the armed forces. Others are for individual branches. You can get Air Force loans if you are a member of the Air Force, Marine loans for the marines, Navy loans for the Navy, and so forth. No matter how you serve, you can get loan service.
Your military loan will offer you a number of advantages. First of all, the interest rate is generally well below that offered to civilians for a personal loan. They are definitely lower than credit cards as well, which makes them good for card consolidation. Secondly, military loans are quick. You fill out an application, gives some information, and are given an answer in a matter of hours. The money can then be sent to you by wire, mail, or even direct deposit no matter where in the world you are. In fact, you can even have the money sent to a family member. Finally, even if you have credit problems or some debt out there already, military loans can often be approved for you. They are structured to be paid back through your military pay in many cases, so that late payment or late fees are never a factor. The money is gone before you get it, which is good for you. Finally, there is rarely any penalty for early payment of military loans.
Military loans are a great way to go if you are in the military and in a financial pinch. The benefits above should help you understand what a great deal this is for you. Take advantage and consolidate your credit cards, go on vacation, or decorate the nursery for your newest addition. Military loans are there for you in almost any situation.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Understanding Military Reserve Forces
Understanding Military Reserve Forces
Although many people tend to get the two confused, there is a rather significant difference between a military reserve and a military reserve force – a military reserve is a group of personnel who are employed by the military, but who are not committed to engage in battle by their commanding officer. This way, they are able to move quickly to address unexpected situations or unforeseen circumstances.
In order to do this effectively during battle, the military reserve is literally held back in a defensive position, just in case the enemy forces break through the front line. If the enemy makes a mistake or exposes a vulnerable area in their strategy, the military reserve can then be immediately committed to the battle. In some cases, the reserve may provide relief for the troops who are already engaged in fighting – like a second shift line.
A military reserve force is quite different, as it can be either composed of part-time military personnel or civilians, all of whom are available to be called upon to fight if there is need for defense against invasion or in order to mobilize against war. Unlike the military reserve, the military reserve force is not counted as part of a country’s permanent body of armed forces.
Why would a country bother with a military reserve force, in that case? Maintaining a reserve force allows a nation to reduce the amount of expenditures that might accumulate during times of peace, while ensuring that there is still a prepared force in case of war. In addition, there are some countries whose reserve force members are volunteers, committed only to a part-time obligation, but who would not be paid compensation should the country go to war. Nations such as Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States maintain voluntary reserve forces.
Since military reserve forces are not actively engaged in battle on a regular basis, other countries legislate that mandatory service in their military can be counted as time spent as a member of the military reserve force. Israel and the Republic of China have a compulsory number of years that each individual must spend as a member of the military reserve force, in addition to completing one’s national service.
There is a secondary type of military reserve force that functions slightly differently than the regular reserve forces, and this is known as the Home Guard. The Home Guard – such as the United States National Guard – is a military reserve force that is technically a militia, and can only be called upon to activate in the event of an invasion. The difference is that a Home Guard is composed strictly of civilians who have volunteered for the service, without part-time military personnel involved.
How does that differ from what is regularly referred to as a militia? On occasion, a militia can be referred to as a group of citizen soldiers who are disassociated with their government, or it can also be the term of reference for a country’s police force.
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