Serving the nato, naples and Gaeta military communities in italy
58th year, no. 1
W hat ’ s I nsIde
Friday, January 11, 2013
Impact Your Living Allowance By Lt. Tim Hawkins, NSA Naples Public Affairs HE Living Pattern Survey is now open online to U.S. service members stationed in Italy for at least three months and not residing in barracks or aboard ship. The survey, offered only every three years, asks military members where they and their families shop and how various goods and services are purchased. Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Gray discussed the survey Jan. 4 during the “Commander’s Spotlight Show,” which airs live on AFN radio Friday mornings at 7 a.m. Gray said the 30 to 40 minutes it takes to complete the survey is time well spent because the Defense Travel Management Office will use data provided by participants to help determine Overseas Cost of Living Allowances (COLA) for Italy. “This is an opportunity to tell the government exactly what your living pattern here is,” he said. “COLA rates will be recalculated pretty quickly as a result of this survey, and in about a month or so we literally could see impacts to our rates.” Local shopping outlets identified in the Living Pattern Survey will eventually be visited by price collectors compiling data for the Retail Price Schedule survey, which reports actual overseas prices for a “market basket” of 120 goods and services purchased on and off base. These two surveys will factor into the determination of new Overseas COLA rates for Italy. Overseas COLA is a non-taxable allowance designed to offset the higher overseas prices of non-housing goods and services. In essence, the allowance is intended to enable U.S. service members to purchase the same level of goods and servic-
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Lou Freed Shares January events in Campania Pages 4-5
C6F Spends Time Aboard USS Robert G. Bradley Page 13
Musicians Share Song and Dance in Africa Page 6
Legalman 2nd Class Abby Cannon, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Europe-Africa-Southwest Asia, shops in the commissary at the Support Site in Gricignano, Italy. (Photo by MC1 Travis Simmons) es overseas that they could if stationed on the U.S. mainland. According to the Defense Travel Management Office, approximately $2 billion of Overseas COLA is paid annually to 250,000 service members stationed at 600 locations outside the continental United States. Overseas COLA is not a fixed amount. Rank, years of service and number of dependents factor into a service member’s Overseas COLA payment as well as currency adjustments and changes in data. The Living Pattern Survey is a service member’s critical opportunity to convey actual overseas living expenses. The data provided helps the Defense Travel Management Office accurately
determine relative costs of living overseas. “The question that you need to think about,” said Gray, “is ‘What are the things that I spend money on that may not be properly accounted for in my COLA?’ ” Personnel are urged to carefully consider and account for items purchased on the local economy like food, clothing, restaurant meals, hair care services, and auto repair. The survey also asks participants to distinguish between on- and offbase shopping. “This is our opportunity to be directly involved in the Cost of Living Allowances for Italy, and it's important that all of our military members with dependents who live
off base interject their inputs,” said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Davis, the country allowances coordinator for Italy. “Single Sailors are also encouraged and needed to make our overall goal of 65 percent participation for all of Italy,” added Davis. The Living Patter Survey is available through Jan. 31 at www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ lps-italy.cfm. “Get in there and document what you actually spend,” said Gray. “It’s certainly important because it’s going to affect your pay.” To calculate your Overseas COLA or learn more, visit the Defense Travel Management Office website at www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ cola.cfm.
Club Beyond Naples Rings in the New Year in Austria By Arturo & Tracy Paulino
Crime Statistics Summary Review what happened between dec. 17, 2012 and Jan. 6, 2013. Page 11
FRIDAY High 59 / Low 39 Chance of Rain
SATURDAY High 57 / Low 46 Clear
SUNDAY High 59 / Low 46 Chance of Rain
LUB Beyond Naples took 14 students and three adult volunteer leaders to an event called Winter Blitz 2013 in Innsbruck, Austria. This event was sponsored by Military Communities Youth Ministries, and included more than 300 military kids from across Europe, including the Air Force and Army. This year, for the first time in almost five years, the Navy was present at this retreat. Innsbruck is home to Olympic class skiing, more than 3-kilometer sled runs and an indoor water park that boasts the first double loop water slide in the world. The students were given the opportunity to ski or snow board the slopes, as well as enjoy the beautiful town of Innsbruck with its shops and ice skating rink. Beyond the intense and amazing activities and fun, some of the highlights of the trip occurred during the large group gatherings called club. Students were able to hear from Pete Johnson, the Young Life Lone Star Regional director. He shared stories of relationships, life and God.
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Club Beyond Naples members and volunteers pose for a photo in Innsbruck, Austria during their visit for Winter Blitz 2013.(Photo by Patrick Carnahan)
The students were given the opportunity to engage in conversations with each other and their volunteer leaders in ways that had impact on their character and life. The ability to provide students with the opportunity to have fun, make friends, and have significant conversation
with peers and adults is what Club Beyond strives to provide. It’s where fun, friends and faith connect. Considered by many students as the best week of their life, this event was most definitely the right way to start off this new year!