Troop Command 808-433-9160

S1– 808-433-9161

S3-808-433-4293

Alpha Company– 808-433-9130

Bravo Company– 808-433-9131

Charlie Company– 808-433-8050

Delta Company-808-433-9130

Family Readiness Support Assistants

(FRSA) 808-433-9160

TROOP COMMAND

11 March 2011

Inside this

issue:

Update with Cola 2

Family Operation Stress 5

YES Program 6

Edge Program 8-9

PT in the GYM with Mickey 10

Skies Unlimited 11

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UPDATES

LIVING PATTERN SURVEY (LPS)

CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR COLA? Military personnel in Hawai’i have an opportunity to affect their paychecks this year by participating in a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Living Pattern Survey (LPS). This survey of families’ shopping patterns will take place 1-31 March, and affects the COLA that military personnel stationed in Hawai’i receive each month. The approximately 30-minute online survey asks personnel and their families to identify the off-base retail outlets they use when they shop for food, clothing, and many other goods and ser-vices, such as restaurant meals, hair care, and auto repair. It also requests information on how much they shop on the local economy (off-base) and how much they shop at the commissary, exchange and via the internet. The data collected in this survey will be used to adjust the COLA for Hawai’i. The LPS is one of the “building blocks” of COLA. Every 3 years a LPS is conducted to update the names of the local economy outlets where military families shop and the frequency they shop at these outlets. An annual market basket survey – the Retail Price Survey (RPS) - collects the prices of 120 goods and services from these outlets. These prices are compared to those in CONUS, and a Cost of Living Index is computed that reflects the difference. The Hawai’i COLA allowance is designed to compensate Service members for the difference between the costs of goods and services in CONUS, and the same goods and services in Hawai’i. The Hawaii LPS will run throughout March, and will be available at both the USPACOM website, http://www.pacom.mil, and the USPACOM Personnel Readiness site, https://community.apan.org/pop/. All uniformed military members assigned to Hawai’i as their Permanent Duty Station for at least 3 months, who do not reside in the barracks or on a ship, should take the survey. This includes all Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Services and Hawai’i Army and Air National Guard personnel. Service Members are encouraged to take the survey at home with their families to ensure that input is received from the people who actually do the shopping for the household. Maximum participation is key to a successful Hawaii LPS, and ultimately, a fair and accurate COLA rate.

CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR COLA? – Complete your military Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) survey to-day. All military members should participate in the online 2011 Hawai’i COLA Living Pattern Survey (LPS). Completing the survey will identify your shopping habits, help accurately reflect the actual cost of living here in Hawai’i, and will directly impact future COLA rates. The survey is available 1-31 March, at either http://www,pacom.mil or https://community.apan.org/pop/. Questions? Call 808-477-8121.

Please contact the USPACOM Personnel Readiness Branch, 808-477-8121, with any questions.

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MFLAC/DEPLOYMENT SERVICES

Military Family Life Consultant provide solution-oriented consultations to individuals, couples, families, and groups. The Military

and Family Life Consultant (MFLC) Program is designed to provide support and assistance to active duty Soldiers, National Guard

& Reserves, military Family Members and civilian personnel. Military and Family Life Consultants can help people who are having

trouble coping with concerns and issues of daily life.

Tripler– Rene Gigoux Dave Gilbertson AMR Housing– Mike Watson

808-222-1089 808-264-2246 808-366-9121

Complete the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Living Pattern

Survey (LPS) online today!

Completing the 2011 Hawaii LPS will identify your shopping

habits, help accurately reflect the cost of living in Hawaii, and

will directly impact future COLA rates. Soldiers are

encouraged to take the survey with their Families to ensure

that input is received from the people who do the household

shopping.

The survey is available 1-31 March 2011 at:

http://www.pacom.mil or https://community.apan.org/pop/

Questions? Call 808-477-8121.

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