ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

NATIONAL GUARD

Dental corps

Maj. Frank Wanat of Poland was sworn in last month as the newest member of the Ohio Army National Guard’s Dental Corps.

Dr. Wanat, 60, received a direct commission as a dentist and will serve with the guard’s medical detachment in Columbus.

He will attend the Army Medical Department’s Officer Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He also will be eligible for early promotion upon his completion of training due to his extensive civilian experience in the dental-care field.

Dr. Wanat earned his bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University in 1972 and his master’s degree from YSU in 1974. He received his commission as a second lieutenant from YSU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. He served four years with the Army, mostly in Germany, and left the service as a captain in 1977.

He graduated from Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1983 and later established his practice in Poland.

Dr. Wanat’s son, Capt. Frank B.A. Wanat, is a company commander in the Army Medical Service Corp. serving in Germany.

Attending the ceremony were his wife, Patti Wanat, his son Paul Wanat, and three stepsons, Anthony Scarnecchia, Joseph Vukovich and Liam Roberts.

VETERANS

Service officer needed

The American Legion Department of Ohio has a vacancy for a full-time department service officer at the Cleveland office of the Ohio American Legion at the federal building in downtown Cleveland.

Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and may require occasional travel and weekend or evening assignments. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. There will be training.

Interested veterans should submit a r sum noting computer skills with salary history and requirements to Department Headquarters marked “confidential” and addressed to Donald R. Lanthorn, Department Service Director, P.O. Box 8007, Delaware, OH 43015-8007.

Bonus claims

COLUMBUS

Ohio veterans have until Oct. 21 to claim a bonus they have earned if they were involuntarily kept on active duty after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services points out that the “stop-loss” bonus is entirely separate from the Ohio Veterans Bonus that was approved by state voters in 2009.

Last October, Congress approved retroactive pay for military personnel who were forced to remain on active duty beyond their original discharge date, a policy known as “stop” the “loss” of military specialists whose skills could not immediately be replaced by others.

From Sept. 11, 2001, to Sept. 30, 2009, the Department of Defense used “stop-loss” to force mostly Army troops to remain on active duty beyond their scheduled discharge dates.

The military first invoked it in 1990 in preparation for the Persian Gulf War, but expanded it during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Federal lawmakers approved back pay of $500 for each month of involuntary service. Congress allocated $534 million for the program and $324 million remains unclaimed.

The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that 145,000 veterans were eligible for a bonus that averages $3,700.

Nationwide, 90,000 people who are eligible for some bonus money have not submitted an application. The numbers include some military personnel who are on active duty.

Military Veterans can go online at www.defense.gov/stoploss and complete Department of Defense Form 2944, “Claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Payment” www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd2944.pdf

BASIC TRAINING

Marines: Pvt. Michael J. Jacobs (Cardinal Mooney High School, ’10), son of Joe and Tammy Jacobs, Boardman.

Air Force: Airman Brian J. Cowles (Poland Seminary High School, ’10), son of Orton and Phyllis Cowles, Poland.

Army: Pvt. Robert S. Bango, son of Donna Bango, Boardman.

Items of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780 or e-mailed to news@vindy.com