The Director’s Corner by Karl H. Bernhardt

“I would like to say thank you to all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to email us regarding last month’s initial newsletter.  You have provided many helpful suggestions as well as compliments reinforcing what we are doing right. 

We hope to improve on our two-way abilities by developing a template (especially for those who respond with a specific follow-up inquiry to a personal pay problem) and perhaps a survey capability. 

We have also been working on a number of initiatives that will either improve our service to you or make your pay more reliably accurate. 

For example, for those members receiving Combat Related Disability Payments (CRDP) we have recently completed automation of this software and institutionalized the CRDP calculations into our payroll processing mainframe system.  This permits us to combine your CRDP payment together with your regular retired pay in one easy payment instead of two.  Some of your monthly pay amounts may have changed since your CRDP pay now is subject to your W-4 tax withholding vice the straight 10% that was previously withheld.  Also, for those entitled to Combat-Related Special Compensation, we are finalizing a similar automation of the software and expect to begin paying under that software in January 2006. 

As a reminder, heading into the tax season it is doubly important to ensure your mailing address is current. 

I would like to wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season and please keep in touch!”