• The Fiscal Year 2016 Nation Defense Authorization Act created a new military retirement system that blends the traditional legacy retirement pension with a defined contribution to Service members’ Thrift Savings Plan account. The new Blended Retirement System goes into effect on January 1, 2018. 
• All members serving as of December 31, 2017, are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system. No one currently-serving will be automatically switched to the Blended Retirement System.
• Though they are grandfathered under the legacy retirement system, Active Component Service members with fewer than 12 years since their Pay Entry Base Date, and Reserve Component Service members who have accrued fewer than 4,320 retirement points as of December 31, 2017, will have the option to opt into the Blended Retirement System. The opt-in/election period for the Blended Retirement System begins January 1, 2018, and concludes on December 31, 2018.
• All Service members who enter the military on or after January 1, 2018, will automatically be enrolled in BRS.
• The Blended Retirement System comparison calculator can be found here.
• The Blended Retirement System explained. 

In light of the reports regarding the ransomware known as WannaCry, please follow good cyber hygiene to include the following:
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1. Do not click on links or download files in emails unless you know for sure that they are from someone you know and trust;
2. Ensure your personal devices are updated and patched;
3. Regularly backup your data so you can recover your systems if they become infected. Microsoft released a patch in March that addresses this issue.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that infects a computer and restricts users' access to it until a ransom is paid to unlock it. The malware spreads by "phishing," luring unsuspecting users to click on infected email attachments and links in emails to launch the attack. Unpatched or out-of-date systems are particularly vulnerable to ransomware.

DHS has previously released information on best practices to address ransomware. That information is available here.

The 2017 National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) 45th Annual Professional Development and Training Symposium will be held 26 - 27 July 2017 at The Admiral Kidd Center, Point Loma Naval Base, San Diego, Ca.

NNOA is a non-profit organization, non-federal entity wholly independent of the Navy whose membership includes Active Duty, Reserve, Veteran And Retired Officers From The Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), midshipmen, cadets and civilians whose goals are to actively support the sea services in achieving a diversified workforce through recruitment, retention and career development. The NNOA contributes to maintaining operational readiness by providing professional development, mentoring, and support of cultural awareness. NNOA is also a member of the Navy and Marine Corps council. This year's conference theme is "developing leaders through education, experience and personal development."

The Annual Professional Development and Training Symposium includes educational workshops, seminars and exhibits, which are designed to enhance the professional knowledge of attendees while increasing overall awareness of issues affecting the sea services.

Navy-funded participation for this conference has been approved within a limited scope. Navy will sponsor 40 service members by funding their symposium registration fees on a first come, first served basis. All other travel, per diem expenses, and generation of TAD orders are the responsibility of the attendee’s parent command. Commands should not include or pay conference/registration fees or include them in the travel claim.

The uniform of the day for the conference will be summer whites. The uniform for the banquet will be dinner dress white (service dress white for Lieutenants and below). For More Information Concerning Scheduled Events, Visit The NNOA Website or:

Contact NNOA's Navy Affiliate
CDR Michael Files
michael.files@navy.mil 
703-588-0496.

The Navy has made some substantial revisions to a few of the more common websites Sailors regularly use. The Navy has created the App Locker which serves as a hub for mobile applications. Additionally, with the creation of MY NAVY PORTAL along with the abandonment of online GMT requirements (NAVADMIN 072/17), it has been announced that NKO will be shutting down on April 14, 2017.

Other changes include a new web address for the Navy Reserve Homeport. I'll do my best to keep up to date with these changes, but if you catch something I don't, as always, please let me know.

 - OSC(SW) Adam Hinds