FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON - The Federal Benefits Open Season begins Monday, November 10 and runs through Monday, December 8, 2008. During Open Season you can obtain information about the various choices you and your family are eligible for under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP), and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program also known as FSAFEDS. This is your opportunity to evaluate the various programs and choices so you make the best decision for you and your family.  For additional information, please visit the OPM FEHB Open Season site. LEAVE DONATION - The HRO has been notified of 2 individuals requesting leave donations. If there are any employees who have "use or lose" annual leave they will not be using, or would just like to help out their fellow employees, please fill out the appropriate OPM form and send to the HRO.  One employee will be having surgery on 16 Oct 2008 and will be off a minimum 6-8 weeks.  The other has been battling a chronic illness and has exhausted all leave and is requesting leave donations.  POC:  Ms. Sue Wilson - X4834  INTERVIEW COURSE - There have been a few significant updates as to how we will be conducting the HRO Interview Course.  First, all attendees must print the course material (Interview Course Slides, Interview Matrix Examples, HRO Selection Board Instructions) and bring it with you to the class.  In an effort to reduce paper consumption, we will no longer be providing these handouts.  Second, attendees must be seated and ready when the course begins at 0900.  Anyone who is late will not be allowed to attend that day's class and will be rescheduled for a future date.  If you're traveling from outside the Phoenix metro area, please allow extra time to compensate for the heavy amount of morning traffic coming into the city.  Traffic delays will no longer be an acceptable excuse, so please plan accordingly.  For additional information concerning dates and course related items, please visit our Interview Course page.   MYBIZ UPDATE - The MyBiz web site has changed again.  You can access the new site by clicking here.  MyBiz has switched to CAC only access; a username and password is no longer required.  For complete directions on how to complete the CAC registration, please view the User Guide and it will walk you step-by-step through the process.  Reminder:  Please update any links to previous MyBiz web sites to the new URL. AGR GUIDES - Pre-Retirement Counseling Guides effective 1 October 2007 are now available at the HRO. If you're looking to retire, this handbook contains information on VA Benefits, Survivor Benefits, Medical Information, Pay Calculation, Outprocessing, and more. It's your one-stop source for all your retirement needs!  SF182 - Effective immediately, DD Form 1556 is no longer a valid form.  It has been replaced by the SF182.  All future requests for training should be submitted on a SF182; if a request is submitted on a DD 1556, it will be returned without action.  Any questions can be directed to 602-629-4817. MILITARY & TECH SEPARATION DATES - Effective 03 October 2007, technician separation/retirement dates must coincide with military separation/retirement dates.  For additional information, please read the memorandum. MILITARY LEAVE WHILE ON LWOP - An important change has been made as to using military leave while in a Leave Without Pay (LWOP) status.  To learn more about the new guidance, please read the memo. USAJOBS NOTICE - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has placed an announcement on their web site concerning an investigation into the use of malicious software to gain unauthorized access to the Monster.com (Monster Worldwide is the technology provider for USAJOBS.gov) resume database.  OPM has been assured by Monster that no Social Security Numbers have been compromised.  For full details, please read the News Release on the OPM web site.   FEDERAL BALLPARK ESTIMATE - The Federal Ballpark Estimate—a savings goal worksheet—is now available on the OPM web site. The Federal Ballpark Estimate allows users to automatically calculate estimates of future Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement benefits and Thrift Savings Plan account balances. It will also let you know how well you are doing in meeting your savings goal. The Federal Ballpark Estimate was developed in partnership with the American Savings Education Council of the Employee Benefits Research Institute. FEHB PROGRAM - To find out more about The Federal Flexible Benefits Plan (FEDFLEX), please read the flyer. UNION REPRESENTATION RIGHTS - This memorandum serves as the annual notice to technicians of their right to union representation. FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS WEB - An interactive, self-service Federal (civilian) retirement planning calculator is now available to all Military Technicians of the Arizona National Guard.  For additional information please read the FLYER. ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS - All employment applications must be received by 1530 MST on the date of closing.  Applications received after 1530 MST will be considered late and will not be accepted. REMINDER TO ALL APPLICANTS:  When applying for Technician Vacancy announcements, Optional Form 306 (Declaration for Federal Employment) and AZNG Form 335-2-R (Supplement for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities MUST be attached to your application.