GS PAY SCALES - The General Schedule (GS) pay scales for calendar year 2010 are now available for the Phoenix area and the rest of Arizona. HRO MEMO 10-01 - HRO Memo 10-01, Standards of Conduct for AGR Personnel (Army & Air) has been posted to the site. TPR 430 - The most recent version of TPR 430 (National Guard Technician Performance Appraisal Program), dated 05 November 2009, is available. COMPENSATORY TIME REGULATIONS/LAWS - Please take a moment and read the memo concerning the current laws and regulations for compensatory time off while on active duty orders over 30 consecutive days. FLU SEASON / H1n1 INFUENZY POLICY - Flu season is here and the HRO has issued a policy letter concerning the use of leave, excused absences, telework, as well as other related issues.  The HRO has also issued pandemic guidance for Technicians, AGRs, and a Continuity Considerations Checklist.  Guidance from NGB-TNI has also been released.  Please direct any questions to 602-629-4834, or 602-629-4806. MERIT PLACEMENT PLAN - Our Merit Placement Plan has been updated, effective 15 May 2009, and it now available on our site. LABOR RELATIONS - The Labor Relations Practitioner's Guide is now available. HRO MEMOS - Four new HRO Memorandums (09-01 - Delegation of Signature Authority, 09-02 - MyBiz/MyWorkplace, 09-03 - Technicians with Post-56 Active Military Service, and 09-04 - TSP Contributions) have been published and are now available on our site.  The four memos are also located on our Publications page. THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN CHANGE - On 22 June 2009, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1256, The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This law provides a number of changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). One of the provisions of this new law is that it eliminates the waiting period of employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to receive the Agency Automatic 1% and Agency Matching Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Contributions. The effective date of this provision is 5 July 2009.  For additional information, please view the memorandum explaining the changes. HRO MISSION STATEMENT - The HRO Mission Statement is now available online. HOW TO READ A JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - In order to help our customers gain a better understanding of the job announcements on our site, we now have a document available which thoroughly explains the announcement from top to bottom in an easy to read and understand format. QRD - Section 114 of the HEART Act (Public Law No. 110-245) allows employers to offer qualified reservists a taxable distribution of their unused health-care flexible spending account balance - also known as a qualified reservist distribution (QRD). The attached Benefits Administration Letter explains the qualifications and tax implications. IRS CONTRIBUTIONS - The IRS has announced new contribution limits for 2009. You will be able to contribute up to $16,500 in regular tax-deferred contributions. If you are age 50 or older, or turning age 50, in 2009, you can also contribute up to an additional $5,500 in catch-up contributions. If you have both a civilian and a uniformed services account, the total amount you can contribute to both accounts will be $49.000. 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.  UPDATE:  Please see disclaimer at bottom of the page. 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.