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United States Space Command

USSPACECOM

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# INSPECTORGENERAL

# FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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**FAQs links by service branch**

 

**Where can I get Wounded Warrior assistance?**

### **Wounded Warrior Resources**

                              - The  National Resource Directory  also known as the Wounded Warrior Resource Center, is a website that connects Wounded Warriors, service members, Veterans, and their families with those who support them. The NRD is a partnership between the Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. This site provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. Visitors can find information on a variety of topics including benefits and compensation, education and training, employment, family and caregiver support, health, suicide prevention, homeless assistance, housing, transportation and travel and many other services and resources.     
                              - If you are a military veteran and are in emotional crisis, the VA (partnered with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) developed the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (available at 1-800-273-TALK). You may call this line 24/7, free of charge, to speak with a trained counselor.    
                              - The Veterans Crisis Line : 800-273-TALK (8255)    
                              - National Call Center for Homeless Veterans : 877-4AID-VET (424-3838)    
                              - Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Line : 855-260-3274    
                              - Wounded Warrior Resource Center : 800-342-9647    
                              - U.S. Army   Wounded Warrior Program   Telephone: 877-393-9058; DSN 312-221-9113   E-mail:  AW2@conus.army.mil   Website:  http://wtc.army.mil/aw2/    
                              - U.S. Navy   Telephone: 877-746-8563   E-mail:  safeharbor@navy.mil   Website:  http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil/    
                              - U.S. Marine Corps   Wounded Warrior Regiment   Telephone: 877-487-6299 (24 hours; 365 days of the year)   Website:  http://www.woundedwarriorregiment.org/    
                              - U.S. Air Force   Wounded Warrior Program   Telephone: 800-581-9437   E-mail:  afwounded.warrior@randolph.af.mil   Website:  http://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil    
                              - Another great resource for military personnel and their families is Military OneSource. Whether it is help with child care, personal finances, emotional support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special circumstances, Military OneSource is available for resource assistance 24/7 at:  http://www.militaryonesource.mil  or over the phone at 800-342-9647.

**Where can I go for other Veterans crisis assistance?**

### **OTHER VETERANS ASSISTANCE**

With respect to resources DoD may have for service members having difficulties with re-adjustment or post-traumatic stress disorder, the following information is offered by the official DoD website:

Survivor Support Groups: We recommend that the first stop for family members be to contact the Family Support Center, chaplain or Life Skills Support Center for assistance with locating survivor support groups in the community. The list below includes a number of private, as well as government, resources. Listing of the private sites is not intended as an official endorsement of those programs.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: TAPS is a national network of peer support for military survivors. They provide referrals to grief counseling options.
                              - Department of Veterans Affairs:  http://www.va.gov  (free counseling available) 
                              - National Veterans Foundation:  http://www.nvf.org
                              - Listing of State Directors of Veterans Affairs:  http://www.nasdva.com/
                              - Air Force Aid Society:  http://www.afas.org/
                              - Navy and Marine Public Health Center:  http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/Pages/Home.aspx
                              - Deployment Health Clinical Center:  http://www.pdhealth.mil/    

### Additional Resources

When you file an IG complaint you are making an official statement; therefore, you are subject to punitive action if you intentionally make false statements. Also, filing an IG complaint will not normally delay or prevent completion of command actions such as reassignment, retirement, discharge, non-judicial punishment, etc. IGs do not have the authority to place individuals on administrative hold; that authority rests with commanders and your service’s personnel center. Be prepared to explain why you believe any responsible official knew of the protected communication/disclosure before taking any personnel actions against you. 

### For Military Members

A personnel action is defined as any action that affects or has the potential to affect the member’s current position or career. Such actions include promotions; disciplinary or corrective actions; transfers or reassignments; performance evaluations; decisions on pay, benefits, awards or training; referrals for mental health evaluations; or any other significant changes in duties not consistent with the member’s grade. This is not an exhaustive list. 

### For Non-appropriated Fund Employees

A personnel action is defined as an appointment; promotion; disciplinary or corrective action; a detail, transfer, or reassignment; a reinstatement, restoration or reemployment; a decision concerning pay, benefits, awards or training and education (education or training must reasonably be expected to lead to an appointment, promotion, or other action described here); any other significant changes in duties or responsibilities inconsistent with the employee’s salary and grade level. 

### For Defense Contractors and Subcontractors

Prohibited actions include discharging, demoting or otherwise discriminating against an employee. Whether an unfavorable action was taken or threatened, or a favorable action withheld, is fact-dependent and evaluated on a case- by-case basis. Have documentation for each personnel action available to submit, if available. You are encouraged to read the applicable definitions and filing requirements specific to your employee status for more details. 

### For Appropriated Fund Civilians

A personnel action is defined as an appointment; promotion; disciplinary or corrective actions; details, transfers, or reassignment; reinstatement; restoration; reemployment; performance evaluation; decisions concerning pay, benefits, awards, or education and training (education or training must reasonably be expected to lead to an appointment, promotion, performance evaluation, or other action described here); an order to psychiatric testing or exam; implementation or enforcement of a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement; and significant changes to duties, responsibilities, or working conditions. 

### For Employees of the Intelligence Community

The term “personnel action” means an appointment, promotion, detail, transfer, reassignment, demotion, suspension, termination, reinstatement, restoration, reemployment or performance evaluation; a decision concerning pay, benefits or awards; a decision concerning education or training if the education or training may reasonably be expected to lead to an appointment, reassignment, promotion or performance evaluation; a decision to order psychiatric testing or examination; and any other significant change in duties, responsibilities or working conditions. 

### Instructions

If you have any questions, please call the USSC IG Hotline at (719)-552-1363. Provide your full name, rank, duty status (Active, Reserve, Guard); job title, organization, duty location, work and residence telephone numbers, and mailing and email addresses.

Be prepared to discuss protected communications: (1) The date of the communication. (2) To whom the protected communication was made (name, title, organization and location, and telephone number). (3) The content of the protected communication. Identify each personnel action taken, withheld, or threatened to be taken or withheld. Be prepared to provide documentation for each personnel action. If documentation is not available, please describe each personnel action and the date of the action. Provide, to the extent possible, the following information for each

official responsible for signing, taking, recommending, or influencing the personnel action(s) at issue: full name, rank and/or grade, duty title, duty status, organization, duty location, commercial or DSN telephone number. Explain why and how any responsible official knew of the protected communication before taking the personnel action. Indicate why you believe there is a connection between your protected communication and the personnel action taken against you. Identify key witnesses that can provide evidence to support your reprisal complaint and include their contact information. If more than one year has elapsed since the personnel action was taken or withheld, please explain why the complaint was not filed sooner. DEFINITIONS (Reference: DoD Directive 7050.06, Military Whistleblower Protection) a. Prohibition of Retaliatory Personnel Actions. No person may take (or threaten to take) an unfavorable personnel action, or withhold (or threaten to withhold) a favorable personnel action, as a reprisal against a member of the armed forces for making or preparing or being perceived as making or preparing a protected communication. 

### A protected communication is:

                              -  Any lawful communication to a Member of Congress or an IG. 
                              -  A communication in which a member of the Armed Forces reasonably believes evidences a violation of law or regulation, including a law or regulation prohibiting rape, sexual assault, other sexual misconduct in violation of sections 920 through 920c of the UCMJ, sexual harassment, or unlawful discrimination; gross mismanagement, gross waste, or an abuse of authority; a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or a threat that indicates a member’s or federal employee’s determination or intent to kill or cause serious bodily injury to members or civilians or damage to military, federal, or civilian property when such communication is made to any of the following:                                  -  A Member of Congress, an IG, or a member of a DoD audit, inspection, investigation, or law enforcement organization. 
                                -  Any person or organization in the chain of command; a court-martial proceeding; or any other person designated pursuant to regulations or other established administrative procedures to receive such communications. 
                                -  Inspectors General (IGs). (1) The IG of the Department of Defense; (2) Any officer of the armed forces or employee of the DoD who is assigned or detailed to serve as an IG at any level within the DoD. 

d. Member of Congress. In addition to a Senator or Representative, or a member of a Senator’s or Representative’s staff or of a congressional committee, includes any Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

e. Personnel Action. Any action taken on a member of the Armed Forces that affects, or has the potential to affect, that military member’s current position or career. Such actions include a promotion; a disciplinary or other corrective action; a transfer or reassignment; a performance evaluation; a decision on pay, benefits, awards, or training;

referral for mental health evaluations under DoD Directive 6490.1; and any other significant change in duties or responsibilities inconsistent with the member’s grade.

You are currently on a an Unclassified Internet Site. The pages you are viewing only explain how to file classified complaints. DO NOT submit a classified complaint on this unclassified site. You must contact the USSC IG for further instructions by calling DSN 559-1349 or commercial 719-552-1349. You will be provided with guidance in order to submit a classified complaint. 

### The violations listed below should be reported to the USSPACECOM IG via secure means:

                              - Breach of classified systems involving Special Access Programs (SAPs) – USSC recognizes three types of SAPs: Acquisition (AQ–SAP), Intelligence, (IN–SAP) and Operations and Support (OS–SAP).
                              - Nuclear Surety
                              - Unauthorized Disclosures of classified information
                              - Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA) - see below for more information Security violations/compromise
                              - Intelligence Oversight

### How to File a SECRET Complaint

To submit complaints involving SECRET information, use the DoD Hotline pages on the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET). The links below are not live links. You cannot reach the SIPRNET from this unclassified site.

You may submit your complaint directly to the USSC/IG via the following methods: SIPR Email: david.m.franklin2.mil@mail.smil.mil

If you send SECRET information to the DoD Hotline by any means other than our SIPR Website or SIPR E-mail, FIRST read DoD Manual 5200.01, Volume 3, “DoD Information Security Program: Protection of Classified Information,” February 24, 2012, Enclosure 4, paragraph 4, “Transmission of Secret Information.”

Contact the USSC IG Hotline at 719-552-1363 (unsecured line) with questions or concerns involving this process. Speaking on a classified, secured line can be arranged. 

### How to File a TOP SECRET Complaint

To submit complaints involving TOP SECRET information, use JWICS: david.m.franklin2@coe.ic.gov This link is not live and will not work from unclassified systems.

You may also coordinate with your respective security office on courier options. TOP SECRET complaints cannot be sent via postal systems. You may contact the USSC IG Hotline at 719-552-1363 (unsecured line) to coordinate delivery. Speaking on a classified, secured line can be arranged. 

### How to File an Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act Complaint

Before filing a complaint under the ICWPA, we recommend you contact the DoD Hotline at (800) 424-9098, for advice on filing procedures and timelines. This unclassified web site cannot receive classified information. You must use the applicable classified Hotline web pages (see above) in order to submit your complaint.

The ICWPA provides a secure means for employees to report to Congress allegations regarding classified information. The ICWPA provides a process for employees, or contractor employees, of the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Security Agency to report

matters of “urgent concern” to the intelligence committees of Congress. Despite the title of the ICWPA, this statute does not grant protection for intelligence community employees. Federal employees are afforded protections against reprisal for engaging in certain protected activities, via other applicable Federal antidiscrimination or whistleblower protection laws.

In order to submit an ICWPA complaint, both of the following elements must be met:

Eligible Originator: Only applies to employees (civilian, military or contractor) assigned to one of four intelligence agencies (DIA, NSA, NRO, and NGA).

Urgent Concern: Complaint must be of an “urgent concern” which is defined as follows:

A serious or flagrant problem, abuse, violation of law or Executive Order, or deficiency relating to the funding, administration, or operations of an intelligence activity involving classified information, which does not include differences of opinion concerning public policy matters; A false statement to Congress, or a willful withholding from Congress, on an issue of material fact relating to the funding, administration, or operation of an intelligence activity; or An action, including a personnel action described in section 2302(a)(2)(A) of Title 5, constituting reprisal or threat of reprisal prohibited under section 7(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, in response to an employee reporting an urgent concern.

**Who can I speak with regarding my pay and allowance questions?**

Pay issues are best serviced by the relevant Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) office. The following numbers are provided for your reference:Military:  1-888-332-7411Army:  1-888-729-2769Civilian:  1-800-538-9043 (DFAS Indianapolis) or 1-800-729-3277 (DFAS Cleveland)Retired military:  1-800-321-1080Retired civilian:  1-888-767-6738Contract/vendor:  1-800-756-4571To file a complaint regarding pay and allowance issues, send correspondence to dfas.cleveland-oh.hi.mbx.investigation-hotline@mail.mil.

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