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Former nuke officer reprimanded in gambling case

By WTOP Staff

ROBERT BURNS
AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy admiral fired last fall as the No. 2 commander of U.S. nuclear forces was given a letter of reprimand Monday and ordered to forfeit $4,000 in pay but will be allowed to remain on duty as a Navy staff officer, the Navy said.

In a brief statement, the Navy said a superior officer determined that Rear Adm. Timothy Giardina’s involvement in a casino gambling case violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice on two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

The first count involved Giardina lying to an investigator and the second related to his failure to surrender — and his subsequent use of — counterfeit poker chips that he claimed he had found at the casino, the Navy said.

Giardina accepted the so-called non-judicial punishment from Adm. Bill Gortney rather than exercising his option to challenge it by requesting a court martial.

The casino matter was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which was unable to determine with certainty how Giardina came into possession of the phony chips. He acknowledged using three $500 chips which were subsequently discovered by casino officials to have been counterfeit.

At the time of the incident at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Giardina was deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb., which is responsible for the full arsenal of U.S. nuclear weapons.

He is the second senior officer with responsibility for nuclear weapons to be fired in recent months; the other was Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, who was commander of the land-based nuclear missile corps when he was relieved of duty last October after an alcohol-fueled episode in Russia last July.

In April, the Air Force announced that Carey would retire June 1 at the rank of brigadier general.

Together the Giardina and Carey firings stirred questions about the quality of the military’s nuclear leadership, particularly in the case of the Air Force, which also has suffered a series of missteps in training, security and inspections. In November, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed concern about nuclear leadership lapses, and in January he ordered a broad review of nuclear forces.

A Navy spokeswoman, Capt. Dawn Cutler, said the Navy is satisfied that Giardina has been held accountable.

“The Navy remains committed to holding all personnel, regardless of rank, to the highest standards,” she said after Giardina’s punishment was announced.

The Giardina matter originated as a local law enforcement probe in Iowa in June 2013. He was suspended from his duties on Sept. 3, although that action was not made public until weeks later. On Oct. 9 he was relieved of duty — a move that is exceedingly rare in the history of U.S. nuclear weapons command.

When he was removed from his three-star position at Strategic Command, Giardina was given a staff officer’s job in Washington and reverted to two-star rank. When he requests retirement, the Navy will conduct a formal review of his career record to determine whether he should be allowed to retire at his current rank or as a one-star admiral.

Giardina did not immediately respond to an email request for comment Monday. He is a career submarine officer and a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

___

Follow Robert Burns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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