MILITARY CASH AWARDS PROGRAM

naturedly. If you smile and accept the attention in the same way, your hosts will make you feel welcome. If you resent it and get angry, your hosts will be confused and displeased. Even though you look different than the local people, if you can manage a few words in the local language, you will reap many benefits. You will see taxi fares miraculously drop, room service drastically improve, and art objects sell for less. The people will receive you more warmly and genuinely than if you had spoken English. Knowing some basics about the country you are visiting and its culture goes a long way towards helping you have a good time. Before the trip, read all you can about each country you will visit. Look at various publications that contain information about the countries or regions you will be touring. Africa Report, for example, is a magazine that offers much insight about the culture of that continent. If your library doesn’t have a specific magazine, you can order it from the publisher. You will find the addresses of magazine publishers in your local library. Yo u m a y a l s o g e t i n f o r m a t i o n o n o t h e r countries by visiting the Family Service Center or logging on to the SITES home page on the Internet. T h e S I T E S h o m e p a g e g ive s y o u u p - t o - d a t e information of the country you will be visiting.The address for SITES is www.dmdc.osd/mil/sites. When you visit the towns, villages, and cities of other countries, you’ll discover what so many of us have found, the unexpected hospitality and warmth of the people. MILITARY CASH AWARDS PROGRAM Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— � Recognize the opportunities gained through the Navy Cash Awards Program. The Military Cash Awards Program (MILCAP) is a special incentive awards program. It is designed to find new ideas to effectively increase performance within the Department of the Navy. The program has been responsible for important savings. MILCAP provides monetary recognition awards of up to $25,000. It awards personnel for beneficial suggestions, inventions, and scientific achievements that increase efficiency, economy, or productivity or effect other improvements in operations. All active-duty military personnel are eligible to participate in MILCAP. A beneficial suggestion is the proposal of an idea or a method of doing a task better, faster, cheaper, or safer. An individual or a group can submit a beneficial suggestion. To qualify for the MILCAP, the suggester must show a specific need for improvement and give a workable solution. The suggestion should also be beyond the suggester’s normal job capability. Suggestions should do one or more of the following: � Improve services to the fleet � Increase productivity � Conserve energy, manpower, materials, time, or space � Reduce costs without loss of quality or efficiency Perhaps you have an idea worthy of a cash award. Submit your suggestion in writing, either on a suggestion form or in a letter format, to your local MILCAP administrator. OPNAVINST 1650.8 contains additional information about the MILCAP. REVIEW 3 QUESTIONS Q1. The Navy Sponsor Program was established by— Q2. What form should you use to request a sponsor? Q3. What program provides you with support and information about foreign lands? 1-7 Student Notes: