RAO BULLETIN 1 April 2014
PDF Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
Pg Article Subject | *DoD* | 04 == DFAS Future ------(Drawdown Impact | Army Pilot Program) 04 == DoD Benefit Cuts [36] ------(TRICARE Program Hearing) 06 == DECA Budget Cuts [06] ------(Really | And Now A Plan) 07 == BRAC [36] ------(Pentagon Wants Another Round) 08 == BRAC [37] ------(CNO Says He Sees No Need) 09 == DoD Religious Expression [03] ---- (Sikh Alleged Enlistment Ban) 10 == DoD Retirement [01] ----- (Negative Reaction to Change Proposal) 12 == QDR 2014 [01] ----- (Presumes More Risk, Less Money in Future) 14 == QDR 2014 [02] ---- (Pentagon Official Disputes HASC Rejection)
| *VA* | 15 == VA Care ~ Cold Injuries ------(How To Obtain Benefits) 16 == VA Health Care Access [07] ------(ACA/VA Signup Encouraged) 17 == VA Stonewalling ------(Unanswered Media & HVAC Inquiries) 18 == VA Stonewalling [01] ------(HVAC VA Honesty Project) 20 == VA Care Impact on Medicare Coverage ------(None) 20 == VA Annual Income Reporting ------(Requirement Eliminated) 21 == VA Advance Funding [05] -- (Shinseki | Will not Solve Problems) 22 == VA Birth ------(Public Law 100-527) 23 == VA SAH [08] ------(ALS Vets Now Presumed Eligible) 24 == Vet Toxic Exposure~Mosul [01] -- (Constrictive Bronchiolitis SC) 24 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [28] ------(Registry Deadline Exceeded) 25 == VA Lawsuit ~ Legionella ------(Edward Stockley) 25 == VA Lawsuit ~ Frank Canfield ------($2M Wrongful Death) 26 == VA Caregiver Program [23] ------(CHAMPVA Eligibility) 26 == VA Claims Backlog [130] ---- (AL 2014 CBWG Report Released)
1
27 == VA Claims Backlog [131] ------(Death Impact on Claims) 28 == VA Claims Backlog [132] ------(Failing VA Officials Gotta Go) 29 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ------(Reported 15 thru 31 Mar 2014) 30 == VA Loans ------(ATR/QM Rule) 30 == Gulf War Syndrome [27] ---- (VA Presumptive Conditions Sought) 31 == Traumatic Brain Injury [33] ------(Pseudobulbar Affect) 31 == GI Bill [170] ------(SVA Degree Attainment Study)
| *Vets* | 33 == Vietnam Veterans Day ------(March 29th) 33 == Vet Cemetery Belgium - (Obama Pays Homage at Flanders Fields) 35 == Minnesota Veteran Homes [03] ------(Admittance Priority Debate) 36 == Vet Charity Watch [44] ----- (TX Sues Vets Support Organization) 37 == Disabled Vet SSA Claims ----- (Priority Treatment if Rated 100%) 38 == POW/MIA [24] ------(How You Can Help Find MIAs) 39 == POW/MIA Recoveries------(140301 thru 140315) 41 == OBIT | Denton~Jeremiah ------(28 Mar 2014) 43 == Vet Jobs [146] ------(Benefits of Working for Uncle Sam) 44 == Vet Job Opportunities ------(EGS Military Recruiting Programs) 45 == Retiree Appreciation Days ------(Mar 24 thru Dec 2014) 49 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------(1 Apr thru 31 May 2014) 50 == WWII Vets 59 ------(Mayer~Frederick A) 51 == Military History Anniversaries ------(1-30 Apr) 51 == State Veteran's Benefits & Discounts ------(Virginia 2014)
| *Vet Legislation* || 52 == DoD Suicide Policy [03] ------(SAV Act Introduced in Senate) 53 == Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2014 [07] -- (Bill Clears House) 53 == TSGLI [06] ------(Proposed $100K Cap Removal) 54 == DECA Budget Cuts [07] ------(Commissary Sustainment Act) 54 == Oklahoma Vet Legislation ----- (SB 1604 Blast Injury Treatment) 55 == Florida Vet Legislation [05] ------(Vet Omnibus Bill) 56 == Kansas Vet Legislation ------(Abolish KCVA H.B.2681) 56 == Vet Jobs [145] ------(S.2138 & S.2143) 57 == Vet Legislation Offered in 113th Congress - (As of 29 Mar 2014) 58 == Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------(As of 31 Mar 2014)
| *Military* | 60 == USS Miami (SSN-775) [01] ------(Deactivation Ceremony) 61 == Military Grooming Standards ------(Tightening) 61 == Pearl Harbor Remains ------(Relatives Want Them Identified) 63 == D-Day [04] ------(Reserved Seating Requests) 63 == DoD Mobilized Reserve 25 MAR 2014 ------(Decrease of 1,731) 63 == Military Funeral Disorderly Conduct [23] ---- (Fred Phelps Dead) 64 == Medal of Honor Citations ------(Marm, Walter J Vietnam)
| *Military History* | 67 == Aviation Art ------(Strike On Berlin)
2
67 == USS Arizona Memorial Stamp ---- ( Priority Mail Express $19.99) 68 == Selfridge Military Air Museum ------(Overview) 70 == Military History ------(Remarkable Women Vets) 71 == WWII PreWar Events ------(Taking Shelter Madrid Dec 1936) 71 == Vietnam Veterans Memorial [13] ------(2014 Ceremonies) 73 == Military History Anniversaries ------(1-30 Apr) 73 == Spanish American War Image 36 ------(Dinner 1898) 74 == Faces of WAR (WWII) ------(Washington DC Parade May 1942)
| *Health Care* | 75 == TRICARE Region West [08] ------(DocGPS App) 75 == TRICARE Service Centers [01] ------(Going Virtual 1 April) 76 == Traumatic Brain Injury [34] ------(Blast Gauge Potential) 77 == TRICARE Prime [28] ------(Consolidated Tricare Plan) 78 == Headaches ------(Treatment Depends on Type) 79 == TFL Pharmacy Benefit [04] ------(Retail Pharmacy Use Ending) 81 == PTSD [163] ------(MDMA Clinical Trials Underway) 83 == Earwax Removal [01] ------( Overview)
| *Finances* | 84 == SSA Monetary Benefit [01] ------(10 Suggestions to Maximize) 86 == Movie Theater Discounts ------(Seniors) 88 == Saving Money ------(Buy vs. Rent Decision) 89 == Malaysia Airlines MH370 Scam ------(How It works) 90 == Scams ~ IRS [04] ------(Bogus IRS agent Calls) 90 == Cat Fishing Scam ------(How It works) 91 == Tax Burden for Indiana Retirees ------(As of Mar 2014) 92 == Thrift Savings Plan 2014 ------(Share Prices + YTD Gain or Loss)
| *General Interest* | 93 == Notes of Interest ------(15 thru 31 Mar 2014) 94 == Honor and Remember Flag ------(Approval Status) 95 == Senior's Quiz ------(Keep Your Aging Grey Cells Active) 96 == Photos That Say it All ------(What Next) 96 == Citizen Honors Award ------(2014 Recipients) 98 == They Grew Up to Be ------(John Lennon of the Beatles) 98 == Have You Heard? ------(A Little Test) 99 == Interesting Inventions ------(What Handicap?)
| *Attachments* | Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 29 Mar 2014 Attachment - Virginia Vet State Benefits & Discounts Mar 2014 Attachment - Revolutionizing TBI Diagnosis Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 1-30 Apr
3
*DoD*
DFAS Future ► Drawdown Impact | Army Pilot Program
The Army is considering pulling some of its financial activities out of the Pentagon’s Defense Finance and Accounting Services office and handing them off to the Army’s own accountants. It’s not clear how, if at all, this would affect soldiers. But it’s raising questions about the future of DFAS, which is the world’s largest finance and accounting operation and manages the bank accounts for most of the Defense Department’s massive budget. The Army is planning to launch a pilot program this spring at Fort Bragg, N.C., that will involve significant changes to how the Army conducts accounting for its soldiers on that base, according to a defense official familiar with the plan. Army Secretary John McHugh suggested that massive changes may be in store for DFAS as the Pentagon’s budget levels off, the size of the force shrinks and military accountants have fewer financial transactions to manage. “I think everybody has to be realistic ... as the number of customers gets smaller, you’re gonna have fewer transactions if no one does anything else. It’s just realistic. So I mean, the face of DFAS ... would have to make some adjustments to accommodate the drawdown in the budget as well,” McHugh told the House Armed Services Committee on 25 MAR.
McHugh has no direct control over DFAS, which is run by the Defense Department’s comptroller. An Army spokesman declined to provide details about the pilot program. Questions about accounting services come as pressure is mounting on the military to keep better track of its money. The Pentagon’s accounting procedures do not meet the same standards upheld by private-sector corporations and most government agencies. Critics say billions of dollars are lost in waste and inefficiency. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill say fixing that would help ease the impact of budget cuts. A Pentagon spokesman said no major changes to DFAS are in the works. “DFAS has no plans for major workload shifts or closures at any other DFAS site. We are aware the Army has been reviewing how their financial management work is performed but we have made no agreements to transfer any work,” said Navy Cmdr. Bill Urban. McHugh said the Army’s underlying goal is to address longstanding concerns about auditability. “Much of what we are doing is in pursuit of what Congress has legally said we must do, and that is, to become auditable,” McHugh said Tuesday. [Source: NavyTimes | Andrew Tilghman | 26 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
DoD Benefit Cuts Update 36 ► TRICARE Program Hearing
Military advocacy groups appear divided over a Pentagon proposal to consolidate Tricare health programs, but all agree that active-duty families should not have to pay higher medical costs just because they don’t live near a
4 military hospital. In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s personnel panel 26 MAR, representatives from four military service organizations addressed the Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 budget proposal to roll Tricare Prime, Standard and Extra into a single consolidated Tricare program. The plan also would install a new fee structure based on where beneficiaries get their care. Families of active-duty troops would pay new copayments or higher cost shares at network and non-network facilities and retirees and family members would see new fees at military facilities and higher fees elsewhere. The goal is to encourage beneficiaries to get care where treatment is provided at lower cost to the government.
But the plan would increase costs significantly for military families who have limited or no access to military facilities, according to retired Air Force Col. Mike Hayden, director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America. “It’s breaking the faith to change the rules for someone with 10 years — or one year — of service,” Hayden said. John Davis, legislative programs director for the Fleet Reserve Association, said FRA does not oppose Tricare consolidation but agrees the Pentagon should not shift Tricare costs to beneficiaries, nearly all of whom would see an increase in medical expenses under the plan. “FRA is concerned that Congress has not learned from past mistakes that pay caps and other benefits cuts impact negatively on retention and recruitment,” Davis said. Pentagon officials say tweaks to benefits, including Tricare, commissaries, pay raises, housing allowances and more, are needed to avoid funding shortfalls in training, maintenance and equipment.
Without the estimated $2.1 billion that the benefits proposals would save next year, and with an additional $30 billion in sequester cuts coming over the next five years, readiness and modernization will suffer, said DoD Comptroller Robert Hale. “These cuts are going to have to come out of readiness and modernization. There’s nowhere else to go,” Hale told lawmakers during the hearing. The advocacy groups oppose nearly all the proposed benefits cuts in the fiscal 2015 budget, including changes to housing, commissaries and pay increases. The Tricare proposal, they said, raises the most questions, with concerns over the costs of medical care to personnel on recruiting duty or living far from a military treatment facility, the ability of military hospitals to absorb new patients and the noticeable shortage of physicians nationwide who accept Tricare patients — or even know what Tricare is. “In this proposal, currently serving families and retirees will pay more and get less,” said MOAA’s Hayden. Lawmakers said they had concerns over the way the Pentagon was pushing the changes given that the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission is studying reform of the entire pay and benefits system.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is an ardent supporter of restructuring the military pay and benefits system to reduce the overall Pentagon budget. But during the hearing, he said decisions to cut programs should wait until the commission issues its recommendations, expected in early 2015. “It’s not that I don’t trust your work product,” he told Hale and Jessica Wright, acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “We’ve got ourselves in a bind here. You’ve got a commission studying the same subject matter.” Graham implored his fellow subcommittee members to find $2.1 billion in other government spending, either within or outside the defense budget, that could be cut to cover the personnel funding gap next year while the commission finishes its work and delivers its final recommendations next February. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) asked whether DoD had studied the impact the proposed changes would have on junior enlisted troops, who would end up devoting a higher percentage of their paychecks to housing, food and health care. “I assume, because you proposed this, you all ran these numbers and really looked at rank versus how much that person will pay more. And I think that’s really important for us, to see the numbers,” Ayotte said.
Under the consolidated Tricare proposal, retirees would pay to use military treatment facilities, newly Medicare- eligible retirees would pay enrollment fees for Tricare for Life and family members of active-duty troops would pay slightly more for their health care in co-pays or higher cost-shares for some types of care at network and non- network facilities. The Pentagon estimates the Tricare proposals would save $800 million in fiscal 2015 and $9.3 billion through fiscal 2019. According to the Pentagon, the average active-duty family’s annual out-of-pocket costs would more than double to $364, increasing the family’s share of its overall health costs from 1.4 percent to 3.3
5 percent. The average retiree with two family members now pays $1,376 per year in health expenses; their average contribution would rise to $1,526, or 10.8 percent of the average family’s total annual health care costs. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Patricia Kime | 26 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
DECA Budget Cuts Update 06 ► Really | And Now A Plan
Really … Generals, admirals and defense secretaries come and go, as political administrations change; and the legacies they leave are sometimes impressive, sometimes shoddy. But undoing more than 147 years of "at-cost" commissary non-pay compensation for servicemembers and their families - that would be a disgrace we cannot imagine any of them wanting their names attached to. Quite frankly, we don't know where anyone even gets the gall to pull any corner of the financial rug out from under the military family, diminishing their de facto compensation by as much as 6 or 8 percent, as the recent proposed cuts to commissary funding could do. We do understand, of course, that a century and a half of tradition is not by itself a basis for sound policy, and we also understand that financial pressures upon DoD are strong and will be long-lasting, but ... "really?" … has the commissary benefit endured this long only to be defunded because times got tough once again, because leadership remains ignorant or skeptical regarding its value, and because DoD's favorite advisors are ideologically motivated to cut benefits to the quick?
Or worse yet, because it's the financial path of least resistance in the budget? And what would it net? Just a drop in the budget bucket - 3/10 of 1 percent. Again, Really? … Meanwhile, billions of dollars gush unmolested into the FW&A account (that's Fraud, Waste and Abuse, to borrow an accounting term), and billions of dollars of excess materiel rots in warehouses. Perhaps the most telling language in the current proposal is that which removes any concern for the needs of the servicemembers the commissary still claims to support, and replaces it with a miserly focus on getting its money back, legislating in the following manner a revised primary consideration for establishing a commissary: striking the words "needs of members of the armed forces on active duty and the needs of dependents of such members" and inserting the words "feasibility of cost recovery." All in the military community can form their own opinions of just how highly their service is appreciated, and their retention is valued, by those words. And when they realize this, we hope they will see that they need to stand up and set their leadership straight on just how valuable their commissary benefit is.
A few weeks ago, the military community mobilized against a provision in a law reducing COLA for young retirees that could cost an individual perhaps $80,000, according to some estimates, over the course of the time involved. Faced with the uproar, both houses of Congress and the White House acted immediately (well, in a time frame that passes as immediately for Congress and the White House). That part of the law was rescinded. On national television early this month, a young military wife with three children told reporters she saved $200 every two weeks by shopping in the commissary. Over the same period as the COLA restriction, the proposed commissary cuts could cost her military family much more than $80,000. This uproar should be at least as great. Don't be fooled by trade-offs for this or that other benefit - corners that surveys might try to trick you into. It's not about benefit trade-offs; it's about doing what's right by military families and funding the benefits they have earned through their service. And about DeCA continuing to do what it has done well time and time again - finding more efficiencies wherever it can reengineer its operations without harming the benefit.
We've had it with deceptions and empty promises. If you have, too, let your Representatives and your Senators know what Defense leadership is trying to get past them, and let them know that you won't stand for it. It's time the grass roots get moving before the budget lawnmower comes. Generals, admirals and defense secretaries will be
6 replaced, and different priorities will be established. But once relinquished, this non-pay benefit will not be reinstated. Congress and the Military community - don't give it up on your watch. Really.
AND NOW, A PLAN ...Since it appears that plans to mobilize actual commissary patrons have not been fully exploited, it's time to get a very tangible one started. The ALA and the Coalition to Save Our Benefit (SOB) have engaged their valued associates in the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), but there is a little trouble in paradise. The VSOs have other fish to fry: Tricare, for one. Those of us involved in the resale market have been advised not to lobby each other, and there's certainly some sense in not preaching to the choir, but there's also the question that if this group doesn't mobilize patrons, who the hell else will?
Industry has shown its ingenuity and resolve a thousand times before, and it can do so again. Engage commissary shoppers. Use all the resources at your disposal, including the Armed Forces Marketing Council (AFMC); and assign reps to commissaries — especially in states with chairs, vice chairs and ranking members on the military- related appropriations subcommittees in both the House and Senate — to stand at the door with petitions, and ask the shoppers to sign them. They could present tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of actual signatures to these constituents' legislators and to the White House and whoever else will influence the course of events in the next few months. The internet is nice, and Capwiz has an important role to play, but ground forces are urgently needed in short order. The clock is ticking. We're not lawyers, but advocating for this sort of cause doesn't appear to conflict with DoD directives, and certainly comes within First Amendment rights to petition the government for redress of grievances.
We know that brokers and vendor partners would do all they can to ensure this gets done. The material cost would be minimal — printed petition forms, clipboards and pens and letters to hand out with some website information if shoppers want to share with others. Industry already knows when — on paydays, when most shop; extra hours expended to truly save the benefit would make sense here. Thousands have been spent already on other programs, with — not very reassuringly — not much to show for it … except the hope that the compensation commission interviews real shoppers (as by all accounts it has not yet got round to the patrons who would be most affected by the funding cuts). Time to engage your energies and resources so that commissary patrons' voices are heard where they can have the most impact. Maybe then things can get pointed back in the right direction — building sales, not stacking the deck to reduce them. [Exchang3e & Commissary News | Editorial Comment | 23 Mar 2014 ++ ]
********************************
BRAC Update 36 ► Pentagon Wants Another Round
Each military branch has excess capacity and needs another round of base realignment and closure, defense officials told a House panel 12 MAR. Appearing before the House Appropriations Committee's Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee, officials noted varying amounts of excess capacity on U.S. bases, and sought help. "The bottom line is: We need another round of BRAC," said Kathleen Ferguson, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics. John Conger, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, said he knows the last round of BRAC, in 2005, left "a bad taste" in the mouths of many in Congress, but that this would be different. The key reason that one cost so much was that "we were willing to accept recommendations that did not save money," he said. The 2005 round of BRAC was actually more like two concurrent rounds -- one for transformation and one for efficiency, Conger said.
Altogether, the BRAC cost about $35 billion, and $29 billion of that was for the transformation piece, which only resulted in about $1 billion in yearly savings, Conger said. The efficiency piece cost $6 billion and resulted in
7 recurring savings of $3 billion each year, he said. Now, the military is requesting just the "efficiency" piece, Conger said. "We don't want to be wasting money on unneeded facilities," he said. The Army has an average of 18 percent excess capacity at U.S. bases, according to a recent facility capacity analysis, and end-strength reductions will increase that excess capacity even more, said Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment. The Air Force does not have a recent capacity analysis, but had 24 percent excess capacity in 2004, Ferguson said. The last round of BRAC only helped with a very small portion of that extra space, and the Air Force has reduced active-duty end strength by nearly 8 percent since then, she said, so officials know there is plenty of excess that could be closed. The Navy also doesn't have a recent analysis, but does know they have some excess capacity and supports a new round of BRAC, said Dennis McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment.
Still, members of the committee noted their displeasure with the 2005 BRAC process, and worried that the Pentagon is not budgeting enough for military construction in fiscal 2015. The military construction request for fiscal 2015 is $6.6 billion, about 40 percent lower than the request for fiscal 2014. "I haven't seen requests this low for a long, long time," said Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), the ranking member of the committee. Conger, Ferguson, Hammack and McGinn said the smaller request is the result of efforts to meet the requirements of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013; they said the services are willing to take a risk in cutting facilities maintenance so they can use more funding to support warfighters. But Rep. John Culberson, the Texas Republican who serves as the subcommittee's chairman, called the low number "shocking," and said he does not want troops and their families to be neglected. "We love you and we want to help," he said, adding that the committee would try to find a way to fund maintenance and construction programs. [Source: Stars and Stripes | Jennifer Hlad | 13 Mar 2014 ++ ]
********************************
BRAC Update 37 ► CNO Says He Sees No Need
In what may provide some reassurance to coastal communities that are dependent on military spending, the Navy's top admiral says he doesn't see a great need for the Navy to go through another round of base closures. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert made the comments during a visit to Mayport Naval Station in Florida last week. The Defense Department has requested that Congress approve a round of base closings - known as BRAC, or Base Closure and Realignment - to begin in 2017 so it can stop paying for unneeded infrastructure. While the Defense Department has not specified which bases might be targeted, Greenert said he doesn't see a lot of excess capacity in the Navy. "Mayport will be a part of our future for as far into the future as I can see. Some people say, 'Gee whiz, are we going to BRAC?' I don't see that," Greenert said during a webcast all-hands call with sailors. Army officials have said they support going through closures to align their infrastructure needs with a declining force size.
Defense officials have said there's a significant amount of unneeded infrastructure that needs to be eliminated. "We need another round of BRAC," Undersecretary of Defense Robert Hale said in a media briefing earlier this month, according to a Defense Department transcript. "We've got at least 25 percent unneeded infrastructure in this department. And if we can't get Congress to allow us to close it, then we're simply going to waste the taxpayers' money, frankly." Members of Congress largely have been reluctant to approve a round of base closures out of fears their home states could lose bases and significantly damage local economies. In Hampton Roads, about 45 percent of the economy is dependent upon defense spending, according to Old Dominion University's 2013 state of the region report.
8
"I'm very satisfied with our laydown of our bases as we look around the world," Greenert told reporters after the all-hands call. "So we have Mayport, and we have Hampton Roads. We have two fine fleet concentration areas there on the East Coast, good balance there with, you know, with Connecticut with submarines. People ask me, 'Do you have the need? Do you see a great need for BRAC?' I say, 'No, I don't.' " Local base advocates welcomed Greenert's comments but said they're still not letting their guard down. "I would rather hear the CNO say that than something else - that they're very aggressively seeking BRAC," said Craig Quigley, executive director of Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. "But it's certainly nothing that we're ever going to take for granted." [Source: AP | Brock Vergakis | 25 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
DoD Religious Expression Update 03 ► Sikh Alleged Enlistment Ban
A bipartisan group of 105 lawmakers urged the Defense Department on 10 MAR to make it easier for practicing Sikh Americans who wear beards and turbans to serve in the military. The House members wrote to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calling for an end to a “presumptive ban” on Sikhs serving. Under a policy announced in January, troops can seek waivers on a case-by-case basis to wear religious clothing, seek prayer time or engage in religious practices. Approval depends on where the service member is stationed and whether the change would affect military readiness or the mission. A request can be denied only if it is determined that the needs of the military mission outweigh the needs of the service member. But the Sikh Coalition, a group that advocates for the estimated half-million Sikhs living in the U.S., says the bureaucratic hurdles remain a disincentive, as waivers are not guaranteed and must be constantly renewed.
Guneet Lamba pins a new corporal insignia on the camouflage turban of her husband, Cpl. Simranpeet Lamba, the Army’s only enlisted Sikh soldier
In the last 30 years, only three Sikhs have received permission to serve in the Army while maintaining their articles of faith, namely turbans and unshorn hair, including beards. The lawmakers’ letter cites the service of the three Sikhs, among them Maj. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi. He earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan, which included treating multiple combat injuries and reviving two clinically dead patients. “Given the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated ability to comply with operational requirements while practicing their faith, we believe it is time for our military to make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception,” said the letter. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen, a Defense Department spokesman, said he could not comment on the defense secretary’s correspondence. But he said the policy announced in January would enhance
9 commanders’ and supervisors’ ability to maintain good order and discipline, while reducing “both the instances and perception of discrimination among those whose religious expressions are less familiar to the command.” Previously, there had been no consistent policy across the military services to allow accommodations for religion. But now, for example, Jewish troops are able to seek a waiver to wear a yarmulke, or Sikhs can seek waivers to wear a turban and grow a beard. [Source: Associated Press | Matthew Pennington | 11 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
DoD Retirement Update 01 ► Negative Reaction to Change Proposal
The Pentagon’s new proposal for reforming military retirement is drawing sharply negative reactions from today’s career-minded service members, according to a recent survey of Military Times active-duty readers. By a margin of more than two to one, active-duty troops said they oppose the Defense Department’s proposal that would scale back the size of the lifetime monthly retirement payments promised to troops who serve 20 years or more. That proposal, unveiled 6 MAR, would compensate troops for the smaller pension by providing more cash-based benefits earlier in life, such as retention pay at 12 years lump-sum transition pay for those who leave with 20 years or more, and tax- free government contributions to retirement investment accounts for all troops starting at three years of service and fully vesting at six years. Only about one in four active-duty troops thinks the underlying idea of offering more cash and smaller pension checks may have merit, according to a survey of 2,737active-duty troops who are on the Military Times subscriber list and were contacted individually by email.
A major concern among survey respondents is the issue of grandfathering current troops from any changes. The Pentagon’s proposal explicitly states that today’s troops could keep their current retirement package — and perhaps could opt into a new package if they chose. Only future recruits would have no say in the matter. But many troops instinctively oppose retirement reform efforts because they simply don’t trust the Pentagon’s assurances about a grandfather clause. “That is what they say, but I do not 100 percent believe that. We live in a moment now where I would say everything is uncertain in the military,” said an Air Force major in San Antonio who asked not to named. The new proposal comes at a time of deep cynicism among troops about their military compensation. For more than a year, the top brass has repeatedly said today’s pay and benefits system is too costly and needs to be capped, and a number of proposals for rolling back various compensation programs has emerged from the Pentagon in recent months.
That distrust of Washington decision-makers was magnified in December, when lawmakers on Capitol Hill passed a law limiting annual cost-of-living adjustments in military retired pay for current retirees, which emerged as part of an 11th-hour deal on a governmentwide budget agreement. The military community erupted in outrage, prompting Congress to repeal the law for current retirees several weeks later. The Defense Department sent its new proposal for retirement reform to the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, which is studying all compensation programs and is due to provide a final report to Congress early next year. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Welch, who is a few months shy of his 20-year mark, said he opposes the plan, but acknowledged that some aspects could work well for a future generations of troops. The prospect of a full military pension was “a big reason I decided to re-enlist 10 years ago,” Welch said in an interview after taking the survey. He said discussions about changing the current system make him nervous, regardless of assurances about grandfathering today’s force. Yet he agreed with one aspect of the DoD plan that would allow active-duty troops to transfer into the reserves and still be eligible for some level of retirement pay immediately upon leaving service, rather than having to wait until age 60, as is now the case. Welch said that would appeal to a lot of soldiers who are ready to move back into the civilian sector but who, under today’s system, are compelled to continue serving until the 20-year mark to lock in their active-duty retirement benefits. “The soldiers I’ve worked with, a lot of them wouldn’t mind doing 15 years active
10 and then five in the reserves. I think if they knew they could still get a pension, they would jump on that bandwagon,” Welch said.
DoD’s proposals are based on the belief that troops place a higher value on cash benefits earlier in life — for example, a large lump-sum transition payment for troops separating after 20 years of service — rather than steady pension checks in old age. Studies suggest changes based on that principle would allow DoD to reduce the total lifetime value of a military retirement package by about 10 percent without hurting retention. But some service members question that assumption. One Navy commander who asked not to be named said many younger retirees would face real-world pressures to spend that money immediately after getting out, rather than investing it to supplement their retirement income later in life. “Those ideas sound good on paper,” the commander said. “But if you give me $300,000 and you put me in a very poor job market, I am going to be spending that money not on my long-term retirement, but just trying to stay afloat. I would say that reduction of payments at the latter end [of life] is probably the wrong direction to move. That’s when people tend to have the least amount of income security.”
The Military Times readers survey was conducted from March 11 to March 13. Younger troops, including junior enlisted and junior officers who make up the majority of the force, are not proportionally represented among the respondents. As a result, the survey results are not intended to reflect a true cross-section of the entire force. Older troops, for the most part, are far more skeptical of changing the retirement system than younger troops. “Leave everything the way it is. The system is not broken — stop trying to fix it,” said one Army staff sergeant in his 16th year of service. One Marine gunnery sergeant with 16 years in uniform said in his survey comments that today’s retirement package is not overly generous in the context of the full range of sacrifices that service members make.“Our lifestyle is unlike any other career,” he said. “Our children and our spouses have to move every two to four years. Our spouses never get a good chance to make a career. Our children are ripped away from their friends when we move. Our bodies are worked strenuously through [physical training]. ... Our retirement should reflect what we’ve given our country over the past 20 years.”
Although the number of younger troops in the survey is somewhat limited, the results suggest they are more open to the possibilities being suggested by the Pentagon. For Army Capt. Ben White, a 26-year-old West Point graduate who is unsure of whether he’ll stay in uniform for 20 years, the retirement issue is part of a larger debate about how the military is managed. “To me, the 20-year cliff retirement is just a symptom,” White said. “It’s really a much bigger issue. A lot of the way we do things is based on a 1950s model ... a centrally planned, socialist economic model as opposed to the more free-market ways of doing things that are much more efficient. “There needs to be a more competitive work environment. I think we should allow commanders to hire and fire people. Making rank and pay should be contingent on positions and responsibilities as opposed to [the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act] year-groups where, essentially, if you breathe, you get promoted at a certain point,” White said.
Many troops are skeptical of the argument made by top Pentagon officials that reductions in compensation costs are needed to free up funding to pay for weapons modernization and high-tech research. About three in four troops surveyed said they disagree. “Spending money on more sophisticated weapons is just a recipe for contractor greed,” one Army colonel commented in his response to the survey. “The fact is, we get our ass handed to us by some guy with an AK-47 or RPG in the back of a Toyota pick-up.” In the end, for many of today’s troops, military service feels like a family business. And changing the retirement system might affect whether those family traditions carry on. “We’ve already had that discussion in my family,” said the Air Force major in San Antonio, whose two grown sons are considering military careers. “I’m like, ‘What I’ve been promised, and what my retirement is, may not be the package that you get if you go into the military.’ I think a lot of families are having those discussions. There is an awareness that that could change.” [Source: MilitaryTimes | Andrew Tilghman | 13 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
11
QDR 2014 Update 01 ► Presumes More Risk, Less Money in Future
The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review isn't like previous reviews, a senior Defense Department official said in Washington D.C.11 MAR.. Christine E. Wormuth, deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans and force development spoke at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The QDR is a congressionally mandated review of DOD strategy and priorities. It is intended to set the course for the department to address current and future conflicts and threats. The review this year was completed in about half the usual time, Wormuth said, and in an environment marked by tremendous uncertainty. The past 18 months of fiscal uncertainty have pushed the department into a near-continuous cycle of evaluation and planning, she said.
A break usually follows the department's annual program review cycle, the deputy undersecretary said, but last year, the department went straight into planning for sequestration. "We then undertook the Strategic Choices in Management Review, and then ... segued straight into the QDR 2014 process, as well as the next program review cycle," Wormuth said. "So, it's been a very challenging time." Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel thought it was important to take this QDR -- the first since he took office -- as an opportunity to look at the security environment and re-examine the strategy to lay out his vision for the department, she said. "He gave us a lot of upfront guidance - - the day-to-day process was co-chaired by then-Deputy Secretary Ash Carter, and our vice chairman, Adm. Sandy Winnefeld, [and] they were very, very involved," Wormuth said. Carter and Winnefeld also were co-chairs of the budget review, she noted, which allowed for ideas to cross over between the two processes. And although it was a shorter, more compressed QDR than usual, she said, the department made every effort to continue the tradition of having the QDR be inclusive, transparent and collegial.
"We had representation from all of the services, all of the [Office of the Secretary of Defense] organization, all of the combatant commands, etc.," Wormuth said. "So, we really tried to sort of involve everyone. That, of course, doesn't mean that every organization was happy with where we wound up, but I think it's fair to say that all parts of the building had a voice in the process, and that's very important to having a coherent ... result at the end that has integrity." The underlying theme in the report is the kinds of risks that the department believes the return of sequestration in fiscal year 2016 poses to the defense strategy going forward, she said. The final QDR report outlines three broad themes: an updated defense strategy, the rebalance of the joint force and the department's commitment to protecting the all-volunteer force, she said. The updated strategy is one that the department believes "is appropriate for the United States as a global leader," Wormuth said. "It's a strategy that we believe helps us protect our interests and advance those interests in the world and helps us sustain our global leadership role." The second objective addresses managing the joint force given the current strategic and fiscal environments, Wormuth said. And the third piece of the QDR report outlines how the department will continue to recruit and retain service members while becoming more efficient and effective, she said. In particular, the deputy undersecretary said, this section looks at reining in the growth of compensation packages to maintain a balanced force going into the future.
The 2014 QDR is an evolution of strategy as opposed to a revolution in strategy, Wormuth said. "The administration had our strategic priorities pretty much right in the 2012 defense strategic guidance," she said. "So we really went from the 2010 QDR, which was very focused on the two current wars at the time [in] Iraq and Afghanistan to the 2012 defense strategic guidance, where we tried to lay out some of the important defense priorities for the 21st century. "And now, with the QDR 2014," she continued, "[we are] building on that set of priorities to try to put the strategy in a slightly broader framework and really look forward to the kinds of challenges and opportunities we face in the future." The review process started with a discussion of the security environment, Wormuth said. "And I think it's fair to say we see the security environment as ... continuing to be quite challenging,"
12 she added. "It's volatile. There are a lot of threats out there." But, she said, there is also opportunity. "So, in that context, we've tried to lay out an updated strategy that has three basic pillars," the deputy undersecretary said. The first pillar is protecting the homeland, she said. This is a shift from the 2012 defense strategic guidance, Wormuth said, which didn't cover the department's role in managing the consequences of natural disasters, for example. Building global security is the second pillar in the strategy, she said. This includes things such as building partnership capacity, joint exercises, military-to-military engagement and port visits, she explained."And really, the goal of that part of our strategy is to try to deter conflict at the earliest point possible," Wormuth said, "to try to prevent coercive behavior, for example, and to sort of proactively and positively shape the environment, so that we're trying to prevent conflict rather than having to deal with it after it's already manifested." The third pillar of the strategy is projecting power and winning decisively, she said. "Whether that's to be able to respond to conflict, or whether it's to come to the aid of a country like the Philippines when they were dealing with their typhoon," she said, "we want to be able to do both of those, and, if necessary, to deal with aggression when and if it happens."
The QDR report emphasizes innovation and adaptability, Wormuth said. "I think in the past," she told the audience, "the department has often talked about innovation or efficiency in the context of sort of better business practices. ... Here, we're trying to think about that, certainly, but to go beyond that and thinking about how can we build in innovation into the strategy itself -- into how we try to execute that strategy." To that end, the department conducted an extensive review of the operational concepts for some of its war plans to try to push innovation in those areas, Wormuth said. "We've also done things like looking carefully at the way we deploy forces to conduct forward presence activities," she added. And, Wormuth said, the department is pursuing innovation with some of its closest allies and partners. "We've had extensive dialogue with the Brits, in particular, looking at how we can do more in terms of joint training, how we can leverage the fact that they will be buying joint strike fighters, and how we can do more to train for, say, carrier operations, but also to work with them on strategic planning activities," she said.
The big-picture view, she said, is that at the president's budget level, which is $115 billion more than the cap imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2013, DOD can execute the strategy outlined in the QDR, "although we will experience increased risk in some areas." For example, Wormuth said, the department will have some challenges in terms of readiness that will cause it to be more selective in the kinds of engagement activities that it can do. The report also talks at length about rebalancing the force to align it to the new strategic pillars, she said. "What we're trying to do, given the fiscal environment, is to reshape the force in such a way that it remains in balance between capacity -- the size of our forces -- capability, which is sort of shorthand for the level of modernization of our forces, and also the readiness level of our forces." To do that, Wormuth said, the department will have to undertake some of the steps outlined in the department's budget proposal, including reducing the size of the active Army and Marine Corps and cutting platforms such as the Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-support fighter. The department will continue to make investments in capabilities important to executing the strategy, she said, such as counterterrorism and cyber. And, Wormuth said, DOD remains focused on continuing to fight sexual assault and suicides and is making sure that programs that support families, transition assistance and wounded warriors are protected.
The current rate of growth for compensation programs is not sustainable over time, Wormuth said, and so the department has proposed a series of "relatively modest reforms" in the 2015 budget proposal to try to slow the growth. "So, things like slowing the size of the pay raise, for example, or making some reductions to our base housing allowance program or reducing, to some extent, the subsidy for our commissaries," Wormuth said. "Those are all things that we think we have to do in order to keep our force healthy overall." If sequestration spending cuts
13 return in fiscal year 2016 and beyond, she said, "we believe that the risk to our strategy will rise significantly." The department would have to reduce the size of the force further, Wormuth said, adding that the active Army would be reduced to about 420,000 personnel. The Marine Corps would come down to 175,000 personnel, the Navy would lose a minimum of one carrier, and the Air Force would lose the KC-10 Extender tanker. "We would also have to go into the modernization accounts and cut those much more deeply," she said, "which we think would put at risk our ability to keep pace with [anti-access/area-denial] developments, for example."
In combination, all of those things would have a very damaging impact on the defense strategy and place the nation's security at risk, both home and abroad, the deputy undersecretary said. "Because of capacity challenges under permanent sequestration, it would be harder to build security globally," Wormuth said. "We would have a harder time generating sufficient forward presence to do all of the partnership activities that we think are necessary around the world." It's because of these kinds of risks that the president and the secretary decided to put forward a defense budget that is significantly higher than the Budget Control Act-level caps, Wormuth said. "We think that the strategy we've put forward is the right strategy for the country," she added, "and we think the additional resources are needed and warranted to be able to execute that strategy." [Source: AFPS | Claudette Roulo | 11 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
QDR 2014 Update 02 ► Pentagon Official Disputes HASC Rejection
A senior Pentagon official fired back at House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon, who rejected the US Defense Department’s latest military strategy review earlier this month. McKeon has said the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is “in defiance of the law.” The California Republican, in a statement issued on 4 MAR shortly after the QDR was released, charged that the document “provides no insight into what a moderate- to-low risk strategy would be, is clearly budget driven, and is shortsighted.” David Ochmanek, deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development, dismissed, point-by-point, McKeon’s three major criticisms of the QDR. Ochmanek, who works in the Pentagon’s policy office, was part of the team that conducted and wrote the QDR. “I admit there is a certain pride of authorship,” Ochmanek said 18 MAR during a question-and-answer session following a speech at a Precision Strike Association conference in Springfield, Va. “I’m probably not an objective judge of our product, but at least the three specific charges that Chairman McKeon leveled at the QDR are at least debatable.”
David Ochmanek
McKeon immediately rejected the QDR upon its release, saying the strategy document is “heavily constrained by low budget levels. “The law requires the QDR to identify resources not included in the Pentagon’s [five] year spending plan,” McKeon said. “The whole point of the review is to identify the budget needed to address the evolving threat.” Ochmanek takes issue with that argument. “We were resource informed, but we were strategy driven,” he said. “A budget-driven approach simply says to everybody [that] everyone gets a 10 percent cut, go take your cut. This wasn’t that, I could tell you.” McKeon also called the QDR, “shortsighted,” saying it only looked out five years, “instead of the 20 years required by law.” Ochmanek rejected that statement, saying the QDR team looked into the 2030s during their assessment. “We looked at scenarios in 2030, we looked at the security environment in 2030 [and] we
14
looked at the force and programs in 2030,” he said. “The report will show you the force structure at the end of the [five-year future years defense plan], because that’s as far as we’ve programmed for, but it is not factually correct to say that the QDR did not [look out 20 years] whatsoever.” McKeon said the QDR assumes too much risk. “The law requires the QDR to offer a low-to-moderate risk plan for our forces and mission,” McKeon said. “By Secretary Hagel’s own admission, this QDR accepts additional risks.” Ochmanek said DoD’s analysis says otherwise.
“I can tell you what my boss said, what [Defense] Secretary [Chuck] Hagel said, which is that the force we are programming at the president’s budget level will be capable of executing the strategy,” he said. “There will be some elevated risk in some mission areas, but those risks, we judge, will be manageable.” McKeon said he would “require the department to rewrite and resubmit a compliant report.” Ochmanek said DoD would re-do the QDR if mandated by legislation. [Source: Defense News | Marcus Weisgerber | 18 Mar 2014 ++]
*VA*
VA Care ~ Cold Injuries ► How To Obtain Benefits
Servicemembers have been exposed to extreme cold in combat and military training missions. The major cold injuries they suffer include frostbite, non-freezing cold injuries, immersion foot (formerly called trench foot), and hypothermia. The risk of cold injury depends on several environmental conditions including temperature, wind and moisture, in combination with physical activity, the duration of exposure, and amount of protection. The individual’s level of fitness and cold susceptibility also contribute to the risk. If you are concerned about health problems associated with cold injuries, talk to your health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator who can be located at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/coordinators.asp . Veterans may have been exposed to extreme cold without adequate protection during: World War II: The Battle of the Bulge, fought in December 1944 through January 1945 under conditions of extreme cold Korean War: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, conducted from October 1950 through December 1950 in temperatures that dropped to 50 degrees F below zero, with a wind chill factor of 100 degrees F below zero. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan Other campaigns or circumstances during military service, including training.
15
Health problems associated with cold injuries Cold injuries may result in long-term health problems, including the following signs and symptoms (at the site of exposure): Changes in muscle, skin, nails, ligaments, and bones Skin cancer in frostbite scars Neurologic injury with symptoms such as bouts of pain in the extremities, hot or cold tingling sensations, and numbness Vascular injury with Raynaud’s Phenomenon with symptoms such as extremities becoming painful and white or discolored when cold
VA has developed a guide for clinicians on how to diagnose and treat cold injuries. Veterans and others also may be interested. The guide is available at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/vethealthinitiative/cold_injury.asp . If you are concerned about health problems associated with cold injuries during your military service, talk to your health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator. VA offers a variety of health care benefits to eligible Veterans. For additional info in this refer to http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/benefits/health-care.asp. If you are not enrolled in the VA health care system find out if you qualify for VA health care. Veterans may file a claim for disability compensation for health problems they believe are related to cold injuries during military service. To file a claim online go to https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal. VA decides these claims on a case-by-case basis. [Source: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/cold-injuries/index.asp Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Health Care Access Update 07 ► ACA/VA Signup Encouraged
The Obama administration is encouraging military veterans to sign up for Obamacare as it pulls out all the stops to maximize enrollment ahead of the 31 MAR deadline. The Department of Veterans Affairs sent veterans and other Americans in its database a seven-page color brochure titled “The Affordable Care Act: For Veterans Who Need Health Care Coverage,” with a letter dated 7 MAR that appears addressed to individuals who don't use VA health insurance. The packet urges them to enroll in either VA coverage or Obamacare to ensure that they meet the federal mandate to carry health insurance or pay a fine. A VA spokesman told the Washington Examiner that the department estimates that up to 1.3 million veterans are uninsured, about 1 million of whom are eligible for VA health care. The spokesman did not dispute that the VA also is seeking to encourage uninsured veterans to consider Obamacare as a health insurance option. The VA is collaborating with other departments on the implementation of Obamacare, the spokesman said.
“We will continue our education and outreach efforts so veterans know the health care law does not affect their VA health benefits or out-of-pocket costs, and that veterans enrolled in VA health care do not need to take
16 additional steps to meet ACA's new coverage standards. We will also encourage veterans' family members not enrolled in a VA health care program to obtain coverage through the health insurance marketplaces,” the VA spokesman said in an email exchange. In the wake of the troubled launch of the health care law in October, the Obama administration scrambled to boost enrollment to ensure the program is financially viable. The administration could fall short of its goal of seven million enrollees when open enrollment closes at month’s end, but officials are nonetheless optimistic about the program’s progress. The administration recently announced that five million people have signed up, although it’s not clear how many have paid their premiums. An individual is not considered insured until he pays his first premium.
The White House continues to aggressively push Obamacare enrollment through several avenues. President Obama has appeared on nontraditional media outlets, even conducting a mock interview with a comedian, in an effort to accelerate sign-ups among the crucial young-and-healthy demographic. Additionally, various agencies other than the Department of Health and Human Services have cooperated to encourage Americans to purchase Obamacare policies. What's unknown is how much the administration has spent on extraordinary efforts -- such as the VA mailer -- to lure more customers to the health care exchanges. HHS redirected existing funds to finance Obamacare promotion after House Republicans blocked administration requests to appropriate more money for the program. However, HHS has revealed very little on which programs or agency departments it raided to fund the effort. Health care analysts said the administration’s actions should hardly be surprising.
Joe Davis, a spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, the official nonprofit service organization for U.S. military veterans, said the Affordable Care Act is the “law of the land” and could benefit veterans ineligible for VA health care. Edmund Haislmaier, a senior research fellow in health policy studies at the Heritage Foundation, said the administration is predictably doing everything it can to boost Obamacare enrollment. “It's reasonable to assume that they're just trying to increase enrollment and they're using different avenues, using various other agencies to promote enrollment, like they did with the Agriculture Department and other departments. I'm not surprised giving the timing of it -- it's another late push,” Haislmaier said. “This is the equivalent of looking for change under the sofa. They're looking for enrollees anywhere they can find them,” he added. [Source: Washington Examiner | David M. Drucker & Susan Crabtree | 24 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Stonewalling ► Unanswered Media & HVAC Inquiries
The Department of Veterans Affairs' stonewalling of questions is being showcased by the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HVAC) on a new web page at that tracks a lengthy list of refusals by agency officials to answer inquiries from the media. The unanswered questions concern issues like patient deaths at VA hospitals due to inadequate care, backlogs of disability compensation claims, big bonuses paid to top VA administrators and the department's overall lack of transparency. The DVA’s stonewalling of questions is being showcased by HVAC at http://veterans.house.gov/VAHonestyProject which tracks a lengthy list of refusals by agency officials to answer inquiries from the media. The unanswered questions concern issues like patient deaths at VA hospitals due to inadequate care, backlogs of disability compensation claims, big bonuses paid to top VA administrators and the department's overall lack of transparency.
The typical response from the VA press office is to refuse comment, issue a generic written statement or ignore the request for information, based on the list of about 70 instances of agency opaqueness highlighted on the new House web site. The VA press office has 54 full-time employees, according to official documents. “With 54 full- time public affairs employees, VA’s media avoidance strategy can’t be anything other than intentional,” said Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) chairman of the House veterans’ committee. “What’s worse, the tactic leaves the impression that
17 department leaders think the same taxpayers who fund the department don’t deserve an explanation of VA’s conduct,” Miller said. But in a written statement issued in response to the new website, the VA press office claimed its staff quickly responds to thousands of media inquiries every year. “At the Department of Veterans Affairs, we strive to provide accurate and timely information as we communicate every day with America’s veterans, their families, their survivors, and the American people," the statement said. "We understand and respect the media’s important role, and we work to ensure veterans understand our commitment to provide them the services and benefits they have earned and deserve," the statement said.
The House committee's page is called the "VA Honesty Project." It is a companion to other pages the committee maintains dealing with the lack of transparency at the agency. The other pages include the "VA Accountability Watch," at http://veterans.house.gov/accountability which pairs information about problematic offices and medical centers with data on big performance bonuses paid to their top administrators; and "Trials in Transparency," at http://veterans.house.gov/transparency which lists outstanding questions from the committee that have not been answered by VA. Questions from multiple national and local media outlets are on the list of the ignored, including multiple entries from the Washington Examiner. The agency’s press staff rarely responds to questions from the Examiner with specific answers. When there is a response, it normally is a written statement from an unnamed VA spokesperson.
Having a congressional committee showcase an agency's failure to respond to the media is healthy but unusual, said John Wonderlich, policy director at the non-profit Sunlight Foundation, (https://sunlightfoundation.com) which works for government openness. "It's useful for a congressional committee to have a collection of media accounts of how responsive an agency is being," Wonderlich said. "Too often, congressional committees don't pay attention to news coverage or the public affairs work of the agencies that they oversee." [Source: Washington Examiner | Mark Flatten | 24 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Stonewalling Update 01 ► HVAC VA Honesty Project
The goal of VA Honesty Project is simple: to highlight the Department of Veterans Affairs’ lack of transparency with the press and the public about its operations and activities. Because the Department of Veterans Affairs is a taxpayer funded organization, it has a responsibility to fully explain itself to the press and the public. Unfortunately, in many cases VA is failing in this responsibility, as department officials – including 54 full-time public affairs employees – routinely ignore media inquiries. VA Honesty Project documents nearly 70 recent instances in which VA has failed to respond to reporters’ requests for information or refused to answer specific questions. The department’s apparent disregard for the press has become an object of reporters’ scorn, leading some to openly accuse VA of “thumbing their nose at us” and others to write entire articles focusing on VA’s stonewalling tactics. VA Honesty Project will be continually updated with new examples of VA refusing to respond to the press as they arise.
The house committee on Veteran Affairs (HCVA) is asking VA if they are being appropriately transparent with the press and the public. Consider the following examples in chronological order and let HCVA know what you think on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HouseVetsAffairs:
“A phone call and email to the media department at the VA wasn’t returned, and an email to VA Secretary General Eric Shinseki was also not answered.” (Michael Volpe, “Drugs, corruption go unpunished in Mississippi VA center,” The Daily Caller, 3/19/14)
“Calls to the VA seeking comment were not returned.” (Donovan Slack, “Wis. delegation pushes VA on claims backlog,” Gannett, 3/16/2014)
18
“Each time we've asked the VA for an interview on this, since we broke the story on the data breach earlier this year, we've been emailed a similar response. Most recently being told, "The VA has in place a strong, multi-layered defense to combat evolving cybersecurity threats. The VA is committed to protecting veteran information." None of the VA's responses have directly addressed that breach of privacy for thousands of vets.” (Jon Camp, “I-Team: Congress members concerned about lack of response from VA over data breach,” ABC Raleigh, 3/7/2014)
“We did ask VA Public Affairs to get us an explanation directly from Petzel, but so far there has been no response.” (“Reports show conflicting statements about patient deaths at Atlanta VA Medical Center,” ABC Atlanta, 3/5/2014)
“VA officials did not respond directly to allegations in the report, and would not say what action was taken against the supervisors or if the unnamed employee was fired.” (Leo Shane, “IG: Managers let VA employee get away with cheating agency,” Military Times, 3/4/2014)
“VA spokeswoman Laura Schafsnitz said she submitted Jan. 29 questions from The Courier-Journal to higher-ranking officials, but after more than three weeks, no answers were provided.”
“The Courier-Journal asked VA officials and Galloway whether he was paid separately for each appraisal. Neither would comment. Nor would VA officials comment on whether they had made an offer to landowner Jonathan Blue of Blue Equity LLC, based on the earlier appraisal.” (Tom O’Neill, “VA Hospital land appraisals questioned,” The Courier- Journal, 3/4/14)
“[Denver VAMC Public Information Officer Daniel] Warvi denied our requests for a follow-up interview and hung up the phone.” (Amanda Kost and Jennifer Kovaleski, “'Patient safety issue' caused by Denver VA Medical Center parking; Rep. Mike Coffman pushes for fix,” ABC Denver, 3/3/2014)
"Asked about VA’s reported admission at the briefing that some veterans had killed themselves, the agency declined to comment on the record. Instead, its press office provided IBTimes with the results of an unrelated OPH study in which there were no proven suicides." (Jamie Reno, “Department Of Veterans Affairs And Congress Clash Over Suicide Charges,” International Business Times, 2/27/14)
“Petzel would not comment on the former employee’s claims of being fired for exposing the alleged practice of dumping records.” (Leo Shane, “Top VA health official denies dumping patient records,” Military Times, 2/26/2014)
“VA did not return repeated requests for comment. The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System did not return a request for comment and for an interview with Dr. El-Saden.” (Patrick Howley, “Department of Veterans Affairs employees destroyed veterans’ medical records to cancel backlogged exam requests” The Daily Caller, 2/24/2014)
“The Pittsburgh VA, which refused comment for this story, had previously conceded that five other veterans had probably or definitely contracted Legionnaires' disease during stays in VA buildings before they died in 2011 and 2012.” (Sean Hamill, “6th Legionnaires' victim ‘probably’ contracted disease at VA hospital,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/23/2014)
"The VA got back to ABC11 with a response to a request for an interview. The statement read, "VA takes seriously its obligation to properly safeguard any personal information within our possession. VA has in place a strong, multi-layered defense to combat evolving cyber security threats. The statement did not say anything about the report ABC11 was asking about." (Jon Camp, “Department of Veterans Affairs was warned privacy breach was practically unavoidable,” ABC Raleigh, 2/21/14)
19
“The VA is not commenting on Miller's letter or the department's decision to bar employees from talking the Legion representatives.” (Bryant Jordan, “Lawmaker Says VA Obstructed Legion Quality Review,” Military.com, 2/21/2014)
For additional instances refer to http://veterans.house.gov/VAHonestyProject. [Source: http://veterans.house.gov/VAHonestyProject Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Care Impact on Medicare Coverage ► None
To qualify for Medicare, it involves how long you have worked and paid Social Security and Medicare taxes from your payroll check. One has to work only 10 years or 40 quarters to qualify for Medicare Part A at no cost. You have to enroll in Part B which has a premium of $104.90/monthly for 2014 this year. Being a Veteran and using a VA facility does not disqualify anyone from enrolling in and using Medicare. In fact, VA encourages Veterans to enroll in Part B, the medical/doctor part of Medicare. Granted you do not need Part B to receive medical care from the VA, but if you go outside of the VA for any medical treatment you do need Part B. For example, you might be ambulanced to another hospital that is not a VA facility for a medical emergency or you may need to go to a cancer center like MD Anderson for treatment where you will have to pay 100% of the medical charges without Part B.
For care not received at the VA Part B covers 80% of the cost of all of your outpatient needs, doctor services such as office visits and even surgery, MRIs, chemotherapy and the list can go on. Without Medicare Part B, a veteran’s liability could be in the $1,000s or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those who do not enroll in Part B when they are first eligible for Medicare and not working, must pay a “late enrollment” penalty of 10% for each full 12-month period that they could have had Part B, but did not sign up for it. For example, if you waited 55 months which is four full 12-month periods, then the Part B penalty is an additional 40% added to the current Part B premium ($164.50 monthly for 2014) for as long as you have Medicare. Not enrolling in Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug plan) is another story. Medicare considers the VA credible coverage and when you enroll in Part D at a later date, you do not get the late enrollment penalty and … guess what … no Part D donut hole! [Source: Deer Park Broadcaster | Toni King | 22 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Annual Income Reporting ► Requirement Eliminated
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is eliminating the annual requirement for most Veterans enrolled in VA’s health care system to report income information beginning in March 2014. Instead, VA will automatically match income information obtained from the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration. “Eliminating the requirement for annual income reporting makes our health care benefits easier for Veterans to obtain,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “This change will reduce the burden on Veterans, improve customer service and make it much easier for Veterans to keep their health care eligibility up-to-date.” Some Veterans applying for enrollment for the first time are still required to submit income information. There is no change in VA’s long-standing policy to provide no-cost care to indigent Veterans, Veterans with catastrophic medical conditions, Veterans with a disability rating of 50 percent or higher, or for conditions that are officially rated as “service-connected.” VA encourages Veterans to continue to use the health benefits renewal form to report changes in their personal information, such as address, phone numbers, dependents, next of kin, income and health insurance. For more information, visit www.va.gov/healthbenefits/cost or call VA toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). [Source: VA News Release 24 Mar 2014 ++]
20
********************************
VA Advance Funding Update 05 ► Shinseki | Will not Solve Problems
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on 12 MAR told a Senate panel that advance funding for all VA operations would not solve all the department problems in the event of another government shutdown. Shinseki told lawmakers previously that he could not say whether advance funding – which the VA now gets for health care programs – would be a good idea. He told the House Veterans Affairs Committee last year the administration would have to look at the impact on other federal departments. On 12 MAR he told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that advance funding has worked out for VA patients and employees and would seem “to make sense for our other accounts [operations].” But then he indicated that advance funding probably would not help since other agencies that the VA must deal with do not have the same kind of protection. “In the case of veteran benefits, we can’t process a claim within our own confines,” he said. “To process a claim, we have to go to Social Security to validate other disabilities, go to the IRS to validate ... threshold income requirements. We deal with [the Defense Department]. We deal with the Department of Education [for] the GI Bill, the Department of Labor on employability issues. The best way for us to be meeting our full mission would be to have a budget for the federal government every year,” he said. “That would make all of our work much easier.”
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki
Advance appropriation for the entire VA has been backed by veterans groups and many in Congress for several years. And that support became stronger late last year when the government shutdown nearly caused the interruption of VA disability and pension checks from going out. Currently, these programs are considered discretionary. The VA leadership’s appearance before the Senate panel on Wednesday came four hours after the same lawmakers, along with their House of Representatives counterparts, convened a hearing with members of several veterans and military service advocacy groups. While there were some differences among the priorities stated by the advocacy groups, most were in agreement on one recommendation -- expanding advance year funding to all VA programs, and not only health care. Also Wednesday, the VA told senators that it anticipates treating more veterans with traumatic brain injury in coming years but at less cost, an expectation reflected in a proposed 2015 budget that sees TBI funding reduced from $232 billion to $229 billion.
Dr. Robert Petzel, under secretary for health at the VA, said actual spending on serious TBI cases has gone down slightly in the past few years, even though the VA had budgeted for increases. And the department expects the decrease to continue. “We’ve had an almost 70 percent decline in the number of severely injured traumatic brain injured patients going into our polytrauma centers,” he said. “The number of people with mild or moderate TBI has continued to increase. The cost of taking care of those people is much, much less than it is providing care for the patients that end up in our polytrauma program. He also said that much of the care for mild to moderate TBI patients comes out of other parts of the budget, which are seeing increases. This includes budgeting for post-traumatic stress
21 disorder and other mental health problems, such as depression. Petzel explained the lower budgeting for TBI during a hearing on the VA’s 2015 budget before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
The VA is seeking $164 billion next year, including $68.4 billion for healthcare spending and $95.6 billion for disability compensation, pensions and other mandatory programs. The budget also includes more money aimed at bringing down the controversial disability claims backlog and ending chronic veteran homelessness – two goals set by VA Secretary Eric Shinseki when he took over the job in 2009. Both goals are supposed to be met by the end of 2015. Shinseki told Senators that the department has reduced its backlog by 40 percent and has an accuracy rate of better than 90 percent among claims it has processed – contentions that even veterans groups supportive of the VA have questioned. Members of the Senate panel did not dispute the claims, though that may be owed to the fact ranking member Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) was absent from the hearing. Burr has previously questioned the VA’s numbers. Shinseki told the Senators that before he took over the VA in 2009 there was no such thing as a backlog – defined now as an initial claim that has not been adjudicated within 125 days. “Five years ago we had no standard,” he said. “We established one and have not changed it.” [Source: Military.com | Bryant Jordan | 13 Mar 2014
********************************
VA Birth ► Public Law 100-527
In 1930, President Herbert Hoover created the Veterans Administration by consolidating three existent organizations - the U.S. Veterans Bureau, the National Homes for Disabled Soldiers, and the Bureau of Pensions-into an organization of 54 hospitals, 31,600 employees and 4.7 million Veterans, many of whom had served in World War I, others who had fought in the Spanish-American War, and some even in the Civil War. Nearly 60 years later, President Ronald Reagan signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 1988, elevating the former administration to a cabinet-level department. President Reagan explained, then, that the "bill gives those who have borne America's battles, who have defended the borders of freedom, who have protected our Nation's security in war and in peace-it gives them what they have deserved for so long: a seat at the table in our national affairs." On March 15, VA celebrated the 25th anniversary of President Reagan's executive action. This year's celebration coincided with their ongoing commemoration of the American Civil War-the most divisive and devastating conflict in our nation's history. President Abraham Lincoln's charge to all Americans in 1865 has defined America's covenant with its Veterans - "to care for [those] who shall have borne the battle, and for [their families and survivors]."
President Ronald Reagan signing Public Law 100-527, the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, into law.
22
Today, VA operates 151 medical centers, 135 community living centers, 103 residential rehabilitation treatment programs, 820 community-based outpatient clinics, 300 Vet Centers, 70 mobile Vet Centers, 56 benefits Regional Offices, and 131 national cemeteries. They keep faith with Lincoln’s covenant by serving those whose lifetimes connect us through the centuries—from the last surviving child of a Civil War Veteran, to those of the Spanish- American War, to the families of World War I, to the “lions” of our greatest generation, to the youngest Veterans of our latest generation. [Source: Vantage Point | Eric K. Shinseki | 14 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA SAH Update 08 ► ALS Vets Now Presumed Eligible
Veterans and active-duty military personnel with service-connected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, are now presumed medically eligible for grants up to almost $68,000 to adapt their homes, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today. "VA is committed to eliminating barriers that keep Veterans and Servicemembers from the benefits they have earned," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "This change will make it easier for some of our most severely impaired Veterans to receive speedy assistance adapting their homes to their unique needs. " The change affects recipients of VA's specially adapted housing grants, which helps pay for the costs for building, buying or adapting a home, up to a maximum of $67,555.
Under the change, Veterans and Servicemembers with service-connected ALS will be determined medically eligible for the maximum grant. The program provides grants to eligible service-connected disabled Veterans and Servicemembers to construct or modify a home to meet their unique housing needs. Grants are also available to help eligible individuals purchase adapted homes or pay down mortgages on homes that are already adapted. VA estimates this change will save approximately 12 months in the overall process of a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. "This change automates and shortens our SAH grant delivery process for Veterans and Servicemembers living with ALS,' said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. "SAH is an important benefit giving beneficiaries the ability to adapt their homes and create a barrier free living environment- expanding their independence in their own homes."
In 2008, VA established a presumption of service connection for ALS for any Veteran who develops the disease at any time after separation from service, making them eligible for monthly VA disability compensation benefits. VA amended its disability rating scale in January 2012, to assign a I 00-percent disability evaluation for any Veteran who has service-connected ALS. ALS is a rapidly progressive, totally debilitating, and irreversible motor neuron disease that results in muscle weakness leading to a wide range of serious disabilities, including impaired mobility. VA adapted its rules so Veterans with service-connected ALS no longer have to file multiple claims with VA for increased benefits as their condition progresses. Prior to the new SAH regulatory change, many Veterans and Servicemembers who were rated by VA for service connected ALS, but who did not yet have symptoms debilitating enough to affect their mobility to the degree required for SAH grant eligibility, were unable to begin the process of modifying their homes to accommodate their often rapidly progressing conditions.
VA’s SAH program provides grants to eligible service-connected disabled Veterans and Servicemembers for the purpose of constructing or modifying a home to meet their unique housing needs. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide a barrier-free living environment that affords a level of independent living that the Veteran or Servicemember may not otherwise enjoy. Visit http://benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp for more information, [Source: VA News Release 19 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
23
Vet Toxic Exposure~Mosul Update 01► Make Constrictive Bronchiolitis SC
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) wants the Veterans Affairs Department to make a rare lung disease found in some Iraq and Afghanistan veterans service-connected, meaning having the condition automatically would rate compensation and care from VA. Rep. Bishop wrote VA Secretary Eric Shinseki on 12 MAR urging him to designate constrictive bronchiolitis a service-connected condition. The Social Security Administration in 2012 added the condition to its “compassionate allowances” list, meaning it is among conditions expedited through the claims process because they are “so serious they obviously meet disability standards,” according to the administration. “I commend the Social Security Administration for making it a little easier for our nation’s veterans to access the benefits they have earned through their service; it is now time for the Veterans Administration to do the same,” Bishop said.
Constrictive bronchiolitis, also called obliterative bronchiolitis or bronchiolitis obliterans, is characterized by the narrowing or obstruction of the lung’s smallest airways, the bronchioles, by scarring or fibrous tissue. At least 38 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a number exposed to fumes from a sulfur mine fire near Mosul, Iraq, in 2003, have been definitively diagnosed with constrictive bronchiolitis. But more could have the disease. Since diagnosis only can be confirmed by a surgical lung biopsy, which many military physicians believe is too invasive, and the illness bears similarities to other conditions like asthma and exercise-induced bronchospasms, determining its prevalence among troops has been difficult. Some veterans experiencing respiratory problems following combat deployments blame the military’s use of open-air burn pits. The pits operated around the clock and were used to incinerate waste ranging from plastics and Styrofoam to batteries, body parts, ordnance and petroleum products, according to military sources.
Citing studies including a 2011 one by the Institute of Medicine that concluded there is not enough evidence to link burn pits with troops’ respiratory problems, the VA remains firm that burn-pit use did not result in long-term health problems. Under a congressional mandate, however, it is developing a registry for veterans exposed to burn- pit fumes and other airborne hazards to document their exposure and health issues. Legislation requiring VA to establish a registry was signed in January 2013 but VA is months late in implementing a plan. [Source: ArmyTimes | Patricia Kime | 21 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Burn Pit Toxic Exposure Update 28 ► Registry Deadline Exceeded
Two U.S. senators insisted 18 MAR that Veterans Affairs Secretary Erik Shinseki reveal why his agency is nearly three months late in creating a legally-mandated registry of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans potentially poisoned — some lethally — by exposure to toxic trash-fire trenches. “In an effort to address this failure, we ask that you provide Congress with information on the current status of the Open Air Burn Pit Registry, an accounting of problems that have arisen during the development of the registry, detailed information on remaining benchmarks to be completed before the Open Air Burn Pit Registry will become fully operational, and any information on how Congress can help to expedite the implementation of this critical program,” the letter stated. The so-called "burn pits," scattered throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, spewed acrid smoke while breaking down damaged Humvees, ordnance, mattresses, rocket launchers, and even amputated body parts. Some were ignited by jet fuel. Perhaps the largest such dump was in Balad, Iraq, spanning the length of 10 football fields. The plumes produced have been dubbed "this generation's Agent Orange."
On Jan. 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a law giving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs one year to create and maintain the Open Air Burn Pit Registry, meant to identify and monitor veterans who inhaled the
24 pollutants. The VA also was directed to later report its findings to Congress. "While the necessity for some delay is understandable, the VA has failed to adequately explain why the delay has occurred, which steps remain to be completed before the registry is available for the use of our veterans, and provide specific information on when the registry is expected to be completed," wrote Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tom Udall (D-NM). "This delay is deeply concerning ... The lack of urgency and communication from the VA is even more troubling," the senators wrote.
The registry's launch has been postponed to spring 2014 to allow adequate time to develop and test the system's software and hardware as well as to ensure data security and accessibility, said Victoria Dillon, a VA spokeswoman. Once the index goes live, veterans can join without being enrolled in VA health care, Dillon said, adding the agency "encourages all veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, and the Gulf War to participate." Dillon added that veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti and the 1991 Persian Gulf War can sign up now for a Defense Department Self-Service Logon, or DS-Logon) at a DoD website to prepare for the registry launch. "The Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to caring for veterans who have lung and other health conditions possibly related to their deployment," Dillon said. Meanwhile, veterans groups are unsure how many troops were exposed or have fallen ill due to inhaling the vapors. A private, veteran-run website, BurnPits360.org, lists 16 Iraq and Afghanistan vets who served near the dumps and later died from a variety of cancers and lung ailments. [Source: NBC News | Bill Briggs | 18 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Lawsuit ~ Legionella ► Edward Stockley
A Vietnam veteran who volunteered at the Veterans Affairs' University Drive hospital contracted Legionnaires' disease, the man says in a lawsuit filed 17 MAR in federal court. Edward Stockley, 64, of Baldwin and his wife, Paula, are suing the government for negligence and loss of consortium. Stockley, a cook who retired after 35 years with the H.J. Heinz Co., applied to do volunteer work in November 2011, the lawsuit says. During his visits to the Oakland facility to fill out the application and undergo medical tests, he used the hospital's water fountains while taking his diabetes medication, the lawsuit says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease occurred at facilities in the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System from February 2011 to November 2012. The CDC traced the problem to bacteria-contaminated water at the Oakland and O'Hara campuses.
The outbreak killed at least six veterans, and 16 others probably or definitely acquired Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Stockley was admitted to the hospital on Nov. 29, 2011, and subsequently tested positive for Legionella, the lawsuit says. He reported to the hospital with chills, nausea and vomiting, and an X-ray revealed he had fluid buildup in the lungs. He was in the hospital for nine days and since then, “his health has not been the same,” according to the lawsuit. A Justice Department spokesperson could not be reached for comment. Families of two World War II veterans — John J. Ciarolla, 83, of North Versailles and William E. Nicklas, 87, of Hampton — have pending wrongful-death complaints against the federal government. Both men died during the outbreak. Kenneth Jordan, a homeless veteran who sought help at the VA, filed a federal suit in February. Jordan said in the lawsuit he contracted Legionnaires' during the time period of the outbreak and sustained lung and kidney damage. [Source: Pittsburgh TribLIVE | Brian Bowling | 17 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Lawsuit ~ Frank Canfield ► $2M Wrongful Death
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs denies any wrongdoing in the 2011 death of a Massena man at one of its hospitals. Sandra Canfield, as administrator of the estate of her husband, Frank L. Canfield, filed a $2 million
25 wrongful-death lawsuit in January in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, against the United States of America, as operators of the Buffalo Veteran Affairs Medical Center. The suit claims Mr. Canfield was a patient at the hospital July 19, 2011, undergoing open heart surgery. It is alleged that a coronary bypass machine was “connected incorrectly,” specifically “in reverse,” causing Mr. Canfield to suffer a right ventricle tear, resulting in his death. The suit claims, among other things, that the death was a direct cause of hospital employees’ carelessness and negligence and that employees failed to follow proper procedures or protocols regarding the performance of a coronary bypass. It further is claimed that employees failed to properly and adequately follow up on Mr. Canfield’s care so as to timely recognize and respond to damage allegedly caused by the care. The action maintains that Mr. Canfield did not give his informed consent with respect to the course of care and treatment provided to him and that, had he been informed, he would not have agreed to the treatment provided. In a response filed 28 MAR, the department denied each of the claims, additionally arguing the lawsuit was brought too late, or more than the two years’ time limitation required to bring a claim. The department has asked to have the suit dismissed. [Source: Watertown Daily Times | Brian Kelly | 29 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Caregiver Program Update 23 ► CHAMPVA Eligibility
It’s important for family Caregivers of Veterans to take care of their own health while taking care of the Veteran they love! VA offers a comprehensive health care program called the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) for family members of seriously ill or injured Veterans who meet specific criteria including Veterans who are rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by VA. In addition, eligible Family Caregivers of eligible post 9/11 Veterans participating in VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers may also be eligible for CHAMPVA. For more information about CHAMPVA, go to http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/champva.asp. In addition, the Affordable Care Act, also known as the health care law, was created to expand access to affordable health care coverage to all Americans, lower costs, and improve quality and care coordination. Under the health care law, people will have health coverage that meets a minimum standard (called "minimum essential coverage"). The health care law designates CHAMPVA as fulfilling "minimum essential coverage". Note that if you are not eligible for CHAMPVA and are interested in learning more about the Affordable Care Act, the deadline for enrollment for health coverage is March 31, 2014. There is information about the Affordable Care Act at http://www.va.gov/health/aca/. For more information about VA's Caregiver Support Program go to http://www.caregiver.va.gov/ [Source: DVA News release 17 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Claims Backlog Update 130 ► AL 2014 CBWG Report Released
The March 2014 American Legion report of the DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) Claims Backlog Working Group (CBWG) was recently released. The working group's report focused on three areas of improvement:
(1) Veterans must be given every tool to understand the claims process and what they can do to provide information that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) needs; (2) VBA and VA's regional offices (VAROs) must make structural changes to ensure that claims are being processed accurately and efficiently; and (3) Federal agencies need to transfer requested information more rapidly and to process that information in a timely fashion.
26
The report is available athttp://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/VA_Backlog_Report_(FINAL).pdf. [Source: Military.com article 17 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Claims Backlog Update 131 ► Death Impact on Claims
Betty Osborne could only shake her head when she heard about World War II Marine veteran Millard Sells fighting for nearly two decades to get his veteran’s disability benefits. Sells, now 87, only recently got his disability rating increased after nearly two decades of fighting. He is still trying to get it raised to what he thinks it should be, based on his length of service and his injuries. Osbourne’s late husband, Jesse, who was sent to the South Pacific two times during World War II, died fighting for his benefits. The 85-year-old woman has continued the fight, but unlike Sells, her fight has proven fruitless. “I went to war,” she said of her efforts. “I really went after them.”
Betty Osborne with a photograph of her late husband
She said her husband came from a very patriotic family. His mother died in a Civilian Conservations Corps camp in 1940. After his mother died, she said, Jesse Osborne walked 10 miles to Nashville to enlist. After his final tour in the South Pacific in 1944, he was sent immediately for treatment to the psychiatric unit of a Washington State military hospital. He had post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments. “He was shell shocked,” she said.. “He was really bad.” Her husband, whom she first met when she was 14, wanted to leave the military hospital and return to Tennessee. He was finally discharged on the condition that he seek treatment immediately at the local VA. Though Osborne was immediately granted a 10 per cent disability by the VA, his initial attempts to get those benefits increased were rebuffed. “He was in and out of the hospital, more in than out,” his wife said. “He made sure he kept all his appointments, but he didn’t get better.”
Like Sells, Osborne was told at one point that his files couldn’t be located. They had been destroyed in a fire, she was told. She said they kept filing records with the VA’s Nashville office and appeals in Washington, D.C.. With assistance from the Disabled American Veterans, she said his benefits gradually inched up as high as 50 percent. But then the VA began lowering those benefits contending that his condition was not as bad as he had claimed. Her efforts were also set back when the DAV representative assisting them retired. “We tried to get it increased again but they just said no,” she said. “That got me really mad.” After her husband died in 1988, she attempted to get her husband’s benefits transferred to her. But she said they told her that her husband’s benefits were too low for her to get them. They also insisted that his death from a heart attack was not related to his service injuries because he hadn’t been rated as fully disabled. Left with only minimal social security benefits, Osborne said she often had to
27 forego medical treatments. “If I didn’t have the money I just wouldn’t go to the doctor,” she said. “They rejected me over and over and over again,” she said.
Betty Osborne said recent stories about a VA employee assigned to the Nashville office to handle claims like hers caught her eye. According to a recent federal report, the employee actually worked for almost two years in Washington, D.C. without proper authorization. “I wondered if he was involved,” Osborne said. VA spokesman Drew Brookie said confidentiality rules barred him from discussing particular cases but added that the agency would be glad to look into specific situations involving an applicant for benefits. He also cited ongoing efforts by the VA to reduce a backlog of pending cases. “We are making real progress to better serve veterans and their survivors, and we know there is more work to do,” Brookie wrote
Recent news about the VA has prompted other veterans to wonder if the government really means to pay them. Gary Griffen of Memphis, a Navy veteran who served on a ship enforcing a blockade during the Cuban missile crisis, said his record disappeared. His disability claims for hearing loss and PTSD have been on hold for well over a decade. He said that as guns fired, he was told to put Camel cigarette filters in his ears for protection. “I’ll bet they are trying to outlive me,” he said. (Editor’s Note: On approved claims benefits paid are retroactive to the date of the claim submission. Unfortunately for Mrs. Osbourne and all others in her situation, the law mandates that when a veteran dies the outstanding claim plus any appeal die with the veteran. There is no pending legislation to change this.) [Source: The Tennessean | Walter F. Roche | 17 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
VA Claims Backlog Update 132 ► Failing VA Officials Gotta Go
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on 26 MAR slammed officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs for failing to reduce the huge disability claims backlog that has plagued the VA, adding that the failure means managers need to be fired or demoted. On the House floor, Boehner said that backlog is nothing short of a black eye for our government. "Reform won't get very far if it's carried out by managers who have proven that they're not up to the job," he said. To help solve the problem, Boehner encouraged all members to support H.R.4031, a bill that would streamline the process of firing or demoting officials at the VA. That bill was introduced back in February, and now has 46 co-sponsors in the House. Boehner said that, so far, VA officials charged with untangling the backlog of thousands of disability claims have only received half-measures or slaps on the wrist. "The principle here is simple: When you're not getting the job done, you gotta go," he said. "At the VA, it's been quite the opposite… The VA is failing our veterans and their families," he said. "It's time we hold these people accountable and get people in there who can fix this backlog once and for all." [Source: The Hill | Pete Kasperowicz | 26 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ► Reported 15 thru 31 Mar 2014
Philadelphia PA – Richard M. Gordon, 65, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conversion of government property. Gordon implemented a scheme to steal from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by using another veteran’s identity to obtain unauthorized healthcare benefits and to receive a VA non-service connected disability pension. For over seven and a half years, defendant Gordon continuously defrauded the VA, and ultimately converted more than $178,000 in government healthcare benefits and pension payments that he knew he was not entitled to receive. Gordon, who reported that he is the founder and director of Veterans Support Group of America, was convicted of conversion of government property after pleading guilty in July 2013.
28
In addition to the prison term, Judge Eduardo C. Robreno also ordered the defendant to serve 3 years of supervised release, and to pay full restitution of $178,607.20. "Mr. Gordon went to great lengths to not only defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs, but to avoid detection," said Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge of Northeast Field Office of the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs. "The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to bringing Mr. Gordon and other individuals, who take valuable resources away from deserving veterans and their families, to justice. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE), and the Dutch International Police for their assistance with this investigation." [Source: DoJ | Press Release | 7 Feb 2014 ++] ********************************
VA Loans ► ATR/QM Rule
Lately, all eyes are on the new mortgage regulations and how will these affect VA loan benefits? Under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the supervision of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a new Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage (ATR/QM) Rule has been established. Broken down, to comply with the Ability to Repay portion of the rule, lenders must consider these eight types of information: Current income and/or assets. Current employment status. Credit history. Monthly mortgage payment. Monthly payments of other mortgages obtained at the same time. Property taxes and other mortgage-related expenses. Any other debts including child support and alimony. Debt-to-income ratio or residual income.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s issued a statement about Qualified Mortgages which said, The rule presumes a lender has met the Ability-to-Repay requirements if the lender makes a Qualified Mortgage, or QM. A QM must meet certain requirements. For example, the loan cannot have certain risky features that harmed consumers during the mortgage crisis. Temporarily, QMs can also be loans that can be bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or insured by certain government agencies, such as the Federal Housing Administration." If you're concerned that the ATR/QM Rule has affected your VA loans benefits, don't be. At this time, if a loan is eligible for a VA guaranty, it is a Qualified Mortgage. Borrowers can be assured that the rule hasn't changed VA guidelines. The VA is set to publish its own policy around the new law soon. "VA-approved lenders like iFreedom Direct will carry on with the same sensible underwriting the VA has required for decades," shares Tim Lewis, iFreedom's Special Projects Director and Retired U.S. Army Major.
It may be no coincidence that many of the requirements of QM loans closely mimic VA guidelines. The 70-year- old loan program for service members may have set the bar for the ATR/QM Rule. The fact is that VA loans have had one of the best five-year track records for fewest foreclosures compared to any other home loan program. According to a 7 NOV 2013 release by the Mortgage Brokers Association, last year these government-backed loans saw their lowest delinquency rate since 1980. Here's How ATR/QM Rule Compares to VA Guidelines:
Requirement General QM VA Loans Loans
Loan term not to exceed 30 years ✔ ✔
29
Payments must be approximately equal and regular ✔ ✔
No negative amortization ✔ ✔
No interest-only payments ✔ ✔
No balloon features ✔ ✔
No excess points and fees ✔ ✔
Debt-to-Income ratio ≥ 43% ≤ 41% Higher ratio possible with underwriting approval.
Residual Income considered for qualifying ✔ ✔
Lender is responsible for collecting and verifying ✔ ✔ borrower's financials
ARM payments cannot be calculated on "teaser" rates ✔ ✔
What this mean is VA loans comply with the ATR/QM Rule. And, the VA will continue to make sure its guidelines are in line with the new standards. For more information on the ATR/QM rule, go to http://www.consumerfinance.gov/regulatory-implementation. For more information on VA loans, contact an approved lender and/or go to http://benefits.va.gov/homeloans/lenders.asp. [Source: Military.com article Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Gulf War Syndrome Update 27 ► VA Presumptive Conditions Sought
Gulf War veterans should have presumptive conditions associated with their service, including brain and lung cancer and chronic migraines, members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs wrote in a letter 18 MAR. "As a veteran of the Persian Gulf war, I am keenly aware of issues adversely impacting the health of veterans who served in that theater beginning in 1990," wrote Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) in a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. If a veteran is diagnosed with a presumptive condition, Veterans Affairs is required to assume that it is military-connected, and that the veteran is then entitled to medical or disability benefits associated with the diagnosis. Coffman writes that research has connected brain cancer to the Sarin gas that troops were exposed to when the U.S. Air Force bombed a chemical factory in Khamisiyah, Iraq. Gulf War veterans have been found to have a higher percentage of lung cancer, and migraines are more likely in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, he wrote. If VA decides not to make the conditions presumptive, Coffman wrote, they should explain why.
Ron Brown, president of the National Gulf War Resource Center, said he had worked with other veterans' organizations, including the American Legion, to try to get the presumptive conditions approved by VA. "This legislation is long overdue with the science and research that has been done to show these conditions warrant being presumptive for Desert Storm service," Brown said. Gulf War veterans already have presumptive status for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, and undiagnosed illnesses that include weight loss, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint pain, headache, menstrual disorders, neurological and psychological problems, skin conditions, respiratory disorders and sleep disturbances, according to VA. [Source: USA Today | Kelly Kennedy | 18 Mar 2014 ++]
30
********************************
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 33 ► Pseudobulbar Affect
This is a laughing matter — but a medical situation that’s the farthest thing from funny for afflicted ex-troops. In a survey of more than 700 veterans who showed signs of traumatic brain injury, 60 percent said they struggle with a little-known, neurological condition that causes them to lapse into uncontrolled fits of laughter or crying, according to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs survey released 19 MAR. Called pseudobulbar affect (PBA), the condition occurs in some 2 million Americans who have had strokes, brain injuries or been diagnosed with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. But the surprisingly high portion of veterans who revealed they, too, experience unwanted bouts of giggles or tears may mean that hundreds of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are grappling with the stigmatizing malady, said a VA brain expert. “That’s probably very accurate,” said Regina McGlinchey, director of the VA’s Translational Research Center for Traumatic Brain Injury and Stress Disorders, based in Boston. She will present the findings Friday at the Tenth World Congress on Brain Injury, in San Francisco.
More than 2 million U.S. troops served in the two wars. Between 12 and 23 percent of those men and women sustained TBIs, the VA estimates. “The data suggests over half of these people are having symptoms of PBA. And it really exacerbates their problem with reintegration (into society) and may facilitate greater isolation,” McGlinchey said. “These are veterans and service members who are very proud, very confident, and they’re not going to be out in social situations and not be in control of their emotions. That’s one thing I am extremely concerned about.” Crying jags seem slightly more common than laughing spells. Some people endure both. The frequency and length of the outbursts vary among individuals, McGlinchey said. The VA study was sponsored by Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which markets Nuedexta, a drug specifically approved to treat PBA.
There are no known triggers for the emotional eruptions, which often run opposite to what a person is feeling internally, McGlinchey said. That’s one of the most fascinating but also debilitating aspects of PBA because, really, what you’re looking at is a disassociation between someone’s emotional experience in the moment and what their emotional expression is,” she said. “These acts of laughing or crying are completely uncontrollable. They can just happen.” [Source: NBC News | Bill Briggs | 19 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
GI Bill Update 170 ► SVA Degree Attainment Study
A Student Veterans of America (SVA) report combining data on U.S. college degree attainment with information on veterans who have used Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits shows that 51.7 percent have received a postsecondary degree or certificate, a completion rate similar to traditional college students, and greater than other nontraditional students. In recent years, the VA has processed more than 4 million education claims for student veterans. Until now, there has been no tracking of degree completion rates. The just-released report, part of the Million Records Project, an initiative of SVA, measures for the first time how the most recent generation of veterans perform in higher education.
Among the study's top findings: Although many take longer than traditional students to graduate, most student veterans complete their initial studies and often earn additional higher level degrees as well. Their delayed time-to- completion is due in large part to the unique challenges facing student veterans who are atypical of traditional college students, including age differences, and sometimes pausing their studies to serve in the military-including going overseas. "Americans have invested substantial dollars in giving our veterans an opportunity to further their
31 education and this report shows many positive signs that they are doing just that," said Wayne Robinson, SVA president and CEO. "The majority of student veterans accessing their GI Bill benefits are completing degrees and showing unparalleled determination to do so, despite many unique barriers. A single deployment can interrupt a student veteran's education for at least 9 to 13 months, but they're returning to the classroom and completing."
For this first phase of the Million Records Project, SVA partnered with VA and the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to match two sets of data: a randomly selected sample of approximately 1 million Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bill veteran education beneficiary records from 2002 to 2010, and U.S. student postsecondary enrollment and completion records collected by the NSC. VA and the NSC removed all personal and institutional identifying information, and duplicates caused by students accessing more than one education benefit. A total of 788,915 records were analyzed, representing approximately 22 percent of the student veteran population receiving GI Bill benefits for that period. Google, The Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation and Raytheon awarded SVA more than $2.2 million in grants to support the project.
The report shows the majority of students complete a bachelor's degree within four to six years; associate degrees within four. Unsurprisingly, many of these veterans do not typically follow the path of traditional college students. Some enroll in college after high school graduation, withdraw to join the military, and then re-enroll after military service. Other veterans enroll in postsecondary institutions after they complete their military service; still others earn college credit before, during and after military service but may need to repeat some coursework that was lost due to deployments. A breakdown of the data shows:
Fields of Study -- Student veterans are pursuing degrees that allow them to obtain in-demand careers. At the associate level, the five degree fields most often pursued were in liberal arts and sciences; business; homeland security; law enforcement and firefighting; and health professions. The top five bachelor's degree fields were business; social sciences; homeland security; law enforcement and firefighting; and computer and information sciences. Type of School -- Most student veterans who complete school enroll in (79.2 percent), and earn degrees (71.7 percent) from, public schools. The remaining students enroll in private nonprofit or proprietary (private for-profit) institutions. Just more than 15 percent obtain degrees from private nonprofit institutions and 12 percent from proprietary institutions. The study also shows that a majority of public and private, nonprofit sector enrollees graduate, but some transfer out of that sector to complete their education. Degree Obtained -- The data shows that many student veterans achieve higher levels of education: 31.3 percent of the sample who initially earned a vocational certificate, 35.8 percent of the sample who initially earned an associate degree and 20.8 percent of the sample who initially earned a bachelor's degree went on to also earn a higher degree. [Source: SVA Press Release 24 Mar 2014 ++]
*Vets*
32
Vietnam Veterans Day ► March 29th President Barack Obama designated March 29, 2012, as Vietnam Veterans Day. The presidential proclamation coincided with the 50th anniversary of the start of a war that remains for our nation a source of controversy. Of the 2.3 million U.S. military personnel who served there, we count the names of 58,286 chiseled into the Vietnam War memorial as the number that made the ultimate sacrifice. They are among the estimated 1.8 million combatant and civilian lives lost on both sides. Those counts are not final. Words added to our vocabulary continue to affect our nation and our veterans. Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder were not in the dictionary when the war ended in 1975. Returning veterans were forced to take their pleas for justice into the Veterans Administration and to Congress, and their pursuits continue. A disability-claims backlog appears to be a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet, at the local VA, more than 60 percent of veterans seeking treatment for PTSD are of the age of those who served in Vietnam. They confront the reality that PTSD did not fade but instead gained power over their lives as it festered in denial, a darkness deepened by our government's decision to abandon the vets. So much time was wasted as bureaucrats procrastinated rather than taking action to heal our soldiers.
Last month, the Senate failed to pass a bill to extend health care benefits to hundreds of thousands of additional veterans each year, to provide family planning aid to war-injured vets and to make caregiver support — now available only to 9/11 veterans — available to families from all U.S. wars. On the second anniversary of the president's proclamation, it would serve all veterans if their fellow Americans contacted their senators to urge them to pass this bill. Mr. Obama's presidential proclamation remains the only one related to the Vietnam War since President Jimmy Carter pardoned all who had violated the Selective Service Act during the years of that war. It is intended to raise the awareness of the American public to the plight of men and women who continue to fight their battles here at home. Occasionally, a battle is won as when symptoms attributed to Agent Orange have afflicted enough lives that it can no longer be repressed as war-related. Only when the long-suffering patients can claim the attention due them will the VA's motto, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan," be realized. That, of course, assumes the veterans have lived through the long wait and the claims process. Trust me, many have not. [Source: Times Union | Dan New | 28 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Vet Cemetery Belgium ► Obama Pays Homage at Flanders Fields
President Obama paid homage 26 MAR to the American soldiers who died at Flanders Fields in the battles of World War I, which began 100 years ago and took the lives of hundreds of thousands. Flanked by Belgium’s prime minister, Elio Di Rupo, and its king, Philippe, the great-grandson of King Albert, who led Belgium’s fight against the Germans in the First World War, Mr. Obama laid a wreath and visited three graves: those of Stanislaw Labno, a private in the 91st Division of the American Army, and of Russell Swain and Norman Stein, two privates in the 27th Division. “It is impossible not to be awed by the profound sacrifice they made so we could stand here today,” Mr. Obama said. He noted the devastation that chemical weapons wreaked upon the Belgian battlefields when the Germans used them for the first time here, and he recalled the recent use of such weapons by Syria. “We must never, ever take our progress for granted,” Mr. Obama said.
33
President Obama, second from right, during a wreath-laying ceremony at Flanders Field Cemetery
King Philippe and Mr. Di Rupo both hinted at the lessons to be learned from the history of the battlefield in light of the current situation with Russia and Ukraine, though neither actually mentioned the crisis directly. “Our countries have learned the hard way that national sovereignty quickly reaches its limits when met with heavily armed adversaries,” King Philippe said. Mr. Di Rupo said that “those who ignore the past are taking the risk to relive it.” Mr. Obama recited part of a famous poem, “In Flanders Fields,” which was written in 1915 by John McCrae, a Canadian Army physician who was moved to describe the death that he witnessed on the battlefields. Mr. Obama said the final few lines were a plea to future generations. “To you from failing hands we throw/The torch; be yours to hold it high,” Mr. Obama read. “If ye break faith with us who die/We shall not sleep, though poppies grow/In Flanders fields.” Some years later, Mr. Obama said, an American teacher wrote a poem in response. It said, Mr. Obama recalled, “We caught the torch.”
34
The Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium occupies a 6.2-acre site. Masses of graceful trees and shrubbery frame the burial area and screen it from passing traffic. At the ends of the paths leading to three of the corners of the cemetery are circular retreats, with benches and urns. At this peaceful site rest 368 of our military dead, most of whom gave their lives in liberating the soil of Belgium in World War I. Their headstones are aligned in four symmetrical areas around the white stone chapel that stands in the center of the cemetery. The altar inside the chapel is made of black and white Grand Antique marble with draped flags on each side; above it is a crusader's sword outlined in gold. The chapel furniture is made of carved oak, stained black with white veining to harmonize with the altar; 43 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the visitor building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites. [Source: New York Times | Michael D. Shearmarch | 26 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Minnesota Veteran Homes Update 03 ► Admittance Priority Controversy
Several veterans organizations are denouncing a plan to tighten the rules for who can get into the state’s veterans homes. Former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients and veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher would move to the front of the line under a new proposal. Spouses of veterans, who now have equal access to the state’s five veterans homes on a first-come first-served basis, would be knocked down in the pecking order. Several other states have similar restrictions, but groups like the American Legion and the state’s county veterans service officers are objecting strenuously. They say the new rules violate an unspoken but solemn compact with spouses, who may be more in need than some veterans who would get priority over them. “The veterans I talk to are just as concerned about a fellow veteran’s widow as they are about a fellow veteran. We’re all family,” said Army veteran Tommy Johnson, a blogger, veterans advocate and a Veterans of Foreign Wars member from Hopkins. “Sure, other states may do that. Other states may do a lot less for the veterans than Minnesota does.”
Vets groups are pledging an all-out offensive to block the change. But this time the usually potent veterans’ lobby at the State Capitol is facing a resolute opponent. “My feeling is the veterans who have suffered the most as a result of their military service should have a priority in going into the homes,” said Rep. Jerry Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, the author of the proposal, which is part of a bill in the Legislature. Newton, a retired sergeant major with a 23-year career in the military, says he’s faced this kind of uphill battle before against forces opposed to changes in the status quo. Although much of the talk is about honoring service and sacrifice, the debate quickly breaks down to money. Funding for long-term nursing like that provided in the state’s veteran homes is the most expensive form of care for a rapidly increasing elderly population. The $161.5 million it cost to operate Minnesota’s five state-operated veterans homes made up 77 percent of the state Department of Veterans Affairs’ budget last year. The change in eligibility was one of several recommendations made by a legislative committee on veterans housing in a report late last year designed to address veteran homelessness and the costs of the state’s veterans homes. The committee found the rising cost of nursing home care to be unsustainable, and the recommendation to limit spouse’s eligibility was among the recommendations to cut costs.
Currently, 17 states allow only veterans to reside in their state veterans homes. Five states have a priority for veterans but allow spouses or other eligible nonveterans to be admitted when space is available. Minnesota has allowed spouses to reside in the vets’ homes on an equal basis as veterans since 1971, as long as they meet eligibility and admission requirements. Admission is based on the date of the application. The new proposal has had one contentious hearing in a House committee. It would give first priority for admission to Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients and veterans with the 70 percent or more service-
35 disability. All other veterans would be next; followed by spouses of veterans who are over 65; then Gold Star parents. Priority would be given to veterans who were Minnesota residents for two years before admission or veterans who lived in the state at the time they entered the service.
While saying it is right to provide care to those who have sacrificed the most, Newton acknowledges that the changes make economic sense as well. Veterans with a 70 percent service-connected disability or higher (they are known as 70 percenters) allow states to be reimbursed at a full per-diem rate from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. In Minnesota that can amount from $132,000 to $155,000 a year per vet depending on which of the five homes the vet resides in. But spouses residing in the vets’ homes bring in no federal money. Although there are only about 60 spouses in the vets’ homes, the cost of their care is about $5.6 million a year. “I am not suggesting that we throw the elderly out on the street. This is done through attrition and we deal with it from this point on,” Newton said. “The state is going to benefit.”
The vets homes are attractive to people seeking long-term nursing care. There is an active waiting list of more than 1,000 people for the 790 beds available in the five homes, and another inactive waiting list of about 1,000. About 750 people are on the waiting list for the Minneapolis home and about 60 of those are spouses. One group argues that veterans and spouses who don’t qualify for the extensive federal benefits are exactly those who should be allowed to apply on equal footing to the nursing homes. “I know of no human service program where people with the most resources get put at the front of the line for limited resources,” said Milt Schoen, Hennepin County’s veterans services director and legislative director for the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
Mike Ash, state commander of the Minnesota American Legion, said the proposal would likely mean there won’t be enough spaces for spouses after the slots are filled with those having priority. “The spouses put as much effort forth as we have,” Ash said. “It’s true we have to get shot at; they’ve got to stay home all by themselves with a whole set of problems they never counted on. We put a high premium on spouses.” Ash said the American Legion and other veteran groups are gearing up for an aggressive e-mail campaign and for directly lobbying individual state legislators. “When you decide to go against us, hopefully you recognize that if it’s a year you are getting voted up or down, you might want to think about it,” Ash said. “When legislation like this comes up we need to let them know directly that we are 100 percent against it and we won’t take anything but shooting the bill down totally.” [Source: Star Tribune | Mark Brunswick | 24 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Vet Charity Watch Update 44 ► TX Sues Veterans Support Organization
A veterans' organization banned from South Carolina and fined in Tennessee has been named in a lawsuit brought by authorities in Texas, where it has been operating in several cities for years. The Texas Attorney General's Office announced 21 MAR that the Florida-based Veterans Support Organization (VSO) is a defendant in a lawsuit filed this week alleging the group falsely claimed a majority of donations to the group would benefit Texas veterans. Authorities contend VSO raised more than $2.5 million in Texas from 2010 to 2012. They say most of that was raised through a work program that amounted to nothing more than "structured panhandling" in which indigent veterans were paid to stand outside stores in Austin, Dallas, Houston and elsewhere soliciting donations. Despite raising millions, VSO made grants of less than $57,000 to Texas veterans, which amounts to 2.24 percent of donations received in the state, according to court records.
Texas officials say most of the money went out of state to Florida, where VSO has its headquarters, and Rhode Island, where it's incorporated. Four VSO principals also are named in the lawsuit, including President Richard
36
VanHouten, and all four live in Florida. A call to VSO's headquarters rang unanswered Friday. The Attorney General's Office does not indicate in court records how the money raised in Texas was spent elsewhere. Spokesman Jerry Strickland said authorities would go through the organization's records and other documents to track down the money. "When well-meaning Texans open their hearts and their wallets, they should be confident that the hard- earned money they're donating will go to the cause they choose to support," Strickland said. VanHouten — an Army veteran who lives in a $548,500 South Florida home, according to county records — has received $259,965 in salary, the Austin American-Statesman reported in February. A phone message left at a Florida listing for VanHouten was not returned.
VSO says it helps veterans transition to life after the military by providing jobs. "We are the one employer willing to overlook long (gaps in employment)," Arthur Metcalf, general manager of the group's Houston branch, told the American-Statesman. He said his employees earn $7.25 an hour and are eligible for incentives if they raise more than $250 in a day. But Texas authorities say VSO engaged in "false, deceptive and misleading acts" and is seeking a court order prohibiting the group from operating in Texas. They also want to seize its assets and funds in order to distribute them to low-income veterans. South Carolina fined the group $5,000 last year and banned it for 15 years for violating its solicitation laws. Tennessee fined it $50,000 — and later settled for $20,000 — in 2010 for failing to properly register and making false claims to provide services in the state. Connecticut's congressional delegation, meanwhile, has requested a federal investigation of the group and the Department of Veterans Affairs has suspended it from an advisory board.
Prosecutors in Texas also say VSO claimed to operate a housing program benefiting veterans. But the program amounted to subletting rooms at two residences, one in Austin and the other in Dallas, and only a portion were earmarked for vets, according to court records. Veterans were evicted from their room if they couldn't afford the $125-a-week rent, records indicate. The American Institute of Philanthropy's CharityWatch gave the group an F rating, according to the American-Statesman's February report. m"VSO's 'program' does not help unemployed veterans obtain useful skills, such as computer programming, carpentry or nursing, to help them obtain gainful employment," the group said in a newsletter. "But the 'program' does help VSO raise money for itself by turning veterans into street solicitors." [Source: Associated Press article 21 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Disabled Vet SSA Claims ► Priority Treatment if Rated 100%
Social Security claims from veterans with a Veterans Affairs Department disability compensation rating of 100 percent permanent and total have a new process that will treat their applications as high priority and issue expedited decisions. Carolyn W. Colvin, acting Social Security commissioner, said the new process is similar to the way the agency currently handles disability claims from wounded warriors. “We have reached another milestone for those who have sacrificed so much for our country and this process ensures they will get the benefits they need quickly,” Colvin said. “While we can never fully repay them for their sacrifices, we can be sure we provide them with the quality of service that they deserve. This initiative is truly a lifeline for those who need it most." To receive the expedited service, veterans must tell Social Security they have a VA disability compensation rating of 100 percent permanent and total and must show proof of their disability rating with their VA notification letter. The VA rating only expedites Social Security disability claims processing and does not guarantee an approval for Social Security disability benefits, officials emphasized, noting that these veterans still must meet the strict eligibility requirements for a disability allowance. [Source: SSA News Release 18 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
37
POW/MIA Update 24 ► How You Can Help Find Them
There are 45,000 service members missing in action from World War II and other wars who experts say are recoverable. But the Pentagon’s $100 million per year effort to identify them has solved surprisingly few cases. Last year (2013) only 60 MIAs were sent home. The military actually knows where many of the missing are - 9,400 service members are buried as “unknowns” in American cemeteries around the world. Armed with family stories and documents, John Eakin may have tracked down the remains of one of those men, Bud Kelder, a cousin who died in a World War II POW camp. Following, in an edited interview, Eakin shares what he’s learned about researching a loved one “missing in action,” and fighting against the Pentagon --
In the beginning I didn’t know much about Bud Elder’s death. In 2009, I didn’t set out to recover the remains of my cousin. I was simply looking for genealogical information on the date and place of his death. About all that I knew about him was that he had been in the Bataan Death March and his remains were never returned to his family for burial. Growing up, it was one of those things that I was told never to ask about because it upset my grandparents. A good starting point is the MIA database on the website of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO). What’s next for more information? Can a family member get any files about their missing loved one? The first thing any family member should do is request the Individual Deceased Personnel File for their family member. The IDPF is the key document in any MIA research. These files were classified and restricted from public access for many years, but are available now.
An IDPF contains all that is known about a serviceman’s death and efforts to identify his remains. It typically includes death certificates, notifications of death, disposition of personnel property, information on burial, and often ends with the paperwork involved in providing a veterans headstone. The IDPF will often direct further investigation. It took over three months for the Army to retrieve Bud’s IDPF from the archives, but it was worth the wait as it was the key to the whole case. Bud’s IDPF also contained several letters from Bud’s parents to the Army asking that his remains be returned for burial. Their grief at not being able to bury their son was almost palpable. Family members can obtain the IDPF from the appropriate Service Casualty Office. (It is important to know that the Air Force didn’t come into being until 1947 and missing personnel from the old Army Air Corps are handled by the Army Casualty Office.) To obtain IDPFs contact: U.S. Army (and the Air Corps) Department of the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center 1600 Spearhead Div Ave, Dept 450 Fort Knox, KY 40122-5405 Tel:1 (800) 892-2490 U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MRC) Personal and Family Readiness Division 3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103 Tel:1 (800) 847-1597 U.S. Navy Navy Personnel Command Casualty Assistance Division (OPNAV N135C) 5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055-6210 Tel:1 (800) 443-9298
Bud’s file showed that the Army tried over a period of years to identify him, but he was eventually determined “non-recoverable,” as was the case for thousands of men. In most cases, unidentified remains are buried as unknowns either in a Department of Veteran Affairs or American Battle Monuments Commission cemetery. The unidentified remains each have an IDPF, which is identified with an “X” and a number, rather than a name. So they are often referred to as “X-files.” IDPFs on people whose remains were determined to be non-recoverable, like Bud, often contain references to one or more X-files that are associated with that person, but could not be positively identified as that person. By the same token, X-files often list the names of one or more persons they are associated with. So in the case of Bud Kelder, we started with his IDPF which referenced ten unidentified remains which had been given the numbers X812, X814, X815, X816, X818, X820, X821, X822, X823, X824. The Army knew that Bud was one of these unidentified remains, they just didn’t know which one. But we knew that Bud had gold dental inlays, and when we reviewed the dental charts in the X-files. Only X816 had gold inlays.
38
If the IDPF references X-files, they may be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request or by asking the appropriate service casualty office. Family members should look for military unit historical associations or groups of other family members of persons who died in the same area. Often these groups will have databases of all the X-files associated with the same event or area. In some cases, X-files contain little to no identifying information; no place of death, no dental chart, not much of anything which will help to identify the remains. However, about fifty percent of the thousands of X-files I have been through have an associated name or names. In most of these cases the military had a pretty good idea who it was, but lacked that last little bit of evidence needed to be sure. Most of the rest have some other piece of information that will help narrow down the possible identities. The X-file will usually show where the remains were buried.
Every WWII MIA family should contact the appropriate service casualty office and assist them in finding the appropriate family members to collect a DNA reference sample from. DNA has become essential to the identification process and depends on the cooperation of WWII MIA families. Collection of the DNA sample is a simple process. The military will overnight a collection kit consisting of a few cheek swabs and a return envelope. Blood samples are no longer used. There are more than 950 men like Bud who died in the Cabanatuan POW camp and weren’t identified after WWII. They are buried as X-files in the cemetery in Manila. Unlike some of the other X-files that contain limited identifying information, the Cabanatuan X-files make up a known population of men: The POWs kept list of all those who died in the camp. So the military knows who all the 953 X-files could possibly be, they just haven’t matched each name with a body. One key obstacle, as we detailed in our story, is the Pentagon itself, which is rarely willing to disinter a grave to try to send that man home to his family. But another needed step is getting family DNA to cross reference with any remains.
Although the Army has about 10,000 DNA samples already, it doesn't categorize them into smaller sections, such as by theater or battle. Eakin, though, has done this for Cabanatuan. He combed through the Army's records and found that they have family DNA samples from family members of approximately 345 of the Cabanatuan unknowns. About 608 are left in need of DNA. If you have a family member who died at the Cabanatuan POW camp and wasn't sent home for burial, then a sample of your DNA could be helpful in getting your loved one identified. Giving DNA is easy and painless. All you have to do is rub the inside of your cheek with a cotton swab. The military will send you a kit.
The names of the 608 men without any family DNA samples on file with the Army are available at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AntrT- o20eO4dC15U1ZKeW9QVlY1a2NibDBqSmE1OFE&usp=sharing#gid=0 . Contact the Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center Tel:1 (800) 892-2490 for more information if your family member is on the list. Other resources for locating MIAs would be JPAC at http://www.jpac.pacom.mil, Bataan Missing at http://bataanmissing.com, Ancestry.com military records at http://www.ancestry.com, and NARA POW database at http://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-description.jsp?s=644. [Source: Pennsylvania’s Westmoreland Times | Megan McCloskey,| 11 Mar 2014 ++_]
********************************
POW/MIA Recoveries ► 140301 thru 140315
"Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. The number of Americans who remain missing from conflicts in this century are: World War II (73,000+), Korean War (7,921) Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,642), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Over 600 Defense Department men and women -- both military and civilian -- work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel
39 recovery and personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our missing personnel home. For a listing of all personnel accounted for since 2007 refer to http: //www.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http: //www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call or call (703) 699-1169. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may call the following Service Casualty Offices: U.S. Air Force (800) 531-5501, U.S. Army (800) 892-2490, U.S. Marine Corps (800) 847-1597, U.S. Navy (800) 443-9298, or U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5470. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam - None
Korea
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 21 MAR that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Cristobal Romo, 19, of San Diego, will be buried March 22, in Riverside, Calif. In November 1950, Romo was a member of Company L, 31st Infantry Regiment, operating along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. From Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, 1950, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces overran U.S. positions and U.S. troops were forced to withdraw south along Route 5 to more defensible positions. Following the battle, Romo was one of many men reported missing in action. In September 2004, a joint U.S./Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (D.P.R.K.) team excavated a site south of the Pungnyuri-gang inlet of the Chosin Reservoir, and recovered human remains. The remains were sent to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) for analysis. From 2005 to 2012, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) continued to conduct DNA analysis on recovered remains in the vicinity of Romo’s loss. As technology advanced they were able to identify Romo. To identify Romo’s remains, scientists from JPAC and AFDIL used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA that matched Romo’s sister and nephew, and autosomal DNA that also matched his sister. Marine Corps Cpl. William F. Day, Company H, 3rd Battalion, 11th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, lost Dec. 2, 1950, in North Korea was accounted for on March 6 and will be buried with full military honors on April 5 in La Center, Ky. Army Pfc. Arthur Richardson, Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, lost on Jan. 1, 1951, in South Korea was accounted for on March 21. A burial date has yet to be set.
40
Marine Corps Cpl. William S. Blasdel, Company H, 3rd Battalion, 11th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, lost Oct. 28, 1953, in North Korea was accounted for on March 10 and will be buried with full military honors this spring in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Today, 7,889 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered from North Korea by American teams.
World War II - None
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ Mar 2013 ++]
*********************************
OBIT | Denton~Jeremiah ► 28 Mar 2014
Former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah Denton, who survived 7½ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and alerted the U.S. military to conditions there when he blinked the word “torture” in Morse code during a television interview, died 28 MAR. He was 89. Denton’s grandson, Edward Denton, said he died about 8 a.m. at a hospice facility in Virginia Beach, Va., surrounded by family. Edward Denton said his grandfather had been in declining health for the past year and died from heart problems. Denton, a retired Navy rear admiral, in 1980 became the first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction, but he narrowly lost a re-election bid six years later. As a senator, he was a strong advocate of conservative causes and backer of the Reagan administration. But the iron will that served him in such good stead in captivity gave rise to criticism that he was too rigid as a politician.
Former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah Denton
Denton first received wide notice as a POW with an unbending patriotic commitment, despite torture and the horrors of years of captivity. He called his book about the experiences “When Hell Was in Session.” In June 1965, the Mobile native and father of seven began flying combat missions for the Navy in Vietnam. The next month, on 18 JUL, he was shot down near Thanh Hoa. Captured, he spent the next 7½ years in several North Vietnamese prisoner of war camps, including the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Four of those years were spent in solitary confinement in a tiny, stinking, windowless cell. “They beat you with fists and fan belts,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1979. “They warmed you up and threatened you with death. Then they really got serious and gave you something called the rope trick.” The use of ropes — to cut off circulation in his limbs — left him with no feeling in his fingertips and intense muscle spasms, he said.
41
It was Denton who provided the first direct evidence of torture by his captors when, apparently unbeknownst to them, he blinked his message in Morse code in a 1966 interview done with him in captivity. A video of the interview can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgelmcOdS38#t=28. In the tape, made by a Japanese interviewer and intended by the North Vietnamese as propaganda, Denton also confounded the captors by saying that he continued to fully support the U.S. government, “and I will support it as long as I live.” He was tortured again. “In the early morning hours, I prayed that I could keep my sanity until they released me. I couldn’t even give in to their demands, because there were none. It was pure revenge,” Denton wrote. He said his captors never brought him out for another interview. But with the war’s end drawing closer, he was released in February 1973. He was the senior officer among former POWs who stepped off a plane into freedom at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Denton epitomized the military spirit as he spoke for the returning soldiers: “We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our commander-in- chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America.”
His words and bearing, beamed back to his country by television, gave heart to the military at a time of increasing uncertainty and bitter division over the course of the war. The tape he had made in 1966 was widely seen, and U.S. intelligence experts had picked up the Morse Code message. But Denton theorized later that his captors likely figured it out only after he was awarded the Navy Cross — the second-highest decoration for valor — for the blinks in 1974. He was promoted to rear admiral and retired from the Navy in November 1977. Denton then turned to politics, despite having no experience running for a statewide political office. With Ronald Reagan atop the GOP ticket, Denton became the first Republican elected to the Senate from Alabama since the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. In Washington, he was a Reagan loyalist, a defender of military might and an advocate for a return to traditional family values and conservative stands on moral issues. But critics said his rigid stands left him no room for political compromise and lessened his influence, limiting his ability to help Alabama.
Denton lost his re-election bid in 1986 by only a fraction of a percentage point. After his defeat, Denton founded the Coalition for Decency and lectured about family causes. Denton also launched a humanitarian outreach to needy countries through his National Forum Foundation, which arranged shipments of donated goods. In later years, he lived in Williamsburg, Va., but he still appeared at patriotic gatherings. In November 2008, an emotional Denton watched at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Ala., as a newly restored A-6 Intruder fighter/bomber — like the one he flew over North Vietnam — was rolled out. The aircraft had been acquired from the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola for display in the Alabama park in Denton’s honor. Denton’s grandson, Edward, said that on one hand, Denton was a normal grandfather who enjoyed taking his grandchildren fishing aboard his boat in Mobile. “On the other hand,” he said, “he was a war hero and someone who set an example for being what being a good, patriotic American is all about.” [Source: Associated Press| Matt Schudel | 28 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
42
Vet Jobs Update 146 ► Benefits of Working for Uncle Sam
Want to make sure retirement treats you well? Work for Uncle Sam, and those golden years could have a little added shine. Not only are federal retirement benefits portable, but being the largest employer provides the government excellent leverage in securing benefits for its employees. Take the example of Jane Smith, a fictional but possible example of a former federal employee. After college, Jane was hired by a large federal agency where she gained experience and insight into the workings of the federal government. After eight years of federal service, she left the federal government with a salary of $73,000 to work for a private-sector company that offered her different opportunities for growth in her chosen field.
Despite her departure, Jane still would have earned the following portable benefits: Pension (FERS Basic Benefit): The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) provides a basic defined benefit pension after only five years of creditable civilian service. Eligibility for this benefit and its computation depends on the combination of years of service and age. Many federal employees retire as early as age 55 with lifetime retirement benefits. Jane's benefit at departure: A lifetime pension of $5,600 per year or $466 per month payable at age 62 with annual cost of living adjustments. Learn more about federal Retirement at http://www.opm.gov/retirement-services Retirement Savings (Thrift Savings Plan): The federal government provides an automatic 1 percent contribution to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) -- the government's version of a 401k plan -- for all federal employees who are covered by the FERS. In addition, the government matches the first 3 percent of employee contributions dollar for dollar, and the fourth and fifth percent get a 50 percent match. Jane's benefit: $105,000 in retirement savings with a 10 percent payroll contribution. If her investment grew at an average rate of 8 percent for 32 more years, that's more than a million dollars. Learn more about the TSP at https://www.tsp.gov/index.shtml Social Security: All federal employees covered by FERS are fully covered by Social Security. Government earnings count towards a future Social Security benefit just like private-sector earnings. Jane's benefit: Social security benefits of $200 per month payable at age 67 or a reduced amount payable at age 62. Learn more about Social Security at http://www.ssa.gov. Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance is fully portable. Jane's benefit: She brought it with her to her new employer. Learn more about LTC at http://www.ltcfeds.com.
While employed by the federal government, Jane could have taken advantage of additional benefits that include: . Disability Benefits: There are three types of disability benefits. These include: o Long-Term: All federal employees have permanent disability retirement available while employed. This benefit is part of the FERS retirement system; eligibility ends after federal employment. Learn more about FERS disability benefits. o Workers' Compensation: Federal employees are covered under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), which is administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) under the Department of Labor. Learn more about workers' compensation. o Short-Term: Federal employees earn 13 days of sick leave each year that they can carry over during a career. After 10 years of service, a federal employee has earned six months of sick leave, which can be used for recovery from an illness or accident, maternity leave or caring for a sick family member. This benefit can be restored if a separated employee returns to federal service. Learn more about federal leave policies.
. Death Benefits: FERS provides survivor annuities for dependent children and spouses of deceased federal employees and to some former federal employees. Learn more about death benefits.
43
. Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI): The government has a group life insurance benefit available to employees that can provide basic insurance equal to an employee's salary plus $2,000, as well as additional coverage of up to five multiples of basic salary. This benefit can be converted to an individual policy upon separation and also contains a living benefit for employees having a life-threatening illness. Learn more about FEGLI. . Health Insurance: Federal employees have many types of health insurance coverage to select from during annual open season periods. These include traditional fee-for-service coverage, HMOs and the new high- deductible health plans with healthcare savings accounts. While employed and after immediate retirement, the government contributes on average of 75 percent of the cost of the premiums. Former federal employees can continue this coverage for up to 18 months after leaving federal service. Employees may also use flexible spending accounts to pay for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses. Learn more about these benefits from the US Office of Personnel Management and the FSAFEDS. . Annual Leave and Holidays: New full-time employees earn 13 days per year for the first three years of employment. Employees with three to 15 years of employment earn six hours per pay period (20 days per year) and employees with 15 or more years of employment earn eight hours each pay period (26 days per year). Part-time employees earn annual and sick leave in proportion to the hours worked. Unused annual leave (not to exceed 240 hours) may be carried over into the next leave year. When an employee resigns or retires from federal service, he is paid any unused annual leave in a lump sum payment. Learn more about federal leave policies at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration. [Source: Military.com article Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Vet Job Opportunities @ EGS ► Military Recruiting Programs
Expert Global Solutions (EGS) is the holding company for two renowned companies in the global business process outsourcing (BPO) industry – APAC and NCO. APAC is the EGS brand in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) BPO marketplace. NCO is the EGS brand in the Accounts Receivables Management (ARM) BPO marketplace. EGS, through both companies, is a fully scaled provider and global partner serving all aspects of the customer lifecycle. Their clients benefit from the unique complement of a single-source solution with a customized CRM and ARM service delivery platform. EGS clients include 40% of the Fortune 500, serving clients across all major market verticals. Their operating platform includes a global network of more than 100 locations, world-class technology, and more than 43,000 associates. As a BPO industry leader, EGS has unique capabilities to develop, grow, and innovate throughout all aspects of the customer experience.
EGS values and supports all U.S. Service Members, veterans, retirees, wounded warriors, and military families. They recognize the value, dedication, experience, and work ethic these individuals bring to the job market. EGS, APAC and NCO are committed to providing employment opportunities and has developed a program to actively recruit and retain these valuable individuals. They offer Career opportunities in multiple locations across the country with a military and veteran friendly employer. Career paths that capitalize on leadership skills and experience that veterans have gained during their service to our country. Dedicated partnership with "100,000 Jobs Mission" coalition, committed to recruiting and hiring military talent. Ongoing training and performance management programs to support continued career growth
Benefits of working for Expert global Solutions include: Medical / dental / vision; 401(k) plan with company match; Medical FSA; Paid Time Off (PTO); Competitive salary; Flexible schedules; Business casual dress; Work at
44 home opportunities; and At-home independent contractor work. For more information on EGS, jobs available and applying for a position go to http://www.egscorp.com/Recruiting/Military_Veteran_Recruiting.htm . [Source: Military.com article Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Retiree Appreciation Days ► Mar 24 thru Dec 2014
Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs) are designed with you in mind. They're a great source of the latest information for retirees and Family members in your area. RADs vary from installation to installation, but, in general, they provide an opportunity to renew acquaintances, listen to guest speakers, renew ID Cards, get medical checkups, and various other services. Some RADs include special events such as dinners or golf tournaments. Due to budget constraints, some RADs may be cancelled or rescheduled. Also, scheduled appearances of DFAS representatives may not be possible. If you plan to travel long distances to attend a RAD, before traveling, you should call the sponsoring RSO to ensure the RAD will held as scheduled and, if applicable, whether or not DFAS reps will be available. Below is the schedule as of 14 MAR 2014. An up-to-date RAD list is always available online at http://www.hostmtb.org/RADLIST-2014.html. For more information call the phone number indicated below of the Retirement Services Officer (RSO) sponsoring the RAD.
2014 Retiree Appreciation Days (RAD) as of 24 March 2014
RAO\RSO Phone RAD Locations (State\Country) Dates Numbers
AL - Redstone Arsenal (1) 18-20 Sep 256-876-2022 AK- JB Elmendorf-Richardson 10 May 907-384-3500 AK Fort Wainwright 17 May 907-353-2099 AR -Little Rock AFB 03 May 501-987-6095 Belgium USAG Benelux (2) 04 October 0032-65-44-6293 CA - NBVC Port Hueneme (11) 29 March 805-982-1023 CA - Los Angeles AFB 31 May 310-653-5144 CA - Presidio of Monterey (15) 14 June 831-242-5232\[DSN] 768-5232 CA - NAS Lemoore 13 September 559-998-4038\[DSN] 949-4038 CA - MCIWest-MCB Camp Pendleton 20 September 760-725-9789 CO - Buckley AFB 14 June 720-847-9213 England - RAF Mildenhall (16) 05-06 June (01638)-542039\[DSN] 238-2039 FL - Orlando - Ft Stewart RAD (13) 10 May 912-767-3326\813-828-0163 GA - Fort Stewart (13) 10 May 912-767-3326\813-828-0163 GA - Robins AFB 27 September 478-926-0193\9879 GA - Moody AFB (17) 26 Oct-01 Nov 229-257-3209 Ger (2) - USAG Bavaria (Grafenwoehr) 09 May 0049-09641-83-8709 Ger (2) - USAG Ansbach-Katterbach 16 May 0049-0981-183-3301 Ger (2) - Kaiserslautern/Ramstein 15 October 0049-0631-411-8405 Ger (2) - USAG Stuttgart 23 October 0049-07031-15-2010 Ger (2) - USAG Wiesbaden 25 October 0049-0611-705-7668 ID - Boise (Army NG RAD) (18) 28 May 866-482-7343\208-272-5755
45
ID - Boise (Air NG RAD) 07 September** 866-482-7343\208-272-5755 ID - Lewiston Armory (19) 19 September 866-482-7343\208-272-5755 ID - Twin Falls Armory (19) 24 September 866-482-7343\208-272-5755 ID - Pocatello Armory (19) 25 September 866-482-7343\208-272-5755 ID - Idaho Falls Armory (19) 26 September 866-482-7343\208-272-5755 IL - Rock Island Arsenal 25 October 563-445-0191 IA - Des Moines 28 August 515-277-6113 Italy (2) - USAG Vicenza 17 October 0039-0444-71-7262 KS - Fort Leavenworth 25 October 913-684-5583 KY - Fort Knox 31 Oct-1 Nov** 502-624-4641\4315\1765 KOR - Camp Casey (Town Hall) (20) 31 March 0505-730-4133\[DSN] 730-4133 KOR - Camp Humphreys 18 October 010-3176-1696 ME - Brunswick (14) 02 April 207-406-4103 MI - USCG Festival-Grand Haven (3) 25 Jul-03 Aug 616-846-5940 MI - Selfridge ANG Base 20 September 586-239-5580 MN - Rosemount 15 August 507-474-9297 MN - Duluth 12 September 218-590-3144 MT - Malmstrom AFB (4) 16-18 May 406-731-4751\406-866-0683 NY - Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet 03 May 518-266-5810 NY - West Point 03 May 845-938-4217 NY - Fort Hamilton 27 September 718-630-4552 NC - Pope Army Airfield (5) 16 May 704-391-4269\910-907-7247 NC - MCCS Camp Lejeune (6) 27 September 910-451-0287 OH - Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 24 October 937-257-3221 SC - Myrtle Beach (7) 01-31 May 843-918-1014 SC - Fort Jackson 15-17 May 803-751-6715\5523 TX - Fort Bliss 27 September 915-569-6233\568-5204 TX - Buffalo Gap (Abilene) (8) 21 December 325-572-3365 VA - Fort Belvoir 12 September 703-806-4551\[DSN] 655-4551 WA - Richland (12) 28 March 509-376-7588 WA - JB Lewis-McChord 16 May 253-966-5884\5881 WA - Fairchild AFB 05 September 509-247-5359\[DSN] 657-5359 WA - PacNW CG Ball-Bellevue (9) 27 September TBD WI - Fort McCoy 05 September 608-388-3716 WY - F.E. Warren AFB (9) 19 April 307-773-3381\2309 ** = Tentative Date(s) (#) = Comment Number
COMMENTS: 1. For scheduled events planned for the Redstone Arsenal RAD, please contact the Redstone RAO\RSO Rep or view the Space Calendar.
2. For up-to-date information about Europe-based RADs, i.e., scheduled events, location, times, registration, etc., please call the sponsoring RAO\RSO, view the December 2013 INCOM-Europe Retiree Bulletin or visit the INCOM-Europe Web Site.
3. Grand Haven MI, aka Coast Guard City USA, will hold a Coast Guard Festival and National Memorial Service from 25 July to 03 August 2014. Coast Guard-only events include a Retirees Dinner on 30 July, reservations are required. For more Retirees Dinner information, please get a copy of the Retirees' Dinner RSVP
46 form and submit it by 17 July by mail or fax (616) 846-2509. To find out more about the 2014 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival and National Memorial Service, please visit http://www.coastguardfest.org, call 616-846-5940 or Email to get a 2014 festival brochure.
4. Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Montana, is planning a RAD Weekend during May 16-18, in conjunction with a commissary case-lot sale. Scheduled activities include a retreat ceremony followed by social hour, medical screenings, informational briefings, a formal dinner with Congressman Steve Daines as guest speaker, and a Sunday brunch. For more information, call 406-731-4751\406-866-0683 or send email to get Malstrom AFB RAD Info.
5. The Pope AAF RAD will be held on Friday, May 16th at the Pope Family Readiness Group Center in Building 236 on Interceptor Street. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Personnel from Fort Bragg's Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) will provide medical and dental screenings. To get a complete list of medical\dental services that will be available during the RAD, please visit the WAMC Website, Email WAMC Public Affairs Office or call 910-907-7247. For info about other RAD events please Email the Pope AAF RAO or call (704) 391-4269.
6. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune will be holding its annual RAD on the 27th of September at 0900. Guest speaker is the Director of the NC Veterans Service Office Mr. Ilario Pantano. For more info, contact RAO or EMail Camp Lejeune RAD Info.
7. Myrtle Beach SC will host Military Appreciation Days (MAD) during May 2014. This month-long celebration is a "thank you" to our dedicated service men and women, and their families. The celebration includes active duty military personnel, reserves, the National guard and veterans from all service branches. During May, military personnel and their families can look for discounts at area restaurants and attractions, a traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, a big Memorial Day weekend parade with Grand Marshal Montel Williams, live music, a 5K run and other special events. For more info about Myrtle Beach's 2014 MAD, please visit the Myrtle Beach Website, call 843- 918-1014 or send email to get Myrtle Beach MAD Info.
8. Military Appreciation Day - Dec. 2014. Abilene TX Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more info, location, etc., visit Abilene Visitors Website or call 325-572-3365.
9. The 2014 Pacific Northwest Coast Guard Ball, sponsored by the Navy League Lake Washington Council, will take place on 27 September at the Bellevue Westin Hotel. When available, specifics will be posted on the Coast Guard Retiree Council Northwest website. POC Email: Mr Phil Johnson.
10. F.E. Warren AFB WY is hosting a RAD on April 19, from 0900 to 1300. Scheduled activities include an opening ceremony; guest speakers; breakfast; base tours; base historical videos; ID cards; 24 base, medical and veterans organization booths; and a luncheon. Survivor benefit counselors and retiree pay issue representatives will also be available. Events will take place at the 90th Medical Group Center. For more information, call 307-773- 5944\2309 or the base public affairs office at 307-773-3381, or send email to get FE Warren RAD Info.
11. Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme will be hosting an all forces Military Retiree Town Hall Meeting & Info Fair on March 29 (Saturday) from 0900 to NOON. Contact is NBVC RAO @ 805-982-1023 or Email
12. The Farchild AFB Satellite RAO will hold a Military Retiree Information Day (our equivalent of a RAD) on March 28, 2014 in the Auditorium of the Federal Building in Richland, WA 99352. This is not at a military facility but rather the location of the Satellite RAO of Fairchild AFB's RAO. The Military Retiree Information Day will
47 start at 09:00 and go until about 12:00. With tables for presenters. For information, Email Satellite RAO or call 509-376-7588 (normal office hours are 10:00 to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday).
13. The Fort Stewart RAD will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the University of Central Florida, 12777 Gemini Boulevard North, Orlando, Florida 32816 . This event is open to all retirees and family members from all services. For more information about this event, please view the online RAD Flyer, call the Fort Stewart Retirement Services Office at 912-767-3326 or email the Fort Stewart RSO or call the Army Retirement Services Office – MacDill AFB at 813-828-0163 or email the Army RSO – MacDill AFB.
14. A Veterans Information Expo will be hosted by the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber's Military Network Committee on Wednesday, April 2nd, from 2 PM to 6 PM, in the Community Room, 8 Venture Drive, Brunswick Landing (MTI Building), Brunswick. The event will provide health care information for all veterans and family members. Onsite reps from VA Togus, Tricare, Martin's Point, Delta Dental, and Small Business Association will be on-hand to share benefit information. The DAV mobile health care van has been requested (not yet confirmed). For more information, Email Paul Loveless, RAO, call (207) 406-4103 or stop by the Mid Coast Veterans Resource Center at 62 Pegasus Street, Suite 101, Brunswick Landing, Brunswick.
15. Presidio of Monterey RAD is scheduled for 14 June 2014, 0800-1300 hrs. The RAD will be held in the Stillwell Community Center (4260 Gigling Road) OMC, on old Fort Ord. For more information call (831) 242- 5232, DSN 768-5232, or Email POC
16. RAF Mildenhall invites all Retirees and annuitants in the United Kingdom and Ireland to our 28th RAD on the 5th & 6th of June 2014. For more information, please contact RAO at Phone: (01638)-542039\[DSN] 238-2039 or Email.
17. Moody AFB Retiree Appreciation Week, 26 Oct thru 1 Nov 2014. Base specials and discounts throughout the week. Friday, Oct 31st, Retiree Golf Tournament. Saturday, RAD Nov 1st, Health & Information Fair, briefings, games & picnic. For more info, call: (229) 257-3209 or E-mail Moody RAO.
18. The 2014 Gowen Field Army Guard RAD will be conducted on Wednesday, May 28th from 10:00am- 3:30pm. The event will include: Enhanced briefings in Bldg 440 auditorium; a no-host luncheon at the Gowen Field Activities Center (Former Officers Club); shuttle bus tours to aviation/ combat vehicle displays including the M1 simulator; availability of various support organization representatives to provide information and answer questions; and a no-host social gathering. Click here to RSVP for the Gowen Field Army Guard Retiree Appreciation Day event. For more information, visit the Idaho National Guard website or send Email to Idaho NG RAO.
19. Regional Idaho Army RADs will be held at Lewiston, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls Armories. RSVP forms for regional RADs will be available on the Idaho National Guard website on June 1, 2014. For more information, visit the Idaho National Guard website or send Email to Idaho NG RAO.
20. USAG Area I Korea: Camps Red Cloud Casey Hovey Stanley Jackson and Bonifas. The Area I Commander will conduct a Retiree Town Hall on March 31 at the Camp Casey CAC starting at 5:30 p.m. Topics will include use of Commissary, AAFES, medical and garrison services which support local retirees.
This list is also available in PDF format at http://www.hostmtb.org/2014 Retiree Appreciation Days.pdf and MS Word format at http://www.hostmtb.org/2014 Retiree Appreciation Days.doc. [Source: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADLIST-2014.html 24 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
48
Vet Hiring Fairs ► 1 Apr thru 31 May 2014
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s (USCC) Hiring Our Heroes program employment workshops are available in conjunction with hundreds of their hiring fairs. These workshops are designed to help veterans and military spouses and include resume writing, interview skills, and one-on-one mentoring. For details of each click on the link next to the date in the below list. If it will not open refer to www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events. To participate, sign up for the workshop in addition to registering for the hiring fairs which are shown below for the next 8 weeks. For more information about the USCC Hiring Our Heroes Program, Military Spouse Program, Transition Assistance, GE Employment Workshops, Resume Engine, etc. visit the USCC website at http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events.
Veterans Hiring Fair
April 1, 2014 – Lincoln, NE April 2, 2014 – Philadelphia, PA April 8, 2014 – St Louis, MO April 8, 2014 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL April 9, 2014 – Washington D.C. at the Verizon Center April 10, 2014 – Fort McCoy, WI April 16, 2014 – Hamden, CT April 16, 2014 – New Orleans, LA April 17, 2014 – Los Angeles, CA April 22, 2014 – Celina, OH April 23, 2014 – Dearborn, MI April 24, 2014 – Evansville, IN April 29, 2014 – Chicago, IL April 30, 2014 – Trenton, NJ April 30, 2014 – Cheyenne, WY April 30, 2014 – Fayetteville, NC May 7, 2014 – Birmingham, AL May 7, 2014 – Kansas City, MO May 8, 2014 – Salisbury, MD May 8, 2014 – Rochester, NY May 12, 2014 – Arlington, TX May 13, 2014 – Rochester, MN May 13, 2014 – Tampa, FL May 14, 2014 – Military Spouse Hiring Fair and Career Forum Lackland Air Force Base, TX May 14, 2014 – Camden, NJ May 15, 2014 – Military Spouse Hiring Fair and Career Forum Whidbey Island, WA May 15, 2014 – Ogden, UT May 21, 2014 – Boston, MA May 22, 2014 – Fort Wayne, IN May 22, 2014 – Riverside, CA May 22, 2014 – Memphis, TN May 28, 2014 – Tulsa, OK May 28, 2014 – Martinsburg, WV May 28, 2014 – Fargo, ND
49
May 29, 2014 – Military Spouse Hiring Fair and Career Forum Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall May 29, 2014 – Cincinnati, OH
Note: A key tactic that most job-seekers overlook when attending a job or career fair is to Stop at every table! One mistake we all make on occasion is to generalize. For example, people assume that health-care companies are only hiring health-care workers, or that insurance companies only need agents. So when they encounter these tables or displays, they typically say nothing and keep moving. Also, sell yourself! Be an extrovert and your own agent! Finally, your mission is fact-finding and networking. By spending time at each table, one learns to overcome stereotypes that lead to erroneous assumptions [Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assn 31 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
WWII VETS 59 ► Mayer~Frederick A
The White House announced presentation of the Medal of Honor on March 18, 2014, to 24 Army veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, whose Distinguished Service Crosses are being upgraded to Medals to Honor to rectify past discrimination. The OSS society believes Office of Strategic Services (OSS) veteran Lt. Frederick A. Mayer should have been included among these Medal of Honor recipients. Mayer, a Jewish refugee from Germany and a naturalized American citizen, was recruited by the OSS, the World War II predecessor to the CIA and the US Special Operations Command, and volunteered to lead Operation Greenup, one of the most daring and successful missions behind German lines. His remarkable bravery was told in the award-winning documentary The Real Inglorious Bastards, and in Patrick O'Donnell's book, They Dared Return: The True Story of Jewish Spies Behind the Lines in Nazi Germany.
2nd LT Frederick Mayer
Mayer was nominated for the Medal of Honor on September 17, 1945, for "knowingly and willingly (risking) his life almost daily" and gathering "secret intelligence of great value to the United States" during the two months he was behind enemy lines, often dressed in a German officer's uniform. After obtaining valuable intelligence about Nazi troop movements into Northern Italy and supplying the Army Air Corps with information that enabled it to bomb the Brenner Pass and destroy 26 German trains containing troops and munitions, he was captured by the Gestapo and tortured for three days. In one of the war's greatest bluffs, he convinced a top Nazi to surrender Innsbruck, Austria, and all German forces in the area. Mayer then met the advancing American Army, crossing German and American lines in a combat zone at great risk to his life, to inform the Americans of the surrender - saving countless lives on both sides.
The War Department rejected the nomination and recommended that he receive the Legion of Merit instead. His commander, who "did not believe that the Awards and Citations Board was familiar with the circumstances of the
50 case," then asked the Army "that a new recommendation be submitted for the … Medal of Honor or at least for the Distinguished Service Cross." This request was also rejected. Had Fred Mayer received the Distinguished Service Cross, it is very likely he would have been included among the 24 Medal of Honor recipients whose names were released by the White House on February 21, 2014. Senator Jay Rockefeller read a statement about Mayer in the US Senate on April 25, 2013 which is in the congressional Record at and sent a letter about him to President Obama. Senator Rockefeller also filed a request last year for Mayer's Medal of Honor nomination to be reviewed. The Army refused to reconsider its earlier decision not to award Mayer the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross. The Senator’s statement is at https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47108595/Congressional_Record_Statement.pdf.
The OSS Society believes that Fred Mayer's heroic service should be recognized by a Medal of Honor and that this injustice should be corrected and has requested that the Army reopen the nomination filed by Senator Rockefeller. The OSS Society is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the historic accomplishments of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, the first organized effort by the United States to implement a centralized system of strategic intelligence and the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Special Operations Command. It educates the American public regarding the continuing importance of strategic intelligence and special operations to the preservation of freedom. Mayer, now 92, lives in Charles Town WV [Source: PRNewswire article 11 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
State Veteran's Benefits & Discounts ► Virginia 2014
The state of Utah provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these plus discounts listed on the Military and Veterans Discount Center (MCVDC) website, refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Vet State Benefits & Discounts – VA” for an overview of the below benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each of the below refer to http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/ & http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/virginia.html Veteran Long Term Care Benefits Veteran Employment Benefits Veteran Education Benefits Other State Sponsored Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/content/veteran-state-benefits/virginia-state-veterans-benefits.html Mar 2014 ++]
*Vet Legislation*
51
DoD Suicide Policy Update 03 ► SAV Act Introduced in Senate
A new bill aimed at improving suicide prevention for veterans was introduced in the U.S. Senate on 28 MAR, as nearly 2,000 flags were planted within view of the Capitol — each one representing a current or former servicemember who had committed suicide so far this year. Sen. John Walsh (D-MT) introduced the, Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act (S.2182) which includes provisions extending combat eligibility for health care from five years to 15 years, and establishing a process for reviewing potentially wrongful discharges and reversing those which may have been caused by mental health issues.
Persons who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, and were discharged on or after January 28, 2003, currently have special eligibility to enroll in the VA health care system for five years from your date of discharge or release, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA estimates that 22 veterans from current and previous wars die by their own hand each day. In an Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America survey of its membership this year, 47 percent said they knew a veteran of the two post-9/11 wars who had attempted suicide. "That's an epidemic that we cannot allow to continue," said Walsh, the first Iraq War combat veteran elected to the Senate. "I think we all know a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a colleague that has been affected by this terrible tragedy." In an effort to visualize the number of troops who have committed suicide, IAVA members and supporters planted 1,892 flags on the National Mall, hoping that the field of red, white and blue would bring the problem to the attention of those strolling the grassy expanse.
"I'm hoping it'll just be a powerful visual for the scope of this issue," said Jeff Hensley, a Navy veteran of 21 years and IAVA member who was planting flags. "(For) most of us that are veterans and are closely connected with veterans … it's personal to us. But outside of our community, I don't think the rest of the country really understand. Seeing something like this, it brings it home to the average person who may not have a direct connection." The event was part of IAVA's annual "Storm the Hill" campaign, which brings veterans to Washington to meet with leaders on veterans policies. Suicide prevention tops IAVA's 2014 agenda, and the group is pushing for the SAV Act to be passed by Memorial Day. "It's going to provide urgent care for people that these folks have been fighting for, that the folks representing by the flags … could not get," said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA founder and CEO. Rieckhoff urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers to work together on what he called a national priority. "It's a public health challenge. It's a security imperative, it's a moral imperative," he said.
For Hensley, who was among the "stormers," the bill - which was designed by the IAVA based on veterans' needs - offers a number of provisions that are promising for improving access and quality of care. "It's one thing to go out and reach out for help, it's another thing to actually get help that is informed and based on best practices," said Hensley, a counselor at an equine-assisted therapy program for veterans in Texas. "It really can make a difference." The bill also calls for increasing mental health professionals in the VA, ensuring training for mental
52 health providers, improving suicide prevention programs, decriminalizing suicide attempts, and more collaboration between the VA and Defense Department. IAVA is hoping to connect one million veterans to suicide prevention resources this year. "If they can get help, it can prevent that," Hensley said. "It can change the entire trajectory of somebody's life. I think of the 8,000 veterans killing themselves every year, then I think what difference it could have made if they had gone on, got that little bit of help, changed the course of their lives and had so much more to offer to all of us. It's just a waste." [Source: Stars and Stripes | C.J. Lin | 27 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2014 Update 07 ► Bill Clears House
The House on 27 MAR passed by voice vote a one-year “Doc Fix” that would avert a 24 percent cut 1 APR in payments to physicians who treat Medicare and TRICARE patients. The bill’s passage (H.R.4302) came suddenly, after House leaders had announced an agreement with the Senate on enactment of the Doc Fix. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 28 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
TSGLI Update 06 ► Proposed $100K Cap Removal
Two lawmakers have introduced a bill that would eliminate the $100,000 cap on payments to wounded warriors for multiple, severe injuries under the Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program. But one big unanswered question is whether the proposed legislation would apply retroactively for those who previously received multiple severe wounds, or only to future service members who may suffer such wounds. The current law governing the TSGLI program is retroactive to 7 OCT 2001. “We’re continuing to discuss” retroactivity, said Drew Pusateri, spokesman for Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, who is sponsoring the bill with Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL). Under current law, lump-sum TSGLI payments, which vary by injury, start at $25,000 and run to a maximum of $100,000 for injuries related to a single traumatic event. The loss of a hand, a foot, and eyesight, for example, each qualify for payment of $50,000. But if a service member suffered all three injuries in one incident, the maximum payment would be $100,000. From its inception, TSGLI has covered both on- and off-duty injuries — for example, injuries suffered in a car accident or mowing the lawn at an off-base home.
The proposed bill would not change that aspect of TSGLI, but it would provide higher uncapped payments only for losses incurred under specific conditions: during armed conflict; in training under conditions simulating armed conflict; hazardous service; or a traumatic event caused “through an instrumentality of war.” The bill is the Taylor Morris Act, named for a quadruple amputee from Iowa who was injured in a roadside bomb blast in 2012 in Afghanistan while serving as a Navy explosive ordinance disposal technician. In a statement issued by Braley’s office, Morris said he had no idea how drastically his life was about to change. “With multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation, I was looking at a lifetime of costs,” he said. “I was so very fortunate to receive help from so many people across the United States. But not every person who is critically injured has the same support. This bill [would] help ease the burden of at least one aspect of recovery.” “The fact that more service members are surviving severe injuries due to immediate medical treatment is a great development,” Braley said. “But this cap just isn’t fair to our injured veterans and needs to be eliminated.”
To qualify for TSGLI payments, troops must already be insured under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program and pay an extra $1 a month in premiums. Since the TSGLI program was enacted in late 2005, the Veterans Affairs Department has approved 14,514 claims and paid out almost $812 million. About 57 percent of
53 the paid claims have involved combat injuries suffered in a war zone. [Source: AirForceTimes | Karen Jowers | 25 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
DECA Budget Cuts [07] ► Commissary Sustainment Act
Another legislative proposal has been introduced to ward off cuts in commissary funding — at least until the commission that is studying all military compensation completes its work. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) introduced the “Military Commissary Sustainment Act” (H.R.4017), which would prohibit the Defense Department from reducing the amount of monthly funds for operating the commissary system in fiscal 2015 below the average monthly amount used in fiscal 2014, until the date of the report of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. That congressionally mandated commission is scrutinizing all pay and compensation benefits for active duty and retired members, to include the commissary system, and is set to issue a report in early 2015. The bill is identical to one introduced in the Senate by another Virginia lawmaker — Democrat Sen. Mark Warner — and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Both House and Senate proposals have been referred to their respective Armed Services committees.
The president’s budget included a proposal to eventually reduce funding for commissaries by two-thirds — gradually cutting $1 billion of their current $1.4 billion budget over three years. The cut in the first year would be about $200 million. Over time, the remaining $400 million in annual taxpayer subsidies would fund overseas commissaries and those in remote locations. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel emphasized that no stores would be directed to close. “Such a cut would raise prices and reduce the savings to our military families,” said Forbes, in a new release announcing his legislation. “Reducing commissary services is essentially cutting the pay of those who volunteer to wear this nation’s uniform and is an unacceptable breach of faith with our warriors and their families. My legislation will prevent any such reductions in the coming year, removing yet another burden that our service members and their families would have to face.” Commissaries would have to operate more like military exchanges — where prices are marked up, rather than sold at cost as they are in commissaries. Current law requires items to be sold at cost. Savings in commissaries average 30 percent. [Source: MiltaryTimes | Karen Jowers | 24 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Oklahoma Vet Legislation ► SB 1604 Blast Injury Treatment
Army Capt. Matt Smothermon remembers the week after his injury as a blur. "In the immediate wake of the blast itself it almost felt like I was drunk the entire time," he said. Smothermon was in a vehicle hit by three IED's in Afghanistan. He was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, and when he came home things did not get better. "That drove me down into kind of a cycle of depression, I was unable to emotionally relate to people, I didn't really care about a whole lot of things," he said, "it was miserable, it was really miserable. I hated it, I hated every single moment of it." Along with Smothermon forty thousand veterans in the state with brain injuries could get help for free, if current legislation continues forward. That is if the Oklahoma Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Plan Act of 2014 to establish a revolving fund to provide for treatment.
On 19 MAR, Rep. John Bennett (R- Sallisaw), one of the authors of the bill, held up a grocery bag full of pill bottles. "This right here is about 30 to 60 days worth of what someone's gonna get if they have issues relating to traumatic brain injury or PTSD," he said. Veterans and lawmakers stood behind him, to promote hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which Army Capt. Smothermon found through Oklahoma State University when he hit rock bottom. "The
54 lights would suddenly come back on, I could focus," he said, remembering his first treatments. The therapy is not FDA approved. But studies show the 100 percent oxygen chambers trigger the brain's neurons and harness the healing power of oxygen. And advocates say the therapy is better than pills, which can lead to self- treatment and even criminal activity among veterans. Secretary for Military and Veteran's Affairs Major Gen. (Ret.) Rita Aragon says of the 3,000 veterans incarcerated in Oklahoma, more than 80 percent tried to self-medicate their symptoms.
The bill that passed unanimously through the Senate would offer treatment free to the 40,000 affected veterans in the state. "The first treatment their photophobia tends to go away, it's that light sensitivity that gives them migraine headaches. By the fifth treatment their headaches are generally under control and by the tenth treatment they can sleep through the night," said Dr. Bill Duncan, the Vice President for Government Affairs for the International Hyperbaric Medical Association. Duncan also runs a clinic in Oklahoma City that uses hyperbaric therapy to treat veterans, police officers, firefighters and victims of crime for free. According to a study in the Journal of Neurotrauma, patients recover 15 IQ points on average after treatment. PTSD is reduced by an average of 30 percent, and depression reduced by 51 percent, which leads to a much lower risk of suicide. Duncan says the program calls for 80 treatments in 150 days. They add up to $25,000 per patient. But he says each injured vet costs the state $60,000 in lost taxes, incarceration and meds.
Even so, the bill does not require the state to pay for treatments. Instead, authors plan to fundraise. "If the federal government won't take care of our troops like we're supposed to, than we're going to take care of our own people here in Oklahoma," said Bennett. Smothermon says the treatments gave him a pathway back to his old life. "It's a living tragedy," he said, "so in a very real way it saved my life, gave me my life back." Duncan says it's never too late to treat someone. In fact, his oldest patient was 91 years old. The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration. [Source: Fox News KOKH-TV | Rebecca Schleicher | 19 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Florida Vet Legislation Update 05 ► Vet Omnibus Bill
Florida wants to be known as the friendliest state for military veterans. It moved a step closer to that goal in MAR when the Legislature approved a bill that will cut college costs for veterans. The measure, part of an "omnibus" package for military-related items, is a welcome step, although it will cost state colleges, universities and career centers an estimated $11.5 million in forgone tuition. The measure would waive out-of-state tuition fees for honorably discharged veterans. This portion of the legislation is named after the late U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who represented Pinellas County in Congress for decades. The legislation also would boost scholarship funding for members of the National Guard and Reserves. In conjunction with the federal Montgomery-G.I. Bill and other existing programs, Florida's new tuition break can help veterans further their education. That would be good for them and good for Florida.
Attracting veterans -- as well as keeping those already here -- is beneficial because of their contributions to Florida's workforce, economic vitality and quality of life. Furthermore, helping them -- after they've worked hard to serve our country -- is simply the right thing to do. Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign the measure, which also includes funds for armory renovations and several land purchases near bases (a move designed to protect them from future closure). According to The News Service of Florida, the legislation also expands veteran preference rules for government hiring; allows service members' families to use out-of-state driver's licenses under some circumstances; removes a one-year residency requirement for veterans to be admitted to state veterans nursing homes; and other changes. In fiscal year 2012, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' education-program payment to Florida beneficiaries exceeded $702 million, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. That's just one of the many ways that veterans positively impact our state's economy.
55
More than 1.5 million veterans live in Florida. Most are war-time veterans, including more than 231,000 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and roughly 498,000 Vietnam-era veterans. Additionally, approximately 188,500 military retirees call Florida home. Florida has a large military population with more than 61,000 active-duty military personnel. Another 25,000 civilian personnel are directly associated with the military presence in Florida For a summary of veterans benefits, consult the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs guide. (Online, it can be found at http://www.cctaxcol.com/documents/Veterans_Benefits_Guide.pdf.) Other information is also available at the department's website http://floridavets.org. Even with Florida's effort to make veterans a high priority, they are a population that too often has difficulty accessing the benefits and services that are meant for them. At both the state and national level, we must cure that shortcoming. [Source: Florida Hearld-Tribune article 18 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Kansas Vet Legislation ► Abolish KCVA H.B.2681
The Kansas House of Representatives took steps to approve a bill 19 MAR placing duties of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs under control of the governor following a state audit identifying potential fraud, weak financial oversight and confusion about management responsibilities. Legislation abolishing the commission July 1 would place jurisdiction over veterans affairs, including the Kansas Soldiers Home in Dodge City and Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield, with an appointee of Gov. Sam Brownback and also would establish a five-member advisory committee on veterans issues. Development of the reform bill — scheduled for final action 20 MAR in the House but yet to be considered by the Senate — followed release of a state audit outlining KCVA central office mismanagement shortcomings and problems with financial controls at the two facilities for veterans. The review was conducted by the Kansas Legislature's division of post audit in May 2013.
"We have an obligation of responsibility and accountability, for the way we spend money, to our veterans and our constituents," said Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita. "This commission has not done anything to address the post audit report. They are in complete failure to do their job." The Kansas Soldiers Home, for example, was unable to provide an inventory of $7.3 million in capital assets. The Kansas Veterans Home couldn’t produce receipts for purchases and mishandled state procurement card transactions. The KCVA was found by auditors to have responsibility for administration of the retirement facilities, but no Kansas officials recognized that authority. House Bill 2681 recommended by the House Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee would make the management shifts and require an annual report on progress to repair problems in the system. The Senate would be responsible for confirmation of the governor's selection of the executive director. "We've had issues with how the KCVA works throughout the years," said Rep. Melanie Meier, D-Leavenworth. "When I was elected I was amazed veterans didn't have a position in the governor's Cabinet. This makes a sub-level Cabinet."
*********************************
Vet Jobs Update 145 ► S.2138 & S.2143
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has introduced two bills to help veterans look for jobs and start small businesses. The Veterans Hiring Act (S.2138) would cut payroll taxes for businesses that hire veterans. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act (S.2143) would lower the cost of Small Business Administration loan programs designed to help veterans start their own small businesses. It would permanently eliminate fee waivers for veterans applying for SBA Express loans and would focus on pre-deployment financial counseling and emergency assistance. The bill also includes a provision requiring the SBA to identify ways to improve its outreach and services for female veterans. “Despite making up fourteen percent of our military and owning thirty percent of our small businesses,
56 only four percent of veteran-owned small business are run by women,” Shaheen said. “We need to do better. This bill will make important progress in filling in some of the gaps in our current programs.” Shaheen’s office said the unemployment rate for U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans stands at 9 percent, 2.3 percent higher than the national average. [Source: Associated Press article 14 Mar 2014 ++]
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
*********************************
Vet Legislation Offered in 113th Congress ► As of 39 Mar 2014
For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 113th Congress refer to this Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. Support of these bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication of that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At http: //thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http: //thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is the most effective way to let your Congressional representatives know your wants and dislikes. Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship support on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s feelings on issues. You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272- 6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866) 340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making at http: //thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html. Refer to http: //www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access them on their home turf.
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED:
H.R.4217 : Military Commissary Sustainment Act. A bill to prohibit a reduction in funding for the defense commissary system in fiscal year 2015 pending the report of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. H.R.4232 : Veterans Higher Education Opportunity Act. A bill to clarify the cancellation of loans of members of the Armed Forces under the Federal Perkins Loan Program.
57
H.R.4234 : Ensuring Veterans' Resiliency Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to reduce the shortage of psychiatrists in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs by offering competitive employment incentives to certain psychiatrists, and for other purposes. H.R.4247 : Disabled Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act. A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that disabled veterans with a disability rating greater than or equal to 70 percent receive preference with respect to employment in the competitive service, and for other purposes. H.R.4248 : Veterans Education Outcomes Act. A bill to require institutions of higher education to disseminate information with respect to the completion rates, employment rates, and retention rates of recipients of GI Bill funding. H.R.4261 : Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014. A bill to improve the research of Gulf War Illness, the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, and for other purposes. H.R.4274 : Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act Funding. A bill to amend the Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act to provide a permanent appropriation of funds for the payment of death gratuities for survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services in event of any future period of lapsed appropriations. H.R.4276 : Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014. A bill to amend the Honoring the Families of Fallen Soldiers Act to provide a permanent appropriation of funds for the payment of death gratuities for survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services in event of any future period of lapsed appropriations. H.R.4314 : Disabled Vet Student Loan Repayment Program. . A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a student loan repayment program for totally disabled veterans. H.R.4335 : Clarify Veteran’s Estate Eligible for Accrued Benefits. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran, to ensure that substituted claims are processed timely, and for other purposes. H.R.4344 : Make Sexual Trauma a Presumptive Service Connected Condition. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a presumption of service connection for mental health conditions related to military sexual trauma. S.2138 : Veterans Hiring Act. A bill to provide a payroll tax holiday for newly hired veterans. S.2143 : Veterans Entrepreneurship Act. A bill to increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs to help create jobs. S.2145 : Veteran Voting Support Act. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes. S.2179 : Homeless Vet Active Duty Length of Service Waiver for Benefits. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to waive the minimum period of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces for receipt of benefits for homeless veterans, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish benefits for homeless veterans to homeless veterans with discharges or releases from service in the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions, and for other purposes. S.2182 : Vet Mental Health Care Improvement. A bill to expand and improve care provided to veterans and members of the Armed Forces with mental health disorders or at risk of suicide, to review the terms or characterization of the discharge or separation of certain individuals from the
58
Armed Forces, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. [Source: http: //www.loc.gov & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills 29 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ► As of 31 Mar 2014
Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http: //veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CH RG:
April 2, 2014. HVAC, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight hearing entitled, “VA & Human Tissue: Improvements Needed for Veterans Safety.” April 3, 2014. House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a second oversight hearing on transparency at the Department of Veterans Affairs. April 4, 2014. HVAC, Subcommittee on Health will markup pending legislation. April 8, 2014. HVAC, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will markup legislation: o H.R. 3593 o H.R. 4261 o H.R. 4281 o Draft Legislation
April 9, 2014. House of Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing entitled “A Continued Assessment of Delays in VA Medical Care and Preventable Veteran Deaths
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 31 Mar 2014 ++]
*Military*
59
USS Miami (SSN-775) Update 01 ► Deactivation Ceremony
The Navy said farewell 28 MAR to the submarine Miami, whose service was cut short when a shipyard employee trying to get out of work set it on fire. The somber deactivation ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard marked the end of the sub's nearly 24 years of active service. Rear Adm. Ken Perry, commander of the submarine Group Two in Groton, Conn., where the sub was based, acknowledged the seriousness of the event, but told the crowd they were there to celebrate the submarine and its crew's achievements. "This is a tribute. This is a celebration of the ship's performance and the superb contributions to the nation's defense and this is how we're going to treat it. So I expect to see some smiles out there," he said. Cmdr. Rolf Spelker, the sub's current commander, said he came to Portsmouth thinking his assignment was to prepare the ship for service. He said he and crew members are disappointed that instead, their duty was to help inactivate the vessel. "They are no doubt disappointed and saddened that they can't take her out to sea," Spelker said.
Perry praised the ship's performance over more than a dozen deployments that included clandestine undersea warfare missions and back-to-back deployments in which it fired cruise missiles in Iraq and in Serbia, cementing its reputation and nickname as "Big Gun." It should have had about 10 years of service left. After the fire, the Navy originally intended to repair the Miami with a goal of returning it to service in 2015. But it decided to scrap the submarine after estimated repair costs grew substantially above a $450 million estimate. Instead, shipyard workers will remove fuel from the nuclear reactor and take it to a repository in Idaho. They will make enough repairs so that the submarine can be towed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state, where it will be cut up for scrap. The estimated cost of the inactivation is $54 million.
A firefighter walks off the USS Miami on May 24, 2012
It was a bitter loss because of the way the submarine was damaged, at the hands of a shipyard worker who set a fire to the vessel in May 2012 while the submarine was undergoing a 20-month overhaul. Seeking an excuse to leave work early, Casey James Fury set fire to a box of rags on a bunk, and the blaze quickly spread throughout the forward compartments of the Los Angeles-class submarine. Fury pleaded guilty and is serving a sentence of more than 17 years in federal prison. It took 12 hours and the efforts of more than 100 firefighters to save the vessel. The fire severely damaged living quarters, the command and control center and a torpedo room, but it did not reach the nuclear propulsion components at the rear of the sub. Seven people were hurt dousing the fire, the Navy said. The Navy launched a series of investigations after the fire that led to recommendations, including installation of temporary automatic fire detection systems while submarines are in dry dock. [Source: Associated Press | Robert F. Bukaty | 28 Mar 2014 ++]
60
*********************************
Military Grooming Standards ► Tightening
The Army is cracking down on tattoos, dental ornamentation and haircuts in a long-awaited update to uniform and appearance rules that could make it harder to enlist and advance up the ranks. The new rules aren’t yet public, but a 57-page training program the Army posted online at http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1097843-uniform- policy-leaders-training.html#document about the regulations indicates the service is tightening standards that had been relaxed to allow more people to qualify for service at the heights of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most notably, the new policy comes down hard on tattoos by redefining what “indecent” means, limiting the size and number of tattoos allowed and disallowing ink on the head, neck, wrists and hands. The training program does not specify how the decency standard has been redefined.
Soldiers who already have tattoos in off-limits areas will be allowed to stay in the service, but people who want to join up won’t be allowed in if they have ink on their head, face, neck or wrists, or if they have tattoos whose content violates the Army’s new, stricter standards. Enlisted soldiers with too much ink in visible areas won’t be allowed to become an officer. To make sure everybody’s following the rules, commanders will have to document all tattoos above the neckline and below the elbows or knees and file that information — including photos — in their soldiers’ official records. After that, commanders will have to perform annual checks for new tattoos. Those found to have violated the rules “must be processed in accordance” with the new regulation, according to the document. It’s not clear what that processing entails, but it notes that “most of the appearance and grooming chapter are punitive.” That goes for restrictions on grooming, fingernails and jewelry, too.
For men, grooming standards remain largely unchanged, save for the addition of three off-limits hairstyles: the Mohawk, the horseshoe and the tear drop. Hair standards for women are laid out in more explicit terms that effectively reduce style options. Ponytails, though, are now allowed during physical training. Also specific to women: colored nail polish is now off-limits. Also new in the revision are rules that ban all manner of dental ornamentation, from gold caps to jewels to unnatural shaping. The rules also prohibit all kinds of willful self- mutilation, such as tongue bifurcation and ear gauging. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Matt Milham | 27 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Pearl Harbor Remains ► Relatives Want Them Identified
Bethany Glenn never met her grandfather, John C. England, a 20-year-old Navy ensign from Alhambra who perished in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But 73 years after that day of infamy, Glenn has made it her mission to recover the remains of England, who rescued men in the battleship Oklahoma's radio room before he fell.
Ensign John C. England died aboard the battleship Oklahoma
61
Glenn and the families of 20 other sailors killed at Pearl Harbor say their loved ones are buried as "unknowns" not far from where they died on Dec. 7, 1941. They want the military to exhume the remains and identify them through DNA testing so they can be brought home to be buried alongside their families. A plot awaits England by his parents' graves in Colorado, Glenn said, noting that it had been purchased by her great-grandmother. "She never gave up hope that someday they might find something of him," said Glenn, 45, who lives in Washington state near the Oregon border. The Navy says it doesn't want to disturb the sanctity of the graves. But a bipartisan group of U.S. senators has taken up the families' cause. The dispute grows out of the efforts of Ray Emory, a sleuthing 92-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor who learned what had happened to seamen buried after the attack that brought the United States into World War II.
Emory discovered that the remains of 27 sailors on the Oklahoma had been identified in 1949, through dental records, when they were being processed for burial in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, better known as the Punchbowl, in Hawaii. But an anthropologist working with the military declined to sign off on the identification. "They didn't have all the pieces of every person," said Lisa Ridge, an Indiana teacher working to recover the remains of her grandfather. She said the military at the time did not want to turn over partial remains. As a result, the remains were buried as unknowns in five caskets. "They never told the families that these people had been identified," said Tom Gray, a Connecticut man seeking to recover the remains of his cousin. He said Edwin Hopkins, a 19-year-old fireman first class aboard the Oklahoma, "deserves better than a commingled grave marked 'unknown' 4,000 miles away from his family." In 2003, Emory persuaded the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to exhume one casket. DNA tests identified five sailors and the remains were turned over to their families. The families of 21 other sailors — one family could not be located — are now trying to persuade the military to do the same for their loved ones. At least seven of the sailors lived in California.
The Oklahoma, which capsized soon after it was hit by multiple torpedoes, suffered 429 deaths, second only to the battleship Arizona's 1,177. The Defense Department lists 388 of the Oklahoma crew members as unaccounted for. Bob Valley, 81, of Escanaba, Mich., whose 19-year-old brother, Lowell, was killed aboard the Oklahoma, has worked to track down relatives of the 21. Some families didn't want to be bothered. One family told him: "Leave him where he is. Don't disturb him," Valley said. But most of the families are eager to recover the remains, even if they never knew their relative. "I'd like to see him brought home," said Ken Schultz, 58, of the uncle he was named after, Kenneth Jayne. Jayne would be buried alongside family members in Patchogue on Long Island, where a VFW post bears the sailor's name. Families said proper burials would help them achieve closure. Ridge used to dream that her grandfather, Paul Nash, a 26-year-old fire controlman first class aboard the Oklahoma, was wandering the streets of Hawaii suffering from amnesia. "I'd look at pictures from Hawaii and wonder if that guy right there on the street could be my grandfather who assumed another identity because he didn't know who he was," she said. Ridge, like other family members, said she would take any remains of her grandfather she could. "You give me a single tooth, I'm happy," she said.
Glenn learned through Valley in 2008 that her grandfather was among the sailors interred in one of four still- buried caskets. "It was unbelievable, really," she said. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ensign England rushed to the radio room three times to save men. On his fourth rescue attempt, he didn't come out. The slender and good- looking England died four days short of his 21st birthday, leaving behind a month-old daughter — Glenn's mother. Two Navy ships were named after him, including one commissioned in 1963 in Long Beach. Alhambra High School, where England was senior class president in 1938, presents the J.C. England Award to recognize a graduating senior who has "excelled in character, integrity and benevolent service."
Fifteen senators recently wrote Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, a former Senate colleague, urging him to approve the exhumations. "Given that many of these 21 sailors were Navy firefighters who died heroically trying to put out the fire on their ship on that horrific day, the least we can do is give them a final resting place of their families' choosing to honor their bravery," said Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-CT) a leader in the effort. The Navy
62 prefers keeping the Oklahoma casualties at Punchbowl so they may "rest in dignity," said Lt. Cmdr. Sarah Flaherty, a Navy spokeswoman. A large number of unknowns would remain unaccounted for, given the state of the remains, Flaherty added. Still, she noted, the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees Punchbowl, and the Army, which has authority over unknown remains of World War II service members interred in national cemeteries, would have final say over the disinterment. The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office is leading a working group to determine the feasibility of disinterring and identifying remains associated with the Oklahoma. Harbor victims in the casket that held the five now-identified sailors. "They don't feel like it's right to open up any more until they identify those," she said. But she considers that a stalling tactic. "The Navy's position is that they are home," Schultz said. "But to us, that's not being home if they're not with their loved ones." [Source: Los Angeles Times | Richard Simon | 25 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
D-Day Update 04 ► Reserved Seating Requests
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, located on the cliff overlooking Omaha Beach in the town of Colleville sur Mer, France, is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The ABMC is planning a bilateral commemorative ceremony with the French on June 6, 2014. The ceremony will be open to the general public, and reservations or entry passes will not be needed. Reserved seating will be available for World War II veterans and family members accompanying them. If you are a World War II veteran, you can send your request to: Normandy American Cemetery, Unit 9200, Box 1030, Omaha Beach, DPO AE 09777 14710 Colleville Sur Mer, France or email: [email protected]. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 14 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
DoD Mobilized Reserve 25 MAR 2014 ► Decrease of 1,731
The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 25 MAR 2014. The net collective result is 605 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 15 MAR 2014 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 27.063; Navy Reserve 3,787; Marine Corps Reserve 1,481; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 7,252; and the Coast Guard Reserve 453. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 40,036 including both units and individual augmentees. Since 911 there have been 894,126 reservists activated for duty. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel currently activated as of 25 MAR is available at http://www.defense.gov/documents/Mobilization-Weekly-Report-03-25-2014.pdf [Source: DoD News Release No. NR-149-14 dtd 28 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Military Funeral Disorderly Conduct Update 23 ► Fred Phelps Dead
According to Nathan Phelps, the son of the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, his father was "on the edge of death" and a few days later his daughter reported he had died on 20 MAR. Fred Phelps Sr. became famous for organizing picket lines of brightly-colored signs carrying hateful messages against tolerance during the funerals of military personnel and famous figures. His actions led to at least two federal and several state laws restricting protests during military funerals. In a statement on his Facebook page, Nathan Phelps, who has been estranged from
63 his father for 30 years, said the senior Phelps was dying in hospice care in Topeka, Kan., and that he had been excommunicated from his own church in August of 2013. "I'm not sure how I feel about this. Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made," Nathan Phelps wrote. "I feel sad for all the hurt he's caused so many," he continued. "I feel sad for those who will lose the grandfather and father they loved. And I'm bitterly angry that my family is blocking the family members who left from seeing him, and saying their good-byes."
Pastor Fred Phelps preaching at his Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas March 19, 2006
A spokesman for the Westboro Baptist Church said 16 MAR that the elder Phelps, 84, was being cared for in a facility in Shawnee County, Kan. Spokesman Steve Drain declined to identify the facility or to characterize Phelps' condition. "I can tell you that Fred Phelps is having some health problems," Drain said. "He's an old man, and old people get health problems." Drain declined comment on whether Fred Phelps had been voted out of the church. Just last week, a federal judge upheld a Missouri law requiring protesters to stay at least a football-field length away from funeral sites, beginning an hour before they start until an hour after the services end. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. caps a nearly eight-year legal fight over Missouri's funeral protest restrictions that were prompted after members of a Kansas church opposed to homosexuality protested at the funeral of a Missouri solider who had been killed in Iraq.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said the law is now in effect. "No parent who has lost a child should be confronted by the hate and intolerance of strangers, and today's ruling means parents and other loved ones will have a protective boundary from protesters," Koster said 11 MAR in a written statement. To view a CBS News Video interview with a banished daughter from the church go to http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/banished-from-extreme- church/. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Los Angeles Times | Alan Zarembo | 16 Mar 2014 ++ ]
*********************************
Medal of Honor Citations ► Marm~Walter J Vietnam
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the
64
Medal of Honor to
Marm, Walter J
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant , U.S. Army, Co.A, 1st Bn 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Div (Airmobile) Place and date: Vicinity of la Drang Valley Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965 Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Born: 31 20 November 1941, Washington, Pennsylvania
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. As a platoon leader in the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 1st Lt. Marm demonstrated indomitable courage during a combat operation. His company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. 1st Lt. Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all 4. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machine gun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the 8 insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. 1st Lt. Marm's selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. 1st Lt. Marm's gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Walter J. Marm Jr.
65
When Walter Marm graduated from college with a business degree in 1964, Vietnam was a distant place that didn’t figure in his personal geography. He enlisted in the Army, graduated from Officer Candidate School a second lieutenant, and attended Ranger School. But the Army needed junior officers for a new unit being formed, the 1st Cavalry Division, and he was reassigned. This airmobile division was to test the theory that helicopters could function as the modern equivalent of the horse, carrying men quickly into the heart of a battle. Marm was assigned to the division’s 7th Cavalry—George Armstrong Custer’s old unit. By September 1965 he was in Vietnam.
At noon on November 14, the 7th Cavalry’s 1st Battalion was on a sweep through the Ia Drang Valley when Company B suddenly came under heavy fire. It was the beginning of the first large-scale pitched battle between American and North Vietnamese troops, and would later be dramatized in the film We Were Soldiers.
Company A was ordered to relieve the isolated troops and moved out quickly through the thick underbrush. Lieutenant Marm’s platoon assumed the lead but was forced to take cover as it came under intense fire from the well-disciplined enemy. When Marm saw four North Vietnamese soldiers trying to outflank his unit, he moved toward them through a hail of bullets and killed all four. And when he saw his men under siege from a well- concealed machine gun, he stood up to draw its fire so he could determine its location. The gun was behind a large, anthill-shaped berm; Marm aimed a bazooka at it and shot. The explosion, though dislodging some of the North Vietnamese soldiers hiding behind the berm, failed to destroy the machine gun. Marm charged over the open ground toward the mound and threw a grenade behind it, killing eight of the enemy. Marm went around to the left side of the berm, killing the remaining enemy with his M-16 rifle. Turning to motion his men forward to relieve the trapped platoon, he was shot by an enemy soldier in the left jaw; the bullet exited on the right side of his neck. Two of his soldiers rushed to treat him, then escorted him to the battalion command post. He was medevaced out of the battle zone by nightfall.
The Medal of Honor was presented to Marm by Secretary of the Army Stanley Resor at the Pentagon on December 19, 1966. In 1969, Marm asked to go back to Vietnam for a second tour; he was allowed to return only after signing a waiver stipulating that going back into harm’s way was his own choice. Marm retired from military service as a colonel with thirty years of service. He now raises pigs in North Carolina.
[Source: http://homeofheroes.com/mitch/index.html & http://www.medalofhonorspeakout.org/bio/walter-marm Mar 2014 ++]
*Military History*
66
Aviation Art 60 ► Strike On Berlin
Strike On Berlin by Anthony Saunders
In the first daylight bombing of Berlin, de Havilland Mosquitos of 105 Squadron leave the target area after attacking the Haus des Rundfunks (Broadcasting House) on 30th January 1943, disrupting a major speech by Hermann Goering.
[Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Strikeonberlin.html Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
USS Arizona Memorial Stamp ► Priority Mail Express $19.99 stamp
The U.S. Postal Service on 16 MAR honored the tranquil shrine that pays tribute to the 1,177 sailors aboard the USS Arizona who lost their lives Dec. 7, 1941, with the dedication of a Priority Mail Express $19.99 stamp. “Today, nearly 100 years to the day that the Navy laid the keel to begin construction of the Arizona, we gather to pay tribute to its final resting spot,” said U.S. Postal Service Information Technology Vice President John Edgar in dedicating the stamp. “Not everyone will have an opportunity to visit Hawaii and see this memorial in person. But with this stamp, they’ll be able to see what it looks like and be reminded of what it stands for. ”
67
The stamp artwork features an illustration of the white concrete memorial on the Hawaiian island of Oahu rising above the sunken ship in the shape of a bridge. Depicted under a sunny sky and bright clouds with an American flag fluttering overhead, the memorial is mirrored by its own reflection on the water below. Designed by art director Phil Jordan of Falls Church, VA, the stamp showcases the work of illustrator Dan Cosgrove of Chicago, IL. The USS Arizona Memorial Priority Mail Express stamp is available in sheets of 10 and also may be purchased individually.
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at usps.com/stamps or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in larger envelopes addressed to: USS Arizona Memorial Cancellations, Marketing Department, 3600 Aolele Street Honolulu, HI 96820-9661. After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, there is a 5-cent charge per postmark. All orders must be postmarked by May 13, 2014. The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to: U.S. Postal Service, Catalog Request, PO Box 219014, Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
“Let this stamp serve as a small reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave sailors who gave their lives here,” added Edgar. “Let this stamp achieve the same goal as the memorial it depicts — to always remember the Arizona.” Scheduled to join Edgar in dedicating the stamp were U.S. Sen. (ret.) Daniel K. Akaka; U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Williams, USN; Hawaii State Rep. K. Mark Takai; World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument Superintendent Paul DePrey; and U.S. Postal Service Honolulu District Manager Greg Wolny. “The USS Arizona Memorial stamp will help Americans remember the toll of war, the sacrifice of our service members and the end of conflict,” said DePrey. “The memorial is an iconic structure symbolizing both loss and contemplation. By dedicating this stamp, we are continuing to bear witness to history.” [Source: http://about.usps.com/news/national- releases/2014/pr14_014.htm Mar 2014 ++ ]
*******************************
Selfridge Military Air Museum ► Overview
The Selfridge Military Museum and Air Park is located on Selfridge Air National Guard Base, accessible by vehicle only through the Main Gate at the intersection of M-59 and Jefferson Avenue. It contains over $7,000,000 worth of displays including a full-scale historically accurate replica of a World War I fighter plane, the SPAD XIII, a ¾-scale
68 historically accurate replica of the Wright Brothers first aircraft, the Wright Flyer”, an interactive cutaway and motorized World War II aircraft engine, an interactive Air Traffic Control radar display, an extensive display of original aviation art produced by noted aviation artists, a Korean War era "Jeep", and four aircraft cockpit trainers: a modern F-16 "Fighting Falcon", a Vietnam-era A-7 “Corsair II”, a World War II LINK trainer that guests can actually sit inside, and a functional LINK trainer that can be operated only by appointment and by qualified individuals.
Museum displays show a wide variety of military memorabilia including weapons, aircraft engines, military uniforms, military aircraft models, and photographs spanning the almost 100 year history of the Base. The Air Park contains 33 full-size vintage military aircraft from World War I to the present day plus an assortment of military vehicles and missiles. Two new aircraft were brought into the Air Park recently: an F-89 “Scorpion” and a T-6 “Texan” scheduled to be displayed in the summer of 2014. The large C-130A "Hercules" and P-3 "Orion" aircraft in the Air Park can be opened up to visitors when weather and the availability of docents permit. Photographs of the interior and exterior displays are permitted for private non-commercial use only.
The Museum and Air Park are accessible by vehicle only through the Main Gate at the intersection of M-59 and Jefferson Avenue. It is a private non-profit organization located on a military installation that is staffed entirely by volunteers and receives no federal or state funding for the operation and maintenance of its facilities and displays. Admission is $4.00 per guest over the age of 12 and $3.00 for children between 4 and 12 years of age with a minimum donation of $25.00 for all by-appointment tours. General public hours of operation are1200 to 1630 on Saturdays, Sundays, Independence Day and Memorial Day, from April 5th through October 26th. They will be CLOSED during the 2014 Selfridge Air Show on September 6th and 7th due to traffic flow considerations. The Museum and Air Park can also be opened by appointment at other times throughout the year by calling 586-239- 5035. Further information can be found at http://www.selfridgeairmuseum.org, by mail (Selfridge Military Air Museum, 27333 C St, Bldg 1011, Selfridge ANGB MI 48045), by phone (586-239-5035), or by e-mail ([email protected]). [Source: Selfridge Military Air Museum News Release 16 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
69
Military History ► Remarkable Women Vets
Left to right: Sarah Emma Edmonds, Cathay Williams, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Irene Kinne Englund, Eileen Collins
VA is celebrating Women’s History Month with a look at some fascinating women Veterans who were unwilling to accept the conventions of their day. Following are 5 and their remarkable achievements.
Sarah Emma Edmonds joined the United States Army to “fight for her country” in the Civil War. She disguised her sex and used the name Frank Thompson. A nurse in the Second Volunteers of the United States Army, she was unique because she able to remain in the army for several years and was successful as a Union spy, while impersonating a man. Cathay Williams, born in Independence Mo., was the first African American female to enlist, serving in the United States Army as William Cathay. She was a Buffalo Soldier, passing herself off as a man. She survived smallpox and several other illnesses. She was one of the first women to enlist in the Army and was the first African American woman to do so. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker volunteered for the Union Army as a civilian nurse, as the Army had no female surgeons. She was finally awarded a commission as a “Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon,” becoming the first-ever female U.S Army surgeon. She often crossed battle lines to treat the injured civilians and was captured by Confederate troops and arrested as a spy. She was released and went on to supervise orphanages, become a writer and lecturer, advocating for women’s rights. Walker is the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. Irene Kinne Englund was born in El Paso, Texas. She piloted military aircraft during World War II as a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots. She transported medical patients, ferried military aircraft and towed aerial gunnery targets. Because she was such a skilled pilot, she was one of the few women to be awarded Veteran status by the military. Eileen Collins: an inspiration to many young women reaching for the stars. Irene Kinne Englund was born in El Paso, Texas. She piloted military aircraft during World War II as a member of the Women Air Force Service Pilots. She transported medical patients, ferried military aircraft and towed aerial gunnery targets. Because she was such a skilled pilot, she was one of the few women to be awarded Veteran status by the military. Eileen Collins grew up reading about famous pilots such as Amelia Earhart and other women pilots who inspired her to earn a pilot’s license. During Operation Grenada in 1983, she flew evacuated
70
medical students and their families out of Grenada. In 1998, Eileen Collins became the first Woman Space Shuttle Commander. She is an inspiration to many young women who are also reaching for the stars. [Source: VA News | Hans Petersen | 10 Mar 2014 ++]
*******************************
WWII Prewar Events ► Taking Shelter Madrid Dec 1936
Scores of families are seen taking refuge underground on a Madrid subway platform, on Dec. 9, 1936, as bombs are dropped by Franco's rebel aircraft overhead.
*********************************
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Update 13 ► 2014 Ceremonies
The 2014 schedule of ceremonies to be held by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation (VVMF) is as follows. These ceremonies are free and open to the public. More information on ceremonies and events can be found at http:www.vvmf.org/events:
Name Additions: Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. -- Ceremony is normally held on Mother’s Day each year. Names of veterans that have met the Department of Defense criteria of having sustained wounds in Vietnam from which they eventually perished, are unveiled on the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC
71
Reading of the Names of Post 9/11 Heroes: Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 9:00 am -- Names are of each and every American service member who has made the ultimate sacrifice since the attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Americans from across the nation will join together to read the names of these heroes in the order they were taken from us.
Memorial Day: Monday, May 26, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial In Memory Weekend: Friday, June 13, through Sunday June 15, 2014 - - The In Memory program honors those who died as a result of the Vietnam War, but whose deaths do not fit the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion upon the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is a ceremony to pay tribute to these men and women who sacrificed so much for their country. The ceremony is held on Flag Day.
Father’s Day Rose Remembrance Ceremony: Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. -- Every year on Father's Day, volunteers join sons and daughters of those whose names are inscribed on The Wall and affix long-stemmed roses with messages of love and honor, sent from across the country to those lost in the war. Each message is read aloud and each rose is touched to the loved one's name on The Wall before finally being placed at the base of the Memorial. Veterans Day: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Christmas Tree Ceremony at The Wall: Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial -- Before Christmas each year, the Memorial Fund staff and volunteers decorate a tree at the apex of The Wall. The tree is decorated with thousands of holiday messages sent to the Memorial Fund to honor those who served with the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam and other military conflicts and their families. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon: Date to be determined -- Each year, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honors the National Park Service volunteers at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. These volunteers dedicate their time to assisting more than four million annual visitors at The Wall. [Source: https://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=6gdujq6a8e555 Mar 2014 ++]
72
*********************************
Military History Anniversaries ► 1-30 Apr
Significant events in U.S. Military History are listed in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Military History Anniversaries 1-30 Apr”.
*********************************
Spanish American War Image 36 ► Dinner (1898)
Company D Florida volunteers at dinner (1898)
73
*********************************
Faces of WAR (WWII) ► Washington DC Parade May 1942
Army Parade Washington DC, Memorial Day, May 1942 (it's quite evident in this series of photos just how stressed, concerned and worried the country was at this early stage of the war, you really don't see too many smiles from those in attendance. But at the same time you can also sense parity and patriotism.)
74
*Health Care*
TRICARE Region West Update 08 ► DocGPS App
DocGPS Mobile App Helps You Find Care on the Go Need to find a doctor? DocGPS, a new mobile app from UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans, can help you find TRICARE network providers throughout the West Region. DocGPS enables beneficiaries in the TRICARE West Region to locate the nearest TRICARE network civilian health care providers and facilities (including urgent care facilities and hospitals) within a 100-mile radius of their current location. The app provides flexibility and convenience in locating care while on the go. With DocGPS, you can quickly and easily search by facility or provider name, provider specialty, city, state or ZIP code. With a single tap, you can also find the provider or facility office locations on a map, get detailed directions and call the facility to schedule an appointment. This innovative technology gives you easier access to health care. DocGPS is compatible with most smart phones including iPhones and select Android devices. Visit the Apple AppStore or Google Play Store to download these free apps. [Source: TRICARE Health Matters 2014 Issue 2 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
TRICARE Service Centers Update 01 ► Going Virtual 1 April
Walk-in service at TRICARE service centers in the United States is ending 1 APR. TRICARE officials said the change reflects "the always growing number of TRICARE beneficiaries who most often now turn to a laptop or cell phone when they have questions about their health care." TRICARE patients have a wide variety of secure, electronic customer service options available through the TRICARE website at http://www.tricare.mil, officials said. The "I want to ..." feature puts everything beneficiaries want to do online right on the website's front page, they added. "For many years now, TRICARE beneficiaries have been taking advantage of our convenient, 24/7 online customer service options," said Army Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Richard Thomas, director of the Defense Health Agency's health care operations directorate. "All of the services they received at their local [TRICARE service center] are
75 available either online or through our toll-free call centers in the convenience of their own homes. We are committed to providing the highest level of support to all of our beneficiaries."
With the end of walk-in service on 1 APR, beneficiaries who want get personal assistance can call their regional health care contractor for enrollment and benefit help, officials said. All health care, pharmacy, dental and claims contact information is located at http://www.tricare.mil/contactus. Beneficiaries can get 24/7 TRICARE benefit information at the TRICARE website, and they can make enrollment, primary care manager and other changes at http://www.tricare.mil/enrollment. Rather than driving to an installation service center, TRICARE beneficiaries can even combine high-tech with low-tech by downloading health care forms online and sending them through the mail, officials noted. Pointing out that walk-in service is the most expensive customer-service option, officials said eliminating walk-in service at the centers will save the Defense Department an estimated $250 million over five years. The change does not affect TRICARE benefits or health care delivery, they emphasized. [Source: TRICARE News Release 24 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Traumatic Brain Injury Update 34 ► Blast Gauge Potential
In 2011, Scott Featherman was in Kandahar, Afghanistan as a scout platoon leader with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division. He patrolled on foot, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) filled the donkey paths that crisscrossed the wadis and hills. “I was hit several times when I was over,” he says, “and you have no clue if you’re hurt. You get back up, say “Am I good? Looks good.” And then you go back out.” Was Featherman really “good,” though? How can you tell? If he wasn’t bleeding out, had all of his fingers and toes, knew what day it was, and had no nausea or headache, was he good? A recently released report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) says maybe not. Surveying the current research, the IOM found large gaps in our knowledge of the medical impacts of explosive blasts. Experts continue studying the damage caused by these detonations, but the magnitude of their impact on American service members is enormous and beyond question—IEDs, small often remotely triggered bombs, have killed more troops serving overseas than any other kind of attack.
Explosive blasts have caused 75% of the injuries and deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, and according to a 2008 RAND Corporation study (PDF), 20% of combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have come home with some level of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from these events. In previous wars many of these soldiers would have died. Advancements in armor and medical care have saved their lives but left them struggling with these residual injuries. Just as many, however, are in Featherman’s category; their gut says the IED blast they walked away from must have cause some harm, but they have no way of knowing what hidden damage may have been done and no objective way to measure it. To help close this knowledge gap, the IOM report recommends that the military “should develop and deploy a system that measures essential components of blast and characteristics of the exposure
76 environment.” But that’s easier said than done, so let’s begin with a deceptively simple question: How much blast can the average soldier withstand? To learn more on this and of a ‘Blast Guage’ that has been developed to help evaluate the degree of exposure, refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Revolutionizing TBI Diagnosis”. [Source: US. News | Brian Caster | 23 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
TRICARE Prime Update 28 ► Consolidated Tricare Plan
Tricare Prime, the military’s managed care option for 5.5 million beneficiaries who enroll for a modest fee to be guaranteed timely access to primary care, would cease to exist within a few years under the “Consolidated Tricare” plan proposed in the fiscal 2015 defense budget. Networks of care providers, built for Prime, would not go away and neither would their military patients, say architects of the plan. Instead, patients and providers would see Tricare transformed into a preferred provider network with higher fees and more choice. Patients could stay with current providers or exercise the freedom of a preferred provider system to choose their own physicians. Those who opt to find new physicians would receive discounts on fees if they select doctors who remain in the Tricare network.
Families whose care is managed by military providers under a “medical home” concept could stay empanelled there, but would not be “enrolled,” as under Prime where every referral to a specialist needs pre-authorization. The end of Prime, consolidation of Tricare as a preferred provider plan, plus charts of higher fees and co-pays, are highlights of the plan to transform the military health benefit, as delivered to Congress in March. Fee increases would be more broad than deep, with some surprising exceptions. For example, current Tricare for Life beneficiaries would be exempt from the first-ever TFL enrollment. Only retirees and family members who age into TFL after the fee takes effect would be impacted, protecting the generation most often promised free health care for life. By fiscal 2016, new TFL users would be charged one percent of gross retired pay but no more than $300 a year ($400 for flag officers). The fee would rise to two percent of retired pay by 2018, capped at $600 ($800 for flag officers). Caps thereafter would be raised yearly to match inflation. Also exempt from most fee increases would be medically retired service members and survivors of members who die while on active duty.
One controversial change would be an annual “participation fee” for most retirees under 65 to stay eligible for military health care. As of Jan. 1, 2016, when consolidated Tricare is to take effect, the participation fee would be set at $286 per individual, $572 for a family. Those amounts simply would match enrollment fees under Prime if had continued. The participation fee and size inspired one critic to describe consolidated Tricare as “Tricare Standard with an enrollment fee.” That description is off mark, said Army Maj. Gen. Richard W. Thomas, director of healthcare operations for the Defense Health Agency, because it ignores the “robust, high quality Tricare network of providers” that DHA vows to sustain, and wouldn’t have to do so under Tricare Standard. “Beneficiaries will have access to tools we have brought online over the last decade or so, to include Tricare Online which allows them to make appointments, email military providers over a secure system, and obtain prescription drugs. And importantly, beneficiaries who use military treatment facilities or network care will have no deductible and substantially lower costs than those who select the non-network, civilian only care [of] Tricare Standard today,” Thomas said.
With Consolidated Tricare, beneficiaries could keep their providers and see “slightly increased copayments for care, but these remain below Standard and below most private health insurance cost-sharing levels.” Over the past eight years, every Pentagon plan to corral health care costs focused exclusively on raising fees, co-pays and deductibles, with the biggest pops aimed at working-age military retirees. The Bush and Obama administrations even used the same arguments, telling Congress its refusal to lift a freeze beneficiary cost-shares from 1996 had made the triple option of Tricare Prime (managed care), Extra (preferred provider discounts) and Tricare Standard
77
(traditional fee-for-service insurance) unsustainable. Despite such pleas, lawmakers still blocked substantial fee increases, allowing only modest enrollment fee hikes for retirees enrolled in Prime and higher co-pays on prescription drugs, particularly at retail outlets. This year Defense leaders adopted a new playbook for Tricare reform, desperate to find immediate health care savings because of budget sequestration and to support the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission. The Joint Chiefs have joined in backing fee increases that are less severe than DoD sought earlier, but are accompanied by profound changes to the Tricare benefit. Total projected savings are $9.3 billion over the first five years, with almost $4 billion of that from benefit consolidation rather than fee hikes.
Active duty members would continue to receive priority access to care at no cost. Other beneficiaries still would see their lowest costs on base, followed by preferred provider care, and then care from outside the network. A look at co-pays planned for outpatient visits touches on several controversies. Most retirees under age 65 and their dependents would face co-pays for the first time at base clinics or hospitals: $10 for a primary care visit; $20 for specialty care, $30 for urgent care and $50 for an emergency room visit, a move intended to curb abuse of ERs to receive routine care. The same working-age retirees and family members would face co-pays $10 to $25 higher using preferred providers. To use out-of-network providers, active duty family members would pay 20 percent of allowable costs and working-age retirees and families 25 percent, as under Standard. Working-age retirees would pay the annual Tricare participation fee even if they use employer health insurance as first payer. “But we may make exceptions to that,” said a senior DHA official. Higher prescription drug co-pays are the same as proposed by the Defense Department last year.
Advocates for active duty families worry about a disparity in out-of-pocket costs between those who would have access to military facilities at no charge and those assigned far from base, or who can’t gain access to military care, and would face higher co-pays or even pay Standard-like cost shares. A DHA official said some co-pay relief is planned, at least for members in remote assignments with families. They would have pay only network co-pays even if they had to use out-of-network providers. To do more for them, he said, would be unfair to other families also facing higher co-pays. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Tom Philpott | 13 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Headaches ► Treatment Depends on Type
Most of us get headaches from time to time. Some are mild. Others cause throbbing pain. They can last for minutes or days. There are many different types of headaches. How you treat yours depends on which kind you have. Headaches might arise because of another medical condition, such as swollen sinuses or head injury. In these cases, treating the underlying problem usually relieves headache pain as well. But most headaches—including tension headaches and migraines—aren’t caused by a separate illness. A headache may feel like a pain inside your brain, but it’s not. Most headaches begin in the many nerves of the muscles and blood vessels that surround your head, neck, and face. These pain-sensing nerves can be set off by stress, muscle tension, enlarged blood vessels, and other triggers. Once activated, the nerves send messages to the brain, and it can feel like the pain is coming from deep within your head.
78
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They can cause a feeling of painful pressure on the head and neck. Tension headaches occur when the muscles in your head and neck tighten, often because of stress or anxiety. Intense work, missed meals, jaw clenching, or too little sleep can bring on tension headaches. Over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can help reduce the pain. “Lifestyle changes to relax and reduce stress might help, such as yoga, stretching, massage, and other tension relievers,” says Dr. Linda Porter, a NIH expert on pain research.
Migraines are the second-most common type of headache. They affect more than 1 in 10 people. Migraines tend to run in families and most often affect women. The pain can be severe, with pulsing and throbbing, and can last for several days. Migraine symptoms can also include blurry vision and nausea. Migraines are complex and can be disabling. Certain smells, noises, or bright flashing lights can bring on a migraine. Other triggers include lack of sleep, certain foods, skipped meals, smoking, stress, or even an approaching thunderstorm. Keeping a headache diary can help to identify the specific causes of your migraines. Avoiding those triggers or using prescription medications could help prevent or lessen the severity of future migraines.
Cluster headaches. A less common but more severe type of headache comes on suddenly in “clusters” at the same time of day or night for weeks. Cluster headaches may strike one side of the head, often near one eye, with a sharp or burning pain. These headaches are more common in men and in smokers.
Be careful not to overuse headache medications. Overuse can cause “rebound” headaches, making headaches more frequent and painful. People with repeating headaches, such as migraines or tension headaches, are especially at risk. Experts advise not taking certain pain-relief medicines for headaches more than 3 times a week. In rare cases, a headache may warn of a serious illness. Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear. Know what kind of headache you have and, if you can’t manage it yourself, seek help. Remember there are preventive behavioral steps and medicines that can help manage headaches. But if the pain is severe or lasting, get medical care. Steps you can take to help prevent headaches are: Ease stress. Get enough quality sleep.
Eat regularly scheduled, healthy meals.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Ask your doctor if medications might help prevent returning headaches. [Source: NIH News in Health Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
TFL Pharmacy Benefit Update 04 ► Retail Pharmacy Use Ending
About 500,000 military beneficiaries age 65 and older with chronic health conditions are now being forced to start having their maintenance drug prescriptions filled by mail order rather than in local retail pharmacies. The Tricare For Life (TFL) Home Delivery pilot is a yearlong program required by law. Defense Department health official’s project it will save the government $120 million per year in retail drug costs and save beneficiaries $28 million a year in lower drug co-payments. By the time the pilot program ends, officials’ project that 95 percent of beneficiaries forced to use home delivery will be so satisfied with the convenience and savings they will stay with
79 mail order voluntarily rather than return to neighborhood druggists for the kinds of medicines they will have to take for the rest of their lives.
“We are making it easier to stay,” said Rear Adm. Thomas J. McGinnis, chief of pharmaceutical operations for the Defense Health Agency. “We have auto-refills of medications where beneficiaries can check a box and, every 80 days or so, get either a phone call or an email — whatever they signed up to receive — notifying them that their medication is going to ship next week. They only have to call a number if they don’t want that medication. So they automatically get it every 90 days. They don’t have to think about it so they don’t run out of medication.” Another feature of TFL Home Delivery is auto-renewal of prescriptions. “Prescriptions are only good for one year, in every state, and then beneficiaries have to go get a new prescription,” McGinnis said. With mail order, however, the contractor, Express Scripts Inc., will query a beneficiary’s physician to ask if this time they will renew the prescription automatically or if they want to see the patient first. “Eighty percent of the time they will renew the prescription without having the beneficiary come in…So that’s going to help, again, keep our beneficiaries out of retail. That’s why we say, ‘You only have to try this for one year and that’s it.’ You try it, you’ll like it,” McGinnis said.
Many TFL beneficiaries have known about the pilot for months, from news reports on the mandate Congress enacted more than a year ago. So thousands of TLF beneficiaries who take medicine routinely to control high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and other chronic conditions have been shifting their maintenance meds to mail order steadily over the past year. Last month, however, every TLF beneficiary identified as having used retail pharmacies in recent years for maintenance drug refills — a total of 350,000 households — received a letter from TRICARE explaining that those prescriptions must be switched to mail order by 15 MAR. Elderly beneficiaries who continue to use retail druggists for these types of medicines after that date will get a second letter warning them again that they must convert to mail order within 30 days. “There will also be outbound phone calls reminding them to just call this number and we will help them transfer medication to mail,” McGinnis said.
If they continue to use local drug stores for these prescriptions, a third letter will be a final notice before TFL beneficiaries will be forced, after May, to pay 100 percent of the cost of maintenance drug dispensed at retail. That’s the hammer for TLF beneficiaries who refuse to shift. The hook is that their co-payments will fall, saving TFL beneficiaries as a group a total of $2.3 million monthly, McGinnis said. “It’s a no brainer, especially for the over-65 population. Those folks average four or five medications. Even if they have just one generic and one brand name medication [home delivered], that will save them $212 a year.” Beneficiaries on four to six maintenance medications could save more than $600 a year “for the same drugs and more convenience, and you don’t have to remember to pick it up every month at the retail pharmacy,” he said. Beneficiaries typically pay $60 a year in co-pays for a generic drug at retail. Generic drugs are free through home delivery.
Another bit of good news is that the process to shift to mail order couldn’t be easier, McGinnis explained. All of the warning letters will contain the same phone number: 1 877-882-3335 “We tell them, ‘Just call this number. It’s a concierge service. They will walk you through the registration process if you have never used mail before,’ ” McGinnis said. Express Scripts staff will “get all the information from the beneficiary so it very easy to register and use mail order. They will even offer to call their doctor to transfer that prescription to the mail order pharmacy. So it’s truly a concierge-type service to help beneficiaries move.” Not impacted by the mail order mandate are elderly beneficiaries who have prescriptions filled in base pharmacies where the cost of drugs to the government also is far less than at retail pharmacies. TFL beneficiaries needing drugs for acute conditions or having maintenance drug prescriptions filled for the first time also can use retail outlets. Tricare will allow waivers from mandatory mail order in special circumstances, to include TFL beneficiaries in assisted-living facilities or nursing homes where mail order isn't practical.
80
For several years, Tricare pharmacy officials have led an information campaign to encourage beneficiaries on maintenance drugs to use mail order because of the substantial savings. By 2011, about one million military prescriptions a year were being filled through mail order. By the start of 2014, that annual average was 1.77 million, an increase of 77 percent. Over the next year, because of the TFL Home Delivery pilot program, McGinnis said, mail order prescriptions should double to 3.3 million. That’s out of a total of 140 million military prescriptions filled annually across all three venues of base pharmacies, retail outlets and home delivery. Having led the Tricare pharmacy directorate as its first chief for the past eight-and-a-half years, and more than 36 years as a Public Health Service officer and pharmacist, McGinnis confirmed he will retire May 1. His successor hasn't been named. [Source: Military.com | Tom Philpott | 21 Mar 2014 ++ ]
*********************************
PTSD Update 163 ► MDMA Clinical Trials Underway
MDMA has been banned by the federal government since 1985 as a dangerous recreational drug with no medical value. But interest is rising in its potential to help people suffering from psychiatric or emotional problems. A loose- knit underground community of psychologists, counselors and healers has been administering the drug to patients — an act that could cost them their careers. It costs about $2,000 to buy an ounce of the illegal drug, therapist, who lives in Northern California — enough for roughly 150 doses. She pays her longtime dealer in cash; he gives her a Ziploc bag of white powder. Back home, she scoops the contents into clear capsules. She calls it "the medicine"; others know it as MDMA, the active ingredient in the party drug Ecstasy. "I do what is morally right," said the therapist who did not want to be identified. "If I have the tools to help, it is my responsibility to help."
A series of clinical trials approved by federal drug authorities is now underway to see if the drug's ability to strip away defensiveness and increase trust can boost the effectiveness of psychotherapy. One of the key studies focuses on MDMA's effect on military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Farris Tuma, head of traumatic stress research at the National Institute of Mental Health, said he's skeptical because there is no plausible theory so far about how the drug's biochemical effects on the brain could improve therapy. "They're a long way between where they are now and this becoming a standard clinical practice," he said. A surge in Ecstasy-related deaths has reinforced the compound's destructive reputation. But some of those who have given MDMA to patients are optimistic. The therapist said she became a believer in the late 1980s after it helped her deal with her own trauma. She has since conducted roughly 1,500 sessions with patients, leading them on four-hour explorations of their feelings. She uses only the purest MDMA — in contrast to street Ecstasy, which is typically contaminated — and none of her patients has ever experienced an adverse event, she said.
Ecstasy
The therapist said she knows roughly 60 professionals in her region who use MDMA in their practices — and the number is growing. "We are responsible therapists doing respectable work," she said. MDMA — or 3,4-
81 methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine — was first synthesized a century ago by chemists at Merck & Co. Inc., which patented it as a precursor to a blood-clotting medication. Toxicity experiments secretly conducted for the U.S. Army and later declassified have fueled speculation that the military was interested in MDMA in the 1950s as a chemical weapon or truth serum. Then in 1976, Alexander Shulgin, a former Dow Chemical Co. researcher who devoted his life to research and self-experimentation with psychedelic drugs, synthesized MDMA and tried it. "I have never felt so great, or believed this to be possible," he later wrote about the experience. "The cleanliness, clarity, and marvelous feeling of solid inner strength continued through the rest of the day, and evening, and into the next day."
The following year he gave the drug to Oakland psychologist Leo Zeff, who was so impressed that he came out of retirement and began introducing it to therapists across the country. By some estimates, as many as 4,000 therapists were using MDMA in their practices before federal authorities banned the drug. "We lost a major tool that was really growing," said Dr. Phil Wolfson, a San Francisco psychiatrist who used the drug in his practice when it was legal. MDMA's chemical mechanism remains unexplained beyond the broad effect of raising levels of serotonin and oxytocin — brain chemicals related to well-being and social bonding — and triggering the amygdala, a region of the brain involved in processing memory and emotion. Therapists say MDMA can put patients in an emotional sweet spot that allows them to engage difficult feelings and memories.
Bob Walker, a 69-year-old Vietnam veteran from Chico, tried Ecstasy on his own after hearing it was being used to treat PTSD. A few weeks after his first Ecstasy trip, he took it again and had his girlfriend drive him to a therapy appointment. His therapist had no experience with the drug but had agreed to the session. Walker said the experience released him from haunting images of seeing a friend killed in a helicopter crash and watching a young Vietnamese boy die in a truck accident. "I didn't lose any memory of what happened," he said. "I lost the anxiety." The therapist, who did not want to be identified, said Walker seemed to open up. "This barrier that had been there was suddenly gone," she said. Despite worries that she was risking her career, she agreed to conduct two more three-hour sessions over the next several months. "Once his soul was open, it didn't fully close again," she said. "Each time, I feel that he was closer to his truest nature." Tim Amoroso, a 24-year-old Army veteran, was tormented by memories of looking for body parts after a suicide bomber killed five U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. He said antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills prescribed by doctors at the VA provided little relief. Now a student at the University of New Hampshire, Amoroso bought Ecstasy at a music festival last summer and later took the drug with a friend watching over him. "I feel like I found meaning again," Amoroso said. "My life wasn't as bad as I thought it was."
The new research into MDMA's therapeutic potential largely stems from the efforts of Rick Doblin, a former hippie who earned a doctorate in public policy at Harvard University to help his quest for drug legalization. Doblin's nonprofit Multidisciplinary Assn. for Psychedelic Studies, which runs on donations, has sponsored all research into clinical uses of MDMA. Doblin hopes the drug follows the same path as marijuana, whose approval for medical purposes led to broad public acceptance. In 2004, South Carolina psychiatrist Michael Mithoefer launched a clinical trial involving 20 patients suffering from PTSD — mostly female victims of sexual violence who had unsuccessfully tried other therapies. Ten of the 12 who received MDMA during two sessions improved so much that they no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. Patients who received a placebo fared worse. A follow-up study published in 2012 found that, for the most part, the patients who improved continued to do well. Mithoefer is now conducting a study looking at whether MDMA has a similar effect on veterans, firefighters and police officers afflicted with PTSD.
One participant is a 57-year-old retired Army major who has struggled with memories of a young soldier killed in an ambush in Iraq. The major hadn't been able to talk much about it in earlier sessions without the drug. "The kid, he'd shown me pictures of his young kids and wife and all that," the soldier said in a videotaped therapy session. "To
82 get to know someone and trust him, and now you know he's dead — it's tough." In subsequent testing, the severity of the major's PTSD declined, the researchers said. The study's full results on 24 subjects are expected late next year. Among other studies, a trial set to begin at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center will test MDMA's ability to combat social anxiety in high-functioning autistic adults. Bay Area researchers also are planning to conduct a study of whether MDMA can reduce anxiety in patients facing deadly illnesses. Experts not involved in trials said they haven't seen enough data to draw conclusions. They noted that in a Swiss study funded by Doblin's group, the drug did not significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD.
With a budget of $2 million a year, Doblin's group doesn't have the money to pay for the wide-scale trials needed for scientific clarity and FDA approval. His hope is that the government will step in with funding. Doblin has met with officials at the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs, but so far the government has kept its distance. "Ecstasy is an illegal drug and [the] VA would not involve veterans in the use of such substances," a spokesman said in an email. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Los Angeles Times | Alan Zarembo | 16 Mar 2014 ++ ]
*********************************
Earwax Removal Update 01 ► Overview
Earwax protects the ear canal. It is also known by its medical term cerumen. It is produced in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal. Excess build up of earwax occurs in about 6 percent of people. Your earwax type tends to be determined by race: Asians and Native Americans are more likely to have the dry type of cerumen (pale and flaky), while black and white people are more likely to have the wet type (honey-brown to dark-brown and moist). Over time, the ear self cleans, and the moist wax dries up and falls out of the ear naturally. However, sometimes the wax can get compacted, and may require a medical professional to remove it. No one knows why some people have earwax blockage. And there aren’t any known risk factors, but if you suspect that your ears are blocked, try loosening and softening the wax before seeking medical help. Movement of the jaw helps the ears’ natural cleaning processes.
While the build-up of earwax can be itchy or annoying, earwax has an important health function. It prevents the entry of bacteria, microbes, dirt and other foreign bodies into the inner ear. Its waxy and oily properties shield water from entering the inner ear. Patients with earwax blockage may complain of difficulty hearing/ear noise (tinnitus), a feeling of fullness in their affected ear, or ear pain. While many people try to clean their ears with ear buds or Q-tips, this practice is more likely to cause harm than good. It can actually compact the wax, wedging it into the inner ear, irreparably damage the eardrum, or cause infection and hearing loss. Your body has its own self-cleaning mechanism to remove excess earwax. It is safer to leave your ears alone and let the body clean itself.
There are several home remedies to aid the ears’ natural self-cleaning processes. Even if these home remedies don’t work, earwax blockage is almost always a common and easily treatable condition You can aid your body’s natural ear cleaning mechanisms by loosening and softening the wax. To soften the wax, try a few drops of warmed but not hot baby oil, mineral oil or olive oil inserted using an eyedropper twice a day for no more than four to five
83 days. After a day or two and once the wax has softened, you can try and loosen it with warm water. Tilt your head to the side, and squirt warm water into your ear with a turkey baster or something similar. Pull your ears up and back in order to straighten the ear canal before pouring it out. If your symptoms persist after these steps have been taken, consult with your doctor. They will be able to flush out the wax or remove it with a suction cup or cerumen spoon. This is a relatively quick and painless procedure. [Source: Veria Living | Healing | Mar 2012 ++]
*Finances*
SSA Monetary Benefit Update 01 ► 10 Suggestions to Maximize
Here are 10 suggestions for individuals to get the most of their future Social Security retirement benefits.
1. Do not start taking Social Security retirement benefits too early While a "fully insured" individual -- someone who has at least 40 credits of Social Security -- can elect to receive their Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, it is advantageous to delay the start of one's retirement check to at least their "full retirement age"(FRA). If economically possible, perhaps delaying the start of retirement benefits until age 70. By waiting to start receiving their benefits, the benefits keep increasing each year, as illustrated in the following example: For someone born between 1943 and 1954 and whose FRA is age 66, a $15,000 annual benefit at age 62 would be a $20,000 annual benefit at age 66. If the individual delays the start of benefits until age 70, the annual benefit would be $26,400. For federal annuitants, it would perhaps make more sense to draw down their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or IRA balances in order to allow them to postpone collecting Social Security retirement benefits.
2. There is no "marriage penalty" when it comes to Social Security Contrary to a common misconception, there is no "marriage penalty" or "offset" when it comes to Social Security. When both spouses are entitled to Social Security benefits, each spouse can collect full benefits. However, there is an alternative if one spouse earned much more than the other spouse. Under the dual entitlement law, the spousal benefit is set at 50 percent of the higher earning spouse's benefit amount. For example, if a higher earning spouse is getting $30,000 a year in Social Security benefits and the lower earning spouse's benefits would be $10,000 a year, then the lower earning spouse is entitled to 50 percent of the higher earning spouse's benefits, or $15,000 a year.
3. Social Security has death benefits When a higher earning spouse dies, the surviving spouse receives a "widow/widower" benefit equal to 100 percent of the deceased spouse's Social Security benefit. If the deceased individual at the time of death had children younger
84 than 18 years of age, then each child is entitled to a death benefit equal to 75 percent of the deceased parent's monthly Social Security benefit. The widow/widower benefit continues until the widow/widower dies. The children's benefit continues until the child becomes age 18 or age 19 if the child is still in high school.
4. It is possible for a lower earning spouse to collect early and then switch to a higher benefit later In the case of a married couple in which there is a lower-earning spouse and a higher-earning spouse, the higher earning spouse can file for benefits at their FRA and then immediately request not to receive their monthly benefit. This allows their benefit amount to continue to increase at 8 percent per year until age 70. This individual can continue to work and earn a higher income, resulting in a larger Social Security retirement benefit once the benefit starts. The higher earning spouse "filed and suspended" the benefits, allowing the lower earning spouse to retire and start collecting the spousal benefit of the higher-earning spouse. The lower earning spouse will collect the spousal benefit, equal to one-half of the higher earning spouse's benefit amount. Once the lower-earning spouse reaches FRA, they can switch to their retirement benefit if it is larger than the spousal benefit.
5. Maximizing one's earnings before retirement can lead to larger Social Security benefits The Social Security Administration calculates an individual's benefit amount in retirement by averaging the top 35 years of earnings during the individual's working life, after adjusting earlier years for inflation. What this means is that each year over 35 years an individual earns a larger salary compared to a salary earlier in their working career, the previous lower earning year is deleted from the calculation, leading to a higher overall average. This is perhaps another good reason for federal employees to work longer and earn higher salaries.
6. A widow/widower can start collecting Social Security spousal benefits on the deceased spouse's account at age 60 The amount of a widow/widower benefit will be reduced by a small amount for each month before the widowed spouse's actual retirement age of 62. After age 62, the widow/widower may switch to his or her own account. The best time to switch can be complicated and the Social Security Administration advises such people to consult with a Social Security representative before making such a decision.
7. Social Security Income and the Law Social Security income is protected by law from most creditors, but not debts owed to the IRS, federal student loans, other federal government claimants, from alimony or child support payments.
8. Social Security income is taxed at less than other income Single individuals with adjusted gross incomes less than $25,000 or married couples whose adjusted gross incomes are less than $32,000 do not owe federal income tax on their Social Security benefits. Above these income thresholds, the portion of Social Security subject to federal income tax increases to 85 percent of the total benefits. However, since qualified distributions from a Roth IRA and Roth TSP are not included in income, it can be advantageous to start withdrawals from non-Roth retirement accounts before starting to receive Social Security benefits, holding off on Roth withdrawals until one starts collecting Social Security benefits.
9. Marriage and Social Security Individuals who divorce after 10 years of marriage and then remarry normally cannot receive the ex-spouse's Social Security retirement benefits at a later time. However, there is an exception - individuals who remarry after age 60. This means that a divorcee who is serious about marrying an individual who has less Social Security benefits than their ex-spouse's benefits should delay their nuptials until they are over 60 year old. In so doing, they can collect spousal benefits during retirement of 50 percent of their ex-spouse's benefits, 100 percent of the benefit if the ex- spouse is deceased.
85
10. Higher earning spouses should delay collecting for the sake of the lower earning spouse If the higher-earning spouse retires early, he or she locks in a lower retirement benefit amount. If they die, their spouse will receive this locked-in amount for life. On the other hand, if the higher earning spouse does not retire early but dies before reaching FRA and before filing for their Social Security retirement benefit, then the surviving spouse will nonetheless receive a widow/widower's benefit of whatever the deceased (higher earning) spouse's benefit would have been at full retirement age.
[Source: My Federal Retirement | Edward A. Zurndorfer | 20 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Movie Theater Discounts ► Seniors
There have been numerous movie blockbusters this year. But while movies become ever more thrilling to watch, they also become more expensive. It’s important to know what discounts are available to you (and your children or grandchildren, if you choose to take them along). Most every movie theater offers some type of discount for seniors. These discounts can be very substantial, ranging from 25% to 60% off the regular ticket price. While the savings can be great, you should know about possible restrictions. Although most major movie theaters offer a senior discount on all showings, some theaters may only have discounts available at certain times of the day (such as a matinee), or on a certain day of the week (typically a weekday). National and regional chains may provide a different discount amount at each of its theater branches, so it is always best to check with your local theater. Discounts may be difficult to locate on movie theater web sites. Also, many theater chains now use web sites to sell their tickets and the senior rates may only be posted on these sites where the tickets are purchased. If discounts aren't listed online, you can also find a theater's discount by calling its movie line directly on the phone. Know that you will need to provide proof of your age when picking up your senior tickets.
Most senior discounts for movie theaters begin at around age 60 or 62, but there are many that have extended the discount to customers aged 50 or 55. For those who do not quite meet the age requirement, try locating an alternative theater or going to the movie earlier in the day as many theaters will provide discounts on their matinee shows. You could also wait until the movie is shown at a later date at one of the discounted theaters. Many movie theaters also have children's rates so you can take your grandchildren at a discount as well. These discounts are usually similar to those for seniors, but they may have even better child rates at earlier times in the day. Here is a sampling of national and regional movie theater chains and what you will typically find for savings and age requirements. Note: Participation, discount amount and age requirement can vary from one theater to the next, so it is best to locate the exact theater you would like to visit and check its senior discount policy.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas - Locally owned theater in Texas that serves dinner and drinks during the shows. Save up to 25% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 60+ www.drafthouse.com AMC/Loews Theatres – The second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens. Save up to 20% off the regular adult admission. Most locations have even greater discounts on Tuesdays, with discounts of up to 60% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.amcentertainment.com Bow Tie Cinemas - A family owned company with theaters in New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia and Colorado. Save up to 25% off the regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 62+ www.bowtiecinemas.com Carmike Cinemas - A movie theatre corporation that currently operates over 240 theaters in 36 states, making it the fourth largest theatre company in the United States. Save up to 35% off the regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 65+ www.carmike.com
86
Celebration Cinemas - Located in Michigan, with locations in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor and Mt. Pleasant. Save up to 20% off the regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 60+ www.celebrationcinema.com CineMagic Theatres - A small movie theater chain located in the Midwest. Save up to 30% off the regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 55+ www.cinemagictheatres.com Cinemark/Century - One of the largest motion picture exhibitors in North America, operating 293 theatres, with 3,832 screens in 39 States. Save up to 35% on regular adult ticket prices. On Mondays, Seniors Day, save up to an additional 10% on all showings. Age Requirement: 62+ www.cinemark.com Classic Cinemas – Family-owned movie theaters located in Illinois. Save up to 35% off the regular admission price. Classic Cinema also has Senior Cinema days, (either Wednesdays or Fridays depending on location), where seniors pay even less for all shows. Age Requirement: 60+ www.classiccinemas.com Clearview Cinemas - Operates 46 movie theatres with 243 screens in the New York metropolitan area. Clearview Cinemas operates theatres in New Jersey, Manhattan, Westchester, Rockland County, Long Island and Pennsylvania. Save up to 25% off depending on theater location. Age Requirement: 62+ www.clearviewcinemas.com Dickinson Theaters - Consists of 224 screens at 20 locations in Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Save up to 35% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 55+ www.dtmovies.com Entertainment Cinemas - A small movie theatre chain in Northeast United States. Save up to 40% off regular adult admission prices. Age Requirement: 60+ www.entertainmentcinemas.com Frank Theatres - Has over 20 locations along the East coast. Save up to 25% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 65+ www.franktheatres.com Fridley Theatres - A family-owned chain serving most of Iowa and part of Nebraska. Save up to 25% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.fridleytheatres.com Georgia Theatre Company - One of the 20 largest theatre circuits in the USA, operating 300 auditoriums at 30 locations in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia. Save up to 25% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.georgiatheatrecompany.com Hollywood Theaters - Nearly 50 locations throughout the United States. Save up to 30% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: Varies by location. www.gohollywood.com Landmark Theatres - America's largest theatre circuit dedicated to independent film, foreign language cinema, restored classics and documentaries. Save up to 30% off regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 62+ www.landmarktheatres.com Marcus Theatres - Currently owns or manages nearly 700 screens at locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, and one family entertainment center in Wisconsin. The Marcus Theatres Young at Heart special provides discounted tickets for people 60 and older every Friday. (Typically $4.00 for any show that starts before 5:30 PM.) Seniors may also receive discounted rates for admission on matinee and evening shows on other days of the week. Age Requirement: 60+ www.marcustheatres.com Marquee Cinemas - Movie Theater chain with locations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Connecticut and North Carolina. Discount: Save up to 30% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 62+ www.marqueecinemas.com Muvico Theaters - Currently operates 152 screens in 9 locations located in Florida, California, and Illinois. Save up to 30% off regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 55+ www.muvico.com National Amusements Cinemas - National Amusements operates theatres around the world under its Showcase, Multiplex, and Cinema de Lux brands. Save up to 30% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.nationalamusements.com
87
Premiere Cinemas - Owns and operates 18 theatres with 135 screens in Texas, 44 screens in Alabama, 22 screens in Florida and 14 in New Mexico. Save up to 30% off the regular adult admission. (Not available at all theaters.) Age Requirement: 55+ www.pccmovies.com Quality Theaters - Has theaters in cities throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Discount: Save up to 30% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 62+ www.gqti.com Rave Motion Pictures - Operates over 1000 screens in 20 states. Save up to 30% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 55+ www.ravemotionpictures.com Regal Entertainment Group - Operates the largest theatre circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,745 screens in 546 theatres in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Receive up to 30% off the regular adult ticket price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.regmovies.com Southeast Cinemas - Has been showing the best of Hollywood to families in the Carolinas and Virginia for the past 30 years. Save up to 30% off the regular adult admission price. Age Requirement: 60+ www.southeastcinemas.com Starplex Cinemas - Operates 24 theaters and 222 screens across the United States. Some locations may offer discounts of up to 25% off. Many theaters are already discounted and may not have senior discounts available. Age Requirement: 60+ www.starplexcinemas.com The Grand Theatres - Has 20 locations with 292 screens in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Discount: Save up to 25% off regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 60+ www.thegrandtheatre.com UltraStar Cinemas - Has locations in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Anaheim and Arizona. Save up to 20% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 55+ www.ultrastarmovies.com Westates Theaters - A family run cinema chain catering to family moviegoers. Save up to 25% on regular adult ticket prices. Age Requirement: 65+ www.westatestheatres.com [Source: www.seniordiscounts.com | David Smidt | Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Saving Money ► Buy vs. Rent Decision
If you think rent is too expensive where you live, you might want to look into homeownership. A new report by online real estate company Trulia (http://www.trulia.com/trends/2014/02/rent-vs-buy-winter-2014) , which analyzes data in 100 metro areas across the U.S., found that it’s 38% cheaper to buy a home than rent one. Despite increasing home prices, low mortgage rates have made homeownership the more affordable option in each of the top 100 metropolitan areas. In fact, mortgage rates would need to rise to 10.6 percent for renting to become cheaper than buying nationally — and rates haven’t been that high since 1989.
Trulia’s chief economist Jed Kolko says, “Buying remains cheaper than renting across the country even after 2013′s big price rebound. Mortgage rates are still near historic lows, despite rising a point in the past year, and would be the envy of time travelers from the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s. Even in markets like San Francisco where home prices are high relative to paychecks, buying costs less than renting for people who stay seven years and itemize their deductions.” The study found that overall, homebuyers who stay in their homes for seven years will save 38 percent over renting. Last year the number was 44 percent cheaper. The rent-versus-buy math differs across metros mostly because each local market has its own normal level of prices and rents, but also because property taxes and home price appreciation differ in individual markets as well. Taking all these factors into account, buying ranges from just 5 percent cheaper than renting in Honolulu to 66 percent cheaper than renting in Detroit. Generally, buying is a tougher call relative to renting in California and New York, while the gap is largest in the Midwest and South.
88
Best bets for homeownership: Detroit — Buying is 66 percent cheaper than renting. Gary, Ind. – 61 percent cheaper. Birmingham, Ala. – 58 percent cheaper. Toledo, Ohio – 58 percent cheaper. Kansas City, Mo. – 58 percent cheaper.
The advantages aren’t so obvious here: Honolulu – 5 percent cheaper to buy than rent. San Jose, Calif. – 9 percent cheaper. San Francisco – 13 percent cheaper. Orange County, Calif. – 21 percent cheaper. New York City – 22 percent cheaper.
Trulia said one of the biggest factors affecting the buy vs. rent decision is what will happen to home prices after you buy. To see what buying vs. renting looks like in your region check out Trulia’s interactive Rent vs. Buy Map and Rent vs. Buy Calculator, which allow you to input personalized information and assumptions and scenarios, so you can gauge whether renting or buying is cheaper. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Jed Kolko | 10 Mar 2014 ++]
********************************
Malaysia Airlines MH370 Scam ► How It works
Scammers are preying on your curiosity surrounding Malaysia Airlines MH370, the flight that mysteriously disappeared 8 MAR. Viral Facebook posts with fake videos of the “found” plane, many of which claim the flight’s passengers have been saved and are alive, are potentially infected with malware. Malware, short for malicious software, is software used to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. It can appear in the form of code, scripts, active content, and other software. 'Malware' is a general term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software, and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses.
The posts look like legitimate videos and use attention-grabbing phrases like “shocking video” to reel viewers in. The plane is still missing, and these scams are an example of the sad reality that many fraudsters live to capitalize on tragedy. The links lead to imitation news sites where visitors are asked to share the videos to Facebook before viewing them, and scam surveys appear if the visitors follow the links, according to Chris Boyd, a malware intelligence analyst for Malwarebytes. “Anything involving a potential disaster is big money for the scammers, as there’s a split between clickers with a penchant for salacious content and those who simply want to know if a relative is OK, or if there’s any more news on a breaking disaster,” Boyd said. Users who fill out the surveys share personal information that the scammers will sell to third-party marketers, so these tactics can be quite profitable. “There have also been cases of survey networks serving up malware files, so these scams are never quite as straightforward as they seem,” Boyd told the website.
People crave new information in the wake of a disaster or global event, like this one, but the Internet is a bad place to let your guard down: If you’re not thinking about what you’re clicking on or sharing, you may be inviting malware onto your computer, which could compromise any sensitive information you store on it. That can lead to identity theft, which can be time-consuming and costly to recover from. If you’re worried about your identity
89 becoming compromised through malware or another scam, you may want to monitor your credit. You can check your credit scores for free every month using one of the credit score services such as the online Credit Report Card. Any unexpected change in your scores could signal identity theft, and you should pull copies of your credit reports to confirm. [Source: MoneyTalksNews article 19 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Scams ~ IRS Update 04 ► Bogus IRS agent Calls
Be wary if you answer your phone and the caller says he’s an IRS agent. It could be a scam – the largest the Internal Revenue Service has ever seen. The U.S. Treasury Department says more than 20,000 taxpayers have alerted the government about the scam, and victims have lost more than $1 million total. This is how it works: A bogus IRS agent calls and claims the intended victim owes taxes, then demands immediate payment with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. The fraudsters often know the last four digits of victims’ Social Security numbers. If victims protest the immediate payment request, the phony agent threatens arrest, deportation, or the loss of a business or driver’s license.
A press release from Treasury also made note of these details about the scam, which is being perpetrated across the country: The callers use common names and fake IRS badge numbers. Your caller ID is tricked into making it look as if the IRS is calling. The scammers send bogus IRS emails to support their claim. They call a second time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles, and the caller ID again supports their claim.
Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George said in the release, “If someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and uses threatening language if you don’t pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn’t the IRS calling.” If you have unpaid taxes, the IRS will probably use the mail to contact you. And the IRS doesn’t ask for payment via a prepaid card or wire transfer, nor would it request credit card information on the phone. “This is the largest scam of its kind that we have ever seen,” George said. “The increasing number of people receiving these unsolicited calls from individuals who fraudulently claim to represent the IRS is alarming.” You’re asked to report any suspicious IRS requests directly to the IRS. To view a video on other tax scams go to http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2014/03/21/biggest-tax-scam-ever-sweeps-the- us/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=email-2014-03-22&utm_medium=email. [Source: MoneyTalksNews article 21 Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Cat Fishing Scam ► How It works
A relationship scam starts simply. Two people meet online, usually through a dating site. They email, trade pictures, talk on the phone, and soon they’re making plans to meet… and maybe even to get married. But as the relationship get stronger, things start to change. Better Business Bureau is warning singles to know the red flags of “catfishing,” or romance scams. Be wary of anyone who:
Asks to talk or chat on an outside email or messaging service. Oftentimes, this allows fraudsters to carry out scams without the dating site having a record of the encounter. Remember that scammers play on
90
emotion… and romance is certainly a strong emotion. Anytime people are vulnerable, fraudsters find opportunity. Claims to be from this country but is currently traveling, living or working abroad. Scammers come up with all kinds of excuses why they can’t meet in person just yet. Be cautious of online daters who claim to be called away suddenly, or to be in the military and stationed overseas. Asks you for money or credit card information. In some cases the scammer will claim an emergency like a sick relative or stolen wallet, and will ask you to wire money. The first wire transfer is small but the requests keep coming and growing. Or he may ask for airfare to come for a visit. The payback promises are empty; the money’s gone, and so is he. Sends you emails containing questionable links to third-party websites. Third-party links can contain malware that’s designed to steal personal information off your computer. Scammers may use third party links that look credible, but in reality, they only link to viruses that can lead to identity theft.
To find out more about scams and to read up on the latest, check out BBB Scam Stopper. [Source: BBB | Kelsey Owen | 6 Feb 2014 ++]
********************************
Tax Burden for Indiana Retirees ► As of Mar 2014
Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Indiana:
Sales Taxes State Sales Tax: 7% (food and prescription drugs exempt) Gasoline Tax: 56.6 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Diesel Fuel Tax: 74.6 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Cigarette Tax: 99.5 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 3.4% of federal adjusted gross income. See tax info www.in.gov/dor/4748.htm & http://www.in.gov/dor/4735.htm#military. Counties also have the authority for a local option income tax whose goal is to provide income for the counties instead of raising property taxes. Carroll, Clark, Clay, Madison and Wabash counties have adopted new county option income rates. For details go to http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/Local_Option_Income_Tax_Fact_Sheet.pdf & http://www.in.gov/dor/files/dn01.pdf. Personal Exemptions: Single – $1,000; Married – $2,000; Dependents – $1,500; $1,000 for taxpayer and/or spouse if age 65 or over; $1,000 for taxpayer and/or spouse if blind; $500 additional exemption for each individual age 65 or over if federal adjusted gross income is less than $40,000. Standard Deduction: None Medical/Dental Deduction: None Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security is exempt. Taxpayers 60 and older may exclude $2,000 from military pensions minus the amount of Social Security and Railroad Benefits received. Taxpayers age 62 and older may deduct from their adjusted gross income $2,000 from a federal civil service annuity. Out-of-state pensions are fully taxed. Homeowners can deduct up to $2,500 from their income taxes for property taxes on their residence. To view information for seniors go to http://www.in.gov/dor/4748.htm.
91
Retired Military Pay: Military retirees who are age 60 are entitled to deduct up to $5,000 of military or survivor benefits. Active Duty or Reserve Military Pay: Military personnel (regardless of age) on active duty or in the reserves may deduct up to $5,000 of taxable military pay if it is not already excluded or deducted from their adjusted gross income. Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service- related disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection. VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes. Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes Property taxes in Indiana are administered at the local level with oversight by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (http://www.in.gov/dlgf/2516.htm).. They are imposed on both real and personal property. Property, which is assessed at 100% of its true value, is subject to taxation by a variety of taxing units (schools, counties, townships, cities and towns, libraries, etc.) making the total tax rate the sum of the tax rates imposed by all of the taxing units in which the property is located. Homeowners are eligible for a credit against the property taxes that they pay on their homestead. The amount of credit to which the individual is entitled equals 10% of the individual’s property tax liability, which is attributable to the homestead during the calendar year. A taxpayer entitled to receive a homestead credit is also entitled to a standard deduction from the assessed value of the homestead. The deduction is the lesser of one-half of the assessed value of the real property or $35,000. Homeowners 65 and older who earn $25,000 or less are eligible to receive a tax reduction on property with an assessed value of $182,430 or less and the individual received no other property tax deductions except for mortgage, standard, and fertilizer storage deductions. For details go to http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/2010pay2011_Deductions_and_Credits_Fact_Sheet.pdf. A surviving spouse is entitled to the deduction if they are at least 60 years old. The amount of the deduction is the lesser of one-half of the assessed value of the real property or $12,480. Call 317-232-3777 or go to http://www.in.gov/dlgf for details. A circuit breaker program is aimed at helping residents by ensuring they don’t pay more than 2% of their property value in taxes. The goal is to provide predictability in tax bills and equity among Hoosier taxpayers. For more information on property tax deductions go to http://www.in.gov/dlgf/2344.htm.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes The inheritance tax (Class A) ranges from 1% to 10% based on fair market value of property transferred at death. The estate tax is the amount by which federal credit exceeds inheritance taxes paid to all states. For details go to http://www.in.gov/dor/3807.htm.
For further information, visit the Indiana Department of Revenue site http://www.in.gov/dor.
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-alabama-iowa#INDIANA Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Thrift Savings Plan 2014 ► Share Prices + YTD Gain or Loss
92
TSP Share Prices for 30 Mar 2014
Close YTD
G Fund $14.3672 +0.01%
F Fund $16.0684 -0.15%
C Fund $24.1194 +0.47%
S Fund $34.0495 +0.33%
I Fund $25.6022 +0.59%
L 2050 $14.1922 +0.41%
L 2040 $25.0615 +0.36%
L 2030 $23.6649 +0.31%
L 2020 $21.9757 +0.25%
L Income $16.9398 +0.09%
[Source: http://tspcenter.com/tspReturns.php?view=year 31 Mar 2014 ++]
*General Interest*
Notes of Interest ► 15 thru 31 Mar 2014
Humor. For a bit of British humor check out ‘Mrs. Brown’s Mischievous Call’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdoO8IiyrQ&feature=youtu.be. Car Insurance. California law says it’s unacceptable for your credit score to be a rating factor used by personal auto insurance providers. It also requires that California car insurance carriers calculate rates based on miles driven and driving records before considering your geographic location. Car Insurance. A CarInsurance.com survey of 2,000 drivers revealed one in three drivers admit lying to their car insurance companies, most often about their mileage and address. COLA. The Consumer Price Index continued to climb in February, rising to 230.871. It now stands 0.2 percent above the FY2014 COLA baseline of 230.327. Windows XP. When Microsoft stops releasing software patches for the obsolete Windows XP operating system 8 APR, forgotten networked appliances could pose the biggest opening for hackers to exploit. Users can take their computers to a store to purchase a new PC or Windows Surface device, and receive a $100 discount provided the replacement until cost $599 or more. USA Today says Windows XP is still used by about 1 in 3 computer users.
93
Driving Cost. AAA says if you drive a mid-size sedan, like a Toyota Camry, Chevy Impala or Ford Fusion, you’re paying about 60.8 cents per mile, or $9,122 a year. That is based on driving 15,000 miles per year, which is common for American workers. If you drive an SUV, you’re paying about $11,600 per year.
*********************************
Honor and Remember Flag ► Approval Status
The Honor and Remember Flag was created to serve as a national symbol that specifically acknowledges the sacrifice of men and women in the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives for their country in over two centuries if America's history. The flag - with its gold star and images of an eternal flame and folded Stars and Stripes - has been adopted by 19 states and is being considered by more than a dozen others. However, it had not been officially adopted by the federal government. It flies in front of municipal buildings, cemeteries, and veterans memorials and posts across the country. Current progress on obtaining state approval for use is indicated in the map below.
In the first session of the 112th Congress representative J. Randy Forbes (R-VA-04) introduced the Honor and Remember Flag Recognition Act (H.R.546) on 8 Feb 2011. The purpose of the bill was to amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as an official symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty, and for other purposes. It was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and obtained 155 cosponsors before it died with the end of the 112th Congress. No new legislation to replace it has been introduced. There is a petition soliciting Americans to request establishment of a National Remembrance Flag on the internet at http://www.honorandremember.org/sign-the-petition.
94
The Red Field represents the blood spilled by brave men and women in America's military throughout our history, who willingly gave their lives so that we all would remain free. The Blue Star represents active service in military conflict. This symbol originated with World War I, but on this flag it signifies service through all generations from the American Revolution to present day. The White Border surrounding the gold star recognizes the purity of sacrifice. There is no greater price an American can pay than to give his or her life in service to our country. The Gold Star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who will not return home. Gold reflects the value of the life that was given. The Folded Flag signifies the final tribute to an individual life that a family sacrificed and gave to the nation. The Flame is an eternal reminder of the spirit that has departed this life yet burns on in the memory of all who knew and loved the fallen hero. [Source: Various Mar 2014 ++]
*********************************
Senior’s Quiz ► Keep Your Aging Grey Cells Active
Something for seniors (even non-seniors) to do to keep those "aging" grey cells active!
1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May....What was the third child's name? 2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 sneakers....What does he weigh? 3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered,...what was the highest mountain in the world? 4. How much dirt is there in a hole...that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? 5. What word in the English Language...is always spelled incorrectly? 6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer.....How is this possible? 7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. ...Why not? 8. What was the President’s Name...in 1975? 9. If you were running a race,...and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now? 10. Which is correct to say,..."The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"? 11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field,....how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?
Here are the Answers
11. Answer: One, they all become one big one. 10. Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow [Duh] 9. Answer: You would be in 2nd. Well, you passed the person in second place, not first. 8. Answer: Same as is it now - Barack Obama. 7. Answer: You can't take pictures with a wooden leg. You need a camera to take pictures. 6. Answer: Billy lives in the Southern Hemisphere. 5. Answer: Incorrectly 4. Answer: There is no dirt in a hole. 3. Answer: Mt. Everest ; it just wasn't discovered yet. [You're not very good at this are you?] 2 . Answer: Meat.
95
1. Answer: Johnny of course.
IMPOSSIBILITIES IN THE WORLD 1) You can't count your hair. 2) You can't wash your eyes with soap. 3) You can't breathe through your nose when your tongue is out ……… Put your tongue back in your mouth, you silly person.
Things the writer know about you. 1) You are reading this. 2) You are human. 3) You can't say the letter ''P'' without separating your lips. 4) You just attempted to do it. 6) You are laughing at yourself. 7) You have a smile on your face and you skipped No. 5. 8) You just checked to see if there is a No. 5. 9) You laugh at this because you are a fun loving person & everyone does it too.
*********************************
Photos That Say it All ► What Next
*********************************
Citizen Honors Award ► 2014 Recipients
Michael Landsberry wasn’t in a war zone when he gave his life protecting others. It was Oct. 21, 2013, when a 12- year-old boy armed with a semi-automatic handgun opened fire at a Nevada middle school where Landsberry was a math teacher. Two students had been wounded. Still, Landsberry approached the boy and tried to talk him into giving up the gun, giving students time to flee. He was fatally shot. It was for acts of heroism and selflessness such as Landsberry’s that Medal of Honor recipients on 25 MAR honored ordinary Americans showing courage in
96 extraordinary situations. Since 2008, the military heroes have given out the Citizen Honors Awards to three people each year on National Medal of Honor Day.
The panel of veterans looks for characteristics embodied by the Medal of Honor — selfless service, patriotism, courage and integrity — as they consider nominations submitted across the U.S. There were more than 200 entries this year, according to Ronald T. Rand, president and CEO of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. “The (Medal of Honor) recipients believe that by … recognizing people — normal people — who do extraordinary things, that they can demonstrate to a larger population across America the fact that everyone has the ability within them when confronted with tough choices and tough situations to do extraordinary and even heroic things,” Rand said. Landsberry was a 45-year-old former Marine and member of the Nevada National Guard who had served two tours in Afghanistan. He is the first to be awarded the honor posthumously. His widow accepted the award on his behalf at the ceremony, held at Arlington National Cemetery. “He recognized that there was a danger. He recognized that there was extreme risk to himself,” Rand said. “But to protect the students at his school — and maybe even to try and protect the young shooter — (he) put himself in harm’s way voluntarily to try and defuse an extremely dangerous situation. And in doing that, he saved the lives of who knows how many students while giving up his own.”
Also honored were Connor Stotts, a 19-year-old Eagle Scout who saved friends from drowning in a riptide, and Troy Yocum, an Army veteran who walked 7,880 miles across America to raise $1.3 million to support military families as part of his work to help other veterans. Yocum received the award for an “ongoing act of service” for his founding of Active Heroes, a charity focused on preventing veteran suicides. The nonprofit provides lifetime assistance funds for wounded veterans, repairs homes for military families, offers a fitness team-building program with 10,000 active veterans, and is building a 144-acre retreat for military families in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. “It’s not in the same category of extreme valor as the actions of Connor or Michael, but it clearly is in the category of extreme service to the community,” Rand said. “It still demonstrates courage and selfless service and patriotism and integrity. And he’s making a difference.”
Yocum, 35, doesn’t think he deserves the award; he thinks someone older who has had more time to give back to the community deserves it instead. And hearing about the feats of the other recipients makes him wonder whether his 17½-month hike through the U.S. and continuing efforts measure up. But he hopes that accepting the award will bring attention to his cause, which he was propelled to by the suicides of his grandfather, a World War II veteran, and a close battle buddy. He has also watched other friends struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts. “I’m completely humbled by it,” Yocum said. “I don’t do my work to be honored … when I served in Iraq, I just did my job, and after Iraq, I just wanted to do something to help more and more veterans and their families. “It’s an honor and privilege to be chosen as a hero by my heroes,” he said.
Stotts, a sophomore at the University of Southern California on a Marine-Option Naval ROTC scholarship, also received the award for an act of courage. Or rather, three. On the night of his baptism in July 2011, Stotts was at a youth outing at the beach in Oceanside, Calif., when a riptide swept up three friends. Stotts, who had lifeguard training, pulled one friend to shore and returned to rescue a second. A third was losing consciousness, and he placed her on his back — sometimes holding her arms to keep her from falling off — and swam back to shore with one arm. “He knew there was great risk to himself,” Rand said. “And ... knowing he was exposing himself to danger, he did it not once, not twice, but three times. That’s pretty extraordinary.” For Stotts, rescuing his friends was instinct. “There was some panic that gripped me, there was fear,” Stotts said. “But mostly nothing was going through my head. It was just like a reflex.” Stotts said he and his family were “floored” when they heard he had won the award, since they didn’t think his feat was on par with some of the other nominees.
97
Citizen Honors Award
“Every day in civilian life, somewhere, somebody does something that is on the level of above and beyond,” said Hershel Williams, a former Marine who received the Medal of Honor for the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. “I enjoy coming here and witnessing what they did and reading their stories. It’s just as interesting to me as the stories of Medal of Honor recipients.” The site selected for this annual ceremony is the ultimate symbol of anonymous heroism - the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The anonymous soldiers who have found eternal rest in the Tomb have been presented with our nation's highest award for valor in combat, The Medal of Honor. On the east side of the Tomb is a sculpture of three Greek citizens, each representing the virtues of Peace, Victory and Valor. To show the link between anonymous heroism in and out of uniform, the Society has placed these figures on the Citizen Honors medals.
*******************************
They Grew Up to Be? ► John Lennon of the Beatles
*******************************
Have You Heard? ► A Little Test
Sergio was a very happy man. His wonderful girlfriend and he had been dating for over a year. So they decided to get married. There was only one little thing bothering me. It was her beautiful younger sister, Sofia.
Sergio’s prospective sister-in-law was twenty-two, wore very tight miniskirts, and generally was Bra-less. She
98 would regularly bend down when she was near him. He always got more than a nice view. It had to be deliberate. She never did it around anyone else.
One day Sophia called him and asked him to come over. 'To check my Sister's wedding- invitations' she said. She was alone when he arrived. She whispered to Sergio that she had feelings and desires for him. She couldn't overcome them anymore. She told Sergio that she wanted him just once before he got married. She said "Before you commit your life to my sister".
Well, Sergio was in total shock, and I couldn't say a word. She said, "I'm going upstairs to my bedroom" she said. "if you want one last wild fling, just come up and have me".
Sergio was stunned and frozen in shock as he watched her go up the stairs. He stood there for a moment. Then turned and made a bee-line straight to the front door. He opened the door, and headed straight towards his car.
Lord And behold, Sergio’s entire future family was standing outside, all clapping! With tears in his eyes, his father- in-law hugged me. He said, 'Sergio, we are very happy that you have passed our little test. We couldn't ask for a better man for our daughter. Welcome to the family my son.'
And the moral of this story is: Always keep your condoms in your car.
*******************************
Interesting Inventions ► What Handicap?
99
*********************************
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” --- Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904 – 1991), American writer, poet, and cartoonist. i.e. Oh, the Places You'll Go!,
********************************
100
How Old Are You?
Do you know what to do with these or what they are?
Have you ever used these because that is all there was?
Do you remember using these?
101
FAIR USE NOTICE: This newsletter contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to advance understanding of veterans' issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for educating themselves on veteran issues so they can better communicate with their legislators on issues affecting them. For more information go to: http: //www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Notes: 1. The Bulletin will be provided as a website accessed document until further notice. This was necessitated by SPAMHAUS who alleged the Bulletin’s former size and large subscriber base (94,000+) were choking the airways interfering with other email user’s capability to use it. They directed us to stop sending the Bulletin in its entirety to individual subscribers and to validate the subscriber base with the threat of removing all email capability if we did not.
2. Readers who have not yet validated their email addee who desire to continue to receive the Bulletin can send a message to [email protected] with the word “KEEP” in the subject line to restore their subscription. Anyone who no longer wants to receive the Bulletin should send a message to [email protected] with the word “DELETE” in the subject line This Bulletin notice was sent to the 17,082subscribers who have responded to date.
3. Bulletin recipients with interest in the Philippines can request to be added to the RAO’s Philippine directory for receipt of notices on Clark Field Space ‘A’, U.S. Embassy Manila, and TRICARE in the RP.
4. New subscribers and those who submit a change of address should receive a message that verifies their addition or address change being entered in the mailing list. If you do not receive a message within 7 days it indicates that either I never received you request, I made an error in processing your request, or your server will not allow me to send to the email addee you provided. Anyone who cannot reach me by email can call (951) 238-1246 to ask questions or confirm info needed to add them to the directory.
102
5. If you have another email addee at work or home and would like to also receive Bulletin notices there, just provide the appropriate email addee to [email protected].
6. Past Bulletin articles are available by title on request to [email protected]. Refer to the RAO Bulletin Index alphabetically listing of article and attachment titles previously published in the Bulletin. The Index is available under pinned topics at http: //s11.zetaboards.com/CFLNewsChat/forum/27519/ Bear in mind that the articles listed on this index were valid at the time they were written and may have since been updated or become outdated.
7. The Bulletin is normally published on the 1st and 15th of each month. To aid in continued receipt of Bulletin availability notices, recommend enter the email addee [email protected] into your address book. If you do not receive a Bulletin check either http://www.veteransresources.org (PDF & HTTP Editions), http://frabr245.org (PDF & HTTP Editions), or http://www.nhc-ul.com/rao.html (PDF Edition) before sending me an email asking if one was published. If you are unable to access the Bulletin at any of these sites let me know. If you can access the Bulletin at any of the aforementioned sites it indicates that something is preventing you from receiving my email. Either your server considers it to be spam or I have somehow incorrectly entered or removed your addee from the mailing list. Send me an email so I can verify your entry on the current mailing list.
== To subscribe first add the RAO email addee [email protected] to your address book and/or white list. Then send to this addee your full name plus either the post/branch/chapter number of the fraternal military/government organization you are currently affiliated with (if any) “AND/OR” the city and state/country you reside in so your addee can be properly positioned in the directory for future recovery. Subscription is open to all veterans, dependents, military/veteran support organizations, and media. == To automatically change your email addee or Unsubscribe from Bulletin distribution click the “Change address / Leave mailing list” tab at the bottom of the Bulletin availability notice that advised you when the current Bulletin was available. == To manually submit a change of email addee provide your old and new email addee plus full name
Lt. James “EMO” Tichacek, USN (Ret) Editor/Publisher RAO Bulletin RAO Baguio, PSC 517 Box RCB, FPO AP 96517 Tel: (951) 238-1246 in U.S. or Cell: 0915-361-3503 in the Philippines. Email: [email protected] Web Access: http://www.veteransresources.org, http://frabr245.org or http://www.nhc-ul.com/rao.html Office: Red Lion, 92 Glen Luna, cnr Leonard Rd & Brent Rd. Baguio City 2400 RP TUE & THUR 09-1100 AMVETS | DAV | NAUS |NCOA | MOAA | USDR | VFW | VVA | CG33 | DD890 | AD37 |TSCL member
103