Bulletin 140901
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RAO BULLETIN 1 September 2014 PDF Edition THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Pg Article Subject * DOD * . 04 == DoD Pay and Benefits [02] ------ (New Electronic Notification Policy) 04 == DoD/VA Mental Health ---------- (Obama Announces New Initiatives) 05 == Exchange Online Shopping [01] -- (All Vet Use Proposal Roadblocks) 06 == DoD Ice Bucket Challenge Policy ---------------------- (Not in Uniform) 07 == DoD Lawsuit | Santana~Celeste ---- (Burn Pit Health Alert Discharge) 08 == Navy Bible Policy [01] - (Returned to Lodge Rooms Pending Review) 09 == Food Banks ------------------ (Military Use Data Disputed by Pentagon) 10 == Sequestration [44] ----------------------------------------- (2016 Concerns) 12 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---------- (Reported 16 thru 31 Aug 2014) 14 == MOH Awards [01] ------------------ (Posthumous Award Time Criteria) 15 == POW/MIA Recoveries ------------------------------ (140816 thru 140831) * VA * . 17 == VA Secretary [32] --------- (Legion 96th Annual Conference Speech) 18 == VA Secretary [33] --- (Message to Vets | Sustainable Accountability) 19 == VA Physician Qualifications [02] ---- (National Recruiting Initiative) 20 == VA Claim Numbers ------------- (Why so High | Up 55% since 2000) 21 == VA Appointments [09] ---------- (Proposed New Scheduling System) 22 == VA Appointments [10] - (3 Month+ Wait Numbers Reduced by Half) 23 == VA HUD-VASH [03] --------- (33% Reduction in Vet Homelessness) 24 == VA Suicide Prevention [22] ------------------------ (1, 2, Many Project) 25 == VA Rural Access [20] --- (RUCA Use Change Will Improve Service) 25 == VA Eye Trauma Registry ------------- (4 Years Late | 9 Months to Go) 26 == VA Deaths ----- (Congress Seeking Diagnosis/Treatment Delay Info) 1 27 == VA Deaths [01] ---------- (No Proof of Delayed Care Phoenix Deaths) 28 == VA Claims Backlog [141] ----- (47,786 Vets Died w/Pending Claims) 28 == ALS [12] ------------------------- (Special Adapted Housing Eligibility) 29 == VA Fraud, Waste, and Abuse -------------------- (140815 thru 140831) 30 == VA Credibility [17] -------------- (Interim Rules for Firing Employees) 30 == VA Credibility [18] --------------- (Vets Depicted as Oscar the Grouch) 32 == PTSD [174] ---------- (Consequences of Changing Diagnostic Criteria) 33 == VA Loan ----------------------------- (Reasons why so Important Today) 34 == GI Bill [179] -------------------------- (Not-Recommended School Lists) 36 == GI Bill [180] ------------------------ (Online Comparison Tool Updated) 36 == GI Bill [181] ------------ (Force Reduction Impact on Benefit Transfer) * VETS * . 37 == Veteran Driver Licenses [03] ----------------------------------- (Michigan) 38 == Vet Fraternal Organizations [01] ----- (VFW’s Declining Membership) 42 == OBIT | Fisher~Bernard F ----------------------------------- (16 Aug 2014) 44 == OBIT | Mazzone~Walter F ----------------------------------- (7 Aug 2014) 45 == OBIT | Walker~John A. Jr ----------------------------------- (29 Aug 2014) 46 == Vet Federal Jobs [04] ------------ (How to Land | Finding the openings) 47 == Veterans' Preference [06] ------ (Laws Dragging Down Federal Hiring) 48 == Retiree Appreciation Days --------------------------- (As of 25 Aug 2014) 49 == Vet Hiring Fairs –-------------------------------------- (1 thru 30 Sep 2015) 50 == WWII VETS 69 ------------------------------------------- (Krauel~Edward) 52 == America's Most Beloved Vets --------------------------- (World War I (3) 52 == State Veteran's Benefits & Discounts ------------------ (California 2014) * VET LEGISLATION * . 53 == Vet Bills Submitted to 113th Congress ---------- (As of 29 AUG 2014) * MILITARY * . 54 == USS Saratoga (CV-60) [01] ---------------------- (Final Journey Begins) 55 == 3D Food Printers ------------------------ (Under Development by Army) 56 == Advanced Hypersonic Weapon [AHP] -- (Long-Range Glide Vehicle) 57 == Military License Plates ----------------------------- (Offered in all States) 58 == DoD Mobilized Reserve 26 AUG 2014 ------------- (Decrease of 3,998) 59 == Medal of Honor Citations ------------------- (Watson~Wilson D. WWII) * MILITARY HISTORY * . 61 == Aviation Art ---------------------------------------- (America Strikes Back) 62 == USS Houston (CA-30) -------- (Wreck Confirmed as Galloping Ghost) 63 == Military History --------- (Lt. Hiroo Onada | Surrender After 30 Years) 66 == D-Day ----------------------------------------------- (To Go or Not To Go?) 68 == WWII Postwar Events -------------------- (Yokohama, Japan Wreckage) 68 == Spanish American War Image 56 -------- (Spanish Troops in Santiago) 2 69 == WWI in Photos 110 ----------------------------------------- (Smoke Break) 69 == Faces of WAR (WWII) ----------- (Gen. Anthony McAuliffe Feb 1945) 70 == Military Kits --------- (1485 Battle of Bosworth | Yorkist man-at-arms) 71 == Military History Anniversaries ---------------------------- (1 thru 30 Sep) * HEALTH CARE * . 71 == TRICARE Lab Fees [01] ------------------- (Developed Tests Coverage) 74 == Dementia [04] --------------------- (Vitamin D Deficiency Impact Study) 74 == USFHP ----------------------- (GAO Recommends Program Elimination) 75 == Scarlet Fever ----------------------------------- (Symptoms and Treatment) 77 == Lemon Balm ---------------------------- (Treatment for Many Conditions) * FINANCES * . 78 == SBP Basics [03] -------------------------- (Federally Subsidized Program) 79 == Saving Money ---------------------------------- (Military-Owned Lodging) 83 == Inherited Mortgage -------------------------------- (Ability-to-Repay Rule) 84 == Homeowners Insurance [03] ------------------------------- (Paying Guests) 85 == Military Discounts ---------------------------- (Utilities | SCANA Energy) 85 == Social Security Reform [03] ------- (Board of Trustees Call for Reform) 86 == San Diego Military Discounts ------------------------- (What’s Available) 87 == ATM Scam ---------------------------------------------------- (How it works) 88 == Click Bait Scam [01] ----------------------------------------- (How it works) 89 == Tax Burden for Mississippi Retirees -------------------- (As of Aug 2014) 91 == Thrift Savings Plan 2014 ------------ (Share Prices + YTD Gain or Loss) * GENERAL INTEREST * . 92 == Notes of Interest ------------------------------------- (16 thru 31 Aug 2014) 92 == USS Olympia ---------------------------- (Final Battle Just to Stay Afloat) 94 == Body Language ------------------------------ (Blunders to Watch Out For) 95 == Homeownership --------------- (17 Flaws that Damage a Home’s Value) 98 == Photos That Say It All ----------------------------------- (Welcome Home) 98 == Retirement Planning [07] ---------- (Spouse Rights | Windsor Decision) 99 == Normandy Then & Now ----------------- (Gold Beach near Ver sur Mer) 100 == WWII Ads ------------------------------------------------------ (Willys Jeep) 100 == Have You Heard? ----------------------------------- (Hollywood Squares') 102 == They Grew Up to Be ---------------------------------------- (Elvis Presley) 103== Interesting Ideas --------------------------------------------- (Bucket Filling) *ATTACHMENTS* . Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 29 Aug 2014 Attachment - California Vet State Benefits & Discounts Aug 2014 Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 1 thru 30 Sep Attachment - Retiree Activity\Appreciation Days (RAD) Schedule as of Aug 25, 2014 Attachment - VA Secretary Speech at American Legion 96th Annual Conference 3 * DoD * DoD Pay and Benefits Update 02 ► New Electronic Notification Policy To reduce cost and increase efficiency, the Department of Defense (DoD) is moving away from mailing letters with update information. This means that instead of a letter, you will get email notifications when there are important changes to your DoD benefits, including TRICARE. The email will link you to milConnect, a secure DoD website, where your personal information will be posted. The initial email you receive will give you an opportunity to “opt-out” of receiving emails and continue receiving paper notifications. Those who have not provided an email address or those who opt-out of receiving email notifications will receive a postcard stating that there is a change or update to their benefit. Even if you get a postcard you will still need to go to milConnect to read the letter because specific plan or protected health information (PHI) will not be printed on the postcard. Note: Regardless of which option you choose when you go to the milConnect site you will need to have a Common Access Card (CAC), DFAS (myPay) Account or DoD Self-Service (DS) Logon number to sign in to read the notice they have sent you. For those who do not currently have one of these, sponsors can create a DS Logon by clicking the appropriate button on the milConnect site. Replacing paper mail with email will mean faster notification of important information as well as convenient access anytime, anywhere you have Internet access. To sign up or update your email contact information go to http://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil. The milConnect website can be accessed anytime and anywhere for the most up-to-date account and DEERS information. Once you sign-up, you will receive up- to-date benefit information such as, primary care manager changes, eligibility changes due to age (for certain family members), and more. You can click on the “MyProfile” menu item to update your personal email preference. Please allow three days for revised settings to take effect. [Source: Tricare,mil | Benefit Updates | Aug 27, 2014 ++] ********************************