The Salute online The Salute online

Monthly newsletter of the Portsmouth Area Chapter, an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America, serving Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Smithfield & Franklin, Virginia, since 1983. Dinner meetings are held the Second Thursday of each month except July and August. VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI [email protected] pacmoaa.org June 2013 PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR JUNE 2013 I hope you all are enjoying the beautiful weather and looking for- ward to the summer. Remember, June is our last regular dinner meeting until September. We will have our annual brunch in July at the Chamberlain but final arrangements are still being made. The most likely date is 21 July. The May dinner meeting was a great success with a delicious din- ner and dessert. The Hilton Garden Inn has a new chef and they feel this will resolve the issues we’ve had over the past 9 months; for example: with meals not being warm or the flank steak being tough. The fellowship was wonderful as usual and the speaker was very interesting. Andy Hook, Certified Elder Law Attor- ney and Certified Financial Planner, distributed a packet of infor- mation about “Life Care Planning and Veterans Benefits”. He dis- cussed the issues many of us face –Avoiding running out of money, protecting your spouse and family, obtaining and paying for long-term care, avoiding the loss of independence and autonomy due to incapaci- ty, leaving a legacy to your children and inflation. The importance of having a plan and keeping it current was stressed throughout the presentation. Dealing with someone well versed in Elder Law is also important. The first certification for HAPPY BIRTHDAY elder law occurred in 1994. The cost of Martha L Anderson long term care in a variety of settings Rosalyn V Gardiner was addressed: Assisted Living Facili- Carolyn Jones ty - $35,000 - $50,000+/year, Nursing Home Facility - $75,000 +/year, In-Home care_ $19 - $32/hour; William T Perry and Adult Day Care - $50 - $70/day. The packet also included a Ronald W. (Ron) Pyle special report on “Life Care Planning at Hook Law Center: Lewis Thomas where Sensitivity Meets Solution” and “Department of Veterans Charles B Whitehurst Sr. Affairs Aid and Attendance Benefit”. If you were not able to at- tend this most informative program and would like more infor- mation of some of these items, please let me know and I will get the information to you. I hope to see many of you at the June dinner meeting – it should be very interesting and Col Wickersham is a very dynamic speaker! Hopefully, our scholarship winner and their families will be able to attend. As soon as we get all the details finalized for the July brunch, I will get that information out to everyone. It is always enjoyable to just relax in a beautiful setting with great food and music. If I don’t see you in June or July, I hope that you have a safe and relaxing summer and look forward to seeing you in the fall.

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 2

ONLINE Chapter Happenings DIRECTORY

President JUNE MAJ Sherry Ferki, USA (Ret.) May/June Leadership team members attend JROTC Award Ceremo- 1st Vice President nies to present MOAA medals and certificates to the cadets selected by vacant their JROTC Instructors. 2nd Vice President LCDR D A Cherrington USN (Ret.) 13 June PACMOAA scholarship dinner meeting. Guest speaker is Secretary COL Frank Wickersham, USMC (Ret.). We will recognize scholarship Col Harold Hostetler USA (Ret.) winners. COL Wickersham will discuss TOPS transition services. Treasurer CDR Hans Sachse, USN (Ret.) July Date TBA. Annual Brunch with Peninsula and Hampton Roads

Immediate Past President Chapter LCDR Lynn Terry USN (Ret.) 22 August PACMOAA Board meeting DIRECTORS

CDR Peg Cicirelli USCG (Ret.) WELCOME ABOARD LTC R. A. Steorts USAF (Ret.) The Salute extends a hardy welcome aboard to: CWO3 Danny Miller, USN (Ret.) CDR Phillip A. Gist USN and his wife Beth who reside

Col Henry O’Brien, USA (Ret.) in Suffolk.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Chaplain JUNE DINNER LTC RA Steorts USAF (Ret.)

Auditor Our Scholarship awards dinner will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn CDR Cort Wagner, USN (Ret.) at Harbour View on Thursday the 13th. Social hour begins at 1800

Programs with wine and beer bar until 1900 when dinner will be served. No mixed vacant drinks or soft drinks will be served. Arrangements Mrs. Alice Taves MENU Publicity vacant Mixed Greens Dinner Salad

Budget/Finance with a variety of dressings CDR Hans Sachse, USN (Ret.) Chicken Marsala VCOC Representative Smashed potatoes Col Steve Turner USAF (Ret.) Green beans Legislative Representative Col Harold Hostetler USA (Ret.) Rolls and butter Regular and Decaf coffee, Scholarship Committee MAJ Sherry Ferki, USA (Ret.) Specialty teas, Ice tea and water

Personal Affairs Dessert is Chef’s choice

LCDR D A Cherrington USN (Ret.) Cost $30.00 ( includes tax and gratuity) Please make your reservation by Auxiliary Liaison th Twila C. Nelson Sunday June 9 with Alice Taves at or Sherry Ferki at: . Please re- member that a reservation made is a reservation paid.

JUNE PROGRAM Sequestration and Transitioning of Military Members Presented by Frank G. Wickersham III

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 3 What impact will sequestration actually port to the Department of Defense’s $500 have on our transitioning military million Mine Resistant Ambush Protected members? Vehicle Program. Previously, he served as VSE’s field program manager for the $100 What support will DOD/VA provide to million Army Tanker Ballistic Protection assist military members in transition? program in Kuwait and Iraq. Prior to joining VSE, Mr. Wickersham has been a successful What support does MOAA National and consultant, program manager, business de- VCOC offer to transitioning military veloper and corporate Vice President within members? the Washington DC/Northern Virginia re- gion. He has broad business development What support is available to transition- and capital investment experience. Addition- ing Wounded Warriors? ally, he has over 15 years service as an advo- cate for active force, Reserve, Guard, veter- How may MOAA Chapters assist transi- ans, military retiree and military family is- tioning military members? sues. Mr. Wickersham has served as President of the Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Sequestration and a military force draw Officers Association of America; Commander down are now upon us and will be a “fact of of the Department of Virginia, Military Or- life” for transitioning military members for der of the Purple Heart; National Legislative the next five years at a minimum. Transi- Officer, Military Order of the Purple Heart; tioning military members, and especially our Chairman, The Professional Group, George Wounded Warriors, will receive certain as- Mason University, Institute for Public Poli- sistance from DOD and VA, but will it not be cy. Most recently he has served as a non- enough. Regrettably, DOD and VA are partisan gubernatorial appointee to and bound by law, funding and bureaucratic Chairman of the Joint Leadership Council of views as to what support they may provide. Veterans Service Organizations, Common- Other non-governmental organizations and wealth of Virginia. He possesses a Bachelor businesses must step into fill the gaps as our of Arts degree in Education, a Masters de- military members transition to new work en- gree in International Affairs and has com- deavors. MOAA National, VCOC and our pleted Doctoral studies in International Re- Virginia Chapters have much to offer to our lations and Politics. military members as they transition. Mr. Wickersham is a former United States Mr. Wickersham has recently been assigned Marine Corps Colonel and Naval Aviator as the VSE Corporation’s Vice President for with 27 years’ service in over 26 countries, to Corporate Responsibility. The focus of this include locations in Africa, the Gulf Region, program is Veterans Outreach. the Middle East, South East Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South Pacific Previously, Mr. Wickersham served as Assis- and Australia. Colonel Wickersham has over tant Vice President, VSE Corporation, Alex- 5200 flight hours to include 2100 combat andria, VA. He was Division Manager of the flight hours. As both a military and commer- Field Support Services Division. This Divi- cial pilot, he held ratings as instrument sion provides maintenance and logistics sup- qualified in single and multiengine fixed

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 4 wing and single and multiengine rotor wing CHAPLAIN’S CORNER aircraft. He was a qualified military para- chutist with over 60 jumps. Additionally, Colonel Wickersham served 40 months in LISTEN TO HIM! combat and has been awarded 100 personal decorations for meritorious service or valor, When we fail to listen to God, we listen to the to include the Purple Heart. He is a veteran wrong voices. Unlike Eve, we do not live in of the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and sever- the Garden of Eden, where there is no sin. al contingency operations in North Africa, We live in a world rampant with sin, and Cuba, Somalia and Southwest Asia. when we turn deaf ears to what we know God is saying, we listen to the wrong voices. Colonel Wickersham served variously as the We begin to pay attention to other attractive Fleet Marine Officer to the Commander US voices that have only one thing in mind – our 7th Fleet/US Naval Forces Central Com- ultimate destruction. One of the most tragic mand, the Multi-lateral and Bi-lateral Arms acts anyone can carry out is to turn a deaf Control Advisor to the Commandant of the ear to almighty God. Thus, Satan is given a Marine Corps, Deputy Air Combat Element place instead. We often know what God Commander, a Brigade Air Officer, a Joint wants us to do, but somehow we say, “I know Air Operations Planner, an Aircraft Wing Lord, but ---“. When we say but, we’re really Operations Officer, an Aircraft Wing Train- telling the Lord we don’t want to hear what ing Officer, an Aircraft Wing Assistant Chief He is saying. It is then we turn our ears of Staff for Manpower, a tactical fixed wing to those voices that lead us away from the Squadron Commander, a Headquarters and will of God, away from His purpose in our Maintenance Squadron Commander, a Ma- lives. rine Air Facility Commander, a Fleet Com- bat Test and Evaluation pilot and a Marine Lord, help us listen to you and do our Corps Officer Selection Officer. [] best to serve you in our lives. Bob Steorts, Chaplain

129TH PORTSMOUTH’S MEMORIAL DAY PARADE PACMOAA TEAM (L TO R) ALICE TAVES, SHERRY FERKI, SHIRLEY BARKER AND KARL WILSON.

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 5 23 MAY BOARD MEETING NOTES out. She has gotten one response from it so far. There was some discussion about member- ship. Currently, there are 89 members, 70 Col Hal Hostetler noted that he had an ap- regular and 19 auxiliary. MOAA has new in- pointment to meet with Senator Louise Lucas centive programs and is focusing on chapter but it was canceled due to family issues. Sev- membership now. If chapters retain 90% of eral members agreed to go with Hal to see her their members from the previous year, they when an appointment can be rescheduled. will receive $500. There are several different Five JROTC award ceremonies had been at- groups being focused on for chapter member- tended so far by Leadership team members – ship to include lapsed members. MOAA sent Deep Creek (all 6 AFJROTC groups at one out a list of 2000 members which LCDR Dolly ceremony), Lakeland HS, Smithfield HS, Cherrington, membership chair, spent consid- Woodrow Wilson HS, and Churchland HS. I.C. erable time going through that list, validating Norcom and Franklin HS will be attended in contact info and sent 108 membership packets the next week.

2013 JROTC Award Ceremonies

School Director Presenter/Cadet CHESAPEAKE All AFJROTC Steve Turner/combined ceremony Deep Creek HS Col William Etchison Jordan Knox Great Bridge HS LTC Gordon Strong Aramis Joiner Indian River HS COL Thomas Martin Tyler Lane Oscar Smith HS COL Mike Helsabeck Hunter Patterson Western Branch HS COL Mike Kloski Jason McCarthy

Grassfield HS Jeffrey Erhbar

PORTSMOUTH Churchland HS CPT Ron Mace Hal Hostetler/Cadet 2nd Lt Anthony White

MCJROTC I.C. Norcom HS CWO2 Joseph Redwood Hal Hostetler/Cadet LT Darnisha S. Phillips to be Unit Commander next year NJROTC Woodrow Wilson HS LTC Chailendreia Dickins Sherry Ferki/Cadet CSM Rodshauna Wells and Drill Team Commander AJROTC

SUFFOLK All AFJROTC Lakeland HS MAJ Dale Blake Sherry Ferki/Cadet Capt David Marvin and Commander of Saber Team Nansemond River HS LTC Alvin Odom No response to correspondence King’s Fork HS LTC Alfred Harris No response to correspondence Franklin HS MAJ Bradley Jacobson Sherry Ferki/Cadet Sgt Josie Rankin Smithfield High School LTC Badoiam Peg Cicirelli /Cadet MAJ Joshua Kaplan

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 6 SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL must “fall out.” The group starts rather large; JROTC AWARDS CEREMONY but shrinks rapidly as they progress through not only rapid drill orders, but more difficult The Smithfield High School Corp of Cadets has maneuvers. With about half the Battalion grown to a four company Battalion, led by a starting, there were only about 10 cadets left in fine senior cadet, Cadet MAJ Joshua “Josh” ranks by the end. There were smiles and Kaplan. On 21 May 2013 Senior Army Instruc- laughter all around as they all “fell out.” tor (SAI) LTC Peter Badoian, Army Instructor Cookies and lemonade followed, which gave (AI) SGM Joel Joyner and Cadet Battalion CDR Cicirelli a chance to speak with Josh’s Commander MAJ Kaplan, led the Battalion in parents, Tammy and Russell Kaplan. Josh’s the annual JROTC Awards Ceremony. After two brothers and sister also attended. The the presentation of the Colors and the National Kaplan family asked me to express their appre- Anthem, ribbons were presented to each cadet ciation and thanks for the recognition by for various accomplishments achieved through- MOAA and PACMOAA of the hard work Josh out the year. After these presentations, indi- has put in and for the well wishes expressed vidual cadets were called forward for special for his future. Organizational Award presentations. PAC- MOAA Board Representative, CDR Peg Cicirel- Josh has already enlisted in the Army. He will li, USCGR (Ret) presented Cadet MAJ Kaplan, report to Ft. Benning, GA in September this BC with the MOAA Certificate and Medal. year and attend the Cryptological Network Warfare Specialist School (35Q). After, or dur- The afternoon ended with a competition by vol- ing a 4x4, active/reserve, enlistment, he hopes unteer cadets called “FALL OUT.” In the com- to attend college. A military career is also an petition, the AI starts giving drill orders to the option. cadets. The orders got faster and faster. When Respectfully submitted, cadets messed up on the execution of any given Peg Cicirelli, USCGR (Ret) order, or moved to an incorrect command, they

MOAA MEDAL RECIPIENTS NJROTC Cadet LT Darni- sha S. Phillips from I.C. Norcom HS. Danisha will be the unit commander next year.

AFJROTC Cadet Capt Da- vid Marvin. David is the Commander of Saber Team.

Congratulations to all medal recipients listed on page five above.

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 7 gressmen who have a “grave responsibility to NEWS FROM VCOC take care of those who have taken care of us” 28TH CONGRESSIONAL by developing policies to preserve our quality of life, grow our economy and spend more wisely. APPRECIATION LUNCHEON Taking care of our veterans is our top priority In the words of Congressman Scott Rigell (2nd and it includes taking a look at the Veterans District) , “we need to fix Congress now” so Administration for efficiencies. that they all cooperate in making policy and Congressman Randy Forbes (4th District) com- developing a budget that takes care of our men mended MOAA for what it does to keep issues and women in uniform for today and the fu- of the military and veterans in the forefront in ture. Congressman Rigell, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was select- ed as this year’s Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and was pre- sented the award at the 28th Annual Congres- sional Appreciation Luncheon held at the Capi- tol Hill Club in Washington D.C., on May 21, 2013. The event is held each year with mem- bers from 17 of the 18 MOAA chapters operat- ing throughout the Commonwealth coming to- gether to honor the thirteen members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation with each congressman given the opportunity to say a few words to the 130 attendees present. Con- gressman Rigell spoke of his respect and admi- ration for his 90-year old father, a veteran of WWII, and his father’s “profound love and re- spect for this country. I see this same look in the eyes of our men and women in uniform who Congress and especially in our state. “This is have met these obligations” this country puts not about statistics and numbers,” he said. them in, we in Congress “will do better”, for “But about real men and women who are giv- each and every one of you who have served in ing their best and their lives every day.” There our military have always “put your country are those in the Administration and Pentagon before yourselves.” who speak about impacts of defense cuts as an “Budgets are running strategy” rather than the “acceptable risk”; the number of soldiers, ships opposite, commented Congressman Rob Witt- and planes they are willing to lose in combat. man (1st District). “We are a great nation be- “Ask them to define it” [acceptable risk] to the cause of whatever our veterans have done.” American people and “to show them the real We need to make sure our troops have whatev- numbers” he said. He concluded by stating that er they need and we should continue to ensure “We should not put any American into that “we have the best military, best and brightest kind of situation. Our highest priority should young men and women” who need to be the be for those who fight for our county, and we best equipped, including appropriate salaries. must make sure that we make every effort to Congressman Hurt (5th District) also spoke of bring as many of them back home to our coun- “bi-partisan commitment” from his fellow con- try and to their families as possible.”

VOLUME XXXII ISSUE VI The Salute online PAGE 8 Both Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District) all-volunteer force. The past three military pay and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (6th District) raises averaged less than 1.6 percent (the low- discussed the effects of Sequestration, the need est in 50 years). It would be grossly inappropri- to look at the entire budget and the fact that ate to cap pay increases for servicemembers while not all members of the Virginia Delega- while we are still at war. tion agree on every issue, they are able to work Once again, disproportionate TRICARE fee together to bring solutions. hikes affecting military retirees are proposed There are over 837,000 veterans in Virginia, in the FY 2014 budget. These hikes, would in- “all members of Congress need to listen to you crease annual fees, impose means-testing and all,” commented retired Admiral Norb Ryan, increase pharmacy copayments. The 2012 and National President of the MOAA. The national 2013 National Defense Authorization Act in- spending on the military is “a bargain, not a creased fees, including pharmacy copayments, liability.” He stated that in 1980 the defense and required future increases be tied to the budget was the same percent of the total na- military COLA. DoD documents support the tional budget as it is today. With all the dis- fact that military personnel and their health cussions of equipment and strategies and costs, care costs are not the problem. In fact, the they need to remember “the only weapon sys- problem lies in the inefficiency and misman- tem that has never let them down – the mili- agement within DoD. Any changes to TRI- tary men and women of this country.” Press CARE fee law would represent a breach of release from VCOC faith with those who have already paid ex- Six PACMOAA members attended the 2013 traordinary premiums in sacrifice and service Congressional luncheon but Col Steve Turner through their 20-plus year military careers. is not shown in the above picture of PACMOAA Detailed fact sheets were left with congression- attendees. [] al leadership and staff on concurrent receipt for disabled military retirees (S.234 and H.R. AUXILIARY CORNER 333), the Survivor Benefit Plan/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset (S. 734 Beautiful weather complete with cherry blos- and H.R. 32), and the Guard/Reserve retire- soms greeted more than 160 members of the ment issue (S. 240 and H. R. 690). MOAA board of directors and staff, council and While we were encouraged by responses from chapter Presidents from all 50 states, and most legislators, we encourage you to contact members of the association’s Currently Serving your legislators on these issues, too. To call Advisory Council, Currently Serving Spouse your legislators’ offices toll-free, use MOAA’s Advisory Council, and Auxiliary Member Advi- direct line to the congressional switchboard: sory Committee as they gathered for the 2013 (800) 272-6622. Then, ask the operator to con- Storming the Hill lobbying event. The teams nect you with your legislator’s office, and ask to delivered the message, along with a fact sheet speak with the legislator’s legislative assistant on issues such as sustaining the 1.8-percent or military legislative assistant. military pay raise and barring unfair TRI- CARE fee hikes. Report by Patricia Bergquist, chair, Auxiliary Member Advisory Committee The proposed 1-percent pay cap fails to keep military pay comparable to the civilian work- force as indicated by the Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics’ Employment Cost Index. Previous pay caps affected the retention and readiness of our THAT’S A WRAP FOR JUNE