BIG TRICARE CHANGES ON THE HORIZON 8 JANUARY 2016 Taking Care of Marines 12 VA Updates List of Ships Exposed to Agent Orange 30 Introducing New NHQ Staff ' * ** )"(*((*#$$*!((#! ('(()&(* FROM THE MAKER OF TO HONOR YOUR SERVICE TO COUNTRY AVAILABLE WITH NASA'S MA-1 JACKET CONCEAL CARRY FOR KENNEDY SPACE TWIN HOLSTER CENTER GIFT SHOP UNITED STATES MILITARY FEATURE! PERSONALIZED WITH YOUR SERVICE BRANCH PATCH - WOVEN IN OFFICIAL COLORS OUR U.S. MILITARY MA-1 BRAVO JACKET is created in partnership with Burks Bay of Minnesota - the company selected to make the NASA MA-1 for its Kennedy Space Center gift shop. 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Date: ____ / ____ (See chart above) S M LG XL XXL† 3XL† Card Security Code (CSC):________ Signature: __________________________ ............. $ 99.00 Conceal Carry Feature (Add $30)......................................... $__________ (We CANNOT ship to P.O. Boxes) Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Vietnam Veteran Patch on Sleeve (Add $20) ....................... $__________ Name ____________________________________________________________ †Sizes XXL to 3XL (Add $20) ............................................... $__________ Address __________________________________________________________ Plus Shipping & Handling ........................................................ $ 19.95 TOTAL DUE:.............................................................................. $__________ City_____________________________________ State_____ Zip ____________ Phone # (_________) ______________________________________________ Enclosed is my check payable to Veterans Commemoratives for the Total Due (In case we have a question about your order) Charge my credit card for the Total Due Email ____________________________________________________________ Charge my credit card in two equal interest-free monthly payments © ICM 2015-16 MA1JKT-NA-0116 January 2016 Volume 95 Number 1 1 Featured 18 FRA TODAY 18 TAKING CARE OF MARINES 2016 JANUARY Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green became the Corps’ top enlisted member nearly a year ago. During his brief tenure, he’s continued to do what he’s done throughout his 32-year military career — take care of Marines. Read his exclusive interview with FRA Today on page 18. Departments 2 COMMUNICATIONS 9 4 FROM THE FANTAIL Working Together for Positive Change 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL Big TRICARE Changes on the Horizon 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS 16 Adapted Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans 28 TAPS 30 WELCOME ABOARD Meet New FO Nora Graham and ADVP Brian Condon 33 REUNIONS 34 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES 36 NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA Message from National Vice President Karen Snee LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE ON THE COVER FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE is in “the people business” and his focus is taking U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR care of all members of the Marine Corps family — MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT those currently serving, veterans, retirees and their WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. families. Photos provided by www.marines.mil. COMMUNICATIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President Virgil P. Courneya, High Sierra Branch 274 National Vice President: Donald L. Larson, Corpus Christi Branch 94 National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181 JANUARY 2016 JANUARY Nora M. Graham, CPA, CMA Finance Officer Sharing Shipmates’ Stories Lauren Armstrong Junior PNP John D. Ippert, Honolulu Branch 46 National Parliamentarian PNP F. Donald Mucheck, Low Country ONE OF THE MOST rewarding facets of my job is the interesting people Branch 269 FRA TODAY I get to interview for the FRA Today feature stories. In the past few National Chaplain Dana Wallace, Annapolis Branch 24 years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing motivating heroes like Iwo REGIONAL PRESIDENTS Jima veterans, Navaho Code Talkers, an inspiring Vietnam POW, Navy WAVES and Corpsmen, Coast Guard rescue swimmers and SPARS, Northeast/New England Donna M. Jansky, North Shore Branch 31 and Marine Corps drill instructors … to name just a few. East Coast Penny Collins, Annapolis Branch 24 Southeast Dave W. Davis, Atlantic Beach Branch 290 It’s my sincere North Central Marcia Cunningham, Milwaukee Branch 14 honor to share their South Central Donald R. Gibson, Lone Star Branch 11 stories with our read- Southwest Donald L. Kelley, Imperial Beach Branch 289 ers, and this month’s West Coast Patrick H. LeClaire, Silver Dollar Branch 192 feature story is no Northwest Julian “JJ” Wynn, Honolulu Branch 46 exception. It was a privilege to interview ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL Sergeant Major of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens Marine Corps Ronald Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green Green, but a particular Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell treat to do so on the RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL Marine Corps’ 240th Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Clarence “CJ” Mitchell birthday. Friendly, USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Anthony Spadaro down-to-earth and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force sincerely committed Eric Johnson to all members of the Marine Corps family, FRA TODAY MAGAZINE Green exemplifies the The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association best of the Corps and Publisher Fleet Reserve Association sets a fine leadership I was honored to visit SMMC Green’s office on the National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee example for others to Marine Corps’ 240th birthday. Communications Director Lauren Armstrong follow. Managing Editor William Kohudic In the coming months, I’m excited to share some other interest- Contributing Photographer Paul Gunther ing stories with our readers. Future features will highlight some new Design and Art Direction innovations in K-9 security, preparing for retirement (contributed by FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com our good friends at USAA) and a few other topics that I hope you can Design Director Scott Rodgerson Production Manager Sandy Jones help me research. Our shipmates have a great wealth of experience and I love to include our members’ perspective whenever possible. If you or FRA TODAY (ISSN 1935-7192) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., someone you know has some first-hand experience or connection to ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL the following, please let me know: OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT • The attack on the USS Liberty CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, • Coast Guard duty in the Antarctic VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. • Marine Corps Aviation Maintenance ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED • Navy Aerographers Mates 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. I also welcome suggestions for other topics you’d like to see featured FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, in FRA Today. Every shipmate has a story and, although we can’t pub- VA 22314-2754 • PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • lish them all, I’d be honored to share as many as possible. FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] • WWW.FRA.ORG With sincere best wishes for 2016, I remain in Loyalty, Protection VOLUME 95 NUMBER 1 and Service. Lauren Armstrong is FRA’s Director of Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at