RAO BULLETIN 1 September 2017 PDF Edition THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Pg Article Subject . * DOD * . 05 == DoD Budget 2018 [06] ---------- (Continuing Resolution Impact Warning) 05 == DoD Troop Caps - (Elaborate Counting System Lowers Actual Numbers) 07 == Transgender Troops [08] -------------- (Trump Signs Service Ban Directive) 08 == MCAS Futenma Okinawa [10] ----------- (Appeals Court Revives Lawsuit) 09 == Trump Afghanistan Strategy ------------------------------------------ (A New Plan) 12 == Trump Afghanistan Strategy [01] -------------------- (Lawmakers React to Plan) 13 == Afghanistan Manning Levels ------------------------------------- (2007 thru 2017) 14 == Navy Collisions --------------------------------- (Why They Are Happening Now) 16 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ------------------ (Reported 16 thru 31 AUG 2017) 17 == POW/MIA [92] -------------------------------------------------- (Pfc. Dale W. Ross) 18 == POW/MIA Recoveries ------------ (Reported 16 thru 31 AUG 2017 | Fourteen) 1 . * VA * . 19 == VA Psychiatrists ------------ (Shortage Impacting Vet's Mental Health Care) 20 == VA Lawsuit | John Porter ----------------------------------- (Delayed Treatment) 20 == VA Family Benefits ----------------------------- (Six You should Be Aware Of) 21 == VA Veteran Support [04] ----------------------- (Female Numbers Increasing) 22 == VA Suicide Prevention [43] ----------------- (Surveys To Flag Those at Risk) 23 == VA Disciplinary Process [01] ---------------------------------- (Weekly Reports) 24 == VA Death Verification System [02] ------------------------- (Did You Know?) 24 == VA Whistleblowers [52] ----------------------------------------- (Albany VAMC) 25 == VA Medical Marijuana [32] -------------- (Advocates Criticize VA Research) 26 == Agent Orange Diseases [04] -- (Shulkin to Decide by 1 NOV on Additions) 27 == PTSD [233] ---------- (USFDA Designates MDMA Breakthrough Therapy) 29 == VA Geriatrics & Extended Care [01] ----------- (State Vet Homes Program) 29 == VA Compensable Disabilities [01] ----------- (Top 10 Overlooked by Vets) 31 == VA Incarcerated Employees ------------------------------- (New AWOL Policy) 31 == VA Stroke Program [02] ------------------------------ (Mobile Tablets for Care) 32 == VA Heart Care [01] ---------------------------------- (Off Pump By-pass Surgery) 33== VA Medical Facilities [02] ----- (Senate Approves 7 New VAMC's for Florida) 33 == VA Compensation & Benefits ------ (Problem Solving Program Q&A 1 and 2) 36 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---------------- (Reported 16 thru 31 AUG 2017) 38 == VAMC Buffalo NY [02] -------------- (Improperly Cleaned Medical Scopes) 38 == VAMC McGuire VA [03] ------------------------ (Resource Management Role) 39 == VAMC Wilkes-Barre PA [01] ---------------- (Cardiac Catheterization Team) 40 == VAMC Denver CO [07] --------------------------------- (Chronic Understaffing) 41 == VAMC Marion IL [04] ------ (Productivity Bonus Compromises Accuracy) 43 == VA-HCS New England ------------------------ (VA Wants to Bolster Services) . * Vets * . 44 == Vietnam Veterans Memorial [19] ----------------------------------- (Vandalized) 45 == Maryland Vet Cemetery [04] ---------------------------- (Security Guards Hired) 46 == WWII Vets 142 ------------- (Frank J. Ajster | Multiple Bronze Star Recipient) 47 == Vietnam Vets 25 -------------------------- (Jim McCloughan | MOH Recipient) 49 == GI Bill [238] --------------- (Advanced Degree Growth Under Post 9/11 Bill) 50 == GI Bill [239] -------------------------------------------- (Trump Signs Forever Bill) 52 == Vietnam Documentary -------- (10-part, 18-hour Series to Air on PBS 17 SEP) 54 == AFL Q&A 04 ----------------------------------------- (Locating Military Records) 54 == Retiree Appreciation Days --------------------- (Scheduled As of 31 AUG 2017) 55 == Vet Hiring Fairs ----------------------------------- (Scheduled As of 01 SEP 2017) 56== Vet State Benefits & Discounts ---------------------------- (Minnesota Aug 2017) * Vet Legislation * . 56 == VA Mustard Agent Care [06] ----------------------------- (President Signs Bill) 57 == VA Health Care Access [55] -------- (H.R.3557 | Doctors for Veterans Act) 58 == VA Appeals [27] ---------- (Trump Signs Disability Appeals Overhaul Bill) 2 59 == Agent Orange Korea [08] -------- (Fairness for Korean DMZ Veterans Act) 60 == Vet Congressional Issues [01] -------------------------- ( Banner Year for Vets) 62 == Vet Congressional Issues [02] --------- (Congress Criticized on Bill Handling) 63 == VA Women Vet Programs [30] ------------ (H.R.2452 | Deborah Sampson Act) 63 == Other Vet Legislation ----------------------- (Recently Introduced as of 170631) . * MILITARY * . 64 == Military Advancement ------- (Navy Eliminates E-4 Exams for 20 Ratings) 65 == USAF Pilot Shortage -------------------------------------- (Retired Pilots Sought) 66 == USMC Guam Base --------------------------- (Contact Awarded for New Base) 66 == HMS Queen Elizabeth ------- (New Carrier's Early Homeport Appearance) 58 == Women In Service [01] ------------------------- (Navy Ratings Still 99% Male) 70 == USS Hue City (CG-66) --------------------------------- (Chiefs Mess Meltdown) 74 == PPV Lease Renters Insurance ----------------- (Navy Removes Requirement) 74 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [04] ---------------- (Disciplinary Action Planned) 75 == USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) - (Named for McCain's Dad/Grandfather) 76 == USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) [01] ---------- (Strait of Malacca Collision) 77 == Drones | Aerial [02] --- (Cheap One Gets Past Best British Navy Defenses) 78 == Drones | Aerial [03] ---------------------- (Being Prepped for Missile Defense) 79 == Military Hydrogen Production ------------- (Researchers Find New Method) 80 == USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) --------- (Commissioned | 1st in Its Class) 61 == B-52's [03] --------------------------------- (18 Things About the Stratofortress) 83 == Military Tattoo Criteria [10] ------------------------ (Barrier to Re-Enlistment) . * MILITARY HISTORY * . 84 == USS Indianapolis (CA-35) [01] -------- (Wreckage Found in Philippine Sea) 85 == GWOT Memorial Wall [02] ----------------- (Trump Signs Construction Bill) 86 == National Guard Mobilization [01] --------------------------------- (World War I) 87 == H.L. Hunley --------------------- (Crew Mystery Deaths Solved After 153 Years) 88 == Abandoned Military Bases [06] -- (Shivering Sands Maunsell Army Fort, Eng) 88 == WWII Operation Bernard ------------------------------ (Nazi Counterfeiting Plan) 89 == Insanely Daring Air Raids - (No. 5 | Sinking of the Prince of Wales & Repulse) 90 == Military History Anniversaries ------------------------------------ (01 thru 15 SEP) 90 == Medal of Honor Citations ------------------ (Fournier~William Grant | WWII) . * H EALTH CARE * . 91 == Prescription Filling Options [02] ---------------- (New Express Script Policy) 92 == Military Health Care ----------------------- (Mental Health Provider Concerns) 93 == TRICARE Changes [01] ------------- (Upcoming Ones Which May Affect You) 94 == TRICARE Fee Indices ------------------------- (COLA vs. NHE | Big Difference) 95 == TMOP [22] --------------------- (New Express Scripts 1 SEP 2017 Refill Policy) 95 == Severe Eczema ---------------------------------- (Possible Cause Has Been Found) 96 == TRICARE Podcast 411 ----- (Prescription Refills | Health Care | School Shots) 97 == TRICARE Podcast 412 - (Preventive Services | Disasters | Back to School) . * FINANCES * . 3 99 == Insurance Premiums -------------- (7 Reasons Why They Are Rising ~24%) 101 == VA Loan Funding Fee ----------------------------- (Understanding What It Is) 102 == Payday Loans [03] --------------------- (Tempted. First Take a Closer Look) 103 == Medicare Back Brace Scam ---------------- (A New Twist on a Classic Con) 103 == Apartment Rental Scam ----------------------------------- (Too Good to be True) 104 == College Student/Parent Scams -------------------------------- (9 Common Ones) 106 == Generic Buying -------------- (20 Products You Should Always Buy Generic) 109 == Tax Burden for Tennessee Retired Vets -------------------- (As of AUG 2017) . * GENERAL INTEREST * . 110 == Notes of Interest ------------------------------------------- (16 thru 31 AUG 2017) 111 == False Rape Claim Lawsuit ------ (Former West Point Cadet Awarded $8.4M) 112 == Afghanistan Failures ------------------------------------ (Six Costly Ones So Far) 114 == Philippines War on Militants ------------ (Battle of Marawi City Almost Over) 115 == DPRK Missile Program ---------------------- (Another Successful Missile Test) 116 == IoT Toys --------------------------------------------------------- (Security Warning) 117 == Marine Corps War Memorial [03] --------------------- (Rehabilitation Started) 117 == North Korea Defectors [ 01] ------------------------ (Un Followed Out of Fear) 118 == MREs [01] -------------------------------------------------------- (Civilian Market) 119 == WD-40 [01] ------------------------------------------------------------- (More Uses) 120 == Earthquakes [01] ---------------- (ShakeAlert System Incremental Progress) 121 == Salads -------------------------------------------------------- (VA Dietician Advice) 122 == Darwin Awards -- (Self Destruction in the Most Extraordinarily Stupid Way) 123 == Passport Application --------- (State Department Letter From an Irate Citizen) 124 == Garage Door Billboards --------------------------- (Making Yours Stand Out (8) 125 == Have You Heard? --------------- (The Chief goes fishing