FY 2017 NDAA STALLS IN SENATE 8 JULY 2016 9 Agent Orange Reform 28 FRA Mourns the Passing of PNP James Eblen July 2016 Volume 95 Number 7 1 Featured 18 FRA TODAY 18 RETIREMENT: MAKING YOUR VISION 2016 JULY A REALITY “Retirement” means different things to different people and one’s vision can change and evolve over the course of careers and lives. It’s never too early to plan for retirement, but it’s also never too late. Take action now to create your dream retirement. Departments 2 COMMUNICATIONS 9 4 FROM THE BRIDGE An Open Letter from National President Virgil Courneya 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL FY 2017 NDAA Stalls in Senate 16 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Outreach Programs 28 IN MEMORIAM PNP James C. “Jim” Eblen 30 TAPS 32 REUNIONS / LOOKING FOR… 34 SHIPMATE NEWS 36 NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA Message from the Southeast Regional President Pat Suckow LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ON THE COVER ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE It’s never too early … or too late … to make a U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR financial plan for retirement. Our affinity partner MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT USAA has some tips for making your retirement WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. vision a reality. 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 JULY 2016 JULY National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Nora M. Graham, CPA, CMA Junior PNP John D. Ippert, Honolulu Branch 46 Speaking of Retirement … Lauren Armstrong National Parliamentarian PNP F. Donald Mucheck, Low Country FRA TODAY Branch 269 A LARGE PORTION OF FRA’s membership is retired from military service, National Chaplain Dana Wallace, Annapolis Branch 24 many are also retired from second careers, and there are also numerous shipmates who are just now planning for retirement. Special thanks to REGIONAL PRESIDENTS our affinity partner USAA for contributing this month’s feature article Northeast/New England Donna M. Jansky, North Shore Branch 31 East Coast Penny Collins, Annapolis Branch 24 and helping our readers reach their retirement goals. Southeast Dave W. Davis, Atlantic Beach Branch 290 And speaking of retirement, it seems like an appropriate time to let North Central Marcia Cunningham, Milwaukee Branch 14 our readers know that I’ve announced mine. I plan to remain at my post South Central Donald R. Gibson, Lone Star Branch 11 until the December 2016 issue of FRA Today is complete (mid-Novem- Southwest Donald L. Kelley, Imperial Beach Branch 289 West Coast Patrick H. LeClaire, Silver Dollar Branch 192 ber) and then turn the reins over to a capable replacement. The search Northwest Julian “JJ” Wynn, Honolulu Branch 46 has already begun to find my relief and so FRA’s next Communications Director has as much time as possible to learn the ropes. ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL My tenure at FRA National Headquarters has been more than just a Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens job for me. I genuinely believe in FRA’s important mission and it’s been Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell gratifying to play a small part in advancing legislation and other initia- tives that benefit our members. But my attachment to the Association RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL is more than that. I’m grateful that FRA was willing to take a chance Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Clarence “CJ” Mitchell on me nearly 17 years ago, when my only writing experience was for a USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Anthony Spadaro volunteer publication. FRA gave me the opportunity to do something I Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force Eric Johnson really didn’t know I had the capacity to do. As my level of responsibility grew, so did my understanding of the organization and myself. My re- FRA TODAY MAGAZINE spect for the shipmates and Auxiliary members grew, too, and I became The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association a passionate cheerleader for the FRA Family. Publisher Fleet Reserve Association I came to realize the amazing stories our shipmates had to tell and National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee I’ll be forever grateful that many allowed me the privilege of retelling Communications Director Lauren Armstrong them. For some, I was the first person with whom they’d ever entrusted Managing Editor Victoria Duran Contributing Photographer Paul Gunther their pain or heartbreak, and I don’t take that honor lightly. I’ve often Design and Art Direction said that FRA Today is a labor of love and, as my departure from the FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Headquarters staff gets closer, I’m learning that’s truer than I realized. Design Director Scott Rodgerson As much as I rail against the treadmill of publishing deadlines, FRA Production Manager Sandy Jones helped me find my true calling as a writer, gave me a vehicle and an FRA TODAY (ISSN 1935-7192) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., audience who enjoyed my work and allowed me tremendous autonomy ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL to create something from scratch each and every month. Every writer OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT should have such a devoted readership and every employee should be CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, so fortunate. 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. Thank you for this privilege and I look forward to connecting with ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED as many of you as possible in the coming months and at our National 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. Convention in October. FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 • PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] • WWW.FRA.ORG Lauren Armstrong is FRA’s Director of Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of VOLUME 95 NUMBER 7 FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. 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