FRA ENCOURAGES ALL SHIPMATES TO GET INVOLVED 8 MARCH 2011 ESGR Page 18 Supporting Reservists and Their Employers 12 VA Expands List of Ships Exposed to Agent Orange 14 FRA Honors Outstanding USN, USMC Personnel 17 The Value of FRA Membership MESOTHELIOMA You don’t have to ght this alone. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with, or died from asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma, we may be able to help you get monetary compensation from the asbestos companies. With over 65 years of collective experience in asbestos litigation, the professionals at Bergman Draper & Frockt welcome the chance to provide you with the highest quality representation and the individual attention you deserve. Call for information and a free consultation. The Northwest’s Leading Asbestos Litigation Firm 614 First Avenue 3rd Floor We accept cases Seattle, WA 98104 throughout the 206.957.9510 United States and 888.647.6007 Toll Free www.bergmanlegal.com Canada March 2011 Volume 90 Number 3 1 Featured 18 FRA TOD A Y 18 ESGR: SUPPOrtING RESERVISTS AND MARCH 2011 THEIR EMPLOYERS As our country requires more of Reserve Component personnel, more is also being asked of their employers. This month, FRA Today highlights how Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is making a difference for members of the uniformed services and the companies that employ them. Departments 2 COMMUNIcatIONS 12 4 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 5 NED PERSPECTIVE Due Diligence 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL FRA Encourages All Shipmates to Get Involved 26 17 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Value of FRA Membership 26 HISTORY & HERItage Battle of the Ironclads 28 NeWS FROM THE BRANCHES 30 TAPS 32 REUNIONs 34 LOOKING FOR… 36 LA FRA NEWS Message from West Coast Regional President Kathy Goheen LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHartereD, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZatION ON THE COVER ADVOcatING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE Reserve Component personnel are an integral part U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR of our nation’s military might. Their civilian employ- MORE INFORMatION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT ers are stepping up to support them and their WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. families. COMMUNIcatIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President James Scarbro, Chesapeake Branch 40 National Vice President Jeffrey Gilmartin, Potomac Region Branch 207 National Executive Dir. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Paul Rigby, Honorary Member MARCH 2011 Y A Eileen Murphy Junior PNP Gary Blackburn, Vallejo Branch 8 Sharing information PNP Robert G. Beese, Volusia County National Parliamentarian Branch 335 FRA TOD PUTTING TOGETHER THIS MAGAZINE is a tremendous team effort. Great National Chaplain James Campbell, Chesapeake Branch 4 thought goes to what news items will be of interest to our active duty, Reserve, veteran and/or retired shipmates. Topics for feature articles are decided far in advance based on reader input, suggestions from REGIONAL PRESIDENTS military leadership and an awareness of gaps in coverage by other orga- New England Philip Justin, Quonset Davisville, Branch 42 nizations or news outlets. FRA was approached last year, for instance, Northeast David Munday, Lakehurst Branch 124 by Adam Bashaw, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Marine East Coast Chris Slawinski, Navy Department Branch 181 Southeast Bobby Smith, Knoxville Branch 194 Forces Reserve, for assistance in getting the word out about the tre- North Central Leon Zalewski, Milwaukee Branch 14 mendous work the Guard and Reserve do, and the need for greater South Central Russell Miller, Capital Area Branch 201 employer support. The Department of Defense started the Employer Southwest Glenn Holz, Imperial Beach Branch 290 Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in 1972 and is working dili- West Coast Pat LeClaire, Silver Dollar Branch 192 gently to make sure those who would benefit from their work are aware Northwest Hazel Bettencourt, Gem State Branch 382 of its existence. To assist in that effort, Lauren Armstrong, our Feature Editor, and Cpl. Jad Slieman, an active duty combat correspondent at ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL the Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs Office combined efforts to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West bring you this month’s feature story. We hope our readers will not only Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent enjoy reading this article, but also consider Reserve service members Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt or employers who may benefit from the information within. FRA’s mission is to be the voice for all current and former enlisted RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel on Capitol Hill. Much like the challenges ESGR is facing, there are still personnel who would Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve Ronney A. Wright USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Kim E. Davis benefit from FRA membership but are not aware of the Association or Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force that they can quickly join at www.fra.org/join or by phone at 1-800- Mark Allen FRA-1924. Please give thought to those you know who are eligible for FRA membership but are not yet members. Give them a call, send an e-mail, share your magazine or even invite them to a branch meeting. FRA TODAY MAGAZINE Sharing information about why FRA is important to you may help Publisher FRA them see why membership would be a great investment for their future National Executive Director Joseph L. Barnes as well. Managing Editor Eileen Murphy Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong Design and Art Direction VA Enrollment FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Design Director Scott Rodgerson Many thanks to Shipmate Joe Snyder, who let us know about some missing Production Manager Sandy Jones information in last month’s “Shipmate Forum.” The web addresses regarding enrollment in the VA’s healthcare system did not appear in the final copy of the FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., magazine. We apologize for the oversight and want shipmates to know they ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL can apply for VA enrollment online at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/ OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: vha/1010ez/, by calling the VA at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) or with the help of SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND a VA health care eligibility specialist at any VA medical center. Go to http:// FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1 for locations. For more 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. information regarding eligibility, visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/. 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 VOLUME 90 NUMBER 3 Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. CARRIN_NA0311_Layout 1 1/25/11 12:15 PM Page 1 0.46649/64,0694,-/ .-#04.)6#9,-9.$64,0.9)6.4,-9+49/64,069.-#90.466496$ 6$/ Marine Corps Ring Navy Ring shown with shown with 3(9$25738 8*239,317!372 #7717*39,317!372 N11 M2 8925895*(9&*973&5*(%89*598%"17891857819*9+7%72"9 • The ring body is .925 Sterling Silver detailed with genuine 24 kt. Gold. 37&8(9/&2&819-29 9$2573890*5190258859/857%89473!1' • The inside band is solid & smooth for comfort fit. Rings are never hollowed out! • Each ring is handcrafted by America’s premiere maker of Military Rings. • Your Career Insignia is featured on the side of the ring opposite a Navy • A solid 10 kt. Gold Navy or Marine Corps Emblem sits atop a brilliant Service emblem or Marine Corps “Iwo Jima Flag Raising” sculpture. Capstone surrounded by your Service Name in bold sculpted letters. • Thank you priced at just $199* with an affordable payment plan available. N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N9 N8 N10 N12 N13 N14 N15 N16 NAVY AVIATION AVIATION ELECTRICIAN’S HOSPITAL MACHINIST’S MESS MGT. QUARTER OPERATIONS RADIOMAN BOATSWAIN CRYPTOLOGIC ELECTRONIC SUBMARINER GUN MATE SERVICE ELECTRONICS STRUCTURAL MATE MATE MATE SPECIALIST MASTER SPECIALIST MATE TECH TECH TECHNICIAN As a final touch of exclusivity your ring will be engraved on the inside band with your M1 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 initials and years of service. 1ST MARDIV 3RD MARDIV 4TH MARDIV 1ST MAW 2ND MAW 3RD MAW 4TH MAW DRILL INSTRUCT. 5TH MARDIV 6TH MARDIV )+49)./6/9/64,0690. 9+ 9)4669+9+4#64'9 )4669) .9,- Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm EST Have Credit card and ring size ready when ordering. WITH EVERY ORDER +59$27"9&*' Veterans Commemoratives™ U.S. Career Service Rings, Two Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 120, Radnor, PA 19087-4599 I wish to order the following U.S. Career Service Ring 058(7&9025(' Visa Master Card AMEX Discover personalized with my initials and year dates of service as follows: "82189183(9899)4669.857%239)"2!973 Card # ______________________________________ Exp.