RAO BULLETIN 15 June 2017 PDF Edition THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Pg Article Subject . * DOD * . 04 == Transgender Troops [03] ---- (Predecisional/Extremely Sensitive Issue) 06 == Transgender Troops [04] ----- (Implement Policy Recommendation) 06 == Air Force Secretary -------------- (New Secretary's Force Assessment) 07 == DoD Tuition Assistance [05] ------------------------- (Education Guide) 09 == Guard & Reserve Recommendations --------------- (RFPB Submits 3) 10 == Arlington National Cemetery [70] --- (Survey Coming this Summer) 11 == Exchange Online Shopping [10] -------- (Verification Site Not A Scam) 12 == Commissary Click2Go Program ---------- (Online Shopping Locations) 12 == POW/MIA [88] --------------------------- (1st Lt. Robert Eugene Oxford) 14 == POW/MIA Recoveries ------------ (Reported 1 thru 15 JUN 2017 | Five) . * VA * . 16 == VA Medical Marijuana [29] --------- (VA Secretary | Could Help Vets) 17 == VA EHR [08] --- (VA & DoD to Use Same Electronic Health Record) 1 19 == VA EHR [09] -------------------------------------------- (Conversion Cost) 19 == VA CARE Program ---------------------------- (Key to Veterans Choice) 21 == VA End of Life Care [04] ---------------- (No Vet Dies Alone Program) 22 == VA Back Pain Care ------------------------ (Real Relief From Back Pain) 23 == VA Special Monthly Compensation [01] ----------- (Are You eligible?) 26 == PTSD [229] --------------- ( PTSD Treatment Decision Aid Launched) 26 == PTSD [230] --------------- (Testimony | Some Vets Are Scamming VA) 28 == Homeless Vets [79] -------------------------------- (VA Drops Zero Goal) 29 == VA Budget 2018 [04] ----------------- (CVA Say's Doesn't Cut Enough) 30 == VA Budget 2018 [05] ----------------- (Vets Speak Out on Benefit Cuts) 31 == VA Drug Theft ------------------------------- (Problem Isn't Going Away) 33 == VA Hospital Care [02] ------------------------- (A Veteran's Final Hours) 34 == VA Physician Ambassador Program ------------------------- (Launched) 34 == Project 112/SHAD ------------------------------------ (VA Compensation) 35 == Gulf War Presumptives [08] ------------------------------ (Fibromyalhia) 35 == VA Robotic Legs [03] --------------------------------- (Price Tag is Huge) 37 == GI Bill [230] -------------------------------- (Students Payments Progress) 38 == VA Claim Decision ----------------------- (What To Do If you Disagree) 39 == VA Claims Processing ]17] -------- (Concern Over Proposed Changes) 40 == VA STOPFWA ---------------------- (Initiative To Be Launched Soon) 41 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse --------- (Reported 1 thru 15 JUN 2017) 42 == VAMC Aurora CO [20] ------------------- (Perjury Charges Dropped) 42 == VAMC Omaha NE [02] ------------------------------ (Wait Time Creep) 43 == VARO Boston ------------------ (Disability Claim Error Rates | High) . * Vets * . 44 == Vet Complaint Hotline ------------------------ (Launched 1 JUN 2017) 45 == Homeless Vets [80] ------------------------------- (Why so Many in LA) 47 == Vet Terrorism Conviction -------------- (Tairod Pugh Gets 35 years) 48 == U.S. Constitution Emolument Clause -- (Military Retirees Impact) 49 == Stolen Valor [105] ------------------ (Reported 170601 thru 170615) 50 == Korean War Vets ------------------ (Barnhart~Ted | Air Sea Rescuer) 51 == WWII Vets 138 ------------ (Richard Harmon | Invasion of Europe) 53 == GI Bill [231] ---------------------------------- (Usage Declined in 2016) 55 == Obit | Samuel Wilson -------------------------------------- (10 JUN 2017) 55 == Retiree Appreciation Days ------------------------ (As of 15 JUN 2017) 56 == Vet Hiring Fairs ----------------------------- (16 JUN thru 15 JUL 2017) 58 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ----------------- (Kentucky JUN 2017) * Vet Legislation * . 59 == MOH Awards [06] -------------------------- (S.1209 | Pension Increase) 60 == Atomic Service Medal ------------ (S.1283 | Radiation Exposed Vets) 60 == VA Accountability [48] ----------- (S.1094 | Passed and Sent to House) 62 == VA Facility Closures [01] ------------ (H.R.2773 | Sell Pershing Hall) 62 == Military 2018 Pay Raise ---------------- (Leadership Recognition Act) 2 . * MILITARY * . 63 == Project Recovery ------------------------ (Locating WWII MIA Aircraft) 64 == Military Retirement System [27] ------------ (401k Cap After 26 Yrs) 65 == Armor Piercing Bullet --- (M885A1 Enhanced Performance Round) 66 == USCG Respect ---------------- (Acknowledge National Security Role) 68 == USMC Quotes -------- (Some Famous Ones by and About Marines) 69 == USS Independence (CV-62) -------------------------- (Last Port of Call) 70 == Supreme Court RFRA Petition [01] ---------------- (Appeal Rejected) 71 == Mothballed Fleet ----------------------- (Not A Factor in Fleet Buildup) . * MILITARY HISTORY * . 72 == Memorial Day 1945 --------------------------------------- (A Letter Home) 74 == HMS Gaspee Affair ---------------- (Declaration of Independence Role) 75 == USCGC McCulloch ---------- (Shipwreck Found - Will Not be Moved) 76 == National WWII Museum [01] --------------- (Salute to the Home Front) 77 == Abandoned Military Bases [01] ------------- (Devil's Park Bunker, CA) 78 == Battle of Midway -------------------------- (WWII Pacific Turning Point) 78 == Battle of Midway [01] ---- (LCdr C. Wade McClusky Jr Involvement) 80 == Brusilov Offensive WWI -------- (Largest Allied Offensive of the War) 81 == D-Day [07] ------------ (Through the Eyes of Medics - 73 Years Later) 82 == D-Day [08] ------- (New Memorial Honors Native American Sacrifice) 83 == Military History Anniversaries --------------------------- (16thru 30 June) 84 == Medal Of Honor Story ------------ (Walter Joseph Marm | Vietnam) 84 == Medal of Honor Citations --------------- (Flaherty~Francis C | WWII) . * HEALTH CARE * . 86 == Slipped Disc -------------------- (Back Pain That Keeps on Returning) 88 == TRICARE Select [01] ----------- (Changes Coming Soon | 6 Months) 89 == TRICARE Healthy Living [01] --- (Men’s Health Is Important Too) 90 == Poison Avoidance ----------------------- (Lead & Household Products) 91 == Hemorrhage Control Foam ---- (Intracavitary Abdominal Bleeding) 91 == Colon Cancer [05] -------------------------- (Screenings Save Vet Lives) 92 == Skin Protection ---------------------------------------------------- (Sunshine) 93 == Hearing Protection --------------------------------------- (Noisy Activities) 93 == TRICARE Podcast 400 - (Mens Health Month | Weather | Food Safety) 95 == TRICARE Podcast 401 -- (Appointments | Blood Pressure | Sunscreen) . * FINANCES * . 96 == Dumb Insurance [02] ----- (Collision (old car), Flight & Critical Illness) 97 == Mutual Funds ----------------------------------- (How To Invest in Them) 98 == Exchange Online Shopping [09] ------------------- (Early Registration) 100 == Military Divorce & Separation [06] -- (Disability Pay Not Divisible) 100 == Curb Appeal Enhancement -------------------------------- (House Selling) 103 == Homeowners Insurance [03] ------- (Tips For Getting The Best Deal) 105 == my Social Security [03] --------------------- (Access Procedure Change) 106 == Phone Scam -------------------- (Your Number Calling? Don't Pick Up) 3 106 == Tax Burden for New Hampshire Retired Vets ------- (As of JUN 2017) . * GENERAL INTEREST * . 108 == Sbcglobal Email Provider [01] ----- (Bulletin Blockage Action Taken) 108 == Notes of Interest ------------------------------------ (01 thru 15 JUN 2017) 109 == WWII Last Man Club ------- (Annual Meeting to Toast Fellow Vets) 110 == U.S. Russia Tensions [02] -------- (Nuclear Weapon Use in Ukraine) 111 == Air Force Museum ----------------------- ($40,000 Granted in Lawsuit) 112 == PRK Nuclear Weapons [10] --- (North Korea's Warnings Continue) 113 == Cantaloupes [01] -------------------------------------------------------- (Tips) 114 == Law Breaking ------------------ (21 You May Not Know Your Doing) 116 == Steak ---------------------------------------- (How to Cook the Perfect One) 117 == Landline Phone Service [01] -------- (Going the Way of The Dinosaur) 118 == Garage Doors -------------------------------- (Making Yours Stand Out (4) 118 == Have You Heard? --------------- (Wal-Mart Trips | Men Never Learn) ]Note: 1. The page number on which an article can be found is provided to the left of each article’s title 2. Numbers contained within brackets [ ] indicate the number of articles written on the subject. To obtain previous articles send a request to [email protected]. * ATTACHMENTS * . Attachment - RAO Bulletin June 15, 2017 Attachment - Kentucky Vet State Benefits & Discounts JUN 2017 Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 June * DoD * Transgender Troops Update 03 ► Predecisional/Extremely Sensitive Issue A controversial Pentagon directive that would allow transgender men and women to join the military beginning this summer now faces indefinite delay as senior leaders within each of the services voice lingering concerns about the Obama-era policy intended to end discrimination but dismissed by critics as social experimentation. This development, confirmed to Military Times by multiple sources with knowledge of these internal discussions, comes as the Defense Department faces a 1 JUL deadline to fully implement a policy that one year ago lifted the ban on transgender personnel already in uniform, and established the conditions and timeline by which new applicants could join either through enlistment or as officer candidates. President Donald Trump does not share his predecessor's view on transgender rights,