RAO BULLETIN 15 July 2018 PDF Edition THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES Pg Article Subject . * DOD * . 04 == Transgender Troops [19] ---- (Opposition to Trump’s Enlistment Ban) 05 == NATO Defense Spending [01] ---- (Germany U.S. Troop Withdrawal Analysis) 06 == NATO Defense Spending [02] ---- (70 to 90% Paid for by U.S.) 07 == Commissary Alcohol Sales ---- (12 U.S. Stores to start Selling Beer & Wine) 08 == NDAA 2019 [08] ---- (Closed-Door Negotiations Launched) 09 == POW/MIA Displays [03] ---- (U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Dispute) 10 == POW/MIA [108] ---- (Julius Piper | Proper Burial after 74 Years) 11 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JULY 2018 | 12) . * VA * . 13 == VA Survivors’ & DEA Program ---- (Changes Effective August 1, 2018) 14 == VA Vet Choice [82] ---- (Funding Dispute Sidelines Congress’ Appropriations Progress) 14 == VA Mustard Agent Care [08] ---- (Previously Denied Claims under Review) 15 == VA Cancer Treatment [57] ---- (NAVIGATE Program | Access to Clinical Trials) 16 == VA Whistleblowers [56] ---- (CAVHCS Patient Records Manipulation) 17 == VA Dental Benefits [02] ---- (Not Available to 94.5% of all Vets) 17 == VA Transgender Care [01] ---- (VA Weighs Lifting Surgery Exclusion) 18 == VA Artificial Intelligence ---- (Use Speeds Up & Improves Quality of Vet Care) 19 == VA Secretary [81] ---- (Filling VA’s Top Vacancy) 20 == VA Emergency Medical Care ---- (What Vets Need to Know to Qualify) 21 == VA Nursing Homes [09] ---- (Nationwide Congressional Inquiry Requested) 1 22 == VA Unpaid Obligations [01] ---- (What Vets Need to Know About Paying) 23 == VA Disability Compensation [12] ---- (How Much You Are Entitled to in 2018) 24 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JUL 2018) 25 == VAMC Ashville NC [01] ---- (Nursing Home Poor Ratings) . * VETS * . 26 == Army Emergency Relief [02] ---- (There for Those Who Served) 27 == GI Bill Update 256 ---- (16-year Cap on Benefit Transfer Option to Dependents) 27 == Vet Benefits Funding [04] ---- (PAYGO Rule Impact) 30 == Vet Unemployment [16] ---- (A Deeper Look | Big vs. Small Business) 30 == Ann Margaret Thanks Soldiers ---- (A True Story) 32 == Vet Robocalls ---- (Most Likely Not From VA) 33 == Vet Deportations [22] ---- (Dependent Protection Request Denials) 34 == Nursing Homes [14] ---- (Average Vet Admission Age Decreasing) 35 == Last Man Standing ---- (Fred Spencer | WWII Co. C, 126th Inf Regt, 32nd Div) 36 == The Greatest Generation [01] ---- (At least 362 WWII Vets Die Daily) 37 == Vet Toxic Exposure | George AFB ---- (Don’t Get Pregnant) 37 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Base Water [01] ---- (Camp Pendleton Radiation) 38 == Vet Fraud & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JUL 2018) 40 == Vet Cemetery California [18] ---- (Mare Island Naval Cemetery Deterioration) 41 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [54] ---- (VA ‘Center of Excellence’ Called For) 42 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [55] ---- (Suers Refusing To Give Up the Fight 43 == Obit: Richard Harrison ---- (25 JUN 2018 | Navy) 44 == Obit: Helen Miller ---- (17 JUN 2018 | Army) 45 == Bladensburg WWI Vet Memorial [05] ---- (Appealed to Supreme Court) 46 == Native American Veterans Memorial [01] ---- (“Warriors’ Circle of Honor” Chosen) 46 == Vet Jobs [236] ---- (MAY Unemployment Rate Dropped Slightly to 3.3%) 47 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 15 JUL 2018) 48 == Military Retirees & Veterans Events Schedule ---- (As of 15 JUL 2018) 49 == Vet State Benefits ---- (Alaska JUL 2018) . * VET LEGISLATION * . 49 == Agent Orange Thailand [02] ---- (H.R. 4843 | Concede Exposure to All Vets) 50 == Military Sexual Misconduct [01] ---- (S.2141 | Military Justice Improvement Act) 50 == TRICARE User Fees [103] ---- (H.R.5515/S.2987 | Retiree Cost Increases) 51 == Military Tax Relief [03] ---- (H.R.5747 | Special Operations Forces Tax Cut) . * MILITARY* . 51 == NDAA 2019 [07] ---- (Troop Damaged Equipment Mementos) 52 == Navy Hair Standards ---- (New Hairstyles Authorized for Female Sailors) 53 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [16] ---- (Former CO Pleads Not Guilty to Collision Charges) 53 == Army Guard Tuition Aid ---- (5 AUG Changes) 54 == SGLI/VGLI [17] ---- (Proposed Change to Close Spouse Notification Loopholes) 54 == Army Anti-Aircraft Stryker ---- (Can Kill Tanks Too) 56 == GTMO Detainees [04] ---- (Judge in USS Cole Case Resigning) 57 == Military Immigrant Enlistment [02] ---- (Some Being Abruptly Discharged by Army) 58 == Military Immigrant Enlistment [03] ---- (USMC Delayed-Entry Program) 2 59 == Navy Sea Duty [01] ---- (Shore Duty Tours Being Cut Short to Fill Needs) 60 == X-Ray Bomb ---- (Could Neutralize Chemical & Biological Weapons) 60 == USMC Selective Retention Bonuses ---- ($136M Planned for FY 2019) 61 == Adapt Program ---- (Dealing With Alcohol Abuse) 62 == Laser AK-47 ---- (China Non-lethal Assault Rifle Claim Dubious) 63 == Military Death Penalty [01] ---- (Supreme Court Denies Ronald A. Gray Petition) 64 == Navy Mandatory Retirement Board ---- (Convenes 3 DEC for Navy Chiefs) 64 == USAF Small Arms ---- (GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon) 65 == Warships That Will Change the Future ---- (INS Vikramaditya) . * MILITARY HISTORY * . 67 == Flying Tigers ---- (Book Review) 68 == WWI Vets 01 ---- (Alexander Miguel Roberts) 69 == WWI Vets 02 ---- (Henry L. Johnson) 70 == WWII VETS 168 ---- (Ray Emory | Pearl Harbor Survivor) 71 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 JUL) 72 == WWII Bomber Nose Art ---- (10) Liberty Belle) 72 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Stephen R. Gregg | WWII) . * HEALTH CARE * . 74 == Trump Drug Price Plan ---- (American Patients First) 75 == Tricare Webiner ---- (Ask TRICARE | 26 JUL @ 1300 EST) 75 == Military Health Care Trends ---- (Four To Watch) 76 == Prescription Drug Costs [06] ---- (Prices Vary Widely Based on where You Live) 77 == Prescription Drug Costs [07] ---- (New California Law Impact) 78 == Overseas Travel w/Tricare [01] ---- (What To Do) 79 == Ingrown Toenails ---- (How to Deal with Them) 81 == HIV/AIDS [03] ---- (Prevention Pill Roadblocks) 82 == HIV/AIDS [04] ---- (Self-Collection Blood Kit Developed by USAF) 83 == TRICARE Podcast 457 ---- (Firework Burns - Natural Disasters & Food - Overseas Travel) 85 == TRICARE Podcast 458 ---- (Safety Tips - TRICARE Webinar - Overseas Aeromedical Evacs) . * FINANCES * . 86 == SBP Changes after Retirement [04] ----- (Actions Allowed) 88 == Dependents’ Educational Assistance [05] ---- (July 31 Changes) 88 == DoD Disability Severance [06] ---- (IRS | Taxes Paid on Lump Sum Payment) 89 == TRICARE Overpayment Recoupment ---- (What You Should Know) 90 == Car Insurance [17] ---- (Average Premiums by State for 2017) 91 == Apartment Rentals ---- (June 2018 Average Cost) 92 == Social Security Taxation [09] ---- (13 States That Tax Social Security Income) 92 == Credit Card Balance [01] ---- (Impact on Credit Scores) 93 == SSIA [04] ---- (Now a Permanent Benefit for SBP Widows) 94 == Medicare Coverage [02] ---- (Monthly Costs Might Be Higher Than You Anticipate) 94 == IRS Withholding Calculator ---- (Paycheck Checkup | Avoid Paying Later) 96 == Homeowner Tax Breaks ---- (Three Key Changes for 2018) 96 == Purchasing Precautions [01] ---- (20 Buys that Buyers Nearly Always Regret) 99 == Tax Assistance [02] ---- (Should You Hire Help to Settle an IRS Tax Bill?) 3 100 == Summer Jobs Scam ---- (Fake Shipping Business) 100== Social Media Ad Scam ---- (Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers) 101 == Fake Support Numbers Scam ---- (Fools Frustrated Big Company Customers) 103 == Tax Burden for Iowa Retired Vets ---- (As of JUL 2018) . * GENERAL INTEREST * . 104 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 JUL 2018) 105 == Travel Packing Tips [02] ---- (No Bullets if Going to Japan) 106 == Trump-Putin Summit ---- (What’s at Stake) 107 == Biodegradable Robots ---- (Popcorn-Driven Robotic Actuators) 108 == Food Thawing ---- (Safe Defrosting Methods for Consumers) 108 == Space Warfare [01] ---- (Launching the Military’s 6th Branch) 110 == Interesting Facts ---- (Manure) 110- == DPRK Nuclear Weapons [23] ---- (US’s Dismantle Plan) 112 == Military Draft ---- (Slowly Coming Back in Vogue in Europe) 112 == Satellite Internet ---- (Is it Better than Cable) 113 == China’s Africa Presence ---- (Military Links to Increase) 114 == Garbage Disposal [02] ---- (Top Do’s and Don’ts for Maintenance) 115 == Petroleum Jelly ---- (30 Uses) 117 == One Word Essays ---- (Determination) 117 == Brain Teasers ---- (17 - Can You Answer These?) 118 == Have You Heard? ---- (How the Fight Started) 120 == Brain Teasers ---- (17 - Here Are the Answers) 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 – Alaska Vet State Benefits JUL 2018 Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 JUL Attachment – Don’t Get Pregnant * DoD * Transgender Troops Update 19 ► Opposition to Trump’s Enlistment Ban Nearly three dozen retired military officers and national security officials are speaking out against President Trump’s ban on transgender people joining the military, pressing a federal appeals court to uphold an order blocking it. “The President’s actions here continue to reflect a sharp departure from decades of military practice across multiple administrations regarding considered policy-making on major questions of military readiness,” the former officials 4 wrote in a brief filed 3 JUL. “Excluding