HOUSE FY 2008 DEFENSE BILL ADVANCES 6 JUNE 2007 Return to Civilian-ization 18 Transitioning from military life to the civilian world Chiefs helping Chiefs 15 Regional Convention 11 Information MESOTHELIOMA If you or a loved one has been diagnosed Please contact the law firm of: Bergman & Frockt with, or died from, mesothelioma, we may 614 First Avenue, Fourth Floor Seattle, WA 98104 be able to help get monetary compensation Toll Free: (888) 647-6007 from the asbestos manufacturers. www.bergmanlegal.com No charge for initial consultation. Please ask for Emily Murray. 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As I read Lauren NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS Armstrong’s feature column “Return Nat’l President Jerry L. Sweeney, Navy Dept. Branch 181 to Civilian-ization,” the concept of Nat’l Vice President Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275 knowing one’s worth really struck Nat’l Executive Sec. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Dept. Branch 181 JUNE 2007 Y Finance Officer Paul Rigby A me as an important concept for all current and prospective members of Junior PNP Edgar M. Zerr, Poway Valley Branch 70 FRA TOD FRA. Every day the Headquarters’ staff REGIONAL PRESIDENTS talk to shipmates to help answer a New England Paul F. Loveless, Jr., Pine Tree Branch 156 legislative question, get a reunion Northeast Francis D. Tyson, Anthracite Branch 288 East Coast Delbert L. Herrmann, Wilmington Branch 299 placed, take a dues payment, solve Southeast Tony Cassata, The Delbert D. Black Branch 117 a problem, receive a donation…the North Central Leon J. Zalewski, Milwaukee Branch 14 list goes on and on. We, as a staff, EILEEN MURPHY South Central Leo V. Vance, Space City Branch 159 realize that each member is priceless Director of Marketing and Southwest Charles F. Smedley, Poway Valley Branch 70 to the Association. “The members Communications West Coast Charles R. McIntyre, San Jose Branch 140 are why we’re here,” is the common Northwest John Ippert, Pearl Harbor-Honolulu Branch 46 theme. Nat’l. Parliamentarian PNP J.C. Jim Eblen, San Diego Branch 9 Dues are $25 a year, and you are worth so very much more than Nat’l Chaplain Vincent W. Patton, III, Navy Dept. Branch 181 that to us. The converse is true. FRA is worth far more than $25 a year to you. ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL Consider this…the feature article focuses on what military experience Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa is worth in the civilian work world. Think of what it is worth on Capitol Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada Hill as the legislative team explains the needs of current and former en- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen listed personnel. There is no substitute for experience, so a question on RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL how a TRICARE fee increase would affect a retiree should be answered by a retiree, for instance. The majority of Congress does not have mili- Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve David Pennington tary experience. You have a tremendous team with over 100 collective USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Jimmy D. Cummings Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force military service years to give the real-world response to the question, Jeffrey Smith “How would this impact military personnel?” You have a staff of 18 full-time and 2 part-time professionals who are fighting for your rights, keeping you informed, bringing you ben- FRA TODAY MAGAZINE efits and offering you assistance. You pay your staff $25 a year. If you have a multiple year membership, that annual investment is less (and Publisher FRA Managing Editor Eileen Murphy it’s a real deal if you are a life member!). Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong Know your worth. Know the worth of the association that repre- Design and Art Direction sents you. FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com As we continue our membership drive “Operation FRA (Former, Design Director Scott Rodgerson Retired and Active),” we ask for your input. Please write testimonials Production Manager Sandy Jones of why FRA dues are a tremendous investment — and why you be- lieve you are worth more than $25 a year to FRA — and send them to [email protected]. I’ll publish these on the website, in FRA Today, in FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., marketing material and make sure they get to Members of Congress. AleXandria, VA 22314-2754. A member’S SUbscriptiON is COvered BY the member’S You deserve to be heard. annUal DUes. PeriOdicals POstaGE paid at AleXandria, VA and additiOnal OFFICES. PUblicatiON OF NON-SPONSORED advertisinG IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT We thank you for your service. CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS representatives. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER Services, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, We thank you for your membership. ’07-’08 MeMBER DRIVE VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND Please, let your friends, family and FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION rates. Established neighbors know how important to Operation FRA 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. Patent OFFICE. (Former, Retired and Active) you are to FRA, and how important FRA Administrative HEADQUarters: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 FRA is to you. PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] All current and former Navy, www . fra .O R G Marine Corps and Coast Guard enlisted personnel are Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and Communications and serves as the Managing Editor eligible to join — your of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. mission: find and recruit. June 2007 Volume 86 Number 6 3 Featured 18 FRA TOD A Y JUNE 2007 1 8 rETURN To “CIVILIAN-IZation” Make the most of your military experience as you enter the civilian job market. Departments