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RAO

BULLETIN
15 May 2016
HTML Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
Pg

Article

Subject
* DOD *

04 == SBP Changes after Retirement [03] ---- (Open Season Ends Nov 2016)
05 == NDAA 2017 [01] ------------- (HASC Markup | Significant Provisions)
06 == NDAA 2017 [04] --------------------- (CBO Cost Estimate on H.R.4909)
06 == Navy Shipbuilding Plan [01] ----------------- (30 Year Plan | 292 Ships)
08 == DECA Advisory Council ---------------------- (Sought by Vet Coalition)
09 == Pentagon Procurement ------------------------------ (Buy American Issue)
11 == DoD Tobacco Policy ------ (Sales Price Increase of 26 to 32% Coming)
12 == Commissary Prices [05] -------------------- (Pacific Fruit/Vegetable Bill)
13 == POW/MIA Recoveries ----------- (Reported 1 thru 15 May 2016 - Four)
* VA *

14 == VA OIG [06] -------------- (New OIG Hopes to Repair Offices Image)


16 == Vets First Act [01] ------------------------- (Initiatives Addressed in Bill)
17 == VA Secretary [45] --------------------- (House Proposals Will Hurt Vets)
18 ==VA GeriPACT --------------------- (Specialized Care for Older Veterans)
18 == VA Whistleblowers [44] ---- (VA Settles with Phoenix Whistleblower)
19 == VA Bible Policy -------------------- (Removals from POW/MIA Tables)
20 == VA Commission on Care [06] ---------------- (Call Your Congressman)
22 == VA Life Insurance [01] -------------------------------- (Whats Available)
23 == VA Accountability [31] ------------- (Watered Down Senate Firing Bill)
24 == VA Accountability [32] - (Sen McCain | Pending Bill Very Bad Plan)
25 == VA In Vitro Fertilization [07] -- (Appropriations Committee Approval)
26 == myVA Initiative [01] --------------- (VA Expands myVA Communities)
27 == VA Health Care Access [38] --- (Study Says Vets Delay Seeking Care)
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28 == VA Vet Choice Program [39] - (Vet Organizations Oppose Expansion)


29 == VA Transgender Care --- (Gender Transition-Related Surgery Petition)
29 == VA Mental Health Care [29] - (Study Says VA Exceeds Private Sector)
30 == VA Medical Internet ----------------------------- (Hacker Defense Sought)
30 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ------------- (Reported 1 thru 15 MAY 2016)
32 == VAMC Portland OR [02] ----------- (Not All Experiences are Negative)
33 == VAMC Fayetteville [03] --- (5,000 Appointments Cancelled in 2 years)
34 == VAMC Salt Lake City [01] ---------------- (Attaboy Letter to the Editor)
* Vets *

34 == SSIA [02] ------- (Expires Oct 2017 | Help Eliminate the Widows Tax)
35 == Vet Suicide [10] ---------------------------- (Facts about Veteran Suicide)
36 == Vet Suicide [11] ----------------------------------- (Current VA Initiatives)
38 == Vet Jobs [187] ---------------- (New Version of Veterans.gov Launched)
40 == Vet Jobs [188] -------------- (Joining Forces | 1.2M Trained Since 2011)
41 == Vet Jobs [189] ----------------------------------------- (Resume Workshop)
42 == Filipino WWII Vet Parole Program ------- (Family Member Eligibility)
43 == Vet Charity [59] --------------------- (Wounded Warrior Project Scandal)
44 == Trump Attacked on Vet Issues ---- (POWs, Vet Fundraiser, & GI Bill)
45 == Vet Deportations [08] --------- (Deported Marine Vet Gets 2nd Chance)
46 == Vet Portrait --------------------------------------- (Maj. Sherrill Arvin (Ret)
46 == Vietnam Vets [16] ------------------------------------ (Drake~Benjamin A)
48 == WWII Vets 107 ----------------------------------------------- (Chavez~Ray)
49 == WWII Vets 108 ------------------------------------------ (Overton~Richard)
50 == Obit: Gleason~James | Marine Raider --------------------- (22 APR 2016)
52 == Obit: Livingston~Frank | Oldest WWII Vet ---------------- (3 May 2016)
53 == Obit: Harada~Kaname | Last Zero Fighter --------------- (2 MAY 2016)
54 == Retiree Appreciation Days ------------------------- (As of 14 MAY 2016)
55 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------- (16 May thru 15 JUN 2016)
56 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ----------------------------- (Alaska 2016)
* Vet Legislation *

57 == Forgiven Debt Tax [02] --------- (S.2800 | Disabled Vets Student Loans)
57 == NDAA 2017 [02] --- (Enlisted Representation on Military Issue Boards)
58 == NDAA 2017 [03] ----- (Recreational Drone Threat to Nuclear Facilities)
59 == Vet Emergency Medical Technician Support ------------------ (H.R.1818)
60 == VA Opioid Therapy [02] ----------------------- (PROMISE Act H.R.4063)
60 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ------------ (160501 thru 160515)
* MILITARY *

63 == Military Retirement System [23] ---------- (Lump-Sum Payout Option)


64 == Military Vehicle Decals -------- (No Longer Required to Access Bases)
65 == Army Appearance Standards [01] ------------------------- (Sikh Waivers)
66 == Army Drug Testing ----------------------------------------- (Rule Changes)
67 == USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG-51) ------ (Steel Cut for New Destroyer)
68 == Military Recruiting [05] ----------------- (Navy Recruiting Slogan Hunt)
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69 == Trump Military Press Policy ------------------- (National Security Issue)


70 == Trump Active Dutys Preference ------------------------- (2-to-1 Margin)
71 == RP~China Dispute [16] -------- (U.S. Patrols Prompt Port-Visit Denial)
72 == Military Combat Training ----------------------------------- (Pit and Pond)
73 == XS-1 Space Shuttle ---------- (Reusable Vehicle for Payload Launches)
74 == Medal of Honor Citations ---------------------- (Barfoot~Van T | WWII)
* MILITARY HISTORY *

77 == Remember When --------------------------------------------- (Nostalgia (5)


77 == WWII Hiroshima Bombing ----- (Shifting Viewpoints on Justification)
78 == Military History Discussions -------------- (WWII Operational Rations)
78 == Military History ------------------------- (Wasp | Original Flying Ladies)
81 == West Point Bell -------- (Returning to the Philippines After 101 Years)
82 == Balangiga Bells ----------------------- (Philippine-American War Booty)
83 == Military Trivia 121 ---------------------------- (Helmets Revival | WWI)
85 == Iwo Jima Flag Raising -------------------- (Raisers Identity Questioned)
86 == WWII Battles Q&A [1] ---------------- (Can you Answer the following)
87 == Victory Day ----------------- (One of Russia Biggest Holidays | 9 May)
89 == Military History Anniversaries -------------------------- (16 thru 31 May)
89 == WWII Battles Q&A [1] --------------------- (Did You answer Correctly)
* HEALTH CARE *

91 == Stroke [08] ----------------------------------------------------- (Be Prepared)


91 == Medical Error ------ (3rd Leading Cause of Death in the United States)
92 == TRICARE Overseas Program [20] ---------------- (Online Claim Filing)
93 == TRICARE Overseas Program [21] ------------------- (Proof of Payment)
93 == Asthma [03] ------------------------- (Plan for Proper Care | Action Plan)
93 == Longevity Illustrator --------------------- (How Long do You Have Left)
95 == Medicare Advantage Plans [08] --- (Improper Payments | 2014 $14.1B)
95 == Blood Pressure [01] ---------------------------- (What You Should Know)
* FINANCES *

96 == Military 2017 Pay Raise [01] ------ (Senate Includes 1.6% in NDAA)
97 == Senior Discount [05] ------------------------------ (Travel & Car Rental)
98 == Involuntary Separation Pay --------------- (New Guidance | AR 637-2)
99 == Home Warranties ------------- (Are they Worth it | Judge for Yourself)
101 == Appliance Rebates ------------------------- (How to Find and Get them)
102 == Moving ----------------------------------------- (10 Ways to Save Money)
104 == Online Shopping Savings [02] -------- (Abandon Your Shopping Cart)
105 == Dropbox Share Alerts Scam ------------------------------- (How it Work)
106 == Festival Ticket Scam - (Festival Goers Fooled w/Fake Tickets/Events)
107 == Tax Burden for Hawaii Retired Vets ----------------- (As of May 2016)
* GENERAL INTEREST *
108 == Notes of Interest ---------------------------------- (1 thru 15 MAY 2016)
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110 == Citadel Military College ---- (Muslim Uniform Attire Not Allowed)
112 == Gun Control [01] -- (SSA to Block Mentally Ill from Buying Guns)
112 == Marijuana Market ---------------------------- (Pricing Considerations)
113 == Payday Loans ------------------------------- (Google Advertising Ban)
114 == Children of the 30s & 40s ----------------------------- (The Last Ones)
115 == Smart Phone Addiction ---------------------------- (Are you Hooked?)
116 == Brain Teaser ------------------------ (Brain Teaser | Look Both Ways)
117 == Have You Heard? ----------------------- (Golf and What it all Means)
118 == Archive Photo of the Day ------------ (Pearl Harbor Aftermath 1941)
119 == Brain Teaser Answer -------------- (Brain Teaser | Look Both Ways)
Note:
1. The page number on which an article can be found is provided to the left of each articles title
2. Numbers contained within brackets [ ] indicate the number of articles written on the subject. To obtain previous
articles send a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net.
* ATTACHMENTS *

Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 15 MAY 2016


Attachment - Alaska Vet State Benefits & Discounts May 2016
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 MAY
Attachment - Hone Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart

* DoD *

SBP Changes after Retirement Update 03

Open Season Ends Nov 2016

A change in last year's Defense Authorization Act lets military retirees' SBP coverage for a former spouse transfer to
a new spouse if the former spouse dies. The law allows a one-year window after remarriage to cover a new spouse.
For people remarried more than a year ago, the law gives them until Nov. 25, 2016 to switch SBP coverage to a
current spouse. This open season period applies ONLY to members who:
Had SBP coverage for a former spouse before Nov. 25, 2015, and
Whose former spouse died before Nov. 25, 2015, and
Who subsequently remarried a new spouse on or before Nov. 25, 2015.
The law change affects reserve component retirees who purchased Reserve Component SBP (RCSBP) as well.
The former spouse SBP open season coverage does not apply if SBP coverage was discontinued for any reason other
than the death of the covered former spouse. Retired members whose SBP-covered former spouse has died and who
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remarry after Nov. 25, 2015 can apply to DFAS, provided they apply within one year of remarriage. You can read at
www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/provide/sbp/FS-SBP-open-season-16.html the specific DFAS guidance concerning
eligibility and required documentation. [Source: MOAA Leg Up | May 13, 016 ++]
*********************************

NDAA 2017 Update 01

HASC Mark-up | Significant Provisions

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) followed the lead of the Personnel Subcommittee and rejected
administration proposals to cap the military pay raise and cut force levels. After a marathon session, the committee
went on to include several other significant provisions in its version of the FY 2017 defense authorization bill on 27
APR, including the following:

Survivors:

Extends the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance by one year until Oct. 1, 2018, and keeps the
monthly rate at $310. SSIA was established in 2008 to provide incremental relief to survivors affected by the
widows tax. Although MOAA is disappointed at the inability to increase the allowance, we're relieved it won't be
allowed to expire. A one-year extension automatically creates pressure for further action, and committee leaders
have pledged to work toward raising the SSIA and phasing out the offset. The bill also changes the Survivor Benefit
Plan (SBP) calculation for survivors of reserve personnel who die while serving under Inactive Duty Training (IDT)
orders to the same (more favorable) method used for deaths on active duty. This is another MOAA-supported issue.

Former Spouses: Changes the rules under the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA) by
basing the amount of retired pay to be divided with a former spouse on the servicemember's grade and years of
service at the time of divorce; the change would not be retroactive, but would apply to divorces finalized after this
change becomes law. MOAA has long supported this measure.

Women and the draft: Requires both men and women reaching age 18 to register with the Selective Service. By
a 32-to-30 vote, the committee decided the recent opening of all combat roles to women means they should no
longer be exempt from draft registration.

Navy: Increases Navy force levels by about 1,700 above the DoD budget request. The bill also changes the name
of the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Health Care System:


Applies a new TRICARE fee structure similar to that proposed by the Pentagon for future service entrants,

beginning in 2018. However, the bill would grandfather currently serving and retired members and
families against the large fee hikes proposed in the Pentagon's FY 2017 defense budget.
TRCARE Fee increases in future years would be indexed by COLA - the percentage increase in military
retired pay rather than the (higher) health care inflation index proposed by the DoD. This is in line with
MOAA's and The Military Coalition's recommendation.
No changes for TRICARE For Life or TRICARE Prime. However, the bill envisions changing the current
TRICARE Standard program to a preferred provider system with flat-dollar copays for most doctor visits.
Retired members and families wishing to stay in this updated version of TRICARE Standard (which would
be renamed TRICARE Preferred) would need to enroll annually (no enrollment is required at present). An
annual enrollment fee of $100/$200 (single/family) will be required of currently retired members on
TRICARE Preferred, but wouldn't start until 2020 - once DoD demonstrates it has improved its capacity to
provide timely access to quality care.
Places all military treatment facilities (MTFs) under the direction of the Defense Health Agency, effective
Oct. 1, 2018, for purposes of unified policy, administration, and budgeting. MOAA has long supported this
proposal based on the cost and inefficiency of building military health care programs around three
separate systems for each of the services.
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Establishes a wide variety of requirements intended to enhance beneficiary access to care. This includes
extended hours at MTF's for primary care, providing urgent care until 11 P.M., and authorizing unlimited
access to urgent care without a referral. The proposal also creates metrics for quality of care, wait times,
provider-to-beneficiary ratios, and provider productivity.
Authorizes military facilities to sell durable medical equipment (e.g., hearing aids) at cost to family
members of retirees.

All in all, MOAA supports the HASCs balanced approach to reforming the militarys health care delivery system
and especially appreciates the Committees rejection of the large fee increases proposed in the DoD budget. The
full House of Representatives is expected to consider the HASC mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act
in May 2016. [Source: MOAA Leg Up | April 29, 2016 ++]
*********************************

NDAA 2017 Update 04

CBO Cost Estimate on H.R.4909

H.R. 4909 would authorize appropriations totaling an estimated $603.3 billion for the military functions of the
Department of Defense (DoD), for certain activities of the Department of Energy (DOE), and for other purposes. In
addition, H.R. 4909 would prescribe personnel strengths for each active-duty and selected-reserve component of the
U.S. armed forces. CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays of $587
billion over the 2017-2021 period.
Of the amount that would be authorized for 2017 $567.0 billion would be for base budget costs for defense
programs, $0.4 billion would be for nondefense programs, and $35.7 billion would be to cover a portion (seven
months) of costs directly related to war-related activities. Funds for the direct cost of war-related activities for the
remaining five months of 2017roughly $20 billioncould be provided in supplemental appropriations; the bill,
however, would not authorize additional funds for that purpose.
If appropriated, $544.0 billion of the authorized amounts would count against the 2017 defense cap set in the
Budget Control Act (BCA), as amended and $0.4 billion would count against the nondefense cap. An additional
$58.8 billion would be authorized for overseas contingency operations (OCO) and if appropriated would not count
against the caps. Of the amount designated for OCO, $23.1 billion would be used in support of base budget
requirements while the remaining $35.7 billion would be for war-related activities. To review the CBO cost estimate
refer to https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/costestimate/hr4909hasc.pdf. [Source:
CBO | May 11, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Navy Shipbuilding Plan Update 01

30 Year Plan | 292 Ships

The Navys new 30-year shipbuilding plan projects a fleet of 292 ships in 2046 a fleet that is short of the
services 308-ship goal, is down from the 305 ships projected last year and raises questions about the Obama
administrations vision of a larger Navy. The projected 292 ships would be a 20-ship increase from todays battleforce fleet of 272. But the shipbuilding plan obtained by POLITICO ahead of its planned delivery to Congress in
the next few days acknowledges that getting to that number would require funding that exceeds levels the Navy
has historically committed to new ship construction.

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The size of the Navy has been an issue on the presidential campaign trail, both in 2012 when President Barack
Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney famously tangled over the issue during a debate and in the
current cycle, with several of the now-vanquished Republican contenders calling for big shipbuilding boosts. This
latest annual shipbuilding plan shows the impact of Defense Secretary Ash Carters decision in December to order
the Navy to cut its total planned purchases of Littoral Combat Ships from 52 to 40, saying the Navy was too focused
on ship quantity and should instead invest more in ship lethality. Carter has butted heads over the issue with Navy
Secretary Ray Mabus, who has defended the services emphasis on quantity as key to providing presence. That
unrivaled advantage, that presence on, above and beneath the seas reassures our allies and deters our
adversaries, Mabus said in a speech earlier this year, blasting politicians whove described the Navy as shrinking.
In the seven years following 2009, we will have contracted 84 ships, more than the last three Navy secretaries
combined.
Under the new shipbuilding plan, the Navy would not shrink as a number of prominent Republicans have
charged but it also wouldnt grow as much as projected just a year ago. The plan projects the Navy getting to 300
battle-force ships in fiscal 2019 and peaking at 313 ships in fiscal 2025, achieving a milestone of reaching a 300ship force. But the size of the fleet would then begin dropping, reaching 292 ships by 2046, the result of aging ships
being decommissioned and fewer LCSs than previously envisioned to replace them. Under last year's plan, the Navy
would have peaked at 321 ships in fiscal 2028 and then declined to 305 ships in 2045. The report, however, notes the
Navy faces a number of challenges getting to even the reduced total, including how to pay for a new fleet of Ohioclass replacement ballistic missile submarines. The services answer: more money. The Navy contends that the only
way to effectively overcome these challenges while supporting the defense strategy is with increases in [Navy]
topline funding, the report says.
Navy advocates in Congress have been pressing for a military-wide fund, separate from the Navys normal
shipbuilding account, to pay for the new ballistic-missiles submarines a plan opposed by some senior
appropriators because it would effectively force the Army and the Air Force to subsidize a shipbuilding program.
Ultimately, according to the report, the Navy will be able to carry out all its highest-priority missions even with the
reduced number of ships. The Navy, the report says, can and will achieve the requisite mix of ships providing this
shipbuilding plan continues to receive stable and sufficient funding over the long haul.
A Navy official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said long-term shipbuilding projections should be taken
with a grain of salt given all the things that could change between now and 2046. "Most 30-year shipbuilding plans
are not worth much beyond three to five years," the official said, explaining that the Navy was doing a new force
structure assessment this year to update the previous one from 2014. And that could have a big impact on its longterm shipbuilding goals. Also, the official noted, a new presidential administration next year could decide it wants to
change the current shipbuilding trajectory. China has plans to grow its navy to 351 ships by 2020 as the Chinese
continue to develop their militarys ability to strike global targets, according to a recent Congressional report.
[Source: POLITICO | Austin Wright | May 9, 2016 ++]
*********************************
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DECA Advisory Council

Sought by Vet Coalition

A coalition of military and veterans advocates wants the Defense Department to establish an advisory council, made
up of customers, to help protect the savings in military stores. This council would work with the DoD to ensure that
the commitment put forth by DoD and the Congress not to diminish patron savings would be adhered to going
forward, wrote the Coalition to Save our Military Shopping Benefits in a May 6 letter to the Senate Armed Services
Committee. The letter was signed by 25 military and veterans service organizations ranging from the Air Force
Sergeants Association to Vietnam Veterans of America. We dont believe customer voices are being heard early
enough in the process of determining what changes will be made and how they will be made, said Joyce Raezer,
executive director of the National Military Family Association, one of the organizations that signed the letter. DoD
has been forthcoming about telling associations what theyre doing and what theyre deciding, but thats after the
fact.
Whats needed now is more transparency on how decisions are made, how metrics are being determined and
evaluated, sometimes at a higher level than [the Defense Commissary Agency], Raezer said. Years ago, DeCA had
its own patron advisory council, but that no longer exists, she said. It was useful in bringing up concerns from the
field, but met sporadically. The advocates are calling for a council to be established at a higher level within the
Defense Department, where decisions are currently being made about the commissary benefit. Its the coalitions
hope that the patron council would advise DoD officials on matters regarding all resale activities, to include
commissaries, exchanges, and morale, welfare and recreation sales outlets, said Candace Wheeler, spokeswoman for
the Coalition to Save Our Military Shopping Benefits. Shes also vice president of strategic communications and
marketing for the American Logistics Association, an organization of some of those who do business with military
resale activities.
If the commissary agency starts using variable pricing marking up prices for a profit rather than selling
groceries at cost it will be important for DoD to be transparent in how it calculates savings, Raezer said.
Beneficiaries should have the opportunity to provide feedback to refine that process, she said. The recommendation
is part of a letter urging caution on the scope and pace of reforms being considered related to the commissary
benefit, that are now part of deliberations on the fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill. The House Armed
Services Committee passed its version, H.R. 4909, in April.
The Senate Armed Services Committee is now in the process of crafting its version of that defense policy bill.
The House version of the bill would allow DoD to use variable pricing and develop private label products, moving
away from selling groceries at cost. DoD officials are now determining their own detailed baseline of savings under
the current system how much commissary shoppers save vs. shopping outside the gates. According to DeCA's
methodology for comparing prices, the average overall savings is 30 percent. This study, conducted annually,
compares the prices of thousands of items with other grocery stores. Its not yet known what the expected level of
savings would be under the reformed commissary system, but DoD documents laying out their plan say the savings
for customers would be reasonably consistent with the level of savings under the current system. The draft House
legislation provides safeguards to protect the commissary benefit, and lawmakers have noted that any changes are
not irreversible under the proposal.
DoD would be required to submit reports at least quarterly on the progress, and as lawmakers monitor the
changes, if there are problems, DoD will have the authority to infuse more taxpayer dollars into the commissary
system to make sure the benefit is maintained for service members. Over the next five years, DoD officials want to
save a cumulative $1 billion, with a goal of saving $512 million taxpayer dollars in fiscal 2021, according to DoD
documents outlining the reform proposals. This draft legislation also gives DoD authority to convert the Defense
Commissary Agency to a nonappropriated-fund organization, allowing it to operate more like a business with the
aim of gaining savings in its operations. The coalitions letter to senators expressed concern that DoD will use this
legislative authority to break down the traditional barriers to funding commissaries and exchanges, potentially
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allowing officials to siphon off military exchange dollars to fund shortfalls across the military resale system,
including commissaries. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers | May 9, 2016 ++]

*********************************

Pentagon Procurement

Buy American Issue

Can Americans trust the Pentagon to pick out a pair of sneakers? Fifteen years in development at a cost expected to
reach $1.4 trillion over its lifetime, the Department of Defense's next generation fighter jet has yet to get off the
ground in more than a test flight or to fire a single shot in combat. Newsweek magazine recently mocked the jet, the
F-35, as the plane that ate the Pentagon's budget. Years of indecision and false starts also has delayed action on the
next generation of handgun to replace the Army's much maligned M9 pistol. A few weeks ago, Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Mark Milley blamed the Pentagon's bureaucratic procurement system for the delay and sought permission to
shop for the sidearm himself. The military's fragmented approach to buying camouflage uniforms is putting troops
at risk and wasting millions of dollars, the Government Accountability Office recently alleged. The office urged the
services consolidate the effort.
All this comes on top of other procurement boondoggles by the military over the last decade or two, including
that it has paid $7,600 each for coffee makers, $435 each for hammers and, probably most famously, $640 each for
toilet seats. Add this to the list: The Pentagon has begun buying rocket engines made in Russia. Now the Pentagon
has stepped into more procurement quicksand, this time in Lawrence, Mass where it touched off a war of words with
the New Balance footwear company, the Lawrence City Council and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) by alleging
the company's athletic shoes are not fit for military duty. The company is not allowed to sell shoes on military bases,
which it says will cost it the sale of many as 225,000 pairs to recruits and soldiers annually.

It was a snub heard 'round the world, sparking allegations that the Department of Defense prefers shoes made in
Vietnam and Malaysia rather than in American hometowns like Lawrence, and amplified by New Balance's decision
to retaliate by taking up arms against President Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership. The trade pact would lower
tariffs on goods imported from 11 other nations, which New Balance says would flood the market with cheap
foreign-made athletic shoes.

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Rob DeMartini, New Balance's president and CEO, said he agreed not to oppose the trade pact in exchange for
assurances from Michael Froman, the Obama administration's top trade official, that he would ease the impact by
helping the company get a Defense Department contract to produce up to 225,000 pairs of athletic shoes a year for
military recruits and soldiers. That never happened, the company said, then unleashed its attacks on the trade pact
after years of reluctant silence. I'm definitely not a defense appropriation or procurement expert, but in the seven
years I've been working on this, I've seen nothing but a bureaucratic nightmare, where middle managers at the
Pentagon are making decisions that affect real jobs and real lives in America, said Matthew LeBretton, a New
Balance vice president. There's something really wrong with the system.
LeBretton refuted DoD allegations that New Balance shoes are too expensive, noting that the company offered to
supply the shoes at cost in an effort to keep its assembly lines humming and its supply lines full. He also disputed
Pentagon claims that the test shoes it provided were not durable; published reports say the shoes were given to just
six service members who were asked to run 30 miles over two months and then fill out a questionnaire. Eric Badger,
a spokesman for the Defense Department, on Friday took a list of questions from The Eagle-Tribune about those
issues and others related to its dealing with New Balance, but did not respond to them. Beyond the allegations that
the Pentagon shops overseas to dress its servicemen and that it used a contract to bait a U.S. manufacturer on a
political matter, the Pentagon also is accused of flouting the will of Congress on a major procurement issue.
On 27v APR, Congress reasserted itself when the House Armed Service Committee approved an amendment to a
defense appropriations bill that would direct the Defense Department to follow a World War II-era law requiring it to
provide service members with made-in-America clothing whenever possible. The law exempted footwear because
little was made in the United States at the time, but the industry has rebounded and one or two manufactures,
including New Balance, now produce models made entirely in the United States. Tsongas co-sponsored the
amendment. Procurement and acquisition for the Department of Defense is a challenging process. Some of that is
by design, Tsongas said when asked whether the layers of apparent missteps by the Pentagon in its dealings with
New Balance would merit adding the issue to the list of its procurement boondoggles over the decades.
Mandy Smithberger, who monitors Defense Department spending for the nonprofit Project on Government
Oversight, went a little further. They stem from different problems, but overall they reflect a broken procurement
system, Smithberger said about whether there is a link between the widely inflated prices the Pentagon sometimes
pays contractors, the overladen bureaucracy that even generals and admirals have little patience for and the contract
Obama trade officials dangled before New Balance to get it to shut up about the Pacific trade pact. If the Defense
Department wants to make an argument that they want to buy non-American goods, that's one thing, Smithberger
said. But what a company's political position is should have no bearing on whether they would get a contract or get
a fair hearing and an ability to compete. It's definitely improper.
Charles Tiefer, a professor of government contracting at the University of Baltimore law school and the author of
the text Government Contract Law in the 21st Century, said the various tactics the Pentagon has used against
New Balance are all too familiar. It all makes sense, Tiefer said. The Pentagon has always wielded its giant
purchasing power to disfavor small but high-quality American producers. In Washington, from what I see, the tactics
for the government departments that want the Trans Pacific Partnership (trade agreement) are to assemble as long a
list as possible of industrial supporters of the agreement, including those who become supporters by arm-twisting.
The Lawrence City Council entered the crossfire between the feds and a major hometown employer earlier this
month, when all nine members signed a letter to the city's congressional delegation expressing support for New
Balance. We have 848 employees in the Lawrence facility, Councilor Marc Laplante said Friday, summarizing in
eight words what's at stake for the poorest city in Massachusetts. There's long been problems in the (military
procurement system) with oversight, accountability, transparency, mismanagement, maybe corruption over the years
definitely fraud, waste and abuse, said Neil Gordon, an investigator with the Project on Government Oversight.
As far as the New Balance situation, that's unheard of. [Source: The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass. | Keith
Eddings | May 1, 2016 ++]
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*********************************

DoD Tobacco Policy

Sales Price Increase of 26 to 32% Coming

Tobacco users will see sharp price increases in military stores in some states under a new Defense Department
policy being implemented in a further effort to crush tobacco use. An initial analysis by Military Times shows the
new policy could mean an average price increase of about 26 to 32 percent. Under the new policy, tobacco prices at
exchanges and commissaries will have to match what's paid in civilian stores when taxes are included. The timing of
the increase is unknown. A defense official said details are still being worked out on how and when the new policy
will be implemented. According to the Centers for Disease Control, raising the price of tobacco is the single most
effective way to reduce tobacco consumption.

Current law requires that military exchanges, commissaries and other resale outlets on installations sell tobacco at
prices set no lower than the lowest price in the civilian community. But the civilian tobacco price used for
comparison doesnt currently include state and local taxes. The federal cigarette tax of $1.01 is included in the
manufacturer's price, so it is paid by military customers. Thats one of the benefits for our customers. They dont
pay tax. We dont view tobacco any differently than other products in terms of pricing, a military exchange source
said.
The April 8 memo from Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that prices of tobacco products on military bases in
the U.S. shall match the prevailing local price in the community, including the effect of all applicable taxes that
local consumers pay when purchasing tobacco. Outside the U.S., prices will be set within the range of prevailing
prices for that same product established in outlets of the defense retail systems in the U.S. Information was not
available at press time about how officials define the word prevailing. Currently, the exchanges conduct price
comparisons for tobacco within the local community and set prices based on the average before-tax price of the
products, a source said.
All tobacco prices are affected. Carters memo defines tobacco products as any product made or derived from
tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco,
smokeless and dissolvable tobacco, and products intended for use in hookahs/water pipes. Electronic nicotine
systems, such as e-cigarettes and vape pens, will also be treated as tobacco products. The amount of increase will
depend on the location. But in 2014, the latest nationwide statistics, state cigarette taxes added an average of $1.28
per pack of cigarettes, according to the most recent The Tax Burden on Tobacco report compiled by economic
consulting firm Orzechowski and Walker, which is cited by the Centers for Disease Control in its research.
In 2014, state cigarette taxes ranged from 17 cents per pack in Missouri to a high of $4.35 per pack in New York.
The same year, the national average cost per pack of name-brand cigarettes in the civilian community was $6.28,
including that average of $1.28 in state taxes. Based on those nationwide numbers, the average increase would be 26
Page 11 of 125

percent in military retail stores by raising the prices to include the tax calculation. If a state's general state sales tax is
added, that would be an average of 31 cents more per pack, and the average increase would be about 32 percent.
The Tax Burden report found that in 2014, state and federal taxes accounted for, on average, 44 percent of the
retail price of cigarettes in civilian stores. (That doesnt include additional cigarette taxes that are levied by 602
cities, towns and counties in seven states, ranging from 1 cent to $3 per pack.) Those increased prices dont mean
the exchanges will be paying taxes to state and federal governments. It will be part of the exchanges profits, which
are plowed back into the services morale, welfare and recreation programs and store improvements. But sales are
expected to decline, and the reason for increasing the prices is to curb tobacco use. A 10 percent increase in price
reduces overall cigarette use by an estimated 3 to 5 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The center
notes research indicating that youth and young adults are two to three times more likely to respond to price increases
than adults.
The health and productivity impact of tobacco use in the military population costs the DoD more than $1.6
billion each year, Carter stated. And while the prevalence of tobacco use among new recruits is about the same as the
national average, the prevalence increases after entry-level training and first units of assignment. On average, 38
percent of current military smokers initiated tobacco use after joining the military, his memo stated. Carter also
directed the services medical officials to improve education on the harmful effects of tobacco use and to strengthen
tobacco cessation programs. More than seven in 10 smokers want to quit, and we should be doing all we can to
help them succeed in this effort, he wrote. He also directed that defense officials implement plans for increasing
tobacco-free zones around areas that are frequented by children; and to review efforts to increase smoke-free options
in military housing.
The policy is the result of a review launched nearly two years ago by former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel,
who asked for recommendations for comprehensive tobacco control programs. In March 2014, the Navy was
reportedly on track to eliminate tobacco sales on Navy and Marine Corps bases. But that was put on hold after the
comprehensive review was ordered in June 2014. Meanwhile, lawmakers moved to stop DoD from banning the sale
of tobacco on bases, including a provision in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act that prohibits DoD from
banning the sale within military retail stores of any legal consumer tobacco product category. In an effort to prevent
deep discounts on tobacco, lawmakers also changed the pricing policy, preventing military retail stores from selling
a tobacco product at a price below the most competitive price for that product in the local civilian community. That,
in effect, eliminated the previous 5 percent discount on the actual price per pack.
Tobacco sales on military bases have steadily declined since defense officials began taking steps to reduce
smoking in the ranks about 20 years ago, through a variety of efforts. Theyre still declining: The number of tobacco
units sold by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service decreased by 11 percent in 2015, compared to 2014. That
includes tobacco products sold in commissaries on Army and Air Force bases. For years, the exchanges have
provided the tobacco products to commissaries, in order to sell them at marked-up exchange prices, rather than at
cost from the manufacturer, as other products are sold in commissaries. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers |
April 29, 2016++]
*********************************

Commissary Prices Update 05

Pacific Fruit/Vegetable Bill

The burden of high fruit and vegetable prices on Pacific commissary customers could get lighter. Congressional
appropriators would require the Defense Commissary Agency to set aside $48 million in 2017 for the shipment of
produce to Pacific commissaries. It's an effort to reverse the price hikes of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Pacific
and especially Guam, where a package of lettuce has been known to cost shoppers more than $10. The bill is from
the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee and is headed to the full committee as part of the
overall 2017 defense funding proposal.
Page 12 of 125

Prices on many fresh produce items in the Pacific spiked last November after the Defense Commissary Agency
implemented new contracts in an effort to save the very same $48 million on shipping. Instead of the government
paying to ship the produce, contractors either get the produce from local sources in these areas or bear the cost of
shipping it from other countries, including the U.S. And that cost is passed on to the commissary customer. While
there were some trouble spots in Japan and South Korea, the problems with high prices appear to be more
pronounced in Guam, sources said. Customers in Guam reported that prices of some produce items had doubled or
tripled. One military wife posted a picture of a 22-ounce package of Romaine lettuce priced at $10.69. Some items
have to be airlifted, such as bagged salads and seasonal items such as berries. Airlifting is more expensive. But
whether the produce was airlifted or moved by ship, until last November, customers didnt have to pay for that cost.
The provision in the subcommittees bill would require DoD to infuse the $48 million back into the system to
support the transportation of fruits and vegetables. The appropriators added another provision limiting the use of
those funds to fruits and vegetables either grown locally in the country where the commissary is located or bought
by commissary agency officials at a location in the continental U.S. The subcommittee "is clearly trying to shift the
failed Asian produce sourcing policy back to something that works," said one congressional staff member. He noted
that the Defense Commissary Agency instituted the new policy without congressional approval and contrary to
congressional concerns. The new contract has not only increased the cost of produce but resulted in poor availability
of items and lower quality, he said. "Customers are complaining while DeCA is blaming this on transition issues or
focusing exclusively on the Guam issue, ignoring Japan and Korea. "Service members are paying more for lowerquality goods," he said.
Last month, in a report accompanying its version of the defense policy bill, the House Armed Services
Committee included a requirement for the DoD Inspector General to evaluate the effectiveness of the new purchase
process for fresh fruits and vegetables compared to the previous process in which the transportation costs were
funded by DoD. It will also do an assessment of the similar local purchase process currently ongoing in Europe.
Among other things, the IG will compare the amount of produce lost due to spoilage or importation delays compared
to the previous contract; and will compare the benefits and impacts of the new contract on commissary customers in
the Pacific and on the Cost of Living Allowance. Commissary prices are one of the factors used in determining the
overseas COLA. Auditors will also document the percentage increase or decrease of local market prices of fresh
fruits and vegetables compared to Pacific commissary prices. [Source: Military Times | Karen Jowers | May 12,
2016 ++]
********************************

POW/MIA Recoveries

Reported 1 thru 15 May 2016 | Four

"Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the
efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. The number
of Americans who remain missing from conflicts in this century are: World War II (73,515) Korean War (7,841),
Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,627), 1991 Gulf War (5), and Libya (1). Over 600 Defense Department men and
women -- both military and civilian -- work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel recovery
and personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our
missing personnel home. For a listing of all personnel accounted for since 2007 refer to http://www.dpaa.mil/ and
click on Our Missing. If you wish to provide information about an American missing in action from any conflict or
have an inquiry about MIAs, contact:
Mail: Public Affairs Office, 2300 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-2300, Attn: External Affairs
Call: Phone: (703) 699-1420
Message: Fill out form on http://www.dpaa.mil/Contact/ContactUs.aspx

Page 13 of 125

Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may also call the following Service
Casualty Offices: U.S. Air Force (800) 531-5501, U.S. Army (800) 892-2490, U.S. Marine Corps (800) 847-1597,
U.S. Navy (800) 443-9298, or U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5470. The remains of the following MIA/POWs
have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam - None
Korea
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that the remains of the following U.S.
servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full
military honors:
Army Sgt. 1st Class James P. Shunney, of Providence, R.I., was lost fighting in North Korea on Nov. 2, 1950. He
was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
World War II
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of three servicemen who had
been missing in action since World War II. Being returned home for burials with full military honors on a date and
location yet to be announced are:
-- Fireman 2nd Class James B. Boring, 21, of Vinton County, Ohio, Navy Fireman 3rd Class Edwin C. Hopkins,
18, of Swanzey, N.H., and Ensign Lewis B. Pride Jr., 23, of Madisonville, Ky., had been missing since Dec. 7,
1941, when the battleship USS Oklahoma they were aboard suffered multiple torpedo hits and capsized as it was
moored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor,
[Source: http://www.dpaa.mil | May 14, 2016 ++]

* VA *

VA OIG Update 06

New OIG Hopes to Repair Offices Image


Page 14 of 125

The new inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs is hoping to quickly repair the offices image after
nearly two years of criticism for cursory investigations and secrecy. Michael Missal, who began work last Monday,
said he plans to reach out to veterans groups, Congress and others to let them know his door is open and he plans to
be more transparent. I feel very strongly that the public has a right to know the work of the VA IGs office, Missal
told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview, his first since taking the job.

Michael Missal

The inspector general is an independent authority responsible under federal law for rooting out fraud and
mismanagement at the VA and keeping Congress and therefore, the public fully and currently informed. But
USA TODAY investigations found that his predecessors failed to release the findings of 140 probes of VA health
care and sat on the results of 77 wait-time investigations for months. In one case, an investigation found doctors at a
VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., prescribing dangerous amounts of opiates. The IG briefed VA officials on the
findings but didnt release a public report, trusting they would fix the issue. Five months later, a 35-year old Marine
Corps veteran, Jason Simcakoski, died from mixed drug toxicity as a patient there after doctors added another opiate
to the 14 drugs he already was prescribed. Missal said he plans to look into that case and why the report wasnt
released. Thats one of the matters Im going to get more deeply involved in, he said.
At the request of Congress, Missal is also launching investigations of VA manager transfers and congressional
testimony given by Skye McDougall, a regional VA official. She testified last spring that veterans in Southern
California were waiting an average of four days for appointments, but CNN later reported that internal documents
showed the average wait there was much longer. Lawmakers accused her of lying and complained when the VA
initially planned to transfer her to oversee the Phoenix VA and other facilities in the Southwest and ultimately put
her in charge of a regional office overseeing VA hospitals and clinics in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Were going to look at it in a broad way to see if theres any issue with respect to how they do it, if theres any
impropriety with respect to people moving around, Missal said.
He is the first permanent inspector general at the VA since the last one retired in December 2013. Deputies have
been running the office in the meantime and have come under withering criticism. In 2014, lawmakers assailed the
office for failing to conclude that wait-time falsification contributed to veteran deaths in Phoenix. The deputy
inspector general at the time, Richard Griffin, conceded later that it had. Whistleblowers have accused the office of
targeting them for investigation instead of the problems they are reporting, and the Office of Special Counsel a
federal agency charged with protecting whistleblowers has criticized the inspector general for incomplete
investigations. Protecting whistleblowers is a high priority, Missal said, and in the future he wants to make sure his
office conducts "first-rate" investigations. First-rate work product means it needs to be accurate, fair, objective,
thorough, and timely, he said.
That may be tougher than it sounds. The inspector generals office, which employs roughly 650 people in
Washington and at VA locations around the country, has struggled to keep up with an increasing number of
complaints to investigate as the number of veterans enrolled for VA benefits and care has skyrocketed. The number
of complaints went from 16,700 in 2001 to 38,100 last year, according to congressional reports, but the staff has not
Page 15 of 125

grown enough to meet the expanded workload. The inspector general now is only able to conduct comprehensive
investigations of one of the roughly 50 complaints about poor veteran health care that it gets each week, according
to congressional testimony. If Congress provides more money, Missal said, he is ready to hire more people. In the
meantime, he wants to devote his resources to the most pressing complaints. We're going to make sure we work on
the important things, the ones that are meaningful and put out reports that are independent, he said. [Source: VVA
| Web Weekly | May 12, 2016 ++]
*****************************

Vets First Act Update 01

Initiatives Addressed in Bill

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved a large omnibus package 29 APR, which addresses a range of
MOAA-supported initiatives.

Provides a plan to extend special Caregiver Act services for the full-time caregivers of catastrophically
disabled veterans from the Vietnam era. Currently, benefits apply only to caregivers for Post-9/11 vets. But
the benefits would not be triggered until two years after the VA certifies a successful upgrade of
information technology systems to support the expanded services. Caregiver Act services include training
for qualifying caregivers, access to CHAMPVA health care, a stipend, and respite care.

Establishes an Office of [VA] Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and tightens disciplinary and
removal rules for senior VA executives.

Require the VA and DoD to jointly update guidelines for the management of opioid therapy for chronic
pain in wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans.

The Senate Committee took a different approach than its House counterpart on a controversial cut to the
housing allowance under the new GI Bill. The House adopted a 50-percent cut to the Basic Allowance for
Housing (BAH) for future GI Bill benefit transfers to dependent children (current transfers would be
grandfathered at the full rate). The Senate instead aligned the BAH rate for all qualifying GI Bill users
with the five-year cumulative five-percent cut to the rates established in the FY 2015 National Defense
Authorization Act. GI Bill recipients would continue to get the same housing rate as active duty families at
the E-5 with dependents rate.

Strengthens administrative procedures for care for veterans in communities.

Authorizes GI Bill eligibility credit for time spent in medical hold status.

Creates a pilot program to reduce the appealed claims backlog.

Allows survivors who lost their spouses early in Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts (Sept. 11, 2001 - Dec. 31,
2005) up to five additional years to use their Fry Scholarship GI Bill benefits.

Enables Fry Scholarship users to participate in GI Bill matching by private colleges under the Yellow
Ribbon program.

Authorizes GI Bill benefits for involuntary Guard - Reserve call ups for pre-planned and budgeted
operational missions.

Enhances research on the health effects of toxic exposures impacts on descendants.

Enables speedier payment of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for active duty deaths
reported by a military service.

Honoring as veterans certain career members of the National Guard and Reserve

Page 16 of 125

Panel Chairman Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) noted at the press conference for the bill, When people look
back at what Congress accomplished this year, the Veterans First Act will be at the top of the list. The bill must
now be reconciled with a House veterans omnibus measure passed last November.
[Source: MOAA Leg UP | April 29, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Secretary Update 45

House Proposals Will Hurt Vets

Veterans Affairs Department Secretary Bob McDonald on 4 May offered kind words for the White House and the
Senate for backing new department programs and policy changes while arguing that House proposals will hurt vets.
Speaking at the Center for Security and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, D.C., McDonald said
President Barack Obama and senators have shown a willingness to provide funding for VA to transition to a more
modern agency, with only a minor differences in proposed spending plans. The president's budget proposal includes
$75.1 billion in discretionary spending for VA in the next year, while the Senate appropriators pared that down to
$74.9 billion, according to White House and Senate documents. "The House markup, however, proposed a $1.5
billion reduction," McDonald said. "So let's be clear -- that reduction will hurt veterans, and it will impede some
critical initiatives necessary to transform VA into the high performing organization Veterans deserve."
Also during his hour-long speech, the secretary outlined a plan called "MyVA" to transform and modernize the
department. The plan includes five long-term strategies and 12 priority programs, he said. "We shared these with the
House Veterans Affairs Committee," McDonald said. "The Senate committee on Veterans Affairs invited us to a
hearing examining them," Unspoken but confirmed by a VA official was the House panel did not hold a hearing on
the proposal. Relations between the VA and the House Veterans Affairs Committee have often been contentious,
with the House panel far more consistently and loudly critical of the department over a series of scandals in recent
years.
McDonald said improvements or reforms included in the dozen MyVA priorities include improving community
care for veterans and changing the employment status of hospital administrators and health care career executives.
Of some 100 program requests in the budget request are more than 40 that require congressional action, including
modernizing and clarifying the VA's authority to purchase care services outside the department. This needs to be
done as "a strong foundation," he said, for veterans' access to care in the community. The VA is facing growing calls
to expand care-in-the-community services for all generations. Currently only Post-9/11 veterans qualify for such
care, though with the aging of the Vietnam-era veteran population, on top of the World War II and Korea-era vets,
advocates for such care say expanding it to include the older generations makes sense and is the right thing to do.
Additionally, however, the current program needs to be consolidated. There are actually seven separate care-inthe-community programs, each with their own specifications, eligibility criteria and payment rates. This makes it
difficult for the VA to administer them and for veterans to understand them, he said. "Last October, we submitted our
plan to consolidate and simplify the overwhelming number of different programs and improve access to VA care in
the community. It's now May," he said. VA also needs Congress to enact legislation that will enable the department
Page 17 of 125

to pay medical center directors salaries that are competitive with their peers in the private sector, which now pull
down two or three times the salary of what a VA director earns. He also wants Congress to act on a proposal to hire
senior executives under Title 38, which would remove some of the Civil Service protections they currently enjoy but
also offer them some benefits. "Then we can hire these employees more quickly, with flexible competitive salaries,
and they operate under strong accountability processes and policies," he said. [Source: Military.com | Bryant
Jordan | May 4, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA GeriPACT

Specialized Care for Older Veterans

The VA has your six a military term that means Ive got your back*. Indeed, the VA has got the back of every
Veteran who receives care at VA. Each one has a primary care provider, and that provider has a whole team working
with them. This team model of care is called PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team) and it provides continuous and
coordinated care throughout a patients lifetime. Veterans receive primary care in PACT clinics, so you may know
them by color names, like silver, or military alphabet names, like Bravo. The fastest growing age group of Veterans
VA serves is those age 65 and older. By 2017 almost 10 million of our 21.7 million Veterans (46%) will be over 65.
VA is responding with PACT teams customized for older Veterans.

A GeriPACT (Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team) is a PACT team designed for our older and chronically ill
Veterans those who have complicated health problems made even more challenging by social factors and mental
health issues. The Veteran is at the center of his or her GeriPACT, which includes an army of health care
providers from many disciplines. Experts in the care of older adults like the GeriPACT team work together with
Veterans to identify challenges that may be barriers to health, independence and quality of life. They ensure that
Veterans and their families/caregivers are aware of and connected to the services and supports they need to maintain
the Veterans independence and quality of life. This shared decision making process helps Veterans decide about the
kinds of services and supports, such as Home and Community Based Services, that would best meet their needs and
preferences, now and in the future.
Visit www.va.gov/Geriatrics for more information on Shared Decision Making and Long Term Services and
Supports. Videos on GeriPACT Care, Homemaker and Home Health Care for Veterans, and Respite Care for
Veteran Caregivers can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjUTjPPA5wI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzrdHnY41xI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKLn9N72_yo
[Source: VHA | Sheri Reder, PhD, MSPH & Taryn Oestreich, MPH, MCHES | May 10, 2016 ++]
*****************************
Page 18 of 125

VA Whistleblowers Update 44

VA Settles with Phoenix Whistleblower

An Arizona employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who reported improper care for mental-health patients
in Phoenix has settled a federal whistleblower complaint against the agency and returned to work this week after
spending 18 months at home on paid leave. Brandon Coleman, an addiction therapist formerly with the Phoenix VA
Health Care System, has accepted a new position at a VA treatment center in Anthem as a condition of the
settlement. The Community Based Outpatient Clinic operates under northern Arizona's VA leadership, removing
Coleman from supervision in Phoenix. "It's nice to finally be back at work," Coleman said 6 MAY. "I'm just very
excited about the opportunity because I'm going to be able to help veterans again."

Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center

Coleman reported in 2015 that mental-health patients who were potentially suicidal or homicidal were not
adequately monitored in an understaffed Emergency Department at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in
Phoenix. He alleged that troubled veterans were allowed to "elope," or walk out without getting care. After Coleman
reported his concerns, he was subjected to allegations of misconduct and internal investigations, which he claimed
were retaliatory. Coleman, who has testified before Congress about whistleblower reprisal, claimed the VA denied
him a promotion and shut down his specialized program to work with local courts in assisting veterans who face
prosecution for crimes related to substance abuse. The dispute was mediated by the Office of Special Counsel, an
independent federal agency that enforces the Whistleblower Protection Act and other employment-related laws.
Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner said in a news release she is pleased that Coleman and the Phoenix VA hospital
resolved the conflict and can get back to serving veterans. "Mr. Coleman deserves our thanks for his efforts to
improve care for veterans," she added.
Coleman was represented by the Government Accountability Project. In a written statement released by attorneys
at the non-profit watchdog organization, Coleman said: "My hope in moving forward is that what happened to me
never happens to another whistleblower. It was 18 months of hell, but as I write this I would do it all over again.
Because of my disclosures ... countless suicidal veteran lives have and will be saved." Coleman said he got through
the ordeal with support from his family, lawyers, journalists and members of Congress. "I am humbled to have
completed this process with their help," he added. Coleman previously ran a Phoenix VA addiction program known
as Motivation for Change. He said he hopes to revive that effort for veterans in northern Arizona. Complete terms of
his settlement remain confidential, and it is unclear whether any employee of the department has been disciplined
for retaliation. [Source: The Republic | Dennis Wagner | May 6, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Bible Policy

Removals from POW/MIA Tables

The more things change, the more they stay the same. In what has become a predictable pattern, the Department of
Veterans Affairs responds to attacks on religion with capitulation borne of cowardice. Thankfully, this cowardice has
Page 19 of 125

not gone unchallenged. Leaders in both houses of Congress joined in a letter 28 APR requesting an explanation as to
why the VA removed Bibles from a POW/MIA table inside a number of VA clinics. The letters signers note that the
Bible is displayed at such tables to represent the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our
country, founded as one nation under God. Strength gained through faith is a principle that the sixth and final
article of the Code of Conductdeveloped for POWsreiterates: I will never forget that I am an American,
fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will
trust in my God and in the United States of America.
The VA directly contradicts that article and its own mission statement, so proudly displayed at its headquarters:
To fulfill President Lincolns promise To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his
orphan by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas veterans. Here is the complete quote from
Lincolns Second Inaugural Address, from which the VA derives its honorable mission:
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us
strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the
battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations."

What message does the VA communicate to those who have borne the battle when it refuses to honor faith, so
integral to survival that it is in the Code of Conduct? By removing Bibles from POW/MIA tables, the VA serves the
narrow interests of few and honors no one. Would Lincolns full statement even be allowed in the VA today? Would
the VA yield to the usual critics, who decry such statements as Christian triumphalism or whatever other invective
they hurl at every vestige of Christianity in the public square? Based on recent events, the answer is as clear as it is
unsettling. The VA should realize that, as long as any facet of Americas Christian heritage remains anywhere in
public life, those critics will make their routine demands under the baseless guise of separation of church and
state, a slogan one appellate court called an extra-constitutional construct [that] has grown tiresome. The First
Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state.
This is not the first time the VA has faced conflict over religion. Just last Christmas, a VA clinic in Virginia
attempted to shut down its employees expressions celebrating the federal holiday. Fortunately, a growing number of
legislators are calling upon the VA to break this pattern of pandering to the perpetually offended. To be sure, the VA
is in an unenviable spot. Targeted by anti-religious activist groups, VA officials reflexively acquiesce to their
demands, only to then be called to account for doing so. But they can avoid this by simply understanding and
standing for whats both right and constitutional in the first place.
The VA is an organization committed to care for those injured in our nations defense and the families of those
killed in its service. One of its core values is to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. It is faced with
precisely this choice here, and it must be faithful to this value. The right answer is undoubtedly harder, but that only
means the VA must pursue it with that much more determination. For hundreds of years, our service members have
refused to shy away from making difficult choices in order to do whats right. They and their loved ones deserve
nothing less than for the VA to do the same. [Source: The Hill Congress Blog | Daniel Briggs | May 1, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Commission on Care Update 06

Call Your Congressman

Page 20 of 125

After more than a decade of inadequate funding and staffing, the VA hospital system erupted in scandal two years
ago when reports of secret waitlists emerged from several hospitals. Millions of young veterans were returning home
from overseas, but the lawmakers who sent them there had failed to adequately plan for their return and complex
needs. In the ensuing months, Congress finally came through with desperately-needed funds for staffing and
facilities in the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014. The legislation also called for an expert
commission to develop recommendations for improving access to quality VA health care, which soon became known
as the Commission on Care. Unfortunately, thus far, too many Commission members seem only to be looking out
for themselves and their deep-pocketed benefactors, not veterans.
What was designed as a blue-ribbon commission to deliver an unbiased, data driven, final report has instead
become a special interest-driven feeding frenzy. For starters, there are the four private, for-profit medical executives
whose companies stand to benefit financially from privatization, and a Koch brothers employee who openly
promotes privatization. More appalling is the fact that not one current veterans service organization member is on
the Commission. One would think the people most impacted by the Commissions work veterans would have the
most seats at the table. But seeing the dark turn this Commission has taken, it appears this may have been the plan
from the start.
With the composition of the Commission such as it is, no one should be surprised that last month, seven of the
fifteen members met in private to develop the so-called strawman document. The plan calls for completely
dismantling the VA health care system and selling it to for-profit hospital corporations. They recommend closing
160+ VA medical centers, 1,000+ VA community health clinics, and forcing the VAs 6.6 million patients to seek
medical assistance using a voucher system essentially a health care coupon. Immediately, eight of the largest
veterans service organizations in the country you know, the veterans who will actually have to live with this
disastrous proposal expressed their outrage at the idea of selling the health care they fought for down the river. In
their joint letter, the groups staunchly condemn the proposal and question the secretive process it was borne out of.
They raised vital questions and concerns about the plan to begin closing VA health care facilities, citing the
specialized services the VA provides for veterans, and the utter lack of consideration given to veterans who want to
improve it.
This should not come as a surprise to members of the Commission. In a November 2015 Vet Voices Foundation
survey, 80 percent of veterans opposed transitioning VA health care into a voucher system. It also found that an
overwhelming majority of veterans preferred to receive their health care at VA hospitals or clinics in their
communities.
The VA Choice Card program is a vital cautionary tale for anyone looking to seek out veterans care to for-profit
providers. In 2015, the Veterans Choice Program was created with the goal of giving veterans greater access to
health care in their communities through private care. Since its launch, however, veterans seeking to use the Choice
Program have been met with longer wait times, worse service, and harassment from the private medical providers
Page 21 of 125

seeking payment. Veterans have expressed tremendous frustration with the program, to the point where only a tiny
fraction of those eligible actually choose to use it. Its time for the Commission to stop ramming these ridiculous
proposals down veterans throats. They dont want it, and theyre not taking it lying down. Were listening; but is the
Commission?
Veterans have sacrificed enough for this country, and we cant break our promise to them now. They deserve the
best care available, and they know a well-funded, well-staffed VA is the best way to keep that promise. Unless we do
something soon, this controversial Commission will strip that system, sell it for parts, and leave our veterans to fend
for themselves. Dont wait for the Commission on Care to sell out our veterans to the lowest bidder. Call your
lawmaker today at 202-224-3121 and tell them you support veterans access to a well-funded, properly-staffed VA.
And if youre a veteran who wants to tell the Commission about your experience with the VA, contact them today.
[Source: American Federation of Government Employees | J. David Cox| April 28, 2016 ++]
*****************************

VA Life Insurance Update 01

Whats Available

VAs Life Insurance Program received a strong customer satisfaction score of 81 on a scale of 100 from the
American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), an independent survey that scores customer satisfaction for more
than 300 private companies and federal and local government agencies. VA is proud of the excellent service
provided by its dedicated Insurance Program employees and the recent ACSI results they achieved, said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald.
As part of its mission to serve Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families, VAs Life Insurance Program
provides individuals with the peace of mind that comes with knowing their familys financial security is protected,
given the extraordinary risks involved in military service. VA provides more than $1.3 trillion in coverage and
insured 6.4 million Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families in fiscal year 2015. The following life insurance
policies are available to veterans through the Veterans Administration who can meet the appropriate criteria. The
criteria for ach can be found at http://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance:

SGLI: Servicemembers Group Life Insurance provides coverage up to $400,000 for servicemembers.
Coverage ends 120 days after discharge, but can be extended for up to two years if the member is totally
disabled.
SGLI-DE: If you are totally disabled at the time of separation (unable to work), you can apply for the
SGLI Disability Extension, which provides free coverage for up to two years from the date of separation.
While you do not need to apply for SGLI coverage, an extension of SGLI due to total disability is not
automatic. You must apply to the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) for the
extension. At the end of the extension period, you automatically become eligible for VGLI, subject to
premium payments.
TSGLI: Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) provides automatic
traumatic injury coverage to all Servicemembers covered under the SGLI program. It provides short-term
financial assistance to severely injured Servicemembers and Veterans to assist them in their recovery from
traumatic injuries. TSGLI is not only for combat injuries, but provides insurance coverage for injuries
incurred on or off duty.
FSGLI is a program that provides term life insurance coverage to the spouses and dependent children of
Servicemembers insured under SGLI. The Servicemember pays the premium for spousal coverage.
Dependent children are insured at no cost.
VGLI: Veterans Group Life Insurance allows servicemembers to convert their SGLI to lifetime renewable
term coverage. VGLI must be applied for within one year and 120 days of discharge. If applied for within
120 days of discharge, there are no good health requirements.
Page 22 of 125

S-DVI: Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance provides up to $10,000 of coverage for serviceconnected


veterans. If totally disabled, they are eligible for an additional $20, 000. Veterans must apply within two
years of being rated service connected for a new condition.
VMLI: Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) is mortgage protection insurance that can help families
of severely disabled Servicemembers or Veterans pay off the home mortgage in the event of their death.
NSLI: National Service Life Insurance policy were available from 1940 to 1951 only. Premiums of this
policy are capped at the age-70 rates. Once you turned 70, your premiums never increased. Since
September 2000, a capped NSLI term policy will receive a termination dividend if the policy lapses, or if
the policyholder voluntarily cancels their policy.

[Source: Veteran News | Donnie LaCuran | April 29, 2016 ++]


******************************

VA Accountability Update 31

Watered Down Senate Firing Bill

All of a federal employee unions objections were removed from the Veterans First Act Senate bill designed to help
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) discipline bad employees, making it politically easier for the bill to pass,
but indicating it may not be doing the very thing its supposed to. The American Federation of Government
Employees (AFGE) sent a letter 18 APR asking taxpayer-funded employees to pressure Sen. Johnny Isakson,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Isakson is a Georgia Republican. I strongly urge you to
oppose the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs omnibus bill in its current form, President J. David Cox wrote.
No less than the future of the VA health care system is at stake here.
He enumerated four accountability measures that caused him to oppose the bill. Days later, Democrats joined
Republicans to announce a final version they planned to introduce on 28 APR. A Daily Caller News Foundation
computer analysis of the two texts showed all four measures had been walked back, while virtually no other changes
were made. The result was a VA employment reform bill that backtracked on measures dealing with the vast
majority of the workforce, leaving mainly restrictions on Senior Executive Service (SES) members, who represent
only one in 1,000 VA employees. Its the career senior executives who are more responsible than anyone for setting
the tone of the workplace and maintaining the culture at the VA, and theyre the ones collecting the biggest taxpayerfunded salaries, Isaksons spokeswoman Lauren Gaydos told TheDCNF.
The original draft said no employee may complete their initial probationary period unless their manager
affirmatively signs off on it. But this was changed so the employee will automatically become permanent unless
other action is taken. The Government Accountability Office recently said one of the best ways to ensure bad
employees are booted from government is by not renewing them after the probation period, but the period often ends
without managers realizing it. The unions other three complaints were that employees didnt have enough time to
appeal, reprimands wouldnt be removed from their file quickly enough, and performance reviews could be revised
after the fact. Isakson quickly allowed all of these to be changed. For example, the draft bill says letters of reprimand
could be removed from an employees file after five years, but the final version reduces it to three years.
Even the accountability measures for senior executives are burdened with so many caveats they may have little
effect. Senior executives stand to have their pensions diminished after resigning to avoid firing only if they are
convicted of a felony, have exhausted appeals on the felony, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determines
the felony was sufficiently related to their work, and the VA secretary chooses to avail themselves of the option.
Even then, the disgraced director can appeal this decision to OPM. The changes assured support from the
committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. AFGE has openly said it would work to
help him win re-election because of his efforts to make it hard to fire VA employees.

Page 23 of 125

In a March letter, Sen. Marco Rubio and House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller said
Isakson had cut the Republican-led House out of negotiations and expressed concern he seemed intent on reaching a
deal with the Obama administration at any cost. The House has already passed a stronger VA accountability bill, but
if the Senates version does not match it, those differences will have to be ironed out in a conference committee.
AFGE sent its letter opposing the draft bill before the public had even seen the proposal. Gaydos said Isakson did
not share the text with the union, but it was leaked to it by another member of the committee. AFGE did not return a
request for comment. Gaydos said the House bill simply does not have the requisite 60 votes to pass the Senate nor
does it have enough support in the House to override a White House veto threat that has been issued against it.
Because of that, Chairman Isakson set out to create an accountability bill that actually has a chance of being signed
into law.
Veterans advocates and House Republicans believe the bill should be brought for a floor vote under the normal
process rather than using expedited unanimous consent where even one Democrat is enough to stop it
forcing Democrats to publicly weigh the interests of VA employees against those of veterans. House Republicans
said the Senate bill often simply restates existing law in different terms, giving the false impression of strengthening.
For example, current law gives 30 calendar days for an employee to respond to proposed discipline. The Senate bill
changes it to two 10-day periods, but uses business days, shortening a 30-day period by only a few days. Gaydos
said under the Senate bill, employees cannot receive any pay or other compensation or benefits during the appeals
process. But House Republicans said that is already the case, and the lengthy paid-time-off was occurring during
pre-firing proceedings, before appeals kick in.
Isakson bills focusing on 0.1 percent of the VAs workforce misses some of the most notable instances where VA
officials have lamented their inability under existing laws and regulations to fire poorly performing or corrupt
employees. As far as Phoenix is concerned, many of the employees involved would fall under the SES provision of
the Veterans First Act, Gaydos said, referring to the hospital that was the epicenter of the departments most severe
scandal. Lance Robinson and Brad Curry, top deputies at the Phoenix VA, were returned to work after collecting pay
for more than a year because the VA failed in its efforts to discipline them. Though they were among the very top
administrators, only the hospitals director, Sharon Helman, was a member of the SES. [Source: The Daily Caller |
Luke Rosiak | May 3, 2016 ++]
******************************

VA Accountability Update 32

Sen. McCain | Pending Bill Very Bad Plan

Sen. John McCain on 6 MAY panned the massive veterans omnibus legislation pending in the Senate as a very
bad plan, casting doubt on the future of the already controversial reform measure. During a radio interview on
Arizonas KFYI-AM, the longtime Arizona senator said he is deeply concerned about the plan, particularly its
provisions dealing with firing problem employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs and expanding options for
veterans seeking health care outside the VA system. Theres not the accountability there, he said. Im very
concerned. Hopefully well take up some legislation before we go out, but Im very worried, to tell you the truth.

Page 24 of 125

Last month, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and a bipartisan group of
lawmakers unveiled the Veterans First Act as a massive reform measure with an expansion of VA caregiver
programs, new accountability rules for VA employees and a host of smaller initiatives designed to make the
department more customer-focused. Isakson said he was confident the legislation would gain the support of both the
Senate and the White House, and billed the moves as a chance to create a new VA in America. But House
lawmakers have already begun questioning the accountability provisions, which dont go as far as those passed by
that chamber earlier this year. VA leaders had asked for the reclassification of department senior executives to allow
for faster hiring and firing of those positions, plus more flexibility on pay and work hours. The Senate plan includes
that but also goes further, giving broader power to senior leaders who want to dismiss federal workers in the
department. Union leaders and the White House have objected to similar plans in the past.
But House Veterans Affairs Committee staff said the Senate plan does not go far enough. For example, under the
Senate plan, disciplinary decisions which today can take more than 400 days to complete would be reduced to 110.
The House plan trims that even further, to 52 days for appeals and rulings. In addition, the House plan does not
require any advance notice for disciplinary action and would significant limit appeals. McCain has introduced his
own legislation dealing with VA reform, but that plan does not include any new accountability provisions. It does
have an extension of the VA Choice Card program, mandated by Congress in 2014 as a way to simplify veterans
attempts to get medical care outside the department.
Isaksons omnibus only includes minor updates to that program. He said in a press conference last month that
McCains proposal was not at odds with the other Senate bill, and he looked forward to working with the Senate
Armed Services Committee chairman on the issues. VA officials have already expressed concern that their top
priorities appeals reform and consolidation of outside care programs are not covered in the omnibus. And
veterans groups have expressed concern about the costs of the proposal, which Isakson said will be covered by
offsets in the measure but will remain unclear until scoring information is released in coming days. Supporters of the
bill had hoped the legislation could be finalized by Memorial Day. Last month, House Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., declined to offer an specific opinion on the legislation but called it a positive
development towards passing needed reform measures.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on 12 MAY unanimously approved thelegislative package. Panel
members reported out the nearly 400-page omnibus bill, known as the Veterans First Act, in an afternoon markup in
the hopes of advancing the legislation to the Senate floor sooner rather than later. VA Committee Chairman Johnny
Isakson, R-Ga., has said he wants to get a negotiated bill passed by both chambers to President Obama before
Memorial Day. Lauren Gaydos, a spokeswoman for the committee majority, said they didnt know when the full
Senate would consider the legislation. No amendments were offered to the massive bill during the public markup.
House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) has called the deal a positive development,
saying that if the legislation passes the Senate he looks forward to immediately engaging in conference committee
negotiations in order to move a VA reform package to the presidents desk. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane |
May 6, 2016 ++]
******************************

VA In Vitro Fertilization Update 07

Appropriations Committee Approval

A dozen veterans groups and support organizations are rallying behind legislation that would enable the Veterans
Affairs Department to offer in vitro fertilization services to veterans with wounds and injuries prevent them from
fathering children. The measure, which has been championed for years by Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from
Washington, was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last month and is now part of the omnibus
veterans and military construction bill working its way through the full Senate. Backers want to make sure the
Page 25 of 125

legislation passes. "Much is said about honoring the sacrifice that veterans make for our families," the groups wrote.
"With your vote, you can demonstrate that commitment, making a real and fundamental difference in the lives of
veterans and their families."

The coalition includes the Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Blue Star
Families, Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association, Paralyzed Veterans of
America, The Veterans Health Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Bob Woodruff
Foundation, Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the Quality of Life Foundation. In their letter, members note that
numerous veterans have experienced pelvic, abdominal, urogenital and spinal cord injuries that left them unable to
have children after being attacked by roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices in countries such as Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Between 2005 and 2010, the Joint Theatre Trauma Registry recorded 1,525 genitourinary injuries, which can
impair the physical, reproductive and mental health of the wounded. In 2010, the letter states, 12.7 percent of all
battlefield injuries were recorded as relating to the GU system. "This is tragic for many reasons, but especially
because, for so many wounded warriors, families are what drives reintegration into civilian life," the groups say.
Murray's amendment to the massive Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill would provide for $88 million -$18 in fiscal 2017 and $70 million in 2018 -- for fertility treatments for veterans and their spouses if the veteran has
a service-connected condition making it impossible to have children without the use of the treatment.
Murray, who has been advocating for IVF and other family services for veterans since at least 2012, said last
month she was proud that her amendment came out of the committee with strong bipartisan support. The vote was
23-7 in favor of the amendment. "This amendment is about fulfilling our promise to the military families who we
ask to sacrifice and serve our country on our behalf," Murray said afterward. "I know this is just the first hurdle. I
will be fighting to see this through to the end so this country can keep up its commitment to care for our veterans
and their spouses who dream of having a family." In previous bills, including one from February 2015 that remains
in committee, Murray also pushed for authorization and funding for veterans and families to be assisted with
adoption services, third-party donor and surrogacy as options. Murray pulled it from the floor after some Republican
lawmakers threatened to insert into it several so-called poison-pill amendments that would doom the entire package
when it came to a vote.
An official with one veterans group backing the current legislation said the pared down amendment offered by
Murray last month is the kind of assistance that most lawmakers can agree on. The veteran's advocate, who spoke on
background, said there is always a concern that the other types of assistance would catch strong opposition from
more conservative lawmakers, not only in the Senate but in the House when the bill reached there. Some of these
same groups that sent the recent letter to senators previously announced support for Murray's provision last month,
along with other organizations. These include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, AMVETS, the
Service Women's Action Network, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and RESOLVE -- The National
Infertility Association.
In testimony last year on Murray's original bill, VFW Senior Legislative Associate Carlos Fuentes said the group
supported the broad range of options available to veterans and service members in creating their families after a
trauma that makes natural conception not possible. Both the Defense Department and the VA, he said, "must have
Page 26 of 125

the authority to provide veterans the fertility treatment options that are best suited for their particular
circumstances." [Source: Military.com | Bryant Jordan | May 03, 2016 ++]
******************************

myVA Initiative Update 01

VA Expands myVA Communities

As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) MyVA initiative, the largest transformation in the history of VA,
VA is reporting the progress and growth of the locally led, community-driven initiative, MyVA Communities.
Modeled after San Diegos successful One VA Community Advocacy Board, more than 50 communities have joined
the MyVA Communities movement. What these communities have in common is that they have local Veteran
engagement boards which are led by the community, provide a feedback and input mechanism for local Veterans, are
accessible, and are designed to bring together all available local resources and capabilities to better support our
Veterans. They are also flexible enough to meet the unique needs of each community and facilitate the development
of local solutions.
VA is undergoing its largest ever transformation, MyVA, based around the central premise that we must look at
all of the decisions we make through the lens of the Veteran, that is how we provide a better experience, said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. A vital part of that transformation is better working with
strategic partners and thats exactly what MyVA Communities help us do, bring together local community leaders
that want to help VA improve and provide services to Veterans.
Connecticut established the first Veterans community board in the country using the new MyVA
Communities model and was followed by several other start-ups including MyVA Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. In other areas, VA was able to join well-established existing engagements including the Alaska Forget Me
Not Coalition and the Region 9 Veterans Community Action Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The community
Veterans engagement boards, which go by different names in each community, are co-chaired and driven by local
community leaders and include representatives from all three VA Administrations on the board membership
(Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration and the National Cemetery Administration).
To support further integration of VA service offerings in communities, VA is incorporating the Veterans Economic
Communities Initiative (VECI) into the MyVA Veterans Experience portfolio of service offerings. VECI, which was
announced by the Secretary in 2015, has improved education and employment opportunities for Veterans in over 25
communities around the country. This is one example of a resource VA can offer to current and future MyVA
Communities across the country.
VA expects to see 100 MyVA Communities throughout the country by the end of this year as a result of ongoing
engagements with community leaders and existing groups with similar missions. The goal is to seek integration with
existing community collaborative groups, and encourage local community leaders to adopt the MyVA Communities
model where gaps may exist. Visit http://www.va.gov/nace/myVA/index.asp for more information on the MyVA
Communities effort. At http://www.va.gov/opa/myva/docs/myva_integrated_plan.pdf
can be found more
information about MyVA. [Source: VA News Release | May 4,, 2016 ++]
******************************

VA Health Care Access Update 38

Study Says Vets Delay Seeking Care

Nearly three of every ten veterans report they have delayed seeking medical care, which researchers suggest may be
slowing down the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to serve them. A recent study conducted by
researchers at Marshall University and the University of Texas found difficulty accessing care is a problem for
veterans, but being significantly more likely to delay care is contributing to the slow pace of VA-provided
Page 27 of 125

healthcare. The study "suggests a possible link between VA access problems and veterans' behavior in seeking
needed health care, which may be creating disparities in the effectiveness of care for this vulnerable and deserving
population," researchers write in the study, published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from a national survey of 11,000 people conducted in 2010 and 2011 to
assess delays in seeking healthcare among the general population and military veterans. Of the participants, just
1.72% were covered by veteran's insurance, while the rest had private health insurance. When asked if they had "put
off or postponed getting medical care they thought they needed," 29% of veterans said they'd done so, compared to a
national rate of 17 percent. Veterans were 1.76 times more likely to delay medical care, which the researchers said
may result in their care getting worse, requiring higher levels of care that require more time and cost more money,
according to a press release. "More studies are needed to expand our understanding on the magnitude and current
status of care delay and offer specific steps to rectify related issues on delayed care if reported in military health
care," the researchers write. [Source: UPI | Stephen Feller | May 2, 2016++]
******************************

VA Vet Choice Program Update 39

Vet Organizations Oppose Expansion

The nations largest veterans groups have lined up to oppose any expansion of the Veterans Affairs Choice program
that would allow all veterans who are eligible for VA medical care to use it. The stand, by the American Legion,
Veterans of Foreign Wars and others, places the groups squarely in the corner of VA Secretary Bob McDonald, who
has called proposals favoring private care for veterans over VA facilities, a dereliction of department duties, and at
odds with seven powerful U.S. senators, including Arizona Republican John McCain, who have proposed legislation
to lift restrictions on Choice. Seven veterans organizations wrote the VA Commission on Care on 29 APR saying
they would oppose any VA health system that allows veterans to see a non-VA provider at any time.
The heads of the organizations, which also included Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America,
AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told panel
chairwoman Nancy Schlichting that giving all veterans access to private health care paid for by VA would have
serious costs, trade-offs and consequences that could endanger or harm the provision of health care to veterans.
Such unfettered access to the Choice program could result in a decline in the number of veterans using VA
programs and facilities, which would threaten the financial and clinical viability of some VA medical programs and
facilities, they wrote.
McCain introduced a bill 27 APR that would make the Choice program permanent and expand its eligibility to all
veterans enrolled in VA care. The senator said the bill is needed to "tear down bureaucratic hurdles" that deny
veterans timely access to quality health care. The VA, instead, wants to consolidate several community care
programs, including Choice, and use the new community care system to supplement health care provided at VA
facilities, mainly in areas where services are unavailable or failing to provide timely care for former troops.
The 15-member Commission on Care was tasked by Congress in 2014 to study the Veterans Affairs health system
and make recommendations on its future. It has been working on the effort since last September and is expected to
release a final report in June. But the panel made headlines last month when members discussed the option of
closing all VA facilities and moving veterans to a system similar to Medicare, where all eligible veterans would
receive treatment from private providers paid for by VA. That proposal spelled out in a 35-page strawman"
document drafted by seven commission members drew fire from veterans groups that said it represented the
intentions of the those who wrote it, including commissioner Darin Selnick, who previously chaired a task force on
veterans health care organized by the advocacy group Concerned Veterans For America. That task force released a
report last year calling for the placement of VA medical facilities under a government-funded nonprofit organization
and shifting treatment for veterans with nonservice-related health conditions to private health insurance programs.

Page 28 of 125

Critics of the plan, including Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have called it a thinly veiled attempt by conservative industrialists Charles and
David Koch to privatize the Veterans Health Administration. News reports have linked the group to the Koch
brothers' network of activist organizations, although CVA officials do not discuss their funding sources. McCain's
bill is the second in two years from the senator, who has sought to find short- and long-term solutions to problems
at VA." A spokeswoman for the senator said 4 MAY McCain continues to work with several veterans groups to
address ongoing issues at the department, including the recently released bill. "Senator McCains Care Veterans
Deserve Act ... will accomplish this shared goal through an 'all of the above approach,'" McCain communications
director Rachel Dean said. "The 'Care Veterans Deserve' bill expands access to VA facilities through evening and
weekend hours and telemedicine, as well as the VA partnering closely with walk-in clinics for veterans seeking
same-day appointments."
Other legislation also is wending through Congress to address the VAs Choice program, to give VA flexibility in
using Choice funds and improve its processes for reimbursing providers. But the massive veterans reform bill
introduced by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee last week does not include language that would allow VA to
consolidate various outside care programs that department leaders have requested. McDonald said Wednesday he
would continue to press for the ability to consolidate the outside care programs, and he reiterated the department's
stance against shuttering VA facilities in favor of private care. "They argue that closing VHA is the kind of 'bold
transformation' veterans and their families need, want and deserve. I suspect that proposal serves some parties
somewhere pretty well," McDonald said, "but its not transformational. Its more along the lines of dereliction. It
doesnt serve veterans well. And it doesnt sit well with me." [Source: Military Times | Patricia Kime |May 5, 2016
++]
******************************

VA Transgender Care

Gender Transition-Related Surgery Petition

Transgender veterans are petitioning the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover gender transition-related surgeries.
I served my country with pride, and I should be treated just like my fellow veterans who have access to the
treatment they need, Dee Fulcher, one of the petitioners, said in a written statement 10 MAY. The petition for a rule
change was filed by Lambda Legal and the Transgender Law Center on behalf of Fulcher and another transgender
veteran, Gio Silva, as well as the 2,200-plus member Transgender American Veterans Association. The VA already
covers transition-related care for transgender vets including hormone replacement therapy and pre- and post-surgical
care. But it doesnt cover any actual surgery, a ban the petition calls arbitrary and capricious.
Surgeries such as mastectomies or penile implants are covered to treat issues such as cancer and traumatic
injuries. But transgender veterans cant get coverage for the same surgeries, says the petition, which was filed late
Monday. Further, the petition says, transgender discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited
by the Civil Rights Act. Thats the same argument the Justice Department is making against a controversial North
Carolina law that requires transgender people use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex.
Fulcher, one of the petitioners, served in the Marines until 1992. She came out as a transgender woman and
began treatment in 2013. Two VA clinicians have recommended gender reassignment surgeries, but she cant get
them without VA coverage, according to the petition. I feel like I am being made less of a person, and it is
devastating for me, both emotionally and for my physical health, that it is excruciating to be trapped in gender
purgatory because the surgery I need is denied through the VA because Im transgender, she said.
Silva, the other individual petitioner, served in the Army from 2008 to 2012. In 2015, a VA doctor recommended
he get a mastectomy, not because he is transgender, but because he suffers from severe back pain, according to the
petition. But another VA doctor determined Silva wanted the surgery primarily for gender transition and told Silva
the surgery wouldnt be covered, according to the petition. My doctor told me that I needed to have surgery
Page 29 of 125

because of my severe back pain, but simply because I am transgender, a procedure that is available to thousands of
other veterans will not be covered by the VA for me, he said in a written statement. I made a commitment to the
Army, and I kept it until I retired, but it is heartbreaking for me that this policy on transition-related surgery keeps
the VA from upholding its duty to me.
*********************************

VA Mental Health Care Update 29

Study Says VA Exceeds Private Sector

A study released last month indicated that the quality of medical treatment for mental disorders in the VA exceeds
that of the private sector. Dr. Praveen Fernandes, Director of Outpatient Mental Health for the VA NebraskaWestern Iowa Health Care System, said the researchers on the study collected data on more than half a million
patients over the course of a year in both the VA and private sector. They looked at four quality indicators, including
whether patients had blood levels monitored while they were on their medications, whether or not the providers took
a general blood chemistry monitoring while patients were taking medications for mental illness, whether the patients
took their meds for at least 12 weeks after they were diagnosed with an episode of psychosis or depression and
whether the patients filled their medication for a 12-month period as part of their maintenance treatment.
"What does the VA have going for it that maybe the private sector may not? There are many possibilities. For
example, in every VA medical center, one thing we have is a co-location of our pharmacy with our lab so they are
typically next to each other so patients can fill their medications, pick up their medications, and get their blood
tested at the same time. So they almost go hand-in-hand. Fernandes says the VA also has a great system of
electronic records with patient profiles available at the click of a button. The study was published in last months
issue of Psychiatric Services. [Source: Omaha Public Radio KIOS | Cheril Lee | May 11, 2016 ++]
******************************

VA Medical Internet

Hacker Defense Sought

Its unclear whether hacked pacemakers are a real threat, but the Veterans Affairs Department wants to make sure its
patients never find out. VA is gathering information about ways to protect the digitally-enabled medical devices that
make up the Internet of Things -- the devices used for the treatment, diagnosis and monitoring of patients -- from
outside intruders. The department wants a comprehensive, defense-in-depth plan that would secure the devices on
a hospital systems network, according to a new request for information. Today, devices are often connected to the
hospital via a wireless connection, according to VA.

Hospital network security has been under scrutiny in the past few months. The MedStar Health system in
Washington, D.C., recently fell victim to a ransomware attack, in which a piece of malware blocked access to patient
records and demanded payment. VAs requirements for a security solution include:
Not needing software to be installed on the device
Scalability to millions or more devices
Page 30 of 125

Functionality across different physical and virtual environments


Consideration for a time lag in the device
Ability to provide reports on device traffic volume, threat indicators, and protocols
Automation

Last fall, VAs new chief information officer, LaVerne Council, debuted a new cybersecurity strategy that
included a focus on medical cybersecurity and proposed taking new steps to secure connected medical devices.
[Nextgov | Military Times | Mohana Ravindranath | May 12, 2016 ++]
******************************

VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse

Reported 1 thru 15 May 2016

Toledo, OH An Army veteran who received more than $121,000 in benefits intended for low-income, disabled
veterans admitted in federal court 2 MAY that he lied in his application for benefits about his income and ability to
work. Antonio Estrada, 65, of Toledo pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary to theft of
government money and property of more than $1,000. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
and a $250,000 fine. Noah Hood, an assistant U.S. attorney, said that Estradas sentencing is expected to be between
10 months and 16 months. Estrada, who served in the Army from November, 1969, to June, 1971, collected
$121,156 in monthly pension payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs between April 1, 2006, and
Feb. 28, 2014, after reporting he had zero income and zero assets. Mr. Hood said in reality Estrada was working on
remodeling projects for several contractors. Had the VA known about his income and ability to work, it would not
have provided the benefit, Mr. Hood said. Estrada, who is to be sentenced Aug. 30, said he applied for benefits after
being treated at a VA clinic and being told he was entitled to pension based on his medical issues. [Source: The
Blade| May 3, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oSt. Louis, MO Veterans have passed away for years, but their government checks keep coming. Authorities say

nearly 100 million have been stolen as far as they know. The Veterans Administration, V.A., calls it "death
matching." That's the process of matching death records with lists of veterans who are receiving benefits. The goal is
to stop those benefits from being paid. But those efforts are sometimes blocked by family members of the veterans
who conspire to keep the benefits coming and using them for their own benefit. Members of the News 4 Investigates
team were in federal court recently when Gary Lee Jones pleaded guilty to stealing government property. That
property was actually his mother's V.A. survivor benefits, which she began receiving when her husband, a veteran,
died. But when Jones' mother died years ago, the benefit checks kept coming. Jones admitted in court to keeping the
money for himself, collecting more than $200,000 over 12 years.

Gary Lee Jones

In a plea deal, Jones pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. His sentencing is set for July. He could be sent to prison
for a year, the judge making it clear that full restitution will be expected. News 4 Investigates found that Jones' case
is not unusual. The U.S. Attorney's Office in St. Louis has prosecuted several similar cases in recent years.
Nationally, the V.A. has investigated more than 18,000 suspected cases of such theft. Since 2000, the government
has recovered more than $88 million in stolen benefits. However, the punishment is often relatively minor. Many of
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those convicted are elderly themselves, and end up sentenced to probation and paying as little as $100 a month in
restitution. [Source: News 4 KMOV | Chris Nagus & Ashlee Carlstrom | April 19, 2016 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oHighlands, FL Vicki Hicks controlled her fathers financial affairs for over 13 years. She was supposed to use his

money for his benefit. Instead, Hicks, the former secretary to Sebring Police Chief Thomas Dettman, is accused of
spending more than $100,000 of her fathers veterans benefits on herself while he wore tattered clothing, shoes with
holes, and at times had to eat without dentures. A new federal bill would levy fines and five years of prison on
people who defraud veterans of their benefits. Nearly 20,000 veterans live in Highlands County, and 75,000 in the
17th Congressional District, said U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Okeechobee). He sponsored the Preventing Crimes
Against Veterans Act of 2016 (H.R.4676). This bill amends the federal criminal code to declare that any person who
knowingly engages in any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with
obtaining veteran's benefits for that individual, shall be fined, imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
The bill unanimously passed the House in April and is now assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It
specifically outlaws, a despicable breed of financial predators (who) have been advertising themselves to the
veterans community claiming that, for a hefty fee paid by the veteran, they can speed up the claims process with the
Department of Veterans Affairs. It is already illegal for anyone who is not an approved agent to charge a fee to help
a veteran file a claim or an appeal with the Veterans Administration, but there is no criminal or financial penalty.
The next step is making sure veterans are aware of these scams and know the services available to protect
themselves, said Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton).
Rooney is an Army veteran and member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs. These
criminals have to pay the price for their despicable actions, which include deliberately targeting and stealing from
the most vulnerable, and it is our job as legislators to give law enforcement the tools they need to punish them.
From 2002 and 2015, Hicks fathers money came from Department of Defense military retirement, Social Security
and Veterans Administration assistance, the affidavit said. A warrant said Hicks admitted to using her fathers
income to pay her own cable and cell phone bills, to shop, and to eat in restaurants. The father told authorities that
Hicks gave him change from her purse so he could buy cigarettes and coffee.
According to witnesses, the father resorted to accepting money from friends and employees of the facility where
he lived and worked odd jobs to get the money to eat out. He also told authorities Hicks threatened to end contact
with his grandchildren. The charges against Hicks were later expanded to the embezzlement of $62,000 from the
police department and using her fathers ID to obtain a $400 loan, Hicks has declined to comment on the allegations,
but Highlands County Sheriffs Office investigators found a text on her phone: I dont know y I did it except that it
was easy. We intervene in a lot of this, said Denise Williams, the Highlands County veterans service officer. It
happens at least once a month. If I see anything out of character, I can call the sheriffs department or the
Department of Veterans Affairs as well, Williams said. Im appalled that you would want to take advantage of
your own family member, said Williams, who is an Army staff sergeant. But they know what time the check
comes every month.
The oldest veterans are particularly vulnerable, Williams said. Theyre not as likely to be computer savvy, and
they are forced to be more trusting. If fraud against a veteran is suspected, call the Veterans Services Center at (863)
402-6623, or the Highlands County Sheriffs Office at 402-7200. They can remain anonymous, said Williams,
who said she was happy to have played a part in something that would make a significant difference in a veterans
lives. We just have to know who the veteran and the perpetrator is. [Source: Highlands Today| Gary Pinnell |
April 25, 2016 ++]

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VAMC Portland OR Update 02

Not All Experiences are Negative

In the interest of balancing the record, given the amount of bad press Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics have
received recently, I wanted to report on the experience of our ex-Navy son who had recently had serious surgery at
the VA hospital in Portland.
From arrival to discharge, the experience couldnt have been more positive. The staff were caring, concerned,
thoughtful and extremely competent. His family is very grateful.
J. W. COX
[Source: - The Register-Guard (Eugene OR) | Ltr to the Editor | May 3, 2016 ++]
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VAMC Fayetteville Update 03

5,000 Appointments Cancelled in 2 years

The Fayetteville VA canceled nearly 2,000 dermatology appointments and more than 3,000 consults during a twoyear span ending in 2012. The cancellations are the subject of an investigation released 3 MAY by the Department of
Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. The OIG report reviewed allegations that the appointments and
consults were improperly canceled at the direction of Fayetteville VA leaders. While confirming the cancellations
took place, and that some patients received long delays in care, investigators did not substantiate the claims against
local VA leadership. "While we found lapses in documentation and follow-up in some cases, it did not appear to us
that facility leadership played a substantive role in the events discussed in this report," the OIG concluded.
The investigation was spurred by an anonymous complaint, alleging nearly 1,400 dermatology appointments
were destroyed and called in 2011 and 2012, without regard for whether patients required care. Investigators found
that 1,993 such appointments were actually canceled, according to the report. A review of nearly 350 randomly
selected patient records found most of the patients were seen at a later date. "However, more than 30 percent of the
Page 33 of 125

rescheduled patients waited more than three months to be seen by dermatology providers, and some waited more
than one year," according to the report. There is no evidence that 45 patients received any dermatological care after
their cancellations. Investigators also found that 3,272 dermatology consults were canceled in the same time period.
A review of 299 randomly selected patient records found that 65 percent of the 253 patients who still required
appointments, but that those who did had an average wait of about 13 months. Investigators said there was no
evidence that 89 patients received a dermatologic evaluation or care after their consults were canceled.
The report found no evidence the cancellations negatively impacted diagnoses or treatment plans, but
investigators recommended that Fayetteville leaders follow up on the 143 patients who records indicate did not
receive care after their appointments were canceled. In response to the investigation, Fayetteville VA Director
Elizabeth Goolsby said that clinical reviews were completed by nurses on all cancelled appointments and consults.
"If there was a question about a patient situation, a physician was available for consultation," Goolsby wrote. She
said officials will re-review each case. As part of the OIG investigation, officials examined more recent medical
records. "We found that processes had improved," the report states.
According to the OIG report, the long delays between 2011 and 2012 were caused by a shortage of
dermatologists in the Fayetteville VA system, which provides care to more than 200,000 veterans in 21 counties in
North and South Carolina. From 2010 to 2013, the Fayetteville VA provided dermatology care through a contractual
arrangement with the University of North Carolina and a tele-dermatology agreement with the Durham VA. The
report notes "challenges in attracting dermatologists to the Fayetteville area," and said officials currently "rely
heavily on tele-dermatology through VA medical centers located in Richmond, Virginia, and the Bronx, New York."
[Source: The Fayetteville Observer | Drew Brooks | May 3, 2016 ++]
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VAMC Salt Lake City Update 01

Attaboy Letter to the Editor

The Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Salt Lake City provides the kind of timely, caring,
competent health care all veterans deserve. My father served in the Philippines during the Korean War as a Navy Sea
Bee. With age, he has become blind and disabled with arthritis. A fall resulted in a broken hip. A VA home health
nurse assessed him late at night and called for medical transport. The following morning, a Sunday and holiday, the
family received a call from the orthopedic team in preparation for imminent surgery. Questions and concerns were
addressed. At every step the family was informed and involved in the plan of care. When I asked my father what he
appreciated most about the care he received, he responded "they gave me what I needed fast." It was "not drawn
out." After a stay in orthopedic rehab, his recovery continued at home with physical therapy, occupational therapy
and home health nursing, as well as adaptive equipment provided by the VAMC. He continues to improve with visits
to his primary care physician and services of the outpatient clinics. My father provided honorable service to his
country. The Salt Lake VAMC honors that service by providing exceptional care.
Diane Franke
[Source: the Salt Lake Tribune | May 7, 2016 ++]

* Vets *

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SSIA Update 02

Expires Oct 2017 | Help Eliminate the Widows Tax

Under current law, 63,000 military widows are penalized $15,000 a year because military service caused their
servicemember's death. The law requires deduction of the VA annuity for the service-caused death from the Survivor
Benefit Plan annuity purchased by the retiring servicemembers. This is called the military "widows tax." To
partially compensate for this inequity, Congress enacted a Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) (currently
$270 monthly, rising to $310 next year), with the intent of eventually phasing out the widows tax altogether. But
the SSIA will expire October 1, 2017 for lack of funding. Go to https://youtu.be/P1T7NamhGLA?t=140 for
MOAAs explanation what is happening and what yuu can do to help stop it.
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) found mandatory spending offsets to extend the SSIA one more
year in the FY17 Defense Authorization Bill. But military widows deserve more substantive relief. Please urge
House leaders to provide HASC leaders additional mandatory spending offsets needed to include Rep. Joe Wilson's
(R-S.C.) H.R. 1594 (full repeal of the widows tax) or Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-Fla.) H.R. 4519 (5-year SSIA
increase) in the defense bill when it comes up for floor action this month. The (10-year) offsets needed for these
actions range from approximately $2 billion for H.R. 4519 to approximately $7 billion for H.R. 1594 - more than
the HASC can identify on its own, and thus the need for leadership help.
Congressional leadership finds offsets for all kinds of things every year. Relieving a $15,000 annual penalty for
survivors of military members whose service caused their death shouldn't be last on the list. Readers are urged to
contact their representatives on this issue. MOAA has provided a suggested editable message which can be used to
accomplish this at http://capwiz.com/moaa/issues/alert/?alertid=71897626 along with the means to get it to your
legislator. Readers are encouraged to use it. [Source: MOAA Leg Up | May 13, 2016 ++]
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Vet Suicide Update 10

Facts about Veteran Suicide

Every Veteran suicide is a tragic outcome and regardless of the numbers or rates, one Veteran suicide is too many.
We continue to spread the word throughout VA that Suicide Prevention is Everyones Business. Although we
understand why some Veterans may be at increased risk, we continue to investigate and take proactive steps. The
ultimate goal is eliminating suicide among Veterans. VA relies on multiple sources of information to identify deaths
that potentially are due to suicide. This includes VAs own Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator
Subsystem (BIRLS) and data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics in its National Death Index. In
addition, we request current information directly from each State and maintain our own databases of known events
and completions. These sources give us specific indications about Veteran vulnerability to suicide:
Approximately 40,000 US deaths from suicide per year among the population overall (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention) Approximately:
22 percent of those who die by suicide are Veterans (VA Suicide Data Report, 2012).

Page 35 of 125

42 percent increased risk for suicide among users of VHA services when compared to rates of suicide
in the US general population (VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Research and Evaluation Center,
2011).
5 suicide related deaths per day among Veterans receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration
(VHA) (VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment, Research and Evaluation Center).
1,300 suicide deaths, attempts, and reports of serious ideation per month among Veterans receiving
care reported to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) suicide prevention coordinators (2014).
14 percent of those who have a reported suicide event in fiscal year (FY) 2011 (and did not die as a
result of the event) had a report of a repeat suicide event within the next 12 months. Among those who
survived their first suicide attempt and reattempted suicide within the next 12 months, less than one
percent died from suicide (VA Suicide Data Report Update, 2014).
Preliminary evidence suggests that since 2006, there are decreased suicide rates in Veterans (men and
women) aged 18-29 who use VA health care services relative to Veterans in the same age group who do not.
This decrease in rates translates to approximately 250 lives per year (State Mortality Project). More than 60
percent of suicides among those who use VHA services are among patients with a known diagnosis of a
mental health condition (Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Education Center). Veterans are
more likely than the general population to use firearms as a means for suicide (State Mortality Project).
In terms of specific numbers, preliminary evidence on the incidence of Veteran suicide events and serious suicide
ideation can be derived from data from the VAs Suicide Prevention Coordinator reports. While this may under
represent the total number of events, it does provide important information. In FY 2014 among users of VHA
services
the number of known events (non-fatal, undetermined, and suicides) was 15,048. Of these 3,558 were
OEF/OIF/OND vets
Longitudinal data derived from national sources demonstrate suicide rates among male and female Veterans of
particular age cohorts.
The suicide rate is higher for men than for women; this is true for the US population (and in much of the
world) as well as for Veterans.
Overall, the highest rate for male Veterans from OEF/OIF was during FY 2004. This was the year when
VA, for a variety of reasons, recognized problems in its mental health care and developed a VA
Comprehensive Mental Health Strategic Plan (MHSP) to address them. Data in subsequent years, when
overall mental health care was greatly enhanced, show reduced rates between the time periods FY 20052007 and FY 2009-2010. It is concerning that the 2011 numbers are again rising, but this can be attributed
to male Veterans between the ages 18-49 years and female Veterans between the ages of 18-24 years.
Focused suicide prevention efforts, such as the Veterans Crisis Line and hiring of Suicide Prevention
Coordinators, began in FY 2007 with full implementation in FY 2008. Data needed to see the full impact of
VAs intensive efforts focused specifically on suicide prevention is emerging. Those initiatives and early
indicators of change are described in detail in the following section.
[Source: VAntage Point Blog | May 12, 2016 ++]
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Vet Suicide Update 11

Current VA Initiatives

Page 36 of 125

VAs basic strategy for suicide prevention requires ready access to high quality mental health (and other health care)
services supplemented by programs designed to help individuals and families engage in care and to address suicide
prevention in high-risk patients. Some of the initiatives that have proven to be very effective include:

24/7 Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). Veterans call the national suicide prevention hotline number, 1-800273-TALK and then Press 1 to reach highly skilled responders trained in suicide prevention and crisis
intervention. Since the Veterans Crisis Line began in 2007 through June 2015, the VCL has answered
over1.86 million calls from Veterans, family members, friends, and others concerned about a Veteran. The
VCL has initiated the dispatch of emergency services to callers in imminent suicidal crisis over 50,000
times. Since launching chat in July 2009 and text services in November 2011, the VCL has answered over
240,000 and 39,000 requests for chat and text services respectively. The VCL has provided over 300,000
referrals to a VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) thus ensuring Veterans are connected to local care.

SPC. Each VA Medical Center has a Suicide Prevention Coordinator or team. The coordinators and their
teams ensure that the Veteran receives the appropriate services. Calls from the VCL are referred to the
coordinators as appropriate, who follow up with Veterans and coordinate care.

Screening and assessment. Processes have been set up throughout the system to assist in the identification
of patients at risk for suicide. A chart flagging system has been developed to ensure continuity of care
and provide awareness among caregivers.

Enhanced care levels. Patients who have been identified as being at high risk receive an enhanced level of
care, including missed appointment follow-ups, safety planning, follow-up visits and care plans that
directly address their suicidality.

Mental Health professional Access. All patients who are identified as being at possible suicide risk and
have been determined to be safe at the present time are seen within 24 hours by a Mental Health
professional, including those who call the VCL. Patients who are not safe at the present time are
immediately admitted or escorted to a safe facility.

Reporting and tracking. Systems have been established to learn more about Veterans who may be at risk
and to help determine areas for intervention. Continual analysis of reports and VA data has led to three
information letters to the field:
o Each of the mental health conditions increases the risk of suicide. However, the effect of
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder may be related separately from its co-occurrence with other
conditions.
o Chart diagnoses associated with Traumatic Brain Injury are associated with increased risks of
suicide, even after controlling for comorbid mental health conditions.
o Some, but not all, chart diagnoses associated with chronic pain are associated with increased risks
of suicide, even after controlling for comorbid mental health conditions.

Employee education. Programs such as Operation S.A.V.E. (Signs of Suicidal thinking, Ask the questions,
Verify the experience with the Veteran, and Expedite or Escort to help) and a Web-based clinical training
module that is mandatory for all VHA employees
Page 37 of 125

VISNs. There are two centers devoted to research, education and clinical practice in the area of suicide
prevention. VAs Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 2 Center of Excellence in Canandaigua, New
York, develops and tests clinical and public health intervention strategies for suicide prevention.
VAs
VISN 19 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center in Denver, CO focuses on: 1) clinical
conditions and neurobiological underpinnings that can lead to increased suicide risk; 2) the implementation
of interventions aimed at decreasing negative outcomes; and 3) training future leaders in the area of VA
suicide prevention.

Annual Stand Down. Each Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP)
conducts an annual Stand Down focused on safety and security as part of the Culture of Safety initiative.
During the Stand Down each program suspends program operations and holds meetings and events,
inviting input from program staff, Veterans, and other key stakeholders, for a focused review of current
challenges related to the safety and security needs of Veterans served. The Stand Down provides dedicated
time for staff to address safety and security concerns identified through review of policies, procedures, and
practices throughout their continuum. In addition, the Culture of Safety initiative outlines requirements for
S.A.V.E. training for all Veterans admitted to the MH RRTPs. The Culture of Safety initiative places
particular emphasis on some of our most vulnerable populations, including women Veterans, Veterans at
risk for suicide and Veterans diagnosed with opioid dependence.
Outreach

VA has sponsored annual Suicide Prevention Months to increase awareness of the problem and cosponsored three conferences on suicide prevention with the Department of Defense for clinicians in both
systems.
VA is sponsoring public service announcements (PSAs), Web sites and display ads designed to inform
Veterans and their family members of VAs Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255; press 1). All current
Crisis Line PSAs, display ads, and other information are readily available at www.veteranscrisisline.net
Suicide Prevention Coordinators are required to conduct at least five outreach activities per month in all of
their local communities and are able to provide a Community version of Operation S.A.V.E. to returning
Veterans and family groups, Veterans Service Organizations and other community groups as desired.
Family psycho-educational materials have been developed including information sheets intended to serve
as guides for adults to use when talking with children about a suicide attempt in the family and family Ask,
Care, Escort card.
An outreach video was developed to emphasize the importance of taking precautions at home when a
firearm is present. The video is used by VA Suicide Prevention Coordinators in their community outreach
and education efforts. The primary message of the video is that simple actions can help individuals and
families stay safe, especially during emotional or stressful times, or when someone in the home is in crisis.
This video encourages Veterans, Servicemembers, and their families to make sure guns and ammunition are
safely secured in their home, particularly when someone is experiencing a period of depression or crisis.
The video is available on the Veterans Health Administration YouTube page.
Research

Suicide prevention research is challenging for many reasons. However, scientists are addressing the
problem through epidemiologic studies to identify risk and protective factors, clinical and population
interventions, and biological research examining brain related changes in suicidal patients.
VA has recently developed an analytic model for predicting suicide risk. VA researchers and program
officers are engaged in understanding how this information can inform outreach activities and clinical care.
A recent comprehensive review concluded that intensive education of physicians and restricting access to
lethal means had substantial evidence for preventing suicide.

Page 38 of 125

VA researchers are also engaged in efforts to ensure safety plans are in place for participants in research
including coordination with the Veterans Crisis Line.
Other approaches needing further research include screening programs, media education, and public
education.
Structured cognitive therapy approaches for those who are suicidal (or suicide attempters)
education of what are often called community gatekeepers, and means of access restriction initiatives
(e.g., gun locks, blister packaging medications) show promise.
Public Health Contribution to Suicide Prevention in America

VAs Crisis Line Center receives more than 30 percent of all calls to the National Suicide Crisis Line and
provides one of the only national 24/7 suicide chat services in the world.
VAs Media Campaign has provided access to the National Suicide Crisis Line number to Americans
nationwide.
Suicide Prevention Coordinator Outreach work has touched many community members as well as VA
employees and employee families.

For more information, Veterans currently enrolled in VA health care can speak with their VA mental health or
health care provider. Other Veterans and interested parties can find a complete list of VA health care facilities, Vet
Centers, their local Suicide Prevention Coordinators, and other resources under the resource section of
www.veteranscrisisline.net or at www.va.gov.
[Source: VAntage Point Blog | May 12, 2016 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 187

New Version of Veterans.gov Launched

If a Labor Department project goes according to plan, veterans might soon find all government agencies job
resources on a single website. Its meant to connect veterans with the right people at the agencies interested in hiring
them. The department can also use it to promote those agencies developing their own veteran employment
programs. The site could evolve, said Terry Gerton, deputy assistant secretary for policy within the Labor
Departments Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS). Her team plans to collect analytics about how
many veterans are using various features, including a career interest profile, or a translator tool letting veterans find
jobs matching the military skills, to find out which elements are most valuable.
On 2 MAY was launched the new version of www.Veterans.gov , a one-stop shop for veterans seeking jobs and
employers who want to hire them. The new site more easily describes the path veterans can take to find a job or start
a business, and it points them to resources from federal agencies and the public sector workforce that can help them
in their search. Employment is a person to person conversation, said Terry Gerton, in an interview with Federal
News Radio. No matter how many resources you put out online, at the end of the day, you have to talk to somebody
to get a job. We wanted to consolidate these resources, but we also wanted to make sure that at every step of the way
there was an option for either the job seeker or the employer to reach out and contact a person either in the public
workforce system or here at the Department of Labor who can help them in their search.
When users first enter the site, they have the option of finding resources that will help them find a job, start
your own business or hire a veteran. They can also click on a map of the United States to explore opportunities in
a specific location. We think people approach this question in one of two ways, Gerton said. Either, What do I
want to do? Or, Where do I want to do it?' The new site is not to be confused with www.Vets.gov , which the
Veterans Affairs Department is developing as the front door portal to roughly 1,000 different VA-hosted sites. The
project is meant to serve as a one-stop shop for VA services, Tom Allin, chief veterans experience officer, said last
September.
Page 39 of 125

Labor has owned the Veterans.gov domain name since 2001, which, until recently, redirected visitors to the
Veterans Employment and Training Service. As Federal News Radio reported last August, the departments of Labor
and Veterans Affairs debated who should own the Veterans.gov domain. But for now, the domain will belong to
Labor, Gerton said. Perhaps over time there will be some merging of the two efforts, but right now, theres so much
work that the VA has going on in the Vets.gov space that we wanted to make sure that we didnt interfere with their
work thats going on while we were still able to bring this employment feature to the forefront, she said. Well see
how this will play out over time, but right now we think theres space for both. As Gerton indicated, the VA is still
building out pieces of Vets.gov. The top left corner of the site says, This site is a work in progress. If you dont find
what you need, visit VA.gov.
Labor is beginning to get the word out that its site is the destination to find information about veterans
employment. Gerton said Veterans.gov will be a part of the Transition Assistance Program curriculum, the course,
which the Labor Department facilitates, that military members take as they leave service and return to civilian life.
To learn specifically about the kinds of information veterans wanted, Labor held feedback sessions with federal
agencies, employers, veterans service organizations and veterans themselves. Their input helped the Labor team
refine the sites navigation and overall design. The department got help from its public affairs office, as well as the
U.S. Digital Service, on the sites development and design. DOL also hired a new strategic communications team
with the VETS a year ago, Gerton said. We realized we really needed additional capacity to reach a broadly
dispersed and very differentiated veterans population, she said.
Throughout the course of the eight-month project, DOL also collaborated with a few specific agencies, including
the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Homeland Security and Transportation, which have strong veterans hiring
programs. We also worked very closely across the federal agencies to say, what is it you want to communicate to
veterans? Gerton said. The Department of Transportation had a really robust site within their own DOT site, but
again, veterans dont even know about those kinds of opportunities, much less that they should check in with DOT.
The conversations Gerton described show a growing trend across government, as agencies begin to rethink how they
can provide better customer services to the public. Its also a major goal for VA Secretary Bob McDonald, who
promised to renew the departments focus on customer service when he took office in 2014. [Source: WFED (AM1500) | Nicole Ogrysko | May 2, 2016 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 188

Joining Forces | 1.2M Trained Since 2011

First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced 5 MAY that since Joining Forces was created in 2011,
companies have hired or trained more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses. The White Houses Joining
Forces initiative focuses on helping veterans find jobs and helping military spouses keep meaningful employment if
they have to move. They always have our backs, and they need to know that all of us have theirs, Biden told
representatives from companies that make it a priority to hire and train veterans. Along with the announcement from
Obama and Biden, 40 companies pledged to hire more than 110,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five
years, and more committed to training them.

Page 40 of 125

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, vowed to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses in the next five
years. Were constantly looking for leaders who can invent, think big, have a bias for action, and who want to
deliver for customers, he said. Those principles look very familiar to the men and women who served our country
in the armed forces. And also their spouses. Bezos said Amazon is fortunate to already have veterans in leadership
roles across the company. Because of their amazing work, weve more than doubled the number of veterans at
Amazon since 2013, he said. Amazon also committed to training 10,000 veterans and spouses in cloud computing.
This would offer a path to Amazon Web Services certification and provide entry into "a high-demand, good-paying
field, he said.
The aerospace-defense sector pledged to hire a combined total of 30,000 veterans, and the telecommunications
sector committed to hiring a combined total of 25,000. Obama said companies didnt make these commitments
because she and Biden asked them to or because its the patriotic thing to do.They made these commitments
because time and again they saw for themselves that our veterans and military spouses are simply the best
employees around, she said. And they realized that training and hiring these folks isnt just the right thing to do
its the smart thing to do for their bottom lines. This is especially true for tech jobs, said Obama, who commented
that the United States has the most technologically advanced armed forces in history. If they can set up wireless
networks in Baghdad or do satellite reconnaissance in the mountains of Afghanistan, Im pretty confident that they
can handle whatevers happening in Silicon Valley, she quipped.
Biden said people want to know how they can salute service members and veterans and how to thank them for
their service. This is it, she said. We believe all Americans should step up to show their support for service
members, veterans and their families. Obama stressed the continuation of the Joining Forces message. So we need
to keep up this momentum, she said. And I will say this again and again and again: No matter who is in the White
House next, this should absolutely continue to be a national priority with national leadership coming from this
building." [Source: Military Times | Charlsy Panzino | May 5, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vet Jobs Update 189

Resume Workshop

SVA is partnering with Google to host another year of resume workshops for more than 400 veterans in 17 cities
nationwide! Whether you have a resume or need to start from scratch, every veteran that attends a workshop is
paired with a Google employee for a one-on-one resume critique and coaching session, attends a panel discussion
with Google veterans and hiring professionals, and enjoys a free lunch!
The resume workshop at Google was the best Ive been to since separating from the Army in 2009. The Googlers
who graciously volunteered their time were phenomenal.
- Joe Quiggle, University of San Francisco, prior workshop participant
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Due to limited space, veterans interested in attending must complete the registration form, which can be accessed at
http://bit.ly/SVAGRW. Deadline to Apply is May 27th 2016 at 11:59pm. Information provided will be stored and
handled using Student Veterans of America's privacy policy. Information provided will be shared with Google and
the mentors to help plan and coordinate the events. You will have to indicate that you are over the age of 18 and
agree to sharing your information based on SVA's privacy policy. Here are the date and locations:
Chicago, IL

6/1

San Francisco, CA

6/6

Atlanta, GA

6/6

Ann Arbor, MI

6/8

Boulder, CO

6/13

Mountain View, CA

6/14

Los Angeles, CA

6/14

Cambridge, MA

6/14

Irvine, CA

6/15

Seattle, WA

6/15

Washington, DC

6/16

Moncks Corner, SC

6/16

Austin, TX

6/21

Pittsburgh, PA

6/21

Pryor Creek, OK

6/27

NYC, NY

6/28

Mountain View, CA

6/29

By registering, you attest that:


1. You have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
2. You are committed to attending the event on the scheduled day and at the scheduled time. No-shows significantly
diminish the success of the program and jeopardize future events.
Each workshop begins promptly at 9:00 AM and concludes around 3:00 PM. The dress code is business casual.
You will work on a laptop provided by Google with your mentors before and after lunch. If you already have a
resume, please bring a printed copy with you and attendees will need to have an ID in order to check in at security.
[Source: Student Veterans of America | Notice | May 10, 2016 ++]

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*********************************

Filipino WWII Vet Parole Program

Family Member Eligibility

Beginning June 8, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow certain Filipino World War
II veteran family members who are beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions an opportunity
to receive a discretionary grant of parole on a case-by-case basis, so that they may come to the United States as they
wait for their immigrant visa to become available. This parole policy was announced in the White House report,
Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century, issued in July 2015. An
estimated 2,000 to 6,000 Filipino-American World War II veterans are living in the United States today. Among
other things, this policy will enable many eligible individuals to provide support and care to their aging veteran
family members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
The Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program honors the thousands of Filipinos who bravely enlisted to
fight for the United States during World War II, USCIS Director Len Rodrguez said. This policy will allow
certain Filipino-American family members awaiting immigrant-visa issuance to come to the United States and be
with their loved ones. For many, it will also allow them to provide support and care for elderly veterans or their
surviving spouses.
With the exception of immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, the number of family-sponsored immigrant visas
available by country of origin in any given year is limited by statute. These limits result in long waiting periods
before family members may join petitioning U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States and become
permanent residents themselves. For some Filipino-American families, this wait can exceed 20 years. Under the
policy, certain family members of Filipino World War II veterans may be eligible to receive a discretionary grant of
parole to come to the United States before their visa becomes available. In limited cases, certain eligible relatives
will be able to seek parole on their own behalf when their Filipino World War II veteran and his or her spouse are
both deceased.
Under the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, USCIS will review each case individually to
determine whether authorizing parole is appropriate. When each individual arrives at a U.S. port of entry, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection will also review each case to determine whether to parole the individual. Legal
authority for this parole policy comes from the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the Secretary of
Homeland Security to parole into the United States certain individuals, on a case-by-case basis, for urgent
humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Additional information about the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Programincluding guidance on
eligibility, the application process and where to fileis available in the revised Form I-131 instructions and the
Federal Register notice published 10 MAY. USCIS will not accept applications under this policy until June 8, 2016.
USCIS strongly encourages eligible individuals interested in requesting parole under the FWVP Program do so
within 5 years from June 8, 2016. For more information about USCIS and its programs, refer to www.uscis.gov or
follow them on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon. [Source:
VBAVACO | Secor, Kevin | May 10, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vet Charity Watch Update 58

Wounded Warrior Project Scandal

As Wounded Warrior Project battles allegations its former executives violated public trust, they face the real fear that
donations will start to dry up. The organization's once-stellar reputation is under attack, threatening to undermine the
legitimate assistance it provides for tens of thousands of families. Every year, the Florida-based WWP spends
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hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure combat wounded service members have access to cutting-edge prosthetics,
innovative rehabilitation programs, supplemental financial support and dozens of other services that federal agencies
can't provide. But its the dollars not getting to veterans that are causing the problems.
In March, CBS News released a three-part series detailing reckless spending accusations made by several
ex-WWP employees, including exorbitant staff salaries, lavish corporate retreats and hefty bar tabs.
The Daily Beast highlighted whistleblower complaints accusing WWP leadership of selling donors
personal information to turn bigger profits while paying for first-class travel and office snacks.
A New York Times report said the group spent thousands more on lawsuits and public relations moves to
cover up those allegations.
WWP officials have denied all of the charges, saying theyre both the result of bookkeeping mistakes made the
outside watchdogs and disgruntled former employees looking to settle scores. But families who spoke to Military
Times said that even small cuts in programming funds could have disastrous consequences for them. Many
recipients rely on the charity and Veterans Affairs benefits as their only sources of income and support. In March,
the groups board released audit results showing what it called inaccuracies in the media reports. "The organizations
commitment to injured service members, their caregivers and family members remains steadfast, officials said at
the time. But they paired that release with another announcing the dismissal WWP's two top executives, CEO Steve
Nardizzi and Chief Operating Officer Al Giordano. The only reasoning given by the board was that the organization
would benefit from new leadership.
The move panicked beneficiaries and sparked rumors that donors were beginning to turn away from the charity.
On 2 MAY, WWP Chief Program Officer Adam Silva suddenly resigned, adding more concerns. Group officials
have worked to calm those fears, though WWP's interim CEO Charlie Fletcher acknowledged that at least one major
donor has delayed contributions to the group until internal reviews are complete. Over the last five years, the groups
finances have grown by an annual average of about 27 percent. That capital has allowed the group to massively
expand its reach, not only providing direct aid to veterans and caregivers but also launching initiatives like the WWP
long-term trust. Two years ago, the group set aside about $20 million in the program to ensure the long-term
financial support of roughly 40 families. The program is designed to ensure the means for severely wounded
veterans to live independently, regardless of the charity's future.
Today, WWP alone accounts for about 12 percent of all veterans charity spending in America. Thats a sizable
sum that cant be replaced by a patchwork of small, volunteer groups, former CEO Nardizzi warns. Most families
connected to the group dont see that internal structure and strife. What they do see is a direct benefit in their lives.
The charity has become a major funding pipeline for a number of smaller veterans charities in recent years. In fiscal
2015, it handed out about $11 million in support to other groups, not including a $21.4 million investment in their
new Warrior Care Network Hospitals project.
Interim CEO Charlie Fletcher said he doesnt want families to worry. The retired Army major general said most
of the first three weeks of his work with WWP has been spent calming families, employees, and donors about the
organization's future. Yes, there will be reorganization and changes, he tells them. No, it wont mean the end of the
charity. Were doing a real review now of investment and return, he said. If were not getting the sorts of return
in a particular program that were seeing elsewhere ... then we have to be critical of ourselves to move into new
programs. ... But there is nothing in our DNA that says we will ever forsake an individual or a group. Fletcher said
that program operations are continuing on pace. He downplayed concerns about the scandal's long-term effect on
donations. And the group is still focused on getting out its message that the organization has not abused its funding,
but is working to find ways to more efficiently spend that money.
Nardizzi worries that could means a leaner, smaller WWP in years to come, not the aggressive organization he
helped build. By the end of 2017, we could be looking at an organization that has half the fundraising and is half
the size, he said. And that means fewer veterans being helped. Fletcher said the group is also looking at building
better connections within the veterans community, trying to maximize resources with other partners who can better
Page 44 of 125

deliver certain services or treatments. That could mean fewer WWP offerings but more veterans receiving help. At
the end of the day, we just want to be part of the solution, he said. We dont want to be on an island. [Source:
Military Times | Leo Shane | May 7, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Trump Attacked on Vet Issues

POWs, Vet Fundraiser, & GI Bill

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump took heavy criticism over his treatment of veterans this weekend
from Democrats and his own party. What he said about me, that's fine, McCain said. I don't require any repair of
that. But when he said I don't like people who were captured, then there's a great body of American heroes that
would like to see him retract that statement. In a Sunday interview on CNN, Senate Armed Services Committee
Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) expressed serious concerns about Trump as the next commander in chief,
particularly in light of comments he made last fall mocking McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War.
McCain's comments come amid a flurry of high-profile party leaders who say they won't endorse the presumptive
Republican nominee for president. Last week, Air Force Reserve veteran Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he
would not back his one-time campaign trail rival and even would skip the Republican convention this summer.
Trump has repeatedly denied that his comments were a slight to prisoners of war, and maintained that veterans know
he has the utmost respect for those who served in the military. McCain disagreed. I think it's important for Donald
Trump to express his appreciation for veterans, not John McCain, but veterans who were incarcerated as prisoners of
war, he said.
Members of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clintons campaign seized on those comments,
releasing a letter from 50 prominent veterans calling on Trump to stop using vets as political props, donate the rest
of the money he raised and build a real understanding of the needs and concerns of the men and women who have
served America. The donation mention calls back to Trumps veterans-themed fundraiser in February, organized as
a protest of a Fox News debate. Trump announced the event had raised $6 million for veterans charities, but
campaign officials have refused repeated requests to account for all of the money. The letter calls Trumps campaign
missteps part of a larger pattern of disrespect for troops and veterans, and blasted the business mogul for putting
our future veterans at risk with a risky and incoherent foreign policy.
Trumps campaign did not directly respond to either attack, but the candidate did appear on CNN again 9 MAY to
defend his policies toward veterans. I don't want to be hurting our vets, he said. We treat illegal immigrants
better than we treat our vets. So I'm going to do nothing to hurt our vets. I'm going to only help our vets. He also
accused Clinton of thinking that veterans are getting too much, but said he did not support current efforts by
veterans groups to keep GI Bill benefit funding from being moved into other veterans programs. Instead, he
promised to bring jobs back to our country and shifted questions to how free trade deals have hurt the American
economy. Democratic National Committee spokesman Eric Walker called Trump a serial liar on veterans issues, so
it comes as no surprise that he opposes the GI Bill, which has helped millions of veterans obtain jobs, housing,
education and economic security. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | May 9, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vet Deportations Update 08

Deported Marine Vet Gets 2nd Chance

Daniel Torres is finally a citizen of the land he once served as a U.S. Marine while living a lie, and this time he has a
chance to make things right. Five years ago, Torres was ready to ship out to Afghanistan for his second tour when
his military superiors learned he'd lied about his immigration status in order to enlist. Instead of deploying, he was
deported. The 30-year-old has been living in Mexico ever since, with a network of exiled U.S. veterans. But Torres,
Page 45 of 125

who told his story of banishment to FoxNews.com earlier this year, recently learned his status has been
unexpectedly changed, to naturalized citizen. "It is all still very surreal for me," Torres, who came to America from
Mexico with his family as a teen and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007 using falsified documents, told
FoxNews.com. "I haven't seen my family in five years, and now I will be able to spend the summer with them and
see my Marines we definitely have to have a reunion for that."
Torres' new standing came courtesy of a special provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows
people who serve in the U.S military during a time of conflict and who deploy overseas to be entitled to citizenship
regardless of legal status in the country or place of residence. It's exactly the kind of loophole Torres could find
himself specializing in as a lawyer, the career he now hopes to fashion. Torres' long nightmare began in 2011, as he
was preparing to go to Afghanistan. He lost his wallet, and in the process of trying to re-establish his credentials, his
long-held secret unraveled. Born in Tijuana, he had come to the U.S. illegally as a child. When he had enlisted, he
had done so with phony identification. "I just didn't want to be another Mexican living in the United States," Torres
told FoxNews.com. "I wanted to say I had contributed, that I had done something for the country.
He got an honorable discharge, but was no longer welcome in the military or the U.S. He tried to join the
French Foreign Legion, but washed out due to an injury suffered in Iraq. Unable to return to the U.S. due to his now
red-flagged illegal immigrant status, Torres returned to his city of birth Tijuana. Once there, he relied on a network
of former servicemen and women at the Deported Veterans House, a bunker founded in 2013 by deported veteran
Hector Barajas. The nonprofit group offers legal and moral support as well as basic food and accommodation to
deported veterans of all walks of life including non-citizens who served on the battlefields in Korea and Vietnam
to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Mexico, Torres tried to stay positive and hold on to the dream of getting back to the U.S. "I knew I had to pay
the price for lying, what I did was wrong. But I had just hoped I wouldn't have to pay the price forever," Torres said.
"When I wanted to throw the towel in, I remembered that I was a Marine and Marines don't quit," he said. "Once a
Marine, always a Marine." Red-flagged as an illegal immigrant and unwilling to sneak across the border, Torres
embarked on a law degree at the Universidad Autnoma de Baja California. Now in his last year, Torres plans to
finish his degree and hopes to enroll in a Master's program in San Diego next year so he can practice law in both
countries. And while Torres can now legally move back and forth between the two countries, he said his job is far
from complete until the hundreds of other deported veterans also get their citizenship and their VA benefits they
are unable to access while banned from entering. "I'm just one person," he said. "I want to get everyone else home -there are guys here that need medical help and need to see their children."
The Pentagon estimates that up to 65,000 non-citizens are currently serving, and a prominent incentive for
joining is that fast-track to citizenship although it is not guaranteed. Barajas said many simply weren't made aware
of their rights and how to begin the process when they were active or after being discharged, and ran into trouble
when it was too late. Former Marine Dominic Certo, author of "Gold in the Coffins," and an adviser to the veterans
advocacy organization Operation Homefront, believes people who fight for the U.S. deserve to live here. "Anyone
who has served our country and risked their lives or provided service for the citizens of this country as a veteran
deserves amnesty -- especially when there are so many who have done nothing to earn citizenship or provide a
military service to our country," Certo said. [Source: Fox News | Hollie McKay| May 10, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vet Portrait

Maj. Sherrill Arvin (Ret.)

Page 46 of 125

Maj. Sherrill Arvin (ret.) has his portrait taken during an interview recapping his time in service during the 1940s '50s,
'60s and '70s as an aviator in the Airman Heritage Museum on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 16, 2015.
Arvin began his military involvement on JBSA-Lackland at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center and continues to
volunteer at the Airman Heritage Museum.

[Source: DoD 2015 Photo Competition | Senior Airman Jordan A. Castelan, USAF| April 27, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vietnam Vets [16]

Benjamin A. Drake

After a run in with authorities, a police officer suggested that Benjamin A. Drake join the Marine Corps. Two days
later he was in boot camp. Ben was in the Marine Corps from 1967 1977 and served in the infantry. He was sent to
Vietnam with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, First Marines, and served in Quang Nam Province. During his time
there he led a four-man rescue team to support a squad of Marines that had been ambushed. For his actions that day
he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. His Silver Star citation reads:
Corporal Drake voluntarily led a fire team-sized reactionary force from his platoon patrol base with the mission of
reinforcing and supporting another squad from his platoon which had been ambushed by an unknown size North
Vietnamese regular army unit. The squad leader of the beleaguered squad had been killed by enemy fire and the
squad had suffered extensive wounded during the late night of March 3/early morning hours of March 4, 1969.
When the under strength platoon received a radio report of the incident from the beleaguered squad, the platoon
commander, with only one squad available at his patrol base, called for volunteers to go to the aid of the ambushed
squad.

Page 47 of 125

Corporal Drake, the most experienced NCO with the platoon and the platoon radio operator, immediately
volunteered to lead the mission to help his fellow Marines. Even though there was no radio available to support his
small unit and knowing the terrain and normal modus operandi of the North Vietnamese forces for trying to use a
small unit as bait to draw out a reactionary force and then ambushing that reactionary force, Corporal Drake led
his small unit to the area of the squads position. En route, his small unit came under intense enemy small arms and
hand grenade fire. Leading by example and repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire even though painfully
wounded himself by hand grenade fragments, he fought his way through the enemy force to the beleaguered, which
was huddled around the body of their fallen squad leader. He then organized them into defensive positions, used
their radio to coordinate suppressive supporting fires and thereby enabled his small unit to repel the superior enemy
force.
Later that night, Corporal Drake was able to bring in a medical evacuation helicopter to remove the wounded.
Refusing evacuation, even though painfully wounded himself, he continued the squads mission and returned to his
platoon patrol base at first light the next day. Among the numerous enemy bodies recovered the next day was the
body of a North Vietnamese regular army senior officer. Through his extraordinary initiative, leadership, and
inspiring valor in the face of superior enemy forces, Corporal Drake was personally responsible for undoubtedly
saving the lives of the other members of the ambushed squad. Corporal Drakes extraordinary heroism, repeated
acts of valor, and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were keeping with the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Upon his return to the states, Ben was transferred to Cherry Point, North Carolina, and was assigned as a guard to
the generals building. Later he was assigned as the company clerk to the first sergeant. He was then transferred to
the visitors center on Parris Island and in 1973 he was transferred to Okinawa where he volunteered for the 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion. He was trained as a drug and alcohol counselor and later went through career counselor
school on Camp Butler where he graduated first out of 22 Marines. Also while he was in 3rd Recon he and seven
others were chosen to go to the Philippines to train Philippine Marines in map reading, demolitions, his specialty,
combat maneuvers.
He transferred to Camp Lejeune where he was assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Batallion, 8th Marines, as
the battalion career counselor. He went on a Marine Corps Med Cruise with the battalion as a career counselor. Then
he was transferred to the deputy camp affairs office and was in charge of the maintenance of the base of Camp
Geiger for his remaining time in the Corps. During this time he received an award for being the career counselor of
the quarter. Also on the cruise, he received a Meritorious Mast for lifesaving when he jumped in after a sailor who
was hit by a car at midnight in Monte Carlo and was thrown off the pier and into the black water. During his last
duty, he started to experience problems with his combat wounds and retired on June 6, 1977. Ben is the fourth of 14
Marines in four generations in his family. He is a retired teacher and dean of students and holds a doctorate in
divinity.
Thank you for your service, Ben!
Page 48 of 125

[Source: VA Veteran of the Day | Jesse Bogan | April 18, 2016 ++]
********************************

WWII Vets 107

Ray Chavez

Usually the action at Ray Chavezs gymnasium is all business. But on 8 MAR, there were cookies, balloons and a
birthday song at the conclusion of his half-hour workout. That week, Americas oldest surviving Pearl Harbor
veteran turned 104, and hiss gym visit was a mere warmup for the Poway mans big day on 10 MAR. Today, there
are fewer than 2,000 American survivors of the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941.
More than 2,400 Americans were killed during the early-morning blitz, which thrust the U.S. into World War II.

The nation's oldest Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Chavez, turned 104 on 10 MAR, works out on a recumbent cycle as does
his exercise routine while next to his daughter Kathleen Chavez at the Personally Fit Gym in Rancho Bernardo,
Ca;ifornia.

Last December, just seven veterans including Chavez were healthy enough to attend the 74th annual
services aboard the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. The next eldest was Colorado resident James Downing,
now 102. Until last summer, various sources credited Downing as the oldest Pearl Harbor vet. But when he read a
story online about Chavez, he happily surrendered the title and flew to San Diego to meet Chavez in July. Both men
hope to attend the 75th annual services next winter, where veterans groups are hoping to attract as many as 200
survivors on what will surely be, for most, their last opportunity to visit. Chavez said he loves traveling back to
Hawaii to see his old friends and to honor those who died, but he didnt always feel that way. For more than four
decades, he couldnt face going back to relive the memories of that fateful day. But when the 50th anniversary
arrived in 1991, he decided it was finally time to return. The first time I went back, I cried, he said. It made me
feel a little sad because I remember we were in the harbor pulling up all the dead bodies from the oil and taking the
men who were alive to the hospital. It was a terrible memory.
These days, Chavez is a San Diego County celebrity. At least once or twice a month hes invited to attend
veterans events, do interviews with high school students, speak to community groups or serve as grand marshal in a
parade. Last August, he was invited by the San Diego Padres to throw out the first pitch on Armed Forces Day. To
prepare for his big baseball toss, Chavez practiced tossing balls for six weeks with his fitness trainer Sean Thompson
at Personally Fit Gym in Rancho Bernardo. Hes been coming to the gym twice a week for the past three years and
his daughter and caretaker, Kathleen Chavez, credits the gym with her fathers longevity. Chavez agrees that the
gym has made him much stronger and improved his balance and coordination. But he also credits a healthy lifestyle:
No alcohol, no smoking, very little red meat, daily walking and good sleeping habits.
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Chavez was born in San Bernardino in 1911 and grew up in San Diego, where his large family ran a wholesale
flower business. In his early 20s, he married and had a daughter. Then, at 27, he joined the Navy and was assigned to
the minesweeper USS Condor at Pearl Harbor. At 3:45 a.m. Dec. 7, 1941, Seaman 1st Class Chavezs crew was
sweeping the east entrance to the harbor when they spotted the periscope of a Japanese midget submarine. After
depth charges were dropped to sink the sub in 1,500 feet of water, the rest of the morning passed uneventfully. He
was asleep at home in nearby Ewa Beach when the Japanese bombing raid began at 8:10 a.m. My wife ran in and
said, Were being attacked and I said, Whos going to attack us? Nobody. She said that the whole harbor was on
fire and when I got outside I saw that everything was black from all the burning oil.

Chavez said he threw on his work clothes and was running the quarter-mile back to the base when a friend in a
passing car picked him up and sped them both to the harbor. He spent the next nine days on continuous duty and
didnt know for 10 days whether his wife and daughter had survived the attack. Over the next four years he rose to
the rank of chief, serving on transport ships that delivered tanks and Marines to shore in eight Pacific battles.
Although he wasnt injured during the war, he retired from the Navy in 1945 with psychological wounds from the
terrible things he saw. Kathleen Chavez said it took three months after her father retired from the Navy before his
body stopped shaking from the stress of war. In the 1950s, he and his wife, Margaret, suffered another unimaginable
blow when their daughter, son-in-law and 18-month-old granddaughter were killed in a car accident. To mend their
broken hearts, the Chavezes adopted 5-year-old Kathleen from a San Diego orphanage in 1957.
Kathleen, who has lived with her father since Margaret died in the mid-1980s, said her father worked for 30 years
as a groundskeeper at UCSD, then ran his own landscaping and grounds keeping business in the Poway area until he
finally retired at age 96. Kathleen is now his driver and constant companion. She takes him to his many public
appearances and interviews, including an upcoming guest appearance at the Coronado Chamber of Commerces
Salute to the Military ball on April 16. If hes in good health, she will also be by his side when they fly, first class,
to Hawaii in December for the 75th anniversary. Its so expensive but its what we need to do, she said. Im so
proud of him and its important that he be there. [Source: San Diego Tribune | Pam Kragen | March 8, 2016 ++]
********************************

WWII Vets 108

Richard Overton

Over the last few months, Richard Overton has had to give up a few things. First, he gave up driving the Ford pickup
he had owned for years. Then, after a bad bout with pneumonia in November, he eased up on drinking his beloved
whiskey which, along with cigars, he calls his secret to long life. But when youre the oldest World War II
veteran in the country and youre turning 110, very few things can bring your mood down. On 11 MAY, Overton
celebrated his birthday surrounded by family, friends and admirers on the front lawn of his home in East Austin. He
chomped happily on a cigar as family and friends, some calling him Pop, hugged and congratulated him. How do
I feel? Overton said. I feel good. I feel like Im 50.

Page 50 of 125

110 Year Old Richard Overton

Overton, who was born in Bastrop County in 1906, served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945 as part of the
all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion. After the war, he returned to Austin, and he has lived in the same
home ever since. When new neighbors move in, he tells them about the history of the neighborhood, telling some
that their homes used to be horse stables and others, who have trouble with stubborn onions growing in their yards,
that the spot where their homes sit used to be someones garden. He once told a neighbor about a time he saw a
black man beaten to death during the segregation era. But despite everything hes seen, his family and friends say,
Overton is always upbeat. Hes got such a positive attitude, said Sharon Choate, who has attended Overtons
birthday celebrations since 2009, thats probably why hes lived so long.
Even at 110, he can still be found on his porch most days, watching the goings and comings in the neighborhood.
He keeps an eye on people moving in and out, and he waves hello to children and families that pass by. He
considers himself our neighborhood watchdog, and he knows everything thats going on, neighbor Helen Elliott
said. I dont think the neighborhood would be what it is without him. Hes our legend, our icon. [Source:
Statesman | May 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: James Gleason

22 APR 2016

On 22 APR James Gleason died. He was 90. His legacy was so enduring that Marine Gen. Robert Neller invited
Gleason to his change of command ceremony when he took over as commandant of the corps last year. As Gleasons
life drew to a close, Neller and Mark Clark, a retired major general who ran Marine Corps Forces Special Operations
Command, were among many who stopped to pay their respects. In the summer of 1925, a woman put James
Gleason, her 2-week old son, in a shoebox and dropped him off with a neighbor because she couldnt take care of
him. He had been born prematurely, said his daughter, Barbara Korchak. He wasnt expected to live. But he did.
Lyman and Minnie Gleason, who raised him as their own, were in their 40s when the baby arrived at their doorstep.
Gleason grew up near Youngstown, Ohio, and on his 17th birthday enlisted in the Navy.
Everybody was real patriotic at that particular time, Gleason said in an interview with the Tribune two years
ago at his home in Tampa. On Aug. 3, 1942, he was called up, and after boot camp, transferred to the Marines, who
didnt have their own medics or chaplains. He volunteered for a newly formed group called the Marine Raiders.
There were four Marine Raider battalions and two Raider regiments that saw action in the Pacific between 1942 and
1944 and were formed to conduct amphibious raids and guerrilla operations behind enemy lines. The Raiders went
on to participate in campaigns across the Pacific Ocean and earned more than 700 decorations, including seven
Medals of Honor, before being disbanded. Gleason had no idea what he was getting into when he volunteered to join
the Raiders. I didnt even know what the heck the Raiders were, he said. I volunteered because I wanted a
change. He got it. And then some. The things Gleason saw caused him lasting mental anguish. And it would be
Page 51 of 125

decades before his family knew the extent of what he experienced, after he wrote his account of the Raiders, Real
Blood! Real Guts!

James Gleason

The battles of the Solomon Island chain were hell on Earth. In addition to a determined enemy, the Raiders had to
contend with swarms of flies and mosquitoes, constant dampness, swamps, jungles and sharp coral that cut skin and
caused infections. Though they wreaked havoc on the enemy, the Raiders paid a heavy price. By the time of the
attack on Bairoko Harbor, on New Georgia Islands, the Raiders were so decimated they were able to muster up less
than one full battalion of 900 to 950 men from the two full battalions they started with, Gleason said. The battle to
take the harbor began at 10 a.m., July 20, 1943, according to Gleasons book, and continued all day. With nothing
but guts and small infantry weapons, about 800 Raiders attacked the enemy force, who were well emplaced in a
series of four parallel ridges with interlocking bunkers and cleverly concealed cross fire machine gun fire lanes,
Gleason wrote. It also marked the first time the Navajo Code Talkers were used, Gleason wrote.
The enemy was driven back, but at a heavy cost, with more than 250 men killed or wounded and half the
remaining men needed to take care of the survivors. Gleason was in the thick of it all, working with doctors and
chaplains to save the wounded. We were pinned down under heavy fire at nightfall, Gleason wrote. At midnight,
the Japanese staged one of their celebrated suicide bayonet charges, screaming like madmen. On July 23, the day
Gleason turned 18, the Marines were ordered to retreat down a ridge even though he and others thought they were
about to defeat the enemy. Now at age 18, the order to withdraw when we were 300 yards of victory at Bairoko was
a bitter pill for everyone to swallow! he wrote. We Raiders contend that we would have taken Bairoko Harbor had
we received the air and naval support we asked for.
In the summer of 1943, he turned 18 during a bloody World War II battle on the island of New Georgia, where he
was saving lives as a Navy combat corpsman assigned to a secret unit called the Marine Raiders. Gleason earned the
nickname Doc during his time with the Raiders. The first U.S. special operations forces, the Raiders were about
8,000 strong, hopping from island to island in the South Pacific, giving the vaunted forces of the Japanese empire
their first taste of defeat on the ground. Gleason was believed to be the youngest of the Raiders, having joined them
when he was 17. The things Gleason saw caused him lasting mental anguish. And it would be decades before his
family knew the extent of what he experienced, after he wrote his account of the Raiders, Real Blood! Real Guts!
Gleason would be evacuated to Guadalcanal, but said he had few memories of what happened on his birthday.
Out of about 900 men, I was one of about 120 or 130 to come down off the hill, with all the wounded and sick,
Gleason said in the interview. He was sent to a hospital, where he was treated for gastritis and diarrhea, and it was
there that he saved up pain medications and took them all at once. He survived, but long before the medical
community understood or even identified post-traumatic stress disorder, Gleason was diagnosed with hysteria as a

Page 52 of 125

result of the horror he experienced. He said he struggled the rest of his life with guilt. I went 40 years, thinking I
had been a coward, that I let my guys down, Gleason said in an interview.
After getting out of the hospital, Gleason returned to duty, serving aboard several ships, and left the service, only
to return during the Korean War, where he continued to help his Marines, according to Mark Van Trees, who runs
Support the Troops, an organization providing toiletries, snacks and other items to deployed troops. When he got out
of uniform for good, Gleason had an eclectic life. He was a director of resort development for three firms, owned a
bookstore in Virginia, and was a teacher at the College of William and Mary. He also worked as a health inspector
for Trumbull County, Ohio. He was embraced by the Marine Raider community. His love for his fellow Raiders is
manifested in his active role at every level with the Raiders Association, Van Trees wrote in an obituary.
In 1967, Gleason married the former Nancy Myers, a widow with three daughters who turned 85 on 26 APR. He
adopted them all, said Barbara, 60, the middle sister between Marsha Bartholomew, 63, and Connie Robinson, 57.
The family moved to Clearwater in 1974 and later to Tampa in the mid-1980s, and Gleason spent his last days in a
Tampa assisted living facility. He didnt feel worthy of acknowledgement or the label or image of a Marine,
Barbara said. We didnt find out until later what he had been through. But we didnt care. We loved him. Gleason
may not have felt worthy of praise, but it was readily offered.
I met Doc Gleason and he is made of the right stuff a true Fleet Marine, said James Mattis, a retired Marine
general and former commander of U.S. Central Command. Doc, who represented all the character and Gung-Ho
that have made our Navy Corpsmen brothers so highly respected in the macho Marine Corps. Doc was a great sailor,
fine friend and a true role model for us all. We will miss him terribly. Gleason was a true brother, friend and
Raider to all who knew him, Mark Clark wrote in an email to the Tribune. His eyes would always get a spark in
them when he would talk about the Raiders. That was a touchstone in life for him. One of Gleasons happiest
moments, Clark said, seemed to be the announcement that Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or
MARSOC would be adapting the Marine Raider name. He broke down at the announcement with his dream
coming true. He will be buried later at Arlington National Cemetery, Barbara Korchak said. [Source: The Tampa
Tribune | Howard Altman | April 25, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: Frank Livingston

3 May 2016

Frank Livingston, the oldest living man in the United States and the oldest verified surviving American World War II
veteran, has died. He was 110. He was born in North Carolina, one of seven children. Levingston enlisted in the U.S.
Army in 1942, less than a year after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and launched the U.S. into the war raging in
Europe and the Pacific. "He felt the obligation to give to the country whatever he possibly could, and he was very
excited about it," his nephew Lee Levingston told ABC News. "He gave it his very best." He served as a private
during the war in the Allied invasion of Italy which lasted from September 1943 to January 1944. He also did a tour
in North Africa.
After receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, he became a union worker specializing in cement finishing.
Levingston never married. On August 16, 2015, he became the oldest recognized living military veteran in United
States, following the death of Emma Didlake. He died 3 MAY in Louisiana. Levingston became the oldest living
American man on April 19, 2016 following the death of Felix Simoneaux (born May 24, 1905) Richard Arvine
Overton is now the oldest surviving American World War II veteran.

Page 53 of 125

In December, Levingston was part of a group of veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony
marking the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Ahead of the trip, Levingston was honored at a ceremony. District
Attorney John DeRosier, speaking at the ceremony, said when he looked at Levingston, he didn't see a 110-year-old
man. "I see a young black soldier in green utilities with worn combat boots, scampering across the sand on those
beaches," he said. [Source: KPLC TV | May 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

Obit: Kaname Harada

2 MAY 2016

Kaname Harada, a former fighter ace who was believed to be the last surviving combat pilot to fly for Japan at Pearl
Harbor, and who became an apostle of pacifism a half-century later out of remorse over the deaths he caused, died
on 3 MAY in Nagano, northwest of Tokyo. He was 99. His daughter, Chiyoko Tanaka, confirmed his death.

Kaname Harada last year held a picture of himself as a young flying ace who would be credited with
shooting down nine aircraft. In his later years, he spoke out to keep Japan on a pacifist path.
Rather than waiting until he was drafted, Mr. Harada enlisted in the Japanese Marines in 1933 when he was
barely 17. After transferring to flight school and becoming a pilot, he was credited by Japan with shooting down
nine Chinese, British and American aircraft on his own. He also shared 10 downings with other pilots in combat
over Manchuria, Ceylon, Midway and Guadalcanal from 1937 to 1942. He was Japans oldest ace, said Dan King,
the author of The Last Zero Fighter: Firsthand Accounts From WWII Japanese Naval Pilots, published in 2012.
Mr. King described Mr. Harada as the last surviving Zero combat pilot who flew in the attack on Pearl Harbor on
Dec. 7, 1941, although that could not be independently verified. Mr. Harada himself said he had flown at Pearl
Harbor and recalled being disappointed at the time that his mission was to protect Japanese carriers rather than to
participate in the devastating raid on the American fleet.
Page 54 of 125

Wounded the next year when he crash-landed at Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, he returned to Japan to
train pilots for suicide missions against American targets. After the war he became a farmer, but he hid in fear from
American occupiers and was plagued by nightmares. I realized the war had turned me into a killer of men, he told
Martin Fackler last year in a profile in The New York Times, and that was not the kind of person I wanted to be.
He added: I fought the war from the cockpit of a Zero, and can still remember the faces of those I killed. They were
fathers and sons, too. I didnt hate them or even know them. That is how war robs you of your humanity, he said,
by putting you in a situation where you must either kill perfect strangers or be killed by them. His wife suggested
that he assuage his guilt by opening a kindergarten. If you want to atone for the lives you have taken, what better
way is there than to nurture new lives? he quoted her as saying in a documentary on his life, Each and Every
Battlefield, released in Japan last year. The couple started a nursery to support local mothers in 1965, and a
kindergarten four years later.
Mr. Harada visited Pearl Harbor in 1991, on the 50th anniversary of the airstrike. It was not until then, he said,
that he learned that the raid had been a sneak attack and that Japan had at that point not formally declared war on the
United States. He said it was only after the Persian Gulf war that year, when the United States forced Iraqi troops to
withdraw from Kuwait, that he could bring himself to speak publicly about his own wartime experience. He said he
was appalled that Japanese teenagers were describing the conflict in the Mideast as if it were a video game. Until I
die, I will tell about what I saw, Mr. Harada said. Never forgetting is the best way to protect our children and our
childrens children from the horrors of war.
He was born in Asajawa, an alpine village in Nagano Prefecture, on Aug. 11, 1916. In 1937, he graduated first in
his flight school class. Mr. Harada was among more than 300 pilots whom the Japanese cited as World War II aces,
an honorific usually reserved for those who have downed five or more enemy aircraft. He described himself in the
Times interview as the last Zero fighter, or at least the last remaining pilot who had flown the agile Mitsubishi
fighter plane early in the war. (The name Zero was derived from the last digit of the year on which the fighter
entered naval service: 2600 on the Imperial calendar, 1940 on the Gregorian calendar.) Mr. Harada said that during
the Battle of Midway, which turned the tide of the war in Americas favor in 1942, he downed five United States
torpedo planes in a single morning while defending the Japanese fleet, but ditched his fighter when his aircraft
carrier was sunk and he ran out of fuel. He was rescued by a Japanese destroyer. Four months later, he was shot
down over Guadalcanal in a dogfight with a Grumman F-4F Wildcat. Badly injured, he spent 10 grueling days on
Guadalcanal until a Japanese warship retrieved him.
After the war, he said, he met the American Marine pilot who had shot him down, the celebrated ace Joe Foss.
(Mr. Foss, a Medal of Honor winner, went on to become governor of South Dakota, the first commissioner of the
American Football League and president of the National Rifle Association. He died in 2003.) Besides Mr. Haradas
daughter, there was no available information about other survivors. Last year, addressing several hundred
accountants and their clients in Nagano, Mr. Harada said that his bitter experiences and those of other aging veterans
had contributed to Japans aversion to war since 1945. Nothing is as terrifying as war, he said. I want to tell you
my experiences in war so that younger generations dont have to go through the same horrors that I did. But he
acknowledged that some conservatives in the Japanese government had been rethinking the countrys pacifist path.
These politicians were born after the war, he said, and so they dont understand it must be avoided at all costs. In
this respect, they are like our prewar leaders. [Source: New York Times | Sam Roberts | May 5, 2016 ++]
********************************

Retiree Appreciation Days

As of 14 MAY 2016

Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs) are designed with all veterans in mind. They're a great source of the latest
information for retirees and Family members in your area. RADs vary from installation to installation, but, in
Page 55 of 125

general, they provide an opportunity to renew acquaintances, listen to guest speakers, renew ID Cards, get medical
checkups, and various other services. Some RADs include special events such as dinners or golf tournaments. Due
to budget constraints, some RADs may be cancelled or rescheduled. Also, scheduled appearances of DFAS
representatives may not be possible. If you plan to travel long distances to attend a RAD, before traveling, you
should call the sponsoring RSO to ensure the RAD will held as scheduled and, if applicable, whether or not DFAS
reps will be available. The current updated schedule for 2016 is available at:
HTML: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.html
PDF: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.pdf
Word: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.doc
Note that this schedule has been expanded to include dates for retiree\veterans related events such as town hall
meetings, resource fairs, stand downs, etc. To get more info about a particular event, mouseover or click on the
event under Event Location. (NOTE: Attendance at some events may require military ID, VA enrollment or
DD214. "@" indicates event requires registration\RSVP.) For more information call the phone numbers indicated on
the schedule of the Retirement Services Officer (RSO) sponsoring the RAD.
To quickly locate events in your geographic area just click on the appropriate State\Territory\Country listed at the
top of the schedule. They will look like this:
AK AL AR AS AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA
MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI
SC SD TN TX UT VA VI VT WA WI WV WY Belgium Germany Italy Japan Korea
Netherlands Thailand
[Source: RAD List Manager | Milton Bell | May 14, 2015 ++]
********************************

Vet Hiring Fairs

16 May thru 15 JUN 2016

The U.S. Chamber of Commerces (USCC) Hiring Our Heroes program employment workshops are available in
conjunction with hundreds of their hiring fairs. These workshops are designed to help veterans and military spouses
and include resume writing, interview skills, and one-on-one mentoring. For details of each you should click on the
city next to the date in the below list. To participate, sign up for the workshop in addition to registering (if indicated)
for the hiring fairs which are shown below for the six weeks. For more information about the USCC Hiring Our
Heroes Program, Military Spouse Program, Transition Assistance, GE Employment Workshops, Resume Engine,
etc. visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerces website at http://www.hiringourheroes.org/hiringourheroes/events .
Dallas, TX - Dallas Hiring Fair Details Register
May 17 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Charleston, SC - Charleston Hiring Fair Details Register
May 18 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Arlington, VA JB Myer-Henderson Hall Senior Leadership Networking Reception Details Register
May 19 - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Fort Worth, TX - NAS JRB Fort Worth Hiring Fair Details Register
May 21 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Boston, MA - Boston Hiring Expo with Boston Red Sox Details Register
May 24 - 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
Page 56 of 125

Seattle, WA - Seattle Hiring Expo with Seattle Mariners Details Register


May 25 - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Fort Belvoir, VA - Military Spouse Event Details Register
May 25 - 7:00 pm to May 26 - 1:00 pm
Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Hiring Fair Details Register
May 26 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Orlando, FL - Orlando Networking Reception Details Register
May 31 - 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Chesapeake, VA - Hampton Roads Transition Summit Details Register
June 8 - 1:30 pm to June 9 - 4:00 pm
Latham, NY - Latham Hiring Fair Details Register
June 10 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
West Point, NY WP Senior Service Member & Military Spouse Networking Reception Details Register
June 13 - 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
[Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assn May 14, 2016 ++]
********************************

State Veteran's Benefits & Discounts

Alaska 2016

The state of Alaska provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these plus
discounts listed on the Military and Veterans Discount Center (MCVDC) website, refer to the attachment to this
Bulletin titled, Vet State Benefits & Discounts AK for an overview of the below benefits. Benefits are
available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each of the below refer to
http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/alaska.html & http://www.va.state.al.us/default.aspx.
Real Estate Benefits
Employment Benefits
Education Benefits
Other State Veteran Benefits
Discounts
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/alaska-state-veterans-benefits.html?
comp=7000022835803&rank=2 | May 2016 ++]

* Vet Legislation *

Page 57 of 125

Forgiven Debt Tax Update 02

S.2800 | Disabled Vets Student Loans

Americans with permanent disabilities, including veterans, would not have to pay taxes on student loans forgiven by
the federal government and private lenders under a new bipartisan bill in the Senate. The Stop Taxing Death and
Disability Act would eliminate the tax that the Internal Revenue Service levies on forgiven student loan debt,
considered income, as a result of death or disability. The bill also would relieve the tax debt on discharged student
loans for families whose child has died, or has developed permanent disabilities. The Education Department and
many private student loan lenders forgive student loans on behalf of borrowers if their child dies, or the borrowers
themselves are rendered permanently disabled or develop severe chronic health conditions. But the IRS tax penalty
on the cancelled debt can be thousands of dollars.
Taxing people who have had their federal and private student loans canceled due to a total and permanent
disability or because of the death of their child is grossly unfair and defeats the purpose of those loan cancellation
programs, said Persis Yu, director of the National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance
Project. Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), and Rob Portman (R-OH) are sponsoring the legislation.
The senators constituents reached out to their offices, including a Maine family whose son, a recent college
graduate with student loans, died from a brain aneurysm in 2012. Although the federal government and private
lender forgave the outstanding loan balances, the parents were then presented with a tax bill of over $24,000 from
the IRS, according to a statement from Coons office. This family has since had to dip into their 401(k) to pay the
bill and are now sending over $400 per month in tax payments to the agency.
The Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act also ensures that parents whose child becomes totally disabled can
qualify for student loan forgiveness as well as the tax exemption. Currently parents are allowed to discharge federal
student loans if they develop a total and permanent disability, or if their child dies, but not if their child develops a
total and permanent disability, according to a press release from Coons. Congress already exempts certain groups
from paying income tax on forgiven student loans, including public sector employees who remain in their jobs for a
while. The Education Department has identified 387,000 totally and permanently disabled individuals eligible for,
but not currently receiving loan forgiveness. Several vets groups support the bill, including the American Legion
and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | May 3, 2016 ++]
*********************************

NDAA 2017 Update 02

Enlisted Representation on Military Issue Boards

The Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA), the voice of enlisted personnel in all branches of the
military, is extremely pleased that the House Armed Services Committees Personnel Subcommittee has inserted
language into the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act H.R. 4909 that in the future will guarantee
enlisted representation on boards, councils and committees making recommendations on Military Personnel Issues.
The specific language is included in Section 592 assuring nearly 83% of the military, over 18 million former and
present service men and women, will now be represented in decisions that directly impact their families and their
lives. This is a significant milestone in ensuring appropriate representation of the millions of enlisted service
members past, present and future on all congressionally directed boards, panels, commissions, or task forces
established to review personnel policies. On behalf of the Non Commissioned Officers Association, thank you for
your leadership, said President and National Commander of NCOA H. Gene Overstreet, 12th Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps (ret.).
The NCOA took up the charge to assure representation on all panels after the recent Military Compensation and
Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) delivered recommendations on military benefits that made
Page 58 of 125

significant changes to the current military compensation system. Unfortunately, the board membership was
conspicuously missing a Veteran with senior enlisted experience. We owe a huge thank you to Congressman and
Veteran Duncan Hunter (CA-50), Congressman and Veteran Paul Cook (CA-8), Congressman and Veteran Chris
Gibson (NY-19), Congresswomen and Veteran Martha McSally (AZ-2), Congressman and Veteran Seth Moulton
(MA-6), Congresswomen Jackie Walorksi (IN-2), Congressman and Veteran Tim Walz (MN-1), and Congressman
and Veteran Joe Wilson (SC-2) for their support, said Jon Ostrowski, Director of Government Affairs for NCOA.
We are extremely grateful that they understand the need for our enlisted personnel to have an advocate with
senior enlisted experience to render recommendations that affect the millions of enlisted personnel who serve our
nation. We will alert our nearly 60,000 members to show their support for these exceptional legislators and to
encourage others to support this critical effort. As the Bill is expected to come to the House floor the week of May
16th, it is important our membership contact their Member of Congress and US Senator now urging support of this
provision, both in the House and the Senate, so that it can surely survive and emerge intact in the final conferenced
FY17 NDAA Bill expected to be completed later this year. Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, a longtime advocate of
our men and women in uniform and senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee is spearheading a
parallel effort in the Senate. [Source: NCOA Press Release | Jon Ostrowski | May 4, 2016 ++]
*********************************

NDAA 2017 Update 03

Recreational Drone Threat to Nuclear Facilities

As US regulators grapple with the safety, privacy and national security concerns posed by a boom in the use of
recreational drones, lawmakers worried about their use for malicious ends have advanced legislation aimed at letting
Defense Department and Energy Department facilities defend themselves against them. Two provisions contained in
the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act would extend broad new authorities to the agencies to stop unmanned
aerial vehicles deemed a threat to their facilities dedicated to nuclear power and weaponry. The authorities would
dovetail with DoE and DoDs early efforts to develop technology that would discern small drones from birds and
take them out. That is a very aggressive approach, and one we have yet to see in federal regulations, energy and
infrastructure attorney Roland Backhaus, with the firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said of the bill.

While the US Federal Aviation Administration has yet to report any serious incident involving a drone at a
nuclear facility, fears and speculation have been fueled by a commercial quadcopters crash landing on the White
House lawn last year, and a Massachusetts mans guilty plea in 2012 to plotting attacks on the Pentagon and US
Capitol building with an explosive-laden model plane. Drones reportedly buzzed nuclear facilities around France 32
times over two months in 2014, according to a report commissioned by Greenpeace, sparking concern the countrys
nuclear reactors are unsafe from aerial assaults and jangling nerves in other nations about the potential threat.
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) small enough to elude radar could be used by criminals and terrorists to
attack or spy on critical government and industrial facilities, according to a 27 JAN Congressional Research
Service report. Somewhat larger UAS could be used to carry out terrorist attacks by serving as platforms to deliver
explosives or chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons, said the report, by aviation policy specialist
Page 59 of 125

Bart Elias. Taking no chances given the devastation that could be wrought at such a facility, House Armed Services
Committee (HASC) strategic forces subcommittee chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) included the two counterdrone
provisions in the 2017 NDAA, which the HASC approved 28 APR. The bottom line is the members are tracking
the increased prevalence and sophistication of unmanned aerial systems around the country, and they understand the
threat these can pose to certain defense facilities, said a congressional staffer.
DoE has 10 active sites across the country that handle the US arsenal of nuclear weapons and material, while
DoD controls nuclear missile fields, silos, underground storage and maintenance, as well as nuclear reactors for
training and research. The chairman is interested in protecting these facilities. It would be a bad day if something
happened, the staffer said. The massive defense policy bill has several hurdles before it becomes law. The language
would have to survive a vote on the House floor and reconciliation with the Senate bill due later this month. The
reconciled bill will face a vote in both houses of Congress and must be signed by the president. Under the bills
mandate for DoD, the defense secretary would develop a means to disrupt, seize, confiscate, control, disable or
destroy drones deemed a threat to facilities related to nuclear deterrence, missile defense or the national security
space mission.
For DoE, personnel and contractors who think a drone presents a threat to people, property, or classified
information" at a facility that stores or uses special nuclear material would be allowed to mitigate the threat from,
disable, interdict, interfere with its operation. It varies by DoE facility, but most are operated by private contractors,
and physical security is generally provided by third-party companies. Lawmakers dont mean to encourage the
shooting down of drones, and while the bill permits DoE to do it, its language discourages the use of force in favor
of appropriate escalation, saying non-kinetic responses should be utilized when feasible to mitigate a threat. An
FAA spokesman declined to comment on the pending legislation, but had this to say: Generally, shooting at any
aircraft including unmanned aircraft poses a significant safety hazard. An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire
could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air.
The legislation comes as federal agencies have been waiting for the FAA to carve out security-based rules for
drones, a step mandated by law in 2013. In the meantime, an FAA notice strongly advises pilots of airplanes and
drones to avoid and not circle or loiter in the airspace of critical infrastructure, such as power plants,
military bases and prisons. Many interested parties are watching this space, including federal agencies, security
contractors, nuclear facility operators and drone manufacturers which are looking into geo-fencing software for a
UAS to steer itself away from an off-limits area. With this opportunity for DoE to take a more aggressive approach,
one wonders if this same approach would not get picked up by operators of sensitive facilities, nuclear or
otherwise, Backhaus said.
According to a market survey performed by Sandia National Laboratories, the DoE research and development wing,
a variety of means exist to detect, identify and neutralize a slow- and low-flying UAS sophisticated sensors, highenergy lasers and signal jammers, water cannons, firearms and trained birds of prey.
During an April visit to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work
expressed concern about small drones being able to penetrate the security at nuclear missile and submarine bases
nationally. Although Work spoke broadly, he did call out a program in the Netherlands run by a company called
Guard From Above that uses birds to take out small drones around nuclear power sites as a particularly
interesting idea. Kings Bay already uses dolphins to spot any potential underwater threats to the nuclear sub fleet
housed there.Air Force Global Strike Command, which manages the US nuclear arsenal, awarded a $75,000
contract for portable systems to counter personal drones to XCOM Wireless, of Long Beach, California, in January.
The Air Force solicited a system to disrupt the navigational signals of a wide range of UAS targets and minimize
collateral effects on friendly assets. [Source: Defense News | Joe Gould | May 7, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Page 60 of 125

Vet Emergency Medical Technician Support

H.R.1818

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) submitted a cost estimate for the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician
Support Act of 2016 (H.R.1818). The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award
demonstration grants to states to streamline procedures for licensing and certifying emergency medical technicians
(EMT) who received similar certifications while serving in the armed forces. CBO estimates that implementing H.R.
1818 would cost $30 million over the 2017-2021 period; any such spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct
spending or revenues. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1818 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget
deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027. H.R. 1818 contains no intergovernmental
or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The bill introduced on April 15, 2015
by Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16] currently has 68 cosponsors. [Source: Congressional Budget Office | Report |
May 10, 2016 ++]
*********************************

VA Opioid Therapy Update 02

PROMISE Act H.R.4063

On May 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4063, the Jason Simcakoski Promoting Responsible
Opioid Management and Incorporating Scientific Expertise (PROMISE) Act. The bill would improve Department of
Veterans Affairs opioid safety measures by directing all department hospitals to designate pain-management teams,
ensuring employees that prescribe opioid drugs receive proper training in pain management and safe opioid
prescribing practices, and standardizing safe opioid utilization and tracking practices across the system. The bill also
increases accountability by requiring the directors of each VA hospital to certify employees have received the proper
training in prescribing opioids. Finally, recognizing the need to ensure safe transitions between the Department of
Defense and VA, the bill requires an update of joint VA/DoD clinical practice guidelines. For specific actions
required under the bill refer to https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4063.
The PROMISE Act is named in honor of Marine Corps veteran Jason Simcakoski, who died of mixed drug
toxicity while he was an inpatient at the Tomah, WI, VA Medical Center. A VA investigation found that hospital staff
improperly prescribed his medications. H.R. 4063 now awaits consideration by the Senate. [Source: VVA | Web
Weekly | May 12, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress

160501 thru 160515

Refer to this Bulletins House & Senate Veteran Legislation attachment for a listing of Congressional bills of
interest to the veteran community introduced in the 114 th Congress. The list contains the bills number and name,
what it is intended to do, its sponsor, any related bills, and the committees it has been assigned to. Support of these
bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative
process for a floor vote to become law. A good indication of that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have
signed onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At
https://beta.congress.gov you can review a copy of each bills content, determine its current status, the committee it
has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it by entering the bill number in the sites
search engine. To determine what bills, amendments your representative/senator has sponsored, cosponsored, or
dropped sponsorship on go to:

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https://beta.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22source%22%3A%5B%22legislation%22%5D%7D,
Sponsor tab, and click on your congress persons name.
You can
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php.

Select
also go

the
to

Grassroots lobbying is the most effective way to let your Congressional representatives know your wants and
dislikes. If you are not sure who is your Congressman go to https://beta.congress.gov/members. Members of
Congress are receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship support
on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veterans feelings on issues.
You can reach their Washington office via the Capital Operator direct at (866) 272-6622, (800) 828-0498, or (866)
340-9281 to express your views. Otherwise, you can locate their phone number, mailing address, or email/website to
communicate with a message or letter of your own making at either:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm or
http://www.house.gov/representatives
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF 13 VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE
HOUSE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

H.R.5083 : VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2016. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs Sponsor: Rep Titus, Dina [NV-1]
(introduced 4/27/2016)
H.R.5091 : Appropriate Care for Disabled Veterans Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code,
to reinstate the requirement for an annual report on the capacity of the Department of Veterans Affairs to
provide for specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans. Sponsor: Rep Denham, Jeff
[CA-10] (introduced 4/28/2016)
Related Bills: S.2883
H.R.5099 : VA New Construction Partnership Agreements. A bill to establish a pilot program on
partnership agreements to construct new facilities for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep
Ashford, Brad [NE-2] (introduced 4/28/2016)
H.R.5128 : Protection and Advocacy for Veterans Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to establish a grant program to improve the monitoring of mental health and substance abuse treatment
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Rep Roby, Martha [AL-2] (introduced
4/29/2016)
H.R.5149 : VA Emergency Ambulance Service Reimbursement. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for the circumstances under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide
reimbursement for emergency ambulance services. Sponsor: Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] (introduced
4/29/2016)
H.R.5151 : Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance Extension. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to provide an extension of the special survivor indemnity allowance provided to widows and
widowers of certain deceased members of the uniformed services. Sponsor: Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-9]
(introduced 4/29/2016)
H.R.5162 : Vet Connect Act of 2016. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disclose to non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers
certain medical records of veterans who receive health care from such providers. Sponsor: Rep O'Rourke,
Beto [TX-16] (introduced 4/29/2016)
H.R.5165 : Medical Leave for Disabled Veterans Act. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993 to provide a partial exemption to veterans from the eligibility requirements, and for other
purposes. Sponsor: Rep Delaney, John K. [MD-6] (introduced 5/3/2016)

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H.R.5174 : VA Educational Assistance. A bill to make certain improvements in the laws administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep
Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [AS] (introduced 5/10/2016)
H.R.5175 : VA Disapproval of Deceptive Educational Programs. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove, for purposes of the educational
assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, programs of education determined to have
utilized deceptive or misleading practices in violation of section 3696 of such title, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Takano, Mark [CA-41] (introduced 5/10/2016)
H.R.5176 : Evaluate TAP Program Effectiveness. To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a
research program to evaluate the effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program in addressing the needs
of certain minority veterans. Sponsor: Rep Takano, Mark [CA-41] (introduced 5/10/2016)
H.R.5178 : VA On-Campus Educational And Vocational Counseling. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide educational and vocational counseling for
veterans on campuses of institutions of higher learning, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Wenstrup,
Brad R. [OH-2] (introduced 5/10/2016)
H.R.5229 : Women/Minority Veterans Transition to Civilian Life Study. To direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to carry out a study to evaluate the effectiveness of programs, especially in regards to
women veterans and minority veterans, in transitioning to civilian life, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Rep
Takano, Mark [CA-41] (introduced 5/13/2016)

FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF 8 VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE


SENATE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED

S.2851 : Veterans' Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to provide for annual cost-of-living adjustments to be made automatically by law each year in
the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of
dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and
for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Thune, John [SD] (introduced 4/26/2016)
S.2871 : VA OIG Choice Program Ombudsman. A bill to establish the position of Choice Program
Ombudsman within the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs to manage
complaints regarding the provision of hospital care and medical services under section 101 of the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Sponsor: Sen Thune, John [SD] (introduced 4/28/2016)
S.2883 : Appropriate Care for Disabled Veterans Act of 2016. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to extend the requirement of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on the capacity of
the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of
disabled veterans. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] (introduced 4/28/2016) Related Bills: H.R.5091
S.2888 : Janey Ensminger Act of 2016. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's review and publication of illness and conditions
relating to veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and their family members. Sponsor: Sen
Burr, Richard [NC] (introduced 4/28/2016) Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
S.2896 : Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016. A bill to eliminate the sunset date for the Veterans Choice
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to expand eligibility for such program, and to extend
certain operating hours for pharmacies and medical facilities of the Department, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 4/28/2016)
S.2921 : VA Employee Accountability, Health Care & Benefits Improvement. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to improve the accountability of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to
improve health care and benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA]
(introduced 5/11/2016)
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S.2922 : VA & Academic Affiliates Partnerships & Contracts. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for partnerships and contracts between the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and eligible
academic affiliates for the mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of health-care resources, and
for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] (introduced 5/11/2016)
S.2925 : VA Medical Facility Kitchen/Food Service Inspections. A bill to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide for the inspection of kitchens and food service areas at medical facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that the same standards for kitchens and food service areas at
hospitals in the private sector are being met at kitchens and food service areas at medical facilities of the
Department. Sponsor: Sen Kirk, Mark Steven [IL] (introduced 5/12/2016)

[Source: https://beta.congress.gov & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills May 14, 2016 ++]

* Military *

Military Retirement System Update 23

Lump-Sum Payout Option

Top financial experts are worried about a key piece of the military's new blended retirement system and are urging
the Pentagon not to shortchange career troops especially enlisted service members. Specifically, the American
Academy of Actuaries is scrutinizing the new system's lump-sum payout option and precisely how the Pentagon will
calculate it for those who elect to cash such a large portion of their pension. Military retirement reform became law
last year and takes effect in 2018, giving future retirees the option of taking traditional monthly pension checks or
accepting smaller monthly pay along with a lump-sum cash payment at the time of separation. The lump sum would
total either 50 percent or 25 percent of a service member's promised pension benefits.
Its similar to the military's longstanding "REDUX" retirement option, which offers cash up front in exchange for
smaller monthly checks. But unlike REDUX, which offers a flat $30,000 cash payment, the new lump-sum option
will offer cash payments that will vary for individual troops based on the value of their personal retirement package
as defined by pay grade and years of service. Determining the amount of that lump-sum check is more complicated
than simply totaling future monthly pension checks. Rather, the calculations will rest upon a "discount rate," a
device that financial professionals use to measure the current value of future payments. Discount rates assume
money today is more valuable than money tomorrow. Akin to reverse interest rates, the process shaves money from
the current value of a future benefit. So higher discount rates yield smaller lump-sum payments.
Therein lies the actuaries' concern. During the debate over military retirement reform, estimates varied
dramatically for the total value of a service member's retirement benefit. An independent commission, for example,
said last year that a senior enlisted service member in the E-7 pay grade could expect retirement benefits worth
$201,282. By contrast, the Defense Department suggested that same E-7 could expect $1.1 million in "lifetime
retirement income." The difference hinged on the discount rate. As it evaluated the consequences of reform, the
independent Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission assumed a rate of 8 percent for
officers and 12 percent for enlisted service members. In todays financial markets, discount rates typically hover
between 2 and 4 percent. This higher rate would result in settlement amounts that are, in some cases, less than
Page 64 of 125

half the amount that the same benefit would be settled for in a corporate pension plan, as part of a domestic relations
action, or in the broader financial markets, William Hallmark, chairman of the American Academy of Actuaries'
pension practice council, wrote to the Defense Department this month.
Such a steep discount rate would be a bad deal for troops, Hallmark warned, appealing primarily to those who
dont understand what they risk losing or who face such financial hardship they simply don't have another choice.
He also questioned the military compensation commissions suggestion that different discount rates should apply to
officers and enlisted troops, resulting in enlisted troops receiving far less money. The commission based that
recommendation on studies suggesting enlisted troops would be more eager to take the cash up front and therefore
won't require much convincing to take an option that, ultimately, would saves the government money. Veterans
advocates have criticized the disparity, likening it to a payday loan one that exploits people with less financial
education and fewer options for a traditional bank loan. The American Academy of Actuaries said the Pentagon
should set a fair and across-the-board discount rate similar to those applied by large corporations.

"We encourage the department to carefully consider the extent to which the discount rate should reflect a
service members financial sophistication and immediate financial needs, or whether the discount rate
should be independent of these considerations, Hallmark wrote. Furthermore, we believe consideration
should be given to whether all service members should be offered lump sums based on the same discount
rate and whether that discount rate should be comparable to the discount rate required for lump sum
payments from corporate pension plans.

"Regardless, ... we strongly encourage the department to provide a full and thorough disclosure about the
discount rates used to calculate the settlement offers. Such a disclosure should include comparisons to
settlement amounts that are calculated based on widely used discount rates and/or comparisons to what it
would cost to replace the foregone pension benefits in the financial markets."

The Pentagon has never explicitly supported the use of personal discount rates. Instead, a Defense Department
spokesman noted that applying the rate is required by the retirement reform law passed by Congress. The
department has made no decisions on personal discount rates and is working with outside experts on this issue, said
Air Force Maj. Ben Sakrisson. The partial lump-sum payout would replace a portion of the retiree's monthly pension
checks until the recipient reaches age 67. After age 67, military retirees would receive full retirement checks
regardless of whether they opted for the lump-sum payout.
When the new retirement system takes effect in 2018, all current troops will have the choice to remain under the
current system or opt into the new one. Future recruits joining the military in 2018 and beyond will have no choice
other than the new system. The new plan also would provide some retirement benefits, via a new 401(k)-style
investment account, to almost all troops who serve at least two years. Career troops would receive the same 401(k)style benefits, plus a traditional pension that is 20 percent smaller than the current one. [Source: Military Times |
Andrew Tilghman | May 2, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Military Vehicle Decals

No Longer Required to Access Bases

After years of consideration, the Marine Corps is joining the other military services in eliminating vehicle decals
used to access bases. The decals, which identify vehicles with access to military installations, were once used
broadly throughout the Defense Department. But amid heightened security protocols, the stickers have become at
best irrelevant and at worst a liability for troops and family members. In an administrative message published 9
MAY, Maj. Gen. James Laster, director of Marine Corps Staff, said the issue of vehicle decals would stop
immediately. In their place, the message said, base commanders will order vehicle spot checks by law enforcement

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to ensure cars comply with registration requirements. In light of 2015 policy updates requiring 100-percent ID card
checks at all Marine Corps base gates, Laster said in the message, vehicle decals no longer serve a useful purpose.

The Marine Corps continued its use of vehicle decals years after the other services did away with them. The Air
Force eliminated the decal requirement in 2007, and the Army and Navy followed suit in 2011. In materials released
in 2007 with its policy change, Air Force officials explained that the DD Form 2220 military decal system was
costly and outdated, providing little information to security officials and potentially endangering Defense
Department personnel by identifying them as potential targets of terror attacks. "We've been putting our own
personnel through a process that simply duplicates state and federal mandatory requirements," Col. William Sellers,
the Air Force chief of force protection and operations for security forces, said in a news release at the time.
In June 2011, then-commandant Gen. James Amos granted the Marine Corps a waiver to continue using the
decals even after the Navy removed the requirement in order to support traffic management/enforcement efforts,
vehicle registration requirements, and Clean Air Act mandates, according to the message. But in late 2014, the
Defense Department began to issue warnings to troops and military families about the threat of Islamic State attacks.
The Pentagon's Force Protection Agency specifically advised personnel to get rid of decals or identifiers from
clothing and vehicles that might indicate military affiliation. In light of these warnings, the prominently displayed
decals appeared to constitute a liability. "I don't like being targeted and my husband is always on me about
[operational security]," Marine spouse Kristine Schelhaas told Marine Corps Times in 2014. " And yet we go and
stick these symbols on our car."
The paper reported that the Corps was then in the early stages of changing its policy to get rid of the decals,
though it wasnt clear how long the process was expected to take. While Marine officials have not announced the
cost savings they expect to realize with the new policy, it could be significant. Navy officials told Navy Times
getting rid of the decals saved the service $750,000 per year. According to Tuesdays message, bases will continue
in-depth security practices utilizing a layered approach that includes traffic barriers, armed law enforcement
officers, military working dogs, and spot checks of vehicles that appear suspicious. Additional layers of security
inside the perimeter will continue, with a focus on random and fixed security measures and protection of critical
assets and facilities, the message added. [Source: Military.com | May 10, 2016 | Hope Hodge Seck | May 10, 2016
++]
*********************************

Army Appearance Standards Update 01

Sikh Waivers

Facing legal and political heat, including from Central Valley lawmakers, the Army is accommodating Bay area
resident Harpal Singh and several other soldiers whose Sikh faith sets unique grooming and clothing requirements.
The beginning of Singhs military service marks a victory for Sikhs. The accommodations are an enormous step
forward, Harsimran Kaur, California-based legal director for the Sikh Coalition, said 9 MAY, adding that they
were made under pressure. But while Singh, 34, was scheduled to ship out Monday from his San Francisco Bay
Area home for Army basic combat training, the systemic policy that once impeded his enlistment remains in place.
For now, Sikhs must request religious accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
Page 66 of 125

Spc. Harpel Singh

Pvt. Arjan Singh Ghorta

Spc. Kanwar Singh

This tension between religious dictates and military standards is playing out in federal court, where a judge on 6
MAY declined to grant a Ranger-trained West Point graduate firmer protections for following Sikh traditions. This
officer, like Harpal Singh, is relying on an individual accommodation. The judge rejected the request by Army Capt.
Simratpal Singh to consolidate his lawsuit with one filed on behalf of several Sikhs including Harpal Singh, who is
no relation. A request for a preliminary injunction, which would have given more legal force to Capt. Singhs
individual accommodation, was also denied. Were disappointed, Kaur said of the Friday ruling by U.S. District
Judge Beryl A. Howell, but we understand that a preliminary injunction is a high bar to reach.
An estimated 500,000 Sikhs live in the United States, with roughly half of them in California. Particularly
significant Sikh populations reside in Central Valley municipalities including Yuba City, Fresno and Livingston.
Male Sikhs leave their hair uncut and bound in a turban as a mark of commitment to Sikhisms divine presence.
This conflicts with military grooming standards, which can start with a basic-training buzz cut. In 2014, 105
lawmakers, including seven from the Central Valley, urged the Pentagon to permanently revise its grooming policies
to cover all Sikh soldiers and prospective recruits. Given the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated
ability to comply with operational requirements while practicing their faith, we believe it is time for our military to
make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception, the lawmakers wrote.
Speaking at Harvards Kennedy School of Government last December, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a
Sikh member of the Army National Guard that the military needs everybody who can contribute to our mission
(and) who can meet what are high standards. Nonetheless, individual determinations remain the route to exemption
from military grooming rules. All requests for accommodation of religious practices are assessed on a case-by-case
basis, a Pentagon spokesperson, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gabrielle M. Hermes, said Monday, adding that they
should be approved by commanders when accommodation will not have an adverse impact on mission
accomplishment, including military readiness, unit cohesion, standards or discipline.
Harpal Singh was born in New Delhi and trained as an engineer before going to the Bay Area five years ago. He
has been living in Dublin, California, and working as a contractor for Ericsson, setting up cellular communications
networks. As a fluent speaker of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, he first tried to enlist in the Army in 2011 and again in
2012 through a program recruiting those with vital skills. I was told I could not join because of my beard and
turban, Singh said in a declaration. Last November, after learning the military was offering individual
accommodations through the Armys Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, Singh signed an
enlistment contract. In late March, still waiting for his accommodation, he joined one of the lawsuits. About a week
after Singh sued, the Army delivered the accommodation that enabled him to report for Army training this week:
With his hair wrapped in a turban, the Army declared, your hair may not fall over your ears or eyebrows or touch
your collar of your uniform. It added that officials may withdraw or limit the scope of your accommodation for
reasons of military necessity. [Source: The Sacramento Bee | Michael Doyle | May 9, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Army Drug Testing

Rule Changes
Page 67 of 125

The Army is doing away with weekly random drug tests in an effort to ease the burden on commanders while still
deterring soldiers from using illicit drugs. Every soldier will be tested at least once a year. A new directive from
Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy calls for commanders at every level to ensure random urinalysis testing at
the rate of 10 percent of assigned end-strength each month. Before this change, which is effective immediately,
Army Regulation 600-85 required battalion-level commanders to randomly select and test 4 percent to 5 percent of
the battalions end-strength each week. In addition, different companies within that battalion would be detailed each
week to conduct the sample collection.
This requirement has proven to be extremely burdensome for units to execute, according to the memo Murphy
signed 22 APR. This burden on commanders, who Army leaders have said are already tasked with too many
requirements, is now rescinded, according to the memo. Army leaders determined a 10 percent monthly random
drug testing requirement is an achievable standard that continues to deter the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of
prescription drugs, said Paul Prince, an Army spokesman.
NEW RULES
The new requirement, as outlined in Army Directive 2016-15, calls for commanders at all levels to ensure
random urinalysis testing at the rate of 10 percent of their assigned end-strength each month, Prince said. Every
soldier will be tested at least once annually, he said. The change reduces the overall number of urinalyses each
month and provides commanders with flexibility regarding when to conduct the drug tests. The Army directive
states commanders should not use unit sweep testing, or testing 100 percent of a units personnel, to meet the
requirements. The new requirement not only meets, but exceeds, Defense Department requirements, Prince said.
The Army has and continues to implement drug testing at a rate of 100 percent of the assigned end-strength, he
said. The testing is conducted so that it not only provides a random selection of soldiers but also includes a
randomness of frequency.
The Armys drug testing program works, Prince said. With 98 percent of the Army population testing negative
for illicit drugs, soldiers demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for themselves, reinforcing the fact that our
drug testing program is working, he said. We are proud of the work commanders have done and will continue to
do to be engaged with those they lead, not only by providing support to those who may need treatment, but also
fostering an environment of trust, making soldier and units, and the Army as an institution, ready to meet any
mission set before them, Prince said. [Source: Army Times | Michelle Tan | May 16, 2016 ++]
*********************************

USS Frank E. Peterson (DDG-51)

Steel Cut for New Destroyer

Page 68 of 125

A Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard has begun construction of a new Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer
for the U.S. Navy. A ceremony marking the cutting of the first 100 tons of steel for the future Frank E. Peterson Jr.
took place 27 APR at a company shipyard in Mississippi. The guided-missile destroyer honors Frank Emmanuel
Petersen Jr., the first African American aviator and general officer in the United States Marine Corps. "With this
milestone, Ingalls is now in various stages of production on five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers," said Capt. Mark
Vandroff, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "DDG 121 will greatly benefit
from the serial production of those earlier ships and once delivered, will be the 70th destroyer of its class to join the
U.S. Fleet." The destroyer is to be built in the Flight IIA configuration, which features the AEGIS Baseline 9
Combat System, which includes Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability. [Source: UPI | Richard Tomkins |
April 28, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Military Recruiting Update 05

Navy Recruiting Slogan Hunt

On 20 MAY, the Navy's hunt for its next recruiting slogan will start in earnest. That's when the new advertising
contract, initially worth $84.4 million, takes effect under a new ad firm brought in to change direction after the
service's unpopular "A global force for good" campaign. That effort was stalled by a year due to three appeals by
the ad agency that had held the lucrative contract for 15 years. The Navy dumped "A global force for good" a
slogan disliked by large swathes of the public and the Navy in 2014 in favor of the branding "America's Navy,"
and developing a new slogan has been in limbo due to the contract dispute. During that time, Navy Times launched
an unofficial slogan contest where readers submitted slogans and then voted on them.

Page 69 of 125

New York-based ad agency Young & Rubicam won the Navy Recruiting Command contract, which includes four,
one-year extensions that could boost the total value to $457.4 million by 2021. "We are happy to welcome the Y&R
team to the region and to formally begin the Navy partnership, said Rear Adm. Jeffrey Hughes, head of Navy
Recruiting Command. We are excited about the new direction we will take and to have some of the best people and
resources to help us recruit the very finest men and women from across the country into the U.S. Navy." The
turnover between the two contractors began this month and Young & Rubicam will officially assume the watch on
20 MAY.
The Navys incumbent agency, Lowe Campbell Ewald, held the contract for an extra year and earned another $84
million. LCE's initial campaign was, "Navy: Accelerate Your Life," which served as the service's recruiting slogan
from 2001 to 2009. That was replaced by "America's Navy A global force for good," a slogan that was never
popular with those serving in the Navy. On 15 APR sources familiar with the case say LCE dropped their appeal as
it appeared to head into final arbitration, with the federal court of claims judge appearing to side with upholding the
government's case.
Asked why LCE dropped the appeal, Navy Times received an anonymous statement "attributable to a
spokeswoman for the agency." No reason was given for the anonymous reply. We decided to withdraw our
challenge," the statement said. "It was initially our understanding that a decision at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
would be reached promptly. Due to continued delays outside of our control, that has not proven to be the case.
"Therefore, we are asking for a voluntary dismissal so all parties can move forward. We are incredibly proud of all
the work weve done for the U.S. Navy brand, and most importantly, for consistently meeting Navys quantifiable
recruiting goals.
The active-duty Navy hasnt failed to make its annual recruiting goals since 1998. Navy Reserve Recruiting,
however, missed its annual goals in 2005 and 2006 and during 2007 had a run of five consecutive months failing to
meet recruiting goals. Recruiting and retention are strong but officials are wary of what's around the economic
corner. We look forward to partnering with Young & Rubicam, and combining our resources, talent and passion to
attract, inspire and hire America's most talented youth into the United States Navy, said Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen
spokesman for the chief of naval personnel. As the economy improves, officials say, recruiting and retention drop
and the Navy is trying to stay ahead of that curve. While the Navy is in a very good position today with recruiting,
retention and fit/fill, we are at a strategic cross-road where we need think about how we will recruit and retain the
force of tomorrow, Christensen said.
While the appeals dragged on, the service was stalled from developing new, long-term advertising messages.
That will be the focus now as officials look to searching for new slogans and branding. There are no shortage of
suggestions among the Navy community. In 2015, Navy Times solicited reader ideas on taglines to go with
"America's Navy." Navy spouse Stephanie Seevers was one of the people who submitted the most popular new
slogan: America's Navy: We've got the watch" [Source: Navy Times | Mark D. Faram | April 29, 2016++]
*********************************

Trump Military Press Policy

National Security Issue

If he becomes commander in chief, Donald Trump wont let military generals speak to the dishonest press, out of
fear theyll spill national security secrets. I don't want them saying things like our nation has never been so illprepared. Even though it's true, I don't want the enemy knowing that. A general should not be on television, the
Republican front-runner told a crowd of supporters during a rally at Carmel, Indiana, on 2 MAY. I don't want our
generals on television. I will prohibit them. The comments came during a wide-ranging speech where Trump
attacked his Republican rivals, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and his critics.

Page 70 of 125

He also blasted the media as the most dishonest human beings in the world and said military leaders shouldnt
be discussing war strategy or operations with reporters. I don't want them going on television, he said. You think
Gen. George Patton or Gen. Douglas MacArthur, do you think they'd be on television saying about how weak we
are? Number one, they wouldn't be on television because they'd be knocking the hell out of the enemy and they
wouldn't have time. Pentagon officials have held multiple public press conferences with high-ranking officers in the
last few weeks, including a trio of events discussing operations in Iraq and a briefing by Gen. Joseph Votel, head of
U.S. Central Command. Military leaders have said the goal of such events is to keep the public updated on military
news. They frequently dismiss questions related to specific movements or strategic decisions.
Concerns about force readiness have been a frequent theme among top military officials during Capitol Hill
testimony in recent months, often prompted by questions from lawmakers. Those events are typically televised and
open to the public. At the rally, Trump also appeared to criticize former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno,
referring to an exit interview by a certain general, I don't want to mention his name because he's a high-quality
guy. He's getting ready to leave a year ago, and he said, We are less prepared now than at any point in our
history, Trump said. So assuming that's true, which I believe it is, I don't want everybody to know about it. Prior
to retiring last summer, Odierno spoke out about his concerns with military readiness during several media
interviews.
Instead of discussing military moves, Trump said, defense officials need to be unpredictable with their
response to national security threats. We've got to get smart, he said. We've got to get smart fast and we have to
start investing money. And we have to get ISIS and we have to get ISIS out. And we have to build our military,
which has totally been depleted. [Source: Military Times | Leo Shane | May 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

Trump Active Dutys Preference

2-to-1 margin

In a new survey of American military personnel, Donald Trump emerged as active-duty service members' preference
to become the next U.S. president, topping Hillary Clinton by more than a 2-to-1 margin. However, in the latest
Military Times election survey, more than one in five troops said theyd rather not vote in November if they have to
choose between just those two candidates. But given only those choices, 21 percent of the service members
surveyed said they would abstain from voting. More than 54 percent of the 951 troops Military Times surveyed said
they would vote for Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, over Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner. Only about 25 percent said they would vote for Clinton in that matchup.

Page 71 of 125

The results, while not a scientific sampling of military voting patterns (see our methodology below), show strong
support for Trump among troops despite critics' attacks that he lacks foreign policy or national security experience.
Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders fared slightly better than Clinton in a similar head-to-head matchup with
Trump, but still trailed the reality TV star and business mogul by a 51 percent to 38 percent margin. About one in 10
military members said they would not vote at all given those two candidates. Military personnel also demonstrated
strong support for Trump in a Military Times reader survey conducted in March. Trump was the most popular
candidate among the six presidential candidates remaining then, and the clear choice among Republican service
members.
In the latest survey, nearly half of respondents identified as Republicans, and only 18 percent as Democrats. That
partisan divide accounted for much of Trumps support. Democrats overwhelmingly favored Clinton (72 percent to 8
percent) and Republicans overwhelmingly supported Trump (82 percent to 6 percent). Troops who identified as
independents slightly favored Trump, by a 40 percent to 32 percent margin. Female troops favored Clinton over
Trump, by a 51 percent to 24 percent margin. Male troops backed Trump over Clinton 57 percent to 22 percent.
Officers were more likely to back Clinton, though still said theyd vote for Trump by a 46 percent to 32 percent tally.
Enlisted respondents broke 58 percent to 21 percent for Trump. The same held for Sanders, where he outpaced
Trumps support by a 45 percent to 43 percent margin among Navy members. Among the services, Marines were the
most likely to support Trump (60 percent said theyd vote for him) while sailors were the most likely to support
Clinton (31 percent said they would vote for her).
The survey began the day of the Indiana primary, before Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz dropped out of the
presidential contest, and remained open until later that week. Military members surveyed backed Cruz over Clinton
and Sanders, as well, though not by as large of a margin as Trump. In all of the hypothetical matchups presented, at
least 11 percent of military members said they would not vote if given only the two major party choices. In the case
of a Clinton/Cruz contest, 25 percent said they would skip voting rather than back either candidate. In anecdotal
comments connected to the survey, several survey respondents called the options for president frustrating and
disappointing:
Weakest field of my adult life.
Absolutely disgusted by this election cycle.
Its a lose/lose situation no matter what.
They all suck.
Dozens also noted plans to vote for a third-party candidate, citing their dissatisfaction with the major party
choices. The candidates left just dont understand the military, said Army Capt. Christian Pardo, who said he
Page 72 of 125

would not vote for any of the major party candidates left. The military perspective on some of their policies are just
so far out there. Pardo said he wishes a candidate with military experience was still left in the race. Hell be
considering third-party candidates in the fall, but if none appeal to me, I may just stay home. Air Force 1st Lt.
Tyler Livingston said hell probably do the same, especially if its a Trump/Clinton contest. I really dont
understand how a better candidate didnt jump into the race, he said. I was hoping we see something else.
How the survey was conducted
Between May 3 and May 6, Military Times conducted a voluntary, confidential survey of subscribers who
include verified active-duty, National Guard and reserve component service members. More than 59,000 subscribers
received e-mail invitations to participate. In total, 951 respondents completed the survey. The sample is not a perfect
representation of the military as a whole; it over-represents officers and noncommissioned officers, and underrepresents junior enlisted personnel. However, it is representative of the more senior and career-oriented members of
the force who run the military's day-to-day operations and carry out its policies. The voluntary nature of this survey,
the dependence on email and the characteristics of Military Times readers may affect the results. Statistical margins
of error commonly reported in opinion polls that use random sampling can't be calculated for this survey. [Source:
Military Times | Leo Shane & George R. Altman | May 9, 2016 ++]
********************************

RP~China Dispute Update 16

U.S. Patrols Prompt Port-Visit Denial

The U.S. Navys stepped up patrols in the South China Sea are getting under the skin of some Chinese leaders. An
outlet affiliated with the Chinese communist party implied the U.S. Navys patrols prompted a port-visit denial and
blasted the Pacific Fleet for raising tensions in the region. The Stennis Carrier Strike Group has been in the South
China Sea for more than a month and was denied a port visit to Hong Kong, a move that many saw as payback for
the long patrol and a recent visit by Defense Secretary Ash Carter. The U.S. Pacific Fleet has now become the
biggest source of such a pessimistic mentality for both countries, Global Times wrote in a May 4 editorial. While
they have become accustomed to controversies such as human rights, trade frictions and diplomatic divergences on
hot spots, the US abruptly started its menacing military deployment against China's offshore interests, showcasing
its military muscle by sending naval vessels and warplanes to China.
That seems to be changing the nature of the Sino-US frictions. Due to the severe strategic suspicions, military
problems have unprecedentedly emerged between the two. Experts rely on editorials in state-approved media to
gauge opinions inside the Chinese government. A spokesman for Pacific Fleet shot back, saying the U.S. presence in
the region is hardly a new development. "Pacific Fleet has operated there for decades, averaging about 700 ship days
a year in the South China Sea alone," said Cmdr. Clay Doss.
China, which has been constructing islands and airstrips atop reefs and rocky outcroppings in the Spratly Islands,
sees the whole South China Sea as its territory. Evidence is mounting that China also aims to build another island
atop the Scarborough Shoal, an atoll just 140 miles from the Philippines capital of Manila and well within the
Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Global Times, a tabloid, is among the most hawkish voices within
Chinese state media and the editorial may reveal frustrations within some elements of the Chinese government,
especially the military, said Zhiqun Zhu, a political scientist who heads The China Institute at Bucknell University in
Pennsylvania. In their views, U.S. military involvement in the South China Sea, especially U.S. Navy's freedom of
navigation operations, have complicated the dispute and emboldened other claimants especially the Philippines to
stand up against China, Zhu said.

Page 73 of 125

Carrier James C. Stennis on patrol in South China Sea

The USS John C. Stennis port call on Hong Kong was denied exactly because of U.S. Navy's more frequent and
active patrols in the region that are challenging Beijing's position, he said. This is a political statement. I think
Beijing wants to see a decrease or more low-profile U.S. military activities in the region. The cancellation angered
some U.S. officials and lawmakers, including Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) who is a member of the House Armed
Services Committee. Forbes called for the U.S. to respond by considering a port visit to Taiwan, which would almost
certainly infuriate Beijing. The canceled Hong Kong visit was the first time in three years the Chinese have canceled
liberty call for U.S. sailors, but it is not unprecedented. The amphibious command ship Blue Ridge was in Hong
Kong at the time, however, and its port visit was not affected.
"China has repeatedly politicized the long-standing use of Hong Kong for carrier port visits, inconveniencing the
families of thousands of U.S. sailors and continuing a pattern of unnecessary and disruptive behavior, Forbes said
in a statement. As Beijing's direct control of Hong Kong intensifies, the U.S. Navy should strongly consider
shifting its carrier port calls to more stable and welcoming locations. While China finds profit in needlessly harming
our sailors' families, many U.S. allies and partners in the region, including Taiwan, would no doubt welcome our
carriers and their crews with open arms. The time has come to consider these alternate locations going forward.
That move would likely be a non-starter, said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert and director of the China Power
Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The proposal that U.S. carriers
should use ports in Taiwan instead of Hong Kong is unlikely to be considered, Glaser said. It would be among the
most provocative actions that the U.S. could take from Beijing's point of view. It would be viewed as a direct
challenge to Chinese sovereignty. Such a move would be seen in Beijing as signaling U.S. support for Taiwan
independence and emboldening [Taiwans new president] to challenge Beijing. Zhu, the Bucknell professor, said
the flare-up shouldnt have a lasting impact. As happened in the past, such incidents harm military relations in the
short-term, he said. But it seems both militaries are playing down the incident. So the militaries are keeping the
doors open, which is good news. [Source: Navy Times David | Larter | May 5, 2016 ++]
********************************

Military Combat Training

Pit and Pond

Page 74 of 125

A Marine purses his eyes and lips shut as he is dragged from a mock booby trap in the Pit and Pond obstacle during the
endurance course on April 19 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan. The endurance course is the final
event Marines participating in jungle warfare training must face, trudging through roughly five miles of Okinawa jungle
and 30 obstacles. Marines got creative in shuffling their squad mates beneath loose Plexiglas, avoiding contact with the
booby trap at all costs. If any portion of the pane is touched, all Marines in a 5-meter radius are considered casualties
and have to go back through the Pit and Pond. The Marines are with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
The Hawaii-based battalion is attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force as
part of the unit deployment program.

[Source: 2015 Photo Competition | Sgt. Matthew Callahan, USMC| April 18, 2016 ++]
********************************

XS-1 Space Shuttle

Reusable Vehicle for Payload Launches

DARPA wants a new space shuttle -- and it's getting closer to building one. The Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency's "XS-1" project, is a continuing mission to build a reusable vehicle for launching small payloads
into orbit at speeds in excess of Mach 10. Unlike the actual Space Shuttle operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011,
DARPA calls its project a "space plane." Here's the crucial difference: Unlike the Space Shuttle, which launched like
a rocket, orbited like a space ship, and then returned to Earth to land like an airplane, XS-1 will never actually enter
orbit itself. Instead, it will rocket "to the edge of space," and once there, boost a payload the rest of the way into low
Earth orbit.
After releasing the payload, XS-1 will land like an airplane, refuel, and be ready to launch again the next day.
Ideally, DARPA wants its space shuttle to be so reliable and so reusable that it can fly "10 times in 10 days." Also,
XS-1 will have no pilot. It will be a drone. A reusable spacecraft holds the potential to save taxpayers billions of
dollars in costs by not having to build disposable spacecraft for each new satellite launch. DARPA thinks that if it
can get this concept up and running, it should be possible to deliver small satellites (1.5-2.5 tons) into orbit at a cost
of about $5 million apiece. That's 10 times less than the $55 million that SpaceX charged SES for one satellite
launch last year aboard its (currently disposable) Falcon 9 rocket.

Page 75 of 125

When last checked DARPA was wrapping up Phase 1 of the project, in which three industry teams -- Boeing
(NYSE:BA), working in collaboration with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin; Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) plus Virgin
Galactic; and privately held Masten Space Systems, working with also-private XCOR Aerospace, all helped DARPA
explore the technical feasibility of building a space plane/space shuttle capable of delivering payloads to orbit at a
cost of $5 million per flight. That accomplished, now DARPA is ready to proceed to Phase 2 -- building a prototype.
Actually, make that Phases 2 and 3. Because it appears DARPA plans to award both of its next two contracts
simultaneously -- and to a single winner. Last month, DARPA held a "Proposers Day" at which all interested parties
-- not just the six companies named above -- were invited to float ideas for building a prototype XS-1. The next step
will be to issue an official request for proposals, evaluate them, and pick a winner, perhaps as early as next year.
In a special notice to participants in the Proposers Day, DARPA clarified that it plans to award $140 million to
the winner of the Phase 2 and 3 contracts. This winner (or winning team) will then design, build, and test a prototype
(Phase 2). This winner will also be awarded the Phase 3 contract to conduct flight tests of the new vehicle. While
DARPA hasn't set a firm deadline for completion, it has stated that the winning bidder must use a propulsion system
that it expects to "be ready for flight no later than fiscal year 2020." That implies that the XS-1 space plane must
itself be ready for testing by 2020. [Source: Motley Fool | May 8, 2016]
.
********************************

Medal of Honor Citations

Barfoot, Van T | WWII

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress


takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
To

VAN T. BARFOOT
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944
Entered service: Carthage, Miss.
Page 76 of 125

Born: 17 December 1919

Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near
Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding
ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of
1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued
along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3
soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt.
Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate
area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men
and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his
platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing
Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively
disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt.
Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently
abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position,
Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards
to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive
determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

Barfoot was born on June 15, 1919, in Edinburg, Mississippi. His grandmother was Choctaw, but Barfoot himself
was not an official member of the Choctaw Nation; although he was eligible, his parents had never enrolled him.
After enlisting in the Army from Carthage, Mississippi, in 1940 and completing his training, Barfoot served with the
1st Infantry Division in Louisiana and Puerto Rico. In December 1941, he was promoted to sergeant and reassigned
to the Headquarters Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet in Quantico, Virginia, where he served until the unit was
deactivated in 1943. He next joined the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, and was shipped to
Europe.
During the Italian Campaign Barfoot participated in a series of amphibious landings: the Allied invasion of Sicily in
July 1943, the invasion of mainland Italy at Salerno in September, and finally the landings at Anzio in late January
1944. His unit pushed inland from Anzio, and by May 1944 had reached the town of Carano. They set up defensive
positions and Barfoot conducted patrols to scout the German lines. When his company was ordered to attack on the
Page 77 of 125

morning of May 23, Barfoot, now a technical sergeant, asked for permission to lead a squad. Because of the patrols
he had made, he knew the terrain and the minefield which lay in front of the German position. He advanced alone
through the minefield, following ditches and depressions, until he came within a few yards of a machine gun on the
German flank. After taking out the gun with a hand grenade, he entered the German trench and advanced on a
second machine gun, killing two soldiers and capturing three others. When he reached a third gun, the entire crew
surrendered to him. Others also surrendered and Barfoot captured a total of seventeen German soldiers and killed
eight.
When the Germans launched an armored counterattack later in the day, Barfoot disabled one tank with a bazooka,
then advanced into enemy-held territory and destroyed an abandoned German artillery piece. He returned to his own
lines and helped two wounded soldiers from his squad to the rear.
Barfoot was subsequently commissioned as a second lieutenant. His division moved into France and by September
was serving in the Rhone valley. Barfoot learned he would be awarded the Medal of Honor and chose to have the
presentation ceremony in the field, so that his soldiers could attend. He was formally presented with the medal on
September 28, 1944, in pinal, France, by Lieutenant General Alexander Patch.
Having grown up in the strictly segregated south, Barfoot was noted for a comment he made in 1945 regarding
African-Americans. Mississippi senator and Ku Klux Klan member Theodore G. Bilbo asked Barfoot if he had
much trouble with the African-American soldiers he had served with during the war. To Bilbo's embarrassment,
Barfoot responded, "I found out after I did some fighting in this war that the colored boys fight just as good as the
white boys...I've changed my idea a lot about colored people since I got into this war and so have a lot of other boys
from the south".
Barfoot later served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and earned a Purple Heart. He reached the rank of
colonel before retiring from the Army. In retirement, he lived on a farm in Amelia County, Virginia and later moved
to, Henrico County, Virginia, near his daughter. On October 9, 2009, the portion of Mississippi Highway 16 which
runs from Carthage through his hometown of Edinburg to the border between Leake and Neshoba counties was
named the "Van T. Barfoot Medal of Honor Highway".
In December 2009, the homeowners' association (HOA) of the Sussex Square, where Barfoot lived in Henrico
County, Virginia, ordered him to remove the flagpole from which he flew the US flag. This news story first became
public when Barfoot's son-in-law reported the story on local talk radio show, Elliot in the Morning. Fox News and
several other national news networks picked up the story. The HOA retained Coates & Davenport to help enforce
their order. The association's bylaws do not forbid flagpoles, but the HOA ruled Barfoot, then aged 90, would not be
allowed to use it "for aesthetic reasons." Barfoot contested the order, and received support from politicians,
including Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb, and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. The
association dropped its request on December 8, 2009, ending the controversy. [ Barfoot suffered a fall resulting in
head trauma, and died on March 2, 2012 at the age of 92.
[Source: http://www.history.army.mil/moh/wwII-a-f.html May 2016 ++]

* Military History *

Page 78 of 125

Remember When

Nostalgia (5)

In the Second World War, the Seabees were organized into 151 regular construction battalions, 39 special
construction battalions, 164 construction battalion detachments, 136 construction battalion maintenance units,
5 pontoon assembly detachments, 54 regiments, 12 brigades, and under various designations, 5 naval
construction forces. Because of the emphasis on experience and skill rather than physical standards, the
average age of Seabees during World War II was 37. The complement of a standard battalion originally was
set at 32 officers and 1,073 men. About 175,000 Seabees were staged directly through Port Hueneme (near the
Ventura, CA) during the war.
During D-Day of the Normandy invasion, 6 June 1944, the Seabees were among the first to go ashore as
members of naval combat demolition units. Seabees earned 33 Silver Stars and 5 Navy Crosses during World
War II. But they also paid a price: 272 enlisted men and 18 officers killed in action. In addition to deaths
sustained as a result of enemy action, more than 500 Seabees died in accidents, for construction is essentially a
hazardous business. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7npZPUzXn-E&feature=youtu.be&t=528 to
view the one hour 40 min 1944 movie with John Wayne and Susan Hayward, The Fighting Seabees.

[Source: Military Service Coalition Austin TX | April 2016 ++]


********************************

WWII Hiroshima Bombing

Shifting Viewpoints on Justification

This month, President Obama will become the first incumbent American president to visit Hiroshima, the
Japanese city that was devastated when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945. That bomb
and a second atomic blast on Nagasaki on Aug. 9 effectively ended World War II; Japan surrendered six
days after the Hiroshima bombing. However, the human costs were huge. Estimates of those killed go as high
as 150,000, and even for those who survived, it was a hellish, life-altering experience. At the same time, many
believe that the bomb was preferable to a planned invasion of Japan, which would have likely brought massive
casualties among civilians, Japanese forces and Allies.
Page 79 of 125

During his visit to the city, Obama is expected to give a speech on nonproliferation of nuclear weapons a
topic that he has touched on many times before. He is not expected to apologize for the bombing itself. Even
so, such a visit may reflect shifting viewpoints of Americans on Hiroshima. Last year, Pew Research Center
compiled a number of polls about public attitudes to the bombings in America and Japan. In the first Gallup
poll from 1945 just after the bombings, a huge 85 percent of Americans approved the bombings. However,
figures from 2005 show a significant decline to 57 percent. Meanwhile, another poll conducted by the Detroit
Free Press in the United States and Japan in 1991 found that 63 percent of Americans thought that the
bombings were justified in a bid to end the war, while just 29 percent of Japanese did.

Hiroshima A-bomb blast photographed by the U.S. military on August 6, 1945.

When Pew followed up on that question in 2015, they found that the numbers of people who thought the
bombings were justified had dropped in both America and Japan to 56 percent among Americans and just
14 percent among Japanese. The total percentage of people who thought the bombings were unjustified stood
at 79 percent in Japan, up from 64 percent in 1991. In America, those who thought they were unjustified rose
to 34 percent, from 29 percent in 1991. The difference in viewpoints between the United States and Japan is
obvious one country dropped bombs on the other, after all but there are also some more subtle things
going on.
Last year, WorldViews took a look at how the bombings were taught in countries all over the world. They
have long been a major topic of study for Japanese and American children. But, in recent years, the way the
bombings are taught to Americans has shifted, with more emphasis put on the bombs' human toll and not just
the strategic value. "The textbook has walked away from this idea that it speaks with this omniscient voice and
it tells you facts," Christopher Hamner, a history professor at George Mason University, told WorldViews.
"Textbooks will have documents from both sides. They acknowledge that there are multiple perspectives." This
change may have contributed to a generational shift seen in Pew's research: Just 47 percent of Americans 18 to
29 years old said the use of atomic weapons was justified when asked last year, compared to 70 percent of
those 65 or older.
John Kerry became the first U.S. secretary of state to pay his respects at Hiroshima's memorial to victims of
the 1945 U.S. bombing. Ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States
laid wreaths at the site on April 11. The widespread support for the bombing of Hiroshima among Americans
has long led incumbent U.S. presidents to refuse to visit the city, fearing it would be construed as an apology.
Obama's visit seems to reflect the perception that support for the bombings has dropped, even if he doesn't
apologize. While many Japanese view the bombings as unjustifiable, some in Hiroshima may well be satisfied
even without an apology. "What's done is done," one Hiroshima resident told The Washington Post in 2009. "I
Page 80 of 125

don't need an apology. But if Obama hasn't seen what an A-bomb can do to you, then he should come and
look." [Source: Washington Post | Adam Taylor | May 10, 2016 ++]
********************************

Military History Discussions

WWII Operational Rations

It is often said that an army marches on its stomach. Join MIMTHS as local historian Phil Naud discusses the
development and evolution of US Military operational rations during the 20th Century. Using the code word
MIMTHS go to https://vimeo.com/157043296 to view his perspective on this issue. [Source: Michigan
Military Technical & Historical Society Newsletter March 2016 ++]
********************************

Military History

Wasp | Original Flying Ladies

Like most Americans in the late 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt was not eager for the United States to get
embroiled in a global military conflict. However, unlike fervent isolationists, he felt it was inevitable over time and
began taking some steps in preparation for such an eventuality. He pushed Congress into doubling the size of the
Navy, creating a draft (approved by a close vote of 203 to 202), provided military hardware to friendly foreign
nations, and ordered the Navy to attack German submarines that had been preying on ships off the East Coast.
Congress also approved an acceleration of building war planes. Many airline pilots holding reserve commissions
were recalled to active duty to fly them as they rolled off assembly lines.
Even with all the preparation, many Americans still refused to believe war was inevitable. Then on a quiet,
peaceful Sunday morning on December 7, 1941, Japanese naval and air forces launched a surprise attack on the U.S.
Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. More than 2,400 military men were killed, 150 planes destroyed and eight battleships
were sunk or badly damaged. The next day, Monday December 8, calling the sneak attack a "day of infamy,"
Roosevelt announced the United States would join World War II. Three days later on December 11, 1941 Congress
declared war on Nazi Germany. It was a time of fear and a time of desperate haste for America to mount a war
machine that did not existed since World War I.
The draft was greatly increased and with every available man being inducted, war industry jobs went unfilled.
American women stepped in to take their place, taking over a wide variety of positions previously closed to them.
The aviation industry saw the greatest increase in female workers. More than 310,000 women worked in the U.S.
aircraft industry in 1943, representing 65 percent of the industry's total workforce (compared to just 1 percent in the
pre-war years). The munitions industry also heavily recruited women workers, as represented by the U.S.
government's "Rosie the Riveter" propaganda campaign. Though women were crucial to the war effort, their pay
continued to lag far behind their male counterparts: Female workers rarely earned more than 50 percent of male
wages.
As hundreds of military planes of all variety were coming off the assembly lines, there were not enough certified
pilots to fly them. Reserve flying officers were recalled to active duty but there was still a shortage. To address this
shortage, a group of government officials and military officers considered using certified civilian women pilots to
ferry aircraft from the factories to overseas where they were needed thereby freeing male pilots to fly combat
missions. Problem was, General Henry "Hap" Arnold, Chief of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF),
categorically denied the need to use women pilots in any capacity in or with the USAAF. He said he wasn't sure
"whether a slip of a girl could fight the controls of a B-17 bomber in heavy weather." However, there was a move
underfoot to introduce women into the military ranks beginning in May 1942 when Congress instituted the Women's
Auxiliary Army Corps, later known as Women's Army Corps (WACS). Gen. George Marshall was fully behind the
Page 81 of 125

move and soon there was the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES) and, in smaller
numbers, woman serving in the Coast Guard and Marine Corps. Photo is Col. Oveta Culp Hobby (right), first
director of the WACS.
By September 1942, however, the manpower shortages were so acute that Gen. Arnold finally approved the
employment of women pilots in the Ferry Division, albeit no longer on a completely equal basis. This proposal
provided for the creation of a single experimental woman's squadron, the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron
(WAFS). Membership in the squadron was restricted to women with a minimum of 500 flying hours and with a
200hp rating. Altogether 28 women with an average of 1,000 flying hours were sworn into the WAFS.

B-17 bomber pilots Frances Green, Margaret (Peg) Kirchner, Ann Waldner and Blanche Osborn returning from a flight
(left) and Jackie Cochran (center) with WASP trainees

When word reached Jacqueline Cochran - a pioneer in the field of American aviation, considered to be one of the
most gifted racing pilots of her generation - about the WAFS, she flew back to Washington and confronted Arnold.
Arnold abruptly agreed to establish a "Women's Flying Training Detachment" (WFTD) and appointed Cochran the
director of women pilot training. Successive classes of women with 35 hours pervious flying experience went
through an average of seven months of training. A total of 1,830 women entered the program and 1,074 completed
training successfully. These women became the first to fly an American military aircraft. They ferried planes from
factories to bases, transporting cargo and participating in simulation strafing and target missions, accumulating more
than 60 million miles in flight distances and freeing thousands of male U.S. pilots for active combat duty. More than
1,000 WASP served, and 38 of them lost their lives during the war. On December 1944, General Arnold deactivated
the WASP, having flown about 60 million miles in operations. He said publicly at the time "It is on the record that
women can fly as well as men."

Florene Watson preparing a P-51D-5NA for a ferry flight from the factory at Inglewood, California. In July 2009,
President Barack Obama signed the WASP Congressional Gold Medal into law.

Page 82 of 125

For some reason, all records of the WASP were classified and sealed for 35 years, so their major contributions to
the war effort were little known and inaccessible to historians. That was until 1975 when General Hap Arnold's son,
Col. Bruce Arnold, fought Congress to recognize WASP as veterans of World War II. The effort paid off. By 1977,
Congress passed and President Jimmy Carter signed the 'G.I. Bill Improvement Act of 1977,' granting the WASP full
military status for their service. On March 10, 2010, at a ceremony in the Capitol, the WASP received the
Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors. Nearly 200 of former pilots attended the event, many
wearing their World War II-era uniforms. Today all branches of our military have women pilots flying nearly every
aircraft in our inventory. And, in November 2005 to November 2007, the U.S. Air Force had its first female pilot
flying with it world-famous "Thunderbirds." She is Major Nicole Malachowski, who now holds the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel. [Source: Together We Served | Mike Christy | May 2015 ++]
********************************

West Point Bell

Returning to the Philippines After 101 Years

A bell thats been property of the U.S. Military Academy for more than a century wont ring again until its on the
other side of the world and back home. The San Pedro bell, stationed outside West Points Most Holy Trinity
Catholic Chapel since the 1980s, will be shipped to the Church of Saint Peter and Paul in Bauang, Philippines,
where it was taken by U.S. forces during the Philippine-American War at the turn of the 20th century. Academy
officials, Filipino-American students and members of the U.S.-Philippine Society, among others, were on hand for a
20 APR ceremony marking the turnover.

U.S. Military Academy Cadets and guests pose with the San Pedro Bell at West Point

The bell became property of the academy in 1915 and was lost for a time before its rediscovery during chapel
expansion in 1959. In the intervening decades, other bells with similar war stories have been returned to their
owners. One example: Naval Academy officials rang the Gokoku-ji bell, taken by Commodore Matthew Perry from
Okinawa in 1853, as part of celebrations after Army-Navy football victories. It was returned in 1987; a replica has
been used since. The West Point bells history came to light thanks in part to retired Navy Rear Adm. Dan
McKinnon, whose interest in Philippine history dates back to his service in the region. He worked to preserve Clark
Veterans Cemetery, about 60 miles north of Manila, which had been coated in ash from a 1991 volcanic eruption and
left mostly unkept until a 2013 memorandum of understanding allowed a U.S. agency to care for the grounds.
During his work on that issue, he learned of the two Balangiga bells, which U.S. troops brought home after the
Philippine-American War and now reside at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Efforts by individuals in both
nations to repatriate those items, dating back to the Clinton administration, have been unsuccessful. We started
researching all this stuff, and then somebody said, Well, theres a bell like these sitting at West Point, McKinnon
said. So about a year ago, I started talking to West Point. The people at West Point told me where the bell had
come from. McKinnons friend and fellow former Navy man, Dennis Wright, led research efforts in the Philippines
to track down the church where the bell once rang. Eventually, Father Ronald Chan of the Church of Saint Peter and
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Paul wrote a letter to Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, West Point's superintendent, citing the return of similar war trophies
and requesting the same of the academy. It is the right and honorable thing to do, he wrote. We sincerely hope
and pray that you will honor our request and allow us the opportunity to once again hear the call of San Pedro to our
church services.
Unlike the Wyoming-based bells, there was no controversy. The superintendent said, Sure, this is a no-brainer.
Bells belong in churches, McKinnon said. The bell likely was removed from the church by U.S. troops to prevent
enemy forces from melting the gold-silver-copper alloy down to make weapons, McKinnon said. General Order No.
100, also known as the Lieber Code, prohibited U.S. forces from removing such items as spoils of war, he said, but
the order was often misinterpreted or ignored. Technically, all three of these bells [in Wyoming and at West Point]
shouldve gone home in 1902, when the war was over, but nobody paid attention to this kind of stuff, he said.
[Source: Army Times | Kevin Lilley | May 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

Balangiga Bells

Philippine-American War Booty

The Balangiga bells are three church bells taken by the United States Army from the town church of Balangiga,
Eastern Samar in the Philippines as war booty after reprisals following the Balangiga incident in 1901 during
the Philippine-American War. One church bell is in the possession of the 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Red Cloud,
their base in South Korea, while two others are on a former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F. E. Warren Air
Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. At least one of the bells had tolled to signal the surprise attack by Filipinos
against Americans in the 1901 Balangiga massacre.

(1)

American survivors (left) of the Balangiga massacre pose with a Balangiga bell. Photo taken in Calbayog,
Samar, in April 1902.
(2) Two Balangiga bells (center) exhibited at Fort D.A. Russel, now F. E. Warren Air Force Base
(3) The third Balangiga bell (right) in the Madison Barracks at Sackets Harbor, New York, station of the 9th US
Infantry Regiment at the turn of the 20th century.

The Balangiga massacre was an incident in the town of the same name during the PhilippineAmerican War. It
initially referred to the killing of about 48 members of the US 9th Infantry by the townspeople allegedly augmented
by guerrillas in the town of Balangiga on Samar Island during an attack on September 28 of that year. In the 1960s
Filipino nationalists applied it to the retaliatory measures taken on the island. This incident was described as the
United States Army's worst defeat since the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Filipinos regard the attack as one of
their bravest acts in the war. There has been much heated discussion regarding the number of Filipino casualties, for
which there are no reliable documentary records. Gen. Jacob H. Smith, who ordered the killing of every male over
ten years old during the retaliatory campaign, was subject to court-martial for "conduct to the prejudice of good
order and military discipline". Reprimanded but not formally punished, Smith was forced into retirement from the
service because of his conduct.
The attack and the subsequent retaliation remains one of the longest-running and most controversial issues
between the Philippines and the United States. Conflicting records from American and Filipino historians have
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confused the issue. Demands for the return of the bells of the church at Balangiga, taken by the Americans as war
booty and collectively known as the Balangiga bells, remain an outstanding issue of contention related to the war.
One church bell remains in the possession of the 9th Infantry Regiment at their base in Camp Red Cloud, South
Korea, while two others are on a former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in
Cheyenne, Wyoming. Following are the efforts taken to date to return the bells to their original sites:

In the mid-1990s, during the term of Fidel V. Ramos as Philippine president, attempts were initiated by his
government to recover all or a portion of the bells from Bill Clinton's administration. The United States
government was adamant that the bells wereUS government property, that it would take an Act of Congress
to return them and that the Catholic Church has no say in the matter. For their part the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of the Philippines hold the position that the bells are inappropriate as trophies of war.
In 2002, the Philippine Senate approved Senate Resolution No. 393, authored by Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.,
urging the Arroyo administration to undertake formal negotiations with the United States for the return of
the bells.
In 2005, the bishop of Borongan, Samar, Bishop Leonardo Medroso and Balangiga parish priest Saturnino
Obzunar wrote an open letter addressed to President George W. Bush, the United States Congress and the
Helsinki Commission, requesting them to facilitate the return of the bells. That same year, the Wyoming
Veterans Commission favored the return of the Filipino-American War relics, however, Wyoming
Governor Dave Freudenthal stated that he disagreed with the Commission and opposed returning the bells.
On January 13, 2005, United States Congressman Bob Filner had introduced H.Res.313, urging the
President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one of the bells to the people of the Philippines. The
resolution died on January 3, 2007, with the sine die adjournment of the 109th United States Congress.
On September 26, 2006, United States Congressman Bob Filner, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and
Congressman Ed Case co-sponsored House Concurrent Resolution No. 481 urging the president of the
United States to authorize the return of the church bells.[15] The resolution died on January 3, 2009, with
the sine die adjournment of the 110th United States Congress.
In 2007, Napolen Abueva, the Philippines' National Artist for sculpture, wrote American Ambassador to
the Philippines Kristie Kenney asking for her help in the bells' recovery.
On October 25, 2007, during the 14th Congress of the Philippines, Senator Manny Villar filed Senate
Resolution No. 177, a resolution "expressing the sense of the Senate for the return to the Philippines of the
Balangiga Bells which were taken by the US troops from the town of Balangiga, Province of Samar in
1901".

According to some nationalist Filipino historians, the true "Balangiga massacre" was the subsequent American
retaliation against the Samar population and guerrillas. Interpretations and retelling of the Balangiga incidents, the
Samar pacification campaign and the PhilippineAmerican War have been heavily influenced by the writings of
Filipino left-wing polemicist Renato Constantino and also Filipino Marxist historian Teodoro Agoncillo, both
strongly anti-American. [Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balangiga_massacre May 2016 ++]
********************************

Military Trivia 121

Helmets Revival | WWI

When the war to end all wars erupted in August 1914, the armies of Europe were stunned by the harrowing
casualties inflicted by landmark advances in weaponry. The machine gun alone mowed down thousands during the
first months of the war, and when the combatants tried to retreat to their trenches thousands more fell in
thunderous artillery barrages that rained exploding shrapnel down on the unprotected heads of the soldiers. More
than half a year passed before in February 1915 the French army introduced a steel skullcap that gave its
soldiers their first defense against the deadly shells.

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But as a new exhibit at the Virginia War Museum shows, the urgent need to revive something that had been
obsolete for centuries still seemed so new and strange that when hundreds of thousands of American troops began
joining the war in late 1917 the first units arrived with felt campaign hats rather than steel helmets. "When they
got there, the British said, 'you've got to have helmets' and we didn't have any. So we arranged to buy 400,000
British helmets pretty quickly," said Virginia War Museum Foundation President Larry Munnikhuysen. "The War
Department didn't like it. They wanted an American helmet that would represent the country and enable its soldiers
to stand out. But that was a lot harder to do than anyone expected."
Made up of 43 helmets from 17 countries, the new display called "Steel Pots Helmets of World War I"
draws on the War Museum's nationally known collection as well as the holdings of two prominent private collectors,
Alexandro de Quesada of Florida and Tom Buck of Virginia Beach. Together, they create an unusually broad and
deep survey that former museum director John V. Quarstein describes as "fabulous." "It's one of the finest arrays of
World War I helmets ever assembled," he said. "There's not a single style or version that's missing and some of
them are unbelievably rare." In addition to the pioneering steel bowl worn under the French soldiers' cloth caps, the
exhibit includes the famous M15 Adrian helmet that not only replaced the original "calote" but also sparked a raft of
knock-offs among the armies of more than 20 other nations. "The calote made a huge difference. It was constructed
of pretty heavy gauge steel, and it did the trick when it came to protecting the soldiers' heads from shrapnel," said
Munnikhuysen, who is a member of the Company of Military Historians. "But it's the Adrian that was copied by so
many other countries." After 100 years, the distinctive French helmet is still a widely recognized icon of the first
world war.

Left to right a WWI-era British MK1 steel combat helmet, French M15 Adrian helmet, German 1916 Stahlhelm with
1918 camouflage pattern applied in the field, and a U.S. Liberty Bell helmet

So is the German Stahlhelm or steel helmet that was modeled after medieval examples yet soon recognized
by both sides as one of the most effective helmets ever developed, Munnikhuysen says. Among its early features
was a heavy armor plate known as the Stirnpanzer that could be attached to mounting lugs and pulled down to
provide extra protection for the face whenever the wearer was exposed to enemy fire. Though it recalls something
from the Middle Ages today, the visor represented the most modern development in military headgear design when
the coal scuttle-shaped helmet was introduced in 1916. "It literally could stop a bullet it's that heavy,"
Munnikhuysen says, "especially compared to the helmet, which was primarily designed to stop flying shrapnel
fragments. "But all that weight made it a bad solution for soldiers on the battlefield."
So formidable did the German helmet's reputation become by 1917 that when American designers and armor
historians began trying to come up with a national pattern of their own they did everything they could to imitate
but not resemble the enemy icon. The difficulty of their task can be seen in a series of experimental forms that the
Army Ordnance Department working under the direction of Metropolitan Museum of Art armor curator Maj.
Bashford Dean produced in 1917 and 1918, then tested on troops in the field with repeated failure. "There are
few places where you'll see so many examples of the experimental helmets made by the United States," War
Museum Curator Dick Hoffeditz says, describing the rarity of the array. "But when the soldiers tried them out, they
voted against them because of the resemblance to the Stahlhelm. They didn't want to look like Germans."
Almost every one of the American experiments ended up echoing that distinctive shape in some unavoidable
way, with the most despised looking the most like the German model. And those that didn't like the so-called
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"Liberty Bell" pattern designated as a replacement helmet late in the war sparked other complaints that were just
as damning. "They hated it and they compared its dome-like shape to that of a Chinese fisherman's hat,"
Munnikhuysen said. "But it's a good design and you can see how it could have evolved into the M1 steel pot used
in World War II if it hadn't been dropped."
Despite their record of strong reservations, the American troops quickly embraced the so-called "dishpan" design
copied from the British Mark I helmet and the new U.S. M1917 soon became an indispensable part of the
familiar battlefield silhouette by which friends and foes alike identified the country's World War I "Doughboys."
Many soldiers developed such deep affection for these helmets that they were reluctant to give them up at the end of
the war, causing War Department officials charged with recovering the government's property some unexpected
consternation. "There was so much resistance that they finally relented and decided the soldiers could take them
back with them," Munnikhuysen said. That's how attached they became to their helmets." [Source: Daily Press /
Associated Press | Mark St. John Erickson | January 1, 2016 ++]
********************************

Iwo Jima Flag Raising

Raisers Identity Questioned

After reports surfaced that the Marine Corps was investigating the iconic photo taken of six individuals raising the
American flag over Iwo Jima in 1945, James Bradley, the son of one the supposed flag-raisers and the author of a
best-selling book about the event, said that he believes that his father was not in the picture. The picture was taken
on Feb. 23, 1945, by Associated Press photographer Joseph Rosenthal less than a week into the brutal 36-day battle
for the small volcanic island. The photo captured the second flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi that day: The first
flag was raised and quickly taken down, to be replaced by the larger second one taken off a nearby landing ship. The
Marines, at the time, identified the five Marines and one Corpsman depicted in the photo as John Bradley, Rene
Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Harlon Block, Michael Strank and Franklin Sousley.

Block, Strank and Sousley were killed trying to take the island from the Japanese; the other three have died in the
years since. Bradley published the book about the events surrounding the photo in 2000. Titled Flags of Our
Fathers, it was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. But it was only after his father, John Bradley,
died in 1994 and after the Marine Corps received a set of previously unreleased photos in 2010 that he realized that
his father had been talking about being a part of the first flag-raising but not the second. We had no photographic
evidence that he was in the first flag-raising and then it comes out 70 years later [after] the Marine [Corps] sits on
these photos and it turns [out] he was in the first [flag-raising], Bradley said in an interview 3 MAY with The
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Washington Post. And then I realize he was talking about the first flag-raising, Bradley said. I was never so
excited that my father raised the flag on Iwo Jima, and Im not so disappointed that hes not in the second photo,
Bradley said. I was trying to write a factual book about the heroes of Iwo Jima.
Bradley added that he then edited the book to reflect that his father was in both the first and second flag-raising,
something that two amateur historians took issue with. Their findings, namely discrepancies with what was believed
to be Bradleys uniform, were first published in 2014 in the Omaha World-Herald. The paper was the first to report
the Marine Corps had opened a formal inquiry into the photo over the weekend. The Marine Corps is reviewing
information provided by the Smithsonian Channel related to Joe Rosenthals Associated Press photograph of the
second flag raising on Iwo Jima, Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Chris Devine said in an emailed statement 3 MAY.
As such, with the information and research provided by the Smithsonian Channel, who used advanced digital
technology to examine battle footage, the Marine Corps decided to review their photo-enhancements, film analysis,
and findings.
Devine did not give a timeline for the investigation. Rosenthals photo captured a single moment in the 36-day
battle during which more than 6,500 U.S. servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation, and it is
representative of the more than 70,000 U.S. Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Coast Guardsmen that took part in the
battle. We are humbled by the service and sacrifice of all who fought on Iwo Jima, Devine added. According to
Joss Gross of the Smithsonian Channel, the Smithsonian has been working on a documentary regarding Rosenthals
photo, noting that forensic evidence appears to reveal a case of mistaken identity in the picture. In January,
following months of thorough, scientific analysis, the production team provided their findings to United States
Marine Corps historians and have since been working closely with the service as experts review the information,
Gross said in a statement, adding that the evidence remains confidential.
Rosenthals photo quickly became one of the enduring images of World War II and a symbol that a war-weary
country could rally around as support lagged on the home front. Rosenthal was thought to have initially staged the
photo after he thought someone was asking him about a different picture that involved a group of Marines posing
with an American flag atop Suribachi. Bradleys father, a corpsman during the battle, was the recipient of the Navy
Cross for his heroism there. The medal was something he kept secret from his family, and they did not find out about
the award until after he died. According to Bradley, the story of his fathers misidentification spans more than just
the one photo, and the identities of other flag-raisers might also be incorrect.
Its like theres a four-car accident and youre only focusing on one car, Bradley said of the intense interest in
his fathers presence in the photo and the new evidence that has come forward. Why are we talking about the
second flag-raising now? Because of the photos released of the first flag-raising. Bradley emphasized that his book
features the stories of many more people than just his father, something he hopes people understand. The title of
my book is Flags of Our Fathers not Flag of My Dad, Bradley said. [Source: Washington Post | Thomas
Gibbons-Neff | May 3, 2016 ++]
********************************

WWII Battles Q&A (1)

Can you Answer the following

1. Which of the following is generally accepted as the most deadly battle of WWII?
Capture of Kassala | Battle of Badung Strait | Battle of Stalingrad | Operation Battleaxe
2. Which of the following naval battles is considered one of the most decisive battles of WWII as well as a turning
point in the Pacific theater?
Battle of Gabon | Battle of Normandy | Battle of Midway | Battle of Kolberg
3. How did General George Patton die on December 21, 1945?
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He died as a result of a car accident in Germany.


He was killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
His B-24 was shot down over Japan.

4. When did the Battle of Leyte Gulf begin?


October 23, 1944 | May 17, 1945 | June 12, 1952 | October 22, 1939
5. When was WWII's D-Day?
June 6, 1944 | July 6, 1943 | January 6, 1942 | December 6, 1944
6. Which battle marked the end of the so-called "Phoney War" (the uncertain period of WWII in which saw neither
side committed to serious military action) and witnessed the German forces invade France and the Low Countries?
Battle of the Kasserine Pass | Battle of the Denmark Strait? | Battle of France | Battle of Kula Gulf
7. Which battle is General Tadamichi Kuribayashi best known for being overall commander of the Japanese
garrison?
Battle of the River Plate | Battle of Britain | Battle of Gazala | Battle of Iwo Jima
8. Which was the longest battle of WWII?
Battle of Kursk | Riga Offensive | Battle of Dutch Harbor | Battle of the Atlantic
9. Which general spent much of his military career in India before being appointed to Commander-in-Chief of the
Middle East theater, but when the war in North Africa turned against the British, he was relieved of the post and
once more appointed Commander-in-Chief India?
Claude Auchinleck | Alphonse Juin | Georgy Zhukov | Brudenell White
10. Who commanded the British Eighth Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy, as well as all Allied
ground forces during Operation Overlord, the initial stages of the Normandy Invasion?
Bernard Montgomery | Harold Alexander | Wilhelm Keitel | George Marshall
11. Which weapon was particularly notable in the Battle of Kursk in WWII?
Atomic bomb | Tanks | Machine guns
12. Which WWII battle was the deadliest for U.S. troops?
Battle of the Bulge | Battle of Wilno | Battle for Narva Bridgehead | Battle of Java
[Source: http://www.zoo.com/quiz/world-war-ii-battles | May 2016 ++]
********************************

Victory Day

One of Russia Biggest Holidays | 9 May

To most Americans, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany slips by unnoticed. To Pavel Elfimov, it's among
the biggest holidays of the year. Ask any Russian about their family's World War II experiences and the answer,
almost invariably, is one of suffering and battlefield service. Unlike the United States, which had two oceans that
largely insulated it from attack after Pearl Harbor, Russia was besieged, bombed, invaded and re-invaded during
World War II. Then the Red Army swept toward Berlin and played a key role in toppling Adolf Hitler. "You have
Thanksgiving. We have Victory Day," said Elfimov, 44, who came with his family this May week to a nighttime
rehearsal for Moscow's annual Victory Day Parade. The procession is a bristling display of military might that
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sweeps down some of the capital's most exclusive streets before rolling through Red Square in front of the Kremlin
elite.

Crowds in Moscow watch a rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade, a display of military might that
rolls through Red Square.

Russian President Vladimir Putin revived the Soviet-style tank parade in 2008, seeing the day as a way to rally
citizens around the flag. But despite the hundreds of missile launchers, warplanes and anti-aircraft guns that roll
through Red Square every year, many Russians say that the true meaning of the holiday is more personal, 71 years
after the end of the war. "In Russia there are very few families who weren't touched by it," said Elfimov, who added
that both of his grandfathers fought in the war and that one of them died shortly afterward, his resilience destroyed
by combat. Of more than two dozen people approached at the rehearsal, all had a parent, grandparent or greatgrandparent who fought in the war. Most said at least one direct ancestor died in the fighting. Soviet losses were
immense - most historians estimate the Soviet death toll between 27 million and 28 million people - and the oldest
generation of Russians still has aching memories of wartime starvation.
"It was impossible," said Irina Kravchenko, 60, who said that 300 of the 500 people living in her small town in
the Ural Mountains at the time of the war headed off to combat. Her grandfather never came home from the fighting,
she said, a memory she wanted to make sure she passed down to her grandchild, who along with her daughter-in-law
was watching soldiers on anti-aircraft missile systems prepare for the parade. "The memory of service was so tough.
There was an inner strength," Kravchenko said about the townspeople who returned from war. "They didn't like to
talk about their experiences."
World War II tends to be remembered in the United States as a victory by Americans, with the Red Army acting
more or less as an adjunct. Russian memories are focused on their own sacrifices. As the veterans have died, their
children and grandchildren have started to march on Victory Day, holding their photos, separately from the martial
parades. That started as a nonpolitical movement in 2012, and has since been embraced by the Kremlin. Critics of
Putin's Victory Day celebrations say that he has turned the anniversary into a politicized event that serves the state
more than the memories of the people who suffered in the war. Veterans once gathered to drink on the holiday and
remember fallen comrades. Now the main focus is on the military parades, which this year will feature advanced
warplanes streaking over the Kremlin as intercontinental ballistic missiles plod through Red Square. Fascism, too,
has taken on new meanings, with the term routinely lobbed by the Kremlin at Ukraine's new leaders.
Commemorating the World War II victory burnishes Putin's efforts to garner domestic support for tough policies
toward his neighbor.
And few history textbooks take a critical view of Stalin's performance during the conflict, known here as the
Great Patriotic War. Largely forgotten is the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi
Germany that allied Joseph Stalin signed with Hitler before Germany launched a surprise attack in 1941. The

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suffering Stalin inflicted on his own people, along with the pain the Red Army inflicted on Eastern Europe as it
fought its way toward Berlin, goes unmentioned.
But some people who turned to Moscow's streets to honor their ancestors sought to distance the martial parade
from any modern military meaning. "It's two separate stories," said Nadezhda Sklyar, 27, whose 4-year-old son,
Sebastian, was asking soldiers questions about their military equipment as he waited for them to start their rehearsal.
"My grandfather served. He was gravely wounded in Leningrad. My other grandfather was a Belarusan partisan,"
she said. "I grew up with this," she said. "I hope my son has these memories, too." "To him, it's interesting, these
tanks," Sklyar said of her son. "Thank God they're not used now. I'm worried about war," she said. However, any
conflict between Russia and the West would be nuclear, so the hardware in the parade would be of little relevance,
she said.
Many soldiers who are on active duty look back at their families' war histories as inspiration. "Everyone in my
family has served," said Ivan Medvedev, 23, an enlisted soldier in an airborne battalion who was drinking a cup of
coffee with his fiance while waiting for the parade rehearsal to start. Medvedev's great-grandfather served in the
Soviet navy, he said. His great-grandmother was a nurse. His father fought in Afghanistan, and his brother was in
Chechnya. Medvedev said that he was posted in Moscow for now - and with his wedding coming up, he didn't seem
eager to leave. Medvedev said he was happy to be able to mark the anniversary on behalf of the members of his
family who had fought in war, but he was mindful that World War II was sometimes about sacrifice more than glory.
"My great-grandfather served in the fleet," Medvedev said. "It was really hard for him to talk about it." [Source:
The Washington Post | Michael Birnbaum | May 7, 2016 ++]
********************************

Military History Anniversaries

16 thru 31 May

Significant events in U.S. Military History over the next 15 days are listed in the attachment to this Bulletin titled,
Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 May. [Source: This Day in History http://www.history.com/thisday-in-history | May 2016 ++]
********************************

WWII Battles Q&A (1)

Did You answer Correctly

1. Answer: The Battle of Stalingrad, which saw Hitlers major push for dominance on the Eastern Front, was
marked by terrible losses on both sides. The Russians alone had over a million men wounded or killed.
2. Answer: While the Japanese hoped another surprise attack would demoralize the Americans into capitulating in
the Pacific, in fact, the Battle of Midway effectively destroyed Japans naval strength when the Americans destroyed
four of its aircraft carriers and Japans navy never recovered from its mauling at Midway. It was thanks to American
codebreakers who were able to determine the date and location of the planned attack which enabled the U.S. Navy to
prepare its own ambush.
3. Answer: After the war, Patton became the military governor of Bavaria, but he was relieved of this post because
of his statements on denazification. He commanded the U.S. Fifteenth Army for slightly more than two months.
Patton died in Germany on December 21, 1945, as a result of injuries from an automobile accident there twelve days
earlier. While Allied leaders held differing opinions on Patton, a popular, award-winning film titled "Patton" was
released in 1970 and helped transform him into an American folk hero.
4. Answer: The October 23, 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf, formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea,
is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval
battle in history
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5. Answer: The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on Tuesday,
June 6, 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during WWII. It was the largest seaborne
invasion in history, the operation began the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control,
and contributed to the Allied victory on the Western Front.
6. Answer: Despite similar numbers in their respective forces, the Germans devastated the inexperienced French
(and other Allied) troops in the Battle of France and took the entire country soon after.
7. Answer: Although the United States Marine Corps had expected to capture Iwo Jima in five days, Kuribayashi
and his men waged guerrilla warfare against them for 36 days. While it is believed that he was killed in action in the
final assault which some believe he personally led, Kuribayashi's body was never identified by the United States
military.
8. Answer: The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from
1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day
after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade. It was at its height from mid-1940 through
to the end of 1943.
9. Answer: Auchinleck was relieved of the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East theater in 1942 during
the crucial Alamein campaign. He served as Commander-in-Chief India until Partition in 1947, when he assumed
the role of Supreme Commander of all British forces in India and Pakistan until late 1948. He retired to the United
Kingdom but at the age of 84 immigrated to Morocco, where he died at the age of 96.
10. Answer: In August of 1942, Winston Churchill appointed Bernard Montgomery to be commander of the British
Eighth Army in North Africa where Monty forced Erwin Rommel to retreat after the Battle of El-Alamein. He also
reviewed the plan for the Normandy Invasion and commanded all ground forces in the initial stages of the invasion.
11. Answer: The Battle of Kursk was a giant clash of tanks between Germans and Russians. With a full eight
thousand tanks, it broke all records for the largest tank battle in the history of mankind. If the Germans had broken
through the Russian lines in the Kursk salient and scored a decisive victory over the Red Army, it is perfectly
possible that they might have turned back the tide of war in their direction, despite their defeats at Moscow and
Stalingrad in 1941 and 1942, respectively.
12. Answer: The Germans' initial attack included 406,000 men, 1,214 tanks, tank destroyers, and assault guns, and
4,224 artillery pieces. These were reinforced a couple weeks later, bringing the offensive's total strength to around
450,000 troops. Between 67,200 and 125,000 of their men were killed, missing or wounded. Americans sent
610,000 troops, of which 89,000 were casualties, making it the largest and bloodiest battle fought by the United
States in WWII.
[Source: http://www.zoo.com/quiz/world-war-ii-battles | May 2016 ++]

* Health Care *

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Stroke Update 08

Be Prepared

You can have high blood pressure, or hypertension, and still feel just fine. High blood pressure is common in older
people and, if not controlled, can lead to serious health problems, like stroke. A stroke is a blood clot or broken
blood vessel in your brain. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If you are diagnosed with high blood
pressure, talk to your doctor about managing your blood pressure to lower your risk of stroke. Be prepared! Learn
the signs of stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or legespecially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden problems seeing in one eye or both eyes
Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking
Sudden severe headache with no known cause

DONT IGNORE THE SIGNS OF STROKE! Call 911 right away if you see or feel any symptoms. For more info
about strokes refer to http://nihseniorhealth.gov/stroke/aboutstroke/01.html. [Source: National Institute on Aging
Mailing List | May 2, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Medical Error

3rd Leading Cause of Death in the United States

Medical errors, including wrong diagnoses, botched surgeries and medication mistakes, are the third leading cause
of death in the United States, a new study suggests. Scientists from Johns Hopkins found that more than 250,000
Americans die due to medical mishaps every year, greater than the toll from any major medical condition except
heart disease or cancer. The findings, published in The BMJ, come from an analysis of death rate records spanning
eight years.
Study author Dr. Martin Makary, surgical director of the Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Pancreas Clinic and a
professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said rates for deaths related to "medical care gone awry" aren't
tracked in a standardized way. Because of that, deaths due to medical errors aren't tallied in the same way as heart
disease, cancer and other conditions are when it comes to national statistics on causes of death. Makary told CBS
News that national mortality statistics are calculated using billing codes, which don't have a built-in way to
recognize incidence rates of mortality due to medical errors. For the study, Makary and his colleagues evaluated four
separate studies that analyzed medical death rate data from 2000 to 2008, including one by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Based on 2013 data on hospitalization rates, they found that of 35,416,020 hospitalizations, 251,454 deaths stemmed
from a medical error. They said that adds up to 9.5 percent of all deaths a year in the U.S.
According to CDC data, heart disease is the current leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 611,000
people per year. Cancer comes in second with more than 584,000 deaths. The new research would place medical
errors at a solid third place -- ahead of respiratory disease, which is responsible for almost 150,000 annual deaths.
But there's a Catch-22 when it comes to committing resources to reduce the problem of medical errors. "One of the
big issues that we in the patient safety research field face, that we run up against, is a problem where there's very
little funding for research in making care safer and better. Part of the problem is that our national funding is
informed from our national health statistics. But those statistics don't recognize medical care gone awry as a cause of
death," said Makary. As the stats reflect, cancer and heart disease get more funding and attention. Medical errors can
take a number of different forms, including
Page 93 of 125

Diagnostic errors -- missing the correct diagnosis due to substandard evaluation of a patient.
Drug mishaps.
Unnecessary surgery, not calling in a specialist when one is needed.
Missing life-threatening conditions such as septic shock.

Most such instances reflect system-wide problems, such as poorly coordinated care and inconsistencies in
insurance coverage, among other issues, and cannot simply be blamed on "bad" doctors. "Human error is inevitable.
But while we cannot eliminate human error, we can better measure the problem to design safer systems mitigating
its frequency, visibility, and consequences," Makary wrote in the study. The first step to reducing the problem, he
suggests, is to deal with it more openly when things go wrong: "Make errors more visible when they occur, so their
effects can be intercepted." "We've spent a tremendous effort tracking cancer, by state, by subtype, and we report all
that to our national cancer registry. But we don't do any of that for people who die of medical error gone wrong,"
said Makary. [Source: CBS News | Mary Brophy Marcus | May 4, 2016 ++]
*********************************

TRICARE Overseas Program Update 20

Online Claim Filing

When you use TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Standard outside a military hospital or clinic, you may have to
pay up front and file your own claims. The fastest way to get money back is to file your claim online and sign up for
direct deposit. To file claims online, go to www.tricare-overseas.com and click on the Beneficiaries tab.
Register for a secure login if you dont already have one.
Once registered, find the secure Message Center on the navigation bar and click Create New Message.
Follow the steps and send your claim. You will get a confirmation message with your claim number in your
Message Center inbox.
Once logged in, you can also sign up for direct deposit payments of your claims. To set up direct deposit, either
go to the General Information drop-down menu on your landing page or to the Family Profile button on the blue
navigation bar and choose Direct Deposit. You will see a list of family members you can sign up for direct
deposit. Click on the green Enroll in direct deposit button to the right of the name of the person you want to sign
up. If you want to sign up multiple family members, you will need to do each one separately
Note: You wont be able to see the Enroll button if you have incorrect information in your record. This can happen if you have
records with a wrong name, date of birth or sponsor ID number. You must fix these issues before you can sign up

To sign up, you must provide:


The account holders name exactly as it appears on the bank account
The account holders Social Security number
The bank account routing number
An expiration date if you choose to predetermine that date (not required).
The effective date is four days after you enroll in direct deposit, unless you specify a later date
To sign up for direct deposit, you must agree to get paperless explanation of benefits statements. This lets you see
how much you were charged for your health care visit. It also shows the date of your visit, the payment amount and
the date you got money back. Submit your request by selecting Save Changes. You will get a message that
confirms your direct deposit request went through. You will then get an email anytime you get a payment by direct
deposit. For help with signing up for direct deposit or online claims filing, call your TOP Regional Call Center and
choose option 2. You can also download a direct deposit registration guide at www.tricare-overseas.com. [Source:
TRICARE Standard Health Matters | ISSUE 1: 2016 ++]
*********************************
Page 94 of 125

TRICARE Overseas Program Update 21

Proof of Payment

You must submit proof of payment for all overseas health care and pharmacy claims, including claims for care
received when traveling overseas. Proof of payment is needed for TRICARE to protect the money you spend on
health care. You can use a canceled check or credit card receipt to show proof of payment. If you paid in cash,
TRICARE may ask for proof of withdrawal from your bank or credit union and a receipt from your health care
provider.
When submitting your TRICARE DoD/CHAMPUS Medical ClaimPatients Request for Medical Payment
form (DD Form 2642):
Write if you paid the provider directly at the top of the form.
Include an itemized bill or invoice.
Include a written diagnosis describing why you got the medical care.
If you have other health insurance (OHI), include the explanation of benefits statement from your OHI.
If you have questions about proof-of-payment requirements, call your TRICARE Overseas Program
Regional Call Center and choose option 2 or go to www.tricare.mil/proofofpayment.
[Source: TRICARE Standard Health Matters | ISSUE 1: 2016 ++]
*********************************

Asthma Update 03

Plan for Proper Care | Action Plan

May is peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers. This month, educate yourself and your loved ones about proper
care and treatment for these diseases. More than 50 million Americans suffer from different kinds of allergies
pollen, skin, latex and more. And unfortunately, the rate of allergies is climbing. The most common allergy
symptoms can simply make you uncomfortable, like a runny nose, sneezing or an itchy rash. However, more serious
reactions, like swelling in your mouth or throat, can be life-threatening. The same substances that trigger your
allergy symptoms, such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander, may also trigger or worsen asthma signs and
symptoms. In some people, skin or food allergies can cause asthma symptoms.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that asthma affects 24 million Americans and 6.3 million
of those are children under the age of 18. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes your airways to become inflamed,
making it hard to breathe. The best way to manage asthma is to avoid triggers, take medications to prevent
symptoms and prepare to treat asthma episodes if they occur. You should also create an Asthma Action Plan. Refer
to http://www.aafa.org/page/asthma-treatment-action-plan.aspx. This plan gives information and instructions on how
you manage your asthma and what to do if you have an asthma episode. This is especially important for school-aged
children.
Both asthma and allergies are manageable conditions, so it is very important that we all learn about how to best
manage and treat it. TRICARE covers services and supplies required to diagnose and treat asthma as well as proven
services and supplies needed to diagnose and treat allergies. For more information, visit the Covered Services page
on the TRICARE website at http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices.aspx. [Source: RICARE Communication |
May 3, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Longevity Illustrator

How Long do You Have Left


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What are the chances youll live another 50 years? How about 25? Just 10? You dont want to gamble with your life,
but you do want to understand the risk of outliving your retirement income. Thats why the American Academy of
Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries jointly released the Actuaries Longevity Illustrator. Plug in a few details at
http://www.longevityillustrator.org about your birthdate, gender and health (including whether you smoke), and the
online tool uses a variety of charts to show on average the likelihood of living for various lengths of time. You can
calculate for one or for you and a spouse together. The actuaries say the illustrator addresses two crucial concerns:
How long can we expect to live as a couple?
How long can we expect a survivor to live after one of us has died?
When planning retirement, which starts now for our 66-year-old but is a seemingly long way off for our
millennial, you should consider the probability that you may live much longer than your average life expectancy, the
actuaries say. The illustrator does not address your money investments, earning potential or anticipated expenses.
You may want to consult with a financial adviser about that. But it does give you a clear outlook on how long you
should try to make your money last.
The illustrator was released as the Census Bureau revealed new expectations about the nations aging population,
based on the 2013 Census. There are nearly 45 million people age 65 and older, about 14 percent of the population.
Nearly 1 in 10 people 65 and older are in poverty. By the year 2060, the number of elderly is projected to be 98.2
million. The only information you need to plug in is illustrated below. To see the actual charts that will be provided
you need to go to the website. I used myself and my wife and was surprised to see the results.
James

Nancita

Date of Birth

10/16/1939

11/2/1954

Nearest Age

77

62

Illustration Age

85

70

Gender

Male

Female

Do You Smoke?

No

No

General Health

Average

Average

Charts that will be Displayed

Probability of Living to a Certain Age - This graph introduces the concept of longevity as a range. It
illustrates the likelihood that you will live at least to certain ages. If you chose to enter an illustration age later
than your nearest age, the calculations assume 100% likelihood that you will live from your nearest age to the
age you entered. For instance, the chart shows that the likelihood is 100% that you will live from the later of
your nearest age or the illustration age entered to 85, while Nancita has a 68% chance of living to 85.
Planning Horizon - This chart shows a planning horizon based on the information you entered that is, the number
of years you can expect to live from your illustration age with a given probability. This is similar to the information
presented in the first chart, but it is arranged in order of chance of survival, not ages. This perspective allows you to
consider your retirement spending based on your personal level of comfort or risk tolerance. In addition to showing
your longevity as individuals (the blue and grey bars), the chart provides key information for you as a couple: It
shows the probability that both of you will survive (the green bar), as well as the probability that at least one of you
will survive (the light red bar). This lets you focus on your longevity as a couple rather than as individuals.

Page 96 of 125

Probability of Living for a Specified Number of Years - This chart takes the same information as the previous
chart but shows it in a different way. Instead of showing the years you might expect to live with a specific level of
certainty, this chart shows the probability that both of you will live a specific number of years in the future from the
illustration age you entered. For instance, looking at the 25-year line, there is a 0% chance that you will survive 25
years, but a 27% chance that Nancita will survive that same amount of time. In addition, there is a 27% chance that
either of you will survive 25 years and only a 0% chance that you both will survive 25 years.
An important point is that it is very likely one of you is going to outlive the other, and you must take this fact into
account when making your retirement plans. You should also consider the chance that either of you may live much
longer than your average life expectancy.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | May 7, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Medicare Advantage Plans Update 08

Improper Payments | 2014 $14.1B

Unqualified claimants received as much as $14.1 billion in improper payments under the Medicare Advantage
alternative insurance for seniors during 2014, in part because Health and Human Services Department specialists
have not effectively selected providers for auditing, the Government Accountability Office found. In the latest
watchdog probe into how agencies are tackling the improper payments challenge that costs the government $125
billion a year, GAO in a report released 9 MAY said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2014
estimated that it had improperly paid about 9.5 percent of the $160 billion it sent to medical providers, primarily for
unsupported diagnoses. The managed care program, which contracts services to commercial companies
supervised by CMS, has about 16 million participants.
CMS risk adjustment data validation audits of the contracts does not result in the selection of contracts for audit
that have the greatest potential for recovery of improper payments, GAO said. CMS' estimate of improper
payment risk for each contract, which is based on the diagnoses reported for the beneficiaries in that contract, is not
strongly correlated with unsupported diagnoses. In addition, the agencys failure to tap outside information to select
the original contracts for auditing impedes recovery of improper payments because the current methods do not
align with federal internal control standards, which require that agencies use quality information to achieve their
program goals, said the report, addressed to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX).
Many of the agencys risk adjustment data validation audits have taken multiple years, in part due to a lack of
deadlines and in part because of incompatible systems for receiving medical records from the contractors, GAO
said. CMS methodology did not sufficiently account for health organization contracts that were consolidated or
focus on those with the highest Medicare Advantage enrollment. GAO made five major recommendations for
improving efficiency and effectiveness in recovering improper payments, most of them technical and dealing with
data qualitysuch as spotting when the same organization has submitted more than one contract. CMS was also
tasked with focusing its recovery efforts more selectively on the contracts most likely to include unwarranted
payments. CMS agreed. [Source: GovExec.com | Charles S. Clark| May 10, 2016 ++]
********************************

Blood Pressure Update 01

What You Should Know

Each May, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) encourages everyone to actively learn about
preventing and controlling high blood pressure. When you have high blood pressure, the force of blood pushing
against the walls of your arteries is too high. When youre active, it is normal for your blood pressure to increase.
Page 97 of 125

Once the activity stops, your blood pressure should return to your normal range. When it doesnt, you may have high
blood pressure. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is based on blood pressure readings. If you
dont get regular medical care or check your blood pressure regularly, high blood pressure can go undetected for
years. It is often not discovered until some organs start to show the effects of long standing high blood pressure.
According to NHLBI, some common high blood pressure complications are:
Kidney disease
Eye damage
Heart attack
Heart failure
Stroke
A blood pressure check is quick and easy. It can be done in your health care providers office or clinic. TRICARE
covers blood pressure screening as part of its clinical preventive benefit. Children are screened every year between
the ages of three and six, and every two years after. Adults may get a blood pressure screening every two years, but
usually your health care provider checks it each time you visit. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your
health care provider will work with you to come up with a way to treat your condition. You may have to make
lifestyle changes, like weight loss and exercise. You may benefit from prescription medications. Whatever you do,
be sure to follow your providers plan for your care. This may be the best way to lower your blood pressure and
maintain normal blood pressure readings. For more information about your benefit, please visit the TRICARE
website http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/BloodPressureScreening.aspx. [Source: TRICARE
Communications | May 12, 2016 ++]

* Finances *

Military 2017 Pay Raise Update 01

Senate Includes 1.6% in NDAA

Military personnel would receive a 1.6 percent pay raise next year under a Senate bill that lawmakers advanced on
10 MAY -- 0.5 percent less than what they would get under the House version of the legislation. The pay provision
is included in the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization bill, which the full Senate Armed Services Committee
will begin marking up on Wednesday and expects to complete on Friday. The panels Personnel Subcommittee
reported out the legislation on Tuesday morning.
The Senate panels 1.6 percent figure is the same amount that President Obama has recommended for the military
and federal civilian employees in his fiscal 2017 budget. But, like last year, House lawmakers have decided to fully
fund the 2017 raise for service members, which according to the formula, would be 2.1 percent in 2017. The formula
for determining service members annual pay increase is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost
Index and the growth in private-sector wages. The House Armed Services Committee reported out that chambers
fiscal 2017 NDAA on April 28. A 1.6 percent pay raise could save the Defense Department more than $300 million
in fiscal 2017, Pentagon officials have said.
Page 98 of 125

The different figures likely means that the two chambers will have to agree on a final number during conference
committee. The House approved a 2.3 percent pay raise for troops in the 2016 NDAA, but the Senates version,
which included the administrations recommended 1.3 percent bump, ultimately prevailed. The bill reported out by
the Senate subcommittee on Tuesday also included a reauthorization of bonuses and special pay aimed at recruiting
and retaining troops, as well as several provisions affecting the militarys massive health care system. The bill
authorizes a pilot program that would provide commercial health care coverage to National Guard and Reserve
members and their dependents who live in remote areas, as an alternative to TRICARE coverage. The legislation
also would guarantee paid leave for up to six weeks for the primary caregiver of a newborn or adopted child, and
three weeks for the secondary caregiver. The Defense secretary actually has broad discretion over determining paid
maternity leave, and this winter Ash Carter increased DoDs maternity leave from six to 12 weeks. But Congress has
to approve any changes to paternity leave, and this legislation would do that by increasing paid leave for the
secondary caregiver from the current allotment of 10 days.
The subcommittee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised the personnel provisions in the legislation, noting
that the bill included the most comprehensive look at military health care that Ive ever been involved in. Several
provisions affecting the reporting and processing of military sexual assaults are included in the Senate panels 2017
NDAA as well. One measure would require Defense to include the number and description of sexual assaults in
domestic abuse situations. We will now have a better picture of the scope of sexual assault against military
members and dependents, which is something that has been sorely lacking for years, said the subcommittees
Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a vocal advocate for changing how military sexual assault cases are
handled and reported by the department. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | May 10, 2016 ++}

1.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said the Senate personnel provisions in the NDAA reflect a
comprehensive look at military health care.

********************************

Senior Discount Update 05

Travel & Car Rental

Keep this list and send a copy to your senior friends and relatives. Note: YOU must ASK for your discount!
TRAVEL
Alaska Airlines:
50% off (65+)
American Airlines:
Various discounts for 50% off non-peak periods (Tuesdays - Thursdays) (62+)
and up (call before booking for discount)
Bus: Greyhound:
15% off (62+) Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+
Page 99 of 125

Continental Airlines:
destinations
Rail: Amtrak:
Southwest Airlines:
United Airlines:
U.S. Airways:

No initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select
15% off (62+)
Various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

CAR RENTAL
Alamo Car Rental:
Up to 25% off for AARP members
Avis:
Up to 25% off for AARP members
Budget Rental Cars:
40% off; up to 50% off for AARP membe rs (50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car:
10% off (50+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Hertz:
Up to 25% off for AARP members
National Rent-A-Car:
Up to 30% off for AARP members
********************************

Involuntary Separation Pay

New Guidance | AR 637-2

As more soldiers are told the leave, the Army has tried to simplify its guidance for receiving involuntary separation
pay. Laws, directives and policies governing special pays for soldiers who are getting the boot have bee consolidated
in an entirely new regulation, AR 637-2. The regulation, Separation Pay (Nondisability) and Levels of Payment, was
published 21 APR, and will take effect 21 MAY. It applies to Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army
Reserve officers and enlisted soldiers who are on active duty or active service. Until now there has not been a
regulation focused specifically on the federal law (Title 10 USC, 1174) and Defense Department policies (DODI
133.2.29) governing involuntary separation pay.
An Army publication (DA Circular 635-92-1) that addressed these matters expired in 1997, well before the
convening of the force reduction and retention screening boards associated with the ongoing drawdown. As
stipulated by Congress, the nondisability separation pay program provides a one-time, lump-sum payment to regular
and reserve soldiers who are being involuntarily discharged or released from active duty or active service short of
reaching retirement eligibility.
As a drawdown tool, involuntary separation pays complement the Temporary Early Retirement Authority, which
is popularly known as the 15-year early retirement plan. TERA is not an entitlement, but rather an option that to date
has been limited to soldiers who are being involuntarily separated from active duty because of the drawdown, or in
the case of some officers, because of promotion non-selection. Unlike the early retirement options of the post-Cold
War drawdown of the 1990s, soldiers cannot volunteer for TERA if they have not been selected for involuntary
separation. TERA allows soldiers with at least 15, but fewer than 20 years of active service to receive the same
benefits as those who retire with 20 or more years of service, except their retirement pay is reduced accordingly.
Soldiers who fail to qualify for TERA, but who have at least six, but fewer than 20, years of service generally are
entitled to involuntary separation pay, provided they are not being forced out for cause, such as a courts martial
conviction. As detailed in the new regulation, there are two types of involuntary separation pay as follows:

Half Separation Pay for soldiers who are not qualified for retention, and who have been denied reenlistment or continuation, and whose separation is characterized as honorable or general. Separations
associated with the half-pay formula include expiration of service obligation, selected changes in service
obligation, convenience of the government, drug abuse rehabilitation failure, alcohol abuse rehabilitation
Page 100 of 125

failure, security issues and service-specific programs designated for half-pay, such as the Qualitative
Management Program. Payments are calculated by multiplying 5 percent of a soldiers basic pay at the time
of separation by years and partial years of active service.

Full Separation Pay for soldiers who are qualified for retention, but who are being denied re-enlistment
or continuation under honorable conditions because of a reduction in force, promotion non-selection or
because of high-year of tenure policies, such as those associated with Retention Control Points. Payments
are calculated by multiplying 10 percent of a soldiers basic pay at the time of separation by years and
partial years of service.

Federal law requires that soldiers who receive involuntary separation pay agree to serve a minimum of three
years in the Ready Reserve, which for soldiers consists of a National Guard or Army Reserve troop unit, the
Individual Mobilization Augmentee program or the Individual Ready Reserve. The three-year Ready Reserve
obligation will begin on the active-duty separation date, unless the soldier has an existing service obligation. In such
cases, the three-year obligation will not begin until the day after the existing obligation is completed in the Ready
Reserve. Before completing the reserve transition process, Active Army soldiers should make sure that a DA Form
3340 (Request for Reenlistment or Extension in the Regular Army) is used to validate their denial of continuation on
active duty. The Ready Reserve service agreement should be prepared and submitted on a DA Form 4187 (personnel
action request) as described in Chapter 1 of AR 637-2. [Source: Army Times | Jim Tice | April 30, 2016++]
*********************************

Home Warranties

Are they Worth it | Judge for Yourself

If youve bought a home recently, you may have purchased or received a home warranty. However, consumers
frequently expect more from these plans than they deliver. Home warranties arent insurance policies. Theyre
service contracts. Like a service contract that covers repairs to your computer, a home warranty is a companys
agreement to pay for fixing and, if necessary, replacing specified home components. A home insurance policy,
in comparison, covers losses if your home and its contents are damaged or lost to theft, fire or other causes. A basic
home warranty costs about $350 to $500 a year or more. A warranty typically covers kitchen appliances, plumbing,
water heater, furnace, sump pump, whirlpool tub, and ceiling and exhaust fans, Angies List says. Enhanced plans,
purchased for another $100 to $300, provide added coverage for such things as a washer and dryer, air conditioning,
refrigerator and garage door opener. Optional items can be added, including pools and septic systems.
You may be covered already
If someone gives you a home warranty, accept it at least while its free. But understand that, even with someone
else paying the premiums, youll likely pay a service fee typically $50 or $75 each time you need a repair,
according to Angies List. Before buying a home warranty, learn what coverage you may already have. For example,
if youre buying a newly built home:
The home appliances and systems typically have one-year warranties.
Most states require builders to warranty the homes structural elements for up to 10 years.
When you buy new furnishings and appliances, use a credit card that extends the products warranty. That
can add as much as an extra year of protection.
Is a home warranty right for you?
Sellers may offer a years coverage as an incentive to home shoppers. Owners of new homes frequently pay the
premiums after their free year expires. Real estate agents sometimes give home warranties to clients as a thank you
gift for purchasing a home. Some buyers of older homes find that a warranty gives them confidence. Other
homeowners decide theyre better off setting aside savings to cover home repairs and replacements. One way to
think about your needs is to compare the age of each covered item with its average life span. To do so, use this chart
Page 101 of 125

from the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, Hone
Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart. It is also available at https://www.nachi.org/life-expectancy.htm.
With expensive components near or past their life expectancy, a home warranty might be a good idea. Components
that have pre-existing problems, however, typically are excluded from protection.
Pros
Buyers who purchase a previously owned home inherit used appliances and home systems with wear and tear. A
home warranty can help cover the cost if things break down. New Jersey real estate agent Lorraine Labonne-Storch
told HSH.com that a few days after closing on a home she purchased, the boiler caught fire. It cost her $12,000 to
replace. A home warranty would have covered a portion of the cost, she said. Shed had the option to purchase a
warranty when she bought the house, but declined it.
Cons
Home warranties top the list of complaints received by Angies List. One reason, the site says, is the difference
between customers expectations and what the plans actually deliver. Homeowners also complain about the quality
of service from warranty companies. Before buying a home warranty, read the contract and understand exactly what
it does and does not cover. For example, some contracts will not provide coverage if:
You didnt maintain the appliance.
The appliance was installed incorrectly.
The appliance had too much wear and tear.
If you havent read it carefully, be prepared for surprises. Dont assume:
Your policy will replace a faulty component. The warranty company may insist on repairing it instead.
You can call your favorite service provider. Home warranties usually require you to use a contracted
servicer.
The warranty will cover the entire cost. Although she would have been happy to have it, Labonne-Storch
said the home warranty she declined would have paid only up to $1,600 to repair or replace the $12,000
boiler.
Find out whats covered, and what the warranty provides. There may be exclusions and limitations. Perhaps the
refrigerator is covered, but the ice maker is excluded. Claims may be rejected because of pre-existing problems or
insufficient maintenance. Learn who will perform the repair work. Also, find out if you can cancel the policy. Most
contracts allow a 30-day free look that allows a buyer to cancel within 30 days and get a full refund, says the
Service Contract Industry Council.
Vet the company
Research a company using these sources:
Better Business Bureau: At http://www.bbb.org type in your citys name. On the next page type the
companys name. Or type home warranty. Youll see if a company is BBB accredited. That means a
company agrees to resolve complaints with the BBB and pays an accreditation fee of anywhere from $400
to several thousand dollars. See company ratings, if any, and a summary of complaints to the BBB.
Your state attorney generals office: Find yours from the National Association of Attorneys General.
Your state insurance commissioner: Locate yours with this National Association of Insurance
Commissioners map. Although home warranties arent insurance policies, 32 states require companies
offering warranties to register or be licensed by the states department of insurance.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Marilyn Lewis | May 5, 2016 ++]

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*********************************

Appliance Rebates

How to Find and Get them

If you bought a new appliance in the last decade or so, theres a good chance you purchased a product that was
eligible for a cash rebate or a federal tax creditpotentially amounting to hundreds of dollars. What, you didnt
know was if a check might be coming your way? Join the club. Over the last two decades, the federal government
and state and local agencies have incentivized the purchase of appliances and other products that use less energy or
less water. As the legislative standards for energy efficient and reduced water targets came into effect, utilities
increased their budgets to provide rebates to consumers. But finding them can be a challenge. Many consumers
dont know about these rebates, says Elizabeth Axel, vice president and general manager of content aggregator Eco
Rebates.

The rebates come from a variety of sources, and flicker on and off like an old fluorescent light bulb. Many
retailers dont stay on top of promoting incentives in their showrooms, and if you do find out about rebates, there's
the responsibility of actually following throughobtaining the required paperwork, attaching the receipt, and
putting the forms in the mail. An easy resource at your fingertips is Eco Rebates which works with utility companies
to stay on top of all of the most current rebates. That data is then provided to retailers and manufacturers to create
automated, targeted, real-time tools for finding local incentives. Most rebates are highly localized. The major
national appliance retailers each devote a page on their websites to the Eco Rebates data:
Best Buy rebates
Ferguson rebates
Home Depot rebates
Lowes rebates
Sears rebates
Other, more localized retailers such as P.C. Richard & Son and H.H. Gregg also provide an Eco Rebates page on
their websites www.pcrichard.com/customer-service/rebates & www.hhgregg.com/articles/article_rebates.
Identifying rebates couldnt be easier: Just enter your zip code, click on the types of appliances you are interested in
buying, and a list of the available rebates for your area will pop up. The list often includes manufacturer incentives,
as well. In fact, some manufacturers are also clients of Eco Rebates. That means you can review products from a
specific brand, such as Amana, Electrolux, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, LG, Maytag, Whirlpool, or Samsung. In most
cases you will find that the rebate listed applies to purchases in the last 12 to 18 months.
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The rebates take a variety of forms, but generally target buyers of newer, more efficient appliances. For instance,
the governments Energy Star program generally rewards consumers with federal tax credits at the end of the year.
Other rebates are designed to permanently retire older, less efficient products. For example, many utilities will pay
you for the privilege of picking up your old fridge, rather than letting it find a second (wasteful) life in your garage.
Axel explains that, over time, utilities have increased their budgets for energy efficiency programs, in part
because some of them have energy efficiency targets they're legally required to meet. Providing rebates to
consumers happens to be one key piece of how they provide energy savings. Refrigerators are probably the most
commonly targeted products, says Axel, followed by washers. Were seeing more rebates with dryers, as they have
recently been introduced on the Energy Star list. And newer categories, like rebates for smart thermostats and smart
irrigation controllers are pretty valuable relative to the product price point," she adds. "Interest in the connected
home spaceboth from utilities and retailers/manufacturersare driving this.
The HVAC category is another place to look for significant rebates, along with water heaters and hybrid electric
heat pump water heaters. Currently, rebates of up to $300 are available through Energy Star for some water heaters,
through the end of 2016. Other home improvements earning federal tax credits from Energy Star in 2016 include
solar panels, biomass stoves, central air conditioning systems, insulation, roofs, windows, doors, and skylights. Even
though the rebate forms are fairly simple, the consumer still has to take time to download and fill them out. That's
one big reason why participation rates arent 100 percent. But more user-friendly programs are starting to roll out in
some regions of the country. The utilities are motivated to increase participation rates, explains Axel, adding that
more progressive utilities and retailers such as Sears have started providing rebates at point of purchase. Instant
rebates really take a lot of the hurdle away from the consumerit puts dollars back in their pockets. [Source:
Reviewed.com | Dave Swanson | May 09, 2016 ++]
*********************************

Moving

10 Ways to Save Money

Its nearly summer, which means warm weather, vacations and for millions of American families moving.
You can minimize your cost by following a few of the following suggestions:
1. A pound shaved is a penny earned. The more you move, the more youll pay. Long-distance movers charge
based on both pounds and distance. If youre moving yourself, less stuff means less packing, less tracking, less
effort, a smaller truck, better mileage and lots less hassle at both ends. So start unloading your stuff long before you
have to start loading it. Be ruthless as you evaluate everything you have. Do you really need to cart around those
college textbooks? Donate them to the library at a local community college. Do you have boxes of paper you could
easily digitize, shred and shed? Are you really going to pay $20 to pack and move a chair you paid $10 for at a yard
sale? Then theres clothing. Dont even think of taking anything you havent worn for a year or more. Donate it to a
thrift store or sell it at a consignment shop. If ever in your life you need to be emotionally detached, it is now.
The fee for moving an average 1,000-square-foot, 3-bedroom apartment (goods weighing 5,500 pounds) from
Chicago to Miami would be approximately $4,400 to $4,900. The same 1,400-mile move for a 2,800-square-foot, 4bedroom household (20,500 pounds) would likely cost $14,600 to $15,600. Same distance, different loads.
2. Pack some knowledge. Study. If you plan to hire a moving company, some early reading is critical for saving
money and avoiding ripoffs and the moving industry is rife with ripoffs. To give you an idea of the headaches
you could encounter if youre not careful, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations offers this scenario:
Rogue movers typically work like this: Without ever visiting your home or seeing the goods you want moved, they
give a low estimate over the telephone or Internet. Once your goods are on their truck, they demand more money
before they will deliver or unload them. They hold your goods hostage and force you to pay more sometimes
much more than you thought you had agreed to if you want your possessions back.
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Go to the FMCSA website and check out their Moving Fraud Protection Checklist and Red Flags for Moving
Fraud. At https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/moving-checklist & https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protectyour-move/red-flags. Read tips from the Better Business Bureau, USA.gov, and Consumer Reports at:
http://www.bbb.org/boston/industry-tips/read/tip/moving-158
https://www.usa.gov/moving#item-36922
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/05/protect-yourself-from-moving-scams/index.htm
3. Get at least three estimates. Once youve gotten a handle on what to expect, get quotes from at least three
reputable movers and evaluate their bids in detail. Check the BBB and online complaint sites. And remember, the
cheapest option is not always the best one. Moving companies will send a staffer to your home to give you a free
estimate of what your move will cost. Make sure they see every room and storage area so their estimates can be as
close to reality as possible. The actual price you pay unless you choose a binding estimate will be based on the
difference in the weight of the moving van before and after your belongings were loaded.
4. Timing isnt everything, but it is something. If at all possible, try moving midweek or mid-month, when
theres less demand. Avoid holidays, and if you can, summer. More demand means higher prices. If you must move
during the peak summer season, start planning early, before movers are fully booked. Moving companies also
appreciate if you allow flexibility in the pickup and delivery dates, so they can get a moving van with available
space to your location with the most efficiency. Also remember that moving when its very cold or beastly hot could
damage some of your belongings in the truck.
5. Dont buy what you can get free. The cost of moving supplies, including boxes, tape and bubble wrap, can add
up quickly if you buy them from a moving company. Free is better. Try Craigslist http://www.craigslist.com or
Freecycle http://www.freecycle.org for free boxes. Also, check your local grocery, book or liquor store. Try to avoid
giant boxes; theyre harder to move around. And, of course, the sturdier, the better. This is another reason to start the
moving process super-early. It gives you the opportunity to start collecting supplies.
6. Pack it yourself. You can save a lot of money by packing your items yourself, rather than paying the movers for
that chore. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+to+pack+for+a+move is a great place to
get packing instructions on everything from clothes to kitchens to fragile stuff. United Van Lines offers this advice
for packing fragile items like china and glassware.
Be sure to select a sturdy container with a lid. Place a 2- or 3-inch layer of crushed paper on the bottom of the
carton as a cushion. Wrap each item individually with a soft material to provide a safe, protective padded nest.
Pack the heaviest items on the bottom and the lighter ones next, filling in empty spaces with crushed paper. Place
plates on edge and glassware on rims for maximum protection. Mark the carton Fragile, and list the contents on
the outside. Be sure to seal the carton with tape.
7. Insure a good move. When it comes to insuring your stuff, start with your existing homeowners or renters
policy. Many cover damage during a move from the usual things: fire and theft and other named perils. What they
wont address, however, is your greatest concern during a move: breakage. There are two types of insurance
available from long-distance movers: released value and full value. Youll get released value at no additional cost. It
reimburses you at a rate of up to 60 cents per pound for damaged or lost items. As you can imagine, however,
getting 60 cents for a pound of broken china isnt much of a consolation. Full value protection will cost extra, but it
replaces or repairs lost or damaged items, or gives you the cash to do so based on their current value. As with all
insurance, the shortest path to reduced expense is a high deductible. Also be aware that while you may purchase this
type of coverage from the moving company, you can also find it elsewhere, including perhaps your existing
insurance company.
A warning from FMCSA: Do not sign a delivery receipt for your household goods if it contains any language
about releasing or discharging your mover or its agents from liability. By law, you have nine months to file a written
claim. Strike out this kind of language or refuse delivery until a proper receipt is provided.
Page 105 of 125

8. Keep good records. You should keep good records in case you need to file a claim against the movers. Take
pictures or video of your belongings before they go into boxes or are loaded onto a truck. And keep track of your
moving expenses. If your move is directly related to work, you may be able to deduct your moving expenses. See
IRS Publication 521 for details at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p521.pdf .
9. Be your own mover. The process of moving everything myself ranks right up there with a root canal or
colonoscopy. The best piece of advice is lighten the load. The next best thing you can do is clearly label all boxes so
they end up in the right room in your new home, and stack them near exits so the room is easily accessible. But be
aware of the hidden costs (http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2013/03/15/5-hidden-costs-of-diy-moving) associated
with do-it-yourself moving.
10. Beware the little things. With your focus elsewhere, its easy to forget about the little things:
Deposits might be required at your new place for a lease and to turn the utilities on.
Storage space may be an expense if your moving dates are unexpectedly altered.
You may have to purchase household items that you didnt bring along.
Be sure to have clothing and household essentials with you in case the movers are late.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Stacy Johnson | May 10, 2016 ++]

*********************************

Online Shopping Savings Update 02

Abandon Your Shopping Cart

Online retailers track your every move. Its undoubtedly distressing to them to see you with a cartload of stuff, only
to close the tab and move along. Thats probably why you find a coupon code landing in your mailbox a day or two
after you leave your cart. To get this trick to work, you need to be logged into your account so the retailer knows
who abandoned the cart. Then put your items in the cart and leave the site. The list of retailers who offer codes to
those with abandoned carts is likely fluid, but http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2014/07/18/abandonshopping-cart-get-coupon has a list of 17 stores that have been known to dole out the discounts. The Skinny:
Must Register First The retailer obviously needs to know your email address for this to work. So you
need to make sure to register and log-in with the retailer before you try this frugal hack. Many websites will
let you check out as a Guest, but that wont work, you have to register and be logged into your account
before you abandon your shopping cart.
Gotta Know When To Fold Em Once you have placed the item(s) in your cart, go through the entire
checkout process until you get to the payment page. Do not log-out or close the browser window until you
get at least this far. If you want to increase your chances of getting a coupon via email, you may want to

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enter your credit card information and exit when you see the button that says some variation of Click to
Finalize your Purchase.
Not All Coupons are Alike The type of coupon you get via email can depend on many internal factors
within the retailers database. Things like buying history and frequency of purchases are undoubtedly taken
into account when deciding how good an offer to email you. Also, if you clicked a Google ad to get to the
retailers site you may be less likely to get a coupon as they have to pay the search engine giant a fee for
that click. So just be aware that the coupon you get could be different than the one your friend gets, if they
get one at all.
The Art of Haggling It is pretty cool that the art of haggling and negotiating has come to the Internet.
The abandon your cart strategy reminds me of walking out of a car dealership when they wont match your
best offer. But instead of a phone call from the car salesman to try and get you back in the doors, retailers
send you a friendly little email trying to entice you back to their website.

[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Maryalene LaPonsie | May 10, 2016 ++]


*********************************

Dropbox Share Alerts Scam

How it Works

This convincing phishing con poses as Dropbox and lures victims into clicking on a malware-infected email. If you
use this file sharing service at home or work, check your Dropbox emails carefully before clicking on an infected
link.
How the Scam Works:
You receive an email that appears to come from Dropbox. The message looks real. It has the Dropbox logo and
colors, and the subject line seems legitimate. Some variations include: "Drop Box - Pending Documents" or
"<Contact Name> used Dropbox to share a file with you." The body of the message instructs you to click a link
and access the shared file. An example is below.

Don't fall for it! The link downloads malware to your device, which scammers use to capture passwords or hunt
for sensitive information on your machine.
How to Spot a Phishing Scam:
Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. Do not click on links or open files in
unfamiliar emails.
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Check the reply email address. One easy way to spot an email scam is to look at the reply email. The
address should be on a company domain, such a jsmith@company.com.
Don't believe what you see. Just because an email looks real, doesn't mean it is. Scammers can fake
anything from a company logo to the "Sent" email address.
Consider how the organization normally contacts you. If an organization normally reaches you by mail,
be suspicious if you suddenly start receiving emails or text messages without ever opting in to the new
communications.
Be cautious of generic emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little or no specific
information in their fake emails. Be especially wary of messages you have not subscribed to or companies
you have never done business with in the past.

Go to https://www.dropbox.com/help/9113 to learn more about phishing scams and how to stay secure while
using Dropbox. To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper at
http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | June 12, 2015 ++]

********************************

Festival Ticket Scam

Festival Goers Fooled by Fake Tickets/Events

This summer, don't fall for a festival scam. Scammers are tempting would-be festival goers into buying tickets for
events promising all-you-can-eat crabs, live music and other fun. But in reality, either the ticket or the event itself is
fake.
How the Scam Works:
You see a great deal on tickets to a summer festival in your city, usually through a social media link. For a
reasonable entrance fee, the festival offers delicious food such as all-you-can-eat crabs, live music, and/or
craft beer and wine. You click the link, and it takes you to a website to buy tickets. Just enter your credit
card information, and you are set.
Don't do it! Better Business Bureaus across North America have reported fake festival sign-ups. Victims
purchase tickets and show up at the time and location, only to find a crowd of frustrated ticket holders.
Other times, the festival is real, but the tickets are fake.
How to Spot a Fake Festival Scam:
Do your research before purchasing. Search online for the name of the festival and make sure the name
advertised matches the website. Scammers often use names that sound similar to those of real festivals.
Check for (working) contact information: Be sure the festival website has a phone number and email
address.
Prices too good to be true: There is no way a festival can offer tickets at extremely low prices without
losing money. If the prices are much lower than elsewhere, it's likely a scam.
What Can You Do?
Pay with a credit card: You can dispute the charges if the business doesn't come through. Be wary of online
sellers that don't accept credit cards.
Look for secure sites: The website should begin with https (the extra "s" is for secure) and have a little lock
symbol on the address bar.

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Avoid tickets sold on Craigslist and other free online listings: Scammers are skilled at providing realistic
tickets and fake receipts. Check out third-party ticket sites at http://www.bbb.org before making purchases.

Learn more about festival scam in FTCs recent alert https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/eat-drink-and-bewaryTo find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper (bbb.org/scam). To report a scam, go to
BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker). [Source: BBB Scam Alert | May 13, 2016 ++]

********************************

Tax Burden for Hawaii Retired Vets

As of May 2016

Many people planning to retire use the presence or absence of a state income tax as a litmus test for a retirement
destination. This is a serious miscalculation since higher sales and property taxes can more than offset the lack of a
state income tax. The lack of a state income tax doesnt necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. Following are the
taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Hawaii:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: (General Excise Tax) 4% (prescription drugs exempt) Oahu has a county surcharge tax of 1/2% to
pay for a mass transit system.
Gasoline Tax: 63.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Diesel Fuel Tax: 66.78 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
(Local option taxes may add 8.8 to 18 cents to fuel tax)
Cigarette Tax: $3.20/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low 1.4%; High 11.0%.
Income Brackets: Twelve. Lowest $2,400; Highest $200,000 as indicated in the following table:
Tax Bracket (Single) [2] Tax Bracket (Couple) [3] Marginal Tax Rate
$0+
$0+
1.40%
$2,400+
$4,800+
3.20%
$4,800+
$9,600+
5.50%
$9,600+
$19,200+
6.40%
$14,400+
$28,800+
6.80%
$19,200+
$38,400+
7.20%
$24,000+
$48,000+
7.60%
$36,000+
$72,000+
7.90%
$48,000+
$96,000+
8.25%
$150,000+
$300,000+
9.00%
$175,000+
$350,000+
10.00%
$200,000+
$400,000+
11.00%
Note: To learn how the Marginal x rate works refer to http://www.tax-rates.org/library/marginal-tax-brackets.
Hawaii's maximum marginal income tax rate is the highest in the United States,
Personal Exemptions: Hawaii has no personal exemption. The Federal Income Tax, however, does allow a personal
exemption to be deducted from your gross income if you are responsible for supporting yourself financially.
Standard Deduction: Unlike many other states, Hawaii has no standard deduction. Certain itemized deductions
(including property tax, qualified charitable contributions, etc) may be allowed depending on the income level and
filing type of the taxpayer. Keep in mind that not all deductions allowed on your federal income tax return are
Page 109 of 125

necessarily going to be allowed on your Hawaii income tax return.


Medical/Dental Deduction: Same as Federal taxes
Federal Income Tax Deduction: None
Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security, first tier Railroad Retirement benefits, military, federal, state/local, and
some private pensions are exempt. All out-of-state government pensions are exempt. Also, employer-funded
pension plans are exempt. Distributions from private employer pension plans received upon retirement are partially
taxed by the state if the employee contributed to the pension plan.
Retired Military Pay: Not taxed.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Retirees who entered the military before Sept. 24, 1975, and members receiving
disability retirements based on combat injuries or who could receive disability payments from the VA are covered by
laws giving disability broad exemption from federal income tax. Most military retired pay based on service-related
disabilities also is free from federal income tax, but there is no guarantee of total protection.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: VA benefits are not taxable because they generally are
for disabilities and are not subject to federal or state taxes.
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax. Check with
state department of revenue office.
Property Taxes
Personal property such as cars or boats are not subject to property tax. Real property and land are assessed at 100%
fair market value. Taxes are administered by the four counties. The homestead exemption is $12,000, but is
$40,000 in the city and county of Honolulu. Persons 60 to 69 years of age may claim double the homestead
exemption, and a person age 70 or older, may claim 2.5 times the homestead exemption. In the city and county of
Honolulu, the exemptions are:55-59 years, 1.5 times the exemption amount; 60-64 years, 2.0 times; 65-69, 2.5
times, and 70 and older, 3.0 times. Homeowners 55 and older are exempt from property taxes on $60,000 to
$120,000 (amount depends on owners age) of the assessed value of their residence, regardless of income. They
must pay at least $100 in taxes, however. Homeowners 55 and older who earn less than $20,000 are also eligible for
a tax credit of up to $500. Call 808-587-4343 for details.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
The state has imposed a tax on estates of Hawaii residents over $3.5 million ranging from 0.8% to 16% rate on
estates over $10.1 million. Nonresidents receive a reduced exemption, paying estate tax on as little as $60,000 of
property. Tax rates range from 1.4% to 8.25%.
The average family paid $2,264.00 in Hawaii income taxes in 2014. For further information, visit the Hawaii
Department of Taxation site http://tax.hawaii.gov/geninfo or call 800-222-3229 or 808-587-4242.
[Source: www.retirementliving.com May 2016 ++]

* General Interest *

Notes of Interest

1 thru 15 MAY 2016

Page 110 of 125

IRS. The annual tax gapthe estimated difference between what taxpayers owe the government and
what the Internal Revenue Service actually collects from themrose to $458 billion, the tax agency said on
28 APR.
Congress. Members of the House are trying to pass a bill that would suspend legislators' salaries if they
can't pass a budget. They haven't had much success.
Memorial Day. On Monday, May 30 at 1 p.m., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and the
National Park Service (NPS) will host the annual Memorial Day Observance at The Wall.
Navy (China) Recruitment Video. The Peoples Liberation Army Navy recently released a new
recruitment video [https://youtu.be/1Z8_KRMdbbs?t=2 ] that is unlikely to assuage growing fears in the
region over an increasingly nationalistic and expansionist China.
SSA. Government has set aside $1.3 Billion in benefits for illegal alien children and family units who enter
the United States illegally this year. The government estimates that this will come out to be $17,613 per
illegal alien. Thats almost $3,000 more than what the average Social Security beneficiary gets in a year.
The average Social Security beneficiary can expect to receive $14,772 in a given year.
Bananas. Ever wonder were your bananas come from and how they are processed for shipment to your
local grocery store. Check out https://www.youtube.com/embed/_l7sak6Vlq8?rel=0.
Bridesmaid Cost. Women now spend an average of $6,620 on being a bridesmaid over the course of their
lifetime. Thats based on a survey by data company Priceonomics and e-commerce wedding company
Weddington Way, which found that the average cost of being a bridesmaid is $1,324 per wedding.
Overdraft Fees. The three biggest banks JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America
reaped more than $5.1 billion last year from overdraft fees alone. The equivalent of at least of one week of
wages in overdraft fees were paid by 24% of over drafters in the past year.
Tobacco Use. Smoking is the top source of preventable disease and death in the United States, causing
480,000 deaths per year, according to the FDA. The agency notes that while young people are smoking
fewer cigarettes today, their use of other tobacco products is climbing.
Military sex assault. The military received more than 6,000 reports of sexual assaults in 2015 but only a
small fraction, about 250 (4%), led to a court-martial and conviction for a related crime, according to a new
Pentagon report.
Vet Unemployment. The unemployment rate for the youngest generation of veterans hit another new
record low in April, dropping to 4.1 percent, government data show. That figure edges out the previous alltime low for post-9/11 veterans of 4.2 percent, charted in November, and represents a big drop from the
previous month's rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Army Manning. The Army Times reported this weekend that the Army's end strength for March was
479,172. That's 154 fewer soldiers than the service's previous post-World War II low, which was reached
during the Army's post-Cold War drawdown in 1999 and the lowest since 1940.
Army Uniform Regs. Effective immediately, unless the unit or installation commander prohibits
otherwise, soldiers may use headphones, including wireless or non-wireless devices and earpieces, in
uniform only while performing individual physical training in indoor gyms or fitness centers, according to
the directive signed by Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy.
USPS. The U.S. Postal Service dipped backed into the red in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 after turning
a profit for the first time in five years during the first three months of the fiscal year. The agency posted a
net loss of $2 billion in the most recent period.
US National Mammal. It is official: Obama has signed legislation making Bison the official "national
mammal."
Remembering Pearl Harbor. To view some original footage on the Pearl Harbor attack check out DoDs
http://1080.plus/Remembering_Pearl_Harbor-2015_by_Department_of_Defense/Vwd0mdldvVE.video .
Airline Travel. Long, slow-moving airport security lines seem to be the norm these days a common
traveler frustration thats only expected to get worse this summer. But two U.S. senators in a letter to 12

Page 111 of 125

major U.S. airlines say the ticket to speedy security checks is within airlines reach: eliminating checkedbaggage fees.
TV Commercials. Ditching cable TV for a streaming video service like Netflix can save you a lot more
than money. The average Netflix subscriber is spared 158.5 hours (6.6 days or four 40-hr work weeks) of
commercials per year compared with cable TV subscribers, according to a recent analysis by
CordCutting.com. If youre ready to ditch cable or satellite TV, check out How to Choose the Right CordCutting TV Service. If you want to ditch paid TV entirely, check out 17 Places You Can (Legally)
Download or Stream Free Movies and TV.
Vet Suicide. The Veterans Affairs Department expects to have data this summer that could erase the
questionable statistic that 22 veterans die by suicide each day. The 22 veterans a day commit suicide
statistic, widely used by veterans service organizations, the media and others, comes from a 2012 report
produced by the VA that extrapolated an estimate from data provided by 21 states from 1999 to 2011.
Falls. Medicare does not cover fall prevention services nor safety equipment that might prevent falls such
as grab bars and stair rails. However, they spend billions of dollars each year on treating the results of falls
with surgery and physical therapy services that help patients regain the use of their injured limbs.
Greetings. All the girls you dated before you were married have gotten together and sent you greetings at
http://67.media.tumblr.com/87a43cd2d1da3c7806e7c18936137e0f/tumblr_nux6z19h161s2l982o1_500.gif .

[Source: Various | May 15, 2016 ++]


********************************

Citadel Military College

Muslim Uniform Attire Not Allowed

The Citadel will not allow a Muslim student to wear a hijab, an exception she had requested to the required uniform
to keep her head covered, in keeping with her faith. The family of the accepted student is now considering all legal
options, according to an advocate authorized to speak for them. The uniform is traditional, and central to the ideals
of the nearly 175-year-old public military college in South Carolina, so the fact that it was considering an exception
to it for an accepted student set off shock waves among alumni. The idea pleased some in the close-knit corps, who
felt it could be an important symbol of religious freedom and inclusiveness. But it upset others who felt it would
clash with the mission and ideals of the Citadel, where loyalty, teamwork and uniformity are paramount.

Citadel freshman cadets (left) drill for the first time in their new uniforms in 2013. The school says it will not allow a
prospective student to wear hijab because it would break uniform. Cadets (right) at the Citadel in Mar 2016

At the Citadel, students are expected to leave behind their individuality and almost all of their possessions
and form opinions based on character rather than appearance. Allowing one student to wear something completely
different struck many as antithetical to that mission. And some objected, as well, because exceptions have apparently
not ever been made for other religions. Christian cadets have been told not to display crosses, for example. That the
Page 112 of 125

exception was being considered at a time when the role of Islam in U.S. culture is so polarizing, when presidential
candidates and national leaders are debating whether the fight against terrorists is not a fight against the Muslim
faith, or whether the religion is fundamentally one of violence, made the issue particularly incendiary far beyond the
Charleston, S.C., campus.
A statement from the college president, Lt. Gen. John Rosa, explained that the uniform is central to the leadership
training at the college, as cadets give up their individuality to learn teamwork and allegiance to the corps, and its
leaders concluded that they could not grant an exception to the required dress. Rosa emphasized their commitment
to having a diverse and inclusive campus, and their recognition of the importance of cadets religious beliefs. There
are several Muslim students enrolled. The cadets commandant called the student Tuesday morning to inform her,
according to Keelor. He also told her he hoped to see her on the grounds in August. The student cried after the
commandant told her, said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations who spoke
with the family Tuesday morning.
She told the commandant it wasnt fair that she has to choose between practicing her faith and going to the
Citadel, he said. She had worked very hard and had been focused on going to the Citadel for a long time, Hooper
said. Thats why she was so heartbroken, he said. She will not attend, he said. A complete denial was very
shocking, he said. They had expected their request to be granted. The father said, We live in a land of laws. These
outdated traditions violate that law that protects religious freedom, Hooper said. As far as legal action [is
considered], all options are on the table, he said.
Speaking for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hooper said not granting religious accommodation was
a bar to any practicing Muslim and was not acceptable at a public institution. Obviously from CAIRs perspective,
as a civil-rights organization, were not going to drop this issue, he said. Were going to view it as a continuation
of the civil-rights struggles that allowed African Americans and women to have free entry and participation in these
types of institutions nationwide. There are Muslim women wearing hijab in our nations military, he said.
Whether its hijab or beards or turbans, to cling to these outdated traditions merely out of a sense of not wanting to
change anything is, I think, untenable in this day and age and in our increasingly diverse society.
In a statement, CAIR senior staff attorney William Burgess said, The Citadel violated the students right to a
religious accommodation under the First Amendment and the South Carolina Religious Freedom Act, which makes
it illegal for a state institution to place a burden on a persons ability to practice his or her faith without the most
compelling justification. We believe the desire to maintain an outdated tradition, which was the same argument
used to initially deny admittance to African-Americans and women, does not justify violating a students
constitutional rights. Our nations military currently accommodates religious attire in the form of headscarves,
beards and turbans. The Citadel should offer the same accommodations. No student should be forced to choose
between her faith and an education that can facilitate future service to her nation.
Keelor said it was a difficult decision. Though the college heard from many alumni, she wrote in an email, the
decision was based on the fact that the standardization of cadets in apparel, overall appearance, actions and
privileges is essential to the learning goals and objectives of the college. Tatjana Christian, a spokeswoman for the
U.S. Army, said, The Army has a process in place that allows soldiers to request an exception to policy based on
their religious practices. Any request for an exception to this policy is considered on a case-by-case basis,
considering impact on unit and individual readiness, unit cohesion, morale, discipline and health and safety of the
force. We will continue to review the merits of each specific request for religious accommodation. Spokesman
from the other military colleges stated their institutions policies were as follows:

Emily Kelley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said in a statement: The U.S.
Military Academy values the diversity in the Corps of Cadets. Our Standards of Cadet Conduct and
Appearance regulation allows for the wear of religious items that are not visible or apparent when in duty
uniform, provided they do not interfere with the performance of the Soldiers military duties, or interfere
with the proper wearing of any authorized article of the uniform. Any requests for religious accommodation
Page 113 of 125

are thoughtfully and carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. No cadet has requested an
accommodation to wear a hijab.

The U.S. Naval Academy follows the regulations of the U.S. Navy, according to a spokesman. Lt. Cmdr.
Nate Christensen, a spokesman for the Navy, said in an email that they support to the maximum extent
possible the free exercise of religion and consider unit cohesion, alternatives, and other issues as they take
each request on a case-by-case basis. Since the Pentagon updated its policy on religious accommodation in
2014, the Navy has had about 30 requests for religious accommodation.

No woman cadet at the Virginia Military Institute has worn a hijab, said Col. Stewart D. MacInnis, a
spokesman, and he is not aware of any request to do so.

[Source: Washington Post | Susan Svrluga | May 10, 2016 ++]


********************************

Gun Control Update 01

SSA Moves to Block Mentally Ill from Buying Guns

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is proposing to report people who receive disability benefits and have a
mental health condition to the FBIs background check system. The proposal, which stems from a memorandum that
President Obama issued in 2013, would essentially block some people with severe mental health problems from
buying guns. The SSA, which will propose the rule in 5 MAY edition of the Federal Register, says it plans to notify
disability beneficiaries who might be reported and establish a process for them to appeal their placement in the FBIs
background check system. The proposal is just the latest attempt by the Obama administration to keep guns out of
the hands of the mentally ill.
Similar efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been met with controversy. Sen. Chuck Grassley
(R-Iowa) has accused the VA of reporting veterans to the FBI simply because they cannot manage their personal
finances and must be assigned a fiduciary. According to Grassley, 99 percent of the people the FBI prohibits from
owning guns because they are considered mentally defective come from the VA. Now, the SSA is proposing to
take similar precautions with people who receive disability insurance because they are unable to work due to mental
health disorders.
It appears that just like the VA, SSAs regulatory action will not require the government to first prove that the
individual is a danger to self or others, Grassley wrote last July in a letter to Carolyn Colvin, acting commissioner
of the Social Security Administration. Is the SSA using the VAs regulatory standard as a template for reporting
names to the [FBI]? he asked. If not, in what ways is the SSAs regulatory scheme different from the VAs? Some
of the mental conditions the SSA screens for include schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, personality
disorders, intellectual disabilities, anxiety-related disorders, substance addiction disorders and autistic disorders.
Depending on the severity of their condition, people with mental health disorders may qualify for disability
insurance. The public has 60 days to comment about the proposal. [Source: The Hill | Tim Devaney | May 4, 2016
++]
********************************

Marijuana Market

Pricing Considerations

As more states in American legalize marijuana either for medicinal or recreational use the weed market is
rapidly shifting. As of now, medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and recreational pot is legal in Colorado,
Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. According to the Washington Post, marijuana legalization
Page 114 of 125

has a nearly immediate impact on the price of pot being sold. For example, in Washington state, where recreational
marijuana was legalized in 2012, Steve Davenport of the Pardee RAND Graduate School told the Post that
marijuana prices ballooned for a couple of months mostly as a result of supply issues before beginning a
downward tumble in both the retail and wholesale markets. Davenport said that prices are now steadily falling at
about 2 percent per month. If that trend holds, prices may fall 25 percent each year going forward.

According to CheatSheet, legal marijuana (in flower or bud form) averages $10 per gram. Of course, that price
varies considerably depending on the strain and its quality and there are dozens and dozens of strains. (Lets not
even get into the growing array of edibles coming on the market.) There are many websites offering prices on
various types of cannabis Wikileaf http://www.wikileaf.com, PriceOfWeed.com http://www.priceofweed.com
and Leafly https://www.leafly.com to name a few. According to CheatSheet, these are three of the most important
factors affecting prices of legal pot:

Location: Not surprisingly, location is key when determining price. If you find a shop that is inundated
with pot, theres a good chance theyll sell it to you on the cheap side because they have such a large
supply. Of course, if you visit a tiny store in an expensive part of downtown Seattle, San Francisco or
Portland, youll likely end up paying more for the same weed. There are also widely varying costs between
medical dispensaries which are often shielded from most taxation and recreational dispensaries, where
taxation can be high.
Taxes: Each state that offers some sort of legal marijuana has different tax levels, Cheat Sheet explains. For
example, Washington state charges a 37 percent sales tax on marijuana. In Colorado, the tax rate is closer to
12.9 percent.
Quality: This is perhaps the most significant factor when determining the price of pot. There are various
strains and grades of marijuana, and the better they are which may mean containing more THC, CBD, or
simply having fantastic aesthetics or smells the more youll pay, explains CheatSheet. Top-grade stuff
can go for a lot of money, so if you start getting snobby about your cannabis, youll end up paying for it.
On the other hand, if youre not too picky about your pot, you can probably score low-grade marijuana on
the cheap side (maybe even as low as $5 per gram).

This is just the beginning of legalized marijuana in the United States. Its a growing market that will no doubt
continue to shift and change. Its just a plant, Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, told
the Post. There will always be the marijuana equivalent of organically grown specialty crops sold at premium
prices to yuppies, but at the same time, no-frills generic forms could become cheap enough to give away as a loss
leader the way bars give patrons beer nuts and hotels leave chocolates on your pillow. [Source:
MoneyTalksNews | Krystal Steinmetz | May 10, 2016 ++]
********************************

Payday Loans

Google Advertising Ban

Google is banning all payday loan ads. The search engine announced that, effective 13 JUL it will prohibit
advertising for payday lenders in an effort to protect users from financial products it describes as deceptive and
Page 115 of 125

harmful. In a blog post announcing the payday loan advertising ban, David Graff, Googles product policy
director, wrote: We will no longer allow ads for loans where repayment is due within 60 days of the date of issue. In
the U.S., we are also banning ads for loans with an APR of 36 percent or higher. When reviewing our policies,
research has shown that these loans can result in unaffordable payment and high default rates for users so we will
be updating our policies globally to reflect that.

In theory, payday loans are short-term, high-interest loans intended to help Americans who need a little extra cash
to tide them over between paychecks. Unfortunately, many borrowers end up extending the loans because they cant
pay them off in full. Meanwhile, excessive interest and fees continue to accumulate, trapping consumers in a deep
cycle of debt. Basically, payday loans are bad news and most often hurt those who are least able to afford it. Google
said it disabled 780 million bad ads in 2015 for reasons ranging from counterfeiting to phishing. The payday loan
ad ban wont affect companies that offer car loans, student loans, commercial loans, mortgages or credit cards.
Although ads for payday lenders will no longer be seen on Google as of July 13, youll still be able to find payday
lenders through a Google search. Facebook also prohibits payday lending advertisements.
The Community Financial Services Association of America a trade group for payday lenders called
Googles new policy discriminatory and a form of censorship. Google is making a blanket assessment about the
payday lending industry rather than discerning the good actors from the bad actors, trade group spokeswoman Amy
Cantu said in an emailed statement. This is unfair towards those that are legal, licensed lenders and uphold best
business practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau earlier this year proposed new regulations to rein in
the payday lending industry. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Krystal Steinmetz | May 11, 2016 ++]
********************************

Children of the 30s & 40s

The Last Ones

A Short Memoir:
Born in the 1930s and early 40s, we exist as a very special age cohort. We are the last ones. We are the last,
climbing out of the depression, who can remember the winds of war and the war itself with fathers and uncles going
off. We are the last to remember ration books for everything from sugar to shoes to stoves. We saved tin foil and
poured fat into tin cans. We saw cars up on blocks because tires werent available. My uncle delivered milk in a
horse drawn cart.
We are the last to hear Roosevelts radio assurances and to see gold stars in the front windows of our grieving
neighbors. We can also remember the parades on August 15, 1945; VJ Day.
We saw the boys home from the war build their Cape Cod style houses, pouring the cellar, tar papering it over and
living there until they could afford the time and money to build it out.
We are the last who spent childhood without television; instead imagining what we heard on the radio. As we all
like to brag, with no TV, we spent our childhood playing outside until the street lights came on. We did play
outside and we did play on our own. There was no little league.
Page 116 of 125

The lack of television in our early years meant, for most of us, that we had little real understanding of what the
world was like. Our Saturday afternoons, if at the movies, gave us newsreels of the war and the holocaust
sandwiched in between westerns and cartoons. Newspapers and magazines were written for adults. We are the last
who had to find out for ourselves.
As we grew up, the country was exploding with growth. The G.I. Bill gave returning veterans the means to get an
education and spurred colleges to grow. VA loans fanned a housing boom. Pent up demand coupled with new
installment payment plans put factories to work. New highways would bring jobs and mobility. The veterans joined
civic clubs and became active in politics. In the late 40s and early 50s the country seemed to lie in the embrace of
brisk but quiet order as it gave birth to its new middle class. Our parents understandably became absorbed with their
own new lives. They were free from the confines of the depression and the war. They threw themselves into
exploring opportunities they had never imagined.
We werent neglected but we werent todays all-consuming family focus. They were glad we played by ourselves
until the street lights came on. They were busy discovering the post war world.
Most of us had no life plan, but with the unexpected virtue of ignorance and an economic rising tide we simply
stepped into the world and went to find out. We entered a world of overflowing plenty and opportunity; a world
where we were welcomed. Based on our nave belief that there was more where this came from, we shaped life as
we went.
We enjoyed a luxury; we felt secure in our future. Of course, just as today, not all Americans shared in this
experience. Depression poverty was deep rooted. Polio was still a crippler. The Korean War was a dark presage in
the early 50s and by mid-decade school children were ducking under desks. China became Red China. Eisenhower
sent the first advisors to Vietnam. Castro set up camp in Cuba and Khrushchev came to power.
We are the last to experience an interlude when there were no existential threats to our homeland. We came of age
in the late 40s and early 50s. The war was over and the cold war, terrorism, climate change, technological upheaval
and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life with insistent unease.
Only we can remember both a time of apocalyptic war and a time when our world was secure and full of bright
promise and plenty. We experienced both.
We grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better not worse. We are the last ones.
[Source: 2Peas Refugees | Author unknown | May 3, 2016 ++]

********************************
Page 117 of 125

Smart Phone Addiction

Are you Hooked?

Smartphones are changing family dynamics, and not necessarily for the better, according to one nonprofits analysis
of survey results. A recent survey by Common Sense Media found that 50 percent of teenagers feel addicted to
mobile devices, and 59 percent of their parents believe their kids are addicted. Around one-third of teens and their
parents also cited mobile-device use as a cause of daily arguments. In a news release about the survey results and an
accompanying report about the effects of problematic media use, James Steyer, founder and chief executive of
Common Sense, says: Mobile devices are fundamentally changing how families go about day-to-day lives, be it
doing homework, driving, or having dinner together. What weve discovered is that kids and parents feel addicted to
their mobile devices that it is causing daily conflict in homes, and that families are concerned about the
consequences.

For the survey, 1,240 parents and teens from the same households (620 parents, 620 kids) were polled. The
participating teens were between the ages of 12 and 18 and living at home. The participating parents and teens all
used mobile devices. Survey results indicated that:
72 percent of teens feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social-networking messages and other
notifications.
78 percent of teens check their devices at least hourly.
77 percent of parents feel their children get distracted by devices and dont pay attention when theyre
together at least a few times per week.
Teens arent the only ones glued to their phones, however. The survey results also indicated that:
48 percent of parents feel the need to immediately respond to texts, social-networking messages and other
notifications.
69 percent of parents check their devices at least hourly.
56 percent of parents admit they check their mobile devices while driving, with 51 percent of teens
witnessing their parents checking or using their mobile devices when driving.
Amr Soror, an expert on technology addictions at California State University, Fullerton, told the Orange County
Register newspaper earlier this year that mobile device addiction is complex: Every one of us has some level of
addiction. It should be thought of as a continuum ranging from very low to very high. Some people spend more time
on their cellphones, but they are not addicted.
Managing Your Smartphone Use - Can't give up your phone altogether? Experts suggest these steps to control
your usage:
Be conscious of the situations and emotions that make you want to check your phone. Is it boredom?
Loneliness? Anxiety? Maybe something else would soothe you.
Be strong when your phone beeps or rings. You don't always have to answer it. In fact, you can avoid
temptation by turning off the alert signals.

Page 118 of 125

Be disciplined about not using your device in certain situations (such as when you're with children, driving,
or in a meeting) or at certain hours (for instance, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.). You'll be surprised and
pleased to rediscover the pleasures of being in control of your attention.

[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Karla Bowsher on May 10, 2016 ++]


********************************

Brain Teaser

Look Both Ways

The phrases defined below are palindromes rare specimens that spelt the same thing forward and back, like TOP
SPOT or TUNA NUT. Given are a few letters to help you fill in the rest. Good Luck!
1. Hermit from Nevada R _ N _
2. Kingly beer R _ _ _ L

_ _ N _ R

L _ __ R

3. Fruit given as a present G _ _

_ _ G

4. Wood touched by Midas _ O _ _


5. Poet of no distinction _ _ _ B

_O_
B _ _ _

6. How caregivers stay fit N _ _ _ E _


7. Spot zebras on a gridiron S _ _
8. Bamboo-eater snoozed

R _ _ _ R _ _ S

_ A _ _ A

9. Male escorts working alone _ O _ O


10. Students make mistakes

_ _ N

_ U _ I _ _

_ A _

_ A _

_ I _ O _ O _
_ _ I _ U _

********************************

Have You Heard?

Golf and What it all Means

Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a
good bottle of beer.
Golf! You hit down to make the ball go up. You swing left and the ball goes right. The lowest score wins,
on top of that, the winner buys the drinks.
If you find you do not mind playing Golf in the rain, the snow, even during a hurricane, here's a valuable tip
......... your life is in trouble.
Golfers who try to make everything perfect before taking the shot rarely make a perfect shot.
A 'gimme' can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers .... neither of whom can putt very well.
An interesting thing about Golf is that no matter how badly you play, it is always possible to get worse.
Golf's a hard game to figure. One day you'll go out and slice it and shank it, hit into all the traps and miss
every green. The next day you go out and for no reason at all your game really stinks!
If your best shots are the practice swing and the 'gimme putt', you might wish to reconsider this game.
Golf is the only sport where the most feared opponent is you.
Golf is like marriage, If you take yourself too seriously it won't work, and both are expensive.
The best wood in most amateurs' bags is the pencil.
Page 119 of 125

********************************

Archive Photo of the Day

Pearl Harbor Aftermath

Page 120 of 125

Pearl Harbor | USS Pennsylvania behind the wreckage of Downes and Cassin.

[Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor | May 2016 ++]


********************************

Brain Teaser Answer

Look Both Ways

Page 121 of 125

The phrases defined below are palindromes rare specimens that spelt the same thing forward and back, like TOP
SPOT or TUNA NUT. Given are a few letters to help you fill in the rest. Good Luck!
1. Hermit from Nevada R E N O
2. Kingly beer R E G A L

L O N E R

L A G E R

3. Fruit given as a present G I F T

F I G

4. Wood touched by Midas G O L D

LOG

5. Poet of no distinction D R A B

B A R D

6. How caregivers stay fit N U R S E S


7. Spot zebras on a gridiron S E E
8. Bamboo-eater snoozed

R U N

R E F E R E E S

P A N D A

HAD

NAP

********************************

Page 122 of 125

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