Vet List

February 2013 Bulletin

2013-02-22T00:21:00.001-05:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Oklahoma Vet Education ------- (Proposed Bill Expands Access)
== Operation Homecoming ----------------------- (40th Anniversary)
== Direct Deposit [03] -------------------------------- (Federal Benefits)
== NEX Price Match/Return Policy ---------------------------- (Details)
== Obit ~ Kenji Yatsushiro ------------------------------ (27 Dec 2012)
== DoD Pay and Benefits [01] ---------------- (Same-sex Partners)
== Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2014 ------ (Fix Leg Introduced)
== VA Mental Health Care [19] --------------- (Expanded Access)
== Food Nutrition Labels ------------------------------- (What to Know)
== VA Cemeteries [10] ----------------- (Entire System Audit Results)
== TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order [03] ------------- (More Q&A)
== DoD/VA Seamless Transition [15] - (Lifetime EHR Project Ends)
== PTSD [127] ---------------------------------- (Search for Biomarkers)
== PTSD [128] --------------------- (U.S. Military Volunteers Needed)
== Independent Budget FY 2014 ------ ($4.8 billion Increase Sought)
== BRAC [30] ----------------------- (Pentagon Wants Another Round)
== Veteran Status for Guard [02] -------------------- (New Legislation)
== Filipino Vet Inequities [27] ----------------------- (New Legislation)
== VAMC Orlando [04] ------------------ (Show Cause Notice Issued) == Pennsylvania Vet License Plates --------- (New Plate Available)
== VA VBMS [01] ---------------- (Reducing Claim Processing Time)
== VA Million Veteran Program [03] ----------------- (National Study)
== New Mexico Wants Military Retirees -------------- (Tax Incentive)
== Vet Drivers License [04] ------------------------------ (Kansas)
== VA Burial Benefit [18] ------------------------- (No proof, No place)
== VA Burial Benefit [19] ------------------- (New Hmong Legislation)
== Seabee Memorial ---------------------------------- (2 Down - 1 to Go)
== Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune [35] --- (CCE Test Records Missing)
== VA Suicide Prevention [15] -------- (New Report on Suicide Data)
== Using Overseas Pharmacies ---------------------- (Pros & Cons)
== VA Contact Numbers [01] ----------------------- (800 Numbers)
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== VA Women Vet Programs [22] ---------- (National Wear Red Day)
== VA Claims Backlog [82] ----------------------------- (ACE Initiative)
== Tricare Pharmacy Copay [10] ---------------------- (Increase Begins)
== Prostate Enlargement -------------------- (New Drug Shows Promise)
== Euthanasia ------------------------------------------ (Vermont Hearings)
== VA Clinical Reasoning System ----------------------- (Pilot Program)
== Sequestration [13] ----------------------------------- (Coalition Protest)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [66] ----------------------- (1-14 Feb 2013)
== Mobilized Reserve 5 FEB 2013------------------------ (476 Decrease)
== Vet Jobs [100] ------------------------- (800,000+ Now Unemployed)
== WWII Vets [37] ------------------------------------------ (John Verbout)
== POW/MIA [37] ---------------------------------------- (1-14 Feb 2013 )
== Spanish American War Images 03 -- (Charge of The Rough Riders)
== VRAP [06] **--------------------------------- (3 Mo Extension Sought)
== Saving Money ---------------------------- (Penny Wise Pound Foolish)
== DoD Suicide Policy [02] ------------------- (Omega 3 Study Funded)
== Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (1-14 Feb 2013)
== Medicare Fraud [112] ---------------------------------- (1-14 Feb 2013)
== Medicaid Fraud [79] ---------------------------------- (1-14 Feb 2013)
== State Veteran's Benefits ------------------------------- (Louisiana 2013)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of Feb 13 2013)
== VA Committee Hearings ---------------------------- (House O&I)
== VA Committee Hearings [01] ------------------------- (House DAMA)
== Military History ------------------------------------------ (Runway Able)
== Military History Anniversaries --------------- (Feb 15–28 Summary)
== Military Trivia 68 ------------------------------ (The Nuremburg Trials)
== Tax Burden for Texas Retirees ---------------------- (As of Feb 2013)
== Aviation Art ------------------------------------------ (Maximum Effort)
== Veteran Legislation Status 13 Feb 2013 ---------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ----------------------------------- (The Golden Years)
== Military Lingo/Jargon/Slang ---------------------------------------- (003)

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Oklahoma Vet Education: Spouses and children of Oklahoma military veterans who are killed or disabled in action would get a free college education, and many out-of-state veterans would be able to pay the in-state tuition rate under a plan that advanced 11 FEB in the state Senate. Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, said his proposal seeks to keep more veterans in Oklahoma after their service time ends. It would fill some gaps in the federal measure Congress approved following the 9/11 attacks that grants a free college education to combat veterans, similar to the way the original G.I. Bill provided education benefits to World War II veterans. Under the
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federal bill, veterans can transfer their benefits to a spouse or child only if they can't use them, but Simpson's bill would allow a free college education for disabled veterans, their spouses and all their children. The same benefit applies to family members of veterans killed in action.
The federal G.I. Bill's education coverage allows veterans who are honorably discharged to be reimbursed for college, but they would only receive the in-state tuition rate if they go outside their home state. Simpson's would label as in-state students all veterans who were discharged within Oklahoma, regardless of their status, allowing the federal G.I. bill to cover their full tuition. “We know veterans are good, upstanding citizens and have a lot to contribute to the economy and the society of Oklahoma,” he said. At least five other states currently offer in-state tuition levels to discharged veterans in their borders, including Arizona, Colorado and Ohio. Tennessee's legislature is currently looking at a similar proposal. The Senate Education Committee approved Simpson's bill without opposition Monday, sending it on to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Committee member Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, and Vice chairman Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, questioned the fiscal impact of the bill. Simpson said his office was working on pegging that number, and that the bill would also be adjusted to make sure it doesn't contradict the federal G.I. law. [Source: NewsOK | Dan Holtmeyer | 11 Feb 2013 ++]
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Operation Homecoming: Forty years ago, a C-141A Starlifter transport jet with a distinctive red cross on its tail lifted off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, and the first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war began their journey home through Operation Homecoming. Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. The mission included 54 C-141 flights between Feb. 12 and April 4, 1973, returning 591 POWs to American soil. By the day's end, three C-141A aircraft would lift off from Hanoi, as well as a C-9A aircraft from Saigon, South Vietnam. In a steady flow of flights through late March 1973 under terms set through the Paris Peace Accords, 591 POWs returned to American soil. Americans were spellbound as they watched news clips of the POWs being carried in stretchers or walking tentatively toward U.S. officers at the awaiting aircraft for the first flight from Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport.
Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam
The POWs ranged from privates first class to colonels, all wearing new gray uniforms issued by the North Vietnamese just before their release. Air Force Tech. Sgt. James R. Cook, who suffered severe wounds when he bailed out of his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam in December 1972, saluted the U.S. colors from his stretcher as he was carried aboard the aircraft. Also on the first flight was Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., the first American pilot to be shot down in North Vietnam and, by the war's end, the longest-held POW there. He spent eight-and-a-half years in captivity. Celebration broke out aboard the first aircraft -- nicknamed the "Hanoi Taxi" -- as it lifted skyward and the POWs experienced their first taste of freedom. Historian Andrew H. Lipps captured the magnitude of the moment in his account, "Operation Homecoming: The Return of American POWs from Vietnam." "Imagine
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you're imprisoned in a cage; imagine the cage surrounded by the smell of feces; imagine the rotted food you eat is so infested with insects that to eat only a few is a blessing; imagine knowing your life could be taken by one of your captors on a whim at any moment; imagine you are subjected to mental and physical torture designed to break not bones but instead spirit on a daily basis. That was being a prisoner of North Vietnam," Lipps wrote. "Then imagine one day, after seemingly endless disappointment, you are given a change of clothes and lined up to watch an American plane land to return you home. That was Operation Homecoming."
Aeromedical teams assigned to each aircraft tended to the former POWs during the two-and-a-half hour flight to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, the first stop on their trip home. Meanwhile, many of the POWs joked and smoked American cigarettes as they caught up on all they'd missed while in captivity: fashion trends and the women's liberation movement, among them. "Everything seemed like heaven," recalled Air Force Capt. Larry Chesley, who, after being shot down over North Vietnam, spent seven years in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" and other POW prisons. "When the doors of that C-141 closed, there were tears in the eyes of every man aboard," he said. Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, the last Vietnam POW to serve in the Air Force, recalled the emotion of his own journey out of North Vietnam on Feb. 18, 1973. "When we got airborne and the frailty of being a POW turned into the reality of freedom, we yelled, cried and cheered," he said. The POWs arrived to a hero's welcome at Clark Air Base, where Navy Adm. Noel Gayler, commander of U.S. Forces Pacific, led their greeting party. Joining him were Air Force Lt. Gen. William G. Moore Jr., who commanded 13th Air Force and the homecoming operation at Clark, and Roger Shields, deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/MIA affairs.
Speaking to the crowd that lined the tarmac to welcome the aircraft, returning POW Navy Capt. Jeremiah Denton -- who would go on to earn the rank of rear admiral and later was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama -- elicited cheers as he thanked all who had worked for their release and proclaimed, "God bless America." Air Force Lt. Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, who spent almost eight years as a POW after being shot down over North Vietnam, joined the many other POWs who echoed that sentiment. "My only message is, 'God bless America,'" he said, dismissing assertions in the media that the POWs had been directed to say it. "With six, seven or eight years to think about the really important things in life, a belief in God and country was strengthened in every POW with whom I had contact," he said. "Firsthand exposure to a system which made a mockery of religion and where men are unable to know truth made us all appreciate some of the most basic values in 'God bless America.'" Air Force Col. Robinson Risner, the senior Air Force officer at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" honored today by a statue in his likeness at the U.S. Air Force Academy, choked back emotion as he arrived on the second C-141 flight from Hanoi.
"Thank you all for bringing us home to freedom again," he told the crowd.
After receiving medical exams and feasting on steak, ice cream and other American food, the former POWs received new uniforms for their follow-on flights home. Their aircraft made stops in Hawaii and California. The first group of 20 former POWs arrived at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 14, 1973. News clips of the arrival reveal the deep emotion of the freed POWs as they arrived on the U.S. mainland. Navy Capt. James Stockdale, who went on to become a vice admiral and vice presidential candidate, was the first man to limp off the aircraft. Stockdale paused to thank his countrymen for the loyalty they had showed him and his fellow POWs. "The men who follow me down that ramp know what loyalty means because they have been living with loyalty, living on loyalty, the past several years -- loyalty to each other, loyalty to the military, loyalty to our commander-in-chief," he said. Of the 591 POWs liberated during Operation Homecoming, 325 served in the Air Force, 138 in the Navy; 77 in the Army and 26 in the Marine Corps. Twenty-five of the POWs were civilian employees of U.S. government agencies. In addition, 69 POWs the Viet Cong had held in South Vietnam left aboard flights from Loc Ninh. Nine other POWs were released from Laos, and three from China. Forty years after their release, two of the former POWs serve in Congress: Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas. A dinner and ceremony being planned for late May at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in California will honor the POWs, recreating the dinner the president hosted for them at the White House in 1973. [Source: AFPS | Donna Miles | 12 Feb 2013 ++]
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Direct Deposit Update 03: If you receive your federal benefits by paper check, you'll need to switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. The federal benefits affected are:
 Social Security
 Supplemental Security Income
 Veterans Affairs
 Railroad Retirement Board
 Office of Personnel Management
 Department of Labor (Black Lung)
You have two options for receiving benefits electronically -- Direct Deposit and Prepaid Debit Card:
1. Direct Deposit. The U.S. Treasury deposits your benefits directly into your bank account. You can sign up for direct deposit in one of these ways:
 Enroll online at http://www.GoDirect.org
 Visit your bank or credit union.
 Call (800) 333-1795 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm ET).
 Contact the local office of the agency providing your federal benefits.
 Enroll by mail.
2. Prepaid Debit Card. The U.S. Treasury deposits your benefits directly to a debit card. This is an option if you don't have a bank account and do not want to open one. You can request a debit card by calling (800) 333-1795 M-F 0800-2000 EST.
Be ready with the information you'll need to set up your federal benefit payments by direct deposit or debit card. You’ll Need Your:
 12-digit federal benefit check number
 Amount of most recent federal benefit check
 Financial institution’s routing transit number* (direct deposit only)
 Account number (often on personal checks) and type - checking or savings (direct deposit only)
If you have questions, call the Go Direct Helpline at (800) 333-1795.
[Source: http://www.anapolschwartz.com/practices/social-security.shtml Feb 2013 ++]
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NEX Price Match/Return Policy: The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has revised its Price Match Policy for its NEXs around the world. The NEX Price Match Policy guarantees that NEXs will match any brick and mortar retailer’s advertised price within the local market area on any identical in-stock item. “We want the NEX to be our customers’ choice for shopping,” said Richard Dow, NEXCOM Senior Vice President, Store Operations. “Revamping our NEX Price Match Policy gives our NEX cashiers more authority to match prices which will give an even greater customer service experience to our customers.”
 NEX sales associates have the authority to match an advertised price reduction up to $100.
 An NEX supervisor must authorize a price match over$100.
 Customers may ask for a price adjustment at any cash register in the store.
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 The advertised priced may be presented in the form of a printed ad or a mobile marketing device, such as a cell phone or smart phone, from a local competitor. Photographs of an item taken with a cell phone or smart phone will not be accepted.
 A NEX cashier will also accept a customer’s verbal price challenge for an item with a price difference of $10 or less. Customers need not bring a copy of a competitor’s advertisement for items under $10.
 For items on the NEX web store, myNavyExchange.com, the NEX will visually verify the price of the item prior to matching the price.
 Overseas NEXs will match the pricing of current mail order catalogs as well as web stores from Sears, J.C. Penney, Walmart and any other comparable commercial retailers with web stores. Freight charges, if applicable, are added to the competitor’s price.
The NEX Price Match Policy does not apply to fine jewelry, automotive parts, automotive labor and service, gasoline and special orders. Double and triple coupons, clearance, percent and dollar off items, flea market sales, going out of business sales and commissary prices are also excluded from the NEX Price Match Policy. For more information on the NEX Price Match Policy, see your local NEX manager or https://www.mynavyexchange.com/command/customer_service/p_policy.html. The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is making improvements to its return policy. Merchandise purchased at a NEX or from myNavyExchange.com can be returned to any NEX store within 45 days of purchase for a refund or even exchange. “We made this improvement to our return policy make it more convenient for our customers,” said Richard Dow, NEXCOM’s senior vice president store operations.” The standardized 45 day return policy on merchandise eliminates the previous exclusions including the 14 day return policy on certain items, such as computers, software and digital cameras. Now, the only exception to the 45 day NEX Customer Return Policy are pre-paid cards, such as financial, music, phone and gift cards, which are not returnable. The refund will be processed in the same payment form as the original purchase. A return without a receipt will be issued on an NEX Gift Card at the item’s current NEX price. Refunds made without a receipt can only be made at the NEX’s Customer Service desk. [Source: Shift Colors Spring 2013 ++]
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Obit ~ Kenji Yatsushiro: WWII veteran Kenji Yatsushiro died on 27 DEC from complications from Alzheimer's disease at age 91. He was born in the town of Wailuku on the island of Maui. His father ran a laundry. In the days before the use of antibiotics, an ear infection ravaged his father's system, and he died when Kenji was only 5. Kenji went to work in the sugar-cane fields, chopping it with a machete. "For lunch, they would just strip back the bark on the cane and just munch on the sugar," his son said. On December 7, 1941, his family heard aircraft overhead. It was the wave of Japanese pilots heading to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a date which will live in infamy. "They were on their way to Pearl Harbor to bomb them," Steve Yatsushiro said. His father was among the many "Nisei" - second-generation Americans born to Japanese immigrants - who enlisted. "Everybody suspected them of still being loyal to the emperor," his son said. "They were dead-set on proving themselves." Mr. Yatsushiro was assigned to an anti-tank infantry company that flew in lightweight aircraft to secure ground for the Allies. But the motorless gliders were unpredictable and prone to crashes. "He said he felt so sorry for the pilot of the glider, because it would nosedive," said his wife, Anne.
Yatsushiro was one of the Japanese-American soldiers of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Their valor was remarkable, especially given that the U.S. government started out the war viewing the men as "enemy aliens." In 1944 his regiment was on a mission to save the "Lost Battalion," a group of Texans trapped behind enemy lines in southern France in 1944. "My dad said he got separated from his company one time in the middle of the night, and he was walking through a forest very silently, and he came upon a camp," said his son, Steve Yatsushiro. "He sat down on a log, and he saw these silhouettes in front of him - and they were tall." He had
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stumbled on a group of German soldiers. "He knew these were not his guys, because they [the Japanese-Americans of the 442nd] were all 5-foot-5, 5-6. So he stood up and started backing away." His heart was beating so loud and fast, he thought it would shatter the silence. "Somehow, he was able to back out of there and reunite with his company," his son said.
Chicagoan Kohei Ikeda, 89, was with "I" company, which reached the Texans. "There wasn't too many of us left when we got there," he said of the treacherous mission. As for the Texans, "They were happy as hell," he said. When the soldiers of the 442nd returned home from the war, they "found themselves declared to be . . . the most decorated military unit in the history of the United States," the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the regiment's most famous member, said in 2011 when the team received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award from Congress, at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol. In 2011, Eric K. Shinseki, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the nation's first Japanese-American four-star general, listed the 442nd's accomplishments as he saluted the men. They received more than 18,000 individual awards from September 1943 to September 1945, Shinseki said, including 21 Medals of Honor; 52 Distinguished Service crosses; 560 Silver Stars; more than 4,000 Bronze Stars; 9,486 Purple Hearts, and seven Presidential Unit Citations. "No other regiment, in 237 years of U.S. Army history, has amassed an equivalent battle record," Shinseki said.
After the war the GI bill enabled Mr. Yatsushiro to study electrical engineering at what's now called Trine University in Angola, Ind. He worked at Chicago's Dormeyer Industries and Controls Corporation of America, and he earned nine patents. The Yatsushiros raised their family on the North Side. He taught his kids how to play baseball and ice-skate and how to strum the ukelele. "He really had a prankster's mentality trapped behind that stoic Japanese surface," his son said in his eulogy. For Mr. Yatsushiro, no proffered bouquet of flowers was complete unless he had hidden a rubber cockroach inside, his son said. Whenever his kids opened a new toy, "He'd have to look at it to see if there were any sharp edges, and he'd say, 'I have to go get my file; I'm going to file down that sharp edge,' " his son said. "A true engineer, always looking for design flaws." Mr. Yatsushiro was also is survived by daughters Christine Guro and Therese Vickers; brothers Toshio, Yasuo and Tamio; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. [Source: Chicago sun-Times | Maureen O’Donnell | 10 Feb 2013 ++]
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DoD Pay and Benefits Update 01: Calling it “a matter of fundamental equity,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta signed a memorandum 11 FEB to the service secretaries and the Pentagon’s top personnel official extending benefits to same-sex partners of service members. Here is the secretary’s announcement of the policy change:
"Seventeen months ago, the United States military ended the policy of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.’ We have implemented the repeal of that policy and made clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place in the Department of Defense.
"At the time of repeal, I committed to reviewing benefits that had not previously been available to same-sex partners based on existing law and policy. It is a matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country. The department already provides a group of benefits that are member-designated. Today, I am pleased to announce that after a thorough and deliberate review, the department will extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of service members.
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"Taking care of our service members and honoring the sacrifices of all military families are two core values of this nation. Extending these benefits is an appropriate next step under current law to ensure that all service members receive equal support for what they do to protect this nation.
"One of the legal limitations to providing all benefits at this time is the Defense of Marriage Act, which is still the law of the land. There are certain benefits that can only be provided to spouses as defined by that law, which is now being reviewed by the United States Supreme Court. While it will not change during my tenure as secretary of defense, I foresee a time when the law will allow the department to grant full benefits to service members and their dependents, irrespective of sexual orientation. Until then, the department will continue to comply with current law while doing all we can to take care of all soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and their families.
"While the implementation of additional benefits will require substantial policy revisions and training, it is my expectation that these benefits will be made available as expeditiously as possible. One of the great successes at the Department of Defense has been the implementation of DADT repeal. It has been highly professional and has strengthened our military community. I am confident in the military services' ability to effectively implement these changes over the coming months."
[Source: AFPS 11 Feb 2013 ++]
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Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2014: Could this be the year that the “doc fix” is finally fixed? It will be if Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Joe Heck, (R-NV) have their way. They introduced the Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act that would ensure patient access to physicians while promoting efficiency, quality and value in health care delivery. The bipartisan legislation would permanently repeal the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and defines a clear path toward comprehensive reforms of Medicare payment and delivery systems. For years, the SGR formula which is used to determine payments for physicians’ services under Medicare and TRICARE, has threatened to impose steep cuts in Medicare payments for physicians who provide care to seniors and military beneficiaries. The cuts drive physicians out of Medicare, creating severe access problems for senior citizens and members of the military community. The fiscal cliff legislation passed by Congress at the end of the year contained a one-year payment patch for physicians who treat Medicare/TRICARE patients. The legislation would implement delivery system and payment reforms that would ensure long-term stability in the Medicare physician payment system and would contain\ the rising growth in health care costs. The Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act:
 Permanently repeals the SGR formula;
 Provides annual positive payment updates for all physicians for four years;
 Ensures access to preventive care, care coordination, and primary care services through increased payment updates for those services;
 Aggressively tests and evaluates new payment and delivery models;
 Identifies a variety of unique payment models to provide options for providers across medical specialties, practice types, and geographic regions;
 Stabilizes payment rates for providers who demonstrate a commitment to quality and efficiency within a fee-for-service model; and,
 Ensures long-term stability in the Medicare physician payment system through predictable updates that accurately reflect the cost and value of providing health care services in coordinated care models.
[Source: AUSA Leg Up 111 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 19: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced 11 FEB that it has made significant progress in providing increased access to mental health care services for our Nation’s Veterans by hiring new mental health professionals. Last year, Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced a goal to hire 1,600 new mental health clinical providers and 300 administrative support staff. The President’s Aug. 31, 2012, Executive Order requires the positions to be filled by June 30, 2013. As of 29 JAN, VA has hired 1,058 mental health clinical providers and 223 administrative support staff in support of this specific goal. “We aren’t slowing down our efforts even after these initial positive results,” said Shinseki. “We still need to hire more mental health professionals in order to reach our goal, but each new hire means we can treat more Veterans and provide greater access to our mental health services.”
Overall, VA has set aggressive goals to fill these new positions as well as existing and projected mental health vacancies within the VA system. As of Jan. 29, VA has hired a total of 3,262 mental health professionals and administrative support staff to serve Veterans since the goal was announced, which includes the new 1,058 mental health clinical providers and 223 administrative support staff. The mental health professionals hired include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, licensed professional mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and addictions therapists. VA provides a comprehensive system of high-quality mental health treatments and services to Veterans. The department is utilizing many tools to recruit and retain one of the largest mental health care workforces in the nation to serve Veterans better by providing enhanced services, expanded access, longer clinic hours, and increased telemental health capability to deliver services. “Today, as Veterans return home from missions in Afghanistan and those who previously returned from Iraq, it is imperative that we ensure they have access to timely, high-quality mental health care,” said Undersecretary for Health Dr. Robert A. Petzel. “The invisible scars of war follow them as they return from theater. It is our responsibility to identify these wounds, treat them and prevent the long-term physical, mental and social consequences of them.”
In accordance with the President’s Aug. 31, 2012, Executive Order, VA has also completed hiring and training of additional staff to increase the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255, press 1) and phone lines have been increased by 50 percent. As of Dec. 31, 2012, the Veterans Crisis Line has received over 747,000 calls, over 83,000 chats, as well as over 5,000 texts, and has saved more than 26,000 Veterans in imminent danger. There are many Veterans who are willing to seek treatment and to share their experiences with mental health issues when they share a common bond of duty, honor, and service with the provider. VA is in the process of hiring and training 800 Peer Specialists in the coming year. Additionally, VA has awarded a contract to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance to provide certification training for Peer Specialists. This peer staff is expected to all be hired by Dec. 31, 2013, and will work as members of mental health teams.
The number of Veterans receiving specialized mental health treatment from VA has risen each year, from 927,052 in fiscal year (FY) 2006 to more than 1.3 million in FY 2012. One major reason for this increase is VA’s proactive screening of all Veterans to identify those who may have symptoms of depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), problem use of alcohol or who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST).
Mental health care providers seeking opportunities to serve our Nation’s Veterans can find additional information about rewarding VA careers and apply for jobs online at www.vacareers.va.gov and www.usajobs.gov. To locate the nearest VA facility or Vet Center for enrollment and to get scheduled for care, Veterans can visit VA’s website at www.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 11 Feb 2013 ++]
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Food Nutrition Labels: The Nutrition Facts label you see on nearly all food at the store may soon get a makeover. The FDA recently announced plans to update the label, which turned 20 this year. But superficial
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changes won’t help the shopper who doesn’t understand that not all calories are created equally. In other words, food labels are most helpful to us (and our new year’s resolutions) when we read them to understand not just how much nutrition but what kind of nutrition is in a food. The following can help you understand the quantity and quality of the calories you eat. No matter what the Nutrition Facts label happens to look like you should focus on:
Fiber
 Quality: There are two types of fiber (soluble and insoluble) – but don’t worry about that. Plant-based fiber sources generally contain both types, so instead worry about eating a variety of fiber-filled foods like whole grains and whole foods (produce, beans, nuts, and seeds).
 Quantity: The nonprofit Institute of Medicine recommends 21 to 26 total grams a day for women and 30 to 38 for men.
 Bottom line: Fill up on fiber by filling your shopping cart with whole grains and whole foods. What to limit
Fat
 Quality: Understanding fats can be overwhelming so focus on the are three basic types: good, bad, and ugly. Plant-based and fish-based fat sources are good and should be where you get most of your fat from. Animal-based fats are bad and should be limited. Man-made trans fats (a.k.a. partially hydrogenated oils) are ugly and should be avoided completely.
 Quantity: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend getting 20 to 35 percent of your calories from fat. That means that on average, the number of “Calories from Fat” on a food label divided by the number of “Calories” should equal 0.2 to 0.35. That only applies to good and bad fats, however. To avoid ugly fats, check out Trans Fats: When Cheap Means Costly.
 Bottom line: Go for the good, limit the bad, and utterly avoid the ugly.
Sodium
 Quality: Sodium is sodium, so focus on quantity. Like fat and cholesterol, our bodies need sodium to function properly, but most Americans consume too much, which can lead to costly health problems.
 Quantity: The CDC recommends 2,300 milligrams a day maximum.
 Bottom line: Monitor milligrams.
Sugar
 Quality: There are two basic types of sugar - natural and added. Natural sugar is built into foods by Mother Nature (oranges, for example, contain natural sugar). Added sugar is added by the manufacturer (orange soda, for example, contains added sugar). To tell whether a food contains added sugar, read the ingredients. It will be listed as sugar, cane sugar, honey, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or fructose, for example.
 Quantity: You have to understand the distinction between natural and added sugar so you can watch out for added sugar. The American Heart Association recommends about 30 grams (that’s about 6 teaspoons) a day maximum for women and 45 grams (about 9 teaspoons) for men.
 Bottom line: Avoid added sugar by scrutinizing ingredient lists.
Protein
 Quality: Protein comes from a wide variety of sources, both animal and plant-based. To help you limit bad fat and load up on fiber, focus on lean meats (like poultry and fish instead of red meat) and plant-based protein sources like beans, nuts, and seeds.
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 Quantity: Most Americans eat more protein than they need, which is more reason to focus on the types of protein you eat instead of the quantity. (Although the CDC recommends 46 grams for women and 56 for men.)
 Bottom line: You probably already eat enough quantity, so remember it’s all about quality.
[Source” MoneyTalksNews | Karla Bowsher | 6 FEB 2013 ++]
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VA Cemeteries Update 10: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 7 FEB that a review of every grave in the national cemetery system found 15 sets of remains buried in the wrong spots and nearly 800 other problems. Most of those other issues were unmarked or mismarked graves. The department's announcement came shortly after its inspector general released a report critical of how the VA initially accounted for the final resting place of generations of veterans and their families. That report was prompted by the discovery of errors at a national cemetery in Texas in 2011. The review was marred by a lack of "an impartial and independent review procedure," the audit found. VA officials also did not "provide sufficient time and resources," and "cemetery directors were overwhelmed and felt pressure to complete the review by the target date." After the inspector general requested that the VA examine its cemeteries with better procedures, the VA looked at nine cemeteries and found 146 problems that had not been reported, including at Winchester National Cemetery in Virginia.
In a statement, Steve Muro, the VA's undersecretary for memorial affairs, apologized to affected families and said the department "strives to operate the best cemetery system in the world. That is why we self-initiated this review of our entire cemetery system." The 14-month review encompassed 3.2 million grave sites in 131 national cemeteries and other burial sites under the management of the VA's National Cemetery Administration. It was the first time the administration had taken on such a task in the 150-year history of the national cemetery system, where veterans from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. Although the error rate was low — less than 0.0003 percent — Muro said that "one error is one too many." Rep. Jeff Miller, (R-FL), the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said in a statement that "while the review was a step in the right direction, we are disappointed that parts of the process were rushed, mismanaged and lacked independent analysis."
The VA discovered burial problems in 2011, when workers were testing the accuracy of new maps at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio and realized that 47 markers were one space over from where they were supposed to be. Officials said the majority of the errors occurred in graves at least 40 years old and 80 errors occurred in graves from the Civil War era. The problems were largely the result of sloppy work during a renovation procedure known as "raise and realign." Headstones and markers were temporarily removed from the ground and cleaned while sod was repaired. But workers then reinserted the markers in the wrong places. Raise-and-realign work is what caused 50 headstones to be offset at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., the audit found, an error that resulted in two people being buried in the wrong places. To save space at sought-after national cemeteries, family members are typically buried in the same plot. If a headstone is incorrectly marked, a loved one could end up in the wrong place. Officials have said they have since adopted procedures that should prevent that problem.
The burial errors at Riverside were not included in the initial review, the audit found. In addition to Riverside and Winchester, the audit also found other previously unreported problems, at Wood National Cemetery in Wisconsin and Philadelphia National Cemetery. At Winchester, more than half of the 60 errors were headstones that had sunk below ground. The audit also found that the cemetery's map had not been updated since 1956, even though 10 percent of its burials have occurred since then. The audit said that cemetery officials "could not explain why the errors were not identified" in the initial review. In all, 54 cemeteries and burial sites across the country have reported
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problems. The revelations of issues in the VA's system followed word of serious problems at Arlington National Cemetery — unmarked and mismarked graves, urns that had been unearthed and dumped in a dirt pile — that officials went to great lengths to remedy. The VA said it, too, will tighten procedures as a result of the findings. It said Thursday that it will continue to conduct audits of 17 cemeteries where problems were discovered. It also has required contractors pulling up tombstones during raise-and-realign projects to leave the headstones at the grave sites. In addition, it is working to ensure that cemetery maps are updated and accurate. Muro said the department will use "the experience gained over the last year to create a new grave site accounting system." Ray Kelley, the legislative director of Veterans of Foreign Wars, praised the VA for the steps it has taken. "I don't think there was any intended wrongdoing," he said. "I think they are trying to correct all the wrongs." [Source: Washington Post | Christian Davenport | 8 Feb 2013 ++]
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TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order Update 03: TRICARE pharmacy copay increases prompted a number of additional questions (below) on how mail-order refill requirements for TRICARE For Life beneficiaries will be implemented later this year (no earlier than summer, and it could be later).
Q. I live in Arizona, where temperatures routinely are over 100 degrees. Won’t drugs lose their potency if they ride around in a hot mail truck all day or sit on a porch or in a mailbox?
Answer: Express Scripts (whose TRICARE distribution center is in Tempe AZ) officials say the temperature issue is mainly a longer-term storage concern. Sitting in a delivery vehicle or mailbox at higher temperatures won’t cause a loss of potency for most drugs. The ones for which that could be an issue are mailed in special temperature-controlled packaging and closely tracked to delivery.
Q. My wife and I get our prescriptions from a military pharmacy. Will we have to sign up for mail-order refills and stop going to the base?
Answer: No. You can still get refills through military pharmacies if you choose. The restriction on maintenance medication refills for Medicare-eligibles only applies to retail pharmacies, not military pharmacies.
Q. My mother is a 91-year old surviving spouse who is a TFL beneficiary. She lives on her own – without a computer. How will TRICARE and Express Scripts handle this new requirement with her?
Answer: A mail-order refill account can be set up pretty quickly and easily by phone. Still, some seniors may have physical disabilities and cognitive impairments which may be problematic. We are working with DoD to help establish reasonable criteria for exemption from the mandatory program.
Q. My spouse has had difficulty obtaining a prescribed narcotic from the mail-order pharmacy. The prescription is only for a 30 day period then requires a new one. How will this be handled?
Answer: Only refillable medications will be affected by the mail-order/military pharmacy requirement. We understand that narcotic drugs will be excluded from the requirement. Although some narcotics may be used for chronic conditions, all narcotics will be exempt.
Q. How do I contact Express Scripts to set up a mail-order account and get my prescriptions transferred?
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Answer: You can do that on the web at http://express-scripts.com/TRICARE/. Many prefer to do it by phone at 1-877-363-1433 (for the hearing impaired, TTY 1-877-540-6261).
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 8 Feb 2013 ++]
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DoD/VA Seamless Transition Update 15: In early FEB the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs announced that they were throwing in the towel on a computer project they had been working on for over 25 years. The goal was to create a single computer system to keep a lifetime medical record. But on 5 FEB the White House announced that it was stopping the system’s development because it cost too much. This is a huge disappointment to us and numerous members of Congress. This has been a continuing goal and project and according to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a long time proponent of a seamless transition it has already cost over $1 billion in R &D. During the announcement Secretaries Panetta and Shinseki said that the medical records will be readable by both existing systems by 2014. Though they did not explain how that was going to happen. Secretary Panetta basically said the perfect should not stop the good:”This is a struggle that has gone on for a long number of years. Some have argued that we should build a perfect system. But for the first time, both DOD and VA have come together to say we can get this done, we can get it done in an effective way that does the job." Expressing criticism of the decision, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chair Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) said, "The decision by DOD and VA to turn their backs on a truly integrated electronic health record system is deeply troubling. The need for a record system integrated across all DOD and VA components has been universally accepted for years." [Source: News for the Enlisted | Feb 2013 ++]
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PTSD Update 127: Over the past decade, about half a million veterans have received diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. Thousands have received both. Yet underlying the growing numbers lies a disconcerting question: How many of those diagnoses are definitive? And how many more have been missed? No one can say. Though PTSD is hardly new, diagnoses still largely rely on self-reported symptoms. And while severe brain injuries are often clearly diagnosable, finding evidence of mild T.B.I.'s, particularly older ones, can be all but impossible. It means that for a soldier who, five years after duty in Iraq, still feels "not right," with symptoms from headaches to sleeping problems to irritability, doctors can only guess at the cause. Maybe PTSD. Maybe T.B.I. Maybe both.
Now, in one of the largest studies of its kind, a team of researchers based out of New York University's medical school have begun a five-year study to find biological signals, known as biomarkers, that could provide reliable, objective evidence of those so-called invisible injuries of war. "We want to elevate mental health to standard physical health," said Dr. Charles R. Marmar, chairman of the psychiatry department at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the lead investigator on the project. "You don't go from having shortness of breath to having cardiac surgery; you have a series of objective lab tests first," he said. "We would like to do the same thing with PTSD and T.B.I. That is, go beyond subjective reports." Dr. Marmar faces deep skepticism that biological signals can be found for psychiatric disorders like PTSD or depression, which his group is also studying, or even a less severe brain injury. But while previous quests have failed to produce results that could be replicated, private foundations and the government still seem willing to finance new efforts, amid the growing tally of disabled veterans.
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the military's medical school in Bethesda, Md., are studying soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., in search of PTSD biomarkers. And Draper Laboratory, a nonprofit research company based in Cambridge, Mass., has recruited experts to look for biomarkers for the disorder. Dr. Marmar's project is significant both because of its size - researchers hope to recruit 1,500 subjects - but
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also because much of its financing is already guaranteed through a $17 million grant from the Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, founded by the billionaire hedge-fund manager. Dr. Marmar hopes to match that with federal grants.
Biomarkers are physiological road signs that can tell doctors whether a person has a disease or injury, or is likely to contract a particular ailment. Tissue damaged by a heart attack releases chemicals into the blood that can be detected. Abnormal levels of the proteins amyloid and tau, as well as shrinkage of certain areas of the brain, are considered markers of Alzheimer's disease. The lack of reliable markers for PTSD and mild T.B.I. has had significant consequences, experts say. Without clear-cut tests to spot them early, the disorders can go undetected until symptoms become disabling. Misdiagnoses readily occur, leading to ineffective or even damaging treatments. And because diagnoses rely heavily on self-reported symptoms, weeding out fraudulent claims for disability benefits can be difficult and contentious. Beyond confirming or debunking diagnoses, dependable biomarkers could also be used to determine whether treatments for PTSD or T.B.I. are effective.
Dr. Marmar said a long-term goal is to use marker research to develop inexpensive tests for PTSD and T.B.I. - ideally, he said, like home pregnancy tests. The study plans to look at five groups, each consisting of 300 veterans: people with PTSD; with T.B.I.; with both; and with depression but without PTSD or T.B.I. The fifth group will comprise veterans with combat deployments who show no symptoms of any of those disorders. The subjects will undergo a diverse battery of tests to analyze hormone levels, blood chemistry, genetic makeup, brain structure and even voices. One team will use magnetic resonance imaging to compare the brain structures of healthy people with those of people with PTSD. Preliminary data suggests that people with the disorder may have detectable damage in areas of the brain involved in processing memories and in regulating emotions like fear or arousal, said Dr. Michael Weiner, a professor of radiology at the University of California, San Francisco, who will assist in image analysis. Another team will use brain imaging to test a theory that abnormalities in the thalamus, a part of the central brain that acts as a switchboard for nerve signals, are an indication of head trauma, said Dr. Robert I. Grossman, dean and chief executive of the Langone Medical Center and a senior adviser on the study. "We've seen this in 25 to 30 patients," Dr. Grossman said. "But you need hundreds of patients to validate the hypothesis. That's the beauty of this project." Other researchers will look for biomarkers in genes, blood and hormones. One group will even analyze audio recordings of speech to see whether evidence of PTSD can be found in the pitch, timber and tone of voices.
Bruce Knoth, a software engineer with SRI International, a research institute based in Northern California that is working with Dr. Marmar, said those recordings would be run through software that extracts scores of features in each voice. They will search for patterns in the voices of veterans with PTSD or T.B.I., then compare those with the voices of healthy people. The technique, based on the notion that voices are as unique as fingerprints, is in its infancy. Mr. Knoth said similar research is being used to try to identify markers for suicidal behavior. Though scientists have made some strides in identifying biomarkers for T.B.I., there has been minimal progress in identifying them for PTSD or depression, and many mental health experts believe the search is futile. But Dr. Marmar asserted that recent advances in genetic research and brain imaging have provided powerful new tools for studying the structure and functioning of the nervous system - without invasive procedures. "We're at the beginning, it's true," he said. "We should be like cardiologists, able to test biologically for mental health problems. The difficulty is that while the heart is a pump, the brain is 100 orders more complicated." [Source: New York Times | James Dao | 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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PTSD Update 128: The Rand Corporation is recruiting military service members with PTSD/Depression to a study funded by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & TBI (DCoE). They say, ”We are researchers looking for U.S. military service members (active duty, reservist, or National Guard)
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to participate in a study on how technology is used to seek information about PTSD or depression. Eligible respondents will receive a $25 Amazon gift card for completing the survey. The survey is completely ANONYMOUS and will not be linked to any identifying information. To participate, please visit http://techstudy.org . Use referral code: WwnEW” [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 8 Feb 2013 ++]
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Independent Budget FY 2014: The White House may be late in preparing its 2014 budget request, but a powerful collection of veterans groups unveiled their own plan 5 FEB for a $4.8 billion increase in veterans health care, benefits administration, construction and medical research funds. Prepared by four groups — Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and AmVets — the so-called Independent Budget is endorsed by 45 military, veterans and charitable organizations and will be used as a benchmark to decide if the Obama administration’s Veterans Affairs Department budget request for 2014 is adequate. This is the 27th such budget sent to the White House and Congress.
Veterans are asking for a $3.3 billion increase for health care over the 2013 budget, $1.2 billion more than the Obama administration estimated would be needed for medical programs. In their report detailing the request, the groups say there are several reasons for what amounts to a 6 percent increase: They expect an influx of new veterans, some severely disabled and some needing care as a result of reductions in the active-duty military, and they also anticipate more veterans may turn to VA as the cost of private-sector health care spirals, the report says. The budget also asks for a 4.8 percent increase for medical and prosthetic research, a 10.4 percent increase in benefits administration aimed at speeding the processing and accuracy of benefits claims, and a whopping 77 percent increase in construction funds to pay for what the report says are desperately needed and overdue projects. In a statement, VFW National Commander John Hamilton said VA has been getting “less than half” of what it needs to modernize facilities. “Just as disabled veterans require more medical assistance as they age, so do VA medical facilities that average more than 60 years old. “Though we have yet to see what the administration is proposing for fiscal year 2014, we fear the weak economy will again influence what the administration requests for major and minor construction,” he said.
The report urges continued attention to helping new veterans find jobs. “With more than 800,000 unemployed veterans, and nearly 12 percent of recent veterans searching for work, now is the time for this administration and Congress to stand up for our heroes and ensure they are able to provide for themselves and their families,” said AMVETS National Commander Cleve Geer. Employment programs have been mentioned as a legislative priority by the chairmen of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees and are expected to be discussed at hearings in February and March when military and veterans groups are invited to testify before the two panels. Another issue that won’t go away is the backlog of benefits claims. The report says VA has spent enough time looking at ways to improve the process and should be pushed to implement transformative technology and policies before the end of the calendar year. More staff to process claims might help, the report says, but the groups do not recommend any specific increase. DAV National Commander Larry Polzin said he is encouraged by VA’s claims efforts. “We look forward to continued progress in improved accuracy and timeliness,” he said, “but uncertainty about funding for VA could have far-reaching consequences for our nation’s injured and ill veterans and their families.” [Source: NavyTimes | Rick Maze | 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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BRAC Update 30: The Pentagon will propose another round of base realignment and closure as part of its fiscal 2014 budget request, along with a smaller-than-expected pay increase for servicemembers and savings from Tricare and retirement, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday in an interview with Stars and Stripes.
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Panetta laid out what the fiscal 2014 defense budget “should be like” to a small group of reporters, while warning that if Congress fails to approve the Pentagon’s fiscal 2013 budget request or avert automatic, across-the-board spending cuts, the DOD will be forced to “throw the strategy out the window.” Panetta and President Barack Obama raised the BRAC idea in January 2012, but lawmakers from both parties quickly squelched the idea, saying the long-term savings weren’t worth the short-term costs. On 6 FEB, Panetta said that in the current budget environment, closing bases just make sense. For a Congress that is talking about a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and about across-the-board sequester cuts, “what do they expect?” Panetta said. “You can’t have a huge infrastructure supporting a reduced force.”
The Pentagon was forced to absorb about $487 billion in cuts over 10 years as part of a 2011 deal to solve a previous debt-ceiling crisis, and the DOD’s budget proposal for fiscal 2014 reflects those cuts. It includes the planned reduction of the Army to 490,000 and the Marine Corps to 182,000, as well as proposed cuts to the Navy and Air Force budgets that were rejected by Congress for the 2013 fiscal year. The budget proposal also includes about $30 billion in cuts to overhead and “inefficiencies,” as well as investments in the growth of special operations forces, sea-based drones, cybersecurity forces and capabilities and space systems, Panetta said. While the Pentagon had expected to include a 1.7 percent pay raise for servicemembers for 2014, Panetta said he will instead include a 1 percent pay increase to cut overall costs, even if sequestration doesn’t take effect. “We’ve always said we’ve got to find savings (in military pay), because that’s an area that’s grown by 80 percent over the last decade,” he said. “If we don’t get those costs under control, what will happen is we’ll have to further reduce the size of the force, sacrifice readiness.”
If the DOD faces further cuts, particularly the $50 billion per year in cuts for 10 years that sequestration would mean, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said there could be significant cuts to the size of the force. Dempsey used the example of the Army, which is downsizing from nearly 570,000 to 520,000 active-duty soldiers by 2016 because of the 2011 Budget Control Act. Sequestration would mean cutting double the amount of money, he said, which could mean doubling the force reduction. “Now, I don’t think it will be that clean, but clearly if sequestration hits, there will be implications for force structure,” Dempsey said. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Jennifer Hlad | 7 Feb 2013 ++]
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Veteran Status for Guard Update 02: Lt. Cmdr. Jack Townsend, a Navy Reserve retiree in Richmond, Va., first became aware a decade ago that he wasn’t considered a military “veteran” under federal law. It’s been bothering him ever since. Townsend was applying for a job when asked for a copy of his DD Form 214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” to prove veteran status. Townsend, who had earned his reserve commission through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, didn’t have a DD 214 because he never had served under active duty orders. He did have his Navy Reserve retirement letter to verify 24 years of service. But employers are schooled to ask for the DD 214, proof from a job seeker of veteran status for completing a period of active duty service. “It put me in a bad light,” Townsend said. Townsend said it illogical that the law denies Reserve retirees veteran status but they can draw military retirement at age 60, get military health care, shop on base and the Department of Veterans Affairs even finds them eligible for certain benefits including VA guaranteed home loans. “The only thing I’m lacking,” said Townsend, “is the paperwork.” After years of complaints by reserve component retirees, a change to their veteran status may be near.
Roger Miller, 60, of Denver, Colo., who retired from the Navy Reserve at the same rank also after 24 years, spent six of his years as an Air Force Reserve enlistee, loading cargo on aircraft that others crewed. “I knew that to be classified a veteran you had to have 180 days of continuous active duty, not including basic training or tech school. I finished up tech school at 179 days,” Miller said, just as the Air Force intended. Non-veteran status didn’t string
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Miller until years later when he applied for federal civilian positions that fit his experience well in television and mass communications. He couldn’t, however, claim veterans’ preference points and he lost those jobs to former servicemembers with active duty time. “People ask me, ‘Are you a veteran?’ I say well, yeah, I served 24 years in the Reserve so I consider myself a veteran -- even though the government doesn’t.’ That’s my answer to them,” Miller said.
The Military Coalition, an umbrella organization for 34 military associations and veterans’ groups, is restarting a lobbying campaign for the new Congress and will push for passage of a bill to alter the definition of “veteran” for more than 200,000 Reserve and National Guard retirees. The Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act will be re-introduced this month in the House by Reps. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Jon Runyan (R-NJ), of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Co-sponsors in the Senate will be John Boozman (R) and Mark Pryor (D), a bipartisan team from Arkansas, at least on this issue. The House has passed this legislation twice. It died each time in the Senate on opposition from Richard Burr (NC), ranking Republican on the veterans affairs committee. Burr’s staff could not be reached to comment. But advocates say the senator is worried that extending veterans status to reserve component retirees would open the door to more benefits. Proponents say the bill specifically states that those to be honored as veterans in the bill “shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason” of it. So there is no “nose under the tent” benefit issue that should worry Burr, say coalition representatives leading the fight for the bill. These 'veterans,' for example, would still not enjoy preference points in competing for federal jobs.
The Congressional Budget Office is persuaded, scoring the bill as “cost neutral.” Yet the coalition is working with sponsors to add more phrasing that would allay any remaining concerns Burr might have. “To call yourself a veteran is one of the highest honors you can have after you leave the military. It’s an acknowledgement of one’s service,” said Anthony A. Wallis, with the Association of the United States Navy. Most of the retirees targeted by the bill served in an era when it was commonplace to complete Reserve and Guard careers without active service. That’s almost unfathomable today given Guard and Reserve operations since 9/11. “The population we are fighting for in this legislation is diminishing over time,” said Bob Norton, deputy director of government relations for Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). “These are mostly Cold War-era folks, people who served in Reserve and Guard units but before first Gulf War, and were never called up during their careers.” But Norton noted there still are reserve component careerists serving today, including National Guard technicians, who prepare others for call up but are not mobilized themselves for overseas contingencies or national emergencies. So these members too would be honored as veterans if they reach Guard or Reserve retirement for serving at least 20 years.
Another reason Burr should not fear a benefit expansion, Norton said, is that every benefit provided to veterans is governed by its own restrictive language specifying who is eligible. None simply goes to “any veteran.” The bill being drafted would only extend veteran status to reserve component retirees, not to many more thousands of Reserve and Guard personnel who left before earning retirement. Some members of the coalition may see the issue differently, Norton said, but at MOAA “our feeling is that this honor really should be reserved for those who have completed a full career.” Miller does feel differently. He thinks any length of honorable service should suffice, whether six years in the Reserve or 24 years. “I would still like to be recognized as a veteran, officially by the government, because I did serve 24 years,” Miller added. “And if you have talked to other reservists you know that it wasn’t just that one weekend a month you did your duty.” [Source: Stars & Stripesv | Tom Philpott | 7 Feb 2013 ++]
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Filipino Vet Inequities Update 27: As many Filipino veterans are dying off, a new bid has been launched in Congress to aid those who are unable to win recognition and payment for their services to the United States during World War II. Rep. Joe Heck, (R-NV) reintroduced a bill 4 FEB that instructs the Department of
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Veterans Affairs to accept documentation from the Philippine government that the veterans had assisted American forces during the war. Congress in 2009 authorized one-time payments to Filipinos who served as soldiers, guerrillas and scouts alongside U.S. forces fighting the Japanese. More than 41,000 claims were filed but only 12,600 were found eligible. While some veterans missed the September 2010 deadline, others were denied compensation because guerrilla rosters submitted as documentation were rejected by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Personnel Records Center, which is the depository for the service records of individuals. Heck's bill would direct the VA to accept the paperwork and to accept one valid document as acceptable proof, rather than multiples, and it would direct the Army to cooperate. It would extend the deadline for eligible veterans to apply. The 2009 law allows a $15,000 payment to eligible Filipino veterans who are now U.S. citizens and $9,000 for those living in the Philippines.
The action comes as World War II veterans continue to pass away. "The "Mighty Five" - Filipino-American veterans from Southern Nevada denied compensation and whose cause was taken up in Las Vegas - have been reduced to two over the past year with the deaths of Augusto Oppus, Romeo Barreras and Silverio Cuaresma. Barreras died last month at 85. Cuaresma, who was 100, died two weeks ago in Las Vegas. "Simply put, these men fought so that the Allies could defeat the Japanese in the Pacific," Heck said in a House speech Tuesday. "If they can show they fought, let's fulfill our promise to them so they can live out their years knowing the United States has officially recognized their service." In the Senate, Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) plans to reintroduce a Filipino veterans compensation bill as work gets under way on the Veterans Affairs committee on which he sits, a spokeswoman said. The Obama administration has convened a group of federal officials from various agencies to look into the issue, but when it would complete its work was unclear. [Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal | Steve Tetreault | 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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VAMC Orlando Update 04: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has fired another volley in its ongoing showdown with the main contractor for the much-delayed Orlando VA Medical Center. The VA has issued a "Show Cause" notice to hospital contractor Brasfield & Gorrie. The legal order basically asks the contractor why it should not be fired.Brasfield & Gorrie haD until 11 FEB to respond to the VA's claims, brought last week. "It's getting to where there may be some action by the VA to terminate the contractor," said U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who met with both parties last month. "I would hope that's not the case. I hope they can continue the work, get the project done and settle the differences afterward." If the contractor is fired, hospital completion would be delayed even further because of the time needed to hire a new builder and go through the contracting process, he said. "The VA's latest actions only intensify my serious reservations as to whether they can meet their stated deadline of opening the facility in July of 2013," said U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Pensacola, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
B&G representatives said in a written statement: "Brasfield & Gorrie does not agree with the conclusions asserted in the VA's recent Show Cause and will respond as requested within the next few days. Brasfield & Gorrie's primary goal has always been to complete this project as quickly as possible." The $665 million hospital was initially scheduled to open last October, but thousands of plan changes, poor communication and disagreements have stalled construction, according to the 90-year-old construction firm. "If this were a company with a shoddy reputation, eyebrows would be raised," said Mica. "But Brasfield & Gorrie has built countless structures, some more complex than this, with none of this kind of conflict. "The contractor has a reputation of doing a professional job with no conflicts," said Mica, "and the opposite is true of the VA." The cause notice comes on the heels of two cure notices the VA issued, which asked B&G to outline how they planned to accelerate the project and meet the summer completion date.
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The second cure notice, sent last month, cited B&G's "failure to diligently pursue work, have sufficient workforce on site" and "meet quality standards." The VA called B&G's response unacceptable. "B&G failed to describe how it would address or cure the deficiencies cited in the notice," said VA spokeswoman Josephine Schuda. The Show Cause notice asks B&G to provide facts to demonstrate whether "its failure to perform arose from causes beyond its control and without fault or negligence on the contractor's part." Once the VA reviews that response, officials will determine whether the contractor is in default of the contract. "The VA wants a date for completion, but B&G says it can't provide a date until it gets the balance of the design from the VA," said Mica.
The VA has also stopped paying the contractor, putting the contractor in a financial bind, said Mica. "B&G can only front so much money," said Mica, who plans to talk with Miller about bringing in mediation to resolve the dispute. Orlando Sentinel | Marni Jameson | 5 Feb 2013 ++]
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Pennsylvania Vet License Plates: The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced 4 FEB that a new license plate honoring veterans is now available to the public. The new plate features the image of a bald eagle and an American flag. It costs $35, with $15 from each sale will support assist Pennsylvania veterans and their families through grants to veterans service organizations and other charitable organizations. Joan Nissley, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said that although the new plates are intended to help and honor veterans, they may be purchased by anyone. [Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Alex Zimmerman | 4 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA VBMS Update 01: The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the continual process of rolling out the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), and the Hartford, Conn. office is leading the way. In September, the Connecticut office was the first to switch over to VBMS, and "the digital, paperless system now used in 18 locations around the nation, is to be fielded in all 56 offices by the end of" 2013 The Washington Post reported. According to the VA, VBMS is a way for the agency to cut down the average processing time when a Veteran files a claim, on average from 240 days to 119. The $537 million system was implemented in part due to a backlog of paperwork "of claims filed by veterans seeking disability benefits has soared in recent years as troops have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and because of a policy change making it easier for Vietnam veterans to file Agent Orange-related claims," The Washington Post reported in a July 2012 story. In order to go all-paperless, the VA will have to scan and extract data from the current paper claims, a daunting task that the VA apparently has no detailed plans for, according to services representatives. Other problems include older veterans continuing to file on paper
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and slow software systems. In April 2012, FCW reported on a hearing in which veterans’ representatives said getting rid of the claims backlog should not be the only priority. Jeffrey Hall, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said that reforms for the VA should dig deeper. "While the elimination of the backlog will be a welcome milestone, we must remember that eliminating the backlog is not necessarily the same goal as reforming the claims processing system, nor does it guarantee that veterans are better served," Hall said. "The backlog is a symptom, not the root cause." [Source: FCW | Emily Cole | 4 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Million Veteran Program Update 03: The Veterans Affairs Department has kicked off a massive study in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Defense Department to determine the cause of veterans’ deaths since 1979, an effort that requires matching records of 34 million service personnel with death certificates. Aaron Schneiderman, acting director of VA’s epidemiology program, said the National Mortality Study will first focus on roughly 1 million veterans who served on active duty during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars from 2001 through 2010, which among other things will help the VA determine the scope of veteran suicides on a national basis. These matches only will include personal information such as name, date of birth and Social Security number; they will not include Defense health records. A veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes, according to recent estimates from the VA. Suicides by active duty military personnel in 2012 hit 349, more than the 295 Americans who died in combat in Afghanistan.
CDC’s Division of Vital Statistics at the National Center for Health Statistics will match records provided by Defense with death certificate information from all 50 states contained in the National Death Index, said NDI director Lillian Ingster. The NDI is a computerized index of death record information on file in state vital statistics offices and is used by epidemiologists and other health and medical investigators to help determine causes of death. Ingster said the 34 million records include everyone who has served in the military since 1979 -- when the NDI went into operation. The study will involve the largest matching exercise in which she has ever engaged. “This is enormous,” Ingster said. Her division has been grinding through the data since the end of 2012, with completion of the 34 million matches expected in a matter of months. She said the veteran matching process encountered a few hiccups as the NDI was switched from a mainframe to a server-based environment. Schneiderman said death certificates include standardized sources of information on causes of deaths, including drug overdoses and chronic diseases. Once the matches are completed, the results will help VA determine “how to care for veterans.”
Schneiderman said once VA receives the data match file from CDC its first task will be to conduct a mortality study of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans that will include an evaluation of traumatic injury deaths (suicides and car crashes) and poisonings (drug overdose). He added that the study also will help VA determine if there are factors that result in a higher number of veteran deaths than in the general population. VA can then use information to “drive down” particular causes of death, he said. Ingster agreed, and said the medical research community and VA can use the study to improve care. Dr. Remington Nevin, a former Army epidemiologist who left the service this fall to pursue a degree in public health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said Defense and VA have made a good start in developing a national veteran mortality database, but cautioned that death certificates prepared by local coroners “can be pretty sloppy and there is no quality control.” Nevin said VA could get better insight into veteran suicides if it also tapped into the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System, which covers only 18 states. Ingster said CDC is not using this system for the VA national mortality study.
If all 50 states signed on to the National Violent Death Reporting System it would be a valuable resource to help VA pinpoint veteran suicides, Nevin said. [Source: NextGov | Bob Brewin | 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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New Mexico Wants Military Retirees: A perennial bill to exempt military retirement pay from state income taxes has the support of Gov. Susana Martinez, despite the Legislature’s defeat of similar bills in the past. Senate Bill 96, introduced by Sen. William E. Sharer, R-Farmington, would exempt 25 percent of a military retiree’s pension in 2014, 50 percent in 2015, 75 percent in 2016 and 100 percent in 2017 and beyond. At a 4 FEB news conference at the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial before an estimated 150 attendees, Martinez couched the proposal as a way to stimulate the state’s economy. “I think it would grow the economy because they (new military retirees) are still young and well trained,” the governor said. “They can come here for our high-tech jobs or open a businesses of their own, and the tax base will grow.” State officials estimate there are about 20,000 military retirees in the state and 3,000 surviving spouses who would qualify for the tax exemption.
According to the Legislative Finance Committee’s fiscal impact report on Sharer’s bill, the exemption would reduce state coffers by $3.1 million next year, $9.6 million in 2015, $16.5 million in 2016 and by $24 million in 2017 and successive years. The current bill has no sunset provision, meaning it would remain in effect until the Legislature changed it. Similar bills have appeared before legislators for years, but none has made it into law. Aside from the impact on state revenues, critics of those bills have said they’re unfair to other government employees and that giving veteran retiree pay a pass on taxation simply shifts the tax burden to other New Mexicans. “I certainly don’t believe that we pass the tax burden on to other citizens of New Mexico because, if we end up seeing our economy grow, then you end up seeing that that tax dollar is being brought into New Mexico,” Martinez said after the news conference. “We’re not shifting it from one to another.” Martinez said her administration has found additional revenues that will enable the state to “pass on that tax break to those who deserve it the most, the men and women in our military.”
An identical bill passed the House last year but never came to a vote in the Senate. Martinez said she also backs identical bills — HB 180 by Rep. Rodolpho S. “Rudy” Martinez, D-Bayard, and SB 258 by Sen. William F. Burt, R-Alamogordo — that would fast-track professional licensure of military service members, their spouses, or recent veterans who are licensed in other jurisdictions. The governor introduced Charlene Templet, the wife of an Army captain assigned to White Sands Missile Range, who, despite having three master’s degrees and holding a professional counseling license in Missouri, has been unable to work as a professional counselor in New Mexico.
Templet said New Mexico’s licensure process is too lengthy and cumbersome for proven professionals licensed elsewhere, and that the states bordering New Mexico have reciprocal agreements to accept such licenses from other jurisdictions. “This is just good, common sense legislation,” Templet said, noting that the state’s licensure requirement has kept her from working since she and her husband arrived here six months ago. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Charles D. Brunt | 5 Feb 2012 ++]
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Vet Drivers License Update 04: A Republican legislator has introduced a bill to allow Kansas military veterans to declare their service on the back of their state driver’s license. The move by Rep. Mario Goico would have Kansas join a parade of states that have added the designation. Goico, a Wichita Republican and chairman of the House Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee, said the addition would be a tool for law enforcement to identify an individual as a veteran and also see if they were a combat veteran. Such information could help diffuse a tense situation and explain why an individual may be displaying questionable behavior. “We’re getting a lot of returning veterans who have PTSD and a lot of times they are coming back with a lot of problems that we are trying to address,” Goico said. He recalled how deployment during Operation Desert Storm took a toll on him physically and mentally, adding “I didn’t sleep but I took three-hour naps because of the pace of operations.”
Gregg Burden, executive director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs, said a majority of states have taken similar steps, noting that New Mexico made the addition to its licenses in 2012. “It serves a multitude of
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purposes. I don’t know what negatives there would be,” said Burden, a former colonel in the Kansas Air National Guard. Burden said he hadn’t seen the proposed design but hoped it would be something visible, especially with the number of discounts and perks offered by businesses toward veterans. The designation on the license would erase the need for someone to keep military papers or identification on them when seeking those benefits, he said. Goico said the idea of using a hologram on the back of the license was to prevent stigmatizing veterans. “This would be voluntary. We don’t want to make the situation more difficult,” Goico said. “We want to make sure it is done in a subtle manner, but we want to recognize that, because of the stress of war, they are trying to assimilate into society.” House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Marine veteran who spent seven years in uniform, supports Goico’s effort. “I would be supportive if it doesn’t stigmatize it from the mental health part of it,” said Merrick, a Stilwell Republican. “I’m all for anything that identifies a veteran as a veteran.” [Source: The Associated Press | John Milburn | 2 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Burial Benefit Update 18: Joyce Rankin’s father is in a small box in her living room, surrounded by photos and an uncertain future. Rankin can only hope that she can find a way to verify the military service of her dad, Maurice Armand Soucy, who worked in the mills of Manchester as a kid and got his hands dirty earning a living his whole life. A fire occurred 40 years ago at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, the nerve center for military records, destroying millions of files needed to prove who really served in the armed forces. And a burglary happened about four years ago at Rankin’s home in Arizona, a theft that included jewelry, $800 in cash, a gun and, most important, her dad’s discharge papers from the Army. That’s why Soucy’s cremated remains are in that box on that shelf, instead of scattered at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix.
That’s why Rankin went on a local TV news show in Glendale recently to tell her story. And that’s why a retired Air Force master sergeant, who also lives in Arizona, called Rankin and is now doing his best impression of Sherlock Holmes. “Someone has to have information or records on him,” Rankin said this week by phone. “We went on Father’s Day to the veterans cemetery here in Arizona, and my husband’s father is buried there. I got teary eyed and told my husband that this is where my dad needs to be. Not sitting in my living room on a shelf. My dad needs to be honored with all these other soldiers.”
Soucy died of congestive heart failure in 2006, at the age of 76. He grew up in a working-class family, in a working-class Manchester neighborhood. He went straight from grammar school to hard, blue-collar jobs, moving from the mills, to road repairs, to heavy equipment. That’s how his daughter remembers him: tough, a man who rose in the morning darkness, got home during the evening darkness and sometimes juggled three jobs at once. “I just honored and respected him; all of us kids did,” Rankin said. “My father was from the very old school, discipline, and everyone was afraid of dad. You better do what you’re told and not do what you ain’t supposed to do, or you’d be in trouble. Grounded, punished, whatever.” Before marriage and family and earning a living, Soucy joined the Army, in 1947, Rankin and his brother, Gene Soucy, also now living in Phoenix, guessed. While serving, he met the woman who would become his wife, a local waitress from Arkansas named Billy Joe Brooks. After a medical
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discharge in 1949, Soucy raised his family in Connecticut before retiring to the warmth of the west. The confusion over his final resting place actually began in 1973, the year a fire torched the sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center. Online research says that records for 80 percent of those discharged from the Army between 1912 and 1960 were destroyed, with no duplicate copies or microfilm anywhere to be found. That left thousands of families to scramble for confirmation so that loved ones could be buried in national military cemeteries across the country. Not in a plastic box measuring 9 inches by 6½ inches.
Shortly after her father’s death, Rankin went to work. First, she called Soucy’s brother, Gene. “I gave her as much information as I had,” Gene Soucy said. “That fire destroyed a lot of records, including his time frame in the Army. But I guess she’s gotten some help from a guy.” That would be retired Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Johnson, who saw Rankin on TV 3 news out of Phoenix and climbed aboard. Johnson, 77, has passionately chased down medals and recognition for servicemen he says were never acknowledged after fighting in places like the Philippines during World War II. Combining their efforts, Johnson and Rankin have left messages and waited on hold, calling Sen. John McCain, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the national cemetery in Phoenix, the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis and media outlets, both here and in Arizona. “It’s been a very long process,” Rankin said. “My father’s been sitting on that shelf for a long time.” Complicating matters, of course, was the burglary. The stolen box contained important papers once belonging to Soucy, including his DD214 papers, which document a serviceman’s discharge from the military. With Soucy’s DD214 safe in Rankin’s possession, you wouldn’t be reading about this feisty former Manchester resident right now. “They took that box because it was under lock and key,” Rankin said. “They must have thought there was something valuable in there.” [Source: Concord Monitor | Ray Duckler | 2 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Burial Benefit Update 19: Nearly four decades after the Vietnam War ended, an effort is underway in Congress to open up national cemeteries to Hmong soldiers who fought in the CIA-backed secret war in Laos. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced legislation to give 6,900 former Hmong fighters living in the United States the right to be buried in national cemeteries. The effort comes after the military denied permission for Gen. Vang Pao, a Hmong leader who died in California in 2011, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery because he and the soldiers who fought under him and helped the U.S. did not directly serve in the American military. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. “When our pilots were downed by antiaircraft fire behind enemy lines in the Vietnam War, the CIA asked our Hmong allies to risk their lives to advance our cause,” said Murkowski. “Americans who served and fought and put their lives on the line receive a resting place in our national cemeteries; the men who saved American lives deserve the same honor. Not all American war heroes were Americans.’’
Murkowski took up the issue because about 5,000 Hmong live in the Anchorage area. Large numbers of Hmong also reside in California's Central Valley, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Last year, Murkowski unsuccessfully attempted to amend a defense bill to authorize the burial in VA cemeteries of any U.S. citizen or legal resident who served in support of U.S. forces, including any covert action, in Laos between Feb. 28, 1961, and May 15, 1975. Similar legislation was introduced by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-16) in the House in 2011 but never made it to the floor. A spokeswoman for Costa said he planned to reintroduce his bill. Philip Smith, Washington director of the Lao Veterans of America, welcomed the new legislation and said it had been gaining support, with backing from members of both parties, since it was first introduced in Congress in 2010. "The Hmong veterans really deserve to be buried in U.S. veterans cemeteries because of their direct yet covert role in defending U.S. national security interests during the Vietnam War,’’ he said.
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There was no immediate response to the proposal from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Murkowski pointed out that President Clinton in 2000 signed legislation making Philippine World War II veterans who fought under the U.S. flag eligible for burial in VA cemeteries. Hmong rescued downed U.S. pilots and gathered intelligence in a covert operation in Laos directed by the CIA in the 1960s and '70s. But under a 1962 treaty, Laos also was off-limits to U.S. personnel. [Source: Los Angeles Times | Richard Simon | 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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Seabee Memorial: When civilian construction workers were slaughtered by Japanese forces while working on a Pacific island during World War II, the U.S. Navy decided it was time to use armed and trained sailors to carry out construction work. The Construction Battallion is more commonly known as the phonetic, “Seabees.” The Navy’s Seabees played a critical role in the world war and saw a resurgence in the Vietnam War. “Veterans know who Seabees are; civilian people may not,” veteran Dave Kurre said. Most soldiers and Marines in the field have some story to tell about bridges, roads, bases and other infrastructure the specialized unit provided, Kurre said. To recognize the heritage of the Seabees in facilitating other sailors, soldiers and Marines to carry out their mission, a Seabee Memorial has been approved for placement in National Cemeteries. Kurre has helped coordinate the memorials to be placed in all three Missouri National Cemeteries. The first was placed at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis in May 2011 and the Springfield National Cemetery has a dedication set for May 2012. Now attention has turned to the Jefferson City National Cemetery, where a location already has been approved for the 1,700-pound granite marker to be placed near the flagpole on the McCarty Street side. The first local formal fundraiser will be 3-9 p.m. 20 FEB at Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, where a percentage of sales will go toward the $1,400 cost. [Source: NewsTribune | Michelle Brooks | 31 Jan 2013 ++]
Local Navy Seabee veterans are working to place a monument identical to this one at the Jefferson City National Cemetery.
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Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune Update 35: The Marine Corps has repeatedly argued federal law didn't regulate the cancer-causing pollutants that fouled the drinking water at Camp Lejeune until long after the contamination was discovered. But the Corps' own regulations, starting in 1963, required water testing at the North
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Carolina base and other Marine bases using a method that some say could have provided a warning about tainted water, according to documents and interviews. The method, called Carbon Chloroform Extract, or CCE, is a "technically practical procedure which will afford a large measure of protection against the presence of undetected toxic materials in finished drinking water," said the 1963 Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine, discussing requirements for all Navy and Marine bases. The Marine Corps' regulations mandated such testing annually, or every two years if water quality was "stable." But no record of CCE testing at Camp Lejeune can be found in the thousands of pages of documents detailing what some believe to be the worst drinking-water contamination in U.S. history.
The Corps told the Tampa Bay Times it can find no such evidence that testing took place, but a spokeswoman noted it is possible the records have been discarded under the Corps' records-retention policies. "A cursory review of the more than 8,000 documents that have been produced did not yield any CCE analytical results," Corps spokeswoman Capt. Kendra Motz said. "However, the absence of records 50 years later is not an indication that an action was or was not taken, only that no records are available." To critics of the Marine Corps, the test was a lost opportunity to catch a public health disaster in its early years. Today, more than 185,000 people who drank, cooked and bathed in the polluted water from 1953 to 1987 have signed up for a health registry. Nearly 16,000 of those are Floridians, the second-highest total in the nation behind North Carolina. "They created these rules to protect their people," said former Marine drill instructor Jerry Ensminger, who served at Lejeune. His 9-year-old daughter, Janey, conceived at the base, died of leukemia in 1985. "They didn't have the discretion to ignore them."
The Janey Ensminger Act, which provides health care to veterans and family exposed to Lejeune's polluted water, was signed into law by President Barack Obama last year in the Oval Office as Ensminger looked on. Camp Lejeune again grabbed the political spotlight last week as Chuck Hagel, Obama's nominee as defense secretary, said during his Senate confirmation hearing he was committed to getting answers about the polluted water at Lejeune. Chemical contamination in drinking water at Camp Lejeune came from numerous sources, scientists say. They include a dry cleaner adjacent to the base and industrial solvents discarded by Marine personnel. One of the worst sources of pollution was a fuel depot on base that may have leaked more than a million gallons of gasoline since the base opened in the 1940s, records show. More than 50 years ago, when the CCE test method was developed, screening water for contaminants could be a difficult and expensive job. The test was the only way to inexpensively screen water for potential organic contaminants, which includes pesticides, fuel components and other compounds.
Using CCE involves running water through a carbon filter that catches contaminants, then using chloroform as a way to extract the chemicals so they can be measured. The test was crude by modern standards because it would only "red flag" a water source as possibly containing contaminants, but would not identify what they might be. That required further investigation.
Motz, the Corps spokeswoman, said CCE testing was not effective in detecting some of the more dangerous chemicals found in Camp Lejeune water — benzene, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). Those chemicals, she said, evaporate away during the testing process. Chemists interviewed by the Times agreed, though they said those chemicals do not evaporate completely. Marine regulations, Motz said, were geared toward screening drinking water for a class of chemicals that included "pesticides, herbicides, fungicides," not chemicals such as PCE, TCE and benzene.b But others note the CCE test is still useful in detecting a wide range of dangerous compounds, even PCE, TCE and benzene in situations involving a heavy contamination. "It could have been helpful in the right hands," said Mike Hargett, a scientist who owned an environmental laboratory hired by the Corps to test water at Camp Lejeune in the 1980s. "It's a good barometer" of water safety. A 1972 paper by two Environmental Protection Agency scientists, published in Environmental Science & Technology, noted they detected PCE after testing chemicals extracted using the CCE method. In addition, Hargett and chemists interviewed by the Times said CCE would be useful in screening for contamination of some fuel components. This takes on added importance at Lejeune, where fuel leaks were a significant problem.
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The study of Camp Lejeune water contamination might be unique for the way that civilians with little or no scientific training often find and alert federal scientists about documents missing from or buried in large public archives. Last year, Ensminger discovered a Navy document that explained CCE was a useful way to screen water for contaminants. He said he has seen a reference to CCE in other Navy/Marine Corps regulations, but hadn't recognized its significance. Ensminger alerted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which then asked the Corps for CCE test results, registry officials confirmed. Motz said regulatory limits for chemicals such as TCE, PCE and benzene were not promulgated by the federal government until the late 1980s, so the Corps did not test the water for them until then. Corps leaders have repeatedly told the public since the 1980s that they did everything they could to safeguard their personnel and close contaminated water wells. "We always take measures to go at least a step beyond what is required by law and to ensure that we don't provide water that is unsafe for those using it," B.W. Elston, assistant chief of staff for facilities at Lejeune, told a reporter in 1989. "The commanding general will not accept anything less." [Source: Tampa Bay Times | William R. Levesque | 4 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Suicide Prevention Update 15: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a comprehensive report 1 FEB on Veterans who die by suicide. In the past, data on Veterans who died by suicide was only available for those who had sought VA health care services. This report also includes state data for Veterans who had not received health care services from VA, which will help VA strengthen its aggressive suicide prevention activities. The report indicates that the percentage of Veterans who die by suicide has decreased slightly since 1999, while the estimated total number of Veterans who have died by suicide has increased. “The mental health and well-being of our courageous men and women who have served the Nation is the highest priority for VA, and even one suicide is one too many,” said Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “We have more work to do and we will use this data to continue to strengthen our suicide prevention efforts and ensure all Veterans receive the care they have earned and deserve.”
In accordance with the President’s Aug. 31, 2012, Executive Order, VA has completed hiring and training of additional staff to increase the capacity of the Veterans Crisis Line by 50 percent. The Veteran Crisis Line has made approximately 26,000 rescues of actively suicidal Veterans to date. Additionally, VA has initiated a year-long public awareness campaign, “Stand By Them,” to educate families and friends on how to seek help for Veterans and Service Members in crisis. VA has launched a national public service announcement “Side by Side.” VA is currently engaged in an aggressive hiring campaign to expand access to mental health services with 1,600 new clinical staff, 300 new administrative staff, and is in the process of hiring and training 800 peer-to-peer specialists who will work as members of mental health teams. The report issued 1 FEB is the most comprehensive study of Veteran suicide rates ever undertaken by the Department. On June 16, 2010, Secretary Shinseki engaged governors of all 50 states, requesting their support in helping to collect suicide statistics. With assistance from state partners providing real-time data, VA is better able to assess the effectiveness of its suicide prevention programs and identify specific populations that need targeted interventions.
This new information will allow VA to better identify where those Veterans at risk may be located and improve the Department’s ability to target specific suicide interventions and outreach activities in order to reach Veterans early and proactively. The data will also help VA continue to examine the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs being implemented in specific geographic locations or care settings in order to replicate them in other areas if they have been effective. VA has implemented comprehensive, broad ranging suicide prevention initiatives, including a toll-free Veterans Crisis Line, placement of Suicide Prevention Coordinators at all VA Medical Centers and large outpatient facilities, and improvements in case management and reporting. Immediate help is available at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net or by calling the Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (push 1) or texting 838255. The full
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report can be found on VA’s website along with a summary response from VA Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Robert A. Petzel.
 Suicide Data Report 2012 final http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Suicide-Data-Report-2012-final.pdf
 Veterans Health Administration Response - Suicide Data Report 2012 http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Response-and-ExecSum-Suicide-Data-Report-2012-final.pdf
[Source: VA News Release 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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Using Overseas Pharmacies : According to a recent CVS Caremark study, 62 percent of pharmacists said cost is the biggest reason some patients don’t take their medication as directed. Drug manufacturers set their own prices – and those prices can be high. If you have insurance, problem solved. But if you don’t, the inability to afford the prescriptions you need isn’t just an inconvenience – it could be life-threatening. One thing that might help are generics, typically much cheaper. There are also programs designed to put free or low-cost prescription drugs in the hands of people who can’t afford them. If that’s you, check out sites like https://www.rxhope.com , http://www.needymeds.org , http://www.patientassistance.com , http://www.patientadvocate.org , and others to see if you qualify. If you can’t use a generic, however, and make too much or are otherwise unqualified for assistance, there’s only one thing left to do: shop. And not just among stores – among countries. What you need to know before filling prescriptions outside the U.S.
1. Savings - Buying medications overseas or in Canada can mean healthy discounts. Two examples, supplied by http://www.pharmacychecker.com are :
 Three-month supply of Nexium 40 mg – Overseas: as low as $69, or $0.82 per pill. Stateside: up to $737.99. Savings: $668.99, more than 90 percent.
 Three-month supply of Crestor 10 mg – Overseas: as low as $60, or $0.73 per pill. Stateside: up to $667.79. Savings: $607.79, more than 90 percent.
So buying either of these medications could save more than $2,400 annually. And shipping and handling from international pharmacies doesn’t add much to the cost. On http://www.pharmacychecker.com, the pharmacies listed charged from zero to about $11 per order. Obviously, not all medications are as discounted as these two, but it’s easy to check prices. Grab a couple of your pill bottles, go online, and see what you find.
2. Legalities - So they’re cheaper, but are they legal? Technically, no. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration explains: “In most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs into the United States for personal use.” The FDA regulates prescription drugs sold in the U.S., but not those from other countries sold to U.S. consumers; that’s why it’s not legal. But while the FDA doesn’t officially condone overseas pharmaceuticals, they have a policy of not objecting to importing drugs in certain circumstances:
 The drug treats a serious condition and there isn’t a good treatment available in the U.S.
 The drug doesn’t have an unreasonable risk.
 The imported drug won’t be sold or promoted in the U.S.
 The person buying the drug can certify in writing that it is for personal use and a doctor can back up the prescription.
 •Generally, no more than a three-month supply is imported.
So if you don’t buy in bulk and don’t plan on selling what you buy to other people, there isn’t much of a risk that you’ll actually get in trouble for buying drugs overseas. Reporter Stacy Johnson went back and forth via email with the FDA regarding the legality of importing prescription drugs for personal use. Here’s a cut-and-paste from one of his emails… The simple fact is that commonly prescribed drugs are available from Canada and other places at
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discounts of up to 90 percent. While I’m aware that the letter of the law prohibits drug importation, I need to know if the FDA has a policy of prosecuting patients who take advantage of this price disparity. That’s the question I need an answer to. Here’s the verbatim response from the FDA… FDA is not aware of any actions taken against an individual resulting from their purchase of small quantities of unapproved drugs for personal use. Does that give you the go-ahead? You be the judge.
3. Quality Concerns It’s important to thoroughly research the online pharmacy you plan to purchase from. According to the World Health Organization, “in over 50 percent of cases, medicines purchased over the Internet from illegal sites that conceal their physical address have been found to be counterfeit.” However, a footnote to that statement acknowledges, “some Internet pharmacies are legal operations established to offer clients convenience and savings” that “sell only on the basis of a prescription.” The key is to use pharmacies that are legitimate, but international, rather than the fly-by-night kind that floods your inbox with spam. How can you be sure you’re buying medicine from a legit pharmacy? Check for these:
 Location and base of operations: Check to see which country the medication is coming from and if the business has a listed address. According to this WHO fact sheet, industrialized countries such as New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Japan have an “extremely low – less than 1 percent” rate of counterfeit drugs on the market. Conversely, “in many African countries, and in parts of Asia, Latin America, and countries in transition” more medications on the market are likely to be counterfeit.
 Reputation check and accreditation: PharmacyChecker.com has a list of rogue websites to avoid and a list of pharmacies they’ve approved. The Canadian International Pharmacy Association has a list of trusted member websites and a list of websites of ill repute. The Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites seal indicates that the shop is “a bona fide pharmacy,” according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
4. Potential risks - Getting a counterfeit drug could be dangerous to your health. These drugs are either made from inactive ingredients and will do nothing for you, are expired and not as effective as they should be, or made from harmful ingredients that could cause serious injury or even death. For example, the FDA reported a group of people thought they were purchasing Ambien, Xanax, Lexapro, or Ativan over the Internet. Instead, they got a potent anti-psychotic drug. Those who took the drug ended up needing emergency treatment for symptoms like muscle spasms and trouble breathing. In another FDA case, some U.S.-based medical offices purchased counterfeit Altuzan,a cancer drug not approved by the FDA. In some cases, the injectable medication had no active ingredient and cancer patients were not getting the treatment they needed. In 2007, The New York Times reported on another counterfeit drug issue. Over several years, companies were adding diethylene glycol, the main ingredient in some antifreeze, into cough syrup, fever medications, and some injectable drugs. Researchers said thousands of deaths could have occurred due to the counterfeit medications.
The bottom line -- Buying prescriptions from an overseas pharmacy can save you a ton of money, but done carelessly could be risky. Cut down on the risk by starting with well-known, U.S.-based sites that screen and approve international pharmacies. And avoid any pharmacy doing suspicious things such as not disclosing contact information or supplying drugs without prescriptions. The prescription for safe savings is common sense. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Angela Colley | 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Contact Numbers Update 01: Following is a list of important VA 800 contact numbers for veterans:
VA Benefits……………………………………………….……..(800) 827-1000
Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits…………….…...(877) 294-6380
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Debt Management Center……………………………….……..(800) 827-0648
Children of Women Vietnam Vets, and Foreign Medical Program or Spina Bifida
Health Care………………………………..(877) 345-8179 or (888) 820-1756
Civilian Health and Medical Program…………………….……(800) 733-8387
Education (GI Bill)………………………………………….…….(888) 442-4551
Healthcare Benefits……………………………………….……..(877) 222-8387
Income verification and means testing…………….…………..(800) 929-8387
Life Insurance………………………….......(800) 419-1473 or (800) 669-8477
Special Issues (Agent Orange, Lewisite/Ionizing Radiation…(800)669-8477
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Women Vet Programs Update 22: The Department of Veterans Affairs joins the nation in celebrating National Wear Red Day today to educate women Veterans about the risks of heart disease—the leading cause of death in American women and women Veterans. VA employees are encouraged to wear red to symbolize their awareness. “VA is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Through VA’s collaboration with the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, we are prioritizing heart disease prevention and outreach to women Veterans.” The VA-American Heart Association (AHA) collaboration was launched in May 2012, enabling both organizations to work together to maximize their outreach and education efforts. Cardiovascular disease frequently affects the fastest-growing demographic in VA’s female patient population—those who served in the Vietnam, post-Vietnam, and Gulf War I eras. Nearly one-third of women Veterans under VA care have high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure. To address this issue, VA has been aggressive in its fight against heart disease in women and has worked to eliminate gender disparities in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Two recent VA reports show VA has eliminated significant gender disparities in high blood pressure and diabetes and has reduced gender disparities in other areas.
In addition, a VA cardiovascular workgroup is examining ways to improve women Veterans’ heart health. VA also held a Healthy Heart event and expo outside its Washington headquarters in September for VA employees, many of whom are Veterans, and the public. VA is encouraging facilities to coordinate similar events locally. “Addressing issues like cardiovascular disease head-on ties directly with our focus on personalized, proactive care for VA patients,” said Undersecretary for Health Robert Petzel, M.D. “We will continue to exceed expectations in this and other critical issues facing women Veterans.” Women serve in all branches of the military, representing 15 percent of today’s active duty military and nearly 18 percent of National Guard and Reserve forces. Women are the fastest growing cohort within the Veteran community. Of the 22.7 million living Veterans, more than 1.8 million are women. They comprise nearly 8 percent of the total Veteran population and more than 6 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. On Jan. 25, VA announced the award of over 30 grants totaling more than $2 million to VA facilities for projects that will improve emergency health care services for women Veterans, expand women’s health education programs for VA staff, and offer telehealth programs to female Veterans in rural areas. To learn more about VA programs and services for women Veterans refer to .http://www.va.gov/womenvet and www.womenshealth.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog [82]: The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new initiative that could eliminate the requirement for an in-person medical examination for some Veterans and shorten the time it takes to process Veterans’ disability compensation claims. The initiative is called Acceptable Clinical Evidence
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(ACE). This initiative was developed by both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in a joint effort to provide a Veteran-centric approach for disability examinations. Use of the ACE process opens the possibility of doing assessments without an in-person examination when there is sufficient information in the record. Under ACE practices, a VA medical provider completes a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) by reviewing existing medical evidence. This evidence can be supplemented with information obtained during a telephone interview with the Veteran – alleviating the need for some Veterans to report for an in-person examination. “ACE is a process improvement that will help us meet our goal to eliminate the claims backlog and provide more timely benefits to our Veterans, their families and survivors,” said Undersecretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. “The initiative also saves Veterans the inconvenience and costs associated with attending a medical examination.”
When a VA medical provider determines VA records already contain sufficient medical information to provide the needed documentation for disability rating purposes, the requirement for Veterans to travel to a medical facility for an examination may be eliminated. If VA can complete a DBQ by reviewing medical records already on file, it will use the ACE process. This would then expedite the determination of disability ratings – in turn eliminating the wait time to schedule and conduct an exam from the claims process. During a 15-month pilot test at one VA regional claims processing office, 38 percent of claims submitted were eligible for ACE. The ACE initiative is a part of the VBA’s agency-wide Transformation Plan – a five-year, multifaceted organizational change that is based on more than 40 personnel, process and technology initiatives designed to improve claims processing. The goal of the Transformation Plan is to eliminate the claims backlog and process all claims within 125 days with 98 percent accuracy in 2015. To learn more about VBA Transformation Initiatives, refer to http://benefits.va.gov/transformation/. [Source: VA News Release 31 Jan 2013 ++]
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Tricare Pharmacy Copay Update 10: Tricare pharmacy co-pay increases became effective1 February. The FY 2013 National Defense Bill required Tricare to increase copayments on brand name and non-formulary medications that are not filled at military treatment centers. There is no increase on generic medications and many co-pays vary based on class of drug and where the prescriptions are filled. For example, the co-pay for generic medications remains $5 when filled at a network pharmacy and a 30-day supply of brand name medication filled at a retail pharmacy goes from $12 to $17. Beneficiaries using Tricare Home delivery will pay $13 for brand name drugs, however home delivery is for a 90-day supply. The greatest change in co-pays applies to non-formulary medications- a $25 dollar co-pay increases to $44 at retail pharmacies and is $43 through the home delivery system. For 2014 and forward, co-payment increases are tied to annual cost-of-living adjustments. For more about the pharmacy changes visit http://www.Tricare.mil/pharmacycosts. [Source: VFW Washington weekly 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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Prostate Enlargement: It is common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages. Doctors call this condition benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or benign prostatic hypertrophy. As a man matures, the prostate goes through two main periods of growth. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. At around age 25, the gland begins to grow again. As the prostate enlarges, the layer of tissue surrounding it stops it from expanding, causing the gland to press against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself, so some of the urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH. The condition rarely causes symptoms before age 40, but more than half of men in
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their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH. Treatment involves surgery or drugs that block testosterone, a hormone that drives unwanted growth. Side effects can include loss of libido and erectile dysfunction Andrew Schally of the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Florida and colleagues have developed a new drug, RC-3940-II, which works by blocking gastrin-releasing peptide – another potent growth factor. In rats, a six-week treatment shrank prostates by 18 per cent. It also shrank human prostate cells by 21 per cent. Importantly, fewer side effects are likely as testosterone pathways are avoided. [Source: New Scientist Magazine | Andy Coghlan | 29 Jan 2013 ++]
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Euthanasia: Vermont lawmakers considering legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients seeking to end their own lives heard 29 JAN from former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who said her brother's death last month only strengthened her belief that a dying patient's wishes must be paramount. Kunin, a longtime supporter for assisted suicide legislation, told a state Senate committee that she watched former state Sen. Edgar May slowly slip away last month. "I was there at his bedside for almost two weeks," Kunin said. "He told me had had made a decision, and he said the words, 'I want to die.'" The 83-year-old May "made his wishes very, very clear to the physician" at the Veterans Administration hospital in Tucson, Ariz., where he died, Kunin said. The remarks of the former governor, who served three two-year terms from 1985 to 1990, came as the Senate Health and Welfare Committee began four days of scheduled hearings on legislation dubbed "death with dignity" by its supporters and "physician-assisted suicide" by its opponents.
Oregon has had such a law in place since 1997; Washington state since 2008. Officials and advocates involved in implementing Oregon's law were among those scheduled to testify to Vermont lawmakers this week. On Tuesday evening, more than 200 people packed the House chamber — the largest room in the Statehouse — to argue both for and against the measure. Guy Page, of Barre, told of a son who is now in his 20s but had been emotionally disturbed and considered suicide as a teenager. Teachers and counselors had told him not even to consider that an option. Then he saw a debate about assisted death legislation. Page told lawmakers his son called the assisted suicide idea hypocritical, saying he was told death was "never an option" but apparently fine for others. "I saw the fear in my son's eyes. I saw how the double standard shook him," Page said. He urged lawmakers, "Give the Tim Pages of today and tomorrow no reason whatsoever to consider suicide." Others spoke of friends and loved ones who experienced prolonged suffering as they died. Judy Murphy of Bennington described sitting with one terminally ill friend. "She ended her life by starving herself," she said, adding that it took eight days. "She should have had the choice of death with dignity."
The bill would allow patients given six months or less to live by at least two doctors to declare their wish to die three times — once in writing — during a 15-day period and then be given a prescription for a lethal dose of barbiturates, which the patient would go home to take. Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison and chairwoman of the Health and Welfare Committee, said she expected to have her committee approve the bill by 1 FEB. From there, it is slated to go the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has already agreed to allow it to get to the Senate floor, but may do so with a recommendation that the full Senate vote against it. The measure is drawing intense lobbying on both sides, with the group Patient Choices Vermont working for its passage and groups ranging from the Vermont Medical Society to disability-rights organizations opposing it. [Source: Associated Press | Dave Gram | 29 Jan 2013 ++]
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VA Clinical Reasoning System: The Veterans Health Administration plans to test how advanced clinical reasoning and prediction systems can use massive amounts of archived patient data to help improve care, efficiency and health outcomes. The Veterans Affairs Department’s electronic health record system -- the Veterans
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Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, or VistA -- stores data on 30 million veterans, including 3.2 billion clinical orders, 1.8 billion medication prescriptions and 2.3 billion vital sign measurements. This structured data is accompanied by 2 billion clinical text notes, with a growth rate of one hundred thousand additional notes per day. In a request to potential vendors on 28 JAN, VA emphasized that such a system goes far beyond traditional data mining techniques and rules-based clinical decision support systems. The agency wants to test an emerging class of computer systems that can sift through structured and unstructured data and use advanced natural language processing techniques and machine learning to detect patterns -- the results of which would flag problems, inform decision-making and ultimately, improve patient care.
VHA said it plans to install a pilot clinical reasoning and prediction system at the VA Information Technology Center in Austin, Texas, for 24 months to assess the technology. The system will be able to decompose and understand natural language queries from physicians. The pilot project will assess how effectively the system aids diagnosis, including syndrome identification, and its ability to conduct semantic searches across clinical notes and patient problems and medications. VHA also wants the system to help it conduct comparative studies in treatment efficiencies, identify drug-adverse events and evaluate quality of care with improved patient health as a goal. The pilot system should accommodate 100 users and support 100 complex “patient case” results per hour, with a three-minute response time per case. Non-concurrently, it should accommodate 600 “simple” semantic searches per hour, with a one minute response time, VHA said. The pilot could analyze such things as the risk that patients will fall or need to be readmitted to the hospital or the potential that clinical data and other problems will be missed.
Tom Munnecke, who helped develop VistA at VA in 1978 and then served as chief scientist for Science Applications International Corp., where he worked on developing the Defense electronic health record, said the clinical reasoning system will help VA crowdsource “medical knowledge based on the immense breadth and depth of its clinical staff.” VA employs more than 14,000 physicians, and this puts it in a “unique position with regard to scale,” Munnecke said. “It has enough clinicians to feedback knowledge to the prediction engine based on their experience.” Munnecke said VA’s vast warehouse of digital medical data should be designated “as some kind of national historical treasure. It is an irreplaceable historical record whose value will only increase as we advance our understanding of the life sciences, health and medicine.” He urged that this data be treated and managed in an open fashion. “I think that it is absolutely vital that the VA require that all of the algorithms, knowledge bases, and data bases used in its clinical activities be open.” He added, “We cannot allow a vendor to create a pay-per-view black-box ‘paywall’ for the VHA to pay to access its own data.” [Source: NextGov | Bob Brewin | 30 Jan 2013 ++]
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Sequestration Update 13: Sequestration “is the most unpopular thing in Washington since the Dallas Cowboys,” said Association of American Universities President Hunter Rawlings, speaking at a 11 FEB briefing for a new coalition of 3,500 organizations calling for an immediate end to the threat of automatic spending cuts. President Obama, Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Harry Reid “all hate sequestration, and they created it,” said Rawlings, a professor of the classics who added that he never envisioned himself standing alongside the chief executive officer of a major defense contractor demanding “a balanced approach” to Washington’s budget stalemate. Also Monday, the American Federation of Government Employees devoted much of its legislative conference to planning to counter the threat of sequestration, which will kick in on 1 MAR if lawmakers can't agree on an alternative. The diverse coalition, which sent Congress and President Obama a 72-page letter, is “bringing defense and non-defense communities together for the first time under one big tent,” said Emily Holubowich, executive director of the Coalition for Health Funding and spokesperson for NDD United. “We all rise and fall together, defense and nondefense.” She warned that federal spending would be cut to its lowest levels since the Eisenhower administration and said the threat of sequestration has already prompted layoffs of 46,000 healthcare professionals around the country. Some comments from members of the Coalition were:
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 Marion C. Blakey, Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO, whose member firms joined the coalition and also sent their own letter to Congress, called sequestration “a poison pill that now threatens to have a toxic effect on national security. It will tank our economy,” she said. Her association used the event at the National Press Building to re-release a controversial eight-month-old study by Prof. Stephen Fuller of George Mason University concluding that sequestration budget cuts would cost 1.05 million jobs from spending reductions at domestic agencies and 1.09 million jobs from Pentagon spending. “No one can say we weren’t forewarned about the consequences,” Blakey said. “But we’re realistic enough to know that our voice alone won’t end it, and our choruses of voices is slowly gathering steam.” She said Republicans in Congress who oppose what many call a “balanced approach” that includes new revenues are listening, but that an eventual bipartisan compromise will also have to include entitlement reforms.
 Wes Bush, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman, implored political leaders to consider the harm from a sequestration in the context of the broader U.S. economic model in which the private sector, the government and nonprofits all play a role. “What is central is the investment by the government in national security and education for innovation,” he said. “Even without sequestration, the country is slowly backing away from long-term investments that make it the global leader,” Bush said. As currently structured, sequestration takes far too big a chunk out of the 8 percent of gross domestic product represented by discretionary spending, he said. “We have long called for balanced approach” to a solution. “You can’t pull one lever—everything must be on the table. Kicking the can down the road is not free—it’s already having impact.”
 Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and a former deputy secretary at the Treasury Department, stressed that a “pennywise and pound-foolish” sequestration would reduce by $10 billion a year federal investment in basic research—“the primary driver of the economy for generations.” Federal funding, which accounts for 60 percent of basic research, he added, helped produce the Internet and the global positioning system and large- scale interoperating circuits. He warned that competitors such as China may step into the breach. In the long run, Congress must produce a “big deal,” McPherson said, but the immediate problem is only three weeks away.
Rawlings, whose academic and corporate colleagues have formed a Task Force on American Innovation, held up his iPhone and credited many of its components to the past work of such agencies as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Energy Department. Because of sequestration, “agencies are already holding back,” he said, noting that the University of California just reported a 20 percent drop in research awards. Across town, AFGE leaders told some 1,500 gathered union members to prepare for a Capitol Hill rally on Tuesday with three goals, as summarized by national president J. David Cox Sr. He exhorted members to “Stop the sequester now, shove it to the contractors and bargain like all get-out.” The union has been critical of the Obama administration for warning of possible furloughs but proposing no cuts to services contractors. Throughout the union’s morning legislative conference, AFGE leaders reported on unsatisfying updates from the Office of Management and Budget on planning for sequestration. Locals from around the country are to “challenge the implementation” by keeping an eye out for unfair labor practices and reporting them to the national office, said acting field services leader Peter Winch. If a furlough goes on for more than 22 days, it is a reduction in force, he said. “Don’t volunteer to work without pay, but don’t refuse an order either.”
To press its case for avoiding furloughs by reducing outside contracting, AFGE commissioned a study by Charles Tiefer, a professor at the University of Baltimore Law School who served on the Wartime Contracting Commission reviewing work in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the union’ conference, he released a paper titled “Reducing Spending on Service Contracts in Order to Comply with Sequestration” designed to “demystify the process” in the wake of only vague guidance offered by OMB. Service contracting accounts for $250 billion in annual spending by the Defense Department, and $100 billion by civilian agencies, but costs 1.8 times as much as federal employees, he said.
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Though contractor lawyers insist that contracts are “sacrosanct and ironclad,” Tiefer estimated that 70 percent to 90 percent of the $85 billion mandated under sequestration for fiscal 2013 could be implemented by reopening contracts using four legal tools: Pauses of task orders, partial terminations for convenience; deductive change orders’ and reduction by bilateral modifications.” Contract officers and Congress resist using such tools, Tiefer added, because of “strong lobbying” and pressure by such “persuasive” groups as the Professional Services Council.
In response to Tiefer’s report, PSC Executive Vice President and Counsel Alan Chvotkin released a statement saying, “Far from being safe or appropriate, obtaining 70 to 90 percent of the sequestration cuts from the hundreds of thousands federal contractor employees would cripple the government and devastate the economy. Indeed, many PSC members have already reported the actions Mr. Tiefer outlined in his 'guidance’ and are feeling the results in the forms of lost revenue and forced layoffs -- not furloughs, but layoffs -- of valued staff.” Chvotkin added that the AFGE-commissioned report “fails to address the consequences of agencies taking those actions -- including the potential for increasing agency costs under certain scenarios.” [Source: GovExec.com | Charles S. Clark | 11 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 66: Knoxville TN — Dead men don't cash checks — but their daughters do. So confessed Patricia Speer on 4 FEB in U.S. District Court in pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan to a charge of stealing public money. According to a plea agreement filed in the case, Speer's father, Ernest Federer, was a disabled veteran who received disability payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. At some point, Federer's medical condition deteriorated to such a degree that Speer was appointed her father's legal guardian. Part of the power bestowed her was to cash Federer's disability checks and spend the money to afford him whatever care he needed, documents show. In December 2009, Federer died. "(Speer) failed to notify (Veterans Affairs) of Mr. Federer's death," the plea agreement stated. "Instead, (Speer) continued to cash the monthly VA disability checks that were intended for Mr. Federer. Each of the VA disability checks was in the amount of $1,949." Speer "converted those funds to her own use" following her father's death. Court records allege Speer defrauded the government of more than $50,000 before the VA caught onto her scheme. U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan will decide her fate at a sentencing hearing later this year. [Source: Knoxville News Sentinel | Jamie Satterfield | 4 Feb 2013 ++]
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Mobilized Reserve 5 FEB 2013: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 5 FEB 2012. The net collective result is 476 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 EB 2013 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 38,773; Navy Reserve 4,862; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 7,364; Marine Corps Reserve 2,115; and the Coast Guard Reserve 554. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 53,668 including both units and individual augmentees. Since 911 there have been 813,217 reservists deactivated. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/MobilizationWeeklyReport020513.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 066-13 dtd 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 100: The number of unemployed veterans rose above 800,000 in January, a spike that raises concerns about the long-term viability of efforts to find jobs for former military personnel. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the overall unemployment rate for veterans rose to 7.6 percent in January, more than 1 percent above where it was last fall but still below the national rate of 7.9 percent. But the total number of veterans unsuccessfully looking for work rose to 844,000, almost 150,000 more than it was four months ago. January 2011 was the worst month for veterans’ employment in recent years, with more than 1.1 million former servicemembers out of work. The negative trend then prompted lawmakers and White House officials to push for new tax credits, job training programs and unemployment services for veterans in an effort to help their post-military transition. Of particular concern have been newly separated veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They posted an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent in January — their highest since last spring — but officials note that smaller sample sizes make those statistics more volatile.
Those largely 20- and 30-year-old veterans make up about one-third of the unemployed veterans, and about one-fourth of the total national veteran workforce. More than 10 million of the 21.5 million veterans in America are still in the civilian workforce. In a statement, White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Alan Krueger said the overall employment numbers show there is still work to be done, but they also provide “further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression.” But Florida Republican Rep. Jeff Miller, chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, called the news a sobering reminder of just how bad this economy is for our nation’s veterans. “More than 800,000 veterans are jobless and nearly 12 percent of recent veterans are returning home to an unemployment line,” he said in a statement. “This is unacceptable.” He promised hearings on the issue in weeks to come. Retail trade firms, construction companies, health care businesses and restaurants were among the top hiring industries last month. [Source: Stars and Stripes | Leo Shane | 1 Feb 2013 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 37: Fifty years ago on Sept. 12, 1962, Neponset Illinois farmer John "Jack" Verbout, and his wife, Jo, were invited to Chicago for a special preview of a soon-to-be-released 20th Century Fox movie about the Allied invasion of Normandy, "The Longest Day." It also was a reunion of American soldiers and members of the French Resistance who saved their lives. Verbout was one of three servicemen who movie
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executives brought to the screening, along with Janine Boitard, a leader in the French Resistance, who is credited with saving the lives of 68 men, including Verbout's. He also met Irina Demick, a French model turned movie star who portrayed Boitard in the movie. In a cast composed almost entirely of men, Demick was the only female listed in the primary cast with major Hollywood stars of the day including Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Richard Burton, Peter Lawford and many others, each playing small roles to recreate on screen the bigger story of the June 6, 1944, invasion of the beaches at Normandy, and on across France.
World War II veteran John 'Jack' Verbout, in 2012 and in 1944
Verbout was a tech sergeant in the Army Air Corps and radio gunner on a bombing mission in a B-26 Marauder when, a month to the day after D-Day, July 6, 1944, his plane was shot down near the French village of Touques, several miles from the English Channel. Three members of the eight-man crew were killed in the crash, and four were captured by the Germans, but Verbout, just 20 at the time, managed to escape. He shared his harrowing experience with Neponset correspondent Betty Sullivan for a July 6, 1984, Kewanee Star Courier story. The Verbouts had just returned from ceremonies in Normandy marking the 40th anniversary of the invasion, where Jack shook the hand of President Ronald Reagan, who spoke at the event. Verbout said after the plane crash, "I kind of hung around haystacks for three days until I made contact with a farmer," evading German patrols ahead of the front line. "He (the farmer) eventually came out to his cows," said Verbout, who was living on green apples and milk. "I'd been milking his cows for him." The farmer contacted the French underground, who took Verbout to Touques, where he hid in the home of Hubert and Odette Gatine. The French Resistance moved Verbout from house to house for several days, one being bombed by Allied aerial artillery.
I had the privilege of meeting Jack this week, and he told me after 10 days, he made contact with a Belgian battalion attached to the British 6th Airborne Division, and was flown safely back to England. Today, Verbout recalls that Janine Boitard was not the head of the resistance, but was active in the Normandy region. She is often portrayed in the movie smuggling Allied flyers and paratroopers on her bicycle. "Of all the places to be dropped, you couldn't have picked a better one," Verbout says today of how he was treated, protected and saved by the French in and around Touques. He and Jo have been back four times, the last being in 2000 when his entire family made the trip. Jack and Jo's first son, John Jr., was born in May 1944, while he was overseas. When he returned home, they had two more sons and two daughters - five children in all - four of whom would not have been born if he had not survived the plane crash and been rescued and hidden by the underground. Jack also points out today that of the 28 members in his bomber group, he is the only one still alive.
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According to a biography provided to Verbout by the French ambassador prior to the 1962 movie preview, Boitard was a law student living in Caen when Germany invaded and occupied France. "The years of the silent, undercover battle against the Germans completely changed her life," the biography states. She also met, and later married, another resistance member, Leonard Gille. After the war, she became one of France's most honored women receiving medals from the French, U.S. and British governments. Jack has many memories of the three-day, 1962 reunion and film preview in Chicago, where he and Jo were special guests of 20th Century Fox and escorted around town by studio executive Saul Gordon. On the film's 50th anniversary, Jack Verbout said of his sneak peek, that "they did as well as they could" to make the nearly three-hour movie realistic. He'd know. He was there. [Source: Journal Star | Dave Clarke | 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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POW/MIA Update 37: "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 (73,000+), Korean War (7,900+), Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,655), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http: //www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may 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/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 None
Korea
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 The DPMO announced 3FEB that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. Weldon A. Davis, 24, of Tioga, Texas, will be buried Feb. 6, in Dallas. In late November 1950, elements of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) were engaged in fighting with units of the Chinese army south of the Ch’ongch’on River in North Korea. In the course of the fighting, and the subsequent withdrawal by U.S. forces, the 2nd ID suffered extensive casualties, with numerous men being taken captive by the Chinese. Davis was last seen in the vicinity of Somindong. In 1953, as part of Operation Big Switch, soldiers who were returned told debriefers that Davis had been captured and taken by enemy forces to a POW camp known as Death Valley. Soldiers also stated that in January 1951, Davis died from malnutrition and pneumonia. His remains were not among those returned by Communist Forces in 1954. In 2005, a joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic Korea (D.P.R.K) team excavated a secondary burial in Unsan County in North Korea and found remains. The remains subsequently were repatriated to the U.S. To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as dental comparisons, which matched Davis’ records.
 The DPMO announced 7FEB that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Robert G. Archer, 19, of Brazil, Ind., will be buried Feb. 8, in his hometown. In late November 1950, elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were engaged in fighting with enemy forces east of the Chosin Resevoir in North Korea. On Nov. 29, 1950, servicemen of the 31st RCT began to withdraw to a more-defensible position near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. During this withdrawal, Archer was reported missing in action. In 1953, as part of Operation Big Switch, soldiers who were returned told debriefers that Archer had been captured and taken by enemy forces to a POW camp known as Death Valley. Soldiers also stated that in December 1950, Archer died from malnutrition and lack of medical care. His remains were not among those returned by Communist Forces in 1954. In 2005, a joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic Korea (D.P.R.K) team excavated sites believed to be associated with American losses during the Korean War and found remains. The remains subsequently were repatriated to the U.S. To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as mitochondrial DNA–which matched Archer’s brother –and dental comparisons.
 The DPMO announced 7FEB that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Cpl. Robert W. Scott, 19, of Detroit, will be buried Feb. 11, in Sarasota, Fla. In late November 1950, Scott and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were deployed along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir near Sinhung-ri, South Hamgyong Province, in North Korea. Scott was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950, after his unit was engaged by vastly superior number of enemy forces. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Scott was last seen. In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as mitochondrial DNA–which matched Scott’s brother. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials. Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.
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 The DPMO announced 9FEB that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Cpl. James R. Hare, 19, of Cumberland, Md., will be buried Feb. 13, in Levels, W.Va. In February 1951, Hare and elements of the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) were supporting Republic of South Korea forces near the South Korean town of Hoengsong when Chinese forces launched a massive counter attack. During these attacks, U.S. and Korean forces were forced to retreat south. Over the next few days units of the 2nd ID were attacked again suffering more than 200 casualties including more than 100 servicemen being captured by enemy forces. Hare was reported as missing in action on Feb. 13, 1951. In September 1953, during a prisoner exchange between U.S. and communist forces, a returning U.S. soldier told debriefers that Hare was captured by enemy forces and taken to a POW camp in Suan County on Feb. 13, 1951. The soldier also stated that Hare died from malnutrition in April of that year. His remains were not among those returned by communist forces during Operation Glory in 1954. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Hare was last seen. In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, compiled by DPMO and JPAC researchers, and forensic identification tools, such as mitochondrial DNA–which matched Hare’s brother and sister. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials.
 The DPMO announced 12 FEB that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Pfc. Bobby L. Byars, 18, of Griffin, Ga., will be buried Feb. 16, in his home town. In late November 1950, Byars and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT) were deployed along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir near Sinhung-ri, South Hamgyong Province, in North Korea. On Nov. 29, 1950 remnants of the 31st RCT, known historically as Task Force Faith, began a fighting withdrawal to a more defensible position near the Hangaru-ri, south of the reservoir when he was reported missing Dec. 12, 1950. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Byars was last seen. In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, compiled by DPMO and JPAC researchers, and forensic identification tools, such as dental records and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Byars’ brother. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials.
World War II
 None
[Source: http: //www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Feb 2013 ++]
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Spanish American War Image 03
Charge of The Rough Riders
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VRAP Update 06: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The architect of the popular Veterans Retraining Assistance Program is proposing a three-month extension to prevent education benefits from being cutoff before a veteran has completed classes. This would not provide any additional benefits, just prevent GI Bill payments from stopping before the end of the school term. Rep. Jeff Miller, (R-FL), the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, is the person who first proposed the program aimed at helping unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 learn a new and marketable skill.
Miller said 6 FEB that he wants to extend the program through June 30, 2014 — three months longer than the current cutoff day — so benefits are not cut off before the traditional end of the spring term at many schools. The Miller-proposed extension would have to pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by the president before taking effect. His introduction of the bill is just the first step in the legislative process that would take the entire year.
VRAP, as the program is called, was created with a limit of less than 100,000 spaces for veterans, who receive 12 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits while attending approved courses to learn a new skill. About 80,000 of the slots have been claimed but not all of the veterans have enrolled in or have started classes. Miller’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, is sponsoring legislation to extend VRAP for two more years, opening
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the door to about 50,000 students each year. Miller, though, is not yet ready to make that leap. In a statement announcing he had introduced a bill to make the three-month extension, Miller said he needs to know more before adding more years and more students. “Before extending VRAP beyond 2014 or to additional participants, we need to have an honest conversation about its effectiveness,” he said. That includes watching to see how many VRAP graduated find jobs. Miller said he still believes in the program. “VRAP is a tremendous opportunity for unemployed veterans to receive valuable training for in-demand jobs, and I encourage all eligible veterans to apply,” he said.
VRAP is open to unemployed veterans, at least 35 years old but not older than 60, who are not eligible for any other veterans’ educational benefits, are not enrolled in any state or federal job training program and who are not receiving veterans’ disability compensation due to unemployability. Additionally, their discharge from the military may not be under dishonorable conditions. Their GI Bill benefits, paid monthly, may be used if they enroll in a qualified course at a community college or technical school to learn what the U.S. Labor Department has determined is a high demand skill. [Source: Military Times | Rick Maze | 6 Feb 2013 ++]
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Saving Money: Buying used can save a ton. But sometimes, you end up paying more in repairs and replacements, not to mention other potential problems. Here's a list of 20 items that might prove penny wise but pound foolish:
 Cribs - Cribs – especially the drop-side kind – are frequently on recall lists, and the reasons why are pretty terrifying. For example, in April, Nan Far Woodworking recalled their drop-side cribs for repair. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission had this to say about it: The cribs’ drop sides can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop side to fall out of position, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged or entrapped, which can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents can also occur due to incorrect assembly and with age-related wear and tear. So how do you know if that crib you’re eyeing on Craigslist hasn’t been recalled? You could check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s list of crib recalls at http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/cribs.aspx, but you don’t know if the crib was sent back for repairs or not. You’d just have to take the seller’s word for it. It’s better to play it safe and buy a new crib.
 Car seats - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says car seats can be safely reused after minor crashes [http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/childps/childrestraints/reuse/restraintreuse.htm ] – if the air bags didn’t deploy, no one was injured, and the car drove away. But it recommends car seats be replaced after moderate crashes. So how do you tell the difference between a car seat in a minor crash, one in a moderate crash, or one that wasn’t in a crash at all? You probably can’t. The damage could be internal and not visible. Don’t risk it. Buy a new one.
 Helmets - In a crash, the thick foam inside a helmet absorbs shock and protects your head. After a crash, the helmet may look fine, but it often has breaks or tears inside the foam. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends replacing a helmet after any crash – even a minor one
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00425 ]. Otherwise, the helmet might not protect you in the next crash.
 Laptops - If you take great care of a laptop, it can last through years of heavy use – but you can’t know how someone else treats their stuff. Maybe they dropped it or spilled coffee on it. The laptop could work great at first, but break down after you take it home.
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 Video cameras - The same goes for video cameras. You may not see any visible damage, but it could have been dropped, exposed to water, or otherwise mistreated. Video cameras are costly to repair, so it isn’t worth buying one used.
 Mattresses - A used mattress can come with a lot of extras you don’t want – dead skin cells, bacteria, hair, and every other gross thing you could imagine. It might also have bed bugs. The bugs are such a growing problem that Terminix has released at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philadelphia-takes-top-spot-in-annual-bedbug-infested-cities-list-158410705.html a Top 15 Cities for Bed Bug Infestation list. Bed bugs live off human blood, leave itchy bite marks, and can cause skin infections. And they multiply. According to Orkin: Females can deposit one to five eggs a day, and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in a lifetime. Under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, they can live over 300 days. Bring a bed bug-infested mattress into your house, and you’ll pay a hefty fee to an exterminator.
 Shoes - Used shoes may have been great for the original owner, but they’ve conformed to his or her feet. They might not be great for you. Used shoes that don’t fit just right can lead to feet or leg pain and back problems.
 Makeup - Cosmetic brushes and wands come into contact with skin and can’t be cleaned very well. That barely used tube of lipstick? It might be hosting illness-causing bacteria. Considering drug stores and beauty shops regularly run makeup sales, risking your health isn’t worth the savings.
 Plasma and HDTVs - Old tube-style TVs held up a lot better than modern flat-screens. While MSNBC says TVs cost an average of $500 to repair, the repair costs run much higher for plasma screens and for more complicated issues. Even at the lower end, it may be more cost-effective to buy a new TV under warranty than a used one.
 Hats - The inside of that hat could be brimming with someone else’s dead skin, hair, or worse – lice. Head lice feed on blood and cause itchy and painful reactions in the scalp. The nearly invisible bugs also travel quickly onto other people and your stuff. Getting rid of lice requires two treatments of pesticides on everyone in the household. Then you’ll have to clean your bedding, linens, clothes, mattresses, and any other soft fabric in the house. The treatment can take hours or days of hard work – all because you bought a cheap hat.
 Swimsuits - Swimsuits hug the body. The close contact can transmit bacteria and other diseases – which may transfer to you when you wear the suit. Swimsuits are also fragile. If the washing instructions aren’t followed, the straps might rip or the swimsuit might lose its shape. So you could be buying something that may fall apart after only a few uses.
 Vacuums - Vacuums take a lot of wear and tear. That can lead to costly repairs. Considering you can buy a new vacuum for under $100, it isn’t worth the risk to buy a used one.
 Tires - Edmunds.com warns that thin tread isn’t the only safety hazard for tires – old and used tires can pose a safety risk. As tires age, they lose elasticity. As a result, the tread could separate from the tire, causing an accident. Even if the tire isn’t that old, it could have been treated poorly. Bottom line – you can’t tell a tire’s condition from the tread alone, so don’t buy a used one just because it looks good.
 Software - Software comes with a product code, and most software manufacturers put a limit on the number of times you can reload it. When you buy software used, you have no way of knowing how many times the product code has been used. For example, if the code has a three-time limit and the original owner used it twice, you’ll only be able to load the software onto one more computer before it’s no longer good.
 DVD players - DVD players often cost more to repair than replace.
 Stuffed animals - Children love to stick stuffed animals into their mouths, dirt, and gooey substances. Since the stuffed animal has a fabric surface, bacteria and dirt are absorbed in the fibers. Do you really want your child putting that teddy bear in his mouth if you don’t know where it’s been?
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 Halogen lamps - Those old halogen lamps may look cool, but they’re a fire hazard. Anne Ducey, the marketing coordinator for Seattle Light, told the The Seattle Times that halogen lamps have been linked to at least 350 fires, $2 million in property damage, 114 injuries, and 29 deaths across the United States. [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990421&slug=2956347 ]. Instead of buying that retro-looking halogen lamp at a thrift store, look for new CFL or LED lamps – they’re safer and cheaper to use.
 Blenders - Blenders are subject to loads of abuse subjecting them to structural stress and motor strain. Not to mention blenders could have invisible old bits of food stuck to the underside of the blades and in the blending bowl. Since you can buy a new blender pretty cheap the savings isn’t worth it for used ones.
 Costume jewelry - Children and adult’s costume jewelry can contain poisonous substances like nickel, cadmium, and lead. The problem was so prevalent that testing and subsequent legal action by the Center for Environmental Health in 2004 led to the recall of more than 150 million pieces of jewelry for kids [ http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=53 ]. While lead testing is stricter now for new products, the used costume pieces you’re buying may have lead or other chemicals.
 Pet food and treats - There has been recent outbreak of pet food recalls. Check the FDA list at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls/#Dog before you buy. After all, salmonella causes serious health problems for pets that eat recalled food. Even if the food hasn’t been recalled, open bags of dog food and treats can contain bugs and bug eggs. The possibility of food poisoning and bugs isn’t worth the potential savings.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Angela Colley article 15 Jun 2012 ++]
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DoD Suicide Policy Update 02: The Defense Department is funding a new study to determine if something as simple as drinking smoothies with high concentrations of the fatty acids found in fish oils can help to reduce suicides among veterans. The study will assess the effect of Omega 3 fatty acids on 350 volunteer participants who have attempted suicide or are considered to be at risk of doing so, said Bernadette Marriott, a Medical University of South Carolina professor who is the study’s principal investigator. The university is collaborating in the clinical trial with researchers from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Cente in Charleston, S.C., and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Ron Acierno, director of the post-traumatic stress disorder clinic at the Charleston VA center, will partner with Marriott as an onsite collaborator. The Military Operational Medicine Joint Program Committee is funding the study, and the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Congressional Directed Medical Research Programs Office will manage it.
The test subjects, to be recruited over the next three years from the Charleston VA center and the local veteran population, will drink two child-size juice boxes of commercially available, smoothie-type drinks each day for six months, Marriott said. Half the veterans will receive about 4 grams of Omega 3 fatty acids in their drinks each day, said Joseph Hibbeln, acting chief of NIAA’s nutritional neurosciences section. This should elevate the concentration of Omega 3s in the group’s blood to levels commonly found among populations of fish eating countries such as Japan and Iceland. The other half of the test subjects, the control group, will receive placebos. Both groups will continue to receive the same mental health care services as before the study. Meanwhile, researchers will evaluate them as they begin the study and periodically over its course to assess their depression and anxiety levels and performance on cognitive tests, Marriott said. They also will take blood samples to measure Omega 3 levels. The investigators will have no idea until after the study which test subjects received Omega 3 doses and which were in the control, Marriott said.
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Based on previous studies in both animals and humans, Marriott said she expects to see much higher Omega 3 levels in the experimental group, with corresponding improvements in their mood and performance levels. Hibbeln has been a pioneer in linking Omega 3 deficiencies with depression and violent or impulsive disorders. For the past 20 years, he has advanced the theory that the brain, made up of fats and oils, depends on Omega 3 nutrients to operate properly and fully experience pleasure. He uses the analogy of a tree that grows deep roots, a sturdy trunk and abundance of leaves only if it’s properly fertilized and gets the nutrients it needs. The problem, he explained, is that the human body gets Omega 3s only through food and nutritional supplements. And the typical American diet is low in Omega 3 fatty acids -- with military populations consuming even fewer. Exacerbating the problem, Hibbeln said, is that their diets tend to be high in Omega 6s, the oils commonly found in French fries, chips and other processed foods. Within red blood cells, Omega 6s are like “insurgents” who crowd out the few good-guy Omega 3s, he explained. That double-whammy, he said, puts people at increased risk of suicide and other emotional distress.
Assessing the blood of 800 active-duty military members who committed suicide between 2002 and 2008, Hibbeln said all had “profoundly low levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, by evolutionary and world standards.” The suicide victims had particularly low levels of docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, an Omega 3 fatty acid concentrate
in the brain. The levels were so low that, based on other studies, it could have elevated the service members’ risk of suicide by 75 percent, Hibbeln said. But equally troubling was that the control group in that study, which consisted of 800 active-duty service members, had similarly low levels of Omega 3s in their blood. Hibbeln recalled another era in military history when a nutritional deficiency caused an operational challenge. Only when the British navy began feeding lemons and limes -- a great source of Vitamin C -- to its sailors did they stop suffering from debilitating cases of scurvy. Recognizing the potential benefits of Omega 3s, the Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts, has started infusing them into combat rations. Natick food scientists already have started introducing them into lemon poppy seed cake and a salmon in alfredo sauce entree.
Hibbeln said he’s hoping the new study will show results like those in another he conducted that involved 49 patients who were admitted to an emergency room in Ireland for multiple episodes of “self harm.” In that study, all the patients were sent home from the hospital without psychotherapy services, but half received 2 grams of Omega 3 fatty acids to take each day. The findings could have far-reaching impact beyond the military, Marriott said, noting that suicide is the 10th largest cause of death in the United States. “This study will have important ramifications, not just for veterans, but for all Americans,” she said. [Source: AFPS | Donna Miles | 12 Oct 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 USO. Travelers are encouraged to stop in at each USO they pass, especially in airports, and sign their visitor log. Funding for the USO is contingent on those who visit so the more people they have who sign their logs, the better their funding. Additionally, you might bring them store bought cookies and paper goods. These are always needed at USO facilities.
 Pharmacy. The United States Postal Service intends to end first-class Saturday mail delivery beginning the week of 5 AUG. New delivery schedule will consist of six days of package delivery, and five days of mail delivery. Express Scripts says prescriptions are considered packages so there will be no impact on their mail order deliveries.
 Fraud. The government says it recovered almost $8 for each dollar it spent investigating health care fraud over the past three years, including a record $4.2 billion last year.
 MIA. Check out the video Return to Makin Island iPod Version - YouTube about the recovery of WWII USMC KIAs from Makin Island.
[Source: Various 1-14 Feb 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 112:
 Kansas City MO — A psychologist practicing in the Lebanon, Missouri area was sentenced in federal court 30 JAN for engaging in a $1 million scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. Rhett E. McCarty, 67, of Lake Ozark, Missouri, was sentenced to three years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered McCarty to pay $1 million in restitution to Medicaid and Medicare. McCarty was a licensed psychologist and private practitioner who provided psychotherapy services to recipients of both Medicare and Medicaid in their homes in the Lebanon area. On August 16, 2012, McCarty pleaded guilty to health care fraud and to forgery. Between September 17, 2008 and April 5, 2012, McCarty submitted Medicare and Medicaid claims for daily or near daily psychotherapy services to 19 beneficiaries for which he was paid $1,276,334. According to the claims that McCarty submitted, he routinely saw beneficiaries seven days per week and worked long hours every day. Moreover, according to McCarty’s claims, he worked every single day of the calendar year from mid-September 2008 through early April 2012, except for Christmas day. McCarty routinely billed for every weekend day and for all holidays except Christmas day. Although McCarty did provide some services for most of these beneficiaries, he admitted that he did not see those beneficiaries more than once a week. McCarty also admitted that the amount he was paid by Medicare and Medicaid for services he did not provide to these 19 beneficiaries was $1 million. McCarty also admitted that he forged (or caused another person to forge) the signatures of five of the beneficiaries on patient sign-in sheets in order to obtain $418,507 in Medicare and Medicaid payments.
 Coshocton OH — Barbara Elise Miller has pleaded guilty to charges related to her role in a more than $1 million health-care billing scheme. Miller, the former owner of Three Rivers Infusion and Pharmacy Specialists, 238 Main St. in Coshocton, pleaded guilty to witness tampering, obstruction of an official proceeding and concealment of records on Thursday in federal court in Cleveland. A sentencing date has not been set. Miller, who still faces federal health-care fraud charges, was indicted in 2010 along with her husband, Dana C. Campbell, a company vice president. He was charged with concealing records. Two employees, Douglas A. Bolden and James O. Ireland, both of Zanesville, were indicted for obstruction. The company was investigated for allegedly overbilling medical insurance companies, then-Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said at the time. Federal agents raided the business and shut it down in 2008.
 Charlotte NC — Charlotte Elizabeth Garnes, 37, has been convicted in federal court in Charlotte of a Medicare fraud scheme that cost the government at least $650,000, prosecutors say. Garnes was accused of participating in a scheme for two years to submit claims for Medicare counseling services that never were performed. Two other women who were part of the scheme, Teresa Marible and Michele Jackson, were convicted earlier in the case. Prosecutors alleged that Garnes, a licensed professional counselor who was
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approved by Medicare to provide mental and behavioral health services, conspired with Marible and Jackson, who were not licensed, to submit claims under Garnes’ name and provider number. Garnes kept 30 percent of the fraud proceeds and distributed the rest to her co-conspirators. From March 2009 to April 2011Medicaid paid Charlotte’s Insight Inc., which was identified as Garnes’ company, about $740,000. About 90 percent of that, the government said, was based on false claims for services that Garnes did not provide. A number of Medicaid recipients testified during the weeklong trial, which ended 9 FEB, that they or their children never received the therapy services that Garnes claimed to have provided. In fact, Garnes was not in North Carolina or in the United States when some of the claimed services were performed. Evidence submitted during the trial also showed that Garnes routinely billed for more than 24 hours of therapy services in a single day. For one day in December 2009, the government claimed, Garnes submitted claims for 69 hours of services. Garnes used some of the money she received to buy a Mercedes and for plastic surgery. She was convicted on all 12 counts against her and has been released on bond. She faces up to 35 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. Marible was sentenced last June to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.135 million in restitution. Jackson was sentenced last March to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $292,000 in restitution.
[Source: Various 1-14 Feb 2013 ++]
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Medicaid Fraud Update 79:
 Nashua NH — Greater Nashua Mental Health Center has settled a False Claims Act matter with the state, agreeing to pay $54,281.76 for improperly billed Medicaid services. Attorney General Michael A. Delaney announced the settlement on Jan. 30, the result of an investigation launched in 2012, after a review by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit detected improper billing practices for psychosocial rehabilitation services. Delaney said Greater Nashua Mental Health received payments from the Medicaid program that it was not entitled to receive. The billings at issue spanned the years 2008 through 2012.
 Sedan KS — A Chautauqua County woman was ordered 28 JAN to pay restitution in the amount of $35,869.84, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail for Medicaid fraud and animal cruelty, said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Bonnie Newman, 61, of Moline, was found guilty by a Chautauqua County jury in November 2012 of one count of making a false claim to the Medicaid program, one count of mistreatment of a dependent adult and eight counts of cruelty to animals. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Sedan Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office, and Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division. Local law enforcement and Adult Protective Services removed the defendant's disabled adult daughter from her home in Sedan on March 5, 2009, due to unsanitary conditions. Numerous animals also were seized and removed from the defendant's care. Newman's restitution will reimburse the Kansas Medicaid program, Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and investigative costs of the Kansas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Division. The defendant's other daughter, Cheri Newman, also pleaded guilty to mistreatment of a dependent adult and conspiracy to defraud the Medicaid program. Cheri Newman was ordered to repay $9,743.04 to the Kansas Medicaid program.
 Wanaque NJ — Five dentists and two office managers were indicted 7 FEB by a state grand jury on 31 counts of defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $5.5 million, authorities said. Stephen Beukas, 47, of Mahwah and John Freiler, 74, of Wanaque were among the seven people affiliated with a mobile dental practice, NJ Mobile, who face a multitude of charges including insurance fraud, conspiracy and misconduct by a corporate official. NJ Mobile is owned by Beukas and has a business office in Colts Neck, according to a release by the state Attorney General’s Office. The company traveled to nursing
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homes, assisted living centers, adult day-care facilities and private homes throughout the state to provide dental services. Authorities allege the practice overbilled Medicaid and added a charge for “Behavioral Management” on almost every claim, whether that treatment was performed or not. Often, the dentists billed Medicaid for procedures that were not provided, authorities said. Specifically the indictment alleges that Beukas and Mary D. Anerousis, 47, of Livingston, submitted 3,714 claims for procedures that weren’t performed. In one case, Freiler submitted a claim for a Medicaid recipient who was deceased at the time of the purported dental service, authorities said. Trip charges were also added to each claim, though many of the patients were within the same facility and the dentists were entitled to only one per trip to the center, authorities said. Most of the charges are second-degree crimes, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $150,000. There is a misconduct charge, which is a third-degree crime. The maximum penalty for this charge is five years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The other dentists indicted along with Beukas and Freiler on Thursday were:; Matthew Girardy Anerousis, 42, and Trina Ruchelman, 40. An office manager was also indicted - Illuminata Davi, 56, as well as the company's billing manager, Joyce Fuller, 56,.
 Lumberton NC — Business owner Andetra Michelle Sampson, 39, of Lumberton, was sentenced 31 JAN to five years in prison after defrauding Medicaid of more than $2.1 million by falsely filing bills for behavioral health services in a four-year health care scheme beginning in 2006. Sampson had pleaded guilty on July 11, 2012, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud as part of a scheme to falsely provide day treatment services for preschool and school-aged children at Country Lane Day Treatment LLC in Pembroke, a business she owned. The statement said Sampson provided services by unqualified individuals, claimed services that were never rendered, falsified service notes, created false service orders and forged doctors’ signatures. In November 2010, multiple government agencies seized in excess of $300,000 worth of Sampson’s property that had been purchased with Medicaid money, including recreational vehicles, personal vehicles and rare motorcycles. Sampson was ordered to pay full restitution to Medicaid in the amount of the fraud and will be on supervised release for three years when she leaves prison.
[Source: Various 1-14 Feb 2013++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Louisiana provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titls, “Veteran State Benefits –LA” for an overview of the below those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each refer to http://vetaffairs.la.gov.
 Housing Benefits
 Employment Assistance
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/louisiana-state-veterans-benefits.html Feb 2013 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress.
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When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http: //www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http: //veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http: //www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:
 February 14, 2013 (T). HVAC Economic Opportunity hearing on GI Bill IT Long Term Solution (LTS). 10:00 A.M.; 334 Cannon.
 February 26, 2013. Joint HVAC and SVAC hearing on the Legislative Presentation of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). 2:00pm; 345 Cannon HOB.
 February 28, 2013. Joint HVAC and SVAC hearing on the Legislative Presentations from multiple Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). 10:00am; Ground room 50, Dirksen SOB.
 March 5, 2013. Joint HVAC and SVAC hearing on the Legislative Presentation of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). 10:00am; Ground room 50, Dirksen SOB.
 March 6, 2013. Joint HVAC and SVAC hearing on the Legislative Presentations from multiple Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs). 10:00am; 345 Cannon HOB’
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 13 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Committee Hearings: The House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (O&I) held a hearing the week of 5 FEB regarding the deadly Legionnaires' breakout at the VA Healthcare System in Pittsburgh. Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by bacteria known as legionella. A months-long investigation by the subcommittee revealed that VA officials learned of problems with their water system as early as December 2011, yet waited nearly a year to disclose and address those issues. Subcommittee Chairman Mike Coffman (R-CO) condemned VA officials for a culture of complacency which led to the death of five veterans, and ordered VA to strengthen the weaknesses in its infection control program. To learn more about the hearing and to view a webcast refer to: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/analyzing-va%E2%80%99s-actions-to-prevent-legionnaire%E2%80%99s-disease-in-pittsburgh. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 8 Feb 2013 ++]
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VA Committee Hearings Update 01: The House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) held its first oversight hearing of 2013 the week of 5 FEB on VA's use of the 100 percent temporary disability rating. Veterans receive the temporary rating when medical evidence shows that a surgery or treatment for serious illness requires a substantial recovery period which may prevent them from working, or when the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities allows the award of a 100 percent evaluation for a period of time. A recent VA Office of Inspector General report detailed VA's failure to process and monitor those claims, resulting in a $943 million overpayment to veterans. The IG also found that VA had not set up proper controls or scheduled future medical examinations as required. All seven IG recommendations, including one requiring VBA to review all temporary 100-percent ratings to ensure a future examination date is entered in the Veteran's electronic record, are being implemented. For more information on the hearings or to view the recorded webcast, refer to: http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/the-100-temporary-disability-rating-an-examination-of-its-effective-use. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 8 Feb 2013 ++]
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Military History: Runway Able is part of the North Field on Tinian Island in the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It was the jumping off point for Enola Gay when she went to Hiroshima with Little Boy, the first ever nuclear bomb to be used. It was also the take off point for the attack on Nagasaki using Fat Man in August 1945. They led to the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan on September 2, 1945, and the end of the Pacific War. Fat Man rode with Major Charles Sweeney in Bockscar, a B-29 bomber. More and better details are at Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombing raid on Nagasaki had the third highest fatality rate in World War II after the nuclear strike on Hiroshima and the March 9/10 1945 fire bombing raid on Tokyo. More information can be found this at http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/ & http://www.abomb1.org/. To read more about Tinian’s role in the ending of the war and view some photos refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled “Runway Able”. [Source: http://www.sunray22b.net/runway_able.htm Jan 2013 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant February events in U.S. Military History are:
 Feb 15 1898 – U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously blows up in Havana Harbor, Cuba killing more than 260 crew members and bringing the United States closer to war with Spain.
 Feb 15 1943 – WW II: The Germans break the American Army’s lines at the Fanid–Sened Sector in Tunisia, North Africa.
 Feb 15 1944 – WW II: The assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins
 Feb 15 1967 – Vietnam: Thirteen U.S. helicopters are shot down in one day in Vietnam
 Feb 15 2003 – Iraq War: Protests against the Iraq war take place in over 600 cities worldwide. It is estimated that between 8 million to 30 million people participate, making this the largest peace demonstration in history.
 Feb 16 1804 – 1Lt. Stephen Decatur led a successful raid into Tripoli Harbor to burn the U.S. Navy frigate Philadelphia, which had fallen into the hands of pirates.
 Feb 16 1862 – Civil War: 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered at Ft. Donelson TN. Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory earned him the nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant."
 Feb 16 1864 – Civil War: The H.L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
 Feb 16 1865 – Civil War : Columbia, South Carolina is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces.
 Feb 16 1944 – WW II: Operation Hailstone begins. U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk (Chuuk), Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion. (WWII)
 Feb 16 1945 – WW II: American troops landed on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines.
 Feb 16 1960 – The U.S. Navy submarine USS Triton begins Operation Sandblast, setting sail from New London, Connecticut, to begin the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe.
 Feb 17 1864 – Civil War: The Confederate H.L. Hunley in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
 Feb 17 1865 – Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces.
 Feb 17 1944 – WW II: Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins. The battle ends in an U.S. victory on 22 February. Casualties and losses: US 1,096 - JP 2,693.
 Feb 17 1944 – WW II: Operation Hailstone begins. U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk (Chuuk), Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion.
 Feb 18 1865 – Civil War: Union troops force the Confederates to abandon Fort Anderson, N.C.
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 Feb 18 1865 – Civil War: Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman set the South Carolina State House on fire during the burning of Columbia.
 Feb 18 1955 – Cold War: Operation Teapot test shot "Wasp" is successfully detonated at the Nevada Test Site with a yield of 1.2 kilotons. Wasp is the first of fourteen shots of the Teapot series.
 Feb 19 1942 – WW II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese–Americans to Japanese internment camps.
 Feb 19 1943 – WW II: USS Grampus (SS–207) sunk either by Japanese naval aircraft (958th Kokutai) southeast of New Britain on 19 February or by destroyer Minegumo in Blackett Strait on the night of 5–6 March. 71 killed
 Feb 19 1943 – WW II: German troops of the Afrika Korps break through the Kasserine Pass, defeating U.S. forces. U.S. troops retake the pass 5 days later. Casualties and losses: US 6,500 Axis 2,000.
 Feb 19 1944 – WW II: The U.S. Eighth Air Force and Royal Air Force begin "Big Week," a series of heavy bomber attacks against German aircraft production facilities.
 Feb 19 1945 – WW II: Battle of Iwo Jima – about 30,000 United States Marines land on Iwo Jima.
 Feb 20 1864 – Civil War: Confederate troops defeat a Union army sent to bring Florida into the union at the Battle of Olustee, Fla. Casualties and losses: US 1,861
 Feb 20 1942 – WW II: Lt. Edward O’Hare downs five out of nine Japanese bombers that are attacking the carrier Lexington and becomes America's first World War II flying ace
 Feb 20 1944 – WW II: The ‘Big Week’ began with American bomber raids on German aircraft manufacturing centers. - CSA 946.
 Feb 21 1862 – Civil War: The Texas Rangers win a Confederate victory in the Battle of Val Verde, NM. Casualties and losses: US 975 - CSA 150 to 230.
 Feb 21 1916 – WW I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins.
 Feb 21 1945 – WW II: Japanese Kamikaze planes sink the escort carrier Bismarck Sea and damage the Saratoga.
 Feb 21 1951 – Korea: The U. S. Eighth Army launches Operation Killer, a counterattack to push Chinese forces north of the Han River in Korea.
 Feb 22 1836 – Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began his 13 day siege of the Alamo Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas.
 Feb 22 1847 – Mexican–American War: The Battle of Buena Vista – 5,000 American troops defeat 15,000 Mexicans. Casualties and losses: US 746 - Mex 3,727.
 Feb 22 1909 – The sixteen battleships of the Great White Fleet, led by the USS Connecticut (BB–18), return to the United States after a voyage around the world.
 Feb 22 1942 – WW II: Franklin Roosevelt orders Gen. Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippines.
 Feb 22 1973 – Cold War: Following President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China, the two countries agree to establish liaison offices.
 Feb 22 1984: Britain and the U.S. send warships to the Persian Gulf following an Iranian offensive against Iraq.
 Feb 23 1836 – The Battle of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas.
 Feb 23 1847 – Mexican–American War: Battle of Buena Vista – In Mexico, American troops under General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
 Feb 23 1903 – Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States ‘in perpetuity’.
 Feb 23 1942 – WW II: A Japanese submarine surfaced off the coast of California, shelling the coastline near the town of Ellwood. The first Axis explosives to hit American soil.
 Feb 23 1945 – WW II: During the Battle of Iwo Jima, a group of Marines and a commonly forgotten U.S. Navy Corpsman, reach the top of Mt. Suribachi and are photographed raising the American flag. The photo would later win a Pulitzer Prize and become the model for the national USMC War Memorial.
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 Feb 23 1945 – WW II: The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is liberated by American forces.
 Feb 23 1945 – World War II: The 11th Airborne Division, with Filipino guerrillas, free the captives of the Los Baños internment camp.
 Feb 23 1967 – Vietnam: U.S. troops begin the largest offensive of the war, near the Cambodian border.
 Feb 23 1991 – Gulf War: Ground troops cross the Saudi Arabian border and enter Iraq, thus starting the ground phase of the war.
 Feb 24 1813 – War of 1812: The American ship USS Hornet sank the British sloop HMS Peacock in an action off the coast of Guiana (north coast of South America.
 Feb 24 1917 – WW I: The U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom is given the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany pledges to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona to Mexico if Mexico declares war on the United States.
 Feb 24 1942 – Battle of Los Angeles: A UFO flying over wartime Los Angeles causes a blackout order at 2:25 a.m. and attracts a barrage of anti–aircraft fire, ultimately killing 3 civilians.
 Feb 24 1944 – WW II: Merrill’s Marauders, a specially trained group of American soldiers, begin their ground campaign against Japan into Burma.
 Feb 24 1968 – Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive is halted; South Vietnam recaptures Hué.
 Feb 25 1933 – USS Ranger, the first U.S. Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier, is launched.
 Feb 25 1991 – Gulf War: An Iraqi scud missile hits an American military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia killing 28 U.S. Army Reservists from Pennsylvania.
 Feb 26 1943 – U.S. Flying Fortresses and Liberators pound German docks and U–boat lairs at Wilhelmshaven.
 Feb 26 1991 – Gulf War: On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait.
 Feb 27 1776 – Revolutionary War: the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina breaks up a Loyalist militia.
 Feb 27 1864 – Civil War: The first Union prisoners arrive at Andersonville Prison in Georgia.
 Feb 27 1944 – WW II: USS Grayback (SS–208) missing. Most likely succumbed to damage inflicted by land–based Japanese naval aircraft suffered the day before in the East China Sea. 80 killed
 Feb 27 1991 – Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated".
 Feb 28 1844 – A gun on USS Princeton explodes while the boat is on a Potomac River cruise, killing eight people, including two United States Cabinet members.
 Feb 28 1863 – Civil War: The Confederate ship Nashville was destroyed by the Union ironclad vessel USS Montauk on the Ogeechee River in Georgia.
 Feb 28 1893 – The USS Indiana, the lead ship of her class and the first battleship in the United States Navy comparable to foreign battleships of the time, is launched.
 Feb 28 1916 – WW I: Beginning of the battle of Verdun, in France, which lasted ten months.
 Feb 28 1942 – The heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA–30) is sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait with 693 crew members killed, along with HMAS Perth (D29) which lost 375 men.
 Feb 28 1945 – WW II: U.S. tanks break the natural defense line west of the Rhine and cross the Erft River.
 Feb 28 1991 – The first Gulf War ends.
 Feb 28 1994: U.S. warplanes shoot down four Serb aircraft over Bosnia in the first NATO use of force in the troubled area.
 Feb 29 1864 – American Civil War: Kilpatrick–Dahlgren Raid fails – plans to free 15,000 Union soldiers being held near Richmond, Virginia are thwarted.
 Feb 29 1944 – WW II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur.
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 Feb 29 1944 – WW II: USS Trout (SS–202) missing. Most likely sunk by Japanese destroyer Asashimo in Philippine Sea. 81 killed.
 Feb 29 1972 – Vietnam War: Vietnamization – South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from Vietnam.
[Source: Various Feb 2013++]
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Military Trivia 68: The Nuremburg Trials
1. During Nazi rule in Germany, what were held in Nuremberg every summer? Weapons tests | Party rallies | Executions | Debates
2. What year did the Nuremberg Trials start? 1946 | 1945 | 1944 | 1947
3. In what building were the Nuremburg Trials held? The Palace of Justice | The Palace of Germany | The Nuremberg Hall | The Reichstag
4. Who was the most influential Nazi captured by the Allies and put on trial? Wilhelm Keitel | Hermann Goering | Joachim von Ribbentrop | Julius Streicher
5. Did all the defendants plead *not* guilty? Yes | No
6. Who was the chief U.S. prosecutor in the trial? John Archer | Robert Jackson | Adolf Hitler | Harry Truman
7. Which defendant was the Nazi Foreign Minister before the trial? Karl Doenitz | Julius Streicher | Joachim von Ribbentrop | Hjalmar Schacht
8. How many defendants were accused and stood trial in person in the first and most famous Nuremberg Trial? 19 | 27 | 24 | 22
9. Which four nations conducted the trials? U.S.S.R, U.S, Britain, Germany | U.S, Britain, France, Japan | U.S.S.R, U.S, China, Britain | U.S, Britain, France, U.S.S.R
10. Which leading Nazi committed suicide hours before he was due to be hanged? Rudolf Hess | Hermann Goering | Karl Doenitz | Albert Speer
Answers
1) Party rallies were held each year to show the public how strong the Nazi Party and the German military machine were. They moved the people so much that many pledged to die for Nazis. Debate was illegal in Germany under the Nazis. Anyone who dared to do so risked death.
2) In the same year that World War Two ended, 1945, the allied governments decided to hold the trials in one of the most important cities in Germany. The first executions took place in 1946.
3) The Palace of Justice . This is the same building that laws had been made in 1935 to reduce the Jews to second class citizens.
4) Hitler and Goebbels had committed suicide in April of 1945. Himmler, when captured by the British, also committed suicide. So when the trial began Goering was the most senior left. Although he knew a death sentence was imminent, he remained convinced that he was right in all that he did and said.
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5) Yes. At the beginning of the trial, all defendants’ pleaded not guilty, but near the end, most had broken down and had said that they had "only been following orders". The judges made their decisions based on one or more of the following counts: 1. Conspiracy to commit aggression, 2. The act of aggression, 3. Crimes in the conduct of warfare (that is, war crimes in the narrower sense), 4. Crimes against Humanity. Those convicted on all four counts were: Goering, Ribbentrop, Keitel, Rosenberg, Jodl and Neurath.
6) Robert Jackson. He had doubts about the way the trial would be run. He thought it would fail, just like the trials after World War I. He would be proved wrong, though. The Nuremberg Trials established a basis for international law which is still used today.
7) Joachim von Ribbentrop . He was one of Hitler's most devoted followers. He was a key figure in the conspiracy to launch a war of aggression and was sentenced to death by hanging. Unlike Goering, he was actually hanged.
8) 22 of the highest ranking Nazi officials were accused. Twelve were hanged, eight received prison terms ranging from ten years to life and two were acquitted. (Politician and diplomat Franz von Papen, and the president of the German Central Bank, Hjalmar Schacht, were acquitted, as was Hans Fritzsche). Goering committed suicide in prison a few hours before he was to be executed. Robert Ley had been charged but had committed suicide before the trial began, and Martin Bormann was tried in absentia.
9) U.S, Britain, France, U.S.S.R . Japan was never included in the talks because they were one of the Axis Powers. At the start, things were very difficult because the four Allied Powers each had different laws. It took many months of hard work but by the time of the trial, everything was working smoothly. (Separate trials were held for Japanese war criminals).
10) Hermann Goering. With his death, the Third Reich was over. Its highest leaders were dead, along with their Fuehrer. It is sometimes said, but has never been proven, that Goering's prison guard retrieved a cyanide tablet from his luggage. No charges were ever brought against the man.
[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/submitquiz.cfm?quiz=152594 Feb 2013++]
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Tax Burden for Texas Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Texas:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6.25% (non-prepared food, prescription and non-prescription drugs exempt); local option taxes can raise the rate to 8.25%. Gasoline Tax: 38.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Diesel Fuel Tax: 44.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes) Cigarette Tax: $1.41 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
No state personal income tax Retirement Income: Not taxed. Retired Military Pay: Not taxed. Military Disability Retired Pay: Disability Portion – Length of Service Pay: Member on September 24, 1975 – No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 – Taxed, unless combat incurred. Retired Pay – Based solely on disability. Member on September 24, 1975 – No tax. Not Member on September 24, 1975 – Taxed, unless all pay based on
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disability, and disability resulted from armed conflict, extra-hazardous service, simulated war, or an instrumentality of war. VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: 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
Property tax is imposed by local taxing units. Click here for details. For homeowners 65 and older, $10,000 (in addition to the regular $15,000 homestead exemption) of the property’s assessed value is exempt from school taxes and $3,000 is exempt from other local taxes. Once an over-65 homeowner qualifies for an over-65 homestead exemption for school taxes, that owner gets a tax ceiling for that home on school taxes. If the homeowner improves the home (other than normal repairs or maintenance), the tax ceiling is adjusted for the new additions. For details on the homestead exemption refer to http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/homestead-exemption.html.
School district taxes are frozen for seniors (65 and older) and disabled persons at the level imposed on the residence the first year that the taxpayer qualified for the residence exemption. Counties, cities, towns, and junior college districts are permitted to establish a tax freeze on homesteads of those age 65 and older or disabled. For more information on exemptions refer to http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/exmptns.html.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance and the estate tax is limited and related to federal estate tax collection.
For further information, visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts site http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxes.
[Source: http: //www.retirementliving.com Feb 2013 ++]
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Aviation Art (32):
Maximum Effort
by Philip West
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Based at Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire from June 1943, 101 Squadron was selected to test new equipment designed to jam the VHF frequencies used by German fighter controllers. A system, code-named "Airborne Cigar" or ABC for short, was operated by an eighth crew member - the Special Operator on board the Lancaster who could understand German and listen into the German controller's transmissions, jamming them before they alerted their night fighters to the position of the bombers. ABC soon proved its worth and from October 1943 101 Sqn. ABC aircraft flew with all Bomber Command main force attacks, consequently 101 Squadron suffered higher losses than other 1 Group Squadrons. In an attempt to reduce the losses the Squadron was the first to be fitted with twin 0.5 browning machine guns in the rear turret.
[Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Maxeffort.html Jan 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 13 FEB 2013: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 113th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http: //thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http: //thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http: //thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http: //www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.
[Source: http: //www.loc.gov & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills Feb 2013 ++]
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Have You Heard? The Golden Years
An elderly woman, as she left a meeting at a hotel desperately gave herself a personal TSA pat down. She was looking for her car keys. They were not in her pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.
Suddenly she realized she must have left them in the car. Frantically, she headed for the parking lot.
Her husband had scolded her many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. Her theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. His theory is that the car will be stolen.
As she burst through the door, she came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty.
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She immediately called the police, gave them her location, confessed that she had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.
Then she made the most difficult call of all, "Honey," she stammered; ( she always call him "honey" in times like these.)
"I left my keys in the car and it's been stolen."
There was a period of silence. She thought the call had been dropped, but then she heard his voice.
"Are you kidding' me", he barked, "I dropped you off!"
Now it was her time to be silent. Embarrassed, she said, "Well, come and get me."
He retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this cop I didn't steal your car."
Yep it's the golden years.
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Military Lingo/Jargon/Slang:
USA Academy: Big Brass Rocket - cheer the Supe, Comm, Dean, BTO and Sergeants Major do with the cadets at the cadets' beckoning during sporting events.
USA Acronyms: BTDTBTTS - Been There, Done That, Bought The T-Shirt
USA Equipment: Brown Round - Drill Sergeant's hat
USA Field Slang: Crowd Pleaser - a large bomb dropped from a fighter or bomber
USA Misc: Anal, cranial loopback - to have ones head up their ass
USA Rank: Black Hat - Airborne Instructor
USA Soldiers: 12 Bang-Bang - slang for MOS 12B, Combat Engineer, who was attached to a unit
without heavy or medium equipment (earth movers, trucks or tracks, etc.) & would
operate much like a light Infantry unit.
USA Unit Nicknames: 10th Mo-Town - 10th Mountain Division.
USAF: American gloves: Pockets.
USMC: 48, 72, 96 - in hours the standard liberty periods of two, three, four days.
USN: Black Balls - Three black balls hung in a vertical line on the mast indicate the ship is aground. - Coast Guard Navigation Rules

December 2012 Update

2012-12-16T14:36:00.001-05:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== GA Vet Home [03] ------------------------- (Cost-Free Benefit to End)
== Vet Widows [04] ---------------------------------- (Never Hurts to Ask)
== VA Lawsuit ~ Legionnaires' Disease ----------- (William E. Nicklas)
== Vet Sleep Survey --------------------------------- (Participants Needed)
== VA Native American Care -- (National Reimbursement Agreement)
== Identity Theft [12] ----------------------------- (Fort Bragg Paychecks)
== Social Security Compassionate Allowances -------------- (Overview)
== World War I Memorial [04] ----- (House Committee Approves Bill)
== NDAA 2013 [13] ------------------------------- (Going to Conference)
== VA Presumptive TBI Diseases ------------------ (Benefit Expansion)
== Transition Assistance Program [01] ---------------- (Transition GPS)
== DOD Tuition Assistance [01] --- (Memorandum of Understanding)
== Wreaths Across America [07] --------- (Florida National Cemetery)
== Vet Housing [09] ---------------------------------- (Haven Act S.3614)
== SBA Vet Issues [25] ---------------- (Contracting Preference Ruling)
== VA Electronic Health Record [02] ------------- (VA’s Paper Chase)
== Homeless Vets [34] ----------------- (Yale University Study Results) == South Carolina DOR Data Breach [01] --------- (Military Members)
== Sequestration [09] -------------------- (DoD Preparing for the Plunge)
== VA Claim Denial [12] ------------ (HVAC Hearing on Lost Records)
== Vet Gun Control [05] ------------------------------------ (NDAA Issue)
== DoD Lawsuit ~ PTSD VN ----------- (Discharge Rules Challenged)
== Flu Prevention [05] --------------------------- (Flu Season Early Start)
== VA Transportation ------------------ (DAV Transportation Network)
== Military Discounts [08] ----------------------- (Home Depot & Lowes)
== VA Claims Backlog [77] ----------------------- (NDAA Amendment)
== VA Claims Backlog [78] --------------------- (Process Time Up 40%)
== VA Claims Backlog [79] ------- (DoD Exit Physical Enhancement)
== VA Women Advisory Committee [02] ------- (Five New Members)
== DoD Suicide Policy -------------------------- (UCMJ Changes Sought)
== DoD Suicide Policy [01] ------------------------ (NDAA Amendment)
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== VA Million Veteran Program [02] ------------ (110K Now Enrolled)
== TRICARE User Fees [94] ------------------------ (Veto Threat Letter)
== Tricare Pharmacy Copay [08] ----------- (Senate Supports Increase)
== TRICARE Hippotherapy Ruling ----------------------- (Not Covered)
== SBP DIC Offset [37] ------------------------------ (Senate Votes "No")
== DFAS 1099R Availability Dates -------------------------------- (2012) == Mobilized Reserve 4 DEC 2012---------------------- (1187 Decrease)
== Vet License Plates Wyoming ----------------------------- (Availability)
== OBIT ~ James L. Stone -------------------------------- (21 NOV 2012)
== GI Bill [134] -------------------------- (Now a Registered Trademark)
== Stolen Valor [81] ----------------------------------- (Paul A. Schroeder)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [62] ---------------------- (1-15 Dec 2012)
== Vet Jobs [94] ----------------------- (Unemployment Rate Now 6.6%)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ----------- (As of Dec 14 2012)
== WWII Vets [33] ---------------------------------------- (Delton Walling)
== POW/MIA [32] ------------------------------------------- (Pearl Harbor)
== POW/MIA [33] ----------------------------------------- (1-14 Dec 2012)
== WWII Posters * -------------------------------------------------------- (19)
== Saving Money ----------------------------------------------- (Eyeglasses)
== Spending Money ----------------------------------------- (Unusual Gifts)
== Notes of Interest ---------------------------------------- (1-14 Dec 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [106] --------------------------------- (1-14 Dec 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [107] --------------- (GAO Fraud Prevalence Report)
== Medicaid Fraud [76] --------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits --------------------------------- (Illinois 2012)
== Military History ------------------------------- (Day of Infamy Speech)
== Military History Anniversaries ---------------- (Dec 16-31 Summary)
== Military Trivia 64 ---------------------------------- (Army-Navy Game)
== Tax Burden for Rhode Island Retirees ------------- (As of Dec 2012)
== Veteran Legislation Status 12 DEC 2012 --------- (Where we stand)
== Aviation Art * ----------------------------- (Ramrod - Outward Bound )
== Have You Heard? ------------------------------------------- (Two Chiefs)

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Cost-Free Benefit to End
GA Vet Home Update 03: Effective 1 FEB 2013 Georgia veterans will no longer be able to live cost-free in the state’s two nursing homes for veterans. Georgia is the last state to allow veterans to stay in such nursing homes for free. A new law now requires the Georgia Department of Veterans Service to begin charging those who stay at the facilities in Augusta and Milledgeville. Georgia currently covers the cost of operating the homes by state appropriations and federal monies. When the law takes effect, patients at the War Veterans Home in Augusta will pay $22.81 per day, which is about $700 a month. "That’s a lot of money," said Charles Esposito, executive director of the War Veterans Home in Augusta. "But in the scheme of things of nursing home care, it’s not. In typical nursing home care, it would run $5,000 to $8,000 (a month) depending on where you are." He said the average length of stay for Augusta patients is about a year.
The reason for the change is simple: the state is looking to streamline costs during the tough economic times. But the impact on veterans and their families can cause complications, and that concerns members of The American Legion family in Georgia. "The way we see it is that you are taking money away from the families of these veterans," said Department of Georgia Commander Bill Lienhop. "And many veterans don’t have very much. Basically, they are living day to day on that money. And we see that there could be some hardships with the families." Still, of all the options discussed, this was the best alternative, according to Legion members and the nursing home administrators. One option considered would have involved moving the system into Medicare or Medicaid. However, that likely would have forced the nursing homes to care for non-veterans and veterans alike. Susie Mash, American Legion Auxiliary Department of Georgia president, worries about the impact on the spouse. Mash wants to make sure that a spouse will still be able to pay for housing, food and any medications while incurring the additional cost of nursing home care. "I know that if this becomes a problem, then we will need to look outside (for solutions)," she said, "because our mission is to assist The American Legion, our veterans and their families at home and abroad."
For veterans and their spouses who are truly struggling financially, there is some hope, Esposito said. "If the patient does not have the $700, and they can document and demonstrate that they don’t have the money, we can issue them a waiver and they won’t have to pay it," he said. Veterans could also tap into the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit, designed by federal law to assist with payments for medical care. The amount is based on a veteran’s income and assets. If, for example, a veteran exceeds the financial threshold, he may not receive assistance. Esposito is thankful for the relationship between the Legion and his facility. "Nobody does more for the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home than The American Legion," he said, citing donations in the tens of thousands of dollars that have purchased patient recliners and lift-chairs, barbecue grills and a gazebo. "That’s the bottom line. The Legion does more for us than anyone, and we appreciate it." [Source: American Legion Online Update 13 Dec 3012 ++]
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Never Hurts to Ask
Vet Widows Update 04: Kathy Barnette learned quickly that it never hurts to ask. She was forced to ask the Department of Veterans Affairs repeatedly for help as the bills piled up after her husband, Dan, died in 2008.
His terminal conditions, Agent Orange, diabetes and melanoma, are believed to be the result of his 20-year Air Force career, when he served in both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. "I didn't even have time to grieve because I knew I was going to lose my home and my vehicle, because all I was going to get was $600 a month," Barnette said. She said she avoided that fate by being persistent. It's an attitude she said she'll use to fight the Victoria County Tax Appraisal District's decision to deny her a property tax exemption given to 100 percent or totally disabled veterans.
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The law - also known as tax code 11.131 or State House Bill 3613 - wasn't passed until a year after her husband died, making her ineligible for the benefit, officials said. Even then, surviving spouses weren't eligible for the benefit until District 7 Texas Senator Dan Patrick pushed Senate Bill 516, which became effective Jan. 1. The surviving spouses have to have been widowed on or after 2009 to qualify, Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled in April. "I am pleased that the Attorney General's opinion will ensure that surviving spouses who lost a loved one between 2009 and 2012 will also be covered under my legislation," Patrick wrote in a news release. "To treat surviving spouses from 2009 any differently from surviving spouses in 2012 would have been unfair and contradicted the intent of my legislation." Barnette meets the other requirements. She never remarried, and she's lived in the same Victoria home for the past 20 years. "It would've knocked about $200 or $300 off my mortgage payment," she said, adding she intends to fill out the county appraisal district's form just in case. She's also working with the VA in amending her husband's death certificate to bring up his disability rating from 70 to 100 percent. "I just feel like these guys and gals go and fight for our country and they come up with these illnesses and nothing is done to help, especially families that are left behind. It's just wrong," Barnette said.
Victoria County Veterans Services Officer Gloria Picon-McDade said she's hearing more and more from Vietnam veterans' widows who are benefits savvy, but the ones the worst off financially appear to be the wives of World War II veterans, the latter of whom the agency reported were dying at a rate of about 600 each month. She said dialing the VA hotline often can be misleading because the person answering may not be familiar with Texas laws nor just how proactive the laws are compared to other states. "I tell them, 'You've got to talk to your congressman and state representatives. They make the laws. We don't. The VA accepts what they change,'" Picon-McDade said. "It's not fair, but could you believe if they had given it to all the widows from all the past years? They have to have a cut off otherwise our county would be broke." She said it usually takes more than a year for the VA to respond to a benefits inquiry. She can appeal their decisions, but not all things are negotiable. "Everybody's case could be different," Picon-McDade said.
Texas Sen. Glenn Hegar, who represents District 18, supported Patrick's legislation, but said via email, "Undoubtedly, local property taxes fund important functions for local communities, including our public schools. It is always important that we honor the families who sacrificed while their loved ones served our country protecting the freedoms we enjoy in our state and nation." Walquiria Sanchez, of Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, which sometimes provides free legal services to veterans and their families depending on their income, said the surviving spouses time restriction may have been put in place to see how much it would cost the state. "Little by little, they roll these things out," she said, pointing to other benefits, such as the most recent toll road fee exemptions veterans receive in the Austin and Lubbock-areas. "Texas is a very generous state." [Source: Stars & Stripes | Jessica Priest | 12 Dec 2012 ++]
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William E. Nicklas
VA Lawsuit ~ Legionnaires' Disease: The family of a Hampton man who died last month after contracting Legionnaires' disease at the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs' hospital in Oakland filed a civil claim against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on 10 DEC. At a press conference, the three adult sons of William E. Nicklas, 87, said they were devastated by his death on 23 NOV, which was "very preventable," their attorney, Harry Cohen, said. "It appears as though the VA Hospital failed to properly maintain its water systems, despite recurring illnesses at the hospital and despite warnings from experts," Mr. Cohen said in a written statement issued prior to the press conference. One of Mr. Nicklas' sons, Robert, said in the statement that prior to his father's death, "We were repeatedly told at the VA that they expected my dad to make a full recovery, until the time that they confirmed that he had contracted the Legionnaires' disease. He should have been home with us now, celebrating his birthday and
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then Christmas with my mom, his children, and grandchildren." Pittsburgh VA spokesman David Cowgill said he could not respond to the filing of the claim.
Nicklas, a Navy World War II veteran who later had an auto body shop in Glenshaw, was in very good health before being admitted in early October to the Pittsburgh VA's University Drive hospital in Oakland, his family said. He stayed two days with instructions to follow up with his doctor. He met with his doctor and took the prescribed medication, a beta blocker. But it made him nauseated and dehydrated. On 1 NOV, he was admitted again to University Drive for dehydration and began recovering. On 17 NOV, problems with his kidneys, liver and blood developed and his family was told he had an infection. Four days later -- for the first time -- they were told he had contracted Legionnaires' disease, his family said. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he died two days later. Although the Pittsburgh VA never identified him publicly, Mr. Nicklas was the person the VA said on Thanksgiving Day was the fifth person to contract Legionnaires' disease from a VA facility. The VA never publicly disclosed that he died and still has not. On 16 NOV that the VA first publicly revealed it had four confirmed cases of Legionnaires' which patients contracted from the University Drive hospital.
Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia-like disease that is contracted from the bacterium Legionella, and typically spread through water systems to people. About 8,000 to 10,000 people each year are hospitalized with the disease, but the Centers for Disease Control and other experts believe many more cases occur each year that go undiagnosed as simple pneumonia or other afflictions. Legionnaires' can be fatal in 5 to 30 percent of cases, depending on who it strikes and where it is acquired. The civil claim that the Nicklas family filed is known as a Form 95, which the federal government requires people to submit before any formal lawsuit is filed. After filing Form 95, the federal government will have six months to investigate and respond and/or settle the claim before any lawsuit can be filed in U.S. District Court.
Nicklas entered the Navy in 1944 and served in the Pacific theater. He was a tail gunner on a Navy fighter plane with Air Sea Rescue Force and served in Guam, Saipan, Okinawa and other Pacific islands. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to Pittsburgh to start his auto body shop, which he ran for many years. He married his wife, Greta, in 1953 and had three sons. Nicklas worked with his son David, who also was in the Navy, and Hampton officials and veterans groups, to erect a memorial to those who died serving in the military. That monument stands in front of Hampton's community center. "My father was very proud to be a veteran, and proud of his service to our country," David Nicklas said in a statement. "He had Medicare and supplemental insurance, so he could have chosen any hospital. But as a veteran he trusted the VA to care for him. The VA betrayed that trust, just like they have for other veterans who were sickened. We want to do everything we can to make sure no other veterans suffer like my father did and like we are now." [Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Sean D. Hamill | 10 Dec 2012 ++]
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Participants Needed
Vet Sleep Survey: Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the veterans wellness firm VetAdvisor are teaming up to see if they can help returning veterans get a little more rest. The groups have launched a new national sleep survey of veterans, looking for ways to battle problems like insomnia or excessive fatigue. The goal of the research is to better map the most common struggles among past and current servicemembers, and find solutions to the sleeplessness. Dan Frank, CEO of VetAdvisor, said they hope to get at least 5,000 participants to complete the online survey. The consulting firm works with corporate human resources on ways to recruit and retain veterans into the workplace, and he said better knowledge of the problems they face could lead to better treatment options. “One aim of the survey is to determine if coaching were available would they seek it out,” he said. “We want to take that information to demonstrate approaches to extend the reach of both VA and active duty preventative
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care services.” Previous research has found that sleep troubles are common in returning combat veterans, even among those who aren’t dealing with other serious conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder or brain injuries.
Dr. Michael Smith, director of the university’s Center for Behavior and Health, said the online survey is aimed at determining the multiple potential causes of sleep disturbances in veterans and troops, and understanding whether stigmas or bureaucracy might discourage those sufferers from seeking help. Questions include whether those surveyed would be open to the idea of a sleep coach, someone who helps track rest patterns and can act as a counselor in finding solutions. Sleep coaches are either veterans or non-veterans who have been trained to work with veterans and active duty military personnel on their sleep issues. Like an athletic or life coach, a sleep coach works with individuals to identify areas of concern and to develop a plan of action, milestones, and desired outcomes. Sleep coaches observe progress, determine evolving needs, and proactively send alerts and encouragement in order to help veterans overcome barriers to better sleep. Participants have the option of selecting face to face, Chat, Email, Phone, or SMS (texting) when working with a sleep coach. For more information or to participate , visit the study’s web site at http://www.vetsleep.org. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Leo Shane | 10 Dec 2012 ++]
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National Reimbursement Agreement
VA Native American Care: Native American military veterans will be able to access health care closer to home thanks to an agreement between the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and the Indian Health Service (IHS). The agreement allows for Veterans Affairs to reimburse IHS for direct health care services provided to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. Veterans Affairs and IHS released more details Thursday, saying the agreement stemmed from much work among the agencies and tribal governments as they tried to find a more equitable solution for bolstering access to care for veterans, particularly those in rural areas. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki says the VA is committed to expanding access to Native veterans “with the full range of VA programs, as earned by their service to our nation.” For additional information about American Indian and Alaska Native Veteran programs refer to http://www.va.gov/tribalgovernment and http://www.ihs.gov/. [Source: Associated Press 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Fort Bragg Paychecks
Identity Theft Update 12: The military on 6 DEC paid a former Fort Bragg family the paycheck an identity thief stole from them in September, but investigators still haven't determined who took the money. Army Capt. Stephen Redmon said he noticed four days before his Sept. 14 payday that his check was going to be deposited in an unfamiliar bank account. He said he immediately alerted the military's payroll agency — Defense Finance and Accounting Service, or DFAS — but it was too late to stop the automated system. Redmon and his wife, Julie, said they watched helplessly as his $3,290 military paycheck went to Bancorp Bank, one of the nation's largest issuers of prepaid debit cards. Military investigators told the family someone had switched the bank in Redmon's online pay system using his account name and password. The investigators asked questions that implied they were skeptical of the Redmons' story. Julie Redmon said she and her husband received full repayment from DFAS, which decided the Redmons weren't liable for the stolen money. But investigators haven't figured out who stole their identity, or how it was stolen. Julie Redmon said she doubts she'll even know who took the money. A DFAS spokeswoman said she could only confirm that the investigation is ongoing. Privacy laws, she said, prevent the agency from releasing any other details.
Julie Redmon said previously that a DFAS representative told her husband he's not the first person this has happened to, and that similar problems occur every month. A spokesman for the agency confirmed last month that
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three similar cases were being investigated on Fort Bragg. The spokesman, Tom LaRock, said the problems occur occasionally but are not widespread. Login information can be stolen over unsecured wireless networks and by viruses that log computer keystrokes. Julie Redmon said in an email that she and her husband now check the payroll website daily to make sure the banking information is correct. But there's still a feeling of helplessness, she said, because identity thieves could make changes just before the automated payroll system starts. Redmon said she'd like to see added security features or a change that would let DFAS stop funds from going to an unknown bank if they're alerted before payday. "Of course we are happy that the funds are being returned to us. We are still unhappy that nothing was done to stop the money from being stolen," Julie Redmon said. "It is scary knowing if someone accesses our pay account again that we would have no way to stop it. [Source: The Fayetteville Observer | John Ramsey | 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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Overview
Social Security Compassionate Allowances: Social Security has an obligation to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards. Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate Allowances allow Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly. Compassionate Allowances is not a separate program from the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs.
CAL conditions are selected using information received at public outreach hearings, comments received from the Social Security and Disability Determination Services communities, counsel of medical and scientific experts, and our research with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also, we consider which conditions are most likely to meet our current definition of disability. Commissioner Astrue has held seven Compassionate Allowances public outreach hearings. The hearings were on rare diseases, cancers, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease and multiple organ transplants and autoimmune diseases. On DEC 6Commissioner Astrue held an event in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the milestone of reaching 200 Compassionate Allowances conditions. These conditions involve cancers and neurological and other rare diseases affecting adults and children. A listing of each of the now 200 along with a description of the condition and any alternate names it may have can be found at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm.
Being diagnosed with a CAL condition does not provide additional money above what an individual is eligible for under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs. CAL simply speeds up the receipt of a decision on the claim. There is no special application or form that is unique to the CAL initiative. Individuals with a CAL condition apply for benefits using the standard SSA process for filing claims for SSDI, SSI, or both SSDI and SSI benefits. SSA will expedite the applications of those with a CAL condition. Applications for disability may be filed online, in the local field office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213. To learn how to apply for disability benefits refer to http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapply.htm. Individuals with CAL conditions may receive a decision on their claim in a matter of weeks instead of months or years. It can vary depending on several factors, but primarily on:
 How quickly we obtain medical evidence from a doctor or other medical source;
 Whether a medical examination is necessary in order to obtain evidence to support the claim; and
 If the claim is randomly selected for quality assurance review of the decision.
[Source: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/ Dec 2012++]
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House Committee Approves Bill
World War I Memorial Update 04: A House committee approved a bill on 5 DEC to establish a World War I memorial in the District — a plan that has faced controversy despite its noble goal of honoring those who served in the Great War. Rep. Ted Poe submitted a revised version of the bill in September, after D.C. leaders objected to an initial plan to “nationalize” the District of Columbia War Memorial that is dedicated to city residents who fought and died in the overseas conflict from 1914 to 1918. The bill seeks an exemption to a 2003 law that prohibits new commemorative works on a key cross-section of the National Mall. Mr. Poe has recommended a site in Constitution Gardens, located north of the reflecting pool near the Vietnam War Memorial, where munitions and administration buildings once stood to assist American efforts during World War I. Federal funds cannot be used to build the memorial, and its private cost may not exceed $10 million, according to the bill. The National World War I Memorial Foundation and other proponents of the bill say it is important to honor the Great War on the Mall alongside other notable foreign wars of the 20th century. The House Natural Resources Committee forwarded Mr. Poe’s legislation to the full House at a markup session on Wednesday, amending the maximum size of the memorial from 1.5 acres to half of an acre and specifying that, while the memorial can be built on the Mall, it does not have to be placed in Constitution Gardens. [Source: The Washington Times | Tom Howell | 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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Going to Conference
NDAA 2013 Update 13: The Senate has passed their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S.3254) 98-0. The bill had 381 amendments submitted to it. One of them incorporated the measure into H.R. 4310. The bill does not contain any TRICARE fee or pharmacy co-payment increases which were a part of the House-passed version. It also did not contain any provision to eliminate the SBP-DIC offset which was defeated by a budget point of order nor any provision to eliminate the Tricare pharmacy copay increases. The House and Senate now meet in conference to iron out differences in the bills. Some of the items in the final Senate bill include:
 Requiring DOD to report on changes to TRICARE Prime coverage areas. (SA.2969)
 Revised Stolen Valor Act -- making it a federal crime to falsify military decorations for personal gain. (SA.3144)
 A comprehensive mental health and suicide prevention program within DOD. (SA.3099)
 Improvements in the transition process for active duty.
 Requiring the Pentagon to study the adequacy of reintegration mechanisms for Guard and Reserve members returning from deployment. (SA.2960)
 CRSC payments to combat--disabled retirees forced into medical retirement.
 Requiring DOD to provide Congress a comprehensive policy on sexual harassment and to keep copies of restricted reports on sexual assaults on file for 50 years.
 Authorization to transfer $45 million from the Defense Department operations and maintenance account to provide funding for applied behavior analysis, or ABA, treatment for military personnel's children with autism when ordered by a doctor. (SA.3058)
 Requiring the VA to provide Congress a plan to partner with state and local entities to reduce the VA disability claims backlog. (SA.3158)
 A sense of the Senate stating retiree health care benefits have been earned through twenty or more years of arduous military service. (SA.3030)
 Requiring states to ensure training received by a veteran while on active duty is taken into consideration when granting certain certifications and licenses. (SA.3291)
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 Strengthening predatory lending protections for active duty service members. (SA.3302)
 Extending increased BAH rates until Jan. 1, 2014. (SA.2948)
 extends active duty leave rollover until September 30, 2015. (SA.2949)
The conference committee is set to begin working out differences early next week with a final bill expected to be voted on before Christmas. For more information on the bill and the roll call vote, refer to http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00221 [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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Benefit Expansion
VA Presumptive TBI Diseases: The Department of Veterans Affairs is publishing a proposed regulation in the Federal Register that would change its rules to add five diagnosable illnesses which are secondary to service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). “We must always decide Veterans’ disability claims based on the best science available, and we will,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence that ensure they receive benefits earned through their service to the country.” VA proposes to add a new subsection to its adjudication regulation by revising 38 CFR 3.310 to state that if a Veteran who has a service-connected TBI also has one of the five illnesses, then the illness will be considered service connected as secondary to the TBI. Service connection under the proposed rule depends in part upon the severity of the TBI (mild, moderate, or severe) and the period of time between the injury and onset of the secondary illness. However, the proposed rule also clarifies that it does not preclude a Veteran from establishing direct service connection even if those time and severity standards are not met. It also defines the terms mild, moderate, and severe, consistent with Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted over the next 60 days. A final regulation will be published after consideration of all comments received.
VA’s decision is based on a report by the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine (IOM), “Gulf War and Health, Volume 7: Long-Term Consequences of TBI.” In its report, the IOM's Committee on Gulf War and Health concluded that "sufficient evidence of a causal relationship" (the IOM's highest evidentiary standard ) existed between moderate or severe levels of TBI and:
 Diagnosed unprovoked seizures;
 Parkinsonism;
 Dementias (which VA understands to include Presenile dementia of the Alzheimer type and post-traumatic dementia);
 Depression (which also was associated with mild TBI); and
 Diseases of hormone deficiency that may result from hypothalamo-pituitary changes.
Specific information about the Defense and Veteran Brain Injury Center is available at http://www.dvbic.org/. Information about Gulf War and VA's services and programs are available at: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/hazardous_exposures.asp. [Source: VA Press Release 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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Transition GPS
Transition Assistance Program Update 01: Major changes announced 6 DEC to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) will revolutionize the way the military prepares people leaving the services,
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with mandatory participation in programs throughout their military careers to help set them up for a successful transition. The redesigned program, called Transition Goals Planning Success or Transition GPS, was unveiled by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. It is a multi-agency response to President Barack Obama's call to improve career readiness for separating service members, explained Susan S. Kelly, principal director of the Defense Department's Transition to Veterans Program Office. The president hinted at the most-sweeping change to the Transition Assistance Program in two decades during a speech this summer to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Obama called it the centerpiece to a broader federal effort to help service members transition to civilian life and to reduce veterans unemployment.
During the three-phase rollout of the Transition GPS program that will continue through 2014, the many, but often disconnected, activities conducted across the U.S. government to support veterans and their families will be melded into one comprehensive effort, Kelly said. The Defense Department and departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor aligned their most successful programs to deliver better and more comprehensive services to help make service members "career ready" for civilian employment, officials said. They reached out to the Department of Education to integrate the latest teaching methods and tapped into the resources of the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration. One of the biggest changes in the new program is that participation is no longer voluntary. Based on a law that took effect Nov. 21, service members can no longer opt out of the transition assistance program. All, including reservists and Guardsmen demobilized after 180 days of active duty, must now attend specific training sessions and take concrete steps to prepare for separation. Transition GPS is being implemented in three phases:
 During phase one of the rollout, being implemented immediately, all separating service members will receive counseling about Department of Veterans benefits, Kelly said. In addition, most will be required to attend newly revamped employment workshops run by the Department of Labor. These workshops incorporate new curriculum such as how to explore career interests, use search tools to find job opportunities, write a resume, interview for a position and negotiate a salary, said John Moran, DOL's deputy assistant secretary for Veterans Employment and Training Service. While fulfilling the congressional mandate to reach out to all separating service members, the interagency team went a step beyond the law to further enhance the effort, Kelly said. Separating service members must now take financial planning training, and complete a 12-month budget that factors in the cost of where they decide to live after leaving the military. They must evaluate how their military-acquired education, training and experience translate into civilian career qualifications and prepare an individual transition plan. The task force ran a pilot program last summer at seven installations to evaluate this core curriculum, gathering assessments from about 950 military members who participated. "Many in the pilot programs found it eye-opening," Kelly said. The seven pilot sites continue to offer the DOL workshops, but the instruction will be available service-wide by January, Moran said.
 The program's second phase, to be tested during 2013 and implemented by the year's end, establishes requirements for separating service members who plan to go on to college or technical or career training or to start their own businesses. Those electing higher education or other training will be required to show an acceptance letter from that institution, or have an application filled out and ready to submit, Kelly said. They also will be required to establish a contact with a counselor to follow up with after leaving the military. Also during phase two, service members who hope to become entrepreneurs will be required to connect with the Small Business Administration for help in drafting and evaluating their small business plans.
 The final phase of the rollout to be implemented by the end of 2014 will integrate transition preparation throughout the service member's military career. The idea, Kelly explained, is to begin preparations for transition long before a service member prepares to leave the military. "The end state that we are shooting
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for is to embed this across the military lifecycle," she said. Each service will develop a plan designating points along a service member's career path for this training, Kelly said.
Danny Pummill from the VA called the Transition GPS program an unprecedented interagency effort that ensures service members have the time and resources to prepare for a smooth transition from the military. It will help the nation's newest veterans live up to their destinies as "the next greatest generation," he said. "If we do this right, this is our opportunity to once again transform America," Pummill said. [Source: AFPS | Donna Miles | 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Memorandum of Understanding
DOD Tuition Assistance Update 01: The Department of Defense (DoD) released a revised Tuition Assistance Memorandum of Understanding (TA MOU) 6 DEC, which includes input from universities and reflects many of the president's Principles of Excellence. DoD will implement the policy March 1, 2013, requiring an institution to have a signed DoD MOU in order to be eligible to participate in the TA Program. After March 1, 2013, schools without a signed DoD MOU will not be able to enroll service members under the TA program until they have signed the MOU. Institutions with a currently signed DoD MOU can compare both versions and select to retain the original DoD MOU or sign the revised DoD MOU.
The current version of the MOU provides information, support, and increased protections to services members; strengthens oversight, enforcement and accountability; and provides guidelines for educational institutions receiving military TA funding. The MOU ensures all service members participating in off-duty, postsecondary education programs receive quality education programs uniformly via the classroom or distance learning, on or off military installations. During fiscal 2011, approximately 549,000 service members participated in voluntary education programs, which included tuition assistance, adult-based education, and counseling. More than 325,000 service members were enrolled in postsecondary courses earning almost 45,000 college degrees and approximately 530 certifications and licenses. DOD's voluntary education program consists of 245 education sites worldwide, including Afghanistan. To view the MOU, refer to http://www.dodmou.com . [Source: DoD Press Release No. 950-12 Dec 6 2012 ++]
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Florida National Cemetery
Wreaths Across America Update 07: An iconic Christmas photo went viral six years ago – it shows donated, holiday wreaths laid on the snow-covered graves in Arlington National Cemetery.
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Now known as Wreaths Across America, the project has grown to include all national cemeteries. Three friends took on the challenge to provide holiday wreaths for the veterans buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. They started with six wreaths in December 2006. “We had about 40 people in attendance,” said Randy Lewer, who retired from the military after 23 years of service. “From there, we kept growing and this year we’re about 6,500 wreaths and we’re probably, I think for the past couple of years, about 7,000 people in attendance.” Lewer credits his buddy Steve Leinwand, a veteran of Desert Storm, with getting the project started. “Being in the military, we’re all brothers in arms,” Leinwand said. “And we have to give back, if we don’t, who will? With the economy, the only ones out here are veterans giving back to veterans.”
But for Leinwand it’s more than giving back to fellow veterans, he’s caring for his buddies buried at Bushnell. The three veterans all have friends buried there. They visit their graves, tell stories, laugh and leave an occasional gift. “A bag of M&Ms here, a shot of whiskey there, you know for our fallen brothers,” Leinwand said. Their third buddy is veteran Jack Sellers. There are more than 100,000 gravesites at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
“As long as you remember somebody up here, they’ll live forever,” Sellers said. “It’s when we forget them or never come to talk to them or never speak about them is when they’re gone.” Sellers said that’s the point of Wreaths Across America – to remember the veterans. Each wreath costs $15, but Sellers, who is in charge of corporate sponsorships, said he’s never asked a corporate sponsor for a dime. “I’m not one to ask for money. I just want your time which to me is more valuable than a dollar,” Sellers said. “If you come up here and give me your time, give me your minute. Then you’ll be giving everybody out here a dollar or two for a wreath especially the children.”
That’s the Christmas wish of Sellers, Leinwand and Lewer – that people will come to the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell on December 15 to help lay the wreaths this year. Participants are asked to be on site by 9:45 a.m. The wreaths are to be delivered at 10 a.m. and a ceremony honoring the fallen is planned at 11 a.m. Remember – Honor – Teach – is the motto of Wreaths Across America. The wreath ceremony rivals Memorial Day attracting close to 7,000 according to Kurt Rotar, director of the Bushnell VA cemetery. “You get people who come out here whether they have someone buried here or not,” Rotar said. “They’re pulled into the ceremony they’re pulled into the tradition and honor and dignity.” It’s an honor that Lewer, Leinwand and Sellers want for every gravesite at Bushnell. There’s more to be done. Despite raising money for 6500 wreaths there are more than 100,000 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery. Those interested in participating can find out more about Wreaths Across American at http://wreathsacrossamerica and for the Bushnell event at http://wreathsacrossamericabushnell.com/Event-Information.html. [Source: Off the Base | Bobbie O'Brien | 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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Haven Act S.3614
Vet Housing Update 09: The American Legion is strongly encouraging Congress to pass the HAVEN Act, a bill that would amend the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to authorize funding to nonprofit organizations that can help veterans repair, rehabilitate and modify their homes. S.3614 is set for a vote in the Senate 6 DEC; a companion bill was approved by the House of Representatives in September. The act is supported by The American Legion through Resolution 21, passed during the Fall National Executive Committee Meetings in October. “The American Legion supports the HAVEN Act because it would allow the public and private sectors to collaborate to assist veterans with housing services that are currently not fully met,” said Mark Walker, deputy director of the Legion’s Economic Division. “It’s imperative that Congress make the bill law before the current lame-duck session of Congress ends.”
If the HAVEN Act becomes law, it would amend the NDAA - Congress’ annual act that specifies the budget for DoD - to include funding for nonprofit organizations that help veterans maintain their homes. Specifically, the measure would create a Department of Housing and Urban Development pilot program to give grants to nonprofit organizations - like Habitat For Humanity and Rebuilding Together - to rehabilitate and modify homes of low-income veterans and veterans with disabilities. Under the bill, the nonprofit organizations that receive funding would be encouraged to collaborate with veterans organizations like The American Legion to locate veterans and provide them the assistance they need with their homes. The housing pilot program also would help augment existing programs like VA’s Specially Adaptive Housing program and housing assistance programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Nonprofit organizations could pool their resources with these federal housing-assistance programs and affect a larger population of veterans who need assistance with their homes.
With much of the Eastern Seaboard still cleaning up after Superstorm Sandy, the need for housing assistance is dire. The HAVEN Act, if passed, would be a significant help to veterans whose homes were either lost or damaged by the storm. “The pilot program becomes an important template for meeting future needs of the veteran community,” Walker said. “Our government can’t do it all. It could use the help of nonprofit organizations with a proven track record of helping veterans.” [Source: AL Online Update 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Contracting Preference Ruling
SBA Vet Issues Update 25: A federal claims court has ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs no longer has to give contracting preference to veteran-owned small businesses. On 27 NOV, the U.S. Federal Claims Court in Washington ruled against a lawsuit filed by Maryland-based Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. that claimed VA awarded a contract for an emergency notification service without first considering bids from veterans.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) had sided with Kingdomware in its previous ruling, citing guidelines for veterans preference passed by Congress in 2006. James Koutz, national commander of The American Legion, said he supports the GAO’s interpretation. "VA must make every effort to help veterans’ small businesses and do whatever it takes to help them succeed," he said. "This is why VA exists. This is part of its mission."
GAO has directed VA several times to comply with veterans preference guidelines when awarding contracts, and to identify at least two veteran-owned businesses capable of performing work competitively before turning to other vendors. Koutz said federal agencies need to abide by GAO’s decision instead of filing lawsuits. "Whenever GAO makes a ruling, a legal mechanism of some kind should be in place that automatically binds federal agencies to its decision," he said. "They should not have the option of simply ignoring the ruling and claiming they do not
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work for GAO. "After several protests by veteran business owners regarding this issue, GAO and the courts have overwhelmingly supported The American Legion’s position that veterans be considered first, before any other bidder, regarding VA contract opportunities."
The American Legion passed a resolution in 2011 that endorsed VA’s efforts "to ensure that contracts awarded pursuant to the Veterans First Program are awarded to companies that truly are entitled to receive these contracting benefits." The following year, the Legion passed another resolution supporting legislation that would guarantee "equal parity for all veterans in all small business government contracting programs, thus ensuring that no veteran procurement program is at a disadvantage in competing with any other government procurement program established by law." [Source: AL Online Update 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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VA’s Paper Chase
VA Electronic Health Record Update 02: The Department of Veterans Affairs is transforming its processing system for disability claims into a paperless environment in an effort to reduce a claims backlog that has increased by about 180 percent since 2009. Testifying before a congressional hearing on 4 DEC, Richard Dumancas of The American Legion said paperless programs such as the Veterans Benefit Management System (VBMS) and the Stakeholders Enterprise Portal “do offer a glimmer of hope.” Dumancas, the Legion’s deputy director of benefits for its Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The hearing focused on the challenges of moving veterans’ records into a paperless environment.
A key component of that process is scanning paper records into electronic files. Yet The American Legion recently learned that one of VA’s programs, Benefits Delivered at Discharge (BDD), currently has no contract for the scanning of its myriad paper records. The Legion told Congress that such an oversight needs to be corrected because “new claims are building up behind this (lack of scanning) like a tidal wave behind a log jam.” VA also has no clear, public plan for dealing with the scanning component for VBMS, which the department is relying on heavily to help ease its backlog burden. If claims files are not being processed because scanning contracts do not exist, the Legion is insisting that veterans need to be made aware of this oversight.
VA needs to improve its coordination of data and its communication with the Department of Defense, the Legion said, if the shift away from paper records is to succeed – especially with regard to National Guard and reserve members. Guard and reserve medical records (critically important for the development of claims) often end up in several locations and can be difficult to track down. Proper accounting of these records must be a top priority for VA’s upcoming Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record. “We understand that reserve members’ medical records can be split over multiple locations,” Dumancas said. “But one would want to believe that eventually they would meet up into one file. This process should be measured in days, not months or years.” Since 9/11, more than 650,000 reserve and Guard members have deployed overseas, many of them attached to forces that are not their home units, further complicating medical record-keeping. A paperless environment will still demand military records that are complete, and the Legion wants VA to improve its performance in correcting incomplete or missing records. VA’s Central Office in Washington needs to provide more precise direction and guidance for all of its employees, from regional office directors to entry-level workers.
While VA has several regulations that deal with absent or incomplete records, they seem to be applied unevenly at Regional Offices with varying results. The Legion told Congress that VA must enhance employee training for implementing its own records, and enforce consistency in the way claims are processed. In its testimony, the Legion asked why some VA Regional Offices – Togus, Maine; St. Paul, Minn.; Fargo, N.D.; and Cheyenne, Wyo. – had
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about 30 percent of their claims inventory pending more than 125 days and classified as officially backlogged. Others – Baltimore, Chicago, Oakland, Calif.; and Roanoke, Va. – had between 74 and 87 percent of their claims in backlog. “The (VA) Central Office should formulate a plan for the lower-inventory (Regional Offices) to mentor or provide best practices to the higher-inventory (Regional Offices),” Dumancas told the subcommittee. “Central Office needs to enforce the best practices and highly encourage all (Regional Offices) to follow the leaders. This is for the veteran. All veterans deserve the best service for their service.”
The American Legion has long-contended that training on all levels at an RO must be better-tailored to correct known deficiencies. The American Legion also commented on the documentation of military sexual trauma (MST) in its testimony. Referring to VA’s recent guideline to concede the occurrence of stressor incidents when a diagnosis of PTSD exists, the Legion said the same concession should be extended to MST cases because victims have similar challenges in establishing the occurrence of stressors. The American Legion recognizes VA’s own regulations for dealing with lost records as “indicative of the intent of this government to truly work to help veterans, even when – through no fault of their own – records are lost …. However, the implementation of these regulations still leaves much to be desired in terms of consistency ….” Yet by improving training and enforcing consistency among its Regional Offices, the Legion said that VA “could go a long way toward helping the unfortunate veterans whose records have been lost or destroyed.” [Source: AL Online Update 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Yale University Study Results
Homeless Vets Update 34: A new Yale University study aimed to give further details about the thousands of homeless veterans who make up between 20 and 25 percent of the country’s total homeless population. The findings of the report, “Homeless Veterans Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan: Gender Difference, Combat Exposure, and Comparisons With Previous Cohorts of Homeless Veterans,” which detailed both demographic information and combat histories of veterans, paint a grim picture about the lack of care given to the young men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Using national administrative data from the Veteran Administration’s largest supported housing program — the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUDVASH) program — between January 2008 and April 2011, the study assessed nearly 100 Iraq and Afghanistan vets (who made up just over 2 percent of all the veterans who went through HUDVASH during that time. The researchers highlighted key findings:
• “Unlike previous cohorts of homeless veterans, the majority of homeless [Iraq and Afghanistan war] veterans report combat exposure and have been diagnosed with PTSD … [and] do not receive any VA-service connected disability.”
• Male homeless veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars tended to be younger, were less likely to have a criminal record and spent less time homeless than veterans of other military conflicts. The typical homeless male veteran was an unmarried White male in his thirties who had experienced homelessness less than twice in the last three years.
• Female homeless veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars tended to be younger than earlier cohorts of veterans. The typical homeless female veteran was an unmarried Black woman in her thirties who had experienced homelessness less than twice in the last three years and had never been incarcerated.
• PTSD and/or a mood disorder afflicted 63 percent of male homeless veterans and 77 percent of female homeless veterans. Of these, more than 90 percent of men and 75 percent of women suffered from combat-related PTSD. “Homeless [Iraq and Afghanistan veterans] have substantially higher rates of PTSD … compared to previous cohorts of homeless veterans and non-veterans in which only 8-12 percent had PTSD.”
• Reports of psychotic disorders and substance abuse among homeless veterans dropped over time. Reports of psychosis fell from 7-21 percent in previous cohorts to 5 percent in homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans;
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reports of substance abuse fell from 28-80 percent in previous cohorts to 38 percent in homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
[Source: Salon Media Group | Natasha Lennard | 4 Dec 2012 ++]
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Military Members South Carolina DOR Data Breach Update 01: Military members and their families are among the victims of what is being called the largest cyberattack of its kind against a state government agency. The cyberattack on South Carolina’s Department of Revenue (DOR), discovered in October, led to the pilfering of Social Security numbers and a wealth of other personal financial data from millions who filed South Carolina tax returns since 1998. In addition to raiding the tax records of 3.8 million taxpayers, international hackers in August and September also stole the Social Security numbers of about 1.9 million dependents – as well as information from nearly 700,000 businesses, 3.3 million bank accounts and 5,000 credit cards. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., sent a letter to the Defense Department leadership urging them to notify all military members and their families of the security breach. Since 1998, many military members have rotated through the state’s numerous bases and may now be living overseas.
Samantha Cheek, a Department of Revenue spokeswoman, said the state recognized that this cyberattack was “a significant issue” for military members, “in light of the uniquely mobile natures of their service.” All affected taxpayers should receive letters of notification from the state, she said. But anyone who filed a tax return since 1998 in the state should take the following steps to protect themselves:
 Defense personnel should visit ProtectMyID.com/SCDOR and use the activation code SCDOR123 or call Experian’s national consumer assistance center at (866) 578-5422 by Jan. 31 to determine whether their information is at risk. If so, enroll in identity theft protection, which is being offered free for one year by the state, along with $1 million in identity theft insurance.
 Current and former South Carolina business owners should contact Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. at dandb.com/sc/ or (800) 279-9881 to sign up for free credit monitoring services for a year.
Graham said in a Nov. 28 press conference that the data breach served as an example of the type of threat that could lead someday to “a major cyberattack against our national security infrastructure: our power plants, our aviation systems, our financial systems.” He and other Congressional members have been pushing for the passage of cybersecurity legislation that would ensure that businesses do more to protect customers from cyberattack. Investigators said this attack started from a malicious email sent to the state agency’s workers, which appeared to be from a trusted sender. It contained a link, which when clicked, enabled hackers to steal at least one employee’s user name and password to pilfer information. The agency had not encrypted Social Security numbers and other financial data. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Joyce Tsai | 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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DoD Preparing for the Plunge
Sequestration Update 09: In a signal of deepening doubt that Washington will find a way to cut through mounting political chaos to avert looming spending cuts and tax increases, the Pentagon announced Wednesday it has finally begun to prepare for the plunge off the “fiscal cliff.” As directed this week by the White House Office of Management and Budget, the Defense Department will begin planning for what Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has often called the “meat ax” of sequestration — across-the-board spending cuts that would slash more than $50 billion a year out of the defense budget for a decade. The announcement followed more than a year of defense leaders saying they would not budget for sequestration. The cuts would come on top of about $500 billion in
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spending reductions over a decade that the department has already endorsed and would devastate national defense, top DOD officials have repeatedly said.
Defense Department operations, which would endure half of the $1.2 billion in automatic cuts to discretionary spending mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, didn’t appear to top the agenda as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a continued fight over how to reduce the deficit. Both sides have submitted deficit-cutting proposals, but Republicans don’t want to raise tax rates, while Democrats, led by President Barack Obama, insist the wealthiest Americans must pay more. Each side is blaming the other for the looming plunge, which analysts say has the potential to throw the U.S. economy into recession. “Nothing is going on,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said 5 DEC after a meeting with fellow Republicans. “We ask the president to sit down with us.” Democrats point the finger in the other direction, and top White House aides indicated the possibility that Obama might let sequestration happen if Republicans don’t allow tax rates to rise, The Associated Press reported. “This is a choice of the Republican Party,” said Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director. “If they are willing to do higher rates on the wealthy, there’s a lot we can talk about. And if they are not, then they’ll push us over the cliff.”
The ongoing tumult leaves the question of how to fund near-term Pentagon operations up in the air. The Senate on 4 DEC passed a $631 billion defense bill that outlines funding for DOD operations for the current fiscal year, including a 1.7 percent raise for troops. Now, amid sequestration maneuvering, Senate and House negotiators must reconcile two versions of the bill to deliver one to the president’s desk for signing. Regardless of whether automatic cuts are averted, the Pentagon likely faces billions more in cuts on top of the $500 billion DOD leaders endorsed in last year’s budget talks. A budget proposal that Republican leaders sent to White House this week calls for $300 billion in cuts to discretionary spending, with a goal of saving $2.2 trillion over 10 years. The DOD’s cut of federal discretionary spending is roughly half, meaning the Pentagon would absorb significant additional reductions. With less than a month to go before sequestration cuts begin taking effect Jan. 3, planning is just getting under way, Pentagon press secretary George Little said 5 DEC.
Little said he had assembled a communications team that would explain impacts of sequestration to the DOD workforce but top DOD and White House officials must first determine what those impacts are likely to be. A few things are clear. Under a presidential order issued in July, military salaries and benefits will not be cut as a result of sequestration, but the rest of the Pentagon — civilian workers’ pay and benefits, operations, research and development, acquisitions — will be subject to cuts. If sequestration happens, defense leaders hope to dull the “meat ax” as much as possible, Little said. Although sequestration was designed as an extreme, punitive mechanism to push legislators to solve the budget problem, Little said, “Our intent is to not implement sequestration in an absurd way internally inside the Department of Defense.” Should legislators and the president fail to pull back from the cliff by the end of 2012, Little said, the full effects will not be felt immediately in the Defense Department and could still be averted by quick action next year. “If sequestration were to take place, we have this month and then we have, I think, a few months in 2013 as well,” he said. “Everything is not going to be decided on Jan. 3. People will still come to work, we think, at this stage.” [Source: Stars & Stripes | Chris Carroll | 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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HVAC Hearing on Lost Records
VA Claim Denial Update 12: The Veterans Affairs Department should loosen its evidentiary standards for disability claims if it cannot locate lost records, the head of a group of lawyers who handle veterans’ claims told a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee 5 DEC. Michael Viterna, president of the National Association of Veterans Advocates (NAUS), said loss of service records “poses difficult, if not insurmountable, obstacles” for a veteran seeking to file a claim. Richard Dumancas, deputy director for claims for the America Legion, told lawmakers it’s been difficult to locate records for many of the 653,000 Guard and reserve members
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who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. For those who served with active duty units and were wounded, their personnel and medical records are literally scattered across the globe. Collecting the records has proved daunting for veterans trying to document disability claims. Viterna and Dumancas both said they viewed the entire records system as flawed and filled with holes that frustrate veterans filing disability claims. Viterna said the law needs to be changed to put the burden of proof for disability claims on the government, not individual veterans
Alan Bozeman, director of the veterans benefits management system at the Veterans Benefits Administration, said that after active duty service, these Guard and reserve members retain their own medical records, and if called up again, need to bring those records when they return to their units. Personnel and medical records are stored and managed by a number of organizations, including the National Archives and Records Administration, VA and Defense officials said. Scott Levins, director of the NARA National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, said the center holds 60 million military records, but since the mid-1990s, the military services stopped sending medical records of retirees to NPRC. The services also stopped retiring official military personnel files to NPRC in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and instead retain them in-house in electronic formats, Levins said. Bozeman told lawmakers that VA also has in place two contracts to scan 60 million pages of veterans’ paper records per month into its electronic system.
James Neighbors, Director of the DoD-VA Collaboration Office, said Defense has provided VA with access to service-specific personnel records using the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System since 2002, with access through a secure, Web-based application since 2007. Neighbors said Defense has as policy to transfer medical records to the VA when a service member leaves active duty and currently transfer personnel and medical records data to VA for over 300,000 service members annually, most via electronic interface but some in paper form. He added that Defense has a new agreement with VA to provide access to its health artifacts and image management solution, which will serve as a repository of scanned paper medical record, which he said is “on track for accelerated deployment by September 2013.” Nextgov reported in March 2011 that the Defense Health Information Management System (HAIMS) will not be able to handle bulk scanning until 2013. [Source: Next.Gov Newsletter | Bob Brewin | 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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NDAA Issue
Vet Gun Control Update 05: Should veterans deemed too mentally incompetent to handle their own financial affairs be prevented from buying a gun? The issue, for a time last week, threatened to become the biggest sticking point in a $631 billion defense bill for reshaping a military that is disengaging from a decade of warfare. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) sought to amend the bill to stop the Veterans Affairs Department from putting the names of veterans deemed too mentally incompetent to handle their finances into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which prohibits them from buying or owning firearms. Sen. Charles Schumer, (D-NY) objected, saying the measure would make it easier for veterans with mental illness to own a gun, endangering themselves and others. "I love our veterans, I vote for them all the time. They defend us," Schumer said. "If you are a veteran or not and you have been judged to be mentally infirm, you should not have a gun."
Currently, the VA appoints fiduciaries, often family members, to manage the pensions and disability benefits of veterans who are declared incompetent. When that happens, the department automatically enters the veteran's name in the Criminal Background Check System. A core group of lawmakers led by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) has for several years wanted to prohibit the VA from submitting those names to the gun-check registry unless a judge or magistrate deems the veteran to be a danger. This year's version of the bill has 21 co-sponsors. It passed the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee by voice vote, a tactic generally reserved for noncontroversial legislation. Coburn's amendment to the defense bill contained comparable language. "All I am saying is, let them at least have their day in
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court if you are going to take away a fundamental right given under the Constitution," Coburn said in the Senate debate last Thursday night.
Congressional aides said Coburn will likely drop his effort to amend the defense bill with his proposal, but that he intends to try again on other bills coming to the Senate floor. The number of veterans directly affected by the VA's policy doesn't appear to very large. Only 185 out of some 127,000 veterans added to the gun-check registry since 1998 have sought to have their names taken off, according to data that the VA shared with lawmakers during a hearing last June. Still, the legislation over the years has attracted strong support and resistance:
 The National Rifle Association and various advocacy groups for veterans strongly support Coburn’s attempts. "We consider it an abject tragedy that so many of our veterans return home, after risking life and limb to defend our freedom, only to be stripped of their Second Amendment rights because they need help managing their compensation," Chris Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist, wrote last year in an editorial. The NRA did not respond to queries from the AP about Coburn's latest effort.
 Dan Gross, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said gun control advocates consider the VA's current policy reasonable. "We're talking about people who have some form of disability to the extent that they're unable to manage their own affairs," Gross said. "If you're deemed unable to handle your own affairs, that's likely to constitute a high percentage of people who are dangerously mentally ill."
 Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said veterans with a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder but who pose no threat to others are possibly being barred from gun ownership. The current restrictions might even be a disincentive for veterans to seek needed treatment, he said. "We want to remove these stigmas for mental health treatment. It's a combat injury," Tarantino said. "They wouldn't be doing this if you were missing your right hand, so they shouldn't be doing it if you're seeking treatment for post-traumatic-stress-disorder or traumatic brain injury."
 VA officials have told lawmakers they believe veterans deemed incompetent already have adequate protections. For example, they said, veterans can appeal the finding of incompetency based on new evidence. And even if the VA maintains a veteran is incompetent, he can petition the agency to have his firearm rights restored on the basis of not posing a threat to public safety.
[Source: Associated Press | Kevin Freking | 3 Dec 2012 ++]
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Discharge Rules Challenged
DoD Lawsuit ~ PTSD VN: As In the summer of 1968, John Shepherd Jr. enlisted in the Army, figuring that the draft would get him anyway. By January 1969, he was in the Mekong Delta, fighting with the Ninth Infantry Division. John Shepherd Jr. earned a Bronze Star in Vietnam but was given an undesirable discharge from the Army after refusing to go out on patrol. He now believes he had post-traumatic stress syndrome. Within a month, his patrol was ambushed, and Shepherd responded by tossing a hand grenade into a bunker that killed several enemy soldiers. The Army awarded him a Bronze Star with a valor device, one of its highest decorations. Yet the medal did little to assuage Shepherd’s sense of anxiousness and futility about the war. A few weeks after his act of heroism, he said, his platoon leader was killed by a sniper as he tried to help Shepherd out of a canal. It was a breaking point: his behavior became erratic, and at some point he simply refused to go on patrol. “I never felt fear like I felt when he got shot,” Shepherd said last week.
After a court-martial, the Army discharged Shepherd under other-than-honorable conditions, then known as an undesirable discharge. At the time, he was happy just to be a civilian again. But he came to rue that discharge, particularly after his claim for veterans benefits was denied because of it. Today, Shepherd, 65, is part of a class-action lawsuit against the armed forces arguing that he and other Vietnam veterans had post-traumatic stress disorder when they were issued other-than-honorable discharges. The suit, filed in Federal District Court, demands
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that their discharges be upgraded. The suit raises two thorny issues that could affect thousands of Vietnam veterans: Can they be given a diagnosis of PTSD retroactively, to their time in service, though the disorder was not identified until 1980? And if they can, should recently instituted policies intended to protect troops with PTSD be applied retroactively to their cases?
Shepherd’s legal team, students with the Yale Law School veterans legal clinic, argues yes on both counts. In court papers, they assert that it is reasonable to assume that Mr. Shepherd and other veterans who were later given PTSD diagnoses began exhibiting troublesome symptoms while in service. Moreover, under rules put in place during the Iraq war, troops who say they have PTSD must be given medical examinations before they are forced out of the military, to ensure that problematic behavior is not linked to the disorder. If they are given a PTSD diagnosis, service members may still receive an honorable discharge. “Vietnam War-era veterans, in contrast, have been denied this opportunity for appropriate consideration of the PTSD,” the students said in the complaint. But the Army says no. In a rejection of an earlier request by Shepherd to upgrade his discharge, the Army tersely rejected evidence that his misconduct 43 years ago was linked to PTSD and raised questions about whether his platoon leader was actually killed. A spokesman for the Army said the military has a policy of not discussing pending litigation.
The details of Shepherd’s case aside, the suit could have a wide impact. The Yale team says that its review of records from 2003 to 2012 shows that 154 Vietnam-era veterans petitioned the Army to upgrade discharges because of PTSD, but that only two were successful. Yet the Army Board of Corrections for Military Records granted upgrades nearly half of the time for other cases. The students estimate that more than a quarter million Vietnam-era veterans were discharged under other-than-honorable conditions, and that thousands of those probably had PTSD. Their suit names as defendants the secretaries for the Army, Air Force and Navy. Vietnam Veterans of America, the veterans service organization, is joining the case as a plaintiff on 3 DEC. Discharges that are other than honorable can make it harder for veterans to find work and also disqualify them for veterans benefits.
In Shepherd’s case, a Department of Veterans Affairs doctor in 2004 gave him a diagnosis of service-connected PTSD. As a result, the department will provide health care for his PTSD. But it will not provide him general medical care, unless he is found to have other health problems related to his service. Veterans disability compensation is also a problem. Shepherd’s undesirable discharge was actually upgraded to a general discharge in the 1970s under a special Carter administration program. That upgrade should have made it easier for him to apply for disability compensation. But subsequent legislation enacted by Congress said that clemency upgrades like Shepherd’s did not automatically qualify veterans for benefits. His compensation claim was ultimately rejected. Shepherd, who has been divorced twice and battled through alcoholism and drug abuse, lives in New Haven, getting by on Social Security and a Teamsters pension. (He drove trucks for years.) He could use the extra money from disability compensation, but what matters as much, he says, is removing the stain of his discharge. “I want that honorable,” he said. “I did do my part, until I really felt it wasn’t worth getting killed for.” [Source: The New York Times | James Dao | 2 Dec 2012 ++]
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Flu Season Early Start
Flu Prevention Update 05: Flu season is off to its earliest start in nearly 10 years - and it could be a bad one. Health officials on 3 DEC said suspected flu cases have jumped in five southern states, and the primary strain circulating is one that tends to make people sicker, especially the elderly. "It looks like it's shaping up to be a bad flu season, but only time will tell," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is the nation seems to be fairly well prepared, Frieden said. More than a third of Americans have been vaccinated, and the vaccine is well matched to the strains of flu seen so far, CDC officials
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said. Higher-than-normal reports of flu have come in from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. An uptick in flu cases like this usually doesn't occur until after Christmas. It's not clear why the flu is showing up so early. But flu-related hospitalizations are rising earlier than usual, and there have already been two flu-related deaths in children. In fact the last time a typical flu season started this early was the winter of 2003-04. That also happened to be a year when the dominant flu type was the same one seen most widely this year. And in that year, there were a higher-than-usual number of flu-related deaths in both the elderly and children. One key difference: In 2003-04, the flu vaccine was a poor match to the flu strain. Another: There's more vaccine now, and flu vaccination rates have risen for the general public and for key groups like pregnant women and health care workers. In all, an estimated 112 million Americans have been vaccinated so far, the CDC said. Flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone who is 6 months of age or older. [Source: VAMC Houston | AP | 3 Dec 2012 ++]
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DAV Transportation Network
VA Transportation: In recent years travel benefit cuts left many vets with no way to get to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for needed treatment. They're men and women who answered our country's call in times of war. Many lost limbs, sight, hearing, or good health. They may live a great distance from a VA hospital, and because so many exist on small fixed incomes, they find that the cost of transportation to a VA hospital is just too high. They're left with two choices. They could go without the treatment they need, or skimp on food or other necessities to pay for transportation. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization feels vets disabled in our nation's service should never face such dire options. So DAV and Auxiliary volunteers respond, with a program that started in 1986, driving vets to and from VA hospitals and clinics. The DAV has also donated vans, where needed, to make the program work. It's all part of the DAV Transportation Network, administered by DAV Hospital Service Coordinators (HSCs) at the VA's 172 medical centers. The DAV has 189 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country who coordinate the transportation needs for disabled veterans.
The DAV in Omaha is seeking volunteers to round out a current driving crew that because of age, illness and — this time of year — snowbird tendencies can't pull all the weekday eight-hour shifts. It also needs new vehicles to replace the four Ford minivans and one Ford Explorer that have too many years and miles on them to be reliable. The aging vehicles are such an issue statewide, where commutes are longer and cross state borders, that the Disabled American Veterans of Nebraska plans a springtime fundraiser in hopes of replacing its fleet. Getting new vehicles is not a simple process. The cars must be Ford, owing to a longtime partnership between the DAV and Ford Motor Co., which provides discounted vehicles. The Department of Veterans Affairs then owns the vehicles and pays for fuel and maintenance. Ford no longer makes a minivan, which is the vehicle of choice for Richard Klinger, who oversees the Omaha effort. Minivans, he said, are easier to get in and out of than SUVs. Ford also offers a 12-passenger van, its Explorer SUV and the Edge, a midsize crossover that can seat five. “I'm thinking if we could get our hands on two of the Edges, it might help,” said Klinger, a decorated Vietnam War Air Force veteran who serves as the DAV's transportation coordinator. He also is a hospital services coordinator.
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There is a growing demand for the service, and Klinger would like to expand shuttle hours. Currently, volunteer shifts run from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The local DAV can't serve veterans whose appointments run after that. In Omaha, vehicles are used to shuttle city-dwelling, qualifying vets to and from the VA Medical Center at 41st Street and Woolworth Avenue. The five vehicles together log 15,000 to 20,000 miles a month and all but one of the vehicles has more than 100,000 miles on it. “We've got one van that's 262,000 miles on it now,” Klinger said. Out state, DAV shuttle commutes are fewer but longer. A daily shuttle runs veterans from North Platte to Grand Island. A twice-a-week shuttle takes vets from Scottsbluff to Rapid, City, S.D., and to Cheyenne, Wyo. There are also shuttles into Kansas and Iowa. Supporters of this program in Omaha can call Rich Klinger, 402-995-3453 to volunteer as drivers. Volunteers must pass background and driving tests, as well as complete a physical. You can send DAV an email via https://www.dav.org/feedback.aspx. to volunteer elsewhere in the U.S. or to assist in purchasing replacement vehicles. To see if transportation services are available in your area use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory http://www.dav.org/volunteers/documents/HSCDirectory.pdf to contact your nearest HSC for information or assistance. Not that that the Network is staffed by volunteers; therefore, it is unable to cover every community. [Source: Omaha World-Herald | Erin Grace | 2 Dec 2012 ++]
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Home Depot & Lowes
Military Discounts Update 08: Home Depot lost a customer recently when it stopped honoring Tom Colapietro's Naval Reserve identification card for the retailer's 10 percent discount for veterans. Colapietro, a Navy veteran who says he spent thousands of dollars at the local Bristol Home Depot, was told he'd need a new card from the Disabled American Veterans to comply with the store's discount policy. Colapietro took his Naval Reserve card, and his business, to the nearby Lowe's for the 10 percent discount. Now the state of Connecticut isn't too happy with Home Depot. After a Bottom Line column last week about Colapietro's experience, the state decided it was a good time to to announce a program that, starting Jan. 1, will issue driver's licenses and identification cards designating veteran status with an American flag. Even as official state-issue identification, though, the new licenses do not comply with identification required by Home Depot for its 10 percent veterans' discount.
Under its current policy, Home Depot will accept three types of Department of Defense-issued cards: A United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card for retirees, retired reservists and their dependents and dependents of active-duty personnel or retirees; a Common Access Card issued to active-duty military and reserve personnel; and a Veterans Administration identification card. Many veterans, including some who qualify for the state's new driver's license and ID card, are not eligible for the Home Depot discount. (Both Home Depot and Lowe's allow all veterans a 10 percent discount on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day.) Colapietro
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did not retire from the Navy and is not an active reservist. "The [new] driver's license does not denote, specifically, a veteran's status in terms of being retired or disabled," says Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes. "We've kept a national policy for IDs across our stores to avoid confusion and lack of consistency, so I'm not aware of any change we're making on this front."
The state appears ready to fight for its cards as official veterans identification recognized anywhere, including Home Depot. "There is another large segment of honorably discharge veterans who served their country and deserve the same recognition," said Melody A. Currey, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and Linda S. Schwartz, commissioner of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, in a joint statement Thursday, "even though they did not make military service a career or receive disabling injuries. We hope that Lowe's and Home Depot will reconsider and also offer their everyday discounts to these veterans, too . . . and use a soon-to-start new veteran's designation on the Connecticut driver's license as proof of identity." The state says the new driver's licenses and ID cards will help first responders, emergency rooms and healthcare providers link veterans with services and programs available from the state Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Veterans Administration. Although the program starts officially on Jan. 1, the state has been accepting applications since Nov. 1. Applications are available from the Department of Veterans Affairs or at the state's new website dedicated to veterans (www.Veterans.ct.gov), at ct.gov/dmv/veteranslicense or by calling the veterans' info line: 866-928-8387.
To qualify, a veteran must provide proof of military service, with a minimum of 90 days of active federal service. (A DD Form 214, or DD-214, issued by the Department of Defense, or a pre-1950 WG AGO Discharge certificate is required.) Proof of an honorable discharge or a discharge under honorable conditions is also required. A Lowe's spokeswoman says the retailer will honor the new Connecticut driver's license and ID card with the veteran's designation for a 10 percent only on the appropriate holidays — Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. Home Depot will likely honor the license on those holidays, too, even though it doesn't meet the basic qualifications. "This is as fine of an identifier as anything else that someone is a veteran," says William Seymour, a state Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman. "We are in the business of documenting an identity for the veterans in the state of Connecticut. How could people reject state credentials?"
Like Home Depot, Lowe's gives daily discounts to people serving in, or retired after 20 years from, the military with a valid military ID. Any disabled veteran receiving Veterans Administration benefits who has a valid Veterans Identification Card also is eligible. It's apparent both Home Depot and Lowe's have not enforced its daily-discount policies uniformly in its stores. Sometimes, neither customer or cashier knows the rules." Quite frankly," says Holmes, "what may have been the case, even before 2010 [when Home Depot started its daily-discount program for veterans], some stores maybe have been giving the discount every day. They might not have been following the policy that we had at the time." Bill Dove of Broad Brook, a retired reservist, says he's had trouble getting a veteran's discount at Home Depot even with a qualifying card — a blue, for retired, United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card. Dove says Home Depot cashiers have written instructions that include a color photo of eligible card, red for retired veterans under 60. "I even got a supervisor involved and showed her my retired status," says Dove, "all to no avail. So I sent an email to [Home Depot headquarters in] Atlanta. The response was what I'd call sticky sweet, as in 'so sorry that you do not qualify.' But here is the kicker — they also sent the current policy, which specifically does recognize the retired status."
Colapietro, now a 10-percent-discount regular at Lowe's, has given up on Home Depot. "They originally said the discount was for veterans," he says. "They can keep it. I'm not jumping through any more hoops for 10 percent. That's what I think they are trying to do — make it more difficult so the vets say, 'Forget it.' I guess they have a right to set their own policies, but why offer it then take it away?" Will Lowe's be next? Colapietro might not know it, but his lapsed reservist card technically does not qualify for that retailer's military discount, either. [Source: Hartford Courant | Kevin Hunt | 1 DEC 2012 ++]
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NDAA Amendment
VA Claims Backlog Update 77: The Senate unanimously approved a measure requiring the Veterans Affairs Department to work more closely with state agencies to reduce a longstanding and growing backlog of disability claims. The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), was included as an amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. "The massive backlog of VA disability claims reminds us that far too many veterans are being underserved," Cornyn said in a statement. "This is a national disgrace, and veterans with pending claims deserve more than just rhetoric from VA headquarters in Washington." The law requires VA to provide Congress with a plan for reducing the backlog by partnering with state and local agencies. Cornyn pointed to the work of the Texas Veterans Commission, which launched "strike force teams" to help veterans fill out "fully developed claims." The VA bottleneck is caused, in part, by incomplete paperwork. Even as VA has made progress in processing claims, the agency has faced a surge of new ones mostly stemming from returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. As of 30 NOV, the number of backlogged claims — claims pending for more than 125 days — stood at more than 604,000, according to VA data. The number of backlogged claims has more than doubled over the past two years, according to VA data. The Senate began work on the annual defense policy bill this week. On 28 NOV, the Senate removed a provision from the bill that would make it more difficult for the military to pursue biofuel development. [Source: Federal News Radio | Jack Moore | 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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Process Time Up 40%
VA Claims Backlog Update 78: The time needed to process veterans’ disability claims shot up by nearly 40 percent last year despite years of effort by federal officials to streamline and shorten the process, records show. The times necessary to process education benefits and burial benefits, as well as the time needed to wind through the Department of Veterans Affairs appeals process, also increased in fiscal 2012. he disability-processing time is closely watched by Congress and veterans’ advocates as a measure of VA efficiency. In fiscal 2012, the average days to complete a VA disability compensation or pension claim rose to 262 days, up from 188 days in fiscal 2011, according to a recently completely VA performance report. The 262-day average is the highest that measure has been in at least the past 20 years for which numbers were available.
The VA’s long-term goal is to get the processing time to an average of 90 days. “The entire system is a mess,” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and chief executive of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a support and advocacy group. “They’ve been saying now for 10 years that it’ll get better, and it still doesn’t get better, and we’ve seen tremendous frustration from our members in the last few months. It’s reached a breaking point.” The VA said it is working to speed its decision-making process and is in the midst of an overhaul of its claims system. It eventually will end its reliance on paper-based processing and reconfigure the way claims move through 56 regional offices that handle them. “We recognize that from the standpoint of the veterans, they are waiting too long, and that’s unacceptable,” said Diana Rubens, who helps oversee the VA’s regional offices. “We’ve got to transform how we do things. We know that fixing decades-old problems is not going to be easy.” America’s veterans are eligible for a range of benefits, from access to the VA’s well-regarded medical system to lifetime payments for disabilities suffered during military service to access to education, life insurance and home loan programs. The disability benefits are awarded to veterans who suffer physical or mental injuries during their military service. Benefits vary based on the severity of a disability and beginning Saturday range from $129 a month to $2,816 a month for a single veteran.
The VA has struggled for years to reduce the waiting times, and each year it stresses to Congress that fixing the process is a top priority. In 2010, for example, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki told the House Veterans’ Affairs
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Committee that claim time had improved the previous year, dropping from 179 days to 161 days. “The progress made in 2009 is a step in the right direction, but it is not nearly enough,” he said. In 2011, he told the same committee that “one of VA’s highest priority goals” is to eliminate a backlog of disability cases by 2015 and to ensure all veterans receive a decision in “no more than 125 days.” In 2012, he told the committee that improvements were being made and that the department was aiming for significant improvements in 2013. “While too many veterans will still be waiting too long for the benefits they have earned, it does represent a significant improvement in performance over the 2012 estimate of 60 percent of claims more than 125 days old, demonstrating that we are on the right path,” Shinseki said. In fact, the recent performance report shows that 66 percent of claims in fiscal 2012 were more than 125 days old. That’s up from 36 percent in 2010 and 60 percent in 2011. And since Shinseki told Congress about the improvement he saw in 2009, average processing time has gone up — from 161 days, to 166 days, to 188 days, to the most recent 262 days.
Even so, Rubens of the VA said the department is on track to meet Shinseki’s goals by 2015, given the restructuring in place. The department has seen a massive increase in claims from veterans in recent years, both younger ones from Iraq and Afghanistan and older ones who have recently been able to file claims on new conditions. Claims the past four years have topped 1 million a year. While some decisions might be straightforward — a soldier loses a limb in battle — others are more complicated, requiring extensive medical reviews and research to tie a disability to the veteran’s time in the military. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington who chairs the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said the VA’s tardiness and mistake-prone process is “totally unacceptable.” “We know that this is a complex problem and more troops returning home make this job even more difficult,” she said in a statement to McClatchy Newspapers. “But Congress has provided VA with the funding and resources it has requested to tackle this problem.” The new performance report shows that the VA has lost ground on many of its other benefits-related goals:
 The average time to complete an education claim jumped to 31 days from 24 days; the long-term goal is 10 days.
 The average time to complete a burial claim jumped to 178 days from 113 days; the long-term goal is 21 days.
 The average time in the appeals system for veterans who dispute their disability compensation decision jumped to 866 days from 747 days; the long-term goal is 400 days.
The annual performance report includes dozens of goals to spur improvement among the VA’s health care system, benefits division and cemetery administration. Of those, the VA highlighted 23 as “key performance measures.” The VA met its short-term goals for only 12 of those measures. [Source: McClatchy Newspapers | Chris Adams | 1 Dec 2012 ++]
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DoD Exit Physical Enhancement
VA Claims Backlog Update 79: The Defense Department is developing more in-depth exit physicals for departing troops and lending staff to the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to help eliminate the massive backlog of disability claims. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said those efforts, combined with earlier department initiatives to create express service for simple claims and highly trained processing teams for complex ones, will help ease the problem in 2013 and keep the agency on track to eliminate the backlog by the end of 2015. Progress on that promise has been slow. Since July, when the new processing protocols were implemented, the number of disability claims pending for more than 125 days has remained stagnant, at nearly 600,000 cases. In fiscal 2012, the average VA pension or compensation claim took more than 260 days to complete. In a news conference 6 DEC, Shinseki acknowledged that “veterans still wait too long for the benefits they deserve,” but he insisted that the department is on the right track to fix the problem.
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The joint DOD-VA announcements came after Shinseki and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta held their latest meeting on improving collaboration between the two departments. Panetta listed the backlog as a key concern not just of the VA, but also of his department. “We owe it to them to give them the tools they need to succeed,” he said. “In many ways, this is a national security issue. It goes to the heart of taking care of the people who fought for us.” In recent years, the agencies have worked closely to develop plans for lifetime electronic health records for troops and veterans, shared medical facilities, and better mental health research and response. The VA and DOD in recent months have been developing a transition program for separating servicemembers, which should be fully implemented in early 2013. The two secretaries also said they’re working on new joint suicide prevention efforts and that they have ordered their staffs to find ways to accelerate the lifetime health records integration faster than the 2017 target.
Those plans should relieve some of the stress on VA systems as thousands of new veterans leave the military in coming years. Currently, the 1 million claims processed by the VA annually aren’t keeping up with the 1-million-plus new cases being filed. “We will get control of the numbers,” Shinseki said. “We have both short term and long term solutions.” Defense officials did not provide specifics on the number of military employees assisting with VA processing, or what the more thorough exit physicals will entail. Panetta and Shinseki said better medical information on veterans before they leave the military will simplify claims later on, hopefully speeding up the process. VA officials said the extra information will be especially helpful with severely wounded servicemembers, who often have multiple injuries and much more complicated paperwork. [Source: Star & Stripes | Leo Shane | 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Five New Members
VA Women Advisory Committee Update 02: Five new members have been appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises VA on issues and programs affecting women Veterans. “VA relies on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to provide insight on key issues that impact the women Veteran population. The Committee’s recommendations provide guidance that direct VA’s efforts to identify and address the diverse needs of women Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “VA welcomes the newest members.”
Established in 1983, the committee makes recommendations to the Secretary for administrative and legislative changes. The new committee members, who are appointed to two-year terms, are: Gina Chandler, Bryant, Ark.; Larri Gerson, Dunedin, Fla.; Mary Morin, Raymond, N.H.; Charlotte S. Smith, Farmington, N.M.; and Mary Westmoreland, Bronxville, N.Y.. “Women serving in the military continue to demonstrate their dedication in defense of our great Nation,” Shinseki added. “VA remains committed to providing women Veterans with equitable, quality benefits and services that appropriately meet their needs.”Women Veterans are one of the fastest growing segments of the Veterans population. Of the approximately 22 million living Veterans, about 1.9 million are women. They comprise nearly 9 percent of the total Veterans population and nearly 5 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates that by 2020 women Veterans will comprise 10 percent of the Veteran population. VA has women-Veterans-program managers at VA medical centers and women-Veterans coordinators at VA regional offices to assist women Veterans with health and benefits issues. For additional information on the Advisory Committee and VA’s support of the female veteran community refer to http://www.va.gov/womenvet.
New Members
VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
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 Gina Chandler, Bryant, Ark. A Veteran of the U.S. Air Force; currently serves as a Veterans service officer, women-Veterans coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, and secretary of the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators.
 Larri Gerson, Dunedin, Fla. A Veteran of the U.S. Air Force; currently serves as a claims examiner for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and webmaster for the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators; former state women-Veterans coordinator for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
 Mary Morin, Raymond, N.H.; A retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant; currently serves as the Director of the New Hampshire Office of Veterans Services, and a member of the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators.
 Charlotte S. Smith, Farmington, N.M.; A Veteran of the U.S. Army; currently serves as a Veterans service officer, state women-Veterans coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Veterans Affairs, and a member of the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators.
 Mary Westmoreland, Bronxville, N.Y.; A retired U.S. Army Colonel, with service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm; currently runs a pro bono consulting company that focuses on coaching, mentoring, and organizational strategic planning for government and nonprofit organizations.
[Source: VA Press Release 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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UCMJ Changes Sought
DoD Suicide Policy: "Compassion instead of courts" is the approach needed to stem the alarming rate of suicide among U.S. troops, according to American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz. "If you succeed at committing suicide, you are often treated as a hero by grieving friends and family," Koutz said. "But if you fail at suicide, you could be treated to a court-martial. This must change." Koutz praised the progress the military has made in recent years to de-stigmatize those who seek treatment for suicidal thoughts but added that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) still allows for the prosecution of those who make unsuccessful attempts.
On 27 NOV, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces heard the appeal of Marine Pvt. Lazzaric Caldwell, who was convicted of "self-injury" after he slit his wrist in a barracks in Okinawa in 2010. He was convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s Article 134, when the judge in the case found Caldwell’s self-inflicted injury was prejudicial to good order and discipline and brought discredit to the service. "This sends a mixed message," Koutz said. "On the one hand, we are grateful for their service. We want to compensate you for your post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. But if you engage in a behavior that is often seen as a symptom of those injuries, we will punish you."
Suicides accounted for 20 percent of U.S. military deaths last year. "More servicemembers are dying by their own hand than are killed by our enemies on the battlefield," Koutz said. "This is becoming a huge problem, and every one of these suicides is a national tragedy. I am not faulting the military for this at all. It is up to Congress and the president to make the changes necessary to the UCMJ to de-criminalize this behavior and stop overzealous prosecutions. These servicemembers need a helping hand, not a slap down." Koutz pointed out that The American Legion has instituted a national committee on TBI/PTSD and would be happy to share its findings with lawmakers and the Department of Defense to try to lower the suicide rate. [Source: American Legion | National Security | 28 Nov 2012 ++
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NDAA Amendment
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DoD Suicide Policy Update 01: The Senate has approved adding an amendment to the Defense authorization bill to require the Pentagon to create a comprehensive and standardized suicide prevention program. The amendment, which was offered by Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), was approved by voice vote 27 NOV and will be included in the bill being considered by the Senate. The military has been plagued by increases in the number of suicides. As of the end of October, the number of suspected suicides by active-duty soldiers had reached 166, one more than the total for 2011. “I think everyone in this body knows about, and is distressed by, the alarming rate of suicide and the mental health problems in our military and veterans populations,” Murray said on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would also expand eligibility for some Department of Veterans Affairs mental health services to family members and strengthen oversight of the Pentagon’s mental health programs and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System established by the Department of Defense and VA. It would also promote the use of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to provide peer counseling for fellow veterans, and require the VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services. Implementing the amendment would cost about $25 million over five years, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. “We must have effective suicide prevention programs in place,” Murray said. “It’s often only on the brink of crisis that a service member or veteran seeks care. If they are told, ‘Sorry, we are too busy to help you,’ we have lost the opportunity to help, and that is not acceptable.” [Source: The Washington Post | Steve Vogel | 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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110K Volunteers Now Enrolled
VA Million Veteran Program Update 02: The Department of Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program (MVP) recently enrolled its 100,000th volunteer research participant, and now stands at more than 110,000 enrollees, marking a major milestone in the nearly 90-year history of VA research. “MVP is a truly historic effort, in terms of both VA research and medical research in general,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Veterans nationwide are helping to create a database that has the potential to help millions around the country – Veteran and non-Veteran alike. They are continuing to serve the nation well beyond the time they stopped wearing the uniform.” Launched in 2011, MVP is a landmark research effort aimed at better understanding how genes affect health. Up to a million Veterans are expected to enroll in the VA study over the next six years. Data and genetic samples collected through the study are stored securely and made available for studies by authorized researchers, with stringent safeguards in place to protect Veterans’ private health information. MVP is now at 40 VA medical centers nationwide, with additional VA sites opening for enrollment in the coming year.
With more than 110,000 enrollees to date, MVP already far exceeds the enrollment numbers of any single VA study or research program in the past. “This milestone has come about thanks to our Veteran participants and lots of hard work and dedication on the part of VA researchers and the entire MVP team,” said VA Undersecretary for Health Dr. Robert Petzel. VA Chief Research and Development Officer Dr. Joel Kupersmith added, “VA could not have achieved this without our altruistic Veteran volunteers.” He called MVP “an extremely important partnership that is paving the road toward the world’s largest database of health information and improved health care for future generations.” MVP provides researchers with a rich resource of genetic, health, lifestyle, and military-exposure data collected from questionnaires, medical records, and genetic analyses. By combining this information into a single database, MVP promises to advance knowledge about the complex links between genes and health. Authorized researchers are able to use MVP data to help answer important questions on a wide range of health conditions affecting Veterans, from military-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, to common chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
MVP-related discoveries also promise to advance the field of personalized medicine, which aims to tailor medical care based on people’s individual genetic profiles. Personalized medicine is expected to yield more
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effective treatments and reduce costs, given its emphasis on prevention. Veterans’ privacy and confidentiality are top priorities in MVP, as in all VA research. Rigorous measures are taken to protect MVP participants’ personal information, including secure storage of data and samples using a bar-code system. Researchers approved for access to MVP data do not receive the name, date of birth, social security number, or address of participating Veterans. Furthermore, authorized researchers conduct their analyses only within VA’s secure, centralized computing environment, known as GenISIS (Genomic Information System for Integrated Science). Veterans who receive health care at an enrolling site can who want to participate can schedule an appointment by calling toll-free 1-866-441-6075 or they can walk-in to their local MVP clinic and ask if eligible. For more information about MVP, visit http://www.research.va.gov/MVP. [Source: VA Press Release 30 Nov 2012 ++]
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Veto Threat Letter
TRICARE User Fees Update 94: On 29 NOV, the White House issued a Statement of administrative Policy letter to the Senate threatening to veto the FY2013 Defense Authorization Bill over various Senate-approved provisions. Among the 19 specific objections listed in the letter was the Senate's failure to include the administration proposal to double and triple a variety of TRICARE fees, including new enrollment fees for TRICARE For Life (TFL) and TRICARE Standard, big increases in TRICARE Prime enrollment fees and the Standard deductible, tripling of pharmacy copays and means-testing TFL and Prime fees. "The administration strongly encourages the Senate to adopt its requested TRICARE fee initiatives that seek to control the spiraling DoD health care costs while keeping retired beneficiaries share of these costs well below the levels experienced when the TRICRE program was implemented in the 1990s," the letter said. "The projected TRICARE savings of $1.8 billion in FY2013 and $12.9 billion through FY2017 are essential for DoD to successfully address rising personnel costs. DoD needs these savings to balance and maintain investments for key defense priorities."
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) says Horse hockey to the White Horse assertion. MOAA’s research [ http://content.yudu.com/A1zahq/201211November/resources/72.htm ] shows military personnel and health care costs today comprise the same share of the defense budget (about one-third) that they have consistently over several decades. A DoD request to Congress earlier this year acknowledged that, contrary to DoD claims, military health care costs actually have been declining. The hard fact is that DoD costs have been $3 billion less than expected over the last three years, and that total has been reprogrammed away from the health care account for other purposes.
If defense and administration officials were serious about reducing DoD health costs, they'd be focusing on correcting their own mismanagement and gross inefficiencies that have wasted billions of taxpayers' money. Rather than working to bring DoD's antiquated and fragmented health care oversight and delivery structure into the twenty-first century, they continue trying to foist the bill for their mismanagement onto military beneficiaries who already have sacrificed more for America than any others. By refusing to go along with that, Congress has recognized what Pentagon and White House leaders won't - that military beneficiaries aren't the culprit here. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 30 Nov 2012 ++]
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Senate Supports Increase in NDAA
Tricare Pharmacy Copay Update 08: Late-hour speeches by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John McCain (R-AZ) on runaway military health costs led the Senate 4 DEC to shelve a defense bill amendment that would have spared family members and retirees more burdensome co-pays on drug prescriptions filled off base.
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The timing of their opposition, in the last hours of consideration of the 2013 defense authorization bill when amendments were only being approved by unanimous consent, allowed Coburn and McCain to block the Senate from supporting the softer House-passed plan for raising prescription fees. There will be a second chance next week when House-Senate conferees iron out differences in separate versions of the defense bill. But Coburn and McCain, using fresh scoring of costs from the Congressional Budget Office, were able to raise new doubts among some senators over the long-term cost implications of adopting the House plan. "This is paid for, but it is smoke and mirrors," Coburn told colleagues on the Senate floor. "We have used a trick…that will require [more funding for] the health account…which means we will not have $1.7 billion for naval exercises, for flight training, for tank training, for range training."
That challenge got a strong endorsement from McCain, ranking Republican on the armed services committee, who repeated Robert Gate's words as defense secretary in 2010 that health costs "are eating us alive." "We are going to have to find ways to bring these costs under control and still, at the same time, provide our veterans with the benefits they have earned," McCain said, in arguing against the House plan which was presented as an amendment from Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). McCain attacked the notion that raising fees would harm readiness. "I know of no one who joined the military because of TRICARE, [though] I hear [it] from all the retirees…I have not yet met a single 18-year-old, including my own son who joined the Marine Corps, who said: 'Gee, I want to join the Marine Corps because of TRICARE.' "No," McCain continued, "they joined…to serve their country. They understand our obligation to them is not to hand them a bankrupt Defense Department [where] all the costs are in things such as TRICARE and retirement benefits…so we can't provide them with what they need to fight."
The reality is that pharmacy co-pays will rise this spring for family members and retirees. By how much will be determined by a House-Senate conference committee that will be meeting next week behind closed doors. The Senate defense bill, passed 98 to 0, now has no language to block or alter the Obama administration's drug co-pay plan. Under it, drugs dispensed on base would stay free, and co-pays for generics in retail outlets would remain $5. But co-pays for brand names at retail on the military formulary would jump to $26 from $12. Non-formulary drugs, which cost TRICARE more, would no longer be dispensed at retail, only through mail order. Co-pays for brand names at mail order would pop to $26 from $9, but mail order prescriptions usually are for 90 days versus 30 at retail. The administration also wants co-pays adjusted by $2 annually until they reach $34 in 2016. After that, the pharmacy fees off base would be adjusted annually to keep pace with medical inflation.
The House plan, which military associations helped to design, allows more modest initial increases in drug fees and would tie annual increases thereafter to the percentage rise in military retired pay. This plan would at least match health cost savings of the administration's plan by requiring elderly beneficiaries to use mail order to refill maintenance drugs, at least for a year. The expectation is that seniors will like the convenience and stay with mail order, saving TRICARE billions of dollars yearly in retail drug costs. But a Senate source said Coburn and McCain were able to derail the amendment so easily because the Congressional Budget Office had found it would cost a lot more money than expected after 10 years if adjustments stayed tied to retiree COLAs rather than medical inflation. To address this, advocates agreed to have the COLA link sunset after 10 years. But Senate leaders chose instead to avoid further action on the amendment.
Steve Strobridge, director of government relations for Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), said the Senate seemed primed to adopt the House-passed plan until, suddenly, it fell victim to "misplaced concerns" over its impact on health costs. Its opponents painted the amendment as maintaining the status quo, he said, when in fact it represents "significant concessions" with co-pay hikes and the mail order requirement for elderly.
"These concerns about drug costs taking money away from other defense programs are completely, 100 percent bogus," Strobridge said. "The fact is the Pentagon has been using health care money to fund other things for the past several years. And the whole point of this amendment is that health care money should be used to fund health care."
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Defense officials earlier this year sought to reprogram $700 million from health care into other accounts. Strobridge said that would have brought total reprogramming of health dollars to $3 billion over the last three years, a period when defense officials insisted health costs are out of control. Coburn predicted the House-backed plan would become law because the "service organizations want us to do it. But it is not the right thing to do. We have to begin, as we negotiate to increase revenues from the very wealthy in this country, declining expenses at the Defense Department. Everybody has to share [in controlling costs]. If they don't share now, they will share much more painfully in the future." [Source: Stars & Stripes | Tom Philpott | 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Not Covered
TRICARE Hippotherapy Ruling: TMA, in a final ruling, has denied the claim of the parents of 16 year old Kaitlyn N. Samuels for an effective treatment of her depilating condition that does not fit in within their rules. The story of Kaitlyn as told by the Dallas Observer is an infuriating one. It favors insurance policy at the expense of medicine. When Kaitlyn Samuels was 4 months old, her parents worried that she couldn't reach for her toys. Doctors initially assured them that it was probably normal, but after two months brought little improvement they ordered a battery of neurological tests that revealed Kaitlyn had a very rare and very serious brain malfunction. The years since then have been a struggle, as Kaitlyn has suffered the effects of epilepsy, cerebral palsy and all sorts of related complications. She can't speak or walk by herself. Her food has to be blended into liquid form because she can't chew. Her brain is frozen in perpetual toddlerhood. She also suffers from severe scoliosis. Left unchecked, the condition would get progressively worse, with the increasing curvature of the spine diminishing lung capacity, popping joints out of socket and eventually killing her by crushing her internal organs. It can be treated with physical therapy, but traditional methods didn't work for Kaitlyn; she would grow bored and shut down, rendering the session worthless.
Kaitlyn N. Samuels
By 2009, the family and its doctors had come up with an excellent solution. Twice a week, for 30 minutes at a time, Kaitlyn would ride atop a horse, around and around in a circle, in an exercise that stretched her muscles, worked her back and legs, and kept her focused on sitting upright. To the family, the exercise is a creative and successful form of physical therapy. To the government, the exercise is called "hippotherapy"-- a controversial designation that has allowed the feds to malign its usefulness. Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor
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and sensory input At first, Kaitlyn's therapy was paid by TRICARE. But then, in 2010, TRICARE suddenly refused to pay for the girl's therapy -- and demanded that her active duty father reimburse the Pentagon for therapy payments made -- totaling $1,327.44 -- from September 2009 until the end of March 2010.
The original TMA denial of cost-sharing was based on findings that: 1) the Beneficiary received hippotherapy; (2) hippotherapy is not medically necessary and appropriate for treatment of the Beneficiary's medical condition; (3) hippotherapy for the treatment of the Beneficiary's medical condition has not been proven safe and effective by reliable evidence; and (4) hippotherapy for treatment of the Beneficiary's medical condition is an unproven treatment. The government declared, in other words, that Kaitlyn's physical therapy was "unproven" even though it had long been proven to be working on her. That it was not yet "proven safe and effective by reliable evidence" even though it was safe and reliable enough for Kaitlyn and her family. That it was "not medically necessary and appropriate" for Kaitlyn even though her doctor and therapist had deemed it to be entirely "necessary and appropriate."
The Samuels with their doctors at their side, and with the therapy's success visibly evident to them, appealed the denial of Kaitlyn's medical benefits through the briar patch of federal statutes and Pentagon regulations. What follows is the way Congress and the Department of Defense have designed these sorts of cases to be resolved-- every government functionary playing his own little role in justifying the deprivation of benefits to people like Kaitlyn. It took the Samuels nearly two years to have their case and their cause heard. The first "hearing officer" who heard the case agreed with the family. Claude R. Heiny, a longtime administrative law judge, was a voice of sanity and reason. "It is more beneficial to use the horse as a tool," Heiny wrote, "because [Kaitlyn] engages in her physical therapy on the horse and fails to cooperate with her treatment in a clinical setting." Judge Heiny added: "It would be a waste of the Government's money to pay for therapy in a traditional setting for it would provide no benefit." He told TRICARE to pay for the horse therapy. The case was then forwarded to final arbitration.
Functioning as the final arbiter of Kaitlyn's fate was Michael W. O'Bar, Deputy Chief, TRICARE Policy and Operations." TRICARE itself, an arm of the Defense Department, was represented in the case by attorney Michael Bibbo. Kaitlyn's physical therapist testified that the horse is merely a therapy tool that proves more effective in many cases because of the dynamic movement and warmth of the animal. "I am a physical therapist, not a hippotherapist," Suzanne Sessums said, adding that she is also not a ball or bench therapist. Questioned by Bibbo, Sessums questioned him back, "You're telling me if I put Kaitlyn on a bench in a center you will pay for it?" To which Bibbo said, "It's not the exact same thing if you're getting more" efficacy from a horse than a bench. "It's still recognized as a therapy tool, and that's what this is. ... I'm not understanding why I have to prove my use of a horse, but not my use of a ball," Sessums said. And so on. TRICARE made it clear that it would pay for Kaitlyn's physical therapy if it was the type that wasn't working on Kaitlyn -- traditional physical therapy -- but wouldn't pay for the type of physical therapy that did work on Kaitlyn. During the course of the case, the Samuels had presented TRICARE's "judges" with all sorts of published evidence and testimony about the benefits and virtues of "horse therapy." Yet in the end Kaitlyn's therapy was rejected:
The TMA Appeals, Hearings and Claims Collection Division, reviewed each of the articles submitted by Representatives in their appeal. The Formal Review Decision noted that some of the articles did indeed meet the TMA definition of reliable evidence. However, several of the other articles did not meet the TMA definition of reliable evidence. Those articles that did meet the definition of reliable evidence were carefully reviewed by either the TMA Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Systems Office (MB&RB) or the TMA Appeals, Hearings and Claims Collection Division. Based on that review, it has been determined that hippotherapy is currently considered unproven within the meaning of TRICARE regulation and policy. As noted by TMA MB&RB, there is a lack of reliable evidence establishing that hippotherapy is a proven treatment for the Beneficiary's medical condition.... Moreover, MB&RB found that hippotherapy is a stand-alone modality, and it is inconsequential whether it is referred to as an otherwise covered service such as physical therapy.
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In other words, The "horse therapy" that worked on Kaitlyn was real enough to warrant its own "modality" but not real enough to be covered by TRICARE. The successful therapy that the young woman's doctor and therapist swear by is supported by "some" reliable evidence but apparently not enough "reliable evidence" to satisfy the federal government, which has not yet disclosed to the Samuels or the rest of the world how much "reliable evidence" is necessary to warrant coverage. When contacted by Dallas Observer for some questions about the ruling O'Bar responded by email that "HIPPA regulations and the provisions of the privacy act prevent him from commenting on the specifics of any beneficiary's health or health care. When contacted Jennifer Samuels wanted the reporter to know that throughout the entire process TRICARE officials had consistently refused to consider Kaitlyn's work with horses as a viable form of physical therapy. It didn't matter that her doctors swore under oath that it was viable and working. What mattered instead were the conclusions of TRICARE's own experts, who had never treated Kaitlyn nor seen her in action with the therapeutic horses. "It was like we were talking to a brick wall," Samuels told me. She's understandably angry, and not just because the government denied her disabled daughter future coverage. She's also angry that TRICARE went after her family for the money it had spent from September 2009 to March 2010 when it was regularly approving Kaitlyn's successful treatment. "Blue Cross couldn't have done what they did here," Samuels said, because private insurance companies are generally blocked from recouping money in this fashion, while TRICARE is not. [Source: The Atlantic | Andrew Cohen | 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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Senate Votes "No"
SBP DIC Offset Update 37: After working all day 28 NOV and late into the night 29 NOV, Senators continued 20 NOV, working their way through a long list of amendments to the FY2013 Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3254). One major disappointment came Friday morning, when the Senate voted to reject Sen. Bill Nelson's (D-FL) amendment to end the deduction of VA survivor benefits from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities. Nelson articulately spoke of the need for this fix, and more senators voted for it than voted against it. The problem is that the proposal would cost almost $7 billion dollars over 10 years, which generated a budget point of order against it for violating the budget control act passed last year. It takes 60 senators to override a budget point of order, and the 58-to-34 vote fell two votes short. 33 Republicans and one Democrat voted against it, and five Republicans and three Democrats did not vote. States that had no senators voting for it included AL, AZ, GA, ID, IN, KY, NH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT, and WY. You can view the details of the full vote on the Senate's website at http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00216. So the 54,000 widows and widowers affected by this terrible inequity will have to wait at least another year - again. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 30 Nov & 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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2012
DFAS 1099R Availability Dates: Retiree and annuitant pay customers of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service are scheduled to receive their 2012 tax statements mid-December through January. Most of the 1099 forms will be available a week earlier via [ https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx ] the online myPay pay account management system for retired military members and annuitants. The mailing schedule includes:
 Annual Retiree Account Statements showing the new payment including the cost-of-living allowance adjustment for 2013 will be available through myPay on Dec. 4, and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10.
 Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-R tax statements for retirees will be available on myPay Dec. 13, and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10.
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 Annuitant Account Statements and Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-R tax statements for annuitants will be available through myPay on Dec. 15. Annuitants who get these documents via mail can expect to receive them between Dec. 19 and Jan. 10.
Retirees and annuitants must keep their contact information current, according to DFAS officials who say the top reason a retiree or annuitant doesn’t receive their 1099-R is because it is sent to an old address. If a retiree or annuitant does not have their correct address on file, they will experience a significant delay in receiving their end-of-year documents, said DFAS officials. People who do not have an active myPay account must call, mail or fax a written request to DFAS-Cleveland; processing a change of address and reissuing a new 1099-R takes at least 30 days, said officials. Retirees and annuitants with an active myPay account can decrease their wait time for an address change and new 1099-R by logging in and updating their own account. Changes take effect in three to five business days, and a copy of their 1099R can be printed directly from myPay. Information is made available faster electronically, said DFAS officials. This is why myPay users get their 1099-Rs up to a week earlier than those who wait for the mail to arrive. For more information about account maintenance, 1099-R requests, and logging in to myPay, visit the DFAS website at http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary.html. People without an online account can contact DFAS at 800-321-1080. [Source: Air Force Retiree News Service Release No. 11-07-12 dtd 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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1187 Decrease
Mobilized Reserve 4 DEC 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 4 OCT 2012. The net collective result is 2197 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 DEC 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 41,352; Navy Reserve 4,776; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 8,455; Marine Corps Reserve 2,533; and the Coast Guard Reserve 659. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 57,775 including both units and individual augmentees. Since 911 there have been 805,545 reservists deactivated. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/MobilizationWeeklyReport120412.pdf . [Source: DoD News Release No. 947-12 dtd 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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Availability
Vet License Plates Wyoming: If you are serving, or have served, during peacetime or war, and are a resident of Wyoming you qualify for a Wyoming veteran specialty license plates for your vehicle. In the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Vet License Plates WY” can be viewed what is offered along with the special requirements to obtain each. All plates must be applied for via a County Treasurers’ office. A list of these with contact info can be found at http://www.wcta.us/Wyoming_County_Treasurers_Association/Contact_Info.html. [Source: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/wydot/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates Dec 2012 ++]
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21 Nov 2012
OBIT ~ James L. Stone: Under a deep blue sky, in peaceful silence save for the fluttering of Old Glory in row on row, Medal of Honor recipient James L. Stone was buried 21 NOV, nearly 61 years to the day after
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the bloody battle for which he would earn the nation's highest military award. Stone, the first Medal of Honor recipient laid to rest in the 638-acre Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, died of bone cancer 16 NOV at his home in Arlington. His death at age 89 leaves the nation with 80 living recipients of the medal. Those who spoke at services at the cemetery and at First United Methodist Church of Arlington described Stone as a humble man with Arkansas roots who tried his hardest to be a regular husband and dad. He never bragged about his heroics as a 28-year-old first lieutenant the night of Nov. 21-22, 1951.
Oldest son James Stone Jr. said his father didn't like to talk about his Korean War experiences, a harrowing time in his life that also included 22 months as a prisoner of war. I think it was a defense mechanism," Stone Jr. said after the funeral, attended by about 100 veterans, relatives and military officials. "Whenever I would ask him a question about it, he would get quiet. It was like he was in a trance." But Stone, described as a guiding force behind the creation of the national cemetery in southwest Dallas 12 years ago, never stopped wanting to visit with current service members. And he always enjoyed talking with youngsters. "During all of his visits to DFW Cemetery events, the highlight of his day was always staying behind and shaking all of the young Boy Scouts' hands and visiting with them long after everyone else departed," said Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Darlington, an Army Reserve commander.
Stone's actions that night in 1951 are as heroic as any ever depicted in motion pictures. His 48-man unit was attacked at about 9 p.m. by Chinese troops on what would later be known as Pork Chop Hill. Six times over three hours, the Chinese charged up the hill. Six times, Stone's unit repelled them. Reinforcements arrived for the Chinese after midnight, giving them about 800 men. The enemy attacked again. Stone led his troops, moving from position to position, climbing the sandbag walls atop the trenches and exposing himself to enemy fire. A flamethrower malfunctioned, killing its operator. Stone dodged bullets to repair it, then gave it to another soldier. Chinese troops breached the American line, entered the trenches and began fighting by hand. Stone used his rifle as a club and seized the platoon's only remaining machine gun, repositioning it several times as he fired on the enemy. By then, half his troops were dead. He was wounded twice in the leg and once in the neck. As he lost consciousness, he continued to urge his troops to fight. The next day, advancing American troops found 545 enemy soldiers dead. But they didn't find Stone: He had been captured along with six others and would spend 22 months in a prisoner-of-war camp. After his return, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1953.
James L. Stone with his mother in 1953 after his release from a prison camp.
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Stone would be stationed in Germany and supervise the ROTC units in Fort Worth in the mid-1960s. He also served in the Vietnam War. For those who knew Stone, his humility was as legendary as his heroism. Last year, at the dedication of an Army reserve base that bears his name in Fort Worth, Stone said that he was honored but that his troops deserved the praise. "Let me make this emphatically clear to you," Stone said at the time. "My men did most of the work. They are the ones who should be honored." Tarrant County Criminal Court Judge Brent Carr, who came to know Stone, said he introduced the war hero to his sons. Stone made a lasting impression on them and now, as Army officers themselves, they wrote letters praising him to his widow, Mary. Carr read those letters during the church services in Arlington. "He said that he was just an ordinary guy," Capt. Brent Carr Jr. wrote. "There were better men than him that were out there that night. But sometimes, ordinary people are called to do extraordinary things. They don't seem extraordinary at the time; you are just doing your job just like all of the other guys that are doing their job. I can tell you right now that Col. James Stone was an extraordinary man." "Our country should be thankful that we have warriors who are willing to stand in front of the flag and dare our enemies to do their worst," the letter continues. "And when they bring their worst, there are men like Col. Stone who look them back in the eye and stand in their path."
On 21 NOV, he received full military honors, including the sounding of taps and three rifle volleys. Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead in the missing-man formation. His family received American flags from Maj. Gen. Anthony Ierardi, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate was presented by Tommy Sowers, Veterans Affairs assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. The Patriot Guard Riders and Arlington motorcycle officers escorted the funeral procession to the cemetery. [Source: Star-Telegram | Patrick M. Walker | 14 Nov 2012 ++]
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Now a Registered Trademark
GI Bill Update 134: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that GI Bill is now a registered trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and VA is the sole owner of the mark. “We will continue to support our Veterans by helping them obtain the best education of their choosing—a right for which they have bravely served, and which they have truly earned,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We all want Veterans to be informed consumers in their educational pursuit.”
On April 26, 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13607, directing the VA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education to undertake a number of measures to “stop deceptive and misleading” promotional efforts that target the GI Bill educational benefits of Servicemembers, Veterans, and eligible family members and survivors. One of the key components of the order was for VA to register the term “GI Bill” as a trademark in order to protect individuals and ensure they are directed to the right resources to make informed decisions. In addition, VA obtained the rights to the GIBill.com website after the original owners agreed to give up the site. VA is taking a proactive approach in continuously taking action to eliminate fraudulent marketing and recruiting practices.
“Trademarking ‘GI Bill’ is a great step forward in continuing our mission to better serve this nation’s Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families,” said Allison A. Hickey, VA undersecretary for benefits. VA will issue terms of use for “GI Bill” within the next six months. “We want to ensure the right balance with these new guidelines so that our stakeholders can still promote GI Bill and we can prohibit others from using it fraudulently,” said Curtis L. Coy, deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity. Since August 2009, VA has paid over $23.8 billion in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to over 866,000 Veterans, Servicemembers, and dependents. VA received over 478,000 Fall 2012 enrollments for Post-9/11 GI Bill. For more information on GI Bill programs refer to
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http://www.gibill.va.gov/ or call 1-888-GI-Bill-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a GI Bill representative. [Source: VA News Release 3 Dec 2012 ++]
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Paul A. Schroeder
Stolen Valor Update 81: Paul A. Schroeder, 41, who claimed to be a Special Forces soldier with a chest full of medals while counseling traumatized combat troops will spend 30 days in federal prison after admitting he was a fraud. Schroeder was the former director of counseling at the PTSD Foundation of Texas, leading group therapy sessions around the area and lecturing cadets at the Houston Police Academy as part of a post-traumatic stress awareness program. He claimed to have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Central and South America. According to the military records he presented, Schroeder had the necessary credentials - a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. He also claimed to have graduated from several elite Army schools, including Special Forces, Rangers, Pathfinder and Jumpmaster among others. But on 3 DEC, Schroeder admitted it was all a sham. His true records showed 10 years of Army service but as a military policeman stationed in New York, Panama and Texas. He was discharged before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan even began.
Paul A. Schroeder
The investigation against Schroeder began after April 2009 when he applied for a set of special military meritorious service license plates with the Texas Department of Transportation. While filling out the application, Schroeder indicated he had received the Silver Star - the nation's third-highest decoration for military valor. Authorities said Schroeder presented state officials his military discharge papers, which showed he had been awarded the Silver Star. FBI agents compared the document Schroeder presented with his actual service record from the Department of Defense. The legitimate forms showed no Silver Star or a record of attending the elite military schools he claimed, officials said. Schroeder resigned from the PTSD Foundation of America after confessing to a Houston Chronicle reporter that he had lied about his record. In June, a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of altering a military discharge certificate. On 3 DEC, he admitted altering his discharged papers in federal court. In addition to serving 30 days in prison, Schroeder will be on supervised release for a year. Also, he must pay a $3,000 fine. [Source: Houston chronicle | Mike Glenn | 5 Dec 2012 ++]
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1-15 Dec 2012
VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 62: Maui HI - The son of a celebrated World War II 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran admitted in U.S. District Court on Thursday that he continued to cash his father's military disability checks more than six years after he died. Charles T. Takahashi, 62, pleaded guilty to stealing $202,662 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He faces a maximum 10-year prison term and $250,000 fine at sentencing in March. He also will have to pay back the money he stole. The younger Takahashi said he never told the VA of the death and to stop the disability payments after his father, Suguru A. Takahashi, died March 2, 2006, at age 85. Instead, Takahashi withdrew the money from the joint bank account he and his father shared whenever the VA made a deposit, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Tong. The monthly payments were about $2,400 in 2006 and increased to about $2,800 in August. When investigators questioned Takahashi about the money, he told them he used it to pay mortgage and bar expenses, Tong said. Tong said Takahashi pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in October by telephone from his home on Maui because he didn't have the money to travel to Oahu. The elder Takahashi was a member of the storied 442nd during the war and participated in the famous rescue of Texas' Lost Battalion in the Vosges Mountains of eastern France. The 442nd, made up of Japanese-Americans, was the most decorated unit of its size. A larger-than-life-size cutout of a wartime photograph of Takahashi is one of the displays at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center in Kahului. The younger Takahashi is an officer of the 442nd Maui Veterans Council. [Source: The Honolulu Star-Advertiser | Nelson Daranciang | 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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Unemployment Rate Now 6.6%
Vet Jobs Update 94: The overall veterans unemployment rate nudged up slightly last month, but this year remains on pace to be the best for job-seeking veterans since 2008, according to new figures released 7 DEC by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate rose to 6.6 percent in November, up slightly from the 6.3 percent rate in October. But it was still the fourth consecutive month that the veterans unemployment statistic was below 7 percent, the first time that’s happened since late 2008. For veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan era, the unemployment rate remained at 10 percent for the second consecutive month. That number has remained stubbornly above the national unemployment rate (which now sits at 7.7 percent) for most of the last four years, a cause for concern among many veterans groups. Those younger veterans make up about 30 percent of the unemployed veterans nationwide, roughly 210,000 of the 720,000 veterans looking for work, according to bureau statistics. Veterans of the recent wars era represent about 1.9 million of the 10.2 million veterans working nationwide. The average monthly unemployment rate for veterans in 2012 has hovered near 7 percent, which would be the lowest since 2008. Since then, the annual rate hasn’t dipped below 8 percent. From 2006 to 2008, the monthly rate for veterans only rose above 6 percent once. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Leo Shane | 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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As of Dec 14 2012
Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http://veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:
 December 4, 2012. HVAC, DAMA conducted a hearing entitled "Wading through Warehouses of Paper: The Challenges of Transitioning Veterans Records to Paperless Technology."
 December 12, 2012. HVAC, conducted a Business Meeting to Approve the Activities Report for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 10:00 A.M.; 334 Cannon
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 14 Dec 2012 ++]
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Delton Walling
WWII Vets Update 33: At age 19, Delton Walling agreed to have an injured finger surgically removed so he could enlist in the U.S. Navy, and went on to see action in most major World War Two battles in the Pacific. But after years in combat, and a lifetime of joy and loss, the memories of one event stand out above all others for Navy veteran Walling - the chaotic Sunday morning he spent in a Pearl Harbor signal tower as Japanese bombers pounded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Walling, 91, a retired tree trimmer and paper mill worker now widowed and living in California, says returning to Pearl Harbor this week, as he has for 25 of the past 71 years since the attack, transports him back in time, to a day when his personal history and the nation's history merge - December 7, 1941. "You just can't take that day out of me," he reflected in an interview with Reuters. "I thought my life might end that day," he recounted. "We were devastated. Everything was blowing up right in your face. We were taught that we were the best, but the Japanese far outclassed us."
Walling is making his latest Pearl Harbor pilgrimage in a wheelchair, fitted with a pacemaker and hearing aids.
He is one of an estimated 1,000 Pearl Harbor survivors still alive today, and one of just 50 expected to attend the Friday services on the Hawaiian island of Oahu commemorating the surprise Japanese air and naval assault that claimed 2,390 American lives and drew the United States into World War Two. Nearly half of those who perished were sailors aboard the stricken battleship USS Arizona, the sunken remains of which lie beneath a platform that forms the centerpiece of the World War Two Valor in the Pacific National Monument, a site administered by the National Park Service. The 90-minute raid also left 1,178 people wounded, sank or heavily damaged a dozen U.S. warships and destroyed 323 aircraft, badly crippling the Pacific fleet.
At the time, Walling was a petty officer and signalman attached to the battleship USS Pennsylvania, then dry-docked in port, and was assigned to the communications force of Admiral Husband E. Kimmell, commander of the Pacific Fleet. Walling had been scheduled to report for duty that day at 4 p.m. local time, but while out on a run at 6:30 a.m. he decided to stop by the communications tower to collect on a debt from a fellow sailor who was about to ship out. Arriving at the tower, he was informed that an American destroyer, the USS Ward, had just sunk a
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Japanese mini-sub encountered at the mouth of the harbor, an incident that came to be regarded as the first American shots fired in the war. "By the time the communications were sent, it was 7:56 a.m. and that's when the first (Japanese) bombs hit on the ramp at Ford Island. It hit all the planes lined up on the runway. In 15 minutes, the (battleships) USS Utah and Oklahoma rolled over, and the (battleship) Arizona blew up at 8:05 a.m."
Once the Japanese bombers were on full attack, Walling said, he never left his post, transmitting and decoding messages for 14 or 15 hours straight at the signal tower. "We were watching all these planes overhead, the oil on the water burning, the men. The Japanese pilots were like synchronized dancers overhead. We were standing at the tower, devastated," he said. Walling, who now resides in Wallace, California, near Sacramento, said the precise times and details of events are seared in his memory, something that the passage of seven decades, the birth and death of his daughter and the death of his wife, have been unable to dampen. "We were thinking what else is coming," Walling recalled of the bewilderment he and his fellow sailors felt in the immediate aftermath of the raid.
"It was a terrible scene. We were devastated and mad and afraid because we didn't know what was coming next."
The next day, he was promoted to chief petty officer. When Walling joined the Navy, he was barely 19. A former boxer, he had an injured finger that almost kept him from enlisting. A military doctor told him the only way he could enlist was to cut it off. So he did. "I joined the Navy because I didn't like the idea of being in a foxhole," Walling said. "I was in almost every battle in the Pacific. If there was an island involved in the war, I was there."
And now, without any family left, Walling said, his last wish is to have his ashes scattered after he dies among those of fellow sailors at the site where the battleship Utah sank. As has been the practice with past anniversary ceremonies, visiting veterans, relatives and dignitaries will bow their heads on Friday for a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the time when the attack began, as military jets soar overhead in a "missing-man" formation. The destroyer USS Michael Murphy and the submarine USS Tucson will render a salute to survivors and fallen servicemen, and the morning service will end with a "walk of honor" by the attending World War Two veterans, all of them in their late 80s and early 90s. The turnout by Pearl Harbor veterans on Friday was expected to be only about half what it was last year, when about 100 showed up, half as many as attended the previous year. [Source: Reuters | Suzanne Roig | 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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Pearl Harbor
POW/MIA Update 32: Ray Emory could not accept that more than one quarter of the 2,400 Americans who died at Pearl Harbor were buried, unidentified, in a volcanic crater. And so he set out to restore names to the dead. Emory, a survivor of the attack, doggedly scoured decades-old documents to piece together who was who. He pushed, and sometimes badgered, the government into relabeling more than 300 gravestones with the ship names of the deceased. And he lobbied for forensic scientists to exhume the skeletons of those who might be identified. On 7 DEC, the 71-year anniversary of the Japanese attack, the Navy and National Park Service will honor the 91-year-old former sailor for his determination to have Pearl Harbor remembered, and remembered accurately. "Some of the time, we suffered criticism from Ray and sometimes it was personally directed at me. And I think it was all for the better," said National Park Service historian Daniel Martinez. "It made us rethink things. It wasn't viewed by me as personal, but a reminder of how you need to sharpen your pencil when you recall these events and the people and what's important."
Emory first learned of the unknown graves more than 20 years ago when he visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific shortly before the 50th anniversary of the attack. The grounds foreman told him the Pearl Harbor dead were scattered around the veterans' graveyard in a volcanic crater called Punchbowl after its resemblance to the serving dish. Emory got a clipboard and walked along row after row of flat granite markers, making notes of any listing death around Dec. 7, 1941. He got ahold of the Navy's burial records from archives in
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Washington and determined which ships the dead in each grave were from. He wrote the government asking why the markers didn't note ship names and asked them to change it. "They politely told me to go you-know-where," Emory told The Associated Press in an interview at his Honolulu home, where he keeps a "war room" packed with documents, charts and maps. Military and veterans policy called for changing grave markers only if remains are identified, an inscription is mistaken or a marker is damaged.
Emory appealed to the late Patsy Mink, a Hawaii congresswoman who inserted a provision in an appropriations bill requiring Veterans Affairs to include "USS Arizona" on gravestones of unknowns from that battleship. Today, unknowns from other vessels like the USS Oklahoma and USS West Virginia, also have new markers. Some of the dead, like those turned to ash, will likely never be identified. But Emory knew some could be. The Navy's 1941 burial records noted one body, burned and floating in the harbor, was found wearing shorts with the name "Livingston." Only two men named Livingston were assigned to Pearl Harbor at the time, and one of the two was accounted for. Emory suspected the body was the other Livingston. Government forensic scientists exhumed him. Dental records, a skeletal analysis and circumstantial evidence confirmed Emory's suspicions. The remains belonged to Alfred Livingston, a 23-year-old fireman first class assigned to the USS Oklahoma.
Livingston's nephew, Ken Livingston, said his uncle and his father were raised together by their grandmother and attended the same one-room schoolhouse. They grew up working on farms in and around Worthington, Ind. Livingston remembers his dad saying the brothers took turns wearing a pair of shoes they shared. When the family learned Alfred was found, they brought him home from Hawaii to be buried in the same cemetery where his grandmother and mother rest. About a third of the town showed up for his 2007 memorial service in Worthington, a town of just 1,400 about 80 miles southwest of Indianapolis. The local American Legion put up a sign welcoming home "Worthington's missing son." "It brought a lot of closure," said Ken Livingston, 62, his voice cracking.
John Lewis, a retired Navy captain who worked with Emory while assigned to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command between 2001 and 2004, said the command is fortunate someone like Emory has the time and initiative to painstakingly connect the dots on the unknowns. "Without Ray Emory I don't know if this ever would have been done," Lewis said from Flowood, Miss. Emory says people sometimes ask him why he's spending so much time on events from 70 years ago. He tells them to talk to the relatives to see if they want the unknowns identified. He doesn't get emotional about the work, except when the government doesn't exhume people he thinks should be dug up and identified. "I get more emotional when they don't do something," he said. He'll keep working after he's formally recognized during the Pearl Harbor ceremony on Friday to remember and honor the dead. He has names of 100 more men buried at Punchbowl he believes are identifiable. [Source: Associated Press article 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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1-14 Nov 2012
POW/MIA Update 33: "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 (73,000+), Korean War (7,900+), Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,655), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may 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/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 3 DEC that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Sgt. John R. Jones, 22, of Louisville, Ky., will be buried Dec. 6, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On June 4, 1971, Jones was part of a U.S. team working with indigenous commandos to defend a radio-relay base, known as Hickory Hill, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. When enemy forces attacked the site, Jones and another serviceman took up a defensive position in a nearby bunker. The following morning, Jones was reportedly killed by enemy fire and the other soldier was captured and held as a POW until 1973. From 1993 to 2010, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted several investigations, surveyed the site and interviewed multiple witnesses, including those involved in the battle. During that time, analysts from JPAC and DPMO evaluated wartime records and eyewitness accounts to determine possible excavation sites. In 2011, another joint U.S./S.R.V team located human remains in a bunker suspected to be the last known location of Jones. In the identification of the remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces
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DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as dental records and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Jones’ mother and brother. Since 1973 more than 900 servicemen have been accounted for from the Vietnam War, and returned to their families for burial with military honors. The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover all Americans lost in the conflict.
 DPMO announced 7 DEC that the remains of a serviceman, killed in action during the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Capt. James M. Johnstone, of Baton Rouge, La., will be buried Dec. 12, in Arlington National Cemetery. On Nov. 19, 1966, Johnstone was the pilot of an OV-1A Mohawk aircraft that crashed while conducting a daytime reconnaissance mission over Attapu Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing the wing of Johnstone’s aircraft hit a tree during a climb to avoid a nearby ridgeline. No parachutes were seen exiting the aircraft. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts. From 1993 to 2009, joint U.S.-Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed multiple witnesses, and conducted several investigations and excavations of the crash site in Attapu Province. The teams located human remains, military equipment, an identification card bearing Johnstone’s name, and aircraft wreckage of an OV-1A, which correlated with the last known location of Johnstone’s aircraft. To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, such as dental comparisons.
Korea
DPMO announced 4 DEC that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, Have been
identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Sgt. Bobby R. King, 19, of Seymour, Texas, will be buried on Dec. 7, in Dallas. In August 1950, King and his unit, Battery A, 90th Field Artillery Battalion, were fighting against North Korean forces in a battle known as the “Bloody Gulch,” near Pongam-ni, South Korea. After the battle, on Aug. 12, King was listed as missing in action. In late 1950, U.S. Army Graves Registration Service personnel recovered remains of service members from that battlefield, including nine men who were unidentified. These men were buried at the 25th Infantry Division Cemetery in Masan, South Korea. In 1951, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula and the remains were sent to the U.S. Army’s Central
Identification Unit in Kokura, Japan, to determine whether they could be identified. When scientific analysis determined an identification wasn’t possible, King’s remains were transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii and re-interred as “unknown.” In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, analysts from DPMO and Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) reevaluated the information associated with the remains interred in Hawaii and concluded that if exhumed they could likely be identified. Based on available evidence such as metal identification tags, military clothing, and wartime records, analysts confirmed that the remains were a soldier who died at Pongam-ni. The remains were exhumed and scientists from JPAC successfully identified King using circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparison and dental records.
World War II
 None
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Dec 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (19)
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Eyeglasses
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Saving Money: Clearly you can spend a ton on eyeglasses. But there’s good news: You can also save a ton if you consider the following options:
1. See if you’re covered. Before you schedule an eye exam, check your insurance coverage. Many health insurance plans cover all or some of the cost of vision expenses such as an annual eye exam. But unless you ask, you might not know.
2. Make use of your FSA. Do you have a flexible spending account? If you can get one through your employer, it should cover many vision services, such as Eye exam | Prescription glasses and sunglasses | Tinting | Reading glasses | Contact lenses and solutions. If you’re already contributing to an FSA, use some of these funds to pay for your vision costs. If you’re not contributing to an FSA, do it the next opportunity you have. Since you can contribute money from your paycheck to your FSA before taxes are taken out, you’ll automatically save even more.
3. Start with an eye exam. Before you can buy prescription glasses, you’ll need two things: a prescription matching your vision needs, and your pupillary distance (the distance between your pupils). An optometrist can provide both. And thanks to something called the “Prescription Release Rule,” they’re required by federal law to give you a copy of your prescription, enabling you to take it with you and shop wherever you’d like. If you’re using vision insurance to offset the cost of the eye exam, make sure to visit a clinic covered by your insurance. If you’re using an FSA, call beforehand to find the cheapest option. You may also qualify for a free or reduced eye exam through volunteer or state-run programs. Eligibility varies, but FreeEyeExam.org has a list of free exams by state. When you visit the optometrist, ask for a written copy of your prescription and your pupillary distance. Then see where the best deals are…
4. Warehouse clubs. Warehouse clubs such as Sam’s, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Coscoe sell prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses cheaper than many other brick-and-mortar retailers, and you’ll occasionally get even better prices.
5. Discount stores. Picks up simple reading glasses from dollar stores, discount and overstock stores. For $10 or less each you can buy more than one and scatter them around your house for use when you need them. You can find good deals on cheap reading frames all over town. Also check out Ross, Marshalls, Big Lots, and Walmart.
6. Buy online for bigger discounts. You’ll most likely find the best deals on prescription eyeglasses online. Some sites offer basic frames with single-vision lenses and tinting for under $10. Here are a few sites that have gotten decent reviews from bloggers and others:
 Zenni Optical http://www.zennioptical.com – Glasses start at $6.95
 EyeBuyDirect http://www.eyebuydirect.com – Glasses start at $6.95 with free anti-scratch coating
 Optical4Less http://www.optical4less.com – Glasses start at $15
 39DollarGlasses http://www.39dollarglasses.com/?ccode= – Prices start at $39 with occasional sales
A word of warning: Some sites sell low-quality products, while others have horrible customer service. Before you buy a pair of glasses from a website, make sure they have a return policy and check out a complaint site like http://www.ripoffreport.com or http://complaintwire.org to see if other customers have had problems. Also be aware that online stores are probably best for simpler, inexpensive prescriptions and for those customers requiring less personal service. The more complicated the prescription, the higher the cost, and therefore the risk, of buying online.
7. Take advantage of coupons and special offer deals. The Internet is full of product coupons, and eyeglasses are no different. Before you buy your next pair, use an online coupon site to find a better deal. The
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http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com blog regularly posts sales and special offer deals for online eyeglass retailers. You can also find coupons on sites like http://www.opticalblog.com/tag/eyeglass-coupons, http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/eyeglasses, and http://slickdeals.net.
8. Find free repair or replacement deals. If your glasses get scratched or bent out of shape, be aware that some retailers offer free repair and/or replacement. For example, LensCrafters http://www.lenscrafters.com offers their customers unlimited cleaning and adjustments. Eyes Buy Direct http://www.eyebuydirect.com guarantees most of their glasses for 12 months. Many optometrists will also replace your contact lenses free if they’re bothering your eyes.
Bottom line, if you are a supporter of local brick-and-mortar businesses, especially the locally owned kind, check online prices, then beat the local bushes to see if you can use those prices to get a home-grown better deal. But if you’re focused only on savings, you’ll probably be ordering your next pair of glasses online. [Source: http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/07/06/8-ways-to-see-big-savings-on-eyeglasses/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=email-2012-07-06&utm_medium=email Angela Colley article 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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Unusual Gifts
Spending Money: We all know one of them: that person who seems impossible to shop for. Maybe they already seem to have it all. Maybe they’re the minimalist who asks for nothing. Or perhaps they’re a new co-worker or awkward in-law you just don’t know that well. Whatever the reason, there are shopping spots that are off the beaten path with gifts any recipient on your list is sure to remember. While most of these stores have plenty of expensive options, many also carry plenty of affordable ones as well:
Tube-Wringer
1. Brookstone: This online and mall-based store sells gadgets and gifts of every kind – from remote-controlled spy tanks to massagers of all shapes and sizes. Their products tend to be on the more expensive side, but last year, Brookstone’s best sales happened during the weeks leading up to the holidays. [ http://www.brookstone.com ]
2. Etsy: This online marketplace allows artists, crafters, and other creators to sell handmade items (and resell vintage items) directly to e-shoppers. From one-of-a-kind jewelry to hats for cats, Etsy offers almost too many handmade options to pick from. And if you really can’t decide, they now offer gift cards, which just about any woman would enjoy using. [ http://www.etsy.com ]
3. Old Time Candy Company: No matter how old your gift recipient is, this online store stocks the candy they’ll remember eating as a kid. It carries retro candy from every decade from the 1920s to the 1990s.
[ http://www.oldtimecandy.com ]
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4. Perpetual Kid: As its name implies, this online store is the perfect place to shop for children and for the grown-up with a loud inner child. Note that items in their sale category – like centipede ice cube trays and Family Guy pint glass sets – are currently up to 82 percent off. [ http://www.perpetualkid.com ]
5. Quirky: This company helps would-be inventors turn their ideas into products with assistance from social media. The result is some ingeniously useful gift ideas, especially for people who enjoy technology or cooking.
[ http://www.quirky.com/shop ]
6. SimpleHuman: This company describes their products as “tools for efficient living.” Their focus on simplicity and functionality makes their website a great place to shop for the hyper-organized and anyone who recently moved into a new home. [ http://www.simplehuman.com ]
7. ThinkGeek: This online store is to geeks what Perpetual Kid is to grown-up children. And their On Sale section is always stocked up – currently with more than 500 items that are up to 75 percent off, like a stainless-steel Star Trek Enterprise pizza cutter and a vampire pacifier. [ http://www.thinkgeek.com ]
8. The Ultimate Rose: If you’re not sure what to buy the wife or girlfriend this year but have a few hundred dollars to blow on six-foot-tall roses, this is your site. [ http://theultimaterose.com ]
9. Uncommon Goods: “Unique gifts and creative design” is this online store’s motto and an accurate summary of its goods. If you’re stumped, check out their Gift Finder tool, which narrows your options down based on who you’re shopping for and how much you want to spend. [ http://www.uncommongoods.com ]
10. Vat19: Perhaps you’ve seen this company’s TV commercials featuring their five-pound gummy bears. The self-described “purveyors of curiously awesome products” also offer flat-rate shipping, a “Sort by Recipient” feature, and dozens of options in the under-$10 and under-$20 ranges. [ http://www.vat19.com ]
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Karla Bowsher | 6 Dec 2012 ++]
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1-14 Dec 2012
Notes of Interest:
 Enterprise. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced t at the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) inactivation ceremony that the third Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier will be named Enterprise. The future USS Enterprise, designated CVN 80, will be the ninth ship to bear the name.
 VA Pension. As Veterans and survivors consider applying for these benefits they should review VBA’s Fact Sheet at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/docs/PensionProgramInfo_final.pdf. A copy of the Fact Sheet titled, “VBA Pension Program Fact Sheet” is included as an attachment to this Bulletin
 Problem Banks. A total of 694 are on the list, which the FDIC uses to keep a close eye on banks at risk of failing. That’s three dozen fewer than in the spring, but still almost 10 percent of all the federally insured banks in the country. Fifty banks have foundered so far this year, way down from the 92 that shuttered in 2011 and the 157 that closed in 2010, which was the biggest number since the savings and loan crisis two decades ago.
 Nostalgia. James Cagney and Bob Hope fans will be interested in viewing one of their great dance routines at http://videos2view.net/Hope-Cagney.htm.
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 Vet Homeless. The Departments of VA & HUD announced 10 DEC that a new national report shows that homelessness among Veterans has been reduced by approximately 7 percent between January 2011 and January 2012
 Proclamation. The governor of Florida has issued a Proclamation designating 16 DEC as Battle of the Bulge Day. A copy can be viewed in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Battle of the Bulge Day Proclamation 2012”.
 USS Arizona. It is commonly—but incorrectly—believed that Arizona remains perpetually in commission, like the USS Constitution. Arizona is under the control of the National Park Service, but the U.S. Navy still retains the title. Arizona retains the right, in perpetuity, to fly the United States flag as if she were an active, commissioned naval vessel.
[Source: Various 15-30 Nov 2012 ++]
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1-14 Dec 2012
Medicare Fraud Update 106:
 Norwalk CT - Deborah A. Bradley, 53, has been charged with defrauding HUSKY, the state’s taxpayer-funded subsidized health insurance plan for working families, according to a press release from Connecticut’s Criminal Justice Division. Bradley is charged with one count of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, a class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and one count of Insurance Fraud, a class D felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. According to the state’s press release, the arrest stems from a federal investigation earlier this year that revealed Bradley’s husband, Alan, a certified drug and alcohol counselor, had allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program by billing for services that were never rendered. He was arrested in Florida on May 17. Subsequent investigation by inspectors in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney disclosed that in 2010, Deborah Bradley improperly obtained HUSKY insurance coverage for herself and her husband by falsely stating their assets and income on an application submitted to the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services, according to the state spokesman. HUSKY is a taxpayer-financed program funded through the Medicaid system that provides health care insurance to working families who meet income guidelines. Bradley was released on a $100,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford December 19. The investigation is ongoing. The case will be prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office.
 Hialeah FL - A federal jury found defendant Maggie Leon, 35, guilty of eight counts of health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347, and conspiracy to commit the same, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 6, 2013, before U.S. States District Judge Paul Huck. According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Maggie Leon,
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through her company (Leon Medical), submitted and caused the submission of approximately $7.2 million in false claims for medical services to the seven insurance carriers and was paid more than $2.2 million. The evidence further established that the defendant and her co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to beneficiaries suffering from HIV to ensure that they would attend Leon Medical.
 Bridgeport CT - A dermatologist is in some legal trouble after he supposedly came up with a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. Dr. Allen Saoud, 58, has been charged with 23 felonies including health care fraud, making and subscribing false tax returns, obstruction of the Administration of Internal Revenue Laws, falsification of a bankruptcy document, false statement to a federal agent & bankruptcy fraud. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said cases like this are a high priority for the federal government, especially since this one involved stealing money from taxpayer funded programs. The feds are also trying to win a money judgment against Saoud. If they succeed, he'll have to pay $850,000.
 Brooklyn NY - Board-certified colorectal surgeon Dr. Boris Sachakov, 43, who owned and operated a New York medical clinic, was sentenced 10 DEC to serve 30 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme that billed Medicare and more than 10 private insurance companies for surgeries and other complex medical procedures that were never performed. In addition to his prison term, Sachakov was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release, pay forfeiture of $1,103,069 and pay restitution of $1,103,069 to the victims of his crimes, Medicare and numerous private insurance plans. He was found guilty by a jury on June 13, 2012, after a two-week trial in federal court in Brooklyn of one count of health care fraud and five counts of health care false statements. The trial evidence showed that from January 2008 to January 2010, Sachakov, who owned and operated a clinic called Colon and Rectal Care of New York P.C., defrauded Medicare and private insurance companies by billing for surgeries and medical services that he never provided. According to trial testimony, several private insurance companies began investigating Sachakov after receiving complaints from patients that Sachakov had submitted claims for surgeries, including hemorrhoidectomies, that he never performed. At trial, 11 of Sachakov’s patients testified that they had not received the surgeries and other medical services for which Sachakov had billed their insurance companies. The evidence presented at trial showed that the medical records Sachakov created and maintained on these patients, including letters to the patient’s referring doctors, did not support the extensive billings he submitted. After Sachakov was confronted by two insurance companies about complaints of billings for surgeries that did not happen, the evidence at trial showed that Sachakov sent letters to his patients, asking them to falsely certify in writing that they had received the phony surgeries. The indictment alleged that Sachakov submitted and caused the submission of more than $22.6 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and private insurance companies, and received more than $9 million on those claims.
 National. It is estimated that 10% of all medical tests and procedures in the United States at a cost of about $220 billion are not necessary and doctors/hospitals prescribing these know they are not necessary and are being encourage or pressured by management to continue the practice. This form of fraud extends to Medicare and Medicad though billed to the government impacts patients through higher taxes and whatever copay they must bill. To learn more about how this is happening refer to 60 Minute's 2 DEC video titled Hospitals: The Cost of Admission at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50136261n. In it Steve Kroft investigates allegations from doctors that the hospital chain they worked for pressured them to admit patients regardless of their medical needs. For more on this subject refer to the HealthLeaders Media 11 DEC Scott Mace article “Is Technology Perpetuating Medicare Fraud?” at http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-2/TEC-287354/Is-Technology-Perpetuating-Medicare-Fraud.
 Brooklyn NY - An octogenarian Queens doctor who let patients dance at his clinic, then passed it off as therapy to scam Uncle Sam, pleaded guilty 10 DEC. Ho Yon Kim, 86, of Flushing, pleaded guilty in
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Brooklyn federal court to conspiring to commit health-care fraud. Federal prosecutors say that Kim also rewarded patients with massages, facials and free lunches at his practice to thank them for letting him use their Medicare numbers to submit some $11.7 million worth of false claims on his behalf. Further, the feds say Kim administered unnecessary electro-stimulation therapy and physical therapy to patients — and billed the government for services that were never performed. Kim will face up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced. No date has been set for his sentencing.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Nov 2012 ++]
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GAO Fraud Prevalence Report
Medicare Fraud Update 107: Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars spent every year to investigate and prosecute Medicare fraud, much still goes undetected and "the extent of the problem is unknown," according to testimony submitted 28 NOV to Congress. In its report to the health subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that medical clinics and suppliers of durable medical goods are most commonly investigated and prosecuted criminally for Medicare fraud, accounting for 37 percent of all successful Medicare fraud prosecutions. Individual fraud -- that is, Medicare beneficiaries cheating the system -- make up about 11 percent of criminal prosecutions and convictions. Hospitals, meanwhile, accounted for about 20 percent -- or 2,339 cases -- of civil fraud investigations in 2010, according to the testimony prepared by Kathleen M. King, the GAO's health care division director.
Most Medicare fraud comes in the form of billing fraud -- submitting a bill for care that was not actually administered, or suppliers billing for supplies and services that are overpriced or not medically necessary. Other common forms of fraud include falsifying patient data to increase Medicare payment rates and paying kickbacks to providers for referring beneficiaries to a specific specialist or clinic. Some of the more elaborate schemes involve setting up shell companies at bogus addresses that "sell" medical equipment; buying and selling lists of names and ID numbers of Medicare patients; and the case of a California hospital that recruited homeless people to fill empty hospital beds, offering the homeless room and board -- and then charging Medicare tens of millions of dollars for their care and hospitalization. Though Medicare keeps no "official" estimate on the annual cost of fraud, outside experts say the tab could be $60 billion annually. In 2011, the federal government allocated $608 million to prosecute and investigate Medicare fraud.
Ms. King told the House panel that Medicare has been working on tightening its provider and supplier enrollment standards and on conducting more efficient post-payment audits, which prevents those who are defrauding Medicare from getting away with it for very long. The GAO also has told the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to remove patients' Social Security numbers from their Medicare ID cards, which in theory would not only make it harder to defraud Medicare, but also to steal seniors' identities. While that sounds like the simplest of the fixes, a CMS official told Congress in August that "transitioning to a new identifier would be a task of enormous complexity and cost and one that [would] present great risks to continued access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries." A report issued last year said it could cost nearly $850 million to replace the 50 million or so ID cards and remove the Social Security numbers from the equation. [Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Bill Toland | 29 Nov 2012 ++]
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1-14 Dec 2012
Medicaid Fraud Update 76: Oklahoma City OK - Robin Lockwood, DDS, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Medicaid fraud for submitting claims for dental services that
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were not provided. She was charged earlier this year with one count of healthcare fraud, according to the state attorney general's office. Lockwood, who worked for Ocean Dental in Oklahoma City, falsified treatment notes submitted by the practice for Medicaid reimbursement between July 2007 and December 2010. She received a percentage of the reimbursement for the procedures. Lockwood also billed for multisurface fillings that she didn't complete, upcoded bills to receive more money, and billed for services not reimbursable by Medicaid by using a different billing code, according to state authorities. The case was a result of an investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. [Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Dec 2012 ++]
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Illinois 2012
State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Illinois provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits – IL” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of the benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
 Housing Benefits
 Financial Assistance Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/illinois-state-veterans-benefits Dec 2012 ++]
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Day of Infamy Speech
Military History: December 7th, is a date burned into the memories of all World War II veterans, their families and descendants. Yet, the number of people who don't know the date's significance is growing. So take a moment to step back into time - here's a copy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech so often quoted after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor:
Annotated Typewritten Copy "Day of Infamy" Speech. Franklin D. Roosevelt Library
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++++++++++++++++++++++
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
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With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
[Source: Off the Base | Bobbie O'Brien | 7 Dec 2012 ++]
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December 16–31 Summary
Military History Anniversaries: Significant December events in U.S. Military History are:
 Dec 16 1864 – Civil War: Union forces under General George H. Thomas win the battle at Nashville, smashing an entire Confederate army.
 Dec 16 1917 – USS F–1 (SS–20) sunk after collision with USS F 3 (SS–22) off San Diego, California. 19 died.
 Dec 16 1950 – Korea: President Harry Truman declares a state of National Emergency as Chinese communists invade deeper into South Korea.
 Dec 16 1998 – Iraq: The United States launches a missile attack on Iraq for failing to comply with United Nations weapons inspectors.
 Dec 17 1777 – American Revolution: France recognized American independence.
 Dec 17 1862 – Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
 Dec 17 1943 – WW2: U.S. forces invade Japanese–held New Britain Island in New Guinea.
 Dec 17 1944 – WW2: The German Army renews the attack on the Belgian town of Losheimergraben against the defending Americans during the Battle of the Bulge. Within 5 days the 101st Airborne Division is surrounded at Bastogne Belgium.
 Dec 17 1944 – WW2: Battle of the Bulge Malmedy massacre – 90 American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen–SS Kampfgruppe Peiper.
 Dec 17 1944 – WW2: U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans.
 Dec 17 1969 – The U.S. Air Force ended its "Project Blue Book" and concluded that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial activity behind UFO sightings.
 Dec 18 1916 – WWI: The Battle of Verdun ends with the French and Germans each having suffered more than 330,000 killed and wounded in 10 months. It was the longest engagement of World War I.
 Dec 18 1941 – WW2: Defended by 610 fighting men, the American–held island of Guam falls to more than 5,000 Japanese invaders in a three–hour battle.
 Dec 18 1944 – WW2: The Supreme Court upheld the wartime internment of Japanese–Americans.
 Dec 18 1972 – Vietnam: The Paris Peace talks temporarily fail and President Nixon orders a resumption of full–scale bombing of targets in North Vietnam.
 Dec 19 1777 – American Revolution: George Washington's Continental Army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge PA.
 Dec 20 1941 – WW2: The Flying Tigers, American pilots in China, enter combat against the Japanese over Kunming.
 Dec 20 1989 – Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama, begins to oust General Manuel Noriega and replace him with Guillermo Endara.
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 Dec 21 1861 – Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
 Dec 21 2004 – Iraq War: A suicide bomber killed 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers to date.
 Dec 22 1944 – WW2: Battle of the Bulge – German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"
 Dec 22 2010 – The repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, the 17–year–old policy banning on homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama.
 Dec 23 1783 – George Washington resigns as commander–in–chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
 Dec 23 1941 – WW2: Despite throwing back an earlier Japanese amphibious assault, the U.S. Marines and Navy defenders on Wake Island capitulate to a second Japanese invasion.
 Dec 23 1968 – The 82 sailors from the USS Pueblo are released after eleven months of internment in North Korea.
 Dec 23 2002 – Iraq War: A MQ–1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG–25, making it the first time in history that an aircraft and an unmanned drone had engaged in combat.
 Dec 24 1814 – War of 1812: Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and England.
 Dec 24 1914 – World War I: The "Christmas truce" begins.
 Dec 24 1955 – NORAD Tracks Santa for the first time in what will become an annual Christmas Eve tradition.
 Dec 24 1964 – Vietnam: Viet Cong operatives bomb the Brinks Hotel in Saigon to demonstrate they can strike an American installation in the heavily guarded capital.
 Dec 25 1991 – Cold War: The USSR was declared officially dissolved marking the end of the Cold War
 Dec 27 1944 – WW2: General George S. Patton’s Third Army, spearheaded by the 4th Armored Division, relieves the surrounded city of Bastogne
 Dec 29 1812 – War of 1812: The USS Constitution under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captures the HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three hour battle.
 Dec 29 1813 – War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York.
 Dec 29 1890 – The last major conflict of the Indian wars takes place at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota after Colonel James W. Forsyth of the 7th Cavalry tries to disarm Chief Big Foot and his followers. U.S. soldiers kill more than 200 Oglala Lakota people with four Hotchkiss guns.
 Dec 30 1813 – War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York
 Dec 30 1862 – Civil War: The USS Monitor sinks off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
 Dec 30 1972 – Vietnam: After two weeks of heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam, President Nixon halts the air offensive and agrees to resume peace negotiations with Hanoi representative Le Duc Tho.
 Dec 31 1942 – WW2: After five months of battle, Emperor Hirohito allows the Japanese commanders at Guadalcanal to retreat.
[Source: Various Dec 2012 ++]
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As of Dec 2012
Tax Burden for Rhode Island Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise
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taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Rhode Island:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 7% (food, some clothing, precious metal bullion, some burial-related items, prescription and non-prescription drugs are exempt). To see taxes on other items refer to http://www.tax.state.ri.us/help/grocery.php. Gasoline Tax: 33 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 33 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: $3.46/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 3.75%, High – 9.9%. Income Brackets: Five. (Single) Lowest – $55,000, Highest – $125,000 (2011 rates) Personal Exemptions: Federal exemptions multiplied by $3,500. Standard Deduction: Federal amount or if age 65 or older, $7,500 (single), $15,000 (married filing jointly). Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt. Out-of-state government pensions are fully taxed. Social Security is taxed to the extent it is federally taxed. Retired Military Pay: Follows federal tax rules. 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
State property taxes are not imposed directly by the state, but a portion of the city and town taxes are set aside for state purpose. Taxes are assessed and collected by the local jurisdiction. Fire district taxes are collected in some rural communities. Homeowners 65 and older who earn $30,000 or less can get a property tax relief credit of up to $300. Call 401-222-2280 for details.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax. Rhode Island imposes a tax on the transfer of the net value of the assets of every resident decedent and the value of real and personal property of nonresident decedents located within this state. The tax is apportioned in accordance with the location of the assets with actual situs (both real and personal property) in another state. The fraction is Rhode Island assets over total estate assets.
The Rhode Island estate tax is designed to absorb the federal estate tax credit for state death taxes. However, the state has decoupled from current federal estate tax laws and adopts the version of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on January 1, 2001. The estate tax exemption is $892,650. Estates of decedents who are declared missing in action by the armed forces of the United States are not subject to the state’s estate tax.
For further information, visit the Rhode Island Division of Taxation site http://www.tax.state.ri.us or call 401-222-1111. [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Dec 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 12 DEC 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: http://www.loc.gov Dec 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art (19):
Ramrod - Outward Bound
by John D. Shaw
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During the Winter of 1944-45, the skies over Germany were filled with aircraft on 'Ramrod' missions, a term used for long range bomber strikes with fighter escort. The P-51 Mustang, considered by many to have been the finest fighter of the war, was the preferred weapon of most American fighter pilots, and certainly a welcome sight to the bomber crews. Pictured here is the famed triple Ace Bud Anderson in his Mustang "Old Crow", defending B-17s of the 100th Bomb Group during the final days of his WWII combat tour. [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Ramrodoutwardbound.html Dec 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? Two Chiefs
Two Chiefs are getting wiped at the CPO Club when suddenly one of 'em throws up all over himself.
"Damn, now my wife will kill me!", the inebriated Chief said.
The other chief says, "Don't worry. Just tuck a twenty in your breast pocket and tell your wife that someone threw up on you and gave you $20.00 dollars to have it dry-cleaned."
So they stay for another couple of hours and get even drunker. Eventually they stumble out and go home and this chief's wife starts in on him, "You reek of alcohol and you've puked all over yourself! My God, you're disgusting!"
Speaking very carefully so as not to slur his words, the Chief says, "Now way a mint, I can splain everthin. Ish snot wha jew think. I only had a cupla drrrinks. But thish damn Marine got ssick on me. He had one too many and he juss koudin hold hizz liquor . He said hes was verrry sorry an' gave me twennie bucks for the cleaning bill!
His wife looks in the breast pocket and says, "But this is forty bucks.'
Oh, yeah I almos' fergot, he shhhit in my pants, too.
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Naval Lingo: Bully Boy. Bully boys, a term prominent in Navy chanties and poems, means in its strictest sense, "beef eating Sailors." Sailors of the Colonial Navy had a daily menu of an amazingly elastic substance called bully beef, actually beef jerky. The term appeared so frequently on the messdeck that it naturally lent its name to the sailors who had to eat it. As an indication of the beef's texture and chew ability, it was also called "salt junk," alluding to the rope yarn used for caulking the ship's seams.
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Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil!
--- Golda Meir (1898-1978 One of the founders of the State of Israel)
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November 2012 Update

2012-11-18T23:47:00.003-05:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Veteran Infidelity & Divorce ----------- (Considerably Higher Rates)
== Women Vet Organizations ------------------------------------------ (List)
== Women Vet Organizations [01] - (Heartland Women Veterans Post)
== VA Claim Denial [09] --------- (Iraq/Afghanistan Missing Records)
== USS LST Ship Memorial ------------------------------------ (LST-325)
== TRICARE Prime [17] ------------- (40 Mile Rule Affects171k Users)
== SBA Vet Issues [23] -------------------------- (Veterans Day Message)
== Military Exchange Price Match Policy ---------------- (NEX Change)
== Illinois Vet Lottery ------------------ (Net Proceeds Benefit Veterans)
== Sleep Apnea [06] --------------------- (Impacts 20% of War Veterans)
== Vietnam Veterans Memorial [11] --------------- (Veterans Day 2012)
== Filipino Vet Inequities [26] ----------- (9th Circuit Court Arguments)
== Elections 2012 [01] ---------------- (Impact on Military Community)
== VA Pension [04] ----------------------- (Room & Board UME Policy)
== Sequestration [08] ------------------------- (Lame Duck Deal Forming)
== Florida Veterans Homes [05] -- (Robert H. Jenkins Vet Domiciliary)
== Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Basura [05] ---------- (KBR Must Pay $85M)
== VA In Vitro Fertilization [01] ----------- (Not Covered for Veterans) == Gold Star License Plate [02] ------------------------------ (Availability) == Mojave Desert Veteran Memorial [10] ------------ (A Promise Kept)
== Dementia [03] ------------------------------ (Physical Activity Impact)
== Pennsylvania Veterans' Homes [05] ------- (Inappropriate Drug Use)
== Louisiana Vet Cemeteries [05] ------------- (Slidell Work Underway)
== Energy Drinks -------------------------------------------------- (Concerns)
== Daylight Saving Time [02] ---------------------------------------- (2012)
== End of Life ~ Feeding Tubes -------------------------- (Considerations)
== Combat Veteran Health Care [08] ------- (Training Injury Eligibility)
== Personality Disorder Discharge [02] ----------------------- (H.R.6574)
== National Coalition for Homeless Vets -------- (Veteran Support Org)
== Military Pay & Benefits ---------------------------------- (CAP Report)
== DFAS Direct Deposit --------------------------------- (2013 Pay Dates)
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== TRICARE Prime [16] -------------- (Possible West Region Changes)
== U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument ---- (JAN Unveiling)
== Louisiana Vet Cemeteries [04] --------- (Zachary Officially Opened)
== GI Bill [131] ---------------------------------- (Trademark Registration)
== GI Bill [132] --------------------------- (Graduation Rate Controversy)
== Tomb of the Unknowns [08] ------------------------ (Hurricane Sandy)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [60] ---------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Mobilized Reserve 6 NOV 2012----------------------- (1210 Decrease)
== PTSD [121] ------------------------------------------- (CAM Treatment)
== PTSD [122] -------------------------------- (SD Vets Sought for Study)
== PTSD [123] -------------------------------------- (Brain Anatomy Role)
== Vet Jobs [92] ---------------------------------------------- (Top 10 Cities)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ----------- (As of Nov 13 2012)
== WWII Vets [31] ---------------------------- (Last Man Standing Club)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (17)
== POW/MIA [31] --------------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Saving Money --------------------------------------- (Car Dealer Tricks)
== Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [104] -------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== Medicaid Fraud [74] ---------------------------------- (1-14 Nov 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits ----------------------------------- (Idaho 2012)
== Military History -------------------- (Battle of Empress Augusta Bay)
== Military History Anniversaries --------------- (Nov16–30 Summary)
== Military Trivia 62 ------------------ (Crazy Cold War Projects Part 2)
== Tax Burden for Oregon Retirees ------------------- (As of Nov 2012)
== Aviation Art --------------------------------------------------- (Ambush!)
== Veteran Legislation Status 12 NOV 2012 -------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? -------------------------------------- (Kulula Airlines)

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Veteran Infidelity & Divorce: Men and women who have served in the military have considerably higher rates of marital infidelity and divorce than the population at large, according to a 2011 study. "Veteran Status, Marital Infidelity, and Divorce," a paper presented at last year's American Sociological Association Meeting, found that:
 32 percent of veterans who were ever married reported that they'd had extra-marital sex, compared with 16.8 percent of ever-married non-veterans;
 38.5 percent of ever-married veterans had gotten divorced, compared with 28.9 percent of ever-married non-veterans;
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 For both veterans and non-veterans, sexual infidelity is likely to lead to divorce. People who reported that they'd cheated on their spouses were more than 2.3 times more likely to have gotten divorced than those who hadn't been unfaithful.
The paper used data from the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey, focusing on 2,308 18-to-60-year-olds who had been married at least once. "Although it is now two decades old, the NHSLS is one of the few national data sets that includes questions about whether respondents have ever served in the military, extramarital sex, and marital and divorce history," said Andrew S. London, sociology professor at Syracuse University, after the paper was published last year. [Source: The Atlantic | Eleanor Barkhorn | 12 Nov 2012 ++]
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Women Vet Organizations: Following is a partial list of veteran organizations which have been established specifically for women. If you know of any that are not listed request advise via email to raoemo@sbcglonal.net:
 Air Force Women Officers Assoc., P.O. Box 780155 San Antonio, TX 78278
 All Navy Women's National Alliance , P.O. Box 147, Goldenrod, FL.,32733-0147 http://www.anwna.com/
 Army Special Services Association, 609 Concord Place, Pleasanton, CA 94566
 Army Women's Museum, Mifflin Hall, Bldg.5000,Rm. 103B, Ft Lee, VA., 23801-6000 http://www.awm.lee.army.mil
 Coast Guard/SPAR, Inc., 5904 Mt. Eagle Dr., Ap. 1616 Alexandria, VA 22303
 Hispanic Women Veterans Coalition, P.O. Box 25047 Harper Woods, MI 48225-1825
 National Assoc. of Black Military Women , P.O.Box 2798, Laurel, MD., 20708-2798 http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/khnabmw/myhomepage/
 National Navy Women's Reunion, P.O. Box 147, Golden Rod FL 32733-0147
 National Org of World War Nurses, 1509 Emilie St., Green Bay, WI., 54301
 Nat'l Women Veterans Conference, Inc., 2902 Irving Street Denver,CO 80211-6756
 Navy Nurse Corps Association , P.O. Box 1229 Oak Harbor, WA 98277
 Pacific Northwest WAVES, 19304 4th Place SW, Seattle, WA., 98166
 Retired Army Medical Specialist Corps Assn., PO. Box 39451, Serna Station San Antonio, TX 78268
 Retired Army Nurse Corps Assn. , P.O. Box 681026. Serna Station San Antonio, TX 78218-1235 http://www.militaryrn.com/ranca.htm
 Society of Retired Air Force Nurses, P.O. Box 681026 San Antonio, TX,78268
 The Circle of Sisters, 827 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80204
 United Women Veterans, 113 S. Orchard St, Theinsville, WI., 53092
 Vietnam Women Veterans http://www.spencergroup.net/vwv/
 Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, 2001 S Street, NW, #610 Washington, DC 20009-6000 <wwmpdc@aol.com>
 WAC Foundation, P.O. Box 5339, Ft McClellan, AL 36205
 WAC Veterans' Association, P.O. Box 5577, Fort McClellan AL 36205-5577 http://www.armywomen.org
 WASP , P.O. Box 9212 Ft. Wayne, IN 46809 http://www.wasp-wwii.org/
 WAVES National, 506 60th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI., 49548-6812 http://wavesnational.hypermart.net/
 Women Marines Association, 818 Wildview Way, Knoxville, TN.,37920 http://www.womenmarines.org/
 Women Miltary Aviators, Inc., P.O. Box 46819 Washington, D.C. 20050-6819
 Women Officers Professional Assn, P.O. Box 1621, Arlington, VA., 22210 http://members.aol.com/dittyman8/wopa.html
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 Women Veterans of America, P.O. Box 290283, Homecrest Station Brooklyn NY 10229-0005
 Women's Overseas Service League, P.O. Box 7124, Washington, DC 20044-7124
 WWII Flight Nurses Association, 2111 Spring Lake Rd Fruitland, FL 32731-5154
[Source: Various Nov 2012 ++]
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Women Vet Organizations Update 01: In a corner of American Legion Post 21’s bustling hall, women slowly began filling up a table at the back of a dining area set aside for taco night. The table echoed with questions: “When were you in?” and “What branch?” The women swapped stories over Mexican food, beers and pie. But they also offered each other advice about insurance, employment issues and medical problems. It was Wednesday of the week leading up to Veterans Day, and they were starting an all-women American Legion post — a place where women veterans could talk about experiences and issues all their own. The number of women veterans nationwide has increased 13 percent, to more than 1.8 million, since 2000. About 6,000 of them live in the Kansas City area, said American Legion officials, who applauded the interest in starting the new post here. “It shows that women veterans are standing up,” said Verna Jones, director of national veterans affairs and rehabilitation for the American Legion. “As the face of the soldier changes, the face of these veterans organizations has to change. We have to be ready to accept women coming back and accept those fundamental differences.”
An all-women post already exists in St. Louis, and Shirley Janes, a member of that post, came to talk to the Kansas City women. She said her post is a channel to solve the serious and very different issues female veterans face on the job and at home. Janes listed the concerns she’s heard in the past. Women have issues with child care when they go to VA clinics for medical treatments. Fighting on the front lines and living under war zone conditions causes combat-related problems. And she hears about sexual trauma, a serious concern that one report shows has affected one in five women veterans — including some of those around the table Wednesday night. Billie Gammill said she was looking forward to a forum where she could discuss concerns affecting women in the service. Gammill served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1977, when she was right out of high school. “My mother couldn’t afford to send me to college, and the GI Bill did,” said Gammill, who also spent a year in the Army in 1982. Gammill said she’s been through the “mental health part of it,” meeting with a women’s group monthly to talk about her time in the military and help other women do the same. “I’m on 70 percent disability because of some things that have happened to me when I was in the service,” she said. Gammill has been chosen commander of the new post, named Heartland Women Veterans Post 1107.
Beverly Allen, 57, joined the Navy more than 20 years ago, producing the news as a broadcast journalist. “I’ve been out of the Navy three years, and I really don’t have anybody to hang out with,” she said. “I thought this could be camaraderie.” About 20 years ago, Janes could probably have related to what Allen is going through now. Janes served in the Air Force as a weather forecaster, and when she moved to St. Louis, she didn’t have any military friends. Then she saw a flier for Post 404. “With everything that’s happened since 1991 with Desert Storm and the ongoing global war on terror, a lot of people have worn the uniform — a lot of people you wouldn’t even know,” Janes said. “Women (generally) don’t wear a baseball cap that says U.S. Army, not like the guys do. You have to ask and find out.” Gammill and Allen have seen big changes in the military. When she joined in 1989, Allen said, the Navy was just beginning to put women aboard ships. “By the time I got out, we were 40 percent of the ship,” she said. “When I first joined, it was like 10 percent women and the rest were guys.” Even the uniforms have changed. “In my generation, when I went through basic training, you weren’t handed a gun,” Gammill said. “You were handed a makeup mirror and taught how to wear your uniform that was dated 1949.” In the four years she served with the Air Force, those World War II-era uniforms were traded in for fatigues.
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Creating American Legion posts for women isn’t a move to isolate themselves, according to Janes and others from the St. Louis post. “By forming our own post, we’re going to get the same job done,” she said. “We’ll just do it in a little bit different way.” The American Legion has a membership of 3 million veterans who served during a war, not just in combat. That’s what distinguishes it from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose members served on the ground in countries with ongoing conflicts. The VFW has just started in recent years to keep track of its women members. The organization previously saw all veterans as equal, but it’s now recognizing that women have specific needs when returning from combat, a spokeswoman said. The American Legion does not begrudge the women who are branching off into their own post — far from it. Gary Pace, the 5th District commander in Missouri, said attending a women veterans health meeting prompted him to think those women needed their own post. “We’re getting a lot of interest in the women’s post,” he said. “I can understand why they want their own post where they can talk to one another.”
Post 21, where the women met for the first time on Wednesday, has about 15 women among its nearly 1,600 members. Pace said the post would have been “missing the boat” had it not backed the formation of an all-women post. Jones of the national office thinks all-women posts are likely to draw more female veterans than existing American Legion posts do. That’s not to say that some women might not feel more comfortable in a co-ed post, Jones said. But it does give them options. Jones said that through survey results, the American Legion found an “alarming” number of women veterans were particularly concerned with the competence of their doctors. She noted that women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder might feel more comfortable discussing their experiences with other women. Jones said she’s been amazed at the work all-women posts are doing. “They understand intimately the issues and concerns of women veterans,” she said. “I think it gives the American Legion a big boost up. It puts something extra special right in the middle of it.” [Source: The Kansas City Star | Sangeeta Shastry | 10 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA Claim Denial Update 09: A strange thing happened when Christopher DeLara filed for disability benefits after his tour in Iraq: The U.S. Army said it had no records showing he had ever been overseas. DeLara had searing memories of his combat experiences. A friend bled to death before his eyes. He saw an insurgent shoot his commander in the head. And, most hauntingly, he recalled firing at an Iraqi boy who had attacked his convoy. The Army said it could find no field records documenting any of these incidents. DeLara appealed, fighting for five years before a judge accepted the testimony of an officer in his unit. By then he had divorced, was briefly homeless and had sought solace in drugs and alcohol. DeLara's case is part of a much larger problem that has plagued the U.S. military since the 1990 Gulf War: a failure to create and maintain the types of field records that have documented American conflicts since the Revolutionary War.
A joint investigation by ProPublica and The Seattle Times has found that the recordkeeping breakdown was especially acute in the early years of the Iraq War, when insurgents deployed improvised bombs with devastating effects on U.S. soldiers. The military has also lost or destroyed records from Afghanistan, according to officials and previously undisclosed documents. The loss of field records — after-action write-ups, intelligence reports and other day-to-day accounts from the war zones — has far-reaching implications. It has complicated efforts by soldiers like DeLara to claim benefits. And it makes it harder for military strategists to learn the lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, two of the nation's most protracted wars. Military officers and historians say field records provide the granular details that, when woven together, tell larger stories hidden from participants in the day-to-day confusion of combat.
The Army says it has taken steps to improve handling of records — including better training and more emphasis from top commanders. But officials familiar with the problem said the missing material may never be retrieved. "I
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can't even start to describe the dimensions of the problem," said Conrad C. Crane, director of the U.S. Army's Military History Institute. "I fear we're never really going to know clearly what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan because we don't have the records." The Army, with its dominant presence in both theaters, has the biggest deficiencies. But the U.S. Central Command in Iraq (Centcom), which had overall authority, also lost records, according to reports and other documents obtained by ProPublica under the Freedom of Information Act. In Baghdad, Centcom and the Army disagreed about which was responsible for keeping records. There was confusion about whether classified field records could be transported back to the units' headquarters in the United States. As a result, some units were instructed to erase computer hard drives when they rotated home, destroying the records that had been stored on them.
Through 2008, dozens of Army units deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan either had no field records or lacked sufficient reports for a unit history, according to Army summaries obtained by ProPublica. DeLara's outfit, the 1st Cavalry Division, was among the units lacking adequate records during his 2004 to 2005 deployment. Recordkeeping was so poor in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007 that "very few Operation ENDURING FREEDOM records were saved anywhere, either for historians' use, or for the services' documentary needs for unit heritage, or for the increasing challenge with documenting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)," according to an Army report from 2009. Entire brigades deployed from 2003 to 2008 could not produce any field records, documents from the U.S. Army Center of Military History show. The Pentagon was put on notice as early as 2005 that Army units weren't turning in records for storage to a central computer system created after a similar recordkeeping debacle in the 1990-91 Gulf War. In that war, a lack of field records forced the Army to spend years and millions of dollars to reconstruct the locations of troops who may have been exposed to toxic plumes that were among the suspected causes of Gulf War Syndrome.
At the outset of the Iraq War, military commanders tried to avoid repeating that mistake, ordering units to preserve all historical records. But the Army botched the job. Despite new guidelines issued in 2008 to safeguard records, some units still purged them. The next summer, the Washington National Guard's 81st Brigade Combat Team in Iraq was ordered to erase hard drives before leaving them for replacement troops to use, said a Guard spokesman, Capt. Keith Kosik. Historians had complained about lax recordkeeping for years with little result. "We were just on our knees begging for the Army to do something about it," said Dr. Reina Pennington, a professor at Norwich University in Vermont who chaired the Army's Historical Advisory Committee. "It's the kind of thing that everyone nods about and agrees it's a problem but doesn't do anything about." Critical reports from Pennington's committee went up to three different secretaries of the Army, including John McHugh, the current secretary. McHugh's office did not respond to interview requests. His predecessor, Peter Geren, said he was never told about the extent of the problem. "I'm disappointed I didn't know about it," Geren said.
In an initial response to questions from ProPublica and the Times, the Army did not acknowledge that any field reports had been lost or destroyed. In a subsequent email, Maj. Christopher Kasker, an Army spokesman, said, "The matter of records management is of great concern to the Army; it is an issue we have acknowledged and are working to correct and improve." Missing field records aren't necessarily an obstacle for benefit claims. The Department of Veterans Affairs also looks for medical and personnel records, which can be enough. The VA has also relaxed rules for proving post-traumatic stress to reduce the need for the detailed documentation of field reports. But even the VA concedes that unit records are helpful. And assembling a disability case from witness statements can take much more time, said Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the retired Army vice chief of staff who worked to combat suicides and improve treatment of soldiers with PTSD and brain injuries. "You would always love to have that operational record available to document an explosion, but there are other ways," Chiarelli said. "You can provide witness statements from others who were in that explosion. But it's going to be more difficult." [Source: Stars & Stripes | Peter Sleet/Hal Bernton | 9 Nov 12 ++]
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USS LST Ship Memorial: During World War II, production went into high gear on the Navy’s LST (Landing Ship, Tank), an amphibious craft capable of delivering vehicles, troops and supplies right up onto a beach, then putting itself back into open water. LST 325 was one of these ships. Launched from Philadelphia in October 1942, the ship participated in U.S. action at Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy on D-Day. It was also used during the Korean War and the Vietnam War before being transferred to the Greek navy in 1964. The Greeks renamed the ship Syros and used it until 1999, mostly for ferrying. At the end of that year, Syros was decommissioned, and plans were made to scuttle it. A group of Americans had other ideas. The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., had been formed with the idea of bringing the ship back to the United States, restoring it and then – as the group’s president, Ken Frank, puts it – "take the ship to the people and tell them about the important role of LSTs in World War II, Korea and Vietnam." The group raised enough money to purchase LST 325 from the Greeks in 2000; in January 2001, members – the average age of whom was 72 – sailed the ship from Crete to Alabama themselves. Only one other LST is currently preserved in the United States.
The refurbished LST-325 traveling down the Cumberland River, stopping at ports along the way.
 328 feet long, 50 feet wide, 65 feet high to top of mast
 Engines - Two GM V-12 Diesels #12-576ATL, 900 HP each
 Crew in wartime - 100 enlisted and 10 officers
 Tank capacity - 20 Sherman tanks
 Max speed - 12 mph
 Construction cost - $1.4 million
The ship’s home today is on the Ohio River in Evansville, Ind., where LSTs were also built at a specially constructed shipyard during World War II. Evansville is also the home base of the memorial group, whose members live in 13 different states. Today, their average age is 70; several of the Crete trippers have since passed away, including the executive officer. Four members served on other LSTs, and there are multiple sets of fathers and sons among the members plus a few civilian history buffs. Each year, the group undocks LST 325 from Evansville and takes it on a river cruise, stopping in various cities to offer tours to the public. Tours are roughly 45 minutes long. The main goal of these tours, aside from displaying the ship’s history, is to raise money for maintenance and repairs, especially a dry docking planned for 2013 that is estimated to cost $2 million. It was this pair of goals that brought LST 325 to Riverside Park in Nashville where it was open for tours between 18-24 SEP 2012. Despite rain, Capt. Robert Jornlin – who commanded the ship on its return journey from Crete – estimated that 1,100 people toured the ship on Sept. 19 alone. "We’ve had some great turnouts," he said.
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The crew of 45 lives on the ship during these tours, rather than staying in hotels; they use the galley to cook and sleep in the bunking areas. As much as possible, LST 325 is operated the way it was during its wartime service. "A lot of these jobs were designed for 17-year-old sailors, and we have 60- and 70-year-olds doing them," Frank said.
The crew also served as the tour guides in Nashville, showing everyone from school groups to families to a procession of wheelchair-bound veterans around the ship. LST 325 left Nashville on Sept. 25, and opened for tours at McGregor Park in Clarksville, Tenn., on Sept. 26 where she remained there through Sept. 30. To learn more about the LST-325, visit http://www.lstmemorial.org. [Source: American Legion Online Update 27 Sep 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Prime Update 17: With the presidential election over, Defense officials are expected to announce soon that military retirees and their dependents living more than 40 miles from a military treatment facility or base closure site will lose access to TRICARE Prime, the military's managed care option. These beneficiaries would be expected to shift to TRICARE Standard, their fee-for-service insurance option, which would mean an increase in out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries who are frequent users of health services. A total of 171,000 retirees and dependents are expected to have to shift coverage when remote Prime networks go away. Tentative plans are for this to occur 1 APR in the West Region, which would coincide with UnitedHealth Military and Veterans Services taking over the region's support contract from TriWest Healthcare Alliance after 16 years. The North and South TRICARE regions are expected to close down Prime service areas beyond 40-mile catchment areas of bases or base closure sites by Oct. 1, 2013, the date when current Prime enrollment periods expire for most beneficiaries.
Active duty members and their families generally would not be impacted. Drilling National Guard members and reservists living far from military bases could see small increases to health costs. This would occur if they have been taking advantage of modest discounts available under TRICARE Reserve Select when network providers are used. Such discounts would end in areas far from bases if the Prime option goes away. Under TRICARE Prime, beneficiaries get managed care through providers in the network. They pay an annual enrollment fee of $269.28 for individual coverage or $538.56 for family coverage. Retirees and family members also are charged co-pays of $12 for each doctor visit. Under TRICARE Standard, beneficiaries can choose their own physicians and pay no annual enrollment fee. But when they need care, retirees must cover 25 percent of allowable charges. Retirees also have an annual deductible of $150 for the individual or $300 per family. Total out-of-pocket costs, however, are capped at $3000 per family.
In most Prime service areas, about half of eligible retirees already choose to use Standard rather than enroll in the network. The end of Prime outside of 40-mile "catchment" areas of military treatment facilities has been anticipated since 2007, when Defense officials drafted the third generation of TRICARE support contracts. It called for returning the managed care option to its original concept of being a backup network to military clinics and hospitals when they can't provide managed care to all beneficiaries living nearby or in areas where bases have been closed and military health facilities shuttered. Through the first two TRICARE contracts, on the assumption that managed care saved money for the government, contractors had financial incentive to establish networks beyond 40-mile catchment areas. In the South Region, for example, the contractor has offered Prime everywhere. But experience has shown that providing Prime far from bases can add costs to the system, TRICARE officials concluded. Though they wrote the new generation of support contracts to constrict Prime service areas, health officials wanted the shift to occur across all regions simultaneously. That hasn't been possible until now because of delays in finalizing contract awards, the result of multiple protests and even a few reversals of original contract awards.
Contracts for every region are now settled. Health Net Federal Services has been running the North Region under the new contract since April 2011. Humana Military Healthcare Services has operated the South Region
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under the new contract since April this year. But all Prime service areas have been maintained with contract modifications, awaiting final word from Defense that Prime area restrictions are to be implemented. The new contracts were drafted during the Bush administration and are intended to be more comprehensive and efficient. But sensitive to how a change in Prime eligibility might be used by politicians this fall, Defense officials ordered plans to end Prime for retirees living outside catchment areas, including draft notification letters, shelved until after the election. Plans for implementation have not changed, congressional and health sources said. But they also have not been announced officially yet. "The Department is considering whether to maintain the same number of PSAs (Prime service areas) as it has now," said Cynthia O. Smith, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense. Until a decision is final on reducing PSAs, the department won't confirm the number of beneficiaries potentially impacted or the likely dates for executing the changes.
Some members of Congress already are concerned. Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV.) told Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, in recent letter he was "dismayed" by news reports that Prime "will be cut for many of the military families and constituents I represent, not only in Reno but also throughout the northern part of the state." Heller said the plan would cause "more out-of-pocket expenses and longer drive times…I am very troubled by these changes and am concerned that these alterations are not being made in a transparent manner. If changes are made, I hope you will notify those affected immediately." A spokesman for Heller said Woodson had not yet answered the letter. Given the nation's debt crisis and the budget cuts looming for defense programs, Congress is not expected to block this long-standing plan to tighten access to Prime if the intent is to hold down costs. Doing so likely would require lawmakers to find equivalent budget savings elsewhere. [Source: Military.com | Tom Philpott | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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SBA Vet Issues Update 23: As the nation marks Veterans Day 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to build on its successful programs for America’s military veterans, helping tens of thousands of veterans each year with small business financing, comprehensive business training and counseling and access to federal contracts. “Around Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the men and women who are currently serving in the Armed Forces, as well as to all veterans who have made sacrifices and served our country over the years,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “When you consider the leadership and management skills our veterans develop while on active and reserve duty, it’s no wonder we see so many of them choose the path of small business ownership.”
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau veterans are successful small business owners. Nearly one in 10 small businesses nationwide are veteran-owned. Collectively, these 2.4 million small businesses employ almost 6 million Americans and generate more than $1 trillion in receipts. In the private sector workforce, veterans are 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed. SBA supports veteran business owners through entrepreneurial training and mentoring, access to capital, and business development opportunities through government contracts. SBA assistance to veterans in 2012 included the following:
 Entrepreneurial Development - SBA partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to develop a national entrepreneurship training program for transitioning service members as part of the new Transition Assistance Program. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup was piloted with all four branches of the services in summer and fall 2012. The Boots to Business program will be rolled out during 2013 providing exposure to entrepreneurship training to all 250,000 service members who transition from active duty to civilian life each year. In a closely related effort, SBA and Syracuse University continue to expand the success of the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Veterans with Disabilities program. The growing partnership between SBA and Syracuse University, now in its
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fourth year, provides training on how disabled vets can start and grow a small business, with programs targeted to service-disabled veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their family caregivers, women veterans, and National Guard and Reserve members and their families. Since 2009, the first year SBA partnered with Syracuse University, 434 service-disabled veterans have participated in the program. Participating schools include: Syracuse University, University of Connecticut, UCLA, Florida State University, Texas A&M University, Purdue University, Louisiana State University, and Cornell University. SBA is also providing $2.6 million through a cooperative agreement over three years for two programs; Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE), that focuses on training, networking and mentorship for women veterans, and Operation Endure & Grow, targets National Guard and Reserve component members, their families and partners
 Access to Capital - In FY 2012, SBA backed more than 3,200 loans supporting nearly $2.1 billion in financing to more than 2,800 Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) through its flagship 7(a) and 504 loan programs, including $118 million through the Patriot Express Loan program. Patriot Express loans offer many advantages to veterans and to SBA’s network of participating lenders nationwide. They feature one of SBA’s fastest turnaround times for loan approval and an enhanced guaranty and interest rate on loans up to $500,000 to small businesses owned by veterans, reservists and their spouses. Patriot Express loans can be used for most business purposes, including startup, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory or business-occupied real-estate purchases.
 Government Contracting - The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Procurement Program allows federal agencies to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns. Federal prime contracting dollars awarded to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) increased for the fifth consecutive year to $11.2 billion, or 2.65 percent, in FY2011, up from $10.793 billion, or 2.50 percent, in FY2010. Over the last year, SBA has created a series of online contracting courses called Government Contracting (GC) Classroom to help prospective and existing small businesses, including VOSBs and SDVOSBs, understand the basics about contracting with federal agencies. In addition, the Office of Veteran’s Business Development provides procurement training to SDVOSBs to help them take advantage of federal contracting opportunities under the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Procurement Program.
SBA reaches out to veterans through its 68 SBA district offices, 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide, more than 1,000 Small Business Development Centers, 110 Women’s Business Centers and some 12,000 SCORE volunteers, more than 40 percent of whom are veterans. SBA also has numerous programs creating government contracting opportunities for VOSBs. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/vets and
http://www.sba.gov/reservists. [Source: SBA.gov | Patrick Rodriguez | 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Military Exchanges Price Match Policy: The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has announced that it has revised its Price Match Policy for NEXs around the world. The NEX Price Match Policy guarantees that NEXs will match any brick and mortar retailer's advertised price within the local market area on any identical in-stock item. The new policy gives NEX cashiers more authority to match prices. NEX sales associates have the authority to match an advertised price reduction up to $100. An NEX supervisor must authorize a price match over $100. Customers may ask for a price adjustment at any cash register in the store. The NEX Price Match Policy does not apply to some items and to some sales. For more information about the NEX Price Match Policy, see your local NEX manager or visit the NEX website
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https://www.mynavyexchange.com/command/customer_service/p_policy.html. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Illinois Vet Lottery: Gov. Pat Quinn bought $20 worth of Veterans Cash lottery tickets 7 NOV and is calling on others to play the newest edition of the game that benefits military vets in Illinois. Ahead of Veterans Day, the governor helped launch the new game. More than $10 million has been raised for veterans' organizations since the program started in 2006. Speaking at The Chicago Lighthouse Quinn said buying a ticket "was a great investment, win or lose." All net proceeds go to groups like The Chicago Lighthouse, a nonprofit that helps the visually impaired, including veterans. Grants have been awarded to 190 organizations, including those specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Erica Borggren said it's a "very tangible way" to thank veterans for their service. [Source: Associated Press article 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Sleep Apnea Update 06: Whether or not you personally know someone who has served in Iraq, Afghanistan or someplace else on foreign soil, our returning veterans deserve our help and attention. While many have the scars of physical injury, many more veterans bear silent scars. A little known fact but of increasing concern in the medical community is that a growing number of veterans are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and its symptoms can be devastating for our returning war heroes as they readjust to civilian life. Consider these statistics: According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), one out of every five war veterans has been diagnosed with OSA -- compared with only five out of 100 civilians in the general population. And between 2008 and 2010, the number of veterans who received medical benefits related to sleep apnea grew by 61 percent, from 39,145 cases in 2008 to 63,118 cases in 2010. These numbers beg the question: Why do war veterans suffer from sleep apnea more than non-war veterans and civilians? Some VA doctors believe that it is due to the high number of repeat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan -- soldiers are being exposed to higher levels of dust, smoke, stress and violence.
But what is at the core of this connection between war, OSA and other related conditions, such as daytime sleepiness, memory loss, a decrease in work productivity, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension? Researchers at the Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine are beginning to find out. Since the mid-2000s, WSU researchers have been studying "145 American immigrants who left Iraq before the 1991 Gulf War and 205 who fled Iraq after the Gulf War began." All lived in the Detroit area at the time, and were asked about "socio-demographics, pre-migration trauma, how they rated their current health, physician-diagnosed and physician-treated OSA and any somatic and psychosomatic disorders." The study's lead investigator, Bengt Arnetz, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., School of Medicine professor of occupational and environmental health and deputy director of the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at Wayne State, said: It may be the stress of war that leads to fractured sleep, and that no one had explored this possible link before, although basic research suggests it as plausible.
The research showed that: Those who left Iraq after the war began and suffered from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression and self-rated their physical health as worse than their actual health were 43 times more likely than pre-Gulf War immigrants to report OSA and later develop major chronic health issues, such as cardiovascular disease. On the results, Arnetz said: It's a known fact that the more exposure to violence you have, the more likely you are to report post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and the worse your self-rated health is, the more likely your actual health will suffer in five to 10 years. And I reiterate, those who were exposed to the violence of the war in Iraq were almost twice as likely to experience PTSD and depression, but also obstructive sleep apnea and other chronic health conditions. I applaud Arnetz and his
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colleagues' efforts and encourage them to continue their studies so that we in the medical community can better understand, diagnose and treat war- and stress-related health conditions.
What about treatment? Diagnosing OSA in veterans can be trickier than non-veterans because of the possibility of other military-related medical conditions, such as PTSD. In addition, some military veterans suffering from OSA may underestimate the health benefits of restorative sleep, rather than be properly diagnosed and treated since its common during deployment to have fractured sleep patterns. The good news is that there is more awareness of OSA than ever before, especially within the military. Back in February 2012, Ventus Medical, the company that makes Provent Therapy, announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved a multi-year, Federal Supply Schedule contract that would enable more veterans to get Provent Therapy treatment -- a small, non-invasive nasal device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is good timing, considering that a substantial percentage of veterans don't accept or adhere to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, even though it is a safe and effective treatment.
According to Richard B. Berry, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Florida: There is a great need for access to new, clinically-proven therapies -- particularly easy-to-use treatments -- for the increasing number of veterans with obstructive sleep apnea. As more and more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are realizing their post-war health problems, and because many Vietnam veterans are getting older, the number of veterans applying for OSA-related disability benefits will only continue to rise in the coming years. While OSA is a chronic condition creating a significant burden on the Veterans Healthcare System -- the VA spends upward of $500 million a year to treat veterans with sleep apnea -- I believe that it is our duty as a nation to provide proper OSA treatment to our veterans to prevent additional chronic health issues. To read more about the study, go to the Wayne State University website http://research.wayne.edu/news.php?id=10137. [Source: Huffington Post | Dr. David Volpi | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Update 11: He was the first American soldier killed in Vietnam; the first name of 58,282 listed on the granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. And with the reading of his name, Capt. Harry Griffith Cramer Jr. became the first to be honored 7 NOV in what will be a 65-hour marathon session by 2,000 people reading all the names on the wall from then until Veterans Day. “It’s not just reading names, because each of those names … is a human being,” said former Sen. Chuck Hagel, who is also a Vietnam War veteran. “There’s a story, there’s a family. That’s not just part of a memorial.”
For Cramer’s grandson and son, who were the first two to read names, that meant researching the lives of the men whose names they would be speaking. There was an Air Force sergeant who was killed by a fellow American; a Special Forces captain killed in Laos; a young radio intercept operator who was tracking the Viet Cong through radio signals. And Capt. Harry Griffith Cramer, who was commanding an Army Special Forces team training South Vietnamese soldiers. Cramer, 31, was killed Oct. 21, 1957 in an explosion while leading a patrol. “I didn’t feel it was fair to them to read for me to just get up and read names as if I were reading a phone book,” said Hank Cramer, Harry Cramer’s son. “Every one of these names, there’s a family just like ours. And maybe their families are gone, or maybe their families can’t be here, but I owe it to them. I want to know who these people are.” And even though Harry Cramer’s grandson, Hank Cramer, Jr., wasn’t even alive during the war, he still felt the need to fly to Washington D.C. from Colorado to participate in the reading. “I respect their stories, I respect what they do for our country,” said Hank Cramer, Jr. “I feel that it’s a small way to pay them back and say, ‘Thank you.’”
The tribute comes on the 30th anniversary of the wall, and is the fifth time that the reading has been done since it was completed in 1982. This year also marked the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War. “For many people who lost a friend or family member, it’s a spiritual place,” said Jan Scruggs, founder and president of
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the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “Reading the name brings a sense of relief to their to their spirit. “This is really part of a healing process for the country to remember, it’s a healing process for the veterans, and it’s a way to show people how much pain people still feel in their hearts,” Scruggs said. “There’s a real connection between the living and the dead here, and these are people who gave their lives for their country.” The pain was still fresh for Vietnam veteran Gary Janulewicz, who was reading the name of a 25-year-old Army lieutenant he had met just an hour before the infantry position they were holding on a hill was overrun during the war. The lieutenant, Brian Kay Skinner, died in Janulewicz’s arms. “I need to do it,” said Janulewicz, lips trembling. “I can’t explain it better than that. It’s something that doesn’t go away. I don’t have closure yet on that.” [Source: Stars & Stripes | C.J. Lin |
Visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
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Filipino Vet Inequities Update 26: The 9th Circuit seems unlikely to revive the claims of Filipino World War II veterans challenging the government's benefits scheme. The veterans have taken issue with how the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund uses armed service records to determine eligibility for benefits. Created in 2009, the fund provides $15,000 each to veterans who are eligible and are U.S. citizens. The widow of any eligible veteran who dies after timely applying for compensation can also receive the benefits. Non-U.S. citizens who fought for the United States can receive $9,000 each. During World War II, the U.S. military controlled members of the regular Philippine Scouts, the new Philippine Scouts, the Guerrilla Services, and more than 100,000 members of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. A group of these soldiers say that the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly determines benefit eligibility by relying on a list held at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Mo., that fire had damaged in 1973. Seven Filipino war veterans with U.S. citizenship and the widows of 21 other veterans filed suit, claiming that the refusal to provide one-time payments violates the due process and equal protection clauses under the Fifth Amendment.
A federal judge in Oakland, Calif., dismissed the claims last year, finding that the VA has sovereign immunity. Arnedo Valera, a Philippines-born attorney now based in Fairfax, Va., is in charge of the veterans' appeal before a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit. At a hearing 5 NOV in San Francisco, Valera asked whether it is "constitutional for the government to establish the NPRC, or the Missouri List, as the only way to prove military service?" Some veterans who have been denied benefits nonetheless received medals and citations for World War II service, said Valera, serving pro bono for the Migrant Heritage Commission. Judge Milan Smith said that Congress had set up a mechanism to resolve issues related to veterans' benefits through the VA, and that federal trial courts could not address individual claims made by veterans. "You declined to go through the administrative process, is that correct?" Smith asked. "You decided that because of a reliance on what you are referring to as the Missouri list that you wanted to go to the District Court." Congress gave the secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to decide to use that list to determine eligibility, Smith added.
The judge observed that the veterans had characterized their challenge to the statute broadly. "This is not a facial challenge, this is an individual challenge," Smith said. "You've got a lot of individual people, all of whom I'm sure
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served with distinction, but under the rules Congress has established, it said, 'This is the way you've gotta go' and you've chosen not to go it." Judge Robert Sack, sitting by designation from the 2nd Circuit chimed in: "Of course, I understand the unfairness you're talking about." The VA can decide how it determines whether a claimant's service meets the requirements for receiving benefits, Sack said, going on to question why the veterans bypassed the Board of Veterans' Appeals to file a federal complaint. Judge Milan summed up their concerns by asking, "How can we get involved when Congress has expressly said the exclusive jurisdiction is over here in a different court?" Valera, the plaintiffs' attorney, responded that the federal courts are the proper venue for the veterans' constitutional due-process and equal-protection claims.
While Judge Sack said that he had no reason to doubt that the plaintiffs had served in the military and been unfairly denied by the VA's reliance on the Missouri list, he insisted that the veterans' courts could address such violations of the law, which are not a constitutional issue. The plaintiffs' equal-protection claims center on the disparity of treatment among veterans of different conflicts. Valera added that Filipino veterans are denied pension and other benefits that are available to veterans of other wars. He questioned why there are different benefits for a veteran returning from Afghanistan, Vietnam or Korea, and a veteran from World War II who is now in his 80s and who has been recognized as a veteran by the armed services. The judges went on to question Department of Justice attorney Charles Whitaker about whether the veterans received an opportunity to use records other than the Missouri list to prove benefits entitlement. Whitaker said the veterans had had a one-year opportunity to present U.S. service records and to make due-process claims. The process shields the veterans' equal protection rights because their claims can be made before the Board of Veterans' Appeals and further appealed to the Federal Circuit, Whitaker said. "This is not a case about precluding judicial review, but about channeling review," Whitaker said. [Source: Courthouse News Service | Dave Tartre | 6 Nov 2012 ++]
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Elections 2012 Update 01: Even though Barack Obama has served as commander in chief for the last four years, his re-election 7 NOV will mean significant changes for the military in coming months, especially in terms of defense spending. Where his challenger in the presidential campaign promised big increases in military budgets in coming years, Obama has planned almost $500 billion in spending reductions for the military over the next decade, calling it a responsible post-war plan. Republicans in Congress fiercely oppose the effort, but the president’s re-election blunts their hopes of increasing or even holding steady defense spending. Those cuts would come on top of the $500 billion in automatic defense spending reductions slated to start in January. The president in recent weeks has stepped up his pressure on Congress to find an alternative plan, declaring in the final presidential debate that the cuts “will not happen.” But lawmakers haven’t been able to approach a compromise on the issue. Obama has said he won’t let the military be decimated by sequestration, but also won’t sacrifice other domestic programs to save the services. Here’s a look other military challenges for Obama’s second term:
 End strength cuts. Obama has pledged to trim back the military’s end strength -- the Army by about 70,000, and the Marine Corps by about 18,000, over the next five years -- and reign in the number of senior civilian and military personnel at the Pentagon. The services should start feeling that pinch in 2013. Advisers have said his proposed 2014 budget, due in February, will reflect the strategy he outlined in January of a leaner, quick-response fighting force, one with a smaller footprint in Europe and a larger presence in the Pacific. In a statement to Stars and Stripes before the election, Obama said the more modern defense posture will be more flexible and more sustainable, “helping allies and partners build their capacity, with more training and exercises.” But it will also be done with fewer personnel, a claim his critics on the right have called impossible to execute.
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 The Defense of Marriage Act. The fight over federal recognition of same-sex marriages isn’t directly tied to the Defense Department, but it could have dramatic effects on who receives military benefits. Obama has publicly stated his opposition to DOMA, which prohibits the government from giving same-sex married couples access to federal benefits. Gay rights advocates have made the issue their key battleground, especially since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law has been overturned. If DOMA is repealed (or overturned by the courts), gay military couples could have access to health care, housing and commissary benefits that are only open to heterosexual couples. Veterans benefits and health care would also be open to those individuals.
 Promises to veterans. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki promised to end veterans homelessness by late 2015, eliminate the veterans benefits backlog by late 2015, and establish a joint VA-DOD lifelong medical records system by 2017. All of those ambitious deadlines will come during Obama’s second term. The VA promises come amid a wave of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans leaving the military for civilian life. The unemployment rate among the youngest generation of war fighters has remained stubbornly high for the last four years, usually exceeding the national jobless rate. Lawmakers in recent months have criticized the department for not having enough mental health specialists on hand, prompting promises of new hiring and better outreach to veterans. Veterans groups have lauded the lofty goals, but privately have been skeptical about whether the VA can follow through and succeed.
[Source: Stars and Stripes | Leo Shane | 7 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA Pension Update 04: Current VA regulations in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.272(g) require deduction of Unreimbursed Medical Expense (UME) from income for purposes of the pension program. VBA has interpreted this deduction in its Adjudication Procedures Manual (Manual), M21-1MR, to mean the unreimbursed cost of medical and nursing services. However, claimant's representatives have recently expressed concern about VA's inconsistent consideration of the cost of room and board at certain facilities, particularly senior or independent living facilities, and the resulting inconsistent pension decisions. Although the Manual defines medical and nursing services and addresses the deductibility of nursing home fees and custodial care, it does not provide adequate guidance on determining whether the room and board paid to certain facilities should be treated as a UME. Representatives further contend that many senior living facilities are equivalent to assisted living facilities because such facilities provide expanded services including emergency pull cords, 24-hour staffing, and locked exterior doors. Based on the availability of these services and the fact that many residents are pension recipients, representatives assert that room and board at such a facility constitutes a UME.
To clarify the UME applicability issue VA has issued a policy letter which can be seen in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “VA Room & Board UME Pension Policy”. It details VA’s rational in establishing this policy and provides procedures to follow to determine if unreimbursed fees for room and board can be used as a deductible medical expense . In summary, the new policy is:
 The cost of room and board at a residential facility is a UME if the facility provides custodial care to the individual, or the individual's physician states in writing that the claimant must reside in that facility to separately contract for custodial care with a third-party provider.
 A facility provides custodial care if it assists the individual with two or more ADLs.
 If the facility does not provide the claimant custodial care, or the claimant's physician does not prescribe care by a third-party provider in that facility, VA will not deduct room and board paid to the facility but will deduct the cost of any medical or nursing services obtained from a third-party provider.
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In addition, VA does not consider emergency pull cords, 24-hour staffing, and locked exterior doors as a medical or nursing service. [Source: VA Fast Letter: 12-23 dtd 26 Oct 2012 ++]
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Sequestration Update 08: Lawmakers hear the clock ticking toward deep defense and domestic spending cuts, and senior members of both parties appear poised to pass a measure during a lame duck session that would add additional time to that clock. Senior congressional Democrats and Republicans are talking openly about kicking down the road the date that would trigger separate $500 billion, 10-year cuts to planned defense and domestic spending. Senate Budget Committee member Mark Warner (D-VA) said 8 NOV that lawmakers hope to “make a down payment” during a coming session-ending lame duck period “to avoid sequestration.” He was referring to a budgeting tactic to reduce nonexempt defense and domestic accounts on2 JAN short of a $1.2 trillion debt-paring bill or a measure that extends the sequester countdown clock. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) also continues talking about the need to delay those cuts, which economists say — when coupled with expiring tax cuts — could send the U.S. economy into a new recession. “Lame duck Congresses aren’t known for doing big things and probably shouldn’t do big things, so I think the best you can hope for is a bridge,” Boehner told CNN on 4 NOV.
Lawmakers during the lame duck period would have just a few weeks to pass a deficit-cutting bill that would have to cover defense spending, tax reform, domestic entitlement program reform and a score of other prickly, complex issues. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), House Budget Committee vice ranking member, also has recently called for a short-term delay. Speaking at a forum in Washington on 16 OCT Schwartz said it would be “very tough” for Congress to pull off such Herculean work in just six weeks. She called on lawmakers to try to pass a smaller legislative package that deals with “the things we agree on,” such as extending middle class tax cuts enacted during the George W. Bush administration and establishing a sustainable growth rate for the Medicare program.
Boehner, in remarks the day after President Barack Obama’s larger-than-predicted 7 NOV re-election win, sounded ready to cut a deal on a massive debt-cutting bill soon after the new Congress is seated. “Mr. President, this is your moment,” Boehner said. “We are ready to be led.” But Boehner wants that Obama leadership to occur after the new Congress takes office in January, hence the need for a sequester delay. Just hours after an election that gave Obama a second term and saw Democrats gain House and Senate seats, Boehner was talking about the kind of “big deal,” as Obama often calls it, which would include tax reform, some new revenues and entitlement program changes. But the new Congress should write it, Boehner said, because “it will take some time.”
The across-the-board cuts, which would total about $109 billion in fiscal 2013, are required by last year’s Budget Control Act unless Congress and the White House come up with another path to reducing future budget deficits by $1.2 trillion through 2021. For most defense programs, sequestration would mean a 9.4 percent cut for fiscal 2013, while domestic discretionary accounts would take an 8.2 percent hit, according to an OMB overview released in September. Military personnel and the Veterans Affairs Department would be exempted, according to the White House. [Source: Defense News | John T. Bennett | 8 Nov 2012 ++]
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Florida Veterans Homes Update 05: The Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans' Domiciliary Home, a 148-bed housing facility for honorably discharged veterans in Lake City, Fla., provides a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and incidental medical care to eligible veterans, who must be able to feed and dress themselves, and be in need of assisted living care. Admission eligibility requirements include being an honorably discharged veteran, 1-year resident of the State of Florida (at time of application), 60 years or older,
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needing assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) - i.e., feeding, grooming, medications, or food preparation due to disease or disability. Under 60 years old veterans must be adjudicated as Social Security-, VA pension-, or other disability benefit - permanently unable to work. NOT in need of a nursing home or hospital. Private rooms run about $2,100 a month and semi-private rooms about $1,650. Rates are based on a sliding fee scale according to the veteran's income. Written applications are submitted to the Home by Florida veterans and are acted upon by the Home Admissions Committee. For information about the veterans domiciliary, call 386-758-0600 or email SmithG@fdva.state.fl.us. [Source: Mil.com article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Basura Update 05: A jury on 2 NOV ordered an American military contractor to pay $85 million after finding it guilty of negligence for illnesses suffered by a dozen Oregon soldiers who guarded an oilfield water plant during the Iraq war. After a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for just two days before reaching a decision against the contractor, Kellogg Brown and Root. The suit was the first concerning soldiers’ exposure to a toxin at a water plant in southern Iraq. The soldiers said they suffer from respiratory ailments after their exposure to sodium dichromate, and they fear that a carcinogen the toxin contains, hexavalent chromium, could cause cancer later in life. Rocky Bixby, the soldier whose name appeared on the suit, said the verdict should reflect a punishment for the company’s neglect of U.S. soldiers. “This was about showing that they cannot get away with treating soldiers like that,” Bixby said. “It should show them what they did was wrong, prove what they did was wrong and punish them for what they did.” Each soldier received $850,000 in noneconomic damages and $6.25 million in punitive damages.
Another suit from Oregon Guardsmen is on hold while the Portland trial plays out. There are also suits pending in Texas involving soldiers from Texas, Indiana and West Virginia. KBR was found guilty of negligence but not a secondary claim of fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Papak acknowledged before the trial began that, whatever the verdict, the losing side was likely to appeal it. Any appeal must first wait for Papak to formally enter the judgment. The company will appeal the verdict, said KBR attorney Geoffrey Harrison in a statement issued late Friday afternoon. Harrison said the verdict bears no rational relationship to the evidence. “KBR did safe, professional, and exceptional work in Iraq under difficult circumstances,” Harrison said in the statement,” and multiple U.S. Army officers testified under oath that KBR communicated openly and honestly about the potential health risks. “We believe the facts and law ultimately will provide vindication.”
KBR witnesses testified that the soldiers’ maladies were a result of the desert air and pre-existing conditions. Even if they were exposed to sodium dichromate, KBR witnesses argued, the soldiers weren’t around enough of it, for long enough, to cause serious health problems. The contractor’s defense ultimately rested on the fact that they informed the U.S. Army of the risks of exposure to sodium dichromate. KBR was tasked with reconstructing the decrepit, scavenged plant just after the March 2003 invasion while National Guardsmen defended the area. Bags of unguarded sodium dichromate — a corrosive substance used to keep pipes at the water plant free of rust — were ripped open, allowing the substance to spread across the plant an into the air. Attorneys for the 12 Oregon National Guardsmen focused on the months of April, May and June 2003, alleging KBR knew about the presence of sodium dichromate and took no action. One of the soldiers’ key witnesses, a doctor, testified that hexavalent chromium caused a change to soldiers’ genes, leaving them more susceptible to cancer. KBR’s attorneys challenged that diagnosis, saying the soldiers’ witness was the only physician in the U.S. prepared to make such a diagnosis.
Plaintiff Jason Arnold said he understands that contractors are a necessity for often-specialized tasks, but he hopes the verdict forces the U.S. military to reexamine its relationship with the private defense industry. “For a corporation to come in and have this much disregard for the health and well-being of men that are shedding blood, sweat and tears for this country,” Arnold said, “for them to come in and to say that we mean less than their profit, is
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wrong.” During the Iraq war, KBR was the engineering and construction arm of Halliburton, the biggest U.S. contractor during the conflict. KBR split from Halliburton in April 2007. KBR has faced lawsuits before related to its work in Iraq. One of the more prominent cases, involving a soldier who was electrocuted in his barracks shower at an Army base, was dismissed. A second case is still in Maryland federal court, in which former KBR employees and others who worked on Army bases in Iraq and Afghanistan allege KBR allowed them to be exposed to toxic smoke from garbage disposal “burn pits.” [Source: Associated Press | Sarah Halzack | 3 Nov 2012 ++]
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VA In Vitro Fertilization Update 01: Sean Halsted followed in the tradition of his family and joined the Air Force. He subsequently married Sarah looking forward to a life together of promise and children. Everything changed one day in 1998: Sean fell 40 feet while fast-roping from a helicopter during a training exercise and damaged his spinal cord. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. During the next several years the Halsteds rebuilt their lives - ones that didn't necessarily include a future with children. "Sexual function is completely different," Sean Halsted said. "Basically the concept of having kids wasn't going to work. It was not only just the biomechanics, but also the concept that I'm in a chair. It was hard enough for me to live life. I didn't have anything left for kids. My wife was not happy with that concept." It was several years later, while Sean watched a friend compete in wheelchair games, that the Halsteds' lives would be steered back to their dreams of family. It wasn't his friend's athleticism that impressed him. It was watching his friend be a dad. "It gave me the perception that kids are possible," he said. "So we started looking into the procedures we needed to do."
The Halsteds discovered they were ideal candidates for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) - a procedure that involves fertilizing a woman's egg outside the body and then implanting it in the womb. They were dismayed, however, to learn the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't cover the costly but effective procedure. According to Sean Halsted, the VA told him it wasn't their responsibility. "They wanted to help," he said. "I don't mean to say they turned a cold shoulder. It just wasn't their field. It just wasn't in their consciousness. It was like, 'Your body is healthy, we've got you on the rehab stuff, our job is done.'?" In an odd twist of how the government treats its military men and women, severely injured active-duty personnel qualify for the procedure in some cases, but the VA doesn't cover it for veterans. "It was a shocker," Sean Halsted said. "I'm not painting them as a bad guy, but they're busy. If you're already busy, you're not looking for more things to do." The Halsteds paid $20,000 out of their own pocket for the procedure. It was an expense they say many veterans and their spouses can't afford. But two bills making their way through Congress could give more injured veterans hope they can still have a family.
Improvements in battlefield medicine mean more servicemen and -women survived blasts from the land mines and improvised explosive devices frequently used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some returned with injuries making it impossible for them to have children. "A lot of the injuries that occur in the line of duty can only be managed in terms of using in-vitro fertilization," said Dr. Lori Marshall, medical director of the Pacific Northwest Fertility and IVF Specialists. "They may result in infertility, and there is no other treatment that would allow that couple to conceive except in-vitro fertilization." The VA covers some reproductive care, but IVF is not included. The average cost of the procedure is $12,000 to $15,000. The federal legislation would offer fertility treatment for veterans' spouses, as well as for gestational surrogates, which may be needed if a female veteran's uterus is damaged or removed. The current lack of coverage for a surrogate is a problem, Marshall said, in light of the increasing role women are playing on the battlefield. "If you don't cover the partner, you're not really covering in-vitro fertilization," she said. "If you don't cover the gestational surrogate, you're not really covering it. You're not really taking care of the injury completely, and not really allowing all the couples that need to have care to have the care that they need." Since 2003, more than 1,800 U.S. military members have suffered injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan that impact the reproductive tract.
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The bills also include research on the long-term medical needs of veterans with reproductive injuries. "There are injuries that are occurring that are things that haven't really been seen that much," she said. "And so we actually don't know everything that we should know about the long-term care and what are the consequences of some of the injuries." Though the Department of Defense provides coverage of IVF through Tricare for some active-duty men and women, it often takes years to recover from severe injuries, and many are veterans by the time they are ready to have kids. "I think it would be hard for anyone to argue that this shouldn't be done," Marshall said of the push for more comprehensive reproductive care for veterans. "I think most people feel that's just a no-brainer." The bills, called the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2012, aim to close those gaps in coverage. They're sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, both Washington Democrats. "The VA has an obligation to care for the combat wounded, and that should include access to the fertility care they need," Murray said. "We should not force families to spend tens of thousands of dollars of their own money to start a family."
She said the VA is slowly adapting to the needs of veterans and hopes to improve care through the bill, which would also create a pilot program to provide child care to veterans seeking counseling at the VA's Vet Centers.
"These veterans deserve far more," she said. "For a severely wounded veteran and his or her spouse, their infertility is yet another human cost of war. The commitment we have to our veterans is non-negotiable, regardless of the fiscal cost."
The Halsteds have been busy since the life-changing injury in 1998. Through in-vitro fertilization they now have 8-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, and a 3-year-old daughter. All their children were conceived at the same time, but the embryo of their youngest was frozen and implanted later. "They're all miracles," Sarah Halsted said. "It's just phenomenal the way that technology allowed us to have our children. We're just so lucky, so incredibly blessed." The only way the Halsteds could afford the IVF was because of a medical malpractice settlement stemming from a botched medical procedure. The couple don't want other veterans to suffer from the inability to have the sense of fulfillment their family provides them. Sean Halsted, a Paralympian and former combat controller, credits the VA for the help it has given him but said it needs to adapt its coverage to current medical technology to meet the needs of those injured in the line of duty. "What you're saying to those soldiers is, 'We don't value your service enough to give you a normal life after your sacrifice,'?" he said. "That, to me, is at the core of it. You're expected to have a normal life, but if you can't have kids, what kind of life is that? Are you really still normal?" [Source: The San Francisco Chronicle | Chelsea Bannach | 4 Nov 2012 ++]
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Gold Star License Plate Update 02: Gold Star Family License plates are obtainable in almost every state and the U S Territory, Guam. with the exception of Washington DC. Many states have made submission of a Form DD 1300 a requirement for obtaining their plates but the form is not generally available to all relatives entitled to the plate. The form is issued only to the next of kin specified by the deceased on his or her emergency notification form upon entering the military. You can obtain a copy of DD 1300 from eVetRecs (http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/) with submission of a SF-180Form obtainable at http://www.archives.gov/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf if you are the eligible next of kin. The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother. If you know the next of kin or the casualty officer try to get a copy from them. If you can't get a copy of DD 1300 see if your state authorities will accept alternate proof that you are related to the deceased. To see what each states plate looks like and information on authorizing legislation, where to apply, and any special; criteria to obtain refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Gold Star License Plates” [Source: http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Resources/GSFLicensePlateStatus/GSFStatus.htm Mar 2012 ++]
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Mojave Desert Veteran Memorial Update 10: It's been a long legal battle that lasted more than a decade, but now, Henry and Wanda Sandoz of Yucca Valley will finally be able to keep a promise they made to a dying friend and veteran nearly 30 years ago. "We really loved him," said Wanda in a phone interview. "It was really important for us to keep that promise to him. And to show we love our veterans and our country." On Veterans Day, the Sandozes will be able to legally re-erect a simple 7-foot cross on Sunrise Rock east of Baker in the Mojave National Preserve. The Sandozes met and became good friends with Riley Bembry, one of the World War I veterans who first placed the cross on Sunrise Rock in 1934 as a way to honor the veterans of that war. When Bembry became ill and frail, he asked Henry to watch over the cross. Henry agreed. Bembry died a short time later in 1984. "It means very much to me, yes, and also to our veterans and our Lord and Savior," said Henry, 73. The cross had become the focus of a legal case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in 2000. The ACLU sued the federal government, asking that the cross be removed because the Christian symbol on federal land violated the First Amendment, prohibiting the government from endorsing any religion. Soon the Liberty Institute in Plano, Tex., took up the cause for the Sandozes. "If they hadn't come in on this we probably wouldn't have won," Wanda. In 2002, the U.S. District Court Central District of California ruled in the ACLU's favor and the cross was encased in wood until an agreement could be reached. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned previous the ruling calling for the cross to be removed and sent the case back down to the U.S. District Court level. A little more than a week after the ruling, the cross vanished. A replacement cross reappeared shortly after, but it was removed. "We had people from all over the country offering us big granite crosses as replacements," Wanda said. "It was tempting, but we thought the cross should stay as the veterans wanted.""Just a simple 7-foot white cross made of pipe," said Henry.
Wanda and Henry Sandoz Earlier this year, a land swap was approved in which the Sandozes gave five acres of land to the Mojave Preserve in exchange for the one acre where the cross once sat. The land swap, putting the cross on private property, was finalized 2 NOV. "We're both just so happy that this is finally behind us," Wanda said. "It's been a 13-year battle. Henry had a big heart attack six or seven years ago and it's been a real concern that he was going to die before he saw this resolved." For Henry, it's not only about keeping a promise to a friend, but honoring those who have served. "Not having served, this is a way for me to give something back to them," he said. [Source: San Bernardino County Sun | Beatriz E. Valenzuela | 5 Nov2012 ++]
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Dementia Update 03: In a new study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, older, non-disabled people who regularly engaged in physical activity reduced their risk of vascular-related dementia
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(loss of memory) by 40 percent and cognitive impairment of any etiology by 60 percent. The protective effect of regular physical activity remained regardless of age, education, changes in the brain’s white matter and even previous history of stroke or diabetes , researchers said. The findings are based on a prospective multinational European study that included yearly comprehensive cognitive assessments for three years. The results are part of increasing evidence that regular physical activity promotes brain health, researchers said. “We strongly suggest physical activity of moderate intensity at least 30 minutes three times a week to prevent cognitive impairment,” said Ana Verdelho, M.D., lead author of the study and a neuroscience researcher at the University of Lisbon, Santa Maria Hospital in Portugal. “This is particularly important for people with vascular risk factors such as hypertension, stroke or diabetes.”
The analysis included 639 people in their 60s and 70s; 55 percent were women and almost 64 percent said they were active at least 30 minutes a day three times a week. The activity included gym classes, walking and biking. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise for optimal health. Researchers performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests at the beginning and end of the study to gauge white matter changes in the brain, an indicator of possible cognitive decline. “Damage of the cerebral white matter is implicated in cognitive problems including depression, walking difficulties and urinary complaints,” Verdelho said. “White matter changes are very common in older people and mainly associated with vascular risk factors like hypertension and stroke.” Throughout the study, researchers asked participants in phone interviews and clinical visits about depression, quality of life and performing everyday activities. At the end of the follow-up, 90 patients had dementia, including 54 with vascular dementia in which impaired blood flow to the brain causes cognitive decline, and 34 patients met criteria for Alzheimer’s disease. Another 147 patients developed cognitive impairment, but not dementia. [Source: American Heart Association article 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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Pennsylvania Veterans' Homes Update 05: More than one in four older veterans in nursing homes were taking antipsychotic medications, with more than 40 percent of those veterans having no documented related diagnosis, according to new research by the University of Pittsburgh and VA Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study was the first to address this issue in VA Community Living Centers and the rates mirrored those in non-VA nursing homes. In July, the Pittsburgh Business Times found that the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing home patients who do not have a related diagnosis was higher in southwestern Pennsylvania than the statewide and national medians — 18.9 percent locally compared to 15.65 percent statewide and 16.7 percent nationally. “Our study adds to the growing evidence base that antipsychotics have been overused in nursing homes and the VA is not immune to the program,” lead author Dr. Walid Gellad said in a prepared statement. “Behavioral symptoms in dementia patients are difficult to treat and in most cases, nursing home staff are doing what they can to keep patients comfortable and safe. We have to find better ways to do this, though.”
Antipsychotics have limited value in alleviating behavioral problems for people with dementia and several studies associate their use with an increase risk of death. Gellad and his colleagues collected data on all veterans age 65 and older who were admitted for 90 or more days to one of the 133 VA Community Living Centers between January 2004 and June 2005, the latest data available for study. Veterans in dementia units had 66 percent greater odds of receiving an antipsychotic and residents with aggressive behavior had nearly three times greater odds of receiving an antipsychotic. By 2008, the Food and Drug Administration required label warnings about the increased risk of death among elderly people on all types of antipsychotics. [Source: Pittsburgh Business Times | Kris B. Mamula | 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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Louisiana Vet Cemeteries Update 05: Land-clearing work has begun on Louisiana’s newest veteran’s cemetery, which will be located on property donated by the Louisiana National Guard at Camp Villere near Slidell, and burials will take place there by the end of 2013 or early 2014. The cemetery is designed to meet the needs of 100,000 veterans and their families. The Department of Veterans Affairs gave the state official notification last week of an $8.3 million grant to build the cemetery, which will be the third operated by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The money will be used to build the cemetery’s main entrance, roads, a combined administration and public information center, a maintenance facility and an assembly area as well as gravesites for casketed burials cremains, memorial and scatter burial areas and crypts and other features. The project will include 2,579 preplaced crypts, 273 cremains gravesites and 480 columbaria niches.
The Louisiana National Guard donated 75 acres for the cemetery, which will be located northwest of Slidell on South Perimeter Road. It will be visible from Interstate 12 with the main entrance just outside the gates of Camp Villere. The first phase will be built on 21 acres, according to the state Departments of Veterans Affairs. Robin Keller, press secretary for the department, said that when Lane Carson took office as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs in 2002, he set a goal of having a veterans cemetery in each region of the state. The Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery is located in Keithville, south of Shreveport, and the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery is just outside For Polk in Leesville. Carson is continuing to work on getting cemeteries for northeast and southwest Louisiana, she said. Veterans of the armed services, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in the cemetery, she said. The cost of the gravesite and the head stone are covered by the VA, she said. An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held in December, Keller said. Ground-clearing and other preliminary work began last month. [Source: The Advocate | New Orleans Bureau | 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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Energy Drinks:: As energy drink consumption soars, there are growing concerns about the safety of these beverages, as well as whether they're worth the hype and high price tags. Energy drinks have recently come under fire for containing dangerously high levels of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating five deaths since 2009 that may be linked to popular drink Monster Energy. One study suggests more than 13,000 people visit emergency rooms each year because of symptoms linked to energy drinks. And a Consumer Reports test revealed that some energy drinks contain twice the caffeine in a typical 8 ounce cup of coffee – per serving. Popular brands like Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, and Monster Energy are marketing their beverages to those looking for a quick burst of energy – often at a price tag of $2 or more a pop. But what should consumers know about the estimated $8.1 billion energy drink market? Do these pricey drinks actually fuel you up or if they’re just a drain on your wallet. Consider the following:
 Safety concerns. A Consumer Reports test turned up the following results: Energy drinks’ caffeine levels ranged from 6 milligrams to 242 milligrams per serving – with some drinks containing more than one serving. Five-hour Energy Extra Strength contained the highest level, and 5-hour Energy Decaf ranked lowest. (For a look at the full chart, refer to http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/12/the-buzz-on-energy-drink-caffeine/index.htm.). “By comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams; a 16-ounce Starbucks Grande, 330 milligrams,” says Consumer Reports. Caffeine consumption can be associated with adverse physical and mind-altering reactions. Symptoms can include restlessness, tremors, palpitations, nervousness, and life-threatening heart rhythm changes. People who have heart disease or high blood pressure are particularly at risk. To add insult to injury, many energy drinks – 11 out of 27 in the Consumer Reports study – don’t list caffeine levels. Of the 16 drinks that did, five drinks – Arizona Energy, Clif Shot Turbo Energy Gel, Nestlé Jamba, Sambazon Organic Amazon Energy, and
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Venom Energy – had more than 20 percent above their labeled amount on average in the samples that were tested.
 Extra ingredients with little energy benefit. If you’re expecting the additional ingredients in energy drinks – like vitamins, minerals, and other supplements – to take your energy up a notch, you may be disappointed. B-vitamins are included in energy drinks’ cocktail of ingredients. With 5-hour Energy, you’ll take in an astounding 8,333 percent of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin B12 and 2,000 percent of Vitamin B6. The 8.3 ounce Red Bull contains 73 percent of your suggested daily dose of Vitamin B12 and 104 percent of B6. While these doses of B-vitamins could potentially be good for your health (and even that’s a questionable claim), they’ll likely do nothing for your energy levels. The LA Times reports that there’s no research or scientific evidence to support claims that all these B-vitamins will boost your energy, and you likely get enough of these vitamins from other sources anyway. Other ingredients don’t fare much better, according to experts’ opinions. WebMD points out that ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and guarana likely won’t give you extra energy, either.
 Find cheaper and healthier alternatives. Energy drinks aren’t cheap. Popular brands, including Red Bull, 5-hour Energy, and Monster Energy, cost $2 to $4 for a single can at the convenience store. Compared to other caffeinated options, like soda or coffee, you’re likely paying more for energy drinks. A can of soda often sells for a dollar or less, and a cup of coffee might cost 25 cents or less to brew at home. According to Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, ”The caffeine may give you a good pickup, but it’s not going to give you energy.” Dr. Cooperman says to start with more sleep. Mayo Clinic recommends seven to nine hours a night for adults, so don’t skimp and rely on stimulants like caffeine instead. Squeezing in a quick 10 to 30 minute nap in the afternoon might provide revitalization to power through the rest of the workday. Don’t forget to look to foods that provide a natural source of energy in the form of calories. EcoSalon http://ecosalon.com/20-foods-to-give-you-energy has several food options to stave off fatigue that also make great meals and snacks throughout the day. Options include nuts, apples, blueberries, and bananas. If you’re still looking to keep some caffeine in the mix, look to cheaper alternatives to energy drinks. Tea and soda also have some caffeine and are typically cheaper than energy drinks.
 Can’t get enough? Make your own energy drink. If you can’t kick energy drinks altogether, you can make your own cheaply from home – and by knowing exactly which ingredients are thrown into the mix, you can be sure that your drink is safe. The energy drink recipes at http://www.walkjogrun.net/blog/index.cfm/2012/6/28/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Energy-Drinks have just a few common ingredients: water, juice, and salt. You’ll get the benefits of sodium and potassium, which help retain fluids and increase hydration, and you’ll avoid paying for energy drinks with extra ingredients you just don’t need.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Jeffrey Trull | 29 Oct 2012 ++]
********************************* Daylight Saving Time Update 02: Most Americans “fell back” 4 NOV, setting their clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time officially ended at 2 a.m. and we returned to Daylight Standard Time. There were a few exceptions. Hawaii, Arizona, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands don’t follow Daylight Saving Time, so they ignored the time change as the rest of us synced back up with them.. Most industrialized countries in the world including the U.S. observe some type of daylight saving time and return to standard time in the fall, with Japan, India, and China being the major exceptions. Antarctica observes Daylight Saving Time, even though it has 24 hours
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of daylight much of the summer. It’s so it follows the same time as its closest contacts in Australia and Chile at supply stations. The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time, part of which is in Arizona, which does not. Completely within the Navajo Nation is the Hopi Nation, which doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time either just like Arizona. So for several months, the Hopi Nation stays with Standard Time, surrounded by the Navajo Nation on Daylight Time, which is in turn surrounded by the state of Arizona on Standard Time. You don’t need a watch to tell the time, you need a GPS map. After getting cranky over losing an hour of sleep last March, we revel in the ability to sleep in an extra hour. But it’s small compensation for the afternoon commute to suddenly be in the dark. Also:  This is the most dangerous time of year if you walk in the late afternoon and early evening. In the three weeks following the return to standard time, a Carnegie Mellon University study found that pedestrians are three times as likely to be hit and killed by cars after the time change. The same study found that the risk of being killed increased 186 percent for every mile walked after 6 p.m. The study backs up 2001 statistics compiled by the University of Michigan which found that 65 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents the last week of Daylight Saving Time; and 227 pedestrians were killed in the week following the time change.  Daylight Saving Time used to end on the last Sunday in October, about a week before Election Day. Starting in 2007 an extra week was added so that Daylight Saving Time ended in November as a way to increase voter participation. The thinking is that more people would go to the polls after work if it was still light outside. That did not this year since Election Day was on the Tuesday after the time changed back. But in 2010, and again in 2021, 2027, and 2032, the time change will happen after Election Day. This will give researchers the chance to find out whether this theory is true.  Research showing an increase in heart attacks after changing to Daylight Saving Time has been followed up by additional studies proving that heart attacks drop after we change back to standard time in the fall. So relax knowing you are far less likely to have a heart attack before Election Day this year. Better figure this into those election turnout studies; we may actually have more people alive to vote after the change back to standard time.  Why does the change happen at 2 a.m.? It was thought this time presented the minimum possible disruption, because it was when the fewest trains ran; most bars and restaurants would be closed or closing; and it prevents switching from one day back to the previous day which would be confusing. It is early enough that the entire country has plenty of time before daybreak to make the change, before most people working early shifts or early morning churchgoers would be affected.  When the clocks fall back one hour, all Amtrak trains in the U.S. that are running on time stop at 2 a.m. and wait one hour before resuming. Trains cannot leave a station before the scheduled time. Overnight passengers may be surprised to find their train stopped and their travel time an hour longer than expected.  For the last 24 years, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Energizer company have reminded people to change and test the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when setting the clocks to and from daylight saving time. Thirty percent of alarms and detectors are not functional at any given time due to dead batteries.
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[Source: The Washington Times | Gayle Falkenthal | 3 Nov 2012 ++]
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End of Life ~ Feeding Tubes: Food is how we comfort those we love; when all other forms of communication have vanished, feeding remains a final act of devotion. So the easy availability of feeding tubes forces a wrenching choice upon families: Do they say yes, condemning a loved one to dependency on a small plastic tube in their stomach? Or do they say no, consenting to their loved one’s death? If no turnaround is in sight -- particularly in elders with progressive neurological illness -- there use can be a dreadful mistake, medical researchers now say. So why is their use so common? Most likely because:
 Families may not understand the implications of tube feeding, due to poor communication with doctors. Many patients don't prepare advance directives, which can specify no artificial hydration and nutrition, so their distressed families urge doctors to do everything. They have a tough time letting go.
 Doctors may not want to let go, either. They're trained to heal. They're paid more to rescue than to talk about death. And those conversations are awful. "It's easier to recommend a nonbeneficial procedure than to confront difficult end-of-life issues," geriatrician Dr. William Plonk Jr. of the University of Virginia Health System wrote in a 2005 journal article.
 Financial incentives encourage hospitals to overuse the procedure, experts say. Because it is costly to keep patients, hospitals seek to quickly stabilize and return patients to a nursing home. That means ensuring they are getting nutrition -- and the most efficient way often is through a feeding tube.
 Nursing homes have their own reasons to favor tubes. It is used on one-third of demented nursing home residents, contributing to a growing device market worth $1.64 billion annually. Many homes lack the staffing for time-consuming hand feeding. Another incentive which promotes tube use is their costs are considered "skilled nursing" care that Medicare generously reimburses. Moreover, nursing homes risk stiff penalties if regulators believe their residents are malnourished.
All these powerful reasons -- emotional, ethical, practical, financial and regulatory -- make it easy to lose sight of what's best for the patient, experts say. "Not eating at the end of life is a normal part of the dying process," said Foote, the medical director at Windsor Gardens in Salinas. "We have forgotten that." Almost all dying patients, even those who are hand-fed, lose their interest in eating and drinking; this is the body's signal that death is coming, according to palliative care providers. If food is not artificially provided, patients typically die within two weeks, although exceptions are common. Lack of food triggers a biochemical process called ketosis, which actually blunts
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hunger and eases discomfort due to the release of natural morphine-like agents. Yet thousands of patients still spend their final days -- and even months or years -- attached to tubes.
Another factor that prolongs the misery elders with progressive neurological illness are removal of life support myths. Dr. Timothy O. Lipman, chief of the GI-Hepatology-Nutrition Section of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C. had the following comments on the misconceptions that surround the ending of life support. Although he is not a lawyer, and has no legal training, Lipman has decades of experience treating elders with eating problems:
- Myth: Termination of life support is murder or suicide.
- Fact: Courts have recognized a legal distinction between killing and letting die.
- Myth: Stopping tube feeding is different from stopping other treatments.
- Fact: With few exceptions, courts have regarded tube feeding as a medical treatment that may be discontinued as can any other treatment.
- Myth: A patient must be terminally ill for life support to be stopped.
- Fact: Courts have tended to focus on quality of life, rather than existence of life. However, courts have insisted on knowing the patient's express wishes.
- Myth: Once treatment is started, it must be continued.
- Fact: There is no legal distinction between withholding and withdrawing treatment.
- Myth: Stopping life support or withdrawing a feeding tube requires court action.
- Fact: This is a clinical decision, involving the patient, family and doctors. It does not need a judicial approval or court-appointed expert.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News | Lisa M. Krieger | 2Nov 2012 ++]
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Combat Veteran Health Care Update 08: Tanya L. Towne was wearing her full “battle rattle” when she got injured preparing for war. Now the Pentagon must explain why that should be treated differently from a combat-related injury. What happens next will put the Defense Department on the spot. It also could mean a lot to veterans other than Towne, who served 17 years in the New York Army National Guard before her 2009 medical discharge.“She represents a lot of folks who were called up for Iraq and Afghanistan and who got hurt,” Towne’s attorney, Scott MacKay, said in a telephone interview 1 NOV. In a provocative recent ruling, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims wants the Defense Department to justify a Bush administration-era decision that an injury during combat training doesn’t qualify a veteran for the enhanced benefits that are provided to those who are injured during combat. While the Pentagon’s distinction between training and combat sounds clear-cut, it seemingly conflicts with another part of federal law.
But the distinction saves the government money. “In my opinion, (the Defense Department) did what they did strictly from a financial perspective,” MacKay said. MacKay knows about such things. A West Point graduate, he’s the vice president and general counsel for Lockheed Martin Information Systems. He’s representing Towne pro bono, and he said many injured veterans could be in similar circumstances. Though precise numbers are elusive, the Disabled American Veterans organization estimated in 2008 that “countless thousands” would lose out on potential benefits because their training injuries weren’t considered combat-related. Towne figures she knows some of them. “I am sure that there are many more cases (like mine) behind the scenes,” Towne said. Justice Department officials,
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defending the Pentagon, counter that the military has acted reasonably. “The . . . determination that Ms. Towne is not eligible for enhanced disability severance pay because she incurred her training-exercise injury outside the performance of duty in combat-related operations is supported by substantial evidence and applicable statutes and regulations, and is neither arbitrary nor capricious,” Justice Department attorney Ryan Majerus wrote in a legal brief.
Now 37, Towne recently opened a sporting goods store in the upstate New York town of Fort Plain. It’s about 110 miles from Fort Drum, where in June 2004 she was preparing with the Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division. Trained as a radio repair specialist, Towne was running through a house-clearing drill. She and her fellow soldiers, clad in body armor and bearing equipment that weighed about 50 pounds, had to climb on each other to enter through a window. “It was a real-world scenario,” Towne said. She fell, landing awkwardly. Army doctors diagnosed a muscle injury, and the following January she deployed to Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq. She said she was in constant back pain during her 10 months overseas. Once Towne had returned to the United States, further medical evaluations determined that she was physically unfit for active duty. In June 2009, she was honorably discharged with a 10 percent disability rating.
She also was caught in an apparent contradiction. The Army medical board concluded that Towne’s injury was “combat related” for the purposes of receiving a tax benefit. But at the same time, the board concluded that the injury wasn’t incurred “during performance of duty in combat-related operations.” This cut her disability payments.
The medical board based its ruling on a Bush administration policy issued in 2008, which said combat-related injuries meant those incurred “as a direct result of armed conflict.” Officials determined that this ruled out training injuries, including those sustained during simulated combat preparations before deployment to a war zone. The Bush administration policy narrowly interpreted a 2008 “wounded warriors” bill, intended to improve military and veterans care. This interpretation, or at least the rationale behind it, came under question in the decision 25 OCT in Towne’s case by U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge George W. Miller. Miller concluded that the Pentagon “articulated no reason” for the narrow interpretation, and said it “lacks any explanation.” He directed the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to reconsider Towne’s case and to ask the Defense Department for a better explanation of the combat-related benefits policy. This is far from a final victory for the training-injured veteran, because courts often defer to the rationales given by government agencies. At the least, though, Towne and others like her could get one more shot at help. [Source: The News Tribune | Michael Doyle | 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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Personality Disorder Discharge Update 02: Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN), along with original co-sponsors Congressmen Tom Rooney (R-FL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jeff Denham (R-CA) introduced H.R.6574, the Servicemember Mental Health Review Act. This bipartisan bill would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to institute a special review board that would review and correct personality and adjustment disorder discharges that have occurred between 2001 and present day. Since September 2001, over 30,000 Servicemembers have been separated from the military for a personality or adjustment disorder. Many of these service members were wrongfully discharged with either a personality or adjustment disorder, when truthfully many of them were suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to combat or sexual trauma. Because Personality and Adjustment Disorders are considered preexisting conditions, the Department is not obligated to provide these service members with the full benefits they would have received with a PTSD or TBI diagnosis. They are ineligible for many healthcare, disability, economic or other employment opportunities because of these wrongful diagnoses and subsequent separations.
Instead of taking care of its warriors, DoD and its component services have separated service members with mental health problems as a result of combat or sexual trauma in a manner that prevents them from getting the help
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that they need. This legislation will require that the DoD establish a Mental Health Discharge Board of Review to review personality and adjustment disorder separations to determine the validity of the diagnosis. If the original diagnosis is determined to be incorrect the board will recommend that DoD re-classify what the veteran’s discharge so that they may receive benefits and get the help that they need. This bill will correct a grave injustice done to these veterans. According to a press release by Congressman Rooney’s office, a 2008 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 26,000 soldiers were improperly discharged with personality disorders between 2001 and 2007. Based on a review of several hundred cases, GAO indicated that compliance rates were as low as 40 percent. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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National Coalition for Homeless Vets: The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) exists to end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a 17-member board of directors. They are the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. NCHV also serves as the primary liaison between the nation’s care providers, Congress and the executive branch agencies charged with helping them succeed in their work. Their advocacy has strengthened and increased funding for virtually every federal homeless veteran assistance program in existence today. Under a technical assistance grant awarded by the Department of Labor-Veterans' Employment and Training Service, NCHV provides guidance and information about program development, administration, governance and funding to all of the nation’s homeless veteran service providers.
The Coalition was organized in 1990 by a small group of community-based service providers who were troubled by the disproportionately large percentage of homeless people who were veterans, and the lack of veteran-specific programs to help them. They opened their Washington, D.C., office in 1993 in order to work more closely with Congress and Executive Branch agencies to ensure the inclusion of veterans in federal assistance programs. The office is located at 333 ½ Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003-1148 and can be contacted via Tel: 202-546-1969 or 800-VET-HELP, Fax: 202-546-2063, or email info@nchv.org. The organization's community-based service providers represent 46 states and the District of Columbia, and offer assistance to any homeless service provider that contacts their office. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is the only national organization specifically dedicated to improving the opportunities for these deserving homeless Americans to regain control of their lives and once again enjoy the freedoms they helped preserve. The organization:
 Is recognized as the nation’s leading authority on homeless veterans issues by several agencies and departments of the U.S. government, and have worked in partnership on projects with VA, DOL, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 Helped develop and increase funding for homeless veteran-specific programs such as the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, both of which are currently funded at their highest levels ever.
 Helped write and worked to ensure passage of the hallmark Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, which had the potential to provide $1 billion for homeless veteran service providers and programs. In Congress, NCHV helped craft – and continues to advocate for – 14 bills designed to improve and expand services for homeless veterans.
For additional information on NCHV refer to http://nchv.org/ [Source: NCHV website 4 Oct 2012 ++]
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Military Pay & Benefits: The government must reform military pay and benefits to help the Defense Department rein in spending, according to a new report from a left-leaning think tank. The Center for American Progress (CAP) praised Pentagon proposals to cut personnel costs, which include capping pay raises for service members beginning in fiscal 2015, raising TRICARE enrollment fees for military retirees to keep pace with increases in health care costs, creating a 401(k)-based retirement system to replace the current vesting system, and increasing the age at which service members can receive their pensions. The report, which outlined recommendations for “thoughtful” spending cuts while maintaining a robust national defense, also recommended reducing the number of active-duty personnel stationed in Europe and Asia, something the Obama administration also has proposed. Some personnel-related reforms CAP supports include:
 Limit pay increases beginning in fiscal 2015. “By repeatedly passing pay raises above and beyond the Pentagon’s request, Congress has driven military pay out of line with the Pentagon’s own standards,” the report stated. “Basic pay accounts for about half of military cash compensation -- service members also receive tax-free allowances for housing and subsistence, a variety of other tax breaks, and an array of special and incentive pay.”
 Raise TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles for working-age retirees to reflect increases in health care costs during the past 20 years. Until 2011, TRICARE enrollment fees for military retirees younger than 65 had remained the same since 1995. As of Oct. 1, all retirees enrolled in TRICARE Prime now pay between $39 and $79 more annually than they did before.
 Implement an enrollment fee for TRICARE-for-Life.
 Mandate the working-age military retirees above a certain income level can enroll in TRICARE only if they don’t have access to other health care plans through their employer or spouse.
 Transition to a 401(k)-style retirement system. Specifically, military personnel with more than a decade of service could choose to stay in the current system or switch to a 401(k); those with less than 10 years of service could enroll in the new 401(k) system or a modified version of the current pension setup, which would vest at 10 years but “provide slightly less retired pay -- 40 percent of base pay at 20 years, rather than 50 percent permitted under the current system.”
The 2011 Budget Control Act mandates $487 billion in Defense spending cuts over the next decade; if sequestration occurs in January, the Pentagon will have to slash an additional $500 billion from its budget during that time frame. Defense annually spends about $107 billion on salaries and allowances, which does not include health care costs or retirement benefits. Those expenses tack on another $75 billion or so annually. All told, military compensation eats up about one-third of the department’s budget. There are three major components to military compensation: pay, health care and retirement benefits. In that sense, it’s similar to many pay and benefits packages elsewhere in government and in the private sector. But that’s where the similarities end. Take pay, for example. The military has more than 70 types of pay and allowances for service members. A typical active-duty service member receives basic pay, housing and food allowances, an annual pay increase, and some tax breaks. Service members also are eligible for combat pay or other kinds of incentive pay based on their specific jobs and any special skills, such as proficiency in a foreign language.
Health care and retirement benefits together cost the Pentagon less in actual dollars today than pay, but much more in political capital and good will among troops, retirees and their families. The House this spring shot down the administration’s recommendations to raise health care premiums for military retirees based on their retirement pay, in addition to other fee hikes. The Pentagon now has a 20-year cliff-vesting retirement system, which some critics would like to replace with one providing some benefits to all service members regardless of their tenure. Personnel who serve less than 20 years -- about 83 percent -- do not receive a retirement benefit, which some believe is unfair given their multiple deployments during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those who do spend a career in
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the military can hit the 20-year mark relatively early, retire from service in their 40s or 50s, draw a pension and work elsewhere for a while. About 17 percent serve 20 years or more in the military. “Military pay and health reform will allow the Pentagon to achieve substantial savings in the near term,” the report said. “Retirement reform, however, presents the greatest opportunity for savings.”
The Center for American Progress is an independent nonpartisan educational institute dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action Their report titled “Rebalancing Our National Security” can be read at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2012/10/31/43074/rebalancing-our-national-security/. [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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DFAS Direct Deposit: The below chart is a list of all 2013 Retiree and Annuitant paydays:
Month of : Direct Deposit Date:
January 2013 Friday, February 1, 2013
February 2013 Friday, March 1, 2013
March 2013 Monday, April 1, 2013
April 2013 Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May 2013 Monday, May 31, 2013
June 2013 Monday, July 1, 2013
July 2013 Thursday, August 1, 2013
August 2013 Friday, August 30, 2013
September 2013 Tuesday, October 1, 2013
October 2013 Friday, November 1, 2013
November 2013 Friday, November 29, 2013
December 2013 Tuesday, December 31, 2013
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Prime Update 16: Many TRICARE beneficiaries in the West region are contacting NAUS about possible changes in TRICARE. They report that TRICARE Prime will be limited only to those beneficiaries who live within a 40 mile radius of a Military Treatment Facility. Those whose residence is outside the radius will be dropped from TRICARE Prime and have no option other than TRICARE Standard. The change would not affect TRICARE for Life. It is NAUS’s understanding that extended TRICARE Prime region coverage beyond 40 miles has always only been an encouraged option for the providers, not a requirement. For example, several years ago the TRICARE North region started to vigorously enforce the 40 mile rule and anyone outside that area was automatically converted to TRICARE Standard. This may be what is being proposed in the West.
However, for people in the West region this can and will cause some hardships as there simply is not the number of military facilities available and more beneficiaries will have to travel longer distances for their healthcare. Very frankly, a 40-mile radius simply doesn’t work in the West. These States cover extremely large areas of land. One could fit, for instance, the entire geography of New England into the State of Montana. NAUS has asked for a briefing on the matter. In response to a recent NAUS inquiry, a TMA spokesman wrote, “The Defense Department has not confirmed these changes are going take place. If you or your organization are getting questions, you can
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direct people to the TRICARE West transition page at http://www.tricare.mil/t3contracts/west.aspx for the latest information.” (As of 1 NOV, all it says is stay tuned for important announcements on April 1, 2013.)
On 23 October, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) wrote to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs asking for the “rationale behind these decisions” and calling the proposal “simply wrong.” NAUS endorses the Oregon lawmakers’ letter and continues its push to set the situation straight. NAUS is also informed that the Nevada Senate delegation, Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller, have joined the demand for clarification of this proposal. In the interim NAUS is requesting that those affected keep them informed about what they hear or experience by sending an email to mplumer@naus.org. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument: The first national monument to pay tribute to military dogs will be unveiled in California in just two months. The U.S. Working Dog Teams National Monument will honor every dog that has served in combat since World War II. Some cities, cemeteries and military bases across the country already have such memorials. But none has been elevated to national monument level, where it will be in the company of the Statue of Liberty, Yosemite National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. In 2000, John Burnam, a 65-year-old veteran military dog handler, wrote a book called "Dog Tags of Courage." A year later, he got an email from a reader wondering why there were no national monuments to the dogs of war.
In "Dog Tags" and a 2008 book, "A Soldier's Best Friend," Burnam wrote about his time with the Army's 44th Scout Dog Platoon when he was in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. His first dog, Timber, was injured in an ambush a few months after they teamed up, so he spent most of his tour with a German shepherd named Clipper. "He saved my life and saved the lives of others by alerting on ambushes, snipers and booby traps. I wanted to give something back to these animals that have done so much and asked for so little, except for food and water and the love of their handlers," said Burnam, who received the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Back then, handlers were not able to adopt their dogs when they were retired. "I always worried about them but I know they died over there and they died as heroes," he said. In 2004, Burnam and two other dog handler veterans pursued the idea in earnest, forming the John Burnam Monument Foundation Inc. But it took two more years, until he met Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., that the monument project started to take shape. In 2007, Jones introduced legislation authorizing establishment of the monument. Passed unanimously by Congress, it was signed the next year by President George W. Bush, then amended and signed by President Barack Obama.
Burnam designed the monument, which depicts the modern military handler and four dogs — a Doberman, German shepherd, Labrador retriever and Belgian Malinois, all breeds used in wars. The silicon bronze handler stands more than 9 feet tall and weighs 1,500 pounds. Each dog is about 5 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds. Burnam called them "hero-sized." The figures will stand on a pedestal, in front of a large granite wall. One side of the wall will have photos etched in black marble veneer showing dog teams in combat from the different wars. The other side will have an inscription written by Burnam. The sculptor, Paula Slater, said it was the largest and most complex monument she had ever done. She worked for thousands of hours, saying that finishing a project of that size "is like giving birth to a baby — five of them."
The money for the monument came slowly. Burnam made one of many fundraising pitches on the reality TV show "Who Let the Dogs Out," featuring Tillman, the skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding bulldog. The president of Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc., the company that Tillman represents, attended the show taping and volunteered to pitch in more than $1 million. "Don't do a thing. Natural Balance and Petco (Animal Supplies Inc.)
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will take care of it," Joey Herrick said. To raise funds for the monument and its maintenance, Natural Balance created a jerky bark treat sold by Petco. Maddie's Fund, a family-funded pet rescue foundation, also signed on as a corporate sponsor. The public will get a sneak peak of the monument at the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1, when a floral replica will be used as Natural Balance's float. Burnam, dogs and handlers from every military service branch will ride on it.
Publicity photo provided by John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc
When the float goes on display afterward at Victory Park, the real bronze monument will make its public debut next to it, Herrick said. Then the bronze monument will go on tour as it heads to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The location was chosen as the site for the monument because that's where most of the nation's military's dogs are trained. Meanwhile, Tillman, the dog that helped get Burnam the monument funding, is also getting personal recognition for his military service. For his work entertaining troops at bases and for going through a mini Marine boot camp, the athletic bulldog has been made an honorary private 1st class. [Source: Associated Press | Sue Manning | 30 Oct 2012 ++]
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Louisiana Vet Cemeteries Update 04: Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary officially opened 24 OCT by providing its first Veteran burial at the facility. “With the opening of this national shrine, many thousands of Louisiana Veterans and their families will continue to have a no-cost burial option available nearby, in a setting that is worthy of their service,” said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Steve L. Muro. “Providing lasting tributes to their sacrifices is one of VA’s most honorable missions, and one we are proud to fulfill.” Louisiana National Cemetery is situated on 103.8 acres of land. Construction includes gravesite development in two phases, providing a full range of burial alternatives to approximately 293,000 Veterans and eligible family members in the East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding area.
The now completed first phase of construction developed approximately 17 acres with 2,500 in-ground pre-placed crypts, 1,128 traditional gravesites, an entrance feature, roadway, utilities and necessary infrastructure. The next phase will cover approximately 12 acres and will include a maintenance complex and 1,130 in-ground cremains sites. The 19.9-acre Port Hudson National Cemetery, located 1½ miles away, closed to first interment casketed
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burials in October 2012, although it still provides casketed interments for those with family members already buried there. Space for cremated remains is estimated to be depleted in 2015. More than 14,000 military service members, Veterans and family members are interred there. Rex Kern is the director of the new cemetery. He has been and will remain the director of Port Hudson National Cemetery, a position he has held since 2009. Kern is responsible for all burial, maintenance and administrative operations at the facility as well as at Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Natchez National Cemeteries. Additional information about the Louisiana National Cemetery is available by calling the Port Hudson National Cemetery office at 225-654-3767.
Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Also eligible are military personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment. In the midst of the largest cemetery expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.7 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict - from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror - are buried in VA’s national cemeteries on approximately 20,000 acres of land. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. To make burial arrangements at the time of need at any VA national cemetery, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office toll-free at 1-800-535-1117. [Source: AcadiaParishToday.com article 31 Oct 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 131: VA has registered the term “GI Bill” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as suggested by President Obama at his signing of an Executive Order last April for the purpose of “Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Other Family Members.” The order was in reaction to allegations of questionable marketing practices by a handful of schools attempting to recruit GI Bill beneficiaries into their student population. The order read, in part, “Since the Post-9/11 GI Bill became law there have been reports of aggressive and deceptive targeting of service members, veterans and their families by some educational institutions. For example, some institutions have... encouraged service members and veterans to take out costly institutional loans rather than encouraging them to apply for Federal student loans first; engaged in misleading recruiting practices on military installations; and failed to disclose meaningful information that allows potential students to determine whether the institution has a good record of graduating service members, veterans, and their families...”
In its closing paragraphs Obama’s Executive Order directs that “...all appropriate steps (be taken) to ensure that websites and programs are not deceptively and fraudulently marketing educational services and benefits to program beneficiaries, including initiating a process to protect the term ‘GI Bill’ and other military or veterans-related terms as trademarks, as appropriate.” The issue of GI Bill brand name protection became legal news during the summer when the attorneys general of several states won a lawsuit against QuinStreet Inc., a company that owned and maintained GIBill.com. According to the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, the company engaged in deceptive practices by directing website visitors exclusively to for-profit schools that were clients of QuinStreet. As a result of the lawsuit, QuinStreet forfeited commercial use of GIBill.com, with VA winning exclusive rights to the domain name.
The call to trademark “GI Bill” raised some eyebrows in the business community. Immediately after President Obama signed his executive order, Kristen Hinman, associate editor for BloombergBusinessweek, wrote a web
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article titled “Obama Wants to Trademark the GI Bill. Good Luck With That.” “Trademark a law? Can you do that?” she wrote. “It’d be an unprecedented step, say intellectual property (IP) attorneys in Washington. And one that smacks of better PR than policy. “Trademarks are for goods and services,” she continued. “They indicate a place of origin.” Hinman then quoted IP attorney Edward T. Colbert. “‘The GI Bill isn’t selling anything,’” said Colbert. “‘That’s the first problem. Second problem: Trademarks are for the exclusive commercial use of their owners. The GI Bill - which dates to World War II - has been used by everybody for a long time.”
However, Colbert offered an alternative to trademarking the GI Bill name. “Congress could pass a law giving the VA the sole right to use ‘GI Bill” for commercial purposes. The U.S. Olympic Committee, the American Red Cross, and the Boy Scouts of America all enjoy that privilege, thanks to a federal statute designating them ‘patriotic and national organizations’ and the same statute could apply to the GI Bill. It’s rarely used... (but) clearly our veterans - people who fought and died for our country - clearly they would fit within that category.” Nevertheless, VA followed through with its original plans, announcing its ownership of the GI Bill brand name on 16 OCT. The original 1944 GI Bill, which provided millions of World War II veterans with higher education, was conceived and ushered through Congress by The American Legion. [Source: The American Legion Online Update 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 132: Leaders of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) are crying foul at recent news reports noting that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are dropping out of school at alarming rates, calling the claim “unfounded and simply not true.” Last week, the Huffington Post wrote that 88 percent of recent war era veterans were pulling out of college, a disheartening and disturbing statistic. But SVA officials say the 88 percent figure comes from a mistaken interpretation of a Colorado Workforce Development Council presentation earlier this summer, and that no national statistic tracking graduation rates of student veterans exists. In a statement, SVA executive director Michael Dakduk said the insinuation that student veterans routinely flunk out of classes is “an insult to the talents, abilities, and dedication of every veteran succeeding in America's institutions of higher learning." Group officials also expressed concern that the misleading dropout statistics could be used by some politicians to support cutbacks in veterans education benefits, a move they say could severely limit servicemembers’ post-military career options. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Leo Shane | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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Tomb of the Unknowns Update 08: In the face of Hurricane Sandy, the Army continued to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns on Monday but not with the familiar, choreographed 21 paces that the public typically sees. A photo that went viral on social media of three soldiers from the Army’s Third U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, keeping watch over the tomb was actually taken during a September rainstorm. The Army became aware of the photo and said on its Twitter account and to media that it was from a series of photos taken by photographer Karen Markert during a torrential rainstorm on 18 September 2012. (Refer to http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/25447106_rRDwDr#!i=2095580721&k=SBLxh2X t to view all the photos taken by Market.). The Army handed out the below photo that was taken the morning of 29 OCT before Arlington National Cemetery closed because of the storm. Afterward, when morning funerals were completed, the Old Guard soldiers were still on duty but had moved into an enclosure covered by a green awning known as “the box,” about 20 feet away from the tomb, according to regiment spokesman Maj. John Miller. He said if the weather becomes intolerable, the tomb can also be guarded from a room inside a nearby amphitheater. But no such order was given on Monday afternoon. [Source: Associated Press 29 Oct 2012 ++]
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Sgt. Jose A. Torres Jr. / Army via the APSpc. Brett Hyde, Tomb Sentinel, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), keeps guard over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Hurricane Sandy at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., on Oct. 29.
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 60:
 Helena MT - A Montana Army National Guardsman is facing two federal felony charges after he allegedly illegally obtained more than $10,000 in education benefits. Jason Martin, 29, who according to court records lives in both Helena and Havre, was indicted by a grand jury on wire fraud and theft of government property charges. A trial is set for Dec. 18 in Great Falls, and he could be imprisoned for up to 20 years. According to information filed with the U.S. District Court, Martin was in the U.S. military from Feb. 25, 2002, until Sept. 16, 2005, when he was discharged under “other than honorable” conditions. But right before his discharge, he purchased fictitious DD-214 forms from a fellow soldier at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. The fake form showed Martin’s discharge status as “honorable.” Martin also allegedly created an ink stamp signature to authenticate the fake forms. On Dec. 7, 2006, Martin allegedly fraudulently re-entered the military by submitting the fake DD-124 form to the Montana Army National Guard. About a month later, he requested GI Bill educational benefits and received regular monthly benefits – except during the summer months – from January 2007 until May 2009. “Based upon his fraudulent re-enlistment, Martin obtained more than $10,000 in education benefits to which he was not entitled to receive,” Kris McLean, the criminal chief assistant U.S. Attorney, wrote in court documents. The interstate wiring charge is because Martin allegedly faxed a signed application for VA educations benefits from Montana State University Northern in Havre to the VA regional Office in Missouri. [Source: Independent Record | Eva Brown | 30 Oct 2012 ++]
 Petersburg TN - Former postal worker Michael Murdoc, 53, pleaded guilty in federal court 1 NOV to taking pain pills he was supposed to deliver to a military veteran. He pleaded guilty to one of nine counts against him for stealing Veterans Affairs-prescribed hydrocodone tablets from a parcel intended for Liggie Arthur Phelps on Poor Grab Chestnut Ridge Road, in Petersburg, Tenn. Murdock faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutor Steve Neff indicated to U.S. Magistrate Susan K. Lee that the remaining counts would be dismissed. Murdock is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 25, 2013. [Source: Times Free Press | Todd South | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
 Blue Springs, MO - Warren K. Parker, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States, one count of major program fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of making a false statement. He has been sentenced to 87 months in federal
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prison. In his plea, Parker admitted he falsely claimed to be a service-disabled veteran and a war hero in order to obtain more than $6.7 million in contracts from the Veterans Administration and more than $748,000 in contracts from the Department of Defense. The contracts were awarded under the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program. After an extensive investigation, federal agents determined that Parker and his company, Silver Star Construction LLC of Blue Springs, Mo., and Stilwell, Kan., fraudulently claimed Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business status in order to obtain federal government contracts. In fact, Parker never was classified as a service-disabled veteran by the Veterans Administration or the Department of Defense. In March 2011, Parker submitted a fraudulent resume in which he manufactured a history as a war hero, including a record of service in Vietnam, claiming he was awarded three Silver Stars, three Purple Heart Medals and other citations. State and federal records show that Parker served in the Missouri National Guard from 1963 to 1968, he spent six months on active duty. In 1968 he was honorably discharged as a Senior Engineer Equipment Mechanic with the rank of Specialist E-5. His only decoration was an expert rifle badge. He never left the state of Missouri while on active duty or while assigned to the Missouri National Guard. Parker pleaded guilty to the forfeiture counts of the indictment which will result in a $6.8 million judgment being entered against him in favor of the United States. He also agreed the immediate forfeiture of personal property, including a notebook Parker labeled “Book of Death” which contained list of fictitious Vietnam war “sniper kills.” Co-defendants who are awaiting trial include: Mary Parker, 67, Blue Springs, Mo., Michael J. Parker, 37, Blue Springs, Mo., Thomas Whitehead, 59, Leawood, Kan. and Silver Star Construction, LLC. [Source: Hays Post article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
 New Orleans LA - Three people have been charged in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office says 41-year-old Ronald Bell, of Gretna; 63-year-old Regina Davis and 45-year-old Yodonnalisa Evans, both of New Orleans, were all charged 6 NOV. Prosecutors say the defendants worked for the Veterans Health Administration at the New Orleans VA Medical Center. Between January 2001 and December 2008, the trio devised a scheme to defraud the VA by creating three false companies — Davis Health Care Consulting, LLC, Caring Hearts Healthcare and C&E Rehabilitation Clinic — and billing patient files for fraudulent services. Davis and Bell illegally obtained about $203,000 while Evans and Bell obtained about $361,000. If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [Source: San Francisco Chronicle article 7 Nov 2012 ++]
[Source: Various 1-14 Nov 2012
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Mobilized Reserve 6 NOV 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 6 NOV 2012. The net collective result is 1210 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 NOV 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 44,372; Navy Reserve 4,538; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 9,363; Marine Corps Reserve 2,713; and the Coast Guard Reserve 691. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 61,677including both units and individual augmentees. Since 911 there have been 800,584 reservists deactivated. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/MobilizationWeeklyReport110612.pdf. [Source: DoD News Release No. 880-12 dtd 7 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 121: Recently, the National Center for PTSD reported about types of post traumatic stress treatments know as CAM, Complementary and Alternative Techniques. These are treatments that fall outside of traditional Western medicine. Complementary refers to the use of these techniques in combination with conventional approaches, whereas alternative refers to their use instead of conventional practices. Some examples include:
 Vitamins, supplements, diets
 Meditation, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy
 Massage, chiropractic care
 Whole medicine systems: like Ayurvedic medicine
 Dog therapy, equine therapy, music therapy
Some people find that CAM treatments help improve their symptoms or help them cope with their symptoms. Research to support these claims is still at an early stage. Most types of CAM have never been systematically studied. It’s difficult to draw firm conclusions from the few that have. However, at this point meditation and acupuncture appear most promising. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 2 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 122: University of South Dakota psychology professors Jeffrey Simons and Raluca Gaher will soon be conducting a study to examine the association between traumatic stress and health outcomes among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simons and Gaher are seeking 250 veterans for the 18-month study who have served in operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom. The participants must be able to safely participate in the study and be able to travel to Sioux Falls and Vermillion, S.D. Participants do not have to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. With the help of smart phones, participants will answer questions daily in real time about their feelings, social relationships, behaviors, activity levels and PTSD symptoms. For more information, contact Professor Raluca Gaher or Professor Jeffrey Simons at 605-677-5353. [Source: Mil.com article 5 Nov 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 123: In combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the area of the brain that controls fear and anxiety responses is much smaller than normal, according to a new study. The finding is the first to provide evidence that a smaller amygdala is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it's not clear whether this smaller size is caused by PTSD or whether people with a smaller amygdala are more likely to develop PTSD, the researchers said. For the study, MRI brain scans were conducted on 200 combat veterans, half with PTSD and half without, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. MRI brains scans of the participants showed that both the right and left amygdala were smaller in those with PTSD. The researchers also confirmed previous study findings that linked PTSD with a smaller left hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays an important role in memory.
Amygdala size does not appear to be affected by the severity, frequency or duration of the mental trauma that can lead to PTSD, which indicates that such exposures do not cause the amygdala to shrink, said study lead author Dr. Rajendra Morey, assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University. This suggests that people with a smaller amygdala to begin with are susceptible to PTSD. Morey and colleagues are conducting further research to determine if that's the case. "This is one piece in a bigger puzzle to understanding why some people develop PTSD and others do not," Morey said in a university news release. "We are getting closer to that answer." PTSD affects nearly 14 percent of U.S. combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans
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Affairs. It also affects nearly 7 percent of adults in the general population who have been victims of abuse, crime and other traumas during their lives. [Source: HealthDay News 6 Nov 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 92: Pittsburgh ranks as the top place in the nation for veterans to transition from combat boots to civilian shoes, according to a new study commissioned by USAA and Military.com. The "Best Places for Veterans" list identifies U.S. metro areas that offer America's most recent veterans more opportunities to find a job or go to college while providing a higher quality of life in an affordable location. Here is the entire top 10 list:
 Pittsburgh
 Phoenix
 Dallas
 Cleveland
 Atlanta
 Warren, Mich.
 Ann Arbor, Mich.
 Cincinnati
 Columbus, Ohio
 St. Louis
"Today's veterans are battling a highly competitive job market and need to proactively plan for life after the military," said Scott Halliwell, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at USAA. "This study allows us to help recent and soon-to-be veterans identify preferred locations throughout the U.S. where they can launch a civilian career and use the GI Bill to further their education." Retired Cmdr. Ward Carroll, editor of Military.com said, "The millions of young veterans who have already entered the work force and the many more that will join them in the coming years have the opportunity to use the discipline and determination they've acquired in the Armed Forces to make a significant impact in their workplaces and communities,". "Best Places for Veterans was commissioned to help equip this remarkable group with tools for a successful transition." USAA, a leading financial services provider focused on serving the military and their families, and Military.com, the largest military and veteran membership organization, commissioned Sperling's BestPlaces to develop the list. Researchers reviewed variables for 379 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including:
 Employment opportunities and sectors that align with military skills sets such as defense, engineering, medical services and aviation, as well as the overall jobs climate based on unemployment rate and recent job growth.
 Presence of colleges/universities, as well as quality of local primary schools.
 General quality of life and pocketbook issues such as affordability, crime rate, taxes and recreation opportunities.
Each of the variables was weighted based on what recent and soon-to-be veterans said was important to them, and each metro area was then ranked based on its total points for all variables. Metro areas with the following attributes were excluded from the list: unemployment rate more than 1 percent above the national average, median cost of living greater than the national average and total crime rate more than 25 percent above the national average. USAA and Military.com also commissioned a list of the top metro areas in each state to provide service members with more choices. Veterans and soon-to-be veterans also have the opportunity to create a personalized list with the new Best Places for Veterans calculator by identifying which criteria is most important in their military-to-civilian transition. To see the entire list of Best Places and access the Best Places for Veterans calculator, visit http://www.usaa.com/bestplaces. The list does not represent any endorsement, expressed or implied, by the
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Department of Defense or any other United States government agency. [Source: Military.com article 9 Nov 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http://veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:
 November 15, 2012. House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing titled, "Review of Veterans Employment Challenges and Initiatives in the 112th Congress." 10:00am in Cannon Room 334.
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 13 Nov 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 31: And then there were six. On Christmas Eve 1944, Frank Haugh grabbed a rope and swung from the torpedoed SS Leopoldville to another ship that was heaving in rough water of the English Channel. “I was determined to come back,” said Haugh, 88, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He escaped from the sinking ship about five miles off the coast of Cherbourg, France. Haugh returned to his childhood home of Millvale on 31 OCT — as he has nearly every year since 1948 — to attend the 65th banquet of the Last Man Standing Club, a group of World War II veterans based at VFW Post 118. Ninety-one people attended the club’s first banquet. Six remain. Two recently suffered heart attacks. Just three made it to the 31 OCT lunch.
Of the 2,235 American servicemen aboard Haugh’s ship, a Belgian passenger liner converted to troopship that carried members of the Army’s 66th Infantry to the Battle of the Bulge, 515 went down with the ship, and 248 died from injuries, drowning or hypothermia. “It is very important for Dad to be here today. He’s only missed one or two of these in 65 years,” said Haugh’s son, Frank, who drove his father from the Cleveland suburb. The elder Haugh was pleased to see old friends, such as Paul Mihlfried of Shaler, a high school classmate in Millvale who fought in China and Burma. Mihlfried, 88, is a retired sheet metal worker. Like Haugh, whose wife and children did not know about his escape from the Leopoldville for decades, Mihlfried does not brag. “I’m not a hero. There was some fighting. I’ll leave it at that,” Mihlfried said about some of the most grueling campaigns of the war.
Organization of annual banquets falls to the group’s youngster, Russell Kurtz, 84, of Kittanning. Kuntz quit high school and lied about his age to join the Navy at 16 in early 1945. He spent months on ships in the Atlantic before the war in Europe ended in May 1945. “I had three older brothers who were in the service during the war. That’s why I left school and lied about my age,” he said. At Wednesday’s lunch, Kuntz recited prayers and tributes and read the names of the 45 men who belonged to the club when they died. Haugh and Mihlfried stood until Kuntz finished. When the club was founded, the group bought a 1928 bottle of Charles Heidsieck champagne from Reims,
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France. Someday it will go to the group’s final member. “It probably tastes like vinegar,” Kuntz said. [Source: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | Rick Wills | 1 Nov 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (17)
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POW/MIA Update 31: "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 (73,000+), Korean War (7,900+), Cold War (126), Vietnam War (1,655), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 26 OCT that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, killed in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Maj. James L. Whited, 42, of Norman, Okla., will be buried Nov. 2, in his hometown. On Nov. 19, 1966, Whited was the co-pilot of an OV-1A Mohawk aircraft that crashed while conducting a daytime reconnaissance mission over Attapu Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing the wing of Whited’s aircraft hit a tree during a climb to avoid a nearby ridgeline. No parachutes were seen exiting the aircraft. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts. From 1993 to 2009, joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed multiple witnesses, and conducted several investigations and excavations of the crash site in Attapu Province. The teams located human remains, military equipment, and aircraft wreckage of an OV-1A, which correlated with the last known location of Whited’s aircraft. To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, such as dental comparisons. Today, the U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover Americans lost during the Vietnam War.
Korea
 DPMO announced 30 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, Have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. James C. Mullins, 20, of Dunham, Ky., will be buried on Nov. 2, near Fort Bragg, N.C. On July 22, 1950, Mullins and his unit, H Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, battled enemy forces near Yugong-ni, South Korea. After the battle, Mullins was listed as missing in action. In 1951, remains of nine unidentified U.S. service members, from the battlefield near Yugong-ni, were buried as “unknown” in Pusan Cemetery. Later that year, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the Korean peninsula. The unknown remains were re-interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii—the “Punchbowl.” In 2012, due to advances in identification technology, analysts from DPMO and JPAC reevaluated the information associated with the remains interred in Hawaii and concluded that if exhumed they could likely be identified. Based on available evidence such as metal identification tags, military clothing, and wartime records, analysts confirmed that the remains were a soldier who died at Yugong-ni. To determine Mullins identification, scientists from JPAC used the circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including rdiograph and dental comparisons.
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 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 6 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Elmer C. Kidd, 22, of Seneca Falls, N.Y., will be buried Nov. 9, in Romulus, N.Y. In late November 1950, Kidd and his unit, the 31st Regimental Combat Team, known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea when they were attacked by a massive enemy force. They began a fighting withdrawal to positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. It was during this withdrawal that Kidd went missing. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. Analysts from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) developed a list of military members missing from the area where the remains were reportedly located. Kidd was listed as missing from one of the recovery sites. In the identification of the remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as radiograph and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Kidd’s sister and nephew. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials.
 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced 7 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, killed in action during the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Sgt. Stanley W. Bear, 19, of Greenup, Ky., will be buried Nov. 10, in Grayson, Ky. On Sept. 4, 1950, Bear and his unit, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, battled enemy forces near Haman, South Korea. After the battle, Bear was reported as missing in action. In 1951, Korean National Police recovered remains associated with the battle and turned them over to U.S. officials. The U.S. Army was unable to identify Bear’s remains at the time, and he was buried as “unknown” in the U.N. Cemetery at Tanggok, South Korea. Later that year, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula and the remains were sent to the U.S. Army’s Central Identification Unit in Kokura, Japan, to determine whether they could be identified. When scientific analysis determined an identification wasn’t possible, Bear’s remains were transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii and re-interred as “unknown.” In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, analysts from DPMO and Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) reevaluated the information associated with the remains interred in Hawaii and concluded that they could likely be identified. The remains were exhumed and scientists from JPAC successfully identified Bear using circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparison and dental records.
World War II
 None
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Nov 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: Before Shauna Zamarripa became a personal finance writer, she sold cars. Money Talks News asked her for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the job – and what you should watch out for when you walk onto the lot. She responded she might not look like it at first glance, but she’s an old “car dog” – that’s what car salesmen (and women) call themselves. From 2000 to 2005, she worked at various new and used car dealerships. It was her job to keep you on the lot and sell you a car, no matter what. They had a handful of tricks for bumping up the price
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and their commissions – and the buyers almost never spotted them. Here they are, along with advice for how to outsmart an ol’ car dog…
1. Inflation in plain sight. When you look at the stickers on the window of that shiny new car, you might think all the prices you see are set by the manufacturer. They’re not. Salesmen called them “bumper stickers” – not because they went on the bumper, but because they bumped up the price of the vehicle. They strategically placed those stickers next to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and hoped you wouldn’t notice. What’s on there? Services like VIN etching, fabric treatment, undercarriage sealant – which you don’t really need or could do yourself cheaper. Some of the do it yourself is admittedly harder to do (check out the kits for VIN etching) but others require no time – like buying a can of fabric protector at any auto shop and applying it yourself. In many cases the dealer is using the same stuff.
Solution: Tell the dealer you want to see the “original invoice” minus the “bumper sticker.” If he refuses, walk out and head to a dealer who will.
2. Lowballing your trade-in. Car dealers want you to think that the Kelley Blue Book price is the best resource for determining the value of your trade-in. It isn’t. It is, however, the most effective way for dealers to lowball you. Dealers use NADA (The National Automobile Dealers Association) for used-car valuations. This site lists the most likely amount the dealer can get for your trade – and what they can likely resell it for. You can be sure it’s typically higher than KBB. Zamarripa saw trade-ins undervalued by $5,000 or more on a regular basis.
Solution: Print out and bring with you the NADA values for your car based on its age, mileage, and condition – so the dealer knows that you know its true value. Better yet, sell your car privately before heading to the lot. That’s the way you’ll get the most money for it.
3. Inflating your interest rate. When a sales manager submits your credit application to lenders, the lenders reply with the requirements for your loan and quote an interest rate. If the dealership sees that you were approved for 7.9 percent APR, they can adjust that rate by as much as 2 points. Different states allow different hikes, but the result is the same: That 7.9 percent APR you should get is now 9.9 percent, and the dealer gets to pocket the extra cash. That often adds up to several thousand dollars.
Solution: Get your financing done ahead of time through your bank or credit union.
4. Paying for customer service. On your loan paperwork, you’ll notice something called a “customer service fee.” This is what the dealership charges you to handle your loan paperwork, issue your tags, process your title, and pay your taxes. How much do they charge for something that takes a grand total of 30 minutes for your salesperson and the finance office to complete? Anywhere from $299 to a whopping $1,000.
Solution: Don’t pay it. Or at least get it reduced, especially if you’ve obtained financing elsewhere.
5. Gap insurance. If you wreck your financed car, gap insurance pays the difference between what you owe and what it’s worth – handy when you’re upside down on the loan. The dealership will try to sell it to you for $500 or more. But you can often get the same thing at your local credit union for $200.
Solution: Buy gap insurance from your credit union or other outside source after-market. But don’t drive off the lot without it.
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6. Extended service contracts. Extra protection and peace of mind are usually good things when it comes to car buying, but a dealer isn’t the least expensive place to find it. You’ll undoubtedly find better rates after-market than at the dealership.
Solution: Before deciding on an extended service contract, shop rates, terms, and deductibles from outside warranty sources.
The best solution for outwitting the car dogs? Avoid them. Buy a nice used vehicle for cash. [Source: MoneyTalksNews article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 SSA. If you or people you know plan to retire early in 2013, now is the time to apply for Social Security benefits. People can apply as early as four months before they want benefits to start. The most convenient way to apply is online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. Retiring online can take as little as 15 minutes.
 Vet ID. Oklahoma military veterans can now get a driver's license identifying their status, which will allow businesses to honor their service with discounts without worrying about fraud.
 Vet Jobless Rates. The jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans rose slightly in October," rising to 10 percent, from 9.7 percent in September. But for "veterans of all generations, the unemployment rate for October was 6.3 percent, much better than the 7.9 percent national unemployment rate."
 Congressional Vets. With most election results in, once again there will be fewer Members of Congress with any military experience. In the Senate there will only be 19 senators with any military experience. None of the newly elected senators have any experience. In the House there will only be 86 Representatives with military experience.
 Small Business Saturday. If you’re an American Express credit card holder, you can get $25 back when you spend at least $25 at a local retailer. All you need to do is enroll in the program and meet a few qualifications, which can be found on the Small Business Saturday site https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small . Enrollment is limited and begins Nov. 18, 2012. The wife and I used our Costco cards last years and got $50 back.
 Humor. For some Navy humor that for some veterans may be a bit nostalgic, check out the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Navy Days”.
 Open Season. Open season, the annual period during which federal workers can switch enrollments in health insurance plans, officially began 12 NOV. Federal employees are able to make changes to their health insurance coverage through 10 DEC.
 Baggage. Spirit Airlines now charges $100 for a carry-on bag if you don’t pay in advance. You can’t avoid the fee, but you can lower it by paying sooner.
[Source: Various 1-14 Nov 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 104:
 Farmington Hills MI - Doctor Chyawan Bansil, 61, was sentenced to 13 months in prison by for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan of more than $1 million. Bansil, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell in Grand Rapids who noted at the sentencing that Bansil violated the trust of patients and “worsened the health care crisis” in this country. Bansil has paid more than $3 million in restitution, civil penalties and back taxes on charges of health care fraud and money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Grand Rapids. The convictions arise from an indictment which charged that between February 2007 and January 2012, Bansil defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan of more than $1 million by causing those programs to be billed for expensive nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography tests that Bansil did not perform. He was illegally laundering the proceeds of his fraud scheme in order to avoid taxes, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. As part of his plea agreement, Bansil forfeited over $500,000 in assets which had been seized by the government and paid an additional $2.25 million in treble damages to resolve related civil claims under the False Claims Act. Bansil also paid almost $250,000 in back taxes that were uncovered by the IRS during the investigation. Bansil was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release following his incarceration and will be excluded from participating with Medicare and Medicaid for a minimum of five years.
 Houston TX - A seventh person convicted in a $45 million health care fraud scheme based in Houston has been sentenced to prison. A federal judge in Houston on Monday ordered 41 months in prison for 56-year-old Tony Nnonso Obi. The naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria in August pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to money laundering. Prosecutors say Obi was affiliated with an assisted living facility and sent some residents to City Nursing Service of Texas Inc. Authorities say City Nursing owner Umawa Imo paid Obi more than $1 million in the Medicare and Medicaid scheme. Imo last year was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for running the scam. An eighth person convicted in the fraud case awaits sentencing.
 Buffalo IN - Federal investigators accuse a White County EMS service, the owner of the business and two employees of defrauding Medicare out of more than $2 million. Authorities said the fraud started almost as soon as the business began operating. Hoosier EMS is just about the only business on the town of Buffalo's main strip, about 10 miles north of Monticello in White County. Indictments filed 9 NOV in federal court spell out the multimillion dollar fraud that happened behind closed doors. Owner Roy Dunn, employee and former co-owner Anthony Bitterling, and General Manager Kahley Vergon-Mayotte are nowhere to be found. Each of the three people, along with Hoosier EMS, have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of scheme to commit health care fraud. Investigators accuse the trio of falsifying documents to get Medicare reimbursements for taking patients to their dialysis appointments, something that is only reimbursable by the government if the person is confined to a bed.
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But authorities said the trio directed employees to omit or rewrite trip records to disguise patient conditions and qualify illegally for reimbursement. Investigators said some patients sat in the jump seat chair in the back of the ambulance. Others actually walked in and out of the ambulance but were asked to lie on the stretcher on the ride to or from dialysis. Documents detail 14 false claims between June 2009 and May 2012 at almost a $1,000 per trip. The total of the fraud is estimated at more than $2 million.
 Washington DC - Patricia Mubanga Chisanga, 33, who fled the country on the heels of an D.C. Medicare fra-d investigation has been indicted in a $500,000 scheme involving power wheelchairs and incontinence supplies, according to charging documents. Chisanga, the chief operating officer for Emerald Medical Services, disappeared last summer, shortly after federal agents visited her office in Northwest Washington, court documents indicated. Uche Ben Odunzeh, the owner of the business and the father of her child, pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court papers, two weeks after agents handed Chisanga a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. stating that she was under investigation for federal health care fraud, law enforcement officials received a tip that she and Odunzeh were planning to flee the country. Federal agents learned that Chisanga had obtained a one-way ticket to Ethiopia from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for a flight that departed earlier that day. She was accompanied on her flight by a minor child with the last name Odunzeh. Agents also discovered that Ben Odunzeh, 31, had bought a ticket to Nigeria for later in the week. He was arrested at the airport. According to prosecutors, from 2008 to 2011, Emerald Medical submitted 100 claims to D.C.'s Medicaid program for power wheelchairs for about $591,000. The D.C. Medicaid program reimbursed Emerald about $480,000. Those claims were for the most expensive power wheelchair, worth about $6,100 each, but Emerald provided only more basic, less expensive wheelchairs. Emerald Medical also submitted about $45,000 in claims for adult incontinence supplies such as diapers, disposable underpads and gloves that it never actually provided. Odunzeh, a Nigerian national whose visa expired in 2004, admitted to embezzling more than $275,000 from the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2011. He faces 10 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 16.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Nov 2012 ++]
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Medicaid Fraud Update 74:
 Chevy Chase MD - Jacqueline Wheeler, 55, convicted of submitting $7 million in fraudulent claims to the District of Columbia Medicaid program has been sentenced to more than six years in prison. She was also ordered to pay $3.17 million in restitution at sentencing 2 NOV. According to government evidence presented at trial, Wheeler was the owner or CEO of two health care providers. Wheeler submitted false claims for services that were not provided. She used money to buy luxury cars and beachfront property.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Oct 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Idaho provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits – ID” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of the benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state.
 Housing Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/idaho-state-veterans-benefits.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Military History: The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay — also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle of Bougainville Bay Shore — was a naval battle fought near the island of Bougainville on 1-2 November 1943. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings on nearby Bougainville in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II and may also be seen as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Imperial base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built. On 1 November 1943, the U.S. 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina in Empress Augusta Bay. The bay had been chosen because it was at the outer limit of Allied fighter plane range, and because the numerically-superior Japanese 17th Army was concentrated at other, more strategic sites in the north and the south. The Marines were backed by Task Force 39, composed of cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Aaron S. "Tip" Merrill.
The Japanese responded with air attacks and a powerful naval force from Rabaul commanded by Admiral Sentaro Omori: Cruiser Squadron - heavy cruisers Myoko and Haguro, 10th Cruiser Squadron - light cruiser Agano, destroyers Naganami, Hatsukaze, and Wakatsuki, 3rd Destroyer Squadron - light cruiser Sendai, and destroyers Shigure, Samidare,and Shiratsuyu. The Japanese formation was hastily assembled from whatever ships were on hand, many which had never trained or fought together before. The U.S. Task Force 39 consisted of CruDiv 12 - USS Montpelier(CTF39/CL57), Cleveland (CL55), Columbia (CL56), Denver (CL58) and two destroyer divisions: DesDiv 45 - USS Charles Ausburne (CDD 45/DD570), Dyson (DD572), Stanley (DD478), Claxton (DD571) and DesDiv 46 - Spence (CDD 46/DD512), Thatcher (DD514), Converse (DD509), Foote (DD511). The Americans evacuated most of their landing craft and troop transports, assembled their ships to the southwest of Empress Augusta Bay and steamed slowly northward. CruDiv 12 would maneuver in a race track pattern, blocking the entrance to Empress Augusta Bay. The Japanese approached from the northwest and would try to bombard the invasion force in their transports and on the shore. On 2 November at 0130 Haguro was struck in an American aerial attack amidships. The resulting damage necessitated a significant reduction in speed for the entire formation.
The Americans made radar contact at 0230 on 2 November. From the leading position in the American formation Commodore Burke sent the four destroyers of DesDiv 45 forward for a torpedo attack and at 0245 fired a salvo toward the enemy. Almost simultaneously, the Sendai-led division fired 18 torpedoes. Each attack was detected and both groups maneuvered away from the torpedoes. 3rd Destroyer Squadron turned southward into the path of Cruiser Division causing havoc in the Japanese formation. The Japanese fleet became separated in the confusion into three groups, north, center and south.Admiral Merril then ordered DesDiv 46 to attack. Unprepared, Foote misinterpreted the command and was separated from the other ships. Despite her captain's best efforts Foote was unable to effectively rejoin the fight and was in some danger of colliding with other friendly s hips. Once it became apparent that DesDiv 45's torpedo attack had failed to achieve complete surprise, at around 0250, the American cruisers opened fire, quickly disabling Sendai. DesDiv 45 maneuvered north and concentrated on the northern group, DesDiv. 46 engaged the center group while the cruisers divided their fire between all three groups.
After firing its torpedoes, Samidare collided with Shiratsuyu. Samidare and Shiratsuyu were subsequently forced to retire from the battle with Samidare receiving 5 in. hits at 0300. Myoko also collided with Hatsukaze, slicing off her bows. Myoko had significant damage from this collision including loss of a torpedo launcher. She was next hit by 6 cruiser shells, only two of which detonated, causing even more damage. The Japanese ships were equipped with ineffectual Type 21 Radar and they were forced to rely on optical tracking of their targets. With difficulty they pinpointed the American cruisers and at 0313 they opened fire. At 0320 Cruiser Squadron fired a total of 10 torpedoes at CruDiv 12. At 0327 numerous hits on CruDiv 12 were erroneously reported to Omori - all missed their
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targets. The Americans were also having problems as the Spence and Thatcher also collided but were able to continue in the battle. The Foote was struck by a torpedo in the stern and disabled. Subsequently, the drifting Foote became a navigational hazard to the other ships adding to the confusion of the battle. Foote was busy for the remainder of the engagement trying to stay afloat and fighting off an enemy aircraft attack.
Without radar, the Japanese depended heavily on flares to illuminate their targets. CruDiv 12 repeatedly maneuvered to avoid starshells fired by the opposing ships but was finally successfully illuminated by brilliant flares dropped by Japanese snooper aircraft. Between 0320 and 0325 Denver received three 8in. hits which failed to detonate. Also, while closing with a group of Japanese destroyers in the center the Spence was hit at the waterline by a shell that failed to explode. As was common during WWII, the thin-skinned destroyers weren't tough enough to detonate armor piercing ammunition designed to penetrate heavily armored battleships. At this point the Japanese fire was heavy and increasingly accurate. In response, the American cruisers began maneuvering behind a smoke screen which successfully interfered with the Japanese gunnery. All during the battle the American destroyers experienced difficulty maintaining contact with each other and several times came close to firing on friendly ships, underscoring the difficulty in fighting night actions even when equipped with radar and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems. A later evaluation of the battle revealed that DesDiv 46 missed an opportunity to torpedo the center group of enemy ships because of uncertain identification. DesDiv 46 then turned north and concentrated fire on the Sendai. Subsequently:
 At 0337 - Omori, believing that he had sunk a heavy cruiser and worried about being caught in daylight by U.S. carrier aircraft, ordered a retreat.
 At 0340 - 10th Cruiser Squadron fired a salvo of 8 torpedoes at CruDiv 12 from extreme range at but missed.
 St 0354 - Omori received another erroneous report of torpedo hits. Merrill's cruisers closed to bombard the retreating Cruiser Division to the south but difficulties in positive identification hampered this effort and CruDiv 12 turned away to the north allowing the Japanese cruisers to slip away in the darkness.
 By 0400 - DesDiv 45 and 46 were engaged in a confused melee with retreating Japanese stragglers - sinking the Sendai and driving off the remaining northern group ships.
 At 0410 - Spence lost speed due to water in the fuel line and fell out of formation.
 At 0438 - The American ships reported many hits on the enemy contacts but unfortunately DesDiv 45 fired on the limping Spence in error while causing no damage.
 At 0510 CruDiv 12 and Spence engaged an enemy straggler. Unable to distinguish between the straggler and Spence the cruisers ceased fire.
 By 0519 DesDiv 45 came to the aid of Spence which by this time had almost exhausted its ammunition.
 By 0542 - The Japanese straggler, the heavily damaged Hatsukaze, exploded and sank. At daylight the pursuit was broken off and all ships, many low on fuel and ammunition, were ordered to rendezvous with the hapless Foote. The rest of the day was spent defending the landing beaches from air attack.
After the Japanese ships returned to Rabaul, they were joined by four cruisers and more destroyers from Truk for another attack on the Allied landing forces at Bougainville. On 5 November, however, two U.S. aircraft carriers raided Rabaul, heavily damaging four heavy cruisers, which had to withdraw to Truk. This ended the Japanese warship threat to the Allied landing forces at Bougainville. Casualties and losses were:
 U.S. - 1 destroyer heavily damaged, 19 killed, 1 cruiser lightly damaged, and 2 destroyers moderately damaged.
 Japan - 1 light cruiser sunk, 1 destroyer sunk, 1 heavy cruiser damaged, 1 light cruiser damaged, 2 destroyers heavily damaged, 25 aircraft shot down, and 198 to 658 killed (Sources differ on Japanese personnel losses in the naval battle).
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Empress_Augusta_Bay
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant November events in U.S. Military History are:
 Nov 16 1943 – WW2: USS Corvina (SS–226) torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I 176 south of Truk. 82 killed
 Nov 16 1944 – WW2: Dueren, Germany is completely destroyed by Allied bombers.
 Nov 16 1945 – Cold War: Operation Paperclip – The United States Army secretly admits 88 German scientists and engineers to help in the development of rocket technology.
 Nov 17 1776 – American Revolution: Hessian mercenaries capture Fort Washington from the Patriots.
 Nov 17 1863 – Civil War: Battle of Campbell's Station near Knoxville TN – Confederate troops unsuccessfully attack Union forces.
 Nov 17 1913 – The first ship sails through the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
 Nov 17 1943 – WW2: American bombers strike a hydro–electric power facility and heavy water factory in German–controlled Vemork, Norway.
 Nov 17 1944 – WW2: Operation Queen, the costly Allied thrust to the Rur river was launched
 Nov 17 1945 – Cold War: Operation Paperclip – the United States Army secretly admits 88 German scientists and engineers to help in the development of rocket technology.
 Nov 17 1970 – Vietnam: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai massacre.
 Nov 18 1909 – Two United States warships are sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) are executed by order of José Santos Zelaya.
 Nov 18 1961 – United States President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.
 Nov 19 1861 – Civil War: Julia Ward Howe writes "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" while visiting Union troops.
 Nov 19 1861 – Civil War: The Confederate raider Nashville captured and burned the Union clipper ship Harvey Birch in the Atlantic Ocean.
 Nov 19 1863 – Civil War: Lincoln delivers the "Gettysburg Address" at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg.
 Nov 19 1943 – WW2: USS Sculpin (SS–191) damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo and later scuttled north of Truk. 12 killed, 51 POWs later died and 21 POWs survived.
 Nov 20 1943 – WW2: U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, one of the bloodiest campaigns waged by American forces against the Japanese in the Pacific.
 Nov 20 1950 – Korea: U.S. troops push to the Yalu River, within five miles of Manchuria.
 Nov 21 1864 – Civil War: From Georgia, Confederate General John B. Hood launches the Franklin–Nashville Campaign into Tennessee
 Nov 21 1970 – Vietnam: Operation Ivory Coast – A joint Air Force and Army team raids the Son Tay prison camp in an attempt to free American prisoners of war thought to be held there.
 Nov 22 1812 – War of 1812: Seventeen Indiana Rangers are killed at the Battle of Wild Cat Creek.
 Nov 22 1864 – Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: Confederate General John Bell Hood invades Tennessee in an unsuccessful attempt to draw Union General William T. Sherman from Georgia.
 Nov 22 1943 – WW2: War in the Pacific – U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chinese leader Chiang Kai–Shek meet in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss ways to defeat Japan (see Cairo Conference)
 Nov 23 1863 – Civil War: Union forces win the Battle of Orchard Knob, Tennessee.
 Nov 23 1863 – Civil War: The Battle of Chattanooga in Tennessee, one of the most decisive battles of the War, begins.
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 Nov 23 1914 – Mexican Revolution: The last of U.S. forces withdraw from Veracruz, occupied seven months earlier in response to the Tampico Affair.
 Nov 23 1941 – WW2: U.S. troops move into Dutch Guiana, by agreement with the Netherlands Government in exile, to guard the bauxite mines to protect aluminum ore supplies from the mines in Surinam.
 Nov 23 1943 – WW2: Tarawa and Makin atolls fall to American forces.
 Nov 23 1968 – Vietnam: Battle of Nui Chom Mountain. The 4th Bn, 31st Infantry, 196th Inf Bde fought and destroyed the 21st NVA Regiment on Nui Chom Mountain southwest of Da Nang in a fierce six day battle.
 Nov 24 1943 – WW2: The USS Liscome Bay is torpedoed near Tarawa and sinks with nearly 650 men killed.
 Nov 23 1944 – WW2: The first bombing raid against Tokyo is carried out by 88 American aircraft from Saipan.
 Nov 24 1979 – The United States admits that thousands of troops in Vietnam were exposed to the toxic Agent Orange.
 Nov 25 1940 – WW2: First flight of the deHavilland Mosquito and Martin B–26 Marauder.
 Nov 26 1941 – WW2: The Japanese fleet departs from the Kuril Islands en route to its attack on Pearl Harbor.
 Nov 27 1950 – Korea: China sent 200,000 troops across the border of Korea at Chosin Reservoir to attack U.N. forces..
 Nov 27 1950 – Korea: East of the Choosing River, Chinese forces annihilate an American task force.
 Nov 28 1941 – WW2: The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise departs from Pearl Harbor to deliver F4F Wildcat fighters to Wake Island. This mission saves the carrier from destruction when the Japanese attack.
 Nov 29 1776 – American Revolution: The Battle of Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia comes to an end with the arrival of British reinforcements.
 Nov 29 1864 – Indian Wars: Sand Creek Massacre – Colorado volunteers led by Colonel John Chivington massacre at least 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho noncombatants inside Colorado Territory.
 Nov 29 1864 – Civil War: Battle of Spring Hill – Confederate advance into Tennessee misses opportunity to crush Union army. Gen. Hood angered, leads to Battle of Franklin.
 Nov 29 1872 – Indian Wars: The Modoc War begins with the Battle of Lost River.
 Nov 29 1950 – Korea: North Korean and Chinese troops force United Nations forces to retreat from North Korea.
 Nov 30 1782 – American Revolution: The British sign a preliminary agreement in Paris, recognizing American independence
 Nov 30 1864 – Civil War: Battle of Franklin – The Army of Tennessee led by General John Bell Hood mounts a dramatically unsuccessful frontal assault on Union positions
 Nov 30 1942 – WW2: Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Tassafaronga – A smaller squadron of Japanese destroyers defeats a US cruiser force.
 Nov 30 1950 – Korea: President Truman declares that the United States will use the A–bomb to get peace.
 Nov 30 1995 – Official end of Operation Desert Storm.
[Source: Various Nov 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia 62: Crazy Cold War Projects Part 2
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Questions
1. During the 1960s, the CIA decided it was tired of the boring, conventional methods of surveillance. This led to the launch of "Operation Acoustic Kitty," one of the strangest programs ever devised to spy on an enemy. What did the operation entail?
A. Implanting cats with microphones and antennas to spy on Soviet agents
B. Implanting cats with video recorders to visually spy on Soviet agents
C. Implanting cats with GPS units and having them follow Soviet agents
D. Creating remotely-controlled robotic cats so they could sneak it into the Soviet embassy and steal documents
2. Operation Acoustic Kitty cost anywhere from $15 million to over $20 million to start, but was deemed a failure after only a single test. That test involved a cat spying on two men in a park in Washington, D.C. What went wrong?
A. Both men noticed the cat looked very odd and stayed away from it
B. The cat was distracted by a squirrel and ran off
C. The cat was hit by a taxi while crossing the road immediately after being released
D. One of the men was allergic to cats and kicked it, causing the implanted equipment to fail
3. In 1958, the United States began looking at Canada's Athabasca Oil Sands as a possible major oil source, with around 2 trillion barrels available. However, the viscosity was far too high to be pumped out using normal methods. This brought in "Project Oilsand," which planned on reducing the viscosity of the Oil Sands by what method?
A. Drilling deep into the North American Plate to cause a man-made earthquake and shake up the deposits
B. Employing giant microwave emitters to boil the deposits under the surface
C. Deploying a space-based laser to heat up the Oil Sands and boil the deposits
D. Detonating a nuclear bomb underground to boil the deposits
4. In early 1959, Canada's Federal Mines Department approved Project Oilsand, and a test site was selected in Alberta. However, the project was cancelled in 1962 before any tests were conducted. What caused the quick reversal of opinion on the project?
A. The US and USSR agreed that if the USSR took its missiles out of Cuba, the US would not test in Canada
B. They realized the radiation would make the crude oil unusable even if it was extracted
C. It was determined that Soviet agents had penetrated Canada and the threat of them stealing a bomb was too high
D. Canada announced a new non-proliferation policy, and no nuclear detonations would happen in the country
5. In early 1962, the CIA devised a plan to finally take down Fidel Castro once and for all. "Operation Northwoods" was proposed and accepted by the Joint Chiefs to accomplish this feat. What did the Agency plan on doing?
A. Sending exploding cigars to Fidel Castro
B. Sending Cuban exiles to the Bay of Pigs to invade Cuba and overthrow the government
C. Faking Cuban terrorist attacks on US territory and property to justify an invasion of Cuba
D. Replacing Castro with a look-alike who would destroy the Cuban government from the inside
6. Operation Northwoods included a variety of possibilities to help it achieve its main goal of taking down Fidel Castro. Which of these possibilities were NOT considered in order to get the job done?
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A. Dress up marines in Cuban uniforms and stage an amphibious assault on Key West
B. Creating a terror campaign in Florida and Washington, D.C. aimed at Cuban refugees
C. Blowing up an American ship in Guantanamo Bay to create another "Remember the Maine" incident
D. Building a replica Cuban MiG aircraft and having pilots harass American airspace
7. Three days after the proposal memo for Operation Northwoods was sent from the Joint Chiefs to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, it was proposed to President John F. Kennedy. What was Kennedy's response to seeing the plans laid out before him?
A. McNamara decided to reject the plan himself and not even let Kennedy see it
B. He accepted the plan initially, but the Cuban Missile Crisis put an end to it
C. He flat out rejected the plan and denied the Joint Chiefs' chairman the opportunity to get another term
D. He accepted the plan and had it postponed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but died before putting it into action
8. Annoyed at the American moon landing in 1969, the USSR felt that it had to respond in kind by one-upping the feat. It revived the TMK project, originally proposed in 1959, which planned a June 8, 1971 launch to send a crew of three in a 125 cubic meter spacecraft to perform a flyby of Mars. How long was this flight supposed to last, assuming everything went according to plan?
2 years, 3 months, and 4 days | 21 months, and 1 week | 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days | 14 months, and 19 days
9. Feeling that a manned Mars flyby simply wasn't impressive enough, the USSR scrapped the TMK-1 plan. In its place came TMK-E, which included a much larger spacecraft to take a crew of six to actually land on the surface of Mars and stay there for a year. How did they plan on the cosmonauts getting around on the surface?
A. They would have to move by foot since there was no spare room for anything else
B. Bicycles were included so they didn't have to rely on powered vehicles
C. A nuclear-powered "Mars Train" would be assembled on the surface from parts kept on the spacecraft
D. Two "Mars Rovers" would be sent down with the crew
10. Unfortunately for the USSR, the TMK plan failed to materialize. There were numerous problems from the outset, but the most pressing was the fact that the Soviet N1 rocket that was supposed to be used for the project (and also the proposed moon missions before that) had serious malfunctions. How far did the rocket get in testing?
A. Several tests made it to orbit, but all crashed on their return flights
B. No tests made it out of Earth's atmosphere without it being destroyed
C. Only one of ten tests made it to orbit and returned safely
D. All the tests were successful, but it was determined too much damage would be done to the cargo during liftoff
ANSWERS:
1. A. The actual procedure used in Acoustic Kitty was described by a former CIA agent and sounds quite gruesome, especially to cat lovers. Not only were surgeries done on cats to have the microphones and antennas (along with a battery to keep them functioning) implanted, but also they put in a wire to override the cat's sense of hunger to keep it from wandering off on the job. Details were not given as where the microphone and battery were placed, but the antenna supposedly ran up the cat's tail. Massive training was done so that the cats could be controlled and actually knew what to do, but the operation ended up not lasting very long.
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2. C. Just after CIA operatives released a cat for Acoustic Kitty's first test run, a taxi ran it over. The only positive sign from the test was that the two men were actually across the street, so the cat may have actually been going towards them. The remains were collected quickly, but the project was considered a complete failure. In 1967 the operation was dismantled. According to unclassified documents, the only redeeming factor that came out of Acoustic Kitty was that they learned cats could be trained to be used in surveillance, but "the environmental and security factors in using this technique in a real foreign situation force us to conclude that, for our purposes, it would not be practical."
3. D. One of many projects to use nuclear power for peaceful means (other than power plants), Project Oilsand was introduced by L.M. Natland, an employee of the American-based (but British Petroleum-owned) company Richfield Oil. The Athabasca Oil Sands have roughly 2 trillion barrels of oil locked in a semi-solid state called bitumen. Because of this, normal methods of drilling could not be used unless the viscosity was lowered to a more liquid-like state. In theory the detonation of the 9-kiloton nuclear bomb underground would cause so much heat and pressure that the bitumen would boil to a lower viscosity, and open up a massive oil site very close to the United States.
4. D. Much like Project Iceworm in Greenland, Project Oilsand never got off the ground because the host country - this time Canada - moved to a non-proliferation status. It was determined that Canada could not risk possible Soviet incursion, whether outright or covert, because they allowed American nuclear detonations on (or under) their soil. When it was originally accepted by the Federal Mines Department, Branch Director John Covey noted that the entire project may require up to 100 bombs: "That sounds like an awful lot of explosives, but you have to remember that this won't be accomplished overnight."
5. C. Operation Northwoods was every conspiracy theorist's dream. The Joint Chiefs approved the plan in early 1962 and wrote a memo describing the plan to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on March 13. The memo said that "World opinion, and the United Nations forum should be favorably affected by developing the international image of the Cuban government as rash and irresponsible, and as an alarming and unpredictable threat to the peace of the Western Hemisphere." Since the plan also happened months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, it also made the point that "There is as yet no bilateral mutual support agreement binding the USSR to the defense of Cuba, Cuba has not yet become a member of the Warsaw Pact, nor have the Soviets established Soviet bases in Cuba."
6. A. All of the other choices given were considered for Operation Northwoods along with several other options for subverting Castro's power. The "Remember the Maine" re-creation also gave another option for blowing up an unmanned vessel anywhere in Cuban waters, and when Cuban planes and boats went to investigate, the US would claim that it was actually the attacking force. The terror campaign was proposed to go so far as to widely publicize the wounding of refugees in assassination attempts and to explode "a few plastic bombs in carefully chosen spots."
The use of aircraft also had several options. The Air Force would have the option of simply re-painting an F-86 to "convince air passengers that they saw a Cuban MiG, especially if the pilot of the transport [commercial airliner] were to announce such fact." They also said "reasonable copies of the MiG could be produced from US resources in about three months." Also possible was the faking of said MiG to "shoot down" a made up commercial airliner going to a foreign country so that the flight plan would be over Cuba. Another break from that plan was to have agents board a plane, and when they were in the air an exact duplicate plane (unmanned) would rendezvous with it in the air and continue on the original's flight path, and the plane with the real passengers would go back to the US. The drone would then signal it was under attack once near Cuba and an explosive would be triggered via radio. It was also discussed that the fake MiG could be used to "shoot down" a USAF aircraft.
7. C. A memo from Ed Lansdale sent to the Joint Chiefs after meeting with President Kennedy stated the following: "The President said bluntly that we were not discussing the use of military force, that General Lemnitzer
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[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs] might find the U.S. so engaged in Berlin or elsewhere that he couldn't use the contemplated 4 divisions in Cuba." While Lemnitzer was denied the chance to get another term as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, in January 1963 he was named the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. It certainly didn't help the plan that less than a year before, the Bay of Pigs invasion had been a complete failure, and Kennedy had the top level of the CIA dismantled because of it. Thankfully, President Kennedy realized that the strategy of attacking yourself in order to attack someone else was just as insane as it sounds.
8. 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days. TMK-1 was planned to be launched on June 8, 1971, and not return to Earth until July 10, 1974. The flight to Mars would take an estimated 10.5 months, and the crew would drop remotely-controlled landers to the surface. Other variations actually had the crew also making a flyby of Venus, but there was no estimate to how much longer that would make the trip. To give a good example of how small a space the crew of three was supposed to live in during this time, the Cessna Skycatcher single-engine airplane has exterior dimensions of 2.53m x 6.95m x 9.14m, which means it has a total volume of just over 160 cubic meters. That still leaves it at 35 cubic meters larger than the living area on TMK-1.
9. C. TMK-E was supposedly going to be powered using nuclear-powered ion engines, which could be taken from the ship and used to power a "Mars Train" that would be assembled on the Martian surface. The train itself would include a crew cabin, a launch cabin with a "convertiplane" capable of vertical takeoff included for air travel, two launch wagons each with a rocket capable of leaving the Martian atmosphere to return to TMK-E, and the caboose would be the nuclear reactor powering the train. The crew was supposed to actually go from pole to pole collecting soil samples and doing assorted research before returning to Earth. Curiously, the TMK-E mission was estimated to take only 1,000 days, making it shorter than the TMK-1 mission even with the year-long stop on Mars.
10. B. The N1 rocket went through four different tests. The first exploded at just over 12 kilometers in the air after 69 seconds of flight. The second is perhaps the most famous, exploding after only 23 seconds with 2,600 tons of fuel on board. Both of those tests occurred in 1969. Two years later, the third test was destroyed after 51 seconds at only one kilometer off the ground. The final test took place in late 1972, and made it to 40 kilometers after nearly 107 seconds, but an explosion completely demolished the craft. In 1974, the N1 program was stopped, and with it ended Soviet aspirations for both moon and Mars landings.
[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz318809247f6c0.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Oregon Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Oregon.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: None Gasoline Tax: 31.0 cents/gallon . Rates to do not include local option taxes of 1 to 2 cents. Diesel Fuel Tax: 30.3 cents/gallon. Rates to do not include local option taxes of 1 to 2 cents. (Local fuel taxes may add 1 to 3 cents) Cigarette Tax: $1.18/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
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Tax Rate Range: Low – 5%; High – 11%. Starting in tax year 2009 the personal income tax rate is 10.8% on taxable income over $125,000 but not over $250,000, and 11% on taxable income over $250,000. For tax years after 2011, the highest rate will be 9.9% on taxable income over $125,000. Income Brackets: Three. Lowest – $3,050; Highest – $250,000 (For joint returns, the taxes are twice the tax imposed on half the income.) Personal Tax Credits: Single – $169; Married – $348; Dependents – $169 Additional Credits: Credit equal to 40% of federal credit Standard Deduction: Single – $1,865; Married filing jointly – $3,735; Deduction greater if age 65 or older. Additional Deduction: Single over 65 – $1,200; Married over 65 filing jointly $2,000 Medical/Dental Deduction: Full only for age 59 or older, if itemized. Oregon allows a tax credit on long-term care insurance premiums. The credit is the smaller of 15% of premiums paid or $500. Federal Income Tax Deduction: $5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately) Retirement Income Taxes: New residents will find that their pension income along with all other income regardless of the source, will be taxed by Oregon. The state does not tax Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. Depending on your age and income, you may be entitled to a retirement income credit on your Oregon return. If you receive a U.S. government pension, you may be entitled to subtract part or all of that pension on your Oregon Individual income tax return.
Retired Military Pay: Federal retirees, including military personnel, may be able to subtract some or all of their federal pension income. This includes benefits paid to the retiree or to the surviving spouse. The subtraction amount is based on the number of months of federal service before and after October 1, 1991. Retirees can subtract their entire federal pension if all the months of federal service occurred before October 1, 1991. If there are no months of service before October 1, 1991, retirees cannot subtract any federal pension. If service included months before and after October 1, 1991, retirees can subtract a percentage of their pension income. 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
Oregon does not grant homeowners a homestead exemption. Tax rates are set by the counties and any special considerations are levied by county officials. Homeowners 62 or older may delay paying property taxes based on certain income criteria. The state offers a Disabled Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program and a Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program. Both deferral programs allow qualified taxpayers to defer payment of their property taxes on their homes. The state pays the taxes to the county, maintains the account, and charges 6% simple interest, which also is deferred. Taxes are owed when the taxpayer receiving the deferral dies, sells the property, ceases to live permanently on the property, or the property changes ownership.
To qualify for either program, the taxpayer must live on the property and have a total household income of less than $39,500 for the year before application. Participants may remain on either program as long as their federal adjusted gross income does not exceed that amount. If a participant’s income exceeds the $39,500 limit, part of the taxes still may be deferred. Participants can come in and out of the programs if their income changes. In addition to meeting the income limitation and property ownership requirement, disabled persons must be receiving or be eligible to receive federal Social Security Disability benefits to qualify. Residents must be 62 years old or older to qualify for the Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program. For more information Call 800-356-4222 or 503-376-4988 or refer to http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/SCD/Pages/seniordef.aspx.
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Inheritance and Estate Taxes
At the beginning of 2012, the laws governing Oregon’s inheritance tax changed. First the name of the tax changed from an “inheritance tax” to an “estate tax.” This is consistent with the majority of states and the federal government which defines an estate tax as a tax on an entire estate while an inheritance tax is defined as a tax assessed against only certain beneficiaries of an estate.
In addition, while the estate tax emption of $1,000,000 remains in effect. The tax will only apply to the value of an estate in excess of $1,000,000. Under current law once an estate exceeds $1,000,000 the tax applies to the entire estate and the rates change such that the majority of estates valued between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 will pay slightly less in taxes an estates valued over $2,000,000 will pay slightly more in taxes.
For more information refer tp http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/business/form-it-1-150-103-001-2011.pdf?ga=t
Note: Oregon has a statutory provision for automatic adjustment of tax brackets, personal exemption or standard deductions to the rate of inflation. For further information, visit the Oregon Department of Revenue site http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/Pages/index.aspx or call 503-378-4988. If you are thinking of moving to Oregon, check out http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/Pages/faq-moving.aspx.
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Nov 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art (17):
Ambush!
by Heinz Krebs
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Pictured is Lt. Heino Sachsenberg in his Focke Wulf 190 Dora 9 "Rote 1" W.Nr. 600424, as he turns to engage P-51s over the airfield of Ainring in an attempt to protect the approaching Me262 jet fighters from an attack by the Mustangs. [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/AmbushORG.html Nov 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 13 NOV 2012: The Senate and House reconvened at 1400 on 13 NOV to begin their lame Duck session. For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: http://www.loc.gov Oct 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? Kulula Airlines.
Kulula is a low-cost South-African airline that doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out their new livery!
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On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want)
Passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced ---
"People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it !"
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said ---
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
On landing, the stewardess said ---
 "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it 's something we'd like to have."
 "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
 "Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
 As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo, a flight attendant on a flight announced ---
"Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
From a Kulula employee ---
 "Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth . To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
 "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
 "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."
 "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
 "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."
 And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town ---
The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."
Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day ---
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During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing ---
"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline". He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it ?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with ---
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement ---
"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."
Heard on a Kulula flight ---
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."
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Naval Lingo: Geedunk. To most sailors the word geedunk means ice cream, candy, potato chips and other assorted snacks, or even the place where they can be purchased. No one, however, knows for certain where the term originated, but there are several plausible theories.
1) In the 1920's a comic strip character named Harold Teen and his friends spent a great amount of time at Pop's candy store. The store's owner called it The Geedunk for reasons never explained.
2) The Chinese word meaning a place of idleness sounds something like gee dung.
3) Geedunk is the sound made by a vending machine when it dispenses a soft drink in a cup.
4) It may be derived from the German word tunk meaning to dip or sop either in gravy or coffee. Dunking was a common practice in days when bread, not always obtained fresh, needed a bit of tunking to soften it. The ge is a German unaccented prefix denoting repetition. In time it may have changed from getunk to geedunk.
Whatever theory we use to explain geedunk's origin, it doesn't alter the fact that Navy people are glad it all got started.
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October 2012 Update

2012-10-15T23:52:00.001-04:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Vet Lawsuit ~ KBR ----------------------------- (Qarmat Ali Exposure)
== DoD Lawsuit ~ Edgewood [06] ------------------- (Case Can Proceed)
== DoD Sexual Abuse [03] -------- (Corrective Efforts Lack Substance)
== SSA Widow(er)'s Benefits [01] -------------------- (Think Long Term)
== VRAP [05] ---------------------------------------------------- (Scam Alert)
== Homes4WoundedHeroes Program [01] ----- (California Availability)
== Vet Service Dogs [08] ---------------- (Affordability and Availability)
== TRICARE Young Adult Program [08] ----------- (10% Participation)
== TRICARE Access to Care --------------------------------------- (Survey)
== TRICARE Philippines Demonstration Project [04] ---- (1 JAN 2013)
== TRICARE Breast Cancer Coverage [02] ---------------------- (Exams)
== Long Term Care FLTCIP [08] ------------- (TRICARE Involvement)
== Obit ~ Sam Gibbons] ------------------------------------ (10 OCT 2012)
== Flu Shots [04] ----------------------------------------------- (New Strains)
== NDAA 2013 [10] -------------------------------- (Senate Amendments)
== NDAA 2013 [11] ------------------------ (Coalition Letter on Priorities)
== U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum ------------------------- (Overview)
== U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum [01] ---------- (20th Anniversary)
== Tattoo Removal [03] ---------------------------------------- (Job Impact)
== VA Diabetes Mellitus Care [09] ------------------------ (Pilot Program)
== Veterans Pension [03] ----------------------------------- (Asset Transfer)
== VA Care Assessment ----------------- (American Legion Thumbs Up)
== Wreaths Across America [06] ------------------------------------ (2012)
== Vet Cremains [18] ----------------------------- (Williamsburg, Virginia)
== Vet Cremains [19] ---------------------------------------- (St. Louis MO)
== Stop-loss Pay [13] ------------------------- (Opportunity Ends 21 OCT)
== USERRA [14] ----------------- (Guardsman Michael Hanke Lawsuit)
== VA Cemeteries [08] ---------------------------- ($47 Million Awarded)
== VA Cemeteries [09] ----------------------------------------- (NCA Sitrep)
== Vet Charity Watch [28] -------------- (Alias Bobby Thompson ID’ed)
== Mobilized Reserve 9 OCT 2012----------------------- (1461 Decrease)
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== VA Lawsuit ~ Michael Nash ------------------- (Medical Malpractice)
== Presidential 2012 Election ----------------------------- (Military Issues)
== BRAC [29] ----------------------------------------------- (Hill AFB Utah)
== Golden Gate National Recreation Area ----- (Battery Townsley Gun)
== Aid & Attendance [09] -------------- (Check Out www.veteranaid.org)
== VA Claim Processing [07] ------------------------ (Spec Ops Veterans)
== VA Conference Scandal [01] ---------------------- (IG Report Results)
== Commissary News [07] -------------------- - (Major Changes Coming)
== Commissary News [08] -------------- (Disabled Vet Commissary Use)
== VA Pain Care [01] ------------------------------ (Uncounted Casualties)
== VA Pain Care [02] ----------- (Pharmaceutical Companies Influence)
== Pentagon Contractor Data Breach ----- (MOH/DSC Recipient SSN’s)
== Medagate OTC Card ----------- (AAFES Now Accepting Worldwide)
== VA Cancer Treatment [02] ----------------- (Breast Cancer Screening)
== VA COLA 2013 [01] ----------------- (Hold on Senate Bill Removed)
== PTSD [117] ----------------------------------- (Driving Rehab Therapy)
== PTSD [118] ------------------------------------- (VA’s Retooling Effort)
== PTSD [119] ----------------------------------------- (Medical Marijuana)
== IDES [01] ** ------------------------------------ (Progress Report Dim)
== TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order [02] ** ---- (Ger Delivery to Stop)
== VA Claims Backlog [75] ** ------ (Interest on Retroactive Benefits)
== VA Claims Backlog [76] --- (Congressman Fitzpatrick Perspective)
== Vet Jobs [86] -------------------------------------------- (S.3624 Passed)
== Vet Jobs [87] -------------------------------------------- (VA Job Search)
== Vet Jobs [88] ----------------------- (Secrets To Beat The Job Market)
== Vet Jobs [89] -------------------------------------------------- (Nebraska)
== Vet License Plates IA -------------------------------------- (Availability)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of 14 Oct 2012)
== WWII Vets [29] ---------------------------------------- (James McNiece)
== Korean War Vets ------------------------------------------- (David Mills)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (15)
== POW/MIA [29] ------------------------------------------ (1-15 Oct 2012)
== Saving Money ------------------------------------- (Retailer Price Tricks)
== VSO - Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund ----- (Vet Support Organization)
== Notes of Interest ----------------------------------------- (1-14 Oct 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [102] ---------------------------------- (1-14 Oct 2012)
== Medicaid Fraud [72] ----------------------------------- (1-14 Oct 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits --------------------------------- (Georgia 2012)
== Military History ------------------------ (Operation Commando Hunt)
== Military History Anniversaries ---------------- (Oct 16–31 Summary)
== Military Trivia 60 --------------------------------- (Vietnam GI Jargon)
== Tax Burden for Ohio Retirees ------------------------ (As of Oct 2012)
== Aviation Art ---------------------------------------- (Victory Over Gold)
== Veteran Legislation Status 14 Oct 2012 ----------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ------------------------------- (Vet Hats and Morons)

Vet Lawsuit ~ KBR: A war contractor knew a critical southern Iraq oilfield plant was riddled with a well-known toxin but ignored the risk to soldiers while hurrying the project along, firing a whistleblower and covering up the presence of the chemical when faced with exposure, the soldiers' attorney said in opening arguments 10 OCT in a federal civil suit. An attorney for the contractor, Kellogg, Brown and Root, fired back in his opening salvo of a trial expected to last weeks that the soldiers' injuries weren't a result of their exposure to the toxin, called sodium dichromate. Geoffrey L. Harrison argued that the company had no knowledge of the chemical's presence at the plant and when they found it, they promptly and repeatedly warned the military of the danger. A jury of six men and six women will decide whether the company is culpable for 12 Oregon National Guardsmen's exposure to the toxin, a known carcinogen, and whether that exposure led to their ongoing respiratory illnesses. The soldiers will also try to show that the fear of future illnesses is causing them to suffer emotional distress. The irony, said the soldiers' attorney, Mike Doyle, "is that every single one of these men had a chemical hazard suit they would have put on instantly if they had known." KBR tried to warn the U.S. Army about the dangers of sodium dichromate, Harrison said, but didn't go to the soldiers themselves because that wasn't the proper channel of communication. "That was appropriate," Harrison said. "That was not concealment." The suit dates to prewar Iraq, when the U.S. Army feared then-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein would react to an invasion by setting his own oil fields ablaze, as he had done in Kuwait after the Gulf War. Seeking to head off Hussein, in late 2002 the army contracted KBR and tasked them with assessing and repairing Iraqi oilfield installations. One of the most central - and critical to a continued supply of oil from the Gulf - was called Qarmat Ali. Qarmat Ali operated as a water treatment plant, injecting heavier, treated water into the ground to force oil to rise through wells to the surface. One of the chemicals Iraqi workers had been using was sodium dichromate, a substance long restricted in the U.S. over environmental and health concerns. What the Guardsmen found in late March or early April 2003 was a run-down plant, Harrison said, looted and stripped of copper wire. The ground, the soldiers allege, was contaminated with sodium dichromate. When they asked about the risks, the soldiers contend they were rebuffed or placated, and safety equipment wasn't ordered until they had been on site for months. The soldiers returned to the U.S. suffering from myriad respiratory problems, migraines and lung issues. They sued KBR in June 2009. The Oregon soldiers were joined by Guardsmen from Indiana and West Virginia, some of whom are also involved in suits against KBR.
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Harrison pointed to a U.S. Army medical evaluation of the soldiers from October 2003 that found that the soldiers' medical issues were likely a result of the conditions - dry desert air, other chemicals - or preexisting conditions, along with consumption of protein-heavy supplements and the presence of sodium dichromate. "At best, there's some possibility that some of their on-site symptoms could be related (to sodium dichromate exposure), but most likely, were not," Harrison said. Doyle said an attempt by a KBR employee in August or September 2003 to blow the whistle on the company's role in the alleged deception of the soldiers was met with the man's dismissal from the plant. Doyle said the company was seeking an incentive from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finish the work quickly and would brook no complaint from employees about safety concerns. Harrison dismissed the whistleblower as a "disruptive force" at meetings who didn't know that KBR and the U.S. Army were already in talks about the toxin. In depositions taken of senior KBR officials, Doyle points to memory "black holes" that the officials say they suffer when trying to remember events from post-invasion Iraq. "Photographs also went into a black hole," Doyle said. "E-mails went into a black hole." Harrison told the jury that Doyle's assertions about the memories of KBR executives were "little sound bites that he hopes stick with you." "Some 200 people were deposed," Harrison said. "To get one person who doesn't remember everything from 8 (or) 9 years ago is not evidence." Doyle is expected to call at least 40 witnesses, from toxicologists to engineers and the soldiers themselves. "KBR had a responsibility," Doyle said. "They were full well aware from their assessment that sodium dichromate was present. "It's no surprise that they documented it existed since Day One." [Source: Associated Press | Nigel Duara | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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DoD Lawsuit ~ Edgewood Update 06: A North Carolina’s man’s quest to learn how the military had experimented on him in the 1960s has turned into a class-action lawsuit for as many as 100,000 veterans the government used to test hundreds of different drugs, chemicals and biological agents over more than 50 years. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in the Northern District of California last week said the case could go ahead on behalf of any current or former service members who were subjected to chemical or biological testing without their informed consent. The government has said as many as 100,000 people were used for such testing between 1922 and 1975, when the military says it halted human experimentation. The suit seeks to lift the oath of secrecy soldiers say they swore about what they went through, and asks the court to compel the government to provide the health care it promised subjects when they participated in the tests. It does not ask for monetary damages because the government is immune from most damage claims brought by military personnel. Defendants in the case are the Department of Defense, the Army, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the CIA, which worked together to plan and conduct the tests. Representative of the VA and the Defense Department each said they could not comment on ongoing litigation.
In the 1980s, the National Academies of Science determined that the tests caused no significant long-term physical harm, except in veterans exposed to larger doses of mustard gas, according to VA. In 2004, the NAS followed up and said veterans could suffer post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of “perceived exposure to biochemical warfare agents.” The VA advises any veterans concerned about exposures during testing to contact their health care provider or local VA Environmental Health Coordinator. The plaintiffs in the case have uncovered documents that indicate veterans were exposed to mustard gas, Sarin, phosgene gas, Thorazine, LSD, amphetamines, barbiturates and other agents—sometimes at 10 or more times known tolerances. In response to the lawsuit, the government says the experiments did not cause long-term problems. The judge in the case said the government’s own documents indicate otherwise.
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Subjects volunteered for the tests, but most weren’t told what they were exposed to, or what the risks were, according to the lawsuit. “This action chronicles a chilling tale of human experimentation, covert military operations, and heretofore unchecked abuses of power by our own government,” the suit says. “These people were used as cannon fodder, as guinea pigs,” said Gordon Erspamer of Morrison & Foerster, a San Francisco law firm that brought the suit in January 2009 on behalf of several veterans and two organizations: Vietnam Veterans of America and Swords to Plowshares. Since the testing ended, Erspamer says, the agencies involved have resisted Congressional instructions to find the people it tested and notify them that they may have ongoing problems associated with the tests. “The government looks at them this way: ‘It’s not in our interest to try to find them; it’s not in our interest to treat them. It’s just going to cost us money,” Erspamer said. Erspamer also has represented soldiers injured by exposure to Agent Orange and has worked on behalf of veterans who were exposed to radiation during atomic testing. He agreed to take the case of the test vets after talking to Frank D. Rochelle of Jacksonville.
Rochelle grew up in Onslow County and was drafted into the Army in 1968 at age 20. He went through boot camp at Fort Bragg and was assigned to Fort Lee in Virginia, where he soon saw notices asking for volunteers to test new military uniforms and equipment. The young private, enticed by the promise of no kitchen or guard duty for the duration of the tests, volunteered and was sent to what was then called the Edgewood Arsenal, north of Baltimore, Md. Once at Edgewood, Rochelle says, he was told some servicemen might be given the chance to test therapeutic drugs, and those who did would be given Fridays off and a medal. He says they were promised they wouldn’t be harmed, that the drugs were risk-free and would be given at normal doses. Rochelle signed up. In one experiment, he says, he got one breath of an aerosol chemical so potent that he immediately had trouble breathing and seeing. He felt dizzy and nauseous, he says, and felt as if his legs were “falling through the floor.” He recalls being carried out of the room, and said, “I stayed high for two days.” During that episode, Rochelle hallucinated that animals were coming out of the walls. He thought his freckles were bugs moving under his skin and used a razor to try to cut them out.
Before Rochelle left Edgewood, he says, he was told never to discuss his experiences there with anyone. He returned to Fort Lee and later served in Vietnam before getting out of the Army in 1970. A few years ago, Rochelle was having some health and psychological problems he couldn’t explain, including high blood pressure, memory loss, eye problems and PTSD-type symptoms including nervousness, sudden bursts of anger, and problems sleeping. At the time, Rochelle was still working in a civilian job at Camp Lejeune. He has since retired. “I started thinking, ‘What has happened in my life that could be causing this?’” Rochelle said. “I started thinking about those tests and I realized I knew nothing about the types of drugs I had taken.” Eventually, Rochelle, now 64, got his military medical records, which included information about his time at Edgewood. He now believes some of his current problems are related to a high dose of a drug he was given with properties similar to atropine, which works on the nervous system, and another drug, a powerful synthetic analogue of THC, the active component of cannabis.
Roughly 7,600 service members were used in experiments at Edgewood, and thousands more in testing done elsewhere, according to the lawsuit. Erspamer says Rochelle is one of a rare few who have been able to get the VA to treat him for problems he believes are related to his time at Edgewood. Most are turned down because of the government’s position that the substances given in the experiments had no harmful effects. The whole purpose of many of the tests, Erspamer says, was to determine what doses of different drugs, chemicals or biological agents could be administered without causing death. During the Cold War years, especially, the government was searching for substances that could be used to get spies to talk during interrogations, that could incapacitate large numbers of people without killing them, allow them to be hypnotized, confuse them, lower their productivity, paralyze them or have other effects. Like other veterans, Erspamer says, Rochelle was reluctant to tell even his own doctor that he had been involved in the tests because he had been instructed never to discuss them. Some wouldn’t even tell the VA. The case is scheduled to go to trial in San Francisco next summer. [Source: The Raleigh News & Observer | Martha Quillin | 11 Oct 2012 ++]
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DoD Sexual Abuse Update 03: Advocates, victims and members of Congress have been calling for change in the way the military deals with sexual assault since at least 1991, when 83 women reported being sexually assaulted by Navy and Marine Corps aviators at the annual Tailhook convention. And some things have changed. Each widely publicized scandal has brought new rules, reports or training designed to create a “zero tolerance” culture. But critics say that even the recent changes enacted by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta are not nearly enough, and more drastic measures are necessary to discourage sexual assault and foster a culture where victims are not afraid to report crimes.
Panetta announced a new Defense Department program in January requiring military sexual assault response coordinators and victim advocates to receive training that meets national civilian agency standards. He set aside $9.3 million for training in the next five years to improve investigations and prosecutions. Then, in April, Panetta announced more initiatives — including a requirement that the most serious sexual assault offenses be reported to and assessed by a colonel or general, or a vice admiral or admiral in the Navy. That change is more superficial than substantial, said Ariana Klay, a former Marine officer who, along with seven other women, is involved in a lawsuit against Panetta, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos and their predecessors. They allege that the men charged with leading the Defense Department, Navy and Marine Corps have allowed a culture that tolerates sexual assault while punishing victims, and they are seeking damages “to compensate them for being raped, assaulted, harassed, and retaliated against for reporting such conduct.” Fourteen women and five men filed a similar suit in September against Panetta, his predecessors, Army Secretary John McHugh and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.
Klay graduated from the Naval Academy and deployed to Iraq before being stationed at Marine Barracks Washington, the oldest post in the Marine Corps and the home of the commandant. There, Klay said she was repeatedly sexually harassed by other Marines and later was raped by a fellow officer and his friend at her home two blocks from the post. As an officer, Klay’s report went straight to a colonel. But she said she still faced retaliation and harassment in what she and her husband say was an attempt to discredit her and paint the incident as a consensual act. The officer Klay accused was court-martialed and convicted of adultery and indecent language, but not sexual assault or rape. “The commander still owns the truth,” Klay said. “There’s often more of a conflict of interest [for colonels] because they’re career Marines. They have a shot at general at that point. No one wants to report an assault on their watch.” [Source: Stars and Stripes | Jennifer Hlad | 11 Oct 2012 ++]
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SSA Widow(er)'s Benefits Update 01: In the event of a veteran’s death the surviving spouse, starting at age 60, is entitled to collect monthly beneits on the veterans’ Social Security account. His/her decision on whether to start drawing benefits at age 60 or later requires taking a number of factors into consideration Consider the following scenario which would apply to some veteran widow(er)s:
Q: My 66 year–old husband recently passed away before starting Social Security benefits. I’m 63 and still working. I originally planned to wait until age 66 to start benefits, but I need extra income. Could you give me some ideas about when I should start?
A: Before doing anything else make sure you have a realistic budget, and think long term. You want your income and savings to be adequate as long as possible, 30 years or even longer is not unrealistic for someone your age. In developing a budget, look back over at least three years to include large expenditures for periodic home maintenance and repairs, transportation, medical costs and other large costs. Include what you pay in taxes. Once you get an
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expense figure, allow for at least 3% per year for inflation. Then tally up your income and assets, including the value and expected income from retirement accounts and pensions, if any.
You can apply for widow benefits as early as age 60, but if you start prior to your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced. In addition, your benefits would be further reduced if you earn more than the annual earnings limit, which is $14,640 in 2012 ($1,220 per month). More on this in a moment.
This doesn’t mean you should completely rule out starting widow’s benefits. Depending on your finances, you may be able to start a reduced widow’s benefit now and later switch to your own retirement benefits after your reach full retirement age or later if it would be higher than what you are entitled to now. If your own retirement would not be higher, then starting survivor’s benefits now would lock in a permanently lower benefit.
Here’s an example of how it might work: Let’s say your husband was entitled to a benefit of $17,400 or $1,450 per month. Since he was at his full retirement age there are no reductions. You learn that your full retirement age benefit at age 66 would be about $1,195, and by age 70 it grows to about $1,640. In this case taking a reduced widow’s benefit now and letting your own benefit grow due to the delayed retirement credit may potentially work as long as your earnings don’t completely offset your benefits.
Let’s assume you are 30 months from attaining your full retirement age of 66. Your monthly widow’s benefit would be reduced about 11.9% or $172.60 and you receive $15,328.80 or $1,277.40 per month ($1,450 – $172.90 = $1,277.40). Let’s also assume you currently earn $30,000 a year. Under the earnings restriction rule your benefit would be reduced $1 for every $2 over the limit, while you are under your full retirement age. Your earnings are $15,360 over the annual limit ($30,000 – $14,640 = $15,360). Your benefits would be reduced by $7,680 ($15,360/2 = $7,680). That would leave you $7,648.80 in benefits ($15,328.80 – $7,680 = $7,648.80). Social Security will withhold your benefits for 6 full months and you would then receive your $1,277.40 monthly payment for six months.
This situation is only for 30 months though. Once you turn age 66 you can earn as much as you want without reduction to your Social Security benefits. Meanwhile you continue to work and delay your retirement benefit allowing it to grow. Once you reach age 70 you should go ahead and switch to your own larger retirement benefit, since it won’t grow any larger.
The decision on when to start benefits is complicated and you should get counseling. The Social Security Administration website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov has a great deal of information on survivor’s benefits as well as contact numbers to reach counselors. For more information about working after starting benefits check out How Work Affects Your Benefits Publication No. 05-10069 at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10069.html. [Source: TSCL Social Security & Medicare Questions Oct 2012 ++]
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VRAP Update 05: Veterans Retraining Assistance Program applicants are advised of a potential scam targeting veterans who have either signed up or have been approved for VRAP! A veteran has reported receiving a call from someone named “James” who congratulated him on his VRAP approval. He advised him that he knew the exact amount he was approved for and that the $8500 would be directly deposited into his account within 45 minutes of him giving his banking account number and routing number and paying $205 for the service fee. This person is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA will never charge you to access your benefits or ask you to provide private information over the phone. If you do receive a call like this, contact the Federal Trade
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Commission at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/phonefraud/index.shtml. [Source: Military.com | Terry Howell | 9 Oct 2012 ++]
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Homes4WoundedHeroes Program Update 01: The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) learned 10 OCT that Military Warriors Support Foundation is currently accepting applications online from combat-wounded veterans and unmarried Gold Star Spouses of OIF/OEF for newly-renovated, 100% mortgage-free homes in Bakersfield, Crescent City, Riverbank, Sacramento and Stockton, California. Applicants must be honorably retired or separated from the military and must not currently have a mortgage. Active service members with compelling situations, who are less than 90 days from retirement or separation, may be considered. The homes are donated by the Military Warriors Support Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting our heroes as they transition to civilian life. Besides the homes donation program, the Foundation’s programs include employment assistance and outdoor recreational activities. “We are so glad that the Military Warriors Support Foundation is making mortgage-free homes available in California to our deserving disabled veterans and Gold Star Spouses,” said Peter J. Gravett, Secretary, California Department of Veterans Affairs. “I encourage qualifying OEF/OIF veterans and Gold Star spouses to take advantage of this opportunity. Imagine getting the title to your home after only three years of ownership!”
The homes donation program, Homes4WoundedHeroes, has awarded more than 150 mortgage-free homes across the continental U.S. since its inception in late 2010. The homes come with a free 3-year financial and family mentorship that helps the families understand the fundamentals of home ownership. For more information about Military Warriors Support Foundation and to learn about the homes currently available (new homes are added frequently), go to www. http://www.militarywarriors.org/openhomes. If you don’t see a home you are interested in, fill out an Open Application at http://www.militarywarriors.org/openapplication. Specify up to four locations in which you would like to live. The Foundation will contact you when a home within 50 miles of your location becomes available. [Source: CALVET News Release 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Service Dogs Update 08: The growing list of small nonprofits involved in training affordable assistance dogs for vets has created a Wild West-type atmosphere in the service dog world, creating tension between mom-and-pop groups trying to fill what they call a crucial void and the Veterans Administration and more traditional service dog groups. Exacerbating the situation are several recent actions by the VA, including a decision against covering the cost of service dogs for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries until a study on the scientific benefits can be completed — a study that has itself been plagued with potential delays and problems, including issues with aggression of some of the participating dogs. At the same time, the VA refused to loosen its requirement that service dogs it covers be trained by groups accredited by either Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation.
The actions are frustrating to people like Iraqi war veteran Jim Stanek with posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury He says his life was saved by a dog that gave him the confidence to do seemingly simple things, like go out to dinner and look his wife in the eye rather than watch his own back. Stanek was unable to obtain his own service dog through traditional channels. “I tried like nine different times to get a service dog through organizations,” he said. “The door kept closing. I didn’t have the money. They can cost $10,000 to $30,000 to $60,000.” So he and his wife, Lindsey, a former veterinary clinic worker, decided to train their own rescue dog, Sarge, to be his service dog. That led to the creation of Paws and Stripes, which in nearly two years has matched almost 50 veterans with shelter dogs. The owners select their adult dog from a group of pre-screened shelter dogs.
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The dogs go home immediately with the veteran, then the pair goes through six months of training so the dogs can learn to assist their owners, whether it’s to help them physically or just to provide that back-watching peace of mind that many Iraqi and Afghan war veterans need to do simple things like go into a shopping mall, or sit down to dinner in a restaurant and relax, knowing strangers are behind them.
Paws and Stripes rescue dog, Battle, stands with Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Lawrence Montoya during a training session in Albuquerque, N.M.
Paws and Stripes has a waiting list of 600 vets from around the country. But like a number of similar operations around the country, it is not affiliated with one of the major service dog accreditation groups, although it is working on its application to join ADI. Because of its lack of affiliation and accreditation, Stanek said he had to fight to get his dogs approved for admittance to VA facilities. “A lot of people are trying to get away with bringing their pet with them to the hospital,” said his wife, Lindsey. “That bad apple is ruining it for everyone.” Still, the wide variance in training standards among groups like Paws and Stripes is raising questions in the traditional service dog world. Using shelter dogs, most of whose background and true temperament is unknown, is “like playing Russian Roulette,” said Corey Hudson, secretary of ADI and CEO of Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, Calif. Hudson notes that his group uses only dogs bred specifically for training to be guide dogs or service dogs, and still only about 45 percent graduate. “We want to place a dog that makes them more independent, not dependent,” he said. “Accreditation is a safeguard.”
Sharon Wilson, executive director of Freedom Service Dogs, which works with soldiers from the Wounded Warriors program at Fort Carson, Colo., says her organization also uses shelter dogs in part because Colorado has an abundance of labs and other good service breeds in its shelters. Her group does not place the dogs until they have been trained in house for 7 to 9 months. “PTSD dogs have to be what I call bomb proof,” she said. “You have to know how they are going to react when that pit bull walks by.” Barbara Teasdale, founder of the San Francisco-based Vets Adopt Pets, which hooks veterans up with groups that adopt shelter dogs or provide service animals, says there is a need for standards. But she notes that many of the groups working to help vets are small “labor of love operations” that can’t afford accreditation fees. And the groups are filling two needs: helping vets and giving homeless dogs a second chance, she said.
One thing they all seem to agree on, however, is that dogs do help soldiers suffering PTSD. “For instance, we had a client who had night terrors,” said Wilson. “He would wake up in the middle of the night just screaming. His dog was taught when he starts getting restless, the dog would turn the light on ... then jump in bed and push his body as close as he could. His wife said his breathing would start to mirror the dog’s and he would never wake up.” Stanek compares his relationship with his dog to that of a sniper and a spotter in the military. “Sarge is my spotter. When we go out, she lets me know what’s going on. She lets me know how I am doing,” he says. “On a scale of one to 10,
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I used to sit at about an eight or nine on a constant basis — like wake up that way. Now I sit around at two or three. And Sarge will alert me when that level starts to rise.” [Source: Associated Press article 9 Oct 2012 ++]
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Tricare Young Adult Program Update 08: A popular component of the 2010 Affordable Care Act allowing adult children to stay on their parents’ health care plans until age 26 has been a little less popular among military members. That’s because military families covered by TRICARE must pay as much as $200 a month to benefit from extended coverage. According to The Wall Street Journal, families must pay either $176 or $201 a month per young adult dependent to prolong coverage, depending on their specific TRICARE plan. Most families in private plans do not pay for the extension. The 2010 health law did not apply to TRICARE, but a separate law required the military health plan to adopt the popular provision of the Affordable Care Act. Legislators, however, would not support providing the extended coverage to TRICARE beneficiaries for free, the Journal reported Monday. The Defense Department told The Wall Street Journal that the fee has deterred military families from seeking the extension: of 230,000 young-adult dependents of service members who could have signed up, only 20,740 had opted for an extension by the August deadline.
Before the Affordable Care Act, TRICARE allowed children to stay on their parents’ plans only until age 21, or 23 if the child was a full-time college student. Children of civilian federal employees covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan were eligible for extended coverage under the law starting in January 2011. Children who lose FEHBP coverage when they turn 26 qualify for temporary continuation of coverage for up to 36 months.
TRICARE fee hikes are on the table this budget cycle as part of the Defense Department’s efforts to rein in spending. The Obama administration’s budget request includes new TRICARE co-pays, additional increases to TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, initiation of standard and extra annual enrollment fees, and adjustments to deductibles and catastrophic coverage caps. These efforts are expected to save the department as much as $12.1 billion during the next 10 years. Lawmakers, however, have resisted plans to increase fees. Most TRICARE beneficiaries do not pay premiums to participate, and the cost of premiums for each young adult under TRICARE is expected to fall to $152 or $176 per month. The fees are based on data for medical costs incurred by similar dependents and administrative expenses, according to the Journal. [Source: GovExec.com | Amanda Palleschi | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Tricare Access to Care: Have you had trouble finding a health care provider that accepts TRICARE within the past year? If so, you are encouraged to take 3-4 minutes to fill out a brief TRICARE access survey. DoD has asked The Military Coalition (TMC) to help identify areas of the country that may be having access issues so they can better target their formal surveys to identify and address problem areas. If TRICARE beneficiaries in your area have been having problems, here’s your chance to try to do something about it. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JS9ZZTV. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 12 Oct 2012 ++]
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1 JAN 2013Tricare Philippines Demonstration Project Update 04: Starting Jan. 1, 2013 TRICARE is launching a demonstration project in designated areas of the Philippines to provide beneficiaries access to high-quality health care from approved demonstration providers. TRICARE Standard beneficiaries who live in the Philippines and receive care in the designated demonstration areas may participate. All beneficiaries who live in the Philippines and who’ve filed a claim in the last two years will be notified by letter at least 60 days prior to the
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start of health care delivery under the Philippine Demonstration. To have TRICARE cost share on their claims, beneficiaries getting care in demonstration areas must see an approved provider. If they elect not to participate in the demonstration by seeing a provider not on the approved provider list when they receive care in designated demonstration areas, TRICARE will not cost share on their claim.
One of the main benefits of the TRICARE Philippine Demonstration is approved providers will file claims on behalf of the beneficiary. The beneficiary then receives an explanation of benefits (EOB), which informs them of their patient liability, appropriate cost shares and deductibles. Beneficiaries who live in the Philippines and want to participate in the demonstration must provide their physical address to the approved provider to submit claims on their behalf. Post office boxes and retirement activity office boxes are not acceptable. TRICARE is committed to providing high-quality care to eligible TRICARE Standard beneficiaries residing in the Philippines while effectively managing health care costs. Beneficiaries looking for more information on the Philippine Demonstration can visit http://www.tricare-overseas.com/Beneficiary_PhilippineDemonstration_home.htm or http://www.tricare.mil/Philippines. The approved provider list will be posted on the TRICARE Overseas Program contractor’s website at least 60 days prior to the start date of the demonstration, http://www.tricare-overseas.com.
[Source: TRICARE Management Activity | Kristin Shives | 9 Oct 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Breast Cancer Coverage Update 02: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and TRICARE beneficiaries should know breast exams are covered. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Early detection and diagnosis are very important steps in the treatment of breast cancer. TRICARE encourages women to conduct breast self-exams and get their annual mammograms. Regular mammograms can lead to early detection of breast cancer and improve the chances of survival says the NCI. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the cells of the breast. This type of cancer is usually found in women, with less than 1 percent of all breast cancers being diagnosed in men.
TRICARE beneficiaries in specific age and risk categories have no copayment for mammograms. Beneficiaries are entitled to an annual mammogram beginning at age 40 and at a doctor’s discretion for women younger than 40 who have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Beneficiaries can be identified as “high risk” for breast cancer because of family history. [Source: NAUS Washington Report 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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Long Term Care FLTCIP Update 08: Are you prepared to handle the expense of Long Term Care. Many vets are not and find themselves in the following situation asking for help -- “My wife has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can no longer take care of her; there are only two of us in the household, and we are both 80 years old. I had to put her in an Alzheimer’s home where she would be safe. My cost is $2,500 a month. Is there any way that Tricare can help me? We both have Tricare for Life.” Unfortunately, the answer to this plea is NO. Tricare will cover skilled nursing care, home health care and hospice care, it generally does not cover long-term care (also known as custodial care) for patients with degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Exceptions or partial exceptions to the “no coverage” guidance should be discussed with the managed-care contractor for the Tricare region where you live. You may want to look into long-term care insurance through commercial insurance programs or through the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. About 20 million people are eligible to apply for FLTCIP, including all active-duty and National Guard members activated for more than 30 days, retired uniformed service members, and members of the Selected Reserve. FLTCIP eligibility and enrollment requirements are complex, and not everyone who applies for this insurance will be approved for it. You
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can get full details at the program’s website http://www.opm.gov/insure/ltc/. [Source: Military Times | TRICARE+Help | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Obit ~ Sam Gibbons: A "true American hero" who fought at Normandy and served as a Tampa Bay area lawmaker for more than five decades in the Legislature and Congress, died peacefully in his sleep at age 92 on 10 OCT. A Democratic institution in Hillsborough County who was pivotal in the creation of the University of South Florida, he never lost an election. On March 4, 1996, Gibbons did what no political opponent had been able to do. He took himself out of the race for reelection. Three decades in the House convinced him that it was time to try something different. President Bill Clinton tried to dissuade him from stepping down. But Gibbons decided it was time to move on. He planned to teach, serve on boards and work for Clinton's reelection. The lone remaining House member to have parachuted into German-occupied France on D-Day, Mr. Gibbons left an extensive legacy: trade bills such as NAFTA, federal money to rebuild the Sunshine Skyway bridge, a tax law exempting homeowners older than 55 from paying capital gains taxes when they sell their houses.
Former Congressman Sam Gibbons was a member of the U.S. Army's 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, serving in Europe on D-Day and during the Battle of the Bulge
Gibbons grew up in Tampa, attended local schools, and enrolled at the University of Florida in 1938. Three years later he was called into military service. He was 24 the night before D-Day when he dropped into German-occupied France as a young captain of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles. In his' memoir I Was There - he describes his experiences in WWII. It is peppered with details like how he replaced his gas mask with two cans of Schlitz beer before the D-Day drop.“So with all this gear on me (the same for about 12,000 others), I was the third man to step out of plane #42, and dropping 800 feet to start what some have called ‘The Longest Day.’" The story of how the paratroopers were dropped off course and scattered across the French countryside is widely known. Gibbons and a few other paratroopers managed to pull together and planned an attack on a nearby town. “At the end of this council I brought out my two cans of beer, which we shared,” Gibbons wrote. “When the cans were empty we decided to leave them in the middle of the road as a monument to the first cans of Schlitz consumed in France and moved on.”
Chuck Oldham of Defense Media Network wrote that Gibbons' story of the Allied landing in Normandy has always stuck with him: Of all those stories ... Gibbons’ story, written in a self-deprecating tone as it was in I Was
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There and popularized in Tom Brokaw’s book The Greatest Generation, remains one that has always struck me as somehow being indicative of the American paratroopers’ fight during that early morning of June 6, 1944, with a young captain abruptly thrust into an unexpected leadership role, he and his men dropped far from their objectives, lost and improvising their way through a night of combat, and ‘marching toward the sound of gunfire.’ The young captain was with the 101st as it helped hold Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and captured Hitler’s “Eagles Nest” facility. After five years of service, he came back to civilian life with a Bronze Star and four battle stars. He returned to Tampa, he went to law school, served as a state lawmaker and then for 16 terms in the U.S. Congress. President Bill Clinton named Cong. Gibbons general chairman of the 50th Anniversary of Normandy commemoration committee.
When Gibbons returned to Normandy for the 50th anniversary - he had with him another two cans of Schlitz beer - which he drank and left sitting on the road again - as a monument of a different sort. Over the years, I had the opportunity to cover Sam Gibbons as an elected official and as a Veteran. He will be remembered as a "true American hero. And, if you happen to have a can of Schlitz handy tonight - lift one to the old warrior who battled among the hedge rows of Normandy and bridged the aisles in Congress to make this a better country and world. [Source: Off The Base | Bobbie O'Brien | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Flu Shots Update 04: As the time to get your flu vaccine has approached, a surprising new report shows babies and toddlers seem to be getting protected better than the rest of us. Government officials claim that last year's flu shot won't shield you this year as there are two new strains of influenza which have begun circling the globe, but the updated vaccine appears to work well against them. A yearly vaccination now is recommended for nearly everybody. The only ones who shouldn't get vaccinated: babies younger than 6 months and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to make the vaccine. Flu specialists can't say how bad this winter's flu season might be. Influenza strains constantly evolve, and some cause more illness than others. But strains from the H3N2 family tend to be harsher than some other flu types, and a new H3N2 strain is included in this year's vaccine because it is circulating in parts of the world. To read more about this year’s flu, go to: http://1.usa.gov/OtrjjL. [Source: Family Programs Update 9 October 2012 ++]
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NDAA 2013 Update 10: The Senate Armed Services Committee has indicated that it will allow amendments to the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, a welcome announcement since the Senate does not always allow floor amendments and already has a busy lame-duck session ahead. Committee staffers are working with offices planning to offer amendments, a break from the traditional slow-moving method of offering amendments on the Senate floor and allowing time for debate, which can take several days. Staffers have indicated that they hope to shape any likely amendments to the bill sooner rather than later so they can be easily adopted by voice vote when the Senate returns for the packed lame-duck session in November. The strategy to get as many amendments as possible to be easily adopted also serves another purpose as well. Senators will have a stake in the game to pass the bill as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the House and Senate have already begun preconferencing the defense policy bill, a common action to clear as many areas of agreement to expedite the official Senate-House conference later in the year. [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 9 Oct 2012 ++]
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NDAA 2013 Update 11: The Military Coalition (TMC) have sent House and Senate leaders a letter highlighting Coalition priorities for resolving differences between the House-passed and Senate Armed Services Committee versions of the FY2013 Defense Authorization Bill. The full Senate won't take up the defense bill until the lame duck session after the election, but that will likely be an expedited process with limited amendments. In the
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meantime, House and Senate Armed Services Committee staffs already are beginning to negotiate possible compromises on issues where the two bills differ. That's because House and Senate leaders likely will only have a couple of weeks after Senate action to finalize and pass the final compromise bill. "If we waited to offer our inputs until the Senate finishes action on the bill, most of the substantive negotiations on our issues could already be wrapped up," said MOAA Government Relations Director Col Steve Strobridge (USAF-Ret), who also serves as Co-Chairman of the 34-association Coalition. "You can't hope to influence the process if it's already over." The Coalition letter urged Hill leaders to:
 Adopt House-passed language to limit current and future TRICARE pharmacy copay increases in return for requiring a one-year test of mail-order (or military pharmacy) refills of maintenance medications for TFL-eligibles.
 Drop restrictive provisions concerning a Senate-proposed special commission to consider changes to military retirement and compensation systems. The proposal would allow the Administration to pick all the commissioners, bar participation by current or recent military association representatives, and require a congressional vote on the proposals with little debate and no amendments.
 Retain House-approved language recognizing that the unique and extraordinary demands inherent in a multi-decade service career constitute a very large pre-paid premium for their career health benefits – over and above the cash fees paid in retirement.
 Retain a House-passed provision that limits annual Army and Marine Corps force reductions. The letter also expressed concern about ongoing cuts to the Navy Reserve.
 Retain Senate-passed consumer protection enhancements for troops and family members.
 Support a House proposal to authorize Applied Behavior Analysis therapy as a TRICARE benefit for autism treatment, but extend the benefit equally to all uniformed services and make it available to family members with other diagnoses that benefit from such therapy. As written, the House language would deny coverage for TRICARE beneficiaries of the Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and NOAA.
The Coalition letter particularly emphasized the pharmacy copay and retirement commission issues. "Defense leaders' claims that higher copays are essential to offset dramatically rising costs ring hollow," it said, "when their reprogramming requests show costs actually declined this year, and expenses have been nearly $3 billion less than expected over the last three years." As for the commission, "TMC objects strenuously to short-circuiting the normal legislative process by imposing BRAC-like consideration rules on an issue [military retirement] that has proven so crucial to long-term retention and readiness." The Coalition also expressed support for anticipated Senate amendments to address unfair compensation penalties experienced by disabled retirees and military survivors.
Attached to the letter was a more detailed matrix of TMC recommendations on many specific House and Senate provisions, broken into sections affecting active duty personnel, Guard/Reserve issues, retiree and survivor issues, health care matters, and veterans and other issues. A copy of the letter can be seen in the attachment to this Bulletin titles, “TMC 2013 NDAA Ltr”. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 12 Oct 2012 ++]
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U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a living memorial to the Holocaust that inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum's permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. Located among our national monuments to freedom on the National Mall, the Museum provides a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress, the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values. With unique power and authenticity, the Museum teaches millions of people each year about the dangers of unchecked hatred and the need to prevent genocide. And it encourages them to act, cultivating a sense of moral responsibility among our citizens so that they will respond to the monumental challenges that confront our world. Today we face an alarming rise in
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Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism—even in the very lands where the Holocaust happened—as well as genocide and threats of genocide in other parts of the world. All of this when we are soon approaching a time when Holocaust survivors and other eyewitnesses will no longer be alive.
The Museum works closely with many key segments of society who will affect the future of our nation. Professionals from the fields of law enforcement, the judiciary and the military, as well as diplomacy, medicine, education and religion study the Holocaust, with emphasis on the role of their particular professions and the implications for their own responsibilities. These programs intensify their sense of commitment to the core values of their fields and their roles in the protection of individuals and society. In addition to its leadership training programs, the Museum sponsors on-site and traveling exhibitions, educational outreach, Web site, campus outreach and Holocaust commemorations, including the nation’s annual observance in the U.S. Capitol. Our Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies works to ensure the continued growth and vitality of the field of Holocaust studies. As a living memorial to the Holocaust, we work to prevent genocide in the future through our Academy for Genocide Prevention which trains foreign policy professionals. Working with Holocaust survivors and an array of organizations, the Museum is a leader in galvanizing attention to the crisis in Sudan.
Since its dedication in 1993, the Museum has welcomed more than 30 million visitors, including more than 9 million school children and 91 heads of state. Today 90 percent of the Museum’s visitors are not Jewish, and its Web site, the world’s leading online authority on the Holocaust, on average receives visits from over 100 different countries daily. With hundreds of thousands of online visitors from countries with majority Muslim populations, translating their Web site into Arabic and Farsi is a top priority; already, portions are available in more than 20 languages. Admission to the Museum is free. From MAR thru AUG, when they havee the most visitors, a timed pass is required and provided to enter the Permanent Exhibition, a chronological history of the Holocaust. From
September through February no pass is required. The Museum is open every day 1000 to 1700 except Yom Kippur (September 26, 2012) and Christmas Day. It is located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126 Tel: (202) 488-0400. For more information refer to http://www.ushmm.org. [Source: www.ushmm.org Oct 2012 ++]
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U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Update 01: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, America’s national memorial to the Holocaust will honor all the brave soldiers who fought in World War II as part of its 20th anniversary commemoration. Plans for this milestone occasion, which include a National Tribute in Washington, DC, as well as a National Tour honoring Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans in four cities across the country. It is hoped as many veterans as possible will join at these historic gatherings. World War II was the salient event in the 20th Century – and its legacy continues to shape the 21st. The values we cherish were threatened by cruel and oppressive ideologies. But the generation that signed up and put on a uniform, which believed in the essential goodness of America, and which unselfishly answered the call to duty, was a generation willing to sacrifice everything to preserve our way of life. The freedoms we enjoy today were assured by the veterans of World War II. The Museum recognizes this, and thus wishes to reach out to all American veterans of World War II and to accord to them our highest honor and deepest gratitude.
At the National Tribute in Washington, DC on April 28 - 29, 2013 the Museum will bring together the people who lived this history – Holocaust survivors, World War II veterans, rescuers, and their families – in the largest numbers they can – along with U.S. and European officials and Museum supporters and partners, for what will most likely be the last gathering of eyewitnesses on this scale. Working in close cooperation with the World War II Memorial, the Museum is expecting thousands to join Elie Wiesel, founding chairman, at this two-day gathering, which begins with a Tribute Dinner on Sunday, April 28th at the Washington, DC Convention Center – free for
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survivors and WWII veterans, who may bring one companion for $50. Regular cost is $250/person. At the Tribute Dinner, the Museum will present the Museum’s Elie Wiesel Award, their highest honor, to the American service men and women who fought in World War II, with Susan Eisenhower accepting on their behalf. Through this tribute, it is their hope to remind the American public, especially our youth, of just what was at stake during World War II and the enormous sacrifices that were made to preserve the free world.
The National Tribute continues on Monday, April 29th at the Museum, which will be closed to the public to mark this historic occasion. The day will begin with a ceremony at the Eisenhower Plaza featuring the flags of the U.S. Army Divisions that liberated the Nazi concentration camps. An Open House follows with a day of special programs, tours, and family activities throughout the Museum. In addition, “affinity tables” will provide opportunities for those from the same divisions or communities to socialize. The day, which includes lunch, is free with advance registration. Since the Museum knows that many veterans may not be able to travel to Washington, DC for the National Tribute gathering in April, they will be hosting free, day-long public events in four cities: Boca Raton (December 9), Los Angeles (February 17), New York (March 3), and Chicago (June 9). Throughout the day, veterans and their families will have the opportunity to meet with curators and conservators about personal collections. They may attend panel discussions with well-known experts, presentations of rarely seen film clips from the Museum’s collection, and participatory family activities. And, of course, there will be opportunities to socialize. The day will conclude with a special tribute to local survivors and World War II veterans.
The Museum would be honored for all to join them at one of the local National Tour events (no ticket required) or consider traveling to Washington, DC in April for the National Tribute. To receive an invitation to the special events in Washington DC April 28-29, 2013 call 1-866-99USHMM or e-mail 20thanniversary@ushmm.org. The Museum hopes as many World War II veterans, and their families as possible will join / attend this historic commemoration. As plans develop, updates will be posted on http://www.ushmm.org/neveragain. [Source: http://neveragain.ushmm.org/?source=2012071020thSaveTheDate 8 Oct 2012 ++]
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Tattoo Removal Update 03: Tattoos are almost as common as mustaches and earrings these days, but his body art got in the way when James Lyle, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran, applied to be a traffic officer at Tampa International Airport. Lyle was rejected for an interview with the airport police department. He had wanted to be a traffic specialist patrolling the curbside drop-off area where passengers load and unload. The reason for the rejection: the tattoos on his forearms. One arm says "ARMY," the other says "SOLDIER." Lyle appeared before the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority on 4 OCT, lobbying to have the policy changed. His plea may have reached sympathetic ears, though most law enforcement agencies in the area have regulations about visible tattoos:
 Board member Victor Crist said tattoos have become socially acceptable. Fellow board member Joe Diaco, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers physician, appeared to agree, saying, "I'm glad you brought this to our attention. This will be rectified."
 Airport chief executive Joe Lopano was unaware of aviation authority regulations involving tattoos but promised to check on it by next month's meeting.
 The appearance standards policy of the airport police says: "All (officers) are prohibited from having visible tattoos or brands anywhere on the body while wearing their required uniform. Excessive tattoos/brands will not be exposed or visible through clothing while on duty." That includes tattoos on the neck, according to the policy.
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The ban on visible tattoos is standard policy at many law enforcement agencies, said Larry McKinnon, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which implemented a tattoo policy a few years ago. "We do not allow visible tattoos," he said. "If (deputies) have tattoos on their arms, they are bound to wear long-sleeve shirts for the rest of their career." Deputies who had tattoos when the policy was adopted are grandfathered in, but most cover them up anyway, he said. "It's just not a professional image we want to put out there," McKinnon said.
Officers with the Tampa Police Department work under the same standards under a policy that is 10 years old, said spokeswoman Irene Thomas. "They can't have any visible tattoos when in proper uniform," she said. Tattoos on legs or shoulders are OK, but one that extends below a short sleeve is not. "If you have one on the lower part of your arm," she said, "you can't work here." New hires with visible tattoos must get them removed, she said. "They have to have that process started prior to applying," she said. Officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department have a little more leeway. "They're pretty common now," said police spokesman Mike Puetz, speaking of body ink, "so, we'd be cutting down on our recruiting base if we said no to those." As long as tattoos on arms are not offensive or distasteful, visible body art is acceptable, he said. [Source: The Tampa Tribune | Keith Morelli | 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Diabetes Mellitus Care Update 09: Health officials at the Veterans Administration unveiled a pilot program 5 OCT aimed at reducing the rate of diabetes among military veterans. The 16-week program for overweight or obese people with pre-diabetes helps them get more exercise, improve their eating habits and lose weight. The program is expanding to include VA medical centers across the country. Vietnam veteran Jon Soder, who has diabetes, says the program helped him lose 85 pounds and improve his health. Before he participated in the program, Soder said he was unable to walk. Now he walks on his own. "I used to take three different kinds of diabetes medicine, and now I only take one," he said "And I used to take two kinds of cholesterol medicine and now I don't take any, so there was a real benefit from it." When the program was tested at YMCAs in St. Paul and Indianapolis, it reduced the diabetes rate among participants by 58 percent. U.S. Sen. Al Franken, (D-MN), who participated in the announcement, said helping the clients improve their health also leads to dramatically lower medical costs. "To put someone through this program costs 300 bucks. Fifty-eight percent fewer become diabetic, and save $6,200 a year. That is what prevention is about," Franken said. About one-fourth of the nation's veterans have type 2 diabetes. [Source: MPR News | Jessica Mador | 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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Veterans Pension Update 03: The latest trend in elder abuse — unsuitable annuities that “help” low-income veterans claim pensions — is highlighting a communication breakdown between state and federal agencies, that could allow fraud to slip through the cracks. This practice taps veterans who are claiming pension and Aid and Attendance benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Former members of the military must meet certain income and net-worth requirements in order to qualify for a pension, which is intended for low-income individuals. The potential for abuse arises when advisers or attorneys helping veterans file pension paperwork recommend inappropriate annuities or asset transfers that make the individual look poorer than he or she really is and therefore eligible for tax-free pensions.
Unsuitable transactions could lock up cash that the veteran might need in the event of an emergency, while untimely asset transfers can interfere with Medicaid eligibility if they are done within the 60-month look-back period in which assets are calculated. Last week, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners highlighted the practice in a consumer alert. Congress this year also proposed legislation — S 3270, sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. — to stem these practices. But attorneys and agents who work regularly with veterans are arguing that there isn't enough cooperation between the VA, insurance regulators and other authorities to ensure the bad actors are caught and punished. The VA requires advisers and attorneys who work with veterans' pension filings to be accredited, but it doesn't endorse any products that these professionals might use. Attorneys say the VA is slow to team up with other agencies.
“The VA doesn't conceive that there are other ways to become more efficient and to prevent abuses to the system if they worked in alignment with other regulatory services,” said Victoria Collier, an elder-law attorney in Decatur, Ga. She is in the process of detangling a trio of annuities totaling $300,000 bought by an 84-year-old client in conjunction with a plan that would help her qualify for a VA pension. The surrender periods on the annuities were as long as 13 years, well past the client's life expectancy. To complicate matters, the annuities were placed within a trust. The insurance agent who sold the annuities is accredited by the VA. With the help of a securities lawyer, Ms. Collier was able to undo two of the annuity contracts. She has also filed a claim with the agency's office of general counsel to report the insurance agent, who could lose her accreditation and thus her ability to assist veterans.
A June hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging publicized these abuses, along with a report by the Government Accountability Office that found that more than 200 organizations across the country that advertised help for veterans seeking to qualify for these pension benefits, mostly by transferring excess assets to annuities or setting up trusts. The hearing also laid the groundwork for Mr. Wyden's proposed legislation that would subject asset transfers for the VA income benefit to a three-year look-back period. State insurance regulators are becoming increasingly aware of these practices, and many have annuity suitability regulations in place that are akin to rules from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. Meanwhile, the VA has taken steps to notify the public that veterans shouldn't be paying to have their benefits paperwork filed. However, the two parties don't appear to share information with each other regularly. Rather, VA officials at regional offices may see patterns of abuse and connect with the VA's Office of the Inspector General and with other regulators on a case-by-case basis, according to a spokesman at the Veterans Benefits Administration.
Further, while the VA Inspector General has the jurisdiction to prosecute criminal violations involving its pension programs, the act of merely hiding the assets and charging veterans for that sort of help isn't illegal, according to a statement by the office. Accredited parties are required to file veterans' pension paperwork for free, but some have gotten around that requirement by charging planning and management fees, the inspector general noted. “Twenty percent of the [military] clients calling us are nothing but cleanup work, and we're calling insurers and brokerage firms to reverse the transactions,” said Brian Byars, co-founder of Advanced Retirement Planning LLC. Although planners and attorneys are asking for tougher rules and more coordination among regulators, they are critical of subjecting veterans to look-back requirements. The act of using an annuity or transferring assets itself
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isn't the punishable action, but improper recommendations without tough legal repercussions are the real problem. “It's important to recognize that there are legitimate ways to assist people, but there are always people who will do things that aren't legitimate,” Ms. Collier said. [Source: Investment News | Darla Mercad | 7 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Care Assessment: There’s lots of grumbling about the Department of Veterans Affairs from veterans – and its own inspector general, who regularly turns out critical reports. So it’s worth noting when someone seems satisfied. It’s tough to imagine a more important someone to the VA than the American Legion, whose 2.4 million members makes it the nation’s largest veterans’ organization. The Legion visited 25 VA facilities last spring and, in a just-released report that includes assessments of each facility, praised the “high quality of care” that it found. “Patient satisfaction has seen drastic improvements in the past decade,” the Legion reports. “However challenges still exist.” Those challenges include vets’ delays in getting appointments, a lengthy hiring process (of growing concern because at some VA facilities half the workforce is at retirement age) and medical salaries that fall short of what’s available in the private sector.
Ron Capps, an Army veteran and Battleland contributor, points out that the VA is really two huge agencies – one running hospitals and the other administering disability benefits (and yes, a tiny third part that runs veterans’ cemeteries). “In my opinion, VA health care is mostly excellent,” Capps says. “The big issues at the VA aren’t in the Veterans Health Administration — the health care side of the department. They are in the other side, the Veterans Benefits Administration. That’s where the unreasonable delays in processing disability claims and benefits, or providing benefits under the new GI Bill exist. The VBA has some big pieces that are broken.” A former senior VA official, speaking privately, found the report heartening. “Sure, there is still much to do, and VA isn’t getting some things right,” he said. “But overall, the days of stereotypical uncaring bureaucrats providing shoddy service are long past.” [Source: Time Magazine | Mark Thompson | 4 Oct 2012 ++]
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Wreaths Across America Update 06: From 1992 to 2005 the annual tradition of placing wreaths to honor the fallen was conducted at Arlington National Cemetery, largely unknown by the general public except for visitors to those hallowed grounds who would see whole sections adorned. That was before the non-profit organization was formed, and when it was still a company tradition – spearheaded by Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Company. This year, Wreaths Across America will conduct ceremonies at over 800+ participating locations all around the nation. Wreaths will be placed at state and national veterans cemeteries, community and private cemeteries, veterans monuments, schools, at active military bases on foreign soil, and even ceremonies at sea. You can check the list of locations to see if there already are volunteers in your area working on the event at http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/locations.
For the 21st year, Wreaths Across America will be laying holiday wreaths on headstones at Arlington and in 500 other cemeteries throughout the United States and overseas
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All of the participating locations are made possible by dedicated volunteers who plan the event throughout the year. Each participating location receives 7 ceremonial wreaths representing all branches of the service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine) and perhaps most importantly a wreath bearing the POW/MIA flag. A written ceremony is provided, as well as press releases, and other promotional tools. For locations where it is approved by the cemetery administration, wreaths may be sponsored for $15 per wreath. Refer to http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/act-now/start-fundraising/ for instructions if you would like to participate. The goal is to do whole sections of the cemetery grounds. Many locations do as many sponsored wreaths as they can, and then rotate the designated sections each year so that all veterans and all families receive a wreath. The goal is to one day honor all those who have served. The main Arlington National Cemetery wreath laying and ceremony will be on Saturday December 15. Consider joining the thousands that volunteer each year to honor our fallen military members, retirees and their families. [Source: NAUS Washington Report 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 18: The Missing In America Project (MIAP) will conduct a ceremony in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Eighteen veterans and 6 spouses whose unclaimed cremated remains have been in the care of Altmeyer Funeral Homes of Newport News, Virginia Beach, and Bucktrout Funeral Home in Williamsburg will be honored. Services will be conducted, with full military honors, for the following eighteen veterans and eligible spouses at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Bucktrout Funeral Home, 4124 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188:
 Ensign Milton R Abbot, 1892-1977, USN 1918-1919
 Lt Col William Francis Barnard, 1916-1977, USAF Retired, 1940-1962
 Tec 4 Leonard H Barrell, 1908-1974, USA 1942-1945
 Tech Sgt Frank William Barry, 1925-1999, USAF Retired 1943-1945, 1946-1964
 HT1 Charles A Bucheit III, 1937-2002, USN Retired 1955-1966, 1967-1985
 SSG Ernest E Byrn, 1924-2008, USA, 1943-1945
 AKC Harlan Duckworth, 1927-1995, USN Retired, 1945-1946, 1949-1969
 Ensign Robert A Fash, 1896-1976, USN 1918-1919
 Sgt Richard M Fox, 1926-1982, USA 1944-1946
 SFC Benjamin R Gordon, 1925-2007, USA Retired 1950-1971
 Maj Thomas W Knickerbocker, 1912-1990, USA 1941-1945
 Sgt Charles T Kulp, 1933-2001, USA 1953-1955
 EM1 Paul Clarence Maynard, 1921-2004, USN Retired 1942-1966
 LTJG Philip T Newson, 1935-2007, USN 1958-1961
 Cpl Raymond C Purvis, 1892-2003, USA 1915-1919
 MSGT Pedro Rodriguez, 1962-2012, USAF Retired 1980-2006
 Maj Gilmore Tilbrook, 1894-1963, USA 1917-1919
 T4 John Hudson Walker III, 1918-1966, USA 1944-1946
 Rosemarie Anderson, 1925-1988, wife of CW4 Ralph Donald Anderson, USA
 Golda Florke, 1923-1991, wife of SFC Clarence Earl Florke, USA
 Kathryn C Miller, 1904-1990, wife of Sgt Stuart B. Miller, USA
 Lena Mae Moss, 1924-1981, wife of SSG Oradie Moss, USA Retired
 Anne Nersesian, 1925-2009, wife of PFC Mourad Nersesian, USA
 Doreen Tanner, 1925-2001, wife of T5 Richard W Tanner, USA
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A Bucktrout-Altmeyer Funeral Home hearse carrying the cremated remains on Monday, 29 OCT will be escorted by members of the MIAP Veteran's Recovery Program, with American flags flying on motorcycles and vehicles to Quantico National Cemetery located at 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172. The hearse will pass by the Virginia Veterans Tribute Bell in New Town, Williamsburg on the way to Quantico at approximately 10:00 am. The hearse will be escorted by Patriot Guard Riders, Warrior Brotherhood M/C, American Legion Riders, as well as other participating veteran's organizations and any member of the public who would like to attend via motorcycle or vehicle.
Service Time will be 1:00 pm. Government officials, the public and media are invited to attend. For information contact Brigitte Corbin - Virginia MIAP State Coordinator, Cell: 757-871-5980 or email: Brigitte.va.miap@gmail.com. The mission of the MIAP is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations; to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten Heroes. For more information about MIAP refer to http://www.miap.us. [Source: MIAP Press Release 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 19: Four veterans whose remains have been unclaimed, will be laid to rest with help from the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers and the Missing in America Project (MIAP). The following will be escorted from the Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis, led by Brian Keller American Legion Riders, Post 347 in St. Louis to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Road in St. Louis where full military honors will be conducted starting at 1300 Thursday, October 25.
 Col. Edward W. Bilhorn (1918-1973) served as an Engineer in the U.S. Army Reserve Corps from 1941 until 1973 in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Col. Bilhorn was the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal as well as the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars.
 Cpl. Carl Axel Richard Kjellstrom (1894-1971) served in the U.S. Army from 1917 until 1919 during World War I.
 PFC Eugene Thiebes (1916-1986) served in the U.S. Army from 1945 until 1947 during World War II.
 Aviation Cadet William N. Watkins (1925-1984) served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 until 1944 during World War II.
The ceremony will feature guest speaker Ed Martin, candidate for Missouri Attorney General and volunteer for the Missing in America Project for nearly five years. Military honors, including the folding and presentation of the flags, the playing of taps and a rifle volley, will be provided by Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Niece of Eugene Thiebes will attend and receive the folded American Flag. "The MIAP has been working with Dignity Memorial (DM) providers to identify these forgotten veterans and ensure they receive the honors in death that their service in life merited," said Mark Valenta, St. Louis area director for the DM network. "We're honored to work with the MIAP to provide the dignified military burial these veterans deserve." The purpose of the Missing in America Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations and to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.
For more information regarding MIAP, contact Linda Smith, National Vice President at sailormom@miap.us. For more information on the DM network visit www.DignityMemorial.com. The DM network of providers has several initiatives and programs to honor and support our nation's veterans and active military. These include the Veterans Planning Guide, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial
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Program, educational veterans seminars and special pricing for members of veterans service organizations. [Source: MIAP Press Release 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Stop-loss Pay Update 13: The deadline to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay will end October 21. Service members and veterans whose military service was involuntarily extended under the "Stop Loss" program between the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Sept. 30, 2009, are eligible for special retroactive pay, but you have to apply. The special pay is compensation for the hardships the involuntary extensions caused, officials said. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit a claim to their respective military service to receive $500 for each full or partial month served in a Stop Loss status. Because the majority of those eligible had separated from the military, many eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries are not aware of the benefit. Go to http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0710_stoploss/ to apply or for more information. [Source: VFW Washington Update 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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USERRA Update 14: The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has announced it has won a USERRA case on behalf of a member of the Wisconsin National Guard. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency whose primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel. USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) is a federal law that protects job rights for active and reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Office of Special Counsel enforces USERRA for federal employees. In this case, Michael Hanke, a Wisconsin National Guardsman who lost his job in 2010 with a U.S. Army contractor while on his second tour of duty in Iraq, received a settlement equivalent to several years of salary under an agreement negotiated by the OSC.
Hanke worked for a defense contractor called ComTek in 2009 when he left for Iraq. While he was away, the Army in-sourced much of the work previously done by ComTek, hiring many of the same employees. When he requested the same treatment, the Army told him he could not be hired while on active duty. He requested reemployment when he returned from active duty in 2010, but both ComTek and the Army turned him down. Hanke filed complaints with the Department of Labor (DOL) against ComTek and the U.S. Army Cadet Command, and he requested that the complaint against the Army be referred to OSC when DOL could not resolve it. OSC attorneys investigated the complaint and concluded that the Army violated USERRA by refusing to hire him because he was on active duty.
Additionally, a retroactive change to the law, enacted in late 2010, confirmed that the Army was responsible for reemploying Hanke when it in-sourced his former position. As a result, Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner agreed to represent him to enforce his rights under USERRA. Once OSC informed the Army of the results of its investigation and OSC’s decision to represent Hanke, OSC and the Army reached a settlement agreement that provides substantial compensation for Mr. Hanke, the exact amount of which is to be kept confidential. “I applaud the Army Cadet Command for reaching a fair and equitable settlement on Mr. Hanke’s behalf,” said Ms. Lerner. “OSC will continue to press for the employment and reemployment rights of our veterans and National Guard and Reserve members, and for all federal agencies to live up to their obligation to be a model employer under USERRA.” According to the Washington Post, the federal government is the largest employer of Reserve Component personnel and is also the biggest violator of the USERRA law. [Source: TREA News f or the Enlisted 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Cemeteries Update 08: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the award of 18 grants totaling $47,462,135 to 15 states and one tribal government to establish new Veterans cemeteries and to expand or improve others. "VA is committed to helping state and tribal Veterans cemeteries meet national shrine standards and honor Veterans with dignified burials," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "It is vitally important that state and tribal governments have the resources necessary to offer quality services to our Nation's Veterans and their families." VA provides grants to states and tribal governments to establish, expand or improve Veterans cemeteries, and for operations and maintenance projects. Two of the larger grants for more than $14 million went to establish new state and tribal Veterans cemeteries in Louisiana and South Dakota. Louisiana received $8.3 million to build a new cemetery in Slidell, La., and the Oglala Sioux tribe received $6.5 million to establish a new tribal Veterans cemetery in Pine Ridge, S.D. This will be the third state Veterans cemetery in Louisiana and the fourth tribal Veterans cemetery grant VA has awarded.
VA also provided 10 other expansion and improvement grants totaling more than $28 million to the following states: Sierra Vista, Ariz. - $1.7M; North Little Rock, Ark. - $410K; Kauai, Hawaii - $1.2M; Boise, Idaho - $2.4M; Boulder City, Nev. - $5.1M; Missoula, Mont. - $506K; Little Falls, Minn. - $1.4M; Wrightstown, N.J. - $10.8M; Amelia, Va. - $1.6M; and $5.1M Suffolk, Va. - $3.3M. In addition, VA awarded six operations and maintenance grants for more than $3 million to six states. The grants were disbursed to the following states: North Little Rock, Ark. - $728K; Bear, Del. - $679K; Milledgeville, Ga. - $121K; Sandusky, Ohio - $798K; Exeter, R.I. - $1.1M; and Evansville, Wyo. - $406K
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program is designed to complement VA's 131 national cemeteries across the country. Since 1980, the program has awarded grants totaling more than $483 million to establish, expand, improve, operate and maintain 88 Veterans cemeteries in 43 states and territories including tribal trust lands, Guam, and Saipan. These cemeteries provided more than 29,000 burials in 2011. Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, who die while on active duty or who serve a period of active duty service as required by law, their spouses, and eligible dependent children may be buried in a state Veterans cemetery. States, territories or tribal governments may impose residency requirements and other limitations to eligibility in addition to those imposed by federal law. State eligibility requirements, however, may not be less stringent than Federal requirements. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000 or from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 1 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Cemeteries Update 09: On 2 OCT Deputy Under Secretary for Field Programs Glenn Powers and Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Ronald Walters, members of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), met with the AMVETS Legislation team and members of the VFW to discuss updates and progress being made on NCA projects. Currently, more than 80 percent of deceased veterans are buried at a national or state veterans’ cemetery within 75 miles of the veteran’s home. The NCA’s goal is to increase this number to 95 percent by 2015. To accomplish this, the NCA has continued to identify geographic areas with a large veteran population who do not have access to a national or state veterans’ cemetery. The NCA has selected sites and will be moving forward to create five national, five urban, and eight rural veterans’ cemeteries. The eight rural veterans’ cemeteries are a component of VA’s new Rural Initiative plan. These new burial grounds will serve veterans in the areas of Fargo, N.D.; Rhinelander, Wis.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Laurel, Mont.; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Cedar City, Utah; Calais, Maine; and Elko, Nev. This one initiative will allow 136,000 veterans and their dependents to access burial services that were previously unavailable.
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In addition to new cemeteries, the NCA has moved forward with numerous green initiatives to maximize their efforts to reserve resources. Memorial walls have been constructed at many sites to conserve land for ground interments. In Massachusetts, wind turbines have been installed to provide power to the burial site. These turbines cover 95 percent of the utility costs for the cemetery, thereby allowing the NCA to focus resources on other projects. The NCA is currently working on a memorial affairs redesign. They intended to replace their current IT system and add new features that will aid cemetery visitors. They hope to include maps of cemeteries and grave site locators that will be available to smartphone users. These features will allow loved ones to easily navigate a veterans’ cemetery.
After the discovery of mismarked and unmarked graves in Arlington National Cemetery in 2011, the NCA has begun an audit to ensure that all headstones correspond with the correct grave. In phase one of this process, the NCA specifically targeted areas where headstones were removed for realignment to prevent sinking. Out of the 1.6 million burial plots reviewed during this phase, the NCA found 243 errors. Presently conducting phase two, the NCA is checking every discrepancy reported by cemetery directors. This phase will be completed in December 2012. To prevent graves from being mismarked, the NCA has instituted new policies, including preventing the headstone from leaving the grave during a realignment process. Instead of being placed on a palate with other headstones, the marker will be placed on top of the grave, ensuring it does not move from the cemetery. Also, new markers will be placed on top of a concrete foundation. This new foundation decreases the likelihood of markers sinking into the ground, thereby eliminating the need for realignment.
Today, the NCA employs more veterans than any other government agency, more than 75 percent of its workforce, and continues to expand training and employment opportunities for veterans. Starting on Oct. 22, 2012, a group of 30 homeless veterans will begin a yearlong internship and upon completion will be offered a position as a cemetery caretaker. The individuals will begin their training in St. Louis for a week, and then finish the instruction at a local cemetery. The NCA’s goal is to train all caretakers and standardize practices throughout the NCA. They will be expanding outreach in the coming year to rural communities who may not have access to a national or state veterans’ cemetery. By utilizing an outreach van, the NCA will provide information on memorial benefits at veteran-focused conventions and community events. The NCA is also speaking with specific veteran communities who have special burial needs, such as Native American veterans. This will enable the NCA to address all burial needs and better serve veterans and their families. [Source: AMVETS Blog 3 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Charity Watch Update 28: A prolific con-man who bilked donors out of $100 million using a fake Navy veteran's charity and routinely rubbed elbows with GOP bigwigs is a Harvard-trained lawyer who has been wanted for 25 years, authorities said. Since his arrest in May, the accused scam artist has been known as either "Bobby Thompson" or "Mr. X" - the name he gave to investigators and used to sign legal documents. On 2 Oct, U.S. Marshals identified him as John Donald Cody, 65, a lawyer who has been wanted since 1987 for various frauds -- including stealing $99,000 from two former clients in Arizona - and espionage, The Associated Press reported."We always knew there was a reason Thompson signed his name as Mr. X and did not want to be identified," U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said, according to ABC News. "Now we know why." The University of Virginia and Harvard Law grad was arrested in Portland, Ore., in April for running a phony vets' charity based in Tampa, Fla., the U.S. Navy Veteran's Association. Using the Thompson alias, Cody spent a decade pretending to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for Navy vets and their families. Instead, he lined his own pockets and used hefty donations to get access to top-level Republicans.
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Cody as Thompson with President George W. Bush. The scam artist donated large sums to top-level GOP members and delighted in having his picture taken with them.
The website of the phony non-profit boasted of 66,000 members in 40 states, but none of it was true. Now-infamous photos show a grinning, pony-tailed and pompadour "Thompson" posing with President George W. Bush, House Speaker John Boehner and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In 2010, the Tampa Bay Times published reports exposing the NVA as a scam - 84 of 85 "officers" listed were made up names and $22 million in supposed donations had vanished -- and Thompson was charged by the attorney general in Ohio with fraud, money laundering and theft. Cody had been wanted by the FBI since 1987 and had appeared on the TV show 'America's Most Wanted.' After a two-year manhunt, he was nailed by the feds on 30 APR 2010 at a boarding house in Portland, where he was posing as a retired Canadian mountie, ABC News reported. He was travelling with a DVD of the Leonardo DiCaprio flick, "Catch Me If You Can." Since then, he has been in jail in Cleveland, refusing to answer to anything other than "Mr. X."
His true identity was revealed on 2 OCT after U.S. Marshal said they matched his fingerprints with ones taken during Cody's military service in 1969. The Marshals were prompted to check the finger prints after Google searches turned up old FBI wanted posters showing Cody with his signature pompadour. Another clincher was a large stash of eye drops found at Thompson's Portland hideout. During his years in Arizona, Cody was known to use eye drops constantly because his tear ducts were destroyed by radiation poisoning he suffered while serving as a military intelligence officer in the Philippines, the Tampa Times reported. "This is definitely John Donald Cody," Elliott told the AP. "He's a guy that thought, No. 1, he could never get caught, and No. 2, he would never be identified. And we were able to do both." Both UVA and Harvard Law confirmed that Cody was a graduate. He's due in court on March 11. His attorney, Joseph Patituce, told the AP the state had a "weak case" against his client. [Source: New York Daily News | Philip Caulfield | 2 Oct 2012 ++]
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Mobilized Reserve 9 OCT 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 9 OCT 2012. The net collective result is 1461 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 1 SEP 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 45,236; Navy Reserve 4,540; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 9,846; Marine Corps Reserve 3,040; and the Coast Guard Reserve 681. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 62,983 including both units and individual augmentees. [Source: DoD News Release No. 810-12 dtd 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Lawsuit ~ Michael Nash: Michael D. Nash of Louisville KY has sued the federal government in U.S. District Court in Louisville, seeking $10 million in damages for what he calls medical malpractice. Nash, who served in the Army in 1968 and 1969, went to the VA hospital in Lexington for medically necessary surgery on his penis. Nash’s attorney, Larry Jones of Jones Ward law firm in Louisville, said that after the procedure a nurse packed Nash’s groin in ice for 19 hours. “It basically caused frostbite on his penis, which eventually caused gangrene,” Jones said. “In addition to robbing someone of their manhood, they’ve robbed him of the simple ability to urinate just like every other person who lives in this world.” A message left for the Veterans Administration was not immediately returned Tuesday morning.
Nash, 61, entered the VA hospital on Oct. 28, 2010, to have a penile implant and circumcision. A nurse applied ice packs to Nash’s groin to reduce pain and swelling. The problem arose when the medical staff allowed the ice packs to remain in place for about 19 hours. Jones described it as non-stop ice replacement. “Any doctor who is monitoring the care of their patient is not going to allow someone to have constant treatment with ice ... for more than 2-3 hours,” Jones said. Gangrene set it in within a few weeks, causing doctors to remove a five-inch section of Nash’s penis — a procedure for which he continues to receive medical care, Jones said. Nash will need reconstructive surgery that will allow him to urinate, Jones said. “It’s about the most blatant medical malpractice error one could make,” Jones said. “It’s a senseless tragedy that should never have happened.”
Nash initially pursued compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act — a civil procedure that requires a person to file a claim with the government and prevents him or her from suing until the claim is resolved. The Department of Veterans Affairs reviewed the claim and rejected it in July. “It is our opinion that there was no negligence on the part of the Department of Veterans Affairs or any of its employees in connection with the claimed loss; therefore your claim is denied,” wrote Melinda Frick, Indianapolis-based regional counsel for the VA. Jones said the extent of Nash’s injuries is what prompted the lawsuit. “If this was someone who had a little frostbite and a little burning for a couple of days, there would be no suit,” Jones said. “I would not wish this on my worst enemy.”
[Source: Associated Press | Brett Barrouquere | 2 Oct 2012 ++]
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Presidential 2012 Election: The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) reached out to President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney for their insight on issues important to their members. Each candidate received the opportunity to provide up to 1,250 words in response to the below five questions.
1. In the past, large post-war force reductions have left insufficient forces to meet the next unexpected contingency. Considering the extraordinary stresses on our military over the past decade of war and continuing threats from Iran, North Korea, and others, what force levels (relative to current forces) do you believe are needed to be prepared for potential future contingencies?
2. Some studies propose making the military benefit package (retirement, health care, etcetera) more like that of civilian workers. In view of the dramatically different demands and sacrifices entailed in military versus civilian careers, to what extent do you believe the military must maintain a unique benefit package to attract a high-quality career force?
3. Sequestration law requires the defense budget to absorb 50 percent of the nearly $1 trillion budget cut over the next 10 years. What is your view of that allocation and the share of future budget cuts that should be taken from defense?
4. The past decade of war imposed dramatically increased demands on National Guard and Reserve forces. Under the current “operational reserve” concept, such demands likely will continue to disrupt their civilian
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work careers. To what extent do you believe these extra demands warrant an improved Guard/Reserve compensation and benefit package?
5. Recent VA budgets have been increased substantially, but many wartime veterans will need continuing support for decades. What is your view on how this national obligation can be met in the face of increasing budget constraints?
The responses in their entirety and unedited are listed in the attachment to this Bulletin titles, “Election 2012 Military Issues”. Differences in length reflect the choices of the respective campaign offices. They do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of MOAA. [Source: MOAA News Exchange 3 Oct 2012 ++]
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BRAC Update 29: Utah’s Democratic candidate for governor said 2 OCT that state officials are failing to ensure the military base that is the state’s largest employer survives base closures, but he offered no concrete examples of how he would do so if elected. Retired Army Reserves Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke has made the future of Hill Air Force Base a centerpiece of his campaign, criticizing Republican incumbent Gov. Gary Herbert as “asleep” when the Pentagon downgraded the mission at the base and saying at a news conference that more must be done to ensure the base remains relevant to the military into the future. A federal commission that examines military bases for closure is set to issue new recommendations in 2015. More immediately, automatic, across-the-board budget cuts of 9 percent to most Pentagon programs are possible after the first of the year because Congress failed to reach a budget deal last year. The military is struggling to deal with an onslaught of budget cuts, Cooke said, and that onslaught is likely coming to Utah.
Hill Air Force Base is Utah’s largest employer with some 25,000 employees north of Salt Lake City and an economic impact of about $3 billion. Those numbers are similar to Tinker Air Force Base, which is Oklahoma’s largest employer and recently assumed an increased command mission. Cooke pointed to Oklahoma as an example for taking steps to keep that base intact. Joining him at the news conference: Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn Jr., who said the message state and local officials there have learned is to be proactive. In 2005, the county lost 2,200 jobs when a General Motors plant closed after operating for 27 years. That plant shares a border with Tinker, which employs more than 26,000 people and has a payroll of $3.8 billion. The local Chamber of Commerce spent two years trying to find a buyer for the plant, Vaughn said, before chamber leaders finally approached the Air Force about leasing it. With no firm commitment from the military, voters there still approved a $55 million bond in 2008 to buy the closed plant to lease to the base. The bond increased taxes by 68 cents for the owner of a $100,000 home. “The citizens have a long history of supporting this base,” Vaughn said. “We were interested in not only replacing jobs that were lost with the GM plant, but in creating new opportunities.”
Already, 150 jobs at the Utah base have been moved to the Oklahoma base. Whether more Utah jobs will be lost remains to be seen. Cooke said that, if elected, he would immediately visit the Pentagon to better understand Air Force plans to realign its operations and would treat the military as he would any other business he hoped to retain. He offered no specific examples of how to make the Utah base more attractive and essential to the military going forward, but said state officials should be looking at areas to expand operations there. They include the drone program and looking to bases that are struggling to poach some operations. A spokesman for Herbert’s campaign said the governor recognizes the vital importance of Hill to the national defense and to Utah’s economy, but said protecting it is a team effort. “Governor Herbert will continue to be a champion for Hill Air Force Base, and he is confident it will thrive based on its strategic military value and because of the hard working men and women on base — not because of politics,” spokesman Marty Carpenter said. [Source: Associated Press | Shannon Dininny | 2 Oct 2012 ++]
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Golden Gate National Recreation Area: A massive gun that was on the battleship Missouri when the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II will soon be installed on a cliff at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The 68-foot-long, 236,000-pound gun will be painted and displayed at the Battery Townsley fortification in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the coming months, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on 1 OCT. The gun was set to complete the final leg of its journey to the battery on 2 OCT after a two-day trip from a naval weapons station in Hawthorne. Nev. It will simulate one of two guns that protected the battery during World War II but have since been removed. “A gun battery without a gun would be like a railroad museum without a locomotive,” said John Martini, a retired park ranger who helped refurbish Battery Townsley. The original guns were each capable of shooting a 2,100-pound projectile 25 miles out to sea, according to the National Park Service. The battery itself — and another like it at Fort Funston — became a model for gun batteries planned elsewhere on the East and West coasts. When Battery Townsley was tested for the first time in the summer of 1940, its projectile went even farther than expected, according to the park service. The guns continued to fire practice salvos after that, but the location of the battery was kept secret. The gun that will be displayed was one of nine aboard the battleship Missouri. The gun that will be displayed was one of nine aboard the battleship Missouri.
16-inch gun #386 that was on the battleship Missouri at Fort Cronkhite Missouri before it was shipped to the Battery Townsley fortification in San Francisco
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) chronicles two hundred years of history, from the Native American culture, the Spanish Empire frontier and the Mexican Republic, to maritime history, the California Gold Rush, the evolution of American coastal fortifications, and the growth of urban San Francisco. It hugs the California coastline for nearly 60 miles in and around San Francisco and is one of the world's largest urban national parks, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. A total of 17 million visitors annually are drawn there by the unparalleled recreational opportunities, natural beauty, and riveting stories. Among its features are a "working" Nike Missile Site, the maximum security federal prison Alcatraz, the conversion of an abandoned airfield into hundreds of acres of productive coastal wetlands, and some of the best beaches and hiking trails in the nation. All America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes are valid for CGNRA entry. The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), authorizes Recreation Fees to be charged within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Eighty percent of the money is retained in the park and makes possible important visitor service and resource protection projects. The fees are:
 Alcatraz Island: Prices vary with tour package. For more information call (415) 981-ROCK [415.981.7625] or go to www.alcatrazcruises.com.
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 Kirby Cove: Campground - $25/Night; Picnic Area - $35/Day
 Muir Woods National Monument: $7.00 Adult (16 years of age and older), Children (15 years of age and under) free, Muir Woods Annual Pass $20
 Other Golden Gate National Recreation Area Sites: Free
Refer to http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/index.htm for additional information and brochures on the many sites to visit. [Source: Associated Press article 1 Oct 2012 & www.nps.gov ++]
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Aid & Attendance Update 09: Here’s a riddle: When is a government benefit that pays for caregivers, assisted living and a nursing home not a benefit? When hardly any people know they’re entitled to it. That seems to be the story with a Department of Veterans Affairs benefit called the Aid and Attendance and Housebound Improved Pension benefit, known as A&A, which can cover the costs of caregivers in the home (including sons and daughters who are paid to be caregivers, though not spouses) or be used for assisted living or a nursing home. The benefit is not insignificant: up to $2,019 monthly for a veteran and spouse, and up to $1,094 for the widow of a veteran. Surprised that you’ve never heard of it? You’re not alone.“It’s probably one of the lesser-known benefits,” said Randal Noller, a Veterans Affairs spokesman in Washington. Of the 1.7 million World War II veterans alive as of 2011, who were in need of caregiving assistance and thus eligible, only 38,076 veterans and 38,685 surviving spouses were granted the A&A benefit that year, according to Mr. Noller.
Mr. Noller is not the first to acknowledge A&A is a well-kept secret. Jim Nicholson, former secretary of Veterans Affairs, said in a DEC 2006 news release that “not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility” for the program, which he called an “underused” benefit. Not much has changed. A search of the Veterans Affairs Web site for evidence of public information efforts in the six years since came up blank. “The sad thing is, it’s been an entitlement for 61 years, but it’s sat idle — the V.A. employees just haven’t been educated about it,” said Debbie Burak of Midlothian, Va. She said she repeatedly called department offices on behalf of her father, a World War II veteran, and her mother, who became homeless after their house caught fire and their injuries required extensive care. She was told there were no benefits they were entitled to. (Indeed, when I called two Baltimore-area Veterans Affairs offices for my father, a World War II veteran, no one had heard of this benefit or any benefit that paid for caregivers or assisted living or nursing homes.) “My parents’ end of life was so difficult. They lost everything, were living in a terrible hotel, ran up every credit card we had,” Ms. Burak said. “My mother begged us not to cremate her, but there was no money for a burial; we had no choice.” It was only after her father died that Ms. Burak discovered her parents would have been entitled to as much as $160,000 over the last decade through the Aid and Attendance benefit. She applied, but no money arrived before her mother died.
Mr. Noller said the program’s low visibility might be an effect of the size of the department. “The V.A. is the second-largest agency in the federal government, and you can’t expect everybody to know everything,” he said, referring to the agency’s work force. To bridge the information gap, Ms. Burak introduced http://www.veteranaid.org , a Web site and a 501(c)(3) charity, in 2005, to provide information about A&A eligibility and how to apply. To qualify, a veteran need not have suffered a service-related injury. He or she only had to have clocked at least one day of his or her 90-day minimum military service during a time of war and need caregiving for activities of daily living. Applying can be confusing and arduous. If you know the program’s name and search the Veterans Affairs Web site for Aid and Attendance, the first page states, among other things, that you are not eligible for A&A unless you already qualify for a basic Veterans Affairs pension — for which you have to be “totally disabled.” That’s more than a little misleading. “What people don’t know is that when wartime veterans turn 65, the V.A. automatically classifies them as ‘totally disabled,’ ” Ms. Burak said. And if they meet income and asset criteria, they are eligible for a basic pension. The A&A benefit can be more than 50 percent higher than the
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basic veteran’s pension ($24,239 annually for a veteran and spouse with A&A, versus $16,051 for a basic pension). The income and asset cutoffs are also higher than for A&A benefits. Not all Veterans Affairs officers are in the dark about A&A.
 After Annette Cadena’s parents were in a car accident and moved to a nursing home in their tiny hometown, Fossil, Ore., it was the local Veterans Affairs officer, Paul Conroy (now retired), who saw her on the street and mentioned that her parents might qualify. “I was skeptical, to be honest,” said Ms. Cadena. “My husband did two tours in Iraq and has worked 30 years for the Washington State Army National Guard coordinating with the V.A. to help veterans, and he had never heard of it.” Still, she applied in August 2009, and nine months later her parents started receiving the maximum $2,019 per month. The benefit was a lifesaver. That is, until her father, Clinton Ray, died on Aug. 5. The payments to her mother, Bessie Ray, stopped, even though widows of veterans are also entitled to this benefit. “They cut her off cold,” Ms. Cadena said, and told her she would have to apply all over again as a widow, which could take 9 to 18 months. “My mother said, ‘Oh, my God, are they going to kick me out of the home?’” Ms. Cadena recalled. Still, when the benefit comes through, it can make a real difference.
 Marcia Hruska’s mother, 85, had run through all her savings after seven years of worsening Alzheimer’s and round-the-clock care in her apartment in Coconut Creek, Fla. Assisted living was the next step, but Ms. Hruska didn’t know how they would pay for it, with Social Security her only income. “One of the assisted living facilities we visited asked if my dad had been in the service,” and mentioned A&A, Ms. Hruska recalled. So she filled out the 26-page Veterans Affairs application — which used to be only four pages — and on 1 SEP, six months after applying, she received the first monthly check for $1,019. “This relieves a lot of tension,” Ms. Hruska said.
One warning note: Scams abound. The department forbids anyone to charge to help veterans fill out these challenging forms, yet a growing number of companies — many of which, on a Web search for “Aid and Attendance,” pop up with waving flags and red-white-and-blue banners — offer to “help” veterans fill out the forms free, then charge thousands of dollars for financial consultation. And, Ms. Burak warns: “Financial planners at assisted living facilities are putting on seminars about the A&A benefit — but it isn’t out of the goodness of their hearts. They are trolling for residents who have too much money to qualify, to get them to move assets into annuity products that don’t count as income or assets and yield big commissions.” (This is possible because, unlike Medicaid, with its five-year lookback, Veterans Affairs has no lookback on asset transfers.) The department does not reveal maximum allowable assets. But $80,000 (the house and a car are exempt from this total) seems to be in the ballpark, though someone with more assets could still qualify if expenses were very high, according to Ms. Burak. Income limits are not set in stone either. But the maximum is around $20,000 to $23,000 after deducting costs for medical expenses, caregivers, assisted living or nursing home fees. Some people are taking advantage of A&A to protect assets for their heirs, Ms. McCarty said. Still, she said, ”it’s a wonderful benefit.” [Source: New York Times | Susan Seliger | 19 Sep 2012 ++]
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VA Claim Processing Update 07: For veterans claiming they can’t prove a service connection for their disability because it resulted from a secret operation, the Veterans Affairs Department has assigned a liaison officer to the U.S. Special Operations Command with direct access to classified files. The little-known program has a VA employee work closely with the command historian at the command’s headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to review files on classified missions for special operations units in all services. Befitting the nature of the missions involved, the program, quietly launched a year ago, has received scant attention. Joe Davis, spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, was unaware of the initiative. “But it does make perfect sense, given the clandestine nature of their business,” he said. The liaison was established in December 2009 under an agreement between the
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Pentagon and VA. The current VA liaison to the Special Operations Command is an Army veteran who was not part of a special operations unit but has the appropriate security clearances to review files, according to VA sources.
Lack of records access has been seen by many spec ops veterans as a roadblock to filing claims, especially for disabilities such as post-traumatic stress, for which there may be nothing in military health or personnel records to verify any treatment while the veteran was in uniform. If a veteran says his claim is based on involvement in a secret mission, VA claims examiners turn files over to the liaison, who can verify the veteran’s involvement, VA sources said. If more information is needed, the claims examiner requests that the liaison search for the information by requesting it from either U.S. Special Forces Command or one of its subordinate commands. The liaison officer then prepares sanitized information for use by the regional VA office handling the claim. Veterans have direct contact with the liaison only if more information is needed to track down records, VA sources said. Claims from veterans who say they took part in an intelligence operation run by the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency or other government organization also can be researched by the VA liaison officer if a classified mission is involved, VA sources said. The liaison officer is a full-time employee of the Veterans Benefits Administration and has access to records involving special operations units including Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, the Army’s 160th Aviation Regiment, Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Operations and Marine Corps Special Operations and Reconnaissance units. [Source: www.ptsdspport.net | Rick Maze | 3 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Conference Scandal Update 01: The Veterans Affairs Department spent more than $6 million on two conferences in the summer of 2011, much of which was deemed wasteful and excessive, according to an internal investigation. The report, issued by VA’s inspector general’s office, called the human resources conferences in Orlando, Fla., “valid training” exercises, but said the department lacked the leadership to provide proper oversight. “Overall, VA’s processes and the oversight were too weak, ineffective and, in some instances, nonexistent to ensure that conference costs identified were accurate, appropriate, necessary and reasonably priced,” the auditors wrote in the report. “Accountability and controls were inadequate to ensure effective management and reporting of the dollars spent.” The report specifically cited Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration John Sepulveda, who resigned in advance of the report release, for “abdicat[ing] his responsibilities.” VA confirmed a Federal News Radio report that Sepulveda resigned from his position Sunday. The IG’s office said Sepulveda made false statements while under oath during the investigation.
In a statement, VA said the issues discussed in the report represent the “misconduct” of a few individuals. “Misuse of taxpayer dollars is completely unacceptable,” the department said. “The actions cited in the report represent serious lapses in oversight, judgment and stewardship.” It added the department agrees with the IG’s findings and recommendations. “[VA]Secretary [Eric] Shinseki has taken immediate action to address the issues outlined in the IG report to strengthen oversight, improve accountability, safeguard taxpayer dollars and help ensure such incidents do not occur again,” the department said. Among the extraneous spending cited in the report was nearly $50,000 on a parody video. The auditors also pointed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in “unsupported” travel expenses, “excessive” expenditures at the two conferences at a Marriot hotel in Orlando and wasteful promotional purchases. Additionally, VA rented karaoke equipment and purchased “artisan cheese displays” for senior executives, which the auditors said “did not add any training value to the conference.”
VA employees directly disobeyed agency legal advisors, who told the conferences’ organizers that promotional all-purpose bags, “padfolios” and USB hubs were not allowable expenditures, but the employees went ahead with the purchases anyway. The IG’s office said the total “questionable, unnecessary and wasteful” purchases added up to $762,000. The report found total costs well exceeded the authorization for spending on the conferences, while failing to reach the target for number of employees. Organizers had hoped the two conferences would train 3,000 workers, though only around 1,800 ended up attending. The IG’s office said due to VA’s failure to accurately and
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comprehensively track the spending at the conferences, there is no way to identify all the costs and the $6.1 million price tag estimate could actually understate the total expenses. Nearly a dozen employees face retribution for accepting “improper gifts in violation of federal law,” including several “high-grade, supervisor-level employees.” The gifts included free meals, transportation, gift baskets, spa treatments and tickets for a Rockettes performance.
The report specifically named several VA executives in addition to Sepulveda for leadership failures -- including Alice Muellerweiss, dean of the VA Learning University, and Tonya Deanes, deputy assistant secretary for the Human Resources Management Office -- and redacted the names of several others. The auditors recommended VA consult with its General Counsel’s Office to determine the appropriate action to take against Muellerweiss, Deanes and others. VA announced two employees have been “place on administrative leave pending review,” but could not elaborate on which two employees, citing privacy considerations. “The secretary will appoint senior officials to review evidence of wrongdoing and to recommend appropriate administrative action,” VA said. [Source: GovExec.com | Eric Katz | 1 Oct 2012 ++]
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Commissary News Update 07: Commissary patrons will soon see the "biggest transformational effort" made by the Defense Commissary Agency in its 21-year history, says DeCA Director Joseph H. Jeu. For starters, by this time next year military families might be ordering groceries online, Monday through Friday, with service members or spouses being able to pick up the order curbside on their way home from work. Perhaps not many months after that, military shoppers with smart phones will be able to use them to compare commissary prices with commercial supermarkets and make instant buy decisions, all through a secure application available only to military patrons. Also, in areas of the country with several military bases, such as San Diego, San Antonio and Virginia's Tidewater area, DeCA plans to test alternative store designs including the "warehouse" experience and bulk products found at stores like Costco and BJ's. But warehouse commissaries should offer even deeper savings, Jeu said. Long term, they also might allow DeCA to hold down construction costs.
With its embrace of online and smart phone technologies – what retailers call "e-commerce" and "m-commerce" – DeCA also plans to use social media like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube more routinely to get real time feedback from patrons who have complaints or good ideas. These changes, which echo popular initiatives in the commercial marketplace "will position us well into the 21st Century, at least for the next 20 years," Jeu told me in a phone interview from DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Va. "This is an exciting time for all of us." To allow online and smart phone access to commissary products and prices, DeCA will set up a process to authenticate user eligibility through DEERS, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, Jeu explained. The commitment to more modern approaches to commissary operations are set down in a new DeCA vision statement to enhance the commissary experience without driving up the annual $1.4 billion subsidy.
The first initiative "you are going to be seeing is the model like Harris Teeter where you can order online for pick up at the curbside," Jeu said. DeCA is "working vigorously" on this, he said. It already has tested the concept successfully with sandwich orders at the Fort Lee commissary. It also has tested pre-ordering and pre-payment processes using its Guard and Reserve onsite sales program which bring limited commissary orders to drill units in more remote states like Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. The online order concept will be more fully tested next spring, again at Fort Lee but also at one or two other locations. If successful, it could become worldwide by fall next year. Online orders will be Monday through Friday only, Jeu said, when it makes the most sense for working families. DeCA doesn't expect to have to hire more staff to process and bag online orders and place them in a refrigerated space for pickup. But that's what full store testing will determine, Jeu said.
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No timeline is set for testing use of smart phones to comparison shop commissary prices without retail grocers, Jeu said. But that will follow on the heels of successful launch of online ordering. DeCA wants to test warehouse stores and "other concepts," Jeu said. "There's a lot of different ideas to deliver our commissary benefit to more people and more efficiently, and to a younger generation." Young commissary shoppers, he said, "grew up using electronics, shopping from homes, with social media and they just buy things differently. So we want to make sure they take full advantage of this commissary benefit that they so earned." Warehouse commissaries will operate in areas where military shoppers still have the choice of a traditional commissary. Items won't be as varied but product will be sold in bulk quantities. "And we believe we should offer a greater discount" Jeu said. The most recent American Customer Satisfaction Impact (ACSI) survey of grocery store patrons showed commissaries earning an average score of 81 percent versus a 76 for commercial grocers. DeCA's score was higher than every supermarket chain except Publix, which has stores from Tennessee southeast through Florida.
Given the savings that commissaries generate, Jeu said, DeCA does not feel threatened when chains like Harris Teeter begins to offer online orders and curbside pickup. But DeCA studies shopping trends and will update its business model, as it is now, to sustain customer satisfaction. Exchanges, or department stores on base, also will be evolving for the electronic shopper. For example, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has announced that patrons soon will be able to browse and buy online all of the same products that are sold at large main exchanges. "Ultimately, National Guard, Reserve, retired and active duty shoppers will be able to enjoy the same selection online as they would find at Fort Campbell, Kadena Air Base, Japan, or Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, Germany," said Col. Tom Ockenfels, chief of staff for AAFES. DeCA, said Jeu, "has a responsibility to innovate and avoid becoming stale."
That would make the prized commissary benefit, which is a critical element of non-pay compensation, less "relevant" to patrons. Commissaries sell groceries and household products at cost plus five percent. The surcharge goes toward store maintenance and new construction. But to operate its 248 stores worldwide, DeCA needs an annual appropriation, which is taxpayer support. In return for that $1.4 billion subsidy, military shoppers save an average of 32 percent on brand name products and local staples like milk, bread and fresh produce. DeCA estimates the typical military family-of-four saves $4400 a year using commissaries. The total value of those savings is more than $2.8 billion for a two-for-one return on the subsidy, Jeu said. That subsidy is a frequent target of debt reduction studies. And DeCA could see an arbitrary cut of 10 percent if Congress allows the across-the-board "budget sequestration" knife to fall, as scheduled, on 2 JAN. [Source: Mil.com | Tom Philpott | 28 Sep 2012 ++]
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Commissary News Update 08: U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) on 21 SEP introduced legislation to extend, without time limitation, military commissary and exchange store privileges to disabled veterans who are involuntarily separated with a service-connected disability and their families. “Our service men and women risk their lives every day to protect our country and I’m committed to making sure we preserve the rights, protections and benefits that America's brave and heroic veterans deserve,” said Denham. “This legislation is a common-sense bill that will provide much needed help for our disabled veterans and their families. I will continue to work on behalf of our veterans in Congress to take the best care possible of our brave and deserving veterans.” Commissary benefits are part of the military pay and benefits package that is designed to recruit and retain Armed Forces while enhancing the quality of life and readiness for America's military personnel, retirees and their families. Access to commissaries and exchanges is generally limited to military retirees who are retired from the military under either longevity or disability criteria. Denham’s legislation, H.R.6488, would extend commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a service-connected disability and their families.
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Rep. Denham has received support from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for H.R. 6488, and original co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “Part of the healing process is being part of a family—a network—and this legislation is one way we can show these men and women their sacrifice is still recognized,” stated Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “This bill will greatly assist our wounded warriors and their families not only financially, but will help them feel that they are still part of the greater military family.” [Source: TREA News f or the Enlisted 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Pain Care Update 01: Two-thirds of the Texas Iraq and Afghanistan veterans the American-Statesman identified as dying of overdoses had powerful prescription painkillers in their systems, according to autopsies and medical examiner reports. It wasn’t clear if the pills directly responsible for the overdoses were prescribed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs physicians. But in many instances, family members said, the veterans first used the narcotics as active-duty service members. “More frequently than we’d like, veterans get prescribed opioids while they’re in the service,” said Catherine Coppolillo, a staff psychologist at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. According to a recent study, opioid addiction cases in VA patients climbed 23 percent between 2008 and 2010 (although that also represents growth in the number of patients). And “once they develop the disease of opioid addiction, they become very high risk for an overdose death,” said Andrew Kolodny, chairman of the department of psychiatry at Maimonides Medical Center in New York and president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.
As in the civilian population, the military’s use of opioid painkillers — hydrocodone, oxycodone and methadone are the most popular — has skyrocketed over the past decade. Hydrocodone is the most prescribed drug in the country and the VA’s most-used narcotic painkiller. The drugs are an important component of pain treatment. A decade ago, the agency was criticized for not getting the medications to ailing veterans quickly enough and so adjusted its protocols to make the drugs more available. But in the face of mounting evidence of addiction and overdoses, many now say obtaining the painkillers became too easy. In 2010, over 23 percent of VA patients received an opioid prescription. “There’s really been a culture of, 'Let’s get rid of pain,’ and I think unfortunately that pendulum may have swung too far,” said Karen Seal, a San Francisco-based VA researcher who studies substance abuse among veterans. With their often interlocking conditions — post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain — veterans are an especially complicated and vulnerable population to treat with the powerful drugs.
“It remains unclear how to best treat these problems simultaneously, and in particular, how to use pain medications safely,” Robert Kerns, the VA’s director for pain management, wrote recently. In an interview, he added that in recent years, the agency had adopted more conservative prescribing protocols and was stressing alternative treatments for pain control. Some of the rise in use of the powerful painkillers among veterans is attributable to prescriptions written to control acute pain related to healing injuries. But much of the growth has been due to the drugs increasingly being used to treat chronic pain — despite scant scientific support for their long-term use. In 2010, when University of Oregon researcher Roger Chou reviewed new opioid prescribing guidelines issued by the American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine, he discovered that nearly 90 percent of their recommendations had little basis in solid research. “In other words, what we know about opioids is dwarfed by what we don’t know,” he wrote, adding in a phone interview: “It is shocking.”
To young veterans with chronic pain, especially, that is a yawning gap. A study published earlier this year, “Misuse of Prescription Pain Medications in U.S. Active Duty Service Members,” noted that what little research had been done on the use of painkillers for chronic pain focused on civilian populations, whose conditions typically start
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appearing midlife. By comparison, “widespread treatment of chronic pain with opioids in young adults has not been previously observed.” Although the drugs were promoted as having little risk of addiction, “We now know they’re highly addictive — especially using them in young adults,” Kolodny said. Doctors also were taught opioids were safe at higher doses as long as they were introduced gradually. The result, said Chou, is that over the years the average dosages of painkillers has increased.
“A lot of the guys, because of their injuries, are coming to the VA on whopping doses of opioids,” said Jodie Trafton, director of the Menlo Park, Calif.-based VA Program Evaluation Resource Center. The trend has been deadly. In a study published last year of 155,000 veterans treated by the VA between 2004 and 2008, Michigan-based VA researcher Amy Bohnert found that veterans on higher doses of opioids had a greater risk of overdose. Chou also found little hard research on the comparative risks of different types of narcotic painkillers. In particular, he cited methadone — an inexpensive but clinically risky drug because it builds up in patients’ systems. “Data indicate large increases in methadone-associated fatalities, yet almost no evidence exists on risks of methadone versus other opioids,” he wrote. In 2011, records show, VA doctors dispensed four times as many prescriptions for the drug as in 2001.
An Iraq Army veteran and 30-year-old Waco resident (the Statesman is not naming veterans whose families could not be reached) died of a methadone overdose in 2008. So did a 34-year-old Iraq veteran who died in Killeen, in 2010; and the Army veteran who died in a Richardson EconoLodge with methadone, hydrocodone and alcohol in his system at the age of 28. In all, nine of the Texas veterans who died of overdoses — 19 percent — had methadone in their systems. With their high rate of mental health diagnoses, returning veterans also are particularly susceptible to the deadly interaction of narcotic painkillers with drugs used to treat depression and anxiety. Mixing opioids with benzodiazepines — sedatives often used to treat mood disorders — is particularly risky. Seventeen of the Texas veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts the Statesman identified as dying of overdoses — about one-third — died with both opioids and benzodiazepines in their systems, medical examiner records showed. [Source: Austin American-Statesman | Special Report | 28 Sep 2012 ++]
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VA Pain Care Update 02: Over the past dozen years, as the number of prescriptions for narcotic painkillers written by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doctors soared, pharmaceutical companies waged a behind-the-scenes campaign to get the VA to focus more on veterans’ pain, which would lead to more drug prescriptions. The agency’s use of the drugs was bound to grow as more men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan — carrying more survivable wounds than in previous wars — demanded treatment during recovery. And pain-dulling narcotics are an important component of the treatment of acute pain. Yet much of the increase also has come from the surging use of the drugs to manage service members’ chronic, long-term pain — a use that pharmaceutical companies have promoted even though experts say there is little hard research to support it. Meanwhile, a 2011 VA-sponsored study found that the overdose risk for veterans was twice that of the general population — much of it due to opiate painkillers. The increase of the VA’s opioid use coincided with the agency’s adoption of the “Pain: the 5th Vital Sign” campaign. Initiated and promoted by the nonprofit American Pain Society before the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan operations, it urged doctors to check for patients’ untreated pain as regularly as they monitored heart rate, blood pressure and other wellness signs.
Although supported by many physicians and patient advocacy groups, critics say it was also a way for drug companies to tap new markets, particularly among patients with chronic pain. “Untreated pain is often code for 'underused opioids” said Andrew Kolodny, chairman of the Maimonides Medical Center psychiatry department in Brooklyn and president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. With millions of patients, the VA presented an obvious market for pain drug companies . A 2001 promotional plan for OxyContin, revealed as part of
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a Florida lawsuit, detailed manufacturer Purdue Pharma’s plan to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars targeting the agency. “Corporate initiatives and partnering efforts were very successful with the Veterans Administration (and) American Pain Society … in an effort to make Pain: The 5th Vital Sign,” the plan noted. “This 'call to action’ was an important promotional initiative for Purdue. In addition to building sales for OxyContin Tablets, it also positioned Purdue as the leader in pain management education.”
Drug companies have worked in less direct, but ultimately effective ways to influence the VA to pay greater attention to pain, as well. In 2008, Congress passed the Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act. It included language requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to “focus attention on pain management” for returning service members. The VA opposed the law, saying it already paid ample attention to veterans’ pain. But the measure was aggressively pushed by the influential American Pain Foundation. The foundation (unrelated to the American Pain Society) launched its “Military/Veterans Pain Initiative” in 2004 to promote “quality acute and chronic pain care and increased research” for returning soldiers, Brenda Murdough, the campaign’s coordinator, explained in testimony to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in 2007. Then-foundation President Scott Fishman met with lawmakers to press the cause, according to foundation newsletters from the time. What the organization didn’t tell lawmakers was that it received nearly 90 percent of its annual budget from drug companies, including some that manufactured common narcotic painkillers.
Another American Pain Foundation board member was psychiatrist Rollin Gallagher. Widely published and a frequent speaker on pain control, Gallagher had other ties to pain drug companies. In 2002, he appeared before a U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee as it considered whether to restrict the use of opiate painkillers. Representing the American Academy of Pain Medicine, which received funding from drug companies, he spoke against restricting the use of OxyContin. In publications, Gallagher also has disclosed he worked as a consultant for Purdue, Endo Pharmaceutical — maker of Percocet and Percodan — and Janssen Pharmaceutica, which developed the Duragesic fentanyl patch. He also disclosed he received grants from Cephalon, another painkiller manufacturer. Today, Gallagher is the VA’s deputy national program manager for pain management. “I am not influenced by the pharmaceutical industry in my work,” he wrote in response to questions, adding that he has long been a leader advocating for safer and better pain management and training. He said that he had received no funding from drug companies since 2006.
As the veterans pain bill wound through Congress, the American Pain Foundation also worked to generate public support, launching its “Freedom from Pain” media campaign in 2006 “as a part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of resources for veterans in pain,” a newsletter from the period announced. “Print, television and radio ads will be running across the country through the Veterans’ Day holiday weekend.” The organization bombarded members and veterans with “advocacy alerts,” urging them to press for the bill’s passage. “We are asking that you contact your Senator TODAY to request their support for this critical Veterans Legislation,” a 2007 mailing read. In its 2010 annual report, the foundation said, “APF’s Military/Veteran’s Initiative played an influential role in policy efforts that eventually led to the passage of the ... pain care legislation in 2008.” Pain foundation officers have denied the pharmaceutical industry’s financial support influenced its advocacy. But published reports have noted it came to the defense of longtime patron Purdue in several OxyContin lawsuits and lobbied against laws to more tightly regulate opiate use.
Kolodny and others also have pointed to the American Pain Foundation’s publications — some funded directly by drug companies — that soft-pedaled the risks of opioid painkillers while at the same time promoting the drugs for uses unsupported by research. “They were part of a brilliant campaign to change the way physicians prescribed opioids,” he said. “And they created a widespread public health crisis.” In 2007, the American Pain Foundation authored the “chronic pain” chapter of “The American Veterans and Service Members Survival Guide,” widely distributed to veterans. Edited by Gallagher, the guide assured that “when used for medical purposes and under the guidance of a skilled health-care provider, the risk of addiction from opioid pain medication is very low.”
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Some studies have found that, among chronic opioid users, addiction rates can climb into the double digits. With their young age, as well as incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health disorders, many veterans are at an especially high risk of opiate misuse, research has found.
The pain foundation suddenly shut down five months ago. Days later, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee announced it was opening an investigation into connections between the foundation and several supporting pharmaceutical companies. Citing “an epidemic of accidental deaths and addiction resulting from the increased sale and use of powerful narcotic painkillers,” Sens. Max Baucus and Charles Grassley said they wanted to learn if the manufacturers had used the American Pain Foundation — and other nonprofits — as a vehicle to promote their products irresponsibly. “There is growing evidence pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and market opioids may be responsible, at least in part, for this epidemic by promoting misleading information about the drugs’ safety and effectiveness,” the senators wrote. Among the information requested from the drug companies — including Endo and Purdue — was “information about the American Pain Foundation’s Military/Pain Initiative” and payments to a half-dozen physicians, including Gallagher. A finance committee spokeswoman said investigators were reviewing the documents. [Source: Austin American-Statesman | Special Report | 29 Sep 2012 ++]
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Pentagon Contractor Data Breach: The Social Security numbers of Army recipients of the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross were inadvertently posted online by a Pentagon contractor and were available to the public until they were discovered by a Vietnam veteran who researches military medal awards. The Social Security numbers of 31 recipients of the military's top two awards for valor in combat were posted by a contractor conducting medals research for the Pentagon. The information was removed 29 SEP after the Pentagon learned of the breach through the efforts of Doug Sterner of Alexandria, Va., a Bronze Star recipient who has spent 14 years researching medals. The 31 Social Security numbers were posted on a link that contains details of the 518 recipients awarded the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star since Sept. 11, 2001.
"I was stunned _ I'm very upset this information got out there," said Sterner, 62. Sterner said Google searches of several medal recipients' names led him to the link, where the Social Security numbers were included along with names, ranks, units and brief narratives of battlefield heroics in Iraq and Afghanistan. Erik Muendel, chief executive officer of Brightline Interactive, an Alexandria, Va., company that has compiled information on medal recipients for the Pentagon, said he didn't know how the Social Security numbers ended up online. He said the company was supposed to receive only unclassified information. "We are investigating exactly how it occurred," Muendel said. "We're getting a lot of heat over this." He declined further comment. A Pentagon spokesman, Maj. S. Justin Platt, said some Social Security numbers were included when Brightline Interactive posted a link to an html-coded file used to create content for an interactive "Gallery of Heroes" kiosk at the October 2011 conference of the Association of the United States Army, a nonprofit educational group. Platt said Pentagon officials learned of the breach and contacted Brightline, which removed the link. "We take this seriously and we took action immediately," Platt wrote in an e-mail.
Sterner said the Social Security numbers appeared to have been available for some time. He said soldiers whose Social Security numbers were published ranged in rank from colonel to private. No Social Security numbers were published for Silver Star recipients. Platt said the data were available for less than a year. He said he did not know how much Brightline was paid for the contract, which is no longer active. He said he did not know how or why the Social Security numbers were provided to the contractor. In 2008, Sterner sold his database of valor medal recipients to the Military Times, which publishes a website, Hall of Valor, and pays him a monthly stipend for his research. Sterner said he notified the newspaper of the data breach; a sister publication, Army Times, contacted the Pentagon. In an online story Friday, the paper said it withheld its story on the breach until the data was removed from public
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view. Army Times quoted a Medal of Honor recipient, former Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta, as saying of the breach: "That super sucks. It's like an attack on America. ... I wish it wouldn't have happened." Giunta was honored for saving the lives of three fellow soldiers in Afghanistan in 2007.
Editors Note: This is just another in a continuing series of incidents which substantiates the government, or any other institutions inability to maintain confidentiality of our personal data exposing us to identity theft no matter how careful we are in securing our records. Readers who have not yet obtained identity theft insurance are advised to do so. A number of companies providing this coverage can be found on the internet. One, “Lifelock” offers a 25% discount to the military community. [Source: Los Angeles Times | David Zucchino | 30 Sep 2012 ++]
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Medagate OTC Card: Medagate OTC Card to accept the Medagate Over the Counter (OTC) benefits card on a worldwide basis. Medagate is a card-based program provided by Medicare and Medicaid Services that enables merchants to accept payment at the register for medicine and medical supplies covered by medical insurance plans. Medagate Over the Counter (OTC) cards are issued to Medicare and Medicaid members on behalf of insurance providers and are periodically reloaded by Medicare, Medicaid and other health plan companies. These cards have been issued in ten states with more states expected to participate in 2013. Cardholders can simply bring qualifying items to an Exchange checkout (including Express, Troop Store and Main Store locations) where the Medagate OTC card is swiped to pay for all eligible items. “This new capability is just one of the many ways the Exchange strives to serve military veterans,” said the Exchange’s Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “With the Medagate card, shoppers no longer need to complete health care forms or use off-line systems for claims after purchase.” Insurance providers, in conjunction with Medagate, produce a catalog that identifies medicine and medical supplies that qualify for reimbursement coverage/payment.
OTCNetwork is the first national Over-The-Counter benefits disbursement and redemption network for Medicare Advantage plans, State Medicaid programs, and their members. OTCNetwork acceptance is integrated into front-of-store Point-Of-Sale terminals at over 35,000 retail locations in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico. OTCNetwork enables leading health plans and state governments offering Medicare Advantage and State Medicaid programs respectively to provide more efficient consumer access to and use of OTC item benefits. Providing better access to and use of OTC item benefits improves overall member health through self-care, and dramatically reduces healthcare program costs. OTCMedicare and OTCMedicaid branded re-loadable prepaid cards are the first to restrict spend exclusively to OTC Medicare and Medicaid Benefits eligible items. [Source: AAFES Press Lease | Chris Ward | 21 Sep 2012 ++]
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VA Cancer Treatment Update 02: The Department of Veterans Affairs leads the Nation in breast cancer screening rates and has outperformed non-VA health care systems in breast cancer screenings for more than 15 years, with 87 percent of eligible women receiving mammograms in the VA health care system in fiscal year 2010. In comparison, in 2010, the private sector screened 71 percent of eligible women, Medicare screened 69 percent and Medicaid screened 51 percent, according to Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, a tool used by more than 90 percent of U.S. health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service. “We’re proud of our great record on breast cancer screenings and treatments,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We’ll continue to work to improve access and coordination of care for women Veterans.”
Since 2000, the number of female Veterans using VA health care has more than doubled, from nearly 160,000 to more than 337,000 in fiscal year 2011. As the number of women Veterans increases rapidly, VA not only focuses
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on improving access to breast screenings and coordination of care, but also trains providers in the latest breast exam techniques.
VA provides mammograms for all Veterans, with 45 facilities providing services on-site utilizing digital mammography. Some facilities offer mammograms to walk-in patients and same-day ultrasounds.VA also offers mobile mammography in some areas of the country. This mammogram technology-on-wheels allows women Veterans in rural areas to get screening mammograms and have their mammograms read by a VA breast radiologist, without traveling far from home. All this improves access for more than 337,000 women VA health care users. “VA is different from other health care systems in that we serve a female population that is spread across the continental United States, located in both rural and urban areas,” said Dr. Patricia Hayes, Chief Consultant for VA’s Women’s Health Services. “Because of that we have to be creative and innovative about the way we provide screenings, track a woman’s mammogram results and breast cancer care, and train our providers in the latest diagnostic techniques and breast cancer treatments.” In many cases, VA is using technology to bridge the distance between providers at facilities in its 21 regions throughout the nation. VA uses simulation technology to train VA providers in the latest breast exam techniques.
VA is also developing a breast cancer clinical case registry to track when a provider orders a mammogram, the results of the test, and the follow-up care provided. The system will improve care coordination and help VA track and study breast care outcomes throughout VA. It is expected to be available in 2013. These efforts in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are part of a larger VA initiative to enhance all health care services for women Veterans. Women make up six percent of Veterans who use VA health care, but they are expected to make up a larger segment of all VA health care users in the future. VA is preparing for this increase by expanding access to care, enhancing facilities, training staff, and improving services for women. Expanded outreach to women Veterans is another goal in the initiative, and VA’s Women’s Health Services regularly creates posters and messages to educate women Veterans about key women’s health issues. In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, VA reminds patients and providers about the importance of early detection. For more information about VA programs and services for women Veterans, visit: http://www.va.gov/womenvet and http://www.womenshealth.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 1 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA COLA 2013 Update 01: The Republican hold on a Senate bill that provides a cost-of-living adjustment increase for disabled veterans in 2013 has been dropped. The Veterans Affairs Department warned the bill must be approved quickly in November to ensure payments in January. In a sharply worded statement 28 SEP, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, called the hold a “stunning” move she could not comprehend. By the end of the day the hold had been lifted. Since the Senate did not pass the bill when it adjourned last week, lawmakers must approve it on 13 NOV, the day they return, to avoid payment problems, said Josh Taylor, a VA spokesman. If Senators fail to sign off on the legislation quickly, then “VA would have to make complex programming changes to the system that could not be accomplished in time to pay the COLA increase on Jan. 1,” Taylor said. “Consequently, the December COLA increase would have to be paid retroactively.”
David Ward, a spokesman for Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said, “we can pass it [the COLA bill] quickly. It should not take too long,” an indication the bill would be passed on Nov. 13. The COLA increase covers disability and compensation payments to 3.9 million veterans and their survivors. The House, in its version of the bill passed July 9, would provide a 1.9 percent increase. The Congressional Budget Office on Sept.19 pegged the COLA at 1.3 percent, which would cost $686 million in 2013 and $915 million in subsequent years. [Source: Next.gov | Bob Brewin | 28 Sep 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 117: The VA Palo Alto Health Care System is collaborating with Fujitsu Laboratories of America (FLA) on research to improve treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war veterans. The research focuses on the problems many veterans have in driving cars, leading to a higher-than-average accident rate for this group of people. As part of a "treatment study," the VA investigators gather data on veterans' reactions in particular situations during their drives while administering treatments that include cognitive appraisal and breathing re-training. This is part of "driving rehab" therapy that veterans are offered at about a third of VA hospitals. The Palo Alto VA researchers attach sensors to the steering wheel, brake pedal, and gas pedal in the veteran's car, record his heart rate and respiration, and combine that data with the car's location at points in time, as well as factors on the road that might trigger PTSD symptoms.
In an earlier phase of this study, the researchers found it was very difficult to correlate the different data streams so that they could understand what happened and when. Now, they employ Fujitsu's remote monitoring technology to time-synchronize the data. In addition, they use Fujitsu's platform to analyze and transmit the EKG data into an iOS app that is used for in-field physiological monitoring and biofeedback. Also, they now can integrate GPS data from an iPhone to determine location at every instant. "The advantage of this very precise measurement is that we can be more sure that our treatment is working or not working," said Steve Woodward, staff psychologist at the VA's National Center for PTSD, in an interview with InformationWeek Healthcare. The Fujitsu system, he added, has made the research "a ton easier and has provided a platform for adding devices." (To view 10 Wearable Devices To Keep Patients Healthy refer to http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile-wireless/10-wearable-devices-to-keep-patients-hea/240000353?itc=edit_in_body_cross). So far, he said, about 25 veterans--all of them survivors of improvised explosive device blasts--have gone through the treatment study, which lasts a month for each patient. "Anecdotally, they've done pretty well," Woodward noted.
When a veteran enrolls in the study, he has a session with a psychologist, discussing his driving experience in Afghanistan or Iraq and the stress he has experienced while driving in the U.S. Then he has three in-car treatment sessions. In the car with the veteran are a rehab specialist who administers the treatment and a staff member who sits in the back seat recording on-road incidents on an iPhone 4S that includes the GPS. The data from the iPhone, the accelerometers attached to the car, and a Zephyr monitoring belt on the veteran also goes via Bluetooth to a miniature computer Web server aboard the car. When the researchers return to their office in the hospital, they download the data into their own database.
Although the Fujitsu company believes it has a moral obligation to help veterans suffering from PTSD, Marvit said, its goals for the technology go far beyond that condition. "Pretty much anybody living in America could benefit from a better understanding of their stress and how to manage it," he said. In a broader sense, he pointed out, the ability to combine data streams in a time-synchronized way has a lot of applications in the mobile health space. "The future lies in using the different data streams to contextualize each other so you can make smarter inferences. Most of the stuff that's on the market today is one sensor with one type of analytic software that's built on top of it," said Marvit. For example, he said, an application for measuring physical fitness and a glucose monitor for a patient with diabetes can't talk to each other. "So our vision--what's driving this--is to build a platform so that all these other sensors can be integrated and you can apply analytics to the data they generate." [Source: Ken Terry InformationWeek | Ken Terry | 28 Sep 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 118: Although U.S. military forces have left Iraq and are winding down in Afghanistan, the buildup in mental health services for soldiers who served there continues to surge. No wonder. Embedded in the
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hundreds of medical studies spawned by the wars are sobering statistics such as this: Six months after their return from those conflicts, 42 percent of 31,885 National Guard and Reserve veterans who received a screening by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians were found to need mental health treatment. Here’s another: A survey of 167 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, cited in the Army’s 2012 report on the “strategic reset” of troops following withdrawal, found that 1 in 5 respondents had contemplated suicide the two weeks prior to the survey. Even for those without post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, the stuff of everyday life — sleeping, driving, meeting people — can pose problems. In a national sampling of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans receiving medical care through the VA, half reported difficulty in social functioning, productivity or controlling anger; one-third reported divorce, dangerous driving, or substance abuse. Almost all expressed interest in services to help them adjust to civilian life.
Since 2005, the mammoth VA health system (annual budget: $44.5 billion) has been retooling to deal with the influx of veterans returning from the wars. The greatest growth in caseload has been among those patients diagnosed with PTSD, an impairment that puts them at high risk for suicide. At the same time, veterans with mental health issues consume an increasingly outsized share of VA resources — more than one-third of the agency’s spending on health care, according to a report by the Rand Corporation released last year. Yet most of the cost they incurred was actually for treating their medical problems. “This reflects the high degree to which veterans with mental health and substance use conditions also face difficulties with physical functioning and health,” said the authors of the Rand report. “If this expensive cohort continues to grow, it will likely further increase VA health care expenditures.” Congress already has pumped an additional $5 billion into the VA’s mental health budget in the past seven years.
The VA is spending at least $65 million on suicide research alone, and in September it announced $100 million in funding to study treatments for traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. The VA has added 7,000 mental health workers and is in the process of hiring 1,600 more, bringing to 22,000 the mental health workforce of nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.
Staffing up has not been easy. Both rural and urban VA facilities have reported recruitment difficulties, especially when filling psychiatrist, psychologist and nursing positions. And despite the minimum standards the VA sets for mental health services at all its locations — including requiring an initial evaluation within 24 hours for all new patients — the Rand report found “important gaps” in both quality and uniformity of treatment. Some critical services, such as intensive outpatient treatment for substance abuse, are not widely available outside major metropolitan areas. Although the VA says the wait time exceeds two weeks for only 2 percent of appointments, a recent review by its Office of Inspector General found that 12 percent, or 1.2 million appointments, had wait times of up to 60 days. Still, the VA — the largest integrated health care system in the U.S. — fully intends to become the national leader in providing specialized psychotherapy on a massive scale to treat PTSD, said Bradley Karlin, the VA’s national mental health director for psychotherapy and psychogeriatrics. Said Karlin: “It’s all about veterans getting their lives back.”
By some statistical measures, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are behaving differently than their predecessors who fought in the Vietnam War. For example, they are overdosing on prescription drugs far more than illicit substances. Some things are the same. Both groups have faced an elevated risk of dying in motor vehicle crashes, of having substance abuse problems, and of suffering post-traumatic stress, which afflicts 1 in 4 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans using VA health care. The VA says it has trained more than 4,300 clinicians in the two kinds of treatment — cognitive process therapy and prolonged exposure therapy — that are the mainstay of its war on PTSD. Originally developed for rape victims, they are generally carried out in weekly, 60- to 90-minute sessions with a therapist. Both therapeutic approaches guide veterans to introspection about the traumatic event that triggered their stress, leading to flashbacks and problem behaviors such as substance abuse and aggression.“Usually it’s a very extreme event — maybe a soldier at a checkpoint fired a gun,” said Karlin.
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 Cognitive processing therapy, called CPT, helps them “step back and look at the situation in a more balanced way” instead of blaming themselves, he said. The VA is even using CPT to treat insomnia — a common complaint of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans — that is also associated with PTSD and depression.
 Prolonged exposure therapy is based on the idea that repeatedly working through memories of traumatic events will diminish their power. Homework assignments include becoming involved in activities that might have been avoided because they triggered anxiety.
But PTSD is harder to treat in veterans of combat than in civilians. Even one of the most encouraging studies of CPT, involving 60 veterans, found that only half showed reliable change in their symptoms. Her search for better clinical results inspired neuropsychologist Martha Kent’s work in resilience — how human beings survive extremely traumatic events with their mental and emotional functioning intact. The Army uses resilience training to prepare soldiers before they go to war. But how does one become more resilient after the fact? Kent, who is retired from the neuropsychology program at the Phoenix VA hospital, has developed such a method. It is based on brain chemistry, she said. Humans respond to stress by releasing the “fight or flight” hormone cortisol, said Kent. “Then, you usually go back to baseline pretty quickly — except when you are traumatized.” Instead of returning again and again to memories that produce a flood of cortisol, Kent’s research subjects are told to “put the trauma aside for now.” They learn how to take themselves back to times when they had feelings of being cherished, of helping someone — experiences that release calming hormones such as oxytocin. When they eventually approach the traumatic memory, they can do so “with a different biochemistry,” she said. “It’s kind of neutralized.”
Kent fears that the VA’s focus on exposure therapy and CBT will discourage research on resilience and other methods of dealing with PTSD. Not so, said Paula Schnurr, deputy executive director of the VA’s National Center for PTSD at Dartmouth Medical School. “We’re not shutting down research on alternative treatments,” Schnurr said, adding that several studies on the effectiveness of meditation and mindfulness on PTSD recently won funding.
For millions of America’s veterans, the services the VA offers will remain the only game in town. “We’ve got a population of people, and this is their only health care system,” said Mary Schohn, director of the VA’s mental health operations. “We do have a responsibility to do right by them.” [Source: Austin American-Statesman | Investigative Team | 1 Oct 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 119: Veterans who smoke medical marijuana in New Mexico to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will lose their right to smoke it if a psychiatrist Dr. William Ulwelling gets his way. He has petitioned the state to remove PTSD from the list of qualifying conditions. "There's no good scientific link saying that marijuana treats PTSD," Ulwelling said. It is that lack of evidence that Ulwelling said prompted him to write a petition to get PTSD knocked off the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana patients in New Mexico. "People with PTSD are at special risk to be harmed by marijuana, as many as two-thirds of people who have PTSD, are subsequently developing substance abuse," Ulwelling said. But one organization argues that removing PTSD as a qualifier would essentially disqualify nearly half of the state's medical cannabis patients, many who are also veterans. "Their access to effective care is being threatened by this petition," Director Emily Kaltenbach, of New Mexico's Drug Policy Alliance said.
PTSD is the number one condition patients in New Mexico are approved under. "Over 40 percent of medical cannabis patients are approved under PTSD," Kaltenbach said. In other words, nearly 3,300 patients currently enrolled, who say medical marijuana works for them, would lose access to the medicinal drug, Kaltenbach said. "Some of them have actually transitioned off other medications that were severely or really addictive medications, and they can use medical cannabis without serious side effects," Kaltenbach said. The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will review the petition on November 7th. Veterans are planning to speak out against it.
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The interim health secretary will make the final decision. "I'm not even arguing that there might be some people currently in the program that are benefiting from it, I'm just saying there's no evidence at the current time to say, we could offer this to the people of New Mexico as an accepted treatment," Ulwelling said. [Source: KOB Eyewitness News 4 | Jill Galus | 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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IDES Update 01: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized). Five years after launching a combined effort to cut the time it takes to complete disability evaluations and begin paying benefits to wounded, injured and ill troops, it now takes the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments an average of 100 days longer to close a case. The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) was launched in 2008 to combine the separate DoD and VA systems into one and cut the time it takes to complete to 295 days for active-duty troops and 305 days for reserve-component members. Instead, the average completion times for cases have risen sharply, to 394 days for active-duty troops and 420 days for reservists, according to a new report by the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress. The main choke points: Medical Evaluation Boards conducted by the services, and the transition from military to VA care.
Medical boards are supposed to be completed within 100 days, but now take 181 days to complete — up from 126 in 2009. A scant 16 percent of active-duty troops got through medical boards in 100 days or less, GAO said. Staffing shortages were the primary cause of delay, GAO reported. “One facility noted they have seven doctors but would need 11 additional doctors and 10 technician assistants to process cases,” the report says. At the end of the process, when troops shift from DoD to VA, case management is another cause of delay. Instead of handling 20 cases at a time, some VA case managers are handling 75. “Liaisons are often working overtime and weekends to keep up with cases,” GAO noted. The average active-duty member needs 76 days to complete the transition process out of the military, a full month longer than the 45-day goal. Only 17 percent of active-duty cases are closed in that time.
GAO did note that some transition delays are neither the fault of DoD nor VA. Because wounded and injured troops can take terminal leave during that time or may choose not to leave service immediately for personal reasons, meeting the 45-day goal for the transition phase can be challenging, the report says. Near the end of their service, troops may wish to extend to keep kids in school to the end of a term, to complete Transition Assistance Program classes or vocational training or physician appointments, among other reasons, GAO noted. Because a substantial amount of time in the transition phase may be personally beneficial to troops, DoD is now reporting time in IDES with and without the transition phase, GAO said. IDES was initially tested in 2007 at three locations with 701 enrollees; last year, it was in place at 112 military treatment facilities.
DoD and VA have embarked on several initiatives to improve the system. The Army, with almost two-thirds of new IDES cases in 2011, has hired more medical examiners, and VA is “increasing resources for completing exams and disability ratings,” GAO said. But auditors said the results to date have been uneven and more time is needed to assess the full impact of the changes. In a written response to the report, defense officials said they agree with the GAO’s three recommendations:
 The DoD and VA secretaries should work together to develop a timeline for finishing an ongoing review of the IDES business process.
 The departments should develop a plan to continuously monitor and fix the Veterans Tracking System, the data system that supports IDES.
 Satisfaction surveys should be more carefully monitored and interpreted.
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VA concurred with those recommendations but deferred to the Pentagon on developing a time frame to complete the IDES business review. In his official response to the report, VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich noted that while VA has provided input to the business review, DoD has the lead on that initiative — and has cut VA out of the loop. “At this time, the full scope or current status” of the business review “has not been disclosed to VA,” Gingrich wrote. That news vexed Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who has pressed DoD and VA to work together to solve IDES issues. Murray told Military Times in a 24 SEP email that she is concerned about communication between the two departments. The GAO report “shows that DoD and VA continue to struggle to work together and the result has been wait times that continue to grow longer,” Murray said.
“The IDES process is intended to be a joint system,” she said. “VA and DoD must work collaboratively, not just in words but in actions, if they are going to make real changes for our service members and veterans.” [Source: NavyTimes | Patricia Kime | 1 Oct 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order Update 02: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized). Military family members and retirees in Germany who use Tricare’s mail order system for prescriptions will have to fill their medications locally by the end of the year. On or near that date, the U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering pharmaceuticals to APO and FPO addresses in Germany because a host-nation law prohibits importation of medications through the mail, according to a letter sent Oct. 1 by Tricare to beneficiaries in the country. According to a Pentagon release, the German government passed the law barring pharmaceutical importation in 2006, but it was never enforced until now because its application to U.S. service members, their families and other Tricare beneficiaries had been unclear. German officials, U.S. military leaders and USPS have clarified the issue and agreed to begin enforcement, said Brig. Gen. Bryan Gamble, deputy director of Tricare Management Activity.
The Pentagon estimates the new restrictions will affect roughly 2,000 prescriptions and make getting medicine more challenging for 33 patients who use the Tricare mail order service and live more than an hour away from a U.S. military treatment facility and use the service. Gamble encouraged the beneficiaries to switch their prescriptions to a U.S. military treatment facility or use their Tricare pharmacy benefit at a local German pharmacy. Both the Tricare Prime Overseas and Tricare Prime Remote Overseas programs will reimburse affected beneficiaries for 100 percent of their out-of-pocket costs if they have authorization. Deductibles and cost shares will apply for beneficiaries who use Tricare Standard Overseas. USPS estimates it will stop shipping medications by mail around Jan. 1, but the date is not finalized, Gamble said. “We will notify you promptly when we have updated information on this issue,” he wrote. The new law also applies to Defense Department civilian employees or any American who lives in Germany and receives medications by mail. [Source: ArmyTimes | Patricia Kime | 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 75: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized). Disabled veterans waiting longer than 125 days for their initial disability claims to be processed should receive interest on top of their retroactive benefits, says the new commander of the American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans’ group. Today, payments on approved claims are backdated to the day they are filed, but interest is not paid. James Koutz, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who leads the 2.4-million member Legion, said payments with interest would be a small recognition by the government that veterans had been forced to wait too long for pay they deserved. His suggestion came 3 OCT during a hearing before a joint
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meeting of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees to hear from the Legion’s top officials. Similar hearings featuring other military and veterans’ groups are held throughout the year.
The issue of delayed claims is not new, but Koutz said it seems to be one without a solution. The Veterans Affairs Department has been hiring more people to process claims and changing how claims are handled in an effort to shorten processing times and start payments faster, yet the backlog of claims continues to grow. VA efforts to date are “not enough,” Koutz said. “We are going the wrong direction.” More than 800,000 claims are now pending before VA, almost two-thirds of them older than 125 days, which is VA’s processing goal. In a written statement provided to the two committees, the Legion says it has discovered huge differences among VA regional offices in the processing of claims. ‘While some regional offices may have an average rate of 76 days per claim, others take 336 days, a troubling inconsistency,” the statement says. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, said he is open to new ideas about how to speed claims, but he did not endorse the idea of paying claims with interest. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairwoman, did not attend the hearing. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Rick Maze | 3 Oct 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 76: In the past two years, Congressman Fitzpatrick’s (R-PA-08) 0ffice has supported approximately 1,454 veterans ranging from VA to IRS issues. Of those cases, 272, or about 20 percent, dealt with the VA’s improperly or incorrectly processing a claim or simply taking too long to resolve a claim. In his office veterans affairs caseworkers Verne Rider (a U.S. Air Force veteran) and Anthony Enck (a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps), have been able to get over half of them fixed and they are fighting to fix the rest. The 8th Congressional District is home to about 50,000 veterans, with about 39 percent having served in Vietnam and about 5 percent having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. More veterans live throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties than in the entire city of Philadelphia. Nearly 45 percent of local veterans are over 65 years old. The VA impacts a significant number of people in the area. The Philadelphia VA Regional Office is processing approximately 156,000 claims. By the 125-day standard set by the VA, over 54 percent of those claims are pending more than 125 days. Fitzpatrick’s perspective is this backlog is unconscionable. Fifty-four percent is below getting an “F.” The VBA is simply failing.
Veterans affairs caseworkers in Fitzpatrick’s office, who work daily to ensure local veterans get the benefits they deserve, have been investigating the VA to better understand why this backlog continues after the VA has hired over 10,000 new people in the past decade to try to fix the problem. Their ongoing investigation pertains to the poor services and inefficiencies within the Philadelphia Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), not with the Veterans Medical Administration (VMA) which they believe is doing a great job. It is the VBA that has seen a range of management and procedural issues which negatively impact the services received by Bucks County veterans. In dealing with the VBA system daily, Rider and Warminster believe Congressman Fitzpatrick has correctly identified the problem: A misguided bureaucracy that rewards process instead of outcomes is failing VA managers and employees, with veterans being shortchanged.
Rider and Warminster say few people in the country have taken the time to fully understand the source of the backlog like Congressman Fitzpatrick. For the past 30 years, the VA has been unable to reform itself. Fitzpatrick’s office believes the only way this problem can be fixed is if it is fully exposed so that the best minds in the country can clearly see the challenges and develop solutions to fix it. He plans to continue to constructively identify flaws in a failing system for the purpose of ensuring the VA will work effectively and efficiently for those who were willing to sacrifice everything for our country. [Source: PhillyBurbs.com | Verne Rider & Anthony Enck | 7 Oct 2012 ++]|
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Vet Jobs Update 86: The Military Commercial Driver’s License Act of 2012 (S.3624) passed the House 28 SEP and has been sent to President Obama for his signature. The bill basically allows active duty military, military reserves, National Guard, active duty United States Coast Guard, or Coast Guard Auxiliary service members to earn their commercial driver’s licenses in states where they are stationed. This is accomplished by changing requirements that a state must follow when issuing a commercial drivers license or face severe withholding of federal highway aid funding. The bill which was introduced by Senator Snowe (R-ME) and had 10 original co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. It is a very good idea and not controversial. It should help service members find jobs when they leave the service. What is surprising is that it passed while the House was in pro forma session. This was done because both the House’s Majority and Minority Leadership agreed that their membership would approve of this bill. It is also surprising that this bill was proposed on 22 SEP. Just one day! Then the House leadership considered and passed it in just 1 day. Who says Congress can’t act quickly when they want to? [Source: TREA News f or the Enlisted 5 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 87: Looking for a job at the VA. The following is an article written by the Deputy Director, Recruitment Marketing and Advertising for the Office of Workforce Management & Consulting with the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides some good dope to veterans --
It is mind-boggling to me that there are 13 million people looking for 3.2 million jobs according to Department of Labor. Because of such statistics, it is easy to get over-whelmed and not know where to start in a job search. Employees working at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are often asked how to get a job at VA. It is usually followed by a concern that it seems that you have to know someone at VA to get a job there. I try to focus on this topic often, because it is just so relevant daily.
First, I did not know a single person at VA when I became an employee, so much for that theory. Second, a very large number (around 40-60%) of all hires in America are from employee referrals. Therefore, the reality is, yes; it does help if you know someone who can refer you to his or her manager as a qualified prospect.
There are two types of job seekers. Highly qualified in a skill or trade and those not qualified. I love the bluntness of this article 6 Secrets To Beat The Job Market, Nick Corcodilos, Ask The Headhunter. VA is no different from many other organizations. We have a great mission, great job satisfaction and great benefits. That in itself means competition can be steep. The greatest competition exists in non-health care occupations. The Federal Government, including VA, honors Veterans’ hiring preference In accordance with law. Most occupations currently open at VA are in health care. However, most Veterans are not health care providers. Thus, VA hires many non-Veterans also. While we are about 40 % Veterans, the Veteran demographic simply cannot meet the hiring needs for VA in health care.
That brings me back to my point. If you are a Veteran, VA has set up VA For Vets and they are excellent at networking and building contacts and bridges to identify available positions for Veterans within VA. I encourage all Veterans to use all of their resources to improve your options for a job offer.
Of course everyone one should review open positions often at http://www.vacareers.va.gov/ for your next position.
[Source: http://www.veteranshired.org | Darren Sherrard | 2 Oct 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 88: According to the U. S. Department of Labor, there are approximately 13 million people looking for work in America, and about 3.2 million vacant jobs. Even allowing that some of those 13 million are unskilled, unmotivated, or even lazy, that's a 4-to-1 ratio that gives a distinct advantage to employers trying to fill jobs. But many employers call this hiring advantage "a talent shortage." They claim there are fewer qualified workers available nowadays, and that colleges are just not producing graduates with the skills that industry and business need. Bunk, says Wharton professor Peter Cappelli in his book, "Why Good People Can't Get Jobs: The Skills Gap and What Companies Can Do About It." He has reviewed historical data and concludes that claims about changes in the skills of the workforce just aren't true. What has changed, says Cappelli, is that employers pay lower wages and salaries than they used to; they aren't willing to train workers like they used to; and they use software to recruit and "sort" job applicants -- software that tends to delete good candidates, costing employers potentially good hires.
Since 1994, Cappelli has been teaching people how to accomplish this for themselves, without a headhunter or even a career coach. He has answered over 30,000 questions from job hunters and progressive employers on his online community website at www.asktheheadhunter.com. Every week he answers a reader's question in depth in the Ask The Headhunter Newsletter. In a nutshell, success in today's job market boils down to this: Managers want to hire you -- they want you to be the solution to their problem. But software-based recruiting methods hamper hiring. The first dark truth in today's recruiting industry is that the big jobs databases prevent you from standing out. Your challenge as a job hunter is to avoid the competition, get in front of the manager, and be ready to show -- hands down -- how you will do the work profitably in terms the manager understands. So here are six secrets you can use today to help you beat the job market. You have to learn to avoid the competition. You have to learn to stand out!
1. Your resume is hurting you: Toss it. You want your resume to make you stand out? Managers spend on average about 30 seconds reading a resume. If they don't like what they see, you're not there to defend yourself. Stop using a resume to introduce yourself to companies. Approach employers in person, and only the ones that seem worthwhile enough that you're willing to invest the time to make personal contacts and actually talk to them. This makes you one of the few truly motivated applicants. Managers notice this.
2. Job boards fill only about 10 percent of jobs: Don't waste your time. Monster.com fills only 2 to 3 percent of jobs; CareerBuilder, between 2 to 5 percent. And if you posted your resume on all the job boards, you'd have one chance in ten of being hired. Limit your time on job postings to employers' own websites, and to http://www.linkup.com, a search engine that lists only positions posted on employers' own career pages. Spend the rest of your time meeting people who do the work you want to do. They can introduce you directly to the boss.
3. Headhunters don't find jobs for people. Headhunters are less likely to land you a job than job boards are, and the good ones won't take your calls because their business is searching for the best hires for their client -- not finding you a job. The rest are dialing for dollars and will probably waste your time. Demand references from a head hunter, and check them out: two people they've placed, and two managers they've done assignments for. Or ignore them and conduct your own job search.
4. It's the people, stupid! Managers ignore resumes and their own personnel departments in order to hire via personal referrals from people they trust. Triangulate! Identify people close to the manager: employees, customers, vendors, consultants, bankers, investors, even news reporters who write about the company. Swallow hard, and call them. Never ask for a job lead. Talk shop. "I realize this is unusual, but I'm researching Company X. I'm only interested in working there if I can contribute to their bottom line. Can you give me a little advice or insight about this manager and company? What are they really like to work with?" Not all will help, but you need only one to
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introduce you to the manager or the team. If you think this is hard work, so is that great job you want! Stop the busy work of job boards and e-mailing resumes. Do the real work of meeting trusted insiders.
5. Age discrimination? Get over it. If an employer discriminates against you for your age, either sue or move on. If you show up with a chip on your shoulder about age discrimination, employers will discriminate -- against your bad attitude. Get interviewers off the age issue immediately by outlining how you'll do the job profitably. Ask for a live problem to tackle, then show how you'll approach it.
6. Your salary history is no one's business: Say NO and get a higher offer! Never, ever, ever disclose your salary history. It will be used to limit a job offer, no matter what the company tells you. No employer has ever given me one good reason why it needs an applicant's salary history. If they say, "It's our policy. We cannot proceed if you don't disclose your salary," consider responding like this: "I appreciate that, but I can't. My last two employers required employees to keep salary information confidential. I'd be happy to help you assess my value to your company -- I don't expect you to pay me more than I can show I'm worth." Always be polite but firm. Be ready to demonstrate your value. If you can't, you have no business in the interview.
[Source: http://www.asktheheadhunter.com | Nick Corcodilos | 20 Sep 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 89: When native Californian Ryan Spaulding was preparing to end his service as an Air Force pilot, he looked across the country for a place to raise his family where local values matched those he prized in the military. He said he didn't see values like trust, loyalty and camaraderie everywhere in Berkeley, where he grew up. Spaulding was seeking a place where your handshake was your word, the schools were strong and the crime rates were low. “I think I found that in Nebraska,” said the 47-year-old, who works at an electronics testing lab in Lincoln. “It was kind of an easy sell.” Officials in Nebraska are hoping to find more Ryan Spauldings. On 9 OCT, Gov. Dave Heineman unveiled a new recruiting video titled, “Nebraska Is Hiring Our Heroes,” that he hopes will convince other military veterans to move to the Cornhusker State to fill job openings and boost the state's population. The video, produced by the Nebraska Department of Labor at a cost of $6,000, features Spaulding and three other veterans promoting the benefits of settling in Nebraska.
While Nebraska is among several states that have held job fairs for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, state officials said they were unaware of any other state that was actively recruiting them to relocate. It's not unusual for employees at Offutt Air Force Base to remain in the area after retirement, the new effort is aimed at younger, mobile veterans willing to move for a well-paying job. Heineman, a former Army Ranger, said Nebraska has many job openings that fit the skill sets of military veterans. He mentioned welding, a job that can pay $60,000 a year. The recruitment effort could help boost the state's population, the governor said. Nebraska's population growth, while small, has exceeded the national average two of the past three years. “I'm after every American who wants to find a good job. They should move to Nebraska,” Heineman said at a 9 OCT press conference.
Spaulding, a married father of two and a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, said it helped that his wife's family is from Omaha and he had relatives in Kansas. But he said he believes Nebraska is a great place to raise a family. “Lincoln provides an environment that promotes education, and the values I see that lead to good citizenship,” he said. Currently, Nebraska is helping about 8,000 local veterans and family members find jobs and prepare résumés, according to Cathy Lang, who heads the State Departments of Labor and Economic Development.
Nebraska, in a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is conducting a series of “Hiring Our Heroes” job fairs. About 600 veterans and 200 employers have participated in the three job fairs held so far. The new video is
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available at http://www.dol.nebraska.gov/NEHiresVets.cfm. [Source: Omaha World-Herald | Paul Hammel | 10 Oct 2012 ++]
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Veteran License Plates Iowa: Iowa offers a variety of vehicle specialty license plates for their residents. In the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Vet License Plates IA” can be viewed the 24 different plates of interest to the military community which can be purchased from the Iowa DMV along with a link to open and download the application form for the plate desired. The form will indicate who the plate can be issued to, requirements which must be met to obtain the plate, restrictions if any, fees for numbered and personalized plates, and how to apply. Note that there are different requirements depending upon plate choice so be sure to review the specific information for each plate desired. Applications may also be obtained from your county treasurer's office or the following address.
Office of Vehicle Services
Iowa Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 9278
Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9278
Telephone: 515-237-3110
E-mail: vehser@dot.iowa.gov
Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates. [Source: http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ovs/plates/plates.htm Oct 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http://veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:  October 3, 2012. Joint House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees hearing on Legislative Presentation of the American Legion. 10:00 A.M.; 345 Cannon
 Hearing being rescheduled: House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will be holding a hearing on October 4, 2012 on; State Approving Agencies Roles and Reviewing the Challenges of PL 111-377 Section 203. 10 A.M.; 334 Cannon
 No new hearings until after Congress reconvenes
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 14 Oct 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 29: James "Jake" McNiece, the leader of World War II's "Dirty Dozen," humbly accepted France's most prestigious decoration 26 SEP nearly 70 years after he led a squad of paratroopers behind enemy lines in that country to support the D-Day invasion. McNiece, a retired Ponca City postal worker, commanded a group of rough men nicknamed "The Filthy 13," who served as the inspiration for the movie "The Dirty Dozen." Hours before the June 6, 1944, invasion, McNiece led 18 paratroopers to destroy two bridges and control a third to prevent German reinforcements from moving into Normandy and to cut off retreating German troops. Sixteen of his men were killed during the 36-day mission, in which they also cut enemy communications and supply lines.
This photo of paratroopers Clarence C. Ware and Charles R. Plaudo painting each other's faces on the afternoon of June 5, 1944, was printed in Stars and Stripes, and helped form the legend of "The Filthy Thirteen
"I want to extend my thanks and my appreciation to the French ally we had and the great service they were in World War II," said McNiece, 93. "It was an honor to serve with them." He thanked the French government for giving him the medal of the Legion of Honor, which made him a knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honor. "There were hundreds of other soldiers who were more deserving than I," McNiece said.Frederic Bontems, the Houston-based consul general of France, presented McNiece with the medal of the Legion of Honor. France decided a few years ago to award the medal to American veterans of World War II."I have the honor to recognize the courage you displayed so many years ago on a land that was so foreign to you and yet for which you were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice," Bontems said. "In the name of the French people, I thank you for your personal contribution toward the liberation of my country." Bontems presented the medal to McNiece, who was accompanied by his wife of 59 years, Martha; several family members were among the more than 100 people who packed the governor's ceremonial Blue Room for the ceremony.
"War is hell," said McNiece, who was inducted 10 years ago in the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. "It is a great honor and pleasure to serve this nation and the things that they stand for. We hope that we will never see another great war like the one that we fought. We consider it an honor and a pleasure to serve this nation. "We do not brag about winning the war and we do not apologize," he said. "It was a thing that needed to be done and we did it and we're glad." McNiece was portrayed in the 1967 film, "The Dirty Dozen," by Lee Marvin; he was disappointed the movie had several discrepancies, especially the plot in which the soldiers in the raid were all convicts. His soldiers were in military stockades, but were there for violating regulations. None had committed heinous crimes as the film suggested. McNiece never achieved a rank higher than first sergeant because he had
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trouble with regulations and extending his leaves without permission. He was a sergeant in combat but usually was demoted to private for his behavior between missions.
The paratroopers in his squadron often showed a reluctance to follow military regulations and procedures, and his outfit became known as the ‘Filthy 13’. "He didn't care too much about the discipline and the hoopla and all that other stuff," said his son, Hugh McNiece, 53, of Springfield, Ill., after the ceremony. "He had a job to do; he did it and he loved the friends he made along the way." The D-Day jump was the first of four jumps he made behind enemy lines. Before the mission, he shaved most of his head, leaving a scalp lock that ran down the middle of his head. He joked to his squadron it was an American Indian custom to do that before battle, but he really shaved his head for sanitary reasons to avoid lice, realizing he could spend days without bathing. Most of the rest of the squadron shaved their heads also.By dawn on 6 JUN, James McNiece and his squad had destroyed their two assigned bridges and had a third wired for detonation. Their orders were to hold the bridge over the Louvre River and save it if possible so that advancing Allied troops and tanks could use it. His men held the bridge for three days until American warplanes swooped down and bombed the structure.
In September 1944, McNiece led paratroopers who were dropped near Eindhoven, Holland, to hold key bridges in the liberation of the town the Germans had occupied for five years. After fighting 78 days in Holland, he eventually volunteered for the Pathfinders, a top-secret group that lost 80 percent of its men during missions. He led paratroopers at Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. His last jump was Feb. 13, 1945, near Prume, Germany, to resupply Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army. At the presentation ceremony Bontems declared McNiece a chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, or a knight of the Legion of Honor. "Being a knight refers to a very basic concept, a concept that has remained untouched for centuries," Bontems said. "Receiving the title of knight means that you have demonstrated virtue, bravery and strong commitment to a noble cause. "James McNiece, during World War II and the libration of France you displayed these three concepts in a most commendable way. Your life during and since the war prove that knight is a rank to which you are entitled." [Source: Stars & Stripes | Michael McNutt | 27 Sep 2012 ++]
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Korean War Vets: When infantryman David Mills joined the Army on his 17th birthday and was sent to fight in the Korean War, his mission was to hold Outpost Harry "at all costs." Mills, now 76, says those orders came from 8th Army on April 2, 1953, to stave off enemy Chinese troops from the strategically placed outpost in the Iron Triangle, about 50 miles from Seoul at the 38th parallel, which divided North and South Korea. The outpost was close to Chinese lines. The Chinese had "an affinity" for Outpost Harry, said Mills, a member of Company F, 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. "They came to 'visit' us often and fought ferociously," he said. "They tried [several times] to take it. Had it fallen, with its high elevation, it would've made it difficult for the main line of resistance to remain where it was. [We] perhaps would've had to withdraw as far back as Seoul, which no doubt would have extended the war for quite some time."
It was unlikely the United States would have accepted a cease fire with the capital of South Korea under Chinese control at that time, he added, so it was important for American troops to hold the outpost's position. But on April 24, Chinese troops nearly took Outpost Harry. "We had 88 men holding the outpost," he said. "The attack was ferocious. We were overrun. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred in all of the trenches, and very heavy losses were suffered on both sides." The forward observer from the 39th Field Artillery called for backup artillery to stop the attack, which was successful, he said. But things didn't turn out as well that day for Mills, who received nine wounds -- two in the head, six in the leg and one in the left arm. During what Mills described as very close fighting with hand grenades and bayonets, his weapon overheated and became inoperable. While searching for another, he crawled on his stomach to the entrance of a bunker about 30 yards away. "Nobody was in there," he said. "I reached
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in to grab a rifle, and I felt something poke me in my back. I backed out very slowly and turned over, and was looking at the muzzle of a Russian-made submachine gun."
Three Chinese soldiers stood over him, Mills said. One held the gun, and the other two carried six grenades each, three on each side of their chests, he said. "I thought I was going to die," Mills recalled reciting a short prayer as he looked up at the barrel of the weapon. "I was ready to die," he said. "Then I had an immediate second thought. I was 17 years old, and I thought, 'How are my parents going to take this?' And I thought, maybe, I could get the weapon away from that soldier, and kill all three of them. Then I had a rational thought: He had his finger on the trigger and the likelihood of me being successful was rather slim. I lay there until they picked me up." As the captors walked him to a Chinese camp, Mills saw the dead everywhere. "There were many Americans, but many more Chinese," he said.
As the soldiers roughed him up and forced him down hilly terrain, Mills said he felt no pain and wasn't aware he was wounded. "Each time we got to the top of a rise, they'd hit me between the shoulder blades with the butt of the weapon, and I'd go tumbling down the hill. After the third time, my leg felt funny and I had difficulty maintaining balance," Mills recalled. It was when he felt blood running down his neck that he knew he'd been hit. "Eventually, I half-crawled and was half-dragged to a cave, in which I spent the first night of my captivity," he said. Mills found himself next to a Chinese soldier who had three bullet holes in his stomach."I could hear bubbles as the air escaped [from his wounds]," he said. "He died during the night." The next morning, the Chinese soldiers took Mills from the cave and repeatedly prodded him with a rifle to make him walk up a road, but by then he was in such pain from his injuries, he couldn't walk. "They pointed to a rock for me to sit down on, went around the corner," Mills said. "I thought I was going to be executed."
Instead, he said, four Chinese soldiers came around the corner with a stretcher, put him on it and carried him for seven days to a place Mills estimated to be 30 to 50 miles behind the lines. "I was placed in a dungeon not high enough for me to stand, or long enough for me to stretch out straight," he said. He couldn't eat for two weeks. Knowing he would die of starvation otherwise, Mills said he forced himself to eat. Rain poured into the dungeon. "I spent a lot of my time snapping the backs off lice," Mills said of his confinement. "My leg hurt so bad, I asked them to cut it off. They sent someone to look at it. I don't know if he was a doctor ... he just looked at it, and [now] I'm glad they didn't acquiesce to my request." After enough prisoners of war to fill an army truck were brought in, they were taken to a prisoner camp, Mills said. Still not treated for his wounds, with bullets and shrapnel intact, Mills said he was not made to do hard labor like the other prisoners.
During his four-month captivity "the 15th Infantry Regiment with its company-sized outpost decimated the entire 74th Chinese Infantry Division, killing more than 5,000 of them," Mills said. "There were very heavy American losses, but we held that hill." Four months to the day after he was taken prisoner, the Chinese repatriated Mills and the other POWs on Aug. 24, 1953. His family didn't know he was alive, Mills said, and initially were told he was killed in action. Mills said he has copies of his two published obituaries. Reflecting on that April day in 1953 when the outpost was attacked, Mills said he was the last soldier, U.S. or Chinese, on the hill firing a weapon. "I've often wondered if I was captured with an empty gun," he said. He also thought he was likely the only survivor of the attack, until decades later when he found the Outpost Harry Survivors Association http://www.ophsa.org and similar groups.
For being wounded during combat Mills received the Purple Heart, but it took 57 years, because of omissions in his paperwork, he said. Mills said his initial discharge papers indicated he'd served overseas, but they didn't say where, and didn't note that he'd been wounded, had served in combat, or been taken as a POW. Knowing he was eligible for the Purple Heart, Mills' daughter set out to find and correct her father's records. After hearing his records likely had burned in a fire in a St. Louis military repository, Mills' papers were found archived in Philadelphia. The paperwork was corrected, and the award was approved in nine short days, Mills said. Then-Vice Chief of Staff of
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the Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli presented Mills with his Purple Heart in 2010. "To receive [the Purple Heart] from General Chiarelli was worth the wait," Mills said. Although the Korean War is sometimes called "The Forgotten War," Mills said that was not his experience. Upon his enlistment in the Army, Mills recalled that he "wanted to see the world.. And I did. A small part of it," he said. [Source: AFPS Terri Moon Cronk article 24 Jul 2012 ++]
David Mills, 76, holds his certificate for the Purple Heart
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World War II Posters (15)
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POW/MIA Update 29: "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. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II (73,000+), the Korean War (7,900+), the Cold War (126), the Vietnam War (1,666), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 4 OCT that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Marine Corps Pfc. James J. Jacques, 18, of Denver, will be buried Oct. 9, in his hometown. On May 12, 1975, Khmer Rouge gunboats captured the S.S. Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Cambodia. The vessel was taken to Koh [island] Tang. Alerted to the capture, U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft began surveillance flights around the island. After efforts to secure the release of the ship and its crew failed, U.S. military forces were ordered to undertake a rescue mission. Three days after the Mayaguez seizure, six Air Force helicopters were dispatched to the island. One of the helicopters came under heavy enemy fire as it approached the eastern beach of the island. The aircraft crashed into the surf with 26 men on board. Half were rescued at sea, leaving Jacques and 12 other service members unaccounted-for. The United States, Cambodian and Vietnamese government efforts to resolve the cases of
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these unaccounted-for service members was massive. Between 1991 and 2008, U.S. and Cambodian investigators conducted multiple joint investigations, led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). Additionally, on three occasions Cambodian authorities unilaterally turned over remains believed to be those of American servicemen. In 1995, U.S. and Cambodian specialists conducted an underwater recovery of the helicopter crash site where they located remains, personal effects and aircraft debris associated with the loss. The U.S.S. Brunswick, a Navy salvage vessel, enabled the specialists to conduct their excavation off shore. In the identification of the recovered remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, such as mitochondrial DNA–which matched Jacques’ brother.
Today, 1,655 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover Americans lost during the Vietnam War.
Korea
 DPMO announced 2 OCT that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Capt. Turnace H. Brown, 28, of Lawton, Okla., will be buried Oct. 5, in Gainesville, Fla. In late November 1950, Brown and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team, known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. After coming under attack, they began a fighting withdrawal to positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. During this withdrawal Brown went missing. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. service members. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Brown was last seen. In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as radiograph and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Brown’s sister and niece. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials.
 DPMO announced 4OCT that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. Arthur W. Hopfensperger, 18, of Outagamie, Wis., will be buried Oct. 8, in Appleton, Wis. In late November 1950, Hopfensperger and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team, known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea. After coming under attack, they began a fighting withdrawal to positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the reservoir. During this withdrawal Hopfensperger went missing. From 2002 to 2005, six joint U.S.-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated burial sites on the eastern shore of the Chosin Reservoir, where Hopfensperger was last seen. The teams recovered human remains and military equipment associated with the 31st Regimental Combat Team. In the identification of the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as radiograph, dental records and mitochondrial DNA–which matched Hopfensperger’s cousin.
Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.
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World War II
 DPMO announced 2 OCT that the remains of seven U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being buried with full military honors. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Laverne A. Lallathin, 22, of Raymond, Wash.; 2nd Lt. Dwight D. Ekstam, 21, of Moline, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Walter B. Vincent, Jr., 21, of Tulsa, Okla.; Tech. Sgt. James A. Sisney, 19, of Redwood City, Calif.; Cpl. Wayne R. Erickson, 19, of Minneapolis; Cpl. John D. Yeager, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Pfc. John A. Donovan, 20, of Plymouth, Mich.; will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the crew, on Oct. 4 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Six of the Marines were identified and buried as individuals previously this year. Lallathin, also individually identified, will be interred individually at Arlington on the same day as the group interment.
On April 22, 1944, the Marines were aboard a PBJ-1 aircraft that failed to return from a night training mission over the island of Espiritu Santo, in what is known today as Vanuatu. None of the seven crew members were recovered at that time, and in 1945 they were officially presumed deceased. In 1994, a group of private citizens notified the U.S. that aircraft wreckage had been found on the island of Espiritu Santo. Human remains were recovered from the site at that time and turned over to the Department of Defense. In 1999, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) survey team traveled to the location. The crash site was located at an elevation of 2,600 ft., in extremely rugged terrain, and the team determined that specialized mountain training would be necessary to safely complete a recovery mission. From 2000 to 2011, multiple JPAC recovery teams excavated the site and recovered human remains, aircraft parts and military equipment. To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) evaluated circumstantial evidence and mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of the Marines’ family members.
More than 400,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II died. Today, more than 73,000 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Sep 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: Usually, the price on the sticker is the price you pay. But when it isn’t – well, that’s when some companies earn big bucks from our collective ignorance. A study by Harvard researchers several years ago found that in many product classes, consumers “lack either the ability or motivation to conduct a price comparison.” Their conclusions are still true today. We either can’t (or won’t) scrutinize a product price. Here’s how business try to dupe you, and how you can avoid it…
1. Offering an incomplete price. The airline industry is a prime example of this questionable practice. For years, the federal government allowed airlines to quote fares that excluded taxes and mandatory airport fees, making their fares appear lower than they were. Then airlines began a process called “unbundling” – removing items that traditionally were included with a fare, such as meals, the ability to check a bag, and making a seat reservation. This allowed some airlines to advertise $9 fares, impossible to actually book. In 2011, the Transportation Department cracked down on this pricing, and more regulations are expected – but not before the airline industry made billions from clueless passengers who believed the fare they were quoted was the fare they’d actually pay.
2. The less-is-more price. This is a common strategy for squeezing more profit out of a product. For example, a “half-gallon” container of orange juice is actually 59, rather than 64 ounces, a roll of toilet paper is shorter, and a
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new-and-improved salad dressing is 4 ounces smaller than the old one – but costs the same. Any time a manufacturer advertises a “great new look” at the same price, be afraid. Be very afraid.
3. Misrepresenting the terms. Marketing language can obscure the actual terms of a purchase. For example, in 2005 Blockbuster settled claims with 47 states that charged the nation’s largest movie-rental chain with deceptive advertising.
Blockbuster had promised to charge “no late fees,” when, in fact, customers who kept their rentals were being billed the full price of their video or game. But many consumers didn’t bother looking at Blockbuster’s new terms – they simply assumed the end of late fees meant the end of all fees. And that erroneous assumption helped Blockbuster make more money.
4. The asterisk. Whenever you see that little star on a price – whether you’re shopping for a car or a cruise – be careful. Companies can hide all kinds of “gotchas” under the asterisk. Probably the worst offenders are credit card companies, which conceal rate increases, interest charges, and fees in the fine print. These extras can make the cost of a “free” credit card ridiculously expensive. Mind the star!
5. Leading with a low-priced item no one wants. You’ve seen these offers – the ones that say, “prices starting at $99 …” Problem is, although there’s a base model or a stripped-down version of the advertised item, no one buys it. Car pricing can work like this, but anything from appliances to electronics items can be advertised this way. It’s fundamentally dishonest, of course, because while you can technically buy the $99 blender, no one wants to. The lesson: When you hear the word “starting” as it relates to a price, be careful.
6. The markup, markdown. Almost every business marks products up when they order them from the factory or a distributor – it’s how they turn a profit. It’s the marking down that becomes problematic. When a clothing rack says “20 percent off,” what exactly is the markdown from? The retail price? Or some other undisclosed rate? Retailers play price games in this way, and the only real way to know if you’re getting a good deal is to comparison shop (thank you, Internet). The labels are meaningless – in fact, worse than that: They’re often misleading.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Christopher Elliott article 2 May 2012 ++]
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Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund: The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) serves United States military personnel wounded or injured in service to our nation, and their families. Begun in 2000 and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided close to $120 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with donations from the public, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the Fund. 100% of donations go directly to the Fund's programs. The Fund's Board of Trustees underwrites all administrative costs and no portion of contributions are deducted. From 2000 to 2005 the Fund provided close to $20 million to families of United States and British military personnel lost in performance of their duty, mostly in service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Fund provided unrestricted grants to each spouse and dependent child; and to parents of unmarried service members. The payments were coordinated with the casualty offices of the Armed Forces, to ensure all eligible families received these benefits.
In 2005 federal legislation substantially increased the benefits granted to these families. With that mission accomplished, the Fund redirected its support toward the severely injured. In January 2007 the Fund completed construction of the Center for the Intrepid, a $55 million world-class state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Center serves military personnel who have been catastrophically disabled in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and veterans severely injured in other operations and
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in the normal performance of their duties. The 60,000 square foot Center provides ample space and facilities for the rehabilitation needs of the patients and their caregivers. It includes modern physical rehabilitation equipment and extensive indoor and outdoor facilities.
Following the opening of the Center for the Intrepid, the Fund turned toward another critical issue faced by our wounded troops: the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Fund addressed this need by constructing the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). This is a 72,000 square foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus at Bethesda, Maryland, adjacent to the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with close access to the Uniformed Services University, the National Institutes of Health, and the Veterans Health Administration. NICoE provides the most advanced services for advanced diagnostics, initial treatment plan and family education, introduction to therapeutic modalities, referral and reintegration support for military personnel and veterans with TBI and post traumatic stress. Further, NICoE conducts research, tests new protocols and provides comprehensive training and education to patients, providers and families while maintaining ongoing telehealth follow-up care with patients across the country and throughout the world. NICoE was dedicated on June 24th, 2010 and has now begun its critically important work.
To further enhance TBI research, diagnosis and treatment, IFHF will design and build several additional centers that will serve as satellites to NICoE, to be located at some of the largest military deployment bases around the country, the first of which will be at Ft. Belvoir, VA. These NICoE Satellite Centers will extend the care currently provided at NICoE out to the home bases of many of the troops suffering the effects of TBI. Data from these centers will be transmitted back to NICoE and aid in its ongoing research program, helping to improve detection, diagnosis and treatment of TBI, post traumatic stress and related afflictions. Secondarily, IFHF will also provide financial support for research efforts at these facilities and at NICoE. For additional information about this Veteran support organization refer to http://fallenheroesfund.org/Home.aspx. [Source: http://fallenheroesfund.org/Home.aspx Oct 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 Unemployment Insurance Income. Bloomberg reports in 2009 of the 11.3 million U.S. tax filers who reported Unemployment income, 2,362 people were from millionaire homes. Another 954,000 households earning more than $100,000 also reported receiving unemployment benefits. 1.1 million people exhausted their jobless benefits during the second quarter of 2012.
 WWII Vets. Dr. Joseph Lee Parker, the last surviving Navy doctor who landed on Omaha Beach at Normandy during the D-Day Invasion of World War II died 27 SEP at age 95. Parker was a member of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion. He treated the wounded, including Allied and German troops, for 21 days on the beach.
 Magic. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=sKns1uatyNg&vq=medium
 Milk. Milk prices could top $6 a gallon next year, thanks to a recently expired farm bill that Congress neglected to act on. That bill paid for a lot of things, ranging from farming subsidies to food stamps. It also regulates the price of milk. Without the bill, milk prices are projected to climb around four times higher than what the current bill permits.
 Baldness. New research shows shaved-bald guys are seen as taller, stronger, more manly, authoritative, and dominant than men with thinning or full hair.
 HVAC/SVAC. To read the American Legion’s National Commander’s written testimony submitted to the 3 OCT joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs refer to http://www.legion.org/sites/legion.org/files/legion/publications/Commanders-Testimony-2012-WEB.pdf.
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 AMVETS Magazine. To access the latest issue of AMVETS quarterly American Veteran magazine go to http://americanveteranmagazine.blogspot.com/.
 Deficit. The federal government’s fiscal year 2012 has come to a close, and CBO estimates that the federal budget deficit for the year was about $1.1 trillion, approximately $200 billion lower than the shortfall recorded in 2011. The 2012 deficit was equal to 7.0 percent of gross domestic product, CBO estimates, down from 8.7 percent in 2011, 9.0 percent in 2010, and 10.1 percent in 2009, but greater than in any other year since 1947.
 Afterburner. The September 2012 edition of the e-Afterburner has been posted on the Air Force retiree website at http://www.retirees.af.mil. The new edition is located on the upper right-hand side of the page underneath the Afterburner tab. http://www.retirees.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-121003-014.pdf.
 PTSD. Last year, VA "treated almost 100,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans" for PTSD. But "many agree that the numbers of sufferers could be higher because not everyone who suffers seeks treatment."
 MOH. To learn what Medal of Honor holder MMSgt Roy P. Benevidez did to earn his award check out http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=RZ7968BbMnU&vq=medium.
 COLA. Seniors and the disables will learn the 2013 increase on October 16, 2012, but TSCL expects the increase will be hardly enough to offest big expected spikes in food costs which are rising twice as fast.
 Cellphones. The average cell phone subscriber pays $565 a year. There are more mobile phone subscriptions (322 million) than there are Americans (314 million). Of that total, 41 percent are smartphones, and 23 percent are prepaid customers. Americans collectively spent 2.321 trillion minutes on the phone over the last year and sent texts: 2.273 trillion texts.
[Source: Various 1-14 Oct 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 102:
 Philadelphia PA - Brian Racey, a 42-year-old former territory manager for Orthofix Inc., was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Friday with health-care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to submit $250,000 in fraudulent claims for bone that did not meet Medicare guidelines. Racey of North Wales worked for Texas-based Orthofix — covering the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware territory — from April 2004 until he resigned on March 31, 2011. Orthofix manufactures and distributes bone-growth stimulator medical devices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges the device that Racey sold was intended to assist patients with bone fractures that did not heal.
 Miami FL - Dr. Mark Willner, 56, and Dr. Alberto Ayala, 68,, former medical directors at the mental health care company American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC), were each sentenced today to 10 years in prison for participating in a $205 million Medicare fraud scheme. Willnerordred was to pay more than $57 million in restitution and Ayala to pay more than $87 million in restitution, both jointly and severally with
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their co-defendants. Willner and Ayala were also both sentenced to three years of supervised release following their prison terms. On June 1, 2012, after a seven week trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida found Willner and Ayalaeach guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Evidence at trial demonstrated that the defendants and their co-conspirators caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare through ATC, a Florida corporation headquartered in Miami that operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) in seven different locations throughout South Florida and Orlando. A PHP is a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness. The defendants and their co-conspirators also used a related company, American Sleep Institute (ASI), to submit fraudulent Medicare claims. Evidence at trial revealed that ATC secured patients by paying kickbacks to assisted living facility owners and halfway house owners who would then steer patients to ATC. These patients attended ATC, where they were ineligible for the treatment ATC billed to Medicare and where they did not receive the treatment that was billed to Medicare. After Medicare paid the claims, some of the co-conspirators then laundered the Medicare money in order to create cash to pay the patient kickbacks. Evidence at trial revealed that doctors at ATC, including Willner and Ayala, signed patient files without reading them or seeing the patients. Evidence further revealed that ATC then billed Medicare for more than $100 million in PHP treatment for these patients under the names of Willner and Ayala. Included in these false and fraudulent submissions to Medicare were claims for patients in neuro-vegetative states, along with patients who were in the late stages of diseases causing permanent cognitive memory loss, and patients who had substance abuse issues and were living in halfway houses. These patients were ineligible for PHP treatment, and because they were forced by their assisted living facility owners and halfway house owners to attend ATC, they were not receiving treatment for the diseases they actually had. ATC executives Lawrence Duran, Marianella Valera, Judith Negron and Margarita Acevedo were sentenced to 50 years, 35 years, 35 years and 91 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the fraud scheme. The 50- and 35-year sentences represent the longest sentences for health care fraud ordered to date.
 Casper WY - Wyoming Medical Center (WMC) in Casper has agreed to pay $2.7 million to settle Medicare fraud allegations stemming from a 2007 whistleblower suit. Former WMC employee Gale Bryden alleged that WMC submitted reimbursement requests that were inconsistent with patients' treatment records, changed the admission status of patients from outpatient to inpatient status without a physician order and billed Medicare for unnecessary admissions. The government conducted an investigation into the hospital, finding evidence to support some of the claims. WMC's settlement specifically resolves claims that it submitted inpatient claims to Medicare for services performed in outpatient settings, inpatient claims for hospital stays for which there was no record of a physician ordering inpatient-level care and inpatient claims for patients who didn't meet inpatient admission requirements. WMC cooperated with investigators in making records and witnesses available, but the hospital denied any wrongdoing.
 New York NY - Fifteen people including a doctor and four chiropractors have been charged with participating in three separate schemes in New York and Long Island to defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs of more than $23 million, prosecutors say. The 4 OCT arrests and searches in New York are part of a nationwide takedown that led to charges against 92 people for their alleged participation in schemes to submit $432 million in fraudulent claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The charges include healthcare fraud, wire fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, and money laundering, US Attorney General Eric Holder said at a press conference in Washington. In one of the New York cases, nine people, including the manager and medical director of Cropsey Medical Care PLCC in Brooklyn, are charged with conspiring to defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs of more than $13 million by submitting fraudulent claims for physical therapy that was not provided or was medically unnecessary, court papers say. In another New York case, four licensed chiropractors allegedly met patients residing in assisted living facilities, failed to provide chiropractic services yet submitted $6.4 million in fraudulent billings to the Medicare program. In the third New York investigation, the office manager of a
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Queens medical clinic and the owner of an ambulette service received $3 million from Medicare after purporting to provide physical therapy and diagnostic tests to beneficiaries who were paid illegal cash kickbacks to use their medical and ambulette services.
 Miami FL - The feds on 4 OCT charged 33 South Florida suspects with submitting about $205 million in phony claims to Medicare as part of a nationwide takedown of healthcare fraud offenders in major U.S. cities, authorities said. Agents with the FBI and Health and Human Services arrested many of the suspects early in the morning, including medical professionals associated with a Broward County psychiatric hospital, Hollywood Pavilion, accused of billing the taxpayer-funded program for bogus treatments. Nationwide, an additional 58 suspects were charged as part of the takedown of Medicare fraud offenders in other cities from New York to Houston to Los Angeles. Those defendants filed fraudulent claims totaling $225 million, authorities said. The Obama administration has carried out a series of crackdowns in an effort to stem the estimated loss of tens of billions of dollars a year in Medicare funds for the elderly and disabled due to fraud. The Miami area, where schemes including home healthcare and physical therapy fraud have flourished for years, has stood out as the nation’s epicenter of Medicare corruption. And the latest arrests, accounting for one third of the total nationwide, reinforce that reputation.
 National - In a widespread crackdown on Medicare fraud, the Justice Department has charged 91 people with billing the federal insurance program $429 million in phony claims, officials said 4 OCT. Individuals in seven cities across the country have been indicted for cheating Medicare out of money for a range of health care services. The largest bulk of false claims included more than $230 million for home health care, followed by claims for mental health care and ambulance transportation.“Today’s coordinated actions represent one of the largest Medicare fraud takedowns in Department of Justice history, as measured by the amount of alleged fraudulent billings,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer.The sting included the largest ambulance fraud scheme ever to be prosecuted in recent history. Officials charged Los Angeles-based Alpha Ambulance Inc. with billing $49.2 million to Medicare for providing medically unnecessary rides. In one case, Dallas Dr. Joseph Megwa allegedly signed about 33,000 prescriptions for thousands of Medicare patients without ever reviewing them. A Chicago dermatologist and psychologist were charged with submitting millions of dollars in false claims for medically unnecessary laser treatments and psychotherapy services, in another case. And in Miami, three residents were charged with coordinating a fraud scheme through a home health care service that led to $75 million in fraudulent billing. The task force uncovered the largest single Medicare fraud scheme in history last February, arresting a ring of Dallas-area health care professionals on suspicion of collecting $375 million in phony claims.
 Los Angeles CA - Adejare Ademefun, 57, A medical equipment supplier who submitted almost $1 million in false claims to Medicare for expensive, high-end power wheelchairs was sentenced 9 OCT to serve 30 months in prison. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $499,548 in restitution to Medicare. In February 2010, Ademefun pleaded guilty to health care fraud. As part of his plea, he admitted that from January 2006 to his arrest in October 2009, he owned and operated Jamef Medical Supply, a fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) supply company, which he used to submit almost $1 million in false claims to Medicare. He paid illicit kickbacks to co-conspirators for medical prescriptions and other documents he needed to defraud Medicare. Ademefun focused his fraudulent billings on power wheelchairs, which were among the most expensive DME that a Medicare provider could bill to Medicare. Approximately 95 percent of all the claims he submitted to Medicare were for power wheelchairs whicg he supplied to Medicare beneficiaries who were illegally solicited by patient recruiters or “marketers” for medical equipment they did not want or need. He admitted he was deliberately indifferent to the fact that the power wheelchair claims he submitted to Medicare were false even though he knew there was a high probability that the doctors whose names appeared on the
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prescriptions he purchased from his co-conspirators did not prescribe the power wheelchairs. He also knew that only six doctors were supposedly responsible for referring approximately 50 percent of his business and that approximately 60 percent of his customers lived more than 100 miles from Jamef. Ademefun submitted approximately $941,028 in false claims to Medicare during the course of the scheme. On March 24, 2010, Ademefun’s co-conspirator Leonard Nwafor was sentenced to 108 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
 Dallas TX – The owner of a North Texas home health services company has pleaded guilty in a $374 million Medicare billing scheme linked to an indicted doctor. Prosecutors in Dallas say Cyprian Akamnonu of Arlington pleaded guilty 11 OCT to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Dr. Jacques Roy faces trial next June on charges he ran a Medicare and Medicaid fraud scam and signed off on false paperwork. Roy is charged with conspiracy, obstructing justice, fraud and making false statements. Records show Akamnonu since 2006 operated Ultimate Care Home Health Services Inc. Investigators say the businessman and others recruited people as Medicare beneficiaries for unneeded services. Akamnonu faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced next year. He must forfeit 21 properties, four vehicles and some personal and business funds.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Oct 2012 ++]
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Medicaid Fraud Update 72:
 Buffalo NY - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced 28 SEP an agreement with Kaleida Health to recover $1.6 million in excess Medicaid payments on claims for dental services at Buffalo Women’s & Children’s Hospital Dental Clinic. The Attorney General’s investigation revealed that during the period of January 1, 2005, through June 29, 2012, Kaleida submitted and received payments for dental clinic services for which Medicaid reimbursement was not authorized. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted an investigation after Kaleida Health revealed that its Buffalo Women’s & Children’s Hospital Dental Clinic had received the excess payments earlier this year for dental clinic services for which Medicaid reimbursement was not authorized. Medicaid regulations authorize reimbursement for teeth cleanings only once during a six month period, unless there is a medical necessity for more frequent cleanings and a notation in the patient chart to that effect. In some cases, Kaleida had billed Medicaid in violation of this rule for patients who received cleanings more often than once in six months. In other cases, the dental clinic performed and billed for exams, x-rays, and cleanings – which Medicaid regulations require dental clinics to perform and bill during one office visit -- separately over multiple visits, resulting in additional cost to the Medicaid program. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman commended Kaleida Health for voluntarily disclosing the results of their internal audit, cooperating with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigation, and agreeing to make restitution.
 North Carolina - The state will reap almost $16 million from a national Medicaid fraud settlement involving Abbott Laboratories. The state Attorney General's Office said Monday that's the state's portion of a $1.5 billion settlement with the company, Abbott agreed in federal court last week to settle claims over allegations that it promoted the anti-seizure drug Depakote for uses that the Food and Drug Administration hadn't approved. Depakote is an anti-seizure and mood-stabilizing drug prescribed for bipolar disorder. However, the company said it marketed the drug for unapproved uses, including treatment of schizophrenia, agitated dementia and autism. Of the $15.8 million paid to North Carolina, about $1 million will go to support public schools. The remainder will go to support Medicaid efforts in the state.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Oct 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Georgia provides several benefits to veterans. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits – GA” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits listed below. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each click on “Learn more about …” wording highlighted in blue on the attachment.
 Housing Benefits
 Tax Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/georgia-state-veterans-benefits.html Oct2012 ++]
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Military History: Operation Commando Hunt was a covert U.S. Seventh Air Force and U.S. Navy Task Force 77 aerial interdiction campaign that took place during the Vietnam War. The operation began on 11 November 1968 and ended on 29 March 1972. The objective of the campaign was to prevent the transit of People's Army of Vietnam personnel and supplies on the logistical corridor known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail that ran from the southwestern Democratic Republic of Vietnam through the southeastern portion of the Kingdom of Laos and into the Republic of Vietnam. The goal of the Commando Hunt campaigns was not to halt infiltration, but to make the North Vietnamese pay too heavy a price for their effort. Corollary to this was the destruction of as much of their logistical system as possible and to tie down as many of the North Vietnamese forces in static security roles as possible. Aerial interdiction could not succeed unless Hanoi felt the pressure and relented. The seed of the campaign's failure, however, was sown in its first operation. Despite the expenditure of an enormous amount of ordnance over five years, the level of that pressure was never going to be sufficient to deter Hanoi from its goal of supplying its troops in the south. The attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Operation Commando Hunt” covers the five year history of this operation and the reasons for the ultimate failure of the American forces in achieving their goal. [Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Commando_Hunt Oct 2012 +]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant 16–31 October events in U.S. Military History are:
 Oct 17 1777 – American Revolution: British Maj. Gen. John Burgoyne surrenders 5,000 men at Saratoga, N.Y.
 Oct 17 1941 – WW2: A German U–boat attacks an American ship for the first time. The U.S. destroyer Kearney is damaged by a torpedo off Iceland; 11 Americans are killed.
 Oct 17 1944 – WW2: USS Escolar (SS–294) missing. Possibly sunk by a Japanese mine in the Yellow Sea. 82 killed.
 Oct 18 1775 – American Revolution: The Burning of Falmouth (now Portland, Maine) prompts the Continental Congress to establish the Continental Navy.
 Oct 18 1779 – American Revolution: The Franco–American Siege of Savannah is lifted.
 Oct 18 1939 – WW2: President Franklin D. Roosevelt bans war submarines from U.S. ports and waters.
 Oct 19 1781 – American Revolution: British troops under General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American Revolution.
 Oct 19 1917 – WWI: The first doughnut is fried by Salvation Army volunteer women for American troops in France.
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 Oct 19 1933 – Germany withdraws from the League of Nations.
 Oct 19 1942 – WW2: The Japanese submarine I–36 launches a floatplane for a reconnaissance flight over Pearl Harbor. The pilot and crew report on the ships in the harbor, after which the aircraft is lost at sea.
 Oct 19 1987 – In retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. navy disables three of Iran’s offshore oil platforms.
 Oct 20 1923 – USS O–5 (SS–66) rammed and sunk by United Fruit steamer Abangarez in Limon Bay, Canal Zone. 3 died.
 Oct 20 1943 – The cargo vessel Sinfra is attacked by USAAF B–25s and RAF Beaufighters aircraft at Suda Bay, Crete, and sunk. 2,098 Italian prisoners of war drown with it.
 Oct 20 1944 – WW2: U.S. troops land on Leyte keeping General MacArthur’s pledge "I shall return."
 Oct 20 1944 – WW2: Battle of Leyte Gulf began. Largest naval battle of WW2.
 Oct 21 1797 – In Boston Harbor, the 44–gun United States Navy frigate USS Constitution is launched.
 Oct 21 1837 – Under a flag of truce during peace talks, U.S. troops siege the Indian Seminole Chief Osceola in Florida.
 Oct 21 1861 – Civil War: The Battle of Ball’s Bluff, Va. begins, a disastrous Union defeat which sparks Congressional investigations
 Oct 21 1904 – Panamanians clash with U.S. Marines in Panama in a brief uprising.
 Oct 21 1917 – WWI: The first U.S. troops enter the front lines at Sommervillier under French command.
 Oct 21 1944 – WW2: The first kamikaze attack: A Japanese plane carrying a 200 kilograms (440 lb) bomb attacks HMAS Australia off Leyte Island, as the Battle of Leyte Gulf began.
 Oct 21 1967 – Vietnam: The "March on the Pentagon," protesting American involvement draws 50,000 protesters.
 Oct 21 1983 – Grenada: The United States sends a ten–ship task force to Grenada.
 Oct 21 1994 – Korea and the U.S. sign an agreement that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.
 Oct 22 1862 – Civil War: Union troops push 5,000 confederates out of Maysbille, Ark., at the Second Battle of Pea Ridge.
 Oct 22 1944 – WW2: Battle of Aachen: The city of Aachen falls to American forces after three weeks of fighting, making it the first German city to fall to the Allies.
 Oct 22 1957 – Vietnam: First United States casualties in Vietnam.
 Oct 22 1962 – Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis. US President John F. Kennedy, after internal counsel from Dwight D. Eisenhower, announces that American reconnaissance planes have discovered Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba, and that he has ordered a naval "quarantine" of the Communist nation.
 Oct 22 1972 – Oct 22 1972 – Vietnam: The 5 ½ month Operation Linebreaker I bombing of North Vietnam ended. Bombing resumed as Linebreaker II from 18 to 29 DEC.
 Oct 23 1694 – American colonial forces, led by Sir William Phipps, fail to seize Quebec.
 Oct 23 1861 – Civil War: President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in Washington, D.C. for all military–related cases.
 Oct 23 1942 – WW2: The Western Task Force, destined for North Africa, departs from Hampton Roads, Virginia.
 Oct 23 1942 – WW2: The Battle for Henderson Field begins during the Guadalcanal Campaign and ends on October 26
 Oct 23 1965 – Vietnam War: The 1st Air Cavalry Division launch a new operation, seeking to destroy North Vietnamese forces in Pleiku in the Central Highlands.
 Oct 23 1983 – Lebanon: Terrorist attack on Marine Barracks in Beirut kills 220 Marines and 21 other U.S. service members.
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 Oct 24 1863 – Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant arrives in Chattanooga, Tennessee to find the Union Army there starving.
 Oct 24 1944 – WW2: In the Battle of Leyte Gulf the aircraft carrier USS Princeton is sunk by a single Japanese plane. The Japanese are defeated and lose their aircraft carrier Zuikaku and the battleship Musashi. From this point on, the depleted Japanese Navy increasingly resorts to the suicidal attacks of Kamikaze fighters.
 Oct 24 1944 – USS Darter (SS–227) ran aground on Bombay Shoal, Palawan Passage; later scuttled by USS Nautilus (SS–168) and USS Dace (SS–247). 0 died
 Oct 24 1944 – USS Tang (SS–306) accidentally sunk by circular run of own torpedo in Formosa Strait. 78 died, 9 POWs survived
 Oct 24 1944 – WW2: USS Shark (SS–314) sunk by Japanese depth charges from Harukaze, South China Sea west of Luzon. 87 killed.
 Oct 25 1940 – Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. is named the first African American general in the United States Army.
 Oct 25 1944 – The USS Tang under Richard O'Kane (the top American submarine captain of World War II) is sunk by the ship's own malfunctioning torpedo.
 Oct 25 1958 – Lebanon: The last U.S. troops leave Beirut.
 Oct 25 1962 – Cuban missile crisis: Adlai Stevenson shows photos at the UN proving Soviet missiles are installed in Cuba.
 Oct 25 1983 – Grenada: Operation Urgent Fury Began. 1,800 U.S. troops and 300 Caribbean troops land and soon turn up evidence of a strong Cuban and Soviet presence–large stores of arms and documents suggesting close links to Cuba.
 Oct 26 1775 – King George III goes before Parliament to declare the American colonies in rebellion, and authorized a military response to quell the American Revolution.
 Oct 26 1813 – War of 1812: Canadians and Mohawks defeat the Americans in the Battle of Chateauguay.
 Oct 26 1942 – WW2: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign, one U.S. aircraft carrier, Hornet, is sunk and another aircraft carrier, Enterprise, is heavily damaged.
 Oct 26 1950 – Korea: A reconnaissance platoon for a South Korean division reaches the Yalu River. They are the only elements of the U.N. force to reach the river before the Chinese offensive pushes the whole army down into South Korea.
 Oct 27 1941 – WW2: In a broadcast to the nation on Navy Day, President Franklin Roosevelt declares: "America has been attacked, the shooting has started." He does not ask for full–scale war yet, realizing that many Americans are not yet ready for such a step.
 Oct 27 1954 – Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes the first African–American general in the United States Air Force.
 Oct 27 1988 – Cold War: Ronald Reagan decides to tear down the new U.S. Embassy in Moscow because of Soviet listening devices in the building structure.
 Oct 27 2012 - Navy Day
 Oct 28 1776 – Revolutionary War: Battle of White Plains – British Army forces arrive at White Plains, attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Americans.
 Oct 28 1864 – Civil War: The Second Battle of Fair Oaks ends – Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant withdraw from Fair Oaks, Virginia, after failing to breach the Confederate defenses around Richmond, Virginia.
 Oct 28 1962 – Cuba: The U.S. began its blockade of Cuba to compel the Russians to remove long–range missiles aimed at the United States.
 Oct 28 1964 – Vietnam: U.S. officials deny any involvement in bombing North Vietnam.
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 Oct 29 1863 – Civil War: The Battle of Wauhatchie – Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant repel a Confederate attack led by General James Longstreet. Union forces thus open a supply line into Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 Oct 29 1941 – Holocaust: In the Kaunas Ghetto over 10,000 Jews are shot by German occupiers at the Ninth Fort, a massacre known as the "Great Action".
 Oct 30 1941 – WW2: The U.S. destroyer Reuben James, on convoy duty off Iceland, is sunk by a German U–boat with the loss of 96 Americans.
 Oct 31 1917 – WWI: Battle of Beersheba – "last successful cavalry charge in history".
 Oct 31 1941 – WW2: The destroyer USS Reuben James is torpedoed by a German U–boat near Iceland, killing more than 100 United States Navy sailors. It is the first U.S. Navy vessel sunk by enemy action in WW2.
 Oct 31 1943 – WW2: An F4U Corsair accomplishes the first successful radar–guided interception.
 Oct 31 1952 – Cold War: The U.S. explodes the first hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific.
 Oct 31 1968 – Vietnam: The bombing of North Vietnam is halted by the United States.
 Oct 31 1971 – Vietnam: Saigon begins the release of 1,938 Hanoi POW’s.
[Source: Various Oct 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia 60: Vietnam GI Jargon
During the Vietnam war, US infantrymen had the MOS number 11B also called 11 Bravo. What did the average soldier call the 'B'?
Bush | Bummer | Buddy | Boo hoo
2. During the Vietnam War, what did soldiers and Marines call the M60 machine gun?
A biter | An eater | A pig or hog | The answer
3. During the Vietnam War, who was a 'cherry'?
An old soldier | A new soldier | A dead soldier | A wounded soldier |
4. During the Vietnam war, what did infantrymen call a long forced march?
A hump | A lump | A bump | A chump
5. During the Vietnam War the US Army in the field was composed primarily of draftees. What did servicemen usually call a career soldier?
A Bird | A Loser | A Lifer | Employed
6. While in base camp, what was the most common way of disposing of human waste?
Carrying it away | Ignoring it | Burning it | Burying it
7. During the Vietnam War, unpopular officers were sometimes eliminated by the men. What term described this
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process?
Fragging | Flicking | Flogging | Fingering
8. During the Vietnam War, US servicemen used drugs at times. What would a 'bowl' be used for?
To use heroin | To smoke crack | To smoke pot | To use cocaine
9. During the Vietnam war, what did most infantrymen despise the most?
The liberal press | Rear echelon soldiers | Newbies | Boot lieutenants
10. After surviving a year in the Nam', where would a US serviceman usually be going?
Back to another tour in the bush | Back to the world | Into a glad bag | On his way to see the man
ANSWERS:
1. Almost every soldier who was 11B was headed to the 'Nam. Soldiers called themselves "11 bush". Hello
Vietnam'!
2. Servicemen called the M60 machine gun a pig or a hog. It received that name because of the ammo it ate.
3. Infantrymen who were new in country were referred to as 'cherries' or 'newbies' or as various unprintables.
4. Infantrymen called a long forced march a hump or humpin'. This term is still used.
5. Draftees usually called the career soldier or Marines a 'lifer' as well as other unprintables.
6. While US forces served in Vietnam, human waste was burned.
7. The men used a fragmentation grenade to rid themselves of an officer or NCO who they disliked or distrusted.
The act was called fragging. It was rare, but it did happen.
8. During the Vietnam War, US servicemen used drugs at times. What would a 'bowl' be used for?
9. The correct answer was rear echelon soldiers
10. If a serviceman survived his tour in Vietnam, he was headed back to the world otherwise known as home. A discharge from the US Army and back to normalcy.
[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/GI-Jargon-Vietnam-War-335860.html Oct 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Ohio Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Ohio.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 5.5% (food, newspapers, magazine subscriptions, telephone service and prescription drugs exempt); Counties levy additional sales taxes which may add up to 2.25% in additional sales tax. For details refer to https://thefinder.tax.ohio.gov/StreamlineSalesTaxWeb/Default.aspx.
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Gasoline Tax: 28 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 28 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: $1.25/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 0.587%; High – 5.925% Income Brackets: Nine. Lowest – $5,050; Highest – $201,801; Several cities levy municipal income taxes. Personal Exemptions: Single – $1,650 plus an additional $20 per exemption tax credit; Married – $3,300; Dependents – $1,650 Standard Deduction: None Medical/Dental Deduction: Unreimbursed medical/dental expenses, premiums for long-term care insurance, and unsubsidized health insurance premiums are deductible. Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security is exempt. Credit of up to $200 if retirement income is at least $8,000, plus a one-time credit on lump sums. Seniors 65 and over may claim a $50 credit. Only one credit is allowed for each return. Out-of-state government pensions can be applied toward the retirement income credit. Taxpayers can deduct the following benefits only to the extent that they are included in the taxpayers federal adjusted gross income: Social Security, Tier 1 and Tier II railroad benefits, and supplemental and other railroad benefits. Retired Military Pay: Military retired pay of taxpayers who retired from service in the active or reserve components of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or from the National Guard can deduct their military retirement income to the extent that income is not otherwise deducted or excluded in computing federal or Ohio adjusted gross income. Taxpayers who served in the military and receive a federal civil service retirement pension are also eligible for a limited deduction if any portion of their federal retirement pay is based on credit for their military service. These retirees can deduct only the amount of their federal retirement pay that is attributable to their military service. Military taxpayers refer to http://www.mh.state.oh.us/assets/veterans/ag-resource-guide.pdf and http://www.tax.ohio.gov/divisions/ohio_individual/individual/military_service_ohio_taxes_retiree_exemption.stm 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
The taxable base is the assessed value of land and buildings. Assessed value is 35% of market value, except for certain agricultural land. County auditors must reappraise all real estate every six years. A homestead exemption is available to the homesteads of qualified homeowners who are either at least 65 years old, permanently and totally disabled, or at least 59 years of age and the surviving spouse of a deceased taxpayer who had previously received the exemption. For more details refer to http://tax.ohio.gov/channels/government/documents/Bulletin_23_Homestead_EX_Rev_01_09.pdf, http://tax.ohio.gov/divisions/real_property/index.stm, and
http://tax.ohio.gov/divisions/communications/homestead_exemption_information.stm
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
On June 30, 2011, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the 2012 – 2013 budget into law, which eliminates the Ohio estate tax effective for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2013. Ohio does not have an inheritance tax.
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For further information, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation site. http://ohio.gov [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Oct 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art (15):
Victory Over Gold
by Nicolas Trudgian
The morning of June 7, 1944 a dozen JU88s appeared over Gold Beach, intent of making a diving attack on the heavily populated beachhead. The patrolling Spitfires of 401 Squadron wasted no time in getting into the fray. In the ensuing dogfight the Canadian pilots destroyed no fewer than six of the JU88s, and the attack on the beach was averted.
Oil on canvas 22" x 36" - $20,000 - Signed on the reverse by Pete Brothers - Bunny Currant - Tom Neil
[Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Originals.html Oct 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 14 OCT 2012: The Senate and House are in a “legislative lull” until the General Election is over. Both chambers will conduct pro forma sessions throughout the extended break. These very brief meetings take place with just a handful of congressional members in attendance and legislation is not normally discussed or passed. For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. Support of these
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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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: http://www.loc.gov Oct 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? Vet Hats and Morons
A retiree was sent a ‘Viet Nam Veteran' hat by his friend. He never had one of these before and was pretty hyped about it, especially because his friend was considerate enough to take the time to give it to him. He then decided to wear it the next day when he went to Walmart. There was nothing in particular he needed at the world's largest retailer but, since he retired, trips to Wally World to look at the Walmartians was always good for some comic relief. Besides, he always felt pretty normal after seeing some of the people that frequent the establishment.
While standing in line to check out, the guy in front of him, probably in his early thirties, asked, "Are you a Vet Nam Vet?" "No" he replied. "Then why are you wearing that hat?" "Because I couldn't find my hat from the War of 1812." He thought it was a snappy retort. "The War of 1812 huh." the Walmartian queried, "When was that?" God forgive but, he couldn't pass up such an opportunity. "1936"
The guy pondered his response for a moment and responded, "Why do they call it the War of 1812 if it was in 1936?" "It was a Black Op. No one is supposed to know about it." This was beginning to be way too fun.
"Dude! Really!" he exclaimed. "How did you get to do something that COOOOL?"
The retiree glanced furtively around them for effect, leaned toward the guy and in a low voice said, "I'm not sure. I was the only Caucasian on the mission."
"Dude!", he was really getting excited about what he was hearing. "That is seriously Awesome! But, didn't you kind of stand out?" The retiree replied, "Not really. The other guys were wearing white camouflage." The moron nodded knowingly.
"Listen man," the retiree said in a very serious tone, "You can't tell anyone about this. It's still Top Secret and I shouldn't have said anything."
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"Oh yeah." The guy gave the retiree the "don't threaten me look. "Like, what's gonna happen if I do?"
With a really hard look the retiree said, "You have a family don't you? We wouldn't want anything to happen to them would we?" The guy gulped, left his basket where it was and fled through the door. By this time the lady behind them was about to have a heart attack she was laughing so hard.
After checking out and going to the parking lot the retiree saw dimwit leaning in a car window talking to a young woman. Upon catching sight of him he started pointing excitedly in the retiree's direction. Giving the guy another 'deadly' serious look, the retiree made the "I see you" gesture. The guy turned kind of pale, jumped in the car and sped out of the parking lot.
What a great time! Tomorrow, he decided, he was going return to Walmart with a Homeland Security hat. Whoever said retirement is boring just needs the right kind of hat...
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Naval Lingo: Carry On. In the days of sail, the Officer of the Deck kept a weather eye constantly on the slightest change in wind so sails could be reefed or added as necessary to ensure the fastest headway. Whenever a good breeze came along, the order to "carry on" would be given. It meant to hoist every bit of canvas the yards could carry. Pity the poor sailor whose weather eye failed him and the ship was caught partially reefed when a good breeze arrived. Through the centuries the term's connotation has changed somewhat. Today, the Bluejackets Manual defines carry on as an order to resume work; work not so grueling as two centuries ago.
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The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
--- Ronald Reagan ( 1911-2004 U.S. 40th President)

September 2012 Update

2012-09-04T19:58:00.003-04:00

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THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== Sequestration [02] ---------------------------------- (TRICARE Threat)
== VA Vehicle Fleet --------------------------- (50% Increase Since 2005)
== VA Women Vet Programs [19] ------------------ (Gender Disparities)
== Milconnect Website ------------------------------------------ (Overview)
== Tricare Preventive Health Program [04] --------- (Health Screenings)
== VA Tinnitus Care [04] ------------------------ (Sound Therapy Device)
== VA Cancer Treatment [01] ------------------ (Lung Cancer Screening)
== West Nile Disease --------------------- (1,118 People Infected to date)
== USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion --------- (Administrative Limbo)
== Vietnam Vets [04] ------------------------------------- (Boyd L. Barclay)
== Vietnam Vets [05] -------------------------------------- (Richard Eggers)
== USMC Retired Services Offices ------------------------- (Contact Info)
== Hearing Aids [01] --------------------------------- (RACHAP program)
== SECNAV Retiree Council [04] -------- (2012 Membership’s E-mail)
== Automobility --------------------------------------------- (Disabled Vets)
== Costco Secrets ----------------------------------------- (Did You Know?)
== VA Claims Backlog [72] ---------------------------------- (Kelly Smith)
== Vet Cremains [17] -------------------------------------- (Bridgeville PA)
== Scam ~ Property Tax Relief ------------------------------ (Seniors First)
== Military Toxic Sites --------------------------- (Horn Island Mississippi)
== Veteran Driver Licenses [02] ----------------------------- (Availability)
== VA Conference Scandal ------------------------- (Shinseki’s Response)
== Military Satire ----------------------------------------------- (Duffel Blog)
== Filipino Vet Inequities [24] ----------------- (Hearing Request Denied)
== Vet Charity Watch 27 -------------------------------- (Donating Wisely)
== Massachusetts Vet Website ---------------------------------------- (New)
== B-17 Flying Fortress Tours ---------------------- (Aluminum Overcast)
== Retiree Newsletters -------------------------------------------- (Websites)
== Twilight Tattoo ------------------------------------ (2012 Season Ended)
== VA Burial Benefit [15] ----------------------- (What is/is not Provided)
== Vet Cremains [16] ------------------------------------------ (Portland OR)
== Vet Cemetery Colorado [03] ------------- (2015 Anticipated Opening)
== IRS Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---------------------- (Fraudulent Returns)
== TRICARE Addiction Care -------------------- (Outsourced Treatment)
== VAMC Orlando [02] ------------------------- (HVAC Hearing 13 Aug)
== VAMC Las Vegas -------------------------------------- (Newly Opened)
== PTSD [109] ------------------------------------------------------ (Dr. Phil)
== PTSD [110] -------------------------------------------- (Couples Therapy)
== PTSD [111] ------------------------------------------------ (Mobile Apps)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [51] --------------------- (15-31 Aug 2012)
== Flu Shots [03] -------------------------------------------- (H3N2 Variant)
== VA Disputed Claims [10] -------------------------------- (Jarrid Starks)
== Mobilized Reserve 21 AUG 2012 ---------------------- (117 Decrease)
== Vet Jobs [79] --------------------------- (Australian Mining Companies)
== Vet Jobs [80] ------------------------------------------------- (Army CID)
== Vet Jobs [81] -------------------------------- (Hiring Our Heroes Dates)
== GI Bill [126] --------------------------------- (Yellow Ribbon Program)
== Obit ~ Neil Armstrong ----------------------------------- (Aug 25, 2012)
== Vet License Plates DE ------------------------------------- (Availability)
== Stolen Valor [79] ---------------------- (Charles Chester Kaczmarczyk)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of 30 Aug 2012)
== WWII Vets [26] ----------------------------------------- (Edwin Lent Jr.) == Korean War Vets ------------------------------------ (Conflict Recalled)
== Traumatic Brain Injury [24] ** --------------- (Battlefield Blood Test)
== VA Presumptive VN Diseases [21] ** ------ (Peripheral Neuropathy)
== POW/MIA [26] ---------------------------------------- (15-31 Aug 2012)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (12)
== VSO - Pin-Ups for Vets ------------------------------ (Vet Support Org)
== Saving Money ----------------------------------------- ---- (Top Tier Gas)
== Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (15-31 Aug 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [99] ---------------------------------- (15-31 AUG2012)
== Medicaid Fraud [69] ----------------------------------- (15-31 Aug 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits ------------------------------------ (Connecticut)
== Military History -------------------------------------- (Berlin Spy Tunnel)
== Military History Anniversaries ------------------- (Sep 1-15 Summary)
== Military Trivia 57 ------------------- (American Special Forces WWII)
== Tax Burden for Nevada Retirees --------------------- (As of Aug 2012)
== Aviation Art (12) ------------------------------------ (Leader of the Pack)
== Veteran Legislation Status 28 Aug 2012 ------------ (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ---------------------------------------- (Senior Citizens)

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Sequestration Update 02: Veterans’ health care funding may be exempt from automatic, across-the-board budget cuts that are due to begin in January, but military health care is not — and a new think-tank report says Congress would have to reprogram $3 billion from other Defense Department budget accounts to fully pay for military health care should the cuts occur. DoD personnel programs are exempt from the 10 percent cuts under sequestration, including basic pay, allowances for housing and subsistence, retirement pay, and bonuses. And the Budget Control Act of 2011, which set up the mechanism for cutting federal programs if a deficit spending agreement isn’t reached, also exempted veterans’ benefits. In April, the White House announced veterans medical care expenses also are exempt. But health care for military personnel and families, including Tricare, fall under DoD’s operations and maintenance programs and consequently could suffer as a result of the cuts, known as sequestration.
Total personnel costs in the Pentagon’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget are $168 billion, including funding for the defense health program. In that budget, Defense Department planners included several initiatives aimed at reducing personnel costs, including increased fees for military retirees receiving health care. But Congress has not supported the Tricare fee proposals or the Pentagon’s other personnel-related budget reduction measures in the fiscal 2013 legislative budget process. And that could affect readiness, said the new report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. DoD “will have little choice but to reduce the number of personnel by more than is already planned or take deeper cuts in modernization or readiness,” wrote CSBA analyst Todd Harrison. “Over time this will limit the range of military options available and if left unchecked would eventually result in military too small or unprepared for even the most basic missions.” DoD Comptroller Robert Hale said Aug. 2 the department has “looked at impact assessments on Tricare … and they would be seriously hurt.” But he insisted the Pentagon is not making plans for sequestration.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta held a closed-door meeting July 23 to detail four possible scenarios facing the department regarding sequestration. The meeting was one of a series of high-level gatherings on sequestration by DoD officials and industry leaders. According to a source who attended, the scenarios the Pentagon is considering include:
 Congress does not act and sequestration happens.
 During the lame-duck session of Congress, a plan is constructed to thwart sequestration.
 Congress comes up with a $1.2 trillion plan to avert sequestration between now and the November election.
 Congress inserts language into a continuing resolution to stave off sequestration for a year or two, but the government still implements cuts, sometimes referred to as a “mini-sequester.”
[Source: The Leaf Chronicle Patricia Kime article 28 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Vehicle Fleet: The Department of Veterans Affairs has increased its vehicle fleet by almost 50 percent since 2005 — acquiring more than 5,000 vehicles — due largely to new programs that provide in-home care and transportation for veterans to and from VA medical facilities. This is according to a U.S. Government Accountability study released this month that found the federal non-postal, non-combat vehicle fleet has grown 7 percent since 2005 to 449,444 vehicles. The GAO did not calculate the cost of the 29,062 added vehicles, but noted that 54,964 new and replacement vehicles in 2011 cost $1.36 billion. The Air Force, meanwhile, is on track to save millions of dollars as it has reduced its non-tactical vehicle fleet by 7 percent. In August 2011, the agency identified more than 6,000 underutilized vehicles that, if eliminated, could save the Air Force an estimated half billion dollars in procurement and leasing costs. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officials said the size of the local fleet has actually increased by seven vehicles to 708, but that was largely because of base realignments that brought more than 1,000 new positions to the base. Base officials expect the fleet to shrink as a result of defense cuts next year.
President Barack Obama in May 2011 issued a memorandum calling for federal agencies to help reduce oil imports by one-third by 2025 by right-sizing their fleets. “The Federal fleet should operate only as many vehicles as needed to work efficiently, leveraging Federal purchasing dollars to build manufacturing capacity for more alternative fueled vehicles, and reducing petroleum consumption through efficiency and alternative fuels,” the order said. But cutting down on vehicles is at cross purposes with increasing services to veterans. The VA medical centers in Cincinnati and Dayton added 73 new vehicles to their fleets in recent years of at a cost of $365,289. This brought the two hospitals’ vehicle budget to $859,753. “The addition of vehicles into the fleet can primarily be attributed to the growth of clinical activities that intend to make healthcare more accessible for veterans,” said southwest Ohio VA spokeswoman Denise Kerr. “Primarily, mental health and primary care programs are responsible for the most growth.”
VA officials say the number of veterans is decreasing, but the amount of staff and services needed are increasing for veterans with service-connected disabilities and those using expanded mental health, home-based and rural care services. For example, the Dayton VA has 23 vehicles assigned to clinicians who travel from clinics in Dayton, Middletown, Lima and Springfield to veterans’ homes to treat medical, social and behavioral conditions. This program was started six years ago. To date, there have been 560 veterans assisted by this program. The Cincinnati VA has 33 vehicles in this program, up from five in 2005, which currently serves 460 veterans. Another 33 vehicles in Dayton and 11 in Cincinnati are used to deliver mental health care to hundreds of veterans’ homes. A mobile health unit based out of an RV offers screening and other services to rural areas. The VA leases the vehicles through the U.S. General Services Administration.
The majority of the vehicles driven by local VA employees are Chevrolet Malibus, Chevrolet Impalas, Pontiac G6s and Ford Fusions. “The vehicles purchased for the patient care programs are compact and midsize vehicles,” Kerr said. “We also purchase alternative fuel vehicles for the local dispatch motor pool.” The GAO report found that the percentage of alternative fuel vehicles increased from about 14 percent to 33 percent of the federal fleet since 2005. VA officials say at least 75 percent of the vehicles they acquire use flex fuels. The Wright-Patterson fleet has increased its percentage of vehicles sipping ethanol from 16 percent in 2008 to 47 percent now. “That puts (the base) at pretty much the top Air Force-wide in driving that,” said WPAFB spokesman Daryl Mayer. [Source: Springfield News-Service Josh Sweigart article 29 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Women Vet Programs Update 19: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has released a report that shows improvement in gender disparities in 12 out of 14 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures in VA since 2008. HEDIS measures are used by 90 percent of America's health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service, such as screening, prevention and chronic disease management. VA consistently scores higher than private sector health care on both gender-specific and gender-neutral HEDIS measures. “We have a solemn obligation to provide high-quality health care to all Veterans, regardless of gender. Although we are encouraged by the progress we have achieved, we are not going to stop working until all gaps are eliminated,” said Secretary Eric K. Shinseki.
VA began a national initiative to eliminate gender gaps in preventive care in 2008. In 2011, VA asked each health care region across the country to review gender disparity data and create and implement an improvement plan. The Comparing the Care of Men and Women Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs report released by VA’s Office of Informatics and Analytics (OIA) indicates progress. The report shows that VA improved gender disparities in six performance measures specific to VA, including the screening rate for persistence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Other findings from the report include:
 VA has improved rates of screening women Veterans for depression, PTSD and colorectal cancer.
 VA has improved disease prevention for women Veterans through increased vaccination rates.
 VA has improved chronic disease management for women Veterans in hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, all significant risk factors for cardiac disease.
 Although the gender gaps have narrowed, care remains better for men than women in cholesterol control, diabetes management and flu vaccination.
The OIA report includes results of Veterans’ inpatient and outpatient satisfaction surveys, which show that men and women Veterans reported similar satisfaction except in the Getting Care Quickly and Getting Needed Care outpatient sections. VA has implemented a national initiative to improve care for women Veterans. Some of the components include training VA providers in basic and advanced women’s health care, implementation of women’s health primary care teams at VA facilities nationwide and ramped-up communications efforts. The Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group, which leads the initiative, also issued a report looking at gender disparities. That report, Gender Differences in Performance Measures, VHA 2008-2011, identifies best practices for eliminating gender gaps based on success in VA networks. “We’re looking at what works and trying to replicate it throughout VA’s system,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant for the Women Veterans Health Strategic Health Care Group. “We want to sustain this trend toward shrinking gender disparities and become a model for all other health care systems on how to eliminate gender disparities. Most importantly, we want to give every Veteran the best health care.” Both reports can be downloaded via http://www.womenshealth.va.gov. For more information about VA programs and services for women Veterans, visit: http://www.va.gov/womenvet and http://www.womenshealth.va.gov. [Source: VA News Release 18 Aug 2012 ++]
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Milconnect Website: The milConnect website is the Defense Manpower Data Center’s online portal that gives you access to your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). The website is located at http://milconnect.dmdc.mil. MilConnect allows you to:
 Receive alerts when a change in your benefit occurs.
 Access health care information about TRICARE, other health insurance, premiums, fees and claims (catastrophic cap and deductibles) and immunizations.
 Print proof-of-insurance/eligibility letters.
 Review and update (where applicable) personnel information.
 Review and update your civilian employment information and your most recent active duty information if you are a National Guard or Reserve member.
 Update your display name for the Department of Defense (DoD) Global Address List (GAL).
 Update your duty information for the DoD GAL.
 Transfer your education benefits.
 Update contact information in DEERS instantly.
 Find answers to frequently asked questions.
 Review Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance information.
 View, print and save eCorrespondence regarding benefits.
You can log on to milConnect’s secure website by using a Common Access Card (CAC), Defense Finance and
Accounting Services (DFAS) user name and password or DoD Self-Service Logon (DS Logon). Family members and those without CACs or DFAS pins will need to sign up for a DS Logon to sign in to milConnect. You may request a DS Logon online by clicking the “Sign Up” button on milConnect or by visiting http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement. You may also visit a TRICARE Service Center or a Veterans Affairs
Regional Office to complete an in-person proofing process. Non-CAC holders who need a new uniformed services
identification (ID) card can visit an ID card-issuing facility and request a DS Logon at the same time. [Source: TRICARE Standard Health Matters 2012 E-Publication Aug 2012 ++]
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Tricare Preventive Health Program Update 04: Preventive care can help you maintain good health through early detection and treatment of disease. TRICARE covers many preventive medical services including preventive health screenings. As a TRICARE Standard beneficiary, you can receive the following preventive medical services for no out-of-pocket costs:
 Prostate cancer screening: TRICARE covers annual prostate exams and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests for men age 50 and older. TRICARE also covers these screenings for certain men as young as age 40 who have family histories of prostate cancer.
 Breast cancer screening: Annual mammograms for women are covered beginning at age 40. Women younger than age 40 who are at high risk for breast cancer should talk to their health care providers about when and how often they should have mammograms and physical exams, which may also be covered by TRICARE.
 Cervical cancer screening: TRICARE covers a Pap smear annually for women starting at age 18 (younger if sexually active) or less often at patient and provider discretion (though not less than every three years). Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is covered as a cervical cancer screening only when performed in conjunction with a Pap smear, and only for women age 30 and older.
 Colorectal cancer screening: TRICARE covers colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 50 for beneficiaries at average risk. Frequency varies according to screening type (i.e., fecal occult blood testing, proctosigmoidoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy). If you have an increased risk for colon cancer due to family medical history or other risk factors, talk to your doctor about starting screenings at an earlier age.
 Well-child care: The TRICARE well-child benefit covers children from birth until reaching age 6. The benefit includes comprehensive health promotion and disease-prevention exams, immunizations and developmental and behavioral assessments. Your child can receive preventive-care well-child visits as frequently as the American Academy of Pediatrics® recommends, but no more than nine visits in two years.
 Immunizations: TRICARE covers age-appropriate vaccinations, including annual flu shots, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Note: If you are at risk for specific diseases, talk to your doctor about your individual and family medical history to determine when you should begin preventive screenings. For additional information Visit http://www.tricare.mil/preventivecare. [Source: TRICARE Standard Health Matters 2012 E-Publication Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Tinnitus Care Update 04: Ex-soldiers suffering from tinnitus related to their military service will have access to a nonsurgical, nonpharmacological treatment that uses low-level tones to relieve the often debilitating condition. The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a contract to SoundCure of San Jose, Calif., to provide its Serenade device to VA centers and clinics, the firm said. The FDA-cleared product is a handheld device that emits so-called S tones along narrow- and broad-band auditory stimuli that react with the auditory cortex to suppress tinnitus generation, according to the company. Patients perceive sounds from the device as softer than the tinnitus, yet they may completely eliminate perception of the tinnitus. The device's sound patterns are customized for each patients based on a clinical evaluation of their normal hearing as well as their tinnitus. [Source: MedPage Today John Gever Clinical Notes 26 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Cancer Treatment Update 01: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it would embark on a "phased implementation" of CT lung cancer screening for veterans after taking inspiration from a national trial that found the scans could help save lives among certain high-risk populations. The department said the program would begin at six yet-to-be-named VA hospitals as a clinical demonstration project. A department spokeswoman said she could not give a start date for the project as it's still under development. The program was inspired by the National Lung Screening Trial, a landmark national screening trial that ended last year and found that after three rounds of screening, high-risk patients -- in this case, current or former heavy smokers -- were 20 percent less likely to die if they were screened with lung CT scans rather than simple chest X-rays. "The experience of veterans who undergo screening will be closely monitored to gather information about outcomes from the screening and follow-up," the VA said in its e-mailed statement. "Patients also will be asked about their experience with the process to help VHA understand the potential harms of screening, such as anxiety, fear, inconvenience and pain."
The Lung Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit, first broke the news that the VA would start lung cancer CT screening earlier this month, saying the department told them in a letter after the LCA had pushed for the VA to offer CT screenings to veterans. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with around 160,000 people succumbing to it every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Veterans are at increased risk for lung cancer, partly because of high rates of smoking and exposure to battlefield hazards, according to the LCA. In May, several major medical groups, including the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, endorsed CT lung cancer screening for patients 55 to 74 who have smoked a pack a day for 30 years, or the equivalent, and either still smoke or quit relatively recently. However, the groups stipulated that the screenings should only be offered by facilities that can provide coordinated, comprehensive care for screening and treatment.
The American Lung Association tentatively supports similar screening recommendations, although the group urges patients to discuss the issue with their doctors, according to an April report the ALA prepared on the subject.
Still, lung cancer CT screening is not without controversy, amid worries about the risks of ionizing radiation from the scans and patients getting false positives. According to a Journal of the American Medical Association paper written by researchers affiliated with the ACP, ASCO and the NCCN, studies suggest that of the 20 percent of patients who test positive for cancer after a CT lung screening, only 1 percent actually has the disease. This means
screening could lead to many cancer-free patients experiencing anxiety and undergoing surgical biopsies, which carry risks of their own. The ALA also said the scans, which are often not covered by health plans, typically cost between $300 and $500. [Source: DotMed News Brendon Nafziger article 27 Aug 2012 ++]
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West Nile Disease: This summer’s West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak is on track to be the biggest since the disease first reached the United States in 1999. So far this year, 1,118 people have been infected – and 41 of them have died, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency has never before seen that many infections in people as of this time of year. WNV is a relatively new infectious disease. It’s not considered to be contagious: the virus isn’t transmitted from person to person like the common cold – only by the bite of an infected mosquito. Most of this year’s cases are in Texas, with Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma coming in second place. To find out if any of this year’s cases or deaths occurred in your state or check its progress as time passes check out the CDC’s infection map and table at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Mapsactivity/surv&control12MapsAnybyState.htm
The microbe, or micro-organism, that causes this particular infection belongs to a group of disease-causing viruses called flaviviruses, which usually spread by tics or mosquitoes, say the National Institutes of Health. West Nile virus in particular is usually spread by mosquitoes that feed on the blood of infected people or birds. Other diseases caused by flaviviruses include yellow fever and dengue fever. The good news is that most people who get West Nile virus have no symptoms, although the disease can be serious if it reaches your brain. Certain populations, like people over 50 and those with weakened immune systems, are at a greater risk. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people with West Nile virus have no symptoms, and about 20 percent experience only mild symptoms (like a fever, headache, body ache, and fatigue) that go away on their own. But for about 1 percent of people, the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing a serious neurological infection that affects the brain and spinal cord. Serious symptoms (like severe headaches, a stiff neck, and an altered mental state) merit urgent medical attention. There is no vaccine to prevent WNV, but it’s easy to protect yourself…
 Flush out mosquitoes. They usually lay their eggs on standing water, so walk around the outside of your entire home looking for any places where water has collected or could collect: planters, saucers, buckets, garbage cans, gutters, tire swings, kiddie pools. Empty them out and, if possible, drill a hole in the bottom of them so they automatically drain before water can accumulate. (For kiddie pools, store them standing up on their side when they’re not in use.) Then repeat this process weekly.
 Screen your home. Make sure all your windows have a screen and that the screen doesn’t have any gaps or holes that a mosquito could fit through.
 Suit up. Wear pants and long-sleeve shirts outside when possible.
 Protect your skin. Spray exposed skin – and clothing (to stop mosquitoes from biting through clothing) – with a bug repellant that contains an active ingredient that’s registered with the EPA, which basically means it’s safe and effective when applied according to the directions. Check out the EPA’s bug repellant search tool for more help.
 Avoid twilight. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn, so consider staying indoors during those times or be extra careful if you go outside.
 Report dead birds to authorities. Informing your local health department helps the experts who monitor the spread of West Nile virus, which has been seen in more than 130 bird species. Just don’t handle the dead birds.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Karla Bowsher article 28 Aug 2012 ++]
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USMC Wounded Warrior Battalion: Marines in the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., spend an average of two years, or 730 days, waiting to transition back to active duty or to discharge, and this lengthy process impedes recovery, according to the Defense Department inspector general. The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have set a goal of 295 days to process troops through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. At Camp Pendleton it took medical evaluation boards more than two-thirds of that time -- 197 days -- just to complete their assessments. Russell Beland, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for military manpower and personnel, in comments appended to the IG report, flatly declared the goal to move troops through IDES in 295 days “unrealistic,” but said the Navy will work to get as close to it as possible. Beland said the Navy now manages all IDES case file transfers electronically and is developing technology to make it easier to share discharge information with VA. He said the branch also has streamlined medical narrative summaries, which should speed the medical review process.
Administrative and medical staff at the Camp Pendleton Wounded Warrior Battalion told the IG that the more time Marines and corpsmen spent in transition, “the more likely a warrior would abuse alcohol, or take risks that would ultimately get them into trouble.” The traumatic brain injury clinic staff at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital said wounded Marines reported feeling “useless” as they spent time dealing with seemingly unending administrative processes. As time stretched out, “the less productive and more frustrated the warriors became,” staff said. Two warrior battalion volunteers with experience working with Vietnam veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan deployments told the IG that the recovery and transition processes “almost enticed the warriors to stay sick.” An unidentified commander of the Camp Pendleton Wounded Warrior Battalion told the IG that “there were too many databases and information technology systems to track and manage warriors’ recovery and transition and many of the programs did not interface with each other.”
The battalion uses two computer programs to manage troops in their care: the Recovery Coordination Program-Support Solution, or RCP-SS, a secure, Web-based access tool to administer all aspects of the recovery program with multiple online forms, and the Marine Corps Wounded, Ill and Injured Tracking System, or MCWIITS, which helps oversee nonmedical transition processes. But battalion staff told the IG that these two programs have a poor interface that requires care coordinators to manually enter information from one into the other. “This made keeping the information accurate and up-to-date in every computer system a challenge," the IG reported. VA federal recovery coordinators, who work with the battalion, use a more user-friendly Web-based program, staff told the IG, recommending the Marine Corps use it, too. Lt Gen. John Wissler, deputy commandant for programs and resources, said in his comments to the IG that the Marine Corps will work with agencies at the Defense Department and the Navy levels to ensure interfaces allow bidirectional information transfers.
The Wounded Warrior Battalion also serves troops stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Staff at that base reported problems with computer interface with the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, which provides treatment for their wounded Marines. Medical personnel at the base and hospital both use the Composite Health Care System, part of the Armed Forces Longitudinal Technology Application -- or AHLTA -- electronic health record, but a Twentynine Palms nurse case manager said medical appointment information had to be retyped or cut and pasted into the San Diego system. Sometimes the Twentynine Palms system “is referred to as ‘the black hole’ in regards to processing referrals,” the nurse said. The IG said incompatibility between systems must be resolved. “Warriors will continue to be at risk of delayed recovery and transition as long as [military treatment facilities] experience difficulty with the electronic interface sharing of CHCS data,” the report said. [Source: NextGov Bob Brewin article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vietnam Vets Update 04: On June 8, 1967, Marine Capt. Boyd L. “Bo” Barclay was copilot of a UH-1E helicopter gunship assigned to a visual reconnaissance mission near Khe Sanh. His pilot said he saw something along a tree line and wanted to make a gun run. They made a strafing run on that area and came back around. “As we were pulling up they opened up on us and the first burst got the engine,” Barclay said. “We started going down.” Barclay switched radio channels and started calling Mayday. Mayday. “The next burst came through the cockpit and hit me in the hand, blew my hand up and I didn’t see any hand there,” he recalled. “And I said, ‘I’m hit!’” He reached over to grab a pressure point and the next thing he heard the pilot say is, “I’m dead. I’m dead.” He turned and looked at the pilot who was hanging in his straps.
Boyd L.Barclay
A pilot has procedures to follow if their plane is hit by gunfire and loses an engine, Barclay said. They were pulling up, and normally the action would call for the use of two hands. His hand was gone so he had to use what was left of it to begin the landing procedure. “I knew I couldn’t take it into a clearing so I was looking for some trees,” he said. “We’re in the mountains. I wanted to be as close to a valley as I could.” He used his leg as well and hung on as they descended through the trees to cushion the landing. They hit and rolled over. Barclay laid there for a minute. When he smelled smoke he climbed out of the crippled helicopter. The two crewman were on the ground, in a daze. Barclay asked for a tourniquet to put on his arm. A crew member began working on it. Then the enemy began firing on them from the hills. A second helicopter gunship was shooting at the enemy position. The survivors took cover and talked about getting the pilot out of their downed helicopter. Barclay intended to go get him out by using his survival knife to cut through the canopy of the helicopter, but he took a few steps and fell on his face, thinking his leg was broken (it turned out to be his ankle). “They pulled me back and said, ‘He’s dead sir.’”
Barclay said two young Marines started dragging him up the side of the mountain on their hands. As he was being dragged, he noticed his mangled hand was not bleeding. At the top of the mountain a helicopter landed to pick them up. Barclay was transported to California where he spent about three months in the hospital recovering from his wounds. For his actions that day, Barclay was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. “By his courage, exceptional presence of mind, and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Captain Barclay upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service,” his Silver Star citation reads.
Barclay said there’s a story behind the story. He spoke about the nature of special operations missions, about how he was told during a briefing about what usually happened to crew members if they were shot down. A couple of weeks before he was shot down, he was in bed one night and started thinking, getting scared, not about dying, but about how he didn’t want to let anybody down. “So I started praying,” said Barclay, who became a Christian at age 16. All of a sudden out of nowhere the 23rd Psalm came to him. “Literally, in that hooch, there were about eight of us, a bright light came in. It was like the Lord came down, touched me and said, ‘Never fear. I will be with you.’ And the fear just flowed out of me.” When he was shot down, the valley of the shadow of death, words from the 23rd Psalm, were all around him, Barclay said. “But I was never scared because a few weeks earlier the Lord had assured me that He was gonna take care of me,” he said. Barclay said when he tells people about the story he says
he’s alive for three reasons — for some reason God wanted him to be alive, his Marine Corps training and he was rescued by those two young Marines.
During leave back in the states, flying from airport to airport on his way to Oklahoma, Barclay was in uniform wearing a prosthesis on his arm and a walking cast on his leg. “It was more or less like I was a leper,” he said. “Nobody talked to me.” Today, Americans will go up to troops and thank them for their service, Barclay said. When he travels he wears a Purple Heart shirt and has been upgraded to first class on an airliner as a thank you. He receives thank yous for his service even. “I’m really happy for these young troops today for the recognition that they’re getting as far as what they’re doing,” Barclay said referring to troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “These young men and women are 100 percent volunteers.” Barclay said they are well-trained soldiers who make sacrifices for their country including serving multiple tours in war zones.
About a month ago Barclay learned that he had been nominated for induction into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. “It’s an honor. It really is,” he said. “I’m proud of my service to our country and the Marine Corps. That’s something special to be recognized in your home state. It makes you feel good.” Barclay said having been overseas, seeing the comparison, he tried to teach his children and his grandchildren about what a great country the United States is. He said he remembers the veterans who fought in previous wars to preserve the nation and its freedoms. [Source: Oklahoma Edmond Sun Mark Schlachtenhaufen article 26 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vietnam Vets Update 05: You would obviously be fired for money laundering. But for laundry money – from fifty years ago? The Des-Moines Register reports Wells Fargo just fired 68-year-old Vietnam vet Richard Eggers from a customer service job he held for seven years, because as a teenager he used a dime-sized piece of cardboard in a washing machine and was convicted of “operating a coin changing machine by false means.” Eggers is quoted as saying, “It was a stupid stunt and I’m not real proud of it, but to fire somebody for something like this after seven good years of employment is a dirty trick when you come right down to it. And they’re doing this kind of thing all across the country.” The banks claim that’s because of new federal banking guidelines issued last year. “The tougher standards are meant to weed out executives and mid-level bank employees guilty of transactional crimes, like identity fraud or mortgage fraud,” the article says. “But they are being applied across-the-board thanks to $1-million-a day fines for noncompliance.” Meanwhile, the same day Wells Fargo fired Eggers, the bank “paid $175 million to the U.S. Justice Department to settle allegations it had targeted black and Hispanic homeowners for sub-prime loans.” Such settlements don’t require banks to admit any kind of wrongdoing. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Brandon Ballenger article 28 Aug 2012 ++]
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USMC Retired Services Offices: Following is the Jun 2012 listing of Marine Corp Retiree Services Offices and their contact info:
MCAS Yuma AZ - POC: Richard Welch | (928) 269-3159; fax: (928) 928-269-3723 |richard.welch@usmc.mil
MCAGCC Twentynine Palms CA - POC: Philip C. Cisneros | (760) 830-7550
MCAS Miramar CA - POC: Marvin Muskat | (858) 577-4806 | marvin.muskat@usmc.mil
MCB Camp Pendleton CA - POC: Jim White | (760) 725-9789; fax: (760) 725-8969 | james.o.white@usmc.mil
MCLB Barstow CA - POC: Patrick Rewerts | (760) 577-6533 | patrick.rewerts@usmc.mil
MCRD San Diego CA - POC: Ray P. Bromley | (619) 524-5301 | ray.bromley@usmc.mil
MCLB Albany GA -POC: Raymond Breaux | (229) 639-5278 | raymond.breaux@usmc.mil
MCB Kaneohe Bay HI - POC: Ricardo Paguio | (808) 257-7795 | ricardo.paguio@usmc.mil
MCAS Iwakuni Japan
POC: Gary K. Saiki | 011-81-827-79-5762 | gks20142000@yahoo.com or saikigk@usmc-mccs.org
POC: Robert Bugawan | rbugawan@yahoo.com or robert.bugawan@usmc.mil
MCB Camp SD Butler Okinawa Japan
POC: Tony Ethridge, USMC (Ret) | DSN: 645-3159; off base:970-3159 | ethridget@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org
POC: Ben Garcia | DSN: 645-3159, 011-81-611-745-3159 | garciab@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org
MCSA Kansas City MO - POC: Paul Farmer | (816) 843-3652 | paul.farmer1@usmc.mil
MCB Camp Lejeune NC - POC: Randy Reichler | (910) 451-0287, ext. 205 | randy.reichler@usmc.mil
MCAS Cherry Point NC - POC: Ernie Buschhaus | (252) 466-5548 | ernest.buschhaus@usmc.mil
MCAS/MCRD SC
POC: Vonda Jones | (843) 228-6222 | vonda.jones@usmc.mil
POC: Dennis Trimmer | (803) 525-2111 | dennis.trimmer@usmc.mil
MCB Henderson Hall VA - POC: Larry Ward | (703) 693-9197 | hnhl_rao.fct@usmc.mil
MCAS Beaufort SC - see MCRD SC Parris Island SC
MCB Quantico VA - Kimberly Bennett | (703) 784-3351 | kimberly.bennett@usmc.mil
[Source: Semper Fidelis Jul-Sep Edition Aug 2012 ++]
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Hearing Aids Update 01: The DoD sponsored Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program is designed to help retirees purchase hearing aids through an Audiology Clinic at a special government negotiated cost. The hearing aids available through this program are the same state-of-the art technologies available to active duty service members. The program is open to all military retirees who have hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Dependents of military retirees are not eligible for this program. Retirees can buy hearing aids at a significant savings by using the program. For example, a set of hearing aids (one of the best available) that retails for about $5,000 costs a retiree as little as $755 or about 15% of the retail costs. Services for the hearing evaluation, hearing aid fitting and follow up hearing aid checks are part of retiree benefits and are available at no cost. Not every DoD medical facility is able to provide the RACHAP program. If traveling from out of town, compare travel costs of purchasing hearing aids privately in the local community. Generally, at least two visits are required to get hearing aids, one for the hearing evaluation and one for the hearing aid fitting. Also, retirees may be eligible for hearing aids from the Department of Veterans Affairs and receiving hearing aids from the VA free of charge, in most cases there
is no costs to the patient. The Audiology Department can provide with more information about VA services or contact the VA directly a 1-877-222-8387 or 1-800-827-1000. Dependents of retirees are not eligible for hearing aid services from military treatment facilities (including RACHAP) or from TRICARE. The family member is eligible for TRICARE hearing evaluations and the audiologist can provide them with more information about hearing aids or local providers. [Source: Semper Fidelis Apr-Jun 2012 article Aug 2012 ++]
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SECNAV Retiree Council Update 04: Following is email contact info for the members of the 2012 SECNAV Retire council:
Co-Chairs
 VADM John Totushek, USN (Ret), Co-Chair - Washington, DC john.totushek@am.jll.com
 SGTMAJ Gene H. Overstreet, USMC (Ret), Co-Chair - Seguin, TX overstreet@veteransdirect.com
Marine Corps Representatives
 COL Michele Krause, USMC (Ret) - Manassas, VA michele.krause@va.gov
 SGTMAJ Annanias Rose USMC (Ret) - San Diego, CA ru4arose@cox.net
 SGTMAJ Frank E. Pulley, USMC (Ret) - Murrieta, CA fepulley@gmail.com
 1stSGT Raymond Stephens, Jr., USMC (Ret) - Forney, TX stephensre35@yahoo.com
 SSGT Daniel J. Kachmar, USMC (Ret) - Virginia Beach, VA djkachmar@hotmail.com
Navy Representatives
 AECM Joe Wright, USN (Ret) - Lemoore, CA joe.wright@co.kings.ca.us
 AECS(AW/SW) Thomas E. Guier, USN (Ret) - Spokane, WA tguier@hotmail.com or aecs_tom_guier@hotmail.com
 CDR Charles Hopkins, USN (Ret) - Arlington, VA CHoplll@aol.com or Charles.Hopkins@gss-hq.com
 CDR Ronald J. Ignelzi, USNR (Ret) - LaJolla, CA rignelzi@san.rr.com
 CAPT William Henderson, II, USN (Ret) - FPO AE wilcovhen@gmail.com
 CAPT Michael A. Lilly, USNR (Ret) - Honolulu, HI michael@nljlaw.com
 CAPT Elizabeth Ruschmeier, USN (Ret) - Annapolis, MD elizabeth.ruscheimer@va.gov
 CAPT Charles Martin Menez, USN (Ret) - Alexandria, VA MMenez1981@Kellog.Northwestern.edu
 CWO4 Allen Gibbs, USN (Ret) - Chesterfield, VA allen.gibbs@dla.mil
 HTCS Stanley Kurtz, USN (Ret) - Pflugerville, TX skurtz1211@suddenlink.net
 MCCM Danny Britton, USN (Ret) - Lemoore, CA d.l.britton@comcast.net
 NC1 Gary Ivy, USN (Ret) - Temple, TX gary.ivy@tvc.state.tx.us
 NCCM (SW/AW) Sally F. Burnham, USN (Ret) - Savannah, TN whackywave1@yahoo.com
 HMC Joseph R. Reichler, USN (Ret) - Jacksonville, NC randy.reichler@usmc.mil
[Source: Semper Fidelis Jul-Sep Edition Aug 2012 ++]
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Automobility: (Note correction highlighted in yellow). According the U.S. Census, nearly 10 million people age 18 to 64 have an ambulatory difficulty that could affect their ability to drive. After more than a decade of war, enough young Americans in uniform have been combat casualties that it is not only older veterans who are seeking vehicles and vehicle modifications to aid mobility. While the number of troops who have amputations, paralysis and other permanent disabilities is small by comparison with those from “big” wars, media attention has ensured that
today's disabled veterans are not forgotten, as so many of their comrades from the Vietnam War were. Today's veterans have advantages their predecessors did not, both in the immediate care they receive after an injury on the job and in the technologies to aid them in using automobility. They encounter those technologies first in their rehab programs, where physical and occupational therapists determine what assistance they'll need to drive. Driving simulators help ease the transition to assisted-mobility machines.
Modified Chevy van with factory-built wheelchair.
Veterans Affairs driving rehab specialists work with mobility consultants at companies such as MobilityWorks in Santa Clara, Calif., to help disabled vets find the right machines for their requirements. Don Salman of MobilityWorks, who is a veteran, works closely with the VA so that when a disabled veteran calls on him, he knows which technologies the person will need and how much the VA will pay to help the veteran. Salman noted, “If the VA puts you in a wheelchair or scooter, the VA is required to help find you a means of transporting it.” The VA has thus become a partner with private industry in developing mobility-aiding technologies to help disabled vets. Martine Kempf, CEO of Kempf USA, made use of the nearby VA facility when she was developing the Kempf digital handcontrol system. The company's Web site, has video segments of veterans driving and commenting on the equipment. Other major manufacturers of modified vehicles and equipment also serve disabled veterans, among them BraunAbility in Indiana, Vehicle Mobility Inc. in Arizona and Rollx in Minnesota. Retail outlets such as MobilityWorks connect the VA, disabled vets and the equipment that can aid veterans with mobility.
Chris Henson, a veterans health administration program specialist, said in the Vanguard VA employee magazine, “For some 100 percent [of] service-connected veterans, [the] VA will purchase and install the technology and offer up to $11,000 for a new vehicle. However, as noted in a DEC 2011 Bulletin article the grant went up to up to $18,900, effective 1 OCT 2011. It is paid directly to the seller of the automobile for the total price of the automobile. The veteran or servicemember may only receive the automobile grant once in his/her lifetime even if only the previously authorized $11,000 was paid. They will not be able to obtain the extra $7,000. A veteran or servicemember must have one of the following disabilities to qualify for the automobile grant:  Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet;  Loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands; or  Permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to a certain degree.
VA prefers to install the equipment on new vehicles but will retrofit any vehicle less than three years old and with less than 35,000 miles. The cost for the materials and labor can be as high as $50,000.” Because of the high price of much of the technology, this financial help might not be enough, Salman said. Even so, a cursory review of the help available to disabled veterans shows that today's vets, like all people living with disabilities, have options
never before available. Given what is asked of military men and women, such options are only fitting. [Source: Auto Week Steven L. Thompson article 1 Aug 2012 ++]
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Costco Secrets: If you are a fan of warehouse store shopping there are a few things you should know about Costco even if you already a member:
Return Policy - This one hardly counts as a secret but Costco has an incredible return policy. With the exception of electronics, which have a limit of 90 days, you can return any product to Costco for a refund at any time. I’ve seen some ridiculous returns, like underwear and spoiled food, but anything goes. In fact, if you are simply dissatisfied, you can return the product whenever you’d like. Last month I saw a woman return an opened $8 can of powdered soup. When asked why she was returning it she said there was nothing wrong with it, she simply she did not like the taste. Once I returned 3 slabs of pork ribs which I had frozen the month before until I was ready bar-b-cue them. I called the store before taking them back and explained they were cooked, sauced, and cut up but had a funny taste and I was reluctant to eat them because they may have been spoiled. They advised to put them in a plastic bag and return them which I did without a receipt. They entered my credit card number and the item number into their computer and saw I had bought them 4 weeks before and credited my credit card for $33. While you’re at it, you can even get a refund on the membership price if you’re dissatisfied!
Executive Membership Refunds - You can get a refund on your Executive Membership if you don’t earn enough in the 2% rewards to cover the increased price. We signed up for the Executive Membership because it was pitched to us in that exact way – with 2% rewards you get a check each year. If that check doesn’t cover the increase, just request a refund of the difference and Costco will do it. We’ve never had to do it because the check has easily beaten the $55 difference in price.
Closeout Pricing - Sometimes the tag will say “last one,” which usually means it’s the last one. But did you know that Costco, like many other retailers, use pricing to indicate what items they’re trying to close out? Most items at the store will end in a 99¢. If you see a 97¢, that means Costco is trying to get rid of it and has cut the price on the item. The reduction might be a small reduction or it might be a large one, depending on the item, but know that chances are you won’t see it again in a couple weeks.
Asterisks - Sometimes the price label will have an asterisk in the upper right – that means the item was not reordered and what you see is what’s left (for seasonal items, it might be back next year but it’s on its way out this time around). After they sell it, it won’t be coming back. I wish I knew this before they started discontinuing a few items but it’s a good tip if you’re considering stocking up on something but passed because it takes up so much space.
Coupon Books - Forget your coupon book? Just ask the cashier if they have the codes at the register (they usually do). It turns out every coupon has the same code (check for yourself!) so your coupon book isn’t unique to you and it’s not unique to the product on the front of it either. I’m not sure why they set it up this way, other than to keep things as simple as possible, but this makes it easier to always get the discount.
30 Day Price Adjustment - Did you buy something and then see that it dropped in price or they added a coupon for it? If it purchased it within the last thirty days, you can get a price adjustment. Just go to the returns counter and ask. Considering Costco has a generous return policy, this just seems like a matter of convenience for them because you could always return the product and then buy it again with the coupon. This also means I keep my receipts just in case a coupon comes out (it also means I won’t delay a purchase on the off chance there will be a coupon).
Gas Opens Earlier, Stays Later - If you buy gas at Costco, you know that the lines can get pretty ridiculous. I hate waiting in line and I especially hate waiting in line while idling my car, so I get gas at odd hours. Fortunately, the gas station is open earlier and remains open later than the warehouse store’s regular hours. This will vary from location to location but it’s typically open for an hour earlier and an hour later. There are almost no lines at these later times, especially at the larger ones with more bays. As a bonus, I have never seen gas prices as low as Costco’s, even at the discount gas stations, when I include the automatic 3% reduction when I use their credit card.
Shop with a Gift Card - Another well known secret that works only if you don’t abuse it. You can buy things at Costco using a gift card if you don’t have a membership but a manager might get involved and stop you if you use it to buy a television. You probably won’t get much resistance if you buy a shirt or a bag of string beans but a thousand dollar item will certainly draw attention. The most realistic way to take advantage of this is to buy Costco gas without a membership.
Grandchildren - My grandson always wants to go when I say I have to go to Costco. He loves the food samples that are given and the food court were you can buy a hot dog and soda with unlimited refills for $1.50. Note: You should go between noon and about 1600 for the samples.
[Source: Bulletin Editor & Bargaineering Jim Wang article 14 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 72: Woke up, I don't know what time it was, with somebody on top of me, sexually assaulting me," says Kelly Smith. Raped at the age of 19, while serving in the United States Army. "They ended up giving me a discharge for PTSD." Kelly Smith's traumatic experience happened at fort Lewis in 2003 and she filed her first Veteran Affairs claim in April of 2004. She says, "My claim for PTSD was denied. They did give me a small rating for depression, is what they said, and ever since then I've been fighting with the V.A. Trying to get what I'm supposed to be getting for the PTSD." Smith refiled her claim in March of 2012 and says this time she has moved a lot further in the process than she has in the past, however, she says she has yet to see any money from her back-benefits. "I'm being promised that yes, you're going to be paid, that we're expediting your claim. We're six months into it and I still don't have anything. They're not paying me," says Smith. The amount of back benefits Smith is claiming dates back from when she first got discharged to today, which is $2,924 per month for 112 months, calculating to a grand total of $327,488. "I just want what the military owes me."
After leaving on medical retirement, smith was deemed unemployable, leaving her with no where to turn for income. She says, "We are actually homeless. We don't have a home. We don't own anything. We sold off everything we owned." All they way down to the family's iPhones, just so they could pay for prescriptions. After going through this lengthy battle, all Smith wants is her money and to make sure this does not happen to anyone else. "We put our lives on the line for the country. When it comes down to just getting what we're owed, we're not greedy, we're not holding our hands out saying give us something we're not due. We just want what we're due and we can't even get that," says Smith. [Source: Nextstar Broadcasting Marlisa Goldsmith article 23 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 17: A Fayette County Vietnam veteran’s five-year battle to ensure forgotten comrades received military burials ended at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies near Bridgeville on 24 AUG. The unclaimed cremains of 11 veterans were laid to rest there with full military honors. Cremains of four other veterans who had family in attendance were included in the service. Dozens of veterans and civilians stood in a semicircle on a hillside at the Washington County cemetery. They clutched U.S. flags and kept silent watch during
the two-hour ceremony. Below them, uniformed service members placed urns containing the men’s cremains onto a stone wall for the ceremony, riflemen fired volleys, a lone bugler played taps and elected officials memorialized the fallen. “So many soldiers have earned this and don’t get it,” said Golden after the ceremony, which was attended by approximately 400 veterans, military personnel and civilians. Many had accompanied the cremains in a mile-long, police and motorcycle-escorted motorcade from Uniontown to the cemetery.
Coordinated by the Missing in America Project, the service was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania to take advantage of a newly passed law, Act 101 of 2012, that allows funeral homes to relinquish unclaimed veterans’ cremains for burial in national cemeteries without fear of liability, said state Rep. Deberah Kula, a Democrat who represents parts of Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Golden started to push for the law after learning from a veterans organization that the cremains of as many as 500,000 unclaimed veterans are sitting in funeral homes and other locations nationwide, awaiting proper burial. John Fabry, a Fairchance funeral director who coordinated the service, said the cremains, some of which had sat unclaimed for up to a decade, were collected from five Fayette funeral homes and the coroner’s office.
The daughter of one of those veterans, June Vincent, 72, of Hopwood, said her father, World War II Navy veteran Charles Vincent, had wanted to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Because her mother, Judith, wanted the couple’s remains interred close to home, she kept their cremains in urns in her home until learning of the Missing in America Project’s efforts. “These were the first cremains to go to MIAP for burial,” Vincent said. “They thought if I would give mine up, other people would follow.” Although Judith Vincent was not a veteran, her cremains were interred alongside her husband’s. Veterans, many in uniform, stood ready at the cemetery for hours in the sun, waiting on the cremains’ arrival. Single file, they lined a walkway, standing at attention and saluting as uniformed Marines and Army, Navy and Air Force personnel carried urns containing their fallen comrades from a hearse to the stone wall.
Among the veterans was 91-year-old Battle of the Bulge survivor Albert Cresson of Armbrust and 82-year-old Korean War veteran Tony Fannerella of Greensburg. “It’s a great privilege for all of us to be here, to be a small part of this,” said Fannerella. “It’s time we pay homage to them for what they did.” John Kenes of Uniontown, an 88-year-old retired Marine Corps master sergeant who suffered shrapnel wounds in World War II and Korea, said he felt it was his “patriotic duty” to attend. Retired U.S. Marines First Sgt. Bernard Kieta, 80, of Smock, a Korean War veteran, said he “wouldn’t have missed this if the world had come to an end.” John E. Spisso of Unity, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of Bataan in the Pacific Theater, said the ceremony was something that “needed to be done for a long time.” “Now we can finally take care of them, to have a final resting place,” Spisso said. “Leave no veteran behind.” Golden, who on Thursday marked the exact day 44 years ago he was wounded in Vietnam when a bomb exploded as he used a machete to clear bamboo, said he hopes the ceremony and the new law will inspire other veterans groups statewide to seek out unclaimed veterans’ cremains and give them proper military burials. “Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” said Golden. “There are more out there.” [Source: Greensburg PA Tribune-Review Liz Zemba article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Scam ~ Property Tax Relief: Seniors The state of Washington is warning consumers about a new telephone scam that appears to be targeting senior citizens. The callers have reportedly been posing as state agents who are trying to sell reverse mortgages as part of a property tax relief program or veteran's aid program. The state Department of Revenue received several phone calls this week from seniors contacted by the solicitors, who are claiming to be from an organization called "Seniors First." Residents of Clark, Lewis and Thurston counties have so far reported receiving the calls, and state officials say they have reason to believe the callers are specifically targeting Washington state residents. "As a lead-in to selling their product, the solicitor asks for personal
information such as employment status, income and age, under the guise of attempting to help the senior determine whether they qualify for our state's property tax relief program or for aid and assistance programs for veterans," wrote Peggy Davis, a revenue department program specialist, in an email notice to the state's county assessors. The Daily News obtained a copy of that message this week.
According to a separate consumer alert issued 23 AUG by the Washington State Attorney General's Office, the solicitors have either been implying or overtly stating they are marketing the programs on behalf of the state. Davis said that's especially troubling because some of the information provided by the solicitors is incorrect. "For example, one taxpayer was told he could have a refund on property taxes paid for the five previous years," she said, "and in another case, tenants were told they qualified for a property tax exemption on their rental home." The attorney general's office said the callers are not trained to determine whether seniors qualify for Washington state programs.
If a person receives a suspicious phone call, it is recommended he or she hang up and then look up the number of the actual government agency, bank or institution to confirm whether the caller was legitimate. Don't call back the number they gave you. It's best to avoid callers who make offers that sound too good to be true or who ask for personal information over the phone. Other red flags are when callers refuse to identify themselves, refuse to transfer calls to their supervisors or are pushy when requesting information.
The attorney general's office said seniors who are interested in learning about legitimate property tax relief programs should contact their county assessor for accurate information. Information about veteran's benefits offered by the state is available by calling the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 562-2308. An attorney general's office overview of common fraud attempts against seniors can be accessed at this shortened link:.
http://goo.gl/PhLlc. [Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News Holly Bowen article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Military Toxic Sites: Thirty acres of Horn Island are off limits to the public -- and may be closed for years -- after hazardous materials from a World War II chemical and biological test site were discovered by environmentalists with a BP oil cleanup crew. Asbestos tiles that sided buildings at the site were found June 21, the National Park Service announced 20 AUG during a press conference at the park office in Ocean Springs. Dan Brown, superintendent of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, said test results came back Aug. 15 showing the presence of asbestos along with mustard gas at the site. Brown said one acre of the 2,700-acre island is affected but 30 acres are cordoned off to keep visitors away from the chimney site and lagoon. "The vast majority of the island is safe and open to the public," said Brown. He plans to hike the island with his daughter in October. A boat ride to Horn Island following the press conference showed the remnants of a foundation from the test facility on a stretch of sand on the north central side of the island. Newly-posted signs warn people away from the hazards of asbestos exposure.
Crews have been cleaning Horn Island since the BP oil spill two years ago, but Brown said it wasn't until June when environmentalists inspecting the site recognized the possible hazard from the tiles. "They're broken and scattered throughout the site," he said. The Park Service hired a private environmental consultant to test for asbestos along with botulism, ricin, mustard gas, pesticides, PCBs, dioxins and mercury, lead and other toxins. Ricin and botulism, both used at the site during World War II, were not found during tests but one of the 12 test sites showed the presence of mustard gas in the sand. "It's a blister agent," said Brian Cook with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The mustard gas attacks the eyes and respiratory system, he said, and three days after exposure blisters form. "It was supposed to disable troops," he said. Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer or a thinning of the wall of the lung, he said. It often is latent for 10 to 40 years. Cook said they don't know the extent of the hazards on Horn Island but said anyone who visited the site "many, many, many times" and has health problems should contact a doctor. "It probably has been there since 1942," he said.
Cook said the U.S. military has an agency that cleans these hazmat sites, which typically takes several years. "That is not uncommon for hazardous waste sites," he said. No canisters of mustard gas have been found on the island but he said it would have been standard practice in the 1940s to dispose of them in the adjacent lagoon and wetlands since the gas doesn't react with the water. Brian Hardison with the U.S. Department of the Interior, who is a safety officer during the oil spill cleanup, said libraries in the three Coast counties were contacted after the asbestos tiles were discovered to get documentation on the activities on Horn Island during the war. The Army Corps of Engineers confiscated Horn Island during World War II for biological warfare experiments. The Army built a commissary, offices and sleeping quarters. Laboratories on the north side of the island were connected to the administration area by a small gauge railroad built by the Seabees. Accounts in the Sun Herald archives said it was a secret operation where toxins were injected into sheep and rabbits. The animals were incinerated in an oven and the tall furnace chimney was still evident until it was toppled in 1979 during Hurricane Frederic, giving the area the name of "the chimney site."
Brown said the military was looking for an isolated site for testing when they chose Horn Island. "It turned out not to be a good site," he said. Two-thirds of the year the wind blew toward the mainland. A Pentagon report in November 1993 said Horn Island was one of three sites in Mississippi where nerve agents, mustard gas and other chemical weapons might be buried. An Associated Press article said the Army tested biological weapons from 1943 to 1945 on Horn Island and disposed of 133 German mustard gas bombs there in 1946. A 1983 newspaper report in The Sun, a predecessor to the Sun Herald, said The U.S. Department of the Army reported to Mississippi officials that after the close of World War II Horn Island was used for the disposal of leaking mustard gas bombs captured from Germany, The report said 140 mustard agent bombs were incinerated and buried on the island in July 1946 by the Army's Chemical Warfare Service. The biological test site was moved from Horn Island to Dunway Proving Ground in Utah. In the late 1960s gas escaped from that site and reportedly killed several hundred sheep grazing miles away. Many thousands of people have visited the barrier island since it was a test site. The island is designated a Wilderness Area and now is part of the Gulf Island National Seashore, the ninth most visited national park last year, said the superintendent. He said about 1 million people visit the park in Mississippi each year. [Source: Biloxi, Miss. Sun Herald Mary Perez article 21 Aug 2012 ++]
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Veteran Driver Licenses Update 02: It can be difficult for military veterans to prove they served in the military. The only federally issued military ID cards are military retiree ID cards, and veterans ID cards issued by the VA for veterans with a service-connected disability. Veterans who served less than the required 20 years to reach retirement or who don’t have a service-connected disability are often left without an official ID card that proves they served in the military. Some veterans get around this by carrying around a copy of their DD form 214, but this presents a several issues: it is not a photo ID, so many places won’t accept it, it is bulky and difficult to carry in one’s wallet, and it has the veteran’s Social Security number on it, which presents an identity theft risk if it is stolen. Thankfully, many states are taking notice of this and are including a veterans designation on drivers licenses and state issued ID cards. Some states, such as Virginia, are issuing a separate photo ID that identifies veterans.
Below is a list of states that now offer a military service or veterans designation on drivers licenses and their state issued ID cards. These cards can often be used for military and veterans discounts [http://themilitarywallet.com/military-discounts], or to prove you served in the military. However, it’s important to note that these ID cards are not official military ID cards in the sense that they will allow you to enter a military post or receive military benefits. You will need to show your DD Form 214 or other official military documents to receive military benefits. There are currently 25 states that feature a veterans designation on drivers licenses or have legislation that permit the issuance of a separate veterans ID card at the state or county level. Legislation to add a
military service designation on state issued ID cards is currently pending in 13 states, and 12 states currently don’t have any pending legislation to add a military service or veterans designation to drivers licenses (13 if you count Washington D.C among those without pending legislation).
Status of Veteran Designations on Drivers Licenses:
 Alabama – None
 Alaska – Pending Legislation (HB 180)
 Arizona – Pending Legislation
 Arkansas – Drivers License Designation
 California – Pending Legislation (SB 1355)
 Colorado – None
 Connecticut – Drivers License Designation
 Delaware – Drivers License Designation
 Florida – Drivers License Designation
 Georgia – Drivers License Designation
 Hawaii – None
 Idaho – None
 Illinois – Pending Legislation (Senate Bill 2837)
 Indiana – Drivers License Designation
 Iowa – None
 Kansas – None
 Kentucky – None
 Louisiana – Drivers License Designation
 Maine – Drivers License Designation
 Maryland – Drivers License Designation
 Massachusetts – Drivers License Designation
 Michigan – Pending Legislation (House Bill 4127)
 Minnesota – Drivers License Designation
 Mississippi – Drivers License Designation
 Missouri – Drivers License Designation
 Montana – None
 Nebraska – None
 Nevada – Pending Proposal in 2013
 New Hampshire – Pending Legislation (SB 313)
 New Jersey – Veterans ID Cards Available at County Level
 New Mexico – None
 New York – Pending Legislation (S6453-2011)
 North Carolina – Drivers License Designation
 North Dakota – Drivers License Designation
 Ohio – Drivers License Designation
 Oklahoma – Drivers License Designation
 Oregon – Drivers License Designation
 Pennsylvania – Pending Legislation (HB 2153)
 Rhode Island – Pending Legislation
 South Carolina – Drivers License Designation
 South Dakota – Drivers License Designation
 Tennessee – Drivers License Designation
 Texas – Drivers License Designation
 Utah – Drivers License Designation
 Vermont – None
 Virginia – Separate Veterans ID Card
 Washington – Pending Legislation (House Bill 2378)
 Washington D.C. – None
 West Virgina – Pending Legislation (HB 4082)
 Wisconsin – Pending Legislation
 Wyoming – None
[Source: http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-designation-on-drivers-licenses Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Conference Scandal: The Veterans Affairs Department, rocked last week by a scandal concerning excessive conference spending, hopes to skirt the fate that befell the top leadership at the General Services Administration four months ago. VA’s Office of Inspector General is investigating allegations of wasted money and improper gifts at two human resources training conferences last summer in Orlando, Fla., that cost a combined $5 million. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) and other sources on Capitol Hill briefed on the IG’s preliminary findings said the
 $84,000 in promotional items distributed to the conferences’ 1,829 attendees, including pens and highlighters with VA’s logo.
 $13,000 for about a half-dozen employees’ scouting trips to at least three locations under consideration for the conferences.
 At least $100,000 more in other, unspecified waste, bringing the total amount of questionable spending to roughly $200,000.
Congressional sources also told Federal Times that VA employees who organized the conferences may have illegally accepted gifts from hotels they were scouting. Those alleged gifts may have included free rides in helicopters and a stretch limo, lodging, food, alcohol, concert tickets, spa treatments and gift baskets. The IG has not yet reached any conclusion on those allegations. It will likely release its report by the end of September, and lawmakers are expected to hold hearings soon after. The setting and details are reminiscent of GSA’s infamous 2010 Western Regions Conference in Las Vegas. When details of that conference surfaced in April, GSA’s top leaders were ousted and replaced for failing to move fast enough to punish the officials behind that conference and for even rewarding some of them with thousands of dollars in bonuses. In contrast, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki appears to be moving fast to contain the damage. Shinseki spoke to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on 10 AUG, after IG staffers briefed Collins and other lawmakers on their preliminary findings. And on 13 AUG, VA issued a statement that called the alleged misconduct unacceptable and said the agency has stripped employees under investigation of their contracting authority.
Shinseki ordered an outside review of all training policies and procedures to be completed within 90 days. And VA ordered employees involved in recertifying, planning and executing training conferences to undergo ethics training. “Secretary Shinseki ... will hold accountable any individuals who are found to have misused taxpayer dollars or violated our standards of conduct,” VA said. Shinseki’s rapid response shows how definitively the GSA conference scandal has changed government attitudes toward conference spending, said Joe Newman, spokesman for the watchdog group Project on Government Oversight. But Newman said the mere existence of the VA conference scandal, so soon after GSA’s scandal, shows this kind of waste likely runs throughout the government. “If the GSA scandal hadn’t broken, it would have been business as usual,” Newman said. “It’s not surprising these
things happen. Maybe we should be [surprised], maybe that’s unfortunate that we’re not surprised. ... It points to a systemic problem in these agencies.”
Newman said the allegations involving improper gifts are most concerning, since those gifts may have undermined the procurement process. Federal contracting officials — whether they’re procuring weapons systems, office supplies or a conference venue — are supposed to base their decision solely on what is the best deal for the government, Newman said. They are supposed to avoid even the appearance of being swayed by other factors, including gifts from potential contractors. Newman said it’s too soon to tell whether the alleged gifts prompted the VA officials to select Orlando’s Marriott World Center over other locations but that the allegations are worrisome — and typical of contracting violations. Government ethics rules prohibit federal employees from accepting most gifts from people or organizations that do business or are seeking to do business with their agency or are otherwise affected by the agency’s mission. Federal rules allow employees to accept gifts that are valued at no more than $20 — which allows them to accept small things such as snacks or pens. But meals are forbidden, as are concert tickets. Stretch limousine rentals and helicopter rides can run more than $100 an hour — well over the $20 limit.“People will try to get any advantage they can,” Newman said. “That’s why the rules are set up to avoid that situation.”
VA’s IG began investigating allegations of wasteful spending and improper acceptance of gratuities in April after receiving a tip on its hotline. Collins’ office said that tip came in the wake of the GSA conference scandal. The $5 million in VA conference spending is more than GSA’s $823,000 Western Regions Conference both in total dollars and in per-person costs. VA spent almost $2,734 per person at the two conferences. The Western Regions Conference — attended by 306 people — had a per-person cost of almost $2,689. According to schedules posted online for the two conferences, attendees were provided complimentary shuttle services to the Walt Disney World resort, entertainment from a comedian, a poolside movie night, game nights, karaoke, and meditation, Pilates and water aerobics classes. Miller said investigators should look into those recreational events. “The key question is whether taxpayers funded what were ‘down time’ activities,” Miller said. “If that turns out to be the case, I see no excuse for it. That is not a function of government.” The VA IG’s office said the conferences were for legitimate purposes, but would not provide more details on what investigators found. [Source: Federal Times Stephen Losey article 19 Aug 2012 ++]
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Military Satire: If you're surfing the Internet and happen to land on The Duffel Blog — it's at http://www.duffelblog.com — don't do what the folks at Gizmodo [ http://gizmodo.com ] and Yell! [http://www.yellmagazine.com ] did and believe anything you read. That's because The Duffel Blog, the 5-month-old creation of University of Tampa senior and former Marine Sgt. Paul Szoldra, is a satire site, full of fake news about the military. The stories — like "Chaos: General James Mattis Announced as Next Commandant of Marine Corps" (complete with an expertly Photoshopped picture of the U.S. Central Command chief with tatted-up arms) — are as outrageously funny as they are outrageously phony. The site is so popular it's now getting a million page views a month, Szoldra said.
General Mattis Can Carry His Own Goddamned Pack, He Doesn’t Need Your Help
But every so often, someone is duped by the site, which dubs itself as "The American Military's Most Trusted News Source." Take the case of the "Inverted Multi-Purpose Ballistic Tomahawk Bayonet." Through the wonders of Photoshop, Szoldra fused an M-16 with a tomahawk and invented a replacement for the traditional bayonet stabbing weapon. "It was the worst Photoshop ever done," Szoldra said. But it was good enough to fool Gizmodo, a well-regarded tech journal, which posted a story of its own called "U.S. Army Changing Bayonets For Tomahawks" based on The Duffel Blog piece D'oh! Not to be outdone, Yell! Magazine, created to "dominate the worlds of music, movies, video games, and MMA," posted a piece ripping into "Dr. James Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy." Yell! was mad at Miller for formulating a policy ordering troops not to wear TapouT brand clothing for security reasons. D'oh! There is no Dr. James Miller and no policy. The story Yell! yelled about was more of The Duffel Blog bunkum.
The IMBTB Mounted Under The M16A4
Szoldra, 28, said he didn't start out to create what is now being called The Onion of the military. After leaving the Marines in 2010, Szoldra moved to Lakeland and enrolled at the University of Tampa, eventually deciding to seek a major in entrepreneurship. As part of that, in January he came up with http://www.collegeveteran.com, a website dedicated to helping veterans navigate the often tortuous process of enrolling in college and obtaining financing. But Szoldra, long a fan of military humor, what with having served and all, began posting satirical blog items to increase traffic. The most notorious centered on MacDill Air Force Base and efforts by then-base commander Col. Lenny Richoux to get rid of all the chairs on base, ostensibly because he was sick of the "Chair Force" chiding. While there really was a Lenny Richoux, the chair ban was, of course, baloney. But the item became so popular that CollegeVeteran.com was being referred to increasingly as a joke site. So in March, Szoldra created The Duffel Blog, which has more than 12,000 Facebook friends and 1,200 Twitter followers. "The best satire always has a hint of truth to it," Szoldra said. "I understand why people coming to the site for the first time and reading something, they think, 'Oh, boy, that is screwed up.' " [Source: Tampa Tribune Howard Altman article 20 Aug 2012 ++]
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Filipino Vet Inequities Update 24: A group of Filipino World War II veterans put on an emotional display turning over their uniforms and service medals in symbolic protest over a longstanding denial of military benefits. The group had been holding out for a hearing on H.R.210 - Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011, a bill that would expand eligibility for veterans' benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs by officially recognizing WWII-era Filipino service members as active military personnel. The bill was introduced on 6 JAN 2011 and currently has 96 cosponsors. On 15 AUG, however, the deadline they had given Congress passed, with Jeff Miller (R-FL) chairman of House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, denying a request for a hearing on the bill. As Bakitwhy.com reports, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an order commissioning around 250,000 troops from the Philippines into active service for the United States during World War II. While they had served under the expectation that they would be treated as U.S. military service members, Congress later passed the Rescission Act of 1946, which stated that Filipino forces would not be deemed to have been active military.
The United States has made headway on providing benefits to Filipino veterans through a number measures. Many of them are now eligible to receive some level of disability compensation. In 2009, President Barack Obama established the $198 million WWII Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The fund allowed Filipino veterans, both citizens and non-citizens, an opportunity to apply for lump-sum payments. Bakitwhy reports that 24,000 veterans were denied this compensation, however. Filipino veterans groups say the existing programs don't provide adequate coverage in a number of areas, an oversight they believe the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011 would address. Advocates for enhanced benefits for Filipino veterans said the protest this week stood as something of a breaking point in their mission to have the legislation heard. “We will end the lobbying after 20 years but our fight does not end there. We will still pursue the lawsuit now at the Court of Appeals and support the appeal for Executive Order for the veterans who were denied of lump sum benefit in 2008,” said Art Garcia, national coordinator of Justice for Filipino-American Veterans. [Source: The Huffington Post Nick Wing article 17 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Charity Watch 27: If a charity is unfamiliar to you, it’s wise to do some checking first. If you, as a service member, veteran, or family member or veteran, suspect wrongdoing by a charity, you should contact your state attorney general’s office. If you believe you haven’t been treated fairly by a charity, you can file a online complaint with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.bbb.org/us/charity or write BBB Wise Giving Alliance, 4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203 . Be as specific as possible. If you want to donate money to help your fellow veterans or current servicemembers, a good rule of thumb to go by is to donate to organizations that you know are legitimate and well-established. The VA has published a Directory of Veterans Service Organizations, which you can access by logging onto www1.va.gov/vso. To check on how efficiently a charity is using the money you donate the charity Navigator site at http://www.charitynavigator.org provides information on large charitable organizations that take in at least $500,000 per year and have existed for a minimum of five years.
To date the below charities alleging veteran support have been reported in the RAO Bulletin as being questionable for one or more of the following reasons: Holding massive asset reserves (*); Engaging in fraudulent fundraising (**); Using misleading sales practices (#); Spending an inordinate amount of donations on fund raising and administrative costs vice veteran support (+); Spending donations for non-veteran support purposes (++); Using nonveterans portraying themselves to be veterans in soliciting funds (##); or not providing proper documentation to verify they provide veteran support or how they spend their income.(!).
Action Point, LLC (#)
Aid to Southeast Asia (#)
Air Force Aid Society (*)
American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation (+)
American Veterans Coalition
American Veterans Relief Foundation (+)
AMVETS National Service Foundation and the Freedom Alliance (+)
Army Emergency Relief (*)
Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (+)
Disabled Veterans National Foundation (+)
Foundation for American Veterans (+)
Freedom Alliance (+)
Help Hospitalized Veterans (**)
Military Family Support Foundation (++)
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (+)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (*)
Oregon War Veterans Association (++)
U.S. Fallen Heroes Foundation (!)
U.S. Navy Veterans Association (+)
Veterans Charitable Foundation (+)
Veterans in Need Foundation (##)
Veteran’s Miracle Network (++)
Veterans of Oregon (+)
Veterans Support Organization (##)
Vietnow (+)
[Source: Various Aug 2012 ++]
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Massachusetts Vet Website: State and local officials on 17 AUG introduced a new website aimed at making it easier for veterans to connect with benefits and service programs offered in Massachusetts. The site http://www.massvetsadvisor.org can quickly tell veterans of all stripes and ages which of the 320 benefit initiatives offered in Massachusetts they qualify for, and likewise, it can connect them with any of the 95 veteran's service programs offered in the state, according to its creators. "[Massachusetts] has the best benefits system in the country ... but it's created so many programs that when veterans try to access that system, it's like putting a fire hose in their mouth and turning it on," Coleman Nee, the state Secretary of Veterans' Services, said to a room full of veterans at Soldier On's Pittsfield campus. The site was developed by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute in collaboration with the state Department of Veterans Services.
Kyle Toto, a recent veteran of the war in Afghanistan, helped design the website. He described coming back to the U.S. and feeling lost in the jumbled system of benefits and programs. "Everyone's out there to help us," he said. "It's a sea of goodwill, but it's confusing. ... I knew [benefits] were out there, but I didn't know where to look for them." John F. Downing, the CEO and president of Soldier On, said MassVetsAdvisor.org would directly benefit the veterans his organization serves and others by preventing people from falling through the service gaps. "Our veterans in this building are going to be able to go online and pop from portal to portal and cloud to cloud to get all the information they need," he said. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) supported of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provided $45.5 million in funding to the Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Neal said the state's new veterans' portal, made possible by that stimulus funding, will make sure struggling veterans have "the opportunity to bounce back." [Source: Berkshire Eagle Ned Oliver article 17 Aug 2012 ++]
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B-17 Flying Fortress Tours: The Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17G-VE, serial number 44-85740 - nicknamed, Aluminum Overcast, was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 18, 1945. Although delivered too late to see action in World War II, the airplane has an interesting history. The plane proudly carries the colors of the 398th Bomb Group of World War II, which flew hundreds of missions over Nazi-held territory during the war. Aluminum Overcast commemorates B-17G #42-102515 which was shot down on its 34th combat mission over Le Manior, France, on August 13, 1944. Veterans of the 398th helped finance the bomber's restoration. The economic reality of simply maintaining a vintage bomber, let alone the cost of restoration, prompted the group to donate the B-17 to the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1983. Since that time, an extensive program of restoration and preservation was undertaken to insure Aluminum Overcast would be a living reminder of World War II aviation for many years to come. The restoration has taken more than 10 years and thousands of hours by dedicated staff and volunteers at EAA Oshkosh, Wisconsin, headquarters.
Touring the United States since 1994, tens of thousands have experienced the allure of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) fully restored B-17 Flying Fortress " Aluminum Overcast”. History comes alive at each stop, prompting aviation and history enthusiasts alike to take a step back in time. The EAA tours the country offering mission flight or ground tours for a fee. Visitors can experience the role of bombardier, navigator, and waist gunner as they walk around or fly in the aircraft and relive the legacy of the thousands who heroically flew World War II bombing missions. It is a living tribute to the brave men who served, sacrificed, and, in many cases, gave up their lives defending freedom.
B-17G Aluminum Overcast visits Santa Barbara
The next scheduled tour is 7-9 SEP in Cincinnati, OH. Tour locations and dates are posted at http://www.b17.org/tour. Ground Tour (weather permitting) rates are $10 Individual or $20 Family (adults & children up to age 17; immediate family). Children under 8 with a paying adult are free. Active Military and Veterans are free. Mission Flights (weather permitting) are $409 and $449 for pre-booked EAA members and non-members. Walk-Up rates are $435 and $475 for EAA Members and Non-Members. Each flight experience lasts approximately 35 minutes, of those 20 - 22 minutes will be in the air. The schedule for a typical flight experience is:
 Arrive - One hour prior to your scheduled flight time to get acquainted with the aircraft and crew. You will be asked to fill out a form, and if you have not yet paid, the fee will be requested at this time as well.
 Preflight - Shortly before boarding the airplane, the crew will discuss aircraft safety with you and the other riders (maximum of 10 per flight) . Seating assignments and flight procedures will be discussed at this time.
You will then be taken aboard the aircraft. All passengers must be seated and wear a seatbelt for engine start, taxi, and takeoff.
 During Flight - Once the aircraft is in the air, you will be allowed to move about the aircraft freely. Take this time to visit the various compartments of the aircraft like the nose, bomb bay, navigation/radio, cockpit and waist sections. For safety reasons it is not possible to enter the ball turret or the tail turret. Explore as much as you like and feel free to take pictures and video.
 Landing - All passengers must be seated and wear a seatbelt for landing, taxi, and engine shutdown
To book a flight, call 800-359-6217 or click on https://secure.eaa.org/B17/securejoin_B17.html . Revenues from the B-17 tour help cover maintenance and operations costs for the aircraft and aid EAA’s ambition to "keep 'em flying" for many years to come. It costs about $4000 an hour to fly the Aluminum Overcast. To see what it's like to fly on the bomber that helped turn the tide in World War II, learn about the crew that keeps the historic warbird flying, and hear stories from veterans who flew served and sacrificed on the aircraft during wartime click on the Virtual B-17 Experience at http://www.b17.org/multimedia/b17flash.html.
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Retiree Newsletters: The latest edition of the military service’s retiree newsletters can be accessed at:
 The Navy Shift Colors http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/Publications/ShiftColors/Pages/default.aspx
 The Marine Corps Semper Fidelis https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/page/portal/M_RA_HOME/MM/SR/RET_ACT/Semper_Fidelis
 The Coast Guard/NOAA Evening Colors http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/retnews.
 The Air Force Afterburner http://www.retirees.af.mil/afterburner.
 The Army retiree newsletter Army Echoes http://www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/echoes.asp.
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 17 Aug 2012 ++]
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Twilight Tattoo: The weekly Wednesday night performances of the Twilight Tattoo ended 29 AUG. Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long military pageant featuring Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own." The time-honored tradition takes place at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, VA. Attendees will experience a glimpse into American history through performances by The U.S. Army Blues, vocalists from The U.S. Army Band Downrange, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and The U.S. Army Drill Team. This performances are free and open to the public. Bleacher seating is on a first-come, first served basis. Performances normally run APR thru AUG. If you live near or will be visiting D.C you ought to consider attending during this time frame next year. For more information and schedule details refer to the U.S. Army Military District of Washington's Twilight Tattoo website http://twilight.mdw.army.mil. For more information on group reservations, contact the U.S. Army Military District of Washington at (202) 685-2888 or mailto:ncr.webeventsmail@jfhqncr.northcom.mil
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VA Burial Benefit Update 15: Many veterans are under the impression that their status as a veteran means that the government will pay for their burial. This is not true and it can cause great financial hardship for families who don’t understand it at a time when they are least prepared to deal with it. It is very important that veterans have their discharge papers located in a secure place known to their next of kin. Eligibility for potential
burial benefits depends on these documents, and they cannot always be obtained quickly from government sources. To be eligible for burial benefits, a veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Certain other factors including time period and length of service may apply, so the family should contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000 for final determination of eligibility. Burial benefits available include a gravesite in any of VA’s 131 national cemeteries, as well as in state- owned- and- operated veterans’ cemeteries.
For veterans interred at a national or state veterans’ cemetery, the opening and closing of the grave and perpetual care are provided at no cost. If buried at a private cemetery, the family must pay these costs, as well as the cost of the plot and any related expenses. The VA will provide a burial flag, a government marker, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, regardless of where the veteran is buried. If burial is to take place in a national or state veterans’ cemetery, the cemetery will make the arrangements for the interment only. Neither the cemetery nor the VA makes funeral arrangements or performs cremations. It is the responsibility of the veteran’s family to make arrangements for funeral services with a funeral home, including memorial services, viewings, preparing and transporting the remains, the casket, etc. Any items or services obtained from a funeral home will be at the families’ expense, including the plot and grave provisions if the veteran is not buried in a national or state cemetery. The VA does not pay for any expenses related to a veteran’s burial or funeral.
Certain survivors may apply for a monetary burial allowance paid after-the-fact by the VA, but generally only if the veteran was in receipt of VA disability compensation or pension at the time of death, or if the veteran died while hospitalized by VA or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility. The amount payable depends on whether the veteran’s death was related to a military service-connected disability, with the payments ranging from $300 to $2,000. There are other factors that can affect potential eligibility for this benefit, so veterans or their families should contact the VA at the 800 number above or your county veterans service officer for more information prior to actually needing the information. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted article 17 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 16: Four military veterans were interred with full military honors at a funeral at Willamette National Cemetery 15 AUG. The Oregonian's Mike Francis was at the ceremony, which caps eight years of detective work involving state and federal veterans' agencies. The four are all men who died at the Oregon State Hospital and their cremated remains were unclaimed and unidentified for decades. The men are: Army Pvt. James Edward Butler, who served from Sept. 1940 to May 1941 and died in July 1961; Navy sailor Lanier Dick Johnson, whose rank is unknown and who served from Jan. 1917 to Nov. 1919, dying in April 1968; Army Sgt. William Julius Madson, who served in 1918 and 1919 and died in January 1965; and Navy Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Frank John Martin, who served from June 1943 to March 1946 and died in July 1971. Not much is known about them. A lot of information that is routinely entered today when a patient enters an institution wasn't captured in the early and middle years of the Oregon State Hospital. In some cases, information was limited to just a few basic items -- name, date of death, perhaps a little biographical detail. In the case of these five, no relatives have been found. [Source:
The Oregonian Mike Francis article 15 Aug 2012 ++]
Willamette National Cemetery 15 AUG
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Vet Cemetery Colorado Update 03: To those dying to be buried in a new veterans cemetery planned for southern Colorado: Burials should be allowed in 2015, before its first phase is completed in 2017. In a draft environmental assessment, U.S. Veterans Affairs says the proposed action calls for developing 50 acres in a first phase that will accommodate burials for about 10 years. The cemetery could approach 500 acres if Kane Ranch south of Fountain is selected from four options. The other sites are smaller. Without naming a favorite, the assessment also looked at 4-Way Ranch, north of U.S. Highway 24 near Falcon; Rolling Hills Ranch, east of Marksheffel Road between Bradley and Drennan roads; and Bradley Heights, southwest of Bradley and Marksheffel. With no significant impact at any site, no environmental impact statement is needed. The Pueblo Chieftain reports that the Kane site actually is the preferred choice, with U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton saying the site "is the most accessible place for veterans and their families in the Southern Colorado region." [Source: Colorado Springs Independent Pam Zubeck article 15 Aug 2012 ++]
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IRS Fraud, Waste, & Abuse: In 2010, 741 tax returns were filed to the federal government from a single address in Belle Glade, Fla., the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. In response, the Internal Revenue Service issued over $1 million in combined tax refunds to that address. Most or all of those returns were probably filed by identity thieves, and the Belle Glade case isn't even the worst of it, according to a report issued last month by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). That report notes that in addition to the Belle Glade home, there was an address in Tampa that sent in 518 tax returns and got back almost $1.8 million in refunds, and an address in Lansing, Mich., sent in 2,137 tax returns and got more than $3.3 million back. The returns from these addresses all bore the hallmarks of identity theft, according to TIGTA. Tax-refund scams don't seem to be going away any time soon. Identity theft and fraud are reportedly rampant in some parts of the country, especially Florida, which is home to three of the five U.S. addresses that filed the greatest number of tax returns in 2010, according to the TIGTA report.
More than 2,100 tax returns were filed in 2010 from a single address in Lansing MI
Scams of this kind are growing more common, and they're making it harder for law-abiding taxpayers to get refunds that are rightfully theirs. Identity thieves reportedly have a number of ways to soak the IRS, from borrowing the names and information of dead people to hijacking the Social Security numbers of Puerto Rican citizens, who don't pay federal income tax. The TIGTA report estimates the IRS will send out $21 billion in refunds to criminals over the next five years. That's a forecast the IRS itself has, not surprisingly, taken issue with, and the agency claims it's cracking down on identity thieves and fraudulent returns. The IRS has reportedly put controls in place to spot stolen identities and returns that use the Social Security numbers of dead people. Last week, CNNMoney reported the agency has already picked out almost twice as many suspicious returns this year as it had by this time last year. Still, fooling the IRS doesn't seem like an impossible task, considering one guy reportedly did it from a jail cell with a typewriter, according to a recent story in The Kansas City Star.
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) addressed this issue in an e-Brief to his constituents stating Florida has emerged as a particular hotspot for identity theft-related tax fraud. Tampa and Miami are two of the top cities the IG calls out for having the most potentially fraudulent tax returns filed in 2010. He has chaired two investigative hearings on the issue where it was discussed what the IRS is doing to help the victims, steps the agency is taking to hold fraudsters responsible and what else could be done to stop the problem. He was joined by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) in filing a new, bipartisan piece of legislation to curb identity theft in the tax system in several ways, including removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and restricting access to Social Security numbers of the deceased, among other measures. Identity theft-related tax fraud has become an epidemic that's costing law-abiding U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars. And Sen. Nelson says it's one we've got to fix. [Source: The Huffington Post | Alexander Eichler article 8 Aug 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Addiction Care: To cope with a growing population of drug- and alcohol-addicted personnel, the Defense Department has outsourced substance abuse treatment to a network of 1,053 civilian rehabilitation facilities through the TRICARE insurance plan. But a Nextgov investigation shows military health care executives evaluate those facilities with less rigor than Consumer Reports applies to the testing of toasters. Concerned about the quality of substance abuse care, Congress in 2009 required the department to bring treatment back in-house by October 2012. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Obama in October 2009, required TRICARE to stop outsourcing substance abuse treatment and instead establish regional long-term inpatient substance abuse treatment programs. Nonetheless, Pentagon officials have declined to follow this directive. Defense currently has 200 beds for inpatient substance abuse treatment at its hospitals. Cynthia Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the services determined they had enough in-house capacity and did not need to build new treatment facilities.
The Defense Department faces a spiraling number of addicted personnel, with 316,248 active-duty troops diagnosed with either alcohol or drug dependence from 2000 through 2011. That’s 22 percent of the today’s 1,422,000 total active-duty force, the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center reported in July. This is more than
triple the number of active-duty troops diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder -- 102,549 -- in the same time period, AFHSC detailed in its report on mental health problems of active-duty troops during the past decade. The number of troops diagnosed with alcohol abuse and dependence conditions alone -- 232,625 -- was more than double the number of PTSD diagnoses, according to the AFHSC report. Only the catchall categories of “adjustment disorders” and “other mental health” problems eclipsed substance abuse diagnoses during this period, AFHSC reported. An active-duty Army doctor, who declined to be identified, said, “substance abuse has reached epidemic levels within the military. DoD failed to anticipate the magnitude of the crisis and is now caught playing catch-up.”
The center based its report on medical record diagnostic codes and said the figures probably underestimate mental health conditions in the active-duty force due to miscoding and poor documentation of care provided by private clinicians or at deployment health clinics.
Smith told Nextgov that Defense provides substance abuse treatment thorough 215 outpatient programs; two Army inpatient programs with a total of 40 beds; and three Navy programs with a total of 160 beds. Smith said Defense also uses more than 390 inpatient and 663 long- and short-term residential treatment facilities across the United States and Puerto Rico that accept TRICARE reimbursement. She did not explain why Defense felt it could ignore the 2010 law that mandates a switch from outsourced treatment to in-house treatment. “The role of long-term inpatient treatment programs is less prominent than it was in the past,” Smith said. “The most restrictive environment for care, inpatient substance use hospitalization, is reserved for the sickest of patients.” Senate and House Armed Services Committee spokesmen have not responded to queries about the Pentagon’s decision to continue outsourcing substance abuse treatment.
When asked how Defense evaluates the private treatment facilities, Smith said TRICARE outsourced certification of the centers to Keystone Peer Review of Harrisburg, Pa. The quality monitoring company says on its website that it helps manage “the utilization of health care resources and optimize quality of care for public and commercial clients,” including the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Services Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and state Medicaid agencies. Substance abuse treatment facilities seeking initial certification from Keystone Peer Review must fill out a 10-page form that includes questions on staffing, state licenses and accreditation by bodies such as the Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Once a treatment center receives certification from Keystone Peer Review, the only subsequent requirement is to submit an annual one-page self-assessment form. In addition to providing the facility name, type and tax identification number, facility operators are asked to provide notice of any areas in which the center is not in compliance with TRICARE standards. In essence, Keystone Peer Review outsources the evaluation to the accreditation bodies.
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities also uses a self-assessment process, raising questions about the rigor such bodies bring to evaluations. While the commission sends a team for an on-site visit following the self-assessment, the team “comprises industry peers who follow a consultative (rather than an inspective) approach in conducting the on-site survey.” When asked about this approach, spokesman Al Whitehurst said, “we’re not the sheriff.” The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reported in June that there are no clearly delineated, consistent and regulated national standards that govern addiction treatment. The center, in its 586-page report, “Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice,” said most treatment providers are addiction counselors who are not required to have any medical training.
An analysis of state standards found that 14 states do not require addiction counselors to be licensed or certified; six states do not mandate any educational degree to become credentialed; 14 states require only a high school diploma or GED; six states require a bachelor’s degree and only one requires a master’s degree, the center said. One retired flag officer who battled his own alcoholism 17 years ago and has since been sober told Nextgov that the quality of care for substance abuse treatment should have the attention of top Pentagon leadership. But, he added, despite the staggering substance abuse statistics reported by AFHSC, “trouble is, there aren’t many very senior folks who
understand -- or care -- about treatment for alcoholism. [Source: NextGov.com Bob Brewin article 14 Aug 2012 ++]
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VAMC Orlando Update 02: Rain had recently fallen inside the long-awaited Orlando VA Medical Center when members of the Florida congressional delegation gathered 13 AUG near the unfinished facility to find out why the project is off schedule and to determine how much it will exceed cost estimates when done. A roof change is one among hundreds of costly design changes blamed for delaying completion, originally scheduled for October 2012. The hearing, called by House Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) did not produce clear answers about when the medical center will be ready to treat some 90,000 veterans in the region, nor how much it will cost in the end. “A billion dollars,” American Legion Department of Florida Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Kelton Sweet estimated afterward. “And 2014. I would say about October.” VA and the general contractor, Brasfiled & Gorrie, differ about when the project will be completed and money owed over mid-project design changes. The 1.2-million-square-foot medical center was originally expected to cost $347 million, a figure that has since swollen to $656 million and rising, depending on two uncertain variables: the number of order changes yet to come and what the actual completion date will be.
Design plan changes, both in the form of architectural drawings (foreground), and binders (background), served as props for a House Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing Monday in Orlando to find out why the new VA medical center project there is behind schedule.
Stacks of color-coded architectural drawings, some more than two feet deep, and rows of binders describing order changes were arranged in front of the congressional panel and as a backdrop to illustrate the project’s many design revisions since ground was broken in 2008. “My single interest is the expeditious completion of this facility for the veterans of central Florida, who have been waiting over a decade for this medical center,” Miller said in the auditorium of a brand-new University of Central Florida College of Medicine Health Sciences. “This project, we need to get off the dime and get it done,” said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) who was joined at the hearing by Reps. Corrine Brown, Gus Bilirakis, Richard Nugent, John Mica, Sandy Adams and Daniel Webster. Brown, a Democrat, and Bilirakis, a Republican, both serve on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. “I have been working on getting a veterans hospital built here for over 25 years,” Brown said. “Veterans can’t wait. “I am 78 years old and still no hospital,” said Sweet, a military retiree who has been closely involved with efforts to build a new VA medical center in Orlando since the mid-1980s when central Florida was first identified as a high priority for a full-
service, around-the-clock inpatient veterans health-care facility. Veterans requiring full inpatient care still have to travel two or more hours to receive it in Tampa. “It's all very frustrating,” Sweet said.
As the years passed and conflicts arose over where to locate the facility, funding opportunities came and went. The 2004 Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) report made it clear that Orlando was past due for a VA medical center of its own. Once it was finally budgeted, the new veterans hospital was expected to be a cornerstone in a new “medical city” in southern Orlando that would complement the Central Florida University medical school, two academic research centers, alongside a new children’s hospital that is now nearly finished. “Our VA medical center, which was scheduled to be complete by October of this year, the anchor of this city, is still an empty shadow,” Miller said. “Four years and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars later, VA has yet to yield anything near the same results as its neighbors. Brand-new state-of-the-art facilities are all around us. Students are being educated, and VA can’t even turn the lights on, much less accept visitors inside their facility.”
VA issued a Contract Cure Notice in June to Brasfield & Gorrie. Company officials at Monday’s hearing argued that neither final cost nor exact completion date could be set because change orders continue to arrive, disrupting work flow and leading to problems like the unfinished roof that has allowed rainwater into the building, rusting some of the medical equipment inside. “Changes are still coming,” explained Jim Gorrie, president and chief executive officer for Brasfield & Gorrie, who added that VA’s final list of medical equipment for the hospital has yet to appear. “I can’t commit to something I don’t have. You have to have a direction. We haven’t gotten it yet.” VA and the contractor are meeting this month to resolve the problem and get the project back on track. VA officials estimated that a change of contractor could delay the project an additional eight to 10 months and balloon the final costs even more. [Source: American Legion Online Update 16 Aug 2012 ++]
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VAMC Las Vegas: In response to the growing health care needs of Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened a new Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Las Vegas, with the dedication ceremony held 6 AUG. It was the first new medical center opened in 17 years. “This is, importantly, a promise kept with the 164,000 Veterans who live in Clark, Nye, and Lincoln counties, and all 234,000 Veterans who call Nevada home, as well as Veterans from surrounding states who will find here the care and compassion they seek,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, who provided keynote remarks at the dedication ceremony. “As President Obama recently told the Veterans of Foreign Wars: ‘We keep our promises.’” Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s Under Secretary for Health said, “The Las Vegas VAMC underscores VA’s commitment to provide the best care anywhere to America’s Veterans, particularly in the critical area of mental health. The opening of this world-class facility is another milestone, and ensures VA provides the care and services our Veterans have earned through their service.” The brand-new $600 million facility will have 90 inpatient beds, a 120-bed community living center (skilled nursing home care facility), and an ambulatory care center. The 90 inpatient beds include a state-of-the-art 22-bed mental health unit, 48 medical/surgical beds, and 20 intensive care unit beds.
The outpatient mental health clinic will be operational the month. The clinic will provide specialized treatment programs for general mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, gambling addiction, and other unique services such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other conditions. The mental health section has ample patient parking and is located next to the main facility. The inpatient unit is directly above the outpatient mental health clinic, and is in close proximity to the main facility. Beyond the mental health services, the new VAMC will provide 23 dental exam chairs; 13 surgical, 14 radiology, and 6 audiometric sound suites; as well as a 268 seat food court. A phased opening is planned for August through December 2012. The center will possess a telehealth unit, with bidirectional just-in-time communication capability with its outlying clinics. This allows doctors to deliver specialized mental health and other services to
these clinics. The VAMC and its outlying clinics are also equipped with “smart boards,” to enhance continuing education for staff and patients. The new facility meets the latest environmental standards. Portions of the parking areas will have overhead solar panels to provide additional energy to the campus. [Source: VA News Release 6 Aug 2012 ++]
Las Vegas VA Medical Center
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PTSD Update 109: Dr. Phil McGraw has been slammed by a military mom who believes the good doctor is something of a misleading twit. (Or words to that effect.) In a Veterans Affairs column gently titled “Dr Phil: Pretends to be a Hero ‘Helping’ Heroes” a woman who has children and a spouse in the military says Dr. Phil “... perhaps by the ‘sin of omission’ clearly misled the people watching his show.” A promo for the show appears to portray veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as dangerous, suicidal and/or reviled in the sort of way we’ve all come to expect from ratings harlots TV talk shows. The McGraw clip has people talking about veterans like this:
-- Unidentified woman: “I hated watching him walk in the door.”
-- Ominous Announcer Voice: “Damaged goods.”
-- McGraw “So he set you on fire?”
Elizabeth Benson wrote in a blog for VAntage Point (Dispatches from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) that at a time when veteran unemployment is “so high and employers comment that they are wary of hiring vets he decided to completely undermine all the good results working with Vets, so he could look like a hero–rather than really uplift the heroes." She called the show "Dr. Phil grandstanding disabled veterans to get ratings." Benson, by does have room to talk. Two of her daughters served in the Navy, one who is now disabled. Her son is an active duty Marine who has served in combat zones. Her youngest daughter serves in the U.S. Air Force. She ended her column by saying the show should highlight the “real work being done ... by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Wounded Warriors and Boston’s Vet Run.” Benson’s entire column can be read at http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/7867/dr-phil-pretends-to-be-a-hero-%E2%80%9Chelping%E2%80%9D-heroes/. [Source: Watchdog Bytes article 13 Aug 2012 ++]
Dr. Phil McGraw
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PTSD Update 110: It makes sense that a person with post-traumatic stress disorder might have relationship problems, too. And researchers have now found that couples therapy that’s designed around PTSD helps both problems. The partner with PTSD reported reduced symptoms, and the couple reported increased relationship satisfaction from couples therapy, researchers reported in the 15 AUG issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. They compared 20 couples who got the therapy with 20 couples who were put on a waiting list for it in 2008 to 2012. The couples, in Boston and Toronto, were diverse in sexual orientation and type of trauma.“There are well-documented associations between PTSD and intimate relationship problems,” the researchers wrote. Individual psychotherapy for PTSD help that disorder, but improvements have not been found specifically in intimate relationships, they wrote. After the joint therapy, the PTSD symptoms were three times less severe than for the people on the waiting list. And they reported that relationship satisfaction increased four times more than the couples on the waiting list. A followup three months later found that the treatment results were maintained, the researchers said. “There is increasing recognition that intimate relationships play a potent role in recovery from PTSD,” the researchers wrote. Lisa M. Jajavits of the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System called the therapies "important scientific attempts to study new options for the treatment of PTSD." [Source: Los Angeles Times Mary MacVean article 14 Aug 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 111: Created by VA's National Center for PTSD and their collaborators. PTSD mobile apps include the award winning PTSD Coach mobile app and the first PTSD treatment companion app. These free PTSD apps are available for Android and Apple mobile devices, including tablets.
The PTSD Coach app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma. Features include:
 Reliable information on PTSD and treatments that work.
 Tools for screening and tracking your symptoms
 Convenient, easy-to-use skills to help you handle stress symptoms.
 Direct links to support and help.
 Always with you when you need it.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is an evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD that helps you decrease distress about your trauma. PE has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. PE Coach is a mobile application (mobile app) for patients to use with their therapists during PE therapy for PTSD. PE Coach is a treatment companion that helps you and your therapist work through the PE treatment manual. Features include:
 Education about PE therapy and common reactions to trauma.
 Ability to record your PE therapy session as an audio file on your mobile device.
 Reminders to complete homework.
 Tools to keep track of tasks you did between sessions.
 Ability to track your PTSD symptoms over time.
 Guidance for breathing retraining - ways to change your breathing that help reduce your stress.
Many more apps are coming soon such as PTSD Coach ONLINE for those who do not have a Smartphone. Scheduled for release this fall are:
 Stay Quit Coach: Used between a patient and provider to help those with PTSD quit smoking, and stay quit.
 PTSD Family Coach: Help for families dealing with PTSD.
[Source: PTSD Monthly Update 21 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 51:
 Washington DC - The Veterans Affairs Department’s inspector general is investigating allegations that some employees illegally accepted gifts — possibly including free rides in helicopters and a stretch limo — from hotels they were scouting as possible locations for two conferences held last year. A Capitol Hill staffer told Federal Times 14 AUG that the alleged gifts to conference organizers also may have included free lodging, food, alcohol, concert tickets, spa treatments and gift baskets. The IG has not reached any conclusions on those allegations yet, the staffer said. VA spent $5 million on the two human resources training conferences at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla., in July and August 2011. A combined 1,829 employees attended the two conferences, according to the IG’s office. VA’s IG began investigating allegations of wasteful spending and improper acceptance of gratuities in April after receiving a tip on its hotline. The staffer said the IG is investigating roughly $200,000 in questionable spending at the two conferences. IG’s office told Federal Times Monday that the conferences were for legitimate purposes but it has “uncovered questionable activities” in its probe.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said that “if the results of the IG investigation are upheld, this represents an egregious misuse of funds meant to provide for the care of America’s veterans.” The IG’s preliminary findings have concluded that “multiple planning trips to multiple destinations cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars,” Miller said. Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on promotional items for attendees, Miller said. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), in an Aug. 10 letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, called the allegations and preliminary findings alarming. “Despite the legitimate purpose of training, there can be no excuse for excessive or wasteful spending of VA resources,” Collins said in the letter. “At a time when so many veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are in need of care and assistance, the VA must make every effort to spend each dollar in support of its important mission.” Collins’ office said the IG’s office briefed lawmakers last week, and that the IG received its original tip in the wake of the General Services Administration’s infamous Las Vegas conference scandal detailed in an April report from GSA’s IG. Shinseki was also briefed.
In a statement to Federal Times, VA said the alleged misconduct is unacceptable. “Secretary Shinseki … will hold accountable any individuals who are found to have misused taxpayer dollars or violated our standards of conduct,” VA said. VA said that it has removed the contracting authority of any employees who are under investigation. And Shinseki ordered an outside review of all training policies and procedures to be completed within 90 days, the agency said. VA also ordered employees involved in recertifying, planning and executing training conferences to undergo ethics training. In April, the GSA IG’s office detailed a 2010 conference for GSA employees in Las Vegas that cost $823,000, a fraction of the alleged costs of the VA conference being investigated. The April release of the report on the GSA conference quickly led to the ouster of GSA’s top leaders. The VA IG’s office told Federal Times that it will likely release its report by the end of September, but would not provide any more details on what it found. It said the conferences were for legitimate purposes. Lawmakers are likely to hold hearings on the conferences after the final report is released. [Source: Federal Times Stephen Losey article 13 Aug 2012 ++]
 Monroe County KY - A woman accused of helping her husband lie about being war hero and scamming the federal government with him out of $500,000 in disability benefits over six years was shown on videotape 14 Aug during in federal hearing doing yard work, lifting a wheelchair and walking without a cane. Martha Ann Kaczmarczyk, 62, told the Social Security Administration in her benefits application and subsequent reports that she could not cook, clean, walk without a cane, drive a car or parse out her own medications without help. She wrote that she couldn't go to the bathroom without assistance and couldn't shower without using a walker. During her detention hearing, Kaczmarczyk of Monroe County appeared with her walker and large back brace around her torso. U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley, after almost four hours of what he called "troubling testimony," elected to release her under house arrest with electronic monitoring."Despite what you may think, there was a lot of evidence put on today that you aren't very trustworthy," Shirley told Kaczmarczyk.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bolitho, who presented the video that suggested Kaczmarczyk was not as debilitated as she claimed, also offered evidence that Kaczmarczyk had withdrawn $26,300 from an account law enforcement didn't know about when they initially seized nearly $80,000 in cash from the couple in late May. Bolitho suggested Kaczmarczyk had the means and motive to flee before her trial. But her attorney, Scott Saidak, insisted that if she had wanted to flee she would have done so in the weeks between learning of the investigation and her arrest. Saidak also suggested the video of Kaczmarczyk helping her husband could have been filmed after steroid injections or other therapy that offers her pain relief, and insisted the video offered no context for the amount of pain she had at the time or afterward.
Saidak also offered an accounting of 45 guns owned by the Kaczmarczyks that factored into the judge deciding last month to keep the couple jailed. Three of the guns were in the possession of a relative, three others were sold, and the remaining 39 guns had been collected by a private investigator hired by Saidak and stored in a secure location that the Kaczmarczyks cannot access. According to the indictment, her husband, Charles, 59, a veteran of the Air Force, claimed benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder he said he suffered in a series of well-known military conflicts, including the Vietnam War and the Iran hostage crisis. Military records show, however, that he spent most of his military career stateside and never saw combat. [Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel Megan Boehnke article 15 Aug 2012 ++]
 Spartanburg SC - U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said in a statement that Sandra D. Jeter, 48, has been charged with stealing government funds. Agents with the Department of Veterans Affairs investigated the case, which has been assigned to assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Watkins Jr. of the Greenville office for prosecution. Jeter faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to the statement. The following also face federal charges: Wilfredo Santa, 39, and Patience Downs Santa, 35, both of Mauldin, have been charged in a one-count indictment with conspiring to create fraudulent prescriptions and could receive four-year prison sentences if convicted, according to the statement. Richard Jody Silvers, 43, of Pickens; Heath Anderson Cash, 29, Shelley Nicole Dillard, 26, and Gabriel E. Calderon, 26, all of Easley, are each charged in a single-count indictment with conspiring to create and pass fraudulent prescriptions, according to the statement. Each suspect could receive a 20-year sentence. [Source: GoUpstate.com article 14 Aug 2012 ++]
 Rapid City ND - Patricia Maki, 69, falsified documents to receive another’s Veterans Administration benefits for six years will have to pay back almost $55,000. A federal jury found her guilty of theft of government property, providing a fictitious name and address to the U.S. Postal Service, and fraudulently accepting VA payments in April. When her neighbor Wanda Amos died in 2004, Maki conspired with Amos’ son, Kenneth Rouse, to keep Amos’ bank account active. The VA was unaware that Amos had died and continued making direct deposits to the account. After Rouse died in 2008, Maki changed the address
on the account and continued receiving Amos’ mail. She used Amos’ ATM card to withdraw money from the account. United States District Judge Jeffrey Viken has placed Maki on probation for five years and ordered her to pay $54,940 in restitution to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Maki’s fraud was discovered by the VA in 2012 through a project called “Death Match.” [Source: Rapid City Journal Andrea J. Cook article 14 Aug 2012 ++]
 Cleveland OH — Sixteen veterans are accused of stealing more than $240,000 from the federal government by submitting bogus reimbursement claims for travel to local medical facilities. The fraud is believed to be the largest of its kind uncovered in the country, said Gavin McClaren, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Inspector General. The veterans were charged individually and are not suspected of being part of a conspiracy. According to McClaren, the scam worked like this: Instead of stating the actual mileage traveled, made-up addresses, or someone else's address many miles away were used. For example, some defendants were living in public housing in Cleveland, but claimed they traveled from a Youngstown address to a Cleveland-area medical facility on their reimbursement forms. All the visits were to the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center on East Boulevard or to its Brecksville location that is now closed, McClaren said. Federal prosecutors say the veterans took advantage of a government policy that allows disabled veterans and those who meet specific income requirements to be reimbursed for their mileage when driving to receive medical attention. Qualifying veterans currently receive 41 1/2 cents a mile. Most, if not all, of the defendants qualified for reimbursement based on their incomes, but some also may have disabilities, McClaren said. In some cases, the defendants increased their opportunities to scam the system by scheduling medical visits more frequently than necessary, he said. "This has been a problem at other facilities throughout the country so we started to look at the system here," McClaren said. Among those indicted for theft and the amounts they are charged with stealing are: Mandell Calvin, 55, of Cleveland, $3,459; Robert Daniels, 54, of Warren, $30,144; Rebecca Dickson, 51, of Lakewood, $6,712; Thurman Harris, 59, of East Cleveland, $12,575; $11,925; Ivan Jackson, 54, of Cleveland, $13,477; Timothy Knotts, 54, of Akron, $9,326; Nathaniel Marshall, 52, of Cleveland, $8,052; Amm Pearson, 55, of Euclid, $8,257; Thomas Scott, 49, of Roanoke, Ala., $22,104; James Sharpe, 62, of Sandusky, $19,210; Anthony Shumpert, 54, of Akron; $17,134; and Raymond Williams, 54, of Lakewood. [Source: Sun-News Peter Krouse article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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Flu Shots Update 03: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is preparing a vaccine for a new H3N2 variant influenza virus that recently appeared in Indiana, Ohio, and Hawaii. The reason the CDC is concerned about this particular virus is that it contains an element seen in the pandemic 2009 swine flu strain, strongN1, which may make it more likely for the virus to spread from person-to-person. The CDC is watching this situation closely. To prevent contracting this flu, the CDC advises people to limit their contact with swine and avoid contact with sick swine. People who have contact with these animals should take precautions such as washing their hands, not eating or drinking in areas with swine and controlling their cough. For more information, visit the CDC H3N2v webpage http://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/h3n2v_us_cases.htm. [Source: Mil.com article 13 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Disputed Claims Update 10: Former Army staff sergeant Jarrid Starks, who earned a Bronze Star with Valor In Afghanistan, has run out of the medications that keep him stable. He has severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental and physical wounds of war. He's currently not eligible for veterans' health benefits that would include prescription refills. That's because Starks was kicked out of the Army for bad behavior. He's far from alone. Starks joined the Army right out of high school with dreams of a 20-year career. He left the Army
earlier this year in disgrace. Starks recalls being escorted from the psychiatric ward at Madigan Army Hospital to an out-processing center and then to the front gate of Washington's Joint Base Lewis-McChord. "I had a 90-day supply of medication that I received from Madigan in a paper lunch sack," he says. That sack of pills was Stark's lifeline: a combination of antidepressants, beta-blockers, anti-psychotics, muscle-relaxants and sleep aides. A daily cocktail that allowed Starks to keep his anger and anxiety in check. He sports a baseball cap that reads, "Warning this vet is medicated for your protection." It's a joke, but not really. "Ya, in every joke lay a bit of truth," Starks quips.
Jarrid Starks, with his medications to treat PTSD and a hat that reads “Warning this vet is medicated for your protection.
If Starks was a typical veteran he’d sign up for VA benefits and get his prescription drug refills. But he doesn’t qualify for veteran’s health care -- at least for now. That’s because in May he was kicked out of the Army with an “other than honorable” discharge for drug use and going absent without leave. Starks says he did those things because when he came home from Afghanistan he was messed up. “Just the act of putting my uniform on in the morning would trigger flashbacks and would bring my anxiety and depression to a level that was just unbearable,” he says. He says he just simply could not face work. Even Army doctors concluded he was unfit for duty and should be medically retired. Starks says there were times he was so angry he might have even been capable of murder. “It’s possible," he says. When asked if he could have potentially killed himself he responded, “It’s possible.” Starks was in and out of psychiatric hospitals three times. But his misconduct prompted the Army to take a hardline. Starks was jailed on base and charged with crimes related to his drug use and going AWOL. Rather than face court martial, Starks accepted a voluntary separation from the Army..
Officials at Lewis-McChord respond that Starks knew the risks when he voluntarily chose to separate from the Army to avoid court martial and possible conviction. According to Defense Department records, more than 20,000 soldiers and Marines were booted from the military between 2008 and 2011 with other than honorable discharges. Current federal law says these former service members -- even if they suffer from the mental or physical wounds of war -- lose their automatic right to veterans’ medical benefits. Kristin Cunningham with the Veterans Health Administration in Washington, D.C. explained what happens if an “other than honorable” veteran shows up seeking care. “The veteran is counseled that we cannot provide healthcare unless there is an emergent condition at that point in time.” Instead, the veteran is placed in a sort of healthcare limbo while the VA conducts a comprehensive review of the record -- including the misconduct. That can take months and there are no guarantees of care at the end of the process. The VA says it doesn’t track how many “other than honorable” veterans apply for these reviews or how many are ultimately awarded health coverage.
For the last several years these vets have found support from an unlikely source -- senior military lawyers. Major Evan Seamone, Chief of military justice at Fort Benning, Georgia says, of course, it’s important to maintain good order and discipline in the ranks. But Seamone also argues the military must recognize that, “It’s pretty clear that there’s a connection often times between misconduct and mental health conditions.” Seamone isn’t the only military
lawyer to raise this concern. In a 2010 law review article, Army Major Tiffany Chapman called on Congress to change federal law to ensure that soldiers with PTSD get treatment regardless of the circumstances under which they were discharged. Washington Senator Patty Murray -- who’s established herself as a veterans’ advocate -- doesn’t go that far. Instead she says, “What we have to focus on first and foremost is making sure that the process that they go through for appeals is done in a quick and accurate manner.” Back in Salem, Starks has applied to a review of his case, but his county Veteran’s Services rep recently advised him that a decision will likely take a year or more. That’s a heck of a long time for someone dealing with multiple flashbacks everyday. [Source: Seattle Times Austin Jenkins article 11 Aug 2012 ++]
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Mobilized Reserve 21 AUG 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 21 AUG 2012. The net collective result is 117 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 15 AUG 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 46,096; Navy Reserve 4,253; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 8,965; Marine Corps Reserve 3,249; and the Coast Guard Reserve 850. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 63,413 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120821ngr.pdf. Reservists deactivated since 9/11 total 791,644. [Source: DoD News Release No. 698-12 dtd 22 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 79: Australian mining companies are head-hunting U.S. war veterans to work Down Under as electricians, carpenters and heavy equipment operators. Australian exports of minerals such as gold, iron ore, oil, gas and coal have more than tripled in the past decade to $190.5 billion last year, with China accounting for a third of the total, according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Additionally, dozens of new mines are planned but, with a population of just 22 million, there aren’t enough skilled Australian workers to fill all of the jobs being created. In May, the Australian government streamlined procedures for Americans, with new visas allowing skilled workers to stay in the country for four years. Those with job offers can apply online and get approval in a matter of days, according to Australian recruiters. With the war in Afghanistan winding down and the Army and Marine Corps ordered to cut 100,000 troops over the next five years, the Australian job offers couldn’t come at a better time for many servicemembers who soon might be unemployed. Despite President Obama’s efforts to encourage more government and private sector hiring of veterans, the unemployment rate for those who served in the post-9/11 era remains high. Last month, 8.9 percent of recent veterans were out of work, which is better than previous years but still above the overall U.S. unemployment rate.
Australian government officials, employment consultants and mining company representatives believe U.S. veterans have some of the skills they need and have been attending job fairs in places like Houston and Detroit in recent months to woo them. Colleen Lucas, a recruiter with Employment in Australia, traveled to the Detroit job show to interview 15 U.S. veterans for jobs as diesel mechanics. The mechanics can expect starting base pay of at least $65,000 a year, she said, adding that engineers and project managers could expect at least $200,000 annually. Australian companies are attracted to veterans because many have experience operating the same type of heavy equipment used in mines, she said. “It is exactly the same, but some of the mining machinery is bigger,” she said. “The computer systems are the same too, and some of these machines have five computers in them. That is a great synergy for the diesel mechanics and heavy equipment operators.” Sandi Logan, a spokesman for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, said officials who attended the U.S. job fairs were looking to fill 400 to
500 skilled positions. “Our resources sector is particularly keen to get people like electricians, plumbers and carpenters,” he said.
Some of the things that make U.S. veterans attractive for Australian companies include English-language proficiency, a lifestyle similar to that of Australians, qualifications accepted in Australia and the possibility that they might have personal connections to the country, he said. “In most surveys when Americans are asked where they would like to go, Australia tops or is close to the top of their list,” Logan said. “It is not like we are trying to persuade them to come somewhere that they don’t want to go. They can have the dream and a well-paid job.” Jeff Clifton, an Australian mining projects manager who also interviewed veterans at the Detroit jobs fair, told an Australian television channel that his company, Mackellar Mining, can’t find enough skilled Australians to fill all of its available jobs. “There are some good tradespeople, but with the boom going on, they are always jumping the fence and going somewhere else or moving onto bigger and better things,” he said. “We have a real shortage of mechanical tradespeople at the moment, especially with Caterpillar experience.” Jobs that support mining also are going unfilled, Lucas said. The massive construction industry is looking for workers to help make new roads, railways, buildings and other infrastructure. “There are a lot of projects in the start-up phase, so they also need a lot of project planners,” she said, adding that military personnel involved in logistics may be able to transfer their skills to the civilian marketplace.
Australia would be happy to open its arms to U.S. veterans, Kim Beazley, Australian ambassador to the U.S., said in comments posted by the Australian immigration department. “In Australia, we have a culture of assuming that men and women who have been through the defense forces arrive in the broader community with very great skills discipline and motivation and, therefore, we assume that a similar atmosphere surrounds those who are veterans of American armed services,” he said. The immigration department has posted interviews with U.S. soldiers considering a move Down Under on its website. Army veteran John-Edward Kanewske, who said he was wounded in Afghanistan in September 2007, appears in one interview, saying his dream is to live and work in Australia.“I’ve been in stressful situations and know how to overcome them,” he said, adding that he’d learned to work with people from all nationalities and walks of life during his military service. Chase Thompson, a former soldier who deployed to Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, also appears in the video, saying U.S. veterans have a lot to offer. “We come from working in really difficult situations facing a lot of adversity and we are willing to get the job done no matter what it takes,” he said.
U.S. veterans recruited to work Down Under will receive the same wages as their Australian workmates, Logan said. In the resources industry, the average salary is about $100,000, and qualified professionals such as electricians and plumbers can receive $150,000 to $175,000, Logan said, adding that the high salaries reflect big commitments by workers. Veterans who like their new lifestyle can apply for permanent residence or Australian citizenship, and most will receive it, he said. “The majority of skilled migrants end up taking out citizenship, and we welcome that,” he said. “We are not a nation hat is reliant on guest workers. When people come to build Australia, we invite them to become part of the nation.” [Source: Stars & Stripes Seth Robson article 21 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 80: Working for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) may not turn out to be as slick and Hollywood-ized as, say, your typical episode of NCIS, but if you’re a veteran (or soon-to-be veteran), it’s certainly attractive, as the CID looking for qualified applicants to become highly-trained criminal investigators. The mission of CID is to investigate and deter serious crimes in which the Army has an interest. CID collects, analyzes, processes and disseminates criminal intelligence; conducts protective service operations; provides forensic laboratory support to all DoD investigative agencies, and maintains Army criminal records. CID also provides criminal investigative support to all U.S. Army elements and deploys on short notice in support of
contingency operations worldwide. CID manning is made up of fewer than 2000 Soldiers and civilians and approximately 900 special agents. CID is organized into six major subordinate organizations: 202nd MP Group (CID), 3rd MP Group (CID), 6th MP Group (CID), 701st MP Group (CID), U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory and the U.S. Army Crime Records Center.
To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen and must be at least 21 years old. Applicants must be no more than an E-5 (non-promotable). Those E-5s who are promotable, or those who have achieved E-6 but have one year or less time-in-grade, may apply with waiver. All applicants must have at least two years, but not more than 10 years’ time-in-service among other requirements. The complete listing of qualification requirements for Enlisted, Reserve and National Guard, Warrant Officer, and Civilian Special Agent can be found on the CID website http://www.cid.army.mil. Applications and other required paperwork can be downloaded at http://www.cid.army.mil/faqs.html#relatedforms.To apply to become a CID Special Agent, prospective applicants should contact their local CID office or visit the Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) website at http://www.cid.army.mil for additional information. [Source: Military.com | Veteran Jobs article 20 Aug 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 81: Here are the latest dates for the Hiring Our Heroes Job Fairs being sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce. For more information on a particular site click on the website provided:
 September 06 – Foxborough, MA http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/foxborough-ma-0
 September 06 – San Diego, CA http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/san-diego-ca-0
 September 06 – Military Spouse Event - Quantico, VA http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/quanticova
 September 07 – Springfield, VA http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/springfield-va-0
 September 07 – Midland, MI http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/midland-mi
 September 11 – Concord, NC http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/concord-nc
 September 12 – Dedham, MA http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/dedham-ma
 September 12 – Camp Lejeune Wounded Warrior Event http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/camp-lejeune-wounded-warrior-event
 September 12 – Boise, ID http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/boise-id0
 September 12 – Trenton, NJ http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/trenton-nj
 September 12 – Sumter, SC http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/sumter-sc
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 24 Aug 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 126: The Yellow Ribbon program is designed to help students avoid up to 100 percent of their out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit. The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program is designed to help students avoid up to 100 percent of their out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit, which will pay up to 100 percent of the public in-state tuition, but it only covers up to $17,500 a year for private colleges and universities. Your actual tuition & fees costs may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student. This is where the YRP can help. Like the other Post 9/11 GI Bill programs, Yellow Ribbon benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date. To qualify to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits you must meet the following criteria:
 Served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
 Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and they served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
 Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran's service under the eligibility criteria listed above.
The Yellow Ribbon program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting colleges and universities) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student.. Participating schools and VA can match funds to help waive a portion of those expenses. Students can search for VA GI Bill approved programs at http://gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/choosing_a_school.html They can also search for institutions that will participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program during the 2012-2013 School Year at http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yrp/yrp_list_2012.htm. The Institution of Higher Learning (College or University) must agree to:
 Enter into an official agreement with VA
 Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis.
 Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc.
 State the dollar amount that will be contributed for each participant during the academic year.
 State the maximum number of individuals for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.
[Source: Military.com | Education article 16 Aug 2012 ++]
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Obit ~ Neil Armstrong: Neil Armstrong, who made the “giant leap for mankind” as the first human to set foot on the moon, died 25 AUG of complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. He had undergone heart bypass surgery this month in Cincinnati, near where he lived. His recovery had been going well, according to those who spoke with him after the surgery, and his death came as a surprise to many close to him, including his fellow Apollo astronauts. The family did not say where he died. He was 82. During the Korean War Armstrong was a Navy fighter pilot who flew 78 combat missions, one in which he was forced to eject after the plane lost one of its ailerons, the hinged flight-control panels on the wings.
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Veteran License Plates Delaware: The Delaware Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Vehicle Services Special License Plates Division offers a number of special plates that can be ordered from any Division facility. Special plates are restricted to passenger vehicles or trucks with a 3/4-ton or less manufacturers gross vehicle weight rating. A number of plates have eligibility restrictions that must be complied with before the plate can be ordered. Division registration specialists can provide information on the requirements and can provide anyone qualified with an application. Call one of your local DMV facilities for information on eligibility requirements for these plates: New Castle County 302-326-5000, Kent County 302-744-2500 or Sussex County 302-853-1000. Refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Vet License Plates DE” to view the plates that are available or go to http://www.dmv.de.gov/services/vehicle_services/tags/tags_military.shtml. [Source: http://www.dmv.de.gov/services/vehicle_services/reg/ve_reg_sp_tags.shtml Aug 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 79: He lied about his military service, his medals, his war wounds. He spun the tales for anyone who'd listen, from curious college students to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. But Charles Chester Kaczmarczyk hesitated when the time came to tell the truth 24 AUG. "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips asked. Kaczmarczyk hesitated, mumbled and looked at his lawyer before answering. "Yes, your honor," he said. Kaczmarczyk, 58, pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud, conspiracy to steal public money and two counts of stealing public money. Federal prosecutors said the Air Force veteran, who barely left U.S. shores and never saw a day of combat, swindled the government out of nearly half a million dollars in disability benefits with his lies. Kaczmarczyk, who claims to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, wove tales of his exploits in the Vietnam War, of helping to evacuate the U.S. embassy during the fall of Saigon, of rescuing merchant ships from Cambodia's Khmer Rouge and of watching the secret mission to rescue victims of the Iran hostage crisis fall apart in 1980. He told his stories to anyone who would listen, including an audience of University of Tennessee students in 2008. Kaczmarczyk faked documents for various medals, including the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, and filed for veteran's and Social Security benefits to the tune of $457,986, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bolitho said. The judge set sentencing for 12 DEC. Kaczmarczyk's wife, Martha, faces charges of
helping him file his bogus claims and lying to get disability benefits for a bad back. She remains on house arrest with a trial set for 26 SEP. Both face a term of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both are also subject to pay restitution and to forfeit the proceeds of this conspiracy. [Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel Matt Lakin article 24 Aug 2012 ++]
Charles and Martha Kaczmarczyk
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of recent and future Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete. Missed House Veteran Affairs committee (HVAC) hearings can viewed at http://veterans.house.gov/in-case-you-missed-it. Text of completed Senate Veteran Affairs Committee SVAC) hearings are available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=va&collection=CHRG&plus=CHRG:
 August 13, 2012. The HVAC full Committee held a field hearing on construction issues in Orlando. The hearing took place in Orlando.
 September 13, 2012. HVAC, Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the Patient-Centered Community Care (PCCC) and Non-VA Care Coordination (NVCC) programs.
 September 20, 2012. HVAC, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a hearing entitled, "Examining the Re-Design of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)."
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 30 Aug 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 26: During World War II, Edwin Lent Jr. had the job of dropping depth charges off the end of a naval destroyer. The explosions ruptured both eardrums. Later in life, he lost part of a leg in a road accident working for the state of Ohio. It was a hardship, recalled his widow, Lucille. We went on food stamps,” she said. She spoke on 23 AUG about Edwin as she sat at the end of her kitchen table. She’s 95 and smokes. Asked how much she smokes, she said: “I don’t keep track.” She said it with a smile. She’s infirm, partly a result of infantile
polio, and gets around with crutches. Still, that didn’t keep her from taking care of Edwin for the last seven or eight years of his life, as his Alzheimer’s progressed. She refused to give up on him, she said. She had helped him weather health problem before. Every winter in Ohio, he’d get pneumonia, she said. “The doctor said ‘you have to move to a warmer climate,’ so we moved to Arizona,” she said. That was around 1980. The warmer climate seemed to help. Edwin had other issues, however, including the Alzheimer’s. He died of colon cancer on July 31 at the Southern Arizona VA Health System’s hospice in Tucson. He was 88. And now he’s back in the cold, awaiting burial.
Lucille Lent, 95, holds a picture of her late husband (on the right) in his Navy uniform.
“He’s still at the Heritage Mortuary (410 W Roosevelt Ave, Coolidge, AZ Tel: (520) 723-7755) ,” Lucille said. That’s where he ended up shortly after his death. Lent plans to have him buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Cave Creek Road in Phoenix. But she doesn’t have the money to pay the mortuary. And until she comes up with it, there will be no funeral. And Edwin’s body will remain in Heritage’s temperature controlled environment. That’s not how you treat a WWII veteran and his 95-year-old widow, said Palmer Miller, a retired Army master sergeant and an advocate for veterans rights in Casa Grande. “There’s no dignity. There’s no respect,” Miller said. Lent offered to pay funeral costs on the installment plan, but Heritage refused. “We do not do payment arrangements,” Heritage funeral director Jay Furness said. “Most funeral homes don’t. We are compassionate in what we do.” But he added: “We are a family-owned business. We have to have a cash flow to serve other families.”
Heritage knocked $550 off the original $4,300 bill, Furness said. That includes a nearly $1,000 casket and preparation of the body. The VA, Furness added, will pay some death benefits and the cost of transporting Edwin to his final resting place. That’s $1,100 in savings, though Lent still has to pay up front. The VA will reimburse her, Furness said. And once the body reaches the national cemetery, the VA will pick up the cost of burial. All the same, it’s money Lent doesn’t have. So she sold off her husband’s guns to raise it. She’d like to sell off his tools, too. They’re in the shed, but she can’t get in there just now. It’s infested with bees. Still, she managed to scrape together nearly $2,000, about half of what’s needed to free up Edwin’s body. She kept the money in a coffee can.It’s not all there now. Somebody stole more than $800. Perhaps it was taken by a caretaker who no longer works for her. Lent has her suspicions but no proof.
Her story came to the attention of Miller’s wife, Sharon, on 16 AUG. She is Lent’s insurance agent. Discussions about insurance premiums eventually turned to Edwin Lent’s prolonged stay at the mortuary. Sharon Miller told her
husband, and he began to make calls. He wanted to bring Lucille’s predicament to light. He also made calls to U.S. Veterans Affairs and filed paperwork, seeking to secure survivor’s benefits for her. And she is a survivor, ignoring the Surgeon General’s Warning as she lit another cigarette. She spoke about her husband and how they met. “I was sitting in a beer tavern with my girlfriend,” she said, laughing. Some sailors walked in. Her girlfriend alerted her: “That’s Ed Lent’s boy.” Lucille and Eddie Lent Jr. were married in 1942. She remembered him as a guy who liked to kid. Somebody who was fun to be around. “He was a very good person for me,” she said. Now that he’s gone, Lucille has depended on the kindness of neighbors and her caretakers to get by. Kim Tapia and her husband have known the Lents for more than 20 years. Both couples moved into what was then a new subdivision built around the artificial lake in Arizona City. Tapia remembered her first encounter with Edwin. He came over to help remove a snake that had crawled into her house, showing up with a big pellet gun.
“He looked like Jed Clampett,” Tapia said. After Edwin developed Alzheimer’s, Tapia would help Lucille. She still does, often bringing over meals. “I’m trying to help her as much as I can,” she said. Lucille gets help from caretakers as well. She can’t recall exactly how she came by them, other than word of mouth. One of her caretakers, it happens, spoke to the mortuary on her behalf — apparently representing herself as her daughter. Furness said the first time he or anybody with Heritage spoke to anybody about Edwin was 13 AUG. His body had been there at least 10 days by then. Furness spoke to a person he said was Lucille’s daughter. But that’s unlikely, Lucille said. She and Edwin had no children. All the same, she let the caretaker do the talking for her. Those discussions, of course, went nowhere, because it’s money that talks. And while Lucille was trying to scrape together enough for a burial, the county apparently decided she made too much to warrant assistance afforded indigents. Her household income was reportedly $4,000 a month, Furness said.
By Lucille’s calculations, their income came to little more than $2,500, if that, when Edwin was alive. That included his $800 in Social Security, no longer in the mix. Lucille now lives on about $1,600 from her Social Security and a state of Arizona pension. It’s barely enough to keep up with expenses, neighbor Tapia said. Lucille has no savings and she bounced a couple of checks recently, Tapia added. Like a lot of stories, the details differ in this one, depending on who’s talking. But one fact is clear. Edwin Lent, who moved west for the warmth, is still in cold storage. [Source: Valley Life Editor Bill Coates article 26 Aug 2012 ++]
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Korean War Vets: The United States military forces in Korea at the onset of the war in 1950 had been devastated by enemy forces. By July of 1950 they had been cornered in the southeast corner of the Korean Peninsula. But the battered men were determined to maintain the “Pusan Perimeter” that surrounded the strategically important port city of Pusan on the coast. At this time the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division was rushed to the front lines from Japan. Lee Tilford was with them. He had joined up after graduating from Yuma Union High School in 1948 and had spent the subsequent years as part of the occupation force in Japan. “We were there either the 15th or the 17th of July,” he said about the date he arrived in Korea. “Nobody kept a diary then. They just put you on a boat and sent you.”
His first experience in combat was slightly comedic, he recalled. “It was a funny deal, really. They sent another guy and I in a jeep to go up there and see what was happening.” The two soldiers parked on the south side of the compound surrounded with high walls. Tilford crept to the corner and laid down on the ground, sticking his head out to take a peek at the enemy forces. “About that time a mortar round hit inside the compound and a ... tile fell off the roof and hit me on the head,” he said with a laugh. He thought for sure he had been hit with shrapnel, and not a tile, and would be sent home. “One day out and here I'm going back. I thought for sure I was hurt.” Fortunately, his steel helmet took the brunt of the impact, so he and the other man “got up and got the hell out of there.”
Tilford and a few other surviving veterans of the Korean War gathered at American Legion Post 19 on 27 JUL where they were honored in commemoration of the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended combat operations. The document was signed 59 years ago on July 27, 1953. The summer on the Korean Peninsula is miserable, Tilford continued. “In the summer time you were hub deep in mud (after the morning rains). By afternoon it would get so hot it would be dust. You couldn't see anything and you couldn't breathe.” The nasty conditions made it difficult for Yuma native Lyle Nelson and the rest of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain roads during the war. “We poured cement and before you knew it the whole thing was washed out from the rain,” he said. When winter came, that just made things even more abominable, because the worst thing about the war “was the cold,” said Yuma native James Fernandez, who served in the First Marine Division during the war. “You had to fight the cold first and then the enemy. I've never been so cold in my life. Yuma is 120, and you go out there and it was below zero.”
The armed forces on the ground in the winter knew they had to keep moving their bodies, because to sit around meant to risk freezing to death. The gear they were deployed with compounded the issue because it was left over from World War II and not designed for the cold. “We didn't have the gear to keep us warm,” Fernandez said. “It was miserable. The boots we had weren't too good. A lot of Marines got frostbitten.” Calvin Riley, who served on the front lines with the 40th Infantry Division, remembers the bitter cold well, and the shoddy boots. “You had those Mickey Mouse boots on,” he said. “They weren't made for it. I don't know what they were made for.” When the cold dipped below freezing the icy winds blew “right through you,” he added, noting there was “no warm spot” to find refuge. Although many troops on the ground suffered from frostbite, Riley was never afflicted with the condition because he “was careful about it. I kept clean socks on and dry ones. That was the key.”
The only time the soldiers got relief from the freezing temperatures was when the enemy attacked. “It got warm when you were in action,” Riley said. And when the enemy attacked, they meant business and came in huge numbers. “They looked like ants,” Fernandez said. “You could tell when they were going to attack because they would start blowing that bugle.” When they attacked, Riley was waiting, often in a fixed position with his trusty BAR semi-automatic rifle in hand. “They were young kids from 14 to 17,” he said about the first waves. “They fell on the mine bombs, and kept right on a-coming. They made a bridge for somebody else to ride right over top of them.” And no matter how many enemy soldiers were killed “there were just more coming,” Riley added, noting it was terrifying. “Oh yeah, but that was an afterthought at the time being. You are at it, and you keep at it. Keep on pulling (the trigger).”
Vietnam veteran Bob Carey Jr. was at the event at Post 19 to honor the remaining veterans and his now deceased father, Robert Carey Sr., who served in the Marine Corps in Korea during the war. He believes it is important to keep their stories and memories alive. “They saved us, they saved the world, they kept our freedoms, and there are not a lot of them left,” Carey said. “If you sit here and look, most of these Korean veterans are bucking 80. They are leaving us fast, so we need to honor them and need to remember. Too many young people nowadays don't have the slightest idea what military veterans have done for them. We need to have programs that teach them. People need to remember.” [Source: Yuma AZ The Sun Chris McDaniel article 28 Jul 2012 ++]
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Traumatic Brain Injury Update 24: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The Army is expected to have an FDA-approved battlefield blood test for traumatic brain injuries in two years, according to an official spearheading the service’s efforts. The Army’s trials of the blood test among troops in Afghanistan have proved promising, Col. Dallas Hack, a doctor and director of Combat Casualty Care at Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Md., told reporters.
“Individuals that are diagnosed with a concussion and go to our recovery centers in Afghanistan, the vast majority are showing up positive in our biomarker tests,” said Hack, speaking by phone 15 AUG from the Military Health System Research Symposium in Fort Lauderdale. Hack said the Army has reached an agreement with the FDA on the indications for use of the test and is in the midst of modifying the testing protocol.
The Army has increased the number of subjects in the pivotal trial to 2,000, Hack said, adding the trial is expected to be complete in a year, after which the FDA will analyze the data. The current trial includes sites in the United States and abroad. Researchers have identified proteins that appear in the blood after cells are damaged by a brain injury, Hack said. The test is meant to indicate the presence of those proteins. Hack emphasized that the test is for use only within days of an injury. “It doesn’t really help with the long-term,” he said, “but the reason we are pushing that particular test —especially what I consider a battlefield test or a sideline test — is that we can actually find these cell breakdown products in the blood.” Hack has said previously there is no objective way to diagnose a soldier with a mild TBI. Current, subjective tests typically involve the soldier balancing, repeating words, answering questions or following an object with his eyes. [Source: ArmyTimes Joe Gould article 15 Aug 2012 ++]
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VA Presumptive AO Diseases Update 21: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Veterans suffering peripheral neuropathy from exposure to the toxic herbicide Agent Orange could be eligible for compensation from the Veterans Affairs Department. Early-onset peripheral neuropathy is initially characterized by numbness, tingling or pins-and-needles in the extremities, progressing to symptoms of pain in hands and feet, loss of balance and weakness. VA on 10 AUG proposed substituting early-onset peripheral neuropathy for acute and subacute neuropathy on its list of diseases presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. The distinction removes the requirement that the symptoms resolved themselves in two years after they appeared. Eligible veterans must have developed the condition within one year of exposure to a degree that it is at least 10 percent disabling. Those who have lingering neuropathy as a result of service in Southwest Asia in the 1960s and 1970s could be affected.
Those who think they qualify can apply now for the benefits, but they may not be compensated until the ruling is final. The proposed change was published in the 10 AUG Federal Register. The comment period on the proposal is open until Oct. 9. The proposed swap is the result of a 2010 Institute of Medicine report that concluded there is “limited or suggestive evidence of an association” between exposure to Agent Orange and persistent, early-onset peripheral neuropathy. The IOM report said more research must be done to determine whether several other illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tonsil cancer, melanoma, brain cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and birth defects passed on to children are related to Agent Orange exposure. VA said in a press release that it currently has no plans to add these or any other conditions to the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected. [Source: AirForceTimes Patricia Kime article 17 Aug 2012 ++]
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POW/MIA Update 26: "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. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II (73,000+), the Korean War (7,900+), the Cold War (126), the Vietnam War (1,666), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Hundreds of 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to
account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 The National League of POW/MIA families reported 16 AUG the identification of SGT John R. Jones, USA, TX, listed as MIA in South Vietnam on June 4, 1971. SGT Jones remains were recovered on September 8, 2011 and identified July 23, 2012. Recently announced is Lt Col Clarence Finley “Bill” Blanton, USAF, listed as KIA/BNR in Laos on March 11, 1968 when the TACAN radar installation (Lima Site 85) on top a mountain in Houaphan Province was overrun by Vietnamese forces. His remains were recovered January 18, 2008 and identified July 12, 2012. The identification of PFC James Rickey Maxwell, USMC and PFC Richard William Rivenburgh, USMC, was posted on DPMO’s website on July 20th. PFC Maxwell and PFC Rivenburgh were killed on May 15, 1975 during an attempted rescue of the SS Mayaguez crew when their HH53 helicopter crashed near Koh Tang, Cambodia. Their remains were recovered December 6, 1995 and identified January 23, 2012.
 DPMO announced 27 AUG the remains of three U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were recently identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Army Sgt. 1st Class William T. Brown, 24, of La Habra, Calif., Sgt. 1st Class Donald M. Shue, 20, of Kannapolis, N.C., and Sgt. 1st Class Gunther H. Wald, 25, of Palisades Park, N.J., will be buried as a group on Aug. 30, in a single casket representing the three soldiers, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Brown and Shue were each individually buried on Sept. 26, 2011, at Arlington and May 1 in Kannapolis, N.C. On Nov. 3, 1969, the men and six Vietnamese soldiers were part of a Special Forces reconnaissance patrol operating in Quang Tri Province, near the Vietnam-Laos border. The patrol was ambushed by enemy forces and all three Americans were wounded. Brown was reported to have suffered a gunshot wound to his side. Due to heavy enemy presence and poor weather conditions the search-and-rescue team was not able to reach the site until eight days later. At that time, they found military equipment belonging to Shue, but no other signs of the men. Between 1993 and 2010, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted multiple interviews on nine different occasions in Quang Tri Province. Additionally, the S.R.V. unilaterally investigated this case, but was unable to develop new leads. Among those interviewed by the joint teams were former Vietnamese militiamen who claimed in 1969 they ambushed three Americans in the area near the Laos-Vietnam border. In 2007, a Vietnamese citizen led investigators to human remains that he had discovered and buried near the site of the ambush. In 2008, a military identification tag for Brown was turned over to the U.S. Government from a U.S. citizen with ties to Vietnam. Finally, in April 2010, joint teams excavated a hilltop area near Huong Lap Village, recovering additional human remains, and military equipment, another military identification tag for Brown, and a “Zippo” lighter bearing the name ”Donald M. Shue” and the date “1969.” Scientists from the JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial and material evidence, along with mitochondrial DNA—which matched that of some of the soldiers’ family members—in the identification of the remains.
Korea
 DPMO) announced 24 AUG that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, were recently identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Kenneth R. Block, 22, of Ann Arbor, Mich., will be buried Aug. 29, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. In late November 1950, Block and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team,
known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea, when they came under attack. On Dec. 3, 1950, Block, along with many other Americans, was listed as missing in action as a result of the heavy fighting. In September and October 2001, two joint U.S./Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a mass grave that had been discovered on the eastern shore of the Chosin Reservoir. Human remains, of at least 12 individuals were recovered, along with two military identification tags and military equipment. For 2004 through 2011 scientists from JPAC used mitochondrial DNA to determine the identification of six of the soldiers, who served with Block as part of Task Force Faith. To identify Block’s remains, experts used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including radiograph and dental comparisons.
World War II
 DPMO announced 21 AUG that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. John E. Hogan, 20, of West Plains, Mo., will be buried Aug. 24, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On Sept. 13, 1944, Hogan and eight other crew members were on a B-17G Flying Fortress that crashed near Neustaedt-on-the-Werra, Germany. Only one of the crewmen is known to have successfully parachuted out of the aircraft before it crashed. The remaining eight crewmen were buried by German forces in a cemetery in Neustaedt. Following the war, U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel attempted to recover the remains of the eight men, but were only able to move the remains of one man to a U.S. military cemetery in Holland. In 1953, with access to eastern Germany restricted by the Soviet Union, the remains of the seven unaccounted for crewmen were declared non-recoverable. In 1991, a German national who was digging a grave in the cemetery in Neustaedt, discovered a metal U.S. military identification tag and notified officials. Due to German burial law, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) wasn’t granted access to the site until 2007 and excavated the location in 2008. The team recovered human remains and additional metal identification tags from three of the crewmembers. Scientists from JPAC used forensic identification tools, circumstantial evidence and mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of Hogan’s cousin – in the identification of his remains.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Aug 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (12)
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Pin-Ups for Vets: Patients at the Fresno VA Hospital got a special visit 21 AUG from Pin-Up girls dressed in World War II era costumes visited veterans. They were in town promoting their new calendar, which benefits VA hospitals nationwide to buy state of the art rehab equipment. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the calendars is donated to military and VA hospitals across the country. Pin-Ups for Vets is a non-profit organization. Its founder Gina Elise, inspired by her grandfather who was a World War II vet, came up with the idea to recreate a nostalgic pin-up calendar that would serve three purposes:
1) The calendars would be sold to raise funds for our hospitalized Veterans.
2) The calendars would be delivered as gifts to our ill and injured Veterans with messages of appreciation from the donors.
3) The calendars would be sent to our deployed troops to help boost morale and to let them know that Americans back home are thinking of them.
The organizations goal is to visit at least one VA hospital in every state. Since 2007 they have visited 37 hospitals and 16 military bases passing out their calendars. To purchase a 2013 calendar, visit www.pinupsforvets.com. Calendars are $10 plus tax with free shipping. At that site can also be found a variety of other items bearing the pinup decals which can be ordered. When ordering you are given 3 options:
1) Have it sent to yourself.
2) Donate it to a hospitalized veteran.
3) Donate it to a active duty service member.
[Source: KFSN-TV Fresno CA report 22 Aug 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: According to Bloomberg Businessweek the national average for a gallon of gas as of 24 AUG was $3.74 – a record for this time of year and 16 cents higher than the same time last year. This is causing many drivers to shop around more for non-brand cheaper gas. What many area not aware of is that this gas most likely does not sufficient additives intended to keep their engine cleaner for improved performance. Gasoline containing additives that exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards carry the Top Tier logo. At first glance, Top Tier may seem like another way of saying “premium.” But they’re unrelated. Premium is gasoline with a higher octane rating. Octanes are a group of hydrocarbons added to gas to slow down the fuel’s urge to self-ignite. They simply help engines run without pinging or knocking. Car manufacturers recommend premium gasoline for some cars, but many don’t need it. And if your car is rated for a lower octane, buying premium offers no benefit. Top Tier gas is a special blend promoted by GM, BMW, Honda, Toyota, Audi, and Volkswagen. It contains detergent additives designed to reduce the buildup of deposits from combustion chambers, intake valves, and fuel injectors. Any octane rating can be Top Tier.
While there’s no denying that Top Tier gasoline has added cleaning agents, there is debate as to whether they make a distinguishable difference. All gasoline has to contain enough detergent additives to meet a standard set by the EPA. Top Tier simply has more. The question is, do you really need more. You can read opposing viewpoints in the USA Today article at http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2007-06-13-bad-gas-usat_N.htm?AID=4992781&PID=4003003&SID=13n28t9e120e3. The bottom line: Top Tier could help your engine and won’t hurt it. And since Top Tier gas only costs refiners about a penny more per gallon to produce than traditional blends, unlike premium, it shouldn’t set you back much more at the pump. Even if your retailer increases
his price as much as three cents a gallon to cover his extra cost of carrying Top Tier gasoline this only amount to about $0.50 per thankful on average. Considering what is charged for car repairs these days it could be worth it in th long run. If in doubt a to whether or not your filling station’s gasoline meets Top Tier standards you can verify it at http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html. The site maintains a list of current retailers licensed to carry it. It also contains a video which elaborates on the benefits of using Top Tier gas. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Angela Colley article 29 Aug 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 Congress. The 112th Congress is set to have the worst legislative year in nearly seven decades, according to an analysis by USA Today. Of the 3,914 bills that lawmakers have submitted this session, only 61 or approximately 2 percent, have become actual laws.
 COLA. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) dipped another 0.2% in July. As of now, inflation is only up 1.0% for the year. The 2013 COLA will be based on the CPI average from July through September.
 Vet Jobs. General Dynamics is searching for veteran talent to help them deliver innovative technology solutions for our nation's highest-priority defense and homeland security initiatives. If interested go to http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employer/gdit/?ESRC=mrvr.nl to find featured jobs, hiring events and career opportunities with their company.
 College-educated workers. A new study shows the lifetime earnings of college-educated workers are nearly double those without degrees. The unemployment rate for recent high school grads is also four times as high as for recent college grads.
 Lawsuits. New research shows Democratic-leaning firms are less likely than Republican-leaning firms to be sued for environmental, labor, and civil rights violations. Firms with a Republican culture are less likely than Democratic-oriented firms to face legal action for securities fraud and intellectual property rights violations.”
 Congress. The wealthiest Congressmen are Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) – $290.5 million, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA – $198.8 million, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA – $140.6 million. For a list of the top 50 refer to http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/243625-the-hills-2012-50-wealthiest-in-congress.
 Deficit. For fiscal year 2012 (which ends on September 30), the federal budget deficit will total $1.1 trillion, CBO estimates, marking the fourth year in a row with a deficit of more than $1 trillion.
 ACAP. There has been a change in the regulations on the paydate of the Annual Clothing Allowance Payment. It is now 1 SEP (Saturday) so those eligible should see it on 31 AUG.
 Price gouging. The Florida Attorney General has activated a Price Gouging Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment needed as a direct result of any officially declared emergency.
 Age. Besse Cooper, the world's oldest person according to the Guinness World Records, celebrated her 116 th birthday 26 AUG. Guinness claims Cooper is one of only eight people who have reached 116.
 Buy American. As of 24 AUG, Mazda split ways with Ford after decades of partnership - and set up shop in Mexico. Toyota, Nissan and Honda “have announced significant expansion plans for North America in recent months.
 Ears. Older people have bigger ears. Ear circumference increases an average of 0.51 millimeters per year and never stops until death.
[Source: Various 15-31 Aug 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 99:
 Rome GA - George Dalyn Houser, 64, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, was sentenced 13 AUG to serve 20 years in federal prison on charges of conspiring with his wife to defraud the Medicare and Georgia Medicaid programs by billing them for “worthless services” in the operation of three nursing homes. The 20-year-sentence is to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Houser was also ordered to pay $6,742,807.88 in restitution to Medicaid and Medicare, and $872,515 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Houser and his wife, Rhonda Washington Houser, ran two nursing homes in Rome between July 2004 and July 2007, known as Mount Berry and Moran Lake. Each home had approximately 100 residents. The Houser's also ran a home known as Wildwood in Brunswick from September 2004 until September 2007. Houser lived large, bought real estate and planned to build a hotel while nursing home residents went without food and lived in horrible conditions. During the trial, the government introduced evidence that instead of providing sufficient care for the nursing home residents, Houser diverted slightly more than $8 million of Medicare and Medicaid funds to his personal use. Houser spent more than $4.2 million on real estate for a hotel complex that he planned to build in Rome, and he also had plans to develop hotels in Atlanta and Brunswick. Houser also bought his ex-wife a house in Atlanta for $1.4 million, and instead of paying her alimony, he paid her a salary as a nursing home employee even though she never worked at any of the homes. Houser also used the nursing homes’ corporate bank accounts for personal expenses, such as Mercedes-Benz automobiles, furniture, and vacations. The nursing homes suffered from food shortages bordering on starvation, leaking roofs, virtually no nursing or housekeeping supplies, poor sanitary conditions, major staff shortages, and safety concerns, Staffing shortages and resignations plagued the nursing homes due to the fact that employees were receiving bad paychecks. Health insurance premiums were being withheld from employees’ wages, even though Houser had let the insurance lapse for non-payment, leaving many employees with large unpaid medical bills for surgery and treatment. Employees spent their own money to buy milk, bread, and other groceries so that residents would not starve. Employees also bought nursing supplies for the residents, cleaning supplies for the homes. Some employees also washed the residents’ laundry in Laundromats or in their own homes. One nursing home
resident testified that residents used to pass the time by making bets on which service or utility would be the next to be cut off for nonpayment. In addition to the health care fraud conspiracy count, Houser was also convicted of eight counts of failing to pay over $800,000 in his nursing home employees’ payroll taxes to the IRS, and failing to file personal income tax returns in 2004 and 2005. The conviction by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy marks the first time that a defendant has been convicted after a trial in federal court for submitting claims for payment for worthless services. Rhonda Washington Houser pleaded guilty to misprision of the felony of health care fraud in December 2011, and she awaits sentencing.
 Miami FL - A Miami man who authorities say is responsible for an $11 million Medicare fraud scam has just been added to the list of most wanted fugitives. Francisco Chavez ran a company that sold medical equipment including pressure support ventilators and motorized wheelchairs. Federal health officials said Chavez submitted more than $11 million in claims to Medicare for equipment that patients never received. He was paid about $1.7 million. Chavez was indicted in 2011 in the scam. He is being detained in Spain on drug charges. U.S. officials are working to have him extradited back to the United States. The list of most wanted fugitives is compiled by the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general. To view the list refer to http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/index.asp.
 Lake Ozark MO - A western Missouri psychologist who was accused of claiming to see patients 364 days a year has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of $1 million. The U.S. Attorney's office says 67-year-old Rhett McCarty, of Lake Ozark, pleaded 16 AUG to charges of health care fraud and forgery. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled later. McCarty is a licensed psychologist in private practice who treated Medicare and Medicaid recipients in their homes in the Lebanon area. Prosecutors said that from 2008 to April 2012, he was paid nearly $1.3 million from the programs after claiming he treated 19 patients almost daily. He also admitted that signatures of five patients were forged on paperwork. McCarty's plea requires him to forfeit $1 million to the government.
 Jackson MS - Cassandra Faye Thomas was ordered 17 AUG to serve 168 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on health care fraud charges. The charges range from wire fraud to conspiracy. Thomas owned Central Mississippi Physical Medicine Group, Incorporated which claimed to provide free physical therapy services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Thomas billed Medicare and Medicaid for false claims of more than $12 million and was paid $6.9 million dollars. According to the FBI, Thomas was ordered to pay close to $7 million in restitution
 Houston TX - Dr. Emmanuel Nwora was indicted on 20 AUG with 12 counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a Medicare and Medicaid billing scheme case worth more than $850,000 and involving patients who were tested for inner ear disorders. The 48-year-old is accused of filing testing claims to Medicare and Medicaid without seeing the patients or ordering follow-up care for them between 2006 and 2010. In the case of one patient, Nwora allegedly submitted to Medicare 171 claims worth $121,836 over a one-year period. Of the $852,502.91 submitted to the two insurance programs, $363,742.99 was paid to Nwora. Prosecutors say the scheme began in 2006 and involved an arrangement in which Nwora signed off on "vestibular" testing for the inner ear disorders performed by Cevine Health Care and Rehabilitation, which has locations on Harwin Drive and Bissonnet, business records show. Cevine's owner Charles Harris, who also goes by two other names - Celestine Nwajfor and Okechi Nwajiofor - also was charged in the case and remains at large. Cevine Health Care and Rehabilitation, which is not an authorized Medicare and Medicaid provider, would have their tests signed off by Nwora, who would file the claims. Once the claims were paid by Medicare and Medicaid, Nwora would write a check to Harris. Last year, the Texas Medical Board dismissed a formal complaint against
him after Nwora agreed to take a class on medical record keeping. A board review found he did not maintain adequate medical records when he examined patients at a health fair at a retirement village. During his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson, Nwora pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $100,000. For Nwora to be released from federal custody, he also must surrender his Nigerian and U.S. passports.
 Miami FL - Eight individuals and a Miami-based corporation were convicted by a federal jury for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme involving the submission of more than $50 million in fraudulent billings to Medicare. The defendants were charged in a superseding indictment returned June 5, 2012. Twenty other individuals who worked at Biscayne Milieu have all previously pleaded guilty. Evidence at trial demonstrated that the defendants and their co-conspirators caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare through Biscayne Milieu, a Florida corporation headquartered in Miami that purported to operate a partial hospitalization program (PHP) in that city. Biscayne Milieu purported to provide PHP services, a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness, for Medicare beneficiaries suffering from mental illnesses. In fact, however, the defendants devised a scheme in which they paid patient recruiters to refer ineligible Medicare beneficiaries to Biscayne Milieu for PHP services, which were never provided. Many of the beneficiaries admitted to Biscayne Milieu were not eligible for PHP because they were chronic substance abusers, suffered from severe dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and would not benefit from group therapy, or had no mental health diagnosis at all. Indeed, some beneficiaries were seeking fraudulent mental health treatment in order to be declared exempt from certain requirements for their applications for U.S. citizenship. Throughout the course of the fraud conspiracy, beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services attended treatment programs that did not provide legitimate PHP services. Biscayne Milieu billed tens of millions of dollars in services to patients who did not need the services and to whom the appropriate services were not provided. According to the evidence, co-conspirators personally altered, and caused the alteration of, patient files and therapist notes for the purpose of making it appear, falsely, that patients being treated by Biscayne Milieu were qualified for PHP treatments and that the treatments provided were legitimate PHP treatments. Once Biscayne Milieu received reimbursement from Medicare for these fraudulent services, its owners and executives laundered the money through various accounts to launder the proceeds of their illegal scheme.
 California - United States has entered into a settlement agreement with Pacific Health Corporation (PHC) and related entities in which they agreed to pay the government and the state of California $16.5 million for allegedly engaging in an illegal kickback scheme in Los Angeles. The civil settlement resolves a U.S. and state investigation of three PHC-affiliated hospitals for engaging in a scheme in which the hospitals paid recruiters to deliver homeless Medicare or Medi-Cal beneficiaries (homeless beneficiaries) by ambulance from the “Skid Row” area in Los Angeles to the hospitals for treatment that often was medically unnecessary. The hospitals, Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center (LA Metro); Newport Specialty Hospital, formerly known as Tustin Hospital and Medical Center; and Anaheim General Hospital, then allegedly billed Medicare and Medi-Cal for these services, violating rules that permit payment only for necessary treatment. The governments contended that these services were induced by illegal remuneration in violation of the Anti-Kickback statute (AKS), and the resulting billings to Medicare and Medi-Cal violated the False Claims Act.
 Detroit MI - Jawad Ahmad, 42, pleaded guilty 28 AUG to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for his role in managing a $13.8 million psychotherapy fraud scheme. Ahmad faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to court documents, beginning in July 2008, two of Ahmad’s co-conspirators, Tausif Rahman and Muhammad Ahmad, acquired control over a home health care company known as Physicians Choice Home Health Care LLC (Physicians Choice).
From in or around January 2009 and continuing through in or around March 2010, Jawad Ahmad managed the operations of Physicians Choice. Jawad Ahmad managed numerous aspects of the fraud at Physicians Choice, including delivering the payment of kickbacks to beneficiary recruiters who obtained Medicare beneficiaries’ information needed to bill Medicare for home health services, including physical therapy and skilled nursing, that were never rendered. Jawad Ahmad also provided information to employees of Physicians Choice to check the billing eligibility of the Medicare beneficiaries before Physicians Choice began billing them. In exchange for kickbacks, Medicare beneficiaries pre-signed forms and visit sheets that were later falsified to indicate they received home health services they had never received. Jawad Ahmad delivered the pre-signed beneficiary paperwork to various medical professionals, including nurses, physical therapists and physical therapy assistants to create and/or sign fictitious patient files to document purported home health services that were never rendered. From in or around January 2009 through in or around March 2010, Medicare paid more than $5 million for fraudulent home health care claims submitted by Physicians Choice. Between 2008 and 2009, Ahmad's co-conspirators acquired beneficial ownership and control over three additional home health care companies: First Care Home Health Care LLC, Quantum Home Care Inc., and Moonlite Home Care Inc. Each of these home health companies billed Medicare and operated in a manner the same as or similar to Physicians Choice. The four home health companies at the center of the indictment received approximately $13.8 million from Medicare in the course of the conspiracy.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-31 Aug 2012 ++]
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Medicaid Fraud Update 69:
 Pierce County WA - Diana Esterly and Shawn Gronau were arraigned 13 AUG in Pierce County Superior Court, accused of overbilling the Medicaid program. The Washington State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) last month filed three counts of first degree theft against Esterly and two counts against Gronau. Gronau, who is Esterly’s niece, faces an additional four counts of fraud related to false statements made to Medicaid administrators. Prosecutors at the Attorney General’s Office regularly prosecute those who make such false statement in an attempt to bilk the state and federally funded healthcare program. Esterly is charged with receiving Medicaid payments for services she didn’t provide to three developmentally disabled adults. Gronau is charged with billing Medicaid for three hours of work for every hour of care that she provided, contrary to her Medicaid Care Provider contract. According to charging documents filed by the Attorney General’s Office, Gronau told investigators, “I honestly thought that I was able to claim all three kids per hour.” However, rules for Medicaid providers, communicated in writing, require payments per the hour, not per-recipient. As a result of fraudulent billing, Esterly received nearly $19,000 and Gronau received over $12,000 in money they were not eligible to receive. The case is scheduled for trial on Oct. 8.
 Charlotte NC - Charlotte Elizabeth Garnes, 37, was charged 22 AUG with health care fraud conspiracy and obstruction of official proceedings in a scheme to defraud Medicaid of at least $650,000. Garnes was part of a scheme in which she gave her Medicaid provider number to others so they could submit fraudulent reimbursement claims for mental and behavioral health services. Garnes is a licensed professional counselor. Garnes, who was arrested in Goldsboro, had her initial appearance in federal court in Raleigh on Wednesday. She faces up to 30 years in prison and fines totaling $500,000 if convicted on the two counts. Two others have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-31 Aug 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Connecticut provides several benefits to veterans. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits CT” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state in the following areas:
 Housing Benefits
 Financial Assistance Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/connecticut-state-veterans-benefits.html Aug 2012 ++]
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Military History: A section of an ingenious tunnel built by U.S. and British spies to intercept Russian phone conversations in Cold War Berlin has been found after 56 years in a forest 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the German capital. The 450-meter-long tunnel, built in 1955, led from Rudow in West Berlin to Alt-Glienicke in Soviet-occupied East Berlin. By tapping into the enemy's underground cables, Allied intelligence agents recorded 440,000 phone calls, gaining a clearer picture of Red Army maneuvers in eastern Germany at a time when nuclear war seemed an imminent threat. The western part of the tunnel was excavated in 1997 and part of it is preserved at the Allied Museum in the former American sector of Berlin. The Soviet authorities dug up the eastern part in 1956 and until now, its fate was unknown. "It seemed to have vanished without a trace," said Bernd von Kostka, a historian at the Allied Museum. "I looked through the East German Stasi files, and there was nothing to be found about its whereabouts. We assumed it had been melted down because it was made of valuable metal."
The find is one missing piece of a puzzle that will take decades to solve completely, as access to intelligence files about the construction and discovery of the tunnel — a tale worthy of a John le Carre novel — is still restricted. The man who discovered the buried segment is Werner Sobolewski, 62, formerly employed in a civilian capacity by the East German army. He was chopping wood in his local forest in Pasewalk, near the Polish border north of Berlin, when he stumbled across the wide metal pipe. He remembered it being used for military exercises at the local barracks, where he had worked before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He recalled too that it was then rumored to have been a part of the Allied spy tunnel, infamous throughout eastern Germany after the Soviets exposed it in a major propaganda campaign in 1956. He contacted the Allied Museum and Kostka traveled to Pasewalk to identify it last week. "We would like to have it in the museum so that we have a part of the eastern tunnel," Kostka said in an interview at the Allied Museum. "The sections we have are from the western side. It shouldn't stay buried underground." The western tunnel segment is a prize exhibit at the Allied Museum, which is also home to the original Checkpoint Charlie guard-hut and a Royal Air Force Hastings plane used in the Berlin airlift of 1948 and 1949.
Displays describe the complexity of building the tunnel and tapping the wires. The British had already constructed similar underground listening-posts in Vienna and brought the idea, manpower and know-how to the project, Kostka said. The operation was codenamed "Stopwatch" by the British, "Gold" by the Americans, and “Regal” jointly. It was funded by the U.S. at a cost of $6.7 million (then a vast sum) and operated jointly by the CIA and the British SIS. Yet the KGB learned about the tunnel when it was still in the planning stages — thanks to intelligence from George Blake, the notorious British double agent who was later imprisoned, then escaped to the Soviet Union. Strangely, the KGB concealed its existence from the Soviet military because they wanted to protect their valuable mole. The tunnel operated for 11 months and 11 days, intercepting some of the Red Army's most secret communications, including those between Moscow and the military headquarters in East Berlin. Historians do
not know why the Soviet authorities chose to expose it when they did, on April 22, 1956. The reason is still buried in the Kremlin's files.
"It was clear that the tunnel had a finite lifespan and would be discovered one day," Kostka said. "But the Allies expected the Soviet authorities to sweep it under the carpet." Instead, they held their first international press conference in 11 years of occupation and bussed in as many as 50,000 East German citizens so that they could see first-hand the treachery of the west. Yet it was also a propaganda coup for the U.S. intelligence services as the tunnel's ingenuity impressed American observers. "It's a great Cold War story," said Kostka. "Each side could say they won." For a more detailed explanation on the project refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titles, “Berlin Spy Tunnel”. [Source: Bloomberg News Catherine Hickley article 21 Aug 2012 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant September events in U.S. Military History are:
 Sep 01 1864 – Civil War: Confederate troops abandoned Atlanta in the face of continuing attacks by federals under General W.S. Sherman .
 Sep 01 1939 – WW2: Nazi Germany attacks Poland beginning the war in Europe.
 Sep 01 1950 – Korean War: 13 North Korean divisions open assault on UN lines
 Sep 01 1982 – The United States Air Force Space Command is founded
 Sep 01 1983 – Cold War: Korean Boeing 747 strays into Siberia & is shot down by a Soviet jet. All 269 on board are killed, including United States Congressman Lawrence McDonald.
 Sep 02 1898 – Machine gun 1st used in battle
 Sep 02 1864 – Civil War: Union forces enter Atlanta, Georgia a day after the Confederate defenders flee the city.
 Sep 02 1945 – WW2: V–J Day. Combat ends in the Pacific Theater: The final official surrender of Japan is accepted aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
 Sep 02 1958 – Cold war: United States Air Force C–130A–II is shot down by fighters over Yerevan, Armenia when it strays into Soviet airspace while conducting a sigint mission. All crew lost.
 Sep 03 1783 – Revolutionary War: The war ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain. America is officially free from Britain
 Sep 03 1855 – Indian Wars: In Nebraska, 700 soldiers under American General William S. Harney avenge the Grattan Massacre by attacking a Sioux village, killing 100 men, women, and children.
 Sep 03 1916 – WWI: Allies turned back Germans in WW I's Battle of Verdun
 Sep 03 1941 – WW2: 1st use of Zyclon–B gas in Auschwitz (on Russian prisoners of war)
 Sep 03 1943 – WW2: The allied invasion of Italy began.
 Sep 04 1862 – Civil War: Gen Lee invades North with 50,000 Confederate troops
 Sep 04 1886 – Indian Wars: after almost 30 years of fighting, Apache leader Geronimo surrenders with his remaining warriors to General Nelson Miles in Arizona ending last major US–Indian war.
 Sep 04 1918 – WWI: U.S. troops land in Archangel, Russia, stay 10 months
 Sep 04 1940 – WW2: A German submarine makes the first attack against a United States ship (the USS Greer).
 Sep 04 1967 – Vietnam: Operation Swift begins: U.S. Marines engage the North Vietnamese in battle in the Que Son Valley.
 Sep 05 1914 – WWI: Battle of Marne begins: Germans chase out Russians.
 Sep 05 1939 – WW2: FDR declares US neutrality at start of WW II in Europe
 Sep 08 1943 – WW2: Gen Eisenhower announced unconditional surrender of Italy in WW II
 Sep 08 1945 – Cold War: United States troops arrive to partition the southern part of Korea in response to Soviet troops occupying the northern part of the peninsula a month earlier.
 Sep 08 1975 – USAF Tech Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, appears in his Air Force uniform on the cover of Time magazine with the headline "I Am A Homosexual". He is later given a general discharge.
 Sep 09 1914 – WWI: Battle of Marne. German advance stalls, Paris saved .
 Sep 09 1942 – WW2: 1st bombing on continental U.S. soil. A Japanese floatplane drops an incendiary bomb on Mount Emily Oregon.
 Sep 09 1943 – WW2: USS Grayling (SS–209). Most likely rammed and sunk by Japanese transport Hokuan Maru, South China Sea west of Luzon. 76 killed
 Sep 10 1776 – Revolutionary War: George Washington asks for a spy volunteer, Nathan Hale volunteers.
 Sep 10 1813 – War of 1812: Battle of Lake Erie. U.S. Naval Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeats a British flotilla.
 Sep 10 1919 – Latin America Interventions: Honduras. U.S. Marines land during election campaign.
 Sep 11 1941 – WW2: FDR orders any Axis ship found in American waters be shot on sight.
 Sep 11 1965 – Vietnam: The 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army arrives in country.
 Sep 11 2001 – 911: 2996 people are killed when terrorists hijack four passenger planes crashing two into New York's World Trade Towers causing the collapse of both and one into the Pentagon. Another headed toward Washington likely to strike the White House or Capitol, crashed just over 100 miles away in Pennsylvania after passengers storm the cockpit and overtake the hijackers. Sep 11 2001 – Terrorists hijack a passenger plane and crash it into the Pentagon causing the death of 125 people.
 Sep 12 1814 – War of 1812: Battle of North Point is fought near Baltimore.
 Sep 12 1847 – Mexican–American War: The Battle of Chapultepec begins.
 Sep 12 1862 – Civil War: Battle of Harpers Ferry VA.
 Sep 12 1918 – WWI: St Mihiel France. 1st U.S. Operation and Victory by an Independent American Army.
 Sep 12 1944 – WWI: U.S. Army troops enter Germany for 1st time
 Sep 13 1847 – American–Mexican War: U.S. forces capture Mexico City effectively ending the war.
 Sep 13 1861 – Civil War: 1st naval battle of the war. Union frigate "Colorado" sinks privateer "Judah" off Pensacola, Fla.
 Sep 13 1900 – Philippine–American War: Filipino resistance fighters defeat a small American column in the Battle of Pulang Lupa.
 Sep 13 1942 – WWI: Battle of Edson's Ridge (2nd Japanese assault) at Guadalcanal.
 Sep 13 1951 – Korean War: Battle of Heart Break Ridge began.
 Sep 14 1814 – War of 1812: During a British naval attack on the City of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key composed a poem entitled "The Star Spangled Banner."
 Sep 15 1776 – Revolutionary War: British forces capture Kip's Bay Manhattan.
 Sep 15 1914 – Vera Cruz Incident: U.S. Marines march out of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
 Sep 15 1916 – WWI: 1st tank used in war, "Little Willies" at Battle of Flors, France
 Sep 15 1950 – Korean War: UN forces land at Inchon in South Korea.
[Source: Various Aug 2011 ++]
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Military Trivia 57: America Special Forces WWII
1. In which year was the Airborne program introduced? 1915 | 1940 | 1955 | 1932
2. The newly formed 'Rangers' were named as such because 'Commandos' was already being used by the British. True | False
3. 1st Special Forces, nicknamed the 'North Americans,' was an elite allied unit formed with men from the Rangers, the Airborne and the British SAS. True | False
4. Africa: Rangers and Paratroopers would first see action together in the spearhead attack on axis forces in Africa. The attack was given which codename? Torch | Roundup | Sledgehammer | Desert Fox
5. Sicily: The Airborne Forces had a terrible entry into Sicily. They were dropped all over the place! What was the cause of the poor drop?
Poorly trained airwing (52nd Troop Carrier) | No radar pathfinders | Gale force winds | All of these
6. Italy: Early German successes in protecting the Italian beachhead were pushed back by reinforcments from the Airborne divisions. The Germans fell back to a series of fortified positions known as what?
The Winter Line | Difensa Line | The Chiunzi Pass | Volturno River Line
7. Italy: The 1st Special Forces were brought in to crack the German fortifications and bust the German defenses. How did they penetrate the line?
- Spearheading a heavy infantry attack with artillery support
- By scaling a mountain deemed impassible by the Germans
- A wide flanking maneuver to attack the German rear defenses
- A night time stealth attack through the middle of the lines
8. The 'Triple Nickels' 555th Airborne, an attachment of the 82nd were highly trained and exceptionally motivated troops. What was the 555th's distinction?
They were a mix of Australians and Canadians | They fought on every continent at war | They were the first African-American paratroopers | They specialized in amphibious assault methods
9. D-Day: Utah beach was far less 'bloody' than Omaha due to the 82nd Airborne taking this town and the 101st holding surrounding causeways, preventing German reinforcements from reaching the beachheads at: Les Moullins | Chef du Pont | Cherbourg | Ste. Mere-Eglise
10. D-Day: Sections of Rangers had the unenviable task of securing well fortified sections between Omaha and Utah beach using amphibious landings. Where were these fortifications?
Barfleur | Pointe du Hoc |St. Lo | Valognes
11. Market Garden: The famous Airborne drop into Holland to seize roads and bridges so XXX Corps could advance quickly to Eindhoven was the idea of which general?
George Patton | Matthew Ridgeway | Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery | Omar Bradley
12. The Bulge was a massive spearhead counter attack by the Germans that cost both sides dearly. One million German troops poured into which area? Ardennes | Champagne | Hurtgen Forest | Monts Foucille
13. Why were the allies so concerned about defeating the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest when casualties were so high, when the main thrust had so much momentum further south?
To find an alternative route around the Siegfried Line | To take control of the dams on the Roer River | To decimate the German Northern Army | To give green troops combat experience
14. Both the Airborne and Rangers led the advance through Germany after the Siegfried Line was broken. Elements of the 5th Rangers, 101st and the 82nd saw things that few would mention but none would forget. What were these things?
Concentration camps | The surrender of 150,000 German troops | The treasures at Obersalzberg (Berchtesgarden) | Russians killing prisoners in the Baltic |
15. Which elite force was first to enter Berchtesgaden, a town on the Austrian border where many of the high ranking Nazis had holiday homes, including Hitler? 2nd Rangers | 71st Airborne | 101st Airborne | 5th Rangers
ANSWERS:
1. 1940. The Americans saw the early success of the Soviet Airborne and especially the German Paratroopers who were dropped on specific targets in Norway and Belgium. The American Army went forward with the airborne program. A test platoon of 50 men was formed on June 25, 1940.
2. True. The Ranger units were actually based on the British commando units. The men were hand picked from two divisions that were already in the UK. The 1st Armored and the 34th national Guard. The Rangers were formed in the summer of 1941.
3. False. 1st Special Forces was a purpose designed outfit. It was made up of men who could survive in the cold outdoors - lumberjacks, game wardens, prospectors, etc. The unit was a mix of Americans and Canadians which is how they got their nickname the 'North Americans'. Their first deployment in the war was to break the winter line in Italy. More info in question 7.
4. Torch. Torch was a diversion that the American army didn't want. They were eager to commence the liberation of Europe. However, the British persuaded the Americans to land amphibious forces in Africa. The Brits were keen to have their Eighth Army relieved who were battle fatigued and at a stalemate.
5. All of these. The Airborne forces did a great job behind enemy lines even though they were badly separated. They cut German and Italian communication lines and accomplished missions that were scheduled for much larger forces. They created a sense of confusion for the enemy and kept larger forces from getting to the beachhead.
6. The Winter Line. By this stage of the campaign, most airborne troops had been pulled back to England for Overlord, leaving behind the 504th and the 509th. These units joined forces with Darby's Rangers and were used as heavy combat troops as the allies tried to breach the Winter Line. Casualties were enormous with little to no gain.
7. By scaling a mountain deemed impassible by the Germans. This was the first combat action of the 1st Special Forces and they excelled. In the cover of darkness and with a diversionary arty attack, the North Americans scaled a 70 degree slope and attacked German positions on the mountain top. A few days later they crossed a saddle and defeated the Germans on a second mountain top and the Winter Line was cracked.
8. They were the first African-American paratroopers. Due to racial segregation, the 555th trained harder than any Airborne company in order to prove to their white counterparts and themselves that they were capable Airborne soldiers. Their contribution to the war effort was considerable. The Japanese were floating incendiary balloons over North America in order to create fires. The government was keen to keep a lid on the threat and the 555th were deployed to jump on the resulting fires at exceptional risk. They excelled in their duty and clocked up over 1200 jumps. The men marched with and were awarded the same battle field decorations as the 82nd.
9. Ste. Mere-Eglise. Again the Airborne drop was a disaster and few units were dropped near their targets. With Paratroopers everywhere in Normandy, the Germans were very confused as to where to focus their attacks. The Paratroopers cut communications and did exceptionally well to meet their main objectives.
10. Pointe du Hoc. The Rangers suffered massive casualties from machine gun and mortar fire from the well protected cliff top fortifications. Their objective was to remove the threat of artillery that was believed to be placed on the cliff top. After taking the high ground it was discovered that the arty had been moved inland. A small group of Rangers moved inland, found the artillery and destroyed the breech blocks thus preventing further landing casualties. The Rangers were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions on the beach head.
11. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Every year a runner brings a torch from Normandy to Eindhoven to commemorate Liberation Day. Many veterans from the 101st have returned to march in the Liberation Parade over the past 50 years.
12. Ardennes. As the Airborne units were currently in reserve, they were deployed quickly into some crucial areas of the bulge and cut the German advance to Antwerp. They came up against some of the most proficient crack troops of the German Army and held fast preventing a further German breakout.
13. To take control of the dams on the Roer River. While 'no good reason' is true in hindsight, there was a huge risk of the Germans flooding the areas adjacent to the Roer and Rhine Rivers and literally washing away the advancing allies. The Rangers fought hard and at great loss to take Castle Hill (Hill 400) which was crucial for the relieving 517th Airborne force to launch a diversionary attack from. They kept the Germans busy while the 78th took the dams. The Germans still blew the Dam valves and flooded the Roer Valley delaying the Allies 2 weeks.
14. Concentration camps. The shock of stumbling across the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps was a lot for these men to handle. They thought that no one would believe them if they told the story, so most men didn't say anything about the camps to the folks back home. Maybe the memory was one that they just could not relive. The soldiers offered what rations they had to the human skeletons they found alive only to see them die before them as their fragile bodies could not handle the food. Mass pits with thousands of bodies, it was too much.
15. The 101st Airborne. The contribution made by Ranger and Airborne divisions was considerable, as was the horrific casualty rate they experienced. These soldiers returned to America and became the most highly educated and successful of all combatants.
[Source: http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz97780b33f68.html Aug 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Nevada Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Nevada:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6.85% until June 2013 (food and prescription drugs exempt). Counties may add up to 1.18% additional. Gasoline Tax: 33.1 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 28.6 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: 80 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
State: No state income tax Retirement Income Taxes: Not taxed
Property Taxes
All property in the state is subject to tax by the state, counties, cities, towns, and school districts. Property taxes are applied to property of every kind and nature, including real and personal property. The assessed valuation for tax purposes is based on 35% of the fair market value of the property and is revalued every year. Click here. The Department of Taxation and county assessors and treasurers are required to provide information on the Internet concerning property taxes, including, a description of the assessment process, an explanation of the manner in which property taxes are calculated, the rates of taxes imposed by various taxing entities and the revenues generated by those taxes.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax and a limited estate tax related to federal estate tax collection.
For further information, visit the Nevada Department of Taxation site http://tax.state.nv.us or call 866-962-370 [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Aug 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art (12):
Leader of the Pack
by Matthew Waki
"I have seen flak at high altitude and low level over Berlin, the Ruhr... I have seen it darken the sky... I have seen tracers like your're waving a hose... but I have never seen the absolute sheets of fire that erupted in the skies of Thai Nguyen". -Robin Olds
Wearing a handlebar mustache throughout most of his Vietnam tour, exuding an image of ruggedness and bravado, Robin Olds was undoubtedly the best-loved and most successful fighter wing commander of the Vietnam War. Despite the severe restrictions placed on aerial fighting in 1967, Col. Olds used his experience of thirteen air-to-air victories in World War II, and in some cases bent more than a few rules, to blast four MiGs from the sky during the time he commanded the 8th TFW, known as the "Wolfpack".
Ironically, it was on a grand attack mission to the Thai Hguyen steel mills that Robin Olds' mettle was put to the most severe test of the war. With only one approach to the target possible, the North Vietnamese set up a gauntlet of 85mm, 57mm, 37mm, 23mm, and countless other automatic anti-aircraft guns. Any attacking aircraft had to fly down the gauntlet at low-level, during daylight, for over 20 miles.
Extremely bad weather approaching Thai Nguyen on mission day and combat tactics required that only three aircraft go in. Even with an entire wing of pilots to choose from, Robin Olds decided to lead the attack.
Artist Matthew Waki states: "As wing commander it was possible for Robin not to fly on this particular mission. But his way was to lead by example. I can think of no other mission that better represents Robin Olds' leadership, courage, and character. My painting shows Robin leading the pack, flying on a mission he didn't have to, confronting the most intense anti-aircraft fire of his two-war career. His F-4C Phantom II has just received a hit in the right wing fuel tank as his flight makes a turn on final approach to the target. Despite an inbound speed of 500 knots all three aircraft were hit. Incredibly, all three F-4s bombed the target and made it home". [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Leaderofpack.html Jul 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 28 AUG 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: www.loc.gov Aug 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? Senior Citizens
An older lady decided to give herself a big treat for her significant 70th birthday by staying overnight in an expensive hotel. When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00.
She exploded and demanded to know why the charge was so high. "It's a nice hotel, but the rooms certainly aren't worth $250.00 for just an overnight stay! I didn't even have breakfast."
The clerk told her that $250.00 was the "standard rate", so she insisted on speaking to the Manager.
The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: "This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre which are available for use." "But I didn't use them," she said.
''Well, they are here, and you could have," explained the Manager.
He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which the hotel was famous.. "We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here," the Manager said.
"But I didn't go to any of those shows," she said.
"Well, we have them, and you could have," the Manager replied.
No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, "But I didn't use it!", and the Manager countered with his standard response.
After several minutes discussion with the Manager unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him.
The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check. "But madam, this check is for only $50.00."
"That's correct. I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me," she replied.
"But I didn't!" exclaims the very surprised Manager. "Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have."
Don't mess with Senior Citizens
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Naval Term of the Day: “Bravo Zulu”. The term originates from the Allied Signals Book (ATP 1), which in the aggregate is for official use only. Signals are sent as letters and/or numbers, which have meanings by themselves sometimes or in certain combinations. A single table in ATP 1 is called "governing groups," that is, the entire signal that follows the governing group is to be performed according to the "governor." The letter "B" indicates this table, and the second letter (A through Z) gives more specific information. For example, "BA" might mean "You have permission to . . . (do whatever the rest of the flashing light, flag hoist or radio transmission says) "BZ" happens to be the last item in the governing groups table. It means "well done".
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Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
— Frederic Bastiat (French economist | 1801-1850)

Mid July Update

2012-07-15T21:57:00.005-04:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== NDAA 2013 [07] --------------------- (White House threatens Veto)
== Military Benefit Proposals [01] ---------------- (CSBA 2012 Study)
== COLA 2013 [01] --------------------------- (H.R.4114 Passes House)
== Vet Cremains [14] ---------------------------------------- (Billings MT)
== Scam ~ Jury Duty --------------------------------------------- (Its back)
== Driver Safety Course ------------------------ (Something to Consider)
== SBP DIC Offset [35] -------------------------------- (MOAA Position)
== BRAC [26] ---------------------------------------------- (Cost Overruns)
== Sequestration [01] ---------------- (Lockheed Martin Layoff Threat)
== Tricare Prime [12] -------------------------------------- (FY 2013 Fees)
== VA Secretary [14] ---------------------- (SVA Addresses Criticisms)
== VA Tinnitus Care [03] ------- (Wireless Neurostimulation System)
== Clark AFB Vet Cemetery [02] -------------------------------- (S.2320)
== California Vet Home [13] -------------------- (Buildings Sit Vacant)
== Military Funeral -------------------------------------------- (Procedures)
== Don’t Ask, Don't Tell [07] --------------------------------- (H.R.6046)
== VA Homeless Vets [32] ------------------------- (CA Survey Results)
== VRAP [02] ----------------------------------- (99k Slots thru FY 2013)
== Veteran Status for Guard ----------------------------------- (H.R.1025)
== Reserve Component Pay [01] - (Pentagon Study Recommendations)
== Tricare Region West [02] - (UnitedHealth Contract Award Upheld)
== TRICARE Funding [01] ----------------- (DoD Overestimated Cost)
== Navy Green Fuel ------------------------------------------ ($26 a Gallon)
== TSP [31] ------------------------------------------------------- (June 2012)
== Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program --- (90 Grants Awarded)
== Vet Transportation [01] -------------------------------- (VTCLI Grants)
== SBA Vet Issues [22] ---- (VOSB/SDVOSB Verification Frequency)
== Transcatheter Aortic Valve --------- (VA’s First Successful Implant)
== VA Appeals [11] --------------------------------- (Helpful Information)
== Retirement Abroad ------------------------------------ (5 Best countries)
== Army By the Numbers -------------------------------- (As of Feb 2012)
== SSA Military Wage Credits [01] -------------------- (Military Service)
== Locksmith Scam ----------------------------------------- (How to Avoid)
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== Stolen Valor [70] --------------------------------------------- (Ken Aden)
== Stolen Valor [71] ------------------------------------ (Paul A. Schroeder)
== Stolen Valor [72] ------------------------- (Vets Respond to SC Ruling)
== Stolen Valor [73] ---------------------------- (New Legislation Pushed)
== Stolen Valor [74] ------------------------------------------------- (S.3372)
== Stolen Valor [75] **--------------------------- (Grady Wayne Nations)
== Arlington National Cemetery [37] **------ (Place of Remembrance)
== DoD Monument Policy] ** --- (Congressional Sitting Member Ban)
== VA Data Breaches [46] ** --- (H.R.3730 Notification Requirement)
== Burn Pit Toxic Emissions [21] ** ---------------- (H.R.3337 SITREP)
== Vet Jobs [71] ** -------------------- (Disabled Time Off Work Limits)
== Vet Jobs [72] ------------------------ (800 Law Enforcement Positions)
== Vet Jobs [73] ------------------------------- (Canadian Pipeline Project)
== Vet Jobs [74] ------------------------------- (Veteran Skills to Jobs Act)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of 12 Jul 2012)
== PTSD [107] ------------------------ (NAMI Positron on Purple Hearts)
== PTSD [108] --------------------------------------------- (Very Treatable)
== Vet License Plates SC --------------------- (Eligibility & Availability)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (09)
== WWII Vets [23] ----------------------------------------- (Lester Tenney)
== POW/MIA [23] ------------------------------------------- 1-14 Jul 2012)
== VSO - Disabled Veterans National Foundation -- (Vet Support Org)
== Saving Money -------------------------------------------- (Showrooming)
== VA Fraud, Waste, & Abuse [53] ----------------------- (1-14 Jul 2012)
== Notes of Interest ------------------------------------------ (1-14 Jul 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [96] ------------------------------------- (1-14 Jul 2012)
== Medicad Fraud [66] ------------------------------------- (1-14 Jul 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits ---------------------------------------- (Arizona)
== Military History ------------------------- (B-17 All American in 1943)
== Military History Anniversaries ----------------- (Jul 16-31 Summary)
== Military Trivia 54 ---------------------------------------- (USMC Origin)
== Tax Burden for North Dakota Retirees -------------- (As of Jul 2012)
== Aviation Art -------------------------------------- (Target Bearing 270º)
== Veteran Legislation Status 12 Jul 2012 ------------ (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? -------------------------------------------------- ($5.37)

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NDAA 2013 Update 07: The White House threatened to veto the House’s National Defense Appropriations Act if it is not changed. The bill is expected to be voted on by the House next week. The Obama
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Administration had many objections to the Committee’s legislation but they particularly objected to the fact that the appropriators proposals include a 0.5 percent pay raise for DoD civilian employees and for rejecting its proposals to increase TRICARE fees. In May the House passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act included a 1.7% pay increase for service members that was included in the Administration’s budget. However, the House did not include the Administration’s numerous proposals to increase retirees’ present TRICARE Prime fees and create many new retiree TRICARE fees (for TRICARE for Life, Standard and Extra) as well as increasing deductibles and the catastrophic cap. The Administration claims that their proposed changes would “save Defense an estimated $12.9 billion in discretionary funding and generate $4.7 billion in mandatory savings on Medicare-eligible retiree health care over the next five years.” Since the House did not accept these proposals the projected savings are not included in their pending FY2013 budget. The Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee says that they hope to take up their version of the NDAA before the August recess. This is obviously another attempt of the Administration to pressure Congress to adopt several of their retiree TRICARE proposals. They are trying not to take NO as an answer. [TREA News for the enlisted 13 Jul 2012 ++]
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Military Benefit Proposals Update 01: The CSBA Rebalancing Military Compensation study was released 12 JUL at the National Press Club. This groundbreaking study presents a new approach for optimizing the military compensation system. Rather than focusing exclusively on reducing costs, the study looks at options for getting better value from the compensation system by shifting funds from undervalued forms of compensation to more highly valued forms of compensation. The study draws on the results of a survey of more military personnel, retirees, and dependents to develop a quantitative understanding of how service members value different forms of compensation. The new survey results can be seen at http://www.csbaonline.org/publications/2012/07/rebalancing-military-compensation-an-evidence-based-approach/.
It found that senior military officers place a high value on retirement benefits and health care for their families while junior enlisted personnel tend to favor increases in pay. Active-duty service members at the lower end of the pay scale would prefer higher basic pay over other forms of compensation, even if it meant shelling out more for their health care in retirement, the survey from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments found. The lure of a pay boost is much more enticing to junior personnel than to those in the senior ranks: Increasing basic pay for those with less time and experience in the military had six times more impact per dollar than raising it for senior officers. “This finding calls into question the wisdom of across-the-board pay raises,” the report said. Still, 89 percent of midcareer service members who participated in the survey said they would prefer a $350 boost in annual pay in exchange for higher TRICARE Prime fees once they retire.
Service members at all career levels did not value the free TRICARE for Life benefit commensurate to the program’s cost to the Defense Department, the survey found. TRICARE for Life beneficiaries do not pay enrollment fees but are responsible for Medicare Part B premiums. Those over 65 beneficiaries accounted for 48 percent of all Defense health care cost increases between 2000 and 2005. “DoD could rebalance the allocation of resources to move funding from undervalued forms of compensation, such as free TRICARE for Life, to more highly valued forms of compensation, such as basic pay,” the report stated. “Rebalancing the compensation system would reduce costs while maintaining or improving the perceived value for service members.”
CSBA looked at how respondents valued certain types of compensation rather than the costs associated with them. Defense should look at recalibrating compensation based on service members’ priorities and where they are in their military careers by surveying personnel and their families periodically, said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow for defense budget strategies at CSBA and author of the report. “I think military people are more open to change than people realize,” he said. “I think they are more open to it than even they realize.” Harrison said Defense should take
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a more comprehensive approach to overhauling military compensation rather than its traditional “piecemeal” approach. “It shouldn’t be just about cutting benefits or keeping faith [with service members] to maintain the status quo,” Harrison said. “It’s about getting better value.” Personnel costs account for one-third of the Defense budget, and reforming the pay and benefits of service members, particularly retirees, is a controversial topic. The Pentagon needs to save money while also attracting and retaining a strong military; its compensation system “has failed to adapt to the unique needs of an all-volunteer military,” the report said. According to the Pentagon, during the past 12 years, basic pay has increased 62 percent, retirement costs have risen 78 percent and health care costs have spiked a whopping 203 percent.
CSBA’s survey included 2,655 respondents, 54 percent of whom were active-duty personnel. Harrison said senior officers were overrepresented in the study sample compared to more junior personnel. Senior officers are 6 percent of the active-duty population, but comprised 32 percent of the survey. Junior enlisted personnel are 45 percent of active-duty troops but were only 5 percent of the survey’s respondents. So, the results of the study were not analyzed in the aggregate “because of clear differences in demographics between the study sample and actual active-duty population,” the report stated. Other findings from the survey included:
 Service members did not place a high premium on performance-based bonuses relative to the cost of implementing them. The latest Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation released in June recommended Defense make greater use of such incentive pay.
 Service members in all groups preferred maintaining the service requirement of 20 years for retirement benefits versus lowering it to 15 years.
 More than 80 percent of service members in all age groups preferred a 1 percent boost in basic pay in exchange for raising the age at which service members can collect their pensions to 50.
 The value respondents placed on military exchanges and commissaries outweighed the cost of those benefits to Defense.
 Of the additional benefits to military personnel, service members prized most highly their choice of duty station and length of tour.
The only significant proposal affecting military pay and benefits that the Obama administration has pushed so far relates to TRICARE. The recommendations in Obama’s fiscal 2013 proposal would increase fees for retirees under the family plan over the next five years, with those in the upper-income bracket seeing the biggest hike. The administration also supports requiring TRICARE for Life beneficiaries to pay an enrollment fee. Many concerns over changes to military compensation stem from fears that retirees or those close to retirement will lose out on the benefits promised to them over a lifetime of service. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has pledged not to break faith with service members over compensation, but his message has not always resonated. Harrison noted that while paying attention to service members’ priorities and behaviors when it comes to pay and benefits is crucial to making wise budget decisions, it’s also important for policymakers to judge the pros and cons of certain kinds of compensation on their own merits. For example, even if service members indicate they do not highly value free health care over other compensation, the country benefits from a fit military. [Source: GovExec.com Kellie Lunney article 12 Jul 2012 ++]
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COLA 2013 Update 01: Veterans will receive a cost-of-living increase in their disability benefits if the bill passed 9 JUL in the House receives the same treatment in the Senate. The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2012 passed the House on a voice vote. It would provide a cost-of-living boost equal to that given to Social Security recipients. Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N) introduced the bill. After it passed, he said, "Congress knows that veterans are dependent upon us acting in a timely manner with regards to their needs. By acting on the yearly COLA this summer instead of waiting until the last minute, we tell America's veterans that we
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remain dedicated to ensuring that they are given the benefits they were promised when they signed up to serve." If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the law will go into effect 1 DRC 2012. A press release from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs estimates the COLA for this year will be approximately 1.9 percent. Runyan has also introduced the American Heroes COLA Act, which would put in place a permanent COLA like that for Social Security recipients. That legislation has been passed out of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and is awaiting vote by the full House. [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 10 Jul 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 14: After sitting unclaimed for years in funeral homes in Billings, Kalispell and Whitefish, the cremated remains of seven military veterans from Montana will be buried in JULY. Missing in America Project volunteers in the state recently identified the remains after visiting funeral homes, taking inventory of unclaimed remains and authenticating death certificates with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs records. The veterans are Jon William Ball of Kalispell; James Brodniak of Kalispell; Orville Clinton Hatch of Billings; Anthony Mills of Billings; Michael Lynn Shannon of Whitefish; Charles Shelton of Kalispell; and Charles Rollin Spears of Kalispell. Hatch’s remains had sat unclaimed and mostly forgotten on a shelf in a basement storage area at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings since October 1994, marked as “Cremation No. 4037.” For six years, the ashes of Mills, a former Marine, had sat next to those of Hatch.
Marty Malone stands with the remains of two veterans
“These men served their country and sacrificed their lives,” Marty Malone, Montana state coordinator for the Missing in America Project, told the Billings Gazette. “To have them sitting on a shelf in a box is tantamount to a crime.” On the morning of 13 JUL, motorcycle processions from Billings and Kalispell will meet and escort their remains for burial at Fort Harrison, west of Helena. Riders from Kalispell, Livingston, Bozeman, Belgrade, Missoula and Butte will join into one procession. The seven veterans will be interred with full military honors at 2:30 p.m. at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. The Montana American Legion and Disabled American Veterans have contributed $880 to ensure that each of the seven men receives a burial vault and headstone.
John Dahl, owner of Dahl Funeral Chapel, praised the Missing in America Project, saying it gives funeral directors another option when repeated attempts to locate family and friends of a deceased veteran fail. “You can’t put the fault on the family,” Dahl said. “They’ve obviously signed a cremation authorization and the intent is there to do some type of interment, but they have not been able to follow through for whatever reason.” He and his staff have worked closely with the group, giving members the access they need to crematory records to identify veteran remains. This is the group’s second interment. The first was in 2009 when project members buried the remains of two veterans after discovering them in a Ronan funeral home. To date, Missing in America Project leaders nationally have visited 2,782 funeral homes and have found 16,100 cremains, 3,500 of them in one institution. Some 2,044 of the veterans’ cremains have been identified and 1,854 of them have been interred. [Source: AP article 10 Jul 2012 ++]
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Scam ~ Jury Duty: A classic scam is back in action. People across the country are receiving fake voicemails and text messages informing them they missed jury duty and need to pay $500 or face arrest. More than a dozen states have issued warnings about this scam, which tries to scare victims into parting with personal information. The scammers leave voicemails and text messages telling recipients they missed jury duty and must return the call immediately to avoid jail time. Scammers have used a variety of phone numbers with area codes originating in different states. When the victim calls back, the scammers then ask for personal information, including social security and/or credit card numbers. With enough details, scammers can assume a person's identity and drain his or her bank account. As a rule, jurors are not summoned via text message or phone. The court normally communicates through mail. Do not provide credit card or social security numbers to anyone claiming to represent the court system over the phone. If you ever question whether you need to appear for jury duty, call your local court system to check. For further information about jury duty scams, read the FBI's warning at http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/june/jury_scam060206?utm_source=Scam+Alert+--+You+Missed+Jury+Duty&utm_campaign=Judy+duty+scam&utm_medium=email. For more information about scams across the US and Canada, see BBB's online scam directory at http://www.bbb.org/us/scams?utm_source=Scam+Alert+--+You+Missed+Jury+Duty&utm_campaign=Judy+duty+scam&utm_medium=email. [Source: BBB Scam alert 12 Jul 2012 ++]
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Driver Safety Course: Cars have changed. So have traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50+ have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced drivers can benefit from brushing up on their driving skills. By taking a driver safety course you'll learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn how you can manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. In addition, you'll learn:
 How to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots
 How to maintain the proper following distance behind another car
 The safest ways to change lanes and make turns at busy intersections
 Proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and new technologies used in cars
 Ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities
 The effects of medications on driving
 The importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use
After completing the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others. You may be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course, so consult your agent for details. You might also be eligible to receive a discount on roadside assistance plans. Courses can be taken locally or online. To locate one to your liking go to your search engine and enter ‘Driver Safety Course’. One such course is offered by AARP to both members and nonmembers. It is available in classroom and online settings. Go to http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchDspLocations.action and enter your zip code to find the closest classroom location. Course times, dates and locations will be listed along with a phone number to call to register. Or call 888-227-7669. To register for the online course, visit aarpdriversafety.org.. Costs vary by provider. AARP charges $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members for classroom course. The cost for their online
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course is $15.95 for AARP members and $19.95 for non-members except in New York which is a little higher to cover state fees. After attending the course you’ll receive a certificate of completion that can be presented to your insurance agent for a possible reduction in your auto insurance premiums. [Source: AARP article 1 Jan 2012 ++]
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SBP DIC Offset Update 35: The 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) has recommended that the Pentagon end its opposition to allowing any deduction of VA survivor benefits from military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities. That's the good news. Under current law, when an active duty or retired servicemember dies of a service-caused condition, the surviving spouse receives about $1,200 a month in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA. If the survivor also qualifies for SBP, the DIC amount in most cases is deducted from SBP. For years, The Military Coalition (TMC) has fought to eliminate that offset, while Pentagon leaders have opposed that effort. The QRMC logic for changing that position is that retirees paid premiums for SBP coverage, and it's not right to just cancel most or all of the coverage and refund the premiums (without interest) if the survivor also qualifies for DIC.
The QRMC report acknowledges that SBP is heavily subsidized by the government. But since retiree premiums cover about 50% of SBP annuity payouts overall, the QRMC report recommends that SBP widows affected by the DIC offset should be allowed to keep 50% of their SBP annuity in addition to DIC. That is, they should get to keep the half that retiree premiums paid for. The QRMC proposal would apply that rule for all SBP-DIC survivors, including those whose sponsors died on active duty and never had a chance to pay any premiums. The Military Officers Association Of America (MOAA) appreciates the QRMC's effort to make an objective assessment and its acknowledgement that the current offset is inequitable. But they believe its proposal to "divide the SBP baby" misses the point. First, there are some categories of survivors who already have been exempted from the offset. Surviving spouses of members who died on active duty after 9/11 can avoid the offset by transferring the SBP annuity to their children. Second, a court decision several years ago ruled that SBP-DIC survivors who remarry after age 57 can retain both SBP and DIC. So current law is a hodge-podge of conflicting provisions that belie almost any single rationalization, and the most recent changes have been aimed at eliminating the offset for selected categories of survivors.
MOAA believes the answer is to recognize the reality that SBP is, by-and-large, a member-purchased annuity intended to replace 55% of earned retired pay in the event of the member's death (for any reason). Any caveat that members who died on active duty didn't pay premiums ignores the obvious – they paid the highest premium of all. Similarly, any argument that survivors should only get the portion of the benefit that retiree premiums funded would subvert the whole intent of SBP, which was expressly designed as a government-subsidized program to incentivize participation and maximize survivor protection. By enacting SBP, Congress acknowledged that the previous, unsubsidized survivor annuity program was inadequate. In contrast, VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a separate plan whose intent is to compensate survivors when uniformed service causes the member's death. That's what "indemnity" means. The law already recognizes that distinction by allowing some survivors to keep both payments. The route to consistency is to extend that logic to all SBP-DIC survivors, rather than applying tortured math to create a new class of "half-SBP-eligibles." [Source: MOAA Leg Up 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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BRAC Update 26: The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) study of the last completed round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) concluded that implementation costs have risen from the predicted $21 billion to $35 billion by 30 SEP 2011 when the latest round of BRAC was formally completed. (Not that there is not still fine tuning going on today). Many projects were much more expensive than predicted. These included:
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 Closing the original Walter Reed in DC and moving it to Bethesda (now called Walter Reed Military Medical Center) and a newly built hospital on Ft. Belvoir to provide “world-class medical care.” It cost $1.7 billion more than originally budgeted.
 Closing Ft. Monmouth N.J. and moving its various missions to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Meade, and Fort Belvoir cost 1.1 billion more than expected. The biggest increase when the Army realized that they needed 750,000 additional square feet of space constructed for the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Center of Excellence at Aberdeen.
 Creating 12 joint bases across the country.
 Consolidating several National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) locations to one campus on Ft. Belvoir cost $1.5 billion more than the original estimate of $1.1 billion. The original estimate did not include a needed new technology center a data-storage warehouse of 200,000 square feet and information technology equipment and software, internal communication cabling, and furnishings to outfit the new buildings.” according to the GAO.
The complete BRAC exercise was expected to save the federal government $36 billion by 2025. However with these and other additional costs the GAO states that DoD will save less than $10 billion by 2025. And who knows what further additional costs will be discovered. When the Administration requested that Congress authorize 2 additional rounds of BRAC- there was deadly silence. With this new information it is clear that Congress will not be tempted to take up the proposal anytime in the near future. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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Sequestration Update 01: Lockheed Martin, the Nation’s largest defense contractor, has publicly said they will likely notify the “vast majority” of their 123,000 workers on 2 NOV (less than 1 week before the federal election) that they are at risk of being laid off. The threat, according Walters, the company’s vice president of legislative affairs, is based on the pending sequestration of $500 billion of defense spending that is scheduled to take effect on January 2, 2013, if no agreement is reached. The Company says to Greg that they are required to give at least 60 days notice of possible lay-offs under the federal WARN Act. The sequestration would require across the board, automatic cuts in the next 10 years totaling $500 billion. $55 billion in cuts is called for in 2013. Some members of the WARN Act say that Lockheed Martin would not need to notify their total workforce and that this is a move to put political pressure on Congress and President Obama to reach a deal to stop the sequestration prior to the election. (Mr. Walter’s position as VP for Legislative Affairs lends credence to this idea.) Behind the scenes other defense contractors are said to also be threatening to issue possible lay-off notices before the election.
This may also be an attempt to force a dialog among the defense contractors and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Lockheed Martin says that they plan to send out notices to the vast majority of employees since they do not know who could be affected since, although repeatedly asked, the OMB has not provided any guidance as to how the sequestration would be implemented. Mr. Walters told POLITICO” “We’ve wanted a dialog about what sequestration could look like but as of right now, no, we have no answers from OMB.” Many members of Congress are proposing methods to stop or at least delay sequestration and the required across the board cuts for the Department of Defense or for all federal departments that would be effected. One bill H.R3662 introduced by Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and companion bill, S.2065, introduced by Jon Kyle (R-AZ) in the Senate, would pay for the 1st year of sequestration by a 10 year 10% reduction of the federal civilian workforce achieved through attrition.
While many commentators saw Lockheed’s announcement as simply a political/legislative move Bloomberg Government just published a study about the pending sequestration and concluded that:
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 Most companies will have to respond to sequestration by 1 OCT, if not sooner, by taking actions such as reducing workforces or cutting back on capital expenditures. Federal fiscal year 2013 begins on that date, and contract revenue may drop then if the Office of Management and Budget holds back funds in anticipation of sequestration.
 Small prime contractors and subcontractors may not have enough cash or credit to sustain operations in the hope that sequestration will be reversed or halted.
 How subcontractors respond will depend largely on what prime contractors do. The further removed a subcontractor is from the government customer, the fewer choices it may have.”
So this may very well not be a bluff or tactic, but the first step required of defense contractors. Certainly there will be more to come on this topic in the future. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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Tricare Prime Update 12: TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) announced the TRICARE Prime’s and the United States Family Health Plan’s (USFHP) enrollment fees set for FY2013. The fees are scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2012 the beginning of the federal government’s new fiscal year. The fees do not apply to active duty service members or their family members. They apply primarily to military retirees, their families and survivors under the age of 65. They are:
Annual
Quarterly
Monthly
Individual
$269.28
$67.32
$22.44
Family
$538.56
$134.64
$44.88
These numbers were calculated using a CY 2012 COLA of 3.6% . If you were enrolled in TRICARE Prime or the USFHP prior to October 1, 2011 you are presently paying $230 a year for individual coverage or $460 per year for Family coverage. If you enrolled after October 1, 2011 you are presently paying $250 a year for an individual and $520 for family coverage. Active Duty Survivors and Uniformed Services Medically retirees’ premiums will stay frozen at the rate that they were enrolled in and will stay “frozen” as long as the policy remains active. It is interesting to note that TMA is saying that the rates may change in the middle of the year and that they are advising beneficiaries to pay either monthly or quarterly. What this clearly means is that DoD still hopes to get their proposed increases included in the FY2013 NDAA. They are not easing up on this issue and neither should we. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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VA Secretary Update 14: Following is a joint statement by local Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter leaders and SVA’s Executive Director commending Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki for his leadership and desire to reform the VA:
"I am disheartened by recent criticisms of Secretary Shinseki, both in the media and by fellow veteran advocates,” said Michael Dakduk, Executive Director for Student Veterans of America. "Secretary Shinseki appears to be less focused on tweeting and more interested in addressing the problems that plague the VA, which he readily admits are unacceptable. Clearly, the Secretary is misunderstood by some of my peers in the veterans community.”
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The Secretary has taken a more hands on approach to engaging with this generation of veterans. He has traveled the nation to meet them in the communities where they live.
Nichole Tovar, President of the SVA Chapter at The University of Alaska Anchorage, said, "I have had the opportunity to meet him personally on two occasions. I was pleasantly surprised that after meeting him in Alaska he remembered and mentioned me during his speech at the SVA National Leadership Summit [in Madison, WI]. He shows his support by personally meeting with young veterans and taking the time to attend community town-hall meetings and ceremonies. His words of encouragement will always stay with me.”
Josh Lang, Vice President of the SVA National Leadership Council and student veteran at Shippensburg University , acknowledged that the VA has issues. He stated, "The VA is far from perfect, but I know Secretary Shinseki is working hard to fix the issues in a system that has been broken for many years. I don’t think he sits in his office contemplating ways to delay benefits for veterans. I know he wants to fix the many issues within the VA.”
Tovar continued, "He is the type of leader that believes in being amongst his troops and communicating face to face with them. I am more impressed by a man in his position appearing at the SVA conferences than I would be by his office paying someone to keep up with a twitter account. Shaking hands with him while he stressed the importance of me completing my degree has more impact than a tweet. He shows his support through actions.”
Presently, SVA is working diligently with the VA to address the GI Bill backlog and the delays in the VA-Work Study program.
Dakduk concluded, "We believe that the best way to support all veterans and truly rectify the problems in the VA is to work with the Secretary. We offer solutions, not empty criticisms.”
[Source: SVA Notice 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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VA Tinnitus Care Update 03: Dallas-based MicroTransponder Inc. reported today positive results from an early clinical trial for a wireless neurostimulation system that treats patients with tinnitus, which is commonly known as “constant ringing in the ears.” The privately held company also said it raised $2 million in angel funding to continue developing the tinnitus therapy known as the Serenity System. The treatment combines an implanted device, similar to a pacemaker, that stimulates a nerve in the neck with listening to tones. The trial, which took place in Belgium, found that seven out of 10 patients reported significant decreases in tinnitus, the company said. The improvement lasted at least two months and in some cases six months to a year. Data from the initial, 10-patient trial was presented last month at the Tinnitus Research Initiative conference in Belgium. As many as 2 million Americans suffer from severe tinnitus, according to the American Tinnitus Association, with the problem especially acute among military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 850,000 former soldiers are estimated to suffer from this ailment. No cure exists for tinnitus. MicroTransponder plans to conduct a 30-person clinical trial in the United States in 2013, said company spokesman Jordan Curnes. The company continues to raise money with another $1.5 million needed to complete trials for the Serenity System, Curnes said. For more information on the clinical trial or the tinnitus treatment, check out MicroTransponder’s web site http://www.microtransponder.com . [Source: Dallas News Hanah Cho article 5 Jul 2012 ++]
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Clark AFB Vet Cemetery Update 02: American war veterans in the Philippines are urging the U.S. Congress to pass a bill that would require Washington to repair and maintain a cemetery north of Manila where the graves of thousands of American servicemen and dependents have been covered in ash since a 1991 volcanic eruption. The head of an American veterans' group, Retired Army 1st Sgt. John Gilbert, said 4 JUL that the neglect of Clark Veterans' Cemetery is a disgrace to the memory of more than 8,000 U.S. servicemen and their dependents who are buried there. The U.S. Air Force hastily abandoned Clark Air Base, where the cemetery is located, after Mount Pinatubo's eruption. In 1994, American veterans were shocked to find the seven-hectare (17-acre) cemetery had become an ash-covered jungle of weeds, overgrown grass and debris with half of its old steel fence looted. They cleaned up the graves and have since struggled to maintain the cemetery through volunteer work and donations. Although the cemetery looks tidier today, about a foot (30 centimeters) of ash still covers it, partially burying tombstones and obscuring names, dates and epitaphs.
As America marked Independence Day, the U.S. veterans renewed their calls for Washington to fund and take charge of the cemetery's upkeep and for U.S. lawmakers to pass recently proposed legislation requiring a U.S. agency, the American Battle Monuments Commission, to manage it. The "Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act (S.2320)," which was introduced 19 APR by New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska, has received the backing of several other senators. "We have a solemn obligation to care for our fallen," said Gilbert, whose group includes hundreds of American veterans who have settled in villages outside the former Clark Air Base. "That is not happening in the case of the Clark Veterans' cemetery." Gilbert appealed to Americans to help prod the U.S. government to "right a wrong," adding many of his fellow veterans, including those who help care for the cemetery, were getting old. Several die each year and are buried at the Clark cemetery, he said.
Philippine officials have authorized the veterans' group led by Gilbert to manage the Clark cemetery up to 2030, and have said they are open to allowing any U.S. agency to manage it. Another veteran, former Navy Capt. Dennis Wright, said many Americans have provided support to the cemetery in heartwarming ways. Students in two California grade schools have donated small amounts to buy hundreds of small American flags to be used in adorning the graves, and a 10-year-old boy in Indiana has been collecting signatures in malls and public places to urge Washington to take care of the cemetery. Several American veterans' organizations have also expressed support for the bill, he said. The Clark cemetery was developed between 1947 and 1950, when it was used to collect the remains and tombstones from four U.S. military cemeteries as American officials sorted out their dead from World War II and previous wars. [Source: Associated Press Jim Gomez article 4 Jul 2012 ++]
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A private guard on 1 JUL 2011 walks through rows of more than 8,000 tombstones at Clark Veterans Cemetery inside the Clark Economic Zone, a former U.S. Air Force base in Dau, Pampanga province in northern Philippines
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California Vet Home Update 13: Two years ago Air Force veteran Cheryl Stewart, 64, began gathering books and blankets to donate to a state-run nursing home for veterans, which was scheduled to open the spring of 2012. But though the state finished building the 300-bed facility in April, the California Department of Veterans Affairs said this week the state budget crunch means no veterans will be able to move into the Fresno veterans home until OCT 2013, more than a year from now. The same is true for a new 150-bed facility in Redding that the department recently finished building, said Jaime Arteaga, a spokesman for the agency. “Right now, they're just empty buildings. They don’t even have furniture,” Arteaga said, “so we are running the air conditioner, running water through the pipes, maintaining the grounds and making sure that everything is in good repair.” The state budget signed last week by Gov. Jerry Brown sets aside $4.2 million to operate the homes over the next year, enough money to “ramp up” staffing, Arteaga said, but not enough to serve any residents.
Those funds are in addition to the $280,000 a month the agency spends simply to keep the homes from falling into disrepair while the buildings sit vacant. Assuming the Legislature increases funding for the homes next year, the agency would be able to move in eight new residents a month, Arteaga said. At that rate, it would take the department more than three years to fill the homes. According to the department, nearly 900 veterans have already expressed interest in living in the Fresno and Redding facilities. But critics say those facilities are just the latest example of waste at the agency, which has asked voters and the state legislature for money to build veterans homes
“The idea that these are just sitting empty is just a phenomenal waste,” said Amy Fairweather, policy director at Swords to Plowshares, a veterans advocacy group.
Statewide, the agency’s network of eight nursing homes for veterans house 1,697 veterans – even though they have space for 3,143 residents – leaving more than 1,400 empty beds. In addition to the Fresno and Redding veterans homes, the veterans home in West Los Angeles, where construction completed two years ago, has not received regulatory approvals to operate as a skilled nursing facility. As a result, the West Los Angeles home, with space for 396, has just 83 residents. Statewide, more than 600 veterans are on the agency’s waiting list; three-quarters of them are waiting for a place in Yountville, the agency's oldest and largest home.“We need these veterans homes," said Stewart, the Air Force veteran and commander of American Legion Post 12 in Selma, 17 miles southeast of Fresno. Of the 120 members of her American Legion post, Stewart said, just five are younger than 65.
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“These are Vietnam, Korean and World War II veterans,” she said. “We signed on the dotted line to do anything for our country including giving up our life, and they promised us health care for the rest of our lives, but they don’t take care of us.” [Source: The Bay Citizen Aaron Glantz article 5 Jul 2012 ++]
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Military Funeral: At all military funerals, a military honor detail should be present. This detail should consist of at least two active members of the Armed Forces. One of these members should belong to the same branch of the military as the deceased. This detail, though, can consist of many more people. They can be active or retired members of the military and/or members of veterans organizations. The military honor detail should fold the flag of the United States. The flag is then presented to the deceased veterans next of kin. If a next of kin is not present, the flag is given to a close friend or associate. The flag is usually presented by a military chaplain at the end of the funeral. Taps should be played at all military funerals. If possible, this composition should be performed by a bugler in the military. However, if such a bugler is not available, taps may be played by a civilian musician or by an audio recording. Taps is usually performed at the conclusion of a funeral.
According to the National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Defense is required, if requested, to provide the above-mentioned honors for the funerals of veterans. Deceased who are eligible include:
 Military members who were on active duty or in the Selected Reserve
 Former military members who served on active duty and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
 Former military members who finished at least one term of enlistment and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
 Former military members who finished a term of service in the Selected Reserve and did not receive a dishonorable discharge
 Former military members of the Selected Reserve who were discharged because of a disability
Some military funerals have a firing party that does a 3-volley salute over the grave. (In the navy, a cannon is fired.) Many confuse the firing of three volleys by riflemen at military funerals with a 21gun salute. This is not a 21gun salute, however. The origin and significance of the military custom of firing rifle volleys at funerals is interesting. During the funeral rites of the Roman Army the casting of the earth THREE times upon the coffin constituted the burial. It was customary among the Romans to call the dead THREE times by name, which ended the funeral ceremony. As friends and relatives of the deceased departed they said "Vale", or farewell, THREE times. Over time when firearms were introduced on the battlefield the custom of firing volleys was established to halt the fighting to remove the dead from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared its dead it would fire THREE volleys to indicate that the dead had been cared for and that they were ready to go back to the fight. Today, when a squad of
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soldiers fires THREE volleys over a grave, they are, in accordance with this old custom, bidding their dead comrade farewell.
A firing party is often present for military members who have died on active duty or for a person who holds the Medal of Honor. However, a firing party can also be used at the funeral of any retired member of the military. A request for military funeral honors for a veterans family should be submitted to the Department of Defense by a funeral home director. [Source: MIAP Newsletter Jul 2012 ++]
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Don’t Ask, Don't Tell Update 07: The ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee has introduced a bill that would exempt the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs from the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) proposed that the Pentagon change the definition of spouse to include same-sex couples, allowing legally married gay and lesbian service members to collect military benefits. The “Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act” would rewrite a section of the U.S. Code to change the definition of “spouse” in four areas related to recognition, support, and benefits for married service members and veterans. “If veterans or service members have a spouse of the same sex, then their spouse will be afforded the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts,” said Smith. “Spouses of service members should not be prevented from receiving the benefits they have earned simply because they are the same sex as their partner,” Smith added. “This discriminatory practice must come to an end.”
The current definition of spouse, which comes directly from the Defense of Marriage Act, refers to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife. As a result, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs can only provide limited benefits to spouses of gay or lesbian service members. The bill, H.R.6046, was introduced J27 JUN was referred to the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees. “Ranking Member Smith has recognized with the introduction of this legislation today that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal – while a monumental achievement for gay and lesbian service members and all Americans – does not finish the job of ensuring full equality for these brave patriots and their families,” said Aubry Sarvis, an Army veteran and Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). “We thank him for his leadership and urge his colleagues in both parties and in both houses of Congress to join him and us in this important fight,” said Sarvis. [Source: LGBTQNation article 2 Jul 2012 ++]
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)
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VA Homeless Vets Update 32: On 2 JUL the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the California State Library’s California Research Bureau (CRB) released their full report of California’s Women Veterans: Responses to the 2011 Survey. This is the second iteration of this survey, the first of which was conducted in 2009 at the request of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Assemblymember (now Senator) Lois Wolk. Last year, CalVet and the commission asked CRB to conduct a second survey to measure the
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current needs of women veterans and establish a baseline for service utilization. Nearly 900 women veterans participated in the 2011 survey; a considerably larger sample than the first. The survey sample included all branches of the military and eras of service from World War II to Operation New Dawn. Both former officer and enlisted women were represented.
The 43-question survey asked about needs at the time of separation from the military and about current needs in both health care and non-health care topics. It also included questions to determine knowledge of services available to women veterans and utilization of those services. Key findings from the report include the following:
 Many women veterans are unaware of state and federal services and benefits.
 Women veterans need help finding employment when they separate from the service.
 Women veterans want services geared toward their unique needs, including women-specific health care and help with military sexual trauma (MST).
CalVet and CRB will distribute the report to lawmakers, veteran service organizations and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help inform policymakers about California’s women veterans. The report can be seen and downloaded below. It also is available at http://www.calvet.ca.gov/WomenMinority/WomenSurvey.aspx or http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/12/12-004.pdf . [Source: Lake County News article 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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VRAP Update 02: Unemployed veterans may be heading back to school in mass under a federal program to get out-of-work veterans trained and back in the job market. Officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs say there has been an enormous response to a new skills-based program that pays for up to a year of education toward an associate degree or a non-college-degree or certificate. Nearly 25,000 unemployed veterans have applied for a new federal program that helps get the out-of-work trained and more competitive for the job market. In fewer than seven weeks since the VA began accepting applications for the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), 27,080 unemployed veterans have applied. That’s more than half the maximum amount the VRAP program will allow in its first year, VA spokesman Randal Noller said this week. The VA introduced the program on 15 MAY and received 12,000 applications within the first two weeks of the announcement. But while the response is encouraging, Noller said they will continue to promote the program until every slot is filled. “We are hopeful that we leverage all 45,000 ‘slots’ for FY (fiscal year) 2012 but are not letting up on our outreach efforts until all 99,000 slots through the end of the program are approved,” Noller said in an e-mail.
The program is first-come, first-serve for qualifying veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 who are unemployed at the time of the application. Veterans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits or are enrolled in a federal or state job training program do not qualify. This clause disqualifies most veterans who recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan because they qualify for other forms of relief including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance that can provide similar assistance, Noller said. Veterans who do qualify can receive up to 12 months of education assistance in high demand areas including health care, management and legal services. The VA will approve up to 45,000 veterans through September 30 of this year and up to 54,000 veterans in the next fiscal year beginning October 1. The program runs through March 2014. “It’s a very new and very fast-moving program that we’re getting out there to help veterans as quickly as possible,” Noller said. So far, 13,083 applications have been approved and thousands more pour in every week. The VA approves batches of applications every 15 to 25 days. While it’s likely that the program will reach its max by summer, Noller said it’s too early to determine an exact date and veterans should continue to apply.
One recent applicant was Chester Dixon, who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in the 1970s. Dixon, 60, barely made the cutoff age. The veteran, just a month shy of his 61st birthday, said age isn’t a factor when it
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comes to returning to school, especially when it could result in full-time work —something he hasn’t had in five years. Dixon lost his job in 2007 and said things have been tough. Despite spotty part-time work in warehousing, finances have been strained and his wife has had to carry the burden of supporting them. A few weeks ago, she retired after 42 years in teaching. A full-time job would make all the difference, he said. “It will take some pressure off my wife,” Dixon added. “Right now I’m doing the minimum and I would like to do more.” Dixon applied for VRAP at the North Metro Career Center in Atlanta, one of 68 centers in Georgia that can help veterans apply for the program. Steve Jennings, state veterans program coordinator for the Georgia Department of Labor, said they act as facilitators at organizations like the one Dixon visited. “We’ll sit with a veteran customer and help them navigate the process. In the very end, once they complete their schooling we come in on the back end of it and provide job services and of course help them find employment,” Jennings said. If approved for VRAP, Dixon said he plans to study “water waste” or “sales,” two categories listed as high-demand fields.
The program is funded through the VA. The amount is equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program, $1423 a month. In two years, The VA will spend a little above $76 million to fund the program. The total is about $17,000 for every veteran, of the 99,000 set to be in the program. The amount will skew lower if some veterans opt for programs for that take less than a year to complete, Noller said. Dixon said he knows he’s not alone. At job fairs across the country he said he’s seen unemployed veterans from all eras. It’s a challenge but he encourages himself to stay optimistic. “I stay positive because I need to be.” Dixon said about employment. “You have to continue to search and not give up.”The unemployment rate for veterans 18 and older was an average of 7.7 percent as of May 2012, one tenth of a percent below the national rate for non-veterans at 7.8 percent according to the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [Source: Associated Press article 4 Jul 2012 ++]
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Veteran Status for Guard: At least one senator is actively opposing a bill that would confer legal veteran status on National Guard and Reserve retirees who serve 20 years but have not been called to Title 10 duty. The Honor America's Guard and Reserve Retirees' Act, H.R. 1025, was introduced by Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and passed the House in October. It has stalled in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC), the committee's ranking member, reportedly is concerned that giving legal veteran status to this group of retirees, which would cost nothing, could lead to more legislation that would provide benefits that would have a cost. Pete Duffy, the NGAUS acting legislative director, said that argument has no basis. "No data has been produced that would support this irrational fear of National Guard retirees asking for further benefits," he said. "The opposition appears grounded on nothing more than bias against our community." Duffy noted that Guardsmen who are called in the wake of hurricanes or to fight wildfires could retire without veteran status. However, active-component "desk jockeys" who never leave the Pentagon would have that recognition. Walz and others have said the bill is about honoring men and women who took an oath to defend their country and were willing to serve wherever called. Duffy said NGAUS will continue to push for the legislation in hopes of connecting with those lawmakers who understand the true purpose of the bill, [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 3 Jul 2012 ++]
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Reserve Component Pay Update 01: America's citizen soldiers, who train in their hometowns for a weekend a month and two weeks a year, receive more money for one day of training at home than their fellow National Guard and Reserve members earn for a day serving in the war zone. Pentagon officials defended the pay discrepancy as incentive for National Guard and reservists who give up their weekends and must be ready on a moment's notice to serve. But it's one of many problems in the complex Guard and Reserve compensation system detailed in a new Pentagon review that recommends changes to make the salaries and benefits more equitable across
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the board. The study noted that Guard members and reservists get two day's pay for each day of weekend training - totaling four day's pay for the weekend every month. In contrast, when they are called up to active duty and are deployed overseas to Afghanistan, they get a day's pay for a day's work. As an example, an officer in the reserves or the Guard could get $407 for a day of weekend duty, but get $269 for a day on active duty, or $318 for a day deployed to Afghanistan. Enlisted members could get $171 for a day of weekend duty, $134 for a day on active duty and $161 for a day deployed to war.
The Defense Department will consider the preliminary recommendations made in the review. Solving the issue, however, is tricky because defense officials realize that one remedy would be cutting the pay that Guard and Reserve receive for weekend training at home. "That's a sensitive issue, because you're affecting what people receive," said Thomas Bush, who directed the recent review of military compensation, which included the pay problem. Bush noted that when troops - including Guard and Reserve members - go to war on active duty they get additional hostile fire pay and their salaries are tax free. But even considering those additional benefits, he said, "a day on weekend training is more money." "It doesn't make sense," he said. "It would make more sense, I think, to have a more uniform pay schedule, like the active duty has." Pete Duffy, the acting legislative director for the National Guard Association of the U.S., said changing or reducing pay for weekend warriors would face heavy opposition around the country. "It's an incentive for National Guard and Reserve members to serve," he said, adding that when members have weekend duty, most also have regular jobs, so they end up working 12 days without a day off.
Support and benefits for the Guard and Reserve have grown in recent years, after a backlash - particularly from Congress members and state leaders - during the early years of the Iraq war. Officials were furious that some Guard units were being sent to combat with equipment that was often hand-me-downs from active duty brigades. There also was a push made to beef up enticements for people to join the Guard, as the U.S. military struggled to meet the demands of both wars. The Pentagon increasingly had to tap National Guard brigades to meet the escalating demand for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, even as combat deployments were extended to 15 months and enlistment standards were lowered to meet recruiting goals. Reservists also were activated for the war, sent overseas to fill specific expertise gaps or called to fill in at bases in the United States. The review also recommended allowing Guard members and reservists to begin collecting their military retirement on the 30th anniversary of their service, as long as they have worked the equivalent of 20 years of service. Currently reservists who serve 20 years can't begin collecting their retirement pay until age 60.
The Guard and Reserve pay and benefits system has evolved over the decades into what the Pentagon review called convoluted, confusing, and frustrating. It confounds the service members as well as their commanders who have to request troops for missions and determine their duty status. That status governs their pay and benefits, but can often change monthly. According to the review, Guard and Reserve members can be called up under as many as 30 different duty statuses, making the system difficult to administer and nearly impossible for troops to navigate and understand. The review recommends paring that down to just six different classifications. Very broadly, reservists can be called to active duty for federal missions such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; or they can train and perform missions under the authority of their state, such as for forest fires or hurricanes. There are seven reserve components in the U.S. military: The Army Guard and Reserve, the Air Guard and Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve. They total more than 1.1 million members, with an operating budget of nearly $50 billion. For current pay rates refer to http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/reserve-and-guard-pay/reserve-drill-pay-calculator.html . [Source: AP Lolita C. Baldor article 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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Tricare Region West Update 02: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced 30 JUL that it has affirmed the Pentagon’s $20.5 billion contract award of the TRICARE West Region to United Healthcare, a United Health Group company. UnitedHealth is scheduled to take over the West Region contract in April 1, 2013. The Region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa (excluding Rock Island Arsenal area), Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri (except the St. Louis area), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (the southwestern corner, including El Paso), Utah, Washington and Wyoming. TriWest has blanketed the Washington area in recent weeks with ads attacking UnitedHealth and saying that “Military families deserve better.” The ads usually highlight UnitedHealth’s prior legal woes, including a $350 million settlement the insurer paid after the American Medical Association alleged it had manipulated payments to doctors. The agreement was announced in January 2009. Some ads also point to negative comments about UnitedHealth by Consumer Reports magazine, which the Minnetonka, Minnesota- based UnitedHealth has tried to deflect with positive reviews from similar sources.
TriWest owes its existence to Tricare. The company has helped manage military medical services for the past 16 years, after being founded in 1996 by David McIntyre Jr., the company’s chief executive officer and a former aide to Republican Senator John McCain. It is owned by a holding company made up of a group of nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and university hospital systems. The military health work has generated more than $20 billion in contracts for the company since fiscal 2000, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Without the contract, “it is likely” the company would shut down, McIntyre has previously said. “There are options that remain,” Scott Celley, a TriWest spokesman, said in a phone interview. He declined to comment on the company’s next moves, saying TriWest officials need to review the details of the decision.
The GAO decision found that the Defense Department’s evaluation of the competing bids “was reasonable,” Ralph O. White, the GAO’s managing associate general counsel for procurement law, said in a statement. It denied TriWest’s protest on all counts, he said. The decision expresses no view as to the merits of these firms' respective proposals. White’s office is under no obligation to consider issues such as a vendor’s prior legal settlements or Consumer Reports ratings in its review unless the Pentagon specifically said such items would play a factor in its decision-making, said Daniel Gordon, who stepped down in December as President Barack Obama’s top procurement official. Companies may file suit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims over contract disputes. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update & Bloomberg Kathleen Miller articles 3 Jul 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Funding Update 01: On 29 JUN Congress received a reprogramming request from the Defense Department to shift more than $7 billion from specifically designated programs to other program initiatives within operations. The request pulls from accounts where spending is less than previously estimated and reprograms increases into areas such as fuel costs (see below article on Navy Green Fuel) , counterterrorism for several Middle Eastern countries, and to compensate for Pakistan closing ground supply routes to Afghanistan. The National Association of Uniformed Services noted that contained in the request is the reprogramming of $708 million of available money from the Defense Health Program. According to DOD, “funds are available because of a
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significant downward spike in the private sector care (PSC) cost growth rates. Through the first 6 months of FY 2012, private sector care costs are growing at historically low rates of 0.6 percent for active duty and -2.7 percent for all other beneficiaries.”
In its request to Congress, the Department said, “The FY 2012 budget estimate assumed private sector care cost growth rates of 12.9 percent for active duty and 8.5 percent for all other beneficiaries.” With a negative rate of military medical inflation for beneficiaries, the Pentagon estimate for TRICARE costs becomes greatly excessive. “These funds,” the Department said, “are excess to Defense Health Program requirements and can be used for higher priority items with no impact to the program.” A year ago, Congress and the Department increased beneficiary cost 13 percent for TRICARE Prime, while simultaneously moving more than $500 million from the TRICARE program to fund a number of “higher priority items,” including $350 million for non-battlefield and non-military research projects. This year, it’s $708 million. While seeking to shift funds, Pentagon officials continue to assert that the costs of health care earned by military retirees in prior defense of the nation “are hurtful, taking away from the nation’s ability to defend itself.” [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 3 Jul 2012 ++]
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Navy Green Fuel: The Navy is going ahead with an initiative to power ships with biofuel, despite criticism of the cost. The “green fuel” costs nearly seven times more than conventional fuel. This month marks the first time the Navy is using biofuel in an operational setting -- sending five ships to participate in a multi-nation exercise off the coast of Hawaii. A Navy official said that sailing the so-called “Great Green Fleet” this month on the 50-50 blend of alternative and conventional fuel is part of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’ plan to have half the Navy fleet on alternative fuel by 2020. The spokesman also confirmed the fuel -- which does not require engine modifications -- costs $26 a gallon compared to $3.60 a gallon for conventional fuel. However, he pointed out the cost was for a one-day supply and that prices will drop when the Pentagon, among the country’s biggest fuel users, buys more. Members of Congress have highly criticized the Mabus’ plan because they believe DoD is not in the business of developing alternative fuels. That would be better left to the private sector. They also criticize the high costs involved. And, of course, we continue to hear top defense officials tell Congress and everybody else that health care costs are “eating them alive.” [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 3 Jul 2012 ++]
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TSP Update 31: Thrift Savings Plan funds posted positive returns for June -- a marked improvement over the past several months, which ended mostly down. Although the funds finished strong by the end of June, they experienced fluctuations during the month due to the financial turmoil in Europe, according to TSP Advisory Board Director of External Affairs Kim Weaver. Stocks, particularly the I and C funds, did not start to rise until the last day of June, when markets surged as European leaders reached a compromise on providing an aid package, Weaver said.
 The internationally invested I Fund, which rose more than 7 percent.
 The F Fund, invested in fixed-income bonds, was up 0.05. Slightly slower growth than seen in May. The F Fund has risen 7.53 percent in the past 12 months.
 The G Fund, comprised of government-backed securities was up 0.11 percent, slightly slower growth than seen in May. It has risen 1.81 percent in the past year.
 C Fund, invested in stocks on Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, gained 4.13 percent in June after finishing May nearly 6 percent in the red.
 The S Fund, invested in small and mid-size companies that track the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, posted a positive return of 3.25 percent, after finishing May nearly 7 percent in the red.
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TSP’s life-cycle funds also saw gains in June. The L Income Fund, intended for federal employees who have reached their target retirement date and have started withdrawing money, gained 1.04 percent and is up more than 2 percent over the past 12 months. The L 2020 was up 2.72 percent in June; the L2030 increased 3.32 percent; L 2040 rose 3.77 percent, and the L2050 finished June up 4.27 percent. All the life-cycle funds, which are based on projected retirement dates, have posed positive returns during the past 12 months, except the L 2050, which is down 0.76 percent compared to a year ago. [Source: GovExec.com Amanda Palleschi article 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program: The Labor Department awarded 90 grants on 2 JUL totaling more than $20 million to fund job training and support services that officials said will help more than 11,000 veterans succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded through the department's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). "Americans who have served their country should not find themselves without a home," Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis said. "The grants announced today will help these heroes find good jobs and take us one step closer to the goal of ending veteran homelessness altogether." The grants are second- and third-year awards to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations -- including faith-based and community organizations -- that demonstrated satisfactory performance during the past year, officials said. Some of the grants are set aside to serve formerly incarcerated veterans, female veterans and veterans with families who are homeless. HVRP grants provide occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. Grantees are expected to maximize available assistance and find good jobs for veterans by coordinating efforts and resources with the Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development department, as well as other national, state and local agencies, in accordance with VA's five-year plan to end homelessness for veterans and their families, officials said. Last month, Solis announced the award of 64 grants through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. Those grants -- which are separate from the 90 receiving funds today -- are first-year awards totaling more than $15 million, aimed at providing about 8,600 homeless veterans nationwide with job training. For more information on HVRP refer to http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/fact/Homeless_veterans_fs04.htm and http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/hvrp-bp.htm . [Source: DOT News Release 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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Vet Transportation Update 01: Veterans and their families will have better access to local bus, vanpool and other transportation options with $29 million in grants, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. During a conference call with reporters, LaHood said the grants will fund 64 projects in 33 states to help veterans, wounded warriors and their families find affordable rides to jobs, and job training, education, and health facilities. "Ensuring that our veterans and military families have access to quality, convenient transportation is just one way we can thank them for their service," LaHood said. "With these transportation grants, we will help connect veterans and military families with the jobs and training opportunities they deserve, as well as the medical care and other services they need, all located close to home." The Veterans Transportation and Community Living
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Initiative (VTCLI), funded and managed by the Federal Transit Administration, supports efforts by local governments and transit agencies to implement technologies -- ranging from smartphone applications to real-time transit bus locator information -- that make it easier for veterans and others to access and schedule rides on available buses, vans, taxis and other transportation systems.
The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is more than 12 percent, more than four percentage points above the national average. "America's war heroes deserve a chance to support their families, participate in their communities, receive job training and get to work," said FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff, who was in Lee County, Fla., for the announcement. "It's vitally important that we remove barriers to success by making transportation available wherever our veterans choose to live, work and receive care." For example, Lee County, Fla., is receiving $1.4 million to fund information kiosks at locations that include a new Veterans Affairs Department outpatient clinic in Cape Coral, where veterans can readily obtain real-time information on rides and schedules, day or night. Also, a $450,000 grant for the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority in Dayton, Ohio, will make it easier for returning and retired veterans and those who have disabilities to arrange for rides by phone, smartphone or on the Web, officials said. Dayton is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and 80,000 veterans, officials noted.
Rogoff said the transit administration received 81 eligible proposals requesting $41 million for this second round of the VTCLI grants, reflecting strong demand for the program. In fiscal 2011, FTA awarded $34.6 million for 55 veterans' transportation projects around the country. LaHood said the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility, which he chairs, is a partnership of federal departments working to better coordinate federal programs on behalf of people with disabilities, older adults and individuals with lower incomes. The council developed the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative, he added. For more information on VTCLI refer to http://fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_13528.html. [Source: DOT News Release 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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SBA Vet Issues Update 22: The Veterans Affairs Department proposes to change the frequency of reverifying veteran-owned firms that want to do business with VA — from once a year to every two years. The interim final rule took effect 27 JUN. The VA is the only federal agency that verifies businesses are owned and operated by a veteran before they can bid on contracts set aside for veterans. Once service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) are verified, they enter the Vet-Biz database but must be reverified every year. Other agencies rely on self-certification for SDBOC/VOSB status for set-aside contracts. "The purpose of this change is to reduce the administrative burden on SDVOSB/VOSBs regarding participation in VA acquisitions set asides for these types of firms," according to the interim final rule published in Wednesday's Federal Register. The rule also said the change is appropriate because the agency does a "robust examination" of the business owner's personal and company information to verify the company is in fact owned and controlled by a veteran. One veteran-owned business advocate said the agency had a backlog of verifications due to the current requirement to re-check veteran business owners' status every year. "The major
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problem is they waste, waste, waste time on reverification, reverification, reverification," Bob Hesser of VET-Force Task Force had told Federal News Radio in an interview earlier this year about VA's verification program. In an email 26 JUN, Hesser said the proposal was highly endorsed. "Many wanted three years but this is a good compromise," he said. [Source: Federal News Radio Jolie Lee article 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Transcatheter Aortic Valve: The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is the first VA, and only one to date, to offer an innovative, artificial heart valve. Recently approved for commercial use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Sapien heart valve made by Edwards Lifesciences is implanted through a catheter as an alternative to open heart surgery for patients with inoperable aortic valve stenosis disease. World War II Veteran Guy Pardue, 87, of Bastrop, La. received this transcatheter aortic valve on 30 MAY 2012. A member of the first Marine platoon to get the M1 rifle, Pardue, who served in the Pacific, landed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii just days after the surprise attack by the Japanese against the United States naval base. He vividly remembers the nightmarish scene, with bodies of sailors still being pulled from the horribly damaged ships. "In addition to his advanced age, Mr. Pardue suffers from congestive heart failure, carotid and coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial flutter," said Biykem Bozkurt, M.D., Ph.D., MEDVAMC Cardiology chief and professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). "We were able to offer him this life-saving device and he was ready to go home within a week."
World War II Veteran Guy Pardue, 87, dances with Nursing Coordinator Maryrose Ruma through the halls of the Surgery Clinic at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.
“Before this operation, I couldn’t take a shower without giving out. I could not breathe; just pitiful,” said Pardue. “My doctor at the Monroe VA Clinic shipped me to the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport. After some tests, they said I was in worse shape than they thought and needed to go to Houston in a hurry … Today, I feel renewed. These doctors and nurses gave me my life back – they are the best there is,” said Pardue, who is now looking forward to cooking his famous vegetable soup with okra, growing tomatoes using a secret technique, and maybe, doing some bass fishing.
Aortic valve stenosis is an age-related disease caused by calcium deposits in the valve that cause it to narrow and stiffen. As it becomes harder to pump the blood out to the rest of the body, the heart weakens. Patients experience fainting, chest pain, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, and cardiac arrest. Without treatment, symptomatic patients usually die within two years. It affects approximately 300,000 Americans. Many older or sicker patients suffering from aortic valve stenosis are considered poor candidates for conventional surgery, which requires cutting open the chest and temporarily stopping the heart. "With the aging population, the potential impact of this procedure
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is enormous. People can literally gain a new lease on life overnight.", said Faisal Bakaeen, M.D., chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the MEDVAMC and associate professor of Surgery at BCM. The valve, made of bovine tissue and stainless steel, is about the width of a pencil when it is deployed through a catheter in the femoral artery in the groin. Once it arrives at the correct spot, the valve is released, replacing the diseased one. Patients generally stay in the hospital for an average of three days, compared to seven days with open heart surgery. Surgeons and cardiologists are part of a whole team unified for this one disease process. There is very little tissue trauma and in experienced hands, it can take approximately 60 minutes " said Bozkurt.
Besides Bozkurt and Bakaeen, the MEDVAMC Heart Valve Team is a multidisciplinary team that also includes Cardiothoracic Surgeon Loraine Cornwell, M.D.; Cardiologists Biswajit Kar, M.D., David Paniagua, M.D., Hani Jneid, M.D., Alvin Blaustein, M.D., and Glenn Levin, M.D.; Vascular Surgeons Panagiotis Kougias, M.D. and Carlos Bechara, M.D.; Anesthesiologist Prasad Atluri, M.D.; radiologists; Nursing Coordinator Maryrose Ruma; and other nursing and auxiliary staff. All are specially trained to take care of this unique and complex patient population. “It was immediately apparent that this VA medical center had the teamwork to make this program work and to be successful,” said Blase A. Carabello, M.D., the Medical Care Line executive and vice chair of the Department of Medicine at BCM. “Everyone from nurses and rehabilitation specialists to imaging technicians and housekeepers focuses on the health and well-being of the patient.” Samir S. Awad, M.D., Operative Care Line executive at the MEDVAMC and associate professor of Surgery at BCM said, “This new technology could add years to the lives of our patients. We are proud the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center has some of the best doctors and nurses in the country and offers the latest, minimally invasive alternatives for our Veterans.” [Source: Houston VAMC Press Release 29 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Appeals Update 11: To assist veterans with appeals pending the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board or BVA) provides a customer service home page at http://www.bva.va.gov/OMBUDSMAN_CustomerService.asp . The Status help desk is under the Chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals and the Director of Administration. The help desk has been set up to answer your questions, give a status on your case, or direct you to the best possible referral source to answer your questions. They will monitor the issues you raise and provide that information to the Chairman and Director. This is not a chat room, so they are unable to communicate with you as you type. They do however, acknowledge, and respond to every E-mail sent. The E-mails are answered in the order in which they are received. For an Email status report on your claim before the Board o state your name, file number and request, and click on the ‘Ask a Question’ tab near the bottom of the webpage. If you claim is not before the Board, note the contact numbers or email for your appropriate Regional Office. All Facebook, Twitter, and Internet addresses will not be answered, nor will political statements, and they will be deleted. They may request verifying information to protect the privacy of our Veterans. The Board also can be reached 1-800-923-8387 M-F 09-1630 EST of by FAX: 1 -202-34-1889 or mail: Board of Veterans’ Appeals, 810 Vermont Avenue, North West, Washington, DC 20420 . For issues other than determining appeal status the following guidance is offered:
 Once BVA issues a decision (including a remand - i.e., sent back to be redone properly), it no longer has the authority to act on the appeal. Contact the Appeals Management Center (AMC) mailto:amcdirmailbox@va.gov, your local Regional Office (VARO) http://www.bva.va.gov/docs/Ombudsman_CustomerService/States.doc or your representative (if you have one to advocate on your behalf). If your residence is in a foreign country, contact the VBA Foreign Service Program http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/foreign/index.htm.
 If you are seeking legal assistance with a claim, contact your local Regional Office at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/ro/rocontacts.htm for a list of Veterans Service Organizations in your area.
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 If you owe the VA money, contact the Debt Management Center http://www.va.gov/FINANCE/dmc.asp.
 If you wish to report fraud, waste or abuse in any VA program, contact the VA Office of Inspector General http://www.va.gov/oig.
 If you have an original education claim, contact the VA Educational Benefits Program http://www.gibill.va.gov.
 If you have an original home loan guarantee claim, contact the VA Home Loan Program http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans.
 If you have an original VA life insurance claim, contact the VA Life Insurance Program http://www.insurance.va.gov/miscellaneous/index.htm.
 If you have an original claim as a surviving spouse or dependent, contact the VA Veterans Services Outreach or your local Regional Office http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/dependents/index.htm.
 If you have an original request for burial and memorial benefits, contact the VA National Cemetery Administration http://www.cem.va.gov.
 If you are seeking copies of your military records, contact the National Personnel Records Center http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html.
 If you are seeking a medal upgrade, contact the appropriate military department Public Affairs Office.
 If you are seeking information about an upgrade or review of your discharge, complete the application form at Military Discharge Upgrade http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd0293.pdf.
 If you are seeking a correction of your military records, complete the application form at Correction of Military Records http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage2137.html.
 If you would like to have a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge, consider requesting a video hearing http://www.bva.va.gov/docs/VBA-VideoHearing-WebFlyer.pdf.
[Source: http://www.bva.va.gov/OMBUDSMAN_CustomerService.asp Jun 2012 ++]
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Retirement Abroad: It’s not for everyone, but some Americans prefer to live abroad, particularly as they reach retirement age. Retiring abroad can be a way to live in luxury on a budget, making it perfect for those on fixed incomes. However, not all international destinations are created equally. If you’re looking to live in the lap of luxury on a modest income, these are the places you should be house hunting. Before choosing a country overseas to make your home, you need to consider factors other than the exchange rate. When selecting the right place for you, think about culture, language, crime rates, and political stability. Remember that you’re going to live there, possibly for years. This means a lot more planning goes in than simply having a vacation.
1. Ecuador
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You might not be thinking “Ecuador” when looking for a retirement home, but you might want to. Not only is the cost of living low – common in Latin America – real estate is also very reasonably priced (more exotic). International Living [ http://internationalliving.com/# ] reports that a couple with a spartan lifestyle can get by on about $800 monthly, while those looking to live in the lap of luxury will be hard pressed to spend more than $1,500. It’s easy to get by with nothing but the Queen’s English and there are a number of benefits for retired people, such as discounted utilities, transportation, and entry to artistic and cultural events.
2. Mexico
South of the border is another place you likely hadn’t thought of retiring, but consider the following: Not only is real estate cheap, the weather is great and there’s a huge expatriate community. The largest is around Lake Chapala, where there are more than 80 interest groups for expats living in Mexico. Perhaps the best part? You can just drive there. Load up your minivan, get yourself a place with hired help who speaks English, and start living the good life.
3. Malaysia
Malaysia isn’t just a place where you can retire on the cheap. The big cities also have all the amenities that Americans need when they decide to retire abroad. Some others are good cell phone coverage, high-speed Internet, and quality, easily traversed roads. Perhaps most attractive of all, Malaysia can be an easy place for Westerners to integrate. Malaysians are eager to practice their English, and American film is quite popular over there. The government has a program called My Second Home designed to encourage foreigners to retire in Malaysia, so take advantage.
4. New Zealand
Looking for a place to retire where you don’t have to learn a new language or try and decipher what people speaking English as a second language are trying to say. New Zealand might just be the place for you. If you’ve ever seen the Lord of the Rings movies, you know just how beautiful New Zealand can be. The land of the Kiwis also appeals to the active health nut, and it’s one of the least-polluted countries in the world. Got money to throw around. Split your time between the U.S. and New Zealand — it’s winter here when it’s summer there and vice versa.
5. Spain
Spain was the only country in Europe to be identified as a top place for expat retirees by International Living. Not only is it inexpensive, it also offers much in the way of cultural and artistic pursuits for the retired person looking to stay active. Art and architecture are literally everywhere, and you can score a top-notch, three-course meal for a $20 bill. One word of caution: The European debt crisis could easily make this one of the worst places for expats to live. For the time being, however, you can get great food and a taste of international culture on a shoe-string budget.
Getting you, your family, and your stuff abroad can be a challenge. However, with the costs of living as cheap as they are in the above-listed countries, you might find it more prudent to sell the farm lock, stock, and barrel, purchasing new stuff when you get to your destination. Always investigate local immigration and visa laws to ensure that your stay is fully legal. Then enjoy the benefits of living somewhere the dollar is still strong. [Source: MoneyTalksNews Nicholas Pell article 20 Jun 2012 ++]
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Army by the Numbers: As of Feb 2012:
 152 Retired Soldiers Over Age 100
 995 Surviving Spouses Over Age 100
 18,559 Largest Group of Retired Warrant Officers in One Pay Grade (CW4)
 77,516 argest Group of Retired Officers in One Pay Grade (O-5)
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 213,731 Largest Group of Retired Enlisted Soldiers in One Pay Grade (E-7)
 236,486 Surviving Spouses
 860,134 Retired Soldiers
 17,175,803,014 Dollars Paid to Retired Soldiers and Survivors in Fiscal Year 2011
[Source: e-Echoes Mar-Aug 2012 ++]
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SSA Military Wage Credits Update 01: The earnings of people who serve in the military services on active duty or active duty for training have been covered by Social Security since 1957. Inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves [such as weekend drills] has been covered since 1988. However, people who served in the military before 1957 did not pay into SS directly. Veteran’s records are credited with special earnings [wage credits], depending on when they served which for SS purposes count toward any benefits that might be payable. Those in the military service from 1957 on paid SS taxes the same way as civilian employees do. Those taxes are deducted from you pay and an equal amount is paid by the U.S. government as your employer. You must have credit for a certain amount of work covered by SS before any benefits can be paid on your record. The number of credits you need to qualify for benefits depends on your age and the type of benefit you might be eligible for. Nobody needs more than 40 credits. In some cases you can qualify with less than 40 credits. The amount you get from SS depends on earnings averaged over much of your working lifetime. Generally, the higher the earnings, the higher your benefits.
The wage credits for military personnel can help you qualify for SS or increase the amount of your benefit. Credits are granted for periods of active or active duty training only. Social Security cannot add extra wage credits to your earnings record until you file for SS benefits. Wage credits are granted for
 Service in 2001 to date. None
 Service in 1978 to 2001. For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1200 per year. If you enlisted after 7 SEP 80, and didn't complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings.
 Service in 1957 thru 1977. You are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active duty basic pay.
 Service in 1940 thru 1956. For military service inclusive of time spent in a military academy your record may be credited with $160 a month in earnings from 16 SEP 1940 thru 1956 under the following circumstances
(1) You were honorably discharged after 90 or more days of service, or you were released because of a disability or injury received in the line of duty; or
(2) You are still on active duty; or
(3) You are applying for survivor’s benefits and the veteran died while on active duty.
You cannot receive credits if you're already receiving a federal benefit based on the same years of service unless you were on active duty after 1956. In this situation you are eligible to receive the credit for 1951 thru 1956 even if you are drawing a military retirement based on these years. Congress ended wage credits JAN 02 under Public Law 107-117 NDAA after deciding that service members are better paid today and that wage credits were losing their importance and value.
Every applicant for SS benefits is asked to note their or their sponsor’s military service on the application and to show proof, either a DD 214 or W-2. If a person has difficulty in producing those documents SSA will assist them by contacting the armed services and requesting some kind of verification of military wages. Every veteran or military widow drawing Social Security today might want to check with SSA to verify if the wage credits were used
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in setting benefits, not just noted on an application. You are entitled to reimbursement from the time you started drawing SS and to an increase in your monthly SS check if the wage credits were not used in computing your entitlement. You can get both SS and military retirement. Generally there is no offset for SS benefits because of your military retirement with the exception of SBP. You'll get your full SS benefit based on your earnings. However, your benefit may be reduced if you also receive a government pension you didn't pay SS taxes on. This is covered in SS Pub No. 05-10045. Use http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm to access SS information on the Internet or call 1-800-772-1213. [Source: Various Jun 2012 ++]
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Locksmith Scam: Each day up to 250,000 Americans make emergency calls to locksmiths. And judging by the Yellow pages or an online search, there’s plenty of help nearby. For instance in Silver Springs Maryland, the telephone directory lists five locksmiths on the same street. In reality these addresses are for a dry cleaner and four restaurants. A few states away, within a three mile radius 12 locksmiths are listed online. These addressees include a school, a supermarket, two pizzerias, and a clump of trees. Only one is for an actual locksmith; the others may be scammers waiting to get your call.
The prevalence of locksmiths is a scam that is only growing, says Jim Hancock of the Association of Locksmiths of America (AOL), whose 6,000 members must pass background checks. Besides the thousands of honest pros (who generally charge about $100 to pick a lock), there are many more rip-off artists. In addition to phony addresses they often have toll-free phone numbers. “The overwhelming majority of locksmiths with an 800 number are not legitimate,” says Hancock. Typically, your connected to a call center. You may be quoted a price as low as $15 and assured that a locksmith is en route. In reality the prop arrives in a van with no fixed address and a scam in mind.’ The fraudsters usually say they can’t open the door and need to drill or break the lock and install a replacement,” says Hancock. The work is faulty plus expensive -- often$1,000 or more, and demanded in cash. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself -- and your door:
 First, find a reputable locksmith before you need one. Get references from friends and neighbors, the Better business Bureau or at http://www.aloa.org Log the details into your Cellphone.
 Avoid any firm that answers the phone with a generic phrase such as “locksmith services” rather than with a specific company name.
 Be wary of locksmiths who arrive in unmarked cars or vans. Legitimate locksmiths usually have a van with the company name.
 Ask for the ID with name and address. ALOA members carry a membership card and can be vetted at 214-819-9733. Only 14 states and some cities require that on all service calls locksmiths carry proof that they are licensed. Licensing states are AL, CA, Maryland has adopted , nut not yet implemented licensing.
 Get a written estimate on company letterhead, with mileage charges, minimums and other fees, before work begins. Get a receipt after you pay.
 If you’re told the lock has to be drilled and replaced, find another locksmith. Experienced and legitimate locksmiths can unlock almost any door.
[Source: AARP Bulletin Scam Alert Sid Kirchheimer article Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 70: Questions still linger over claims made by an Arkansas 3rd district congressional candidate who said he served as a Green Beret even though official records did not substantiate his entire story. Kenneth Aden, a former Army staff sergeant who is running in Arkansas’ 3rd District as a Democrat against incumbent Rep. Steve Womack, has said in interviews that he served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Green Beret. Aden’s campaign has circulated several documents to support his claim, including June 2008 orders
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awarding him a Special Forces military occupation specialty, or MOS. But according to a spokeswoman for the Special Warfare Training Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., that order tells only half the story. The other half would be the subsequent order rescinding that MOS, said Jennifer Martin. “When the students were entering the 18 Bravo training they would issue the orders [for the 18B MOS], and if they didn’t pass the training they would issue new orders to revoke” the first, Martin said. She said the Training Center has directed a copy of the revocation order be located and pulled from the storage files.
Ken Aden
Aden did not respond to Military.com’s request for an interview but acknowledged in a statement released 28 JUN by his campaign that it had “misspoke about serving with a Green Beret unit.” But the candidate also insisted he earned the Special Forces designation. Aden’s campaign released a statement in response to an article published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on 28 JUN questioning his SF background. Campaign spokesman Vince Leibowitz defended Aden’s claims in phone calls and emails to Military.com over several days. Leibowitz said Fort Bragg officials are mistaken, that Aden successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course -- known as “the Q-Course” -- and became a Green Beret. “The orders were not temporary, and the 18B MOS was listed on his DD-214,” Leibowitz said, referring to the military document that represents a snapshot of a servicemember’s career. He said Aden maintained the MOS throughout his service and that it was noted on multiple documents. The documents Leibowitz provided included the second page of an evaluation report and a recommendation for an Army Commendation Medal.
Because Aden was injured very soon after completing the course -- losing parts of two fingers on one hand when a door slammed on it -- he was never assigned to a Special Forces unit, said Leibowitz. Instead, Aden was reassigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. The DD-214 released by the campaign lists Iraq as a duty assignment and also notes an 18B Special Forces weapons sergeant MOS underneath his 11C specialty code. There are no references to Afghanistan, where he said he also served. The military education block makes no reference to SF training and there is no listing of an SF Tab authorization in the box for decorations, medals and badges. When asked by Military.com to provide a copy of the diploma given to each graduate of the Q-Course Leibowitz said Aden could not find it and would have to order a copy from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, which houses veterans’ service records.
Word that Aden was embellishing his service record first broke on the blog ThisAintHell, according to retired Special Forces Master Sgt. Jeff Hinton, who regularly “outs” phony veterans on his own website, http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/. Hinton said he began contacting his own sources in the Special Forces community and quickly learned that Aden wasn’t being honest about his Green Beret background. “Ken Aden is just another example of a fraud using the Green Beret reputation for political gain,” Hinton said. “Aden, like many others, has been exposed by the real Green Berets. We are not fooled or amused and as Aden now knows, we are watching.” [Source: Military.com| Bryant Jordan article 29 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 71: The former director of counseling at a nonprofit for veterans in Houston was charged by the Houston Division of the United States District Court with altering his military discharge papers after the Houston Chronicle reported that he had been lying about his Army record and falsely claiming a Silver Star and other medals. A federal grand jury indicted Paul A. Schroeder, 40, of The Woodlands, on 28 JUN for unlawfully possessing and exhibiting a certificate of discharge from the military, “knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered.” The misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Paul A. Schroeder
In his job at the nonprofit PTSD Foundation of America, Schroeder mentored veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and led group therapy sessions at local churches and the Star of Hope Mission. He also lectured at least half a dozen times at the Houston Police Academy as part of a post-traumatic stress awareness program for officers and cadets. The Army veteran portrayed himself as a highly decorated Special Forces sergeant first class who suffered from PTSD after serving in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Central and South America. In fact, Schroeder had served 10 years as a military policeman stationed in New York, Panama and Texas. He left the Army as a sergeant in February 2001, before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan even started. Schroeder resigned from PTSD Foundation in February after confessing to a Chronicle reporter that he had lied about his record. In an interview with the Chronicle at the time, he said he didn’t know why he misled people about his service record and medals. “You can call it a desperate act of a desperate man,” he said. “… I’m trying to do the honorable thing now.” [Source: Houston chronicle article 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 72: The high court ruled 6-3 on 28 JUN to toss out the conviction of Xavier Alvarez, a former California politician who lied about being a decorated military veteran. He had been charged under the 2006 Stolen Valor Act, which made it a crime to lie about receiving the Medal of Honor and other prestigious military recognitions. The decision invalidated the law, as the justices ruled Alvarez’s fabricated story was constitutionally protected speech. The law was inspired by the 1998 book “Stolen Valor” by B.G. “Jug” Burkett, a Vietnam veteran. The government had argued the law was a needed tool to protect the integrity of military medals. The ruling was issued the same day as the high court’s landmark decision upholding President Obama’s signature health care overhaul. While much of the nation watched with rapt focus on what would become of the law that requires every American to have health insurance, many people in military communities were more focused on the ruling on the Stolen Valor Act. Following are some reactions to the ruling:
 Jack Jacobs can proudly — and truthfully — say he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in Vietnam. After a recent Supreme Court ruling, anyone else is free under the First Amendment to make the same claim, whether it’s true or not. Some military veterans say they consider the ruling a slap in the face. For Jacobs, though, it was the right decision. He said he wore the uniform to protect people’s rights — even if he doesn’t agree with how they exercise those rights. “There are lots of things people do that revolt me,
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but I’m happy that I fought for this country not to give them the right to do something stupid, but for the majority of the people to do the right thing,” said Jacobs, 66, who earned the Medal of Honor in 1969 for carrying several of his buddies to safety from a shelled rice field despite the shrapnel wounds in his head, the streaming blood clouding his vision. “I’m a free speech guy,” he said.
 For 87-year-old Murel Winans, lies about service can cause real harm and lead people to doubt the veracity of claims made by people who actually served during wartime. He said he didn’t buy the free speech argument. “You feel like you never earned it, because when you tell someone what you’ve done, they’ll say, ‘you’re lying just like those other guys,’” said Winans, 87, who described himself as a “fresh young hillbilly from West Virginia” when he landed on Normandy’s Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 — his 19th birthday.
 Emotions ran high in Fayetteville, home to the 251-square-mile Fort Bragg. About 38 percent of North Carolina’s population is either currently in the service, a veteran or a dependent of one, according to the N.C. Department of Administration. The state is also home to the sprawling Camp Lejeune, known for its training in amphibious assaults like the one at Normandy. “My boys are out there giving their heart and soul,” said Rose Moore, whose son is stationed in Afghanistan. “To have someone say they did it and they didn’t do anything — it’s a lie, it’s dishonest.”
 Army Capt. Albert Bryant acknowledged that he was disappointed, saying the lies can detract from people who earn something like the Medal of Honor. However, his disappointment was somewhat tempered. “I know it’s the First Amendment, but maybe you need to have an amendment to the amendment to protect our enlisted men and women,” Bryant said. “Very few things in life are black and white so you have to take certain things in context, but there has to be some kind of common sense applied.”
 The decision doesn’t give anyone carte blanche to lie about their service record in an effort to get free perks, however. Anyone who fabricates any honors can still face fraud charges, which is what happened to former Marine Sgt. David Budwah in 2009. He was demoted to private and dishonorably discharged after pretending to be a wounded war hero to get free seats at rock concerts and sports events.
 Twenty-year Army veteran Raymond Hunt said the justices made the right move in protecting free speech. He said it’s enough that Alvarez has been publicly shamed. “For the rest of his life he has to walk around with that look on his face and know that he was the biggest liar in the country on something that is so sensitive to our country,” Hunt said.
 Retired Army Lt. Hal Fritz said the court treated those medals as something abstract. But for him, it’s a memory. Fritz was leading a seven-vehicle armored column down a Vietnam highway in 1969 when enemy combatants launched a surprise attack from all sides. Fritz was seriously wounded in the crossfire, but ran through the machine gun blasts to rally his troops. After his platoon survived the first wave, Fritz charged into a second enemy advancement armed with only a pistol and a bayonet. He was seriously wounded, but refused medical attention until all of his men had been cared for. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1971. “We would disagree with the majority saying lying about receiving the medals doesn’t devalue them,” said Fritz, 68, who now lives in Illinois. “I would say go back with me to Vietnam dragging the dead and dying off the battlefield.”
 The Medal of Honor is among the rarest of honors: Only 81 of the 3,457 recipients since the Civil War are still living. Of those, only three are younger than 35, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Of those interviewed, the Medal of Honor recipients agreed that Congress should try again to pass a similar law that would survive judicial scrutiny. That didn’t ease the anger of people like Vietnam veteran Richard A. Pittman, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968. He had left his platoon to help Marines under fire, exhausting several machine guns before hurling his final weapon at the enemy: a grenade. His actions halted the Vietnamese advancement and bought time that saved many of his wounded companions. “I’m supportive of the Constitution, but in this case I just think they’re wrong,” said Pittman, 68, who now lives in California. “I wonder what the Supreme Court would think if part of my resume said I was a member of the Supreme Court or I answered my phone ‘Justice Pittman.’“
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[Source: The Associated Press Allen Reed article 1 Jul 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 73: Lawmakers upset over the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Stolen Valor Act last month are today pushing for a new version of the legislation, making it illegal for individuals to benefit from lying about their military service or receiving valor awards. The previous Stolen Valor Act, passed in 2005, made any lie about military service or awards a federal misdemeanor. But the Supreme Court justices ruled the law was too broad, infringing on individuals’ free speech rights. However, in their decision the justices noted that a more narrow measure – one that only punished those who profit from the fraud – could withstand a constitutional challenge. Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) and Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) already introduced such legislation in anticipation of the Supreme Court decision, and have begun lobbying fellow lawmakers to adopt it before the end of the year. Veterans groups disappointed over the decision have said they believe the new law is an easy fix and an easy sell, even with the bitter partisan divides in the current Congress. Under the new bills, most frauds could face fines and up to six months in prison for profiting from lies about their military service. However, individuals who falsely claim to have served in the special forces, served in a combat zone or received the Medal of Honor would face up to a year in prison. [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 10 Jul 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 74: On 11 JUL, in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in the United States v. Alvarez case that struck down the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 on Freedom of Speech grounds, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced S.3372 “The Military Service Integrity Act of 2012.” If passed this new law would create criminal penalties for falsely claiming to have served in the military or to have been awarded a military medal, decoration “in order to secure a tangible benefit or a personal gain.” According to the Senator’s office, “The legislation encompasses such tangible benefits or personal gains as communications in pursuit of government benefits related to military service; a resume or other communication in the pursuit of employment or professional advancement; communications for which financial remuneration is involved; and those designed to affect the outcome of criminal or civil court proceedings or to impact one's personal credibility in a political campaign.” The bill also includes sanctions dating back to 1947 making it a crime to “manufacture, sell, attempt to sell, import, or export U.S. military decorations or medals authorized by Congress for the armed forces except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law.”
Senator Webb said that the bill has been drawn up to follow the Supreme Court’s decision. He stated: “Profiting from the misrepresentation of military service or the award of a decoration or medal for personal gain undermines the value of service and is offensive to all who have stepped forward to serve our country in uniform. The Supreme Court has outlined a very clear way forward to bring accountability to such reprehensible actions. The legislation I am introducing will do so within the scope of the protections offered to all Americans under the First Amendment.” There are also 2 other bills pending in the House and Senate that are intended to deal with this problem. In the fall of 2011 Senator Scott P. Brown (R-MA) and Representative Joseph J. Heck (R-NV) were obviously concerned that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was going to be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court (It had, after all, already been held unconstitutional by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.) They introduced companion bills titled “Stolen Valor Act of 2011.” The Senate bill, S.1728, has 29 co-sponsors and the House bill, H.R.1775, has 79 co-sponsors. They are simpler bills that do not include provisions concerning the manufacturing of unauthorized medals and decorations. These bills are hopefully an indication that a bill can be crafted that will not be successfully challenged and these awards of valor will be protected. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 13 Jul 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 75: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) A Navy Reserve recruiter and wannabe country music star has been charged with wearing the Distinguished Flying Cross and another award he didn’t earn, and lying about them to investigators. Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (NAC) Grady Wayne Nations, 43, was charged 8 JUN with violating Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for wearing a DFC and a Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon. He wore the DFC between Jan 1, 2010, and Sept. 23, 2011, and the Coast Guard ribbon from Jan 19, 2008, to Sept. 27, 2011, the charges state. He also is accused of lying under Article 107 for presenting the allegedly forged DFC certificate to his command “on or about Sept. 20, 2010,” for inclusion in his record. He’s also is accused of lying to investigators by saying he believed the certificate was valid and he was authorized to wear the award when he knew otherwise. His trial is tentatively set for Aug. 13, and sources told Navy Times he could face up to 12 years confinement if convicted on all charges.
Grady Wayne Nations
Not only did Nations allegedly submit the forged DFC certificate to his superiors, they apparently approved it and sent it on to Navy Personnel Command, where it was included in his permanent service record. NPC officials said quality control of documents lies with the submitting commands, though they do investigate when the authenticity of records is in question. It’s not uncommon for such documents to include awards and qualifications that are not documented elsewhere, officials say. They stressed that it is up to the submitting commands to verify the information on those documents prior to sending them to NPC. Because Nations’ end-of-service document was updated in his permanent record at the same time the allegedly forged DFC certificate was put there, a number of other awards listed on that document that don’t have other substantiating entries were called into question. For a year after the update, Nations freely wore the DFC ribbon and occasionally the medal until some peers at NOSC Nashville contacted Navy Times to find out whether the award was real. They knew the certificate was in his record, but no one had actually seen it — Nations, they said, held it close. At the time of the alleged DFC award, Nations was a third class petty officer at Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 in Norfolk, Va. The certificate cites action that took place Nov. 11, 1991, and says the award was approved Dec. 30, 1991. There is no mention in Nations’ service record that indicates he deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991, or ever, during his nearly four years at VRC-40, according to NPC. [Source: NavyTimes Mark D. Faram article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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Arlington National Cemetery Update 37: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) A House subcommittee moved 27 Jun 2012 to prevent fragmented and unidentifiable remains of combat veterans from ever again being discarded in a landfill by creating a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery, similar to the Tomb of the Unknowns, to hold
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the pieces. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), the chief sponsor of H.R.5735, said the measure is in direct response to the discovery that fragments were cremated by the Dover Air Force Base mortuary and taken to a landfill in Maryland. Since that incident was first reported by the Washington Post in 2011, the military has changed its policies for handling unidentifiable remains. They are now cremated and the ashes are spread at sea. Stivers, who served 26 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, said burial at sea might be “satisfactory” for Navy and Marine Corps veterans but “some soldiers and their families would like a different solution for their loved one.”
The Place of Remembrance would be built to hold cremated fragments of remains of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and remains from future wars or contingency operations, in cases where no identification is possible or when families have indicated they do not want to be consulted on the disposition of fragments of remains. This could happen when additional fragments are discovered after burial or cremation. Stivers initially wanted to call the structure the Tomb of Remembrance, but decided to change the name to avoid confusion with the Tomb of the Unknowns. The bill, passed by voice vote, also includes a provision covering the conduct of funeral services at national cemeteries that provides for the display of any religious symbols chosen by a families, and a provision barring veterans convicted of serious sex crimes from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery or national veterans’ cemeteries unless their conviction was commuted by the president or governor.
The Army supports creation of the Place of Remembrance. In a written statement, the Army said one of the “most dignified ways” to handle fragments of remains that are unidentifiable by DNA or other means “is to release them into an ossuary, a receptacle for burying human remains.” Army officials also agreed that Arlington National Cemetery “is the natural place to preserve the remains and memories of our unknown service members.” The ossuary would be constructed with Defense Department funds. No cost estimates were provided. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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DoD Monument Policy: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) There will be no monuments to sitting members of Congress on any Defense Department property, Pentagon officials have decided. In a victory for Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), who had been pushing to prevent buildings, training facilities or monuments from bearing the name of lawmakers who helped get funding, the Defense Department had decided to make the ban official. Turner had a provision placed in the 2012 defense authorization bill banning the practice, and had another provision placed in the House version of the 2013 defense bill also trying to force the Defense Department to make the change. The new policy took effect 17 JUN. Turner was notified in a letter, dated 19 JUN, from Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition. Tuner released the letter on 27 JUN, and issued a statement saying he was glad to hear that the Defense Department has finally implemented this policy. “Taxpayer’s dollars should not be going towards monuments for currently serving elected officials,” Turner said in the statement. The problem, Turner said, is that “naming infrastructure after sitting members is a clear conflict. These are taxpayer’s dollars and it gives the wrong impression if the buildings or operations are affiliated with an elected official who’s currently still in office.“It gives the appearance that the member has funded the infrastructure rather than the taxpayer,” he said. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Data Breaches Update 46: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The Veterans Affairs Department would have 10 days to notify
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veterans and the general public of data breaches that could lead to identity theft, under a bill passed 27 JUN by a House subcommittee. The bill, H.R.3730, was approved by voice vote by the oversight and investigations subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Currently VA tries to notify veterans of a data breach within 10 days, but there is no legal requirement to do so, and no policy about making a public announcement. Sponsored by Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), the bill requires both a public announcement of the data breach and individual notification to veterans whose information was lost or stolen. Both notifications must be done within 10 days of the VA secretary learning of the data breach. This is a slight modification of Donnelly’s original bill, which proposed full notification within five days of a breach, which in some cases might be impossible if the VA was not yet even aware the data was lost or stolen.
The nation’s largest veterans organization, the American Legion, supports the Veterans’ Data Breach Timely Notification Act. “With the rising tide of identity theft and other cybercrimes, veterans have as many concerns about the security of their personal information as any other citizen,” said Lori Perkio, an assistant director for the Legion. “While every measure must be taken to ensure the security and integrity of personal information entrusted to the government, equally as important is the need to deal with any potential breaches when they occur,” Perkio said. “Often in such cases, the best thing to do is to proactively reach out to everyone affected and loudly and publically get the word out so the affected parties can act in their best interest.” [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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Burn Pit Toxic Emissions Update 21: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Over objections from the Veterans Affairs Department, a House panel voted 29 JUN to create a registry of people exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals from open burn pits while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The registry would be used to monitor the health of service members and veterans to determine if there are any ill effects from being close to or downwind of the open fires used to dispose of solid waste in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the Defense Department has moved to install commercial-grade incinerators to dispose of solid waste, some open burn pits are still used in remote locations in Afghanistan. The risk of exposure to smoke and fumes from the burns have not been fully determined. The health subcommittee of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee passed H.R.3337, the Open Burn Pit Registry Act, sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) who has been pushing for the creation of a database to track veterans' health and give them more information, as well as pressing the Defense Department to do more research into the potential health effects of burn pit smoke.
Akin's bill gives VA 180 days to establish the registry, and also requires periodic notifications to people on the list of developments in study and treatment of conditions linked to exposure to toxic chemicals. This is the second burn pit bill moving through the House of Representatives. The 2013 defense authorization bill passed by the House earlier this year includes a provision ordering the Defense Department, rather than VA, to maintain the burn pit registry. The public information campaign is a key element of the bill and so is the requirement for independent scientific research into exposure, said Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY) the health subcommittee chairwoman. Buerkle said studies done so far have been restricted by small sample sizes. VA, however, doesn't see the need for the registry. Officials say there are other ways to identify and track Iraq and Afghanistan veterans exposed to burn pits without a special registry - and they are not convinced burn pits even posed a serious problem. VA officials told the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, which is considering similar legislation, that an independent report by the Institute of Medicine "identified air pollution, rather than smoke from burn pits, as the most concerning potential environmental hazard." [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 71: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) A House subcommittee has drastically scaled back legislation to protect the jobs of disabled veterans who need time off from work for service-connected medical treatment. The House Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity subcommittee on 26 JUN approved a bill, H.R.3524, barring employers from discriminating against disabled veterans in terms of employment, seniority and benefits if they take time off for treatment of their military-related health issues. However, it would not cover workers hired for brief periods if “there is no reasonable expectation” of permanent or extended employment. And an employer could still let a worker go if keeping the disabled veteran becomes “impossible or unreasonable.” Business with 11 or fewer employees would not have any obligations under the law.
As originally introduced by Rep. Bruce Braley of Iowa, the subcommittee’s ranking Democrat, the bill provided for veterans to be absent from work for a cumulative 12 weeks over a 12-month period without fear of losing their jobs, although an employer would not have to pay them for all of the time off. The revised bill, which passed the subcommittee by voice vote, is far more limited. It provides no additional time off for anyone also covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, which covers people working for businesses with 50 or more employees and gives them up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Under the revised Disabled Veterans Employment Protection Act, those not covered by FMLA would be eligible for four weeks of unpaid leave without fear of losing a job if the business has at least 12 employees. Those covered by FMLA could take no more than the 12 weeks provided under that law.
Rep. Marlin Stutzman R-IN), the economic opportunity panel chairman, said the revisions were done “to strike the proper balance between businesses and employees.” Ryan Gallucci of Veterans of Foreign Wars, who last week warned that making employers provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave to disabled veterans could discourage companies from hiring the veterans, said modifications answer some of his concerns, but he still doesn’t think the bill addresses the issue of needing time off for medical treatment. “The problem has to do with the VA’s limited appointments,” he said. “VA is basically telling people you have to take time off during a workday for an appointment, which is not good for the veteran or the employer. If they expanded their hours to evenings and weekends, it would be better for veterans trying to hold down a job and take care of their medical needs.” [Source: MilitaryTimes Rick Maze article 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 72: The Justice Department announced 2 JUL it is awarding $111 million in grants to hire 800 U.S. military veterans for law enforcement positions. The grants, awarded by the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Service, are part of President Barack Obama's initiative to put veterans to work in jobs utilizing skills they learned in the military, a news release from the office said. "Today, we step up our support for recent veterans by offering them the chance to pursue meaningful careers in law enforcement," Attorney General Eric Holder said. "At a time of budget shortfalls, these grants will provide opportunities for much-needed, highly-trained professionals -- with a proven commitment to service -- to continue their careers in communities all across the country." The funds will create more than 600 new law enforcement jobs and will save another 200 positions in jeopardy of being cut or recently lost due to local budget cuts, the release said. [Source: Military.com article 3 Jul 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 73: The VFW announced that its partly owned veterans jobs board has secured an exclusive employment initiative with Alberta, Canada, that could see thousands of skilled U.S. veterans heading north to work on their oil pipeline. “Though America’s Keystone Pipeline is delayed, the Canadians are moving forward on their side of the border and have an immediate need for tens of thousands of workers,” said Ted Daywalt, founder and CEO of VetJobs. There is an anticipated shortage of 114,000 workers in the Alberta area. The positions being offered are long term, with many paying as much as 30 percent more than similar industry positions in the United States. Some positions will require a move to Canada, but many others will allow veterans to commute — working several weeks in Canada, then one week back home. “This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m proud of our affiliation with VetJobs,” said VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer. “Helping thousands of veterans to get well-paying jobs in an important industry just further proves that no one does more for veterans than the VFW.” To apply, go to http://www.vetjobs.com , click on Search Jobs, then type “opportunity awaits” into the company search field. Additional job postings will be added in the coming months as the Canadian pipeline project progresses. To read the VFW’s full statement on the announcement, refer to http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2012-Articles/CANADA-WANTS-U-S-VETERANS-FOR-PIPELINE-WORK/. [Source: VFW Washington Weekly 6 Jul 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 74: On 11 JUL legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Jeff Denham (R-CA) and original co-sponsor Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous support. That vote came 2 days after the House passed the legislation. The Act should make it easier for veterans to find jobs using skills acquired through military. The bill will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Earlier this year, Denham and Walz introduced H.R.4155, the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act, to address the unacceptably high rate of veteran unemployment by streamlining the federal certification process and cutting through the bureaucratic red tape, making it easier for veterans to utilize the skills they acquired in the military to find work at home. When the House was considering the bill Representative Denham explained: “Rather than forcing veterans to go through redundant training for jobs they are already qualified for, this legislation directs the head of each federal department and agency to treat relevant military training as sufficient to satisfy training or certification requirements for federal license. Veterans with the relevant training would be eligible to receive a federal license and get back to work immediately” After its passage by the Senate the sponsor and cosponsor had the following comments:
 Representative Walz said: “Today marks a giant step forward towards promoting opportunity and prosperity for our returning veterans, while at the same time improving the efficiency of our government. We must do all we can to ensure our veterans are finding careers that give them the opportunity to utilize their skills, support their families, and have passion for their work. This bill will work to do just that and I’m pleased that both parties were able to work together in bipartisan fashion and send this common-sense bill to the President’s desk to become law. The work does not end here, however, and I will continue to fight for ways to ensure our brave warriors are able to find good paying jobs when they get home.”
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 Rep. Denham said, “America is blessed with the strongest, most capable and professional military in the world. Unfortunately for many of our returning veterans, transitioning into the civilian workforce means a battle with joblessness. The federal government has invested in our service members and should do everything it can to ensure that they can put their skills to work. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle to uphold our commitment to our veterans and ensure a seamless transition to civilian life.”
The federal government issues licenses in the areas of aerospace, communications, energy and maritime. Companion legislation was subsequently introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) in the Senate as S.2239, the Veterans Skills to Jobs Act of 2012 [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 13 Jul 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete :
 July 18, 2012. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations, will hold a hearing on the backlog of pending disability claims. 10:00 A.M., 2247 Rayburn House Office Building
 July 18, 2012. HVAC, Disability and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, will hold a hearing entitled: “Invisible Wounds: Examining the Disability Compensation Benefits Process for Victims of Military Sexual Trauma.” 2:00 P.M; 334 Cannon House Office Building
 July 25, 2012. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the House Armed Services Committee will hold a joint hearing titled “Back from the Battlefield: DOD and VA Collaboration to Assist Service Members Returning to Civilian Life.” 10:00 AM; 2118 Rayburn HOB
 August 2, 2012 (Tentative). HVAC, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations may hold a joint hearing to discuss the SDVOSB/VOSB certification process.
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 12 Jul 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 107: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released a special report in JUN titled, Parity for Patriots: The Mental Health Needs of Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families. The report calls for Purple Heart medals to be awarded for psychological wounds like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and for military commanders at all levels to be accountable for suicide prevention and elimination of stigma. "NAMI is drawing a line in the sand with the Department of Defense," said NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. "Troops with invisible wounds are heroes. It's time to honor them. It will also strike a tremendous blow against the stigma that often discourages individuals from seeking help when they need it." The full report is available online at
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http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Public_Policy/Policy_Reports/ParityforPatriots.pdf . It includes statistics, tables and charts including:
 One in five active duty military personnel have experienced symptoms of PTSD, depression or other mental health conditions
 One active duty soldier dies by suicide every 36 hour and one veteran every 80 minutes
 Suicides have increased within National Guard and Reserve forces, even among those who have never been activated and are not eligible for care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
 More than one third of military spouses live with at least one mental disorder
 One third of children with at least one deployed parent have had psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and acute stress reaction
 The report's call to action includes increasing the VA's service capacity and having the U.S Department of Health & Human Services fully implement the 2008 mental health insurance parity law.
The report also calls on all Americans to "reach out, listen and care" to help veterans in need. "Simple things make a difference" said Fitzpatrick. "Give veterans rides, watch their children or grant them extra time off from work in order to make it possible for them to get treatment. Our troops don't leave wounded comrades behind. Don't leave veterans or their families behind." [Source: NAMI Website www.nami.org 2 Jul 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 108: The most common misconception about post-traumatic stress disorder is that there is no effective treatment. Dr. Matthew Friedman, executive director of the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD, is working to get the word out that it's "very treatable." PTSD is more prevalent among service members today, with 17 percent to 20 percent of the troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from it, he said. But studies have shown that 80 percent of those, given proper treatment, are without symptoms after five years. The disease itself is far from new. "Homer was a vet," he said. "Achilles showed signs of PTSD." For centuries, he said, it was "the turf of poets and novelists." Shakespeare wrote about it, as did Charles Dickens. It was during the Civil War that doctors coined the term, "soldier's heart." The idea was that a soldier's heart rate, blood pressure and pulse rate were altered by war, and that led to personality changes.
Over the years, the disorder has had several names — shell shock, combat fatigue, combat exhaustion — but it has evolved to be understood as having psychological and physiological roots. The increase in PTSD patients is tied to the large number of military reservists serving in combat, Friedman said. Having social support — as full-time military personnel do — is one of the things that can prevent a traumatic event from escalating into PTSD, he explained. For those on active duty, the military is their life and their job. "Citizen soldiers don't have that same kind of support," he said. It's impossible to pinpoint who might develop PTSD. Most people who serve in a war zone, even those serving multiple deployments, don't get PTSD, he said. Others return home struggling after a single tour. "What's the difference?" he said. "Some of its luck. Some of its resilience."
Two kinds of therapy have been found to be most effective with PTSD, he said. Cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy center on helping vets change how they interpret what is going on around them and learn to recognize and tolerate the triggers that can lead to attacks. Drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been found to be helpful, he said. Fortunately, there is "major change" in the past 10 years in the public's level of understanding of PTSD, Friedman said, and "there are thousands of new, well-trained clinicians who are equipped to provide treatment." Technology, Web-based information sharing, mobile apps and social media make it easier to the get the message out about treatment, he said. The Department of Defense and the VA are working more closely to make sure veterans have access to treatment. The first step, he said, is to seek help. "There is no wrong door," he said. [Source: Lexington Herald-Leader Mary Meehan article 4 Jul 2012 ++]
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Veteran License Plates South Carolina: Special license plates that recognize South Carolina’s veterans, active military personnel and their parents are among dozens of new plate designs authorized by legislators. Two laws passed last month add to the scores of specialty plates issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. They include plates recognizing recipients of military medals, veterans injured in combat and each branch of the Armed Forces. The number of specialty plates in South Carolina jumps to 370 when including those that identify current legislators, members of various public boards and commissions, and the judiciary. Rep. Mike Pitts said he thinks the state should limit its specialized plates to the military. “Veterans deserve a special distinction,” said Pitts, R-Laurens. “They should be recognized.” But the retired police officer said the plethora of other plates creates a safety hazard for officers as they attempt to stop vehicles. When calling into dispatch, an officer may not be able to recognize what state issued the license or make out its numbers, Pitts said. Extra fees paid for a special plate benefit the sponsoring organization. Plates that identify military veterans and award recipients are fee-free. At present South Carolina offers 19 different specialty license plates/placards to its veterans. To view the available military plates and access the appropriate guidelines for issuance of each plate. Refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, "Vet License Plates SC" or http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/PlateGallery.aspx?q=Military [Source: http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/PlateGallery.aspx?q=Military Jul 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (9)
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Lester Tenney
WWII Vets Update 23: Seventy years ago in April, a young GI was among the 76,000 Americans and Filipinos forced to surrender to the Japanese on a Philippine peninsula, Bataan. Ordered to lay down his arms, Staff Sgt. Lester Tenney — already wounded and suffering from malaria and dysentery — experienced an odd sense of peace. “It was a feeling of relaxation,” recalled Tenney, now a 91-year-old La Costa California resident. “Like a relief in a certain way.” He paused. “We were not expecting anything as bad as it was.” His next eight days were a nightmare of unrelieved horror. He battled hunger, thirst and captors who regarded their prisoners as a subhuman species, unworthy of life. The Bataan Death March, as the grim episode is now known, tested Tenney’s courage and intelligence. On the 80-plus-mile trek, he realized that every step could have been his last. For an account of his ordeal in his own words refer to the attachment in this Bulletin titles, “WWII Vets - Lester Tenney”. [Source: San Diego Union-Tribune Peter Rowe article 21 Apr 2012 ++]
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POW/MIA Update 23: "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. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II (73,000+), the Korean War (7,900+), the Cold War (126), the Vietnam War (1,666), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Hundreds of 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for . For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 29 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force 1st Lt.
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Robert E. Bennett III, 25, of Springfield, N.J., will be buried on July 7, in Montrose, Colo. On Dec. 13, 1967, Bennett and another officer were flying an F-4C Phantom II aircraft that crashed during a close-air support mission in Tra Vinh Binh Province, South Vietnam. Both men ejected and were seen landing in the Co Chien River. The other officer was rescued immediately by a nearby U.S. Navy patrol boat. Before he could be reached, Bennett sank into the water and presumably drowned. In 2010, a Vietnamese citizen reported to authorities that he discovered human remains and military equipment while dredging sand from the Tien River. The remains, found approximately 2,000 meters from Bennett’s last-known location, were turned over to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). Scientists from JPAC used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including mitochondrial DNA – which matched a hair sample found in Bennett’s military medical record – in the identification of the remains.
 DPMO announced 5 JUL that the remains of U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Air Force Col. Joseph Christiano, 43, of Rochester, N.Y.; Col. Derrell B. Jeffords, 40, of Florence, S.C.; Lt. Col. Dennis L. Eilers, 27, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chief Master Sgt. William K. Colwell, 44, Glen Cove, N.Y.; Chief Master Sgt. Arden K. Hassenger, 32, of Lebanon, Ore.; and Chief Master Sgt. Larry C. Thornton, 33, Idaho Falls, Idaho, will be buried as a group July 9, in a single casket representing the entire crew, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On Dec. 24, 1965, the crew was aboard an AC-47D aircraft nicknamed “Spooky” that failed to return from a combat strike mission in southern Laos. After a “mayday” signal was sent, all contact was lost with the crew. Following the crash, two days of search efforts for the aircraft and crew were unsuccessful. In 1995, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team investigated a crash in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Local villagers recalled seeing a two-propeller aircraft, similar to an AC-47D, crash in December 1965. A local man found aircraft wreckage in a nearby field while farming, and led the team to that location. The team recovered small pieces of aircraft wreckage at that time and recommended further investigative visits. Joint U.S./L.P.D.R. investigation and recovery teams re-visited the site four times from 1999 to 2001. They conducted additional interviews with locals, recovered military equipment, and began an excavation. No human remains were recovered, so the excavation was suspended pending additional investigation. In 2010, joint U.S./L.P.D.R. recovery teams again excavated the crash site. The team recovered human remains, personal items, and military equipment. Three additional excavations in 2011 recovered additional human remains and evidence. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command used dental records and circumstantial evidence in the identification of their remains.
World War II
 DPMO announced 26 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Navy Radioman 1st Class Harry C. Scribner, 20, of Seattle, will be buried June 29, in Minneapolis, Minn. On Aug. 2, 1943, Scribner and two other men were aboard a TBF-1 Avenger aircraft that crashed on the island of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides—now known as Vanuatu— while on a routine calibration flight. Sixteen days after the crash, one crewman was rescued from the jungle but was unable to assist recovery teams with locating the crash site. Shortly thereafter, personnel from the Army Graves Registration were unsuccessful in locating the site as well, and the two men were deemed unrecoverable. In 1999, a U.S. recovery team investigated several World War II aircraft crash sites on Vanuatu. In addition to human remains, at one location the team located aircraft wreckage which correlated with Scribner’s aircraft. From 2000 to 2011, additional U.S. recovery teams from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated the crash site three times, recovering additional human remains and military equipment. Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used forensic identification tools and circumstantial
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evidence, including dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA—which matched that of Scribner’s cousin—in the identification of his remains.
 DPMO announced 29 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Warren G. Moxley, 23, of Charleston, Mo., will be buried on July 3, in his hometown. On March 15, 1945, Moxley was flying an F-6C aircraft when he crashed near Asbach, Germany. Another American pilot flying in the same mission witnessed the crash and did not see a parachute deploy. Following the war, Army Graves Registration Service was not able to locate the crash site. In 1993, a German citizen led U.S. government officials to a crash site near Asbach, and turned over human remains. In 2006, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigation team interviewed the German citizen, gathered additional evidence, and concluded that Moxley’s aircraft was the only U.S. aircraft to crash in the area. Among forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Lab used mitochondrial DNA—which matched that of Moxley’s brother—in the identification of his remains.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases Jun 2012 +]
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Disabled Veterans National Foundation: The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) is a non-profit organization that exists to change the lives of men and women who came home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom. They achieve their mission by:
 Providing direct services to disabled veterans and their families where needed.
 Collaborating with like-minded organizations to provide those services whenever it is in the best interests of veterans and their families.
 Paying particular attention to the needs of underserved groups of veterans, including women who served our country, homeless veterans, and those who suffer such invisible wounds as brain injuries and PTSD.
 Working on their own and with other organizations to advance the interests of all disabled veterans and their families.
DVNF offers several veteran service programs which include:
 Veteran GPS (grants to provide stability) Home Program which can provide up to $1,000 to prevent homelessness. Grants can be used to pay rent/mortgage and essential utilities such as electric, gas, heating oil, water and waste. They do not cover deposits, cable, internet, car payments, car insurance, etc.
 Organizational grants to like-minded organizations who provide support to disabled Veterans.
 Financial Guidance Program which provides veterans with a free Military Membership Kit for Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” and entitles the Veteran to enroll in and attend the 13 week money management course either at a local, in person, class or via the online course offering.
 Veteran Employment Webinar series to help vets land the job they want and deserve. The webinars are open to all veterans, active duty, reservists or retired members of the U.S. Military, and those supporting veterans- including Veteran Service Officers, spouses, and family members.
 Yearly scholarships (limited number) that can be used to help vets fund tuition that may not be covered by the Montgomery or Post 9/11 G.I. Bills.
 Veterans Appreciation Grants to provide a fun outing or gathering for veterans residing in state veteran’s homes or in homeless living facilities throughout the entire year.
 Wellness & Morale Program which provides shipments of in-kind contributions to Veterans organizations and Stand Down events across the country to distribute medicine, medical supplies and equipment; food
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and food supplements; clothing and shoes; hygiene products; homeless shelter supplies; disaster relief supplies; and comfort kits
For more information, applications, and forms visit the Disabled Veterans National Foundation website at http://www.dvnf.org/. The independent watchdog group CharityWatch (http://charitywatch.org) who rates over 600 charities gave the DVNF an "F" grade. More than 30 veterans charities were rated by the independent group by the amount they spend on fundraising compared to actual donations, and two-thirds were given either a D or F grade, according to CharityWatch president Daniel Borochoff. [Source: Military.com May 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: Maybe you haven’t heard the term ‘showrooming’ before, but you’ve probably done it – gone into a local store to lay your hands on a product, then gone home to buy it online. In fact, a recent survey by market research firm ClickIQ claims, “When checking out a product to purchase, nearly half of consumers who have shopped online within the past six months first checked out the product at their local retail store and then made the purchase online.” Showrooming has become so widespread that it’s closing down brick-and-mortar stores. “Best Buy shrinks as ‘showrooming’ persists“ reads a recent headline from MSNBC, which also reported, “Same-store sales dropped 5 percent while online purchases rose 20 percent – indicating that even Best Buy customers might look, but don’t buy at the stores anymore. In response, the company is closing 50 stores.” Showrooming isn’t illegal. But if you’re going to do it, here’s how to do it right – including advice for scoring a better deal at the store so you might not have to shop online…
1. What to showroom for. If you’re going to shop twice – once in person and once online – you should make sure the trip is worth the money. Showrooming is best for expensive items you haven’t bought before or in a while. (Think flat-screen TVs and major kitchen appliances.) It’s also good for items you want to touch first, just to make sure what you’re getting yourself into. (Think laptop and desktop computers.) Other items aren’t worth handling first in a store if you can get them cheaply online, or if seeing them in person isn’t helpful. For instance, you can save up to $100 on an HDMI cable for your TV by buying it online at prices as low as $2.99. Visiting a brick-and-mortar store first won’t help, since the cables look so similar.
2. Showrooming on your smartphone. As MSNBC points out, “One reason showrooming has grown is that people are more comfortable comparing prices and buying things online or with a smartphone.” They’re probably comfortable because it’s so easy. These apps lets you instantly find a product’s price online. There are dozens of them, but let’s look at two popular ones and compare them. The vastly popular Amazon Mobile is free for both the iPhone/iPad/iPod and Android. Here’s how it works:
 You “scan it” (using the product’s barcode) or “snap it” (simply take a picture of the product — this works best with video games and movies).
 In less than a second, you’re shown where you can buy the product on the Internet – either used or new, which is an option you don’t get at the store.
But Amazon Mobile isn’t perfect. There are apps that specializes in barcodes. ShopSavvy is also free for both iPhone/iPad/iPod and Android. Bottom line: Download and use a couple of these apps at the same time. Since most are free, it costs you nothing and can save you a lot.
3. Keep an eye out for big changes. The industry website Internet Retailer reported that the two companies are establishing something called “unilateral pricing.” This means they’ll tell retailers not to sell their products below a certain price – whether they’re online or in a bricks-and-mortar store. Internet Retailer explained it like this “The policies, if the manufacturers can enforce them, will limit price competition among consumer electronics retailers
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online and off. That may help stores negate some of the impact of shoppers coming to stores to check out and test a new TV model but purchasing it online where they may find it priced for less, a consumer habit increasingly referred to as showrooming”. Apple has been successful with this technique. While it’s unlikely manufacturers of every product will attempt it, if it works for Samsung and Sony, more are sure to follow.
4. Ask for a better deal. If you find the same product online for a better price, it can’t hurt to ask a store manager to match it. Of course, online retailers don’t have physical stores to maintain, nor do they have to collect sales taxes on some transactions. That makes it tough for bricks and mortar stores to compete. But local stores can offer other perks, from local customer service to free setup to discounts on other items in the store. Since it costs nothing to ask, and local stores employ your neighbors and pay taxes in your community, it’s worth a try.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Gideon Grudo article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 53:
 Martinsburg WV - A veteran accused of claiming to be a recipient of the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge to obtain disability and retirement benefits was sentenced to serve 10 months in federal prison. Ronald Lamont Clements, 44, of Martinsburg is to be placed on three months of supervised release following the prison sentence imposed 2 JUL by U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh, according to a news release. Clements pleaded guilty in March to one count of false writing and document by stating on a U.S. Army discharge that he was a recipient of the military decorations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Clements actively served in the U.S. Navy, but never saw service in the Army nor did he receive the award claimed. He used the falsified document to obtain disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and retirement benefits from the Navy. In addition to the prison sentence, Clements was ordered to pay $26,367 in restitution to the Department of Veterans Affairs and $93,029 to the Navy. He is expected to report to prison on Aug. 6, 2012 [Source: The Herald-Mail article 3 Jul 2012 ++]
[Various 1-14 Jul 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 Cardiac Arrest.. Check out the video at http://www.heartrescuenow.com to see what to do and how to use an ADT if you come upon some who is unconscious or collapses in from of you.
 Grave locator. To locate anyone that may be buried in one of the hundreds of National Cemeteries dotted throughout the United States of America refer to http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/index.html
 Unauthorized Phone charges. Check your landline and/or cellphone billing for charges on items and/or third party subscriptions you never authorized but are being charged for. If there, call you company to get a refund of all charges paid to date. (i.e., voicemail, Internet access, web hosting, email service, caller-id services, horoscope, Vanguard Defender Email, OAN Services Inc, ESBI/MYIPRODUCTS IMAIL, mythical services, Residential Services, telecharge resource email 1x setup fee, VMAIL MOFEE, Gold Web hosting, Enhanced Telecommunications, Info Source USA Inc , USBI, Email stock service, etc.
 Federal Budget. CBO estimates in its latest Monthly Budget Review that the Treasury Department will report a deficit of $905 billion for the first nine months of fiscal year 2012, $66 billion less than the $971 billion deficit incurred through June 2011. Outlays are about 1 percent higher and revenues are about 5 percent higher than they were at the same point last year.
 Washington Monument. The Washington Monument, closed to the public ever since a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit in 2011, may not re-open until 2014 at the earliest. The $15 million project to repair the
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iconic structure could involve the temporary removal of part of the granite plaza surrounding the monument, in addition to the construction of an access road on the south side of the grounds.
 MOAA Survey Results. More than 10,000 members responded to MOAA’s informal survey that asked what their GREATEST concern was for the rest of the year considering the fiscal and legislative climate. The results were a national financial meltdown 26.57%, the election 25.71%, and Congress won't stop sequestration 15.16%.
 FL Disabled Parking Permits. Starting October 1, 2012, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will implement a new law that requires blue permanent disabled parking permit holders to submit a recent certificate of disability when renewing their 4 year permit. Renewers must present certificates of disability signed within 12 months of the renewal request
[Source: Various 1-14 Jul 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 96:
 Houston -- A naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria has been sentenced to 12 ½ years in federal prison for his role in a massive health care fraud conspiracy in Houston. A Justice Department statement 29 JUN says Kenneth Ibezim Anokam was part of a scheme that billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $45 million for physical therapy services that never occurred. The 57-year-old man was a manager and supervisor at City Nursing Service of Texas Inc., where the fraud took place. U.S. District Court Judge Melinda Harmon also ordered Anokam to pay $19 million in restitution to Medicare and to Medicaid. Last year, City Nursing owner Umawa Oke Imo was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for his main role in the conspiracy.
 McAllen TX -- The owner of a defunct medical equipment company was arrested along with his wife and two employees and charged with submitting 25,000 fraudulent claims to Medicare. Arrested on a 22-count indictment were Marcello Herrera, 39, the owner of RGV DME; his wife Carla Cantu Herrera, 31, both of Mission; Ramon De La Garza, 51, all of Mission; and Beatriz Ramos, 27, of Edinburg, prosecutors said in a statement. According to allegations contained in the indictment, RGV DME submitted approximately 25,000 claims totaling approximately $11 million to Medicare and Texas Medicaid for [services] DME allegedly provided to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and was paid more than $7.1 million. The indictment alleges that 80 to 90 percent of the billings were fraudulent and that the fraudulent claims to Medicare were sent by wire transmissions in interstate commerce. Herrera directed the fraud from 2004 to 2010, which included false claims for power wheelchairs, incontinent supplies, hospital beds and other equipment, prosecutors said The defendants paid "marketers" to get beneficiaries' Medicare and Medicaid ID numbers and used the numbers for their phony claims. DME billed for equipment that was never prescribed, never delivered or was shipped to dead people. Prosecutors charged Herrera and company with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, six counts of health care fraud, five counts of wire
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fraud and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted of all charges, he faces more than 100 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
 Baton Rouge - A Rouge judge put a dentist on probation for five years 3 JUL, including two years of home incarceration, for defrauding the state’s Medicaid system. State District Judge Lou Daniel also ordered Dr. David Earl Reed, 56, to pay a $1,000 fine and $1,100 in restitution, and perform 300 hours of community service. Daniel found Reed guilty in January on two counts of Medicaid fraud. After pleading no contest in 1992 to Medicaid fraud, Reed was excluded from the Medicaid program and remains excluded. Despite his prohibition from taking part in the program, Reed continued to do so by obtaining employment from 2005 through 2007 with a Shreveport dentist, who is now deceased, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office said. During that time period, Reed treated Medicaid recipients, caused false billing claims to be submitted to Medicaid under the other dentist’s provider number for the services he rendered, and received payment from Medicaid monies, prosecutors said. Excluded individuals cannot provide any services that will be billed directly or indirectly to Medicaid, and it is a crime to be employed by, contract with, or have an ownership interest in any health-care provider which bills Medicaid, the Attorney General’s Office noted. Reed faced up to five years in prison and fines totaling $20,000 on each count. Daniel, who said he has no doubt that Reed was a “capable dentist,” noted that Reed now will likely lose his medical license. “That’s a shame,” the judge said. Daniel said Reed’s background included serving in the U.S. Navy in 1985-88. He was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant.
 Miami FL - Assisted living facility owner Billy Denica has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for her role in a more than $1.1 million Medicare fraud scheme. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard in Miami, Fla.; in addition to her prison term, she was sentenced to two years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $538,875 in restitution. The kickback scheme involved funneling patients to a fraudulent mental health provider, American Therapeutic Corporation, in exchange for illegal healthcare kickbacks. Denica, the owner of Robyll Care Assisted Living Facility, admitted she knew ATC falsely billed Medicare for partial hospitalization programs (PHP)—a form of intensive treatment for severe mental illness—based on her fraudulent referrals, court documents say. Some of her Robyll residents would be offered gifts such as money, cigarettes, and candy in exchange for agreeing to be admitted to the hospital, so they could then be referred to ATC. Denica herself would also refer her residents to the fraudulent corporation in order to receive cash kickbacks for those who went. The ALF owner’s participation in the fraud resulted in more than $1.1 million in fraudulent billing to the Medicare system, according to the plea agreement. ATC, and its management company Medlink Professional Management Group Inc., along with more than 20 other individual defendants charged for their participation in the scheme, have also pleaded guilty, or have been convicted at trial.
 Detroit MI - A federal indictment was unsealed 11 JUL in Detroit charging two individuals for their participation in a series of separate Medicare fraud schemes involving home health services. Charged in the indictment were Usha Shah, 63, and Deepak Shah, 63, both of West Bloomfield, Michigan. According to the indictment, the Shahs were allegedly involved in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare totaling more than $8.8 million through their company, Miracle Home Health of Southfield, for home health care services that were medically unnecessary and/or never provided. In addition, the court documents allege that the Shahs engaged in a conspiracy to pay cash kickbacks in return for obtaining Medicare beneficiaries’ whose Medicare identifications were used to bill the Medicare program. “The payment of kickbacks in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries is illegal,” said Lamont Pugh, III Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jul 2012 ++]
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Medicad Fraud Update 66:
 Chicago IL - The Illinois Medicaid inspector general is investigating the billing practices of the medical director of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Dr. Caroline Hoke was reimbursed more than $3 million by Medicaid during the state's 2009 fiscal year, making her the program's second-highest-paid doctor at the time, but the payments fell to zero by 2011, The state Department of Healthcare and Family Services has withheld payments to Dr. Hoke until “billing issues” are resolved. Planned Parenthood of Illinois CEO Carole Brite denies any wrongdoing, calling the inquiry a “routine review.” She says the organization will have to repay the state, but she declines to say how much. The nonprofit is a key provider of abortions, contraceptives and other health care services to women, particularly the poor. The probe raises questions about an important source of funding for the organization, which received about half of its $25 million revenue from Medicaid in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, the most recent data available. Dr. Hoke's reimbursements plunged by more than 70 percent, to $825,083, in 2010, from nearly $3.1 million in 2009. She received no payments in 2011. Her 2009 reimbursement included payments for services she provided as well as those billed by her but provided by others. It is common for a billing provider like Dr. Hoke to submit claims for providers she supervises. Much of the money likely flowed to the organization. Her annual compensation of about $300,000 hasn't changed since 2008, the year after she became medical director, tax records show. As Dr. Hoke's billings have faded, payments have grown to the other providers who use Planned Parenthood's Chicago headquarters address. In fiscal 2009, those 52 providers were paid $2.8 million, records show. By 2011, the number of providers rose to 62 while payments shot up to $7 million.
 North Carolina - The state has been rubber-stamping millions of dollars worth of Medicaid claims that it shouldn't have. Some of these were to Shipman Family Home Care (SFHC). The agency, which could not pay its employees last week, is in the midst of a financial battle with the state. SFHC, which has offices across North Carolina, has been in court fighting not to repay $2 million in Medicaid payments the state Department of Health and Human Resources wants back. A 2011 report from the federal government alleges that from July 2005 to June 2007, the company filed claims for about $1.3 million in nonallowable expenses. The state, which administers the Medicaid program in North Carolina, puts the amount at $2 million. Renee Montgomery, one of two attorneys representing Shipman, said the audit of the company is not unusual, as Medicaid is looking closer at its providers. Although the state tried to put Shipman on restrictions in 2010, the state is still processing claims from the home care provider as it would any other provider, said Brad Deen, a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Shipman, through its attorney, was able to get an injunction forbidding the state of North Carolina from doing that. Deen said part of the problem with catching mistakes is that the state follows federal guidelines for paying Medicaid claims, which are to be paid for in a “speedy manner.” With 1.5 million people enrolled in Medicaid in the state and more than 70,000 providers ranging from doctors to dentists to home health agencies, that’s tens of millions of claims annually, Deen said. If a provider has a history of filing inaccurate claims , the provider is placed on prepayment review status, which means the state looks over all claims before they are paid. The court stopped the state from doing that in the Shipman case, Deen said. North Carolina has invested millions of dollars into data tracking software that's programmed to raise flags over questionable Medicaid claims. The first sweep found 206 potential fraudulent claims totaling more than $191 million. When suspicious claims are found, the state sends investigators and in some cases auditors, for unannounced visits. The company may receive a notice saying they've been overpaid. Some providers have their cases are sent to the Attorney General's Office for possible prosecution. "We are looking at you in a way that we never have before. If you're out to defraud the system, we are going to put
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in the programs to catch you, and if we can prove it, we are going to prosecute you," explains Chrissy Pearson, NC Department of Health and Human Services.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jul 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Arizona provides several benefits to veterans.. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits AZ” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state in the following areas:
 Veterans Home
 Financial Assistance Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/arizona-state-veterans-benefits.html Jul 2012 ++]
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B-17 Flying Fortress in 1943
Military History: The term “Greatest Generation” doesn’t mean just people but can be equally applied to some of the finest aircraft designs of all time; the C-47 transport, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning, both superb fighters! And of course the B-24 Liberator, the F4U Corsair (the Navy’s greatest carrier fighter), the P-51 Mustang (arguably the finest fighter aircraft of its time) and finally the B-17 who’s crews said would bring them home in almost any condition. Refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “B-17 Flying Fortress in 1943” to see photos of one such aircraft that survived its mission. [Source: http://picklyman.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/b-17-mid-air-collision-1943/ May 2012 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant 16-31 JUL events in U.S. Military History are:
 Jul 16 1779 - Revolutionary War: American troops capture Stony Point, N.Y.
 Jul 16 1945 - WWII: The United States detonates the first atomic bomb in a test at Alamogordo, N. M.
 Jul 17 1898 - Spanish-American War: U.S. troops take Santiago de Cuba.
 Jul 17 1966 - Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh orders a partial mobilization of to defend against American airstrikes.
 Jul 18 1915 - WWI: 2nd Battle of Isonzo begins & ends with loss of 280,000 men
 Jul 18 1942 - WWII: German Me-262, the first jet-propelled aircraft to fly in combat, makes its first flight.
 Jul 18 1971 - Vietnam: New Zealand and Australia announce they will pull their troops out of Vietnam.
 Jul 19 1942 - WWII: German U-boats are withdrawn from positions off the U.S. Atlantic coast due to American anti-submarine countermeasures.
 Jul 20 1917 - WWI: Draft lottery held; #258 is 1st drawn
 Jul 20 1944 - WWII: Adolf Hitler is wounded in an assassination attempt by German Army officers.
 Jul 20 1950 - Korean War: The U.S. Army’s Task Force Smith is pushed back by superior forces.
 Jul 21 1861 - Civil War: In the first major battle of the War, Confederate forces defeat the Union Army along Bull Run near Manassas Junction, Virginia. The battle becomes known as Manassas by the Confederates, while the Union calls it Bull Run
 Jul 21 1944 - WWII: U.S. Army and Marine forces land on Guam in the Marianas.
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 Jul 21 1954 - Vietnam: The French sign an armistice with the Viet Minh that ends the war but divides Vietnam into two countries.
 Jul 22 1775 - Revolutionary War: George Washington took command of the Continental Army.
 Jul 22 1814 - Five Indian tribes in Ohio make peace with the United States and declare war on Britain.
 Jul 22 1966 - Vietnam: B-52 bombers hit the DMZ between North and South Vietnam for the first time.
 Jul 22 1976 - Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during the imperial Japan's conquest of the country in the Second World War
 Jul 22 1987 - Gulf War: US began escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers in Persian Gulf
 Jul 22 2003 - Members of 101st Airborne of the United States, aided by Special Forces, attack a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, along with Mustapha Hussein, Qusay's 14-year old son, and a bodyguard.
 Jul 23 1944 - WWII: US forces invade Japanese-held Tinian.
 Jul 23 1962 - The Geneva Conference on Laos forbids the United States to invade eastern Laos.
 Jul 24 1990 - Gulf War: U.S. warships in Persian Gulf placed on alert after Iraq masses nearly 30,000 troops near its border with Kuwait
 Jul 25 1944 - WWII: Allied forces begin the breakthrough of German lines in Normandy.
 Jul 25 1990 - Gulf War: U.S. Ambassador tells Iraq, US won't take sides in Iraq-Kuwait dispute.
 Jul 26 1944 - WWII: USS Robalo (SS-273) sunk by a mine off western Palawan, Philippines. 74 killed, 4 POWs later died.
 Jul 27 1861 - Civil War: Confederate troops occupy Fort Fillmore, New Mexico
 Jul 27 1944 - WWII: U.S. troops complete the liberation of Guam.
 Jul 27 1953 - Korea: Representatives of the United Nations, Korea and China sign an armistice at Panmunjon ending the war.
 Jul 27 1964 - Vietnam: President Lyndon Johnson sends an additional 5,000 advisers to South Vietnam.
 Jul 27 1995 - The Korean War Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C..
 Jul 28 1914 - WWI: War begins when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia followed by Germany declaring war on France (3 AUG). On 4 AUG Germany invaded Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany, and President Woodrow Wilson declared policy of U.S. neutrality.
 Jul 28 1945 - A B-25 bomber crashes into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 14 and injuring 26.
 Jul 28 1965 - Vietnam: LBJ sends 50,000 more soldiers to Vietnam (total of 125,000)
 Jul 29 1915 - U.S. Marines land at Port-au-Prince to protect American interests in Haiti.
 Jul 29 1967 - Fire aboard carrier USS Forrestal in Gulf of Tonkin kills 134. $100 million damage
 Jul 30 1919 - USS G-2 (SS-27) foundered and sunk in Long Island Sound. 3 died
 Jul 30 1942 - FDR signs bill creating women's Navy auxiliary agency (WAVES)
 Jul 30 1944 - US 30th division reaches suburbs of St-Lo Normandy
 Jul 30 1945 - WWII: After delivering parts of the first atomic bomb the U.S. cruiser Indianapolis is torpedoed/sinks, 880 die.
 Jul 31 1813 - Revolutionary War: British invade Plattsburgh NY
 Jul 31 1942 - WWII: USS Grunion (SS-216) sunk by gunfire from torpedoed Japanese transport Kashima Maru; 10 miles north Segula, near Kiska Island, Aleutians. 70 killed
 Jul 31 1991 - Senate votes to allow women to fly combat aircraft.
[Source: Various Jul 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia 54: On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This resolution established the Continental Marines and marked the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. The first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines, Captain (later Major) Samuel Nicholas remained the senior Marine officer throughout the American Revolution and is considered to be the first Marine Commandant. The Treaty of Paris in April 1783 brought an end to the Revolutionary War and as the last of the Navy's ships were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines went out of existence. On 11 July 1798 Congress approved the below act that reestablished the United States Marine Corps under the Constitution -
An Act for the establishing and organizing a Marine Corps.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in addition to the present military establishment, there shall be raised and organized a corps of marines, which shall consist of one major, four captains, sixteen first lieutenants, twelve second lieutenants, forty-eight sergeants, forty-eight corporals, thirty-two drums and fifes, and seven hundred and twenty privates, including the marines who have been enlisted, or are authorized to be raised for the naval armament; and the said corps may be formed into as many companies or detachments, as the President of the United States shall direct, with a proper distribution of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and musicians to each company or detachment.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the pay and subsisteuce of the said officers, privates and musicians, shall be as follows, to wit: To a major, fifty dollars per month, and four rations per day; to a captain, forty dollars per mouth, aud three rations per day; to a first lieutenant, thirty dollars per mouth, and three rations per day; to a second lieutenant, twenty-five dollars per month, and two rations per day; and to the nom-commissioned officers, privates and musicians, conformably to the act, intituled "An act providing a naval armament," as shall be fixed by the President of the United States: And the President of the United States shall be, and is hereby authorized to continue the enlistment of marines, until the said corps shall be complete; and of himself, to Appoint the commissioned officers, whenever, in the recess of the Senate, an appointment shall be necessary. And the enlistments, which shall be made by virtue hereof, may be for the term of three years, subject to be discharged by the President of the United States, or by the ceasing or repeal of the laws providing for the naval armament. And if the marine corps, or any part of it, shall be ordered by the President to do duty on shore, aud it shall become necessary to appoint an adjutant, paymaster, quartermaster, sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, and drum and fife-major, or any of them, the major or commandant of the corps, is hereby authorized to appoint such staff officer or officers, from the line of subalterns, sergeants and music, respectively, who shall be entitled, during the time they shall dosuch duty, to the same extra pay and emoluments, which are allowed by law, to officers acting in the same capacities in the infantry.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the detachments of the corps of marines hereby authorized, shall be made in lieu of the respective quotas of marines, which have been established or authorized for the frigates, and other armed vessels and gallies, which shall be employed in the service of the United States: And the President of the United States may detach and appoint such of the officers of this marine corps, to act on board the frigates, and any of the armed vessels of the United States, respectively, as he shall, from time to time, judge necessary; any thing in the act "providing a naval armament" to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, privates and musicians aforesaid, shall take the same oath, and shall be governed by the same rules and articles of war, as are prescribed for the military establishment of the United States, and by the rules for the regulation of the navy, heretofore, or which shall be established by law, according to the nature of the service in which they shall be employed, and shall be entitled to the same allowance, in case of wounds or disabilities, according to their respective ranks, as are granted by the act "to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States."
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Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the non-commissioned officers, musicians, seamen and marines, who are or shall be enlisted into the service of the United States; and the non-commissioned officers and musicians, who are or shall be enlisted into the army of the United States, shall be, and they are hereby exempted, during their term of service, from all personal
arrests for any debt or contract.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the marine corps, established by this act, shall, at any time, be liable to do duty in the forts and garrisons of the United States, on the sea-coast, or any other duty on shore, as the President, at his discretion, shall direct.
[Source: The Public Statues at Large of the United States of America. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1861 ++]
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Tax Burden for North Dakota Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in North Dakota:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 5% (food and prescription drugs exempt); 6% on lodging, 7% on alcoholic beverages. Cities or counties which have adopted home rule charters may levy additional sales and use taxes up to 3.0%. Gasoline Tax: 23 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 23 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: 44 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 1.51%; High – 3.99% Rates for single person Income Brackets: Lowest – $35,350; Highest – $388,350 Rates for single person. Refer to tax table at
http://www.nd.gov/tax/indincome/forms/2011/taxtables.pdf. Number of Brackets: 5. The tax brackets reported are for single individuals. For married taxpayers the same rates apply to income brackets ranging from $59,100 to $388,350. An additional $300 personal exemption is allowed for joint returns or unmarried head of household. Personal Exemptions: Single – $3,650; Married – $7,300; Dependents – $3,650. There is also a new marriage income tax credit with a maximum limit of $300. State allows personal exemption or standard deductions as provided in the Internal Revenue Code Standard Deduction: Federal amount ($5,950 – single, $11,900 – joint; single over 65 – $1,400; married $1,100)) Medical/Dental Deduction: Full Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: A total of $5,000 can be excluded from military, civil service, some state/local government, and qualified pensions, minus amount of Social Security received. Out-of-state government pensions are fully taxed. Call 701-328-3275 for more information. Retired Military pay: North Dakota’s individual income tax law provides only one special deduction for active
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members of the military. It does not include combat pay that is exempt from federal income tax. The current income tax law does not provide for any special deductions for retired military members. 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
All real property in the state is subject to tax by the state, counties, townships, and municipalities. Residential property is taxed as 9% of assessed value. For the most part, personal property is exempt from property tax. Personal property of utilities companies that are assessed by the State board of Equalization is subject to property tax.
Household personal property, inventories, and machinery and equipment used in trade or manufacture are exempt from property taxes. Machinery and equipment used in refining products from oil or gas extracted from the earth is deemed to be real property and therefore subject to property taxes. A mobile home used as a residence or place of business is also subject to a property tax.
There is also a Homestead Tax Credit available to senior citizens (65+) or disabled persons who own or rent their home. Your income, plus the income of your spouse and any dependents, may not exceed $26,000 for the calendar year preceding the assessment date. Your assets may not exceed $75,000. The maximum homestead credit is $4,500 (income $0 to $18,000). For details refer to http://www.nd.gov/tax/misc/faq/property. For a brochure on the Homestead Tax Credit, go to http://www.nd.gov/tax/property/pubs/homesteadcredit-brochure.pdf . Call 701-328-3127 for details.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
North Dakota does not have an inheritance tax. It was repealed in 1927 and replaced with an estate tax. There is an estate tax based on a decedent’s total gross estate and limited to the credit for state death taxes allowed on the Federal 706 estate tax return. North Dakota’s definition of a deceased person’s taxable estate is identical to the federal definition and North Dakota recognizes all federal exemptions and deductions.
For further information, visit the North Dakota State Tax Department site http://www.nd.gov/tax or call 701-328-3275. To review the North Dakota tax guide, refer to http://www.nd.gov/tax/genpubs/2010-redbook.pdf . [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Jul 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art:
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Target Bearing 270º by Robert Taylor
12th. November, 1944. Lancasters of 617 Squadron RAF over Norway on their approach to Tromsø fjord, and their final attack on the battleship Tirpitz. Twenty nine Lancasters of 617 and 9 Squadron had made a wide detour to approach the Tirpitz from inland, in order to avoid early detection by radar. Armed with 12,000 pound ‘Tallboy’ bombs, the Lancasters had been fitted with up-graded Merlin engines, and their mid upper gun turrets had been removed, along with some armour, in order to allow them to carry this weapon at the required range. Both squadrons had participated in two previous attacks during the preceding months. On the first occasion a smokescreen around Tirpitz prevented accurate bombing, and low cloud foiled the second raid. This time there were no defending fighters, and no smokescreen as the Lancasters passed over the last mountain and the Tirpitz came into view. The ship was hit by at least two Tallboys, possibly three, enough to put an end to the ‘Tirpitz Menace’.
[Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Targetbearing.html Jul 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 12 July 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html . Final action is expected in the next few weeks on several bills that would provide services and support to the nation’s veterans.
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 S.3340 (Sen. Murray, D-WA) would extend eligibility for certain VA mental health services to family members of veterans; direct DoD to create a standardized, comprehensive suicide prevention program; and require the VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services and implement a mental health provider staffing model.
 S.2320 (Sen. Ayotte, R-NH) would direct the American Battlefields Monument Commission (ABMC) to operate and maintain the veterans cemetery at the former Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. That cemetery is the final resting place of more than 8,300 servicemembers and family members, but was abandoned in 1991 after the Mt Pinatubo eruption. The Army and Air Force had maintained it continuously from 1898 until 1991. ABMC manages all other overseas military cemeteries, including two in the Philippines.
 S.2259 (Sen. Tester, D-MT), the “COLA Adjustment Act,” would authorize adjustments in veterans compensation, pension and other benefits for 2013, in the same percentage as any Social Security cost-of-living increase.
 H.R.1627 (Rep. Miller, R-FL) would provide VA health care eligibility for certain dependents stationed at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more from 1957-1987, a period during which the water there was known to be contaminated with carcinogens. VA care would be limited to 14 specific conditions tied to the contamination.
 H.R.4057 (Rep. Bilirakis, R-FL) would strengthen consumer education and transparency of information for veterans using their GI Bill benefits.
 H.R.4115 (Rep. Stivers, R-OH) would require that as a condition of receiving grant funds for job counselors for disabled and other veterans, a state must take military training and consideration into account when determining eligibility for certain state licenses or credentials for registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, nursing assistants and commercial drivers’ licenses.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf. [Source: MOAA News Exchange 11 Jul 2012 ++]
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Have You Heard? $5.37
That's what the kid (Elmo) behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me. “$5.37.”
I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change, when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, “It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount.”
I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. “Only $4.68,” he said cheerfully.
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I stood there stupefied. I am 58, not even 60 yet. A mere child! Senior citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck, wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil.
Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.
Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler? “Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?”
I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. “Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!” I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now?
I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror.
Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard. Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.
Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.
I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, “What is the world coming to?” All I could say was, “Did I leave my food and drink in here?” At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.
Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, “I think you left this in my truck by mistake.” I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.
He offered these kind words, “It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time.”
All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And, no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.
As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.
The good news was I had successfully found my way home.
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Naval Term of the Day: “August Chief Petty Officer”. The term august (o gust') means inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic. The term August Chief Petty Officer is a description of any CPO; inspiring reverence or admiration; representative of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic.
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"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."
— Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) former Prime Minister of England

July Update

2012-07-03T23:08:00.000-04:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== USFSPA & Divorce [21] -------------- (Marshall Willick Lawsuit)
== Vet Gun Control [04] ----------- (Another Senate Bill Introduced)
== Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial [05] ----------- (Appeal Rejected)
== South Dakota Drivers License ----------- (Vet Designation Option)
== Clark AFB Vet Cemetery [04] --------------------- (SVAC Hearing)
== Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 [12] ---------------- (S.3337)
== Veterans' Student Loan Relief Fund --------------------- (Overview)
== Craigslist.org Scam ------------------------------------- (Job Hunters)
== TRICARE Scam ------------------------------ (Lottery Sweepstakes)
== Law of the Sea Convention ------------------- (Ratification Needed)
== VA HIV Care [04] ----------------------------- (Testing Availability)
== Widow(er) Military Benefits ----------- (Termination/Restoration)
== Arkansas Veterans Homes --------------------- (Little Rock Closing)
== VA In Vitro Fertilization ------------------------------------- (S.3313)
== Religious Freedom -------------------- (Air Force Hostility Toward)
== Military Compensation Review [08] ------------ (Review Released)
== Military Compensation Review [09] --------------- (Less Drill Pay)
== SBP DIC Offset [34] -------------------------- (QRMC Compromise)
== DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---------------- (DoD Wastes Billions)
== Legislation of Interest [18] -------------------------------- (H.R.1627)
== Military Pension Loans [01] ------- (Bad Idea for Retired Military)
== VA Mental Health Care [15] ------------------ (Coaching Into Care)
== VA Appeals Management Center ------------- (Impressive Progress)
== VA Parkinson's Disease Program [03] --------- (DBS Study Result)
== North Carolina Vet Homes [01] ------------------- (2 More to Open)
== VAMC Orlando [01] ---------------- (Contactor Dispute Continues)
== VA Telehealth [05] ------------------------------- (Access to Increase)
== VA Agent Orange Claims [04] ---- (Retroactive Processing Status)
== Retiree Appreciation Days 08] ------------------------- (Army 2012)
== SBP Premium ----------------------------- (VA Disability Pay Offset)
== Army Retiree Council [04] ---------------- (What Concerns Retirees)
2
== Army Smartcard ---------------------------- (Pilot Program Extended)
== Non-VA Facility Care ------------------------------ (Rules Governing)
== Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Diesel ------------- (Reclassified Carcinogen)
== Agent Orange Okinawa [04] ------------------ (Futenma Air Station)
== VA Claims Backlog [68] ------------ (Charleston Employees Picket)
== VA Claims Backlog [69] --------------------------- (VBMS Problems)
== CT Vet Discount Card -------------------------- (Veterans Advantage)
== VA Fiduciary Program [03] ---------- (Appointee Removal a Battle)
== VA Fiduciary Program [04] ---------- (Hearst Newspapers Findings)
== VA Fiduciary Program [05] -------------------------- (Fixes Opposed)
== VA Disputed Claims [07] ------------------------- (Stanley Friedman)
== FHA Streamline Refinancing Program ------ (VA Loan Alternative)
== Vet Benefits -------------------------------------------------- (Calculator)
== Blood Thinners [05] -------------------- (Pradaxa & Xarelto SITREP)
== VA Suicide Prevention [12] ------------------- (Black Women Study)
== DoD Lawsuit ~ Colton Read ------------------- (Feres Doctrine Issue)
== Army Day --------------------------------------------------------- (Origins)
== Medal of Honor [12] ------------------------------------- (Jose Nisperos)
== CRSC [41] -------------------------------------------- (Claim Assistance)
== Stolen Valor [68] --------------------------- (Michael Delos Hamilton)
== Stolen Valor [69] -------------------------- (Federal Law Struck down)
== Vet Jobs [67] ---------------- (Health Net Federal Services Initiative)
== Vet Jobs [68] ----------------------------------------- (VetCars Program)
== Vet Jobs [69] ---------------------------- (2012 Veterans Talent Index)
== Vet Jobs [70] --------------------------------- (Transportation Industry)
== GI Bill [119] ----------------------------- (Focus of Proposed Changes)
== GI Bill [120] ----------------- (Senator Pushes Overpayment Change)
== GI Bill [121] --------------------------- (GIBill.com Fraud Settlement)
== GI Bill [122] ** ------------------- (Principles of Excellence SITREP)
== Burn Pit Toxic Emissions [20] ** ------------ (VA Opposes Registry)
== VA Homeless Vets [31] ** -- (S.3309 Transitional Housing Grants)
== Health Care Reform [51] ** ------------------ (Supreme Court Ruling)
== Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune [29] **-- HVAC/SVAC Compromise)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of 28 Jun 2012)
== PTSD [105] -------------------------------------------------- (AboutFace)
== PTSD [106] ------------------------------------ (Purple Hearts Debated)
== Vet License Plates AR --------------------- (Eligibility & Availability)
== WWII Vets [22] ------------------------------------- (The Morris Twins)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (08)
== POW/MIA [22] ---------------------------------------- (15-30 Jun 2012)
== VSO - Cell Phones for Soldiers --------- (Vet Support Organization)
== Saving Money ----------------------------- (Energy Efficient Windows)
== VA Fraud, Waste, & Abuse [52] --------------------- (15-30 Jun 2012)
== Notes of Interest ---------------------------------------- (15-30 Jun 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [95] ----------------------------------- (15-30 Jun 2012)
== Medicad Fraud [65] ------------------------------------ (15-30 Jun 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits -------------------------------------- (Arkansas)
== Military History ----------------------- (Munster Bombing Raid 1943)
== Military History Anniversaries ------------------ (Jul 1-15 Summary)
3
== Military Trivia 53 --------------------------------- (Civil War Nostalgia)
== Tax Burden for North Carolina Retirees ------------ (As of Jun 2012)
== Aviation Art ---------------------------------------------- (Shark Sighting)
== Veteran Legislation Status 27 Jun 2012 ----------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ------------------------ (The Navy Cure for Snoring)
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted Material
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USFSPA & Divorce Update 21: Marshall Willick, a divorce lawyer based in Las Vegas who specializes in representing the ex-spouses of military retirees in divorces, has filed a lawsuit in the Clark County District Court (NV) against several disabled military veterans and organizations. Willick named 11 defendants and ten "Doe" (unknown) defendants. The first two defendants, and apparent primary targets, were Vietnam combat disabled combat veterans along with the veteran service organizations they are affiliated with (i.e. Operation Firing for Effect, Inc. and Veterans For Veteran Connection, Inc.) and the Veterans Today Military & Foreign Journal. In the lawsuit, Willick complains of e-mails and website postings alleging false information about himself and the Willick Law Firm. The defendants and attorney Willick have been engaged in an on-going political debate over the rights of states to order certain payments in a divorce settlement directly from veteran's disability compensation, which the dependents allege are in violation of federal law. Specifically 38 USC 5301 and 10 USC 1408, as well as the 1989 Supreme Court decision of Mansell v. Mansell.
At the heart of the public debate is Willick’s claim that VA disability compensation awarded to combat disabled veterans belongs to the veteran's entire family, including ex-spouses. He also claims VA disability compensation is income, and in a divorce the ex-spouse is entitled to a significant portion of that income as alimony. According to Willick, sorting out how much of a veteran's disability compensation is awarded to an ex-spouse is what divorce courts are for. He also claims that combat military service is no more dangerous than the work of zoo keepers and construction workers. According to the two dependents, Willick's law suit is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to silence those who disagree with him from publicly criticizing him and his attempts to strip combat disabled veterans of their earned disability compensation. Both veterans consider his law suit to be an attack on their 1st Amendment rights of free speech and believe that his law suit was filed in retaliation for formal complaints they filed against him with the Nevada State Bar in January of this year.
Lawyers advising the defendants have reviewed Willick's law suit and feel this suit is a classic SLAPP (Strategic Litigation against Public Participation) suit - a type of aggressive law designed to censor, intimidate, and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until they abandon their criticism or opposition. Although many states have outlawed such suits and allow for defendants to have such suits quickly adjudicated and be reimbursed for their costs, the legislation in Nevada is weak on this subject, providing only limited protection (NRS 41.635 to 41.670). Defendants allege it appears Willick would prefer to bring an action against disabled veterans instead of addressing the issues with the group in a meaningful dialogue. One of his causes of action is defamation, meaning that he will be alleging that there were false statements of fact that harmed his reputation. Ultimately, it
4
seems the issues he proffers will have their day in court. [Source: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/06/10/las-vegas-divorce-attorney-sues-disabled-veterans/ 10 Jun 2012 ++]
Attorney Marshal Willick
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Vet Gun Control Update 04: Key Senate lawmakers are once again pushing legislation to stop veterans judged unable to handle their own finances from being barred from owning firearms. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) would require that veterans first are found to be a danger to themselves or others before losing their Second Amendment rights. Today, a veteran deemed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be incapable of handling his own finances is included on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS – which means he cannot own a firearm, nor can anyone else in the household, Burr said. "There are veterans, spouses, family members who are deprived of their Second Amendment rights … based on an arbitrary decision by somebody at VA because they can't handle their own personal finances," Burr said 27 JUN at a committee hearing. "These people are labeled as dangerous when it may be a physical disability that may not allow them to handle their personal finances." VA estimates that about 127,000 veterans have been put on the list because the department determined they couldn't handle their personal finances. A similar bill has already passed the House of Representatives.
In the Senate, the "Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act" has been filed at least three times before, going as far back as 2007. The version filed in 2009 was opposed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which argued that it could cause guns to wind up in the hands of unsafe people. The Brady Campaign had criticized Burr's legislation "in light of the Fort Hood shootings." Attorneys for the accused attacker, Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, claim he is mentally ill. Burr's bill died in committee. Burr, Webb and others backing the bill say no veteran should lose his or her gun rights without an order by a judge, magistrate or other judicial authority competent to make the call on whether the person is dangerous. At the 27 JUN hearing, VA officials said that is not a determination made by department officials who assess a veteran's ability to look after his finances. Tom Murphy, director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's compensation service, said those who make the call on veterans are trained only to assess how well they're able to handle finances. Richard Hipolit, assistant general counsel for the VA, said, "Our determination is just whether [someone] can handle financial affairs, and that automatically triggers the requirement to refer their names" to the NICS list. [Source: Military.com| Bryant Jordan article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Update 05: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an Obama administration appeal aimed at preserving a 29-foot Christian cross at a veterans’ memorial on federal land in San Diego, California. The justices, without comment, left intact a federal appeals court decision that the display of the cross is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. The federal government took over the site from the city in 2006 under a law Congress passed during a court fight over the cross that began in 1989. The appeals court ruling “called for the government to tear down a cross that has stood without incident for 58 years as a highly
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venerated memorial to the nation’s fallen service members,” the Obama administration said in its appeal to the high court. Those challenging the display, a Vietnam veteran and the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, said the cross was “erected for an avowedly religious purpose and used for religious ceremonies for decades.” Lower courts haven’t completed consideration of the case. A San Francisco-based appeals court returned the case to a federal judge to consider a remedy. The appellate panel said it is leaving open the issue of whether the memorial could be modified to comply with the Constitution or whether any cross could be displayed there. [Source: Bloomberg News Laurie Asseo article 25 Jun 2012 ++]
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South Dakota Drivers License: South Dakota’s Departments of Public Safety and Veterans Affairs remind military veterans that a new law taking effect July 1 allows them to have a veteran designation on their state-issued driver license. The 2012 Legislature passed the law, which gives honorably discharged veterans the option of adding the word “Veteran’’ to the front of their South Dakota driver license. Including that designation on the driver license will make it easier for those who have served in the military to verify their veteran status. “South Dakota is home to over 74,000 veterans who have protected and served our great nation. The launch of this new ‘veteran’ identification will provide a convenient identification for veterans,” said Steve Harding, Deputy Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. “This initiative is a perfect example of state agencies working together to assist those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.”
Veterans who wish to add the designation to their driver license or non-driver ID card may visit any South Dakota driver license office. They will need to present their DD-214, which shows their honorable discharge status from active duty or present a certificate signed by a county or tribal veterans service officer verifying their status. Veterans should also remember that the fee for a duplicate license is $10 and the fee for a license renewal is $20. Cindy Gerber, Director of the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program, reminds veterans that they will need to provide the other documents required of any applicant for a South Dakota driver license. Those documents may be viewed at http://dps.sd.gov/licensing/driver_licensing/obtain_a_license.aspx. Veterans who have questions about the documents or the process may call her office at 1(800) 952-3696 or (605) 773-6883. Harding encourages veterans who need assistance with obtaining their DD214 or who have questions regarding their benefits to contact their respective county/tribal veterans service officer or call the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (605) 773-3269. [Source: SD Dept of Public Safety news release 25 Jun 2012 ++]
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Clark AFB Vet Cemetery Update 04: Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) on 27 JUN urged members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) to support legislation she introduced to restore the Clark Veterans Cemetery located at the former Clark Air Base in the Philippines . The “Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act” (S.2320), cosponsored by Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK), would require the American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) to restore, operate and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery to honor the courageous Americans buried there. “The American veterans buried in Clark Veterans Cemetery deserve a dignified and well-maintained final resting place,” Ayotte said. “There is no reason the brave service members buried at Clark should be deprived of the honor they have earned and that veterans at other cemeteries are afforded. It's time for the US government to fulfill its responsibility to care for this sacred ground.” SVAC member, Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) took the opportunity to follow-up on the Clark Cemetery issue with a couple questions of his own which were directed to a VA panel of experts who appeared later in the same hearing. Despite his prodding for their views, VA staff declined to answer the Senator’s questions deferring any response to the ABMC where they felt responsibility for the Clark Cemetery rests. [Source: AFSA Leg Up 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Medicare Reimbursement Rates 2012 Update 12: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on 25 JUN proposed legislation that would eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) that governs the reimbursement rate for Medicare physicians, and replace it with a simple, annual cost-of-living adjustment for these doctors. The Access to Physicians in Medicare Act, S.3337, would end what has become a periodic process in Congress of avoiding scheduled cuts to reimbursements for Medicare physicians. This has required passage of so-called "doc fix" legislation to delay these cuts under the current SGR formula. Instead, it would set up a process under which reimbursement rates could increase slowly each year, capped at 3 percent, based on a cost-of-living increase similar to the one used to calculate increases in Social Security benefits. Paul said this change would remove much of the current uncertainty surrounding the reimbursement rate, which, if cut, could lead to a significant drop in access to medical care. "As an eye surgeon, many of my patients are seniors, and many of those seniors are Medicare recipients," Paul said. "Medicare, in its constant quest to save money, cuts physician reimbursement and in turn puts America's seniors at risk of losing their access to quality healthcare. I know the value of quality care, and I want to ensure our nation's seniors continue to get it." Paul said his bill would prevent a cut of about 30 percent to Medicare reimbursements next year, which represents cuts due under the current formula that have been avoided each year. He also said he would pay for this change by repealing expanded healthcare subsidies under the 2010 healthcare law. A related bill, the “Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act (H.R.5707) ” was introduced in the House 9 MAY by Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Joe Heck (R-NV). [Source: The Hill Pete Kasperowicz article 26 un 2012 ++]
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Veterans' Student Loan Relief Fund: The Veterans' Student Loan Relief Fund, a program administered by Scholarship America, was established to provide assistance to veterans who have incurred educational debt and feel they are in financial difficulties as a result of being defrauded or misled by the proprietary (for-profit) school they attended. The program is open to veterans of all branches following service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who have attended proprietary (for-profit) schools at the undergraduate level. If selected as a recipient the veteran will receive up to $5,000 to repay educational loans. The application postmark deadline is August 11, 2012. To be eligible to apply, individuals must -
 Be veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan (or served in the surrounding area and have documented service in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom) for a total of at least 60 days after September 11, 2001. Eligible applicants include veterans who did not meet the 60-day active service period as a result of a service-related injury or condition;
 Have attended at the undergraduate level a proprietary (for-profit) two- or four-year college or university, vocational-technical school or training institute in the United States after military service;
 Have applied for and accepted all eligible federal, state and institutional need-based grants and used all available military educational benefits (grants from all sources must be disclosed on the application); and
 Have incurred educational loans that have not yet been fully repaid.
Applicants must indicate whether their contact information may be shared with the sponsor in order to participate in interviews and research studies. The applicant´s decision to permit or not permit sharing of contact information will not be a factor in the selection process. The application form and all required documents must be mailed in one envelope by postmark deadline August 11, 2012 Applicants must submit -
 Completed and signed 3-page application form available for download at http://sms.scholarshipamerica.org/veterans-student-loan-relief/application.html.
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 If total service days in Afghanistan and/or Iraq is less than 60, provide military medical documentation of service-related injury or condition incurred in Afghanistan or Iraq
 Personal statement regarding educational studies after military service and financial difficulties due to being defrauded or misled by the proprietary school attended.
 Current, complete transcript of grades from proprietary (for-profit) institution attended (may be in the form of an electronic printout provided the document includes school name and student name.)
 School´s statement of financial aid for all years attended. (You should be able to get this online or at your school´s financial aid office.)
 Statement of military education benefits for all years received (go to http://www.gibill.va.gov).
 All educational loan promissory notes.
 Current statements for all educational loans showing outstanding balance.
 2011 IRS Form 1040 with all Schedules and Attachments.
 Current credit history report (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion).
 Bankruptcy filings, if any.
 Documentation of military service and deployment (one or both of the following):
1. DD214
2. United States Armed Forces: copy of official military orders and documentation of service dates in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom after September 11, 2001. (If DD214 does not clearly state dates of service in Iraq or Afghanistan or participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, please supply other documentation such as a signed statement from your commanding officer or VA Administrator, the Basic Individual Report for Marines, or deployment roster.)
Applicants will be screened based on the following: applicant´s financial assets, level of educational debt, credit difficulties, bankruptcy filings (if any), and the impact of indebtedness on the applicant and his or her family. Other factors, including length of military service, number of deployments, completion of education, and level of employment following degree completion, will also be considered in the screening process. From the pool of applicants who meet the screening criteria according to the process and factors listed above, recipients will be selected to represent broadly all areas of the United States and United States Territories and all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship Management Services. All applicants agree to accept their decision as final. In no instance does any member of any of the Armed Forces play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Applicants will be notified by the end of September 2012. Previous applicants may reapply if the program is offered again in the future. Go to http://sms.scholarshipamerica.org/veterans-student-loan-relief/index.html
for additional information. [Source: SVA notice 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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Craigslist.org Scam: An increasing amount of scammers are using the names of legitimate businesses and organizations to lure in job seekers. In one recent example, scammers posted a help wanted ad on Craigslist.org for an opportunity at the real, Virginia-based "Association of Corporate Travel Executives." When job hunters responded to the ad, imposters sent them checks to deposit. Consumers were told keep a portion of the check as their pay and to wire the rest to a third party via Western Union. Of course, the checks never cleared, and victims were out the money. In another variation, scammers stole the name of BBB Accredited, Ohio-based business FBN Construction LLC. Scammers sent emails to local consumers promoting a job opportunity there and encouraging applicants to fill out an online form on a fake website. The form asked for personal information, opening job seekers up to identity theft. [Source: BBB Scam alert 27 Jun 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Scam: TRICARE Program Integrity has become aware of a Lottery Sweepstakes Scam in which fraudulent checks bearing the TRICARE name are being utilized. Individuals are contacted via mail with a letter informing them that they are “winners” of a USA Lottery Sweepstakes for $250,000. Accompanying the letter is a fraudulent check bearing the TRICARE name. The instructions on the letter inform the “winner” that the attached check is a portion of the winnings provided to help pay taxes, insurance, handling, and shipping fees. The “winner” is also instructed to return a portion of the funds from the cashed check. Individuals receiving this letter and check should be aware that individuals may be trying to gain access to their bank accounts, or other personal information. Individuals who cash the check may be putting themselves at financial risk. Once the bank determines the check is fraudulent, the individual who cashed the check could be held responsible for returning funds back to the bank. TRICARE beneficiaries who receive this Lottery Sweepstakes Scam letter and check are encouraged to report it to their Managed Care Support Contractor Program Integrity Office (i.e. Health Net, Humana Military, TriWest, Express Scripts, or WPS). Reports can also be made to TRICARE Program Integrity by emailing the TRICARE FRAUDLINE at FRAUDLINE@tma.osd.mil or by fax (303) 676-3981. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/fraud/News/Document/Lottery%20Sweepstakes%20Scam.pdf 11 Jun 2012 ++]
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Law of the Sea Convention: The military's senior leaders are ramping up efforts to convince the senators to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention. With a defense strategy that emphasizes the Asia-Pacific region and the increasing importance of the Arctic, they argue the time is right to join the United Nations treaty that regulates the resources of the sea and uses of the ocean. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaders of the Navy, Coast Guard and three military commands this month told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that joining would strengthen America's position around the world. Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., Coast Guard commandant, said in an interview that it's "well past" time to ratify the treaty and lock in the rights it sets forth. Of the eight Arctic nations, only the United States is not a party to the convention.
Other countries with Arctic coastlines are charting the continental shelves to make claims under the treaty to increase their rights to the oil and gas reserves that lie beneath the Arctic waters. In some places, the zone where the United States controls the undersea resources could be extended from 200 nautical miles off the coast to 600 miles, Papp said. "The only way to do that is to work through the convention," said Papp, who called the ability to make such a claim "a big deal for the U.S." Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the foreign relations committee, has called the case for ratification "clear and compelling," but has been reluctant to bring it to a vote until after the election. Some Republican senators oppose joining, saying the treaty would undermine U.S. sovereignty. Both of Connecticut's Democratic senators, Joe Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal, support it. Blumenthal called the treaty a powerful strategic win for the United States. "The Law of the Sea will be helpful all over the world but especially as we prioritize Pacific operations," he said. "And particularly for a state like Connecticut, which builds submarines and supports the Navy so effectively, the Law of the Sea will be advantageous."
Leon Panetta became the first secretary of defense to testify as to the military's support of the treaty before the Senate committee in May. By not being one of the 162 parties to the convention, the United States is at a "distinct disadvantage" in disputes over maritime rights and responsibilities, Panetta said in his statement. The treaty "provides the stable, recognized legal regime we need to conduct our global operations today." Under Secretary of the Navy Robert O. Work said in an interview the treaty now is "much more central to what our national security strategy is asking us to do." In talking with his colleagues, Blumenthal said, he's hearing more and more that the treaty will enhance the military's power. "I think we're on the cusp of a strong consensus because of the timing and the recognition that ratification is important to American interests in the Pacific," he said. Papp also seemed optimistic. "There may be some hope after the election, when people are not so focused on the politics of it," he said.
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"Perhaps we'll get some reasonable people together and try to do what's right for the country." [Source: The Day Jennifer McDermott article 25 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA HIV Care Update 04: The Department of Veterans Affairs is encouraging all Veterans to be tested for HIV at least once in their lives. VA offers HIV testing as part of its comprehensive, world-class care for the men and women who have served this Nation in uniform,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Testing, regardless of age or risk factors, is an important step to healthier, longer lives.” Some VA facilities offer HIV testing on a walk-in basis or through routine primary care appointments. Others offer testing as part of special health fairs. More information about the benefits of being tested is available at http://www.hiv.va.gov. The National HIV Testing Day 27 JUN was designed to raise awareness of the importance of early detection, which can help prevent the spread of the virus, extend life expectancy and reduce overall medical expenses. It is estimated that 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and one out of five are unaware they are infected. [Source: VA News Release 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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Widow(er) Military Benefits: There are four different age and marital status scenarios affecting benefits for military widows/widowers. They are:
 TRICARE eligibility permanently stops if you remarry. Unlike other benefits that may restart if your new marriage ends, TRICARE eligibility is gone for good if you remarry. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case if you married another servicemember in the future.
 General military benefits (exchange/commissary privileges, MWR, etc.) and eligibility for Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not affected as long as you remarry after age 55. Prior to age 55 if you remarry you must turn in your military ID card which will prevent you from using general military benefits. However, if you subsequently divorce you can reapply for a card which will reinstate your general benefits.
 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from the VA is lost if you remarry before 57. If a spouse remarries before age 57, eligibility for benefits may be restored if the marriage is terminated later by death, annulment, or divorce.
 The widow or widower of a deceased veteran who remarried a non-veteran and whose death took place after Jan. 1, 2000, is entitled to burial in a national veterans cemetery.
[Source: Various 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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Arkansas Veterans Homes: The state has decided to close Little Rock's Veterans Home which was founded in 1980. This move follows an investigation last month that revealed the home's administrator misappropriated funds. Now, The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs needs to find new homes for the facility's residents. The aging facility on Charles Bussey Avenue in Little Rock is home to 60 disabled veterans, for now. The state alerted residents 21 JUN that it will close the veterans home once all its residents can be placed in new homes. Just last month the administrator of the veterans home was terminated for the misappropriation of funds, but Gov. Beebe says the decision to shut down the facility came down to the its physical status. "Obviously, it's an old facility, in order to make it right it's going to require a lot more money than what alternatives would be good to place them in other facilities."
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Little Rock Fayetteville
This leaves only one Arkansas state home that is approved and recognized by the Federal Veterans Administration as a qualified state veterans home. It is located at 1125 North College Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703 and can be reached at Tel: (479) 444-7001/695-0184F or email: nadine.huddleston@arkansas.gov. The Fayetteville Veterans Home is a licensed Medicaid/Medicare 108 bed skilled care nursing facility which provides a comfortable and supportive atmosphere for veterans. Criteria for admission is no criminal record, honorable discharge, and a medical need for nursing home placement. Arkansas residents have first priority. Veteran's spouses and Gold Star parents can apply for admission. A tour of the: facility can be arranged upon request prior to submitting an application. The application process:
 Submission of an Application for Admission which includes basic medical and financial information along with a Medical Release of Information form. Call or write for an application packet which will include:
1. Admission letter http://www.veterans.arkansas.gov/admit%20letter%202009.pdf
2. Application for Admission http://www.veterans.arkansas.gov/Application%20to%20Veterans%20Home%20Updated%2004022008.pdf?ID=150
3. Request for and Authorization to Release Medical Records or Health Information Form http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-5345-fill.pdf
 Submit DD-214 or Separation Papers, copies of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and/or other insurance cards, and written verification of a service-connected disability rating showing the percentage of the disability rating (if applicable).
 A one-on-one interview with the applicant may be conducted by a registered nurse.
 Reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the application, medical history and nurse interview.
The facility provides the following services:
 Hospice and respite care
 Medical Director available and RN, LPN, CNA on-site care around the clock.
 Physical, occupational and speech therapy
 Daily activities coordinated by a Certified Activities Director.
 A Licensed Social Worker
 An Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Officer who assists all veterans with VA Benefits.
 Transportation available, personal laundry done at no additional charge, and security provided 24 hours a day.
The cost per day is $130.00 for a semi-private room and $145.00 for a private room. Medications will be billed to the veteran or a responsible party separately from a pharmacy with whom the nursing home is contracted.
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If the veteran is currently receiving VA Aid and Attendance compensation, his/her medications can be obtained from the local VA. If the veteran is not receiving Aid and Attendance, the medications are obtained from a local pharmacy as mentioned earlier Veterans service groups may request the use of the meeting room or outdoor patio for special events. Use of these areas is at the discretion of the home's administrator. [Source: THV 11 Meredith Mitchell article and
www.veterans.arkansas.gov 24 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA In Vitro Fertilization: A bill introduced last week into Congress by Sen. Patty Murray would give veterans and their spouses access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time. IVF is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. It is currently excluded from fertility services offered through the VA, but with a number of veterans facing injuries that can affect their ability to conceive, Sen. Murray (D-WA) said in a statement for the Congressional Record that this service is part and parcel of caring for veterans when they come home. "The nature of the current conflict and increasing use of improvised explosive devices leaves service members, both male and female, at increased risk for blast injuries including spinal cord injury and trauma to the reproductive and urinary tracts," Murray said. "Army data shows that between 2003 and 2011, more than 600 women and men experienced these life-changing battle injuries while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. As they return from the battlefield ... the VA system must be equipped to help injured veterans step back into their lives as parents, spouses and citizens."
The bill, known as the "Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvement Act of 2012," (S.3313) proposes to expand reproductive treatment and care options for veterans and extends fertility treatments to spouses. The bill also tackles other issues affecting women veterans by creating a pilot program providing child care to veterans seeking readjustment counseling and requires the VA to improve outreach to women veterans so women can better access VA health care and benefits. And the bill requires the VA to facilitate more research on the long-term health care needs of veterans, including issues such as gender-specific infections and severe reproductive and urinary tract trauma in the battlefield.
Joan Leid, women veterans program manager for the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, said the medical center does see some women experiencing fertility issues, especially as a growing number of younger women are serving. But the child care issue is one of the biggest barriers for the more than 900 female veterans seeking counseling or medical care at the Walla Walla medical center and its regional clinics, Leid told the Herald. "It seems to be a women's issue getting child care to come to an appointment," she said. Outreach also is important, as many women don't access VA benefits and services because they don't perceive themselves as veterans. "Some women think they have to have served in combat or served overseas, or have a service-related disability," Leid said. But any woman who has served in the military may be eligible for benefits, she said. "We encourage all veterans to apply to see if they are eligible," Leid said. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, of which Murray is the chairwoman. [Source: Tri-City Herald Michelle Dupler article 24 Jun 2012 ++]
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Religious Freedom: A group of 66 Republican lawmakers has blasted the Air Force for taking what it termed “a series of steps signaling hostility toward religious freedom.” Since an order last September by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz mandating that chaplains themselves – and not commanders – publicize religious programs, the Air Force has gone beyond what the Constitution requires in an attempt to set up “complete separation” between religion and military service, the legislators allege. The group, led by Republican U.S.
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Representatives Diane Black of Tennessee, Randy Forbes of Virginia and Todd Akin of Missouri, voiced its complaints in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. It cited several recent instances in which references to religion, God or the Bible have been removed from Air Force mottoes, briefings and courses, and argued “The First Amendment prohibits the establishment of religion; however, the mere discussion of religion or reference to God certainly does not rise to that level.“ The letter represented a reversal of sorts, as the Air Force in recent years had come under fire for what critics said was aggressive religious proselytizing at the Air Force Academy and tolerance of commanders imposing religion on subordinates. An Air Force spokeswoman denied that the service is hostile to religion, and said it was dedicated to creating an environment where people of any belief system could prosper. “Airmen are free to exercise their Constitutional right to practice their religion—in a manner that is respectful of other individuals' rights to follow their own belief systems; and in ways that are conducive to good order and discipline; and that do not detract from accomplishing the military mission,” Maj. Jennifer Spires said in an email. [Source: Stars & Stripes Chris Carroll article 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Compensation Review Update 08: The Department of Defense released on 21 JUN the report of the 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC), which assesses the effectiveness of military pay and benefits. Every four years, the DoD is directed by the President to complete a review of compensation principles and concepts for members of the uniformed services. The 11th QRMC began in 2010, and focused on the following four areas established by the President: special and incentive pays for critical career fields; combat compensation; wounded warriors, caregivers, and survivor compensation; and Reserve and National Guard compensation and benefits. DoD will study the recommendations for potential implementation and, if needed, send selected proposals to Congress as proposed legislation. The 11th QRMC began its study by analyzing the relative standing of military compensation with civilian wages as context for decisions about elements of the military compensation system. The QRMC found that regular military compensation (RMC) for enlisted personnel and officers compares favorably with civilian wages for those with comparable education and experience. Highlights of the QRMC recommendations for each of the study areas follow.
 Special and incentive pays. Special and incentive pays are a cost-effective means of achieving manpower objectives. In conducting its assessment of several high-demand career fields, the QRMC found that a versatile career incentive pay authority could have great utility and recommends establishing such an authority.
 Combat compensation. The QRMC concluded that the relationship between combat compensation and the degree of danger to which a member is exposed has eroded, with members most likely to be exposed to the hazards of combat receiving the smallest benefit. Thus, the QRMC recommends that combat compensation be restructured so that those who are exposed to the greatest danger receive higher compensation, regardless of grade by: establishing differentials in hazardous duty pay, and replacing the Combat Zone Tax Exclusion with a refundable Combat Tax Credit and a refundable Direct Support Tax Credit.
 Wounded warriors, caregivers, and survivors. The QRMC researched the financial well-being of service members wounded in combat and survivors of fallen warriors. The QRMC also examined the financial implications for family members who take on the role of caregiver for a wounded service member.
 Wounded warriors. The QRMC’s research showed that income loss increases with severity of injury, but disability payments more than offset the loss, on average. However, the QRMC
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recommended that the department continue to examine wounded warriors’ earnings and disability payments to fully understand the long-term financial impact of being injured.
 Caregivers. The new DoD and VA benefits provide a source of compensation and help offset earnings losses some caregivers experience. However, the QRMC recommends that the two programs be more closely aligned.
 Surviving spouses. Similar research of surviving spouses found that recurring survivor benefits replace a significant portion of income loss. However, the QRMC recommends partially eliminating the reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments when a spouse is also entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and equalize SBP payments when a guard or reserve member dies while performing inactive duty training. Specifically, they recommend a modification of the DIC and the SBP offset to allow the surviving spouse to receive that portion of the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity funded by retiree premiums (approximately 50 percent)
 Reserve Compensation, Benefits and Duty Structure. Today, the reserve components serve two purposes -- to support operational missions on a regular basis and to provide strategic depth. Yet the QRMC found the reserve compensation system was designed to support a strategic reserve by optimizing compensation for training, and therefore, the system is misaligned with current utilization of the guard and reserve in an integrated total force. The QRMC recommended modernizing the reserve compensation system by transitioning the reserve components to a total force pay structure under which a member receives full pay and allowances for each day of duty regardless of the type or purpose of duty. Further, the QRMC recommended transitioning the reserve components to a retirement system that is more closely aligned with the active duty system with guard and reserve members receiving retired pay upon reaching their 30th anniversary of military service, having completed 20 qualifying years.
The QRMC also examined the breadth of benefits available to guard and reserve members and their families, and made recommendations involving health care, educational assistance, and disability. The QRMC found that the reserve duty structure is complicated, confusing and cumbersome. Thus the QRMC recommends reducing the number of authorities under which a reserve component member can be called or ordered to duty from 30 to 6. Full recommendations, in greater detail, can be viewed on the Web at http://militarypay.defense.gov/REPORTS/QRMC/
[Source: http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15392 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Compensation Review Update 09: National Guardsmen and Reservists would receive less drill pay but be able to draw retirement earlier under a plan recommended by a Pentagon review of the combat pay system. The Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) says the reserve compensation system "was designed to support a strategic reserve by optimizing compensation for training." The report recommends "transitioning" the Guard and Reserve to a "Total Force pay structure under which a member receives full pay and allowances for each day of duty regardless of the type or purpose of duty." Reserve-component personnel currently receive two days of pay for every one full official day of inactive duty training and four days of pay for a full weekend drill; however, they receive one day of pay for other duty days, including periods of annual training. Guard and Reserve officers and noncommissioned officers have long maintained that the extra IDT pay helps cover personal time spent preparing for training and other military requirements.
The QRMC also suggests transitioning the reserve components to a retirement system more closely aligned with the active-component system. The report calls for Guardsmen and Reservists to receive retirement pay upon reaching their 30th anniversary of military service after having completed 20 qualifying years of service. Also, the QRMC recommends changes to the way combat pay is determined. The report notes that officers serving far from
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danger are better compensated in some ways than young enlisted troops facing possible combat on an hourly basis. The report suggests setting hostile fire pay higher than imminent danger pay. Both are at $225 per month now, so an officer working in Greece, for example, gets the same amount as an infantryman in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Also, the report suggests creating several categories of imminent danger that would provide more money for those facing the most danger. The report, which would require approval from Congress to be implemented, also would replace the combat-zone tax exclusion with another type of tax credit. The current plan benefits most those with highest salaries. Full recommendations can be viewed at http://militarypay.defense.gov/REPORTS/QRMC. [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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SBP DIC Offset Update 34: The recently released 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) found survivor benefits comprehensive, particularly given changes enacted in the past decade. Yet the study offers a new approach for addressing a chronic complaint — the SBP-DIC offset. Survivors of retirees who die of service-related ailments or on active duty or die with 100-percent disability ratings are eligible to draw tax-free Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from VA. But their military survivor benefits plan (SBP), must be reduced dollar-for-dollar by monthly DIC. Premiums paid on lost SBP benefits are returned to survivors. Affected widows have pressed Congress for years to end the SBP-DIC offset. The QRMC proposes a compromise. It notes that SBP premiums, on average, cover just over half of program costs and taxpayers subsidize the other half. So the study proposes that eligible survivors be allowed to keep half of their SBP, or roughly that portion of SBP bought with premiums. Thomas L. Bush, director of the 11th QRMC acknowledged this approach might be perceived as inequitable by some because a surviving spouse whose member never paid premiums would get to keep half of their SBP, the same as the survivor of a retiree who paid premiums for 30 years. However, this would keep the offset simple versus having to calculate what every retiree paid in actual premiums. “In our view, on average, it’s not an inequitable way to approach the issue,” Bush said. The compromise is controversial for another reason. It’s the most costly proposal offered in the study with a projected cost over 10 years of almost $1 billion for the Defense Department and $3.4 billion for Treasury. [Source: Stars & Stripes tom Philpott article 21 Jun 2012 ++]
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DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse: Even though Congress has refused, so far, to go along with the Pentagon’s request to raise TRICARE fees and co-pays (except for pharmacy co-pays), there continues to be a drumbeat in Washington to raise TRICARE fees and cut back on retiree benefits. According to DoD officials, unless they can cut over $12 billion over five years from the cost of TRICARE, DoD will have to cut active duty personnel even more from what is currently planned. So it’s interesting that Washington Post columnist Walter Pincus has recently written a number of columns of how the Pentagon wastes money. Pincus points out that the Senate Armed Services Committee was able to find hundreds of millions of dollars to move around from one program to another in order to get the kind of Pentagon budget they wanted.
One of the specific examples he used is the cost overruns for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that is supposed to be the backbone of our air combat arms force for the next 20 years. According to Pincus, because of the way the Pentagon decided to buy the F-35 it has ended up costing an additional $7.9 billion and is almost three years behind schedule. And the additional costs are not over yet. If the writer’s math is correct, that “mistake” by the Pentagon, which so far has cost $7.9 billion, amounts to two-thirds of the amount that DoD says it must cut from its health care budget for retirees. And remember, that $7.9 is only for the cost overrun caused by mistakes the Pentagon made in the way they decided to do business. Pincus goes on to point out that one of the Army’s budgets for ammunition in 2011 didn’t need $75 million it had been given, so it gave it back. Another budget for
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ammunition had $37 million more than it needed because of a pricing change. Then there are the expenditures for projects the Pentagon no longer wants such as the added $91 million to keep open plants working on the M1A2 Abrams tank program, a production line that the Pentagon wanted to close. Congress won’t let them because of the jobs in various states that the programs provide. Add these on to the $7.9 billion and suddenly we’re up to almost $8.1 billion. And on and on it goes.
The point, which The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) has been making for years, is the Pentagon does not know where it spends all of its money because it is impossible, under their current business practices, to audit their books. Now, on top of that, mistakes made in budgeting cost extra billions of dollars each year. And yet they say that unless they can make cuts in retiree health care they’ll have to cut the active duty force even more than they already plan to do. Nonsense. Before Congress ever considers allowing DoD to cut retiree health care, it should first require the Pentagon to more accurately audit its books to establish actual funds available to meet their mission. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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Legislation of Interest Update 18: In a press release Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued a statement regarding an amendment to H.R.1627, which reflects an agreement reached in conference by the Republican and Democratic leadership of the Veterans’ Affairs Committees in the House and Senate. He said, “This comprehensive legislation represents more than a year’s worth of work by the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees on behalf of America’s veterans. The Committees have worked in unison for months to come to agreement on a package that will improve benefits and services to veterans and their families. This bill includes nearly 50 provisions, which combines House-passed legislation and Senate Committee-reported bills. Today, we move forward to improve healthcare, housing, education, homelessness, memorial affairs, and compensation for veterans and certain dependents. This legislation also protects veterans from predatory behaviors and requires increased accountability and transparency within VA. We have achieved this legislative accomplishment in a fiscally responsible manner and the bill will not cost the taxpayer an extra dime. We have received a great deal of input from Veterans Service Organizations and advocates from across the country to address the most pressing concerns our veterans face today. Their participation has been key to moving this legislation forward.” For more news from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, visit or to sign up for newsletters issued by the House Committee on Veteran Affairs go to http://veterans.house.gov. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Pension Loans Update 01: Private companies are offering “lump sum pension payments” for veterans, either those with monthly disability payments or retirees. There are roughly 1.5 million former servicemembers collecting about $40 billion annually from the federal government, and they are being targeted as easy ways to make money. According to MSNBC, in 2004 Congress threatened legislation designed to outlaw the industry. Additionally, several courts have ruled that these lump sum pension payments violate existing federal laws. While the up-front, lump sum payouts may be effective as a way to get a large sum of money quickly to settle financial debts, the terms of these loans are actually terrible - often they add up to 30-40 percent interest. And these companies do not disclose the actual terms of the agreement in a clear manner.
In response to these scams, on 18 JUN Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray announced that his agency will begin focusing on pension lump sum payments. "We are ... concerned about military pension buyout schemes," Cordray said in a speech on Elder Abuse Awareness Day. "Military retirees are offered lump-sum cash payments in return for surrendering their rights to their pension payouts. These schemes are usually
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very bad deals for the retirees. We want to collect information on all of these kinds of financial practices." The federal government has been collecting information on this industry for years, and now it has the ability to protect consumers from these types of predatory lenders. These companies are funded by investors who are looking for steady returns afforded by monthly government pension checks. According to MSNBC, one pension buyout company was ordered by an arbitrator in November to repay $5 million to investors who alleged they were defrauded. In December, the firm agreed to stop selling the investments in California.
Last August, a California court ruled in favor of a class action suit brought by veterans, ordering Retired Military Financial Service, Inc. to return $2.9 million. The founder of Retired Military Financial Services, Inc., Steven P. Covey defended his company last year in a story published by the Center for Public Integrity’s iWatchNews.org. There, he said, "The position is: We’re purchasing at a discounted lump-sum, future cash flow. We’re not lenders. When you’re not lenders, you’re not dealing in potential usury areas.” He essentially is saying that since his company technically isn’t lending, they should not be subject to laws that govern financial transactions. The Enlisted Association disagrees. According to Stuart Rossman of the National Consumer Law Center, "If these sites are dealing with the issue of military pensions, it's likely every single one is violating a law.” All firms that offer such lump payments are either assigning military pensions to a third party, which isn’t legal, or they are offering loans without abiding by Truth and Lending Requirements; this is also illegal.
Editors Note: A phone call to Buysell annuity’s contact number 1(800) 240-8601 provided on their website http://buysellannuity.com/?gclid=CI2yyq2f7bACFQhahwodRyXAxQ revealed they would loan $8000 or more against my military pension, VA disability compensation, and Social Security incomes for 3,5, or 10 years. At my expense would be required to purchase a life insurance policy for double the amount of the loan as collateral on the loan in the event of my death. In the event of my death they would collect from the insurance policy the full amount vice any payoff balance at the time of my death. Thus for me the cost of a $8,000 loan for a period of 10 years would be $38,400 or almost five times the amount of the loan. When I questioned the high amount of interest I was told that it was competitive with other companies making pension loans who in most cases charged more. The $38,400 is the result of:
 $200 per month for 120 months or $24,000; plus
 $128 per month (current age 72 with a heart condition) for a 10 year term policy with $16,000 coverage or a total of $14,400 in premiums.
[Source: TREA News for the Enlisted & RAO Bulletin Editor 22 & 26 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 15: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently completed a media campaign for its call center “Coaching Into Care,” a telephone service which provides assistance to family members and friends trying to encourage their Veteran to seek health care for possible readjustment and mental health issues. “Coaching Into Care is a valuable service for family members and friends of Veterans who might be reluctant to seek mental health care,” said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. “In the last three years, VA has devoted more people, programs, and resources toward mental health services to serve the growing number of Veterans seeking mental health care and this marketing effort is designed to expand our reach to those who need our services the most.” The “Coaching Into Care” service offers free coaching to callers, with no limit to the number of calls they can make. The goal of these sessions is to connect a Veteran with VA care in his or her community with the help and encouragement of family members or friends. Callers will be coached on solving specific logistical problems and ways to encourage the Veteran to seek care while respecting his or her right to make personal decisions.
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The service is available on http://www.mirecc.va.gov/coaching or toll-free at 1-888-823-7458, 08-2000 EST -F , and online at. If a Veteran is experiencing an acute crisis, callers should contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 for immediate help. “Coaching Into Care” works directly with the Veterans Crisis Line and the Caregiver Support Line to provide guidance and referrals. The department is a pioneer in mental health research, high-quality, evidence-based treatment and access to high-quality care. VA has many entry points to care through the use of 300 Vet Centers, the Veterans Crisis Line, and integration of mental health services in the primary care setting. This campaign is part of VA’s overall mental health program. Last year, VA provided quality, specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009, VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health staff.
In April, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations, Secretary Shinseki announced VA would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 mental health staff to help meet the increased demand for mental health services. The “Coaching Into Care” advertisements ran on cable TV and radio stations in media markets throughout the U.S. The ads featured three scenarios that many Veterans and their family members commonly experience followin g the Veteran’s return from combat experiences. Veterans were directly involved in the media campaign. VA launched the media campaign as part of its observation of June as “PTSD Awareness Month.” [Source: VA News Release 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Appeals Management Center: Richard Dumancas, deputy director of the American Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, testified at the 19 JUN House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing and covered several VA initiatives. The effectiveness of a new technology for handling veterans’ disability claims was challenged by the Legion regarding the Veterans Affairs efforts to improve its claims process. The Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) is a pilot program that shows much promise, yet the Legion sees potential problems with it already along with the VA's Disability Benefits Questionnaires, I-Lab (an experimental work-flow process), and the Fully Developed Claims program. One VA success story was also highlighted in the Legion’s testimony: the impressive progress made by the Appeals Management Center (AMC), which, in 2008, took nearly 400 days on average to complete a disability claim. Those claims were remanded at the rate of about 30 percent, “meaning the accuracy was so poor, nearly a third of the claims were continually sent back to be redone properly.” Today, the AMC has cut its average claim-processing time in half and the remand rate has dropped to 7 percent. “This is what happens with a mind set and dedication to turning a badly performing process around,” Dumancas testified. “The American Legion strongly encourages allowing that mind set to spread.... Ultimately, these problems may require culture shift within VA to fix. Technological fixes may not be as helpful as changing the VA mind set.” [Source: The AL Online Update 21 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Parkinson's Disease Program Update 03: Patients with Parkinson’s disease who undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS)—a treatment in which a pacemaker-like device sends pulses to electrodes implanted in the brain—can expect stable improvement in muscle symptoms for at least three years, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs study appearing in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology. “VA was proud to partner with the National Institutes of Health in this research,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Our
research on Parkinson’s helps ensure we continue to provide the best care possible for Veterans with this debilitating disease.” VA cares for some 40,000 Veterans with the condition. In DBS, surgeons implant electrodes in the brain and run thin wires under the skin to a pacemaker-like device placed at one of two locations in the brain. Electrical pulses from the battery-operated device jam the brain signals that cause muscle-related symptoms. Thousands of
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Americans have seen successful results from the procedure since it was first introduced in the late 1990s. But questions have remained about which stimulation site in the brain yields better outcomes, and over how many years the gains persist.
Initial results from the study appeared in 2009 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Based on the six-month outcomes of 255 patients, the researchers concluded that DBS is riskier than carefully managed drug therapy—because of the possibility of surgery complications—but may hold significant benefits for those with Parkinson’s who no longer respond well to medication alone. A follow-up report in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, using data from 24 months of follow-up, showed that similar results could be obtained from either of the two brain sites targeted in DBS. The new report is based on 36 months of follow-up on 159 patients from the original group. It extends the previous findings: DBS produced marked improvements in motor (movement-related) function. The gains lasted over three years and did not differ by brain site. Patients, on average, gained four to five hours a day free of troubling motor symptoms such as shaking, slowed movement, or stiffness. The effects were greatest at six months and leveled off slightly by three years.
According to VA Chief Research and Development Officer Joel Kupersmith, MD, “This rigorously conducted clinical trial offers valuable guidance for doctors and patients in VA and throughout the world. As our Veteran population and the general U.S. population grow older, this research and future studies on Parkinson’s will play an important role in helping us optimize care.” The research took place at several VA and university medical centers and was supported by VA’s Cooperative Studies Program and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. The maker of the devices used in DBS, Medtronic Neurological, helped fund the research but did not play a role in designing the study or analyzing the results. VA, which has the largest integrated health care system in the country, also has one of the largest medical research programs. This year, approximately 3,400 researchers will work on more than 2,300 projects with nearly $1.9 billion in funding. For more information on VA research, refer to http://www.research.va.gov. [Source: VA Press Release 21 Jun 2012 ++]
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North Carolina Vet Homes Update 01: The North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs will open two skilled nursing facilities for veterans in the next several months, expanding the state’s capacity to care for its elderly soldiers. The new homes, each with 100 beds, are in Kinston and Black Mountain. “It’s going to be great to have this space available,” said Greg Hughes, chief of social work for the Durham VA Medical Center, which will oversee the medical care provided at the home in Kinston. The one in Black Mountain will be administered by the Asheville VA Medical Center. Other skilled nursing facilities for veterans are located in Salisbury, Fayetteville and within the Durham VA. Each of the those has from 100 to 120 beds. The new homes were built with a combination of money from the state and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA set aside $14.6 million for the home in Black Mountain, near Asheville, and $12 million for the one in Kinston. The federal money was from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The properties belong to and are administered by the state, with each resident receiving a per diem from the VA. Depending on their financial need, some veterans’ stays are paid entirely by the VA. Others make a partial payment using personal funds, Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.
Each of the new homes is expected to employ 150 to 170 people. Tim Wipperman, assistant secretary for the state Division of Veterans Affairs, said the new homes will have all private rooms, arranged in “neighborhoods” of 12 to 14 residents, each with its own dining room, day room, living room and outdoor area. Larger groups of residents will be able to gather in bigger common areas when needed. “We’re trying to make them as home-like as possible,” Wipperman said. The homes include such amenities as a therapy pool with a treadmill built into the bottom. The homes are designed to accommodate both long-term residents and patients who need therapy to be able
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to return to other living arrangements. North Carolina has about 766,000 veterans. “The need is pretty significant,” Hughes said. “I think there probably will be a waiting list.”To be eligible for admission to a North Carolina Veterans skilled nursing facility a veteran must:
 Have served in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes.
 Have been discharged under honorable conditions from the United States Armed Forces.
 Have resided in the State of North Carolina 24 months prior to be date of application.
 Be referred by a licensed physician and be in need of skilled nursing care.
To find information on admission to North Carolina’s new skilled nursing facilities call (919) 807-4250, Fax: (919) 807-4260, mail North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs, 1315 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1315
or complete the General Inquiry form online at http://www.doa.nc.gov/vets/contactus.aspx. For information on the existing State Veterans Nursing Homes or assistance with the admission process, refer to the following:
 Fayetteville Facility: NC State Veterans Home, 214 Cochran Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28301Tel: 910-482-4131
 Salisbury Facility: NC State Veterans Home, W.G. Hefner Medical Center, 1601 Brenner Avenue, Building #10, Salisbury, NC 28145 Tel: 704-638-4200 ext. 204, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 599, Salisbury, NC 28145.
[Source: The News & Observer Martha Quillin article 19 Jun 2012 ++]
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VAMC Orlando Update 01: Long-simmering tensions between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and one of its largest contractors boiled over Friday when the agency warned Brasfield & Gorrie that it must speed up construction of Orlando's new VA Hospital or risk of losing its contract. The notice issued by the VA gives Brasfield & Gorrie no more than 10 days to develop a plan to increase the number of construction workers on the project, now estimated at 500 or fewer. The agency also wants Brasfield & Gorrie to get going on sections of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility not embroiled in disputes that already have delayed its completion date by several months to the summer of 2013, if not later. "We hope Brasfield & Gorrie acknowledges they have everything they need to complete the job … and diligently pursue the work," said Bart Bruchok, senior resident engineer for the project. If not, he said, the VA ultimately could terminate the contract and seek another firm. The threat by VA officials, however, is only the latest volley in an ongoing dispute between the agency and Brasfield & Gorrie over the roughly $650 million project. VA officials at a congressional hearing this spring accepted much of the blame for delays, including hold-ups in delivering blueprints and ever-shifting plans. On 15 JUN, Brasfield & Gorrie officials reiterated that complaint and said the VA is still changing its mind. "We continue to receive waves of design changes and we were advised this week that more design changes are coming," noted Tracey Sibley, a company spokeswoman. "Regardless of the VA's continued efforts to deflect its responsibility, Brasfield & Gorrie never stopped working diligently." [Source: Orlando Sentinel Mark K. Matthews article 15 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Telehealth Update 05: In a continuing effort to increase Veterans’ access to mental health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs has set a goal to conduct more than 200,000 clinic-based, telemental health consultations for all mental health specialties in fiscal year 2012. This follows VA’s announcement last month that it would no longer charge Veterans a copayment when they receive care in their homes from VA health professionals using video conferencing. “Telemental health provides Veterans quicker and more efficient access to the types of care they seek,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We are leveraging technology to reduce the distance they have to travel, increase the flexibility of the system they use, and improve their overall
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quality of life. We are expanding the reach of our mental health services beyond our major medical centers and treating Veterans closer to their homes.”
The clinic-based telehealth program involves the more than 800 VA community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) where many Veterans receive primary care. If the CBOCs do not have a mental health care provider available, secure video teleconferencing technology is used to connect the Veteran to a provider within VA’s nationwide system of care. As a result, Veterans can arrange appointments at times more in synch with their schedules. The program improves access to general and specialty services in geographically remote areas where it can be difficult to recruit mental health professionals. “As technology is improving people’s lives in many areas, telemental health is making access to health care and support easier for Veterans with mental health conditions,” said Dr. Robert A. Petzel, Under Secretary for Health. “For example, one combat Veteran from Iraq cites telemental health as a critical factor in rebuilding her life and coping with the aftermath of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and military sexual trauma. Telemental health offered her a safe and convenient setting to receive gender sensitive services that helped her fit back into civilian life after three months of therapy.”
Since the start of the Telemental Health Program, VA has completed over 550,000 patient encounters. In Fiscal Year 2011 alone, more than 140,000 encounters were conducted with 55,000 Veterans via CBOCs, where providers at 150 hospitals delivered care to veterans at more than 500 clinics. The Telehealth Expansion Initiative launched in May 2011 called for an additional 21 regional leads, 144 facility coordinators and 1,150 clinical technicians to VA’s workforce. When fully implemented, the expansion will provide a potential capacity of 1.2 million consultations annually. Video to the home is currently projected to grow to 2,000 patients by the end of fiscal year 2012, with 1,500 using innovative new Internet Protocol (IP) video connected to Veterans’ personal computers. In addition to supporting these current programs, the VHA National Telemental Health Center in West Haven, Conn., has pioneered additional new programs that delivered 1,000 specialized patient encounters from mental health experts at multiple VA sites to Veterans throughout the nation. These include over 100 compensation and pension exams, 700 clinical encounters to over 165 Veterans enrolled in behavioral pain treatment programs, and 200 clinical-video and telephone encounters to over 70 Veterans enrolled in a bipolar disorder treatment program.
This campaign is part of VA’s overall mental health program. Last year, VA provided quality, specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009, VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health staff. In April, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations, Secretary Shinseki announced VA would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 to help meet the increased demand for mental health services. The additional staff would include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. For more information, on VA’s telemental health, visit the Office of Telehealth Services at http://www.telehealth.va.gov. [Source: VA Press Release 20 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Agent Orange Claims Update 04: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that nearly 230,000 claims have already been processed for the three newest Agent-Orange related conditions through June 2012, including over 150,000 claims required to be adjudicated under the order of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Nehmer v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The near completion of these complex Nehmer claims enables VA to redirect 1,200 employees who were dedicated to reviewing the Agent Orange cases toward addressing the current backlog of disability claims. “I am proud of our VA employees who worked hard to complete these Agent Orange claims, putting over $3.6 billion into the hands of our Vietnam Veterans and their survivors,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We completed all of the Agent
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Orange Nehmer claims for living Veterans, and are now focusing on the fewer than 500 remaining that will benefit survivors.”
The Agent Orange claims stemmed from VA’s 2010 amendment of its regulations to add ischemic heart disease, hairy cell and other chronic B-cell leukemias, and Parkinson's disease to the list of diseases presumed to be related to exposure to the herbicide used in Southeast Asia. “While we work to transform how we do business through new processes and technology, at the end of the day it’s about taking care of our Veterans and their loved ones on the issues affecting their lives,” said Secretary Shinseki. Given the complexity of the historical casework, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) allocated its most experienced decision makers, about 37 percent of its rating staff, to processing Agent Orange claims. VBA’s 13 resource centers were exclusively dedicated to re-adjudicating these claims. Even with this allocation of 37 percent of the rating staff dedicated to Agent Orange claims, VA processed over 1 million disability claims in each of the last 2 years, an unprecedented number. “Incoming claims over the last ten years have nearly doubled,” said VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison A. Hickey. “Being able to refocus these skilled raters on the backlog is vitally important.”
In addition to redirecting its rating staff, VA has developed a comprehensive transformation plan to achieve in 2015 Secretary Shinseki's goal of completing claims within 125 days at 98 percent accuracy. The plan is built on more than 40 designed, tested, and measured people, processing, and technology initiatives. VA is now beginning the nationwide rollout of its new operating model and electronic processing system, known as the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). All regional offices will be operating under the new model and using the new processing system by the end of 2013. VA has established a website, http://www.fastrack.va.gov, to assist Veterans in filing claims for the three new conditions related to the effects of Agent Orange exposure. It guides Veterans through automated, program-assisted menus to capture the information and medical evidence needed for faster claims decision. Potentially eligible Veterans include those who were exposed based on duty or visitation in Vietnam or on its inland waterways between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; exposed along the demilitarized zone in Korea between April 1, 1968, and August 31, 1971; or exposed due to herbicide tests and storage at military bases within and outside of the United States. [Source: VA News Release 19 Jun 2012 ++]
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Retiree Appreciation Days 08: Retiree Appreciation Days (RAD) and Military Retiree Seminars are a great source of the latest information for retirees and Family members in your area. RADs vary from installation to installation, but, in 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. Since the day's schedule of activities differ from location to location, it is best to check with the event's point of contact for specific details. The Army maintains a current listing of activities for 2012 at www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/rads.asp, the air force at www.retirees.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=11781, and the Navy at www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/Publications/ShiftColors . Many of these are Joint (JRAD) offering info to retirees and Family members from all services. The current Army schedule lists:
 Clarkson Univ. Potsdam, NY Jun 16 (315) 393-0580
 Wiesbaden, Germany Jun 22 0611-705-7668
 Tobyhanna, PA Jul 28 (570) 615-7409
 Des Moines, IA Aug 15 (515) 277-6113
 Minneapolis, MN Aug 24 (507) 474-9297
 Camp Ripley, MN Aug 25 (763) 441-2630
 Augusta, ME Aug 25 (207) 430-5463
 Ft. Leonard Wood, MO Sep 7-8 (573) 596-0947
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 Ft. McCoy, WI Sep 7 (608) 388-3716
 Plattsburgh, NY Sep 8 (518) 563-9479
 Duluth, MN Sep 14 (218) 590-3114
 Ft. Drum, NY Sep 15 (315) 772-6434
 Ft. Sill, OK Sep 20-22 (580) 442-2645
 Ft. Belvoir, VA Sep 21 (703) 806-4551
 Ft. Lee, VA Sep 22 (804) 734-6555
 Selfridge, MI Sep 22 (586) 239-5580
 Ft. Meade, MD Sep 28 (301) 667-9603
 Redstone Arsenal, AL Sep 28-29 (256) 876-2022
 Ft. Bliss, TX Sep 29 (915) 569-6233
 Ft. Dix, NJ Sep 29 (609) 562-2666
 JB Myer-Henderson Hall Oct 5 (703) 696-5948
 Schofield Barracks, HI Oct 6 (808) 655-1585
 BENELUX Oct 12 0032-65-44-6238
 Carlisle Barracks, PA Oct 13 (717) 245-4501
 Heidelberg, Germany Oct 13 0049-(0)6221-57-8399
 Vicenza, Italy Oct 17 0039-46-443-7320
 Grafenwoehr, Germany Oct 19 0049-(0)9641-83-8539
 Camp Humphrey, Korea Oct 20 (315) 730-4133
 Schweinfurt, Germany Oct 20 0049-(0)9721-96-8812
 Ansbach, Germany Oct 24 0049-(0)981-183-3301
 Stuttgart, Germany Oct 25 0049-(0)7031-15-2599
 Aberdeen PG, MD Oct 27 (410) 306-2320
 Ft. Campbell, KY Oct 27 (270) 789-5280
 Ft. Hamilton, NY Oct 27 (718) 630-4552
 Ft. Polk, LA Oct 27 (337) 531-0363/0402
 Rock Island Arsenal, IL Oct 27 (563) 322-4823
 Ft. Knox, KY Nov 2-3 (502) 624-1765
 JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK Nov 3 (907) 384-3500
 San Diego, CA (Navy) Nov 3 (619) 556 -8987
 Ft. Detrick, MD Nov 8 (301) 619-9948
 Syracuse, NY Nov 11 (315) 772-6434
 Yongsan, Korea Nov 17 (315) 730-4133
[Source: e-Echoes May-Aug 2012 ++]
Many RADs offer health screenings and vaccinations.
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SBP Premium: In February 2012, over 70,000 Retired Soldiers (9.3% of all Retired Soldiers) couldn’t pay their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums by automatic deduction from their retired pay like other retirees do because their disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) completely offset their retired pay. When Retired Soldiers’ retired pay is less than their SBP premiums, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service – Cleveland (DFAS-CL) sends them a Retired Account Statement (RAS) informing them of the problem. It is important for these Retired Soldiers to address this problem because unpaid SBP premiums carried over into a new billing month will accrue a six percent interest fee. One way to resolve this problem is to pay SBP premiums directly to DFAS at: Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DFAS-CL SBP and RSFPP Remittance, P.O. Box 979013, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000.
Payments sent to any other location, including the Retired and Annuitant Pay offices at DFAS-CL, will not be received and credited to your account. Another way to resolve this problem is to submit a DD Form 2891, Authorization for RSFPP and/or SBP Costs Deductions, to the VA. The form authorizes the VA to deduct SBP premiums from VA disability compensation and pay the premiums directly to DFAS-CL. The VA automatically adjusts the payments to DFAS-CL when SBP premiums increase due to cost of living adjustments to retired pay. Retired Soldiers should not submit a DD Form 2891 to the VA before DFAS-CL informs them that their retired pay is offset by their VA disability or they may inadvertently make double SBP payments. [Source: e-Echoes Sgt. Maj. (Ret) Bill Hursh article 169 Jun 2012 ++]
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Army Retiree Council Update 04: Possible increases in TRICARE premiums and changes to military retired pay were the Chief of Staff, Army (CSA) Retiree Council’s top two concerns when Co-Chairmen, Lt. Gen. (Ret) Frederick E. Vollrath and Sgt. Maj. of the Army (Ret) Kenneth O. Preston briefed the CSA, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, at the conclusion of the Council’s annual meeting held at the Pentagon from April 23-27, 2012. The Council strongly recommended that future increases in TRICARE not be tied to the medical inflation rate and that TRICARE premiums not be means tested, two proposals that the Congress is now considering. While the Council agreed that future increases in TRICARE premiums were inevitable, they stressed that increases should not be more than increases in retired pay. The Council voiced strong opposition to possible changes in retired pay, citing the adverse impact the REDUX retirement plan had on recruiting and retention in the late 1980s. For the same reason, it was equally opposed to attempts to replace the current defined benefit retired pay plan with a civilian 401K-like plan that ties retired pay to stock market performance. Also of importance to the Council were:
 Efforts to involve retirees more deeply in telling Americans the Army story. Noting that only 1% of Americans serve in the military in these post-draft days, the Council recognized retirees’ responsibility and unique ability to explain what the Army does in America’s towns and cities. They asked the CSA to likewise educate Soldiers, especially senior Army leaders, about retirees’ value and contributions to the Army, emphasizing that retirees “are not a corporate resource, but an integral part of the institutional fabric.”
 Echoes, asking that the Army continue to publish it in hard copy for all retirees, but especially for the 33% of retirees who don’t own computers and cannot receive e-Echoes, the electronic edition. The CSA supported this recommendation, saying he recognized Echoes’ importance by writing to retirees on the front page of each edition. The Council recognized the need to conserve funds by transitioning more retirees to e-Echoes and asked for the resources to expand and maintain electronic delivery methods.
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The Council’s full report to the CSA outlines their major concerns as well as the their recommendations for how the Army should address the 16 issues that were nominated by installation retiree councils for review. The complete Council report is available at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/docs/CSARetireeCouncil_2012.pdf. The 14 members of the Council represent retirees from across the U.S., Europe, and Korea and include retired Soldiers from all three components. The 2012 Council includes seven NCOs ranging from Sergeant First Class to Sergeant Major of the Army and seven officers ranging from Chief Warrant Officer Five to Lieutenant General. For a list of all 14 Council members and the installations they represent, the history of the Council since its inception in 1971, and its reports since 2001, refer to the Army Retirement Services website at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/rso/RetireeCouncil.asp. [Source: e-Echoes Lt. Col. (Ret) Mark Overberg article 19 Jun 2012 ++]
Army Chief of Staff's Retiree Council
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Army Smartcard: The Army recently extended its smartcard pilot for Army spouses and retirees through September after what officials called a very positive response to the pilot program, which began in October 2011. The Army is evaluating smartcard identity authentication as an alternative to username/password login to websites, such as Army OneSource, Army Family Readiness Group, milConnect, TRICARE Online and Army Knowledge Online. Army spouses and retirees living near Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Fort Jackson, S.C., are being asked to register for a smartcard, or renew their card by visiting the Smartcard Pilot page on AKO. Non-FOUO users link to https://ako.us.army.mil/suite/page/650680. FOUO users link to https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/650680. The pilot is part of a larger initiative to secure sensitive data on Army private web servers, Army G-6 officials said. The smartcard's public-key-infrastructure, or PKI-based authentication, provides a more secure and convenient way to access Army and DOD online resources that contain personally identifiable information, they said, adding that the Army is also considering other solutions for family and retiree logon. From October 2011 to March 2012, more than 700 smartcards were issued to Army spouses and active-duty, Reserve and National Guard retirees across five pilot installations. Surveys showed that 93 percent of respondents preferred using the smartcard over username/password and 64 percent used the smartcard at least once a day to access Army and DOD websites. [Source: e-Echoes May-Aug 2012 ++]
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Non-VA Facility Care: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a change in regulations regarding payments for emergency care provided to eligible veterans in non-VA facilities. More than 100,000 Veterans are estimated to be affected by the new rules, at a cost of about $44 million annually "This provision helps ensure eligible Veterans continue to get the emergency care they need when VA facilities are not available," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. The new regulation extends VA's authority to pay for emergency care provided to eligible Veterans at non-VA facilities until the Veterans can be safely transferred to a VA medical facility. Non-VA Care is medical care provided to eligible Veterans outside of VA when VA facilities are not available. All VA medical centers can use this program when needed. The use of the Non-VA Care program is governed by federal laws containing eligibility criteria and other policies specifying when and why it can be used. A pre-authorization for treatment in the community is required for Non-VA Care -- unless the medical event is an emergency. Emergency events may be reimbursed on behalf of the Veteran in certain cases. Refer to the Emergency Non-VA Care brochure at http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/brochures/Fee_Veteran_Brochure.pdf for further elaboration. There are five categories of Non-VA Care Programs. Information on each is available at:
 Pre-authorized Outpatient Care http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/preauthout.asp
 Pre-authorized Inpatient Care http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/preauthinpt.asp
 Emergency Care of Service-Connected Conditions http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/unauth.asp
 Emergency Care of Non-Service-Connected Conditions http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/ecnsc.asp
 State Home Per Diem Program http://www.nonvacare.va.gov/state-homes.asp
Non-VA Care is used when VA medical facilities are not “feasibly available.” The local VA medical facility has criteria to determine whether Non-VA Care may be used. If a Veteran is eligible for certain medical care, the VA hospital or clinic should provide it as the first option. If they can’t -- due to a lack of available specialists, long wait times, or extraordinary distances from the Veteran’s home -- the VA may consider Non-VA Care in the Veteran’s community. Non-VA Care is not an entitlement program or a permanent treatment option. VA operates 121 emergency departments across the country, which provide resuscitative therapy and stabilization in life-threatening situations. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. VA also has 46 urgent care units, which provide care for patients without scheduled appointments who need immediate medical or psychiatric attention. For more information about emergency care in non-VA facilities refer to http://www.nonvacare.va.gov. To locate the nearest VA medical center or clinic refer to http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp. [Source: e-Echoes May-Aug & www.nonvacare.va.gov Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure~Diesel: The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the status of diesel exhaust from ‘probable carcinogen’ to carcinogen. The risk of getting cancer from diesel fumes is small, but since so many people breathe in the fumes in some way, the science panel said raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogen from "probable carcinogen" was an important shift. "It's on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking," said Kurt Straif, director of the IARC department that evaluates cancer risks. "This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines." Since so many people are exposed to exhaust, Straif said there could be many cases of lung cancer connected to the contaminant. He said the fumes affected groups including pedestrians on the street, ship passengers and crew, railroad workers, truck drivers, mechanics, miners and people operating heavy machinery. The new classification followed a weeklong discussion in Lyon, France, by an expert panel organized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The panel's decision stands as the ruling for the IARC, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization.
The last time the agency considered the status of diesel exhaust was in 1989, when it was labeled a "probable" carcinogen. Reclassifying diesel exhaust as carcinogenic puts it into the same category as other known hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation. The U.S. government, however, still classifies diesel exhaust as a
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likely carcinogen. Experts said new diesel engines spew out fewer fumes but further studies are needed to assess any potential dangers. "We don't have enough evidence to say these new engines are zero risk, but they are certainly lower risk than before," said Vincent Cogliano of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He added that the agency had not received any requests to reevaluate whether diesel definitely causes cancer but said their assessments tend to be in line with those made by IARC. Experts in Lyon had analyzed published studies, evidence from animals and limited research in humans. One of the biggest studies was published in March by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. That paper analyzed 12,300 miners for several decades starting in 1947. Researchers found that miners heavily exposed to diesel exhaust had a higher risk of dying from lung cancer. Lobbyists for the diesel industry argued the study wasn't credible because researchers didn't have exact data on how much exposure miners got in the early years of the study; they simply asked them to remember what their exposure was like.
Further restrictions on diesel fumes could force the industry to spend more on developing expensive new technology. Diesel engine makers and car companies were quick to point out emissions from trucks and buses have been slashed by more than 95 percent for nitrogen oxides, particulate and sulfur emissions. "Diesel exhaust is only a very small contributor to air pollution," the Diesel Technology Forum, a group representing companies including Mercedes, Ford and Chrysler, said in a statement. "In southern California, more fine particles come from brake and tire wear than from diesel engines." A person's risk for cancer depends on many variables, from genetic makeup to the amount and length of time of exposure to dangerous substances.
Some experts said the new cancer classification wasn't surprising. "It's pretty well known that if you get enough exposure to diesel, it's a carcinogen," said Ken Donaldson, a professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh who was not part of the IARC panel. He said the thousands of particles, including some harmful chemicals, in the exhaust could cause inflammation in the lungs and over time, that could lead to cancer. But Donaldson said lung cancer was caused by multiple factors and that other things like smoking were far more deadly. He said the people most at risk were those whose jobs exposed them to high levels of diesel exhaust, like truck drivers, mechanics or miners. "For the man on the street, nothing has changed," he said. "It's a known risk but a low one for the average person, so people should go about their business as normal .You could wear a mask if you want to, but who wants to walk around all the time with a mask on?" [Source: AP Ben Margot article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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Agent Orange Okinawa Update 04: The U.S. Marine Corps buried a massive stockpile of Agent Orange at the Futenma air station in Okinawa, possibly poisoning the base's former head of maintenance and potentially contaminating nearby residents and the ground beneath the base, The Japan Times recently learned from interviews with U.S. veterans.
The worksite where Kris Roberts unearthed over 100 leaking barrels is seen in a photo taken in summer 1981.
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The barrels were apparently abandoned in Okinawa at the end of the Vietnam War — when the U.S. government banned the dioxin-laden defoliant for health reasons — and were buried at the installation in the city of Ginowan after the Pentagon ignored requests to safely dispose of them, according to the veterans who served at the installation in the 1970s and 1980s. Closing down Futenma has been the center of a bitter 16-year struggle by Tokyo and Washington to realign U.S. forces on the island, but these allegations are likely to raise fears that even after its eventual shutdown, the land beneath the base will be too poisoned for civilian use for decades, as is the case with former U.S. installations that stored Agent Orange in the former South Vietnam. One of the veterans who made the claims of the burial is retired Lt. Col. Kris Roberts, 57, who was in overall charge of maintenance projects at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. In summer 1981, after being notified by ranking officers that monitoring showed "unacceptably high readings" of chemicals in the wastewater flowing off the facility, Roberts said he and his construction crew began digging in an area near the end of the runway. "We unearthed over 100 barrels buried in rows. They were rusty and leaking and we could see orange markings around some of their middles," Roberts, now a state representative in New Hampshire, told The Japan Times in a recent interview.
The dangers of Agent Orange — which took its name from the color of the stripes around the drums in which it was stored — were still not widely known in the early 1980s. But Roberts said his suspicions were aroused when higher brass declared the construction site off-limits to other personnel, then ordered the barrels secretly loaded onto trucks by Okinawan workers and transported to an unknown location. Soon after the barrels were removed, a typhoon flooded the site of the burial. "The water had a chemical film on it from the leaking barrels. My men and me climbed down into it and eventually managed to drain the contaminated water off the base," Roberts said. Due to his contact with the barrels' contents, Roberts, a former champion marathon runner, said he fell sick with heart problems, prostate cancer and precursors of lung cancer — diseases that his doctor states are a result of exposure to Agent Orange. Concerned that his fellow crew members were also poisoned, Roberts has repeatedly urged the U.S. Marine Corps and Department of Veterans Affairs to contact them, but his requests have been ignored, he said.
During the past year, more than 30 U.S. veterans have told The Japan Times about the use of Agent Orange in Okinawa during the Vietnam War, when the island served as a major supply post for the American military. While some of the former service members have spoken about the use of Agent Orange in the period up to the mid-1970s, this is the first time its existence there has been alleged as recently as the 1980s. The Pentagon denies that the defoliant was ever present in Okinawa, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded compensation to at least three veterans sickened by these chemicals on the island. Among those to go public is Carlos Garay, a former marine who was in the Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron at Futenma in 1975. Garay claims he saw 12 barrels of Agent Orange that had been left at the installation after the end of the Vietnam War. "Additionally, other squadrons were directing their leftover stocks to us for disposal, so I sent messages to the Department of Defense and Headquarters of the Marine Corps, but they never replied. The barrels were still there when I left in 1976," he said.
Garay's account and Roberts' discovery of the barrels suggest confusion among the top brass over how to remove the stocks of Agent Orange that were never officially supposed to have been present in Okinawa. Between 1961 and 1971, the U.S. military sprayed 76 million liters of herbicides in Southeast Asia to rob its enemies of crops and jungle cover, but their use was halted after studies linked the chemicals to birth defects and serious illnesses. In 1972, the U.S. removed its stockpiles of Agent Orange from South Vietnam to Johnston Island in the North Pacific where, after a five-year debate over how to dispose of them safely, they were eventually incinerated at sea in 1977. Scientists researching the dangers of Agent Orange in South Vietnam have discovered that because its highly poisonous dioxin is not dissolved by rainwater, it can remain in the soil, poisoning people for decades. In southern Vietnam today, there are more than 20 dioxin hot spots at sites used by the U.S. military to store Agent Orange.
Near the Futenma base, which has been dubbed by some locals as "the world's most dangerous military base" because of its proximity to residential areas, there are 20 schools, including 10 elementary schools. Some are located close to the area where the barrels were found and the contaminated water was expelled. Yoichi Iha, mayor of
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Ginowan from 2003 to 2010, told The Japan Times that the U.S. Marine Corps failed to notify the Ginowan Municipal Government of the leak-age in 1981 and he worries that the area may still be poisoned by dioxin due to the topography beneath the base, which consists of many caves and natural springs. "If the dioxin is still in the soil, then we can confirm its presence with sampling. But the Japanese government won't grant permission to conduct such tests within U.S. installations in Okinawa," Iha said. The U.S. military — which under Japanese law is not responsible for cleaning up former bases returned to civilian usage — has an unenviable track record of polluting its installations in Okinawa.
In 1995, the Onna Communication Site was returned to civilian use, but it still hasn't been redeveloped due to contamination from pollutants, including mercury and highly toxic PCBs. In 1999, dangerous levels of lead and carcinogenic hexavalent chromium were found in the soil after the partial closure of the Kadena Ammunition Depot.
Last summer, a U.S. veteran's account of the 1969 burial of hundreds of barrels of Agent Orange in what is today a popular tourist area in Chatan Town alarmed local residents. Explaining why the army buried the barrels, the veteran, who did not want his name to be revealed due to fears of repercussions from the Department of Veterans Affairs, said: "It was cheaper to bury stuff than to ship it back to the States for proper disposal. It's what the military always did on Okinawa." [Source: Japan Times Jon Mitchell article 15 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 68: To hear wounded veterans tell it, there are few things more daunting, infuriating or soul-crushing than dealing with the Veterans Benefits Administration, the agency that decides whether they will receive disability benefits for injuries and illnesses incurred during war. As the inventory of unprocessed claims has grown — to more than 900,000 nationwide — so has anger with the agency. On 18 JUN, in what has become an annual ritual, Congress again held hearings on the V.B.A.’s chronically poor performance. But in one small pocket of the sprawling benefits agency, a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs, front-line workers are taking the unusual step of going public about the dysfunction within their own bureaucracy, making common cause with some of their loudest critics. On 23 JUN, workers from the benefits agency’s regional office in Columbia, S.C., will picket outside their workplace, hoping to spotlight what they consider root causes of their system’s breakdown: lack of accountability, inadequate resources, hopelessly complex policies and demoralizing work conditions. “We want to take care of veterans; many of us are veterans,” said Ronald Robinson, a protest leader, president of the union local and an Army veteran. “We can’t sit any longer and be blamed for things that are beyond our control.”
The backlog in the disability compensation system has steadily worsened since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, having more than doubled in the last decade. The department defines its backlog as claims that have been awaiting decisions for more than 125 days, the department’s benchmark for timeliness. Almost no regional office has been immune from problems, with the office in Oakland, Calif., now sending new claims to other offices because its inventory has grown so large. Yet even the Columbia office, considered by some veterans advocates to be relatively good, had a backlog of about 15,000 claims last month and did not accurately process one out of three claims last year, according to a report by the department’s inspector general. Leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the protesters in Columbia agree on some of the causes of the backlog: a flood of claims by recent Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans as well as aging Vietnam veterans seeking compensation for old injuries or Agent Orange-related illnesses; a weak economy; and the growing complexity and number of injuries and diseases now recognized as service-related.
But on the issue of how to fix the problem, the two sides sharply diverge. The department says its efforts to digitize records, update computer software, hire 4,000 workers, extend overtime to process claims and make changes intended to speed the processing of claims will begin shrinking inventory by next year. In a statement, the V.A. said
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those initiatives had put it on track to process all claims in less than 125 days by 2015. “Change can be challenging, and we recognize that our dedicated employees are critical to providing veterans with timely, quality benefits,” the statement said. In the trenches in Columbia, however, the protest leaders say those efforts had made little difference, and in some cases had made matters worse. One reason, they said, is that some new procedures have added complexity to an already complex process. For instance, they said:
 A questionnaire created to allow veterans to use private health providers to do physical examinations is longer and more complicated than the forms used by government providers. When questionnaires are returned with mistakes or unchecked boxes, reviewers must return them, delaying decisions. “They’ve implemented so much stuff, no human can keep up with it all,” said Cindy Indof, a decision review officer who has been with the department for 20 years.
 Processing a claim had become increasingly segmented, with files passing through several hands before being denied or approved. As a result, files are more likely to be misplaced, communications garbled and decisions slowed, they said. And no one is held accountable for mistakes because so many people are involved. “No one has ownership over anything,” said Mr. Robinson, a veterans service representative.
 The performance review process used to measure their productivity reduced the quality of work and hurt morale. The process requires claims processors to complete a certain number of files per day. People who fall short can be denied promotions or fired. Those who meet or exceed quotas become eligible for bonuses. Those quotas encourage processors to take shortcuts that often lead to mistakes, or to focus on easier cases over complex ones. And when in doubt, processors tend to deny claims, the workers said, because denials are generally faster.
Though the Columbia protest might seem isolated, James Strickland, a Vietnam-era veteran and retired health care manager who runs a popular Web site, VAWatchdog.org, said he had heard similar complaints from V.A. offices across the country. The Columbia workers are different, however, because they have gone public. “They aren’t looking for more money or vacation,” said Mr. Strickland, who plans to attend the protest. “I heard them say, ‘I want the system to change so I’m allowed to do my job.’ And I hear that all the time.” Mr. Robinson said about 8,300 cases were ready to be processed in the Columbia office, which has about 100 claims raters, many of whom already have more than 140 cases on their desks. “Do the math,” he said. “There is nothing we can do to catch up.” [Source: The New York Times James Dao article 15 Jun 2012 ++
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VA Claims Backlog Update 69: The Veterans Affairs Department’s highly touted paperless benefits system has processed fewer than 800 benefits claims despite VA’s investment of $491 million. The news comes as the number of backlogged claims hit 913,690, representatives of veterans services organizations told lawmakers at a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on 19 JUN. Gerald Manar, deputy director of the National Veterans Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) has been installed in only “four regional offices and, we are told, fewer than 800 cases have been processed to completion.” Richard Dumancas, deputy director of the American Legion’s Claims, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, said that while VA had promised systemwide rollout of VBMS this year, it has now been pushed back until the end of 2013. “Red flags have been raised about how soon we can expect an impact on reducing the backlog,” he said.
Dumancas said the department’s initial experience with VBMS shows some delays in opening files that cumulatively could create significant delays over the course of a workday. “These lag issues are showing up with a relatively small number of users in pilot sites, and when the whole system goes nationwide, system demands will presumably be far greater,” he said. The backlog at VA continues to grow as well as the number of claims pending for more than 125 days. As of this week, about 66 percent of claims (575,773) had not been processed after 125 days
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-- more than three times the number two years ago, Jeffrey Hall, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, told lawmakers. Manar said the problems with VBMS are just the latest in a 20-year effort by VA to modernize its claims processing system “because VBA has lacked a coherent vision of what a 21st century claims processing system should be.” VA Secretary Eric Shinseki told the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in March that by 2015, the department will process all claims in fewer than 125 days with a 98 percent accuracy rate. [Source: Next.Gov Bob Brewin article 19 Jun 2012 ++]
VA’s $491 million paperless benefits system struggles to keep pace
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CT Vet Discount Card: Connecticut's Department of Veterans' Affairs is partnering with a national program to offer the state's veterans and their families discounts at a network of retailers, restaurants and service providers. Interested Connecticut veterans, active duty military, National Guard, reservists and their families can enroll for the Veterans Advantage Inc. card through the state veteran's department website. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the partnership on Friday. Veterans Advantage partners with private corporations that want to honor the military and offer discounts on their goods and services, ranging from rental cars to clothing. Funding from the program’s membership goes to the creation of a statewide scholarship program that will be awarded by the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The Department of Veterans' Affairs website is http://www.ct.gov/ctva . Visitors to the site can receive a 25 percent discount on the program's fees. Veterans Advantage, founded in 1999 by a group of high-ranking military veterans and headquartered in Connecticut, is the leading card membership program offering exclusive benefits for the more than 90 million qualifying Americans from a nationwide network of retailers and service providers across the U.S. The program’s mission is to deliver greater recognition, respect and rewards as a thank you for service to the country through the VetRewards Card, a universal military service ID card, and in its partnerships with patriotic companies. For more info on Veterans Advantage refer to http://www.VeteransAdvantage.com. [Source: The Hour Publishing Co article 17 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Fiduciary Program Update 03: Across the country, disabled veterans' families are waging bitter battles with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, trying to remove VA-appointed fiduciaries from their lives and their bank accounts. Two activist attorneys, Doug Rosinski, of Columbia, S.C., and and Katrina Eagle, of San Diego, have taken on the VA in cases involving allegations of bureaucratic mistreatment. Both said regional program managers sometimes overlook the misdeeds of paid fiduciaries while coming down hard on veterans' relatives who do the work for nothing. The agency's policy is that family members get priority in fiduciary appointments, but it does not always work that way. And while many family members serve successfully -- and thanklessly -- as fiduciaries for disabled veterans, some get into trouble, often because of a lack of training or knowledge of the rules. In those cases, the family's situation often becomes nightmarish. R. Dean Slicer, a top regional program manager in Indiana, boasted in a November 2010 email to an Indianapolis bank official that they
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would have "fun" battling with a war veteran's daughter. Carolyn Stump, a registered nurse, was trying to free her seriously ailing 81-year-old dad, William Evans, from a fiduciary at the bank who had tangled with the family and had recently been slow paying some bills, according to court records. Slicer, who last year was promoted to oversee the fiduciary program in 13 states, declined to comment. "Obviously there are stories that we are going to look into," said VA spokesman Joshua Taylor when asked about that case and others.
Veterans are rarely successful in winning control of their finances back from the fiduciary program. The VA had long held that beneficiaries had no right of appeal. But in April 2011, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims agreed with Rosinski's argument that there is an appeal right. Armed with that ruling, he is trying to win release for his client, disabled Dallas veteran William Freeman, from a "complete stranger" appointed as his fiduciary. The judges chided Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki for his department's failure to explain its handling of Freeman. Joe Boatman, of Round Rock, Texas, also never got an explanation why James Andrews, a fiduciary program official based in Waco, showed up at his house last July to berate his wife for the way she had handled their finances as her husband's appointed fiduciary for 10 years, bringing her to tears. Andrews' follow-up report cited overdraft charges and questioned Boatman's access to the bank accounts. He also said "no questionable expenditures or misuse of funds were identified," though he added there was no way to tell because his funds were commingled with his wife's. His report described Boatman as an "alert" and cogent man. Eagle said the VA had previously allowed Boatman's wife, a retired social worker, to commingle their monies. In previous reports she was praised for her handling of their finances.
Andrews, who could not be reached for comment, had already appointed a new fiduciary to take over Boatman's financial affairs. Eagle said his criticisms seemed "pre-ordained" to justify his actions. After Eagle got involved, the VA backed away, taking the unusual step of releasing Boatman from the program. Eagle said it helped that his case was mentioned at a February congressional hearing. The VA also ordered an investigation of the case. It has not responded to a Hearst request for the report. Boatman, who was a Navy combat medic in Vietnam, chaired a committee of Vietnam veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. He challenged local Veterans Affairs officials over PTSD policies and at one point had a role in exposing an embarrassing department email. "I was blindsided out of nowhere," Boatman says of the fiduciary flap, but adds he does not think he was retaliated against.
In the Indiana case of William Evans, Eagle said, she's sure retaliation did occur. Slicer -- the recently promoted regional manager -- and others in his office have for more than two years been waging a nasty and unresolved battle, which has gone repeatedly to a special veterans appeals court, to prevent Evans and his family from wriggling free of the fiduciary program. Stump, the veteran's daughter, had nursed Evans for more than a decade when in July 2009 she inquired about a medical guardianship. She was persuaded by federal bureaucrats to apply for a financial one, records show. She had power of attorney for her father already, and didn't think the fiduciary program was necessary, but she accepted the role, according to documents. Upset from the beginning, she wrote to her congressman about it. Her relationship with Veterans Affairs deteriorated. Still, an agency field examination in July 2010 found "no questionable expenditures," a tidy home and a well-cared-for father. Behind the scenes, a wounded bureaucracy was preparing to come down on her, court records show. In October 2010, Stump was removed as fiduciary and an official at Greenfield Banking Co., Joana Springmier, was appointed. VA officials questioned Stump's failure to get prior permission to buy appliances and new flooring for her father's home, and her decision to take Evans on trips to get special medical treatment and to visit Army buddies before he slipped into the darkness of Alzheimer's. She was told the trips were "emotional spending" -- not allowed -- and the bank was instructed to save more money for emergencies. Stump said she saw no reason to hoard her ailing father's money with him so close to death.
In a Nov. 22, 2010 email to Springmier, Slicer mentioned the "many congressional and other complaints filed by Mrs. Stump." He told Springmier to "document any conversations you have." He cited a technical misstep: Stump's mother had refused to disclose her small Social Security allotment. "So this will be a fun one," wrote Slicer. Stump
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said her mother was afraid that Slicer would seize her income, too. In March, Rosinski and Eagle filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, accusing the VA of "punitive if not retaliatory" behavior in the case. Two other Indiana families fought with Slicer's office and the bank, including Vicki Olson, of Fort Wayne, who won freedom from the program for her husband in a protracted battle that caused her to become a volunteer advocate for other veterans. [Source: Times Union Eric Nalder and Lise Olsen article 16 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Fiduciary Program Update 04: They survived the Nazis, the Viet Cong and the Taliban. But hundreds of mentally disabled veterans suffered new wounds when the country they served put their checkbooks in the hands of scoundrels. Gambling addicts, psychiatric cases and convicted criminals are among the thieves that have been handed control of disabled veterans' finances by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a Hearst Newspapers investigation has found. For decades, theft and fraud have plagued the fiduciary program, in which the VA appoints a family member or a stranger to manage money for veterans the government considers incapacitated. The magnitude and pace of those thefts has increased, despite VA promises of reform. Three of the largest scams – ranging from about $900,000 to $2 million – each persisted for 10 years or more before being discovered. In the last six years, the VA has removed 467 fiduciaries for misuse of funds, but only a fraction have faced criminal charges, a Hearst analysis of data from the VA's Office of the Inspector General shows.
The government has never adequately tracked fiduciaries' thefts from brain-damaged or memory-impaired veterans. The inspector general's office says it conducted 315 fiduciary fraud investigations from October 1998 to March 2010, resulting in 132 arrests for thefts amounting to $7.4 million. But a Hearst analysis of court records and documents obtained by freedom of information requests shows that the thieves' take since 1998 is more than $14.7 million – nearly twice the amount reported to Congress. VA spokesman Joshua Taylor says the program is being reorganized, and improvements are being ordered every year. "VA has taken significant efforts to protect veterans and other beneficiaries in its fiduciary program," said Taylor.
CASE FILE #1: The inside job.
Robert Morong Tabbutt was a VA field examiner, desperately in debt, who supervised fiduciary Jack Perry in Memphis. He used his authority to set up a dozen mentally disabled veterans as ATM machines so that he and Perry could steal from them, according to records obtained by Hearst under the Freedom of Information Act. They siphoned away nearly $900,000 with stunning ease, the records show. Over a decade, more than 1,000 illegal transactions were so obvious anyone doing a simple audit of bank records would have discovered them. Perry falsified records and moved veterans' money from account to account to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, the two began to gamble at Mississippi casinos, and Tabbutt, who filed bankruptcy petitions five times between 2001 and 2007, borrowed money from Perry hundreds of times. The stealing did not stop until Perry went to the FBI and confessed in 2008. Veterans and their families, meanwhile, were not told they'd been ripped off, even after the thieves were finally sent to prison. Until a Hearst reporter called him for this story, Henry Ashurst, 83, did not know that for a decade, he had unwittingly financed the lifestyle and gambling habits of Perry and Tabbutt. "I thought he was on the level," Ashurst, an Army veteran, said of Perry. "Things went wrong, and that should not have happened," said VA spokesman Taylor, adding that he could not discuss specific details of any cases.
A 2004 law requires victims like Ashurst to be reimbursed if the VA is partially at fault for their losses. Taylor told Hearst that since 2008 only 15 beneficiaries have been reimbursed a total of $652,685 under that law because of VA negligence. U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said he has been trying to get information from VA on compensation for the Tennessee victims, without success. Attorneys who represent program participants said it is very difficult to get stolen money back from the VA. "It has to be pried out of them," said former combat medic Richard Weidman, executive director for policy and government affairs at Vietnam
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Veterans of America. He summed up the fiduciary program in four words: "The corporate culture stinks." Jim Vale, program director for Vietnam Veterans, said the program's lack of transparency is "appalling." Weidman describes the fiduciary program as one of the department's biggest problems, because its clientele "are among our most vulnerable." Thieving fiduciaries operate illegally for an average of 32 months before being caught, Hearst's analysis reveals. More than 70 cases are pending in the clogged federal system, or in state courts, since federal prosecutors frequently decline to handle the cases. Even when they do, it takes, on average, 29 months before charges are filed, according to Hearst's analysis.
CASE FILE NO. 2: The slow-motion prosecution
Joy Farmer eluded VA auditors for five years while juggling the books at a Tuskegee, Ala., law office before being caught in May 2004. Federal prosecutors didn't indict her for another six years. Finally, she was sentenced to federal prison in September 2011 for embezzling more than $620,000 from 25 vulnerable clients. "It just kind of got pushed from attorney to attorney," said Clark Morris, an assistant U.S. Attorney in Montgomery, Ala. Even when investigations yield convictions, many of the criminals receive probation in exchange for promises to repay some or all of what they stole. But they often fail to pay, and many victims die before receiving any restitution. After 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as veterans age, the number of mentally disabled veterans is growing rapidly. As of May, more than 127,000 veterans have fiduciaries who oversee more than $3.3 billion in assets. Fiduciary failures rank "pretty high up there" among the current VA problems, said U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, which is drafting reform legislation. "We are talking about the life savings of a veteran," said Miller, adding that the agency is too often "part of the problem."
Taylor said that under the Obama Administration, the VA has beefed up background checks of new appointees, added staff, consolidated scattered fiduciary offices into six regional hubs, and appointed the reorganized program's new leader, VA lawyer David McLenachen, last August. In direct response to fraud, the agency has also issued directives requiring that veterans' annual bank statements be sent directly to the VA, and now prohibits excessive compensation to fiduciaries when veterans receive large retroactive benefit checks. Yet audits repeatedly fault agency employees for failing to properly examine financial records, and for not coordinating with other agencies like Social Security to exclude known scofflaws from managing veterans' money. Staff turnover is high and training for fiduciaries is virtually nonexistent. Fiduciaries sign agreements, but not formal contracts. On-site inspections are often tardy or skipped, and field examiners are ill-prepared to deal with sophisticated would-be thieves.
CASE FILE NO. 3: The $2 million haul.
Roy Wilson Swirczynski, a disabled U.S. Army veteran in Houston, filed three written complaints to the Department of Veterans Affairs about his VA-approved fiduciary, attorney Joe Phillips, and requested an investigation years before the VA discovered nearly $2 million missing from 28 veterans' accounts. Phillips and his wife Dorothy have been charged with stealing the money in a pending Houston federal court case. The thefts were discovered when the VA audited Phillips' fiduciary work in 2007 – for the first time in 25 years. It is the largest theft total ever uncovered in fiduciary program. Dorothy Phillips pleaded guilty to conspiracy; Joe Phillips denies wrongdoing and is awaiting trial. Phillips and his attorney refused comment for this story. For years, Swirczynski has kept date-stamped copies of his own complaints against Phillips – faded from years of moving from place to place – in a suitcase alongside his mother's obituary, his U.S. Army service record and a faded snapshot of himself in his younger days. In one complaint, Swirczynski, a Beaumont native who suffers from schizophrenia, asked officials stop a "holdup." In another, he asked for Phililps' removal, saying: "This Joe Phillips fiduciary is not a 5-mile long freight train that takes 500 miles to stop." Swirczynski said the VA never formally responded and he learned of Phillips' indictment from the Houston Chronicle. The VA won't say whether or not any of his money was stolen. "That's what really galls me," said Swirczynski, who can get around and function most days despite his illness. "They need to be exposed. They always have the excuse that they're overworked and don't have enough people and all that crap."
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The VA loses track of money and fiduciaries in part because of an ancient, Wang-based computer system, cobbled together by agency staff in 1989 and slightly upgraded in 1998. The system cannot interface with the department's other more modern computers. Slated for replacement many times, the computer system can track a fiduciary for only two months. Mandatory accounting reports that are two or three years late are shown in the system to be just one year late, records show. In March 2010, the agency's inspector general estimated that $161 million in the coffers of mentally disabled veterans was "at risk of misuse because of the volume of seriously delinquent accountings." An audit also faulted the computer system for VA's failure to list fiduciaries already removed for bad conduct. Replacement would cost an estimated $2 million – less than veterans lost in the Phillips case. McLenachen admitted during a February congressional hearing that the computer system and antiquated agency regulations are both obstacles. He promised new regulations by 2013 and a new computer system at an unspecified date. Current rules, for example, provide no professional standards or qualifications to be required of fiduciaries, and no limits on the number of veterans an individual fiduciary can handle. One out of four fiduciaries convicted of financial misuse over the past decade were found to have mental illness, gambling problems, substance abuse issues or some combination of them, Hearst's investigation shows.
CASE FILE NO. 4: The call of the casino.
Hazel Dianne Hill of Coppell, Texas, said she controlled 16 veterans' finances and was "very trusted" by the VA. She was as a Department of Labor investigator and a gambling addict. In January 2008, after the wagering had buried her in debt, she told Hearst it was too tempting to take "a little bit" at a time from veterans and easy to conceal it by shuffling money from account to account. A remorseful Hill turned herself in when she "got tired of crying" in July 2009, she said, but not before embezzling $62,000 from three veterans. Given VA's lax oversight, "frankly, she could have taken money until the day she died," said Hill's attorney Perry Hudson. In Fort Worth, fiduciary Patricia Ibrahim got five years in prison after she withdrew veteran Larry Rodgers from a nursing home and put him without permission into a "substandard" group facility so she could "use his money to go gambling," said prosecutor Lori Burks. "It is despicable." Rodgers died before Ibrahim was prosecuted. The most financially destructive of the many fiduciaries with gambling addictions was Connie Hanson, of Apple Valley, Minn., who stole $1,260,000 from veterans to feed her habit. She is in prison.
CASE FILE NO. 5: The violent felon.
Patrick Wayne Manning Jr. of Oklahoma had a rap sheet and a murder charge dismissed on a technicality before he was appointed to oversee his uncle's money, according to court documents. He went to prison for three years for stealing from the uncle, was re-incarcerated for a drug offense, then a week after his release in 2008 went on a three-month robbery spree that netted him another 160-year sentence. To keep bad actors out of the program, the department only last December mandated "instant background checks" on prospective fiduciaries. Checks were done in the past, but documents show authorities often required only a self-generated criminal history and a good credit report. Earlier this month, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas demanded that the VA report to him about why so many thefts keep occurring. Miller, the Florida congressman, also dislikes the pattern he sees. "My suspicion continues to be high that there may be more of this (theft) going on than any of us are aware of," he said. “Mainly because there is no way to tell.”
[Source: Times Union Eric Nalder and Lise Olsen article 17 Jun 2012 ++]
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The grave of Grady Green, World War II veteran, buried at Houston National Cemetery, Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in Houston. Green had his money stolen by a Houston woman who was supposed to be his caregiver - she got $5,000 to buy him a grave and pay for his care, but instead blew it on her own bills, traffic tickets and plumbing repairs. He died before the VA investigated the case.
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VA Fiduciary Program Update 05: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs opposes many of the fixes proposed by Congress members to address flaws in the national fiduciary program, which serves more than 130,000 disabled veterans and oversees $3.3 billion in assets nationwide. The agency opposes requirements to provide annual progress reports to Congress or to inform vets promptly when their fiduciaries are convicted of crimes, according to testimony on a reform bill at a congressional hearing 20 JUN. Some improvements in the Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 (H.R.5948) would cost too much, said Dave McLenachen, the VA's director of pension and fiduciary services. But U.S. Rep Bill Johnson, the Ohio Republican who chairs the House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, countered that improvements would likely cost about $400 million less than the amount the VA paid last year in bonuses.
Increasing reports of fraud and theft among VA fiduciaries were the focus of a Houston Chronicle/Hearst investigation published 17 JUN. The investigation of more than 100 prosecutions and decades of audits revealed convicted thieves, problem gamblers, the mentally ill and the bankrupt had been handed control of disabled vets' disability checks - and estates - by the VA. Johnson and other Congressmen and Senators are calling on the VA to address problems documented in the Houston Chronicle as well as by auditors and veterans advocacy groups. "This legislation will require a credit and criminal background check every time a fiduciary is appointed, and allow veterans to petition to have their fiduciary removed if problems arise," Johnson said in a news release. [Source: Houston Chronicle Lise Olsen article 20 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Disputed Claims Update 07: Nearly 70 years after he served in North Africa, Veterans Affairs approved benefits for Stanley Friedman for post-traumatic stress disorder. The war gave him flashbacks and nightmares. He flailed around in his sleep, bruising his arms. Memories of being bombed and rocketed seemed real, and painfully intense. Tech Sgt. Friedman was ultimately diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the signature disability from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few weeks ago, Friedman received his first 70 percent disability check for PTSD from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It wasn’t for service in Iraq or Afghanistan. It was for World War II. Stanley Friedman is 92. After fighting the VA for years, Friedman got help from lawyers who logged hundreds of hours digging up evidence not only of his World War II service but of his debilitating PTSD. The VA finally accepted their documentation, and now Friedman is being compensated for what was called shell shock or battle fatigue when he served nearly 70 years ago. “It’s like a miracle,” Friedman said last week from his home outside Chicago, his mind still sharp and his voice heavy with the Brooklyn accent of his youth.
Friedman is hardly the only World War II veteran to receive benefits because of PTSD, but his long path to approval is unusual and noteworthy for the time and effort involved. About 19,000 World War II veterans receive such benefits, the VA says (compared with 115,000 Iraq, Afghanistan and Persian Gulf War veterans). But most of those World War II veterans had an easier time of it because many, unlike Friedman, held on to their service and medical records. For years, Minna Rae Friedman suffered through her husband’s nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety and refusal to discuss the war. It came to a head a dozen years ago, she said, when his grandson interviewed Friedman for a school project on World War II. The boy asked: “Tell me the truth, Grandpa. Were you scared?” The old man replied: “I was scared to death.” Actually, he used a more pungent description, his wife recalled.“That’s
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when it all really started to come out,” she said. A VA doctor diagnosed Friedman’s PTSD in 2001. In 2004, Friedman applied for disability benefits but was denied; he could prove neither his combat service nor his disability. For similar reasons, his 1946 application for disability benefits for a back injury and sand fly fever he suffered in North Africa was rejected.
Stanley Friedman and his wife, Minna Rae.
In 2009, the San Diego office of the law firm DLA Piper heard about Friedman’s case from a law school in Chicago. Lawyer James Garrett, and later Veronica Jackson and Oksana Koltko, began searching for documentation as part of the firm’s pro bono work for veterans. It would take them at least 350 work hours over more than two years. They scoured old newspapers and mountains of reproduced microfilm records supplied by the military. They also interviewed Friedman’s doctors, his wife and his children to obtain formal declarations about his PTSD symptoms. “I felt like a detective,” Jackson said. After months of searching Army records that turned up nothing about Friedman, Garrett realized that, because Friedman served in what was then the Army Air Corps, his records were kept by the Air Force. He pawed through Air Force microfilm and finally found a handwritten diary entry from an American captain in Tunisia in 1943 describing a certain “Sgt. Friedman.” From that clue, Garrett was able to establish Friedman’s service in North Africa from 1943 to 1945 and the name of his ordnance maintenance company. Other documents verified that Friedman’s troop ship was torpedoed and dive-bombed en route to Tunisia in 1943, and that members of his unit were killed in an attack on a truck in Tunisia in 1944.
The terror of being attacked on the ship, and of stumbling across a buddy’s corpse after the truck attack, clung to Friedman for years. He would keep his TV turned on late at night, he said, so he wouldn’t fall asleep and revisit recurring nightmares. “You’re always in fear for your life,” he said of the war memories that haunted him. His flashbacks terrified him and left him in a constant state of dread. He became depressed, anxious and uncommunicative, his wife said. Friedman had managed to work for years as a salesman for an aluminum foil company, but over the past decade he became increasingly debilitated by PTSD. One box of documentation the lawyers sent to the VA in February 2010 weighed in at 800 pages. A year later, the VA accepted the documentation and granted Friedman a 50 percent disability rating. The lawyers believed he deserved more, and they filed added documentation requesting a 70 percent rating. In April, the VA agreed. The first check at the higher rating arrived later that month. “I never, ever thought we’d get to where we are today,” Minna Rae Friedman said. Until a few years ago, she said, “I never knew anything about PTSD.” “This is wonderful,” she said. “It validates all Stanley has gone through.” Said Stanley: “It’s a marvelous thing they did for me.”
Garrett, who worked for the Peace Corps and as a firefighter before becoming a lawyer, said, “It’s just about the most significant thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Because the VA handles hundreds of thousands of cases and World War II records are difficult to trace, Jackson said, Friedman’s case was a remarkable example of patience by a man in his ninth decade. And it was immensely gratifying to help him persevere. “It makes you proud to be a lawyer,” she said. Friedman now makes regular visits from his home in Lake Bluff, Ill., to a VA facility in Chicago. He’s part of a PTSD therapy group that includes a few veterans from World War II and Vietnam, and younger
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veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. His doctor provides regular PTSD treatment. All that, and the successful conclusion of his decades-long battle for benefits, is bringing him out of his PTSD-induced depression. “It’s made a new man out of me,” Friedman said. [Source: Los Angeles Times David Zucchino article 17 Jun 2012 ++]
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FHA Streamline Refinancing Program: Military members who are not eligible for VA home loan benefits will often use FHA loans similar to VA loans for their low-money-down and government-backed features. Current FHA borrowers may be entitled to newly reduced FHA Streamline refinancing which can help cut the costs to refinance while taking advantage of today’s low interest rates. Price-cut FHA Streamlines help borrowers take advantage of today’s low interest rates. Historically low rates have made mortgage refinancing trendy, but some FHA borrowers have hesitated because they don’t want to pay increased mortgage insurance costs. Starting June 11, 2012, mortgage insurance discounts will be offered to certain borrowers through the FHA Streamline refinancing program. The price-cut FHA Streamline program features reduced-rate mortgage insurance including .01% for upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP), and 0.55% for annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP). Reduced rates through FHA Streamline can save thousands of dollars upfront compared to regular FHA refinance. To qualify, borrowers must:
 Have an FHA loan endorsed on or before May 31, 2009
 Be current on their mortgage payments
 Meet other FHA and lender qualifying guidelines for Streamlines
FHA borrowers who can’t qualify for the price-cut Streamline program will have to pay the going rate for upfront and annual mortgage insurance. UFMIP has recently jumped from 1% to 1.75%. And, annual MIP on a 30-year loan can be between 1.2% and 1.5% depending on the situation. Borrowers who qualify for price-cut FHA Streamline can avoid these increases. Streamlines require significantly less paperwork and have relatively easy income and credit qualifying. Most Streamlines close within two weeks. With price-cut FHA Streamlines, borrowers can enjoy immediate monthly savings on interest as a result of their refinance. Many who use this program will save a small fortune on interest over the lives of their loans. Look for FHA lenders that offer cost-free Streamlines with no origination, no appraisal and no closing costs. One place to look is at https://www.ifreedomdirect.com/fha-streamline-refinance. [Source: Military.com Veteran Report 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Benefits: Not sure of your veteran benefits? The Military.com Benefit Calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect you with your benefits information based on service and status. Find Federal Benefits, State Benefits, National Guard State Benefits, Special Military Discounts, and more for active, prior service vets, retired, and disabled vets; National Guard and Reservist drilling/not drilling and activated vets; service member, retiree, and veteran spouse; and surviving spouse and family by going to http://benefits.military.com/reg/Veterans-Benefits.do?ESRC=mrvr.nl. If you fit into more than one category look at each separately. For example when I clicked on Retired USN it gave me the below. When I clicked on additional categories that were applicable to me it gave me the additional benefits:
 Commissary and Exchange Privileges. Access to shopping at military commissaries and exchanges.
 GI Bill Apprenticeships / Work Study / OJT. A GI Bill program designed to assist military members as they transition to civilian employment.
 GI Bill For Active Duty Chapter 30 Up to 36 Months of Education benefits that can be used for education, training, certification, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training programs. *National Guard and Selected Reserve may be eligible under previous active duty enlistment.
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 Legal Assistance. Free legal assistance to help with issues like contracts, wills, and powers of attorney.
 Military Medical/Dental. Access to military provided medical care facilities.
 Military Pay and Allowances. Monthly pay and allowances for subsistence, housing and cost of living.
 Military Recreation Facilities. Use of on base gyms, tennis courts, swimming pools, auto hobby shops, golf courses etc.
 Retirement Pay. Monthly pay based on a percentage of pay at the time of retirement.
 Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI). Up to $10,000 in additional life insurance coverage.
 Social Security Benefits. Visit the Social Security Benefits Calculator to learn more.
 Space Available Travel. Free travel on Military Transport aircraft on a space available basis.
 Survivor Benefit Plan. An annuity plan to help provide a monthly payment to designated beneficiaries. Learn more.
 TRICARE (medical/dental). The Department of Defense's health care program for members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors.
 VA Disability. Compensation Programs You may be eligible for Disability Compensation if you have a service-related disability and you were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. * Requires a VA service connected disability rating ** Eligible disabled military retirees normally have their retirement pay offset by the amount of VA compensation received.
 VA Home Loans. Allows eligible veterans and servicemembers to purchase a home without making a down payment. Certain surviving spouses may also be eligible, under special criteria.
 VA Memorial and Burial Benefits. A wide range of burial and memorial benefits ranging from Military Funeral Honors to burial reimbursement.
 VGLI(veteran life insurance). VGLI is a life insurance program which allows servicemembers to convert their SGLI coverage to renewable term insurance.
 Veteran Federal Employment Preference. Veterans have a couple of different tools that can give them an edge in getting a civil service (Federal) job: the Preference Points and Veteran's Recruitment Appointment rule.
 Veteran's Health Care Programs. A VA provided health care coverage plan for veterans.
 Veteran's Pension Programs You may qualify if you are a wartime veteran with a limited income and you are no longer able to work, you may qualify for a Veterans Disability Pension or the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 or older.
 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Vocational rehabilitation & employment services under Chapter 31 of the GI Bill. These services include, but are not limited to, counseling, training, education and job placement assistance. * Requires a VA service connected disability rating
* Requires a VA service connected disability rating
[Source: Military.com article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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Blood Thinners Update 05: For millions of heart patients, a pair of new blood thinners have been heralded as the first replacements in 60 years for warfarin, a pill whose hardships and risks have deterred many from using the stroke-prevention medicine. But growing complaints of risks and deaths tied to the new crop of drugs have made some top U.S. cardiologists hesitant to prescribe them. Some are proposing a more rigorous monitoring regimen for when they are used.
 Most concerns revolve around Pradaxa, a twice daily pill from Boehringer Ingelheim that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2010 to prevent strokes in patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. It was the first new oral treatment for that use since warfarin was introduced in the 1950s. "The good news is you now have an alternative to warfarin," said Dr. Alan
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Jacobson, director of anti-coagulation services at the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system in Loma Linda, California. "The bad news is you can kill a patient as easily with the new drug as you could with the old drug" if it is not handled properly. "The average patient doesn't understand anything about the new drug, or what the risks are, or what other medicines he can or can't take," said Jacobson, citing interactions with common painkillers and other drugs that can alter Pradaxa blood levels.
 Xarelto, a once daily pill that Johnson & Johnson developed with Bayer AG, was approved last November for atrial fibrillation. The condition affects about 3 million Americans, causing blood to pool in a storage chamber of the heart, where it can clot and travel to the brain.
Both new drugs were designed to sidestep risks of warfarin, including brain hemorrhages and other dangerous bleeding, and become mainstays of a new therapeutic market worth at least $10 billion a year. Patients taking warfarin require close monitoring and regular blood tests as well as dietary and lifestyle changes. Doctors have less data and familiarity with Xarelto, which is still being rolled out. But Jacobson and another dozen physicians interviewed by Reuters expressed similar concerns about both Pradaxa and Xarelto. They say that real world use of Pradaxa and Xarelto, which do not require regular blood monitoring or frequent doctor follow-up, raises concerns about the risk of stroke, serious bleeding and blood clots if not taken properly, particularly in patients with poor kidney function. The nonprofit Institute for Safe Medication Practices estimated last month that 542 reports of deaths associated with Pradaxa were reported to the FDA in 2011, topping all other medicines, including warfarin, with 72 deaths. Adverse event reports on Xarelto were not available.
The makers of Pradaxa and Xarelto say it takes time for doctors to get up to speed on new types of treatments and how to best administer them outside the controls of clinical trials. "This is a shift in medical practice," said Dr. John Smith, senior vice president for clinical development at Boehringer. "Individual physicians have to determine what the follow-up plan will be, to use common medical-sense judgment." Dr. Peter Wildgoose, a senior director of clinical development at J&J, said the company has not provided special advice on follow-up care for patients on Xarelto. "There's nothing more than for any other drug that people regularly take," he said, adding that most atrial fibrillation patients probably see their doctors on a regular basis. "These drugs have been tested long term, for several years at a time, with very good outcomes." Boehringer Ingelheim and Johnson & Johnson officials stressed there was far less evidence in trials of brain bleeding - the most worrisome side effect of anti-coagulants - in patients taking Pradaxa and Xarelto than those taking warfarin. In the meantime, warfarin is holding its own, with 33 million U.S. prescriptions filled for atrial fibrillation and other uses last year, according to IMS Health, a healthcare information and services company. Some 2.2 million prescriptions were filled for Pradaxa. About 130,000 U.S. prescriptions were written for Xarelto in the first three months of 2012. Pradaxa and Xarelto each cost about $3,000 a year, versus just $200 for generic warfarin.
Prominent U.S. heart doctors stress that neither new drug has a known antidote for a bleeding emergency, as warfarin does. They also say that patients using them should undergo testing ahead of time to ensure good kidney function, be carefully taught potential pitfalls of the drugs and be seen by doctors periodically, especially after a switch is made. "I have received a dozen phone calls from local colleagues in the last couple of months about bleeding on Pradaxa and have yet to find a single case where that bleeding was not related to improper use of the drug," said Dr. Sanjay Kaul, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Kaul found that many of the doctors failed to test patient kidney function before prescribing Pradaxa, though 80 percent of the drug is excreted in that organ. Weak kidneys allow the medicine to build to unsafe levels in the bloodstream. About two-thirds of Xarelto is eliminated by the kidneys - including 36 percent of the active drug as well as drug that has already been rendered inactive by the liver. Other doctors failed to ask patients whether they had a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, which raises the risk for Pradaxa. "What really compounds the matter is the lack of a specific antidote to reverse life-threatening bleeding" from Pradaxa, said Kaul, who served on independent panels that advised the FDA on both new medications. Kaul said he had written only one prescription for Pradaxa and none for Xarelto. Boehringer Ingelheim said it is working on an antidote, but declined to elaborate. Johnson & Johnson
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said it is not developing an antidote, but is monitoring early efforts by other drugmakers to come up with one. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, which is developing a blood clot drug called Eliquis that is similar to Xarelto, declined to comment on the antidote issue.
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VA Suicide Prevention Update 12: Mental-health experts, the U.S. military, the groups that aid returning service members, their families are trying to provide a sense of support for veterans and active-duty troops in an attempt to prevent the growing number of suicides. American troops have been taking their own lives in alarmingly increasing numbers over this past decade at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Veterans Affairs Department is looking to black women, the group in the U.S. population with the lowest suicide rate, to learn the factors behind that statistic and, hopefully, then determine how best to use that knowledge to help service members. We're taking a look at a cross section of the U.S. troops whose suicides have shaken the military and the nation as well as at some of the support offered to veterans and their families, all strained by repeated tours during a decade at war. [Source: National Journal Stephanie Czekalinski article 12 Jun 2012 ++]
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DoD Lawsuit ~ Colton Read: The U.S. government has asked a federal judge in Fort Worth to dismiss a lawsuit filed this spring on behalf of a retired Air Force airman who had both legs amputated when a routine surgical procedure went horribly wrong in a military hospital in California three years ago. Fort Worth attorney Darrell Keith sued the government on behalf of Colton Read and his wife, Jessica, both of whom grew up in Arlington, challenging a 60-year-old Supreme Court precedent that bars service members from collecting damages from the government for wrongful death, medical malpractice or any other typical tort claims. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, seeks tens of millions of dollars for the Reads for pain, impairment, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity and mental anguish. In a recently filed response, U.S. attorneys cite exactly that precedent — known as the Feres Doctrine after the name of the original case in 1950 — in arguing that the Reads' claims are a dead end. "This case involves a straightforward application of the Supreme Court's nearly sixty-year-old holding in Feres," the brief states. "This Court is without jurisdiction to entertain the Reads' claims, and this case should be dismissed."
If Judge John McBryde dismisses the claim, Keith hopes eventually to persuade the Supreme Court to review the case and overturn what he once called the extremely unjust, outmoded, universally criticized and judicially erroneous Feres Doctrine. "Colton and his wife and I were expecting the federal government's response and motion to dismiss," Keith said. "The government's motion is just the first step in the long run to the Supreme Court." The Feres Doctrine has withstood challenges over the years from military members and their families. The last challenge came from the family of an airman who died after a botched appendectomy at the same hospital where Read had his surgery, a case that ended last year when the Supreme Court declined to reverse a lower-court ruling that tossed out the suit. Although other government employees and citizens can sue the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Supreme Court ruled in the 1950s that military personnel cannot. Instead, the government has said that military members who are injured, no matter the cause, can receive pension benefits and lifelong medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The government attorneys said there is no disputing what the Supreme Court has ruled. "Simply put, the FTCA's waiver of sovereign immunity does not extend to injuries which arise incident to military service, which is broad enough to encompass the alleged injuries sustained by the Reads," the government brief states. Government attorneys also argued that the case should be dismissed because it was filed in the wrong venue. At the least, the attorneys said, the case should be transferred to a federal judge in the Western District of Texas or in the Eastern
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District of California. The Reads own a home in New Braunfels, and the surgery was performed at Travis Air Force Base in California, neither of which are in the federal system's Northern District of Texas, the brief states. Keith said that although the couple owns a house in New Braunfels, "as far they are concerned, it's still a temporary residence."
Retired Air Force Gen. Hal Hornburg shakes hands with Senior Airman Colton Read
On July 9, 2009, Read went to the base hospital at Travis for laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, surgery to remove his gallbladder, an operation he needed before deploying overseas. The routine surgery turned nearly deadly when one of his doctors lacerated his aorta at the beginning of the procedure, according to court documents, and he started hemorrhaging. It took several hours for the doctors to determine what had happened and fix it. Keith's lawsuit alleges that the doctors sewed Read's aorta shut and prevented blood from reaching his legs for longer still. When Read was transferred to a civilian hospital later that day, physicians had to amputate both his legs, one all the way to the hip. The lawsuit accuses the government, the Air Force and the hospital of negligence and says they are liable for 23 different actions, or lack of actions, made by the two military surgeons that day. [Source: Stars & Stripes Chris Vaughn article 14 Jun 2012 ++]
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Army Day: Army Day should not be confused the Army's Birthday, which is celebrated on June 14. The origins once in 1925. Congress then disallowed any further observances of this day. In response, the Military Order of the World War under Colonel Thatcher Luquer established Army Day. Army Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1928. That date was chosen in hopes of dampening Communists' celebration of Workers' Day, which also occurs on May 1. But, starting in 1929, Army Day was changed to April 6, the anniversary date of the United States' entry into World War I. Army Day was established as a nationwide observance to draw public attention to national defense and to acquaint the public with Army activities. In addition, the day was used to stress the need for military preparedness, which the nation had lacked as it entered earlier major conflicts. "The failure to make adequate preparation for the inevitable struggle, the consequent suffering from disease and death entailed upon the armies which were hastily raised, the prolongation of the conflict far beyond the time which sufficient and equipped forces would have required for victory, and the heavy costs of reconstruction" were caused by the lack of preparation of the nation.
On April 4, 1936, President Roosevelt issued a proclamation that Army Day be recognized by Congress as April 6 and observed nationwide. On March 1, 1937, Congress passed Resolution #5-75 which officially recognized Army Day. Army Day was last observed nationally in the U.S. on April 6, 1949. Army Day is celebrated as a Chinese holiday on 1 AUG to commemorate the PLA's contribution to China. All Army veterans are honored on this day. Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal)
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K. M. Cariappa's taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British commander, in 1948. [Source: Military.com article 6/15/12 ++]
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Medal of Honor Update 12: After the Philippine-America War (1899-1902) in General Order No. 64 issued on Nov. 25, 1912, the U.S. War Department honored Jose Nisperos with the medal for "most distinguished gallantry," after he repulsed a group of rebels who ambushed the 34th Company of the Philippine Scouts in Basilan on Sept. 24, 1911. "Having been badly wounded (his left arm was broken and lacerated and he had several spear wounds in the body so he could not stand), Private Nisperos continued to fire his rifle with one hand until the enemy was repulsed, thereby aiding materially in preventing the annihilation of his party and the mutilation of their bodies," read the citation. During rites at the Luneta Park on Feb. 5, 1913, Nisperos received the medal from Brig. Gen. Franklin Bell, the commanding general of the U.S. Army's Philippine Division. The US Army discharged Nisperos and gave him a pension of $55 a month. He died at age 34 in 1922 following an illness.
Maria Delilah Turzar, 40, a young girl had always been fascinated by the framed, faded magazine article displayed on the wall of her grandmother's house in San Fernando City in La Union (north Philippines). The Philippines Free Press article, written in 1957 by Primitivo Milan, was titled, "The First Filipino Awardee of the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor," and talks about Turzar's great grandfather, Private Jose Nisperos, of the 34th Company of the Philippine Scouts. Nisperos was the first Filipino and Asian to receive the medal, the highest U.S. military honor. "I kept on reading the story about Lolo Jose and wondered where the medal was," Turzar said. When she was 10, she accompanied her Lola Guia (Nisperos' daughter) to Mass. After the Mass, her grandmother knelt down and started to cry. "I understood that deep in her heart there was no closure of that chapter in their life. I promised her then: 'When I grow up, I will exert my best effort to find what is rightfully due your father and our great grandfather.' I made the same promise to her sisters, Leonila and Concepcion," Turzar said.
Lolo Jose left behind his wife Potenciana and three young daughters Guia Esperanza, Leonila Flora and Concepcion. Turzar’s grandmother had told her that a relative took the medal days after Nisperos died in 1922, supposedly to help Nisperos' widow, Potenciana, claim benefits from the American government. But since that day, the family never saw the medal. The pension never came and Potenciana worked as a market vendor to support the family. Five years ago Turzar embarked on a mission to find the medal, meeting different people along the way, some of whom tried to take advantage of her search. "There were people coming even from the United States pretending to be writers and knowing about Lolo Jose. They said they could help us approach people to get it back, for a fee of $5,000. Of course, we did not have that money to give them," she said. But her effort and patience bore fruit. After 90 years, Nisperos' Medal of Honor is now with the family for safekeeping. San Fernando Mayor Pablo Ortega was instrumental in locating the medal, she said. Ortega appealed through the media to spread information on the missing medal and sought its return to the family.
Early in June 2012 , the mayor's friend, an antique dealer who runs a store in a shopping mall in Metro Manila, informed him that he knew the collector who bought Nisperos' medal at an auction of the Philippine Numismatic
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and Antiquarian Society in 2010. Turzar said the collector, who asked not to be identified, learned about the family search and appeal from media reports. A meeting for the medal's return was then set. "We finally met the collector on 7 JUN and he just gave it back to us, without asking for anything in return," Turzar said. Turzar was ecstatic when she read her great grandfather's name engraved on the medal. "My grandmother Guia, her sisters Leonila and Concepcion and even my mother Virginia never saw the medal in their lifetime. Now my promise to them had been fulfilled," Turzar said. According to Ortega, the collector wanted the medal to be placed in the custody of the city government and displayed in a museum. The medal, he said, would be kept in a vault of a government bank until the city sets up a museum. [Source: Asia News Network Yolanda Sotelo article 14 Jun 2012 ++]
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CRSC Update 41: Many men and women enlist in the military with the intention of making it a career. Some do so and walk away from their service unscathed. But others suffer injuries in combat-type situations that hinder – or eliminate – their ability to work after military retirement. Still, others are so badly injured in those situations that they are medically retired long before the normal retirement age. That’s where Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) can benefit a military retiree. CRSC eligibility can come from injuries suffered during armed conflict or training that simulates war, while on hazardous duty, or from an instrumentality of war, such as exposure to Agent Orange or while in a combat vehicle. To be eligible for non-taxable CRSC, applicants must:
 Be entitled to and/or be receiving military retired pay
 Be rated at least 10 percent by VA
 Waive their taxable military retirement pay
 File a CRSC application with their respective branch of service.
A veteran may be eligible for CRSC no matter when the veteran left active military service; it can be paid to a 60-year-old Vietnam veteran who was medically retired in 1973, a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran who retired in 1982 after 20 years of service, or to a 29-year-old veteran who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and was medically retired in 2006. However, for those retired due to longevity, the effective date for CRSC payments cannot be earlier than May 31, 2003 – the effective date established for the original CRSC statute. For those medically retired under Chapter 61 of Title 10, U.S. Code, the effective date for CRSC payments cannot be earlier than January 2008, when the bill authorizing CRSC for these veterans became law. If it sounds like a complicated process to you and you would like to have some assistance in submitting your CRSC claim, most of the national military fraternal organizations will provide it at no cost to the applicant:.
 The American Legion, can help through its network of department service officers at http://www.legion.org/veteransbenefits/departmentofficers.
 The Veterans of foreign Wars (VFW) organization will provide assistance through their network of service offices at http://www.vfw.org/NVS.
 The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization will provide assistance through their network of service offices at http://www.dav.org/veterans/NSOffices.aspx.
 You can also contact your regional or local VA office which can be found at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/ro/rocontacts.htm and http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1.
[Source: The American Legion Update 14 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 68: Veterans from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the organization that helped put Michael Delos Hamilton, 69, in prison for falsely claiming to have been a highly decorated military veteran, expressed their discontent recently after hearing the fake colonel was being released early. Hamilton was sentenced in September to 16 months in federal prison after being convicted the previous April of wearing the medals and uniform of a highly decorated Marine colonel without authorization, making false statements to federal authorities and embezzling fraudulent disability payments totaling more than $37,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was released 17 JUN from the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner after having served only eight months of his 16-month sentence. At the time of his sentence, he had already served 141 days in jail, which added an additional four and a half months to his time served. In addition, he has currently earned 54 days of good conduct and as long as he maintains his good standing, he will have earned 62 days total of good conduct time, all of which was taken into consideration when his release date was calculated, according to Chris Burke, a spokesman from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Michael Delos Hamilton
“This is ridiculous,” said retired Sgt. Maj. Grant Beck, president of the MOPH Beirut Chapter. “Not only did he steal the honor of legitimate heroes, but then he defrauded the government of $30,000 that could have certainly been used for veterans who honestly need that help ... and now (the help) is not available because of people like him.” Hamilton began receiving disability payments in 2009 for post-traumatic stress disorder allegedly triggered by his combat experiences in the Marine Corps. During Hamilton’s trial, his sister testified that he had served in the Marines for less than a year before being medically discharged. She added that Hamilton never deployed and military officials confirmed there was no record of Hamilton having participated in secret operations as he had claimed. “I am not pleased to hear that he’s getting out early,” said retired Master Sgt. John Cooney, adjutant for the MOPH Beirut Chapter who testified against Hamilton in his September trial. “I don’t know that he has learned his lesson and I don’t even know if he would have learned his lesson if he’d stayed in there the whole (16 months).” Hamilton was exposed as a phony in spring 2010 when he appeared at a Vietnam Veterans memorial service in Jacksonville wearing a colonel’s dress regalia and multiple combat decorations to include two Navy Crosses, four Silver Stars and eight Purple Hearts pinned to his chest. “The man is sick,” Cooney said. “There are so many phonies running around here and him being released isn’t doing anybody any justice.” Beck and Cooney said they believe Hamilton’s early release may have something to do with his health, since he appeared especially frail at his September trial after having spent in four months in jail. [Source: Jacksonville Daily News Amanda Wilcox article 17 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 69: The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a federal law making it a crime to lie about receiving the Medal of Honor and other prized military awards, with justices branding the false
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claim “contemptible” but nonetheless protected by the First Amendment. The court voted 6-3 in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely said he was a decorated war veteran and had pleaded guilty to violating the 2006 law, known as the Stolen Valor Act. The law, enacted when the U.S. was at war in Afghanistan and Iraq, was aimed at people making phony claims of heroism in battle. The ruling, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ordered that the conviction be thrown out. “Though few might find respondent’s statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. The Stolen Valor Act infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment,” Kennedy said.
The high court has in recent years rejected limits on speech. The justices struck down a federal ban on videos showing graphic violence against animals and rejected a state law intended to keep violent video games away from children. The court also turned aside the attempt by the father of a dead Marine to sue fundamentalist church members who staged a mocking protest at his son’s funeral. In 1989, the court said the Constitution protects the burning of the American flag. Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented in the Alvarez case. “These lies have no value in and of themselves, and proscribing them does not chill any valuable speech,” Alito said. “By holding that the First Amendment nevertheless shields these lies, the court breaks sharply from a long line of cases recognizing that the right to free speech does not protect false statements that inflict real harm and serve no legitimate interest.”
Alvarez made his claims by way of introducing himself as an elected member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Pomona, Calif. There is nothing to suggest that he received anything in exchange or that listeners especially believed him. The government had defended the law as necessary to punish impostors to protect the integrity of military medals. But Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan said in a separate opinion that there were ways for the government to stop liars “in less restrictive ways.” One possibility would be to “insist upon a showing that the false statement caused a specific harm or at least was material, or focus its coverage on lies most likely to be harmful or on contexts where such lies are most likely to cause harm,” Breyer said. Civil liberties groups, writers, publishers and news media outlets, including The Associated Press, told the justices they worried that the law, and especially the administration’s defense of it, could lead to more attempts by government to regulate speech.
Then-Gen. George Washington established military decorations in 1782, seven years before he was elected as the first president. Washington also prescribed severe military punishment for soldiers who purported to be medal winners but weren’t. It long has been a federal crime to wear unearned medals, but mere claims of being decorated were beyond the reach of law enforcement. The Stolen Valor Act aimed to solve that problem, and won significant support in Congress during a time of war. Alvarez’s lawyers challenged the law by acknowledging their client’s lies, but also insisting that they harmed no one. “Statutes suppressing or restricting speech must be judged by the sometimes inconvenient principles of the First Amendment,” Kennedy said. “By this measure, the statutory provisions under which respondent was convicted must be held invalid, and his conviction must be set aside.”
In response to the Court decision, Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV) said, "Now that the Supreme Court has laid down this marker, I will be pushing for a vote on a version of the Stolen Valor Act that will pass constitutional scrutiny." Congressman Heck has introduced H.R.1775, a revised Stolen Valor Act, which would make it illegal for individuals to benefit from lying about their military service, record, or awards. According to the Nevada Republican his bill would pass constitutional review on the grounds that it does not attempt to limit speech basing the bill on whether an individual benefits from the lying. Rep. Heck's bill has 52 bipartisan co-sponsors. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) has introduced the Senate companion bill, S.1728. The National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS) is asking for your help in contacting your elected officials to gain support for H.R.1775 by clicking on their CapWiz Alert at http://capwiz.com/naus/issues/alert/?alertid=61516361 to send an email. Ask your family, friends and neighbors to become involved too. Free speech is one thing but deliberately lying for gain or to
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impress others demeans the sacrifices made by all real veterans. [Source: Associated Press & NAUS articles 28 & 29 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 67: In an effort to help reduce Veteran unemployment, Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc. on 14 JUN announced the launch of their Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Initiative, a comprehensive and progressive plan to recruit, hire, train and retain Veterans for the Health Net workforce. This initiative, as well as recent partnerships with Joining Forces and Hero Health Hire, is reflective of Health Net's commitment to the well-being of our nation's Veterans. Tom Carrato, president of Health Net Federal Services said, "Health Net has a deep appreciation for the service and sacrifices of military members, their families and Veterans. We have a long history and sound record of hiring Veterans and military spouses. This formal initiative is a natural progression of our mission of service to military members, their families and the Veteran community. We consider it good business to hire Veterans and are proud to be part of the Joining Forces and the Hero Health Hire efforts to ensure members of the military community successfully transition to civilian life…Leadership ability and the strong sense of mission that comes from military service are characteristics that are highly valued in a competitive business environment. Today's unacceptable high rate of Veterans' unemployment has led to robust efforts in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to reverse this trend, and Health Net is committed to do its part." Key targets of the initiative include:
 Increasing hiring of Veterans and spouses by 10 percent over the next three years;
 Promoting and participating in recruitment opportunities such as military job fairs, conferences and online social media networks;
 Continuing to develop strategic relationships with Veteran and military organizations that support and foster employment opportunities, such as Hero Health Hire and Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America, Joining Forces, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and Blue Star Families; and
 Implementing a system to monitor and track Veteran employment objectives to ensure effectiveness and overall program success.
Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded managed care organization that delivers managed health care services through health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net, through its subsidiaries, provides and administers health benefits to approximately 5.6 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as "Part D"), Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net's behavioral health services subsidiary, Managed Health Network, Inc., provides behavioral health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs to approximately 4.9 million individuals, including their own health plan members. Health Net's subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs. For more information on Health Net, Inc., refer to http://www.healthnet.com. [Source: Business Wire article 14 Jun 2012++]
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Vet Jobs Update 68: Industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation, whose automotive business makes superchargers and many other parts, also supplies electric-car charging stations. Under a recent Federal contract, Eaton will provide those charging stations to various Federal locations--and the company is also working to train new installers for those stations. Among the future installers will be qualified U.S. military veterans. Eaton is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (and the Community College of Baltimore County) to create
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the pilot "VetCars" program, which will instruct veterans how to install and service infrastructure for plug-in vehicles. Veterans who complete the program can also earn a certificate showing that they are qualified to maintain the advanced batteries used in plug-in vehicles.
Employment opportunities for returning veterans have been a challenge over the last few years, as the tough economy has made jobs at all levels more scarce. The intention, Eaton says, is to "provide returning veterans with jobs in communities across the country. The charging station contract is between the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Autoflex, which will install Eaton's stations as part of the Electric Vehicle Pilot Program. That program is now expanding beyond its five original test cities: Washington, D.C., Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. More than 60 charging stations have already appeared at various Federal agencies and departments, with more on the way. The goal is to see how and when plug-in electric drivers take advantage of at-work charging in the near term. Range-extended electric cars like the Chevy Volt and pure battery electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf went on sale in December 2010, joined by plug-in hybrids like the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid just a few months ago. There will be more than 40,000 of them on U.S. roads by the end of this year. Electric cars may also be popular with veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, as those soldiers have experienced first-hand the costs of maintaining U.S. energy supplies and the associated geopolitical impacts. [Source: The Washington Post John Voelcker article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 69: The 2012 Veterans Talent Index is a comprehensive analysis of transitioning military service members, veterans and their employers. The report shows the confidence level for both employers and veterans has dropped over the past six months. The three indices of the report follow:
The Veterans Career Confidence Index: A monitor of veterans' confidence in finding a job combined with the level of skills they acquired during and after their military service. The May 2012 report surveyed more than 900 veterans who revealed that while they believe their military skills are valuable, they're increasingly frustrated and show a lack of confidence in their ability to find an appropriate job due to the lack of preparation for their transition to civilian work. The May 2012 Index dipped to 54, compared to 56 in November 2011, on a scale of 0-100. May 2012 details:
 75% of veterans, up from 73% in the prior report agree that their military skills are valuable in civilian careers.
 Only 29% of respondents are confident about finding work that suits them, down from 44% in November 2011.
 Less than half (47%) of respondents feel they are prepared for their career transition out of the military, down slightly from 52% in November 2011.
The Veterans Job Search Activity Index: A monitor of transitioning veterans' job search activity and the resources they use. The May 2012 Index rose to a 77 on a scale of 0-100 compared to 74 in November 2011, reflecting the increased base of veterans as well as their increased job search activity. May 2012 details:
 Veterans likely to look for a job in the next 12 months is up from 69% in the prior report, with nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents very or extremely likely to be looking for work within the year.
 Top keywords searched by veterans reveal an interest in customer service, security and management positions; top keywords searched by employers reveal accounting, computer software engineers and computer systems analysts are in demand.
 Each of the top five job search challenges listed in November 2011 increased in May 2012. The challenge of ‘finding opportunities for which I am qualified' jumped the most, rising as a concern from 45% to 53%.
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The Employer Veterans Hiring Index: A monitor of how employers who have hired multiple veterans in the past year compare work performance to non-veteran employees. The May 2012 survey of over 900 employers revealed continued positive indications towards veterans, but also revealed a gap between veterans' and employers' views, and a sense that veterans need to do a better job of explaining their skills in order to more successfully compete with the national job seeker pool. The May 2012 Index dropped to a 71 on a scale of 0-100, compared to a 74 in November 2011. May 2012 Details:
 An encouraging 74% of surveyed employers reported they had hired more than one veteran within the past year, up from 70% in the 2011 report.
 Nearly all surveyed (99%) who had hired a veteran felt their work experience was about the same or much better than non-veteran workers; 99% would recommend hiring a veteran.
 The May 2012 survey showed more respondents reported veterans were the best qualified candidate for the job, yet fewer saw a candidate's work and military experience as primary drivers to hire; down from 44% in November 2011, 32% of respondents reported veterans offer needed special skills and talents compared to non-veterans.
What veterans may lack in civilian experience, they more than make up for in military experience. The majority of veterans (83%) have more than five years of military experience compared to 55% who have more than five years of civilian work experience. Many of today's U.S. jobs (72%) feature requirements of less than five years of work experience; both employers and veterans will need to navigate the transference of military experience into today's workplace. "Veterans bring a wide range of skills and expertise into the mix of professionals seeking employment, but it's difficult shifting their mindset out of military culture and into civilian culture when talking to a hiring manager," said T McCreary, president of Military.com and vice president for Monster Worldwide. "The VTI provides actionable intelligence to assist employers in filling their talent needs and to provide veterans who want to make that transition into a civilian job, the feedback required to compete in, and acclimate to, the environment they're transitioning into." To access Monster's comprehensive May 2012 Veterans Talent Index report, and to learn more about hiring veterans and advice on how to bridge the communication gap, visit the Veterans Employment Center http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs. [Source: Military.com Benefits article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 70: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki today unveiled a new portal on their departments’ websites designed to help military veterans find jobs in the transportation industry. “Our transportation industry needs pilots, controllers, mechanics and drivers – the very kinds of skills that our military is known for developing,” Secretary LaHood said. “This new web link will help repay the debt we owe our veterans for their service to our country.” Secretary Shinseki said, “Veterans have the skills, knowledge and attributes that American businesses need to help rebuild an economy that will last. … These men and women bring exceptional leadership to any position. They are uniquely qualified for jobs as pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, commercial drivers and emergency medical technicians because many of them have performed these roles in combat."
The portal on the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs websites will link to the Veterans Transportation Career Center, where former members of the armed forces can enter their specific military work experience and see how it translates to jobs in the civilian working world. The site will guide veterans to jobs in five categories: aviation pilot, aviation maintenance technician, air traffic controller, commercial motor vehicle driver and emergency medical services. Job seekers can find what training and certification is needed for civilian jobs, determine what career fits best with their background, and search for available jobs in their field. The
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portals are available at http://www.dot.gov and http://www.va.gov. Secretaries LaHood and Shinseki announced the new portal at an aviation-workforce management conference held at DOT headquarters in Washington. The conference on labor-management relations was first formed in response to a recommendation made by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee (FAAC), which was convened by Secretary LaHood in 2010. The FAAC recommended that DOT hold events like this to bolster labor-management relations. [Source: VA News Release 21 Jun 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 119: Another year, another major overhaul for veterans’ GI Bill benefits. Lawmakers and veterans groups are again pushing for improvements to the post-9/11 GI Bill, a 3-year-old benefit that was itself a dramatic update to the traditional post-military education offerings. The benefit allows any veteran with at least three years’ service since late 2001 to complete a four-year degree program at state public colleges free of charge. It also includes a monthly living stipend and provisions to transfer unused education funds to veterans’ spouses or children. Department of Veterans Affairs officials said more than 720,000 veterans and dependants have used the program to attend college over the last three years, at a cost of more than $18 billion. Roughly 590,000 post-9/11 GI Bill students are expected to be in university classrooms this fall.
Unlike past years, where the benefit changes have mainly focused on adjustments to the payout rates and rules, this summer’s proposals focus on providing better resources to veterans before classes start. Veterans advocates have lobbied for more pre-college counseling for veterans to inform them of schooling options and post-graduation job prospects. A measure by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) would require the VA to provide vocational counseling to any college-bound vet before they enroll, unless they opt out. Such counseling is currently available but few veterans have taken advantage of it. Curtis Coy, deputy VA undersecretary for economic opportunity, said department officials are concerned that mandating the counseling could overwhelm existing programs. Only about 6,500 veterans used those services last year. But officials advocates said the counseling is critical to help students make better decisions about where to attend school, especially in light of strong marketing pushes from for-profit colleges that can cost veterans thousands of dollars in tuition costs beyond what is offered by the GI Bill.
Other measures would establish a central clearinghouse for benefits complaints or abuses, provide more information on eligible programs and schools, and tighten controls over what courses can qualify for the veterans education benefit. House lawmakers have proposed similar measures, but it’s unlikely any will be passed before the November elections. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she hopes a larger GI Bill overhaul package, including some of these initiatives, can be put together later this year, but lawmakers from both parties have been pessimistic about the possibility of any legislative action before the November elections. In April, President Barack Obama issued an executive order designed to offer more protection to veterans’ education benefits by limiting college recruiters’ access to military bases, forcing colleges to provide
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graduation rates and student debt information, and prohibiting institutions from using the term “GI Bill” in their veterans outreach efforts. [Source: Stars and Stripes Leo Shane article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 120: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) said 18 JUN a change to the way GI Bill overpayments are reimbursed would benefit the veteran and cause no hardship for the Veterans Administration. A simple change to the collection procedure is sufficient, according to a report in Air Force Times. No change in law is required. Currently, a veteran who is paid too much for GI Bill benefits has 30 days to reach an agreement with the VA on how to make the repayment. If no agreement is made, the VA begins reducing payments to the school and to the student for living stipends. Bennet, who made his proposal in a letter, said the 30-day window to reach an agreement is too short. He proposed a procedure that would take the repayments from the end of the student's 36-month period of benefits. "Veteran students who are dependent on GI Bill benefits often have no other means of financial support," he wrote in the letter. "Suspending housing or tuition benefits can leave a veteran student in an untenable financial position and without the means to live or continue his or her education." [Source: NGAUS Washington Report 19 Jun 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 121: The marketing firm behind GIBill.com (http://www.gibill.com/) will shut down that website, scale back more than a dozen others and pay $2.5 million in penalties under terms of a settlement with state attorneys general over deceptive advertising practices aimed at student veterans. Veterans groups and Department of Veterans Affairs officials hailed the announcement as much-needed victory over the tactics of for-profit colleges, who they say have targeted those students as potential cash cows for their schools. Industry representatives called it smear campaign. The settlement is the result of a month long investigation into the practices of QuinStreet, an online marketing firm whose clients include a host of for-profit colleges. Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway said called the company and its use of the GIBill.com website "the most egregious example" he has seen of misinformation and greed directed at veterans. "This is a public trust issue," he said. "We have many publicly traded companiestaking a funnel of taxpayer money intended to educate veterans, and instead giving them credits they can't transfer, debt they can't discharge and putting them in a hole. That's unconscionable."
The website, which offered information on veteran education benefits and careers, consistently redirected visitors to a small group of for-profit schools as the best place to use their GI Bill tuition. State attorneys charged that the website managers did little to acknowledge their site was not an official government information page, or that those for-profit schools in many cases would cost them more money than public school options. Conway said the investigation included a review of 8,000 emails to QuinStreet through the GIBill.com site, many of which came from veterans who thought they were communicating with government officials. Under the settlement, the GIBill.com domain will be handed over to VA officials, who will use it to redirect web surfers to the VA's official GI Bill site at http://gibill.va.gov/. Social media accounts associated with the page will be shut down. In addition, QuinStreet agreed to put disclaimers on other military-themed sites clearly stating they are not connected with the government, and refrain from using the term "GI Bill" in the address of any future sites.
Conway would not say whether any of the schools that helped fund the site will also face future sanctions. Many of the officials at the settlement announcement used the event to take aim again at the for-profit industry. "Dollar signs in uniform, that's how the for-profits see our troops and veterans," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) "If we're going to continue to fund the GI Bill, we need to make sure those dollars are being well spent, and not being used for misleading advertising and recruiting." VA data shows that about one in four veterans using the post-9/11 GI Bill attenda for-profit school, but the industry accounts for 37 percent of the total tuition payouts.
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Veterans of Foreign Wars Deputy Legislative Director Ryan Gallucci said veterans groups worry that lawmakers could see the education benefit as wasted money if it continues to flow to for-profit schools to fund questionable degrees with limited job prospects. He praised the settlement, saying it helps "ensure our veterans have access to the quality education they earned."
In a statement, Steve Gunderson, president of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, condemned "any activity by companies that mislead veterans," and noted that industry officials are working on get rid of any such practices in the future. But Gunderson also noted that for-profit schools provide an important alternative for student veterans, and other industry officials grumbled that the settlement was used as a vehicle to unfairly attack the reputation of all such schools. Conway and other attorneys general said they aren't trying to shut down the for-profit industry, but are closely monitoring numerous reports of misleading and overly aggressive marketing by those schools. Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said he believes the whole industry has been tainted by the problem. "This is about fraud," he said. "I know there are some good actors out there, but until they clean up, I tell people to call their community college, or a state college. I don't have faith in them." [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 27 un 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 122: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The Veterans Affairs Department is still unsure about the ramifications of President Obama’s “Principles of Excellence,” VA’s director of education services told Congress on 13 JUN, even though the 30 JUN deadline for schools to sign on was fast approaching. The Principles of Excellence — a series of measures designed to ban deceptive marketing and recruiting by schools, demand “high-quality academic and student support services,” and require schools to disclose cost and quality information to prospective students — were included in an executive order that Obama signed in April. Schools are required to state whether they intend to follow the principles by the end of this month. However, some of VA’s attempts to reach schools have fallen flat. VA scheduled two webinars on the subject that schools were invited to attend, but each session exceeded its maximum capacity of 1,000 viewers, locking out some participants. Another webinar was scheduled for 15 JUN, and VA assured would-be participants via email that a video of the first webinars would be available on Military OneSource within two weeks, or by 22 JUN. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) noted this would leave little time for schools to review the principles before making a decision, and pointed out that the deadline was closing in.
Curtis Coy, VA’s deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity, said the department had not yet considered pushing back the 30 JUN deadline, but acknowledged that it was an option. Robert Worley, VA’s director of education services, pointed out that schools won’t be asked to implement the Principles of Excellence until the end of the 2012-13 school year. When Burr asked what would happen to schools that failed to sign the Principles of Excellence, Worley admitted that some of the details are still fuzzy. “What we’re asking the schools to do is to sign — we’re encouraging them to respond with their intent to comply with the Principles of Excellence,” he said. “We will not fully know the ramifications … for some time.” Worley has previously said that signing the Principles of Excellence will not be a prerequisite for schools to qualify for GI Bill funding or Yellow Ribbon scholarship money. [Source: MilitaryTimes Cid Standifer article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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Burn Pit Toxic Emissions Update 20: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Veterans Affairs Department officials are opposing legislation to create a registry of service members who may have been exposed to toxic fumes of open burn pits in
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Iraq or Afghanistan, and they say they do not see the value of such an effort. “VA can identify all service members that deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and has used this information in the development of an injury-and-illness surveillance system,” said Curtis Coy, VA’s deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity, at a Wednesday hearing at which a burn-pit bill was discussed. Coy said there are two other reasons why the Obama administration doesn’t support S.1798, a burn-pit bill pending in the Senate. “The most recent Institute of Medicine report on burn pits identified air pollution, rather than smoke from burn pits, as the most concerning potential environmental hazard,” he said. He also noted that all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans already are eligible for up to five years of post-discharge health care, free of charge, from VA. “Special authority for such a registry is not required,” Coy said.
Instead, Coy said VA believes “the most effective way” to determine adverse health effects of burn-pit exposure or other potential health problems is to conduct a “comprehensive, prospective study of long-term adverse health effects” among the entire population of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The burn-pit bill pending in the Senate is similar to another under review by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) that would mandate creation of a burn-pit registry. The House version of the 2013 defense authorization bill would require DoD to develop a plan for tracking environmental exposures faced by service members but would not specifically require creating a registry for troops deployed since Sept. 11, 2001, to areas where an open burn pit was used instead of an enclosed incinerator to burn solid waste. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), the chief sponsor of Senate bill, appeared before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, accompanied by New Mexico Air National Guard Master Sgt. Jessey Baca, to push for creation of a registry.
“Burn pits, large and small, were used throughout Iraq and Afghanistan to destroy waste, with little known about what materials might have been burned and the potential ill effects,” said Udall, whose bill is cosponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)
Most major veterans’ groups support creating a burn-pit registry. “Any veteran who lived near an open-air burn pit is familiar with the short-term health effects,” said Tom Tarantino of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “However, the lasting effects of toxic exposure from burn pits are unknown without data tracking the health and well-being of deployed service members. With more and more data leaked from DoD about the potential for long-term health problems related to toxic exposure, it is imperative that we act now.” Coy said a registry may not help get those answers. “We do not believe that a health registry is the appropriate epidemiological tool to use in identifying possible adverse health effects associated with certain environmental exposures,” Coy said. “Health registries, by their nature, can only produce very limited and possibly skewed results ... Studies of self-selected individuals, such as those in a registry, are not representative of an entire population of potentially exposed individuals,” he said. “They may, therefore, lead to false associations as to cause of perceived and actual illnesses.” He cited registries for Vietnam veterans exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange and a Gulf War registry to track the health of the first Gulf War as examples of the potential drawbacks. “While useful for outreach purposes, neither of these registries has been useful in terms of researching the types of health concerns raised by these veterans,” Coy said. [Source: MilitaryTimes Rick Maze article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Homeless Vets Update 31: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairwoman unveiled a bill 18 JUN aimed at helping homeless female veterans. The Veterans Affairs Department and Obama administration have been making progress toward a goal of eliminating veterans’ homelessness within five years, with a 12 percent reduction in homeless veterans between 2010 and 2011. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)., the veterans’ committee chairwoman, said she is pleased by the progress, which has come largely through interagency efforts, but “the number of homeless women veterans has continued to increase.” Part of the reason is the scarcity of housing options
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for women with children, she said — and often when housing is available, it is inadequate. “Infrastructure needs such as private and secure rooms and showering facilities are often lacking,” she said. As a result, women are placed “in uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situations,” she said. “We can and should do better.” The bill Murray introduced (S.3309) would provide community grants for transitional housing on the condition that it meets physical privacy, safety and security needs, providing legal services to help low-income veterans find permanent housing. “No veteran should have to choose between housing and their safety or between housing and remaining with their family,” she said. [Source: MilitaryTimes Rick Maze article 19 Jun 2012 ++]
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Health Care Reform Update 51: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision 28 JUN upholding the Affordable Care Act has little impact on Tricare beneficiaries, who will see no change to their benefits. The ruling, which upholds the individual mandate under the government’s right to tax, will have no impact on TRICARE customers because the program not only was omitted from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it later was protected under separate legislation. The TRICARE Affirmation Act was signed in 2010 to quell concerns about health care reform among Tricare users after the Affordable Care Act passed. The 2010 act explicitly stated that Tricare beneficiaries and Defense Department civilian nonappropriated fund employees were not subject to the penalties for lacking private insurance that are part of the broader law. Additional legislation, the Tricare Dependent Coverage Extension Act, created Tricare Young Adult (TYA), a premium-based program that extends health benefits for adult children of Tricare beneficiaries. TYA is similar to a health care reform provision allowing adult children up to age 26 to be covered by their parent’s health care policies if they meet certain criteria.
Many of the provisions passed as a result of health care reform will remain, such as Tricare Young Adult, Tricare spokesman Kevin Dwyer said. “Tricare and Tricare Young Adult are governed by an independent set of statutes and remain under sole authority of the Defense Department and the secretary of defense,” he said. Regular Tricare covers unmarried children up to age 21, or age 23 if they are enrolled as full-time college students. Tricare Young Adult extends benefits to unmarried children 26 or under who are ineligible for employer-provided health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also includes a special enrollment window for Medicare Part B that applied to older military retirees enrolled in Tricare for Life; the law waives a late enrollment penalty — 10 percent for each 12-month period in which a beneficiary could have enrolled in Part B but didn’t — for military retirees, spouses, dependent children and survivors. That provision has yet to be implemented. More than 17,000 beneficiaries are enrolled in Tricare Young Adult: 11,171 in TYA Standard and 6,407 in TYA Prime. Standard users pay $176 a month in premiums, plus co-payments and deductibles; Prime beneficiaries pay $201 a month and additional fees for hospitalizations and special services. [Source: ArmyTimes Patricia Kime article 28 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune Update 29: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Congressional negotiators have taken a big leap in expanding veterans’ health care by proposing Veterans Affairs Department treatment for veterans and dependents exposed to contaminated well water at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Up to 750,000 people — Navy and Marine Corps members and their families — may have been exposed to water found to be contaminated by carcinogens from the 1950s into the 1980s. North Carolina lawmakers have been pushing for years for the federal government to cover health costs for people who were exposed, but there have been sharp disagreements about who should be
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responsible: the Defense Department, which owned the base, or VA, which covers service-connected illness, injury and disability. This is a big step because VA provides very little health care for dependents, concentrating on veterans rather than their families. But it is not unprecedented. Those covered must have lived or worked on Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days from Jan. 1, 1957 through Dec. 31, 1987. VA ends up with responsibility under terms of a compromise reached 21 JUN between members of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees on a comprehensive veterans bill made up of provisions that have passed at least one of the committees over the past two years.
The compromise bill is expected to pass the Senate as early as next week and could be on its way to the White House by the Fourth of July, according to congressional staffers. The agreement is a victory for Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) who has been pushing the veterans affairs committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee to get help for the former Lejuene residents. “I am pleased this legislation has moved further than ever before, and I am hopeful it will receive the attention of the full Senate very soon,” Burr said. “The Marines, sailors, and their families who were affected by exposures to toxic water at Camp Lejeune deserve this care, and I hope this bill will finally pass so we can provide it for them.” It’s also a victory Sen. Patty (D-WA) the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairwoman, and for Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), her House counterpart, for reaching a compromise that sweeps up a large pack of abandoned legislation. In a statement, Miller said the comprehensive bill, H.R.1627, is the result of months of compromise.
“This bill includes nearly 50 provisions, which combines House-passed legislation and Senate Committee-reported bills,” Miller said, adding that veterans organizations also provided input. He called it a “fiscally responsible” bill that “will not cost the taxpayer an extra dime.” Costs are covered by extensions of fees on veterans home loans and other adjustments. Full details were not yet available on offsets, but congressional aides who worked on the compromise said no benefits are cut and no services are canceled to pay for any of the provisions in the bill. Among the items included in the compromise bill:
 Allow waiver of copays for veterans receiving tele-health and telemedicine visits, a change aimed at encouraging veterans who live far from a VA clinic or hospital to use the service.
 Require comprehensive reporting and tracking of sexual assaults and safety problems, an idea taken from a bill sponsored in 2011 by Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY) after unreported or underreported sexual assaults were discovered on VA property, including in hospitals.
 Allow service dogs, when trained by an accredited agency or organization, onto any VA-owned or -controlled property.
 Permanently authorize adjustable-rate mortgages and hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages under the VA home loan program, options that might be especially attractive to home buyers because of low mortgage interest rates.
 Make VA-backed loans available to some surviving spouses. This would apply to survivors of a totally disabled veteran who had been receiving disability compensation for at least 10 years or who died within five years of leaving active duty. It also would apply to survivors of former prisoners of war who had been totally disabled for at least one year prior to their deaths.
 Codify in law the prohibition against reserving gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery and prohibit more than one gravesite from being provided to a veteran or service member.
[Source: MarineCorpsTimes Rick Maze article 22 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings
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usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete:
 July 25, 2012. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the House Armed Services Committee will hold a joint hearing regarding Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs collaboration and coordination. Time and Location TBD
[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 14 Jun 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 105: In observance of June as PTSD Awareness Month, the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has begun a new online initiative, AboutFace, focused on helping Veterans recognize PTSD symptoms and motivating them to seek treatment. “We must do all we can to help Veterans identify possible indicators that they may be suffering from PTSD,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “It requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to be effective. We hope that this initiative, while just one aspect of our program, will play an important role in that effort.” The AboutFace campaign introduces viewers to Veterans from all eras who have experienced PTSD and turned their lives around with treatment. Through personal videos, viewers will meet Veterans and hear how PTSD has affected them and their loved ones. Visitors will also learn the steps to take to gain control of their lives.
AboutFace, which is PTSD specific, was designed as a complementary campaign to VA’s current Make the Connection (www.MakeTheConnection.net) campaign. Make the Connection uses personal testimonials to illustrate true stories of Veterans who faced life events, experiences, physical ailments, or psychological symptoms; reached out for support; and found ways to overcome their challenges. “VA is committed to ensuring the men and women who bravely served our Nation can access the resources and services tailored for them that can lead to a more fulfilling life,” said Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s under secretary for health. “We want Veterans to recognize themselves in these stories and to feel optimistic that they can overcome their challenges with proper treatment. We set aside this month of June to urge everyone to increase awareness of PTSD so those in need can get effective treatment that will enable them to lead productive, fulfilling and enjoyable lives.” AboutFace launched in June in time to help bring attention to PTSD Awareness Month. It is located on the National Center for PTSD website http://www.ptsd.va.gov. There viewers will watch as Veterans candidly describe how they knew they had PTSD; how PTSD affected the people they love; why they didn’t get help right away; what finally caused them to seek treatment; what treatment is like and how treatment helps.
VA provides effective PTSD treatment and conducts extensive research on PTSD, including prevention. Those interested in further information can go to www.ptsd.va.gov to find educational materials including courses for providers on the best practices in PTSD treatment and the award-winning VA/DoD PTSD Coach Mobile App for electronic devices, which provides symptom management strategies. These campaigns are part of VA’s overall mental health program. Last year, VA provided quality, specialty mental health services to 1.3 million Veterans. Since 2009, VA has increased the mental health care budget by 39 percent. Since 2007, VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of Veterans receiving mental health services, and a 41 percent increase in mental health staff. In April, as part of an ongoing review of mental health operations, Secretary Shinseki announced VA would add approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce of 20,590 to help meet the increased demand for mental health services. The additional staff would include nurses,
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psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. For more information on AboutFace, visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/aboutface or contact the National Center for PTSD at (802) 296-5132. [Source: VA Press Release 20 Jun 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 106: With more than 2 million service members returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury have become the signature wounds of both conflicts. But while the Pentagon has decided TBI, or mild concussions received as a result of enemy action, qualify for the status of a Purple Heart, the military hasn’t yielded on PTSD. Thomas Bush Jr., 54, an Air Force combat veteran who has PTSD, thinks his comrades-in-arms’ invisible wounds qualify them for the medal. “That’s a very open discussion with a lot of vets,” said Bush, of Riverside. To receive the Purple Heart, a service member must have suffered an injury in combat. The language specifically disqualifies PTSD by name. “PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event; it is not a wound intentionally caused by the enemy from an ‘outside force or agent,’ but is a secondary effect caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event,” Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said in an email to the Dayton Daily News. Oftentimes, Bush said, if a service member has combat-related PTSD, he may be the only survivor of a traumatic event and carried out the mission under fire. “If it’s a true case of PTSD from combat, I think it should be awarded,” he said. “Sometimes you can’t just put a Band-Aid on a wound that’s in your head.”
Vietnam veteran Ricky A. York said he’s had combat-related PTSD, but isn’t sure a Purple Heart should be given to soldiers who carry wounds, as he did, inside them. For 43 years, the former cavalry soldier avoided talking about Vietnam to his family before he wrote a book about it. “I can tell you I have injuries, but they aren’t physical,” said York, 66, of Kettering, a retired General Motors autoworker. “That’s a pretty big distinction to actually be physically wounded. ... I don’t know if I’d agree it’s the same as being shot or stepping on a mine. “I just think personally if I said I deserve a Purple Heart and there’s a veteran there with one arm or a leg missing, I don’t know how he would look at it,” he said. “I sure don’t want to offend one of those guys.” The numbers of service members receiving Purple Hearts has risen by thousands since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Marine Corps, for example, has issued more than 8,700, said Navy Lt. Matt Allen at the Pentagon. The Navy, which has its own special forces and combat construction workers and provides support on the ground to Marines, has awarded 800 more. There are varied opinions on whether or not PTSD warrants the award of a Purple Heart as noted in the following comments on the subject:
 The Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars say post-traumatic stress doesn’t merit the award. “PTSD is not something new,” said John E. Bircher, a Military Order of the Purple Heart spokesman in Springfield, Va. “There’s hardly anyone who has ever been in combat, and certainly someone who has been wounded, who doesn’t suffer some form of PTSD.”
 Medals aren’t awarded for illness or disease, but for “achievement and valor,” said Joseph E. Davis, a VFW national spokesman in Washington, D.C. “The Purple Heart is awarded for a physical wound received while engaged with an enemy force,” he said in an email to the JournalNews. “PTSD is considered an illness and not an injury.” He noted soldiers who suffered Gulf War syndrome, and Korean War veterans who had frostbite in the freezing depths of Korean winters, also didn’t qualify for the award. “Not to diminish the illness or effects of PTSD, but it is the VFW’s belief that awarding the (Purple Heart) for PTSD is not consistent with the original purpose and would denigrate the medal,” he wrote.
 Larry C. James, director of the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University, said some have concerns soldiers could fake PTSD to get the medal. The retired Army psychologist, however,
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believes few would try. “Ninety-nine percent of these young men and women are honest,” he said. “Integrity and character is part of the military.”
 Charles R. Figley, director of the Traumatology Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans, said counselors can tell if someone has combat-related PTSD. The military and veterans should be the ones to decide to change the rules, said Figley, a Marine veteran who served in Vietnam.
[Source: Dayton Daily News Barrie Barber article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran License Plates Arkansas: The state of Alabama offers 21 different specialty license plates/placards to its veterans. Refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, "Vet License Plates AR" or http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/Pages/specialityPlates.aspx?pl_id=6 to view the available plates and access the appropriate guidelines for issuance of each plate. [Source: http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/Pages/specialityPlatesCategory.aspx?category=Military Jun 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 22: Bill Morris learned about Pearl Harbor at a movie theater in Social Circle. He recalled, “Uncle Sam pointed a finger at us from the screen and said, ‘I need you!’ Well, when we turned 18 he got us.” Born in Bethlehem, GA in 1924, Morris, 4 of his brothers, plus 2 brothers-in-law, served in WWII. Morris said, "My twin brother and I were inseparable but the army sent me to Camp Crowder, MO and sent Jack to California. Our mother was seething." Mrs. Morris wrote President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Stimson demanding the twins be reunited. They were. Bill and Jack fought the entire war side by side.
Jack Morris, left and twin brother Billy Morris
The Morris twins learned the art of stringing communications wire and mastered heavy weapons at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. "It's not Missouri, it's the state of Misery, if you ask me," he said. In Feb '44 the twins boarded a Liberty ship for Birmingham, England. "We had a 2½ ton truck, our equipment, and I had a case of mumps," Morris said. "I didn't report to sick bay until we set sail. Jack and I were stayin' together!" After intense specialized training in England, the Morris twins boarded a LST and sailed across the English Channel on D-Day +1. "It was June 7, '44," he said. "We were among 5,000 ships at Omaha Beach and for some reason that night every gun in the fleet opened up. Jack and I had been taught to 'get low and get in a hole' but there ain't no foxholes on a ship! The firepower was awesome." June 8, early morning: the twins, their crew, and 2½ ton communications truck hit Omaha
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Beach. "We strung wire beyond the rocky bluffs," he said, "The bodies bothered us, hundreds of them, stacked like cords of wood." Army engineers suddenly told Morris and his crew to 'back off' to a safe area. "Land mines," he said. "We moved far enough, I suppose, before things got real ugly. A mine detonated, killing the engineers." At dusk lay danger. "I posted guards but the continuous gunfire kept us awake all night," he said. "We slept in foxholes with tents pitched over them. We were mavericks; stringing wire wherever needed. I guess we looked strange, too, since we'd cut our hair into Mohawks for the invasion."
Stringing wire from Omaha Beach to the Cherbourg Peninsula, dodging German 88mm artillery, returning north through France, Morris and crew eventually ended up in Belgium. "We'd slept in ditches, mud holes, hid behind trees, seldom even saw a town, but in Belgium they put us up in a castle that Kaiser Wilhelm used during WWI, our first dry floor in 3 months," Morris said with a smile. In Dec, '44 while stringing wire at the German border in freezing cold and heavy snow, Morris and crew heard frantic orders from an American officer, "Move out, move out, we're being overrun!" Approaching German Panzer tanks signaled the Battle of the Bulge.Morris recalled, "We hustled back, but recruits fresh out of basic were ordered to stay with ineffective bazookas to stop the Panzers. Those boys didn't make it out." Overcast skies, sub-zero cold; and thick snow worked to the Germans' advantage. "Our planes were grounded," Morris said. "But on Dec 23 we awoke to a beautiful blue sky. Then they came, thousands of them, filling the sky with contrails. Our flyboys got the job done; the Battle of the Bulge was over."
Morris recalled stringing wire on the German side of the Rhine River. "We were on the river bank," he said. "Suddenly bullets were 'pinging' off a brick wall behind us. Well, we got low and got in a hole!" American sharpshooters on the opposite bank were shooting at German mines floating down the Rhine River. "Those boys were either lousy shots or their bullets were ricocheting off the water. Let's hope it was ricochets!" Morris and his crew were with American forces when they liberated the infamous concentration camp at Buchenwald. Morris softly recalled, "From a mile away you could smell it. What looked to be humans stumbled around like skeletal zombies. We found the meat hook conveyor line that ran bodies to furnaces, trenches filled with…that's enough, I suppose. I've tried to forget Buchenwald, but it's impossible." After Hitler's demise, the twins and crew boarded a troop ship in Marseilles and set sail for the South Pacific island of Okinawa to train for the invasion of Japan. "We slept on the beach our first night," he said. "In the morning about 75 Jap soldiers walked out of the jungle and surrendered to us. They had American cigarettes, C-rations, even American hand grenades. We sure were glad they were in a mood to surrender!" The lives of the Morris twins and feasibly a million other American casualties were avoided by two atomic bombs. Morris said, "Both wars were over. My brother and I were ready to see Georgia again."
First Seattle; a train across America, a locomotive whistle blowing full blast from Chattanooga all the way into Atlanta in celebration, hitch-hiking a ride to Monroe Street in Social Circle, and home. Morris recalled, "I remember our mothers' welcoming words to this day, 'I'm so proud of you boys.'" Morris took advantage of the benefits he'd earned overseas, finishing high school before attending business school for accounting. His last job before retiring from Sunbelt Builders in 1989 was completion of the Ginn Motor Company in Covington. "I hope America never forgets the sacrifices," Morris said. "The stacks of bodies at Hurtgen Forest, the paratrooper that crawled out of flooded fields behind Omaha Beach where he died in place, a man's jet black hair turning white in 2 days, I saw too much and have too many memories, but the lord let me live, and I live for him." In 1998, 79 surviving veterans of Company B 32nd Signal Construction Battalion attended their reunion. In 2008, there were 7. [Source: Project 365 http://365vets.wordpress.com article 19 Mar 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (8)
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POW/MIA Update 22: "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
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serving our nation. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II (73,000+), the Korean War (7,900+), the Cold War (126), the Vietnam War (1,666), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Hundreds of 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
DPMO announced 12 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force Lt. Col. Charles M. Walling, 27, of Phoenix, will be buried June 15, at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. There will be a group burial honoring Walling and fellow crew member, Maj. Aado Kommendant, 25, of Lakewood, N.J., at Arlington National Cemetery, on Aug. 8 – the 46th anniversary of the crash that took their lives. On Aug. 8, 1966, Walling and Kommendant were the crew of an F-4C aircraft that crashed while on a close air support mission over Song Be Province, Vietnam. Other Americans in the area reported seeing the aircraft crash and no parachutes were deployed. Search and rescue efforts were not successful in the days following the crash. In 1992, a joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) team investigated the crash site and interviewed a local Vietnamese citizen who had recovered aircraft pieces from the site. In 1994, a joint U.S./S.R.V. team excavated the site and recovered a metal identification tag, bearing Walling’s name, and other military equipment. In 2010, the site was excavated again, and human remains and additional evidence were recovered. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial and material evidence, along with forensic identification tools including mitochondrial DNA – which matched Walling’s living sister – in the identification of the remains.
DPMO announced 19 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force Capt. Clyde W. Campbell, 24, of Longview, Texas, will be buried June 21, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On March 1, 1969, Campbell was a pilot aboard an A-1J Skyraider aircraft that crashed while carrying out a close air-support mission in Houaphan Province, Laos. American forward air controllers, directing the mission nearby, reported hearing an explosion—they believed to be Campbell’s bombs—later learned Campbell’s aircraft had crashed. No parachutes were seen in the area. In 1997, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team investigated a crash site in Houaphan Province, Laos, within 100 meters of the last known location of Campbell. In addition to human remains, the team located aircraft wreckage and military equipment, which correlated with Campbell’s aircraft. From 2009 to 2010, additional joint U.S./L.P.D.R. recovery teams investigated and excavated the crash site three times. Teams recovered additional human remains, military equipment—including an aircraft data plate—and a .38-caliber pistol matching the serial number issued to Campbell. Scientists from the JPAC used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools in the identification of Campbell.
Korea
DPMO announced 18 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Robert I. Wax, 21, of Detroit, will be buried June 20, at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. In August 1950, Wax and Battery A, 555th Field Artillery Battalion, were fighting against North Korean forces in a battle known as the “Bloody Gulch,” near Pongam-ni, South Korea. After the battle, on Aug. 11, Wax was listed as missing in action. In late 1950, U.S.
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Army Graves Registration Service personnel recovered remains of service members from that battlefield, including nine men who were unidentified. These men were buried at the 25th Infantry Division Cemetery in South Korea. In 1951, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula. The unknown remains were re-interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, the remains were exhumed for identification. Based on available evidence such as metal identification tags, military clothing, and wartime records, analysts from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) were able to conclude that the remains were a soldier who died at Pongam-ni. Scientists from JPAC used the circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including radiograph and dental comparisons in the identification of Wax.
World War II
DPMO announced 22 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Emil T. Wasilewski, 22, of Chicago, will be buried on June 26, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On Sept. 13, 1944, Wasilewski and eight other crew members were on a B-17G Flying Fortress that crashed near Neustaedt-on-the-Werra, Germany. Only one of the crewmen is known to have successfully parachuted out of the aircraft before it crashed. The remaining eight crewmen were buried by German forces in a cemetery in Neustaedt. Following the war, U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel attempted to recover the remains of the eight men, but were only able to move the remains of one man to a U.S. military cemetery in Holland. In 1953, with access to eastern Germany restricted by the Soviet Union, the remains of the seven remaining unaccounted-for crewmen—including Wasilewski—were declared non-recoverable. In 1991, a German national who was digging a grave in the cemetery in Neustaedt, discovered a metal U.S. military identification tag and notified officials. German burial law restricted further site investigation until 2007, when the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) surveyed the area. In 2008, the site was excavated and the team recovered human remains and military equipment. Scientists from the JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, including dental comparisons and chromosome DNA—which matched that of Wasilewski’s nephew—in the identification of his remains.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ Jun 2012 +]
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Cell Phones for Soldiers: Cell Phones for Soldiers provides calling cards for deployed service members, funding the minutes by recycling cell phones. Unlike the USO, which is large and experienced, this organization began in 2004 when Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, ages 13 and 12, saw a soldier on TV who had an $8,000 phone bill for calling home from a war zone. The kids gathered all the money they had—totaling around $20—to donate. To earn more, they began hosting car washes and bake sales, but finally hit on collecting old cell phones and sending them overseas with prepaid minutes. Unfortunately, those phones pose a risk to soldiers because of their ability to detonate improvised explosive devices or reveal locations, and the Pentagon asked the Bergquists to stop. Now, they use the money from recycling to send phone cards so troops have the opportunity to call home for free safely. “We have been lucky enough that we’ve brought in enough through recycling and donations that we’ve never had to turn away a request for calling cards,” Brittany Bergquist says.
Requests come in through different channels. Usually troops or family members reach out, but other times a unit officer or chaplain calls in requesting cards for groups of troops. To ensure they reach people who need them, Cell Phones for Soldiers usually sends them to APO or FPO addresses. The exceptions are when they send them to the hospital for wounded servicemen and women, or when families need them to stay in touch with service members training long term at U.S. locations far from home. Occasionally the Bergquists deliver the cards in person. “[We had the] honor to be able to go to Walter Reed and Bethesda [medical centers] and meet with some of the young
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guys,” Bergquist says. She explains it was difficult to see the wounded service members who were “only a couple of years older than Robbie and me and in such dire situations. But they were happy and excited and looking forward to the future.”
Military community members can request cards through the organization’s website. If they are unable to do that, Bergquist says they can email or “just truly reach out any way that they can, and we will get a calling card to them.” Anyone who would like to help fund the calling cards can donate cell phones or make a monetary donation. The organization is partnered with AT&T, and because most of the calling cards are purchased in bulk through the company, Cell Phones for Soldiers receives a significant discount. AT&T also collects phones and makes donations. Continuing the organization has been challenging at times as the siblings balance school with running the charity. During their younger years, “we got picked on a little bit for what we did,” Bergquist says. But emails they receive have kept their motivation strong. “We heard from one guy who was deployed,” she explains. “He said that our calling cards gave him a little bit of heaven in the middle of a war.” They also heard from a dad who was able to call home for his son’s birthday and a daughter who was able to call her father before surgery. Another gentleman used the cards to call into counseling sessions each week. “He said it saved his marriage,” Bergquist states. “It makes it all worth it.”
The passion that started the organization has not abated over the years. “It means so much to me that we have these troops...these men and women are our heroes. They’re absolutely incredible,” Bergquist says. Soldiers overseas show off their shipment of calling cards from Cell Phones for Soldiers. The organization recycles cell phones to raise funds and purchase calling cards to send to deployed service members so they can call home free of charge. For information on Cell Phones for Soldiers refer to http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, call (800) 426-1031, or email mailto:cellphonesforsoldiers@yahoo.com. [Source: AFCRA Veterans Focus Rita Boland article Nov 2011 ++]
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Saving Money: The warm weather is here and many consumers are looking to make home improvements while sticking to a budget. BBB advises consumers to balance cost effectiveness with energy efficiency, as more efficient windows, doors and skylights can make a big difference in energy consumption over time. Start by looking for products that carry the Energy Performance Ratings label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The label can help determine how well a product will perform its key functions - helping to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, keeping out wind, and resisting condensation. By using the information contained on the label, builders and consumers can reliably compare one product with another, and make informed decisions. As with any home improvement project, it’s important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable contractor and reputable materials. BBB encourages consumers to consult with their home contractor to see that all energy performance materials carry this label.
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 U-Factor. If you are looking for a well insulated room, check the window’s U-Factor. During the cold winter months, you’ll want to make sure your windows are trapping heat. U-Factor ratings generally fall between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the U-value, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.
 SHGC. Is your room sunny and bright? The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rates how much solar radiation is admitted through the window. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits in the house.
 VT. Are you looking for a well lit room or one that’s on the dimmer side? Visible Transmittance (VT) is an optical property that indicates the amount of visible light transmitted through the window. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The higher the VT, the more light is transmitted.
 AL. Make sure your window doesn’t give off any unwanted breeziness. Heat loss and gain occur by Air Leakage (AL) through cracks in the window assembly. The lower the AL, the less air will pass through cracks in the window assembly.
 CR. Check to see how well your window will resist the formation of condensation. The higher the Condensation Resistance (CR) rating, the better that product is at resisting condensation formation. While this rating cannot predict condensation, it can provide a credible method of comparing the potential of various products for condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 1 and 100.
 AER. Retirees are eligible for Army Emergency Assistance. For more information, and to find your nearest AER office, visit the AER website at: www.aerhq.org. If you are no longer near an Army installation, you can still apply for assistance at a local Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance or American Red Cross office.
For more home improvement tips you can trust, visit http://www.bbb.org and for more information on the Energy Performance Ratings label, visit www.nfrc.org. [Source: BBB Smart Tips Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 52:
 Memphis TN - There are new concerns over money stolen from disabled military veterans. One of the most egregious thefts happened right in Memphis. The feds are reorganizing Veterans Affairs after more than 100 employees were arrested over the past decade. Two people appointed by Veterans Affairs to make financial decisions on behalf of 10 Memphis veterans siphoned money from their accounts. At 83, Henry Ashurst has traded in his Army uniform for a Memphis Grizzlies T-shirt. Years after a medical discharge from an injury during military training, Ashurst learned the Veterans Affairs fiduciary and field examiner who handled his money were skimming off the top. "It was awful, doing that to the veterans," Ashurst said. The thieves were convicted of embezzling nearly 900-thousand dollars from the 10 disabled veterans. Investigators say 75-year-old Jack Perry and 67-year-old Robert Tabbutt wrote checks from the veterans' accounts, using the money to gamble in Tunica and to pay off gambling debts. Ashurst didn't know about it until he got a call from reporters. "Nobody said anything about the embezzlement," he said. He says he worked directly with Perry for three years and was told 120 thousand dollars were embezzled from his account. "I think it's pretty bad," Ashurst said. "He looked like a nice man." He says the amount of his check remained the same after the arrests so he doesn't know if he is due any money.
Since 2006, nearly 500 fiduciaries across the country have lost their jobs over misuse of funds. Ashurst said he doesn't know if he will live to see the stolen money. Veterans Affairs would not tell Action News 5 if they will reimburse the money to any of the veterans. They say they cannot release information about
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individual cases. Jan Northstar with the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs issued this statement in response: "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken significant efforts to protect Veterans and other beneficiaries in its Fiduciary Program. Over the past three years, we have been extremely aggressive at targeting and deterring fiduciary misuse by:
 Strengthening our accounting oversight by requiring detailed financial institution documents.
 Increasing review and scrutiny of criminal background information through expanded criminal background checks.
 Greatly enhancing oversight of misuse cases by closer review from VA Central Office.
 Consolidating VA's fiduciary activities into six regional hubs, resulting in enhanced oversight and service to Veterans.
These efforts are making a difference. In fiscal year 2011, the misuse rate was less than one-half of one percent nationwide. VA works with State and Federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue convictions when Veterans are harmed. In fiscal year 2011, VA's Office of Inspector General obtained criminal prosecutions in 20 cases of fiduciary misuse nationwide. VA's proposed regulations, which are in development, will address the notice afforded to beneficiaries following a VA determination that their benefits have been misused." We are confident that we have a strong plan in place to build on this increased oversight, and continue to ensure the well-being of our most vulnerable beneficiaries." [Source: Action News 5 Anchor Kontji Anthony, article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
 Kent OR - Two Veterans Affairs employees were arrested 19 JUN at work following an investigation of more than $110,000 in fraudulent claims in a program designed to reimburse veterans for their travel to medical appointments. The two allegedly recruited veterans to submit phony vouchers for travel expenses they had not incurred, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office media release. The employees reportedly processed the vouchers and then demanded kick-backs from the veterans of the funds they illegally obtained. “We owe it to our veterans to protect the money set aside for their medical care,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan. “Every dollar of fraud takes benefits from the many veterans who are returning home and need the support services the VA provides.” According to the complaint filed in the case, Nick B. Hall, 46, of Seattle, and Keishjuan Daniels, 32, of Kent, each worked as travel clerks for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to process veterans’ travel benefit claims. The men were employed at the VA Medical Center on Beacon Hill in Seattle. Between JAN 2011 and May 2012, Hall and Daniels conspired with five veterans to submit false travel vouchers for trips from addresses in Eastern Washington and Oregon so that the VA would pay out more than $110,000 in travel claims. In some instances the claims for reimbursement were on dates when no appointments ever occurred. The veterans who received the fraudulent payments are charged in the conspiracy and will appear in U.S. District Court later this month. The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) as part of a nationwide focus on rooting out fraud in the travel benefits program. [Source: Kent Reporter Steve Hunter article 19 Jun 2012 ++]
 National - The Department of Veterans Affairs spent an estimated $13 billion to care for veterans whose health coverage was already paid for by Medicare — a case of the taxpayer paying twice, according to research published 26 JUN. “They pay once to Medicare Advantage plan to deliver all Medicare-covered service and they pay again to the VA to deliver comprehensive care to the same veterans,” said Amal Trivedi, a doctor with the VA and on the faculty with Brown University in Providence. But Medicare says the $13 billion projection identified in the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is far too high. Spokesman Brian Cook said Medicare attempts to reduce managed-care payments to private insurance companies if veterans enrolled in those programs use them less frequently, for example, because they seek treatment from the VA.
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Federal law prohibits the VA from recouping expenditures from Medicare-funded health programs. The VA issued a statement 26 JUN saying that even if the law were changed, allowing reimbursement would only add administrative complexity that would impede care. “As an example, VA would have to comply with Medicare rules and policies for Veterans, which would leave VA administering two systems of care: Medicare’s and VA’s,” the statement says. But without that reimbursement “the government has made two payments for the same services,” the medical study concludes.
Researchers examined records for 1.3 million veterans who were enrolled simultaneously with the VA program and the Medicare Advantage managed-care program between 2004 and 2009. They found that the number of veterans enrolled in both programs increased during that time frame from 486,000 to 925,000.In addition, the amount of VA medical care provided to those patients grew from $1.3 billion to $3.2 billion. Kenneth Kizer, a co-author of the study and director of the Institute for Population Health Improvement at University of California-Davis Health System, said he first became aware of the issue when he was VA undersecretary for health in the 1990s. But Kizer said the study shows the problem has worsened. Researchers found that veterans remained enrolled in both Medicare Advantage and with the VA for about three years on average. Veterans who are entitled to VA care are also entitled to Medicare after age 65. [Source: USA TODAY Gregg Zoroya article 27 Jun 2012 ++]
[Various 1-14 Jun 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 DADT. On 14 JUN DoD stated that they plan the first ever salute to gay and lesbian troops marking June as Gay Pride month. Officials would not say exactly what the event would be but said that Secretary of Defense Panetta believes it is important to recognize the service of gays in the military. For several years other federal departments and agencies have celebrated June as Gay Pride Month. DoD’s “don’t ask; don’t tell” policy was repealed last September. This will be the first time DoD marks the celebration.
 Politics. A discussion group, to discuss politics as it relates to military retirees and military veterans, has been created. To join the group... send an e-mail to: mrgrg-politics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . You will get a rather confusing e-mail from Yahoo asking a lot of questions. Just return the e-mail to Yahoo (click on your "Reply" button) and you are then a member of the MRGRG-POLITICS discussion group.
 TRICARE. A June 11 article in the Wall Street Journal described military personnel and health care costs as a ‘welfare problem.’ In effect, it impugned the courage of House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders for failing to knuckle under to the huge Pentagon-proposed TRICARE fee hikes and for wasting money on "health care and pensions" that would be better spent on training and equipment.
 National Call Center. VA’s NCC has two new options at their call centers. ASAP Callback (If you don’t want to be tied to the phone but want to hold your place in the queue, you can select the option to have us call you back when you are next in line) and Scheduled Call Back (You can pick a date and time of your choosing that allows you to be our very first call at that preferred time).
 Military discounts. Before making you next purchase check out the alphabetical listing of businesses that offer military discounts at http://www.militarytimes.com/marketplace/discounts/.
 Military Sexual Assault. Check out this Morning Joe clip of a conversation with the director and producer about their documentary, "The Invisible War," which looks into the thousands of rapes and sexual assaults in the military. http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12304042-documentary-film-the-invisible-war-takes-on-military-sexual-assault-epidemic.
 Military Sexual Assault. The Marine Corps released a plan 25 JUN aimed at preventing sexual assault and holding offenders and commanders accountable, noting that despite their efforts, they have been ineffective at addressing and eliminating sexual assault.
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 "Made in USA - The next time you need to buy something and want to shop American go to http://americansworking.com and see if it is made in the U.S.A. You can search alphabetically by manufacture or by the generic name of the item. Note that not all items are listed but by law al products origin sold in the U.S. must be identified on the packaging.
 Gun Safety Locks. Free gun safety locks are available from VAMC Houston primary care physicians, mental health providers, and administrative officers. Gun safety locks are also available at all seven Houston-area VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
[Source: Various 15-30 Jun 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 95:
 California - Southern California’s largest clinical laboratory and radiology company serving nursing homes faces fraud allegations, adding to the growing number of False Claims Act lawsuits filed against the health care industry nationwide. According to court documents, Burbank-based Diagnostic Labs, which offers medical lab tests and radiology services, provided deep discounts to skilled nursing facilities in exchange for business that can be charged to taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medi-Cal. “This is an illegal kickback scheme, no more legal than if Diagnostic Labs, rather than providing below-cost discounts, had instead simply handed the SNFs (skilled nursing facilities) an envelope of cash,” the lawsuit alleges. The case against Diagnostic Labs was brought under the False Claims Act and a parallel state statute, both of which make it illegal to defraud the government. These laws are increasingly invoked in the health care arena, legal observers said. The Diagnostic Labs lawsuit was brought by two former employees. They claim that Diagnostic Labs exploited the Medicare and Medi-Cal billing system by charging nursing homes as little as $1 per patient per day for lab and radiology services. These facilities then referred additional outpatient lab tests or X-ray work to Diagnostic, which billed the federal and state governments the maximum amount government will pay for these services, court documents said. The complaint alleged that as of March 2005, Diagnostic Labs offered a 71 percent discount to skilled nursing facilities for lab tests and a 69 percent discount for radiology services, and it “would have been impossible for Diagnostic Labs to stay in business” at the rates it charged the nursing homes if not for the “illegally induced” outpatient services that it billed to Medicare and Medi-Cal. The case was filed in 2010 and unsealed in November 2011, and the state of California has joined the litigation.
 DeSoto TX - Jacques Roy, who’s accused of leading the largest home health-care scam ever organized by an individual physician, has surrendered his Texas medical license. An order released today by the Texas
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Medical Board cites both his February arrest on Medicare fraud charges and “allegations he failed to meet the standard of care for two patients.” No details about those patients’ woes were released. But as reported in February, Roy has a history of patient harm dating to the 1990s. “His failures have been linked to at least one patient’s death and another’s permanent loss of sexual function, public records show,” The Texas Medical Board, however, let him keep his license despite evidence of persistent misconduct. Roy, who lived in Rockwall but is now jailed without bail while awaiting trial, agreed to the new medical board order. He has denied criminal wrongdoing, as have six co-defendants tied to his now-closed DeSoto medical office.
Jacques Roy, ex-physician
 Louisville KY - An ambulance company operating in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama has agreed to pay more than $5.4 million to settle a Medicare fraud case. The U.S. Justice Dept. announced 19 JUN from Louisville that Rural/Metro Ambulance agreed to the settlement to resolve a lawsuit over claims 3 of its subsidiaries filed false claims to Medicare for services that were not covered under the program, such as transporting patients for dialysis treatments. A former employee of Rural/Metro of Central Alabama had filed a federal whistleblower action against the ambulance company in 2009 saying the company was submitting false claims for government funds. The whistleblower, Carl Crawly, will receive more than $1 million of the settlement. Rural/Metro Corporation, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides ambulance transportation services to Medicare beneficiaries in approximately 20 states.
 Detroit MI - Louisa Thompson, 63, pleaded guilty 20 JUNfor her role in a $16 million fraud scheme. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 18, 2012, Thompson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the plea documents, in approximately January 2006, Thompson began billing Medicare for psychotherapy services through two companies, TGW Medical Inc. and Caldwell Thompson Manor Inc. The services billed by Thompson at TGW and Caldwell Thompson were never performed or were performed by unlicensed staff who were not authorized to perform services reimbursed by Medicare. The unlicensed staff members also fabricated therapy notes for patients that were never seen and billed Medicare using document templates created by Thompson. She also received payments from the owner of P&C Adult Day Care Inc., a psychotherapy clinic. Those payments to Thompson were, in part, for the use of Thompson’s provider number by P&C. Thompson also admitted signing therapy documents for P&C patients she never saw or treated. P&C, like TGW and Caldwell Thompson, billed for psychotherapy services that were either not performed or performed by unlicensed staff. Caldwell Thompson and P&C shared Medicare beneficiaries and/or beneficiary information. Thompson admitted to submitting or causing to be submitted approximately $15.9 million in fraudulent psychotherapy claims on behalf of TGW, Caldwell Thompson and P&C. Medicare paid approximately $4.9 million of those claims.
 Los Angeles - Two men were sentenced to federal prison 25 JUN for their roles in attempting to fleece Medicare out of about $17 million. Vachagan Dishchian, 36, was sentenced to 53 months behind bars and
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ordered to pay about $3.1 million in restitution to the Medicare program and 38-year-old Vahe Dischian received 46 months in prison and ordered restitution payments of almost $1.4 million. Both men pleaded guilty in March to money laundering conspiracy charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney Consuelo S. Woodhead said. The pair were among 10 area defendants charged in 2010 as part of a nationwide crackdown on health care fraud dubbed "Diagnosis Dollars." In the scheme, suspects used the stolen identities of doctors and patients to bill Medicare for procedures that never took place. Medical clinics existed only on paper. Other defendants opened bank accounts into which Medicare could transfer money. Once the account was open, conspirators allegedly billed Medicare using stolen beneficiary information, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Medicare paid out about $8 million, at which point the money was withdrawn and laundered, prosecutors said. Eight "clinics" were identified in the Los Angeles case, and investigators estimated the defendants submitted more than $17 million in phony claims. A total of 73 defendants in California, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York and Ohio were charged in the crackdown that attempted to siphon $163 million from the federal government, authorities said. Co-defendant Pogos Satamyan, 33, of Glendale is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
 Miami FL - Sarah Da Silva Keller, 27, pleaded guilty 27 JUN to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for her role in a scheme that resulted in the submission of more than $63 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. She admitted to participating in a fraud scheme that was orchestrated by the owner and operators of Health Care Solutions Network (HCSN), which operated purported partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), a form of intensive mental health treatment for severe mental illness. HCSN paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities in exchange for referring Medicare beneficiaries to HCSN for PHP treatment that was unnecessary and, in many instances, not provided. Keller admitted that she falsified records at the direction of others so that HCSN could bill Medicare for patients who did not receive the services from HCSN. Keller knew that the falsification of these records was part of a plan for HCSN to commit health care fraud. At sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 17, Keller faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Nine other charged defendants, including the owner and operators of HCSN, await trial.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-30 Jun 2012 ++]
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Medicad Fraud Update 65:
 Columbia SC - South Carolina Democratic leaders are trying to decide whether to support a convicted felon running for Congress as a Democrat. After winning in this week's Democratic primary, Bryan Lamont "Ryan B" Doyle will appear on the November ballot as the party's nominee in the state's 3rd Congressional district, which stretches along the state's western edge from the mountain town of Walhalla south to Edgefield. Federal court records show Doyle, 37, was convicted in 2003 on six felony counts related to Medicare fraud and making false statements, resulting in a 30- month prison sentence. South Carolina law prohibits convicted felons from serving in state office. But there is no law barring felons from seeking federal office, though the U.S. House or Senate could vote to expel any member deemed unfit to serve. Records show Doyle and a co-defendant were convicted of using a medical supply company to fraudulently bill Medicare for $503,000 in wheelchairs and custom wheelchair seats. As part of his sentence, Doyle has to repay the federal government for half of stolen amount. He says he is still making court-ordered payments of $250 a month, an amount set based on his income. Doyle said he doesn't mind answering questions from voters with concerns about his past, but he said there are bigger issues at stake in this election.
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 Guthrie OK - Charges have been filed in Oklahoma County District Court by the state attorney general’s office against five people affiliated with Pure Hope Corporation for their alleged involvement in a scheme to bill for sessions without providing services. Pure Hope Corporation, 2403 S. Division, Guthrie, was contracted with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to provide counseling services for Medicaid recipients. In July 2011, a member of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was investigating another counseling agency when it was learned Pure Hope was billing the OHCA for services not being provided for new clients, according to court records. Behavioral health counseling services are only provided after an initial assessment is conducted and a subsequent treatment plan with a diagnosis and treatment modality is generated, according to court records. Pure Hope employees allegedly would complete the intake and assessment paperwork for a new client and bill for services even though the client was not seen for immediate care sessions prior to that date. Employees would create session dates before the intake date and create alleged false progress notes using quotes from the client generated through the intake paperwork. They would then allegedly submit the false progress notes as the basis for the claims billed by Pure Hope to the OHCA. Interviews with Pure Hope clients verified when services were provided and identified dates when no counseling occurred, including dates when Pure Hope billed the OHCA for Medicaid reimbursement. Pure Hope closed in October and is no longer in business
 Myrtle Beach SC - The former directors of a family-run South Carolina youth mentoring service have been charged with falsely billing nearly $9 million to Medicaid. U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says that Truman Lewis, Melanie Lewis and Norman Lewis were indicted 19 JUN on felony charges of health care fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Nettles says the relatives ran Helping Hands Youth & Family Services. The Lewis family is accused of using the millions they got from Medicaid billings to buy things for themselves including luxury cars and a beachfront condominium. The service's offices in Conway, Georgetown, Columbia and Rock Hill closed abruptly in late 2010.
 Hanover VA - Martha A. Nicholas, 42, who pleaded guilty to faking cancer as part of a scam to raise money earlier this year has been arrested again. Investigators Office arrested her on five felony indictments in connection to an ongoing fraud investigation. The investigation comes after the sheriff’s department received an anonymous tip in April 2011 that Nicholas was falsely claiming to have cancer. Nicholas was indicted 19 JUN by a grand jury on three counts of Medicaid fraud and two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. Nicholas was arrested and taken to the Pamunkey Regional, but was later released on bond pending arraignment on June 27. Nicholas pleaded guilty in February to two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. Nicholas’ attorney said she regretted her actions and was struggling with a mental illness. The crime angered the community since Nicholas had solicited money from folks on her behalf. Nicholas’ attorney had said that the 42-year-old was convinced she had a physical ailment and that even members of her family believed she had cancer. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors said Nicholas cannot seek employment with, solicit funds for, or advocate for any charitable or civic organization for a five-year period.
Martha A. Nicholas
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 Oklahoma City - Robin Lockwood, 44, an Oklahoma City dentist accused of submitting claims for dental services she didn't provide has been charged in federal court with health care fraud. The Oklahoma Attorney General's office says she faces one count of health care fraud. The charges allege Lockwood falsified treatment notes submitted by Ocean Dental for Medicaid reimbursement between July 2007 and December 2010. She is accused of benefiting from the scheme because she received a percentage of the reimbursement for her services. Among other things, Lockwood also is accused of billing for multi-surface fillings that she didn't complete. The charges stem from an investigation by the state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
 Dunn NC - John Curtis Alspaugh, 61, and Helen Blue Alspaugh, 56, are accused of using their Dunn-based business, Basic Home Health Care Inc., to submit 3,518 false Medicaid claims, totaling $141,430, from January 2006 to April 2011. Federal investigators say the couple also withheld more than $458,000 in tax money from their 130-plus employees’ paychecks, but never paid the IRS. The company provided living assistance services, such as bathing and dispensing medication at patients’ homes. An indictment alleges the couple used Medicaid ID numbers of dead people, people in prison and former clients who once received personal care services from the company. “Fraudulent claims were billed for services that the Alspaughs knew had not been provided,” according to a statement from the Department of Justice. John Alspaugh is also accused of using a person’s Medicaid and other identity number to commit health care fraud, from Jan. 5, 2008, to Sept. 3, 2009, and from Sept. 22, 2006 to March 17, 2008, according to the Department of Justice. John and Helen Alspaugh are each charged with conspiring to defraud the U.S. and eight counts of failure to truthfully account for and pay over withholding and Social Security taxes. John Alspaugh is also charged with 16 counts of health care fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The Alspaughs will get public defenders to represent them, and each charge they face carries a maximum penalty of two to 10 years in prison, plus a $250,000 fine. Their next court date has not been set.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 15-30 Jun 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Arkansas provides several benefits to veterans.. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits AR” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state in the following areas:
 Veterans Home
 Financial Assistance Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/arkansas-state-veterans-benefits Jun 2012 ++]
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Military History: Sometime after the death of Keith E. Harris in 1980, his family discovered the attached story that he had taped on his own, probably in the 1970's. It offers an insider's view of how it was to fly a bombing mission in a B-17, where any such mission could end in disaster, and many did. In his narration he used the word "Mariensburg" repeatedly as one of his bombing missions, but in the 390th Memorial Museum website http://www.390th.org this city is listed as "Marienburg." Harris piloted his requisite 25 missions in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), then came back to the United States to become a B-29 trainer as World War II was ending. He was later transferred to a base in the Philippine Islands for a year or two, following which he opted for a discharge from the Air Force in 1947 with the rank of Major. He spent the remainder of his life more quietly:
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farming the family acreage near Earlville, Illinois with his brother, Robert E. Harris, driving a school bus route for 29 years, and, with his wife Margie, raising a family of four children. To read his story on this raid in his own words refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Munster Bombing Raid 1943”. [Source: http://www.alharris.com/stories/munster.htm May 2012 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant July events in U.S. Military History are:
 Jul 01 1898 - Spanish-American War: The Battle of San Juan Hill is fought in Santiago de Cuba.
 Jul 08 1948 - The United States Air Force accepts its first female recruits into a program called Women in the Air Force (WAF)
 Jul 01 1863 - Civil War: Battle of Gettysburg, Pa; Lee's northward advance halted
 Jul 01 1907 - World's 1st air force established (US Army)
 Jul 01 1970 - Vietnam: 23 day Siege of Fire Base Ripcord began
 Jul 02 1926 - US Army Air Corps created; Distinguish Flying Cross authorized
 Jul 03 1754 - French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces.
 Jul 03 1814 - Revolutionary War: Americans capture Fort Erie Canada.
 Jul 03 1863 - Civil War: The final day of the Battle of Gettysburg culminates with Pickett's Charge.
 Jul 03 1898 - Spanish American War: U.S. Navy defeats Spanish fleet in Santiago harbor Cuba
 Jul 03 1915 - U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following the assassination of the Haitian president Vilbrun Guillaume. The Marines remained as occupation forces until 1934
 Jul 03 1950 - Korean War: 1st time US & North Korean forces clash in Korean War
 Jul 03 1988 - USS Vincennes in Strait of Hormoez shoots Iran Airbus A300, kills 290
 Jul 04 1776 - Revolutionary War: Declaration of Independence - U.S. gains independence from Britain
 Jul 04 1778 - Revolutionary War: Forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign.
 Jul 04 1802 - At West Point, New York the United States Military Academy opens.
 Jul 04 1863 - Civil War: Siege of Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant after 47 days of siege. 150 miles up the Mississippi River, a Confederate Army is repulsed at the Battle of Helena, Arkansas.
 Jul 04 1944 - WWII: 1st Japanese kamikaze attack U.S. fleet near Iwo Jima
 Jul 05 1945 - WWII: Liberation of the Philippines declared.
 Jul 06 1777 - Revolu tionary War: British Gen Burgoyne captures Fort Ticonderoga from Americans
 Jul 06 1848 - Mexican-American War: Ended with the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo
 Jul 07 1863 - Civil War: 1st military draft by US (exemptions cost $100)
 Jul 07 1941 - WWII: U.S. forces land in Iceland to forestall Nazi invasion
 Jul 08 1950 - Korean War: Gen Douglas MacArthur named commander-in-chief UN forces in Korea
 Jul 09 1944 - WWII: The island of Saipan in the Marianas fell to U.S. troops following their defeat of Japanese defenders
 Jul 09 1944 - WWII: Napalm was used for the first time during the American invasion of Tinian in the Marianas.
 Jul 09 1951 - WWII: Operation Husky - U.S. & Britain invade Sicily.
 Jul 11 1789 - U.S. Marine Corps WWII: Pres Truman asked Congress to formally end state of war with Germany
 Jul 10 1943 -
 created by an act of Congress
 Jul 11 1864 - Civil War: Confederate forces led by Gen J Early begin invasion of Wash DC
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 Jul 12 1812 - War of 1812: U.S. forces led by Gen Hull invade Canada
 Jul 13 1945 - WWII: 1st atom bomb explodes in New Mexico
 Jul 14 1863 - Civil War: Confederate forces under GEN Robert E. Lee, defeated after three days of fighting at the battle of Gettysburg, began their withdrawal to the South.
 Jul 14 1945 - Battleship USS South Dakota is 1st US ship to bombard Japan
 Jul 15 1779 - Revolutionary War: U.S. troops under Gen A Wayne conquer Ft Stony Point, NY
 Jul 15 1918 - WWII: Beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne between German forces on one side and French, American, British, and Italian troops on the other side. The battle ended on 4 AUG.
 Jul 15 1958 - U.S. Marines deployed in Lebanon.
[Source: Various Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia: PTSD was observed and noted in the Civil War, too. The illness was called, "Nostalgia". In October 1861 Alfred Lewis Castleman, a surgeon in the Fifth Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteers, described the first death in his regiment. It was not from battle. “The poor fellow died of Nostalgia (home-sickness), raving to the last breath about wife and children,” he wrote. “Deaths from this cause are very frequent in the army.” While today “nostalgia” is used to describe the longing for a lost time, the word originally signified acute homesickness, a condition widely regarded as a dangerous and often deadly illness. Doctors maintained that it could kill, either by worsening existing maladies or by causing its own physical symptoms, which included heart palpitations, lesions, damage to internal organs, “hectic fever,” bowel problems and incontinence. A Civil War veteran described nostalgia’s effects in 1866, noting how it “fastens upon the breast of its prey, and sucks, vampyre-like, the breath of his nostrils. Many a heroic spirit after braving death at the cannon’s mouth … has at length succumbed unresistingly to this vampyre, Nostalgia.” During the Civil War, with close to three million men away from home and therefore potential victim to its ravages, Americans both on the battlefield and on the home front worried about nostalgia. To read an interesting article from the New York Times about it refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Civil War Nostalgia”. [Source: New York Times Susan J. Matt article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for North Carolina Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in North Carolina:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax:4.750% Prescription drugs, medical equipment exempt, food subject to 2% county tax. Counties may add an additional 2% to 3% tax. Gasoline Tax: 39.2 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 39.2 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: 45 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
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Tax Rate Range: Low – 6.0%; High – 7.75% Income Brackets: Lowest – $12,750; Highest – $60,000. The tax brackets reported are for single individuals. For married taxpayers, the same rates apply to income brackets ranging from $21,250 to $200,000. An additional middle income tax credit is allowed. Number of Brackets: Three. The tax brackets reported are for single individuals. For married taxpayers the same rates apply to income brackets ranging from $21,250 to $100,000. Lower exemption amounts allowed for high-income taxpayers. For tax years 2009 and 2010, a surcharge applies that equals 2% of total liability for taxpayers with income over $60,000 single filer ($100,000 joint) and 3% of total liability for income over $150,000. Personal Exemptions: ** Single – $1,200; Married – $2,400; Dependents – $0. Taxpayers who claim standard deduction or itemize deductions on federal return must make adjustments. For more information refer to http://www.dornc.com/taxes/individual/exemption.html. Standard Deduction: Single – $3,000; Married filing jointly – $6,000. If you or your spouse are 65 or older you may claim an additional deduction (See state tax instruction booklet) Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount. Income tax credit for premiums paid on long-term care insurance that covers the individual, a spouse or dependent. Credit is equal to 15% of premium cost but may not exceed $350. Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security is exempt. At least $4,000 in exclusions for federal, state and local pensions (depending on dates and length of service); up to $2,000 exemption for qualified private pensions, including IRAs. Out-of-state government pensions also qualify for the $4,000 exemption. State retirees with at least 5 years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989, will be permanently exempt from state income tax on their retired/retainer pay. Be sure to investigate the Bailey decision at http://www.dornc.com/taxes/individual/benefits.html . Taxable income also includes income derived from gaming in North Carolina. For more details on retirement income deductions, click here and on the tax form page 13 refer to http://www.dornc.com/downloads/D401.pdf. Retired Military Pay: If an individual had five years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989, all military retired pay is exempt from taxes. Otherwise, a deduction of up to $4,000 is allowed for military pay or survivor’s benefits. 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
All property, real and personal, is subject to taxation and is assessed based on 100% of appraised value. Taxes are collected by cities and counties. For tax rates refer to http://www.dornc.com/publications/effective_rates.html.
There is an elderly or disabled exclusion which excludes the greater of the first $25,000 or 50% of the appraised value of the permanent residence of the qualifying owner. A qualifying owner must be at least 65 years old or be totally and permanently disabled. The owner cannot have an income amount from the previous year that exceeds the income eligibility limit for the urgent year which is $27,100 for 2012.
The state also has a circuit breaker property tax deferment program. Under this program, taxes for each year are limited to a percentage of the qualifying owner’s income. The qualifying owner must either be at least 65 years of age or be totally and permanently disabled. For an owner whose income amount for the previous years does not exceed the income eligibility limit for the current year, which for 2012 is $27,100, the owner’s taxes will be limited to 4% of the owner’s income. For an owner whose income exceeds the income eligibility limit, which for tax year 2010 is $40,650, the owner’s taxes will be limited to 5% of the owner’s income.
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Inheritance and Estate Taxes
On June 27, 2011, a bill was signed into law by North Carolina governor Beverly Perdue. This law clarifies that the North Carolina estate tax does not apply to the estates of decedents who died in 2010 but will apply to the estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2011 with a $5,000,000 exemption, which is indexed for inflation in 2012 so that the 2012 exemption is $5,120,000.
For further information, visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue site http://www.dor.state.nc.us. [Source: http://www.retirementliving.com Jun 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art:
Shark Sighting - Giving Teeth to the Tigers
Before the pilots of the Flying Tigers could take to the skies against the enemy, the all-important task of bore sighting the .30 caliber wing guns of their P-40s had to take place. The ingenious armorers of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) were often forced to improvise, but as the Tigers' incredible combat record can attest, they got the job done! Nineteen pilots were credited by the AVG with five or more air-to-air victories. Artist John D. Shaw has recreated this scenario, featuring likenesses of actual AVG personnel, such as "Tex" Hill and armorer Chuck Baisden. [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Sharksighting.html Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 27 June 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the
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committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.
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Have You Heard? The Navy Cure for Snoring
By the time the sailor pulled into a little town, every hotel room was taken. "You've got to have a room somewhere," he pleaded. "Or just a bed, I don't care where."
"Well, I do have a double room with one occupant - an Air Force guy," admitted the manager, "and he might be glad to split the cost. But to tell you the truth, he snores so loudly that people in adjoining rooms have complained in the past. I'm not sure it'd be worth it to you."
"No problem," the tired Navy man assured him. "I'll take it."
The next morning, the sailor came down to breakfast bright-eyed and bushy tailed. "How'd you sleep?" asked the manager.
"Never better!"
The manager was impressed. "No problem with the other guy snoring?"
"Nope. I shut him up in no time," said the Navy guy.
"How'd you manage that?" asked the manager.
"He was already in bed, snoring away, when I came in the room," the sailor explained. "I went over, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and said, 'Good night, beautiful,' and he sat up all night watching me."
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Navy Term of the Day: “Binnacle List”. A binnacle is a waist-high case or stand on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments. Its traditional purpose was to hold the ship's magnetic compass, mounted in gimbals to keep it level while the ship pitched and rolled. The term binnacle list, in lieu of sick list, originated years ago when ship corpsmen used to place a list of sick on the binnacle for the use of the officer of the deck . After long practice, it came to be called binnacle list.
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"It will be a great day when our schools have all the money they need, and our air force has to have a bake-sale to buy a bomber."
— Robert Fulghum (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten author)
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June 2012 Update

2012-06-14T19:50:00.004-04:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== USS Drum Museum ------------------------------------------ (Overview)
== Battle of the Midway ------------------------------- (70th Anniversary)
== Desert Storm Memorial --------------------- (Legislation Introduced )
== Elections 2012 ------------------------------------------------- (Vet Vote)
== Bells of Balangiga ----------------------- (Philippine Return Opposed)
== Military Credit Unions [02] ----------------------- (NFCU Victimized)
== Military Associations ---------------------------- (Are You Affiliated?)
== Sequestration ------------------------------------ (Potential for Disaster)
== TRICARE Pharmacy Copay [04] ---------- (Expect Some Increases)
== TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order ------------------------------ (Q & A)
== Health Savings Accounts ------------------------------------ (H.R.5858)
== Traumatic Genital Injury -------------------- (12.7% of All Wounded)
== VA Medical Marijuana Policy [04] ----------- (A Complicated Issue)
== Veterans Pension [03] -------------------------------- (Ripe For Abuse)
== Montana Vet Cemetery [02] --------- (YCVC Transition Underway)
== GI Bill [118] ------------------------------------------ (“90-10” loophole)
== Stolen Valor [66] ----------------------------------- (William John Roy)
== Stolen Valor [67] ------------------------------- (Timothy Michael Poe)
== DFAS Scam [01] --------------------------------------------- (Maryland)
== Veteran Discrimination -------------------------------- (Rental Dispute)
== Reverse Boot Camp ------------------------ (Civilian Life Preparation)
== VAMC Orlando ------------------------------------- (Opening Delayed)
== VA Budget 2013 [05] ------------------------ (House Passes 31 MAY)
== VA Budget 2013 [06] --------------- (SES Salary Bonus Elimination)
== VA Health Care Access [03] ------------------------------ (Registration)
== TSP [30] ------------------------------------------------------ (May 2012)
== VA for Vets ---------------------------------------------------- (Overview)
== VA for Vets [01] ---------------------------------- (Detroit Hiring Fair)
== VRAP [01] ------------------------------------------------------- (Sitrep 1)
== USERRA [14] ----------------------------------------- (TSA Exemption)
== SBA Vet Issues [21] -------------------------- (S.3210 Widow Benefit)
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== Forgiven Debt Tax -------------------------------------- (How it Works)
== Forgiven Debt Tax [01] -------------------- (Student Loans H.R.5044)
== VA Benefit Programs [01] ----------------- (Jobs, Education, Homes)
== VA Homeless Vets [30] --- (100k Homes Campaign Collaboration)
== Veteran ID Card [02] ------------------------------------------- (Virginia)
== Sunscreen & Skin Cancer ---------------------------- (Things to Know)
== VA Disputed Claims [06] ---------------------------------- (Frank Bari)
== Victory for Veterans Stamp--------------------------------- (Proposed)
== TRICARE User Fees [92] ------------- (Pentagon Continues to Push)
== Vet Jobs [65] ------------------------- (Water/ Wastewater Sector Jobs)
== Vet Jobs [66] ** -------------------------- ( “We Can’t Wait” initiative)
== Arlington National Cemetery [36] ** ---------------------- (H.R.2355)
== TRICARE Autism Care [01] ** -------- (Expanded Coverage Move)
== Tattoo Removal [01] ** -------------- (Removal Procedures up 32%)
== Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule ------------- (As of 14 Jun 2012)
== PTSD [104] ----------------------- (Service Dog Rule Change Sought)
== Vet License Plates AK -------------------- (Eligibility & Availability)
== WWII Vets [21] -------------------------------------- (Charles Heffron)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (07)
== POW/MIA [21] ----------------------------------------- (1-14 Jun 2012)
== Vet VSO - Homes For Our Troops ----- (Vet Support Organization)
== Vet VSO - Homes For Our Troops [01] --------------- (Applications)
== Saving Money -------------------------------- (Hit-And-Run Accidents)
== VA Fraud, Waste, & Abuse [51] ---------------------- (1-14 Jun 2012)
== Notes of Interest ----------------------------------------- (1-14 Jun 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [94] ------------------------------------ (1-14 Jun 2012)
== Medicad Fraud [64] ------------------------------------- (1-14 Jun 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits -------------------------------------- (Alabama)
== Military History --------- (WWII Memories: William George Sauer)
== Military History Anniversaries ---------------- (Jun 16-30 Summary)
== Military Trivia 53 -------------------------------- (Civil War Nostalgia)
== Tax Burden for Nebraska Retirees ------------------ (As of Jun 2012)
== Aviation Art ------------------------------ (Typhoons Outward Bound )
== Veteran Legislation Status 13 Jun 2012 ---------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? ---------------------------- (Men are happier people)

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USS Drum Museum: The USS Drum (SS-228), a Gato-class diesel-electric submarine, has been at home in Mobile, Alabama for nearly 40 years now. The Drum was the first of the Gato-class submarines to be
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commissioned and enter WWII. The 77 Gato-class submarines were the star workhorses of the Pacific war with Japan throughout WWII. Amazingly, 20 of the 52 lost submarines in WWII were of Gato-class. The submarine's emblem of the octopus banging the drum was created by Walt Disney. Walt Disney Studios designed many unique emblems for military units throughout the United States Armed Forces in WWII. On November 22, 1943 while on her 8th war patrol, the Drum suffered a severe depth charge attack. The aft door frame upper hinge and adjacent plating in the conning tower (common on early Gato-classes) cracked and was letting in water at about two to three gallons per minute when submerged. The Drum headed immediately for Pearl Harbor, where an attempt to fix the door was made by replacing the after bulkhead with a new one without the problematic aft door. However, on a test dive on January 1, 1944, the conning tower began to buckle.
Lockwood sent the USS Drum to Mare Island for an overhaul and a entirely new conning tower. At Mare Island, she received a new, much stronger Balao-class ("thick hull") conning tower. This makes the Drum very unique! She's a Gato-class submarine with a Balao-class conning tower. The Drum made 13 war patrols in WWII, 9 of which were deemed "successful". Every submariner onboard for each "successful" patrol earned his submarine combat insignia pin or else earned another star for their submarine combat insignia pin. She earned 12 battle stars for her service in WWII. The crew claimed to sink 27 enemy vessels, but JANAC (Joint Army Navy Assessment Committee) officially credits the Drum with the sinking of 15 enemy vessels for a total of 80,580 tons. Discrepancies between submarine crews and JANAC are common for all submarines throughout WWII. This is the eighth highest of all WWII submarine confirmed sinkings.
Since opening as a museum on July 4, 1969, the Drum has been a silent reminder to thousands of visitors of the 52 submarines and over 3,600 submariners who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. Still, many people throughout the southeast United States have no idea such a rare naval WWII icon is right in their own back yard. Now the oldest American WWII submarine in existence, it resides on land at Latitude +30°40'52.40" North, Longitude -88°01'00.00" West in Battleship Memorial Park Mobile, Alabama. Visitors can get inside of a WWII-era battleship (USS Alabama) and submarine for a hands on look. For those who cannot make the trip who would like to see or show their families close-up pictures of the interior of a Gato-class diesel-electric submarine refer to http://www.flickriver.com/photos/divemasterking2000/tags/ss228/.
For those who can make the trip, tours aboard the USS Drum are self-guided. Tour guide pamphlets are available for a small fee in the gift shop.. If you would like a tour guide, there are a couple of volunteers who frequent the park almost daily. For more info on this contact Tom Browser at mailto:tombrowser@drun228.org. For more info on Battleship Park itself and the USS Alabama (BB-60) which also is available for touring refer to http://www.ussalabama.com/visitor_info.php. The park is open daily except Christmas Day 08-1800 (Apr thru Sep) 08-1700 (Oct thru Mar). Admission fees are Age 12 & up: $12.00, Ages 6-11: $6.00, and under age 6: Free. There is a $2 Park Use Fee per vehicle, $25 Fee for Semi-Trucks (includes admission for one person). No overnight parking allowed. Physical Address is 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602Tel: (251) 433-2703, Fax: (251) 433-2777,or Email: btunnell@ussalabama.com. [Source: http://drum228.org Jun 2012 ++]
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Battle of the Midway: On 4 JUN 1942, John Hancock fought in one of the epic battles of World War II, spraying Japanese planes with a machine gun, seeing his buddies die when a gun mount on the aircraft carrier Yorktown was obliterated and bobbing in the water for hours awaiting rescue with shrapnel wounds. The 87-year-old veteran of the Battle of Midway sat aboard the carrier’s namesake at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, describing his experiences on the 70th anniversary of the American victory that proved to be a turning point in the war in the Pacific. Hancock attended a program commemorating the anniversary of the battle fought June 4-7, 1942. “A battle at sea is like a thunderstorm,” said Hancock, who lives in Athens, Ga. “It’s all over you at once and then it's over with. And then it’s like 'Holy Smokes, I’m still alive ... “
John Hancock
Badly damaged on the opening day of the battle, the first Yorktown sank three days later despite repeated salvage attempts. Hancock vividly remembers the two torpedoes that hit Yorktown, sending a catwalk with Marines sailing through the air. An earlier bomb hit one of the plane elevators, knocking him to the ground and stopping the carrier.
Hancock said he got the job as a gunner at the rear of the tower beside the flight deck because he learned how to lead and shoot quail as a kid growing up in Georgia. He was on the ship for only about six months and had fought during the Battle of the Coral Sea a few weeks earlier. The Yorktown got back to Pearl Harbor after that battle, but was only given 72 hours to make repairs before it set out to sea again. “We all knew something was going to happen,” he said. The Yorktown launched its planes against the Japanese fleet on June 4, but planes from the Japanese carrier Hiryu later located and attacked the Yorktown. By late afternoon, with the Yorktown badly listing, the order came to abandon ship.
Yorktown (CV5). Starboard bow, underway. 1937
Hancock remembers being in the water for four or five hours. “I had one of those old kapok life preservers and I remember floating along and looking at the tag and it said ‘flotation assured for 24 hours.’” I was all by myself and I
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said if someone doesn’t find me, this is going to sink me with,” he remembered. But he never doubted he would make it. “Kids don’t think about that. Kids live one second at a time,” he said. After the war, he didn't talk about his experiences much because “we were too busy making a living and having kids and doing all those things.” Now he talks to classes and groups whenever he has a chance. “I know this sounds trite, but this is the greatest country in the world, and the kids have to know that,” he said. [Source: Associated Press Bruce Smith article 4 Jun 2012 ++]
USS Yorktown (CV-10), centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy.
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Desert Storm Memorial: More than 20 years after the end of the first Gulf War, veterans of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield don’t have a national memorial honoring their war experience. Now, one Tennessee lawmaker wants to change that. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) on 8 JUN introduced new legislation to create a memorial “dedicated to the valor and sacrifices” of troops who fought in that conflict. The measure would establish the National Desert Storm Memorial Association, to handle fundraising, planning and construction for the marker. No federal funds would be used for the work under Roe’s plan. According to Defense Department Statistics, nearly 700,000 troops served in that war. A total of 382 troops gave their lives during the operations, including 147 combat deaths. Another 467 troops were wounded in the fight. [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Elections 2012: The 2012 Presidential and Congressional elections are fast approaching and once again veterans are in the spotlight. Recent poll information shows that veterans are a strong voting bloc and make up about 13% of the U.S. population. Candidates for the Presidency and the House and Senate know this and are crisscrossing the country with their messages at Town Hall Meetings and other veteran-related forums. Attending these meetings is important to finding out where the candidates stand on the priority goals of member organizations of The Military Coalition. It is time to ask the tough questions about what the candidates are going to do for veterans, service members and their families if they are elected or re-elected.
One factor is deciding who to support in the upcoming elections is to know how current legislators voted on veterans' legislation that passed their respective chambers. At http://capwiz.com/vfw/keyvotes.xc/?lvl=C can be found a roll call registry to determine this. As in the past, several votes were taken by unanimous consent/voice vote, so individual votes were not recorded and do not appear in the roll call registry. In addition, a number of important veteran related bills have been introduced and are awaiting committee action. One list of such bills can be found at http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/bills/. Reviewing this list prior to attending Town Hall Meetings and other veteran-related forums could be useful in forming questions to the candidates on how they support or would vote on these issues. For information on hosting or attending a Town Hall Meeting, or registering to vote, take a look at VFW’s
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veterans vote brochure at http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/Veterans%20Vot %20Brochure.pdf . For a state-by-state election guide, go to http://vfw.capwiz.com/election/register_vote. And for a copy of VFW's, go to http://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFW.org/VFW_in_DC/2012%20Priority%20Goals%20Brochure.PDF. [VFW Washington Weekly 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Bells of Balangiga: Military veterans are stirred up and speaking out against the possibility that the U.S. might return three church bells seized as spoils of war from the Philippines more than a century ago. Such a simple gesture would go a long way toward demonstrating goodwill to an old and steadfast U.S. ally in the west Pacific. The U.S. veterans' opinion on returning the bells? Don't even think about it. "We oppose the return of the bells, period," said John Stovall, director of national security and foreign relations for the national American Legion. Two of the three Bells of Balangiga are displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. They're part of a memorial to 46 U.S. troops killed by Filipino insurgents in 1901. A third bell is with a U.S. Army regiment in South Korea. Last week, the U.S. Defense Department sent U.S. Marines Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock to Wyoming to talk with veterans about the bells. The visit was the strongest indication in years, if ever, that U.S. officials are giving serious consideration to returning the bells.
Recent discussion about repatriating the bells has prompted Wyoming's governor and congressional representatives to tell the Obama administration to keep the bells where they are. "I strongly oppose any efforts to deconstruct our war memorials that honor our fallen soldiers," Gov. Matt Mead wrote Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on 3 MAY. Last month, the American Legion passed a resolution referring to the bells and calling on Congress to pass laws to protect military monuments from foreign governments seeking their removal. Filipinos revere the bells as symbols of their long struggle for independence. The bells gave the signal for insurgents to attack American soldiers who were occupying Balangiga after the U.S. took possession of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. The issue could come up at the highest levels as Philippines President Benigno Aquino III visits the U.S. this week and meets with President Barack Obama and others. Veterans worry the bells have become something of a bargaining chip in U.S.-Philippine relations, said Stovall with the American Legion. "We think that one, that the bells represent a memorial to these fallen comrades in the Philippines. And two, were we to return the bells, it sets a dangerous precedent for other war memorials around the United States," he said.
Messages left with the Philippines Embassy in Washington, D.C., weren't returned, but a senior White House official said the bells are an important and emotional issue in both countries. "We will only have an announcement when we have good news, and we will only have good news when we have completed the process that is under way," the official said Thursday on condition of anonymity. The modest brick memorial housing the bells at F.E. Warren - a base inaccessible to civilians without advance arrangements - is the only place where the U.S. troops killed at Balangiga have been memorialized as a group, veterans point out. "That is what represents their death," said Todd White, an American Legion member from Worland in north-central Wyoming. 400 machete-wielding rebels attacked the 75 or so U.S. troops in Balangiga. Another company torched Balangiga the next day and took the bells as revenge. The reoccupying soldiers took the bells home to Fort D.A. Russell, which eventually became F.E. Warren. An old English cannon taken from Balangiga also is displayed at Trophy Park in F.E. Warren, a base that oversees dozens of nuclear missiles in underground silos scattered across the prairie. The base doesn't have any runways but is home to a herd of relatively tame antelope.
Talk about returning the bells has been a perennial issue in U.S.-Philippine relations. Whether the idea moves beyond mere talk this time remains to be seen: The White House official said he didn't know if the Bells of Balangiga would be discussed during Aquino's visit. More than 10 years ago, around the centennial of the massacre, former Philippines President Fidel Ramos suggested to an AP reporter a Solomonic solution. Send one bell from the
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base to the Philippines and keep the other one in Wyoming. Cut each bell in half and send half of each bell to the other country. Weld the bells' halves together. "And then we end up with two pairs that are almost identical to the original," Ramos said. [Source: Associated Press Mead Gruver article 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Credit Unions Update 02: A retired sailor who posed as a SEAL chief to convince other sailors to turn over their personal information was sentenced today to a little more than seven years in prison for bilking a credit union out of nearly $182,000. Lionel Jason Haynes, 31, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. In U.S. District Court this morning, Haynes pleaded for mercy, telling the judge his "heart is filled with remorse, regret and embarrassment." U.S. Chief District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith took little pity on Haynes, sentencing him to the maximum of 87 months under federally recommended guidelines. "I find what you did unconscionable," she told him. Citing, in part, Haynes' "horrendous criminal record," Smith rejected his request for a five-year prison term and to self-surrender. Marshals took him away immediately. Haynes has 22 prior convictions, though his lawyer tried to argue that they were largely driving offenses. Haynes admitted that he posed as either a Navy SEAL, as a SEAL chief or as a chief petty officer to gain the trust of young sailors. He obtained their personal information and obtained $181,000 in car loans from the Navy Federal Credit Union. Initially, authorities said they thought there were 14 known victims but now they believe there were 25 to 30. [Source: The Virginian-PilotTim McGlone article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Associations: There are over 1.4 million people serving on active duty in our U.S. Armed Forces, and another 848,000 assigned to the seven reserve components. That number doesn’t include the more than 23 million veterans in our country. Almost all of these military members and veterans have family members, bringing the total military community to over 50 million individuals. There are many organizations and associations available to help members of the military during and after their service to the country. These associations not only encourage and spur camaraderie, they also offer incredible benefits for their members. Some provide advocacy, help you network and access job opportunities, tap into benefits at a reduced cost, lobby congress concerning issues vital to military life, or find support for you and your family in times of war and peace. Some of the advantages of to belonging to a military association are:
 Professionals Who Identify With Members - The needs of our expanding military community and their families are great, and growing daily. Who knows those needs better than someone who’s experienced them firsthand? Military associations are usually founded and managed by experienced military professionals. And, because they’ve been where you are or been. they know and understand the unique needs of not only active duty military but those of retired, National Guard, and Reserve members.
 A Sense of Community - The membership of military associations is made up of people just like you, which creates a fraternity of sorts -- a brotherhood and sisterhood. Military associations are an excellent link to members from every branch of service - including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, and their families. With so many different types of military associations, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one whose membership is made up of men and women you can relate to and bond with. Members share each other’s experiences and concerns and work together to improve the quality of life and offer support for those in their community.
 Member Focused and Committed to Service - Military associations may have large or small membership bases, but they have one thing in common. They are confident in and committed to their goal - to serve the
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needs of the military community. Personal service is important to associations that work with military families because in many cases their members are their family.
 Long History of Serving the Military - Like the rich history of the United States uniformed services, many military associations have a long history of service and dedication to their cause. Many associations were founded after a member of the military saw a need that wasn’t being met anywhere else. They’ve been where you are and they know the stresses and challenges that are unique to those who serve our country and their families.
 Quick Response in Times of Rapid Deployment - In recent years, military personnel and their families have been faced with more frequent and often longer deployments. This can be a confusing and stressful time even if you’ve been through it many times before. There are so many details to tend to in such a short amount of time that preparations can easily become overwhelming. Because military associations aren’t bound by government red tape, they are often better able to respond to members facing rapid deployment. By focusing their resources where they are needed most within the military community, professional military associations can be an invaluable tool to manage the challenges of deployment. In fact, many of these organizations have multiple resources and staff specifically trained to ease worries about things at home.
Military associations often offer a wide variety of products and services for their members including accidental death and dismemberment, long-term care and other specialized insurance policies. Many offer newsletters and publications with timely information geared toward military families. Because these associations know and relate to their members on a level most civilian organizations don’t, they make a conscious effort to seek out products and services that are the ‘best of the best’ – for our country’s elite military community. Resources and services available may include:
 Mental health care and support groups
 Financial planning tools
 Emergency notification services
 Secure online tools for storing personal information, passwords, and other important documents
 Links to non-profit agencies focused on the specific needs of combat wounded, military families, and veterans
There are countless reputable national and local military associations to choose from all offering valuable benefits to their members. The attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Military Associations” contains a number of them along with contact data. However, the list is far from being all inclusive. I have no data on how many exist but it must be over 1,000 when you include all the Naval ship, Air Force, Army and Marine unit associations. In all likelihood at least one unit you served in during your tour of service has one. Feel free to join more than one. Regardless of which or how many or you join you can be confident that membership in a military association will give you access to the very best for you and your family. [Source: Military.com article 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Sequestration: The National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS) continues to be seriously concerned at the lack of action on the sequestration cuts set to begin in January 2013. They are bothered that the Senate seems to not have a sense of urgency that many in and out of DoD are stressing. Secretary of Defense Panetta has said numerous times that sequestration would be a disaster for DoD, calling it “a doomsday button.” The House passed the Sequester Replacement bill (H.R.5652) in early May. But the Senate has not taken a specific action. The House passed bill may not be perfect, but it is a start. It lays down a marker and begins the process of
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averting a major national security catastrophe. The Senate needs to start as well before the sequester goes into effect, Jan. 2, 2013.
A sequester is a mandated automatic cut. Under this specific sequester, the Budget Control Act (BCA), Public Law 112-125, directs that $1.2 Trillion will be reduced over the next nine consecutive fiscal years, beginning in calendar year 2013. The currently faced sequester comes into effect because the original BCA called for a bipartisan congressional committee, called a “Super Committee,” to find an agreement to achieve the $1.2 Trillion of required savings. The Super Committee failed. Therefore, an automatic sequester, designed as a backstop, is now in place. Under the sequester, $984 billion will come from split evenly between defense and non-defense spending cuts divided evenly among the nine relevant years. (It is assumed that the remaining reduction, $216 billion, would come from reduced debt service due to less borrowing.)
Unless an agreement can be found before January, defense will face a reduction of $492 billion over the decade, over and above the $485 billion defense reduction contained in the fiscal year 2013 budget, resulting in an approximate $1 Trillion cut in defense over the next decade. Nearly all spending that is characterized as defense in the budget is annually appropriated (discretionary). Therefore, essentially the entire $55 billion annual defense reduction will be achieved through defense discretionary spending reductions. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner prior to passage of H.R.5652, the Sequester Replacement Act NAUS President Klimp said, “Sequestration is a terribly blunt instrument that must be avoided. There is no credible voice in American politics that suggests the impact of the maximum sequester would be anything other than devastating. It presents a ‘no-kidding disaster.” NAUS will continue to press the Senate into action that averts a pending “no-kidding” disaster. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Pharmacy Copay Update 04: As it now stands both the House and Senate NDAA bills effectively kill most of the Pentagon-proposed TRICARE fee hikes. But there will be some increases in TRICARE pharmacy copays, and the only issue is how big the hikes will be. That's where the House and Senate bills take significantly different approaches. The Senate bill is silent on the pharmacy copay issue. Since current law gives the Secretary of Defense authority to set pharmacy copays, the Senate bill silently endorses the Pentagon-proposed plan to more than double the copays this year, and triple them over the next five years. The problem the Senate Armed Services Committee faced in stopping the proposed Rx copay hikes lies in Senate budget rules that require the Committee to find other offsetting cuts in either military retirement, survivor benefits, or other TFL benefits. Why? Because the offset law applies to so-called "mandatory spending" programs, and that includes any benefit funded through a trust fund - which TFL is.
When the Pentagon proposed higher Rx copays for TFL beneficiaries, it reduced the budget for TFL spending by the government - with the difference made up by the assumed revenues from higher copays. To reduce or bar the copay hikes, the Committee would have to replace the lost revenue by increasing government spending on TFL. And that requires an offsetting spending cut. The Senate didn't want to identify an offset - which meant letting Pentagon leaders double and triple Rx copays. The House thought those copay increases were so bad that they came up with an alternative offset that did three things:
 It substantially reduced the Pentagon-proposed copay increases for FY2013
 It put a statutory cap on any increases after FY2013, so that the percentage increase in Rx copays in any year couldn't exceed the retired pay COLA percentage
 To pay for these, it established a five-year pilot program that would require TFL beneficiaries to use the mail-order system for at least one year to refill any maintenance medications (waivers would be allowed
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under certain hardship or other conditions); after one year, beneficiaries could opt out of mail-order participation
Exactly what copay reductions would the House plan buy with the mail-order offset? The chart below contrasts how copays would change over the next 5 years under the House proposal vs. the DoD/Senate plan:
DoD/Senate vs House-Passed Rx Copays Retail Meds (30 day supply)
FY12
FY13
FY14*
FY15*
FY16*
FY17*
Generic DoD/Senate House
$5
$5 $5
$6 $5.15
$7 $5.30
$8 $5.46
$9 $5.62
Brand DoD/Senate House
$12
$26 $17
$28 $17.51
$30 $18.04
$32 $18.58
$34 $19.14
Non-Formulary DoD/Senate House
$25
** $44
** $45.32
** $46.68
** $48.08
** $49.52
Mail-Order Meds (90 day supply)
FY12
FY13
FY14*
FY15*
FY16*
FY17*
Generic DoD/Senate House
$0
$0 $0
$0 $0
$0 $0
$0 $0
$9 $0
Brand DoD/Senate House
$9
$26 $13
$28 $13.39
$30 $13.79
$32 $14.20
$34 $14.63
Non-Formulary DoD/Senate House
$25
$51 $43
$54 $44.29
$58 $45.62
$62 $46.99
$66 $48.40
*Assumes 3% annual COLAs ** Non-formulary medications wouldn't be available in retail pharmacies under DoD/Senate plan
Here's the bottom line -- compared to the DoD/Senate plan, the House-passed plan would:
 Cut retail copays by about 40% below the DoD plan
 Keep access to non-formulary meds in retail stores
 Cut mail-order copays by more than 50% for brand-name meds
 Cut mail-order copays by 25% for non-formulary meds
 Keep mail-order copays at zero for generic meds
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More than 90% of those who use the present mail-order system are very happy with it so mandatory mail-order use should not be a big issue to most. Without the House-proposed statutory cap on future increases, we'd be held hostage to bigger copay increase proposals every year. But if the COLA-based cap is put in law as the House proposes, Congress will be able to ignore any future proposed hikes above that rate - and won't have to come up with any offset. At this point, the only options on the table are: (1) letting the Pentagon impose whatever copays it wants or (2) accepting the House alternative plan. All things considered, the significantly lower copays and future protections of the House plan would be worth requiring a one-year mail-order trial for maintenance med refills. After a one-year trial, everyone would recover full choice. Once they try it, the vast majority of new enrollees will most likely be pleased with the convenience and significant cost savings of the mail-order system. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Pharmacy Mail Order: The House version of the 2012 NDAA bill would establish a five-year pilot program in which all TFL beneficiaries would be required to use the TRICARE Pharmacy mail-order system for at least one year to refill any maintenance medications (waivers would be allowed under certain hardship or other conditions); after one year, beneficiaries could opt out of mail-order participation . In anticipation that this will be enacted and for those who are not currently enrolled in this program the following Q & A is provided:
Q: How long does it take to set up an account with the mail-order system?
A. You should allow two to three weeks between registering for mail-order and the first delivery of medication.
Q: How can I use the mail-order pharmacy if I need medication right away?
A: The initial prescription fill can be made through a military or retail pharmacy. The mail-order system is only for refills. Emergency or temporary medications such as pain relievers, antibiotics, etc. would still be filled in retail or military pharmacies.
Q. How would I start using the mail-order system?
A. You start by registering with the system. That can be done on-line, but many prefer to talk to a real person by phone at 1-877-363-1303. You'll need a 90-day prescription from your doctor, vs. the 30-day prescription normally provided through retail stores. If you already have a 30-day supply of medication, you can mail or fax the 90-day prescription to Express Scripts, or the Express Scripts agent can help you have an existing 90-day prescription transferred to the mail-order system. If it's a new prescription you've never used before, take the 90-day prescription to the retail or military pharmacy and ask for a 30-day supply, then call the mail-order agent to have the prescription transferred to the mail-order system so you'll receive your first delivery in a couple of weeks. If your doctor electronically prescribes, as many do, the mail order pharmacy can accept these prescriptions also.
Q: What happens when I use up the refills?
A: The mail-order system provides you a reminder when it's time to order a refill (by email if you signed up on line) or when a prescription will expire. At your request, the mail-order agent will contact your doctor to get the prescription renewed.
Q. What happens if my medication gets lost in the mail or otherwise doesn't arrive before my existing supply is about to run out?
A. If you are low or out of your medication and need immediate assistance, contact Express Scripts Customer Service at (877) 363-1303. Express Scripts can issue an override that will allow you to pick up your prescription at the retail pharmacy or send you a replacement order.
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Q: I live in a very hot location. Won't medications be spoiled if they're left in a hot mailbox for hours?
A: The mail order pharmacy takes special precautions with medications that can be effected by extreme temperatures. Coolers are used to protect certain medications against temperature extremes. Beneficiaries can request specialty processing and scheduled delivery if there continues to be concern about a cooler being left on the front porch.
Q: Where can I go to find out more about this program?
A. Refer to http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Prescriptions/FillingPrescriptions/TMOP
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Health Savings Accounts: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created in 2003 so that individuals covered by high-deductible health plans could receive tax-preferred treatment of money saved for medical expenses. Generally, an adult who is covered by a high-deductible health plan (and has no other first-dollar coverage) may establish an HSA. It provides a way to save money to help pay for current or future qualified medical expenses on a tax-free basis. Rules governing the tax status of HSAs are covered in IRS Publication 969. The HSA is a tax-exempt trust or custodial account that you set up with a qualified HSA trustee to pay or reimburse certain medical expenses that you incur. You must be an eligible individual to qualify for an HSA. No permission or authorization from the IRS is necessary to establish an HSA. When you set up an HSA, you will need to work with a trustee. A qualified HSA trustee can be a bank, an insurance company, or anyone already approved by the IRS to be a trustee of individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) or Archer MSAs. The HSA can be established through a trustee that is different from your health plan provider. To be eligible for an HSA:
 You must be covered under a high deductible health plan (HDHP), described later, on the first day of the month.
 You have no other health coverage except what is permitted under Other health coverage, later.
 You are not enrolled in Medicare.
 You cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.
The benefits of an HSA are:
 You can claim a tax deduction for contributions you, or someone other than your employer, make to your HSA even if you do not itemize your deductions on Form 1040.
 Contributions to your HSA made by your employer (including contributions made through a cafeteria plan) may be excluded from your gross income.
 The contributions remain in your account from year to year until you use them.
 The interest or other earnings on the assets in the account are tax free.
 Distributions may be tax free if you pay qualified medical expenses. Qualified medical expenses are those expenses that would generally qualify for the medical and dental expenses deduction. These are explained in IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. Note. Non-prescription medicines (other than insulin) are no longer considered qualified medical expenses
 An HSA is “portable” so it stays with you if you change employers or leave the work force.
On 5 JUN Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D. (R-LA) introduced H.R.5858, “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve health savings accounts, and for other purposes,” which passed the House Ways and Means Committee and will be sent to the House floor. Section 5 of H.R. 5858 will remove the rule that prohibits veterans from continuing to save money in their health savings accounts once they receive care through the VA.
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Congressman Boustany in a statement said that Veterans with service connected disabilities should be free to save for their families’ health needs. [Source: IRS Pub 969 & TREA News for the Enlisted 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Traumatic Genital Injury: The Department of Veterans' Affairs have announced that they will pay $50,000 to victims of traumatic genitourinary damage sustained during service in the military. This type of injury has never been so common. Historically, rates of traumatic genital injury — major damage to the penis, testicles, vulva or ovaries — has ranged from 2 to 5%. In 2010, that rate stood at 12.7% of all wounded. Warfare tactics have changed. The widespread presence of concealed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) has led to catastrophic injury from the waist down being the norm, not the exception. The devices — often implanted in the ground and designed to explode upward — cause damage in a manner which conventional military body armor, designed to protect the torso, is incapable of mitigating. The result is a massive upswing in traumatic injuries to lower limbs and genitalia — injuries which are survivable, but so hard to live with. The psychological impact of these injuries is difficult to overstate. These are soldiers who, ten years ago, would have died from the wounds. Now they have to live with them. Despite how common this injury is, these veterans don't even have a support group. Other combat-induced disabilities such as blindness or loss of limb have always been pervasive. This one is new. Now, the Traumatic Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) has responded to the new wounded by creating a new class of injuries covered in the program. Genital injury will receive similar compensation to limb loss: $50,000. The new policy applies to both male and female servicemembers, and is also retroactive to 2001. The Department of Defense has also tried to respond to the new threats from below by developing new body armor, called ballistic boxers or "combat diapers", designed to armor the vulnerable groin region. [Source: Business Insider | Military & Defense Walter Hickey article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Medical Marijuana Policy Update 04: More veterans are backing the fight that would include PTSD as a qualifying condition for legal medical marijuana programs in 17 states, according to a USA Today article [http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-06-05/military-veterans-medical-marijuana/55395138/1 ] . While some doctors and veterans disagree on the effectiveness of cannabis as PTSD treatment, the approval remains a complicated issue because it involves the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and potential federal oversight. The USA TODAY article quotes veterans who have gone through the tricky VA process of receiving and using medical marijuana for PTSD. In 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) formally allowed the use of medical marijuana by patients being treated in medical facilities located in states where the use of marijuana for medical purposes has been legalized. However, since the use of marijuana for any purpose – medical or otherwise – still remains illegal under federal law, VA doctors cannot recommend it for treatment. Despite this directive, however, there are still VA patients who choose to buy and ingest marijuana illegally, as opposed to signing up with state medical marijuana programs. Paula Pedene, a spokeswoman with the Arizona VA hospital, shared: “They live in a place that has passed this law, and it’s their choice to use it… The question is: How can we co-manage their care?”
Pedene shared further that the VA does not keep track of patients who reveal their participation in the medical marijuana program. They also do not report them to such federal agencies as the U.S. Department of Justice or the Drug Enforcement Administration, both of which do not support medical marijuana. In Arizona veterans are pushing for the inclusion of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for theit state’s medical marijuana program. At this time, Arizona’s medical marijuana law only allows the use of pot for such debilitating conditions as chronic pain and cancer, among others. Dr. Sue Sisley, an internist in private practice and assistant professor of psychiatry and internal medicine at the University of Arizona, shared that medical pot is effective for
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Veterans, but she also said: “It’s really uncharted territory for veterans and the VA… The VA has taken a position where they’re not going to terminate patients if they have a card, but the truth is that a lot of doctors have a strong bias against it — they believe they are just drug addicts.” [Source: Stars & Stripes & USNAVYSEALS.com Blog articles 5 & 8 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veterans Pension Update 03: A yearlong investigation into a federal pension program for low-income veterans has concluded that weak oversight and unclear rules have made the system ripe for abuse, including by financial planners and lawyers who help well-off retirees qualify for benefits by transferring or hiding assets. The report by the Government Accountability Office, released 6 JUN, found that more than 200 firms had sprouted up across the country to help veterans “restructure” assets so they can appear indigent and therefore eligible for tax-free pensions, which can pay more than $20,000 a year. While transferring assets to qualify for the pension is not illegal under current rules, Congressional officials and veterans groups say the practice undermines the purpose of the pension system — aiding poor veterans — and burdens federal spending at a time of deep budget cuts. The G.A.O. also found that some firms overcharge veterans for services — in some cases more than $10,000 — or sell them financial products that are potentially harmful, like trusts that limit a veteran’s access to the money or deferred annuities that generate income only after the veteran’s death.
The report placed partial blame for the problems on the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying it has unclear eligibility rules, does not systematically verify financial information and uses forms that do not require applicants to report asset transfers and other financial details. The G.A.O. also said Congress should consider giving the department “look-back” authority to deny applicants who transfer or hide assets in the years just before applying for pensions. Other means-tested programs, like Medicaid, have such policies. A bipartisan group of senators, including Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Richard M. Burr (R-NC), plans to introduce legislation giving the V.A. look-back authority. The Senate Special Committee on Aging was scheduled to discuss that bill and the G.A.O. report in a hearing. “If things continue as they are, and people see this program as a magnet for rip-offs and waste, I believe that in this financial climate support for the program will fall apart,” Mr. Wyden said. “I want to preserve this for people who need it.” The Department of Veterans Affairs said it concurred with the G.A.O.’s recommendations. A senior official said the department was also drafting new regulations that would clarify the types of asset transfers that might disqualify a pension applicant. Some transfers, such as for medical expenses, would remain acceptable under the new rules. “By making it clear the impact of asset transfers, we would close this gap and reduce the incentive for people to engage in this kind of behavior,” said Michael Daugherty, assistant director of the V.A.’s Pension and Fiduciary Service.
To qualify for the pension, applicants must be over 65 or be permanently disabled, have served during wartime and fall below the income threshold: about $12,200 for a person with no dependents. Last year, the system paid $4.3 billion to 517,000 veterans or their survivors — up from about $3.7 billion in 2007. In addition to their pension checks, veterans who cannot cook, bathe or otherwise care for themselves can also receive stipends to pay for help, a benefit known as aid and attendance. The G.A.O. and Congressional officials said firms that market services to veterans had been particularly aggressive about obtaining aid and attendance benefits, which can increase a pension by more than 50 percent. The number of applicants approved for aid and attendance has grown sharply, to 38,000 in 2011, up from 22,500 in 2006. Though the G.A.O. and Congressional officials suggested that lax oversight had contributed to the high acceptance rate, V.A. officials said there were other factors at play, including a weak economy and a desire to get benefits quickly to frail veterans.
As part of their investigation, G.A.O. employees also posed as the children of an 86-year-old veteran who was seeking help qualifying for a pension. In calls to 19 firms, they were told time and again that they could qualify even
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with assets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, provided they put their money in annuities or trusts, for which the firms charged administrative fees. “V.A. allows you to qualify, regardless of what your assets are,” one company representative said, according to a G.A.O. transcript. “And I’ve had people with over a million dollars qualify for this benefit.” Investigators working for the G.A.O. and the Special Committee on Aging found that financial planners and lawyers often worked through nursing homes or assisted living centers for the elderly to gain access to veterans. In those cases, the pensions presumably helped finance the cost of living in the homes.
Investigators also found numerous cases of firms charging high fees for helping veterans apply, even though organizations like the American Legion, as well as many states, offer the same assistance free. In one case, a veteran in Utah reported signing a contract that gave his first pension check to an agent who helped him apply. But because of delays in the system, that check was unusually large: $16,000. Investigators said some firms posed as veterans advocates when marketing services. And some of those services included selling products that turned out to be harmful to the veterans. A Montana woman, for instance, reported that a lawyer advised her father, a World War II veteran, to sell his house so he could move into an assisted living development. The lawyer assured the woman that her father would qualify for aid and attendance benefits that would help pay the bill. But the V.A. rejected the application, leaving the veteran on the hook for the entire monthly rent for his new home. “I do not know, fully, who is at fault,” the woman, Kris Schaffer, says in testimony submitted to the Senate committee. “I only know that, for my father, this is a terrible miscarriage of justice.” [Source: New York Times James Dao article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
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Montana Vet Cemetery Update 02: The transition of the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery to a national cemetery is under way. John Ostlund, chair of the Yellowstone County Commission, received a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs asking him to identify someone as a contact person “to begin this discussion.” “We’re pretty enthusiastic,” Ostlund said, adding that his colleague, Commissioner Bill Kennedy, a longtime champion of this effort, will serve as the county’s official point person. The letter, according to Kennedy, formalizes what county commissioners and all three members of Montana’s congressional delegation, Democratic Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus and Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg, have asked for all along. Kennedy predicted the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery, located north of Laurel, will be designated a national cemetery within six months to a year.
News that the VA is working with Yellowstone County means that no congressional legislation is needed to recognize the cemetery as a VA national cemetery. The VA’s letter didn’t appear out of nowhere. Earlier this year, Tester wrote VA Secretary Eric Shinseki on behalf of Yellowstone. In 2011, he brought Shinseki to Montana to hear from veterans about the issue. “Montana veterans deserve the honor of a final resting place in a VA national cemetery in our state,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Today’s news is a reflection on the men and women of the Big Sky State who fought for our freedoms and for national recognition of this important cemetery.” Tester announced in February that the President’s latest budget proposal allowed the VA’s National Cemetery Administration to purchase land from rural cemeteries in eight states, including Montana. Under the initiative, the newly purchased land would receive National Cemetery status by establishing National Veterans Burial Grounds within the boundaries of existing public or private cemeteries. The VA would operate and maintain the property at an estimated $80,000 annually. The government would also incur capital equipment costs. Congress would have to appropriate money for the plan. Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he included language in the bill that would permit the NCA to make the purchase. “It’s growing increasingly clear that if my language passes the Senate, Yellowstone County we will be closer to a national designation than we have ever been before,” Rehberg said. “I’m working closely with local officials to make sure this project is prominent on the VA radar. Working together, we can get a national cemetery that serves not only the local community, but the entire region.”
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The Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery, the nation’s only locally financed veterans cemetery, is a $1.5 million, eight-acre burial ground on the north side of Laurel. From its beginning, it was designed to meet national standards and was dedicated on Veterans Day in 2008. The first burial, a Purple Heart veteran, was in December 2008. About 80 veterans and spouses have been interred since the cemetery opened. Lately, one or two burials per week have been scheduled. As part of the national designation, Yellowstone County would pay off the debt, currently about $1.3 million, it incurred to design and build the cemetery. The debt is paid with an annual $225,000 dedicated county property tax levy. Many veterans want to be buried in a national cemetery because it saves on financial hardships to families. Benefits at the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery include a U.S. burial flag, perpetual care of the grave site and a memorial certificate bearing the president’s signature. Funeral home services are not covered. Burial plots, headstone and markers are free for the veteran. A fee is assessed for casket burials, casket vaults and cremated remains. A nominal surcharge is also assessed for out-of-county residents.
The Veterans Administration operates more than 100 National Cemeteries. The best-known National Cemetery is Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., which is operated by the U.S. Army. National cemeteries provide many of the same benefits as county cemeteries, although the families of veterans may be eligible for more financial help with burial costs and other burial allowances such as being buried with a spouse. Yellowstone County is Montana’s most-populated county and has the highest percentage of military veterans in the state with more than 20 percent, the highest percentage in the nation. Until now, the VA has told local leaders and veterans that Montana doesn’t have enough veterans to warrant a national cemetery. A National Veterans Cemetery designation requires that 80,000 veterans live within a 75-mile radius of the cemetery. VA has developed a set of criteria for establishing the National Veterans Burial Grounds in locations where no more than 25,000 veterans reside, and where these veterans do not have reasonable access to burial in a national or state veterans cemetery. [Source: Billings Gazette Cindy Uken article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 118: An Iraq War veteran searching the web for “GI Bill schools” won’t find the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website about Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits among the top results. Instead, he or she will see GIBill.com , a slick commercial site advertising the select schools willing to pay to get their names featured — mostly for-profit schools with low graduation and high loan default rates. Predatory recruiting practices by for-profit schools have been the target of state attorneys general investigations and lawsuits, advocacy campaigns, Congressional hearings, and an Executive Order signed by President Obama. Now QuinStreet, the company behind GIBill.com, has come under investigation by 15 state attorneys general — led by Jack Conway from Kentucky — for its role in connecting veterans and servicemembers to its for-profit school clients. As California Watch’s Erica Perez reported today: In their inquiry, the investigators expressed concerns that QuinStreet’s marketing websites, such as http://www.GIBill.com and http://www.ArmyStudyGuide.com, mislead consumers into believing that the sites are affiliated with the government or that the for-profit colleges recommended by the sites are the only ones that accept subsidies such as the GI Bill or Tuition Assistance, which is for service members on active duty. Currently GIBill.com features multiple disclaimers that it is not affiliated with the government or military, Perez notes, but “an archived version of the website from July 2011 does not include the disclaimer.”
To prevent further abuse by companies like QuinStreet, Obama’s new Executive Order directs relevant agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs to “take all appropriate steps to ensure that websites and programs are not deceptively and fraudulently marketing educational services and benefits.” “Much of it is just deceptive marketing,” said Tom Tarantino, Deputy Policy Director at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “You won’t
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be able to find a public college unless you go three or four clicks in. They’re really advertising. If you enter your contact information on the site, you’ll be subject to aggressive, sometimes harassing, recruiting calls by these for-profits.” Targeting veterans is incredibly lucrative for for-profit schools and their shareholders not just because billions of dollars in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are being paid out. The “90-10” rule can increase a veterans’ value to a for-profit school nine times over. Under the rule, at least 10 percent of a for-profit school’s revenue must come from non-federal sources if it is to qualify to receive federal student aid dollars. That aid can make up 90 percent of the for-profit school’s revenue. A loophole in the law counts GI Bill benefits as non-federal revenue. That puts a huge dollar sign on a veteran’s back. For every GI Bill dollar a for-profit school raises, it can raise nine more federal student aid dollars.
Companies like QuinStreet are at the nexus for targeting and connecting veterans to for-profit schools. “The ‘90-10’ rule fosters aggressive recruiting of veterans,” said Tarantino. “We have to fix the loopholes in the law, but where the rubber meets the road is in the states and with their attorneys general.” Across the country attorneys general are investigating for-profit schools themselves, but finding few common targets. Instead, they have recently turned their focus onto Congress as 21 attorneys general signed a letter requesting it close the “90-10” loophole. Investigations into companies like QuinStreet and their questionable practices that support and enable the for-profit industry must continue to curb the exploitation of our veterans and their benefits. [Source: ThinkProgress Security Lauren Jenkins article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 66: A U.S. Army soldier who prosecutors say falsely claimed to have fought in Vietnam and Afghanistan - and to have earned two Purple Heart medals and a Bronze Star for heroism - was indicted on federal charges on 6 JUN. Command Sergeant Major William John Roy is accused of lying about his service as he sought disability, medical and educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek said. Roy, 57, was awarded more than $27,000 in disability benefits and $30,000 in educational benefits after submitting bogus evidence of his combat wounds and bravery in action, Mrozek said. According to an indictment handed down in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Roy claimed he served as a medic in Vietnam in 1974 and was twice injured in combat during that war. Roy also claimed that he was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze star for his heroism in Vietnam -- when in fact an investigation found that he had been in Germany serving in a non-combat role at the time, Mrozek said.
Among the documentation Roy provided was a Purple Heart certificate purportedly signed by President Richard Nixon but dated four months after Nixon had resigned from office, Mrozek said. Roy also sent a letter to the Army in 2008 seeking a Purple Heart for extensive injuries he said he sustained in a mortar and rocket attack at a forward operating base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, when in fact he was not involved in such an incident, Mrozek said. Roy
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was indicted on one count of presenting false writings to defraud the United States, three counts of making false statements to the government and three counts of stealing government property. He faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison if convicted at trial. Mrozek said Roy, who remains on active duty, would be sent a summons to appear in federal court next month for an arraignment on the charges. [Source: Chicago Tribune Dan Whitcomb article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 67: A singer who appeared on the NBC show "America's Got Talent" and claimed he was injured during a grenade blast in Afghanistan has no military record of his purported combat injuries, the Minnesota National Guard said 5 JUN. Timothy Michael Poe appeared on the nationally televised show 4 JUN. He told the judges he spent 14 years in the military, and suffered a broken back and brain injury when he was hit by a grenade in Afghanistan in 2009. "I had volunteered for a team to go out and clear buildings and help out with the wounded," Poe said during a taped interview on the show. "There was a guy who come up with a rocket-propelled grenade. I saw it coming down, and by the time I turned and went to jump on top of my guys, I yelled `grenade' and the blast had hit me." According to military records, Poe served with the Minnesota Army National Guard from December 2002 through May 2011, working as a supply specialist. Records show he was deployed in Kosovo from Oct. 10, 2007 to July 15, 2008, and then served in Afghanistan for about a month in 2009. "Sgt. Poe's official military records do not indicate that he was injured by a grenade in combat while serving in Afghanistan in 2009, as he reports," Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard, said in a statement.
Olson noted that Poe did not receive the Purple Heart, which is given to those who are injured in enemy combat. Poe didn't claim he had received the award. "We looked very closely at his record,"
Olson said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "We did not find something to substantiate what he said." Neither Poe nor NBC returned telephone messages from the AP. Poe told the judges that he was from San Antonio, Texas. The television show listed his age as 35. Poe had a stutter when he spoke with the judges, which he attributed to his brain injury. The stutter disappeared when he sang. He also didn't appear to stutter when he spoke with the show's host after his performance. When he was describing his injury, Poe said during the video clip: "When I was laying there I thought I'd never see my daughter walk down the aisle or throw the baseball with my son or be able to hold them and see them. ... I didn't want my life to be over." He said singing has helped him deal with the injury. "I'm just happy to be here," he told the judges. In a subsequent 23 minute interview on the military-focused podcast ‘Tou Served’ [ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2012/06/06/interview-with-tim-poe ] he admitted that he, in fact, did not earn medals he once claimed to have received, but maintains he suffers from traumatic brain injury, despite assertions by military officials to the contrary. He said the Minnesota National Guard officials who dispute his claim do not have all of his medical records and he is willing to release his medical records supporting his diagnosis. The military blog You Served http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved plans to post them on its site if and when received, [Source: FoxNews.com AP article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
Timothy Michael Poe
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DFAS SCAM Update 01: The IRS and Maryland’s comptroller are warning of a new scam that targets military personnel and retirees as well as civilian workers. Emails, which seem to come from the Defense Finance and Accounting Services, claim that recipients of disability compensation from the VA may be entitled to more money from the IRS. Not true. The email, which has a “.mil” domain, instructs recipients to send copies of their income tax returns, 1099-Rs, Retiree Account Statements, VA award letter to a colonel in Florida, officials say. With that kind of information, a con artist can steal an identity and wreak all sorts of havoc on a victim’s finances. The IRS says beware of any emails out of the blue promising benefits. Also, if you think it may be legit, contact the agency on your own — don’t respond to the email. And any email or phone solicitation asking for your Social Security number should send you running. [Source: The Baltimore Sun Eileen Ambrose article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran Discrimination: Boston’s Veterans Services chief said the discrimination claim by an Iraq and Afghan war veteran who is suing a peace activist over a Savin Hill rental dispute is “unusual,” despite the nation’s bitter divisions after a decade of war. “Things are definitely better than they used to be,” said Veterans Affairs Commissioner Francisco Urena, when asked if returning vets today are feeling the kinds of prejudices reported by Vietnam vets decades ago. The Boston Herald reported 4 JUN that Army National Guard Sgt. Joel Morgan, 29, filed a discrimination lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against property owner Janice Roberts, 63, of Boston, after she cited her anti-war views when suggesting he look elsewhere for an apartment. Roberts, citing issues such as questions about Morgan’s ability to pay and his failure to return a rental application, has denied she passed him over for the two-bedroom, $1,220 a month flat over his war service, though she cited, “what you told me about the Iraq war,” in an April 9 voicemail in which she stated, “It probably would be better for you to look for a place that is a little bit less politically active and controversial.” Roberts doesn’t live at the Savin Hill property. State law bars landlords from rejecting veterans due to their military backgrounds. Harvey Silverglate, a noted local civil liberties lawyer who is not involved in the case, said of the looming legal dispute, “We’re living in highly contentious times. It’s just a reflection of the larger ideological battles that have divided this country. As a society, we’re forgetting how to live with our differences and this is very dangerous. We need to start talking to each other.” Meanwhile, Urena advised any vets who believe they are facing discrimination to call City Hall. [Source: Boston Herald Laurel J. Sweet article 6 Jun 2012 ++]
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Reverse Boot Camp: Defense and Veterans Affairs officials are finalizing plans for a “reverse boot camp” for troops leaving the military, part of a series of efforts to better prepare soon-to-be veterans for the challenges of civilian life. The idea, announced by the White House last summer, is designed to be a dramatic improvement to the services’ Transition Assistance Program, which critics have said doesn’t fully prepare troops for challenges like navigating civilian job interviews, attending college classes and understanding veterans benefits. No specifics of the transition program have been released. The idea was one of several initiated by President Barack Obama last year as a way to properly repay troops for their service by ensuring success in their post-military lives. That included the formation of the Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force, charged with finding ways to create more employment opportunities for separating servicemembers. Last week, the group announced its first partnership, establishing opportunities for 126,000 troops to receive “industry-recognized, nationally-portable certifications for high-demand manufacturing jobs.” The program includes accreditation through the American Welding Society and National Institute for Metalworking Skills for soldiers with certain machinist and welding
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skills. Another agreement with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers will expand certification opportunities for troops in technical engineering fields, giving them a chance to seamlessly carry their military skills to a civilian job. [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
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VAMC Orlando: Contractors are attributing the Orlando VA Medical Center's "much-delayed" opening to politicians and VA officials' "poor oversight." Delays have pushed the completion date of the 1.2 million-square-foot facility back a year and half. Now the date has been pushed into March or April 2014 Quinco, the project's electrical contractor, owner David Deese said the VA's "slow approvals" on orders and many construction
suspensions forced him to lay off 60 workers; and extensive changes to the electrical drawings caused the contact cost, which "started at $45 million" to nearly double. Project Manager George Paulson said the VA "had a chance to prevent all that" last October, when the primary subcontractors developed a two-phase plan that would have cost the VA a "little more," but would have ensured the VAMC was finished by the original October 2012 completion date. Deese concurred. "We thought it was a no-brainer," he said. But the VA "said no, according to those involved." [Source: Orlando Sentinel Marni Jameson article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Budget 2013 Update 05: By a vote of 407-12, the House on 31 MAY overwhelming passed the Military Construction/VA funding bill despite threats of a veto by the Administration. To see how your representative voted, click on http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll305.xml. The bill, H.R.5854, provides $146.4 billion dollars for FY 2013, which is a 10-percent increase above last year's levels. VA funding includes $54.5 in Advanced Appropriations for medical care, a boost for medical services and increases for jobs and disability programs for veterans. House members voted to withhold funding on the DOD-VA integrated medical record project until both departments implement recommendations made by GAO earlier this year. This voted amount is $1.5 billion less than the AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States annual Independent Budget recommendation of $3.2 billion to meet increased demand and rising health care costs . The approved amount also provides:
 $6.2 billion for mental health services
 $5.8 billion for homeless veterans programs
 $35 million for continued research on the effects of PTSD and TBI
 $174 million for expansion of Arlington National Cemetery
 $1.1 billion for major and minor construction projects
 $1.7 billion for family and military personnel housing
House Adopted Amendments to the bill included:
 Blumenauer (D-OR) – The amendment makes a symbolic funding cut of $10 million to the Defense-wide Planning and Design, and then adds the funding back to the same account. The purpose of the amendment is to express support for the Department of Defense (DoD) efforts for continued improvement to energy security and renewable energy initiatives. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Hayworth (R-NY) – The amendment allows non-active duty National Guard and Reservists to purchase government memorial headstones. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Welch (D-VT) – The amendment allows funds to be used for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with statutory energy management requirements and report on the inventory of energy efficiency in VA buildings, to be published online. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
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 Terry (R-NE) – The amendment requires a VA Inspector General report on cost overrides on faulty bidding. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Blumenauer (D-OR) – The amendment makes a symbolic funding cut of $35 million, and then adds the funding back to the same account, to encourage VA to increase their efforts on researching the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, as increasing numbers of veterans return from the battlefield. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Schock (R-IL) – The amendment makes a symbolic funding cut of $16 million to the Veterans Health Administration, and then adds the funding back to the same account. The purpose of the amendment is to draw attention to importance of pilot programs – Project ARCH and Project HERO – that provide veterans’ health care through local and/or private providers. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Grimm (R-NY) – The amendment strikes a provision in the bill that prohibits funding for the DoD or VA to solicit construction contracts that either favor or oppose project labor agreements (PLAs). The amendment would allow the Administration to continue to use PLAs in the consideration of federal contract bids. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 218-198.
 Fitzpatrick (R-PA) – The amendment prohibits funding for federal contracts that do not give veteran-owned small businesses all available preferences. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Poe (R-TX) – The amendment prohibits funds to employ a new national cemetery director who is not a veteran. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
 Poe (R-TX) – The amendment prohibits funds from being used to stop any veteran service organization from participating in the funeral or memorial service of a veteran. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
 Runyan (R-TX) – The amendment prohibits funding for DoD to informally close any military bases. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
 Flores (R-TX) – The amendment prohibits funds to implement a regulation under the Energy Independence and Security Act (section 526). The regulation prohibits federal contracts for alternative fuels, unless the alternative fuels are proven to produce less greenhouse gas than conventional fuels. This overly burdensome regulation would limit the ability of the federal government – including the Pentagon – from exploring and using alternative fuel options. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Webster (R-FL) – The amendment requires the director of construction and facilities management in the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the employment requirements of current law. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
 Stearns (R-FL) – The amendment prohibits the use of funds for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide performance awards for employees of the Senior Executive Services. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.
[Source: VFW Washington Weekly 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Budget 2013 Update 06: The House on 31 MAY approved a measure offered by the Ocala Republican that would do away with salary bonuses to senior administrators within the VA. Stearns' amendment to a bill containing the VA's 2013 budget passed on a voice vote without opposition, according to House records. In a statement, Stearns, a longtime member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said the agency's top management should not be rewarded when military veterans are receiving less than exemplary service from the agency. "I want to ensure the best care for our veterans, but the VA continues to have an unmanageable backlog, extremely long wait lists and a poor record on oversight," Stearns said. "Given this troubling record, the VA should discontinue paying bonuses to its top executives." Stearns' amendment targets staffers within the senior executive service, or SES, the level of managers just below presidential appointees that administer policy and oversee the rest of the federal civil service. Stearns noted that SES workers are already paid between $120,000 and $180,000 a year.
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He also highlighted testimony given last November to the Veterans Affairs Committee by Carl Blake of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, who said that the average bonus for VA employees within the SES was $14,000. Yet the VA has a current backlog of more than 567,000 claims, and the average wait time for a veteran to have a claim resolved is eight months, according to Stearns. "This is why there should be no bonuses for VA's top executives," said Stearns, who represents one of the most veteran-heavy districts in the country. "The VA should focus its resources on caring for veterans and not on bonuses for its highest paid employees," he said. The amendment would not affect Stearns' district. According to Stearns' office, Thomas Capello was the only SES-level employee at a VA facility in Stearns' North Florida district. Capello, who retired earlier this year, made $179,900 last year — more than six times the per capita income in Florida — while serving as director of the VA district that included the Malcom Randall Medical Center in Gainesville and the Lake City VA hospital as well as three regional outpatient clinics and seven community-based facilities in Florida and Georgia. He managed a $797 million yearly budget and almost 4,700 employees who served more than 121,000 veterans. The Senate must still consider the VA budget bill. The House version passed by a lopsided 407-12. [Source: Ocala Star-Banner Bill Thompson article 2 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA Health Care Access Update 03: You probably qualify for VA Health Care if any of the below statements are true:
 You served in the active military, naval, or air service and were honorably discharged or released; or
 You were/are a Reservist or National Guard member and you were called to active duty by a Federal Order (for other than training purposes) and you completed the full call-up period.
AND
 You were discharged or separated for medical reasons, early out, or hardship
 You served in theater of combat operations within the past 5 years
 You were discharged from the military because of a disability (not preexisting)
 You are a former Prisoner of War
 You received a Purple Heart Medal
 You receive VA pension or disability benefits
 You receive state Medicaid benefits
Your eligibility for VA health care benefits may be based on special factors such as service in Vietnam, other military history factors or even household income. All veterans are encouraged to apply now for VA health care benefits now before they encounter a medical issue that requires medical attention and compensation.. Submitting an application is the best way to find out if they qualify. Plus, if in the future new regulations take effect, VA will automatically reassess your application to determine if you qualify. With an application on file, VA will be able to notify you if new rules make you qualified for health benefits in the future. The fastest and easiest way to apply or update your information is online at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/. Other ways to apply or UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION are:
 By Phone - You can apply for enrollment of your benefits or update your information by phone by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387), Monday through , between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM (Eastern Time). A VA representative will have your completed form sent to you for verification and signature.
 By Mail - Print the 10-10EZ form https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZ-fillable.pdf or 10-10EZR form https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/Form/1010EZR-fillable.pdf or call to have the form mailed to you. Complete and sign the application, then mail it to your local VA Medical Center or clinic whose address can be found at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1.
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 In Person - Visit a VA Medical Center or clinic nearest you to apply for enrollment or if you are already enrolled, to update your information in person.
If you do not have an ID card, another way you can get logged into the VA system would be by requesting to be screened for Agent Orange affects or getting an annual physical. There is no charge for the screening but dependent on your annual income and status you may have to pay a small copay for the physical. Then, to stay within the active VA database, continue to get the annual checkup. The backlog can be 6 to 8 months long for case reviews so position yourself for faster processing, should you need it. If you need help call at 1-877-222-8387, M-F between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM EST. [Source: https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ Jun 2012 ++ ]
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TSP Update 30: Thrift Savings Plan returns for May continued April’s downward trend, with most funds finishing the month lower than they started.
 Like April’s returns, all funds ended May in the red except for the F Fund, invested in fixed-income bonds, and the G Fund, comprised of government-backed securities. The F Fund was up 0.91 percent in May, and the G Fund was up 0.14 percent.
 The troubled I Fund, invested in international stocks, ended May down 11.40 percent, a dramatic decline after April’s drop of 1.87 percent. The fund has posted losses of more than 20 percent during the past 12 months.
 The C and S funds also saw large dips in May: The C Fund, invested in stocks on Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, lost just shy of 6 percent, and the S Fund, invested in small and midsize companies that track the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, posted a loss of 6.91 percent.
All TSP’s life-cycle funds ended May in the red, including the L Income Fund, which had gained 0.01 in April. That fund, meant for federal employees who have reached their target retirement date and have started withdrawing money, lost 1.38 percent in May, but has gained 1.31 percent this year to date. The L 2020 lost 4.20 percent in May; it is up more than 2 percent since the start of 2012. The L 2030 lost 5.23 percent in April; it is also up more than 2 percent since 2012 began but has posted negative returns during the past 12 months. The L 2040 was down 6 percent in May, and the L 2050 was down by nearly 7 percent. Both the L 2040 and L 2050 funds have posted positive returns in 2012 so far, but are in the red compared to a year ago. [Source: GovExec.com Amanda Palleschi article 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA for Vets: VA for Vets is a comprehensive career development program that helps Veterans launch or advance their civilian careers at VA. From dynamic job searches and military skills translation to professional
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development and deployment lifecycle support – there is something for every veteran in this program. The Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO), a new organization within the Department of Veterans Affairs, was established specifically to oversee the program. This office is the first of its kind dedicated entirely to ensuring the career success of veterans. They served for us. Now VA for Vets is serving those who have served our country. Program features include:
 On‐line support services tailored to the needs of each Veteran at http://vaforvets.va.gov
 Career Center to translate military skills to civilian work, create easy‐to‐read resumes, apply to open VA positions, and save all results into one profile.
 Contact coaches for help with deployment and reintegration issues or questions related to careers at VA.
 Deployment Lifecycle Resources to access vital information to prepare for and support deployment and reintegration.
 Professional Development through Web‐based and instructor‐led training to sharpen skills or learn more about deployment and reintegration topics.
 Webinars and Videos which cover the strengths and skills Veterans bring to the workforce and how to bes tsupport Military Service Members.
 Virtual Collaboration Tool which allows interaction with a coach, supervisor or HR professional in a personalized virtual workspace
The program’s mission is simple: to create a world‐class organization of Veterans serving Veterans. VA for Vets wants Veterans to love working at and to build meaningful careers at VA. To achieve this goal, VA for Vets aims to:
 Recruit Veterans outside of VA to come work at VA.
 Retain the 100,000+ Veterans currently employed at VA.
 Reintegrate VA’s Military Service Member employees seamlessly after deployments.
 Recognize and honor Military Service.
 Educate VA’s supervisors, hiring managers and human resources professionals and coworkers about Veteran specific issues and support resources.
[Source: VA for Vets Fact Sheet 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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VA for Vets Update 01: The National Veterans Small Business Conference, the government's premier event for Veteran-owned small businesses, is coming to Detroit's Cobo Center June 26-29. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced .that a "VA for Vets" Hiring Fair will be held June 26-28 during the conference for Veterans looking for careers in the public and private sectors. The conference is expected to attract thousands of Veterans, business owners and federal employees, and bring an estimated $3 million in direct spending to the city. "VA is committed to bringing more Veteran-owned businesses into the public-private partnership," said VA Chief of Staff John Gingrich. "In addition to the National Veterans Small Business Conference, our Detroit Hiring Fair will provide Veterans with on-the-spot job opportunities and interviews, while also offering career search classes and one-on-one counseling." Last year's National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo in New Orleans drew almost 5,000 attendees, and more than 6,000 participants are expected this year.
The Detroit Hiring Fair builds upon VA's success 18 JAN in Washington at which a partnership of federal agencies and private industry attracted over 4,100 Veterans and resulted in over 2,600 on-the-spot interviews and more than 500 tentative job offers. "These events are part of Secretary Shinseki's ongoing efforts to help Veterans find employment in both the public and private sectors," said Gingrich. "As the President said in his State of the Union address, Veterans are crucial to our economy, and we need to find them jobs." This year's conference will include an open house June 26-28 that gives Veterans the chance to learn the wide range of resources available to
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help them with their own businesses. Also available will be the VetGovPartner online platform, which enables networking, viewing the business profiles of all participants, and identifying business opportunities with more than 400 government procurement decision makers in attendance.
Known historically as the world's capital for the transportation industry, the Detroit metro area is reinventing itself with six booming industries: medical research, defense, entertainment, green tech, urban farming, and aeronautics. About 330,000 Veterans are served by the city's VA medical center, and more than 704,000 Veterans live in Michigan. VA invites all interested persons and businesses to attend. More information about the small business conference is available at www.nationalveteransconference.com. Information and registration for the hiring fair is available at http://www.VAforVets.VA.Gov/Detroit. [Source: VA News Release 10 May2012 ++]
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VRAP Update 01: On 28 MAY, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), held a hearing to determine the progress being made on implementation of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) which is part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
 Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
 Are unemployed
 Received an other than dishonorable discharge
 Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
 Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
 Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from Oct. 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. The VA opened applications for the program on 18 MAY and one of the panel questioned by the committee, VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison Hickey, reported that the program has already received over 12,000 applications for the program and approved around 1,400 to begin training on July 1, the first day of program implementation. Under Secretary Hickey also reported that about 23 percent of the applications had been rejected. The most common reason was that the veterans still had remaining GI Bill eligibility. When discovered the VA is notifying the individual and reinstating the remaining eligibility. It should be understood that when GI Bill eligibility expires, eligibility for the VRAP program may be available. More details on the program are available at the VOW website http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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USERRA Update 14: On 30 MAY the House passed Representative Tim Walz’s (D-MN) H.R.3670. The bill now passes to the Senate where companion legislation, S. 1990, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) with 27 co-sponsors awaits action. This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and protect deployed members of the National Guard and Reserves’ civilian jobs when they return from military service. When the TSA was created after the attack of 9/11 it was exempt from following the USERRA requirements. Although TSA employs thousands of veterans including members of the Guard and Reserve this rare exemption still exists. Representative Walz, a retired Command Sergeant Major of the National Guard explained the need for the bill and the end of the exemption: “The unemployment rate among our servicemembers is already far too high. Protecting
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the jobs they already have should be a top priority and I’m pleased the House took action on this common sense bill today. We have USERRA protections in place for a reason and this bill simply ensures that the thousands of veterans, Reservists, and members of the National Guard working for TSA are protected as they would be in any other position.”
The House also passed the Servicemember Family Protection Act, H.R.4201. This bill originally sponsored by Representative Mike Turner amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to ensure that a servicemember’s deployment, or possible deployment, cannot be used as a factor in child custody determinations. “With every deployment, our men and women in uniform live with the constant fear that their custody rights as parents could be in jeopardy due to their service,” said Rep. Turner. “This legislation would ensure that being deployed, or the possibility of deployment is not used against them when child custody decisions are made by the courts.” There are now 12 pieces of veteran legislation passed by the House of Representatives waiting action by the Senate. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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SBA Vet Issues Update 21: On 21 May Senators Burr (R-NC) and Brown (R-MA) joined the next day by Senator Heller (R-NV) introduced S.3210. This bill would amend the Veterans’ Benefits Code under the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for a 3-year transfer period of contracting benefits under the VA’s service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB) program to a surviving spouse if a veteran dies of causes not related to service. This change would allow the surviving spouse to have the time to either transfer the business to another qualified veteran or to make other plans to let the business survive and continue. Presently, unless the veteran owner dies of a service connected cause the business immediately loses all the veteran benefits. Senator Burr (R-NC) explained the need for the bill by saying: “Our nation’s disabled veterans and their families have sacrificed much for our country, and we will forever be in their debt. Military families are the backbone of our armed forces, and many of them have faced grave difficulties as their loved ones suffer from physical and emotional wounds of military service. Giving the surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran sufficient time to plan for the future of their family-owned business is one small way to express our gratitude.” Senator Brown added:” “We honor our veterans by the way we take care of their families. Our veterans’ spouses have sacrificed so much, and a family business shouldn’t be punished when a veteran unexpectedly passes away. Their spouse should have some time to get the business on solid ground. My bill provides a three year transition period where spouses and families will have the opportunity to keep a veteran-owned business stable as they prepare for the future.” [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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Forgiven Debt Tax: In general, if you owe money and it’s eventually written off, as far as Uncle Sam is concerned, the destroyed debt is taxed like income. This might not seem fair. After all, it’s not like you got a check. The forgiven debt is more like a gift, and gifts aren’t taxable. So why would the IRS treat this forgiven debt as income? The logic lies in the way income and losses are treated for tax purposes. Basically, it’s yin and yang: One man’s deduction is the other man’s income. When it comes to business, most transactions involving money are deductible to the one paying it and income to the one receiving it. For example, if a bank pays interest on your savings account, they get to deduct that money as an expense on their taxes – and you count it as income on yours. And if the bank lends money you don’t pay back, the bank deducts the bad debt as an expense – and you have to include it in your income. In short, the term “debt forgiveness” makes it seem like a gift, but it’s more like “debt deduction.” When one party is writing something off, the opposing party is typically reporting it as income. That’s the rule and the logic behind it. But as with many rules, especially those relating to income taxes, there are many exceptions. Let’s look at a few:
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 Insolvency - According to IRS publication 4681, if you’re “insolvent,” meaning you owe more than you own, forgiven debt isn’t counted as income. Their words… Do not include a canceled debt in income to the extent that you were insolvent immediately before the cancellation. You were insolvent immediately before the cancellation to the extent that the total of all of your liabilities was more than the FMV (Fair Market Value) of all of your assets immediately before the cancellation. To qualify for this exclusion, you file Form 982. This is generally the form people file when they enter into debt settlement agreements like Mike’s and will probably be his best chance at avoiding paying taxes on his forgiven debt.
 Bankruptcy - Debt cancelled through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy typically isn’t taxable.
 Mortgage debt - A foreclosure often includes cancelled mortgage debt – the amount of the mortgage not recouped when the home is taken back and resold. Since that results in forgiven debt, the result for many hapless homeowners is losing their home, then months later getting a tax form in the mail informing them they owe taxes on potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars of income they never received. Depending on state laws, the same could be true for those doing a short-sale (selling their home for less than the mortgage balance) or participating in a program like Bank of America which recently cut qualifying mortgage holder’s balances. Talk about salt in the wound! Fortunately Congress rode to the rescue years ago and passed a law called the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. This law applies to homeowners whose mortgage debt is “partly or entirely forgiven during tax years 2007 through 2012.” You can read the details at this page of the IRS website, or by reading Publication 4681. But in general, if the forgiven mortgage debt was less than $2 million for married couples ($1 million for singles), was secured by a principal residence (as opposed to a rental property or vacation home), and was used to purchase or improve the home (as opposed to buying a car or paying off credit cards), it’s not reportable as income.
The aforementioned are some common exceptions that could help you avoid taxes on forgiven debt, but they’re not the only ones. There are also different rules for businesses, as well as for debts that are recourse (those for which you’re personally liable) and non-recourse. State laws can also play a part, and so can other laws. For example, after hurricane Katrina, Congress passed a law allowing those in affected areas to exclude forgiven non-business debts from their income that year. Paying people to do things you can do yourself is not desirable but experienced professionals could be worth paying for. Publication 4681 (2011), Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions, and Abandonments is 26 pages long and the amount of detail therein combined with the amount of money involved could warrant seeking advice/assistance, preferably before you agree to settle the debt. [MoneyTalksNews Stacey Johnson article 29 May 2012 ++]
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Student Loans H.R.5044
Forgiven Debt Tax Update 01: Late last month Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) introduced H.R.5044, the Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act. The bill forgives the income taxes due that are added when a deceased servicemember’s student loans are forgiven by the loan holder. Ordinarily, student loans are categorized as gross taxable income for families of veterans who have lost their life while serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. The drive to correct this injustice came from the story of Lance Corporal Andrew P. Carpenter of Columbia, Tennessee, who lost his life on February 19, 2011, while serving his country in Afghanistan. Three years prior, Andrew had taken out a private educational loan. After learning that he had been killed in action, the company administering the loan agreed to completely forgive the debt. Upon forgiveness of the debt, the family received a 1099-C form from the Department of Education informing them that the debt discharged would be factored into their gross taxable income for that year.
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“I am humbled to have the honor of working with the Carpenter family to introduce this legislation,” said Representative DesJarlais. “It is a fitting way to fix a glaring problem in our tax code, while paying tribute to the memory of Lance Corporal Carpenter. His family has experienced the pain of losing their son, husband and father. Hopefully, if passed this measure will in some way ease this burden.” It is important to note that this bill would not make it mandatory for private lenders to forgive education loans. Private loan companies would still have the option of whether or not to forgive a loan, and federally backed loans are already forgiven for deceased veterans under the Higher Education Act. This legislation would simply prevent the IRS from collecting taxes on any amount of loan forgiveness. The Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act would have a retroactive effective date of October 7, 2001, the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. The bill already has 20 cosponsors, including LTC Allen West (R-FL, USA-Ret.) and Sgt. Major Tim Walz (D-MN, USA-Ret). [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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Jobs, Education, Homes
VA Benefit Programs Update 01: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants veterans to know about their benefits, from job and education opportunities to home loans and programs for those who are disabled Curtis Coy, VA's deputy under secretary for economic opportunity said 29 MAY. Veterans caught in today's high rate of unemployment likely can find a job in one of the more than 200 high-demand careers that have been identified by the Department of Labor, said Curtis Coy, VA's deputy under secretary for economic opportunity. Those occupations are listed on the VA's Web site. The U.S. Department of Labor's most-recent figures from last year show 900,000 veterans out of work, averaging 7.7 percent of Americans, and 12.1 percent for veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. "The high-demand jobs list is not a narrow one; in fact, it is a very broad list," Coy said, adding that the 2011 legislation, VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was enacted for veterans looking for "meaningful employment in high-demand jobs."
Overall, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act would lower the rate of unemployment among the nation's veterans, and combine two Congressional provisions from the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act and the Hiring Heroes Act, VA officials said. The act also would provide veterans tax credits in an all-inclusive jobs package to fight the veteran unemployment rate. The act has more than 20 provisions, including tax credits for businesses that hire veterans, Coy said. It also makes the Transition Assistance Program mandatory as of Nov. 21 for every departing service member. TAP readies departing active-duty personnel to re-enter the civilian world, officials said. "[TAP] is going to have a major impact on VA, DOL and the Defense Department because what used to be a voluntary program is now mandatory," Coy said.
Coy also wants veterans to know they can apply for up to a year of paid training to qualify for high-demand jobs through the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program. The VRAP training is geared toward veterans between the ages of 35 and 60, the hardest-hit unemployed age group, he said, adding that the education benefit must, by law be used toward earning an associate's degree or job certification. "The marketing tool we use is if you are or know of a veteran between ages 35 and 60 who's unemployed and [can] use another year of educational benefits to attain a high-demand job, the VRAP program is the exact, wonderful new benefit that will help them get that meaningful employment," Coy said. Applicants for the education program are taken on a first-come, first-served basis after their eligibility is confirmed, he added. The VA Web site has details. "I think the VA always has been the institution that takes a look at our veterans, not only today, but veterans of the past, and provides those services and benefits that Congress has so generously provided to [them]," said Coy, a 24-year Navy veteran. "Our job is to ensure veterans know of and get the benefits they so richly deserve."
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In addition to benefits for training for jobs, Coy wants veterans and active-duty service members to know about VA's Home Loan Guaranty program for VA mortgages and Specially Adapted Housing Grants.VA mortgages in the past 15 quarters had the lowest foreclosure rates of any component in the country, Coy said. "That speaks volumes about our veterans, their responsibilities, and how they deal with business," he said. "The foreclosure rate in this country and the number of homes under water is a problem for many Americans. What we've done to help our veterans is keep a very close eye on [their] mortgages." VA doesn't lend veterans the money for mortgages. Instead, VA provides a loan guarantee. "We have a vested interest in being good stewards of our taxpayer money," Coy said. "Last year, we helped over 72,000 vets retain their homes who may not have been able to retain them otherwise. That's a 10-percent increase over the year before." He said the VA provides proactive support for veterans who might get into trouble with their mortgage. "We can be good agents for them, and in some cases intercede or help them with their banks and mortgage lenders to perhaps restructure [the loan] or take a look at the nuances of that particular mortgage," Coy explained. "We want to make sure our veterans stay in their homes, and we do everything to help them do just that," he added.
Eligibility for a VA home loan includes being a veteran or service member, having good credit and the ability to pay the mortgage, Coy said, noting no money down is required, unlike private lenders. "We are very scrupulous to make sure veterans don't get in over their heads on their mortgages," he said. The VA also offers Specially Adapted Housing Grants for disabled veterans and wounded warriors, with grants up to $64,000 in homeowner assistance used to configure veterans' homes for their particular disability, Coy said. Information on the grant is available on the VA Web site, along with toll-free numbers, a list of 57 regional offices across the country, and some 800 vocation and rehabilitation programs. "The VA always has been the institution that takes a look at our veterans, not only [from] today, but veterans of the past, and provides those services and benefits that Congress has so generously provided," Coy said. "Our job is to ensure veterans know of and get the benefits they so richly deserve." [Source: AFPS Moon Cronk article 30 May 2012 ++]
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VA Homeless Vets Update 30: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced 30 MAY it will collaborate with the "100,000 Homes" campaign and its 117 participating communities to help find permanent housing for 10,000 vulnerable and chronically homeless veterans this year. "President [Barack] Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among veterans," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said in a VA news release. "Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope." According to the 2011 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, homelessness among veterans has declined 12 percent since January 2010. The new initiative is intended to help accomplish Shinseki's goal of ending veteran homelessness in 2015. It will also support the ongoing work of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and a host of state and local organizations working to implement "Opening Doors," the federal plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness.
The 100,000 Homes campaign is a national movement of over 100 communities working together to find permanent homes for 100,000 vulnerable and chronically homeless individuals and families by July 2014. The new partnership will better integrate the efforts of VA case managers and their local partners by leveraging VA resources and those of participants in the "100,000 Homes" campaign. The campaign's national support staff, provided by New York-based non-profit Community Solutions, will also work with VA to provide technical assistance to help communities reduce the amount of time necessary to house a single homeless veteran. As a result, community organizations will be better able to utilize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. The program is a coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing with case management and other support services for homeless veterans. The collaboration will also help VA increase the proportion of HUD-VASH vouchers that help house chronic and
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vulnerable homeless individuals. Research indicates that this approach can successfully end homelessness for vulnerable and chronically homeless veterans while also achieving significant public cost savings. From fiscal years 2008 to 2012, HUD has allocated funding to local public housing authorities to provide over 47,000 housing choice vouchers to homeless veterans.
Volunteers in participating "100,000 Homes" communities will help the VA identify homeless veterans through their registry week process. Registry weeks are community-wide efforts in which volunteers canvass their neighborhoods to survey homeless individuals and gather key information to help VA case managers expedite the housing process. Support staff will also offer quality improvement training designed to help reduce the amount of time necessary to house a homeless veteran to 90 days or less. Pilot training in Los Angeles and New York City has already helped shave an average of 64 days from the veteran housing process in these communities. In 2009, Obama and Shinseki announced the federal government's goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. Through the homeless veterans' initiative, VA committed $800 million in fiscal year 2011 to strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among veterans. VA provides a range of services to homeless veterans, including health care, housing, job training, and education. [Source: VA News Release 30 May 2012 ++]
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Veteran ID Card Update 02: Governor Bob McDonnell on 30 MAY launched the new Virginia Veterans ID Card available from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in partnership with the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) during an afternoon event at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond. The card will help thousands of Virginia veterans identify themselves as veterans and obtain retail and restaurant discounts around the state. The DMV 2 Go mobile office was present to process veterans' applications for the cards onsite. Governor McDonnell, a U.S. Army veteran who served for a total of 21 years in active duty and reserve roles, visited the mobile office’s event and was one of the first to apply for the new ID card. Speaking about the launch of the Virginia Veterans ID Card, Governor McDonnell said, "Virginia is home to 823,000 veterans who have protected and served our great nation. It is Virginia's duty to serve them. The launch of the Virginia Veterans ID card will provide a new state resource to aid in obtaining discounts and other services from the Commonwealth's retail community, as well as providing convenient identification for Veterans. This initiative is a perfect example of state agencies working together to assist those individuals who have served and sacrificed for our great nation. We take seriously our responsibility to provide resources and support to our veterans. This is an important step towards reaching our goal of making Virginia the 'most Veteran friendly state in the nation.'"
Currently, retired military and veterans with a service-connected disability rating from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs are issued ID cards. These men and women comprise just a fraction of the state's veteran population. The remainder of Virginia's 823,000 veterans have no way to show veteran status other than by presenting their discharge documents. The new Virginia Veterans ID Card is convenient and fits in a wallet, cutting down on Veterans having to carry the DD 214 military discharge document as identification. Paul Galanti, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, added, "Retailers and restaurants across the state offer discounts and other special promotions to veterans and military, especially around Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This is a winning situation for both veterans and retailers." Veterans may apply for the cards in person at any DMV customer service center, DMV 2 Go mobile office, or online at http://www.dmvNOW.com. Each applicant needs to present an unexpired Virginia driver's license or DMV-issued ID card, the veterans ID card application, his or her DD214, DD 256 or WD AGO document, and $10. The card, which does not expire, will be mailed to the veteran and should arrive within a week. In the meantime, the temporary veterans ID card received at the time of the in-person application can be used as proof of veteran status. [Source: Gov. McDonnell press release 30 May 2012 ++]
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Sunscreen & Skin Cancer: Twenty percent of us will develop skin cancer at some point in our life, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Two million people in the United States are diagnosed with some form of the cancer each year. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making it a little easier for shoppers to protect themselves. Last summer, after years of research and discussion, the FDA officially decided to update the federal sunscreen labeling rules. The new rules were supposed to go into effect in JUN, but the FDA recently announced that they’re extending the deadline by six months. Still, some sunscreen products are expected to bear the new label starting this summer – and understanding the new rules now will help you better protect your skin this summer… What will change:
 The term “broad spectrum” will have a specific definition. It will mean that a sunscreen protects against both types of ultraviolet radiation from the sun: UVA and UVB. In the past, FDA rules focused on UVB rays, which cause sunburns. But UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, contribute to skin cancer and early aging even though they don’t cause burns.
 The term “sunblock” will be banned – because it’s misleading.
 The terms “waterproof” and “sweatproof” will be replaced with the more accurate terms “water-resistant” and “sweat-resistant.”
 Water-resistant details will be added. If a sunscreen is water-resistant, its label will specify how long it remains effective while you’re swimming or sweating. So instead of just the word “water-resistant,” you’ll see either “water-resistant (40 minutes)” or “water-resistant (80 minutes)” so you know how often to reapply.
 The Drug Facts label must appear an all products that contain sunscreen, including cosmetics (see the example below).
Sample sunscreen labeled according to the FDA's new rule
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More ways to save your skin now
 Check the expiration date. According to the Mayo Clinic, sunscreen has a shelf life of three years, tops.
 Don’t leave sunscreen in the car (or anywhere else hot). Exposure to heat shortens its shelf life, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 Make sunscreen a daily habit. Even if you aren’t planning to spend the day outdoors, you should still plan to protect your skin. The sun’s UV rays can cause damage in fewer than 15 minutes, according to the CDC. So if you don’t apply sunscreen daily, look for a moisturizer with sunscreen – and use it daily. Many makeup products like foundation, concealer, and lip balms include sunscreen.
 Remember the rest of your body. When we’re in a swimsuit, it’s hard to forget all that bare skin from the neck down. But when we’re dressed for a regular day, many people forget the exposed skin on their lower arms or upper chest and only apply sunscreen to their face. As cosmetics expert Paula Begoun puts it, “You must apply sunscreen liberally on all parts of your body that will see daylight!”
 Dress up. Clothing can also act as sun protection. (Looser is better: The tighter the fit, the less effective it is as sun protection). So if you don’t want to slather up your naked skin every day, wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves.
 Remember the basics. No matter what expert you consult, they’ll echo two basic sunscreen requirements: an SPF of at least 15 (some say 30) and broad-spectrum protection.
 Educate yourself. If you learn which active sunscreen ingredients protect against which UV rays, you won’t have to blindly trust the term “broad spectrum.” As Paula Begoun simply explains it, there are only a few ingredients that protect against UVA rays in the U.S.: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), and Mexoryl SX. So if you don’t see one of those exact ingredients listed as an active ingredient in your sunscreen, it won’t protect you against both UVA and UVB radiation.
 Check the UV forecast. The sun’s ultraviolet radiation can be more intense on some days than others, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes a free UV Index and updates it daily at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html. Just enter your ZIP code before leaving home and this cool tool will tell you – on a scale of 1 to 11- plus what time of that day to be extra wary of the sun. “Even on an overcast day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds,” warns the FDA.
 Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Just about every expert will tell you that’s when the sun’s UV rays are most intense. Some experts even say you should avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 Skip the tanning bed. Baking in a tanning bed is like paying for cancer – and a recent Harvard Medical School study provides the latest evidence. The 20-year study found that tanning bed use corresponds to an increased risk of three different types of skin cancer, particularly for younger tanners.
 Look after your eyes. According to the EPA, even short-term sun exposure can burn the front surface of your eyes just as it does your skin – and long-term exposure can lead to eye disorders like cataracts. So look for sunglasses that are specifically labeled “sunglasses” and that have a label offering 99 to 100 percent UV protection against UVA and UVB rays. Don’t feel like you have to pay extra for it, though: “Pricier sunglasses don’t ensure greater UV protection,” says the FDA.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Karla Bowsher article 22 May 2012 ++]
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VA Disputed Claims Update 06: While Americans spent 28 MAY at parades and ceremonies honoring service members killed in the line of duty, one Queens veteran believes government bureaucrats can’t wait for him to die. Frank Bari, a 62-year-old lawyer, has been waging an eight-year legal battle with the Veterans Administration over his claims that he was left permanently disabled by the Agent Orange that was sprayed on him while he served with the Coast Guard in Vietnam. “I did one year, two months and three days” in the war zone, he
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said. His job was boarding small local fishing boats called sampans in search of Viet Cong weapon stashes. He and his crewmates were stationed in an area where fierce firefights regularly took place and US planes dropped the powerful defoliant to expose the enemy’s jungle hiding places. Bari says he has suffered from a rare form of cancer, Type II diabetes, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. He said the Veterans Administration has admitted all of these maladies have been linked to Agent Orange.
Frank Bari
Bari won a significant legal victory several months ago in the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, but it has been sent back to a lower court. Meanwhile, as Bari’s health continues to deteriorate, he’s left wondering whether the government of the country he fought for would rather see him dead. “There are many other former Vietnam War veterans like me and sometimes, I think they [US government bureaucrats] are waiting for us all to just die,” said Bari, a former Newark public defender who now practices criminal law. In 1999, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and given just four months to live, he recalled. Many of the doctors he consulted, Baris says, were “fitting me for a casket,” until he found one who saved his life through a newly approved drug therapy program. He took another hit after 9/11 when he was activated as a Coast Guard reservist and assigned to Ground Zero — a tour that he says led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder that is part of a separate medical claim with the government. Randy Noller, a spokesman for the VA, declined to discuss Bari’s case, citing privacy issues. Noller was unable to provide data on how many other Vietnam War era veterans have pending medical disability claims, but officials say the number climbed in the past several years, as additional maladies have been included. [Source: New York Times Philip Messing article 28 May 2012 ++]
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Victory for Veterans Stamp: During World War II, Americans of all ages shelled out dimes and dollars for the war effort. In this Memorial Day period a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sought to fire up that patriotic spirit with the Victory for Veterans Stamp Act. The act would provide for the sale of a 21-cent stamp to generate money for veterans programs, paying down the national debt and propping up the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp could not be used for postage, even though it would be offered for sale by the Postal Service. Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT), the bill’s chief sponsor, said the stamp would be a way for Americans to show their patriotism and support for the troops. “Over a decade after 9/11, we know that the people of this country still possess a deep reservoir of patriotism and a collective desire to solve our greatest challenges,” Larson said in a letter to colleagues seeking their support for the measure. “They just need to be asked.” Larson came up with the idea for the stamp while going through letters his parents sent to each other during World War II. “I couldn’t help but notice a unique ‘victory’ stamp that was used at the time as a means to help support the war effort,” he said, referring to a 3-cent violet “Win the War” stamp featuring the American eagle with wings spread in a V, encircled by 13 stars.
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World War II victory stamp
That stamp was used for postage, but post offices sold war savings stamps for as little as a dime to support the war effort. Larson said the new stamp could spur school campaigns to write troops. It could be attached to the envelopes, in addition to the postage. Larson suggested World War II-era artwork as a design for the stamp. It features an eagle inside a V, with American flags and the word “victory.” His proposal calls for splitting the 21 cents from every stamp evenly among veterans employment and training programs, the debt reduction effort and support for the Postal Service, which an aide noted employs a large number of veterans. Over the years, Congress has authorized various semipostal stamps, which sell for more than their face value to raise money for causes. Most well-known may be the now-55-cent breast cancer stamp, authorized in 1997, which has generated more than $75 million for breast cancer research. [Source: Stars & Stripes Richard Simon article 27 May 2012 ++]
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TRICARE User Fees Update 92: In late MAY Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter warned Congress that holding the line on TRICARE fees would upset the “carefully balanced” budget request from the administration and undo key domestic priorities. The Deputy Secretary cast yet another administration insult toward those who served saying any change in the earned benefit of health care could harm our national security. The Deputy Secretary is not the only administration official looking to tag retired servicemembers and their families with the bill for deficit reduction. Robert Hale, DoD's comptroller, warned that if Congress rejected the administration’s increase it could mean less palatable cuts elsewhere. "If, for example, Congress turned down all of our compensation proposals and we offset that hole with additional force cuts, we could have to cut roughly another 60,000 troops by 2017...These additional cuts will surely jeopardize the new defense strategy that we have recently put in play," Hale said. And Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of TRICARE Management Activity, said that increasing TRICARE fees nearly four-fold over the next 5-years is the right way to meet the nation’s side of the promise for a 20-year or more career in uniform. The TRICARE benefit has been one of the "most comprehensive and generous health benefits in this country, and our proposals keep it that way,” Woodson said. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 65: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program on 29 MAY announced a memorandum of understanding to connect veterans with disabilities to career opportunities in the water and wastewater sectors as part of the EPA's Water Sector Workforce Initiative. The agreement allows EPA and VA to connect qualified veterans with staffing needs at water and wastewater utilities. EPA and the VA will work with water utilities and state and local VA counselors to promote water sector careers and resources for finding water jobs for veterans as well as educational programs to help veterans transition into careers in water industries. "This
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agreement comes at the perfect time to address the predicted workforce shortages in the water and wastewater industries and the need for transitioning veterans into civilian jobs," said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "EPA believes that well-trained and experienced water sector professionals are vital to ensuring sustainable, properly operated systems."
"VA has cultivated relationships with both public and private industry to ensure disabled veterans have opportunities to find and maintain meaningful employment," said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. "We are thrilled to forge this relationship with EPA to assist them with hiring veterans through our Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program." More than one-third of all current water operators are eligible to retire within seven years and, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for water and wastewater operators is expected to grow by 20 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the national average for all other occupations. Each year, VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program assists more than 100,000 disabled veterans prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful careers. Veterans are an important target group for water and wastewater utility jobs because many veterans already possess training and technical skills that are directly transferable to careers in the water sector. There is a wide spectrum of water sector careers that veterans could be qualified for, including engineering, laboratory and water science, operations and maintenance, management and administration, communications, and public education. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program further supports veterans for the water workforce by providing necessary accommodations and additional training as needed. [Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency News Release 30 May 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 66: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) President Obama has announced an initiative that could help thousands of separating service members get the credentials they need to qualify for manufacturing jobs. At a Honeywell plant in Minnesota, Obama touted a partnership between the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council and the services to allow some troops to receive industry-recognized credentials in logistics and advanced manufacturing. The effort is part of what the White House is calling the “We Can’t Wait” initiative. Obama argued that it is a waste of time and money to make veterans undergo additional training before letting them do the same jobs in the civilian world that they performed in a war zone. “If you can save a life on the battlefield, you can save a life in an ambulance,” he said. “If you can oversee a convoy or millions of dollars of assets in Iraq, you can help manage a supply chain or balance its books here at home. If you can maintain the most advanced weapons in the world — if you’re an electrician on a Navy ship — well, you can manufacture the next generation of technology in our factories.”
According to a statement from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, the organization is in the final stages of launching its pilot program with the Army. Soldiers will start taking MSSC assessments in early July. Each service will run its own pilot program for a limited number of uniformed service members. “Service members participating in the pilot will have the opportunity to earn [industrial] credentials free of charge,” the statement adds. “The services will partner with MSSC to explore how opportunities for these credentials can be integrated into the services’ existing training programs and expanded to the larger pool of service members with relevant skills and training.” The certification effort will be a pilot program, at no cost to service members, building on existing credentialing programs in skilled manufacturing jobs. For example, it would help a Navy machinist mate receive civilian credentials for his military-learned skills that would be easily recognized in the private sector.
Obama also announced a second partnership between the Army, American Welding Society and National Institute for Metalworking Skills to provide machinist and welding credentials at the Army’s Fort Lee, Va.,
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ordnance school. About 20,000 soldiers attend the school each year, and all graduates will receive credentials, White House officials said. That program, expected to start this summer, will provide level-one machinist certifications to soldiers. Later this year, welder certification is expected to be available. Another partnership announced by Obama is between the Army and Society of Manufacturing Engineers. It will expand certification opportunities for Army engineering students in highly specialized and technical engineering fields. A one-year test program would allow engineer officers and warrant officers to receive SME credentials. The three partnerships are expected to help up to 130,000 active-duty members get civilian credentials, but it is unclear how many would find post-service jobs as a result of the certification, if they choose to stay in the same field once they leave the military. White House officials believe there are jobs to be filled because industry surveys show shortages of skilled workers. Obama cited a survey showing that 80 percent of manufacturers have trouble finding people with the abilities they need. In conjunction with Obama’s announcement, Honeywell, an international manufacturing company with more than 120,000 employees, is launching a new effort to hire veterans that will involve accepting some veterans without college degrees.
The three pilot projects are the start of a much bigger effort that will involve many more military occupations, White House officials said. The next step, officials said, is to try to provide civilian certifications for truckers and emergency medical technicians. The certification programs are the result of a Defense Department task force created to focus on the difficulty of translating military-learned skills into civilian jobs. Even when skills appear similar, there are often differences in training and in practical experience. The task force is focusing its initial efforts on manufacturing, first responders, health care, information technology, transportation and logistics. In some cases, military training appears to be enough, with some minor tweaks, to receive civilian license or credentials. But in other cases, getting a civilian job could require additional training or a college degree. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 1 Jun 2012 ++]
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Arlington National Cemetery Update 36: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Legislation that would ban veterans convicted of serious sex crimes from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., or in national veterans cemeteries is gaining traction in Congress. Kathryn Condon, the Army National Cemeteries Program executive director, said the Army “fully supports the intent of the proposed legislation to keep the most heinous of sex offenders” from being buried or memorialized at Arlington. The service does not support the current bill, however, because it would not address what to do when a person is “found by an appropriate federal authority” to have committed a felony sex offense but dies before conviction, she said. Her concern, raised during a 6 JUN hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s disability assistance and memorial affairs panel, raises the even bigger question about whether the government could deny veterans benefits to someone who has not been convicted of a felony sex offense. Raymond Kelly of Veterans of Foreign Wars said the legislation follows a precedent set in 1997 under which some violent crimes can result in denial of burial rights. “The logic was [that] capital crime cases should trump veterans’ burial rights … granted to them for their service to our nation,” Kelly said.
The bill, H.R.2355, the Hallowed Grounds Act of 2012, sponsored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., would deny burial or memorials to veterans convicted of Tier III sex crimes. The House passed similar legislation as part of the 2010 defense authorization bill, but it died in subsequent negotiations with the Senate. Hartzler said she introduced her new bill after a woman approached her at a town hall meeting last year with a “heart-wrenching” story. “She told of being sexually abused by her father when she was a child,” Hartzler said. “This man was a veteran who went on to be buried in a national cemetery, with full honors.” The veteran, whom Hartzler did not identify, “received the distinction afforded war heroes, despite violating the family’s trust, abusing his child and committing a violent
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crime.” “Current law affording military honors to veterans convicted of sexual abuse is an affront to decency and results in victims and their families being victimized all over again,” she said. Like the Army, the Veterans Affairs Department supports the goal but not the details of Hartzler’s bill. Thomas Murphy, director of VA’s compensation service, said VA is concerned about the accuracy and reliability of information in state criminal databases that could be used to deny burial rights. “VA is also concerned by the fact that when sex offenders die, states are not required to maintain their records,” he said, which could require labor-extensive legal reviews to determine burial eligibility. [Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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TRICARE Autism Care Update 01: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) The House moved May 18 to expand coverage for autism services under TRICARE, setting the stage for debate later this year with the Senate in drafting a final version of the defense bill. An amendment to the House version of the 2013 defense authorization bill, sponsored by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., would remove a $36,000 annual cap for autism therapy set under TRICARE’s Extended Health Care Option program. It also would extend the same coverage to children of military retirees; currently, only active-duty dependents are eligible for autism therapy services under ECHO. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 25 hours a week of intense therapy for those newly diagnosed with autism. But TRICARE’s caps allow for just 10 to 20 hours a week for the treatment, known as applied behavioral analysis therapy.
Many health insurers argue that ABA is an educational therapy more appropriately provided by schools rather than as a medical treatment. But on April 19, the federal Office of Personnel Management concluded in a letter to Federal Employees Health Benefits program insurers that “there is now sufficient evidence to categorize ABA as medical therapy.” The decision allows, but does not require, companies that provide health care coverage to civilian federal workers to offer the treatment. Larson said the change stresses the importance of providing full ABA coverage to TRICARE beneficiaries, as well. “Autism is near epidemic in this country,” Larson said. “It’s hard enough when two parents are at home to deal with autism. It’s even more complicated when a father or mother is away in service to the country.” A similar amendment sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., failed to pass the Senate Armed Services Committee in late May, which means the House and Senate will discuss the issue when negotiators meet to write a final compromise defense bill.
To offset the estimated $30 million cost of broader coverage, the House trimmed an equal amount from the Army’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation budget: $9 million from endurance unmanned aerial vehicles and $21 million from the Aerostat Joint Program Office, a move that further reduced that office’s funding to $40 million below the Pentagon’s original $190 million budget request. Autism advocates say Larson’s amendment is a “small victory” in the effort to broaden services. Marine wife Karen Driscoll, a government relations specialist with the advocacy group Autism Speaks, said lifting coverage caps would benefit active-duty families struggling to pay for extended treatment and help families of troops injured in combat. She said she’s been contacted by three service members in the past month who were medically retired and only recently learned that their new status as retirees meant their children no longer could access treatment. “There’s been a lot of discussion within the Pentagon and Capitol Hill about ‘keeping faith with military families,’ ” Driscoll said. The House bill “would be a huge step forward for helping those who are vulnerable.” [Source: ArmyTimes Patricia Kime article 13 Jun 2012 ++]
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Tattoo Removal Update 01: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in
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personal communications is authorized.) A May dermatology industry study reports that laser tattoo removal procedures climbed 32 percent last year, with “employment reasons” as the leading factor. “The increased awareness of laser tattoo removal, economic pressure and the explosion in tattoo popularity have all converged to drive up demand for this procedure,” says Jasson W. Gilmore, CEO and co-founder of The Patient’s Guide, a group of dermatology Web publications. Dr. R. Rox Anderson has seen his fair share of mistakes, regrets and hopes for a clean slate. You could call him the godfather of disappearing ink. As a top dermatologist and researcher at Harvard Medical School, Anderson helped pioneer many laser removal techniques over the past 20 years. “It’s still a lot easier to get tattoos than to get rid of them,” Anderson said. “But we are getting better at it.” It wasn’t long ago that if you wanted to lose a tattoo, you either had to cut it out or sand it down using a technique called dermabrasion, which hasn’t changed much since the days of ancient Rome. For the smallest tattoos, snipping them out with a quick surgical incision remains one of the fastest — and often least expensive — removal options.
The first lasers developed for tattoo removal through the 1980s, dubbed CO2 lasers and still used in some clinics, “essentially trade the tattoo [for] a scar,” Anderson said. Another option involves freezing the skin, but that also tends to leave heavy scarring. The methods Anderson helped to develop use what is called a Q-switched laser. Removal requires multiple treatments, with enough time between sessions for the skin to heal and to allow the ink to break up and get absorbed by the body. These days, he said, the chances of scarring are 10 percent or less for most patients. Anderson’s latest technique, developed over the past year and already seeing adoption by clinics across the country, is dubbed R20. It combines four laser passes 20 minutes apart in a single session. The result: faster clearing in fewer sessions with even less of a chance of scarring. “So instead of someone coming in for, say, 10 treatments, we can cut that in half for many,” he said. And the state of the art in skin art removal is moving faster than ever.
New creams are being tested in combination with laser treatment. Meanwhile, new “picoseconds lasers with pulses a thousand times shorter than Q-switched lasers” hold significant promise for tattoo removal, as well, Anderson said. Lt. Col. Chad Hivnor, a top Air Force dermatologist at the San Antonio Uniformed Health Education Consortium, has built on Anderson’s work by honing another cutting-edge technique involving a fractional ablative laser, typically used by the military to help repair scar tissue, in conjunction with traditional tattoo-removal lasers. “The story is far from over on this,” Anderson said. “We’re nearing a tipping point where cost, availability and effectiveness will all come together. I’d say in less than five years, we’ll be there.” [Source: ArmyTimes article 18 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran Hearing/Mark-up Schedule: Following is the current schedule of Congressional hearings and markups pertaining to the veteran community. Congressional hearings are the principal formal method by which committees collect and analyze information in the early stages of legislative policymaking. Hearings usually include oral testimony from witnesses, and questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress. When a U.S. congressional committee meets to put a legislative bill into final form it is referred to as a mark-up. Veterans are encouraged to contact members of these committees prior to the event listed and provide input on what they want their legislator to do at the event. Membership of each committee and their contact info can be found at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/committees.tt?commid=svete:
 June 19, 2012: The House Veterans Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on VA's Veterans Benefits Management System. 2:00 P.M.; TBD.
 June 21, 2012: HVAC, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a hearing on pending legislation. 10:00 A.M.; 334 Cannon.
 June 27, 2012: SVAC will conduct a legislative hearing. The agenda is comprised mainly of bills regarding health care, disability compensation, and NCA matters. 10:00 A.M.; 418 Russell
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[Source: Veterans Corner w/Michael Isam 14 Jun 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 104: Retired Army Maj. James LaCaria said he was afraid to leave his apartment before he got Kaeci, his 5-year-old service dog. LaCaria, 36, from El Paso, Texas, was diagnosed in 2010 with post-traumatic stress disorder after combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had been in and out of inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities before his psychiatrist recommended he get a service dog to help him cope with his anxiety and nightmares. But an Army policy implemented in JAN 2012, critics say, has made it harder for soldiers such as LaCaria who are suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries to have specialized psychiatric service dogs on military posts. Matt Kuntz, executive director of the Montana chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, launched an online petition last month calling on Army Secretary John McHugh to revise it. “In our point of view, the need for basic regulation turned into a mountain of red tape,” Kuntz said. The policy was implemented shortly after a 6-year-old boy in Kentucky was fatally mauled by a German shepherd trained to help a soldier at Fort Campbell cope with PTSD. The incident happened away from the post. Before January, service dogs were allowed on Army posts under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Now, service dogs must be provided by groups approved by Assistance Dogs International. ADI does not have chapters in 18 states, making the process of acquiring one in those states more difficult. The new policy also requires service members to get approval of a care plan from their commander. “Our policy is supportive of the use of service animals in treating physical disabilities, as well as PTSD,” said Maria Tolleson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Medical Command. Kuntz’s petition at http://www.change.org/ calls on the Army to make it clear that soldiers do not need to exhaust all other treatment methods before they can qualify for a service dog, and to ensure that soldiers with service dogs can have living quarters where they can keep their service dogs, and to broaden the definition of an accredited service animal provider beyond ADI. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) last month sent a letter to McHugh urging the Army to change its new policy. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, surgeon general and commanding general of MEDCOM, responded in a letter that the Army “is committed to providing the highest level of care to all soldiers” but “has no studies underway to determine the efficacy of service dog use in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.” [Source: USA Today article 7 Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran License Plates Alaska: The state of Alaska offers a number of military specialty license plates to its veterans. Refer to http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/military/military.htm or the attachment to this Bulletin titled, "Vet License Plates AK" to view the available plates and access the appropriate guidelines for issuance of each plate. [Source: http://www.ador.state.al.us/motorvehicle/militaryview.html May 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 21: Charles Heffron has neither an explanation nor a clear understanding of why or how he survived one of World War II's most infamous crimes against humanity 70 years ago. He says simply he lived through 1,278 days as a Japanese prisoner of war after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, where he was assigned to Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff and was present when the general left the Philippines ahead of the defeat of the important islands. Although he was not on the Bataan Death March in 1942, Heffron suffered through a longer march from Corregidor one month after the fall of Bataan. He endured the Hell Ships, lived through working in a steel mill and then walked out to freedom through the atomic-bombed wrecked city of Nagasaki in 1945.
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APR 1942
Heffron, 93, is one of the very few prisoners of war from the Philippines alive today. He is in decent health, although he says his legs give him trouble and are brittle from 3 1/2 years of captivity in which he received little protein, fruit or adequate vegetables, and no medical care. Most days in captivity, his meals consisted of one rice ball in the morning and one in the evening. The rice ball fit in the palm of his hand. Heffron, who lives in Athens with his wife, Frances, continues to suffer from the trauma of his imprisonment. He has post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is on 100 percent disability from the Veterans Administration. The COPD, he says, is the result of working in a Kyushu, Japan, steel mill where he was forced to make railroad cars and castings for hand grenades. He also had to climb inside of hot furnaces to clean out steel slag.
Heffron was among the estimated 8,000 American soldiers, sailors and marines and 5,000 Filipino troops and civilians captured at Corregidor. These prisoners were first sent to an area called 92nd Garage, which was a motor pool for the 92nd Coast Artillery. Some 12,000 Americans languished there before being herded into boats for the trip to Manila and then to Cabanatuan, one of the more infamous Japanese POW camps on Luzon, largest of the volcanic isles in the Philippines. Cabanatuan (KA-ba-na-TWHN) was known as “The Rock.” Its name means “place of rocks.”
How Heffron arrived at The Rock is the story of a trip to hell and back. In 1941, after enlisting in the U.S. Army, he was trained in the new science of radar and was then sent to the Philippine islands. As a sergeant, he was put in charge of a crew on Iba, on the cost of Luzon, 60 miles north of Manila, on the edge of the South China Sea. On the same day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Japanese fighters and bombers strafed and bombed Iba, killing five of Heffron's men. With the fall of Bataan imminent, Heffron went to Corregidor, about three miles across from the peninsula, and was assigned to MacArthur's staff where he encoded and decoded messages for the general's headquarters. In a controversial decision, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to leave Corregidor. Heffron and other staffers escorted the general and his wife and daughter to a waiting PT boat in the dead of night. “It was a very dark night,” says Heffron. “And the general left.”
Bataan fell to the Japanese April 9, 1942. The Japanese 14th Imperial Army found itself with close to 100,000 prisoners, which included American and Filipino soldiers and Philippine citizens. The Japanese were neither prepared nor capable of feeding, housing or caring for that many prisoners. Corregidor capitulated about a month after Bataan, which began the “death marches.” About 12,000 soldiers, sailors and marines were captured on Bataan. Another 60,000 Filipinos were also rounded up and marched from Bataan north to POW camps. Along that march, prisoners were shot, bayoneted, starved and left to die in the heat. After helping MacArthur and his family escape, Heffron says he went to an area near Malinta Tunnel, which served as a hospital and as MacArthur's headquarters.
Here, Heffron waited for the inevitable. The Japanese infantry took him prisoner, along with about 8,000 other soldiers and 5,000 Filipinos and secured them in the 92nd Garage.
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Charles Heffron
Heffron was wounded by a piece of shrapnel just before Corregidor fell. The inch-long gash hadn't healed and there was no medicine. But, there were larvae from a blizzard of blowflies, which had infested the makeshift latrines that quickly overflowed with human waste. “I got some of that larvae and put it in my wound,” he says. The maggots ate the dying flesh and actually helped the healing process. “It itched when they ate,” says Heffron. Soon, with the tide turning in the war, Japan was running short of laborers. POWs were herded aboard “Hell Ships” bound for Japan. Heffron found himself in the hold of a Hell Ship for about three weeks. One bucket of food a day was lowered into the hold where men were suffering from diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and sweltering heat. The Japanese transport ships were unmarked and constantly attacked by American submarines. Heffron says he heard two of them “break up.” Each Hell Ship carried about 1,000-1,500 prisoners. He was taken to Kyushu to a steel factory. He had to shovel iron ore, which he says was very heavy, dirty work. During the time he labored in the mill, he said a Japanese woman running a large crane and bucket tried to drop the heavy equipment upon the American soldiers. His POW camp was about 50 miles from Nagasaki. When President Harry Truman decided to end the war with atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Heffron says his “guards disappeared over night.” When he was liberated, he weighed 92 pounds.
The POW's in the Philippines experienced a mortality rate of 40 percent, with approximately 11,107 deaths out of the total 27,465 internees in the Philippines. The latest figures from the American Ex-Prisoners of War organization, shows that as of 2003, roughly 4,400 ex-POWs from the Pacific theater were still alive. He spent seven months in a U.S. hospital recovering from his ordeal at Bataan and Corregidor. Later, he went to Cornell University on the GI bill and earned a degree in electrical engineering. Heffron went to work for Westinghouse developing color television. He and his wife teach ballroom dancing at a McMinn Senior Activities Center.”We dance twice a week,” says Heffron. [Source: Knoxville News Sentinel Fred Brown (brownf08@gmail.com) article 12 Feb 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (7)
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POW/MIA Update 21: "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. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II (73,000+), the Korean War (7,900+), the Cold War (126), the Vietnam War (1,666), 1991 Gulf War (0), and OEF/OIF (6). Hundreds of 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
 DPMO announced 30 MAY that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Arden K. Hassenger, 32, of Lebanon, Ore., burial was scheduled for 8 JUN in his hometown. On Dec. 24, 1965, Hassenger, and the crew of the AC-47D aircraft nicknamed “Spooky” failed to return from a combat strike mission in southern Laos. After a “mayday” signal was sent, all contact was lost with the crew. Two days of search efforts for the aircraft and crew were unsuccessful. In 1995, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team investigated a crash in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Local
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villagers recalled seeing a two-propeller aircraft, similar to an AC-47D, crash in December 1965. One man had found aircraft wreckage in a nearby field while farming, and led the team to that location. The team recovered small pieces of aircraft wreckage at that time and recommended further investigative visits. Joint U.S./L.P.D.R. investigation and recovery teams re-visited the site four times from 1999 to 2001. They conducted additional interviews with locals, recovered military equipment, and began an excavation. No human remains were recovered, so the excavation was suspended pending additional investigation. In 2010, joint U.S./L.P.D.R. recovery teams again excavated the crash site. The team recovered human remains, personal items, and military equipment. Three additional excavations in 2011 recovered additional human remains and evidence. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command used dental records and material evidence to identify Hassenger. With the accounting of this airman, 1,666 service members still remain missing from the Vietnam War.
 DPMO announced 5 JUN that the remains of two U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Air Force Lt. Col. Edward D. Silver, 34, of Junction City, Ore., will be buried on June 6, in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington D.C. On June 7, there will be a group burial service at Arlington National Cemetery honoring Silver and the other crew member, Maj. Bruce E. Lawrence, 25, of Easton Pa. Lawrence was buried on Sept. 21, 2011, in his hometown. On July 5, 1968, Silver and Lawrence, were flying the lead F-4C Phantom II aircraft of a two-ship formation, on a night armed-reconnaissance of enemy targets, in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. Other pilots flying in the area reported that they witnessed anti-aircraft fire striking the aircraft shortly before it crashed. No parachutes or signs of survivors were seen. In 1993, a joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) team traveled to Quang Binh Province to investigate a possible site related to the crash. Harsh terrain and safety concerns limited access to the location of the aircraft. From 1998 to 2000, joint U.S./S.R.V. teams interviewed witnesses, excavated several aircraft crash sites in the area, and recovered human remains. Additional recovery of military equipment, related to Silver and Lawrence’s crash, confirmed that two individuals were in the aircraft at the time of the incident. Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of both Lawrence and Silver’s living relatives –as well as nuclear DNA to identify the two men.
 DPMO announced 7 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Navy Lt. William E. Swanson, 27, of Zimmerman, Minn., will be buried June 11, at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis. On April 11, 1965, Swanson was the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider aircraft that crashed while on an armed reconnaissance mission over Khammouan Province, Laos. Other Americans in the area reported seeing his aircraft being struck by enemy fire and no parachute was deployed prior to the crash. Recovery efforts were not possible due to enemy presence in the days following the crash. In October 2000, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team was investigating a different crash in Khammouan Province. Local villagers reported an aircraft crash site nearby, in the mountains north of the town of Boualapha. The team surveyed the site and found small pieces of aircraft wreckage, and unexploded bombs and rockets of the same type that Swanson’s A-1H had been carrying. In 2009, a joint U.S./L.P.D.R. recovery team excavated the site and found material evidence and military equipment. In 2010, another U.S./L.P.D.R. team completed the excavation and recovered human remains and additional evidence. Two data plates, with numbers matching Swanson’s aircraft, were found at the site. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command used circumstantial and material evidence to identify Swanson’s remains.
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 DPMO announced 7 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, were identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Air Force Capt. Virgil K. Meroney III, 25, of Fayetteville, Ark., will be buried June 9, in his hometown. On March 1, 1969, Meroney was a crew member aboard an F-4D Phantom II aircraft that crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Kahammouan Province, Laos. Nearby U.S. aircrews reported seeing Meroney’s aircraft hit by enemy fire. No parachutes were seen after the aircraft was hit. Heavy enemy presence in the area prevented recovery efforts. In 1994, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team investigated the crash site in Khammouan Province, Laos. The team located aircraft wreckage of an F-4 and military equipment, which correlated with Meroney’s aircraft. From 2000 to 2011, additional joint U.S/L.P.D.R recovery teams investigated and excavated the crash site multiple times. Teams recovered human remains, and military equipment, including an engine data plate, a radio call-sign plate, and a military identification card bearing Meroney’s name. Scientists from the JPAC used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools including dental comparisons, and radiograph comparisons in the identification of Meroney.
Korea
 DPMO announced 5 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the KoreanWar, were identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Cpl. Dick E. Osborne, 17, of Brookville, Pa., will be buried June 6, in Sigel, Pa. On Nov. 2, 1950, Osborne and members of the 8th Cavalry, 3rd Battalion, L Company, were fighting Chinese forces near the Kuryong River, North Korea, in an area known as “Camel’s Head.” Following the fighting, Osborne was listed as missing in action. His body was not recovered at the time, and he was likely buried on the battlefield by Chinese or North Korean forces. On April 12, 2007, North Korea gave the United States six sets of human remains believed to be U.S. servicemen. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where Osborne had reportedly died in battle. Evidence such as military items and uniform fragments were included with the remains. To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as dental records, and mitochondrial DNA – which matched Osborne’s living nephew.
World War II
 DPMO announced 5 JUN that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and were scheduled to be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Marine Corps Pfc. John A. Donovan, 20, of Plymouth, Mich., will be buried June 8, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Donovan was a crewmember aboard a PBJ-1 aircraft that failed to return from a night training mission over the island of Espiritu Santo, in what is known today as Vanuatu. None of the crew was recovered and in 1945 they were officially presumed deceased. In 1994, a group of private citizens notified the U.S. that aircraft wreckage had been found on the island of Espiritu Santo. Human remains were recovered from the site at that time and turned over to the Department of Defense. In 1999, a survey team traveled to the site, which was located at an elevation of 2,600 ft. in extremely rugged terrain, and determined that recovery teams would need specialized mountain training to safely complete a recovery mission. In 2000, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) team visited the site and recovered human remains. From 2009 to 2011, multiple JPAC recovery teams excavated the site and recovered additional remains, aircraft parts and military equipment. Scientists and analysts from JPAC used circumstantial evidence and dental records in the identification of Donovan’s remains.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ Jun 2012 +]
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Homes for Our Troops: John Gonsalves started this organization in 2004 after watching a news report of a severely injured veteran who had returned from Iraq. He thought to himself "What now, what happens to this person now?". He searched for an organization that he assumed was already in place where he could donate his building expertise for a few weeks. When he found out that none existed and started Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) and registered it as a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization. HFOT is committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. They feel it is their duty and an honor honor to assist severely injured Veterans and their immediate families. This they accomplish by donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently. Most of the projects they undertake are the building of new homes. In rare cases, especially in areas with very high land costs, it is more cost effective to buy an existing home and renovate it with all the special modifications needed as dictated by the particular disabilities and injuries of the veteran. Eligible veterans or service member may receive a Veterans Administration Specially Adapted Housing Grant up to a maximum amount of $63,780. HFOT assistance covers all costs over and above this grant to ensure that the home is provided at no cost to the recipient. For a list of completed and current home building/home adaptation projects refer to http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Homes
Charity Navigator, one of the premiere charity rating agencies in the country, has reviewed HFOT’s finances and awarded them with its highest rating of 4 stars. Charity Navigator analyzes the most recent four years of a charity's finances in areas such as percent of funds spent directly on programs, overhead costs and other important factors that measure if a charity is prudently managing the funds entrusted in the hands of a charity. HFOT received a score of 68.96 out of a possible 70 points - a grade of 98.5%. The Charity Watch, one of the country’s premier charity watchdog organizations, has included HFOT in their "Top-Rated Veterans & Military Charities" listing. Only 7 of the 40 Veterans charities rated by AIP are included in the Top-Rated Category. Because of their stringent review process, the AIP is described as "the pit bull of watchdogs" by the New York Times. Newsweek said "It's the toughest of the bunch. Because it disregards certain, potentially suspect, expenses and donations, it fails some nonprofits that the other raters. For more info on Homes for Our Troops refer to http://www.homesforourtroops.org or contact them via email info@homesforourtroops.org, Tel: 1- 508-823-3300, or visit their office at 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA. [Source: http://www.homesforourtroops.org Jun 2012 ++]
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Homes for Our Troops Update 01: The Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) organization recently added a “Home Award Program” that will allow them to provide the "American Dream" of home ownership to a broader population of our nation's wounded and injured Veterans and to the spouses of our fallen service members, completely mortgage-free. HFOT will soon begin receiving donations of homes that are currently owned by national banks. These top-quality homes are in move-in condition and located throughout the country. The banks want to donate these homes to HFOT for Veterans and their families, mortgage-free! HFOT would like to help as many applicants as possible and need your help in disseminating this word. Basic Qualification Criteria is:
 You are a Veteran that sustained injuries during combat or while deployed in support of combat operations after September 11, 2001.
 You are Widow/Widower or dependent of a service member due to injuries sustained in combat or while deployed in support of combat operations after September 11, 2001.
 You plan to make your new "HFOT Home Award" home your primary residence for a minimum of three years.
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 You accept the responsibility of home ownership and have the resources to maintain a home. (ongoing maintenance and upkeep, taxes, utilities etc.)
Applications are being accepted now. Potential Home Award Candidates need to fill out the open application at http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=5641&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS and provide the required documentation to start the application process. The open application gives applicants the opportunity to become pre-qualified for a "Home Award Program" home by the selection committee at no cost to the applicant. When HFOT receives notification from their banking partners that a home becomes available that fits the criteria specified in an application, they will send an email notification to the applicant with all the information on the home(s). Applicants will then have seven (7) calendar days to notify HFOT if they want one of the homes on the list. If you have questions about this program refer to www.homesforourtroops.org/homeaward or to contact HFOT at HAP@homesforourtroops.org. [Source: CFLNewsChat Michael Isam article 7 Jun 2012 ++]
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Saving Money: You have two priorities after a hit-and-run accident: Get a police report and collect information from any witnesses. Doing both of these things can help you make a successful claim against your own car insurance company. Of course, you need to have the right coverage. If you only have the mandatory bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, then you’re unfortunately out of luck. These pay for damages you cause to others, not damages or injuries that you sustained in an auto accident. Uninsured motorist coverage usually doesn’t help, either. Some insurers, in some states, allow a hit-and-run driver to be classified as an uninsured motorist, but only if a police report is made and there’s a disinterested witness to the accident who can verify that they saw a car – whose owner and operator cannot be identified – hit your vehicle. However, a majority of insurance companies don’t allow uninsured motorist property damage claims for hit-and-run accidents. Their belief is that if they would allow such claims, people would be dishonest and try to place what should be a collision claim under UMPD coverage – short for “uninsured motorist property damage” – to get out of paying their collision deductible amount.
To be certain that damage to your car is repaired, you need to carry collision coverage on your vehicle. With collision coverage, your repairs would be covered, minus your deductible, or your car’s actual cash value could be paid out if its repairs cost nearly as much as it’s worth. Without collision coverage you are likely going to be left to pay out of your own pocket for repairs after this type of incident. The biggest portion of any car insurance policy is usually the cost of liability coverage, and you’re already shelling out for that. For many drivers, adding collision coverage isn’t that big of an expense because the insurance company’s risk is limited to the value of the car. Of course, cost varies based on rating factors such as the type of car you drive and your driving record, but it can be well worth the added cost if you could not easily replace your car otherwise. In this economy with the numbers of uninsured motorists rising, it’s likely there are more drivers fleeing the scene rather than facing the consequences. If you are not currently covered you might want to shop around for a car insurance policy that includes collision and compare its cost to your current policy – and add collision if it makes financial sense. [Source: MoneyTalksNews article 15 May 2012 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 51:
 Little Rock AR - In less than three months three top ranked administrators have left the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, and they each have left scandals behind them. On 1 JUN, Deputy Director Lawrence Pickard was fired because the VA says he collected almost $600,000 in illegal maintenance fees from veterans at the Little Rock Veterans Home. Newly-appointed Director Cissy Rucker fired Pickard after he admitted to knowing he was collecting excess fees since December 2010. "Because he did not take immediate action he was terminated," said VA spokesperson Kendall Thornton. Former Director David Fletcher resigned last month after an audit revealed $200,000 in funds that were improperly logged. Janet Levine, a former VA Home administrator, was fired in April for misappropriating nearly $600,000 at the Little Rock Veterans Home, according to the Arkansas VA. "We're going through transitions and we have a new state director that's been in place to correct these issues and to make sure that it does not happen again," said Thornton.
Little Rock Veterans Home
At the center of it all is the Little Rock Veterans Home, where the VA claims Levine and Pickard have collected a combined $1.1 million in illegal fees to veterans living there. "The Little Rock Veterans Home was collecting fees from residents who had a disability rating of 70 percent or above after a federal rule change ended that practice in 2009," said Thornton. She says the affected veterans will receive their money back over a period of time that has not yet been determined. Still, one advocacy group isn't satisfied and they're letting the department know. They recently created a YouTube video entitled "Swindling Arkansas Veterans" that blasts the troubled the state Department of Veterans Affairs for its recent money mismanagement. "Our goal was to create a higher level of accountability and transparency," said Teresa Oelke, State Director of Americans for Prosperity - Arkansas Chapter. "Hard-working Arkansas taxpayers and especially our veterans deserve better," said Teresa Oelke The VA believes its new director will restore credibility to the department. "We are working every single day hard to make sure that this does not happen again and that we are going to rebuild the trust of the veterans of Arkansas," said Thornton. Criminal charges against Pickard are unlikely, according to the VA. [Source: KATV-7 Matt Johnson article 5 Jun 2012 ++]
 Mobile AL -- John Theodore Reutckem, 57, accused of faking a stroke and then giving a phony name and Social Security number to Springhill Medical Center has pulled a version of the scam nearly 2 dozen times before, according to Mobile police. Cpl. Christopher Levy, a spokesman for the Police Department, said investigators from Florida recently contacted Mobile authorities following news reports of the arrest of Reutckem on charges that he ran up tens of thousands of dollars in unneeded care. Two days before he checked into the Mobile hospital, Levy said, he got out of Baptist Hospital in Gulf Breeze under then name
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John Kraft. Levy said Reutckem incurred some $56,000 in health costs after complaining of a stroke. Reutckem presented hospital officials with a phony health card from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and claimed to be the owner for Kraft Foods, Levy said. Levy said federal authorities opened an investigation in Florida after learning of the arrest in Mobile. “Now, the kitchen sink is being thrown at him,” he said. Reutckem remains at Mobile County Metro Jail, facing charges in Mobile County District Court. But Levy said police have referred the matter to the FBI for possible federal prosecution. Rick Yelverton, a lawyer appointed to represent Reutckem, said he had not yet had a chance to talk to his client.
John Theodore Reutckem
Levy said Reutckem has been treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals at the following locations: New Mexico; Fargo, N.D.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Miami; Denver; Loma Linda, Calif.; Montgomery; Tennessee; Portland, Wash.; Puget Sound, Wash.; San Diego; Sheridan, Wyo.; South Texas; Los Angeles; and West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Charleston and Columbia in South Carolina. A representative with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Florida referred calls to the department’s Office of Inspector General. Spokeswoman Cathy Gromek said she could not discuss specific cases but added that the agency does get complaints of patients “doctor shopping” for drugs and fraudulently obtaining health services -- even when the patient is not actually sick. “We’ve investigated these issues before,” she said. [Source: Press-Register Brendan Kirby article 8 Jun 2012 ++]
 Pickens County SC - Megan Nichole Hanson Mosteller, 26, was sentenced 8 JUN for fifteen months on fraud charges for using her deceased husband's name to collect his military benefits. She was convicted earlier this year and sentenced in federal court for theft of government funds. Evidence presented by the government established that Mosteller had married Jeremy Mosteller, a Marine. But Megan and Jeremy separated just a few months after their wedding, Nettles said. Jeremy Mosteller died on March 7, 2008. Three days after his death, Megan Mosteller filed for Survivor's Benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Nettles said Megan Mosteller had claimed to have lived with Jeremy continuously until his death. Five months after Jeremy died, Megan Mosteller married David Redding, Jr. and the couple purchased a home in Easley. After marrying Redding, she continued to use the name Mosteller to hide her new marriage. She continued to collect VA benefits during this time, Nettles said. She also applied for, and received, Education Benefits from the Department of Veteran's Affairs. Two and a half years after Mosteller began receiving the VA benefits, an investigation was launched after someone reported Mosteller, Nettles said. The benefits were stopped after the fraud came to light. At that time, Mosteller had already received $37,000, Nettles said. He said if her fraud had not been detected, she would have received over $800,000 in benefits. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Mosteller to 15 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and ordered her to pay $32,718.15 in restitution. [Source: EasilyPatch Jason Evans article 8 Jun 2012 ++]
[Various 1-14 Jun 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
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 WWII KIA’s - Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6f_FvZpm3g&feature=player_embedded#! for the true story of the recovery of 19 US Marines Killed in Action on Makin Island in WWII and their return home to Arlington National Cemetery 58 years later.
 IRS. All U.S. citizens (including those residing overseas) must file tax forms every year if their income, regardless of source, is above the minimal amount. To locate 1040 forms, instructions, and schedules for 1999 through 2011 refer to http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/priorFormPublication.html?value=1040&criteria=formNumber&submitSearch=Find.
 Gas Prices. Why is gasoline so costly. In the U.S. supply is up and demand is down. MoneyTalksNews explanation is at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/06/06/why-gas-prices-are-high-and-14-ways-to-save/?utm_source=Money+Talks+News+Updates&utm_campaign=email-2012-06-06&utm_medium=email
 Speed Limits. A stretch of Texas highway may soon be the first road in the country to have a posted 85 mph speed limit. The Texas Department of Transportation said this week that part of a toll road being built between Austin and San Antonio will be tested to see if motorists can safely push it to 85.
 Naval Policy. Secretary Panetta stated that the Pentagon intends to assign approximately 60% of the Navy’s warships into the Pacific.
 MIAs. The Department of Defense announced 5 JUN that the United States and India have agreed to resume remains recovery activities in parts of Northeastern India. DoD records indicate that there are approximately 400 unaccounted-for service members from some 90 aircraft crashes in the area during World War II.
 USS Miami (SSN-775). A vacuum cleaner has been identified as the source of a fire that caused about $400 million in damage to the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered submarine Miami.
 USS Iowa. The Pacific Battleship Center plans to recommission the ship July 4 and hold the first public tours three days later.
 USNA. As of 13 JUN, 295 young women accepted appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy and that could result in the largest female class in the academy’s history since it began accepting women in 1976. Overall, the class of 2016 will be smaller, so the percentage of female students will be higher and could be more than 24 percent female.
[Source: Various 16-31 May 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 94:
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 McAllen TX - A federal grand jury indicted urologist Dr. Hossein Lahiji, 48, and his wife, attorney Najmeh Vahid Lahiji on three counts of healthcare fraud 31 MAY. The superseding indictment is the third set of charges returned in less than two years them. The latest indictment alleges a conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and healthcare fraud against the government and private insurance providers over the course of about nine years. The Lahijis already had been indicted on charges of healthcare fraud in February 2011. And in December 2010, federal prosecutors in Portland, Ore., accused the Iranian-American couple of illegally funneling more than $1.8 million to Iran. The latest indictment accuses the Lahijis of conspiring to defraud federal healthcare programs Medicare and Medicaid, as well as private providers Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and United Healthcare between January 2003 and February 2012. The indictment alleges they submitted false and fraudulent claims in connection with the use of unlicensed, unqualified medical personnel and billed for medical services not rendered. The Lahijis submitted fake claims to healthcare providers for urology services performed when he had traveled outside Texas and the United States. Those who actually performed the "urology services" were only licensed medical assistants who treated patients without supervision from any doctor or other qualified, licensed medical personnel, the indictment states. The scheme involved specific days where Dr. Lahiji claimed to treat between 65 and 117 patients in a single workday — between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., prosecutors said. Dr. Lahiji also falsely claimed some patients required the taking of comprehensive medical history — an unnecessary task in many circumstances, while in others he did not even perform the exam. Such practices violate regulations established by Medicare, Medicaid, as well as state law and rules set by private insurance companies.
Dr. Hossein Lahiji
 Columbia MO - The University of Missouri's medical school dean is stepping down amid a federal investigation into potential Medicare billing fraud by two radiology professors. The university health system announced 1 JUN that Dr. Robert Churchill, a 25-year university employee and former radiology department chairman, will retire in October. The university also fired the two radiologists at the center of the federal probe. The moves come as the U.S. attorney's office in Kansas City continues a seven-month investigation the school said involves Medicare violations by Dr. Kenneth Rall and Dr. Michael Richards. Rall stepped down as radiology department chairman in December, but he remained a professor. An internal investigation by the school found that the two doctors falsely said they reviewed X-rays but instead relied solely on resident physicians, a violation of Medicare and hospital rules. It was emphasized that Churchill, who was hired as dean in October 2009 at a base salary of $480,000, was not involved in wrongdoing but will resign because he "does not want to allow distractions. School officials have yet to determine how much Medicare money was involved or how long the fraud lasted.
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 Los Angeles CA - Physician assistant David James Garrison, 50, who worked at fraudulent medical clinics where he used the stolen identities of doctors to write prescriptions for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) and diagnostic tests has been convicted of conspiracy, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges in connection with a $18.9 million Medicare fraud scheme. The evidence at trial showed that Garrison worked at fraudulent medical clinics that operated as prescriptions mills and trafficked in fraudulent prescriptions and orders for medically unnecessary DME, such as power wheelchairs, and diagnostic tests. The fraudulent prescriptions and orders were used by fraudulent DME supply companies and medical testing facilities to defraud Medicare. Garrison wrote the prescriptions and ordered the tests on behalf of some doctors he never met and who did not authorize him to write prescriptions and order tests on their behalf. The trial evidence showed that between March 2007 and September 2008, Garrison’s co-conspirator, Edward Aslanyan, and others owned and operated several Los Angeles medical clinics established for the sole purpose of defrauding Medicare. Aslanyan and others hired street-level recruiters to find Medicare beneficiaries willing to provide the recruiters with their Medicare billing information in exchange for high-end power wheelchairs and other DME, which the patient recruiters told the beneficiaries they would receive for free. Often, the Medicare beneficiaries did not have a legitimate medical need for the power wheelchairs and equipment. The patient recruiters provided the beneficiaries’ Medicare billing information to Aslanyan and others, or they brought the beneficiaries to the fraudulent medical clinics. In exchange for recruiting the Medicare beneficiaries, Aslanyan and others paid the recruiters cash kickbacks.
 St. Louis MO - A foreign exchange student from Kazakhstan has pleaded guilty to creating fake companies to defraud the Medicare program. Kamoliddin Akramov, 21, pled guilty to one felony count conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program. According to court documents, Akramov, a citizen of Kazakhstan, was in the United States on a J1 visa during the summer of 2010 and 2011 when he set up fake front companies in the St. Louis area, Tennessee and California. Officials said he rented mail boxes at UPS stores and other commercial mailbox companies and opened bank accounts for the false front companies. Authorities said Akramov used stolen identities of multiple medical doctors to submit thousands of reimbursement claims to the Medicare Program for non-rendered services. The doctors were not affiliated with the false front companies and did not know the companies existed, according to officials. Akramov's sentencing is set for August 7. He faces up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
 Houston TX - Floyd Leslie Brooks, 45, entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute for his role in the $45 million City Nursing Health Care scandal. This Statute prohibits solicitation or receipt of any type of remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part under a federal health care program. The U.S. attorney’s office reported that the owner of City Nursing, Umawa Oke Imo, was convicted in May 2011 and sentenced to more than 27 years in federal prison for his role in the health care fraud conspiracy which included making cash payments to both beneficiaries and recruiters bringing Medicare beneficiaries to City Nursing. According to the plea agreement, Brooks received 32 checks totaling $13,700 for referring beneficiaries to Imo. In turn, City Nursing billed the Medicare numbers of those referred by Brooks for $1,196,230 worth of physical therapy services that were not provided and City Nursing received at least $790,461 in payment from Medicare and Medicaid for those services. Magidson said Brooks also admitted he referred another individual to Imo so that individual could also refer Medicare beneficiaries in return for payments. Brooks was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2012. At that time, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jun 2012 ++]
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Medicad Fraud Update 64:
 Oklahoma City OK - An Oklahoma City counselor has received a 3-year suspended sentence and orders to pay more than $15,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to two counts of Medicaid fraud. Vickie Yearwood entered the plea 30 MAY in Oklahoma County District Court. The multicounty grand jury indicted Yearwood, a licensed professional counselor through Beacon Pointe LLC, last month for Medicaid fraud. The 53-year-old Yearwood was accused of presenting false claims for reimbursement to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority for more than $5,000 in services between October and December. The indictment also alleged Yearwood created false documentation for counseling sessions that didn't occur. Yearwood previously pleaded no contest to one count of Medicaid fraud in April 2011.
 Montgomery AL - A Clarke County dentist has pleaded guilty to charges that he attempted to file a claim with Medicaid for a dental procedure that was not performed. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said 61-year-old Victor Clarence Hawkins of Grove Hill pleaded guilty before Montgomery County District Judge Jimmy Pool to one count of attempting to file a false claim with the Alabama Medicaid Agency. That's a Class A misdemeanor. The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit had accused Hawkins of billing Medicaid for a root canal for a child. Strange said a review of an x-ray revealed the procedure had not been performed. Pool placed Hawkins on probation for a year and the dentist was permanently barred from being an Alabama Medicaid provider.
[Source: Fraud News Daily 1-14 Jun 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Alabama provides several benefits to veterans. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits AL” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state in the following areas:
 Housing Benefits
 Financial Assistance Benefits
 Employment Benefits
 Veterans Business Benefits
 Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/alabama-state-veterans-benefits.html?comp=7000022835803&rank=1 Jun 2012 ++]
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Military History: The attachment to this Bulletin titled, “WWII Memories: William George Sauer” contains an account in Sauer’s own words of his memories from entering the service until his medical discharge during the conflict. [Source: http://carol_fus.tripod.com/army_hero_william_sauer.html Apr 2012 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant June events in U.S. Military History are:
 Jun 17 1775 – Revolutionary War: Battle of Bunker Hill (actually it was Breed's Hill)
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 Jun 17 1942 – WWII: 1st American expeditionary force lands in Africa (Gold Coast)
 Jun 18 1812 – War of 1812: The U.S. Congress declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
 Jun 18 1945 - WWII: USS Bonefish (SS-223) sunk by combined efforts of escort destroyer Okinawa, and three Coast Defense Vessels off southern coast of Honshu, Japan. 85 killed
 Jun 19 1944 – WWII: First day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 300 Japanese aircrafts shot down
 Jun 20 1941 - USS O-9 (SS-70) foundered during deep submergence tests off New London, Connecticut. 33 died
 Jun 21 1945 – WWII: US defeat Japanese forces on Okinawa.
 Jun 22 1944 – President Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights.
 Jun 22 1990 – Cold War: Checkpoint Charlie is dismantled in Berlin.
 Jun 23 1945 – WWII: Last organized Japanese defiance broken (Tarakan)
 Jun 24 1952 – Korean War: US airplanes bomb energy centers at Yalu Korea
 Jun 25 1876 – Custer & 7th Cavalry wiped out by Sioux & Cheyenne at Little Big Horn
 Jun 25 1948 – Cold war: The Berlin Airlift begins.
 Jun 25 1950 – Korean War: Conflict begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
 Jun 25 1996 – The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.
 Jun 26 1918 – WWI: Western Front Battle for Belleau Wood - Allied Forces under John J. Pershing and James Harbord defeat Imperial German Forces under Wilhelm German Crown Prince.
 Jun 26 1924 – Latin America Interventions: After 8 years of occupation US troops leave Dominican Republic
 Jun 26 1993 – The U.S. launches a missile attack targeting Baghdad intelligence headquarters in retaliation for a thwarted assassination attempt against former President George H.W. Bush in April in Kuwait.
 Jun 26 2005 - War in Afghanistan: Three U.S. Navy SEALs and 16 American Special Operations Forces soldiers are killed during Operation Red Wing, a failed counter-insurgent mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
 Jun 27 1944 – WWII: Cherbourg, France liberated by Allies
 Jun 27 1950 – Korean War: North Koreans troop reach Seoul, UN asks members to aid South Korea, Truman orders Air Force & Navy into Korean conflict
 Jun 28 1919 – WWI: Treaty of Versailles ending war signed in France
 Jun 28 1965 – Vietnam: 1st U.S. ground combat forces authorized by Pres Johnson
 Jun 29 1943 – WWII: Germany begins withdrawing U-boats from North Atlantic in anticipation of the Allied invasion of Europe
 Jun 29 1949 – US troops withdraw from Korea after WW II
 Jun 29 1966 – Vietnam: U.S. planes bomb Hanoi & Haiphong for 1st time
 Jun 30 1815 – US naval hero Stephen Decatur ends attacks by Algerian pirates
 Jun 30 1943 – WWII: Gen MacArthur begins Operation Cartwheel (island-hopping).
[Source: Various Jun 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia: PTSD was observed and noted in the Civil War, too. The illness was called, "Nostalgia". In October 1861 Alfred Lewis Castleman, a surgeon in the Fifth Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteers, described the first death in his regiment. It was not from battle. “The poor fellow died of Nostalgia (home-sickness), raving to the last breath about wife and children,” he wrote. “Deaths from this cause are very frequent in the army.” While today “nostalgia” is used to describe the longing for a lost time, the word originally signified acute homesickness, a
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condition widely regarded as a dangerous and often deadly illness. Doctors maintained that it could kill, either by worsening existing maladies or by causing its own physical symptoms, which included heart palpitations, lesions, damage to internal organs, “hectic fever,” bowel problems and incontinence. A Civil War veteran described nostalgia’s effects in 1866, noting how it “fastens upon the breast of its prey, and sucks, vampyre-like, the breath of his nostrils. Many a heroic spirit after braving death at the cannon’s mouth … has at length succumbed unresistingly to this vampyre, Nostalgia.” During the Civil War, with close to three million men away from home and therefore potential victim to its ravages, Americans both on the battlefield and on the home front worried about nostalgia. To read an interesting article from the New York Times about it refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Nostalgia”. [Source: New York Times Susan J. Matt article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Nebraska Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Nebraska:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 5.5% (food and prescription drugs exempt); local option taxes could add an additional 2.0% to the state rate. For local rates refer to http://www.revenue.state.ne.us/salestaxrates.html. Gasoline Tax: 26.7 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 26.7 cents/gallon (Fuel taxes are variable and are reset on July 1 and January 1) Cigarette Tax: 64 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range:- 2.56%; High – 6.84% Income Brackets: Four. Lowest – $2,400; Highest – $27,000. The tax brackets reported are for a single individual. For married couples filing jointly, the same rates apply for income under $4,800 to over $54,000. Personal Tax Credits: Single – $120; Married – $240; Dependents – $120; Standard Deduction: Single – $5,450, Married – $10,900 Medical/Dental Deduction: Federal amount Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt. Out-of-state government pensions are fully taxed. Social Security is taxable to the extent of federal taxation. Retired Military Pay: Follows federal tax rules. 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.
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Property Taxes
Real property is assessed at 100% its actual (market) value. A property tax credit is provided for all parcels of property based on the valuation of each parcel. The estimated credit for 2011 is $75.31 for each $100,000 in valuation. The state has a homestead exemption that provides relief from property taxes by exempting all or a portion of the valuation of the homestead from taxation. There are three groups of exemptions: A) persons age 65, B) certain disabled individuals, and C) certain disabled veterans and their widow(er)s. Call 800-742-7474 or 402-471-5984 for details or click here. For information about the homestead exemption refer to http://www.revenue.ne.gov/PAD/homestead.html.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
Nebraska’s inheritance tax, which is collected at the county level, applies to bequests, devises, or transfers of property or any other interest in trust or otherwise having characteristics of annuities, life estates, terms for years, remainders, or reversions. Nebraska inheritance tax is computed on the fair market value of such annuities, life estates, terms for years, remainders, and reversions. The fair market value is the present value as determined under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and its applicable regulations with respect to estate tax. The Nebraska estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax have been repealed for decedents dying or transfers made on or after January 1,2007.
Nebraska has a statutory provision for automatic adjustment of tax brackets, personal exemptions or standard deductions to the rate of inflation For further information, visit the Nebraska Department of Revenue site http://www.revenue.state.ne.us/index.html. [Source: www.retirementliving.com Jun 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art: Typhoons Outward Bound
Typhoons Outward Bound
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As another fine summer day begins, Hawker Typhoon Mk1b’s of 247 Squadron are en-route to the Normandy battlefront, the first of several missions that day. Skimming at mast-top height, the Typhoons pass over two ancient steam drifters, conscripted into the wartime role of patrolling the Channel and, should the need arise, rescuing any downed aircrew in need of help. In the months following D-Day, Hawker’s hard-hitting, snub-nosed Typhoon struck terror into the German formations in Normandy, crack Panzer units wilted under the constant hail of rockets and bombs. Several times a day the Typhoon pilots would cross the Channel to run the gauntlet of flak and ground fire, and deliver their lethal cargo. This British fighter bomber service in 1941 as the successor to the Hurricane as an mid-altitude interceptor. Its real potential was later found as a low altitude fighter and an excellent ground attack aircraft. [Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Typhoonsoutbound.html Jun 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 13 June 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.
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Have You Heard? Men Are Just Happier People.
 Your last name stays put.
 The garage is all yours.
 Wedding plans take care of themselves.
 Chocolate is just another snack.
 You can be President.
 You can never be pregnant.
 You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
 You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
 Car mechanics tell you the truth.
 The world is your urinal.
 You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
 You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
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 Same work, more pay.
 Wrinkles add character.
 Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
 People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
 New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
 One mood all the time.
 Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
 You know stuff about tanks.
 A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
 You can open all your own jars.
 You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
 If someone forgets to invite you,
 He or she can still be your friend.
 Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
 Three pairs of shoes are more than enough..
 You almost never have strap problems in public.
 You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes..
 Everything on your face stays its original color..
 The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
 You only have to shave your face and neck.
 You can play with toys all your life.
 One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons.
 You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look..
 You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
 You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
 You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
NICKNAMES
 If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
 If Mike , Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman
EATING OUT
 When the bill arrives, Mike , Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back..
 When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
 A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
 A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
 A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
 The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
 A woman has the last word in any argument.
 Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
 A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
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 A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
MARRIAGE
 A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
 A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
 A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
 A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
 Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed..
 Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
 Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
 A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
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Naval Term of the Day: “Between the Devil and the Deep”. In wooden ships, the "devil" was the longest seam of the ship. It ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the "devil" had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bosun's chair (i.e. a short plank and a suitable set of ropes to suspend it from) to do so. He was suspended between the "devil" and the sea -- the "deep -- a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway.
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"When I lost my rifle, the Army charged me 85 dollars. That is why in the Navy the Captain goes down with the ship."
— Dick Gregory (60's comedian, vegetarian, Civil Rights activist)
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May 2012 Update

2012-04-30T22:12:00.004-04:00

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
== RAO Bulletin Websites [02] ------------------------------ (Changes)
== NDAA 2013 -------------------------------------- (Movement Begins)
== Food Myths [01] ------------------------------------ (Fact vs. Fiction)
== Student Veterans of America [03] ------- (Sham Chapters Named)
== Clark AFB Vet Cemetery [03] --------------- (S.2320 & H.R.4168)
== Breast Cancer [03] -------------------------------- (NeuVax Vaccine)
== Dengue Fever -------------------- (Vaccine Enters 1st Clinical Trial)
== VA Suicide Prevention [11] ------------------------------ (Pranksters)
== VA Ambulance Coverage ---------------------------------- (Call 911)
== VA Presumptive Herbicide Diseases [01] - (Comp & Health Care)
== Stolen Valor [64] ------------------------------ (John Carl Pequignot)
== Stolen Valor [65] --------------------------------------- (Dave Groves)
== VA Outside Medical Claims [01] ----------- (Vet Sued for $200K)
== Cardiovascular Disease [01] ----------------- (Gum Disease Factor)
== DoD 2013 Budget [18] ------------------- (Unfunded Priorities List)
== USERRA [13] -------------------------------------------------- (S.2299)
== VA Mental Health Care [11] ----------- (1,900 New Hires Planned)
== VA Mental Health Care [12] ------- (MFP/LPMC Services Added)
== VA Mental Health Care [13] ---------- (Wait-Time Data Problems)
== USS Scorpion [01] ------------------- (Deep-Sea Expedition Sought)
== Agent Orange & Hypertension [01] --------------- (New VA Study)
== Korean War 60th Anniversary [02] --------------------- (H.Res. 618)
== Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune [28] **--------- (Appeal to Obama)
== Burn Pit Toxic Emissions [18] ** -- (H.R.3337 Burn Pit Register)
== Military Retirement Commission ** ----------------- (Loaded Deck)
== VA Budget 2013 [04] **------------- (Exempt From Sequestration)
== VA Claims Assistance [04] ** --------- (Records Access Dilemma)
== VA Health Care Enrollment [03] ** ----- (Auto Plan Controversy)
== MCAS Futenma Okinawa [04] ------------ (Negotiations Continue)
== Vet Cremains [10] ---------------------------------------------- (S.2244)
== Vet Cremains [11] -------------------- (VA/MI Unclaimed Veterans)
== TSP [28] ------------------------------------------- (ROTH TSP Delays)
2
== Income Tax Extensions [01] -------------------- (Filing/Paying Late)
== VA Claim Processing [05] ------------- (Transformation Initiatives)
== Veterans' Treatment Court [14] --------------- (Missouri Legislation)
== Manila VARO & OPC [06] ----------------------- (Balikatan Protest)
== Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune [27] --- (Info Release Security Risk)
== VA Special Monthly Compensation ------------------ (Above 100%)
== VA Claims Backlog [60] --------------- (870,000 Wait for Decisions)
== VA Claims Backlog [61] --------------------------- (Pushing 900,000)
== Louisiana Vet Cemeteries [03] ------------ (LA National Dedication)
== TRICARE User Fees [86] -------------- (Unintended Consequences)
== TRICARE User Fees [87] ------------- (Stop the War on TRICARE)
== Vet Jobs [59] -------------------------------------- (New VOW Website)
== GI Bill [117] --------------------------------- (Obama Executive Order)
== Mobilized Reserve 24 Apr 2012 --------------------- (1663 Decrease)
== PTSD [97] --------------------------------- (New Screening Guidelines)
== Vet License Plates LA ------------------------------------- (Availability)
== WWII Vets [18] --------------------------------------------- (John Heller)
== WWII Posters ---------------------------------------------------------- (04)
== POW/MIA [18] --------------------------------------- (16-30 Apr 2012)
== Veteran Support Organizations -------------------------- (ThanksUSA)
== Saving Money ---------------------------------------------- (Cruise Ships)
== VA Fraud Waste & Abuse [47] ---------------------- (16-30 Apr 2012)
== Notes of Interest --------------------------------------- (16-30 Apr 2012)
== Medicare Fraud [91] ---------------------------------- (16-30 Apr 2012)
== State Veteran's Benefits -------------------------------------- (Wisconsin)
== Military History ------------------------------------- (Battle at Rumaila)
== Military History Anniversaries ----------------- (May 1-15 Summary)
== Military Trivia 50 ----------------------------- (USN Ship Designations)
== State Tax Comparisons [04] ----------------------------------- (Property)
== Tax Burden for Mississippi Retirees ---------------- (As of Apr 2012)
== Aviation Art ------------------------------------- (Rising Into the Storm )
== Veteran Legislation Status 27 Apr 2012 ----------- (Where we stand)
== Have You Heard? -------------------------------- (Submarine Nostalgia)
Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 27 Apr 2012
Attachment - Wisconsin State Veteran's Benefits
Attachment - USN Ship Designations
Attachment - Submarine Nostalgia
Attachment - Vet License Plates Louisiana
Attachment - Gulf War Battle at Rumaila
** Denotes Military Times Copyrighted M
aterial
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NDAA 2013: In late April there was a focus on next year’s National Defense Authorization Act in both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. In the House the HASC’s Personnel Subcommittee marked up the FY2013 NDAA bill H.R.4310 and sent it on to the full Committee for their consideration. The mark-up did not include any of the Pentagon’s proposals to increase TRICARE enrollment fees in TRICARE Prime, or creating yearly enrollment fees for TRICARE for Life and TRICARE Standard that would apply to military retirees. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) in his opening statement said that the mark up “Make(s) clear that non-monetary contributions to health care benefits made by our troops and their families through a career of service to America represents pre-payment of health care premiums in retirement.” This is very good news but is only the first step. Next comes the consideration of the full Committee. The mark-up also included:
 Authorize a troop pay increase of 1.7% and extend bonuses and special pay for our men and women in uniform.
 Limit end strength reductions for the active Army and Marine Corps.
 Provide significant new regulations and procedures for combating and prosecuting sexual assault within the military.
 Extend access to family housing for six months and Commissary and Exchange benefits for two years for troops who are involuntarily separated.
 By silence on the issue, reject the Pentagon proposal for two additional rounds of Base Reduction and Closure (BRAC) action.
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 Authorize $30 million in Impact Aid assistance for civilian schools with significant populations of military children.
 Protect child custody agreements in the event of deployment of the military parent.
 Extend certain refinancing help for qualifying servicemembers who can't sell their homes in conjunction with a military-ordered relocation.
 Authorize transition benefits of 180 days of TRICARE Reserve Select health coverage and TRICARE dental coverage for members involuntarily separated from the Selected Reserve.
 Require the Defense Department to establish a unified medical command
On 25 APR the Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony on the FY2013 NDAA. The Senate Armed Services Committee’ Subcommittee on Personnel heard from DOD’s service personnel officials who continued to lobby for higher out-of-pocket TRICARE health insurance fees for retirees and their families. In written testimony the Army’s top personnel official wrote TRICARE “is a superb health benefit, one of the best in the country” but the time has come to scale back. “Just as in all areas of the defense budget, we need to make decisions that preserve a strong benefit yet reflect the fiscal realities of the times,” said Thomas Lamont, the assistant Army secretary for manpower and reserve affairs. “The proposed TRICARE fees reflect appropriate adjustments, and the TRICARE benefit will remain on of the finest and most generous health benefits available in the country,” said Juan Garcia, the assistant Navy secretary for manpower and reserve affairs. It is clear that DOD is not letting up from their push to get these fees authorized. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted 27 Apr 2012 ++]
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Food Myths Update 01: When the subject of food comes up, we are usually overwhelmed because of the different opinions and options concerning what food we should or should not eat. Consequently, keeping up with food trends can be extremely difficult. So, what is really fact or fiction when it comes to eating healthy? If you need more information, visit http://www.eatright.org , or if you have questions, contact a VA Registered Dietitian at (713) 791-1414 ext. 3976, 4296, or 6166. The following covers the truth about some food myths:
Myth 1. “I am diabetic so I should not eat anything white.”
Truth: Avoiding an entire group of food is never a good idea. A person may feel they are being cheated and eat more than they normally would at the next meal. Diabetics should monitor the amount of carbohydrates they consume; but, they should not completely avoid them. Other names for carbohydrates are “carbs” or “starches.” White foods such as potatoes, rice, bread, and sugar do contain carbohydrates. However, many foods that are not white such as corn, peas, brown rice, fruit juice, and soda also contain carbohydrates. For example, a cup of orange juice would elevate your blood sugar as much as a piece of white bread. Therefore, “white” foods can fit into a diabetic diet as easily as other foods. Eating healthy is all about balance which includes a proper diet adjusted to your body needs and activity level.
Myth 2. “Artificial sweeteners are bad for me.”
Truth: Artificial sweeteners are also called sugar substitutes (SS). Examples of sugar substitutes are Sweet ‘N Low, Equal, Splenda, and Truvia. They are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA must approve foods as safe before they can be sold. However, SS have a bad reputation as something that can cause cancer. Current research has found no clear link between their use and the risk of cancer in humans.
Myth 3. “Sea salt is better than table salt.”
Truth: Sea salt has the same amount of sodium (salt) as table salt. If you are looking for a salt substitute, try herbs or
salt-free seasonings. Also, check the ingredient list on foods you purchase to make sure the food is truly salt-free.
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Myth 4. “Eggs are bad for me”
Truth: Eggs have a bad reputation because the yolks are high in cholesterol. Nevertheless, eggs are good to eat in
modest amounts of three or four a week. Also, eggs are a great source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B12. Furthermore, if your cholesterol is high try eating just the egg whites or low cholesterol eggs.
Myth 5. “Eating before bedtime makes me gain weight.”
Truth: The food you eat before bedtime will not make you gain any more weight than food you eat during the day.
Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn with exercise or physical activity. So, if you exercised enough in the day to burn off the calories in the late night snack, you will not gain weight. One thing to
consider is that late night snacking occurs because you are bored. Thus, if you are snacking out of boredom, not hunger, those late-night calories probably will catch up with you which will result in weight gain.
[Source: VA Star Mar/Apr 2012 ++]
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Student Veterans of America Update 03: On 26 APR Student Veterans of America (SVA) published the list of 26 for-profit institutions whose SVA charters had been revoked. The removal of SVA chapters resulted from a routine, annual review of all chapters. "SVA chapters must be established and led by student veterans. Student veteran organizations in development, or created by university administrators, defeats the fundamental spirit of the SVA chapter,” said Michael Dakduk, Executive Director of Student Veterans of America. "In addition to being a peer support group, SVA chapters exist as campus and community based advocacy organizations. It appears that some for-profit schools do not understand our model, or worse –they understand our model and they choose to exploit it for personal gain.” This is important because:
1) It defrauds veterans seeking advice from SVA’s student leaders;
2) It deters veterans who would otherwise form chapters at these campuses;
3) It misrepresents these chapters as being a point of contact for veterans seeking out their peers who can help them with transition issues and introduce them to a community of individuals that share similar experiences;
4) It undermines the legitimacy and reputation of SVA.
Many military and veteran-friendly school lists cite having a SVA chapter as a criterion for becoming ‘veteran-friendly’. The term ‘military-friendly’, or ‘veteran-friendly’, as it relates to academic institutions is ill-defined. "I am concerned that certain for-profit schools may be taking advantage of the SVA brand to legitimize their programs. This may be an example of certain schools establishing fake SVA chapters to appear on a military-friendly list. By being featured on these lists, those schools can then advertise their programs as accommodating to veterans –although the term military and veteran friendly lacks any real definition. This is an extreme example of misrepresentation. There is a pattern of impropriety among certain for-profit institutions of higher learning.” Those found to be in non-compliance are:
 Allied American University
 Anthem College-Online
 Argosy University-Online
 Argosy University-San Bernardino
 Art Institute Of California-Orange County
 Art Institute Of California-Sacramento
 Art Institute Of Michigan
 Art Institute Of New York City
 Art Institute Of Pittsburgh
6
 Art Institute Of Pittsburgh-Online
 Art Institute Of Washington
 Art Institutes International-Kansas City
 Ashworth College
 Brown Mackie College-Akron
 Devry University-Orlando South
 ECPI College Of Technology-Innsbrook
 ECPI College Of Technology-Raleigh
 ECPI College Of Technology-Richmond
 Expression College For Digital Arts
 Fashion Institute Of Design & Merchandising
 ITT Technical Institute-South Bend
 ITT Technical Institute-Springfield
 ITT Technical Institute-Strongsville
 Medical Careers Institute
 South University-Alabama
 South University-Georgia
[Source: http://www.studentveterans.org News 25 Apr 2012 ++]
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Clark AFB Vet Cemetery Update 03: On 19 APR Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Mark Begich (D-AK) introduced legislation aimed at restoring the Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Philippines. The Remembering America's Forgotten Veterans Cemetery Act (S.2320) would require the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to restore, operate, and maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery to honor the courageous Americans buried there. The ABMC is an independent agency of the U.S. government charged with managing overseas cemeteries and monuments. The Senate bill is a companion measure to H.R.4168 which was introduced by Representative Frank Guinta (R-NH) last month. "The U.S. government has a moral responsibility to care for veterans cemeteries that honor those who have bravely served our country," said Senator Ayotte. "The American veterans buried in Clark Veterans Cemetery deserve a dignified and well-maintained final resting place, and it's time for the U.S. government to fulfill its responsibility to care for this sacred ground." Senator Begich said, " America's veterans deserve dignity and honor no matter where they are buried. It is our duty to recognize their service by making sure this cemetery is maintained appropriately, and this final resting place of thousands of service members should not be left in disrepair."
Clark Veterans Cemetery
7
The Caring for the Fallen Act (H.R.4168), on which subcommittee hearings have been held, currently has 10 cosponsors. A “watered down” version of Guinta’s bill is now advancing within the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC). The revised provision, which has been attached to annual VA COLA legislation, now requires the ABMC to “study” the matter and then report their findings to Congress. Clark Veterans Cemetery was consigned to oblivion in 1991, when Mount Pinatubo’s gigantic eruption forced the U.S. to abandon the sprawling air base surrounding it. Retired U.S. soldiers, Marines and sailors volunteer to keep watch, relying on donations to try to maintain the grounds, but they lament that they’re helplessly short on funds to fix things, and that Washington is unwilling to help. It’s the veterans’ cemetery that America forgot. [Source: AFSA On Call 25 Apr 2012 ++]
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Breast Cancer Update 03: An Army doctor has helped develop a vaccine that he believes will prevent cancer, or at least its recurrence. The drug NeuVax began phase III clinical trials 20 JAN which Col. George Peoples said could lead to its Food and Drug Administration approval. Peoples is chief of surgical oncology at the San Antonio Military Medical Center when he's not traveling the world to provide surgical expertise or working to try and find a cure for cancer. The phase III clinical trial for NeuVax will involve at least 700 breast cancer patients at 100 sites in the United States and abroad. The trial is titled PRESENT, Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low to Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment. Participants will receive one intradermal injection every month for six months, followed by a booster inoculation every six months thereafter. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival at three years. "The first patient was vaccinated with NeuVax in January at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas," Peoples said.
Peoples is the director and principal investigator for a Cancer Vaccine Development Program that he has been working on since the early 90s. The vaccine carries the generic name E75. This third and final phase of testing before FDA approval will bring NeuVax one step closer to the market and to the breast cancer patients who need more options, Peoples said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 203,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year. The current vaccine is the result of nearly 20 years of research by Peoples and others, and has paralleled the development of the drug Herceptin. "Herceptin is one of our biggest breast cancer drugs right now. It targets a protein commonly over-expressed in breast cancer cells called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2/neu. This drug has cut the rate of breast cancer recurrence in half ; the first drug to ever have this dramatic of a response. "So of course, HER2/neu became the molecule of the decade and Herceptin now is a multi-billion dollar drug," Peoples said. [Source: U.S Army Homepage Rob McIlvaine article http://www.army.mil/article/78062/Army_surgeon_on_track_to_head_off_cancer_before_it_starts/ 18 Apr 2012 ++]
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Dengue Fever: Dengue fever is a virus-based disease spread by mosquitoes. It begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 - 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable. Other symptoms include: Headache (especially behind the eyes), Fatigue, Joint aches, Muscle aches, Nausea, Swollen lymph nodes, and Vomiting. More than one-third of the world’s population live in areas at risk for transmission. Dengue infection is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics.
Navy medical researchers are conducting their first human clinical trial for a vaccine to protect U.S. troops from dengue, a potentially deadly mosquito-transmitted virus found in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. No treatment or cure exists for dengue, which is carried by a particular type of mosquito, said Navy Cmdr. Tad Kochel,
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chief of Viral and Rickettsial Disease research at the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Springs, Maryland. Kochel said the disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Dengue puts 2 million people at risk worldwide, and adds about 500,000 new cases each year, Kochel said. Dengue also can cause 25,000 deaths annually, mostly among children who aren't hospitalized before severe illness can set in. "We need a vaccine because the troops are deployed where dengue is actively transmitted," said Kochel, who developed the Navy's dengue vaccine in 1993, which is now in the trial phase to determine whether it is safe and effective. Kochel, who has a doctorate in virology, said a vaccine against the virus will have to cover each of its four strains.
Some dengue strains cause few symptoms, while others can cause high fever, internal bleeding and shock, among other symptoms, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Janine Danko, department deputy chief. Dengue is not contagious, she said. It is contracted when bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. Once a person is bitten, however, subsequent bites from infected mosquitoes have cumulative effects and can result in more severe cases of the disease. "People who get it a second or third time in their lives can have more severe disease symptoms," Danko said. "A soldier who is deployed to a tropical area, bitten by a mosquito and infected with dengue may not even know it. He may feel 'punky' and have a fever a day or two. If he's deployed again to other areas with dengue, he's at higher risk of infection, because his body has seen it before." Because there is no treatment for dengue, prevention is vital. "We always have campaigns to reduce dengue transmission," Kochel said. "Troops in endemic areas are encouraged to kill the mosquitoes, use pesticides, ensure living areas have no standing water, and use a repellent. But these things are not 100 percent. That's why we need a vaccine."
Research for a dengue vaccine has been under way for more than 20 years, but its availability still is five to 10 years away, Kochel said. A vaccine that prevents all four strains of dengue must pass stringent Food and Drug Administration requirements before it can be licensed and marketed for human use. The price tag that comes with vaccine development also is great. "The dollar amount for these studies is pretty exponential," Kochel said. The Navy researchers emphasized that they're not working in a vacuum to develop a vaccine. "The Navy, in collaboration with the Army, has three vaccines," Kochel said. "We are testing products individually and in combination with our counterparts, such as universities and private companies that also are working on vaccines." Of the various vaccines in different stages of development, Kochel said, not one is ahead of the others. "Everyone's trying to get over this hurdle of getting good immune responses against all four types of the virus," he said, adding that the "perfect vaccine" does not yet exist to protect U.S. troops from all strains. [Source: AFPS Terri Moon Cronk article 26 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Suicide Prevention Update 11: In the last three years working at the Veterans Crisis Line 1 (800) 273-8255, responder Christina Tallie says she has had fewer than 10 exchanges with callers that have traumatized her. But she still gets anxious recalling them. The worst involved a lengthy, frustrating phone call with a frantic veteran that ended with a sudden gunshot. She was so upset, she couldn’t work the rest of the day, and thought about quitting. “I told [the supervisors] that I just had to walk away,” she said. “I just ... It was more than I
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could handle right then.” When police arrived at the caller’s address hours later, they discovered it was a prank. That doesn’t make the memory any easier for Tallie. Staffers with the VA’s suicide prevention efforts say pranks are sad but commonplace, not just in their office but across the crisis hotline industry. Caitlin Thompson, clinical care coordinator for the veterans hotline, said that prank calls to their offices total hundreds each week. The problem has gotten even worse as the VA expands into online-chat and text-message outreach. Sometimes, callers just use the services as a catch-all answer service, for veterans programs or anything else they can think of. One recent texter keeps asking if he can pay his phone bill using the suicide hotline. But often, prankers prefer the voiceless services because they’re harder to trace, and make mischief easier for the fakers. “With the live phone calls, sometimes you can hear [the caller] laughing, or other people giggling in the background,” Tallie said. “You don’t get that on a computer.” In extreme cases -- like the fake gunshot call Tallie took – the prank can end up in criminal charges for those involved. But Thompson said officials don’t obsess over the problem, and often try to move past the disgusting deception. “Unfortunately, it’s just part of the job,” she said. [Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 24 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Ambulance Coverage: Veterans suffering heart attacks or other perilous emergencies could be risking their lives to avoid ambulance bills. About twice a day, an ambulance is sent to Florida’s Viera VA Outpatient Clinic, many times to pick up someone who went there instead of calling 9-1-1 or going straight to a hospital emergency room. More often than not, fire-rescue department records show the patients report chest pains, trouble breathing or other emergency symptoms that the VA clinic is not equipped to deal with. “You don’t want to come to the VA clinic and risk your life, passing emergency rooms along the way,” said Tiy Sanchez, a VA administrator in Orlando. According to veterans’ advocates and medical professionals working with patients daily, some are going to veterans’ clinics first because they say they can’t afford an ambulance bill as high as $600 and they believe that cost won’t be covered by their veterans’ benefits or private insurance unless they go to the clinic first. “I think if it’s anything serious, they should call 9-1-1, then worry about the details later,” said Ron Butt, a Vietnam vet who now works with local disabled veterans. “With the economy, it’s intimidating to dial that 9-1-1.”
Some are worried because the decisions patients are making threaten their own safety and unnecessarily tie up county ambulances in a densely populated area. Last year, public records show ambulances in Brevard County FL took 293 patients — who county responders determined needed emergency care — from the clinic to hospitals, most to Viera Hospital about 2½ miles away. Stations in neighboring areas are affected too, because they are called in to cover when the Viera station responds to the clinic. “Our primary goal is to have the 9-1-1 system available for those who truly need it,” said Orlando Dominguez, Brevard County Fire-Rescue’s Emergency Medical Services Division chief. He said that agency is working with the VA to reduce the number of calls. But, he stressed that the department shifts rescue units around to cover the Viera area as needed. “Yes, obviously you have a unit committed to the VA, but it’s not any different than going to a home,” Dominguez said.
According to Brevard County Fire-Rescue records, county ambulances responded to 550 calls from the clinic last year. Of those, 293 people needed emergency transport. That averages at least two calls per day — and about one transport per day — for the Monday-to-Friday work week that the clinic is open. The clinic sees an average of 1,100 patients per day. “Some veterans choose not to follow what is in their best health interest in a way to save money, just as other people in the community do when it comes to making medical decisions or following medical advice,” said Tony Ingram, social work supervisor at the VA clinic. Ambulance bills can be pricey. For emergencies, the average is $600. For non-emergency cases, such as delivering a patient to a nursing home, the average ambulance fee is about $350. If the ambulance picks them up at the clinic, the Department of Veterans Affairs picks up 100 percent of the bill. If not, the veteran may have to file extra paperwork and negotiate to get the bill paid, depending
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on their personal circumstances. They know they might end up paying part or all of the bill themselves. “I think the economy plays a part in that,” said Dr. Thomas Howard, chief medical officer at the VA clinic.
Butt, who volunteers with the Disabled Veterans of America chapter in Melbourne, and medical professionals noted that while the economy is a factor, in some cases, veterans are probably in denial, too, about the seriousness of their symptoms, not realizing their chest pains are a heart attack. The VA is trying to educate patients on two fronts. First, in many emergency cases, a veteran’s health benefits will cover ambulance services — for instance, if the patient was seen by VA within the past two years and has no other private insurance. It doesn’t matter about the location as much. Each case is different, Sanchez said. “It’s not a simple yes or no,” she said. Second, they’re reminding patients that delaying treatment can lead to serious, permanent damage or even death. The Viera clinic has hung “Save Your Life” signs warning veterans to call 9-1-1 in emergencies rather than waiting. “I do educate them that their well-being is the most important thing, and they should not drive past a hospital in a medical emergency to come to the VA,” Ingram said. Ingram said the majority of people transported via ambulance don’t have urgent symptoms. “Most veterans come to the clinic because they are sick, and then after being evaluated by the medical provider are determined they need hospitalization or more care than can be provided by our outpatient clinic,” Ingram said. The county fire-rescue records show 550 calls in 2011, 502 in 2010 and 451 in 2009. The VA reimburses the county for each emergency run. The bill was $179,380 in 2011. So far, the county has collected $73,321, with the balance still being processed by the VA. [Source: Florida Today Norman Moody article 22 Apr 2012 ++]
A patient is put into an ambulance at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Viera.
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VA Presumptive Herbicide Diseases Update 01: When Ralph Bozella came home from Vietnam in 1972, he was happy he’d survived and was ready to get on with life. Because he had escaped any serious wounds in combat, he never gave a thought to disabilities. Four decades later, his time in Vietnam is haunting his health. But thanks to a little-known law, he is receiving thousands of dollars a month in disability pay and free health care for a heart problem that he may have contracted when exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals used to kill vegetation and expose the enemy. Nearly 2.6 million Americans served in Vietnam, and anyone who set foot there during the war is eligible for compensation if they suffer from one of 16 ailments. Some are fairly common, like Type II diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer. The vast majority of these veterans are now in their 60s and 70s, and much more likely to develop the diseases covered by the law. Many veterans may not know that illnesses appearing so much later could qualify them for combat-related disability.
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Ralph Bozella in 1972
Bozella, now 63 and a retired school teacher in Longmont, found out his heart disease qualified because in 2004, he had finally asked for help for PTSD, and ended up in Veterans Administration care. “When we were in ‘Nam, we used to talk about going back to ‘the world’, thinking how good things would be when we got home,” he said. “But it turned out to be bedlam for me. I was so confused. I couldn’t keep a job. I had trouble with authority. So I began to self-medicate through drinking, smoking and other things.” Bozella, like many combat vets, carried that emotional baggage until some fellow vets convinced him to get it checked out. “I found out I had PTSD…. my wife had been telling me that for years but I never listened to her,” he said. Six years later, in 2010, he developed breathing and heart problems that required doctors to install a stent. “They (the VA) determined that it was ischemic heart disease that was related to Agent Orange,” he said. Ischemic means decreased blood supply, and it is one of the most common forms of heart disease. “If you were in ‘Nam, even for one day, and now have one of 16 medical conditions, you qualify for benefits, automatically,” Bozella explained.
There is no need for proof of actual exposure to Agent Orange or other poisons -- and that makes the program differ sharply from some other federal compensation programs. Nuclear weapons workers, such as those at the former Rocky Flats plant near Denver, must find records proving significant exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals before they can get aid, and that has been a major obstacle for them. Congress eliminated requiring proof of exposure after the Centers for Disease Control spent five years and $48 million trying and failing to identify which veterans had been exposed to Agent Orange. The defoliant, which contained a known carcinogenic – dioxin – was sprayed over nearly 12 percent of the country to eliminate enemy cover in the thick foliage, and to destroy local food sources. The Agent Orange law, passed in 1991, states that a military person who was in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975 and has been diagnosed with one of the named conditions qualifies for disability benefits. These payments can range up to $2,673 a month for 100 percent disability. Sailors on inland waterways, termed “brown waters,” qualify as well. Congress now has two bills pending authorizing the same benefits for “blue water” sailors, whose ships came within 12 miles of shore, because the defoliants may have drifted that far. The bill also would extend benefits to some veterans who served in Panama and the South Korean DMZ during that time. Children of Vietnam veterans with certain birth defects also are covered.
The VA has no record of how many veterans have requested or received Agent Orange compensation, because it tracks claims only by disability. Since September 2010, just under 31,000 Vietnam vets have filed for Agent Orange compensation, according to Randal Noller of the VA. A veteran may file a claim by presenting proof of service (form DD-214), proof of having been in Vietnam such as orders, medals etc., and an acceptable diagnosis of the medical condition, according to the VA office in Lakewood. It said most claims are processed within six months. Of course, it’s not that simple, said Ann Weakley, a retired VA administrator and claims processor. “The VA can be weird,” she said. “Papers get lost, sometimes it’s hard to find records, people get very frustrated. The entire process can take up to a year, including a physical exam and a disability rating board review, she said. “But you need to stay with it. I suggest you find someone to help you, like the Veteran’s county office, the VFW or the American Legion.
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The state has three Veteran’s Centers in Pueblo, Colorado Springs and in the Lowry area in Denver. These are run by state employees, who can be helpful,” Weakley said.
Calling the VA directly is not advised. It has one toll-free telephone number for the entire country. On three recent tries, the average wait time was 34 minutes; the longest was 45 minutes. Veterans can also try the local office of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. If unknown refer to the VA’s National Facilities Locator site http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isflash=1. For metro Denver it is 155 Van Gordon Dr., Lakewood, and can be reached by telephone at 1-800-827-1000. The Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs office, which can assist veterans with filing federal claims, is at 1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 113, Denver, 80222. Telephone is (303) 343-1268. Bozella now believes so strongly in helping veterans learn about medical problems associated with war that he volunteers full-time for the American Legion. He also was elected president of the United Veterans Committee of Colorado, a nonprofit umbrella organization of more than 45 veterans’ organizations helping Colorado’s estimated 460,000 vets.
AGENT ORANGE AILMENTS
Medical conditions covered by the 1991 Agent Orange Act include:
Prostate Cancer
Respiratory cancers
Multiple Myeloma
Type II diabetes
Hodgkin’s disease
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Soft tissue sarcoma (cancer)
Chloracne
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
Peripheral neuropathy
Chronic Llymphocytic leukemia
B-cell leukemias
Parkinson’s disease
Ischemic heart disease
AL Amyloidosis
Spina Bifida and certain other birth defects in vets’ children.
[Source: Colorado Springs The Gazette Mike McPhee article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 64: John Carl Pequignot, 85, of Fort Wayne has told many people he fought the Japanese in three major battles as a Navy corpsman during World War II and that he was injured three separate times. Depending on where he is discussing his war history, he may talk about when he was taken as prisoner of war and held in a camp in Luzon, Philippines, or sometimes it’s Guam. The recounting of his military career often includes details about a clash where half of his face was blown off by a grenade. He underwent 27 reconstructive surgeries made possible by hip bone parts donated by more than a dozen Marines he saved, he has said. After the war, Pequignot said, President Harry Truman personally presented him a sword for his heroism. For years, Pequignot has told some portions of these stories to youth groups, at churches and in retirement homes. In 2007, he was presented a Silver Star, the third-highest honor in the military. In 2010, he was made an honorary member of the Indianapolis Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 259, and is featured in the group’s online video project, “Tell America.” The Journal Gazette ran a story on Veterans Day in November in which Pequignot was prominently featured talking about his World War II experiences.
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But according to Navy records, Pequignot was never in battle and never left the U.S. during his military service. There is no official documentation that would indicate he was a POW, and archivists at Truman’s presidential library said they have no record of a meeting. In fact, the name Pequignot does not appear at all. A convicted thief and bank robber after the war, Pequignot has insisted for years that the Navy lost all of his overseas records. But military records obtained by The Journal Gazette from the National Archives and Records Administration in St. Louis seem to account for almost every day Pequignot was in the service. Nothing in the records corroborates any of his military stories. Because of the discrepancies, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar’s office has backed away from a push to award Pequignot the Medal of Honor – an award numerous local residents have championed on Pequignot’s behalf.
Too young for active service, the records show Pequignot worked in Fort Wayne at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards until he was accepted into active service on July 28, 1944, a month before his 18th birthday and a year before the war ended. He was discharged on July 12, 1946. He served the majority of those two years in California, according to military records. Pequignot claims to have been a corpsman, an enlisted person with some medical training who serves the Navy and Marines as a medic in times of war. But Navy records do not list any medical training for Pequignot. Asked about the discrepancy, Pequignot said he took a two-week course on an island – he did not remember its name – north of Australia in the fall of 1944. During a battle in Saipan in November 1944, he claims to have received serious injuries to his leg from flying shrapnel while involved in hand-to-hand combat. He was then transferred by the USS Comfort to a military hospital to recuperate until March 28, he said. But during that time, official military records place him at a Naval training center in Oklahoma.
Pequignot tells of another battle he was in on the island of Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945. But Navy records show he was in California then. Asked about the conflicting dates, Pequignot said his memory “may be off by a few days or so.” Pequignot has said he was critically injured when a grenade detonated mid-air in Okinawa on April 1, 1945, blowing off half his face and jaw. According to Pequignot, he recuperated in a base hospital in Okinawa for five months before being sent back to the States. He claims to have undergone 27 surgeries to repair the damage. The first surgery was performed in Okinawa, he said, when 15 Marines volunteered to donate parts of their hip bones to help reconstruct his face. But according to documents related to his official military discharge in July 1946, Pequignot “required neither medical nor dental attention.” Despite his claims of critical injuries and months of surgeries and rehabilitation, military records indicate his health was normal with “no defects, abnormalities or injuries.” Records confirm he served aboard the USS Shangri-La, as he claims, but the Navy said he was aboard the ship after the war, from Oct. 26, 1945, to May 17, 1946.
John Pequignot
Jonn Lilyea, a retired infantry platoon sergeant who served in Desert Storm, recently noted Pequignot’s claims in his popular military blog, “This ain’t hell, but you can see it from here.” “Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were
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operations by different (Marine Corps) units,” Lilyea wrote, “so he must have really been bounced around.”After leaving the Navy, Pequignot was a Fort Wayne police officer until he was convicted in 1958 for involvement in a car theft ring. Six years later, he was convicted of bank robbery in Allen County. All of that “was long ago” and has no bearing on his military record, he said. In later years, Pequignot was a high school sports referee and did janitorial work.
He has qualified for 50 percent disability pay from the Department of Veterans Affairs based on “conditions of military service.” He receives $845 a month as compensation for tinnitus and hearing loss. Claims for shrapnel wounds and tremors of the hand and arm were denied, according to VA documents. Pequignot has a number of medals and ribbons, many in a glass case and some on the uniform he wears when he makes presentations, he said. He claims to have three Purple Hearts, an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, China Service Ribbon, Japan Occupation Ribbon, Distinguished Marksman Ribbon and a Presidential Citation. Official records show Pequignot received a World War II Victory Medal and Victory Ribbon, which were given to all veterans who served during WWII, and an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, which was given to all veterans who served in the Pacific. In a ceremony at Allen County Public Library on Oct. 30, 2007, Pequignot was presented with a belated Silver Star – the third-highest honor in the military – given for distinguished gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The Korean War Veterans hosted the event, and the medal was presented by then-state Sen. Gary Dillon. Dillon remembers the event but has no idea where the Silver Star originated or where the order came from, he said. He was simply asked to show up and make the presentation, as elected officials are often asked to do, he said.
Although it’s possible that a belated award would not be found in many WWII records, the citation would have had to be signed by a senior Navy officer such as an admiral or a Department of the Navy civilian official at the secretary level, often both, said Col. Wayne Morris, USMC, of Jacksonville, N.C. Pequignot was unable to produce any paperwork for the citation. The belated Silver Star medal would have had to be processed through the Navy Board for Corrections of Military Records, said C. Douglas Sterner, curator for the Military Times Hall of Valor in Alexandria, Va. “It doesn’t appear that was done,” he said. James Yaney, a Korean War veteran who has pushed for the Medal of Honor for his friend Pequignot, said the Silver Star medal was sent directly from Veterans Affairs to Pequignot. Sterner said Lugar’s office backed off the Medal of Honor nomination when officials at the Navy Decorations board found there was no validity to Pequignot’s claims. The Navy had been provided with a copy of Pequignot’s Purple Heart citation, which it deemed not to be authentic, said Sterner, who played a major role in the passage of federal law making it a misdemeanor to falsely claim a military medal. “There is no evidence he earned a Silver Star or one, much less three, Purple Hearts,” Sterner said. “We do not believe he was a corpsman, and there is no evidence he was ever a prisoner of war.” Yaney said he was “completely devastated” about the lack of evidence to support Pequignot’s claims. Still, Pequignot maintains his version of his military service is the truth. “There’s no way to prove I’m telling the truth if the Navy won’t present my side,” he said. [Source: The Journal Gazette Vivian Sade article 22 Apr 2012 ++]
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Stolen Valor Update 65: POWs from the Vietnam War contend that Dave Groves, a West Jordan man honored last week by the Veterans Administration and years ago by the University of Utah, was never held captive in Vietnam. Groves does not appear on a database of Department of Defense Vietnam-era POWs, compiled from military records. "He’s a typical liar," said Mike McGrath, historian of Nam-POW, a nonprofit organization of Vietnam prisoners of war. "There are 540 of us still alive from Vietnam, and we have 3,000 wannabees who want to be us." Groves, who has hired an attorney after a week of online challenges to his truthfulness, insists he was a POW who for unexplained reasons does not appear in the Pentagon’s database. "We are retaining legal counsel. Until then we have no further comment except to say these accusations are entirely false and defamatory," Groves’ wife, Fran Groves, said 20 APR.
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On 13 APR, Groves was one of nearly two dozen men honored at a luncheon for POWs hosted by the Veterans Administration in Salt Lake City. Fran Groves said last weekend that the couple have been invited to the annual luncheon since 1992; they have a commemorative plaque from the VA hanging in their home. In 2000, Groves was honored at the University of Utah’s annual Veterans Day celebration, where he shared the roster with nine other men praised for wartime heroics. At the U. event, typically one of Utah’s biggest on Veterans Day, Groves was applauded as a highly decorated soldier. The program — and a short biography still displayed on the U.’s Veterans Day website — says Groves was awarded three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Crosses of Gallantry. That information came from an interview the university conducted with Groves before the event, said Keith Sterling, spokesman at the U. The university’s marketing and communications office, which stages the event, no longer has a file on Groves because the event was nearly 12 years ago, Sterling said. Such files typically include nomination forms and some documentation of a military record.
At the 13 APR VA luncheon, Groves said in an interview that he was held captive by the North Vietnamese for six months after his unit, part of the Army’s 5th Special Forces, was ambushed. He said he was the only survivor of the ambush, and escaped with other U.S. servicemen, spending two weeks in the jungle before they were found by a Marine patrol. The VA has not yet responded to questions, submitted 18 APR, about how it vets its honorees. Spokesman James Brown said a response is expected Tuesday. Mary Schantag, chairwoman of the board of P.O.W. Network, which keeps an online database about former POWs and purported "phonies," said she is convinced Groves is the latter. She filed a request with the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis earlier this week for Groves’ military records. She said that an NPRC employee told her in a phone conversation 20 APR that he could find no military record for Groves in the database. She is expecting a written notice to that effect in the mail. The Tribune also filed a request for Groves’ military records, considered the definitive evidence of service.
Dave Groves POW appreciation luncheon Friday, April 13
While the DOD database is rarely wrong, one former POW questioned by the network did prove he was held in Vietnam and mistakenly left off the list, McGrath said. "In all of the 3,000 cases [investigated by P.O.W. Network] only one was correct that he was a POW," McGrath said. Schantag said the P.O.W. Network flagged Groves in 2003 after he participated in a VA luncheon, but whether the VA was ever informed about the network’s suspicions is not clear. Dale Osborne of Salt Lake City, who spent four and a half years in a North Vietnamese POW camp, said he can’t understand why anyone would claim to have been imprisoned. "There was no valor in being captured," said Osborne, who was in the Navy. Nonetheless, he said, "We did go through four or five years of starvation and torture. To have someone come up and claim, ‘I did too,’ it just burns me up." The Groves case reveals another side to the ongoing scourge of stolen valor. Even when the Pentagon does make a database available, as it does for POWs and those missing in action, it doesn’t mean that organizations honoring veterans will make inquires.
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Investigating whether a person served in the military or earned medals for combat wounds or valor is much more difficult. There is no public database for those, and it can take months or years to get a response from the St. Louis center. Schantag and McGrath said the VA has mistakenly listed people as POWs in the past. A 2009 investigation by The Associated Press found the VA paying disability benefits to 966 Vietnam POWs even though there were then only about 550 living, according to the Department of Defense. The VA also was giving disability payments to 286 veterans who claimed to have been taken prisoner during the first Gulf War, although the Department of Defense at the time said there were only 21 surviving POWs from that conflict. "They believe these frauds and grant them benefits and money based on falsehoods," McGrath said. [Source: The Salt Lake Tribune Kristen Moulton article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Outside Medical Claims Update 01: Cleveland Davis’ is a combat veteran who received the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in Vietnam. Christmas Day 2005, his head began hurting, and his speech became slurred. His family thought he might be suffering a stroke. They rushed him from his Charlotte home to nearby Carolinas Medical Center. Doctors found problems, including a blood clot next to his brain and severe circulation problems in his legs. Doctors amputated Davis’ left leg, drained blood from the clot and kept him for more than a month for an array of tests and procedures. In early 2006, the bills started arriving. The hospital said Davis was responsible for paying nearly $200,000. Carolinas HealthCare System later sued Davis to collect on the bill. Davis contends that if the hospital had done its job properly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs probably would have covered his medical bills. In court papers, he argued that the hospital didn’t properly process the documents needed to submit the bills to the VA. But when the VA refused to pay, they say, the bill became Davis’ responsibility.
Cleveland Davis
Davis is one of thousands of patients sued by Carolinas HealthCare. It’s a bill-collection practice that most North Carolina hospitals have chosen to avoid. But officials say they are obligated to try to collect whatever they can from patients who can afford to pay. In Davis’ case, the resolution of the dispute in 2008 proved costly. Davis said he agreed to pay $700 a month for three years to the hospital and clinics that provided his care. After that, he said, he agreed to pay $200 a month to the hospital. Those payments have been his single biggest monthly expense, he says, and he still can’t understand how the total bill climbed so high. Davis receives about $4,400 a month from the VA. After exhausting most of his savings, he mortgaged his modest three-bedroom house in northeast Charlotte – valued at $134,000 – which had been paid in full before his hospitalization. Otherwise, he says, there’s no way he could make his monthly medical payments. For now, he closely watches expenses and cringes each time he sends his check to the hospital. “If I didn’t have to pay this, I could pay my (other) bills without a struggle,” said Davis, now 64. He has paid only a small portion of his bill so far. “I know I’ll spend the rest of my life paying this.”
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Davis has been able to avoid bankruptcy – but not the stress associated with fighting the hospital. Officials with Carolinas HealthCare say the VA initially agreed that Davis was covered. But later, after Davis was discharged, the VA notified CMC it wouldn’t pay for his care. Under federal rules, the VA will pay for emergency care in non-VA hospitals, but only until a patient is stabilized. After that, the policy says, the patient, a responsible party or the hospital should arrange for the patient’s transfer to a VA facility. Carolinas HealthCare officials say they repeatedly contacted the VA regarding Davis’ transfer, but the patient was never offered a bed. Carolinas HealthCare said in a statement that it tried to work with Davis and the VA but could never get the federal government to pay. “The patient legally remains responsible for payment of the care provided,” the hospital said. Usually even-tempered, Davis doesn’t try to conceal his feelings about CMC. “I don’t ever want to go back there,” he tells his wife and children. “If I get sick and the VA is full, take me straight to the funeral home.” [Source: The Charlotte Observer Ames Alexander article 21 Apr 2012 ++]
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Cardiovascular Disease Update 01: An American Heart Association expert panel has concluded that gum disease is has not been demonstrated to be a factor in causing cardiovascular disease and treating gum disease does not appear to prevent or influence the course of atherosclerotic vascular disease. A link between the two disorders has been proposed for more than a century, and patients and providers have been increasingly presented with claims that gum treatment strategies offer cardiovascular protection. Both disorders share several common risk factors (cigarette smoking, age, and diabetes mellitus) but the most likely reason they are found together is that people who have good oral hygiene also tend to have a healthy lifestyle that helps protect against cardiovascular disease. [Source: Journal of the American Heart Assn article 18 Apr 2012 ++]
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DoD 2013 Budget Update 18: Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, has informed the House Armed Services Committee that the Army would join the other services and not send Congress an "unfunded priorities list," a long-time tradition. The Army General thanked Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) for the opportunity to address fiscal year unfunded Army requirements and said, “In lieu of submitting an unfunded requirement list, I am soliciting your support of the Army Budget request in the FY13 President’s Budget.” Submittal of the “wish list” of desired spending that didn't make the president's budget cut is an annual, customary submission that helps members of the Armed Services Committee understand potential risks that need serious consideration and close attention. Two points:
1. It is a tradition for the Ranking Minority Member on the Committee to request an unfunded priority list from the Service Chiefs; and,
2. The President’s FY13 budget would reduce Army ground forces by 100,000 over ten years. Something that many have been saying is too much too quickly before a thorough assessment of possible future needs is completed.
[Source: NAUS Weekly Update 20 Apr 2012 ++]
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USERRA Update 13: Legislation to strengthen a law protecting the employment rights of veterans and military servicemembers has been introduced in the Senate. The legislation S.2299, called the Servicemembers Rights Enforcement Improvement Act “will help force the hand of those who have failed to follow the law when it comes to providing our nation’s heroes with the basic safeguards they deserve,” said Sen. Patty Murray, (D-WA.), chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who introduced the bill on 18 APR. The legislation is meant to improve enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, known as USERRA,
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which mandates that service members not be denied jobs or otherwise be penalized by employers because of their military obligations. The federal government, the nation’s largest employer of veterans, is also the biggest offender of the law, The Washington Post reported in February. The bill would strengthen the employment protections in USERRA by:
 Enabling the Attorney General to investigate and file suit against a pattern or practice of USERRA violations by a state or private employer;
 Allowing the United States to serve as a named plaintiff in USERRA suits and to issue civil investigative demands for relevant documentary material; and
 Providing the Special Counsel with authority to subpoena relevant testimony and documents from Federal employees and agencies to carry out investigations.
SCRA protects servicemembers from discriminations and disabilities due to service in civil legal proceedings. This new bill would strengthen its protections by:
 Strengthening the protections that prevent judgments against a servicemember when they cannot appear in court because of military service;
 Broadening the authority of the Attorney General to investigate allegations of SCRA violations; and
 Clarifying the right of servicemembers to bring a private law suit to assert their SCRA rights.
Last month, John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, issued a memo to senior federal executives calling for zero tolerance for federal violations of the USERRA. Murray’s bill would also strengthen protections for servicemembers who are improperly overcharged or foreclosed upon by banks. The proposed legislation is being supported by several veterans organizations. “Servicemembers who currently seek relief under these acts often face significant roadblocks,” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “Even if a violation exists, it can be difficult and expensive for vets to challenge employers armed with greater legal and financial resources.” [Source: Washington Post Steve Vogel article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 11: The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire 1,900 new mental health staffers to deal with gaps in existing psychiatric care and to prepare the agency for next wave of veterans returning home from war. Veterans groups hailed the news as a much-needed move to cut down on wait times for mental health care. But they also questioned whether filling the positions can be done, given the nationwide shortage of those specialists and the high vacancy rates which already exist throughout the department. Last year, department specialists provided mental health services to 1.3 million veterans. Since 2007, the VA has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of patients receiving mental health care. It currently employs nearly 20,600 mental health staffers. The 1,900 new positions will include 1,600 clinicians — nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers — and another 300 support staff.
In a statement, VA secretary Eric Shinseki said that the move is designed to anticipate the needs of returning veterans. “History shows that the costs of war will continue to grow for a decade or more after the operational missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended,” he said. “As more veterans return home, we must ensure that all veterans have access to quality mental health care.” Next week, in response to congressional requests, the VA inspector general’s office is expected to release findings detailing longer-than-promised wait times for that mental health care. In addition, a USA Today report earlier this month found that many psychiatrist posts within the department’s hospitals are currently unfilled, with vacancy rates above 20 percent in many rural areas. Comments regarding the proposed hiring’s included:
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 Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said hiring the new staffers would be a boost for veterans’ care, but the group remains concerned about where the new specialists will be assigned and how they are going to recruit so many mental health practitioners when there is a nation-wide shortage. “The success of the decision remains to be seen,” he said.
 Jacob Gadd, deputy director of the American Legion’s Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, said their officials are hopeful the new posts — and the existing vacancies — can be filled quickly. “There’s a great need for this mental health staff,” he said.
 House Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., said he’ll ask the VA for a revised budget detailing whether past funds assigned for mental health priorities were properly used, or if they were diverted to other areas. He called the new hires a step forward, but also called for better intervention training for all VA employees, to recognize signs of post-traumatic stress and suicidal thoughts. “There are a surge of veterans coming home, and VA must be prepared to meet their needs,” he said. “Right now, too many veterans fall through the cracks.”
 VA department officials said recruitment for the new posts will begin this month, and they will pay for the effort by shifting funds from other budget accounts. As the 1,900 new employees are added, they will continue to assess overall staffing levels and could hire more specialists in the future.
[Source: Stars & Stripes Leo Shane article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 12: The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded its mental health services to include professionals from two additional health care fields: marriage and family therapists (MFT) and licensed professional mental health counselors (LPMHC). “The addition of these two mental health professions is an important part of VA’s mission to expand access to mental health services,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Veterans and their families can face unique challenges. By providing a complete range of services, we can help them address those challenges and help keep more families together.” The two fields will be included in the hiring of an additional 1,900 mental health staff nationwide that VA announced 19 APR. Recruitment and hiring will be done at the local level. The new professionals will provide mental health diagnostic and psychosocial treatment services for Veterans and their families in coordination with existing mental health professionals at VA’s medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, and Vet Centers. VA has developed qualification standards for employment as LPMHCs and MFTs and has announced the appointments of mental health and health science professionals to serve on professional standards boards. The boards will review applicants for LPMHC and MFT positions in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to determine eligibility for employment and the government grade level appropriate for the individual in the selected position. The boards will also review promotions in these positions. For more information about mental health care that VA provides, visit: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/. [Source: VA News Release 24 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Mental Health Care Update 13: Nearly seven years after problems with wait-time data were uncovered, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) still has a patient-scheduling system that is "broken," according to Linda Halliday of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG). And on 25 APR, Halliday testified before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) at a hearing that focused on VA’s mental health care. Sen. Patty Murray (D=WA) opened the hearing as committee chair and quickly drew attention to an OIG report released 23 APR that found VHA’s data on waiting times for mental health care patients was grossly inaccurate. Murray said the OIG findings "show some serious discrepancies in what VA has been telling this committee" and that "the existing scheduling system is hopelessly insufficient and needs to be replaced." She
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said VA "is failing to meet its own mandates for timeliness, and instead is finding ways to make the date look like they are complying."
Linda Halliday
While VHA reported, for fiscal year 2011, that 95 percent of first-time patients received full mental health evaluations within 14 days, Halliday testified that OIG’s analysis "projected that VHA provided only 49 percent (approximately 184,000) of first-time patients their evaluations within 14 days." The report also noted that VHA completed only 64 percent of new patient appointments within 14 days of their desired date. "We found VHA’s mental-health performance data is not accurate or reliable," Halliday told the committee. "VHA’s measures do not adequately reflect critical dimensions of mental health-care access." She said that inaccuracies in data collected by VHA on mental-health staffing and productivity made it less useful for VHA decision-makers to "evaluate productivity across the system, and establish mental-health staffing and productivity standards."
American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong said the hearing "shines a bright light on the problems VHA continues to have with its data collection on waiting times for our veterans being treated for mental-health issues. We can understand a four- or five-percent margin of error in these statistics, but they were off by almost 50 percent. How does one account for such wild inaccuracy by a federal agency? Especially one that is responsible for treating our veterans?" Wong said the Legion has urged VA to increase its mental-health care staff and facilities. "Adding 1,900 more positions in mental health care is a step in the right direction, but it now appears they may be in need of some new data analysts at VHA." They should have gotten the message by now. We saw this problem crop up in two previous OIG audits — one in 2005 and another in 2007. And their patient-scheduling problem still isn’t fixed. The American Legion is asking the same question as Congress asked at the hearing: Why?" The SVAC held two previous hearings on VA mental health care last year in July and November. Murray said the committee was finding "a discrepancy between what VA was telling us, and what the providers were saying" and called upon the VA’s OIG "to investigate the true availability of mental health-care services at VA facilities."
William Schoenhard, testifying for VA, agreed with OIG’s assessment that the patient-scheduling system needs to be revised. He also said mental-health services must continue to be further integrated into primary care, and that stigmas associated with mental health care need to be addressed. "Madame Chairman, we know our work to improve the delivery of mental health care to veterans will never be done. We appreciate your support and encouragement in identifying and resolving challenges, as we find new ways to care for veterans." VA has been working to develop a new scheduling system for its patients. "VA officials told us that their new scheduling package would be open-sourced and could take up to two years to put into place," said Jacob Gadd, deputy director of health in the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division. "We most assuredly applaud VA’s addition of 1,900 additional mental health-care workers, but without an accurate and effective scheduling system, how will optimal use be made of all those new clinicians and support staff?" While the committee members asked many tough questions during the hearing, Murray made it clear that "while we have discussed a number of problems with the
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system at large, none of this reflects poorly on VA’s providers. I believe I can speak for all of us in thanking VA’s many mental health providers for the incredible job they do. Let there be no mistake, these individuals are incredibly dedicated in their mission." [Source: American Legion article 26 Apr 2012 ++]
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USS Scorpion Update 01: Shipwreck disaster experts are calling for a deep-sea expedition to a lost U.S. nuclear attack sub, the USS Scorpion, in an effort to verify a new theory on what caused the Cold War vessel to sink. The Scorpion was lost May 22, 1968, killing 99 men, about 400 miles south of the Azores Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The sub has been inspected by undersea recovery teams, including a visit in 1985 by oceanographer Robert Ballard before his team's discovery of the Titanic shipwreck. The cause of the sub's loss has remained hotly disputed. A Navy Court of Inquiry found "the cause of the loss cannot be definitively ascertained." "The families of those 99 men are still out there, and they want to know what happened," says former U.S. naval officer Paul Boyne, who presented a new mechanical explanation for the loss of the sub at a recent marine forensics symposium just outside Washington. Panelists at the event called for a summer expedition to the sub's wreck, led by P.H. Nargeolet, another Titanic explorer, saying it might put to rest a multitude of theories about the Scorpion's demise -- ranging from a covert Soviet attack to a torpedo self-firing into the ship to a faulty trash disposal.
Evidence for a more mundane explanation comes from the sub's propeller shaft, Boyne says. Undersea photographs show it rests about 20 yards outside the wreck on the seafloor, about 11,220 feet underwater. Boyne suggests that rubber bearings holding the propeller shaft failed, putting stress on the coupling connecting it to the engine. The coupling's bolts failed catastrophically during a deep test dive, the theory goes, spilling water into the sub too rapidly to allow ballast maneuvers to raise the ship to the surface. As support, Boyne points to the loss in 1963 of the USS Thresher, the only other nuclear submarine lost by the Navy. The Thresher suffered a similar crushing end but retained its propeller shaft within its hull. In its planned proposal to the U.S. Navy's Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) in Washington, the team would send a robot sub to the wreck to photograph the displaced shaft. The robot would send a small tethered camera into the ship's engine room to examine the damage to the coupling bolts.
Because the sub carried two nuclear-tipped torpedoes and a nuclear reactor, the Navy has periodically tested the water around the submarine for radiological releases, at least as recently as 1998. "What happened to the Scorpion isn't so much a mystery, as a secret," says Ed Offley, author of Scorpion Down: Sunk by the Soviets, Buried by the Pentagon, which argues for the covert Soviet sub attack explanation. Investigators who start from technical documents related to the ship's loss, typically differ with his interpretation, he says, which was based on interviews with Navy personnel. "It couldn't hurt to have a documented expedition to Scorpion," says Offley, who is not a member of the proposed expedition team. On May 27, 1968, family members of the USS Scorpion's crew waited on a Norfolk dock for the return of the submarine. At least 11 of them have joined in the call for the expedition. [Source: Stars & Stripes Dan Vergano 12 Apr 2012 ++]
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Agent Orange & Hypertension Update 01: A new Army Chemical Corps Vietnam-Era Veterans Health Study is designed to learn if high blood pressure (hypertension) and some chronic respiratory diseases are related to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War. This study follows a request by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki for VA to conduct research on the association between herbicide exposure and high blood pressure (hypertension), as a basis for understanding if hypertension is related to military service in Vietnam. VA is also interested in learning more about the relationship between herbicide exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study is a follow-up of a similar study conducted between 1999-2000
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where the health status of individuals who served in the Army Chemical Corps since the 1990s was examined. Researchers have two questions:
 Is the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) related to Agent Orange exposure during service in Vietnam?
 Is the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, related to Agent Orange exposure during service in Vietnam?
Approximately 4,000 Veterans who served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps sometime during the Vietnam era (1965-1973) were asked to participate in this study. Army Chemical Corps personnel were responsible for the maintenance and distribution or application of chemicals for military operations. Army Chemical Corps personnel who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War constitute the largest group of Army Vietnam Veterans who were thought to have had the greatest potential exposure to herbicides. Participants from earlier Army Chemical Corps study rosters were selected and additional volunteers are not needed. Each Veteran selected for this study represents other Veterans with similar characteristics. Study methods will include telephone interviews, reviewing medical records, and measuring the blood pressure and lung function of the selected Veterans. [Source: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/vietnam-army-chemical-corps.asp Apr 2012 ++]
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Korean War 60th Anniversary Update 02: On 17 APR, Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) was joined by colleagues Representatives. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Sam Johnson (R-TX), and Howard Coble (R-NC), as he introduced H.Res. 618, a resolution that urges Congress to designate 2012-2013 as the "Year of the Korean War Veteran," and recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Rangel and the three original co-sponsors to the bill are the last four remaining Korean War Veterans in the U.S. Congress. "Many Korean War Veterans came home from Korea without much of the fanfare that the heroes of World War II received and slowly, the American public is forgetting the sacrifice that our Korean War heroes displayed. Our nation has a responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen," said Rangel.
"The Korean War Veterans halted the tide of communism on the Korean Peninsula and it is largely because of their sacrifices that the Republic of Korea was able to develop into a modern and prosperous democracy," Rangel stated. "My comrades and I are proud to see that in the 60 years since the outbreak of the War, South Korea has emerged from a war-torn country into one of the major players in the world in addition to being the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States ." Added Rangel: "I hope our nation will be able to pay proper tribute the heroes that fought in the Korean War before history forgets them completely. This celebration may be the last one, in which a lot of my comrades, most of whom are over 80 years old, will be able to participate. Not too many of us will be around for the 70th anniversary.”
To ensure that the Korean War is never again called the Forgotten War, The Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration (KW60) Committee, a task force authorized by the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill, requested Rangel to spearhead this resolution. The KW60 Committee will implement a national campaign to honor America 's Korean War Veterans. The campaign will remember those still counted among the Missing in Action, educate the American people concerning the ongoing relevance of the Forgotten War, and include commemorative ceremonies in the United States and Korea in recognition of June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953. It will also launch a media and outreach campaign for Veterans Day 2012. This resolution will enhance those efforts and give the campaign a platform for a nationwide commemoration. [Source: AFSA On Call 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 28: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Key lawmakers are appealing directly to President Obama to get the Veterans Affairs Department to provide free health care to veterans who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during a 30-year span that ended in 1987. Their appeal comes after VA — while acknowledging the drinking water in barracks, housing, schools, hospitals and offices on the base was contaminated — has refused to provide health care until there is a clear link to adverse health effects. This might not be determined before 2014. Millions of people who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune could have been affected by the industrial and toxic wastes, but years of study about the possible duration and level of contamination have provided only “limited” and “suggestive” evidence that exposure for more than 20 years might have resulted in issues such as kidney cancer.
In February, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), the House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, proposed VA could at least provide health care for Camp Lejeune veterans by creating a special health care category that covered them. The cost of care could be paid, Miller suggested, by $5 billion in excess health care funds the VA discovered when preparing the 2013 budget. Miller’s proposal, which would have applied only to veterans and not to family members who might have lived or visited Lejeune, was rejected by VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, who said in a 9 APR response to Miller that it was premature to provide health care to everyone who served at Lejeune from 1957 until 1987. Shinseki suggested veterans could still file for disability claims if they felt they had a service-connected disability. About 1,000 Camp Lejeune veterans have filed disability claims, he said, and 238 were found to have service-connected disabilities “for some reason” that did not depend on a scientific link to consuming contaminated ground water.
Miller and other lawmakers are not ready to take no for an answer. In a joint letter to President Obama, sent 20 APR, the leaders of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committee are renewing Miller’s suggestion. “The VA has existing resources which could be reserved without derailing other initiatives,” the letter says, asking that a portion of excess funds resulting from overestimating health care costs be allocated “to provide care for sick Camp Lejeune veterans and family members.” The letter is signed by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairwoman; Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the ranking Republican on Murray’s committee and a longtime advocate of government health care for Lejeune veterans and families; and by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), ranking Democrat on Miller’s committee “There is enough scientific evidence already that warrants giving the benefit of the doubt to those who need help now,” the joint letter says. [Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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Burn Pit Toxic Emissions Update 18: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Veterans advocates favor proposed legislation that would require the Veterans Affairs Department to record the names of troops and veterans who served near open-air burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some veterans groups say H.R.3337, the Open Burn Pit Registry Act, does not cast a wide enough net to capture all who may suffer health problems related to environmental exposure in the war zones — not just smoke from unit-level waste burns but also air pollution and dust particulates. Representatives from several veterans groups told the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s health panel 16 APR that a “burn pit register” would improve the ability of the Defense Department and VA to care for troops and veterans with health concerns possibly related to the billowing smoke that poured from waste disposal pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. They say the accounting also would improve veterans’ ability to file future claims. “Burn pits have the potential to be the
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insidious and long lasting health issue of our generation that Agent Orange has been for Vietnam-era veterans,” said Ramsey Sulayman of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
The register, proposed by Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) would cost roughly $2 million, according to VA. The plan has bipartisan support from more than 50 House members. But Ralph Ibson, national policy director for the Wounded Warrior Project, worries that the proposed bill does not cover other “environmental factors in southwest Asia” that “may also be implicated in increased risk of illness.” The Institute of Medicine recently suggested that “service in Iraq and Afghanistan — a broader consideration of air pollution than exposure only to burn pit emissions — might be associated with long-term health effects,” Ibson said. VA opposes the bill because current law already permits the department to create a registry, according to Robert Jesse, VA principal deputy undersecretary for health. Jesse added that VA officials believe a registry is not the “appropriate epidemiological tool … to identify possible adverse health effects associated with certain environmental exposures.” Neither VA’s Agent Orange nor Gulf War registers “have been useful in terms of researching the types of health concerns raised by the veterans,” he argued. VA is monitoring Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in two long-term epidemiological studies, the Millennium Cohort and New Generation studies. [Source: ArmyTimes Patricia Kime article 30 Apr 2012 ++]
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Military Retirement Commission: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) A major veterans group says the Pentagon is stacking the deck with its plan for an independent retirement reform commission by proposing that a majority of its members have no military experience and declaring that cutting benefits is a chief goal. “This is not impartial — it’s a loaded deck,” said Joe Davis of Veterans of Foreign Wars, a 2.1 million-member organization that opposes the commission, which the Defense Department wants Congress to approve. Under the DoD proposal, the commission would have nine members — six appointed by Congress, three by the president. A minimum of three, but no more than four, commissioners could have military experience, with at least one having served as an enlisted member and at least one in a reserve component. Final recommendations by the commission would require five votes, so commissioners with military experience could be outvoted by those who never served, under the Pentagon proposal. “For the Defense Department to limit veteran representation on a so-called independent commission means the outcome is already a done deal,” Davis said.
The House and Senate Armed Services committees will consider the plan for inclusion in the 2013 defense authorization bill. No commissioners could be members of any military or veterans advocacy group, and none could have worked for such groups in the year before appointment to the commission. The bulk of the commission would be made up of people with “significant experience in federal retirement systems.” The Pentagon plan specifically states that the commission’s work would not adversely affect current troops. However, current troops would be allowed to choose an alternative retirement option that might benefit them, if they so desire.
Over the years, commissions, advisory groups, task forces and think tanks within and outside the Pentagon have proposed overhauling military retirement. But the new commission is a more serious threat, Davis said, because of its proposed fast-track path. Under the formal proposal sent to Congress on 13 APR, the president and Congress can accept or reject the commission’s final plan in full but may not modify it in any way. “This is the part where we are railroaded,” Davis said. “Where did that come from? Why would you mess with the integrity of the all-volunteer force with some plan that cannot be modified?” The commission would have 15 months to propose an overhaul of retired pay, working from a yet undisclosed plan to be provided by the secretary of defense. That plan is expected to propose eliminating traditional 20-year retirement, in place since 1946, and replacing it with a civilian-style, tax-deferred savings plan in which troops with as few as 10 years of service would accrue some retirement savings.
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Recommendations would go to the White House and Congress. The president could disapprove specific recommendations, with commissioners getting one month to make revisions, if they choose. The president would approve or reject the final product. If it is approved, Congress would have 90 days to approve or reject it, with no ability to make changes.
Because it would take up to six months to set up the commission, 15 months for it to do its work, two months for presidential consideration and three months for Congress to review the final product, defense officials offer no estimates at this point about potential cost savings. But saving money is one of the five guiding principles in the Pentagon plan. “Putting the budget ahead of the troops is going to signal an end to the all-volunteer force, which … has served our nation extremely well,” Davis said. Defense officials, however, view the current system as outdated. “Unlike their predecessors, the generation entering the workforce today expects to work for many employers” over a career, defense officials said in their proposal to Congress. While not providing specifics, defense officials said they want to move away from the fixed 20-year system to a plan that gives at least something to a broader swath of the force. “Today, only a fraction of the force receives any retirement,” officials said. “In fact, most leave with no retirement benefits.” [Source: ArmyTimes Rick Maze article 30 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Budget 2013 Update 04: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Funding for veterans’ health care programs is not subject to sequestration, the White House budget office announced 22 APR, ending months of speculation about how across-the-board budget cuts could be applied early next year if Congress cannot find a way to avoid fiscal disaster. Sequestration, looming because Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on a 10-year, $1.2 trillion deficit reduction plan, also will not cut veterans’ benefits, leaving only administrative expenses of the Veterans Affairs Department subject to reductions, according to legal opinion issued 22 APR by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. The announcement came in a letter to the Government Accountability Office, which had asked the White House for clarification about the automatic cuts’ effect on VA. The Budget Control Act of 2011, which set up mechanism for cutting federal programs if a deficit spending agreement wasn’t reached, specifically exempted veterans’ benefits but had no clear statement about what might happen to veterans’ medical care expenses.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee chairwoman and the Senate’s chief negotiator last year in the attempt to get an agreement on cutting federal spending, said she is “pleased that this legal ambiguity has been cleared up.” Murray said during negotiations with the House, “I can remember fighting for this exception as one area we cannot afford to cut back on.” While the letter clarifies the situation for veterans’ programs, the fate of military benefits remains unclear. The Budget Control Act allows, but does not require, the Defense Department to shield all military personnel programs from sequestration. It appears the military would face a cut of about $57 billion, roughly 18 percent for each account, under sequestration. If personnel programs are exempt, the Defense Department would still have to save $57 billion, and would be forced to just make deeper cuts in other programs. Defense Department officials have not said what they intend to do. [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Assistance Update 04: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) Attorneys who help veterans file benefits claims are
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worried that electronic claims processing will hurt rather than help some people unless lawyers also have access to the claims records. Electronic claims filing already is available from the Veterans Affairs Department, and is expected to expand over the next two years as VA tries to speed claims processing. Electronic claims are expected to help because their format ensures key information is collected, and because some claims can be processed almost entirely using computer software. But for security reasons, access to electronic records will be severely restricted. That has drawn complaints from veterans service officers and lawyers who help veterans.“The lack of access undermines our veterans’ due process and property rights,” said Paul Sullivan, a managing director at the Bethesda, Md.,-based law firm Bergmann & Moore LLC, who testified Wednesday before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on behalf of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA). Sullivan said the Veterans’ Benefits Management System “does not contain a component absolutely vital to our nation’s veterans and beneficiaries: full and immediate access to veterans’ claims records by their attorney or agent.” “This is the top complaint of NOVA members who work with veterans every day,” he said.
Veterans who get help generally fare better in claims decisions, according to Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the veterans’ committee chairman. “Being represented throughout the disability claims process is effective,” Miller said. “Study after study shows that veterans with representation have a greater chance of recovering their earned benefits than if they are not represented.” VA acknowledges as much. On average, compensation for a veteran represented by an agent, lawyer or veterans service officer was 144 percent higher than for a veteran who did not have representation, according to a 2005 report by the VA inspector general. That report may overstate the advantage, however, because veterans with simple claims for a single disability — and for lower compensation — might be more likely to file without help, while those with more significant disabilities and more complex claims might be more likely to seek help. Attorneys are not asking for anything unusual, Sullivan said. The Social Security Administration already allows read-only access to records for appointed representatives, he said. Congress could mandate access to electronic records.
A second request from Sullivan would involve changing VA culture. He complained that staff at some VA regional offices who are supposed to serve as liaisons with attorneys and agents are not helpful. Some, he said, “are directed by their supervisors to refuse to provide attorneys and agents with critical information.”In some cases, staffers provide wrong information or refuse to provide any answers, telling attorneys to call the VA’s hotline for help, he said. “Private practitioners currently have no assured access to VA claims processers, and long delays often result in cases where VA communicates with veteran advocates only via the U.S. Postal Service,” he said. Service officers from major veterans organizations who help file claims often are located in the regional office, and have access to staff and records. But they also have concerns about the new electronic claims system. VA is working on an access system for veterans service officers, but details have not been announced. There is no plan at the moment to grant similar access to a lawyer or other representative. “In order for us to do our job effectively, we must have access to VA computer systems, records, facilities and personnel,” said James Wear of Veterans of Foreign Wars. “Without this access, we might as well stand on the curb and shout at regional office buildings.” [Source: NavyTimes Rick Maze article 18 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Health Care Enrollment Update 03: (Note: Military Times Copyrighted material - Not authorized for reproduction on any publicly accessible website or website accessed newsletter . Forwarding via email in personal communications is authorized.) A lawmaker’s proposal that war veterans should be automatically enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Department health system has divided veterans groups over concerns that the legislation would strain an already burdened system and estrange those who did not serve in combat. Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY) said he sponsored H.R.1460 to ease the transition of injured personnel to the VA health system and reduce the paperwork associated with processing out of the military. Some advocacy groups, including the
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American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, strongly favor the bill. But others, including the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), oppose it. Some comments were:
 “It could prove polarizing and send the message to non-deployed veterans that they do not qualify for VA health care,” said Shane Barker, VFW senior legislative associate.
 “Automatic enrollment of only combat theater veterans will likely be perceived as a negative decision by noncombat veterans, causing them to view it as a form of health care rationing and the government’s attempt to diminish their contributions of service to their country,” said retired Navy Cmdr. Rene Campos of MOAA.
 Adrian Atizado, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans (DAV), said automatic enrollment could “squeeze out” an older generation of veterans who have yet to enroll but will need care later in life. And it could cause a logjam for obtaining services after enrollment, he added. “We are keenly aware of delays in timely access once enrolled, generally because of insufficient VA resources, capacity or geographic barriers,” he said.
At a hearing on the proposed legislation and other veteran-related bills, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s health panel gave little indication of how they will handle the proposed bill. The subcommittee would have to approve the bill for it to advance in the legislative process. Other proposed bills under consideration by the panel include:
 H.R.3016, a bill to direct the Defense Department and VA to jointly manage the Federal Recovery Coordination Program, an initiative that assigns a nurse manager or social worker to wounded warriors to guide them through their recovery and rehabilitation process.
 H.R.3279, proposing to amend a law allowing VA to provide monetary assistance and services for caregivers to include those helping seriously ill veterans.
Veterans groups unanimously support the latter and generally said they favor the former, emphasizing that the entire Federal Recovery Coordination Program needs better oversight by VA, DoD and Congress. Robert Jesse, VA’s principal deputy undersecretary for health, said his department has not yet formed an opinion on Owens’ bill. But VA opposes the effort to direct joint operation of the FRCP, saying the proposed legislation duplicates existing requirements for the two departments to work together. He added that VA supports expanding comprehensive assistance for family caregivers to include those helping the seriously ill, but VA would need to define the term “serious illness” to determine who would be eligible. According to VA, the legislation would result in an estimated 870 veterans and service members qualifying for the caregiver stipend and benefits, at a total cost of $45 million the first year and $263.5 million over five years. [Source: NavyTimes Patricia Kime article 18 Apr 2012 ++]
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MCAS Futenma Okinawa Update 04: A top member of Japan’s ruling party privately asked local leaders here on 17 APR to support the relocation of the Futenma air station to Kadena Air Base, according to those who participated in the meetings. But mayors of two towns near Kadena said they rejected the proposal by Hajime Ishii, a senior member of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s Democratic Party of Japan who traveled to the island to sound out the municipal governments on shifting Marine helicopters and other aircraft to the Air Force base. With support from the U.S. Senate, the idea has been gaining steam over the past year, and Ishii’s visit came as U.S. and Japanese diplomats met again in Tokyo in another attempt to come to an agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces on Okinawa. Okinawa City Mayor Mitsuko Tomon said she met with Ishii for about one hour and told him that residents would never accept new Marine Corps air traffic at Kadena after enduring decades of noise from the Air Force. “I was told that it is a plan to move the Futenma operations to military bases in multiple locations throughout Japan, and Kadena is one of them,” she said. Ishii did not give further details of the proposal or say what
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other U.S. bases may be affected, but Ishii told her that information would be made clear in the “not-so-distant future,” according to Tomon.
During a press conference 17 APR in Naha, Ishii said he is proposing to move Futenma to another U.S. military base temporarily, possibly one on Okinawa, until a permanent location somewhere else in Japan can be found. The lawmaker would not confirm that Kadena is being considered. He said he is planning to make a formal proposal to Noda for the relocation of Futenma before the end of the month. The U.S. Senate already has mandated that the U.S. military conduct an independent study this year that specifically considers moving the Marine Corps flight operations at Futenma to Kadena Air Base as an alternative to current realignment plans, which call for building an off-shore airfield near the city of Nago. The U.S. and Japan want to redeploy about 8,000 Marines off Okinawa and close some bases here, including Futenma. But public opposition to the Nago plan has held up progress for years and prompted the two countries to begin renegotiating plans for U.S. forces in February. Under the Kadena plan, Marine Corps flight operations would be relocated to the air base, and some Air Force units would be shifted to other bases in the region. Sen. Jim Webb (D-WV), who traveled to Japan earlier this month to push for a breakthrough in the realignment, has said the Kadena proposal could result in decrease in military air traffic on the island.
Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get set to board the USS Germantown, on Feb. 2, 2012, in preparation for a routine patrol of the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Marines based on Okinawa reportedly would be spread out across the Pacific as part of a strategic realignment plan now being worked out with Japan
On 16 APR, U.S. Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell met again with Japanese delegates at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo for the newest round of negotiations. “It’s still a work in progress, we’re still comparing perspectives, but we’ve made a lot of progress over the course of discussions yesterday and today, and I’m very confident that we will be able to come to an agreement on the way forward between the United States and Japan on issues associated with force realignment,” Campbell said Monday, according to a transcript released by the State Department. The meeting comes in advance of a planned trip to the U.S. by Noda later this month. Both countries have indicated his trip may coincide with developments in a new security agreement. [Source: Stars & Stripes Travis Tritten and Chiyomi Sumida article 17 Apr 2011 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 10: On 20 APR ten veterans were buried with full honors in an Arizona cemetery. One served in Africa during World War II, another in Korea. A third earned an Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam. The men were homeless or indigent when they died, and their remains sat unclaimed in funeral homes for months, even years. In other states, volunteers have found the remains of veterans who fought in the Civil War. A new bill S.2244 : Veterans Missing in America Act of 2012 from Sens. Rob Portman R-OH) and Mark Begich (D-AK) would instruct the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with veterans’ organizations to help find and identify the unclaimed remains of former servicemembers, and, if they are eligible, to ensure their interment in national cemeteries. Portman and Begich’s office predict bipartisan support for the bill,
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which they expect to pass with little resistance. A similar bill H.R.2051 sponsored by Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, already has 38 co-sponsors. But a version that was introduced in the last Congress died in committee.
Fred Salanti, the executive director of the Missing in America Project, which looks for and identifies the unclaimed remains of veterans and their dependents, worries that this year’s legislation will meet a similar fate.
“To me it’s very frustrating, because anybody that hears what we’re doing or sees what we’re doing automatically is on board,” he said. Since Salanti’s organization began in 2006, its work has led to the recovery, identification and burial of the remains of more than 1,600 veterans. He said the volunteers expected to reach 2,000 burials within the next couple of months. Many of the veterans they find were homeless or indigent when they died, he explained, while others were lost in mix-ups after their spouses or other loved ones died. The legislation, Salanti hopes, would help streamline the process and encourage funeral homes — which are sometimes fearful of releasing information or burial rights due to liability issues — to work with veterans’ organizations to identify unclaimed remains.
Neither the National Funeral Directors Association nor the Cremation Association of North America has records on the number of unclaimed remains at funeral homes. Barbara Kemmis, the executive director of the Cremation Association of North America, said the issue of unclaimed remains came up at a recent trade conference. Her impression from funeral home directors was that it’s an extensive problem. Funeral home directors will, “to a one,” she said, do everything they can to preserve cremated remains on the off chance that someone claims them. Some have even put up additions or new buildings to store them. The Congressional Budget Office hasn’t researched the cost of the Senate bill yet. A representative from Portman’s office said the CBO suggested that the cost should be low, considering that the VA already sets aside money for burying eligible veterans in national cemeteries. Another provision of both versions of the bill would instruct the VA to create a nationwide public database of missing remains to aid in their identification. Portman’s office added that the VA already keeps a database of veterans’ grave sites that could be adapted for accounting for missing remains, keeping costs down. There’s no CBO research into the House version of the bill, either, but an aide from Tiberi’s office said the cost would be “negligible.” [Source: Medil News service Andy Matarrese article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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Vet Cremains Update 11: The Missing in America Project (MIAP) will conduct its first ceremony in the State of Virginia by honoring eighteen veterans whose cremated remains have been in the care of Altmeyer Funeral Homes of Newport News, Virginia Beach, and Bucktrout Funeral Home in Williamsburg, yet have remained unclaimed. Services will be conducted with full military honors for the following eighteen veterans at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Bucktrout Funeral Home, 4124 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
 Sgt. Carrel D. Cramer, 1920-1973, WWII US Army Air Force 1940-1945
 PFC Willie N. Dailey, 1933-2010, USA 1955-1957
 Captain Raymond H. Diggle, 1914-2003, USN Retired 1942-1972
 Corporal Durwood C. Ewell, 1930-1988, USA 1950-1953
 Fireman First Class Petty Officer Henry Ferguson, 1929-2002, USN 1946-1948
 Sgt Carl Galimore, 1922-1996, USA Retired, 1942-Jan 1946, Mar1946-1965
 Technician 5th Grade Murray Gray, 1919-2001, USA 1942-1946
 Chief Aviation Pilot Henry G. Luhring, 1922-1996, USN 1942-1946
 Technician 4th Grade Martin C. Malone, 1917-1997, USA 1943-1945
 Sgt Peter J. Maresca, 1907-1974, USA 1943-1945
 Sgt Stuart B. Miller, 1896-1989, USA 1917-1919
 Chief Storekeeper Robert A. Rees, 1905-1991, USN 1942-1944
 Pvt George S. Roger, Jr. 1917-1992, USA 1946-1947
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 Lt. Parke S. Rouse Jr. 1916-1997, USN 1942-1946
 Pfc Ray C. Seigla, 1924-2007, USA 1943-1946
 Cpl Harry Silverman, Jr. 1917-1978, USA 1943-1946
 AB Thomas B. Smith 1942-2007, US Air Force 1961-1963
 Pfc Robert L. Sumner, 1913-1983, USA Air Corp 1942-1945
A Bucktrout-Altmeyer Funeral Home hearse carrying the cremated remains will be escorted by members of the MIAP, Veteran's Recovery Program, with American flags flying on motorcycles and vehicles to Quantico National Cemetery. The hearse will be followed by Patriot Guard Riders, Mustangs M/C, Combat Veterans M/C, other participating veterans organizations and any member of the public who like to attend via motorcycle or vehicle. Government officials, the public and media are invited to attend. Details are as follows:
 Services will be conducted 12 MAY 2012 at 11:00 am in the Bucktrout Funeral Home, 4124 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
 Interment is scheduled for 14 MAY 2012 at 09:00 am in Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172, Date: May 14, 2012
 For information and/or pre-event media coverage: Charlie Warthling - Virginia MIAP State Coordinator, 757.567.2682(C), 757.468.1139 harley4ever820409@yahoo.com
A second ceremony for which the public is encouraged to attend is scheduled on 10 MAY 2012 at 1300 hrs (1:00 p.m.) at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan 48442. The Michigan Police Escort and Honor Guard, Vietnam Veterans of America #154 Honor Guard, American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, Native American Veterans of SE Michigan are scheduled to participant. The following are to be interned:
 John Wayne Lillibridge, US Army
 Stephen Lewandowski, US Army
 Wanda Sue Greene, spouse of Paul Rayburn Greene, US Army
The purpose of the MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations; to provide honor and respect to those who have served this country, by securing a final resting place for these forgotten Heroes. For more information, visit http://www.miap.us. [Source: MIAP Press Release 18 & 20 Apr 2012 ++]
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TSP Update 28: The Thrift Savings Plan Roth option slated to launch 7 MAY will not be available to civilian Defense Department employees and service members until summer or early fall. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which oversees the TSP, said earlier this week that not all federal agencies have completed the transition required to implement the Roth 401(k) and some would need additional time. Scheduled availably dates according to DFAS who cited complicated pay systems as the reason for the delay, are now:
 Marine Corps members in June;
 Defense and Veterans Affairs Department civilians in July; and t
 Army, Navy and Air Force service members by October; according to the Defense
The Army, Navy and Air Force have the most complicated systems because each has a different pay structure, and active-duty service members often change posts, DFAS spokesman Tom LaRock said. According to TSP officials, military service members are among those most likely to benefit from the Roth option. For young service members who might receive an annual allowance of $20,000 to $25,000, a Roth plan would ensure they are taxed on those earnings in the current year, rather than on presumably higher income upon retirement. The Roth offering is
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similar to the one available to private sector employees. It will allow federal employees to invest money that's already been taxed so it cannot be taxed again upon withdrawal, unlike a traditional TSP investment. With the change, participants will be able to invest pretax or after-tax dollars in any of TSP's funds as long as their total contributions are within Internal Revenue Service limits. The IRS increased the cap on individual TSP contributions in 2012 from $16,500 to $17,000, due to a change in the cost-of-living index. Employees 50 and older can contribute an additional $5,500.
"We have millions of people stationed everywhere around the world. When it comes to pay, you better get it right the first time," DFAS spokesman Steve Burghardt said. "We tread carefully in order to make sure that what we do works, and it works today and it works tomorrow and it works for every person." Employees of other agencies and departments also will have to wait longer to invest with a Roth account. Although TSP officials will be ready to enroll all beneficiaries in the new option by 7 MAY, some of the more than 100 payroll offices that submit funds to the TSP will not be ready to process Roth investments by that date, said Kim Weaver, external affairs director for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. Many of those offices provide services to several agencies, Weaver said, and FRTIB does not have a list of which payroll offices will be ready. She confirmed the Defense Department will not be ready in response to
media inquiries.
This delay could be good for many because there is still a lot to learn about the ROTH TSP. It is not as simple as
taxed-in/taxfree-out. It is not exactly like a ROTH IRA and the rules of how it will work really need to be better understood by all. For those considering the possibility of using the ROTH TSP, you have an option of planning ahead and reducing your TSP contributions now to get the matching, saving the reduced funds to supplement a later larger contribution the ROTH TSP while still meeting the IRS limit for the year - and if you decide not to use the ROTH TSP, you'll still be able to increase the regular TSP contributions from your pay with those saved funds to live on - but all TSP contributions have to come from your paychecks and cannot be added to with your savings. Confused yet? Wait till you learn about the pros/cons of the ROTH TSP -- it has the Required Mandatory Distribution at age 70 1/2 like the regular TSP (unless you still a Government employee at that time); there is a five-year requirement now and when you roll it, there will be another five-years for each subsequent roll into another ROTH IRA. (Source: GovExec.com Amanda Palleschi article 13 Apr 2012 ++])
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Income Tax Extensions Update 01: Did you miss this year’s 17 APR filing deadline. You are not alone. The IRS says 10 million of the 140 million Americans who file tax returns each year ask for extensions – and this year, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is one of them, according to The Washington Post. In fact, the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108326,00.html has an entire section called Filing Late and/or Paying Late. If you have not filed the following is germane:
1. Missed the deadline. While midnight 17 APR was the deadline to file your taxes, it’s also was the deadline to get an extension to file your taxes. A Form 4868 would have given you extra six months if you filled out the form correctly and sent it in by the deadline. U.S. citizens and residents are granted an automatic 2 month extension beyond 17 April if they are outside the United States or Puerto Rico on that date. If you intend to file during the two month period granted annotate the top of your tax form “Taxpayer Abroad” (temporary) or “Out of the Country” (you live outside the United States). It's important to understand the ramifications of not filing a past due return and the steps that the IRS will take. Taxpayers who don't file a past due return or contact the IRS are subject to the following:
 Penalties and Interest will be assessed and will increase the amount of tax due. Expect a failure to file penalty of 5% per month of taxes due up to a maximum of 25% with minimum penalty is $135. In addition
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a failure to pay penalty (i.e. interest) of one half of 1% will be assessed. If you pay with an IRS installment plan, that cuts your penalty down to a quarter of a percentage point monthly. If you owe less than $10,000 and don’t have any other problems with the IRS, this is as automatic as the tax-filing extension. You’ll have to pay $105 to set up the installment plan, but that gets cut in half ($52) if you let the IRS take the money out of your bank account electronically.
 The IRS will file a substitute return for you. But this return is based only on information the IRS has from other sources. Thus, if the IRS prepares this substitute return, it will not include any additional exemptions or expenses you may be entitled to and may overstate your real tax liability.
 Once the tax is assessed the IRS will start the collection process, which can include placing a levy on wages or bank accounts or filing a federal tax lien against your property.
 Even if the IRS has already filed a substitute return, it still makes sense for you to file your own return to make sure you take advantage of all the exemptions, credits, and deductions you are allowed. The IRS will generally adjust your account to reflect the correct figures.
NOTE: Taxpayers who continue to not file a required return and fail to respond to IRS requests for a return may be considered for a variety of enforcement actions. Continued non-compliance by flagrant or repeat nonfilers could result in additional penalties and/or criminal prosecution.
2. You might be a special case. There are exceptions to every rule, even those written by the IRS. If you qualify for a program called Fresh Start, you get a penalty-free extension on actually paying your taxes. Even then, you will still owe interest. But you must fall into one of these categories:
 .Wage earners who have been unemployed at least 30 consecutive days during 2011 or in 2012 up to this year’s April 17 tax deadline; or
 Self-employed individuals who experienced a 25 percent or greater reduction in business income in 2011 due to the economy.
 you’ve survived a natural disaster in the past year or you were on active military duty, you might also qualify for the same break.
3. Deadline not applicable. There’s one class of taxpayer that doesn’t have to worry about today’s deadline: those getting a refund. If Uncle Sam owes you, you won’t be penalized for filing late.
4. How you can avoid owing money on next year's return? Many people don't file tax returns because they don't have enough money to pay the tax they owe. They find out after completing their return that their withholding or Estimated Tax payments do not equal their tax liability. To help avoid this situation, the IRS can advise taxpayers how to ask an employer to withhold enough tax from their pay. For any income that is not subject to withholding, the IRS can provide information necessary to make quarterly payments to cover any amount to be owed. To make payments electronically check out http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=174251,00.html, or go to the EFTPS Web site http://www.irs.gov/app/scripts/exit.jsp?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eftps.com%2F. Changes in financial circumstances could have an impact on taxes. For example, an increase in income, divorce, or selling an asset, may require adjustments to withholding or estimated payments. By taking these steps, taxpayers will be better able to meet their tax obligations and avoid tax day surprises.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews Stacy Johnson article 17 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Claim Processing Update 05: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced 16 APR the national deployment of claims transformation initiatives to 12 regional offices in the remaining months of fiscal year 2012 to improve benefits delivery to Veterans, families and their survivors. "This is an important milestone in our transformation to achieve the goal we established in 2009 of processing all disability claims within 125 days at a 98 percent accuracy level in 2015,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. The 12 regional offices to begin the deployment of the transformation initiatives include: Huntington, W.Va.; Hartford, Conn.; Portland, Ore.; Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; Phoenix, Ariz.; New Orleans, La.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Atlanta, Ga.; Newark, N.J. This deployment follows four pilot programs at Indianapolis, Ind., Wichita, Kan., Milwaukee, Wis., and Fort Harrison, Mont., in 2012.
VA’s transformation plan is based on more than 40 measures that were selected, evaluated, tested and measured from over 600 stakeholder and employee innovation ideas. “This national deployment, consisting of people, process and technology initiatives, follows comprehensive planning and testing to ensure we have the right recipe for success," added Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey. During the national deployment, VA will further track and gauge the integrated effects of the transformation plan to reduce the backlog of disability claims and provide Veterans, their families, and survivors with more timely and accurate claims decisions. VA expects to deploy the transformation plan to the remaining 40 regional offices throughout calendar 2013. The major components of the transformation plan that will be nationally deployed include:
 The Intake Processing Center, which adds a formalized process for triaging claims documents and other mail, and drives faster and more accurate association of mail with Veterans’ claims files;
 Segmented Processing Lanes, which allow claims that can be more easily rated to move quickly through the system and the more complex claims to be processed by VA’s more experienced and skilled employees;
 Cross-Functional Teams, which support a case-management approach to claims processing that minimizes rework and reduces processing time; and
 The Veterans Benefits Management System, which is a new electronic claims processing system that employs rules-based technologies to improve decision speed and quality.
VA has already nationally implemented:
 Quality Review Teams, which are composed of dedicated local quality review specialists who will evaluate station and individual employee performance and conduct in-process reviews to eliminate errors at the earliest possible stage.
 Simplified and Standardized Rating Notification Letters, which give Veterans one simplified decision letter that provides notice of VA’s decision, including a summary of the evidence considered and the reason for the decision.
VA provides compensation and pension benefits to more than four million Veterans, family members and survivors. Veterans filing claims may file online through eBenefits, a joint project between the Department of Defense and VA, at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov. They can check the status of their claim with a Premium eBenefits account, and use a growing number of online services or contact VA Call Centers for more information at 1-800-827-1000 [Source: VA News Release 16 Apr 2012 ++]
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Veterans' Treatment Court Update 14: As American military operations draw down in the Middle East, officials in several U.S. states are trying to hold down the number of soldiers who show up in local
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criminal courtrooms and jails. The soldiers don't always show visible scars from the battle zone. A larger problem, say those who help treat and study them, are mental and emotional problems caused by violent bomb blasts, constant combat stress and the jarring return home to mostly civilian neighborhoods. "A significant sacrifice falls on a tiny footprint of the population," said James Holbrook, a University of Utah law professor who helped found the National Center for Veterans Studies at the school. "They see a whole host of issues when they come back and try to reintegrate. It's a very isolating experience." Some of the troubled soldiers commit crimes, sometimes driven by mental problems or drug and alcohol abuse. But officials in an increasing number of states say that these veterans — like some drug offenders — belong in rehabilitation and counseling programs instead of behind bars.
During the past three years, at least 27 states across the nation have set up "veterans' treatment courts," aimed at healing instead of punishing. Missouri currently has four such courts in St. Louis, Kansas City, Jackson County and Poplar Bluff. State Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, thinks the state should be adding even more. Barnes is sponsoring legislation to allow circuit courts in Missouri to establish such courts. The measure passed the House earlier this month and is pending before a Senate committee. The 13th Judicial Circuit has been working on a plan to establish a veterans court in Boone County. The circuit has applied for federal funding to establish the court. Defendants in veterans' courts, often first-time offenders, are usually pre-approved by the judge. Also in the courtroom is a liaison from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, scheduling therapy and helping ex-soldiers figure out which VA services they qualify for. In addition to treatment, the courts also try to find veterans who can befriend soldiers and relate their own experiences. For those who successfully complete treatment, some courts allow charges to be reduced or dropped. [Source: Columbia Daily Tribune article 15 Apr 2012 ++]
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Manila VARO & OPC Update 06: A day after militants defaced the seal of the United States Embassy in Manila to protest against the RP-US Balikatan joint military exercises, security was beefed up at another US facility 17 APR, this time at the US Department of Veterans' Affairs in Pasay City. Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported that elite police belonging to the Special Action Force guarded the veterans' office to avoid a repeat of the incident at the US Embassy a day earlier. Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Melchor Reyes Reyes said while the US facility in Pasay is only for veterans' affairs, they are not discounting the fact that it can be a target of protests. Reyes said they had been on alert since the lightning rally happened at the US Embassy on 16 APR. Some 50 militants on Monday defaced the embassy's seal and facade in a predawn lightning rally, hours before the Philippines-US Balikatan joint exercises were scheduled to start.. The Manila Police District on Tuesday tightened security around the US Embassy with members of the District Public Safety Battalion and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), the report said. [Source: GMA News 17 Apr 2011 ++]
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Vet Toxic Exposure ~ Lejeune Update 27: A group of lawmakers, including Florida Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio have asked the Pentagon to investigate allegations the Marine Corps and Navy have concealed information about water pollution at Camp Lejeune from regulators and the public. More than 17,000 Floridians may have been exposed to highly contaminated drinking water at the Marine Corps base in North Carolina before 1987, Corps figures show. The Corps has requested in recent months that the federal agency studying contamination at the base redact portions of a public report showing the location of active water wells and water systems at Lejeune. The Corps says releasing that information poses a security risk. Critics of the Corps argue that withholding such information makes it impossible for other scientists to evaluate the report. They say it is an attempt to hinder work that may prove the Corps and Navy culpable in poisoning veterans.
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"Some of our offices have received information indicating that the (Navy) and (Corps) have used (public records) exemptions to justify the withholding of key information contained in many of these documents from the public without adequate legal justification," the lawmakers said in a letter to the Pentagon's inspector general. "We want to ensure the reports provided to the public have not, and will not, omit critical information that would aid future scientific inquiry and most importantly, cause the public to doubt the transparency and integrity of this inter-agency process," the letter signed by six senators and three representatives said. The letter was signed by Rubio, a Republican, and Nelson, a Democrat; Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Kay Hagan, D-N.C.; and U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Mich., Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Brad Miller, D-N.C. So far, the inspector general has not said if it will investigate. The Corps said it has withheld nothing from the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, which is leading efforts to research the water contamination and its health effects.
ATSDR scientists are currently working on a water model that will help determine the level of contaminants throughout Lejeune going back decades. In January, a technical report supporting that work was released and was redacted at the Navy and Marine Corps' request."We support (ATSDR) and have given them full access to our data so they can seek science-based answers for our former residents and workers," said Capt. Kendra Hardesty, a Corps spokeswoman. "Secrecy would be counterproductive to this mission." Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrator of ATSDR, told lawmakers earlier this year that ATSDR did not have the expertise to determine if the redactions are necessary, so it agreed to withhold the locations of the water system infrastructure. He said location information was "scientifically unnecessary." But the scientist hired by ATSDR to help produce the report took the rare step of criticizing Frieden in a letter to ATSDR's director, saying Frieden's statement about scientific necessity "is patently false and … borders on the inane and silly." The scientist, Robert Faye, said the redactions "do indeed substantially compromise the technical and scientific integrity" of the report. An ATSDR spokeswoman said in a statement, "ATSDR has received all information necessary for completing" its Lejeune work. "Our science has not been compromised." [Source: Tampa Bay Times William R. Levesque article 13 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Special Monthly Compensation: It is possible to be compensated at a level above 100 percent for service-connected disabilities through VA’s special monthly compensation (SMC) program. Conditions that rate SMC are identified by letters ranging from (k) to (s). Refer to rate tables at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp02.htm. For example, a SMC(k) rating provides an additional $99 per month above whatever your disability payment is already. Some SMC ratings provide $8,000+ support beyond the amount awarded for a 100 percent disability rating. Medical conditions for which SMC applies include the specific loss or loss of use of organs or extremities — either an amputation or having no effective remaining function in an extremity or organ. VA lists these disabilities as eligible for SMC:
 Loss, or loss of use, of a hand or foot.
 Immobility of a joint or paralysis.
 Loss of sight of an eye (having only light perception).
 Loss, or loss of use, of a reproductive organ.
 Complete loss, or loss of use, of both buttocks.
 Deafness of both ears (having absence of air and bone conduction).
 Inability to communicate by speech (complete organic aphonia).
 Loss of a percentage of tissue from a single breast, or both breasts, from mastectomy or radiation treatment.
VA will pay more for combinations of these disabilities such as loss or loss of use of the feet, legs, hands and arms. The distinction between “loss of a limb” and “loss of use of a limb” is important — you don’t have to undergo
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an amputation to qualify for SMC. For example, if a veteran cannot balance or push off his foot, he may be considered to have lost the use of that foot, and so would qualify for SMC. Similarly, if a veteran cannot pick up objects with his hand, he may qualify for SMC for loss of use of that hand. In addition, veterans rated 100 percent disabled by VA who are housebound, bedridden or need the aid and attendance of another person also may be eligible for SMC. The amount of payment in these instances varies depending on the level of aid required. SMC payments aren’t meant to compensate for potential loss of earnings from a disability but rather for noneconomic factors such as personal inconvenience, social inadaptability or the profound nature of a disability. In determining qualifications for SMC, the VA must review the medical evidence regarding the loss or loss of use and then make a decision regarding the level of SMC to be paid. Contact your nearest VA regional office for more details on SMC or you can call VA’s main benefits information hotline toll free at 800-827-1000. VA also has a SMC fact sheet listed at http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/factsheets/. [Source: Command Master Chief Alex Keenan, USCG (Ret) article 23 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 60: Mike Grabski, 32, left the Marine Corps in 2006. The burly veteran, who played defensive end on the College of San Mateo football team before joining the military, would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night at home in San Bruno and grab his girlfriend, putting both hands around her neck. “I had no ill will toward her,” Mr. Rodriguez, 28, said in an interview, “but while I was asleep I felt like I was still back there, and I acted it out.” He said he slept with a .40-caliber Glock pistol under his pillow and drank a bottle of whiskey every night to help him forget the war and fall asleep. In December 2006, he filed a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs, arguing that he deserved a monthly disability check and priority mental health care from the agency because of post-traumatic stress disorder. More than five years later, he is still waiting for a final determination on his case. Rodriguez is one of 870,000 veterans nationwide who are waiting for a decision on a disability claim from the V.A. The waiting list has more than doubled since President Obama took office, despite the appropriation of more than $300 million for a new computer system and the hiring of thousands of claims professionals nationwide.
VARO Oakland Facilities
The problem is particularly acute in the Bay Area, where, according to figures provided by the V.A., returning soldiers wait an average of 313 days for a decision. Eighty percent must wait at least 125 days. Of the nearly 60 V.A. offices around the country, the Oakland office at 1301 Clay Street, Rm. 1400 North is the slowest. “The place is filled with paper, piles of it, everywhere,” said Representative Jackie Speier, a Democrat from San Mateo who toured the Oakland office last month as part of a meeting with the agency’s regional director on behalf of a group of constituents with claims dating as far back as six years. According to Speier, the backlog in Oakland has grown so severe that all new claims are immediately sent to V.A. offices in Lincoln, Neb., and Muskogee, Okla., where the backlog is less serious. “It is an epidemic of delay,” Speier said. “I did not exactly leave invigorated.” The Bay
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Citizen was denied a request to tour and photograph the department’s Oakland office and interview its director, Douglas Bragg. Mr. Bragg was unavailable for comment, according to Jessica Arifianto, an agency spokeswoman, but she released a statement from the office. “We are continuously working to improve our timeliness and performance in our service to our veterans,” it said, citing “ongoing efforts” to improve the quality and timeliness of ratings decisions, including hiring additional staff members, using simpler forms and forming quality control teams. The statement said the office was “taking steps” to meet a goal set by Eric Shinseki, the secretary of Veterans Affairs, to process all disability claims in fewer than 125 days with 98 percent accuracy by 2015.
On a tour of a V.A. facility in New Hampshire on 10 APR, Mr. Shineski said that, nationally, he expected waiting times to be cut in half over the next year as the new strategies are implemented. So far, however, there is little evidence of progress. According to government records, the number of V.A. disability claims, and the resulting backlog, has grown every year since Mr. Obama took office. While the agency has modestly increased the number of claims processed each year, the number of new claims filed has increased by 48 percent over the last four years as a flood of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans return home and file disability claims seeking compensation for wounds suffered in the line of duty (677,000 as of October 2011). At the same time, 231,000 Vietnam veterans have filed fresh disability claims related to diseases that the government only recently acknowledged stemmed from the spraying of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange.
“They build a technology infrastructure but haven’t pulled the trigger,” said Tom Tarantino, a former Army captain who works as a deputy policy director for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “So all the extra money and full-time employees have done is prevent the problem from going way into the red. If they hadn’t been doing what they were doing, it would be a total disaster.” Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of veterans wait. “The V.A. is this monster paperwork machine,” said Mike Grabski, 32, an Army veteran of the war in Afghanistan who has been waiting since December 2009 for his disability paperwork to go through. Grabski, who lives in Napa, is unemployed and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2007, Grabski’s friend, Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle, was killed by Taliban fighters. “Seeing your best friend full of holes is not fun,” he said. Grabski said that in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder, he sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, shoulder and knee injuries and hearing loss related to bomb blasts during his tours as a paratrooper in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also suffers from asthma, which he said worsened as a result of his service. “It’s been a constant heartache,” Mr. Grabski said of the disability claims process. “The money would be nice, but it’s not about the money. It’s about the care. I’ve got issues that need attending to.”
Mike Grabski
For Rodriguez, the Marine Corps veteran from San Bruno, the money is important. He filed his initial disability claim for post-traumatic stress disorder in December 2006 and received a 30 percent rating from the V.A. 403 days later, in January 2008. Rodriguez said the rating, which entitles him to $389 a month in disability payments, is not generous enough to allow him to take off from work to attend counseling and group therapy sessions that the V.A. offers during business hours. He said he wants the department to give him a 70 percent disability rating, which
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would entitle him to $1,272 in compensation monthly. In an interview, Rodriguez said he still experiences frequent flashbacks and intrusive feelings of guilt and grief, prompted by his experiences conducting house-to-house searches during his deployment in Iraq in 2004, as well as by a stint in New Orleans, where he deployed to collect bodies after Hurricane Katrina. “If they upgraded my claim, I would be able to go to group therapy every day,” Mr. Rodriguez said, “and I hope I would get better.” In handing down its initial 30 percent rating in 2008, the agency did not dispute Mr. Rodriguez’s description of his condition, but wrote that “to assign a greater evaluation, there must be reduced reliability and productivity.” Michael Blecker, the executive director of Swords to Plowshares, a nonprofit veterans services organization that is helping Mr. Rodriguez with his appeal, said disability is not only about the ability to work. “It’s about somebody’s quality of life and making them whole from what they lost in the war,” he said. [Source: New York Times Aaron Glantz article 14 Apr 2012 ++]
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VA Claims Backlog Update 61: The Veterans Affairs Department faces a "staggering" backlog of 897,566 disability claims with more than 65 percent pending for more than 125 days, a problem compounded by an error rate of 16 percent, representatives of veterans' services organizations told lawmakers on the House Veterans Affairs Committee on 18 APR. The department has seen a 48 percent increase in claims since 2008. Officials expect the backlog will grow to 1.2 million claims this year and another 50,000 will accrue in 2013 as veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars flood the system, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in March. He vowed to process all claims in fewer than 125 days with a 98 percent accuracy standard by 2015. Veterans' services organizations testimony included:
 Jeffrey Hall, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, an advocacy group, told House lawmakers that "while the elimination of the backlog will be a welcome milestone, we must remember that eliminating the backlog is not necessarily the same goal as reforming the claims processing system, nor does it guarantee that veterans are better served."
 James Wear, assistant director for veterans benefits policy for the group Veterans of Foreign Wars, testified that the high error rate and the poor quality of VA's rating decisions, which determine the financial benefits veterans receive, are a serious problem. "Quality of decision-making is problematic . . . The national average [error rate] has remained nearly stationary at 16 percent for months," Wear said, adding the Veterans Benefits Administration's Baltimore regional office has the worst claims error rate in the country -- 29 percent, which is a slight improvement over its error rate of 33 percent just a few months ago.
 Randall Fisher, the American Legion's service officer for Kentucky, told lawmakers that in order to improve the claims process, VA must make training a priority and hire more veterans whose experience would prove beneficial. Hall said due to budget constraints, VA has cut back on training, conducting it locally rather than using its national training academy. "We have concerns that this change was made strictly for short-term financial considerations rather than to achieve the long-term goal of reforming the claims processing system," he said.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., the ranking member on the committee, said, "There's no shortcut of getting around the basics -- of having well-trained employees who are empowered with the right tools and the right systems to get the job done right the first time." Shinseki promised earlier this month that VA will roll out its paperless Veterans Benefit Management System to 16 regional offices by September, with installation in all 56 regional offices in 2013. Hall said he was concerned budget constraints could impede the national rollout of VBMS, and urged the committee to provide full funding for the system. VA requested $92.3 million for VBMS in 2013, and spent a total of $343.6 million on the system in 2011 and 2012. Even as it moves to a paperless claims system, Hall said VA still will face older paper claims and it has yet to determine when or how those would be converted to digital files. A majority of claims processed each year are for reopened or appealed claims, which can remain active for decades. "Until all
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legacy claims are converted to digital data files, VBA could be forced to continue paper processing for decades," Hall said.
Paul Sullivan, managing director for public affairs and veteran outreach at Bergmann & Moore LLC, a law firm based in Bethesda, Md., said veterans service organizations or lawyers representing veterans cannot gain access to VBMS, something he urged the committee to change. On 16 APR, VA announced plans to streamline and speed up disability claims processing by segmenting claims so those that can be more easily rated can be moved quickly through the system; more complex claims would be handled by more experienced and skilled employees. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said VA's track record of making changes to its claims processing system has been "substandard." He added that VA needs to ensure that the much touted VBMS system is set up correctly and used efficiently. [Source: NextGov.com Bob Brewin article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
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Louisiana Vet Cemeteries Update 03: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) held a dedication ceremony Saturday in Zachary, La., for the Louisiana National Cemetery, which is expected to open for burial this summer. "To offer full burial options for the Veterans of East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding area is a top priority," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "With the Louisiana National Cemetery, we are keeping our commitment to provide a final resting place and lasting tribute to the men and women who have kept their commitment to protect and defend our nation." Secretary Shinseki gave the keynote address and was joined by elected officials as the dedication plaque was unveiled. Military honors included a firing detail by Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines. The U.S. Navy Band New Orleans performed. The nearby Port Hudson National Cemetery will close to casketed burials in July 2012, although it will stay active with casketed interments of those with family members already buried there. Space for cremated remains is expected to be depleted in 2015. More than 14,000 military service members, Veterans and family members are interred there. Louisiana National Cemetery is 1.5 miles from Port Hudson National Cemetery on 103.8 acres of land. Construction underway includes both gravesites and columbarium development (for cremation burials) in two phases, providing a full range of burial alternatives to approximately 293,000 Veterans and eligible family members in the East Baton Rouge Parish and the surrounding area. The first phase of construction will be completed in May and will include approximately 17 acres with 2,500 in-ground pre-placed crypts, 1,128 traditional gravesites, an entrance feature, roadway, utilities and infrastructure. The second phase will cover approximately 12 acres, to include an administration building and maintenance complex; a committal service shelter; 1,000 columbarium niches; 1,130 in-ground cremation sites; and a public assembly area. The project will also incorporate systems for water distribution, roads, utilities, signage, landscaping and site furnishings.
The director of Port Hudson National Cemetery for the past three years, Rex Kern, will also direct Louisiana National Cemetery. He is responsible for burial, maintenance and administrative operations at both facilities as well as at Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Natchez National Cemeteries. In 2009, Kern graduated from the year-long Cemetery Director Intern Program at VA's National Cemetery Administration training center in St. Louis. Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Military personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents are also eligible. Other burial benefits for eligible Veterans include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker - even if they are not buried in a national cemetery. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. Additional information about the Louisiana National Cemetery is available by calling the Port Hudson National Cemetery office at 225-654-3767. Other veteran cemeteries located in Louisiana are:
Federal:
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 Alexandria National Cemetery, 209 East Shamrock Ave., Pineville, LA 71360 (No new interments),
 Baton Rouge National Cemetery, 220 North 19th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (No new interments),
 Port Hudson National Cemetery, 20978 Port Hickey Road, Zachary, LA 70791 Tel: (225) 654-3767
State:
 Northwest LA Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville, LA 71047 Tel: 318-925-0612/5532F Email: nlvc@vetaffairs.la.gov.
 Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery (CLVC), 3348 University Parkway, Leesville, LA 71446 (adjacent to Fort Polk) Tel: 337-238-6405/6448F Email: clvc@vetaffairs.la.gov.
[Source: VA News Release 29 Mar 2012 ++]
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TRICARE User Fees Update 86: At a Pentagon press briefing on 16 APR, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said congressional tinkering with the $613 billion 2013 Defense Department budget could have unintended consequences and result in a hollow force. Flanked by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Panetta also defended the long-term Defense strategy unveiled in January, saying it will help the Pentagon to slash its budget by $487 billion over the next 10 years. In March, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, told a National Journal forum that senior military commanders were dishonest in presenting Congress with a budget request he doesn't believe they fully support. After Dempsey charged Ryan with calling senior military leaders liars, Ryan backed off and said, "I really misspoke." While not addressing Ryan directly, Panetta emphasized that the department's military leadership backed both the 2013 budget and the Defense strategy, which aims to develop a lean, postwar force focused on the Asia-Pacific region and enabled by technology, especially cyber, space and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta
Panetta said the 2013 budget is a "zero-sum game" and any changes to it will require cuts in key systems and projects that support the long-term strategy. The budget includes increases in fees for the Defense TRICARE health insurance program ranging from $35 to $155 per month for military retirees in an effort to curb spiraling health care costs. Defense Comptroller Robert Hale said in February that these increases, after four years, would boost retiree health care costs to just under $2,000 a year, compared with the $4,000 per year federal civilian employees pay. The National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) called on Congress16 APR to stop the increase in TRICARE fees. Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Jack Klimp, NAUS President and chief executive officer, said, "It's an outrage to hear DoD tell military retirees that the costs for promised benefits are squeezing out available resources for our national defense." Panetta said if Congress does not go along with the TRICARE fee increases this will amount to a $13
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billion hit to the long-term Defense budget, which could affect readiness and possibly lead to reductions in troop strength. [Source: NextGov Bob Brewin article 16 Apr 2012 ++]
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TRICARE User Fees Update 87: The National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS) strongly opposes the Pentagon plan for steep increases in TRICARE fees. The federal fiscal year 2013 defense proposal would raise fees for all programs in TRICARE, the military health care plan.“It's an outrage to hear DoD tell military retirees that the costs for promised benefits are squeezing out available resources for our national defense,” said retired Marine Lieutenant General Jack Klimp, NAUS President and CEO. “NAUS is compelled to protect those who served to protect us,” Klimp said. “After a career of defending our citizens and our freedom, these brave men and women should not have to fight to keep the nation’s side of its obligation.”
Under the Pentagon’s plan, TRICARE Prime annual enrollment fees for a family would jump nearly four-fold over five years. A rapidly growing enrollment fee would be initiated for TRICARE Standard and one would be imposed for the first time on TRICARE for Life, too. Pharmacy copays would increase to $34 per prescription from $9. And Beneficiaries would pay $3 billion more next year for their healthcare benefits they sacrificed in armed service to earn. “Congress has a unique responsibility to act—indeed it has a moral obligation,” the NAUS President said. “TRICARE is an earned benefit. It is an integral part of a moral contract, a practical fulfillment of a nation's promise to those who honorably served a career in the Uniformed Services.” The NAUS chief executive asks Congress to stop the war on TRICARE, “Protect those who served to protect you. They paid a personal price to earn their benefits. Don't break faith.”
On an more upbeat note the House Armed Services Subcommittee said “No” to TRICARE fee increases. On 25 APR they released legislative language that will be considered by the Subcommittee on Military Personnel at their markup. Most significant, the Subcommittee mark does not, repeat, does not, contain provisions that will provide for higher TRICARE fees and premiums. Instead, the Subcommittee inserted language expressing a sense of Congress that “Career members of the uniformed services and their families endure unique and extraordinary demands and make extraordinary sacrifices over the course of a 20- to 30-year career in protecting freedom for all Americans; and those decades of sacrifice constitute a significant pre-paid premium for health care during a career member’s retirement that is over and above what the member pays with money.” [Source: NAUS News Release & AFSA On Call 16 & 25 Apr 2012 ++]
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Vet Jobs Update 59: On 1APR7 , VA launched the VOW to Hire Heroes Act website. The site provides comprehensive information on all aspects of the VOW Act to include details about the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), tax credits for employers, vocational rehabilitation services, the transition assistance program, and Department of Labor resources for veterans. Qualified veterans will be able to apply for the VRAP program which offers 12 months of retraining assistance directly from the site starting on 15 MAY 2012. For more information on the new programs and benefits, refer to http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW/. [Source: VFW Washington Update 20 Apr 2012 ++]
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GI Bill Update 117: Not waiting for Congress to act, President Barack Obama signed an executive order 27 APR aimed at protecting military families and veterans from the deceptive practices of some for-profit
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colleges. Recipients of the GI Bill are often targeted by "diploma mills" because of the "easy availability of the federal loan money." The order will make it harder for post-secondary and technical schools to misrepresent themselves. Four protective actions included in the order aimed at preventing the predatory practices are:
1. Know Before You Owe” - Schools will be required to provide this federal form explaining financial aid to veterans and military personnel on he GI Bill.
2. Schools that Comply - The VA will post on its website which schools have agreed to follow the executive order and follow the protections.
3. Registering the "GI Bill" - To protect the term from being misused, the VA will register the term.
4. Complaint Central - the federal government is ordered to establish one central location where veterans and military families can report a problem or file a complaint making it easier for federal agencies to investigate.
The VA website offers a step-by-step process to the GI Bill, programs and benefits at http://www.gibill.va.gov and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) has a very helpful site at http://newgibill.org that contains a GI Bill calculator as well as advice from a fellow Vet and information about schools. [Source: Off The Base Bobbie O’Brian article 27 Apr 2012 ++]
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Mobilized Reserve 24 APR 2012: The Department of Defense announced the current number of reservists on active duty as of 24 APR 2012. The net collective result is 1663 fewer reservists mobilized than last reported in the 15 APR 2012 RAO Bulletin. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 50,532; Navy Reserve 4,575; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve 9,815; Marine Corps Reserve 4,557; and the Coast Guard Reserve 839. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 70,318 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120424ngr.pdf. Reservist s deactivated since 9/11 total 776,176. [Source: DoD News Release No. 320-12 dtd 27 Apr 2012 ++]
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PTSD Update 97: The Army Surgeon General's Office has issued new guidelines for diagnosing PTSD that criticize an approach once routinely used at Madigan Army Medical Center. The policy, obtained by The Seattle Times, specifically discounts tests used to determine whether soldiers are faking symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It says that poor test results do not constitute malingering. The written tests often were part of the Madigan screening process that overturned the PTSD diagnoses of more than 300 patients during the past five years. Madigan medical-team members cited studies that said fabricated PTSD symptoms were a significant — and often undetected — phenomenon. They offered the tests as an objective way to help identity "PTSD simulators" among the patients under consideration for a medical retirement that offers a pension and other benefits. The team's approach once was
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called a "best practice" by Madigan leaders, including Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, a former commander who now serves as the Army's surgeon general. But earlier this year, amid patient protests about overturned diagnoses, the team was shut down as the Army launched several investigations.
Though none of the Army findings have been publicly released, the April 10 "policy guidance" from the surgeon general charts new directions for PTSD screening at Madigan and elsewhere in the Army medical system. The new policy downplays the frequency of soldiers faking symptoms to gain benefits, citing studies indicating it is rare. It also rejects the view a patient's response to the hundreds of written test questions can determine if a soldier is faking symptoms for financial gain, and it declares that a poor test result "does not equate to malingering, which requires proof of intent... " The new policy offers broad guidance on how the Army medical staff should evaluate and treat patients for PTSD, a condition affecting 5 to 25 percent of soldiers returning from combat zones. The 17-page document was distributed to commanders throughout the Army medical system. The surgeon general's policy document says:
 PTSD is being under — not over — diagnosed. It states that most combat veterans with PTSD do not seek help, and as a result their conditions are not recognized and identified.
 The policy also questions the use of a class of drugs in treating anxiety in troops with PTSD and other mental conditions. The document found "no benefit" from the use of Xanax, Librium, Valium and other drugs known as benzodiazepines in the treatment of PTSD among combat veterans. Moreover, use of those drugs can cause harm, the Surgeon General's Office said. The drugs may increase fear and anxiety responses in these patients. And, once prescribed, they "can be very difficult, if not impossible, to discontinue," due to significant withdrawal symptoms compounded by PTSD, the document states.
 The policy also said the harm outweighs the benefits from the use of some antipsychotics, such as Risperidone, which have shown "disappointing results" in clinical trials involving PTSD.
 PTSD patients may frequently have other physical and mental-health problems. The new memorandum encourages a range of treatment options, including yoga, biofeedback, massage, acupuncture and hypnosis.
In 2008, Congress approved an overhaul of the disability system, saying a soldier rendered unfit for duty by PTSD qualified for a medical retirement. Since then, the number of Army personnel with PTSD receiving a temporary disability (the first step in the retirement process) has escalated sharply. More than 2,790 soldiers were given a PTSD-related temporary disability in 2011, more than a fivefold increase since passage of the congressional overhaul. The pensions, health insurance and other retirement benefits are financed through the Defense Department, which is facing significant budget cuts as Congress struggles to trim federal spending. In a controversial presentation to colleagues last fall, Dr. William Keppler, then the leader of the Madigan screening team, said a PTSD diagnosis could cost as much as $1.5 million over the lifetime of a soldier, and he urged staff to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Keppler is a forensic psychiatrist whose work had helped Madigan gain a national reputation for innovative screening for PTSD before questions were raised about the accuracy of his team's diagnoses.
Madigan Army Medical Center
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Soldiers evaluated by the screening team often took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Test, which consists of more than 500 true-or-false questions. Some are relatively straightforward, such as questions about sleep and anxiety. Others are designed to detect patterns of exaggeration, such as answers that reflect what people think mental illness is like rather than what it is actually like. Most of the screenings also included patient interviews. But some of the soldiers who went through the process told The Seattle Times the interviews often felt confrontational, at times hostile. More than 300 patients screened by Keppler's team are now being offered re-evaluations by new screening teams established at Madigan. The results of the new examinations have not been announced. All this has spurred plenty of debate at Madigan and in the broader Army medical community. One forensic team member, Dr. Juliana Ellis-Billingsley, quit in February, and in a letter of resignation blasted the Madigan investigations as a charade. The surgeon general's policy memorandum notes that many soldiers have become wary of the Army's mental-health care providers. It calls for a "culture of trust" that will give more soldiers confidence to seek help. [Source: The Seattle Times Hal Bernton article 22 Apr 2012 ++]
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Vet License Plates LA: In Louisiana the following vehicle license plates are available to certain veterans and residents :  Purple Heart Plates: Issued at no additional charge to recipients of the Purple Heart Medal to be used in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration plates. The recipient may be issued a special plate for each vehicle registered in the recipient’s name and such plate shall not be subject to renewal requirements applicable to regular numbered plates.  Disabled Veterans Plates: Available at no additional charge to any Louisiana resident who is at least 50% service connected.  "X-POW" License Plates: Issued upon request without charge and contain the designation of "X-POW," followed by an appropriate number. The plates are not subject to renewal requirements by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, and they are issued upon application to any former prisoner of war in lieu of the regular motor vehicle registration license plates. (Act 121 of the Louisiana Legislature amends Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 to provide for the issuance of special license plates to those veterans who were former prisoners of war during a wartime period as defined by R.S. 29:251.2.)
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 Gold Star Family License Plates: Available to immediate family members of armed forces members killed in action. The plate is issued in the same manner as other motor vehicle license plates. The applicant must present a copy of the servicemember’s death certificate to the DMV. The charge for the plate is the same as for regular license plates and includes a handling fee of $3.50. In addition, the Louisiana Legislature has authorized the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue prestige license plates to certain Louisiana veterans and retired military veterans. These plates will be issued for use on any privately owned passenger car, pickup truck, or van of the veteran applicant. The cost of these plates is the same as the regular issue. In the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Vet License Plates - LA” contains a summary with pictures of all the veteran related plates available to Louisiana residents and ordering guidelines. This information is also available at http://omv.dps.state.la.us. [Source: http://www.vetaffairs.la.gov/licensing Apr 2012 ++]
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WWII Vets Update 18: Navy veteran John Heller's story of surviving five days in the shark-infested Philippine Sea in the Pacific Theater is about to become a big-screen movie. As part of the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week in a matter-of-fact tone, he told surreal stories at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit about the five days he bobbed in the sea after his ship, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine torpedo just after midnight on July 30, 1945 “RT Chap FL - 07” <having delivered the parts for the first atomic bomb. The ship sank in 12 minutes with 1,197 men on board. Of the swath of 900 men left floating in the Philippine Sea, only 317 men were rescued. Today, only 41 survivors are still alive. “We had a Marine with us, thank God,” said Heller, who joined the Navy in January 1945 at 17 years old. “And if a guy went berserk and started drinking salt water or started swimming away; or tried to take us down with him; he'd have to hit him, and he'd take the jackets off him and make sort of a float ring out of it to give us more buoyancy in the water because our jackets were getting pretty water-soaked.” The survivors talked about their parents, home and other mundane things, he said, as they bobbed from early Monday until Friday morning. “It was pretty hard to say what we did during the day: We'd watch the sharks go by,” he said. “They'd miss me and get somebody else. But they had a big feast out there. They didn't need a little small guy like me.”
John Heller, 84, a talks about how he survived the torpedoing of the USS Indianapolis
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After Heller returned home, he spent 37 years as the owner of four gas stations in Birmingham and Troy, and working in sales in the welding industry. Heller said he gave 22 talks about his experience aboard the Indianapolis last year, something he especially loves to do to educate students. “I enjoy talking to kids because they ask a lot of questions,” Heller said. “ 'What did you do in the water?' “RT Chap FL - 07” <that's always the first.” Army veteran Charles Scott, 60, of Highland Park said listening to Heller's story helps reinforce that there are others who have lived through the horrors of war “RT Chap FL - 07” <like those he saw in Vietnam during the early 1970s. “I know that somebody else has experienced it besides myself,” Scott said. “It helps to know they made it back, like I made it back.” West Bloomfield veteran Marty Levine, 63, membership chairman of metro Detroit's Jewish War Veterans of the United States Post 135, said the week's events point out how important it is to support veterans “RT Chap FL - 07” <specifically homeless veterans, the focus of this year's salute week.”Tom Brokaw was right: They are the greatest generation,” Levine said, quoting the newscaster's book about World War II veterans. “They saved the world so you and I can enjoy the comforts afforded us. I, too, am a veteran, but what they did was incredible.” [Source: The Detroit Free Press Tammy Stables Battaglia article 18 Feb 2012 ++]
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World War II Posters (4)
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POW/MIA Update 18: "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. More than 83,000 Americans are missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the 1991 Gulf War. Hundreds of 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.dtic.mil/dpmo/accounted_for. For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Korea
Today, more than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Korean War.
 DPMO announced 20 APR that the remains of Army Cpl. James N. Larkin, 34, of Kirkwood, Mo., a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He will be buried 24 APR in St. Louis, Mo. On Feb. 11, 1951, Larkin and his unit known as “Support Force 21,” from the 2nd Infantry Division, were attacked by Chinese forces near Changbong-ni, South Korea. The unit withdrew to a more defensible position and suffered many losses. Following the battle, Larkin was listed as missing in action. After the 1953 armistice, surviving prisoners of war who returned during “Operation Big Switch” said Larkin had died in April 1951, from battle wounds and malnutrition while captive in the Chinese operated POW camp known as “Bean Camp” located in North Korea. His remains were not returned during Operation Glory in 1954. Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from Suan County, where Larkin was held as a POW. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, as well as dental comparisons, radiographs, and mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of Larkin’s nephews—in the identification of the remains.
 DPMO announced 20 APR that the remains of Army Pfc. Richard E. Clapp, 19, of Seattle, Wash., a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He will be buried April 25, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On Sept. 2, 1950, Clapp and the C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment came
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under fire near Yulchon, South Korea, and Clapp was killed in action. The Army was unable to identify his remains at the time, and the remains were buried as “Unknown” in a military cemetery on the Korean Peninsula. In 1951, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula. The unknown remains were interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, the remains were exhumed for identification. Scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparison, and dental records to identify Clapp.
 DPMO announced 23 APR that the remains of Army Sgt. 1st Class Edris A. Viers, 32, of Swan, Iowa, a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Burial is scheduled for 27 APR in his hometown. In August 1950, Viers and Battery A, 555th Field Artillery Battalion, were fighting against North Korean forces in a battle known as the “Bloody Gulch,” near Pongam-ni, South Korea. After the battle, on Aug. 12, Viers was listed as missing in action. In late 1950, U.S. Army Graves Registration Service personnel recovered remains of service members from that battlefield, including nine men who were unidentified. These men were buried at the 25th Infantry Division Cemetery in South Korea. In 1951, the U.S. consolidated cemeteries on the peninsula. The unknown remains were re-interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In 2011, due to advances in identification technology, the remains were exhumed for identification. Based on available evidence such as metal identification tags, military clothing, and wartime records, analysts from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) were able to conclude that the remains were a sergeant from the 90th or 555th Field Artillery Battalion, who had died at Pongam-ni. Both groups had suffered losses in the Bloody Gulch battle. Scientists from the JPAC used the circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools such as radiograph comparisons to identify the remains as Viers.
 DPMO announced 24 APR that the remains of a Army Pfc. Nelson E. Young, 19, of Suffolk, Mass.,U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Burial is scheduled for 28 APR in his hometown.in Foxboro, Mass. In late November 1950, Young, and elements of the 31st Regimental Combat Team, known as “Task Force Faith,” were advancing along the eastern banks of the Chosin Reservoir, in North Korea, when they came under attack. On Dec. 2, 1950, Young, along with many other Americans, was listed as missing in action as a result of the heavy fighting. In 1953, returning Americans who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Young had been captured by the Chinese during the battle from Nov. 27- Dec. 1, 1950. He died several months later as a result of malnutrition while being held as a prisoner of war, near the northern end of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea; an area known as “Death Valley.” Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea gave the United States 208 boxes of remains believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the human remains were recovered from the area where Young had reportedly died in captivity, in North Korea. To identify the remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as dental records, and mitochondrial DNA – which matched Young’s living maternal relatives.
Vietnam
 Army Capt. Charles R. Barnes, 27, of Philadelphia, Pa., will be buried 2 MAY, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. On March 16, 1969, Barnes and four other service members departed Qui Nhon Airfields bound for Da Nang and Phu Bai, in a U-21A Ute aircraft. As they approached Da Nang, they encountered low clouds and poor visibility. Communications with the aircraft were lost, and they did not land as scheduled. Immediate search efforts were limited due to hazardous weather conditions, and all
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five men were list as missing in action. From 1986-1989, unidentified human remains were turned over to the U.S. from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) in several different instances. None of the remains were identified given the limits of the technology of the time. In 1993, a joint U.S./S.R.V. team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command(JPAC), conducted investigations in Quang Nam-Da Nang, and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces. interviewed a local Vietnamese citizen who supplied remains and an identification tag bearing Barnes’ name, which he claimed to have recovered from an aircraft crash site. In 1999, another joint U.S./S.R.V. team interviewed additional Vietnamese citizens about the crash and they were led to the crash site. In 2000, a joint U.S./S.R.V. team excavated the site and recovered human remains and material evidence. Scientists from the JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory Among used circumstantial evidence, and forensic identification tools such as mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of Barnes’ sister – in the identification of the remains.
[Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/news/news_releases/ Apr 2012 +]
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Veteran Support Organizations (09): Military children and spouses can access more scholarships through ThanksUSA, an organization that supports military families. Since 2006, it has awarded 2,200 need-based scholarships totaling about $6 million. By the end of 2011, it aims to distribute another 500 scholarships valued at $1.5 million. This charity had a somewhat unusual beginning: two sisters, ages eight and 10, wanted to do more to support the country’s war fighters. They developed an idea to tie that support to a national treasure hunt game that would also teach U.S. history and values. Though anyone can play the online game for free, participants are encouraged to make a donation to help fund the scholarships. Private donations and events make up the remainder of the funding. Certain educational institutions participate as well, offering reduced tuition rates or scholarships through the program. Kaplan University is offering 50 percent off four years of tuition at their online school to spouses who meet the award criteria. Hills Bros. Coffee also is providing ThanksUSA scholarships. In each can of grounds, it has placed a coupon with a code. For every 100,000 codes entered online, it will donate 10 scholarships up to 50 total. It also counts “likes” on its Facebook page toward this goal. Michele Stork, executive director of ThanksUSA, says her organization has received five scholarships for this year and expects at least that number for next year. She hopes the public will help them reach the total number available.
Stork explains that these scholarships help the military adapt to changing situations. For Guard and Reserve households, a call to duty interrupts normal paychecks, meaning that sometimes college plans in the family are put on hold. In the families of wounded troops, a spouse might suddenly become the sole breadwinner. “We help the family increase its long-term earning power while reducing the economic strain on the family,” Stork says. The program also has ripple benefits through the military. According to Stork, most of the recipients desire to give back to the defense community through their education. She shares that an education major went on to teach military children; science and technology majors plan to develop future military capabilities; medical majors intend to assist troops with physical or mental disabilities; and undergraduates have gone on to serve in the military after earning their degrees. Military families at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, receive their new computers courtesy of Operation Homelink. The organization distributes computers to family members of units preparing to ship overseas so they can stay in touch during the deployment.
Anyone interested in applying for ThanksUSA scholarships can sign up on the website to be reminded when the program opens for 2012. All applications are accepted online from April 1 to May 15. Stork encourages people to ensure they fill out all the necessary forms and attach other necessary paperwork. She urges people to “apply, apply, apply.” She also wants the military to know that people are grateful. “We appreciate your service and understand the sacrifices that you and your families make every day,” Stork states. But what if people have a hard time accessing the Internet because they lack a home computer? For many junior enlisted families, this is their reality, and beyond
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applying for scholarships, it means they miss the best connection to their deployed loved ones. Operation Homelink helps remedy this problem by providing computers to those who need them. Founder and President Dan Shannon estimates that 10 percent to 15 percent of military families fall into this category. “In many cases, their computers may have broken, and they don’t have the funds to replace them or in several cases, the service member took their only laptop with him, and the wife does not have one,” he says. “To illustrate the need, I can tell you that I have met families who have driven five hours each way to come to one of our events to get a computer.” For additional information on ThanksUSA refer to http://www.thanksusa.org. For scholarship questions call (877) 849-878. [Source: AFCRA Veterans Focus Rita Boland article Nov 2011 ++]
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Saving Money: Cruise ships aren't as all-inclusive as you might believe. So, how much does a cruise cost? It depends. Yes, your accommodations, meals, entertainment and most daytime activities are included in a fare, but there are many pricy onboard temptations that can affect the bottom line. For cruise-ship lovers, bigger can be better...but not always. The per person rate should be:
 Megaships, 2,500 to 6,000 passengers, you should pay: $75 to $100 per day.
 Midsize Ships, 1,000 to 2,500 passengers. you should pay: $50 to $75 per day.
 Miniships, Fewer than 1,200 passengers, you should pay: $350 to $500 per day by sea; $150 to $350, by river.
In addition to the basic fare here are some hidden cruise costs and how to avoid them:
1. Beverages - On most ships, alcohol, soda and bottled water aren't free, and the barrage to indulge starts as soon as you board, with offers like the Drink of the Day. Although cruise lines ban you from bringing your own booze, most let you pack soda and bottled water. You might also save money with an unlimited drinks package. For free booze, grab a cocktail at the captain's parties, and, if you buy a bottle of wine, drink half and have it corked for the next night.
2. Gratuities - Tips for the crew who keep your accommodations spiffy and make sure you're well fed are now typically automatically added to your shipboard bill at a rate of $10 to $12 per passenger, per day, depending on the line. Bar bills might also include an automatic 15 percent gratuity. That's a substantial addition to your cruise costs. Although you probably won't want to scrimp here — the crew is trained to impress — you can adjust the amounts up or down at the purser's desk.
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3. Shore Excursions - Booking shore excursions through a cruise line is easy. But these tours, which run from $29 to $150 (and higher for extravagant offerings), are priced to make money for the cruise lines. Planning can pay off. It's nearly always cheaper, for instance, to book through an independent local operator, and to use taxis or other local transportation for trips to the beach.
4. Alternative Dining and Treats - You'll find plenty of selections in the ship's dining rooms and casual buffets. But the lines also offer alternative, gourmet venues — which cost an additional $10 to $75. Eliminate this as a hidden cost by budgeting accordingly for a special night out or planning to forego it altogether. And watch those extra charges for name-brand ice cream, specialty coffee drinks like espresso, and other treats.
5. The Spa - Spas on most ships aren't cheap. Those who pay $22 for a pedicure at home will be shocked by a $70 shipboard tab, and a 50-minute massage will run at least $119. Look for spa specials on port days. Beware, too, of extra charges for some fitness classes — $10 to $15, say, for Pilates or Spin.
[Source: AARP Fran Golden article 3 Jan 2012 ++]
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VA Fraud Waste & Abuse Update 47:
 Amarillo TX - A federal judge sentenced a former Amarillo mail carrier 18 FEB to five months in prison for stealing parcels containing hydrocodone, a prescription pain reliever. Brent West must also serve three years’ probation and pay $450 in restitution to the government, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson’s order said. West, who pleaded guilty to one count of mail theft, must surrender himself to federal authorities by May 14. For about a month last year, West stole seven pieces of mail from the North Amarillo Station, 841 Martin Road, that were mailed from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, his January plea agreement said. In October, customers began notifying post office officials that mail containing the prescription drug was not delivered. Covert cameras installed at the facility led officials to suspect West in the thefts. Postal Service spokesman Robert Bolen said West began his employment as a letter carrier in Amarillo in April 2006, and he has since been fired. [Source: Amarillo Globe News Bobby Cervantes article 18 Apr 2012 ++]
 Rapid City SD - Patricia Maki , 69, woman has been convicted on federal charges related to illegally taking veterans' assistance payments. U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says a jury convicted her of theft of government property, providing a fictitious name and address to the U.S. Postal Service and fraudulent acceptance of veterans ' payments. Maki will be sentenced later. The maximum penalty for the convictions is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Jonson said Maki took nearly $60,000 in payments from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs she knew she was not entitled to receive. The payments were made from 2004 until 2010. [Source: Associated Press article 19 Apr 2012 ++]
 Thornton CO - Keith Morris, accused of assuming his brother's identity to receive brain surgery and other care at the Denver VA Medical Center, has pleaded guilty 18 APR to health care fraud. He also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs. Morris' brother is an Army veteran who lives in Albuquerque, N.M. Federal prosecutors say that from May 2003 to September 2009, Morris used his brother's name, Social Security number and birth date to get more than $148,000 in medical care at the Denver VA Medical Center. Investigators uncovered the scheme after the brother received bills from his insurance company for visits to the center that he never made. [Source: USA Today article 18 Apr 2012 ++
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 Petersburg TN - Michael Murdock, a postal worker charged with stealing painkillers from a military veteran on his mail route, pleaded not guilty 20 APR to a nine-count federal indictment in U.S. District Court. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of misappropriation of postal funds and up to five years on each count of theft of stolen mailed matter. Murdock is free on bond as he awaits his 19 JUN trial date. The federal indictment alleges that, while working for the post office near Petersburg, Tenn., he stole $11,562 that was under his control. Also, that on seven occasions between March 26, 2010, and Jan. 3, 2011, he took hydrocodone tablets prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for a veteran on Murdock’s mail route. The Marshall County Tribune newspaper reported in January 2011 that county Detective Sam Bragg searched a farmhouse owned by Murdock after receiving complaints from Phelps about not receiving his medication. Investigators treated a box to be mailed with “clue spray,” which is invisible under normal light but shows up under fluorescent lighting, Bragg told the paper. During the search, Bragg used lighting to detect if Murdock had handled the package. “He was glowing,” Bragg told the Tribune. [Source: Times Free Press Todd South article 21 Apr 2012 ++]
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Notes of Interest:
 Jobs. ABC News Diane Sawyer reports U.S. bridge projects going to the Chinese... NOT Americans. Video report is available at http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/us-bridges-roads-built-chinese-firms-14594513?tab=9482930?ion=1206853&playlist=14594944.
 Jobs. Chevron is seeking U.S. Veteran talent. If interested check out http://www.military.com/jobs-in/employer/chevron/.
 Jobs. If you’re interested in serving through a job in VA’s health care system, they are hiring. Go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov to learn more
 Denver VAMC. The operating room at Denver's Veterans Affairs Medical Center has been temporarily closed for specialized cleaning. The VA says the decision to cancel all surgeries is out of an abundance of caution. A residue was found on some surgical instruments during a routine inspection late last month. Surgeries continued without using the affected instruments while they were sanitized. The decision was then made to complete specialized cleaning of all the instruments. The VA says patient care has not been compromised.
 Vet Service Dogs. Qualified veterans can obtain a greyhound service dog. The dogs are retired racing dogs and are trained as service dogs at Gadsden Correctional Institute. To find out more information call 352-628-2281 or email mailto:PrisonGreyhounds@embarqmail.com.
 MOH. The White House announced that President Obama will award Army Specialist Leslie H. Sabo, Jr., the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Specialist Sabo will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat on May 10, 1970, while serving as a rifleman in Company D, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia.
 AF Reserve. The Air Force Reserve turned 64 on 14 APR. President Harry Truman in 1948 , inspired by Reserve programs activated during WWI, officially forged the Air Force Reserve as a field operating agency of the Air Force.
 Mortgage Assistance. If you are unemployed and depending on your situation, MHA's Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP) may reduce your mortgage payments to 31 percent of your income or suspend them altogether for 12 months or more. Check out http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/pages/default.aspx.
 Home Loans. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is typically required with conventional loans through the FHA. PMI is extra insurance that some lenders mandate before approving loans worth more than 80% of the cost of a home. If the homebuyer can only pay 20% of the total cost of the home, then lenders use PMI to cover their bases. PMI is not required for VA Home Loans.
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 New Subs. The Navy has announced the names of five new Virginia-class submarines. Five states are getting honored, each one home to significant military installations. They will be named for Illinois, Washington, Colorado, Indiana and South Dakota.
 Credit Cards. According to the FTC and the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50. If you report the loss before your credit cards are used, the FCBA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges. If a thief uses your cards before you report them missing, the most you will owe for unauthorized charges is $50 per card. Also, if the loss involves your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for unauthorized use.
[Source: Various 16-30 Apr 2012 ++]
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Medicare Fraud Update 91:
Miami - Three operators of a Miami health care agency were sentenced 25 APR to prison, respectively, for their participation in a $60 million home health Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro in Miami sentenced Roberto Gonzalez to 120 months in prison, Olga Gonzalez to 87 months in prison, and Fabian Gonzalez to 87 months in prison. Each defendant was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $40 million in restitution, jointly and severally with co-defendants. Roberto, Olga, and Fabian Gonzalez each pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Roberto Gonzalez, 61, was the president and Olga Gonzalez, 57, was the vice president of Nany Home Health Inc., a Florida home health agency that purported to provide home health care and physical therapy services to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Fabian Gonzalez, 39, was head of the Quality and Assurance Department for Nany. The defendants conspired with patient recruiters, including Miami-area staffing agencies, for the purpose of billing the Medicare program for unnecessary home health care and therapy services. The staffing agencies functioned as patient recruiters and provided patients to Nany. The Gonzalezes and their co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters and the staffing agencies in return for providing patients to Nany, as well as prescriptions, plans of care (POCs), and certifications for medically unnecessary therapy and home health services for Medicare beneficiaries. The Gonzalezes used the prescriptions, POCs, and medical certifications to fraudulently bill Medicare for home health care services, which the Gonzalezes knew was in violation of federal criminal laws. Nany nurses and office staff falsified patient files for Medicare beneficiaries to make it appear that the beneficiaries qualified for home health care and therapy services from Nany when, in fact, the Gonzalezes knew that the beneficiaries did not qualify for and did not receive such
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services. The nurses and office staff at Nany described in the nursing notes and patient files symptoms that were non-existent. The Gonzalezes knew that these files were falsified so that Medicare could be billed for medically unnecessary services. From approximately January 2006 through November 2009, Roberto, Olga, Fabian Gonzalez, and their co-conspirators submitted approximately $60 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, and Medicare paid approximately $40 million on those claims. [Source: Fraud News Daily 15-30 Apr 2012 ++]
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State Veteran's Benefits: The state of Wisconsin provides several benefits to veterans. To obtain information on these refer to the “Veteran State Benefits WI” attachment to this Bulletin for an overview of those benefits. Benefits are available to veterans who are residents of the state in the following areas:
 Veteran Housing Benefits
 Veteran Financial Assistance Benefits
 Veteran Employment Benefits
 Veteran Education Benefits
 Other State Veteran Benefits
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/content/veteran-state-benefits/wisconsin-state-veterans-benefits.html Apr 2012 ++]
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Military History: It was 2 March 1991, and the ground war with Iraq had supposedly ended at sunrise on 28 February with a U.S. declared cease-fire. The preceding week had happened at breakneck speed. Under the command of Lt. Colonel John Craddock, Task Force TUSKER, a tank battalion of the 24th Infantry Division, had charged across the Iraqi border on 24 February, raced nonstop for 36 hours as part of the HAIL MARY, and attacked into the Euphrates River Valley. Despite an attack through the Republican Guard’s 26th Commando Brigade, as well as a night attack into a logistics depot, only three soldiers had been wounded, one seriously. As part of First Brigade, the TUSKERS stood quietly in reserve astride Highway 8, just east of the Rumaila oil fields, blocking the retreat of the Iraqi Army. The remains of the Republican Guard, bottled up in the Basra pocket, were probing the American lines along Highway 8 looking for a way out to Baghdad. Throughout the evening scout elements had reported the movement of vehicles with their lights on. The Division’s Air Cavalry Squadron confirmed the northward movement of over 200 trucks across the Hawr al Hammar causeway, a 2½-mile bridge that crossed a tributary lake of the Euphrates River. It had just been repaired by the Iraqis the evening before. At 0700 hours an armored convoy of T-72s and BMPs from the Hammurabi Division ran into the scouts of 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry and opened fire. Thus, started the Battle at Rumaila which marked the last ground combat engagement of the Gulf War. To read how this battle played out refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Battle of Rumaila” written by David S. Pierson, Leavenworth, KS. [Source: Military magazine Feb 2011 ++]
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Military History Anniversaries: Significant 1-15 May events in U.S. Military History are:
 May 01 1863 - Civil War: Battle of Chancellorsville, VA (29,000 injured or died)
 May 03 1926 - US marines land in Nicaragua (9-mo after leaving), stay until 1933
 May 03 1945 - WWII: USS Lagarto (SS-371) sunk by Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka in Gulf of Siam. 86 killed.
 May 04 1942 - WWII: Battle of Coral Sea begun (1st sea battle fought solely in air)
 May 05 1864 - Civil War: The Battle of the Wilderness begins in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
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 May 05 1916 - US marines invade Dominican Republic, stay until 1924
 May 05 1945 - WW II: Admiral Karl Dönitz, President of Germany after Hitler's death, orders all German U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases.
 May 06 1863 - Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville ends with the defeat of the Army of the Potomac by Confederate troops.
 May 06 1942 - WWII: On Corregidor, the last American forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese.
 May 06 1945 - WWII: Axis Sally delivers her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops (first was on December 11, 1941).
 May 07 1864 - Battle of Wilderness ends (total losses: USA-17,666; CSA-7,500)
 May 07 1915 - WWI: German submarine U-20 sinks RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans. Public reaction to the sinking turns many formerly pro-Germans in the United States against the German Empire.
 May 07 1942 - WWII: During the Battle of the Coral Sea, United States Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attack and sink the Japanese Imperial Navy light aircraft carrier Shoho. The battle marks the first time in the naval history that two enemy fleets fight without visual contact between warring ships.
 May 07 1945 - WWII: Germany signs unconditional surrender terms at Reims, France, ending Germany's participation in the war. The document takes effect the next day.
 May 07 1954 - Vietnam: 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam ended with Vietnamese insurgents overrunning French forces.
 May 07 1960 - Cold War: U-2 Crisis of 1960 - Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announces that his nation is holding American U-2 pilot Gary Powers.
 May 07 1984 - Vietnam: Agent Orange class-action suit brought by Vietnam veterans settled out of court for $180 Million.
 May 08 1942 - WWII: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end with Japanese Imperial Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attacking and sinking the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Lexington. The battle marks the first time in the naval history that two enemy fleets fight without visual contact between warring ships.
 May 08 1945 - WWII: Combat in Europe ends - V-E Day. German
 May 09 1951 - Korean War: Air raid on Chinese positions at Yalu River
 May 10 1797 - 1st Navy ship, the "United States," is launched
 May 10 1801 - First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America.
 May 10 1941 - WWII: Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland in order to try and negotiate a peace deal between the United Kingdom and Germany.
 May 10 1960 - The nuclear submarine USS Triton completes Operation Sandblast, the first underwater circumnavigation of the earth.
 May 10 1969 - Vietnam: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill.
 May 11 1943 - WWII: American troops invade Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands in an attempt to expel occupying Japanese forces.
 May 11 1944 - WWII: The Allies start a major offensive against the Axis Powers on the Gustav Line.
 May 12 1780 - Revolutionary War: Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces.,"
 May 12 1864 - American Civil War: the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House: thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers die in "the Bloody Angle".
 May 12 1865 - Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: the first day of the last major land action to take place during the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory.
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 May 12 1962 - Douglas MacArthur delivers his famous "Duty, Honor, Country" valedictory speech at the United States Military Academy.
 May 13 1945 - WWII: US troops conquer Dakeshi Okinawa
 May 14 1863 - Civil War: The Battle of Jackson takes place.
 May 14 2005 - The former USS America, a decommissioned supercarrier of the United States Navy, is deliberately sunk in the Atlantic Ocean after four weeks of live-fire exercises. She is the largest ship ever to be disposed of as a target in a military exercise.
 May 15 1942 - WWII: Lieutenant Ronald Reagan, a cavalry officer, applies for reassignment to the Army Air Force, where he would eventually put his thespian background to use on World War II propaganda films.
 May 15 1962 - Vietnam: US marines arrive in Laos.
 May 15 1972: The U.S. Army Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) reverted to the full control of Japan but the U.S retained its rights to nuclear free bases.
[Source: Various Apr 2012 ++]
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Military Trivia 50: Warships in the United States Navy were first designated and numbered in system originating in 1895. Under this system, ships were designated as "Battleship X", "Cruiser X", "Destroyer X", "Torpedo Boat X" and so forth where X was the series hull number as authorized by the US Congress. These designations were usually abbreviated as "B-1", "C-1", "D-1", "TB-1," etc. This system became cumbersome by 1920, as many new ship types had been developed during World War I that needed new categories assigned, especially in the Auxiliary ship area. On 17 July 1920, Acting Secretary of the Navy Robert E. Coontz approved a standardized system of alpha-numeric symbols to identify ship types such that all ships were now designated with a two letter code and a hull number, with the first letter being the ship type and the second letter being the sub-type. For example, the destroyer tender USS Melville, first commissioned as "Destroyer Tender No. 2" in 1915, was now re-designated as "AD-2" with the "A" standing for Auxiliary, the "D" for Destroyer (Tender) and the "2" meaning the second ship in that series. Ship types that did not have a subclassification simply repeated the first letter. So, Battleships became "BB-X" and Destroyers became "DD-X" with X being the same number as previously assigned. Ships that changed classifications were given new hull numbers within their new designation series.
The designation "USS" standing for "United States Ship" was adopted in 1907. Prior to that time, no designation was used in official documents. New-construction ships not yet in commission are currently prefixed with "PCU" which stands for "Pre-Commissioning Unit." In the United States Navy, unlike European Navies, the first ship in a class to be authorized by the US Congress is the designated class leader (class name ship), regardless of the order in which the ships of that class are laid down, launched or commissioned. For example, contrary to many European texts, for the last class of "Standard" battleships, the battleship USS Colorado BB-45 (commissioned 30 August 1923) is the class leader under USN designation standards, not USS Maryland BB-46 (commissioned 21 July 1921). These battleships are thus properly designated as being "USS Colorado BB-45 Class" and not as "USS Maryland BB-46 Class." The attachment to this Bulletin titled “USN Ship Designations” covers all designations assigned to date, what they stand for, and notes germane to their function, disposition, and conversion. The lists include many designations that are no longer in use by the current-day US Navy and others that were proposed designations not actually used or were intended for ships that were never built. Designations highlighted in Blue Font are for those ships actually in commission or currently under construction as of 2009. [Source: http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.htm Apr 2012 ++]
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State Tax Comparisons Update 04: Taxes on land and the buildings on it are the biggest source of revenue for local governments. They are not imposed by states but by the tens of thousands of cities, townships, counties, school districts and other assessing jurisdictions. The state's role is to specify the maximum rate on the market value of the property, or a percentage of it, as the legal standard for the local assessors to follow. The local assessor determines the value to be taxed. You can't escape property taxes in any state. But you can find significantly low rates in certain parts of the country.
 Most states give residents over a certain age a break on their property taxes. In some states, you'll need a relatively low income to qualify.
 Forty states provide either property tax credits or homestead exemptions that limit the value of assessed property subject to tax.
 All 50 states offer some type of property tax relief program, such as freezes that will lock in the assessed value of your property once you reach a certain age, or deferral of taxes until the homeowner moves or dies. They ultimately have to be paid. In addition, counties and municipalities often have their own property tax relief plans.
 Retirees with low incomes and high housing costs may face property tax bills that are higher than they can manage. Some states target property tax relief to those homeowners bearing the greatest burden. Property tax reform that takes into account a homeowner’s ability to pay, such as a so-called “property tax circuit breaker,” can better protect low-income homeowners from rising property taxes that accompany rising property values. Targeted property tax relief avoids sharp reductions in funding for locally provided public services and inequities based solely on date of purchase.
 A property tax circuit breaker prevents property taxes from “overloading” a taxpayer. Under a typical circuit breaker, the state sets a maximum percentage of income that an eligible family can be expected to pay in property taxes. If property taxes exceed this limit, the state then provides a rebate or credit to the taxpayer. Currently, of the 31 states and the District of Columbia with circuit breakers for homeowners, only six and the District of Columbia permit all households to participate in the program without regard to age.
 Other property tax relief strategies that may be used to target property tax relief include homestead exemptions which exempt a certain amount of a home’s value from taxation, credits to rebate a certain percentage of taxes paid, and deferral programs to allow low-income elderly homeowners to defer payment of property taxes until property is sold.
Property Taxes by County - Using data from the 2009 American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau) the Tax Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., has published figures on property tax paid by households on owner-occupied housing. It shows median property taxes paid on homes, median home value, taxes as a percentage of home value, median income for homeowners, and taxes as a percent of income. The table includes all 793 counties in the United States (excluding Puerto Rico) with populations greater that 65,000. The figures exclude property taxes paid by businesses, renters and others. The data can be looked at three different ways:
 Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Home Value, 2007 - 2009 (three-year average) http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/27095.html.
 Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Taxes As a Percentage of Household Income, 2007 - 2009 (3-year average) http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/27084.html
 Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Property Taxes Paid, 2007 - 2009 (3-year average) http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/27083.html
[Source: MOAA General State Tax Overview Mar 2012 ++]
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Tax Burden for Mississippi Retirees: 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 doesn’t necessarily ensure a low total tax burden. States raise revenue in many ways including sales taxes, excise taxes, license taxes, income taxes, intangible taxes, property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Depending on where you live, you may end up paying all of them or just a few. Following are the taxes you can expect to pay if you retire in Mississippi:
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 7% (prescription drugs, residential utilities, motor fuel, newspapers, healthcare services, and payments made by Medicare and Medicaid are exempt). Gasoline Tax: 18.8 cents/gallon Diesel Fuel Tax: 18.8 cents/gallon Cigarette Tax: 68 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Low – 3%; High – 5% Income Brackets: Lowest – $5,000; Highest – $10,000 Number of Brackets: 3 Personal Exemptions: Single – $6,000; Married – $12,000; Dependents – $1,500. For detail reefer to http://www.dor.ms.gov/info/faqs/IndividualIncomeFAQs.html Additional Exemption: 65 or older – $1,500 Standard Deduction: Single – $2,300; Married filing jointly – $4,600 Medical/Dental Deduction: Partial Federal Income Tax Deduction: None Retirement Income Taxes: Qualified retirement income is exempt from state income tax. Social Security is not taxed, regardless of total income. Retirement income from IRAs, 401s/403s, Keoghs and qualified public and private pension plans is not taxable. Interest income from federal securities and obligations of Mississippi and its political subdivisions are all exempt. Retired Military Pay: Retired pay is exempt. The exemption is also available to the spouse or other beneficiary upon the death of the primary retiree. Widows’ pensions received from the VA are not taxable. 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
Property and automobiles are both subject to ad valorem taxes – meaning that the tax is assessed in relationship to the value of the property. Single family residential property is taxed at 10% of its assessed value. All other personal property is assessed at 15% of its value. Motor vehicles are taxed at 30% of their value. The state offers a homestead exemption to all eligible taxpayers. Eligible homeowners should make application with the Tax Assessor in the county where the home is located. This application must be filed between January 1 and April 1. The maximum exemption for regular homeowners is $300. For homeowners 65 years of age or totally disabled, there is
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an exemption on the first $75,000 true value. You do not have to apply for homestead exemption each year. You should reapply if there were changes in your homestead status (marital, property, ownership, etc.).
For additional information, call 601-923-7631 or refer to http://www.dor.ms.gov/taxareas/property/main.html for city mileage rates.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax. An estate tax is imposed on the value of a decedent’s estate when the total gross estate exceeds the federal exemption of $1,000,000. The exemption amount will follow the federal exclusion under 26 USC 2010.
For further information, visit the Mississippi Department of Revenue site http://www.dor.ms.gov or call 601-923-7000. [Source: www.retirementliving.com Apr 2012 ++]
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Aviation Art:
Rising Into the Storm
William S. Phillips’ Rising Into the Storm places us just off the bow of the Hornet seconds after Doolittle’s B-25 has left the deck. The atmosphere moments before had been tense. While two test take-offs from the ship had been performed months earlier off Norfolk, VA, those aircraft were not fully laden with fuel, bombs and crew. Throttles at full power, flaps down and his B-25 straining against its brakes, the plane rattled and roared as Doolittle waited for the release from the flag man. When the signal was given, it was timed so that the carrier would be surging up on the crest of a wave as Doolittle’s plane left the deck. The joint velocity of the aircraft, ship and headwind pushed 50 knots. As Doolittle cleared the bow, a wind blast combined with the nose-high attitude they practiced, shot his
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Mitchell bomber sharply up in the air. He leveled out before stalling just as the mighty Hornet crashed back into the sea. [Source: http://www.aviationarthangar.com/avarthariins.html Apr 2012 ++]
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Veteran Legislation Status 27 APR 2012: For a listing of Congressional bills of interest to the veteran community introduced in the 112th Congress refer to the Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment. 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 on 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 http://thomas.loc.gov you can review a copy of each bill’s content, determine its current status, the committee it has been assigned to, and if your legislator is a sponsor or cosponsor of it. To determine what bills, amendments your representative has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on refer to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d111/sponlst.html.
Grassroots lobbying is perhaps the most effective way to let your Representative and Senators know your opinion. Whether you are calling into a local or Washington, D.C. office; sending a letter or e-mail; signing a petition; or making a personal visit, Members of Congress are the most receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship on veteran related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of veteran’s 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 on http://thomas.loc.gov your legislator’s phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate with a message or letter of your own making. Refer to http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html for dates that you can access your legislators on their home turf.
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Have You Heard? Submarine nostalgia
Tired of the daily routine of civilian life. Do you long for the good old days in the service. Here's some things you can try to do at home to once again feel like you are back on a boat .......
 Sleep on the shelf in your closet. Replace the closet door with a curtain. Two to three hours after you fall asleep, have your wife whip open the curtain, shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble “Sorry, wrong rack”.
 Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. When it goes off, jump out of bed and get dressed as fast as you can, then run to your kitchen with the garden hose while wearing a scuba mask.
 Have the paperboy give you a haircut.
 Every so often, yell “Emergency Deep”, run into the kitchen, and sweep all pots/pans/dishes off of the counter onto the floor. Then, yell at your wife for not having the place “stowed for sea”.
 Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot and allow it to sit for 5 or 6 hours before drinking. Never wash any coffee cups.
 Have a fluorescent lamp installed on the bottom of your coffee table and lie under it to read books.
 Put on the headphones from your stereo (don't plug them in). Go and stand in front of your stove. Say (to nobody in particular) “Stove manned and ready”. Stand there for 3 or 4 hours. Say (once again to nobody in particular) “Stove secured”. Roll up the headphone cord and put them away.
 Tag out the steering wheel, gas pedal, brake pedal, transmission and cigarette lighter when you change the oil in your car.
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 Every four hours, check all the fluid levels in your car and log the readings. Check the tire pressure and replace air lost from excessive pressure checks. Be sure to place red tags on ignition stating “DANGER: Do Not Operate” while you perform these checks. Inform your neighbor as to placement of the red tags, the results of the checks, and have him repeat the checks because he did not see you perform them.
If this is not enough refer to the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Submarine Nostalgia” for more things you can do to remind yourself of the good old days aboard a boat.
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"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is you end up being governed by your inferiors."
--- Plato (Greek philosopher | 424 - 348 BC)
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