RAO
BULLETIN
15 November 2015
HTML Edition
THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
Pg
Article
Subject
* DOD *
.
05 == Individual Ready Reserve [01] --------------- (Radical Plan Unveiled)
06 == Exchange Online Shopping [04] ------------ (All Vet Proposal Status)
06 == ID Card Expiration Date [01] ------------ (Action Required if INDEF)
07 == DBIDS [02] -------- (Retiree, Family Must Register for Base Access)
07 == Commissary Elimination [04] ------ (DoD Concludes Not Necessary)
08 == Commissary Funding [23] ------------------------------------- (Catch 22)
09 == OPM Data Breach [07] ----------- ($133.3 Million Contract Awarded)
10 == DoD Fraud, Waste, and Abuse ------- (Reported 01 thru 15 Sep 2015)
11 == DoD Lawsuit ------------- (Veterans Used In Secret Experiments Sue)
13 == Military Conduct - (GAO Releases Ethics & Professionalism Report)
13 == RP~China Dispute [13] ------------- (Carter’s Clear Line in The Sand)
14 == AAFES Mission Fulfillment -------------------------- (Status Sep 2015)
15 == GTMO Prison [01] -------- (Obama 2008 Campaign Closure Promise)
16 == POW/MIA [66] ---------------- (7 Oklahoma Crewmembers Identified)
16 == POW/MIA Recoveries ----------------- (Reported 150901 thru 150914)
* VA *
.
24 == VA Undersecretary for Benefits --------- (Resigns amid New Scandal)
25 == VA Bonuses [28] -------------- ($142M Paid in 2014 despite Scandals)
27 == Planning for Getting Older ------------------------- (It is Never to Early)
28 == Agent Orange Act Extension [01] ------------------ (Provision Expires)
30 == GI Bill [195] --------- VA Overpayments | 416M Uncollected in 2014)
32 == Gulf War Syndrome [35] ----------- (Mitochondria Cell Damage Link)
1
32 == VAMC Minneapolis [04] ------ (TBI Exam Doctors Names Withheld)
34 == VA Whistleblowers [36] ------ (Terminated Vet Employee Reinstated)
35 == VA Data Mismanagement ---------------------- (VA OIG Audit Report)
35 == Legionnaires Disease [10] --- (Quincy Vet Home Death Toll Now 10)
36 == VA Health Care Access [26] ---------- (Vietnam-Era Veterans Impact)
37 == VA Facility Maintenance [02] -------------- (Let VA Shed Real Estate)
38 == VA Choice Act [12] ------------ (GI Bill School Acceptance Provision)
39 == VA Vet Choice Program [24] ---------- (Program Is A Game Changer)
39 == VA Claims Backlog [150] - (VA Disputes 300K Died Awaiting Care)
41 == VA Suicide Prevention [27] --------------------------- (Research is Vital)
41 == Vets.gov -------------------------------------- (New Hub Coming in NOV)
42 == VA Construction Management Authority [01] -------- (Cost Overruns)
43 == SGLI/VGLI [14] ----------------------------------- (Beneficiary Updating)
44 == VA Medical Error Investigations -------- (Down 18% | Errors Up 14%)
45 == VA Whistleblowers [35] ----- (OIG Report on VHA HEC Allegations)
46 == VA Copay [13] ---------- (MN & WI Delayed Vet Copay Billing Issue)
47 == VA eBenefits Portal [03] ---------- (5 Million User Milestone Reached)
47 == VAMC Cincinnati [01] -- (New Technology | 5 State ICU Monitoring)
49 == VAMC Tomah [12] ----------------- (Director Mario DeSanctis Let Go)
49 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ------------ (Reported 01 thru 14 Nov 2015)
50 == VA Managers ------- (AFGE Report | Disruptive and Ineffective Tales)
.
* VETS *
.
51 == Vet Jobs [181] ---------- (Vet Unemployment Rate Drops to 7-yr Low)
52 == Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune [55] ---- (Presumptive-Disability Status)
53 == Don’t Ask, Don't Tell [13] - (Less than Honorable Discharge Appeals)
54 == China’s WWII Veterans ------------------- (Long-Delayed Recognition)
56 == Vet Cremains [31] -------- (6 Interred at Arlington National Cemetery)
57 == Vet Federal Employment [09] ------------------- (Vets Don't Stay Long)
59 == Burn Pit Lawsuit [02] ----- Taxpayer’s to Pay KBR’s Legal Expenses)
60 == IL Vet Homestead Exemption - (Expansion to 30% Disability Rating)
60 == Obit | Royle~Paul -------------------------------------------- (23 Aug 2015)
61 == Obit | Farmer~Edward, Jr ----------------------------------- (16 Aug 2015)
62 == Obit | Kuroki~Ben --------------------------------------------- (1 SEP 2015)
63 == Obit | Ingman~Einar H., Jr. ---------------------------------- (9 SEP 2015)
64 == Retiree Appreciation Days -------------------------- (As of 11 Nov 2015)
64 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------- (15 Nov thru 14 Dec 2015)
65 == WWII Vets 94 --------------------------------------------------- (Carroll~Al)
66 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts --------------------- (Pennsylvania 2015)
* VET LEGISLATION *
.
66 == Wounded Warrior Leave --------------------- (H.R.313 signed Into Law)
67 == NDAA for 2016 [16] ----------------- (Vetoed | House Passes Revision)
68 == VA Medical Marijuana [15] ---- (Veterans Equal Access Amendment)
69 == Vet Student Loan Exemption ------ (H.R.2874 | Taxable Income Issue)
69 == Cold War Medal [06] ----------------------- (Reintroduced as H.R.2067)
69 == Agent Orange Extension Act ------- (Time is Running Out | H.R.4323)
2
70 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress ---------- (150901 thru 150914)
* MILITARY *
.
74 == Military Separation Pay --------------------------- (Pay Back Provision)
76 == Military Compensation [05] ------------------------ (History Repeating)
76 == USMC Recruitment ----- (Arming Recruiters for Security Ruled Out)
77 == Gremlin Project -------------------------------- (DARPA | UAS Swarms)
78 == Women in Combat [01] ---------- (Most Combat Jobs Likely to Open)
79 == Women in Combat [02] ------------- (Time to Do Something about It)
81 == Space "A" Travel [19] -------- (Dependent CONUS Travel Approved)
81 == Navy Ship Designations ---------- (New E for Expeditionary Support)
82 == Remember the 80’s Navy --------------- (Things that No Longer Exist)
83 == RMS -------- (16 Years in Making | $706M Spent | Still doesn’t work)
84 == Military Enlistment Standards 2015 [06] ----------- (Military Couples)
85 == Medal of Honor Citations -------------------- (Guenette~Peter M. | VN)
.
* MILITARY HISTORY *
.
86 == Aviation Art ----------------------------------------------- (Into the Storm)
87 == Military Trivia 114 -------------------------- (Civil War Silent Sentinels)
88 == WWII Japanese Surrender ------------------------ (Eyewitness Account)
90 == Nuclear Attack ---------------------------------- (What it Would be Like)
91 == Military History ------------------------------ (USS Kirk | Fall of Saigon)
93 == Military History Anniversaries ------------------------- (16 thru 30 Nov)
93 == WWII Ads ------------------------------------------------------- (Camels (1)
94 == D-Day ------------------------------------------ (Omaha Beach Casualties)
94 == WWII Prewar Events ----------------- (Hitler Letter from Gandhi 1939)
95 == WWII PostWar Events --------- (Dumping Japanese Ammo Sep 1945)
95 == Spanish American War Images 76 --- (Memo of Ratification Signing)
96 == WWI in Photos 133 ---------------------------- (Debut of Tank Warfare)
96 == Faces of WAR (WWII) ------- (Washington DC Parade (4) May 1942)
07 == Ghosts of Time ------------- (Then & Now’ Photos of WWII Sites (04)
* HEALTH CARE *
.
97 == Tricare Webiner -------- (National Guard/Reserve Benefits | 18 NOV)
98 == Medicare Premiums [01] | 2016 ----- (Official Part B Rates Released)
98 == Weight Control ---------------------- (Walking Most Effective Exercise)
99 == TMOP [19] ---------------------------- (Express Script’s Drug Shortage)
100 == Drug Cost Increases [01] ------------------------ (Soaring Costs | Why?)
101 == EarlySense Monitoring System - (Reduces Mortality/Adverse Events)
101 == Legionnaires' Disease ------------------- (Prevalence and Transmission)
103 == Hearing Loss ---------------------- (Pharmaceutical Hearing Protection)
104 == Agent Orange & Bone Marrow Cancer Link ------ (MGUS Precursor)
105 == Sleep [01] --------------------------------------- (Crucial for Good Health)
106 == Computer Eyes ------------------------ (How to Avoid Negative Effects)
107 == TRICARE Coverage [05] --- (Covered Services Fact Sheet JUL 2015)
107 == TRICARE Prime Networks [01] --- (Metropolitan Area Users Sought)
108 == TRICARE Young Adult Program [10] ------ (2016 Premium Increase)
3
109 == TRICARE Flu Shots [04] --------------------------------- (New Flu Year)
109 == TRICARE Help --------------------------------------------- (Q&A 151114)
* FINANCES *
.
113 == Vet State Income Tax -------- (State-by-State Exemption Assessment)
114 == Credit Score -------------------------------------------- (Impact on Billing)
115 == Cola 2016 [12] ----------------------------------------------------- (Zero %)
116 == Military Pension Loans [03] --------- (Pension Poaching | Assure Act)
116 == AARP ------------------------------------------------- (Is it worth the Cost)
118 == ITIN -------------------------------------------- (How to Obtain a Number)
119 == Saving Money ---------------------------------------------- (LED Lighting)
120 == TRICARE Secret Shopper Scam -------------------- (DHA-PI Warning)
120 == Money Flipping Scam ------------------------------------- (How it Works)
122 == Fake Job Offer Scam -------------------------------------- (How it Works)
123 == Tax Burden for Wyoming Retired Vets -------------- (As of Nov 2015)
124 == Tax Burden for Louisiana Residents ------------------ (As of Nov 2015)
125 == Thrift Savings Plan 2015 ------------------ (Returns as of 13 Nov 2015)
.
* GENERAL INTEREST *
.
126 == Notes of Interest ------------------------------------- (1 thru 14 Nov 2015)
127 == World War I Memorial [06] ---------------------- (Central Site Lacking)
129 == Marine Corps War Memorial [02] ---- (Operation Home of the Brave)
130 == Westgate Resorts Vacation Offer --------------- (Free to 2500 Military)
131 == People Search ----------------------- (Public Information Search Engine)
132 == Brain Teaser ---------------------------------- (Grandma’s Birthday Cake)
132 == China’s Offensive Capability ------- (Parade Puts US Navy on Notice)
134 == Temple of Bir Destruction -------------- (Satellite Imagery of ISIS Act)
134 == Electric Cars ------------------------------------------ (10 Things to Know)
136 == Secrets of the Secret Service ----- (‘About Our Presidents’ Correction)
137 == Interesting Inventions ------------------------- (On-Demand Cup Holder)
138 == Photo of the Day ------------------------------------------------ (Swim Call)
138 == Photos That Say it All --------------------------------- (Lochnagar Crater)
138 == Most Creative Statues -------- (Reykjavik, Iceland | Unknown Official)
139 == Moments of US-History -------------------------- (Flour Sack Recycling)
139 == Parking -------------- (Revenge Tactic #7 against Inconsiderate Parkers)
139 == Superfluous Information ----------- (Stuff You Probably Do Not Know)
141 == Have You Heard? ------------ (Testicle Therapy! | Ba-da-ba-da BOOM)
141 == Brain Teaser Answer ------------------------- (Grandma’s Birthday Cake)
Note:
1. The page number on which an article can be found is provided to the left of each article’s title
2. Numbers contained within brackets [ ] indicate the number of articles written on the subject. To obtain previous
articles send a request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net.
*ATTACHMENTS*
.
Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 14 Nov 2015
Attachment - TRICARE Covered Services Fact Sheet 2015
4
Attachment - Pennsylvania Vet State Benefits & Discounts NOV 2015
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 Nov
Attachment - Retiree Activity\Appreciation Days (RAD) Schedule as of NOV 2015
TO READ and/or DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ATTACHMENTS or
PAST BULLETINS and ARTICLES Online REFER TO:
-- http://www.nhc-ul.com/rao.html (PDF Edition w/ATTACHMENTS)
-- http://www.veteransresources.org (PDF & HTML Editions w/ATTACHMENTS)
-- http://frabr245.org (PDF & HTML Editions in Word format)
-- http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/retiree-assistance-office.html (HTML Edition)
-- http://thearmysecurityagency.com/rao.html (PDF Edition w/ATTACHMENTS)
-- http://www.veteransresources.org/rao-bulletin (past Bulletins)
-- http://w11.zetaboards.com/CFLNewsChat/topic/10387883/1 (Index of Previous Articles as of 7/1/15)
* DoD *
Individual Ready Reserve Update 01
► Radical Plan Unveiled
A high-level Pentagon advisory board has unveiled a radical plan to bring the Individual Ready Reserve into the “total
force.” The IRR comprises young veterans who leave regular service after their first term, but by contract owe the
military a total of eight years — a backup force to be mobilized in a truly mammoth national security crisis. As such,
the military rarely makes use of the IRR. In fact, it has become so haphazardly disorganized that the services have
trouble even keeping track of many IRR members’ whereabouts. So the board suggests building a modern IT system
to better track these troops and their skills, changing laws on when and how they can be mobilized, formally attaching
them to Selected Reserve units, and more often tapping this pool of trained talent for short-term assignments in specific
job fields.
It’s the board’s bid to shore up an active-duty force that has been whittled down because of ongoing budget
pressure. But one critical talking point is glaringly absent from this initial vision: the fact that the vast majority of
troops purposely leave after one term of service to pursue educational or career opportunities as civilians. Yanking
them out of those post-service pursuits and back into uniform against their will — regardless of the fine print on their
enlistment contracts — would be like tossing toxic grenades of discontent into whatever units they were assigned to.
As such, any expansion of IRR call-ups must start from the premise that volunteers will be used as much as possible.
That would allow individuals between jobs, or perhaps on summer break from attending college on the GI Bill, to
choose to continue serving their country and earn a little extra cash — while allowing the services to avoid a morale
headache in the ranks. [Source: NavyTimes | 2 Nov 2015 ++]
5
*********************************
Exchange Online Shopping Update 04
► All Vet Proposal Status
The idea of expanding online exchange-shopping benefits to all honorably discharged veterans is moving closer to
reality, with all three military-exchange services supporting the idea. The Defense Department’s deputy chief
management officer is addressing the related issues, Army and Air Force Exchange Service CEO Thomas C. Shull
confirmed. Once the concept is approved, the online benefit could be rolled out to veterans within as little as six
months. At a session of the American Logistics Association’s annual convention 27 OCT, DoD Deputy Chief
Management Officer Peter Levine did not directly talk about online exchange privileges for veterans, but he did say
the department is looking at ways to expand the customer base in the military resale community.
The Navy and its Navy Exchange Service Command support the idea, said NEXCOM CEO and retired Rear Adm.
Robert J. Bianchi. There are details to be worked out, but “in general, we all believe we can get there,” Bianchi said
in an interview. “It’s a nice way to provide a version of a nonpay benefit to those who have served," Bianchi said. The
benefit would be for online shopping only; honorably discharged veterans would be able to shop at the Navy Exchange
website, Mynavyexchange.com, as well as the AAFES website, Shopmyexchange.com. While Shull has been the point
man on the idea, Bianchi said, “we’ve been working collaboratively." "Frankly, [veterans] would go back and forth
between [the sites] and have freedom of choice," Bianchi said, "And Veterans Canteen Service would continue to
have an online presence."
Cindy Whitman Lacy, director of the Marine Corps’ Nonappropriated Fund Business and Support Services
Division, said the Marine Corps Exchange is also supportive of the veterans online-shopping benefit. While all the
services, including the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, support the idea, “we still have work to do” with the Veterans
Canteen Service, Shull said. “We want to make it work for them, too," he said. VCS operates resale stores in Veterans
Affairs medical facilities. One reason the benefit hasn’t been rolled out already, Shull said, is concerns about whether
the AAFES website could handle the potential large wave of extra customers.
The website suffered myriad problems when it was relaunched a year ago, but those issues have been resolved, he
said. Shull noted that about 50 percent of online customers had complaints a year ago, compared to about 4 percent
now. Shull submitted a proposal to defense officials in May 2014, arguing that even if they don’t serve to retirement,
honorably discharged veterans should get this modest benefit to honor their service. He said it’s particularly
appropriate in light of the numerous wartime deployments over the past 15 years. “If I could leave with my team this
legacy, providing a benefit where all veterans could shop online — strictly online — I’d feel like I actually made a
real contribution,” Shull told the convention. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Karen Jowers | October 30, 2015 ++]
*********************************
ID Card Expiration Date Update 01
► Action Required if INDEF
In 2011, officials began replacing the Social Security Account Number, or SSAN, with a 10-digit number unique to
the Department of Defense on all ID cards. Retirees, their family members, and survivors with an “INDEF” expiration
date may not have replaced their ID card before and may therefore still have an SSAN printed on their card. DOD
officials are urging people who have an ID card with an “INDEF” expiration date to visit a DOD ID card facility for
a new ID card with the DOD ID number in place of the SSAN to reduce their risk of identity theft. Officials stress that
until an ID card with a printed SSAN expires, it remains valid and does not need to be confiscated or replaced.
In time, every ID card will have a printed DOD number instead of a printed SSAN. Family members and survivors
will have their own DOD ID number printed on their cards, not that of their sponsor. Because DoD ID cards will no
longer have the sponsor’s printed SSN, cardholders may be asked to provide it verbally. To find your nearest DoD ID
6
card facility, visit http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl or call the Total Force Service Center at 1-800-525-0102. To confirm
required documentation, refer to the Pre-Arrival Checklist at www.cac.mil/docs/required_docs.pdf. Note that the
nearest facility does not have to be an Air Force installation in order to serve Air Force retirees and their family
members. People should check with the issuing facility to verify appointment requirements and hours of operation.
[Source: Afterburner | Spring-Summer 2015 ++]
*********************************
DBIDS Update 02
► Retiree, Family Must Register for Base Access
The Defense Biometric Identification System, or DBIDS, uses scanning devices to manage access at most Air Force
installations. DBIDS verifies access privileges for cardholders through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting
System. Guards scanning ID cards will see a red or green display at the bottom of their scanner screens. A red display
will say “stop” to indicate why base entry is not authorized, giving up to 26 different messages. Besides showing if
access is authorized or denied, the scanner allows a gate guard to see a detailed view that provides more information
about the card holder. The photo of the card holder will be the image taken when the card was registered in the system.
The system also crosschecks information with the National Crime Information Center every 24 hours to determine
whether or not Department of Defense cardholders have any active wants or warrants. Finally, DBIDS also displays
installation debarments and law enforcement alerts.
Updates have been made which allow the majority of people -- active-duty and civilian personnel, retirees,
dependents, etc. -- to register in the lane of traffic without adding to wait times, according to Air Force Security Forces
officials. The system has been used to successfully enroll more than 5 million people, provide installation security
forces with over 4,000 wants/warrants, 9,000-plus suspended driving privileges and more than 500 debarments to
date, said officials. One issue with DBIDS specific to retirees is the expiration of the Department of Defense Form 2
(Retired). Although the expiration date on the front of the retiree ID reads “INDEF”, there is an expiration date printed
on the back of the card which coincides with the retiree’s 65th birthday. Retirees will be required to obtain a new ID
card after their 65th birthday. [Source: Afterburner (Courtesy of Air Force Security Forces) | Spring-Summer 2015
++]
*********************************
Commissary Elimination Update 04
►
DoD Concludes Not Necessary
Defense officials have concluded that a merger or consolidation of the military's commissary and exchange systems
is not necessary, said the official leading the efforts to find taxpayer savings in the department's resale operations.
"We believe we can get efficiencies without consolidation," said Peter Levine, the Defense Department's deputy chief
management officer, speaking to the annual convention of the American Logistics Association. Defense officials,
spurred by lawmakers' rejection of DoD proposals over the last couple of years to drastically cut the level of taxpayer
dollars that operate military commissaries, have changed the way they are looking at the stores, Levine said. Defense
officials had proposed cutting $1 billion of the roughly $1.4 billion annual commissary operating budget, a proposal
perceived as being driven by the need for money, rather than the need for reform. Exchanges operate for the most part
without taxpayer funding.
The thinking among DoD officials also has been colored by recent recommendations from the Military Retirement
and Compensation Modernization Commission and the Boston Consulting Group. Studies by both groups
recommended consolidating the commissary and exchange systems. However, both studies also concluded that DoD
can attain significant savings without reducing the benefit to the military community. Lawmakers were concerned that
focusing on cutting taxpayer dollars would directly result in a cut to the commissary benefit — the significant savings
7
customers enjoy in those stores compared to off-base grocery stores. Those taxpayer dollars, which cover commissary
operating costs, enable the stores to sell groceries at cost, giving military patrons an average of about 30 percent
savings over civilian stores outside the gates. Now, Levine said officials will "look for efficiencies first and let
efficiencies drive the budget, rather than the other way around."
Over the next six months, a new Defense Retail Business Optimization Board will review a number of
recommendations for efficiencies, looking at areas of common business practices, such as acquisition and warehouse
systems, and develop a plan for these savings, Levine said. The board includes the leaders of the exchange and
commissary systems. But legislative change also is needed, Levine said, including a more flexible pricing system —
also known as variable pricing — in which officials are allowed to raise prices on some items and lower them on
others. By law, items in commissaries now must be sold at cost, defined as what the Defense Commissary Agency
(DeCA) pays for the item from the manufacturer or distributor. Customers also pay a five percent surcharge at cash
registers, which is used to fund store construction and renovation.
Defense officials also want legislative authority to allow DeCA to sell its own private-label items. "It doesn't do
DeCA any good to do [that] under the current pricing system," Levine said. While a private label does require oversight
and marketing within the organization, the idea is that these items would give patrons another savings option, while
also providing DeCA some ability to make a profit that would cover some operations costs. Levine said officials also
are looking at ways to expand the customer base, but did not elaborate on that point. A proposal in the pending 2016
defense authorization bill would require DoD to come up with a plan to operate the commissaries without taxpayer
dollars by fiscal 2018, while maintaining the customer benefit. DoD has determined that the most that can be cut out
of the commissary budget by that time is $300 million, a little over 21 percent of the current annual operating budget.
"The only way to get $1.1 billion in additional savings is by reducing savings, closing stores or both," Levine said.
"My message is that we can't take that drastic step and expect to maintain the benefit." [Source: MilitaryTimes |
Karen Jowers | October 27, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Commissary Funding Update 23
► Catch 22
In budget cutting exercises, commissaries are often easy pickings for the chopping block. Critics say the $1.4 billion
Congress spends on groceries for military families could be better spent on other purposes. The almost 12 million
patrons authorized to use the commissary tell a different story. Being able to buy groceries at cost, with a five percent
surcharge, can save military families big bucks. DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, estimates that a military
family of four can save almost $3,000 a year. This year’s defense bill calls for DoD to figure out how to make the
commissary system cost neutral. The report, due in March, will look at how DoD can privatize commissaries while
keeping the same level of customer savings and satisfaction. It will also look at strategically closing commissaries in
markets with competing shopping options, and the willingness of commercial grocers to provide eligible commissary
patrons discounts.
If cutting funding without increasing costs for consumers seem like conflicting ideas, it’s because they are. It’s
unlikely that commissaries will be able to take the budget cut without passing the buck to shoppers. “The language of
8
the report establishes standards that are impossible to meet,” said Karen Golden, Deputy Director at MOAA.
Commissary patrons are particularly sensitive to price fluctuations. For many commissary shoppers, particularly junior
enlisted members without access to off base shopping, they are literally a captive audience. According to RAND, a
consultancy, “the elimination of the appropriation, while reducing the DoD budget, comes at a cost borne primarily
by those currently and formerly in the armed forces.”
RAND’s findings go on to note that increasing commissary pricing may have negative effects on retention and
recruitment, cuts to Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation programs, and possible changes in the calculated cost of
living adjustment. Previously, some national chains expressed willingness to provide discounts to military families to
match commissary prices. But to date, no major retailer has made good on the offer. After the report, DoD has the
authority to launch a two year study on privatization in five of the largest stateside commissary markets. [Source:
MOAA | Jamie Naughton | Oct 2015 ++]
*********************************
OPM Data Breach Update 07
►
$133.3 Million Contract Awarded
The Defense Department and Office of Personnel Management, in conjunction with the General Services
Administration, on Tuesday awarded a $133.3 million contract to Identity Theft Guard Solutions LLC to provide
protection services to 21.5 million OPM hack victims. Naval Sea Systems Command led the effort to select the vendor,
which does business as ID Experts. The company won the first task order of a larger Blanket Purchase Agreement that
preapproved three contractors -- including ID Experts -- to provide protection services in the event that agencies
experience future data breaches. GSA expects those contracts to be worth $500 million over the next five years.
Officer of Personnel Management headquarters in Washington
In a major shift since an earlier hack at OPM exposed the personnel files of 4.2 million current and former federal
employees, the Defense Department -- rather than the contractor -- will be responsible for notifying victims that their
background investigation information was breached. The Pentagon will cover the vast majority of the contract cost.
Beth Cobert, acting OPM director, said on 1 SEP those notifications will not go out until the “end up the month.” All
the notifications will come from .gov or .mil email addresses. The notifications from the last hack were sent out by
the contractor CSID, and the non-government address that showed up in feds’ inboxes created security concerns
among many of the victims. NAVSEA said in the original contract it may take up to three months to send out all the
notifications. Cobert said they will be sent out “as expeditiously as possible.”
The contract award has already been delayed several times. The last notifications will go out four months from the
time breach details were made public, five months from the time OPM became aware of the hack and 17 months since
the hackers first infiltrated the data. Cobert blame the delays on the painstaking efforts the government took to identify
all victims and protect their information going forward. Regardless of whether impacted individuals proactively sign
up for the protections, ID Experts will provide them with identity theft insurance and restoration services. Hack victims
will have to sign up -- at no personal cost -- for the other services the government is offering to them.
9
As part of that suite of services for victims -- who includes former and current federal employees, contractors,
applicants and family members -- ID Experts will provide identity theft monitoring for dependent minors of hack
victims. NAVSEA estimated this could include up to 6.3 million children. Even if the dependents’ names were not
listed on the SF-86 form at the center of the breach, the family impacted by the breach could opt to enroll children in
the services. Nearly one in four victims of the initial hack involving OPM’s personnel files of current and former
federal employees enrolled in the services offered to them by CSID. If that ratio holds for the larger second hack, as
GSA and OPM have speculated it could, ID Experts could be on the hook for providing protection services to nearly
7 million individuals. Those services will include:
 Credit monitoring and the delivery of credit reports from all three nationwide credit agencies;
 Identity monitoring, including but not limited to “monitoring of the Internet and monitoring database sources
including criminal records, arrest records, bookings, court records, pay day loan, bank accounts, check
databases, sex offender, change of address, and Social Security number trace”, and;
 Identity restoration, to assist the individuals in getting back to where they were prior to the identity theft,
with services including “counseling, investigation, and resolving identity theft issues.”
ID Experts will also have to establish call centers that operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for the first
six months following the award. Subsequently and until the end of the contract -- through December 31, 2018 -- the
call center must be open 5 a.m. through 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Saturday. The call center was a major
point of contention in the first breach, when CSID fielded numerous complaints from lawmakers and federal employee
advocates that wait times were too long and customer service was poor. This contract will require ID Experts to have
an automated response that allows callers to verify their identities using a touchtone device. [Source: GovExec.com |
Eric Katz | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
DoD Fraud, Waste, and Abuse ►
Reported 01 thru 14 NOV
Kettering OH -- An Ohio National Guardsman from Kettering accused last week of claiming thousands of dollars in
mileage reimbursements for area honor guard duty he didn't attend told investigators he was at the funerals secretly
observing the soldiers performing the services. He could not explain, however, how he performed a funeral at 10 a.m.
in Kettering, then traveled roughly 94 miles to Lima to observe a funeral at 11 a.m., and then drove another 94 miles
to West Alexandria to perform a funeral at 12:30 p.m., according to a report released Friday by the Ohio Inspector
General. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Daniel Edwards, 38, was indicted last week in a Franklin County court after an OIG
investigation concluded he billed for $10,852 in mileage reimbursements for 130 funerals he didn't attend. Edwards
is charged with the third-degree felonies of theft in office and tampering with records. Each carries a maximum penalty
of up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Edwards was a part-time Guardsman after a 17-year military career that included coordinating military funerals in
the Dayton area. When he moved to part-time in 2014, his sister took over the task of coordinating the funerals but
Edwards kept doing it, according to the OIG report. From September 2013 to July 2014, investigators found Edwards
claimed mileage reimbursements for 89 funerals that paperwork did not list him as attending. On another 17 funerals,
he was listed as attending but claimed mileage to a funeral farther away. And 24 times he claimed reimbursement for
mileage to a location where there was no funeral. Edwards told investigators that he was receiving complaints about
some of the soldiers on funeral details, so he went to the funerals and observed them covertly. He said he didn't tell
his bosses he was doing this because "It would never be authorized." He said the days he claimed mileage when there
was no funeral were probably days when he got a late call and rushed out to do a funeral by himself.
The OIG recommends that the Ohio Guard require additional documentation to better track the reasons why people
are claiming travel reimbursements, a daily vehicle log and a policy on inspecting funeral details. "We do take
misconduct very seriously," said Ohio National Guard spokeswoman Maj. Nicole Ashcroft. "The Adjutant General
10
(head of the Ohio National Guard) is reviewing and considering the recommendations that the IG made in the report."
[Source: Dayton Daily News | Josh Sweigart | September 9, 2015 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oNew York NY — A Texas man who prosecutors say was a secret agent who stole technology for the Russian military
has pleaded guilty to federal charges in New York. The U.S. Attorney's office says Alexander Fishenko pleaded guilty
8 SEP to a slew of charges, including acting as an agent of the Russian government in the United States. Prosecutors
say the 49-year-old led a conspiracy to obtain microelectronics and export the goods to Russia. The devices are
commonly used in missile guidance systems, detonation triggers and radar systems. Prosecutors say federal agents
intercepted transmissions from Russia's Federal Security Service that said it obtained the microchips from Fishenko's
company. Fishenko's attorney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Four others charged in the case
have been convicted. The other six have pleaded not guilty. [Source: The Associated Press | September 9, 2015 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oTravel Pay -- An Ohio National Guardsman from Kettering accused last week of claiming thousands of dollars in
mileage reimbursements for area honor guard duty he didn't attend told investigators he was at the funerals secretly
observing the soldiers performing the services. He could not explain, however, how he performed a funeral at 10 a.m.
in Kettering, then traveled roughly 94 miles to Lima to observe a funeral at 11 a.m., and then drove another 94 miles
to West Alexandria to perform a funeral at 12:30 p.m., according to a report released Friday by the Ohio Inspector
General. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Daniel Edwards, 38, was indicted last week in a Franklin County court after an OIG
investigation concluded he billed for $10,852 in mileage reimbursements for 130 funerals he didn't attend. Edwards
is charged with the third-degree felonies of theft in office and tampering with records. Each carries a maximum penalty
of up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Edwards was a part-time Guardsman after a 17-year military career that included coordinating military funerals in
the Dayton area. When he moved to part-time in 2014, his sister took over the task of coordinating the funerals but
Edwards kept doing it, according to the OIG report. From September 2013 to July 2014, investigators found Edwards
claimed mileage reimbursements for 89 funerals that paperwork did not list him as attending. On another 17 funerals,
he was listed as attending but claimed mileage to a funeral farther away. And 24 times he claimed reimbursement for
mileage to a location where there was no funeral. Edwards told investigators that he was receiving complaints about
some of the soldiers on funeral details, so he went to the funerals and observed them covertly. He said he didn't tell
his bosses he was doing this because "It would never be authorized." He said the days he claimed mileage when there
was no funeral were probably days when he got a late call and rushed out to do a funeral by himself.
The OIG recommends that the Ohio Guard require additional documentation to better track the reasons why people
are claiming travel reimbursements, a daily vehicle log and a policy on inspecting funeral details. "We do take
misconduct very seriously," said Ohio National Guard spokeswoman Maj. Nicole Ashcroft. "The Adjutant General
(head of the Ohio National Guard) is reviewing and considering the recommendations that the IG made in the report."
[Source: Dayton Daily News | Josh Sweigart | September 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
DoD Lawsuit
►
Veterans Used In Secret Experiments Sue
American service members used in chemical and biological testing have some questions: What exactly where they
exposed to? And how is it affecting their health? Tens of thousands of troops were used in testing conducted by the
U.S. military between 1922 and 1975. As one Army scientist explained, the military wanted to learn how to induce
symptoms such as "fear, panic, hysteria, and hallucinations" in enemy soldiers. Recruitment was done on a volunteer
basis, but the details of the testing and associated risks were often withheld from those who signed up. Many of the
11
veterans who served as test subjects have since died. But today, those who are still alive are part of a class action
lawsuit against the Army. If they're successful, the Army will have to explain to anyone who was used in testing
exactly what substances they were given and any known risks. The Army would also have to provide those veterans
with health care for any illnesses that result, in whole or in part, from the testing.
Historic images from the Naval Research Laboratory depict results of a test subject who was exposed to mustard gas.
The law firm representing the veterans estimates at least 70,000 troops were used in the testing, including World
War II veterans exposed to mustard gas, whom NPR reported on earlier this summer. Bill Blazinski has chronic
lymphocytic leukemia, which he thinks may have been caused by the military tests. He was 20 years old when he
volunteered in 1968. "There would be a guaranteed three-day pass every weekend unless you had a test," he says.
"There would be no kitchen police duties, no guard duties. And it sounded like a pretty good duty."
What sounded more like a vacation than military duty quickly changed, he says. In one test, doctors said they would
inject him with an agent and its antidote back to back. "We were placed in individual padded cells. And you know the
nurse left and I'm looking at this padded wall and I knew it was solid but all of a sudden started fluttering like a flag
does up on a flag pole," he recalls. To learn about what substances made him hallucinate, in 2006, Blazinski requested
the original test documents under the Freedom of Information Act. "It showed an experimental antidote for nerve
agent poisoning with known side effects, and another drug designed to reverse the effects of the firs," he says."
Researchers kept information about which agents they were administering from test subjects to avoid influencing
the test results. A lawyer representing the veterans, Ben Patterson of the law firm Morrison and Foerster, says that's a
problem. "They don't know what they were exposed to. You know, some of these substances were only referred to by
code names," Patterson says. Code names such as CAR 302668. That's one of the agents, records show that researchers
injected into Frank Rochelle in 1968. During one test, Rochelle remembers that the freckles on his arms and legs
appeared to be moving. Thinking bugs had crawled under his skin, he tried using a razor blade from his shaving kit to
cut them out. After that test, he says he hallucinated for 40 hours. "There were animals coming out of the walls," he
says. "I saw a huge rabbit and he was solid white with red eyes."
In 1975, the Army's chief of medical research admitted to Congress that he didn't have the funding to monitor test
subjects' health after they went through the experiments. Since then, the military says it has ended all chemical and
biological testing. Test subjects like Rochelle say that's not enough. "We were assured that everything that went on
inside the clinic, we were going to be under 100 percent observation; they were going to do nothing to harm us," he
says. "And also we were sure that we would be taken care of afterwards if anything happened. Instead we were left to
hang out to dry." The Department of Justice is representing the Army in the case and declined to comment for this
story. In June, an appeals court ruled in favor of the veterans. On 4 SEP, the Army filed for a rehearing. [Source:
NPR | Caitlin Dickerson | September 5, 2015 ++]
12
*********************************
Military Conduct
► GAO Releases Ethics & Professionalism Report
The Defense Department has failed to follow through on several key initiatives designed to reduce ethics problems
and poor professionalism in the military, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The
GAO found numerous examples in which top military officials evaded orders from Congress or highly touted Pentagon
programs aimed at reducing misconduct, especially among senior officers. Congress last year ordered the GAO to
conduct a broad investigation of the military's ethics training programs amid a spate of revelations about senior officer
misconduct in 2012 and 2013. That included a massive Navy bribery scandal, Army generals accused of sexual assault
and Air Force generals fired for drinking on duty.
The report released 3 SEP said the military has no reliable way to even determine whether misconduct or
unprofessional behavior is on the rise. "Our review found that the department's ability to assess department-wide
trends in ethical behavior is limited because misconduct report data are not collected in a consistent manner across
DoD," the GAO said. The report noted that in 2014, DoD officials said about 146,000 people received annual ethics
training, or about 5 percent of the department's total workforce. The GAO pointed to a 2014 order from Congress that
the military services take several actions to reduce sexual assault and the command climates that foster it. Those
included a requirement that incoming commanders conduct a "command climate assessment" regarding sexual assault
issues. The Air Force adhered to all the laws passed by Congress, but the Army, Navy and Marine Corps failed to
execute key components designed give the new law some teeth by requiring sexual assault command climate
assessments — or the failure to conduct one — to be noted in commanding officers' performance evaluations.
Another example was the push to make the top brass submit to "360-degree" evaluations, which include input from
peers and underlings and are widely used in the private sector as a way to improve leader effectiveness. In 2013, Army
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, issued a memo calling for all general and flag officers to undergo
360-degree evaluations. Dempsey also sent a memo to the White House and cited this effort as a way to address ethical
concerns. While the Army and Air Force have implemented the 360-degree reviews for all general officers, the Navy
and Marine Corps have in most cases failed to do the same, according to the report.
The GAO applauded a move by then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to establish a two-year, potentially
renewable, position for a senior adviser for military professionalism to oversee forcewide ethics and professionalism
programs. The appointee, Rear Adm. Margaret Klein, has launched several key initiatives, the GAO report said. But
DoD does not have information to track that office's progress or assess whether the new position should be retained
after its initial two-year authorization ends in March. The 2010 survey found that an above-average number of defense
employees believe "DoD rewards unethical behavior" and say they "fear retribution for reporting managerial or
commander misconduct," according to the GAO. The new report ultimately recommends that DoD make additional
efforts to comply with the laws and policies addressing ethical issues. The GAO also said military officials should
develop better tools for identifying ethical misconduct across the force and tracking the impact of prevention efforts.
The Pentagon agreed with most of the recommendations. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Andrew Tilghman | September 3,
2015 ++]
*********************************
RP~China Dispute Update 13
► Carter’s Clear Line In The Sand
Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in a speech billed as all about a new personnel approach for the Pentagon, laid out a
clear line in the sand of the temporary islands the Chinese have been building. He reiterated his “deep concern” about
“China’s pace and scope of land reclamation in the South China Sea.” Then he let fly with this apparently unequivocal
13
statement: “We want a peaceful solution to all disputes, but let me be clear: the United States will fly, sail, and operate
wherever international law allows, as we do all around the world”
But we understand from two well-informed sources that the US is effectively observing a 12-nautical mile limit
around the piles of coral, rock, and sand the Chinese have erected to bolster their claim to the waters inside their Nine
Dash Line. International law appears pretty clear that a country may not build a man-made structure outside of its
territorial waters and then claim sovereignty over the area. But how do we convey to the Chinese that we do not
recognize these islands without physically challenging them? As long as we observe a 12-mile limit, we may test
Chinese patience, but the US military is unlikely to directly challenge the Chinese rights to build them, let alone their
claim these structures are sovereign territory. Of course, it’s worth remembering that China isn’t the only country
building article islands. Vietnam and the Philippines have done the same as well in this region.
The then-new head of Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris, put the US case pretty clearly earlier this summer in
a punchy speech at the Aspen Security Forum: “China is changing facts on the ground…essentially creating false
sovereignty… by building man-made islands on top of coral reefs, rocks, and shoals.” (Refer to this State Department’s
study done last year at www.state.gov/documents/organization/234936.pdf for a frighteningly complete discussion of
China’s claims.). Sen. John McCain, an old Navy man with some familiarity with Asian issues, is closely watching
the Chinese and American conduct regarding these structures. As we recently reported, Carter did not bend to Senate
pressure to retract our invitation to China to participate in the next RIMPAC naval exercises, the largest such in the
world. Carter did say he “may modify our defense engagement decisions based on evolving circumstances.” It
wouldn’t be a surprise if McCain or others raise this issue again soon, once everyone returns to town.
The Obama administration clearly is balancing all of this very carefully. China is a major trading partner and could
lash out if prodded too sharply, as they demonstrated when Vietnam challenged them over an oil rig in disputed waters.
Are we ready to see an American or Coast Guard vessel rammed by the Chinese when we challenge that 12-mile
limit? [Source: Breaking Defense: Congress, Strategy & Policy | Colin Clark | September 01, 2015 ++]
*********************************
AAFES Mission Fulfillment
► Status Sep 2015
Contrary to what some in Congress say, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service provides a great benefit for all in
the military family and also paid a dividend of $224 million in 2014 to morale, welfare and recreation efforts for the
Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. In the past 10 years, the Exchange has provided more than $2.4 billion in
dividends to military programs such as youth services, family counseling and other activities that make life better for
military members and their families. “Roughly two-thirds of Exchange earnings are paid to the Services’ morale,
14
welfare and recreation programs, while the other third goes toward building new stores and renovating facilities,” said
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, the Exchange’s senior enlisted advisor.
In 2014, the Exchange opened a new shopping center and Express at Fort Meade, Md. In addition, Expresses were
opened at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio. The Exchange also opened one troop store in Moon Township, Pa., serving Soldiers, Airmen, Reservists and
Guardsmen in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Exchange support to the military goes beyond Soldiers
and Airmen. Because the Exchange operates at Marine and Navy locations, funds are also returned to Marines and
Sailors. The FY 2014 dividend of $224 million was distributed as follows:
 Army:
$125.3M
 Air Force:
74.1M
 Marines:
19.5M
 Navy:
5.1M
Total:
$224.0M
The Exchange’s mission of providing quality goods and services at competitively low prices while generating
earnings to support quality-of-life efforts means that the Exchange benefit is more than finding a good price on
merchandise. This structure ensures that shoppers who take advantage of their Exchange benefit at brick-and-mortar
stores or online are working to better their communities. “100 percent of Exchange earnings serve Soldiers, Airmen
and their families,” Applegate said. “When service members shop or dine at their Exchange, they’re investing in their
own community, making it a better place to live and work.” [Source: NAUS Weekly Update | Watchdog | September
4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
GTMO Prison Update 01
► Obama 2008 Campaign Closure Promise
Congress will use every tool in its toolbox to block the White House from unilaterally closing the military detention
facility at Guantanamo Bay, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ warned on 5 NOV. A day after the White House refused to rule
out acting along to close the controversial facility, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman said that it was
“disgraceful” that the administration would sidestep Capitol Hill. “It’s disgraceful, because I have asked for six and
a half years for this administration to come forward with a plan — a plan that we could implement and close
Guantanamo,” McCain told reporters off the Senate floor on Thursday. McCain himself has tried to close the Cuban
facility. “He lies when he says that he really wants to close Guantanamo with the cooperation of Congress, because
he’s never sent over a plan,” McCain continued. On 4 NOV, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that he
would “not take anything off the table” with regard to Guantanamo. Closing the military detention facility was a 2008
campaign promise of President Obama’s that remains unfulfilled.
The administration has transferred a handful of detainees out of the facility in recent days, which could be
interpreted as new momentum on the controversial issue. There are currently 112 detainees remaining at Guantanamo
Bay. According to reports, the White House is preparing to unveil a new plan in the coming days to close the prison.
“That plan should be approved by Congress,” McCain said on Thursday. “They’re going to try and do it by executive
order. You’re going to see attempts by Congress to reverse that, including [through] funding mechanisms.” Obama
vetoed a defense policy bill last month, partly because of language restricting where Guantanamo prisoners could be
moved. A new version of the bill — which kept those restrictions but reversed course on budgetary maneuvers —
sailed through the House on Thursday. The president has indicated he will not veto the new version over its
Guantanamo Bay provision. [Source: The Hill | Julian Hattem | November 5, 2015 ++]
*********************************
15
POW/MIA Update 66
► 7 Oklahoma Crewmembers Identified
The remains of seven crew members missing since the USS Oklahoma capsized in the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor
have been identified, the military said Monday. The names of the servicemen identified using dental records will be
released after their families have been notified. In June, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency began digging
up the remains of nearly 400 USS Oklahoma sailors and Marines from a veterans cemetery in Honolulu where they
were buried as "unknowns." Within five years, officials expect to identify about 80 percent of the Oklahoma crew
members still considered missing. The military says it started the project because advances in forensic science and
technology are improving the ability to identify remains. On 9 NOV, officials exhumed the last four of 61 caskets
containing unknown people from the Oklahoma. Many of the caskets include the remains of multiple individuals.
The USS Oklahoma leaves the Pearl Harbor drydock in this Nov. 27, 1944, photo. The ship was sunk at Pearl Harbor.
Families will have the option of receiving remains as they are identified, or waiting until the agency has
more pieces of a body or even a complete skeleton. Navy casualty officers will let families know their
options. Altogether, 429 men on board the World War II battleship were killed. Only 35 were identified in
the years immediately after. Identification work will be conducted at agency laboratories in Hawaii and
Nebraska. DNA analysis will be conducted at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory at Dover
Air Force Base in Delaware. More than 2,400 sailors, Marines and soldiers were killed in the attack on
Pearl Harbor. The Oklahoma's casualties were second only to the USS Arizona, which lost 1,177 men.
[Source: The Associated Press | Audrey McAvoy | November 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
POW/MIA Recoveries
► Reported 150901 thru 150914
"Keeping the Promise", "Fulfill their Trust" and "No one left behind" are several of many mottos that refer to the
efforts of the Department of Defense to recover those who became missing while serving our nation. The number of
Americans who remain missing from conflicts in this century are: World War II (73,515) Korean War (7,841), Cold
War (126), Vietnam War (1,627), 1991 Gulf War (5), and Libya (1). Over 600 Defense Department men and women
-- both military and civilian -- work in organizations around the world as part of DoD's personnel recovery and
personnel accounting communities. They are all dedicated to the single mission of finding and bringing our missing
personnel home. For a listing of all personnel accounted for since 2007 refer to http://www.dpaa.mil/ and click on
‘Our Missing’. If you wish to provide information about an American missing in action from any conflict or have an
inquiry about MIAs, contact:
 Mail: Public Affairs Office, 2300 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-2300, Attn: External Affairs
 Call: Phone: (703) 699-1420
 Message: Fill out form on http://www.dpaa.mil/Contact/ContactUs.aspx
16
Family members seeking more information about missing loved ones may also call the following Service Casualty
Offices: U.S. Air Force (800) 531-5501, U.S. Army (800) 892-2490, U.S. Marine Corps (800) 847-1597, U.S. Navy
(800) 443-9298, or U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5470. The remains of the following MIA/POW’s have been
recovered, identified, and scheduled for burial since the publication of the last RAO Bulletin:
Vietnam
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 1 OCT that the remains of three U.S.
servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be buried with full military honors. Army
Maj. Dale W. Richardson, 28, of Mount Sterling, Ill.; Staff Sgt. Bunyan D. Price Jr., 20, of Monroe, N.C.; and Sgt.
Rodney L. Griffin, 21, of Mexico, Mo, have been accounted for. Price was buried Apr. 11 in Belmont, N.C.; Griffin
was buried Apr. 25 in his hometown; Richardson was buried Aug. 29 in Mountain View, Ark.; and the group remains
representing the crew will be buried Oct. 20 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington D.C.
Richardson, Price, and Griffin, all assigned to 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, were
passengers aboard an UH-1H Iroquois (Huey) helicopter that was en route to Fire Support Base Katum, South
Vietnam, when it was diverted due to bad weather. After flying into Cambodian airspace, the aircraft came under
heavy enemy ground fire, causing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.
The Huey’s four crewmen and its four passengers survived the landing. One crewman was able to evade being captured
by enemy forces and later returned to friendly lines. The other three crewmen and one passenger were captured. Two
of the captured crewmen were released by the Vietnamese in 1973, and the remains of the other two captured men
were returned to U.S. control in the 1980s and identified. Richardson, Price, and Griffin died at the site of the crash
during a fire fight with enemy forces. Their remains were not recovered after the fire fight.
From 1992 through 2008, joint U.S./Kingdom of Cambodia (K.O.C.) teams investigated the site without success.
On Feb. 18, 2009, a joint team interviewed witnesses in the Memot District of Cambodia who claimed to have
information on the loss. The witnesses identified a possible burial site for the unaccounted for servicemen. The team
excavated the burial site but was unsuccessful locating the remains. From Jan. 16, 2010 to March 11, 2011, joint
U.S./K.O.C. teams excavated the area, but were unsuccessful recovering the crewman’s remains. In February 2012,
another joint U.S./K.O.C. team re-interviewed two of the witnesses. The witnesses identified a secondary burial site
near the previously excavated site. The team excavated the secondary burial site and recovered human remains and
military gear from a single grave. In the identification of Richardson, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces
DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, to
include mitochondrial DNA, which matched his sister. In the identification of Price, scientists from DPAA and AFDIL
analyzed circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, to include mitochondrial DNA, which
matched his brothers and sisters. In the identification of Griffin, scientists from DPAA and AFDIL analyzed
circumstantial evidence and used forensic identification tools, to include mitochondrial DNA, which matched his
brothers.
Dale W. Richardson Bunyan D. Price
17
Rodney L. Griffin
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to Navy Lt. j.g. Neil
B. Taylor, 26, of Rangeley, Maine, who will be buried in his hometown with full military honors on Sept. 14, exactly
50 years after the A-4C Skyhawk he was piloting crashed while on a bombing mission over Bac Lieu Province,
Vietnam, on Sept. 14, 1965.
Korea
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 9 OCT that the remains of
serviceman U.S. Army Cpl. Robert E. Meyers, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be
returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Cpl. Myers, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, will be buried 26
OCT, in Arlington National Cemetery. Meyers, assigned to Company A, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry
Division, was declared missing in action, Dec. 1, 1950, after his unit was involved in combat operations in the vicinity
of Sonchu, North Korea. The U.S. Army declared Meyers deceased March 2, 1954. In 1954, United Nations and
communist forces exchanged the remains of war dead in what came to be called “Operation Glory.” All remains
recovered in Operation Glory were turned over to the Army’s Central Identification Unit for analysis. The remains
they were unable to identify were interred as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii,
known as the “Punchbowl.” In 2012, due to advances in technology, the Department of Defense began to re-examine
records and concluded that the possibility of identification for some of these unknowns now existed. To identify
Meyers’ remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial
evidence, dental analysis, and chest radiographs, which matched Meyers’ records.
-o-o-O-o-oThe remains of a formerly missing U.S. soldier have been returned to California nearly 65 years after he is thought to
have died, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported. The remains of Army Cpl. Robert V. Witt, a 20-year-old
Bellflower man missing since the Korean War, were returned earlier this week to his sister Laverne Minnick, 82, the
paper reported. Minnick, who lives in Huntington Beach, told the newspaper: "I am so happy. He's going to be home,
where he belongs, with his family." Witt will be buried with full military honors at Rose Hills Memorial Park in
Whittier on Friday. In late November 1950, Witt was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 31st
Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said in
a statement. They were attacked by Chinese forces at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. On Dec. 1, 1950,
remnants of the 31st Regimental Combat Team tried moving to a position south of the reservoir, but the next day, Witt
was reported missing in action, the statement said. In 1953, during prisoner of war exchanges, repatriated U.S. soldiers
told officials that Witt had been captured during the battle and died from malnutrition. It's believed he died on Jan. 31,
1951. [Source: The Associated Press | October 25, 2015 ++]
18
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 13 OCT that the remains of a U.S.
serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Cpl. George H. Mason, 19, of Byhalia, Miss., will be buried Oct. 20, in his hometown. In
early February 1951, Mason was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Infantry Division, and was deployed
near Chuam-ni, South Korea, when their defensive line was attacked by Chinese forces. This attack forced the unit to
withdraw south to a more defensible position. Mason was reported as missing in action Feb. 14, 1951. On June 22,
1951, the People’s Republic of China announced in a radio broadcast that Mason had been captured by enemy forces.
In 1953, during the prisoner of war exchanges historically known as “Operation Little Switch” and “Operation Big
Switch,” returning U.S. soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war did not have any information concerning
Mason. When no further evidence supporting his capture was available, a military review board amended his status to
presumed dead. Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned 208 boxes of commingled human remains to the
United States, which we now believe contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war.
North Korean documents included in the repatriation indicate that some of the remains were recovered from the area
where men captured from Mason’s unit were believed to have died.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S.
soldier, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Cpl. Grant H. Ewing, 28, of Fort Lupton, Colo., will be buried Oct. 19, in his hometown. In
late November 1950, Ewing was assigned to Battery C, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (ID),
which was deployed north and east of the town of Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 25, 1950, 2nd ID was attacked by
Chinese forces, which forced the unit to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Before they could disengage,
the 2nd ID was forced to fight through a series of Chinese roadblocks, commonly known as “the Gauntlet”. Ewing
was reported missing in action during this battle. In 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as Operation
Big Switch, returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Ewing was among the
many men captured by Chinese forces and died in February 1951, in prisoner of war Camp 5, in Pyoktong, North
Korea. His remains were not among those returned by communist forces during Operation Glory in 1954.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of human remains now believed to contain
more than 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents turned over with some of the
boxes indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where Ewing was believed to have died.
To identify Ewing’s remains, scientists from the DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory
(AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, dental comparison, and two forms of DNA analysis including; mitochondrial
DNA and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA (Y-STR) analysis, which matched his brother.
19
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced28 SEP that the remains of a U.S.
soldier, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Sgt. Christopher Y. Vars, 40, of Chelsea, Mass., will be buried Oct. 6, in Everett, Mass. In
late 1950, Vars was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (ID), which
was deployed north and east of the town of Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 27, 1950, 2nd ID was forced to withdraw
south to a more defensible position after being attacked by Chinese forces. Before they could disengage, the 2nd ID
had to fight through a series of Chinese roadblocks, commonly known as “the Gauntlet.” Vars was reported missing
in action during the battle. In 1953, during a prisoner of war exchange, returning American soldiers who had been
held as prisoners of war reported that Vars was not among the many men captured and held as prisoners.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of human remains now believed to contain
at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents turned over with some of the boxes
indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where captured soldiers from Var’s unit were
believed to have died. To identify Vars’ remains, scientists from the DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and two forms of DNA analysis including; mitochondrial DNA,
which matched his cousins, and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA (Y-STR) analysis, which matched his
nephews.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 9 AUG the identification of remains belonging to Sgt
Wilson Meckley, Jr. He was assigned U.S. Army Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry
Division, North Korea on 12/2/1950 and reported missing on 8/9/2015.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 8 OCT the identification of Army Sgt. 1st Class Dean D.
Chaney, from Ohio, who was declared missing while fighting in North Korea on Nov. 28, 1950. It would be later
learned he had been captured, but died in a POW camp. He was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry
Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of Army Cpl. George H. Mason, who was
assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Infantry Division, died while fighting in North Korea on Feb. 14,
1951.
-o-o-O-o-o-
20
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 2 NOV the remains of U.S.
serviceman Army Cpl. Martin A. King, unaccounted for from the Korean War, have been identified and will be
returned to his family for burial with full military honors. King, 18, of Harrisburg, Pa., will be buried Nov. 9 in
Annville, Pa. In early November 1950, he was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st
Cavalry Division, when his unit was attacked by Chinese forces while occupying a position along the Nammyon River,
near Unsan, North Korea. King was reported missing in action on Nov. 2, 1950, while his unit was conducting a
fighting withdrawal to a more defensible position. In 1953, during the prisoner of war exchanges historically known
as “Operation Little Switch” and “Operation Big Switch,” American soldiers who were returned told debriefers that
King had been captured during the battle and died from malnutrition at Pyoktong POW Camp. His remains were not
among those returned by communist forces in 1954.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains,
which we now believe contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean
documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the area where King
was believed to have died. To identify King’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial and
Y-chromosome short tandem repeat DNA analyses, which matched his brother.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 30 OCT that the remains of a U.S.
serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Pfc. Frank Worley, 21, of Wilmington, N.C., will be buried Nov. 6 in Salisbury, N.C. On Feb.
11, 1951, Worley and elements of Battery A, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (ID), were
occupying a position in the vicinity of Hoengsong, South Korea, when their unit was overwhelmed by Chinese forces.
This attack caused the 2nd ID to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Worley was reported missing after the
attack. In 1953, during the prisoner of war exchanges historically known as “Operation Little Switch” and “Operation
Big Switch,” returning American soldiers did not have any information concerning Worley. A military review board
amended his status to deceased in March 1954. Worley’s remains were also not among those returned by communist
forces during “Operation Glory” in 1954.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains,
which we now believe contain the remains of at least 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean
documents included in the repatriation indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where men
captured from Worley’s unit were believed to have died. In the identification of Worley’s remains, scientists from
DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used circumstantial evidence, dental comparison, and
forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA analysis and Y-chromosome short tandem repeat DNA
analysis, which matched his brothers.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging Cpl. Robert P.
Graham, of San Francisco, who was declared missing in North Korea on Feb. 13, 1951. It was later learned he had
been captured, but died in captivity. He was assigned to Company A, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry
Division. He will be buried with full military honors on a date and location yet to be determined.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 23 Sep that the remains of a
serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full
military honors. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Reager, 20, of Coraopolis, Penn., will be buried Sept. 28, in Bridgeville,
Penn. On Dec. 1, 1950, Reager was assigned to Company C, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 31st Regimental Combat Team
21
(RCT), 7th Infantry Division. The 31st RCT was deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when it was
engaged by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. In late November 1950, remnants of the 31st RCT, known
historically as Task Force Faith, began a fighting withdrawal to more defensible positions near Hagaru-ri, south of the
reservoir. On Dec. 2, 1950, Reager was reported as missing in action. In 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange,
returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Reager was not among the many men
captured and held as prisoners. When no further information pertaining to Reager was provided, a military review
board later amended Reager’s status to deceased.
From April 28 through May 10, 2004, a joint U.S./Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea excavated several
secondary burial sites in the vicinity of the Pungnyu-ri inlet of the Chosin Reservoir, and recovered remains of possible
U.S. servicemen who fought during the battles at the reservoir. To identify Reager’s remains, scientists from DPAA
and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and two forms of DNA
analysis including; mitochondrial DNA, which matched his brother and two cousins, and Y-chromosome Short
Tandem Repeat DNA (Y-STR) analysis, which matched his brother.
World War II
Missing Medal of Honor Recipient Identified: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced the
identification of remains belonging to Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman, 33, of Knoxville, Tenn.,
who would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions fighting on the Tarawa Atoll in the
Gilbert Islands, Nov. 11, 1943. He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 18th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine
Division. His remains, and that of possibly three dozen other Americans, were recovered by History Flight, a Floridabased nonprofit organization that is assisting U.S. government MIA search and recovery efforts through an expanded
public-private partnership opportunity. The lieutenant will be buried with full military honors on a date and location
yet to be determined. Refer to www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who's%20Who/A-C/Bonnyman_A.aspx to
read more about Lt. Bonnyman’s MOH award.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 15 OCT the identification of Army Pvt. John H. Klopp,
25, from New Orleans, La., who was declared missing while fighting on Papua New Guinea on Dec. 5, 1942. He was
assigned to the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains belonging to Marine Corps Cpl.
James D. Otto. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division and was killed in
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action on Nov. 20, 1943, while fighting on the Pacific island of Tarawa. Cpl. Otto is being returned home for burial
with full military honors at a time and date yet to be determined
-o-o-O-o-oThe Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced 9 NOV that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, unaccounted
for since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Marine Cpl. Roger K. Nielson, 22, of Denver, will be buried Nov. 16, in his hometown. In November 1943, Nielson
was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which landed against stiff
Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several
days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded. Nielson was
reported killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943. In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S.
service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and
1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island,
but Nielson’s remains were not recovered. On Feb. 10, 1949, a military review board declared Nielson nonrecoverable. In June 2015, History Flight, Inc., a non-governmental organization, notified DPAA that they discovered
a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of what they believed were U.S. Marines who fought during
the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned over to DPAA in July 2015. To identify Nielson’s remains,
scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include dental comparisons, which matched Nielson’s records, as
well as circumstantial and material evidence.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 2 NOV that the remains of U.S.
serviceman Marine Pfc. James P. Reilly, unaccounted for since World War II, have been identified and are being
returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Reilly, 20, of New York, will be buried 9 NOV in Bushnell,
Fla. In November 1943, he was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division,
which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll, in an attempt to secure
the island. Over several days of intense fighting, approximately 1,000 Marines were killed and more than 2,000 were
wounded. Reilly was reported killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in
a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration
Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio Island, but Reilly’s remains were not recovered. On Feb.
10, 1949, a military review board declared Reilly non-recoverable. In June 2015, a nongovernmental organization,
History Flight, Inc., notified DPAA that they discovered a burial site on Betio Island and recovered the remains of
what they believed were 36 U.S. Marines who fought during the battle in November 1943. The remains were turned
over to DPAA in July 2015. To identify Reilly’s remains, scientists from DPAA used laboratory analysis, to include
dental comparisons, which matched Reilly’s records, as well as circumstantial and material evidence, and personal
effects recovered during the recovery operations that correlated to Reilly.
-o-o-O-o-oThe Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced 3 NOV that the remains of U.S.
serviceman Army Air Forces 1st Lt. William O. Pile, missing from World War II, have been identified and will be
23
returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Pile, 24, of Circleville, Ohio, will be buried Nov. 10 in
Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. On Dec. 23, 1944, he was assigned to the 559th Bombardment
Squadron, 387th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, and was deployed to Germany. Pile was the pilot of a B-26C
Marauder, with eight other crewmen onboard, which crashed after being struck by enemy fire while on a bombing
mission against enemy forces near Philippsweiler, Germany. Pile and his co-pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert Ward, were reported
killed in action. The other seven crewmen survived the crash by parachuting to safety; however, one crewman was
captured by enemy forces and was reported to have died in captivity. His remains were later returned to U.S. custody.
Pile and Ward were not recovered during the war.
In April 2009, a Department of Defense (DoD) team traveled to Philippsweiler to interview several German locals
who recalled an American war-time crash. The team surveyed the possible crash site. Between June 2010 and July
2011, two DoD recovery teams excavated the suspected crash site, recovering human remains and aircraft wreckage.
To identify Pile’s remains, scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used
circumstantial evidence and exclusion by mitochondrial DNA testing on a second set of remains associated with Ward.
[Source: http://www.dpaa.mil | NOV 2015 ++]
* VA *
VA Undersecretary for Benefits
► Resigns Amid New Scandal
Allison Hickey, the Veterans Affairs Department’s top benefits official and arguably the most polarizing figure in the
VA leadership ranks in recent years, abruptly stepped down from her post 16 OCT amid praise from colleagues and
renewed attacks from critics. The move came as House lawmakers prepared to subpoena her to discuss the VA’s latest
management scandal, allegations that senior managers abused a employee relocation program to gain questionable
promotions and bonuses.
Allison Hickey
As VA benefits chief, Hickey oversaw more than 20,000 employees and the delivery of benefits to more than 12
million veterans and their families. She is one of the last holdovers from former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s tenure,
often praised by top officials for her efforts to modernize the department and her dedication to veterans. “She has been
24
an exceptional colleague and an even better friend to me,” VA Secretary Bob McDonald said in a statement. “Her
commitment to excellence and service to our country is unquestioned.” But her work also drew intense criticism from
conservatives in Congress and some veterans advocates, who blamed her for management failings within the Veterans
Benefits Administration. In March 2013, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs
Committee, called for her resignation as the number of backlogged veterans’ disability claims ballooned to more than
600,000. American Legion officials later followed suit. The same critics have renewed those calls after reports
emerged about the relocation bonuses. A VA Inspector General report suggested Hickey should be investigated for
negligent oversight of the program, and Miller’s committee scheduled a hearing on the issue.
A senior VA official said those repeated requests have taken a toll on the 57-year-old Hickey, who worried she had
become a distraction to further reform efforts. But VA leaders stressed that her resignation was her own decision, one
that McDonald reluctantly accepted. They praised her steady leadership through an era of unprecedented VA
transformation that has seen the number of veterans seeking benefits rise dramatically as the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan have wound down. Since peaking in March 2013, the disability benefits backlog has fallen steadily each
month, to just under 74,000 cases in October. Officials have credited that 88 percent drop in part to Hickey’s
modernization push, trading piles of paperwork for more automated electronic systems. “She has done a tremendous
job rebuilding the morale of the VBA workforce amid some big challenges,” the senior official said. “She has been
both a leader and a shield for them.”
In a farewell letter to employees, Hickey called her four-plus years both a challenge and a privilege. “There has
never been a job I have been blessed to do that was so rich with purpose; no customer so honored to serve; no team
so amazing to work alongside as this noble mission,” she wrote. “But we aren’t done yet. There is more to do, and
that will take new, fresh thinking and energy from your next leader in VBA.” Principal Deputy Undersecretary Danny
Pummill has taken over as acting under secretary. Former VA Undersecretary for Benefits Allison Hickey was part of
the first class of female cadets to graduate from the Air Force Academy in 1980, and rose to brigadier general during
her 27-year military career. [Source: NavyTimes | Leo Shane III | 2 Nov 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Bonuses Update 28
► $142M Paid in 2014 Despite Scandals
The Department of Veterans Affairs doled out more than $142 million in bonuses to executives and employees for
performance in 2014 even as scandals over veterans' health care and other issues racked the agency. Among the
recipients were claims processors in a Philadelphia benefits office that investigators dubbed the worst in the country
last year. They received $300 to $900 each. Managers in Tomah, Wis., got $1,000 to $4,000, even though they oversaw
the over-prescription of opiates to veterans – one of whom died. The VA also rewarded executives who managed
construction of a facility in Denver, a disastrous project years overdue and more than $1 billion over budget. They
took home $4,000 to $8,000 each. And in St. Cloud, Minn., where an internal investigation report last year outlined
mismanagement that led to mass resignations of health care providers, the chief of staff cited by investigators received
a performance bonus of almost $4,000.
As one of his final acts last year before resigning, then-VA secretary Eric Shinseki announced he was suspending
bonuses in the wake of revelations that VA employees falsified wait lists to meet wait-time targets — ostensibly as
part of efforts to secure the extra pay. But he only curtailed them for a sliver of VA executives -- those in senior levels
of the Veterans Health Administration, which oversees health care. The agency has continued to pay performancebased bonuses to nearly half of agency employees, including in health administration, according to data provided to
USA TODAY by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. In all, some 156,000 executives, managers and employees
received them for 2014 performance. VA spokesman James Hutton said the vast majority of agency employees are
committed to serving veterans. “VA will continue to review tools and options in order to ensure the department is able
25
to attract and retain the best talent to serve our nation's veterans, while operating as a good steward of taxpayer funds,”
Hutton said.
That’s not good enough for Florida Republican Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House VA committee, which has
been investigating questionable VA bonuses for years. Miller says the most recent awards reflect a “disturbing trend
of rewarding employees who preside over corruption and incompetence.” He noted the agency paid more than
$380,000 in 2013 performance bonuses to top officials at hospitals where veterans faced long delays in receiving
treatment, including those under investigation for wait-time manipulation. “Rewarding failure only breeds more
failure,” he said Tuesday. “Until VA leaders learn this important lesson and make a commitment to supporting real
accountability at the department, efforts to reform VA are doomed to fail.” Miller spearheaded – and the House passed
– a measure last year that would have eliminated bonuses for VA senior executives for five years. But ultimately the
House and Senate compromised on legislation that still allows the VA to hand out up to $360 million annually to
executives, managers and employees.
Overall, the agency awarded $276 million in incentives in 2014, including retention and relocation payments,
rewards for saving money on travel and coming up with inventive ideas, according to committee data. The cash
bonuses of $142.5 million were tied to performance reviews. Employees were eligible to receive the lump-sum
payments for ratings of “fully successful” or higher. The payments ranged from $8 to as much as $12,705. Most were
more than $500. The average payout was $909. Here are some of the recipients:

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Tomah WI: The former chief of staff of the VA medical center there, Dr. David Houlihan — whom veterans
nicknamed the “Candy Man” because of his prolific prescribing of narcotics — received a $4,000 bonus in
December. That was nine months after an inspector general investigation report concluded he was prescribing
alarmingly high amounts of opiates. And it was four months after Marine Corps veteran Jason Simcakoski,
35, died of "mixed-drug toxicity" as an inpatient at Tomah after he was prescribed a fatal cocktail of
medications, including opiates. The inpatient pharmacist supervisor also received a $1,050 bonus in
December. A spokesman for the Tomah VA declined to comment. The VA moved last month to fire
Houlihan. A lawyer who represented him did not respond to a message Tuesday seeking comment.
Colorado. The flawed facility construction project in Denver was overseen in part by several VA officials
headquartered in Washington. Among them were Stella Fiotes, executive director of the VA’s Office of
Construction and Facilities Management, who received a $8,985 bonus; Dennis Milsten, an associate director
in the same office, who got $8,069; and Chris Kyrgos, former national acquisitions director, who took home
$3,800. VA spokesman Hutton did not address those awards beyond his general statement about the VA
continually reviewing incentive options.
St. Cloud MN: Chief of staff Dr. Susan Markstrom got a $3,900 bonus in 2014. She was cited in an internal
investigation report in January 2014 that concluded mismanagement led to mass resignations of health care
providers at the facility. The report also said she and other leaders oversaw a work environment where
employees were scared to report problems. St. Cloud VA spokesman Barry Venable said issues cited in the
report were in 2013 and that Markstrom is “an excellent chief of staff" whose "ongoing contributions to
patient care and safety are significant.”
Augusta GA: VA financial manager Jed Fillingim was awarded a $900 performance bonus. He drew
scrutiny from Congress last year after news reports revealed he admitted drinking and driving a government
truck to a VA meeting in 2010 and a co-worker fell from the truck and was killed. Fillingim resigned from
the VA after the incident but was rehired in March 2011, WRC-TV reported. A spokesman for the VA
Medical Center in Augusta, Brian Rothwell, said Fillingim is not employed there.
Phoenix AZ: Sandra Flint, now-former director of the Phoenix regional VA benefits office, received a bonus
of $8,348. Irate veterans confronted Flint at a public forum in August 2014 over a backlog of about 8,200
pending benefit claims. Included were 3,667 pending longer than 125 days. A spokeswoman at the office
could not be reached for comment.
26

St. Paul MN: VA benefits office director Kimberly Graves received a bonus of $8,697 for 2014
performance. A VA inspector general report issued in September this year concluded Graves improperly used
her authority to engineer a switch into her current post in October 2014. IG investigators concluded she also
improperly received an additional $129,000 related to the move. Graves pleaded the Fifth Amendment and
declined to answer questions at a House VA Committee hearing last week.
Hutton, the national VA spokesman, underscored that no top senior executives in the Veterans Health
Administration received bonuses. “The issues raised in your questions focus on challenges VA has faced in the past,”
he said. “(T)he department is working diligently to plan a foundation for the future that will modernize VA’s culture,
processes, and capabilities to put the needs, expectations and interests of veterans and their families first.” Miller said
the agency, if it hands out bonuses at all, should do more to ensure they don’t reward the wrong behavior. He also
wants the agency to take back bonuses deemed inappropriate after they are awarded. “VA loves to tout its bonus
program as a way to attract and retain the best and brightest employees,” he said. “Unfortunately, often times the
employees VA rewards with thousands in taxpayer-funded bonuses are not the type of people the department should
be interested in attracting or retaining.” [Source: USA TODAY | Donovan Slack & Bill Theobald | November 11,
2015 ++]
*********************************
Planning for Getting Older
► It is Never to Early
Over half of America's Veterans are over 65. It's estimated 70% of them will eventually need long term care.
Why Plan for Getting Older? It’s so easy to get comfortable with the “I’m going to live forever” mentality. But the
reality is that we all get older. We can’t predict the future. But we may be able to influence future decisions. The VA
can help – with Shared Decision Making and Advance Care Planning. Many of us work hard to protect our money –
how we spend it, where we keep it and who will get anything that’s left over after we die. But a lot more Americans,
including Veterans, leave many other issues related to getting older and elder care to chance. They don’t realize that
70 percent of us will need long-term care at some point. Most say they want to stay in their own home, but fail to plan
for changes that will make “aging in place” much easier. They stop focusing on wellness habits, even though research
shows that staying active, eating healthy, and sleeping well makes a difference.
A Veteran’s Story – It Was Time So, what can you do?
Consider Vietnam Veteran Larry Smith’s story. Larry lives in Salem, OR. and often travels to the Portland VA
Medical Center to receive care for his diabetes, vascular degeneration, neuropathy and a few other ailments. He
chooses to focus on living and not on his illnesses. “I know the day could come when I cannot make decisions for
myself.” Nonetheless, he knew it was time to make plans for the future. “I went to the VA’s website,
http://www.va.gov/geriatrics , to check out my options.” Larry feels better knowing what his options are for long-term
services and supports. “Nobody is ever ready to deal with this stuff, but the doctors have told me what I’ll likely have
27
to deal with. I know the VA can provide palliative care, which is what I want to help deal with my symptoms and
whatever it can do for my quality of life.” He’s not particularly close to his family. “I know the day could come when
I cannot make decisions for myself. I chose a close friend, Paige, who is about 15 years younger than I am to be my
health care agent. I talked over my wishes with her and filled out paperwork I downloaded from the Internet that took
about 20 minutes to complete. I’m confident that she’ll advocate for me, if needed.”
Know Your Options
More than half our nation’s Veterans are over age 65. Many Veterans do not know about all of their options if or
when the time comes. VA’s website for elder Veterans and their family caregivers details home and community based
services, residential settings, and nursing homes. It provides valuable Worksheets for Veterans and family members
to guide them in the process of making shared decisions with their VA health care providers and social workers. The
webaitte also has helpful sections on paying for long term care and well-being. Refer to:
 www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Shared_Decision_Making_Worksheet.pdf
 www.va.gov/geriatrics/Guide/LongTermCare/advance_Care_Planning.asp
 www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/Shared_Decision_Making_Worksheet.pdf
Shared Decision Making and Advance Care Planning Can Help
The goal of shared decision making is for you to get the services and supports that best meet your long term care
needs and preferences. You can use more than one service at a time. And you can change the mix of services and
supports you receive as your needs and preferences change. Advance care planning is the process where you identify
your values and wishes for your health care at a future time if you are no longer capable of making choices for yourself.
Part of the process is filling out a VA advance directive http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-0137-fill.pdf.
This is a legal form that helps your loved ones and doctors understand your wishes about medical and mental health
care. At www.va.gov/geriatrics/images/Advance_Care_Planning_Values_Worksheet.pdf can be found VA’s one-stop
website for aging Veterans provides a Values Worksheet to help you get started as well as resources
(www.va.gov/geriatrics/Guide/LongTermCare/advance_Care_Planning.asp) for talking with family members and
your health care provider. We all get older – it’s never too early to plan. [Source: Veterans Health | Sheri Reder & and
Taryn Oestreich |November 3, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Agent Orange Act Extension Update 01
► Provision Expires
The Agent Orange Act of 1991 (AOA) established a presumption of service connection for diseases associated with
Agent Orange exposure, relieving Vietnam veterans from the burden of providing evidence that their illness was a
result of military service. This law directs the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to periodically research and
review diseases that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure. Under the Act the VA was required to add
diseases the NAS found to have a positive association to Agent Orange exposure to the VA’s list of presumptive
service connected diseases. In early October, the House and Senate veterans affairs committees quietly allowed a
provision of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to expire. How significant that will be for Vietnam veterans and their
benefits is disputed.
Committee staff and the Department of Veterans Affairs agree the change has not impacted the VA secretary’s
authority to decide to expand the list of diseases presumed connected to wartime herbicide exposure. But veteran
advocates and at least one lawmaker suggest the change is intended to dampen VA cost risks and perhaps ease political
pressure on the secretary and Congress facing a potential tsunami of disability claims. That scenario assumes that a
final review of medical science will establish a stronger link between Agent Orange and hypertension (high blood
pressure), a condition that the Center for Disease Control says is so common it afflicts a third of the U.S. adult
population. VA had asked Congress to keep the Agent Orange law intact five more years. Rep. Timothy J. Walz (D28
MN), a VA committee member, offered a compromise, a bill to leave the law unchanged for two years, long enough
so its secretarial review requirements held during VA consideration of a final report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
of the National Academy of Sciences on health conditions associated with Agent Orange.
The VA committees declined to back these delays because, said a House committee staff member, under separate
law “the secretary already has authority to make such [presumption] decisions, and we felt he did not need to be
compelled by [the Agent Orange] law to do so.” The provision that “sunset” 1 OCT required the secretary to adhere
to certain standards and procedures in determining if additional diseases associated with herbicide exposure should be
presumed service connected. Vietnam War veterans diagnosed with ailments on the presumptive list qualify for VA
disability pay and medical care. The expired provision also set a timetable for the secretary to accept or reject IOM
findings and required him to explain in writing if he declined to add IOM identified conditions to the presumptive list.
Walz told colleagues at a hearing last week they effectively “allowed the Agent Orange Act to expire” and “it’s
altogether possible” the next IOM report, due in March, will support adding hypertension and stroke to the presumptive
list. Consequently, Walz said, “literally hundreds of thousands of people” will be able to point to scientific data
showing they experienced health consequences from exposure to Agent Orange. “And the pressure is going to be on,”
he warned.
Turning to VA Secretary Bob McDonald, Walz advised that if Congress doesn’t “have the courage” to respond to
the IOM findings, presumably with bigger VA budgets to cover the influx of claims, “they’re going to ask you. And
much like the Nehmer claims, it’s going to add to your work.” Walz was referring to a federal court ruling, Nehmer
v. Department of Veterans Affairs, which forced VA the last time it added conditions to its presumptive list, including
heart disease and Parkinson’s, to review all previously filed claims for these conditions and make payments retroactive
to original claim dates, or the date of the 1985 Nehmer decision, whichever is later. The scope and cost of this
requirement surprised then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, as he later conceded. It also exploded the VA claims backlog.
So McDonald told Walz he had made “a very good point.” Earlier in the hearing McDonald noted that disability
claims backlog still stood at 611,000 in May of 2013, but that VA finally had reduced it below 75,000. “If we add
another pre-condition and we don’t get the people to do it, the 80-plus-percent progress we’ve made on the backlog
will go away,” McDonald testified.
Walz sympathized, saying he might face a tough decision resulting in many new claims. McDonald said how
Congress responds would be key. “We prefer to do what’s right for the veteran, and then have you help us get the
people we need for the job,” McDonald said. No one interviewed was certain what the next IOM report will
recommend. Regardless of those findings, or the Agent Orange law change, the secretary still will have authority to
expand the list of presumptive conditions, said David R. McLenachen, VA deputy undersecretary for disability
assistance, in a phone interview 14 OCT. “It’s always good to have it straight in the law, set up clearly, what our
authority is regarding the Agent Orange Act,” McLenachen said. That’s why VA didn’t want the provision to expire
on 1 OCT. But the secretary still has general rulemaking authority that “allows us, even while these provisions are
expired, to add presumptions,” he said.
Barton Stichman, joint executive director of the National Veterans Services Legal Program, a nonprofit group that
fights for veterans’ benefits, said there is reason to be concerned that the secretary no longer is required by law to
consider IOM findings on presumptive diseases, that whatever he decides doesn’t have to be explained, and he will
have no deadline to decide. From a practical standpoint, Stichman added, any secretary will feel pressured from
veterans and support groups to act on IOM findings. But IOM did find “limited or suggested evidence of association”
between hypertension and Agent Orange in 2006, and while other conditions with the same degree of association
became presumptive, hypertension did not. About 2.6 million veterans served in Vietnam. Most are still alive. Current
law presumes that all of them have been exposed to Agent Orange. VA grants disability ratings of 10 to 60 percent
for hypertension, depending on severity, and the Center for Disease Control says high blood pressure grows more
common as any population ages. So will this secretary, or future VA secretaries, feel at least as much pressure from
Congress to hold down disability costs as VA budgets tighten as he does from advocates for Vietnam veterans?
29
The Congressional Budget Office apparently heard the same rumors as Walz about the next IOM report and
hypertension. Walz wasn’t available to be interviewed but a member of his staff said costs were a committee
consideration for not embracing his bill. In informal discussions, she said, CBO analysts had raised the specter of
added costs “in the billions” if the secretarial review provision of the Agent Orange law didn’t expire. Asked to
comment, a House committee staff member said, “CBO has not released an official cost estimate, and we can't
speculate regarding potential costs associated with a report [IOM] has not produced. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Tom
Philpott | 15 Oct 2015 ++]
*********************************
GI Bill Update 195
► VA Overpayments | $416 Uncollected in 2014
A newly released GAO report says The Department of Veterans Affairs is overpaying hundreds of millions of
dollars to schools and veterans under the post-9/11 GI Bill when students drop a class or leave school, letting $416
million go uncollected in fiscal 2014 alone. The program works like this: When a veteran enrolls, the
government sends money for tuition and fees to the school and begins sending housing and living stipends to the
veteran. If a student drops or fails to complete a class, the VA is supposed to scale back the benefits accordingly. The
student becomes responsible for any overpayments. These debts often come as a surprise to students because the VA,
which administers the massive education program for service members and veterans who served after the terror attacks
of Sept. 11, 2001, has not been clear about the rules, the Government Accountability Office found. “Because VA is
not effectively communicating its program policies to veterans, some veterans may be incurring debts that they could
have otherwise avoided,” auditors wrote. One in every four students getting GI Bill benefits — about 225,000 veterans
— incurred a debt to the government that averaged about $570, the GAO said. And more than 7,000 veterans owed
more than $5,000 to the government after they withdrew from school or continued to get housing benefits when they
shouldn’t have.
In most cases, veterans are responsible for repaying the debt resulting from government overpayments,
with schools responsible in a small number of cases. VA officials have recouped more than half of the overpayments
from fiscal 2014, but another $110 million from previous years is still uncollected, most of it from veterans. “Unless
VA expands its monitoring of overpayment debts and collections, it will not be able to ensure that it is taking
appropriate steps to safeguard taxpayer funds,” said the report, requested by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), the top
Democrat on the Senate’s government oversight panel. The wasted money is one piece of what the government calls
accidental “improper payments,” 90 percent of which are overpayments by federal agencies, from Social Security
checks to Medicare reimbursements to doctors. In a related report early this month, the GAO found that these
payments expanded in fiscal 2014 after declining for several years, reaching $124.8 billion or just over 3 cents of
every dollar spent by the government. The money has totaled $1 trillion since fiscal 2003.
Three-quarters of the improper payments come from three programs — Medicare, Medicaid and the Earned Income
Tax Credit — all of which are meant to help the elderly and the poor. Close to 10 percent of Medicare’s $603 billion
30
in outlays were improperly paid, and the error rate for the $65 billion earned income credit was 27 percent. The same
year, the VA provided $10.8 billion in GI Bill education benefits to almost 800,000 veterans and others.
Auditors found that these debts are magnified by a paper-based system of notifying students they owe money and
by porous oversight of the program. Addresses in the agency’s files often are out of date, so some students don’t even
receive notifications that they owe money and miss deadlines for disputing them. VA does not require veterans to
verify their enrollment each month, causing a “significant time lapse” between when veterans drop courses and when
the government learns about the enrollment change and can reassess payments.
The VA has taken steps to address processing errors through technology improvements, quality assurance reviews,
and training, the report noted. But it recommended that VA find better ways to communicate its policies to individual
veterans, notify them more promptly when an overpayment occurs and improve its system for verifying enrollment.
VA officials said they will pursue those changes, including expanding their monitoring of overpayments and
collections, providing more information to veterans upfront and developing a system for verifying veterans’ monthly
enrollment. The agency noted in a response to auditors that school officials have spotty attendance at training VA
offers in administering the GI Bill; the VA said it can’t force schools to participate. [Source: The Washington Post |
Lisa Rein | 2 Oct 2015 ++]
31
*********************************
Gulf War Syndrome Update 35
► Mitochondria Cell Damage Link
A new study could provide new clues for doctors struggling to treat a mysterious illness that has affected tens of
thousands of Gulf War veterans for decades. The study, done with Department of Veterans Affairs funding in
conjunction with Rutgers University, found that veterans suffering from Gulf War illness have damaged mitochondria,
which can lead to chronic fatigue, one of the main symptoms reported by Gulf War veterans. “The more we know
about the type of (damage) and the more we can characterize the mitochondrial damage in these veterans, the better
we can treat them,” said Michael Falvo, the study’s senior researcher and a faculty member of the VA War Related
Illness and Injury Study Center in Orange, N.J. “The symptoms are so diverse and vary so much person to person that
that’s been a challenging piece.”
Gulf War illness (also known as Gulf War syndrome) is a multi-symptom disorder characterized by chronic fatigue,
muscle pain and cognitive problems. While many believe that toxin exposure is to blame, and one study found a
possible link to anti-nerve agent pills -- toxic chemicals can damage mitochondria -- the exact cause of the illness is
still unknown. Falvo warned that while the study could help find better treatment, it was unlikely to uncover the root
cause. “If I was a veteran experiencing Gulf War illness, I would want to know, too,” he said. “This many years after,
that’s going to be a really difficult, if not impossible, thing to figure out.”
The study, undertaken by Falvo and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences doctoral researcher Yang Chen, was
based on blood samples from more than 30 Gulf War Veterans including about two dozen who suffer from Gulf War
illness. White blood cells were separated from the samples and researchers were able to study the mitochondrial DNA
for evidence of damage. These are preliminary findings and the study will continue through the summer, with
researchers hoping to present a final paper by the end of the year, Falvo said. A larger study will be needed to confirm
the study’s findings, he said. Twenty-five years after the U.S. sent forces into Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s invasion
of his oil rich neighbor, Kuwait, many veterans are frustrated with the pace of research on Gulf War illness.
According to a 2008 government report, at least one quarter of all Gulf War veterans have experienced symptoms
of the illness, and the Pentagon and VA were slow to publicly acknowledge it. Many vets are still fighting to get their
illnesses recognized as related to their service in the Gulf War. Ronald Brown, president of the National Gulf War
Resource Center, said he welcomes new research but similar small studies into the causes of the illness have rarely
received funding for wider research, leaving the findings to languish unproven. “We have piles of studies that show
promise that are sitting on shelves, collecting dust,” he said. [Source: Stars & Stripes | Heath Druzin | September 10,
2015 ++]
*********************************
VAMC Minneapolis Update 04
►
TBI Exam Doctors Names Withheld
In the wake of disclosures that unqualified doctors performed hundreds of brain injury exams at the Minneapolis
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs is now refusing to release the names of doctors
who performed initial traumatic brain injury (TBI) exams at other VA facilities across the country. Without those
names, it's virtually impossible to independently verify whether the doctors were properly qualified. VA policy states
that only four types of specialists, including neurologists and neurosurgeons, are qualified to make the initial diagnosis
of whether a veteran has suffered a TBI. KARE 11 News reported last month that, contrary to the policy, hundreds of
initial TBI exams conducted from 2010 through 2014 in Minneapolis had been done by unqualified medical personnel.
Vietnam veteran Butch Hamersma's medical records show his TBI exam was performed by a VA nurse practitioner,
not a neurologist. As a result of the improper exam, Hamersma was denied TBI benefits. That decision was made even
though records show Hamersma's skull was shattered in an explosion near Chu Lai in November 1968.
32
"Run over a land mine," he recalled. "Three days later I woke up in Japan." "First time I looked in the mirror I
thought I done got killed," he said. After KARE 11's initial report, a Minneapolis VA spokesperson acknowledged
that some veterans had been evaluated by doctors, "who were not specialists." In a written statement, Ralph Heussner
said those veterans were being given new examinations, adding "we greatly regret the inconvenience to Veterans who
returned for a repeat evaluation." In a form letter sent to veterans, the VA said only a "small number" of cases were
involved. But new records obtained by KARE 11 indicate the problem is more serious. In at least one case, medical
records show a veteran was denied benefits not once, but twice, after being examined by two different unqualified
doctors. "There's no excuse," says Twin Cities attorney Ben Krause, who handled the veteran's appeals. "The VA has
absolutely no excuse."
Butch Hamersma
Records detail the veteran involved suffered a concussion in 1958 on the USS Yorktown when a heavy metal hatch
smashed into his head and knocked him out. Years later, when the veteran developed a brain tumor, VA Neurologist
Khalaf Bushara concluded the old head injury "likely caused inflammation in the brain and the meningioma." He
wrote the tumor "at least as likely as not" was "caused by the inflammation caused by the traumatic brain injury" he
suffered on the Yorktown. But when the veteran applied for TBI benefits, he was given a TBI exam by Dr. Danny
Smith. Records show Smith is an osteopath – not an approved specialist. Dr. Smith concluded the veteran didn't have
a TBI. "Concluded he did not have traumatic brain injury when in fact he did," said Krause. "And it was clearly in the
record." When Krause filed an appeal, records show the VA agreed that Dr. Smith was "not qualified" to have done
the TBI examination. So they agreed to order another one. This time by Dr. Ephraim Gabriel who the VA claimed
was a "qualified TBI examiner." He also found, "no current clinical diagnosis of TBI."
But attorney Krause discovered that Dr. Gabriel was not qualified to diagnosis TBI's either. He is not one of the
four specialists required by VA policy. "And they had him conduct the exam anyway and drag my client through the
dirt," Krause told KARE 11. In effect, a veteran was denied benefits after exams by two different doctors who were
not qualified TBI specialists, overriding the findings of the VA's own highly trained neurologist. When he learned of
the situation, Dr. Bushara wrote a scathing memo about the "errors" in the diagnosis, saying that doctors Smith and
Gabriel had "failed to consult with an expert in the field that could have provided a competent medical opinion." "Dr.
Smith and Dr. Gabriel should never have conducted the initial TBI exam for my client," says Krause. After another
appeal, records show the Minneapolis VA finally had a qualified doctor examine the veteran. That doctor agreed there
was a TBI. Now the veteran gets more than $1,400 a month in VA benefits. "Had he just gone away he would have
been shy a $1,000 a month for the rest of his life," says Krause. "And that's the end incentive there, to save a little bit
of money."
KARE 11 News wanted to know how many initial TBI exams were done by the same two unqualified doctors. In
response to our Freedom of Information Act requests, the Minneapolis VA admitted that since 2010 they've done a
total of 127 exams. But that may be the tip of the iceberg. Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) says more than 300
veterans were impacted at the Minneapolis VA alone. To help determine whether the problem was widespread, KARE
11 and other TEGNA-owned television stations across the county filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
asking for the names of doctors who had performed initial TBI exams and their specialties. Although the VA originally
33
released information about Dr. Smith and Dr. Gabriel, the Department of Veterans Affairs is now claiming that the
names of doctors who performed TBI exams is confidential. In a series of FOIA denial letters, the agency wrote the
names are private information that won't "contribute significantly to the public's understanding of the activities of the
federal government."
The Department denied our request in spite of the fact you can find the name and certification of every VA doctor,
at every VA hospital, anywhere in America on its own website. What's more, as federal employees, every dollar they
are paid, including bonuses, is already public information. What's not known is which doctors performed the TBI
exams. The VA's ruling surprised some experts. "The presumption is for access," said Leita Walker, a Twin Cities
attorney specializing in freedom of information issues. She describes public access to government records as a
cornerstone of democracy. "There's an expression that sunshine is the best disinfectant, right? That if you can't see
what your government is doing, that there's an opportunity for corruption to arise," she said. KARE 11 and our parent
company TEGNA are appealing the VA's FOIA denial, arguing that releasing the names of the doctors who have
performed initial TBI exams will allow thousands of veterans and the public to determine how often exams by
unqualified doctors may have denied Veterans benefits and access to medical care. [Source: KARE 11 Minneapolis
| A.J. Lagoe & Steve Eckert | September 8, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Whistleblowers Update 36
► Terminated Vet Employee Reinstated
A Veterans Affairs Department employee who was fired for contacting his senator to report problems at the department
is back on the job this week after a two-year legal fight that ended with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel chastising
VA officials. The news comes amid continued criticism from lawmakers about VA’s treatment of whistleblowers and
commitment to fixing internal problems instead of covering them up. OSC officials said they hope the case will serve
as a warning to VA leaders and staffers to take such reports more seriously, and to follow the law. “The constitutional
right to petition Congress must be guaranteed for all Americans,” Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner said in a statement.
“Federal agencies cannot deny their employees this right even if it leads to scrutiny of their operations.”
In February 2013, disabled Army veteran Bradie Frink was hired as a clerk at the VA’s Baltimore Regional Office.
Since he had a pending benefits claim at that facility, officials opted to transfer the file to a different office for
processing to avoid any potential conflict of interest. But OSC officials said his benefits folder got lost in transit,
delaying his already year-old claim. After a few months of waiting, he asked co-workers and outside advocates to help
find the missing documents, without success. In June 2013, Frink reached out to Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) about
his missing files. Days later, her staffers contacted VA officials about his case. Before the end of the month, Frink
was fired for “failing to follow supervisory instructions, including using inappropriate methods to search for his claims
folder.”
OSC investigators called the reasons for the firing flimsy and found cases of more serious workplace violations
that yielded much less severe punishment. They recommended punishment against two Baltimore VA supervisors for
the move. Shortly after VA Secretary Bob McDonald took over that leadership post in August 2014, he promised new
protections for whistleblowers and punishment for individuals who retaliated against them. OSC officials said that in
recent months, VA supervisors have worked with their office to resolve Frink’s case, including back pay for the
months of unemployment, compensatory damages for emotional distress, and reinstatement in his job.
In a statement, VA officials said they are building a stronger relationship with the Office of Special Counsel to
meet those goals. “Intimidation or retaliation, not just against whistleblowers but against any employee who raises a
hand to identify a problem … is absolutely unacceptable,” officials said in a statement. Frink’s file was found a few
weeks after Mikulski’s office intervened. His claim was processed later that year. VA officials did not say whether
they have taken any disciplinary action against the supervisors. [Source: Military.com | Leo Shane | September 8,
2015 ++]
34
*********************************
VA Data Mismanagement
► VA OIG Audit Report
Bad data and poor system controls are compounding the backlog problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs,
according to a new VA Office of Inspector General audit. The audit substantiates allegations by whistleblowers that
867,000 records were marked as pending and that 47,000 veterans died while awaiting care. The backlog of pending
healthcare applications, veterans who died while their applications were pending, as well as purged or deleted veteran
health records and unprocessed applications, have all contributed to VA’s data mismanagement. Auditors specifically
looked into allegations of mismanagement at the Veterans Health Administration’s Health Eligibility Center (HEC),
the VA’s central authority for eligibility and enrollment processing activities. The HEC and four VA medical centers
process healthcare applications using the Enrollment System (ES), which receives data from an older component of
the Veterans Health Information System and Technology Architecture. “Enrollment program data were generally
unreliable for monitoring, reporting on the status of healthcare enrollments, and making decisions regarding overall
processing timeliness,” reports OIG, which substantiated that ES had about 867,000 pending records as of September
30, 2014. “These ES records were coded as pending because they had not reached a final determination status.”
Auditors also confirmed that pending ES records included entries for individuals reported to be deceased. As of
September 2014, more than 307,000 pending ES records, or about 35 percent of all pending records, were for
individuals reported as deceased by the Social Security Administration. “These conditions occurred because the
enrollment program did not effectively define, collect, and manage enrollment data,” states the report. “In addition,
VHA lacked adequate procedures to identify date of death information and implement necessary updates to the
individual’s status. Unless VHA officials establish effective procedures to identify deceased individuals and accurately
update their status, ES will continue to provide unreliable information on the status of applications for veterans seeking
enrollment in the VA healthcare system.” OIG also confirmed that VA employees incorrectly marked unprocessed
applications as completed and possibly deleted 10,000 or more transactions from the Workload Reporting and
Productivity (WRAP) tool over the past five years. “WRAP was vulnerable because the Health Eligibility Center did
not ensure that adequate business processes and security controls were in place, did not manage WRAP user
permissions, and did not maintain audit trails to identify reviews and approvals of deleted transactions,” concluded
auditors.
OIG provided recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health (USH) to address enrollment system data
integrity issues, enrollment program policy limitations, and the access and security of the WRAP tool. The report also
provided recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (OI&T) to implement adequate
security controls for the WRAP tool, and ensure the collection and retention of WRAP audit logs and system backups.
Further, OIG recommended that the USH and Assistant Secretary OI&T confer with the Office of Human Resources
and the Office of General Counsel to fully evaluate the implications of the findings of the report, determine if
administrative action should be taken against any VHA or OI&T senior officials involved, and ensure that appropriate
action is taken. The USH and Assistant Secretary OI&T concurred with OIG’s findings and recommendations.
[Source: Health Data Management | Greg Slabodkin | September 8, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Legionnaires Disease Update 10
► Quincy Vet Home Death Toll Now 10
At least 10 people in western Illinois have now died from Legionnaires' disease, after a state veterans home reported
two new fatalities among its residents. An outbreak first identified in late August after an initial case was detected
several weeks earlier has sickened 53 people at the Quincy home, nine of whom died. Four others in Quincy have
35
been diagnosed with the illness, one of whom died. Officials say those cases aren't connected to the larger outbreak.
The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs said 9 SEP that it planned to disinfect water systems at the veterans home
with chlorine after previously cleaning its hot water tanks and air conditioning system and shutting down decorative
and drinking water fountains and other potential sources of aerosolized water. Residents at the facility continue to rely
on bottled water and sponge baths as a precaution. The disease is mostly contracted through inhaling bacteria —
transmitted in mist or vapor — that thrives in warm water.
An epidemiological team from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remains at the 129-year-old
facility to assist an investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The source of the outbreak remains
undetermined. Ryan Yantis, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, said the age and size of the
sprawling state complex has "posed a very complex set of challenges" to both determine the source of the infectious
disease and to prevent its spread. The facility consists of 48 separate buildings on more than 200 acres, with 400
residents spread across eight buildings. Of the two new deaths reported, one occurred Wednesday. The other involved
a previous fatality that was added to the death toll after test results confirmed Legionnaires' on 8 SEP. An average of
200 people in Illinois are sickened from the disease each year, and CDC officials have said that the a spate of outbreaks
in Illinois, California and New York so far this year is not unusual — although the number of patients involved is
larger than that typically seen.
Melaney Arnold, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health, suggested that the handful of cases
not related to the veterans home outbreak could be due to "heightened awareness" among doctors who otherwise might
have attributed their patients' sicknesses to pneumonia. The vast majority of those sickened by Legionnaires' disease
in Quincy have been elderly and had underlying medical conditions that increased their risk of exposure to the
Legionella bacteria. Shay Drummond, director of clinical and environmental services for Adams County, said the
average age of those who died is 88. Officials said that most of those who were sickened at the veterans home — and
all of those who died — were residents, not employees. [Source: The Associated Press | Alan Scher | September 9,
2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Health Care Access Update 26
► Vietnam-Era Veterans Impact
The latest challenges facing the Veterans Affairs Department stem in part from a surge in health care needs and claims
from Vietnam-era veterans, the agency's top official said. "The problems of the VA in 2014 were not because of
Afghanistan and Iraq," VA Secretary Robert McDonald said on Wednesday during a speech in Washington, D.C. "We
have Vietnam-era veterans qualifying for issues that we didn't even know how to define during the Vietnam War."
The department last year was plagued by reports of falsified documents and wait times at facilities so long that veterans
died before receiving care. A recent IG report indicated some 300,000 veterans with pending enrollment applications
were reported as deceased, but VA officials said that figure doesn't indicate they went without medical care or died
while actively seeking enrollment into the VA system.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald speaks at a news conference at the Veterans Affairs Department in Washington,
Monday, Sept. 8, 2014.
36
Regardless, the wait list scandal and other issues forced the resignation of former VA Eric Shinseki and provided
fodder for lawmakers such as Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who want to change the law so more veterans can seek
treatment outside the VA system. Disability claims filed with the agency are anticipated to hit 1.44 million in 2017 –
an almost 50 percent increase from 2009, when they were at 1 million, McDonald said in remarks at the annual Military
Officers Association of America (MOAA) Warrior Family Symposium in Washington, D.C. About 10 million
veterans will be over age 65 in 2017, he said. "People are 10 times more likely to survive the battlefield today, but
because you survive with much more catastrophic injuries," he said. "If we don't build the capability today, where are
we going to be 20 years from now, 30 years from now, 40 years from now as the veterans who fought in Iraq and
Afghanistan age?" The VA announced last month that it has reduced its claim backlog to less than 100,000 from its
peak at more than 600,000 in 2013.
McDonald warned if lawmakers don't fund the VA in fiscal 2016 at the requested amount of about $168 billion,
the agency will be underprepared the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The U.S. House of Representatives and
Senate passed spending bills funding the department at well under that amount. House lawmakers passed a bill funding
the VA at $163.2 billion, while the Senate agreed on $163.7 billion. The final 2016 funding level, which will be
decided in conference, is anticipated to be announced by lawmakers this month before heading to the President's desk
for his signature. [Source: Military.com | Amy Bushatz | September 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Facility Maintenance Update 02
► Let VA Shed Real Estate
The Veterans Affairs Department could save $25 million a year if it closed outdated and unused facilities, the VA's
leader said 9 SEP. As part of an ongoing lobbying effort to gain more budget flexibility, VA Secretary
Robert McDonald has been pressing Congress for permission to dispose of 10 million square feet of space that the
department doesn’t use or thinks it does not need. At a military and family forum in Washington, D.C., McDonald
asked veterans and military advocates to support the effort, which he said faces an uphill battle from lawmakers. “We
need Congress to get the courage to allow us to close these spaces so we can make better use of the money we have,”
McDonald said. The VA’s inventory includes hundreds of historic, aging or blighted buildings. Among those popular
with veterans is the historic Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs, South Dakota, a facility that once served Civil
War veterans of the battles of Gettysburg and Antietam and is part of the VA Black Hills Health Care System. But
other buildings, like a former quartermaster’s office in Minneapolis, have been vacant for years and fallen into
disrepair.
The sun brightens a hallway at Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a historic VA facility in Hot Springs, S.D., which the VA
would like to close.
According to VA, it has 336 buildings that are vacant or less than half-occupied. The money it takes to manage
these properties — $25 million — could hire 200 registered nurses or pay for nearly 150,000 primary care visits and
more. But proposing to close buildings is a tough sell. "Members of Congress and others don’t like us to close things
in their geographic regions,” McDonald said. In a hearing earlier this year, Florida Rep. Corrine Brown, the senior
Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, voiced the reticence felt by many lawmakers about shuttering
VA facilities. But she also expressed support for a concept similar to a base realignment and closure plan. “We support
37
closing some of the VA facilities ... just as long as you don't close any in Florida,” she joked. “That's kind of the
mentality of the members of Congress. So as we work through it, we've got to keep in mind, it is a team effort.”
McDonald has pressed for more flexibility, not only to control VA real estate but also to shift money between
programs, to cover a budget crunch related to increases in medical costs and disability claims as well to support
new construction and hire more personnel. In the past year, the VA has added 1,100 physicians, 3,500 nurses and
increased office hours at some facilities by 12 percent, to include nights and weekends, according to the VA. But the
department needs resources to build additional capacity and ensure it will be prepared to care for Afghanistan and Iraq
veterans in the future, McDonald said. "VA is the canary in the coal mine," he said. "We see the problems with
American medicine before the rest of the country because we are the largest integrated health care system in the
country. We see the effects of the aging population before everyone else and need to get ahead of this now.” [Source:
MilitaryTimes | Patricia Kime | September 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Choice Act Update 12
► GI Bill School Acceptance Provision
The Department of Veterans' Affairs announced that 45 states and several territories are now compliant with the
provision of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“the Choice Act”) that affects students
using the Post-9/11 GI Bill®and Montgomery GI Bill. Section 702 of the Choice Act requires VA to disapprove
programs at public colleges for Post-9/11 GI Bill and MGIB benefits that don’t provide the resident-rate tuition and
fee charges to covered individuals. The disapproval applies to any terms beginning after July 1, 2015. This change
affects thousands of Post-9/11 GI Bill and MGIB – AD students. To remain approved for VA’s GI Bill programs,
schools must charge in-state tuition and fee amounts to those covered by this law.
Last May Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Bob McDonald decided to exercise his waiver authority
and grant more time for states and territories to comply. Now nearly 5,000 public schools, covering nearly 93% of the
GI Bill student population, are participating. Now, that doesn’t mean that all of their students will qualify; the school
still has to verify that someone is a covered individual. But it does demonstrate the breadth and depth of the progress
that has been made. The remaining few non-compliant states and territories have until December 31, 2015, to comply,
thanks to the Secretary’s waiver. All of them have indicated they intend to comply. You can read more about the
resident-rate requirements of the Choice Act by visiting our website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/702.asp .
There you can also track the latest compliance status by state, territory, and school on the site’s compliance map.
[Source: TREA News for the Enlisted | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
38
VA Vet Choice Program Update 24
► Program Is A Game Changer
The Veterans Choice program is a game changer in providing health services for veterans, with more seeking treatment
— and getting it — rather than languishing on waitlists, the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee said
9 SEP. Addressing a military and family symposium hosted by the Military Officers Association of America in
Washington, D.C., Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) said 7.5 million more medical appointments have been made under
the VA Choice program this year than last. But he warned that VA Choice needs time to work and chastised veterans
groups who oppose it because they see it as a step toward privatizing VA health services. “A lot of people have said
VA Choice is a cop-out," Isakson said. "But you just don’t provide health care to 6.5 million veterans by snapping
your fingers. We don’t have the money in the federal government to provide all the health care to veterans if we
wanted to. We have to empower the private sector through programs that work."
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chastised veterans groups who oppose VA Choice because they see it as a step toward
privatizing VA health services.
VA Choice was launched earlier this year to provide health care to veterans by letting them see a private doctor if
they live more than 40 miles from a VA health facility or cannot get an appointment at a VA clinic or hospital within
30 days. But its rollout has faced challenges: Veterans who live within a 40-mile radius of a clinic often must still
travel long distances to reach a VA facility that provides specialty care. Veterans in rural, sparsely populated areas
also face challenges finding a doctor who knows the program; in Alaska, for example, many vets are going without
care, according to Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) "It's been nothing less than an unmitigated failure," Sullivan said during
a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee field hearing 25 AG. Veterans groups have said that privatization of VA health
care will be a major talking point in the upcoming fiscal year and in the runup to the 2016 election.
Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson proposed last month that VA health care be eliminated in favor
of providing vouchers to veterans for private care, and combining VA services with Tricare, the Defense Department’s
health program. Isakson said VA Choice needs “time to work,” but added that the program, which last year received
$10 billion in funding intended to last through 2017, along with health care provided at VA facilities, has “a long way
to go” to reach the goal of providing seamless, quality care to veterans. He also said the VA faces several challenges
in preparing for the long-term care of post-9/11 veterans, to include improving health services for female veterans,
mental health treatment, substance abuse, and pain management. He pledged that Congress, VA, veterans groups and
the private sector would work together to ensure that VA has the funding and oversight it needs to get the job done.
"We are making progress. We are a long ways from where we want to go, but we are getting there," he said. [Source:
Military.com | Patricia Kime | September 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Claims Backlog Update 150
► VA Disputes 300,000 Died Awaiting Care
The Veterans Affairs Department is rejecting reports that 300,000 veterans likely died while awaiting care, even
though the figure came from its own inspector general. The number reflects the number of veterans with pending
enrollment applications that the Social Security Administration reports as deceased -- but nothing indicates they went
39
without medical care or died while actively seeking enrollment into the VA system, according to a senior official with
the department’s Veterans Health Administration. “[The IG] could not determine specifically how many pending
records represent veterans who applied for health care benefits or when they may have applied,” Acting Deputy Under
Secretary for Health for Operations and Management Janet Murphy said in an official VA blog post on 27 AUG.
Lawmakers cited the figure as further evidence of mismanagement at the VA, which has been rocked by a series
of scandals over the past few years, notably reports that many hospitals kept secret wait lists to conceal the fact that
so many veterans were stuck in the system and unable to receive treatment. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said the IG
report is evidence that veterans should be able to get their health care needs met anywhere and not be tied to the VA
system. “It is absolutely clear that the way ahead for reform of the VA must be to empower all veterans to immediately
get the care they need where and when they need it -- regardless of the location -- and never allow bureaucrats to deny
our nation’s heroes the benefits they deserve,” he said. Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI) called the IG findings “outrageous
and ... tragic.” “The endless amount of probing and investigations that it takes before the VA finally reveals the truth
about the mismanagement that is occurring has got to stop now,” said Benishek, who spent 20 years as a doctor with
the VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
But according to Murphy, the department official, the lawmakers and the media reports based on the IG findings
aren’t accurate. Some of the veterans could have applied for health care years ago and gone on to get care outside the
VA. Murphy said the department does not have the authority to remove a claim from pending status even if they
attempt, but fail, to contact the veteran. For that reason, any number of applications for care could remain in the
system, regardless of when it went in and whether the individual is alive or deceased. Murphy did concede that its
own system is the reason the IG was not able to say exactly how many pending records represented veterans who
applied for health care benefits or when they applied, calling it “data weaknesses within our system which we are
working hard to improve.”
Applications stay in pending status if they’re not complete, if a veteran’s record is transferred into the system even
though he or she may not have initiated enrollment, or if a veteran accessed VA care prior to 1998, according to
Murphy. She also said that the veterans with pending applications are not already enrolled in VA health care, so that
it’s a mistake to think that of the deceased had been department patients or enrollees. She criticized media reports
suggesting otherwise, saying “VA has repeatedly pointed this out to inquiring media.” Author Kelly Kennedy, a Gulf
War veteran and former reporter who now writes on veterans’ issues for the law firm Bergmann & Moore, which
specializes in veterans’ cases, responded to Murphy’s blog posting on her own site. The VA posting, she wrote,
“started out nicely: a contrite acknowledgement that things need to be fixed. And then it went downhill, into a
convoluted statement that things aren’t as bad as the media are making them out to be (it’s always the media’s fault
because blame-shifting), but we can’t tell you exactly how bad they are because we don’t know.” [Source:
Military.com | Bryant Jordan | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
40
VA Suicide Prevention Update 27
► Research is Vital
More than 40,000 Americans die by suicide each year, with Veterans accounting for an estimated one in five of those
deaths. Suicide is also a leading cause of death among active U.S. military members. That’s why VA has made suicide
prevention a top priority. Research is vital in shaping VA’s overall suicide prevention strategy, which covers medical
treatment, provider training, community programs, crisis intervention procedures, and policy. As director of the VA
VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, based in upstate New York at the Canandaigua VA Medical
Center, Kenneth R. Conner has an excellent perspective on what it takes to ensure that VA is consistently providing
the best evidence-based life-saving interventions. Research has identified numerous risk factors for suicidal behavior.
These include behavioral health conditions, such as depression; major stressful events, such as the loss of a loved one;
and physical health problems, such as chronic pain.
While each of these factors increases risk, none is necessary or sufficient on its own to lead to suicidal behavior.
Rather, multiple factors are usually involved. Moreover, research shows that most of those who die by suicide were
not in treatment for depression or other mental health conditions at the time of death. Therefore, tackling the complex
and far-reaching problem of suicide requires a broad approach. At our Center of Excellence, where Conner leads a
team of researchers, educators and administrators, that means:
 Identifying risk factors and protective factors for suicidal behavior in Veterans broadly and in key subgroups
(for example, those with chronic pain).
 Developing, implementing and evaluating suicide-prevention interventions.
 Preparing junior researchers to contribute to the field of suicide research in a variety of ways.
 Providing education on suicide prevention.
Whether we are researchers, medical professionals, friends, families or Veterans, we are all on the front line of
suicide prevention. People may not believe that they can make a difference in the lives of others, but they can. One
person can help save a life. While suicide is complex, and unfortunately cannot be prevented entirely, we can make
great progress by using a well-informed and comprehensive approach. [Source: VAntage Point | Kenneth R. Conner
| September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vets.gov
► New Hub Coming in NOV
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to unveil a new Web portal that incorporates its more than 1,000 veteranrelated websites, a VA official announced 3 SEP. The new hub, called "Vets.gov," is scheduled to go live on Veterans
Day -- Nov. 11 -- of this year, VA's Chief Veterans Experience Officer Tom Allin told an audience in Washington.
On that day, Vets.gov will go live but will not be fully operational, Allin said. VA is still working on a single secure
sign-on system that could provide access to the more than 1,000 other sites, he explained. "What we want is one
portal, and we want the veteran to be able to go in, check on a claim, add a dependent, sign up for an education benefit,
change their address and get that done online, at Vets.gov," he said. VA aims to have that capability by next year, he
said.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald, who joined the department last summer in the wake of the scandal over delayed
wait times for veterans seek health care, told an audience in Washington last month VA needed to simplify its services
for veterans. "If I went to a veteran and said, 'What's Blue Button?' they would have no idea," McDonald said during
a Politico event, referring to a system that lets patients download their own electronic medical records. Online veteran
services have complicated names such as "MyHealtheVet," he added. "What's wrong with 'Veterans.gov,' or
'Vets.gov'?"
41
On Thursday, Allin said he was concerned VA didn't have enough integrated data about the veterans who use its
services. At a national level, he said, “we have no idea right now who our customers are." The VA health system has
at least 225 databases that "don't talk to each other. They have different data rules, and so we can't tell you who is
actually using VA today among our veterans." Allin said VA needs to improve its customer data collection efforts,
including culling veterans' contact information, their military records, demographics and how they have been using
VA services. [Source: Nextgov.com | Mohana Ravindranath | September 3, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Construction Management Authority Update 01
► Cost Overruns
Huge cost overruns and long delays at new VA hospitals in Colorado, Florida and Louisiana were caused by multiple
design changes, mismanaged contracts or poor budget controls, according to Army Corps of Engineers reports released
3 SEP. High costs at a fourth veterans facility in Las Vegas were the result of a decision to change the plan from an
outpatient clinic to a full hospital, the reports said. Under fire for ballooning expenses and long delays, the Veterans
Affairs Department asked the Corps of Engineers to review its overall construction practices as well as the four new
hospitals. The Corps warned that the VA needs to make fundamental changes in the way it handles construction or it
will suffer similar overruns and delays on future projects.
The Corps said the VA has conflicting lines of authority and its priorities, expectations and accountability standards
don't mesh. It also said the VA needs more disciplined leadership. The half-finished Colorado medical center, under
construction outside Denver, is the VA's most embarrassing problem. It's now expected to cost up to $1.73 billion,
nearly triple the earlier estimates. Congress wants the VA to fire the executives responsible for the Denver failures.
The VA says it's investigating what went wrong. Congress also wants the VA to turn over large construction projects
to the Corps of Engineers in the future.
A look at the Corps' findings:
COLORADO - The VA repeatedly changed the design and square footage of a new medical center in the Denver
suburb of Aurora, the Corps said. The VA also used a complicated contract process that department officials didn't
understand, and they adopted it too late in the process, leading to disputes and conflicting cost estimates, the report
said. A panel of judges ruled last year the VA had breached its contract with the builder by not delivering a plan that
could be built within the budget. Construction stopped for a time, but it has continued at a slower pace under a series
of stop-gap funding measures. VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson, who visited the construction site Thursday, said
his department accepts the findings and is making changes. The VA is asking Congress for an additional $625 million
to finish a scaled-back version, on top of the $1 billion authorized to date. Gibson said he was optimistic a funding
deal will be reached before the project hits its current spending cap at the end of the month. The Corps of Engineers
also said the VA didn't have enough construction management staffers in Denver to handle a project of this scale, and
they were overwhelmed trying to meet deadlines.
LOUISIANA - The VA is building a medical center in New Orleans to replace one heavily damaged by Hurricane
Katrina in 2005. Cost estimates rose from $625 million in 2009 to $995 million today. The VA first planned to build
and operate the new hospital jointly with Louisiana State University, but it switched to a stand-alone veterans facility.
The VA also ran into environmental problems on the construction site that were costly to resolve.The Corps of
Engineers said the VA used an ill-informed process that designed the hospital to meet the perceived need, not to fit a
budget. Budget controls weren't always followed because of complex and conflicting lines of authority in the VA, the
report said. Planners also used some design standards dating to the 1970s, the Corps said.
FLORIDA - The cost of a new medical center in Orlando rose in part because the VA issued multiple contracts for
the foundation, structure, fittings and finish and because the electrical design was flawed, the Corps said. Elaborate
finishes and architectural features drove up construction costs and will increase operating and maintenance costs in
42
the future, the report said. The report didn't include cost figures, but officials have said the price more than doubled
from $254 million to around $600 million.
NEVADA - The VA originally planned to partner with the Defense Department to build a huge outpatient clinic at
Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, but security restrictions made that impractical. After the VA decided to build
a stand-alone clinic in North Las Vegas, it changed the plan to a full medical center. But the VA didn't have specific
targets on the square footage, the Corps said. The report generally praised the VA's management of the Nevada project.
[Source: Associated Press | Dan Elliott | September 3, 2015 ++]
*********************************
SGLI/VGLI Update 14
►
Beneficiary Updating
Life Insurance should give you and your loved ones peace of mind that they will have funds available if anything
happens to you. But that may not happen if your insurance beneficiary designation isn’t up to date. Consider the
following:
What Could Happen if I Don’t Update My Beneficiaries?
Not keeping insurance beneficiaries up to date may result in your benefits going to a former spouse, a deceased parent’s
estate, and your estate! It could also result in payment delays at a time when your loved one needs the money. For
example, if the listed beneficiaries are children from a first marriage, then children from a current marriage might
contest the claim if they believe they have more recent documents showing they should be the beneficiaries. No one
could be paid until it is determined who legally is entitled to the money.
What If I Name a Minor Child as Beneficiary?
If you name a minor child as your insurance beneficiary, then the proceeds will be paid to the court-appointed guardian
of the child’s estate. Or, the funds will be paid to the child when he or she reaches the “age of majority,” which varies
from state to state.
Can I Name a Trust as Beneficiary?
Yes, but designating a Trust as your beneficiary does not create a Trust. You must work with a financial or legal
professional to set up a Trust before naming one as your insurance beneficiary.
Update Your Beneficiaries Today.
If you’ve had a recent life event such as a change in marital status, the addition of a child, or the death of a loved one,
then now is a good time to review your insurance beneficiary designation for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
(SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) and VA Insurance policies starting with V, RH, RS, J, K or W. It’s
the best way to ensure your life insurance benefit is paid to the people you want. Even if you haven’t had a recent life
event, it’s a good idea to review your beneficiaries at least once a year. So, mark it on your calendar as an annual
event. And remember, you have the legal right to name any beneficiary you want and change your beneficiary at any
time.
How do I Update My Beneficiaries?
Refer to the chart below for information on how to review and update your beneficiaries.
If you have:
Get current beneficiary info
by calling:
Update your beneficiaries by
completing:
A VA policy starting with Department of Veterans Affairs: Form 29-336*
800-827-1000
V, RH, RS, J, K or W
SGLI Coverage
Your branch of service
Form SGLV 8286*
43
VGLI Coverage
Form SGLV 8721* or log
onto
The Office of Servicemembers’
your VGLI Online Account at
Group Life Insurance (OSGLI):
800-419-1473
www.benefits.va.gov/insuranc
e
*You can access all Change of Beneficiary forms at www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/updatebene.asp.
[Source: VAntage Point | VA Official Blog | September 3, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Medical Error Investigations ►
Down 18% | Errors Up 14%
Hospitals across the country are under growing pressure to reduce preventable medical mistakes, the errors that can
cause real harm and even death to patients. But the Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs a massive system of
hospitals and clinics that cared for 5.8 million veterans last year, is doing less, not more, to identify what went wrong
to make sure it doesn’t happen again. A 28 AUG report from the Government Accountability Office found that the
number of investigations of adverse events — the formal term for medical errors —plunged 18 percent from fiscal
2010 to fiscal 2014. The examinations shrank just as medical errors grew 7 percent over these years, a jump that
roughly coincided with 14 percent growth in the number of veterans getting medical care through VA’s system.
Auditors said it was hard for them to know whether the decline in investigations (called root cause analyses) means
that fewer errors are being reported, or that these mistakes, while on the rise, are not serious enough to warrant scrutiny.
But the reason for the caution is itself disconcerting: VA officials apparently have no idea why they are doing fewer
investigations of medical errors. They told auditors that they haven’t looked into the decline or even whether hospitals
are turning to another system. This VHA chart shows root cause analyses (RCA) of preventable medical errors done
by hospitals and clinics
The National Center for Patient Safety, the office in the Veterans Health Administration responsible for
monitoring investigations of medical errors, “has limited awareness of what hospitals are doing to address the root
causes of adverse events,” the report concluded. Patient safety officials are “not aware of the extent to which these
processes are used, the types of events being reviewed, or the changes resulting from them,” GAO wrote. It added
that “the lack of complete information may result in missed opportunities to identify needed system-wide patient
safety improvements.” Auditors said the lack of analysis is “inconsistent” with federal standards on internal controls,
which require agencies to look at significant changes in data.
An adverse event is an incident that causes injury to a patient as the result of an intervention that shouldn’t have
been made, or one that failed to happen, rather than the patient’s underlying medical condition. These kinds of errors
44
are considered preventable, which is why hospitals and physicians are under pressure to put new systems in place or
update their standards and procedures. They often result from a combination of system and medical errors. Some
examples: Medical equipment was improperly sterilized, leading a patient or multiple patients to be exposed to
infectious diseases. Surgery was done on the wrong patient, with the wrong procedure on the wrong side. A patient
falls or is burned. A patient gets the wrong medication or the wrong dose.
VA officials, in response to a draft of the report, generally agreed with its conclusions and with GAO’s
recommendation that they get a better handle on why fewer root-cause investigations are done. The patient safety
office has started a review that’s scheduled to be done in November. Officials acknowledged that while hospitals use
other systems (such as the Six Sigma management method) to review medical errors, “these processes are not a
replacement” for root-cause analyses. The report was requested by three leading Senate Democrats and two House
members who are ranking members or serve on committees that oversee VA, including presidential hopeful Bernie
Sanders (I-VT); Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT); Rep. Corrine Brown (FL); Sen. Patty Murray (WA) and Rep. Eddie
Bernice Johnson (TX) Although they collected data from the entire system of 150 VA hospitals and clinics, auditors
did a deeper dive at four: the Salt Lake City Health Care System; Robley Rex Medical Center in Louisville, Ky.;
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System in New Orleans and James E. Van Zandt Medical Center in Altoona,
Pa.
Patient safety officials told auditors that while they haven’t done an analysis of why there are fewer investigations
of medical errors, they observed a “change in the culture of safety” at many hospitals. This is a revealing observation:
“[Patient safety] officials stated that they have observed a change in the culture of safety in recent years in which
staff feel less comfortable reporting adverse events than they did previously. Officials added that this change is
reflected in [their] periodic survey on staff perceptions of safety; specifically, 2014 scores showed decreases from
2011 on questions measuring staff’s overall perception of patient safety, as well as decreases in perceptions of the
extent to which staff work in an environment with a nonpunitive response to error.”
Still, the number of reports of medical errors has been increasing. Root-cause analyses are launched depending on
the severity of the error. High-risk mistakes that seem destined to recur require investigations. Lower-risk errors are
up to the discretion of hospital staff. [Source: Washington Post | Lisa Rein August 31 | August 31, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Whistleblowers Update 35
► OIG Report on VHA HEC Allegations
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a request from the Chairman of the
U.S House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to determine the merits of allegations made by a whistleblower about the
Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Health Eligibility Center (HEC). The OIG found the Chief Business Office
has not effectively managed its business processes to ensure the consistent creation and maintenance of essential data
and recommended a multiyear project management plan to address the accuracy of pending Enrollment System records
to improve the usefulness of such data. The OIG published a report http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-14-01792510.pdf on September 2, 2015, addressing the following four questions:
 Did the HEC have a backlog of 889,000 health care applications in a pending status?
 Did 47,000 veterans die while their health care applications were in a pending status?
 Were over 10,000 veteran health records purged or deleted at the HEC?
 Were 40,000 unprocessed applications, spanning a 3-year time period, discovered in January 2013?
45
We substantiated the first allegation that VHA’s enrollment system had about 867,000 pending records as of
September 30, 2014. However, due to serious enrollment data limitations, such as an estimated 477,000 pending
records not having application dates, we could not reliably determine how many records were associated with actual
applications for enrollment. OIG also substantiated that pending records included entries for over 307,000 individuals
reported as deceased by the Social Security Administration. Again because of data limitations, we could not determine
how many pending records represent veterans who applied for health care benefits. We also substantiated that
employees incorrectly marked unprocessed applications as completed and possibly deleted 10,000 or more
transactions over the past 5 years. Information security deficiencies, such as the lack of audit trails and system backups,
limited our ability to review some issues fully and rule out data manipulation. Finally, we substantiated that the HEC
identified over 11,000 unprocessed health care applications and about 28,000 other transactions in January 2013. This
backlog developed because the HEC did not adequately manage its workload and lacked controls to ensure entry of
its workload into the enrollment system.
OIG recommended VHA assign and hold accountable a senior executive to develop and implement a project
management plan to correct data integrity issues, to identify veterans whose applications have not been processed,
enrollment program policy limitations, and access and security controls. We also provided recommendations to OI&T
to implement adequate security controls and ensure the collection and retention of audit logs and system backups. OIG
further recommended that VHA and OI&T officials confer with the Office of Human Resources and the Office of
General Counsel to determine if administrative action should be taken against any VHA or OI&T senior officials
involved, and ensure that appropriate action is taken. As this issue demonstrates, whistleblowers have proven to be a
valuable information source to pursue accountability and corrective actions in VA programs.
LINDA A. HALLIDAY
Deputy Inspector General
[Source: VA OIG | September 2, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Copay Update 13
► MN & WI Delayed Vet Copay Billing Issue
Minnesota’s congressional delegation, led by Rep. John Kline, is fighting a Veterans Affairs directive that found
veterans suddenly being billed for co-payments that were as much as five years old. Recently, members of Congress
were notified that the VA discovered unbilled copay amounts for inpatient care provided to veterans over a five-year
period. Veterans were going to be assessed copays ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 because the VA erred in not charging
them at the time of the care. Veterans in Minnesota and Wisconsin were to be affected, prompting members of
Minnesota’s and Wisconsin’s congressional delegations to sign a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald asking to
delay attempting to collect the payments from the vets, many of whom are on fixed incomes and might not be able to
pay. “Our veterans sought care at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in good faith and should not be suddenly
saddled with thousands of dollars in bills years later due to the VA’s inability to properly track, record, and bill for
services,” the letter said.
The VA responded in July, apologizing for the episode and assuring that it would “develop stronger internal
controls to mitigate risks of this from occurring in the future.” The incident affected only vets served by the
Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center and amounted to $549,198. McDonald said every affected vet would be
personally contacted about setting up a payment plan or applying for a waiver. The VA identified 1,482 veterans in
Minnesota and Wisconsin who would have been affected by the retroactive charges, including 26 who have been
46
deceased for more than six months. Kline, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said he would
introduce legislation that would give the VA secretary the authority to waive the delayed co-payments if it was the
VA’s error that caused the delay. The legislation also would require the VA to inform vets of their rights to set up
payment plans or apply for waivers. [Source: Star Tribune | Mark Brunswick | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA eBenefits Portal Update 03
► 5 Million User Milestone Reached
Participation in the joint VA and Department of Defense (DoD) eBenefits website topped five million users in AUG
2015, two months ahead of schedule. VA established an agency priority goal of reaching five million eBenefits users
by the end of fiscal year 2015. VA achieved this early milestone through aggressive outreach efforts and with the
support of DoD and its Veterans Service Organization partners. “Veterans are encouraged to enroll in eBenefits and
file their claims online through this one-stop shop for benefits-related tools and information,” said Under Secretary
for Benefits Allison Hickey. “We have already implemented nearly 60 self-service features and we continue to expand
eBenefits capabilities to give Veterans and Servicemembers greater flexibility in securing their information.”
The number of eBenefits users is a key measure of VA’s success in improving Veterans’ access to VA benefits and
services and is reported on www.performance.gov . To enroll in eBenefits, Veterans and Servicemembers must obtain
a DoD Self-Service Logon (DS Logon), which provides access to several Veterans and military benefits resources
using a single username and password. The service is free and may be obtained online at www.ebenefits.va.gov or in
person at a VA Regional Office. “The successful collaboration of eBenefits and DS Logon is just one more example
of how the DoD and VA are working together to continue bringing current and former Servicemembers secure online
access to the benefits they’ve earned,” said Mary Dixon, Director of Defense Manpower Data Center.
The rapid and continued growth in the utilization of the eBenefits website demonstrates the importance of giving
Veterans greater access to information about their own benefits. In addition to filing claims online and checking the
status of those claims, Veterans can also message their VA doctor, order prescription drug refills and obtain official
military documents through eBenefits. More than 7.5 million VA letters have been generated and downloaded by
Veterans that show proof of disability, income or Veterans preference used in federal or state government hiring. Go
to http://www.benefits.va.gov for more information about VA benefits. [Source: VAntage Point | September 2015
++]
*********************************
VAMC Cincinnati Update 01 ►
New Technology | 5 State ICU Monitoring
In a modest room on the ninth floor of the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, a team of doctors and nurses are providing
care to critically-injured veterans across five states. The hospital is working to improve and expedite care for the
nation’s veterans through more than 60 computer monitors, high-resolution cameras and the real-time sharing of
hundreds of electronic medical records every day. Cincinnati’s Tele-Intensive Care Unit opened in early 2012 to
monitor 72 ICU beds in Ohio’s four VA medical centers, including Dayton and Cleveland. The operation continues
to expand, now overseeing 213 ICU beds in states as far south as Georgia and Alabama, said Michael Torok, RN,
47
Tele-ICU operations director. “We are watching over our veterans,” Torok said. “The VA is a high-tech, government
hospital system. This shows the investment the VA puts into its patients.”
The original investment was $4 million by the VA and an annual operating budget of $7 million, according to
Torok. The Tele-ICU is staffed with critical care nurses 24 hours a day, and with physicians board certified in critical
care from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday to Friday and 24 hours a day on weekends. There are 27 full-time equivalent nurses
and eight critical care physicians, also called intensivists. “The ICU is our sickest patients,” Torok said, recovering
from a complex surgery or cardiac event, for example. In Ohio alone, there were over 52,000 uses of the Tele-ICU in
2014, according to Torok. In the first two quarters of this year, the cameras have been used 21,760 times for Ohio
veterans. The operation continues to grow as more hospitals request to join, Torok said. They are currently in
negotiations to add another seven hospitals — 100 more ICU beds — in 2016. To keep up with demand, a Tele-ICU
satellite location opened in 2013 in Cleveland and a second satellite will open in October in Greater Los Angeles,
according to Torok. The Tele-ICU itself is also in contract negotiations to relocate its growing operations into a 6,000square-foot space in the John Weld Peck Federal Building downtown. That move would increase capacity from 10
work stations to 25 work stations.
All the 213 ICU rooms have a red eICU button that when pushed will request a Tele-ICU nurse or physician. After
ringing a virtual doorbell, the Tele-ICU worker appears on a flat screen TV and uses their mouse to move the room’s
camera around to communicate with the patient and on-site medical workers. Torok said, for example, if an injured
veteran is admitted to an ICU at 2 a.m. on a Sunday, the Tele-ICU is an immediate way to have qualified critical care
staff on hand to troubleshoot the patient’s problems during those off and late hours. Inside the Tele-ICU in Cincinnati,
each work station consists of six computer screens to monitor the patient’s vitals, receive calls, read lab results and
submit work orders, among other things, said Alex Geimeier, a critical care registered nurse in the unit. “We don’t
take the place of any nurse or doctor by the bedside,” Geimeier said. “We monitor and oversee and call the nurse into
the room if (the patient) gets worse.” Geimeier said while an ICU nurse might manage two patients, a Tele-ICU nurse
can manage up to 40 patients — and the physicians about 150 patients.
To help effectively manage all those patients, an electronic medical program “scores” patients as either low,
medium or high. That determines how often the Tele-ICU nurse checks on the patient beyond routine checks, Geimeier
said. If a patient scores high they are checked every two hours, while those scored as low risk are checked every eight
hours. Patients are also color coordinated on whether their status is improving or declining. Geimeier said the
electronic system constantly updates to reflect a patient’s changing vital signs, new lab results or X-rays, and six body
systems — respiratory, hematology (blood count), cardiovascular, infectious disease, renal (kidneys) and central
nervous system. “Nurses are tasked with more and more; we can help check medications, read lab reports, make phone
calls to keep them at the bedside,” Geimeier said. Torok said the Tele-ICU staff is credentialed to be able to
immediately start treating a patient that is quickly deteriorating while the on-site staff is responding.
On weekends at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, the medical staff is reduced to just two physicians for the
entire hospital, said Angie Thomas, nurse manager in the Chillicothe ICU. She said their ICU calls on the Tele-ICU
for help at least once a day. “It’s an extra set of eyes for patients,” Thomas said, in an interview through the Tele-ICU
monitors. “Having the Tele-ICU here, we hit the button and have a doctor here in the evenings.” Torok said a TeleICU is one solution to “spread out the expertise over a large area,” in the midst of physician and nurse shortages in
48
critical care. “VA hospitals are seeking us out,” Torok said. “We started out small but VAs are looking for ways to
supplement coverage.” [Source: Dayton Daily News | Hannah Poturalski | September 1, 2015 ++]
********************************
VAMC Tomah Update 12
► Director Mario DeSanctis Let Go
The director of the Tomah VA Medical Center was fired 2 SEP, becoming the second top official to be axed in the
wake of reports of over-medication practices blamed for the death of at least one veteran. Acting director John Rohrer
sent an email to employees Wednesday morning stating only that Mario DeSanctis “is no longer employed” by the
VA. The VA did not immediately say whether DeSanctis was fired or quit, but a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Ron Kind
said the congressman was informed that Desanctis had been “let go.” DeSanctis, an Air Force veteran who took over
leadership of the center in 2012, is the second VA official to depart since the nonprofit Center for Investigative
Reporting published a report in January detailing high levels of opioid prescription at the Tomah VA — patients
dubbed the hospital “Candy Land” because physicians there dispensed prescription painkillers so freely — and a
pervasive culture of intimidation and retaliation against employees who spoke out.
Mario DeSanctis
Last month, the VA’s Inspector General ruled that deficiencies in care led to the death last year of patient Jason
Simcakoski. The investigation found that psychiatrists did not discuss the hazards of a synthetic opiate prescribed to
the 35-year-old Marine Corps vet and did not have anti-overdose medicine on hand. In the wake of the Inspector
General report, Rohrer announced that one of the physicians who attended to Simcakoski had been fired. Desanctis
was reassigned in the wake of the CIR report, as were Chief of Staff Dr. David Houlihan and a nurse practitioner who
were among the top opiate prescribers in the VA’s Great Lakes network, which serves more than 220,000 veterans in
three states. Tomah VA spokesman Matthew Gowan said Desanctis had been serving as an administrator for the Great
Lakes network. Desanctis could not be reached for comment.
The CIR reported that Desanctis received an $8,025 bonus in 2013 during an OIG investigation that found troubling
levels of opioid prescription but “no conclusive evidence” of criminal wrongdoing. Kind faulted Desanctis for not
alerting him to the investigation in 2014 when he asked whether there were any problems at the facility. Kind was not
immediately available for comment Wednesday. Gowan said the search for a new director would begin immediately.
Citing staff shortages, the Tomah VA announced last week it would temporarily close its inpatient psychiatric unit,
halt psychiatric admissions to a residential treatment center and permanently curtailing urgent care hours. [Source:
LaCrosseTribune.com | Chris Hubbuch | September 1, 2015 ++]
********************************
VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse
► Reported 01 Sep thru 15 Nov 2015
Columbus OH – A Gahanna woman has been charged with illegally receiving benefits through the Department of
Veterans Affairs Dependency and Indemnity Compensation after an indictment by a federal grand jury 3 SEP. Rita
Green, 54, was indicted in Columbus for allegedly keeping $89,646.22, which, prosecutors say, she was "not entitled
49
to." Carter Stewart, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Gavin McClaren, resident agent in charge with
the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and Angela Byers, special agent in charge with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cincinnati Field Division, announced the indictment 3 SEP. The indictment alleges
that Green's mother died in 2009 and that for the next four years, Green continued to withdraw the benefits from a
bank account under her mother's name.
\
Theft of public money is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Green is a former
Columbus police officer. In 1991, Green's 2-year-old son fatally shot himself with her .38-caliber revolver at their
home, according to The Columbus Dispatch. She was a DARE officer at the time. The boy, Rico Green, found the
loaded pistol under a bed and fired a single shot into his face, according to Dispatch stories at the time. Police classified
the death as accidental. In 2002, Green was stripped of her badge and gun during an investigation of dereliction of
duty after she was accused of standing by while her son beat up a woman, according to The Dispatch. That case
eventually was dismissed, according to court records, and Green returned to duty. [Source: Rocky fork Enterprise |
Andrew King | September 9, 2015 ++]
-o-o-O-o-oAlexandria LA — A Ferriday woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $100,000 of her deceased aunt's
Veterans Affairs benefits. U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley said 8 SEP that 45-year-old Linda Sue Bourgeois pleaded
guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of theft of government property or funds. Court documents
show that even though Bourgeois' aunt died in July 2007, Bourgeois did not inform Veterans Affairs and took the
benefits from a shared bank account until March when the payments terminated. Bourgeois stole $107,452. Bourgeois
faces up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date of
Dec. 17 was set. [Source: Associated Press | September 9, 2015++]
*********************************
VA Managers
► AFGE Report | Disruptive and Ineffective Tales
Tales of harassment, discrimination, bullying, and incompetence color the 40-page report compiled by a federal
employee union on some managers at the Veterans Affairs Department. The American Federation of Government
Employees Local 17 reportedly gathered information about the “disruptive and ineffective” managers at the request
of VA Secretary Bob McDonald, submitting the litany of allegations and names to the department in July. Government
Executive filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the VA for the report and received it last week. However,
not all of the managers’ names were redacted from the report; VA is correcting the error and issuing another fully
redacted version soon, which Government Executive will publish. Some allegations against the managers, all of whom
work in VA’s Central Office, are specific examples of abuse or intolerance, while others are more general criticisms
of managers’ leadership abilities and communication skills.
 One senior executive allegedly directed subordinates to sign documents indicating that mid-year performance
reviews had taken place even though they had not;
 Another manager played favorites with employees who share his religious beliefs, according to the report.
 Another supervisor, who is described as a “disgrace” with a “disordered personality,” harasses female
employees, the report claimed.
 Others have allegedly made disparaging remarks about a subordinate’s sexual orientation, forced employees
to ask for permission to use the bathroom, yelled and cursed at subordinates, and ignored requests for
reasonable accommodations and advance sick leave – some from disabled veterans.
 One manager’s abuses are “legendary,” the report said. “He is grandiose, distrustful, jealous, vengeful,
manipulative, resentful, and vicious. He spreads rumors, reveals employee confidences, harasses
subordinates, is intolerant, orchestrates conflict, engages in questionable employment practices, and ruins
careers.”
50


A description of another manager – “a very large man” – said he “uses his heft to intimidate his staff” and
has a monitor at his desk “to surveil his employees.”
Other complaints discuss certain managers’ over-reliance on contractors, unwillingness to deal with problem
employees, lack of technical expertise, and unprofessional behavior. “[Redacted name]’s poor judgment
creates an uncomfortable environment for her subordinates,” the report said, claiming she “openly discusses
her romantic partners and their physical attributes in an explicit and inappropriate manner.” She also talks
about sex at the lunch table and “at times appears to be nursing a hangover,” according to the report.
Local 17 included employees’ views in the report, but there are no rebuttals from the managers named. AFGE
would not comment on the report. VA did not return a request for comment. It’s not clear what, if anything, VA has
done with the information and the allegations contained in the report. Carol Bonosaro, president of the Senior
Executives Association, said if the abuses are true, “they are to be condemned and should immediately be dealt with
through the proper channels.” But Bonosaro said that the “uncorroborated” report uses “salacious” language and often
“offers little detail on general accusations beyond hearsay.” SEA and the Federal Managers Association in August
sent a letter to several congressional committees asking them to look into what they called “a hit list” and determine
whether the union put together the report on official time. “As you know, official time provides for federal labor
organizations to conduct representational activities,” the letter said. “However, to our knowledge, official time does
not cover a union investigating agency managers and executives for the purposes of creating a hit list of those it seeks
to have removed from the agency.” [Source: GovExec.com | Kellie Lunney | October 19, 2015 ++]
* Vets *
Vet Jobs Update 181
► Vet Unemployment Rate Drops to 7-yr Low
The unemployment rate for veterans dropped to a seven-year low in August, and the rate for Iraq and Afghanistan
war-era veterans fell to the lowest level since federal officials started tracking that population. The news came the
same day that Bureau of Labor Statistics officials announced the national unemployment rate in August had dropped
to its lowest level since 2008, before President Obama took office. Analysts have cautioned against making long-term
assumptions based on the monthly figures, but the veterans and national rates for August continue a steady downward
trend in the unemployment estimates over the past two years. BLS officials said the unemployment rate for all veterans
fell to 4.2 percent in August, a drop from 4.7 percent a month earlier and from 5.6 percent a year ago. The monthly
mark hasn’t been that low since May 2008. The figure translates into about 450,000 veterans nationwide looking for
work. That estimate was over 1 million about four years ago and near 700,000 in early 2014.
Labor Department researchers didn’t begin tracking veterans from the “Gulf War II” era until September 2008, and
had never recorded an unemployment rate for that group below 5.0 percent until last month. BLS estimated the August
rate to be 4.7 percent, or roughly 134,000 young veterans unable to find work last month. August was also the third
time in the last year that the unemployment rate for younger veterans outpaced the national rate (5.1 percent in August.)
The overall veterans rate have been below the national averages for almost four years straight. The positive
51
unemployment news 4 SEP, released just before the start of Labor Day weekend, came despite job creation numbers
falling short of economists’ estimates for the month. The U.S. economy added about 173,000 jobs in August, almost
50,000 fewer than what had been predicted. White House and congressional officials have made veteran employment
a major legislative focus in recent years, enacting a number of transition programs and conducting national campaigns
to encourage employers to see veterans as a reliable, adaptable workforce. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Leo Shane |
September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vet Toxic Exposure~Lejeune Update 55
► Presumptive-Disability Status
The VA is beginning the process of amending its regulations to establish presumptive-disability status for veterans
who have certain diseases linked to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. By establishing presumptive status,
it is presumed that the disease was caused by service, making it easier for veterans to obtain disability benefits. In a
recent announcement, the VA said it is reviewing potential presumptive service connection for kidney cancer,
angiosarcoma of the liver and acute myelogenous leukemia, which it said are known to be related to long-term
exposure to the chemicals that were in the water at Lejeune from the 1950s through 1987. “The chemicals are benzene,
vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, which are known as volatile organic compounds, used in
industrial solvents and components of fuels,” the agency explained. (For more on Camp Lejeune and cancer, see the
Oncology Focus on page xx.)
Working with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and potentially the National
Academy of Sciences “to evaluate the body of scientific knowledge and research related to exposure to these chemicals
and the subsequent development of other diseases,” adding, “VA will carefully consider all public comments received
when determining the final scope of any presumptions,” the VA explained. A study from ATSDR researchers,
published last month, linked the contaminated water to higher rates of early onset male breast cancer. Previous studies
from the same group had found associations between the chemicals at the North Carolina base and a range of cancers.
“The evidence has been accumulating for years now — many of those who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune in
years past developed certain diseases after exposure to contaminated drinking water. Compensating these victims, our
nation’s heroes and their families, is simply the right thing to do,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Sen. Richard Burr
(R-NC), a key advocate for those impacted by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, said he was disappointed that
we had to pressure the VA to do the right thing for our veterans in the first place. “The scientific research is strong,
and the widespread denials of benefits will soon end,” Burr said. “Now, these veterans and their families members
will not have to fight for benefits they are due.”
The announcement follows the approval by Congress in 2012 of the Janey Ensminger Act, which provides no-cost
health benefits to veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between 1953 and 1987 for 15 qualifying
conditions. The passage of that legislation came after advocates tirelessly made the case that their health conditions
stemmed from exposure to contaminated water from wells at the base. The wells eventually were shut down the mid1980s. The law was unusual in that it also mandated reimbursement of expenses related to the 15 qualifying conditions
for eligible family members who resided at Camp Lejeune during the period of contamination, although those benefits
don’t begin until all other health insurance is applied. “This bill ends a decade-long struggle for those who serve at
Camp Lejeune,” President Barack Obama said during the signing of the bill. Still, while that law provides healthcare
at no cost for specific conditions, it did not necessarily qualify a veteran for any related disability compensation. The
VA now is working toward that.
Gavin Smith, founder of Civilian Exposure, a Camp Lejuene advocacy group, told U.S. Medicine that the recent
announcement is a “great step in the right direction” for veterans. Camp Lejeune veterans had faced a claims process
that was “loaded with red tape” when it came to filing a claim related to exposure to the water, he said, suggesting
presumptive status should ease the process. Still, he said he hopes that the “civilian folks that worked there aren’t left
52
behind.” While the Janey Ensminger Act applies to veterans and affected family members, he explained, it does not
cover other workers who were employed on the base and were exposed to the contaminated water. “That law does
nothing for them,” Smith said, adding that he would like to see legislation passed to help that group. “I don’t think
amending the 2012 law would be the answer. I think it is probably not the best way to go,” he noted, “I think there
may be another set of legislation needed for the rest of the community affected at the base.” [Source: "Veteran Issues
| Sandra Basu/Colonel Dan Cedusky | 13 Oct 2015 ++]
*********************************
Don’t Ask, Don't Tell Update 13
► Less than Honorable Discharge Appeals
An 80-year-old Buffalo veteran is now trying to clear his name, more than 50 years after being given a less-thanhonorable discharge from the military. Jim Estep served his country for 10 years. His only "transgression"? He was
found out to be gay. Estep of Buffalo loved his time flying as a Navy pilot. "There's that sense of exhilaration and
you're totally free," says Estep. Estep grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1958. He became an attack pilot in the Navy. Scott Brown: "So you were one of those guys taking off
and landing on carriers right?" Jim Estep: "Yes. Under all kinds of circumstances, day night, hurricanes, big storms,
big waves didn't make any difference, we had a mission to accomplish."
Jim Estep
Estep says he didn't hide his sexuality, and that no one is his squadron made an issue of it. "It didn't make any
difference in that we were all together to perform a mission. And that was what was important. So it really truly was
an unofficial policy of don't ask, don't tell," says Estep. But after six years as a pilot, a letter he had written to a gay
friend who was also in the military was discovered and turned over to Naval Intelligence. "They said they had a lot of
information and (asked me) what did I do and who did I meet and I told them nothing about men whose inclination I
was aware of. And they were not happy with that. And that's when I told them I was not happy in staying in the Navy
under these circumstances," says Estep.
Estep said he was forced to sign a false confession which stated that he had had a number of one night stands with
men, some of them in the military. And with that, his career and his service to his country was over. Despite a string
of exemplary fitness reports, Estep was given a less than honorable discharge, something surprisingly, he has accepted
without bitterness. "I broke a rule, I got caught and I paid the price for that, that was something I learned at the Naval
Academy," says Estep. Out of the military, Estep went back to school eventually receiving a doctorate in physiology.
He came to Buffalo in the late 1980s to teach at D'Youvile College.
Years ago, Estep applied to get to get his discharge changed to honorable, but it was denied based on that false
confession he had signed. The military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy was repealed five years ago, permitting openly
gay people to serve in the military. And now, Jim Estep retired and content with his life, wants to try once again to
clear his name. When asked, “What has prompted you at this point in your life to try and get this changed?" He
53
replied, "Well I'm starting my 80th year, so I want to get some loose ends wrapped up. Having a less than honorable
discharge on my record, is not satisfactory right now and I want to correct that and get it changed."
Local veterans interested in appealing their discharges can contact: Paul Romesser, Veterans Benefits Advisor,
NYS Division of Veterans' Affairs, 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, N.Y. 14221 Trl: (716) 632-4190 – Email:
paul.romesser@veterans.ny.gov. [Source: 2WGRZ.com | September 10, 2015 ++]
*********************************
China’s WWII Veterans
► Long-Delayed Recognition
Even in his 97th year, Sun Yinbai cannot forget the severed limbs and mangled corpses of the U.S. airmen strewn
across the remote, wind-whipped landing strip. American B-29s had bombed a Japanese aircraft factory on Nov. 21,
1944, and were flying hundreds of miles to safety on the Chinese mainland. The small and treacherous airfield at
Ankang, a western outpost where Sun was serving as a military interpreter, was designated as their only option for
refueling and repairs; at least two had lost an engine. As the fifth plane touched down, it veered off the runway and
plowed into another aircraft. A fireball erupted. "There were body parts — hands and feet — everywhere," recalls
Sun, then a fresh college graduate. "We had to go out and piece the remains together as best we could. When we ran
out of stretchers, we used doors" to carry the corpses.
Sun Yinbai, 97, served with the Nationalist army in World War II, acting as an interpreter for U.S. forces. Only now are
such service members getting some grudging acknowledgment from China's leaders
Sun's contribution to the Allied victory in World War II should have earned him some kind of commendation. But
like tens of thousands of others who served in Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek's forces, Sun found history dealt him
a cruel hand after the global conflict's end in 1945. China's civil war resumed in 1946, and three years later Chiang's
Nationalists fell to Mao Tse-tung's Red Army. Chiang and millions of supporters fled to Taiwan, but many others
including Sun couldn't or wouldn't leave. For 60 years, not only did Sun's service go unrecognized by Communist
authorities, but his affiliation with the Nationalists became a badge of shame — and nearly cost him his life during
political witch hunts in the 1960s. Now, though, as China prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the war's end with
a massive military parade and other fanfare, men like Sun are finally being brought halfway out of the shadows.
Communist leaders still refuse to acknowledge that it was Chiang's troops — not Mao's — who did the bulk of the
fighting against the Japanese. In the last few years, though, Beijing has begun to acknowledge that Nationalist forces
played a not-insignificant role. A few in their dwindling ranks have been invited to participate in Beijing's anniversary
commemoration on Sept. 3, the date Japanese forces in China surrendered. The government also recently announced
that as many as 50,000 unheralded servicemen — who never received veterans' benefits or other state assistance —
would be eligible for a one-time welfare payment of about $780.
"It's a very complicated relationship between the Communist Party and the Nationalists," says Sun, a retired history
teacher, sitting in his quiet living room in Beijing, decorated with Chinese scrolls, a stack of dusty English dictionaries
54
and a calendar printed by a nonprofit group that aims to keep alive memories of U.S.-China cooperation during the
World War II era. "The Communists didn't fight much, but they need to take credit for winning the war. They've made
a lot of movies about this," Sun says. "Old people know what really happened, but I wonder about young people. They
don't know, but they need to." 'It was very scary' Men like Sun aren't the only fighters from the Chinese theater whose
service went largely overlooked for decades. Some have been hidden in plain sight in the United States as well.
In a 2009 file photo, Chinese People's Liberation Army sailors march pass Tiananmen Square during the celebration of
the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
John Angel Chu, 92, was born in Oakland to Chinese immigrants. In the late 1930s, with Japan's occupation of
China intensifying, Chu and a few other Chinese American teens began training at a Chinese aviation school in the
Bay Area. In the summer of 1939, he dropped out of Alameda High School to volunteer with the Chinese air force.
Chu made his way to Kunming, in southern China, where he trained until 1941 and attained the rank of captain. Good
airplanes, though, were in short supply — until the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of that year
prompted Washington to offer more assistance. "After that, everything changed," recalls Chu. He ended up piloting
P-40 fighters out of the city of Chongqing as part of the Chinese American Composite Wing, a successor group to the
Flying Tigers that included American and Chinese personnel.
Between 1939 and 1943, Japan dropped more than 11,000 bombs on Chongqing. "Every time we went out, it was
very scary," says Chu. Pilots like Chu were not considered American servicemen by the U.S. military, though they
were U.S. citizens and were fighting Japan. In fact, says Chu, he temporarily lost his citizenship because he had
volunteered with a foreign military. (Americans who volunteered with Britain's Royal Air Force before the official
U.S. entry into World War II faced a similar predicament.) Chu stayed in China until 1949, when he was finally able
to get his U.S. passport back. Friends who worked for an airline helped him get his Chinese-born wife and son to San
Francisco. They were all detained in an immigration center for more than a week before they managed to extricate
themselves. Chu finished high school, studied engineering and became a draftsman and a mechanical engineer. He
never received veterans' benefits from the U.S. or China. "There was really no recognition from the U.S., Taiwan or
the mainland," he says. But this summer, Taiwan's Nationalist-led government invited Chu, all expenses paid, to the
island to mark the 70th anniversary. Taiwan's air force hosted a banquet, and he attended a large parade in Taipei, the
capital. "We enjoyed ourselves," he says. "There are not too many of us old-timers left."
Lizhen Wang, 63, who retired last year from Lockheed Martin in the Bay Area, has been chronicling the
experiences of men like Chu. So far he's published seven books in Chinese (and a military thriller in English). "None
of these guys complain" about the lack of recognition, he says. "I find their stories fascinating." If Wang has a
counterpart in mainland China, it might be Xue Gang, a 53-year-old Beijinger who runs a video production business.
He is among a small clutch of amateur historians who have sought to track down and record the stories of unrecognized
Nationalist soldiers before it is too late. He has spent more than a decade looking for these aging fighters, finding
about 15,000 and conducting interviews with about 1,000. The efforts of people like him have helped nudge
Communist officials toward acknowledging the contributions of Nationalist troops.
Half of the old soldiers he meets, Xue says, are pleasantly surprised. "They're happy to tell you about their
experiences — finally, someone cares," says Xue. "The other half, they have no courage, no confidence and don't
55
want to reopen old wounds. Some families that I know for sure were with the Nationalists, I'll knock on their doors
and they will utterly deny it." Sun knows their pain well. After Japan's surrender, he returned to Beijing and became
a high school English teacher. After the Communist victory in 1949 and the onset of the Cold War, English fell out of
favor as a foreign language, supplanted by Russian. Sun switched to teaching history. When Mao launched his Cultural
Revolution in 1966 — a decade long campaign of terror to smash old customs and traditions as well as root out any
perceived enemies of the party — Sun's war-era affiliation with U.S. troops came back to haunt him. Sun and two
other teachers were denounced as American spies and savagely beaten. "I alone survived," Sun says. Afterward, he
was sent to what was essentially a concentration camp for intellectuals. He remained there for two years.
At last, Sun was freed, and a bureaucrat arranged for him to get a job writing new history textbooks — all the
previous ones had been destroyed in the Cultural Revolution. "I took up writing ancient world history," explains Sun
wryly. "Chinese history is hard to write [honestly], but ancient Egypt and India, which was pretty safe." With the 70th
anniversary of the war's end approaching, Sun says he has heard he'll get some award. At this point, he has let go of
whatever bitterness he had about his experience; life, he says, has been good. He married twice and had three
daughters. One lives in San Francisco, and her children are U.S. citizens. Despite those dark days, Sun still recalls his
time in Ankang with the Americans with some fondness. He remembers being exhausted but unable to eat after the
plane crash because he was so traumatized. An American medic offered him some medicine, saying it would help him
regain his appetite. After tossing the liquid down his throat, Sun asked the American what the medicine was.
"'Whiskey,' he told me," recalls Sun, hooting with laughter.
It's a shame, says Xue, that China still has no official program to collect the stories of men such as Sun. The amateur
historian says he's alarmed by the lack of knowledge among the public about what really happened during the war.
On the other hand, Xue's encouraged that the government has begun to shift its stance and more young people are
curious to learn about the era. That, he hopes, may eventually help China mend fences with Taiwan and even Japan.
"Before 2010, all our 'history' was propaganda, but in the last five to six years, more facts have started to emerge," he
says. "I'm just an ordinary person; I'm not an expert. But I have to do something — it's important that we know what
our history is." [Source: Los Angeles Times | Julie Makinen | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vet Cremains Update 31
► 6 Interred at Arlington National Cemetery
They returned home after serving honorably on battlefields in Italy, France and Vietnam many years ago. And when
they died stateside, some, it seemed, couldn’t rest in peace. One veteran’s remains went unclaimed for more than
three decades; the remains of another went missing for months after his death. A third veteran was estranged from
family when she died, and no one arranged for her burial. On 1 SEP, six veterans who were largely anonymous in life
and death were interred with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
“He’s happy, and I think he would give me a big hug,” said Andrew Pincsak of his cousin Richard Pincsak, a
professor and Silver Star recipient in the U.S. Army who was shot down twice over Cambodia during the Vietnam
War and died in 2014. “I think he knew he was dying and just before he died, he reached out to me and talked about
this — he asked if I’ve ever been [to Arlington National Cemetery] before.” “He told me to take care of it,” said
Andrew Pincsak, who said he planned to arrange a military burial. But he initially couldn’t find his cousin’s remains
at local funeral homes, and turned to one national nonprofit organization for help.
The burials were the culmination of a nearly year-long search by the Missing in America Project, a national group
dedicated to finding, identifying and interring the remains of unclaimed service members. Since 2006, the group has
been to 1,857 funeral homes and found the unclaimed remains of more than 11,986 people. From that number, it
identified 2,759 service members and has interred 2,496 of them in cemeteries around the nation. Sometimes,
organizers said, people call after finding urns in all sorts of places, such as the bed of a pickup truck or a storage unit.
And in all sorts of containers: a plastic bag or a cardboard box, sometimes brown paper bags. As the group headed to
56
Arlington on Tuesday, it was as if their scores of motorcycles played their own tribute to the fallen: The guttural noise
of exhaust hummed like a chorus.
Members of the Missing in America Project hold a burial ceremony for six people, including one of the iconic Buffalo
Soldiers from the 1800s, on Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery
During the ceremony, family members were presented with flags. And for those veterans who didn’t have a relative
present, volunteers stood in for loved ones. “There’s always this great satisfaction when they’re put to rest,” said Fred
Salanti, co-founder of the project and a Vietnam veteran. For Salanti, who lives in California and spearheaded a crosscountry motorcycle ride to Virginia for Tuesday’s burials, the trip was soul-cleansing. “In some sense there’s a
payback,” Salanti said. “It’s an honor thing — you’re taking people that will never have something done for them.”
Andrew Pincsak said he worried that his cousin would end up in a dumpster. The 49-year-old lives in Chicago, and
after Richard Pincsak died, no one in the family could find him in the Eureka, Calif., funeral homes. After some
research and phone calls to a mayor and a senator, Andrew Pincsak said he found out that a friend of Richard Pincsak’s
posed as a second cousin, cremated the remains and kept them. To get them back, he contacted the Missing in America
Project. Andrew Pincsak, who said his cousin was all about never quitting and “forging forward to do what’s right
and help other people,” added that the ceremony felt like closure — “closure that people he didn’t know are happy he
served, [for] a government that didn’t know him but know of him now and helped get him here, and family that was
brought a little tighter together,” he said.
Bill Holt, a volunteer with the project since 2008, said he’s been to 150 burials for unclaimed veterans. “They’ve
given their lives for our country,” he said. “I know they’re not there physically, but spiritually they are. And to be
among that is just phenomenal.” Many of the volunteers and family members wore black at the ceremony. But
volunteer Lula Lamb wore white. Lamb, who lives in Richmond, lost a stepson, Lt. Almar Fitzgerald, in Iraq in 2006.
When asked what her stepson would think of the ceremony, and her soft sobbing, she said Fitzgerald would tell her:
“Dry up those tears and smile.” “These individuals have finally reached their burial, and now they’re at peace with
their brothers and sisters,” she said. “They’re not in limbo anymore.” Then, as if on cue, the 57-year-old straightened
her shoulders to look at the urns, which were tucked away inside a shady tent that overlooked six columbarium niches,
where the remains would later be placed. “They’re tears of joy,” she said. “Today’s a good day.” [Source: The
Washington Post | Victoria St. Martin | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vet Federal Employment Update 09
► Vets Don't Stay Long
Almost half of the government employees hired last year were former service members, evidence that President Barack
Obama's push for the federal government to hire veterans is working. But those veterans don't stay long. The
Washington Post reported that one in three government workers is now a veteran, which shows federal agencies have
adhered to the president's wishes that veterans be given preference in hiring. Veterans who’ve joined the government
57
find it’s just too bureaucratic. They bristle at the resentment they feel from colleagues who know they went to the
head of the hiring queue. They acknowledge that they don’t always fit in: Just below the surface, deep culture clashes
in their offices simmer.
These are some of the issues at the root of why veterans don’t stay long in federal jobs, say former troops still
working in government and those who’ve quit. With new data out showing that veterans leave within two years on
average despite the Obama administration’s sustained efforts to hire them — a shorter average tenure than nonveterans at most agencies — we asked some of them why. Like non-veterans, former service members move on for a
variety of reasons, from better opportunities to relocation for family reasons. But veterans say a federal office cubicle
can be a bad fit after military service, with limited opportunities to advance.
“Some veterans will say, ‘I go to staff meetings with a pen and paper and I’m all about the mission,'” said Walter
Elmore, a drill instructor during the Vietnam War who set up an affinity group for veterans at the Department of
Housing and Urban Development. “Things don’t move that quickly in government. There’s a culture here that’s very
different from the culture our veterans are used to dealing with. Elmore said veterans suffer from a widespread
perception that they aren’t qualified for the jobs they got, since they benefit from preferential hiring for civil service
jobs. “People look at us in a very hostile way,” he said. “It’s a little bit of ‘Who do they think they are?’ When you
come into a place and you feel like you don’t fit, you say, it’s a good job, but I want a certain peace of mind.'”
As of fiscal 2014, 85 percent of veterans hired at HUD had left within two years, compared to 78 percent of nonveterans, according to new statistics compiled by the Office of Personnel Management on the biggest push to reward
military service since the draft ended in the 1970s. Only the Defense and State departments had kept more veterans
than non-veterans on board longer. Army Maj. Sean Gilfillan, 37, led soldiers during the U.S. invasion of Iraq and
was awarded a Bronze Star in 2004. Afterwards, he joined the State Department, serving a tour as a diplomat in
Warsaw handling public affairs and outreach. But he left in 2013 to devote his time to his company, which provides
entertainment for the armed forces. Many of his friends are leaving federal service too, he said — to start businesses,
work for nonprofits or find jobs where they are in control and there is high risk, because they’re drawn to that.
Gilfillan said he grew impatient with the sluggish pace of decision making in government and a lack of innovative
thinking. “You leave the military, where you spend a lot of time outside, traveling, doing important missions, etc.
Then you go work in a federal building. Boooooring. While he said he didn’t leave because it was boring, he said, “I
left because advancement is 95 percent based on tenure vs. merit and there is very little individual responsibility verses
the military.” He also said most veterans also are confident they can make more money in private industry.
As The Post reported last fall, non-veterans have their own frustrations and grievances with former troops. While
they’re welcomed in some federal offices as go-getters bringing new energy, their colleagues in the civil service say
that while veterans work hard, they rarely display independent thinking and often show blind deference to authority.
While OPM says it’s too early to draw conclusions from the numbers, advocates for veterans in government now are
very focused now on helping them stay put. Almost two dozen agencies with affinity groups have banded together to
help veterans think about developing their careers and find more leadership opportunities. “Veterans entering federal
service struggle to gain ready and consistent access to career development education and technical training beyond
their initial on-boarding and orientation training,” said John Angevine, a retired Army colonel now specializing in
veterans affairs for the Brookings Institution. Veterans are “often being told they have to ‘wait their turn’ for more
senior employees,” he said. He’s proposed that agencies authorize official time for veterans to use their GI Bill
education benefits for career-related education and training.
Sometimes the departures are not the government’s fault, veterans say. “It’s a two-way street and veterans don’t
always know how to describe their experience and skills from the military,” said Lloyd Calderon, who was in the Air
Force for 23 years and was hired in 2013 by the Small Business Administration, where he started an affinity group.
“They speak veteran,” Calderon said. “And we need to help them translate.” The SBA had the most trouble keeping
veterans in fiscal 2014, with just 62 percent staying two years or more, compared to 88 percent of non-veterans.
Calderon said many veterans at his agency feel they’re overqualified for their jobs. They’re frustrated by the slow pace
58
of advancement. Veterans with disabilities also complain that agencies are slow to accommodate their needs, Calderon
said.
Brandon Friedman, 37, worked in government twice, the first to start an office of digital media at the Department
of Veterans Affairs after commanding a platoon during the invasion of Iraq and receiving two Bronze Stars for his
service in that country and Afghanistan. After three years at VA, he was lured by a global corporate public relations
firm. Then he went to HUD for just 18 months as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs. In July, he left
government again to start his own PR firm with friends, The McPherson Square Group. Friedman said he was much
more comfortable in government because there were so many veterans. But he had higher-paying opportunities
outside, and being a veteran helped him land them. He said veterans “are used to bouncing around every three years
or so” when they’re reassigned, which may explain why many stay in government for relatively short periods:
“They’re used to that lifestyle.” [Source: Washington Post | Lisa Rein and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux | September 1,
2015 ++]
*********************************
Burn Pit Lawsuit Update 02
► Taxpayer’s to Pay KBR’s Legal Expenses
U.S. taxpayers will have to pay at least $30 million to cover attorney fees incurred by defense contractor KBR Inc.,
accused of wrongly exposing U.S. and British soldiers to dangerously toxic chemicals during a 2003 deployment to
Iraq duty in the Iraq War. A federal magistrate in Portland ruled 2 SEP that Oregon Army National Guard soldiers
will not have to pay the defense contractor's legal expenses. KBR filed a motion in June to recoup $850,000 from a
dozen of the more than 30 soldiers who accuse the company of causing them to become sick as they guarded a water
treatment plant in the oilfields of Iraq. The dust contained hexavalent chromium, which they say caused respiratory
illnesses and other health problems.
David Sugerman shows off the only pay he's gotten so far for his work with veterans taking on KBR over exposure to
hexavalent chromium in Iraq. Oregon soldiers are suing the war contractor with the help of Sugerman, in his one-man
office. The Iraqi bill was a joke gift from one of the veterans involved in the lawsuit.
A jury in Portland's U.S. District Court found in favor of the vets in 2012, finding KBR negligent, and the panel
awarded a dozen of them $85 million. But last May, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out that verdict on
jurisdictional grounds. The following month, as lawyers for the soldiers prepared to transfer the case to Houston
(KBR's headquarters), the defense contractor's attorneys filed a motion seeking to recover their litigation costs. The
move sparked an immediate outcry from Democratic members of the Oregon congressional delegation; they were still
raising a stink about it on Wednesday when U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Papak denied KBR's motion. KBR
immediately filed a motion to appeal Papak's opinion. "It's consistent with KBR's attitude toward the veterans that not
only would they pursue these fees, but also appealed their denial within hours of the judge's opinion," said Mike Doyle,
who represents the soldiers. [Source: The Oregonian | Bryan Denson | September 2, 2015 ++]
*********************************
59
IL Vet Homestead Exemption
► Expansion to 30% Disability Rating
On 16 AUG, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 107, which expands the current Homestead Exemption
for Veterans with Disabilities in Illinois. Beginning in property tax year 2015, payable 2016, veterans with a serviceconnected disability rating of at least 30 percent can qualify for exemptions at the following levels:
 Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 30 to 49 percent can receive an exemption which
takes $2,500 off of their primary dwelling’s equalized assessed value (EAV).
 Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 50 to 69 percent can receive an exemption that
takes $5,000 off of their primary dwelling’s EAV.
 Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or greater can receive an exemption
that makes all of their primary dwelling’s EAV exempt from property taxation.
To be eligible, the property must be the veteran’s primary residence as of 1 Jan 2015 with an equalized assessed
value of less than $250,000, and it cannot be used for commercial purposes. The veteran must apply through the
Henry County Assessment Office. On August 29th, the Henry County Assessment office mailed the revised PTAX342-R (Annual Verification of Eligibility for Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities) form to
140 previously qualified Henry County Veterans with instructions to return the completed form along with their
2015 VA award certification letter from the VA. The completed PTAX form and award certification must be
submitted to Henry County Assessment Office, 307 W. Center St., Cambridge, IL 61238 no later than October 15,
2015. If you do not have a current VA award certificate, you can call the Department of Veterans Administration at
1(800) 827-1000 or log onto www.ebenefits.va.gov . Or you can call Superintendent Dan Swanson or Secretary
Curtis Potter at (309) 937-3450/3451 at Henry County Veterans Assistance Commission.
Under the new law, more Henry County Veterans may qualify at the lower service connected percentage rate. As
of the end of the 2014 Federal Fiscal Year there were approximately 4,500 veterans in Henry County, with 92 veterans
at 30 to 40 percent service-connected; 82 veterans 50 to 60 percent service-connected and 156 veterans rated at 70
percent or more. [Source: IL Dept. of Veteran affairs Press Release | September 10, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Obit: Paul Royle
► 23 Aug 2015
Paul Royle, an Australian pilot who took part in a mass breakout from a German prisoner of war camp during World
War II that is remembered as the Great Escape, died 23 AUG in his home town of Perth. He was 101. The cause was
complications from surgery on a hip fracture, his son Gordon Royle said. The escape was the basis for a 1963
Hollywood movie “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen. But Mr. Royle revealed last year, on the 70th
anniversary of the tunnel escape in March 1944, that he was no fan of the cinematic interpretation of the story. “The
movie I disliked intensely because there were no motorbikes . . . and the Americans weren’t there,” he told an
Australian journalist, referring to McQueen’s dramatic bid to outrun the Germans on a motorbike.
Paul Royle in uniform during World War ll.
60
Mr. Royle’s death leaves only one survivor of the 76 men who escaped from Stalag Luft III, 100 miles southeast
of Berlin: 94-year-old Dick Churchill, a former British squadron leader, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
Only three of the escapees — two Norwegians and a Dane — made it home. Fifty others, from 12 nations, were shot
dead when caught. An additional 23 were sent back to the Stalag or to other camps but survived the war. Mr. Royle
said his contribution to the escape operation was distributing dirt excavated from the 360-foot tunnel around the
campgrounds. This was done by surreptitiously releasing the soil down his trouser legs in areas where the ground
color vaguely matched. He spent two days hiding in a snow-covered forest before he was recaptured.
Flight Lt. Royle was a pilot in the Royal Air Force when he was shot down May 17, 1940. He was liberated by
British troops from the Marlag und Milag Nord prison camp in Germany on May 2, 1945. He was interviewed by
Australian war veteran and writer Paul Brickhill for the book “The Great Escape” (1950), which inspired the film.
Royle was born in Perth on Jan. 17, 1914. After the war, he worked in the mining and engineering industries worldwide
and then returned to Perth after retiring around 1980. His first marriage, to Georgina Royle, ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife, Pamela Royle; three children from his first marriage; two children from his second
marriage; a sister; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. [Source: Washington Post | August 29, 2015
++]
*********************************
Obit: Edward Farmer, Jr
► 16 Aug 2015
The Marine Corps lost one of its last surviving veterans of the Battle of Guadalcanal in August. The Honorable Edward
"Cam" Farmer, Jr., recipient of three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star and former 60th District Court
Judge, passed away Aug. 16 in Muskegon, Michigan, four days shy of his 97th birthday. "He was one hell of a guy,"
his son, David Farmer, told Marine Corps Times. "First and foremost, he always put his family first; no matter what
we put in front of him, he would always be there for us." Farmer joined the Corps while a student at Dartmouth
University in New Hampshire, completing officer training over summers. He entered active duty after graduating in
1941, right before America's entry into the war. The shiny lieutenant was sent to the Pacific in 1942 with the 1st
Marine Division, which landed on Guadalcanal on Aug. 7, 1942. With the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, Farmer
established defensive positions on a ridge protecting Henderson Field.
Edward "Cam" Farmer, Jr., recipient of three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star
The ridge became known as Edson's Ridge – or Bloody Ridge – after Japanese forces launched a counterattack on
12 SEP. In the course of two days of brutal fighting, Farmer was shot in the arm and had a bullet graze his scalp. "He
didn't talk a lot about the war," David Farmer said. "The one thing he did say was that he lost a lot of good men, these
guys in their late teens and early 20s, and that when you're with someone in that sort of circumstance, you're really
brothers for life." David learned more about his father's experience one evening at a Barnes & Noble when Cam was
thumbing through the book Bloody Ridge: The Battle that Saved Guadalcanal by Michael S. Smith. Farmer saw his
name while thumbing through the back index and showed it to David: "Look at this: proof positive I was in the war!"
61
Following the war, Farmer attended law school at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, before returning
to his home in Muskegon, Michigan. He opened his own law practice and served as a trial lawyer for 18 years until
he was elected as the 60th District Court Judge, a position he served in for 24 years before retiring in 1994. "He was
fascinated by the law, which came from his experiences as a Marine," David said. "The ethics and the sense of right
and wrong, attention to detail and its precise, regimented nature; I think it gave him a sense of control in an otherwise
chaotic life: from the war to civilian life … it served him well right up until his dying days."
Edward C. "Cam" Farmer Jr (lower left) with fellow Marine Corps veterans.
Farmer was tough as nails as a judge, but always fair and empathetic, trying to see the human element in others'
actions, David recalled. "He treated everybody equally and taught us to have respect for what any one person may be
going through: good or bad." "He always pressed upon us the need to protect each other," David said. "He said 'Semper
Fi means always being next to that person to help them through' – that never left him." [Source: MarineCorpsTimes
| Matthew L. Schehl | August 30, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Obit: Ben Kuroki
► 1 SEP 2015
Ben Kuroki, who overcame the American military's discriminatory policies to become the only Japanese American to
fly over Japan during World War II, has died. He was 98. Kuroki died 1 SEP at his Camarillo, California, home, where
he was under hospice care, his daughter Julie Kuroki told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday. The son of Japanese
immigrants who was raised on a Hershey, Nebraska, farm, Kuroki and his brother, Fred, volunteered for service after
the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. They were initially rejected by recruiters who questioned the loyalty of the
children of Japanese immigrants. Undeterred, the brothers drove 150 miles to another recruiter, who allowed them to
sign up.
At the time, the Army Air Forces banned soldiers of Japanese ancestry from flying, but Kuroki earned his way onto
a bomber crew and flew 58 bomber missions over Europe, North Africa and Japan during the war. He took part in the
August 1943 raid over Nazi oil fields in Ploesti, Romania, that killed 310 fliers in his group. He was captured after his
plane ran out of fuel over Morocco, but he managed to escape with crewmates to England. Because of his Japanese
ancestry, he was initially rejected when he asked to serve on a B-29 bomber that was to be used in the Pacific. But
after repeated requests and a review of his stellar service record, Secretary of War Harry Stimson granted an exception.
Crew members nicknamed him "Most Honorable Son," and the War Department gave him a Distinguished Flying
Cross. He was saluted by Time magazine in 1944 under the headline "HEROES: Ben Kuroki, American." He was
hailed a hero and a patriot at a time when tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were confined at internment camps
amid fears of a Japanese invasion of the West Coast.
62
Ben Kuroki returned to the United States during World War II to promote the war effort and visit internment camps and
(right) in 1985
After the war, Kuroki enrolled at the University of Nebraska, where he obtained a journalism degree. He published
a weekly newspaper in Nebraska for a short time before moving to Michigan and finally to California, where he retired
as the news editor of Ventura Star-Free Press in 1984. In 2005, he received the U.S. Army Distinguished Service
Medal, one of the nation's highest military honors. "I had to fight like hell for the right to fight for my own country,"
Kuroki said at the award ceremony in Lincoln, Nebraska. "And I now feel vindication." [Source: Associated Press |
September 6, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Obit: Einar H. Ingman, Jr.
► 9 SEP 2015
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced that Staff Sergeant Einar H. Ingman, Jr., Medal of Honor
recipient, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015, in Irma, Wisconsin at the age of 85. Staff Sergeant Ingman
was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1929. Ingman grew up on a nearby farm and joined the Army
hoping to learn heavy equipment, but was assigned to the infantry. His heroic action occurred near Maltari, Korea, on
February 26, 1951 when he was a corporal with the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea and his unit was tasked with
attacking an enemy position. When the squad leaders were wounded, Ingman combined the two units and led the
assault. He destroyed one of the machine gun nests and was advancing on the other when shot in the face. He
unflinchingly continued his assault on the second nest killing the enemy soldiers with his bayonet before losing
consciousness. It inspired his men to press the attack until the enemy broke into a disorganized retreat. He was awarded
the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman at a White House ceremony on July 5, 1951. Funeral services will
be on September 16, 2015. There are 78 recipients alive today. [Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire | September 10,
2015 ++]
*********************************
63
Retiree Appreciation Days
► As of 11 NOV 2015
Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs) are designed with you in mind. They're a great source of the latest information for
retirees and Family members in your area. RADs vary from installation to installation, but, in general, they provide
an opportunity to renew acquaintances, listen to guest speakers, renew ID Cards, get medical checkups, and various
other services. Some RADs include special events such as dinners or golf tournaments. Due to budget constraints,
some RADs may be cancelled or rescheduled. Also, scheduled appearances of DFAS representatives may not be
possible. If you plan to travel long distances to attend a RAD, before traveling, you should call the sponsoring RSO
to ensure the RAD will held as scheduled and, if applicable, whether or not DFAS reps will be available. The current
schedule is provided in the attachment to this Bulletin titled, “Retiree Activity\Appreciation Days (RAD)
Schedule”. Note that this schedule has been expanded to include dates for retiree\veterans related events such as
town hall meetings, resource fairs, stand downs, etc. For more information call the phone numbers of the Retirement
Services Officer (RSO) sponsoring the RAD as indicated in the attachment. An up-to-date list of Retiree Appreciation
Days can always be accessed online at:
 HTML: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.html
 PDF: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.pdf
 Word: http://www.hostmtb.org/RADs_and_Other_Retiree-Veterans_Events.doc
[Source: RAD List Manager | Milton Bell | November 11, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vet Hiring Fairs
► 15 Nov thru 14 Dec 2015
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s (USCC) Hiring Our Heroes program employment workshops are available in
conjunction with hundreds of their hiring fairs. These workshops are designed to help veterans and military spouses
and include resume writing, interview skills, and one-on-one mentoring. For details of each you should click on the
city next to the date in the below list. To participate, sign up for the workshop in addition to registering (if indicated)
for the hiring fairs which are shown below for the next month. For more information about the USCC Hiring Our
Heroes Program, Military Spouse Program, Transition Assistance, GE Employment Workshops, Resume Engine, etc.
visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website at http://www.hiringourheroes.org/hiringourheroes/events .
 Carlisle, PA - Carlisle Networking Reception Details Register
November 16 - 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
 Huntsville, AL - Huntsville Hiring Fair Details Register
November 17 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
 Virtual Job Fair Details Register
November 17 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
 Portland, OR - Portland Hiring Fair Details Register
November 19 - 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
 Employer Best Practices Webinar Details Register
November 30 - 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
 Virtual Job Fair Details Register
December 3 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
 San Antonio, TX - Joint Base San Antonio Transition Summit Details Register
December 9 - 4:00 pm to December 10 - 4:00 pm
64
 Miami, FL - Miami Hiring Fair Details Register
December 10 - 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
[Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assn November 8, 2015 ++]
*********************************
WWII Vets 94
► Carroll~Al
Al Carroll was only a mile away when the iconic photo was shot of Iwo Jima as five U.S. Marines and one sailor
raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi during World War II. The photo is not only a snapshot of history, its
image symbolizes freedom. It's also a reminder to Carroll of the friends he lost in battle. The flag could be seen on top
of the mountain, rising 500 feet in the air as a celebration erupted. "When the flag went up, it was almost like a football
game with all the cheering," Carroll said. "You could hear them all over the island and ships blowing their horns."
Carroll was a 20-year-old Marine in the Marine 4th Division when the flag was raised on Feb. 23, 1945. As the nation
remembers the anniversary of Iwo Jima, Carroll will be celebrating his 90th birthday and recalling that day, 70 years
ago.
Al Carroll talks about his experiences during World War II at his home in Montgomery.
He still recalls the horrors of that battle, but remembers and honors his two high school friends who fought
alongside him and never returned home. Now, a retired lieutenant colonel from the Air Force, Carroll lives in
Montgomery and speaks to schools, groups and churches about his story. "I think they need to know the people like
my buddies who paid the supreme sacrifice and did not have the chance to have a family and come back home like I
did," Carroll said. "I've been blessed all my life." Carroll was 16 and living on a farm in Barbour County when the
Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He and his six other siblings joined the war effort soon after. His two older brothers
joined the militia and his sisters served in the medical field. After basic training, Carroll was sent into combat on the
island of Saipan. There, he would serve several months loading and firing mortar shells against the Japanese leading
up to the battle of Iwo Jima, considered the fiercest and bloodiest battles of the war in the Pacific.
The goal of the invasion by American forces was to capture the island's three airfields to provide a staging area for
attacks on the Japanese main islands. "Iwo Jima was bombed 70 straight days by B-24s, but due to the caves and
underground installations that the Japanese had, it did not do much good," Carroll said. "Then came Iwo Jima. "Two
things will be etched in my mind about WWII more than anything else. The Japanese soldiers made the civilians and
the people jump off the island 200 feet off northern Saipan, and they drowned or they killed them. "The other is,
although I was not a member of the funeral detail on Iwo Jima, because of the fierceness of the battle, we had bodies
65
that had not been buried for two weeks. We had to go in there, anyone who could, and get them and put them on a
stretcher."
The bloodshed was a result of absolute desperation by the enemy. The Japanese, facing inevitable defeat, ordered
every soldier to kill at least 10 Americans before they themselves were killed. "The Japanese general had arranged for
every square yard of Iwo Jima to be hit by either artillery, rifle fire, machine gun or mortar," Carroll said. "Normally,
the Japanese would stop the invasion at the beginning of the beach, but they let us get on the beach before firing and
up on the island. They slaughtered many people." Carroll returned to the island in 1980 to see what it was like without
the stench of blood and war. It was a time of healing, reflection and remembrance. "War is war, but I speak so others
so they might know my buddies," Carroll said. [Source: Montgomery Advertiser | Rebecca Burylo | February 19,
2015 ++]
*********************************
State Veteran's Benefits & Discounts
► Pennsylvania 2015
The state of Pennsylvania provides several benefits to veterans as indicated below. To obtain information on these
plus discounts listed on the Military and Veterans Discount Center (MCVDC) website, refer to the attachment to this
Bulletin titled, “Vet State Benefits & Discounts – PA” for an overview of the below benefits. Benefits are available
to veterans who are residents of the state. For a more detailed explanation of each of the following benefits listed refer
to http://www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/index.aspx and http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/oregon.html
 Veteran Housing Benefits
 Veteran Financial Assistance Benefits
 Veteran and Dependents Education Benefits
 Other State Sponsored Veteran Benefits
 Discounts
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/pennsylvania-state-veterans-benefits.html Sep 2015
++]
*********************************
* Vet Legislation *
Wounded Warrior Leave
► H.R.313 Signed Into Law
President Obama has signed into law the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 sponsored by U.S. Rep.
Stephen Lynch aimed at giving federal workers who are also veterans extra time off to seek medical care. The new
law provides the employees with 104 hours of what Lynch calls "Wounded Warrior leave" during their first year in
66
the federal workforce so that they can seek medical treatment for service-connected disabilities without being forced
to take unpaid leave or forego their appointments. The Massachusetts Democrat said getting the proposal to Obama's
desk was a bipartisan effort. The measure passed the House unanimously on 28 SEP and then passed the Senate, also
unanimously, on 26 OCT. Lynch said the new law reflects Congress' gratitude and appreciation for the hardship and
sacrifices made by veterans. [Source: The Associated Press | November 8, 2015 ++]
*********************************
NDAA for 2016 Update 16
► Vetoed | House/Senate Pass Revision
On 20 OCT the final, enrolled version of the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, which passed Congress
with strong bipartisan support and contained vital authorities that support our military and their families, was sent to
the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature into law. On 22 OCT, President Barack Obama vetoed it
as he had threatened to do. He vetoed it because it inflated Pentagon funding via the overseas contingency operations
(OCO) wartime account to skirt budget caps but refused to include an equal increase domestic spending. The fiscal
2016 NDAA is the fifth veto of Obama's seven-year presidency. President Obama’s veto of the defense bill is an
historic event, but not necessarily in a good way. It is the first time an NDAA was vetoed primarily because of an
issue that the bill itself cannot address, namely non-defense spending. After the President’s decision, Armed Services
Chairmen John McCain and Mac Thornberry said in a joint statement, "Never before has an American president used
the bill that provides pay and support to our troops and their families as political leverage for his domestic agenda."
The veto procedure is established under the Constitution. The Constitution grants the president 10 days to review
a measure passed by the Congress. A regular veto occurs when the President refuses to sign the bill into law and
returns the vetoed bill with a message indicating reasons for rejecting the measure. A veto can be overridden only by
a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House. Since Congress started passing annual defense policy bills in 1961,
they've been vetoed four times by Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush. Each time, it was for a
specific policy reason: a nuclear aircraft carrier for Carter, missile defense for Reagan and Clinton, and Iraq policy for
Bush. Refer to www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2015/10/21/an_ndaa_veto_unlike_any_other_108599.html for a
little veto history on defense bills.
The US House 5 NOV subsequently voted overwhelmingly to approve a revised bill that complies with the terms
of the overarching budget deal between the president and congressional leadership, teeing up a vote in the Senate next
week. This is the second time around for this 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, whose provisions authorize
spending on a wide range of acquisition programs across the services, overhaul the military retirement system and
reauthorize a host of military pays and benefits. The bill also includes significant provisions aimed at reforming
acquisitions. Thursday's House vote tallied 370-58 – netting significantly more Democrats than the last time. Many
Democrats voted against the previous version. House Armed Services Chairman Rep. William “Mac” Thornberry and
Republicans speaking in support of the measure invoked the upcoming Veteran’s Day holiday and called on colleagues
of both parties to send a signal of support to US service members around the globe, as well as allies and adversaries.
Many of the Republicans who spoke in favor of the bill on the floor were veterans. “The rest of the world also needs
to see that sort of support because there are an increasing number of questions about whether the United States is in
retreat, about whether we are willing to continue to engage in world leadership,” Thornberry said. “One of the ways
we can demonstrate to adversaries, to friends, to neutrals that we are committed to ourselves and our allies is pass this
bill for the 54th straight year.”
The new bill preserves the last version's policy provisions but was reduced by $5 billion to $607 billion to comply
with the budget deal negotiated between congressional leaders and the president. The larger budget pact would raise
caps on defense spending by about $25 billion for each of the next two fiscal years, to $548 billion in fiscal 2016 and
$551 billion in fiscal 2017. Crucially for Democrats — who sought a budget deal with Republicans that increases nondefense and defense spending equally — non-defense spending caps would be upped by $25 billion in fiscal 2016 and
67
$15 billion in 2016, and another nearly $15 billion would be added in non-military costs to the temporary war-funding
accounts each of the next two years.
HASC's ranking member, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said before voting for the bill that the rejection of the earlier
version — which did not address budget caps — was actually supportive of defense. Smith said the maneuvering was
meant to deliver a bill that makes for less turbulence for the Defense Department. “Until we finally get rid of the
budget caps and get a more predictable at least five if not 10 years, national security will be at risk,” Smith said. “Now
its great that we’ve got two years, it’s great that we’ve got this one bill, but as many in the Department of Defense
have mentioned … the last five years have been terrible for defense – unpredictability, threatened shutdowns, actual
shutdowns, budget caps.” House Republican leaders had announced 3 NOV they would drop plans for a veto override
vote. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) has said he expected quick passage of the
measure in the Senate.
The Senate cleared the bill 10 NOV in a blowout 91-3 vote. However, even though the House passed the measure
last week, the bill can’t be sent to the president just yet due to some highly technical complications. After passing its
version of the NDAA, the House adopted a resolution (H Con Res 90) instructing the clerks enrolling the bill to make
technical corrections. After passing the bill this week, the Senate also adopted the resolution, but amended it, meaning
the House will need to take up the resolution again in order for the changes — including a new title, spelling corrections
and swapping out a funding table — to be made and for the bill to be sent to the president. Since the House has been
in recess this week, don’t expect the President to sign the NDAA any time before next week.
Separately on 5 NOV, Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the fiscal 2016 Defense Appropriations legislation –
the bill that actually doles out the money for the department. Democrats want the spending bill to be part of a larger
omnibus package funding all the agencies and avoiding a government shutdown in December. According to a 5 NOV
report in The Hill, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) expressed concern that Republicans would call for a continuing
resolution to fund the government instead of an omnibus package, if the chamber passed Defense spending legislation
as a stand-alone bill. “For the third time this year, Senate Democrats have blocked vital legislation to give the men
and women in our military the funding they need to defend the nation,” said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in a statement.
“There is always some negotiating stance to defend, some procedural quibble to make, some domestic spending
priority that is more important.” Congress has until 11 DEC to pass all the fiscal 2016 spending bills individually, or
lump them together in an omnibus package. If lawmakers fail to do that, the government will shut down. [Source:
NAUS Weekly Watchdog, Defense News, GovExec.com | Oct 23, Nov 5 & 13, 2015 ++]
*********************************
VA Medical Marijuana Update 15
► Veterans Equal Access Amendment
Legislation passed 10 NOV by the Senate includes a provision (formerly H.R.667) that would allow VA doctors to
recommend medical marijuana to patients in states where it is legal. Some veterans groups have pressed Congress for
years to allow the drug for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The so-called Veterans Equal Access
Amendment would do so and was sponsored by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). In a statement,
Daines noted that the provision "does not change current laws preventing the possession or dispensing of marijuana
on VA property, but simply allows veterans to discuss all options that are legally available in their state with their VA
doctor." Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, welcomed the move.
"Veterans in medical marijuana states should be treated the same as any other resident, and should be able to discuss
marijuana with their doctor," he said. "It makes no sense that a veteran can’t use medical marijuana if it helps them
and it is legal in their state."
The provision was inserted into the Military and Veterans Construction bill, which the upper chamber unanimously
passed. Similar language was included in legislation introduced in the House of Representatives in February by Rep.
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Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, but it has stalled in committee. The VA concedes that some veterans use medical
marijuana to relieve PTSD symptoms but questions its effectiveness and suggests the practice might actually be
harmful. "Controlled studies have not been conducted to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of medical marijuana for
PTSD," states a report by Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Ph.D. and Glenna S. Rousseau, Ph.D. "Thus, there is no evidence
at this time that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD. In fact, research suggests that marijuana can be harmful
to individuals with PTSD." The federal government last year approved a study on medical marijuana to be conducted
by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a California-based nonprofit research center. But the
testing has been delayed over the supply of approved marijuana and a change in testing sites, MAPS spokesman Brad
Burg told Military.com in April. [Source: Military.com | Bryant Jordan | November 11, 2015 ++\
*********************************
Vet Student Loan Exemption
► H.R. 2874 | Taxable Income Issue
The Andrew P. Carpenter Act of 2015 is a bill that would exempt student loan forgiveness from being categorized as
taxable income for families of veterans who lost their lives while serving our country. Lance Corporal Andrew P.
Carpenter of Columbia, Tennessee lost his life on February 19, 2011, while stationed in Afghanistan. Three years
prior to his tour of duty, Andrew took out a private student loan. Although this loan was ultimately forgiven by the
loan company, the Carpenter family was shocked to receive a $1,000 tax bill from the Internal Revenue Service
informing them that the discharged debt would still be factored into taxable income for that year. This legislation will
stop this from happening to families who have lost loved ones in service to our country.
H.R. 2874 would amend the Internal Revenue Code by exempting student loan forgiveness from being categorized
as gross taxable income for families of veterans who lost their lives while serving on active duty in the United States
Armed Forces. The bill would be retroactive to October 7, 2001. NGAUS strongly supports H.R. 2874 and is asking
you to contact your representatives and urge them to support this bill. To do so you can use their editable message
available http://www.capwiz.com/ngaus/issues/alert/?alertid=68469851&type=CO to automatically send it via email
or print out a letter in the format you desire for you to mail. [Source: NGAUS | Grace Washbourne | November 5,
2015 ++]
*********************************
Cold War Medal Update 06
► Reintroduced as H.R.2067
Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) has once again introduced a bill to create a Cold War Service Medal. It is H.R.
2067. This has been proposed in the last several Congresses and TREA is trying once again to finally get it passed.
The Pentagon has repeatedly opposed the bill saying that it would cost them $400M to create and award the medal.
The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) accepted DoD’s figures and scored the bill’s price as the same $400 million.
TREA believes that this is a horribly inflated number and intends to fight it. If you are interested in this recognition
please speak to your House member and urge him or her to cosponsor the bill. [Source: TREA News for the Enlisted
| September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Agent Orange Extension Act
► Time is Running Out | H.R.4323
Congressman Tim Walz (MN) recently introduced the FRA-supported “Agent Orange Extension Act,” (H.R. 3423)
which would extend by two years the original sunset deadline of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to ensure that Vietnam
69
veterans exposed to Agent Orange receive just compensation and care. The Act expires on September 30, 2015 and
the legislation would extend the sunset to September 30, 2017. FRA warned the House and Senate Veterans Affairs
Committees regarding the sunset of the Act during its March 18, 2015 testimony.
The Agent Orange Act of 1991 (AOA) established a presumption of service connection for diseases associated
with Agent Orange exposure, relieving Vietnam veterans from the burden of providing evidence that their illness was
a result of military service. This law directs the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to periodically research and
review diseases that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure. The VA is required to add diseases the NAS
finds to have a positive association to Agent Orange exposure to the VA’s list of presumptive service connected
diseases.
Since the enactment of the AOA, the NAS has issued reports that have led to the presumption of service connection
for diseases such as Parkinson’s, B-cell leukemia and early onset peripheral neuropathy. Without these studies,
thousands of Vietnam era veterans would have gone without the benefits they greatly deserve.
If the AOA expires before the final report is issued, the VA would no longer be obligated to review the NAS report
or add any new diseases to the presumption of service list, in the process denying thousands of veterans their right to
compensation. Veterans are urged to use the FRA Action Center’s preformatted editable message at
http://capwiz.com/fra/issues/alert/?alertid=67677626&queueid=10976908306 to ask their Representative to support
this important legislation. [Source: FRA Making Waves | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress
► 150901 thru 151114
Refer to this Bulletin’s “House & Senate Veteran Legislation” attachment for a listing of Congressional bills of
interest to the veteran community introduced in the 114 th Congress. The list contains the bill’s number and name,
what it is intended to do, it’s sponsor, any related bills, and the committees it has been assigned to. Support of these
bills through cosponsorship by other legislators is critical if they are ever going to move through the legislative process
for a floor vote to become law. A good indication of that likelihood is the number of cosponsors who have signed
onto the bill. Any number of members may cosponsor a bill in the House or Senate. At https://beta.congress.gov you
can review a copy of each 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 by entering the bill number in the site’s search engine. To determine
what bills, amendments your representative/senator has sponsored, cosponsored, or dropped sponsorship on go to:
https://beta.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22source%22%3A%5B%22legislation%22%5D%7D,
Select
the
‘Sponsor’ tab, and click on your congress person’s name. You can also go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php.
Grassroots lobbying is the most effective way to let your Congressional representatives know your wants and
dislikes. If you are not sure who is your Congressman go to https://beta.congress.gov/members. Members of Congress
are receptive and open to suggestions from their constituents. The key to increasing cosponsorship support on veteran
related bills and subsequent passage into law is letting legislators know of 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 their phone number, mailing address, or email/website to communicate
with a message or letter of your own making at either:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/representatives
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE
HOUSE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED
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H.R.3471 : Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make
certain improvements in the provision of automobiles and adaptive equipment by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
H.R.3484 : Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015. A bill to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to enter into certain leases at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus
in Los Angeles, California, and for other purposes.
H.R.3499 : Veteran Disability Rating Parity Act. A bill to amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security
Act to provide for treatment of disability rated and certified as total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as
disability for purposes of such titles.
H.R.3547 : Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act. A bill to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force on Agent Orange exposure.
H.R.3549 : VA Billing Accountability Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive the requirement of certain veterans to make copayments for hospital
care and medical services in the case of an error by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes.
H.R.3588 : Guaranteed 3 Percent COLA for Seniors Act of 2015. A bill to require the establishment of
a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security
benefits under title II of the Social Security Act and to provide, in the case of elderly beneficiaries under such
title, for an annual cost-of-living increase which is not less than 3 percent.
H.R.3590 : Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to repeal the increase in the income threshold used in determining the deduction for medical
care.
H.R.3596 : Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
H.R.3639 : Veterans Access to Care Act. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to designate certain
medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs as health professional shortage areas, and for other
purposes.
H.R.3686 : Veterans Care and Reporting Enforcement Act. A bill to direct the Inspector General of the
Department of Veterans Affairs to make certain reports publicly available and for other purposes.
H.R.3709 : Helping our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act. A bill to make permanent the pilot
program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding enhanced contract care authority for
the health care needs of veterans located in highly rural areas, and for other purposes.
H.R.3739 : Veterans' Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act. A bill to provide for qualified physicians
to perform a medical certification for an operator of a commercial motor vehicle who is a veteran, and for
other purposes.
H.R.3789 : Honor Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish a memorial headstone or marker to commemorate an eligible
individual whose remains are identified and available but the location of the gravesite is unknown.
H.R.3849 : Acupuncture for Heroes and Seniors Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 10, United States
Code, to ensure access to qualified acupuncturist services for military members and military dependents, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure access to acupuncturist services through the Department of
Veterans Affairs, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified
acupuncturist services under the Medicare program; to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the
appointment of qualified acupuncturists as officers in the commissioned Regular Corp and the Ready Reserve
Corps of the Public Health Service, and for other purposes.
H.R.3870 : Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for the treatment of veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll as radiation
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exposed veterans for purposes of the presumption of service-connection of certain disabilities by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
H.R.3879 : Enhanced Veteran Healthcare Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for covered agreements and contracts between the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and eligible
academic affiliates for the mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of health-care resources, and
for other purposes.
H.R.3883 : Veteran's Choice Accountability Act. A bill to improve the provision of health care by the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
H.R.3884 : Veterans Collaboration Act. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a
pilot program to promote and encourage collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and
nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to
veterans.
H.R.3885 : Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and sharing of Disability Examination
Procedures with DOD Doctors Act. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to include a single
comprehensive disability examination as part of the required Department of Defense physical examination
for separating members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
H.R.3909 : Veterans Health and Accountability Act. A bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014 to expand the Veterans Choice Program, to amend title 38, United States Code,
to provide for the removal or demotion of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on
performance or misconduct, and for other purposes.
H.R.3936 : Veteran Engagement Team Event Pilot Program. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary carries out Veteran Engagement Team
events where veterans can complete claims for disability compensation and pension under the laws
administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
H.R.3951 : VA Office of Health Care Quality. A bill to establish in the Veterans Health Administration
of the Department of Veterans Affairs the Office of Health Care Quality.
H.R.3954 : Camp Lejeune Reserve Component VA Medical Services. To amend title 38, United States
Code, to provide for access to hospital care and medical services furnished by the Department of Veterans
Affairs for certain members of the reserve components who received training at Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina, and for other purposes.
H.R.3958 : Veterans Health Care Stamp. A bill to provide for the issuance of a Veterans Health Care
Stamp.
H.R.3960 : Homeless Female Vet Survey. To provide for a survey regarding homeless female veterans,
and for other purposes.
H.R.3963 : Purple Heart Vet’s Commissary/Exchange Privilege. To amend title 10, United States
Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to certain veterans who have been
awarded the Purple Heart and to their dependents.
H.R.3970 : Abandoned Homes Renovation for Homeless Vets. A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to establish a pilot grant program to acquire and renovate abandoned homes for homeless veterans.
H.R.3972 : Suicidal Vet Mental Health Services Enhancement. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to more effectively provide mental health resources for
members of the Armed Forces and veterans at high risk of suicide, and for other purposes.
H.R.3974 : VA Physician Assistant Vet Training Educational Assistance. A bill to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain
former members of the Armed Forces for education and training as physician assistants of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, to establish pay grades and require competitive pay for physician assistants of the
Department, and for other purposes.
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H.R.3975 : First-Time Vet Homebuyers Tax Credit. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to allow a credit for veteran first-time homebuyers and for adaptive housing and mobility improvements for
disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
H.R.3980 : Eliminate Veterans Choice Program Sunset Date. A bill to eliminate the sunset date for the
Veterans Choice Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to expand eligibility for such program,
and for other purposes.
H.R.3989 : Vet Caregiver Benefits Eligibility. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve
the process for determining the eligibility of caregivers of veterans to certain benefits administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF VETERAN RELATED LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE
SENATE SINCE THE LAST BULLETIN WAS PUBLISHED
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S.1955 : Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act. A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act to provide for equitable allotment of land to Alaska Native veterans.
S.1982 : Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act of 2015. A bill to authorize a Wall
of Remembrance as part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial and to allow certain private contributions to
fund the Wall of Remembrance.
S.1991 : Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Choice Card Act of 2015. A bill to eliminate the
sunset date for the Choice Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to expand eligibility for such
program, and for other purposes.
S.2000 : Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into certain agreements with non-Department
of Veterans Affairs health care providers if the Secretary is not feasibly able to provide health care in facilities
of the Department or through contracts or sharing agreements, and for other purposes.
S.2013 : VA West Los Angeles Campus Leasing Authority. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to enter into certain leases at the Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus in Los
Angeles, California, and for other purposes.
S.2052 : Department of Veterans Affairs Billing Accountability Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to waive the requirement of certain
veterans to make copayments for hospital care and medical services in the case of an error by the Department
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.2062 : VARO Manila Operation Extension. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend
authority for operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Manila, the Republic of the
Philippines.
S.2081 : VA Presumption Of Service Connection for Exposure to Herbicide Agents Extension. A bill
to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend authorities for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand
presumption of service connection for compensation for diseases the Secretary determines are associated
with exposure to herbicide agents, and for other purposes.
S.2082 : Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38,
United States Code, to extend certain expiring provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.2106 : VA VOCHAB Action Plan Development. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
develop and publish an action plan for improving the vocational rehabilitation services and assistance
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.2120 : Veterans Justice Outreach Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to require
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to support veterans in contact with the criminal
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justice system by discouraging unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and other nonviolent crimes,
and for other purposes.
S.2170 : Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015. A bill to amend title 38, United
States Code, to improve the ability of health care professionals to treat veterans through the use of
telemedicine, and for other purposes.
S.2175 : Department of Veterans Affairs Provider Equity Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States
Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.2179 : Veteran CARE Act. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to enter into certain agreements with non-Department of Veterans Affairs health care
providers if the Secretary is not feasibly able to provide health care in facilities of the Department or through
contracts or sharing agreements, and for other purposes.
S.2210 : Veteran Partners' Efforts to Enhance Reintegration Act. A bill to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to establish peer specialists in patient aligned care teams at medical
centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
S.2229 : Veterans Scheduling Accountability Act. A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United
States to conduct audits relating to the timely access of veterans to hospital care, medical services, and other
health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
S.2265 : Improve Rural Area VA Health Care. A bill to improve the provision of health care by the
Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans in rural and highly rural areas, and for other purposes.
S.2279 : VA Health Care Worker (Vet) Recruitment. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to carry out a program to increase efficiency in the recruitment and hiring by the Department of
Veterans Affairs of health care workers that are undergoing separation from the Armed Forces, to create
uniform credentialing standards for certain health care professionals of the Department, and for other
purposes.
[Source: https://beta.congress.gov & http: //www.govtrack.us/congress/bills November 14, 2015 ++]
* Military *
Military Separation Pay
► Pay Back Provision
Stephen, a Marine Corps staff sergeant, agreed to leave service a few years ago when the Corps offered him
voluntary separation pay in an effort to trim its personnel ranks. They gave him about $80,000 to leave, and at the
time it seemed like a good deal. The money helped him buy a house in Texas and get started with a job as a financial
planner. But now the government wants that money back. That's because Stephen, who asked to be identified by his
first name only, recently went to the Veterans Affairs Department and secured an 80 percent disability rating for a
combination of post-traumatic stress, tinnitus and a jaw problem. The VA said he's due an $1,800 monthly stipend.
74
But the VA won't send him any checks until 2018 because federal law requires veterans to pay back any separation
pay received before becoming eligible for disability benefits.
"I wasn't aware of that, and that could have changed my decision altogether" about whether to accept the
voluntary separation pay in the first place, Stephen said. The 30-year-old former platoon sergeant, who deployed
twice to Iraq, is now battling bureaucracy at the Pentagon and the VA in an effort to keep the money, which he has
already spent. About 17,000 troops each year have been granted involuntary separation pay in 2014 and 2015,
mostly soldiers and Marines, according to Pentagon data. Thousands of such vets likely face recoupment of
separation pay, although the VA was unable to say precisely how many veterans currently have benefits blocked for
this reason. And getting any relief from the Pentagon or the VA will be an uphill battle because the payback
requirement is written into federal law. Specifically, the law affects both voluntary and involuntary separation pay.
VA payments are withheld, or offset, until the full amount of separation pay is repaid. In the case of voluntary
separation pay, the law allows the military service secretaries to waive the debt, but such waivers are rare.
It's a common subject for complaints, said Claire Lawless, a veterans transition manager with the Washingtonbased advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "I've definitely seen a slew of veterans come in in
need of financial assistance, usually related to housing or school or something, and they are reaching out because
they got the disability rating they were expecting, but then were told that you have to basically wait until you've
quote-unquote 'paid off your severance,' " Lawless said. "Being told that you won't get the money that you thought
you were relying on is incredibly disheartening," she went on. "And really debilitating because if you lose your
housing, everything starts to fall apart. "Most of them tell me they had no idea this was going to happen. I don't
think it's properly communicated by DoD that when you separate, this will impact your ability to receive benefits
down the line." Some veterans have successfully appealed the debt and had it reduced after proving an urgent
financial hardship. But the bureaucratic process for that is complex and cumbersome and veterans usually need to
contact their congressional representative to serve as their advocate, Lawless said. "The VA , the DoD, these are
bureaucracies ... and going in and battling a bureaucracy on your own without a lot of understanding is challenging
and its helps to have somebody in your corner," Lawless said. IAVA supports veterans in that process through its
Rapid Response Referral Program. The law potentially affects thousands of troops who were forced to separate
recently by their service's "up-or-out" rules.
For example, Shane Collins, a 13-year Marine who was passed over for promotion to staff sergeant last year, was
involuntarily separated in March. Collins received about $46,000 in involuntary separation pay, more specifically a
check for about $33,000 after taxes. He moved back to Twin Falls, Idaho, and used the money to pay off some bills,
buy his wife Amanda a car and set up a home purchased with a VA-backed loan. In May, the VA awarded him a 70percent disability rating due to post-traumatic stress and some hearing loss. That should warrant a $1,300 monthly
benefit. But the VA told him his payments won't start until mid-2017 because he received the military separation
pay. Collins, now 32, has struggled to find work and worries he might fall behind on his $895 monthly mortgage
payment. He has complained to the VA but was told that receiving separation pay and disability benefits is akin to
"double dipping."
Collins strongly disagrees. "It's completely two different areas," he said. "Your involuntary separated, you're
given that amount of money because you were denied reenlistment, and it helps you to transition back to civilian
live." Collins said he does not recall anyone from the Marine Corps telling him that the separation pay might need to
be paid back. Lawless said she has heard that refrain before. "I think the term 'paying back' is very confusing for
people because it doesn't seem like something they should have to pay back," she said. "They seem like two very
separate things — your disability pay and your separation pay. I think that is what's frustrating because it doesn't
seem like it should be coming from the same pot." [Source: MilitaryTimes | Andrew Tilghman, Staff | October 18,
2015 ++]
*********************************
75
Military Compensation Update 05
► History Repeating
President Obama sent a disappointing letter to Congressional leaders last week stating that he plans to use his executive
authority to cap military pay for the third consecutive year. In 2014 and 2015, pay raises were capped at 1 percent.
The president intends to cap 2016 pay raises at 1.3 percent, instead of the 2.3 percent raise called for by law. The
troops’ last four raises averaged less than 1.4 percent, with the FY14 and FY15 pay raises being the lowest in 50 years.
In his letter, Obama said that he is, “strongly committed to supporting our uniformed service members, who have
made such great contributions to our Nation over the past decade of war.” However, he insisted that this move is
necessary to, “maintain efforts to keep our Nation on a sustainable fiscal course.”
DoD leadership came out in support of the president’s announcement, insisting that the pay cap is needed to support
modernization and training. Several years of capping pay below private sector wage growth took place during the
1980’s and 90’s, until servicemembers faced a 13.5 percent pay gap. Because recruitment and retention ultimately
suffered, Congress spent a decade trying to fix the issue by providing pay raises above the Employment Cost Index
(ECI). After coming within 2.5 percent of pay parity in 2013, DoD and Congress considered the issue resolved. Now
it looks like all of the hard work Congress did is unwinding. A third year of pay caps expands the difference between
pay in the military and private sector to 5 percent. And with four more years of DoD-proposed caps, it will get much
worse.
Three years of pay caps really add up. An E-5 with ten years of service will receive about $976 less annually. For
an O-3 with 10 years, it will be about $1,870. “Although Congress and the administration are under pressure from
budget restrictions, this is incredibly disappointing,” said MOAA Director of Government Relations, Col Mike
Hayden, USAF (Ret). “Past experience with capping military raises below private sector pay growth has shown that
once pay raise caps begin, they continue until they undermine retention and readiness of the all-volunteer force.”
Military pay comparability only works when it’s sustained through both good and bad budget times. [Source: MOAA
Leg Up | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
USMC Recruitment
► Arming Recruiter for Security Ruled Out
Marine officials have ruled out arming recruiters following this summer's deadly shooting rampage in Tennessee that
killed five service members, but other security measures to better protect troops are in the works, the head of Marine
Corps Recruiting Command told Marine Corps Times. When a lone gunman opened fire on a Chattanooga Armed
Forces recruiting office and a Navy Reserve center on July 16, some politicians were quick to call for military
76
recruiters to be armed. But none of the military services are interested in arming recruiters, said Lt. Gen. Mark Brilakis,
MCRC's commanding general, during a 8 SEP interview at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA.
"The arming piece is one of those things on the recruiting side that myself and [Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford]
still have great concerns over," he said. "All the services … said they don't want to arm their folks." “Whichever way
you stand on the Second Amendment, recruiters showing up armed is not going to make either educators or parents
comfortable.” The Marine Corps has worked hard to build strong relationships with members of the communities in
which they recruit, Brilakis said. That isn't something leaders want to jeopardize. "Whichever way you stand on the
Second Amendment, recruiters showing up armed is not going to make either educators or parents comfortable."
Instead, the service will implement security measures that will allow Marines to take cover or evacuate in the event
of an attack, he said. Changes being considered include more security cameras, remote-locking doors, and better
ballistic protection, such as movable shields or desk partitions that could protect troops from bullets. Marines will also
continue conducting security training, Brilakis said, which proved vital to those involved in the attack on the
Chattanooga facility. Anything that puts space between Marines and an attacker allows them to execute their
immediate action drills.
Brilakis held the quick reaction of Marines at the Chattanooga recruiting station as an example of the sort of training
Marines already have that could be augmented to keep bad situations from turning worse. "Marines in Chattanooga
got out of that recruiting station in less than a minute," he said. "And they did so because, one, they were trained, and
two, they sat down and talked about it before. Every one of those Marines had been trained or had a conversation once
they got to the recruiting substation about what happens in the event of 'X' — and when 'X' happened, they all executed
perfectly."
Brilakis said Marine leaders realize the attack on the Chattanooga recruiting office could have been far worse. The
shooter remained in his vehicle when firing at the recruiting office and didn't try to enter the facility. While bulletproof glass at military recruiting offices was being considered in the wake of the attack, Brilakis said it has already
been ruled out because of the immense costs associated with installation. Most recruiting offices are leased in locations
like strip malls. Any modifications the Marine Corps makes to the facilities have to be removed when those leases
end, he said. "We looked, and to put ballistic glass in in every one of the recruiting sites that we have — over a
thousand — would be almost in excess of $100 million," he said. "So we've taken many lessons learned and we are
pursuing a number of different opportunities to improve ... security." [Source: MarineCorpsTimes | James K. Sanborn
| September 9, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Gremlin Project
► DARPA | UAS Swarms
DARPA has launched a program to develop swarms of little unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Gremlin project
is named after "the imaginary, mischievous imps that became the good luck charms of many British pilots during
World War II," said a DARPA news release. The announcement made no mention of the classic 1984 movie
"Gremlins," where hordes of little monsters wreaked havoc on a town. DARPA's Gremlins will be air-launched and
air-recoverable. "The program envisions launching groups of gremlins from large aircraft such as bombers or transport
aircraft, as well as from fighters and other small, fixed-wing platforms while those planes are out of range of adversary
defenses," said DARPA. "When the gremlins complete their mission, a C-130 transport aircraft would retrieve them
in the air and carry them home, where ground crews would prepare them for their next use within 24 hours." Each
Gremlin would be good for about 20 missions.
Interestingly, the program seems designed to create UAS for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions
rather than strike missions. "Our goal is to conduct a compelling proof-of-concept flight demonstration that could
employ ISR and other modular, nonkinetic payloads in a robust, responsive and affordable manner,” said DARPA
program manager Dan Patt. [Source: C4ISR & Networks | Michael Peck | September 10, 2015 ++]
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DARPA's Gremlins program seeks to show the feasibility of conducting safe, reliable operations involving multiple airlaunched, air-recoverable unmanned systems.
*********************************
Women in Combat Update 01
► Most Combat Jobs Likely to Open
Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the Navy's top officer, says the service plans to open its elite SEAL teams to women who
can pass the training regimen. In an interview with the publication Defense News, Greenert said he and Rear Adm.
Brian Losey, head of Naval Special Warfare Command, believe that women should be allowed to serve as SEALs if
they can pass the six-month Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. "Why shouldn't anybody who can meet
these (standards) be accepted? And the answer is, there is no reason," Greenert told Defense News on 18 AUG. "So
we're on a track to say, 'Hey, look, anybody who can meet the gender-nonspecific standards, then you can become a
SEAL.' " Greenert didn't specify a timeline for allowing women into SEAL training.
The move to integrate the SEALs comes after a comprehensive review led by Losey that recommended women be
allowed under the same standards required of male candidates. Earlier that week, two women passed the Army's
grueling Ranger test, and other military services are poised to let women serve in most front-line combat jobs,
including special operations forces, senior officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Based on early talks,
officials say the Army and Air Force are unlikely to seek exceptions that close jobs to women. Marine Corps leaders,
they say, have expressed concerns about allowing women to serve in infantry jobs and yet may seek an exception. The
services are wrapping up reviews and must make their recommendations to Defense Secretary Ash Carter this fall.
The officials spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the internal
debate.
Even if Marine leaders object, they are likely to meet resistance from senior Navy and Defense Department officials
who want the military to be united on this issue. Undercutting the Marines' reservations is that Special Operations
Command is likely to allow women to compete for the most demanding military commando jobs - including the
SEALs and the Army's Delta Force - though with the knowledge that it may be years before women even try to enter
those fields. Women have been steadily moving into previously all-male jobs across the military, including as
members of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, best known as the helicopter crews that flew
Virginia Beach-based Navy SEALs into Osama bin Laden's compound. Women are also now serving on Navy
submarines and in Army artillery units.
Friday will mark another milestone as two women graduate at Fort Benning, Ga., from the Army Ranger School,
a physically and mentally demanding two-month combat leadership course. Completing the course lets the two women
wear the coveted Ranger black-and-gold tab, but it does not let them become members of the Ranger regiment. Neither
woman has been publicly identified by the military. Longer term, the uncertainty of the Marine decision underscores
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the wrenching debates going on within the military over the changing role of women, and it reflects the individual
identities of the services and how they view their warrior ethos. Only a handful of jobs in the Navy and Air Force are
closed to women. Last year, the Navy considered seeking an exception that would have prohibited women from
serving on older guided missile frigates, mine-countermeasure ships and patrol coast craft. Some argued that those
ships, which are due to be phased out in coming years, would need millions of dollars in construction to add facilities
for women, and it wasn't worth the expense. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus withdrew that plan in a memo late last month
that was obtained by the AP. Officials said Navy leaders concluded that since women can serve in all the same jobs
on other ships, no real exclusion existed.
The Army and Marine Corps, however, have thousands of infantry, artillery and armor jobs that are closed to
women. There has been a lot of study and debate over whether to open those positions because they often involve
fighting in small units on the front lines, doing physically punishing tasks. The Marine Corps set up a task force this
year to set gender-neutral job standards and determine whether incorporating women into small squads affected unit
cohesion or combat readiness. Army leaders did similar scientific analysis, reviewing all tasks needed to do the combat
jobs and have been creating gender-neutral standards that troops will have to meet to qualify. In recent days, officials
familiar with the discussions said they believe the Army will allow women to seek infantry and armor jobs as well.
[Source: AP & The Virginian-Pilot | TREA News for the Enlisted | September 1, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Women in Combat Update 02
► Time To Do Something About It
In the coming weeks, the service chiefs will likely cite reams of data to support their positions on whether to lift
restrictions on women serving in combat jobs. A couple things will be hard to miss:
 More than 9,000 female troops have earned Combat Action Badges during modern combat operations,
including those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and hundreds more have earned valor awards, including the Silver
Star, the Army's third-highest valor award.
 Advocates of lifting the restrictions argue that existing data show women are already serving in combat and
lifting the restrictions would only be recognizing that reality to allow them to prove they can meet the
standards for currently closed billets and receive the training they need.
 Opponents argue that imposing major social and cultural changes on the military would be fraught with risk
in an era of increasing global threats and cite statistics showing that women suffer injuries at twice the rate
of men in training.
At his Aug. 20 Pentagon news conference, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter restated the policy that has been in
effect since then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced in January 2013 that all military occupational specialties
would be open to women unless the services argued for an exception. "Approximately 110,000 ground combat
positions have been opened to women since then, and the Department's policy is that all ground combat positions will
be open to women, unless rigorous analysis of factual data shows that the positions must remain closed," Carter said.
Some 200,000 combat positions remain closed to female troops. "On October 1st, the services will provide a report
to the Chairman requesting any exception to this policy, and I'll review the services recommendation and make a final
determination on that issue by the end of this year."
Carter spoke after placing a congratulatory phone call to the first women to pass the demanding 62-day Army
Ranger School – Army Capt. Kristen Griest and Army 1st Lt. Shaye Haver. "I take special satisfaction in the strides
like this," Carter said of the two women Ranger School graduates. He stressed that the service chiefs will now have
to make the case for a "justification for any -- if there are any -- exceptions" to the general rule to open billets. At
present:
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
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
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More than 214,000 women now serve in the military, account for about 14.5 percent of the force. The Marine
Corps has the lowest percentage – slightly less than 7 percent.
More than 280,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As of April 2015, 161 women have lost their lives and 1,015 had been wounded in action as part of Global
War on Terror (GWOT) operations" since the 9/11 terror attacks, according to the Congressional Research
Service (CRS). The Army alone reported 89 women killed in the line of duty in Iraq and 36 in Afghanistan.
In modern combat operations, over 9,000 women have received Army Combat Action Badges for ‘actively
engaging or being engaged by the enemy,'" the CRS said.
Through 2012, the Army reported that 437 women earned awards for valor to include two Silver Stars, three
Distinguished Flying Crosses, 31 Air Medals, and 16 Bronze Stars.
In releasing the report, then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said "It should be clear to all that women are
a major force in operations today. We're not starting from the ground up in the assessment period" on whether women
should serve in combat. "Women are integral in all theaters of combat as we speak." In some instances, the women
earning awards for valor led men in firefights. Then-Army Capt. Kellie McCoy, a West Point graduate, earned the
Bronze Star with "V" device for her actions on Sept. 18, 2003, for leading 11 male paratroopers from the 82nd
Airborne Division in breaking up an enemy ambush between Fallujah and Ramadi in Iraq's Anbar province. Her
citation said that "Capt. McCoy willingly and repeatedly took action to gather up her soldiers under enemy fire and
direct fire at the enemy. Her actions inspired her men to accomplish the mission and saved the lives of her fellow
soldiers."
In other instances, women have performed valiantly in combat under commanders well aware of the restrictions
who had no recourse under fire. In April 2007 in Afghanistan's Paktika province, then-Pfc. Monica Brown, an 18year-old Army medic from Lake Jackson, Texas, grabbed her kit and raced through enemy fire to save soldiers trapped
in a burning Humvee. She later received the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for valor, in a ceremony
presided over by then-Vice President Dick Cheney. "We weren't supposed to take her out" on missions "but we had
to because there was no other medic," Lt. Martin Robbins, a platoon leader with Charlie Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd
Cavalry Regiment, later told the Washington Post "By regulations you're not supposed to," Robbins said, but Brown
"was one of the guys, mixing it up, clearing rooms, doing everything that anybody else was doing."
Those who oppose lifting the 1994 restrictions on women in the infantry, armor, artillery and Special Operations
cited statistics showing alarmingly higher injury rates for women, and artillery participating in the tests and
assessments currently being conducted by the services. The Army's Institute of Public Health reported that in basic
combat training, approximate average injury rates for women were 114 percent higher than those for men. In training
for engineers and military police, they were 108 percent higher, according to documents obtained by the Center for
Military Readiness headed by Elaine Donnelly, a frequent critic of social and cultural changes in the military.
Critics also cite the recent remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado of retired Navy Adm. Eric Olson,
head of the Special Operations Command from 2007-11 and the former top SEAL. "I think that we are only having
part of the discussion on women in combat," Olson said. "I think that we need to ask ourselves as a society if we are
willing to put women in front-line combat units to take the first bullet on target." Olson continued: "Are we willing to
cause every 18-year-old girl to sign up for selective service? Are we willing to cause women to serve in infantry units
against their will as we do men?" The Congressional Research Service summed up the arguments:
 "Those in favor of keeping restrictions cite physiological differences between men and women that could
potentially affect military readiness and unit effectiveness. Some also argue that social and cultural barriers
exist to the successful integration of women into combat occupations and all-male units."
 "Those who advocate for opening all military occupations to women emphasize equal rights and arguing it
is more difficult for service members to advance to top-ranking positions in the armed services without
combat experience. In their view, modern weapons have equalized the potential for women in combat since
wars are less likely to be fought on a hand-to-hand basis."
80
When the service chiefs send their findings to Carter late next month, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford will be the first
to report and the most closely watched. The Marines are considered by some the most tradition-bound and resistant to
change of the services. According to Marine officials, Dunford, now the Marine Commandant, has committed to
sending the Marines' report to Carter before he is succeeded on Sept. 24 by Marine Gen. Robert Neller. Dunford will
take over in October as the new Joint Chiefs Chairman from retiring Army Gen. Martin Dempsey.
As JCS Chairman, Dempsey stood next to then-Defense Secretary Panetta when Panetta announced in January
2013 that the restrictions were being lifted unless the services asked for exceptions. At the Pentagon news conference,
Dempsey cited an anecdote from his own experience in taking over command of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq in
2003 as the insurgency gathered strength. On a trip outside his headquarters, Dempsey introduced himself to the crew
of his Humvee. "I slapped the turret gunner on the leg and I said, 'Who are you?' And she leaned down and said, I'm
Amanda.' And I said, 'Ah, OK,'" Dempsey said. "So, female turret-gunner protecting division commander. It's from
that point on that I realized something had changed, and it was time to do something about it," Dempsey said. [Source:
Military.com | Richard Sisk | August 31, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Space "A" Travel Update 19
► Dependent CONUS Travel Approved
Without any fanfare, on 9 June 2015, the eligibility requirements to use Space A travel within the Continental United
States (CONUS) were extended to include the dependents of service members who are deployed for 30 days or longer.
This is going to be a great benefit for families who might want to travel during deployment and can use Space A to
cut costs. Many years ago, spouses and children were not able to use Space A travel benefits within CONUS except
under very limited circumstances such as emergency leave and TDY for house hunting. In recent years, the rules have
been revised a few times to include dependents whose service member was deployed for a specified period of time.
This recent change, to 30 days deployment for eligibility, represents the most generous CONUS Space A benefits to
date. Dependents gaining their Space-A eligibility due to service member deployment will be Category IV in priority.
Those requesting travel will require a memo detailing their eligibility, and a sample memo can be found at the AMC
website http://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150625-025.pdf . This definitely requires a little preplanning to have the eligibility memo before you start the travel process. Unfortunately this change only applies to
dependents of active duty members. [Source: NAUS Weekly Update | Watchdog | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Navy Ship Desiginations ►
New E for Expeditionary Support
There are different kinds of submarines, of destroyers and amphibious ships, of patrol and support ships. The US
Navy’s unique designation system defines all of them, starting with a root type, like SS for submarine, adding an N
for nuclear, adding a G for guided missiles or a B for ballistic missiles. Now there’s a new root designator — E for
expeditionary support. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, working with Adm. Jon Greenert, chief of naval operations, signed
off on the E plan and changed the designations of three kinds of ships to the new category:
 JHSV joint high-speed vessels will become EPF, for expeditionary fast transport.
 MLP mobile landing platforms are now ESD, expeditionary transfer docks.
 AFSB afloat forward staging bases — currently included as MLPs — will become ESB, for expeditionary
base mobile.
The changes, announced 3 SEP by Mabus’ office, are in line with an effort begun by the secretary in 2013 to
streamline some of the Navy’s ship designations, which some feel have become too disparate. The topic has been
debated within the Navy’s command structure, where some argue the designators should reflect an acquisition
program, while others think more traditional terms should apply. E is not a new designation, but has been used as a
81
prefix — sometimes unofficially — to denote a vessel in experimental use. The Paul F. Foster, for example, is a former
Spruance-class destroyer, hull number DD 964, that was reclassed in 2005 as experimental destroyer EDD 964. She
remains in use as the self-defense test ship. Mabus kicked off the redesignations in January when he announced the
next LCS littoral combat ships would become FF frigates.
The Joint High Speed Vessel Millinocket will become an Expeditionary Fast Transport ship's hull number will not
change.
According to Navy sources, earlier iterations of a new JHSV designation included APF for fast auxiliary transport;
AKF for fast auxiliary cargo ship; or LPF for amphibious fast transport. MLPs could have become LSV or LVD for
vehicle landing ship. The discussion about AFSB designators included MCS for mine countermeasures support ship,
or AFSD, for multipurpose replenishment dock. The Navy’s system, which has been in place since July 1920, is unique
among the world’s navies, which tend to assign pennant numbers with or without letters that identify a ship’s role.
While pennant numbers can change and are not necessarily sequential — not unlike the numbers players wear on a
sports team — the US system is more specific.
Current base designators in use by the US Navy include A for auxiliary, C for aircraft carriers or cruisers, D for
destroyers, F for frigates, L for amphibious ships, P for patrol types and S for submarines. Suffixes include G for
guided missile and P for personnel transport. While NATO navies use just a single letter, all US designators contain
at least two letters, and often more. Some US suffixes are meaningless, simply repeating a letter to produce a twoletter designation. Examples are BB for battleship, DD for destroyers and SS for submarines. One misconception is
that the letters are an acronym. In fact, they’re symbols and do not necessarily translate to a direct meaning. For
example, CVN, the designator for a nuclear aircraft carrier, comes from C for carrier, V for heavier-than-air aircraft,
and N for nuclear. [Source: Defense News | Christopher P. Cavas | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Remember the 80’s Navy ►
Things that No Longer Exist
Every generation has a slightly different experience of military service. Here are some things that no longer exist but
you’ll remember if you served in the US Navy in the 1980s.
You could have a beard - Remember when you just couldn’t wait to make E-4 so you could have one of those great
big bushy navy beards? Too bad you couldn’t wear an OBA to breathe in a fire with that big old beard…
Beer machines in the barracks - Nothing better than getting off work, coming back to an open barracks room with
75 other guys in it, going into the TV lounge to watch the same show everybody else wants to see and dropping $.75
into a cold drink machine to enjoy a nice lukewarm can of brew.
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Snail mail that took months to reach you - Getting your Christmas cards for Easter is always fun.
Cinderella Liberty - Get back to the ship by midnight or you will turn into a pumpkin (or at least pull some extra
duty)!
[Source: BY Military.Com | Jim Absher | August 19, 2015 ++]
*********************************
RMS ►
16 Years in Making | $706M Spent | Still doesn’t work
Over the last 16 years the U.S. Navy has spent $706 million developing a futuristic-looking device that could remotely
detect mines underwater. The only problem? The device, known as the Remote Minehunting System, doesn’t work.
The failed program, detailed in a new report released by the Senate Armed Service Committee 3 SEP, started in the
late 90s and has yielded only half the number of planned systems with the cost per unit doubling since the program
began. On paper, the mine hunting system is meant to be deployed from destroyers and littoral combat ships as sort
of a bomb-sniffing dog for the ocean. The system would scan an area, possibly even out of the surface ship’s line-ofsight, and would communicate back the location of detected minefields. In 2007, after one failed test aboard a
destroyer, the Navy went back to the drawing board and in 2008 the system was still testing poorly. Despite the results,
the Navy purchased another mine hunting system at around $13 million dollars.
Sailors and Naval Surface Warfare Center scientists and engineers recover a deployed Remote Minehunting System
(RMS) during developmental testing of the Littoral Combat Ship’s mine warfare mission module package on Jan. 7, 2012.
According to the recent SASC report, however, the device still doesn’t function as it should. In 2013 the
Government Accountability Office noted that “in spite of starting development the towed sonar couldn’t not detect
certain mines, and falsely identified other objects as mines.” As of 2015 the system still has issues communicating
back to the ship when it’s out of certain ranges and the sonar on the device cannot quickly or consistently detect mines.
The report cites an August 2015 memo from the director of the Pentagon’s Operation Test and Evaluation Office to
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition as saying there is “no performance data to date to suggest that the
[Remote Minehunting System] will eventually achieve [its] requirements.”
83
Undersea mines have long been a part of naval warfare. In the wars of the 20th century, mines played a pivotal role
in disrupting shipping and sea lanes. While no U.S. ships have struck a mine recently, it is unclear how many mines
are deployed and where they might be located. Currently, the United States has a small, but nimble fleet of
minesweeping ships that run as screens for the fleets and waterways they are assigned to protect. [Source: Washington
Post | Thomas Gibbons-Neff | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Military Enlistment Standards 2015 Update 06
► Military Couples
Applicants wishing to enlist in the US Military, and are married to a military member can generally enlist without a
waiver, as long as there are no children in the household. The active duty services rarely waive this, while the reserve
forces (Reserves and National Guard), often approve waivers, as long as the applicant can show a workable family
care plan. Refer to http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genfamily/a/familycare.htmFor information on family care plans
Each of the services have an assignment program called "JOIN SPOUSE." Basically, under this program, the
military will try as hard as they can to station military spouses at the same base or within 100 miles of each other.
Note there is no guarantee -- the military just agrees to try. The services will not create a new slot for JOIN SPOUSE.
There has to be an existing slot in the rank/job that the member(s) can be assigned against. DOD-wide, about 80
percent of military-married-to-military couples are assigned within 100 miles of each other. That sounds pretty good,
until you realize that means 20 percent of military couples are not assigned close to each other.
One of the primary factors to consider when contemplating a military-couple marriage is if both members are in
the same service. Obviously, it's easier for the services to assign couples together when both are in the same branch.
For one thing, it takes less coordination, as only one branch assignment division is involved. There just aren’t that
many Air Force airmen assigned to Marine Corps bases, nor many Marines assigned to Air Force Bases. Additionally,
there aren't that many Air Force bases and Marine Corps bases that are close together. So, marrying someone in your
same branch of service obviously increases your chance of a successful JOIN SPOUSE assignment. In order to JOIN
SPOUSE to work, both members must apply. If only one member applies for a JOIN SPOUSE, the assignment system
won't process it. Then it's up to the military to determine who should move (or whether both couples should move),
based on the needs of the service and funding constraints.
One thing that trips a lot of folks up when it comes to JOIN SPOUSE are that normal time-on-station rules apply.
For example, in general, in order for a first-termer (a military member on his/her first enlistment), assigned to a
CONUS (Continental United States) base, to move overseas, he/she must have 12 months’ time-on-station. In order
for the first termer to move from one CONUS base to another, he/she must 24 months’ time-on-station. For
"careerists," (those who have re-enlisted at least once), the time-on-station requirements are greater. For a careerist to
move from CONUS to overseas requires 24 months’ time-on-station, and to move from CONUS to CONUS requires
36 months’ time-on-station. When one is assigned to an overseas tour, there is a set-tour length, generally (for most
tours) 24 months for a single person, and 36 months for a married person who is accompanied by his/her spouse and/or
dependents.
So, let's say that Private Jones and Private Smith meet and fall in love at AIT (job training). When they finish AIT,
Private Jones gets assigned to Washington D.C., and Private Smith gets assigned to California. After a month, they
decide they can't stand to be apart, so they arrange to go on leave and get married. Guess what? Neither one can move
to the other's CONUS base for two whole years! Of course, they could both put in for overseas and apply for JOIN
SPOUSE, and hope they get picked up for an overseas assignment, and can then both move after 12 months’ time-onstation.
Another scenario: Jack and Jill are engaged and join the Air Force at the same time. They agree to wait until they
make it through basic training and Technical School (job training) to get married. While in technical school, Jack gets
84
a two-year assignment to Japan, and Jill gets an assignment to Florida. If they wait until after they leave technical
school (on leave and on their way to their respective assignments), it's going to be too late for JOINT SPOUSE. JOIN
SPOUSE can take several weeks to process, and by that time, they will both be at their new assignments. Then, timeon-station applies. Jack is ineligible to move until his rotation date two-years down the road, and Jill isn't eligible to
move overseas until she's been at her CONUS assignment for 12 months. [Source: About.com Newsletter | Rod
Powers | June 02, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Medal of Honor Citations
► Guenette, Peter M. | VN
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor posthumously
To
Peter M. Guenette
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry,
101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)
Place and date: Quan Tan Uyen Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1968
Entered service at: Troy New York in 1967
Born: January 4, 1948, Troy, New York
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c.
Guenette distinguished himself while serving as a machine gunner with Company D, during combat operations. While
Sp4c. Guenette's platoon was sweeping a suspected enemy base camp, it came under light harassing fire from a wellequipped and firmly entrenched squad of North Vietnamese Army regulars which was serving as a delaying force at
the entrance to their base camp. As the platoon moved within 10 meters of the fortified positions, the enemy fire
became intense. Sp4c. Guenette and his assistant gunner immediately began to provide a base of suppressive fire,
ceasing momentarily to allow the assistant gunner time to throw a grenade into a bunker. Seconds later, an enemy
grenade was thrown to Sp4c. Guenette's right flank. Realizing that the grenade would kill or wound at least 4 men and
destroy the machine gun, he shouted a warning and smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing its blast. Through
his actions, he prevented loss of life or injury to at least 3 men and enabled his comrades to maintain their fire
superiority. By his gallantry at the cost of his life in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c.
Guenette has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Guenette, aged 20 at his death, was buried at Saint Johns Cemetery in his birth city of Troy, New York
85
Guenette, aged 20 at his death, was buried at Saint Johns Cemetery in his birth city of Troy, New York
[Source: www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html#Graves and www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces/20323/peterm-guenette | Sep 2015 ++]
* Military History *
Aviation Art 96 ►
Into the Storm
Into the Storm
by John D. Shaw
86
F-4 Phantoms pass the USS Constellation on a MiGCAP mission, armed with Sparrow and Sidewinders in 1967. Two
stalwart squadrons are represented here; VF-143’s “Pukin’ Dogs” and VF-142’s “Ghostriders”, who flew together as
sister squadrons throughout the war. A tribute to POWs of the Vietnam war.
[Source: http://www.brooksart.com/Intothestorm.html September 2015 ++]
*********************************
Military Trivia 114
►
Civil War Silent Sentinels
After the Civil War ended in April 1865, statues depicting Union and Confederate soldiers went up across the country,
from New England squares to Southern courthouses. A century and a half later, these weathered "Silent Sentinels"
still stand guard, rifles at the ready, gazing off in the distance. For a war that pitted brother against brother, many of
them bear a strong family resemblance. Most of the statues were mass-produced by a handful of Northern companies
that found a steady market selling to communities — North and South — eager to honor their fallen soldiers and
surviving veterans. "They're not meant to represent one person or another," said Sarah Beetham, an art historian who
teaches at the University of Delaware and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. "This way, people could go
and see in them their sons or fathers who had fought in the war."
North
South
Known as the "Silent Sentinel," ''Single Soldier" or similar names, he tops many of the thousands of Civil War
monuments to be found in more than 30 states. Today, 150 years after the guns fell silent to end the nation's bloodiest
conflict, the ranks of the more than 3 million citizen soldiers who fought on both sides are represented by some of our
most ubiquitous yet often overlooked public symbols. "Before the Civil War, you would never have had an image of
the common soldier to memorialize. You would have a general or a biblical figure," said Earle Shettleworth, head
historian for the state of Maine. "After the war, there was more of a democratic way of memorializing those who had
participated."
With untold thousands of war dead buried in graves on or near battlefields and encampments far from their homes,
some communities in the North and South erected hometown monuments to the fallen even as the fighting raged. Most
were stone obelisks placed in local cemeteries. Within a couple of years after Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at
Appomattox, Virginia, more elaborate monuments were being commissioned from sculptors. By 1867, monuments
featuring sculpted or cast metal soldier statues were dedicated in cemeteries in Cincinnati and Boston. The version
depicting a single soldier at "parade rest" — hands gripping a musket at the end of the barrel, the stock resting on the
ground — became the most popular way to honor the more than 2 million men who fought for the Union.
But commissioning a monument made of Italian marble or northern New England granite could cost tens of
thousands of dollars, much too expensive for most small towns. Many turned to the northern foundries specializing in
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cast bronze or zinc statuary used to decorate cemetery markers. Firms such as the Monumental Bronze Co. of
Bridgeport, Connecticut, did a brisk business selling soldier statues. A life-size parade rest model was listed in its
sales catalog for $450, while the 8-foot-6-inch version sold for $750. "It's like going to Wal-Mart. It's less expensive,"
said Timothy S. Sedore, author of "An Illustrated Guide to Virginia's Confederate Monuments." Because they had lost
the war and were economically shattered, Southerners got a later start erecting monuments. By the time the 20th
century arrived, they were making up for lost time, with hundreds of soldier statues installed across the South, typically
outside county courthouses. But old animosities died hard, and folks in the South didn't usually publicize who was
supplying the statues: mostly companies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Ohio. "The Southerners didn't talk about
that, buying from Yankees," Beetham said.
Versions of the Silent Sentinel statue can be found from Amarillo, Texas, to Kennebunk, Maine. The Northern
version features a Union soldier wearing a kepi and caped greatcoat, while his Southern counterpart typically wears
the iconic slouch hat and bedroll strapped diagonally across his chest. An accurate number of Civil War monuments
is difficult to pin down. Beetham, who wrote her dissertation on post-Civil War citizen soldier monuments, estimates
there are some 2,500 across the Northern states, with the Silent Sentinel version believed to account for as many as
half of them. Estimates of Confederate monuments range between 500 and 1,000, including hundreds of the rebel
version of the solitary soldier.
"In Georgia, there must be one in practically every county in every town square and cemetery, and it's facing north,
by the way," said Ben Jones, a former Georgia congressman who played the role of Cooter on "The Dukes of Hazzard."
Jones, the chief of heritage operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans of the Civil War, said his group doesn't
have a definitive number. In Virginia, where Jones now lives, there are at least 360 Confederate monuments by
Sedore's count, including about 100 Silent Sentinels. All those soldier monuments — North and South — are a
collective symbol of the losses felt in virtually every community, Jones said. "It represents the humanity, the family"
and, he said, "the people who didn't come back or who did come back worse for the wear." [Source: Associated Press
| Chris Carola | April 18, 2015 ++]
********************************
WWII Japanese Surrender
► Eyewitness Account
The following essay, The ‘Rising Sun’ Sets on the Missouri, by Murlin Spencer, is an excerpt from that book.
Wamoru Shigemitsu’s wooden leg caused him trouble as he climbed the steep gang plank leading to the broad deck
of the USS Missouri. MacArthur’s hand shook as he read from a single sheet of paper. I remember that, and the way
the Allied representatives stood stern-faced before their enemies. I remember gray skies that brooded over the historic
scene, but relented and cleared so that the sun shone brightly as MacArthur intoned, “these proceedings are closed.”
88
History books won’t relate it that way. They will say that on Sept. 2, 1945, west longitude time, military representatives
of the Allied powers accepted the surrender of imperial Japan, ending the costliest, bloodiest war in world history.
It was more than that, however. As a young marine said, as his landing boat splashed through the surf heading
toward the Japanese naval base, Yokosuka, two days before, “Thank God there are no shell splashes.” As a whiteuniformed sailor aboard the Missouri said, as he watched the Allied representatives step up one by one to sign the
surrender instrument, “This is the biggest show they ever threw. This is history and now I can go home.” This is more
than peace. This is the end of the war. That’s what the young marine meant. No more shells beside the boat to splash
his buddies with tearing shrapnel. This meant no more men dying, no more separation from loved ones, no more hate.
The end of the war came with stunning suddenness. It caught military men and war correspondents completely by
surprise. In Manila the Associated Press staff wrote the preliminary story as Hirohito’s emissaries received final
instructions for the surrender, then they caught planes for Japan. In Guam the AP’s western Pacific staff wrote of the
stunned but joyful reaction of the Navy and within two hours after President Truman announced that Japan had agreed
to surrender AP correspondents were aboard a ship heading for Japan. Japan was the story. There was only one
question—what will the reaction of the Japanese be? It was a dangerous undertaking, a great gamble, and everyone
knew it was the Emperor’s word that Japan was ready for peace against the militarists whose fanaticism had been
displayed a thousand times in the jungle and by Kamikaze suiciders in the air.
As the elite of Allied military leaders in the Pacific gathered aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay I thought what one
Kamikaze could do. In one successful attack he could wipe out the expert leadership that had been built up by trial
and error throughout the war years. MacArthur, Nimitz, Spaatz. Halsey, Wainwright, Kreuger, Eichelberger, Kenney,
to say nothing of others, would make the greatest collective target any Kamikaze could have. That was the test. That
was the gamble. Like a well-planned show on the New York stage, the Missouri was set when ceremony time came.
Over 300 correspondents—the AP alone had fifteen—hung from the gun turrets, or stood on raised platforms, taking
notes such as:
 0843 MacArthur comes aboard, walks swiftly to Admiral’s quarters;
 Wainwright arrives, trips slightly on step, recovers self;
 Eichelberger stands tall among American officers. What’s he thinking?” I once watched him at Buna shooting
at a Jap running for cover.
 “0850 Japanese delegation comes alongside.”
Japan was once the third mightiest naval power and after Pearl Harbor probably was first. But the Japanese
representatives came alongside in a dark gray whale-boat. There could be no better symbol of Japan’s fall. With
curiosity, I watched Foreign Minister Shigemitsu, who lost his leg when a Korean anarchist threw a bomb in Shanghai
in 1932. He had difficulty negotiating the gangplank, slowed up the diplomats, Generals and Admirals behind him.
This was history in the making, but for a moment I only thought; here was a handful of men of the enemy standing
under mighty 16-inch guns of the battleship, surrounded by nattily-dressed, stern-faced military leaders of the Allied
powers, and they didn’t have a friend on the entire ship. They symbolized the nation they represented—friendless,
alone, conquered, beaten.
What did Wainwright think, standing, thin, emaciated, after four years of Japanese brutality in a prison camp?
What did British General Percival think, he who reportedly was forced to appear before Yamashita barefooted to
surrender Singapore? MacArthur was magnificent in his dignity, his sternness. “It is my earnest hope, and indeed the
hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the
past… a world founded upon faith and understanding… a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of
his most cherished wish… for freedom, tolerance and justice,” he said.
Actual signing was mere formality. Shigemitsu takes off his silk top hat, bares his right hand, signs; MacArthur
asks Percival and Wainwright to stand beside him as he signs, gives each a pen; Nimitz signs, and so on to the end.
The surrender was over, but the world didn’t know it, although waiting anxiously. That was the job for the war
89
correspondents who collectively had covered every major action of the entire war against Japan. Where the military
leaders left off the correspondents took up, to tell the greatest story in the world. Peace was here… The correspondents
had one hour and 12 minutes to return to their bases and write their stories before the 10:30 release time. The AP’s
correspondents attached to MacArthur stepped aboard a destroyer and headed swiftly for Yokohoma. Those attached
to Nimitz boarded small boats and set out for the communications ship Ancon.
“URGENT PRESS ASSOCIATED SAN FRANCISCO FLASH SURRENDER SIGNED REPEAT SURRENDER
SIGNED.”
It was 1830 in San Francisco, 2130 in New York. As fast as veteran correspondents could write they poured out
details of the historic event. Every men knew he had just seen the greatest event in his career. At home they wanted
every word, What did MacArthur wear? Khaki shirt, open at the neck, khaki trousers, elaborately braided cap, his own
design. What were the Japanese like? Generals were booted, spurred, wore dark green uniforms; diplomats formal
clothing, appearing well worn. Who signed first? Shigemitsu for Japan, MacArthur for the Allies, Nimitz for the
United States. Was there a hitch? The Canadian representative signed on the wrong line but General Sutherland
straightened it out with a few strokes of the pen. The AP staff sent thousands of words across the air to San Francisco.
At home it was V-J Day, out here it was Sunday, a historic day when correspondents were writing the most important
stories of their lives. The staff left the ships and moved ashore to tell the story of the occupation.
Puzzling to everyone was the attitude of the Japanese. A few days before they had been enemies. Now they were
friendly, cooperative, anxious to please. Why? Their Emperor had told them to be friendly and they were accepting
him at his word. But MacArthur still was gambling. There were three million armed Japanese in Japan and barely
25,000 Americans. Americans in the United States demanded an iron fist attitude. They needed a story to explain that
it was better to wait until more Americans arrived and more Japanese disarmed. News was breaking everywhere.
Hennessy (Duane Hennessy, AP correspondent) attempted to telephone the Imperial Palace and was told he couldn’t
speak to the Emperor. O’Malley (Richard O’Malley, also of the AP) drank probably the first toast to President Truman
in Japan when he visited Mayor Yokosuka of Tokyo.
All during the war the Japanese people had been fed government propaganda. They needed the truth and the AP
could give it to them. With the High Command’s permission, the AP began serving unbiased, unprejudiced news to
Tokyo’s major newspapers. For the first time in over four years the Japanese people were beginning to receive not
propaganda but truth. To the newspapers went the story of the occupation of Tokyo. There was no march of victors
through the streets. Quietly, without fanfare, the First Cavalry Division (dismounted) took up places inside the once
great city, now 80 per cent destroyed. Almost without the Japanese people knowing it, Americans moved in to take
control. MacArthur rode into the capital alone with only Japanese police standing along the road to protect him. At
the embassy, which is on the only piece of American soil in all Japan, he gave directions to Gen. Eichelberger: “Have
our country’s flag unfurled in Tokyo’s sun. Let it wave in its full glory as a symbol of hope for the oppressed and as
a harbinger of victory for the right.” [Source: Associated Press | September 2, 2015++]
*********************************
Nuclear Attack
► What it Would be Like
In the current climate of widespread national security concerns in the U.S., many people worry that the threat of a
nuclear attack on American soil is more plausible than ever. In a Military.com History Channel program, you get a
firsthand look at what did happen in Japan and would happen if a nuclear bomb exploded in the heart of Washington,
D.C. In three parts ‘24 Hours After Hiroshima’ covers the dropping of the atom bomb, survivors initial reactions,
why the destruction was so severe, the subsequent investigation into how radiation affected the human body, and
90
subsequent testing of more powerful bombs. In “Washington, D.C. gets NUKED! (DAY AFTER DISASTER)” is
projected the impact it would have on the U.S. government and its citizens. These videos can be viewed at:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY9VwCE_Dsg Hiroshima 1/3
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPm9Vo_pYU Hiroshima 2/3
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhigykrqMMM Hiroshima 3/3
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCme_K6MYLY Washington, D.C. gets NUKED!
[Source: Military.com | August 2015 ++]
********************************
Military History
► USS Kirk | Fall of Saigon
Jan K. Herman, who served as the Navy’s chief medical historian, was brought to Lubbock TX recently by the Vietnam
Center’s Guest Lecture Series to tell the story of how the destroyer USS Kirk saved an estimated 30,000 refugees in
the chaos accompanying the fall of Saigon. The Kirk’s victory, in a context of defeat for the nation, occurred April
29-30, 1975, 40 years ago this week. Although the Kirk was a football-field-and-a-half long, it was a small ship in the
Navy’s 7th Fleet. “It was part of the task force of Navy ships that were off the coast of South Vietnam at the very end,
in the last days of April 1975. That fleet was out there for a specific purpose — to protect the evacuation of Americans
coming out of Vietnam, and some Vietnamese who had helped us,” Herman said. “We realized if we didn’t bring
them out, they would most likely be killed for having supported our efforts in the war.”
Crew members of the USS Kirk try to wave off a CH-47 Chinook carrying South Vietnamese refugees on April 29, 1975.
But the helicopter's pilot, Ba Nguyen, was determined to unload his passengers, who included his wife and three young
children
According to Herman, it was believed at the time that the North Vietnamese might try to interfere with the
evacuation in a violent way — either by air attack or sea attack. “The Kirk’s job was to protect the aircraft carriers,
the amphibious ships, and others. That was its role — at least that was the intent.” But intentions were set aside in the
urgent need to get out of Saigon, which was about to be overrun by North Vietnamese forces. “When the evacuation
began, the American helicopters began flying into Saigon from the decks of the aircraft carriers. These were large, lift
helicopters. It was a shuttle back and forth: They would fuel, go into Saigon, pick the people up at predesignated areas
where they could land — soccer stadiums and such. Then go back out to the ships, discharge their cargoes of people,
refuel, and head back to Saigon. It was back and forth until they got all the Americans and Vietnamese out that were
going to get out.” Herman said, “As the helicopters left Saigon with their passengers and headed out to sea to land on
their carriers and such, they looked in their rear view mirrors and saw hundreds and hundreds of South Vietnamese
helicopters following them.
“These were the small Hueys that were piloted by South Vietnamese army and air force pilots. The deal was, these
guys knew how to fly. They would go to their village where their family was, land in the middle of the square or back
yard of their house, and get the kids and the wife on.” In the process, neighbors would climb aboard also. “They would
head out to sea, following the American helicopters, the idea being that they’re going to land somewhere.” Herman
91
said, “The sailors looked up and saw these helicopters in the sky, and they said the sky was smeared with the exhaust
from the helicopters. There were so many they couldn’t count them, and they were flying over the Kirk, heading out
to the bigger carriers where they could land.” The Kirk itself had a small flight deck, and a sailor who knew a little bit
of the Vietnamese language was given permission to take the emergency frequency to announce that it had a clear
flight deck. Within 15 minutes a South Vietnamese helicopter circled the ship and landed. Then three others came
near and were waiting to land. “They didn’t have room, so it’s over the side — they start pushing the helicopters into
the ocean to make room for more,” Herman said.
U.S. Navy personnel aboard the USS Blue Ridge (left) push a helicopter into the sea to make room for more evacuation
flights from Saigon and a member of USS Kirk's crew tends to a Vietnamese baby April 29, 1975
That operation went on for a day, and then orders came from the 7th Fleet flag ship to embark on a special mission
to Con Son Island. And Richard Armitage, a civilian who worked directly for the Secretary of Defense, had been set
over the Kirk to direct the mission. When they arrived, there were 32 ships that belonged to the South Vietnam Navy,
waiting for them. That had been expected. What they didn’t expect was that an estimated 30,000 refugees — men,
women and children — had been loaded onto the ships. And they had no water, no food, and no medical care.
The Kirk’s captain, Paul Jacobs, who had planned to come to Lubbock recently with Herman but was diverted by
what was being called a mild stroke, was apparently plain spoken in his career with the Navy. “He’s a salty New
Englander,” Herman said. “He’s from Maine. His attitude is, when people ask him who gave him permission to land
those helicopters — and I can’t repeat exactly how he answered, because I know this is a family newspaper — but
essentially his philosophy is that he would rather beg forgiveness than ask permission. “That’s the way he operated.
He uses that term a lot. He says, ‘I’m a down-eastern, and we don’t ask anybody for a damn thing — we just do what’s
right.’” According to Herman, a similar issue today, given communications technology, would likely be settled by a
call all the way to the Pentagon. “No one will make a decision without covering themselves. In those days, they didn’t
have that kind of communication.” In a later interview with then Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, Herman
said he was told, “We trusted those people who were on the scenes to make the right decisions — we empowered
them to make those decisions.’”
The Kirk reached Con Son Island (left),off the southern coast of Vietnam, on May 1, 1975, the South Vietnamese fleet
follows the USS Kirk (center) to Subic Bay in the Philippines, and Bao Le (right) was just 1 year and 9 days old when he
died onboard the USS Kirk
Herman added, “The captain realized that those people would die if he didn’t take those helicopters aboard his
ship. Those people were going to ditch and they were going to drown. So, it was a matter of life and death, and he did
it on his own.” Herman said, “Now, he points out, what if one of those helicopters had crashed on his ship and sailors
92
had been killed, or there had been a fire. He said, ‘My career would have been over, but God was looking out for me.’”
Jacobs apparently was stunned when he saw the South Vietnam Navy ships overfilled with refugees. “He said — and
this is a quote — ‘The question was, how we are going to pull this off? How are we going to get these ships across to
Subic Bay without loss of life?’” Apparently, the captain was equal to the task. Although a few deaths occurred from
pre-existing illnesses on the seven-day trip, the voyage was without incident except for one emotional burial at sea. A
small baby, about six months of age, had pneumonia, and though seeming to be improving under the corpsmen’s
medical care, died from aspiration. “They got dressed in their Navy whites, and they conducted a service, and they
committed that little child to the deep with a Vietnamese flag and an American flag,” Herman said.
The Philippines, under Ferdinand Marcos, was not glad to see the refugees, and Marcos had to be humored into
letting them land for 72 hours — by changing the Vietnamese ships to the United States flag — and by hinting that
he could keep some for his navy. They actually were American ships before the war, anyway. Then, the refugees were
transported to camps in the United States for resettlement. Capt. Jacobs had succeeded in his job. Herman has written
a book detailing the last days of the war. The book is titled “The Lucky Few: The Fall of Saigon and the rescue Mission
of the USS Kirk.” Go to www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129475773 for a video of what transpired.
[Source: A-J MEDIA | Ray Westbrook | April 27, 2015 ++]
********************************
Military History Anniversaries
► 16 thru 30 Nov
Significant events in U.S. Military History over the next 15 days are listed in the attachment to this Bulletin titled,
“Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 30 Nov”.
*********************************
WWII Advertising
► Camels (1)
*********************************
93
D-Day
►
Omaha Beach Casualties
Men of the American assault troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment, injured while storming Omaha Beach, wait by the
chalk cliffs at Collville-sur-Mer for evacuation to a field hospital for further treatment during D-Day.
*********************************
WWII Prewar Events
► Hitler Letter from Gandhi 1939
Letter from Gandhi sent to Adolf Hitler in 1939
*********************************
94
WWII PostWar Events
► Dumping Japanese Ammo Sep 1945
Japanese ammunition being dumped into the sea on September 21, 1945. During the U.S. occupation, almost all of the
Japanese war industry and existing armament was dismantled.
*********************************
Spanish American War Images 76
► Memorandum of Ratification Signing
Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador in the U.S., signing the memorandum of ratification of the Treaty of
Paris terms on behalf of Spain. This marked the end of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Pacific
Islands
*********************************
95
WWI in Photos 133
► Debut of Tank Warfare
British tanks pass dead Germans who were alive before the cavalry advanced a few minutes before the picture was taken.
World War I saw the debut of tank warfare, with varying levels of success, mostly poor. Many of the earlier models broke
down frequently, or got bogged down in mud, fell into trenches, or, (slow-moving) were directly targeted by artillery.
*********************************
Faces of WAR (WWII)
► Washington DC Parade (4) May 1942
*********************************
96
Ghosts of Time
► Then & Now’ Photos of WWII SITES (04)
* Health Care *
Tricare Webiner
► National Guard/Reserve Benefits | 18 NOV @ Noon EST
TRICARE is hosting a webinar to educate TRICARE beneficiaries about benefits available to National Guard and
Reserve service members. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, from Noon – 1:00 p.m. EST.
No prior registration is required. Participants are invited to join them using the following access link:
https://conference.apps.mil/webconf/TRICAREFORNGR. For audio, dial 1-800-857-9816, pass code 38154. Access
is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited due to system capacity. Participants must avoid sharing personal
health information when asking a question. Questions will be answered immediately following the presentation.
National Guard and Reservists experience various stages of activation throughout their military careers. This
webinar will discuss those stages and its impact on health care eligibility, as well as programs available to them and
their family members. Also featured is a brief presentation from Ms. Barbara Wilson, Director of Training & Outreach,
Office of Warrior Care Policy in honor of Warrior Care Month. The primary speaker for this event is Mr. Brian Smith,
Policy Analyst in the Defense Health Agency. Mr. Smith served as a Health Services Management Specialist in the
US Air Force from 1991-1996. He has served as the Program Manager for all Reserve Component health plans,
policies, and benefit programs with the Defense Health Agency for over three years. He has over 22 years of
experience with the Military Health System. For more information about TRICARE for Guard and Reserve members,
visit www.tricare.mil/reserve. [Source: TRICARE Communications | November 9, 2015 ++]
97
*********************************
Medicare Premiums Update 01 | 2016
► Official Part B Rates Released
Medicare released the official 2016 Part B premium rates. They’re very close to, but slightly lower than, what MOAA
projected in an earlier legislative update. Because of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement, beneficiaries not protected by
the “hold-harmless” provision will see some relief in premium costs. Seventy percent of Part B enrollees won’t see
any change from the $105 monthly premium they’re now paying. The only people with incomes less than $85,000
($170,000 for a married couple) who will pay the higher $122 monthly rate are those who first become eligible for
Medicare in 2016, or who are not receiving a Social Security Check, or certain lower-income beneficiaries who are
dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The budget agreement protected these groups and the higher-income
groups from a much larger 52 percent premium increase. Under the new calculations, these groups will only pay what
they would have paid anyway if there had been a normal retiree COLA.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up November 13, 2016 ++]
*********************************
Weight Control
► Walking Most Effective Exercise
Forget expensive gym memberships and intense workouts: A pair of walking shoes is all it takes to keep your weight
and waist in check, new research shows. People who regularly walk briskly for more than 30 minutes had lower body
mass index (BMI) scores and smaller waist circumferences than people who regularly do other types of exercise or
sports, according to a study to be published in the international peer-reviewed journal Risk Analysis. BMI scores are
a measure of weight that also incorporates height. The results were particularly pronounced in:
 Women.
 People over age 50.
 People on low incomes.
The research was led by assistant professor Grace Lordan, who specializes in health economics at the London
School of Economics and Political Science, a school of the University of London. She analyzed data on physical
activity levels from annual national English surveys from 1999 to 2012, focusing on activities that increase heart rate
and cause perspiration, and analyzed data on BMI scores and waist circumference. Survey participants had reported
information on how frequently they engaged in at least 30 minutes of:
 Walking at a fast or brisk pace.
98



Moderate-intensity sports or exercise, such as swimming, cycling, working out at the gym, dancing, running,
football/rugby, badminton/tennis, squash, and exercises including press-ups and sit-ups.
Heavy housework, such as moving heavy furniture, walking with heavy shopping and scrubbing floors.
Heavy manual activities, such as digging, felling trees, chopping wood and moving heavy loads.
The study argues that public policies promoting more walking, rather than more healthy diets, could be a less
controversial yet effective way to combat obesity: “Recommending that people walk briskly more often is a cheap
and easy policy option. Additionally, there is no monetary cost to walking, so it is very likely that the benefits will
outweigh the costs.” [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Karla Bowsher | November 10, 2015 ++]
*********************************
TMOP Update 19
► Express Script’s Drug Shortage
Every few weeks, Tricare For Life beneficiary Patricia Petteruti receives a letter from Tricare pharmacy benefits
manager Express Scripts. She's supposed to get her prescription drugs in the mail, too. But instead, these letters inform
her that her medications — common prescriptions for a heart condition and hypotension — are out of stock. Like all
TFL beneficiaries — and, as of 1 OCT. any Tricare beneficiary taking a brand-name medication to manage a chronic
illness — Petteruti is required to fill long-term prescriptions through Tricare’s home delivery program or an on-base
military pharmacy. Since she lives 50 miles from the nearest base, she has opted for mail order. But since February,
the system has been anything but user-friendly. “Recently, I got two letters dated Sept. 11, 2015," she said. "One said:
‘We are unable to dispense your prescription ... temporarily unavailable.’ The other one: 'This letter is to inform you
that your medication is now in stock.’ What am I supposed to make of this?”
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Howard Durant also tries to use the home delivery program. But earlier this year, his
generic medications stopped coming. He can fill the prescriptions at a Tricare network pharmacy, but unlike mail
order, which provides 90-day generic prescriptions for no co-payment, the drug store dispenses 30-day prescriptions
for a co-payment of $8. For his three medications, that's $24 a month and $288 per year for a benefit that the Defense
Department says Durant must use. “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing to keep costs down, for myself
and the government," Durant said. "I’m using generics and I’m using mail order. But it's just not working. Sure seems
like Express Scripts has found a way to get out of filling prescriptions."
Tricare officials say the problem stems from drug shortages that are an "increasing problem across the industry."
And the shortages are exacerbated within the military system because by law, DoD is allowed to buy pharmaceuticals
only from certain manufacturers, according to Tricare pharmacy director Dr. George Jones. "The Drug Information
Service at the University of Utah found a dramatic increase in drug shortages over the last five years, peaking in 2014,"
Jones said. Shortages have begun to decline amid concerted efforts by government, manufacturers and the pharmacy
industry, he said, but remain "high compared to historic levels." The shortages peaked at about the time DoD began
requiring Medicare-eligible retirees and military family members to fill their long-term prescriptions by mail or at a
military pharmacy. On 1 OCT, all Tricare beneficiaries using brand-name medications for chronic conditions were
also required to start filling their prescriptions the same way. The program is designed to save money; DoD pays 17
percent less for maintenance medications filled by mail than at retail stores.
Savings over the first year of the Tricare For Life pilot program totaled $123 million, according to a recent
Government Accountability Office report. Tricare beneficiaries filled 25 million prescriptions by mail from February
2014 to February 2015, including 785,000 for TFL beneficiaries newly required by law to use the home delivery
program. During the first year of that TFL requirement, 5,069 patients — three percent of participants — received a
total of 5,611 letters notifying them of shortages and authorizing them to fill their prescriptions at retail pharmacies,
the GAO said. That meant shortages "affected less than one percent of home delivery prescriptions ... comparable to
the home delivery program at large," Jones said. And according to a 2013 DoD Inspector General report, 96 percent
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of Tricare beneficiaries "are satisfied with home delivery and it has a 99.997 percent dispensing accuracy rate." But
DoD also noted that only 1,448 of the 5,611 exceptions granted due to shortages were actually filled at a retail store.
Possible explanations for that low usage rate, defense officials said, could include doctors changing their patients'
medications to an available drug, beneficiaries filling their prescriptions at a military pharmacy or beneficiaries simply
choosing not to fill them because of the higher co-payment. But GAO Health Care Director Debra Draper pointed out
that, since Tricare did not specifically track the satisfaction of beneficiaries now required to use the mail-order system
and did not monitor the availability of covered medications for these beneficiaries, DoD is unable to assess availability.
"DoD does not know what, if any problems, beneficiaries may have experienced filling their prescriptions," Draper
concluded in her report.
With the new requirement for all Tricare beneficiaries to get their non-generic maintenance medications by mail
— an estimated 416,000 beneficiaries new to the system — current users fear their problems will worsen. “These are
very common drugs, and I suspect a substantial portion of retirees take them," Durant said of his medications, taken
for angina and high blood pressure. He said he would like to see Tricare be allowed to expand its list of approved
vendors or reimburse beneficiaries for pharmacy co-payments. DoD officials say they are restricted to purchasing
through designated sources by the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 and simply can't reimburse for pharmacy co-pays.
"If a beneficiary chooses to use a retail pharmacy, DoD regulations do not allow [Express Scripts or the Defense
Health Agency] to waive co-pays," Jones said.
Express Scripts declined to answer questions on the problem and "deferred to the Defense Health Agency" for
response. Petteruti, a retired nurse, said she wants the problem resolved quickly, before retirees without easy access
to a pharmacy go without their medications or, worse, skip or double-up doses out of confusion related to erratic
deliveries or store purchases. Durant said the issue is not about having to pay more money for his medications, but
rather about ensuring that a program now mandatory for many Tricare beneficiaries actually works as intended. "It's
a privilege to have these pharmacy benefits," he said. "I'm just irritated with the bureaucracy." [Source: MilitaryTimes
| Patrcia Kime | October 21, 2015 ++]
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Drug Cost Increases Update 01
►
Soaring Costs | Why?
Over the past year I’ve been horrified to learn about the pricing tactics of what can only be described as the
Pharmaceutical Jihad. Anyone with a chronic health condition knows the feeling when your doctor gives you a new
prescription. You stare at the pharmacy receipt in sheer disbelief. You watch in terror as every prescription refill
torches and burns your Part D initial drug coverage limit. You slide ever more rapidly into Medicare’s drug coverage
gap known as the doughnut hole. Once there, beneficiaries are stretched for a much higher share of the cost — 65%
of the cost of generic drugs, or 45% of the cost of brand name drugs. Prices of both new and generic drugs are taking
terrifying climbs. According to a CBS “60 Minutes” program with Lesley Stahl, “The Cost of Cancer Drugs” new
cancer drugs are often priced at “well over $100,000” a year. And earlier this year the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration approved two new cholesterol drugs that reduce cholesterol by approximately 55%-60% in patients
who are already on or who cannot take cholesterol-reducing statin drugs. While the drugs may help up to 15 million
Americans a year, they come with a $14,000 a year price tag.
As complaints grow, the soaring cost of prescription drugs is becoming a top issue with both Medicare and younger
patients alike. A recent poll by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation found that making sure high – cost drugs for
chronic conditions are affordable is a number – one priority with the public. Drug companies are increasingly coming
under pressure to justify their prices. Drug makers claim the high costs of research and development are driving the
outrageous price tags. But that’s not the only reason. The Boston Globe recently reported that Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Inc. won approval for a medicine that could treat adult onset cystic fibrosis, a life – threatening lung disease. The twodrug therapy called Orkambi costs about $259,000 per patient annually. This is no typo. The Boston Globe went on
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to report that the new drug regimen “is expected to help provide more than $53 million in one-time bonuses for 12
senior Vertex executives” if the company is profitable. The problem is that there are roughly only 15,000 Americans
who suffer from cystic fibrosis — one reason given for the astronomical six-figure cost per patient.
These are just a few of hundreds of examples —including mega cost increases in generic drugs as well. For example,
200 puff albuterol inhalers to treat asthma that used to cost about $10 now cost patients about $50. The public is
entitled to an explanation. Outrageous price tags for drugs are putting Medicare patients and the program at risk, while
Congress looks the other way. TSCL supports legislation that would give Medicare the authority to negotiate
pharmaceutical prices for covered drugs, and would require greater pricing transparency from manufacturers. [Source:
The Senior Citizens League | Mary Johnson, Editor | October 30th, 2015 ++]
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EarlySense Monitoring System
►
Reduces Mortality & Adverse Events
A contact-free sensor system placed under a mattress to monitor continuous vital signs has proven its value to the
Veterans Administration, which tested the solution on more than 1,000 patients with spinal injuries. The EarlySense
Monitoring System was used for a year on 1,150 chronically ill veterans with spinal cord injuries at a VA Spinal Cord
Injury Center (SCI). According to VA officials, the sensor system reduced by more than 60 percent the number of
medical response team (MRT) activations, halved the number of Code Blue activations and reduced ICU transfers by
some 40 percent. In addition, the sensor system cut the mortality rate following MRT/Code Blue activations by a
whopping 83 percent. "These are at-risk patients and it is vital to protect their clinical progress," EarlySense president
Tim O'Malley said in a press statement. "A reduction of 80 percent in mortality following major deteriorations is a
breakthrough in quality of care which the professional team at the SCI Center should be applauded for."
EarlySense, based in Israel with a North American headquarters in Waltham, Mass., markets a sensor array that's
slipped beneath a mattress and measures heart and respiratory rate, as well as movement. The company debuted the
technology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass., in 2013, then reported strong results in a 2014 study with
Harvard University Medical School. In that study, the results of which were published in the American Journal of
Medicine, researchers compared a 33-bed medical-surgical unit to a sister control unit for a nine-month preimplementation and a nine-month post-implementation period. Results showed a decrease in the overall length of stay
by 0.37 days, a reduction of 9 percent. The average stay in the ICU for patients transferred from the medical-surgical
unit was significantly lower post implementation of the sensors by about two days, a 45 percent reduction. The rate
of code blue events decreased by 86 percent.
"Early detection of patient deterioration in general care units should be a top priority for healthcare institutions,"
said David Bates, MD, director of the Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice, senior vice president for quality
and safety and chief quality officer at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in a press release.
More recently, Early Sense launched a consumer-facing product that pairs with a smartphone app for home health use,
and announced a partnership with Beurer to market the product in Europe as the SE 80 SleepExpert. The results of the
VA study were presented at the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) 2015 Educational Conference,
held Sept. 6-9 in New Orleans. [Source: mHealthNews | Eric Wicklund | September 09, 2015 ++]
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Legionnaires' Disease
►
Prevalence and Transmission
Legionnaires' disease has been reported in a handful of states this summer, leading to 19 deaths and more than 100
illnesses. The unrelated cases are part of a typical pattern seen with a disease that tends to appear in warm weather
and is mostly dangerous for people who already sick or weakened. While such outbreaks have become more common
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in recent years, experts don't know if that's because of better reporting or surveillance, or if the disease, a type of
pneumonia, is truly becoming more prevalent, said Dr. Matthew Moore, a medical epidemiologist at the federal
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Regardless, he said disease activity this summer is pretty much "par for
the course." Some key questions and answers about recent reports:
Where Has Legionnaires' Disease Been Reported Recently? Here's the list:
In Illinois, an outbreak reported last week at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, an assisted living and nursing
home southwest of Chicago, has led to the deaths of seven elderly residents, all with underlying conditions. Another
32 residents have been sickened. Tests were pending 1 SEP for other residents. The source has not been identified,
said Ryan Yantis, a spokesman for the state's Department of Veterans Affairs.
In California, six inmates at San Quentin State prison have been diagnosed with the disease since last week; five others
are hospitalized with pneumonia-like symptoms and 73 inmates are under observation and being treated for respiratory
illness in a prison medical unit, said prisons spokeswoman Dana Simas. Authorities have not found the source.
In New York, an outbreak in July and August that killed 12 people and sickened more than 100 was traced to bacteria
found in an air-conditioning unit cooling tower at a Bronx hotel.
Two isolated illnesses occurred - one at Illinois' Stateville prison last month, the other in July at West Chester
University in Pennsylvania.
High levels of Legionella bacteria were found last week in the water system at a substance abuse treatment unit in
Arizona at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, leading authorities to relocate 20 patients. The bacteria
were discovered during routine testing and no illnesses have been reported, spokeswoman Jean Schaefer said.
A building at a GlaxoSmithKline drug manufacturing plant in Zebulon, N.C. was closed temporarily in August after
Legionella bacteria was found in the external cooling towers there; no one was sickened.
What Is Legionnaires' Disease? The illness is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria that infect the lungs. Named
after a 1976 outbreak among participants of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia, the disease can cause
coughs, breathing trouble, fever and muscle aches. The elderly and people with chronic illnesses are most at risk.
Antibiotics can treat the disease but it is fatal for between 5 percent and 30 percent of patients, Moore said.
Large grouping of Legionella pneumophila bacteria. Tends to appear in warm weather and is mostly dangerous for
people who are already sick or weakened
How Does The Disease Spread? The bacteria live in the environment and thrive in warm water. People can get sick
if they inhale mist or vapor from contaminated water systems, hot tubs and other typical sources but the bacteria don't
spread from person to person. New York's recent outbreak likely spread by wind blowing mist from the hotel cooling
tower to surrounding areas, Moore said.
How Common Is Legionnaires' Disease? The CDC estimates that between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized
with the disease each year, usually in summer and early fall. State and local health departments are asked to report
cases to the CDC, many cases aren't reported, including many hospitalizations. This year, reports totaled 3,212 through
16 AUG; last year's provisional total is 4,486, but final numbers are expected in a few weeks.
[Source: Associated Press | Lindsey Tanner | September 1, 2015 ++]
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*********************************
Hearing Loss
►
Pharmaceutical Hearing Protection
The crack of an M16 shot rings out at 156 decibels. A jet engine at takeoff blasts about 140 decibels. Submarine engine
rooms drone along at 120 decibels. Given that 85 decibels is the threshold for preventing permanent hearing loss,
military service is unquestionably hard on hearing. But what if troops could take a daily pill to protect themselves
from noise-related hearing loss? A researcher from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is looking into
the prospect, testing a common antioxidant found in fermented dairy products on the firing range at the Army’s Drill
Sergeant Instructor Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Kathleen Campbell, an audiologist and SIU professor, has
studied the protective properties of D-methionine — an antioxidant found in cheeses and yogurt — for well over a
decade, testing its effectiveness in preventing damage caused by excessive noise and other sources.
Noise-related hearing loss occurs when inner ear cells, which vibrate when exposed to sound, are overstimulated.
The ear’s response causes cochlear cells to release free radicals, damaging electrons that can kill off the cells. When
those cells die, a person loses the ability to hear sounds of certain frequencies. Campbell says D-methionine works
by neutralizing the free radicals and stimulating the body to produce glutathione, a natural antioxidant that may prevent
the cells from releasing free radicals in the first place or neutralize them shortly after noise exposure. “You can give
it after the noise exposure ceases and reverse the hearing back, preventing permanent damage,” Campbell said. For
the study, soldiers drink a beverage containing D-methionine before, during and after they are on the shooting range,
having fired 500 rounds over 11 days. Campbell takes a baseline hearing test from the subjects and then tests them
again two weeks later. While results from the Fort Jackson study are not available yet, Campbell has tested the
compound for safety and effectiveness in humans — on cancer patients taking chemotherapy drugs known to cause
hearing loss.
Campbell is not alone in examining the potential of using medications to reduce or prevent hearing loss. Since at
least 2004, researchers at Navy Medical Center San Diego and a private company, Seattle- based Sound
Pharmaceuticals, have tested two substances — N-acetlycysteine and ebselen, that also boost the body’s own natural
antioxidants. In tests involving Marine Corps recruits taking NAC during training in 2004 and 2009, the formulation
yielded less-than-promising results, reducing the number of people who experienced hearing loss by about 25 percent.
But officials with Sound Pharmaceuticals, which is testing the man-made compound ebselen, say their medication
reduced temporary hearing loss following exposure in 60 percent among those who took it, compared with a 20 percent
reduction in the control group, and did so quite quickly.
The Sound Pharmaceuticals research involved 83 University of Florida students listening to iPods for four hours
at levels loud enough to temporarily inhibit hearing. “A lot of people pooh-poohed the study, saying it was artificial,”
Sound Pharmaceuticals Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jonathan Kil said. But on 27 FEB, he noted, the World Health
Organization announced that 1.1 billion teens and young adults are at risk for noise induced hearing loss, “primarily
through personal audio players.” For the Fort Jackson study, participants wear standard hearing protection in addition
to taking the medication.
Researchers said they don’t see their medication replacing these safeguards, but rather augmenting them. “One of
the big advantages of pharmaceutical hearing protection is it does not cut down on situational awareness,” Campbell
said. “It gives you another level of protection without sacrificing your ability to hear your surroundings.” The Centers
For Disease Control and Prevention says about 10 million Americans have noise-related hearing loss, and 22 million
workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise annually. More than 800,000 veterans are compensated by the
Veterans Affairs Department for hearing-related conditions, at a cost of more than $1 billion a year.
These medications are still in the development phase, with Campbell expecting to analyze preliminary results of
the Fort Jackson study this fall. She declined to provide a timeline for when D-methionine would hit the market if
proved effective. Kill said he expects his company to file a new drug application with the Food and Drug
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Administration sometime in the next three to four years. Campbell said she must follow strict guidelines to ensure that
Dmethionine passes muster by the FDA if it works. “My priority is finding something to take care of the troops. But
certainly, if we could develop this for the population in general — we live in a noisy world — that would be good,”
she said. [Source: NavyTimes | Patricia Kime | September 14, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Agent Orange & Bone Marrow Cancer Link
►
MGUS Precursor
Servicemembers exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are at higher risk of developing the precursor
stage of a bone marrow cancer, according to a study published 3 SEP in the Journal of the American Medical
Association Oncology. The study provides the first scientific evidence for a link between the precursor stage of
multiple myeloma — a cancer of white blood plasma cells that accumulate in bone marrow — and veterans exposed
to the herbicide Agent Orange, according to the study’s 12 authors, who are associated with medical centers across
the U.S. The precursor, called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, is not in and of itself
a problem.
“MGUS is not a cancer,” said Dr. Nikhil Munshi, who specializes in multiple myeloma at the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “A very large majority of patients with MGUS remain MGUS all
through their lives with no real consequence.” MGUS virtually always precedes multiple myeloma, but the
mechanisms that trigger its onset are not fully understood, said Munshi, who was not involved in the study but wrote
an editorial published in the same issue of JAMA Oncology. Previous studies have linked other insecticides, herbicides
and fungicides to higher risks of MGUS and multiple myeloma.
Agent Orange was used during Operation Ranch Hand in Southeast Asia to clear jungle foliage from 1962 to 1971.
It was usually sprayed via aircraft. Since then, Agent Orange has been linked to a host of health problems and diseases
in many servicemembers. The Veterans Administration maintains a list of “presumptive diseases” assumed to be
related to military service that automatically qualify them for VA benefits. The Institute of Medicine has identified
seven cancers with a positive association to Agent Orange, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin
lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma — all of which have been accepted by the VA as presumptive diseases.
Multiple myeloma is a VA presumptive disease, but it has been classified as having “limited or suggestive evidence”
of a link to Vietnam War veterans’ exposure to herbicides, the authors of the JAMA study wrote.
The study looked at specimens from two groups of Air Force veterans that had been collected and stored in 2002
by the Air Force Health Study. A group of 479 veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange during Operation
Ranch Hand were compared with a second group of the same size that had similar duties in Southeast Asia from 1962
to 1971 but were not involved with the herbicide. The Air Force Health Study had sampled servicemembers in the
two groups in 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002 for exposure to Agent Orange and to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin,
or TCDD, which is an unintended contaminant of the herbicide considered the culprit for so many of its adverse
effects.
The researchers found that the prevalence of MGUS in Ranch Hand veterans was twice as high as in the comparison
group, with 34 of the 479 Ranch Hand veterans having MGUS compared with 15 out of 479 in the control group. That
translated to a 2.4-fold increased risk of MGUS for Ranch Hand veterans over their counterparts when adjusting for
factors such as age, race and other physical traits. “That’s an important number,” Munshi said. Researchers also found
significantly higher levels of TCDD in the Ranch Hand veterans who had developed MGUS, he said. Because all
cases of multiple myeloma originate from MGUS, the study has provided the first scientific evidence for a direct link
between Agent Orange and multiple myeloma, he said. [Source: Stars and Stripes | Wyatt Olson | September 3, 2015
++]
*********************************
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Sleep Update 01
►
Crucial for Good Health
We’ve been told that the modern, connected life is taking a toll on our sleep. Compared to previous generations,
studies report, we’ve been sleeping less and less every year. And that is making us “more likely to suffer from chronic
diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as from cancer, increased mortality, and
reduced quality of life and productivity.” It sounds terrifying, but it’s probably not true. For a long time doctors and
scientists had ignored sleep’s importance to health. We’ve only begun to see how much it matters in the last few
decades. And thus, we have never systematically gathered data on how much people really sleep. Now, researchers
have started to put together what scant data we have to look at the bigger picture. And what they have found is that
we aren’t sleeping any less today than before. Knowing precisely how much we sleep matters, because sleep plays a
pivotal role in many aspects of our health—from staying mentally fit to fending infections.
Disappearing sleep
In the 1980s, researchers began to probe how sleep affects health. A 1989 study set off alarms when researchers
showed that rats deprived of sleep start dying in as little as two or three weeks. By looking at the effects of sleep
deprivation on humans, it’s been determined that the average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep. When we sleep
less than seven hours we have difficulty with memory and simple cognitive functions. (Though a tiny fraction of
people can get away with much less.) According to a survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
between 2005 and 2007, more than 30% of adults slept less than six hours a night. The National Sleep Foundation’s
own surveys reveal something similar: more than 20% of people in 2009 were sleeping less than six hours compared
to only 12% in 1998. The CDC declared that insufficient sleep was becoming a public health epidemic.
The CDC announcement came at a time when doctors across the US were increasingly prescribing sleeping aids
and sleeping pills. The number of adults on sleeping pills has tripled in the last decade alone. However, a 2010 analysis,
published in the journal Sleep, which used data from a different set of surveys conducted between 1975 and 2006,
found very different results. It showed that the proportion of short-sleepers (those sleeping less than six hours) hadn’t
changed much in the last 30 years. And, more surprising still, that proportion was only 9.3% in 2006. Why such a
large difference when compared to the CDC data? “Probably because those studies asked a different question,” Kristen
Knutson, a sleep researcher at the University of Chicago who conducted the 2010 analysis, told Quartz. For instance,
in the case of the CDC survey the participants were asked, “On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a
day?”
Knutson believes that answers to such a question are likely to suffer from both conscious and unconscious biases,
which may make people give a different answer than reality. Sleeping less, for instance, is associated with being more
productive and some may consider it fashionable to say they sleep less. Some studies have also shown that people
underestimate how much they actually sleep—especially those who suffer from insomnia. A more effective approach
is to ask how people spend their average day then tease out data about total time spent sleeping, which is what
Knutson’s study does. It uses data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), which is conducted with input from
more than 150,000 people. Both the CDC and ATUS data only involve people in the US. If there were a cultural shift
in sleep patterns, it likely would’ve occurred across the Western world and would be reflected in other countries too.
A 2012 systematic review of 12 studies from 15 countries, published inSleep Medicine Reviews, showed that,
between 1960 and 2000, total sleep times across these countries hasn’t changed much at all. They increased by less
105
than an hour per night in seven countries (Bulgaria, Poland, Canada, France, Britain, Korea and the Netherlands),
decreased by less than 30 minutes per night in (Japan, Russia, Finland, Germany, Belgium and Austria), and showed
no change in Sweden and the US.
Conflicting data
When Shawn Youngstedt, a sleep researcher at Arizona State University, examined these studies, he realized that
there might be a way to resolve these conflicting results. Instead of using self-reported data, he wanted objective
data—that which is recorded using sleep-monitoring instruments or by observers as participants slept in a lab.
Youngstedt’s and his colleagues’ systematic review, published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, took into consideration
168 studies with objective data conducted between 1960 and 2013—involving more than 6,000 participants
(understandably a much smaller set than the self-reported surveys) across 15 countries. It too reveals that the total
sleep time hasn’t changed much in that period. Most of us sleep between seven and nine hours, and the proportion of
those sleeping less than six hours hasn’t increased in the last 50 years. Despite this, the CDC tells Quartz that poor
sleep remains a public health epidemic. The differences in the studies, it says, “may have arisen from the different
surveys used, different definitions of short sleep, as well as different statistical analyses conducted.” “To call
something an epidemic, you need an extraordinary amount of data supporting the claim,” Youngstedt told Quartz.
“But the data just doesn’t seem to show that.”
So why then are there widespread worries of a poor sleep “epidemic”? It’s probably a combination of social trends
that fuel the myth. Sleeping is commonly considered a leisure activity, and the modern fast-paced life creates an
illusion that we have less free time for rest. Cases of famous people succeeding on little sleep—from Margaret
Thatcher to Marissa Mayer—make matters worse. Some also believe that we must be sleeping less than our ancestors
who never had access to electricity. The invention of the light-bulb did change our sleep habits, but not the total
amount of time we slept. Before the 18th century, a segmented sleep pattern was common. People slept for four hours,
then woke up for a little bit of time and slept for four more hours later. Sleep wasn’t considered a crucial part of human
health for a long time, and as a result not many well-designed studies have been conducted in the past. “So we may
never definitively know how much people really slept then,” Youngstedt told Quartz.
His results are unlikely to represent all classes of sleepers. For instance, studies have shown that Black Americans
probably sleep much worse than White Americans. It has also been proposed as a possible explanation for the wide
health gap between the races. Also, his study only looked at healthy sleepers, and cannot say whether poor sleep
increases risk of diseases such as diabetes and obesity or whether those at risk of disease suffer from poor sleep.
Though we seemingly sleep enough, scientists are finally starting to understand just how crucial how sleep is for good
health. With the field of sleep research gathering pace and more of us strapping on wearable devices that can monitor
our sleep, we are bound to learn more. While that happens, there is little reason to lose sleep worrying about not
sleeping enough.
[Source: GovExec.com | Akshat Rathi Quartz | September 3, 2015 ++]
*********************************
Computer Eyes
►
How to Avoid Negative Effects
Sitting in front of a computer for hours can make your eyes tired, and your visual performance can suffer. To help
with potential negative effects, create an environment that has equal brightness everywhere around your computer
screen. Here are some helpful hints:
 Reduce intense fluorescent lights.
 Turn on some lights if you usually look at computer screens in the dark.
 Dim excess light coming through windows with blinds, tinting, or window covers.
 Avoid glare on your computer screen and
106

Take microbreaks to look at distant objects.
If you’re in an office environment, if possible, turn off overhead lights and have a table lamp for softer light. If
you can’t control the lighting in your environment, there are screens you can place on top of your computer screen to
reduce glare. Experts suggest looking at a distant object at least twice every hour to help prevent visual fatigue. So if
you take a break every 20 minutes for brief stretching, make sure it also includes looking at a distant object to help
both your eyes and body! [Source: TRICARE Beneficiary Bulletin #321 | Lorraine Cwieka | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
TRICARE Coverage Update 05
►
Covered Services Fact Sheet JUL 2015
TRICARE covers most care that is medically necessary and considered proven. There are special rules and limitations
for certain types of care, and some types of care are not covered at all. TRICARE policies are very specific about
which services are covered and which are not. It is in your best interest to take an active role in verifying your coverage.
To verify coverage, visit www.tricare.mil/coveredservices or call your regional contractor.
Note: Overseas, all host nation care must meet TRICARE’s policies for coverage. You are financially responsible for
100 percent of the cost for care that TRICARE does not cover. Beneficiary category and location determine which
overseas program options are available to you. Each program option has specific guidelines about how to access care.
Check with your TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Regional Call Center before visiting host nation providers.
To review what TRICARE Benefits you are entitled to refer to the attachment to this bulletin titled, “TRICARE
Covered Services Fact Sheet 2015”. [Source: TRICARE Communications | September 4, 2015 ++]
*********************************
TRICARE Prime Networks Update 01
► Metropolitan Area Users Sought
The Defense Health Agency has launched a marketing effort to draw military health beneficiaries living in major
metropolitan areas back to Tricare Prime, starting with the Washington, D.C., region. More than 57,000 military
households in the "National Capital Region" that encompasses the District, Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland
received packets from NCR Medical Director Rear Adm. Raquel Bono in August hyping the services available at 11
military hospitals or clinics across the area. The mailings lists the locations and addresses of the facilities, features and
available services, from routine care and extended pharmacy access to secure messaging with providers, wellness
benefits and treatment specialties such as orthopedics, pediatrics subspecialists and an advanced cancer treatment
facility.
Bono said the goal is to attract Tricare beneficiaries to Prime, a health program that operates at a lower cost to the
government than private health care services, but also bring patients into the system to ensure that military doctors
and researchers have the opportunity to seeing a range of patients. “In addition to receiving extraordinary health care,
enrollment at an MTF supports military medicine,” Bono wrote in the letter to beneficiaries. “Your Tricare Prime
coverage supports research and training of military health care professionals needed for our troops and their families.”
In fiscal 2012, the Defense Department spent $15.4 billion for beneficiary health care outside the military system,
more than double the cost in 2000 when adjusted for inflation. In contrast, care provided “in house” at military
treatment facilities cost $15 billion in fiscal 2012, but 45 percent of that amount was for salaries of military doctors,
nurses, staff and administrators, which the government pays regardless of how many patients are seen.
According to data provided by Tricare, the Washington, D.C., area is home to 455,000 Tricare-eligible
beneficiaries, about 250,000 of whom are enrolled in Prime. According to Defense Health Agency data, some facilities
in the Washington region, such as Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Virginia, have more enrollees than space, while
107
others are functioning below expectations. The Andrew Rader Army Health Clinic at Joint Base Myer-Henderson
Hall, Arlington, Virginia, for example, is running at 77 percent capacity, while the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Clinic
in the District of Columbia is at just 74 percent capacity. Other facilities in the area are in high demand but still have
room for more patients. According to the data, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland,
is at 89 percent enrollment capacity and the Dumfries and Fairfax health centers, both in Virginia, are at 89 percent.
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, tops the list for the facility with the most Tricare Prime enrollees, 43,794; its capacity is 45,029.
Bono said nearly all active-duty service members and their families in the region are enrolled in Tricare Prime, but
the mailing, sent to Tricare-eligible beneficiaries in certain ZIP codes, was meant for eligible retirees and their family
members who use Standard or other health insurance. “We were very measured in looking at what our market could
do before we went out and extended this opportunity to our retirees,” Bono said. The Pentagon has sought for years
to curb its health care costs, including asking Congress twice in the past two years for permission to consolidate Tricare
into a single system designed to encourage beneficiaries to seek care from military facilities or network providers, or
pay more of their share of health care costs.
According to Pentagon estimates, the average active-duty family of three averages $13,615 in annual medical costs,
with the military bearing $13,448 of the expense while the family picks up $166, or about 1.2 percent. A working-age
retiree's family of three accrues $16,715 in medical costs annually, according to DoD, and pays $1,337, or 8.2 percent
of the cost. Many of DoD's recent health care proposals are designed to raise beneficiaries’ share of the cost closer to
the levels they were when Tricare was enacted — about 25 percent of total cost. Under Prime, retirees below age 65
and their family members pay enrollment fees of $289 for an individual and $555.84 for a family. Retirees and their
family members as well as family members of active-duty personnel pay no enrollment fees to use Standard, but they
pay a portion of their visits to primary care or specialty providers.
Bono said beneficiaries in other cities with significant military populations may see similar marketing campaigns
tailored to the needs of the beneficiaries and the military health care market in those regions. The Washington region
mailing campaign cost $65,800 and reached nearly 100,000 beneficiaries. “We have a health care system that is at
least on par, if not exceeds, some of the standards we see when compared with the civilian markets," Bono said. "We
really believe our military health system provides one of the best types of health care for our beneficiaries." [Source:
MilitaryTimes | Patricia Kime | September 3, 2015 ++]
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TRICARE Young Adult Program Update 10
► 2016 Premium Increase
Premiums for the Military Health System’s benefit plan for adult children between 23 and 26 years old have been
announced. The premiums for TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program will increase on Jan. 1, 2016 to $306 per
month for TYA Prime, and $228 per month for TYA Standard. “Offering the option to have young adults covered
under these plans falls in line with what all Americans are able to do with their adult children under the Affordable
Care Act,” said Mary Kaye Justis, director of the TRICARE Health Plan. “We want to make sure those wanting this
coverage know all the facts as they go into the open enrollment season for health care plans in this country.”
Justis explained the increase is due to the requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 that
TRICARE set TYA premiums to cover the full cost of health care received by the program’s beneficiaries. Previous
years’ premiums were lower because TRICARE did not yet have sufficient cost data to set annual premiums. This
coming year marks the first time TRICARE has had enough actual cost data to set the premiums based on actual costs
rather than predicted cost. “We are required by law to be cost-neutral to the government, so the premiums had to be
raised to cover the actual cost of care,” Justis said. TYA offers very generous, competitive coverage for young adults,
Justis said. Although the premiums do not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016, TRICARE leaders want to make sure TYA
beneficiaries have all the facts now to make the best decision possible, based on their needs and circumstances, during
the open enrollment season from Nov. 1, 2015, through Jan. 31, 2016. “We like having young adults in our system
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and welcome them to stay on,” said Justis. “But they do have options.” Other health care options for young adult
beneficiaries include:
 Purchasing TYA Standard – lower premiums, higher cost shares – instead of TYA Prime.
 Enrolling in a parent’s civilian health insurance plan, if available.
 Purchasing coverage through the college or university, if enrolled.
 Purchasing a plan offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov.
Lower cost plans may be available depending on income and residence, and assistance paying premiums may be
available if beneficiaries qualify for government subsidies through commercial plans. Visit www.tricare.mil/TYA
for more information. [Source: TRICARE News Release | October 28, 2015 ++]
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Tricare Flu Shots Update 04
► New Flu Year
Children have returned to school and as they settle in to new classes and new routines, parents brace themselves for
new school year sniffles. Most flu activity occurs from October to May in the United States, and many refer to this
time as flu season. Because children spend most of their time in classrooms, cold and flu germs are more easily
spread. Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or
talk. The flu can be serious, even for healthy, young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommend flu vaccines for all children 6 months and older. Flu vaccines not only protect the children who are
vaccinated but also those who they come in contact with, especially those with weaker immune systems like very
young children or the elderly.
TRICARE covers two forms of the flu vaccine, the flu shot and Flu Mist. The flu shot is recommended for all age
groups 6 months to 64 years of age. There is a high dose version for those older than 65. Flu Mist is recommended for
those between the ages of 2 and 49 years old but not recommended for pregnant women. Get the flu vaccine for free
by visiting your local military hospital or clinic. Call ahead to find out a good time to go because active duty service
members have priority and you want to make sure they have some flu vaccines available. You can also visit a
participating TRICARE network pharmacy or any TRICARE-authorized provider. Be sure a pharmacist gives you
the vaccine so that it is covered by the pharmacy benefit for free.
Please note, if you see your doctor, you may have a copayment or cost share for the office visit. Active-duty service
members must comply with their Service’s policy for getting flu shots. Refer to the TRICARE Flu Resources web
page http://www.tricare.mil/HealthWellness/Preventive/FluResources.aspx to get more information about the flu
vaccine and preventing the flu on [Source: Tricare Communications | September 10, 2015 ++]
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TRICARE Help
► Q&A 151115
Have a question on how TRICARE applies to your personal situation? Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service,
6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. In e-mail, include the word
“Tricare” in the subject line and do not attach files. Information on all Tricare options, to include links to Handbooks
for the various options, can be found on the official Tricare website, at this web address:
http://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans.aspx or you can your regional contractor. Following are some of the issues
addressed in recent weeks by these sources:
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Military versus Federal Health Coverage
(Q) I’m a reservist enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select. I am pursuing a career as a federal employee. If that happens,
I’ve been told I would not be able to keep my Tricare coverage and would have to switch to the Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program. Is there a grace period for such a switch? And which FEHBP option most closely resembles
Tricare Reserve Select?
A. You would indeed have to drop your TRS coverage if you take a job that offers FEHBP coverage. It would not
even matter whether you choose to enroll in FEHBP; if your employer offers it, you are ineligible for TRS. You can
end your TRS coverage at any time, effective at the end of any month you specify. To do that, go online to
www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/reservetricare and log on to the Defense Manpower Data Center DMDC Reserve Component
Purchased TRICARE Application, then follow the instructions to “Disenroll.” Print, sign and mail or fax your
completed DD Form 2896-1 to the managed-care contractor for your Tricare region. Contacts for all Tricare regional
contractors are www.tricare.mil/ContactUs/CallUs.aspx . Again, the effective end date is either the last day of the
month in which the request is postmarked or received, or the last day of a future month specified by you. This lets you
coordinate the timing of your TRS disenrollment so you have little or no break in coverage when you pick up FEHBP
coverage.
TRS is modeled on Tricare Standard, a “fee-for-service plan” that lets you see any network provider that accepts
Tricare. The FEHBP has similar plans; get more details about comparable options here: www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/healthcare/plan-information/plan-types .
-o-o-O-o-oCorrection on Tricare Young Adult eligibility
The Aug. 31 Tricare Help column inaccurately characterized Tricare Young Adult eligibility for college students over
age 21. The correct information follows.
(Q) I have Tricare coverage through my parents. I’m a full-time college student who will turn 21 very soon. I may
need to drop a class because I’ve been sick and falling behind. That would put me under 12 semester hours. Would
this bar me from Tricare Young Adult eligibility after I hit 21?
A. Tricare does not determine full-time student status; individual schools do that, so check with your school. If
dropping that class indeed would make you a part-timer, then you’d lose eligibility for ordinary Tricare Prime or
Standard upon turning 21. But children of Tricare sponsors remain eligible for Tricare Young Adult until age 26
regardless of student status, as long as they stay single and have no access to other health coverage, such as through
an employer.
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) I am retired from the Air Force Reserve, and working as an Air Force civilian. My wife is retired and will turn
65 before I do. Will she be able to participate in Tricare for Life when she turns 65 even though I will only be 60 at
that time?
A. As you’re likely aware, as a retired reservist you become eligible for regular retired benefits, including military
health care coverage, at age 60. Once you pass that threshold, your wife will be eligible for whatever Tricare plan is
age appropriate for her — Tricare Prime or Standard while she is under 65, and Tricare for Life once she hits 65 and
qualifies for Medicare. Even though you would not make that transition yourself for several more years, the age of
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your spouse in this situation doesn’t matter; all that matters is that she remains your spouse and you remain her sponsor
for Tricare purposes.
Some basic background on Tricare for Life can be found here:
www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans/TFL.aspx .
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) I would like to have my daughter covered under Tricare. She is 23, single and has no other health insurance
options. Can you advise me on how to get her health coverage?
A. Assuming that she is the child of a Tricare sponsor, your daughter’s Tricare options are limited. As long as she
remains 23, she is eligible for “regular” Tricare coverage — Tricare Prime or Tricare Standard — only if she is enrolled
in college as a full-time student. That eligibility would end on her 24th birthday. Her only other Tricare option would
be Tricare Young Adult, under which your daughter could be covered until her 26th birthday. TYA requires payment
of monthly premiums, and they are fairly hefty. For 2015, the monthly premium for TYA Standard is $181, and the
monthly premium for TYA Prime is $208. More information on TYA is here: www.tricare.mil/TYA.
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) If I am granted power of attorney with temporary guardianship of a child not related to me (to provide assistance
during a family crisis), can I enroll that child in DEERS to obtain Tricare coverage for him during the time that he
stays with me?
A. Your question implies that you, or your spouse, is a Tricare sponsor. If so, guardianship by itself normally is not
sufficient to gain Tricare eligibility for a minor child. Usually, the guardianship must be an intermediary step on the
way to legal adoption in order for the child to become eligible for Tricare in a scenario like the one you outline.
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) Is my dependent parent or parent-in-law eligible for TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Standard?
A. No, but dependent parents and parents-in-law may receive care in military hospitals and clinics and may enroll in
TRICARE Plus, if available at a military hospital or clinic. Note: TRICARE Plus does not meet the minimum essential
coverage requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) Are routine eye exams covered for retirees living overseas?
A. No, routine eye exams are not covered for TRICARE Standard beneficiaries overseas or in the United States,
except for those covered under the well-child benefit.
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) Can I use the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) overseas?
A. Yes, if you lose TRICARE coverage, including Transitional Assistance Management Program, TRICARE Young
Adult (TYA), TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR), you may qualify to purchase
CHCBP coverage. Coverage is available worldwide.
-o-o-O-o-o(Q) If I qualify for TRS, but have not enrolled and/or kept up with payments, do I still meet the minimum essential
coverage requirement under the ACA?
A. No. Premium-based TRICARE program options (e.g., TRS, TRR, TYA) and CHCBP are considered minimum
essential coverage under the ACA only when your premiums are paid and coverage is effective. These requirements
must be met on a monthly basis and reported each year. If there are any months that you are not enrolled or have not
paid your premium, and if you do not have another form of coverage, you do not meet the minimum essential coverage
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requirement for those months. If you do not qualify for or choose not to purchase a TRICARE or CHCBP premiumbased program, you may find other coverage options that meet the minimum essential coverage requirement at
www.healthcare.gov or through another plan that qualifies as minimum essential coverage (e.g., coverage through a
civilian employer or Medicare).
[Source: MilitaryTimes | Sep 01 thru 14 Nov, 2015 ++]
* Finances *
Vet State Income Tax
► State-by-State Exemption Assessment
You might be able to claim a deduction on your state tax return that you can’t on your federal; for example, a few
states, like Illinois, exempt all or part of military income. Your state tax return will spell out all the additions and
deductions you must make. Income from investments can vary widely at the state level, as well. For example, some
states don’t differentiate between ordinary income and capital gains (the latter typically is taxed at a lower federal
rate), while others might tax sales of mutual funds but not individual stocks. Seniors often receive favorable treatment
regarding their state tax bills. Retirement income — military or otherwise — may be fully or partially exempt; even
your capital gains may be tax-free. Local homestead exemptions may give the elderly a break on their property taxes,
which is often the largest tax bill for retirees who no longer generate income from a job. Following are the vet income
exemptions for those states that do allow one:
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Arizona: Up to $2,500 of retired pay/survivor benefits are exempt.
Arkansas: Up to $6,000 of retired pay/survivor benefits are exempt.
Colorado: $20,000 exemption for retirees ages 55 to 64, $24,000 if over 65.
Connecticut: 50 percent of retired pay/survivor benefits are exempt.
Delaware: $2,000 exemption for retirees under 60, $12,500 if 60 or older.
District of Columbia: $3,000 exemption for retirees 62 or older. No survivor benefit exemption.
Georgia: $35,000 exemption for retirees ages 62 to 64, $65,000 if 65 or older.
Idaho: $30,396/$45,594 (single/married filing jointly) exemption for retirees age 65 or older (disabled and
62 or older).
Indiana: $5,000 exemption for retirees/survivors age 60 or older.
Iowa: $6,000/$12,000 exemption for retirees single/married age 55 or older.
Kentucky: No tax if retired before Jan. 1, 1998. $41,110 exemption if retired after Dec. 31, 1997.
Maine: $10,000 exemption for retired pay.
Maryland: $5,000 exemption for retired pay.
Missouri: For 2015, 90 percent of military retirement is exempt. On Jan. 1, 2016, 100 percent of military
retirement pay will be exempt.
Montana: $3,900 maximum exemption if federal adjusted income is $32,480 or less.
Nebraska: Staring in 2015, military retirees may make a one-time election within two calendar years after
retirement date; choose to exclude 40 percent of military retirement benefit income for seven consecutive
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taxable years or 15 percent of military retirement benefit income for all taxable years beginning with the
year the retiree turns 67.
New Mexico: State offers low- and middle income exemption. Maximum exemption is $2,500. To qualify,
adjusted gross income must be $36,667 or less (single filers), $27,500 or less (married filing separately), or
$55,000 or less (married filing jointly or head of household).
North Carolina: Retired pay and survivor benefits exempt if retiree had five or more years of creditable
service as of Aug. 12, 1989; others may take $15,000 for married filing jointly, $12,000 head of household,
or $7,500 for single or married filing separately.
Oklahoma: Military retirees may exclude the greater of 75 percent of their retirement benefits or $10,000
(but not to exceed the amount included in their federal adjusted gross income).
Oregon: If all military service occurred before Oct. 1, 1991, retirement pay is 100-percent exempt. If all
service occurred after Oct. 1, 1991, then none is exempt. If service occurred both before and after Oct. 1,
1991, retirees must compute the percentage of exempt retired pay, which will remain the same from year to
year. Divide months of service or points earned before Oct. 1, 1991, by total months of service and round
the percentage to three places (for example, 0.4576 would be 45.8 percent).
South Carolina: Below age 65, up to $3,000 is exempt. If 65 or older, up to $10,000 is exempt.
Utah: Below age 65, 6 percent of retired pay may be taken as a tax credit (or $288, whichever is less). If
65 or older, may claim $450/$900 tax credit (single/married), subject to income eligibility limits ($16,000
for married filing separately, $25,000 for singles, or $32,000 for married filing jointly).
Virginia: Retirees age 65 and older can deduct up to $12,000 a person of retired income, subject to income
eligibility limits, reduced $1 for every $1 that federal adjusted gross income exceeds $50,000 (single filers)
or $75,000 (married filers).
West Virginia: $2,000 exempt, plus an additional decreasing modification for military retirement up to
$20,000.
Note: State laws are subject to change; contact your state’s department of veterans affairs for up-to-date
information. States not listed have no exemption. [Source: MOAA State Report Card | Nov 2015 ++]
*********************************
Credit Score
► Impact on Billing
Sprint recently was slapped with a $2.95 million penalty from the Federal Trade Commission for failing to notify its
customers with lower credit scores that they were being charged $7.99 more per month for cell service than customers
with better credit. According to the FTC, some companies, including cable and satellite TV and mobile phone and
Internet companies, use information from your credit report to determine what terms they’ll offer you. It’s called riskbased pricing and it’s legal, as long as the company informs you of what it’s doing in a Risk-Based Pricing Notice.
“Sprint failed to give many consumers required information about why they were placed in a more costly program,
and when they did, the notice often came too late for consumers to choose another mobile carrier,” said Jessica Rich,
director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Companies must follow the law when it comes to the way
they use consumer credit reports and scores.” The FTC says a Risk-Based Pricing Notice should:
 Explain that the less favorable credit terms you receive are based on negative information from your credit
report.
 Tell you that you can get a free copy of your credit report.
 Also explain that you have the right to dispute errors in your credit report.
If you get a Risk-Based Pricing Notice, the FTC recommends that you order a free copy of your credit report and
review it. If you find errors, you can dispute those by sending a letter like this (refer to
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0384-sample-letter-disputing-errors-your-credit-report) to the credit reporting
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company and sending another letter (refer to http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0485-sample-letter-disputingerrors-your-credit-report-information-providers) to the company that provided the erroneous information to the credit
reporting company. [Source: FTC Press Release & MoneyTalksNews | Kryatal Steinmetz | 12 & 26 Oct 2015 ++]
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Cola 2016 Update 12
► Zero %
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the September inflation figure and confirmed what most retirees already
knew – there won’t be a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2016 for people collecting military retired pay, Social
Security, VA compensation, or survivor benefits. Falling gas prices are a key reason why the inflation index (and your
COLA) tanked over the summer. Retired pay increases are made each year to maintain the same level of purchasing
power each servicemember had at retirement. This is accomplished through annual COLAs, which are based on the
BLS’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) – the measure of inflation. While most COLA increases are automatic, Congress
must approve COLAs for veterans every year. This is largely so lawmakers can return to their home districts and say
they did something for local constituents.
One question we get every year is “Why is the retired pay COLA (higher or lower) than the active duty pay raise?”
The simple answer is they’re tied to different things. COLAs are tied to changes in consumer prices, whereas active
duty pay raises are (supposed to be) tied to the average American’s pay growth, as measured by BLS’ Employment
Cost Index (ECI). In many years from the mid-1970’s through the mid-90’s, COLAs were higher than active duty pay
raises, primarily because active duty pay raises were capped below the ECI. The track record for keeping annual
retired pay COLAs up with the CPI has been far better, in part because inflation has been relatively low for many
years.
In the late 1990's, chronic retention problems (from all those years of pay raise caps) led Congress to plus up active
duty pay, so those raises were larger than COLAs from 1997-2005. More recently, the retiree COLA has exceeded the
pay raise percentage in two of the past three years. So what happens now, and what’s the implication for the 2017
COLA? Because inflation for the full fiscal year actually declined by 0.4 percent, that means we’ll start 0.4 percent in
the hole in measuring cumulative inflation for the January 2017 COLA.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 16 Oct 2016 ++]
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Military Pension Loans Update 03
► Pension Poaching | Assure Act
“Pension poaching,” a practice that is also known as a “pension advance,” is starting to grab the attention of regulators
in Washington, DC. Companies are buying the rights, for upfront cash, to collect military retirement checks or
veterans' disability checks. While federal law already prohibits federal and military retirees from assigning their
pensions to a third party, these companies skirt state and federal laws by requiring the retiree to deposit his or her
pension in a separate bank account controlled by the firm. While the companies market their services as a “pension
advance,” the terms of the contract reveal that in reality the transaction is a loan. These “advances” require borrowers
to sign over all or part of their monthly pension checks and carry interest rates that are often many times higher than
those on credit cards.
These companies use deceptive marketing practices, and combined with the fact that in order to qualify for some
of the loans borrowers are sometimes required to take out a life insurance policy that names the lender as the sole
beneficiary, it is clear that this business practice offends one's sense of decency. Recently TREA endorsed this year's
version of the ASSURE Act H.R 3310, which seeks to rein in the worst of these abuses. It is sponsored by
Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA). The ASSURE (Annuity Safety and Security Under Reasonable Enforcement)
Act protects retirees by expanding Truth in Lending Act disclosure provisions to any situation where a federal or
military pension is used as consideration for an “advance.” The bill also caps the interest rate on such an “advance” at
prime plus six percent. Currently, there is no private right of action in many of the applicable federal statutes that
prohibit pension assignments. This means that private individuals may not sue to enforce laws that are already on the
books, instead it is up to governmental authorities to take action. The ASSURE Act also creates a private right of
action allowing for the recovery of treble damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees
Holly Petraeus, Assistant Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Office of Servicemember
Affairs has been very forceful in speaking out about this issue. Her concerns are noted in an article available at
http://www.bankrate.com/financing/senior-living/cfpb-warns-of-pension-advances/. This July the GAO released the
details of its months-long undercover investigation into these companies. Those details are available at
http://blog.gao.gov/2014/07/10/questionable-business-practices-and-pension-advances/). These schemes are another
variation on the predatory practices of payday lenders, whereby they prey on people who have a need for upfront cash
in the near term and sucker them in to accepting onerous terms that they never would have agreed to had they been
fully aware of them. It is a shame that certain individuals would target disabled vets or military retirees who have
fallen on hard times. The more we can do to shine a light on their business practices and to hold them accountable,
the better. If you or anyone you know has fallen prey to one of these schemes, please send an email to
treadmin@treadc.org or call 703-684-1981. [Source: TREA Washington Update | 27 Oct 2015 ++]
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AARP
► Is it worth the Cost
Once you reach 50, you’re likely to start hearing jokes about getting a senior discount at Denny’s. But reaching a
certain age actually does present some new opportunities, like AARP membership. AARP says that for $16 a year,
members have access to discounts on insurance and other products and services. What is gained from this admittedly
modest cost, and can you get similar discounts without joining the group? We looked into AARP’s benefits and its
value to see what’s what.
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Insurance - Members can sign up for auto insurance through the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford.
An advertisement on their website says: “Drivers over 50 who switch their auto insurance save an average of $404.”
To compare insurance rates, this base model was used: coverage for a 50-year-old Texas woman with no recent
accidents who drives a 2010 Honda Civic, including comprehensive and collision, with low limits and high
deductibles. The three quotes received were: Allstate – $215 per month, AARP Auto Insurance Program — $100 per
month, and Geico — $59.80 per month. Since rates vary by age, location, driving record and a number of other factors,
you might find a good deal through AARP’s plan, but you might also find a better price with another insurer. It’s
worth requesting a free rate quote from AARP as well as other insurance companies to find the best price.
Travel deals - Travel deals are another perk to AARP membership. Here are a few things you’ll get:
 Rental cars: Members get a discount with several traditional rental car companies, as well as a 30 percent
discount on Zipcar memberships.
 Hotels: Your membership will get you up to 20 percent off at several hotel chains, such as Days Inn and
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, as well as up to 35 percent off from Endless Vacation Rentals.
 Travel: You’ll get access to the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia, which posts members-only flight
deals, plus you’re entitled to a discount at Park Ride Fly USA for off-airport parking.
 Cruises: The AARP Travel Center offers discounts on select cruises by companies including Norwegian
Cruise Line, Windstar and Grand European Travel.
However, if you’re thinking of joining AARP just for the travel discounts, you should know that there are many
senior discounts that don’t require membership. For example, Best Western offers a 10 percent discount to anyone 55
years or older. If you’re 62 or older, you’ll get a 15 percent discount at Marriott locations. Some airlines, including
Southwest, offer senior fares. A few flight deal sites also post travel deals for seniors, such as OneTravel,
CheapOair and Travelation. However, make sure the discounted fares, whether you find them through AARP or
elsewhere, are the lowest available for your chosen flights.
Other discounts - If you’re diligent about flashing your membership card, you can easily earn back your membership
fee. You can read the full list of discounts by checking out the AARP Member Benefits Guide. www.aarp.org/benefitsdiscounts. Some examples on savings:
 15 percent off lunch or dinner at participating Outback Steakhouse restaurants Monday through Thursday,
and 15 percent off weekend lunches.
 A free doughnut with the purchase of any large or extra-large drink at Dunkin’ Donuts.
 10 percent off at McCormick & Schmick’s.
 45 percent off the price of membership to Angie’s List.
 5 percent off plans and 30 percent off accessories at Consumer Cellular.
However, many establishments and businesses offer senior discounts, no membership required and you can find
plenty of sites that track senior discounts. Wherever you’re shopping, it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have a senior
discount and how old you have to be to qualify. Some examples of these are:
 AMC Theatres: A 30-60 percent discount (depending on the day) for moviegoers 60 and older.
 Verizon Wireless: The 65 Plus Plan comes with 200 anytime minutes for $29.99 a month for customers 65
and older.
 Kohl’s: Customers 55 and older get 15 percent off in-store purchases on Wednesdays.
 Brad’s Deals
 SeniorDiscounts.com.
 Senior discounts at Free4Seniors.
 Gift Card Granny’s list of senior discounts.
Other features - One of the main advantages of an AARP membership is that you can join at age 50, whereas most
senior discounts we found started at 55 or older. ARP memberships also offer other perks. For example, if you’re
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married, your spouse will automatically get a free membership. If you’re single, you can sign up for AARP’s dating
site. Members receive AARP Magazine, which has articles on everything from travel to personal finance.
[Source: MoneyTalksNews | Angela Colley | September 3, 2015 ++]
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ITIN
► How to Obtain a Number
Effective January 1, 2013, the IRS implemented new procedures for issuing new Individual Taxpayer Identification
Numbers (ITINs). Designed specifically for tax-administration purposes, ITINs are only issued to people who are not
eligible to obtain a Social Security Number. Specifically, the new procedures apply to most applicants submitting
Forms W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The form can be completed online at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf and downloaded for mailing. ITINs for individuals in these categories
generally are issued during the tax filing season with the submission of a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return. Applicant categories not impacted by these changes are:
 Military spouses and dependents without an SSN who need an ITIN (Military spouses use box e on Form W7 and dependents use box d). Exceptions to the new document standards will be made for military family
members satisfying the documentation requirements by providing a copy of the spouse or parent’s U.S.
military identification, or applying from an overseas APO/FPO address.
 Nonresident aliens applying for ITINs for the purpose of claiming tax treaty benefits (use boxes a and h on
Form W-7). Non-resident alien applicants generally need ITINs for reasons besides filing a U.S. tax return.
This is necessary for nonresident aliens who may be subject to third-party withholding for various income,
such as certain gambling winnings or pension income, or need an ITIN for information reporting purposes.
While existing documentation standards will be maintained only for these applicants, scrutiny of the
documents will be heightened. ITIN applications of this category that are accompanied by a U.S. tax return
will be subject to the new interim document standards.
Taxpayers and their representatives should review he procedural changes, which are further explained in IRS’
Frequently Asked Questions website www.irs.gov/Individuals/ITIN-Updated-Procedures-Frequently-AskedQuestions , before requesting an ITIN. Alien taxpayers who need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
may be able to secure one from outside the United States. The IRS has permanent staff available that is able to help
process Forms W-7, IRS Application Number and Instructions (PDF) at the following U.S. embassies overseas:
Frankfurt, London, and Paris. The addresses and phone numbers of these overseas offices may be found at
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-My-Local-Office-Internationally. In addition, there are public accounting firms
overseas in certain countries which are Authorized Acceptance Agents for ITIN numbers. You will find their names
and addresses at the Acceptance Agent Program page http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Acceptance-Agent-Program.
Acceptance agents in the Philippines are:
 Jim Boyd Foundation, 1925 MacArthur Highway, Balibago Angeles City 2009 Tel: (6345) 888-2748
 Robert L. Wolff *, Motor Paul Road, Talay, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental 6200 Tel: (518) 328-6015
 Michael Miller Brown, Pearl of the Orient Tower, 1240 Roxas Boulevard, Suite 23K, Ermita, Manila 1000
Tel: (63)(929) 754-4239
The IRS also accepts a Form W-7 by mail accompanied by ORIGINAL documents or certified copy of the
document from the issuing agency which establishes the identity and foreign status of the ITIN applicant.
The Instructions for Form W-7 list 13 documents that can be used to prove foreign status and identity. A foreign
passport is the only one that can stand alone (i.e., establishes both foreign status and identity). If a passport is
submitted, there is no need to submit any other documents. If a passport is not submitted, a combination of at least
two other documents, with at least one containing a photograph, must be submitted with the ITIN application. The
IRS will accept copies of original documents, if the copies have been properly certified by:
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The government agency (foreign or domestic) which issued the documents, or
Employees of the U.S. State Department located in U.S. embassies and consulates
Bottom line, for DEERS purposes, you only need a SSN for dependents who are US citizens. For foreign residents
it is not required for registration. You should get an ITIN for foreign residents in the event you die and they rate some
type of survivors benefits, they will need to file a W7 for tax purposes. If for whatever reason you can’t get an
appointment with JUSMAG, all you need to do it file the form with your taxes to show you have coverage even though
you may be exempt [Source: RAO Angeles Newsletter & http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers |
September 2015 ++]
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Saving Money
► LED Lighting
There’s nothing but good news these days about LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. The prices have come down (they
still cost more to buy than incandescent bulbs, but they’ll save you wads of money in the long run.) You can choose
warmer colors of light instead of the harsh, too-white light from older LEDs. And you’ll find more bulbs that work
with your home’s dimmer switches. The benefits of LED lights are clear. MIT Technology Review sums them up:
For the consumer, the main benefits of LED fixtures are they’re energy efficient, can last for more than 20 years and,
in many cases, give off good light. The prices have gone down steadily as well as the LED components have dropped
in price and lighting companies introduce better designs. Consumers have suffered from confusion when selecting
bulbs, however. It’s not surprising. LEDs come in different shapes and colors of light, and it’s hard to know at a glance
how they compare in brightness to our favorite incandescent bulbs. To simplify the experience of buying and using
LED bulbs, here’s what you need to know, boiled down into five rules:
By replacing your home's five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with models that have earned the ENERGY
STAR, you can save $75 each year.
1. Install LEDs where you’ll use them most. LED bulbs are still expensive and so, unless you have the budget to
replace all the bulbs in your home at once, you’ll have to replace bulbs as they burn out. In the long run, your
investment will pay you back in energy savings. It matters where you use your LED bulbs if you hope your investment
will repay you soon. Put an LED in your closet, for example, or another place where the bulb is seldom used, and it
may be years and years before the bulb’s cost is repaid in energy savings. It’s best to use your LEDs where the payoff
will be fastest, in the light fixtures that get most use in the high-traffic parts of your home.
2. Shop for lumens, not watts. Watts are a measure of how much energy the bulb draws, not its brightness.
Nevertheless, we are accustomed to shopping for incandescent light bulbs by their watts, and we know how much
light to expect from a 60-, 100- or 150-watt bulb. LED bulbs also are rated by watts. But that’s no help because there’s
no easy way to compare LED watts with incandescent watts. “[T]here isn’t a uniform way to covert incandescent
watts to LED watts,” says CNET. Now, instead of watts, use lumens as the yardstick for brightness. Packaging on
LED bulbs rates brightness in lumens (and in watts). To replace a 150-watt incandescent bulb, look for an LED rated
at 2600 lumens (25 to 28 LED watts), CNET says. Here’s CNET’s handy comparison chart:
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Incandescent
LED
Watts
Watts
25
3-4
40
4-5
60
6-8
75
9-13
100
16-20
125
21-23
150
25-28
Lumens
250
450
800
1,100
1,600
2,000
2,600
3. Get the light color you want. If you were turned off by the harsh white quality of light from older LEDs you’ll
be glad to know there are more options now. LED bulbs offer a range of colors, from a warmer yellow-white, akin to
the color of incandescent bulbs, to a whiter white or blueish white. Check a bulb’s package for its light color, shown
by its temperature on the Kelvin Scale (learn more from Khan Academy). Lower Kelvin numbers mean warmercolored light. The higher the Kelvin number, the bluer the light. EarthEnergy, a retailer, offers this guide to shopping
for LED bulbs:
 Yellow light: 2700-3000K.
 White: 3500-4100K.
 Blue: 5000-6500K.
4. Match the bulb shape to your fixture. LED bulbs come in a number of unfamiliar shapes. You’ll find spiral
bulbs, different types of globes, spotlights, floodlights and some shaped like candle flames. One useful shape is the
MR16, a smallish, cone-shaped bulb. Which bulb will work in your can lights? Which is best for the ceiling-fan light?
For a table lamp? At www.energystar.gov/ia/products/fap/purchasing_checklist_revised.pdf?c9a7-beca you will find
a brief, illustrated Energy Star guide and EarthEnergy’s bulb guide show which shapes work best in various types of
fixtures.
5. Choose the right bulb for dimmers. Another problem with LEDs used to be finding bulbs that were compatible
with the dimmer switches in your home. Some buzz, flicker or just fail to respond to a dimmer switch. Those still can
be problems, but CNET tested 6 bulbs and has a recommendation. The Philips 60-watt LED performed best. It’s easily
found in stores, but don’t confuse it with the less-expensive Philips SlimStyle LED, which buzzed badly in a dimmer
(although it may be good for other uses). The Philips bulb isn’t the only solution. Read bulbs’ packaging to find the
ones recommended for use with dimmer switches. Or take another route: Replace your dimmer switches. Popular
Mechanics says: The solution is to buy a dimmer switch rated for both CFL and LED bulbs. Two reputable
manufacturers of CFL/LED dimmers are Leviton and Lutron; both provide lists of bulbs they’ve verified will work
with their dimmers.
Count the savings. Still wondering if LED bulbs are worth the trouble? A look at the cost savings may persuade
you. At http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/how-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-compare-traditional-incandescents is
a chart comparing the cost of operating a 60-watt incandescent bulb and an equivalent 12-watt LED Based on 2 hrs/day
of usage with an electricity rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. Overall the LED:
 Costs $1 a year to run vs. $4.80 for the incandescent bulb.
 Cuts your spending on electricity by 75 percent to 80 percent.
 Burns for about 25,000 hours vs. 1,000 hours for the incandescent bulb.
An online search shows the cost of a 12-watt LEDs is roughly $10 to $30 each vs. about $1 for a plain 60-watt
incandescent bulb. [Source: MoneyTalksNews | Marilyn Lewis | May 15, 2015 ++]
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119
TRICARE Secret Shopper Scam
► DHA-PI Warning
The Defense Health Agency, Office of Program Integrity (DHA-PI) has received a significant number of return
envelopes from mailings by a bogus organization. In the letter they identify themselves as TRICARE SURVEY INC.,
to TRICARE beneficiaries across the country and are attempting to solicit beneficiary to be “Secret Shoppers” for
TRICARE. Please know that TRICARE does not employ “Secret Shoppers”. Enclosed in the mailing is a form letter
claiming to be a solicitation for a position as a Trainee Independent Private Evaluator, a counterfeit TRICARE WPS
check for $3,775.00, and an instruction/survey form on how the beneficiary gets the check authorized through the
company’s agent via phone. Beneficiaries are directed to cash the check at their local bank, retain a percentage of the
money and utilize the remaining amount to purchase six “Vanilla Reload” cards at $500.00 apiece at various stores
across the country. The “Secret Shopper” is instructed to provide the company agent with the card numbers once they
are bought, complete the survey and mail it, and wait for the next assignment. Once money has been loaded onto the
card however, they are immediately available for transfer and the bogus company zeros out the monies on the cards.
DHA PI strongly advises you NOT to participate in this alleged “Secret Shopper” effort. TRICARE will identify
the checks as counterfeit through a positive check controls process and return them to the bank in which they were
drawn from as non-cashable. Potential exists for the beneficiary to be personally liable for the entire $3,775.00 in
restitution to the bank. Should you receive a letter DHA PI again, strongly advises you not to contact the company or
attempt to cash the counterfeit check. Also, please immediately submit a Fraudline report to DHA PI. You can access
our Fraud Reporting by clicking the “Report Health Care Fraud” button at www.health.mil/fraud. [Source: TREA
News for the Enlisted | September 1, 2015 ++]
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Money Flipping Scam
► How it works
Scammers are giving get-rich-quick schemes a high-tech makeover. By promoting "money flipping" scams on social
media, they are appealing to a new, younger audience, according to the National Consumers League.
How the Scam Works:
 You see a photo of a person folding a pile cash on Instagram. In the caption, the users brag about having
"flipped" a couple hundred dollars into thousands. Want to do it, too? It's easy. Just send the account holder
a message, and you can get started with a small deposit.
 In the original version of this scam, con artists asked victims to wire money or use a prepaid debit card. In a
new twist, scammers ask you to mail your physical debit card and account PIN, granting direct access to your
account. The "investor" claims that he/she is going to deposit a check into the account and will compensate
you for your trouble.
 Don't do it! Scammers will appear to deposit a couple thousand dollars and withdraw an equal amount. But
the first deposit was a fake. When the bank realizes the check is fraudulent, you will be on the hook for the
withdrawn cash.
Tips to Avoid Money Flipping Scams:
 Do a quick search. Before contacting the potential scammer, do a web search of their username or phone
number. If it's a scam, chances are that other victims have posted complaints and information online.
 Don't share your debit card, card number or PIN. No legitimate service would ever ask you to share this
information
 Be wary of prepaid debit cards. Treat prepaid debit cards like cash. Once you give away the account info,
you will not be able to get that money back.
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If it sounds too good to be true. Well, you know the rest. Use common sense when seeking ways to
supplement your income. Anyone who claims to be able to turn a small investment into piles of cash in mere
minutes is a scam artist.
More information on staying safe on Instagram is available at the Instagram Privacy and Safety Center at
https://help.instagram.com/285881641526716
If you suspect that you might be a victim of this scam, file a complaint with NCL at www.fraud.org.
For More Information read the full alert at http://www.fraud.org/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/80 , a
project of the National Consumers League. To find out more about other scams go to BBB Scam Stopper
http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | July 24, 2015 ++]
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Fake Job Offer Scam
► How it works
Scammers are at it again! A new email con uses Google Docs to disguise a phishing scam. These emails appear to
be recruiting you for a new job opportunity, but they are really a way to harvest your password.
How the Scam Works:
 You receive an email that seems to come from a human resources professional recruiting you for a position
at his/her company. The email seems very professional, with a company logo, signature block and reply
email address. According to the message, the HR representative found your resume on LinkedIn and would
like you to take a look at the job description. To view this info, just click a link to a Google Doc.
 Don't do it! Scammers are using Google Drive to hide a phishing scam. They create a folder inside a
Google Drive account, mark it as public and upload a phishing program. When you click on the link, it
looks like you are being prompted to log into your Google account. However, it's really a phishing con
meant to grab your email and password.
How to Spot This Scam
 Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. As always, do not click on links or open
files in unfamiliar emails.
 Don't believe what you see. Just because an email looks real, doesn't mean it is. Scammers can fake
anything from a company logo to the sent email address.
 Check the company's website. Businesses typically post job information on their websites, not on Google
Drive.
 Be cautious of generic emails. Scammers try to cast a wide net by including little or no specific information
in their fake emails. Always be wary of messages that seem overly general. If a recruiter was really
emailing you, he/she should have your name and job title.
To find out more about other scams go to BBB Scam Stopper http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper.
[Source: BBB Scam Alert | July 24, 2015 ++]
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Tax Burden for Wyoming Retired Vets
► As of Nov 2015
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 Wyoming.
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 4% (prescriptions and food for home consumption exempt); counties have the option of adding up
to 4% in additional taxes. There is a county lodging tax that varies from 2% to 4% and is added to the other sales
taxes.
Gasoline Tax: 42.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Diesel Fuel Tax: 48.4 cents/gallon (Includes all taxes)
Cigarette Tax: 60 cents/pack of 20
Personal Income Taxes
No state personal income tax
Retirement Income Taxes: Not taxed, including that received from other states.
.
Property Taxes
Tax rates are set by the various political entities with the legal power to levy taxes. These governmental entities
include counties; school districts; cities and towns; and special taxing districts, such as water and sewer districts and
cemetery districts. Once the taxing entities have adopted their budgets and tax rates, the tax rates cannot be
appealed. However, obvious factual errors may still be corrected by the county. Your tax notice indicates the amount
you pay to each taxing entity.
Wyoming is a “fractional assessment” state. This means their property tax applies to only a fraction of the full market
value of property. This fraction is the property’s assessed value. For most property, only 9.5% of market value is
subject to tax. Consequently, a home worth $100,000 on the market is only taxed on $9,500 in assessed value. The
real effect of fractional assessments is to exempt $90,500 of the home’s value from taxation. Citizens are legally
protected from counties and municipalities increasing property tax rates. For county revenue, the rate is limited to 8
mills (.8%). With very few exceptions, state law limits the property tax rate for all governmental purposes. All
Wyoming citizens benefit from property tax exemptions. Personal property held for personal use is tax
exempt. Inventory, pollution control equipment, cash, accounts receivable, stocks, and bonds are also exempt.
The state has several property tax relief/credit/deferral programs. If the value of certain assets (bank accounts,
investments, real estate other than house, and motor vehicles in excess of one per household member) exceed
$101,900, a resident cannot qualify.
To be eligible for the main property tax relief program one must have a house hold income less than the greater of
half the state or county median household income, and have other assets totaling less than $101,900 (see above). By
meeting the eligibility rules, the tax relief is up to one-half of the median residential property tax or one-half of the
property tax bill, whichever is less. Refer to http://revenue.wyo.gov/property-tax-division for more information
122
There is a Veteran’s Property Tax Exemption for those who qualify. A person must be honorably discharged as a
veteran of WWI, WWII, Korea, or Viet Nam. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans and certain disabled veterans
may be eligible for the exemption. The amount of relief is $3,000 of assessed value against real personal property. The
exemption is limited to $800 in total tax benefits. A surviving spouse may continue to collect benefits until he or she
remarries. Refer to http://revenue.wyo.gov/property-tax-division/veterans-exemption-forms for more information.
The state has a Tax Rebate to Elderly and Disabled Program that is available to those age 65 and older who meet
certain income requirements. They can receive a refund from the Wyoming Department of Health on property tax,
utilities, and sales/use tax up to $700 (single) and $800 (married). Refer to http://revenue.wyo.gov or call 307-7775235 for details on property tax relief programs. For general information on property tax and relief programs refer to
http://revenue.wyo.gov/system/app/pages/search?scope=search-sites&q=tax+rebate+elderly+and+disabled.
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
There is no inheritance tax and the estate tax is limited and related to federal estate tax collection.
Visit the Wyoming Department of Revenue site http://revenue.wyo.gov or call 307-777-5287 for more information
[Source: http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-new-york-wyoming#Wyoming November 2015 ++]
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Tax Burden for Louisiana Residents
► As of Nov 2015
Personal income tax
 Louisiana collects income taxes from its residents utilizing three tax brackets.
 For single taxpayers, they are:
2 percent on the first $12,500 of taxable income.
4 percent on taxable income between $12,501 and $50,000.
6 percent on taxable income of $50,001 and above.
 For married persons filing joint returns, the rates remain the same but the income brackets are doubled.
 Residents need to file Form IT-540, which is due by May 15.
Sales taxes
 The sales tax rate in Louisiana is 4 percent: a 3.97 percent Louisiana sales tax and a 0.03 percent Louisiana
Tourism Promotion District sales tax.
 Political subdivisions also levy their own sales tax in addition to the state fees.
 The state also has a use tax of 8 percent applied toward goods purchased out of state, which includes 4 percent
to be distributed by the Department of Revenue to local governments. The use tax is in lieu of the actual local
rate in effect in your area, and is payable regardless of whether the actual combined state and local rate in
your area is equal to, higher than or lower than 8 percent.
Personal and real property taxes
 Property taxes are assessed and collected at the local (parish or municipality) level, not by the Louisiana
Department of Revenue. The Louisiana Tax Commission has a regulatory role regarding property
assessments.
 Taxpayers having property in the state of Louisiana are required to file a property tax return with the assessor
of any parish and any municipality levying a tax on or before April 1 or within 45 days of receipt of the return
form, whichever is later, furnishing values as of Jan. 1.
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Property subject to ad valorem taxation is listed on the assessment rolls at its assessed valuation, which, less
some exceptions, is a percentage of its fair market value. The percentage of fair market value is uniform
throughout the state upon the same class of property.
Louisiana offers a homestead exemption on the first $7,500 of the value of a person's primary residence. The
exemption, however, does not usually apply to municipal taxes.
Inheritance and estate taxes
 The Louisiana inheritance tax was repealed effective Jan. 1, 2010. However, individuals who inherited
property before the tax's repeal and did not file an inheritance tax return may be subject to taxes and penalties
that have since accrued.
 All estates that are subject to federal estate taxation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code must file a
Louisiana Estate Transfer Tax Return. Since the phase-out of the federal estate tax credit, however, no state
estate tax is imposed.
Other Louisiana Tax Facts
 The Louisiana Department of Revenue offers eligible taxpayers the option of free Internet filing.
 Once residents have filed, at https://esweb.revenue.louisiana.gov/wheresmyrefund they can go online to
check their refund status.
 Athletes, even those who are not full-time residents of Louisiana, who received income from Louisiana
sources must file a state tax return, reporting their state income.
 Taxpayers can report suspected cases of tax fraud by filing online reports with the state.
[Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/state-taxes-louisiana.aspx Nov 2015 ++]
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Thrift Savings Plan 2015
► Returns as of 13 Nov 2015
There are currently 10 investment funds in the Thrift Savings Plan. Five are individual stock and bond funds, and the
other five are target retirement date funds. The table below summarizes the historical performance and risk
characteristics of the five primary TSP Investment Funds. Click on any link in the table header to see performance
charts and other details for that fund.
TSP Investment Funds
8/31/1990 - 11/13/2015
TSP
TSP
TSP
TSP
TSP
G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
Last Price (11/13/2015)
14.8735 16.9446 27.1978 35.3347 24.1703
Change (1-Day)
0.01%
0.18%
-1.12% -0.71% -0.95%
YTD Return
1.76%
0.85%
0.12%
-2.65% -0.20%
1-Year Return
2.03%
1.83%
1.36%
-0.87% -2.85%
3-Year Return
2.05%
1.85%
16.25% 15.76% 7.75%
5-Year Return
2.04%
3.32%
13.46% 12.50% 4.22%
10-Year Return
2.99%
4.87%
7.37%
8.30%
3.81%
Annual Return Since 8/31/1990
4.9%
6.4%
9.9%
10.8%
5.6%
Annualized Standard Deviation [2]
0.3%
3.9%
18.1%
20.0%
18.0%
Maximum Drawdown [3]
-
-6.6%
-55.2% -57.4% -60.9%
Sharpe Ratio [4]
-
0.40
0.35
Value of $1,000 invested on 8/31/1990
$3,308 $4,810 $10,679 $13,209 $3,9
[Source: http://www.tspfolio.com/tspfunds November 13, 2015 ++]
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0.38
0.13
* General Interest *
Notes of Interest
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► 01 thru 14 Nov 2015
VA Home Quincy IL. Seven people died and 32 were sickened in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak at a
veterans home in Quincy, Illinois, state veterans and health officials said in a statement on 1 SEP.
China’s military. President Xi Jinping announced 3 SEP that China will cut its military by 300,000 troops,
a significant reduction in one of the largest militaries in the world and a move that the Chinese leader called
a gesture of peace.
Longevity. According to the CIA, the average American should expect to live about 79.56 years, or
41,844,484 minutes.
Online Purchases. Does the Web address have an “https” at the beginning indicating it is a secure link? If
not, that’s your cue to take your online shopping elsewhere to avoid having your credit card info disclosed
to whoever is on the other end.
Active duty Pay Raise. President Obama informed Congress 28 AUG that he’ll follow through with plans
to cap military pay raises at 1.3 percent next year, as part of an effort to keep down mounting defense
spending.
Military ID Cards RP. JUSMAG Philippines is now doing renewal ID cards for Retirees and Widows. You
must get appointment online. Spouse and dependent ID’s still require mail in renewals. Initial issues can still
be done through JUSMAG, but again appointment is required.
U.S. Citizenship. According to new government data, a record 1,426 Americans relinquished their U.S.
passports during the third quarter of this year. The new quarterly record for renunciations topped the previous
record of 1,335, which was set in the first quarter of 2015. So far this year, 3,221 Americans have renounced
their U.S. citizenship.
Country & Western. Go to https://www.facebook.com/OldFartsAndJackasses.Official for some oldies but
goodies.
Cable TV/Internet. Verizon has started offering veterans a discount on the use of their services. Proof of
service is required. Cellphones. Check out how one church is coping with attendee’s cellphone use during
services at http://www.youtube.com/embed/D2_c81Nnsc0 .
VAMC Aurora. The federal government awarded a final construction contract 27 NOV to complete an
over-budget veterans medical center in Aurora by January 2018. The contract authorizes builder KiewitTurner to spend about $571 million more to finish the VA Hospital, on top of nearly $1.1 billion already
spent.
The Fifties. Go to http://biggeekdad.com/2013/01/the-best-of-times/ for a little nostalgia if you are old
enough to remember the era.
God Bless America. Check out http://biggeekdad.com/2014/09/john-wayne-1970/#at_pco=smlrebh1.0&at_si=56401ed86613c598&at_ab=per-12&at_pos=5&at_tot=7 to see a little more nostalgia hosted by
John Wayne.
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VA Employment. The Veterans Affairs Department has fired 400 more employees this year so far than in
2014, according to Secretary Bob McDonald.
Death Row. One in 10 death row inmates are veterans, according to a new DPIC report, which estimates
that roughly 300 former military personnel are awaiting execution in the U.S.
Football. The National Football League will pay back taxpayers for the money its teams received for public
salutes to the military at their stadiums. If signed into law, a provision in S.1356, the FY 2016 NDAA will
prevent future such expenditures by the Department of Defense.
Rubber Bands. Check out https://www.youtube.com/embed/zHN_fQr8XYA?rel=0 for additional usage
tips that will save you time and money.
Women. According to the Census Bureau a higher percentage (36.4%) of young women (18-34) were living
with family in 2014 than in any other year on record. Today’s young women are more likely to marry later
in life. In 1940, the typical woman entered her first marriage at age 21.5, whereas last year, it was age 27.
And, as of 2014, 27 percent of young women were college students.
VA Transgender vet Clinic. For the first time, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital is opening a
clinic for transgender patients. The Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, starting this month. will be
able to provide them primary care, hormonal therapy, mental health care and other services.
USPS. The U.S. Postal Service turned an operational profit of $1.2 billion in fiscal 2015, marking the third
consecutive year its revenue exceeded its controllable costs, though it continued to bleed into the red with a
net loss of $5.1 billion due to external requirements from Congress.
A Salute to You. Go to https://www.youtube.com/v/AgYLr_LfhLo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 for
something to show your grandchildren.
[Source: Various | Nov 14, 2015 ++]
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World War I Memorial Update 06
► Central Site Lacking
Unlike the other three great twentieth-century conflicts – World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War – it is
the only one lacking an official national memorial on Washington D.C.’s National Mall. Prompted by the upcoming
centenary of the war’s end to be celebrated in 2018, and by the poignant fact that no American veterans of the conflict
could be on hand to mark that event (Frank Buckles, the last survivor, died in 2011 at the age of 110), renewed efforts
over the past few years have sought to focus public attention on the importance of properly commemorating America’s
involvement in World War I. It has been an uphill struggle. There are three major reasons why that involvement has
been apt to be forgotten.
 First, instead of entering the war unified and resolute, the country itself had been deeply divided over
intervention. The hostilities were a continent – and an ocean – away, American interests did not appear to be
directly threatened, and President Wilson himself had campaigned for reelection as the man who had kept
the country out of the war. These arguments for neutrality were reinforced by fears over domestic ethnic
divisions. As a land of immigrants the United States was home to significant numbers of people with cultural,
economic, and sentimental ties to the Central Powers whose loyalty might be suspect.
 Second, because America entered the war ‘late’ (in April 1917, more than two-and-a-half years after it began)
and its soldiers only fought for some six months on European soil before the November 1918 armistice, it
might be thought a very junior partner in the war effort. Should a lesser role really be commemorated?
 Finally, the First World War was overshadowed by a second, even more destructive conflict. The sacrifices
of 1914-1918 had decimated a generation but they had not made the world safe for democracy and had not
curbed German aggression. Had they achieved anything permanent that was worth noting?
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Indeed they had. American involvement may have been short in duration, but it was nonetheless of broader
significance. The Allies relied upon the financial support of the United States to conduct the war without undergoing
even greater economic dislocation, and they got a much needed psychological boost from the eager Doughboys who
streamed across the Atlantic to tip the scales in the Allies’ favor. Without those fresh divisions the Allies might not
have withstood the troops Germany was able to transfer westward after the collapse of Imperial Russia. An ardent
German patriot, Felix Kaufmann, admitted in a diary that even if he and his fellow prisoners clung to the hope of
ultimate victory, “the passing of the trains with American soldiers several times a day . . . gave us a lot of anxiety.”
Moreover, those soldiers fought, and fought hard. Some 4.7 million Americans served in uniform and 116,000 died,
twice the number killed in Vietnam and three times that in Korea. That overseas service, as well as the nation’s
continuing financial involvement in postwar reconstruction and reparations militated against isolationism and underlay
the international engagement that Henry Luce in 1941 would label “the American Century.”
Immediately after hostilities ended, it is true that the war was anything but forgotten. Armistice Day (now Veterans’
Day) marked that end, the American Legion enrolled veterans, and the American Battle Monuments Commission
oversaw military cemeteries in Europe where soldiers had fallen. Nonetheless, remembrance was often focused on an
intimate, local level; many families sought the return of their war dead for reburial in their communities and ubiquitous
Doughboy statues (mass-produced copies of an original sculpted by E.M. Viquesney) dotted urban public spaces.
Local subscribers in Kansas City, for example, raised the funds to dedicate a Liberty Tower in 1921 (completed five
years later), but their success also underscored the fact that the country still lacked a central, national site for
commemoration.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery provided something of an alternative, but
without conveying what the war had been about. Eventually commemorative ceremonies moved on to more recent
wars, while the old memorials fell victim to neglect and disrepair. Kansas City’s Liberty Tower closed in 1994 as the
nation celebrated its ‘greatest [WWII] generation’ and the fiftieth anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. A
decade later, in an effort to ensure that the wartime service of that generation would not be forgotten, a National World
War II Memorial was dedicated on Washington D.C.’s National Mall. The stark contrast with World War I could
hardly be more obvious, and the successful mobilization of public opinion and political will in favor of a national
memorial to the Second World War was an important spur to renewed efforts to secure similar recognition for the
First.
Finding an appropriate concrete expression of the country’s World War I experience was not, however, a matter of
recovering memories long-forgotten but readily accepted and easily recalled with sufficient effort. It could not be
compared to excavating an intact stratum of history simply submerged by a century of indifference. Instead, attempts
to locate a national memorial were inextricably intertwined with political wrangling and contemporary concerns. After
the Liberty Tower was renovated in 1998 and augmented with a museum, Missouri’s congressional delegation pushed
for it to be designated as the national memorial, not any proposed site in Washington, D.C. Proponents of a memorial
in the nation’s capital, preferably with a visible presence on the National Mall, hoped either to expand an existing
District of Columbia War Memorial, which offered a suitable location, or demolish it in favor of a redesigned edifice.
These plans ran afoul of the controversy over D.C. statehood and were denounced by prominent local leaders
(including delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton) as improper meddling in the District’s affairs. The fact that the names of
some 23,000 District residents who had served were recorded in the memorial and could be treated so cavalierly only
deepened the controversy.
A third possibility was to redevelop Pershing Park, a site dedicated to General John Pershing, who had commanded
the American Expeditionary Force. Critics complained that it was not on the National Mall, but supporters countered
that given the National Park Service’s opposition to new construction on an already congested Mall and Pershing
Park’s proximity (on Pennsylvania Avenue) to major museums and the White House, it was a reasonable alternative.
Although designed by eminent architect Paul Friedberg in the 1970s, the 1.8-acre Pershing Park was widely considered
somewhat isolated and run down and generally lacking the scale and gravity appropriate in a memorial to military
service and sacrifice. It was in fact this site that Congress authorized in 2012-2014 compromise legislation, with a
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World War I Centennial Commission being designated to oversee a competition for proposals to redesign Pershing
Park as a national commemorative space. Further constraints were imposed upon the use of that space. Imposing
statues of great men, primarily individual commanders depicted on horseback, dotted the city’s squares and parks, but
commemorative tastes had changed to favor celebrating the service of the broader mass of ordinary individuals.
Shifting the focus of the park from Pershing himself to that of the U.S. armed forces reflected this trend. As the
Centennial Commission stipulated, the goal was to “transform Pershing Park from a park that happens to contain a
memorial to a site that is primarily a national World War I Memorial within a revitalized urban park setting.”
Statue of John J. Pershing in Pershing Park on Aug. 03, 2014, in Washington, DC.
Unlike the District of Columbia or Vietnam Memorials, the proposed memorial would not list individual names,
nor would it provide commentary akin to a museum. In lieu of directly assessing the significance of American
participation, it was intended to honor the valor of the participants and commemorate the magnitude of the losses they
suffered. Yet the memorial to a century-old event could be enlisted in support of a very contemporary concern, as the
House bill H.R. 6364 authorizing the memorial made plain. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the public mind, the
World War I Memorial would commemorate the “first time in United States history that American soldiers went
abroad in defense of liberty against foreign aggression.”
Finally, in May 2015, the Centennial Commission solicited submissions for its design competition. Three months
later it announced five finalists from among 350 applicants, with the winning design to be chosen from the five by
January 2016. The designs differ widely: one features an imposing victory tower harkening back to the monumental
architecture of a century ago, while another embeds photographs in the ground about six bronze statues. Only one,
Joseph Weishaar’s “The Weight of Sacrifice,” evokes a sense of moving below ground level as in the trenches of the
western front. The selection jury intentionally chose a range of styles, but the lack of consensus over how to
commemorate the war is readily apparent. A century later, the First World War is no longer forgotten, but it remains
not entirely clear how it is to be remembered. [Source: Time History News Network | Marilyn Shevin-Coetzee &
Frans Coetzee | November 9, 2015 ++]
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Marine Corps War Memorial Update 02 ►
Operation Home of the Brave
Seventy years after one of the Marines’ deadliest battles, a California nonprofit is on a mission to bring the original
statue of the iconic flag raising on Iwo Jima to the West Coast. The Iwo Jima West Foundation wants to raise funds
to purchase the Felix de Weldon cast stone sculpture that served as the basis for the Marine Corps War Memorial’s
massive bronze statue near Arlington National Cemetery. The original 5-ton, 20.5-foot tall statue is currently gathering
dust in a Connecticut storage facility after it failed to sell at auction in 2013, and the group wants to change that. The
foundation, made up of retired Marines and civilian supporters, plans to transport it to Camp Pendleton, through which
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about 450,000 U.S. Marines transited on their way to fight in the Pacific during World War II. That included members
of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, who would raise the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima.
“We are building a memorial site that will reflect the monument’s importance to the Marine Corps and the nation
as one of America’s greatest and most profound symbols of courage,” said Laura Dietz, the nonprofit’s founder. Now
the Iwo Jima West Foundation is looking at a daunting $10 million price tag to purchase the statue, transport it across
the country and build a memorial site where the Marines depicted in the sculpture would be looking out over the
Pacific Ocean from Pendleton. If successful, Dietz said, the monument will finally have an appropriate home. From
Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945, 60,000 members of 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions fought one of the bloodiest battles
in the Corps' history to secure the remote, 8-square-mile volcanic island 660 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. More than
6,000 U.S. troops, most of them Marines, gave their lives during those five weeks.
Iwo Jima West Foundation has dubbed its goal, which it hopes to reach by the Marine Corps’ 241st birthday on
Nov. 10, 2016, Operation Home of the Brave. “The rush is for one very simple reason: Most Iwo Jima veterans are
well in their 90s, and we want to give these great heroes a final reunion before their generation is gone,” Dietz said.
The nonprofit also recently signed the Colorado-based Fentress Architects to design the memorial where the statue
would sit, the same international firm that designed the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, Virginia.
The memorial will sit on a hillside next to the Pacific View Events Center at Camp Pendleton, overlooking Del Mar
Beach and complementing the existing Korean War memorial there. Pending agreement from Japan’s government,
the nonprofit would also like to ship volcanic black sand from Iwo Jima to provide an interactive experience at the
site.
De Weldon, an Austrian-born sculptor serving in the Navy during World War II, created the concrete and steel
statue at personal expense after seeing Joseph Rosenthal’s renowned photograph of Marines planting the U.S. flag
atop Mount Suribachi in 1945. He also crafted its limestone sister sculpture, which currently resides at the entrance to
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. After creating the sculptures, the de Weldon sculptor then oversaw the
production of the 100-ton, 78-foot tall cast bronze Marine Corps War Memorial, which was placed in Arlington in
1954. The original, however, had a tarp thrown over it in back of de Weldon’s studio in 1947, where it sat for more
than 40 years until the current owner, collector Rodney Hilton Brown, located it and purchased it in return for a
Stradivarius violin, a sword and an undisclosed amount cash, according to the New York Times. Brown then restored
the sculpture with a bronze coating and lent it to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York, where it was
displayed from 1995 to 2013.
Dietz saw it at an auction house later that year. Despite the hefty cost of moving it to Pendleton, Dietz said it is
well worth the price. Her organization plans to preserve the statue for at least the next 500 years, she said. Marines
interested in donating to the project can visit Operation Home of the Brave’s website
http://www.marinesoniwojima.com. [Source: MilitaryTimes | Matthew L. Scheh | October 31, 2015 ++]
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Westgate Resorts Vacation Offer
► Free to 2500 Military
Westgate Resorts and CEO David Siegel are continuing the company tradition of honoring former and current U.S.
military personnel by giving away free vacations – and for the first time, the number of vacations is being increased
to 2,500. Beginning November 11 at 9 a.m., the first 2,500 eligible service members who complete the online military
appreciation form at www.westgatedestinations.com/thankyoumilitary will receive a complimentary three-day, twonight vacation at an eligible Westgate Resorts property in Orlando, Fla., River Ranch, Fla., Branson, Mo., Gatlinburg,
Tenn. or Las Vegas*. Westgate has now honored our military with more than 7,500 free vacations. “As a veteran, I
understand the dedication and sacrifice required of our troops,” said Siegel. “I am incredibly proud of these national
heroes, and it is our pleasure to thank them with an unforgettable vacation experience.” Other past U.S. military
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members are eligible for Westgate’s special Veterans Day military discount, which offers a savings of 25 percent on
room rates for stays booked 11 NOV.
* Offer valid as of November 11, 2015, at 9 a.m. EST. Offer available by going online and filling out an availability
form at www.westgatedestinations.com/thankyoumilitary . Based upon availability. A credit card is required to book
the reservation. Credit card will not be charged. Only ONE reservation per family. Offer valid for the first 2,500
reservations. Must travel before November 26, 2016. Free Room Type for Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo
(River Ranch, Fla.), Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa (Orlando, Fla.), Westgate Vacation Villas Resort & Spa
(Kissimmee, Fla.), Westgate Town Center Resort & Spa (Kissimmee, Fla.), Westgate Towers Resort, (Kissimmee,
Fla.) Westgate Branson Woods Resort (Branson, Mo.) and Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa (Gatlinburg,
Tenn.): Studio Only. Free Room Type for Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo: Lodge Suite or Lodge Guest Room
Only. Free Room Type for Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino: Premium Room Only. No resort fee will be charged.
No Resort Preview Required. Not valid for Westgate employees. Upgrades are available for a minimal fee. Additional
night(s) will receive 10% off of “Best Available Rate”. Cancellation forfeits free reservation. There is no cancellation
fee. Blackout dates apply.
Founded in 1980 by David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts is one of the largest resort developers in the United States.
Westgate features 28 themed destination resorts with over 13,000 luxury villas in premier locations throughout the
United States such as Orlando, Florida; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi.
For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgateresorts.com. [Source: Veteran Resources | Donnie
La Curan | October 30, 2015 ++]
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People Search
► Public Information Search Engine
People Search at www.zabasearch.com helps you find someone's contact information, reconnect with family and
friends, do an address search or a phone number lookup. You can also get social network profiles and an email search
with a People Search Plus Report. Type in your name and see what comes up. At no charge information on people
can be obtained by entering the following:
Name: Sample Search: Michelle Obama. Last name required. To narrow the search you can enter first name, city
and/or state Search any name in the U.S. with or without a middle initial. People search results will include address
and telephone numbers found in U.S. public records.
Telephone Number - Identifies, when available: phone type and carrier, owner's name, location, address history, age,
relatives, and more.
Criminal Record – First and last name required.
Reverse Phone Lookup: Sample Search: 3154480470. Search any 10-digit U.S. phone number. Reverse phone
search results will include the names and addresses found in U.S. public records that match the phone number being
searched. Geographical information related to the phone number search is also included.
Area Code Search: Sample Search: 312. Search any 3-digit area code in the U.S. Area code search results will
include geographical data about the area code, phone number exchanges in that area code, and a map of the area code
region.
Zip Code Search: Sample Search: 90210. Search any 5-digit zip code in the U.S. Zip code search results will include
geographical data about the zip code and a map of the zip code region.
IP Address Search: Sample Search: 64.233.187.99. Search an IP address. IP addess search results will include
geographical data associated with the IP, the owner of the ISP, and a map of the ISP region.
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Message Search: Sample Search: George W Bush. Millions of messages have been left for people on the web. There
could be one waiting for you or someone you know. Search your name or the name of someone you know to find
messages to you. This search can take up to 60 seconds.
Top 25 Searches: Find the names searched most often in ZabaSearch within the previous hour. Click on the name to
see the search results for that name. Click on the number of times that name has been searched to see the estimated
location of people searching for that name.
ZabaSphere: Sample: Erin Spahn. Know who's searching for you online.
For a fee you can also search for:
 Social Security Number Search: Go to SS# Search. Search any 9-digit social security number to find the
person associated with that number, addresses, phone numbers, and additional information. This premium
social security number search is provided by Intelius.
 Background Check: Go to Background Check. Conduct a background check with as little information as a
name. Get a report with up to 20 years of history on the individual. This premium background check service
is provided by Intelius.
 Reverse Cell Search: Go to Reverse Cell Search. Search for any 10-digit U.S. cell number or land line to find
the name and location of the owner. This premium reverse phone search is provided by Intelius.
 People Search: Go to Premium People Search. Search people by name, previous address, and age to locate
current address and phone records for people you can't find in ZabaSearch. This premium service provided
by Intelius.
[Source: www.zabasearch.com | Oct 2015 ++]
*********************************
Brain Teaser ►
Grandma’s Birthday Cake
You are on your way to visit your Grandma, who lives at the end of the valley. It's her birthday, and you want to give
her the cakes you've made.
Between your house and her house, you have to cross 7 bridges, and as it goes in the land of make believe, there is a
troll under every bridge! Each troll, quite rightly, insists that you pay a troll toll. Before you can cross their bridge,
you have to give them half of the cakes you are carrying, but as they are kind trolls, they each give you back a single
cake.
How many cakes do you have to leave home with to make sure that you arrive at Grandma's with exactly 2 cakes?
*********************************
China’s Offensive Capability
► Parade Puts US Navy on Notice
China showcased its growing capability to deny the US Navy access to the maritime domain of both the East China
Sea and South China Sea during a celebratory parade 3 SEP commemorating the 70th anniversary of its victory over
imperialist Japan. Parade officials commented that 80 percent of the weapons on display had never been exhibited to
the public before, and all the equipment was Chinese-made and operational. Though this is a fair statement, three
fighter aircraft that took part in the parade are actually pirated copies of foreign fighter aircraft, including the J-11B
(Sukhoi Su-27), carrier-borne J-15 (Su-33) Flying Shark, and the J-10 (Israeli Lavi).
131
A vehicle carries a DF-21D missile past a display screen featuring an image of the Great Wall of China during China's
Sept. 3 parade marking the victory over Japan and the end of World War II.
The parade showcased for the first time a variety of ballistic missiles under the command of the Second Artillery
Corps. Mark Stokes, a China ballistic missile specialist at the Project 2049 Institute, said that leading each parade
formation were corps leader grade officers – chief of staff, chief engineer or deputy commander. "It appears that each
of the six missile bases were represented with a new missile system," he said. The ballistic missile line-up was
impressive: DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile, DF-15B short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), DF-16 mediumrange ballistic missile, DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile with
ASBM capabilities, and the DF-31A ICBM. The DF-5B is believed to be China's first nuclear-armed ICBM with
multiple independent re-entry vehicles. Officially, the DF-5B can carry only three nuclear warheads, but there are
suspicions it can carry as many as five.
The parade in Beijing comes roughly 20 years after the Taiwan Strait missile crisis (July 1995 to March 1996).
China's decision to conduct missile drills with SRBMs was in part an effort to disrupt Taiwan's first democratic
presidential elections. The US deployed two aircraft carriers to monitor the crisis. In total, China fired 10 DF-15A
SRBMs around the island. China took offense to the positioning of US aircraft carriers, and began to develop a means
to hold at risk US carriers in future scenarios. This has led to the development of the first ASBM ever deployed. The
DF-21D ASBM, dubbed the "carrier killer," was on parade for the first time, along with a surprise statement by
Chinese commentators that the DF-26 intermediate range ballistic missile was also an ASBM.
Though the DF-26 has been dubbed the "Guam Killer" by some Western analysts, the announcement during the
parade that the missile also had anti-ship capabilities came as a chill to some analysts. "The nickname 'Guam Killer'
is obviously a misunderstanding because China has had the capability to 'kill' Guam for many decades with other
ballistic missiles, but it is the first ballistic missile that is capable of targeting Guam with conventional warheads,"
said Hans Kristensen, director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists. "That is important
because it would enable China to damage or disable Andersen AFB [Air Force Base] in a war without resorting to use
of nuclear weapons." "The most interesting possibility from the parade is that China debuted not one ASBM, but two,"
said Andrew Erickson, now a research associate at Harvard University's John King Fairbank Center for Chinese
Studies. T
The DF-21D and DF-26 were both described during the parade as ASBMs, he said. Furthermore, the parade
announcer said the DF-26 was able to hit medium and large size ships. "If that is the case, and Chinese surveillance
capabilities are capable of providing sufficient intelligence and guidance at long distances, then it would allow Chinese
military planners to hold at risk US aircraft carriers at twice the range of the DF-21D," Kristensen said. "Striking ships
with ballistic missiles at long range is technically challenging and there are many weak links in the chain of necessary
sensors that are vulnerable to interdiction," Kristensen said. "A good indicator would be to see how much effort US
missile defense systems will spend on the DF-26 and DF-21D." The 16 launchers on parade indicate the DF-26 is
operational, he said.
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This makes the DF-26 a second-generation anti-access weapon that carries strike capability far into the second
island chain, said Richard Fisher, senior fellow, International Assessment and Strategy Center. "This is important
because the United States has barely started to respond to China's first generation anti-access ensemble targeting the
first island chain, like the DF-21D ASBM." Fisher believes that the DF-26's ASBM capability is another sign that
China is winning the "anti-access" versus "access" arms race with the US. China also paraded two supersonic antiship cruise missiles: the DF-10A (formerly CJ-10) and the air-launched YJ-12. Erickson said that while China may
not have progressed as far as it wants with DF-26 targeting support, "it probably already has sufficient surface wave
stations to enable the DF-10 to cover the approaches to the Taiwan Strait."
During the parade the Chinese Air Force flew its upgraded H-6K medium-range bomber, which can now carry six
YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles, and China has already indicated it plans to outfit its Song, Yuan and Shang-class attack
submarines with the new YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missile, Fisher said. The fact that China showcased new anti-ship
cruise and ballistic missiles together at the parade underscores arguments that China plans to overwhelm the US Navy
with saturation strikes during a war, Fisher said. [Source: Defense News | Wendell Minnick | September 3, 2015 ++]
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Temple of Bir Destruction
► Satellite Imagery of ISIS Act
One of the most culturally significant pieces of architecture in the world has been destroyed, the United Nations said
on 31 AUG. The U.N. training and research agency released satellite images and analysis that confirmed the Temple
of Bel -- which for nearly 2,000 years has been the center of religious life in Palmyra, Syria -- was no longer standing,
despite conflicting reports earlier in the day that it was not fully demolished. UNOSAT Manager Einar Bjorgo said he
could "confirm destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as well as a row of columns in its immediate
vicinity."
Here are the before and after pictures on the right. The top one was taken on Aug. 27; the bottom one is from
Aug 31
Syria's antiquities chief, Maamoun Abdulkarim, said earlier on Monday that the temple's iconic columns were still
standing, despite an explosion there Sunday. He called the site "the most important temple in Syria and one of the
most important in the whole Middle East." The first-century temple, which is dedicated to the ancient "god of gods,"
is one of the largest and best-preserved in the region and represents a meeting point between classical and Eastern
architecture, Abdulkarim said. ISIS has become known not only for its brutal executions but also for its hatred of
antiquities and its wanton destruction of them. Recently, it beheaded in front of a crowd Khaled al-As'ad, an 82-yearold man who had spent his life on the painstaking task of preserving antiquities in Palmyra, because he refused to
reveal where various irreplaceable relics had been hidden.
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ISIS has shown a taste for demolishing irreplaceable ancient sites and antiquities. It considers "pre-Islamic religious
objects or structures sacrilegious," wrote Sturt Manning, chairman of Cornell University's Department of Classics, in
an opinion piece for CNN.com. It seeks to destroy diversity and enforce narrow uniformity. Evidence of a tolerant,
diverse past is anathema," he said. "What it fears is memory and knowledge, which it cannot destroy." Last week, ISIS
published photos of its destruction of the temple of Baal Shamin, the first major structure in the ancient city of Palmyra
to be destroyed. For a video report refer to http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/31/middleeast/palmyra-temple-damaged
[Source: CNN | Don Melvin, Schams Elwazer & Joshua Berlinger, CNN| September 31, 2015 ++]
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Electric Cars
► 10 Things to Know
We’re all familiar with the basic premise of electric vehicles — that they are much better for our environment. But
here are a few facts about electric vehicles (EVs) that you likely don’t know:
1. Aging EV batteries perform better than we thought. “Range anxiety,” the concern that you might not have
enough driving range to reach your destination or next charging station, is felt by many eco-friendly drivers, but on
top of that, there’s the fear that you will have to replace your battery after a few years. With today’s EV batteries, “end
of life” is commonly defined as when the storage capacity drops to 70 to 80 percent of the original capacity. This can
happen after a few years of daily driving. As capacity fades, the vehicle’s range decreases. At that point, typically
once its down 20 percent, common wisdom goes, the battery should be replaced. Scientists at the Department of
Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory decided to investigate the extent to which vehicles still meet the
needs of drivers beyond this common battery retirement threshold. Samveg Saxena, who leads a vehicle power-train
research program at Berkeley Lab, analyzed real-world driving patterns and found that “range anxiety may be an
overstated concern” because EVs can meet the daily travel needs of more than 85 percent of U.S. drivers even after
losing 20 percent of their originally rated battery capacity. The report also says that EV batteries can “satisfy daily
mobility requirements for the full lifetime of an electric vehicle.”
Even at 50 percent of the EV battery’s original storage capacity, about 80 percent of daily driving needs could still
be met, according to the report. At 30 percent of the original capacity, 55 percent would still get where they need to
go on a daily basis. “There are two main reasons people are hesitant to buy an EV: first, they’re unsure it will satisfy
their mobility needs, and second, they’re afraid the battery won’t last the whole life of the car and they’ll have to
replace it for a lot of money,” said Saxena, who has a PhD in mechanical engineering. “We show that, even after
substantial battery degradation, the daily travel needs of most people are still going to be met.”
2. EV sales sluggish; researchers suggest swapping tax credits for charging station building funds. A new
National Science Foundation report, which draws on statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy and automotive
sources, points out that a little more than 250,000 electric cars have been sold since 2010, the first year they became
available. About 97,000 electric cars were bought in 2013 and 119,000 in 2014. Paltry figures, the science foundation
says, when compared with the 13 million gas-powered vehicles (passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs and vans) sold in
2013 and the more than 14 million in 2014. Why has adoption been slow? The main reasons, according to the
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foundation and Energy Department, have been in place since the beginning: Electric cars are expensive, and most
people don’t fully understand the technology. Further, there just aren’t enough charging stations to satisfy the needs
of motorists hoping to pollute less but still drive great distances. As for the price of most EVs, which the foundation
says ranges from $15,000 to more than $70,000, the researchers do point out that a $7,500 tax credit can ease buyers’
pain. But they wonder if that’s the best way to spend the $1.05 billion they say subsidies have cost the federal
government. They suggest the money could instead be used to build more than 60,000 charging outlets across the
country, which might lead to a five-fold jump in EV sales. “That number of potential charging stations is significant,”
the report states, “it represents about half the total number of gasoline stations in the United States.”
3. Electric vehicle insurance may involve your homeowner policy. Depending on where you live, you may be
required to include liability coverage in your homeowners insurance policy for fires or any other potential mishaps
tied to the car’s charging system. “The American Association of Insurance Services reports that laws in at least two
states — Oregon and California — require some homeowners and condo-owners to have liability coverage that
protects the charging equipment,” Allstate says on its website. “Even if your state doesn’t require coverage in this
circumstance, it may be a good idea to talk to your insurance agent about any homeowners insurance implications.”
4. Electric vehicles typically cost more to insure. Repair and replacement costs for EVs are higher than for gaspowered cars, so EVs are usually more expensive to insure. The higher cost is result, in part, of the pricier parts EVs
use.
5. Some car insurance companies offer a car insurance discount for electric vehicles. Though you may pay a bit
more for insurance, some of that may be offset by a discount. Some insurance companies, such as Travelers, Farmers
and Geico, offer car insurance discounts on hybrids and EVs in certain states. The discounts can reach 5 to 10 percent
off major coverages of collision, comprehensive and liability.
6. Electric vehicles are quiet; proposals to add sounds are on the table. Federal safety agencies are concerned
that EVs pose a danger to pedestrians and cyclists — the cars are so quiet that people walking and riding bikes don’t
hear them approaching. There hasn’t been much buzz recently about this, but the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration does have some proposals on the table to pitch to lawmakers and auto manufacturers. Some of these
ideas include requiring EVs (and hybrids) to emit a sound similar to a regular engine when the car is operating at low
speeds.
7. Why so expensive? Start with the battery. The DOE says that before 2009, a 100-mile range electric battery
cost $33,000. The price is about half that today, and the department expects it to drop to at least $10,000 by the end
of 2015. Still expensive, but getting better. Energy officials add that as much as 80 percent of the energy in the battery
is transferred directly to power the car, compared with only 14 to 26 percent of the energy from gasoline-powered
vehicles.
8. Getting from here to there — a gas to electric comparison. The DOE says it costs about $1 for today’s EVs to
travel the same distance as a similar-sized gasoline car using a gallon of fuel. “This adds up to a savings of more than
$2 a gallon or $1,000 a year in refueling costs, and the next generation of electric vehicles will bring even bigger
savings,” according to Energy.gov, the DOE’s website.
9. State and local monies may be available. Beyond the $7,500 tax credit provided by the feds, electric vehicle
buyers may also qualify for similar state and even local government incentives. California, for instance, offers up to a
$2,500 rebate. On the more local side in the Golden State, the San Joaquin Valley Pollution Control District in central
California offers a $1,000 to $3,000 rebate.
10. The first electric vehicle is very, very old. Robert Anderson invented the first primitive electric car, way back
in 1832. It was a “crude electric carriage” that, nonetheless, was able to move through “non-rechargeable primary
cells,” according to PBS’s “Now” program. The vehicle made technological strides over the next few decades, and
the first electric taxis began operating in New York City in early 1897. At the time, there were more EVs on New
York streets than gas cars. But lacking the speed and power of gas models, they eventually became less popular. The
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rise of the combustion machines was at hand — Henry Ford introduced the Model T, mass-produced and affordable
for many Americans, in 1908.
[Source: MoneyTaksNews | Mark Chalon Smith | April 22, 2015 ++]
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Secrets of the Secret Service Update 01 ►
‘About Our Presidents’ Correction.
In the 1 SEP Bulletin was included a somewhat defamatory article regarding alleged Secret Service personnel
observations on past Presidents. Unfortunately, it turns out that the article was extremely misleading and not what its
supposed author (Ronald Kessler) actually published in his book. Following is a clarification from Fastcheck.org on
what should have been reported:
Q: Does a recent book quote Secret Service agents saying denigrating things about Obama and other recent
Democratic presidents while praising only Republicans?
A: No. The book's author, Ronald Kessler, states that a viral e-mail's descriptions of Obama and Clinton "are
completely wrong." His book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties.
FULL QUESTION - I received this today, and don’t believe that any ex secret service agent would put out this stuff.
Subject: Secret Service
In The President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect
by Ronald Kessler
This book about the Secret Service reveals an awful lot about the Presidents and Vice-Presidents . . . very interesting
recap thus far: (Refer to the 1 SEP Bulletin article for what was said.)
FULL ANSWER
This partisan screed has some very red flags flying, which should warn the wary reader that it's not accurate. It's
not signed, a clue that whoever wrote it does not wish to take responsibility. He or she gives no direct quotes or pagenumber citations from the book supposedly being summarized — only paraphrases that, it turns out, reflect the
opinions of the anonymous writer but not necessarily those of Secret Service agents. Most versions of the message
(unlike the one we cite here) do not even give the title of the book or the author.
The truth is the message makes grossly false and misleading claims about what is contained in the book. "In the
President's Secret Service" was written by Ronald Kessler, a former Washington Post reporter who is now chief
Washington correspondent for the conservative news site Newsmax. When we contacted Kessler, he told us:
Author Ronald Kessler: [A]bout a third of the items are wrong and not in the book. In addition, the summaries of
Obama, Agnew, and Bill Clinton are completely wrong, Contrary to the email, the book actually says Obama treats
the Secret Service with respect and appreciates what the agents do. It does not say he hates the military.
Furthermore, the book is not the one-sided partisan attack that the e-mail describes. As Kessler says:
Kessler: The book is totally non-partisan and skewers Democrats–JFK, LBJ, Carter, Gary Hart,– and Republicans–
Nixon, Jenna Bush, Barbara Bush, Dick Cheney's daughter Mary, Agnew, Ford, and Bush's treasury secretary John
Snow–alike.
We won't attempt to address every claim this message makes about every president. Some are accurate enough.
The book does quote former Secret Service agents as saying Lyndon Johnson had numerous sexual affairs in the White
House and elsewhere (pages 15-16). It says agents considered Jimmy Carter the "least likeable" modern president
(page 70), and relates a number of unflattering anecdotes about him (pages 70-79). And it also says that unlike Carter,
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Ronald Reagan "treated Secret Service agents, the Air Force One crew, and the maids and butlers in the White House
with respect" (page 87). But the e-mail grossly misrepresents what the book says about Obama and some others.
Obama - Contrary to the e-mail's account, the book does not say that President Obama "hates the military and looks
down on the Secret Service." In fact, it says the opposite.
"In the President's Secret Service," page 223: Agents say both Barack Obama — code-named Renegade — and
Michelle Obama — code-named Renaissance — treat them with respect, as does Biden.
"Twice Obama invited agents to dinner, including a party for a relative, both at his home," says an agent who was on
his candidate detail. Michelle Obama insists that agents call her by her first name.
About the least flattering thing the book says about Obama is that he "has continued to smoke regularly," despite
saying he was quitting (page 224). That was early in the administration. Kessler's book first appeared in 2009.
Agnew - Kessler's book does not describe Spiro T. Agnew as "a nice, decent man" or say that "everyone was surprised
at his downfall," as this e-mail falsely claims. Agnew was the Republican vice president who resigned in disgrace in
1973 after pleading "no contest" to criminal charges stemming from his acceptance of bribes, and who later repaid
$268,000 in kickbacks and interest to the state of Maryland as the result of a civil suit, and was disbarred from the
practice of law. Kessler's book says that Agnew — far from being "a decent man" — was "having affairs while in
office" and relying on Secret Service agents to cover for him. "We felt like pimps," the book quotes one unnamed
former agent as recalling (pages 35-36).
Ford - The book doesn't describe Gerald Ford as "a true gentleman," as the message claims. To be sure, agents are
quoted calling Ford "a decent man." But the book says he was also so "cheap" that he tipped golf caddies only a buck
and sometimes cadged money from agents to pay for small purchases, such as a newspaper (page 49).
Clinton - Bill Clinton is described as chronically late for events (page 143), and the book tells a number of unflattering
tales about his wife, Hillary, who is described as having an "angry personality" and "an explosive temper" (page 169).
But agents don't describe him as "not trustworthy," as the message claims. And there's no reference to the Clinton
presidency being "one giant party," or anything similar. In the book, one unnamed agent says Bill Clinton "is very
friendly to agents" and "does treat the guys really well" (page 170).
We can't vouch for the accuracy of everything in Kessler's book, which sometimes relies on quotes from former
agents who are not named. But this anonymous e-mail is wholly one-sided and in many instances a false description
of what the book contains. — Brooks Jackson
[Source: http://www.factcheck.org/2011/06/secret-service-tattletales Sep 2015 ++]
*********************************
Interesting Inventions
► On-Demand Cup Holder
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Photo of the Day
► Swim Call
Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima participate in a swim call on 18 April 2015. During ‘swim calls’ sailor and
marines get to take a casual dip in the sea while onlookers above keep an eye out for sharks and other undersea creatures.
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Photos That Say it All
► Lochnagar Crater
This huge hole in the ground. the largest crater on the Western Front,. was created by a mine blown under the German
Front Line on the Somme battlefield on 1st July 1916.
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Most Creative Statues
► Reykjavik, Iceland | Unknown Official
The Unknown Official
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*********************************
Moments of US History
► Flour Sack Recycling
When they realized women were using their sacks to make clothes for their children, flour mills of the 30s started using
flowered fabric for their sacks, 1939
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Parking
► Revenge Tactic #7 Against Inconsiderate Parkers
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Superfluous Information
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►
Stuff You Probably Do Not Know
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
Coca-Cola was originally green.
It is impossible to lick your little toe.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400
The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
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The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David Hearts Charlemagne, Clubs -Alexander, the Great, Diamonds - Julius Caesar
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the
horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all
four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson.
Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the
mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase...'Goodnight, sleep tight'.
It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's
father would supply his new son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and
because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as
the honeymoon.
In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the
bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase
'mind your P's and Q's'.
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic
cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase
inspired by this practice.
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2015 when...
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the
groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a Web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your
life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it !
10. You get up in the morning and go on-line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)
12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? (A) Their birthplace
Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested? (A) Obsession
Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'? (A) One
thousand
Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?
(A) All were invented by women.
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil? (A) Honey
Q. Which day of the year, are more collect calls made than any other day of the year? (A) Father's Day
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**********************************
Have You Heard?
► Testicle Therapy!
Two women were playing golf. One teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of
men playing the next hole.
The ball hit one of the men. He immediately clasped his hands together at his groin, fell to the ground and proceeded
to roll around in agony.
The woman rushed down to the man, and immediately began to apologize. 'Please allow me to help. I'm a Physical
Therapist and I know I could Relieve your pain if you'd allow me.' she told him.
'Oh, no, I'll be all right. I'll be fine in a few minutes,' the man replied. He was in obvious agony, lying in the fetal
position, still clasping his hands there at his groin.
At her persistence, however, he finally allowed her to help. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the
side, loosened his pants and put her hands inside.
She administered tender and artful massage for several long moments and asked, 'How does that feel?'
He replied: 'It feels great, but I still think my thumb's broken!'
*********************************
Have You Heard?
► Ba-da-ba-da BOOM
The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with fullbody scanners.
It's an armored booth you step into that will not X-ray you,... but it will detonate any explosive device you may
have on your person.
Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone. There's none of the crap about racial profiling, and it eliminates
the costs of long, expensive trials. You're in the airport terminal... and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly
thereafter, an announcement:
"Cleanup in booth #8", and "Attention to all standby passengers: El Al is pleased to announce a seat is available
on flight 670 to London. Shalom!"
BRILLIANT!
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Brain Teaser Answer ►
Grandma’s Birthday Cake
Two. At each bridge you are required to give half of your cakes, and you receive one back. Which leaves you with
2 cakes after every bridge.
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Kermit’s new girlfriend, Denise
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