BACK

RAO Bulletin Update
1 July 2005
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
 

THIS BULLETIN UPDATE CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES:

== TRICARE Cost Share Waiver Illegal.... (Supplemental insurance scheme)
== CRSC Update 29……………………… (Chapter 61 retirees)
== CRDP Update 36……………………… (H.R.2076 introduced in Congress)
== DIC+SBP Update 03………………….. (H.R.808 would repeal offset)
== USMC Coin Update 01……………….. (How to obtain)
== MPS Use for Charitable Donations …... (Prohibited)
== Asbestos Litigation Reform ………….. (Request sent to Judiciary Committee)
== Dependent CONUS Travel Update 03 .. (Test may become permanent)
== CRDP or CRSC Option ……………… (Election due by 31 JUL)
== Medicare/Tricare Payment Rates …….. (Rate drop threatens health services)
== Space “A” for 100% Disabled ……….. (Proposed under S.58)
== Reservists Registration Rqmt ………… (Due 31 Oct)
== VA Budget 2006 Update 07 ………….. ($1 Billion shortfall)
== SBP Open Season Update 01 ………… (Details available late July)
== Medicare Physician Locator …………. (Listing by medical specialty)
== BRAC Update 10 …………………….. (Political maneuvering to save bases)
== Arlington National Cemetery ………… (Expansion planned)
== NEXCOM Phone Rates ………………. (Rates to states reduced)
== Australia Vacations Offered ………….. (From $1300 for DoD personnel)
== Air Force Enlisted Home Update 01 …. (Applications now available)
== VA Gravesite Locator (Correction) ….. (Locate sites on the web by family name)


NOTE: I have relocated to the Philippines. Although my email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net is still good and you will see the Bulletin being sent from that addee via my Mailing List Provider in Europe, I must go on the web to access email sent to me at this addee. With no DSL available to me at this location it is a lengthy and time consuming process to open email sent to this addee. Until further notice request all email be sent to me be via raoemo@mozcom.com.


TRICARE COST SHARE WAIVER ILLEGAL: Uniformed Services beneficiaries who use TRICARE Standard and Extra are responsible, under law, to pay annual deductibles and cost-shares associated with their care. The law prohibits health care providers from waiving TRICARE beneficiary deductibles or cost-shares and requires providers to make reasonable efforts to collect these amounts. Health care providers who offer to waive deductibles and cost-shares or who advertise that they will do so may be investigated for program abuse and suspended or excluded as authorized providers. According to Rose M. Sabo, Director, TRICARE Program Integrity, TRICARE Management Activity, "TRICARE prohibits any scheme designed to waive a patient's deductible or cost-share.”

One type of scheme comes in the form of a supplemental insurance program which covers copayments or deductibles only for items or services provided by the entity offering the insurance. These programs can be identified when the insurance premium paid by the beneficiary is insignificant and the premiums so low that they are not based upon actuarial risks, but instead are a sham used to disguise the routine waiver of copayments and deductibles. Such a scam can result in excessive utilization of items and services. When Congress established beneficiary deductibles and cost-shares, their intent was to make the beneficiary a financial partner with the government. The cost-share encourages responsible beneficiary health care decisions when faced with choices, and acts to avoid waste of taxpayer dollars. Beneficiaries who have a financial risk associated with their health care decisions are more likely to choose cost-effective treatment for their medical conditions. Beneficiaries !
should contact their local TRICARE Service Center for more information on deductibles and cost-shares. A list of TRICARE Service Centers and telephone numbers is located at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/tricareservicecenters/default.cfm. If beneficiaries suspect provider or insurance fraud, they may report it by e-mailing fraudline@tma.osd.mil. [Source: Tricare News Release No. 05-20 dtd 13 June 13, 2005]


CRSC UPDATE 29: The Combat Military Medically Retired Veteran's Fairness Act of 2005 H.R. 995 was introduced by Jerry Weller (R-IL) and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services on 1 MAR 05. This bill authorizes the payment of special compensation (i.e. CRSC) to members of the Armed Forces retired due to disability with less than 20 years of active service (i.e. Chapter 61 Retirees) who were awarded the Purple Heart. If approved, payments would be made without regard to special rules applicable to other disability retirees which require offsetting reductions. At present it has only 11 cosponsors. Anyone who would like their Congressman to support this bill can send him/her a preformatted email, letter, or compose their own at http://capwiz.com/usdr. By entering your zip code your message will be directed to your legislator’s office. [Source: USDR Action Alert 20 JUN 05]


CRDP UPDATE 36: H.R.2076 “Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2005” was Introduced 4 May 05 by Michael Biliraksis (R-FL) and referred to both the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. It currently has only 10 sponsors of which the last sponsor signed on 8 JUN. The bill:
1. Allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability regardless of rating percentage.
2. Eliminates the phase-in limitations for the concurrent receipt (CRDP) of such pay for qualified retirees with service-connected disabilities rated as 100% effective 1 JAN 05, and for retirees with a total disability by reason of unemployability effective 1 JAN 06.
3. Makes those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability (Chapter 61 retirees) eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special compensation.

With only 10 cosponsors veterans affected by this legislation do not have much of a chance of seeing it enacted in law unless they start communicating with their legislators their concern over this issue. The companion Senate bill S.558 sponsored on 8 MAR 05 by Harry Rid (D-NV) and referred to the Committee on Armed Services has only 26 cosponsors. Unfortunately S.558 specifically excludes those 155,000 service personnel retired for medical disability with less than 20 years of retirement service under title 10 US Code Chapter 61. If you would like tell your Congressional representative your feelings on this issue and ask for his/her cosponsorship of the bill it can be done at http://capwiz.com/usdr. Here you can forward them a preformatted letter or compose your own requesting support of this or any other military related bill. [Source: USDR Action alerts 16 & 22 JUN 05]


DIC+SBP UPDATE 03: H.R. 808, Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act repeals, as of the later of 1 OCT05, or the date of enactment of the Act, the $1 for $1 offset of military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities by VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) paid to the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military pay or who would be entitled to retired pay except for being under 60 years of age. The bill also provides for the recovery of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund. This bill was introduced under the initial title Repeal the VA "Widow's Tax" on Survivors Benefits by Rep. Henry Brown (R-on SC) on 15 FEB 05 and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. It currently has 149 cosponsors.

The rationale for calling it the widow’s tax can be understood if you consider that the average monthly military retirement is $1610 per month after taxes. If the SBP annuity is 55% of the gross monthly retirement, the average widow receives approximately $885 per month after taxes. Basic VA DIC for 2005 is $993 per month. Up front this means that the "average" survivor will receive no SBP as purchased by the forward thinking deceased military spouse and the surviving spouse will receive only the VA DIC. The "unused SBP premiums" will be returned to the survivor as a lump sum. As the SBP premiums were paid from pre-tax dollars, the IRS gets its share, often at a higher tax rate than if the premiums were taxed when paid. If for some reason, the VA DIC is terminated, the surviving spouse must repay the full lump sum amount to reinstate SBP. However, the IRS will not reimburse those taxes paid on the original lump sum. Assuming that the deceased military spouse paid !
the maximum of 30 years into the SBP account at 6.5% of his gross retirement, this would provide approximately a $42,000 lump sum payment to the widow if the military member died on the 30th anniversary of his retirement and she elected to receive DIC vice SBP. DFAS will withhold 20% for taxes (30% if the widow is an alien citizen) are approximately $8,400. So, if VA DIC is terminated the survivor must come up with the $33,600 lump sum received PLUS $8,400 more in taxes that will not be reimbursed by the IRS. Most survivors could not do this having spent the initial lump sum payment on necessary burial and living expenses. If you would like tell your Congressional representative your feelings on this issue and ask for his/her cosponsorship of the bill it can be done at http://capwiz.com/usdr. Here you can forward them a preformatted letter or compose your own requesting support of this or any other military related bill. [Source: USDR Action alert 16 JUN 05]


USMC COMMEMORATIVE COIN UPDATE 01: Commemorative coins are only available directly from the United States Mint for a limited time. They can be purchased on line at www.usmint.gov and shipped to wherever you designate. Once they sell out you have to purchase them from a coin dealer and pay whatever markup has been added. The USMC silver dollar is listed on their web site as available for order in July 05. [Source: www.usmint.gov JUN 05]


MPS USE FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS: Each year, the Department of Defense (DoD) plays a huge role in delivering relief supplies and assisting in relief operations worldwide. People overseas who want to contribute have a problem sending their packages because they are not supposed to send charitable contributions through Air Mobility Command or through the Military Postal Service. According to Robert Eichholz of the Air Force Director of Communications Operations office DoD is prohibited by law from providing airlift to non-DoD activities. This means organizations and people authorized to use MPS cannot serve as intermediaries for any person or organization not specifically authorized such service. DoD spends more than $73 million moving mail between U.S. gateways and military locations worldwide every year. Because only authorized personnel may use the MPS, any other use could be considered misuse of taxpayer dollars. [Source: Armed Forces News 27 May 05]


ASBESTOS LITIGATION REFORM: On 13 April, 17 national veterans’ organizations sent a letter asking the Senate Judiciary Committee to take the first step toward reforming the nation’s asbestos litigation system by adopting no-fault victims’ compensation fund legislation. Asbestos was used widely by the military services during and after World War II, and many veterans were exposed to this deadly substance. Veterans with asbestos-related illnesses are in a unique situation because they have virtually no avenue for compensation under the current system. Sick veterans are prevented by law from seeking compensation from the U.S. Government through the courts. Since most of the companies that supplied the U.S. military with asbestos are long gone, seeking relief from the suppliers is also a dead end. A victims’ trust fund is the only solution, the groups stated in their letter to the senators. [Source: Armed Forces News 27 May 05]


SPACE "A" DEPENDENT CONUS TRAVEL UPDATE 02: A test allowing family members to fly space-available within the continental United States (CONUS) with their active duty or retired sponsor for free is inching closer to becoming permanent. An Air Mobility Command (AMC) spokesman said defense officials are in the midst of making an interim policy change to Defense Air Transportation Eligibility regulations to that effect. In the meantime, defense transportation officials have extended the CONUS space available travel test indefinitely. It was originally conducted for a year beginning 1 April 2003, and then extended until further notice in 2004. Previously, only active duty and retired members could fly on space-available flights within CONUS. Family members were limited to flight between CONUS and overseas destinations. Additional information about terminal locations, phone numbers, sign-ups and other details is available online at http://public.amc.af.mil/Library/SPACEA/24!
_203.htm [Source: Navy Times 16 May 05]


CRDP OR CRSC OPTION: Section 1414 of Title 10, U.S. Code, requires an annual open season be provided for retirees who potentially are eligible for both Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) and Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC). During the open season, retirees can elect to change from one type of payment to the other. Retirees can receive either CRDP or CRSC, but not both. Therefore, retirees have the right to change the type of payment they receive. There are two factors that retirees need to consider in making an election. CRDP is taxable whereas CRSC is not and the CRDP payments increase each year during the 10 year phase in period. To assist retirees who are considering changing the type of payment they receive, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) sends out an election form to retirees who fall into this category that includes information about each type of compensation and its current value. To be valid, DFAS must receive an election!
to change a retiree’s entitlement no later than 31 JUL 05. Elections received after 31 JUL 05 will not be honored. Retirees are not required to make an election. If retirees do not make an election, they will continue to receive their current entitlement for 2005, even though it may not be the greater entitlement. A retiree’s election will remain in effect until the next open season. If a retiree elects to change the type of payment they receive, and that change results in a greater entitlement, the election will be made retroactive to 1 JAN 05 and the retiree will receive a payment for the difference between the two entitlements no later than 60 days after DFAS receives the election. If retirees elect to change to a lesser entitlement, their election will be effective on a current basis and no adjustment will be made for amounts received since 1 JAN 05. Retirees who have questions can reach representatives at DFAS by calling 1 (800) 472-7098 or (216) 522-5955; or by fax a!
t 1 (800)469-6559. They can also write DFAS at: Defense Finance and Ac
counting Service, U.S. Military Retirement Pay, P.O. Box 7130, London, KY 40742-7130. [Source: MOAA News Exchange 29 JUN 05]


MEDICARE/TRICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES: The payment rate to physicians continues to go down and is expected to drop another 4.3% in JAN 06. Under the current statutory payment formula, Medicare is projected to cut payment levels by 26% over the next six years. The major problem is that the statutory reimbursement formula for TRICARE and Medicare is flawed in that it does not accurately reflect the true cost of running a physician practice. This means that many physicians are unable to afford to provide care to TRICARE beneficiaries. Representatives Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) have introduced the Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (H.R.2356) in the house. It increases Medicare physician payments by 2.7% in 2006 instead of the projected 4.3% cut. In the Senate a companion bill S.1081 was introduced by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on 19 May 05. It amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act concerning payment for physicians' services to establ!
ish a single conversion factor for 2006 of at least 2.7%, and a formula for an update to the single conversion factor for 2007. Under this bill the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in calculating the formula for the single conversion factor, is required to establish an input price index and estimate a productivity adjustment factor for 2007.

These bills do not specifically address Tricare but Tricare reimbursement rates are directly calculated based on the Medicare sustainable growth rate formula which will be changed by this legislation. Thus, if the Medicare rates decrease there is a corresponding decrease of the Tricare rates. Many doctors already refuse to accept Tricare patients based on low reimbursement rates that are often less than Medicare. This problem is compounded for retirees who do not live near active military installations where they can seek space available care as an alternative. This situation is further worsened by the next round of base realignment and closure which targets 25% of currently active military installations. S.1081 impacts on all active duty and retiree health care. It currently has 14 cosponsors. Anyone who would like their legislators to support this bill can send him/her a preformatted email, letter, or compose their own at http://capwiz.com/usdr. By entering your zi!
p code your message will be directed to your legislator’s office. [Source: Military.Com 6 JUN & USDR Action Alert 20 JUN 05]


SPACE “A” FOR 100% DISABLED: Senate bill S.58, introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) on 24 JAN 05 would direct the Secretary of Defense to permit any former member of the armed forces who is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability rated total by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to travel on military aircraft to the same extent as retired members of the armed forces. This means that any former member of the armed forces who has a service-connected disability rated as total by the Veterans Administration would be able to travel on unscheduled military flights within the continental United States and on scheduled overseas flights operated by the Air Mobility Command on a space-available basis. This bill, referred to the Committee on Armed Services, has only six cosponsors, the last of which signed on 15 JUN 05.


RESERVISTS ANNUAL REGISTRATION: The deadline for reservists who are paid for training to register for information about their civilian place of employment is 31 OCT. About 60,000 of these Airmen, roughly 80% of the force, provided that information as of May. The Air Force is urging the remaining reservists to register online by going to www.afrc.af.mil/reserveInfo.htm and clicking on "Civilian Employment Info Program." (An air reserve component Web site is in development to streamline this process) After clicking on the Web site, reservists enter their employment status, employer's name, mailing address, civilian job title and total number of years in their current civilian occupation. Reservists who knowingly fail or refuse to provide their employment-related information, or provide false information, may be subject to administrative action. If on duty, they could face punishment for dereliction of duty under Article 92 of the UCMJ. [Source: Armed Forces News 24 JUN 05]


VA BUDGET 2006 UPDATE 07: Earlier this year, House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairmen resisted calls by Democrats and veterans’ groups for significantly bigger plus-ups in veterans’ health care funding, after receiving repeated assurances by VA leaders that such extra increases weren’t needed. This week, all of those leaders had egg on their faces when Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson acknowledged that mistakes in budget preparation actually left the VA budget $1 billion short of the amount needed to continue current VA health services. Fortunately, Congress still has time to fix the shortfall. Although the House already has passed its version of the FY2006 Veterans/Quality of Life Appropriations Bill, the Senate is still working on its counterpart bill. Leaders in both chambers indicated their intent to get it fixed. House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) called for quick action to determine the real funding needs, and Senat!
e Committee Chairman Larry Craig said, “We in Congress must fix this financial problem.” The acknowledgement was vindication for military and veterans groups and others who had complained that the budget submission wasn’t sufficient to meet veterans’ needs. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), an Appropriations Committee member who led efforts to add $1.9 billion in extra VA funding, was particularly critical at a Thursday news conference, asserting that the Administration was reluctant to make the sacrifices necessary to meet health care commitments to veterans. Significantly, Chairman Craig appeared with her at the conference and agreed with many of her criticisms of the VA budget development process. Hopefully, Hill leaders of both parties will now step up to the plate and ensure the VA gets the needed funding increase. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 24 JUN 05]


SBP OPEN SEASON UPDATE 01: The Pentagon’s Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) open season implementation plan is nearly ready and hopefully will be available to the public in late July. The open season [ 1 OCT 05 through 30 SEP 06] will give non-enrolled retirees a chance to enroll and provide their spouses a significantly improved SBP benefit. Legislation approved last year (which also authorized the open season) will phase out the current SBP age-62 benefit reduction by April 08 – effectively providing lifetime SBP annuities of 55% of covered retired pay. Notices will be included with retirees’ December retired pay statements and in the DFAS newsletter that accompanies the statement. During the one-year open season, current non-participants will be able to elect any coverage they could have elected when previously eligible. Those currently participating in SBP at less than maximum levels may increase their coverage. The exception is that previous SBP participants who exercised an!
option to terminate SBP enrollment will not be allowed to re-enroll. Open season enrollees will have to pay all back premiums from the date of retirement plus interest, either as lump sum or in 24 monthly installments. Members will also begin paying the same monthly premiums they would have been paying at this point if they had enrolled in SBP when first eligible.

Open enrollment fee amounts are currently being finalized. Members who enroll during the open season and pay the back premiums and interest will receive credit toward 30-year paid-up SBP coverage as if they had enrolled when first eligible. To enroll, members must apply by filling out a hard copy form that will be available on the DoD Web site (the site location is not yet available). The Defense Department is developing a calculator to help open-season enrollees figure their individual buy-in fees and monthly premiums. Service personnel officials will be provided with the calculator, and Retiree Activity Offices at bases and stations will receive instruction on the new enrollment process. Spousal concurrence will not be required for open season enrollment in most cases, since any change is an upgrade over what the spouse has now. However, Reserve Component SBP elections for anything less than full and immediate coverage will require written spousal concurrence. The eff!
ective date of enrollment will be the first day of the first month after the date DFAS receives the open season enrollment application. DFAS will notify the member to confirm the effective date of the election, the buy-in cost and the prospective monthly premiums. Members will have 30 days from the date on the DFAS notification letter to change their minds and cancel the election, if they choose. To guard against “death-bed” enrollments, applicants will have to survive and pay premiums for 24 months for the survivor to receive SBP coverage. If the member dies before the end of 24 months, all paid premiums and the enrollment fee will be refunded. Further details will be provided once the Pentagon finalizes and releases the open season form, instructions, and fee schedules. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 24 JUN 05]


MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM REFUND: On 25 JAN 05 Rep. JoAnn Emerson (R-MO) introduced H.R. 322 Military Retiree Health Care Relief Act of 2005. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit equal to the aggregate Medicare Part B premiums paid under section 1840 of the Social Security Act by the taxpayer during the taxable year for enrollment of that eligible individual under part B of title XVIII of such Act. The term `eligible individual' means military retirees, their spouses, and/or widows. The bill to date has only one cosponsor. H.R.322 would "keep the promise" made to service members long after 1956 when the law was changed that authorized free life time health care for the retiree and his family in return for making a career of military service. The bill is not discriminatory as other proposed "keep the promise" legislation because it includes ALL military retirees who become Medicare eligible, not just those who entered before 1956. To l!
et your Congressional representative know your feelings on this issue and ask for his/her cosponsorship of the bill it can be done at http://capwiz.com/usdr. Here you can forward them a preformatted email or letter or compose your own requesting support of this or any other military related bill. [Source: USDR Action alert 21 JUN 05]


MEDICARE PHYSICIAN LOCATOR: If you are new to Medicare, or are looking for a physician with a medical specialty who also takes Medicare payments, there's a handy tool from the U.S. government called the Participating Physician Directory. This tool will help you quickly locate a Medicare-approved physician in your area. With it you can search for Medicare-approved physicians by name, medical specialty, or geographical area, including state, county, city or zip code. In addition to a list of physicians in your area who are Medicare approved, you can review profiles of the doctors, plus maps and driving directions to help you get there. Users should note that although the Directory provides a listing of physicians who participate in the Medicare program in your area, some participating physicians may not be accepting new Medicare patients at this time. You should contact the physicians you are interested in to see if they are accepting new Medicare patients. To check for Medi!
care approved physicians in your area, go to the website http://www4.medicare.gov and click on Find a Doctor. If you have questions or would like help by phone, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICAR or 1-800-633-4227. [Source: Your Guide to Senior Living Newsletter Jun 05]


BRAC UPDATE 10: Senators Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman have issued a subpoena to the Defense Department to force it to turn over documents related to the base closure and realignment decisions announced last month. The move by Collins, ME-R, and Lieberman, Conn. is the latest tactic to delay or influence the base closing process now underway. Last month, Sen. John Thune, SD-R introduced a bill to postpone the base closings altogether. Thune called it a grave error to move ahead with base closings while significant numbers of troops are deployed overseas and while the Pentagon is in the midst of a quadrennial review of its missions, force structure and weapons. What's behind these moves is an attempt to protect local economies that would be ravaged by base closures and significant realignments. Collins, Thune and Lieberman represent three of the five states hardest hit by base closings. Those three states, together with 30 others and the District of Columbia would lose!
a combined 64,107 jobs if the Pentagon's requested cuts are approved. In a move to thwart the closures, the lawmakers are now trying to find national security reasons to keep their bases open.

The Pentagon has made it clear, as has the independent BRAC Commission, that economic reasons are not enough to reverse the recommendations. The Pentagon wants to close 33 of 318 major military installations in the United States and realign 29 others. The Pentagon also recommended closing or realigning 775 smaller military locations for a total projected savings over 20 years of $49 billion. One popular -- and conspiratorial -- theory making the rounds is that the closing decisions were based at least in part on politics: the blue state/red state divide. Red states, those who voted for Republican President George W. Bush in the 2004 election, overall did far better than blue states, those who voted for Democrat Sen. John Kerry. Thirteen red states would see a net gain of 40,328 jobs if the Pentagon recommendations are accepted unchanged by the BRAC Commission. Only eight blue states would see increases of a total of 11,351 jobs, numbers derived from the Pentagon's state-by-!
state breakdown of closings on civilian and military jobs. Four of the five states that would gain the most jobs are the red states of Georgia, Texas, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Maryland, however, a blue state with a Republican governor, would gain the most jobs of any state -- 9,293. Three of the top five losers are blue states - Connecticut with 8,586, Maine and Washington, D.C. Alaska and South Dakota, both red states, complete that list. The two categories almost exactly offset each other: the top four red states gain 22,409 jobs, with Maryland gaining 9,293, a total of 31,702 jobs. The top three blue state losers shed 22,020 jobs, and the top two red states lose 8,416, a total of 30,436 losses.

According to Chris Hellman, an analyst with the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation who is closely tracking BRAC, the breakdown is coincidental. Enough of the red states got zapped and enough of the blue states didn't to undermine the theory, What he sees is a trend away from "northern tier" states, which had a Cold War orientation and purpose. Blue states tend to be located in the Northeast, and the (Cold War) focal point was eastward, looking at Europe across the Atlantic. The northern tier states are Maine, with Brunswick Naval Air Station and Portsmouth Navy yard; South Dakota with Ellsworth Air Force Base - built as a strategic bomber base to launch an attack against the Soviet Union - and red state Alaska, with all four of its bases slated for closure or realignment. He also pointed out that Massachusetts - consistently Democratic and Kerry's home state - was a net winner, adding 491 jobs. Massachusetts has Hanscom AFB, a hub of intelligence activity that wou!
ld get an additional 1,104 jobs. The final indication Hellman sees is that the decision to close the bases is based on national security considerations and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's desire to transform the military into a more expeditionary and lighter force is the fact that so many Guard and Reserve bases are on the realignment lists. Guard and Reserve in the past were pretty much off the lists. Those facilities were always more politically sensitive. If any bases would be protected or targeted on a political basis it would be those. They are dear to members of Congress because these troops live in their state and are not transferred to new assignments the way active duty forces are. However, 75% of the 160 largest installations undergoing realignments are Guard and Reserve bases. This further indicates their closing is to reinforce national security vice satisfying political motivations. [Source: UPI Pentagon Correspondent Pamela Hess article 8 JUN 05]


ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY: The fiscal 2000 National Defense Authorization Act contained a provision to expand Arlington National Cemetery. After years of searching for additional space for Arlington National Cemetery, Defense Department officials have garnered more than 70 acres of land to expand the sprawling 600-plus-acre hillside on the west bank of the Potomac River overlooking the nation's capital. In 1998, officials estimated they would run out of grave space between the year 2025 and 2030. In preparation for this eventuality the cemetery superintendent was directed to develop a new master plan and to look at not only what was needed to do internally to maintain the cemetery, but also how to look at expanding the cemetery beyond the year of 2025. Officials searched around the cemetery in all directions to see who owned the land, what it was currently being used for, and the likelihood of being able to acquire the land. This has resulted in the acquisition of thr!
ee parcels of land so far, including the 44-acre Navy Annex that lies to the south. They also acquired half of a 24 acre a tract inside the cemetery that had belonged to the National Park Service, which was being used as a buffer zone between the Arlington House and the cemetery. The Arlington House mansion is where Gen. Robert E. Lee lived before the Civil War. After he joined the Confederacy, the plantation mansion was confiscated at the outbreak of the Civil War and converted to headquarters for the Union's Army of the Potomac. The grounds were used as a burial site for families that were too poor to claim their deceased loved ones from the battlefield. Today, the mansion house is restored as a museum, and the grounds are considered a sacred shrine. The cemetery also will use a 17-acre tract of land that's now a picnic area at adjacent Fort Myer and is looking at relocating utilities inside the cemetery from underneath the grass-tufted area and placing them underneath!
roads. With these initiatives in place, Arlington should be able to c
ontinue operations until at least 2060, and that would include development for both ground and columbarium burials. For more information on the Arlington National Cemetery, including eligibility criteria, go to http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org. [Source: Air Force Retiree News 1 JUN 05]


NEXCOM PHONE RATES: The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is introducing local access numbers for phone calls made to the United States using the NEX phone card from Naples, Italy; Catania, Italy; Sassari, Italy; Malaga, Spain; and London, England. Customers will pay for calls to a local access number based on their local telecommunications pricing plan. This will give them lower rates compared to using the toll-free number. The total price paid for a call to the United States is the cost of the local call plus the local access rate of $.03 per minute. In addition, NEXCOM has lowered the cost to call the United States from Spain, Portugal and Belgium when using a toll-free access number from land lines. Such calls to the United States from Spain and Portugal are $.07 per minute, and calls from Belgium are $.085 per minute. [Source: Armed Forces News 13 May 05]


AUSTRALIA VACATIONS OFFERED: Active-duty plus those in reserve components, military retirees, their family members, and Defense Department civilians can vacation to Australia for about the same cost as a getaway to Europe. If interested, visit the Off-Duty Travel Web site at www.armymwr.com/portal/travel/travelresources/ and click on “Joint Services Travel Specials” to build itineraries for a vacation down under. After preparing the itinerary, proceed to an information, ticket and reservation office, and a travel office to complete booking, confirm arrangements and pay for the vacation. For information on how to reach an office by car, phone, or email send a message to offdutytravel@cfsc.army.mil. Eight-day trips from Los Angeles to Sydney are available, including lodging at three-or four-star hotels, with some tours starting as low as $1,300. [Source: Armed Forces News 24 JUN 05]


AIR FORCE ENLISTED HOME UPDATE 01: The Air Force Enlisted Men’s Widows and Dependent Home Foundation offers the only independent living retirement communities in the country for the Air Force’s enlisted personnel. The Foundation operates two villages located in the northwest Florida panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City. Teresa Village is located in Fort Walton Beach and consists of 112 apartments and 10 houses. Bob Hope Village is located in neighboring Shalimar and consists of 256 patio-style apartments. Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field are in close proximity to both villages. A widow[er]’s eligibility for admission follows:
• Must be age 55 or older;
• Possess a valid military identification card;
• Submit a completed Application for Admission;
• Provide a medical report stating the widow can live independently;
• Submit a marriage certificate;
• Provide the spouses death certificate and
• Provide Proof of the spouse's retirement.

Widow’s requiring immediate housing and financial assistance with rent are given priority. Retired couples are eligible for admission provided the retired member is age 62 or older and the spouse is age 55 or older. Widows of other services are eligible on a “space available” basis and do not qualify for financial assistance. The average waiting period is six-months from the time the widow is placed on the waiting list until an apartment is offered. The waiting period for a married couple is seven-years.
Construction on Hawthorn House, the Air Force Enlisted Village's assisted living residence, is continuing on schedule. The 64-apartment complex, located on five acres of land on the Bob Hope Village campus in Shalimar, Fla., will feature all the amenities of a state-of-the-art facility. The August 2005 opening will bring a 38-year dream to fruition - lifetime care for the widows of retired Air Force enlisted members. Over the years, many widows have been forced to move from the home’s existing facilities to state-run nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or move in with their children because they couldn't handle day to day living on their own. Having the new assisted living facility means residents will be able to simply move across the street rather than leave their friends and military family. An added benefit to opening the assisted living is that a number of apartments in Bob Hope Village and Teresa Village will open up because many of the current residents !
will be moving to the new facility. Enlisted widows of other branches of the military are eligible for residency on a space-available basis. Applications for Hawthorn House assisted living residence are now available. When eligibility criteria are met, the following priority system will be used to place individuals in assisted living:
* Current residents of Teresa Village and Bob Hope Village
* Prior residents of both villages
* Those people currently on the waiting list for independent living
* New individuals.
Those people currently on the independent living waiting list who are interested in applying for assisted living are required to complete a new application. For more information, contact the Hawthorn House director of admissions toll-free at 1 (800) 258-1413. For more information on the home’s and the village’s overall eligibility criteria write: Director of Admissions, 92 Sunset Lane, Shalimar, FL 32579-1000 or call (850) 651-3766/(800) 258-1413 or email: afeh@emeraldcoast.com . Retirees desiring to support this foundation can do so by allotment through DFAS or by contacting the Foundation at (800) 258-1413. [Source: Air Force Retiree News 21 JUN 05 ++]


VA GRAVESITE LOCATOR (CORRECTION): Records showing where veterans and their spouses have been buried in Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries are now available online at www.cem.va.gov & http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov making it easy for anyone with Internet access to search for the gravesite locations of deceased family members and friends The nationwide grave locator contains more than three million records of veterans and dependents buried in VA's 120 cemeteries since the Civil War. It also has records of some burials in state veterans' cemeteries and burials in Arlington National Cemetery from 1999 to the present. The site displays name, dates of birth and death, period of military service, branch of service and rank if known, the cemetery's location and phone number, and the grave's precise location in the cemetery. This is the same information that visitors to national cemeteries find on kiosks or in written ledgers to locate gravesites. The records dat!
e to the establishment of the first national cemeteries during the Civil War. The Web site is updated nightly with information on burials the previous day. Refer to the home page Burial and Memorial Benefits to select the Nationwide Gravesite Locator to begin a search. State cemetery burial records are from those cemeteries that use VA's database to order government headstones and markers for veterans' graves. Since 1999, Arlington National Cemetery, operated by the Department of Army, has used that database. The information in the database comes from records of interment, which before 1994 were paper records, kept at each cemetery. VA's interment records contain more information than what is shown on the Internet and cemetery kiosks. Some information, such as identification of the next of kin, will not be shown to the public for privacy reasons. Immediate family members with a government identification card may request to see the full record of a burial when they visit!
a national cemetery. Six cemeteries which have not yet completed the
ir records for inclusion in the data base are Long Island, Los Angeles, Ft. Rosecrans, Golden Gate, San Francisco, and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. [Source: VA News Release No. 04-19-04 & AF News dtd 23 APR 04]



Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Assistance Office, VITA & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP