RAO BULLETIN 15 December 2017

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
15 December 2017

HTML/PDF Editions


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

04 == DoD Cluster Bomb Policy ---- (2019 Use Deadline Set Aside
05 == Pentagon Accounting [02] ---- (44,000 Troops Unaccounted For)
05 == Transgender Lawsuits [03] ---- (Trump Files Appeal to Delay Enlistments)
06 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 DEC 2017)
06 == POW/MIA [95] ---- (100 Oklahoma Sailors Identified So Far)
09 == POW/MIA [96] ---- (PFC Albert Strange)
10 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 DEC 2017 | Twelve)

. * VA * .

12 == VA Health Care Enrollment [14] ---- (Its For Life)
12 == VA AIDS Care [08] ---- (Have You Taken the Test?)
13 == VADIP [05] ---- (Dental Program Revived & Extended Through 2021)
13 == GI Bill [244] ---- (Forever GI Bill Implementation)
15 == VA DRC Program ---- (Latest Enhancements to Expand Participants)
15 == VA TRICARE Merger ---- (A Controversial Issue| Pros & Cons)
18 == Traumatic Brain Injury [65]---- (VA Offering LED & SGB Treatments)
18 == VA HUD-VASH [05] ---- (No Change In Funding Until Fiscal 2019)
19 == VA Compensation Rates | Disability ---- (2018 Monthly Payments)
20 == VDHCBS [01] ---- (Gives Disabled Vets Ability to Control Their Own Care)
21 == Fisher House Expansion [19] ---- (Charleston SC Opens)
22 == ALS [13] ---- (Radicava Added to VANF for Vet Treatment)
23 == VA ID Card [14] ---- (Applications Suspended | System Overloaded)
24 == VA Nurse Anesthetists ---- (Underutilized)
25 == VA Caregiver Program [47] ---- (Petition Delivered to Congress)
25 == VA Loans ---- (Warno | Unsolicited Offers)
27 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 DEC 2017)
32 == VA Compensation & Benefits ---- (Problem Solving Program Q&A -- 23 Correction)

. * VETS * .

33 == Homeless Vets [82] ---- (First Increase in 7 Years)
34 == Missouri Veteran Homes [02] ---- (St. Louis Veterans Home Shake Up)
35 == Vet Predatory Loans ---- (Ginnie Mae Takes Aim at Refinance Churning Lenders)
36 == Obit: George B. Willis Sr ---- (5 DEC 2017)
37 == Obit: Charles Jenkins ---- (11 DEC 2017)
38 == WWII VETS 149 ---- (Charles L. Harrison | POW Twice)
39 == WWII VETS 150 ---- (Jim Leavelle | Two Bouts With Infamy)
41 == WWII VETS 151 ---- (Arthur Berkowitz | Battle of the Bulge)
42 == AFL Q&A 11 ---- (Erectile Dysfunction Compensation)
43 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 15 DEC 2017)
43 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 15 DEC 2017)
44 == Veteran's State Benefits & Discounts ---- (New York DEC 2017)
44 == Veterans Day Tribute ---- (Hollywood Vets of Years Past)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

45 == VA Vet Choice [64] ---- (S.2193 | Caring For Our Veterans Act of 2017)
45 == VA Organ Transplants [02] ---- (H.R.1133 | Reform Organ Surgery Policy)
46 == VA Life Insurance (S-DVI) [03] ---- (H.R.4146 | Upgrade S-DVI)
46 == VA Health Care Access [59] ---- (S.2184 | Better Care Integration)
47 == Vet Franchises [01] ---- (H.R. 4473 | Veteran Entrepreneurs Act of 2017)
48 == VA Investigations ---- (S.1266 | Enhancing Veteran Care Act)
49 == VA Chiropractic Care [05] ---- (H.R.103 | Vet Standard Benefit Effort)
49 == Orthotic & Prosthetic Research ---- (H.R.3696/S.1466 | Limb Loss Vet Care)
50 == NDAA 2018 [19] ---- H.R.2810 & S.1519 Signed Into Law 12 DEC 2017

. * MILITARY* .

51 == Navy Fleet Size [10] ---- (355 Ship Navy Now National Policy)
51 == Army Recruiting [04] ---- (Marijuana Use Waiver)
52 == Zumwalt Class Destroyers ---- (Getting a New Job)
53 == Navy Recruiting Slogan ---- (New | Forged By Sea)
54 == Air Force Maternity Uniform ---- (Now Available for Expecting Airmen)
55 == Military Spouse Scholarships ---- (Where to Apply | How to Find Cash)
56 == Ohio-Class Subs [01] ---- (Awesome Firepower)
58 == Mag-Net ---- (New Uniform Connector For Equipment)
58 == USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) [02] ---- (CNO Collision Report)
59 == USS Dallas (SSN-700) ---- (Inactivated December 5, 2017)
59 == Army Beards ---- (No Final Decision Yet for All Soldiers)
60 == USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) ---- (Underway for First time)
60 == Warships That Will Change The Future ---- (USS Coronado)
61 == Overseas Troops ---- (Lance Cpl. James Nemger)

. - * MILITARY HISTORY* .

62 == Pearl Harbor Day 2017 ---- (76th Anniversary | Two Posthumously Honored)
63 == Pearl Harbor Ship Logs ---- (Entries Memorialize Start of WWII)
65 == Military History ---- (AR | Hero Margaret Corbin)
66 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 DEC)
66 == Abandoned Military Bases [13] ---- (Ghost Fleet, USA)
66 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Galt~William W | WWII)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

68 == Opioid Alternative ---- (Mollusk Venom Research)
69 == Tricare East ---- (Humana Correction Letter Regarding Payments)
70 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [12] ---- (Minimal Impact on TFL Users)
70 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [13] ---- (NDAA Grandfathering Clause Circumvented)
71 == Coffee Drinkers [03] ---- (Three Or Four Cups A Day Health Impact
72 == History Of Medicine ---- (Pulling A Tooth)
73 == TRICARE Podcast 426 ---- (Skin Protection | Getting Care When Traveling)
74 == TRICARE Podcast 427 ---- (PC Mgr Changes - Stress Webinar - Cost Changes)

. * FINANCIAL * .

75 == VA Loan Quiz ---- (Home Buying Basics)
75 == Tax Plan 2017 [01] ---- (Senate Version Released)
77== Tax Plan 2017 [02] ---- (Initial Bill Proposals Impact on Middle Class)
78 == Social Media Ads Scam ---- (Use Caution When Buying)
78 == Fingerlings Scam ---- (Desperate Parents Targeted w/Fakes)
79 == Prenuptial Agreement ---- (Not For Everyone)
80 == Gasoline Savings [04] ---- (Using Premium vice Regular)
81 == National Park Fees [01] ---- (Waived Admission Fee 2018 Schedule)
82 == Tax Burden for West Virginia Retired Vets ---- (As of DEC 2017)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

84 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 DEC 2017)
85 == AMC Dear Santa Letter ---- (Request for Help)
86 == Army Gun Sale ---- (Surplus .45 Caliber Pistols for Public)_
87 == ARA San Juan ---- (Acoustic Analytical Review of Sub's Sinking)
88 == Wildfires ---- (Wildlife Should Be Left Alone)
88 == Revocable Living Trust ---- (What It Is)
89 == Revocable Living Trust [01] ---- (Q & A)
90 == Battle of Marawi ---- (RP City in Ruins After Liberation from ISIS)
91 == US-Mexico Border ---- (Arrests Lowest Level in 46 Years)
93 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (06)
93 == Garage Door Billboards ---- (Making Yours Stand Out (16)
94 == Have You Heard? ---- (Food for thought....)

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 - New York Vet State Benefits & Discounts DEC 2017
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 DEC
Attachment - Veterans Day Tribute

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RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher:
Lt. James (EMO) Tichacek, USN (Ret) Tel: (858) 842-1111 Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net
Bulletin Web Access: http://www.nhc-ul.org/rao.html, http://www.veteransresources.org, http://frabr245.org, and
http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html [PDF & HTML Editions w/ATTACHMENTS]

RAO Baguio Director:
SSgt Terrance (Terry) Parker, USAF (Ret), PSC 517 Box 4036, FPO AP 96517-1000, Tel: Smart 0921824728 or Globe 09454073380, Email: rao.dir.baguio@gmail.com

RAO Baguio Office: Mountain Lodge, 27 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, 2600 Philippines
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