RAO BULLETIN 15 November 2015

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
15 November 2015

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 14 Nov 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 151114)

* 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)
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)
70 == Vet Bills Submitted to 114th Congress --------- (150901 thru 151114)

* 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)
5 == 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)
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 - RAO Bulletin 15 NOV 2015
Attachment - Veteran Legislation as of 14 Nov 2015
Attachment - TRICARE Covered Services Fact Sheet 2015
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

-o-o-O-o-o-

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

RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher:
Lt. James (EMO) Tichacek, USN (Ret) Tel: (858) 432-1246 Email: raoemo@sbcglobal.net
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