RAO BULLETIN 1 August 2017

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
1 August 2017

HTML/PDF Editions


All Hands: Move was delayed1 week. I anticipate moving 7 AUG and it is likely I will not have time to publish the 15 AUG Bulletin or at best a delayed one.
Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Editor/Publisher RAO Bulletin


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

04 == Military Disability ------------------------------ (How to Better Understand It)
06 == War Myths ----------------- (American Public Needs to Stop Fooling Itself)
07 == Pentagon Weapon Sales - (GAO Sting Operation Reveals Vulnerabilities)
08 == Transgender Troops [07] ------------------------ (Trump Bans Their Serving)
09 == NDAA 2018 [06] ------------------------- (More on TRICRAE Fee Increases)
11 == NDAA 2018 [07] ----------------------------------------------------------- (Taiwan)
11 == NDAA 2018 [08] -------------------------------------- (TREA 19 JUL SITREP)
12 == NDAA 2018 [09] ------------------------------ (VA Medical Tests Using Dogs)
13 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ----------------- (Reported 16 thru 31 JUL 2017)
13 == POW/MIA Recoveries -------------- (Reported 16 thru 31 JUL 2017 | Sixteen)

. * VA * .

18 == VA Reimbursements -------------- (Private-Sector Doctors | Slowness Impact)
18 == VA Caregiver Program [45] ------------------ (Resumption of Full Operations)
19 == VA Secretary [59] -------------------------------------------- (Five Key Priorities)
19 == VA Medical Marijuana [31] -------------- (House Won't Allow Floor Debate)
20 == VA FMP ------------------- (Medical Claims | Effective 1 OCT in Philippines)
21 == PTSD [232] ------------------------- (Disability Claims Tripled in Last Decade)
21 == VA Medical Marijuana [30] --------------------- (SAC Amendment Approved)
22 == GDx App Project ----- (Enables Vet Personalized Medicine To Be A Reality)
24 == VA Vet Choice [55] ------ (Emergency Funding Opposed by Vet Groups)
25 == VA Vet Choice [56] -------------- (Answers to 10 Questions About Choice)
26 == VA Vet Choice [57] ----------------------------- (Proposed Fix Fails 219-186)
27 == VA Vet Choice [58] ---------- ($3.9 Billion Emergency Spending Package)
29 == Gulf War Syndrome [42] ---- (Waco VA Office Claim Denial Rate 90%+)
29 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---------------- (Reported 16 thru 31 JUL 2017)
32 == VAMC Manchester NH [02] -------------------------------- (Leaders Removed)
32 == VAMC Manchester NH [03] ---------------------- (Veterans Air Frustrations)
34 == Eastern Colorado HCS -------------- (Wait Times Among Worst In Nation)

. * Vets * .

36 == Home Depot -------------------- (Shoplifting Policy Results in Vet's Firing)
36 == War on Terrorism Memorial [01] --------------------------------- (Why Wait!)
37 == WWII VETS 140 ------------ (Andy Ramotnik | Owed $13 Captivity Pay)
38 == GI Bill [236] ------------------------- (Forever Bill Changes if Senate Passes)
38 == Cold War Recognition Certificate [01] -------------------- (How To Obtain)
39 == Vet ID [01] ---------------------- (Florida New Veteran Designation Format)
40 == Space-A-Travel [01] - (CONUS Terminals Telephone Numbers Update)
41 == AFL Q & A ------------------------------------------------- (SMC Rating Award)
41 == Retiree Appreciation Days --------------------------------- (As of 31 JUL 2017)
42 == Vet Hiring Fairs ------------------------------------ (16 JUL thru 15 AUG 2017)
44 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts -------------------------- (Maryland JUL 2017)

* Vet Legislation * .

45 == Vet Funeral Benefits -------------------------------------- (H.R.1212 | Brave Act)
46 == VA Bonuses [33] --------------------- (H.R.1690 | Bonus Transparency Act)
46 == GI Bill [235] ----------------------- (H.R. 3218 | Forever GI Bill Passes House)
47 == VA Health Care Access [54] - (H.R. 1848 | Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017)

. * MILITARY * .

47 == Military Restricted Airspace ----------------- (Unmanned Aircraft Problem)
48 == Afghanistan War ------------------------- (Would Happen If U.S. Pulled Out)
50 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [02] ------------------------ (Preliminary Findings)
51 == USS John Finn (DDG-113) ------------------ (Commissioned 15 JUL 2017)
52 == Funeral Honors [02] ---------------------------------------- (Procession Protocol)
53 == U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting ------------------------ (4,000 Recruits Needed)
54 == U.S. Coast Guard Funding ------- (Not Included in NDAA Spending Bill)
55 == USS Gerald A. Ford [07] --------------------------------------- (Commissioned)
55 == USS Gerald A. Ford [08] ------------------------ (Urinaless | Gender Neutral)
57 == Navy Fleet Size [05] --------------------------------- (Submarine Construction)
57 == Navy Fleet Size [06] ---------------------- (Projected Cost of 355 Ship Navy)
58 == GunnAR ------------------------- (New Wearable Headset for Navy Gunners)
59 == USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) ---------------- (Underway for Sea Trials)
60 == MCAS Futenma Okinawa [09] --------------------------- (New Lawsuit Filed)

. * MILITARY HISTORY * .

61 == Military History ------- (Moe Harris | Now You Know The Rest of the Story)
62 == Korean War Explosive Legacy ------------------ (Dealing With It in the North)
64 == Military History: Dunkirk - (What You Need to Know Before Seeing Movie)
64 == Abandoned Military Bases [04] ----- (Saint Nazaire Submarine Base, France)
65 == Insanely Daring Air Raids ----------------------------- (No.3 | Operation Opera)
65 == Military History Anniversaries ---------------------------------- (01 thru 15AUG)
66 == Medal of Honor Citations ----------------------- (Foss~Joseph Jacob | WWII)

. * H EALTH CARE * .

69 == TRICARE Mental Health/SUB [01] ------ (Treatment Options Expanded)
70 == TRICARE Information Service [01] -------------------- (Ways to Get Smart)
70 == TRICARE Changes ------- (New Enrollment Rules/Fees | Who's Affected)
72 == Hearing Aids [03] ----------------- (Military Retiree Dependent's Eligibility)
72 == Zika Virus [03] ---------------------------------------------- (Protecting Yourself)
73 == Cancer Detection [01] ------------- (New Single Blood Test for 13 Cancers)
74 == MHS Transparency Site ------- (Shows How Your Facility is Performing)
75 == TRICARE Podcast 406 ------ (Hydration | Mil Pharmacies | Grilling Safety)
76 == TRICARE Podcast 408 --------------- ( Identity Theft | Protecting Your Skin)

. * FINANCES * .

77 == IRS Appeals [01] ------------------------ (Online Pilot Program 90 Day Test)
78 == Military Times Best for Vets Index ----------------- (New Investment Fund)
78 == Mortgage [06] ----------------------- (Can You Really Get A No-Cost One?)
79 == Battery Lawsuit ---------------------- (Claim Your Share of 45M Settlement)
80 == Lost Pet Scam ------------------ (Beware Phony Responses Seeking Money)
80 == Energy Bill Scam ---------------------------- (Phony Home Energy Programs)
81 == Death Benefit Scam -------- (Pay Unpaid Portion of Deceased's Insurance)
82 == CVA Charity Scam ------------------------ (Donations to Vets/Vet Charities)
82 == Movie & TV Freebies -------------------------------- (17 Online Sites For Free)
84 == SSA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (SSA Employee Impersonation Scheme)
85 == Car Dealer Secrets ---------------------- (Six They Hope You Do Not Know)
85 == Tax Burden for South Carolina Retired Vets ---------------- (As of JUL 2017)


. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

87 == Notes of Interest -------------------------------------------- (16 thru 31 JUL 2017)
87 == Laundry Detergents ------------------------------- (7 Worst | Make Your Own)
88 == Moving [01] ------------------------------------- (3 Most Common Nightmares)
88 == Retirement Ceremony Lawsuit ------------- (Mentioning 'God' in Speeches)
91 == Railroad Tracks------------------- (Horse Ass Size Impact on Space Shuttle)
92 == Trump Salary Donations --- ($178k to Education Dept/Nat Park Service)
92 == PRK Nuclear Weapons [14] ------------ (Continental USA Reachable in 1-Yr)
93 == Have You Heard? ------------ (Retirement | According to Some Philosophers)
96 == Garage Door Billboards --------------------------- (Making Yours Stand Out (6)

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 August 1, 2017
Attachment - Maryland Vet State Benefits & Discounts JUL 2017
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 01 thru 15 AUG
Attachment - Dunkirk

-o-o-O-o-o-

TO READ and/or DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ARTICLES, ATTACHMENTS, OR PAST BULLETINS Online GO TO:

-- http://www.nhc-ul.org/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/emos-rao.html (PDF & HTML Editions w/ATTACHMENTS)
-- http://www.nj-americanlegionpost493.org (PDF Edition w/ATTACHMENTS)
-- http://www.veteransresources.org/rao-bulletin (past Bulletins)

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

RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher:
Lt. James (EMO) Tichacek, USN (Ret) Tel: (858) 432-1214 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:
SMSgt Leonard (Len) D. Harvey, USAF (Ret) PSC 517 Box 4036, FPO AP 96517-1000, Tel: 63-74-442-3468; Email: lenharvey@live.com.ph

RAO Baguio Office: Mountain Lodge, 27 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, 2600 Philippines
FPO Mail Pickup: TUE & THUR 09-1100 --- Outgoing Mail Closeout: THUR 1100