RAO BULLETIN 15 October 2017

Latest news from the veteran community regarding benefits, legislative issues, etc.
Message
Author
boardman
Site Admin
Posts: 3951
Age: 75
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm
VVA Chapter: 47
Location: So. Cal.
Contact:

RAO BULLETIN 15 October 2017

#1 Postby boardman » Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:55 am

RAO
BULLETIN
15 October 2017

HTML / PDF Editions


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES



Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

05 == Misbehaving Generals ---- (New Emphasis On Senior Leaders Is Needed)
06 == Transgender Lawsuits [01] ---- (DoJ Asking for Dismissal)
07 == Operation Troop Treats ---- (Halloween Candy Exchange)
08 == Operation Gratitude ---- (Troop Support)
08 == Cold War Radiation Testing ---- (Scholar Alleges Unsuspecting People Tested)
09 == Camp Pendleton ---- (Significant Deficiencies Found In Water Supply)
10 == Guam [02] ---- (DoD Asked to Halt Military Construction)
10 == USS Cole Attack [01] ---- (Slow Pace of Trying Alleged Terrorist)
11 == Military Star Credit Card [01] ---- (Commissary Use Authorized)
12 == Military Star Credit Card [02] ---- (Card Use Facts)
13 == WWI Commemorative Coin ---- (100th Anniversary of the End of WWI)
13 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 OCT 2017)
15 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 OCT 2017 | Twenty-Two)

. * VA * .

17 == VA Rating Criteria ---- (Review & Update | Dental and Oral Conditions)
18 == VA Individual Unemployability [04] ---- (No Cuts in 2018)
18 == VA Secret Agreements ---- (Staff Mistake and Misdeed Concealment)
20 == VA Prosthetics [18] ---- (Possible $256.7 Million Overpayment by VHA)
21 == VA Home Loan [51] ---- (Appraiser Shortage Impacting Vets Adversely)
22 == GI Bill [240] ---- (Retail Ready Career Center Loses Eligibility)
23 == GI Bill [241] ---- (Ethics Law suspension Averted)
24 == GI Bill [242] ---- (Flight Training Programs Loophole)
24 == VA ID Card [10] ---- (New Photo Cards Available in NOV 2017)
25 == VA Emergency Room Care [02] ---- (VA Technique Cuts Wait Times)
26 == VA Telehealth [12] ---- (Anywhere to Anywhere VA Health Care Initiative)
27 == PTSD [233] ---- (Former Ineligible Veterans May Qualify)
27 == VA PTSD Claim Support [03] ---- (How to Pursue A Claim)
31 == VADIP [04] ---- (Dental Program Enrollment Begins 15 NOV)
32 == VA Lawsuit | Togus Veteran's Hospital ---- (Foot/Ankle Care)
32 == VA Conflict-Of-Interest Law ---- (Push To Suspend 50-Year-Old Ethics Law)
33 == VA Compensation & Benefits ---- (Problem Solving Program Q&A -- 13 thru 16)
35 == VA Health Care Access [57] ---- (Tips to Reduce Wait Time)
36 == VAMC Sioux Falls SD ---- (Pin-Ups For Vets Visit Rejection Withdrawn)
37 == VAMC Clarksburg WV ---- (Wait Time Manipulation Uncovered)
37 == VAMC Denver CO [09] ---- (Cancelled/Postponed Surgeries)
38 == VAMC Tomah WI [18] ----(Ex-Head Allowed to Resign)
39 == VARO Providence RI ---- (Manager Disciplined for Toxic Work Atmosphere)
40 == VA HCS Central AR ---- (Community Clinic Shift to VA Personnel Manning)

. * VETS * .

40 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Palomares Spain ---- (Ionizing Radiation )
41 == Toxic Exposure | Wurtsmith AFB [01] ---- ( Assessment Reopening)
43 == Vet Service Dogs [21] ---- (Where Federal Regulations Allow)
44 == Vet Pensioner Abuse ---- (VA and Congress Crawling Toward Actions)
45 == Iraq Vets ---- (Chong Kim | Fighting Deportation)
47 == Vet Job Resume Writing [04] ---- (Five Blunders to Avoid)
48 == Korean War Vets ---- (Dr. Kuang S. Kim)
49 == Vet Deportations [12] ---- (VA Urged to Increase Services & Outreach)
50 == Vet Unaccompanied Burial ---- (10 at Camp Butler National Cemetery)
51 == Vet Unemployment [13] ---- (Dropped to 3.0% in SEP)
52 == Starbucks Vet Question Campaign ---- (Ask Better Questions)
52 == Obit: Donald Malarkey ---- (30 Sep 2017)
53 == Obit: Harold Beasing ---- (7 Aug 2017)
54 == WWII VETS [145] ---- (Harold Berg | Guadalcanal Memories)
55 == AFL Q&A 07 ----(VA Individual Unemployability Eligibility)
56 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 15 OCT 2017)
57 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 15 OCT 2017)
58 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ---- (Massachusetts 2017)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

58 == VA Health Care Access [57] ---- (S.1153 | Vet ACCESS Act)
59 == VA Budgeting ---- (New Legislation Pushed to Mandate New Oversight)
59 == VA AL-TBI [01] ---- (HR .3819 | Pilot Program 5-Month Extension)
60 == Vet Asbestos Claims ---- (H.R.906 | Slow Fund Depletion)
61 == VA BRAC [01] ---- (Legislation Under Consideration)

. * MILITARY* .

62 == MSL(V) Landing Craft ---- ($1B Mike Boat Replacement Contract Awarded)
63 == Military Holiday Mailing 2017 ---- (Deadlines)
63 == Army Recruiting ---- (Pilot Program Combines All 3 Components)
64 == Army Recruiting [01] ---- (Generation Z Impact)
65 == Navy UUVRON 1 ---- (First Underwater Drone Squadron)
66 == USAF Pilot Shortage [01] ----(VRRAD Program Open Till Dec 2018)
66 == USMC Parris Island ---- (Mascot Cpl Legend Dies)
67 == USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) [03] ---- (Repairs To Be Done in Japan)
68 == USS Shiloh (CG-67) ---- (USS Bread and Water)
69 == Military Capabilities Assessment --- (Warning From Heritage Foundation)
71 == Army COS ---- (Pray For Peace, Prepare For War)
72 == Space Warfare ---- (Strategic Review Underway)
73 == USMC Infantry Squads ---- (Plans to Make Them More Lethal Than Ever)
74 == Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle ---- ( Vietnam-era M113 Replacement)
75 == Army Field Manual 3.0 ---- (A New Way to Fight)
77 == M-1A2SEPV3 Tank ---- (1st of ~1000 Received on Time & On Budget)
78 == Transitioning Servicemembers ---- (3 Tips From Former VA Secretary)
79 == Ammunition [01] ---- (Underwater 50-Caliber Round)
80 == Overseas Troops ---- (Cpl. Rachel Warford)

. - * MILITARY HISTORY* .

80 == Revolutionary War Death Ship ---- (HMS Jersey)
81 == Navy Birthday [01] ---- (Navy Turns 242-Years Old)
81 == Battle of Tarawa [01] ---- (A Homecoming 70-Years Late)
83 == Holocaust Denial ---- (Illegal in Belgium)
85 == Abandoned Military Bases [09] ---- (Flak Tower)
85 == Insanely Daring Air Raids ---- (No. 8 | Operation Jericho)
86 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 OCT)
86 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Fryar~Elmer E | WWII)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

88 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [03] ---- (Unanticipated Twist Will Raise Copays)
89 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [04] ---- (Fiscal to Calendar Year Shift)
90 == Glioblastoma ---- (Brain Cancer Tumor)
91 == Medicare Coverage [01] ---- (Non-Working Spouse Eligibility)
92 == Terminal Patients ---- (Experimental Drugs Access)
93 == Alzheimer's [13] ---- (Vets At Higher Risk Than Civilians)
94 == Aging [02] ---- (Home Modifications to Assist You Age in Place)
95 == Brain Tumors ---- (Do you Know The Symptoms?)
96 == Prosthetics ----(New System Can Learn From Its User)
97 == History Of Medicine ---- (Indigestion)
97 == TRICARE Podcast 418 ---- (Women's Health | Infants/Nurse | Bullying)
99 == TRICARE Podcast 419 ---- (Upcoming TRICARE Benefit Changes)

. * FINANCIAL * .

100 == Taxpayer War Costs ---- (Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria since 9/11)
100 == SSA COLA 2018 ---- (Continues To Disappoint With CPI-W Measure)
101 == Retiree/VA Disability 2018 COLA ---- (Biggest since 2012)
102 == Bank Fees [04] ---- (Record Highs | How to Easily Avoid Them)
103 == Social Security Number [ 01] ---- (Replacement System Sought)
104 == Top Wage Growth Jobs ---- (Ten Fastest)
105 == Servicemembers Credit Cards ---- (DoD Rate Limit Rules)
106 == Pet Sales Scams ---- (Phony Ads and Fake Breeders)
107 == Netflex Scam ---- (Phony Tech Support)
108 == Hurricane Relief Work Scam ---- ( Phony Job Offers)
108 == Survivor's Debt ---- (What the Widow(er) is Liable For)
110 == Mortgage [07] ---- (Refinancing After Retirement)
111== Tax Burden for Virginia Retired Vets ---- (As of OCT 2017)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

113 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 OCT 2017)
114 == NAFTA ---- (Trade Negotiations Are Underway | Impact on You)
116 == Coping With Grief ---- (Life After Loss)
117 == Car Winterizing ---- (Seven Things to Do)
118 == Military 11 General Orders ---- (Nostalgia | Do You Remember Them? )
119 == National Anthem [06] ---- (U.S. Code | Conduct Required When Played)
119 == Metal Foam Armor ---- (New Material Will Stop Bullets)
120 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (02)
121 == Garage Door Billboards ---- (Making Yours Stand Out (11)
121 == Weird Facts About Your Body ---- (01 thru 12)
122 == Have You Heard? ---- (Courtroom Humor)

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 OCT 15, 2017
Attachment - Massachusetts Vet State Benefits & Discounts OCT 2017
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 OCT
Attachment - Revolutionary War Death Ship
-o-o-O-o-o-

FAIR USE NOTICE: This newsletter may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The Editor/Publisher of the Bulletin at times includes such material in an effort to advance reader’s understanding of veterans' issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this newsletter is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for educating themselves on veteran issues so they can better communicate with their legislators on issues affecting them. To obtain more information on Fair Use refer to: http: //www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this newsletter for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

-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)

Note: The above websites are blocked by some, if not all, USAF & USCG military commands for security purposes. To gain access you need to open them using a non “...@us.af.mil“ “...@uscg.mil“ source. Contact raoemo@sbcglobal.net if you are unable to do this.

Notes:
1. The Bulletin is provided as a website accessed document vice direct access. This was necessitated by SPAMHAUS who alleged the Bulletin’s size and large subscriber base were choking the airways interfering with other internet user’s capability to send email. SPAMHAUS told us to stop sending the Bulletin in its entirety to individual subscribers and to validate the subscriber base with the threat of removing all our outgoing email capability if we did not. To avoid this we notified all subscribers of the action required to continue their subscription. This Bulletin notice was sent to the 20,112 subscribers who responded to that notice and/or have since subscribed. All others have or are in the process of being deleted from the active mailing list.

2. Anyone who wants to remove or change their email addee from the Bulletin mailing list SHOULD NOT USE the automatic “UNSUBSCRIBE“ or “Change of Address“ tabs at the bottom of this message as they are no longer fully functional Send a message to raoemo@sbcglobal.net with the word “DELETE“ or “COA“ in the subject line.

3. Bulletin recipients with interest in the Philippines, whether or not they live there, can request to be added to the RAO's Philippine directory for receipt of notices on Clark Field Space 'A', U.S. Embassy Manila, and TRICARE in the RP.

4. New subscribers and those who submit a change of address should receive a message that verifies their addition or address change being entered in the mailing list. If you do not receive a message within 3 days it indicates that either I never received you request, I made an error in processing your request, or your server will not allow me to send to the email addee you provided. Anyone who cannot reach me by email can call (858) 432-1214 to ask questions or confirm info needed to add them to the directory.

5. If you have another email addee at work or home and would like to receive Bulletin notices there also, just provide the appropriate addee to raoemo@sbcglobal.net.

6. Past Bulletin articles as well as an index of all previously published article titles are available on request to raoemo@sbcglobal.net. Bear in mind that the articles listed on this index were valid at the time they were written and may have since been updated or become outdated.

7. The Bulletin is normally published on the 1st and 15th of each month. To aid in continued receipt of Bulletin availability notices, recommend enter the email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net into your address book. If you do not receive a Bulletin check either http://www.nhc-ul.org/rao.html (PDF Edition), http://www.veteransresources.org (PDF & HTML Editions), http://veteraninformationlinksasa.com/emos-rao.html (PDF & HTML Editions), or http://frabr245.org (PDF & HTML Editions) before sending me an email asking if one was published. If you can access the Bulletin at any of the aforementioned sites it indicates that something is preventing you from receiving my email. Either your server considers it to be spam or I have somehow incorrectly entered or removed your addee from the mailing list. Send me an email so I can verify your entry on the validated mailing list. If you are unable to access the Bulletin at any of these sites let me know.

8. Articles within the Bulletin are editorialized information obtained from over 100 sources. At the end of each article is provided the primary source from which it was obtained. The ++ indicates that that the information was reformatted from the original source and/or editorialized from more than one source. Because of the number of articles contained in each Bulletin there is no why that I can attest to their validity other than they have all been taken from previously reliable sources. My staff consist of only one person (myself) and it is a 7/10-12 endeavor to prepare and publish. Readers who question the validity of content are encouraged to go to the source provided to have their questions answered. I am always open to comments but, as a policy, shy away from anything political. Too controversial and time consuming.

== To subscribe first add the RAO email addee raoemo@sbcglobal.net to your address book and/or white list. Then send to this addee your full name plus either the post/branch/chapter number of the fraternal military/government organization you are currently affiliated with (if any) “AND/OR“ the city and state/country you reside in so your addee can be properly positioned in the directory for future recovery. Subscription is open at no cost to all veterans, dependents, military/veteran support organizations, and media.
== To change your email addee or Unsubscribe from Bulletin distribution DO NOT USE the “Change address / Leave mailing list“ tab at the bottom of the Bulletin availability notice that advised you when the current Bulletin was available. It is currently not fully functional. Instead send an email to raoemo@sbcglobal.net indicating the change you want.
== To manually submit a change of email addee provide your old and new email addee plus full name.

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

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:
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
Tom
Boardman & Webmaster
"See You On The Other Side"
8)

Return to “Today's Veteran News”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 10 guests