RAO BULLETIN 1 December 2017

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
1 December 2017

HTML/PDF Editions



THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

05 == NDAA 2018 [17] ---- (Impact on Defense Spending)
07 == DoD Blended Retirement System ---- (Bonus Lowest Allowed By Law)
07 == Transgender Troops [11] ---- (Sex Assignment Surgery Ban Halted)
09 == Transgender Troops [12] ---- (Third Court Injunction Issued)
09 == AFRH [08] ---- (New CEO Named)
10 == N-Zero [01] ---- (Battery Might Not Need A Charge for 10 Years).
11 == DoD Children Schools ---- (47 Under Consideration for Divestiture)
12 == GI Bill Transferability [03] ---- (Policy Change Under Consideration)
13 == GTMO Detainees [01] ---- (Artwork Barred From Further Release)
14 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 30 NOV 2017)
15 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 16 thru 30 NOV 2017 | Eleven)

. * VA * .

17 == White House VA Hotline [01] ---- (Now Fully Staffed 7/24)
17 == VA Privatization [12] ---- (H.R.4457 Breaks Nation’s Promise To Vets)
18 == VA Benefits Reform ---- (Shulkin Calls for Overhaul & Realignment)
19 == VA Benefits Reform [01] ---- (Choice & Tricare Merger Proposal)
22 == VA Benefits Reform [02] ---- (VFW Criticizes Veterans Empowerment Act)
22== VA ID Card [13] ---- (Vets Can Now Apply)
23 == VA Unpaid Obligations ---- ($226M to Settle 23 Claims)
24 == VA Women Vet Programs [32] ---- (Depression & Heart Disease)
25 == VA Physician Qualifications [03] ---- (Poor Performers Not Reported | 90%)
25 == PTSD [235] ---- (HBOT Treatment Option)
26 == VA Suicide Prevention [45] ---- (NJ Clinic Was Remiss in Vet's Death)
27 == VA EHR [10] ---- ($800 Million Needed to Begin Overhaul)
28 == VA Appointments [18] ---- (How to Use the Online Scheduling)
29 == VA Sexual Trauma Program [08] ---- (Disability Compensation & Treatment)
30 == VA Loans ---- (Misconceptions)
31 == VA Loan Refinancing [02] ---- (Warning Order)
32 == VA Financial Literacy Resources ---- (What FLEC Can Do for You)
33 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 30 NOV 2017)
34 == VA Compensation & Benefits ---- (Problem Solving Program Q&A -- 23 & 24)
35 == VAMC Denver CO [09] ---- (Improper Mental Health Care Wait Lists)
36 == VAMC Jackson MS [02] ---- (Barred Physician Draws $339,177 Annual Salary)
38 == VAMC Beckley WV [03] ---- (Acupuncture Program on Track)
38 == VA HCS Alaska [01] ---- (Hiring More Employees | Improve Care Access)

. * VETS * .

39 == Vet Jobs [227] ---- (Alaska HCS Hiring)
39 == Ashford University Lawsuit ---- (Vet Students Deceived & Defrauded CA Alleges)
40 == Vet For-Profit Schools ---- (Why Are they Allowed to Exploit Students?)
42 == Military Records & Medals ---- (Preserving the Past | Tips)
44 == Taps [04] ---- (Detente Reached With Retiree Over Playing)
44 == Vet Deportations [13] ---- (President Asked to Stop It)
45 == Nursing Homes [12] ---- (Lawsuit | Hidden Camera Reveals How Vet Died)
47 == Veterans' Treatment Court [25] ---- (Raleigh County West Virginia)
49 == Vet Prison Inmate Programs [03] ---- (Separate Housing Unit Trend)
51 == Worst States for Retirees ---- (1st thru 5th)
52 == Chem-Bio Agent Tests [01] ---- (How Exposed Apply for Medical Care)
53 == Obit: Fox~Wesley L ---- (24 NOV 2017)
53 == WWII Vets 148 ---- (Kermit Bushur | Merrill’s Marauders Member)
54 == AFL Q&A 10 ---- (Benefits Denial Letter)
55 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 30 NOV 2017)
55 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 30 NOV 2017)
56 == Veteran's State Benefits & Discounts ---- (Nevada NOV 2017)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

56 == DIC [10] ---- (S.1990 | DIC Improvement Act of 2017)
57 == Vet Educational Assistance [01] ---- ( H.R.4323 | Vet STEM Careers Act)
58 == Vet Health Insurance ---- (H.R.4457 | Veterans Empowerment Act)
59 == VA Accountability Update 50 ---- (S.0000 | VA Provider Accountability Act)
60 == Military Sexual Assault [02] ---- (S.2141 | Military Justice Improvement Act)
62 == Military Museums & Memorials [01] ---- (H.R.4328 Introduced | WWI)
62 == NDAA 2018 [15] ---- (Conference Report Overview)
63 == NDAA 2018 [16] ---- (Senate Voice Vote Approval | Sent to President)
64 == NDAA 2018 [18] ---- (Little Known Provisions)

. * MILITARY* .

66 == Army Recruiting [03] ---- (No Change to Standards)
67 == Navy Pepper Spray Policy ---- (Once Is Enough)
68 == Navy Name Change ---- (Removed From 2018 NDAA)
68 == Navy Fleet Size [09] ---- (Smaller Warships w/Bigger Punch Needed)
69 == Floating Guantanamos ---- (USCG Onboard Detention of Smugglers)
70 == Afghanistan [01] ---- (Troops Told to Ignore Ongoing Child Sexual Abuse)
71== Air Force Lasers ---- (Lockheed Martin To Develop for Fighter Jet Use by 2021)
72 == Nuclear Launch Authority ---- (President Soley | Congress is Concerned)
73 == D7R-II Military Bulldozer ---- (Semi-Autonomous or Remote Controlled Design)
74 == USS Cole Attack [04] ---- (Pentagon Suspends Sentence Against Marine 1-Star)
75 == USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) ---- (Navy Accepts Delivery from Shipbuilder)
76 == USS Benfold (DDG-65) ---- (Minor Collision With Japanese Tugboat)
76 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [09] ---- (Underway Aboard Transport Transshelf)
77 == USAF Pilot Shortage [02] ---- (Increasing Despite High Retention Bonuses)
78 == Overseas Troops ---- (Gunnery Sgt. Santana Jimenez)
79 == USMC Missile System ---- (Mobile Anti-Ship Coastal Defense System Needed)
80 == USS Little Rock (LCS-9) ---- (Commissioning Plans)

. - * MILITARY HISTORY* .

81 == Marine Corps War Memorial [05] ---- (Afghanistan & Iraq Now Included)
82 == Military History ---- (Nazis Helped China Fight Japan)
82 == Military History ---- (Sgt. Reckless | USMC War Horse)
83 == Military History ---- (WWI | Modane, France Train Derailment)
85 == Battle of Firebase Ripcord ---- (Vietnam | March thru July 1970)
87 == Vietnam Myths ---- (5 Deeply Entrenched Ones)
88 == Alaska Territorial Guard ---- (Natives Defended Their Territory in WWII)
91 == M19 60mm Mortar ---- (Favored By Marines in Nam)
91 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (01 thru 15 DEC)
92 == Abandoned Military Bases [12] ---- (RAF Stenigot, England)
92 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Galer~Robert E | WWII)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

94 == Elderly Parent Care [01] ---- (When It's Time to Leave Home)
95 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [10] ---- (Pregnancy/Birthing User Fee Increases)
96 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [11] ---- (Is Your doctor Still in the Tricare Network?)
97 == Liver Flukes ---- (Cholangiocarcinoma | Vietnam's Silent Bullet)
99 == Liver Disease [01] ---- (Symptoms)
101 == History Of Medicine ---- (Colic)
101 == TRICARE Podcast 424 ---- (TRICARE Select)
102 == TRICARE Podcast 425 ---- (Healthy Eating | Holiday Stress | Holiday Fitness)

. * FINANCIAL * .

103 == GI Bill Transferability [02] ---- (Payback Required if 4-yr Term Not Met)
104 == Retiree Annual COLAs [04] ---- (FY 2017 | CPI Impact)
105 == Medicare Hospital Coverage ---- (Status Can Cost You $1000's)
106 == Google Wallet Scam [01] ---- (Bait And Switch Schemes)
107 == Online Shopper Scam ---- (Phony Tracking Numbers)
107 == Tax Burden for Wisconsin Retired Vets ---- (As of NOV 2017)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

110 == Notes of Interest ---- (16 thru 30 NOV 2017)
111 == DPRK Defectors ---- (10" Parasite Found in Stomach of Latest One)
112 == DPRK Nuclear Weapons [20] ----- (Threat to Make Japan & U.S. Bases Disappear)
113 == DPRK Missile Program [02] ---- (Can Now Hit Washington D.C.)
114 == Dishwasher Tips ----(What NOT to Put In Them)
115 == Windows PC Tips ---- (19 Keyboard Shortcuts You May Not Know)
116 == Silica Gel Packet Uses ---- (Don't Throw them Away)
118 == Signs ---- (Have You Seen These Thought Provoking Ones?)
119 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (05)
119 == Jewelry Tips [01] ---- (The Most Common Mistakes When Buying)
121 == Garage Door Billboards ---- (Making Yours Stand Out (14)
121 == Weird Facts About Your Body ---- (38 thru 50)
122 == Have You Heard? ---- (We Three | A Man Who Knows His Math | Bad Parrot)

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 DEC 01, 2017
Attachment - Nevada Vet State Benefits & Discounts NOV 2017
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 01 thru 15 DEC
Attachment - Nazis Helped China Fight Japan

-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 GO Online 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 19,974 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:
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
FPO Mail Pickup: TUE & THUR 09-1100 --- Outgoing Mail Closeout: THUR 1100