RAO BULLETIN 1 January 2018

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
1 January 2018

HTML/PDF Editions


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

05 == McCain's Brain Cancer ---- (Impact on 2018's Military Policy Decisions)
05 == Trump Military Readiness Plans [01] ---- (What Will 2018 Bring?)
06 == NDAA 2018 [20] ---- (Putting it All Together)
07 == SECDEF [14] ---- (Jim Mattis Pre-Holiday Base Tour)
09 == Transgender Lawsuits [04] ---- (Nicolas Talbott's Enlistment Setbacks)
10 == Transgender Lawsuits [05] ---- (Trump Appeal Struck Down)
11 == DoD UFO AATIP Program ---- (No More | Funding Exhausted)
11 == USMC End Strength ---- (185,000 | Focus on Readiness vice Growth)
12 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 DEC 2017)
14 == POW/MIA [97] ---- (Search for San Antonio Rose)
14 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 DEC 2017 | Eight)

. * VA * .

16 == VA Accomplishments in 2017 ---- (Secretary David Shulkin Message)
17 == VA Overpayments [01] ---- (Record Keeping & Communication Problems)
19 == VA Suicide Prevention [46] ---- (Medical Record Flag Program)
20 == VA Medical Marijuana [37] ---- (VA Refutes Rumors Of A New Policy)
21 == VA Medical Marijuana [38] ---- (Directive Clarification)
22 == VA Shipping Costs ---- (Savings Projections Not Acted On)
23 == VA DRC Program [01] ---- (30 Day Decision Clarification)
23 == VA Vet Choice [65] ---- (Program Not Functioning Well)
25== VA Vet Choice [66] ---- (Stopgap Funding Bill Signed)
26 == Emergency Medical Bill Claims [01] ---- (Minnesota VA Denials Continue)
28 == VA Compensation & Pensions [10] ---- (Involuntary Separation Pay Impact)
28 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 DEC 2017)
29 == VA Compensation & Benefits ---- (Problem Solving Program Q&A -- 24 & 25)
30 == VAMC Amarillo TX ---- (AFGE Claims Vacancies Go Up Yet Care Goes Down)
31 == VAMC Muskogee OK [01] ---- (New Facility/PTSD Service Dog)
32 == VAMC Manchester NH [05] ---- (Bed Bugs)
32 == VARO Roanoke VA [01] ---- (Mishandled Disability Claims)

. * VETS * .

34 == Vet Deportations [14] ---- (Pardon Leads to Regaining U.S. Residency)
35 == Military Sexual Assault [03] ---- (Lawsuit to Get DoD to Release Data)
37 == GI Bill [245] ---- (Four Main Threats to Current Users)
38 == GI Bill [246] ---- (New GI Bill AUG 2018 Changes)
38 == Stolen Valor [107] ---- (Reported 171215 thru 171231)
39 == Obit: Ted Draper Sr ---- (14 DEC 2017)
40 == Obit: Ramon Regalado ---- (16 DEC 2017)
41 == Obit: Bruce McCandless ---- (23 DEC 2017)
42 == Homeless Vets [83] ---- (Rural | Hidden From View and Often Ignored)
43 == WWII VETS 152 ---- (John Bergmann | Code Breaker)
45 == Arlington National Cemetery [72] ---- (Volunteers Place Xmas Wreaths)
46 == AFL Q&A 12 ---- (Denied VA Disability Claim Appeals)
46 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 31 DEC 2017)
47 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 31 DEC 2017)
47 == Veteran's State Benefits & Discounts ---- (Ohio 2017)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

48 == VA Child Care Subsidy ---- (H.R.95 | Caring For Our Veterans Act of 2017)
49 == VA Hospitals [13] ---- (H.R.42/S.1266 | Enhancing Veterans Care Act Signed)
50 == TRICARE Eligibility [03] ---- (H.R.4571 | Fair Heroes Act of 2017)
50 == REAL ID Act of 2005 ---- (Impact On Driver License Use as Security ID}
51 == Vet Jobs [228] ---- (Active Duty/Reservists Commercial Driver’s Licenses)

. * MILITARY* .

52 == Army Secretary [02] ---- (Mark Esper's Ideas)
53 == Military Discharge Upgrade ---- (VA's New User-Friendly Online Wizard)
54 == Navy Surface Fleet ---- (Sleep Requirements Under Review)
55 == Military Retirement System [28] ---- (2018 Decision for 1.6M Service Members)
56 == UAS Operations ---- ('R' Device Awards for Philippine Combat Ops Support)
57 == National Guard [01] ---- (Massachusetts Proposed Pay Increase)
58 == Carl Gustaf M4 ---- (New & Improved Recoilless Anti-Tank Rocket)
58 == Army Handgun [02] ---- (5000 M17s To Be Sold To Public)
59 == USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) ---- (Delivery of the 9th of 12 Accepted)
60 == Navy Ship Under Manning [01] ---- (Steps Being Taken)
61 == Navy Ship Under Manning [02] ---- (Amnesty Given to 48k Fitness Failees)
62 == Navy Slogan ---- (New Motto 'Forged by the Sea')
63 == Military Homeowners ---- (Market Survey Result)
63 == Military Movers Rental Housing ---- (Joint Service DoD Website)
64 == Convicted Soldiers Get New Trial ---- (Bail Granted After 25-years in Jail)
65 == Transgender Troops [13] ---- (DoD Guidance Issued on Recruit Treatment)
65 == Military Myths & Legends ---- (Headstone Coins)
67 == Warships That Will Change The Future ---- (USS Zumult)
67 == MAVNI Program [04] ---- (Another Year of Uncertainty Ahead)
68 == Army Reserve Enlistment ---- (Green Card Holders Delayed Entry Program)
69 == Overseas Troops ---- (Sgt. Elia Balbaloza)

. - * MILITARY HISTORY* .

69 == Military History ---- (WWII Ace of Aces | Erich Hartmann 352)
70 == Nazi Collaborators ---- (Last Surviving Defendant Lives in New York)
73 == WWII Mustard Gas ---- (Bari Italy German Raid's Deadly Results)
74 == Military History ---- (Captured Korean Battle Flags Uncovered)
75 == Tet Offensive ---- (Vietnam | Jan-Feb 1968)
77 == USS Barb (SS-220) ---- (Only Sub To Boast A Train On Its Battle Flag)
79 == Nazi German Luftwaffe ---- (Messerschmitt Me 262 Sturmvogel Jet Fighter)
81 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (01 thru 15 JAN)
81 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Archer T. Gammon | WWII)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

83 == Diabetes [13] ---- (Vet Rate Twice That of Non-vets)
84 == Life Expectancy [03] ---- (Down For the Second Straight Year)
85 == Alzheimer's [16] ---- (As Populations Age, Rates Soar)
86 == Medicare Extra Help Program [03] ---- (Prescription Drug Payments)
87 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [14] ---- (Possible Fee Revision)
87 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [15] ---- (Pharmacy Copays)
88 == TRICARE Changes 2018 [16] ---- (Impact On Guard & Reserve)
89 == TRICARE West ---- (Prime User's Need to Check Their Payment Allotments)
90 == TRICARE Top Select ---- (Philippines Use)
91 == TRICARE Top Select [01] ---- (USAF RAO, Angeles City Support)
92 == History Of Medicine ---- (Arsenic Treatment)
92 == Medical Breakthroughs ---- (Some 2017 Advancements)
94 == TRICARE Podcast 428 ---- (Pharmacy Copays - Alcohol Awareness - Holiday Fitness)
95 == TRICARE Podcast 429 ---- (Healthy Tips | DEERS | U.S. Territories TRICARE/Medicare)
96 == TRICARE Podcast 430 ---- (Exercise & Injury - Winter Emergencies - Holiday Blues)

. * FINANCES * .

97 == Military Retired Pay Forfeiture ---- (How To Avoid It)
98 == COLA 2017 [06] ---- (Fiscal Year 2018 Adjustments)
99 == Bitcoins ---- (Should You Buy One)
101 == Social Security Reduced Benefits [03] ---- (Working While Collecting)
103 == VA Loan Limits ---- (2018)
104 == DFAS myPay System [18] ---- (Get Ready for 2017 Tax Season!)
105 == SBP Premium [01] ---- (Deductions from CRSC)
106 == Tax Plan 2017 [03] ---- (Service Member Impact Examples)
107 == Online Shopper Scam [01] ---- (Alleged Official Sports Merchandise)
108 == Romance Scam ---- (Widow Duped Out of $225,000)
109 == Holiday Scams [04] ---- (Don’t Let Scammers Ruin Them)
110 == Military Home Buyers ---- (Pre-approved vs. Pre-qualified)
110 == Lowe's Military Discounts [01] ---- (Program Expansion & Changes)
111 == Tax Burden for Wyoming Retired Vets ---- (As of December 2017)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

113 == Notes of Interest ---- (16 thru 31 DEC 2017)
114 == Oyster Reefs ---- (Natural Buffers to Storm-Driven Wave Damage)
115 == Price Increases [03] ---- (Despite Modest Inflation 9 That Stood Out in 2017)
117 == National Anthem [07] ---- (NFL Protest Status)
117 == Solar Energy ---- (Solar's Dirty Little Secret)
118 == Brain Teaser ---- (Diary Thief)
119 == U.S. Embassy Israel ---- (Let UN Vote Against Us. We'll Save A Lot. We Don't Care)
121 == DPRK Cyberattacks ---- (3 Arguments Why Trump Administration Called them Out)
122 == DPRK~US War [03] ---- (CSIS Says 'Bad Idea' )
125 == Think You Need New Glasses? ---- (2 or 3?)
125 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (07)
125 == Brain Teaser Answer ---- (Diary Thief)
126 == Garage Door Billboards ---- (Making Yours Stand Out (17)
125 == Have You Heard? --- (Most Annoying Golf Partners | Angels Explained by Kids)

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 - Ohio Vet State Benefits & Discounts DEC 2017
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 01 thru 15 JAN
Attachment - WWII Ace of Aces | Erich Hartmann 352
Attachment - Military Retired Pay Forfeiture

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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

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