RAO BULLETIN 15 March 2018

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
15 March 2018

HTML/PDF Editions


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

04 == Selective Service System [27] ---- (Should the Draft Be Reinstated?)
05 == DoD Tuition Assistance [06] ---- (Non-Traditional Use Proposal)
06 == Arlington National Cemetery [73] ---- (Burial Eligibility Restrictions Proposed)
07 == AFRH [11] ---- (IG Report on Declining Finances)
07 == DoD Weapons Sales ---- (Waivers to Foreign Governments Cost Taxpayers Billions)
09 == DoD Lawsuit | PTSD Biased Discharges ---- (Impacts 57,000 Between 2011 & 2015)
10 == DoD Lawsuit |Tripler AMC Malpractice ---- ($24.7 Million Awarded)
11 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2018)
12 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 MAR 2018 | Eight)

. * VA * .

14 == VA Secretary [65] ---- (More Leadership Changes Promised)
15 == VA Secretary [66] ---- (Power Struggle Paralyzes Trump's Plan to Fix Veterans' Care)
17 == VA Health Care Access [61] ---- (Audit Reveals Incorrect Reporting of Wait Times)
18 == VA Cancer Treatment [09] ---- (Colonoscopy Impact on Colorectal Morality Rate)
18 == VA PDSI ---- (Safer Therapy Initiatives for Anxiety/Stress/Depression/Insomnia)
20 == VA Mustard Agent Care [07] ---- (Compensation Approved)
21 == VA Adoption Assistance ---- (Final Interim Rule)
22 == VA Hepatitis C Care [17] ---- (Vets Infected 2014 - 146k | 2018 - 20k | 2019 - 0)
23 == VA Vet Home Policy ---- (Life Ending Drugs)
24 == Opioid Addiction [03] ---- (Opioids Not Better than Nonopioid Treatment for Pain)
24 == VA Accredited Representatives ---- (Disability Claim Assistance)
26 == VA Lung Cancer Care ---- (LDCT Screening Enhances Care for Veterans)
26 == VA Physician License Revocations [01] ---- (Record Review Promise Blasted)
27 == VA HUD-VASH [07] ---- (Sting Uncovers Vet Home Leasing Discrimination)
28 == VA Benefits Eligibility [08] ---- (Based on Disability Rating)
30 == VA Vet Choice [71] ---- (New Study Questions Private Care Provider's Capabilities)
31 == PTSD [243] ---- (Sample Disability Claim Pointman Stressor Letter)
33 == PTSD [244] ---- (Service Dog Pilot Program)
34 == PTSD [245] ---- (Pilot Telehealth Program (TOP) for Rural Vets)
35 == VAMC Miami FL [04] ---- (HIV Testing Discrepancies)
36 == VAMC Phoenix AZ [01] ---- (Screened! Take Ownership Of Your Health)
37 == VAMC Washington DC [07] ---- (Major Improvements Undertaken)

. * VETS * .

38 == MOH Awards [08] ---- (WWI Black Nominee's Recommendation Under Review)
39 == GI Bill [250] ---- (Transparency Expanded on Expenditures)
40 == California Veterans Home [17] ---- (Yountville Vet Center Killings)
41 == California Veterans Home [18] ---- (Unanswered Questions on Killings)
42 == Trump Pardons Sailor ---- (Convicted Of Taking Illegal Photos Aboard Submarine)
43 == Vet Jobs [230] ---- (Training Funded for 20,000 Tradespeople)
43 == Stolen Valor [109]---- (Reported 180301 thru 180315)
44 == Vet Suicide [20] ---- (AMVETS/VA Partnership | HEAL Program)
45 == Vet Scholarships [09] ---- (Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship)
46 == National Resource Directory [05] ---- (Designed For Veterans)
46 == Military Spouse Deportation ---- (PIP Eligibility Blocked by ICE & DHS Actions)
48 == Military Spouse Deportation [01] ---- (Multiple Families Under Stress)
49 == Military Spouse Deportation [02] ---- (Multiple Families Impacted)
52 == Vet Cemetery California [17] ---- (MINC Petition Gets VA's Attention)
53 == Obit | Floyd Carter Sr. ---- (8 MAR 2018)
54 == Obit | Togo West Jr. ---- (8 MAR 2018)
55 == Obit | Veronica Byrnes Bradley ---- 28 FEB 2018
55 == AFL Q&A 21 & 22 ---- (Grandchild VA Benefits & Purple Heart Obtainment)
56 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 15 MAR 2018)
57 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 16 MAR 2018)
57 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ---- (South Carolina | MAR 2018)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

58 == Military Food Stamps [03] ---- (Senate Legislation Proposed)
59 == Vet Legislative Wins 2018 ---- (March | S.2372, S.2248 & H.R.3656)
59 == Military Retirement Pay [09] ---- ( AB-2394 | Exemption From CA Income Tax)

. * MILITARY* .

60 == USMC Data Breach [01] ---- (Email Sent to Wrong Distribution List)
61 == Columbia SSBN Program [01] ---- ($100 Billion Projected Cost)
62 == Helicopter War Memorial ---- (Arlington Dedication 18 APR 2018)
63 == USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) [01] ---- (To Be Commissioned 24 MAR)
63 == Navy Hybrid Destroyers ---- (Installation Program Cancelled)
64 == USS Lexington (CV-2) ---- (Wreckage Discovered)
66 == MAVNI Program [07] ---- Military Base Immigration Center Closures
67 == Military Working Dogs [04] ---- (Mishandled | Army Will Comply w/Call for Reform)
67 == SCRA [08] ---- (BMW Financial Services' $2.2 Million Settlement)
68 == Marine Corps Boot Camp ---- (High School Educators Get 5-Day Course)
69 == Military Humor ---- (Bumper Stickers Seen On Bases)
70 == West Point [04] ---- (8 Things To Consider Before Applying)
71 == Warships That Will Change The Future ---- (SAS Mendi F-148)

. * MILITARY HISTORY* .

72 == HMS Hood Sinking ---- (How She Was Sunk by the Bismarck)
72 == Operation K ---- (2nd Pearl Harbor Raid | A Colossal Failure)
74 == Air Force Legend ---- (John L. Levitow | USAF's Lowest Ranking MOH Recipient)
75 == French Cruiser Emile Bertin ---- (WWII Career)
76 == WWII Vets 157 ---- (George Ciampa | Picking Up The Dead)
77 == WWII Vets 158 ---- (George Mendonsa | The Kissing Sailor)
78 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 MAR)
79 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Gerstung~Robert E | WWII)
80 == WWII Bomber Nose Art ---- (02) Windy City Kitty)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

81 == Health Care Options At Age 65 ---- (Veterans)
81 == Sleep [07] ---- (Why Are We So Sleep Deprived, and Why Does It Matter?)
83 == Kidney Disease [07] ---- (Risk Reduction)
84 == Opioid Addiction [02] ---- (Trump Suggests Death Penalty for Dealers)
85 == Opioid Addiction [04] ---- (Punitive Approach to Addiction Does Not right the Wrongs)
86 == Uterus Transplant ---- (Military Spouse Delivers Baby in Experimental Procedure)
88 == Mononucleosis ---- (Kissing Disease | It’s A One-and-Done Event)
88 == TRICARE Podcast 439 ---- (Nutrition Tips - Qualifying Life Events)
89 == TRICARE Podcast 440 ---- (TRICARE Enrollment Changes)

. * FINANCIAL * .

90 == IRS Tax Deductions [01] ---- (Property Taxes 2018 thru 2025)
91 == Student Loan [06] ---- (Public Service Loan Forgiveness in Jeopardy
92 == IRS Forgiven Debt Policy [02] ---- (Student Loans)
93 == VA Home Loan [58] ---- (Second Mortgage)
93 == VA Home Loan [59] ---- (Energy Efficient Mortgage Program)
94 == Medicare Card Switch Scam ---- (How It works)
94 == Making Money After Retirement [01] ---- (10 More Ways to Do It)
96 == Tax Burden for California Retired Vets ---- (As of MAR 2018)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

97 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 MAR 2018)
98 == Gun Deaths ---- (2016 Breakdown of U.S. Deaths)
99 == Gun Deaths [01] ---- (More Thoughts on Gun Control
99 == Russia Nuclear Weapons ---- (Latest Developments)
101 == National Suicide Hotline ---- (3-Digit Number A Step Closer)
102 == Men vs. Women ---- (How To Make Each Other Happy)
102 == National Anthem [08] ---- (Military Movie Theaters)
103 == Funerals [01] ---- (Trends | A Few Interesting Options Worth Investigating)
104 == One Word Essays ---- (Friendship)
105 == Quotable Quotes 01 ---- (Things to Think About)
105 == Billy Graham ---- (The Story Behind His Casket)
108 == What's Inside ---- (Hand, 9V Battery, Fireworks Shell, & Mature Hedge)
108 == Brain Teaser ---- (Grandmas and Trolls)
109 == Vinegar [01] ---- (Multiple Uses | Grooming, Health, & House Cleaning
110 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (12)
111 == Brain Teaser Answer ---- (Grandmas and Trolls)
111 == Have You Heard? ---- (Older Bud-weiser | The Cynical Philosopher)

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 - South Carolina Vet State Benefits & Discounts MAR 2018
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 MAR
Attachment - HMS Hood Sinking

TO READ and/or DOWNLOAD THE ABOVE ARTICLES & ATTACHMENTS Click on One of the Following Websites:

-- 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)

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.

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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.

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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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