RAO BULLETIN 1 April 2018

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
1 April 2018

HTML/PDF Editions


THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES


Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

04 == Space Force --- (Trump's Comment Raises Issue)
05 == DoD/VA VLER [13] ---- (Combined Health Record System Deal Status)
06 == Military Enlistment [18] ---- (Dependent's Military Health Record Impact)
07 == Chemical Weapons [02] ---- (Disposal Over Budget & Behind Schedule)
08 == DoD Disability Severance [05] ---- (Refund on Improper Taxation)
09 == Commissary Prices [10] ---- (Online Availability)
09 == TRDP [18] ---- (To Replaced FEDVIP in 2019)
10 == Transgender Troops [15] ---- (Barred From Serving With Limited Exceptions)
12 == Tricare Prime Allotment [04] ---- (45,000 Households Pending Prime Disenrollment)
13 == Exchange/DeCA Merger ---- (Proposed to Make DOD Operations More Efficient)
14 == SBP DIC Offset [50] ---- (Offset Status as of MAR 2018)
15 == DoD Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 MAR 2018)
16 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 MAR 2018 | Twenty-Three)

. * VA * .

20 == VA Service Connection [01] ---- (Events That Warrant It)
21 == VA RAMP [01] ---- (Program Progress Report Discouraging)
22 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 16 thru 31 MAR 2018)
22 == VA Background Checks ---- (IG Reveals 6,200 Workers Have Not Received One)
23 == VA Golden Age Games 2018 ---- (To Be Held AUG 3-8 in Albuquerque NM)
24 == VA Medical Research ---- (Dog Testing Restrictions Under Spending Bill)
24 == VA Mental Health Care [38] ---- (Bad Paper Discharge Access Approved)
25 == VA Reforms [07] ---- (In Jeopardy | Removed From Spending Bill)
26 == VA Agent Orange Healthcare ---- (Expansion Limited by Cost, Science & Politics)
28 == GI Bill [251] ---- (Delayed Spring Semester Payments)
28 == GI Bill [252] ---- (Private/Foreign School Limit Increase)
29== VA Special Monthly Compensation [02] ---- (Non-Economic Loss Compensation)
30 == Dependents’ Educational Assistance [04] ---- (The Forgotten Benefit)
30 == VA Secretary [67] ---- (Our Veterans Need Shulkin)
31 == VA Secretary [68] ---- (Key GOP Senator Backs Shulkin)
32 == VA Secretary [69] ---- (Only As Good As Their President… And Their Congress)
32 == VA Secretary [70] ---- (Trump's Surprise Nomination Raises Questions)
33 == VA Vet Choice [73] ---- (Program Impact on Maine Hospitals)
34 == VAMC Buffalo NY [03] ---- (Inappropriate Action Led to Patient's Death)
35 == VA HCS Palo Alto CA [01] ---- (Data Breach Reported)

. * VETS * .

36 == Military Parades [03] ---- (MOAA Survey Results | Costly Distraction)
37 == National Vietnam War Veterans Day ---- (Annually On 29 March)
38 == Bataan Death March [07] ---- (29th Annual Included 100 Year Old Vet)
40 == Illinois Veterans Homes [07] ---- (Quincy Legionella Eradication Efforts)
41 == Veterans Advantage [01] ---- (Amtrak Elimination 26 MAR Inexcusable)
42 == Vet Deportations [17] ---- (Afghan Vet Miguel Perez Jr. Denied Citizenship)
42 == Vet Deportations [18] ---- (Afghan 2 Tour Green Card Vet Deported)
43 == Vet Deportations [19] ---- (Deported Vet Granted U.S. Citizenship)
44 == Bladensburg WWI Vet Memorial [04] ---- (Supreme Court Appeal Pending)
46 == Desert Storm Memorial [07] ---- (Public Comment Invited thru 13 APR)
47 == Vet Fraud & Abuse ---- (Reported 15 thru 31 MAR 2017)
47 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Atlantic NC ---- (Contaminated Drinking Water)
49 == Retiree Appreciation Days ---- (Scheduled As of 1 APR 2018)
49 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 1 APR 2018)
50 == Vet State Benefits & Discounts ---- (South Dakota MAR 2018)

. * VET LEGISLATION* .

51 == VA Home Loan [61] ---- (S.2155 | Refinancing Legislation)
51 == Generic Drug Pricing [04] ---- (S.2476 | Targets Pay-For-Delay Big Pharma Tactic)
52 == VA Vet Choice [72] ---- (H.R.2683 | Protecting Veterans Credit Act)
52 == GI Bill [253] ---- (H.R.4508 Prosper Act | Congress Should Do Better)
54 == Vet Legislative Wins 2018 ---- (March | H.R.506, 1725, 3122, & S.324)
54 == VA Burial Benefits [44] ---- (S.2248 | Tribal Cemetery Headstones)

. * MILITARY* .

55 == Navy Hospital Ships ---- (Retirement for 1 of 2 Proposed)
56 == Military Chaplains [01] ---- (Secular Humanist's Application Denied)
56 == USS Indianapolis (CA-35) [02] ---- (Definitive Survivor Number Determined)
57 == Military Spouse Deportation [03] ---- (Sailor Faces Deployment & Wife’s Deportation)
59 == Military Spouse Deportation [04] ---- (Defense Secretary Looking Into Problem)
60 == Military Discounts ---- (Some You May Not Be Aware Of)
60 == Army Uniforms ---- (Pinks and Greens)
62 == Navy Red Hill Fuel Tanks ---- (Estimate $500 Million to $2 Billion)
63 == Navy Carrier Program ---- (Multi-Ship Purchase Approach)
63 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [11] ---- (Negligent Homicide Charges Recommended)
64 == USS Juneau (CL-52) ---- (Sullivan Brother's Ship Located)
65 == Reasons To Love USMC ---- (Five)
66 == USS Colorado (SSN-778) [01] ---- (Christened 17 MAR 2018)
66 == Marine Corps Mascot ---- (Chesty XV in Training)
67 == USCGC Alert (WMEC-630) ---- (Equipment Casualties Terminate Patrol)
68 == Military Retirement Locations [02] ---- (Top 2 | RP & PN)
69 == Warships That Will Change The Future ---- (HDMS Absalon L16)

. * MILITARY HISTORY* .

69 == USS Cyclops ---- (100 years later, the question remains - What Happened to Her?)
72 == Profile In Courage ---- (Staff Sgt. Edward Carter Jr.)
74 == USS Indianapolis (CA-35) [02] ---- (Definitive Survivor Number Determined)
75 == Korean Expedition 1871 ---- (U.S.-Korean Relations Started With Conflict)
76 == Battle of Lima Site 85 ---- (Monument Unveiled to Honor Those who Perished)
78 == WWI Sgt. Gerald York ---- (MOH Awardees' Education Legacy)
79 == Military History ---- (Gunboats in Hell: Battle at Iwo Jima)
79 == USS Vesuvius ---- (Custom-Built Dynamite Gun Cruiser)
81 == WWI German Spring Offensive ---- (Lessons Learned)
82 == Major Pauline Cushman ---- (Actress Turned Union Spy)
84 == WWII Vets 159 ---- (Edward Mims | POW Turret Gunner)
85 == Vietnam Vets [28] ---- (John Bennett | Left Battlefield in Body Bag)
86 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (01 thru 15 APR)
86 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Gibson~Eric G | WWII)
88 == WWII Bomber Nose Art ---- (03) Do It)

. * HEALTH CARE* .

89 == Transient Global Amnesia ---- (Temporary Memory Loss)
90 == Vaping ---- (Dangers of ‘CBD’ Vape Oils)
90 == Health Care Cost ---- (Military vs. Civilian | 2018)
91 == Biostatic Project ---- (Slowing Life To Save Life | DARPA)
92 == Eyeglasses ---- (Obtaining at Minimum Cost)
93 == TRICARE Podcast 441 ---- (Health Care Plans | Retirement)
94 == TRICARE Podcast 442 ---- (TRDP | Understanding Disenrollment)

. * FINANCIAL * .

95== Bad Money Habits ---- (How To Break 10 of Them)
97 == Scam Stats for 2017 ---- (FTC Report
98 == Home Selling Costs ---- (Hidden | $18,342 On Average in 2018
98 == FICO Credit Score [12] ---- (What's Considered Excellent Credit?)
99 == Retirement Costs ---- (Don't Get Blindsided | 7 Unexpected Ones)
101 == VA Home Loan [60] ---- (New Construction Rules)
101 == VA Home Loan [62] ---- (Entitlement Restoral)
102 == Cell Phone Porting Scam ---- (How It works)
103 == Job Hunt Scam 3 --- (New Twist | Fake Interviews)
103 == Western Union Settlement Scam ---- (Again)
104 == Tax Burden for Colorado Retired Vets ---- (As of MAR 2018)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

106 == Notes of Interest ---- (16 thru 31 MAR 2018)
107 == Military Force Authorization ---- (Congress Not Doing Its Job)
108 == United Nations ---- (U.S. Funding Reduction)
109 == Contradictions ---- (Have You Ever wondered?)
110 == Retirement Trends ---- (How They Differ From Your Parents)
111 == Brick Street Construction ---- (How Its Done in the Netherlands)
111 == The Silent Generation ---- So Our Children and Their Children Will Understand)
113 == Home Warranties ---- (Don't Expect More than They Deliver)
114 == Vinegar [02] ---- (Multiple Uses | Appliance Aid and Clothing & Accessories)
115 == Have You Heard? ---- (Driver's License (2) | Mayonnaise)
116 == Where There's a Will, There's a Way ---- (13)


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 Dakota Vet State Benefits & Discounts MAR 2018
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 01 thru 15 APR
Attachment - Gunboats in Hell: Battle at Iwo Jima

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.

-o-o-O-o-o-
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 19,860 subscribers who responded to that notice and/or have since subscribed. All others were deleted from the active mailing list.

2. 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.

3. 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) 842-1111 to ask questions or confirm info needed to add them to the directory.

4. 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.

5. 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 200 page plus index were valid at the time they were written and may have since been updated or become outdated.

6. 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.

7. 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.
· Anyone who wants to remove or change their email addee from the Bulletin mailing list can use the automatic “UNSUBSCRIBE“ or “Change of Address“ tabs at the bottom of this message or send a message to raoemo@sbcglobal.net with the word "DELETE" or "COA" in the subject line.

-o-o-O-o-o-

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


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.