RAO BULLETIN 15 July 2018

[boardman]

RAO
BULLETIN
15 July 2018

THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES

Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .

04 == Transgender Troops [19] ---- (Opposition to Trump’s Enlistment Ban)
05 == NATO Defense Spending [01] ---- (Germany U.S. Troop Withdrawal Analysis)
06 == NATO Defense Spending [02] ---- (70 to 90% Paid for by U.S.)
07 == Commissary Alcohol Sales ---- (12 U.S. Stores to start Selling Beer & Wine)
08 == NDAA 2019 [08] ---- (Closed-Door Negotiations Launched)
09 == POW/MIA Displays [03] ---- (U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Dispute)
10 == POW/MIA [108] ---- (Julius Piper | Proper Burial after 74 Years)
11 == POW/MIA Recoveries ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JULY 2018 | 12)

. * VA * .

13 == VA Survivors’ & DEA Program ---- (Changes Effective August 1, 2018)
14 == VA Vet Choice [82] ---- (Funding Dispute Sidelines Congress’ Appropriations Progress)
14 == VA Mustard Agent Care [08] ---- (Previously Denied Claims under Review)
15 == VA Cancer Treatment [57] ---- (NAVIGATE Program | Access to Clinical Trials)
16 == VA Whistleblowers [56] ---- (CAVHCS Patient Records Manipulation)
17 == VA Dental Benefits [02] ---- (Not Available to 94.5% of all Vets)
17 == VA Transgender Care [01] ---- (VA Weighs Lifting Surgery Exclusion)
18 == VA Artificial Intelligence ---- (Use Speeds Up & Improves Quality of Vet Care)
19 == VA Secretary [81] ---- (Filling VA’s Top Vacancy)
20 == VA Emergency Medical Care ---- (What Vets Need to Know to Qualify)
21 == VA Nursing Homes [09] ---- (Nationwide Congressional Inquiry Requested)
22 == VA Unpaid Obligations [01] ---- (What Vets Need to Know About Paying)
23 == VA Disability Compensation [12] ---- (How Much You Are Entitled to in 2018)
24 == VA Fraud, Waste & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JUL 2018)
25 == VAMC Ashville NC [01] ---- (Nursing Home Poor Ratings)

. * VETS * .

26 == Army Emergency Relief [02] ---- (There for Those Who Served)
27 == GI Bill Update 256 ---- (16-year Cap on Benefit Transfer Option to Dependents)
27 == Vet Benefits Funding [04] ---- (PAYGO Rule Impact)
30 == Vet Unemployment [16] ---- (A Deeper Look | Big vs. Small Business)
30 == Ann Margaret Thanks Soldiers ---- (A True Story)
32 == Vet Robocalls ---- (Most Likely Not From VA)
33 == Vet Deportations [22] ---- (Dependent Protection Request Denials)
34 == Nursing Homes [14] ---- (Average Vet Admission Age Decreasing)
35 == Last Man Standing ---- (Fred Spencer | WWII Co. C, 126th Inf Regt, 32nd Div)
36 == The Greatest Generation [01] ---- (At least 362 WWII Vets Die Daily)
37 == Vet Toxic Exposure | George AFB ---- (Don’t Get Pregnant)
37 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Base Water [01] ---- (Camp Pendleton Radiation)
38 == Vet Fraud & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 JUL 2018)
40 == Vet Cemetery California [18] ---- (Mare Island Naval Cemetery Deterioration)
41 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [54] ---- (VA ‘Center of Excellence’ Called For)
42 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [55] ---- (Suers Refusing To Give Up the Fight
43 == Obit: Richard Harrison ---- (25 JUN 2018 | Navy)
44 == Obit: Helen Miller ---- (17 JUN 2018 | Army)
45 == Bladensburg WWI Vet Memorial [05] ---- (Appealed to Supreme Court)
46 == Native American Veterans Memorial [01] ---- (“Warriors’ Circle of Honor” Chosen)
46 == Vet Jobs [236] ---- (MAY Unemployment Rate Dropped Slightly to 3.3%)
47 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 15 JUL 2018)
48 == Military Retirees & Veterans Events Schedule ---- (As of 15 JUL 2018)
49 == Vet State Benefits ---- (Alaska JUL 2018)

. * VET LEGISLATION * .

49 == Agent Orange Thailand [02] ---- (H.R. 4843 | Concede Exposure to All Vets)
50 == Military Sexual Misconduct [01] ---- (S.2141 | Military Justice Improvement Act)
50 == TRICARE User Fees [103] ---- (H.R.5515/S.2987 | Retiree Cost Increases)
51 == Military Tax Relief [03] ---- (H.R.5747 | Special Operations Forces Tax Cut)

. * MILITARY* .

51 == NDAA 2019 [07] ---- (Troop Damaged Equipment Mementos)
52 == Navy Hair Standards ---- (New Hairstyles Authorized for Female Sailors)
53 == USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) [16] ---- (Former CO Pleads Not Guilty to Collision Charges)
53 == Army Guard Tuition Aid ---- (5 AUG Changes)
54 == SGLI/VGLI [17] ---- (Proposed Change to Close Spouse Notification Loopholes)
54 == Army Anti-Aircraft Stryker ---- (Can Kill Tanks Too)
56 == GTMO Detainees [04] ---- (Judge in USS Cole Case Resigning)
57 == Military Immigrant Enlistment [02] ---- (Some Being Abruptly Discharged by Army)
58 == Military Immigrant Enlistment [03] ---- (USMC Delayed-Entry Program)
59 == Navy Sea Duty [01] ---- (Shore Duty Tours Being Cut Short to Fill Needs)
60 == X-Ray Bomb ---- (Could Neutralize Chemical & Biological Weapons)
60 == USMC Selective Retention Bonuses ---- ($136M Planned for FY 2019)
61 == Adapt Program ---- (Dealing With Alcohol Abuse)
62 == Laser AK-47 ---- (China Non-lethal Assault Rifle Claim Dubious)
63 == Military Death Penalty [01] ---- (Supreme Court Denies Ronald A. Gray Petition)
64 == Navy Mandatory Retirement Board ---- (Convenes 3 DEC for Navy Chiefs)
64 == USAF Small Arms ---- (GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon)
65 == Warships That Will Change the Future ---- (INS Vikramaditya)

. * MILITARY HISTORY * .

67 == Flying Tigers ---- (Book Review)
68 == WWI Vets 01 ---- (Alexander Miguel Roberts)
69 == WWI Vets 02 ---- (Henry L. Johnson)
70 == WWII VETS 168 ---- (Ray Emory | Pearl Harbor Survivor)
71 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (16 thru 31 JUL)
72 == WWII Bomber Nose Art ---- (10) Liberty Belle)
72 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Stephen R. Gregg | WWII)

. * HEALTH CARE * .

74 == Trump Drug Price Plan ---- (American Patients First)
75 == Tricare Webiner ---- (Ask TRICARE | 26 JUL @ 1300 EST)
75 == Military Health Care Trends ---- (Four To Watch)
76 == Prescription Drug Costs [06] ---- (Prices Vary Widely Based on where You Live)
77 == Prescription Drug Costs [07] ---- (New California Law Impact)
78 == Overseas Travel w/Tricare [01] ---- (What To Do)
79 == Ingrown Toenails ---- (How to Deal with Them)
81 == HIV/AIDS [03] ---- (Prevention Pill Roadblocks)
82 == HIV/AIDS [04] ---- (Self-Collection Blood Kit Developed by USAF)
83 == TRICARE Podcast 457 ---- (Firework Burns - Natural Disasters & Food - Overseas Travel)
85 == TRICARE Podcast 458 ---- (Safety Tips - TRICARE Webinar - Overseas Aeromedical Evacs)

. * FINANCES * .

86 == SBP Changes after Retirement [04] ----- (Actions Allowed)
88 == Dependents’ Educational Assistance [05] ---- (July 31 Changes)
88 == DoD Disability Severance [06] ---- (IRS | Taxes Paid on Lump Sum Payment)
89 == TRICARE Overpayment Recoupment ---- (What You Should Know)
90 == Car Insurance [17] ---- (Average Premiums by State for 2017)
91 == Apartment Rentals ---- (June 2018 Average Cost)
92 == Social Security Taxation [09] ---- (13 States That Tax Social Security Income)
92 == Credit Card Balance [01] ---- (Impact on Credit Scores)
93 == SSIA [04] ---- (Now a Permanent Benefit for SBP Widows)
94 == Medicare Coverage [02] ---- (Monthly Costs Might Be Higher Than You Anticipate)
94 == IRS Withholding Calculator ---- (Paycheck Checkup | Avoid Paying Later)
96 == Homeowner Tax Breaks ---- (Three Key Changes for 2018)
96 == Purchasing Precautions [01] ---- (20 Buys that Buyers Nearly Always Regret)
99 == Tax Assistance [02] ---- (Should You Hire Help to Settle an IRS Tax Bill?)
100 == Summer Jobs Scam ---- (Fake Shipping Business)
100== Social Media Ad Scam ---- (Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers)
101 == Fake Support Numbers Scam ---- (Fools Frustrated Big Company Customers)
103 == Tax Burden for Iowa Retired Vets ---- (As of JUL 2018)

. * GENERAL INTEREST * .

104 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 JUL 2018)
105 == Travel Packing Tips [02] ---- (No Bullets if Going to Japan)
106 == Trump-Putin Summit ---- (What’s at Stake)
107 == Biodegradable Robots ---- (Popcorn-Driven Robotic Actuators)
108 == Food Thawing ---- (Safe Defrosting Methods for Consumers)
108 == Space Warfare [01] ---- (Launching the Military’s 6th Branch)
110 == Interesting Facts ---- (Manure)
110- == DPRK Nuclear Weapons [23] ---- (US’s Dismantle Plan)
112 == Military Draft ---- (Slowly Coming Back in Vogue in Europe)
112 == Satellite Internet ---- (Is it Better than Cable)
113 == China’s Africa Presence ---- (Military Links to Increase)
114 == Garbage Disposal [02] ---- (Top Do’s and Don’ts for Maintenance)
115 == Petroleum Jelly ---- (30 Uses)
117 == One Word Essays ---- (Determination)
117 == Brain Teasers ---- (17 - Can You Answer These?)
118 == Have You Heard? ---- (How the Fight Started)
120 == Brain Teasers ---- (17 - Here Are the Answers)

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 – Alaska Vet State Benefits JUL 2018
Attachment - Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 JUL
Attachment – Don’t Get Pregnant

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