RAO BULLETIN 15 December 2019

[boardman]

RAO BULLETIN
15 December 2019

HTML/PDF Editions
THIS RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE BULLETIN CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
Pg Article Subject
. * DOD * .
04 == NDAA 2020 [27] ---- (Congressional Negotiators Have Reached a Deal)
05 == Feres Doctrine [19] ---- (Troops to be Able to File Claims — But Not Sue — For Medical Malpractice)
07 == Navy Submarine Program [03] ---- (Navy OKs Biggest Ever Deal | $22B)
08 == PTSD Stamp ---- (Aim is to Raise Awareness, Funds for PTSD)
09 == DoD Mental Health Programs [05] ---- (Negatively Impacted by Physician Recruitment Failures)
10 == Military Base Water [02] ---- (GAO Finds 102 at Risk for Water Shortages)
11 == Military Hospitals ---- (Retiree and Retiree Family Patient Reductions Planned)
13 == Gold Star Families [02] ---- (Proposed Relief through Congressional Action Has Not Happened)
14 == POW/MIA Recoveries & Burials ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 DEC 2019 | Nine)
. * VA * .
16 == VA Solid Start ---- (Program Launched to Ensure Vets Are Contacted During Initial Transition)
17 == VA Blue Water Claims [79] ---- (Court Rules it Will Not Lift Stay)
18 == VA Blue Water Claims [80] ---- (VA to Begin Deciding Claims 1 JAN 2020)
19 == VA Urgent Care [01] ---- (Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions)
20 == VA Facility Ratings ---- (Star-Rating System Replaced to Enhance Vet’s Comparisons)
21 == VA ATLAS Program [01] ---- (Services Initiated at First NC Walmart Pilot Location)
21 == VA Pain Management [11] ---- (Virtual Reality Helps Ease Trauma)
23 == VA Flu Shots [07] ---- (Under Age 50, you’re Not Invincible at Any Age)
23 == VA Medical Records [05] ---- (Avoiding Mistakes)
25 == VA Substance Abuse Treatment ---- (GAO Report on How Vets Receive It at VHA Clinics)
26 == National AI Institute ---- (Launched by VA to Advance Vets Health and Well-Being)
26 == VA AI [01] ---- (AI Enhancing VA’s Ability to Diagnose Illnesses)
27 == VA Loan Limits ---- (2020 | Down Payment Limits Removed)
28 == VA AO Guam Rules ---- (No policies Have Yet Been Crafted)
29 == VA Gambling Addiction Center ---- (LVR3 Opens in Las Vegas)
29 == VA Fraud, Waste, & Abuse ---- (Reported 01 thru 15 DEC 2019)
. * VETS * .
32 == Veterans at CIA ---- (Have Always Played an Important Role | You Could Also)
32 == Vet Hunger ---- (One Out of Four Female Veterans Struggle with Hunger)
33 == Vet Toxic Exposure | Palomares Spain [03] ---- (VA Lawsuit another Step Closer)
34 == Vet Incarceration [02] ---- (“The Barracks” Opens in Georgia)
34 == Burn Pit Toxic Exposure [72] ---- (Maps to Help Figure Out Your Exposure Risk)
36 == Vet Jobs [257] ---- (7 More Occupations That Are a Good Fit)
37 == Vet Jobs [258] ---- (Confidence Boosters for Transitioning to a Civilian Career)
38 == Vet Jobs [259] ---- (In NOV 310,000 Vets Nationwide Looking For Work)
39 == WWII Vets 211 ---- (Boris Stern | Normandy Invader)
39 == WWII Vets 212 ---- (Joe Beyrle | US Paratrooper who Served in a Soviet Tank Battalion)
41 == Korean War Vets ---- (Joseph Vittori | Medal of Honor Recipient)
42 == Vet Hiring Fairs ---- (Scheduled As of 15 DEC 2019)
42 == Vet Suicide [42] ---- (No Wrong Door Approach for Assistance)
43 == Military Retirees & Veterans Events Schedule ---- (As of 15 DEC 2019)
44 == Veteran State Benefits ---- (New Hampshire 2019)
. * VET LEGISLATION * .
44 == Military Child Citizenship [01] ---- (H.R.4801/S.2679 | Citizenship for Children of Military Members)
45 == VA Pension Poachers [02] ---- (S.2988 | Veteran Pension Protection Act)
46 == Personal Protective Equipment ---- (S.2970 | Improve Fielding Newest PPE Generations)
47 == VAMC Clarksburg WV [04] ---- (S.2995 | VAMC Patient Safety & Quality of Care Reports)
48 == Vet Suicide [43] ---- (S.2991 | Veterans Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act)
. * MILITARY* .
49 == ETS Sponsorship Program ---- (VA’s Support for Vet’s Final Transition to Civilian Life)
50 == Marine Corps Readiness [02] ---- (The Force Has to Get Lighter)
51 == B-1 Bomber [05] ---- (Aging B-1 May Soon Have to Restrict the Way it Flies)
52 == Cruise Missiles [02] ---- (Pentagon to Test Rival Killer Lasers)
54 == Military Housing Surveys ---- (GAO Reports Those Showing Satisfaction are Bogus)
56 == Base Housing [16] ---- (Service Officials Grilled Over Efforts to Remedy)
57 == Humanitarian Service Medal [02] ---- (Recent Natural Disaster Support/Deployment Authorizations)
58 == PFAS Toxic Exposure [10] ---- (Navy Asks Judge to Put Off Lawsuit Ruling)
59 == PFAS Toxic Exposure [11] ---- (Federal Study Facing Delays)
61 == Cyborg Soldier 2050 ---- (Human/Machine Fusion Study)
63 == Military Proposed Weaponry [03] ---- (Project Orion)
63 == Overseas Troop’s Thanksgiving ---- (5,000 Turkeys Sent this Year)
64 == USMC Political Activity ---- (New Guidance Clarifies What is Allowed on Social Media)
65 == Navy Tour Lengths ---- (50,000+ Sailors to be impacted by Sea/Shore Duty Changes)
66 == MRAP Lawsuit ---- (Pentagon Overcharged $1.3 Billion)
67 == Navy Terminology, Jargon & Slang ---- (‘EMI’ thru ‘Fanny’)
. * MILITARY HISTORY * .
68 == Desert Storm Memorial [12] ---- (Design Concept Receives Formal Approval)
69 == Profile in Courage: Arthur MacArthur --- (Father of Gen. Douglas MacArthur Jr)
70 == War Memorials ---- (National War Memorial Canada)
71 == Tootsie Roll Marines ---- (Ordered Annihilated by China’s Chairman Mao)
72 == Berlin Airlift ---- (Operation VITTLES)
73 == Military History Anniversaries ---- (01 thru 15 DEC)
73 == WWII Bomber Nose Art [44] ---- (Shirley Ann)
75 == MOH Awards [15] ---- (Legislation to Strip 20 Awarded at Wounded Knee)
76 == Medal of Honor Citations ---- (Francis J. Herron | Civil War)
. * HEALTH CARE * .
77 == Prescription Drug Costs [40] ---- (Substantial Reforms Appear “Unlikely” in the Near Term)
78 == Senior Surgery [01] ---- (Frail Patients May Be at Higher Risk than Previously Thought)
70 == Styes and Chalazia ---- (Eyelid Inflammation Treatment)
81 == Epilepsy ---- (Overactivity in the Brain)
84 == TRICARE Premium Payments ---- (Computer Glitch Charges 100 Times Monthly Amount Due)
84 == Heart Transplant ---- (Vet Becomes First U.S. Recipient of a DCD Heart)
85 == Skin Regeneration ---- (New Technology Can Help Wounded and Ill Vets Regrow Skin)
86 == Cancer Q&A ---- (191201 thru 191215)
87 == TRICARE Podcast 530 ---- (Overseas Holiday Travel - Plan Finder - Moving w/Dental Program)
88 == TRICARE Podcast 531 ---- (Benefit Updates - Tobacco Cessation Services)
. * FINANCES * .
88 == SBP DIC Offset [62] ---- (Widow’s Tax on Verge of Elimination)
89 == Retirement Planning [21] ---- (Surprising Benefits of Not Doing It with Your Spouse)
90 == Debt Collection [15] ----- (Survivors Impact after a Loved One Dies)
92 == Vet Pay/Cost Changes ---- (2020 Pay Bump versus Part B Increase)
93 == Medicare Cost | Military Retirees [02] ---- (2020 Premium Changes)
94== Vet Income ---- (Consistently Larger than Non-Vets)
95 == Unexpected Expenses ---- (How to Avoid Being Surprised by 7 Nasty Ones)
97 == IRA & 401k RMDs ---- (50% Tax Penalty at Age 70 ½ If You Miss Deadline)
97 == Social Security Benefits [07] ---- (Something to Think About)
98 == Online Shopping Scam [03] ---- (Beware of This Delivery Trick)
99 == Social Media Gift Exchange Scam ---- (An Illegal Pyramid Scheme)
100 == Tax Burden for Utah Retired Vets ---- (As of DEC 2019)
. * GENERAL INTEREST * .
103 == Notes of Interest ---- (01 thru 15 December 2019)
104 == Afghan Peace Talks [05] ---- (Trump’s Visit Reignites)
105 == Afghan War [03] ---- (Washington Post’s ‘Afghanistan Papers’ Story Reaction)
106 == Afghan Taliban [03] ---- (US, Australian Hostages Freed for 3 Taliban Figures)
107 == DPRK Nuclear Weapons [28] ---- (Denuclearization Now Off the Negotiation Table)
108 == NATO Defense Spending [04] ---- (Trump Move to Reduce U.S. Aid Share)
109 == Nuclear Weapons Treaty ---- (Concerns over Allowing New START to Expire)
110 == Host Nation Support ---- (Concerns over Pressuring Asian Allies for Share Increases)
111 == Retirement Planning [22] ---- (Surprising Facts That Nobody Tells You About)
113 == Dog Tags ---- (Directive to Stop Sales of Tags Containing Religious Symbols)
114 == Trump Vegan Challenge ---- (Go 30 Days for $1 Million Donation to Vets)
115 == Appliances [03] ---- (Maker Reliability | 12 Most & Least)
116 == Interesting Inventions ---- (Elevator Capacity Indicator)
116 == Have You Heard? ---- (Military Humor 9 | Blond Jokes 1 | The Budget)
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.
3. Recipients of the Bulletin are authorized and encouraged to forward the Bulletin to other vets or veteran organizations.
. * ATTACHMENTS * .
Attachment – New Hampshire Vet State Benefits
Attachment – Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 DEC (Updated)
-o-o-O-o-o-
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Notes:
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RAO Bulletin Editor/Publisher:
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